Week 48 One Daily Positive and Project 365

Trigger warning:

I wish I'd had warnings of these triggers this week. 

The first one was buying cards on behalf of my mum for Christmas. I've accepted that this year there won't be gifts or a card for Stephanie. I've written a card for her care home. I was aware her name wasn't on the Christmas gift list. It makes me sad. The trigger came when I stood in the card shop in front of the 'daughter' section and the reality kicked in that there was no daughter card to be bought this year.

The second trigger was a story on Radio 2 and on the news about a dog in Northern Ireland that alerted a woman to her husband having a heart attack. He survived it. The trigger was the wife talking about her husbands breathing 'the death rattle' thankfully I had only just started the engine and I had 20 minutes before I needed to return to work and was able to work my way through the PTSD flashback to the night my father died.

The third trigger was crossing a bridge over the canal in Worcester, the first crossing left me a little uneasy but I couldn't work out why, then as I crossed back to the car, it clicked. We've crossed the bridge a couple of times since Stephanie died but it was the first time I'd been on it on my own. We'd brought Stephanie here in 2019 and I had a physical image of me placing her hands on the rail as I stepped back to take her photo. I struggled to get home, I was so sad. 

The fourth trigger was I was fully prepared this year that there would be no 1st of December box for Stephanie. Peter suggested we stop at Starbucks on our way out on Saturday and I was driving. I was in charge of our route, then I realised we were going to mums first so not down the M50, but via Gloucester and this meant the same route we would drive to Stephanies's. I've moved on with driving this route, I've moved on with going to the Starbucks we used to take her to, but ... the combination of not going to see her, not taking her out for coffee and not taking her 1st of December box all at the same time was too much.

Sunday 

Day 326 I didn't wake until 9am. Made a cup of tea and phoned Peter and at 9.20 I had a mad panic to get ready and pick my friend up at 9.45am as we were going out for breakfast and a wander round the local garden centre. Had a good natter and catch up and we're going out for a few drinks on Saturday with a couple of other friends. Dropped her home then back out to do a food shop. Back to bed for a couple of hours with a migraine and a ton of meds. Then the rest of the day spent cleaning the bathrooms and dusting and hoovering upstairs. I had a bath, watched I'ma. celeb and went to bed at 10.30pm. Painted my nails, updated my blog and asleep around 11.30pm.

Monday 

Day 327 Woken rudely by my alarm. Into work and a good day of classes. English and Maths. I know the subject in the morning, but often don't see the lesson plan until just before the class starts so I have little time to prepare. The resources are always ready but my knowledge often isn't. Home and washing in tumble dryer, cat fed and I got changed and headed straight out to the gym. My arches really hurt so running was a no go. I went on the rowing machine and the bikes and have been advised to use the cross trainer the rest of this week until I can have my running analysed next week and I need to go back to running outdoors as well to see if it's a problem there. Picked up mum's Christmas cards which was a trigger buying cards for 'daughter' had a coffee, then home and a catch up call with my cousin in Brighton. I then ran the hoover round downstairs, cooked my dinner, got ready for work in the morning, mopped the kitchen floor, dishwasher on and emptied, a final tidy round, bath and in front of the telly to watch I'm a celeb, before getting into bed at 10.30pm.

Tuesday

Day 328 Last morning of making my own tea. Into work which went well despite not being able to retrieve students work from the DT room as it was hard tracking down someone with a key. I joked with the students I hadn't passed the test to work be allowed around sharp objects. I ended up with extra students and had a surprise year 10 maths lesson for which I was unprepared for but muddled through. Home to Peter who arrived back early afternoon. I cooked a roast chicken for dinner, unwrapped my presents, lots of yummy Turkish delight. Filled Peter in on I'm a celeb. he wasn't interested but he'll be subjected to watching it and he ends up enjoying it each year. He got gripped on Traitors in the end.

Wednesday

Day 329 Very icy drive to work with puddles cracking underneath. I invigilated two exams, covered science and maths. Home and changed and off to the gym then met a friend for coffee. In the gym I tried the treadmill again but with a gradient but the running was too painful so I walked at a fast pace of 4mph for half an hour. Got home at 7pm, watched Birmingham on the telly, then I'm a celeb on ITV plus 1 and into bed at 11.30pm. A photo of the Retail Park at night.

Thursday

Day 330 Another good day in work. One of the women I'm working with asked me where I went to school, turns out we were at the same school a few years a part, I couldn't remember her, but she knew who I was. Into Worcester after work to buy the last few bits and pieces for mum to finish her Christmas shopping that she can't get where she lives. She'll catch the bus to Gloucester one day, but I can't guarantee a Saturday where I can meet her to drive her home afterwards. We're visiting this Saturday but don't have the time for shopping in Gloucester on our way to visit. Evening spent watching Celebrity race around the world and I'm a celeb.

Friday

Day 331 Work was good. Straight home, changed and out for a run before it got too dark. I ran to the pharmacy for my flu jab, than ran onto the retail park to meet Peter for a coffee. Home for dinner and I put the Christmas tree, tinsel and lights up. Watched I'm a celeb and in bed by 11pm. Peter went to visit a friend in hospital for the day in Swindon, he did some Christmas shopping and bought himself some new saucepans. 

Saturday

Day 332 I slept till 8am, then off to the Forest of Dean, via Gloucester and a Starbucks to drop off Mum's pre Christmas gift of a colour in Christmas tree blanket, she loved it. Then off to child 2 and the family to drop off their traditional 1st December boxes with crafts and Christmas clothing. We stopped off in Malvern for a meal. Peter left me in town as I was meeting friends for Christmas drinks for the evening. I got home around midnight.

Things to make you smile:

My granddaughter aged 6 takes things very seriously. Two weeks ago she licked me instead of giving me a kiss and I gave her a side eye. This week when we were leaving, I licked her back and acted like nothing had happened, she stood there in total shock. 'Granny licked me' everyone struggled to keep a straight face, trying to pretend they had no idea what she was on about. I think I may have just started a war I'm not going to win.

Things that made me happy:

Peter coming home, A visit with the grandchildren, a night out with friends.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the week - Gym

The best bits of October 2025

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28th - 30th November 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.

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. 

Peter returned from his trip to Turkey after 2 weeks and within a couple of hours it didn't feel like he'd been away at all. I've spent the time getting the house ready for Christmas. There has been a lot of cleaning and tidying and getting rid of stuff that has been accumulating. 

We're off to visit my mum tomorrow to drop off part of her Christmas present. It's a blanket with a Christmas tree on it that she can colour in. Then we're off a few miles down the road to visit child 2, our DIL and our granddaughter and grandson to drop off their December 1st gifts which include advent calendars for all, Christmas clothing and crafts. I started doing this for everyone when we were living abroad as a way of staying connected over the holiday period. I'll need to remind child 4 that I took the gifts for him, our DIL and our grandsons back in October. 

Child 3 and his girlfriend received theirs in Australia back in October as you never know how long post takes and my cousins in America received theirs in October and two days ago. It took two attempts for the one parcel to the US and cost me £57 in total and I'm still arguing with the post office as on the first occasion it never actually left the UK. 

Sunday I'm off for a run, then the Christmas tree and decorations are going up.

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Word of the week - Gym

I've often wondered why people join the gym. 

Why they choose to run on the spot, row with no where to go and cycle while watching the TV?

Well last week I discovered why?

I started running back in October and two weeks ago it got too dark for me run after work.

It wasn't just about my safety. Finding a route that was well lit and not isolated, but more about being able to see where I was running and not worrying about tripping over or thumping through puddles, slipping in mud, or stamping in dog poo.

Going a gym is a big thing for me. Whilst I'm a social person and I love meeting people, I'm not a joiner. I hate joining in with things. I hate having to be a place, at a set time, to do a set thing with people. With the gym I can go on my own, I don't even have to go in the car, I can walk there, it's relatively quiet at the time I go and it's next door to the coffee shop, so if I get there and it's too busy I've got somewhere to wait.

My introduction to the gym went really well. They started by showing me how the equipment worked and I was really overwhelmed but I plucked up the courage to say 'stop' and I told them what I wanted from the gym and I've mastered 3 pieces of equipment:

The treadmill - stand on the edge, attach the safety clip (so if I slow down and move towards the back of the machine and it snaps off, it stops the machine so I don't fly off) step onto the machine and start to walk. I press the up button to a speed I'm comfortable and slowly build up the speed until I'm running. There's a 'cool down' button and it slows me back down to a walk, followed by 'stop' and step off. The screen tells you how far you've run and for how long. There's a screen with auto forest route to watch or you can choose city vibe and I ran around the streets of Munich, which was interesting as I've walked round there and the English Gardens many times.

Rowing machine - Manually move the level between 10-1 (I choose 7) sit down, strap feet in, pick up handle and just row. You can turn screen on and it tells you how fast and far you've rowed.

Cross Trainer - Slightly harder to get on and off as it starts to move as you step on it. Simple screen to tell you how far and how long.

In the second week I mastered the bikes.

I've had a problem with the treadmill with my arches, especially on my right foot and if I'm honest I find it a bit boring not having a change of scenery. I've started downloading programs to watch on my iPhone  although you can watch TV on the screen and connect your headphones, I just haven't figured out how yet. 

I prefer running in the mornings, but I don't have time before work in the week, they do have a wonderful changing room and showers but it would mean getting up round 5.30am. I might give it a go.

 I go to the gym as soon as I get home from work on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday and I'm going out for a run on a Sunday morning and haven't been able to do a parkrun since I did my first one 3 weeks ago, due to weather and flooding in Monmouth. I'm doing one in Swindon next Saturday.

I'm going to use the gym to build strength and endurance and I'll have to master the other equipment, but I'm sure I'll manage and I'll have to run outdoors 3 times a week even if it is dark as there is a local running group that meet around 7pm, whilst it's not a time I prefer, I'm going to have to suck it up as the treadmill really isn't for me.

The best bits of October 2025

 

There was some comfort to be found in October on the first anniversary of Stephanie's death with a visit to the Forest of Dean to spend time where we used to take Stephanie when she was younger. Although we don't have her ashes or even know where they are, this is where we would've taken her.

The love and kindness from friends, our children and my cousin who have supported us throughout the year and in the lead up to the anniversary has been amazing. A gift from one friend.

The weather in October has been bizarre from sun puddling through to foggy days up the Malvern Hills. 10 days apart.

We've camped a couple of times in Newport and in Northern Ireland and enjoyed the van for picnics during the day.

We visited Croft Castle

Hanbury Hall

Tredegar House

We've had video calls and visits with all 4 of our grandchildren

I decorated the garden and house for Halloween

And both of the older grandchildren enjoyed a Halloween day out. One to the Pumpkin patch, the other to West Midland Safari Park.

We've been out for meals

Done a lot of work in the garden, preparing it for winter

And in general had a lot of fun.

How was your October?

Week 47 2025 One Daily Positive and Project 365

Quite a lot has been ticked off my 'to do' list and there has been a lot added, but I made my way through it all. I've been mainly chasing things up but I've also been adding things I enjoy but I've let slip, such as reading and running.

I've joined the local gym that I started on Monday, the weather has been miserable and I'm not a big fan of running at night especially trying to find flat routes that don't involve isolated areas like the industrial park.

I've also been watching a lot more television since discovering new channels on the TV in the bedroom and have been binge watching two channels dedicated to Hoarders and Air Plane Investigations.

Sunday 

Day 319 Woke up feeling crap, physically and mentally. No energy and no desire to do anything. Forced myself up and to clear up the mess I'd dumped in the hall yesterday, take things upstairs and tidy the bedroom and landing. Dragged myself out for a coffee and did some blogging and a small food shop spent the afternoon in the garden, wrapping fleeces on plants, planting bulbs and moving pots as the temps are dropping to below zero. I also sat and read some of my book. Bins out and stuff put in the car ready for drop offs. I felt so much better. Bath and hair wash and lot of little bits and pieces done. Catch up with a few friends on the phone and via messaging all in time ready to watch 'I'm a celeb, get me out of here' then bed.

Monday 

Day 320 I woke with a migraine, took my meds and went into work, I covered English all day, all year groups. No wonder it's so hard when student's switch schools, it's almost lie starting from scratch, esp if it's a different exam board. I cooked a roast dinner enough for two night and some chicken to make a pasta with for my lunch for the next couple of days. I went to the gym for my induction session and spent 30 mins on the rowing machine and cross trainer, followed by a 30 minute run. Evening spent on the phone with my friends, watching TV and reading, bed at 10pm.

Tuesday 

Day 321 I slept through my alarm, felt sick, made a cup of tea and fell back to sleep till midday. I had a bath, got dressed and had dinner number 2 from yesterday. Did some tidying around the house and took myself out into town early evening for a coffee. Hoem and evening spent putting things back in the attic, tidying up the spare bedroom and repacking the christmas decorations and sorting stuff for the tip, recycling and books for mum, work and my friend. Bed at 10pm and straight to sleep.

Wednesday 

Day 322 Back to work after waking to surprise snow which melted by mid morning. Bloody cold. A good day in work with year 11's. Home, cat fed, I got changed and went straight down the gym, followed by a coffee shop visit and bumped into my friend's husband and had a catch up. Home to cook dinner and make a pasta salad for the next 2 days. Did some blogging, had a bath and I made some Christmas cards and wrapped presents in front of the TV. In bed by 10.30pm.

Thursday

Day 323 It's really cold at the moment. Off to work and a good day. I had a little gift in my pigeon hole from my 'secret friend' Home to meet the plumber for a quote for a new bathroom, ensuite and downstairs loo. Earliest he can start the work is March but he can fit the radiator in the kitchen in the next few weeks, which means after 3 years the kitchen will finally be finished. I went out for a coffee and did some blogging, home for dinner, a bath and finish writing my Christmas cards and tidy the box away. Watched Celebrity race across the world and I'm a celeb before bed.

Friday 

Day 324 Clear blue morning skies. The week has flown by, it has helped being busy. Home, changed and down the gym, still not 100% and my arches are really hurting after 2 miles. I really should be increasing my distance by now so I'm looking at new exercises and new running shoes. Washing machine on, dinner cooked, tumble dryer on the go. TV watched, some Christmas presents wrapped and bed at 11pm.

Saturday 

Day 325 A lie in, cat sorted for the day and train into Birmingham. A wander round the City, a bit of shopping, coffee and book read, then off to St Andrews for the 150th anniversary match against Norwich.  football. Our 3rd home win in a row and 4 goals scored in each and only 1 place away from the play offs. home at 7pm to discover I hadn't made the bed grrrr, but Christmas bedding on now, bath, TV and bed.

Things to make you smile:

The kids from school realising I have a life outside of work and being super surprised to see me on the weekend 20 miles away. It happens to be where I live and the nearest town to the school.

Things that make me happy:

Getting my 'to do' list complete 

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Join in with any post written this week

Word of the week - Space

My garden in October

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Post comment Love - 21st-24th November 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. 

I was sad to see the pictures of Monmouth this week after the flash flooding when the River Monnow breached suddenly on Monday night. It's where I did my first parkrun the other week, where my family lived for nearly 20 years, where we had our flat when we lived abroad and where I visit regularly to see close friends of which one had a rental property that has been flooded. The town has suffered badly.

Tuesday morning the Severn had flooded local roads and on Wednesday morning I drove to work in the snow which cleared up quickly. There is a lot more flooding to come. It's really cold at the moment with bitter winds.

I'm off to the football tomorrow, I'll be travelling to Birmingham on the train and wrapping up warm. On Sunday I'm out for breakfast at a local garden centre with a friend and spending the rest of the day cleaning the house.

My last week to get the house sorted before Peter comes home from his holiday in Turkey. Just a few things to drop off with various people, but I think I'm all done now apart from putting the Christmas decorations up which may or may not be done on Monday night. They're behind the sofa so not in the way.

I've written most of the Christmas cards, not many to post this year. I've sent all the cards and gifts that go abroad and we've got child 4 and his family visiting mid December, although we took all their gifts over to them in October and child 2 and his family are coming Christmas Eve till Boxing Day, so I've plenty of time to finish buying their gifts and get them wrapped and under the tree.

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Word of the week - Space

This week's word of the week is Space. Space in my head and space to get things done.

Peter is away in Turkey visiting a friend for two weeks. He's home next Tuesday.

I need the space.

Not from him, but to get things done (see last week's post) and just to be. 

I made a right mess last week getting the Christmas decorations out the loft, tidying the loft space, before putting the camping gear back up there for the winter.

This all got rearranged mid week and the suit cases are going to the tip and the decorations have been repacked into boxes after clearing space in the loft.

The fans and camping gear are back in the loft and all the baby equipment is in the wardrobe.

This is what the room looks like now. Ready for child 4 and his wife and family to visit next month. The car seats are going to between the two DILs and the baby bath is going for donation.

My craft room is now beyond use, however, I now have space in the loft room opposite to sort through things properly and I will be rearranging the furniture in here to make better use of the room, but that's a job for the new year.

The loft room. Along with my craft room, formally the attic which we converted into two bedrooms back in 2005 for 2 of the boys. The metal shelves contain my late fathers stamp collection which I'm slowly working my way through and the boxes contain old pub and car badges which will eventually be going up on the outside wall in the back garden, now I've been had the space to able to sort through them properly.

Before

After

Peter wants to help me and that's great, but I only need the help at certain key points and in between the house is in chaos. I go out to work during the day and he is left with my mess. It's not just about space, it's about time and appreciation of their being another person in the house. I'm used to being able to do jobs at my own speed knowing Peter won't be hone till 6pm and now that is something he benefits from with me in work all day. Like not having to finish these tasks in one go.

Having space to leave non fridge/freezer items out until after I've had a cup of tea and sat down for half an hour without 'where do you want me to put these things? I need to use the microwave'

Having the space to leave the baby clothes out for as long as it takes me to upload them to Vinted without 'where would you like me to put these for you?'

Leaving bowls filled with bleach to soak without having to tell anyone 'careful the bowls in the kitchen have bleach in them'

Taking my time to go through paperwork and recycling on the dining room table without taking up anyone else's space. This lot sorted by Monday.

Leaving things on the stairs in piles for each room to take up towards the end of the day without having to resort because someone else has taken them up and put them in the spare room for me, which is a great help, but I tend to forget to put them away when they're 'out of sight, out of mind' This lot sorted by Monday.

For almost all of the time we've been together apart from when Peter retired in June 2021. I've spent an awful lot of time on my own while he's been working, going away most weeks for the odd night while we lived in the UK, then when we moved to South Africa it felt like he was away every other week somewhere in the world. His working days could see him come home after 7pm most days having left the house at 7am and after the kids left home in 2014 and we moved to Dubai, I spent a lot of time on my own and had an awful lot of space to myself.

I get space to empty my head in the mornings when I wake around 4-5am and I sit in the back room with my laptop and a cup of tea. I will do the things that are bugging me, like sorting my bag out, getting things together that I need to drop off or do. Get my blogging done, write letters and reply to emails.

I don't want to be on my own, this isn't what this post is about, it's about having space every now and then to just be or get things done without interruption from day to day life. It's not just about the physical space, it's about the space not to have to think about things, to not have to communicate my thoughts, my needs, my intentions.

I've got a week left to finish a few jobs and for that I now need to write a list. There's stuff for charity shops which I will be donating to in Monmouth once the ones that were flooded have reopened. Stuff for the skip. Books for mum, books for work, books for my friend and cardboard for recycling all currently sitting in the hall. It was all in the car/van on Wednesday ready for dropping off.

Old sweet tubs on the top floor to go into work for food tech. Packed in the car by Wednesday.

A combination of Christmas decorations to put up, a tree and some decorations to donate, mugs for the charity shop and a pile of paperwork on the sofa to sort through. Paperwork sorted on Tuesday.

Then finally the rest of the baby clothes to upload on Vinted, a pile of artificial flowers to add to wreath and a box of Christmas cards to make and write and presents to wrap to go under the tree.

My plan is to be finished over the weekend. A couple of hours a day after work is all I need as I have the space to spread out on in and not have to worry about getting in anyone else's way.