I was considering doing 10 things this fortnight when I realised that as some of my highlights are repeats I may as well just do my five. I didn’t manage to do this post last week as I was feeling pretty rough on Sunday and spent most of Mother’s Day, on the sofa cuddled up to my blanket. Life is so full on at present, I did need this day to simply recover for the coming week.

Yesterday saw the end of what seems to have been weeks of parkrun celebrations, our parkrun’s 100th event and then 2nd birthday, and my 100th overall and then 50th at my home parkrun. I did celebrate my 100th with a sparkling badge and tutu and cakes, but was happy to do a quiet run yesterday after my shout out. I am proud of my 100, it took nearly 5 years, but in my defence there was a 70 week COVID pause, as well as a period of Saturday swimming lessons, a summer season of junior cricket and recovery from foot surgery. I’m hoping to do my next 150 a little more efficiently, hopefully within the next 5 years for my next milestone of 250. Until then its a welcome return to the gentle plod of a Saturday run, slowly building up my numbers and maybe ticking off a challenge or town on the 5k app. What will happen first stopwatch bingo, 11 to go or my 250?

There’s been a lot of football in the past fortnight, training and then two home league games. In both the league games, our team was down in both but managed to gain something from each game. Wednesday night’s was one with all the feels and one of the best I’ve ever been to. It was rearranged from an abandoned game in December. The game took place just days after Mr S accident and whilst I was at his bedside in hospital, grandad took our son to the game to give him a little normality in a very scary time. Unfortunately at this match, a Luton player collapsed and had to be resuscitated on the pitch and the game was quite rightly abandoned. I couldn’t quite believe what had happened as our son had then witnessed two potentially life changing incidents in a matter of days. He appears to have coped admirably with what he has seen, but it was wonderful to go to the match and see the player who had ‘died’ for two minutes come out onto the pitch to thank the medical team and fans. There were lots of tributes and special activities around the ground, a focus on CPR, charity information and fundraising, a night where life was the winner. It was a perfect midweek game, a mild, dry night, a live band playing by the outside bars, a real buzz of excitement. The game was spectacular, I don’t really know how as it was pretty evenly matched, but our team found themselves trailing 3-0 at half time. They then came back to win 4-3 on the night, in a game where the atmosphere was unbelievable and the noise incredible. It was one of those ‘I was there moments’. I also feel it was closure on a football game many years ago in 1985. My brother and I used to go to every Reading home game with my dad, but on the last game before Christmas, my dad was helping at the cubs Christmas party so mum took us to the game instead. Reading were 3-0 down at half time and mum with a long to do list for Christmas persuaded us to jump in the car and head into town as the game was lost. My dad having finished the party got to the game for the second half and watched Reading overturn the score to win 4-3. It’s one of our favourite family stories and I don’t think I have left a match early since.

As Mr S continues his recovery by going to bed very early every night, on the nights when I’m not catching up on work, I have been enjoying a film or reading books. I have watched the film ‘Are you there God, its me Margaret?’ I loved Judy Blume’s books as a tween, and yes we all passed ‘Forever’ around our class. This film is just lovely, the sense of 70s seeps through every scene and its such a feel good film, i thoroughly recommend it. I have read a lot of fiction recently so am enjoying some non fiction with ‘How to Break up with Fast Fashion’ I read a similar book many years ago but am still interested in this more recent take on our ongoing and greater obsession with fashion. At the beginning of the year I set myself a little challenge to try and source as much of my cruise wardrobe from charity and vintage shops or preloved on Vinted or EBay. Whilst I do draw the line at underwear and swimsuits, so far I am delighted by a couple of sundresses, a skirt and shorts I have got for the combined total of less than £20.

Finally this week all staff at the special needs school where I work received a delightful gift from Lush, whose factories are very close by. Lush donated beautiful candles and it was such a kind gesture that made us all feel special. Even better there are enough candles for our parents too, so that special feeling will be shared by our whole school community.