To Be Continued…

Today was the last ever school day for my Sweet Bean.
It was a double exam day (both for physics), so he was busy, and a bit stressed…
All done and dusted, though – all the assignments, task sheets, and assorted admin bits of paper are in! There’s only the graduation dinner next week to go to.

It’s a bit hard to believe that my funny little boy is now on the brink of launching in to the big, wide world.
We are so proud of him! ❤
Right now he’s just feeling the release from twelve years of study, deadlines, exams… we’ll take it easy for a few days before looking at the next steps from here. He’s got a suit for his graduation dinner which was partially chosen for its dual potential as a suit for interviews.

Wednesday was his business studies exam – only one shortish exam, but the first external exam for this term. We got him a rainbow biscuit to enjoy when he got home 🙂

Onwards and upwards!
…at least, after a rest.

Published in: on November 12, 2021 at 9:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

Remembering…

Lest We Forget..

Published in: on November 11, 2021 at 12:59 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Waiting For The Wind

I quite like dandelions.
They are generally unassuming, but delicate.
Glowing golden in the sun, then fading into gossamer.
Just waiting to be blown by the wind to new adventures…

…often seen as weeds (and I know they can take over the yard!), but also good for health – and salads 🙂
Also, they are really quite beautiful ❤

And they remind me of this verse –

“Though I am lowly and despised,
I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true.
Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.”
Psalm 119:141 – 143

Doesn’t matter how insignificant you think you are…
you are still beautiful!

Just catch your breath,
and wait for the next fresh breeze to come your way…

Published in: on November 4, 2021 at 9:21 pm  Comments (2)  

Looking Up

Published in: on October 31, 2021 at 11:04 am  Leave a Comment  
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Challenge!

The days are getting hotter – there have been a few when I’ve felt on the verge of spontaneous combustion…
so of course, what better time to sign up for a virtual marathon or two? 😆

I’ve been working on a couple of races from The Conqueror site. I’ve chosen some smallish ones – a Trek to Petra, and the Flower Route through the Netherlands.
The initial plan was to increase my walking, both in distance and frequency, but the heat hasn’t made that easy. I haven’t made it back to the pool yet this season. I did find out, however, that the daily walk to the mailbox and back is about 400m, so that helps. I’ve worked out distances for walks I do regularly, whether around town, or to and from bus stops. The real help, though, comes from the handy conversion chart that is on the site – both housework and grocery shopping can be around 500ish metres every 10 minutes!
So far I’m about 30% along each route. You get virtual postcards as you go, and a tree is planted every 20% of the route.
I see some pretty things in my actual walking…

…and I also find some interesting things in my virtual walking.

Petra doesn’t seem to have street view on the map, but I’ve looked at various parts of the Netherlands – my first “stop” was some sort of shop.

Pastries? Cheese? I can’t really tell…

Wandered into a little alleyway.

And of course, there are tulips! And other flowers – daffodils?

Also, strange half people…

I still have a long way to go.
But I’ll get there.
🙂

Published in: on October 30, 2021 at 10:12 pm  Leave a Comment  
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First To Be Second

So I’m the first in the family to have had both vaccinations…
The rest have had their first – since they’re all adults now (and how weird that is to say!) they all came to the decision on their own.
I went in yesterday morning, felt OK most of the day. Got chills and shivering last night, a bit feverish today, but I figure I’ll just take it easy for a couple of days.

Treated myself to an almond croissant – not sure if I would be up to cooking – and had a lovely big cuppa tea with it. Much as I love coffee, sometimes tea is the only thing that works 🙂
I still have lots of books to read, and DVDs to watch…

Proof! 😆
That’s a bit redder and hotter today…

I think it must be time for another cup of tea!

Published in: on October 23, 2021 at 5:51 pm  Leave a Comment  

All The Pretty Things…

I love jewellery.
I don’t tend to wear it a lot, but I love looking at it. Each piece is like a miniature work of art.
Here are a few pins that I bought recently – I have been looking at them for a while, and I had some money spare, so I thought I’d treat myself.
A couple of arty inspirations –

…and a couple of “get through the day/it’ll all be ok” pins –

And just as a bonus – my new kittycorn nightlight!
Enjoy this video (sorry it’s a bit wobbly), or you can always get your own 🙂

Published in: on October 18, 2021 at 10:17 am  Leave a Comment  
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Piecing Things Together

The last few weeks have seemed a bit plodding, with flashes of light in between… there’s been trips to the library, coffee at the cafe, and my Babe had his birthday a few days ago ❤
I also had a look around the Art Gallery here. Haven’t been in a while, but I thought I’d have a look at the heritage quilts on display (they’re there until the end of the month).
I’ve never really done any quilting, but I can appreciate the hard work that went in to them.
There are the fancier quilts, whether for display or use –

…and the “crazy quilt” type designs, which look like they would have been fun to do.

Then there are the everyday, useful quilts, such as one for a cradle

…or necessities for warmth, made from scrap material from worn out clothes, or samples of dress or suiting material. These appear to be called “waggas“, which were improvised using whatever was available, and generally made by men.

I love the thought of making utilitarian things out of scraps and leftovers – a reminder that even the everyday can be beautiful!

Published in: on October 16, 2021 at 9:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Princess And The Jab

Still figuring out Fridays – my Babe goes in to uni for a full day on Friday, and I’m planning to go fairly regularly to a group on the other side of town. We leave early – he goes to catch the train, I go for coffee at my favourite cafe, a bit of shopping, then the bus to the group meeting. So far I’ve done the whole journey once… there have been other appointments to get to!
This time I was booked for my first Pfizer vaccination. I got in to town about 7am, but my appointment wasn’t until 10ish. Managed to while away an hour over coffee and a muffin, then had a look in the charity shop.
Had a bit of a chat with the nice man who manages the shop a few times a week. I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the jab (I don’t like needles!), although I don’t believe I was in danger of being injected with microchips, or other similar theories. I did my research 🙂 While I’m sure there is a risk attached to the vaccine (which is explained by the administering doctor/nurse when you get it), there’s also a risk to taking ibuprofen or panadol, or any medication you might need otherwise. For me, it comes down to assessing the risk/benefit ratio… I believe it is the right thing for me to do.
Nevertheless, I was apprehensive.
We discussed the possibility of another lockdown (which didn’t happen in the end) and I said I was off for my jab. He told me about his experience, which basically boiled down to explaining to the doctor that he was needle-phobic and worried about it hurting and when would it be done, at which point the doctor said they’d already done it while he was talking 😆 I’ve heard from others that it was a bit of a non-event…still, there’s a bit of sheer terror cowering away in the back of the skull about some things.

I get a lot of my clothes from charity shops. I also pick up beautiful bits and pieces.
As we were talking, he was arranging some jewellery in the glass case under the counter. I noticed a lovely crown ring, and then a couple of tiaras.
Did I need them? Well, of course not! But I decided that I deserved to feel a bit princessy that morning.

I got to my appointment a little early, so I was finished early. Didn’t really feel it – just a bit of a sting as the needle went in – and then I sat out in the waiting room again for fifteen minutes in case of reactions. Then off to the bus and home.
I hadn’t scheduled anything for the rest of the day (except some lovely salted caramel ice-cream – in case of fever 🙂 ) but didn’t notice anything much. Have had a bit of pain today at the injection site, and felt a bit tired and achey. That’s possibly just a normal Saturday for me, though.

Visual proof 😉
It’s a bit hard to get a selfie of your upper arm.
I’m not planning anything strenuous for the next few days…thankfully I am well stocked with books!

Published in: on October 3, 2021 at 12:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Speaking With The Choir

Last week was National Week of Deaf People, and Couch Choir put together another song collaboration in honour of the week.
I didn’t get a chance to send in a part, but I can still enjoy the end result…and so can you! 😀

Published in: on September 29, 2021 at 5:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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