Much as like in the first days of last September when I didn’t have a new Prime Minister and King on my September bingo card, this September has started unexpectedly too.

Firstly, we have had an amazing heatwave which lasted for 10 days and gave us the hottest and sunniest days of the year. Unfortunately this also coincided with the return to school, which seemed a little unfair after the wet and grey summer holidays.

In these first few days back at work I presumed the extreme heat was what was making me feel really rough and needing early nights. Whilst I did a bit of parkrun tourism, I felt so poorly that on my return home I fell into bed and didn’t get up for a few days. As someone who is never off work sick, it was a shock to have to take two sick days so early into the school year. I thought it may have been Covid but repeated tests and a trip to my GP concluded it to be bad flu. It was awful and as soon as I can, I’ll be getting my vaccination as I do not want to feel so ill again.

In between sleeping, my bed rest meant that I was able to finish the Winners. Blackman is a genius writer and I sobbed at the ending. I have also read nearly half of the Chanel book. I am signed up for a webcast next week with Justine Picardie and have tickets for the Chanel exhibition in half term so my cultural life is Chanel inspired at present. Coco Chanel is certainly an interesting character. I watched the Greatest Days too, it was an easy, light way to rest and relax but its not making any top ten film lists. Mr S and I have also finished Who Is Erin Carter, a great concept with a strong start but a series which had too many action scenes for me to believe and rate the plot.

As I’ve been back to work for a few days now, we had a family day out today as the boys have football tomorrow. We went to a big seaside town for a beach walk, lunch and a few jobs. The town was buzzing with athletes for the Ironman tomorrow and it made me remember that we had come over the same day last year to do the parkrun. I had been surprised by the number of really fast runners last year until I saw the Ironman signs. The sand sculpture of King Charles we saw on the beach seemed poignant as we had a long weekend this weekend in 2022 for the Queen’s funeral.

I’m looking forward to a livelier few weeks now, I’m feeling so much better and healthier. Autumn, I’m coming for you …