This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost are on half term and the sun has not let them down.

The gym hit thirty six degrees so we took the running outside instead — a 5K with the brand new bumbags, keys, phones and EarPods all sorted. Knee is complaining a little but the Race for Life is six weeks away and we are finishing it.

Mr Almost went suit shopping for the new job. Next delivered. Slim fit calves did not. One lovely suit, four shirts and a Helly Hansen lightweight raincoat ordered all the way from the Netherlands. The new job is getting very real.

Almost Blooming had a complete change of heart this week. The acorns are almost gone, the lawn mower has gone to the tip and the front garden has been completely reimagined. One side is now a full plant border with the new Acer planted in the ground, a repositioned bird bath and weed suppressant topped with bark. The other side is plum slate from Wickes — twelve bags down, twenty more to go. Decking plans are in the pipeline. Watch this space.

We’ve been watching The Cage on BBC iPlayer — Sheridan Smith, a casino setting, a slow start that absolutely pays off, five episodes and a twist we did not see coming. Stick with it.

De-Chox is almost over for the British Heart Foundation. Almost. Chocolate is coming home.

Tipple of the Week is icy fresh lemon water — ice cubes, sliced lemons, no pips, very cold and highly recommended in a heatwave.

Almost Edible this week is a breakfast BBQ — pork and apple sausages, smoked bacon on the griddle, hash browns cooked from frozen with the lid down as an oven, vine cherry tomatoes around the edge and baked beans on the side. Half eight in the morning. Parasol up. Eating outside. It felt like a holiday.

Oh — and we were supposed to go to Bournemouth. We almost made it. Almost.

Pull up a chair. You’re one of us now. 🎙️

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr Almost had a surprise up his sleeve — and it involved hunny pots.

Mrs Almost was whisked away to the Ashdown Park Hotel in the Ashdown Forest for a Winnie the Pooh themed afternoon tea celebrating one hundred years of Winnie. Ridgeview sparkling wine from Sussex — the same wine served at the Queen’s Jubilee — a Vienna coffee, finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones with honey for the very first time and three beautiful honey themed cakes. The service felt like royalty. We will absolutely be going back. Photos are on our socials.

The Race for Life countdown is on — running is going well, the Peloton live class saw Mr Almost finish 106th out of 243 on his very first attempt and the bum bags are ready for the next outdoor run.

GCSE exams are in full swing. She is handling them brilliantly and we are very proud. The provisional licence saga has reached its conclusion — a paper form, a cheque and a photo that needs signing. The ball is firmly in her court. We are done.

Running Point is back for season two on Netflix — Kate Hudson, brilliant cast, binge watched in one sitting and series three is already confirmed. Highly recommend.

Almost Blooming this week — the acorns have won the front garden. Hundreds of tiny oak trees, deep roots, a rake and a tiller are now involved. Tomato plants and a pepper plant are in grow bags. Slug pellets are down. We are manifesting a bumper harvest.

De-Chox is in its final stretch for the British Heart Foundation — one week and a half left. We can do this. The M&S chocolate custard creams are waiting.

Tipple of the Week is Fortnum & Mason Christmas Tea — in May, three scoops not four and highly recommended.

And Almost Edible is Schwartz spaghetti carbonara packet mix — bacon, mushrooms, tagliatelle, a separate pan for the mushrooms and a generous amount of black pepper. Quick, easy and genuinely very good.

Pull up a chair. You’re one of us now. 🎙️

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost have one of their most eventful weeks yet — and it starts with a GCSE art emergency.

Our daughter ran out of white paint and indigo mid art exam. Mr Almost dropped everything, raced to Hobbycraft, pulled up at the school and walked to reception with the words “there’s a GCSE paint emergency.” The school took it straight up personally. The paint arrived in time. She finished. We’re calling it a win.

Running is still very much happening — another 5K outdoors, a private wood, some very steep hills and a brand new running bum bag that we are both unreasonably excited about. The Race for Life countdown is on and we are going to finish it.

We escaped to Sheffield Park Gardens for a National Trust day out — four lakes, acres of stunning grounds, a lightning struck tree, baby geese, a very shy peacock and a very bold white peacock that took a particular liking to Mr Almost while Honey was in the sling. We will be going back in every season.

Balls Up on Amazon Prime comes highly recommended — Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser and Sacha Baron Cohen in an action comedy that is very different in the best possible way. Three to four stars.

Almost Blooming this week — the mouse has a friend, they are building a nest and they are very cute. The ants in the bathroom are less cute. Nan’s terracotta pot now has a mint plant in it. The bonsai are looking spectacular.

De-Chox update — Mr Almost nearly didn’t make it out of Marks and Spencer alive. Chocolate covered custard creams. Cookie with chocolate chips. Blueberry muffin was the compromise. We are still in this.

Tipple of the Week is Thatchers cider on the Perfect Draft — sweet, refreshing and a solid three out of five. Orchard Pig and Hawkstone still ahead in the rankings.

And Almost Edible is Loyd Grossman Tikka Masala in the slow cooker — chicken, potatoes, carrots, onions, naan bread and samosas. Eight hours. Very edible. Not just almost.

Pull up a chair. You’re one of us now. 🎙️