Trail n Rail

GO has caught the bug, he liked to spend his free time outside, walking, this is something I have always enjoyed and have made GO tag along.  I could never tell whether he was happy or just doing it to keep me quiet.  Well I now know that he enjoys it.  Checking out his local activities app he mentioned something about a walk, "by that park you liked". I wasn't paying attention, I was distracted.  A few weeks later I was asked at work what I was doing at the weekend and a big red flag flashed in front of my eyes.  I knew we were walking, I vaguely recalled something along the lines of Bolton to Ramsbottom.  This didn't sound like a good idea, I was still breaking my new boots in.  I was afraid.

It turns out the trail was from Bury Bolton Street station to Ramsbottom a much more manageable 5miles. There were a lot of people, all kitted out for a proper hike.  I whispered to GO that we'd be in the back and we'd just stroll along.  GO had different ideas, we set of in the lead pack and stayed up front for the entire trail.  It's funny how fast you walk when you are not gossiping. Many people came and went but we were the only two to remain in the lead pack the whole way and for that I am so proud of us.  Even the "hard part" was quite easy, the hills of Tod have cracked me.  The best part was the free steam train ride back to the car at the end.

 

   

 

We're going on a trip

Spring bank half term used to consist of me sat on the sofa writing reports while GO worked.  Last year he was recovering from dental surgery so we didn't do anything.  This year we purchased a new (to us) tent and picked a place to visit.  We couldn't decide between Bamburgh or Whitby. Eventually after much umming and ahhing we decided to visit Whitby, this is Yorkshire you aren't always guaranteed great weather and we knew we could be home in a couple of hours.

Suits you

I went to pick GO up from the optician a few weeks ago, while I was waiting I tried in a few glasses and liked what they had.  On the spot I decided to book an appointment myself.  The day came and I felt yucky so I postponed it for the following week.  I hopped on the train and strolled through the park before arriving early. I apologised and said I could wait but they jiggled things around so I could been seen quicker.  As I sat in the chair the optometrist asked me my age and said that as I was 40 I would need extra tests.  I had the usual tests, plus a glaucoma test that instead of blowing air into your eye you have drops put in that turn your tears orange.  He warned it might smart a bit but wouldn't last too long.  It stung like a beeyatch.  Then I had to have my

Peripheral vision checked I sat with my face in a huge white bowl wearing and eye patch and each time I saw a light I had to click a button.  It took a while to get used to it and I am sure that I clicked a few times when there was nothing there.  After about forty minutes I was told that my vision was still pretty much the same and was allowed to choose some new spectacles.

 

 

 

 

I'm not telling which ones I picked but they matched my picky criteria exactly.  Rectangular, brown with springy arms.

Why?

It started with one  file being unavailable by the end  of the weekend I had lost hundreds of photos, videos an  music files.  I'm not sure what happened, online advice  range  from virus (possibly) to damaged hard drive (most likely) whatever  reason I was devastated.  I managed  the files to the computer and have found lots  of missing photos on here and Facebook.

We got the call

"Meeting in the hub at half twelve."  In a school, in my experience, that can only mean death or Ofsted.  Well it was the latter.  This was my first time teaching in KS1 during a visit, and it wasn't a great experience.  I went from teaching 15 children English and Maths to having the whole class.  Half of whom I knew nothing about.  I was advised to teach money, it was a disaster.  The "dephe" apologised and said that I had been failed by the school leaders, which made me feel a bit better.  My confidence this year has taken a battering but unlike in 2014 when I took this very personally, I know it's not me.  I have had quite a year and it has been one heck of a learning curve but I feel confident in my abilities as a teacher.  Although I still lose it when I'm being observed.

You can't scare us we camp

I found a secluded campsite about five miles from Whitby called Lady Grove, when we arrived it turned out it was a camper campsite but as we had a small tent they allowed us to stay.  We had never actually put the tent up, we had mentioned trying it first but never got round to it.  Schoolboy error!  I told GO to back our old tent "just in case".  It turns out the tent was fine and quite simple to erecting, one of the post had snapped (probably why it was such a bargain) but as we had our old tent  we just used one of its poles.  

The site was immaculate, and we were the only people there.  It was in a woodland area (mental note for the future Wood + Northern England+Night=Midgies)

Mayday

Doesn't he look dapper?

End of term party for GO's work (albeit slightly late), a meal out then casino lessons in Mnanchester.  While was snuggled on the sofa watching most haunted he was out enjoying himself, he's worth it.  He disappeared late  afternoon and can down ready ad I have to say he does scrub up well, although I am biased.

Paper Pregnancy Paused

Corrina and I have talked about the points discussed last week and have to agreed that at this moment in time a pause in the process will be a good idea.  It will give us a chance to get things organised and feel more settled.  We are in no rush to start a family and at times in this process and at time felt quite pressurised.  What do we have to do now?  How will we go about restarting the process?   

Seasonal Visits

I welcomed two lovely ladies for a flying visit.  It was their first visit since we'd move and it was lovely reminiscing and having a goo old catch up.  We tend to see each other every three months and it's amazing how much living we all manage to pack into such a short time.  Babies have grown older, jobs have changed, houses sold, adoptions paused   (more on that another time) an new decades started.

We started off with a drama, having missed the fast train into Manchester we lost our Londoner whose phone had died and her lady words were Primark.  As Dorset lady and I looked we got a message saying she was in a phone shop.  

Once reunited I was told that they had planned something special to celebrate my 40th.  We had an hour to kill, wine in Harvey Nicks it is then, followed by a wonderful afternoon tea in Raddison Blu.  We had a gentle and tea of savoury bites;  a sample of fish and chips, steak and ale pie, chicken burger, baked Camembert and scones.  It was yummy and really hit the spot.  It was so filling I couldn't eat the celebratory birthday brownie.

It was so lovely to see the girls and we well and truly put the world to rights.  Roll on the next visit.