February Half Term

 This week was half term. I wasn't able to take much of it off with son as there's a lot going on at work at the moment (as ever).

Though we do have something we need to do that is now our February half term tradition. So I booked a half day to spend with son (which is better than nothing).

The last thing son and I did together before COVID lockdown was in the February half term. I didn't have much cash at the time and things were already a bit strange with COVID. It was clear that it had arrived in the UK and we were waiting on instruction about what to do.

So I took him greyhound racing in Hove. Despite the fact we went armed with antiseptic spray to clean the table and we were wearing masks. It was actually a great day. 

Then when lockdown was lifted it was around the February half term.and so the first thing we did when lockdown lifted was to go Greyhound racing together. I made something of an event with that one and we didn't just go racing we also had an afternoon tea for 2. To be fair it wasn't the smartest afternoon tea in the world, but it was just nice to do something.

So, as I say, for half term I booked half a day and son and I went to the dogs again. Last time we went son had the best time ever because he was something of a whizz at picking winners. Not so this time. We put a pound each (to win) on 6 races and resolutely failed to pick a single winner.

That said it was still nice to spend some time with son.

The next day - with a lot less anticipation - we both went to the dentist. Turns out it was something of a fashion as when we turned up the dentist was rammed full of kids who were having their teeth looked at during half term.

Both son and I got a clean bill on our teeth - which is good news. And I'm quite sure you were bouncing up and down with excitement to find out what the result was.

The other thing we've been spending a bit of time on is pre-booking bits and pieces for husbands birthday later in the year. We are going up to London for 2 days and have decided to pre-book as much as possible for reasons I will explain after the event.

So hotel is booked, a restaurant for the first night and for the second night has been booked. Now we're just looking at how we're going to get up there. We are exploring this thing you can do when you book a driveway - rather than the three of us going up by train. Not that the trains are too bad from where we live (well once you get to the train station anyway - it's not easy to get to the train station) - it's just that if we're travelling back on a Sunday the trains are always disbanded from Gatwick Airport. So it can end up taking you about 10 hours to get back from London.

Much easier if we can just park somewhere and tube to where we want to be.

Last night was friends son's birthday. These are the friends that come over most Saturdays. I can't believe he's going to be 10. I got him some great presents. He still loves dress up (actor at heart) so we got him a Roman outfit and also a panda bear onzie. Both gifts went down well so that's good news. I also gave him a birthday party - so that was all quite a bit of fun.

Oooh nearly forgot - Tuesday was valentines - not a huge event at my house, but I cooked  a steak supper. I was going to give myself a night off and buy a meal in, but everything I looked at was uninspiring and I couldn't help but think I could do a better job of it. Also by the time you've heated everything up - you may as well have cooked it in the first place.

Work continues to suck of sucky things. Husband has pointed out that I seem as stressed as I was in the job before the last job I had. So I really need to start thinking about what I'm going to do. If the job was for any organisation other than the one I work for I'd just walk away. However, I've mentioned before that it's amazing knowing what you are doing is making a difference in the world. I'm finding it very hard to extracate myself. Maybe I'll try a different mindset. Stop taking the stress on my shoulders. I know I'm doing a great job - it's just that the timescales are constantly high pressure and there is always so much paperwork to worry about.

So anyway, not a hugely exciting week - but I survived and that's a bonus right now.