The Wednesday Hodgepodge #67

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer.

August is always a busy month in our house because it’s the start of birthday season. We have Stu’s birthday in the middle of the month, Ellie’s at the end of August and then Becky’s right at the start of September. We have a few fun things planned which I’m really looking forward to but I also know it’s going to fly by and feel a little bit hectic. It always seems like once the birthdays start, the next few weeks are just one thing after another. It’s lovely having things to celebrate though, even if my bank account might not agree!

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls?

Nope! I have never tried oysters and I don’t think I ever could. Every time I see one I just think they look like a slimy little blob and I can’t imagine actually putting one in my mouth. I’m usually quite good at trying new foods, but oysters have never tempted me. Pearls are a completely different story though. I think they are beautiful. They are classic, elegant and one of those things that never really go out of fashion. I don’t own any pearl jewellery and I don’t think I’ve ever actually worn pearls, but I do love how pretty they look. It’s quite funny really, that something so beautiful can come from something I have absolutely no interest in eating!

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'.

I think one of the times I really feel like the world is my oyster is actually now, with my girls being adults and starting to find their own way in life. For so many years, my life revolved around school runs, clubs, play dates, homework, appointments and making sure everyone else had what they needed and was where they needed to be. I loved that stage of life and wouldn’t change it for the world but when the girls started growing up, it felt like a whole new chapter was beginning. There is more time to think about what I want to do, places I would like to visit and things I want to try. It is exciting realising that life doesn’t stop changing just because your children get older. I think for a long time, so much of my focus was on creating memories for my family but now I’m also enjoying making memories for myself too. Life isn’t just about looking back, it’s also about looking ahead and being excited for what’s still to come!

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why?

Catalina Island California ~ Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts ~ Mackinac Island Michigan ~ Key West Florida ~ South Padre Island Texas ~ Kauai Hawaii

I haven’t visited any of these islands. Before I saw this list, I didn’t even realise that some of these were islands and some I hadn't even heard of! I always end up learning something new from the Hodgepodge. If I was lucky enough to win an all-expenses paid trip, I think I would choose Kauai in Hawaii. It looks absolutely gorgeous! The scenery and beaches look like something straight out of a film!

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following - "August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time." Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month?

I don’t really agree with this quote. For me, August still feels very much like summer. Maybe that’s because I always connect August with the school summer holidays. There are days out happening, everyone is trying to make the most of the warmer weather and there is still plenty of time to enjoy being outside. Of course, there are little signs that autumn is on its way. I’ve noticed the evenings are starting to get darker earlier but I don’t think August is the month to say goodbye to summer just yet. For me, September is when things start to change. Once the children go back to school and routines begin again, that’s when it feels like summer is really coming to an end.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Ugh! I feel like poop!! I am writing this on Sunday afternoon after catching the cold that Stu brought home from work and shared. I'm not properly ill, I just feel meh with a ton of snot and a rotten cough. Hopefully, by the time this post is published, I will be feeling much better and Becky too, she isn't feeling too great either.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #66

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What was the last thing you celebrated?

I think the last big celebration was Father's Day when we went out for a meal to celebrate Stu. All our big celebrations are coming up all my family's birthdays over the next couple of months. With nothing big to celebrate, we have been celebrating the little things like the nice weather, leftover pizza for lunch, family time, little adventures, clothes drying out on the line quicker than I can wash them and Ellie having another job interview on Monday. I will write more about it later in the week as I am writing this before the interview happened.

2 July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, when you hear the word tiger what's the first person-place-thing-whatever that comes to mind?

When I think of tigers, the first thing I think of is Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh! When Becky was little she loved everything about Tigger and was crazy about the song The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers. She would bounce around singing it at least 5 times a day. I was pregnant and we were talking to Stu’s brother about baby names. He jokingly suggested, in front of Becky, that the new baby should be called Tigger. Well, that was it. Becky was convinced. As far as she was concerned, the baby’s name had already been decided. She told everyone that her new baby sister was going to be called Tigger. After a lot of discussion and tears, she did come around to the idea of her sister being called Ellie. lol

3. The expression 'eye of the tiger' describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to?

At the moment, my “eye of the tiger” is probably going into making the most of life and not sitting back waiting for things to happen. I am trying to create my own opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear in front of me. I’m trying to say yes to new experiences, living more in the moment instead of planning everything in great detail and of course, working towards my goals.

4. What was the last meal you cooked?

I am writing this on Sunday morning, so the last meal I cooked was last night and it was homemade pizza. I say homemade but I did cheat slightly and buy ready-made pizza bases and we just added our own toppings. Ellie made her own with way too much on top and I made Stu's and mine. He had tomato and sweet chilli base, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni, ham, salami and cheese. For mine, I had a BBQ base, onions, mushrooms, sweetcorn and chicken with a little bit of cheese on top!

5. Describe your July using exactly five words.

Family, football, walking, busy days!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I have done a silly thing. I wanted something easy to have on the TV in the background and decided to start watching The Walking Dead from the beginning again. I seem to do this every year around this time of year. The good thing this time is that there is even more to watch because I saw on social media that there is a new series of one of the spin-offs, Dead City, which follows Maggie and Negan. The Walking Dead is one of those shows that I loved. The characters, the storylines and all the twists and turns kept me watching even when the last couple of seasons were not that great.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #65

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Do your goals and dreams energize or exhaust you? Elaborate.

For me, my goals and dreams energise me! I write a goals and plans post every month here on my blog and there's something about writing everything down that gives me a kick up the backside to get those things done. I write myself a to-do list most days of jobs to do around the house that I work my way through it. I don't always get everything done but I don't feel overwhelmed, I feel motivated that at least I got something done. Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day.

2. July 23rd is national lemon day. Are you a fan of this flavor? What's a favorite dish or beverage you enjoy that calls for lemons?

I am not a big fan of lemons. I don't hate them but I don't go out of my way to choose lemon flavoured things. There are a couple of exceptions though. 

You can't beat a glass of lemonade with lots of ice on a really hot day, there is nothing better. It's so refreshing and I also wouldn't say no to a slice of lemon drizzle cake. I don't eat it very often but if someone offered me a slice with a cup of tea, I'd happily tuck in and enjoy it and think to myself why don't I eat it more. I do enjoy using lemon scented things to clean with though, everything always smells so fresh!

3. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"...is this something you're pretty good at managing? Have you had to do this recently? If so tell us about it.

I like to think I'm quite good at making the best of a situation. I'll probably have a little moan about it first but then I usually start thinking about what I can do instead of focusing on what I can't. A good example recently has been the really hot weather. I love summer but there have been points where it has been too hot to do everything that I have wanted to outside. Instead of going out for the day or getting jobs done around the garden, it has been better to stay inside where it's cooler and I've used the time to catch up on blogging, watch a film and tackle a few jobs around the house that I'd been putting off. Thankfully it has cooled down now to a more manageable temperature. 

4. Something you love that is lemon yellow in color?

My mind has gone blank and the only thing I can think of is sunflowers! They just look so cheerful and always remind me of summer. I have some growing in my garden that are as tall as me and they look like they should be blooming any day now! This one was from last year!

5. How would you describe your attention to detail?

My attention to detail is pretty good, especially when it comes to things that matter to me. If you’re expecting perfection in my blog posts, you’re looking in the wrong place. I definitely have the odd typo, spelling mistake or completely miss some punctuation. I’m more focused on sharing the story and getting my point across than I am about pleasing the grammar police. When it comes to attention to detail with my family, it is so important to keep things running smoothly with things, like noticing when we're running out of milk, using up food before it goes bad, remembering important dates, following new recipes properly so they're a hit with my family and remembering small details that my girls have told me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m writing this on a Sunday afternoon and I’m still buzzing from last night’s France v England game. What a match! That was proper football, the kind that reminds me exactly why I fell in love with the game in the first place. Both teams went out there and gave absolutely everything but it was so refreshing to see it played the right way. No silly drama, no nonsense with alleged corruption and none of that nasty stuff on the pitch. No dodgy fouls or anyone trying to hurt each other, it was just two teams playing with real skill and enjoying themselves. And because they were enjoying it, I loved watching it at home. It was just brilliant from start to finish. The excitement and the respect that both sides showed each other!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #64

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen. Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.

I definitely feel less guilty about relaxing in July than I do in January. It feels OK and acceptable to slow down in the summer, the days are longer, the weather is usually nicer and over the last month or so here it's been too hot to do anything majorly productive. The less I move, the better. hehehe Tea over the last couple of weeks has been quick and easy instead of standing in the hot kitchen and sitting outside feels like I am making the most of the nice weather instead of wasting my time. January feels different with the new year, new start mentality. January is all about being busy. You see reminders to get organised, eat better, lose weight and exercise more. I always feel like I should be busy in January, ticking things off my to-do list and it's exhausting compared to the summer months.

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset?

I go quiet! I keep everything to myself and overthink it all. The people who know me best can usually tell something isn't right as soon as I am giving one-word answers. I sometimes think that it would be better for me to get it all out by shouting and screaming and have it all done with instead of me dwelling on things!

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

My thoughts on AI are a bit mixed. I use it almost every day now and I probably use it more than Google. If I need ideas for a blog post, want help fixing something around the house or have a random question pop into my head, AI is usually the first place I go instead of searching through lots of websites trying to find the answer, I can ask one question and get a straightforward answer. It saves a lot of time. I also use AI to create images for the top of my blog posts and random things like the image of the trifle below.

On the other hand, AI worries me! It is scary what it can do and how realistic it can be when it comes to creating photos, videos and voices. I have seen videos of people doing or saying things that they would never do and things like that could be so dangerous if they are used in the wrong way! It's sometimes so hard to tell what's real and what's fake. Ellie has been applying for jobs and AI is used a lot in the process for some companies. She had a conversation with AI who decided she wasn't suitable for a job but I feel that if she had been talking to a real person she would have been able to explain that, yes, she wasn't great at a certain thing but still had so much to offer. I always think back to watching the Terminator movies where AI took over, became self-aware and sees humanity as a threat. I know it is just fiction, it's just a movie but I feel like that is where we are heading. AI is going to take over.

4. You're invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

I would choose dessert. There will always be people who say they're too full after the main meal but somehow they'll still find room for dessert! I think I would bring a homemade trifle.

It's one of those classic desserts that always reminds me of family get-togethers. I'd make it with layers of sponge cake, strawberry jelly, custard, whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate flakes on top. Trifle is a fun dessert, it's colourful, easy to serve and always looks way more impressive than it actually is.

5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________.

Me complaining about the heat! Every single year, in winter, when I'm wrapped up in a blanket, wearing three layers, I convince myself that I would happily live somewhere hot all year round. Now here we are in the summer and it has been hot here, much hotter than what we're used to and it has felt like all I have done is complain about it. We don't have air conditioning so it feels like the house is a greenhouse and I am being slow cooked. I've not able to get comfortable in bed no matter how many times I turn the pillow over, so I am moody because of the lack of sleep! The other week, when it was a really hot day, I went to get dressed, putting 3/4 length leggings on and I was that done with the heat and being sweaty I said no and put loose fitting pjs on. I've been having 3 showers a day some days just to cool off and we have gone through so many ice cubes.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

England are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup and they play tonight against Argentina! Eek! We've not had much luck against them in the past. There was the infamous 1996 Hand of God goal, where Maradona punched the ball into the net and the sending off of David Beckham in 1998, where we lost on penalties. During this tournament, I have seen favouritism being shown to Argentina, especially when they played against Egypt and Switzerland. I don't hate Argentina, they have an amazing team, it just feels like they are the chosen ones and referees have been easy on them!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #63

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated?

I thought grown-up things were dull, boring when I was younger but now it turns out I love those things and do appreciate them. Sensible shoes, now I am all about comfort over fashion. A quiet night at home in my pyjamas is another one. There was a time when I thought staying in was a bit of a waste of a weekend. Now it feels like a treat! Gardening is something I thought I wouldn’t have the patience for but now I enjoy it. I can’t forget things like matching towels, fresh flowers in the house, and watching documentaries on TV. I enjoy calm, simple things now and younger me would be confused by it all.

2. What was peaceful about today?

I am writing this on Sunday evening after a pretty busy week. Today everything seemed peaceful and like life slowed down a little! There was no alarm clock going off waking me up. I had a long shower and changed into clean PJs for the day, I watched The Sheep Detectives off Amazon Prime, the British Grand Prix, Project Hail Mary and then of course some football. Lots of tea was drunk, I enjoyed some delicious fudge and Stu cooked tea. Everything about today is so calm and relaxed. Nobody really asked anything of me, I didn't have to be anywhere and it was just a lovely day!

3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate? You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

This or that-blueberries or raspberries? blueberries or strawberries?

Nope, I am not celebrating. I have never liked blueberries, no matter how I eat them. I've tried them lots of different ways: fresh by themselves, baked into muffins, in pies, on top of pancakes and mixed into yoghurt and every time I end up thinking no, they're not for me. I will always choose raspberries and strawberries over blueberries but strawberries are my favourite berry. I could eat a whole punnet by myself.

4. Do you need a break? From what?

I don't feel like I need a break from anything at the moment, life is pretty good and quite manageable. A break from all the day-to-day chores would be a bonus. There's always another load of washing to do, pots to wash, meals to cook, cleaning to do and my family to keep on track and then the next day doing it all over again. I can't complain though, if I didn't have all those day-to-day chores I think I would get bored. Those jobs give me a routine in my life.

5. What has surprised you most about getting older?

It’s how fast time starts moving! When I was younger, a year felt like a lifetime, birthdays felt miles apart, school terms dragged and it felt like a week had more hours in it. Now I feel like I blink and 6 months have passed but the best surprise has been how I have just stopped caring about the nonsense. I spent so much of the first 25 years of my life worrying about whether people liked me, what people thought of me, what I was wearing and trying to keep everyone happy. Now I am older, I've realised that those things don't matter. If someone doesn’t like me, so what, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. People are always going to have an opinion of me and that is fine too but sometimes their opinions are wrong. Take my hair, for example. It's bright pink and people assume because of that, I am argumentative, confident and a little bit crazy but that is not true at all. I am probably the opposite of those things. Now I dress for comfort, not approval and I don’t feel the need to impress people and finally, trying to please everyone is exhausting and now I use that energy on things and people that do matter to me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Going back to question 2. I had a lovely lazy day on Sunday and Stu cooked us pies, mashed potato, carrots and peas and it was so good. I love it when other people cook for me. I am not the worst cook but there’s just something about food when you haven’t made it yourself. It always tastes better, every single time! My dad made us bacon sandwiches on Friday for lunch and it was exactly the same bacon we buy, same bread, same kind of pan, nothing fancy or different at all and it tasted miles better than when I make them. I sat there eating it and really enjoying the fact I didn’t have to do anything to have a meal apart from turn up. I enjoy cooking but I like it more when other people cook for me! hehehe

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #62

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What do you love most about your country?

There is so much to love about England, I could think I could write a whole blog post about everything that I love.

I think one of my favourite things about England is how close everything is. From where I live I can be in a big city, at the beach or deep in the countryside in under an hour and that is by just using public transport. I could be in London in just over 2 hours and in a whole different country soon after that. Wales and Scotland are about five hours away and France is about six.

Then there’s the history. It’s everywhere. You don’t even have to go looking for it, you’ll just be walking along and suddenly there’s a church that has been standing longer than most countries have existed. There are the castles, Roman walls, cobbled streets and it is all just part of everyday life.

I also have to mention the food. Sunday roasts, all-day breakfasts, fish and chips by the seaside, mince pies at Christmas, hot cross buns at Easter, Afternoon Teas for when you want to feel fancy and of course, baked beans on toast!

2. Your favorite patriotic song?

My first thought was Land of Hope and Glory but while I was searching for a video on YouTube Jerusalem kept popping up too. How could I forget that? It's one of my dad's favourite songs of all time. Both are linked to Edward Elgar and can often be heard at big sporting events. Both also show up in the Last Night of the Proms which is one of those British traditions that doesn't really make sense until you watch it. If you’ve never seen it, it’s not your usual quiet classical concert where everyone sits politely. It’s more like a big musical celebration where people sing along, wave flags and get properly involved. The Proms itself runs across the summer, ending with that final night in September. When it comes on TV it always feels like the end of summer.

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?

I had to laugh at this one because I realised I don’t actually own anything that combines all three colours in a single design. I have lots of red, white or blue clothes but none all together. My wardrobe does have a lot of stripes though. Tops, jumpers and the odd dress. I don’t think I own a single star patterned item.

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

I think I want a bit more adventure but nothing too big and exciting. I want to change our routine a little and say yes to things we normally talk about but never actually do. Things like going on a day trip somewhere that we've been talking about for years but never actually go on, trying a new cafe instead of our usual one, walking a different route and ending up somewhere I didn’t plan to be.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?

Camping out with friends. I lived on a farm, so there were plenty of fields where we could pop a tent up and my brother and I even renovated a half-built shed to make it somewhere we could camp out. My friends and my brother and his friends had great fun! I think the most we ever had were about six of us all crammed in with sleeping bags and talking and laughing all night until the sun came up. The best part came in the morning where we would build a little fire and cook our own breakfast. We would cook bacon, sausages, eggs, fried bread and baked beans. Everything tasted better cooked outdoors.

As an adult, I have camped a couple of times and hated it. Once was at a beach where everything was covered in sand and it was too windy and another time was at a proper campsite but it was just too cold. I think the older I have got, the more I like my home comforts and own bed. We have a fantastic tent in the garage, so there is no reason why we can't go camping again but camping as an adult makes me feel grumpy. It was definitely more fun when I was a kid!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is a strange one. My eldest took Monday, Tuesday and Saturday off work, which means she is off for the whole week because of the way her shifts work. My fella has Friday and Saturday off work, which seems odd and my youngest is just coming and going as she pleases, since she has now left college. I am someone who thrives on routine and this week has no routine at all! I've lost track of what day it is and have no idea who I am feeding on what evening.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #61

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

It is the sunshine which I love the most! Seeing it bright outside when I wake up makes everything feel easier and it really boosts my mood. There are the longer days too, it feels like there's more time to enjoy life instead of rushing through it. When the sun is shining, it's an excuse to enjoy ice cream, ice lollies, cold drinks, long cold showers and easy meals because I can't be bothered to cook!

My biggest pet peeve is trying to sleep when it's too hot. During the day I'll think the weather is lovely but when bedtime arrives and I'm lying there sticking to the sheets, flipping my pillow over every five minutes and I will start Googling how much air conditioning would cost! I usually just shower in the evening but I find myself having to shower in the morning too because I feel sweaty and stinky, it feels like such a chore.

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

At the moment it has to be Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) by The Lightning Seeds with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. Every two years here there is a big football tournament, whether it’s the World Cup or The Euros and this song just ends up everywhere! It instantly reminds me of summer in England because it’s always on in the background of everything. I think I have heard it or thought about it every day since just before the World Cup started.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate.

The freedom!! I'd leave the house in the morning with a few pounds in my pocket to buy something to eat and with no real plan. I'd meet up with friends and we'd see where the day took us. We'd always end up back at someone's house because we'd be thirsty or wanted a snack, then off we'd go off again. The big rule was we had to be back home as it was coming in dark. There were no phones, no checking in and no tracking apps. All we had was the trust our parents gave us. They didn't seem to worry where we were.

Now it's completely different. I’ve got daughters who are 18 and 23 and even though they’re adults, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable not knowing where they are for a whole day like that. It’s not even about not trusting them, the world has changed and it feels like there is more danger out there. I do think kids today miss out on the freedom that I had as a child/teenager.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

A few people said after I shared my post on Friday about my dad that I look so much like him, I have to agree! The older I get, the more I notice it in little things like my face shape, my smile, even just certain expressions I catch myself doing without thinking but temperament, that’s a different story! We couldn’t be more different if we tried. My dad is calm, doesn’t really get rattled by much and takes life as it comes. I overthink and stress about everything. If something’s happening, he’ll be like it will be fine while I am the one panicking.

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals - Sandals! I hate flip flops and that bit that goes between your toes.

beach or pool - Beach! Outdoor pools are not a big thing here in England so if the sun is shining I'd rather be at a beach.

watermelon or peaches - Peaches! I can take or leave watermelon, it's not my favourite summer fruit but peaches! Yum!

shorts or sundress - Sundresses! I very rarely wear shorts.

iced coffee or ice cold lemonade - This is a hard choice. Right now I would say an ice-cold lemonade.

amusement park or water park - Amusement park but I am not keen on either.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is where things start to get busy for my family. We have lots on the calendar for the next 2 and a bit months and almost everything is fun things! It started yesterday with us going to see Toy Story 5 and we have days/nights out planned, we have plenty of local events to go to and then my fellas and girls birthdays. This year it is going to be hard to buy my girls birthday presents as there is nothing they really need. Eek!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #60

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. June 17th, 1994 was the day of the infamous O.J. Simpson car chase. What were you doing in 1994? I'm guessing somebody is going to tell me they weren't born yet but that's part of the fun of the Hodgepodge. Lots of generations are represented here.

I can just about remember the car chase being on TV but I was too busy being a teenager to bother much with it. I was around 14 and a half years old in June 1994 living a carefree life. 1994 was a big year for my family as it was the year my parents sold our farm and we moved to a big town, which was such a shock for me, who had grown up in a tiny village in the countryside. That last summer at the farm was brilliant. Most of my time was spent outdoors, riding horses, camping out in fields with my friends and I made the most of the freedom that comes with growing up in the countryside. I also had my first experience of getting drunk that summer. It was not my finest moment and all these years later I can still remember exactly how awful I felt afterwards, which is probably why I still can't stand gin. School was going well too. I had a good group of friends, plenty of laughs and all the usual teenage dramas that seemed like the end of the world at the time but mean very little now.

2. What's your favorite summer salad that isn't the traditional tossed green lettuce kind of salad? Do you like fresh fruit in a salad (other than in a fruit salad of course)?

I have never really liked green, leafy salads and I always seem to go for pasta salads. My favourite is a tuna and sweetcorn one. It's simple to make; pasta, mayonnaise, tuna and sweetcorn all mixed together. It's filling and perfect when it's hot out. I usually make a big tub full and everyone will help themselves out of the fridge.

I like fresh fruit in salads. Pomegranate seeds go with everything, grapes are nice in pasta salads, pineapple goes well with ham and I also really like apple in coleslaw. I saw a recipe for watermelon, feta and a mint salad that I want to try sometime soon.

3. Is chivalry dead? Should it be?

I don't think chivalry is dead but I do think it has changed over the years. If we're talking about things like holding doors open, carrying heavy bags, offering someone your seat, or offering a coat when it's cold, then I do see that happening all the time. The biggest difference now is that those things are not seen as something that men should do specifically for women. To me, it seems more of an act of kindness that anyone can do for anyone else. I think that is a good thing. No, I don't think chivalry is dead and I don't think it should be.

4. Would you rather spend a week of your summer vacation in Hawaii or Alaska? Have you ever been to either? Are they two places you really would like to see? How do you feel about 'Hawaiian pizza' aka pineapple on a pizza? Have you ever eaten Baked Alaska?

I would love to spend a week in Hawaii with the sunshine, sandy beaches and warm sea. I could just see myself sitting on a beach, looking out to the sea with a cocktail in my hand. Alaska does look amazing but I think I'd probably spend half the holiday complaining about being too cold. I've never been to either place but I would love to visit both. Hawaii feels like a dream holiday, while Alaska feels like one of those once in a lifetime trips you go on just to see the scenery!

Pineapple belongs on pizza, not all pizzas but it goes so well with ham and mushroom! I have eaten Baked Alaska before but it was years ago and I am sure I must have liked it.

5. World Cup play is happening now...are you interested? Watching any matches? Did you or your children play soccer/futbol? There are eleven US cities hosting matches - Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York with the stadium in NJ, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle along with three cities in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver) - You get free tickets to one of these matches. Which city do you choose? Tell us why.

Football is a big deal here in England and at the moment the whole country is very excited about the World Cup. Even people who don't usually watch football follow along. I've been watching as many matches as I can and I'm really enjoying it. I always find myself rooting for the underdogs and wanting them to win. As I am writing this on Monday afternoon, I am watching the Germany V Curacao match that I recorded on Sunday. I have been trying to avoid the scores before I watch the matches I have recorded but I couldn't avoid the score since Germany won 7-1! If you are not a football fan, that is a lot of goals! Usually, matches end 2-1 or 1-0. What a game, at least Curacao got one goal and could have their moment celebrating!

If I could have free tickets to any World Cup match, I'd choose Dallas and watch England play tonight against Croatia in their first match in the tournament. I can imagine the atmosphere being amazing and how cool would it be to see your country play! I am just going to have to make do with watching it in my living room.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Phew! I am all sorted for Father's Day! I have bought my dad a hamper of some delicious treats that he's had in the past and loved. We don't have any plans for Sunday as Becky is at work and my dad has plans. Eesh! We did have a family meal out on Sunday as a treat for Stu and we all left with full bellies after a delicious lunch! The girls have got him some fab gifts and I can't wait to see his reaction when he opens them.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #59

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. How would you define 'the good life'?

I found this really hard to answer because it’s one of those phrases that can mean a million different things to different people. I think for me the good life isn’t about having loads of money, fancy things or everything running perfectly all the time. That would all be nice but to me that is unrealistic. It’s much more about the real, everyday stuff. My family being happy and healthy is the main thing. If they are good, everything else in life feels easier to deal with. It’s about not having things stressing me out all the time and being able to sleep without spending the night tossing and turning. I feel at the moment we are living the good life. We have enough money to live comfortably, we all have good friends and people we can turn to for support and just enough of everything that we need. I think the good life isn’t anything big, it’s just feeling steady and happy with the life you’re living right now.

2. What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)?

TikTok is definitely the most used app on my phone. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it but I’m not mortified about it either. I have learned so much from TikTok, found recipes, kept up with the news and have been introduced to a lot of new songs. I average about an hour a day, mainly at night before I go to sleep. I know it's not a good habit and I should stop but it's just one of those things. Most of the time, I still prefer using my laptop for anything online and according to my girls, that makes me old. They could live their lives just using their phones for everything but I like a bigger screen and a proper keyboard. TikTok and Instagram are the only apps I really use on my phone.

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.

I’d probably say it’s a mix of "everything’s coming up roses" and "stop and smell the roses." Life feels good at the moment. My eldest is house hunting and getting ready to move out when the right place comes along and my youngest only has just over two weeks left at college. Things are moving in the right direction and there is a lot to feel positive about. My girls are making me proud, are growing up and I feel like I want to just press pause on life and enjoy this part of it for a little bit longer. In a few months our lives could be so different. Why do they have to grow up so fast?

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)?

No thank you! Floral flavourings in food and drinks are just wrong and are not for me. They feel a bit like someone’s made a drink and then accidentally added some of the garden to it. Elderflower is probably the only one I can almost enjoy but even then it depends on how strong it is, anything too perfumey and I find myself gagging. My girls love Parma Violets sweets which smell just like flowers and I refuse to have them in the house because just the smell makes me feel sick. Food and drinks should not taste like they’ve been wandering through a flower bed.

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

Probably the things I’ve spent the most time overthinking are the tiny everyday decisions that somehow feel massive at the time, like what to eat, what to wear, whether I’ve replied to someone in the right tone or if I’ve left it too long and now it looks weird. That kind of stuff. It’s never anything dramatic but things that take up way more brain space than they should. As my girls would say, it's not that deep. lol

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I’ve just checked the weather forecast and it’s not exactly cheering me up. Over the next 12 days, we’ve got rain showing for about 10 of them. Ugh! I know, I know, in a couple of months we’ll probably be wishing for a bit of rain when everything turns dry and crispy but right now it just feels a bit unfair, especially after that week not so long ago with proper sunshine and blue skies. It’s like we got a tiny taste of nice weather and then it was straight back to grey skies and wet pavements.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #58

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 who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1.What's something you find extremely difficult that most people would say is simple?

Ohh! I have a list. Folding fitted sheets, mine just get rolled into a ball and put in the cupboard. Getting out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off, I need at least 3 snoozes. Opening packaging that is supposedly easy to open, like the bit on bacon or ham which says peel here, it never peels or those childproof bottles, I always need help! Cooking the right amount of pasta or rice, I always cook far too much. Finishing a cup of tea while it's still hot, it never happens and understanding the instructions for flat-pack furniture, I am sure that it is made for geniuses!

2. "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow fast in movies I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald. Does the season of summer make you feel this way? Elaborate.

I like that Fitzgerald quote, summer is a great reminder that the seasons and routines change and there are always new experiences ahead! This year feels like a fresh start for my family. There are some big changes coming over the next few months. My youngest finishes education at the end of this month, will leave college and at the moment is trying to find a full-time job, which feels strange after so many years of school runs, term dates and exam stress. My eldest is also getting ready to spread her wings. Nothing is happening yet but she has a viewing for her own place this week and could be moving out. The longer days, warmer weather and brighter skies in summer make everything feel a little easier. I think if all the changes in my family were happening in the winter it would be harder for me to deal with. When the sun is shining my mood is always lifted and I feel like I can take on the world.

3. Pickles. Love 'em or no thank you? What's your favorite type of pickle? What's something you eat that definitely needs a pickle added?

No, thank you! I don’t think I’ve ever actually liked pickles. My family love them though! Last week at McDonald’s, I removed the pickle from my burger and I passed it over to my eldest, who was very happy about it. The only reason my youngest didn't grab it first was because she hit the pickle jackpot with three on her burger. lol

I remember a few years ago the kids bought a pickle kit from the TikTok shop when it was a big thing. You wrapped the giant pickle in the sweet fruit roll-ups, stick Taki crisps in the pickle and cover it all in the spicy candy sauce. To me it was disgusting but they loved it and thought it was the best thing ever!

4. Tis the season...do you know any June brides? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? What's your favorite movie wedding?

Nope, there are no weddings happening here. The last time we went to a wedding was for Stu's niece and we had a little breakaway to go to the wedding. It was a fantastic few days and brilliant to get all dressed up.

As for favourite movie wedding my first thought was Four Weddings and a Funeral. It’s such a classic but I thought about it properly and came up with Father of the Bride. It just feels the most real. It’s not only about the bride and groom, it’s about the dad realising his little girl is growing up and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. I can 100% picture Stu being that dad with our girls. Then there’s the comedy side of it too because I can just see my own dad being exactly like George Banks, stressing over every penny, the house in total chaos, trying to keep control while everything around him goes crazy. Side note, I asked my fella his favourite movie wedding and instead of something romantic, he went straight for Game of Thrones and said The Red Wedding. That is such a man's answer. lol

5. June 1st is/was National Say Something Nice Day...say something nice here.

I don't think I have ever said this but thank you Joyce for coming up with the questions every week. It really is one of the highlights of my week. First thing I do every Sunday morning is look at the questions as I am so excited to see what they are about. Also, thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my Hodgepodge post. I do love a Wednesday reading all of your answers.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I went out on Friday night and while I was getting ready I thought my legs were looking a little pale, so I put some fake tan on. I thought it was an instant tan and with it being a couple of years old I just assumed it hadn't worked. Later that night, I noticed the tan had worked and my legs looked amazing, it must have been a gradual tan. Then I slept in it and the next morning I didn't look so great, it all went patchy! I've had 2 showers as of writing this on Sunday afternoon and it still hasn't all gone. It's a good job it has cooled down here and I won't be showing my legs off anytime soon. lol