Week 35 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

We can't control how other people understand our grief and so obviously feel we should just be getting on with our lives now. We are getting on with our lives. If I could explain how Stephanie's death has affected us physically and mentally then I would write it down and share it with you.

The positives

Back running and feeling good, it really helps when I'm struggling and September is a hard month for us as we count down to the anniversary of Stephanie's death in October.

Saturday 29 August A long tiring and emotional day and a situation I chose to walk away from realising nothing I could say or do would make any difference. Had a good couple of hours first thing with the grandchildren saying our goodbyes, with grandson now in school and there only being the school holidays of which mine don't line up and him going away, I won't be seeing them again until probably the Whitsun week. They all left for a party at 9.30am and I spent the morning after packing up the van catching up with some work, after lunch I headed out for a coffee, then into town for a couple of hours and to do some shopping, followed by a stop at the retail park for some dinner, another coffee and to kill the last hour before filling up with fuel and a 7.30pm check in. Followed by some more work and phone calls with hubby and my friend. I didn't get much sleep and I've had a long and emotional day.

Sunday 30 A long drive home after minimal sleep, getting home at 10.30am after a quick stop for a drive through Starbucks.Peter helped me to unpack the van, washing machine on and I went to bed for a couple of hours. We popped out for a bit of shopping and a coffee. I put together a couple of parcels and some cards and reactivated my Vinted account and sold a couple of things within minutes. I need the money after my recent fines from the car tax and parking ticket that due to the wrong address escalated. Popped out several times late afternoon between rain storms to get parcels sent and uploaded more items. Had an early night after a long soak in the bath.

Monday 31st August woke around 7am and made myself a cup of tea and laid in bed for an hour before deciding I needed to get on with the day and went out early to get some cards and photos printed and pick up a gift. home and collected Peter and we had a coffee in town and I picked up the final things I need for posting to Australia for child 3 and his girlfriend for her birthday and a few other treats. Peter drove home and I set off over the hills, running and walking a 10k route home. Tided up the dining room while Peter did the ironing and I put the boxes together as well as a couple more Vinted orders and got y work bag ready for the morning. Had a bath, dinner and bed by 10pm.

Tuesday 1st September Back to school. Nice to be back in a routine, even though it was a full day of training and lovely to catch up with people again. Didn't feel like it had been 6 weeks. Straight home, swopped bags and Peter dropped me at the station for the train to Birmingham for the game against Southampton. I video called my former student from the match to help her with a question for Uni and she watched a bit of the game with me. It ended 1 all, we should've won. The train was delayed and I got back home via Peter collecting me in Worcester, around midnight. A quick bath and straight to bed.

Wednesday 2nd Struggled to get out of bed. Peter took the van for a service and I went to work, on my feet all day and hardly got to it down, but a productive day. Home, changed and off for annual check up at the dentist. Went for a run, then to the gym for legs, bums and tums. Peter collected me and we got accommodation booked for 2 upcoming trips to London.

Thursday 3rd Work was hectic but the first week back usually is. Drove home via the post office and the doctors for my B12 jab. I had a lie down for an hour, cooked dinner, did some dusting and sorted out some work files whilst watching the TV and got granddaughters early birthday presents sorted. video call with grandson to hear all about carpet time this week in school. I obnvoulsy knew what it was but he was excited to find out all about it. In bed by 9pm.

Friday 4th Peter dropped me at work and the day went quickly, as I spent most of it hidden in the library. I had a one to one student for 2 lessons, followed by 1 lesson on paperwork, a final sort of the school uniform cupboard so we now have one that is clean and tidy and accessible and then a check in with year 11's after they collected their mock GCSE results. Peter collected me and we spent the evening with our grandchildren. We had dinner and got home at 10pm and straight to bed.

On the blog this week:

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

London Marathon Training August 2026

Word of the week - Equanimity 

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Week 34 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

Just tiredness from being busy, but that's ok. There's been a lot on and in my mind for a while now. I wrote about Blues this week as my 'word of the week' people just don't get it. 'we all do this from time to time' and 'don't worry about it' just don't cut it and when you try to explain you can see them switching off and you back down and off and watch them retreat further away. I'm really not in a good place right now.

The positives 

Time with grandchildren.

Saturday 22 August I had a good sleep, had a lie in did some blogging and drank tea and got myself ready for a day out in Birmingham to the first home game of the season and a wander round the city as I had a few things I wanted to get sorted. Home to sort out future trips and plans for the last week of the school holidays. The garden had a good soak, all the holiday washing was finished, we watched Paddington Bear and a couple of other programmes and had an early night. Paid an £80 fine for late car tax payment. The neighbour where the post had been going to finally decided to start bringing the post to us rather than throwing it in the bin. Sorted out all the flamingo and tropical party decorations I've been collecting to take to DIL ready for granddaughters birthday next month.

Sunday 23 August A lie in, last two lots of washing hung out, then off to visit the grandchildren for the day. A long day but a good one, got home and got everything put away and sorted for the week. Crafts to do, letters to write, post and birthdays. Wrote a list of everything that needs doing. Peter did the ironing while I tidied up the dining room which had been a dumping ground, I watered the house plants and the garden and cleaned the back room from 2ft of cat hair.

Monday 24 August An early start to the day and spent the day on my own and most of it spent organising files on the work laptop. I caught up with some of my soaps, did some blog commenting and scheduled a couple of posts and cleaned up some files. I called the DVLA and paid the missing two months car tax and explained the situation re the V5C being sent to the wrong address and the neighbour still binning the post. All sorted now and they were very understanding and helpful. Emailed BCFC to resell my ticket v Brentford in Carabao Cup tomorrow due to family commitments and I updated my diary. It was great to have the time to catch up with all the things I've been putting off for ages. Had an early night after a busy few days.

Tuesday 25 August A day with my eldest grandson which involved the park, a bike ride, toy cars, painting and colouring. The youngest joined us for the afternoon for more playing and dinner. I had a relaxed evening, went out for a run and watched the Birmingham cup game against Brentford on the telly as I was unable to get to the match, had dinner and an early night. 

Wednesday 26 August Woke early, had breakfast and did some blogging, then back to be for an hour. Walked the dogs then spent the rest of the morning cleaning and ironing. Grandson was dropped off after school and we spent the afternoon painting and making cards and story boards. There was some time for TV then off to the park and pick up a few things from the local shop. Youngest grandson home after tea in time for cuddles, bath and bed. Bath time nearly finished me off, only half an hour but hectic, you forget what it's like looking after little ones. I went for a run and spent the evening sorting out some issues with my blog and reading.

Thursday 27 August Breakfast with the grandchildren before eldest went to school. After youngest was collected and taken to nursery and son went into work I went to the retail park. Afternoon spent with a variety of activities, painting, drawing, glueing, making gifts for mummy and daddy using hand prints. We went to the park on the bike and had a chin bump on the slide which was made better with an ice lolly from the shop. I went for a run which was more of a walk really, sat and watched some telly and worked through some blog issues. Was in bed at 9.30pm.

Friday 28 August Been waking around 5am then dozing back off till 8am which is nice. Spent the morning with son and youngest grandchild, lots of toys and puzzles and cuddles, he had his morning nap and I had a well earned rest while son collected eldest from school, then it was lunch time and we went out to do a food shop. Bumped into a friend of the parent in laws for a quick catch up. Then it was time for  a last trip to the park, messy play, dinner, cuddles, one last tidy up and bedtime stories as I'll be back into my normal routine next week. My camera roll is full from grandson and I love it.

On the blog this week:

My garden in August 2026 Part 2

Word of the week - Blues

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Week 33 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

Although I know I can't buy souvenirs and send a postcard to Stephanie it's still upset me. Migraines and food choices.

The positives

I've managed a couple of runs while we've been in Crete, it's been hot and my time has been improving.

Saturday 15 August It's the day of the Virgin Mary in Greece and we were advised that many places may be closed and the roads busy, so we opted to spend the day on the beach. It was very windy and the sea was rough so we went to the harbour beach which is sheltered but there were no sun loungers. I did have a swim and spent a bit of time beach combing for litter after getting attacked in the water by a bag for life. I prefer to have my main meal during the day and Peter had a bowl of soup. Back to the hotel for the afternoon in the pool and reading. Down to the village for dinner for Peter and I had a cocktail and a dessert. Walked back in the dark and watched some TV.

Sunday 16 August I don't join Peter for breakfast as I can't eat much, so I have tea and and cereal or yogurt and fruit in the room. We then walked into the village for coffee and were back poolside by 11am as it was too windy for the beach. We had snacks throughout the day and at 6pm we headed back into the village for dinner at a restaurant over looking the harbour. Back to the hotel at 9pm. Dinner really is a relaxed affair. 

Monday 17 August Our last day trip and off to Chania on the west of the island. A beautiful and colourful City with so much to see and do and of course a Starbucks. we didn't have a lunch, but I'd taken a gluten free sandwich and Peter bought one and we walked around eating them. I also found a gluten free cake shop and bought a rose flavoured cake that we took down to a park near the sea to eat. On the 90 minute drive back we stopped at Koumos Lake for a swim, there are fresh water turtles there and a variety of restaurants where we had some cold drinks and explored local potteries also. We were dropped in the village, enjoyed dinner and saw an amazing bright red sunset, before walking back to the hotel.

Tuesday 18 August A lie in as I woke with a migraine and I needed time for my tablets to take effect. We went out for a coffee and sat in the shade watching the world go by. I then went for a swim in the sea while Peter watched the bags and then back to the hotel to laze by the pool. Back to the room around 2pm for a late lunch and a rest, then into the village in the evening for dinner. It's getting hard to find something to eat every night without repeating the same thing. I miss just being able to have a jacket potato or a toasted sandwich.

Wednesday 19 August After breakfast we caught the bus to Rethymno and explored the the fortress and the old town. It was really hot today as there was no cloud cover or breeze. I had gluten free pasta for lunch, there were lots of drink stops and after we got back to our village I stopped off for a coffee and Peter returned to the hotel to get a spot by the pool. I joined him and we read for a couple of hours, with me floating on my giant inflatable. We then returned to the room and watched TV while doing our packing and in bed around 11pm.

Thursday 20 August We had a lie in and checked out around 11am, leaving our cases in the hotel and wandered down to the village for a coffee, dropping off the books we'd read in a lending library which was a shelf on a wall in the street. I had a swim in the sea and we had a late lunch and returned to the hotel for a swim in the pool and to read our books. We were given another room we could use able to shower off and get changed and spent the evening reading our books on the veranda waiting for the bus to pick us upper our transfer back to the airport and our flight home. Smooth collection on time, if you've flown in and out of holiday airports you'll know what I mean when I say it was a long wait. CSKA Sofa football team were there after their match against Crete in the Europa League, they caused a bit of a stir because no one knew who they were but had loads of security. I just googled their kit sponsor and football and fixture list and word got round lol.

Friday 21 August A good flight home, we dozed a little but no real sleep. landed at 4am, bags, got a train to New Street and had a coffee while we waited 30 mins for the first train home. I left Peter at the station while I fetched the car for the cases. The cat pleased to see us, case unpacked, everything in the wash, had a bath and we both had 3-4 hours sleep then went out for a food shop. Deforsted a home made curry from the freezer and Peter put dinner together while watered the pots, most of the garden is dead, but we do have a glut of tomatoes and peppers. Whilst we ate we caught up with some TV. I then went round the neighbours to fetch the cat home, several times, the kids brought her back several times. I was in bed by 9pm.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the week - Colourful in Crete

My garden in August Part 1

Managing a food diet on holiday - Gluten Free

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Week 32 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

One of the reasons we chose our hotel was for the peace and quiet the beach and the location to the town and the local train station. On our arrival the access to the beach was via a gravel, narrow and steep cliff top, via a broken fence in a neighbouring property and down a steep gravelling bank and the distance to the train station was doubled and on arrival we discovered there are NO trains in Crete.

The positives

Everything else fits the bill and we easily adapt and my complaint was responded to. It's not the hotels fault, it is all clearly listed on the website and the photos are clearly misleading, so I'm not making a fuss over nothing.

Peter's oldest friend from the age of 14, daughter is in Crete on her holiday with partner and own daughter and our neighbours flew out on Tuesday for a week. Both are about an hour away either side of us.

Saturday 8 August Woke around 8am and Peter went for breakfast. I had a cup of tea in the room as the hotel don't provide hot water. Only the British understand the need for boiling water when it comes to making tea. I can't eat any of what is supplied for breakfast or don't like what is on offer, so I'm having yogurts and fruit brought from the local supermarkets in the room and gluten free cereals I packed from home. I do join Peter though just to be social. We then walked into the town and had coffee and planned then booked three trips and worked out the local bus route. Next up explored the village and I had ice cream and found a supermarket with some 'go free' cereal so I'm sure if I look harder I may find bread etc. We had fresh juice in the harbour and walked back to the hotel. I needed to have some lunch, then we spent the afternoon on the veranda overlooking the sea reading books. In the evening we walked back into the town for dinner. I just had drinks.

Sunday 9 August I didn't sleep well. Peter left me to a lie in and he went for breakfast returning at 9.30am. we finally left the hotel at 11am and went for coffee and I wrote post cards before wandering into the town and found somewhere for lunch of freshly caught fish and vegetables. We wandered back around 3pm and chilled out in our room, then decided to sit pool side as the sea was quite choppy. I lay on my pool float for an hour reading then returned to the room for a shower and put together a salad for our dinner. We've found an English Channel with Greek subtitles and we've been watching Monk and House, but we also play guess the news story and I'm getting quite good with some of the written Greek words.

Monday 10 After breakfast we walked into the village to buy bus tickets had a coffee while we waited for the bus into Rethymno which took an hour and stopped at several hotels along the route. A typical tourist/market town. We stopped for a drink in the harbour and bought some souvenirs, caught the bus back had lunch in our village and spent the rest of the day in the pool. Made some video calls with the grandchildren and watched some TV.

Tuesday 11 August We were collected at 8.40am from the hotel and set off to Knossos Palace and Heraklion for the day. The tour guide was less than useless and changed the meeting times twice and failed to tell us so we wasted a lot of time. The queue for the tickets to Knossos took over half an hour and we rushed round not knowing he'd got round the other passengers saying we had an extra 45 mins, but the place was so packed with cruise ship visitors, we were fine drinking coffee and reading our books, but had we had known we could have had lunch rather than cutting our time at the next stop. The visit to Heraklion City was much better, we walked around the Venetian Harbour, we had lunch and found a gluten free bakery to die for and I stocked up for the rest of the trip. Peter bought a couple of t shirts and a few more souvenirs were purchased. The tour guide made sarcastic comments towards us by thanking those for bringing positivity to his day after we had complained to him and he fell asleep on the way back after scrolling through all his socials. We spent the evening in the hotel by the pool. I phoned my friend to wish her a happy birthday. I had my Starbucks fix.

Wednesday 12 We went into the village in the morning for coffee and a wander, then attempted the local hotel beach. It was not a good experience. It was accessed via a very steep and rocky bank and as there was no one else there we decided not to swim, so spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool. We went back into the village for dinner and I'm struggling with finding something different to eat each night. I had some grilled chicken, sadly they decided to cover it in herbs and drown it in butter. We had video calls with our son and DIL and watched the eclipse with them as the sun had already set in Crete. Our DILs sister shared some colander photos with us and granddaughter showed us how to use the toilet roll method.

Thursday 13 We caught the bus back into Rethymno as it was Market day. I needed some large safety pins to fix my rucksack straps. eventually we found a seamstress who sold me some. We found a restaurant that served gluten free pasta and it was delicious and we were there for around 2 hours and I even had a pudding that wasn't ice cream. We'll be going back before we leave. We got off the bus in the village. Peter walked back to the hotel to the pool and I had a video call with my granddaughter so she could choose the toy cat she wanted that most looked like our cat from a shop I found that 100s of them.

Friday 14 Collected at 8.30am from our hotel and dropped at 10am at the entrance to Imbros Gorge. On the map was written 12.30pm and we were told 'enough time, back here, lunch, go, go' mmmmmmm. The companies information sheet had said guided walk 3-4 hours. No choice now as the bus had driven off, but of course we did it in 2 hours. The bus then took us to a beach where we hired sun loungers for 2 hours and swam in the Libyan Sea. We had a 2 hour drive back picking up other people who had been on different trips and we saw some refugees at a harbour who had been picked up and were detained by police at a harbour. We met a couple who were running the Berlin Marathon next month and they were happy to share some guidance with me for next year. We were dropped back at the hotel. I spent the evening reading and Peter went out for dinner on his own. We found a donkey wandering through the gorge.

On the blog this week:

Days out in my campervan in July 2026

Word of the week - Crete

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Week 31 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

I'm absolutely shattered from burning the candle at both ends, jobs around the house and garden, going out and sorting things out.

The positives

Having reached out and said I was struggling and bumping into a friend, plus son's paperwork emergency issue, I've had a good week with friends, getting out and getting on with things and feeling much more positive. I've been much more receptive to suggestions from Peter and I've also been much more relaxed and chilled out.

Saturday 1st August A lazy day all round. I finally got up at midday and we went into town. The well had been dressed. We picked up a few things for our holiday. Home to root through the attic and desks to try and track down some paperwork for child 3 in Australia which I know I gave him several years ago. After tidying up everything, which included paperwork in the dining room, the lounge and the loft, we had dinner, the garden was watered and we watched Amazon Prime and I dealt with some idiotic responses on Twitter/X.

Sunday 2nd August Craft room rearranged as I had to get into the loft space to access child 3's keep sake box to prove to him the paperwork I'd given him a few years ago, that he has since lost in a house move, was most definitely not in my possession any more. A load washing on the line, stuff sorted for our holiday and we spent the rest of the day at Witley Court an English Heritage Site. late afternoon spent watching Scarpetta on Amazon, followed by dinner, garden watered and some tidying up done and into bed by 10pm after finding online copies of the documents son needs to discover he had the originals all along, he just didn't recognise them.

Monday 3 August Peter dropped me in town and I went for a coffee, got some stamps and sorted out my travel insurance and a parking ticket. I managed to get the price reduced by 50% from £100 as I explained it was when the dealership registered the car to the wrong address and the neighbour had opened the post and just thrown it and the reminder away. I did accept full responsibility and said I'd chased it up as soon as I'd found out. it was very kind of them to do it for me. I then had a manicure and pedicure, popped to the post office and Peter met me and I had another coffee and it was home for a late lunch and the rest of the day in the garden digging up weeds, cutting back shrubs, while Peter sifted through the soil in the back and wheel narrowing it to the front to finish levelling up the front lawn. The next door neighbour, followed by the neighbour over the road joined us for a chat. I tidied and swept up and got ready for an hours spinfit. Peter had dinner ready and after dealing with a complete breakdown of the 4 way traffic light system outside our house with photos and an email to Cadent as the local slimming world group were just driving out when they fancied and had parked inside the roadworks without working out whose turn it was causing total chaos, we watched TV and then Peter watered the garden and I restored the loft rooms after the paperwork debacle of the weekend. In bed by 10pm. The Theatre of Inconvenience. The Worlds Smallest Theatre.

Tuesday 4 August A lovely, relaxing day. I met two of my friends for brunch, came home to do a lot of tidying and packing and sorting through paperwork. Back into town in the afternoon to get my hair cut by my friend who is a stylist and then we went for coffee. I got home at 7pm. We watched TV and got to bed late. Wondering why we're going on holiday when the weather has been so lovely and we live in such a beautiful place.

Wednesday 5 August We got up, hung washing on the line and went out for coffee to Worcester and stocked up on cat food. Home and pottered around tying up a few loose ends. Suitcases repacked to sort the weight limit out and hand luggage packed. I cleaned the downstairs toilet and the back room ready for the cat. I went out to the retail park to buy some gluten free biscuits and bread rolls for the first few days of our holiday, then had a coffee as I was early for the gym. Peter cleaned the house. I popped round the neighbours to pick up my water bottle. We're all going to Crete on our holidays, about an hour apart, will be funny if we bump into one another while we're away. We watched TV in the evening and I did some blogging and it was another late night after giving the garden a good watering as there is no rain forecast while we are away.

Thursday 6 August Quite a lot of hanging around. I took a walk to the post box and dropped off the contents from the fridge with the neighbour and we made our way to the translation with the car and our cases. I then drove home and walked back to the station.We caught the train to Birmingham airport and had 2 hours to wait ahead of check in and it took about 90 minutes to clear security so we were nicely relaxed ahead of our flight to Crete. It was an uneventful flight, with luggage arriving on time and a smooth transfer an hour away to our hotel. We arrived around 3am local time and our key and welcome note was in reception and we made our own way to our room.

Friday 7 August We set the alarm to wake at 8am (6am UK time) so we could have breakfast, then went back to bed for a couple of hours and slept. We then walked into the nearby town around 10 mins away, which is in an old fishing harbour, passing a selection of restaurants, coffee shops, souvenir shops and cat feeding areas. It's a really pretty town, there's a water park here and lots to do for the next two weeks. We collected some information for some trips and bus routes and bought some basics for snacks and dinner for the evening to eat back in our room, plus some water and juices etc. I went back to sleep for a couple of hours and Peter sat on the balcony. We then explored the local beach area, but I declared it too hot so went back to the room to get myself something to eat while Peter sat by the pool. I joined him later for a quick swim. By 6pm we were back in the room, reading and just chilling out for the evening.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the week - Preparation

The best bits of July 2026

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Week 30 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

I truly believe that the lack of support when my father died then again when Stephanie died has had a bigger impact than most realise. We were left to our own devices with the assumptions that we would ask if we needed anything. When a child dies you really need people to just take over, it's not been two years and I'm still screaming out for help most days. Apparently, no one knows what to do, so nothing gets done.

The positives

Having lots of lovely people that I am able to talk to, when I say I need to talk (see above)

Saturday 25th July Shopping trip to price up a few things we need and home to finally dig up the fir tree and get the ground cleared to finish levelling the front lawn and start our new path here. BBQ in the late afternoon and we watched the original Top Gun.

Sunday 26th July Off to Bromyard for fuel and gas bottle for van then into Worcester for coffee and gluten free cake in Next and a visit to Home Sense and bought some Halloween decorations. Onto Lidl and Sainsbury’s then home and a chilled afternoon. Evening spent photographing items to upload onto Vinted.

Monday 27th July We booked a holiday to Crete and were having a lazy morning and day at planned. Well I was as Peter was on on a cleaning and ironing spree when DIL messaged to say she was bringing the kids up for the day. I quickly booked my camping trip and put the van on charge and cleaned the water tanks. Everyone arrived, played in the garden, paddling pools, lunch then walked to retail park, bought granddaughter new trainers (she ended up with 3 pairs) then a coffee. I came home and made dinner while they stopped in the park and while they ate I went to the gym. I got home, more play time and head stand practice with me showing granddaughter how it’s done. We’d had a race earlier on in the woods and she was waiting for mummy and granddad to catch her up.

Tuesday 28th July Campervan packed and off to Gloucester for some metaphysical time with Stephanie, coffee in Starbucks and a trip round the big B&M and The Range. It was our monthly trip, just the two of us. On then to the camp sit near Coleford where I'm staying for the next two nights, Peter is at home. I've got the cat pole with me to drop off with my friend on my way home on Thursday, I explained to the people on the pitch next to me that I haven't brought my cat with me, everyone else can think what they like. I met up with my niece and The Things at Rugby practice, the bus timings didn't work out so I decided to run there. I saw a deer and had bonus time with my grandchildren who live near by and gave me a lift home. I also got barked at through a window from a passing car and had a plastic bottle thrown at me from another vehicle. Evening spent at the campsite reading, had a shower, some dinner, washing up and bed at 10.30pm.

Wednesday 29th July A lazy morning, awake at 5am with the dawn chorus, made tea and dozed watching Slow Horses before my free trail with Apple TV ends, washed up after breakfast, made coffee and read whilst I waited for my friend to pick me up for a day out along the river in Redbrook and lunch, crossing between England and Wales for the day. After being dropped off back at the camp site I had a nap then walked into the town late afternoon, had a coffee and picked up some herbs for my dinner. Took a 3 mile walk back to the campsite. Made a tuna pasta salad, did the washing up, had a shower and in bed at 10pm.

Thursday 30th July Woken by the birds at 4.40am and after a walk to the toilets I went back to sleep until woken by a screaming baby then kids running around, I finally got up at 8.30am. Made tea and had breakfast, got dressed then slowly started packing up. Reloaded cat pole and set off to my friends house in Lydrbook. Dropped off cat pole and got my washing up done. Came home via the funeral directors as we wanted to make sure Stephanie's ashes had been collected by her biological mother and not just left there, we still don't know where Stephanie's final resting place is. We knew she'd pull some kind of a stunt. We regret now giving her permission to collect them, she was supposed to meet us with them to scatter them. Home and unloaded the van, met my friend for a coffee. Neighbours son came round to look for a ball he accidentally threw over the fence so he could come and see us, once his mum checked he was with us, she disappeared with our cat and sent her daughter round. Neither Peter or I thought it was a fair exchange and her son asked if his mum could bring all his toys round as he thought it would be a great idea to move in with us. Peter and I watched TV, I blogged and we got to bed at 11pm, with everyone back in their rightful homes.

Friday 31st July A lie in then off to Worcester mid morning. We had a coffee and did some shopping. I picked up some material from a scrap store and bought a couple of birthday cards. Peter then had his hair cut and took the shopping home and I caught the train to Birmingham. I wandered around the markets and picked up some more material for a couple of projects and found somewhere to eat buy pack lunch in the shade. I walked up to the ground, bumping into a couple from the gym who were going up the football also. It was FC Barcelona. I got a glimpse of Jude Bellingham and we won 3-2 on sudden death penalties. I just about caught the Tain home after 3 platform changes in 3 mins. Peter collected me from Worcester at 11.30pm as I can't back to Malvern anyway.

On the blog this week:

Word of the week - Football

My garden in July 2026

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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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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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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Week 27 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The positives 

Got selected to run the London Marathon 2027. Made it through another heatwave week in school with no aircon and migraine free, so far. 

The negatives

It's too bloody hot.

Saturday 4th July I had a lie in after a disturbed nights sleep and we headed off to Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds for midday, starting with coffee and lunch in the cafe, then strolling round the house and gardens and getting home at 5pm. It was a lovely and relaxing day. After a bath I was in bed around 9pm.

Sunday 5th July Another night without a lot of sleep. I went out to the retail park to do a bit of shopping and for a coffee. I did some research into some changes that may have contributed to this last migraine attack with a reed diffuser and medication side effects playing a big role.

Monday 6th July Back to work, still feeling ill, the head pain comes and goes and I've been getting headaches as well as migraines, thankfully not at the same time and the headaches are left sided. I'd had a disturbed sleep waking around 2.30am and turning the telly on to watch a bit of the England game. Work was a late one with a staff meeting till 5pm. Home and I picked Peter up on my way from the retail park and stopped for a coffee, had a bath, some dinner and straight to bed.

Tuesday 7th July Slept a solid 9 hours. Still tired on waking. Into work, some drama re trips and students. Into town after work to the post office to send a gift to grandsons and a print from Paris for son in Australia. I had a coffee, did a bit of shopping, home for dinner, a cold bath and in bed by 9pm.

Wednesday 8th July Slept another solid 9 hours. Tired on waking again. Into work, hotting up and muggy. I don't bat an eyelid at some of the things I have to write up that go on in work. Home, hot and bothered and after a lie down and a snack, I decided to go back to the gym for stretch and mobilise. Got the class time wrong, so had a coffee first. Home, watered the garden, had a light dinner, a cold shower and straight into bed.

Thursday 9th July Home from work and evening spent on the laptop in the garden sending emails, uploading photos, blog posts, updating my diary, taking more photos for vinted to upload over the weekend. Sorting through some of my childhood toys for my great niece. I got notified that I have a place in the London Marathon next year and my pre ordered 25/26 4th kit from Birmingham City arrived just in time for the 26/27 season.

Friday 10th July Too hot in work, the library was registering 39c by 9am. I spent the day supervising year 10's not in mocks and most of the day was spent outdoors. Home via the coffee shop to meet Peter, some food shopping, had dinner, watered the garden mostly from emptying the water tank in the van that I'd forgotten about. Plenty of ice pops. I made several phone and video calls to family and friends and packed for my weekend trip way. Had dinner then popped round the neighbours for half an hour, watched the 2nd half of the football and had a bath and into bed.

On the blog this week:

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

Word of the week - sapped

The best bits of June 2026

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Week 26 One Daily Positive and Project 365

Cake Gate - There was no birthday cake. But there was a huge bar of Birthday Chocolate from my friend.

The positives

Not sure if this is a positive really after finding the USB fan in the van, after the heat wave. I didn't have a fan in several of my classes last week, but I did get through the week.

The negatives

Migraines triggered from the heat in Paris last weekend still be held at bay by medication, have taken more meds through the UK heat wave, ended up in hospital on Tuesday.

Saturday 27th June Had a lie in then off to Hidcote to meet Mary and her son for the day for a catch up and a walk. Then home and back out at 4pm to Monmouth to see a friend for a couple of hours, then off to camp on another friends drive for the night. In bed by 11pm. First triptan taken due to migraine aura identified.

Sunday 28th June Woke at 3.30am with a couple of thuds on the van roof. Discovered paw prints and long skids tracks down the window that look like squirrels had fallen out the trees during the night. Into town to volunteer for junior parkrun then off for coffee. Back to the house to pack the van up and returned to town for the carnival and DIL joined us with the grandchildren. Home via a stop in Starbucks where I caught up with some work from school. Peter made a BBQ and evening spent in front of the TV, early bed due to head pain.

Monday 29th June Awake most of the night in agony with migraine 2nd lot of meds taken at 7am and I slept till midday, then on and off till around 6pm. Peter went out to play golf in the afternoon. I managed to keep some food down and drank a lot of fluids.

Tuesday 30th June Hardly any sleep due to severe pain, phoned Dr who got me in at Same Day Emergency Care in Worcester. I was seen, treated and home in 6 hours. had a drip, IV paracetamol and anti sickness meds and a referral back to neurology. Home around 6pm, plenty of fluids, rest, a bath and straight to bed.

Wednesday 1st July No work again. I managed a walk to the pharmacy to collect my prescription then straight back to bed for the rest of the morning and uploaded photos onto vinted that I'd taken several weeks ago. Not feeling hungry, but am drinking well and spent the afternoon in the back room dozing and watching some TV. Got up to watch the England game but fell asleep after they went 1-0 down, woke for England's equaliser with a 'TFFT' then over celebrated the winning goal, had a bath and a lie down in the back room and bed by 8pm and asleep by 10pm

Thursday 2nd July Walked to Dr's for blood test and B12 injection and Peter picked me up as I'd over done it. Home and spent till lunch time lying in the back room doing nothing other than watching a bit of TV and some blogging and some sleeping. It was a close friend's, friend's funeral today. We knew James and had seen him recently, he was 61. After lunch I went back to bed for an hour then showered and I popped out for half an hour in the evening to see my old student who had invited me to see her off for her prom. I came home and went straight to bed.

Friday 3rd July I'm just so bloody tired, feel sick and woke with head pain. Been really careful with meds as I'm fully aware of rebound headaches. Been eating properly and keeping hydrated, getting up out of bed and dressed to ensure I'm motivated. All stressed removed from my life and surrounding myself only with people who give back. This is the end of the second week of head pain. I'm aiming to go back to work on Monday I can't just stay off work forever, I can afford to retire, but that's not me, I need to get back out running and to the gym, baby steps. I took myself out in the afternoon and had a coffee, wearing my sunglasses indoors and realised I couldn't read so popped into Poundland to buy some reading sunglasses and realised I still couldn't read as it was too bright still, so wrote some letters to son in Australia and grandchildren. Peter did a BBQ for an early dinner. I had a bath, into my pjs and sat in the back room watching TV before going to bed at 9pm.

On the blog this week:

My garden in June Part 2

Word of the week - Malfunction

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

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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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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

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Week 23 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

This bloody weather, geez winter clothing on Monday and localised flooding and by Friday back into spring and this weekend it'll feel like we've moved back to Dubai. 

The positives

A lovely relaxing week with exercise, friends, family, coffees, time in the garden and video calls with the grandchildren.

Saturday 6th June Off to Seaford Parkrun, bloody hell it was so wet and windy, I was drenched through before I arrived and it was so windy I nearly took off having my photo taken with the sign. The rain felt like I was being pelted with needles. 2.5km out and a turn round and back. Then back the same route into the wind and rain again to the town to meet Peter for breakfast, then off to visit my 94 year old Uncle and raid his chocolate tin. Back to my Aunts for a shower, lunch get into our wedding attire and off to my cousins wedding in Eastbourne. Another cousin was there in the evening with his wife. We usually only get together at funerals these days so it was nice to see them at a happy event. We were back in Seaford by 9pm with aunt and mum.

Sunday 7th June we left around 9am to beat the traffic and as we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us dropping mum and aunt in Lydney before driving back to Malvern. We were 2 miles short of the M25 on the M23 and came to a stand still for almost 2 hours due to an accident. We got home at 4.30pm. Chilled out watching TV and reading and had an early night. I also hung the summer curtains to block out all the light in the bedroom.

Monday 8th June Staff meeting after work, home and changed and off to the gym to legs, bums and tums. I was early so had a coffee first and a long chat with my niece on the phone. Home to dinner, bath and bed after I spent time photographing items to upload onto vinted.

Tuesday 9th June Peter out for the day visiting child 2 and family. I came home from work, had dinner then out to the gym for a spin class. I then spent some time in the gardening weeding the raised bed and weathering out some plants I'd grown from seed in the raised beds.

Wednesday 10th June After work I had dinner, got changed, met my friend for a coffee and went to a new class at the gym 'stretch and mobilise' I spent over an hour talking to my cousin on the phone in the states, had a bath and got into bed at 11pm. The squirrels are digging up their nuts and leaving holes in the lawn.

Thursday 11th June Coffee out with a friend straight from work. Home via a food shop and I didn't get in till gone 7pm. I put the fridge stuff away and just left the rest on the dining room table and was in bed by 9pm after a quick dinner and a bath. 

Friday 12th June Peter collected mum and aunt as we're all off to the Three Counties Show in the morning. We met in town for a coffee, did a bit of shopping while Peter went home to cook dinner and after a bath and watching some TV I had an early night. Checking out the weather for my trip to Paris.

On the blog this week:

The best bits of May 2026

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

Word of the week - Variety

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Week 22 2026 - One daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

Always sad to say goodbye to the family. We should be used to it after years of living abroad and our children choosing to live as far afield as and Australia, we could choose to move to move nearer to child 4  but then we'd be leaving parents and another children and their family behind plus all our friends, my job and have to move house again and I just can't be doing with all the stress, the travel, the cost, the change in identity again.

The positives

Now our son has moved to a bigger house I should be able to get on a plane and go over for a weekend visit more often without the cost of a hotel, car hire etc. I'll still take the campervan for the longer holidays and Peter can come with me more often as we won't have to camp on their drive the whole time and now the grandchildren are getting a bit older, maybe one of them can come away with us for a night or two.

Saturday 30th May Woke around 7.30am and realised it had started to rain so quickly folded the roof on the campervan and packed the electric cable away. Son went off to the new house to wait for the TV guy between 8am and 5pm (turned up around 2pm) Dil out with the baby and her mum shopping. Grandson off with grandad so I went for a coffee and then back to the new house to clean skirting boards, window and door frames and put the oven back together. Oldest grandson and I went to both the parks in the village stopping for an ice cream which we ate on a bench in the rain. Back to the outlaws for dinner and my sad goodbyes as I won't be back for 4 months. Grandson has no concept of time and he was happy at his other grandparents where he spends so much time and is used to seeing so little of me, it doesn't phase him at the moment. It's good for him though. Youngest is only 13 months old, too young to make judgement on. I was at the docks by 8pm, got washed and changed into my pjs in the van, had a cuppa of tea, caught up with the soaps. Boarded at 10pm and got myself a spot to sleep for the night. Talked my son through where the bolts were for his bed over the phone.

Sunday 31st May We docked at 7am, but I was woken at 5am with bright lights and tannoy announcements. A two and a half hour drive home with a brief Starbucks stop. The roads were quiet with everyone driving in the middle lane. Campervan unpacked, fridge cleaned and tea, sugar etc restocked, washing on and in bed for a couple of hours. Migraine developed full swing and I was really ill and had to take maximum meds and by 1pm I was incapacitated. Second dose of meds at 11pm and straight back to sleep.

Monday 1st June Back to work and head still hurting. After work I went to the gym for legs, bums and tums and felt a lot better for exercising. Ate dinner in front of the TV, bath and in bed by 8.30pm. Door wasn't opened in the right place for the cat.

Tuesday 2nd June Straight into town after work to get my nails done, dropped a birthday present off with a friend, home to get changed then a spin class and dinner. We moved a chair into the loft, that then required a bit of tidying up, watched TV, bath and in bed by 10pm.

Wednesday 3rd June Home from work and I finally got round to sorting out my clothes for selling on Vinted where they've been hanging over the bannister rail for the past few months. I headed off to the gym to Body Pump and got home at 8pm. I had planned a pizza for dinner only to discover it wasn't gluten free so by the time I'd found something I could eat it was nearer to 10pm when I finished, had my shower and got into bed.

Thursday 4th June Woke around 3am with a massive migraine and feeling sick. Didn't go into work and spent most of the day lying down as when I stood up I was ill. Peter collected mum in the afternoon and I went down to meet them at the retail park. Bumped into a friend for a brief natter, the world always seems brighter after a catch up. After dinner I felt slightly better, I packed for the weekend and was in bed and asleep by 9pm. The cat was also poorly and had to have a bath and all the bedding had to be washed.

Friday 5th June Woke with head pain but went into work, it was a quiet day and I even had a free period to catch up with paperwork. Home and a quick change and packed the car and we headed down to Seaford for a family wedding tomorrow, stopping for a Starbucks and snacks on the way, arriving at my Aunt's around 8pm.

On the blog this week:

Word of the week - Tolerance

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

Days out in my Campervan in May 2026

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