Week 35 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

We've been doing a lot of walking on our holiday. We always do a lot of walking when we go away and during the average week I walk around 15-20 miles just around work and home. We often walk to the shops rather than taking the car.

Since we've been in Australia (arrived last Wednesday) we've walked 25 miles along the coast, to my sons and around Sydney.

This photo is from last week, I'm wearing my t-shirt and promoting my fundraising page while we're out here. I've passed 50% of my fundraising target for Bowel Research in memory of Stephanie.

I'm grateful to everyone who has donated so far.

Sunday

Day 236 Awake at 5am after 7 hours solid sleep, can't ask for more than that really, it's about my average. Watched TV in bed, drank tea and had breakfast. I was at the coffee shop at 7am. Son picked us up around 9am and we went to Centennial park to walk the cat, followed by a coffee stop then out for a Sunday lunch. Back to sons for a couple of hours then a lift back to the apartment.

Monday 

Day 237 Awake at 4am again. We read in bed then walked to Coogee along the coast, stopping to eat a gluten free croissant and drink coffee made in the apartment. Peter had breakfast in a cafe and I drank tea while reading our books. We continued reading books in the park and watched a nesting magpie swoop down and attack people by pecking them on the head, we did shout out warnings. Bus to son's and then we went on the SCG and Allianz stadium tour. Off to Eastgate Mall for some dinner then back to the apartment to sit and read and try to keep ourselves awake till 9pm.

Tuesday

Day 238 It was a year ago today that I last spent time with Stephanie and took her out for the day. I had a really bad migraine and almost didn't go. The next time I saw her was 5 weeks later, holding her hand as she died. I felt very sad all day. Awake at 4am again and by 6.30am I was showered and out drinking coffee while Peter got ready for the day. Caught the bus to Bondi Junction for a Starbucks then onto Bondi Beach and after a walk around we headed back to our apartment along the coast on foot, stopping for lunch in Bronte Bay. Had an afternoon nap, then son joined us for dinner in a local pub.

Wednesday 

Day 239 Up early to listen to the BCFC game, we lost. Visit to the laundrette then into Sydney for the day. We walked around 9 miles, stopping for coffees, lunch and having dinner out, before catching the bus back at 8pm. The Sydney marathon takes place on Sunday, they were getting ready for it with barriers and road closures.

Thursday 

Day 240 Hubby awake early to watch the Man Utd game, his team lost also. A bit of a lie in then the bus to Maroubra Beach for breakfast then a walk back along the coast to Clovelley. We stopped in Coogee for a late lunch. We caught the bus over to Paddington to our son's house ready to go out for the Rugby at the Olympic Stadium.

Friday 

Day 241 A lie in and lazy morning, then 3 buses to Spit for a coastal walk to Manly. I was ill prepared, no drink, no lunch and my shoes were rubbing. I just assumed 90 mins along the coast. it was a 4 hour walk up and down, with no toilets or stops on route. My fault, I should've checked the route for myself. It was a lovely 8 mile walk though. We had dinner in Manly and got the ferry and 2 buses back.

Saturday

Day 242

Alarm for 4.30am and son picked us up to watch the football with him at his place. Followed by a lazy day with wandering around the markets, a coffee, watching the Thursday Murder Club on Netflix. Back to our apartment at 4pm and a walk to the beach for sunset and video calls with the grandchildren. Evening spent watching TV.

Things to make you smile:

My friend's friend had his 60th not so long ago and I took a face mask they'd had made on my travels to Australia, he's now trying to work out how he got here.

There are signs warning you of nesting magpies in parks around the city. We saw one that was swooping on people who walked past. It was quite aggressive, we did yell out warnings.

Things that made me happy:

Time with our son and his girlfriend. Reading, coastal walks, coffees. Reaching 50% of my fundraising target. 

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week.

Word of the week - Flying

August 2025 - Days out in the camper van

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Post comment Love 29th-31st August 2025

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.

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. 

We're still in Australia visiting our son and his girlfriend. We arrived to the wettest and heaviest rainfall for 27 years, but it's dried out now and is around 20c in the day, dropping to around 10c during the night.

On our way to Bondi.

In Sydney at Darling Harbour.

We don't have the best accommodation, just a room with kitchenette but we do have the best location.

We don't like spending a lot of money on hotels etc as when we're on holiday all we use the room for is sleeping. In a couple of weeks we'll be in Dubai, we do have a bit of luxurious stay booked.

The beach is a 10 minute walk from our accommodation and we can get on a bus and be in the City within 20 minutes. Everywhere else is reachable via a bus to Bondi Junction. 

We've seen the sights, done the walks, shopped and drunk endless coffees and read several books.

The SCG.

Allianz Stadium.

Sydney Opera House where the Marathon finishes on Sunday.

Book with a view. Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Bondi Beach, sunny but chilly.

Next weekend we'll be in Tasmania.

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

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Words of the week - Flying

Hello from Australia.

Having spent 11 years living in South Africa and Dubai we're more than used to flying. Ether 12 hours direct from SA or 8 hrs to Dubai and 7 hours onto the UK. 

Child 3 moved out to Australia in 2017 and this is my 4th trip to visit him (3rd for Peter)

2019 My first trip was from Dubai and I broke the journey up with a stop over in Singapore for 2 hours. I got off the plane, stretched my legs, got a Starbucks, then boarded again with mostly the same passengers, back into the same seat onto Sydney. It was 2 x 7 hour flights. I flew back direct from Melbourne.

We used to joke that a 7 hour flight was short haul for us travelling between Dubai and the UK.

Covid stopped us visiting for 3 years, but I still made flights to and from the UK to Dubai

2022 My 2nd trip was 7 hours to Dubai. Peter came with me and we were now living in the UK. The usual stretch legs, Starbucks and then 14 hours onto Sydney. We had a couple of internal flights to travel to The Gold Coast and Sydney of 2-3 hours each. I flew home from Sydney and Peter returned 2 weeks later and spent a few nights in Dubai on his way back.

2023 Was a flight via Kuala Lumper which was 10 hours, 3 over stop over and yes, stretched legs and coffee, then 8 hours onto Sydney. We had more internal flights up to Cairns and Brisbane and flew home from Sydney via Kuala Lumpur Lumper where we stayed for 4 nights.

2025 We're back in Sydney, via 2 hours in Dubai and we've got 4 nights in Dubai on our way home. Another 7 hour and 14 hour flight. 

Emirates is our preferred airline, but often due to only being able to travel in the school holidays we've opted for other airlines as the price can differ between £1000-£2000 return for the two of us. We were silver members for many years with the airline and benefitted from using the lounge and early boarding, which we do miss being able to take advantage of.

We picked up the AirBus A380 in Dubai

There is so much more room in economy than other planes, so no need for any upgrades. We booked Premium economy with Virgin with our 11 hour flight to Vegas over Christmas and we really needed it. Emirates haven't compromised with economy. Our only issue with booking with Emirates to Dubai or Australia is making sure the code share isn't a Qantas plane, as it's a completely different flying experience.

I opted to have the gluten option on the flights. Usually I just don't eat the bread roll, crackers and cake, usually bringing my own. But I noticed this was a really heavy carb based meal flight. I actually wasn't impressed with any of my meals. They get served earlier than the rest of the cabin do, which also meant I had the tray for twice as long. I also didn't get to see what was I was going to have in advance and was served fish which I don't mind but it really doesn't reheat that well and was very rubbery.

The cakes and bread were really heavy with exceptionally long use by dates. It was also very fatty and sugary)

In theory the gluten free range looked promising

The reality not so good. I couldn't eat this.

I'll be popping some crackers, a cake and bread roll in my hand luggage for the return flight and just having a normal meal (chicken or beef).

August 2025 - Days out in the camper van

Our camping trip to Northern Ireland continued into August with a night in Scotland on our way home. Our sailing was delayed by 2 hours so I cooked up some pasta for lunch and put the kettle on while we waited. 

We arrived around 8pm after the ferry crossing. We sat and read for the evening after we'd eaten on the ferry we just had some snacks and a couple of drinks.

The van had a full spring clean, bedding and blankets washed, cupboards emptied and cleaned and van repacked. There was quite a bit of stuff we hadn't used so it didn't go back in. There's so much storage in the van with all the bedding fitting under the back seats.

I rewarded myself with a vanilla milkshake with a dash of baileys.

The next camping trip is planned for October back to Northern Ireland. The van is due it's annual service in September and I've a night booked in the Chilterns when I take on my sponsored walk for Bowel Research in memory of Stephanie.

Week 34 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

At some point on Tuesday we picked up a nine hour time difference on our flight to Sydney. I've had to write the days down this week so I know where I am.

It's been the wettest winter for 27 years, glad we packed our waterproofs.

I've been catching up with sleeping and blog comments in the afternoons whilst we've been drying out.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored and shared my post. I've hit 50% of my target.

Anca - in Australia people take their cats on the road when they go camping. My son and his girlfriend take their cat out for walks. Pushkins had to go back in her box very quickly as she sat under Peter's feet while he was driving.

The last time we saw child 3 was at his sister's funeral in October 2024. This of course has been a trigger for me. Him and I went food shopping on Wednesday and as we were leaving the store he took the trolley to push it back to the car and I automatically grabbed the front end and started steering the trolley. It was something I did with Stephanie. She would use the trolley almost like a walker, but without guidance she'd either walk into an object or most often just go in any direction the wheels took her.

Sunday

Day 229 A day of cleaning. I started upstairs and enlisted hubby with some vacuuming after he'd mown the lawn while I cleaned the bathrooms. We took a break and went out for coffee and to print some more photos off. I then sat in the garden and scheduled blog posts up till the end of September, commented on posts for all the links I join in with. While Peter watched the football I finished the cleaning downstairs, he vacuumed and it was time for tea, a bath and an early night.

Stephanie forever 36. Boys now 36, 33, 30 & 26

Monday
Day 230 Kitchen cleaned, washing on and hung up, popped to the post office, picked up some photos, had lunch and off to the airport for a 10pm flight to Australia. I tried some flavoured sprite last the airport and suffered for almost an hour with my gall bladder not long after we took off. I swallowed pain killers and walked around the plane belching loudly.

Tuesday 

Day 231 Still on the aeroplane after a quick change in Dubai, legs stretched and coffee drunk. Slight panic when Peter wasn't able to check in as his visa hadn't been uploaded to the system (not our fault) 13 hour flight to Sydney. It was quite a comfortable journey in economy and the gluten free food menu wasn't too bad. Watched quite a bit of TV and I bought a sewing project with me to keep me entertained.

Wednesday

Day 232 Arrived 6.30am in Sydney but 9.30pm on Tuesday night in the UK. Child 3 collected us and we spent most of the day snoozing on his sofa. A walk out for coffee, then he dropped us at our apartment. After unpacking we walked to the beach and spent the evening watching TV trying to stay awake till a decent time so we don't wake too early.

Thursday

Day 233 Awake around 4am local time (7pm UK time) a very lazy morning. Peter was feeling under the weather and opted to spend the day lounging around the apartment. I caught the bus to Bondi Junction for a coffee and a walk round the mall as it has been raining non stop since we arrived. I walked the 25 min route to my sons and his girlfriends and had a nap on their sofa and dried out for the afternoon. The brought me back after a food shop. Peter and I had soup and bread for dinner and were fast asleep by 10pm.

Friday 

Day 234 Still raining and wake at 4am again. Breakfast by 6am and endless tea in bed. Showered, dressed and out for a walk to Coogee Beach for our second breakfast. We went back to the apartment and made lunch and read our books. Son picked us up and I spent the afternoon asleep on his sofa. He ran us back.

Saturday 

Day 235 Woken at 3am by a disturbance outside and didn’t get back to sleep. Bus to sons and a walk round a local market then into Sydney for the day. Back to sons for dinner and a lift home. Evening spent reading and watching football. A dry day today, it seems the endless rain has come to a stop.

Things to make you smile:

It has rained non stop since we arrived, thankfully we packed our waterproofs, but in an effort to save space I only had light weight shoes or trainers and my feet haven't been dry or warm yet.

Things that made me happy:

Seeing my son after almost a year. We last saw hime when he flew over for Stephanie's funeral in October 2024. Seeing his girlfriend again after we briefly met her on our last trip in August 2023, they had only just got together.

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week

Word of the Week - Orange Button

My garden in August

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Post Comment Love - 22nd-24th August 2025

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.

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. 

Hello from Australia for the next couple of weeks.

We're visiting child 3 who moved out here 8 years ago. It's my 4th visit and hubbies 3rd. 

It's pouring with rain and has been the wettest winter in 27 years.

Our accommodation is a 10 minute walk from the beach with a variety of coffee shops and bars. We can do some basic cooking and there is a laundry room and a bus stop on the corner to get to Bondi Junction.

We'll be doing a lot of walking along the coastal routes during the days and spending evenings and weekends with our son and his girlfriend.

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Word of the Week - Orange Button

I'm an Orange Button wearer. 

I attended training with Worcestershire county council last month. The training is intended for you to wear the Orange Badge in work, either paid or voluntary or in your own time in the community.

The role is to be approachable and not run from the word suicide, a first point to start a conversation, to be non-judgemental, caring and an understanding listener, sign post and be somebody to ask directly about suicide.

It is not to provide counselling or therapy, long term support, a replacement for the NHS or a mental health referral service.

I've linked this post to Word of the Week with Raisiebay.com

 

My garden in August 2025

We've done loads of work to the garden since we got our house back in 2020, rebuilding sheds, building a new shed, demolishing the old ones, moving the soil from the building, twice, as we were saving it to fill the new raised borders and for levelling off the front garden, which we finally started this week.

Jobs done:

Soil dug, sifted, wheelbarrowed to the front garden, dumped, spread and levelled. Bags of rocks to the skip. Tree stump removed. 

Jobs left to do:

Cut conifer tree down and remove roots.

Plan and build new path.

Build a greenhouse, cold frame for wintering plants.

This is the area we've been moving the soil from so we can build a new path.

1st-7th August.

We've got so many tomato plants that I've been giving them away. These are ripening on the windowsill and I'll be freezing for making chutney.

I've collected seed heads and pods from around the garden, sweet William, sweet peas and poppies.

We inherited these pots 23 years ago when we moved here and this tree took some effort to remove.

   

The raised beds have been a huge success but I'll be planning next years planting.

The parsnips taste so sweet. They've been blanched and frozen. I'll plant more next year for sure.

8th-15th August

I wish I could share the fragrance of the sweet peas. They're in pots near every door.

I have melons, cucumbers, beans, peppers and pumpkins growing really well in the garden.

I think with the number of pumpkins I have that I'll be able to open a 'pick your own' pumpkin patch in time for Halloween.

Next year I want to plant more beans, strawberries and parsnips. I'll have the same amount of tomatoes. I'll grow the pumpkins and melons in a bigger space and just 1 cucumber plant. I want to grow peas, spring onions and more herbs. 

What do you grow in your garden?