Even though last week was missing a Monday (which I spent mostly in bed catching up on proper sleep after a traumatic weekend of being ill) it still felt like a long week. Knowing that I would finish up the week in charge and have to lock up the school was kind of big too – as I explained to Big, I’m used to being in charge of things, I’ve lead a support team, a residential unit, bouncers and bars, but the first time you do it properly any place is always a little nerve wracking, so I’m kind of pleased that the first time is over, iykwim. And I wasn’t that late home afterwards.
Made it out for fish and chips, and had a whole can of beer before deciding that I was too tired for words and retiring to bed. And then I slept in too, which was wonderful, but possibly too long, as when I did get up, I discovered I had a really stiff neck. I thought that going out for a walk might ease it off, so I agreed to the suggestion, and we headed off through town to the canal, and walked all the way along to the next town, which was really rather fun. We saw several canal boats, and explained to Big why the path is called a tow path, and why there were warehouses and mills built along the canal sides. I’m not sure she fully believed me, she hasn’t read enough Noel Streatfield
yet obviously. I’m not sure I have that one actually, will have to keep an eye out for it.
There are quite a few locks along this part and we got to watch one boat going down in one – it was a 59′ boat in a 57′ lock, so it was fascinating to see them do it – the boat slightly diagonal in the lock to have room, and it was a very tight fit. Then we got to watch a complete idiot ram his boat into the gates and tear the greenhouse bit off the front – the woman who had opened the gate was screaming at him in a very ungenteel fashion. At that point we decided discretion was the better part of valour and retreated to the roadside and the nearest bus stop.
Not having travelled on a bus for some time we weren’t sure what the fare was going to be, so S (friend we were walking with) got on and said precisely that, and the driver said well never mind then, so we still don’t know how much the fares are! Slightly upsetting to take under 10 minutes to come back along a distance that took us nearly 2 hours to cover (though there was a sit down for lunch part way along 😉 ) Finished off the afternoon by taking Big into every charity shop in town looking for children’s books – only Oxfam had a children’s book shelf! We found her a Cynthia Voigt, The Vandemark Mummy
, and a Helen Cresswell, Bag of Bones
though, so that wasn’t too bad, and for well under the cost of the book she’d looked at in the discount bookshop. (that one was £3 in case you’re wondering, she spent £1.29 instead 🙂 and learnt about charity shops too :grin)
And now we’re home and the kids are in the bath, I’ve taken painkillers that are making no difference at all and I’ve finished my book. I’m toying with the idea of doing a weekly book post, think I’ll start it tonight with what I can remember reading over the last week or so, and then keep it up from then on. Think I’ll enjoy having a record of what I’ve read with a bit of a review, and maybe other ppl will enjoy it too.
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