rebeccahalfway

2 Photos: Clitheroe Castle

Every time I see the place name Clitheroe written down I read Clit Hero. I’m essentially a teenage boy in a 30 year old woman’s body. Sorry Mum.

Anyway, Jonny and I decided to have a little day out to make the most of his last day of holiday (he’s back in work tomorrow, whilst I’ve still got until Monday. Teacher perks.) We drove down to Clitheroe and had a potter around the little shops before a wander around the castle.

I had done zero research before hand so hadn’t realised that the castle museum is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can, however, still wander around the old keep so all was not lost. If I’m totally honest, it’s getting to go inside the castle that I was most looking forward to anyway.

It’s a teeny little keep on the top of a small hill in the centre of town. The views from the keep are beautiful, especially those across to Pendle Hill.

I feel like I have visited Clitheroe before as a child but not that I can remember. It’s always nice to explore somewhere I haven’t been before, especially when there’s a castle involved. Now to plot our next mini adventure (with a little more research to avoid closed attractions!)

The C Word

Today I wasn’t in school, I was on a course learning all about how to make Key Stage 2 Grammar exciting. One of the best things about being on a course (aside from the lie in, and learning new things) is that I get to be at home much earlier than I usually would on a Monday.

Wondering what to do with myself, I’ve put on some laundry, emptied the dishwasher, done the little bit of school work I had to do and curled up in front of the fire with a coffee.

Now please don’t judge me but I might have just written my Christmas list. Yes, I’m 30 years old and still write a Christmas list! Although now, rather than being posted to Father Christmas, it gets passed along to my husband/parents/in-laws.

There are few things I love more at this time of year than sitting down and making my wishlist, it really gets me in the festive mood. Not that I need much excuse for that. This weekend I watched The Father Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Grinch to take my mind off being full of cold and generally feeling sorry for myself. I’m also working my way through the sugar-laden seasonal drinks menus at Costa and Starbucks.

I make no apologies for my obsession with the C word. I’m already debating whether it’s acceptable for me to stick my Christmas album on in my car (after all, it is December next week!)

What do you do get in the festive mood? Or do you prefer the C word to be avoided until firmly into advent?

5 Good Things #1

I’ve been utterly rubbish of late at keeping up with blogging. Things are more manic than usual at work which, coupled with extra responsibilities there, has left me with little energy to do anything but collapse on the sofa in the evening.

I’m meant to be updating some assessment bits and planning for next week right now, so obviously I’m dicking around on the internet and blogging. I am, as always, the queen of procrastination.

Anyway, here’s a quick kick up the arse back into blogging with a 5 Good Things post. I always like reading these from other people so thought I did give my own a go.

1: Shopping

I haven’t had a proper day shopping since spring. I prefer to online shop then I don’t have to deal with crowds of people. Last week the mothership and I spent the day at the Trafford Centre and I spent pretty much all my wages in Zara, H&M and Pull & Bear. I’m now poor but am armed with cosy items (and some token stripes) ready for winter.

2: Decorating

So far the living room is pretty much done, our hallway/stairwell/landing is a work in progress and our bedroom is almost there. I’ve even managed to involve glitter paint in the process. I am loving the feeling of satisfaction as a room comes together and looks as I’d envisioned it.

3: Baby cuddles

A few of our friends are either about to have or have just had babies and cuddles with one particularly dinky little chap last weekend definitely put a smile on my face.

4: Festive treats

I’m a sucker for anything even vaguely Christmas related so finding that M&S have Christmas themed Percy Pigs has just made my Saturday. He’s wearing a little Santa hat and I can not cope with the cuteness. It definitely hasn’t stopped me eating them though!

5: The clocks going back

I love the darker evenings as they make my love of burning an excess of candles and hiding under a blanket on the sofa socially acceptable and, dare I say it, even cool? As I’m now apparently fully embracing the hygge trend.

What things have been brightening your autumn recently?

Life Lately…

I’m currently on day 3 of being confined to barracks with a sickness bug. Being ill is the worst and I’m rubbish at being a grown up about it. I generally just mope and feel sorry for myself under a blanket whilst somebody brings me cups of tea.

We’re going to the wedding of a wonderful friend on Saturday so I am willing my body to kick into gear and recover in time for that!

The joys of working with children is that, inevitably, you pick up some of their lurgies. Thanks kids.

So here are a couple of snapshots of our new place instead of a photo of my (currently grey) face. We’re at the stage of painting tester blobs around everywhere whilst I increasingly lean towards wanting an almost entirely white home…

Any decorating tips would be gratefully received. Are there any wonder products I need before I jump headfirst into the painting?