How are you doing this week? Another week of lockdown and week 11 just finished. It really is crazy every time I write the next number down to think we have pretty much been home 24/7 for 11 weeks. Who would have thought it? What have you been up to this week? Have things changed at all for you? The outside world seems much busier and people seem to have met up with friends and family. We haven’t done anything differently. Still working, still homeschooling and a visit to Robert’s parents. The shopping gets delivered and other than those indulgent online shopping hauls, nothing much new. I am still here with my socially distanced hugs if you need one. Huuuuuuuuugggggg.
You’ll read from our previous weekly post that things are, like most people, pretty much samey on our daily tasks these days. Last Saturday the weather was glorious. So warm in fact that I tried to paint the decking and it was drying quicker than I could paint. It got so warm come 11:30 am, that my blue-tinged Scottish skin started to turn white. I don’t really burn, but I have ginger skin so it doesn’t like the sun. I tend to end up looking a bit toad-like with prickly heat. Not fun. I gave up after a third of the decking and was annoyed at myself as I get. Aria had great fun in the paddling pool as you can see in the photo above. We really have to document getting a paddling pool out in Scotland as it’s a rarity. Very few days are warm enough. Even taps aff weather isn’t warm enough for paddling pool and I wish a lot would keep their taps on! Those in the west of Scotland will understand. We all had some fun outdoors in the sunshine and took a walk over to the inlaws. In the evening the kids were having some fun with friends playing online games. Robert and I had some peace and quiet to watch some tv and we all had a nice takeaway.
Sunday was another roasting hot day. The sunshine weather really does help people’s moods, doesn’t it? The kids have been having a competition to see who can grow the biggest sunflower so this is quite competitive. The most competitive being Robert and now he is in on it. I am the least competitive person, ever and I’m landed with water most of the time. Sunday was another chilling day and when I have days like that I tend to feel very guilty as I have so much I know I need to do. I did get some editing done and now time for another read through. Slowly getting there and I have someone ready to swap to read through when I am ready. We had a BBQ in the evening which was nice and it is nice to eat outside. A wee glass of wine in hand.
Monday it was back to work and homeschooling. It is getting more difficult as the weeks go on to get Aria to do her school work. She is normally very good, but lots of distractions and because we are working, we can’t give her our undivided attention as much as she’d like. We do try and she gets a lot. The other two are getting on fine. Lucas is enjoying his new subjects and once he starts he’s good. As you can see I captured a rare teen working. Work is still busy which is good in away. It was another lovely day outside and we got a delivery of some biscuits which were a late birthday gift for someone and some cake pops. I started my writing rejection course via zoom in the evening and it was nice to get to know some other writers who will be joining us over the next few weeks.
Aria has been enjoying playing in the long grass. The council haven’t cut the grass in the surrounding areas yet and she’s been loving rolling, climbing, jumping and lying in the long grass. I captured a picture above and she even tried being a zombie in it for a while. It is the small things that amuse them. The cat came out to watch too. She rarely goes outside and never ventures further than the step. Tuesday we did some reading and I handed some books into some neighbours for their kids to read. Leaving things on the doorsteps are fun. It’s like chappie as a kid. Aria and Lucas made a restaurant as he was doing similar in business studies. Lucas was the cook and Aria made some menus and took our orders. They even made up signs. So that kept them busy for a while, while we worked.
Wednesday was another working and school day. Aria had lots of work and not keen on doing it, but we through in some creative work and got there in the end. The weather was rubbish and it poured down. We did a spot of visiting at the inlaws and I did some editing in the evening. I’ve not been on social media much again this week. It has been a tough news week, right?
Thursday I ended up working really late and got myself in a bit of a tizzy. I really struggle to work with noise and my goodness there was so much noise. I just needed some quiet, but everywhere I went there was noise. I had some software development work to do and ended up doing it late in the evening when things had calmed a little. The boys went out to do some football training in the afternoon and they couldn’t have timed it any worse. The heavens opened and it poured down so heavy. They were very soggy boys when they came home.
We dyed Aria’s hair this week. She wanted blue, but we opted for pink so it wasn’t too noticeable at first. I think it turned out well. It blends nicely and suits her. It was a nice beginning on an independent hair colour journey. Who knows what will be next. Aria and Tyler had a little baking disaster on Friday morning when they overfilled a baking tin with brownie mix and used self-raising flour. I was upstairs and they put it in the oven. You can imagine. I was cleaning the oven in between answering work calls that afternoon. One of those jobs I hate, but nice once it’s done, I guess. Another thing off my ever-growing to-do list. The sun is shining on Friday and that is nice. It has been a busy working day and I am ready for the weekend. Not been up to much, but always busy. I would like a wee bit of space, a wee bit of peace just to sit and be still.
I am leaving you with the above quote. I think we all need to hear it now and again. Take care and have a lovely week and a good weekend.
Here in Sydney the lockdown rules have eased somewhat, but we still very much limit our time outside the house. Warm weather really does help the mood!
That is good news that things have been eased. I hope it helps x
Pink hair! Exactly what Izzy did. Helen, our eldest, really went for it and died her hair turquise, green and black all in one go. I kind-of encouraged her to do it actually. She wanted to dye her hair and with her starting high school in September, I told her “to do it now and to really go for it” because they’d be a lot stricter about these things in secondary school.
That was a couple of weeks ago. The irony? Her school is opening up for her school year next week so she’ll be returning with dyed hair! Not that it’ll matter, the teachers really have got bigger things to worry about and I suspect the kids who do not have dyed hair will be in the minority.
Fascinating, as ever, reading about the two lockdowns (England v Scotland). Things are nowhere near back to normal this side of Gretna Green but they are much more relaxed. You see more cars on the road, people having barbecues, family visiting each other in the garden (not to mention hordes of teenagers meeting up in parks and totally ignoring the social distancing rules).
As I mentioned – and I never thought it’d happen before September – the schools are re-opening to yr 6 and yr1 and R class pupils Thus far it’s happened without any huge issues and apparently the kids are taking to the socially distanced classes with ease. I think we’ve reached a point where mental and physical health have collided and if the kids can safely go back, why not?
Listen to me rambling on! If it makes you feel any better, we’ve had numerous baking disasters in our kitchen over the weeks. Guess who has been cleaning them up??
It is a lot of fun to dye her hair. Definitely, the time to do it. You are welcome to chat here anytime. Oh I have been cleaning ours up. I hope back to school goes well. Is she maybe the same year as my middle one? Last year of primary? He is back at school for an hour or so next week. I am not sure how much things will change up here on the next lot of lifting. It seems very contradictory downsouth. I agree, I think a lot of kids need to go back for their mental health. x
I like the pink hair – it must help the monotony of lockdown. I’m past the stage of dying my hair and am on a purging binge in the house. I’m clearing out drawers and closets. Staying home can be a dangerous thing. LOL
It does help a little. That sounds like a good plan xx
Love the pink hair! Great to get the paddling pool out – my sister had hers out and like you she documented the fact. She also said her kids were getting tired of school and ready for their holiday. Maybe yours are the same.
Thank you. Oh yes, it is a must up here. Yeah I think they are all the same xx
My girls have been dying their hair too, anything to keep them entertained.
A few restrictions have been lifted but we’ve carried on the way we have for the past 11 weeks. On a plus the garden is looking better than ever.
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
It really is a bit like that. I bet they look cute. I think we will be the same. I can imagine. Our garden is a bit sparse to be honest. x
It’s good to see that Aria has been having some fun, and Twilight getting in on the action too 🙂 You’ve given me an idea. I have a ton of kids books and toys that my kids have grown out of, and there are a lot of younger kids in the area. I wonder if I put them outside if someone would take them and make good use of them. I’d hate to think of them becoming bonfire fodder though 🙁 We left our old washing machine outside for collection and it was gone within an hour! The collection company gave us our £20 back at least. It does seem so strange that we’ve been home for so long. Part of me wishes this was all over now, another part enjoys having the kids around and not having to worry about going out. It was always a struggle for me anyway. I have to say, you sound much calmer too, is it having a better affect on your health? Big hugs xx
She is having fun. Twilight isn’t as keen on being outside. You should totally do that. It would be a great idea for the kids and they’d be so grateful I am sure. I know what you mean. That is crazy about the washing machine xx
Hooray for getting the paddling pool out. Aria looks like she’s having a great time in it and her pink hair looks fab! My teen dyed the ends of hers green the other day. lol
It sounds like you had a good week x
It is a rarity these days. She had a great time. Green is an interesting colour. That would be fab x
I used to want blue hair, I think my mum ended up buying me a clip in blue streak haha #ordinarymoments
Oh now there’s an idea xx
Takes hug and squeezes back at cha. Loving the pink hair. I used to dye mine all colours until In was in my late 20’s and the kids started complaining lol. I’ve had the paddling pool out for Bob, but he’s not interested, i’ve paddled a few times,
Thank you lovely. It does look like fun. Bless x
I can’t believe how grown up Aria is looking now! I love the pink hair but her hair is getting so long! I am finding that with A too, she so desperately needs a trip to the hairdressers (as do I!) I don’t envy you trying to work with the kiddos at home, that must take some juggling and a lot of patience but it does sound as though you are managing okay. I totally get the peace and quiet thing, I would love just a half hour to myself, that is not going to happen for a long while but I am really looking forward to it.
I know, she has changed a lot during lockdown. It is not easy and some days the patience just isn’t there. Some peace would be nice x
I always love reading your blogposts because I can just imagine it all going on around you – it’s very similar to the way things are here too ! Love the pink hair. Oops for the brownies ! Great to see the paddling pool out. I ended up with a sunburnt arm too – the joys of summer ! lol
Aww I find that with yours too. It was nice to have it out. Ouch sudocrem is great for sunburn x
Ahh love Aria’s pink hair! Gorgeous photos. As always.
I can’t believe how the paddling pool weather has changed so much 🙂
Thanks for joining up with #SilentSunday x
Thank you. x
If you didn’t mention the pink in the hair, I would have thought it was photo-editing. It looks like the water in the pool was chilly, Aria appears to be amused and cold. Your son’s haircut looks cool.
I don’t envy you the task of cleaning the oven after the brownie accident.
My skin doesn’t tolerate the heat either, I’m naturally pale and interesting, and just burn rather than get tanned. 🙂
Ahh yes I guess. The water was warm as we did put in warm water. It was not fun xx
The pink hair looks great! I’m not surprised you struggle to work with noise – I’m the same, although I used to be fine when I worked in an office full of people. Fab pic of A with the cat watching her. It’s nice that the cat stays at home so you don’t have to worry about her.
Thank you. No it’s been so noisey. The cat loves Aria. x
Awwww. You know what, you are also doing your best. I hope you give yourself credit too 🙂 xx
Thank you x
The pink hair looks pretty cool!
I was going to get the pool out for Bee when it was hot and she decided she didn’t want it for some reason! Well saved on my time and energy blowing it up and filling it up!
We are lucky to have an electric pump. I don’t fancy blowing it up manually xx
We got caught in the rain a few times this week too. Love the pink hair! x
Thank you x
No I find taps off in shops etc quite offensive, fine for the back door or sunbathing but should not be allowed in public. Also hate to see large people in skimpy clothes but admire their self confidence in doing it
So sorry you are finding some days difficult, DD1 never has a quiet house either.
Nice the long grass is coming in handy. Ours is being done once a month and only verges affecting visibility on roads seems to be getting done.
I agree. I know what you are saying. The long grass is crazy. Yeah, it might be getting cut around the roads. x
Homeschool is definitely getting harder as the weeks go by. Love Aria’s pink hair! x
Yes, yes it is xx
Socially distanced hug back. Aria’s really enjoying herself in the paddly pool. Good luck on the sunflower race! Cute zombie. My cats hardly left the gate of our house because they were so used to being at home. The pink dye does look nice on her.T hank you for the quote. You take care as well.
Aww thank you. I appreciate that. I will post a pic of them this week. Lots of love xx
Awww yey on the pink hair… it worked! 🙂 It totally rocks!
I’m quite jealous of your paddling pool, that could have come in quite handy last weekend! I am totally feeling your pain with the decking, I need to get on to doing mine but need to do a few repairs first too 🙁
Home schooling has definitely become harder recently, quite glad Liv is going back for 2 days a week on Monday… I cannot wait for the peace! 🙂 Hope you are all well! Sim x
The pink hair looked nice. It was a lovely day. I still need to get mine sorted. It is hard. How did back to school go? x
I think we must have swapped weather as its been cold and miserable here. Glad to see Aria finally getting to enjoy her paddling pool
It has been cold and miserable here too xx
Aria looks like she had fun in the paddling pool; how lovely that it was warm enough to be able to get it out. The sunshine does make everything seem better, doesn’t it? Sounds like Aria and Lucas had fun with their restaurant. Oops with the baking disaster. I can imagine that wasn’t fun to clean up! #project366
It was nice for it to be warm and yes sunshine make things better. It was fun, but the baking cleanup not so much xx
Such lovely photos – I understand the rare paddling pool issues as we are in the North West not tooo far from Scotland. Eleven weeks indeed – time is strangely flying though as it melts into a kind of blur right? Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot xxx
It is rare isn’t it? It is crazy x
Aria’s hair looks fab! Bet she enjoyed having a change. Quiet time and a takeaway sounds lovely, I feel that hubby and I don’t seem to have much time just the two of us together and the boys seem to go to bed very late! Will have to change that.
Thank you. She loves it. It was nice xx
I am with you I think the weather can make a whole heap of difference, I find heat uncomfortable to be in, but it does lift my mood.
It really does doesn’t it? x
Thank you for linking up to Life In A Lockdown. I certainly needed to read that quote right now! x
Thank you, I am glad it helped x
Oh I would love pink hair! She looks great. We are also starting to struggle with the motivation to get them to do their work so can totally relate. Hope you managed to get some quiet time and space
Thank you. It is hard isn’t it xx