Saturday 5 October 2019

Photo diary: week 40, project 365

On the days like today, when the rain ceases its onslaught, you feel a joyous bounce in your step. Especially when you're accompanied by two enthusiastic youngsters.
I don't often meet fellow bloggers, and never go to the blogging events, for many reasons, mainly that nothing happens in our neck of the woods, and London venues are a bit too far for me to travel. Plus organising the childcare is also tricky.
But this week I was lucky to meet two of my blogging friends - Anca and Mary.

Last Sunday was cool and wet, and as we were walking pass the playground, Eddie asked me to stop by just for five minutes. It stopped drizzling by then, but still was pretty wet.
It didn't discourage my child at all.

Chez Maximka, lifestyle blog

Monday was a mixed bag. I had to go to Oxford to meet with Sash's mental health team to discuss his increased anxiety and medication. We arrived to Oxford a bit early, and had a quick coffee in one of the Summertown cafes before travelling further across the town. The pastries looked so tasty.

After the meeting with the CAMHs, I got back into the town centre to meet Anca from Anca's Lifestyle blog. I enjoy reading her blog, but we haven't met before.
I'm glad Anca is studying part-time in Oxford now, so hopefully we'll be able to see each other again.


Oxford cafes

 Sometimes I arrive to Eddie's school a bit early, and as I don't like to stand waiting outside the gate, I pop in the nearest charity shop.
Last time I visited I spotted these two vintage photos of ladies. My guess these are the Edwardian rather than Victorian fashions.

Victorian fashions, Chez Maximka

Most of the autumnal crocuses were flattened by the rain in our garden, yet these two were still standing straight. Such a beautiful colour.

autumn garden, Chez Maximka

On Thursday we didn't have to hurry home after school to meet Sash, as it was his respite stay. We haven't been in the Shake shop in a while, and Eddie enjoyed his strawberry and whipped cream shake. A pity the vintage jukebox was not operating.
In the evening we ordered two pizzas from Domino's and watched Infinity Wars (again!).

Witney cafes

An Inset day at Eddie's school, while Sash had a full day at his school. We went to have lunch at Huffkins. We used to frequent it, when Sash was little as he loved their carrot cake and eclairs, but I think we haven't been there in the last couple of years.


Today we had an early start as we were going to the Cheltenham Literary Festival to the Dragons and Wizards event by Cressida Cowell, the author of the super popular How to train your dragon series as well as Wizards of Once.
We've only just finished reading Wizards of Once, book 3, yesterday.
Eddie drew a picture of Toothless for Cressida.

She was very gracious. There was a huge queue waiting to have their books signed. We waited for over 45 minutes, and the queue behind us was even longer. Cressida spoke to each child, signed books and posed for the photos. If I had to smile 500 times, I'd scream like a banshee.

My child is happy with his signed book. He also gave his drawing to Cressida, and she was kind to say lovely things about it.

This wonderful trip wouldn't have happened to us without a friend's help - Mary aka Over40andMumtoone - has kindly given us a lift to Cheltenham and then back home.
Our boys had a good giggle together. I wish we lived closer to meet up more often than once in a few years.

We loved Cressida's suggestion to have a Free Writing Friday in schools, when kids are encouraged to write for just a quarter of an hour, just as a creative exercise, without a fear of being criticised and marked by teachers.



Chelthenham festival, Chez Maximka


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

23 comments:

  1. Ahh! How fab to meet a couple of other bloggers!
    It looks like Eddie was having a fab time despite the weather!
    Those pastries looked amazing!! I would want one of each.
    It sounds like a fab week! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kim, the pastries were very tempting. I have tried a lemon polenta one, and it was very good.

      Delete
  2. Some lovely photos of Eddie. Exciting getting to meet a favourite author. And it's always good to met up with blogging friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emma, a lot of positive emotions from meeting up with people whose company you enjoy. :)

      Delete
  3. Looks like you had such a busy week ! Eddie obviously had a great time - love his smile. Hope things sort themselves out for Sasha. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cheryl, Sash is still adjusting to his new meds, and I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week.

      Delete
  4. the free writing Friday sounds like a great idea for their creativity. Lovely to meet up with fellow bloggers especially when your kids have common interests and can chat happily about it. Glad she liked the dragon he drew. I am with you it sounds like my idea of hell but well done to her for finding the time.
    Kids dont seem to worry about the cold and wet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Elaine, Mary's Monkey and Eddie had a good time together, they share the same sense of humour.

      Delete
  5. Eddie looks so happy to meet Cressida Cowell! I'm glad you were able to meet a couple of blogging friends this week. I would have loved to pop over to say hi to you both at the literature festival. I'm going there today (twice!). Love that photo of you and Eddie.
    I didn't know autumn crocuses were a thing. I was confused as we have what appears to be crocuses in our front garden and I was thinking they couldn't be because it's the wrong time of year! Now I know they're autumn crocuses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sarah, it was so lovely to meet up with the ladies. I know you were in Cheltenham, we talked about you with Mary, but we knew you were busy. One day we will meet up.

      Delete
  6. I do like the sound of Free Writing Friday too. Must have been nice to meet up with Mary and great to meet Cressida Cowell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Erica! Cressida is the second children's author we've met recently. Such a fun event.

      Delete
  7. It was lovely to see you and I hope we'll find the time to meet again for a chat and a coffee. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Anca, hope we'll have a chance to meet again some time soon.

      Delete
  8. Awe that is great to meet some other bloggers. Looks like he had the best time. The parties look a lot of fun too x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Susan, Eddie is inspired by meeting Cressida Cowell, and wants to be a writer too. :)

      Delete
  9. How lovely that Sashas respite and Eddie's inset day coincided. Great to meet up with fellow bloggers, I'd say 90% of my real life friends were met on social media

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Suzanne, it was lovely to get up on Friday morning without any rush and worry.

      Delete
  10. It was so lovely to see you both on Saturday, I will make more effort to see when you are free Galina as the boys got on so well. I agree, those dresses look fae more Edwardian to me too. #365

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That would be wonderful, Mary, to meet up, with or without our guys.

      Delete
  11. Blogging can be a lonely profession so it is lovely to meet up with 'colleagues' and friends. I really want to encourage my eldest with fiction books so will try him with Cressida's books. #project365

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Laura, Cressida's books are great fun.

      Delete
  12. Aww how lovely you got to meet up and what a great event Eddie looks very impressed with his new book. So thoughtful to draw her a picture and I am sure she loved it x

    ReplyDelete