on this second day of May














... I am just enjoying myself. Richard and I cleaned the house earlier and now it is time to just enjoy the afternoon. The boys and I went for a walk around lunchtime. They suggested we go down to the river along a narrow and very steep path and walk along the river until we get to Jack's favourite beach. What can go wrong I thought and squeezed through the broken fence to follow the nimble boys and dog down the river bank. Can we walk along the river all the way I asked and I was reassured that yes, we can. They failed to mention that it involved climbing over piles of washed up wood, scrambling up and down the bank and balancing over a wobbly fallen tree to cross a deep muddy pit in which I am certain something big and hungry lurked. Alas, I made it to the beach, sweaty and a bit shaky on my feet. Jack swam most of it, chasing sticks down the river. It was the most exciting thing that happened in my life for weeks.

With the exercise out of the way, I spent some time waiting for someone to make me a coffee. Meanwhile, James and Alistair were constructing pistols and crossbows out of Knex and rubber bands.

Richard went to a funeral yesterday, to form a guard of honour for a cycling club friend who had died of Covid-19. He was in his mid-eighties and had been a club member since the 1960s. I hope it gave some comfort for his children, seeing club members lined up along the road with their bikes and club colours and paying their respect. They could not join the service but they could at least be there.

Jack has lost some weight. I think it is the regular swimming in the Kelvin to rescue countless sticks. The river is quite fast in places and with legs only about 15 cm long it must be really hard to swim against the current. I am thinking of giving it a go, my jeans are feeling just a tad tight at the moment. I blame Richard and his sourdough starter. He bakes the bread for breakfast and it is so so tasty. Flour is of course a rare sight in shops but I ordered a 16 kg bag of strong bread flour online and we should be ok for weeks. There weren't any smaller bags in case you are wondering.

I hope there is some plain flour for my birthday cake next week.... I have hinted that carrot cake with cream cheese icing might be top of my wish list. I am going to be fifty. When I was Alistair's age, I couldn't imagine being twenty and now look where I am! I am feeling some pressure to decide who I want to have a birthday Zoom with. I have a long work Zoom on that day and I am sure I will be all zoomed out come the evening. I think I am going to leave the decision making to Richard.

Alistair has been struggling a bit this week, there have been some tears. I suspect he is a bit fed up with the same old faces that greet him every morning. Aren't we all? I can't bring myself to tell him he might not go back to primary school ever. I wonder how the school is going to mark the transition? I can't imagine an online end of primary school assembly being much fun, nor the leavers disco.

James on the other hand has been ok, as has Annie. She is meant to be sitting exams just now and hang out with her friends on the weekends. Instead she gets to homeschool her wee brothers.

I made my own coffee in the end and spent some time in my sewing room (which was littered with Knex pieces). I nearly finished the Kelly anorak. The sleeves are in, all that is left to do is finish the seams with bias tape to make it look neat. Weather permitting, I might do a photo shoot next week to show you it.

The weather is back to glorious once more, after a couple of rainy days. We had a barbecue for dinner, always a favourite. Now I am sitting in the bay window with the sun warming my face.

Thanks for visiting today. Take care xx

Comments

  1. I enjoyed all your outdoorsy images.. that Jack was striking quite a pose! It sounds like you're all handling the shutdown with grace and making the most of it. Have a super week! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. That sounds quite blissful. I had a sneaky sit in the sun with a good book this afternoon, which was glorious. So sorry to hear about Richard's cycling friend. The guard of honour sounds wonderful. Dear little Jack, well done on all the swimming, he's a star. And well done you on that walk. That sounds like the sort of thing mine would drag me into. I hope you have a lovely Sunday. I shall look forward to seeing your anorak soon. CJ xx

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  3. Oh goodness, I'm laughing out loud at your river scrambles! Kids are like that aren't they, forgetting that what is a cinch for them is sometimes a little trickier for the grown up variety!
    Its morning here in Australia (and a really cold one too!) and I'm sitting snuggled by the fire catching up on the lives my fave bloggers. Your pics are always so pretty and filled with colour and blooms - just what I need to start my wintery day. Now I'd better make the man some brekky as he likes to share a leisurely one on Sunday mornings. Today it will be beside the fireplace ;)

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  4. Happy 50th! Those are gorgeous photos. Glad you got your coffee...

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  5. Jack is unique if he is getting thin.

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  6. I'm so sorry Alistair is struggling with it all just now. It must be especially difficult for those leaving school this year.
    Check out your local supermarket for plain flour. Ours is selling it in the bakery section in bags usually used for the doughnuts. X

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  7. We managed to get flour from the local shop, slightly inflated price but...I can only imagine the workout your got with the boys and such fun. Sorry to read Alistair is struggling a little, I feel for the children it is so hard for them. Have a wonderful Birthday.

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  8. I am sorry to hear that Alistair is struggling a little, I do feel for those children whose lives were on the cusp of something major when lockdown happened such as changing schools or exams. There was no time for them to mentally prepare themselves for such a dramatic change, being at home all the time and all those important things coming up were no longer going to happen.

    I do have you have a lovely birthday next week, it seems we were born in the same year I will celebrate in a few months time. I hope your birthday Zoom, if that is what you do, is what you want.

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  9. Lovely pictures. That Jack! Such a poser but well done on the weight loss. The dog here, like me, is most definitely expanding. Good choice for the birthday cake.

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  10. we have a fab little locals tore where we can get most things the only thing I cant find anywhere is yeast..Jack looks like he's living his best life, great photos. x

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  11. Beautiful photos especially of a jack. I’m in awe of your walk, I’m sure I would have fallen over at some stage, I usually do.
    Hope that family of yours manages to make your birthday special and definitely make you a cake. I’d send some flour over but the postal service in this corner seems to be a bit iffy these days. Enjoy your weekend. B x

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  12. I am glad the sun is shining on you a little Christina. I have has some teenage moments last week where Heidi couldn't see the point of the home learning because she thrives on the feedback but gradually as the week went on she had some emails from teachers and it all settled down again. Looking forward to your Kelly moment. Your birthday is on my calendar you know, I noticed it when I turned it on Friday. Jo xxxx

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  13. Why does your week sound so wonderful and mine so frantic? We have had some tears here, and a bit of attitude for one 8 year old I know. There have been several time out and lots of discussions on how to be a nice friend. I just took him out for a bike ride and later there will be a swim, just to tire him out. I hope you week is wonderful and that you have and incredible birthday week.

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  14. Such wonderful pictures, you always capture everything just right. I hope you have a lovely birthday and get the cake you are after, as for the coffee I think you should have been loud with the hints try it next time. My favourite now is oh are you in the kitchen? ;) Take care and enjoy your birthday week. x

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  15. You are a youngster! I hit 60 last year so am distinctly over the hill. Pleased to hear you managed to complete your obstacle course to the beach. Enjoy your birthday celebrations. X Doris

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  16. happy 50th birthday for this week!

    my older boys - especially Joshua - are feeling the lock down this week. although they keep in contact with their buddies via whatsapp.. its not the same as heading off to the pub and socialising all weekend with them. Josh is my party going child and I can see it is taking its toll on him. i know how you are feeling watching each one of your children reacting differently to this ugly time as the days go on.

    your jack so ever so cute! have a lovely week ahead.. i hope you get your carrot cake (its one of my favourites too!)

    much love from afar xx

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  17. First, happy early birthday wishes to you Christina, and your choice of a cake sounds like a great choice and healthy too (right?) The woodland adventure sounded like more than expected and glad all worked out well with no spills into the water - for the humans that is. Our own grandchildren are also struggling with the absence of school friends, but the 13 year old grandson is doing much better than the 8 year old granddaughter according to their mom. She is still working from home but wonders how they will manage when she returns to her office. Hopefully the home school year may be ended by then or close to it. The barbecue dinner looked great!

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  18. That sounds like a blissful start to May despite the scramble along the river bank. Wishing you a very happy birthday for this week. Xx

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  19. I'm a bit over distance teaching this week - via hard copy - it's FAR more work than normal and indvidualising student packs is hard yakka for a class of kids. I've no idea if half the class is even doing anything as contact is pretty poor from their end (no money for credit etc ). I'm not even certain many will turn up under level 2.... whenever that happens! HAve a happy birthday!

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  20. Isn't your garden beautiful, I love it.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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