Life Lately

I've been a bit rubbish about posting in this little space recently. Good intentions just seem to constantly fall by the wayside. I keep thinking to myself that I'll just get through the next busy week, then things will settle down, when something else throws me off course and I find myself repeating this thought over and over.

Also, at the moment, my work pattern keeps altering on a weekly basis, which is fine for the time being. I really do love all aspects of everything I do. No two days are ever the same, so it's never ever dull. There's a rumour going round that things might be more settled in several months time, but I've heard that one before. It certainly keeps life interesting. 

But on the whole, life is pretty great. I'm becoming much better at prioritising my own needs, and with practice, I'm finding that it's getting a little easier for me to let go of things that I have no control over. Perhaps it's an age thing :) But whatever it is, I am here for it. 

Last week we were down in London again, for a couple of days. I always love our visits to the city, and of course, the reason for them. And I still get a thrill when I see all the iconic landmarks, but over time Lily is becoming less and less impressed at the sight of the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. We had a lovely time, though, and she did enjoy her promised trip on the pedalos in Hyde Park. We also spent some time at the immersive Outernet experience, which was quite mesmerising. Huge wrap around screens playing images, including underwater scenes, space, and blossoming trees. It was amazing to experience, but not quite as pretty as the real thing. 

The trees here are full of blossom just now. They are so beautiful, but it's sad that their loveliness is short-lived. All too soon the petals begin to drop, like nature's confetti, creating a  carpet of pink beneath the branches.

And the bluebells...

Naturally, we had to go to the woods so that we could witness the annual show of bluebells. A very special place, where only those who know can get to enjoy this stunning display. 

Easter was spent fairly quietly, here. In the morning, we went for a lovely walk overlooking the bay. It was a little more strenuous than I'd anticipated, but the views from the top were absolutely stunning. In the afternoon, Lily insisted on an egg hunt, and we made some of our favourite chocolate cornflake nests. Just for a change, I also baked some delicious cookies using broken up mini eggs instead of chocolate chips. 

And that brings me to this weekend. Yesterday morning, I ran in my very first Parkrun. I'd thought about it for a while now, and I'm really glad that I decided to give it a try. I'm sure it did me good to push myself, and everyone there was incredibly welcoming and supportive. I think I'll try running another one soon, and see if I can beat my time.

Today, I've done the weekly shop, baked flapjack, and  I've been pottering about in the garden. I've finally re-potted the acer, which my lovely friend bought me, last year, and I used the remainder of the compost to top up the apple tree pots. This week, the spinach will be ready for it's first harvest, which is a good job, as I need some for a new recipe that I'm trying out. And the carrots, beetroot and spring onions all appear to be coming along quite nicely. It looks like I'll be getting a healthy crop of blackcurrants later in the year, as well.  The nasturtiums are also just starting to grow. I'll be keeping a close eye on them, so that they don't get out of control. 

And my forget-me-not plant, grown from seeds given to me after my dad died, and which had been killed by the hard frosts, must have self seeded into the lawn. So now, I've carefully transplanted several of the little flowers into a small pot. I really hope they'll continue to grow.  

Back soon(ish).

J. X