2024 Week 35 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day

I purchased a hair curler from Babyliss. It's amazing, just grab a strand of hair, the machine wraps it round, it beeps when it's ready and Voila, a curl. Lightly brush it through and it lasts 2-3 days. It cost me £60 from Amazon. My DIL had one and it's a game changer.

A friend in South Africa I haven't seen since 2019, put on Facebook that her 22 year old son died suddenly on Monday aged 22. I haven't stopped thinking about her all week.

239  Monday Migraine still in progress. Meds taken and off to Gloucester to visit Child 1. We took her out to Gloucester Quays for a coffee and a walk round and to do some food shopping. Dropped her home and I just about made it home before dosing up on meds and going to bed. 

240  Tuesday Doctors for B12 jab home and then Peter drove me to Kidderminster for my MRI. There was lots of waiting in the van in the carpark as they were running late. The noise triggered another migraine, just about made it home, dosed up on meds and straight to bed. Woke at 10pm till midnight, back to bed, awake at 7am, more meds, managed a visit to the nail bar and coffee shop. Home to sleep on sofa most of the day.

241  Wednesday Finally got round to cleaning a stain from the lounge carpet. Cooked a roast dinner mid afternoon. Peter started making the new compost bin using the old shed roof. I put my work bag back together ready for Monday.

242  Thursday Met a colleague from work for a coffee and a catch up before we go back in on Monday. Home to write some letters and sort post. Olive went home in the evening. We dropped her back with her owners in the coffee shop. Sorted out birthday cards and gifts for posting.

Grandson made his Nanny read Tractor Ted to me.

243  Friday Off early to the Forest of Dean, did a food shop for mum and dropped it off. Saw Thing 3 and Thing 4, my nieces children, we haven't seen them for ages. we then spent the afternoon with granddaughter and took her to the park and had ice creams and a play in the garden, before heading off to the campsite for the evening.

244  Saturday Up around 8am, had breakfast and a leisurely morning, packed up and headed off to my old neighbourhood in Lydbrook to visit old neighbours, then stopped at Goodrich Castle for lunch and a wander. Home and afternoon/evening spent just chilling out.

September

245  Sunday A food shop, coffee with friend, online training, some reading ready for my new job tomorrow. Blogging, reading, bath and an early night. Peter spent the day in the garden finishing off the compost bin. I spent the afternoon batch cooking.

Books read this week: Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell. I'm behind schedule by 3 books this year. I really need to make more of an effort.

Words written towards book: 0

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: My garden in August

Things that made me happy this week: Messing with the security camera, meeting my friends new kitten and trying to smuggle it home, sorting out the garden and a night away in the camper van.

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Week 22 One Daily Positive and Project 365 A week in Yorkshire

We headed off to Yorkshire for a few nights with Bob. Having packed for the weather we'd been having at home, we shivered all week as it was much colder and wetter. We joined in with the Jubilee with a street party with the neighbours. I'm old enough to remember the 1977 Silver Jubilee, here's a bonus photo from way back then in Leicester. 

I'm in the pink top with red hat.

147 Saturday Day spent in the garden and tidying up the house ready for going away. I had to go to the opticians for a PEARS test to try and find the cause of my double vision, have new glasses and no answers.

DIL pointed out that it looked like I was having a plant sale, so I put the new shrubs inside the locked gate.

148 Sunday Set off mid morning for a few nights in Yorkshire, we stopped off in York for a few hours before arriving at our cottage a few miles outside.

My childhood home from 1978-1982. The front and the side are extensions.

149 Monday Off to Pickering for a ride on the steam train to Goathland (home of Heartbeat) we had cake, coffee and sandwiches and stopped at the pub for fish and chips on the way home. Bob's first train journey.

150 Tuesday We visited Castle Howard (home of Brideshead Revisited) for the morning and returned a sculptured piece of stone that allegedly came from there in the late 70's. We went into York in the afternoon using the park and ride. Bob was not a fan of the bus.

151 Wednesday Off to Scarborough for the day, we had ice cream, played on the 2p slots, ate our body weight in fudge. The local pub turned us away for food as they had more than enough orders for the night. WTAF?

152 Thursday Up and out by 9am and drove home via the Cotswolds to meet a friend for a walk and a coffee. Home around 6pm, saw the Red Arrows fly over whilst waiting for a takeaway, unpacked and just chilled out. We'd had another flood while we were away.

153 Friday Decorated the garden for the Jubilee, went out for a coffee and bit of shopping. Peter spent most of the day on and off in the roof space fixing the overflow pipe. We joined our neighbours for a street party, BBQ and few drinks. 2 sets of neighbours were living here before we left the UK, so nice to catch up and meet the new neighbours also.

On the blog this week:

Another Garden Update

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Week 18 One daily Positive and Project 365

My eye sight is detonating fast, it takes a lot of effort these days to focus when reading. I had several sewing machines to thread in school and really struggled, my eyes were hurting at the end of the lesson. I'm going to have to get a string to out on my glasses so they're always at hand.

With me now working in a school I only have school holidays and weekends to go places, times we've avoided since the kids left home, but now we have started to enjoy visiting a variety of places and actually enjoying ourselves.

Apart from these posts and my weekly #PoCoLo I'm struggling to find things to blog about since we stopped moving around that just might be of interest to other people and I just end up using the blog to complain or offload about things. Can't write freely about family, the kids are adults, if they want to tell their stories then that's up to them, not me, unless it involves visiting them, marriages or births.

I can't really blog about work as a Teaching Assistant, although I did attend a course on Raising awareness of exploitation and vulnerability with West Mercia Police, that has some helpful links I'm going to share soon. The kitchen still isn't finished, no one is that interested in an extension being built, although I will document it when we find a builder and I don't think anyone needs or wants tips on 'what to look out for when buying a camper van' or 'organising a craft room' I think everything to be written has been written already.

120 Saturday Woke with a headache, rearranged our plans, did some ironing, had breakfast and watched last nights soaps while Peter retraced his steps yesterday to try and find Bob's collar, nothing. We drove to Gloucester to take child 1 out for a coffee then onto visit child 2 and family.

121 Sunday Middle child's 30th Birthday today, no celebrating as he's in Australia, gosh this makes me feel old. We went down to Monmouth to take a meter reading and visit a friend. Evening spent round the neighbours.

122 Monday Bank Holiday and a day off work. Walked into town with the neighbours and Bob to the see the Well dressings and other activities going on at Priory Park. Afternoon and evening spent on the laptop in front of the TV.

Video call with child 4 and family.

123 Tuesday Back into work and home to walk the dog, clean the kitchen, do the ironing and watch TV.

124 Wednesday Home via the covid vaccine centre, we're trying to get the NHS app updated so we can travel to Australia in the summer. Need to go back on Saturday morning. Did the ironing, made dinner and got ready for the morning. Peter went out to the pub to watch the football.

Just got to find a home for the basket of jumpers, sort the cables for the new TV and put the mirror on the wall and this room is finished. 

125 Thursday I walked home from work meeting Peter with Bob half way. I did some baking, rhubarb flavoured cakes, from last years home grown rhubarb that I'd stewed and had frozen. Rest of the evening spent watching TV and blogging.

Enjoying sun puddling early evening.

126 Friday Evening with friend and chips and wine.

Bluebells in the garden.

On the blog this week:

I'm irritated by blog posts from people who share tips and links to things they have no experience of. Why do people blog about things they're not doing?

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Week 45 One Daily Positive and Project 365. Introducing our Grandson

I've had to wait till the end of the week before I could post any photos, until our son and DIL had told everyone and made their own social media announcement. 

Meet Freddie born 5th November weighing a whopping 8lb 15oz.

Freddie is still in hospital and we haven't met him yet. I'll be returning next week to hopefully get some Granny cuddles, so this week the photos are all about the dog, who has had a wonderful holiday and has been thoroughly spoilt.

310 I took Bob out for a long walk and a take out coffee, then came home to clean and tidy the house and pack the car. Peter went to the pub to watch the football. We watched sport in the afternoon on the telly, then headed up to Liverpool with the dog for the ferry to Belfast.

311 Arrived at 7.30am, little sleep as no cabins available. Had to hang around till the accommodation was ready at 3pm. Found a lovely place for Bob to run off lead and a walk on the beach, found a lovely country park to stop for breakfast with a view of the sea, then drove up to Ballycastle for a coastal walk. Checked into the accommodation and evening spent with the in laws.

312 Off to sons house in the morning, went into Lisburn to do some shopping, we were able to leave the dog at their house, early dinner and evening at the in laws. Stupid dog got in, couldn't get out.

313 Took Bob for a long walk at Hillsborough, he spent. a lot of time off lead which resulted in us having to wash him in the lake. Round to sons house to sort the washing, off to Belfast for lunch and a bit of shopping, back to sons to iron, watch TV and collect the dog, back to accommodation and evening spent in front of the TV.

Just a boy and his dog.

314 A lazy morning, bacon butties and mugs of tea. Collected an order from the town for Dil. We drove to Bangor and walked along the sea front. Bob enjoyed time off lead and a swim in the sea. Back to son's house late afternoon to do some chores and wash the dog and his bedding and towels. Saw son and Dil for an hour then back to the air b&b.

315 A lazy morning, then collected sons dog from the in laws and headed out to Stormont for a walk, stopped for coffee and lunch, had an early dinner then over to the in laws for the evening.

With our sons dog. Molly.

316 Cleaned and tided the air b&b, it is cleaner now than when we arrived. Off to sons to do some washing and wrap the Christmas presents, left my suitcase and gifts at the in laws and took Bob for a walk in the rain. Afternoon in front of the TV, early dinner, then off to the ferry stopping by the hospital on the way. Straight into the cabin for the night.

On the blog this week:

The highs, the lows and the in betweens - Since relocating to the UK, the lows have become much easier to deal with.

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2021 Week 4 - Back in the UK and fully vaccinated

I flew back in to the UK on Tuesday. The flight and arrival in Birmingham went really well, there was an incident in the lift at New Street where I stood my ground and refused to allow the lift doors to close until a couple got out as they were either unable to read or process why I wouldn't let them in until I told them to fuck off, firmly. It was lovely seeing the snow on the ground. I'll be able to leave the house on February 6th. Technically I can now as I have an exemption letter, which I may use to walk Bob in the early hours of the morning, but I've no real desire to go anywhere. 

I'm grateful I have the room to move boxes around and decide what I want to unpack and in which order. I've placed an Ikea order for some display cabinets and started my quest for another house sitter for March. I've also ordered another food delivery for next week and once I'm out of quarantine I'll use the click and collect service.

23 Saturday Child 4's birthday, he turned 26. WTAH? I can't be old enough for this? The cut was made at the golf today and I went out with the penultimate group, a couple of players had a bad round and yes, I knew about it. Only walked 17.500 steps today as opposed to almost 30,000 on Thursday. Had a bath, down to the bar for a drink then had room service dinner. I packed ready for check out in the morning.

The club house at Abu Dhabi.

24 Sunday Last day of the golf, I have a lovely 'golfers' tan. White feet, V neck shirt and short sleeves. Started the day with a PCR test to comply with the rules in the UAE for this event and ready for my flight on Tuesday.

Winner Tyrell Hatton and Caddy with 3rd placed Rory McIlroy. There was a pot of $8 million up for grabs.

25 Monday 2nd covid vaccination today, took around 2 hours. Rest of the day spent tidying and packing and just chilling out. When Peter finished work we popped to the local mall for dinner and had an early night.

26 Tuesday Up and out the house by 4am. The airport and flight was good, arrival in Birmingham was excellent with all the communication, checks and social distancing, caught a train home, had a minor confrontation with a couple until they got out of the lift. Met the house sitters on the drive at 3pm, they left straight away. Cat and dog were pleased to see me, house looks ok. In bed at 6pm.

My travel clothing.

27 Wednesday Woke at 3am, cleaned the kitchen cupboards, surfaces and walls/doors. The downstairs loo and hallway. I unpacked my suitcase, sorted out some bills, made a list of jobs that need doing. The food shop arrived and I unpacked a small chest of drawers so I could put a few things away. In the evening I just chilled out in the evening on the sofa in front of the TV.

I keep forgetting I'm owned by a cat and it just keeps appearing without warning.

28 Thursday Another early morning, drank tea, did some blogging and forced myself to stay in bed till 6am, then showered and got properly dressed for the day. Spent the day unpacking boxes, moving things, discovering broken items, cussing, sleeping, eating and repeat. 

Every box is labelled, glass or books and either kitchen or living room, nothing makes sense and stuff from the shed has ended up in the same box as stuff from the spare bedroom upstairs.

29 Friday A similar day to yesterday and progress is being made. Had a phone call from Public Health England, very friendly bubbly voice telling me to isolate and what to do if I have any symptoms. Would be more effective if they just said 'stay in or get fined'. 

These books were my dad's from his childhood, they were upside down in a box in the shed marked steel. Hopefully I've rescued them from the damp in time.

On the blog this week:

Further developments in Uptown Dubai and the Super Tall Tower with #MySundayPhoto

#PoCoLo Post Comment Love - a weekly linky I co host

My Winter COVID Vacation in Dubai

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Week 53 2020 - One Daily Positive

Everyone seems to be saying goodbye to 2020 like we've turned a page or opened a new door. It never makes sense to me and no one ever seems to have a good year anyway. It's just the end of another week for me everything has been up in the air and unpredictable for me for the past 10 years anyway.

I've no idea what day it is most of the time, it doesn't seem to matter. I know I have certain things to do tomorrow then 2 days from now then the 10th January and I fly back to the UK on the 26th. It's actually quite liberating, not having to involve others with planning and keeping them updated on where I'm going, when I'll be visiting next and what I want for tea a week on Tuesday. It's been a long two weeks without Peter. I've seen other people, pub quiz, coffee dates etc. It's been a long 9 months since the borders first closed leaving me in the UK and Peter in Dubai. Peter had work and contact with colleagues, I had the dog to walk, coffees to drink and social distanced garden visits. The past two weeks have been painful though, mainly because we haven't had an end date to look forward to and it's been completely out of our control.

362 Sunday Spent all day thinking it was Saturday. Popped out to Ibn Battuta for a coffee and change of scenery and the rest of the day on the sofa watching Netflix or in the kitchen batch cooking.

The Christmas Tree at Ibn Battuta.

363 Monday Early morning start for pre op assessment and PCR test, rest of the day spent at home, waiting to see if Peter was going to make it home. Until his flight actually took off, I wasn't convinced he'd make it back. I prepared dinner, he got to open his presents and we watched TV.

364 Tuesday At home all day. I have to isolate until my surgery tomorrow. Peter had a PCR on arrival and had to wait till early afternoon before his negative result came through and he could leave the house to pop to the shops, we spent the day watching movies and had a BBQ.

Everyone else was doing their Top Nine.

365 Wednesday Surgery was cancelled, no issues, so instead we headed off to Dubai Mall, Peter finally got chance to do his Christmas shopping (lucky me) and we watched Wonder Woman 84 at the cinema which we both enjoyed. Started fighting a migraine, my iron levels are dipping again and I've had a chronic pain flare up, just in a lot of discomfort.

366 Thursday Spent the morning on the sofa, then off to Mall of the Emirates for a coffee and some food shopping, then rest of the day spent on the sofa. We're walking round the corner from the Villa at 11.50pm to watch the fireworks from a distance.

Other than this one Christmas shop still open, there's not a sign that Christmas was ever here.

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Week 50 - One Daily Positive. The Race to Dubai with The European Tour

Our tree went up on Saturday, half the decorations are in boxes in the UK and I figure you can never have too much at Christmas anyway so I bought a new tree topper and another set of lights. I'm seeing many of my friends are having issues with which family they see over Christmas. For the past 10 years since we've been abroad, family haven't included us in their plans anyway and prior to that the kids would always go to their other parents for Christmas Eve and return Boxing Day night. However our kids are grown up now, with partners, married and child of their own, living close to their in laws, so even without covid on the scene, I don't think much will change for us. 

We're looking at booking a hotel stay for the Christmas period, usually we go out for a brunch, but a few nights away will do us both some good and we'll unwrap presents when we get back for the New Year.

341 Sunday I spent the day at home, I finished decorating the tree and tidied up and hoovered all the glitter and stray bits of tinsel.

342 Monday Off to the Drs for my pneumonia jab, meds and a blood test, then onto the hair dressers and nail bar.

343 Tuesday Festival City Mall in the morning to do some shopping, sent emails to all involved in regards to the shipping but everyone passing the buck and blaming each other, I collected accreditation ready for the golf on Thursday and in the evening we went to Global Village for dinner. It's all outside, but we left at 7.30pm as it was getting too busy for us.

344 Wednesday I spent the day at home, getting no where with the shipping. I swept and mopped the patio and garden and in the evening we went to the Polo club for quiz night and dinner, which we won (again) We were outside all evening, this is the beauty of Dubai at this time of the year.

345 Thursday First day of the golf and with the TV again. The Race to Dubai has the World's top golfers playing for a share of $8,000,000 and is part of the Rolex Series. I'm walking round with the top players with a live TV crew recording the sound of the caddies speaking to the golfers, up close and personal on the tee's, fairway and edge of the greens. It's hard work, the kit weighs around 3kg with the battery packs, I have an ear piece to get instructions and to be able to radio back in for a ref etc, head phones so I can hear what sound I'm picking up, then add a mask, back pack with food and drink, sunglasses and a hat and I'm my own game of buckaroo or if you're older, I could try balancing a cabbage for my own episode of Crackerjack. Today I walked round with Victor Perez and Christian Bezuidenhout.

346 Friday Golf again and out with Tyrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood, ranked 10th and 15th in the world. I caught too much sun and had a headache, we spent the evening watching the Queen's Gambit, it's really good.

347 Saturday Golf and out with Lee Westwood and Branden Grace, evening spent in front of the TV. Last day of the golf tomorrow. 

On the blog this week:

I think TV shows should be doing more to represent the current situation with Covid, some soaps aren't even referencing it. What's your thoughts on it?

Construction Photography - The pods are on the World's Tallest Ferris Wheel in Dubai

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