Photo diary: Project 365, week 12

It was a week of dichotomy, with tears and smiles in bunches.

Monday didn't start well, as Sasha got up in a bout of angst and temper. He was so stressed and kept hitting the wall in his room so hard that he actually hurt himself, and there was blood on the wall from his hand.

It's been over a year since Sasha's anxiety has peaked. Overall, the meds help, but still there are days like this, when his depression and anxiety rule. 

It's very hard to see my boy so distressed and unhappy, and I can only imagine how hard it must be for him, not being able to express his pain in words.

Later he was in a much better mood, going out with his PAs, and having a birthday cake in the evening. My guys love the Neapolitan cake from Waitrose, it's a tasty three-layer sponge cake, very pretty.

Eddie and I are big fans of the Hunger Games series of books and films, and were looking forward to the latest release, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. I pre-booked it a long time ago on Waterstones. The site doesn't give you an option of pre-booking for collection in store (as they used to), and insist on sending it to your home address, using the services of Royal Mail. 

Sorry to say, but Royal Mail is a pain in the posterior. They allocate the time slot by email, and never ever stick to it. Last week they were supposed to deliver a small parcel from the Sates on Saturday, instead it was delivered on Sunday. I detest waiting and waiting for them all day long.

I was super annoyed that the book hasn't been delivered on the publication day at all. Never again will I place a pre-order with Waterstones, and will just buy in the actual store itself, especially that we have a brilliant team at the local store, very friendly and knowledgeable.

The latest Tokyo Treat box arrived this week. This is the third, and most likely, final, box for us. As much as we enjoyed trying all the new foods and discovering new flavours, it's just too pricey to continue. It's a cool gift idea for a birthday or whatever occasion you celebrate.

The weather kept changing its mind from day to day, we had some very hot days followed by rather chilly ones. I keep pottering in the garden, as there is so much to do there. Love seeing life in the garden, already spotted a few butterflies, bumblebees and ladybirds.

On Friday Eddie was invited by one of his class mates for a sleepover, and I walked with him across the town centre, helping to carry his things. The evening sun was casting its rays on the cloak at Buttercross (clock turret).

The sakura blossom in town is so pretty. This tree is just outside the Nuffield clinic.

In the last week I was reading Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates, a psychological/survival thriller, set in a remote cabin in the winter snowstorm. Eight strangers go by bus on a trip to the Rocky mountains. On the way to the resort where they were heading, they are stranded by a fallen tree. While waiting for the road to be cleared, Christa (the main character who narrates the story) and her boyfriend go for a quick walk and get lost in the storm.

The group is forced to ditch the original destination and take shelter in a seemingly abandoned hunting cabin. The atmosphere is claustrophobic enough, and then the tour guide goes missing. His mutilated body is found the next morning. Is there is a murderer on the loose, playing sadistic games, or is someone from the group killing their tour mates for sport. Who, if anyone, can Christa trust, as the number of survivors goes smaller and smaller... Who is the culprit, and what's their agenda? 

The story is very graphic, so if you're squeamish, don't read it. I usually enjoy this kind of isolated setting, but the plot was rather convoluted and the reasoning behind the murder spree isn't convincing.

This is the first book by Darcy Coates that I've read. I must be reading way too many thrillers, because I somehow guessed the twist quite early. 

How did your week go?