It has been a busy week and one in which I did a lot of driving, particularly in the evenings. On dark nights, our country roads can be dangerous as deer often jump out and I did scream one night when I missed one by centimetres. My heart was beating furiously and the large deer just sauntered across the road, oblivious to what had just happened.
On Tuesday evening, my daughter and I went to see some of my students perform in the Shakespeare in Schools festival at the main theatre in town. This is such an impressive accomplishment as they have complex learning needs and have worked so hard to achieve what they did. The students did receive a standing ovation and there were tears in my eyes of pride and joy. Even my hard to impress daughter was moved by the performance.
As well as late night I have also had early mornings, and seeing as my daily alarm goes off at 6am, the earlier alarm was tough. I needed to pop into B&Q en route to work to pick up some paints for a decorating project. I was there by 7.15 and got all the items required for the work. We have been wishing to decorate our shower room and transform the play room to a teenage den for a while and had pencilled it in for the spring. However with Mr S accident, DIY is not possible and we have booked a local decorator to do the work for us. We have gone for some bold colours, emerald glade for the den and a teal for the shower room. I feel that neutral accessories with a twist will tone down the room. I wanted a real colour than neutrals, lets live life in technicolour!
With all my driving I have been catching up on my podcasts and have listened to some great interviews, particularly with inspiring women. I was really wowed by Nisha Katina, a barrister who then built the Mongolian Street Food chain of restaurants and then by the Antarctic Fire Angels, Rebecca and Georgina who skied to the South Pole. On Friday night I was captivated by the progress of the ultra runner Jasmin Paris, who became the first female finisher of the Barclay Ultra, an utterly nuts race. The only way to follow is on Twitter with updates from ‘Keith’ and there was lots of refreshing to see if Paris could do it, to come in just 90 seconds off the cutoff was brilliant. Sometimes you simply have to stop and applaud incredible physical and mental success.
Finally, I have definitely become a Vinted fan. I am on my way to getting my whole cruise wardrobe with my favourite brands for a fraction of the price I would have paid on the high street. I love my new Seasalt skirt, a steal at £4.50 as it is in mint condition. I have also bought three pairs of shorts, White Stuff, Fat Face and Boden, for just over £10 combined and again in amazing condition. Having just finished reading Fast Fashion, it makes me feel that I am trying to counter the throwaway clothing so easily available.
Next week is a four day week, which of course at work we’re all trying to convince ourselves is half a week! It’ll be a good week with lots of Easter treats and fun, and then its a two and a bit Easter holiday, only second to the summer on my league table of school holidays.
Seaside Sparkles 