Week 25 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

I'm bloody shattered, still haven't caught up with my sleep. Bloody boiling hot all week and too many medical appointments. Migraine meds and this heat reacting and side effects unpleasant. I'm just trying to get through to the weekend as I don't won't to miss out on the fun stuff, but something will have to give.

The positives

I had an amazing weekend and I'm grateful that I can not only afford to do things like fly to Paris, but I'm physically capable of doing it as well. Same time, same pace (maybe a different train platform) next year.

Saturday 20th June It was hard sleeping due to the heat. After breakfast we were out by 9am on the train to Luxembourg Gardens and then back on the train to Notre Dame and a walk to Pont Neuf to see the art installation on the the bridge, a walk back to The Palais de Justice where Marie Antoniette was held prisoner and back near our accommodation for lunch and the afternoon was spent sleeping as the temps hit 36c and it was just too hot to do anything. In the evening we were on the train to Rue to Rivoli to some up under the pyramid of the Louvre. We strolled up to Place de la Concorde and caught the train to George V on the Champs Elysees and at sunset climbed the 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. We then watched a lightening storm and fireworks from our balcony that both lasted around half an hour.

Sunday 21st June A better sleep, breakfast and off to Chatelet les Halles and I strongly recommend that unless you have to go to this station, just don't. It's a massive station with connections to every street and station in Paris. We finally found our exit and relaxed in Starbucks for an hour whilst waiting for the local game store to open to collect some Pokemon cards. Next up a wander over to Notre Dame where we'd forgotten to take photos the previous day, some souvenir shopping and lunch in our favourite place. Back to the apartment where I packed, had a shower and set off for the airport. I arrived with 6 hours to spare as trains were being cancelled in the morning due to heat and lack of air conditioning, there were strikes on some services and rather stay in the apartment or lug my bag around in the heat, it made more sense just to be relaxed in the airport where I had dinner, read my book, drank coffee, video called the grandkids and had a half hour nap on a sofa. Flights across Europe were cancelled due to thunder storms also. Thankfully mine was only delayed by 5 mins but I was glad I'd chilled out at the airport and avoided all the stress. Peter collected me and we got home around midnight.

Monday 22nd June It was a long and hot day in work which included javelin throwing for PE. I met Peter for a coffee in town, then home for a nap on the sofa before going to gym in the evening. Bath, dinner and long chat with my niece and an early night.

Tuesday 23rd June A good sleep and a long day in work with power cuts and none stop complaining from the kids as if I could do something about the sun. Home via the retail park to do some shopping and Peter met me. I then went back out to the gym, had a bath and a carefully choreographed call with my friend who was also in the bath. I watered the garden, then went to bed to watch the second half of the football and do some blogging.

Wednesday 24th June I had the coolest classroom today covering English as it has tone of the few air con units, still didn't stop everyone moaning about the heat, also didn't stop everyone running around around at break and playing football at lunch. Peter spent the day visiting his mum in Keynsham and after work I had an appointment at the breast screening clinic. When did they stop calling them mammograms? Off to the gym, dinner, a family drama that was unnecessary. Video chat with niece, call with cousin on her honeymoon and plans for weekend with friends firmed up.

Thursday 25th June I was wilting by 1pm and the students were struggling to keep up. I had 3 classes combined into one with 9 students in total. For English I had 3 students and by period 5, the TA and I gave up and we took our 4 students for a wander in the cooler corridors, ignored a small water fight and found some shade and a bit of  breezy area outside. I came home, we had a hours nap, lost my rag with lack of air in the house and drove to the common to sit in the shade for an hour. Had a call from the GP surgery about my meds and medical review and next steps for further treatment. Called in at Morrisons, continued watching Clarkson's farm, cold bath and bed. 

Friday 26th June Opted to lie in a little and got stuck behind every tractor going and arrived in work with a minute to spare. Another hot day which actually felt muggier. More kids in today, but ice lollies delivered to classrooms was a big help. My classroom reached 32c today. Home behind every tractor Herefordshire had available and into town to get my nails done. Peter met me for coffee then evening spent on video calls and unwrapping my presents, dinner and Clarkson's farm, garden watered and bed by 10pm.

On the blog this week:

A weekend in Paris

Word of the week - Birthday

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

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A weekend in Paris 2026

I've just returned from my annual trip to trip to Paris to visit my friend Dorette who flew in from South Africa a few days early ahead of a work trip to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Our first meet up was in June 2024 then in June 2025 so now it's an annual trip. We used to meet up annually in South Africa after becoming friends in 2011 when we lived there for 4 years with me making several trips back each year after we left, but covid put a stop to that and between 2020 and 2023 we didn't see each other. The visits to South Africa resume this year also. 

On previous trips we've packed in as much as possible and booked loads of attractions, having booked things weeks in advance as everything books up so quickly and without booking you either queue for hours or just can't get in.

On this trip we decided to chance as there had been changes to when we were flying and with the predicted heat spell we weren't sure what we would have time for.

As it turned out it was way to hot to be out between 12pm and 6pm so that time was spent eating lunch and drinking cocktails near our apartment then sleeping the afternoon away before going back out in the evenings. The temps were in the high 30s, the sun didn't set till almost 10pm and the balcony afforded us wonderful views of the city including free firework displays lasting almost half an hour and an amazing thunderstorm on the Saturday.

You can see the Eiffel Tower from everywhere in Paris. 

We watched the light show from our balcony, however the only place in Paris where we couldn't see the tower itself as it was blocked by Montparnasse. 

We videoed called in two of our friends in South Africa and one asked if we'd made the booking on Temu after seeing the lift that we'd crammed into. It was literally just big enough for the two of us and we joked that we could pick our own way to die and method of body disposal as the entire building was covered in plastic and we didn't hear or see anyone for our entire stay.

We checked out LA CAVERNE DU PONT NEUF. Walk through art on Pont Neuf Bridge. It looks like a giant ice berg floating on the Seine.

Climbed to the top of the Arc De Triomphe at sunset.

Checked out The Louvre from above and below ground.

And checked out the views of Notre Dame after lunch at our favourite restaurant.

Every yaar we meet at a random train station as we arrive at different times, a photo gets sent of what we can see, with a description of where we are and the other replies with a rough eta. It works for us and so far we've both arrived within minutes of each other.

Week 24 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

I went to the theatre to see Abigail's Party. The end scene was distressing due to the sound effects used. The whole play eluded to the fact that the leading male character was going to die from a heart attack. References to smoking, drinking, stress from being a white collar worker etc. There was no need to issue any warnings etc, this is life, but the use of guttural breathing sounds and the actors drawing our attentions to these sounds was not necessary. When you've sat with someone and heard what they call the 'death rattle' those sounds and the memory never leave you and it is very disturbing and distressing. Even more so when there is no medical support to explain to you what is happening, just as what was happening in the scene on stage. 

The positives

Hoping on a plane and flying to Paris to meet a friend for the Weekend will never be taken for granted in terms of costs, ability and friendship.

Saturday 13th June Off to the Three Counties Summer Show for the day. Well we reached 1pm and my mum and aunt were tired, so we met up with them and brought them home. Peter and I had gone off and done our own thing and as we'd taken a picnic with us we'd saved time queuing for food and had pretty much covered most of the show ground and seen everything. But at £25 each for entry it's quite pricey just for a few hours. Afternoon and evening spent around the garden, weeding, watering and just chilling out. Peter watching the football.

Sunday 14th June Off to the retail park for coffee and some shopping. Home by 11am and I went back to the Three Counties to meet up with child 2, DIL, and the grandchildren. I've got annual membership so for £80 a year I can go as many times as I like to the Spring, Summer and Autumn Show and this was my 4th trip so it's paid for itself and we've still the autumn show to come. We spent time with animals and I saw children from my school showing their sheep. Granddaughter was really interested in this. Back to ours for a roast dinner and the neighbours children came round to play. Another late night for after watering the garden and a bath and sorting the washing. Peter watched more football.

Monday 15th June Into work and absolutely shattered after the weekend. I need more sleep. Home, changed, washing machine on after stripping the beds and met my friend for a coffee and a catch up. Then some shopping and off to the gym to legs, bums and tums getting home at 8pm. I had dinner, a bath and into bed and bringing the washing in and watering the garden. Peter took my mum and aunt home and popped in to visit child 2 and family.

Tuesday 16th June Awake at 5am and sat downstairs in the back room to repack handbag and catch up with blogging. Meeting after work and nipped into town quickly before coming home to change and straight back out to spin class. Dinner, bath, watered the garden, watched some TV then bed.

Wednesday 17th June Home from work, fell asleep on the sofa for an hour, made myself some dinner, sorted some clothes for my weekend trip and went out to the theatre to see Abigail's Party. My friend Jenny who had arranged the trip was taken ill during the day, so I ended up going on my own. Home, watched the second half of the England game, had a bath, did some blogging and bed.

Thursday 18th June Into work and met Peter at the retail park for a coffee then home to pack for tomorrow, had dinner, a bath and an early night.

Friday 19th June At Birmingham Airport for 5am flight to Paris at 8am. Massive queues for security starting downstairs towards arrivals and it took 1 hour 45 mins to get through. No queues at Charles de Gaulle they seems to have abandoned the finger printing. I'd arranged to meet my friend by the ticket machines for the RER (train) she had flown in from South Africa and we made our way to the accommodation. After dumping our bags we went for lunch and did some shopping, then took the train to the Eiffel Tower to sit by the river and eat ice creams. It was so hot around 36c, we got back to the accommodation around 7pm and just chilled out eating fruit, cheese and crackers and booking some attractions for the morning.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the Week - Missing

My Garden in June - Part One

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The good bits of June 2025 - From Paris to Porthcawl.

June has been hot, wet, busy and quiet with lots of days out and trips away and lots of time just sitting in the garden, chilling. 

Not much has been done around the home other than Peter fixing a couple of cracked tiles in the kitchen.

I visited a friend in Paris for a long weekend.

Our granddaughter came to stay and we visited Witley Court.

The Three Counties with grandchildren.

Picnics at Nags Head (Forest of Dean) and Castlemorton Common near Malvern.

Coffee shop visits, together and on my own.

We had Olive for the weekend.

Celebrating my birthday.

Despite the weather we still paddled in the sea at Porthcawl.

A stop at Westbury Upon Severn on our way home.

We've had a bit going on already in July and I think all our weekends are booked up already.

Word of the Week - Paris (tourist tips)

I was in Paris on the weekend for what is now an annual trip to meet my friend who is in Paris for work the same week every year. She lives in South Africa, so I'm grateful I don't have to fly too far for a meet up.

I just can't believe how busy and English Paris is now. All the trains, shops, menus, staff in shops all speak English, not a few words. Train announcements, written menus and when I say 'bonjour' they detect an English accent and I get no further in French. I'm not fluent, but I can say a few things, things I definitely needed to be able to say on visits in the past.

And busy ... we rebooked tickets up the Eiffel Tower. The queues on the day were just mad, however these queues merged with pre booked tickets and it took us 45 minutes to reach the 2nd lift to go to the top. I insisted we walk down afterwards as it was quicker than queuing for the lifts. We were made to wait till our time slot of 11am before we could join the queue.

I managed to get tickets to Notre Dame. These tickets are free with a suggested donation, however they are only available 2-4 hours before you visit. The pre booked queue was enormous, but moved quickly and we joined the queue at 3.30pm for a 4pm entry and we were inside in under 10 mins. We were also back outside about 15 mins later as the cathedral was heaving and the sheer volume of people inside just kept surging you through.

Next up was the Catacombs, but sadly they were closed due to industrial action, so that's on the list for next years trip.

When did the English language come with an American flag?

We took a visit out to Pere Lachaise cemetery where Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried. It was huge, we got lost and didn't know which way was out, but turned on google maps and were grateful that the cemetery has street signs. It is well worth a visit and I can see myself going there again.

Jim Morrisons grave. 

A lot of security has been put in place to stop people taking things and damaging the graves.

Oscar Wilde's grave. Now behind perspex after the family encounter massive costs to keep cleaning it of lipstick kisses.

The cemetery covers 110 acres (45 hectares) we were walking around for almost 3 hours.

A Sewer tour of Paris on the side of the Seine. It's a self guided tour, no booking needed and hardly anyone in there. 

And finally a walk up the Champs Elysees on 'No car day' which occurs monthly on a Sunday.

If you're travelling from the airport into the city purchase a separate RER ticket for €13 and buy a separate daily travel pass each time you want to travel. Initially you'll pay €2 for the Navigo easy card and then just top it up for a daily pass which is €12. 

We spent a lot of time on the train and metro network.

Don't buy a 1-3 day pass as you'll get travel to and from the airport included each day and it costs around €26 for each day, you'll also need to have a photo for these passes and if you don't put the photo on the card and get stopped you'll be fined €30.

Trains were disrupted to and from the airport over the weekend. I didn't find out until after I'd purchased my ticket and headed underground. Then the lack of available English left me having to work my own way round and I eventually worked out a stop with a bus route that was near the airport and waited till the train popped out from under the ground to confirm it on google maps. The replacement bus service was well organised, once I found it.

Next year we'll be doing a tour of all the artists. We did the Louvre and Sacre Cloeur last year, but want to visit:

Claude Monet's house and gardens.

Picasso museum.

Pompidou Centre.

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  Let me know if you've been anywhere you think I might like to visit. We've both done Versailles, Disney and all the big landmarks.