tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57010973860335137682024-03-18T03:02:50.814+00:00Just a little lessClaire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.comBlogger601125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-80451850125171718002023-01-05T16:12:00.005+00:002023-01-05T16:12:58.492+00:00Gentle goals for January<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHWDaLvCcyqamsnpT82wAidbAa91hE1wW8pDdG98Zh0EHOhFgqejG00ZPPyxcNqPGFvUj_G2Ed3Wny6LqBUYMfyp57nKNz5_eKz4UJVcqisOHnUlIZ8sJ5b9iP5UTks7iQDds_Fwe3pi11Zd-_cLq-WBnDp57UQolmaCYuV-x5s1TaAjTpZYe75mi/s3890/14039500-AE5D-49FC-BD20-D7089D099BC0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3890" data-original-width="2918" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHWDaLvCcyqamsnpT82wAidbAa91hE1wW8pDdG98Zh0EHOhFgqejG00ZPPyxcNqPGFvUj_G2Ed3Wny6LqBUYMfyp57nKNz5_eKz4UJVcqisOHnUlIZ8sJ5b9iP5UTks7iQDds_Fwe3pi11Zd-_cLq-WBnDp57UQolmaCYuV-x5s1TaAjTpZYe75mi/s16000/14039500-AE5D-49FC-BD20-D7089D099BC0.heic" /></a></div>I'm returning to setting monthly goals in 2023. I used to enjoy setting monthly mini goals and then reflecting on my progress towards the end of the month. My aim is to a) make myself more accountable b) build good habits c) try new things. Let's crack on with my short list.<div><br /><div>1. To read at least 2 books, one fiction and one non-fiction. I've been in a reading slump of late and I'm not sure why when I love reading and have been given some interesting books recently. What better month than January to enjoy curling up on the sofa with a good book?</div><div>2. To exercise daily either by walking or training at the gym. I've been going to a gym since April last year and have been enjoying strength training, swimming and the occasional fitness class. My fitness has improved, I feel more confident and my body's more toned. However, I need to walk on my no gym days or at least stay active. </div><div>3. Sew. I've got an embroidery kit and a some felt dog patterns both of which are adorable. </div><div>4. Have a low buy month. We're currently shopping from our own fridge, freezer and cupboards and only buying food that we need after careful menu planning. Also, I won't be buying anything I don't need such as clothes, magazines, make-up, decorative items, plants or books. Buying from charity shops is also off limits. </div><div>5. Make another Youtube video. I made 1 Youtube video last year which I'll link below. I'd be interested to know if this is something you'd like to see more of. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll reflect on theses 5 goals towards the end of the month if not before. I'll hopefully have lots to write about as well as photos relating to each goal. </div><div><br /></div><div>The photo is Gwynver beach, just north of Sennen Cove. We stayed at The Hut in Gwynver last year for Tim's 60th birthday. We had fabulous views of the ocean and amazing sunsets. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDTOUqA_1_kBTdn5jbLj8r4VRwJcNA9FcRHwTod3EQ0l9AFVFnJMn9SfJgLHXLJJesSDaCrROfocHl6hyIVFpxbcuMpiG36KyrNQ8_bQPAUAi1fAaCnT3quZVFd9jxiHTpPYuJv-rPqgMDKxeW0EUqZB4UnOoM0UzW259DDvidVXtYnPLBMs8g5Gz/s4032/CA6D1AB2-F890-41F7-AAD8-A184544B6CC7.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDTOUqA_1_kBTdn5jbLj8r4VRwJcNA9FcRHwTod3EQ0l9AFVFnJMn9SfJgLHXLJJesSDaCrROfocHl6hyIVFpxbcuMpiG36KyrNQ8_bQPAUAi1fAaCnT3quZVFd9jxiHTpPYuJv-rPqgMDKxeW0EUqZB4UnOoM0UzW259DDvidVXtYnPLBMs8g5Gz/s16000/CA6D1AB2-F890-41F7-AAD8-A184544B6CC7.heic" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2_HPXeV25OHFQkrX_mp_SDAQbu3OSU-52OMaUq699bFvGm1DBGlXseJBxMd38D5py4WXQqI7BEammCYc79PKXg4RPbkA2CQ1O9e5vSXNwkh6Z7Co3qjrSfiYgjJ5mSlVNeCpQUI3bifO3sV95BMR8H2eUuZUcM_9ulT0EcVni0dB0R-tlUNkwIDM/s4032/B52EB197-6466-4023-ADE8-D5EDF3CEAE07.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2_HPXeV25OHFQkrX_mp_SDAQbu3OSU-52OMaUq699bFvGm1DBGlXseJBxMd38D5py4WXQqI7BEammCYc79PKXg4RPbkA2CQ1O9e5vSXNwkh6Z7Co3qjrSfiYgjJ5mSlVNeCpQUI3bifO3sV95BMR8H2eUuZUcM_9ulT0EcVni0dB0R-tlUNkwIDM/s16000/B52EB197-6466-4023-ADE8-D5EDF3CEAE07.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsz4sa5oRbXXTvFfFCorvsPS2_fXT1U-yeIWKacYRqLQekF8UnzaGPU9Zv6NshjXeSD7e8ZkfbJEH1miRoN469MXmCFGxthRDvbiMWXfPPvwtFngJpasUEsF0w_Ff3Wyv15vLt2tLH-bRRF7DoTmHmEgTh_Xaj7sBqnD9fIhSXCnAe736pe-kPu_q/s4032/F7C57B8C-EC77-4988-A3BF-D27906563689.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsz4sa5oRbXXTvFfFCorvsPS2_fXT1U-yeIWKacYRqLQekF8UnzaGPU9Zv6NshjXeSD7e8ZkfbJEH1miRoN469MXmCFGxthRDvbiMWXfPPvwtFngJpasUEsF0w_Ff3Wyv15vLt2tLH-bRRF7DoTmHmEgTh_Xaj7sBqnD9fIhSXCnAe736pe-kPu_q/s16000/F7C57B8C-EC77-4988-A3BF-D27906563689.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSX9jJfScECSoa7Toe3_ZsIC5BCVRe-SIC4h-8E6kovsv5U3lwAeWWfvNHVebWOVb31bg7oYmpAR737nmtK-qo86o53C74xkTzf2YaquRlnnVogFiDOgx5XGj2TolCJbYzyz_lHA4j4YhUGCSvoTjaRB7aW4rSYqzufJ-gynQI1ZvrRa8pYtFIEPM/s4032/5CE950EA-A256-484C-BDCA-556B647C8CC7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSX9jJfScECSoa7Toe3_ZsIC5BCVRe-SIC4h-8E6kovsv5U3lwAeWWfvNHVebWOVb31bg7oYmpAR737nmtK-qo86o53C74xkTzf2YaquRlnnVogFiDOgx5XGj2TolCJbYzyz_lHA4j4YhUGCSvoTjaRB7aW4rSYqzufJ-gynQI1ZvrRa8pYtFIEPM/s16000/5CE950EA-A256-484C-BDCA-556B647C8CC7.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BOlbXWPjOvMHoKUY9PGWfhbzPOExpYaF0QGOZjON9CyPwooxyPPJ1rM_MGaLBRorss-mxofuy1ABACEf7OozpRbeCPhBq5GQYtEMm0yvXE-zY4VlhMIJRjJjnH0bGdToBpiS25T9F7mU7kbJrkmr_kGh9ExqF8KYcECEbZJC9nvknrwj5O0kfiJz/s4032/5A68CD07-2601-4013-92F3-1A51E6D103DA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BOlbXWPjOvMHoKUY9PGWfhbzPOExpYaF0QGOZjON9CyPwooxyPPJ1rM_MGaLBRorss-mxofuy1ABACEf7OozpRbeCPhBq5GQYtEMm0yvXE-zY4VlhMIJRjJjnH0bGdToBpiS25T9F7mU7kbJrkmr_kGh9ExqF8KYcECEbZJC9nvknrwj5O0kfiJz/s16000/5A68CD07-2601-4013-92F3-1A51E6D103DA.heic" /></a></div>I'll leave you with last year's video which as it was filmed in January (2021) is almost current :) I'd love to hear whether you've set any goals for this month or year. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JBqcMOJw-XI" width="320" youtube-src-id="JBqcMOJw-XI"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-56571252160330916562023-01-04T17:19:00.001+00:002023-01-04T17:23:50.667+00:00Christmas 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBTP3PHq3DlNdW9LKz9IWxrm8QPfUYf8fcuPaEu2--Oml-RYczCEl_CzxOK1-gU3sLUY0A7k2fmwuW5Jjm6dubhRkKYLrKOVBs4hgU_CuLnYN-bfwZjyRVKtNo2EY0Ryy21DLqjw8tSvHYKHWkZNU7_lWr600RTM1YnwiyEODnVfNjT9sCCfVqtvr/s4032/991F2F43-C106-4C58-9097-7F3617992A9B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBTP3PHq3DlNdW9LKz9IWxrm8QPfUYf8fcuPaEu2--Oml-RYczCEl_CzxOK1-gU3sLUY0A7k2fmwuW5Jjm6dubhRkKYLrKOVBs4hgU_CuLnYN-bfwZjyRVKtNo2EY0Ryy21DLqjw8tSvHYKHWkZNU7_lWr600RTM1YnwiyEODnVfNjT9sCCfVqtvr/s16000/991F2F43-C106-4C58-9097-7F3617992A9B.heic" /></a></div>Happy new year to you all. I didn't post at all during 2022 even though we had a busy year with more trips and outings than usual due to Tim's 60th birthday in March. It's a bit of a joke that Tim's birthday celebrations lasted most of the year. It's a shame really as there was lots to share but I hope to post more often this year. We are well and are both almost retired now and enjoying a slower pace of life. How are you? I can fill you in with what we've been up to in another post but for now let's concentrate on the run up to Christmas 2022 and the actual day itself. Our Christmas started in early December when we visited our youngest son in London for a few days. We had a tour of The Globe and saw a rehearsal of 'The Fir Tree', hence the headphones so that our guide could whisper to us and not disturb the play. <div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iqWoHI21I2XSTgPiMd3gN6JDKG46_HjGsfuF-Eav3XYx9uT7vE-kATzicjXkTptpJ47ga5c8J0MvbkcO0Q3Tm6ON5SrkLhoK1-_Pk8cXo2VZy9refZRURM_ujf9-MwDgKmoyhucwuoh8yCGVSQL8pTU26ixbv1eq9mwXgI3N_TdUoYhRSvpRjNaO/s4032/2A538350-76B6-407D-98E7-2F38A123B009.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iqWoHI21I2XSTgPiMd3gN6JDKG46_HjGsfuF-Eav3XYx9uT7vE-kATzicjXkTptpJ47ga5c8J0MvbkcO0Q3Tm6ON5SrkLhoK1-_Pk8cXo2VZy9refZRURM_ujf9-MwDgKmoyhucwuoh8yCGVSQL8pTU26ixbv1eq9mwXgI3N_TdUoYhRSvpRjNaO/s16000/2A538350-76B6-407D-98E7-2F38A123B009.heic" /></a><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2ZN42g7oEvPsOyn111DtPnKCCGvrrnpGVFX_XKpTv6R79zBXoiGFy6-Wg1Tzh9zEUE6EpBLrBRwf1-mwEusoGdSUyKNu0vBui-i25u1s7Pyek11KEeNc2EBimr-eDQibeVO921rJuvW0kU32488g2Hd-p7m6OoojEvtcsrN28oyaLX9BggPmXtyG/s4032/03FA1CC6-26B7-4F3C-89B0-8CC1DB7984C1.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2ZN42g7oEvPsOyn111DtPnKCCGvrrnpGVFX_XKpTv6R79zBXoiGFy6-Wg1Tzh9zEUE6EpBLrBRwf1-mwEusoGdSUyKNu0vBui-i25u1s7Pyek11KEeNc2EBimr-eDQibeVO921rJuvW0kU32488g2Hd-p7m6OoojEvtcsrN28oyaLX9BggPmXtyG/s16000/03FA1CC6-26B7-4F3C-89B0-8CC1DB7984C1.heic" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUvglbDlxyKA3YztQ1mMSCAbrRb6h1nuKwxnQ-4NLrgh6Z0sTu8q3OBCZMsiINryLMX_PfvPxwZNu1-QOPOzI8cjJz_jD7G0RsYSRFWBwlKkMgmkHJT2FXPwmxF4Vlcdf71SOAMtg0SEvMzY4v8YGS9bf6A0R5wLOs7DsesezgHBvw-Dl2QF8RCpR/s4032/0A332F49-BC9C-48D6-BBA2-D231591AEE54.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUvglbDlxyKA3YztQ1mMSCAbrRb6h1nuKwxnQ-4NLrgh6Z0sTu8q3OBCZMsiINryLMX_PfvPxwZNu1-QOPOzI8cjJz_jD7G0RsYSRFWBwlKkMgmkHJT2FXPwmxF4Vlcdf71SOAMtg0SEvMzY4v8YGS9bf6A0R5wLOs7DsesezgHBvw-Dl2QF8RCpR/s16000/0A332F49-BC9C-48D6-BBA2-D231591AEE54.heic" /></a>We also visited Tate Modern which was very close to The Globe. We booked to see a <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/ey-exhibition-cezanne">Cezanne exhibition</a>, an artist I knew little about. I prefer to see one artist at a time rather than lots of different artists' work. The weather turned bitterly cold whilst we were there and came as quite a shock after our very mild autumn. When we visited, London was very busy, possibly due to no train strikes being on and also because so many people haven't visited London since the pandemic. The Friday was quieter than the Saturday when the train and underground were over crowded. On the Saturday we went to see <a href="https://www.180thestrand.com/richard-mosse">Broken Spectre</a> a video installation by Richard Mosse at 180 The Strand. It was an immersive and shocking experience to see the destruction of the environmental crimes in the remote areas of the Brazilian Amazon. I would recommend it though. Our mood was then lifted as we briskly walked to Carnaby Street to see the iconic festive lights installations. They did not disappoint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdH1gWW4c-3vW5lgtHU6NIZEvPvCjIweuxqF8sc99-B6S7y4JoxteXo8EXjpUw7hNytXT_Izz9iiRMj2gVZTRfkatqFtBN1MXfKjCpspKHTEneDmNiKS45Sp-9zQxb7OmdyIo8rIYM8J5icX60O2wlzyM7UCiWZWkUbQfdyePOlSHHDHV6DwkSm44/s4032/352E2E57-4E37-4BB3-A621-6464CF649543.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdH1gWW4c-3vW5lgtHU6NIZEvPvCjIweuxqF8sc99-B6S7y4JoxteXo8EXjpUw7hNytXT_Izz9iiRMj2gVZTRfkatqFtBN1MXfKjCpspKHTEneDmNiKS45Sp-9zQxb7OmdyIo8rIYM8J5icX60O2wlzyM7UCiWZWkUbQfdyePOlSHHDHV6DwkSm44/s16000/352E2E57-4E37-4BB3-A621-6464CF649543.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOirZJnQFGu_W5JiGd8FetLZ2Afl4weqckeKDCAJ1XKM-V8IvJSpjV2yvge629U-37InE1xkrvS1iXm2yVuVXEfG7xXpiMXGFqIAzmB3sgYzeHF_CNhMK7yEmqPtToGD8Nu8EGoqrYtsT4Pf6qj1JDPb-pgq-_Qy4EQBB5OQPb2wSiQ1AtT2HIHInv/s4032/18FE1D66-3B2C-44B1-915F-F8F8EB55737D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOirZJnQFGu_W5JiGd8FetLZ2Afl4weqckeKDCAJ1XKM-V8IvJSpjV2yvge629U-37InE1xkrvS1iXm2yVuVXEfG7xXpiMXGFqIAzmB3sgYzeHF_CNhMK7yEmqPtToGD8Nu8EGoqrYtsT4Pf6qj1JDPb-pgq-_Qy4EQBB5OQPb2wSiQ1AtT2HIHInv/s16000/18FE1D66-3B2C-44B1-915F-F8F8EB55737D.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Egr-F9h8ScwGCLgwNBeJyv2JrTbapXRFjXIvmzdMM7vaOLS0Pk2ype-2ufSDgItKdLtIOSHsHAe7bbr_NkLsvkNgd5-8SFm70yDY7UHhtehEMTmBiQop7oTO89ICh67OweYyu_KmuSvejDvuH7cKeydcWnVo6ClDzPxVWgJq_S5TpdmEWkUxOsJ9/s4032/B31A57E6-7B59-44F0-8EB5-9EE891A08F10.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Egr-F9h8ScwGCLgwNBeJyv2JrTbapXRFjXIvmzdMM7vaOLS0Pk2ype-2ufSDgItKdLtIOSHsHAe7bbr_NkLsvkNgd5-8SFm70yDY7UHhtehEMTmBiQop7oTO89ICh67OweYyu_KmuSvejDvuH7cKeydcWnVo6ClDzPxVWgJq_S5TpdmEWkUxOsJ9/s16000/B31A57E6-7B59-44F0-8EB5-9EE891A08F10.heic" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ8gk88RupeozwKik3bDTLX5n2nbTUapgP-LCZqd5wdy0SQK4TjmbkFxvySjmgmjrYxzopLU0QtSKGF3dTKwMbAmtp9LQARGIP23YP1RetPTMDAKwngzSz_qjLN_yTScpNMwGI3T1yWPMRWGSolW4WhVJHJXTzs0_fdIEmV6OYU43RGudbARadD6W/s3859/E1E77486-B07A-4A64-BF38-2A5E1CD27FBB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3859" data-original-width="2879" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ8gk88RupeozwKik3bDTLX5n2nbTUapgP-LCZqd5wdy0SQK4TjmbkFxvySjmgmjrYxzopLU0QtSKGF3dTKwMbAmtp9LQARGIP23YP1RetPTMDAKwngzSz_qjLN_yTScpNMwGI3T1yWPMRWGSolW4WhVJHJXTzs0_fdIEmV6OYU43RGudbARadD6W/s16000/E1E77486-B07A-4A64-BF38-2A5E1CD27FBB.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg0-CrQIawq5EHnzVM_-C6Iu3ETKapniqDEYF041QF8p9KHG7ohtvw7mh_Q-xfW8ZdWLiQ3JxU1tjjtR_qp39B63muamWE7jHBePfMQSZ_3p5FLbXQRhuePU43yJD7Jok7hXlYnNaMROJ2rjIw6JNOVc8tCSGX0jJ8hgovjc8FZQHJlDu7FC9CjL6/s4032/7D9A7B0F-A316-4F72-89FF-23027565BFED.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg0-CrQIawq5EHnzVM_-C6Iu3ETKapniqDEYF041QF8p9KHG7ohtvw7mh_Q-xfW8ZdWLiQ3JxU1tjjtR_qp39B63muamWE7jHBePfMQSZ_3p5FLbXQRhuePU43yJD7Jok7hXlYnNaMROJ2rjIw6JNOVc8tCSGX0jJ8hgovjc8FZQHJlDu7FC9CjL6/s16000/7D9A7B0F-A316-4F72-89FF-23027565BFED.heic" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr8KOcW8JVpY-OeT_3C8pk86hhN43zc9HSroMfYI2cocdH_M0fpt4W930HFzwdyueOXET2IBNpVtkFt4XEJphb7Xt7VVofsLV8F_QDwwbXKfbniAerkVU8hnvwqQf-GWRYXrAmSEGRlhoMUB-vg4h6NU19CX_103dGzen8J4OqTprxa3QrNxuXW7q/s386/3065191A-01D7-4D04-979A-97B1E47F86C6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr8KOcW8JVpY-OeT_3C8pk86hhN43zc9HSroMfYI2cocdH_M0fpt4W930HFzwdyueOXET2IBNpVtkFt4XEJphb7Xt7VVofsLV8F_QDwwbXKfbniAerkVU8hnvwqQf-GWRYXrAmSEGRlhoMUB-vg4h6NU19CX_103dGzen8J4OqTprxa3QrNxuXW7q/s16000/3065191A-01D7-4D04-979A-97B1E47F86C6_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>On the Sunday we visited my brother in St. Albans before heading home. We also met their new rescue Staffy, Missy, who is an absolute angel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next day I had to work and then in the evening we went to see the Luminate light trail at Shugborough Hall, Stafford. We were impressed by the way the estate had been transformed. And my first mulled wine of the season was most welcome!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nUVZgXIa4IhHd7h64WWsfXgZddKDWbNDx7mzo1nzvNOqMeoW3cTGt15FqhrIjNF5LprEi8jsb02LEB11FOPySuhbw0s4MFoD7BJyG3TDAJRYhD2R3F1oZ8jNvy8iwcgh_btPKEgCLr8K1de3v1An1Nh2g6vvxmbS29eskWZwFWCbsMVL1R7VAoFa/s4032/607BE694-426F-47AA-B0BE-869FEC4782B8.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nUVZgXIa4IhHd7h64WWsfXgZddKDWbNDx7mzo1nzvNOqMeoW3cTGt15FqhrIjNF5LprEi8jsb02LEB11FOPySuhbw0s4MFoD7BJyG3TDAJRYhD2R3F1oZ8jNvy8iwcgh_btPKEgCLr8K1de3v1An1Nh2g6vvxmbS29eskWZwFWCbsMVL1R7VAoFa/s16000/607BE694-426F-47AA-B0BE-869FEC4782B8.heic" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69a8y9PZ1N5AwGWeKwF3AYcEDnGM2xxQGph9L-mgOi9lPenjQYMndM4RwmKKkmsbpI9vW318CuAw3ga20Jjzfv7LgrEZUGMj6ByUBhwYO8mFWLk7IsSCr4dMTo5z6ado6cYkVWrgWqxmcOsAfLwiU72Mjn8D8T4iiSbJY6270LtQzMLkakAyfbY4W/s4032/B6AEB21D-1E33-4E29-A707-BF86C6358FDB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69a8y9PZ1N5AwGWeKwF3AYcEDnGM2xxQGph9L-mgOi9lPenjQYMndM4RwmKKkmsbpI9vW318CuAw3ga20Jjzfv7LgrEZUGMj6ByUBhwYO8mFWLk7IsSCr4dMTo5z6ado6cYkVWrgWqxmcOsAfLwiU72Mjn8D8T4iiSbJY6270LtQzMLkakAyfbY4W/s16000/B6AEB21D-1E33-4E29-A707-BF86C6358FDB.heic" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ803Chh52INJWmaNclpez5rphp9vdXuTMUSAwsapzNtvqOP74XDH8U24nQFhE6kt-F_7OHodxU-Ba2D9LRG7DyLHsTsUqgdJX2nKb7meLH_-kw9ekyAEHPfSXb3DNT1cDmQ1uPvVnr3h07AbpXlYXPw0Fj03pbtk9pTv6h75He6fa5yRJg_SixniQ/s4032/FFA6D342-AEB0-44BE-BB7F-4000ED1EF404.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ803Chh52INJWmaNclpez5rphp9vdXuTMUSAwsapzNtvqOP74XDH8U24nQFhE6kt-F_7OHodxU-Ba2D9LRG7DyLHsTsUqgdJX2nKb7meLH_-kw9ekyAEHPfSXb3DNT1cDmQ1uPvVnr3h07AbpXlYXPw0Fj03pbtk9pTv6h75He6fa5yRJg_SixniQ/s16000/FFA6D342-AEB0-44BE-BB7F-4000ED1EF404.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVVT--NxupR7KNe_-sNzep0ksimCJc68hbHOquag-d-69ZiUGjlcpxpXIB0nzWbngm0hww9kg6bVQYWoGpJZ-MFdsPqnWWObLgow26qx6eTM4gO_3S_8Spbd2weJVxiw47IJJi0mUVXApQW7hKOL4zGBldPayKo0hLeJoK3GB7GCvb64Y8uA3ivxk/s4032/1B5087CD-4F5C-47E5-992D-1875D79F5C05.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVVT--NxupR7KNe_-sNzep0ksimCJc68hbHOquag-d-69ZiUGjlcpxpXIB0nzWbngm0hww9kg6bVQYWoGpJZ-MFdsPqnWWObLgow26qx6eTM4gO_3S_8Spbd2weJVxiw47IJJi0mUVXApQW7hKOL4zGBldPayKo0hLeJoK3GB7GCvb64Y8uA3ivxk/s16000/1B5087CD-4F5C-47E5-992D-1875D79F5C05.heic" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did a few more days work in December as well as volunteer with my school's nativity play, 'Bethlehem Bake-Off', which was a hoot. I also had lunch out with friends and cocktails and a Christmas meal out with Tim. We put our Christmas decorations up later than usual this year and have only just started taking them down today. Tomorrow we need to clean!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIIv2GnAMytYHCrLIRun1H4Ins3ga2EW30Bf82By0nMOpkdtRNWdZXAf_7JqHt0gpS3B-IxFLTDyuYBlPgbFhGQiZCUFChauW6OCMP5M0zfkRy93ssHDDQYioiCeX6FWoQ4fEI1bYlshsmLgNCFqAAwhuQZ_ZC9_E67B9eOFRIW22ZHukat4wkASt/s4032/9BABB270-E24F-4C8E-BD0A-F552168DEDB3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIIv2GnAMytYHCrLIRun1H4Ins3ga2EW30Bf82By0nMOpkdtRNWdZXAf_7JqHt0gpS3B-IxFLTDyuYBlPgbFhGQiZCUFChauW6OCMP5M0zfkRy93ssHDDQYioiCeX6FWoQ4fEI1bYlshsmLgNCFqAAwhuQZ_ZC9_E67B9eOFRIW22ZHukat4wkASt/s16000/9BABB270-E24F-4C8E-BD0A-F552168DEDB3.heic" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEjt3NfjyksvxkejthRHpRqtveysByiYyA78Ku7WujijiPOnprx4r89VDoCtT1HQxQLp65iDAZ6oGMUMTBDc3W_HWBnFca_DYQOnrQwHWdh86KqsLXo8CtBmRMyIg34iNmzGuELRQGRe6RdAtqD8Pgxl-PFAHlHtmFxE-v1vnY9qTHz-B6qrC820b/s4032/D6A20222-F691-4393-A2B1-81949388EB95.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEjt3NfjyksvxkejthRHpRqtveysByiYyA78Ku7WujijiPOnprx4r89VDoCtT1HQxQLp65iDAZ6oGMUMTBDc3W_HWBnFca_DYQOnrQwHWdh86KqsLXo8CtBmRMyIg34iNmzGuELRQGRe6RdAtqD8Pgxl-PFAHlHtmFxE-v1vnY9qTHz-B6qrC820b/s16000/D6A20222-F691-4393-A2B1-81949388EB95.heic" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">On December 19th I went to Attingham Park, a National Trust property near Shrewsbury with a friend from work. The mansion was filled with a fantastic and varied display of Christmas trees. Here are just a few photos from the mansion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTZmb3hdF773_p-7MKh5Mbjp5Fl7FNnxt9TSEZEFlRa9Xou23pfKYYdwQ1_hmIeYRv4zpVarkDDpLJ6XLhO5smh42MpT_tzkhjVRNllXpeSjEACXRhDfJnw9BjsYVCA-nSf-BaYOxJa3qF0NOUg00XomLg7r850WzZR4Z0ed8e7KviHFCDJJXFay_/s4032/62CA7DD0-5F63-4951-BB31-31A0E9306C37.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTZmb3hdF773_p-7MKh5Mbjp5Fl7FNnxt9TSEZEFlRa9Xou23pfKYYdwQ1_hmIeYRv4zpVarkDDpLJ6XLhO5smh42MpT_tzkhjVRNllXpeSjEACXRhDfJnw9BjsYVCA-nSf-BaYOxJa3qF0NOUg00XomLg7r850WzZR4Z0ed8e7KviHFCDJJXFay_/s16000/62CA7DD0-5F63-4951-BB31-31A0E9306C37.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKYML31boYdUBv-m95h4vuzkbENd2ECJFTrA7PM5DUB_GSfBqXom-vrqZrDOWYscFFku9TNkSykVgVwwvs9HDx7MgxPScG3Ezkyym3nhoMcB_TimBV_EkJrHE39lTEQyxhYpWvzw0fK-V_hoNd-K1JKDTYGomRWqAMO6FSGDNaqdYb3qpHEiB7Q6X/s4032/7DEA9818-BB6F-452E-A22C-0B561A401E56.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKYML31boYdUBv-m95h4vuzkbENd2ECJFTrA7PM5DUB_GSfBqXom-vrqZrDOWYscFFku9TNkSykVgVwwvs9HDx7MgxPScG3Ezkyym3nhoMcB_TimBV_EkJrHE39lTEQyxhYpWvzw0fK-V_hoNd-K1JKDTYGomRWqAMO6FSGDNaqdYb3qpHEiB7Q6X/s16000/7DEA9818-BB6F-452E-A22C-0B561A401E56.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtNDWPzk5Qm5-Jqz-yayEv_5t2gDj8cdwZYaGrE74-sbrGeglBrbFk_xiLNGG1N0hSgO9-iek0l0eVgE8zhtI8ho7fY5FXSM0-1RhxugAbaA8LrXAyFyOHBu65oR5nLGWafR1qWd05NK4-V3pgfIxw0wXI-bdmEdFdcr7myNnWXiULd0nZMuRHMDe/s4032/74AD22F6-B91C-4A4B-8E75-1FEAEAFBD2EB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtNDWPzk5Qm5-Jqz-yayEv_5t2gDj8cdwZYaGrE74-sbrGeglBrbFk_xiLNGG1N0hSgO9-iek0l0eVgE8zhtI8ho7fY5FXSM0-1RhxugAbaA8LrXAyFyOHBu65oR5nLGWafR1qWd05NK4-V3pgfIxw0wXI-bdmEdFdcr7myNnWXiULd0nZMuRHMDe/s16000/74AD22F6-B91C-4A4B-8E75-1FEAEAFBD2EB.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qoD91fu4Nc-8mnWRaUCGCn0h_dKn5JrS-eQoiUi8Z_FIt9tcQGggNj6lY2e6fUucgmBa_cFV9m4eSLs7NQK3syOa-2sKGKcv_IT9SKyP38scNxRd82SeS_pP1UZiR0sycZrXQvSmgApw2Q2YN3er6JNJlUSa_YzJvCoiLwoBAfZ1J37MYSPJsT7w/s4032/DA5A1AB3-6B97-49E9-800A-4E472BCB01B7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qoD91fu4Nc-8mnWRaUCGCn0h_dKn5JrS-eQoiUi8Z_FIt9tcQGggNj6lY2e6fUucgmBa_cFV9m4eSLs7NQK3syOa-2sKGKcv_IT9SKyP38scNxRd82SeS_pP1UZiR0sycZrXQvSmgApw2Q2YN3er6JNJlUSa_YzJvCoiLwoBAfZ1J37MYSPJsT7w/s16000/DA5A1AB3-6B97-49E9-800A-4E472BCB01B7.heic" /></a></div>Our last trip out before Christmas was to a Christmas Jazz concert which was very jolly. We then had to knuckle down and finish wrapping, last minute shopping and prepping food for the big day. On Christmas Day we had a lovely day with our sons and my in-laws. I visited my Mum on Christmas Eve but sadly I couldn't take anyone with me due to Covid restrictions. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWMZGXscH4sBTJCc8ZE-j0fNOTbVQt9rVy8fGb8vs1DjcbAzjJwx4Ro4-jB2o11vWUuUs63Hwd0glN4ZYyg-6Ig42ludYeluubjiB46c5CITftaOJfRbtGSj9n8FaKRxWAYR1ljwHqYY5Az1xo-R-c2rPcgdy6gXEEBVovSQqLNd4LHGTGOjD3KZy/s4032/DF5F208D-CA7F-4B7D-8FE5-8F6B29F03886.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWMZGXscH4sBTJCc8ZE-j0fNOTbVQt9rVy8fGb8vs1DjcbAzjJwx4Ro4-jB2o11vWUuUs63Hwd0glN4ZYyg-6Ig42ludYeluubjiB46c5CITftaOJfRbtGSj9n8FaKRxWAYR1ljwHqYY5Az1xo-R-c2rPcgdy6gXEEBVovSQqLNd4LHGTGOjD3KZy/s16000/DF5F208D-CA7F-4B7D-8FE5-8F6B29F03886.heic" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrt0ZiBf9dIpJoUshP5EmEB4b0EMBzgmeOMKTEX7bKgO0AtNCiS_JGf20oaf1nq7hTMJsP7OzfGEe_3Tcx9kprOJ4IFCjtyb6J7SqwSxZ1rSkP-BYLCvtmBDOxAdIuUU87W-HrmcrXCOOwhY5UYCO9vEaCn6SgeFTNdy4zGn-L9ioOcNup2cWLwDh/s4032/BCBC7841-E3B5-4FFA-889A-73AFB19747C1.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrt0ZiBf9dIpJoUshP5EmEB4b0EMBzgmeOMKTEX7bKgO0AtNCiS_JGf20oaf1nq7hTMJsP7OzfGEe_3Tcx9kprOJ4IFCjtyb6J7SqwSxZ1rSkP-BYLCvtmBDOxAdIuUU87W-HrmcrXCOOwhY5UYCO9vEaCn6SgeFTNdy4zGn-L9ioOcNup2cWLwDh/s16000/BCBC7841-E3B5-4FFA-889A-73AFB19747C1.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5PuPNdKg72RnwhmTP0ZZQ8_QoTjhfyI0IqDA1IPAdo-12XOhvWscMfx4FJnnjxkI1cFneJWUGcCwHTmM-sDCyensfcgbK2j1_3OK5OJ191gEskx1r5p2iodGqDlFeTH0dPMwVwdaE96HOrTk4U6zGQEBTiuRixvEgIhvQTHsG279-EBCM21Wq79p/s4032/6EB5890E-AB9C-42AA-9473-80B97BB501AD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5PuPNdKg72RnwhmTP0ZZQ8_QoTjhfyI0IqDA1IPAdo-12XOhvWscMfx4FJnnjxkI1cFneJWUGcCwHTmM-sDCyensfcgbK2j1_3OK5OJ191gEskx1r5p2iodGqDlFeTH0dPMwVwdaE96HOrTk4U6zGQEBTiuRixvEgIhvQTHsG279-EBCM21Wq79p/s16000/6EB5890E-AB9C-42AA-9473-80B97BB501AD.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISF_RlL3jCSbX-Dac0H8_IJhitw0jpiOUPrPLb31YDFst0dCv_GFx-VffXsbfkBJ9TrjVv-kdiknpzhgzQSSbUgF5Gt1rvRM10ydxddndt0SZVCsQJXTiE2qgfJ9XUfvYjy0nhyJyYksxTMYuO18YTu3Ae21K8sJ6XnmH90NGGXpC1yhLW8Jcqwbe/s4032/4B1564D6-4968-4FD1-BE32-AB612729133D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISF_RlL3jCSbX-Dac0H8_IJhitw0jpiOUPrPLb31YDFst0dCv_GFx-VffXsbfkBJ9TrjVv-kdiknpzhgzQSSbUgF5Gt1rvRM10ydxddndt0SZVCsQJXTiE2qgfJ9XUfvYjy0nhyJyYksxTMYuO18YTu3Ae21K8sJ6XnmH90NGGXpC1yhLW8Jcqwbe/s16000/4B1564D6-4968-4FD1-BE32-AB612729133D.heic" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKVcMEza7_6UEtATZLd137XFrDCsrgLxcokW1RTmFYEyVhqBd3NDe4_7VuAE2VAwhtoLKok_9ex3Lx824ycBI_erxvl_uRZxt7KVy9mNRQ7N9DomH0IE7J5a7tUHBzQqjSyZ6o17YhJHVCSVuEeQcdGpdgd7ZEvQd3rI2eaDIVAMTN4V0Ke-iTh88/s4032/E19A672A-FB10-4F96-A718-8B667B24638C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKVcMEza7_6UEtATZLd137XFrDCsrgLxcokW1RTmFYEyVhqBd3NDe4_7VuAE2VAwhtoLKok_9ex3Lx824ycBI_erxvl_uRZxt7KVy9mNRQ7N9DomH0IE7J5a7tUHBzQqjSyZ6o17YhJHVCSVuEeQcdGpdgd7ZEvQd3rI2eaDIVAMTN4V0Ke-iTh88/s16000/E19A672A-FB10-4F96-A718-8B667B24638C.heic" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9owMHe8CVTJihF2SmBu0phKRaH_9d4E19US5_KNbHg30Di1BVO1j5lRgyqVMSyIDbvATgBuCa0COJqf5RGAWcZNi1eM03auwRrLIYmFAuYGcAl0rX_cKf7x1WX93Uki0Yz47IcHOr8gdSv1MbvzgMww5ei5vegw_PEeDQTvPBzp3Q66slHPBIlAd/s4032/E402E00C-5644-4F46-832B-533A376BBBC0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9owMHe8CVTJihF2SmBu0phKRaH_9d4E19US5_KNbHg30Di1BVO1j5lRgyqVMSyIDbvATgBuCa0COJqf5RGAWcZNi1eM03auwRrLIYmFAuYGcAl0rX_cKf7x1WX93Uki0Yz47IcHOr8gdSv1MbvzgMww5ei5vegw_PEeDQTvPBzp3Q66slHPBIlAd/s16000/E402E00C-5644-4F46-832B-533A376BBBC0.heic" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJKfHkZ0kQQmSCZHTzEZPpw5ra89OwJyC5U67C6Zo87ZhxSNKfnJhzQJomXgqMSiiQBaT5PBz9U4KubU6Y8ugQG_ADWEb9hlR-fzYXq8vdBc7oazYOInmM5YnBxcpFwF255PHB3mZEGSOvPuXsExj0lQ4bvRou3Zp_cJzGOl8ifv6xT_0YghGHt1u/s4032/013A9BB1-4417-4132-9193-D96BB5DA4272.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJKfHkZ0kQQmSCZHTzEZPpw5ra89OwJyC5U67C6Zo87ZhxSNKfnJhzQJomXgqMSiiQBaT5PBz9U4KubU6Y8ugQG_ADWEb9hlR-fzYXq8vdBc7oazYOInmM5YnBxcpFwF255PHB3mZEGSOvPuXsExj0lQ4bvRou3Zp_cJzGOl8ifv6xT_0YghGHt1u/s16000/013A9BB1-4417-4132-9193-D96BB5DA4272.heic" /></a></div>Between Christmas and New Year we saw both our brothers and partners and had lots of left-overs, tv, games of chess and presents to occupy us. We were on our own for New Year and enjoyed pleasing ourselves for a few days. I hope Christmas was good for you this year and that 2023 is kind to you too. I always feel apprehensive at the the beginning of the year and so intend to take January slowly and be gentle to myself. However, whilst consistency is important I think I need to improve my current output of one blog post a year. <div><br /></div></div></div></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-56276975593421206492021-12-31T15:05:00.000+00:002021-12-31T15:05:28.643+00:00Christmas Day 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtiXIR6caglpgijEZBIMZ55uBKf0qlEkDR5h4b7FZJ_fJe_vapRV1vhBcRtp4OWI7gm2hGfjJNg_7R3MWFELmqIWkRHW-18gKhSkaUuKsT-n1AfBr9nBKqIgbbGYo3u_kTmDK7gC-nNciojckwYjl14PdEBMtGEsYWn4rTW9z0FOAhhcQaL2dTZ6tv=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtiXIR6caglpgijEZBIMZ55uBKf0qlEkDR5h4b7FZJ_fJe_vapRV1vhBcRtp4OWI7gm2hGfjJNg_7R3MWFELmqIWkRHW-18gKhSkaUuKsT-n1AfBr9nBKqIgbbGYo3u_kTmDK7gC-nNciojckwYjl14PdEBMtGEsYWn4rTW9z0FOAhhcQaL2dTZ6tv=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifnvGTf4x4aiCIPoVFNS5VCV-IaNkYz3jGCrPdWaah9fhRQm8qXqDVEmIPD559MKwI5H-vBlG2nVKXvfv9ysGi1LmjTddMIm8bjlt0CIjWLgMOrViMDUnqzc9Jdcp19GZkF5yL-KYFEFtn6_N64daHe18nBGGZd2DntnsWfCzRCFb7maeHvmzsOO45=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifnvGTf4x4aiCIPoVFNS5VCV-IaNkYz3jGCrPdWaah9fhRQm8qXqDVEmIPD559MKwI5H-vBlG2nVKXvfv9ysGi1LmjTddMIm8bjlt0CIjWLgMOrViMDUnqzc9Jdcp19GZkF5yL-KYFEFtn6_N64daHe18nBGGZd2DntnsWfCzRCFb7maeHvmzsOO45=s16000" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjorZxg6EF8E68Vs5cKREHFL0HtNgK0d7P7Jeu3JUTEjvTzxnXUUI1KJ2g8G9Y8xn4ZTGDRjyIoaONC5Q2H_3JiCdRNEMxOHFbNOgeYxOyZRkHNcQq3luEIK2QrX18sMgNTwbsW7Xxd3tYmNf0cziB5mMiGtUBd6raryy8u_tSftiCsJ1RBoUfF0U6w=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjorZxg6EF8E68Vs5cKREHFL0HtNgK0d7P7Jeu3JUTEjvTzxnXUUI1KJ2g8G9Y8xn4ZTGDRjyIoaONC5Q2H_3JiCdRNEMxOHFbNOgeYxOyZRkHNcQq3luEIK2QrX18sMgNTwbsW7Xxd3tYmNf0cziB5mMiGtUBd6raryy8u_tSftiCsJ1RBoUfF0U6w=s16000" /></a></div><p></p>It's New Year's Eve as I write this post and a mild and bright day. We've had a lovely Christmas with just the right mix of entertaining family and time to ourselves. My brother and sister-in-law visited us on the 19th December and we had our first buffet lunch and present exchange. <div><br /></div><div>On Christmas Day, I dusted down my 'proper' camera, eager to capture some of the day. I love reading other people's Christmas blog posts and it's also great to have a record on my blog to look back on. It's our 9th Christmas in this house which I find hard to believe. Our youngest son came home for 4 nights on Christmas Eve and it was wonderful to have both our sons at home for Christmas and for them to see their grandparents on Christmas Day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see my mum since the beginning of December due to ongoing positive cases within her care home. I'm grateful that I've seen a lot more of her this year though.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf4jRhZWz2RWMnMyg0SygpPty1mOHf56RJZ9GPmOeiSd9x4hWtxMYws9NM2KH4qkcw5CLw4jbVT0fufNVrlDU9jYDfccn1w85DXZ-icXCChRK4UjdzyIukjsodAItAQ1gCXANsrKnXtRhh4Isrt-jbvnH9leR1fkg4bx6HMdfJC46KVgzB_-faapXT=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf4jRhZWz2RWMnMyg0SygpPty1mOHf56RJZ9GPmOeiSd9x4hWtxMYws9NM2KH4qkcw5CLw4jbVT0fufNVrlDU9jYDfccn1w85DXZ-icXCChRK4UjdzyIukjsodAItAQ1gCXANsrKnXtRhh4Isrt-jbvnH9leR1fkg4bx6HMdfJC46KVgzB_-faapXT=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihMu8vU_yyAOUDiyHSMQqIbAorJMCjVWbb4cmfs1ZL2ffY-0YGyziCMyjI4cYDjoBM3I8jm3ckQiJZ8rJ9YINPUGAKbElvlpa050ky2dwdbpLgui8ZHynA0LzfTf29a-6c18NaZNYMHDsypQXILMuznMLqX7ZlHglQ14wJjbbpFsigRynbyWSfvd8m=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihMu8vU_yyAOUDiyHSMQqIbAorJMCjVWbb4cmfs1ZL2ffY-0YGyziCMyjI4cYDjoBM3I8jm3ckQiJZ8rJ9YINPUGAKbElvlpa050ky2dwdbpLgui8ZHynA0LzfTf29a-6c18NaZNYMHDsypQXILMuznMLqX7ZlHglQ14wJjbbpFsigRynbyWSfvd8m=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>Some sustainable swaps were made by reusing paper from packaging collected over the year, using ribbon and carefully separating any sellotape from gift wrap after it had been used. I didn't want to open my presents from Tim, which were beautifully wrapped in cloth, like the Japanese furoshiki style. I'm hoping this will become a growing trend next year both in our home and elsewhere. We've saved the fabric for next year.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkPcZc2_U0hNL-GwQ9I_vCfl0uoj1Dtpdh_OQ9GoibOyq_ExiiwO4udNXqj3DzqrnEwR9RGcSuMGZJUZOpAfbwzdqDlGoK320grm6rlsbnUCnVXb7nwzfnZMvQWjPrHTwnzNK7C3fVU_-gKp84RaySw8tIb15gd2ltMeUr5moyZ3aLeeyxKkmtOEoc=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkPcZc2_U0hNL-GwQ9I_vCfl0uoj1Dtpdh_OQ9GoibOyq_ExiiwO4udNXqj3DzqrnEwR9RGcSuMGZJUZOpAfbwzdqDlGoK320grm6rlsbnUCnVXb7nwzfnZMvQWjPrHTwnzNK7C3fVU_-gKp84RaySw8tIb15gd2ltMeUr5moyZ3aLeeyxKkmtOEoc=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>We were very busy in the kitchen both in the days before Christmas and on the morning of the day itself. Tim did most of the cooking, helped by me and our eldest son. </div><div><br /></div><div>My favourite part of Christmas Day is before lunch when we have Prosecco and some nibbles. These were our eldest son's creation. They look like smoked salmon but they're actually shaved carrot which has been marinated. I've never liked smoked salmon but these are delicious.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDxQ4WHItt5AfeZPx3FAWeDdVtut10b8pRfBnV3Qz8vVxcRMyQycZ5pTIE9Ipzr1T74IE99HPOLGeKr8F4WCj5neVmr11Poq1x2az2sjlAXIW2mtXFB-RlXhPOiRqkWgDycBZjAhW-7U6u0--2hVC4XtOQ8v9_JweaSibfeCwzFCE25FWasNDeIjaN=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDxQ4WHItt5AfeZPx3FAWeDdVtut10b8pRfBnV3Qz8vVxcRMyQycZ5pTIE9Ipzr1T74IE99HPOLGeKr8F4WCj5neVmr11Poq1x2az2sjlAXIW2mtXFB-RlXhPOiRqkWgDycBZjAhW-7U6u0--2hVC4XtOQ8v9_JweaSibfeCwzFCE25FWasNDeIjaN=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFzDlwcOYjWeBarZO1zM0PeocrJ8UT1CYSMlXa0-zIEEsDiHKhDgPO7w3M0YsxYr_pv_09mUdohkuQ6UZ7YMdBx2Aqw2x7NisUZrwPJ08cjyItE1IEKd1VFfjA9qDZAoy71T5DkUnouoAccq2muCPQk4OihFbUIDvzXdbFisRFNMf7h_Xa0ucqmH1V=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFzDlwcOYjWeBarZO1zM0PeocrJ8UT1CYSMlXa0-zIEEsDiHKhDgPO7w3M0YsxYr_pv_09mUdohkuQ6UZ7YMdBx2Aqw2x7NisUZrwPJ08cjyItE1IEKd1VFfjA9qDZAoy71T5DkUnouoAccq2muCPQk4OihFbUIDvzXdbFisRFNMf7h_Xa0ucqmH1V=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFmKJ-ldzTTZqFIsZW4vxCvJ_Ebr23hVIIdjuzRV4ww09T3Q6VjzwO5jxuSdVSUr7rhmY5knvdPEOs2cy-bFULkLDqICgXDgGDwU1lo0uYFqa8z79mzpFSahbJMiK7U4-NIFqEfXznW_u6iWZUfN2bEUNLbCMxrj5q3_6Q5HlUCUDKBWM5IDSwBIId=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFmKJ-ldzTTZqFIsZW4vxCvJ_Ebr23hVIIdjuzRV4ww09T3Q6VjzwO5jxuSdVSUr7rhmY5knvdPEOs2cy-bFULkLDqICgXDgGDwU1lo0uYFqa8z79mzpFSahbJMiK7U4-NIFqEfXznW_u6iWZUfN2bEUNLbCMxrj5q3_6Q5HlUCUDKBWM5IDSwBIId=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>We cooked turkey and pigs in blankets for my in-laws and the 4 of us had vegan food. I had some Waitrose jewelled nut roast and the others had a Linda McCartney vegetarian chicken roast (it's vegan as well). The gravy was homemade by Tim. As well as being very tasty it was vegan and gluten free. My favourite new vegan find this year were these M & S no chorizo pigs in duvets. Absolutely delicious.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhapH0xahMztLtWXu0ZOCNBNG5hGSE3Q7KhD8fhcP_ckG5_VARUsEftFEmFx-mZIPs0ftXo-ar36186RunpEQwRVy86uAyF2qUJHLpR92PGHKTjpMoez-QLZzAW81Xe5eM47xMvlGmQquK0odsxm1qz_rN2UNNJe1dJQMOIigK6r4odDjWkXXq6s6C=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhapH0xahMztLtWXu0ZOCNBNG5hGSE3Q7KhD8fhcP_ckG5_VARUsEftFEmFx-mZIPs0ftXo-ar36186RunpEQwRVy86uAyF2qUJHLpR92PGHKTjpMoez-QLZzAW81Xe5eM47xMvlGmQquK0odsxm1qz_rN2UNNJe1dJQMOIigK6r4odDjWkXXq6s6C=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>The table looked fairly minimal to start with but soon became cluttered with a plethora of festive drinks, dishes and condiments. This was most welcome after having less people around the table last year.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr4gX4OUQY0LduoLtC_PoIncuM1qRhK5LBe8-oVGAz6y4v8hHMuMBzRDrCh-xczOhhdf1t4PANM_smNjlz2OLfWH-P0nWObYMWiUow47Bolun4ZXwzqLaG0ixVJmE_B0ajEOZTkmg_qNOTsPgWXm7e5OcfQHDq6zmDqU7050Mtg2R4-HPlOsNg13Ya=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr4gX4OUQY0LduoLtC_PoIncuM1qRhK5LBe8-oVGAz6y4v8hHMuMBzRDrCh-xczOhhdf1t4PANM_smNjlz2OLfWH-P0nWObYMWiUow47Bolun4ZXwzqLaG0ixVJmE_B0ajEOZTkmg_qNOTsPgWXm7e5OcfQHDq6zmDqU7050Mtg2R4-HPlOsNg13Ya=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ-MPMRF10eVzoB6qiScIunCwm01zktwznpGyDjafRufSy9PcW7j0t85Tjfg25dqhFoLrdzb_udtThG44Ru3Wq7X_xguxfuOTGe8ZRSG3yeYylLTBgIX3_oUulxwo1dbNWU0Q0D3VqJABn8y_pVZXkeBdyrlX5sbwC9-B9KAAyP1mdosS03X_G6OwR=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ-MPMRF10eVzoB6qiScIunCwm01zktwznpGyDjafRufSy9PcW7j0t85Tjfg25dqhFoLrdzb_udtThG44Ru3Wq7X_xguxfuOTGe8ZRSG3yeYylLTBgIX3_oUulxwo1dbNWU0Q0D3VqJABn8y_pVZXkeBdyrlX5sbwC9-B9KAAyP1mdosS03X_G6OwR=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfishjU9qMdiLgTDxrO9E-EGdZa1Ajn7J6kW9qtC14Piso3PiY90bnXuNF1nxPviLJAfd95u18VwL8vjoC7RprnKKRFMFNnp2HK0F3B8GHyPFeqSDQRSWyCjIsbqqxDIwjXJ_uXbWCI3CHbq6BxV_IGmtykWvMBbhFcpTP7f2-A5xH09Kd7psRc_9Q=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfishjU9qMdiLgTDxrO9E-EGdZa1Ajn7J6kW9qtC14Piso3PiY90bnXuNF1nxPviLJAfd95u18VwL8vjoC7RprnKKRFMFNnp2HK0F3B8GHyPFeqSDQRSWyCjIsbqqxDIwjXJ_uXbWCI3CHbq6BxV_IGmtykWvMBbhFcpTP7f2-A5xH09Kd7psRc_9Q=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN5RI0L8z_IIKF0z8P3iJi0BMdLfaiUXHyi_WE7xNS8DXOlb6Fe3IsbsFI63XK9pcaqeWfveLpMcHE3frv7R1HEK51xGtTJjYfy4LItzo6jZU_oWWdcw5PGFm4_H6kCIJDEfnVW8v3YaaV0ZY8PX-oabwOecn3dfgfLfSBX6yzocaps13jnZPRbf59=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN5RI0L8z_IIKF0z8P3iJi0BMdLfaiUXHyi_WE7xNS8DXOlb6Fe3IsbsFI63XK9pcaqeWfveLpMcHE3frv7R1HEK51xGtTJjYfy4LItzo6jZU_oWWdcw5PGFm4_H6kCIJDEfnVW8v3YaaV0ZY8PX-oabwOecn3dfgfLfSBX6yzocaps13jnZPRbf59=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihIZK-8vlEvsEqye_sIW2cFqjLEWeGUDLqveH5_LAU9ue3iGNp05y7ezPnU3ij2OalUYAwAsfBfBLiPFQx1qX2zo1a2frg_V_OkJmALoRZOPw8IwU04tW3NnjOLFFGKetvkv4W1mCIQbPVNrvdj5CPjdXV89teqAw-vYnVe_KbYHXk2BFVyPMWLmzN=s4272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihIZK-8vlEvsEqye_sIW2cFqjLEWeGUDLqveH5_LAU9ue3iGNp05y7ezPnU3ij2OalUYAwAsfBfBLiPFQx1qX2zo1a2frg_V_OkJmALoRZOPw8IwU04tW3NnjOLFFGKetvkv4W1mCIQbPVNrvdj5CPjdXV89teqAw-vYnVe_KbYHXk2BFVyPMWLmzN=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>Christmas pudding, a bought vegan Yule log and fresh fruit and ice cream were the desserts on offer to cater for our varied tastes and diets. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKXz8HO92tvuM-9PVyBKoh3soMZruqvG9Pb4FL0XoLhrUWaVe8VoYXG4gjH7oZDNwiLvWTSAQ5tZYNE1x_5nhRfGtUL5w-UP2sGzJrrcgo6IGX2IbT-IPkfzG_LXo2lc-6XEeZBvnV9XYRTWkRVWvD5r8XZSbQ0OpKH4JEzcakciY6of2YkvtqqO15=s4272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKXz8HO92tvuM-9PVyBKoh3soMZruqvG9Pb4FL0XoLhrUWaVe8VoYXG4gjH7oZDNwiLvWTSAQ5tZYNE1x_5nhRfGtUL5w-UP2sGzJrrcgo6IGX2IbT-IPkfzG_LXo2lc-6XEeZBvnV9XYRTWkRVWvD5r8XZSbQ0OpKH4JEzcakciY6of2YkvtqqO15=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaabjvUckWjN0s5VLZdsq-MrabIBPmW3pA4QA58bCl858ohZ-Ew_vfVBL_JcoHjQa3IkDjFwXdKtGJvZoHj4sdyEG_wh3UaU7R-NVhTRIkb6zpwx2uK62kjU35sRG282wEwvnD9ZXV510uExKpzQQRiofAN8kHyyTFF3ESvS8dFrXm8LhOR4P7NwjL=s4272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaabjvUckWjN0s5VLZdsq-MrabIBPmW3pA4QA58bCl858ohZ-Ew_vfVBL_JcoHjQa3IkDjFwXdKtGJvZoHj4sdyEG_wh3UaU7R-NVhTRIkb6zpwx2uK62kjU35sRG282wEwvnD9ZXV510uExKpzQQRiofAN8kHyyTFF3ESvS8dFrXm8LhOR4P7NwjL=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div>Oh dear, I didn't mean for the deer to be facing the opposite way to Santa and the snowman! We all enjoyed spending the day together, opening presents, feasting, snoozing and a bit of festive telly. Three days later we did all again with my brother-in-law and his partner plus my in-laws, only this time it was a buffet lunch. It was so nice to see Tim's brother and partner as we haven't seen them properly for almost two years. We also enjoyed a mammoth game of scrabble on Boxing Day with our youngest son.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last few days in between Christmas and New Year have been slow and restful. New Year's Eve will be a quiet celebration for just the two of us. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to continuing my blog next year and I have lots of ideas to share. Thank you for reading and wishing you all well for 2022.</div><div><br /></div></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-67046682058916436462021-07-24T12:11:00.006+01:002021-07-24T12:21:44.467+01:00Summer Catch-up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8zQmDElEnwtEvvz12zkAsTsGOn3Kiy7k9he4-bw2zl9w__x5qwqNoY7hd16kF8KDpDfa3Y3vixUfuAtNgZNGBg5kSVuGmifvVloQUAu2Rq2U_CDFptZRjXLQejXcPcMCmuxFtQDAh_w/s2048/F076238D-0BC2-4FF1-BA10-DFA057D182A5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8zQmDElEnwtEvvz12zkAsTsGOn3Kiy7k9he4-bw2zl9w__x5qwqNoY7hd16kF8KDpDfa3Y3vixUfuAtNgZNGBg5kSVuGmifvVloQUAu2Rq2U_CDFptZRjXLQejXcPcMCmuxFtQDAh_w/s16000/F076238D-0BC2-4FF1-BA10-DFA057D182A5.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqP48TuDa7A1t5z3SBG7Nq7xm8wj41-OSO9mnzV3NTPoO8awUBQTQGxgqsyC2_UwWH6Hm_RwCRasM8xStgOFwLZj51iP7SZX1cQ8OL3jDtVX8dCVDe2_67lvejWyaE6kYOUDYc2C2hyphenhyphenw/s2048/6D0A4C80-5E6E-4A29-B951-155746D0AF10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqP48TuDa7A1t5z3SBG7Nq7xm8wj41-OSO9mnzV3NTPoO8awUBQTQGxgqsyC2_UwWH6Hm_RwCRasM8xStgOFwLZj51iP7SZX1cQ8OL3jDtVX8dCVDe2_67lvejWyaE6kYOUDYc2C2hyphenhyphenw/s16000/6D0A4C80-5E6E-4A29-B951-155746D0AF10.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPifBS4BYaQZgHNJSyS7y8DKbYHZ2_6h-WQ4WwpuFzopm-zsWnOvbtBern8Ce6ZNn5axkZS60qkuyT1bONeQxRrT9Fq2rtSAb2ZkD51JO3zYTgs4350iDJbQAxTHVT8lOQbhpjAv8Sz8/s2048/B5046F77-1AA0-4966-A0DC-4DBCB2B0E2CF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPifBS4BYaQZgHNJSyS7y8DKbYHZ2_6h-WQ4WwpuFzopm-zsWnOvbtBern8Ce6ZNn5axkZS60qkuyT1bONeQxRrT9Fq2rtSAb2ZkD51JO3zYTgs4350iDJbQAxTHVT8lOQbhpjAv8Sz8/s16000/B5046F77-1AA0-4966-A0DC-4DBCB2B0E2CF.jpeg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDIoJMIjrPsnthU6RPR_giFEPEBMdLS8s7F4vJZ7ds9YtenFmJW_GDl1U_z0csYJFS6AOLtghvlVU8LeVBtrbxSdPPo6d8B7xQx1qiXCgDEYVfmm0sOIKS-bN6YL_ftfddwMaxR0478/s2048/280477B0-CDC5-455C-B6E9-053F4357B304.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDIoJMIjrPsnthU6RPR_giFEPEBMdLS8s7F4vJZ7ds9YtenFmJW_GDl1U_z0csYJFS6AOLtghvlVU8LeVBtrbxSdPPo6d8B7xQx1qiXCgDEYVfmm0sOIKS-bN6YL_ftfddwMaxR0478/s16000/280477B0-CDC5-455C-B6E9-053F4357B304.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGjLfcEgosm42m74XwuJJGT9LO4reIkvJgcRvD9ESzFP44ivrQ-gYBiFAsq4HFyk3tMNin27o2dPfZ3-AxryDuw0X_jFI9CxbX3w4fSgJ7ddYhSP-mXF4ryKUczF6PWMpAjv4K68pNv0/s2048/05A69B75-3812-4B40-9620-ADD5F0FCCB02.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGjLfcEgosm42m74XwuJJGT9LO4reIkvJgcRvD9ESzFP44ivrQ-gYBiFAsq4HFyk3tMNin27o2dPfZ3-AxryDuw0X_jFI9CxbX3w4fSgJ7ddYhSP-mXF4ryKUczF6PWMpAjv4K68pNv0/s16000/05A69B75-3812-4B40-9620-ADD5F0FCCB02.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vl836VqVo3O9qRJsqmKQ3P5_Qh_nbPe_YpVot3Xcf2soCJ-vcKRW2m5ioa265oE7pG_VTQ4lYuBBuXqF0Qz4Zdpw91zOt9C7Qoqk7_p-nYtolbdKRCNMSKbvvxSGoaRuVn3lHJhC6hE/s2048/9BC50E27-671C-46B7-963E-43D0E46BB5D1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vl836VqVo3O9qRJsqmKQ3P5_Qh_nbPe_YpVot3Xcf2soCJ-vcKRW2m5ioa265oE7pG_VTQ4lYuBBuXqF0Qz4Zdpw91zOt9C7Qoqk7_p-nYtolbdKRCNMSKbvvxSGoaRuVn3lHJhC6hE/s16000/9BC50E27-671C-46B7-963E-43D0E46BB5D1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a busy summer so far but thoroughly enjoyable. We were very lucky to have a week in Far West Cornwall in June and spend a few days in Gloucestershire on the way home. We stayed at Boscrowan where we've been staying regularly for 18 years. The G7 Summit 2021 was on whilst we were there so we steered clear of St.Ives and the political circus and spent our time walking, reading and visiting art galleries. There was also lots of delicious food and some vintage and charity shop shopping. The weather was mixed with some memorable mizzle but got very warm towards the end of our stay. I even had one refreshing swim in the sea at Marazion early on our first morning. It was exhilarating but too cold for me to want to repeat the experience. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRyDKU1t_ZsYfj_dKE1sCPmaxYq7Z3zHhKvYoCntsErhgNb0nrEpTQkkK21EWrB8aNeWzypWj87n1hIfQZpJQM7N8IO4CBM2vTsK77AM5eZnqwZg-8SlbpkMIVnmqXOiUNLYYBhRzdYg/s2048/67F183A2-F55D-4FF9-AABE-564560BE56AA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRyDKU1t_ZsYfj_dKE1sCPmaxYq7Z3zHhKvYoCntsErhgNb0nrEpTQkkK21EWrB8aNeWzypWj87n1hIfQZpJQM7N8IO4CBM2vTsK77AM5eZnqwZg-8SlbpkMIVnmqXOiUNLYYBhRzdYg/s16000/67F183A2-F55D-4FF9-AABE-564560BE56AA.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrgezPlfHKtVVoSA67ECGV6JyimudokM5K4B-rreukbyhq25nvTbUe0_gouKi8akkzm4PLGBamkAh4jQhIoZSBIA2_1e2JL4M9-KqaqNIPjSJsXHQijSSvuvZIafmIcmntpXiwYmOCYA/s2048/FDDE414B-DCCC-42DA-BFC2-E2237EEF6B37.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrgezPlfHKtVVoSA67ECGV6JyimudokM5K4B-rreukbyhq25nvTbUe0_gouKi8akkzm4PLGBamkAh4jQhIoZSBIA2_1e2JL4M9-KqaqNIPjSJsXHQijSSvuvZIafmIcmntpXiwYmOCYA/s16000/FDDE414B-DCCC-42DA-BFC2-E2237EEF6B37.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2w3JSAvegFTd5ay3laX9yt-dllBS7w13vKUDAsrHehtr1kav1y39ihWOoCqRa3CmFDnaIzNBUdU0oXCf3KwhSNanZdXcDd-ZoXE9dYaQ3ED7upufAAyZP-Fz_59B2GzxgPZwXHZ6aEM/s2048/343548B9-BB14-4B59-9335-9CC73F357A9C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2w3JSAvegFTd5ay3laX9yt-dllBS7w13vKUDAsrHehtr1kav1y39ihWOoCqRa3CmFDnaIzNBUdU0oXCf3KwhSNanZdXcDd-ZoXE9dYaQ3ED7upufAAyZP-Fz_59B2GzxgPZwXHZ6aEM/s16000/343548B9-BB14-4B59-9335-9CC73F357A9C.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29L9aS3j3wNQoE_H-2DoUMgrUM5oDCwtriBLZUxTOhSSIeJ25dFH-qZLWIu_lsvmTeSGz0oOLckn_feFsgGKxk7Delc6h6whG23wAUlPeYpOprCJwTmZCpdJWhZNZ1kgRfBzK_wFyxdE/s2048/2CAE12C5-2527-4C87-85C8-45A3624A8279.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29L9aS3j3wNQoE_H-2DoUMgrUM5oDCwtriBLZUxTOhSSIeJ25dFH-qZLWIu_lsvmTeSGz0oOLckn_feFsgGKxk7Delc6h6whG23wAUlPeYpOprCJwTmZCpdJWhZNZ1kgRfBzK_wFyxdE/s16000/2CAE12C5-2527-4C87-85C8-45A3624A8279.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0IguCXoFm-x6-pwn1kDuhWGUnCg2a0bYfLgYX9zyrpnIgg_bEZz9UleefR88PszcQvpizdFMvzL7cWNmOFZDvvSMggZV6PcG8kvtnqf1R6ceTOB9wEILSD1NjoYfRAJgYAT-N_IthVI/s2048/8530D838-15C7-48DB-8413-9E44C5CF3C54.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0IguCXoFm-x6-pwn1kDuhWGUnCg2a0bYfLgYX9zyrpnIgg_bEZz9UleefR88PszcQvpizdFMvzL7cWNmOFZDvvSMggZV6PcG8kvtnqf1R6ceTOB9wEILSD1NjoYfRAJgYAT-N_IthVI/s16000/8530D838-15C7-48DB-8413-9E44C5CF3C54.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lxLfSCWPDF-wNeL8V2J2cj9v-PKPwR9fxb02bj4AKgkD328wWCtkN9EiH3FnNSrtCcvFW-L8lb7EF-4viaHkb3L-WJFFcIU_-TIfxd782rN6ONJ_n0uf9FSNE9aJ0MtxPnGb76gpv0Q/s2048/6F998A97-2E83-41D4-A8DA-51C32DF30AC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lxLfSCWPDF-wNeL8V2J2cj9v-PKPwR9fxb02bj4AKgkD328wWCtkN9EiH3FnNSrtCcvFW-L8lb7EF-4viaHkb3L-WJFFcIU_-TIfxd782rN6ONJ_n0uf9FSNE9aJ0MtxPnGb76gpv0Q/s16000/6F998A97-2E83-41D4-A8DA-51C32DF30AC4.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKhxdd7j9gCdgQuQ1865zUyeIZCAbKf9DIdGCAg-Jb5zsAoUDrQByfw9Dtr-M_tznsqMTNUbboY_YsLOJa92_oJfb-FhLqfYCEpufK7p39SdKMaw0P19Z35gFBKBAQcSyT6adAJG8Vsw/s2048/38009031-089F-4535-B4AC-EFE2AEC1E173.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKhxdd7j9gCdgQuQ1865zUyeIZCAbKf9DIdGCAg-Jb5zsAoUDrQByfw9Dtr-M_tznsqMTNUbboY_YsLOJa92_oJfb-FhLqfYCEpufK7p39SdKMaw0P19Z35gFBKBAQcSyT6adAJG8Vsw/s16000/38009031-089F-4535-B4AC-EFE2AEC1E173.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOao_EuXRsG2UkuSPXhkGsOvXLdbhEnCY8X75ROOn-UHT-M62ZB76f84CQ7YyP5sGrSQyb-B_lZlZ_NQc1ilQQMJUtQT6JVEjgl0-IimxA7eUf1Xvzl2WVEjrqcrhGtBXArxtF4ayqGuY/s2048/35E0B7CF-CAAA-41A8-B06A-3841E7E04927.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOao_EuXRsG2UkuSPXhkGsOvXLdbhEnCY8X75ROOn-UHT-M62ZB76f84CQ7YyP5sGrSQyb-B_lZlZ_NQc1ilQQMJUtQT6JVEjgl0-IimxA7eUf1Xvzl2WVEjrqcrhGtBXArxtF4ayqGuY/s16000/35E0B7CF-CAAA-41A8-B06A-3841E7E04927.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left Cornwall and visited Exeter and Chepstow en route to Gloucestershire and had fabulous weather.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4njNb_BrjHIPdNhebfM6PvCZvz4z_AKuMBpPofUUyRTyy1mUjfeo6uKimpE0nMXI3c8P9dv-MVMgJz7e8uj1zkR9-30qPuXiz5LKqZm04H7kFChFUwMdzAOkyyubZf6RYSNpJbZBq6c/s2048/A463B559-22B3-4D97-8E35-369FDEBACBEE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4njNb_BrjHIPdNhebfM6PvCZvz4z_AKuMBpPofUUyRTyy1mUjfeo6uKimpE0nMXI3c8P9dv-MVMgJz7e8uj1zkR9-30qPuXiz5LKqZm04H7kFChFUwMdzAOkyyubZf6RYSNpJbZBq6c/s16000/A463B559-22B3-4D97-8E35-369FDEBACBEE.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcglJ0ls4b1_t1AJtDpvNVgDm68L6Dj1WqD9sPKAe38lL9ngrULvy-ZyUk52tlUrp_dk3QGqEecXSfYewYlbsVnD2hZZYMAkGfO_FwLN6OGic5_MaSYgHOnhZviorQPDDVRGXRyqNLyO4/s2048/DE12A45A-02D8-4DC1-A876-39B03955D07F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcglJ0ls4b1_t1AJtDpvNVgDm68L6Dj1WqD9sPKAe38lL9ngrULvy-ZyUk52tlUrp_dk3QGqEecXSfYewYlbsVnD2hZZYMAkGfO_FwLN6OGic5_MaSYgHOnhZviorQPDDVRGXRyqNLyO4/s16000/DE12A45A-02D8-4DC1-A876-39B03955D07F.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1wbmC85eYJiwoHi_octoB5jYPCzNvHvjOO-1g7deEJ-mNXcB-06v8S8t6WlXBMRwu3A67glKrSAFEzaiBsx67dtS7iYeHfm1PgXIg_N4w0nVbbBOs85xgXGkemaW7Pan7dBaYq0t5-Y/s2048/92EE0325-0906-4546-88F4-6023BF0C983B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1wbmC85eYJiwoHi_octoB5jYPCzNvHvjOO-1g7deEJ-mNXcB-06v8S8t6WlXBMRwu3A67glKrSAFEzaiBsx67dtS7iYeHfm1PgXIg_N4w0nVbbBOs85xgXGkemaW7Pan7dBaYq0t5-Y/s16000/92EE0325-0906-4546-88F4-6023BF0C983B.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63sGFHXZJAwlc6lu2RHcxNt_wUIcYI2ed1hAMUImUWo0sgT95qnFR-c6Ympri9fbqTdQ9LxROqT6SAaUknm1Dh21cXHdcFS9rNjbVYT5TSQ1krDnV3NlNhrgtyZmboyvPudVHraeyt8A/s2048/C28BF095-77ED-4865-9A39-BA82D38D627D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63sGFHXZJAwlc6lu2RHcxNt_wUIcYI2ed1hAMUImUWo0sgT95qnFR-c6Ympri9fbqTdQ9LxROqT6SAaUknm1Dh21cXHdcFS9rNjbVYT5TSQ1krDnV3NlNhrgtyZmboyvPudVHraeyt8A/s16000/C28BF095-77ED-4865-9A39-BA82D38D627D.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">This month, since returning from our hols, we've been to London as our youngest has just started a job there. It's his first job since graduating and he's woking for an architectural practice as he begins the long process of becoming an architect. It's an exciting time for him although a little nerve racking for us as we adjust to him living independently. We went down with more of his belongings a few weeks ago and seeing his accommodation put our minds at rest. He'll have to move again soon and is looking for a house to share with friends but price bidding wars are making it difficult to find a rental property.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYU5cejBbRRaRJgAPiClvqUHj0yPJi1Mcxv6HC8z0Lx4tAVGCqmCzy7-q2Wwlv5_bUBdRZCZm5NtH3bP65dARvb_kDZ7nZKig0whyphenhyphenuiLrVRVRYFqkk0_DbDFAg_s_JiZjJqnpHFlAY4Y/s2048/191321A6-2A9B-40C1-AE5F-DD8B16EE53FE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYU5cejBbRRaRJgAPiClvqUHj0yPJi1Mcxv6HC8z0Lx4tAVGCqmCzy7-q2Wwlv5_bUBdRZCZm5NtH3bP65dARvb_kDZ7nZKig0whyphenhyphenuiLrVRVRYFqkk0_DbDFAg_s_JiZjJqnpHFlAY4Y/s16000/191321A6-2A9B-40C1-AE5F-DD8B16EE53FE.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHow4v0sbG1h8k7FZ4A_hOAhlMBoMEJTxHq5yY-1ncdu41enmeQFhkpbXlU0BJ7Rqfc9qXRF3vsoSUWAhPfwhNoNVJhPYxW485OVpVVF4BgzWFzysy35pK4NvxVDvoJY5Z7D6lsCYzE5s/s2048/7211E56A-AC0D-4BFD-96A2-770A829D1A46.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHow4v0sbG1h8k7FZ4A_hOAhlMBoMEJTxHq5yY-1ncdu41enmeQFhkpbXlU0BJ7Rqfc9qXRF3vsoSUWAhPfwhNoNVJhPYxW485OVpVVF4BgzWFzysy35pK4NvxVDvoJY5Z7D6lsCYzE5s/s16000/7211E56A-AC0D-4BFD-96A2-770A829D1A46.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've also done a little work, just a week of supply teaching at my last school. I actually taught my old Year 3 class who I last taught in March 2020. They're soon to be Year 5, which is crazy. I'll be doing very occasional supply work there (and not working anywhere else) if I'm available. I must admit I've adjusted to life without working and one week of teaching was a reminder of how consuming the job is. By Wednesday lunchtime I was pretty tired. However, it was great to see former colleagues and I have missed working with young children. They all deserve a long restful holiday. I have lots of garden photos to share but will save that for another post. I hope you're all well x x x</div></div><p></p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-61778336336090222082021-06-29T10:40:00.002+01:002021-06-29T10:40:44.650+01:00Coastal Bedroom Makeover<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpvnSwxRpCQ8uJHl5QEffigb56ENb9SAL43e0I3iPmMeE5jitxtIPyk56ghBci71qDJcw9UT9u64Ljev9UN7XBMOBPUCw3J6u0Qta7OjmexL6xHiCLshmNFz7kV4PWYAGSOTKdsApdp8/s2048/A36EC021-8A67-4679-9070-44205C88EF18.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpvnSwxRpCQ8uJHl5QEffigb56ENb9SAL43e0I3iPmMeE5jitxtIPyk56ghBci71qDJcw9UT9u64Ljev9UN7XBMOBPUCw3J6u0Qta7OjmexL6xHiCLshmNFz7kV4PWYAGSOTKdsApdp8/s16000/A36EC021-8A67-4679-9070-44205C88EF18.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GcDQUN4Ne1MGg2cdqJiJ_vTEb5bR3iZREZ1bkDnTTa1Dhg2w6j7YeXRts-dKlddKqokPnr0QUMUwTd6PDGWzD76fF0WH3LuMLJmxL3Lb_Ye8HvjD5cEtnS0BgCKTqXkAe8O4svHFgAk/s2048/99C30A3D-C187-474A-908A-E9BC6B7072FF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GcDQUN4Ne1MGg2cdqJiJ_vTEb5bR3iZREZ1bkDnTTa1Dhg2w6j7YeXRts-dKlddKqokPnr0QUMUwTd6PDGWzD76fF0WH3LuMLJmxL3Lb_Ye8HvjD5cEtnS0BgCKTqXkAe8O4svHFgAk/s16000/99C30A3D-C187-474A-908A-E9BC6B7072FF.jpeg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1skDCOLAKw9uszcvqv9DH9gxbdTgo52QlygpOlUV5o8hu_wOTGJSO6xKo-wVMkzxsoTPodYscw08-iamI_7Zjhu_LjvDqHB9F1Tj6CgBHGA_9VqVY7I96y5BeCcqu2zn33TDpG-QwIG4/s2048/57FC56B8-0700-4D8A-AC21-8FDA60B41570.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1skDCOLAKw9uszcvqv9DH9gxbdTgo52QlygpOlUV5o8hu_wOTGJSO6xKo-wVMkzxsoTPodYscw08-iamI_7Zjhu_LjvDqHB9F1Tj6CgBHGA_9VqVY7I96y5BeCcqu2zn33TDpG-QwIG4/s16000/57FC56B8-0700-4D8A-AC21-8FDA60B41570.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've just returned from a restful break in Cornwall. Before we left we started redecorating our master bedroom. It's been long overdue as we've been in this house for (ahem) 9 years now. I don't know if it's an age thing, but having a calm bedroom, comfortable bed and fresh bed linen is one of my favourite daily pleasures. The room's not quite finished as it needs new carpet and a ceiling light but it feels almost finished, which is why I thought I'd share it with you today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A feature wall with patterned red wallpaper on the wall behind the bed dominated the room and although the rest of the walls and carpet were neutral the room felt oppressive and old-fashioned. What we longed for were fresh white walls, minimal furniture and a coastal vibe with a blue and white colour scheme. Oh, and new cushions, although Tim's not a fan of cushions on beds, being more of a minimalist in that department than me. Cushions, for me, add interest, comfort and 'finish' a bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily, the wallpaper came off really easily and we used Rock Salt by Dulux, a paint which we've used before in our living room. It's a fresh, clean white but soft and not too harsh. I did the wallpaper stripping and painting myself and I enjoyed it once I got into it. Listening to BBC 6 Music in the morning and Classic FM in the afternoon kept me going too. I'm not going to lie though, I hate the mess that redecorating involves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the room was painted it was time for the fun part adding new bedlinen, bedside lights and a picture. Whist I love white bedding it can be difficult to keep clean so we chose a classic blue and white stripe design, 'Content' by Terence Conran via Next. The bedside lights were from Amazon and were chosen to echo the black of the bed. Our bed is 24 years old and was from Habitat. Our chest of drawers are also the same age and luckily have fitted into the 3 bedrooms we have owned since buying them. They were made by a local firm, 'Paul Martin Furniture', and were made to measure. They're so well made and I hope we have many more years use from them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we were beginning our bedroom revamp, a company called <a href="https://www.photowall.co.uk/?utm_source=claireperks&utm_medium=influencers">Photowall</a> contacted me offering a print. I'm usually wary of accepting such offers but I was impressed with their website and so accepted their kind gift. They have an amazing selection of designs in wallpapers, posters and canvas prints. The one we chose is called 'Coastal Ripples' and is a canvas print. We were very pleased with how quickly it came and it was easy to assemble. Also, it definitely adds to the calm vibe we were aiming for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Photowall will also make a picture using your own images. That's something we'd like to have made for another wall, we've just got to pick our favourite personal photo from our archives! If you're interested in something a little different for your walls Photowall have a vast and stylish range and I'm happy to offer you 25% off any order until 31st August using the code, justalittleless2021. Thank you Photowall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bee cushion was my own choice and I love it. It's by Sophie Allport via Next and is 100% cotton. More cushions may follow. I've seen an image that I like with 3 cushions on a bed, 1 square, 1 rectangular and one circular, so I'm on the look out for more cushions to add to the bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you enjoy this little house update. Take care x x x</div></div><p></p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-79929139185300877292021-05-21T18:46:00.003+01:002021-05-22T06:38:03.168+01:0060: Happy Friday Links <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyZ7ncqY2T5qxvn26qFBQqXXpbCtXTShnXhJatbZflHO8fhw5nV3NmwqEaYhme_UcIIrYf_nxdeBi7HS52ra-kmHwomXvB2Y0n4xaLDeRg6eUc3tDLrOYYNvwoiH7Cajtjxmc_NGEQiM/s1732/1C572E54-03E0-4F88-B29D-662D4812E953_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="1711" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyZ7ncqY2T5qxvn26qFBQqXXpbCtXTShnXhJatbZflHO8fhw5nV3NmwqEaYhme_UcIIrYf_nxdeBi7HS52ra-kmHwomXvB2Y0n4xaLDeRg6eUc3tDLrOYYNvwoiH7Cajtjxmc_NGEQiM/s16000/1C572E54-03E0-4F88-B29D-662D4812E953_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div></div><div>I hope you feel inspired by this week's links which include stunning photography, 2 minimalist YouTubers I enjoy and information about this year's city of culture. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ourbeautifuladventure.co.uk/blog/walking-the-wales-coast-path-pembrokeshire-martins-haven-to-broad-haven">Walking the Wales Coast Path - Pembrokeshire - Martin's Haven to Broad Haven</a> by Rachael at Our Beautiful Adventure Photography</div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mVpSqBpvBA">Better than a vision board!</a> by Lefie<div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gKRirNYqN4">9 weird benefits of minimalism 1 year</a> in by Gabe Bult</div><div><a href="https://bemorewithless.com/no-time/">3 more things I won't make time for anymore</a> by Courtney Carver via Be More with Less</div><div><a href="https://coventry2021.co.uk/about/what-is-uk-city-of-culture/">What is UK City of Culture?</a> Coventry is this year's city of culture and this link explains exactly what it is and if you explore the site you can find out what's on</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you have a good weekend wherever you are and whatever you're doing x x x</div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-5340158163302834862021-05-19T20:32:00.003+01:002021-05-19T20:32:16.841+01:00Wisteria, Wildflowers and Weeds<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccO8NnwkRi15Pzl9dWFMlgQ15PuZYuu_H5g5fcNO-Sycp24V6Dpe4rFfZk-F-V-wb-R0wQ0VMO5-9qylU5ktzpHTZkgy5KxgPI-Dw0xqYMDcVun5mYv8vFMzxoO2dN4MVkFLo43Ny4Ig/s2048/81D83479-C3DE-489B-9248-0098CA3514D9_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccO8NnwkRi15Pzl9dWFMlgQ15PuZYuu_H5g5fcNO-Sycp24V6Dpe4rFfZk-F-V-wb-R0wQ0VMO5-9qylU5ktzpHTZkgy5KxgPI-Dw0xqYMDcVun5mYv8vFMzxoO2dN4MVkFLo43Ny4Ig/s16000/81D83479-C3DE-489B-9248-0098CA3514D9_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2GdatSGlLUnQDFzydOdJS9EsridOAHZ9jN29uVu6qRtlxnlA5WTCZcG6ryUR1rIXdjk0IgRiB2qPetw4yR1BY8oCbk7GOKLYar-fE0Hiv6B4ShCpyiq0wZSPOERYJsyhbKlvRKEDj-8/s2048/91C76146-300F-4403-9D0A-47770DE29414.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2GdatSGlLUnQDFzydOdJS9EsridOAHZ9jN29uVu6qRtlxnlA5WTCZcG6ryUR1rIXdjk0IgRiB2qPetw4yR1BY8oCbk7GOKLYar-fE0Hiv6B4ShCpyiq0wZSPOERYJsyhbKlvRKEDj-8/s16000/91C76146-300F-4403-9D0A-47770DE29414.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VGQlOdx-XyeszSJsG6CnQzW9FhIFQyFZv2_ReGXMnCbwLIx5ccBeZKz6-Um1KXV2tBEKKZFNScFf7OL95naP62Z3Vn81Fb-pTEO-BI6LcmeRxEdYssCigOZngHYr5LS4bJj8pXSU_00/s2048/F75B80E1-FF68-476A-9E9A-55C6E6AF1BA9_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VGQlOdx-XyeszSJsG6CnQzW9FhIFQyFZv2_ReGXMnCbwLIx5ccBeZKz6-Um1KXV2tBEKKZFNScFf7OL95naP62Z3Vn81Fb-pTEO-BI6LcmeRxEdYssCigOZngHYr5LS4bJj8pXSU_00/s16000/F75B80E1-FF68-476A-9E9A-55C6E6AF1BA9_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwDVQmbAoQD8g_NnirON9LtvubQpZdPN9dojkWpiN1eyMPRY5BuvLm7PX-aQ1Y2B8m_uqzeSTJcOULWNWEVveMNIoyJ41Nb6ugPTmXjYV9_B3fd4MPfyjHOsu1bOoqsJLb-wePkV96J8/s2048/79E28710-F8B7-423D-A5A7-4A4DB545BD9F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwDVQmbAoQD8g_NnirON9LtvubQpZdPN9dojkWpiN1eyMPRY5BuvLm7PX-aQ1Y2B8m_uqzeSTJcOULWNWEVveMNIoyJ41Nb6ugPTmXjYV9_B3fd4MPfyjHOsu1bOoqsJLb-wePkV96J8/s16000/79E28710-F8B7-423D-A5A7-4A4DB545BD9F_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65dRPPbbdTKbBoQJV38yopSkEPl8yo1Lt9blrMLDyanfX86XyyxFu8nardrAFEOtSb57P80yik9ytcpEjkgZTVjv58LPK9KeS1XOlrvnHDooH3-PbcTUpk2_ctf1h04rpkuPrNNCmllg/s2048/F0AE2F28-0F61-4A6A-A565-79AB60CCF7F7_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65dRPPbbdTKbBoQJV38yopSkEPl8yo1Lt9blrMLDyanfX86XyyxFu8nardrAFEOtSb57P80yik9ytcpEjkgZTVjv58LPK9KeS1XOlrvnHDooH3-PbcTUpk2_ctf1h04rpkuPrNNCmllg/s16000/F0AE2F28-0F61-4A6A-A565-79AB60CCF7F7_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJe1czXBuB0IUmVIDtGj6OnZtaTc14BbihuFECkJV5Bg1ONKRxAHQIaFnJAIUxF_K60qqnXN82rql5RXkV3ZB1Joh2PojKjyVA4SelrpisnbN301ufvX5NSNO2tZ2Hr8d64-ab5UsjsE/s2048/986DE223-32DA-4529-A208-40CE23E57343_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJe1czXBuB0IUmVIDtGj6OnZtaTc14BbihuFECkJV5Bg1ONKRxAHQIaFnJAIUxF_K60qqnXN82rql5RXkV3ZB1Joh2PojKjyVA4SelrpisnbN301ufvX5NSNO2tZ2Hr8d64-ab5UsjsE/s16000/986DE223-32DA-4529-A208-40CE23E57343_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I went out for a few hours today. The wisteria at <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shugborough-estate">Shugborough Hall</a> was calling and it didn't disappoint. We enjoyed our picnic of onion bhaji baguettes and savoured the midweek quiet of a National Trust property. The mansion wasn't open but we were very happy walking in the vast grounds. As well as wisteria there were bluebells, cow parsley, forget-me-nots, alliums, azaleas, late daffodils, tulips and <a href="https://www.janeperrone.com/blog/greenalkanet">green alkanet</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To be honest, I had to look up the name of this plant. I thought it was a weed and many would agree but it looked stunning in the walled garden's borders amongst forget-me-nots and mountain cornflowers. </div></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the grass at Shugborough was left unmown and just tidied up at the edges. The buttercups and dandelions looked beautiful in the long grass especially in the sunshine. Parts of my city's public spaces are being left unmown. I like these little steps towards rewilding. Do you like the naturalised look? When is a weed not a weed? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC_42zXPlstHZt4g3Nv_wt7xBLUndZ3acn3J7USG496c3lrycw_nST-YNRJeqKICP9ZNLbNNmYAmBukwm_JvtOOtalupKzYEJygfiY1ciqRKSt-6VCJrUChD6gnDmRMj5Uh3y_p3GeQU/s2048/5FA45232-85FD-486C-9A97-FBCFAFA78115_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC_42zXPlstHZt4g3Nv_wt7xBLUndZ3acn3J7USG496c3lrycw_nST-YNRJeqKICP9ZNLbNNmYAmBukwm_JvtOOtalupKzYEJygfiY1ciqRKSt-6VCJrUChD6gnDmRMj5Uh3y_p3GeQU/s16000/5FA45232-85FD-486C-9A97-FBCFAFA78115_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-9355081431934835182021-05-14T06:17:00.003+01:002021-05-14T06:19:34.605+01:0059: Happy Friday Links and a Chat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcrDyNs5n17ers0I11ALPTQtutc5MNz739mCWjx_j79XjCCIDTln7mdp7b01LKl8Ma0bTPwgTx4mOH82I4xWX6HsJoOcJZtTBTgl23Ag2S8pJQWr9JcSkCXDeoiMISJbkgKvjPFZ2brU/s2048/A7C714D8-122D-412F-BFA2-53008B2E1030_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcrDyNs5n17ers0I11ALPTQtutc5MNz739mCWjx_j79XjCCIDTln7mdp7b01LKl8Ma0bTPwgTx4mOH82I4xWX6HsJoOcJZtTBTgl23Ag2S8pJQWr9JcSkCXDeoiMISJbkgKvjPFZ2brU/s16000/A7C714D8-122D-412F-BFA2-53008B2E1030_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Welcome to Happy Friday Links whether you're a regular reader or new here. I love putting together links to interest and inspire you. I choose articles and videos about simplicity, minimalism, plant-based recipes, style on a budget, small space living and more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week has flown by and has been a bitty one with appointments and errands. I've had a long overdue dental check up and an eye test. My new glasses will be ready in 2 weeks and I'm very excited because for the first time I'll also have prescription sunglasses. The highlight of my week was a catch-up with a lovely friend I first met at <a href="http://www.justalittleless.co.uk/2014/10/meeting-minimalists.html">The Minimalists tour</a> in 2014. A beautiful friendship and all because of minimalism and this blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photo above was taken on Thursday morning when Tim had his second covid vaccine at Lichfield Cathedral. I'd bought a coffee which I'd planned to drink outside while I waited for Tim but I was invited into the cathedral by the welcoming volunteers (yes even with my coffee). I couldn't resist having a chance to see how it was organised and I was impressed by the friendliness and efficiency of 'Team Cathedral' (this name was printed on the back of the high vis jackets worn by the volunteers). Tim had his second dose of Pfizer and fortunately apart from arm ache has had no after effects. It was such a great venue for vaccinations. Surely those high ceilings must help with ventilation. Above all there was a palpable sense of peace, community and spirituality. Onto this week's links which I've enjoyed and I hope you do too.</div><p><a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/modern-pixie-hairstyle">This is The Classic Short Haircut Making a Big Comeback for Summer </a>by Hannah Coates via Vogue. I love the photo of Lea Seydoux wearing a mask looking chic. How very 2021.</p><p><a href="https://tynan.com/filter">Filter More Out</a> by Tynan. According to Tynan, "... people don't spend enough time figuring what they shouldn't be paying attention to." </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip7MsVXFzeY&t=512s">How to Declutter Your Closet and Stay Stylish with a Minimalist Wardrobe</a> by Elisa Llera. This is a new YouTube channel and one which probably soon grow because it's so good. Those earrings.</p><p><a href="https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/linda-mccartneys-launches-plant-based-milk-range/">Linda McCartney's Expands into Dairy Alternatives with Plant Milk Range</a> via Vegan Food & Living. This is great news.</p><p><a href="https://zerowastechef.com/2021/04/28/food-scraps-ideas/">15 More Creative Ideas for Food Scraps</a> via The Zero-Waste Chef. Eat the entire apple, save that bean broth and other ways to reduce food waste.</p><p><a href="https://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/blog/07/2020/growing-harvesting-and-crafting-with-lavender/">Growing, Harvesting and Crafting with Lavender </a>via Seasalt Stories. I'm definitely going to plant more lavender this year and love these ideas - roasting potatoes with lavender intrigues me.</p><p><a href="https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/post/confusion">From Confusion to Clarity</a> by Hilary Jacobs Hendel. In this blog post Hilary helps us understand and recognise our emotions and how to use this insight when we have difficult decisions to make. </p><p>Have a relaxing read and enjoy your weekend. Please feel free to leave a comment below. We'll catch up soon x x x</p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-2184127858021318602021-05-12T10:56:00.002+01:002021-05-12T11:04:11.410+01:00Mum's New Room Peek<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2iqBnNi5A6yzrN5bjsorSFkOIlwmHRXOTNc8RXkmFLICSoVzFxPxFFDqSkfXp9B0kRNw7NKEK6zN5h526QD80PVijM7PI1rbedAhB105pjzoGE9nfNfzbMcdRhljqFxokbO4zeHeo4I/s2048/8E4A6F91-8877-4538-B412-43A804F50632_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2iqBnNi5A6yzrN5bjsorSFkOIlwmHRXOTNc8RXkmFLICSoVzFxPxFFDqSkfXp9B0kRNw7NKEK6zN5h526QD80PVijM7PI1rbedAhB105pjzoGE9nfNfzbMcdRhljqFxokbO4zeHeo4I/s16000/8E4A6F91-8877-4538-B412-43A804F50632_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPNYZjFK4GVLyKwGeKecItBmAwq-fSpsoStYX84o6BkMGQWfz67j2sV8Vi3X47n25Xt_0B8pD8VrBpRiEf8vOMz_FRKqDuzwmjOznw5s3trVwhxxLcbfK5Oj29SjkGlgb1h6Q6F8AA90/s2048/B1226863-7F18-401C-AB6F-752FC8D1D94F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPNYZjFK4GVLyKwGeKecItBmAwq-fSpsoStYX84o6BkMGQWfz67j2sV8Vi3X47n25Xt_0B8pD8VrBpRiEf8vOMz_FRKqDuzwmjOznw5s3trVwhxxLcbfK5Oj29SjkGlgb1h6Q6F8AA90/s16000/B1226863-7F18-401C-AB6F-752FC8D1D94F_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>I was delighted to get an email from the customer services manager at Mum's care home with an update on Mum's new room. She attached photos, to show us what her new room looks like. There are still a few more pictures to be hung but doesn't it look lovely. She moved in on Monday which is great. <p></p><p>I'm very grateful for such good communication from the home. They have a new garden pod which is where we had our last visit in March. They call it the 'happy pod' instead of the garden pod which sums up their upbeat attitude to dealing with the pandemic. I've included photos of the happy pod and Mum at the end of this post.</p><p>I think Mum will really enjoy the big window with lots of light flooding in and being at the front of the care home there'll be more comings and goings for her to watch. Also, from the car park when I drop off anything for her, I can see her room even if I'm not allowed in. It makes her seem a little bit closer if that makes sense. I'll have to wait until 24th May at the earliest to visit Mum in person. It won't be long. Fingers crossed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZkTTZ8oW7xzljoR3eIlUUJwjvKwEHRqw4L44FR4wtmZSrCQ3qLppkNrXIPYa6UstjUGFo8_VWK2Ma-GL0JcJJQkP42ziAh7v5G8ZRm1UjD9XXfKBMVjJ0qgKn_mXA9J5DgeY66ORjp4/s960/2A61F12A-12F1-4869-A0A7-30BDE0AD7490.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZkTTZ8oW7xzljoR3eIlUUJwjvKwEHRqw4L44FR4wtmZSrCQ3qLppkNrXIPYa6UstjUGFo8_VWK2Ma-GL0JcJJQkP42ziAh7v5G8ZRm1UjD9XXfKBMVjJ0qgKn_mXA9J5DgeY66ORjp4/s16000/2A61F12A-12F1-4869-A0A7-30BDE0AD7490.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsBHnugCrY6oYyYHR5EKCU_tOmuS7aInuJTHODPcJaBaZZQmCKX0AjiyCRSgCt7kxDSCfjSFxeqD35lu5a3-8B9kw8VAL-crQimLA1Bxt1jl21l67jgwJATtR_GuUdaKLmX6lS4T291g/s960/0F7CAC4C-6CD1-4D72-9973-8B11A2109BE7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsBHnugCrY6oYyYHR5EKCU_tOmuS7aInuJTHODPcJaBaZZQmCKX0AjiyCRSgCt7kxDSCfjSFxeqD35lu5a3-8B9kw8VAL-crQimLA1Bxt1jl21l67jgwJATtR_GuUdaKLmX6lS4T291g/s16000/0F7CAC4C-6CD1-4D72-9973-8B11A2109BE7.jpeg" /></a></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-66237320494520639302021-05-10T06:42:00.006+01:002021-05-10T11:24:09.022+01:00Changing Rooms (Second-hand)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcZqvSkECbjDaM5JzbhpeT9SeCI8cuNqvp9PcC_F7X08TyGGJXj811DnZg-Lgy-imSr3KkQscN1jO7kdDUucKVq-Gdmjiy8uIUtr3eOGnQsWOnoxGiIgE8fDqmlEhC20Cy6dOWRzGIuI/s2048/8F538E98-1F96-4685-8AFB-9FAACAF26BF9_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcZqvSkECbjDaM5JzbhpeT9SeCI8cuNqvp9PcC_F7X08TyGGJXj811DnZg-Lgy-imSr3KkQscN1jO7kdDUucKVq-Gdmjiy8uIUtr3eOGnQsWOnoxGiIgE8fDqmlEhC20Cy6dOWRzGIuI/s16000/8F538E98-1F96-4685-8AFB-9FAACAF26BF9_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfR3H_W81Q-Vo2J6dADdno7XfNMk0H5GhSZSSl_Sy0mo1JOkTR1G7naS6QbTR6hUy-67QXUhYaxgJTRDoCfRDUn5Fa9Lzw7fep5J5QD-pp8StTVZmh2cejrvfxSSUaaFIaZrDzo__ynQ/s2048/8828552B-94B1-49BD-9E45-56EE18611343_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfR3H_W81Q-Vo2J6dADdno7XfNMk0H5GhSZSSl_Sy0mo1JOkTR1G7naS6QbTR6hUy-67QXUhYaxgJTRDoCfRDUn5Fa9Lzw7fep5J5QD-pp8StTVZmh2cejrvfxSSUaaFIaZrDzo__ynQ/s16000/8828552B-94B1-49BD-9E45-56EE18611343_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>I've had such fun buying second-hand items for Mum's new bedroom in her care home. Almost everything I've bought is second-hand but I shopped mindfully making sure that everything was reasonably priced and good quality. Nothing was over £10 and I've only bought things that have 'sparked joy'. Mum's due to move this week and last week I took photos of everything I've bought before I dropped them off. Unfortunately, I can't go into the home at the moment due to a positive covid case so the staff will be getting her room ready for her instead of me. It's got a lilac and purple colour theme which is much more suitable for a bedroom than the rust decor of her current room. Finding a cushion for £1.49 in a charity shop set me off on a second-hand hunt for other items. And then thrifting the butterfly cushion (seen in the first photo) inspired a butterfly theme. Let me show you what else will go in her room. There are several more butterfly themed items all found in local charity shops. The watercolour painting with the butterfly and the buddleia might have been in a local art exhibition as on the back it has the name and address of the artist and original price (£35).<div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOumbrDAH9cK-7SncXaRORnmMecoLeiEn7Z4hclxX6TcZjHEJ33YYEfUXUPYAsH_PB82pBscP5nyTq4SmkgmUxvPxoYdqlEsOGI-xnu7GxhRgcOG-5G85N40aEaEFU-oHwazd-ZSsmj9Q/s2048/F3FF7CB3-FD6A-4A76-9E28-C69826A719B5_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOumbrDAH9cK-7SncXaRORnmMecoLeiEn7Z4hclxX6TcZjHEJ33YYEfUXUPYAsH_PB82pBscP5nyTq4SmkgmUxvPxoYdqlEsOGI-xnu7GxhRgcOG-5G85N40aEaEFU-oHwazd-ZSsmj9Q/s16000/F3FF7CB3-FD6A-4A76-9E28-C69826A719B5_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-sP_J2CjBKyalyIyA5IF6gORI-7PwdGmtTUOxlBbk0Z1bmXLO-8iHkpObTzW24tqtw-WXS8SUQ8v4NsLY8Ozi0KTQF7_WD9mmFcGEU_9IYqxjGToa3jW_lfS0TFfxqLeYw8VYT2MpeQ/s2048/03E938FA-06DC-472B-9328-4B1CBD214371_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-sP_J2CjBKyalyIyA5IF6gORI-7PwdGmtTUOxlBbk0Z1bmXLO-8iHkpObTzW24tqtw-WXS8SUQ8v4NsLY8Ozi0KTQF7_WD9mmFcGEU_9IYqxjGToa3jW_lfS0TFfxqLeYw8VYT2MpeQ/s16000/03E938FA-06DC-472B-9328-4B1CBD214371_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9KpBFfyWgNJNQGxhJj75zl1L5e1xUBHkCN2BPoiMJd5rgCqQI78l8rUQTqPaJbcxMdb7z319Munxg4iC0hOD2qpZ2frjEmz8JlkKJVr615lKU62ZPFYTejZuyAkJdlkGvLjV6EOypB0/s2048/46150F80-972C-451B-A00C-F359B69537FF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9KpBFfyWgNJNQGxhJj75zl1L5e1xUBHkCN2BPoiMJd5rgCqQI78l8rUQTqPaJbcxMdb7z319Munxg4iC0hOD2qpZ2frjEmz8JlkKJVr615lKU62ZPFYTejZuyAkJdlkGvLjV6EOypB0/s16000/46150F80-972C-451B-A00C-F359B69537FF_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got most of the items from charity shops but couldn't find any bedding that I liked. I found 3 sets of bedding on Ebay that I liked all priced below £10 (including postage) and in good condition. I washed all the bedding sets and even ironed them. Mum would be impressed as I definitely don't share her love of ironing. Only one set came with a fitted bottom sheet so I did buy 2 new bottom sheets and pillowcases to complete the sets. I'm sure not everyone would want to buy second-hand bedding (my husband says he doesn't want any for our bedroom) but the ones I've bought aren't very worn and looked clean when they arrived. If you stay in a hotel or self-catering the bedding is effectively in the same condition as second-hand. Also, I appreciate that not everyone can afford to buy new. I'd be interested to hear your views.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBiQjMEevR7kLPGePdIF_0n3sp7L4mLz2KkjuC7DXw3fx77Ft6MKa8Dc4LqQHQ9iwSovr83Sq6IQeLIj70b5rebShdrJVh6UTKysMoXlbiggHJ-u_pX3_NKNlx3ybpkFM5OH3NcvVEZk/s2048/4B0EE8A8-4CF3-4912-AD02-7CA7A307BB30_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBiQjMEevR7kLPGePdIF_0n3sp7L4mLz2KkjuC7DXw3fx77Ft6MKa8Dc4LqQHQ9iwSovr83Sq6IQeLIj70b5rebShdrJVh6UTKysMoXlbiggHJ-u_pX3_NKNlx3ybpkFM5OH3NcvVEZk/s16000/4B0EE8A8-4CF3-4912-AD02-7CA7A307BB30_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuvyFO2K25ZwHCSI58QdsIvc50OqF8b8AyTzC9yXryxeo9uHLIOWE9GTVcElTtBsVZ2BE97SbQfC8CTj5vkp8b89uKgRw4x7GjJm2Ow6FNBPmBWylwpPkGf2lomx23o6BsGxUj9BH-nI/s2048/F235F9FF-AD0C-4168-B198-DD9FF41ECB10_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuvyFO2K25ZwHCSI58QdsIvc50OqF8b8AyTzC9yXryxeo9uHLIOWE9GTVcElTtBsVZ2BE97SbQfC8CTj5vkp8b89uKgRw4x7GjJm2Ow6FNBPmBWylwpPkGf2lomx23o6BsGxUj9BH-nI/s16000/F235F9FF-AD0C-4168-B198-DD9FF41ECB10_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzBroFZPviSFi-ImqNZIL5WCy6gFk2lu5tLn-_tgsf5pV-bufXDedkFvAwAwGSNm587dw5tlxhxF1EsGJIHEvKCyJEQhFnTwpIPpAMEGwnwkmtDJsHFKLO2vVeXldu23i6-azytoZvFI/s2048/489AF5E3-26FD-408A-B419-AA933AAC1D02_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzBroFZPviSFi-ImqNZIL5WCy6gFk2lu5tLn-_tgsf5pV-bufXDedkFvAwAwGSNm587dw5tlxhxF1EsGJIHEvKCyJEQhFnTwpIPpAMEGwnwkmtDJsHFKLO2vVeXldu23i6-azytoZvFI/s16000/489AF5E3-26FD-408A-B419-AA933AAC1D02_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few more pretty decorations found in charity shops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukf84qe06clRhqN5mpPzX-3Bs-iOJbvhgHSgL_i9t0tqByKlZWiuKStT9GBQxMMImyaOBIOly4pYmDDzj7COZdi4uP8WgPbYUXqVjn7OjoGIax7ftuPphHeP33By5tycuRgFaObdl5qU/s2048/76A1766A-0728-4D0C-9CD5-DC58EB7CC4E1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukf84qe06clRhqN5mpPzX-3Bs-iOJbvhgHSgL_i9t0tqByKlZWiuKStT9GBQxMMImyaOBIOly4pYmDDzj7COZdi4uP8WgPbYUXqVjn7OjoGIax7ftuPphHeP33By5tycuRgFaObdl5qU/s16000/76A1766A-0728-4D0C-9CD5-DC58EB7CC4E1_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHZ-iILXmzHfECCvIteVw69b3qTLs_U54MH89_OmoB4gofCZ4Zyrqv0Nxc08vcfgazW9kbkWGwDVlgeDbeQwBrzlQnkMNnO6SOsSGEo0CJ_GNIZ2Mffy8kFPQMSL2i0JfXUnpzmUpidk/s2048/CDEE9601-C402-4D55-A563-806734004054_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHZ-iILXmzHfECCvIteVw69b3qTLs_U54MH89_OmoB4gofCZ4Zyrqv0Nxc08vcfgazW9kbkWGwDVlgeDbeQwBrzlQnkMNnO6SOsSGEo0CJ_GNIZ2Mffy8kFPQMSL2i0JfXUnpzmUpidk/s16000/CDEE9601-C402-4D55-A563-806734004054_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Yjlq4Y47pKTwqtmfOkWGE-VfB3JB96fd8S5_ML6MaFQCy1LNRn-bAw4nntylD4FBOOUp14walCfOaG6hPoeY2_YQKYhB7Bs1f7t29_PgqektniRe_yfa0pgNvsXqipaLkmkxXepX7Ao/s2048/7EFA9806-7A12-4DFD-92CC-02A33412D3A3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Yjlq4Y47pKTwqtmfOkWGE-VfB3JB96fd8S5_ML6MaFQCy1LNRn-bAw4nntylD4FBOOUp14walCfOaG6hPoeY2_YQKYhB7Bs1f7t29_PgqektniRe_yfa0pgNvsXqipaLkmkxXepX7Ao/s16000/7EFA9806-7A12-4DFD-92CC-02A33412D3A3_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ-szMvbCetEQVkUtFrirGEOjOYLKpNXVIbChTUZDCDHkdndpr_3-nWGgJHVU3d3M3Enh4ly1oTaG4_8V8HXNe7x3pXvmgeDukFPWyYluRRJCcr5l9rAG7MNUip_pQ4pdBChNG12lWo8/s2048/B3C6D8BF-C554-4677-8FA8-225186D02DEC_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ-szMvbCetEQVkUtFrirGEOjOYLKpNXVIbChTUZDCDHkdndpr_3-nWGgJHVU3d3M3Enh4ly1oTaG4_8V8HXNe7x3pXvmgeDukFPWyYluRRJCcr5l9rAG7MNUip_pQ4pdBChNG12lWo8/s16000/B3C6D8BF-C554-4677-8FA8-225186D02DEC_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This stylish lamp was originally from Next before it was donated to a charity shop. It's not my usual style but I've loved finding such pretty and feminine touches for Mum.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKtvRbHLoDrhS6m1RgDAEm_bXwhr228jMeEtuFZ1StSc113eq6UUqMK0r8-xyHlz8wYM0ocEZl4_g_v0MsVhB7WBTC85CUzVFHX6LMs0G5HPUk7cT8GMG4l0wOL12LduLoJVFSVjimzE/s2048/D9996FEA-928D-4A1F-9950-47FF4D31E77A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKtvRbHLoDrhS6m1RgDAEm_bXwhr228jMeEtuFZ1StSc113eq6UUqMK0r8-xyHlz8wYM0ocEZl4_g_v0MsVhB7WBTC85CUzVFHX6LMs0G5HPUk7cT8GMG4l0wOL12LduLoJVFSVjimzE/s16000/D9996FEA-928D-4A1F-9950-47FF4D31E77A.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This last item from Ebay is not lilac or butterfly related but it's very cute. So cute that I named him Darwin and almost kept him. I know Mum will love him. I had a zebra doorstop (Ziggy) in my last classroom (it had a jungle theme) and that's now in our lounge. He's loving the peace and quiet of home life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhpj9NVP6lfdDxjZjugXrqenUZgpf4wHQ00PTXotbyf4Pdzo5mP_kfka_C7OwbPbWB44rG_oshDJgBETsDTN5VK-XEjcdcAcL5dhX9z_Tq8-VxBxTiIeUOBKmga03IrxEWmtXZcqlrMg/s2048/2D1DADEB-0ED7-45C3-8B25-4B32BC37033E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhpj9NVP6lfdDxjZjugXrqenUZgpf4wHQ00PTXotbyf4Pdzo5mP_kfka_C7OwbPbWB44rG_oshDJgBETsDTN5VK-XEjcdcAcL5dhX9z_Tq8-VxBxTiIeUOBKmga03IrxEWmtXZcqlrMg/s16000/2D1DADEB-0ED7-45C3-8B25-4B32BC37033E_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope Mum settles in well and that you've enjoyed seeing all her new second-hand things. She already has personal items like photos and a special Victorian side table from my grandparents' home in her current room but it was great to be able to shop for things to make her new room extra calm and welcoming. Buying everything second-hand was also very satisfying. It's always worth considering second-hand before buying new when you need something for your home. </div></div></div></div></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-62651884013672133752021-05-07T11:38:00.003+01:002021-05-07T20:29:35.546+01:0058: Happy Friday Links and a Chat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hf41TUuu8ZSlWKQgzLoX0yyGfzqeDqZARWmw1yNq6oxlAidBotatRaITvr9B5fGhx6IxY4u_IDfkTpIqHt-2xFxmKQBTIfA2wHGzLAaZ8eZp846-Q8pg7ZqGLm1Lw5BfaMWTVaPeHug/s2048/A96D2ED3-CB08-4A8A-819F-5B0583786F5C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hf41TUuu8ZSlWKQgzLoX0yyGfzqeDqZARWmw1yNq6oxlAidBotatRaITvr9B5fGhx6IxY4u_IDfkTpIqHt-2xFxmKQBTIfA2wHGzLAaZ8eZp846-Q8pg7ZqGLm1Lw5BfaMWTVaPeHug/s16000/A96D2ED3-CB08-4A8A-819F-5B0583786F5C.jpeg" /></a></div>I love this time of year and May is just flying by. It's a month to savour the wonder of nature. Those bright blue skies, the much needed heavy downpours of rain, the feel of sun on your face even though there's a biting cold wind, shops full of summer plants, eating seasonal asparagus and walking past trees brimming with delicate blossom. I have friends with May birthdays and it's also my niece's birthday later this month and I'm seriously envious. My niece was born in the middle of a May heatwave and the sensation of sunshine combined with joy as I held her for the first time and then celebrated her birth in a country pub afterwards with my brother is a cherished memory. It was 24 years ago but I remember like it was yesterday. <div><p></p><p>I hope you've had a good week. I feel like the bank holiday has slowed me down and I've not been very productive but I've made plans for next week to get back on track. An appointment for the dentists and an eye test are booked and I'm going to start a much needed redecoration of our bedroom. I still have plans for changing our tiny garden but the bench we've ordered is going to take a few weeks to arrive so that job can wait. </p><p>As I mentioned yesterday I've completed my 30 day alcohol detox and will be celebrating tonight with a mock gin and tonic and some home made vegan brownies. The alcohol detox continues for another 30 days and then it will be reviewed again.</p><p>I've found some enjoyable links this week to inspire simplicity and peace. Minimalism is by no means dead and it's wonderful to keep discovering new minimalist channels on YouTube. New minimalist blogs are harder to find but I think that's because a lot of the new minimalists are young people who favour YouTube as a media. </p><p>Minimalism, for me, is a quest; it's not a quick and easy process and although I've been trying out minimalism for almost 10 years now it's not easy to stick to and I've had many setbacks. Every setback so far results in overwhelm and that's when I reach for my minimalist toolkit to repair the damage. I'll let you know in future posts how my minimalist reset is going. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MHA1zgDk50&t=1413s">How to stop jealousy and comparison - a monk's approach</a> by Nick Keomahavong. I'm going to work on Nick's wise words, "... become your own refuge."</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuVSn1wHEAo">The truth about a minimalist wardrobe</a> by the ever so wise, stylish and entertaining Emily Wheatley.</p><p><a href="https://jessicarose.blog/2021/03/29/manifesting-your-post-covid-life-now/">Manifesting your post covid life now</a> by Jessica Rose. This is food for thought. After months of hunkering down, what do you want to add into your life as we take baby steps out of lockdown? Jessica Rose also has a YouTube channel. </p><p><a href="https://mygreencloset.com/circularity-in-fashion/">What real (not greenwashing) circulatory in fashion looks</a> like by Verena at My Green Closet. A very thorough read about lightening the fashion industry's footprint.</p><p><a href="https://moving-ahead.org/patsy-rodenburg">The three circles of energy - a special insight into mentorship skills</a> by Patsy Rodenburg via moving-ahead org. This looks like a heavy read but it's worth it and it's short! I hope you find your 'second circle'.</p><p>Have a lovely weekend and we'll catch up soon x x x</p></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-16862800343188645582021-05-06T10:43:00.002+01:002021-05-06T10:43:34.563+01:00Alcohol Free Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg5jYb8jsd8fmUNNAvpf_1Zl3y-3MTdRJ3cWEuA1tkITwgXqSYcWGGu9_fuZwwgDEZRnYzmR4RMcBLEKEOiLRLaqnMuGVmiQPY7FEBQUfiLszijYciMj67y3smfiXOhczYvqxOQFSA94/s1080/10+days+alcohol+free-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg5jYb8jsd8fmUNNAvpf_1Zl3y-3MTdRJ3cWEuA1tkITwgXqSYcWGGu9_fuZwwgDEZRnYzmR4RMcBLEKEOiLRLaqnMuGVmiQPY7FEBQUfiLszijYciMj67y3smfiXOhczYvqxOQFSA94/s16000/10+days+alcohol+free-5.png" /></a></div>My 30 alcohol free detox has been going so well that I thought I had 2 more days to go :) <p></p><p>Day 1 was Tuesday 6th April which makes last night day 30. I'm supposed to have a clearer head without alcohol but clearly not! I guess it proves that I've stopped counting the days and that my body and mind have adapted to no alcohol.<br /></p><p>So, "What next?", is the question. I'm going to continue for another 30 days which will be Friday June 4th. I'll have a mini celebration this week but without alcohol. The trouble is I can't think of what to do for this but I'll let you know on my Happy Friday links post.</p><p>I'd welcome any ideas for a non-alcoholic mini celebration x x x</p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-44815719454915583892021-04-30T12:23:00.000+01:002021-04-30T12:23:06.108+01:0057: Happy Friday Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_JnMieVxiO913-B3eih1m3nVR4GpjnsFuToBl0_paeMnb2o9d1yDTMwSjYLYMLgrQy9QasvyEuA1qLV4WfEg4zXpp8rClOqB8_DACAzJunCiI0kFjdtGPhpc6Hwg7i6Un4M8f38Z59A/s2048/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_JnMieVxiO913-B3eih1m3nVR4GpjnsFuToBl0_paeMnb2o9d1yDTMwSjYLYMLgrQy9QasvyEuA1qLV4WfEg4zXpp8rClOqB8_DACAzJunCiI0kFjdtGPhpc6Hwg7i6Un4M8f38Z59A/s16000/1.png" /></a></div><p>Hello and welcome. It's bank holiday weekend here in the U.K. and also the start of May tomorrow. May and June are my favourite months of the year and especially this year as we have more lockdown restrictions being eased later this month. The blossom has been gorgeous this week hasn't it although it's been very chilly, especially at night. </p><p>Unfortunately, Mum's care home has had another positive case of Covid so all visits are off until 24th May. On a more cheery note she's moving soon into a newly refurbished room. I chose it out of several rooms which were all slightly different on a virtual tour. It's much better than her previous room as it's sunny, has a full length window with a nice view and is decorated in lilac and purple colours. Her current bedroom is decorated in rust and terracotta shades and doesn't seem very feminine. I'll leave some photos after my links of the ginger cat which, pre Covid, was a regular visitor to the care home and Mum's bed. He matched perfectly! He's now gone to live with one of the members of staff as he didn't seem to have a permanent address. Who knows with cats! </p><p>I've been buying some pretty second-hand bedding, pictures and accessories for her new room which I'll share with you soon. I think it will be a much calmer environment for her. </p><p>I've got lots of gardening to do this weekend at home and at the community garden. We're also trying to catch up with Line of Duty after starting to watch it from the beginning during lockdown 3. We finished series 5 last night so just series 6 to go. So gripping...</p><p>I hope you have a good weekend whatever you're doing. Enjoy the links and please feel free to comment.</p><p><a href="https://www.thesoberclub.com/69667-2/">What stage of change are you at?</a> by Janey Lee Grace via The Sober Club. This article is interesting whether or not you're on a low/no alcohol challenge.</p><p><a href="https://www.stylist.co.uk/fitness-health/workouts/best-quick-yoga-stretches-5-minutes/495854">Stretching: 3 best quick stretches when you don't have time</a> via Stylist. I keep meaning to do some yoga again. I think this might ease me in.</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COKdWp-siDH/">Pink Supermoon from Glastonbury Tor</a> by Michelle Cowbourne via Instagram also see more of her stunning photography on her <a href="https://www.visionsofsomerset.co.uk/somerset-landscapes">website</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56916414">Asda: George brand to sell second-hand clothing in shops</a> via BBC News. This is exciting and shows that second-hand clothes shopping is becoming more acceptable and mainstream. </p><p><a href="https://stylecurator.com.au/composting-tips-guide-for-beginners/">How to in the garden: Composting guide for beginners</a> via Style Curator. I think this breaks down composting in an easy to understand way (excuse the pun). </p><p><a href="https://priceless-magazines.com/wellbeing/body-loving-goodness/">Body Loving Goodness</a> by Sarah Maxwell via The Wealden Times. Sarah Maxwell stresses the importance of learning to take care of yourself. I love the body positive affirmation she gives at the end of the article. I've written it on a sticky note above my desk to remind myself. </p><p>Enjoy x x x</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8KL9_3BAFf0ukgZIdPmINWFCsPQnq9rv2aXCNRswKvXO5ej8isSgp_K_zsAW0scoe4vcmtHwNs_3-1rHM_LP7Q9YgZJRx_C7z7TG5nmHpZ7pGIsC8MwC9WleRShpYRkVcn-2_YoaiX8/s2048/961DCCCC-EE5B-4A9E-B845-ADEE0000FBD7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8KL9_3BAFf0ukgZIdPmINWFCsPQnq9rv2aXCNRswKvXO5ej8isSgp_K_zsAW0scoe4vcmtHwNs_3-1rHM_LP7Q9YgZJRx_C7z7TG5nmHpZ7pGIsC8MwC9WleRShpYRkVcn-2_YoaiX8/s16000/961DCCCC-EE5B-4A9E-B845-ADEE0000FBD7.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LuQGdEmyu1reYR1RRI4IEmv9Ij8vx8l3z2LrzcI_xRQTvq0n-Lbv5HPql7Wll3JHBQT7phbJgST0jUUhgHxC0ALKTiLcu3YdDuRkxax5HpVgPqoDfrknO5mOP9PyMk0S5zGuACRWZak/s2048/170B8A08-23E4-42DB-98DB-93FE0CA88EDD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LuQGdEmyu1reYR1RRI4IEmv9Ij8vx8l3z2LrzcI_xRQTvq0n-Lbv5HPql7Wll3JHBQT7phbJgST0jUUhgHxC0ALKTiLcu3YdDuRkxax5HpVgPqoDfrknO5mOP9PyMk0S5zGuACRWZak/s16000/170B8A08-23E4-42DB-98DB-93FE0CA88EDD.jpeg" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-69005501358530645972021-04-26T15:09:00.002+01:002021-04-26T15:12:51.262+01:00Menu Planning and Yellow Sticker Items<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G4s57FWGa3JXkUsfjnfSmRE17F0kf_5arvFOPbEAxR5qxLhoW6eBOSjUQiNogqmzGfKvrgMU-eX_xezyxVxee0vBaadvrH1Ak8EKquUA0_MFzoc7dgvgZtaoAvJOFC_st3hVwDveWQg/s2048/58813FCF-A907-4EF0-844F-BA2696346B0E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G4s57FWGa3JXkUsfjnfSmRE17F0kf_5arvFOPbEAxR5qxLhoW6eBOSjUQiNogqmzGfKvrgMU-eX_xezyxVxee0vBaadvrH1Ak8EKquUA0_MFzoc7dgvgZtaoAvJOFC_st3hVwDveWQg/s16000/58813FCF-A907-4EF0-844F-BA2696346B0E.jpeg" /></a><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6qGcrBKtrIwn-pIxLRlVdT0I59KTDye0TqZr3_1I2Zu_8zvG-2taPfZlQpdNkvazHbmgVC8wAP538rXS3-UKaQGG9eMcTZ3caZH07BnSbsNQ_eUOEFQJqXPwYIv4TZBw0wa6CSPEmD4/s2048/D1AC4949-34AA-417A-B146-1590F72A1F87.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6qGcrBKtrIwn-pIxLRlVdT0I59KTDye0TqZr3_1I2Zu_8zvG-2taPfZlQpdNkvazHbmgVC8wAP538rXS3-UKaQGG9eMcTZ3caZH07BnSbsNQ_eUOEFQJqXPwYIv4TZBw0wa6CSPEmD4/s16000/D1AC4949-34AA-417A-B146-1590F72A1F87.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Menu planning is crucial in keeping the cost of our food shopping down and it also helps with our family organisation. At the moment, I'm not working, Tim works from home and we have 2 adult sons living at home (1 working and 1 a recent graduate looking for work). We all like to cook and we all eat a vegan diet. When Sam was on furlough he chose to cook 3 or 4 times a week but now he's back at work he just cooks on one of his days off. Marcus has become a really good cook since he came home from uni last March and is also a much tidier cook than he was. As Sam works some evenings, I've gone back to writing up the week's meals on our blackboard painted kitchen wall to help with communication. We nearly always all eat the same evening meal but Tim and I have smaller portions especially of carbs! Sometimes the meals get swapped around or even changed. And sometimes we'll have something easy like Linda McCartney country pies, oven chips and peas!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've kept a good food stockpile since the first lockdown of 2020 and I've found this really helps though at times the cupboards have been too full. I'm learning that doing a thorough weekly stock check in the fridge, freezer and cupboards is vital because otherwise I can't keep track of what's been used up with 4 different people cooking. The menu plan on the wall dates back to when we used to plan our meals Thursday to Wednesday which is why I've added dates. We have 2 online orders a week which I try to keep as close to £40 as I can. At the weekend I usually go to Waitrose to pick up a few favourite items and recently I've been using cash as Waitrose is expensive and it's very easy to get spendy in there. </p><p style="text-align: left;">This weekend I went to Waitrose just before closing time on Sunday afternoon and spotted some yellow sticker items. There were some reduced vegan items so I was very happy. The veggie balls will be eaten with pasta, the Italian whirls used in paella and the apples cooked with cinnamon and sultanas for our morning porridge. So the paella will be Spanish inspired but with a twist.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-47092188036013773952021-04-23T15:14:00.003+01:002021-04-23T15:19:03.785+01:0056: Happy Friday Links <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/apr/10/meera-sodha-vegan-recipe-farinata-balsamic-onions-asparagus"></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG4okeHNbldkaeyHT7vupNx1OvNiuCarMvKI4gd0NqdRFEjvaE1oSOUL9sOfIfcA0NltFdrlt39Tmqta2x2QqwuvC8ZuaaGq9g8cmNR311Lj3TAc1IZELi2GN0gLse-ePf4exM1wlSw0/s2048/E2891AA3-9718-40FE-A0CC-A8583DD154B6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG4okeHNbldkaeyHT7vupNx1OvNiuCarMvKI4gd0NqdRFEjvaE1oSOUL9sOfIfcA0NltFdrlt39Tmqta2x2QqwuvC8ZuaaGq9g8cmNR311Lj3TAc1IZELi2GN0gLse-ePf4exM1wlSw0/s16000/E2891AA3-9718-40FE-A0CC-A8583DD154B6.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>So how are you? I'm so ready for the weekend with nothing actually planned which suits me fine. Last weekend we had a meet-up in my mother-in-law's garden and I resisted the rose wine and stuck with my posh lemonade instead. Not easy... but I'm now on day 18 of my 30 day alcohol detox so going strong. Here are some links that I've found interesting this week.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a35964515/jo-whiley-gardening-radio-campaign-covid-jabs/">Jo Whiley on gardening, radio and her campaign for Covid jabs</a> looking amazing in her gorgeous garden and so grounded too.<br /><p><a href="https://www.hannahbullivant.com/blog/2020/7/20/10-ways-clutter-brings-us-down">10 ways clutter brings us down </a>by Hannah Bullivant. Hannah says, "I DO believe all of us can take steps to make our homes feel lovelier, more like us, and work more practically too."</p><p><a href="https://www.hillier.co.uk/garden-and-home-ideas/kate-bradbury-wildlife-garden/">Gardening for wildlife with Kate Bradbury</a> I saw Kate on Gardener's World last week and was inspired to learn more and decided it's time to be less tidy!</p><p><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jake_tyler_i_m_fine_learning_to_live_with_depression">"I'm fine" - Learning to Live with Depression</a> Jake Tyler's Ted Talk. I heard Jake on Zoe Ball's breakfast show recently so decided to look him up. This Ted Talk is amusing as well as insightful. He has a book out too.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/apr/10/meera-sodha-vegan-recipe-farinata-balsamic-onions-asparagus">Farinata with balsamic onions and asparagus</a> a recipe by Meera Sodha via The Guardian. Tim made this last week and it lasted several lunches. He said it was easy and it tasted yummy. The batter can be made a few hours in advance if you forget to do it overnight like we did. </p><p>Well that's it my lovelies. Have a great weekend and I'll leave you with some pictures of Tim's farinata xo</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2usm8CKEgS1_CgC4crNtOOZCiSFwCgmSfEyeybTrYoXKbRvVkhNx6b5gtOW4ULFQ5XGVtzyTKFC16iObbf0gJ62VBEd4nsu_s-fW5dpCWHSNMHgiU4cWPY3APMe2XgIUbya4mGpEI4w/s2048/4CFF6F00-B918-4CCC-91B8-7D136E6DACC6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2usm8CKEgS1_CgC4crNtOOZCiSFwCgmSfEyeybTrYoXKbRvVkhNx6b5gtOW4ULFQ5XGVtzyTKFC16iObbf0gJ62VBEd4nsu_s-fW5dpCWHSNMHgiU4cWPY3APMe2XgIUbya4mGpEI4w/s16000/4CFF6F00-B918-4CCC-91B8-7D136E6DACC6.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRvHoES9zW0pav42gdEk-9rsM9A-QnjDbQpl4D9P304iTSV8RdkO9BNiQxhOVOURV6ss4rjyrNBUtUrZUCXYUQKHgWGqo6_YpOFj7p3Bf_keCLRAMmuZsevv8opuObGVJFTxHdet51_s/s2048/FB09678A-7F42-4D78-928B-CF35B0EAC16E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRvHoES9zW0pav42gdEk-9rsM9A-QnjDbQpl4D9P304iTSV8RdkO9BNiQxhOVOURV6ss4rjyrNBUtUrZUCXYUQKHgWGqo6_YpOFj7p3Bf_keCLRAMmuZsevv8opuObGVJFTxHdet51_s/s16000/FB09678A-7F42-4D78-928B-CF35B0EAC16E.jpeg" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-8010578239076779862021-04-22T09:34:00.003+01:002021-04-22T09:59:34.609+01:00Earth Day, WWF and an Offer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlVxfJirDdG1W1LDvDbW6wtXnAWftBVDtnGHtqzJQ_tO6n64H55QZYwsdmLfHz2XtjBY37WoFHrrrEBhUH1V8kxH_cFTRr8_PXHyFh5NLWuuwnHs8RnJ77wzESQ3c9PWxJOaSSaNBlDM/s1080/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlVxfJirDdG1W1LDvDbW6wtXnAWftBVDtnGHtqzJQ_tO6n64H55QZYwsdmLfHz2XtjBY37WoFHrrrEBhUH1V8kxH_cFTRr8_PXHyFh5NLWuuwnHs8RnJ77wzESQ3c9PWxJOaSSaNBlDM/s16000/2.png" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are still millions of people across the U.K. who rarely - or never - shop second hand. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When 73% of clothes are incinerated or go to landfill, the best way to prevent waste and protect the planet is to shop second-hand. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fast fashion means that the fashion industry emits more carbon every year than planes and ships combined. It’s time to slow down, and to shop less new. Think second hand means risky, poor quality clothes? Think again. You can get a wide selection of quality-assured second-hand clothes on Thrift Plus, with a 30 day returns policy. Still not convinced? Today, Earth Day, you can get £10 off your first order of £30 or more with free returns. In addition, £5 will be donated to WWF and and a third of the sale will go to the donator’s charity of choice. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buying second hand clothes is the best way for each and every one of us to reduce the environmental impact of fashion. Check out the wide selection of quality-assured clothes on Thrift+, and get £10 off your first order. I'm working in partnership with Thrift + on this </span>campaign and will get some Thrift + credits but I chose to take part because of the ethical and environmental importance of slowing down fast fashion.</p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Karla, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", Oxygen, Cantarell, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f5f6f8; caret-color: rgb(10, 11, 13); color: #0a0b0d; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/clairejustalittleless">https://linktr.ee/clairejustalittleless</a></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p></p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-67963496804330197082021-04-21T14:54:00.005+01:002021-04-21T22:06:48.921+01:00Second-hand Shopping with Thrift +<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSK3yFs_yX5bIBhCffVTZR_7LTtr29FgfaT-Mm61K0KfWptpgZ8m29qsKH55tbgRYSUhPM5AoVe1_mo867vLO1TRrVZ-fCqknucX8Y0_45kmOnuI1kigFyAW_YqNShSuaAN76Vf_3wNs/s2048/A4765C4B-BB1C-4FF0-9B08-4DD146076873_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSK3yFs_yX5bIBhCffVTZR_7LTtr29FgfaT-Mm61K0KfWptpgZ8m29qsKH55tbgRYSUhPM5AoVe1_mo867vLO1TRrVZ-fCqknucX8Y0_45kmOnuI1kigFyAW_YqNShSuaAN76Vf_3wNs/s16000/A4765C4B-BB1C-4FF0-9B08-4DD146076873_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KImal-_XpGrhZigNMUx4q63qIfYbaas6YyvCXDys_sQmdwnFweVnsa_oQ8GtAd4eX9Vhmhuga4-Vahk-jg_kj-A0d1DyG19gmVKXO2CsaOcl5ddZG2xKFtTSYo7BN0Wp8vihk_ms5wg/s1280/309F6886-FA54-4221-A840-61AB573979FC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KImal-_XpGrhZigNMUx4q63qIfYbaas6YyvCXDys_sQmdwnFweVnsa_oQ8GtAd4eX9Vhmhuga4-Vahk-jg_kj-A0d1DyG19gmVKXO2CsaOcl5ddZG2xKFtTSYo7BN0Wp8vihk_ms5wg/s16000/309F6886-FA54-4221-A840-61AB573979FC.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dNwMpNHxCv7_zSb01TxLSPp8ToggC1l1DuBsELF1vGdNxGlxUPBgDJvpYkTOWTPAKEA8NlJKygjyoCVfa-VU0Fup6DRpBz2SScolFIkXFlkTCgvnG-wAQ2bGBfhvPtSV0zAD32ZzuF0/s2048/E1AC1DFC-39D4-4029-9C4D-89267F9C338C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dNwMpNHxCv7_zSb01TxLSPp8ToggC1l1DuBsELF1vGdNxGlxUPBgDJvpYkTOWTPAKEA8NlJKygjyoCVfa-VU0Fup6DRpBz2SScolFIkXFlkTCgvnG-wAQ2bGBfhvPtSV0zAD32ZzuF0/s16000/E1AC1DFC-39D4-4029-9C4D-89267F9C338C.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAC4Uqz-mHOb5oxk7GyBPXwDDJTgAi77dJ6kXON1FwmuSwBYO_suqr0g86VDQJeM34RZsjEZRowK6Cm1WLtgQhLbtJDErCVaLS5Hbe-2msEzZ8jEAGxcD7_RQkW2GwP7_SId3z1UAfHg/s2048/34EFF244-A1E2-4941-AA49-EDB0E49D3862_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2037" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAC4Uqz-mHOb5oxk7GyBPXwDDJTgAi77dJ6kXON1FwmuSwBYO_suqr0g86VDQJeM34RZsjEZRowK6Cm1WLtgQhLbtJDErCVaLS5Hbe-2msEzZ8jEAGxcD7_RQkW2GwP7_SId3z1UAfHg/s16000/34EFF244-A1E2-4941-AA49-EDB0E49D3862_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZJ4mgsIVB6SDm4j8R3D1gPbx4qm5SLdfpbtkb5EHrEf4KUgftXY4MEMhbaNpa7cZFbnK9LlQ6VS2cEmT8-AbL4b_bOSNJq_eSwnz8WWeZ1UaSHCd7hQCHM9DW188NHr830VW0xmuV-4/s2048/C3820AC4-4A66-43FE-87B5-BEE839DDA61F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZJ4mgsIVB6SDm4j8R3D1gPbx4qm5SLdfpbtkb5EHrEf4KUgftXY4MEMhbaNpa7cZFbnK9LlQ6VS2cEmT8-AbL4b_bOSNJq_eSwnz8WWeZ1UaSHCd7hQCHM9DW188NHr830VW0xmuV-4/s16000/C3820AC4-4A66-43FE-87B5-BEE839DDA61F.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnVFg4NyP93IBQPLb_R3PbUb6wKzSrfmIKmetQ2zDoDd_vtMGACj3felB_AiUedgemsljZrF3dgnZvb-w65oz4E6f-hythhyyHCC4Ms_JQMPpy9hisSS9BIFg8GiHI4hFtWucFnbb-F8/s1080/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnVFg4NyP93IBQPLb_R3PbUb6wKzSrfmIKmetQ2zDoDd_vtMGACj3felB_AiUedgemsljZrF3dgnZvb-w65oz4E6f-hythhyyHCC4Ms_JQMPpy9hisSS9BIFg8GiHI4hFtWucFnbb-F8/s16000/1.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi, do you like my dress? I absolutely love it as I think it ticks all the minimalist boxes as well as being classy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got it from Thrift +, an online kind of charity shop. I discovered Thrift + via someone on YouTube who was using Thrift + to donate unwanted clothes during lockdown. I immediately checked out their site and was won over.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Thrift + you can donate unwanted clothes for free, raise money by </span>nominating a charity of your choice to get a donation from your sale and also get some money back yourself in the form of credits to spend on their site. They do all the photography, listings and other admin. </div><div><br /></div><div>During lockdown I was frustrated because it was difficult to donate unwanted clothes and at the same time I was shocked by hearing how many people were clearing out their wardrobes for the first time in years. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've always shopped some of my clothes second-hand, as you know, but I've also bought new. The availability of good quality second-hand clothes is better than ever probably because so many people are constantly adding to their wardrobes. I'm now convinced that buying pre-loved clothing is a better choice for me, my budget and the environment. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I've told you before, my wardrobe has grown from the 40 piece capsule I created a few years ago. However, I now only own as much as I can comfortably fit into my wardrobe space, which means my 1 wardrobe and 3 drawers hold my all year-round 4 season wardrobe. This helps me to remember what I've got from season to season. I actually like all my clothes being visible as I can see them and know that the next season is around the corner. Hello, summer!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I've been donating and buying from Thrift + for a few months and have now joined a small team to become a Thrift + ambassador to help with their #1millionsecondhandshoppers campaign. I will be getting some Thrift + credits as part of this partnership, but this is also a great opportunity for me to help a good cause. I sincerely believe that second-hand shopping via Thrift + is one of the easiest ways to donate as well as having the benefit of being able to browse pre-loved clothes from the comfort of your sofa without having to enter a bidding war or be worried about the restricted space of some charity shops! </div><div><br /></div><div>As part of my partnership on Thursday (tomorrow) which is also Earth Day, I'll be able to give you a unique link to gain access to £10 off an order of £30 or more plus free returns. The offer is available for 1 day only, so if you're interested pop back here tomorrow and in the meantime go and check out their listings and see what you could get. Thrift + will also donate £5 from each new customer's order to the charity WWF. A great way to honour earth day don't you think?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so excited to share this news, my new to me dress and this offer. The pink bag and white trainers (5th image) are also second-hand via Thrift + too. I hope you'll join me in trying to buy second-hand clothes instead of new as well as trying out Thrift +. I'm also posting about this on my Instagram account @clairejustalittleless.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll post the link tomorrow xo</div><div><br /></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-36188145960159300352021-04-16T09:04:00.002+01:002021-04-16T09:07:09.191+01:0055: Happy Friday Links<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueTDj1jc5pEH9qWLySiVuMcKIhNsLRpmvZqccQrnq3-4CUI4kQPVQlVVQTwuSp265FxeaAP4-C3rr4Hrz6FI0u7OvhwNNCznNzeZQR99HHnSzZExdKgXCr7Ykkx7K7oGsDpU1ikKTiQ8/s2048/EFBB821E-CE33-4502-8FDD-2AD7E77F0447.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="2057" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueTDj1jc5pEH9qWLySiVuMcKIhNsLRpmvZqccQrnq3-4CUI4kQPVQlVVQTwuSp265FxeaAP4-C3rr4Hrz6FI0u7OvhwNNCznNzeZQR99HHnSzZExdKgXCr7Ykkx7K7oGsDpU1ikKTiQ8/w2057-h2057/EFBB821E-CE33-4502-8FDD-2AD7E77F0447.jpeg" width="2057" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div>Hello again, how are you? It's been quite a week here in the U.K. with some easing of restrictions, such as non-essential retail opening. I've not done anything different this week apart from visit one charity shop as I needed to return a dress I bought just before Christmas (it seemed to be about 3 sizes too small even before Christmas, haha.) After getting my refund I had a thorough sift through the rails. And no, I didn't leave empty handed. I'd love to share a few of my thrifted items with you and outfits that I'll make from them. Let me know if you're interested.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today is my Mum and her twin sister's birthday (83). Unfortunately, 2 positive cases have been confirmed in her care home (she has Alzheimer's and vascular dementia) and so today's visit has been cancelled. No more visits are anticipated until the middle of May. I'm so disappointed for everyone: for Mum, other residents, their families and the staff who work there. It's depressing to just park at the care home, drop off gifts in the porch and drive away again without seeing a soul. At least I can visit my aunty and I'm pleased that babies and young children are now allowed to visit family in care homes.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope you've had a good week. If you've had a bit of a wonky week like me, these links might perk you up. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TD_08ocshY">Alvin Wayne's 800sq Ft New York City Apartment</a> via Apartment Therapy on YouTube. Alvin is an entertaining host and I totally agree about surrounding yourself with things that you love. <div><a href="https://www.styleapotheca.com/blog/2020/11/5/5-ways-to-optimize-your-wfh-setup-amp-stay-productive">5 Ways to Optimise Your WFH Setup & Stay Productive</a> by Christina at Style Apotheca. Great advice from Christina who says, "Do your best to keep work at work and out of your pocket."</div><div><a href="https://www.bibico.co.uk/blogs/blog/health-benefits-of-indoor-plants#">Health Benefits of Indoor Plants</a> via Bibico. I think I might move a few succulents and an orchid into our bedroom.</div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV37H-tUR8g">3 Tips When Health Messes With Your Goals</a> on Catherine's YouTube channel, The Life Tidy. I recently discovered this channel and I'm really enjoying her minimalist journey.</div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/11/me-and-my-she-shed-women-on-discovering-what-a-life-saver-theier-own-private-shed-can-be">Me and my 'she shed': women on the joys of their garden retreats</a> by Nell Card via The Guardian. I love Angela's lilac shed. </div><div><a href="https://www.loveholidays.com/holidays/vegan-travel-guide/">A Guide to travelling as a Vegan, or with Dietary Requirements</a> is a beautiful and informative resource from www.loveholidays.com and is a great read regardless of when you're planning to travel again. It includes eye-opening stats, helpful phrases for ordering vegan food abroad and recommendations for vegan-friendly travel apps and websites. </div><div><br /></div><div>Did you see the sweet photo of the late Prince Philip and 7 of his great-grandchildren? It made me smile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy and have a great weekend xo</div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-51846317428897364772021-04-13T15:28:00.001+01:002021-04-13T15:30:05.357+01:00My Alcohol Detox Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HsZplE7boN1bmn4K1D-a7lKCJnOo2E5fYdFuvShObPYk_aG82ykccmMOQoYDxF3HEkd43977HovwMUPSu7lkmD03Wv5MSRxRvtSYig_dqpHbDvaq2415MYHSx6YHwGriF56yG85wUkg/s507/7DC03D49-6521-48FC-BAF9-6C48F7801A88.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HsZplE7boN1bmn4K1D-a7lKCJnOo2E5fYdFuvShObPYk_aG82ykccmMOQoYDxF3HEkd43977HovwMUPSu7lkmD03Wv5MSRxRvtSYig_dqpHbDvaq2415MYHSx6YHwGriF56yG85wUkg/s16000/7DC03D49-6521-48FC-BAF9-6C48F7801A88.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Hi there! As I mentioned in a <a href="http://www.justalittleless.co.uk/2021/04/short-hair-and-list.html">recent blog post</a>, I'm currently on a 30 day alcohol detox which I started last Tuesday 6th April (the day after Easter Monday in the UK.)<p></p><p>After a week off the booze I feel brighter, more upbeat and I have started to have some better nights sleep. For motivation, I've been listening to the alcohol free podcasts, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/with-author-helen-garlick-on-her-memoir-no-place-to-lie/id1448715889?i=1000516478806">Alcohol-Free Life</a> by Janey Lee Grace and <a href="https://www.soundrebel.co.uk/overtheinfluence">Over the Influence</a>, as well as rereading The 10-day Alcohol Detox Plan by Lewis David. According to David, it can take up to 10 days for alcohol to leave your system depending on your previous drinking. I know, that's quite alarming isn't it? After, my 3 month no alcohol stint in 2019 I know that I can do 30 days. </p><p>Alcohol is a very addictive substance and like any bad habit that we may fall into, the initial period of abstinence can leave us with diminished dopamine. But if we hold tight and stay alcohol free, those levels of dopamine can normalise and other benefits begin to happen. </p><p>I'm going to hold onto that promise as well as my alcohol free drink of choice. With the wine witch ever watchful (she loves 6pm) I'm following Janey Lee Grace's mantra of, "Keep the ritual, change the ingredients." Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted xo</p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-76550172742814756852021-04-09T18:01:00.002+01:002021-04-09T18:04:17.581+01:0054: Happy Friday Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMw8JMCTWc4s8zFaR_4LVkIYS5QRfzQTTYTXVvgCnOCaNCoIhjWBoOdt8aaItcUblzMaQ-QE0RHXltiOvEsPvwYCCuG1MYpaBx-WvKJXAXVdactOO2HLZIKDfVnfl-3Nw7rMk3vahrvU/s1440/21FDCDFB-7204-4D51-AADC-D9E73F7F0599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMw8JMCTWc4s8zFaR_4LVkIYS5QRfzQTTYTXVvgCnOCaNCoIhjWBoOdt8aaItcUblzMaQ-QE0RHXltiOvEsPvwYCCuG1MYpaBx-WvKJXAXVdactOO2HLZIKDfVnfl-3Nw7rMk3vahrvU/s16000/21FDCDFB-7204-4D51-AADC-D9E73F7F0599.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>Well it's Friday again, woo hoo! This gorgeous swirl of daffodils are part of a local walk that has become our default stroll. They're on a route which we take when we really don't feel like leaving the house and just want to tick 'daily walk' off the list. I usually feel better for a blast around the block even if it's cold or involves a hail storm like this Tuesday. And if the walk seems like a chore, at least I have the satisfaction of banking some steps and an excuse for an afternoon sojourn on the sofa. </p><p>Don't get me wrong, this particular walk is lovely and includes our neighbourhood park but we choose it out of habit and not for the scenery. Lately, there's been new sights we've noticed like these daffodils that were planted last autumn which we've been eagerly waiting to fully open and this week we've seen people having picnics and a children's football team training after a long break. All signs of new life that have reinvigorated my pandemic dampened spirits. </p><p>Today, whilst walking, a friendly woman stopped us to ask if we'd heard the news about Prince Phillip's death and whilst it was sad news it was still nice to have a chat. Over the last year I've been grateful for the care and thought people are putting into their gardens and nearby open spaces, their window displays or just taking time to smile, say hello or exchange a few words as we walk our walks. </p><p>Thanks so much for reading my last post. It was great to hear from some of you as well. I hope you enjoy these links which may just give you an extra boost this weekend.</p><p><a href="https://tinybuddha.com/blog/why-productivity-without-presence-is-a-recipe-for-burnout-and-misery/" target="">Why we need to be present to enjoy our lives, not just productive </a>by Rochi Zalani via Tiny Buddha</p><p><a href="https://mrshollingsworths.com/2021/04/05/8-ingredient-twix-biscuits/">8 ingredient Twix Biscuits</a> via Mrs Hollingsworth's</p><p><a href="https://www.alwayswellwithin.com/blog/inspire-encourage-motivate-yourself-everyday" target="_blank">How to inspire and encourage yourself everyday</a> by Sandra Pawula at Always Well Within</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/07/tamsin-greig-without-paul-ritter-the-world-is-a-less-brilliant-place">A moving tribute to actor Paul Ritter </a>by Tamsin Greig via The Guardian</p><p><a href="https://www.aconsideredlife.co.uk/2021/02/pet-friendly-.html">Pet Friendly House Plants</a> by Sophie at A Considered Life</p><p><a href="https://www.ourbeautifuladventure.co.uk/blog/ethical-shopping-where-i-actually-buy-my-clothes">Ethical Shopping - Where I Actually Buy My Clothes</a> by Rachael at Our Beautiful Adventure Photography</p><p><a href="http://living-onashoestring.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2019-06-27T19:59:00%2B01:00&max-results=3&start=15&by-date=false">Tiny Living on my Narrowboat - How I Make the Most of Small Spaces</a> by Olivia at Living on a Shoestring</p><p>Enjoy, stay safe and well xo</p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-51339369045467442832021-04-06T15:33:00.003+01:002021-04-13T15:31:19.964+01:00Short Hair and a List<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCCxaCnSCLD0i7BHIRpvOyjI_JvhLSTtqA9Ax8R7ivWDhS-rb0MlTg7ocAgr8L8UW2zSM6YJOcB1ziS0IRhTUIHebjHb5vw3Xqq8YWfLXhbH6MZCln0J_4b4yzn5pdYmlbaRuyAvM1Us/s959/8537ACB1-2E24-4F9D-896E-88E6B6997CFE.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="959" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCCxaCnSCLD0i7BHIRpvOyjI_JvhLSTtqA9Ax8R7ivWDhS-rb0MlTg7ocAgr8L8UW2zSM6YJOcB1ziS0IRhTUIHebjHb5vw3Xqq8YWfLXhbH6MZCln0J_4b4yzn5pdYmlbaRuyAvM1Us/s16000/8537ACB1-2E24-4F9D-896E-88E6B6997CFE.JPG" /></a></div><br />No it's not new year but I wanted to get going with blogging again and it kind of feels like a new start as we've just had Easter and the clocks went forward just over a week ago.<p></p><p>I definitely have the most energy at this time of year and so I thought I'd make my first post of 2021 a list of what I'm hoping to achieve this year. A few have already been started.</p><p>1. Be gentle with myself and others. Expect to not complete everything on this list and accept this as being normal. I would like to work on some self-improvement or self-care though. I love a challenge!</p><p>2. Commit to at least 30 days without alcohol. In 2019 I did both dry January and had 3 months without alcohol. I feel ready to give it another go. </p><p>3. Make an inventory of my current clothes and accessories. I've been donating and selling some items over the last year and I'm working on making my wardrobe more versatile, practical and sustainable as well as smaller. </p><p>4. Grow some veg for my community garden plot. The last couple of years I've mainly concentrated on growing flowers for cutting.</p><p>5. Clear some space in our tiny garden for a bench. This will involve removing part of a border and putting slate there instead. </p><p>6. Walk every day for at least 20 minutes. I usually walk every day with Tim before lunch and often have a longer walk once a week with a friend. I've also become a litter legend which gives me an excuse for an extra walk most weeks.</p><p>7. Stop going to the hairdressers. The last time I had my hair cut professionally was December 2020 and I cut it short just over a week ago. I cut my Mum's hair before she went into a care home and have cut Tim's for several years now so I think I know what I'm doing. This is the shortest I've ever had my hair and it's so liberating.</p><p>8. Read every day for at least 20 minutes. I have plenty of books on my 'to be read' pile.</p><p>9. Try some new vegan recipes. We had a subscription to 'Vegan Food & Living' magazine as a surprise Christmas present from my brother-in-law and so I shouldn't be short of inspiration.</p><p>10. Update my blog more regularly. There's so much I want to write about and I enjoy both writing and photography so what's holding me back?</p><p>I hope you're well and keeping safe wherever you're living. I would love to hear from you. </p><p>Claire xo</p>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-10967786448657761022020-07-30T20:55:00.003+01:002020-07-30T21:02:12.132+01:00A mini-break at Rowthorne Lodge, Derbyshire<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4wUw2ARVry_TjdIQP5DrwdNhqPfvGjBRdqU98zuuh0ZRrbP_YW9vtcQU0pbWmRnB2RmM2XkwO9K6-QPQ3SZeKG2hQd11NAxblr1AjqQLB1BFuk9PyuyX3ETiUAu7g2I0VAQt8-QSWJ0/s2048/IMG_4153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4wUw2ARVry_TjdIQP5DrwdNhqPfvGjBRdqU98zuuh0ZRrbP_YW9vtcQU0pbWmRnB2RmM2XkwO9K6-QPQ3SZeKG2hQd11NAxblr1AjqQLB1BFuk9PyuyX3ETiUAu7g2I0VAQt8-QSWJ0/w625-h625/IMG_4153.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMCAd9GocNTF_obup9ULoqGLg7PhU_k0CFzXBXRmKEnaBEBtaL9vYBde1jI3zDPSUSqWdU038rP1Gd80W7BdUPR6319ME1nWoNUEou8d2WHafYR926JSLKfNjY2LQh4HWVArH_tawSYg/s2048/IMG_4169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMCAd9GocNTF_obup9ULoqGLg7PhU_k0CFzXBXRmKEnaBEBtaL9vYBde1jI3zDPSUSqWdU038rP1Gd80W7BdUPR6319ME1nWoNUEou8d2WHafYR926JSLKfNjY2LQh4HWVArH_tawSYg/w625-h625/IMG_4169.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqr0whEmNqzi_WolI7LGay4TzrdW87RXlUMZ6fdprAApt10WoJ9hYRDISm73uNYheHm3pp3HJHiLZPWbi6QltvwlKLCOOR2bvqdN_5c9GeZ8i3iBFw9QudsqSLMM7VBe_zwfXXt2QJzY/s2048/IMG_4171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqr0whEmNqzi_WolI7LGay4TzrdW87RXlUMZ6fdprAApt10WoJ9hYRDISm73uNYheHm3pp3HJHiLZPWbi6QltvwlKLCOOR2bvqdN_5c9GeZ8i3iBFw9QudsqSLMM7VBe_zwfXXt2QJzY/w625-h625/IMG_4171.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a week ago we headed off on a mini-break to celebrate our wedding anniversary, the end of term, retiring from teaching and the fact that it's summer and with the easing of lockdown we're now allowed to go on holiday. I was as excited as Bridget Jones and the fact that we were the property's first occupants since March felt quite special. We chose to venture just an hour away to Derbyshire to a beautiful one bedroomed lodge in the grounds of Hardwick Hall which is owned by the National trust. It was a beautiful property. Let me show you around...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi5HMgt1fbd5x5A80t-Q8gIlLQaxlNMWZ2Pniv33XM8oWpdPOCPhpOHpYsVD5wDgcnp9i7AArhtjvxf37iGf8lXLFy6M1zTSbImejjTo1iFMEEVnwt2N3f4NJ9M_YwOszNblICYJN3Yc/s2048/IMG_4106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi5HMgt1fbd5x5A80t-Q8gIlLQaxlNMWZ2Pniv33XM8oWpdPOCPhpOHpYsVD5wDgcnp9i7AArhtjvxf37iGf8lXLFy6M1zTSbImejjTo1iFMEEVnwt2N3f4NJ9M_YwOszNblICYJN3Yc/w625-h625/IMG_4106.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup66z-ZvT0WpZISIVZJuoulGWD-VOMcqthcg_xGg-8UBNdct5ygaDFPzfsjoyqE3ivuT_rPLuNUcSV-1Lo8oJ-bxbmNgRnyehetnB8xjlaFzrWVLyk0zrAfbMyWVfh_rQP7iPZPsfiIs/s2048/IMG_4110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup66z-ZvT0WpZISIVZJuoulGWD-VOMcqthcg_xGg-8UBNdct5ygaDFPzfsjoyqE3ivuT_rPLuNUcSV-1Lo8oJ-bxbmNgRnyehetnB8xjlaFzrWVLyk0zrAfbMyWVfh_rQP7iPZPsfiIs/w625-h625/IMG_4110.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzVDliAyPl8Q-hcQDRyPVL3wUwa3cWQw8fBHAw0npRr3e2laHUht79n5eGUZo6nYso2zIugawfElmUBOf08vB-M67t9rASLvAX4a5BjJVB-eUAZBybJrnGaarmG5sD5GNHXOLdxWDOMU/s2048/IMG_4129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzVDliAyPl8Q-hcQDRyPVL3wUwa3cWQw8fBHAw0npRr3e2laHUht79n5eGUZo6nYso2zIugawfElmUBOf08vB-M67t9rASLvAX4a5BjJVB-eUAZBybJrnGaarmG5sD5GNHXOLdxWDOMU/w625-h625/IMG_4129.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreKmTKfPxtnDW12GCxUmrEqhgkrw4M73ARtPeB1Y_5-uQzMNcqdgpjVRh4uWs5SjyHNYDoNY0xYXVY8Wg3EM18Rn7v4KR-4l90JEr5JTn-oYAlYm2D86PFTPmhK2RwdM0qjIjXw4Ps9E/s2048/IMG_4111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreKmTKfPxtnDW12GCxUmrEqhgkrw4M73ARtPeB1Y_5-uQzMNcqdgpjVRh4uWs5SjyHNYDoNY0xYXVY8Wg3EM18Rn7v4KR-4l90JEr5JTn-oYAlYm2D86PFTPmhK2RwdM0qjIjXw4Ps9E/w625-h625/IMG_4111.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0kd3amTp_pbBgWSeJFTyoRSPCoHFLmPEHh4tWPiRzmZQlA_BGPUUA1RVcbXDq392NAiFs8Qg6-crnugH9MQXXF_Ap8AUI6tZElHXaZw-hFc4n-TpETNpGvVrCYP3qPXfXVuSQRqQoak/s2048/IMG_4117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0kd3amTp_pbBgWSeJFTyoRSPCoHFLmPEHh4tWPiRzmZQlA_BGPUUA1RVcbXDq392NAiFs8Qg6-crnugH9MQXXF_Ap8AUI6tZElHXaZw-hFc4n-TpETNpGvVrCYP3qPXfXVuSQRqQoak/w625-h625/IMG_4117.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcCqnEBptTyVU_kl1f707_ecku40pt3ZXsKRdhYVtJmONAaP3LwaZ82BGSTKCH7FD6OcEAqlCCbU1Qhhk9cfNHVrzgiu2v6sex_VJ3QZ0RBtxCgKxLAg1l0hxNBtyTgv6thgMBeMvh8/s2048/IMG_4115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcCqnEBptTyVU_kl1f707_ecku40pt3ZXsKRdhYVtJmONAaP3LwaZ82BGSTKCH7FD6OcEAqlCCbU1Qhhk9cfNHVrzgiu2v6sex_VJ3QZ0RBtxCgKxLAg1l0hxNBtyTgv6thgMBeMvh8/w625-h625/IMG_4115.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CBhdMYO32c2J09KLsiQpza0VlMz11EcP2nhncqDQ9ii9mXEmkCb91Uemh4mv4MJqVWlbstnvRDlwC849-gD3axX1QJt4zAKs10wREzraXsoblmw6pFSdAYKvisJJnX3X8Uk82kYTjWg/s2048/IMG_4124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CBhdMYO32c2J09KLsiQpza0VlMz11EcP2nhncqDQ9ii9mXEmkCb91Uemh4mv4MJqVWlbstnvRDlwC849-gD3axX1QJt4zAKs10wREzraXsoblmw6pFSdAYKvisJJnX3X8Uk82kYTjWg/w625-h625/IMG_4124.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The clutter free and spotless interior was perfect for unwinding and the 2,500 acre estate gave us plenty of scope for exercise and exploring. For anyone who's not visited before, Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan country house and was first built by Bess of Hardwick (see a statue of her below), a noblewoman and ambitious builder. The hall was eminently impressive and it was such a shame that due to Covid we couldn't go inside and get to look out at the estate from the magnificent windows for which it's famous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT0eWLbxdSs26VtL4J8Sp4JIQ7quHU4BZBA71iXCSj4Hf0fkc7WhzZbRjUWNOXA9yDAEVM9anDwiLObLi1BYXFjbwfY1l-qXlrb58YDZwfWQLYl01So4gECBkftvPeoQZEoGbwy1imwM/s2048/IMG_4267.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT0eWLbxdSs26VtL4J8Sp4JIQ7quHU4BZBA71iXCSj4Hf0fkc7WhzZbRjUWNOXA9yDAEVM9anDwiLObLi1BYXFjbwfY1l-qXlrb58YDZwfWQLYl01So4gECBkftvPeoQZEoGbwy1imwM/w625-h625/IMG_4267.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, the gardens near the house were a source of pure joy for me. Such great planting involving gorgeous and unusual plants and artistically thought out colour schemes. These are just a few of the vistas that caught my eye. Boy, have I got so many planting ideas to try in my tiny garden and in our community garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80fukh75O1UntNwTLMsmvFvrbKNeCjugDsudH-KUmVw55uRxq84p4kCbGzuYjOrNUNRUPq8LXDnX8kyfyZVvScrEcuVSp0rUqOjWdCR2By6dyW7oHCZRHvA7vyTtXGahyvi1papP8LM0/s2048/IMG_4180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80fukh75O1UntNwTLMsmvFvrbKNeCjugDsudH-KUmVw55uRxq84p4kCbGzuYjOrNUNRUPq8LXDnX8kyfyZVvScrEcuVSp0rUqOjWdCR2By6dyW7oHCZRHvA7vyTtXGahyvi1papP8LM0/w625-h625/IMG_4180.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseC-I5BFru14Pye7t0Jxti2al70hN3G7sE5AxYXxaWSPP4efiTZX4Kv6T9dsftVbU3TbtaZ1cXxYjwFx_cZKvGSw4rwOboNh54jdfDwdk-WhQUjvZrJuXbH3eJnSetRSLD-2u5nUFOmg/s2048/IMG_4202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseC-I5BFru14Pye7t0Jxti2al70hN3G7sE5AxYXxaWSPP4efiTZX4Kv6T9dsftVbU3TbtaZ1cXxYjwFx_cZKvGSw4rwOboNh54jdfDwdk-WhQUjvZrJuXbH3eJnSetRSLD-2u5nUFOmg/w625-h625/IMG_4202.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNeA1wB-VQiSyVi6ms1mh9zjKSuarqc2dxau-Lv0I895UU5fGW0jZTt8wadhPXkK7zWXEcRBB802ZjLB0fnAQQB1oHnfefekKM9XyqKZTMCEefIR-2l44dStEJhrfhqjGvwUJx03kQ-Y/s2048/IMG_4203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNeA1wB-VQiSyVi6ms1mh9zjKSuarqc2dxau-Lv0I895UU5fGW0jZTt8wadhPXkK7zWXEcRBB802ZjLB0fnAQQB1oHnfefekKM9XyqKZTMCEefIR-2l44dStEJhrfhqjGvwUJx03kQ-Y/w625-h625/IMG_4203.jpg" width="625" /></a></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK2rThJpQAm8RT-dRLorqiX7HkMpO4l7v3bbYxeIZRj1POChcWwKTtLgVZYVeAjFQLuzybkq0Z6MV_pFSQwU_FjPeMRz5cKHZKaTa4F4OznA7VMD0il54o07Qt-cq7xWBRmMl7N76G0I/s2048/IMG_4219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK2rThJpQAm8RT-dRLorqiX7HkMpO4l7v3bbYxeIZRj1POChcWwKTtLgVZYVeAjFQLuzybkq0Z6MV_pFSQwU_FjPeMRz5cKHZKaTa4F4OznA7VMD0il54o07Qt-cq7xWBRmMl7N76G0I/w625-h625/IMG_4219.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMeWt6XUFw5ojGIDoWoqhPyGr1Rez60AWD4ppUeM6JzNmmjn-_76W9y5Kc5fo4VDrtljlJKym56KkPtAOrhhK7oC9mbltVX4oYO22sQ8D0Zniv_b3UZJAkGFOQ3xrD4k8kxZI3ZMk9G0/s2048/IMG_4210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMeWt6XUFw5ojGIDoWoqhPyGr1Rez60AWD4ppUeM6JzNmmjn-_76W9y5Kc5fo4VDrtljlJKym56KkPtAOrhhK7oC9mbltVX4oYO22sQ8D0Zniv_b3UZJAkGFOQ3xrD4k8kxZI3ZMk9G0/w625-h625/IMG_4210.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUCK9db7_1vcqDgQDnVTaYoiAuXWbEimx2QuhAajL1xJK9PjNLOLhG4RLn3RYM1vN10j4BY_sjQ_WJ0lCReTvMOOe6zlng59U1ugtEZ8dtFs69zOHgq5RfUmCiqpBwNlWqpZa_75jXZI/s2048/IMG_4229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUCK9db7_1vcqDgQDnVTaYoiAuXWbEimx2QuhAajL1xJK9PjNLOLhG4RLn3RYM1vN10j4BY_sjQ_WJ0lCReTvMOOe6zlng59U1ugtEZ8dtFs69zOHgq5RfUmCiqpBwNlWqpZa_75jXZI/w625-h625/IMG_4229.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa_1vL2w1nGkLmfgIW0aAPEguSmCoNxkSRDYxXywEeFH3xPhw_RGzjIh90hapzDFchwo0iBX8163zr5tXrSuNN1H1N9KDsE95H6zgTfpFitLu0EwzZUDrLlqTSWZfhtqKt-mPuguP6RU/s2048/IMG_4207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa_1vL2w1nGkLmfgIW0aAPEguSmCoNxkSRDYxXywEeFH3xPhw_RGzjIh90hapzDFchwo0iBX8163zr5tXrSuNN1H1N9KDsE95H6zgTfpFitLu0EwzZUDrLlqTSWZfhtqKt-mPuguP6RU/w625-h625/IMG_4207.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpNS1qkI6JgKvdJq2tSpWjxH2uo1wu9QBgkMAH6lGbspagzIn8BVLGmUY7AMrREJWSVOgclxtZ4UU8ECO-ean8xjKB4cW8p-AXQzqSw3Oje4i_zmmvwdm4lr5xSoehoh3AcgS8k7UX_o/s2048/IMG_4237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpNS1qkI6JgKvdJq2tSpWjxH2uo1wu9QBgkMAH6lGbspagzIn8BVLGmUY7AMrREJWSVOgclxtZ4UU8ECO-ean8xjKB4cW8p-AXQzqSw3Oje4i_zmmvwdm4lr5xSoehoh3AcgS8k7UX_o/w625-h625/IMG_4237.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2P5bdpmgIRt_0CsQq-5TOIKQ27kWKgYK6EVa2iVjXwAIB4JGyDYWJ57yUjtgD7aM7esIt4yjB-WbPaFhYfr1q7GSrT6_G38d0XqUHGUVzLZB4LbBCrXTdMBFHvdxQjLAChAkMrqxtSNY/s2048/IMG_4251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2P5bdpmgIRt_0CsQq-5TOIKQ27kWKgYK6EVa2iVjXwAIB4JGyDYWJ57yUjtgD7aM7esIt4yjB-WbPaFhYfr1q7GSrT6_G38d0XqUHGUVzLZB4LbBCrXTdMBFHvdxQjLAChAkMrqxtSNY/w625-h625/IMG_4251.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUD56IGUocnDtZdzzxnrVmYFJDIowIuPe10buTvELxQtJeoYbYPXwQSbVYoqJl6WKK_kdHwnaTVsD0VwNZBSf-ETPJPjT3n-nABoi9QfF5OmyRCAGXQzlI1IGTnIKbsMjZo3-xffSvR4/s2048/IMG_4246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUD56IGUocnDtZdzzxnrVmYFJDIowIuPe10buTvELxQtJeoYbYPXwQSbVYoqJl6WKK_kdHwnaTVsD0VwNZBSf-ETPJPjT3n-nABoi9QfF5OmyRCAGXQzlI1IGTnIKbsMjZo3-xffSvR4/w625-h625/IMG_4246.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've had trouble putting this post together as it's been so long since I blogged at length but really these photos are wasted sitting on my phone. Just a few more to go, I promise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH198LXLBgk_TSkraItJ8q2NlrrrWaVvdc_4KQYF0HNaOZpemJ1OQfMPTcZy1Gm33v-_rd3Cr5zH-UqwMwRA6zLHwuzVla8xiAWudIN-xylLPwfKGLNHJs4Jz1CitqbvDUC6cPn-thmb8/s2048/IMG_4234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH198LXLBgk_TSkraItJ8q2NlrrrWaVvdc_4KQYF0HNaOZpemJ1OQfMPTcZy1Gm33v-_rd3Cr5zH-UqwMwRA6zLHwuzVla8xiAWudIN-xylLPwfKGLNHJs4Jz1CitqbvDUC6cPn-thmb8/w625-h625/IMG_4234.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlgyP2SFS1-Krbda0kDuwIK8XY0AULNpeDteMdVsWLwa-tU4ra8a0iqZJqfVcdmLwjXJjEIrs54eL7qOp5R6dvassXEXyIKY-WU6JZgwFi_dgAIrDDaQrdswf3WBOwOlCyml6zcEW6UE/s2048/IMG_4240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlgyP2SFS1-Krbda0kDuwIK8XY0AULNpeDteMdVsWLwa-tU4ra8a0iqZJqfVcdmLwjXJjEIrs54eL7qOp5R6dvassXEXyIKY-WU6JZgwFi_dgAIrDDaQrdswf3WBOwOlCyml6zcEW6UE/w625-h625/IMG_4240.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-1SbGu0XUCaNm0_on70Bshdo1XFkYPLH216Y0S-xLoeFAEWWnvrDP1fhP1S9QfD3ofRj3VIY6nPhC3pDWVyALbscaesasRMi-W3Giy0cNHi8u5VOyLkXv8R9l5wWlPuI3RQPtLDE_Zo/s2048/IMG_4243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-1SbGu0XUCaNm0_on70Bshdo1XFkYPLH216Y0S-xLoeFAEWWnvrDP1fhP1S9QfD3ofRj3VIY6nPhC3pDWVyALbscaesasRMi-W3Giy0cNHi8u5VOyLkXv8R9l5wWlPuI3RQPtLDE_Zo/w625-h625/IMG_4243.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEGhsz2_s9DZwEyo2fHp9CIPOoChIWSKp4dSoh67dk56OtnD_2idhBAxXmjzEIP8fZ15wl-lNaXejsW1BGbzUGQpqfzMXcHDDCKJlWK2ysEalUbwMdis752C5SNe3vnbDTSIhgGSh7U4/s2048/IMG_4259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEGhsz2_s9DZwEyo2fHp9CIPOoChIWSKp4dSoh67dk56OtnD_2idhBAxXmjzEIP8fZ15wl-lNaXejsW1BGbzUGQpqfzMXcHDDCKJlWK2ysEalUbwMdis752C5SNe3vnbDTSIhgGSh7U4/w625-h625/IMG_4259.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell, we had a truly relaxing break. It wasn't perfect as we had quite mixed weather and a power failure on our last day which was time consuming to remedy but we had lots of time to enjoy reading, walking, eating simple but delicious food and a blessing... no wi fi to distract us. Just a few more photos and I think I'll have recorded enough memories of a wonderful four night break.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9w736T15PsJrswrQMqsJ3Ov3fpUd9VNrCEVmdQHOtApuPYBpUkJ_U7d1cZB1KUxSfSZi6CrVUOsHJWLEIiYqjwW1urkcfBtiiNNrg-Gfqcd7Wvsnl2o7wgIkaZGTxPsWvXnfN6k6DCs/s2048/IMG_4253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9w736T15PsJrswrQMqsJ3Ov3fpUd9VNrCEVmdQHOtApuPYBpUkJ_U7d1cZB1KUxSfSZi6CrVUOsHJWLEIiYqjwW1urkcfBtiiNNrg-Gfqcd7Wvsnl2o7wgIkaZGTxPsWvXnfN6k6DCs/w625-h625/IMG_4253.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXfpSi3GDtCIH92U47A6xSjCRrGD67IqXPsfEFrTLq-R_oOgSjjawKs1LnZJhyphenhypheniOjM9TASrgb_FCNPE3ikFX7hKqhqFdIOD-tTIwj1UySNjgF5fIpdHGIGGiwqj8UWZtgQhSFJ94VkrY/s2048/IMG_4165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXfpSi3GDtCIH92U47A6xSjCRrGD67IqXPsfEFrTLq-R_oOgSjjawKs1LnZJhyphenhypheniOjM9TASrgb_FCNPE3ikFX7hKqhqFdIOD-tTIwj1UySNjgF5fIpdHGIGGiwqj8UWZtgQhSFJ94VkrY/w625-h625/IMG_4165.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xPupB5beUj5y3KoTqWMWWfa3wAs48Wy7MW2Q67KiSD5WX9zpjdepq9MfLtgtVpXSS8w4vTAHm0iUBtdHDNpTMoXsbJEZU-Rsig-sWiF3mvd5a8v_DbUoICe7qIu5P-5P1q-uyFmhZZs/s2048/IMG_4272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xPupB5beUj5y3KoTqWMWWfa3wAs48Wy7MW2Q67KiSD5WX9zpjdepq9MfLtgtVpXSS8w4vTAHm0iUBtdHDNpTMoXsbJEZU-Rsig-sWiF3mvd5a8v_DbUoICe7qIu5P-5P1q-uyFmhZZs/w625-h625/IMG_4272.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5imhrOYbzQFCbbnufkQncsv7UZl1I2HHjrtWPGwEk3oKoFbRK5phzEsjhL_Oprxhrq4T4M1d6JwHfJ5BICIpQoeoDDsZV8qMBvroAPn_8IvxHri3FfQP-ppbSgwlEsRcJoL_rgUFbwA/s2048/IMG_4269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5imhrOYbzQFCbbnufkQncsv7UZl1I2HHjrtWPGwEk3oKoFbRK5phzEsjhL_Oprxhrq4T4M1d6JwHfJ5BICIpQoeoDDsZV8qMBvroAPn_8IvxHri3FfQP-ppbSgwlEsRcJoL_rgUFbwA/w625-h625/IMG_4269.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi455y1CqDuRvbALF2dqgppYzohppadrFcFmV4r35zFAu2nOx4bNehEAzSVFAitvBp-oxBwUEn6bRciuWzFY4rCXfAJIRvxb8-UFJWO0UVIG5RUFC3CcFYwNHTPVD_jlmYf55hR3zSFHcI/s2048/IMG_4273.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi455y1CqDuRvbALF2dqgppYzohppadrFcFmV4r35zFAu2nOx4bNehEAzSVFAitvBp-oxBwUEn6bRciuWzFY4rCXfAJIRvxb8-UFJWO0UVIG5RUFC3CcFYwNHTPVD_jlmYf55hR3zSFHcI/w625-h625/IMG_4273.jpg" width="625" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you enjoyed this post. Take care, my friends xo</div></div></div>Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-81841959786353280472020-07-21T20:47:00.000+01:002020-07-21T21:02:16.115+01:00Life Changes<br />
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So this is where I'm at. I've retired early from teaching. On Friday I left my full-time teaching post after six happy years at a wonderful primary school. I've had various roles there including three years as a full-time class teacher. And, like a lot of other teachers I haven't seen or taught my Year 3 class since March 20th. However, I've been in school every week since then and have seen about a third of my class during lockdown. I've had communication with the rest of my class via email and phone calls but this wasn't how I anticipated ending my teaching career. My decision to leave was made before coronavirus and I handed my notice in during February so I felt under no pressure to change my mind. Teaching nowadays is full-on and exhausting and was not working for me or my family.</div>
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It's been a very strange end to my teaching career but a decision I know I won't regret. A simpler life beckons...</div>
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Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com111tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-15334837060469650992020-05-25T20:52:00.000+01:002020-05-26T06:21:22.834+01:00Tiny garden tour 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello there. I hope you're well and configuring your way around coronavirus. To be honest, I think my coping mechanisms are all over the place and my ability to cope changes hourly with my moods. Today I offer you an antidote, an escape, a little peep into another life - it's not a makeover perfect project just a space, a moment in history to be shared, a time when the hum of bees and the twitter of birds were more inspiring than social media, daily government briefings and the dos and don'ts of lockdown. At times lockdown has been exhausting, overwhelming and frustrating but just occasionally don't you think you're being gifted a wonderful opportunity to take stock, be authentic, still and slow down. Isn't this the way to live? Just add in your extras (mines's a takeaway soya caramel latte).<br />
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We did a 'makeover' of our tiny garden in 2014 - see it <a href="http://www.justalittleless.co.uk/2014/08/small-garden-makeover-on-budget.html" target="_blank">here</a>. It's now a much more 'lived-in' space but it's giving us so much pleasure and purpose in these turbulent times. It provides us with invaluable outside space and a chance to be still, creative, nurturing and productive.<br />
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We all need escapism right now and probably will do for the foreseeable future. Whatever it takes: quiz nights, family zooming or the voyeurism of Marianne and Connell from 'Normal People' - a BBC Three series which I'm eeking out as long as I can.<br />
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I hope you enjoy my tiny garden tour and it gives you that feeling of being somewhere else.<br />
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Sending you my best wishes and love xo<br />
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<br />Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701097386033513768.post-69583101919187879132020-04-13T16:31:00.002+01:002020-04-13T16:37:42.696+01:00Easter 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's been no shortage of chocolate, sunshine and beautiful spring flowers this Easter break. Also, there's been no shortage of time since March 19th when schools in the UK closed and I've been at home apart from one day a week when I'm on duty at school to look after key workers children and vulnerable children. There has been home learning to organise plus other teaching tasks to complete but it's been a very light workload compared to my normal teaching duties. And so a chance to update my blog of which I'm still very fond of despite its hiatus.<br />
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Scrolling through photos on my phone there's so much I could write about and lots of lovely images I could share with you from the last year but that world seems like a hazy sepia dream from decades ago and not just last year. My archive of photos are an eerie reminder of why we need to stay safe and stay at home. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting those carefree days back but also realise that life will never be exactly the same again and it will take time to adjust when restrictions on lockdown begin to be lifted. Also, I hope that we learn lessons from this worldwide emergency and that in the future we don't take for granted the fragility of our health or economy. We may need to reassess our priorities in life.<br />
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I do hope you're well and are finding time to enjoy some simple pleasures in this topsy-turvy world we find ourselves in this year. Whether it's a walk around the neighbourhood, a phone call or zoom meeting with family or friends, home-cooked meals, gardening or generally enjoying a slower pace of life these all have the power to lift our spirits and ease away anxiety. The future seems even more uncertain than ever so I'll leave you with this thought.<br />
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<br />Claire/Just a little lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030696365673329064noreply@blogger.com76