Photo diary: week 34, project 365

 

I have abandoned my Project 365 some time ago in May, as life has been pretty hectic and I was considering shutting up the blog for good, but I did miss the camaraderie of the group, and hope to re-join it with this catch-up. 

Summer was super busy and stressful at times. There was just too much going on. 

Sash is starting a new college in September, and I'm anxious how he will adjust to a new place. He will be starting slowly, with two three-hour-long sessions each week, gradually building on the hours and days. Not the best of options for me, as it means I'd hardly have any time for myself, and also won't be able to help Eddie to get to school and back. He believes I shouldn't even accompany him to school, but it's a long distance to walk, crossing busy roads, and I will be worried about it. 

Last week we finished buying his uniform and school shoes. As it's a secondaty school with its own style of uniform, we had to order online via the link the school provided, like some blinking Hogwarts. It cost over £200. A total racket, if you ask me.

And we're still waiting for Sasha's transport to college to be sorted out. 

The highlight of our summer was a week in Cornwall, and it was almost idyllic (see my post A week of joy: our Cornish holidays).

My DH is away this week, gallivanting in Italy. He's a grown up, of course, and has been double-vaxxed, so if he wants to take risks, it's his business. But it was not a necessary trip, rather a self-indulgence, and the timing is pretty awful.

I don't dare to go out in town on my own with the boys. Sash doesn't like to deviate from his familiar pattern, and gets upset, if things are different. When the previous week Eddie had his summer school, and I have accompanied Sash and his father to the cafe, he didn't appreciate me staying with them, as this is not how things are done, according to him. And to be honest, he is so fast, that I have to semi-run to catch up with his long stride. 

Last Sunday we did our outing into town, visiting the cafe for a quick bite and coffee and doing groceries (I know, my social life is super exciting). 

And from Monday onwards we're staying at home. We do manage to have different activities, like reading, gaming, watching TV, baking and playing in the garden. It's just we don't leave the front door. Hence all the photos from the last week are of our garden and indoors.

I've been taking snaps of the foods from the last Degustabox, including these cute little cinnamon pastries from Gifflar. I first discovered them last year, when I was looking at Tesco groceries for gluten free products. Our friend who took us to Cornwall in his mini van is a coeliac. Since then I also bought Gifflar pastries made with wheat (not gluten free). Obviously, nothing can beat the taste of freshly baked cinnamon pastries, but these little bites are pretty good, especially with coffee or tea. My boys enjoy them.

These are the tomatoes which I have been growing from seeds, collected last year. I had a delivery from The Tomato Stall last summer, and these stripy green tomatoes were amazing, sweet and juicy. I saved some seeds, and have planted them this year. They are growing ever so slowly, and are not ripe yet. I should have probably started to propagate them earlier in the spring.

Hollyhocks which my Mum planted over four years ago, are very tall this year, taller than me. They are not the prized botanical specimens, but I love them, because it's like a Hello from my Mum, every time I pop in the garden. I haven't seen her for two years, and I do miss her.

On the plus side, staying at home gives me more time to read. One of the books I've just finished is Secrets of the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas (2nd book in the series. You might have even read my book review of The Railway Girls earlier this year). Set in Manchester during the WWII, it portrays the lives of women from different backgrounds and social standing, who were brought together by their desire to help the war effort and keep the railway network functioning. I'm going to do a proper review of this book, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was looking for some paperwork I need, and came across some of my old watercolours which my Mum brought with her the last time she was able to travel here. This is an old watercolour I did either in my late teens or early 20s. 

I was an incorrigible romantic. When my friends were busy chasing boys, I was absorbed in my studies, books and painting.

OK, there was a boy I was very much attracted to. He was so handsome, and kind too, but he was not interested in me romantically. Years later I knew he got married, and had several kids, but we lost touch completely. I tried to find him online to say Hi and tell him about my family, but my search didn't return any result. It didn't help that his name is very common in Russia.

This summer I had a dream about him, where we met and I told him about my boys. It was a very vivid dream. I woke up, and decided to search his name again. Bizarelly, I found an article written by his wife, where she says he was killed in a car accident seven years ago. All these years he's been dead, and I didn't know it. And now this particular article appeared in the search, when I failed to find it before. I felt very sad. I told my Mum, and we both cried over the phone. 

It's three weeks since we came back from Cornwall, and I feel like having withdrawl symtoms, I miss it. I don't know why Cornwall means so much to me. I never visited it as a child, in fact I never even travelled to the UK or anywhere abroad as a child. Yes, I read and loved myths and legends of King Arthur, but surely that's not the reason which draws me to Cornwall. It's as if I lived there in my previous life, I feel so at home there. 

We started watching Marvel films again with Eddie. We also follow What If? on Disney +, which is quite entertaining. The last episode was good.

After cooking lunch for my boys, I decided I want cheese and crackers. Abel and Cole introduced a Monthly Cheese Club, and it's a beautiful selection this month. A perfect lunch.

And how was your week?

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