Of lemons and lemonade

Oh hello, how are things? If I can be honest, I am teetering on the brink of a breakdown… A child that is on full self-destruct mode, a to-do list at work that I cannot get to the bottom off, with students demanding the impossible,  lack of sleep, a spinning head… I know I am not well because I am picking fights with all and sundry. I am, for the first time in my life, considering sick leave. 

In the meantime, I drove to Peebles for an invited presentation at a conference. A lovely place, talk went well, lots of good chats and one night of uninterrupted sleep. Unfortunately a part on the under carriage of the car came loose on one of the many speed bumps around the hotel. I felt unsure about driving home. I also accidentally blocked my SIM card so couldn’t call Richard or the breakdown company for advice. I meant to block Iris’ SIM because they lost their phone... Again. A kind woman at the petrol station let me hotspot so I could call Richard on WhatsApp. I drove home in the end, using small roads only. We really need to get that car fixed. 

I also celebrated my birthday, because at the end of the day, it is important to make lemonade when live throws you lemons. Richard baked a carrot cake, an all time favourite. It was delicious. I received some perfect gifts, inlcuding vouchers for my favourite fabric shop, Guthrie & Ghani and a blouse sewing pattern that I’ve had my eye on for some time and a lovely scented candle. I bought myself tickets for a ballet in June and cashmere gloves to keep my fingers warm. I cut fabric for the new blouse and I stringed together tiny pieces of fabric to sew a make-up bag. I ironed the little squares onto iron-on interfacing and stitch in rows rather than sewing one tiny piece to the next. I’ve been savouring dark chocolate with a freeze dried raspberry cover. I walked the pups and enjoyed their company. I am wearing bold and colourful new glasses with a new prescription and everything is in focus once again. I call them my Prue Leith frame (not from her collection) and I like them very much. I have a pair of plain glasses, too for those moments when a bold frame is a bit too much. 

I’ll leave you with that image in your head, me with a bold colourful pair of glasses. Thanks for visiting 😊