The 16th was Photo An Hour day this month. I took part, and as always (she says not having taken part last month) I posted throughout the day on Instagram.

6am 

7am
It was breakfast time for our weekend guest, Tommy. Tea had been consumed, the kettle was on for cuppa no.2. And the washing was machine on, plants in the greenhouse had been watered, and it was my turn for breakfast - weetabix!

8am
More tea, this time Pukka Turmeric Gold and a second breakfast - strawberries from my garden.

9am
The day was filled with chores and errands. Washing was on the line, the dishwasher emptied. I was showered and ready, and off to the Post Office ...

10am
On my way back from the Post Office I might've tripped and fallen head first into my local charity shop. I bought the wool because it’s pretty and will knit up into a few cute toys, the book because my best friend loved it and she has excellent reading taste, the DVDs for when Andy disappears into harvest, and shorts because, sunshine!

11am
Yes, there were chores to be done but I was so close to the end of my book! The greenhouse is a great place to read and drink tea (Twinings Bakewell Green Tea). I finished it, it was really good - the book not the tea, although the tea is good too!

12pm
What was left of my early lunch. Already consumed - cheese salad sandwich, dried apricots, dairy free peach yogurt.


I missed a few hours running errands and popping in to see family. I had to drop off a folding table to my brother for a carboot the following day, and had to stay for a cuppa. I also stopped by to see my Mum, she's just got back from a Safari and I was never going to get away swiftly, even though my first words were 'I can't stay long'.

I had to go grocery shopping and return something to Next. The order collection point has been moved to the children's department and as I stood there surrounded by small people and rail after rail of baby clothes, I went hot and I had a sudden urge to flee. It was suddenly the last place on earth I wanted to be. Deep breaths and concentrating on my to-do list got me through, as soon as I was outside I felt better. The effects of losing a baby can blindside you at times, creeping up and walloping you in the gut when you least expect it. I've been in the children's department recently and I was fine, I don't know why this time was so different. The shop assistant who went to get my parcel agreed that I could wait in the women's department, she'd come and find me, I think she could sense my discomfort, and I was grateful for this small act of kindness.

In the car I turned the radio up and sung along loudly (and badly) to Jess Glynn's 'I'll Be There'. Never under estimate the uplifting power of music.

5pm
Came home to realise I hadn’t seen Tinker-the-girl-cat all day. After a frantic search in all her usual snoozing places, I found her under the duvet in the spare room, very warm and sleepy. She got a thorough cuddling.

6pm
I was being helpful, going backwards when told. The bucket was full of stones to fill the holes in our driveway, Andy did all the hard work with a shovel. If I hadn't backed into the laurel hedge the next day I'd have said that I was becoming quite a proficient loader driver.


7pm
I was stuck under Tinker, so I couldn't escape the football. I sort of watched it, but I couldn't tell you now who was playing or what the score was...


8pm
Still under The Girl Cat. Football was on again, not much playing going on though, just chatter. Shortly after a game commenced, I was on my way to bed before the national anthems had finished.

9pm
Bed and new book for my reading challenge. June for the month of June. It’s a hardback, I don’t like hardbacks, but I’ll persevere... I bought it second hand via Amazon and I thought it was a paperback. I was kinda annoyed when it arrived and even considered buying it again in paperback, but I decided that was just plain stupid. Now I'm a few chapters in I've forgotten that it's a hardback and so far it's an engaging read.

Thanks to Jane and Louisa for hosting. How was your weekend?