Author: seasidesparkles

Time for a catch up in what is always a busy period of birthdays, school and life. This year has been no different and with our son leaving school there are extras too with prom and a leavers’ assembly.

During the first week of this catch up, it was our daughter’s birthday. Her birthday treat was a session on the SUP boards at a local lake. Although the photo looks a little cloudy it was so hot that we were relieved by the clouds to protect us from the sun. The temperature board was reading 26*. Heatwaves are definitely en vogue at present, this weekend sees the 3rd heatwave in a matter of weeks. I did the SUP with the children and loved it and am keen to go again. However I feel it would need to be on a lake, the sea is more unpredictable. I did ache for days after but felt very satisfied. Our daughter chose Thai for a birthday meal and we found a lovely restaurant. It had a great open window, much needed in the heat, our photos look like we’re in the med, with the open window onto a tree lined terrace. It was situated in the area I grew up in and what had been my local record shop when I was her age was now the restaurant. I felt very nostalgic passing all my old haunts, all looking very different now.

This weekend we have been at my parents celebrating my son’s birthday early as there’s lots going on later this month. We had a great birthday barbecue and for dessert I prepared a birthday sweet platter. I did this last year and it went done so well that I shared it with my parents too. Again the response has been great and I feel that this may be a new tradition. With regard to traditions, the platter did include top hats, an essential ingredient of our childhood birthdays, a marshmallow dipped in chocolate and topped with a smartie.

Given the extreme weather this weekend we simply stayed close to my parents home, the children spent a few hours on the pier and then chilled in the garden. I did take my son for a prom haircut and hot towel shave, it seemed all very grown up. Earlier in the day, my daughter and I did an incredibly hot parkrun at Ashton Court on Saturday morning. She is just returning to running so we took it easy with a mix of running and walking but with no shade it was tough. We stopped off at Costa to get iced drinks on the way home and as it was next to the Bristol city stadium we posed for a photo next to the Atyeo statue. When I lived in Bristol I was a season ticket holder at BCFC in the Atyeo stand so it was a special photo for me (and one to wind up my husband who is Rovers)

Away from the birthday weekends, we’ve been preparing and shopping for holidays and prom. I randomly found some Neom dupe oils in Aldi and am enjoying the new aromas. Vinted continues to be my go to for purchases. I have a stunning new black broderie dress for work and get so many compliments for a dress which cost £4. When in big town, we have also popped into the cinema, we finally used up a Odeon gift card, and saw Formula One. It wasn’t as bad as I expected although I did prefer Rush and Gran Turismo, I may not be a fan but my son loves these types of films.

With the heatwaves I’ve really been enjoying and appreciating my evening walks along the beach in the cool breeze. My son has even joined me on a couple of nights as a way to cool down. We may have enjoyed an ice cream from the artisan ice cream stall in town. Life is best with those little sparkles.

It’s a big week in our household with prom and leavers’ day and the end of school in our family. My summers will look different now, no school uniforms to buy, no trips to Clark’s or evenings labelling everything, the end of an era. Our son is off to a college on a supported internship type course so there will still be education it will just look different. It’s strange that this will be his first leavers assembly, he left primary in the Covid summer of 2020 when restrictions meant the good bye was outside, children only, sat on coloured circles 1 metre apart from each other. I really hope this is a very special week for him.

This working week was solely focused on report writing at every single opportunity, so it’s been nice this weekend to be able to relax and catch up at home. I’ve finished all the written elements of the reports so it’s now proof reading and adding a few photos and with the reports complete then it’s the final countdown to the end of term, yippee! Again my 5 things of the week are very much from the weekend, except my nightly bedtime reading.

1. One of my jobs to do this weekend was to create a blackout window. I bought a great kit from Amazon and it’s excellent. It was easy to cut and fit and does the job it was intended for. In the summer we sleep with our windows and curtains partly open for the breeze. This summer we’ve noticed that a security light for the neighbours dazzles straight into our room and we needed to black it out. For a few weeks now we’ve hung a sweatshirt up to block it out, not the best look but now we have a proper black out blind which can be put up/ taken off as needed. It’s not for the whole window, but as it’s split into three we’ve done the middle section and it looks good and practical.

2. I’ve also taken time this week to sort out my make up. I needed to buy a few bits and pieces today so I’ve washed the bag and brushes, thrown away the old make up and added the dates to my new products so I know to keep it in date. I like this feeling of being organised as it’s been quite chaotic recently and I’ve been out of my comfort zone.

3. I am trying to find me this year with my little mantra to thrive in 25. I’m being more creative in my clothes choice and wore a new pair of wide summer trousers yesterday. I felt so lovely in them, nothing like I would normally wear but so comfortable and stylish. I am toying with the idea of going to a stylist in the autumn, I’ve lost 3.5 stone this year and need to find the style for my new shape.

4. Where I sit at my bureau I like to look out into our little hidden courtyard and Mr S has cultivated some beautiful sweet peas this year, definitely his best to date. I’ve been quite taken not only by the colour but also looking at bees collecting the pollen. Life is about the glimmers …

5. Finally no matter how busy I’ve been in the evening I do always try to read (and do Duolingo) even if it’s simply a page or two. My current read is Adults, whilst funny it is also a very stark reminder of the addictive, obsessive and emotional impact of social media. I am relieved that I am a consumer of social media and do not post as I know it would only be too easy to obsess about creating posts and then worry about likes and comments. Life is for living in real life and not for the ‘gram.

It’s a birthday weekend next week, so this week gives me the time to prepare and organise all the little things which make a birthday special. It’s the start of a busy season of birthdays and anniversaries although as the last two are being celebrated whilst on the cruise hopefully there’ll be slightly less planning needed this year.

This has just been one of those weeks. I can’t really sugar coat it, because sometimes in life there are weeks which are just a bit meh and this was one of them. It was a perfect storm of so many little things which just became overwhelming and then some really rubbish weather. Fortunately after an unsettling, busy week I did finish last night with a lovely dinner out with friends, it was very much needed.

New nails. A colleague recommended a new nail bar and I popped in for some new acrylics as a test before the big holiday nails! I’m very happy, it was a lovely salon and I look forward to returning next month.

A Vinted find. I found a gorgeous Boden dress on Vinted this week at a really good price. It’s arrived and is top quality and looks beautiful on. I love a Vinted find.

Oh William. I was curious to read an Elizabeth Stroud novel as she has been recommended. However it wasn’t one that I was particularly taken by, the characters irritated me but then again that could just be my time in life as ..

Hot flushes. I’ve really been hit by menopause symptoms lately and I’m sure this week my mood has been worsened by poor sleep due to night sweats, such an odd experience. There’s also the constant changes in temperature, my body is so confused.

Rescue Remedy. I have found myself dipping into my RR pastilles this week, keen to use anything that could help maintain some equilibrium in my life.

I’m relieved it’s a quiet week coming up, hopefully it’ll help me feel a little more in control and the sunshine is due to return which always puts me in a good mood.

It’s been a funny old week, a bank holiday and a national commemoration for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, but not on the same day which seemed a tad confusing. As I was at work in the 8th May, the day passed me by somewhat although I caught up on national events on the news.

My VE commemoration came in a couple of events this week. Our parkrun had a simple display and the beacon which had been lit on VE Day was on the course. On Sunday my son who is in the cadets did an event at the local (ish) air field. It was poignant to see my son in his RAF cadet uniform and remembering the old photos of my gramps who served in the RAF during World War 2. It was a time to think, reflect and remember, although sadly the lessons of the war seem lost in today’s society.

I enjoyed a little visit to the air field arriving early to pick up my son. It’s somewhere I’ve been going for over 25 years as it’s always been ideally situated as a stop on car journeys to our parents. A quarter of a century ago it was a little hut with tea and amazing home made cakes. Now it is quite unrecognisable with a very fancy new building and cafe. I’ve heard that it’s now owned by Guy Richie so it looks like he’s been investing in his new venture.

My focus on my running continued with two long runs on Monday and Sunday. After Monday’s run, I decided it was time to train for an event and in a moment of madness/ clarity I signed up for a half marathon in October. I’ve never done an autumn half but I hope that I’ll get my long runs done during the summer holidays.

When scrolling on Instagram this week I came across this quote from David Bowie,

Ageing is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.

It was a quote which just seemed so pertinent to life at present and I loved it.

Finally I love fresh flowers in my house and I bought these beautiful smelling stocks to go in my new vase . I liked the deep colour and the smell just sings of spring.

It’s been a scorcher of a week, the hottest Mayday on record and the gorgeous weather is continuing into this bank holiday weekend. I am in my favourite outfit today, shorts and tshirt with a honourable mention to my new flip flops from Oofos. I love this brand and have just bought a new pair as I wore out my old ones, they are so comfortable. As it’s cooling a little, I also have a well loved hoodie to complete the cosy vibes.

With the amazing weather, my class and I have been out lots this week, continuing our quest to find mermaid tails around the county. I do consider myself to be so lucky to be able to be on a beach on a sunny Thursday afternoon for my job. Honestly, special needs teaching is the best.

It has been a busy week. On Monday night I had to forgo my gym session to attend an AGM for my son’s cadets. As AGMs go, it was a good one, clear information and rationale, volunteers for all key positions and done within an hour. As I waited for my son to finish, I had a beautiful walk along the quay, an evening well spent.

On Friday, I was at a youth development match with my son. At our football club, there is a complex points system so it’s worth going to women’s and development matches for the bonus points. I actually really like these games, you see the raw talent and there’s a very relaxed atmosphere. It was even better in the sunshine this week. As another brucie bonus, my son had the choice of restaurant and asked for a Toby’s for tea. When we got there I did a quick check of my app to discover there was a £6 offer on a carvery. Good results all round, a victory at the football and a tasty dinner at a great price.

This week I was browsing Instagram and saw a print, Dancing Queen, that I loved and really sang to me. I did the thing of leaving it 24 hours to see if I still wanted it and it was a resounding yes, I could t stop thinking about it so I treated myself. I picked up a frame yesterday and after a rearrangement of my photos around the house, it now has pride of place on my bureau. I am so delighted and taken by the print.

There was more internet browsing and whilst on Vinted, I saw a dress that I had regretted not buying last year in River Island. I had looked on the store website and shops after not buying it and couldn’t find it so it seemed like fate to discover it in my feed at a very good price. Amazingly I ordered it on Friday and it arrived the next day. It fits perfectly and looks lovely. I can’t wait to wear it this summer on our Italian travels.

I finished this week on a real high with a PB at my local parkrun, which is notorious for being a very challenging course. My previous PB there was 3 years and 95 runs ago. Since the start of the year, and my health and fitness journey, I’ve been reducing my time each week and was hoping it would happen. I actually felt so good and that it did reflect all my work this year. I also think I’ve got more in me to reduce it a little more too..

I’m looking forward to the bank holiday tomorrow, in which I intend to run a 10k and then relax and potter my favourite type of day.

This is an excellent half term, only 5 weeks long of which 2 are 4 day weeks. When you add in a DofE camp, lots of special events and a more outdoor curriculum, I’m a big fan of the summer term. We had a nice lazy day for Easter Monday, as I wasn’t able to go to the gym, I went for an early morning run and pleasantly surprised myself with the distance I ran and how comfortable I felt. As I’m unable to make the gym this Monday again, I repeated the long run with an extra mile on Sunday. After my run, which wasn’t comparable to 26.2, I watched the London marathon, one of my favourite races of the year and was amused to see my dad’s name on the leading British runners. I did text him the photo and a little jokey message but he didn’t read the names on the screen so it was a bit lost on him… Marathon Sunday is always so emotional and inspiring it makes you in awe at how brilliant people are.

As the boys were at football on Sunday, we popped over to the garden centre on Saturday afternoon for a few things. Gardening is not my thing but fortunately my husband loves it. My job is to simply sit in it and admire the flowers. The bonus of a trip to the garden centre is that has a great cafe, gardens and gift and farm shops so it’s not a bad way to while away a couple of hours. I did replace an indoor plant, which I had managed to keep alive for a few years until a rather enthusiastic watering killed it off (not guilty) I picked up a book a few weeks ago too so fingers crossed I can cultivate my little indoor garden. I do like to have plants indoors, they give a sense of wellbeing.

Although this hasn’t been the best of weather the weekend saw a change, typically post parkrun, and it’s been lovely to take time outside. On Sunday afternoon, I sat in the sunshine with my book, it’s always the simple pleasures which are the best.

Earlier in the week, on the rainy Bank holiday afternoon, I enjoyed playing on AI. After having fun with family photos, I asked it to adapt a photo of our home into a Beatrix Potter inspired photo. I like the result although the kitchen extension appears to be missing, perhaps it’s showing me what the house would have looked like in Potter’s lifetime.

Finally back at work and we made good progress on the mermaid tail hunt, finding four. It’s a fun activity and our display board is filling up with our photos. I’m really interested to see how many we manage to collect in the next half term.

Whilst next week js a 5 day working week, when you have a long weekend to look forward to it always feel a little more light and fun. I have a few busy nights so will be grateful for an extra long lie.

This has been such a busy Easter holiday that very unusually for me, I did not decorate the house and whilst I did a roast for Easter Sunday dinner, today, it was not one of my special menus. We only had a few days at home after Cornwall before we spent some time in Bristol with family to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday.

The week started with a few days at home. After a long drive home on Saturday, Sunday was a day for unpacking, laundry and booking our next holiday. As soon as we had unpacked it seemed to be time for packing again. I do feel that I have mastered the art of packing but it’s an art my husband and son need to learn. I had one neat weekend bag with all I needed, they shared a huge holiday bag and still needed more room. We are flying out to Rome to start our summer holiday and the boys will need to carefully pack to be in the weight luggage limit. I’ve been tracking the ideal capsule wardrobe on Pinterest and have started my planning.

On Monday night, I took my son to football ( a win ) and tracked down the first mermaid tail in an art trail raising funds for the local children’s hospice. It’ll be my little challenge in the coming weeks, I also managed to find one when shopping on Saturday.

On Tuesday the boys returned to the stadium for more football, the development squad whilst I stayed at home for a plumber to fit a new cylinder. It was one of those odd days, I couldn’t do much as it was a big job and as the cupboard is at the top of the stairs I was restricted to down stairs and then there were times with no water or electricity and a lot of noise. The plumber was fantastic, so helpful and tidy and it was a good job to tick off. As I knew I was likely to be in all day, I did an early run along a windy seafront. I did enjoy the Dr Seuss inspired beach hut.

On Wednesday we headed to Bristol to celebrate my father-in-law’s 93rd birthday and spent a few days with him. It is a gentle pace with him now, so a quiet few days. On his birthday we were joined by other members of the family for lunch. It was great to see everyone and my son certainly benefited in Easter eggs.

Although I had hoped to have a few days driving free, I needed to take my son shopping on Saturday for some essentials and to pick up a few orders. I popped into Boots to print off some photos from our Cornish holiday and am already displaying them on my bureau. I also picked up a full length mirror, something missing from our house since we did some decorating and recycled the wardrobes with the mirrors. I’m quite relieved at this as checking your appearance in a window reflection is not really the best way to check your look!

After a fortnight of family fun and seeing all our extended family, it’s been nice to have a very quiet Easter. I did refill the Easter tin with sweet nibbles but this was my only real seasonal nod. This is just a temporary pause on celebrating Easter because of a busy holiday, all my decorations, menus, treats and more will return in 2026.