Month: May 2026

Although this is a two weekly catch up, it wasn’t a two week half term, just the first week of the fortnight had little to report. I was busy at work with the school production, went to a new hairdresser and got a haircut which I was really pleased with and picked up two very happy boys after a draw with Man City guaranteed European football next year.

However the second week was a corker! We got an unexpected heatwave and all the activities I had planned were done in lovely sunshine. It was definitely a half term of travelling, I went to Nottingham and back on Sunday, Bristol to see my father in law on Monday, return from Bristol to London on Tuesday and then the drive home on Wednesday. By my calculations that’s more than 800 miles in 4 days. Fortunately I took the supporter’s coach to the football and a coach to London so did not do all the driving. I would never drive in London.

My son and I travelled to Nottingham for the final game of the Premier League football season. European football had been achieved earlier in the week so this was a celebration of a successful season and good byes to the manager and a couple of players out of contract. The atmosphere was unreal, as soon as we arrived we went to the away fans hub which was loud and proud before walking back to the ground. I’ve never really visited Nottingham, we stopped en route to Scotland when I was a child to see Sherwood Forest and I recall a photo of me and my brother next to a statue of Robin Hood and I did a Uni open day there too. However I was super impressed by the city we saw, a beautiful walk by the river, live music, great pubs. Of course anywhere in the sunshine always looks beautiful. We had come prepared and on Saturday afternoon had customised a small polystyrene plane with the club logo and a few phrases. Flight and planes were definitely the theme of the afternoon, there were fans dressed as pilots, inflatable planes, all ready to fly off for the European tour. It was the hottest and loudest football game I’ve ever been to and a core memory for my son and I.

Originally when planning half term, I had organised a day out, a day at home to relax. The best laid plans etc.. My father in law was moved from hospital to a rehabilitation centre on Sunday so we travelled up on Monday to check he was settled in. This meant that I needed to change the logistics for my trip to London and travel from Bristol. Living in a rural location it blows my mind that when in Bristol not only can I catch a bus at 5.20am but that I had choices on which route to take. I love London and don’t want to waste a single moment of my day so always have a very early start (4.40am, the coach is ideal for a nap) My main aim was to visit the Print, Pattern, Paint exhibition at the Textiles and Fashion museum. As part of my journey, I walked across Tower Bridge, it always gives me delight to see all the London sights and walking in the sunshine gave me all the feels. The exhibition was excellent and well worth my trip. After seeing the work, I did pop into Liberty to see their current and classic patterns. I also became photographer to snap my daughter in a Insta worthy picture of her among the flowers at Liberty’s entrance. One of the nicest parts of the day was lunch at a Greek restaurant, our favourite, we had amazing food and sat at a table at an open window, experiencing the restaurant’s air conditioning and the sunshine, a win win. Given the heat, we headed to air conditioned shops in the afternoon and had a lovely mooch around Selfridges before returning home.

As a teacher, it’s not unusual to attend a wedding during a holiday and on Thursday evening I was invited to a former colleague’s reception. I found myself getting quite nostalgic, I had known the bride when she was just starting her career and to see how she has blossomed into a happy, confident woman was beautiful. The wedding itself was at a lovely venue with unbelievable views, it was a warm evening and just right for being outside listening to a wonderful live band. One of life’s little glimmers.

This weekend was our parkrun’s special and there were a lot of dinosaurs on the course. It was such a fun morning and the breakfast on the terrace afterwards topped off a beautiful morning. Finally today we have had a cup tournament for our son’s football team. He has been playing for an inclusion men’s team this year , so it’s been a steep learning curve as it’s much more physical and challenging. Whilst they didn’t win they did work well as a team and there’s potential for a successful next season.

So what had been planned as a mix of fun and relaxation ended up looking a little different but trips to Nottingham and London were very memorable. It’s back to work tomorrow, 7.5 weeks and then it’s summer holidays, it’s the best half term of the year.

I have always loved the Baz Luhrmann song Everybody’s Free. Whilst there is lots of advice that stands out I particularly like the line above that what blindsides you is something you never imagined on a random Tuesday afternoon. This week that happened to us, although it was a Wednesday afternoon rather than Tuesday. My husband had spoken to his dad earlier in the day and all was good and he was enjoying a coach day trip. We then had one of ‘those’ calls as we sat down to eat dinner. You know it’s bad news immediately, it’s the tone, the words, the absolute sick feeling in the pit of your stomach even before you know what’s happened. We learnt that my father in law had had a bad fall in a cafe on the trip and they were waiting for an ambulance to take him to hospital. From that moment on, we were reliant on the kindness of strangers to stay with him and get him to hospital as we were a 2.5 hour drive away and my sister in law was abroad on holiday. Everybody was amazing, I do believe, only strengthened by this experience that we are there for each other, and they got him safely to hospital where X-rays showed he had fractured his hip which led to a hip replacement operation. This meant that as soon as school finished on Friday night, it was a trip to Bristol to support him and my husband. I have nothing but praise, gratitude and respect for our wonderful NHS. It was the first time I’ve been to the new hospital building at Southmead and it is unbelievable, more like a hotel than a hospital. His single room is huge with everything he needs and an en suite. The staff have been brilliant and we know he is getting the best possible care. Our focus is now to support him in his recovery and we will need to have a few difficult conversations about his future plans. He is in his mid 90s and has always been fiercely independent but I fear that this accident may impact his current lifestyle. Whilst my son and I are back home tonight my husband remains in Bristol and I think this may be the pattern for the next few weeks.

With the week being turned upside down I was very grateful to be able to get to a parkrun. Saturday’s visiting hours were from 11am which gave me a window to run and just get in the right head space as I run for my mental as much as my physical wellbeing. Fortunately there is a run, minutes from my father in law’s house where we were staying, so I went simply for the parkrun, no faffing this week. It’s so close that I was home and in the shower by 9.45am, this has never happened before.

There are limited visitor facilities at any hospital but Southmead has a M&S and Costa, which meant nice drinks and snacks. I joke that I only ever use a Costa at a hospital or service station but it’s true and we worked our way through their new summer drinks menu over the days we were there. On the tough days you need those little glimmers and if a fancy drink was what did it for us this weekend, so be it.

Whilst it was easy to postpone my (much needed) hair appointment, my son did have a football tournament today, Sunday which he was really keen to play in. It was a very early start to get to the ground for the 10.30am start from Bristol. I do think after such a few stressful and worrying days it was important for him to be able to play, especially after all the time he has spent at the hospital with no word of complaint, he has only shown love and care to his grandad. Typically after some beautiful weather this weekend, it was dull and breezy on the touchline, but he had a great time and it was worth the early alarm call.

I normally have an idea of how my week is going to look , but for the moment we’re just going with the flow and making it all work.

It’s a week and a day for this week’s post to include bank holiday Monday. I’ve had a lovely day of pottering, cooking a pretty impressive roast dinner and taking a walk along the coast. It was forecast to be a wet and cold day, but we’ve had bright blue skies and warm sunshine. Needless to say our seaside town was busy, which is good for our local businesses and actually brings a nice atmosphere, everyone’s happy be at the seaside on a sunny day. We had planned a quiet Monday as the weekend was very busy, Saturday was parkrun and then a train ride to the county town for lunch and to see the film Michael at the cinema and Sunday was a home league match and then a quick drive to football training.

It’s difficult to review the Michael Jackson film. As a film, it’s fun, sad and has a cracking soundtrack. But there is something which doesn’t sit right. Whilst the film is part one which conveniently ends before the abuse allegations there is a feeling that it is a sanitised version of events and many unanswered questions remain about the acceptance of violence in the home, power of money etc Personally, I couldn’t understand why Michael remained living on the family estate, where so much violence and abuse had taken place, when he had the financial security to have his own place. I also questioned if anyone ever said no to Michael when he became the superstar, I knew of Bubbles the monkey, but he had a llama he took for walks around the neighbourhood and a giraffe walked around the gardens. It was a bizarre setup and the film only leads to more questions than answers.

Fortunately I have watched a much more fun and gentle film this afternoon. Whilst the sequel came out this week, I had never seen The Devil Wears Prada and after having had lots of recommendations whilst chatting to work friends this week, I finally watched it, just the 20 years after its release! I enjoyed the film, it was amusing and an easy way to spend a couple of hours. I’m keen to see part two now and hope to do it in the new few weeks. I love the cinema and each time I go it only encourages me to go more often.

I’ve been doing more planning for special events this week, honestly this year there is so much happening and I need to plan and save. In just 4 months, I have my daughter’s 18th, my dad’s 80th and my mum’s 75th birthdays. I am the family member who comes up with the ideas, sorts everyone and everything and I also pride myself on doing all the little extras, so planning is key. I suppose this planning and execution is my love language. We are going away for our daughter’s birthday, the hotel is booked and I have some ideas for activities during the weekend. However this week I managed to book the main event, which is described as ‘An underground jazz bar where filming isn’t allowed, why? to break the habit of reaching for your phone and allow you to be dropped back into a time when nights were about being present. Your night includes a three course dinner and three sets of jazz inspired live music, blending the old with the new.’ I really hope this meets her brief. I haven’t quite broken it to the boys that it is dress to impress with a twenties theme. I have ordered a flapper style dress from Vinted this week and hope this works well.

When I booked the tickets to the Paint, Pattern, Print exhibition in London, I also ordered the accompanying book. I like to know what I’m going to see, what I really want to see etc.. and by getting the book in advance I can make the most of my visit. I’ve started reading it this week and it’s only made me more excited for the trip in May half term.

As the football season comes to its end, our household is becoming more focused on the impossible dream of European football, as it really could happen. This means every game is even more important and the nerves high. I’m trying to maintain a balance at home as I know how crushing the disappointment could be too. Only 3 more games until we know the final table and the places for Europe are decided. We will be at the final game, away in Nottingham at the end of the month, it could be a very emotional day.