What I loved in July 2021.

 It's August already. How did that happen? This is an exciting month for us. Of course the kids are off school and college and it's birthday season. Stu's in the middle of the month, Ellie's at the end and then Becky's at the beginning of September. 

July was good to us. None of us caught Covid, we enjoyed the warm weather and of course Ellie finished school for the summer.

This is what I loved in July!

Sport!

I am not usually a fan of sport but I have watched a lot over the last month. The football of course. Our boys did so well and now I am on with watching the Olympics. I am a bit gutted that a lot of it isn't being shown on normal TV but I am happy with what I've been watching. Mostly the diving, gymnastics and the equestrian events.

Ice lollies!

We have gone through so many ice lollies over the last of the month and I think we have tried one of everything that the supermarkets have to offer. Calippos and plain old choc ices will always be my favourite though. The kids have more expensive taste and love the proper Cornettos and Oreo ice creams. Eesh.

Deliveries!

July always seems to be a busy month for deliveries. I was sent a few things to review including some books from Books2Door, a bird feeder from Henry Bell and some gorgeous bath products from Pepper's Homemade Soaps. We finally bought a new strimmer and a few things for the kitchen, I got some bargain bath sheets from Tesco and then there has been all of the birthday presents which have been arriving for Stu and the kids.

Exercise!

I am back on the exercise bandwagon. I was using the Leg Master that I was sent to review but I seem to have hit a wall with it and don't feel like I am losing weight anymore so needed something more. I was lucky to get a cross trainer from our local auction for £15 and I have been using that. It is giving me more of a workout and despite aching I am feeling better for it.

The Walking Dead! (Again)

The new and last series starts this month so I thought I would rewatch it all since I had the Disney Plus subscription and it is now being shown on there. I do love it, it's probably in my top 10 of favourite TV shows ever.

Harry Potter Bedding!

I have always wanted some Harry Potter bedding but Stu wouldn't have it. He said if I get Harry Potter he wants some bedding of his choice and I have always said no. We really are as bad as each other but when we went shopping to Hull we spotted some that wasn't totally in your face with Harry Potter and I finally got some. Hooray!

The end of the school year!

Ellie made it to the end of the school year. Hooray. There was the little hiccup of the school having to close at the beginning or July because there were just too may cases of Covid so it was back to home learning for a week. She knuckled down and got on with it without too much nagging.

The end of year reports came and I couldn't have been prouder of Ellie. She hasn't always been the best at school but this past year she has excelled herself. She was moved up to a higher set and did so well in all of her tests. She is where she needs to be or better in all of her subjects apart from History which isn't an issue as she won't be taking it from now on as she has chosen her GCSE's and has gone with Geography. Her best subjects are Design and Technology which I expected and maths which really surprised me considering how she has struggled with it when she was learning at home. 

Ellie learning to skateboard!

We were sent a skateboard to try out and Ellie has fallen in love with it. She has been out most days in the back garden practicing tricks and teaching herself to skate. It has got her off her computer and into the fresh air and I couldn't be happier.

What did you love in July?

Our weekly meal plan! 2nd - 8th August. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went well. We skipped a couple of meals but it's fine, I expect it during the summer holidays when plans change or we just can't be bothered. The weather hasn't helped either. It has felt more like Autumn than summer over the last few days. The fruity chicken curry was so good and the meatloaf took longer to cook than I initially thought. I ended up making it on Saturday and leaving it in the fridge overnight to firm up. It was worth the wait though. 

I had a strange issue with my shopping delivery on Friday. I ordered the food as usual and got the email Friday morning telling me about the 10 substitutions and 5 unavailable items. I was a little annoyed but when my shopping was delivered I noticed all my shopping was there apart from one thing which was substituted. It's like someone had picked my shopping and said they couldn't find half the stuff then someone else went and did it properly. I'm not complaining, I just found it really odd.

We don't have much planned for this week but I am wanting to do something with the kids. I have said if the weather is OK we'll go for a couple of walks and I am hoping to get into town one day to pick a few things up that we're running out of like batteries and cleaning things.

On the menu this week we have:

Greggs pasties with chips.

Richmond tomato sausage pasta with garlic bread and garlic mushrooms.

Veggie fried rice with spring rolls, prawn toast and prawn crackers if I can find any.

Dumpling topped minced beef pie with mash & veg.

Sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls and other picky bits.

Slow cooked BBQ pulled pork in buns.

Pizza.

What are you eating this week?

My dad's hobby. #MySundayPhoto

We went to see my dad on Thursday and he was busy in his workshop working on one of his cars, his biggest hobby at the moment. During the week he was faffing with something to do with the oil. 

He has build this car up from just the base of it. I don't even think it had much of an engine when he started a few years ago. He has had it tested and it's roadworthy. He took it into town a while ago when he went to do some shopping. It really is something different.

Week 30 of #Project365. 24th - 30th July. A photo every day for a year!

We have had a nice easy week. It has been quite chilled and quite lovely. We really haven't done much apart from play Minecraft, the Sims and Fortnite. 

We were supposed to be going to town yesterday to get some of Ellie's school uniform but the rain put us off. It was lashing down all morning the sun cam out at midday and lasted about half an hour before it rained again. We are now planning to go on Monday, depending on the weather of course.

Now for a photo every day!

205/365 - 24th July

I didn't get what I had planned to buy from our local auction but did buy a cross trainer for £15. I have been on it 4 times over the past week and I would like to say I am feeling fitter but at the moment I'm just aching so it must be doing something.

206/365 - 25th July

Stu put together the bird feeder that we were sent to review. The birds are loving it, there must have been about 20 in the back garden yesterday at one point.

207/365 - 26th July

The farmers were busy again and came and baled their hay. I missed them and just saw the bales in the field. I'm glad I took the photo because a couple of hours later they were all gone and the field was empty.

208/365 - 27th July

I picked some of the tomatoes which I have grown. I am becoming quite an expert at growing them from a seed. This is the 2nd year running I've managed it. They taste amazing!

209/365 - 28th July

Ellie's new hat! She has seen people with it on YouTube and TikTok and had to have one. It has been put away for her birthday.

210/365 - 29th July

We went for a wander yesterday and ended up going to see my dad. We stopped to take some photos on the way.

211/365 - 30th July

The wind and rain have wrecked my flowers and have blown them all down. Hmmf.

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