Each week I join in two linkies that I love. One is Word of the Week and the other is Keeping it Real. If you don’t know what a linky is, it’s a link up of blogs where you share your blog and read others in return.

I’ve found that both these linkies seem to overlap and it’s hard for me not to end up repeating myself. I love writing about what we’ve been up to each week though and that’s really what my blog is about. So, I’ve made a decision. From now on I’m going to combine both posts and talk about my week while choosing a word that sums it up.

So, my Word of the Week this week is HOT! yes, in capital letters because it is very hot!

cartoon picture of a sun shining in a blue sky with a single white cloud.

France

My lucky Star had a 3 day break in sunny France last week and enjoyed every minute. I can’t believe that just a year ago I was reluctant to let her go on a residential trip to Kingswood, about 30 miles away, yet this year, I let her go to another Country! She was so excited about the trip though, and I wanted her to take the opportunity. Also, I have learnt how good her school is with her, especially with her extra needs.

She had a fabulous time though and got to visit an aquarium and a WWII beach, as well as some recreational beach time. She didn’t get home until 11.30pm on Friday.

Shopping

I had to go out to get a few things on Saturday and this meant having to take the kids shopping. This doesn’t always turn out well as not one them actually enjoys any kind of shopping unless I’m buying them stuff.

I got my things and gave them some money to spend in The Works which kept them happy. Then we had to get Boo some new trainers, the others waited outside.

Finally, we were going past a new clothes shop and Boo wanted to go in, she’s the only one of my daughter’s that is a girly girl and enjoys things like clothes shopping. I sent Dad and the Little Man to go and get some food from Greggs while I took the girls in the shop.

They went a little wild, picking out lots of new outfits, even Star got into the spirit, picking out clothes from the ladies section because she’s that big now. I even through in a pair of trousers and a top for myself. Boo begged me to buy her a ring from the costume jewellery section so I threw one in the basket, along with some socks for Daddy. I was a bit worried, partly because I didn’t have my glasses on and couldn’t see the prices, but also because I was buying all this from my new wheelchair fund. I was really surprised when the total came to less than £50. Quality wise I’d say the clothes were on par with Primark, but, we have trouble finding the right sizes in Primark and in this shop everything fitted just right.

We now have a few more items for our holiday wardrobe, I’m just hoping it’s this hot in August.

BBQ

Of course when it’s hot you have to get the BBQ out and have dinner al fresco. This is our plan for today and Hubby has just been out to stock up on baps. What I don’t get is, if we have burgers for dinner, then it will be one or two each with some fries and maybe some sweetcorn or beans. On the BBQ it seems that three or four is the norm, especially for the men, and that’s along with a couple of hot dogs, chicken drumsticks, bbq ribs and corn on the cob! I always make a bowl of salad too, but that seems to get missed.

Kingswood.

This weekend we see Boo off on her first residential trip to Kingswood, an outdoor adventure experience for children. She’ll be choosing from some fantastic activities like abseiling, hiking, go-karts and zip wire. It will be her first time away from home alone but I am sure she will be fine. (I may not, but I survived Star going to France.)

I just hope the weather stays nice for her, but maybe a little less hot as they’ll be doing lots of strenuous outdoor activities. I’ll be packing her sun cream and long sleeve t-shirts anyway.

Finally

I’ve rambled so much, maybe I should have stuck to two posts for this week! Anyway, we have a special weekend coming up as it’s my Eldest Daughter’s birthday. I’m going out for lunch for her, we are having sushi, our favourite. The other’s are not so keen so they can keep themselves occupied with a day in town, perhaps even a Burger King or Pizza Hut visit. Then on Sunday she’s off on her holiday to the South of France to spend some time with her Dad. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be hot there! She doesn’t normally go in Summer as her Dad works long hours, but she’s an adult now so she’ll find plenty to do on her own.

Next week is going to be pretty boring in comparison.

 

Debs Random Writings
The Reading Residence

 

Ok it may have disappeared right now, but my word of the week this week is SUN!

We spent the entire bank holiday weekend stuck indoors with the curtains drawn, blocking out the sun and the neighbours having fun in their gardens. We were sick! It just kept coming as one after another we were knocked out by a sickness bug.

We knew the sun was out there though and it made us feel even more miserable.

The kids went back to school on Tuesday, and then it was into the garden when they came home. Making the most of the sunshine.

I was still ill but I had to go to the GP. The surgery is only at the end of our street and I felt so poorly as I got into my wheelchair to go, wishing I didn’t have to. But, once I was outside and I breathed in the fresh air and soaked up some sunshine, it made me feel better, like a skin absorbed tonic.

Yesterday, Graham had to go to a friends funeral so I had to pick up the kids from school. I actually enjoyed the journey in my chair. It was a little cooler but still sunny and the trip turned out really good. We even stopped off for ice cream on the way home.

The sun is hidden behind some thick cloud at the moment, but I do hope it returns soon. We have some catching up to do.

How has your week been?

 

The Reading Residence

 

 

Two of my littlies have had trips this week and the other has had a letter about her residential trip.

First was Star who went to the NEC for the Big Bang Science Fair. She didn’t really tell me much about it, but I can tell she had a good time because she came home in a really good mood. She was also very tired and achy so an earlier night was in order. She went on Wednesday 14th which was PI day, or Pie Day, take your pick, but I know which Pie I prefer.

It was also the day that Stephen Hawkings passed away. How he lived for so long with such a debilitating illness I’ll never know, but he had such wisdom, not just scientific but incredibly humanistic too. This week was also the third anniversary of the death of Sir Terry Pratchett, and I had been a fan of his for many years. He said that a man would not die so long as his name was spoken. I’m sure the names Sir Terry Pratchett and Professor Stephen Hawking will be spoken for a very long time to come.

On Thursday it was the Little Man’s trip to the Museum and Art Gallery. Again, it was difficult to get him to tell me anything about the trip but his teacher said he was very well behaved which pleased me. I didn’t really worry about him playing up while they were out because whenever we go out anywhere he behaves really well, often better than the girls. His behaviour in the classroom is a different story though.

Finally, Boo is off on a residential trip in June, of course she has to wait until after the dreaded SATS. The school is closed tomorrow for teacher training, but they’ve asked Boo’s year to go in for extra SATS tuition. I’ve declined. I will let her have an hour on EdPlace instead.

Not trip related but a bit of a mum boast. Today Star was invited to spend the afternoon eating pizza and watching a Harry Potter movie, yes, they called it ‘Pizza and Potter.’ It was a reward for fifteen children from her school year for great behaviour in the last term. I think it’s a lovely incentive for the children, but I do hope they give the children plenty of opportunity to be chosen. I know that Star has difficulty in school sometimes so being rewarded like this will be good for her.

 
How has your week been?

The Reading Residence

Cold

a frosty icicle bubble

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

So a lot of things have happened this week but how could my word be anything other than cold! I know most of the country will be feeling the same.

I think we may have got off lightly with a lot of the weather, I may be eating my words by the time this is posted, but we haven’t had a huge amount of snow, just an relentless flurry of the white stuff. It has been so, so cold though.

On Monday I had to go and pick up the kids from school in my wheelchair. There was a slight flutter of snow but it wasn’t sticking around. It was, however, incredibly cold and chilly and it didn’t matter how wrapped up I was I still felt the bite.

I vowed not to go out again this week, but on Wednesday I had to pop to the end of the street to the GP surgery, again in my wheelchair, again in the flutter of snow that didn’t settle.

I’m so lucky that my house is warm, we have only a slight draft in the living room but if we draw the curtains we don’t feel it, and we haven’t had the heating on that much during the daytime. All the bedrooms are cosy except for the Little Man’s room and he has a big duvet to keep him warm. If he gets too cold he can always come and cuddle with me, I won’t mind.

I look at the news and see how awful it’s been almost everywhere else and feel quite lucky. Yes, it’s freezing cold but we’ve had little in the way of transport disruption and the school has been open all week. The kids finally have a snow day today, I’m just glad they don’t have to go out in the cold.

My fingers are tightly crossed that the Beast from the East and Storm Emma are soon packing there bags and leaving our country alone.

Keep warm everyone, and don’t go out unless you really have to x

The Reading Residence
p.s. Don’t you think the photo I’ve used is beautiful. I love Unsplash for free images, there are so many gorgeous photos to choose from.

photo: krista-mcphee on Unsplash
The kids don’t go back to school until next Wednesday and despite keeping their usual bedtime they have been getting up later and later. The Little Man still wakes up but he’s been getting into bed with me for a cuddle. The girls have not been getting up until about 8am (which, believe it or not, is really late for them, especially Star who is normally a 6am starter!) So, I’m been getting a little extra time in bed each morning. 
I’ve been suffering really bad fatigue lately, not sure why. When I get tired I get really tired and can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I’ve dropped off at the lap top several times, and reading a book, crocheting and watching television. I guess that’s nothing unusual, but the other day I dropped off in the sink while attempted to wash my hair with the shower head. Thankfully, I was wise enough to realise I wasn’t fit enough to take a shower, I’d have hated to fall asleep in there, I may have fallen off my stool! I went out for the first time since Christmas Eve yesterday and fell asleep in the car, luckily, I wasn’t driving!
I was so tired that I slept through Storm Eleanor, despite her breaking my glass topped garden table!
My day out was a trip to Dreams where my son purchased a new bed for himself. We spent a lot of time browsing the beds. I’ve decided that I’d like one with two separately controlled adjustable beds, but hubby fancies one that has a tv hidden away in the bottom. I don’t really like televisions in the bedroom, but if it means he doesn’t have to watch football downstairs then it’s worth it. The kids liked my adjustable beds and got really quite comfortable in them. Star has decided that she wants a Tempur Cloud mattress for her bed costing around £1000 for a single mattress! ….mmmmm…..if she would like to spend more time in it, it may be worth it. (or not!) 
I think our bedroom could do with a serious makeover, but we won’t have the finances this year, I’ll just have to keep dreaming! (see what I did there?) 
The Reading Residence