Happy Monday! I skipped an update of last week because honestly because my head was full of redundancy stuff and waking up at 3am for 7 days in a row and not being able to sleep does not make for being happy and positive about your life!
Best
I made it through a difficult week intact. Actually, I’ve made it through two difficult weeks intact. I have got into the office, which was hard, its difficult go to work and acomplish anything, when you are gearing up to leave and you can’t tell anyone. My brain is shot and concentrating on work was been difficult. It’s done now and I think I’ve managed the last two weeks with, dare I say it, grace and dignity at a time I didn’t feel like being either!
Worst
Last week at work. It’s tough when you can’t really tell anyone that you’re going, I try to be upfront and honourable and this week I felt like a liar and that’s a tricky thing to deal with. Added to that I also had to deal with a solictor, I was worried about money and all the other things that knowing you’re about to be unemployed brings…
Honourable mentions to friends that rally round you in times of crisis, wine, healthy choices, children having birthdays, the restorative power of cake, a tidy house, sleeping pills, reading, netflix, gin (not at the same time as the sleeping pills), dinner with friends who are wise, planning, cheese, yoga, helping out at a birthday party full of excited 6 year olds, a conversation with my brother, ricotta tart, a Sunday in my pyjamas and a tax rebate! I’m 
Obviously before I talk about whether I did the things I wanted to this month, I have to talk about the big thing that happened this month. On 18 September I was told that due to the re-arranging of my department, my job was at risk of redundancy. Which was pretty shocking and completely unexpected. By Tuesday, I was resigned to losing my job and by Thursday I had a settlement offer and a leaving date. (The decision to get it done quickly was entirely mine, I wanted it over and the settlement was more than generous). Which means that as of yesterday, I don’t have a job. Which is weird. I really didn’t want to be in this place again but life happens. I’m in a much more stable emotional and financial place and I can deal with it. However, if you or anyone you know needs a competent PA/Administrator, please get in touch!
October Aims
The kitchen table can also become a dumping ground because it’s the first flat surface I encounter when I come up the stairs. It’s also the worst lit room in the flat, the window is off to the corner and the light is not great, especially in the winter and especially near the counters. Which is something I need to work out this year because I’ve really noticed that my light perception is off lately (another thing they don’t tell you about middle age!).
Since the 
It was blended until it looked like this. 
Like I said, it’s not authentic but it tastes better than the tubs I usually buy and it works for me.
We cleared the square bed and buckets, the compost from the buckets going to the two tomato beds that are done. I took out the tomato plants from the last bed but we didn’t cover that because the marigolds are still going strong.
The little one at the back of the plot has got three baby squash on it and they had better hurry up and grow before the frost hits. 
The herb patch is thriving 
and the borage came back and is flowering, I hope that it does this every year!
I also brutally cut back the nasturtiums because I couldn’t see my paths and made the decision not to sow them next year, if they self seed, I can live with them but no more planning to be overwhelmed by them!
Then I admired Ma’s handywork and finally planted the day lily outside.
Ma and I also discussed the ‘top of the plot situation’. The area in front of the raspberries to the main path has a plum tree, two rhubarb plants, two gooseberry bushes, a shed, a greenhouse and a whole of space that grows weeds. We’ve planted some flowers, there were other plants that came up. This year we sowed peas there and put the buckets of spare tomatoes there. Overall though, it’s a bit of a wasted area. So we are going to do a couple of things. First move one of the gooseberries up there (yes I have been saying that for over a year!), second pave the area outside the shed and greenhouse. This gives us a proper sitting down space, we can plant flowers etc around a patio area and we can pull more tender plants in pots that can be moved in and out. Decision made, now all we need to do is get it done (and paint the shed and do a heap of other things that we’ve planned)
