After a half term of birthdays, Halloween and activities it’s been really nice to refocus in the past fortnight. I’ve not really done anything newsworthy, life has been gently plodding on but it’s been a nice period to be in the moment before the craziness of Christmas starts. I think one of my highlights was meeting my friend’s puppy who is just so cuddly and sweet. We’re still trying to figure out if a puppy could work for us …

Whilst both firework night and Remembrance Sunday happened in this fortnight we did less than in previous years. For fireworks night we offered the choice of dinner out or the fireworks and the meal won. The night of the fireworks was particularly wet and miserable so we felt we had made the best choice. Also we don’t have a big firework display in our town so would have needed to travel. Our town doesn’t do Guy Fawkes displays as we have lots of firework nights over the summer. I do prefer a warm summer’s evening for fireworks, live music in the field, fireworks on the beach and the bag of chips.

For many years we did attend the Remembrance Sunday service in our town as our son was often on parade. This year he had a football tournament on Sunday morning, however the remembrance was done beautifully with all the teams around the centre circle in silence at 11am. I found it quite emotional looking at the young men as they are around the age of the youngest soldiers in the world wars.

I have started buying little bits and pieces for Christmas. The gingerbread syrup will be perfect for Tommy the elf’s Christmas Eve hot chocolate hamper. Whilst my children have sadly outgrown the daily visits, he still makes an appearance in December, firstly with advent calendars, later with Christmas jumpers and then a final goodbye with the most amazing hot chocolate treats. I’ve also been buying a few items from small businesses whom have started their Christmas orders. I also love this time of the year when I browse through the Christmas catalogues and start to get in the mood with the Christmas tv adverts. And yes, as seems the consensus, Waitrose is my favourite so far.

I’ve taken the time in the past fortnight for some self care. I’ve joined a gym so I can run on the treadmill in the winter months. I’m not a huge gym fan and it will be a membership for the winter months only I but want to keep up my running schedule and as I don’t like to run in the dark, the treadmill is the best alternative. I’ve been managing two early mornings en route to work, as well as two outdoor daylight runs at the weekend. I don’t want to lose the fitness I had for this year’s half marathon ahead of the half next May which I’ve signed up to.

Apart from the football tournament, surprisingly there hasn’t been much football in the past fortnight. We’ve actually had to make plans for the weekend! Today, Mr S and I went for a walk in the countryside. It was a lovely afternoon and felt very wholesome walking through the fields.

I’ve added a post by hannahfgale on this week’s montage. She put into words so well this pre Christmas feeling, it’s close but not quite here yet. The excitement without the stress!