Monday 29 August 2016

Memorandum Monday: Sneaks and the scent of a Campfire

Ah, Monday: you of the Bank Holiday which isn't. Round here it's a half hearted try at a day off: you can't go to the bank, or listen out for the postman, or get a doctor's appointment, but you may haul yourself out of bed at the same time as usual and go to work. Some shops open, a few don't, and it's rarely warm enough for a BBQ.

Because it isn't a long weekend for us, then, we didn't head to the coast, or make many plans. We did a little here and there of whatever we liked. For the first time in seventeen years I have no children going back to school this week, so there were no name tapes to sew on and I was free to finish up my September projects for Gossamer Blue

September Sneaks

and to keep knitting a sweater I hope will be done for our girl's new kind of new term. She was away all weekend. She flew in  to Manchester so that she could volunteer at "Wellies and Wristbands": a huge Guide Camp Festival extravaganza. We've had a couple of messages. One: I've had chicken curry for dinner two nights in a row (given that we always eat curry every night when she's away because she loathes it, that's volunteering of the highest order) and Two: I'm in charge of bouncy castles and fun fair (fun fair? geddit? see what they did there? When she was little we used to tell her we had been going to call her Spring Fair, or Harvest, or Christmas, or Craft).

She'll be back tonight, wondering how her new landlord has been getting on with the "improvements". The answer is I've chosen a possible carpet, but we can't get it measured up until Tuesday (carpet shop NOT open today); and I've picked out a decent oven for her baking, which we'll confirm this morning ( oven shop IS open today). And her brother has made a start on weeding the little garden at the back. 

But none of that is anything new. I've been buying carpet from the same man for twenty years. So, let me see...around this time every year The Accountant receives two complimentary tickets to the local Youth Orchestra concert (he did a talk for them this year about becoming self employed, which I think is a kind of cool and forward thinking thing for an orchestra to organise for its young musicians) and usually he takes his flute playing daughter; but as she wasn't around, I stepped in. I wore my new green dress. It was a nice night. There's a picture on instagram. And that's about it for today. My knitting looks autumnal, so I'll save it for again, which means it's over to you. Anything new? Anything you learned at the weekend which you didn't know before?


 Deb, Helena, Eileen, Mitra, Mary-Lou, Susanne, Maggie, Karen and Ladkyis shared last Monday. Go on, give 'em a wave! And have a good week.

17 comments:

helena said...

yes we have that not really a bank holiday except the banks are on holiday and some other UK wide companies but not the schools. Have a great week

Barbara Eads said...

Still, you have to love a free Monday! I'd say scrapbooking is the perfect way to spend it! I've never had chicken curry, but now I'm curious to try it!

Patio Postcards said...

Your weekend sounds quite delightful & yes I got the fun fair joke right away, quite a chuckle to Summer Fair - that would have been a good one.

We have one of those bank holiday weekends coming up - Labour Day first Monday in September - of course most shops will be open to get the back to school crowd. I stay away from town - too many cranky I don't want to go back to school shoppers.

Jane said...

I feel our busy summer is finally winding down and I'm looking forward to getting back into some sort of routine, I don't think that September back to school feeling ever leaves us.

Lizzy Hill said...

Sounds a lovely relaxed time, really. NO SCHOOL STUFF..... yay! Just organising the tenant stuff....& that's a bit of fun. New carpet is FUN...I'd want a new oven for myself, and carpet, that would be MY problem!! Nothing new here. Except I now know I can ice a decent cupcake. That's something I've never done before. Pretty pink flower Cupcakes and 2 son's birthday parties have never really been a very complementary combo!!!!

Susanne said...

Well I hope you take full advantage of a half-holiday Monday. Have you any little fun surprises for the new lessee that are a little less practical than carpets and an oven?

alexandra s.m. said...

These sneaks look marvelous Sian!
You are always busy with great plans ;)
I wonder if it is too late to join you and the Memorandum Monday crew?

KraftyKaren said...

Lovely sneak peeks. Yes it is a weird bank holiday here - so much stuff is open as normal it does feel like a normal day. We have stayed home, the town will be heaving with holidaymakers and there will be no parking.

Have a great week!!

Karen said...

Sounds like you made good use of your time. I chuckled at the different possibilities for names. The last name of the first pastor I knew well was White, and he threatened to name his first born, Egg or Snow. I was 16 at the time, but I've never forgotten it. I was their first babysitter, for a little one named Thomas.

Maggie said...

The trouble with bank holidays around here is the roads. The motorway gates blocked and they all tumble along the inadequate A38. Younger daughter got caught in it trying to get to her boyfriend's.
Yes the no children off to school is strange and I was taken by surprise that the school holiday was nearly gone.
I note that you are a landlord and obviously didn't fancy the curlers images of the landlady....

Mitralee said...

yes the trouble with bank holidays there are the same trouble that one has with them here...nice to know no matter where you go, it's kinda the same ;-) Loved your update, made me happy! You must tell us what curry is, is it the kind from India?

debs14 said...

August Bank Holidays seem to be memorable in our family, 30 years ago I gave birth to my daughter and yesterday, she kept the family tradition and brought our little grandson into the world!
Sounds like that new tenant is going to have the perfect place to move into!

Ladkyis said...

children moving into their new lives is such a strange time. I felt so proud of my three when they got jobs, joined the army,and yet my soul was screaming for them to stay home where I could keep them safe. I was pleased that they were secure enough in themselves to be able to leave while my heart was aching because I missed them.
I am ok now because, guess what? They keep coming back!! They do, and it is the most marvellous thing because they come back as proper adults with lives that are separate from you but they want to share. So rewarding

Barbara said...

It is such a strange feeling when there are no children going back to school, I remember I found it an odd feeling but there was also the excitement of them moving on and the sadness that once they move on they may not come back. My son came back to live here three times in the end!!

alexa said...

That sound a nice kind of new :). I am sure he was glad of a supportive Fair presence. Well done to the NSSO - hoping she'll be not too hungry by the time she returns. Those are lovely sneak peaks ....

Jo said...

It sounds like you had a very busy weekend!

Ruth said...

You know, if I were off to Uni this term, I'd quite like you as my landlord. Hope TNSSO had a great weekend; we did (because we spent it at the seaside!).

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