Sunday Selfie

Just proving to you that I'm still alive -

It's been a busy couple of months. I went on the ski trip to Northern Italy (it's ok, no sign of the virus) so, as usual, large chunks of my mental energy were taken up preparing for that. I had a job interview for a job I wasn't sure I wanted, which I (therefore luckily) didn't get, but it was a very big job and the application and interview prep used up all remaining mental energy. I haven't even had time to re-read the first two Wolf Hall trilogy in preparation for the third part finally being released this week.

But, here I am (was), drinking a margarita in TGI Friday's last month, being sociable. More soon, honest.

Sunday Selfie

I spent the weekend in Edinburgh with my friend Jen. Her older daughter, Abi, taught me how to use Tik Tok. Her younger daughter, Isla, kept me amused by being generally hilarious all weekend long.

She'd had reindeer facepaint but kept rubbing her face. Small person problems. 

Flying to Edinburgh and back was supereasy and I can see myself doing it lots more in the future. I have, however, got some horrible sinus cold to contend with now. Hoping this is my usual Christmas illness getting out of the way before I go skiing. 

Sunday Selfie

I got some new glasses. I wanted some this shape and sent Mr Z and Mother Hand pictures of the options; then I picked the pair they didn't prefer anyway, because I liked them better. Mr Z says I look very waspy. I am enjoying feeling like a 1950s office worker.

Sunday Selfie

As I mentioned, I've been trying to get more exercise in, with the impending ski holiday. Three weeks in a row now, I've been to the gym and done a leg workout and the past two weeks I have managed to make use of the squat rack, purely by being there in a gap between when men are using it. The first time, I was waiting patiently, but it then became clear that other men who had arrived did not realise I was waiting, and I didn't want to have to be pushy about it, so I used other equipment. Last week a man actually started using part of the squat rack while I was squatting in it, without asking or commenting about what he was doing, which I understand is poor squat rack etiquette. Maybe it's listening to Invisible Women that is influencing me, but the free weights area is definitely not a gender neutral space.

Anyway.

Today I was a bit more confident and set the rack up just as I wanted it, so I squatted heavier and more sets than last week. I am exhausted. And then I took a gym selfie and posted it on my Instagram stories with a hashtag. I hated myself just a bit for being a parody, but I still spent less time on my phone than anybody else in the free weights area today.

Sunday Selfie

Mr Z and I were talking about the Christmas decorations yesterday, because I pointed out that if he left it any longer to put the camping stuff in the loft, I would be insisting that he brought the Christmas decs down with him. He was not impressed. Then I went to Sainsbury's and guess what they had outside...

I did resist. It's a bit early, even for me; but my busy December weekends dictate that the tree must go up very early, or not at all. I'm aiming for a December 1st decorating day.

Sunday Selfie

Not exactly a selfie, but a picture of me nonetheless - dressed up as Trump, with a super orange face (dark foundation and orange blusher used liberally) and a comb over made of my own hair.

That's Kate, being Boris. She nearly rode the bike off the stage several times.

This is an utterly bizarre tradition but it is a lot of fun. Now we're on the downhill run to Christmas!

Sunday Selfie

Some more from my summer Copenhagen jaunt.

It was pretty cold, wet and windy the day we visited Nyhavn but the colours were no less vivid. We had a very pricey but very Danish lunch next to the harbour.

I know I've just had some time off work but looking at these makes me ready for another holiday. Only 6 and a half weeks until skiing...

Sunday Selfie

I remember reading, over two years ago, that a lost piece of Tudor clothing had been discovered in a small Welsh church, and I have been waiting ever since for it to go on display. Thus, here is a picture of me looking very excited with it this afternoon.

The Bacton Altar Cloth is cloth-of-silver, dated from the reign of Elizabeth I. That makes it fairly likely to have been part of Elizabeth's wardrobe, because cloth-of-silver was reserved for the royals. Some of the curators have speculated that this is the skirt of the dress, the bodice of which can be seen in the famous Rainbow Portrait. I'm not completely convinced but the patterning is very similar.

It was a delightful afternoon of geekery. 

Sunday selfie

This time next Sunday I'll be on half term, finally finally.

More time to spend with this snugger.

Sunday Selfie

I've spent the weekend on a DofE expedition. This was taken at the end of today. I was voluntarily in this position.

Some wisdom:
1. 3am is not a good time to discover your tent isn't waterproof.
2. Distant, unlocateable raves in the Mendips go on until 8am.
3. If your group says they don't know how to use a compass, save everyone a lot of hassle and fail them before they even start.
4. Take walking shoes even if you're adamant you won't be walking with them.

Sunday Selfie

Featuring Mother Hand this week, because I found a lot of selfies featuring us together from this year, from our various adventures together.

This is from Whitchurch Silk Mill, which we visited in May during a minibreak to do a tour of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Really pretty location and lots of ducks.

And this is from the palace gardens in Copenhagen, in the summer.

Sunday Selfie

This cute little bar was round the corner from our AirBnB stay in Copenhagen. They basically just sold meatballs with fixings and lovely cocktails. Here I am, enjoying a negroni.

Sunday Selfie

My extended summer absence means there are all kinds of selfies of me on holiday and I'm going to share a few of my faves over the next few weeks.

First up - me on a beach in Malta. It was a private hotel beach with call buttons on the umbrellas so the waiting staff would bring you all the food and cocktails you might desire. Turned out this was some food, lots of cocktails. We spent two days in a row lying around like this.

I can't remember the last time I had a summer holiday that involved two days of sunning myself on the beach. I thought I would get bored but then another cocktail would turn up which helped to break up the day. Also, this bikini is made from recycled plastic bottles AND is in the colours of the Maltese flag so I was double winning in it. 

 The holidays already feel like a very long time ago.

Sunday Selfie

I have been looking through my pictures and GoPro footage from Alabama and came across this accidental capture. I spent a lot of time shouting GOPRO TAKE A PHOTO at the GoPro, with limited success, so in the end I set it to image burst and took a dozen or so each time. This was a side capture and quite blurry but it was good early morning light and I was filled with pancakes and therefore extra cheery.

Sunday Selfie

Mr Z and I went to see Lady Gaga's new residency, Enigma, at the Park Theater (yes, I know, but that's how they spell it) this evening. It was an amazing show and she has incredible stamina. She was even singing while they were tossing her around on stage. When she opened the show, she flew in dressed in the sparkliest catsuit I've ever seen, and then they slowly rotated her whilst shining bright lights on her, so she lit up the room like a mirrorball. It was marvellous. Later in the show she said her fans were like a mirrorball, reflecting her back a million times, so I guess that was where she got the inspiration.

Anyway, here is a badly lit selfie of us in the audience before the show started. So exciting!

Sunday Selfie

Mother Hand and me at the local 9 lessons and carols service this evening.

It was fun. My favourite part was when the organist got faster in one of the carols and the choir got behind and got all ruffled, like a flock of hens.

Sunday Selfie

I had a good theme going on over the summer in my Instagram stories, of me drinking Aperol spritz. Daily, it felt like. Even though it's the depths of winter, it was what I chose this week when I needed some less potent Dutch courage before the carol service.

Sunday Selfie

I don't know if this really counts as a selfie because a student took it for me, but here I am pretending to be Henry VIII at Hampton Court on Friday.

Sunday Selfie

A video selfie this week - Angela, the previous ski trip leader, and me, drinking Aperol Spritz at Naomi's party last night.

Sunday Selfie

Since I'm feeling all festive - here's the selfie I took of myself in a Santa hat when I gave my year 13s some extra time for a coursework task two weeks ago.

One month to go! I can't remember the last time I was this excited about Christmas.