This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost are settling into the new normal — a new job, a first harvest and a lunch that did not go to plan.

Mrs Almost is a week into the new job and loving it — learning the role, lovely people and a walk to work that means Mr Almost can surprise her on the way home. He waited in the pub, missed her walking past, and had to run down the street after her. The loveliest surprise.

Honey continues to go from strength to strength. The odd cough remains but she is in fit and fine health and we are not worrying anymore. A vet check up is booked, mainly to top up her tablets.

We took a trip to London — parked on the outskirts, jumped on a very hot and very un-air-conditioned bus, and a stranger gave up his seat so Mrs Almost and our daughter could sit together. A small act of kindness that we will remember forever. London buses, please, some air conditioning.

The reason for the trip — our daughter wanted to see The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s epic, in 70mm at the Odeon Leicester Square, one of only forty one cinemas in the world that can show it. Electric recliners, a swivel table Mrs Almost smashed her hand on during a jump scare, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, three hours long and genuinely emotional by the end. Highly recommend — just the once.

Almost Blooming — our very first tomato harvest. A whole dessert bowl of red cherry tomatoes eaten with a lasagne. Nothing like shop bought. A second crop is already on the way and the pepper plant is flowering.

We’ve been watching Merlin on Amazon Prime — the 2008 origin tale of Merlin and King Arthur. Five series, magic, dragons, romance and heartache, with Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath and the late Anthony Head. A brilliant easy watch and well worth revisiting.

A few of our favourites this week — Nespresso in Covent Garden with an Oatly hot coffee and a yuzu vanilla iced coffee, Rituals conditioner, L’Occitane shaving cream and Body Shop ginger shampoo and conditioner picked up on a lovely walk through the Brighton lanes.

There was, however, a low point — Mr Almost’s homemade ham salad roll came with two fruit flies already inside. It went straight in the bin. He went hungry.

Tipple of the Week is Tango Zero’d The Tangiest Peach — sugar free, peachy in colour, and tasting almost entirely of cherryade. A rare miss. Bring back the Guinness.

And Almost Edible is a homemade chicken curry made completely from scratch — no jar — with curry powder, tomato puree, onions, steamed carrots, leftover slow cooked chicken and a splash of low fat coconut milk. A proper kick, even on a hot day. A firm success.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost finally cross the finish line — and then head north for a week in the Lake District.

The Race for Life happened. We live streamed it, just as we promised. Off road forest tracks, a lot of uphill, uneven ground and the Rock Choir serenading us three quarters of the way round. Fifty two minutes and forty five seconds. Bang on par with our training. Our daughter shot off into the distance and finished a couple of minutes ahead of us. The marshals and volunteers cheered us the whole way. We started and we finished. We have the medals to prove it.

Mrs Almost has started her new job. The nerves were real, the eye was twitching and the first day went brilliantly. Twenty five minutes walking each way, seven and a half thousand steps and two cars sitting on the drive. A great move.

Honey had the time of her life in the Lakes. Six hours in the car each way, out every single day, jumping in her buggy to relax and watch us in the hot tub, eating well and taking her tablets. The cough has more or less completely gone. She is a different dog. We are very relieved.

Then there was the Lake District itself — a week near Coniston Water and non stop from start to finish. Kendal for mint cake, a market cowboy hat our daughter has not taken off since, a trek uphill to Kendal Castle in sliders and a shoe that snapped directly outside a cobbler’s. He hot glued it back together and refused payment, so we donated to the cancer charity he was shaving his head for instead. Right time, right place.

We saw cows drinking from Coniston Lake for the very first time. We visited the Derwent Pencil Factory in Keswick and won pens in a quiz. We queued for gingerbread in Grasmere and discovered Wordsworth is buried right next door. And we hired an electric boat for two hours at Bowness on Windermere with Honey aboard — easily one of the best afternoons we’ve ever had.

Almost Blooming — the garden did not get watered while we were away. Everything wilted. Everything survived. And the tomatoes are red at last.

We’ve been watching Rooster on Sky — an American comedy drama created by Bill Lawrence starring Steve Carell. Ten episodes, one season, brilliantly funny and completely binge worthy.

Tipple of the Week is Twinings Refresh sparkling tea — raspberry lemonade with hibiscus, white tea infusion, added magnesium, fifty calories and no artificial sweeteners. Genuinely one of our favourites yet. And it doubled as our four year anniversary toast. Here’s to the next four.

And Almost Edible went on tour — Kendal mint cake, Grasmere gingerbread, Cartmel sticky toffee pudding, a beautiful roast beef dinner at the Unicorn Inn in Ambleside, pie and chips at a proper chippy and an M&S quiche Lorraine to bring us gently back down to earth.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost have a big week — a last day, a diagnosis and a race that is two days away.

Mrs Almost has officially left her job. Worked right up to the last minute, handed everything over, left them wanting more and walked out on a high. Life is short. Follow your dreams. New job news is coming next week.

Honey has had more scans. The diagnosis is confirmed — a leaky heart valve and early stage heart disease. She is on two types of heart tablets and the cough is already improving. Respiratory rate is in the normal range while she sleeps. She is still with us, still eating, still nosing about in her dog pram and we are very relieved. We will keep you updated.

The Race for Life is two days away. The nerves are very much in. The knee is achy, the gym has been thirty six degrees and running in the heat is genuinely hard work. But three of them are doing it together and there is a pint of cold cider waiting at the finish line. We will run, walk, hobble or be carried if necessary. We will make it.

This week we also walked into town — a Caffè Nero vanilla latte on the Vitality voucher, a horror game from CEX for the daughter who has already spent five hours playing it and Honey in the dog pram nosing about at everything. A lovely slow morning.

Almost Blooming this week went indoors. The roses have been deadheaded and are resting before the next bloom. And we built our very own terrariums — sealed glass bowls with a tiny tree, gravel, soil, moss, grasses and a self-sustaining ecosystem that waters itself through condensation. Before and after photos are on the Facebook group. We are very proud of the tiny tree.

We’ve been watching The Fortune on Channel 5 — a four part psychological drama with Eleanor Tomlinson, Matthew Lewis, Rebecca Front and Nina Wadia. An inheritance, a mystery, twists, turns and a very satisfying ending. Four stars. Available on My5.

Tipple of the Week is J2O Apple and Raspberry — still, not fizzy, raspberry forward and a solid three out of five. The cider won this round.

And Almost Edible is Old El Paso enchiladas — chicken, onion, peppers, packet spice mix, cooking sauce, flour tortillas, cheese on top and into the oven. Quick, family friendly and an absolute firm favourite. Definitely once a month at least.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost have one of the most emotional days they’ve had since the podcast began — and somehow it involves a prom dress, a poorly Chihuahua and a KFC at half eight at night.

Honey has been coughing for weeks. We finally took her to Vets4Pets for X-rays, blood tests and scans. A mildly collapsing trachea, a slightly enlarged heart and the possibility of early heart disease. Lungworm negative. Kennel cough negative. Blood tests normal. She came home sleepy, shaved in three places and very, very quiet. The next day she barked at the Tesco delivery man and didn’t cough once. She is on heart tablets and antibiotics and we will keep you updated. We are very relieved and very in love with a five year old Chihuahua who thinks she runs the household. She does.

On the very same day — our daughter went to prom. A messy bun full of stars, a beautiful strappy dress, light makeup that surprised everyone, double necklaces with moons and stars, matching earrings, a clutch bag and white shoes that required someone on their knees under a very large skirt. She looked absolutely stunning. The doorman opened the car door. We drove away. Tears were shed immediately.

Back in the gym — the knee is achy but improving. The Race for Life is one week away. Three of them are running it and there will be a live stream on the day. Follow our socials.

Almost Blooming — the first red cherry tomato has arrived. The bush tomato plant is leading the charge. The Acer is getting beautifully bushy. The flamingo bush has recovered. And the mouse mum and her tiny baby were spotted collecting things and running back into the raised planter. The garden is thriving.

We’ve been watching Upstairs Downstairs on Netflix — a BBC period drama set in 1936 London with Keeley Hawes and Claire Foy. Beautifully made, nine episodes across two series, binge worthy and highly recommended if you love Downton Abbey or Bridgerton.

Tipple of the Week is a Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri in a can — Caribbean white rum, strawberry juice, very sweet, very refreshing and best enjoyed on a day that feels like a Caribbean beach. Available in cans. We would absolutely have it again.

And Almost Edible this week is KFC at half eight at night after one of the most draining days we’ve ever had — Fillet Burger, chicken tenders, popcorn chicken, corn on the cob, sweet chilli bites and Revels and Maltesers for afters. Sometimes comfort food is the only answer.

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

This week on Almost the Weekend, Mr & Mrs Almost survive the heatwave, fix a leaky tap and somehow end up rating a film using sheep.

The knee is improving — both knees in fact, because Mrs Almost has caught the sympathy injury bug. The Race for Life is two weeks away, three of them are running it together and a live stream is happening on the day. Follow our socials so you don’t miss it.

Honey’s cough is ongoing and getting a little worse before it gets better. Ginger tea with honey, slippery elm powder and a very worried household. A vet visit is on the cards and we’ll update you next week.

Mr Almost fixed the kitchen tap. Fully. By himself. A leaking valve, a dash to B&Q, thirty pounds of parts and a dual function tap with a spray attachment and a fill spout. There were some wet moments. The tap is now excellent. The pressure is better. No leaks. Genuinely very pleased with himself.

Mrs Almost took their daughter to Airhop Trampoline Park in Guildford — thirty three degrees in a metal building, over an hour of bouncing, some tiny puppies in the café and iced lattes and a cinnamon bun at Surrey University on the way. A lovely day out. Cooler weather recommended.

Almost Blooming — three tomato plants at three very different stages. Green tomatoes on two of them and flowers on the third. Patience is being tested. The bonsai has had a long overdue trim — before and after on the Facebook group. The azalea is going absolutely wild with flowers. The front border now has honeysuckle, lavender and some mystery purple plants.

We watched The Sheep Detectives on Amazon Prime — a 2026 mystery comedy in which a flock of sheep solve their shepherd’s murder. Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey and Chris O’Dowd. Silly, warm and completely worth watching. Four sheep out of five.

Tipple of the Week is Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur mixed with zingy ginger ale — in cans, available at Tesco and genuinely one of the nicest things we’ve tasted on this podcast. The rhubarb hits you immediately. The ginger warms you up. We will absolutely be buying this again.

And Almost Edible is Pizza Express at Brighton Marina — hot honey dough balls that converted the whole table, calamari, burnt ends pizza, the pizza with the hole in the middle and thirty five pounds saved in vouchers. Service was impeccable. It rained. We didn’t care.

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

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. 🎙️