Ticking along










This must be longest posting gap ever. I didn't mean to leave it that long but life is busy and to be honest, nothing much of note is happening. Most days are a variation on this theme: Wake up, drink coffee and catch up on the news (dire), do a bit of mothering, lots of work, feed the animals and children, walk an hour and listen to a podcast or book, do some chores, go back to bed. With the odd colourful sprinkles of excitement of course, for example an unexpectedly sweet punnet of strawberries. Or poor Lupin the cat foaming and dribbling out of her mouth because an un-named teenager dropped toothpaste on her back, which she tried to lick off (she is ok). On Wednesdays at the moment there is the added thrill of the Great British Sewing Bee. Richard finds it hard to believe that this programme might be of interest to anyone but then this is the man who watches bicycle races. This coming week brings even more thrills with book group and an old friend visiting for the weekend. For book group we are reading Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. He also wrote Shuggie Bain. My Glaswegian pals were raving about this book but I found it hard to read, a social work case study gone wrong about a sweet little boy growing up in 1980s Glasgow with an alcoholic mother. Anyway, I have not read the new book. A stain on my unblemished book group reading record but I just can't bring myself to read another bleak book. Instead, I have been enjoying a bit of space opera and a bit of crime fiction.

Richard returned from Rhode Island on Sunday. Travel for work is back on the cards and while it is exciting to attend a conference, the actual travel is tedious (always has been), particularly if it involves flying. The poor chap spent hours queuing at the airport, then didn't get his luggage. For my next work trip I can take the train, so much more preferable with no check-in queues and security checks. I am booked into a nice hotel in London within walking distance of Euston and where I need to be for work. Perfect (apart from having to work of course). But I have added a sneaky day off to the my itinerary.

Richard and I took dining chairs over to Sam's. He already has our old well loved dining table but needed the chairs, too (we have a tiny car in case you are wondering why we didn't move all at once). Oddly, we could only find three of the four matching chairs in our attic. It is a bit of a mystery.

Schools break up for summer at the end of the week. The thought brings tears to my eyes. Seven weeks! I booked James and Alistair into an outdoor camp for the entire first week, at a cost that makes me feel a bit sick but I have at the moment 14 hours of student contact scheduled in this week, plus a long training session.

After a long time not really wanting to be creative, I can feel a tiny urge to create something. This makes me so happy! I cut into a deep red cotton jersey that I bought years ago when we were on holiday in Denmark. I am going to make a simple t-shirt. I have also added a couple of rows to a leaving home quilt for my friends daughter. I was glad to hear that she will be a home student for first year at university.... more time to reconnect with my creative inner self. 

I bought a new salad spinner. So pleased that our salads are not soggy with water any more. 

I might go wild swimming in a local loch. This is not something I have done before because I am not sure about the water quality. I'll keep you in the loop on this new development.

In the meantime, I shall end this rather boring post and watch Yorkshire Vet on the telly. Thanks for visiting 😊

P.S. Blogger is acting up for me at the moment. My comments disappear unless they are moderated. Weird and a bit annoying but Blogger is what Blogger is


Comments

  1. Missed you Christina and delighted to read this (not boring at all) post. I actually can’t read anything at the moment- bleak or otherwise - but have binged on McLevy on BBC sounds. Shamefully, all 12 series and the specials. It’s brought me back to the sewing machine - also to make tee shirt tops for the summer. Look forward to seeing yours!

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  2. Your posts are always wonderful, full of family, friends, work and creativity. I am not reading anything bleak, or anything at all as I can't settle my mind. I am only watching shows where there may be a bit of drama but nothing that will affect my day or night. There is so much going on in the world I am limiting my time of bleak information. London sounds like a dream to the Floridian.

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  3. Hello from California again! We have started summer vacation too. Thank you for the pictures of Lupin, of course I will add them to my collection of Jack pictures too. Someday I should send along pictures of my pets. Thank you and have a great day!

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  4. I'm glad all is well in your corner of the world. I'm sure schools only started back after Christmas just last week! Where has the time gone? X

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  5. Good to hear your news Christina. My husband spends hours watching cycling.

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  6. Forgot to sign - it’s Doris!

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  7. Hi Christina, hope that the blogger issue with comments gets sorted out. While I have not had that problem, my own was an "update failed" message and that it would take interminably long to upload photos. Oddly enough, I have still been able to post, thankfully not on a daily basis or it would really be so annoying. Your update was not boring because it is a look inside your family, their lives, and what you have been doing or will be doing. Taking the train to London and then being able to walk does sound less stressful than flying now. We do not watch any sporting events, but a neighbor watches golf tournaments for hours.

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  8. You could just post that first cat pic and leave it at that. Utter cuteness. Be well.

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  9. I know what you mean about the days following a pattern, it is the same here. Glad you have a salad spinner, I did look for one but there wasn't, although there was EVERYTHING else, including a box of about twenty pairs of compasses, so at least the children won't keep making me buy new maths sets now. I do believe I have finally rooted a jewel orchid cutting. I am just giving it bit longer to be sure, then I can send it to you. I am watching The Great British Sewing Bee as I write, very much enjoying it. I'm with you when it comes to bleak books, I just don't need that. Also bracing myself for the summer holidays. The older two have finished already, just a handful of GCSEs/A-levels left, then it is all done and they will be a loose end. CJ xx

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  10. Hi Christina
    I often read your blog but have not commented before- something about todays blog struck a chord . I am a retired academic, children long grown and settled, and today I was reminded of the juggle that is parenting during the long summer holidays. I miss it. And I also don’t miss it. You are doing a fantastic thing being a Mum of 4. Enjoy your trip to London ( assuming industrial action does not affect your plans)

    Siobhan

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  11. Glad your creative side is kicking back in. It is a good release from work and mother time. Only one more sewing Bee to go :(

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  12. I always enjoy your posts, especially the quilts. Today I am laughing about the 3 of 4 chairs issue - I enjoy chairs and occasionally acquire one curbside or at a sale, and some are deployed around as bedside tables, things to hang one's shirt on, etc. Others fell victim to rough housing by kids, being left outside for some reason or perhaps were given away. Bottom line when we were trying to come up with 4 matching chairs to go with a table for a kid apartment there didn't seem to be anything but singles, pairs and one triple. Great mystery.

    ceci

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  13. I love this kind of post, the stuff of life, honest not trying to make it into something it isn't. I hear you on not wanting to read bleak books there is enough bleakness around at the moment without using precious reading time imbibing it too.

    I hope that your last few weeks with students go well along with your trip to London which I hope is not too disrupted by the strikes. Enjoy your wild swim.

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  14. Hello. Glad to hear you are your family are all well. What an adorable cat you have! I could not be without my salad spinner - I use it all the time.

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  15. Hi there, glad you are ok if mad busy. This year is apssing so quickly, I am afraid I don't share everyones joy at the sewing bee, I stopped watching a long time ago and I always get asked if I watch it. I do like to read posts and watch youtube about sewing from real people though such as yourself. I am not entirely convinced how real the show is?? I hope you enjoy your swim, I know someone who does a lot of wild swimming at all times of year it looks amazing but I am not brave enough and I'm OCD enough to drive myself crazy wondering what is unerneath me! Instead I look at images in awe. Have a lovely week. x

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  16. I hope you enjoy London. It's such a fabulous city. I know what you mean about that book. I can't watch violent t.v. shows or movies anymore. We have to be careful what we put into our subconscious minds.

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  17. I love reading your posts Christina. You make me smile when I read them and ordinary life is sometimes the best to read about. It makes me feel normal, life isn't always full of excitement and creative activity.
    I remember cramming our car with furniture when D moved back here. A bit like Cinderella's slipper. 'It will jolly well fit in'. Hopefully Sam has the basic furniture he needs now and your little car can have a rest :)

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  18. Gorgeous photos particularly the bee, amazing detail. I always enjoy reading your posts Christina, take care x

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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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