*blinks* What’s this? A couple of days where I don’t have to work, and my only appointment is parkrun? It’s been a while since I’ve had this experience.
I really enjoyed parkrun this morning. I wasn’t quite as fast as I have been recently, but I still got a respectable 31:30, my third best ever time. It was nice to catch up with a few people we hadn’t seen in a while, too.
After we got back, showered and breakfasted, Geth fell back into Final Fantasy XIII-2 while I got some novel writing done. Another thing that’s not happened since…actually, I can’t remember.
I do have another run to do tomorrow – and I should probably get some house stuff done, which is another project that’s looming ominously – but I’m hoping to have some writing time again as well. The inspiration is strong at the moment, and I need to make the most of it.
OOTD: my fifth day in jeans in the space of a week! I’m really appreciating this cooler weather. T-shirt SF City Wear (2011), jeans Zara (2018), trainers Reebok (2018).
I was meant to go for a long run this morning and then come home and get on with some work to the sounds of Geth playing Final Fantasy XIII-2. Unfortunately, the first thing we discovered this morning was that we’d accidentally left all my essential running stuff in a drawer in Edinburgh at the weekend, so Geth had to get an emergency train up to Mum and Dad’s today and collect it.
As such, there was no run for me, and Geth did not have the quiet videogaming day he was planning. I will be cramming all my running into the weekend instead.
We’re now watching Disenchantment, the new Matt Groening cartoon on Netflix. I’m quite enjoying it!
OOTD: quiet workday outfit. T-shirt Gildan for Stranger Things (2017), jeans Vivid (2018), shoes BHS (2016).
I didn’t feel like woman of the split second today (I was a bit delicate after a few drinks last night), let alone woman of the year, but that’s the award I got from my Slimming World group this morning!
I got these lovely flowers to celebrate.
I sort of feel like I didn’t earn it, because we didn’t vote on it like we usually do. The reason is that I’m the only person in my group who qualifies for the regional competition, because I’ve lost more than four stone. I have to fill in a questionnaire for my consultant to send in along with before and after photos, which is a bit nervewracking!
After group and a bit of email admin, I had a nice afternoon off. Back to work tomorrow!
OOTD: posing with my Slimming World award goodies! Blouse H&M (2018), vest top Primark (2016), leggings Primark (2018), boots Primark (2017). Photo by Emma Butler at my Slimming World group.
I’m not usually out and about on Wednesdays, but seeing as Keith and Helen were in Newcastle today, it was nice for me and Geth to be able to show them around town.
After they visited the house (and gave us some good advice about uprooting some of the garden trees we have inadvertently inherited), we went into town and had a good walk around the Quayside. Afterwards, we went to Uno’s Trattoria for a nice meal.
Back home now, and looking forward to a quiet weekend!
I mentioned the other day that I was looking forward to the weather cooling down in preparation for autumn. Well, it looks like I got my wish, because I’m back in full-length jeans and boots for the first time since the spring. It’s still a bit stuffy upstairs in our house though.
The nights are getting a little darker too, although I’ve not really noticed due to the fact that I’ve been finding myself putting the lamps on at around seven o’clock all summer long, because it’s felt bizarrely comforting. I don’t know what that’s about.
Also, they’ve started announcing the Strictly contestants, which definitely means autumn is on the way! So far, I’ll be voting for Danny John-Jules (due to my massive love for Red Dwarf), but I’m looking forward to finding out the rest of the lineup.
Today was a nice normal work day, with a bit of cleaning and tidying involved because Geth’s dad and stepmum, Keith and Helen, are visiting us tomorrow. Looking forward to a good day spent with them!
OOTD: that is my ‘telling Geth to focus the camera better by looking at the print on the boardgames’ face. I clearly need to work on that one. T-shirt Space Tribe (2006), jeans H&M (thrifted from Steff 2016), boots Carefree (2017).
Geth and I are back in Newcastle today after another trip up to Edinburgh. There’s been…more than a few of those this year!
This last weekend was definitely the best, though. After getting to Edinburgh and spending the night at Mum and Dad’s on Thursday, we were picked up by Sharpy and Steph on Friday morning to travel to Dalhousie Castle, where we would be spending the weekend.
We immediately bumped into a post-manicure Lisa in the foyer, and after a couple of drinks in the bar, during which the rest of the gang showed up, I went downstairs to the spa for my own treatments. I had a great massage and a much-needed file and polish for my fingernails, both from Lindsay, whom I really recommend tracking down if you’re ever at Dalhousie.
After sorting out a few things in the hotel room, I headed back down to the bar (we ended up spending quite a bit of time in there over the weekend, unsurprisingly!) for a few more drinks, then down to the restaurant for a really nice pre-wedding meal with all of Lisa and Kieran’s friends and family. The highlight was some amazing gnocchi that totally made up for the disappointing version we had at the hen do!
Friday OOTD: dressing for dinner. Blouse Canda (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2018), necklace Claire’s Accessories (2003), belt Flip (2003), trousers Gap (2018), shoes Just Cavalli (2018).
Saturday was the wedding day, which was a great (if slightly blurry towards the end) experience all the way through. After a hotel breakfast at which I allowed myself to eat ALL THE THINGS (you gotta create that base for a long drinking day), I joined the bride and the other bridesmaids in Sarah’s room for a fun morning of hair, makeup and prosecco. Eventually we were all ready, and we walked down the aisle for a lovely humanist ceremony, before heading out for fizz and canapes in the hotel grounds with the new Mr and Mrs Leach! The rain held off all day, so we got photos done outside, and before long it was time for the wedding breakfast, which was another great meal. The fact that I forgot to take a photo of the cheesecake should indicate how good it was!
The evening saw a fantastic wedding disco courtesy of Geth, followed by a few late-night drinks back in the bar.
Saturday OOTD: the least blurry and drunk-looking shot of me post-late-night-drinks. There are much better ones on Facebook! Bridesmaid dress Issa (2018).
Sunday morning required another large breakfast, as everyone was very fuzzy from lots of drinking and not much sleep. After some quiet recovery time sitting in the bar and not drinking, we got back in Sharpy’s car and headed back into Edinburgh.
I had some work to do yesterday afternoon – helped along by the Now! ’80s channel – following which Geth and I went down to the chippy where I got a much-needed fried battered half pizza supper with salt ‘n’ sauce. Only people from the East Coast of Scotland will appreciate the beauty of those words.
Sunday OOTD: comfy recovery outfit. T-shirt Campus Crew for Toronto Blue Jays (2018), jeans Miss Selfridge (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).
This morning, Geth and I packed quickly – we had a fairly early train to catch – and, still feeling a bit fuzzy (a sign of a good wedding!) headed back to Newcastle, where I got on with some more work and Geth played Final Fantasy XIII-2 all afternoon. We’re now watching WarGames, which I have never seen but was apparently a childhood favourite of Geth’s. I am really enjoying it, I have to say – though to be fair I’ve rarely met an ’80s movie I didn’t like!
Monday OOTD: I may still be enjoying carrying my bridesmaid bouquet. Glasses Emporio Armani (2017), hoodie Gildan for Resistanz Festival (2016), t-shirt Para (1995), belt H&M (2017), leggings Primark (2018), shoes Zara (2018).
Lots of people have been posting this week about the weather cooling down, but that has definitely not been the case in Newcastle – I’m still finding it really hot and stuffy, especially in the upstairs of our house, where the mugginess just seems to collect and sit there uncomfortably. I’ve been trying really hard not to complain about the heat, because we hardly ever get summers like this in the UK, but in all honesty I am starting to get a bit fed up of only being able to wear about 5% of my clothes because everything else is too heavy.
Also, I love autumn. It’s my favourite time of the year – the pretty leaves, the onset of crisp weather when it’s still a novelty, Strictly Come Dancing on TV, Hallowe’en, NaNoWriMo, and the long magical run-up to Christmas. I know I shouldn’t wish time away, but it’s tantalisingly close now and I am starting to get excited.
Anyway, one day at a time. I lost two pounds at Slimming World weigh-in today, which is great – it gives me a good buffer for the weekend. I’ve been able to get a bit more work done this evening, and will be able to slot in a bit more tomorrow before the wedding on Saturday. All going well!
OOTD: another very lightweight summer dress. Dress Monteau (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).
Back to work today! Another full day to get on with things before a hectic weekend.
Again, I did a pre-weigh-in SP day today – I’m at a wedding this weekend where there will obviously be a lot of eating and drinking, followed by a midweek visit from some of the in-laws, so I’m hoping to lose a couple of pounds as a buffer. There’s been a bit more alcohol this week than there should have been, so we’ll see! Fingers crossed.
(My first couple of months at target, incidentally, have really proven to me what I already knew: the summer is definitely the hardest time of year for me to stay on plan.)
Geth’s been away this afternoon and evening, so I’ve been taking the opportunity to listen to music that’s not Lisa and Kieran’s wedding playlist, courtesy of the Now! ’80s channel!
OOTD: that is my slightly grumpy ‘it’s still stupidly hot, where is this cooling down that everyone’s talking about?’ face. Dress unknown brand (thrifted from Steff in 2016).
A day of getting out and about and getting stuff done!
I went for a long run this morning – it’s less than five weeks till the Great North Run now, so I have to get those in every week – and then Geth came home with a bottle of cava to celebrate some financial news. We had a glass and listened to the DJ set he’d mixed yesterday, and then headed off into town.
After picking up a few necessary bits and pieces in the shops, we went to the tailor to collect the smart clothes we’d put in on Friday. Geth’s suit needed a lot of taking in, and my bridesmaid dress needed the shoulders raised in order to sort the length out. They both look a lot better now!
A quick trip to the pub, and then home to listen to some more of the DJ set. I think we’ll both know it off by heart in a few days’ time.
OOTD: running about town outfit. Blouse H&M (2018), skirt Gap (2007), trainers Reebok (2013).
Um, well, this blog post probably won’t, to be fair, as today was just another nice quiet day that I was able to spend working and listening to Geth DJing. What I mean is that, on days like today, my job makes for interesting reading. I’ve been working for four different clients today and so I’ve been reading about lots of varied things. I’ve got lots of big projects on the go at the moment, and it’s a bit nicer doing it that way!
A slightly more hectic day tomorrow, but hopefully I will still have time to get lots of work done.
OOTD: another comfy working-from-home outfit. Vest top Batman (2018), leggings Primark (2018), shoes Zara (2018).
