a bit of this and a bit of that (nothing of note)

Another Sunday. It is a wet and windy day and I only left the house to go for my walk-run this morning. I took my new running shoes out for a first spin, it was like floating on clouds. I am retiring my old runners from their running duty. I'll continue to walk them until they are falling to bits (the process is well underway). 

I am a bit tired. Jack kept waking us up. He insisted there was a mouse in the house, brought in by one of the cats. He was making a lot of noise trying to find the mouse. He takes his job as the designated mouse exterminator very seriously. He didn't find the mouse. I did however, when Jack was out on his walk. I watched it scurry up the stairs and hide under the chest on our upper landing. By the time Jack returned, it was gone. Mice are really rather cute but I prefer them outside. I hope it found a way out.

I am booked in for my cross-over injections as part of the Covid vaccine trial I am participating in. All UK participants have been offered this. It essentially means that if I was given the placebo in November, I will now receive the actual vaccine, or the other way round. This will still be fully blinded and I will continue my regular clinic visits until the trial is completed. It is the Novavax vaccine, in case this is of interest to anyone. Efficacy has been reported as 89%, including against some of the more worrying variants, so I have nothing to lose by participating. I will be fully vaccinated by the end of April. Just in time for my birthday, what better present could I ask for? 

I have also received my NHS vaccine invite but I'll decline this as I have decided to continue with the Novavax trial. It is a small gesture of thank you for the many outstanding scientists out there working around the clock to protect us.

In other news, I have made a second sweatshirt. I used a different pattern this time, the Billie sweatshirt by Tilly and the Buttons. I made version 1 if you are looking at the pattern link. It is a more fitted than the previous jumper I made, and a little longer. This was the Jarrah jumper by Megan Nielsen. The fabric I used is dusty dark blue, which I find rather comforting. I enjoyed my latest sewing projects and I have now several long sleeved tops and two sweatshirts for the cool spring days. Next on my list is a linen dress by Sew Me Something but I am undecided what size to choose because the sizing with this company is always a bit off (which I had forgotten). I'll probably go down by two sizes. In the meantime, there are plenty of quilting cotton scraps that need to be cut into squares or strips for future projects. 

On Saturday, I attended a couple of University of St Andrews offer holders events with Annie. The events were online of course but I thought they were well organised and informative, including the "ask a student" sessions. A jolly bunch it seemed. I don't think Annie would have wanted me to attend the events had they been on campus but from the safety of our kitchen room, I could not embarrass her. 

I am only working four days next week, then I'll be off for a whole week. I cannot wait, this term has been long and tiring. I realise that I always say that and it is true. You might think I don't like my job but I do, I really do. It is just a bit relentless. I am now teaching all year round, with courses starting in September, January and April. 

I am rather looking forward to the Easter weekend, the weather forecast is for dry and not too cold, which is good in pandemic times, when meeting friends is only possible outdoors. I ordered a replacement for our broken old garden table and chairs. It will be delivered tomorrow, in good time for the good weather. The old table and chairs make good fire wood. For Easter, I might colour a few eggs with the boys but I have no other plans for seasonal decorations. I only just packed away the last of Christmas.... 

I wish I had taken more photographs on my Friday walk, when the weather was pleasant. I sat on a tree trunk, warming my face in the sun, sipping sweet hot peppermint tea. Next time, promise. 

Thanks for visiting. Have a lovely week x