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. 🎙️

This week on Almost the Weekend, we hit a milestone — episode thirty — and celebrated in the most Almost way possible: a new coat, a new weight bench and a washing machine that very nearly ruined our week.

First, a heartfelt thank you. Thirty weekends spent with you, and not a cross word between us — well, not on air anyway. We have loved every single one, and we would happily do thirty more. Thank you for being here.

Almost Fit is flying. The steps keep coming, the Vitality points were done in two days, and our brand new folding weight bench has been the best addition yet — built-in leg curl, bicep attachments, a bar for lifting and just enough room to fold away. We are taking it in turns with the kettlebells, feeling the aches already and, we are convinced, looking a little more muscly for it. Next stop, heavier plates. We also tackled an intermediate Peloton core class with Emma Lovewell that thoroughly humbled us.

Almost Blooming has been all about the tidy-up. The tomato plant has had a proper trim to let the sun at the fruit — and still another couple of bowls picked this week — the overgrown roses have been cut right back in the hope of a late bloom, and the pepper plant has been pruned after the slugs got there first. We have planted alliums and tulips in the fox-proofed raised planter, with daffodils still to go in.

It was week two of sixth form, and it is going beautifully. After a timetable scare, our daughter landed all three subjects she wanted — media, music and computer studies — and the school is even funding her individual guitar lessons because her teacher adores her. A new common room with a kettle and microwave, plenty of free periods and one very happy student.

With winter on the way and a forty-five minute daily walk to the station, Mr Almost has invested in a Deltaroam coat — a long, warm, waterproof outdoor coat with pockets galore, an oversized hood and a matching waterproof roll-top rucksack for the laptop. It passed its first test in pouring rain with flying colours. The big question this week: should Mrs Almost get one too? Green or grey? We need your votes.

And then, the washing machine from hell. A lovely evening, a penny found, telly on — and then the machine lit up like a Christmas tree, full of water and refusing to open. After visions of an expensive replacement, a bit of googling led us to the filter at the bottom, three washing-up bowls of filthy water, and a horror show of trapped hair, metal and a stray button. Crisis averted, machine saved, teamwork triumphant.

On the telly we discovered Best Medicine on Sky — the American remake of Doc Martin, and a rare remake we loved instantly. Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer lead, with Annie Potts and a wonderful Martin Clunes cameo in series two. We also watched Mayday on Apple TV — a Cold War action comedy with Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh that is warm, funny and thoroughly feel-good.

Almost Edible was week two of Mr Almost in the kitchen — a semi-healthy chicken pasta bake with peppers, courgettes, olives, tomatoes and chicken, mozzarella standing in for some very hard-to-find ricotta. Scrummy, and even better as leftovers.

Tipple of the Week is a Pika Pika rosé wine spritz — crisp, elegant, raspberry-forward and, at a sneaky eleven percent, stronger than it lets on. A lovely one we would happily have again.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, autumn has crept up on us, the tomatoes are thriving and a houseplant is still slowly taking over the stairs.

Almost Fit is going from strength to strength. The step challenge continues with some seriously big days, and we tackled an intermediate Peloton strength class — bilateral lunges into burpees and all — adapting where we needed to but finishing every minute. Best of all, a proper weight bench is arriving in time for the weekend, so barbell training is finally on the cards. And the year-on-year Apple Health numbers are all up, which was a lovely bit of proof that it is working. The commuting scooter is still waiting on a helmet, but it is coming.

Almost Blooming is a happy place right now. The cooler, wetter weather has sent the tomatoes crazy — two bumper crops already, eaten fresh and roasted — and there are five little peppers on the go, though something keeps nibbling the biggest one. We have grabbed daffodil and tulip bulbs from The Range ready for next year, the lawn has bounced back beautifully green after the rain, and yes, the Monstera has crept down another whole stair. This weekend, we tackle it.

It was also back to school — or rather, back to sixth form. No uniform, a fresh short bob and a whole new hippie wardrobe that suits our daughter down to the ground. We made a day of it in Brighton — Churchill Square, Hollister and a wander through the North Laines, taking in Black Pearl and a favourite crystal shop. She is funding the new look herself by selling books and buying vintage, and we could not be prouder. We have, it seems, officially become the hippie family. We are embracing it.

On the telly, Trigger Point is back on ITV for a fourth series — Vicky McClure returning as bomb disposal expert Lana Washington. We binged all six episodes in a single weekend. Fast, tense, thoroughly entertaining and brought to what feels like a natural and satisfying conclusion. We also finally caught Michael on Apple TV — the biographical film of Michael Jackson’s early life, with a stunning debut from his nephew Jafar Jackson, a surprise turn from Mike Myers and, above all, that incredible music. Take it for what it is and enjoy the songs.

And because it was National Cinema Weekend, four pound tickets took us to the Moana live action remake — and we adored every second. Dwayne Johnson was born to play Maui, the young lead was wonderful, and we may have got a little emotional by the end. Slated by the critics, loved by us.

Almost Edible saw Mr Almost ordered back into the kitchen for a chicken and chorizo jambalaya from the Good Food Guide — chicken, chorizo, peppers, onion, long grain rice and stock, all simmered together into something genuinely delicious. A confident eleven out of ten, and the recipe is heading to the Facebook group.

Tipple of the Week was a walk on the wild side — a Vault City Orange Creamsicle ice lolly sour beer. Our very first sour beer, shared cautiously from one can, and, well... let us just say it was an experience. Two and a half out of five, and a hard-won lesson before any future trip to Scotland.

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