Things I’d take with me in a zombie apocalypse!

I am a big fan of TV shows like The Walking Dead, recently I have been rewatching it and sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes and thinking they do some really stupid things. Like on when stuff first started to go wrong in the world on The Walking Dead Lori took their photo's off the walls and albums, what are they going to do when you are fighting to live? Yes, they're nice to have around but they have no practical use.

Over the years Stu and I have talked lots about what we would take with us if a zombie apocalypse happened. This is my list of what I would take with me!

A Trusty Backpack

If you don’t have a decent backpack you’re just not prepared. How else are you going to carry all your gear while running for your life? We need something sturdy with loads of compartments, it’s got to be big enough to hold everything, waterproof and comfortable to wear too! I imagine having a backpack that Bear Grylls would be proud of!

A Machete

Forget fancy swords or katanas. I’m not Michonne and I don’t have time for sword fighting lessons but a machete, that’s practical, it doesn’t run out of ammo, it’s great for close combat and it’s perfect for clearing paths through those pesky forests and bushes when you’re trying to escape. I have actually used a machete when clearing bushes when I was once at my dad's, I had great fun with it. hehehe

Water Purification Tablets

In the apocalypse it’s all about hydration! You can’t rely on bottled water forever and the tap water situation is not going to be great so water purification tablets are a must. These little lifesavers will keep you from turning into a dehydrated, zombie snack and help you make it to the next safe zone without keeling over.

Duct Tape

I swear by duct tape in everyday life so you bet it’s coming with me in the apocalypse. It’s the ultimate problem solver: need to fix your backpack? Duct tape. Got a hole in your tent? Duct tape. Need to shut up that one person who can’t stop panicking and screaming? Duct tape. I think the world could be rebuilt using just duct tape! You would be amazed at what is stuck together in my house with Duct Tape.

A First Aid Kit

It’s not all about fighting off zombies; you’ve got to keep yourself in tip top shape too. A proper first aid kit with plenty of bandages, antiseptic wipes, painkillers and maybe some super glue is non-negotiable. I am not going down because I tripped over a rock and got an infected cut. That’s just embarrassing.

Portable Solar Charger

In a world without electricity, you’ve got to harness the power of the sun! A portable solar charger will keep your essential gadgets running like your phone, (you never know, maybe there’s still Wi-Fi somewhere?), flashlight, or even a mini fan because the apocalypse will probably be a sweaty affair.

Snacks (Lots of Snacks!)

If there’s one thing I won’t compromise on it's snacks! We’re talking high calorie, non perishable goodies like energy bars, nuts, crisps and chocolate. I refuse to become a “hangry” zombie apocalypse survivor and if you end up meeting other survivors nothing bonds a group quite like sharing a bag of crisps.

A Multi-Tool

Think Swiss Army knife but better. A multi-tool is an absolute essential because it’s basically a toolbox in your pocket. Need to cut a rope? Tighten a screw? Crack open a can of beans? This little gadget does it all. 

A Comfy Hoodie

While everyone else is busy grabbing tactical gear, I’m grabbing my favourite hoodie, I already know which one. An oversized Nike one that I have had for years. It’s not just about looking cool, it’s about practicality. A good hoodie keeps you warm at night, can be used as a pillow and offers some comfort when the world’s gone to hell. Plus if I’m going to survive the apocalypse, I want to be cosy doing it. I turn into such a grump when I am cold.

A Sense of Humour

Technically this isn’t something you can pack but I’d definitely bring my sense of humour with me. If you can’t laugh at the absurdity of running from zombies while wearing a ratty old hoodie and eating stale crisps then what’s the point?

What would you take with you in a zombie apocalypse?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #22

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. On July 29th 1957 The Tonight Show premiered with Jack Parr as it's host. This marked the beginning of the modern day talk show. Do you watch any daytime or late night talk shows today? Do you have any thoughts on the hubbub surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or are you more in the camp of 'who is Stephen Colbert?

Here in the UK, daytime talk shows are much more common than late night ones. There was a time when my girls were little and I used to watch a daytime show called "This Morning" which features live segments including celebrity interviews, phone‑ins, cooking, health, beauty, lifestyle and real life stories. It used to be such a big thing here in the UK. The presenters changed and I am not so keen now and rarely watch.

I was in the "who is Stephen Colbert camp" until over the weekend when I did actually see something on TikTok about the show South Park having a swipe at Mr President about his lawsuit against Paramount and the cancellation of The Late Show. Now it all makes a little more sense.

2. What's the best part of your day?

I love my family to bits but the best part of my day is that quiet time after everyone else has gone to bed and I am downstairs alone for an hour or so before I go to bed. There are no interruptions, no noise, nobody asking me questions or wanting things. I know everyone is safe in bed and it's a time that I can fully relax.

3. What's something your generation does that you actually dislike?

I’d say turning everything into a trend that doesn’t need to be one, like basic everyday things suddenly becoming viral aesthetic hacks or life changing tips. For example drinking water gets rebranded as the hydration glow up trend, eating breakfast becomes an art form with healthy smoothie bowls and not wearing make up and wearing simple outfits is now the Clean Girl aesthetic. They all come with hashtags, perfectly filtered pics and even a mood playlist. These trends often cycle super fast. What’s "in" one week is totally forgotten the next and if you don’t jump on the bandwagon you risk feeling like you’re missing out or not living your best life.

4. When you cook do you clean as you go, or clean it all up once you're finished cooking? What's the last thing you cooked/baked in your own kitchen?

When I start cooking I say I am going to clean as I go but then get caught up in peeling, chopping and grating things and that idea goes out of the window and I am left with a mess at the end, I regretting my choices and I feel grumpy about cleaning everything up even though I made the mess. lol The last thing I cooked was baked beans on toast for lunch. 

5. Sum up your July in ten words or less.

Lazy mornings, cool drinks, hot weather, plenty of smiles, happiness!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Going back to question one, I am starting to be one of those people which doesn't watch live TV. I think over the past week the only live TV I have watched is the news and England ladies playing in the final of the Euro's. Even the soap operas that I watch I tend to either watch on catch up or before they are shown live because of their early releases on the various players they are on. When we watch shows as a family we always seem to record them and then play catch up so we can fast forward the ads. I always thought I would be one of those people who watch things when they are shown on TV so I could be in the moment, seeing them as they are happening but the world we live in now makes it easier to watch on demand.

What Summer looks like now the kids are older!

Summer now feels so different than it did just a few years ago when my girls were little. It’s not the same whirlwind of packed days, endless outdoor games and the constant chorus of Mam, I’m bored!. Now with the girls aged 22 and 17 summer has shifted into something quieter, slower but somehow more fun and memorable!

Don’t get me wrong it’s not quiet in the way you might imagine. There’s still plenty of noise and laughter bouncing around the house but it’s a different kind of noise. Instead of the boisterous playdates and sticky fingers it’s music spilling from bedrooms, conversations with friends on the phone and shouting at screens when they are playing online games.

Both girls have their own lives now. Becky has been working full time for quite a few years. She works night shifts, has a partner and a social life that keeps her busy. She’s not at home every day like she was in her teens but when she is I really enjoy the time with her even if we are not really up to much. Like the day I wrote this, we had a lazy morning. I pottered around the house tidying up and doing some washing, we had lunch together, made a delicious iced coffee each and caught on Hollyoaks! Ellie is still in college although she's on her summer break now. She has her own friendships, her first serious relationship and she’s starting to create her own summer traditions too. It’s brilliant watching them both in this stage so independent, yet still part of our family!

Mornings in summer are no longer a rush to get everyone dressed, packed and out the door for a day at the park or play date. Instead there’s a gentler pace. I often find myself making a drink and enjoying it in peace looking out over the garden. Sometimes they’re off to meet friends or my Becky is making her way to bed just as I am starting my day. The house feels different but not in a bad way.

The afternoons are when the magic really happens. Sometimes, it’s a solo kind of magic. I’ll find a quiet hour to blog and other times we're together doing or own thing or we’ll all decide to watch a film together, have a walk out to my dad's or even venture into town for a look around the shops. It’s no longer about squeezing every minute out of the day with packed activities it’s about sharing those moments that just happen naturally.

What I love most is how those moments often surprise me. Becky sometimes invites me to go out somewhere with her partner or my youngest who invited me to the cinema to tag along with her and her boyfriend. I hesitated for a second it felt like stepping into their world rather than mine but then I said yes. We had a great time. Those little invitations make me feel connected in a way I didn’t quite expect. It’s lovely to be included even if their lives are their own now.

Evenings have become my favourite part of summer especially when the day cools down and the house fills with the smells of tea cooking and Stu gets in from work. That hour on an evening makes me feel happy. There’s laughter, teasing and conversation. 

Watching my girls grow into such thoughtful, independent young women who still want to spend time with me is one of the greatest joys of my life. There’s a pride in seeing how they’ve developed their own interests, their own social lives but also comfort in knowing that no matter how busy or far flung their lives get this family bond remains a place they come back to.

Summer now is different. It’s less hectic but still so full. It has changed but for the better.

How is your summer looking now?

Our weekly meal plan! 28th July - 3rd August! #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went really well, we ate everything apart from the omelette on Friday. I'm blaming my dad. lol. We ended up having omelette at my dad's so I nipped to the shop and got a few frozen pizzas for tea.

It was nice to try a couple of new meals from our Gousto Box. The Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps were so good! I have never made satay sauce before but I will be again! Yum! We have another Gousto box this week with the macaroni and the pancake meals we've had before and but the other two meals are new to us. My family are not too sure about the potato and green bean curry but I think they will like it. I won't go too overboard with the curry sauce as meals with that can end up a bit too spicy for mine and Becky's liking.

I don't know what we have planned for this week. Deep cleaning mine and Stu's bedroom is on my to do list and to organise my wardrobe. My room has became more of a floordrobe with piles of clean clothes piled everywhere. Dresses need hanging up and socks need pairing. Ugh! I am sure the girls have plans but at the moment I can't remember what they told me they are doing. 

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - It depends on how today goes. Could be something out of the freezer or a meal out.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - One Pot Pork & Beef 'Cheeseburger' Macaroni.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Honey Sesame Chicken With Potato & Green Bean Curry.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Bacon & Garlic Mushrooms With Creamy Mash.

Friday - Pizza.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes.

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 20th - 26th July! Week 30 of #Project365

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a good weekend! We haven't been up to much over the weekend. I was home alone on Saturday fighting with our printer. It was printing test sheets out but not what I was asking it too. Hmmf. Why do they never work when you want them too? An hour later and after a lot of cursing the blasted thing I got what I needed printed. I told Ellie about my troubles and she said if you press this, this and that it prints. Obviously she knew and I am just rubbish with technology. lol

Becky was out with friends last night and wasn't going to come back until later tonight but she's decided to get the earlier bus so she can be home in time for the football. It's England ladies against Spain in the final of the Euros! I hope it's a nice and easy win, I don't think my nerves can take extra time and penalties again! 

Now for a photo every day!

201/365 - 20th July

The rain came down heavy on Sunday and there was thunder and lightning, not my favourite thing. Storms scare me but it was nice to get a decent amount of rain and it has continued throughout the week.

202/365 - 21st July

An easy lunch. Grapes, pork pies and lots of Branston Pickle.

203/365 - 22nd July

Fresh flowers always make me happy and these were so bright and pretty. They just came from the supermarket but were reduced as a couple weren't looking so good. They're doing fine now.

204/365 - 23rd July

I had just about given up on my tomato plants, they were not doing well. I had just left them in the pots, I had been watering them but I thought they were done for until we had quite a bit of rain during the week. They have came to life and have doubled in size.

205/365 - 24th July

Double chocolate filled doughnuts. I of course shared with my youngest. They were just OK, a little too chocolatey.

206/365 - 25th July

My dad has accidently adopted a cat. It turned up one day and was been hanging around. The original owners did come and try and take it home but the cat was having none of it. My dad is not a cat person and will never admit he loves it but does. A fortnight ago it wasn't allowed in his house, now it has a spot in the conservatory. lol He wouldn't name it but now he calls it Puss and has been buying it treats. The cat has rewarded him by bringing him mice. Eww! lol

207/365 - 26th July

I was out in the garden and was looking to see how my single cucumber was growing but I couldn't get near for this very buzzy bumblebee. 

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week started off quite stressful but there has been a lot of turning points and I am feeling quite positive now. I hate to say it and it sounds cliche but it's been one of those weeks where everything seemed to have happened for a reason!

Stu has been really disheartened at work lately, putting it bluntly he hates his job now and it is causing him so much stress. There are unrealistic targets, people walking out and some being laid off last week for not selling enough. When Stu started his current job there was no selling but over the last year the company have pushed it more and more with targets to hit and a lot of pressure. It's getting ridiculous now. Just a couple of weeks ago Stu had a telling off because he wasn't pushing products enough. The call in question was a woman who was only phoning to change her contract as she was fleeing domestic violence. There is a time and a place to try and sell a new phone and that wasn't it!! Someone rang to downgrade their phone contract because they had lost their job and needed a cheaper option and Stu was made to try and sell broadband to the caller. Stupid!! Stu started looking for a new job because the targets have just been upped again and everyone has been warned if they are not met they could face getting the sack so he's jumping ship before he's pushed!

They always say that it's easier to find a job while you already have a job and it seems to be true. At the moment he can be picky, he's already turned down a job as they could only offer 25 hours a week despite them advertising it as being full time but he has another interview next week and this one seems perfect with no selling, same hours, same money but less travelling.

With Stu's job he gets bonuses, those bonuses don't go onto his monthly wage but are in point form and he can convert those points to gift cards or vouchers for online retailers. Usually we save them up for Christmas and we checked his points during the week realising that he had £831 saved. Usually he saves about £500 by December so it just goes to prove how much he has been selling while doing his normal job. Eek! The catch is that if he leaves the job he will lose access to the points which to me seems wrong so we have been spending them. It seems a bit frivolous but our thinking is they could be gone in a month so why not. We have been sensible and converted half to supermarket vouchers to use for the weekly food shop or save until Christmas and we bought Ellie a fancy dressing table for her birthday, Becky the pool cue that she wanted which I wasn't going to buy as it was a bit over what I had budgeted but thought we might as well. 

We are now looking at buying a Freeview box that records as we have seen the Sky TV bill creeping up and up and to be honest we can always do with saving a bit of money. It gave us a kick up the bum to do something. I hardly watch the Sky channels, just the free to air one's like BBC and ITV. The boxes cost a couple of hundred pounds but we've worked out that after a few months of not paying for Sky TV we will be saving money. This has came at the right time too as our contract ends in August.

This week has been full of turning points: a shift in Stu’s job situation, a change in his mindset about work, turning saved points into practical spending and maybe a change from Sky TV to Freeview. It feels like things are turning around even after a worrying start to my week! 

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 30. #FridayFavourites

Hello there and happy Friday! I feel like I have had a good week, last week I felt a little wonky and out of sorts but this week I have done well getting through my to do list and I've had some lovely moments! I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share the things that I have loved over this past week.

Ozzy Osbourne!

Obviously Ozzy Osbourne passing away was not a favourite thing from my week but listening to his music was. I have listened to quite a bit over the last few days and my youngest too. Ellie loves rock music and knew quite a lot of his songs but didn't actually know who Ozzy was, I had to give her a bit of a history lesson. My eldest and I discovered that The Osbournes reality show was on Prime so we have been watching that. I watched it years ago when it was on MTV but most of it is new to Becky.

A little cucumber!

I found it while looking for pumpkins under the mass of leaves that are in my garden. I did plant cucumber seeds but I thought they all didn't make it. I am guessing one or two plants did and got mixed up with my pumpkins, the leaves look pretty similar.

Rain!

I don't usually get excited about rain and wasn't on Saturday when I was out in it but since then we've had a thunder storm and quite a bit of rain on Sunday which has been wonderful for my garden. I had some tomato plants which were not doing well but just this week they have doubled in size! The grass is also looking a lot greener too!

A dressing table! 

Last week I mentioned how my dad had got my youngest just a make do desk for my youngest's room until we got around to getting her a dressing table for her birthday. I hadn't planned on buying one so soon but saw a fantastic one with everything that she wanted from a dressing table and more! The selling point for us was the stool with storage, I haven't seen anything like that before! It was delivered mid week in 2 big boxes and my fella will have the honour of putting it together on her birthday. I do hope every piece is there! Eek!

Boots!

Ellie loves the goth, chunky boots and has a plain black pair but said she wanted some red and black one's for her birthday, they arrived during the week. I couldn't resist trying them on and they are surprisingly comfortable, not at all how I expected. I thought they'd be heavy and clunky but they're really not.

Cooking! 

I have really enjoyed cooking over the last week. We got a Gousto recipe box after having a break for them for a month or so and it has been nice to try some new recipes and try new foods. Who'd have thought my salad hating family would enjoy chicken satay lettuce wraps!

The Lionesses! 

England women's football team have done so well and are through to another Euro final! They have gone about it the long way, their last couple of matches have had me screaming at the TV. In the match on Tuesday evening they were losing one nil and then equalised in the 96th minute, football matches usually last 90 minutes so they took it right down to the wire. In extra time there was a saved penalty which rebounded and ended in the back of the net for the win! Phew!

What have you loved over the past week?

Our go to weeknight dinners when no one can be bothered!

I meal plan every week but that doesn't mean it goes to plan every week! A couple of weeks ago it was a bit of a disaster but it's OK, we just winged it and there's always plenty of food in so it's not like we're going to starve. We don't want to order a take away but everyone’s still hungry and needs feeding and that is where I turn to our go to dinners for when no one can be bothered!

These are the meals which stops us ordering a takeaway, take minimal washing up and are my families favourite!

Eggs on toast but make it fancy!

Eggs on toast sounds basic but it can be a masterpiece with just a tiny bit of effort. Fried, scrambled, poached add some cheese and maybe a few cherry tomatoes if you’re feeling fancy, or a splash of hot sauce for the spice lovers.

Beans on toast!

I love beans on toast, it's a classic, it’s simple, it's satisfying, and it’s basically the British comfort food equivalent of a warm bath and fluffy socks. Just toast, butter and a tin of baked beans. Maybe a sprinkle of cheese if we’re feeling posh. It’s one of those meals that always hits the spot and takes all of five minutes to throw together.

Freezer Tapas!

Also known as everything beige from the freezer chucked in the oven. Chicken nuggets, fish fingers, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, spring rolls and whatever odd bits are lurking in the freezer drawer. I shove them all on a tray, add some baked beans or a quick salad if I’m pretending to be healthy and call it tapas night.

Wraps!

Wraps are best for the can’t be bothered dinner! We keep a pack of tortilla wraps in the cupboard because they last forever and can turn almost anything into a meal. Leftover roast chicken, tuna and sweetcorn, cheese and beans anything can go in a wrap. No one complains, it’s minimal faff, and you can eat it with your hands!

Jacket potatoes!

The slowest fast food there is. I know they take a while in the oven but the beauty of a jacket potato is that once they’re in, you can walk away and forget about them for an hour while you get on with other things like scrolling on your phone or hiding in the loo for five minutes of peace. Then just top with whatever you’ve got beans and cheese, tuna mayo, coleslaw or even leftovers.

Pasta!

A family classic! Boil some pasta, stir in whatever sauce you’ve got, a jar of pesto, a tin of chopped tomatoes or even just a bit of butter and cheese and boom. Dinner! I sometimes throw in some frozen peas or sweetcorn for colour and to ease my veggie guilt.

Cereal or Toast!

This is dinner when I am at the end of my tether! On those nights when absolutely nothing appeals and the energy is on the floor we fully embrace cereal for dinner or toast. Fed is fed!

Cheat’s stir fry!

Grab a packet of ready chopped veg, chuck it in a pan with some soy sauce or whatever stir fry sauce that you have hiding, throw in some noodles or rice (microwave packets are good) and you’re done. It looks impressive and takes about ten minutes. 

Soup and sandwich!

When it's cold or we're just all feeling a bit meh soup and sandwiches come to the rescue. A tin of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich is pure comfort food!

What's your go to meal when you can't be bothered?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge! #21

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. When does time pass slowly for you? When does time past quickly for you?

It feels like times passes so slowly when I am waiting for something exciting. Like now is really dragging because I am planning my fellas and girls birthdays. I just want their special days to be here but I know when they are time will go so quickly and their birthdays will be over in a flash. Birthdays always seem to go twice as fast as other days!!

2. Do you have a favorite beach? What's your favorite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

Ahh! I always say that Amble, on the Northumberland coast is the best beach I have visited, it might not be the biggest beach or a tourist spot but it is charming, quiet and just beautiful to look at. It is my families happy place, has the best chip shop, a little lighthouse, a working harbour and there is of course sand which my girls used to play on for hours when we they were little.

At the beach I just like to sit. Watch people and the waves coming in. If we go to the beach we have to have chips! They always taste so good wrapped in paper with lashings of salt and vinegar on.

In my beach bag you would find all the usual stuff, it's quite boring really. Sun cream, sunglasses, snacks, tissues, a towel, loose change, headphones and a plastic carrier bag to put any soggy clothes in.

3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting?

My first thought was Mamma Mia but it's not my favourite movie, I think I would have to go with Moana, I know it's an animated one but it's such a cute movie with a fantastic soundtrack.

4. What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it?

The first thing which came to mind was corn on the cob especially when it's covered in butter but for me it's burgers which cause me problems! Buns, meat, salad, maybe bacon, pickles and onions, all piled high can be intimidating and trying to fit that whole thing in my mouth is impossible so I take awkward bites where half the fillings slide out the sides and end up on my hands, my lap or the floor. Then there's the sauce which oozes out the bun sometimes gets soggy and I end up with ketchup on my face. Burgers are totally worth the mess and fuss to eat though! 

5. Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on?

I used to love roller coasters when I was younger, I had no fear then but now, I like to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. I think my favourite roller coaster from years ago was Nemesis at Alton Towers. It is one of those coasters where the track is above you and your feet dangle down.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My youngest is 17 years old and is trying to find a part time job which is proving very frustrating as most places want over 18 year olds and won't even let her apply until she turns 18. What makes it even more annoying is that by the time the employers have processed the applicants, the interviews have been done and she gets a start date she will most likely will have turned 18 as it is her birthday in five weeks time!

What would you answer for these questions?

How many times can I complain It’s too hot before the end of August?

I love summer, I really do. I look forward to it all winter. Every time I’m shivering waiting for a bus or having to put the heating on in January I tell myself just wait in July you’ll be warm again but what I forget year after year is that the British version of warm is not the charming Mediterranean glow I always imagine. Oh no, it’s the kind of heat that makes your back stick to every chair, you sweat in places that you didn't even know you could sweat and your inner thighs stage a protest with each step you take. We’re not equipped for this in the UK. We don’t have air con, we don’t have breezy open plan villas. What we do have is brick houses built to trap warmth and streets that melt under the pressure of anything over 25°C.

So here I am at the middle of July wondering how many more times I can dramatically declare It’s too hot! before the end of August arrives. Honestly, I might be on a personal record and I know I’m not alone it seems to have been extra warm over the last month or so. I grew up thinking 22C was proper hot, it really wasn't. So this whole business of waking up to a house that feels like a oven is just unnatural. 

Complaining about the weather is basically a British national sport. Rain, we whinge. Snow, we panic. Wind, we sigh with disgust at the bins flying down the road and sunshine we rejoice for 0.5 seconds and then crumble like a chocolate bar left on the dashboard in a car.

The first complaint came early from me at the start of June. A little heatwave started and everyone was giddy. We embraced it at first. The washing dries in an hour, the kids stop tracking mud through the house, people have conversations saying things like smells like a BBQ and have you got the fan out yet? It was bliss for about about 48 hours. Then the air got sticky, the bedrooms became like a sauna and I started sleeping with just a thin sheet on me.

I am not built for heat. Every day I wake up thinking maybe today will be a bit cooler but the only thing cooler is the inside of the fridge which I keep opening not for food, but for relief. By 10am, I’ve already said it’s too hot once in the mirror while trying to tame my humidity filled hair, my hair also hates the heat! By noon I’ve said it out loud to the postman who looks worryingly cheerful and by 3pm I’ve messaged my friend three times just the phrase TOO HOT in all caps because that’s the emotional support I need!

I’ve noticed that when I’m overheating my patience also evaporates. Everything feels ten times more irritating. Anything with a waistband becomes the enemy. If it’s not stretchy, loose or made entirely of cotton or linen, I’m not wearing it! Don’t even talk to me about bras. Whoever invented underwire clearly never experienced underboob sweat! Cooking is such a chore, even more so than usual and other people’s cheerfulness winds me up. I see someone smiling while sunbathing and I want to shout are you really enjoying being baked alive?

I miss sleep. I open the curtain on a night to let whatever breeze there is in but by about 5am in the morning the sun is shining in heating up the room. I get irrationally angry at my fella because he gets up then and doesn't have to lay there trying to sleep in the heat forgetting about the fact he has to get up at 5am and I wouldn't want that either. I shut the curtain and doze off back to sleep for a couple of hours still waking up sweaty and tangled in my thin sheet.

I got so happy last week when it looked cooler and the rain came but guess what? It was still hot and not even the nice kind of hot, it was sticky and no fun being hot and soaked from the rain. It is not easy to dress in that weather. I did think about wearing my sandals and just putting up with wet feet but it didn't feel right so I put my boots on and of course my feet felt like lava! I have waterproof jackets but it was too warm for them so ended up going out with just a cardigan and my trusty umbrella! Thank goodness it wasn't windy.

Yes, I complain but no I don’t want it to end because I remember what comes after this the cold, dark nights and arguments about whether we should put the central heating on. At least in the summer I don’t have to warm my jeans on the radiator before wearing them, ice cream is my go to meal and I get to wear all the pretty dresses!

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go put my head in the freezer for five minutes and say too hot under my breath like a summer chant!

Do you think it has been too hot?

Our weekly meal plan! 21st - 27th July! #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went really well, we ate everything which I am really pleased about after the disaster of the meal plan the week before. For the last few weeks it has been fun thinking up meals to eat and having some of our favourites but now I have decided that we are going to be getting Gousto boxes again, I am sick of having to think up meals every night and Gousto really helps with that and we always seem to eat that little bit healthier when we have the recipes and all the ingredients to hand.

This week I have a few things on but nothing that exciting that it warrants writing about. It feels like it's going to be a pretty boring week which I am excited about. I am looking forward to doing things at my own pace. I think it's going to really start feeling like summer here over the next week with all the kids finishing school for summer. I really do miss the excitement of when my girls were little and that last few days of school with lots of fun things going on. There wasn't that same excitement when Ellie finished college for the year or thinking back when Becky did.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps. This is not something I'd usually choose but when I was looking at what was available these caught Ellie's eye.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Crispy Pork Spring Roll Wraps With Sweet Chilli Sauce.

Wednesday - Sausage and bean stew.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Smoky Pork, Beef & Mushroom Spaghetti.

Friday - Omelette and chips. I will use what we have in the fridge.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Sausage, Egg & Cheese Bap With Spicy Ketchup.

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 13th - 19th July! Week 29 of #Project365

It has been a bit of a wet weekend so far, my garden isn't complaining though. Stu and I went out yesterday and it was one of those days where we didn't know what to wear. It was raining most of the day but still so, so warm. I took my umbrella which served me well. 

Ellie went to the cinema yesterday to see "I know what you did last summer". When she got home I asked her about it and before she could tell me who knew what they did last summer I told her. lol She was amazed I knew, she never thinks about films when I was her age that are now being remade. lol but apparently the film isn't a remake, just a modern twist following the same story.

I don't think we have much planned for today, I will be just pottering around the house. I have some life admin to do, not for me but for Ellie. She has some paperwork which needs filling in for college and her bus pass to buy for her next college year. It's one thing I don't mind paying for as she gets so much use out of it, she can use it anytime and does! 

Now for a photo every day!

194/365 - 13th July

Waffles, strawberries and bananas for breakfast on Sunday. I have been trying to eat a bit healthier, not so much because I want to lose a bit of weight but because it's just better for me. This has to be better for me that a greasy fry up but still feels like a treat.

 

195/365 - 14th July

Just a random photo of me in the reflection of the shed window. I do like going outside on a morning to look at how my garden is doing. I always seem to notice a new flower or butterfly, we have had loads of butterflies in the garden over the last couple of weeks. I have tried to get a photo but they won't stay still long enough.

196/365 - 15th July

Grey clouds and it rained. Lovely but it didn't cool down that much.

197/365 - 16th July

I am back on the Gousto bandwagon, I ordered some meals for this coming week. The next day I got an email with a discount so got 40% off my next two boxes and 20% off for the next two months. Fantastic!

198/365 - 17th July

Just a bit of The Walking Dead on my TV. It is my background noise for when I am busy doing things around the house. Some people like music, I seem to like the sound of zombies walking around.

199/365 - 18th July

There is another sunflower in my garden which looks like it's ready to pop open any minute now!

200/365 - 19th July

Stu and I stopped off for something to eat while we were out and the rain was coming down heavy. It was a new place to us and we will be going back. It was 

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

You know when you just feel a bit off? Not ill, not sad, not angry just not quite right. That has been me all week. I am putting it down to hormones and Perimenopause symptoms. Oh joy! I've been feeling quite wonky all week.

It started on Monday when I woke up feeling meh, in a fog that not even my iced coffee could shake. I felt a bit wobbly and wonky, a little bit anxious for no real reason and it’s just been one of those weird, inbetween weeks where things haven't seemed to click properly. My usual routines have gone a bit sideways, I’ve been feeling disjointed like life is moving at one pace and I’m lagging just behind it a little.

Our lightbulbs have been acting wonky. The hallway, dining room and bathroom lightbulbs have all needed to be replaced this week, I can't complain as I can't remember the last time they were changed but the one in the dining room was acting really strange. It would come on, then start flickering before going off. Of course I couldn't find the new lightbulbs, I knew we had a box and had to wait for my fella to ring from work to tell me where they were. In the garage, that was the last place I would think of looking. I hate that spider infested, cob webby space. Of course I sent Ellie to go in there and get them. She's trained to be an electrician for 2 years so I used that to get her motivated and she even climbed the stepladder to change the bulbs. She's trained in that after all, yes she actually had a couple of lessons in how to climb ladders safely. 

I haven't slept well this week even though it has been a little cooler. I think it was Tuesday evening when I went to bed and it was chucking it down, it was so lovely to hear the rain against the window. You’d think it would have been easier for me to drift off but no, I’ve been tossing and turning most nights. Too hot then suddenly freezing, then wide awake at 4am wondering if I remembered to lock the back door or shut the living room window, I had. I've been waking up tired even though I know I have technically slept. It’s the kind of tired that makes the whole day feel slightly wonky. I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea and soon realised I hadn't filled it. I put water in, walked away did something and came back to make my cup of tea and wondered why it wasn't looking right when the water mixed with the tea bag. I had forgotten to switch the kettle on! Doh! That must be the brain fog that I keep hearing about.

Even with all the tiredness, brain fog and general life wobbliness, there were some really lovely bits tucked into the week. Laughing at TikToks with my girls, watching the Live Aid concerts with my family, cherry picking with my dad, sticking to our meal plan, the girls going for a day out and a double date with the special people in their life and my dad getting Ellie a desk that she can use in her bedroom.

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!