an enjoyable weekend

I am feeling good today. I thought I'd write this down right away because my body has not been cooperative lately and I have been moaning a bit here on this blog. My gravel rash is almost completely healed, the resulting cellulitis is under antibiotic control and my ankle can bear weight again. I also didn't feel dizzy all day. I went for my first run in three weeks today and I didn't break. I met a few friends along the way and stopped for a chat, so all in all a rather pleasant return to exercise. It felt so so good. 

My week was busy as usual but I finished on a high by finally recording and editing my latest lecture, which is now with our learning technologist. She is a real wizard and makes a boring old lecture really fun to view and listen to. 

I was looking forward to the weekend! I was on a mission to get things done. I got up about 9 am on Saturday and made a huge batch of drop scones for breakfast. James and Alistair ate most but I had a fair number also, as you can see on the photo, balancing coffee and drop scones on my lap. In my defence, they were really thin. I spent the rest of the morning cutting out the slippery lining fabric for my coat sewing project. I pinned the fabric selvages together and pinned the pattern pieces onto the fabric to avoid slippage and I used my rotary cutter to cut the pieces. I listened to Bach's cello suites played by Pablo Casals (courtesy of Spotify), which was wonderful. Only one child complained about the music. 

Days pass in a haze really with not much happening. Our current Covid-19 restrictions are quite, well, restrictive with regards to social interactions, so not much venturing out but Annie and I spontaneously went to our local Ikea on Thursday night to buy a small desk for my study/sewing room. I was sick of the hideous wobbly shelving unit that was the home of our family desktop computer and printer and plenty of assorted crap and I knew it had to go. Instead, a small desk sits in that corner, the assorted crap is gone (donated or recycled, or tidied). Annie and Alistair built it for me. It makes such a difference to how the room feels. In the longer term, I want to put a cosy armchair and a reading lamp in this corner but with the boys still young, I prefer having the computer they use where I can supervise and check on them occasionally. So for the time being, the armchair has to wait. I will temporarily move one in next weekend when I am attending a congress online. It is a four day congress and I want to sit comfortably while listening to talks, and maybe knit a bit, too. I wonder if I could sew my coat while listening? I'll just need to remember to switch the camera off and mute myself. It will be a bit strange, the last time I attended this congress I travelled to Canada. Now I'll be putting on my best joggers on and settle in my sewing room for a few days of exciting science talks. I bought new yoga pants for the occasion, two pairs in fact. It is what the working from home professional woman wears nowadays. I fear the day when I have to squeeze my butt into a pair of jeans! 

Back to Saturday. I was on a roll actually, I also tidied up my soap making supplies. I had to dispose of some rancid oils and fats, which I bought years ago to make Richard shaving soap. They were not the kind you can buy in the supermarket and if I can be honest, a bit of a waste of money because I only used a fraction and now they are all rancid. Richard's had a beard for years now, I don't know if he'll ever use up the batch of shaving soap I made. I am thinking of making soap soon, maybe a no-nonsense Castille soap. 

If there was anything rubbish to report on this cold and windy Sunday, it would be the realisation that it is impossible to get a fluorescent yellow high visibility running top for fat women. Fluorescent yellow is the best for night visibility, better than any other fluorescent colour. Scotland is dark during winter and good visibility is essential. I conclude that fat women like me either don't run in the dark, or if they do, they don't wear fluorescent yellow tops. It is very frustrating. I bought a gigantic man's top. The sleeves are of course far too long and there is plenty of fabric around the shoulders but on the positive side, it is long enough to cover my butt, which is essential because I hate it when a top rides up while running. 

James went out with Richard on a club bike ride. This boy is fit, he can keep up with the men. Today he won a sprint, it was the first thing he told me when he came back. The adult riders held back a bit I know from Richard but we won't tell James. It is good to be a winner sometimes. 

Jack the lucky puppy just returned from a double sleepover with Sam. He got steak for breakfast... he'll be adding that to our weekly shopping list now, I am sure he will. On this visit, Jack learned that the lift isn't really scary and he explored Glasgow Green. Oh to be a dog! We miss Jack when he visits Sam but Sam loves him, too. He is our family therapy dog, he really makes everybody happy. 

On this cheerful note, I have to go and eat my pudding, a French apple tart made by Annie. Thanks for visiting xx