Week 11 2025 One Daily Positive and Project 365

Can't believe how fast this week has gone. One down and another to go before Peter gets home. I've got so much done, but I've also had plenty of rest. I've ended the week with a stinking cold. Headache and migraine still lingering (I'm wondering if it's the anti depressants, will contact GP next week) Patience with life and everyone in it running very thin indeed.

Last week, we moved the desk from the lounge to the dining room which meant every other room in the house had to be rearranged to accommodate movement of furniture. It's taken a couple of hours every day after work to switch wardrobes around, clear out both the spare rooms so there is proper space for the kids when they come to visit. Tidied the attic and rearranged my craft room and there is a pile of things for charity, stuff for rehoming (including the old compost bin and some material for work) and stuff for the tip which I'll deal with next week. 

Day 69 
A strange start emotionally to my day and quiet but productive in work. Home via town, coffee and birthday gift shopping. Dinner then a rearrange started in my craft room after shifting furniture from downstairs. Bed by 10pm. Cat doing its usual in/out all evening.

Day 70 

Another quite but productive morning in work. English tutoring in the afternoon, preparing for GCSE English. Reading the question and understanding how to answer the language papers. Straight home from work, regretting my choice of dinner. Some more tidying in the craft room and material donation for work. Wrote up Macbeth notes, blogging, bath and bed.

Day 71 

Woke to surprise snow. Busy afternoon English GCSE tutoring. Home, dropped car off, took van to garage for new leisure battery, walked home. Cooked dinner, call with financial advisor, more reorganising, bath, TV, early bed full of cold.

Day 72 

Drove home after work, walked down to collect van, packed, washing on, cooked dinner, watched The Devil Wears Prada, bath and bed. Hadn’t realised how much not knowing where Stephanie’s ashes are is affecting me until I walked through the church yard, a regular route. I don’t need somewhere to go. I need to know where I could go if I needed to if that makes any sense.

Day 73 

Packed the car, including the old compost bin to drop at work. Filled the water tank to discover the tap/pump isn’t working. Set off to the Forest of Dean after work. Flipping cold, but I have heating in the van and lots of bedding. Evening spent reading and blogging, egg on toast for dinner.

Day 74 

Leisurely morning, breakfast, coffee, reading. Washed up and packed away. Collected granddaughter and after cuddles with grandson, we headed off to Puzzlewood. We ate our picnic in the van which was the highlight of the day. More cuddles with grandson. Home via my old neighbourhood to see my friend of 31 years to drop off her birthday gift. Van unpacked, after eating Chinese I’d collected on route, bath and bed.

Day 75

Started the day with a food shop and a coffee. Home to potter around, finished my 2nd book of the year. Fell out of love with reading when Stephanie died. Wrapped some presents, packed a parcel for son in Australia, tried to sort water pump in van (I failed) cooked dinner. Friend came round for a cuppa and helped me load double mattress into van for the tip tomorrow.

Things to make you smile:

Took granddaughter out for the day, we got 200 yards from the house and she said 'I miss my mummy and daddy' I said I missed her daddy too. I then asked her, if her daddy missed me as his mummy' and she said 'no he doesn't, he's a grown up now' She then thought for a moment and said ' I wonder how my mummy and daddy will manage without me while I'm out with you'

She is such a superstar. I asked if she knew that not only am I her daddy's mummy, but I am also Uncle Jamies and Uncle Daniels mummy. She found this really funny as she hadn't considered this, she knew they were her daddy's brothers and I was daddy's mummy. She then added 'and you're aunty Stephanies mummy as well' 

Getting a double mattress down the stairs into the van, asked my friend from work to come and help me,  Everything going to the tip and charity shops next week.

Things that made me happy this week:

Video calls with our grandson in Northern Ireland and a visit with Granddaughter and new grandson. Camping, deer on the camp site, visiting old (my former home) and new places.

On the blog this week:

Signs of Spring 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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. 

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The good bits of February 2025

Things that made me laugh:

Dining and ditching at brunch and being chased down the street to come back and pay - well they walked after us very slowly, we hadn't got far.

My friend always finds the muddiest of walks for us, she dropped her phone with the map in the deepest and muddiest puddle ever.

Only 4 of us at the cinema and the ticket staff, sat us next to each other.

Getting told off by a 3 year old because I don't know my difference between a tractor and a telehandler.

Struggling to park the world's smallest car.

Places we visited:

Stephanie's old school on her birthday.

Child 2's house to visit our granddaughter and her new baby brother.

Ferry to Belfast to visit child number 4 and family.

Strangford Lock and Mount Stewart with grandson for the day.

Attingham Park near Shrewsbury on our way home from the ferry.

Lots of coffee dates (other chains visited)

Things we did at home:

Enjoying the weather warming up.

Not so much a job done yet, but making lists of jobs to do.

Hubby made me move the plants off the window sill because they might cause mould, no mould, plants moved, window looks bare and cat keeps knowing plants on floor. Plants had sat there happily for three years.

Charity shop sort out underway.

Easter bags being made. Posting to Australia and a a gift bag being taken to Turkey.

Desk apparently needs moving into dining room, this will involve rearranging the whole house, but watch this space.

Suitcase has been sitting here since we got back from Las Vegas on New years Day, it was needed for February half term and is still out waiting for it's trip to Turkey next week. I doubt it will go away before it's holiday to Australia in the summer.

How was February for you?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter