31st July - 2nd August 2026 - 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.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

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

Just when you thought you were safe from the football, it's almost time for the EFL to restart and I'm making my way up to Birmingham this afternoon to watch them play Barcelona tonight.

I'm not impressed with the new kit or sponsor, I'd look like I'd have just finished a shift at the bookies.

This is the shirt I'll be wearing, it was the 4th kit for the 25/26 season. The Penguin shirt from the 71/72 season, my era.

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My garden in July 2026

There's been a lot going on in the garden this month, despite there being no rain. I've been amazed at how well things have been growing, there have been a few loses along away, mainly the lawn, but that really doesn't bother me.

I'm starting with the neighbours roses, all this on one stem, no scent, but glorious to look at. 

This rose is highly fragranced and it's in our back garden, it's called Stephanie and was a gift from a friend. The irony is that Stephanie was anything but.

Having the pots grouped together has cut down on watering and kept this area cooler.

Our granddaughter can't decide if this is her and her brother, her mum and da or me and granddad.

I didn't notice the gladioli had bloomed as it was hiding.

Finally the fir tree was removed, the soil will be moved to the front and we can start the new path soon.

The front lawn is an absolute disaster, I've done very little with anything in the front, just allowed it to grow. The ground is very dry and extremely hard.

There has been a constant stream of fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes, raspberries, cucumbers, courgettes and rhubarb.

There has also been a lot of mold and leaf damage due to under watering, the basil has thrived but the parsley has yellowed.

We got the sun umbrella assembled at last.

It gives great protecti9on in the mornings, but the fence gives great afternoon shade, so in the afternoon it jsut puts the washing line in the shade.

I didn't realise how big the bouganvilliea had become and repotted it. In our garden in Dubai, it thrived in the dry weather, I'd love to have it grow year round here.

This spider was brave or frightened as it didn't move.

The grape vine is doing really well and there are loads of grapes, I hope they're sweet.

And we're full circle now back to the neighbour, who has had ivy growing so much that just before covid when we had tenants, it caused our fence to collapse, so we've been keeping on top of it since we've been back in the house. I managed to persuade her to let us cut I back hard this week and try and irradiate it completely. We've left our fence panel propped up so I can keep attacking the roots with weed killer.

Word of the week - Fun

I made a nail bar for my granddaughter.

I'd had mine done in work last week and as you can see they look amazing.

Out of a shoe box to be used as storage as well as a nail lamp and out of paper so things can be easily replaced and added to.

My granddaughter does have her nails painted by her mum and me on a regular basis, but she knows I go to a nail bar and she loves the designs I have done on my nails and her mums friends have their nails done regularly so I thought it would be fun to treat her to a full set of acrylics and she could treat her friends to them also. 

My granddaughter has never been to a nail bar so asked me to write down the instructions in order as she is going on holiday next week with her friends and she wants to treat them to getting their nails done.

She's done an amazing job, don't you think?

Week 29 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

Trying to please everyone is hard work and it's inevitable someone is going to get upset. I can't be in several places at once, meet everyone's needs and look after myself at the same time. I feel that others can say how they feel, but when I do the same all hell breaks out. So I'm just 'that's a shame, never mind, maybe next time'

9 years ago I had abnormal blood results after tests when I was in hospital for a 9 day migraine, I then travelled to the UK from our home in Dubai and my Doctor contacted me to urge me to get to hospital for urgent retesting, which led to a bone marrow biopsy, iron infusions and eventually a diagnosis of Reactive Thrombocytosis for which they've never found a reason for so continue to monitor every 6 months. within a month of this initial blood test my father died and I didn't return home for 4 months. June and July is a particularly stressful period for me and with Stephanie dying 2 years ago in October 2024, I've now just written off August and September emotionally as I'm counting down the last few visit with her and in December I have the blood tests due again it's quite a vicious circle I'm dealing with emotionally.

The positives

I decided the focus needs to be me. I can't keep everyone happy and I can't look after myself at the same time. My 6 monthly blood tests and annual retina scans have all come back within my normal range. 

Saturday 18th July

Stayed in bed till 1pm watching tv, eating breakfast and sleeping. Peter did a food shop and I got up and did some gardening and sat outside to read my book. At 4pm I got him to drop me off at the end of the hills and I walked home. Evening spent playing games with neighbours children while their parents were packing ahead of their house move. Bath and bed by 10pm.

Sunday 19th July After a lazy morning we headed out to Croome Park for a lazy day, coffee, strolling and cake. In the afternoon I took a route march to the retail park to re stock my ice pop addiction. Peter collected me. We assembled the oversized sun umbrella and watched the World Cup Final. I popped next door for an hour to help with some packing for their house move.

Monday 20th July Parcel from son and girlfriend in Australia with the most gorgeous gift and note. Out in the afternoon up on the Malvern Hills. Peter met me for coffee around 2pm. I picked up some spring water for neighbours 6ho to water his plant with. It ever did a BBQ. Watered the pots, had a bath and watched TV.

Tuesday 21st July Into Birmingham for the day on the train till 5pm. Peter to watch The Odyssey at the IMAX and I spent the day on the Ozzy Osbourne tour and in the markets. Bought material for making bunting and it stank of fish. Got home to roadworks outside our house, washed the material, went spinning, had dinner, watered pots, bath and bed.

Wednesday 22nd July A lazy day and another lie in with Peter heading off to Keynsham to visit his mum and sister. I did some pruning and made a nail bar for granddaughter. Evening spent in the garden then watched ‘Now you see me 3’

Thursday 23rd July Collected granddaughter and after lunch drive to campsite near Coleford in the Forest of Dean. Took a 3 mile circular walk stopping in the town for drinks and ice lollies to visit Stephanie’s old respite facility that is now derelict. Son, DIL & grandson joined us in the evening with a take away and we met up with other families on the camp site to play football and in the park.

Friday 24th July Dil and grandchildren came to campsite at 9am for breakfast and a visit to the nail bar. While I packed up the van, hubby did the park trip with the football. Family headed off to Monmouth for the day to meet friends and Peter and I headed home via Goodrich Castle. I posted some parcels for vinted sales and picked up some gluten free food. We spent the evening in the garden and had an early night.

On the blog this week:

Random fun and discoveries in July 2026

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

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Post Comment Love 24th-26th July 2026

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.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

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

We're camping this weekend in the Forest of Dean visiting our grandchildren who live near by. It's only an hours drive away, but it's nice to be here early in the morning, refreshed and ready for a full day and have a nice relaxed evening without watching the clock for the drive home. 

We're staying near a place where Stephanie used to go for respite aged 8-11 and where I first met Stephanie when she was 8. 

Sadly the house is derelict now

But it was nice to come back and relive some memories

We were out walking for 2 hours with a stop in the town for drinks and biscuits.

The roads were narrow but we didn't meet any traffic thankfully and our granddaughter did a striking job in the heat and with the distance and was fuelled with blackberries along the way.

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Random fun and discoveries in July

 I made a nail bar for my granddaughter

I bought some material from the markets in Birmingham. Unfortunately they also sell fish in the markets and on the way home on the train there was a funny smell of ... fish.

Four way traffic lights outside our house and the zebra crossing no longer works. There's now a traffic light controlled crossing 20 yards away to the right, but no one uses any of it out of school hours.

A year of celebrating Ozzy in Birmingham.

Broad Street in Birmingham

Gifts from son and his girlfriend in Australia brightened up the start of my week.

Hoem grown raspberries and yummy puddings.

BBQs and random foods on my plate and a sun umbrella that puts the washing in shade in the afternoon, that is if we hung any washing out as the paddling pool was taking its turn on the line.

The garden is reminding me of the long summers of South Africa and the winters of Dubai, just being able to set everything up and sit outdoors without having to sweep up sand or bring everything in due to rain. Long may it last. 

Even the wildlife is large and feels adventurous.

This tree and scenery reminds me of game drives in Reitvlei, but it's Croome Park.

I found this picture of my gran and granddad taken around the mid to late 60's My gran would've been in her mid 50's around the age I am now 55. I can't imagine what my gran would think of me now at 55 running marathons and sporting blue hair. Although she was used to me dying my hair random colours.

Week 28 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

Been feeling sick all week, every time I eat or drink anything, so been eating smaller meals. The meds GP gave me had so many side effects and made things worse. I've just got to work my own way round this. A blown tyre and a cut shin.

The positives

Migraine finally eased and getting some decent sleep, last week of school went really well with trips and activities. A thoughtful gift from a friend.

Saturday 11th July 9th anniversary since my dad died and the night I met one of my best friends. Peter and I made our way down to Newport to meet Rosie and Simon our oldest Twitter and real life friends of 17 years. Then onto Tredegar Park to set up camp for the night. A walk around and found some deck chairs in the shade to read. Out for dinner at the Dragonfly and back to watch Bellingham win the football ‘he’s one of our own’ #bcfc

Sunday 12th July Packed up and popped into Asda to buy lunch picnic style and called in to visit Nephew, Niece in law and great niece for the day. Only 90 mins away and we really don’t visit enough. I gave great niece my troll collection from the 80/90s which she loved. We drove home via Monmouth for a coffee. Van unpacked. Garden watered, outdoor lights changed, cat had been unwell so rug and sofa washed. Dinner made, book read, TV watched and bed.

Monday 13th July 2026 A very stressful afternoon with a tyre blow out. Home almost 2 hours late. Changed for gym, went for coffee to calm down, gym was hard, home, dinner, shower and bed.

Tuesday 14th July school trip to Birmingham Bullring. Fab day out with the kids, lots of money spent, lots of back and forth taking kids to Primark. Got to know another member of staff really well over a Starbucks and on the journey. Home, changed, spin class, football, dinner, bath and bed. The HS2 link.

Wednesday 15th July Morning spent creating online mentoring folders and afternoon playing Traitors with year 9. Home and some tidying then Peter and I did a food shop. Peter drove home, I went to the gym and with 20 mins to spare before KO I ran home in 17 mins. A late night after post match commentary.

Thursday 16th July Back to Birmingham with school and apart from having to direct the coach driver into the centre, it was another good day. Afternoon and evening spent gardening, waffles for dinner, early bath and bed

Friday 17th July Last day of school. Sports day. I fell off a bench and cut my shin open. I ended up with a mixture of year 7s and 8s in the afternoon. We had a mixture of UNO, a movie and a nail bar on the go. Home via a coffee with Peter to show him my new nails. We watched some telly, video calls with the grandchildren, had a BBQ and a visit from the children next door for a duck and treasure hunt, bubble blowing and chalk drawing. A late night, tired but happy.

On the blog this week:

Word of the week - complications

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

Days out in my campervan in June 

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Post Comment Love 17th-19th July 2026

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.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

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? 

What an exciting week with the World Cup. 

We were camping on the weekend and watching the quarter final final game Norway v England on ITV.com on a 10 second delay. I heard the cheers on the campsite, but Peter didn't and was disappointed I'd spoilt it for him with singing 'he's one of our own' for both of Bellinghams goals.

Spain beating France on Tuesday and England beating World Cup holders Argentina on Wednesday night.

or

England going out to World Cup holders Argentina on Wednesday night.

(Blog post written and scheduled on Wednesday just before kick off, I think England can do this)

Will England be in the finals on the weekend? No

Who knows? 3rd and 4th place to be decided on Saturday at 10pm

Either way I'll be watching.

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