Week 13 2025 One Daily Positive and Project 365

I was off work until Friday. After a trip to A&E on Sunday, a drip and morphine, I woke on Monday morning with head pain. Straight to the GP and more meds. I rattle. I'm still not feeling right.

After searching for counselling and not being dragged into places I didn't want to be, I finally found my thing. A therapist at a Well Being Centre. I thought I’d booked a chiropractor. Nope. Had phoned wrong person, but this was better. Swedish massage. 75mins of pure bliss for £60. Back, neck, arms and head. And therapy thrown in. She was brilliant. I talked, I cried and I feel so much better physically and mentally. Booked in every Monday after work for 6 weeks.

Day 83
GP first thing, more tablets. Woke with throbbing headache after 4 hours sleep. All I managed today was to cook a roast and these fabulous Yorkshire puddings which I’m rather pleased with. The rest I froze. Rest of the day spent in bed or dozing on the sofa.

Day 84

Today I found my thing. I visited a well being clinic. I found the number looking for holistic support for my migraine. I had the most amazing 60+minute massage and therapy session. I could feel all the physical and emotional tension leaving my body. I talked, I cried. Peter arrived home mid afternoon. He chilled out on the sofa, I tucked into one of my presents and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening resting in bed.

Day 85 

Literally got out of bed to eat today. I know what’s going on, I can process it, I can see the road ahead, only I can ‘snap out of it’ but it’s not that easy’ there’s nothing to snap out of, I’m having to adjust and learning to live with grief, it’s complicated, you don’t just ‘get on with it’ you don’t just adapt to it. Video call with this cutie. There will be real life cuddles next week.

Day 86

We popped out to visit Peter’s mum and drop off her Mother’s Day gift and see our niece and great nephew for his 4th birthday and drop his present off also. Called in at Asda on the way home and I weeded the raised beds. Still got a perpetual headache, but if it’s not going to shift, I might as well just get on with life.

Day 87

The 2nd Mother’s Day gift to arrive, plus flowers from another son and thoughtful cards. It’s tricky trying to acknowledge Mother’s Day as a daughter and a DIL whilst accepting that as a mum Stephanie is no longer with us. I went back to work today. Had a meeting with HR to discuss how everything is getting on top of me and its effect on my health. Work was quiet, apart from a fire drill. Maths and English tutoring 1:1 in the afternoon. Coffee with Peter after work and popped into the pub for half an hour with a friend and home for dinner and TV. 

Day 88

The day started very early as I was awake at 4am. At 9am I was planting some seeds. Peter and I then went for coffee. He dropped me at the train station and I headed up to Birmingham to watch #bcfc. Good result. Train home, read my book, bath, watched TV and early bed planned.

Day 89

We spent the day in the garden, I planted the fruit trees moving soil from the front garden to fill the pots, after I'd decided where I wanted all the pots to go. We popped out for coffee and bought a chicken which I cooked for dinner in the evening and we celebrated the cats 16th birthday. I had an early bath and had a video call with grandson and a phone call with a friend.

Things to make you smile:

We made our annual trip to McDonalds to buy a happy meal for the cats birthday, there was a present and a card.

I sent took this photo just outside St Andrews on my way to the match and sent it to the family group chat 'remember this fence?' Back in 2009, Peter had a new car with parking sensors, he told the kids that when then solid beep was heard there was still a couple of feet before he hit anything. He got a far as the word 'couple' before hitting the fence and they've never let him live it down. The two boys who were in the car that day didn't know I was going to the game on Saturday, but both recognised the fence and knew where I was.

Things that made me happy:

Gifts and cards from the children and grandchildren, finally getting out in the garden, magnolia, baking, medication to take the migraine away, Peter being home.

On the blog this week: 

Post Comment Love - You're welcome to link up with any post you've written this week on any subject.

Plans for Spring Gardening - Since writing the post, almost half the plans are complete.

Word of the Week - Triggers - I've no idea what is going to trigger me, when or where.

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28th - 30th March 2025 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

I've not had the best week, things don't always go to plan, but having the ability to adapt and not be disappointed is a great life lesson. I missed a job interview. I missed a camping trip. I missed a day out with my granddaughter, I missed cuddles with my new grandson.

Instead I had a day in hospital and numerous medical appointments and time off work and an endless migraine/headache.

But I also had some lovely video calls with family and friends and daily check ins. Milk, chocolate and flowers delivered and endless offers of help and a lift when needed.

Peter came home from his holiday in Turkey with presents. I had some lovely flowers from a friend and gifts for mother's day through the post from 2 of the kids and I'm back to work today. I'm off to the football tomorrow and we've a day of gardening planned on Sunday, starting with planting out my freshly weeded raised beds.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

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Plans for Spring gardening 2025

The plans should be well underway by now, but a bout of the flu caught me off guard so I'm a couple of weeks behind with my 'getting ready to plant' so I'll be tweaking the plan and planting a bit more in the greenhouse than planned.

I like to do one job at a time:

Weed.

Sift soil (will wait now until after the bluebells have flowered)

Fill pots (will fill pots with the soil from the dust bins in the front garden)

Plant fruit trees.

Sow seeds in raised beds.

Move (wooden) green house.

Dismantle (plastic) green house that's been housing more delicate plants over the winter.

Build a herb bed using the old wagon wheel.

Plans have changed, priorities have changed and it's a good job, because I hadn't given much thought as to where the fruit trees were going to live and once the pots are filled and the trees planted they won't be moved (too heavy).

I tried to draw a plan.

I can't visualise it properly.

Moved the (wooden) greenhouse to the back garden (after identifying where the best sunlight was)

Prepped the pots for planting.

Seeds have been sorted and gardening books consulted. Don't think I'll have much use for Gardening in Oman and the UAE anymore.

One job I keep meaning to do EVERY YEAR is to dig up the bulbs after they have flowered and put them in containers, as we want to revamp the front garden and I don't want to lose the bulbs or have them popping through the new lawn.

Next up:

Weed beds, plant seeds for green house and in beds (buy tomato seeds)

Move the table and chairs to the lawn, move the empty pots around until I'm happy with their position, check the table and chairs fit, then fill pots, plant trees

Build herb bed.

I'll be back the end of April with the finished project.

Week 12 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365. When things don't go to plan

My plan this week was to start work in the garden, weeding, sifting soil to fill two huge plant pots for my pear and cherry trees and start sowing in the raised beds. I'd also planned to load the car with charity shop donations to drop after work and the odd coffee and a visit to the nail bar. Friday I had a job interview, there was camping Friday night and Chepstow Castle with my granddaughter on Saturday, the night at my friends and Sunday just chilling.

The week was spent in bed with a viral infection and headache. None of the above happened. I've done some reading, finally got a GP appointment, did a bit of food shopping and managed a coffee out, but that all wiped me out and I did too much and ended up back in bed, exhausted. 

Peter is home on Tuesday. I'll probably be better by then, sods law.

Day 76

Been under the weather for a couple of weeks, headaches and cold. Got to work and felt like I was going to pass out. Home and straight to bed and slept most of the day. Managed to cook myself sausage and mash for dinner, read for a bit, bath, back to bed at 7pm.

Day 77

Day spent in bed sleeping apart from feeding the cat and myself and a bit of time outside for some fresh air.

Day 78

Felt a bit better so changed the bedding and got dressed, big mistake. Took me 2 hours, then spent rest of the day wiped out downstairs, dozing in the sun whilst reading. Migraine back, coughing and sneezing stopped but still feel breathless and chest tight. Friend dropped some milk off after work. Dinner, bath and early to bed.

Day 79

Finally got a GP appointment. Caught the bus to a different surgery than I usually go to. Got funny looks for wearing a mask, but thanked by a mum I saw from school for wearing one when she saw me getting off the bus. Had to walk home, took me an hour. Got a viral infection. Stronger pain killers for migraine. Day ‘whatever’ A&E only option left now. Managed some dinner. Bed.

Day 80

Too ill to attend a job interview. Had a phone call mid morning asking me to return some financial documents before by monday. Sat on this bench for half an hour getting my breath back. Not a bad view. Did a bit of food shopping to get me through the weekend and home to bed.

Day 81

Had a proper sleep and a lie in. I find if I get dressed, I feel a lot better. Had shopped yesterday without a list, needed meat, potatoes, deodorant and eggs. Had a coffee while I was out. I was exhausted by the time I got home. I spent some time sitting in the garden, the weather is perfect right now for me. Went back to bed for the afternoon, watching the TV and reading. I cooked dinner, had a bath and an early night.

Day 82

A PJ day, headache now my major problem/concern. GP/Receptionist response is A&E. I've got to phone them tomorrow at 8am. the plan was to made myself a roast chicken dinner and plate up a second portion for tomorrow.

Things to make you smile:
I got some funny looks mask wearing. I picked this virus up from the community, most likely the school where I work and I could probably name the student, as I did end up sending them home after throwing a box of tissues at them yelling, cover your mouth when coughing and cough into the tissue, their response was 'I thought tissues were only for sneezing into'

Things that made me happy this week:
Family and friends checking in on me, food drops at the door, video calls with grandchildren.

On the blog this week:
A visit to Attingham Park

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14th - 16th March 2025 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

I'm camping in the van this weekend. The leisure battery isn't working, so it means I've got no lights, water pump or heating. I've got water on site and I always camp where there is a toilet and shower facilities. I've taken the camping cable for the tent so I can plug in a light and charge my laptop. I've packed my onesie and a hot water bottle or two and there are plenty of blankets. The cooker is gas so no problems with that. I've also got my dry robe and wellies. It'll be an adventure. 

*I managed to get a new leisure battery fitted yesterday, good job as I'd woken up to snow on Wednesday morning.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

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Signs of Spring 2025

I love the pops of colour in the garden, the hedgerows and the parks.

The mornings and evenings are lighter and the sky is blue.

Tea is being drunk in the garden in the mornings before work.

I'm camping out in the van this weekend.

Spring is on the way.

There's a lot off work to be done in the garden. the ground is hard, the weather is still on the cooler side and there is still frost to come. 

I've fruit trees to plant in large pots, which means soil needs sifting and ground needs levelling, then we can finish off the new path and get rid of the straight paving slab path that leads to the seating area. The large parasol needs to go up. 

The new trees along with the bamboo, willow and magnolia (all in pots) will break up the ugliness of the fence and the plain brick wall, although I'm very grateful there aren't any windows that over look us.

Week 10 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

I've been exhausted all week, ready for bed by 8pm and asleep by around 9pm. I've also been craving sugary food, can't kick the headache and emotionally drained.

Managed to get a lot done around the house with tidying after rearranging the furniture. lots of stuff sorted for charity shop and the tip, paperwork filled and a big pile of things I'm debating about selling or just giving away.

Day 62

Off work with a migraine and stress. Peter trimmed the chest of drawers so it would fit in the gap as I didn’t measure it properly. I contributed to an article in the Daily Telegraph that was published today about coping with grief.

Day 63 

An emotional wreck in work first thing, too much going on and too much external pressures but my colleagues/friends pulled me back together including a delivery of some flowers from one friends mum. A good rest of the day. Coffee after work, job application sent off (really don’t want to work anywhere else, but reality is just that) evening spent organising the dining room, maybe here a while, video call with grandson, pancakes, bath and bed.

Day 64

Feel like my waffle maker. Stuck. Hearts not in it with work any more. Coffee after with friend and feeling much better. Watched some tv and an early night.

Day 65

Had lots of fun with world book day. Home to try and put a bit of order back into a couple more rooms after switching things around and make the most of a couple of free online trials for education resources that end on the weekend.

Day 66

This one turns 16 this month, she’s slowing down and the neighbourhood cats are winning the fights she starts, she still thinks she can win. Shes seeking revenge thinking she’s the only beneficiary of my will and constantly under my feet. Got an offer of an interview, met Peter after work for coffee, a nice dinner and a relaxed evening.

Day 67

Walked Peter to the train and sad our goodbyes as he’s gone to Turkey to see a friend for 2 weeks. I set off on a later train to watch #bcfcplay, not been for a long time, really enjoyed the day. Home to rearrange the bedroom, bath and bed.

Day 68

Cinema date on my own with Bridget Jones, then a bit of shopping and home to do some gardening. Out later with a friend for a dog walk.

Something to make you smile?

I played a game of 'Where's Wally?' on the school playground at break time. Can you find me?

Things that made me happy this week:

Getting a job interview. Getting jobs done around the house. Birmingham City winning and blue skies. Video calls with the grandchildren. Flowers from a friend to brighten up my classroom.

On the blog this week:

The good bits of February 2025

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7th-9th March 2025 Post Comment Love - World Book Day

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

It was World Book Day yesterday. I work in a secondary school, the kids don't dress us, but the teaching staff do. I went as Where's Wally? I told everyone I was going in to say hi, then once everyone had seen me, I was going home and they could spend the rest of the day looking for me. the Head said all he heard was the walkie talkie going off all day anyway with call outs for me most days asking where I was. Ha ha.

Do you take part in World Book day? Do your kids join in? Is it a thing where you live?

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

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Week 9 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

I coped really well with a medical emergency in work on Monday but fell apart after it was over. In the evening I followed my mental health crisis plan and called the samaritans. The conclusion was that there can be a positive outcome and not all medical emergencies end badly. 

The week ended with me being told it is unlikely my contract will be renewed in September, there just isn't the budget. The school has been my one constant since we moved back to the UK. I've been there 3 years now, maybe it is time for a change. I think I went back to work too early after Stephanie died. Most days I struggle with being there, because work was the last place I was when life was normal.

Child 4 called int he week to say they'd be sorting through baby clothes and had found an outfit Stephanie's carers had sent on her behalf when their first child was born 3 years ago, but the time it had arrived it was too small. They are going to use at the new babies 'going home' from hospital outfit. It makes me happy. 

I'm also ending this week with a migraine, week 2 of constant headache.

Day 55

I had a medical emergency in work, initially dealt with on my own, physically and mentally exhausting which lead to me seeking help and support outside of work hours to process. It was a good outcome. All was ok and it helped me see in a positive light that not all medical emergencies end badly.

Day 56

New hair, new glasses. As Peter says just a replacement of the same. Work was ok. My expectations of life are too high, I need to lower them. We’ve been watching Unforgotten whilst eating dinner. Bath, read some of my book and bed.

Day 57

Got to love a rainbow, didn’t love the rain that proceeded it, I was drenched walking back from the art block. Had a whole lesson to plan some GCSE exam questions for unseen poetry and Lord of the Rings and I managed a hot cup of tea and got the students hot chocolate mugs washed up. Coffee after work with friend. Home for cheese on toast, blogging, tv, bath and bed.

Day 58

Drowning my sorrows in a bubble bath. No chocolate in the house and can’t drink alcohol, still got a migraine. 13th day of it. Job contract not likely to be renewed due to budget cuts. Met Peter for coffee after work and evening spent job hunting. Grateful I don’t rely on the income and have time to look for the right job.

Day 59

Quiet day in work and chance to catch up with some paperwork, emails and a tidy up. Home to wallow and reflect on the week. I’m really struggling with losing Stephanie, we both are. We just can’t find the right words or any support. It feels like Stephanie’s life only had value to us, it hurts so much that we’re the only ones grieving like this. I attempted to take a picture of all the planets, could only see Venus earlier, I like the photo of the stars, they look so pretty.

Day 60

Met mum in Gloucester for a day of shopping, then took her to visit the newest member of the family, our grandson almost 3 weeks old. Home around 7pm for dinner. Put the van on charge and chilled out. Ramadan Mubarak.

Day 61

I’ve come out for coffee and a break. Day spent rearranging the house. Desk out of lounge into dining room and dresser upstairs into main bedroom. Peter now cutting top off dresser as I didn’t measure properly, then home to tidy bedroom so we can go to bed tonight. Lounge and dining room and everything that now needs re-homing will get done in the week.

Something to make you smile?

I can't park the car. I'm not used to driving such a small vehicle. You could fit another vehicle in the space I left here. I was convinvced I was about to hit the wall. When I parallel park, I need a plank to reach the curb, I'm so far away.

Things that made me happy this week:

Croc boots, Ramadan countdown to Eid Mubarak calendar, new book all from mum. Flowers from Peter, just because. Finally found Grandsons Paw Patrol cake mix. Sighting of Ramadan moon (photo rubbish)

One cheques has been issued in the right name for Stephanie's TV licence refund, still waiting for this one to be re-issued, it was sent after she died, lord knows where they think we'll be paying it into.

On the blog this week:

Mount Stewart - National Trust Visit. My favourite bits.

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