Got myself a clear ice mold and I’m obsessed 😁

Discovered last night I have a little diddy passion fruit forming. This is the proper purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) so I’m looking forward to trying this straight off the vine!

Home in the morning. I’ve been coming to this stretch of Wales my entire life. My grandparents were from here, and I have lots of other family in the area. I think I can see where I’m going to spend my retirement.

Have given a little master class on how to cook Paella to the caravan next to ours. Thank god there were no Spaniards around though, they have rioted if they saw I’d used chorizo and seafood with chicken 😳

Busy old day. Despite the great, I managed to give my house a thorough clean before mum came for dinner. Cooked a chicken Tagine with couscous and managed to get my hair did!

Went strawberry picking for the first time in years. Whilst I was a bit ambitious, and needed a small mortgage to pay for them, they were worth the money. I’ve never had such sweet and juicy strawberries before.

Last (week) day of my 4 week sabbatical, back to work on Monday. I really thought I would have bad end of holiday blues, but have to admit I’m feeling ok about going to work. I’ve not had this much time off since I was at school and I feel like I’ve been away for months 😆

I haz M&Ms. Life is good

Tonight’s view for dinner. Strange being away by myself, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I will absolute lose my shit big time however, if the woman in the tent next to keep playing her TV (yes-she’s bought a TV) until the early hours again.

Home for the next couple Of nights. Managed to give myself an injury walking back from The pub 😫

Spent the morning tinkering in the Sarracenia greenhouse. This has been the strongest year for them in a long time.

Strava made me buy new running shoes, then told me I did my fastest 10K this year. I’m sure it’s in cahoots with ASICS.

I followed this one

Weekends hit differently when you know you haven’t got to go to work for four weeks. Most weekends I feel like I need to get out and go places, and rarely spend any time at home. This weekend I’ve had one day gardening and today just lazing around enjoying it all.

Just had the most amazing storm I think I’ve ever seen in the UK. Constant forks of lightning, clear booming thunder but no rain, and a beautiful warm breeze.

Very grateful for the aircon today 😆

Decided it would be a good idea to do a 10K run in the heat, after having not run for a week. I survived (barely) and have lost nearly 7lb in sweat 😆🥵 Going to finish off the evening with an Aperol Spritz and donut

Had the most amazing bank holiday weekend… Roast dinner with the in-laws. Baked my very first Pavlova which everyone loved, went to a plant hunters fair at Hergest Croft Gardens and did a 10K run. Just 3 1/2 days at work next week then another whole week off!

First time flowering of a Hoya I’ve had for around 18 months. I was really excited for this one as it’s loaded with flowers but they absolutely stink. They smell like those disinfectant flavoured pastilles that old people like suck on. 🤢🤢

My longest run for a good couple of years. I’ve been increasing the distance in a very slow and controlled way and so far so good…. My dodgy ankle usually throbs the next morning but has been wearing off after a day.

Husband’s birthday, so treated him to a 3 course meal… Bruschetta, Carbonara and Zabaglione with raspberries. All washed down with. Mouth puckeringly sharp lemon spritz.

Did a run, ate my body weight in Nachos, now enjoying a raspberry daiquiri by the fire (was supposed to be a Margarita, but I ran out of Tequila 😬)

Batch cooking 12 portions of Mediterranean chicken & Orzo. I purchased the wrong size bag of chicken thighs and ended up with 22 spare…. Made spicy pulled chicken for Tacos, burgers & Nachos. Doesn’t look to appealing but tastes delicious 🤤

So glad I’m running again. After the day I’ve had, I’d probably just shut myself in a room and cry. I’ve ran all the anxiety and stress away, now relaxing in the tub with a pint of Stowford, before eating my last half Easter egg and watching the 3rd episode Malcolm in the Middle.

Today is definitely the most Mondayest of Mondays. I need a drink.

In other news, my new fireplace is in. I’ll miss having an actual open fire, but this will be more practical for us and will probably get more use as it will be easier to clean out.

Went for a run. Felt pretty amazing and great to be back at 5k level. My ankle is a bit achey, but seems to be holding out as the distance increases. Fingers crossed as I’m following a plan, my tendinitis holds off. Time for a celebratory Henry Weston’s 😁

Got out for a quick bank holiday run. Was supposed to be done Saturday, but I ended up drinking instead. Anywho, the rest seems to have done become good!

Comfy 22° here in ours 😁 Going to be cosy when the storm hits later!

Number 5 of 7 (one turned to mush). This one is Hippeastrum santiago. The flowers are tiny compared to your average Amaryllis.