Another lovely day...

The weather has been beautiful again today, and that always lifts my mood.  Add to that the fact that yesterday not only did I help my mum choose an outfit for my niece B's wedding, but I got one for myself!  I love it - it's 50s style with a very bright print and makes me feel like a girl!  We had the assistance of a very lovely Personal Shopper, and I'd recommend the use of one of these if you have an occasion to shop for or a difficult customer to please (in this case, my mum - I'm fairly easily sorted!).  Actually, mum loved most of the suggestions and very quickly chose an outfit that she is clearly happy with.  Halos polished all round.

This morning I helped the daughter with some revision for her A levels.  It was much lower stress  than usual due to a new approach I concocted - using the mark scheme instead of the exam papers. She works out the question that would result in the answer then jots down the key words and phrases for each topic which the examiner is looking for.  It's worth a try! We then has bacon (and egg for me) sandwiches and I made my treat coffee - Monsoon Malabar.  It's beautifully strong and aromatic, and I've decided I'm always going to have some in. Why should it be a treat only?

THis afternoon, I polished my halo again by taking dad to do his food shop, and also completed mine.  We (daughter and I) have decided we need a healthy living regime, so I bought lots of lovely fruit and veg plus healthy stuff for snacks.  I fear this could be undermined by the amount of Easter eggs she brought back from her dad's, but there you go...

I have spent the rest of the afternoon messing about on the internet as the daughter has gone out for a friend's 18th.  I plan to watch some telly (perhaps Game of Thrones on catch up) and have an early night.  I know how to party, I do...

Coffee with a friend

Lovely day today so far!  Waiting for the daughter to get back from a long drive, so a teeny bit stressed at the moment.  This morning I went into town to pick up a parcel and find a present for my dad's birthday.  The weather wasn't quite up to yesterday's, but it was still warm enough to be coatless, and picking up the parcel meant I got a good incidental walk from where I parked the car.  I was then able to meet a friend, J, for a seriously good mocha at a local coffee shop and a catch up.  We are both still tired from the term, although J is pregnant so has a better excuse than me!  We chatted, moaned a bit and looked at the lovely Welsh blankets on sale in the shop part of the cafe.  Lovely.  I enjoyed the jazz music playing in the background, too, and the way the cafe makes everyone sit at long refectory tables so people have to be sociable!  I managed to get a book dad might like in town afterwards - it;s one you can just dip into, with separate stories of Welsh history.  Then I bought myself a salad bowl and very posh sausage roll affair from a baguette takeaway place.

I plan to have a sparkly drink in a bit - not fizzy, actually sparkly with bits of gold leaf!  It's a cinnamon vodka and the gold bits just float about in it.  It's so pretty!  I mix it with apple juice and lemonade to make a long drink and it is truly delicious.  I'm running a bit low now, so need to buy more.

Pretty drink - not showing the gold leaf as well as I'd like, but hey ho...

Here I am again!

I have been guilty of abandonment of this blog.  I don;t know why, it just wandered off my radar.  I'm here again now though and plan to do better!
Recently I have been doing the 100 happy days challenge, and it got me thinking about this again.  Lots has happened since I last wrote, but the most happiness (and scariness) making thing is a new job which will start in September.  I am very excited about it, but it's a bit of a change for me and It is also making me a bit nervous.

Yesterday, I went for a walk (not long, about a mile and a half) along the cliff path in the sunshine.  My exercise routine is another thing which has slipped rather in the last few months, so I walked yesterday in a conscious attempt to restart daily walks - I enjoyed it and plan to go out again later as the weather is great again!  I am on holiday at the moment and really enjoying doing nothing: I have plenty to do, but I'm giving myself the first week to recover from the term!

The daughter has turned 18 and has her own car, which makes both of us more independent!  It adds a whole load of new worries, though...She is currently visiting her dad but will be driving herself the full 4 hours home tomorrow.  I may be a bit of a nervous wreck!

                                                                Yesterday's walk.

Exercise...

I am feeling good today because I have exceeded my step target on my new Fitbit Flex every day this week.  It is making me go out and walk more than I would and the little graphs really appeal to my geeky side (which is much bigger than that makes it sound).  I am sure that my dodgy knee is feeling stronger and more stable, too.

On top of that, I seem to be having a storming time at work.  I am (temporarily) on top of everything and have driven my boss to be complimentary.  This is almost impossible, as she is a perfectionist (to say the least) and not my biggest fan anyway.  It's great!

I watched the daughter play hockey earlier.  Her team won, and she looked all proficient!  She has been warned to watch her teeth as she has a brace following an operation on a rogue canine which hid itself in her face.  The brace is due to come off (finally) next month and I really don't want her teeth knocked out right now - not that there is a good time to lose teeth... So all in all a good match - a win and a full set of teeth!

Especially for E...

So, the niece, E, has been nagging me about my frankly poor performance in terms of writing here.  She's right, of course, which makes it all the more annoying...
A quick round up and explanation then.  I went back to work at the beginning of September and it has been really, really busy - however, it's when under that sort of stress that I ought to post MORE religiously if the aim is to help me focus on the positive.  I will make an effort to do better!

E and her partner, A, finished their epic walk around Wales last Sunday, and I had a lovely day walking about 7 miles of the last leg with them and a group of friends and family.  The sun shone, the views were beautiful and some friends who hadn't walked brought a stove to an access point along the way and made us real coffee.  It was great!  I left E and A then to finish their walk, but met them at the end point with some fizz to celebrate.

Last night, we had a lovely meal to celebrate again (we love a good celebrate, we do) and the atmosphere was great there, too.  IT was in a tiny little beach café affair, lit by candles and with a large fire bowl outside the open doors to keep the evening chill out.  The food was pretty awesome too, and I had a bit of a moment watching the daughter share the wine and chat like a real adult person.  I built her from scratch, I did!

I had taken delivery yesterday of a Fitbit -  a sort of sexed-up pedometer you wear on your wrist which syncs with your computer by magic and gives you lots of geeky stats, so I've had a nice time playing with that today.  I set myself a step target of 8000 to begin with as my knee is playing up.  The walk to pick up the car from last night's meal venue got me off to a good start, and I have completed todays steps.  I am going to build it up to the recommended 10000 then see how that feels.  Walking has been great for my physical and mental health in the past, so this feels a very positive step, if you'll pardon the (slightly rubbish and unintended) pun.  It will also track the quality of your sleep, so that could be revealing...

Right, that'll do for now.  I'll try to be a better blogger in future!

Tired!

Sunday was quite relaxing, and the drive to pick up the daughter was stress free, which is always good.  We met after the close of the supermarkets, so in McDonald's - I'm not a big fan of the food, but the ice cream...well, let's say I don't mind that.  I had a Malteser McFLurry.  Lovely.

Today has been quite busy, with school, a meeting and then helping the daughter and her friend prepare for a mock EU conference.  I now know more about Malta's views on the expansion of the EU than seems strictly necessary for someone outside the Maltese Foreign Office!  It's quite satisfying though. 

I relit my Aga yesterday, so the house is cosy and I can dry my washing.  the house just feels...alive when the Aga is on.  It makes a massive (if undefinable) difference.  I love it.  I'd never have had one except there was one already fitted in my house when I bought it (don't imagine a large farm house - my house could be voted least likely to have an Aga!) but I couldn't be without one now.

I am currently watching rubbish telly (Buffy repeats!) and drinking tea, so thinks are just about perfect for the time being - until I have to go back into the salt mines tomorrow, anyway...

Hair!

I have had a hair cut today.  Never fails to make me feel great.  I have very short hair, so when it is cut it makes a big difference.  I then had coffee with a friend and bitched about work etc.  Great.
On the downside, I have a stonking headache - migraine I think as I've now had it for 2 days already.  Consequently I'm not going to type anymore as looking at the screen is a bit of a killer.

The last Mexican...

Not a spaghetti western, but a genuine comment on the state of affairs around here.  The pop-up Mexican take out which has been operating on  Tuesday all summer has reached it's last evening.  This is very sad indeed, as it is delicious, cheap and I often meet friends in the queue!  I have ordered the daughter and I steak chilli, a steak burrito and chicken nachos - it'll be far too much, but I'm making the most of it! 

Today was another boggling and frustrating day at work and to top it off I think I have forgotten how to plan a lesson...I expect it will be OK when I actually have teenagers in front of me tomorrow.  I feel somewhat frazzled, so the joy that is my take out will be very welcome.  Despite deciding to reduce my alcohol intake, I think I may have the bottle of fruit cider which is in the fridge tonight before I enter the fray that is Autumn term in earnest.

Back to work...

Well, back to school today, so I need to get back to writing this regularly - holidays are over!  It was really hard going back after the summer break, especially as training days tend to lead to information overload and a boggled brain!

It was lovely, though, to catch up with colleagues, especially the Spotties (a group of friends who offer great support along with plenty of cake and tea in a  - sometimes- spotty teapot).  I had lots of compliments for my top, one of the ones I had made for me in India this summer, and compliments are always cheering.  After the session the Spotties went out for cake which was lovely.  Later I am going to go for a walk around the Otter Trail.  It looks so beautiful at this time of year with delicate purple seed heads on all the reeds and it is sunny and warm here this evening.  Exercise always lifts my mood, and at the start of term I need to be very aware of my mental equilibrium!

Champagne and friendship

I'm being a bit rubbish at blogging while in hols - lack of routine, I think. It's a shame, because there are loads of good things while off work!

Today I collected the GCSE results of the pupils I teach - they were pretty good but some in particular were very cheering due to individual pupils' circumstances. 

After collecting results and packing I left for Chester - I am going to be walking the Sandstone Trail with a friend I met in holiday a few years ago. We are currently drinking champagne and about to plan the walk/gossip. I am grabbing a blogging opportunity while she sorta out something for her daughter, who is at Reading Festival with mine. 

  

York

I'm in York tonight for a University Open Day with the daughter.  The drive was beautiful, including views of the North Wales mountains and the stunning, but slightly disturbing, Saddleworth  Moor. We are staying in the attic room of a

B and B near the walls and currently watching rubbish telly before bed. 

We have been out for dinner, which we had in a lovely little Mediterranean restaurant called The Olive Tree. The food was delicious, and there was abeam rogue small boy in there who spent some time on the castle mound opposite running about with his mum. It was lovely to watch. When they came back in, the waiters took over ( as waiters from the med do...) to give the mum a rest. The little boy sat at the bar being fussed over and having a great time. This has been a lovely day. 

Relaxation

Coming back from India really took it out of me - I was travelling pretty much for 4 days and dealing with jet lag too.  I don't function well when I am over tired, and on top of that, having managed to avoid stomach problems while in India I came down with something involving horrible stomach cramps as soon as I got home.  Not a happy few days...

It is very important in challenging moments to focus on the positive.  I have not done much for the last few days, but have really enjoyed falling asleep on the sofa and generally relaxing completely!  Today, the daughter got her AS results, which were fine (if a bit mixed) but she got an A in her English!  A really happy moment.

I was thwarted in trying to buy brioche for breakfast (a sudden craving).  Is there a world shortage or something?  I bought muffins, though (the proper, doughy bread toasting sort, not a big fairy cake) and enjoyed eating those.  Simple pleasures.

Daughter is at work, and I will be cooking her favourite mash for tea (probably with sausage and onion gravy) and I think I will open some fizz to celebrate her results.  We are going to York tomorrow for an Open Day, so I should have an enjoyable weekend!

Amazing India

India continues to amaze - the colours, sounds and indeed smells are extreme. We have been to a huge variety of places and seen some incredible things.

Often on holiday I have a day when I have a melt down as things can get a bit much for me sometimes (I go on adventure holidays, not a week by the pool). This time I have not done so, which is a happy thing in itself. 

A selection of happy things - beautiful, bright saris in the fields, cows wandering randomly about on the road (3 out of 4 lanes on a main road in one instance) being avoided by drivers because of their sacred status, having to wait at an intersection for an elephant to lumber past, children excited to have their photo taken so they can see it in the camera screen... 

Two more full days left - now that is a sad thought, so I'll leave it at that. 

Hippy dreams!

So, India... It's incredible. Everyone says it will be and that you will never be the same again, and you think 'Yeah,yeah'. Thing is, I suspect thy may be right!  It's noisy, smelly, chaotic and at the same time serene, timeless, beautiful. It does things to your mood ( and possibly your digestive system, but I'm ok so far...). The good things come thick and fast - a random elephant in the street, a blessing and garland at your hotel, a shopkeeper's chatter. It takes your breath away and leaves you feeling...different. Calmer. More centred. Sounds hippy? Yup. But it is, oddly, the truth

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Holidays!

Right, I'm off to India tomorrow so won't be around for a while. Today I went out for the day with the house sitters - my daughter's father and his family. We went on a boat trip and saw a dolphin playing alongside the boat. Nothing like a dolphin to lighten the mood!  

We finished the day with a delicious and filling meal at The Queen's. Absolutely stuffed now and my mind is buzzing from the packing. I am excited but a little apprehensive. See you on the other side!

 

Family

A couple of days with the ex-husband and his family before I go away to India with my daughter and his eldest with his wife. They are staying in the house and looking after the cat while we are away, so result there!

Yesterday was a bit of a blur of tidying etc., but today was lovely. The happiest point was going for a walk around the OtterTrail at Cardigan Wildlife Centre - the weather was lovely and it's a happy walk anyway. We saw a heron from the Heron Hide (does what it says on the tin...) and a long look at water buffalo. Their 7 year old also asked me what my favourite Hindu god was... I love a good random question!

Friends and haircuts

Two things made me happy today.  First, I had a hair appointment.  I had decided to go a bit blonder (hides the grey better!) so I had a long discussion with my hairdresser about how best to go about this on my very short hair.  I have been going to the same hairdresser for years, and I have a history of wanting quite drastic changes and of being happy to let her decide what is best.  She still felt the need to ask whether I would be shocked if it was a lot blonder.  Erm...no.  That's what I want!  Actually, it has turned out not as blonde as I envisaged - I still like it though.  I seem to be easily bored by my hair and like a change, so I am pleased about the new colour.

After I had had my hair done, I met a friend and colleague for coffee.  She has not been well and has been off work for a couple of months.  Today she seemed much better, and her voice, which has been missing for most of her illness had almost returned.  We spent an hour or so drinking coffee and catching up.  It is hard to beat meeting good friends as a way to raise your spirits!

Sunshine and Cider.

A bit of a busier day today sorting out stuff for the India trip - shopping, taking an itinerary to the parents and so on. 

Decided to go to the pub for food and a couple of drinks with the daughter. It was a beautiful evening and the food was pretty good too. We had antipasti, garlic bread, chips and salad along with plenty of pear cider and a beautiful view. A simple good thing which does not needing writing - here's a picture:

Lazy day...

I have had a really lazy day today, not getting dressed until after lunch.  It was great to be able to do this rather than go to work.  I haven't really done anything today, so it is tricky to find a good thing to write about!  However, I have messed about on the computer for ages and watched some telly, sorted out some washing and cleaned the kitchen and bathroom.  It was lovely to have the daughter help with that without being asked.  My main rooms are now tidy and organised and that is making me feel generally pretty good.

I really need to sort out lists of things to do and what to pack for my India holiday - it need thought as we have a 15kg luggage limit and a variety of activities when we are away.  I will do those things tomorrow, and probably go shopping and to sort out my mobile for abroad too.  Nothing else to write really!  Sorry to be deeply boring...

Let me eat cake!

First day of the holidays!  I woke early as usual but it was absolutely lovely not to have to rush out if bed and get ready. I did get up at about 7.30, but was able to have quiet cup of tea, watch some stuff on my Sky planner and Mumsnet a bit. Small pleasures! 

Later, I went into town with the daughter and bought myself some new underwear from my friend Wendy Knickers (not her real name...) and went for coffee and cake. The remains are in the picture. Definitely something to be happy about!  

On the way home I called at my aged parents and sorted out their Internet needs  and cheered mum up with some Peanut Brittle I had seen in town. Good deeds for the day - check!

Daughter and I then tidied up the mess which tiredness at the end of term had wrought on the living room. Virtuous much?

So, several things to make me feel good...