Sunday evening catch-up

Another busy week! This week has been much less stressful though, which was nice. I survived my first week at work, which was also nice. I settled in well and have met most people. I actually knew many of my new colleagues before. I learnt plenty of new things, none of which I shall list because it is such a specialised work that it would sound like gobbledegook, or like showing off. My work pattern works well around the children. The little ones go to breakfast club, the big ones walk the puppy before school. I go to work for about 8:15 am, which is how I like it. Richard comes home at about 11 am to play with Jack and walk him, too. Then I am back at about 2 pm, say hello to the Jack and walk him to school. The remainder of the day is just as it was before, so far anyway.

I don't have time to go for my usual jogs around the block but I am cycling to work, which is a good replacement. Easier on my ankle, which has been giving me grief ever since I fell down the stairs two years ago. Ahh the joys of an aging body! Here some photos I took on my way to work. Isn't it beautiful? I might have to take the long way around the woods once it gets dark in the mornings because there are a few water-filled man-sized holes along the path, where once big large trees stood. These have been uprooted a few years ago in a great big storm and are left to decay naturally. Richard fell in one of the holes one winter and is now equipped with super strong lights. I am too much of a chicken and will go the extra half a mile to avoid such bad luck!

We spent Bonfire Night at our next door neighbours. This is a tradition I cherish very much. There is soup and cake and plenty of leftover Halloween sweeties. There is of course also wine and beer for the grown-ups. There is a joiner in the group of friends and there is always plenty of wood for a great big Bonfire. It is usually set alight immediately after a small fireworks display and lasts for as long as the wood lasts. It was still going strong when I went to bed at 11 pm. I love the smell of burnt wood in my hair!

It looks as if we were living in the middle of nowhere but we don't! We actually live in the middle of Glasgow. Which reminds me that a couple of weeks ago Doris was wondering if the video I posted in the October photo scavenger hunt was taken in our back garden. It wasn't! It was taken during our last camping trip. I meant to reply but forgot!

I received a gigantic package this week. Guess what it contained? Yes, it was my new kitchen gadget, an early Christmas present from my mum. I made scones to test if the machine could rub the butter into the flour as well as I can. I can! I do feel redundant already. I also made pizza dough, which was lovely. I will have to measure the ingredients rather than feeling if it is right, like I do when I hand knead my dough. I have yet to make a Pavlova.

Today Annie and I went to Hobbycraft for an hour of browsing. We went with my lovely friend Christine and her daughter Annie (how much of a coincidence is that?). I always get very exited about visiting Hobbycraft but end up a little disappointed because there is not really what I lust after. Beautiful yarn, fancy washi tape, delicate stamps.... but it is a good place to stock up on useful things like card, glue and embroidery needles. We also got a big bag of clay and a small glue gun. Just because.

And because the house is clean (thank you Richard), I spent the rest of the day planting some tulip bulbs (better late than never), weeding my flower bed and helping Alistair make a "stained glass" tea light for his teacher. I have a large amount of colourful transparent paper that I order here (I have never seen anything similar here in the UK). It is my favourite type of paper ever. The tea light was not quite dry when I took the photo with the candle in but I just couldn't wait. It will be more transparent once it is completely dry.

 

All in all, a successful week. I hope next week will be just as good.

My mum is in hospital to have a knee replacement tomorrow. I'll be a little nervous until I know all went well. Lets keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

And now, if you would excuse me, I need to knit and watch Spaceballs, a long time favourite movie. I found a copy at the Brownies fundraising bonanza yesterday.

Have a lovely week! Cx