this and that...

The weather is glorious here in Glasgow! I really enjoy the view out of my home office window when I am working, the browns have been replaced by greens and the odd bright colour of early flowering perennials and a couple of tulips. There will me more tulips soon, I planted a gigantic half whiskey barrel with layers of bulbs in the back. It is going to be amazing. The pots on the front steps are looking good, too.

My ear infection is finally improving. I am on a second course of a different antibiotic. The pills are half the size of my pinky finger and I really struggle to swallow them and I have an altered sense of taste, which is a common side effect, but needs must.

The lockdown continues and which each day, my jeans feel a little tighter. I have not been able to run and didn't feel much like walking either, and I am not cycling to work. Lack of exercise and continuous snacking are not good for my waistline. Ear permitting, I'll be running this weekend.

My social conscience is waking me up at night. I am acutely aware of my privileged situation. It seems wrong that we are doing so well while others are really finding life difficult, maybe because they lost their jobs, or because they are unable to feed their families. It is s tricky one. To ease my middle class guilt, I want to donate money to local charities that support vulnerable individuals and families in the area. Our first donation went to a local youth group that is preparing and distributing meals for self-isolating vulnerable and elderly people. One of my (grown up) friends is involved and this personal connection makes our donation more special for me. I know it is used for a good thing. I also want to make a donation to the local food bank. I usually put a few items in the food bank donation crate when shopping but I haven't been shopping and I am not sure what food items are most needed just now. I considered volunteering for the big diagnostic testing facility set up here in Glasgow but it is difficult to commit to long lab shifts while working full-time and counting children. I don't have enough energy I don't think.

While out on a walk in your neighbourhood woods with the boys and Jack, I spent some time birdwatching. The boys were climbing trees and left me to it. Jack rolled in something dead or otherwise smelly and left me to it, too. I watched several treecreepers, one of them carrying soft stuff to a crack in a tree. I'll be watching this tree over the next few weeks! I also spotted a nuthatch, which surprised me because I thought they only venture as far North as the South of Scotland. When we continued our walk, we went down to the river and threw sticks for the dog and we picked some wild garlic. I slipped and slid down the muddy bank on my butt, which the boys thought was really funny. I guess it was. I made wild garlic pesto. I am bit underwhelmed by the flavour. The boys picked a little posy for me in the woods.

I am really glad it is the weekend. My ear was sore and I did plenty of overtime and I deserve a couple of days of nothingness. I have two new online courses starting on Monday, lasting until July. I am all ready to go. My classes are small and I get to know students well. There is less marking, too. It is business as usual for online courses like mine. I know, very lucky. I don't envy some of my colleagues who all of a sudden had their curriculums shaken up completely and had to adapt to digital in a very short time, or those colleagues who had to put their research on ice and furlough staff.

I know just what I'do with all that weekend time. I have treated myself to a kit put together by Guthrie & Ghani. It seemed easier than ordering bits and pieces here and there.... It contains all the materials, pattern and hardware to make a Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns. I didn't feel like tracing the pattern pieces and cut them out from the original. There is always so much to prepare for more complex garments. Cutting more pattern pieces than seem possible, transferring all the marks carefully, interfacing and whatnot. Progress is slow but I am almost ready to start sewing.

I hope the good weather continues, I am loving it. Richard has made some great progress in the garden and all is ready for sewing and planting (except the seeds and plants of course).

We had a curry takeaway this evening. Everyone loved it except me. I don't really like takeaway curry, too much fatty sauce, too smooth and the food doesn't look appetising in the plastic containers either. I much prefer a home cooked South East Asian curry with a bit of crunch.

I am content. I am ok with having a simpler life, for one there are fewer daily decisions to make, fewer places to go and fewer things to remember. I am actually less anxious than normal. I don't mind being at home. My most adventurous outing this week was a trip to the pharmacy. What was your most adventurous outing?

Thanks for visiting x