2024 Week 49 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

We're waiting for some money to come into Stephanie's estate, not much but until it does we can't pay her 2 outstanding care bills to Gloucester County Council. 

My student numbers in Alternative Provision are rising. Which is both good and bad. Good for the students and the school but slightly tricky for me with teaching years 7-11 units 1-3 each day with English and Maths and their GCSE subjects. I just don't have enough brain space to learn the content of all these subjects at all levels so my mantra is 'we will learn together with google' I'm currently juggling The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet plus Poetry across 3 year groups. Thankfully there are links to history and geography and science and maths are closely related with the current topics, with English content running throughout. 

337  Monday Woke with a migraine, took meds and off to work for the morning. Met Peter with Bailey for a coffee at the retail park. In the afternoon I sorted through Stephanie's estate, my pensions, and some Christmas gifts I've been putting together for my students in work.

338  Tuesday Had my first proper full sleep in a while, just under 7 hours but it was in a solid block. Woke with a migraine, more meds, dog had had a wee so cleaned that up and washing machine on. Did some blogging and drank tea. After work I did a food shop, home to walk Bailey, gave her a bath, she's actually white, not beige. Ran the hoover round and prepped tomorrow's dinner for the slow cooker. Also made calls to sort out Stephanie's estate. 

339  Wednesday A good day in work. Home at lunch time. I think I'm ready to return full time  We had a full practice lock down. I had 3 students, we sat under the desk and ate sweets, playing UNO in silence. I walked down to the retail park with Bailey for coffee after work with friend. Peter collected us. Evening spent sorting gifts for school and watching TV. 

340 Thursday Work went well. Home via the retail park to get dog food. Peter popped into Worcester. I had some lunch then went to bed for a couple of hours, walked Bailey and almost got blown away by the winds. Evening spent watching TV and another walk before bed.

341  Friday Nail bar after work, Peter walked down with Bailey and we had coffee. Christmas cards written, not many this year. 

342  Saturday Plans cancelled due to the storm. Day in pjs, a lie in till mid day. Eventually got dressed and off for coffee. Bailey and I walked home and Peter did a food shop. Afternoon and evening spent with Peter watching football and me sitting in the other room listening to the radio, reading and online.

343  Sunday dropped off a Christmas present for Stephanie's care staff. It's nice to spend time with people who knew Stephanie as apart from with Peter and I, it's the only other place where Stephanie's life had any value and her absence is felt. 

Books read this week: The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Words written towards book: 0

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: Days out in the camper van November 2024

Things that made me happy this week:

Pushkins and Bailey.

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2024 Week 36 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

I started my new job this week as an Academic Tutor in Alternative Provision. I'm working with Safeguarding, Attendance and the Behaviour Support Team. It will involve visiting families with the aim of getting students back into school and eventually back into the classroom.

I haven't had much time for reading the last few weeks with the number of documents I have to read and familiarise myself with, plus the additional training and lesson planning. I last had a teaching role in 2017 when we lived in Dubai. I need to get myself into a routine.

246  Monday Back to school, no students in. Nice to catch up with everyone. Lots of training and paperwork and finding out what my new role is all about. Made my first home visit and safeguarding referral. Met Peter after school for a coffee. home to cook dinner, catch up with blogging comments, ironing while watching TV, bath and bed.

247  Tuesday Another inset day, more online training and so much reading. Popped in at the chemist to order more meds and make sure I get the right dosage as the Doctors keep sending me the old dose and I'm  having to collect a new prescription every 2 weeks. I have a 3 monthly prescription so it's not costing me anymore, but it's not the point. I cooked dinner, had a bath and washed and styled my hair. I managed to rip an earring out of my ear and I know have a tear in my ear.

248  Wednesday Year 7 and 12 back in today. School photos and my bum didn't hit a chair and I didn't manage a hot drink all day, lunch was eaten on the go. I did manage to get a classroom sorted. There was a lot of positive feedback from the Senior Leadership Team. Popped out to meet a friend for coffee, then home to sort through some paperwork, had an early bath and watched TV.

249 Thursday All school back. A strange day for me. Between tasks I found myself automatically wandering back to the learning base to check in with what I should be doing next. Forgetting that this week I'm working off my own initiative, organising my new classroom, sourcing supplies, familiarising myself with students, picking up any issues, checking in with students and just getting myself familiar with my new role.

250  Friday Into school and off to Monmouth for dinner with a friend and her family, then off to another friends for the night for a catch up. She was dog sitting so I joined her and slept in the van on the drive. Had fun at midnight after a beer trying to get the bed out in the van. Too wet to pop the roof and parked on a slope. Had to push the bench seat uphill.

251  Saturday Woke in the morning around 7am having slid into the kitchen during the night. After breakfast we took the dogs for a walk, then I headed into Monmouth for coffee and a walk. I stopped in Ledbury on my way home. Afternoon and evening spent planning some lessons and watching TV.

252  Sunday Had a lie in till 9am. Off into Worcester for coffee and some shopping, afternoon spent watching TV, reading and general tidying up.

Books read this week: 0 Safeguarding and Working together to improve school attendance documents.

Words written towards book: 0 Unless you count lesson planning.

Clothes bought: Shoes for work Pavers £27. Blouse Primark £12.

On the blog this week: Days out in the camper van in August 

What's made me happy this week:

At 53 I've finally managed to get my hair to do what I want it to do. and no, I don't colour it, this is my natural colour. I used to have really dark hair, but now it grows blonde. Peter finished the compost bin, recycling the old shed roof panels. I camped on a friends drive and enjoyed a walk in the woods with an occasional dog.

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2024 Week 33 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

We've just returned from 12 days in Turkey, we stayed in a rural part about 90 minutes drive from Bodrum, not encountering any other English speaking tourist during our stay,. We did however visit Bodrum markets for a day and I was saddened to see how many English tourists were buying up all the fake goods available. On our flight home everyone was dressed top to toe in knock off gear, including clothing, trainers and handbags. 

I'm guilty of having done this when visiting Turkey 20 years ago, buying fake goods, but after living in South Africa and witnessed the effects of gun crime, I carried out my own research and discovered that the sale of fake goods was the quickest and easiest way for organisations to raise funds for terrorist activities, to purchase guns, for human trafficking, drugs and child exploitation. 

Besides the fakes baring no resemblance to the actual genuine product, the spelling is often wrong and the quality of the items are poor.

With all the information available on the internet today, I had hoped that people would be better informed, but sadly we seem to be living in a society where people think just having stuff with a label, even a false ones means they can show others they have achieved something in life even if when they get back to work on Monday, everyone knows they've been to Turkey and have bought it in market and it's a knock off.

225  Monday We moved into a hotel for the rest of the visit. After unpacking we just chilled out reading books and I wandered into the market for a latte. In the evening our friends joined us and we walked to Champagne Bay about 15 mins away for a swim. In the evening Peter and I built a fire in the garden and we cooked fish. it was delicious, we also cooked marshmallows, the popcorn was less successful. 

226  Tuesday Off into Bodrum for the day to the markets and a spot of lunch. I found a Starbucks so was more than happy. Bought some souvenirs. In the evening back to champagne Bay and we ate at the market and had a couple of beers.

227  Wednesday I wandered down to the market in the morning for a latte and to purchase some beach shoes for us both. A day on Victoria beach and we were joined by a holiday horse and a holiday pony. They were just wandering around the sun loungers, there are stables at the beach. Back to Champagne Bay in the evening.

228  Thursday A level results day. I had a phone call with my student when she collected her results and to catch up with the other students, some very good results. Back to the horse beach for a swim, the horses were also enjoying a swim in the sea. We spent the afternoon in the hotel, reading by the pool. In the evening back to our friends for a swim in the pool then another BBQ, the neighbours came to complain about the smoke, they were ignored. I picked a pomegranate from the tree, it was delicious.

229  Friday We checked out the hotel mid morning after I'd been back down the market for a latte after breakfast while Peter finished packing. We headed off to the horse beach for a swim, We then back to friends for a swim in the pool, dinner then a lift to the air port. There were lots of forest fires in the area on the drive.

230  Saturday We arrived in Birmingham at 1am, the car was waiting for us and we got home at 3am. My friend had bought some milk, so a cup of tea and dealt with an angry cat and straight to bed. I woke at 6.30 am. We went out for coffee and breakfast as the fridge was empty and a bit of food shopping. I popped a gift down to my friend to say thank you for cat sitting, then back out to meet another friend for coffee in the afternoon. All the washing got done and I repacked for a trip to Belfast in the morning.

231  Sunday Early flight to Belfast. Brandon's was pleased to see me, son and DIL went out for a run. We made a video call to son in Australia. I struggled to stay awake. Popped out to do a food shop, had dinner and I had an early night.

Books read this week: 

Blood Lines - Angela Marsons

The Road Trip - Beth O'Leary

Words written towards book: 0

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: A driveway awning for the campervan

Things that made me happy this week:

A lovely relaxing holiday, picking fresh pomegranates off a tree and eating them, watching a horse swim in the sea and hoping on a plane to visit my grandson.

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2024 Week 25 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

June

It's getting harder and harder with the selfie a day. Peter allows me one photo and I have to use it, regardless if anyone is smile, eyes are closed or funny faces being pulled.

169  Monday And so the job hunting begins. Why does everything have to be so complicated. It took me all evening to fill in one application online, copying everything into several boxes. Why does no one accept  CVs and letters of applications these days? Peter took mum home and after work I did some online autism training. I took a break from the job application and went on a dog walk with a friend from work.

170  Tuesday The job application form filling paid off and I've been offered a job interview next week. I also applied for 3 other jobs, 2 of which were upload a CV and a covering letter. Guess what? I didn't actually have a current CV, after all the complaining so had to write a new one. Peter met me in town after work and we went for a coffee. The rest of the evening was spent blogging, ironing and watching TV.

171  Wednesday Into work and coffee with a friend from work afterwards, I didn't get home till 7pm. I feel so sad not to be working with these lovely ladies after the end of this term, but we've still got our WhatsApp group where I'll throw in some daily sarcasm so they don't forget me, weekly coffee dates and once a term nights out. Rest of the evening spent blogging and watching TV, an early night.

172  Thursday Into work, homework club till 4pm. I met Peter at the retail park and we bought some compost and had a coffee. Home to pot up some plants and I sat in the garden reading. My friend called round for some tips ahead of her job interview next week.

173  Friday Home from work. Peter was out visiting Stephanie and doing some shopping. I met up with a couple of friends from work at the pub for a drink or two and got home at 11pm. whoops.

174 Saturday Did some gardening then off to Worcester with a friend from work to get our nails done, they were running over time so I didn't get mine done. We met another friend for coffee who has been off work sick, we took her some vouchers and a card from a staff collection. Son, Dil and grandchild came round early evening for the night. They've not stayed over since the middle of April, we had a BBQ.

175  Sunday The second shed came down and was cut up ready to go to the tip in the week. Morning spent pottering then a walk into town for my birthday lunch out and a bit of shopping. Home to just chill out, sand pit and paddling pool out.

Books read this week: The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais

Words written towards book: 0

Clothes bought: £12 shirt, £2.50 trainer socks. Primark.

On the blog this week: A day out at The Gardeners' World, NEC Birmingham

What's made me happy this week:

Birthday flowers, out with friends (work colleagues) sunshine and repotting succulents.

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2024 Week 12 One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day

March

78  Monday Home from work, exhausted, bath, pjs and sat in front of the telly all afternoon and evening.

79  Tuesday Home from work, washing, hoovering, moved the bougainvillea back outside along with the new storage box I assembled last week. Did some job hunting, found nothing of great interest. Blogging, TV, bath and bed.

80 Wednesday Left work at lunch for dental appointment. Old crown removed, mouldings taken and temporary crown applied. Home to tidy my craft room, sort clothing for week away and tidy dining room. I put together Bob's keep sake box with collar, footprints and dog bed. Evening spent on the sofa, watching TV and blogging.

81  Thursday Into work and home via the retail park for a coffee, meeting up with 3 colleagues for a natter. Home for dinner and spent an hour in the loft room tidying up and sorting things for donation, tip, selling etc.

82  Friday Home from work and end of term for 2 weeks. Stopped a the pub with a colleague on the way home, our visit was cut short after a pedestrian was hit by a car. Colleague redirected traffic till the ambulance arrived and I took the drivers son home and called his nan to come and sit with him, until mum had spoken to the police. All OK. Peter and I went out in the evening for dinner, home and an early night.

83  Saturday A leisurely day with washing and general tidying before packing the car and taking our time to drive to Liverpool via Cheshire Oaks and the ferry to Belfast for the week. Ferry was delayed by 90 minutes, so didn't sail until midnight and the sea was really choppy. Straight to the cabin and didn't wake till we docked at 7am.

84  Sunday Arrived at son and daughter in laws house to a very happy 2 and a half year old grandson. 'Granny, Gaga (grandad)' all day long. We went out in the afternoon to the retail park and to Gransons favourite shop 'Home Bargains' where we treated him to a Home Bargains lorry. DIL cooked a roast, dogs were walked and Grandson bathed and 1 millionth book of the day read before he went to bed.

Books read this week: 1 million children's books.

Words written towards book: 1197

Clothes bought: Birkenstock Sandals £75

On the blog this week: Do you have an Easter Tree?

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2024 Week 7 One Daily Positive Project 365 A Selfie a day

February

43 Monday We spent the day on the beach. popped the roof on the Bobster after a 2 hour walk along the cliffs and had tea and made lunch, read and chilled out. Peter had a best interest meeting over the phone with child 1's care home and the GP surgery to arrange a procedure and I explored the rock pools. In the afternoon we visited McArthur Glen, had dinner then back to the hotel in Barry. 

44 Tuesday After a lie in we drove home via Trago Mills, then onto Monmouth and through the Forest of Dean to see our grandchild, then up through Gloucester to avoid all the road closures due to land slides (Monmouth to Ross) and flooding (Maisemore and Upton upon Severn) We got home at 7pm, unpacked, had dinner, bath and bed.

45 Wednesday Took the van for a MOT and we walked to the retail park for a coffee while we waited. Home via Lidl for a food shop, then I popped to work to do some printing and take down the Valentine day decorations I forgot at the end of term. Popped into see a friend in a shop where she works. Home to spend the rest of the day sorting and tidying and getting on top of stuff I've been meaning to do around the house for a while.

46 Thursday So much done today. We had coffee in town, Peter walked home and I had my hair cut, then walked round the shops. home to sort a pile of paperwork, tidy the desk, have a little bonfire with old paperwork and gave the downstairs a hoover. Afternoon spent in front of the TV, evening spent blogging and a video call with a friend.

47  Friday Caught the train to Birmingham for the day. Did some shopping and had dinner out. Home to sort out photos on laptop and do back ups which took most of the evening. I also topped up the blue underneath my hair and dropped the hair dye pot. I didn't notice the dye on my dark slippers that I walked all over the carpet and sat crossed legged on the bed. All cleaned up now and bedding changed.

I didn't notice we were twinning until we took our coats off in the restaurant. 

48  Saturday Washing machine and dryer on ALL day. We popped out for coffee and a food shop. I spent the rest of the day dealing with washing, making courgette soup and the twice yearly password changes as well us updating photo albums and blogging. In the evening I went out with colleagues for dinner and drinks in town.

49  Sunday Peter not well so he stayed at home while I collected child 1 in Gloucester then picked mum up from the bus and headed to Asda, then off to Starbucks and wandered round B&M and The Range, took child 1back to her house then mum back to ours around 3pm. I cooked a roast dinner, laminated some stuff for work, altered a pair of trousers for a colleague and caught up with some blogging and watching TV.

Books read this week: The Girl with all the gifts - M. R. Carey

Words written towards book: 1534

Clothes bought: Socks £8.99 

On the blog this week: A selfie a day for a year 

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Week 40 One Daily Positive and Project 365

Where is the time going?

I had so many plans for autumn and now it's here, I don't know if I can actually be bothered making a new wreath for the front door and all the other decorations I usually do, it's only me that appreciates it.

Seeing as I have the same hours in everyday as Beyonce has has according to Mollie-Mae I thought I should put it to the test. Although I work 30 hours a week and spend roughly 4 hours a week commuting, Peter is at home and can do the housework, which is minimal as well as cooking most evenings as he usually does. I just don't want to be doing too much other stuff in the week, we're content watching the TV and just being in. On the weekends, we tend to do more though.

273 Saturday An early start to the Forest of Dean for coffee with mum, a quick visit to see ex MIL for her birthday, a visit to see the Things and off to my mates for the night for curry and wine and put the world to rights.

The lesser spotted Thing 4.

274 Sunday A visit with an old school friend, we reconnected in 2011 after 20 odd years when she visited us in South Africa, but the last time we met up was for Peter's 60th birthday, which was 5 years ago now.

275 Monday After work a visit to Kidderminster to the eye hospital. Covid tests still negative, nose still blocked and a chesty cough, so wore a mask in work.

276 Tuesday Cycled to work and evening spent waking and ironing and watching TV. Getting some ideas for Halloween.

277 Wednesday Swam before work and evening spent on a video call for child 1's care review. Peter's birthday presents ready.

278 Thursday Peter's birthday. I cycled to work and home to see child 2, his wife and our grandchild. A late night, exhausted but happy. The play mobile used to belong to their Uncles.

279 Friday Swam before work, a quick tidy round after yesterday and chips and wine with friend. I posted my first Christmas Card. It's an annual ritual to wind my friend up. It works every year, she forgets I do it.

It appears I decided to do nothing different from usual anyone this week.

On the blog this week:

You can be anything you want to be

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