I’ve been a bit quiet on the old blogging front for the past few weeks. I’d like to say that it was because I’ve been rushed off my feet and I’ve been busy, busy, busy, but that really wouldn’t be true and although there have been days when it’s been non-stop from getting up to collapsing in bed, there have been plenty of opportunities when I could have blogged. My feeble excuse this time has been that I’m pretty addicted to Four in the Bed on Channel Four. After a busy day at work it’s perfect viewing to accompany a late afternoon cuppa and a hot cross bun. Trouble is once I’ve planted my bottom on the sofa it becomes glued to it and try as I might I just can’t unglue myself and have to stay stuck there for hours especially if Mr R doesn’t come home and free me! Back to Four in a Bed, now I don’t know about you, but if you watch it do you get really riled by all of the bed pulling apart business and then the docking of five points because someone with a magnifying glass finds a hair the size of an eyelash clinging to the underside of a mattress? I once stayed in a B&B in Cheltenham that was on the show. The woman who owned it was a bit scary and had the audacity to reprimand any guest who dared glance at their phone at the breakfast table. If only we could have knocked off a fiver from the bill for making guests feel like naughty children!

So what to report since I last touched base with you my little band of readers? My last post was about being rubbish at buying new clothes. Have I bought anything since then? Have I heck! I did ooh and aah about buying a red mac in M&S but I just couldn’t do it. Silly really as I didn’t even have to pay for it. The nice people who provide my new home insurance cover sent me a £50 gift card but still I couldn’t bring myself to buy a coat even though owning a red one has been on my bucket list for years. The lovely Dawn French, my would be chum,  would probably give me a jolly good telling off if she discovered how utterly wimpish I was being. (Confused? Please see previous post!}

Me and some lovely girlie chums from my WI went on a jolly outing to the Bombay Sapphire distillery last month. The boss ladies who are in charge of all the WI’s in England and Wales say we can only use of funds for trips out for educational purposes so our WI decided that learning how gin is made, and much more importantly, how to make a decent G&T or gin based cocktail was definitely educational. Did I know how much ice to put in the glass before? No. Could I pour tonic down a swirly bar spoon? No. Did I know how giggly you can get downing two cocktails before midday? No. Do I feel educated and inspired? Absolutely but I still feel that I’ve a lot to learn and a refresher course at another distillary wouldn’t go amiss!

I’m rather proud of the fact that I’ve organised a new book group at my WI. We’ve called ourselves The Number One Ladies Book Group. We’ve not long reviewed our first book, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I don’t know if anyone here has read it, but I absolutely loved it. What a corker of a debut novel. I was really chuffed that eleven people came to the meeting and I’m hoping that the group will be a success. I might be getting a bit ahead of myself but I’m thinking that it would be something if we could have guest speakers or go to literary festivals. Ooh, that reminds me whilst still on the topic of books, I haven’t given up the idea of writing my Land’s End to John O’Groats novel. Let’s just say the plot is still in the brewing stage!

For the third year running I’ve stood for president at my WI and for the third year running I’ve not won the vote. Now a few years ago I would have been bitterly disappointed whilst feeling unworthy and not liked but I’ve since learnt not to take things too personally and I just dust myself down and carry on. Life is too short to feel resentment, rejection or doubting yourself. I’m fine with the result and if something is not meant to be, it’s not meant to be!

I had planned to blog about thinking of a  life beyond the classroom walls, but I’ve probably bored you enough for one day and besides an extra fruity hot cross bun is sitting in my bread bin desperate to be eaten whilst watching Four Beds on catch up. That then can wait for another day so until then lovely readers, it’s bye for now.

Love

Brigitte xx