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

This week my Word of the Week is: 

This past week has been chaotic but in the best way. There seems to have been something going on every day and even when we thought we'd made plans, those plans seemed to change within minutes.

Last Saturday was going to be a quiet night out at the pub at a country night but a few people turned up who I wasn't expecting and suddenly the night became much more fun than I thought it was going to be. Becky and I were getting the bus home just after 10pm when we decided that maybe we weren't quite ready for the night to finish, so we went into town. I rang Stu and asked if he or Ellie wanted to come. Stu said no but Ellie was up for it. She had to get herself ready and get down to the bus stop quickly. I gave her about half an hour to do what would normally take an hour! She got ready and ran to the bus stop and somehow made it with a minute to spare. Phew! I was impressed, I would probably have still been deciding what to wear when she was getting the bus. lol We headed into town and had a fantastic time. I always say the best nights out are the unplanned ones. We eventually got a taxi home and I was ready for bed by the time we got in.

Ellie's whole week has been mad! She started work, which is obviously a big thing but she still had a couple of appointments to go to during the week. Trying to fit everything around work and buses hasn't been easy and there have been a few changes along the way. One appointment was moved and then it was moved back to the original time. The problem was that this only happened after Ellie had already got the bus into town. She had a couple of hours to kill but wasn't too bothered as she got to see her "friend". Mid-week she had another appointment and then just a few hours later she had to be at work. There was no point in her coming all the way home, only to have about an hour before she needed to leave again, so she stayed in town, met up with friends and had lunch out and a look around the shops. I'm really pleased she's started work though even if I have spent most of my week tracking buses. It's been hard work getting to this point, so seeing her actually getting into a routine and having somewhere to go has been lovely.

Becky has been busy at work this week too. They had a big inspection which happens every year so everyone has been preparing for it and making sure everything was up to par. It's one of those times when everyone is on their best behaviour and making sure everything is done properly. There has been lots of checking, double-checking and making sure everything is where it should be. Thankfully it's all over now, so hopefully everyone can relax a little bit and get back to normal.

Last night I was supposed to be out at Bongo's Bingo event but I just couldn't be bothered after this week. It seemed like too much for my head to take! Bongo's Bingo isn't your usual bingo! The numbers are called out but in between games there are DJs, dancing, singalongs, cheesy music, competitions and ridiculous prizes. Normally I think it would be a lot of fun but after the week I've had, I just didn't have it in me.

I am loving watching Big Brother this year. It has been much more entertaining than previous years, there always seems to be something happening and there are definitely a few housemates who have made it interesting. Then there is Jedward, the celebrity guests who have brought the chaos. If you don't know who they are they are John and Edward, Irish twins who became famous by being a bit of a novelty act on The X Factor back in 2009. They are so annoying but I still love them! They caused a big argument and basically split the house but it sure did make good TV.

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 to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

Parenting young adults - When their partner stays over!

Nobody really warns you about this stage of parenting. You get plenty of notice about sleepless nights, tantrums, slammed doors and teenagers who communicate entirely in sighs but nobody sits you down and says one day another adult will stay in your house and it will feel strange for reasons you can't quite explain! When your children are adults and have been in a solid relationship for a decent amount of time, it's bound to happen, they want their person to stay over. Eek! 

I thought I'd be relaxed about it. I told myself I'm modern, reasonable and there would be no stress over the partner of your adult child staying over and I said it all very confidently, right up until the first time it actually happened and that is a whole different story! Oh! and before anyone jumps to any conclusions, don't assume there are shenanigans happening and people are sharing beds.

The first stay is just weird! The house feels different. Everyone’s polite in an over-the-top way. My young adult keeps checking in with me using their eyes, like they’re asking permission but without words. Their partner is doing that careful guest behaviour where they’re trying not to take up too much space, even though their presence alone already feels quite big. That first night, I go to bed far more awake than usual. Not worried exactly, just aware. Aware of doors closing and of footsteps moving around. It is just weird!

Morning comes and immediately I remember someone else is here. I suddenly care about how I look when I leave my bedroom, even though this is the same house where I will happily wander around with no bra on, scruffy PJs and with my hair doing whatever it wants. I become oddly aware of my voice, my clothes and the general state of things. Then comes the first kitchen moment. That overly cheerful "good morning". Everyone is smiling a bit too hard. Breakfast is awkward. I don’t know whether to offer breakfast or pretend I was just grabbing something and will be back later. They don’t know whether to sit, stand, or hang around near the doorway. Your young adult goes to the bathroom, abandoning me and then I have to make small talk, it is just so awkward.

I notice me editing myself too. There is less muttering, less narrating what I'm doing and fewer random comments fired out there. I'm still me but a slightly toned down version. I'm the version I use around people you don’t know very well yet. Which feels odd, because this is my house and I usually don’t filter much at all. As the day goes on, things ease a little with conversations lasting longer and then nighttime rolls around again, bringing with it that same quietness. I don’t talk about it but you know everyone else is aware too.

What surprised me most was how grown up it all felt in a how did we get here so fast! One minute I was tying their shoelaces, the next I'm sharing a sofa with another adult who is part of my child’s life now. This person isn’t just passing through, they matter to my young adult and that adds some extra importance to everything. I want to be welcoming without putting on a show, I want to be myself and I want my home to feel safe for everyone.

By the second or third stay over, things become a lot less awkward but still not how they usually are. I've moved past the initial shock but I'm still getting used to things. I start noticing things more. The way the house sounds with an extra person in it and how conversations change slightly. It is different having another adult around, someone who isn’t your responsibility but is still there, someone who belongs to another family, another home and is now in mine for a short time. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I've had a few emotional moments and realised this isn’t really about the guest at all, it’s about my child growing up, about them building relationships that don’t revolve around me and I am no longer the centre of their world!

As time goes on, the awkwardness does fade. I've stopped overthinking everything, worrying about if I'm doing things right and I have gone back to being more myself. The house has settled down again, even with an extra person in it and sometimes, if I'm lucky, that extra adult starts to feel less like a guest and more like a member of the family. Someone I can chat to easily and who fits into the rhythm of the house without trying too hard. It doesn’t happen straight away and it doesn’t happen all the time but when it does, it takes the edge off those wobbly days.

If you’re in that stage now, feeling like your house has shifted slightly and you’re still adjusting, that’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re not supportive or relaxed or handling it well. It just means you’re human and this is one of those quiet parenting milestones nobody really talks about and if nothing else, it’s proof that somehow, without much warning at all, you’ve raised someone old enough to bring another adult home and that’s both a lovely thing and a slightly surreal one all at the same time.

A photo every day for a year! 6th - 12th September! Week 37 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. We have had a great week with lots of nice things happening! Birthday celebrations for Becky, a nice meal out, sorting the garden, lots to watch on the TV and my dad feeling better after a trip to the hospital. He got bit by something on his big toe, it doubled in size, turned bright red and he could hardly walk. He's got a bunch of tablets, is feeling much better now and is running rings around us again. Phew! I would like to think this would teach him to wear proper socks and shoes when he is out working instead of Crocs with no socks but I don't think he will have learnt his lesson.

We had a lovely quiet day on Friday. My dad popped round to show me he could walk properly again and he ended up staying longer than he had planned. He only put the cricket on to check the score and an hour later he was still watching while having a chat. Yesterday I spent the day having a good tidy up and clean around the house and really enjoyed myself with a playlist of sing-along songs. hehehe Today is all about sport, of course which is pretty normal for a Sunday. F1 and then some football. It's Man City V Man United this afternoon, which I am quite looking forward to. I am also cooking a proper roast dinner today. Chicken, all the veggies, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire Puddings and lots of gravy!

Now for a photo every day!

249/365 6th September

We of course watched the F1 race. It was, of course, full of drama. Is there ever an F1 race that doesn't have something happening!

250/365 7th September

Stu and I had a busy day on Monday pottering around the garden. I did the weeding while he mowed the grass and we also got a few loads of washing drying on the line. It is getting to that point in the year when I am making the most of drying clothes outside. It won't be long until it is too cold, too wet or just too miserable and the tumble dryer will have to do its thing.

251/365 8th September

Becky made lasagne from scratch and did a fantastic job! There were leftovers too, which is always a bonus.

252/365 9th September

Ellie got her certificates through the post from the Mechanical Engineering course that she did in college. It was really nice seeing them arrive and having something official to show for all the work she put into the course. Of course, I had to take a photo because that's what Project 365 is all about. I like being able to capture these little moments.

253/365 10th September

It was Becky's birthday and her presents were sat there for most of the day. It wasn't until about 10pm until she got around to opening them. She was very happy with everything she received.

254/365 11th September

My dad came around with a present for Becky. There is a story behind these ducks. My dad has had them hanging on one of his doors with bath towels on for years. He has always said they would be left to Becky, so she had known for ages that they were eventually going to be hers and then, completely by chance, my dad came across another hanger that was exactly the same! He knew Becky would love it, so he got it and she was over the moon about it.

255/365 12th September

We're back on the Gousto Boxes! I pick the recipes and they send everything I need to make them! The fridge is now full of everything that I need to make 4 meals that we will have next week.

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My eldest is 24!

Today Becky turns 24 and I have said it again and I will probably say it every year. I can't believe how quickly another year has gone. Becky has had quite a year and if I had to sum up her 23rd year, I think I would say engaged, making plans, growing up, finding her feet and happily living her best life. There have been some big changes, some exciting plans for the future and lots of moments that have made me sit back and think about how she has grown up so fast!

Becky found the love of her life a few years ago and one of the biggest moments of the past year was when she got engaged. It was the best couple of days for her as her and her partner went off to Newcastle Upon Tyne to see Alex Warren in concert and that is when it happened. It still feels strange saying that my daughter is engaged and now she's planning a future with someone she loves. It really is something special seeing your daughter find someone she wants to share the rest of her life with. She's happy, she's excited and she's looking forward to what comes next.

Of course, getting engaged also means there are now lots of conversations about the future with wedding plans, homes, kids, money and what comes next. She's at that stage of life where there are so many possibilities ahead of her and I am excited for her and to be part of the planning. Another big step this year has been making plans to move out and get her own place. She's now looking for somewhere that she can call home, which I wasn't very happy about at first but we talked things over and I came around to the idea. It's not that I didn't want her to move out. I just would have preferred she saved and bought somewhere rather than rent but it's her life and her choice. I will be there beside her, supporting her where I can and so far, that has been with filling out forms. I keep joking that she needs to buy new ink for the printer because I've lost count of all the printing that she has done.

Becky is living her best life and probably the thing I love most about this past year is seeing her happy. She works hard but she also knows when it's time to have fun and has done so many fantastic things over the last year. Had trips away, been to concerts and shows, had some fantastic nights out and had plenty of downtime too, playing games on her laptop, watching football and binging TV shows. At the moment, she is halfway through Geordie Shore. That was a blast from the past. I used to watch it about 15 years ago. lol As I am writing this she is off to the beach with her friends, like I said, living her best life!

There have also been plenty of those little everyday moments that don't sound exciting when you write them down but are the things I will remember. The chats we have, watching the wrestling together, the laughs we have, the random TikToks she sends me, hearing about what she's been up to and all the little bits of her life that she shares with me. Those are the things that remind me that even though she's growing up and becoming more independent, I am still lucky enough to be part of her life.

At 24, Becky is still young enough to have loads of time ahead of her but also old enough to start making some big decisions and that is exactly what she has done over the last year. If I could wish anything for Becky at 24, it would be that she stays happy, keeps laughing, looks after herself and never feels like she has to have everything figured out.

The first September in 20 years without a child going back to school!

It's September and for the first time in about 20 years, I don't have any children going back to school or college and that feels very strange to say. August would normally be spent thinking about the new school year, buying everything the girls needed and trying to get everyone ready for another year of early mornings and school runs. I'd be looking at school uniforms, buying new shoes, sorting out stationery and always wondering how on earth the six-week summer holidays had gone by so quickly but this year, none of that has happened. My girls are adults now. They have their own lives, their own routines and their own plans. They don't need me to make sure they have everything ready for school because, well, they don't go to school any more.

I am finding it all a little strange and what has surprised me most is that I'm missing things I never thought I'd miss.

I miss buying school uniforms. For years, school uniform shopping was a massive chore! Every summer there would be a list of things the girls needed and off we'd go. There were shirts, trousers, skirts, jumpers, socks, PE kits and school shoes. I remember one year I thought I would get ahead of myself and buy the school shoes not long after they had finished school for the summer. Of course, September rolled around and Ellie had gone up a size, so I had to pay twice for school shoes. I probably could have returned the pair that didn't fit but I never thought of that. I even miss the stationery shopping when the girls would try and convince me that they needed the glittery or scented pens, fluffy notebooks or really expensive pencil sharpeners. Buying new stationery made September feel like a fresh start. Now I can walk through the stationery aisle without having a reason to pick anything up. I still of course look though, who doesn't love new stationery?

For years, making packed lunches was a big part of my morning routine. I'd be in the kitchen making sandwiches, putting fruit into lunchboxes, adding a drink and whatever else I thought they might eat that day. There were days when most of it came home again, which was always slightly annoying and then there were the days when they suddenly decided they didn't like something they'd been eating happily for months but I miss those little lunchboxes sitting on the kitchen side.

I spent years wishing I could stay in bed longer and now I can, I don't want to or have to get up to use the toilet and then I am awake for the day. I miss the busy school mornings when we were all rushing around trying not to be late getting out of the door, someone not wanting the breakfast I had made and even the arguments over lost shoes that were always right in front of them! At the time, I probably didn't appreciate those mornings as much as I should have. Now I miss the noise, the chatter and even the school run. There were days when I wasn't a fan of doing the walk to and from school, especially when the weather was awful or we were running late but looking back, it was also time together which I miss now.

For around 20 years, school was just part of our lives. The school calendar was also part of our family calendar and we used to plan everything around it. September meant a new school year, October was half-term, December meant Christmas holidays, then came February half-term, Easter holidays and then another week's break sometime before the summer. It just carried on year after year until suddenly it didn't. I think that's what makes this September feel so different. We can go anywhere whenever we want to within reason.

It's not all bad though there are some big positives to not having children at school any more. I don't have to set an alarm in the morning, I don't have to remember which days are PE days and have their kit ready and I don't have to panic because someone has suddenly told me at 8pm that they need something for school tomorrow. I can make plans without checking the school calendar and I can have a slower morning without someone shouting that they're going to be late. Then there's the money. No more new school shoes, uniforms, stationery, school trips and all those little things that add up to pay for.

We spend all those years working towards this as parents but I don't think anyone really tells you how strange it feels when they get here. Yes, I miss the school days but there are some lovely things about reaching this stage too. I have more freedom, more time for myself and two grown-up daughters who are becoming their own people.

My youngest is 19!

I write a post every year on or around my girls birthdays and this year is no different. It is Ellie's 19th birthday today and I still can't quite get my head around that. Nineteen is so grown up. I know she's technically been an adult for a year now but there's something about saying she's 19 that makes me stop and think about just how quickly the years have gone.

Ellie's 18th year started off great and she has definitely lived her best life over the last year. It's been a pretty big year for her with lots of changes and plenty going on. There have been some really good times, some difficult moments and because it wouldn't be Ellie without a little bit of drama along the way. There were a few weeks, late last year which weren't great but Ellie handled it really well. She had to deal with something that wasn't easy and she came through the other side stronger. There were quite a few positive things that came from something that wasn't great so I am taking that as a win. When I look back over the last 12 months, I think one of the biggest things I see is how much Ellie has grown as a person.

She started back at college in September for her final year in education and she chose to do mechanical engineering instead of electrical. She had done two years of electrical engineering but decided that mechanical engineering was something she wanted to try too and it turned out to be a really good decision for her. She really enjoyed the course! There have been times over the years when education hasn't always been easy for Ellie, so I was really proud when she got through her final year. Finishing college felt like a massive achievement and a very big reminder that she was moving into a completely different stage of her life. The job hunting started and is still happening but she's had a few interviews and things are looking good. Hopefully, it won't be too long before she finds something that's right for her.

One of the big moments of the past year was also when Ellie got a tattoo. I didn't approve at first, she got a big Medusa on her arm and as her mam I had my opinions but she was 18 and it was her decision. Medusa has become a symbol of female empowerment, strength and survival, especially for women who have faced trauma or injustice and my girl has had a fair bit of that in her life. So when I look at the tattoo now, I don't just see a big tattoo, I see something that represents everything she has been through and come out the other side of! I think having adult children teaches you quite a lot about letting go. When they're little, you're making so many decisions for them. You decide what they eat, what they wear, where they go and what they can and can't do. Then they get older and suddenly they're making those decisions themselves.

Another big part of last year was Ellie's routine heart check-up in January. She had surgery to fix a hole in her heart when she was a baby, along with her sister and they both have checks every few years. Her leaky valve is still leaking and it's a little worse than it was before but thankfully, no one is worried about it. She's back in a couple of years for her next check-up, so I am taking that as a good sign. She might be 19 now but she's still my baby girl and I do worry.

Looking back over the last year, I think one of the things I'm most proud of is seeing Ellie become more confident in herself. She's starting to understand what she wants, what she doesn't want and what she will and won't put up with. She's learning to stand up for herself and she's becoming more comfortable making her own decisions. So happy 19th birthday to my youngest girl! I can't wait to see what this year brings. There are so many things ahead of her and while part of me would quite happily slow everything down, I'm also excited to watch her take those next steps and see where life takes her.

A very random day out in Hull!

A couple of weekends ago, we celebrated Stu's birthday a day early with a trip to Hull. It is the biggest city to us and a short bus ride away. It is always a fun day out and we usually head there with shopping in mind, even if we don't actually buy much but this time we decided to do something a little different. We had no plan about having lunch. We were just going to see where our feet took us and make a day of it.

No birthday day out is complete without food, and our first stop was Wings International Cuisine. It is a large all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant with a huge choice of food. You can find Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai and Italian dishes, along with roast dinners, grilled meats, salads, sides and then an entire section dedicated to desserts. If you leave hungry, that is your own fault! It costs £18.95 per person, which I think is pretty good considering just how much choice there is and the fact you can go back as many times as you like.

I started with a plate of plain noodles, garlic mushrooms, my favourite Coca-Cola chicken, prawn toast covered in sweet and sour sauce, roast gammon and some Doner kebab. It was very random but how often do you get to have all those different things on one plate? The rest of the family got stuck in too. There was pizza, curry, lasagne, chicken pie and sushi being eaten around the table. The desserts are probably my favourite part though. The plate in the photo above was Ellie's and she didn't mess around. She had mint chocolate chip ice cream, mini chocolate gateaux, apple jelly, profiteroles, Oreo cheesecake and marshmallows covered in chocolate. We ended up spending around two hours at Wings eating and chatting. By the time we left, we were all completely stuffed.

I couldn't not include a couple of photos of Stu, my fella, since it was his birthday celebration. Most of the photos I have of Stu are ones when he is doing something silly like sticking his tongue out or being overly smiley!

Normally, when we go to Hull we stick to the same areas. We go shopping, grab a drink and then head home. This time because we weren't actually shopping for anything, we had nowhere we needed to be. So we started walking down streets we don't normally go down. We headed towards Queen Victoria Square, which always seems to have something going on and we weren't disappointed.

There were people dressed up as octopuses, which is not something you expect to see and there were some guys on stage singing. We weren't completely sure what was going on at first but we were wondering if it was connected to the reopening of Hull Maritime Museum. It's had a major refurbishment. We did think about going in for a look around but the queue was so long and from what I saw online was that all the time slots for pre-booking were full, so it's something to remember for next time.

As we carried on walking, we came across something else that made us stop for a minute. There was a group of older people sitting on chairs doing seated exercises. I have no idea whether they were just a random group of elderly people who had joined in or whether it was an organised activity but it looked like they were having the best time. We just stood there thinking well, this is something you don't see every day!

We carried on walking and eventually ended up at Hull Minster. I always think it is such a beautiful building and it is one of those places that makes you stop and have a proper look at it. We didn't go inside this time because it looked as though there was some sort of event taking place but we didn't mind. We found somewhere to sit outside in the shade for a while and just took some time to admire the building.

It turns out we can't go anywhere now without visiting an Irish bar. I don't know when this became a thing, but somehow it happens every time we go out now. We stopped off for a drink and Stu decided we were going to stop for a little bit to watch the football that was on the TV's. Just when we thought about leaving, a singer started setting up his microphone and everything. I checked on Facebook and he was due to start at 4pm so we hung around for that and I was glad we did. As the girls said "he sung all the Irish bangers". lol Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover, Tell Me Ma, Zombie by The Cranberries and Rattlin' Bog that I only know of The Wiggles doing it and seeing videos on TikTok. lol

Once we'd had enough of the football and music, we decided to carry on exploring. This time we went on a little history hunt to find something I'd never seen before. The smallest window in England! The window can be found at The George Hotel on Land of Green Ginger, one of Hull's historic streets. It is tiny, a centimetre wide glazed slit in the building, so if you weren't looking for it, there is a very good chance you would walk straight past without noticing. The George Hotel itself dates back to 1683 and was once the gatehouse for an older coaching inn. I love finding little bits of history like this. The best part was you can actually look through the little window into a small room decorated with skulls and spooky things.

Hull is somewhere we visit regularly but there are still so many little things we haven't seen and this day proved it! It turned out to be a really lovely way to celebrate Stu's birthday and have a great family day out.

A photo every day for a year! 2nd - 8th August Week 32 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. I am glad to say I am well and truly over the cold that I have had. We all seem to have finally got over it and thankfully, it seems to have passed Ellie right by! Phew! I was getting a bit fed up with feeling rubbish and on Friday was at that stage where I thought I was better but felt exhausted after just walking to my dad's. Now I feel full of energy and I'm raring to go!

I was writing this yesterday, it's 11:10 and I feel like I have had a day of it already! lol. I had some good news about a family thing. Don't worry, it was nothing bad, quite the opposite. I will share more about it when things are a little more definite, because I don't want to say too much and then have to say that didn't happen but it's good news and it really put a smile on my face. Then I went to go in the shower and there was water coming out of the bottom of it. So I did the usual thing of ringing my dad and asking for help. Thankfully, he came round, took the shower head off and suddenly it was working perfectly again. It turns out the shower head was filled with limescale! That stuff tortures us here, the kettle and washing machine are always filling up with it and the drains outside too. My dad only knew what the problem was because he had the exact same thing happen to his shower a few months ago. The water couldn't get through the shower head properly, so it was finding another way out. I then had to sort Ellie's hair because she didn't have time for a shower before she went out. Thank goodness for dry shampoo because it has saved us more than once! I am hoping for a nice relaxed afternoon but I sure do have a lot to talk about with Stu when he rings at lunchtime. lol

Now for a photo every day!

214/365 2nd August

Just a little ice cream and I emphasise the word little! I am sure these used to be bigger. I know everything seems smaller these days but I really don't remember Twister Minis being quite so mini. This was purely for medicinal reasons. I was full of cold and obviously, ice cream is a well-known treatment for these things. hehehe The second one I had later in the day was more for enjoyment though.

215/365 3rd August

Whenever I look at the sunflowers in my garden, they make me happy. I stop almost every day just to look at them and snap a photo. The bees don't seem to get bored with them either, they are always buzzing around them!

216/365 4th August

On Tuesday, Becky and I needed a little pick-me-up, so we had Costa Coffee delivered, although no coffee was actually ordered. I had a mango and passion fruit cooler, a bacon roll and a lemon muffin and Becky had mac and cheese and some sort of frappe. I can't remember exactly what was in her drink but it looked nice! It was exactly what we needed.

217/365 5th August

I got up to Negan's first episode on The Walking Dead! (I am rewatching it). If you have watched The Walking Dead, you will probably know exactly which episode I mean and if you haven't, I won't spoil it for you! When I first watched it, I hated Negan but over time he has grown on me and he is now one of my favourite characters. Obviously, that doesn't include the bits where he is doing awful things with his baseball bat but as a character, he is brilliant.

218/365 6th August

This is what the sky looked like for most of Wednesday. It looked like it could chuck it down at any moment but it didn't. We had about 20 drops of rain and I only know that because when I went to put some rubbish out, I noticed it on the wheelie bin. There were just enough drops to make me think that we were going to get some rain but no, there wasn't any more. Hmmf.

219/365 7th August

Football! Middlesbrough, my old hometown team versus Wrexham, the team that Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) own. It ended 1-0 to Middlesbrough, which I was happy with. They are through to the next round of the EFL Cup and it was a good way to start the new football season.

220/365 8th August

I have a tomato that I grew in my garden! Just one though. All the rest are still green but this one finally decided it was ready, so I picked it, washed it and ate it straight away. Delicious! There is something really satisfying about eating something that you have grown yourself, even if it is only one tomato.

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

We have had a slow week, mostly because Stu was just getting over a cold and then Becky and I caught it. Ugh! Ellie has been really lucky and hasn't had as much as a sniffle and she thinks it's brilliant. Oh, to be young again! I have been feeling very sorry for myself over the past week as I have not been sleeping properly and when I don't get enough sleep I turn into such a grump. Early in the week, Stu and I were waking each other up coughing and each spent a night on the sofa just to give the other one some peace. I only realised after that I could have slept in Becky's bed because she was on a night shift. Thankfully, we are all feeling much better now and are over the worst! I had forgotten just how miserable a summer cold can be. Everyone talks about coughs and sniffles in the winter but having one when its warm outside feels so unfair! Ugh!

The week started with lots of wrestling to watch, which gave me a good excuse to just sit in front of the TV. Over 4 days we had about 10 hours to watch and all the shows were fantastic. A guy returned after 17 months off and neck surgery and did not take things slow, 5 minutes into the match, he was flying over the ropes onto people on the floor outside. Championships changed hands, there were more returning superstars and lots of drama.

I have done the bare minimum around the house and even though I felt a little guilty at some points throughout the week, I knew it was for the best. Stu has been a great help and Ellie too. The floor could do with hoovering and everywhere needs a dust and I might get around to it today but if not, it's not the end of the world. I need to keep reminding myself that the jobs will still be there tomorrow and nobody should be judging me because I've been unwell.

I wrote this yesterday after being out to see my dad. It's the first time I've been out of the house all week apart from being in the garden. It has been nice to sit out there and get a little air and it really helped at times to feel less stuffy. I had a slow walk to my dad's and got a lift home. It really tired me out. I guess I am not fully over this cold yet but it was nice to have a change of scenery and get some proper fresh air. It was good to have a catch-up with him too as I didn't see him last week as I was waiting for the people to unblock the drains again. It's an ongoing problem. There are cracks and damage to the sewer pipes and it makes everything drain slowly and every 6 months or so it just gets too much and blockages happen. It's on the water companies to fix list but until then we just wait.

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 to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

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

This week my Word of the Week is: 

How weird is this? Exactly a year ago my Word of the Week was applying, just like this week. Last year it was all about Stu applying for jobs but this year it is all about Ellie applying for them and Becky applying for houses.

It's crazy to think this time last year Stu wanted to quit his job because he hated it but what a difference a year makes. There were unrealistic targets, people were walking out, he didn't like anyone he worked with and the bonuses and targets weren't achievable. Last year, Stu had a lot of tellings off because he wasn't pushing products enough. There was one call which really stuck with him. A woman rang to change her contract because she was fleeing domestic violence and his manager said Stu wasn't doing his job properly because he didn't try and sell her a new phone! Can you believe that? There is a time and a place to try and sell someone something and that wasn't it. Some things matter far more than sales targets. He had firm words with his managers and they listened and since then, things have been amazing! If there is something he doesn't feel comfortable with, he just says no and no one argues! He gets to pick his hours. As long as he does 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, they don't care when he starts, finishes or what day he goes in. He has a good group of people that he is friends with and apart from the freezing because of the air conditioning, he's happy at work. He's been told the only reason he hasn't been promoted to manager is because he can't do late shifts, Sundays and Bank Holidays. He said he wouldn't want to be a manager anyway, there's too much stress.

Ellie has been great at applying for jobs since she left college and I couldn't be any prouder. I thought I would have to nag her more but I'll be looking through job websites and ask if she's applied for a certain job and nine times out of ten she already has. She's so organised about it too. She has around four different versions of her CV depending on the type of job she's applying for. I didn't even think about doing that when I was younger. This week she had another job interview but sadly didn't get it. She's not devastated and it has actually given her more motivation. Every interview seems to give her more confidence and helps her understand what employers are looking for. She's becoming more comfortable talking to new people, travelling to different places and stepping well outside of her comfort zone.

Becky has been applying for more houses. Her and her partner had thought about buying but have decided that renting is the better option for now. They are still waiting to hear back from the one they viewed last week but the letting agent said there were a few applicants and the owner of the house is taking their time considering everyone. They are not fussy and have been applying for different houses which have come up locally. Rent prices are strange though. I've seen 3 bedroom houses for £600 a month, a 2 bedroom for £650 and a 1 bedroom place is £700 all within a 5 minute walk of each other. Make it make sense. lol You'd think the bigger house would automatically be the most expensive but it all seems a bit random sometimes. Becky isn't asking for much, at least one bedroom, close to work and with a decent landlord. Every house they apply for comes with another mountain of paperwork. There are forms to fill in, documents to scan, references to provide and then everything has to be emailed back. They seem to be getting quite good at it now though.

Hopefully, all this applying will pay off soon. Ellie will get a job and Becky will get the keys to her own place and can start making it feel like home!

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 to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

A photo every day for a year! 19th - 25th July Week 30 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. I have had a great week with lots of time outside, which is always a good thing when the weather has been so nice, warm but not too hot! We've had another quiet weekend so far and I don't have much planned for today apart from watching TV, catching up on some blogging and eating lots of nice food.

Now for a photo every day!

200/365 19th July

I didn't want to like the half-time show during the World Cup, it seemed like such an American thing but I loved it! My favourite part was definitely The Muppets appearing. I was not expecting that at all and it made me laugh. 

201/365 20th July

Mine and Ellie's little adventure on the sculpture trial started with brunch! We decided to have something to eat before heading off and it was a lovely way to start our day. The food was only OK though. The sausages were too undercooked for my liking and the bacon was overdone. We didn’t let that spoil our day and we definitely walked off all the calories afterwards.

202/365 21st July

I don’t think my cherry tomatoes are actually cherry tomatoes! They are carrying on growing and growing but they are not turning red yet. I keep checking them hoping to see them changing colour but not yet. I do love growing things, even when it doesn’t always go exactly to plan.

203/365 22nd July

It seems like years since I have had a butterfly cake! Ellie brought me one in and it took me straight back to being a kid. They were always a Sunday afternoon tea treat and a favourite at parties. It was a lovely little surprise and definitely brightened up my day.

204/365 23rd July

I love the sunflowers in my garden. I always thought sunflowers moved to face the sun but mine are doing their own thing and pointing in all different directions. I read that young sunflowers do follow the sun but once they mature they usually face east. There's a little fun fact for you.

205/365 24th July

The farmers around here have been really busy harvesting their crops over the past couple of weeks. We've heard them at all hours doing their thing. It always amazes me how quickly it all happens. They were busy on Thursday and I passed by the field while they were combining. I ended up getting a mouthful of dust from the machines but I still had to stop and take a photo because it is such a fun part of living in the countryside.

206/365 25th July

Stu is planning on decorating the bathroom when he has some time off work next month. He has some big plans and has been ordering stuff in preparation. Instead of painting around the shower, he's ordered some PVC shower wall panels, so it'll look a bit different when it's finished. It's his project, so I'm quite happy to let him get on with it. The last couple of times the bathroom has been decorated, I've been the one doing all the work, so I'm more than ready to let him get on with it. It might be one of the smallest rooms in the house but it always seems to take the most work!

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