As much as we enjoyed yesterday in France, it was lovely to spend the day doing very little today. Well, apart from a quick trip to Tesco to get some vegetables for dinner tonight and to pop in and see mum and dad on the way home.
The stormy weather never materialised - it was just chilly, wet and miserable. Perfect weather for watching a good film (Spellbound) and enjoying the chocolates we bought in Carrefour yesterday.
February has sped by in a blur, to be honest, and I'm so glad I resurrected this blog so that I can remember what I did each day! Tomorrow is another month and Spring should be on the way, I hope. At least the evenings are a little lighter every day and the mornings a bit brighter!
Sunday 28 February 2010
Saturday 27 February 2010
France
Well, we had a great time and came back with a boot full of some great wines - and a few beers!
The journey to Dover yesterday was not very good. It took us four hours and the stretch by the Dartford Bridge was very slow indeed. However, we were sitting in the bar at just after 8pm with a drink so it wasn't that bad. We stayed at the Premier Inn right next to the ferry terminal and it was well worth the £60 we paid. We had a lovely meal and a good night's sleep. The beds in the hotel are wonderful and I even think they're the best beds I've ever slept in in a hotel which is saying something as my bed at home is my haven.
We were up and ready to go at 7.30am this morning but we needn't have rushed as the ferry terminal was like a ghost town - nobody stopped us to look at pasports or anything and there wasn't even a queue at the check-in desk. We sailed with Seafrance on the Berlioz and it was a lovely ship, very clean and quiet. We had a light breakfast as we'd planned to have lunch in Arras but it wasn't to be. We were late sailing and had to wait outside Calais to dock so we arrived almost an hour later than planned. It just wasn't worth it driving the hour's journey to Arras, having lunch and then trying to get back for shopping.
It took us a wee while to get to Cite Europe as we can never remember the way from the port! From the Eurotunnel it's easy, so we just headed for that and eventually stumbled upon the shopping centre. Again, it was very quiet and within an hour our trolley was full of wine, some of which was very reasonable. None of our wine was over 6 euros and most of it was Vin de Pays at around 3 euros. We'd been impressed with a lot of the Languedoc wines from last summer so I chose quite a few bottles of those, plus some of our old favourites such as Rasteau from the Cotes du Rhone, Julienas from Beaujolais and some Vouvray. Keith treated me to a bottle of Grants which was the same price as on the boat, but came with a glass!
Keith, much to my disgust, bought a few bottles of the beer he was drinking in the summer, in Narbonne...the ones the local hobos drank! One of them was 11%! I think he's mad but that was all he bought so I couldn't really complain!
We had lunch at our favourite place which is also a brewery and came away from there with three bottles of their brune beer. Lunch was OK but a bit on the expensive side. The children had two cokes which came to 9 euros which I was unhappy about. The bill was 88 euros in total (including a tip and the extra beer) which seemed a bit high for what we had, and certainly more expensive than the meals we had in the Languedoc last summer.
After lunch, Sophie and I went and did some shopping in New Look (much nicer than in the UK) and Pimkie where she bought some leggings and a very pretty top. We then found a shop selling some lovely New York pictures and she treated herself to two for when we finally get around to decorating her bedroom!
The journey home was great - the ferry was quiet and not as rough as it had been this morning. Even the M25 behaved itself and we came home on the M20 rather than the M2 this time so we were back before my planned time of 9pm.
So...it was great to have a break and get away even for a short time. It was a shame we never made it to Arras but there's always next time!
The journey to Dover yesterday was not very good. It took us four hours and the stretch by the Dartford Bridge was very slow indeed. However, we were sitting in the bar at just after 8pm with a drink so it wasn't that bad. We stayed at the Premier Inn right next to the ferry terminal and it was well worth the £60 we paid. We had a lovely meal and a good night's sleep. The beds in the hotel are wonderful and I even think they're the best beds I've ever slept in in a hotel which is saying something as my bed at home is my haven.
We were up and ready to go at 7.30am this morning but we needn't have rushed as the ferry terminal was like a ghost town - nobody stopped us to look at pasports or anything and there wasn't even a queue at the check-in desk. We sailed with Seafrance on the Berlioz and it was a lovely ship, very clean and quiet. We had a light breakfast as we'd planned to have lunch in Arras but it wasn't to be. We were late sailing and had to wait outside Calais to dock so we arrived almost an hour later than planned. It just wasn't worth it driving the hour's journey to Arras, having lunch and then trying to get back for shopping.
It took us a wee while to get to Cite Europe as we can never remember the way from the port! From the Eurotunnel it's easy, so we just headed for that and eventually stumbled upon the shopping centre. Again, it was very quiet and within an hour our trolley was full of wine, some of which was very reasonable. None of our wine was over 6 euros and most of it was Vin de Pays at around 3 euros. We'd been impressed with a lot of the Languedoc wines from last summer so I chose quite a few bottles of those, plus some of our old favourites such as Rasteau from the Cotes du Rhone, Julienas from Beaujolais and some Vouvray. Keith treated me to a bottle of Grants which was the same price as on the boat, but came with a glass!
Keith, much to my disgust, bought a few bottles of the beer he was drinking in the summer, in Narbonne...the ones the local hobos drank! One of them was 11%! I think he's mad but that was all he bought so I couldn't really complain!
We had lunch at our favourite place which is also a brewery and came away from there with three bottles of their brune beer. Lunch was OK but a bit on the expensive side. The children had two cokes which came to 9 euros which I was unhappy about. The bill was 88 euros in total (including a tip and the extra beer) which seemed a bit high for what we had, and certainly more expensive than the meals we had in the Languedoc last summer.
After lunch, Sophie and I went and did some shopping in New Look (much nicer than in the UK) and Pimkie where she bought some leggings and a very pretty top. We then found a shop selling some lovely New York pictures and she treated herself to two for when we finally get around to decorating her bedroom!
The journey home was great - the ferry was quiet and not as rough as it had been this morning. Even the M25 behaved itself and we came home on the M20 rather than the M2 this time so we were back before my planned time of 9pm.
So...it was great to have a break and get away even for a short time. It was a shame we never made it to Arras but there's always next time!
Friday 26 February 2010
Off to France!
I won't have time to write this tonight so just a quick blog today.
I don't know where this week has gone! Or February for that matter! It's been another day of rushing around here and getting things ready for the weekend and there's still lots to do, so I'm going to keep this very short and hope everyone has a good weekend and that the weather improves just a little bit! I'm not too convinced on that one, though! It's been dull, cold and and wet today and I just pray that it won't be windy tomorrow in the English Channel!
I don't know where this week has gone! Or February for that matter! It's been another day of rushing around here and getting things ready for the weekend and there's still lots to do, so I'm going to keep this very short and hope everyone has a good weekend and that the weather improves just a little bit! I'm not too convinced on that one, though! It's been dull, cold and and wet today and I just pray that it won't be windy tomorrow in the English Channel!
Thursday 25 February 2010
The shortest blog!
A really quick one today. I've been in Kent all day and didn't get home until 7.30pm. I was due to meet friends at 8pm so it was in, quick wash and then back out again!! We had a terrible journey home - a slow crawl around the M25 and a crawl up the M1! The weather was horrible - wet and yuk!
I did have a good meal at The Brampton Halt though! More tomorrow!
I did have a good meal at The Brampton Halt though! More tomorrow!
Wednesday 24 February 2010
A bit quieter!
Well, things have quietened down now in our household and have returned to normal! Nothing much happened yesterday except for a fresh snowfall in the afternoon which carried on into the evening, but turned to rain.
Sue came around while Keith and I were having a game of cards, all tanned and refreshed from her trip to the Maldives. Ironically, they were both worried about the trip home and a tight connection but it was the outward flight from Dohar they missed due to a technical problem with their plane from Heathrow...typical! To thank me for looking after the house, she brought me some beautiful flowers and gorgeous smelly candles! I was delighted!
Keith came to work with me today, giving mum and dad a well-earned rest from work. I told them to stay away today and go and relax, so I hope they have. Keith went to the Britannia pub at lunchtime to meet some old workfriends. They were due to meet in December but had to cancel when Keith had his first stent fitted so I'm sure the conversation will be full of his op and also B&D talk. As I write they are still there and I'm just waiting for a phonecall to go and pick him up!
Today we booked a ferry to France for Saturday and an overnight stay in Dover as a treat to ourselves. We need some wine and we have 150 euros left over from our break in Berlin so that will buy a few bottles! I'm going to take Keith to Arras for lunch as I loved it there when I visited with my parents and Sophie back in 2008. I'm just hoping the weather will be kind and not snow or be windy!
Sue came around while Keith and I were having a game of cards, all tanned and refreshed from her trip to the Maldives. Ironically, they were both worried about the trip home and a tight connection but it was the outward flight from Dohar they missed due to a technical problem with their plane from Heathrow...typical! To thank me for looking after the house, she brought me some beautiful flowers and gorgeous smelly candles! I was delighted!
Keith came to work with me today, giving mum and dad a well-earned rest from work. I told them to stay away today and go and relax, so I hope they have. Keith went to the Britannia pub at lunchtime to meet some old workfriends. They were due to meet in December but had to cancel when Keith had his first stent fitted so I'm sure the conversation will be full of his op and also B&D talk. As I write they are still there and I'm just waiting for a phonecall to go and pick him up!
Today we booked a ferry to France for Saturday and an overnight stay in Dover as a treat to ourselves. We need some wine and we have 150 euros left over from our break in Berlin so that will buy a few bottles! I'm going to take Keith to Arras for lunch as I loved it there when I visited with my parents and Sophie back in 2008. I'm just hoping the weather will be kind and not snow or be windy!
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Recovering
An early blog today, to make up for the short one yesterday!
We are both glad that Keith has had his surgery and is now back at home. Yesterday was a long day. We left home at 6am and managed to get to the John Radcliffe by 7.20am. All our planning was a waste of time as we should have entered the Heart Centre by an outside door and found ourselves (with another patient) waiting outside the department and seeing a "Staff Only" notice!! Luckily a student was waiting to go in and she called a nurse for us! There were a lot of people waiting and at 7.45am we were all called through and Keith was allocated a bed. I stayed for a little while but left at 8.30am as there was no point me hanging about. Both journeys were made in the snow which didn't make for pleasant driving!
We were closed today at work and mum had brought the children in for me. They were both brilliant. We'd left them at home as it just wasn't fair to drag them down to Oxford with us and they'd phoned mum when they'd woken up. Michael was actually in the shower washing his hair when mum arrived! Miracle! Why is it that they behave so well when we're not around?
We spent the day cleaning as usual and I left at 4pm after phoning the hospital. I'm sure the nurse said to me to collect Keith by 8pm so we went home, I had a bath (much needed for the relaxation factor!) and then we set off at 5.30pm.
I'm really not a fan of the A43 despite the new road making it a lot easier to get to the M40. It's so fast, very dark except one stretch by Silverstone, and full of lorries who I always meet on the numerous roundabouts!
We arrived at the hospital by 7pm to find Keith still attached to a monitor and wearing a very fetching gown! He couldn't be released until 8pm so, feeling a bit annoyed, we went to the main hospital to find a cafe...which had closed at 4pm...
I now had two hungry children so we set off in the car in search of something! Luckily, two minutes from the hospital we came upon a Hungry Horse pub which was perfect. We had a drink and shared a plate of nachos before going back and picking up Keith. The journey home was good - the road was very quiet and much more pleasant than the morning's trip!
Keith and I, despite being tired, spent an hour relaxing and chatting before bed. He was so pleased that the surgery had been successful and grateful to Professor Channon who had managed to insert the stent which had been a very complicated procedure. I suppose that's why he's a Professor!
We are both glad that Keith has had his surgery and is now back at home. Yesterday was a long day. We left home at 6am and managed to get to the John Radcliffe by 7.20am. All our planning was a waste of time as we should have entered the Heart Centre by an outside door and found ourselves (with another patient) waiting outside the department and seeing a "Staff Only" notice!! Luckily a student was waiting to go in and she called a nurse for us! There were a lot of people waiting and at 7.45am we were all called through and Keith was allocated a bed. I stayed for a little while but left at 8.30am as there was no point me hanging about. Both journeys were made in the snow which didn't make for pleasant driving!
We were closed today at work and mum had brought the children in for me. They were both brilliant. We'd left them at home as it just wasn't fair to drag them down to Oxford with us and they'd phoned mum when they'd woken up. Michael was actually in the shower washing his hair when mum arrived! Miracle! Why is it that they behave so well when we're not around?
We spent the day cleaning as usual and I left at 4pm after phoning the hospital. I'm sure the nurse said to me to collect Keith by 8pm so we went home, I had a bath (much needed for the relaxation factor!) and then we set off at 5.30pm.
I'm really not a fan of the A43 despite the new road making it a lot easier to get to the M40. It's so fast, very dark except one stretch by Silverstone, and full of lorries who I always meet on the numerous roundabouts!
We arrived at the hospital by 7pm to find Keith still attached to a monitor and wearing a very fetching gown! He couldn't be released until 8pm so, feeling a bit annoyed, we went to the main hospital to find a cafe...which had closed at 4pm...
I now had two hungry children so we set off in the car in search of something! Luckily, two minutes from the hospital we came upon a Hungry Horse pub which was perfect. We had a drink and shared a plate of nachos before going back and picking up Keith. The journey home was good - the road was very quiet and much more pleasant than the morning's trip!
Keith and I, despite being tired, spent an hour relaxing and chatting before bed. He was so pleased that the surgery had been successful and grateful to Professor Channon who had managed to insert the stent which had been a very complicated procedure. I suppose that's why he's a Professor!
Monday 22 February 2010
Just a quick note...
A very short blog this evening - it's been a very long day and I'm shattered. Keith is home, the stent was successful and he is very relieved it's all over. I'm just glad to be home and off the horrible A43!
More tomorrow! And thank you for all your good wishes. They're much appreciated.
More tomorrow! And thank you for all your good wishes. They're much appreciated.
Sunday 21 February 2010
Magical mystery tour
It snowed again today and mum phoned me first thing (very early...) worried about what we were going to do at work. She needn't have worried because by 10am, the snow had stopped and it really didn't cause any inconvenience at all.
We went ahead with our trip to Oxford to find out where Keith has to go tomorrow. The hospital was very quiet and we found our way easily to the Heart Centre so that should avoid any panic tomorrow morning. We'd planned on having lunch at The Crewe Arms in Hinton-in-the-Hedges but due to our early start, we would have arrived when the pub was still closed, so we took a detour through Oxford (no wonder the Americans love it there) and then Woodstock which I have earmarked for another day. On the way back to the A43 we drove through Upper Heyford which has some very good memories for me as my parents were friends with a family who were stationed there at the American Air Base. Sadly, the place had been abandoned long ago but I could remember going there and drinking 7Up when you couldn't get it here and having a great time on the base.
We had lunch at The Crew Arms and very good it was too! Three of us had the roast of the day, while Sophie had chicken breast in a mushroom and stilton sauce. We couldn't resist the desserts (well, three of us couldn't!) and everything was homemade especially the Yorkshire puddings which rivalled Keith's!! And that's saying something!!
A lazy afternoon followed and I managed to watch two films back to back, much to the annoyance of the children!!
www.thecrewearms.com
We went ahead with our trip to Oxford to find out where Keith has to go tomorrow. The hospital was very quiet and we found our way easily to the Heart Centre so that should avoid any panic tomorrow morning. We'd planned on having lunch at The Crewe Arms in Hinton-in-the-Hedges but due to our early start, we would have arrived when the pub was still closed, so we took a detour through Oxford (no wonder the Americans love it there) and then Woodstock which I have earmarked for another day. On the way back to the A43 we drove through Upper Heyford which has some very good memories for me as my parents were friends with a family who were stationed there at the American Air Base. Sadly, the place had been abandoned long ago but I could remember going there and drinking 7Up when you couldn't get it here and having a great time on the base.
We had lunch at The Crew Arms and very good it was too! Three of us had the roast of the day, while Sophie had chicken breast in a mushroom and stilton sauce. We couldn't resist the desserts (well, three of us couldn't!) and everything was homemade especially the Yorkshire puddings which rivalled Keith's!! And that's saying something!!
A lazy afternoon followed and I managed to watch two films back to back, much to the annoyance of the children!!
www.thecrewearms.com
Saturday 20 February 2010
Relaxation
The pressure was certainly off today which was a welcome relief and we had a chance to relax and mooch about the house.
Going to Tesco's was not as stressful as I feared. In fact, it was pretty quiet and Keith and I popped into Costa Coffee for a latte before we hit the aisles. Planning next week's meals was pretty difficult as we didn't know at the time how long Keith would be in hospital. When we arrived home there was a letter for him from the John Radcliffe hospital and reading between the lines, it looks like they will just be having a look at his heart on Monday before deciding on further treatment. He has to be there for 7.45am and I will need to pick him up in the evening so that will be a long day!
The rest of the day has been lovely. The weather has been beautiful but we haven't ventured out as I've been catching up with some jobs that have been left because of our busy week. One thing I managed to do was brush Archie's coat which was a bit matted. He didn't like it one bit and hissed and growled at us, but it had to be done and I even had to take the clippers to him as some bits of fur were very matted and I couldn't comb them out at all. We had to appease him with cheese but even that didn't work at times! He's such a scruffy cat and so totally different from Monty who is immaculately clean and tidy. I haven't really finished him and his bottom is a no-go area at the moment, but I don't want to have to take him to the vet to get it done.
A letter from Althorp put a huge smile on my face today, though...Bill Bryson will be at the Literary festival in June! Tickets go on sale in April so I can't wait for that! What a treat to look forward to!
Going to Tesco's was not as stressful as I feared. In fact, it was pretty quiet and Keith and I popped into Costa Coffee for a latte before we hit the aisles. Planning next week's meals was pretty difficult as we didn't know at the time how long Keith would be in hospital. When we arrived home there was a letter for him from the John Radcliffe hospital and reading between the lines, it looks like they will just be having a look at his heart on Monday before deciding on further treatment. He has to be there for 7.45am and I will need to pick him up in the evening so that will be a long day!
The rest of the day has been lovely. The weather has been beautiful but we haven't ventured out as I've been catching up with some jobs that have been left because of our busy week. One thing I managed to do was brush Archie's coat which was a bit matted. He didn't like it one bit and hissed and growled at us, but it had to be done and I even had to take the clippers to him as some bits of fur were very matted and I couldn't comb them out at all. We had to appease him with cheese but even that didn't work at times! He's such a scruffy cat and so totally different from Monty who is immaculately clean and tidy. I haven't really finished him and his bottom is a no-go area at the moment, but I don't want to have to take him to the vet to get it done.
A letter from Althorp put a huge smile on my face today, though...Bill Bryson will be at the Literary festival in June! Tickets go on sale in April so I can't wait for that! What a treat to look forward to!
Friday 19 February 2010
Almost back to normal?
Never has the saying "Thank God it's Friday" been more apt! It has been a long and eventful week and today we had a layer of snow that, amazingly, did not cause any disruption to the business! I arrived early with mum and dad and put some salt down on the entrance but within a few hours the snow was melting anyway and we saw blue skies and sunshine which was a welcome relief.
Keith stayed at home with the children and it was lovely for them to have a day off and spend some time together. They really missed their dad for the short time he was away.
So today has been like a normal Friday which is good. I'm hoping we'll have a relaxing weekend before it all starts again on Monday. The weather forecast is for snow, and I just hope we have a good run down to Oxford without any problems. Both children have Monday off school as it's a Training Day but I think mum will come around at 6am to get them up and then take them into work. I was really hoping all this would be over but never mind. The important thing is to get Keith sorted.
Just after I arrived home this afternoon, it started snowing again. The sky went a funny orangey colour and the snowflakes were huge! I stood and watched them fall and they reminded me of scraps of paper falling from the sky. It went on for about two hours and then stopped and I'm not sure whether we'll have any more before tomorrow. I hope not as I really don't want to go into work in the morning and try and clear the car park again!!
Tomorrow I have booked a lie-in before my trip to Tesco!
Keith stayed at home with the children and it was lovely for them to have a day off and spend some time together. They really missed their dad for the short time he was away.
So today has been like a normal Friday which is good. I'm hoping we'll have a relaxing weekend before it all starts again on Monday. The weather forecast is for snow, and I just hope we have a good run down to Oxford without any problems. Both children have Monday off school as it's a Training Day but I think mum will come around at 6am to get them up and then take them into work. I was really hoping all this would be over but never mind. The important thing is to get Keith sorted.
Just after I arrived home this afternoon, it started snowing again. The sky went a funny orangey colour and the snowflakes were huge! I stood and watched them fall and they reminded me of scraps of paper falling from the sky. It went on for about two hours and then stopped and I'm not sure whether we'll have any more before tomorrow. I hope not as I really don't want to go into work in the morning and try and clear the car park again!!
Tomorrow I have booked a lie-in before my trip to Tesco!
Thursday 18 February 2010
Another loooooong day...
Well, today has certainly not been dull here! I phoned Keith first thing and he told me that he was going to stay in Oxford for the next few days as they were going to try the angioplasty again but he obviously had to wait for other patients to be seen. I went into work with the children and luckily today we had more staff in so I didn't have to work in the kitchen. Mum and I went to Booker, which was a fun experience as when I came out to load the car it was snowing...
Back at work we were busy and then Keith rang...he was able to come out after all and would ring later with the time I could pick him up from Oxford...gazing out of the window at the steadily falling snow, my heart missed a beat!
Driving was horrible. I always take it slowly in the snow, but even so, I managed to go into a skid twice which terrified me. I borrowed mum and dad's SatNav which got us to the John Radcliffe without a wrong turn, but it almost took me longer to find a space in the car park and the Coronary Care Unit than to drive from Northampton to Oxford!
Keith was mightily relieved to be home but he has to go back to Oxford on Monday for another angioplasty and has to be there for 7.30am. In the meantime he has to take it easy and has warned me that hoovering and ironing carries a health warning...Yeah!!
Back at work we were busy and then Keith rang...he was able to come out after all and would ring later with the time I could pick him up from Oxford...gazing out of the window at the steadily falling snow, my heart missed a beat!
Driving was horrible. I always take it slowly in the snow, but even so, I managed to go into a skid twice which terrified me. I borrowed mum and dad's SatNav which got us to the John Radcliffe without a wrong turn, but it almost took me longer to find a space in the car park and the Coronary Care Unit than to drive from Northampton to Oxford!
Keith was mightily relieved to be home but he has to go back to Oxford on Monday for another angioplasty and has to be there for 7.30am. In the meantime he has to take it easy and has warned me that hoovering and ironing carries a health warning...Yeah!!
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Hard day...
Today has been long and hard and I have every sympathy for people who work in restaurants and cafes in holiday resorts which are busy for the summer months!
First thing this morning we took Keith into hospital for his second angioplasty. I dropped him off at 7.30am and hated to see him walk off on his own, but we'd agreed that it would be best as we couldn't stay with him anyway.
Work was manic and I had three lost children (not all at once!) who wanted their mums and couldn't find them. I spent half the time patrolling the play area and shouting at naughty children and the other half frantically serving and clearing tables. Sophie was brilliant today - she served and went on the till all day and we really couldn't have done without her. She'll earn a nice fat pay packet at the end of the week!
Keith's angioplasty didn't go as well as planned and he's been transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where they are going to keep an eye on him overnight as he had chest pains after the surgery. In a way I'm very relieved as he's in the right place and I just hope we can get it all sorted out.
So...a very tired and weary Janie is just about to go off to bed to try and get a good night's sleep!
First thing this morning we took Keith into hospital for his second angioplasty. I dropped him off at 7.30am and hated to see him walk off on his own, but we'd agreed that it would be best as we couldn't stay with him anyway.
Work was manic and I had three lost children (not all at once!) who wanted their mums and couldn't find them. I spent half the time patrolling the play area and shouting at naughty children and the other half frantically serving and clearing tables. Sophie was brilliant today - she served and went on the till all day and we really couldn't have done without her. She'll earn a nice fat pay packet at the end of the week!
Keith's angioplasty didn't go as well as planned and he's been transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where they are going to keep an eye on him overnight as he had chest pains after the surgery. In a way I'm very relieved as he's in the right place and I just hope we can get it all sorted out.
So...a very tired and weary Janie is just about to go off to bed to try and get a good night's sleep!
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Weird weather
I picked mum up at 7.15am this morning as we had to do the cleaning at work which was a pain. On the way in we drove through a dramatic hailstorm that coated the roads and paths and looked like snow. As soon as it began, it stopped and once through Holcot the sky was blue with little fluffy pink clouds. Very strange! I sometimes think that Holcot has its own micro-climate as in the past I've witnessed the village being battered by freak storms and snow.
Today was very busy at work. It took mum and I two hours to do the cleaning and the bacon sandwich dad made us mid-morning was very welcome! Michael limped about and although Keith wanted to take him back home after bringing Sophie in, he decided to stay. Yesterday he twisted his ankle climbing on the steps of the bouncy castle and he's made his discomfort known ever since! He was OK until just after Keith left to go home and then he came into the office crying with pain again. I dosed him up with Calpol, gave him a chocolate milkshake and he spent the rest of the day on mum's computer.
Driving home later we saw what looked like a tornado in the distance - a long spiral of dark cloud almost touching the horizon. We drove after it but it changed shape as we watched and disappeared. It looked like we were in for another storm but not much happened and the sky stayed blue and grey which was very pretty. I cursed myself for not carrying my camera with me to capture it.
So, tomorrow Keith goes into hospital and tonight he cooked us a delicious roast chicken. We stood in the kitchen and chatted and realised that nine years ago today we completed on this house. I still can't believe we've been here this long. Time certainly flies!
Today was very busy at work. It took mum and I two hours to do the cleaning and the bacon sandwich dad made us mid-morning was very welcome! Michael limped about and although Keith wanted to take him back home after bringing Sophie in, he decided to stay. Yesterday he twisted his ankle climbing on the steps of the bouncy castle and he's made his discomfort known ever since! He was OK until just after Keith left to go home and then he came into the office crying with pain again. I dosed him up with Calpol, gave him a chocolate milkshake and he spent the rest of the day on mum's computer.
Driving home later we saw what looked like a tornado in the distance - a long spiral of dark cloud almost touching the horizon. We drove after it but it changed shape as we watched and disappeared. It looked like we were in for another storm but not much happened and the sky stayed blue and grey which was very pretty. I cursed myself for not carrying my camera with me to capture it.
So, tomorrow Keith goes into hospital and tonight he cooked us a delicious roast chicken. We stood in the kitchen and chatted and realised that nine years ago today we completed on this house. I still can't believe we've been here this long. Time certainly flies!
Monday 15 February 2010
Waiting around...
I sometimes wonder how much of my life I have wasted by standing in queues, or sitting in traffic, or just generally waiting around. We were in the bank today and as usual, it was heaving. I normally drop mum off outside the bank and drive around for a little while rather than trying to park. Our bank is in a busy shopping centre and it can be hell on earth at times. This morning I dropped her off and she could see the queue stretching to the door, so I found a space and waited with her. The woman in front of us could hear our grumblings of discontent and joined us in our moaning.
One of the staff members was walking up and down asking customers if she could help by directing them to one of those machines that gobbles up your money, but sadly this is not an option for us. The lady we were talking to was almost apoplectic with anger as to why she was prying into customers' business and readily admitted she was a "grumpy old woman"!
We promised that we would write to our Business Manager and moan to him. Who?? He used to go by the name of our friendly Bank Manager, I think, but has long since disappeared in the name of progress and no doubt, money saving efficiency...
It must have been lovely in days of olde when customers were treated with proper respect and courtesy but these are gone now, unless of course, you've just won £56 million!!
One of the staff members was walking up and down asking customers if she could help by directing them to one of those machines that gobbles up your money, but sadly this is not an option for us. The lady we were talking to was almost apoplectic with anger as to why she was prying into customers' business and readily admitted she was a "grumpy old woman"!
We promised that we would write to our Business Manager and moan to him. Who?? He used to go by the name of our friendly Bank Manager, I think, but has long since disappeared in the name of progress and no doubt, money saving efficiency...
It must have been lovely in days of olde when customers were treated with proper respect and courtesy but these are gone now, unless of course, you've just won £56 million!!
Sunday 14 February 2010
Valentine's Day?
I was up early this morning, savouring the peace before the rest of the house awoke to watch the end of The Piano which was excellent and definitely my sort of film. The children managed to persuade Keith to take them to McDonalds (YUK!) and we had a coffee while they tucked into their Sausage and Egg McMuffins which I think are greasy and horrible. I had a much better breakfast while reading the Sunday papers when we got home - delicious poached eggs on toast.
In the afternoon we drove to Woburn for a look around the antique shops. Mum had seen a chair on a previous visit and she was tempted to try and haggle the owner of the shop down, but chickened out. Sophie discovered a little room stuffed full of 20s hats and dresses and antique curtains and wallpaper. It was like an Aladdin's Cave and we could have spent ages in there. There were some beautiful vintage hat boxes that would be lovely as storage so I might be heading back there after I've decided what colour scheme the bedroom will be (one day soon, I hope!)
In search of our Sunday afternoon tea and cake we went to Woburn Abbey and their Antiques Centre but we were told it would be £2.50 each to get in and they only had tea and biscuits! Pah!! We politely declined and drove back to Woburn where we called into the village hall where there was an antiques fair being held. There were some lovely women selling homemade lemon cake and tea in mugs so that was good. And it only cost £1 to get in!!!
There wasn't a great deal to see although I did fall in love with a clock that was £425...typical! Sophie bought some earrings and a bracelet so she was happy.
Our journey home was a bit of a roundabout route - we headed off to Buckingham from Milton Keynes and then ended back on the A5 on the outskirts of the town! Back home eventually, we called into mum and dad's for a glass of wine which was very relaxing.
So, that's another Valentine's Day over! Phew!!!
In the afternoon we drove to Woburn for a look around the antique shops. Mum had seen a chair on a previous visit and she was tempted to try and haggle the owner of the shop down, but chickened out. Sophie discovered a little room stuffed full of 20s hats and dresses and antique curtains and wallpaper. It was like an Aladdin's Cave and we could have spent ages in there. There were some beautiful vintage hat boxes that would be lovely as storage so I might be heading back there after I've decided what colour scheme the bedroom will be (one day soon, I hope!)
In search of our Sunday afternoon tea and cake we went to Woburn Abbey and their Antiques Centre but we were told it would be £2.50 each to get in and they only had tea and biscuits! Pah!! We politely declined and drove back to Woburn where we called into the village hall where there was an antiques fair being held. There were some lovely women selling homemade lemon cake and tea in mugs so that was good. And it only cost £1 to get in!!!
There wasn't a great deal to see although I did fall in love with a clock that was £425...typical! Sophie bought some earrings and a bracelet so she was happy.
Our journey home was a bit of a roundabout route - we headed off to Buckingham from Milton Keynes and then ended back on the A5 on the outskirts of the town! Back home eventually, we called into mum and dad's for a glass of wine which was very relaxing.
So, that's another Valentine's Day over! Phew!!!
Saturday 13 February 2010
Housework...
I really had to knuckle down and do some today and all three beds needed changing. I don't mind housework when I'm in the mood, I just find it so demoralising. I mean, no sooner is it done, then it needs doing again!
I woke this morning and Keith told me that someone in the UK had won £56 million on the Euromillions lottery, but that they hadn't come forward yet. I had a moment of dreaming what I'd do with the money if it happened to be me, but after breakfast I found out it wasn't. Top of my list would be to employ someone to clean. I am lucky in that Keith does a lot, but he's not keen on dusting and changing the bedsheets so that's left to me. I just think that sometimes life is too short to be cleaning all the time, yet I love the house being clean and tidy!
Anyway...all my little jobs are done now but I have to vacuum the car tomorrow as the inside resembles a muddy field. It was so cold today (officially freezing when I drove back from town) and I didn't fancy grappling with the hoover in the chill wind.
Next week I'll be clearing up other people's mess - now that does make me mad!
I woke this morning and Keith told me that someone in the UK had won £56 million on the Euromillions lottery, but that they hadn't come forward yet. I had a moment of dreaming what I'd do with the money if it happened to be me, but after breakfast I found out it wasn't. Top of my list would be to employ someone to clean. I am lucky in that Keith does a lot, but he's not keen on dusting and changing the bedsheets so that's left to me. I just think that sometimes life is too short to be cleaning all the time, yet I love the house being clean and tidy!
Anyway...all my little jobs are done now but I have to vacuum the car tomorrow as the inside resembles a muddy field. It was so cold today (officially freezing when I drove back from town) and I didn't fancy grappling with the hoover in the chill wind.
Next week I'll be clearing up other people's mess - now that does make me mad!
Friday 12 February 2010
Busy day!
Well, after a good night's sleep, I felt a lot better this morning and by lunchtime, the pain in my hip had gone. Maybe exercise is the thing as I was on my feet for most of the day as we were very busy at work. Half term has obviously started early!
I planned to go home and watch The Philadelphia Story and that's what I did while Sophie plaited my hair into lots of little plaits! It was very relaxing and a great end to a busy day.
I'm really enjoying the films at the moment. It's lovely to curl up on the sofa and be transported somewhere else for a short time. I'll always be a fan of the old black and white movies and feel really sad that most of the actors and actresses are now dead. However, they'll always live on through film. I started watching the classics about two years ago as I was ashamed I'd seen so few "good" films. Some I loved - Mrs Miniver, The African Queen, Notorious and some I didn't like - Casablanca, Withnail and I, Scarface. I hate violent films but I do love the Godfather series for some reason, probably because of Al Pacino!
Of course, my favourite is and will always be It's A Wonderful Life. I can watch it over and over again and I cry each time. Even thinking about it makes me well up! They certainly don't make them like that any more!
Favourite quote from It's A Wonderful Life...
"You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away" (Clarence to George Bailey)
Excuse me for a minute while I go and have a cry...;)
I planned to go home and watch The Philadelphia Story and that's what I did while Sophie plaited my hair into lots of little plaits! It was very relaxing and a great end to a busy day.
I'm really enjoying the films at the moment. It's lovely to curl up on the sofa and be transported somewhere else for a short time. I'll always be a fan of the old black and white movies and feel really sad that most of the actors and actresses are now dead. However, they'll always live on through film. I started watching the classics about two years ago as I was ashamed I'd seen so few "good" films. Some I loved - Mrs Miniver, The African Queen, Notorious and some I didn't like - Casablanca, Withnail and I, Scarface. I hate violent films but I do love the Godfather series for some reason, probably because of Al Pacino!
Of course, my favourite is and will always be It's A Wonderful Life. I can watch it over and over again and I cry each time. Even thinking about it makes me well up! They certainly don't make them like that any more!
Favourite quote from It's A Wonderful Life...
"You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away" (Clarence to George Bailey)
Excuse me for a minute while I go and have a cry...;)
Thursday 11 February 2010
Feeling shattered.
I had a disturbed night last night. For some reason, my left hip is killing me and the pain has stayed with me all day. I couldn't get comfortable in bed at all and got up at 1.30am to take some Nurofen. I really don't need this sort of pain with half-term next week!
So tonight I had a warm bath and now feel really sleepy. Keith made a delicious soup for dinner and used lots of vegetables for it, such as swede, parsnip, carrot and potato. We ate it with some lovely granary bread and it made a great change from a full meal.
It's been bitterly cold today but we've had no snow, even though there's been a light dusting on the ground. As usual I can't believe that it's Friday again tomorrow and yet another week has disappeared!
So tonight I had a warm bath and now feel really sleepy. Keith made a delicious soup for dinner and used lots of vegetables for it, such as swede, parsnip, carrot and potato. We ate it with some lovely granary bread and it made a great change from a full meal.
It's been bitterly cold today but we've had no snow, even though there's been a light dusting on the ground. As usual I can't believe that it's Friday again tomorrow and yet another week has disappeared!
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Home town.
Whenver I go back to Dartford I thank my lucky stars that I moved when I was 5. For a town so near to London, it really should have more going for it, but it doesn't. Admittedly, things did look a little better today though. There's a very old coaching inn in the middle of town called the Bull and Victoria and years ago it was the place to go for a special occasion. I even remember trying oyster soup there when I was a precocious 10 year old but lately it has gone downhill. The window frames were in a sorry state and it looked the sort of place where you wiped your feet before you went in...
Today, though, it had been smartened up considerably and looked much much better. Maybe the rest of the town will follow and all the £1 shops will go out of business. There's a huge new Tesco planned for the outskirts of the town and even though it will kill any remaining character, it has to be an improvement on the boarded up shops that now welcome you as you drive in.
I think that Bluewater has had something to do with the demise of poor old Dartford and it's ironic that I now no longer like my adopted home town of Northampton and prefer to shop in smart, spolit-for-choice Milton Keynes and small towns such as Market Harborough which have a wealth of small specialist shops.
We had a good day, though but as always I sigh with relief when I head back down onto the M25!
Today, though, it had been smartened up considerably and looked much much better. Maybe the rest of the town will follow and all the £1 shops will go out of business. There's a huge new Tesco planned for the outskirts of the town and even though it will kill any remaining character, it has to be an improvement on the boarded up shops that now welcome you as you drive in.
I think that Bluewater has had something to do with the demise of poor old Dartford and it's ironic that I now no longer like my adopted home town of Northampton and prefer to shop in smart, spolit-for-choice Milton Keynes and small towns such as Market Harborough which have a wealth of small specialist shops.
We had a good day, though but as always I sigh with relief when I head back down onto the M25!
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Meet Me Halfway - A Short Story for Valentine's Day
“You’re what?” Natalie stared at her boyfriend, Mike, in amazement. “You’re going where?”
Mike stood with his back to her making a cup of tea in her tiny kitchen. The air was thick with tension and Natalie could feel her stomach contract with disappointment and fear.
“I’m sorry, Nat…there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“But…a whole month? In Scotland?”
He carried on stirring his tea and Natalie felt tears gathering behind her eyes. February. Traditionally the month for lovers and where would her lover be? In bloody Scotland!
“But you can come home at weekends, surely?”
Mike shrugged. “I doubt it. This course is pretty intensive, you know.”
“But Valentine’s Day! We were planning to go to Paris!”
He turned finally and put his arms around her. “We can go to Paris in March, Nat. It’ll probably be cheaper then anyway. You know what it’s like near Valentine’s Day. Everything costs more.”
She stared at him. This was their first Valentine’s Day together and she’d expected so much. In the past she’d always been disappointed. At work, no bouquets had arrived and there hadn’t really been any cards, unless you counted the one she always received from her mum.
Natalie turned away from him so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes. She’d been looking forward to their weekend away for so long and even though nothing had been definitely booked, she’d been preoccupied with her thoughts lately and imagining all the things they would do together.
“Look, I’ll see what I can do, OK? But there’s going to be a whole group of us, Nat. Everyone’ll be in the same boat.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Who’s going, then?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. All the new people, I suppose. It’s training. We’ve got to do it otherwise I’ll be out of a job.”
Natalie knew how important this job was to Mike. When they’d first met he’d been in a job he hated and couldn’t believe his luck when he found out he’d managed to secure an interview with another firm just after Christmas. It was now mid January and he was still learning about the company, a huge multi-national business that had taken him on as an Account Manager, a job that Natalie joked was just a glorified salesman.
“But why Scotland?”
He sighed. “Because that’s where they do all their training. I did tell you.” He took a long gulp of tea and picked up the newspaper. “Look…it’s a few weeks away. We can do something special before I go, can’t we?”
Natalie shrugged. It wouldn’t be the same. Just for once she wanted to feel special on Valentine’s Day. Nobody had ever really made a fuss of her and this was their first celebration together as a couple. They’d met last April and had quickly become inseparable, and although Mike still had his own flat, he spent most of his time at Natalie’s tiny cottage.
Now, all sorts of thoughts were invading Natalie’s mind. That was her problem, she realised, she had too much of a vivid imagination. Suppose he’d met someone at work and this was just a ruse to spend Valentine’s Day with her? Surely any self-respecting company wouldn’t expect their staff to be away for an entire month, not when it was such a special time?
Feeling angry and alone, Natalie stomped off into the living room and turned on the television. A couple relaxed by a pool in the Caribbean and Natalie sighed angrily. There seemed to be lovey-dovey couples everywhere and it would just get worse as Valentine’s Day approached, most of the shops aflame with red love hearts and stupid cuddly toys. Then, of course, there would be the restaurants and hotels offering romantic dinners and breaks…And where would she be? Stuck at home on her own. It’s not fair, she thought angrily. For the first time in years I have a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day and where will he be? Stuck hundreds of miles away in Scotland…
*
Two weeks later, Natalie said a sleepy goodbye to Mike as he kissed her in bed. It was before dawn and he was on his way to catch a flight to Edinburgh. Despite Mike saying they would do something special before he went, nothing had happened and Natalie had to admit that things had been strained between them since he’d made his announcement. Natalie was angry but she knew how much the job meant to him; her only consolation would be that the job would mean a better future for them…if they were still together.
She heard the front door slam and then silence. She buried her head under the pillow and cried her eyes out, the pent up emotions finally getting release. She could still smell him on the bed sheets and knew that she wouldn’t change them until he came back. He hadn’t mentioned anything more about Valentine’s before he went and Natalie was too proud to give him the huge card she’d already bought. He would just have to have it when he got back, late or not.
Over the next week she kept busy, her job as a hotel receptionist keeping her occupied, but at night, after she’d called Mike and they’d had a brief chat, the evenings stretched out long and empty. Once, when she felt really miserable, she went through all the photos she had of Mike and herself together, but it made things worse, seeing how they’d been happy together. They looked such a great match: he was tall and dark haired with laughing green eyes that had attracted her so much from the first. He was smiling and had his arm around her protectively, loving the fact that she was tiny and so very feminine, her long dark hair falling down her back in waves. He once said that it was her face that had captured him but now she knew that the same face hadn’t smiled since he’d gone.
One night she’d called him at his hotel late at night but he’d sounded vague and distant and again, she felt that horrible doubt surface in her mind. Was there someone there with him?
On the Thursday before Valentine’s Day, Natalie went into work early as usual, her mind full of the day ahead. The hotel itself was holding a huge Valentine’s Ball and part of her duties was to arrange the flowers and balloons. She felt like she was working on autopilot as she took delivery of the red carnations and lilies that were to be the centrepieces of the tables. Thankfully, she’d already arranged to take the Friday and the Monday off as holiday, thinking that they would be flying to Paris for the weekend. When he’d told her he was going to Scotland, she’d considered cancelling the days off, but decided that she would book a few pampering treatments at her local spa to cheer herself up.
Returning to Reception she saw the local florist’s delivery man standing at the desk, a huge bouquet of red roses in his hand. “We didn’t order roses,” Natalie said, thinking that the delivery was for the ball. She checked her notes. “I’m expecting some more carnations, though…”
The delivery man smiled. “These aren’t for the hotel, my dear. It looks like these are for you.”
Natalie blushed as she was handed the flowers, her heart hammering in her chest. She took the note and with her fingers trembling, read the words Mike had written…
*
Early the next morning, Natalie packed her bag and threw it into the back of her little sports car. It was 4am and she looked at the black sky anxiously. Last night she’d watched the weather forecast and they’d said that a heavy blanket of snow was on the way, affecting northern areas the most. Mike had told her where to find his Valentine’s card and inside were directions to a small hotel in the Lake District. He would drive down from Edinburgh and she would meet him halfway. She’d been thrilled and excited last night when she found out what he’d done, and their conversation had been warm and loving. He sounded like he’d been missing her and she’d gone to sleep yearning for his touch.
Although a confident driver, Natalie felt nervous on the long journey up to the Lake District. Once it became light, the sky looked ominous, the grey clouds gathering overhead and pressing down on her as she made her way north. The radio gave out constant weather warnings and as the landscape changed, she felt a long way from the relatively balmy climate she’d left behind at home.
By 11am, Natalie was in the Lake District, but the weather had worsened and it was snowing. Huge flakes covered the windscreen and made driving difficult, but Natalie had to press on. The hotel was a few miles from the motorway and although the roads had been gritted, the conditions were treacherous and she took it slowly, peering through the windscreen as the wipers cleared the build up of snow.
Her mobile phone rang and Natalie glanced at it. It was Mike, but not daring to take the call she drove on, searching for a place to pull in so she could call him back. There were hardly any cars about and a shiver of fear ran through Natalie as she glanced at the surrounding scenery. Through the snow she could make out the fells and dry stone walls, with the occasional farmhouse here and there.
A few miles further on she spotted an entrance to a farm gate and drove into it. Picking up her mobile, she dialled Mike’s number and stared out of the window. If anything, the snow was heavier now, blanketing the car and blotting out the mountains that loomed over the road. Natalie felt her stomach contract with nerves as she waited for Mike to answer. If she became stuck here, how would she get out? She’d packed a blanket, some food and a hot drink, but she’d left the shovel at home, never imagining she would need it.
When she heard Mike’s voice she almost cried with relief. “Where are you?” she asked, gripping the phone tightly. “I’m in a small village about five miles away, but the snow’s really bad.”
“I’m at the hotel,” he answered. “I thought you’d be here by now as well.”
“Oh God,” Natalie moaned. “I can’t even see the road now, Mike. It’s really bad.”
“Just take it easy, Nat. Drive slowly and I’ll meet you on the way, OK?”
Natalie rang off and peered out into the gloom. The snow was falling heavily, whirling madly in the wind that had sprung up and covering the windscreen before the wipers could clear it. She put the car into gear and eased gently on the accelerator but the wheels spun with an alarming scream. Trying not to panic, she tried again but the same thing happened. Shaking with fear she sat back in her seat and looked out of the window again. It was a whiteout now and she couldn’t see a thing through the whirling blizzard. Don’t panic, she told herself, it’ll stop soon and then I can try again.
She kept the engine running to keep warm and reached over to the back seat to get her drink. Within minutes the windscreen was covered in thick snow and she fought down the rising fear as she realised that her little silver sports car would soon be invisible…
*
Mike ran down the stairs of the small hotel and into Reception. Bill, the man who ran the hotel, had seemed friendly enough when he’d checked in and he’d noticed an ancient Land Rover parked outside when he’d arrived.
Outside he could see just how bad it was, the snow blotting out the surrounding hills and lakes. The hotel was so cosy, a log fire burning in the Reception hall and comfortable sofas just crying out for an afternoon of lounging about and reading the newspapers. Mike felt like kicking himself when he thought of the danger Natalie could be in. His idea, something he’d been planning ever since he knew about the training, was turning out to be a bad decision.
“Can I help?” Bill asked. “Your wife arrived yet?”
Mike blushed at the mention of Natalie being his wife. “Er, no. That’s the problem.” He glanced outside at the weather again. “She’s about five miles away. I said I’d meet her.”
He paused. He hated asking for help, but the hire car he’d chosen just wasn’t equipped to deal with the snow. But Bill seemed to sense what he wanted. “Take the Land Rover,” he insisted. “I’d come with you but I’m expecting some more guests and my wife is busy sorting out the rooms.”
Within minutes he’d sorted Mike out with blankets, a shovel and a flask of hot soup. “Keep to the main road, OK? She said she was five miles away? She’ll be around here.” He pointed to a village on the map and Mike took it gratefully.
“Thanks so much…”
Bill waved him away. “Just be careful. I’ll get you a wee dram when you get back!”
Mike tentatively moved away down the drive in the Land Rover. It was freezing cold as the heater didn’t work and it banged and rattled, but he felt far more confident on the snowy road and that was all that mattered.
*
Natalie had tried several times more to get the car going, but each time she felt herself sinking deeper into the snow and, possibly, the mud underneath. She was well and truly stuck.
She called Mike again and when he answered she could hear a noisy rattling and banging in the background. “Where are you? What‘s going on?”
“I’m on my way, Nat,” he yelled. “Where are you?”
“I’m stuck,” she wailed. “The car won’t move and I’m scared.” She started to cry, terrified that he would miss her and she’d have to spend the night in the frozen car. She’d tried to get out and clear the snow from the windscreen and roof, but the cold and wind had beaten her back.
“Look, stay where you are, OK? Are you in the village?”
She tried to calm down. “Just outside it, I think. I’m in an entrance to a field but it’s snowing so badly, I’m scared you won’t find me.”
“I’ll find you,” he promised. “Just hang on.”
Natalie threw the phone back onto the seat and tried once more to get out of the car. She could see nothing but the whirling snow and the road was completely smooth. Not a car had passed her way since she’d pulled in. She used her scraper to clear the snow off the windscreen and sides of the car, but found herself covered within seconds. Back inside the car, she turned on the radio and waited.
*
Despite the difficulty, Mike was enjoying himself. The Land Rover responded well to the conditions and he began to feel like a hero in a bad film, rescuing his girl from certain disaster. He felt he was pretty near now, the milometer showing he’d travelled nearly five miles. He kept a look out, his phone in one hand in case Natalie called again. Miraculously the snow has stopped and through the heavy clouds the sun made a brief appearance. Everything was transformed; the fells surrounding him sparkled under their blanket of white and he realised he’d never seen anything so beautiful.
But suddenly his reverie was interrupted as, rounding a sharp bend, he swerved to avoid a figure walking in the road. The Land Rover skidded but came to a halt inches away from a dry stone wall.
“What the…?” he shouted, desperately trying to re-start the engine. “Stupid idiot walking in the road!”
“Oh God! I’m so sorry!”
Mike looked up in amazement as the figure came up the window and pulled down the hood of her coat. “Nat! What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to be waiting in the car for me!”
“It stopped snowing so I thought I’d come and look for you.”
They stared at each other and then burst out laughing. Mike hastily opened the door of the Land Rover and pulled Natalie to him, kissing her as hard as he could. She responded and they spent the next few minutes kissing and hugging, their mutual relief making them both laugh.
“I couldn’t stay in the car any longer,” she said, holding him close. “I thought you wouldn’t see the car, but you’d see me walking.”
“You idiot,” he replied softly, kissing her hair. “You could have been killed.”
“You didn’t hire this, did you?” she laughed, taking in the ancient paintwork and battered bumpers.
“No, this was very kindly lent to me by the owner of our hotel. Who thinks we’re married, by the way…” He smiled. “Let’s hope I can start it again.”
Luckily he could and within half an hour they’d collected Natalie’s belongings from her car and were on their way back to the hotel. “You’ll love it,” Mike said, his hand stroking her knee. “Huge bed, fireplace, the works.”
“I can’t wait,” she breathed, putting her hand over his. “And I think, after this little ordeal, we both need a lie down…
*
True to his word, Bill had organised a platter of sandwiches and something to chase away the cold for them both. “It’s up in your room,” he said. “The fire’s lit as well…”
Natalie blushed as they made their way up the stairs, knowing Bill was watching them both. He was lovely, she thought, and had treated them like an indulgent father. She felt desperately tired now after the trauma of the morning’s events and yearned for a nap.
Mike seemed to think the same. They ate their sandwiches and drank the whisky in front of the fire, the heat making them both drowsy.
“Fancy a cuddle and a nap?” Mike said standing up and holding his hand out to her. She nodded and he watched as she undressed. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “I missed you so much, Nat.”
She smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. “I missed you, too.”
*
Natalie gazed at Mike and smiled. It was their Valentine’s Day dinner and the hotel looked beautiful in the candlelight which adorned every table in the small restaurant. Since arriving on Friday, they’d walked and shopped and laughed and had even played in the snow and Natalie couldn’t have wished for a better weekend. Mike had even produced a card, as soppy as her own and she felt truly happy. I should have trusted him, she realised. He was a good man and wouldn’t have let her down.
Now, as the first course was served, he looked rather nervous. She noticed his hands were trembling as he spooned his soup and wondered what was wrong.
“You OK?” she asked, folding her napkin. “You seem a bit worried.”
“I’m fine,” he reassured her. “Just not looking forward to going back to reality tomorrow.”
She had to agree. Tomorrow they would go their separate ways again and it would be another two weeks before he was home. But Natalie felt she could cope now. This weekend would sustain her until he returned.
As the meal went on, Mike seemed more and more nervous and Natalie became worried. Was he hiding something from her? Was his job at risk?
As the plates from their main course were cleared, Natalie put her hand over Mike’s. “There’s something up…what’s wrong?”
He gazed at her and smiled. “Oh, OK…maybe this is the time.” He looked up and signalled to Bill who was clearing another table.
“Be patient, Nat! Although I know that’s not your strong point…”
Mystified, Natalie watched as Bill brought over a bottle of champagne and two flutes. Mike fumbled in the pocket of his jacket and produced a small box decorated with a bow.
She gasped as he gave it to her and smiled. Bill placed the champagne into an ice bucket and with a wink, left them to it.
“I take it he knows I’m not your wife now!” Natalie joked and opened the box. Inside was a gorgeous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
“Oh my God!” she gasped as she held the dazzling ring up to the light. “It’s beautiful!”
“So will you?”
“Will I what?” she teased.
“Will you marry me, Nat?” He looked suddenly serious. “I think we have what it takes.”
With a cry of delight she stood up and flung her arms around him. “Yes!”
The restaurant erupted into cheers and clapping and a delighted Bill appeared, his arms full of champagne bottles.
*
The next morning, Mike and Natalie embraced in front of the hotel. They’d collected her car the previous day and although the snow still lay on the ground, the roads were clear.
“Take care,” he said as he kissed her. “Don’t forget, I’ll soon be home.”
She watched as he climbed into his car and started the engine. Bill emerged from the hotel and stood next to her. “You’ve got a great man there, Natalie. He’s a real gem.”
“I know,” she replied, and with a final wave at the departing car, she started on her own long journey south.
The End
Mike stood with his back to her making a cup of tea in her tiny kitchen. The air was thick with tension and Natalie could feel her stomach contract with disappointment and fear.
“I’m sorry, Nat…there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“But…a whole month? In Scotland?”
He carried on stirring his tea and Natalie felt tears gathering behind her eyes. February. Traditionally the month for lovers and where would her lover be? In bloody Scotland!
“But you can come home at weekends, surely?”
Mike shrugged. “I doubt it. This course is pretty intensive, you know.”
“But Valentine’s Day! We were planning to go to Paris!”
He turned finally and put his arms around her. “We can go to Paris in March, Nat. It’ll probably be cheaper then anyway. You know what it’s like near Valentine’s Day. Everything costs more.”
She stared at him. This was their first Valentine’s Day together and she’d expected so much. In the past she’d always been disappointed. At work, no bouquets had arrived and there hadn’t really been any cards, unless you counted the one she always received from her mum.
Natalie turned away from him so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes. She’d been looking forward to their weekend away for so long and even though nothing had been definitely booked, she’d been preoccupied with her thoughts lately and imagining all the things they would do together.
“Look, I’ll see what I can do, OK? But there’s going to be a whole group of us, Nat. Everyone’ll be in the same boat.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Who’s going, then?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. All the new people, I suppose. It’s training. We’ve got to do it otherwise I’ll be out of a job.”
Natalie knew how important this job was to Mike. When they’d first met he’d been in a job he hated and couldn’t believe his luck when he found out he’d managed to secure an interview with another firm just after Christmas. It was now mid January and he was still learning about the company, a huge multi-national business that had taken him on as an Account Manager, a job that Natalie joked was just a glorified salesman.
“But why Scotland?”
He sighed. “Because that’s where they do all their training. I did tell you.” He took a long gulp of tea and picked up the newspaper. “Look…it’s a few weeks away. We can do something special before I go, can’t we?”
Natalie shrugged. It wouldn’t be the same. Just for once she wanted to feel special on Valentine’s Day. Nobody had ever really made a fuss of her and this was their first celebration together as a couple. They’d met last April and had quickly become inseparable, and although Mike still had his own flat, he spent most of his time at Natalie’s tiny cottage.
Now, all sorts of thoughts were invading Natalie’s mind. That was her problem, she realised, she had too much of a vivid imagination. Suppose he’d met someone at work and this was just a ruse to spend Valentine’s Day with her? Surely any self-respecting company wouldn’t expect their staff to be away for an entire month, not when it was such a special time?
Feeling angry and alone, Natalie stomped off into the living room and turned on the television. A couple relaxed by a pool in the Caribbean and Natalie sighed angrily. There seemed to be lovey-dovey couples everywhere and it would just get worse as Valentine’s Day approached, most of the shops aflame with red love hearts and stupid cuddly toys. Then, of course, there would be the restaurants and hotels offering romantic dinners and breaks…And where would she be? Stuck at home on her own. It’s not fair, she thought angrily. For the first time in years I have a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day and where will he be? Stuck hundreds of miles away in Scotland…
*
Two weeks later, Natalie said a sleepy goodbye to Mike as he kissed her in bed. It was before dawn and he was on his way to catch a flight to Edinburgh. Despite Mike saying they would do something special before he went, nothing had happened and Natalie had to admit that things had been strained between them since he’d made his announcement. Natalie was angry but she knew how much the job meant to him; her only consolation would be that the job would mean a better future for them…if they were still together.
She heard the front door slam and then silence. She buried her head under the pillow and cried her eyes out, the pent up emotions finally getting release. She could still smell him on the bed sheets and knew that she wouldn’t change them until he came back. He hadn’t mentioned anything more about Valentine’s before he went and Natalie was too proud to give him the huge card she’d already bought. He would just have to have it when he got back, late or not.
Over the next week she kept busy, her job as a hotel receptionist keeping her occupied, but at night, after she’d called Mike and they’d had a brief chat, the evenings stretched out long and empty. Once, when she felt really miserable, she went through all the photos she had of Mike and herself together, but it made things worse, seeing how they’d been happy together. They looked such a great match: he was tall and dark haired with laughing green eyes that had attracted her so much from the first. He was smiling and had his arm around her protectively, loving the fact that she was tiny and so very feminine, her long dark hair falling down her back in waves. He once said that it was her face that had captured him but now she knew that the same face hadn’t smiled since he’d gone.
One night she’d called him at his hotel late at night but he’d sounded vague and distant and again, she felt that horrible doubt surface in her mind. Was there someone there with him?
On the Thursday before Valentine’s Day, Natalie went into work early as usual, her mind full of the day ahead. The hotel itself was holding a huge Valentine’s Ball and part of her duties was to arrange the flowers and balloons. She felt like she was working on autopilot as she took delivery of the red carnations and lilies that were to be the centrepieces of the tables. Thankfully, she’d already arranged to take the Friday and the Monday off as holiday, thinking that they would be flying to Paris for the weekend. When he’d told her he was going to Scotland, she’d considered cancelling the days off, but decided that she would book a few pampering treatments at her local spa to cheer herself up.
Returning to Reception she saw the local florist’s delivery man standing at the desk, a huge bouquet of red roses in his hand. “We didn’t order roses,” Natalie said, thinking that the delivery was for the ball. She checked her notes. “I’m expecting some more carnations, though…”
The delivery man smiled. “These aren’t for the hotel, my dear. It looks like these are for you.”
Natalie blushed as she was handed the flowers, her heart hammering in her chest. She took the note and with her fingers trembling, read the words Mike had written…
*
Early the next morning, Natalie packed her bag and threw it into the back of her little sports car. It was 4am and she looked at the black sky anxiously. Last night she’d watched the weather forecast and they’d said that a heavy blanket of snow was on the way, affecting northern areas the most. Mike had told her where to find his Valentine’s card and inside were directions to a small hotel in the Lake District. He would drive down from Edinburgh and she would meet him halfway. She’d been thrilled and excited last night when she found out what he’d done, and their conversation had been warm and loving. He sounded like he’d been missing her and she’d gone to sleep yearning for his touch.
Although a confident driver, Natalie felt nervous on the long journey up to the Lake District. Once it became light, the sky looked ominous, the grey clouds gathering overhead and pressing down on her as she made her way north. The radio gave out constant weather warnings and as the landscape changed, she felt a long way from the relatively balmy climate she’d left behind at home.
By 11am, Natalie was in the Lake District, but the weather had worsened and it was snowing. Huge flakes covered the windscreen and made driving difficult, but Natalie had to press on. The hotel was a few miles from the motorway and although the roads had been gritted, the conditions were treacherous and she took it slowly, peering through the windscreen as the wipers cleared the build up of snow.
Her mobile phone rang and Natalie glanced at it. It was Mike, but not daring to take the call she drove on, searching for a place to pull in so she could call him back. There were hardly any cars about and a shiver of fear ran through Natalie as she glanced at the surrounding scenery. Through the snow she could make out the fells and dry stone walls, with the occasional farmhouse here and there.
A few miles further on she spotted an entrance to a farm gate and drove into it. Picking up her mobile, she dialled Mike’s number and stared out of the window. If anything, the snow was heavier now, blanketing the car and blotting out the mountains that loomed over the road. Natalie felt her stomach contract with nerves as she waited for Mike to answer. If she became stuck here, how would she get out? She’d packed a blanket, some food and a hot drink, but she’d left the shovel at home, never imagining she would need it.
When she heard Mike’s voice she almost cried with relief. “Where are you?” she asked, gripping the phone tightly. “I’m in a small village about five miles away, but the snow’s really bad.”
“I’m at the hotel,” he answered. “I thought you’d be here by now as well.”
“Oh God,” Natalie moaned. “I can’t even see the road now, Mike. It’s really bad.”
“Just take it easy, Nat. Drive slowly and I’ll meet you on the way, OK?”
Natalie rang off and peered out into the gloom. The snow was falling heavily, whirling madly in the wind that had sprung up and covering the windscreen before the wipers could clear it. She put the car into gear and eased gently on the accelerator but the wheels spun with an alarming scream. Trying not to panic, she tried again but the same thing happened. Shaking with fear she sat back in her seat and looked out of the window again. It was a whiteout now and she couldn’t see a thing through the whirling blizzard. Don’t panic, she told herself, it’ll stop soon and then I can try again.
She kept the engine running to keep warm and reached over to the back seat to get her drink. Within minutes the windscreen was covered in thick snow and she fought down the rising fear as she realised that her little silver sports car would soon be invisible…
*
Mike ran down the stairs of the small hotel and into Reception. Bill, the man who ran the hotel, had seemed friendly enough when he’d checked in and he’d noticed an ancient Land Rover parked outside when he’d arrived.
Outside he could see just how bad it was, the snow blotting out the surrounding hills and lakes. The hotel was so cosy, a log fire burning in the Reception hall and comfortable sofas just crying out for an afternoon of lounging about and reading the newspapers. Mike felt like kicking himself when he thought of the danger Natalie could be in. His idea, something he’d been planning ever since he knew about the training, was turning out to be a bad decision.
“Can I help?” Bill asked. “Your wife arrived yet?”
Mike blushed at the mention of Natalie being his wife. “Er, no. That’s the problem.” He glanced outside at the weather again. “She’s about five miles away. I said I’d meet her.”
He paused. He hated asking for help, but the hire car he’d chosen just wasn’t equipped to deal with the snow. But Bill seemed to sense what he wanted. “Take the Land Rover,” he insisted. “I’d come with you but I’m expecting some more guests and my wife is busy sorting out the rooms.”
Within minutes he’d sorted Mike out with blankets, a shovel and a flask of hot soup. “Keep to the main road, OK? She said she was five miles away? She’ll be around here.” He pointed to a village on the map and Mike took it gratefully.
“Thanks so much…”
Bill waved him away. “Just be careful. I’ll get you a wee dram when you get back!”
Mike tentatively moved away down the drive in the Land Rover. It was freezing cold as the heater didn’t work and it banged and rattled, but he felt far more confident on the snowy road and that was all that mattered.
*
Natalie had tried several times more to get the car going, but each time she felt herself sinking deeper into the snow and, possibly, the mud underneath. She was well and truly stuck.
She called Mike again and when he answered she could hear a noisy rattling and banging in the background. “Where are you? What‘s going on?”
“I’m on my way, Nat,” he yelled. “Where are you?”
“I’m stuck,” she wailed. “The car won’t move and I’m scared.” She started to cry, terrified that he would miss her and she’d have to spend the night in the frozen car. She’d tried to get out and clear the snow from the windscreen and roof, but the cold and wind had beaten her back.
“Look, stay where you are, OK? Are you in the village?”
She tried to calm down. “Just outside it, I think. I’m in an entrance to a field but it’s snowing so badly, I’m scared you won’t find me.”
“I’ll find you,” he promised. “Just hang on.”
Natalie threw the phone back onto the seat and tried once more to get out of the car. She could see nothing but the whirling snow and the road was completely smooth. Not a car had passed her way since she’d pulled in. She used her scraper to clear the snow off the windscreen and sides of the car, but found herself covered within seconds. Back inside the car, she turned on the radio and waited.
*
Despite the difficulty, Mike was enjoying himself. The Land Rover responded well to the conditions and he began to feel like a hero in a bad film, rescuing his girl from certain disaster. He felt he was pretty near now, the milometer showing he’d travelled nearly five miles. He kept a look out, his phone in one hand in case Natalie called again. Miraculously the snow has stopped and through the heavy clouds the sun made a brief appearance. Everything was transformed; the fells surrounding him sparkled under their blanket of white and he realised he’d never seen anything so beautiful.
But suddenly his reverie was interrupted as, rounding a sharp bend, he swerved to avoid a figure walking in the road. The Land Rover skidded but came to a halt inches away from a dry stone wall.
“What the…?” he shouted, desperately trying to re-start the engine. “Stupid idiot walking in the road!”
“Oh God! I’m so sorry!”
Mike looked up in amazement as the figure came up the window and pulled down the hood of her coat. “Nat! What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to be waiting in the car for me!”
“It stopped snowing so I thought I’d come and look for you.”
They stared at each other and then burst out laughing. Mike hastily opened the door of the Land Rover and pulled Natalie to him, kissing her as hard as he could. She responded and they spent the next few minutes kissing and hugging, their mutual relief making them both laugh.
“I couldn’t stay in the car any longer,” she said, holding him close. “I thought you wouldn’t see the car, but you’d see me walking.”
“You idiot,” he replied softly, kissing her hair. “You could have been killed.”
“You didn’t hire this, did you?” she laughed, taking in the ancient paintwork and battered bumpers.
“No, this was very kindly lent to me by the owner of our hotel. Who thinks we’re married, by the way…” He smiled. “Let’s hope I can start it again.”
Luckily he could and within half an hour they’d collected Natalie’s belongings from her car and were on their way back to the hotel. “You’ll love it,” Mike said, his hand stroking her knee. “Huge bed, fireplace, the works.”
“I can’t wait,” she breathed, putting her hand over his. “And I think, after this little ordeal, we both need a lie down…
*
True to his word, Bill had organised a platter of sandwiches and something to chase away the cold for them both. “It’s up in your room,” he said. “The fire’s lit as well…”
Natalie blushed as they made their way up the stairs, knowing Bill was watching them both. He was lovely, she thought, and had treated them like an indulgent father. She felt desperately tired now after the trauma of the morning’s events and yearned for a nap.
Mike seemed to think the same. They ate their sandwiches and drank the whisky in front of the fire, the heat making them both drowsy.
“Fancy a cuddle and a nap?” Mike said standing up and holding his hand out to her. She nodded and he watched as she undressed. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “I missed you so much, Nat.”
She smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. “I missed you, too.”
*
Natalie gazed at Mike and smiled. It was their Valentine’s Day dinner and the hotel looked beautiful in the candlelight which adorned every table in the small restaurant. Since arriving on Friday, they’d walked and shopped and laughed and had even played in the snow and Natalie couldn’t have wished for a better weekend. Mike had even produced a card, as soppy as her own and she felt truly happy. I should have trusted him, she realised. He was a good man and wouldn’t have let her down.
Now, as the first course was served, he looked rather nervous. She noticed his hands were trembling as he spooned his soup and wondered what was wrong.
“You OK?” she asked, folding her napkin. “You seem a bit worried.”
“I’m fine,” he reassured her. “Just not looking forward to going back to reality tomorrow.”
She had to agree. Tomorrow they would go their separate ways again and it would be another two weeks before he was home. But Natalie felt she could cope now. This weekend would sustain her until he returned.
As the meal went on, Mike seemed more and more nervous and Natalie became worried. Was he hiding something from her? Was his job at risk?
As the plates from their main course were cleared, Natalie put her hand over Mike’s. “There’s something up…what’s wrong?”
He gazed at her and smiled. “Oh, OK…maybe this is the time.” He looked up and signalled to Bill who was clearing another table.
“Be patient, Nat! Although I know that’s not your strong point…”
Mystified, Natalie watched as Bill brought over a bottle of champagne and two flutes. Mike fumbled in the pocket of his jacket and produced a small box decorated with a bow.
She gasped as he gave it to her and smiled. Bill placed the champagne into an ice bucket and with a wink, left them to it.
“I take it he knows I’m not your wife now!” Natalie joked and opened the box. Inside was a gorgeous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
“Oh my God!” she gasped as she held the dazzling ring up to the light. “It’s beautiful!”
“So will you?”
“Will I what?” she teased.
“Will you marry me, Nat?” He looked suddenly serious. “I think we have what it takes.”
With a cry of delight she stood up and flung her arms around him. “Yes!”
The restaurant erupted into cheers and clapping and a delighted Bill appeared, his arms full of champagne bottles.
*
The next morning, Mike and Natalie embraced in front of the hotel. They’d collected her car the previous day and although the snow still lay on the ground, the roads were clear.
“Take care,” he said as he kissed her. “Don’t forget, I’ll soon be home.”
She watched as he climbed into his car and started the engine. Bill emerged from the hotel and stood next to her. “You’ve got a great man there, Natalie. He’s a real gem.”
“I know,” she replied, and with a final wave at the departing car, she started on her own long journey south.
The End
Some sun!
We had a beautiful sunrise this morning - it looked like the sun was on fire and the clouds were the smoke. Beautiful. I took a couple of photos on my mobile while I was waiting for mum. The sun stayed with us for most of the day although it was still cold. But it was so good to look out of the window in our office and see the blue sky. The rest of the week is supposed to be snowy, but I'll believe that when I see it.
We managed to make some quite important decisions at work and received news that the gym, who rent some space from us, will be leaving at Easter. It was a bit of a shock, but to be honest we'll be glad to see the back of Mr Flynn...maybe we can realise our dream of having a swimming pool in there? Whatever we do it will need decorating as he hasn't touched it since he moved in 10 years ago.
At the end of the day I felt pleased I'd achieved so much today - it's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it!!
We managed to make some quite important decisions at work and received news that the gym, who rent some space from us, will be leaving at Easter. It was a bit of a shock, but to be honest we'll be glad to see the back of Mr Flynn...maybe we can realise our dream of having a swimming pool in there? Whatever we do it will need decorating as he hasn't touched it since he moved in 10 years ago.
At the end of the day I felt pleased I'd achieved so much today - it's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it!!
Monday 8 February 2010
Not a dull day!
Today has been...interesting!
There's been a lot of discussion online, some of which was good, some bad, but today has certainly been interesting, if nothing else! We've had snow all day, but it didn't settle and I'm not sure what the night will bring, considering the temperatures will drop.
Work brought challenges as well, namely staff niggles that really need to be sorted out before next week. It struck me today that most of my problems are caused by other people behaving badly! If people just did what they should be doing then half my stress would disappear!
I was glad to get home and have a long warm bath. Very indulgent, I know, but much needed!
There's been a lot of discussion online, some of which was good, some bad, but today has certainly been interesting, if nothing else! We've had snow all day, but it didn't settle and I'm not sure what the night will bring, considering the temperatures will drop.
Work brought challenges as well, namely staff niggles that really need to be sorted out before next week. It struck me today that most of my problems are caused by other people behaving badly! If people just did what they should be doing then half my stress would disappear!
I was glad to get home and have a long warm bath. Very indulgent, I know, but much needed!
Sunday 7 February 2010
Free to roam?
This morning, we left the kids at home and went out for a tramp over the fields. We have a big field next to us that was sold a few years ago and we normally cross this before getting to the others which lay behind our estate. Whoever bought the field (and I wish it were me!) has decided he doesn't want local people walking on his land, despite 99.9% of us respecting the land and following the countryside code. It was a bit of a worry at the time as we didn't know who'd bought it and we wondered what would happen to it. You hear so many scare stories of travellers taking over fields and it really is a piece of rural heaven.
Keith in mugging outfit.
Despite the unfriendly notice, we walked over it anyway. The owner can't be that vigilant as at the end of the well-worn path, there was a flattened gate that made access easy. Some time ago a nasty farmer also put up some rude signs about access on his land that adjoins the local Nature reserve but we all ignore them... I don't know anyone who is careless in the countryside and we all make sure gates are closed after us, pick up litter and don't let dogs off the lead near sheep.
Anyway...we had a lovely walk and went to have a look at the budding daffodills that grow in a little spinney. They are just poking their green heads through the earth and later on in the month they make a beautiful show along the banks of a stream. I'll take some pictures when they are fully out. We saw one rabbit and several other people walking dogs, but it was very peaceful.
One thing was a bit spooky though...in the hedgerow near to where I took the picture of the No Access sign, was a dead rabbit hanging from a tree. It was obviously put there deliberately but we don't know why. Sometimes the country can be a cruel and wild place.
Keith in mugging outfit.Saturday 6 February 2010
Going undercover.
For ages now I've wanted to visit another play centre in Coventry. The woman who runs it had written about it on NetMums when she was setting it up and had asked for suggestions from the members about what they wanted from an Activity centre. For a start I thought that was a silly idea as no matter how hard you try you are never going to please all the people all the time.What one person likes, another person will hate.
Anyway, I suggested it to Mum and Dad and after a initial bad reaction from Mikey, "I'm not going to a little kid's place!" he yelled, we all made the 40 minute journey to Coventry. Jam Jam Boomerang is very similar to us, but on a much smaller scale and without the bouncy castles. There was no parking and we had to squeeze into a gap further down the road, yet there were businesses all around with huge fenced off car parks that Jam Jam could have used (rented?) at the weekends...a case of not very friendly neighbours?
We queued to get in for ten minutes and the place was heaving. First stop was grub and I paid out £20 for coffees, cake and lunch for the children. We had a good look around, and despite Dad introducing himself when we went in and asking to meet the Manager to say hello, nobody came over to speak to us, which was a shame. We rarely meet other operators and it's always good to swap stories and experiences. We are not competition to them, but there you go. In fairness to them, they were very busy and we saw a couple of things that we liked, but I think Mikey's days of enjoying these sort of places is over as he spent most of his time playing football with a load of other boys.
No photography was allowed but I did manage to sneak a couple of photos of the framework on my mobile. They didn't seem to have as much to do as our place but we did like the small tots area which was completely separate.
So, all in all, a good afternoon and a useful exercise that we need to repeat...quickly! Mikey is now 10 and his days are limited. He is really too old to play at Berzerk now which is a frightening thought!
http://www.jamjamboomerang.co.uk/
Anyway, I suggested it to Mum and Dad and after a initial bad reaction from Mikey, "I'm not going to a little kid's place!" he yelled, we all made the 40 minute journey to Coventry. Jam Jam Boomerang is very similar to us, but on a much smaller scale and without the bouncy castles. There was no parking and we had to squeeze into a gap further down the road, yet there were businesses all around with huge fenced off car parks that Jam Jam could have used (rented?) at the weekends...a case of not very friendly neighbours?
We queued to get in for ten minutes and the place was heaving. First stop was grub and I paid out £20 for coffees, cake and lunch for the children. We had a good look around, and despite Dad introducing himself when we went in and asking to meet the Manager to say hello, nobody came over to speak to us, which was a shame. We rarely meet other operators and it's always good to swap stories and experiences. We are not competition to them, but there you go. In fairness to them, they were very busy and we saw a couple of things that we liked, but I think Mikey's days of enjoying these sort of places is over as he spent most of his time playing football with a load of other boys.
No photography was allowed but I did manage to sneak a couple of photos of the framework on my mobile. They didn't seem to have as much to do as our place but we did like the small tots area which was completely separate.
So, all in all, a good afternoon and a useful exercise that we need to repeat...quickly! Mikey is now 10 and his days are limited. He is really too old to play at Berzerk now which is a frightening thought!
http://www.jamjamboomerang.co.uk/
Friday 5 February 2010
True or not?
Today has gone so fast! It didn't help that I forgot my camera this morning and had to drive back home as I had to photograph our Gladiator Duel for the company who sold us the latest bouncy castle. Luckily it was out from last night but then we had to put the monster away and it would not deflate!! As is usual when we're running a bit late we had customers banging on the door at 9.20! Grr!
So, the rest of the day went by very quickly with the usual Friday chores and then we went out this evening to see a Medium called Vince Price (who was actually rather large) in Brixworth Village Hall. Well...I imagined about 10 of us turning up but the place was packed to the rafters! Most of the audience were women except a man who was obviously a sceptic...
The first half was good and I was impressed with how he talked to a couple of people, but the second half made me question him as he was so vague and a lot of the things he said were wrong. I also noticed that the person in the audience was supplying him with a lot of information...
We left before it ended at just after 10pm and I remain unconvinced by him. The woman I saw a few years back was very good as she wouldn't look at me and asked me to just answer her with yes or no.
Anyway...Friday is here and another week has gone by. Did I do any pampering? No...hair still needs cutting and the unibrow is coming along nicely...
So, the rest of the day went by very quickly with the usual Friday chores and then we went out this evening to see a Medium called Vince Price (who was actually rather large) in Brixworth Village Hall. Well...I imagined about 10 of us turning up but the place was packed to the rafters! Most of the audience were women except a man who was obviously a sceptic...
The first half was good and I was impressed with how he talked to a couple of people, but the second half made me question him as he was so vague and a lot of the things he said were wrong. I also noticed that the person in the audience was supplying him with a lot of information...
We left before it ended at just after 10pm and I remain unconvinced by him. The woman I saw a few years back was very good as she wouldn't look at me and asked me to just answer her with yes or no.
Anyway...Friday is here and another week has gone by. Did I do any pampering? No...hair still needs cutting and the unibrow is coming along nicely...
Thursday 4 February 2010
Damp and depressing.
I've never really been a fan of February. My birthday is over, it's not really Spring and there's a half term stuck right in the middle of it...
This morning it was horrible. I drove to work at 7.45am and it was supposed to be sunrise, but we haven't seen the sun all day. No wonder people in Scandanavia go mad in the winter. It was foggy, damp and depressing but I take comfort from looking at the sunset times and seeing the days lengthen just a little bit every day. I suppose I should see the good in days like today but atmospheric is the only word I can come up with!
It was a busy day at work and again, I managed to get a lot of things done. The only time we ventured out was to go to the bank, so we didn't get a lot of fresh air today. Soon, I hope to go for a walk when I get home to get some exercise and feel the sun on my face. I look forward to it.
This morning it was horrible. I drove to work at 7.45am and it was supposed to be sunrise, but we haven't seen the sun all day. No wonder people in Scandanavia go mad in the winter. It was foggy, damp and depressing but I take comfort from looking at the sunset times and seeing the days lengthen just a little bit every day. I suppose I should see the good in days like today but atmospheric is the only word I can come up with!
It was a busy day at work and again, I managed to get a lot of things done. The only time we ventured out was to go to the bank, so we didn't get a lot of fresh air today. Soon, I hope to go for a walk when I get home to get some exercise and feel the sun on my face. I look forward to it.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Midweek musings...
Today started off very well, so maybe the curse of Wednesdays has been lifted! Keith came into work with me as usual and we managed to get a lot done today, which was good.
After work, mum and dad came around for a drink. They haven't been here for ages so it was great to have a chat and Dad told us about his first job working in a butcher's shop. He cut the top of one of his fingers off but had to work the rest of the day and it wasn't until he got home that his dad took him to hospital on the back of his motorbike. Of course, nowadays, he'd have a month off and get compensation but he had just the one day off before he was back on his push bike delivering meat to the customers with his bad hand strapped to his chest!
We sampled the Talisker and like Liam and I, Dad liked the 18 year old best. For me the Distiller's Edition tasted very smoky while the 18 year old was smooth and sweetish. We talked about buying a bottle a month on an alternate basis which sounds good to me! It's about time I built up my whisky collection!
After work, mum and dad came around for a drink. They haven't been here for ages so it was great to have a chat and Dad told us about his first job working in a butcher's shop. He cut the top of one of his fingers off but had to work the rest of the day and it wasn't until he got home that his dad took him to hospital on the back of his motorbike. Of course, nowadays, he'd have a month off and get compensation but he had just the one day off before he was back on his push bike delivering meat to the customers with his bad hand strapped to his chest!
We sampled the Talisker and like Liam and I, Dad liked the 18 year old best. For me the Distiller's Edition tasted very smoky while the 18 year old was smooth and sweetish. We talked about buying a bottle a month on an alternate basis which sounds good to me! It's about time I built up my whisky collection!
Tuesday 2 February 2010
A slog at the blog...
Sometimes I find this blog hard to write, other days it's as easy as anything. Today is one of the difficult days, because, apart from going to Ikea, nothing has really happened!
Most days my life follows a usual routine. Get up at 7am, get showered and dressed and leave for work. This morning I picked up mum and we went into work together. Before we knew it, the morning had passed but we decided to drive to Ikea in Milton Keynes to get some bits for work, namely highchair trays, potties, rugs and some plates and cups. I really had an exciting time by buying myself three toilet brushes and some smelly candles...I know how to spend it!
I picked up Sophie from school which was a major stress. She should normally get the bus home, but the poor thing has to wait nearly half an hour for her bus to leave and in the cold weather, it's not very pleasant. Picking her up from school is hell on earth as all the buses line up and duel with the cars so lately I've been pulling into a layby next to an alley that leads to the school. This was fine until yesterday and today when the lollipop lady took up residence in my spot!
Back in the office, Soph took over my computer to do her homework but by 4pm I was yearning for home, a glass of wine and a chance to relax.
The challenge is progressing. Unlike writing the blog, I found today's photo easy...
Most days my life follows a usual routine. Get up at 7am, get showered and dressed and leave for work. This morning I picked up mum and we went into work together. Before we knew it, the morning had passed but we decided to drive to Ikea in Milton Keynes to get some bits for work, namely highchair trays, potties, rugs and some plates and cups. I really had an exciting time by buying myself three toilet brushes and some smelly candles...I know how to spend it!
I picked up Sophie from school which was a major stress. She should normally get the bus home, but the poor thing has to wait nearly half an hour for her bus to leave and in the cold weather, it's not very pleasant. Picking her up from school is hell on earth as all the buses line up and duel with the cars so lately I've been pulling into a layby next to an alley that leads to the school. This was fine until yesterday and today when the lollipop lady took up residence in my spot!
Back in the office, Soph took over my computer to do her homework but by 4pm I was yearning for home, a glass of wine and a chance to relax.
The challenge is progressing. Unlike writing the blog, I found today's photo easy...
Monday 1 February 2010
That Monday feeling...
So, a new month is here and if it goes by as quickly as January, before I know it, it'll be 2011!
I have this theory that when you're young and enjoying life, time races past at the speed of light. It's all saved up in a time bank and when you get old and doddery and unable to do a lot of the things you want to (I hope this never happens to me!) the time you spent when you were young comes back to haunt you. I know that when I go and see my Nan in Kent, she says how slowly times passes for her and I can understand that. Maybe there's some sort of scientific theory to all this but I know for a fact that when you're enjoying yourself times races and when you have to do something boring it crawls along with all the speed of a drunken snail.
Anyway...it's another Monday, the start of another week and before I know it, Friday will be here again. Maybe I should set myself some objectives to do before each week is out. I need a haircut desperately and my eyebrows also need shaping, as soon I will have what Sophie calls a "unibrow".
So, maybe my objective this week is to have a pamper. I'll let you know how I get on.
February's theme is below - post a picture of a number everyday. I look forward to the challenge!
I have this theory that when you're young and enjoying life, time races past at the speed of light. It's all saved up in a time bank and when you get old and doddery and unable to do a lot of the things you want to (I hope this never happens to me!) the time you spent when you were young comes back to haunt you. I know that when I go and see my Nan in Kent, she says how slowly times passes for her and I can understand that. Maybe there's some sort of scientific theory to all this but I know for a fact that when you're enjoying yourself times races and when you have to do something boring it crawls along with all the speed of a drunken snail.
Anyway...it's another Monday, the start of another week and before I know it, Friday will be here again. Maybe I should set myself some objectives to do before each week is out. I need a haircut desperately and my eyebrows also need shaping, as soon I will have what Sophie calls a "unibrow".
So, maybe my objective this week is to have a pamper. I'll let you know how I get on.
February's theme is below - post a picture of a number everyday. I look forward to the challenge!
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