This or That: May Edition!

May is one of those inbetween months! A bit spring, a bit summer, a bit do I need a brolly and a bit why am I sweating in a cardigan! It's the month of blossom, garden faffing, Bank Holidays galore and the age old question do I wear a jacket or not? So in true springtime spirit, I’ve whipped up some This or That questions all themed around May!

Gardening gloves or bare hands?

Ohh! I have to use gloves when I am gardening. I am fussy when it comes to getting my hands dirty and I hate the thought of bugs and critters touching me. I also hate the soil and dirt getting under my nails. Yuck!

May rain: cosy or annoying?

It depends what I have to do on the day that it is raining and if we have gone a while without rain, I would say I like it then and find it cosy!

Morning coffee outside or evening drink on the patio?

I like my morning coffee outside when the world is still waking up and everything is peaceful.

BBQ in the garden or picnic in the park?

Ohh! Both have their advantages and disadvantages but I think I would go for a picnic in the park. It is a lot less fuss than organising a BBQ and then having to clean up afterwards.

Dandelions or daisies?

If you ask my garden, that would said dandelions, the grass is covered with them at the moment but I know in a few weeks the daisies will take over and they are my favourite. They remind me of breaktimes when I was at school, sitting on the grass making daisy chains.

Bluebells or blossom trees?

Ohh! I would have to say blossom tree's. There are not many bluebells around near me but there has been plenty of trees with blossom on and I always think that they are so pretty!

Rhubarb crumble or Eton Mess?

This is a tough choice, I love both and think of them as perfect desserts for this time of year. If I had to chose one to eat now I would go for rhubarb crumble because I haven't had it in forever, it has to come with custard though!

Strawberries or raspberries?

Strawberries!! I like raspberries when they are pureed down or the flavour but not whole one's, they are always so tart.

Ice cream or iced coffee?

I want to pick both but I will go for iced coffee as I think of ice cream as more of a middle of summer thing. I have been drinking a lot of iced coffee lately.

Lemon drizzle or Victoria sponge cake?

Neither would be my first choice of cake but I would go for the classic Victoria sponge cake. It was the first cake that I ever learned to bake and teach my girls to bake. So simple, but so good!

Light jacket or denim jacket?

Up until a few weeks ago I would have said a light jacket but now I am all about my new denim jacket. It seems to go well with everything that I own and is just right for the weather we've been having, sunny one minute and chilly the next!

Barefoot in the grass or wellies in the mud?

I would have to say wellies in the mud, I hate walking outside, even on the grass barefoot. It all stems from when I was a teenager I stood on a wasp when I was barefoot and it hurt and still hurt days afterwards!

Open toe shoes or trainers?

Trainers at this time of year and open toe shoes in the middle of summer when it is really hot! I do have a lot of outfits which go with open toe sandals so might have to get them out a bit early this year!

Farmers’ market or car boot sale?

I would say a car boot sale. I do love rummaging for a bargain. My brother goes to them most weeks, selling and he always makes some decent money from them.

May mood: full of plans or taking it slow?

Taking it slow, we have had a busy couple of months so May is going to be about slowing down and spending less money. I have to save those pennies for summer.

What would you answer for some of these this or that questions?

Share our Lives - How I spend my birthday!

It's that time of the month again, time to join in with the Share Our Lives bloggers and the prompt is: How do you spend your birthday?

My birthday seems such a long time away, it isn't until November. Last year I had a fab day. A meal out with family, a night in a hotel with Stu and a visit to York Christmas Market. I haven't got a clue what I am going to do this year for my birthday, I have not thought that far ahead!

Birthdays feel a bit different as you get older? Not in a bad way, I actually love the quieter celebrations now. The pressure’s off to throw wild parties or make a big song and dance and instead it’s all about doing what makes me feel happy. Birthdays should be all about doing the things that bring you joy. I always think of my birthday as a day to treat myself, eat lots of delicious food and do things that I wouldn't normally do.

This year my birthday falls on a Friday and I think that is the best day to have your birthday, you have the whole weekend ahead of you! Every year I say the same thing I don’t need to do much for my birthday, just something small and then without fail, I start day dreaming about all the ways I could make the day, this year the weekend feel a bit more special. I say I have no plans but these are some things that I would like to do:

Have a Birthday breakfast in bed! Buttery croissants, pancakes with a little mountain of fruit or just a massive mug of tea and a slice of cake (yes, cake for breakfast is allowed, it's my birthday!)

I would like to visit York Christmas Market again, this time taking my girls. I like having a birthday in November when all the Christmas things are starting up. The girls feel like they really missed out last year as I had such a fantastic time. York is so beautiful anyway but at Christmas, it’s pure magic.

I do love an afternoon tea, finger sandwiches, scones, little cakes and pretty teacups always seem so special and are even better if we go somewhere a little fancy.

A shopping trip would be nice. I would treat myself to some new clothes and some new boots. A few years ago I got some for my birthday and they lasted all the way until a month or so ago. They're still water tight but they have a couple of scuffs on the top and are looking old. I got them from Yours Clothing and they fit perfectly as they are made for larger ladies with thicker calves and wide feet, that is me. I would have bought them now but they don't have any boots in, it's the wrong time of year. It's all sandals and flip flops.

I would like to go for a nice family meal out to the pub. Eating my favourite meal of a Prawn Cocktail, Scampi chips and peas and a tasty dessert sounds like heaven to me.

After a day on my feet, I would take some time to relax and nothing says happy birthday to me like a bit of pampering. I would be happy with a soak in the bath with a nice bath bomb, maybe a candle or two lit and lay in the bath until the water is going cold and then I will add more hot water.

Then there's the silly stuff because why should the kids have all the fun? I might wear a birthday badge or a sash. I might demand people sing Happy birthday to me and I might even make a birthday crown and wear it all day. Who’s going to stop me?

What’s your perfect kind of birthday celebration?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Sarah from Toronto Sam.

Our weekly meal plan! 12th - 18th May! #MealPlanningMonday

Monday again and it's not a bank holiday which seems a rarity this month. lol I hope you all had a good weekend and those across the pond had a great Mother's Day! We had a quiet one with the usual housework, watching TV and just pottering around the house. It was quite lovely!

Last weeks meal plan went well, our favourite meal was the Creamy Pork, Apple & Mustard Casserole, it's one I will be making again. It was so simple to make and tasted so good. Poor Becky was at work and missed out and it's something that I think she would like. I ended up with a sandwich one evening while my family tucked into the meal I cooked as I knocked my plate on the floor. Oops! They did offer to share but I didn't want to take food from them. That'll teach me to sit at the table to eat.

I don't have much planned for this week but I do have some important phone calls to make, I am building myself up to make them. I hate making phone calls at the best of times but I know when I ring the people that I need to it's always a bit of a headache. I get passed from pillar to post and then have to wait for a call back anyway, sometimes days later. Ugh! I am also going to make sure I am eating a proper lunch each day. I have slacked a little on eating breakfast too so I am not eating anything until mid afternoon and then it's just snacky things like crisps and biscuits with a cuppa. I need to stop making myself so busy that I forget about eating. It's not a good thing. I am going to make a point of making at least a sandwich.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Hawaiian Crispy Chicken Loaded Fries With Pineapple & Chilli Sauce. A new recipe for us which I am looking forward to.

Tuesday - Vegetable fingers (like fish fingers but with just vegetables and BBQ pasta which is just pasta coated in mayo and BBQ sauce. I may add some sweetcorn to it too.

Wednesday - Home made quiche. It's been ages since I last made one, we'll have it with chips. 

Thursday - Gousto meal - One Pot Baked Mushroom Stroganoff Tortiglioni. Last time my family had this they didn't like the idea of it but absolutely loved it.

Friday - Pizza waffle fries! Simply waffle fries topped with pizza sauce, onions, salami, pepperoni and cheese.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Bacon & Egg Bao Buns With Sriracha Ketchup.

Sunday - Pie and mash!

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 4th - 10th May! Week 19 of #Project365

This Sunday has came around really quickly! I have had a good week, it has felt like a full one but at the same time it doesn't feel like I have done much, as you can tell from my photos. A slow week always includes a lot of food photos. lol

I hope everyone over the pond is having a great Mother's Day. It got me wondering why Mother's Day is on different dates depending on what country you are in but Father's Day is always the same date. It turns out Mother's Day here is always the fourth Sunday of Lent, has been celebrated since the 16th century and is more of a religious thing and in the US it only started in the early 20th century! Father’s Day doesn’t have ancient or religious roots and from what I can read it was only created because Mother's Day was a popular thing and people realised that dad's should be celebrated too! So there's a little history lesson for you!

We don't have much on today, in fact we have no big plans at all. It's going to be a lazy day of staying in our pj's, watching TV and eating some nice food. Just as Sundays should be!

Now for a photo every day!

124/365 - 4th May.

We went out to eat and all had some delicious food. I was quite jealous of Ellie's meal. BBQ chicken & cheese toasted baguette with fries and some salad.

125/365 - 5th May.

Doctor Who was my something on in the background show this week. I have watched it from the first episode with Christopher Eccleston. I forgot how much that show makes me cry.

126/365 - 6th May.

Rainbow Drops! They were my favourite when I was a child, I remember getting them from the school tuck shop for about 10 pence a packet. They're still pretty good now.

127/365 - 7th May.

Strawberries and chocolate ice cream. It would have been normal cream but I forgot to buy it.

128/365 - 8th May.

One of my favourite things to do during the week is to pick the Gousto meals. The one's I was picking on Thursday are for in about 3 weeks time.

129/365 - 9th May.

I got some chocolate and cherry cream muffins as a treat from Morrisons. I did not expect them to be as big as they were.

130/365 - 10th May.

My nail varnish is doing well, it has been on a week and is only looking a little bit tatty. Ellie told me to buff my nails with a nail file before I put the polish on and it sticks better and she is right. Before I tried buffing my nails the nail polish didn't last half as long! They of course looked better a week ago, I've cut them right down since as long nails really annoy me!

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This week my Word of the Week is: Full!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

It has been a full week, full of fun, food, family and we've had a full house too. It has been quite a lovely week all in all.

I mentioned yesterday how I planted the last of my seeds, my little greenhouses are full of plants and the newly planted seeds have already started growing! I am thinking about putting some of the bigger one's in the ground, maybe if the weather improves a little. Hasn't this week been a chilly one compared to last week. I had to get my jumpers and winter slippers back out. Brr! Thankfully it's supposed to warm up again over the weekend and into next week. The shorts might be coming back out. I keep thinking it's cold for this time of year but it's only May, we have the rest of the summer for heat, sunshine and me complaining that I am too hot!

Also yesterday I said how I had a full house with Becky and Ellie's people over. It is so nice how they all get along. The age gap between my girls is just over 5 years and it used to feel such a big gap but now not so much. They both like lots of the same things and mostly get along well, they of course get on the best when they are ganging up on me of course. hehehe Lots of time was spent gaming on the Nintendo DS's which are back in favour again. I can't believe ours still works, it's years old and had been in the garage for about a year. I am amazed that it still had some charge on it.

My Sky TV planner was full during the week, it turns out with all the recorded episodes of the soaps, The Handmaids Tale that I downloaded until I caught up and the other random stuff I was running out of storage. I had a clear out and it's back to just things that I haven't seen yet. I shouldn't really bother recording the soaps, 9 times out of 10 I watch them and if I miss them I could always get them off catch up but since Sky TV doesn't have the reminder option anymore I look at the guide and see when they're on with the big red R for record there!

We have had some lovely meals over the last week, one at the pub. I had the garlic mushrooms for starters and steak and ale pie, mash and veg for my main! It was of course so good and my belly was full! During the week we had Creamy pork, apple & mustard casserole! It was amazing, another full belly plus the strawberries and ice cream for dessert. The only day my belly wasn't full was on Wednesday evening when I thought I would eat my tea in my armchair and I had put it on the arm of the chair while I sat down and whacked my plate with my elbow and it flipped over! Ugh! It spilled everywhere and I ended up just having a sandwich while watching the rest of my family eat! They did offer to share but I wasn't going to take their food from them.

My head was full of plans and things that I need to do so I decided to write everything down which always makes everything seem more manageable. It's not bad things, just things that need doing and need booking. May is going to be a quiet month for us then after that things will get busy. The end of the college year for Ellie in June, we have a few things on in July, maybe a night or two away sometime over the summer and then the birthdays! The girls are not being helpful, usually by now they have lists full of presents that they want for their birthdays but not this year. If they have wanted anything they have been buying it themselves throughout the year. I will keep saying it was so much easier when they were little and wanted every toy out of the Argos catalogue!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 19. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! This week has felt off again with having another bank holiday on Monday, not that it makes much difference to our lives as it's my fellas normal day off work, Ellie's day off college and Becky was sleeping for work but it made Monday feel like another Sunday and then the rest of the week has felt strange. Anyway I of course have some favourites and I am linking up with Erika and Andrea to share them.

Grey's Anatomy!

I saved a few episodes up to binge watch them and I really enjoyed them. It made me think of the time when I first started watching Grey's Anatomy and could just watch episode after episode. There's only a couple of episodes left of the season so I know there's going to be some sort of big disaster or drama. Eek! 

Planting seeds!

I had a lovely afternoon in my garden on Saturday planting the rest of the seeds that I had. I don't know why I hadn't thought of putting the seed packets in front of the pots before, so I can keep track of what I have planted. When they first come through they always look the same.

I also of course did some more weeding and digging. I love my garden but not the weeds that keep coming through. Hmmf. I was walking around taking photos of the green shoots coming through the flowerbeds to check on an app that I have if they were weeds or the flowers that I had planted. I really would be lost without the Plant Identifier app.

A full house!

On Monday it felt like we had a full house, we were all home with it being a bank holiday and my girls "friends" come over too. It was nice, they all get on and are lovely kids. I say kids but they're either in their late teens or early 20's. lol It was nice to feel like I was needed making sure everyone was fed and had everything that they needed and wanted.

Clouds!

Do you ever just sit outside and look at the clouds? I do and it makes me happy especially when I see things in them like an upside down dinosaur.

Doctor Who!

The new season is a few episodes in and I am enjoying it even though this Doctor is not my favourite, my favourite will always be David Tennant. I love how it keeps mentioning things from previous episodes, like Midnight and I seem to be ending every episode with lots of questions. You can tell it is building up to something big. Eek! It has made me want to watch the older episodes so I have gone right back to watch the episodes with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. It is the TV show which is on my TV when I want a bit of background noise for now.

Garlic mushrooms!

We ate out on Sunday evening and hadn't planned on getting a starter but as soon as I saw the garlic mushrooms I had to get them. 

I've had them plenty of times from the pub before and they're so good! I have tried making them at home before and they're just not the same so it was a real treat! The sauce is delicious and the garlic ciabatta bread is cooked to perfection!

Meeting's and phone calls!

I've have a couple of good phone calls this week that I can't really talk about. They were nothing life changing but were positive. During the week Ellie had a meeting at college, it was just a catch up but it was helpful for her and it was nice for her to hear that she is doing well. 

What have you loved over the past week?

365 Days Of Gratitude. In April I was grateful for...

April just flew over! I feel like it was a busy month with days out, appointments, progress being made with various things and lots of lovely moments. I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I did this for the whole of the last couple of years and it has really made me realise that even on the bad day's I have something to be grateful for.

Day 91 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for lunch out. It was so nice to sit outside in the sunshine!

Day 92 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky has Amazon Prime so she can order me something and have it arrive tomorrow!

Day 93 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu made it home from work at a reasonable time. He got out late and was so close to missing the bus, the next bus wouldn't have got him home until 9pm.

Day 94 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for laughs with my dad and brother.

Day 95 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie had a great time seeing The Minecraft Movie! She said it was brilliant!!

Day 96 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu did all of the cooking today! It's nice to have a day off!

Day 97 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie could have her friend over. They had a nice time together, mostly messing about on her computer.

Day 98 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for some help in the garden. I kept Ellie busy this afternoon doing some weeding. She didn't complain as much as I thought she would.

Day 99 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for sausage casserole for tea! It's been ages since we last had it!

Day 100 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day home alone!

Day 101 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that an appointment I had this afternoon went well. Nothing at all to worry about!

Day 102 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lovely day out. Went over the river to Hull shopping and for lunch.

Day 103 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a little lie in this morning!

Day 104 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I managed to buy all the Easter eggs that I needed to.

Day 105 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for hair dye! The grey roots have gone and I am red/pink again!

Day 106 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I could spend the day with a good friend!

Day 107 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful I got another appointment out of the way!

Day 108 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for lunch at my dad's. We spent most the afternoon there too.

Day 109 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a fun night out in Hull!

Day 110 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I've caught up on the last couple of days worth of wrestling so I can stay up tonight and watch the 2nd night of Wrestlemania!

Day 111 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Stu was up when the food shop was delivered early. He dealt with it while I caught up with my sleep.

Day 112 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lift home from my dad's. It saved my little legs having to walk.

Day 113 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a full line of washing!

Day 114 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie reminded me about a TV show that I need to watch.

Day 115 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a Chinese takeaway. It seems ages since we last had one.

Day 116 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for an evening sat watching TV.

Day 117 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a few hours in the garden. Stu cut the grass, I did the weeding.

Day 118 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for ice cream from the ice cream van! The first of the year!

Day 119 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky ordered double of some things from Temu and gave me the extra!

Day 120 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice cool house. I love the sun shining, just not the heat which comes with it!

What were you grateful for in April?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge! #14

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Let's compare this May to last May. What's changed? What remains very much the same?

 I think the biggest changes have happened in my girls lives. I see a lot less of them now as they are always so busy doing their own things with friends. It makes me happy that they are happy and they are happier this May than last.

A lot of my life has remained the same compared to last May, that isn't a bad thing though. I am content with my life. Looking back on my blog posts from this time last year I am doing much of the same. Watching Doctor Who, gardening, Stu is still doing overtime at work, Ellie is still waiting to take her English GCSE exam, (she still hasn't got a pass, hopefully it will be 3rd time lucky) and I am still watching Grey's Anatomy! The only change in my life is my hair colour, it's not a big change but a change all the same.

2. What's something you may do this month?

I don't have any plans for May! None at all, I think I may have to make some. I think a trip to the cinema is going to have to happen, I may keep on top of the weeding in the garden and may finally catch up on all the TV that I have recorded.

3. Mother's Day is approaching (in the US of A)...in what way(s) are you like your mother?

Ohh! This is a really hard question to answer. My mother and I never had a good relationship and then she up and left to be with a man she had only spoken to online and told me I was dead to her as I chose my dad over her. She passed away a few years ago and I found out via an online obituary.

I think that the only way I am like my mother is that I’ve become a mother too but I’ve worked hard to create a very different experience for my children. I’ve carved out my own path, one rooted in love, support and being present for my children in ways that I didn’t experience.

4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite.

It is really hard to choose one book as I loved all of Roald Dahl's. Even before I could read I remember having the audio book on cassette tape of Charlie and the Chocolate factory which I would listen to over and over again! My favourite to read of his was probably Matilda. Matilda was a champion for kids who felt misunderstood, underestimated or out of place. I didn't realise that at the time of course but as a child I think I liked so much because Matilda was a lovely girl, was strong, smart and made adults pay for the wrongs that they had done.

5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare? Explain.

I’m more of a tortoise. I always think slow and steady is the best way to be. I don't rush into things, I like to take things step by step, making sure everything is just right and I just keep moving toward the finish line.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week there was a day where I was complaining that it was too hot, only because I was busy rushing around and the heat was not helping. I am that person who's never happy! In the winter I long for hot weather when it's cold out and in the summer long for the cooler weather when it's hot out. There really isn't any pleasing me! 

Deaf Awareness Week 2025!

Yesterday was the start of Deaf Awareness Week and it is an important time to reflect on the experiences of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and to raise awareness of the challenges that they face daily.

My youngest Ellie was born with some hearing loss in her right ear, it was just one of those things that happen. The doctors diagnosed her with Auditory Neuropathy which is a hearing disorder where the ear detects sound normally, but there's a problem transmitting it to the brain. The consultant explained it to us saying everything works but there is just a loose connection somewhere. When Ellie had her heart surgery it caused some tiny bleeds on her brain and she lost the last 5% of hearing that she had in that ear.

As challenging as Ellie's life is she found the most difficult time during the pandemic when everyone was wearing masks. It was only then that both her and me realised how much she relies on lip reading. It was a struggle.

Ellie doesn't let her deafness define her, it is a part of her life and she just gets on with it. She’s never let her hearing loss stop her from doing the things she loves or from achieving the same goals as her peers but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Ellie often fights against the help that she is offered. Like when she was in secondary school due to take her GCSE exams she was offered extra time in the exams and didn't want it but a lovely teacher convinced her that she might as well take that time and it really did help her out. She was given a hearing aid a few years ago and just didn't get on with them so she stopped wearing them and returned them. I think she was deaf in one ear for so long hearing more just messed with her brain and it was just too much for her to process.

Sometimes the simplest things can be a struggle for Ellie. For example, in a crowded room with voices all around it’s difficult for her to pick up on what someone is saying or where a sound is coming from. When people speak too quickly or don’t face her directly she may miss key parts of the conversation. Group settings can be overwhelming and it can be frustrating for her when she has to keep asking people to repeat themselves.

Even activities that seem straightforward like hearing an alarm clock, hearing me shout her from another room or even using wireless headphones pose challenges, she only ever uses one. hehehe. She really doesn't do well hearing people on the phone and has to have it on speakerphone which makes it awkward if she is at college or out and about. Despite these struggles she keeps moving forward, learning ways to adapt and finding solutions to make things easier for herself.

It’s important to be aware that these challenges aren’t always visible to others. Ellie might look like she’s simply daydreaming but in reality, she’s working hard to tune in to what’s happening around her and that’s where awareness and understanding from those around her can make all the difference.

How to help when interacting with deaf or hard of hearing people!

I want to share a few tips on how we can all make it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to engage in conversations, navigate daily life and feel included.

Face them directly when speaking!

It may seem like a small thing but for those who are deaf or hard of hearing being able to see someone's lips and facial expressions can make a huge difference. When speaking to someone with a hearing loss, face them directly and avoid speaking while turned away or with your hand over your mouth. This simple gesture helps them understand what’s being said, even if they can't hear every word.

Keep the noise levels in mind!

Background noise can make it extremely difficult for someone who is hard of hearing to understand what’s going on. Whether you're in a busy restaurant, at a party or in a crowded public space be mindful of your surroundings. Try to find a quieter place to talk or reduce unnecessary noise when possible. It can go a long way in making someone feel heard.

Be patient and willing to repeat yourself!

It’s easy to get frustrated when someone asks you to repeat something, but for someone who is hard of hearing it’s often necessary. When they ask you to repeat yourself, do so with patience and kindness. If needed, rephrase what you said in a clearer way, sometimes hearing the message in a different form can help them understand better.

Use visual aids when possible!

There are many ways to communicate without relying solely on spoken words. If you’re having difficulty getting your point across, try writing a note, text messages or even gestures. Visual aids can be incredibly helpful, especially when there’s a language barrier. Be open to using whatever works best for the situation.

Be respectful and understanding!

The most important thing is to approach every interaction with respect and understanding. People with hearing loss face unique challenges that require patience and empathy. Just because someone is deaf or hard of hearing doesn’t mean they aren’t fully capable of engaging in conversations or enjoying the same experiences as others. It just may require a little extra effort.

Do you know anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing?

Our weekly meal plan! 5th - 11th May! #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went really well, we ate everything and on the day we had planned. My favourite meal was the one that Stu cooked us on Monday. Fish fingers, chips and baked beans. Such a simple and childish meal but it hit the spot and it's always nice to have someone else doing the cooking! For the rest of the week I cooked and enjoyed it even in the hot temperatures. The kitchen gets the sun all afternoon so I kept the curtains closed all day and it kept a lot of the heat out. There was one point I opened the back door to let some air in and it made no difference apart from letting flies and wasps in. Hmmf.

It cooled down over the weekend, I did say that if the weather was like it was on Friday for the rest of the summer I'd be happy. It was sunny and warm enough for t-shirts and shorts but there was a nice breeze too. I could deal with that heat.

It's a Bank Holiday today and we have no plans at all, well Stu and I don't. Becky is sleeping for work and Ellie the social butterfly is off out doing her thing. For the rest of the week there's not much going on, there's not even any appointments to go to so that makes a nice change.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - BBQ Pork Belly With Apple Slaw And Chips. This apple slaw is the best and so simple to make! It's simply chopped spring onion, grated carrot and sliced apple with mayo and white wine vinegar! I have made it lots of times even without having the Gousto meals.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Creamy Pork, Apple & Mustard Casserole. I am going to try cooking this in the slow cooker. After I've browned the pork it seems like it is all supposed to go in the oven so popping it in the slow cooker shouldn't make much difference apart from meaning the kitchen will be cooler.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Slow Cooker Mushroom Ragù Spaghetti & Caprese Salad. I might cook some garlic bread to go with this too.

Thursday - Jacket potatoes, baked beans and cheese.

Friday - Pizza. Just out of the freezer.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Cheesy Korean Smash Pork & Beef Burger & Kimchi-Style Slaw.

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 27th April - 3rd May! Week 18 of #Project365

Happy Sunday! The past week has went really quickly considering I have had a pretty quiet one, pottering around the house, spending time in the garden and lots of time with my family.

It's another Bank Holiday weekend so of course the weather is a bit rubbish. It was grey and dull yesterday and today is not forecast to be much better. After the week of high temperatures it seems really unfair that the weekend is so cold. Hmmf. Ellie still went out in her shorts yesterday she caught the sun during the week, even with sunscreen on and has a lovely tan so wants to show it off. She is the type of person that tans really quickly.

Now for a photo every day!

117/365 - 27th April.

We had been working in the garden but decided to stop for an ice cream break. Just the cheap Cornetto type one's from the supermarket but it hit the spot.

118/365 - 28th April.

Stu and Ellie were having a tidy in the garage and Ellie found a ton of garden toys including a football which meant she had to make use of the basketball hoop above the garage. 

119/365 - 29th April.

Yeet! hehehe Becky ended up with an extra Jey Uso blanket from her Temu order and gave it to me. I like to have a blanket over me no matter what the weather and this is perfect for the summer as it's so thin.

120/365 - 30th April.

I have been using my new big cup and have been drinking at least 3 cup fulls a day. It's takes just under a litre so I am getting a decent amount of water, well juice. I add a bit of Vimto or orange squash to the water to give it a bit of flavour.

121/365 - 1st May.

I went and did my bit and took Ellie with me to vote as next time we get the chance to vote she will be old enough.

122/365 - 2nd May.

The sheep are back in the field with the their lambs.

123/365 - 3rd May.

Just a day at home for me, doing my own thing which included housework, staying in my pj's and not really brushing my hair until just before our Gousto box was delivered.

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