Today I made process with lots of work things. Not necessarily things I intended to do, but am noting in any case. Then finished work & was cleaning & cooking for guests. It’s been a long day & I still have more to do - first proper lecture of the year tomorrow! #SemanticSeptember #Day30

This evening we watched Strict. Yesterday we also watched Strictly. We are now caught up on Saturday’s show. #SemanticSeptember #Day29

Today I won a game of Mexican Train. It was one of 3 we played, but the one that had loads of points to win. I’m informed by my son that I now have six hundred & something points-the highest I’ve even had in our many years running mega tournament. He has about 2.5 thousand… #SemanticSeptember #Day28

Today we had a family gathering for 24 people. With multiple home cooked meals (mostly not by me, though I helped), games of import in and out, conversation. Even a photo before any children went to bed, which was good of everyone. #SemanticSeptember #Day27

Today I had lots of conversations at work. It was a good day, with such a lots of variety. And I survived Welcome Week, and being on campus four days out of five. #SemanticSeptember #Day26

This evening am feeling the strain of the long and busy day and week. Good and interesting things to do in campus again tomorrow, but four days out of five working on campus is something I haven’t done for a long time. And so so many emails! #SemanticSeptember #Day25

Tonight, as my daughter was carefully passing her baby (a hot water bottle) to me for refilling (this isn’t completely just an us thing is it? Pretending a hot water bottle’s a little baby makes so much sense), I ad-libbed ‘Does she needs changing? We found this very funny #SemanticSeptember #Day24

I remember sitting last night when my phone in my hands, falling asleep, & see now that I didn’t get to my #SemanticSeptember #Day24 post. I think it is that I managed (and enjoyed) a long day of welcome week activities at work followed by cooking for guests in the evening, & felt energised from it.

Today was exhausting. Right from the beginning. But so good to have lovely colleagues to help me, with hugs and chocolate and practical matters. And good to be help and talking with students, old and new, and making further plans for the coming semester #SemanticSeptember #Day22

A round white pot containing sharpened shirt coloured pencils and some oil pastels.

Today I put old children’s stuff with use still in it out on our driveway and, while I was cooking a yummy roast dinner, it was nearly all taken away (including these pencils which I sharpened yesterday to make them appealing) - wonderful! #SemanticSeptember #Day21

Today I started clearing a set of shelves that I’ve been asked to clear over a long time. Much of the content is now all over the floor, but I have many progress at least. We no longer have many dried out paint bottles! #SemanticSeptember #Day20

I was too tired when I sat down last night. So my #SemanticSeptember #Day19 is belated. It was good to spend time socially with work colleagues past and present. I probably rushed off sooner than ideal, but it was also good to be home for Friday night with my family - we watched Don’t Look Up.

Today I spent a long time relearning how to use a database. This wasn’t my plan for the day exactly, but it was worthwhile, and will have an impact on future work - eventually. So I’m glad to have done it. Feeling satisfied. #SemanticSeptember #Day18

My highlight for today, I think, has been doing children’s admin, to do with school activities, and hearing bits and pieces of information from them both as I worked on it. These things can feel overwhelming at times, but aren’t always bad! #SemanticSeptember #Day17

This evening I went out for dinner with friends I haven’t seen for a couple of years. I was feeling hesitant about going out during such a busy week, but I’m so glad I did. It was lovely to both catch up and to slot in to life of a few years ago. And yummy Thai food #SemanticSeptember #Day16

This evening I went to school and learnt about some useful strategies for GCSE revision. It’s a shame that GCSEs don’t get done in your 40s instead of your mid-teens (though I know I don’t really want to go and study all of those subjects again) #SemanticSeptember #Day15

Today, in the middle of lots of housework jobs, I walked up to town in the rain to do a bit of in person shopping, including a book needed for school (as opposed to one for myself - something I am trying to limit). It was good to get out by myself. #SemanticSeptember #Day14

Today was a chess day. Which (for me) equals lots of chatting with friends and yummy food. A long day, but a good one. #SemanticSeptember #Day13

I have a feeling that today I (a life long Londoner) walked from Bank to Monument to take a tube to Cannon Street because Journey Planner told me to, when where I needed to go was right round the corner from Bank station. Bizarre #SemanticSeptember #Day12

It was good to be in central London though.

Having been away from my children for several days, it’s been good to hear bits and pieces of information from them this afternoon/evening. Gradually, over the hours. Looking forward to more bits in the coming days. #SemanticSeptember #Day11

We went to a comedy show tonight. Thought we were going to improv but accidentally found ourselves at a big stand up show. It was fun (as would improv have been). A great last night to our holiday, after a day wondering around Amsterdam, on foot and on a canal boat tour. #SemanticSeptember #Day10

I forgot to do my #SemanticSeptember post last night - I was so tired when we got back to the hotel. Had been falling asleep over my drink - we were in a great bar with live music. Busy day earlier at the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House (am planning to reread Anne Frank’s diary) #Day9

Lots of today was travelling to Amsterdam - my 1st time in the Channel Tunnel in nearly 30 years (didn’t even realise we’d been down until the announcement we were in France). Now that seems like a long time ago-have had a busy evening out & am more familiar with the layout. #SemanticSeptember #Day8

Today has been about getting ready for guests and getting ready for going away. Along with lots of cleaning and packing, I cooked a good meal for the evening. #SemanticSeptember #Day7

Today I did my last regular #FiveYearsOn post. I also discovered what I did on this day 29 years ago, as my daughter found, and read out loud to me, a babysitting diary I kept as a teenager! #SemanticSeptember #Day6

Today included logging on to lots of computers, in succession, and check whether various databases are working on them. A frustrating task, but one with a sense of achievement. #SemanticSeptember #Day5

Tonight (officially yesterday) we got to catch up with chess club friends, after the summer break. & I’ve managed going straight to a club from work, then getting home late & doing evening jobs. Now sitting down, after being busy since 7am-tho I did nearly dose off at chess! #SemanticSeptember #Day4

Today started with start of term meetings at school and ended with a post-summer dinner catch-up with a friend. I even wore boots. Autumn is here. I even wore boots this evening (admittedly was rather hot by the time I arrived!) #SemanticSeptember #Day3

Today I started creating a big spreadsheet. It has a long way to go, and the plan for it started off as a much smaller thing. But I have exciting (for me) plans for it now! #SemanticSeptember #Day2

This evening I have spent hours of the first stage of an admin task with my children, and have still not reached fruition. So many unexpected barriers - one after another! Wish I’d made a start sooner #SemanticSeptember #Day1