Cheese plant

I bought a plant today! And it’s made me so happy already. It’s one of my more random purchases, so bear with…

This morning I met up for coffee with a lady I connected with in 2020. We were part of an online networking group. Today was the first time we met in person! Boy was it worth the wait. We talked for 3.5 hours about life, covid, business and so much more. It was just wonderful.

We met at a cafe / plant shop. A rather glorious mix. As we chatted, I spotted this cheese plant. It took me back to my childhood. We had a monster of one in our hallway for many years. It then outgrew our house and was gifted to the office I worked in. It eventually ended up with one of the employees. I guess it was adopted by her.

I had to buy it. It’s a homage to my 70s childhood and my parents. It made me laugh all the way home as I drove along with it sitting proudly on my passenger seat. I’ve named him ‘Wallace’. He’s settling in well.

Grateful

Today’s been a bit of an odd day. I’ve been really productive, but haven’t necessarily achieved anything.

I took time to sit in the conservatory listening to the birds sing and drinking my coffee. There’s so much to be grateful for in my life. It’s really easy to focus on all the things that aren’t where they could be or need to be sorted. There are a million and one of those!

There are also a million and one things to be enjoyed, appreciated and loved. They say it’s the simple things in life. Well today that was very true. Strong coffee, a bit of sunshine and a choir of songbirds.

Wise woman

I met up with one of my wise women for coffee and a chat. I say chat, I did most of the chatting. There’s been a lot going on. Again. I feel like every time we meet up, I emotionally vomit on her. Thankfully she’s happy to listen.

On our way out, we passed this Christmas display. How cool is it?! No pun intended.

I think it might be time to risk the annual hernia and bring the tree in from the garage…

Loungewear

OK, so I might be preparing for winter. I bought this loungewear set today. No I didn’t really know that loungewear was a thing. I thought they were very fluffy pyjamas. But no, loungewear it is!

I saw them in John Lewis and couldn’t resist. The trousers are so fluffy, I resemble Mr Tumnus from Narnia. Don’t care though, they’re toasty warm! Let’s face it, I’m usually cold. So having warm legs is a novelty.

I haven’t been to John Lewis for ages. But it was a great place to meet a friend for a coffee, mince pie and lots of chat. It’s been a while since we caught up too so there was a lot to cover.

I then spent the rest of the day in a rather chilly unit packing gingerbread. As one does on a Saturday. Another friend had a huge order to fulfil and sent up the gingerbread equivalent of the Bat Signal. Pity I had to wear chef’s whites and not my fluffy loungewear.

Zonked

I have to admit, I was a tad tired when I woke up this morning. And a tad achy. All signs of a very good camp.

Other signs are a huge pile of laundry. I did four loads of washing today. And still have more to go. The good news is that I got all of the washing dry out on the line.

The kittens were very pleased to see me and wanted cuddles while I was working. Back to the laptop today for me. Buddy got a well deserved day off. Poor planning on my part not to keep today clear. The irony isn’t lost on me as a professional planner.

Buddy got cuddles too. And I got coffee. Lots of coffee.

Coffee chums

Took Buddy over to Brampton for a hack with Katie and Archie. I’ve taken Buddy over many times before, but not for just a hack. It was fun to ride out somewhere new. Buddy was a little confused as we rode past the arena. And then past the arena at Oxnead. Another place he’s been before for lessons.

We chatted the whole way round. And then had a lovely coffee afterwards. We’re both rather partial to a coffee. In fact it was part of the invite. I’m a cheap date it seems.

Overly caffeinated

It seems that many things in life are getting smaller so imagine my surprise when I ordered a large coffee and got a soup bowl full!!

It was a good job it had two handles as I’m not sure I would have lifted it with just one!

Now I’m very partial to a coffee but this was too much even for me. I was overly caffeinated indeed. And partially baked as we sat in the sunshine. It was a tad warm behind the glass. Still it was 3 hours of non-stop talking putting the world to rights.

Dragonflies

I met up with one of my wise women today for coffee, cake and lots of chats. It always fills me with joy. I’m very grateful to have so many people I can turn to when I need support, advice or just to be listened to. We all need that.

I wasn’t in the best of places last time I saw her. I’ve worked through a lot since then and she was thrilled to see the sparkle back in my eyes.

Saw these and I couldn’t resist them. I love dragonflies. These feel like grown up mugs if that makes sense. I am a big fan of a mug.

Silver linings

Today has been a bad news, good news kinda day!

I headed over to meet a friend for a walk. It was too icy so we cut it short and had a coffee at hers instead.

Got back to find I’d got a flat tyre on the Comedy Car. Drove to the local garage (the tyre needed replacing anyway). They’ve had to order one in for me. Thankfully I could walk up to the yard. And the Buddymobile started so I was able to drive around in that instead.

As a result of all the rushing around, I didn’t get much work done or much off my list. But got a new client, who wants a website rewrite.

Funny how it goes like that… Talk about silver linings.

Latte

Anyone who knows my Mum will know her love of a frothy coffee. So today I took her one when I went to visit her. It put a smile on her face.

She’s doing well but not ready to come home yet. Dad is also doing well. And actually listening to me telling him to rest.

He wanted a burger for dinner. So good daughter that I am, I drove to Hickstead to get him Burger King. Well makes a change from driving to Hickstead to watch horses.