My 2 Week Challenge!

H has gone abroad for a couple of weeks on a work trip, so I am going to make the best use of my time here. It's the holidays, and I have a lot to do. I think I sometimes work best when I have a list and a goal, or a challenge, so I am going to outline some of my plans below. Also, I have decided I am going to try and eat as cheaply and healthily as I can over the next two weeks, and keep a record of what I spend/buy/eat etc. I also hope to do a bit more exercise, by walking rather than taking the tube or buses (we'll see how long that lasts!!), partly in the hope that I can also lose some weight before H arrives home! Then I'll see if I can keep it off!!!

I have started by spending £3.60 tonight on six eggs (£1.55) and some bin liners (£2.05). The bin liners are important, as you will see in my list of things to do, below.

Things to do:

1. Thursday 6th August - Throw away as much as possible. Old bills, bits of papers, old shoes, broken/torn bags/clothes etc - if it can't be mended, and is no use to anyone anymore, it has to go. Hence the bin bags!
   
2. Friday - Good clean of the whole apartment. Dusting, cleaning, hoovering - this is my day for it. Want the house gleaming by Saturday.
3. Saturday - My cousin is coming to visit in the morning, hopefully will stay for lunch. So I'll need to plan something nice for that. Take it easy day.
   
4. Sunday - Church, then any more cleaning etc that needs done. Eg bedroom, bathroom, kitchen. If I didn't manage it on Friday.
5. Monday - I have lots of computer stuff to do for school. This would be a good day for that, if I have managed to finish tidying the house by then.
6. Tuesday - One of my friends will have arrived back from overseas by then and hopefully I'll go and see her today!
7. Wednesday - Probably will go into school today. I still have some windows to cover up and some filing to do. As long as I have an early night and get up bright and early (and take a packed lunch of a homemade sandwich!) then I should have plenty of time to get everything done that needs to be done. Hopefully.
8. Thursday - I'd like to visit my Auntie. This would be a good time to do that.
9. Friday - Hopefully at my Auntie's. Obviously, I'll need to phone and ask her first!
10. Saturday - Might leave Auntie's and go and visit another friend and former colleague of mine on the way home.
11. Sunday - If I stay over with colleague, then I might still be driving home today.
12. Monday - I think H is planning on starting his return journey home around now. I'll try to get some more planning done for school, putting stuff on the internet etc. Would love to have everything up and running by the time I get back, and I'd also love to make the most of H not being around to do that. Of course, if I didn't manage to finish tidying the house, then that's what I'll probably be doing!!
13. Tuesday - Think H will arrive back today. Hurrah!
    

I should probably think of some nice recipes as well so I can plan my shopping list. But I think I'll leave that for another time!

Stonehenge

Oh dear, it's been over two months since I last posted! It's been a very busy time at school, with revision classes, exams, trying to organise new timetables, Sports' Day, visits from primary schools and a host of other things going on. In the evenings I have been trying to relax, spend time with H, watch some World Cinema using our projector, and generally trying to stay away from the computer.

However, I want to make a note of our excellent day out yesterday so I don't forget! Having enjoyed previous London Walks, we went on one of their Explorer Days for the first time. This meant getting up quite early in order to get to Waterloo for 9.45am. We arrived about half an hour early, and enjoyed watching all the women wandering around with big hats and fancy dresses, and men wearing top hat and tails, as they waited for their trains to Royal Ascot. Finally, we found the London Walk guides, and so began our big adventure.

The train takes about one and three quarter hours to reach Salisbury. When we arrived, we had a short walk along a beautiful stream in a green park. Myriads of ducks and sheep accompanied our meander along to a bridge from where Anthony Trollope was inspired to write the Chronicles of Barsetshire.

Our next stop was on the lawn - which we later discovered was a graveyard - in front of Salisbury Cathedral, an amazing building with the highest spire in the country. We learnt about the house for church widows, we saw Edward Heath's Arundels, and we learnt about the inspiration for Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure. Then we turned our attention to the cathedral.

It really is a beautiful building, and for me the piece de resistance is the beautiful font, which is full to overflowing, runs constantly, is sort of in the shape of a cross, and smoothly reflections the stained glass windows like a mirror. The window representing Prisoners of Conscience is also stunning, and the cloisters, open to a glowing green garden, were also uplifting.

We had a tasty lunch (I had tomato and basil soup with deliciously soft bread and butter), then met back with the tour group to take the coach to Stonehenge.

Richard, our guide, was excellent. He had a really good sense of suspense that left us wanting to know more. He also was a great revealer of obscure facts. As we travelled along the slightly twisting country roads, Richard pointed out both the thatched cottages and the Jacobean country home of Sting and Trudie Styler, where Madonna met Guy Ritchie, and where they had their honeymoon. A beautiful part of the country. Lucky them!

Finally, Stonehenge appeared before us on the horizon. I have to confess that, as we got closer, I whispered to H, "It's smaller than I imagined!" However, that did not diminish the excitement of seeing such an important and well known historical landmark. As Richard guided us round the circumference of the henge, we danced around, taking photos, jumping up and down and revelling in our surroundings. The huge grey stones make a great backdrop, but we were also interested in the long burial barrows, and the different type of burial they represent.

On our way back to the bus, we stopped off to buy a book and a mug, and discovered the rest of the party waiting for us by the coach. However, we still had about twenty minutes back in Salisbury to wander around the shops, before we arrived back at the station to take the London train home at 4.45pm.

When we arrived home, about 7pm or so, we were tired and very happy, with over 200 photos. We had had a lovely day, and once again, resolved that we should do more things like that more often. A very lovely day.

Going grey

I've left this post until now, putting in the nice ones first.

I was telling H about my day, including my horrendous Year 7s, and he commented that they must be giving me grey hairs ... and pulled one in front of my eyes! I didn't really believe him at first, so I went to the mirror to investigate, and, lo and behold, there was my first white hair! I have pulled it out, and photographed it against a black background for posterity. Not sure it'll show up too well though ... I'm quite upset that at my still quite young age, and without any of my own children to blame it on, I've already started going grey! (But don't tell Granny, because I'm not planning on starting to dye my hair any time soon! Better things to spend my time on!)

Valentine's Day

What a lovely day it's been (other than school, of course). When I came out the shower, I was greeted with a lovely single red rose, and some chocolates! Mmmmmmmm! So that was a great start to the day! And I finished with a non-contact period, so I got myself ready and was out the door as soon as the bell went ... not often that happens!

We're now two thirds of the way through a three course meal ... starter was tomato and mozzarella cheese served on a bed of green leaves, with Italian parma ham. Next up will be the duck course, with potatoes and romantic brussell sprouts, hopefully with a nice gravy sauce, then we'll finish with a berry nice pudding (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries with a chocolate-cream sauce). Red wine on the side, the rose on the table ... nice romantic music in the background.

What a lovely evening!