Week 32 of #Project365 3rd - 10th August. A photo every day for a year!

Hello there, it seems ages since I have done a proper Project 365 blog post, last week I had a bit of a catch up but with only a few photos. This week I am making up for it and there's an extra photo. I usually go from Sunday to Saturday but this time I have Saturday to Saturday. Don't get excited, my photos are just of every day, normal life and that is what has been needed to make me feel better about things.

We have had a good week, with no dramas. Well Becky is having a drama at the moment, she's missing her girlfriend. Her girlfriend has gone away on holiday for a couple of weeks and Becky is lost without her, bless! It has been nice to have my eldest all to myself though. 

Now for a photo every day!

216/365 - 3rd August

Candy crush and wine. That was my Saturday evening.

217/365 - 4th August

All the little things that come in the Gousto box. Spices, herbs, sauces and random things like that. I love them, yes it's extra packaging but everything is measured out and gets used, apart from the chilli flakes or curry powder, I never add all of that.

218/365 - 5th August

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn. The trees at my dads are already dropping conker shells.

219/365 - 6th August

Our favourite meal of the week. The sun-dried tomato pork cutlet with buttered potatoes. I am usually useless at cooking pork chops but these turned out so well.

220/365 - 7th August

I had a lovely surprise on Wednesday, some flowers arrived from the lovely Jayne. She sent me them just to cheer me up and they certainly did. I wrote a blog post earlier in the week, saying thank you for all of the support. You have no idea how much the messages and checking up on me has really boosted my spirits.

221/365 - 8th August

What a grey and damp day Thursday was. It was quite chilly too, well chilly compared to the warm days that we have been having.

222/365 - 9th August

I am loving these candy floss grapes. I remember them being a big thing years ago but I never got around to getting any until recently. My family are not keen so it means all the more for me. I have been freezing them and they taste even better.

223/365 - 10th August

Just me! I took this photo and never looked at it until later, I look like I am about to cry, I really wasn't. 

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

We have had a quiet, calm week and it has been very welcome after the past few weeks. It has been lovely not to have any appointments, visitors and much to do. I am starting to relax without the panicky feeling which has plagued me. I am still on my guard but things are better than they have been.

Stu was having a quiet day at work on Saturday unaware all hell was breaking loose just outside with the riots in Hull. The first he knew about it was half an hour before he finished for the day and the next shift were coming in. I was watching the news as it was happening on Hull Live and of course the live streams on TikTok. The police were everywhere, shops were being looted and fires had been started. Amazingly when Stu came out of work it was all pretty calm, there was rubbish and police everywhere but he managed to get the bus home and it was actually early! Social media is a wonderful thing and I have seen so many people being named from the photos being posted online, those who were looting and causing chaos.

We spent the rest of the weekend catching up on the housework that I hadn't done, we all mucked in and helped so it was done in no time. We had a Gousto box delivered, I caught up with watching 2 weeks worth of wrestling, Neighbours and some of Eastenders. It was nice to get back to some sort of normality.

I have been reluctant to leave the house after things that have happened and the thought of going outside was stressing me out but Stu kept me calm and we made it to my dad's, spent some time with him and my brother and then came home. The world didn't end and everything was good. My dad is amazing and when I am with him he always knows how to calm my worries, he always makes sure I eat too when I don't really feel like it. Stu and Ellie went to a cafe and I didn't want to so my dad took matters into his own hands and took me to his and cooked me a bacon sandwich. I couldn't not eat it, I would have been told off. I am 40 odd years old and still don't like being told off by my dad. lol

I have been struggling to stay calm with some paperwork that I've had to do. It should have been simple, we were told to fill one form in and everything would be dealt with. Nothing is every that simple. Three emails and two phone calls later and we think it is sorted. I am not holding my breath though, I am expecting more forms to fill in. Ugh!

With what has been going on we have had lots of support and some of it came this past week for Ellie. It has been frustrating, they ring Ellie's phone to offer help and she won't speak to them. She struggles to speak on the phone because of her being deaf in one ear and even on speakerphone she finds it challenging so everything it has to go through me or an email to her and even then she has been asking me to help reply to the emails. The people helping us are so nice, they have such a calming, caring tone to their voices. If I am feeling stressed just speaking to them calms me down.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one!

What I have loved this week! Week 32. #FridayFavourites

 Hello there, it's been a few weeks since I have linked up with Erika and Andrea for their Friday Favourites. We had a weekend away and some family things going on. I actually took a bit of a break from blogging but I am back now. Hooray! I have missed reading all of the Friday Favourite posts and can't wait to catch up!

Blogging.

I have been blogging for almost 11 years and throughout this year I have had some moments that have made me think about stopping blogging. I did think about giving it all up at the end of this year but after having a break and not writing any blog posts or reading any blogs for about a week it made me realise how much I love this blogging lark and I won't be quitting anytime soon!

The Olympics!

I have had the Olympics on the TV as it's been so easy to watch, I don't really have to follow a story while my mind has been elsewhere. Great Britain really is doing well. I loved the equestrian events, gymnastics (Simone Biles is amazing), the rowing and of course the diving. I am getting right into the athletic events now. All the competitors are so talented.

Birthday buying!

It's Stu's, Ellie's and Becky's birthday over the next 6 weeks so I have been busy buying presents for them. They are so hard to buy for. There are no surprises now as I have to ask them to pick out what they want. Ellie is getting clothes, a gorgeous ring and necklace, Stu is getting a new Newcastle United top and a retro one and Becky is getting new trainers and some clothes. It was so much easier when they were little and just wanted toys.

The aftermath of the riots.

There have been riots up and down the country and as bad as they were it really warmed my heart seeing people going and cleaning up and just helping out businesses which needed it. I saw on the news that there was a family who took a hamper of sweets to a police station just to say thank you. There has been no need for all of the violence. On Tuesday it was a bit too close to home with threatened riots in Scunthorpe. Nothing happened but most of the shops were shut and people were out on the streets. The people from the shops were handing out water and crisps to everyone that was gathered. Lots of anti-racism protesters turned up in cities and towns up and down the country on Wednesday evening and it was really brilliant to see everyone coming together.

Saving money!

With everything that has gone on over the past few weeks we have had to cancel quite a few plans. A night away for Stu and I, a cinema trip, a meal out, a night out with friends, Ellie going out with friends and we didn't go to an event that was on over the weekend. It is rubbish that our plans couldn't go ahead but I can already see the money that we have saved which we are saving and we are going to do something special later in the year.

Good food!

We have ate rubbish over the last few weeks so it has been nice to eat some proper home cooked meals. We got a Gousto box and our favourite meal so far has been the Sun-Dried Tomato Pork Cutlet With Buttered Potatoes! The recipe card is going in the folder of recipes that I must make again! We have also been enjoying simple things like ice cream with fruit and I finally got some of the candy floss flavoured grapes which have been around for ages but I have never been able to get hold of. They are amazing frozen and have been a nice treat when it's been warm.

Getting out!

Some of what that has been going on in my families life has made me reluctant to leave the house. It has been awful but Stu said I needed to get out so he encouraged me to get ready and go to my dad's. Nothing bad happened, we walked there, had a lovely time at my dad's, walked home and everything was good. I am still reluctant to go into town but I am sure I will get there eventually.

New computer parts.

Ellie's computer has been dying a slow death over the last 6 months or so. Over the last couple of weeks she has been playing The Sims 4 and that was enough for the computer to say no more! It kept overheating and switching it's self off so Stu ordered a few things including a new motherboard and fan and so far they seem to have done the trick. It's a good thing he knows about computers, I wouldn't know where to start.

What have you loved this week?

A big thank you!

Over the last few months there has been a lot going on in my families life, I am not going to share what has been going on, this blog post isn't about that it's about me saying thank you to the amazing people which have been there for me.

There has been the professionals which have our backs. They have been quick to respond when they were needed, a phone call away and one in particular is going to get a bunch of flowers from me for going above and beyond to support us.

We have had people in real life, who are local go out of their way to help us. They didn't really know us but came running when help was needed. They have been keeping an eye on us and being there when they can since. A lovely guy had something to tell us but didn't want to knock at our door until he had seen Stu come home from work in case it scared my girls and I. It's thoughtful little things like that which have warmed my heart. 

My dad of course has been amazing! He knew what to say when I was sobbing down the phone to him, he has made phone calls on my behalf, sent his partner to sit with me when I needed a bit of company and a distraction and done lots of other things to keep us safe and happy. I feel so lucky that we live so close to him. He rushed here one evening and I have honestly never seen his old car move as fast. lol

Then there has been you, readers of my blog and other bloggers. You have kept me going when things have been really bad. 

There was a woman who offered practical advice with links where I could find support for my family. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have rang a number which resulted in me getting some answers when I felt totally lost and in total despair.

Another blogger friend has been a total rock to me. She has been there just to listen to my rants. I knew I could always go to her to chat but was worried I was bothering her but this week has just proved what a true friend she is. 

I have received emails from the US and Australia, letting me know people are thinking about me and my family. Just knowing people are thinking about us boosted my mood. Kind words and prayers were more than enough to make me smile when I really needed it. I am not a religious person but to know someone is praying for you and your family is something special.

Thank you for your continued support. Our dramas might not be over anytime soon but I don't feel so alone now knowing that I have such a strong support network!