Project 52 2025 week 43

Galloping on through the year, and with the clocks about to go back, it’s starting to turn a lot colder. I’ve had to get out my winter coat rather than just going out in a cardi. And of course there’s been another storm – so many this year. Thankfully not too bad for us here. Here’s week 43 of Project 52.

Sunday – nipped to the farm shop and treated myself to a hot chocolate in Starbucks. Turns out they’re closing – from the retail park which is a surprise as it’s always pretty busy, and most of the time they don’t have enough staff. Made flapjack as an alternative pudding for after our roast, as there wasn’t really enough pudding from Saturday left for the 2 of them. Wet day for them out on the farm.

Monday – back to work and school. Not much going on. I like a Monday tea after a Sunday roast as it’s always easier options. Today was tuscan chicken orzo bake.

Tuesday – TB testing on the farm, so I had to move my office day to do school bus pick up. Evening I had dancing. The heating’s been put on in the hall, so we were all sweltering after one lesson. The second lesson was even harder going!  After the first lesson my left hip was really painful. I think because the floor’s awfully sticky and I’d had to adapt a lot of swivel moves. When I got home, lots of cold spray was needed.

Wednesday – day in the office. Lots of meetings trying to get stuff done before my day off and then half term. My hip was still painful. Fine when up and moving about, but getting out of the car hurt, and sitting down for too long wasn’t the most comfortable.

Thursday – flexi day off. The weather looked a bit miserable and cold, so I decided on a morning in Stratford. I managed to get a couple of Christmas presents. Every year I buy a new Christmas bauble, and am still hunting down bronze ones, but they don’t seem to be the right colour bronze (too orange or too dull brown, not metallic). The Christmas shop was soooo expensive – basic bauble prices were £7.99, and they weren’t even nice quality ones. I headed to Matalan as we no longer have one in our town, but the traffic hell getting out with all the roadworks was frustrating.  I finished off at Stratford Garden Centre to check out the Christmas decorations. So pretty, but still didn’t find a really nice bauble to buy. More Christmas gifts picked up though, so that’s good going. 

Thankfully my hip felt a lot better than it had done. I think the walking had helped. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it through 2 dance classes, but I managed and it was only a slight ache.

Friday – short day at work, then orthodontist appointment for N. We were hoping the braces would be off this time, but it’s January, so the end is in sight. Curry for tea (finally managing to get the OH to eat it and not moan) which was a bit of a treat. Then tennis session for N which they had to finish a bit early thanks to the rain. Good result on the TB testing to go clear again. Yay. And my hip was back to normal. So strange how it just came on, then 2 days later was like normal.

Saturday – just a town trip to pick up bits and pieces, thankfully it was quick and I didn’t need to travel around too many places to get what I needed. Then a couple of hours spent peeling and dicing apples from the tree. Thankfully I just had space for the 5 bags in the freezer (plus a crumble for pudding), but I’m sure we could get more apples off the tree.

Things I’ve enjoyed this week:

• listening to various albums and artists on the Alexa. Always handy when you just get an idea of who you want to listen to.
• Checking out lots of Christmas decorations…yes I know it’s not even November yet.
• Celebrity Traitors. Loving it!

Things I’m grateful for this week:

• My painful hip only lasted 2 days, and seems to be ok again now.
• I was able to work around my hours to get off a little earlier on Friday for the orthodontist
• Flexi day and getting in lots of walking