under another sun

A low key day, Lorraine not feeling very well, and I still had a sore throat. Calliope this morning again trying to catch shadow birds. Lorraine went into town with Beth to sort out phones, and do some shopping.  I did some work up at my desk. Later in the afternoon, Lorraine and I walked up to Osborne Road to be shown around the new house. Betty met us there for a look round too. Lorraine and I very excited by seeing it again, and Betty liked it too. Felt really cheery that the house was better than I remembered it. Then we popped into the Preston Park Tavern, which is the one of our new local pubs, and had a swift drink sitting outside, before sauntering home. A quiet night indoors half watching the guilty pleasure of the X Factor and eating the tasty spaghetti bolognese that Betty had cooked for us.  Calliope at it again.

Brownie points Finished the flatpack construction today. Actually rather satisfying to see a kitchen island standing complete on its wheeled feet, and knowing you have had a hand in it. The Croatian gentlemen took 1-2 hours to assemble it in the instruction leaflet, it took Lorraine and I over four hours, and this without any significant mistakes. Caught up on the abominably-watchable X-Factor, then back to my place to work on the final two questions in Lorraine's scary form. It is now almost complete thanks be to God. The form from hell taught me about what Lorraine does every day as an educational adviser, and the activities she describes add enormous value to how the educational resources of the county are deployed. All of this work of course under the shadow of the Government cuts. I earned about 900 brownie points this weekend from Lorraine, but at the end I had a persistent twitch in my left eye. Also in between trying to break into doors, assembling flatpacks, questions on e...

Happy days I'd set my alarm early and got up to complete and file my piece on Crodyon, before returning to bed. Then after a light breakfast with Lorraine, off to the gym for a swym. It felt great to be swimming, although they have the water quite coolish in their pool. Anton told me this was good as it burns off more calories, but the involuntary yelping as I got in wasn't very dignified. Then met Lorraine again to do a spot of shopping. Home again I made a large salad and attended to one or two bits while Lorraine read the Guardian. Then a long afternoon sleep, where I woke feeling rested and generally cheery. Watched the X Factor, which is despicable junk TV etc. but nevertheless compulsive viewing, and Lorraine likes it too. I suddenly realised that I felt happy. Recent glooms and twiching seem to be abating, which is rather nice. In the evening went out with Lorraine, Brian and Anton as part of Anton's ongoing birthmonth celebrations. Incessant rain tonight. Two drinks...