August was maybe one of my favourite months so far this year.
‘But why?’ I hear you ask. Well, have a read, you lazy sod. It’s all there.
(You can read January’s here, February’s here, March’s here, April’s here, May’s here, June’s here and July’s here)
I started a real job
I officially became employed for the first time in many, many years (which you can read about here, as it happens)
Over the summer I’ve been finding my feet but now it’s time for me to really get stuck in. I’m working part time which will give me time to carry on doing this nonsense *gestures vaguely*, as well as you know, parent and stuff.
I’m enjoying it so far, everyone seems nice and I haven’t fallen down the stairs or worn odd socks or done anything super awful yet. As far as I’m aware.
I saw LOADS of my friends
I have been making the very most of being single and catching up with my friends, and it’s been bloody excellent. We have had loads of visitors – adults and kids – for two full weeks of the summer holidays and over the last weekend, and it was really good fun. I like playing host and all the chaos that comes with it.
We all went to stay with my parents for a week which gave me the opportunity to catch up with old friends, then I visited Kent where I lived for 15 years to see some more friends there. I went home and caught up with a few more friends.
It was a full-on month, but it has been just so lovely to see everyone I care about. I did a lot of eating and too much drinking, and now weigh (conservatively) about a stone more than I did in July, but I feel like it was worth it.
I’ll never ever put myself in a position where spending time with friends comes second to anything, ever again. They are my happy place.
I lost the dog
During the hot weather at the start of the month, Izzy the Labrador clearly decided she’d not been walked enough so went through the fence – I can’t even identify where – into the park to take matters into her own paws and walk herself.
She didn’t go very far, fortunately. As soon as I entered the park she bounded up to me with the enthusiasm of, well, a very enthusiastic Labrador.
The following week, she didn’t come when I called her for dinner. If you know anything about Labradors, you’ll know is a very bad sign.
I searched the house, and nothing. All three sodding floors of it.
I got my friend’s husband and her kids out searching for her in the park for over an hour. I let everyone we met along the way know that we were searching for her, including her friend Lucky‘s owner who helped shout for her. I put her photo on the local dog owner Facebook groups.
I get back, feeling defeated and worried and, oh! There she fucking is, sitting patiently waiting for my return. She had got herself locked in the outside office.
Bellend.
I went on holiday!
I decided to take my kids and the dog on holiday! It was an exceptionally last minute decision, booked with less than 12 hours to go in perhaps the only dog friendly accommodation available at such late notice in the entire South West. You might see it as ‘badly organised’ but I call it ‘gloriously spontaneous’.
I got the kids to pack their stuff (I probably should have checked it before we left but I didn’t consider they’d try and take weights and seven board games with them. More fool me) and even managed to meet up with a friend for lunch half way to Cornwall in Exeter.
We stayed at Haven in Perran Sands, near Perranporth.
I worked in the mornings while the kids slept, swam and spent my life savings in the arcade, but once I’d finished for the day we went for walks over the nature reserve, to the beach and walked along to the beach bar in Perranporth. It was lovely. Meanwhile, the dog refused to understand the concept of saltwater not being drinkable which gave her something of a colonic cleanse. That was a bit less lovely.
I’ve written a whole review which you can find here, but it was the best, most laid back holiday I’ve had in a long time, and apart from the fact I couldn’t get reception and had to sit outside the pub to get WiFi, a bit of drizzle one day and the epic drive home which took FOREVER (with, due to the dog in the boot and all the luggage on the rear seat, a useful passenger who could point out to me when I was going one mile over the speed limit and demand their own music on Spotify) I can’t fault it.
My tweets of the month
I add my popular tweets (YES THEY ARE STILL TWEETS) to my highlights tab, if you’re into that sort of thing.
If you enjoyed this and you’re feeling generous, you can buy me a cup of tea or a glass of wine here.
You can also see my Amazon wish list here.