Author: seasidesparkles

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!

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.

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!

And we’re still in January, which always feels like the longest month of the year with its cold, grey days. I’ve enjoyed this month, it’s given me time to focus on life and make positive changes. I’ve not gone crazy and tried to do all the things immediatly, just simply eat and sleep well and have a daily walk, the perfect way for me to clear my head in the evenings.

Here are my 5 things this week, a week to celebrate the ordinariness of life ..

1. There is no image for my first ‘thing’ this week but it’s a core memory of joy. My son and husband go to the home matches of our local football team which is doing very, very well . This week they won what was presumed to be a very tough match 5-0. Whilst watching tv footage of the end of the game, I spotted my son blissfully happily celebrating and singing along with the crowd. It was one of those times when he was totally in the moment and by pure chance I got to see him in his happiest place looking so happy it made my heart sing.
2. Not a very glamorous highlight but my trip to the podiatrist this week, gave me some pain relief and neat and tidy feet.
3. Last week whilst waiting at the doctors with Mr S, I discovered collages on Pinterest and of course I’m totally into it now and am currently working on a mood board for the year. Pinterest used to be a firm favourite but then seemed too clunky but I feel I am rediscovering my love for Pinterest.
4. I chose The Way I Used to Be as an audiobook from Spotify for my commute and am hooked. It’s the tale of how a crime affects a teenage girl and is so well written, creating a terrible character but showing her vulnerability and making you so sympathetic to her.
5. The weather on Sunday was awful, with a storm and lots of rain and wind. Bravely, my son and I headed off to the driving range for some fresh air whilst also being sheltered. We both got our furthest shots although I don’t know if these were wind assisted. In the afternoon I did one of my Santa Florence pictures which I’ve committed to do one monthly this year for my #25in25. The perfect way to spend a wet and miserable Sunday.

It all seems very quiet here at present, January is that sort of month.

My 5 this week …

1. This weekend our focus has been on updating the house. We ordered a new bed for our son yesterday, bought the paint for our bedroom and today we have been moving the furniture out to make it easier to paint. We also did some swapping around of furniture in the house, including our son’s room as we have to make a bit of extra room for the larger bed, so it’s been a physical day. We have 3 different projects in the next 3 weeks or so, a new dividing wall to help make our lounge cosier, a new bed and look in our son’s room and the refresh of our bedroom. We’ve gone bold in our bedroom colour choice, a teal called Proud Peacock. I feel we can do this in our room as we’ve not too much wall with a double aspect room and have neutral furnishings in the room. However I am very tempted to add a splash of fuchsia pink to bring the colour out.

2. Whilst in B&Q collecting the paint, I did treat myself to some new kitchen plants 🪴 We have 3 large windows in the kitchen all looking out to the garden and I wanted to bring some of that greenery into my kitchen. The plants are currently on my smallest window sill but I would like to add a little herb garden to the longer sills too. My sills are about 125 cms long so I reckon I could get a proper herb garden growing.

3. This week my daughter started her work experience placement with animals. Everyday we have had very cute photos sent on our family WhatsApp and it has been lovely to see her in her element. This image is the one I sent her as a good luck message and looks really like her.

4. My reading mthis week is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and it’s a wonderful book. I was so surprised by the story as although I’m not sure what I expected it wasn’t a story featuring computer games which are not my thing. The phrase don’t judge a book by its cover comes to mind as it has taken so long to read the book, despite so many recommendations, as the front cover put me off. I couldn’t work out the story from the cover. This is the beauty of a Kindle, you focus on the storyline and not the cover as you don’t really see it as you would a book lying around. This also does have its flaws, as often I forget the names and authors of books and is why I diligently record my reading on my Good Reads app.

5. This is the wolf moon on my Tuesday night walk. We had looked at the moons in class earlier in the day and I had asked my students to look out for it that night. I took a photo to share in class the next day. I liked the eeriness of the clouds and bare branches, as if it gives it a haunting feeling.

This week saw the return to school and the routine which accompanies it. I like the relaxed nature of holidays but also appreciate the routine of term time. We’re in the last year of school for our youngest although with the college course he wants to do we have a few more years of this structure. For me it’s also beginning to plan what retirement may look like. I can take my pension in four years (I am lucky enough to be in the original Teachers Pension scheme, so can retire at 55) It will be strange not to have a life scheduled to the school year as it will have been all I’ve known.

But back to now when the school routine has quickly bedded in and it’s been a good week for us all. I had an Inset day on Monday and got re certified for First Aid. We did have an excellent external trainer and it made the day go really quickly. Since my last training, I have had to use CPR (successfully) and I was very focused during this part of the day. My students returned on Tuesday and we had a gentle, fun week together. Our son was happy to be back with his mates and the gentle rhythm has returned to daily life.

On weeks like this there’s not a lot to report, the nights are very cold and dark so not much happens, although I have been trying to walk every night around the block. It’s only a half hour walk but it makes me more energised to come back and do something rather than spend the night in front of the tv. I have a real new year, new me approach this year. I lost myself over last year in what was such a difficult year and am trying to rediscover ‘me’, the healthy diet is in, I’m sorting everything, from my wardrobe to my kitchen cupboards and we are able to plan mini adventures. This week we have booked the Wembley tour for our London break in half term and I am looking into my itinerary for Monday when the boys do more football stadiums and I have a day to myself in London, joyful.

This week we have been lucky with the weather, it’s been very cold but we have not had the snow and icy conditions that other areas of the country have experienced. Parkrun was gorgeous on Saturday and the dawn as I arrived for my volunteering stint was breathtaking. Later for the run the weather was perfect for a winter run, blue skies, sunshine and a mild temperature, or it could be that my thermals kept me warm.

With my new evening routine I have been able to read and finish the book Poor by Catriona O’Sullivan. I think it may be the best book I will read this year, it is sooo good and such an amazing autobiography. There is so much in it which will stay with me for a very long time.