October ...ing

Thank you all for you heal well wishes on my last self-indulgent post. 

Feeling sad because we had to cancel our holiday in Turkey. We'd be there by now. Cancelling was inevitable really but I clung onto my hope of being able to travel. Alas, the 14 day quarantine rules make it difficult. We'd be house-bound for two weeks upon our return and I don't think we are cut out for this, the kids in particular. I was looking forward to seeing my aunt, my cousin and her family. Hopefully next year will be better for travelling. 

But looking forward to having some time off work next week, for October break. I hope we'll be able to have some nice days out, although the Covid prevents us from going far (we are advised to not leave our health board area)

Listening to "This Tender Land" by William Kent Kruger. I am loving it so far. 

Knitting a grey Love Note jumper without the lace pattern. 

Cooking a favourite but long forgotten chicken and wild rice dish by Nigella Lawson. The recipe is from Simply Nigella. Pure wild rice is ridiculously expensive but Waitrose sells a mix of red Camarque rice with wild rice that works well (white rice goes mushy). 

Recovering from my injuries. My foot is slowly returning to its normal shape, size and colour (I can wear shoes again), and my cratered knee is starting to scab over. Of course every time I bend my knee the scabs crack open and the pain of it makes me wince. If I can be honest, I feel a bit sorry for myself. 

Missing my jogs around the neighbourhood. 

Enjoying the faded colours in the garden. There are still splashes of bright colour, the Rudbeckia in particular is beautiful just now. I love this particular yellow very much, it is a happy colour. 

Eating yellow raspberries straight from the bush. I knew this particular variety was a late one but I didn't think it would be that late. They are delicious but I am conditioned to love red raspberries more. A pale yellow raspberry just doesn't look right. 

Admiring Richard's hard work in the front garden. The wild flower meadow had its annual chop, the lavender border around it was trimmed and the remaining fruit collected. Our front garden looks almost neat now. He even fixed the bike shed and gave it a lick of paint. 

Watching our resident squirrel burying winter essentials. How will it remember? It is a brazen little thing, its favourite burial area is about 1.5 metres from where I sit and work. I am not sure it has noticed me yet. 

Having a very proud mother moment. James and his best friend went on an all day bike ride on Saturday. They packed lunches, snacks and water without help and cycled up to Loch Lomond, some 18 miles away, and back. I was anxious but James texted once an hour with an update and I had asked him to share his phone location with me, in case they needed rescuing. They didn't and had a blast. What an achievement. 

Feeling nervous and excited because I'll be on my favourite podcast in November. 

Basking in the mid October sun. The past few days have been lovely, sunny and warm enough to sit on the front steps without hat and scarf. 

Wondering if anyone fancies reviewing automated lecture transcripts for me. I have about 60 to do for a course that I coordinate. That is right, 60. Realistically, I can't do it. Automated transcription is not bad but there are some real humdingers that should rightfully be corrected for our hearing impaired students. 

Waiting for my Guthrie & Ghani Sewing Society Clare coat kit to arrive. I am going to make a beautiful A-line shaped short coat with big square wooden buttons down the front. The kit contains everything to make the coat, even a label and needles. The I chose the teal colour. I used to have a similar coat, deep purple, which I loved but I wore it to death.

Teaching the boys money skills. Well, trying to. 

How was your week? Do you have any nice plans for next week? Do tell. Thanks for visiting x