Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Last Hurrah! - R2BC

View from the terrace of King David Hotel
Here we are at the end of the summer holiday? School starts on Sunday. Where did it go? What happened to all those  projects I was going to tackle over nine long weeks of no work (in theory, not including finishing off last year's courses, teaching two summer courses, and preparing for next year's courses)? We traveled some, we had guests from overseas, we went on day trips, we went to the pool, we went to the beach, and we relaxed... a lot. And that's where it went. 

Interestingly, things suddenly picked up a pace for the final week of the holiday. It was a sort of unplanned last hurrah before we return to serious routines for the next ten months. Here's how it panned out.

On Sunday I went out for coffee with a friend and DD was invited to an all-day happening to celebrate the end of the holiday. I forgot to ask who organized the happening but it was all free for members. Knowing the parents of the friend who invited DD, it could have been the Teachers' Union, the Social Workers' Union, or a major children's charity that the family are very involved with. The day was by a pool with an adventure park (zip lines), activities and lunch. DD came home with a new school diary and her fingernails painted. I got a lot of work done at home. Everyone was very happy.


On Monday I met a friend visiting from London, for coffee. She didn't want to travel all the way to my neighbourhood and I didn't want to go into the town centre. So we met in the middle at The King David Hotel. We were the only ones sitting on the terrace overlooking the pool, with the Old City of Jerusalem across the valley. The coffee cost exactly the same as in a crowded cafe but it was so much more pleasant to be in the elegant gardens of the hotel. I don't know why I don't do this more often.

On Monday evening we went to see Hamlet in Motion in the park.

On Tuesday I had to give an exam at my college and meet with some students. Then we popped into DD's school to pick up her school books and a box of school supplies that we'd ordered online. We came home and ticked everything off on the list before going to the Big Shop (it's actually called Big Shop) to get school t-shirts and a couple of sweaters along with anything missing from the supplies list. It's a bit like Primark or Walmart but not nearly as much choice (or quality). However, we managed to do a Big Shop and came home loaded with bags.


DD posing with school supplies
on the table and bags more on the floor.
On Wednesday DD went to her friend's birthday party while I had to go into my school for the opening Teachers' Meeting. All I can say about that is, "oy vey!" To give you  some idea, the renovations that were supposed to be done over the summer, started yesterday. Luckily most of September is taken up by the Jewish Festivals so no one really expects to settle down into a fixed routine until the beginning of October.

This morning we went to the local shopping mall to pick up the last few things that weren't in the Big Shop. Whilst there, DD saw a new school bag that she absolutely loved and so did I. So we bought that on a whim and qualified for another free backpack! The plan was for a pizza lunch in the mall but we weren't that hungry so we came home and ate later (leftover pasta from last night).

This evening we're meeting up with our Summer Holiday Family for a falafel picnic in the park to officially end the Summer Holiday.

So lots of Reasons 2B Cheerful even as we say good bye to long lazy days and hello to earlier nights and ridiculously early mornings. The R2BC linky is back with Becky this week on Lakes Single Mum. I suspect that there will be a lot of cheerful summer holiday endings. Stiff upper lip and all that.
    

10 comments:

  1. I had so much planned too! My last day to get anything done today - including labelling son's new uniform and sorting out his bedroom so that he can study... Looks like a fabulous week on your part.

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    1. we did enjoy the week, thanks. I also did out DD's bedroom and covered all her school books so it was quite productive as well as fun. Good luck to you and your family for the coming school year. xxx

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  2. Sounds like a fab week and I’m loving the look of the hotel. Do you think you can sneak in a swim for the price of your coffee? Mich x

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    1. Hahaha, there is a lady sitting at a table at the entrance to the pool. If you don't have your room key she charges you something like 50 pounds to use the pool. I think it's less after the high summer season but there are definitely more economical places to swim.

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  3. This is our last weekend of the summer too - the kids go back to school on Tuesday the 4th after Labour Day. I had a lot of running around to do today and the shops were full and there were lots more little ones on the subway than normal - I think it was a day for back to school haircuts!
    It has been another week of unbearable heat and humidity but last night a cold front rolled in and today everyone was looking for a sweater! It only went up to 22C this afternoon and thee was a strong, cold wind - it was wonderful! It's supposed to be much the same tomorrow so I'm meeting a friend for lunch and then we are going to have a walk around the St. Lawrence Market - I'm hoping for some nice cheese and maybe a treat or two. The heat is to come back next week but hopefully it won't hang around for long.
    I'm hoping to be able to start switching out my wardrobe within the next couple of weeks. I hope everything goes well on the first day of school.

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    1. I'm always surprised by how many changes the beginning of September brings. Not just back to school but also the weather and everyone starts getting busy again. The market sounds nice. Have a lovely day. xxx

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  4. I can't believe the summer is over either! But I'm looking forward to some cooler weather as I'm sure you are. The hotel sounds lovely - we often use them because they are usually more spacious and wheelchair friendly - even better when there's a good view x

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    1. I love hotels. And yes, I'm so looking forward to cooler weather although we all greed here that this summer wasn't too bad - we had a lot of mild days and no long spells of very hot weather.

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  5. Replies
    1. Yes thank you. They're very clever aren't they? And very much appreciated. xxx

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