Project 52 2026 week 35

It’s back to school and back to work after the holidays, and I’m glad it was a short week because it was a shock to the system. Here’s my week 35 for project 52.

Sunday – had a bit of a lie in and read. Got more washing done – I didn’t like the heatwave but it was nice to be able to have multiple washloads dried in a day. I keep having to now watch out for the wind blowing over the clothes horse/airers, or for any rain coming in. 

Nipped to M&S for bread and ingredients to make a pudding tomorrow. It amazes me how every week there are people asking why the tills aren’t open. Sunday opening hours have been in place for so many years, how do people not understand? The shop staff must get so frustrated with people. Rest of the day was quiet. 

Finally got my new Shark fan delivered. I ordered one months ago on what must have been a very good but dodgy deal on a random website – it never arrived, and they never returned my customer service ‘where is it?’ emails. I had an Amazon voucher, and they had some on a discount, I thought I’d buy one. So at least I’ve got it for future heatwaves.

Monday – quiet bank holiday. I didn’t leave the house. It was pretty wet on and off through the day, so I just spent time reading, watching tv, made a cheesecake, and tried to practice and recap some line dances

Tuesday – final day of leave. Just a very chilled day really. Popped out to get some bread in the morning, bought a new umbrella because I realised my lovely old one is now broken. Had a brief chat with the neighbour and N while they had the dogs out in the paddock. Then off dancing. Thankfully my bruised knee held up, so hopefully it’ll be fully better by the time of the dance weekender in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday – first day back at work. It’s felt like I’ve had so long off, so lots to get back into and work out what happened while I was away. That’s the worst thing about holidays.

Needed to get in contact with Stagecoach because the new timetable says the bus is picking up the school before the end of the day! Also they’re saying the return journey will go via the next village which it used to only do on the way to school. Customer service couldn’t tell me if they do because what they were seeing was different to the published timetable, so that’s useless. Tomorrow afternoon will be guesswork, and not helped by me being in a meeting so needing the OH to work out what’s happening at pick up time while our village road’s closed.

Thursday – first day back at school, and it’s Year 11. N wasn’t impressed by being back, but I did actually remember to take a last ‘first day’ photo outside the door. Classic photo – tie looking half on because he’d not hooked it on his shirt properly, shirt untucked, and no smile. A very typical on the way to school shot. 

Then dancing in the evening which was quite a nice chilled out class. Hadn’t thought it was a particularly hot day, but the car said 24C, and dancing felt a lot hotter than that. The teacher hadn’t put her fans out, but I had on my little clip on fan on the back of my trousers. Without all the other fans, it sounded so loud. It confused everyone and created much hilarity when people were told!

More nightmares with Evri saying they’ve tried to deliver 3 times so returning to sender. But they haven’t tried once, and certainly not 3 times when they only received the parcel that morning. I have no idea what the item is or where from so that’s not very helpful.

Friday – nice short work day and productive. School bus didn’t know the road through the village was open since early this morning, so decided not even to stop just outside the top of the village. Instead it just carried on down the main road – so a bit of a trek to pick up. 

Fridays are back to being a faff with tea times, as N’s back at tennis but at the earlier 6pm. So it’s either get him some food very early, then the OH has his at normal time, or wait to cook til we’re back (unless the OH is in and can cook it) which means nearly 8pm eating. I didn’t think he’d go back this year, but he wanted to keep up one sport/activity going. It means my nice Friday evenings I thought I’d have to go social dancing more regularly, won’t be happening.

Saturday – N went off early with a friend to Moreton in Marsh show. They’d worked out plans to get in because the website said under 16s had to be accompanied by an adult. But they just walked in with N given a free ticket by someone VIP with a whole load outside. They had a good day, although trying to find me coming to pick them up mid afternoon with no phone signal was interesting! I spent my time getting to the various shops I needed, then had an early lunch and frappe treat with my Kindle.

I’ve taken virtually no photos this week, so here’s a view out of the back garden.

New posts this week:

• Visiting Kirby Hall ruins
• Hardwick Hall and gardens

Things I’ve enjoyed this week:

• Running through old line dances as reminders
• Car journey chats with N
• Relaxing reading in a coffee shop (although not the one I had all my points to use up because their small car park had only electric car spaces and a disabled one left, but a very empty shop. Whoever planned their car park size was stupid, given it would be rare that anyone would walk to it! It definitely isn’t justified having 8 electric car spaces compared to 8 normal car spaces).

Things I’m grateful for this week:

• Cashback gift vouchers and cards – I love to make savings
• Not long before my new dance shoes arrive. They were on pre-order when I ordered them back in May, not realising they wouldn’t be shipped from the US til the end of August. They’re in the UK, just waiting for the UK seller to get them…not sure they’ll be here ahead of my dance weekender I wanted them for though.
• Sunny weather, but slightly cooler days.