Check out Marley in her new bed.

So cute and cozy.

New wet suit

Today I picked up my new wetsuit. It was delivered to the pick up point a while ago, but Marley ran off with the slip and I found it in her stash this morning.

It doesn't have a zip! I had to look up on the internet how to put it on!

I'm very excited as it's green and neon pink- a perfect colour match for the board and leash.

(Also, check out the orange kitchen cameo!)

Marley art

Ellie made us some Marley art for our very Mexican looking kitchen...

Paddle boarding

Today Tracey, Ellie

and I went paddle boarding at Cheese wharf, letchlade again

The forecast had predicted 32kph windspeeds for today, as the UK is being battered by high winds and even some snow. We decided to stay close to home incase we had to abandon our adventure for poor weather- which we did after about an hour.
Such a workout!
But blue skies and it's blown the cobwebs off!

And now the kitchen is...

... orange!
Traff has been poorly all week and is finally feeling better, but not well enough to go paddle boarding.
We came home to an orange kitchen. And I have to say it looks awesome.
So much more light.

Paddle boarding from Cheese wharf, Letchlade

Today, Tracey, Traff and I had planned to go paddle boarding in Bath with the Bath SUP group.
Unfortunately, Traff ended up sick, so he stayed at home. In bed. And watched TV.
Tracey and I thought it was a bit too cold to be ending up in the Avon so we went to letchlade for a shorter paddle adventure.

We ended up meeting - totally out of good luck- the group organizer of the SUP Stroud group. So we paddled out with them for a bit until they got out at the lock. They did invite us to go with them but we declined as our feet were already numb!

We did 4k on the Thames so we're happy with that- next weekend we're going to be brave and climb out around the lock too!
New adventure!

When we got out my board ended up really muddy. I tried to clean it my dunking my towel in the river but ended up dropping it in. Tracey and I had to use one paddle each and pick it out of the water.
Like a crazy crystal maze challenge!!

Tracey made us Moroccan chicken and couscous for lunch using spices she brought back from Marrakech. So good.
Followed by lava cakes and copious cups of tea!
It took so long to warm up.

I'm definitely wearing my wetsuit next time, even if I have to drive home in it afterwards.

Cambridge

The view from the roof of the CMS- the highlight of my work adventure to Cambridge.

Trist & Emma came to visit

I missed out on meeting with my uni friends on Sunday, so Emma came to see me on Monday night.

We made an enormous lasagna and listened to obscure music on Spotify.
We tried halo top ice cream and had gin... Guaranteeing a good night's sleep!

I had enough hours accrued from my northern adventure to be able to take Tuesday off!
Emma, Traff & I went to freedom trampoline park, then we made the most amazing tapas for lunch! Bread, olives, salad, manchago cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and couscous.
Followed with chocolate covered waffles from lidl.
So. Full.
We drove up to devises to see the view but it was super foggy so we walked around old town gardens.
Then we listened to more music and drank a ton of tea before trist arrived.

We went with him to spoons for apple crumble and custard. 😁 Best Tuesday ever!

Paddle boarding- missing opportunity

Today and yesterday night I was poorly. I kind of blame the swimming pool... They're essentially just giant disease incubators. But I do like swimming so I'm going to pretend that the inconvenient aforementioned truth isn't a truth.

Traff and Tracey and SJ went paddle boarding though! I'm so jealous.
I'd been looking forward to it as some well earned R&R after a hard week.

I watched Belle on Netflix and I Marie Kondo'd the crap out of the house!
6 bags for charity now and 5 for the clothes swap at the end of February.
That's with a bag of hand me downs each for Ray, Tracey and SJ!
To be perfectly honest, it's one of those jobs we've been working towards since our purchase went through.

When you rent, you can never chuck anything because you don't know if you'll need it on your next accomodation.
Honestly I'm chucking stuff we've been dragging all over the country for years 'just in case'
It's liberating!
Before Christmas I finally recycled our collection of packing boxes.

So, here are my jealousy photos from the paddle I missed today.
😭

Lancaster day 1 & 2

Sheffield

Birmingham

Today has been really loooong. Marley got us up at 4.30am.
Well, I say she got us up. We were awake but pretended we couldn't hear her running up and down the head board yelling.
She's confused because traff got a new sunrise alarm clock. I guess it'll take more than 5 days to train her to get up when the radio starts, not the light.

Traff dropped me off at the station at 6.40am so my working day was also an early start.
(Although, it's a good thing I was early because my trains were a bit of a mess once I got to Reading. Having more time gave me a few more options!).

The train had the air conditioning stuck on so we were all given free coffee to warm us up!
It was properly freezing.

I had a meeting in Birmingham during the day, and did some work in the museum whilst waiting for my train (very clean loos and a great cafe- so much nicer to wait and work in than the station!).
They had a women and power exhibition. I felt very empowered working under an art installation of crochet breasts.

I travelled from Birmingham to Sheffield, as I have a meeting in Sheffield university tomorrow morning.
I booked my hotel near the uni but miles from the station! I've definitely got my steps in today.
I walked so far to get here I couldn't be bothered to go back our so ended up eating my emergency food rations (mug shot pasta... All the taste and nutrition of cardboard).

Belated xmas

Bedford

Today I had a dentist appointment in Bedford. Rather than just driving all that way for a 10 minute check up, I arranged to walk Millie Tina.
Walking around Bedford park was quite nostalgic.
We resisted the temptation to eat cake in fancy too.
Tina also made us a fancy paella for lunch. 😁

Paddle boarding - Bathampton mill loop

Tracey and I went out on another paddle adventure today with the Bath Paddle boarding group.

We did the same route as new year's day but with 2 mile extension up to the aquaduct, then down the stairs to the scouts marina.
I didn't fall in the river but I did fall down the stairs to the marina.
Carrying a paddle board is difficult for clumsy people.

The extra distance ment that instead of finishing by 2pm as planned, we got off the water over an hour late.
We were so hungry! Tracey made us amazing wraps- peppers, spinach, pesto and fancy Italian cheese.
They were the most delicious thing I've ever eaten! This may have something to do with being so insanely hungry. But they were still good.
Next time we're taking snacks!!

The weekend

On Friday night Traff and I played monopoly.
WWE monopoly- so I had no idea what was going on and I think he got away with not paying me few times when he landed on my wrestlers (such a weird concept).

Ray stayed over after her party, and on Saturday morning we went to the charity book shop, swimming and to the deli for coffee and pastries to undo all of our good work...

We ordered a new cat tree for Marley from FB selling and it's getting dropped off on Sunday. So that's exciting! Hopefully she will fit in the hammock section this time... At the moment when she rolls for petting she falls out of her tree... Clumsy cat.

So another lazy evening of CSI in bed can commence! 

Post Christmas presents

I had a letter from Helen yesterday- and some new teas to try.

New hair! 💜😍

Teddy made my hair awesome!
Purple!