Travels and news

So we’ve been home a week from our summer holiday. Ray and i headed off to Berwick upon Tweed and the lovely Ivy cottage for the 4th year in a row. Some friends think this is quite bonkers, but the cottage is cosy (the two huge sofas help), very quiet, and lacking street lighting. It’s five minutes from the beach (where you can lose yourself to watching the shags, gannets, and seals), and five minutes from the train station (where you can get the bus or train to explore other parts of the stunningly beautiful Northumberland).

The weather was mostly amazing – not always hot – but warm, dry and sunny. Hurricane Katia was interesting. We walked along the beach from Bamburgh to Seahouses on the day that she really came through. Berwick had some minor damage – roof tiles mainly. The beach was a much safer bet. The gusting wind drove the waves backwards, the sand on the sand dunes upwards, and the top layer of the sand seemed to be constantly shifting. It made one of our favourite walks even more amazing.

We had our usual two days up in Edinburgh to see the art galleries…which were as great as ever. We also explored a couple of new places – Eyemouth and Wooler. On the walk in Wooler we saw a stoat – a first for both of us. I’d only seen weasels for the first time a few weeks ago, so this was rather cool. We also got to see the wonderful comedian Mark Steel. He was recording a radio show for BBC Radio 4. It was all i was hoping it might be and more. I can’t wait to hear the show on the radio when it’s broadcast later in the year. He was exceptionally sharp and funny. As we’ve been here a few times we slipped into holiday mode as soon as we left the train. It was a wonderful rest and i struggled on the last night to get my head around coming home. When we left Sheffield i left a few problems i didn’t want to go back to. Mainly the bizarre work situation i’ve been in. So the last Friday was quite a tearful one. Bella, Bodhi and the fish were really the only reason Ray didn’t have to drag me kicking and screaming on to the train.
On our first Monday back i had an emergency doctors appointment for a sceptic insect bite which has made using my right hand rather hard…the pain really has been nasty. This was followed by an emergency dental appointment. On the Tuesday i had a 7.30am ear, nose and throat consult for my constant sinusitis. Once i’ve finished the antibiotics for my hand i start a 3 month course for my sinuses. If this doesn’t work then we’re looking at surgery…having had one lot of sinus surgery when i was in my 20′s i’m keen not to repeat it, but not keen on 3 months of antibiotics…i then had a 9 am dietician appointment. Yes i had truly hit the ground running from a very relaxing holiday…and then the biggest stress of the week. Amongst the holiday post was an invitation to an interview for a re-deployment interview at work. The role – unlike the previous one they were trying to push me into fitted my person spec’ much better. A shorter, and easier commute. Office based, and working in customer services. The interview was Thursday. It ended at 3.30pm and i got a phone call at 4.05 pm to say i’d got the job. I’m thrilled. It’s a permanent position which is something i’ve been needing for quite some time. I will miss the wonderful guys i’m currently working with, but the role doesn’t exist. I got really good vibes about my new team. So i start a week on Tuesday. So i’ve been on a real roller coaster. I shall blog more on it later.

Meanwhile we have a journalist coming out to see us on Monday. She wants to do an article on Bodhi and Bella…

 

 

 

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