Week 51 One Daily Positive and Project 365

I was very excited to receive my first email this week for this first stage towards becoming a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026. I was a volunteer in Birmingham 2022 and as you may or may not know my love of working in sports is a passion of mine having previously worked for the Football Association and on the DP World Golf Tour in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and in the UK. I'm also a huge fan of attending sporting events, time and distance is sadly against me for a lot of events, but for the past season and a half I've returned to St Andrews in Birmingham for every home game.

Sunday Day 348 Early morning wake up message from son and girlfriend to let us know they were both safe in Sydney after the shooting in Sydney as it was moving day and they weren’t on Bondi beach. Son and family off out visiting family in Forest of Dean. I went for a run, Peter to the driving range then we met for a coffee and to spend the day lounging around and just chilling out. I finished my Book club reading and caught up with TV shows. Son and family back late.

Monday

Day 349 Home from work at lunch time, blood test and goodbyes said to son, DIL and grandsons. Always sad to say goodbye as I won't see them again till February and our half terms are different now. I got changed and went to the gym for 45 minutes and Peter walked down and joined me for a coffee. The evening was spent restoring order to the house. Beds stripped and washing machine and tumble dryer on. 

Tuesday

Day 350 Home from work and spent an hour tidying up the grandchildren's bedroom and made the beds. Peter did the ironing during the day and cleaned the bathrooms. I picked up a gift and dessert and headed into town to get my nails done and get a bit of shopping then spent the evening at my friends for dinner and watched A miracle on 34th Street (1995 version) which I'd never seen before and had no idea of the plot. I got home at 10pm, had a bath and went straight to bed.

Wednesday

Day 351 Into work, home and straight to the gym for 90 minutes on the cross trainer, rowing machine and bike. Had a go on a different machine working on my shoulders which was good and I'll build into my routine. Had a bath and spent the rest of the evening sorting photos, blogging and watching the football.

Thursday

Day 352 Hectic in work trying to keep years 7-11 engaged. Home from out and out for a coffee with a friend then an hour in the gym followed by a manic baking session, bath and in bed at 10pm

Friday

Day 353 I had to check each and every child’s health records on Bromcon for s as allergies before I could hand out cakes to 3 classes today. I had two form groups to look after unit 5 but at least I could just stick a film on. Home and got my stuff ready for an early start tomorrow and tided our bedroom which has been a dumping ground all week. Got changed and caught the train to Worcester for the staff night out, drinks and a meal.

Saturday 

Day 354 My 2nd parkrun and I ran 1 min 40 seconds faster. It was Monmouth’s first parkrun after the devastating floods 4 weeks ago. We left home at 7.30am to get there on time. Breakfast in the town after with my friend and her family and gift exchange, then off to mums to drop and presents and while Peter stopped in to watch telly, mum and I went out shopping. Last stop of the day was to see my friend and her husband to start planning her 40th birthday and our joint holiday to South Africa in April 2027. Home via a take away, football on the telly, bath and watching Hand Gruber falling off Nakatomi Towers.

Things to make you smile:

Antics with the elf on the shelf. 8 staged elf on the shelf photos done ready to send grandson each morning then granddaughter arrives on the 23rd so there will be one for her to find and another on the morning of the 24th to stage. Grandson loved them. 

Things that made me happy:

Out with friends and new work colleagues for drinks and meals, secret Santa, cuddles with grandsons, 

On the blog this week:

The best bits of November 

Word of the week - BUMP

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Word of the Week - Bump

I've had a few BUMPS this weeks.

BUMP - Woke up to an empty house after child 4, his wife and our two grandsons went home on Monday afternoon after a fun packed weekend of baking, bath times, cuddles, elf on the shelf, mess and laughter.

BUMP - There was no chocolate in the house.

BUMP - The side effects of my medication have kicked in. Pins and needles in my hands and feet and chest, almost none stop. it'll settle but having reached maximum dose after restarting the meds 2 months ago, I've been expecting this. I've had a med review on Monday, it's the norm, it's just irritating.

BUMP - I've fallen behind with my target to read 52 books this year. I've got 9 to go. I've come to a stand still, convinced I can't do it, talked myself out of it.

BUMP - We haven't planned our Christmas dinner food shop. I'm not panicking - you're panicking. We've got a joint of beef in the freezer, but nothing else, not even a tub of chocolates (see above)

BUMP - It's been too cold to run. I've fallen behind with my training schedule. I've got a parkrun this Saturday. I should be on schedule for a 10k. I'm currently just about running 5k, but I have been going to the gym and working on my strength.

Bump - I've been quite teary this week and feeling low, but probably because I've had so many BUMPS.

It's hardly surprising.

There's also been so many lovely things going on. Our grandchildren came to visit. I've been enjoying my sweet filled advent calendar, I've read 43 books this year, I'm not stressed over Christmas, I can run 5k, I couldn't run at all back in October less than 3 months ago. It's not all bad.

The best bits of November 2025

There's been a lot of fun in November. I enjoyed watching the finale of Celebratory Traitors. Peter returned from his trip to Turkey, there were visits with our granddaughter and grandson in the Forest of Dean and video calls with our grandsons in Northern Ireland. Plus I had a night camping in Monmouth and completed my first parkrun. Lots of visits to Birmingham to the football and 4-0 wins at home, the Christmas markets, our nephew got married, West Midlands Safari Park at the end of half term with my granddaughter and we even had some snow.

Gluten Free Tim Tam finds in Morrisons.

Making the most of sitting in the garden while it's still warm and dry.

A drive through the Forest of Dean and a Tribute to Dennis Potter in our old town of Coleford.

Being able to visit our old haunts without Stephanie and without the tears.

A coffee without Stephanie.

Christmas cards made and written.

Coffee out, with friends and on my own.

Turkish delight from Turkey.

The tree went up.

Once granddaughter saw the rides, she lost interest in the animals.

How was your November?

Is your December as exciting?

 

Week 50 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

Discovered I've messed up the numbering again. So next year I'm going to put the date rather than the day. I found my mistake it was Day 256 back in September. I honestly can't be bothered to renumber all the posts. I haven't missed a day, I just had 2 days with the same number. 

I've decided to finish the year on week 53 up till the Saturday and repeat the 1st and the 2nd to start the new year, running my week from a Thursday.

Son 2 and family weren't able to come over on Friday, so we didn't get to see all 4 of the grandchildren together which left me feeling a little sad

Sunday 

Day 341 After a late night catching up with my friend and a lie in, we went for a walk after breakfast with her the dog and to feed the cows. After saying goodbye I popped into Monmouth for a coffee and a sandwich and messaged a friend who quickly got out of her pjs and came to meet me for a coffee. I then called in at the grandchildren to drop off cards and called in my old neighbourhood to drop off some gifts. I got home at 6pm, unpacked the van, had a bath and sat down to watch I'm a celeb. 

Monday Day 342  I covered maths all day, revision ahead of assessments tomorrow. Straight into town to the library for Book Club, then coffee, B&M haul and pick up prescription. Out with neighbours to see Santa then dinner, bath, wrapped presents, tv and bed.

Tuesday Day 343 I covered maths all day again, this time for the assessments. Home and straight out for a run. I was cold so phoned Peter for a lift and bought MILs Xmas gift after bumping into a friend for a natter and coffee.

Wednesday Day 344 A day covering Geography, all year groups. Straight home and lots of jobs done to get ready for the grandchildren’s arrival on Friday. Lots of tv watched, the last of the decorations put up, including a tree in their bedroom and the outside lights hung.

Thursday Day 345 Another day covering Geography. Home and straight out for a run with a stop at the GP to sort out medication. Peter met me for a coffee, then a food shop and I got the toys down, made up the cot, had a bath, watched celebrity race across the world and tidied my desk and off to bed via getting the Elf ready for grandsons arrival in the morning.

Friday Day 346 Work couldn’t go quick enough. Son and family arrived mid morning. As soon as I got home I was baking cakes, playing with paw patrol, colouring in, bath time and reading stories for bedtime as well as loads of cuddles with both of our grandsons.

Saturday Day 347 A morning of play and fun. Peter went to visit his mum. Son and I went to Birmingham on the train to the football and DIL and the children spent the day with her aunt and uncle. Everyone home by 7pm for snacks and bedtime stories. Adults watching tv and eating chocolates.

Things to make you smile:

There was fun with Elf on the shelf with grandson asking his mummy if she'd unravelled the toilet roll along the landing on Saturday morning. My friends dog and his her driving goggles.

Things that made me happy:

Having the family stay for the weekend and the eldest grandson mimicking granddad 'I don't know' and adding 'either' to every question. Going up to watch the football with son on the train like we used to do

On the blog this week:

Days out in the campervan. November 2025

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week. Last one till 2026

Word of the week - Unrelenting

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Post Comment Love 12-14th December 2025 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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

Well this is our last post for 2025, but don't worry we'll be back on the 9th January 2026.

I spent last weekend in the van in Cirencester for an annual Christmas walk with my oldest online buddy, Chrissie. 

This weekend child 4, his wife and our two grandsons are visiting from Northern Ireland, an extra visit that they surprised us with, after we took Christmas to them when we visited in October half term like we do every year. DIL is off to visit relatives on Saturday so son and are off to Birmingham to watch the football together. We've been to a couple of games together since 2011, prior to that we used to go together a lot. 

2009 On the train after a home win against Wigan.

Child 2, his wife, our granddaughter and grandson are coming for Christmas. Granddaughter is being collected a day early so Peter and I can take her to the panto and on Boxing Day I'm off to Birmingham to the football again, they'll all pootle off in the afternoon, leaving Peter with some peace and quiet before I get back.

We're hoping for a couple of days out visiting people up till the New Year and there's another football match on January 4th before I go back to work on the 5th.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we'll tweet/x you a reminder on the 9th January 2026.

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. 

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Word of the week - Unrelenting

If you're fed up of hearing about Stephanie.

Fed up of hearing over and over about grief

Hearing yourself saying 'here she goes again'

Sighing and thinking 'what more can I say?'

Then I hear you. You're finding it hard. It is hard to keep being there for someone who is grieving.

I've read the blog posts, I've seen the photos, I've scrolled past. I've not known what to say.

But I've also stopped and paused and lingered and added a heart or a care or a comment or made a connection, because something has tugged at my heart, something has made me think.

It's unrelenting - grieving.

It's become as much, if not more, part of my life as Stephanie was.

I blog about my life, that's what Chickenruby is all about, therefore I blog about my grief. 

I don't mind if you can't comment, because you don't know what to say, that's ok. I don't know how I'm going to feel, how I'm going to react.

I blog about grieving because we all experience grief.

We celebrate a pregnancy and a birth, we celebrate the milestones, we share the achievements. 

We relate, we imagine how wonderful these experiences are if we haven't reached those milestones.

No matter how hard you try to put yourself in someone else's shoes though you can never replicate the experience, the feeling, the elation and the joy, because everyone's experience is different.

It's the same with grief.

The lead up to Christmas is agonising. Not being able to buy the card, the gifts, not being able to drop off the advent calendar. This is the week all this would have been done. It's noticeable we're not doing it. It's the 2nd Christmas without Stephanie. It's not easier, the gap in our lives without her is immense. 

Two of our 4 sons and all 4 of our grandchildren are visiting this weekend.

The last time we had the 4 boys together was at Stephanie's funeral. With one son living in Australia, it'll be a long time before we all get together as a family.

The last time we had all 5 children together, due to us living abroad, was in 2017. It's our last family photo of our family of 7.

It's the first time Peter and I have had all 4 grandchildren together, this is so precious to us. To have the time, to make the memories and to take the photos.

Days out in the campervan November 2025

November turned out to be a quieter month with camping than planned due to severe flooding in Monmouth. 

I did manage one of the nights planned camping on my friend's drive and my first parkrun in Monmouth at the beginning of the month. It was raining so I didn't pop the roof and folded the bench seat flat. it was a warm night and I didn't need to put the heating on.

I was able to get away this weekend and went to the Forest of Dean for the day. I stopped for a picnic on route. My route to Swindon, the A417 was closed after Cheltenham due to work at the former Hot Air Balloon, plus the ground was saturated from all the rain so the parkrun was cancelled and walk my friend and I were doing afterwards in the Cotswolds and our pub carpark camping was rearranged to the weekend just gone.

The campervan has been packed for the last few weeks with items to be dropped at my mums and gifts for child 2 and family including a spare christmas tree for granddaughters bedroom.

There's a little bit of maintenance to be done, mainly cleaning. The water tanks need flushing out, the leisure batteries need to be charged once a month to maintain the charge and the heater needs to be run from time to time, which we'll do when we go out and about and have picnics and coffees.

I was away on the weekend in the campervan. I had a fully serviced pitch, it's all that was available. It meant I had water and electric.

 

 

Week 49 2025 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

We're hurtling towards the end of 2025. I can't believe how quickly Christmas has come round. There doesn't feel like there is enough time left to get every done I need to do. Every weekend is fully booked up, but with only 2 weeks left of school followed by 2 weeks off, I'm quite happy as it's full of time with family and friends.

I'm no longer on track with my running and going to the gym as I've had a really bad chesty cough and heavy cold, but you know, we plough on, especially after a friendly reminder in work. I provide cover, I've been flat out. Friday had me in a muddy field in yellow wellies supervising cross country.

Sunday

Day 333 Slept till 8am and caught up with last nights I'm a celeb then off for a 3 mile run and met Peter at the coffee shop. Home and rest of the day spent finishing putting the Christmas decorations up and tidying the downstairs up. I caught up with all the soaps while I was working. Evening spent having dinner, a bath and ready to watch I'm a celeb, get ready for work, some blogging and in bed at 10.30pm.

Monday

Day 334 After work had an early tea, got changed, picked my friend and her son up and drove up to Birmingham. The rain was relentless. It was heavy going with the driving on the motorway and the city driving wasn't much better.We beat Watford 2-1. Got home around midnight and straight to bed.

Tuesday

Day 335 It was a struggle getting up and into work. Really not feeling well and it was raining so no running and watched I'm a celeb, from last night. Decided against the gym, but went for coffee and picked up some cat food as Pushkins hasn't been eating properly for a week. Home to a bath, dinner and an evening chilling out in front of the TV. Booked some Christmas treats and accommodation for some upcoming trips.

Wednesday

Day 336 A day covering Spanish 'Ola' and Science. Home via town to book tickets for Christingle Service on Christmas Eve at The Priory, met Peter for a coffee and posted my last Christmas gift to my old student. Video call with the grandchildren, pants tickets booked, last online order made and final Christmas cards written, bath and in bed to watch I'm a celeb.

Thursday

Day 337 Straight home from work, bath, hair wash, van packed, telly watched and into bed at 9pm to watch I'm a celeb. I didn't sleep at all well. I think my chesty cough/cold/flu has peaked.

Friday

Day 338 After a day of covering Spanish and PE I left work and drove straight down to Cirencester for the night where I camping ready for parkrun in the morning and annual Christmas walk with my friend Chrissie who drove up from St Albans and joined me for the night. ‘turn left at the toilet block and I’m next to the Christmas tree’

Saturday

Day 339  Woke up too late for parkrun, packed the van and went for a 5 mile walk around the Polo fields and visited the Christmas market and had coffee. I drove onto Keynsham where I called in to visit my MIL and niece to drop off Christmas gifts and cards. The old Severn crossing bridge was closed,  so I diverted off the M4 to Cwmbran to see my nephew, his wife and my great niece then onto my friends in Monmouth for the night.

Things to make you smile:

I can't tell you half the stuff that goes on in work, but it would make you smile and/or your toes curl. My neighbour sent a photo of her car engine. I said to Peter I'll either be back in 5 mins or 5 hours. She just wanted confirmation of where the engine oil was to go.

Things that made me happy:

Getting lots of things done, despite feeling really poorly for several weeks. Spending time with friends, camping.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the week - Coffee

My garden in November

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