A Bit of A Week - W/E 16th November 2024

This week started with us continuing our visit to Yorkshire. On Sunday, we had a free day before the funeral on the Monday morning. There was an Xmas Food and Craft Fair at a local farm shop, so we decided to go there and buy a few Xmas gifts. We didn't spend a lot, but made a start on a Food Hamper for OH's mum and I got a couple of very small bits for LB.

We then had a couple of errands to do to buy some flowers for OH's mum and a gift for my sister and her husband, whose 20th Wedding anniversary was a few days away. We'd arranged to meet them at a local pub for something to eat later in the evening.

Once we'd done that we headed to OH's mum's for an hour. We grabbed a sandwich there for lunch before heading to the railway station to pick up LB, who was arriving by train from London. Once we'd picked her up, we went  back to the cottage for an hour or so and then back to her Grandma's until we went out in the evening. 

We spent a lovely couple of hours with my sister and her family later. It was the only night they could get to see LB and they hadn't seen her for a couple of years. It was nice to catch up and it did take our minds off the funeral the following day. 

On Monday, the funeral went very well. It was a beautiful sunny day. OH's mum coped superbly, giving a reading and staying super composed and it was lovely to see so many people from the family, many of whom we'd not seen in years. I think we all had a good day. We did get a bit upset when it came to the Eulogy. I didn't think I would, but I did. I'd probably be more concerned if I didn't.

There was a reception with food after the church and crematorium ceremonies and it was good to get there, have something to eat and drink and be able to relax, knowing that everything had gone well. Later, after everyone had gone, we had to take LB to catch her train back to London, go back to OH's mum's for a while and join a few close family members there, before finally heading back for our last night at the cottage. We had a chill night watching Wolf Hall on TV when we got back, which we have started watching from the first series, as I didn't watch it the first time around. It's very good. I did some work on my hexi quilt too, which was a good way to relax after the events of the day.

On Tuesday morning, we packed up, headed to OH's mum's for a cooked breakfast before setting off back to London. The trip home was a bit longer due to heavy traffic on the M1, but we eventually got home around 5pm and were very pleased to do so. It had been a very busy and eventful few days. We'd felt sad leaving Yorkshire on this occasion. It was a sad feeling knowing that we wouldn't see OH's dad again when we next visited.

When we got home, we unpacked a bit, made something to eat and chilled for the rest of the evening, settling back into our own home. Funerals affect you on so many levels, making you think about so many things; the past, the future, the present. They just really put things into perspective and make you ask yourself questions about your life. It's quite unsettling.

On Wednesday, I needed to be up early, as I had an interview for a job arranged for 10.30 am. Originally, I'd been invited to go for an interview on the day of the funeral, but they had kindly rearranged it for me thankfully. I was a bit nervous getting ready. Although my current job is going okay, this opportunity came up and I found myself applying for it. I was kind of in two minds, but my heart was telling me to go for it and sometimes, you've just got to follow your heart and see where it leads you.

Anyway, I turned up at the interview only to find I was 3 and a half hours early.  The time had been changed, but I'd not been informed. I offered to go off and do my shopping and come back, to give the manager time, as she was busy doing something. I did just that and returned a couple of hours later. 

The interview seemed to go okay, but toward the end, I sensed a change in body language from the Manager. I know there were internal candidates and the job did sound a little intense, so maybe it was for the best.  There are some other jobs coming up there that sound more suitable, but the hours aren't quite as good for me, but I may apply and see what happens. 

I came home and unpacked the shopping. I was a little disappointed, but I think that what's meant for you will come to you and maybe this job just wasn't.

On Thursday, it was nice to finally get a lie in after probably a week of not sleeping too well with everything that was going on. I had a leisurely breakfast and then booked myself into the gym and headed off for a much needed work out, as I'd eaten far too much over the weekend.

I enjoyed my workout and then came home and fully unpacked from the weekend and tidied around upstairs, putting things away that I'd left out when getting ready for the interview the day before. I was due back at work in the evening, so later I got ready and headed off there.

On Friday, I was due at work at 1pm. We'd had a message on Thursday from a relative who was coming to stay on Friday, so the couple of hours I had free in the morning, were spent cleaning the kitchen, whilst OH cleaned the bathroom. I'd prepared a bedroom the day before. I then had to rush off to work, which was a good shift. It passed really quickly and I was back on a job I really enjoy. 

I finished work at 5pm and our young guest had gone off to meet some friends in town, so I decided to have a good look around the store I work in and use my staff discount to buy a few presents. Most of them were for me, although I did get a few for LB. OH tends to buy his own presents for me to give him i.e. cycling gear, so I buy things I want him to give to  me. We both do buy extras ourselves, but the main gifts we choose ourselves.  It just works well this way for us. To be honest though, I don't really want or need much this year. I always struggle to find things to buy for myself. I made a start with a few bits, i.e. a candle, a book, some socks, etc. I didn't spend much though.

We spent the evening watching Wolf Hall and I continued to work on my Hexi quilt, which was relaxing after a very busy day.

On Saturday, my hours were changed to start at 11am, so I wasn't able to go to the free session at the gym, but I did get to finish at 4pm, which was a bonus. Work was okay and passed really quickly. It seemed like Christmas shopping had started proper as it was very busy. It was lovely to get home and just chill for the evening. When I got back, our guest had gone to stay with LB for the night, so OH and I could have a quiet night in watching Wolf Hall as usual. As a consequence, the week ended on  a very chilled note which I was grateful for.