Unlike the eponymous films, it’s the adults being left behind! OMG, how did that happen? Scouting activities, that’s why.

But on top of getting hold of the house expenses, in 2025 I have not been overly keen on the garden maintenance ‘stuff’ that needs doing and the ‘pretty’ stuff that involves new planting schemes has also become a ‘mental’ barrier. ‘That involves digging’ or hard pruning of ‘spiky’ stuff that puts me off. Also my bank balance doesn’t really cover my planting or hard landscaping desires. We still haven’t properly completed the patio slabs in any part of the garden… and the weeds prove it!

I need to decide on jobs and timetable them. Those plums need stewing not just talked about. But I’ve thrown out lots of pots I could have used for jam in my kitchen cleaning frenzy.

I’ll have to freeze some of it! The freezer needs some tubs/freezer bags full of miscellaneous stuff that we’ll forget what it is in two months time. Busy work to distract me from the empty-nest syndrome however temporary it will be. Although waiting for Alevel results does mean we are approaching another chapter in one daughter’s story…