living for the weekend

Unfortunately this has become my life, I count down days until the weekend (1 down 4 to go), and until half term holidays (4 weeks left...) however it does make sure I get out and enjoy my weekends, those 2 days are now so precious that I can't bear to waste them.



This was what I spent my weekend doing... yes that is a barbeque, and errr yes that is the Peak District, and yes it's that time of year again when half of the university freshers(not quite, though it felt like it) descend upon a small quarry filled with chossy, grassy rubbish climbs to be introduced to the art of climbing, and to the surprise of all us experienced climbers enjoy it. I spent most of the day manning a barbeque cooking 130 burgers, and trying to be nice...



(PS if you want to argue with me about the ethics of this if you are a climber please send me an email and keep it away from here, my blog is my happy place, any nasty comments will just get deleted.)

PPS. Thank Laurie for letting me use your piccies, they're much better than mine would be anyway!

Something to cherish

One of my favourite bloggers (Cecily at Uppercase Woman ) asked a question yesterday where she wanted to know what we cherished.
After a moments thought my answer was solitude, in her post she talked about taking time out to cherish things without feeling guilty about it. For me I need to cherish my solitude because my job is all about interaction I come home from work some days and just want to not speak to anyone! This can make me feel guilty because it can feel like I'm being a rubbish friend for hiding away in my room, but actually when I'm in an "alone" mood I'm rubbish company anyway!

What do you need to cherish and stop feeling guilty about?

Do something amazing

I've posted about this before but it really does bare repeating.

Have you ever saved someone's life? No... are you sure?
Would you like to be able to if you needed to? Well really who wouldn't?

Please, please, please go and give blood, (I know some people can't for medical reasons), but if you have no valid reason why not please give it a go. I started age 18, and have donated 11 units since then, however that pales in to insignificance in comparison to the post Natalie has over at The Yarn Yard, please go over and give her hubbie some love, and check out her links if you don't donate.

The perfect weekend

or as near as you can get anyway. My Mum asked me on the phone earlier why my weekend was so wonderful (it's my facebook status right now), and when I told her it all sounded very non- spectacular, but sometimes life is about enjoying simple pleasures.

Making sure I got out and enjoyed the sunshine certainly helped, as did the best meal out I've had in long time with a good friend. If you're ever in the area where I love and want a recommendation then send me a message, beautifully cooked mussels with proper chips that had never been frozen! Strictly Come Dancing has started again (that Dancing with the stars if you're American), which always makes me happy. The costumes, the glamour, the drama, the laughter it's perfect saturday night tv.
Sunday I went to church (I know gasp from those who know me!) to present a 20 year service award to one of the Guiders in the district and it was great to be ale to recognize her somewhere that means a lot to her even it doesn't to me. Afterwards I escaped into the Peak District to soak up the sunshine to go climbing. Somehow it's my first day out on grit that I've managed all summer, but it was a great day. I scared myself up 2 severes, the second of which you can see here (if you climb, yes that is a lot of gear, I was having one of those moments!)


I seconded this climb which proceeded to cause me great pain and loss of skin (and to add insult to injury I fell off it!)


And finally here's who I climbed with all day, I will leave you to make your own comments!



On the dizziness front, I felt better as magically and rapidly as I felt ill... who knows what happened, but by Friday I was fighting fit again!

Coming over all light headed

I'm currently propped up in bed feeling a little unusual. I very nearly fainted at school today which would have been ok if it wasn't for the shaking, light headed-ness and tingling in my hands and feet. My lovely head of department looked after me wonderfully and dispatched me home with instructions to put my feet up. By that point I just wanted to crawl in to bed and pray that it stopped soon... a couple of hours later I have picked up a bit, my feet and hands have blood in them again (though I think I now might have a bit of a fever) and I no longer look like a ghost but I don't exactly feel great, now is just a waiting game seeing what this turns in to, is it just a 24 hour bug and I'll feel fine tomorrow, or have I caught something truly tasty?

Only time will tell, I'll keep you updated.

Things in the post

I love getting parcels in the post, even more than I like going shopping. There is something magical about opening the packaging, and it's even better if you're not quite sure what the something is!
I got 2 packages in the post today, one is some real luxury yarn from Texere for a bargain price to knit for someone who I know appreciates a little quality in his life!
The other were from Moo, I got a pack of mini cards using some yarny photos to use as tags on knitted items so I can let people know fibre content and washing instruction. I also got a pack of greeting cards which work out at £1.30 a card so really good value, and they show off photos I've taken!

Unfortunately the only parcels I can look forward to in the near future are the ones that are for my sock club as I need to watch the pennies for a while as my car has started to lock me in it, so I feel it may be time for it to go to the great scrap heap in the sky and for a new car to become by chosen steed!

Now I really need to get knitting, I can't believe how much knitting I'm wanting to get done for Christmas... you lot had better appreciate my bleeding fingertips and not moan about the blood stains! The knitting is even coming to the pub with me tonight

PS. sorry about the mess to the right, I started fiddling before I went to the pub and ran out of time, I will fix it tomorrow hopefully.

Employment

No not the excellent first album by the Kaiser Chiefs, but jobs, like it or not we all need one unless you are very very lucky. however i would argue that we still all need something to do, everyone needs to feel their day has purpose.
I've just got back from a climbing instruction session and have remembered why I could never do it as a job, if I am truly honest I find it boring, there is absolutely no mental stimulation for me, I'd start going stir crazy. My job as a teacher on the other hand makes me feel alive, I come home tired but happy, knowing that I've worked hard and also that my brain has had to work, pitting yourself against a class of 15 year olds will do that to you!
Some people go to work because they just want to earn a living to support their lifestyle, I work because I can't imagine not working, I need to have my brain put to work each day.

Anyway serious post over, your usual light hearted babbling will resume tomorrow or maybe a bit later!