Month: September 2025

Life lately, pogo, more parkrun tourism and Cardiff memories 39/52

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It’s been such a busy week and one of those in which you would expect to feel exhausted. However sometimes being busy and social is more rejuvenating and restoring than quiet times.

The working week was good, I have a great team with me this year and lovely students and our days are genuinely fun and happy. One day this week we had a special themed day and tried lots of different activities. We had a blast in circus skills and I even managed to try a few activities, I think it may be around 40 years since I last pogo jumped but I still have it! My son also had a different college day on Thursday doing a vocational day at Lush. They were able to visit the shop at the end of the day and my son brought me home a large snow fairy candle which was very appreciated.

We all had plans for this weekend which meant that we were all in the same area but for Mr S and I with a child each we stayed at our respective parents with different plans. As parents age a full family trip can be more overwhelming so this arrangement works better. Due to an early Friday finish, the boys took the train to Bristol on Friday lunchtime and I left promptly after school and got to my parents for 6pm. I was able to use this journey to finish my audio book I’m glad my mom died by J. McCurdy. It’s an excellent memoir of a very difficult childhood set against the background of being a child actor. Despite the title it’s not a book of grim despair but one in which the author simply tells her story.

I had a lovely evening at my parents, my favourite childhood tea, irn bru and relaxed chats. I also managed to find the M&S white chocolate and gingerbread cookies this week so we all tried them, our family has always appreciated a nice M&S treat and these are delicious! I got up early on Saturday for a second consecutive parkrun tourist trip. I’ve done lots near my parents so travelled around half an hour to Cheddar, another new one for me. I can’t get over how close you are from my parents to so many parkruns, living rural all parkruns bar our local are at least 40 mins away, with most being 1+ hours so I enjoy the fun of tourism but within a reasonable time not to affect your day. It was a wonderful parkrun, so friendly and the course was a pretty one, down an old railway line and beautifully flat! I got my best ever parkrun time and the ice pop at the finish was perfect. After the run it was home for a very quick shower and change and then off to the station to catch the train through to Cardiff with my daughter. Again this is another treat staying at my parents where there are great transport links.

I have very fond memories of Cardiff as I started my teaching career here and lived here for two years. I loved the vibe and it is a special city. It was great to take my daughter and show her some of my old favourite places and be amazed by some of the changes in the city. It was a warm autumn day so we had an al fresco lunch, a real treat so late in the season and then pottered around the shops buying a few bits and bobs. Today I stayed around at my parents til late morning, mum very kindly took up some trousers for me, you always need your mum! I then drove over to collect the boys and then fitted in a football training session en route home.

Life lately 38/52 Running adventures

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This week the theme has been running adventures. Firstly my commute audio book is Coasting by Elise Downing, an account of Elise’s run around Great Britain. It’s such an engaging read and one of kindness and beauty. Earlier this year I finally read the Salt Path which left me feeling somewhat disappointed, and when the revelations about the couple came out all seemed my misgivings felt justified. Fortunately this is a much better book with a feel good vibe. I would really recommend a read.

The week has been pretty quiet, the return to school continues to go well and I do feel I’ve won the class lottery with my class and staff team this year. Tuesday nights remain my favourite with a quiet night in to watch the GBBO. Strictly did start last night but I’m not so keen on the launch show so only watched bits. As from next week I will be watching it intently. I’ve no favourite so far but I’m sure after the first few weeks I’ll be routing for someone, possibly whom I wasn’t expecting!

After a quiet week, I had running adventures planned for the weekend. My read didn’t inspire it, it had been planned for a few weeks and simply complemented my audio book. After a summer at my home run, it was time for a some parkrun tourism. Now, my parkrun friend and I have done all the runs in our county we have to look further for our trips and we chose Brockenhurst as their winter course is a lovely trail run around the New Forest. We had looked at doing it before but missed it as it finished early and with their summer course being 4 laps around a school file it didn’t inspire us to visit. I am so pleased we waited as it was a wonderful course, with ponies and a stunning autumn run. It’s already on the list to return it would look beautiful in all different seasons. As it was a 90 minute journey we stopped for a parkrun faff at the most brilliant cafe, a repurposed train station near the run. It was filled with lots memorabilia and looked idyllic. The coffee and cakes were top level too!

Today I did a long run in prep of my half marathon. I’ve had a major wobble in the past few weeks about the half marathon, cue looking up the cut off time, questioning my ability etc.. Now I’ve got a Garmin, I have been more aware of my times and distances and my confidence has dropped. I run in my local area which is very hilly and now I’m working full time my runs are fitted in to when I can do them. In the last few weeks, this means I’m running in the dark which slows me down too. After a reassuring chat with a running friend last week, I decided to travel over the water and run a long run along the promenade of which part is the half marathon course. It was the right environment to do a real practice, it was a great run and suddenly I feel ready and able to run the half. It was a stunning autumn morning and there were lots of distractions on the beach, yoga, lifesaving, frisbees, volleyball. Also nothing is better than running with the sun in your face, I had the added novelty of being a foot passenger on the ferry, not many runs start and end with a ferry ride. The boys were at football so had a lazy(ish) day after.

I say lazy(ish) as I don’t really do nothing . I popped to the dump with some rubbish and at their little shop I found an ergonomic chair for £5. I’ve wanted one of these for years but could never justify the cost. It is in brilliant condition and after steaming the fabric and polishing the wood, it’s now at my desk.

Now it’s time for a quiet week before a road trip to my parents at the weekend. The autumn does seem to be full of plans.

Life lately weeks 36&37/52

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I feel that these words from Murphy’s Sketches (an excellent Instagram account) sum up the past few weeks, some days you are eeking out the last days of summer and other days you’re cuddling under the blanket watching Bake Off! It seems that you simply don’t know what day you’re going to get!

These past weeks have all been about new beginnings which have gone smoothly and so much better than we could have hoped for. It was good to actually live the life we have been anticipating and preparing for over the summer. Our son had the biggest changes with a new college, new class mates and even a new football club. He has taken it all in his stride and is appreciating the more adult environment. He also coped remarkably well when a tree branch crashed onto the taxi he was travelling in. Fortunately neither him or the driver were injured and when you see the images it’s unbelievable they both walked away unharmed.

We have tried to keep things simple at home over the past few weeks to ease ourselves into autumn. The first weekend was the traditional end of season folk festival in our town. I always like this weekend it has that special feel and with gorgeous weather it was a lovely event. I, of course, perused the craft tent and picked up some locally designed Christmas cards. They are lovely and the scenes make it easy to pick for friends. We also ended up in the pub to watch the international football, the match was a bit dull but the bar snacks were a good distraction!

The start of the school year sees both new and familiar routines. I love my Tuesday evenings watching Bake Off. My Monday nights are hectic with mum taxi duties til late so Tuesdays on the sofa always seems a little luxury. I don’t watch much tv but Bake Off and Strictly are my favourites and my tv viewing hours definitely increases in the autumn. I have also watched a 3 part series on a special school on BBC. As a SEN teacher it gave a great insight into our sector and I felt honestly reflected life in a special school, they are magical, safe places.

As it’s back to the daily commute, and it seems a route now peppered with different roadworks, I am enjoying my podcasts and audiobooks on my journeys, they keep me sane. I have listened to the Names and it is an exceptional book. I was savouring every moment to listen to it. It’s a great story about the life of a young boy according to the name he was given with 3 different versions, a sliding doors plot line. The ending is excellent but I really appreciated the attention to detail, the author’s notes on the meanings of the names of all characters, the art and culture references etc.. it’s a well researched and very clever book.

We have planned for a quiet September so we’re enjoying simply being in the season. Work and college keep us busy and the football season is in full swing, both watching our local team and for our son to play in his new team. He was at a tournament yesterday and had a great debut, he was so happy. Sometimes it’s good to simply pause and appreciate the moment.

La dolce vita, Summer 2025

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This summer has been a very special one. It’s been a summer of sunshine and heatwaves and lots of adventures. One which we will look back on and remember fondly forever.

Summer 2025 was

  • Our ‘dolce vita’ with visits to some beautiful, historic Italian cities, Rome, Genoa, Pisa and Florence.
  • The elegance and charm of Cannes, observed from La Grande Roue.
  • The Nou camp in Barcelona, a magnet for all football fans.
  • The picturesque port of Palma, simply stunning in the sunshine.
  • Fun, football and family times in Liverpool, what a fantastic city.
  • Cars, stunning grounds and sculptures at Beaulieu.
  • Bristol, the Gromit trail, girlie shopping and mooching.

We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries

  • SUP boarding and a Thai birthday meal.
  • Barbecue and birthday platters.
  • A beach hut day and fish and chips.
  • A Roman meal and a visit to the Trevi fountain and Spanish steps, places with lovely memories of our wedding.

We had adventures

  • Segways around old Genoa
  • Zip wire across the ship

We travelled by

  • Planes, ships and boats, underground, bus, coach, taxi, trains and car.
  • I ran lots, parkruns, home and away, a 5k Lighthouse loop race, half marathon training.

At home, we

  • Grew salad and vegetables, with a bumper yield of potatoes
  • Declutterred and tidied (I like being organised)
  • Admired our booming garden.
  • Got dressed up for prom and celebrated at the leaving assembly.
  • Packed away school books and memory books and said good bye to school for our children.

Our summer was really special, a transition from childhood to young adulthood in the most gorgeous sunshine and warmth with new adventures and experiences. Thank you summer 25, you rocked.

Life lately … week 35/52

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The summer of 2025 has been a wonderful time and we have tried to squeeze as much fun as possible into our break. This week was no different and with the ongoing gorgeous weather, summer seems never ending.

On Monday we went through to the neighbouring village for their summer fete. It is like stepping back in time with a tombola, raffle, coconut shy, a produce tent, live music, dog agility show, tea tent etc.. It does make for a great afternoon and the weather was superb. Our son was delighted to win a coconut and a prize for the strongman hit the bell contest. For me it’s the craft stalls and marvelling at all the flowers in the produce tent while Mr S is happy with a cup of tea and a tasty slice of homemade cake. A lovely, traditional afternoon and a perfect way to spend a bank holiday.

After a restful day on Tuesday on which I spent the day prepping for the return to school, I went up to Bristol for a few days. My main aim was to spend time with my parents as my dad gave us all a health scare earlier in the summer and help my daughter get ready for college, new stationery, ‘uniform’ for her placements and the all important bag. We had a very productive time shopping in Cabot Circus and I did the old people thing of explaining to my daughter, ooh Primark used to be John Lewis, those flats used to be a nightclub, I used to work there .. She took it all in good nature.

I really liked the mural of Made in Bristol, the photo doesn’t do justice to its scale, it’s huge and difficult to get into one photo. I spent my formative years from 14 – 31 in Bristol so do feel a great affinity to the city and always enjoy my visits. On our trips across the city, we searched out the Gromit trail and found a few of the figures around the city. I do enjoy a trail.

This week, we all had a productive Saturday, I got a parkrun PB, Mr S’ team won their game and clinched the league title and our football team had a very good win. We were all buzzing. We then finished the week with a train trip to Weymouth, it’s a nice town to potter around and as the last day of summer it seemed appropriate to be mooching around a seaside town.