Wednesday 23 September 2020

WOYWW 590

 I'm back again to show you my desk as part of Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday blog hop.  I was missing in action last week due to a very heavy cold but am back today, still snotty and coughing but at least feeling human again.


This is my desk as it was last night (it is now all tidied away ready for working from home) as I was working on my diary again. You can see my trusty mug of tea (almost empty), various stickers, scissors, pens, and printed photos as I try and arrange the images on the page in a pleasing way.




Here are the latest three pages, so I am pretty much up to date!


Having had to stop swimming for about 5 days due to my cold, I am back to swimming again regularly, making the most of the last of the sunshine.  


This is a stunning lake in the middle of the peak district - they allow swimming but ask people to be careful and mindful of the wildlife ecosystem so to only enter in at one place. Over the summer it has apparently been very busy so this is the first time I have been this year (no nesting birds to disturb, no hatching insects and no crowds of people to avoid) - it was wonderful! 


For those who asked, I don't own a wetsuit and would struggle to wear one due to an on-going shoulder injury.  Instead I have invested in neoprene gloves and boots, and an old fashioned swimming hat to keep my extremities warmer as the water gets colder. I don't know how long I will keep going for, but at the moment it is helping so much with my mental health that the intention is to keep going as long as possible.


I will finish with this photo of Alex - he came back from his first live scouts session in months looking like this.  The wig and glasses are apparently his prize for completing all the challenges at the virtual scout camp that was held during April and May - the only scout to do so.

I hope that you all have a good week. Stay safe and take care,

With love and God Bless,

Caro

xxx

31 comments:

glitterandglue said...

Hi Caro. Oh my goodness... just look at that wig! Brilliant. I can't imagine having the courage to swim in open water like that - my efforts involve going to the bottom, and back up if it's a good day! No I really don't swim - but good for you.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #6

Mary Anne said...

Oh I love your diary! No matter how hard I try or how many times I start, I simply cannot manage to stick with it. As I am dabbling with art journaling again after a very VERY long hiatus, maybe that toe dip into the water will set me up. I always WANT to journal, but wishing does not make it so. Your mix of photos and words in added such a straightforward way really appeals to me.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Happy WOYWW!
Mary Anne (20)

Annie said...

It's good to hear you're feeling better now. I'm sure all that wild swimming is cold enough to kill many bugs....brrrrr. Stay safe and well.
Hugs,
Annie x #9

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

It's so nice that you're keeping up with those diary entries - it will be so much fun looking back in a few year's time. That water looks very clean! It's gonna get colder now but I know some people go swimming even in winter! I'm not sure I would be up for it though! I'm such a wimp - I don't even like getting out of the shower when the bathroom is cold! Alex looks hilarious in that wig! Well done for completing all his challenges! Enjoy your week! xx zsuzsa #20

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Caro, you always amaze me with how brave you are swimming in open water!Love the diary pages, looking good. Laughing at Alex! Looks fab. He'll have all he needs to go as Dame Edna Everage next time there's a fancy dress party! Stay safe, have a lovely week, hugs, Shaz #4 X

Catriona said...

Your journal is wonderful and it’s so therapeutic to write by hand rather than always by keyboard. My daughter had a terrible cold last week too and made her week of online teaching a struggle.

Twiglet said...

Well done Alex on completing all his challenges and the wig and specs look fab!!I love what you do with your journal pages Caro - will be lovely to look back on over the years. xx Jo

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better now Caro, your Diary looks full of life and family a wonderful thing to reflect back on. I'm not sure I cloud brave the cold waters but embrace it for as long as you can it's a very rewarding activity. Well done to Alex on completing those challenges, his prize beats chocolate hands down hee hee... Happy & Safe WoywW Tracey #5 xx

Diana Taylor said...

Your journal pages look fab and I'm so impressed that you keep it going - it's a wonderful record of tomorrows memories. The swimming looks cold but very invigorating.
Hope you have good week,
Diana xx #22

Felicia said...

Caro, your journal is lovely! I haven't journaled in quite some time. I need to get back to it!! I am glad you are doing better and hope you continue to heal!! What a lovely lake! It looks so beautiful. I think we are done with swimming in my part of the world for this year. But you never know, I live in a temperamental state!!! LOL Your son is quite dapper in that purple wig!!!! LOLOL How much fun!! Blessings, Felicia #25

Shoshi said...

Oooh what a shock to see Alex looking like that hahaha!! I am so glad you are still able to keep up the swimming. It won't be too long before the water gets too cold, I should think. What a blessing to have such gorgeous places to swim, close by. We've got the sea, of course, but I'm not swimming these days. Your diary is looking great with all the lovely photos.

Thank you for your visit, and I so enjoyed reading about how you and your hubby met! Your story is similar to mine - a bit of a whistle-stop romance! You just never know what the Lord has in store for you, just around the corner, do you!!

Happy WOYWW and God bless,
Shoshi x #12

Karen said...

I'm glad your feeling better ~ Nice to swim, I'm a baby now and need the water to be warm to get in. I love your diary/scrapbook and that your up to date is impressive. Congrats to Alex for his accomplishment and prizes :) Keep drinking tea ~ With love, Karen #28

StampinCarol said...

Did miss you last week but so glad you're feeling better!
Your diary looks great. I have 3 years of photos to scrap and dreading it.
I miss swimming but no place near us, we're in desert area. Lots of cacti...
Had a giggle at Alex. He looks like he's enjoying to new fashion.
Hope you recover fully soon! Thanks for popping by and have a great week!
Carol N #24

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I can understand you keeping up the swimming though wild water is not something I would do but we all need something to keep us sane at the difficult time. I absolutely love your diary and it will be something great to look back on. I'm so impressed that you have kept it up to date and love the wig and glasses very becoming Alex! Hope your week is a happy one and a lovely creative woyww too, Angela x15x

Crafting With Jack said...

Love the last picture of Alex, glad you are feeling better although you make me feel cold swimming in the lake :) Angela #23

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Well done Alex! The photo made me hoot - it's the sort of things that my boys would do as well. I'm glad you're back swimming again, it's funny how keeping the extremities warm helps with overall body temps, my brother does the same with his outdoor swimming in the Cotswolds.
Hugs LLJ 8 xxxx

Helen said...

your journal looks fabulous, Caro. I am sorry you've had a cold but glad you are recovering enough to swim again! Love Alex in his wig! thanks for your visit - I haven't seen my brother all year (he only lives about 15 minutes away by if you drive) and now it looks like I won't at Christmas either as the numbers won't work! Helen #3

Anne said...

Hello Caro. Sorry you've been unwell. I was very off coyr last week as well. I like swimming but couldn't do what you are. Great wig Alex! Love it. Take care. Stay safe. Anne x 26

Ellie said...

Pretty! He looks very sassy hahah!
Wow my goodness good for you, keep swimming if it helps you. Your hobonichi looks amazing. I've been in my A5 planner at the moment.
Ellie #30
Theglitteredpoppleberry.blogspot.com

Kathryn Frantz said...

Hi, Caro! Yes, definitely keep swimming as long as possible. I miss it! I was going to water aerobics 2-3 times a week, but in March, they closed our pool due to covid. We do have a river nearby, but it is swift and dirty, not ideal for swimming. It is great if we still had a boat, but no longer.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday
Kathryn

Lynnecrafts said...

Hi Caro, glad your cold is better. Great journal.

I love, love, love the Peak district, as I’m from Stoke, andcwe were always going up and over. I don’t hold with them being called the Staffordshire Alps though, very fanciful.
I’m not sure I’d be as brave as you with the wild swimming but I bet it does you good. Which is your favourite lake?

If you ever get chance to go to the Ramblers retreat at Oakamoor, say hi for me to one of their enormous lemon meringue pies!
Well done Alex, I really like his style!
Have a good week, stay safe
Hugs
Lynnecrafts #13

Lillianb said...

Thank you for your visit to my blog, I love the diary its looking great, and what a fab idea, Love the lake you are so lucky to swim there,

Take care and have a good week ,

Lilian B

Lillianb said...

Happy WOYWDW I thought I had left a message but maybe I did not lol, Love the dairies What a good idea, Love the lake you swim in how lucky is it to be able to do that, Lilian B #36

Sarah Brennan said...

Love Alex's latest look, Caro. Glad he was able to go to a live Scout meeting finally. Hope you can enjoy the wild swimming for a while to come. Your diary looks great! Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #2

Annie Claxton said...

HI Caro, hehee that seems like a very unusual prize for a scout camp but I bet he'll have lots of fun with it! I love your photo journal, such a great way to record your daily doings and keep those beautiful photographs. Have a great week. Annie C #17

Susan Renshaw said...

Love the wig and glasses - and well done Alex on completing all the challenges!
I am also very impressed with your diary - sorry that I have never started something like that!
Happy Woyww! Susan #14

Neet said...

Well done to Alex on his achievement! Great photo and great young man.
Love the three pages of your journal you showed us this week - I think you chose pretty much the best way to put the photos on a page opposite the writing.
I do admire how you go swimming in those natural pools - it must be so cold but if it helps you then carry on doing it when you can and for as long as you can.
Hugs, Neet 7 xx

Julia Dunnit said...

Sorry I’m late Caro. I understand about the swimming, I think the plunge is like purging the day, and it can only do you good. I think when it really gets too cold, you’ll have to take up geocaching or something land based to keep you going. The lake looks quite beautiful, especially when you have it to yourself! Alex’s prize is fabulous, I have to say that it’s a fairly bizarre choice for a prize, but you can’t deny the fun of it! You’re doing so well with the journaling...I really like all the mini pics and stories they tell, it must be second nature by now, to gather stuff and mentally log things you want to record. What a disciplined brain you have!

Marit said...

Alex looks really awesome with the purple hair... he/you might consider painting it like that *lol* I do love your visual diary, as you know I am a fan of journaling like that! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, have a nice weekend & stay safe. Love from Holland. Marit #1

Dorlene Durham said...

Love the TN pages. I have not tried that option yet but it seems to be really popular now. I love the photo of your son in the wig. LOL. And purple to make it even crazier! Enjoy your weekend! Dorlene #31

Lindart said...

HI Caro! Your diary is awesome, and very pleasing to the ye! It will be so much fun for you to read it a few years from now! Good for you for continuing to swim. we have places to swim very close by, but I would rather swim in a warm pool! That's the California girl in me. At least I know what's under my feet! Alex looks very glam in his get up! Thanks for your kind words about the wedding, it was definitely a project of love! Have a great week and stay safe! Lindart #32