This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost are in the middle of a heatwave and absolutely nobody is coping.

The knee is slowly improving — the support has come off for the first time and the dull ache is becoming more manageable every day. Running outside in thirty seven degree heat is not happening. The Race for Life is three weeks away. We are going live on the day. Strap in.

Honey has a cough. A very goosey, very dramatic cough that had her sleeping on the bed for two nights with a Dyson fan and three very tired humans. She is improving. She is playful. She is eating. She barked. All good signs. We worry too much.

It was Father’s Day weekend — and Mr Almost did very well. Harry Potter Knight Bus Lego, chocolates and a lovely day out to Strawberry Fields Tea Room at New House Farm in Horsham. Beautiful setting, farm shop, lunch in the sun and a pick your own strawberry field right there. No dogs allowed. We pivoted to the Cider Tap instead. No regrets whatsoever.

At the Cider Tap we had a mixing board — Wobblegate, Hawkstone, elderflower and raspberry, a zero point five percent raspberry and a Vimto slushy that divided the table. On a thirty five degree day it was absolutely the right call.

Almost Blooming this week was at someone else’s garden entirely — Mr Almost’s mum’s decking around her mobile home is aging fast. Rotting steps, a water table from the nearby lake and a whole summer of repair work ahead. The bonsai trim is still in progress. Before and after photos coming to our socials. Watch this space.

We’ve been watching The Four Seasons Season 2 on Netflix — Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, eight episodes, renewed for a third season and absolutely worth your time if you liked the first.

Tipple of the Week is Shloer White Grape — in a wine glass, sparkling, alcohol free and surprisingly convincing. Very refreshing in a heatwave.

And Almost Edible this week is fish and chips from the local chip shop — large cod with light fluffy batter, a saveloy, a jumbo battered sausage and enough chips to feed a small village. Chip shop chips. Go on, try saying it three times fast.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, the mystery is finally revealed — Mrs Almost has been offered a new job, handed her notice in and starts on the twenty second of July. Walking distance from home. Two new jobs, one household. We are absolutely thrilled.

The knee is not improving. A low impact bike session felt great, then the Peloton tread happened and now it is worse than ever. Knee support on daily, Vitality health insurance through the new job means physiotherapy is an option and the twelve point weekly challenge is officially underway. The Race for Life update is coming. We will get there.

Our son has returned from twelve days camping in Wales — and walked up Snowdonia along the way. Ninety mile an hour winds at the summit, four to five hours up the hardest route, video updates along the way and back home not looking too bad for it. Very proud.

We’ve just finished Clarkson’s Farm Series 5 on Amazon Prime — all eight episodes in one go and the last two had us genuinely emotional. Jeremy Clarkson is doing something really important for farming and this series in particular does not hold back. Series 6 is confirmed. Take some tissues.

Tipple of the Week is Guinness — tried for the very first time. The widget. The pour. The surprisingly smooth taste. We did not expect to like it. We are now planning an Irish pub visit.

And Almost Edible this week is Embers in Brighton — breakfast cooked on an open wood fire in the lanes. Black pudding sausage, thick cut bacon chops, the best fried bread either of us has ever tasted, cowboy beans in a stoneware pot, eggs in a skillet, filter coffee with free refills and a croissant with vanilla butter and fruit jam the size of a small child. Honey came too. Book ahead — it fills up fast.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost have a big announcement — the Almost the Weekend Facebook group is officially open. Search us up, join in, share your weekends and let’s have some laughs together.

Mr Almost is into week two of the new job — the commute from London Bridge is working well, the stationary collection is growing and the large desk has multiple screens. First impressions are very good and it feels like a great move.

GCSEs are in their final week — three exams left and someone in the house could not be happier about that.

The knee is not cooperating. Back in the gym on the low impact bike which felt surprisingly good, but running outside is not happening right now. Race for Life is under six weeks away. The challenge has been set — bike, uphill walking and a full report next week.

Almost Blooming had a magical week — the tomato plants are double caned and showing beautiful yellow flowers which means fruit is on the way. And the azalea bonsai has flowered for the very first time. Pink and white. At least four or five flowers. In our little Zen area. We genuinely could not be more proud of it.

We’ve been watching Death Valley Series 2 on BBC iPlayer — Timothy Spall, Gwyneth Keyworth and a very welcome Gavin and Stacey reunion with Melanie Walters and Steffan Rhodri. Light hearted crime drama set in mid-Wales, binge worthy and highly recommended.

We also went to see Masters of the Universe in 4DX — chairs moving, wind in the face, rain on the nose and Idris Elba as Man at Arms. Stay to the very end for the post credit scenes. It got a round of applause. We were almost ready to join in.

Tipple of the Week is Options Hot Chocolate Winter Spice — baked apple and cinnamon, forty three calories and a genuine surprise hit. Available at Sainsbury’s.

And Almost Edible this week is a Chinese takeaway — sweet and sour chicken balls, crispy chilli beef, foo yung, chicken noodles, egg fried rice and satay skewers. Ten out of ten. No argument.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr Almost had a surprise up his sleeve — again.

Mrs Almost was whisked away to the Balmer Lawn Hotel and Spa in Brockenhurst in the New Forest. A balcony room overlooking the cricket pitch, New Forest ponies and cattle roaming freely outside, a four hour spa package with steam room, sauna, an ice room that was bizarrely relaxing and a relaxation room with the most comfortable chairs we have ever sat in. No phones. No clocks. Absolute bliss.

The massages, however, were an experience. Mr Almost requested medium pressure. What he got was a petite therapist, two elbows and a firm determination to find every knot in his shoulders. He did not say anything. He is fine. Mostly.

In the evening we sat in the outdoor pavilion with three pints of Cornish Orchards cider — crisp, clean and straight in at number three in the official Mr & Mrs Almost cider rankings — before heading to dinner for a côte de boeuf. Steak on the bone, served on a board, chunky chips, vine tomatoes and a peppercorn sauce made entirely of peppercorns. We were last to leave. We have no regrets.

Running is still very much happening — new routes, hilly terrain and a knee that is not happy on the pavement. The Race for Life is five weeks away. And we might be going live on the day. Watch this space.

Almost Blooming — the front garden transformation continues. Plum slate, weed fabric, bark, the Acer is thriving and the flamingo bush has been transplanted. No more mowing. Ever. The front garden is now a wildlife oasis and we are very proud of it.

We also tackled the cars with the jet wash, had a cashless run in at Cineworld and watched Believe Me on ITV — the John Warboys true crime drama with Daniel Mays. Gripping, important and not easy watching.

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

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. 🎙️

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost have some very big news — the London trip mystery from a few weeks ago is finally revealed. Mr Almost has been approached by a new company, handed in his notice and starts his exciting new role in London on the 1st of June. We are absolutely thrilled.

The outdoor run has finally happened. We headed to our local park — the actual Race for Life venue — and completed 5K in fifty three minutes and twenty five seconds. Hills, a few spots of rain and a daughter who started off very cocky and ended up at the back complaining about her legs. She still completed it though. We’re all proud.

The prom dress has been collected, shoes found in ten minutes flat at New Look for a fraction of the expected price and a gorgeous set of sterling silver jewellery — sun, moon and stars — picked up at a lovely little shop in the Bentall Centre in Kingston. Honey came too. Turns out Kingston is very dog friendly.

We stopped for pizza at Pizza Express by the River Thames — burnt ends barbecue pizza, hot honey dough balls and sparkle drinks all round. Highly recommend.

Almost Blooming this week — two garden centres, a hanging basket we built ourselves and flamingo pink stones for the bonsai bed. The photos are on our socials.

De-Chox is underway for the British Heart Foundation. It is going well. Mostly. The post office chocolate stand nearly won. It did not.

Tipple of the Week is Hotel Chocolat banana cold chocolate — technically chocolate, but it’s a drink so it doesn’t count. We’ve decided.

And Almost Edible is homemade chilli and nachos in the garden with the patio heater on. Romantic, spicy and absolutely worth making twice.

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