Month: February 2025

Word of the Month, February

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It was difficult to find a word for February, suggestions included progress, energy and steps but I finally chose fun. February is not normally a fun month, the weather is unpredictable and not much happens. However with half term and a weekend with our daughter we wanted to have some fun. If anything positive has come out of the last year it is to be and enjoy time with those you love. Our fun came in many guises, sweet nibbles and a film cuddled up on the sofa, a trip to indoor crazy golf at Mulligans, a London break for football stadiums, art and shopping etc.. For me, I had fun dressing up for our school’s Valentines disco and dancing with my class. My weekly parkrun times are improving and I’m really enjoying my running, even with a challenge there’s fun to be had! Even though I’ve chosen fun for this month’s word, I’m pretty certain that this won’t be the most fun month of the year, but it’s given the start of the year a buzz and fun is quite contagious, the more you have, the more you seek it!

Five things this week 8/25

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And so to half term and our trip to London continued. The photos look beautiful with the bright blue sky but it was freezing! The second part of the week was life admin, dentist, sorting everything out after our decorating projects and planning for the coming months. Here are my five things of the week …

  1. A sunny Thames walk. On Monday morning, I dropped off our case at Waterloo and whilst the boys went off to do the stadium double of Chelsea and Fulham, I went to Tate Britain. I decided to walk along the Thames and it was stunning, passing the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and other sites on a bright, sunny morning. I honestly get a little thrill each time I see Parliament, such an iconic building and as a politics graduate a very special place. When I was in 6th form, we did a visit and I was lucky enough to witness PMQs with Margaret Thatcher and Neil Kinnock, a core life memory, sad but true! I felt so happy and grateful walking along the Thames on Monday morning, admiring our lovely capital city and my place of birth in bright sunshine.
  2. Tate Britain. Amazingly, I had never visited Tate Britain before and from the outside I thought I was visiting a small gallery. It’s like the tardis, with so many rooms, floors and wings. I really enjoyed the 80s photography exhibition as I enjoy social history and I could remember so many of the events from my childhood. My politics were formed from life in the 80s. The galleries were great, although I definitely seem to have a preference for more modern works and sculpture.
  3. Selfridges. After Tate Britain, I jumped on the Tube to New Bond Street . It’s a lovely area to explore to see all the designer shops, Vogue HQ etc.. I also went to my favourite shop, Selfridges. I only needed some moisturiser but it’s always a treat to go in and wander. I came upon a walk-in back massage concession, I stopped for a 20 minute massage and it was amazing. I love Selfridges and how there is always something new to explore and experience.
  4. A new book. I do love Waterloo station for its shops, M&S for a train picnic, Oliver Bonas, for homeware and accessories and Foyles for books. I had a book token so was able to buy a book on colour, to complement my earlier gallery trip. It’s so interesting with a little page on each colour, its origins, even more social history in an easy to read format.
  5. Gym membership. This week, back at home, I had a gym induction. It’s not in our town but the neighbouring town. I’m giving it a try to see if it can fit into my life. I now have to be in the town for 2 hours on a Monday whilst my son does an activity so I thought I would use my time positively. I’m also pencilling a 6.30am session on a Thursday! I do pass the gym on my way to work so hopefully it will all work out. It’s very high tech, gone are the fitness programmes on card, it’s an app now. I went on Saturday afternoon as a quiet session to try and familiarise myself with the setup as I imagine Monday eve will be busy.

It’s back to school tomorrow although earlier today I started planning for our week in Cornwall, once one break is other I like to be looking forward to the next!

Five things this week 7/25

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This week is a half and half post, I write Monday to Sunday so the school week is included and the first part of our little break. To be honest, the weekdays aren’t that exciting so I always need my weekends to brighten up the post!

  1. A new wall. Finally after years of deliberation, months of finding a carpenter and weeks of waiting for our slot we have a new dividing glass wall between our lounge and hallway. Our main aim was to create a cosier room whilst maintaining the light. We cannot believe the immediate effect it has had on the space, the lounge is toasty now, previously being a very cold room as it was so large. We haven’t really lost any space as it wasn’t used as an extension of the room and I have a few ideas about creating a more pleasing and functional hallway. My next job is to decide on the decor, we want to differentiate the rooms as they were decorated the same. We’re looking at a feature wallpapered section and complementary paint colours in the lounge and then colours to move upstairs to the large hallway there too. I feel a Pinterest board is needed. I love a new project.
  2. Valentine’s Day. My husband and I are not big Valentine day fans. TW, this was our baby son’s due date and it always feels so sad and empty. No matter how hard I try to distract myself, I always find myself wondering what he would be like, this year would have been his 16th birthday. I did have a little cry on my way home from work, just taking the time to remember him on this special day is still very important to me. Despite the sadness, I did make a little Valentine’s Day table scene and we all had a chocolate heart on our placemats at breakfast. At work we had a Valentines disco. I did embrace it and was dressed up in pink and red and wore my heart glasses we bought for ABBA voyage. It was a lot of fun and a lovely distraction.
  3. A weekend break. Our weekend was affected by rail works but rather than be frustrated and annoyed we changed our plans and added a night in Southampton en route. The bus replacement service was rather luxurious and went direct to the airport where we were staying in a hotel overnight. In the afternoon we went into Southampton and West Quay for a little browse and coffee and then went out for tea. A very pleasant day and I even managed to fit in a parkrun before we left.
  4. Wembley. We had very carefully planned our break in London and chose to stay at Wembley on Sunday night because of its proximity to the stadium and then planned to travel into central London the next morning. Wembley has changed so much since I was last there in 2008. It was a brilliant place to be on Sunday, so many attractions, bars, cafes and restaurants and pretty much pedestrianised everywhere . I loved the vibe of the area. When we got into our hotel room and opened the curtains we could not believe our view. There was the Wembley arch in all its glory, spectacular!
  5. Wembley stadium tour. For the boys, the trip to London was to tick off some more football stadiums on their new quest to visit as many as possible. The Wembley tour is brilliant and well worth the money. It was so interesting to see the history and then to learn about the new stadium structure. Wembley is mighty impressive. The tour included a trip to the changing rooms, the Royal box, onto the pitch etc.. There were also posters and memorabilia from other events. I totted up that I had been to Wembley, five times, I attended mass celebrated by the Pope in 1982, Reading FC in 1988, Bon Jovi in 1995 and Bristol City in 2000 and 2008. The Bon Jovi in concert is up there as one of the best night’s of my life, I will ‘always’ love Bon Jovi and their music.

There will be more of our London trip next week. I loved having a little mini adventure in the school holidays.

Five things this week …

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Just a quick resume this week, my working week was very busy but the weekend was full of lively, family times. Here are my 5 things of the week.

  1. Our daughter came down for the weekend and I was eagerly counting down her visit. I ran out of work as soon as my students were gone to pick her up from the next town. Amazingly both my car and her train pulled in at exactly the same time and we were soon home for tea.
  2. On her first night home, my daughter, son and I had nibbles and settled down on the sofa under duvets. We were planning to watch a film but switched to the Squid Games which was strangely watchable. Such a cosy, happy evening.
  3. What a pun, ‘time to putt loose‘ a lovely homage to a classic 80s film, Footloose. On a very grey and miserable Saturday afternoon all the family went over to Mulligans for some crazy golf. My son ‘won’ although there were some dubious claims! Perfect entertainment.
  4. I have loved Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed, such a clever book. Syed can explain difficult concepts in such clear language with great case studies. A 5 ⭐ read.
  5. The decorating continues … This time it’s the paint for our son’s bedroom makeover. Coastal grey seemed a great choice seeing as he has a sea view from his room. Hopefully all should be completed by next weekend and then we really need to take a pause on the decorating, we’ve done lots of rooms and projects in ‘25.

Next week is all about preparing for our London trip next weekend. I live a mini adventure.

Five things this week 5/25

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And finally the month of January has ended and spring seems closer and weekends busier. January’s word of the month is reset. I’ve taken the time to look at my health and wellbeing and to make positive changes. My house is also so tidy and neat, it’s felt like Lockdown again with all those hidden cupboards getting a refresh, I’m not sure how many water bottles a household needs but it’s much more manageable now!

  1. This week’s book is Intermezzo. I am a big Sally Rooney fan but am finding this more difficult to read. I’m not keen on the style, too many short sentences and the story feels a little confused. I’m hoping that it’s a slow burn read and that I’ll end up loving it.
  2. On Friday night after a busy week at work, I decided it was a film night and then of course had no idea what to watch. Netflix recommended Irish Wish which was a light and fluffy Friday night film. Not a classic but not unpleasant either.
  3. My latest Vinted find is a very special one to me. It is the dress I wore for my 18th birthday, a Laura Ashley design. I loved this dress and have no idea what happened to my original. I have kept other pieces that mean a lot to me, my graduation ball gown hand made by a lovely family friend, a bridesmaid dress, the pink silk dress I wore to our engagement party and 30th, my wedding dress and always felt this dress was missing. I am delighted with my dress and can’t wait to wear it!
  4. January has been a month of decorating and we are now on to our son’s room. It wasn’t on the original plan but when we took down his cabin bed in preparation for his new bed we felt the room needed a refresh.
  5. In creating my #25for25 I decided on learning Italian through Duolingo. Rather than wait for January 1st I started immediately and this week achieved my 50 streak. It’s a little infuriating to have the little bird chirp and tell me to practice but the stats do show it works!

Next week sees more decorating, a bedroom, a new bed delivery and hopefully a new internal wall. However there are some lovely plans for February and not every weekend will be bout decorating!