Well we are all better from our colds except P who's had a bit of an issue with his ear which made him quite deaf for a while so he kept going:"Sorry what did you say? Pardon?" every time J or I made any sort of noise which got a bit irritating. And he wanted the volume up too loud. It's getting better now, thankfully. I suppose that's what life is like all the time for some people though.
The solar repair man came and repaired the system and two days later it started leaking again. Sigh.
P is sanding our floor which I've been nagging him about suggesting he gets on with for ages so it's good but he's doing it but noisy. He wants to start a church housegroup in our house in September but I'm saying we have to get the floor done first.
J has started doing some Maths tutoring at school - helping a Year 8 girl who's in the lowest set. He quickly realised that she was trying - and failing - to do quite complex calculations in her head. When he got her to write it down step by step she started getting the answers right.
He's also started doing 'STEP' Maths after school one day a week which is an extra exam some unis want them to take - it's quite hard so a challenge for him.
J went to a Physics Masterclass at Cambridge last week which he really enjoyed.
I'm going to stop now because the computer keeps crashing and I don't want to lose what I've written.
Been a bit unwell - can't seem to shake off this cold. Yesterday I went out all bundled up in a polo-neck, coat and woolly scarf while everyone else was in t-shirts and summer dresses. Weather has been lovely - just like summer.
Solar heating still not fixed - man can't come until next Tuesday. He's made a career out of going round fixing leaking solar systems which says something I think. The real problem with ours is that it's a bit too efficient at producing hot water and when we're away and not using the water the pressure gets too high and a pipe springs a leak. What we need is a permanent solution to this. Or else we never go away.
J been on another uni trip today, well it was a day hosted by one uni but there were representatives from several others speaking. He wasn't at all impressed with host uni but says he picked up several tips about the application process and personal statement.
"What were they?" I asked.
"Can't remember. I know them but I can't remember them if you know what I mean."
No, actually I haven't the faintest clue what you mean.
My rib actually isn't all that bad - just uncomfortable to lie on that side. I'm not going to complain about it because my friend's husband had a horrible accident and smashed 10-12 of his ribs and was air-lifted to Intensive Care and that's a major ouch.
The moral is when you are using machinery don't wear loose clothing.
He said it felt like 10 minutes being whizzed round attached to the auger by his jumper.
Thankfully he is on the mend.
I'm also not complaining about my other aches and pains because I know several people who are going through chemo at the moment and I just really, really hope and pray that they're all going to be ok.
Well we've been in Wales, staying with my brother and family.
Great things about our trip:
- really easy journey there
- after the first day weather was nice and sunny
- three excellent services at wonderful Anglican church (P thinks vicar's wife is a distant relative!)
- celebrating my younger niece's 16th birthday
- amazing food cooked by my brother
- just enjoying being with my family
- coming second (to my older niece) in game of Risk - victory for the girls yay!
- P's amazing simnel cake
- neighbourhood hot cross bun contest
- seeing snowdrops, daffodils and primroses all out together
- having some interesting conversations with older niece's boyfriend, a politics student
- just relaxing in the garden listening to the birds singing
Some not so great things:
- all three of us having colds
- trailing the subtle fragrance of 'deep heat' round with me due to painful back (? due to wheelchair incident)
- having a slightly cracked rib - don't know how it happened
- simnel cake suffering a bit from tipping over on the journey
- eating too many hot cross buns
- just the occasional teenage tantrum
- traffic jams on way home resulting in 9 hour journey
- came home to house full of the smell of burning ethylene glycol - solar heating leaked again
- a little bit of a middle-age tantrum at having come home after 9 hour journey to stinky house and that solar heating's been nothing but trouble (P doesn't agree)
- Masterchef didn't record!
Pictures to follow (not of the tantrums)
