Lovely half term lie in. Not long to go and my alarm won’t be dictated by school terms at all, which is weird.

It was always going to be a Wales-heavy episode of Today this morning, so why not practice your pronunciation, Justin Webb? Caerphilly isn’t a hard one to get right, and Eluned Morgan is the first minister - it’s outrageous the way her name is being fudged.

Da iawn, Caerphilly, but fuck me that was close.

I have had a lovely weekend. I am very grateful for people willing to come all the way to Horrible Wales

Visitors today @clairewithani.bsky.social @sazzles74.bsky.social

@sarahvanpelt.bsky.social That bloody carousel is back…

@paolaoeste.bsky.social Ff is thrilled with her box of treats, thank you so much. (She had to fight her dad off some of the skincare)

Child has wanted a duffle coat for AGES but hasn’t found one that meets her strict criteria (for less than £150) but I have just bought one for £10 on Vinted. She is going to be thrilled.

Watched all of this today - a perfect Sunday afternoon.

I won player of the match at netball last night. It turns out that pleases me as much at 43 as it did at 13.

Child was on prefect duties in the RE dept for open evening tonight. The RE room got closed down and a parent was asked to leave for horrendous Islamophobic comments. What is the matter with people?

Of course there is a Taylor Themed Friday Dance today. Child is full of excitement, her lovely friend from her old school is coming to stay, and it’s overhead squats at the gym today.

The child is so excited for tomorrow. I love how she is unashamedly enthusiastic about things she loves. Absolutely no chill, no trying to be cool, she adores Taylor Swift and she doesn’t care who knows.

Love Thursday mornings at the moment. Child doesn’t have a lesson first thing so everything is slow and gentle.

Happy Showgirl Eve to those who celebrate. And in my house we *do* celebrate.

I’m 43 years old and I’m going to bed absolutely buzzing because my team won our netball game this evening.

Cheating at the child’s breakfast. I’ve lobbed a couple of frozen cinnamon buns in the oven and come back to bed with my coffee and book.

The problem with shiny white runners is that I don’t actually want to wear them to run outside

I saw Downton last night and it was lovely. Utter nonsense, obviously, but totally worth watching if you’re a fan.

Loved my netball game last night, we had such a good time. And in exciting news, as well as saying he’d get a post so we can actually practice, the gym boss said he’d ‘sort out some kit’ too. I am a sucker for a bit of merch.

Is it just one episode of Slow Horses being released today, or the entire series? I cannot be doing one episode a week.

Netball match tonight is at 9. I’m just sitting around waiting to go out. Who decides these things? We’re old, we need games at 5.

Making brown rice to go with chilli

Heavy deadlift day at the gym. I did 120kg three times in a row, no letting go of the bar, no pauses between reps.

Happy Monday.

New squat cycle starts today. It’s all a bit daunting for my little legs, especially after doing thrusters yesterday.

Wordle 1,555 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Thank you for the clue @sazzles74.bsky.social @clairewithani.bsky.social

Just bought my first thing from Vinted.

I have the giddy feeling that comes from filing my tax return. Why do I dread it and put it off? I ALWAYS feel about a million tons lighter after I do it.

Candles and fairy lights in the kitchen for the first time this autumn.

Michael Sheen’s voice as Owain Glyndwr on R4 gave me all sorts of chills. Worth Nick Robinson mangling the pronunciation.

Who has been to Florence? Considering a trip for my girl’s 18th

Competed in the in house pairs competition at my gym yesterday. H and I (old, slow) vs mostly fit young whippersnappers. But we managed a respectable 14th place largely because he can out very heavy things over his head.

The Times want to put my subscription up to £30 a month. I think this might be it. It’ll be a shame, I’ve been reading the paper since I was 15.

I joined a netball team some girls at the gym set up, and our first game is tonight. I haven’t played since a bit of Back to Netball messing about 15 years ago, and I haven’t played properly since Justin and Britney were still together.

Child and I have watched all the autumn episodes of Gilmore Girls, so we have moved on to Anne With an E. Don’t say we don’t know how to live

Has anyone read anything autumnal and good recently? Need something for book club.

Time for the Friday Dance. The huge bruise on my leg has almost faded, as has the pink dye in the child’s hair, the sun is shining, and I have absolutely no weekend plans.

I think the Wuthering Heights trailer looks good. So there.

Last first day (with permission). Half an hour before she was sent home again, because the pink hair isn’t *quite* faded enough.

Last first day of school

Last day of the holidays today. No idea where the summer has gone.

Just ordered the last school shirts I will ever buy.

My gym affiliated with Hyrox a few months ago. I was never likely to take part, but then found out that ‘Hyrox’ is short for Hybrid Rockstar and that convinced me that I will NEVER EVER do one.

Watching the Chappell Roan set on the telly, I bet the child is having a brilliant time

H and I went out for lunch and have been in the pub ever since. He’s just said ‘Shall we have a few more pints then go for a curry?’ It’s been 25 years and he keeps reminding me why I married him.

I can hear Sir Tom from across Cardiff Bay.

Child has newly pinked hair, and we’ve successfully transferred the Reading ticket to the wallet on her phone. She is Chappell Roan Ready.

It feel like autumn has arrived in my bit of South Wales. Dark and windy and starting to get a little bit chilly.

Lazy Sunday for me today. No squats. A quick supermarket trip. Maybe a bit of gentle cooking.