Annabel

I'm enjoying following your Swedish adventures and am not jealous at all in any way 😬. Apart from that beer. That's just not right.

I look forward to your uplifting posts but never commented until today. Good morning Kitty 😊 I made Moroccan Harira soup at 4:30am (thank you menopause insomnia) - it's vegan and healthy and absolutelybloodydelicious!

A beautiful letter and every word of it true, as I see in my job every day.

Me too! Cooking on every single appliance, hot wash in the machine, every electrical item charging, and the last 3 minutes for the kettle and a well-earned cup of coffee.

Sounds like a great idea. I usually listen because I have faaar too much nervous energy to sit and watch. Even if we lose, I always have a tidy house at full time!

Thank you for your courage in posting this, Neil. I work with asylum seekers and agree absolutely that they are just happy to be here and want to learn English, start work and live out their lives in peace and safety. The most normal things in the world, which we take for granted.

Two button badges: Swedish flag with "I speak Swedish" and Lebanese Flag with "I speak a little Arabic" in the respective languages.

I've been lost in the forest of bad news for a while, but these arrived today to put on my work lanyard and they made me smile so much that they're worth sharing. Beautiful, aren't they! Helpful for students and helpful for me. I'll be fluent in no time...

Nice to meet you, and good luck tomorrow. I'm sure it'll feel fine once you get going - the apprehension is always the worst bit imo.

Absolutely, especially on the first day back. We've just had the message that it's option 1 though, so hooray.

I'm the same about fruit in cheese. Just, no.

What a great post. I love working with beginners precisely because of their excitement about their progress, their imagination in communicating without the right words, and all the things I learn about them as they improve. As you said, they're beginner ESOL, not beginner thinkers.

I've already written off 4 (gone soft over the holidays) so it's either 1 or 2, or possibly 5: hospital day, after slipping over on the ungritted hill down to the main road😬

That would have completely ruined my day. You have my sympathies.

Good morning. I'm doing one of my favourite things - going to the Pakistani supermarket. It's so colourful and interesting and cheery. I'll come back with the things from my list plus one strange thing I've never heard of, which will fill the rest of the day with delicious research!

Looks lovely. Mine was opened and eaten way before Christmas, I regret that now! Idle question: did you put the plate on the carpet to take a picture?? The hunt for a plain background is well-known to me 😂

I was so happy to see #joinin running on BSky yesterday, and still going. There's only positivity and people being nice to each other to get through a difficult day together. I had some lovely interactions. Can my whole life be like this please?

Morning! Fell asleep on the sofa at 7pm so woke at 2am. Makes no difference when I'm on my own! It's now 6:15 and I've already had breakfast, caulked round two windows and prepped for the second coat of paint. Guesses for what time I'll fall asleep today? 😂 How are you so far?

You ate it, right? That's the best thing about being a grown-up - having pudding whenever you want 🙂

I'd never heard of this guy. I just looked him up - what beautiful puzzles! Silly is good - I giggle my way through Jan Van Haasteren puzzles every year.

Christmas day escapism jigsaws are a must in my house! I'd love to see some pictures from anyone else joining in this.

YES. I found that doing a little bit of Christmas just reminded me of the big Christmas I don't have any more, so better to just ignore the whole thing. It's got easier for me each year (this is no.5). How are you doing so far?

Those roasties look yum!

Yup. No religion, no close family, therefore no point. Having a relaxed, quiet Wednesday here. Hope yours is going well?

#joinin I didn't even know that was a thing! Enjoy your dinner 🙂

#joinin Good afternoon to you. More than half-way through the day now, thank heavens. I've just finished the first coat of gloss on a big window frame and am about to have my 258th cup of coffee. What's for dinner at yours?

Sending you a virtual blanket and hot water bottle and all the company you want. Feel better soon.

You star! I've been trying to remember what that hashtag was from the other place. Thank you 🤗

Ja, faktiskt, trots att klockan är en timme tidigare här i england. God morgon och god jul 🙂

When you quietly hand in your notice and politely ask your manager to be discreet because you haven't told anyone yet, then THREE minutes later one of your colleagues rushes up to you and cries "you're leaving?!!", you know you've made the right decision.

Having a nonChristmas on my own (this is a good thing btw) so have saved the last three episodes to listen to while I sand and repaint window frames. Like tempting nonpresents under a nontree.