just rambling

A short working week always leaves me a little discombobulated. On Thursday I messaged my colleague, asking how her Tuesday was going and found myself genuinely surprised when she messaged back saying her Thursday was going just fine. Outwith the teaching term, the usual markers of the week are missing but come Monday, we are all back to normal routines. I need a new job, one that does not fill me with anxiety on a Sunday evening, when it is time to put the weekend to bed.

I have been torturing the teens with "unreasonable" demands to engage with exam revision. Despite failing all but one prelim exam, James is still convinced that revision and study are not important but instead, inspiration, knowledge and understanding will seek him out during his sleep. Alistair has mock exams, who knows why! I wish our school system was more about learning for life than regurgitating knowledge for exams and school league tables. 

I bought an angle poise floor lamp for our comfy corner in the kitchen extension, more than four years after we finished the building work. I spend a lot of time there, working or just chilling out. Up to now I had to put the bright ceiling lights on after dark, not very relaxing. Now it is far more cosy. I spent Saturday evening there with my friend Karen, catching up on life, drinking Prosecco and snacking on party mix. A most enjoyable evening. 

Alistair's finger has been left to heal under thick bandaging. He had a check-up one week post operation.  It looks like there is not much circulation to the tip of his finger. The plastic surgeon thinks it might yet be restored but only time will tell. In any case, Alistair is looking at many months of healing. 

I spent some time litter picking up by the entrance of Dawsholm park, our local woods, with my fellow volunteers. It was meant to be a big litter pick but the council failed to deliver the cage for the rubbish bags and we could only fill as many bags as fit in the back of the van. Typical. The access road to the woods is right by the dump (aka recycling centre) and is incredibly littered. People find the dump closed and just empty their rubbish onto the verge. There is a snack van up there also to feed the workers on the small industrial estate. No bins of course and hence countless  takeaway polystyrene boxes. I am so disgusted by my fellow citizens. A very British problem, the littering, and one to be properly ashamed off.

I did a bit of gardening on Sunday, cleaning up the small flowerbed outside my study window. I cleared weeds around the emerging perennials to give them space to grow and spread. The rudbeckia didn't make it through the winter, a real shame because it has the most cheerful egg yolk yellow flowers. 

This evening, I hope to finish knitting a sleeve of the recently found long lost and half finished jumper. 

Nothing much exciting to report I am afraid, just the usual chatter. Have a lovely week 😊