March ...ing

I am a bit later than usual with my March ...ing post. It feels like a long month after a short 28 day February. 

Enjoying the warmer weather. With the sun moving higher up in the sky every day, we can once more feel the warmth it produces. 

Looking forward to a full house this weekend. All children are be home. I am thinking BBQ, if the weather holds. 

Wondering what our family life will be in summer. Sam is moving back from York in July, hopefully to his own flat. Although with rising costs of living, this may not be possible. Annie will be back for the summer, too. 

Praising myself for purchasing insurance for the cats a few years back. Lupin, the cat that pees blood needs surgery to remove a whopping big bladder stone that is ~1cm in size and jaggy. You can see her ultrasound above. The thing that looks like a big storm cloud forming on the horizon, that is the stone. For comparison, her bladder on the same ultrasound measured ~2.7 cm. Seeing it, it is no surprise really that she has problems with urinating. We'll have to pay 20% of the treatment costs because Lupin is classified as a geriatric cat. She is 11 and says she is years away from being geriatric. Insurers have some cheek.  

Reading "Summerwater" by Sara Moss. A bit underwhelming to be honest. Sarah Moss is a great story teller but this is not her most successful work. It is set on a Scottish holiday park during one single rainy day. Each chapter is written from the perspective of a different holiday maker. The individuals really come to life and I liked that. It would have been enough. The attempt to tie all these people together by an unfolding disaster feels unnecessary. 

Listening to "The end of the ocean" by Maja Lunde. This was very enjoyable although a bit bleak. The story is set in 2019 and 2041. In 2019, Signe (71), an environmental activist is on a final all consuming mission to reconnect with her past. In 2041, David and his daughter Lou flee from a war torn Southern Europe plagued by draught, searching for partner Anna and baby Auguste, from whom they became separated.  I loved how gradually, the two storylines connect.

Making - only a mess to be honest, no exciting projects on the go. 

Trying to cut my overtime and focus on other things that I enjoy. 

On that same topic, going on a working walk. So much more fun than a boring old Zoom meeting, and better for my body, too. The weather was splendid and it was good to be out on the hills. 

Cooking dinner every day last week, which is very unusual. Richard was away for work. We had lovely meals every day but I can't now remember what most of them were... I made a coconut chicken curry with fennel. Yes, that single fennel from our now cancelled vegetable box. I was a bit apprehensive, fennel has a strong taste but the boys loved it. There wasn't even any leftover my my lunch the next day. 

Keeping an eye on our bird boxes. There was a lot of activity earlier this month but I don't think we have any birds nesting. Maybe it is still early?

Being cross with our resident squirrel for digging out many of my tulip bulbs. Still quite a few left but the display will be a bit thinner than planned. It is coming! Just a few more weeks.

Helping Alistair decide on his options for his third year at secondary school. He is 13 and his choices now will affect the next 4 years of school and his options for further education or work-based training. Sam and Annie had a much more flexible curriculum under a different head teacher and both enjoyed a broad education because they had the option to change subjects at later sage, and pick up new subjects for their final two years. I am quite upset for James and Alistair not having that same flexibility. 

Waking up early, usually before the alarm clock. The birds are up early, too. So nice to hear them sing again while waking up slowly. Far better than the shrill alarm clock. 

Consequently feeling tired earlier than usual in the evening but I don't mind. 

Thanks for visiting 😀