Day 65 #100happydays

Strike day today (the underground)!  Really getting this radical acceptance!  I walked into work, set off early and just went for it. It was a sunny day and a very enjoyable walk, including the walk back, although I felt tired by the time I walked the dog in the evening!

Also the realisation that the Menace is developing a rather keen sense of humour.  We were discussing his reading and when I said "you have to try reading books without pages" (Obviously an error, I meant pictures), his retort reminded me of his dad.  "Cool! No pages," he said, with a wicked grin.  Bless him!

Day 64 #100happydays

A productive moderation meeting.  These are time consuming but at least we all know we are on the right track now!  I initiated this, but feel it was worthwhile and good for the team.

Day 63 #100happydays

Small things: an e mail of thanks from a colleague, positive feedback from my year's efforts.  Also an e mail of thanks from the woman we rent a house off in Norfolk, thanking me for leaving it tidy.  Small tokens of appreciation, they really make a difference.

Day 62 #100happydays

A catch up and a glass of wine and a moan with my neighbour, and good female bonding.  The Menace went to a party all day and recognised behaviours he doesn't like, a bit of a coming of age moment I think.

Day 61 #100happydays

The Menace had a friend to stay, from our old home town.  We had an ambitious day planned which did not quite happen as expected, never mind. Spider-Man seemed to help.

Day 60 #100happydays

I enjoyed the peace and quiet today, the painter had finished and I worked at home alone.
I enjoy that peace.

Day 59 #100happydays

The Other Half out late, the Menace and I busy with swimming lessons and various other things.  A very tired boy went to bed, and so did I. Sometimes an early night is just what you need....

Day 58 #100happydays

A random hug from another dog walker I was moaning to, and she is also a mum at school. lovely to know people care, even if I am just moaning about the minor irritations of life, like my mornings being disturbed.

Day 57 #100happydays

The Menace is back at school and I have a nice quiet day working at home!

Day 53, 54, 55, 56 #100happydays

3 days in Norfolk with old friends.  We enjoyed the beach, the food and the company.

Day 52 #100happydays

The Menace and I met with some friends for lunch at the V&A, then went for a paddle in the Diana memorial in Hyde Park, it was great to catch up with them and also to know how easy it is to see friends from our past.  A lovely day out, and it feels that life is coming together.

Day 49, 50, 51 #100happydays

Another bitter/sweet.  I always struggle a bit at my parents, my mother is ill and my father struggles to cope with it.

However I enjoyed watching him play croquet with the kids.

And I also know that my mum's carers are looking after her well and also looking out for him, it is him I worry about.  One of them said he is almost like family, and that is comforting to know.

And here is my mum, bless her.  We don't know how much she knows anymore.

Day 48 #100happydays

The Menace went to his best friends party, then we got the train up to Yorkshire to visit my parents.

Here we are relaxing on the train!

The Menace declared this the best way to travel to Grumpy's house!

Day 47 #100happydays

A lovely day out with friends, starting with a trip to our local cinema for a Q&A with Mike Leigh.  It was a great day altogether, lots of intellectual stimulation, and lots of friends around.

Day 46 #100happydays

Last night was our two year anniversary, mine and the Other Half, we went out to the same restaurant we went to for our first date.  He had work today and left early, so I had a lie in, before I picked up the Menace from his friends.

Then we went for an assessment for the Menace for  counselling, I have been trying to get this for a while, as I know he misses his dad.  The meeting was sad, but also uplifting for me.  I realised he is settled in our new home/ life, the only thing he is struggling with is he misses his dad, and that is the one thing I can't help with.  Thankfully they are getting him some support.

The dog snuck in for a lie in too!

Day 42, 43, 45 #100happydays

I spend three days at the lovely DPR conference.  This blog is about my acceptance of the world I live in, but the DPR is a chance to set my mind free and problematize to my hearts content.  All in the lovely surroundings of the University of Greenwich.

Day 41 #100happydays

A day with my son, just finishing off work things and setting ourselves up for the holiday break.  Lovely day mooching around.

Here we are returning from my work, via the posh smoothie shop, with books instead of easter eggs, my gift to him.

Day 40 #100happydays

Another good friend to dinner, all the same, some friendships endure time and space...

Day 39 #100happydays

A bitter sweet day.  My old friend came to dinner, she had told me things would not be the same after I moved.  I had to be honest and admit that sometimes that is the case.  You cannot force someone to be "the same" if they don't want to.  Radical acceptance.

Day 38 #100happydays

My niece came to visit, we had a great evening out at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Day 37 #100happydays

A quiet evening in, working hard and recovering from the large glass of wine the day before!

Day 36 #100happydays

I met up with an old work colleague, who I haven't seen for a few years.  We had a big hug and a big chin wag and an even bigger glass of wine.  Great to catch up and know that things have not changed!

Day 35 #100happydays

Today I worked in my messy space....
that little haven of an office, where I can leave my books lying around and they will all be there tomorrow, when I return.  i am working on a conference presentation, I feel I made good progress.  I also ran around the park and I feel healthier for it.

Also The Other Half mended my laptop after I dropped it.  I thought it was going to cost a lot, but he managed to make the pinkness go away.  I was forced to look at the world though rose tinted lenses!