This week on Almost the Weekend, we hit a big first — you can now watch us, not just listen. Episode thirty one is our very first video episode, and there is even a certain unimpressed Chihuahua making her on-screen debut.

Almost Fit is thriving on a brand new routine. If it is not in the calendar, it is not happening — so it is now firmly in the calendar, with something every single day. Steps up, Vitality points and a free coffee banked by day two, Mr Almost lifting the big bar, sneaky extra weight on the leg curl, and the folding bench earning its keep with barbell and kettlebell sessions. We feel great for it, and rather proud of each other too.

Almost Blooming is the usual battle of wills. More bulbs planted, more bulbs promptly dug up by a very determined squirrel who adores the loose soil of the raised border. The pepper plant delivered lovely peppers, all promptly eaten, and the tomato plant is still going strong with sweet red tomatoes fresh into our lunches. Next year, planters, and no digging squirrels, we hope.

We have also, at long last, joined the food-recycling revolution. Our area is one of the last to get a food bin, so the black bin is now fortnightly and the food caddy weekly. Day one did not go to plan — spring onion trimmings were found in the wrong bin within hours — but we are determined to build the habit, waste less and only buy what we will actually eat.

The big news: the whole family now has Cineworld Unlimited cards, which for a media-studies student is basically homework. It also means our daughter watched Resident Evil three times in a single weekend — in 4DX, IMAX and Screen X, no less. While she did that, we finally saw Practical Magic 2 with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, directed by Susanne Bier with Maisie Williams and Joey King. Better than the original, and we came out buzzing. Watch the first one first.

On the telly, series five of Trying on Apple TV brought Rafe Spall and Esther Smith’s warm, chaotic, tear-jerking adoption story to what feels like a beautiful conclusion — we have cried in every single series. And for a film night we revisited an oldie, The Lakehouse from 2006, a time-crossed Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves romance that remains a total feel-good treat.

Almost Edible saw the Barbecue King return, Jamie Oliver book in hand and not a burger in sight — chicken and chorizo skewers, sirloin beef skewers, a surprising and delicious Greek yogurt pasta, and rainbow carrot and feta veg with roasted orange. A confident eleven out of ten. For pudding, Mrs Almost treated the kids to Heavenly Desserts (now simply Heavenly) — a waffle with ice cream, banana and Nutella, and cookie dough all round. Pricey, but a proper treat.

Tipple of the Week is BrewDog Elvis Juice, a grapefruit citrus IPA — a first IPA for us, and the verdict was a very honest “bearable, but not our favourite.” At least it was not the sour beer.

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