Photo diary: Project 365, week 20 2026

It is plus 29C here today this morning, and I'm not functioning well. I have a low tolerance for heat. And it's going to get worse later.

This was the week of GCSE exams and the last week of school lessons. There's no getting around it. My child, who was five only yesterday, or so it feels, said Good Bye to his secondary school. There are still a couple of weeks of exams ahead after the midterm break. 

How did it happen so fast? I blinked, and my poppet has grown up. 

My Mum's cat has perked up after a week of visits to the vet clinic daily (my brother and his wife and daughter have been helping a lot, also paying for the very pricey treatments, as the money my Mum gave him has all run out in a couple of days. He doesn't tell her how much he has paid for the cat). I'm so grateful to them for helping Mum so much. Alas, I am not even able to contribute anything, as there is no way to send any money.

My husband visited his parents the week before to support them during a difficult time, as they have lost a close family friend. My mother in law, all emotional, passed on a lot of her jewellery to me, including her engagement ring. I'm grateful to her for the gifts, but also sad that she decided to part with it, especially the ring.

This vintage brooch is one of the haul, and I can easily wear it on a coat or jacket.

While Sasha was out with his PAs on Monday, I checked a couple of charity shops for books. In Oxfam I saw this old edition of The Book of Princes and Princesses.

The dedication in the book says, To my Dear Winifred, the unselfish and dutiful daughter of J.H.Ibboshow (? can't read the surname). January, 1915". 

Such a peculiar dedication. It made me wonder who this girl was, what her life happened to be, but also that nobody gives that name to girls any longer. You don't see any baby Winifreds nowadays, do you?!

My white rose is doing well. Just open the back door into the garden, and you can immediately smell roses and mock orange.

It used to be about four-five metres tall, cascading from an old plum tree which the rose used to climb up. It was a marvellous sight. Sadly we had to cut down the plum tree as it beginning to bend dangerously over the wall, and part of the rose plant had to go too. 

My husband was in Paris for a few days, and snapped this window display for me, knowing how much I enjoy vintage jewellery.

This thyme has self-seeded itself many years ago among the flagstones in the garden, and gives me such joy every year with its pretty blooms and the lovely scent.

Alas, the box hedges didn't survive the onslaught of the box tree moth this year. Most of them are destroyed, despite the fact I kept spraying them with all the special plant-based poison, which sould not affect the other insects or birds, and it made no difference whatsoever. I spent a little fortune on sprays. 

Finished my Goodreads Reading Challenge. I typically opt for 52 books per year, and then go over. 

Friday was the last day of secondary school for Eddie. He asked me to write his name on the white shirt and the school years, plus draw an image from one of his games.

He came back home happy and tired, with his shirt full of signatures from his classamates and teachers.

My new favourite biscuits - Bonne Maman Petits Biscuits Framboise Sésame, so tasty. I have spotted them in Waitrose, and of course, just had to buy. 

How did your week go?

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