The Wednesday Hodgepodge #61

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

It is the sunshine which I love the most! Seeing it bright outside when I wake up makes everything feel easier and it really boosts my mood. There are the longer days too, it feels like there's more time to enjoy life instead of rushing through it. When the sun is shining, it's an excuse to enjoy ice cream, ice lollies, cold drinks, long cold showers and easy meals because I can't be bothered to cook!

My biggest pet peeve is trying to sleep when it's too hot. During the day I'll think the weather is lovely but when bedtime arrives and I'm lying there sticking to the sheets, flipping my pillow over every five minutes and I will start Googling how much air conditioning would cost! I usually just shower in the evening but I find myself having to shower in the morning too because I feel sweaty and stinky, it feels like such a chore.

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

At the moment it has to be Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) by The Lightning Seeds with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. Every two years here there is a big football tournament, whether it’s the World Cup or The Euros and this song just ends up everywhere! It instantly reminds me of summer in England because it’s always on in the background of everything. I think I have heard it or thought about it every day since just before the World Cup started.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate.

The freedom!! I'd leave the house in the morning with a few pounds in my pocket to buy something to eat and with no real plan. I'd meet up with friends and we'd see where the day took us. We'd always end up back at someone's house because we'd be thirsty or wanted a snack, then off we'd go off again. The big rule was we had to be back home as it was coming in dark. There were no phones, no checking in and no tracking apps. All we had was the trust our parents gave us. They didn't seem to worry where we were.

Now it's completely different. I’ve got daughters who are 18 and 23 and even though they’re adults, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable not knowing where they are for a whole day like that. It’s not even about not trusting them, the world has changed and it feels like there is more danger out there. I do think kids today miss out on the freedom that I had as a child/teenager.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

A few people said after I shared my post on Friday about my dad that I look so much like him, I have to agree! The older I get, the more I notice it in little things like my face shape, my smile, even just certain expressions I catch myself doing without thinking but temperament, that’s a different story! We couldn’t be more different if we tried. My dad is calm, doesn’t really get rattled by much and takes life as it comes. I overthink and stress about everything. If something’s happening, he’ll be like it will be fine while I am the one panicking.

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals - Sandals! I hate flip flops and that bit that goes between your toes.

beach or pool - Beach! Outdoor pools are not a big thing here in England so if the sun is shining I'd rather be at a beach.

watermelon or peaches - Peaches! I can take or leave watermelon, it's not my favourite summer fruit but peaches! Yum!

shorts or sundress - Sundresses! I very rarely wear shorts.

iced coffee or ice cold lemonade - This is a hard choice. Right now I would say an ice-cold lemonade.

amusement park or water park - Amusement park but I am not keen on either.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is where things start to get busy for my family. We have lots on the calendar for the next 2 and a bit months and almost everything is fun things! It started yesterday with us going to see Toy Story 5 and we have days/nights out planned, we have plenty of local events to go to and then my fellas and girls birthdays. This year it is going to be hard to buy my girls birthday presents as there is nothing they really need. Eek!

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day!

International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated every year on 23rd June, which is today. It is all about celebrating women who are working in engineering and encouraging more girls to get into it.

If I’m being honest, I used to fall into that old way of thinking where engineering looked like a man's job. When I heard the word engineer, I’d picture hard hats, big machinery, all of that stuff and usually men doing it. I never really pictured women in those roles. It’s funny how your thinking changes over time. Things changed when my youngest Ellie started showing an interest in engineering. That’s when it clicked that those old ideas didn’t really match reality any more. Things are changing, slowly but surely. The problem before was just that women weren’t really visible in those jobs, so a lot of girls probably never even thought it was something they could do. That’s exactly why days like this matter.

As a mam, it's a day that has become quite special to me because my youngest daughter is on her own engineering journey. Ellie is just finishing three years studying engineering at college. She did two years of City & Guilds Electrical Installation, which was tough going at times and she’s just finishing up an NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations. The latest course has been a bit easier for her, especially without the big end of year exam being a thing. Ellie's course finishes on Friday and she’s already been told she’s passed, which I’m so proud of.

Ellie has never once acted like engineering is just for boys. She has spent the last few years proving that thinking belongs in the past. When she started Electrical Engineering at college, she was the only girl in her class. Sixteen years old, walking into a room full of lads would’ve been my worst nightmare but she just got on with it like it was nothing and focused on what she was there to do. A couple of weeks later, another girl joined but by then Ellie had already settled in and made her mark. There was the odd supply teacher who’d walk in and assume she couldn’t do the same as the boys, like she wouldn’t be strong enough or be able to handle the tools and she’d prove them wrong without making a big deal of it but deep down she loved showing them anything a boy can do she could too and sometimes even better!

It has been fantastic to see more girls joining engineering courses over the last few years. When Ellie first started, there were only a handful but that number is slowly growing. It feels like things are finally shifting in the right direction, where girls are actually seeing engineering as something they can choose for themselves.

Today I’ll be celebrating all the women already doing amazing things in engineering, the girls studying it now, and the ones just starting out and of course, I’m a bit extra proud of Ellie today too. She’s worked so hard, stuck with it when things were not easy and never let anything put her off. I don’t know exactly where her engineering will take her next but I do know she’ll give it everything she’s got!

Happy International Women in Engineering Day to all the brilliant women and girls shaping the future!

Our weekly meal plan! 22nd - 28th June!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Ours was nice and quiet. Stu was very happy with his Father's Day gifts yesterday and my dad was too, so that made me happy. We didn't get up to much apart from watching more of the World Cup.

Last week's meal plan went well and we ate everything and on the day I had planned. I am getting back into the swing of things with coming up with meal ideas without using Gousto boxes. This week is going to include quite a few easy meals because we have a lot going on with Ellie leaving college. It feels strange even typing that. There is no big graduation ceremony or huge celebration planned and at the moment we don't even know if she has to go in for her final day. Everything seems a bit up in the air but I just know there is going to be a lot of life admin which comes with it and I will have to deal with it. Ugh!

We do have some fun plans this week though. At the very top of the list is going to see Toy Story 5 which I am so excited about. The Toy Story films have been part of my life for such a long time. I went to see the first Toy Story at the cinema with friends when I was a teenager and back then I never imagined that I would be watching the films with my own kids. Both of my girls grew up with Woody, Buzz and the gang and my very first blog post was linked to Buzz Lightyear in a roundabout sort of way.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Meatloaf and mashed potato.

Meatloaf is one of those meals that I completely forget about until I think about making it. Then, while I'm eating it, I wonder why we don't have it more often as the whole family enjoys it so much. I will make some mashed potatoes to go with it. I am hoping there will be some leftovers so I can have it for lunch tomorrow as it is one of those things that always tastes better the day after.

Tuesday - Greggs sausage rolls or pasties!

This is my easy tea for the week. I have a busy day and the weather forecast says it is supposed to be the hottest day of the week and I already know I won't feel like cooking. I am going to pop into Greggs and pick something up. I'm not sure what yet but it will either be sausage rolls, steak bakes, cheese and onion pasties or a mixture of everything.

Wednesday - Quiche and salad.

Another simple meal and one that doesn't take much effort from me. I already have shop bought quiches sitting in the fridge ready to go and all I need to do is pop them in the oven. I am hoping the family will join me in eating the salad but I know my girls well enough to know there is a good chance they will choose spaghetti hoops instead.

Thursday - Thai style pork patties with sweet potato fries!

This is another favourite meal of ours which originally came from Gousto. The patties are so full of flavour and always go down well. I can make them early in the day before the kitchen gets too hot and they warm up well when we are ready to eat!

Friday - Pizza!

I am trying to be sensible with money at the moment because we have some busy weeks coming up. There will be days out and meals out, so instead of having our usual takeaway, we'll be having frozen pizzas. It will save a bit of money and still gives us that Friday night treat feeling.

Saturday - Fakeaway KFC!

We love a meal like this with lots of picky bits. Chicken bits, corn on the cob, fries, onion rings, baked beans and coleslaw. I am very excited about this one as I can use more of the Ranch sauce. hehehe

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plan for Sunday, everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Last Sunday ended up being a proper lazy day and we had crisp sandwiches. Nobody could be bothered cooking and lazy meals like that are sometimes the nicest.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 14th - 20th June Week 25 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and thinking of you who are missing your dad's today. We're not doing much to celebrate as Becky is at work today and my dad is busy. We celebrated Stu last weekend and I have already dropped my dad's gift and card off, he was very happy with everything!

Apart from that it has been another week of football, pottering around the house, keeping on top of jobs and trying to stay cool. It has warmed up again here and is set to be even hotter next week. Eek! It's not even the nice, hot weather, it's the type where I move and I am dripping with sweat! Ugh!

Now for a photo every day!

165/365 14th June

I was a bad blogger. I forgot to take a photo of my food before I started eating. We went out for Sunday lunch and I had my usual gammon. I know some people like to try something different every time they go out but I like to stick with what I like. For dessert was Biscoff Banoffee pie and it was so good! I wish I had ordered a 2nd slice to take home!

166/365 15th June

One of my favourite things about this time of year is seeing everything growing and flowering and I noticed these pretty little flowers early in the week. They are the tiniest things and my plant identifier app says they are Sweet Alyssum.

167/365 16th June

This isn't the prettiest meal but it does taste good! One Tray Sticky Hoisin Sausage Traybake! It's just sausages, peppers, onions and little roast potatoes covered in Hoisin sauce. I do love the one tray meals as it means less washing up!

168/365 17th June

England had their first match in the World Cup and they won! Hooray! It was a bit tense at the beginning with the penalty but after that they did really well. I have never really liked Harry Kane but during that match he played so much better than he had in the past!

169/365 18th June

The pea and ham soup before it was blended. Once it was blended, it looked much more like proper soup and far less like a pan full of peas. I was very clever and saved some of the ham from the night before to put in it. It was delicious!

170/365 19th June

We were passing by the field and stopped to look at the sheep like we usually do and this time they came running! It was actually quite scary, I thought they were going to ram into the gate. I am guessing they thought we were going to feed them.

171/365 20th June

The Father's Day card that I got my dad and it's true! He is a big fan of any sport and when he is in front of the TV he always has one of the sports channels. I actually think I am beating him by watching more football than him during the World Cup though. He isn't staying up and watching the 11pm matches. hehehe

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