A bit of R&R

It was lovely to come home tonight and know that we had nothing to do and nowhere to go. I jumped into the bath and read my current book for a while (Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft who taught me at evening classes a few years ago and happens to be a friend of mine on Facebook. It's very enjoyable!) then Keith and I fell asleep on our bed for half an hour which was bliss. Last night I had a terrible night's sleep so I may have caught up at least a bit!

We played cards in the conservatory for an hour before dinner and I absolutely thrashed Keith...I didn't just win, the poor man was annihilated! It's funny how this happens and I have no explanation for it at all. Maybe luck comes in waves and I was at the top of my particular lucky wave! I wish it followed through with the lottery!

Today has been rainy and miserable, but it was great to sit in the conservatory and listen to the rain on the roof knowing we were warm and dry while the weather raged all around us!

Looking forward to Easter

I prefer Easter to Christmas. It's at a better time of year, I don't have to worry about buying presents (just a couple of chocolate eggs) and I still get time off!

I'm looking forward to next weekend and please forgive me if it's not for religious reasons.  Traditionally we try and do some decorating but I have a feeling that a certain someone still won't know what she wants in her room so may miss the very narrow window of opportunity!

I always try and have Good Friday off, but this week, with the weather forecast, I may have to work all day. Saturday will be spent tarting the house up for my Wine Evening so that leaves Sunday (may be a bit hungover) and Monday...hmmm! Everything will be closed on Sunday so as you can see I'm gradually talking myself out of this decorating lark!!

They've forecast a colder week and we may even have snow which wouldn't surprise me - it's happened on Sophie's birthday before but one Easter I can remember it being really hot. This country never ceases to amaze me and trip us up just when we think it's safe to fling off the winter woollies!

Spring forward...

So, the clocks went forward today and we lost an hour which has made me irritable all day. Time flies past quickly enough as it is without losing a hour!

I set myself the task of cleaning today and we moved the dining room table back into the conservatory! What a relief as we have so much more room now and it was lovely to sit out there this evening and do a bit of sky-gazing.

This afternoon we went in search of inspiration for Sophie's room. I think she is still a bit confused. We picked out a lovely quilt cover which was large black roses against a cream background. This will fit her theme of New York/Audrey Hepburn/Breakfast at Tiffany's etc...However, when we looked at wallpaper for her "accent" wall, we came unstuck. I suggested a beautiful flock wallpaper of black flowers against cream, but she hated it and went for a wild proliferation of bright flowers!  There was no way it was going to match and I invented a new word - hideosity!!

The best thing to do is to let her sleep on things and then look at different magazines to see if she can get some inspiration, but I do suspect the new quilt cover will be returned.

Our afternoon was rounded off at the Beckworth Rip-off Emporium...Despite me asking Sophie not to order one of their sandwiches, she whinged on until she got one. I asked for just a plain cheese sandwich, no wedges, salad or coleslaw. The result? They still charged me £5.25 for two slices of bread and some cheese! As we were one of the few tables left I didn't want to cause a scene with our very young waitress so I will be writing to the manager and expressing my disgust!!

To Be or Not To Be...

We spent the afternoon in Stratford Upon Avon and had a lovely time. Keith went to meet an old friend for a beer at the Swan's Nest hotel, right on the river and we went off to Redwings Horse Sanctuary a few miles away. However, when we got there, there was not a lot to see so we headed back to Stratford and parked the car near to the hotel.

It was very pleasant and we had a short walk along the river before coffee and cakes.

There were lots of people about enjoying the sunshine and the river.

The children weren't really interested in the Shakespeare connection although I know Sophie will be studying at least one of his plays over the next few years. I did Macbeth, Hamlet and the Taming of the Shrew which I saw at the RSC...

After meandering around by the river we walked into the town for a short while, stopping in WH Smith to look at books - even Michael showed an interest which was great! We then made our way back to the hotel to see Keith but stopped for some entertainment on the way. A (mad) man was playing with fire sticks while riding a unicycle and allowed me to take a couple of photos of him for a tenner (!)

He was joking but we did put a few pounds in his hat at the end of his performance as he was very good. His last act was to put one of the flaming torches down his trousers...

When we got back to the hotel I met Keith's old mate and listened to them reminisce about the old days. It was very enlightening!

Cats...

Does anyone want two cats?

Keith discovered this morning that one of the cats (and we have our suspicions as to who it is) weed in his slippers.This is becoming a habit now - a habit I find extremely annoying and horrible. I found wee on some computer manuals behind a chair in the living room and twice on books upstairs. We decided never to leave the cats in the house when we're not there but now it looks like we're going to have to put them out at night as well as they can't be trusted.

I'm not a big fan of cats and we got them in the first place as Sophie wanted a dog. The time wasn't right for a puppy as we were both working all day so the cats were a compromise. Archie is lovely but constantly leaves a trail of black fur all over the cream carpet, disappears for days on end in the summer and eats most of the local wildlife population. Monty is a beautiful looking cat but is aloof and only wants to know you when he wants food. He frequently hisses and growls at us and hates being picked up, stroked or petted.

The other week I jokingly asked Sarah if I could borrow Max for a week, but knowing him and the cats, they'd probably run him out of the house! He managed to get into the house once when we left the door open and Monty was having a snooze in the conservatory. Monty woke up and hissed at him so much, Max turned tail and fled!

It's a shame because I've had cats in the past who were lovely and were real members of the family like Jake is with mum and dad. Tabitha was a beautiful tabby who loved us to bits while Ben used to love to come in the car with us on journeys down to Kent! He would sit on mum's lap and suck on a piece of blanket!

Maybe the solution is to get a puppy and see what happens! The cats may decide they prefer life in the garage!

Ouch!

Today I had an appointment at the dentist with the children. I hate the dentist, even though nothing really bad has happened to me there. It's just the thought of lying prone in the chair and being helpless, I think! He asked if everything was ok, and, unusually for me, it wasn't. I've had a pain in my jaw for the last week and put it down to a bit of tension, but today as I cleaned my teeth, I could feel a pain. My dentist had a good rummage around and then took an X-ray but couldn't find anything wrong. He gave me a prescription for some antibiotics if the pain didn't go away in a week, but told me that I couldn't drink alcohol with them!! WHAT!!! If the pain does get worse I'll have to wait until after next Saturday because I'm hosting a Wine tasting then!!

He then gave me a scale and polish and it really hurt! I was lying there gripping the armrests of the chair and trying not to scream as he blasted away at my poor gnashers! But at least they look all shiny and very clean now!

Mum and Dad popped around when I got home and had a drink with us and a good natter about their holiday. They had a wonderful time and I think they really managed to relax while they were away. Their only gripe was the poor Euro exchange rate and it sounds like Paphos is suffering the same problems as Puerto Pollensa - lots of empty restaurants as people opt for half-board or All-Inclusive. I can't say I blame them at the moment. They brought back a beautiful bottle of wine for us, sealed with red wax. It looks very special and is seven years old so I think we'll be saving that for a lovely dinner or Anniversary.

So, all in all, a day that didn't start out too brilliantly ended very well!

Airport run

I went back down to Luton tonight to pick up my parents who've been in Cyprus for a week. Both children wanted to come with me and I hadn't the heart to refuse, even though I knew we'd be home a bit late.

As it turned out we were about half an hour later than expected due to their baggage being delayed, so we had an hour's wait in the Arrivals hall. I've never been able to manage to get to the airport to pick someone up the minute they come through Arrivals and tonight was no exception! I could have left home when they landed and still have been on time!

Comments...

I'd like some, please!

I've no idea how many people have found this blog (I do know some kind people who have enjoyed reading it!) but I'd love to have some comments, even if it's just to say hello! It's so good to hear from anyone who's found this and I'd love to know what you think!

OK...it's been a pretty uneventful day today and even our planned walk didn't happen because the weather turned grotty in the afternoon - it became cold and wet and not very nice at all. Still, it's doing the plants some good anyway!

It's Monday...it's pub night!

We paid another visit to the Royal Oak tonight, paid for by a few horses at Cheltenham last week! As always it was an enjoyable night with good banter, friendly staff and delicious food.

Today started off very well, then gradually got worse, weather-wise, with rain in the afternoon. But tonight we had the most glorious sunset and of course, where was I? Yes, rushing about in the car! The sky looked like it was full of smoke - fantastic shades of pink, peach and smoky grey. We had a bank of low lying clouds which were tinged with the colours of the setting sun and it was truly gorgeous. I'm in no way a religious person, but at times like this I do believe in a higher force and the beauty of Nature was awesome. I just wish I'd had the time to capture the sky on my camera but it was impossible.

I still have today's photo to take - the colour blue...now I just need some inspiration!

First Day of Spring?

Today was as beautiful as yesterday was horrible. I spent a couple of hours in the garden and to be honest, I could have cried when I first ventured out. Everything looked dead but on closer inspection and after a bit of tidying up, things did look a lot better. Perhaps I'm expecting too much. I raked the grass and Keith put down some grass seed underneath the Hebe that has lost a big branch after the winter. I know it will recover and sometimes I think it does plants good to have a bit of a prune. Sue came out and we had a natter about gardens in general. Very enjoyable in the Spring sunshine!

In the afternoon, Sophie and I went off to Podington garden centre and I bought some primroses and violas to add a bit of colour. The place was buzzing with people doing much the same as I was and cars were being filled with plants of all shapes and sizes. It was lovely to see.

Back at home I put a lot of the plants in the front garden, to make it more colourful so we'll see what happens. In some ways it's good to have a choice now as the bushes have been cut back so much. I have a few conifers that will now maybe find a new home there.

So...it's been an enjoyable day but the weekend has gone over far too fast for my liking! Next week the clocks go forward and we lose a precious hour but gain some light in the evenings!

Lazy Day.

And I don't feel in the slightest bit guilty!

I didn't get up until 9.40am and was in a lovely dream about staying in a villa right next to the sea...I wonder if Keith has checked whether we've won the Euromillions yet??

The weather has been grey and rainy, so perfect weather for doing very little and mooching about the house. Tomorrow is supposed to be brighter and if it is, I'll try and get out into the garden. I did finish a story for a contest so I feel good about that, which is something at least!

I have a feeling a lazy evening will follow. Keith has taken control of the television as Newcastle are playing at about 5pm, closely followed by England in the Rugby...oh well...I do have a very good book to read!

The Vouvray Appreciation Society

Friday again and Sue came around for a drink tonight with another bottle of Vouvray. It was delicious and we had a good gossip as usual. It was lovely to sit and enjoy the wine and relax knowing that the weekend is ahead of us. This week has been busy and as predicted, has flown by!

We had another winner at Cheltenham, in the prestigious Gold Cup. I was convinced that the two favourites, Denman and Kauto Star, weren't going to win, but who was? Keith wasn't even going to have a bet in the race (he said!) but I convinced him and he went for Imperial Commander who looked the closest bet to challenge the favourites. Well...I was glad he did! When I got home from work, we watched the race and he won! It was sad to see Kauto Star fall (he was OK) but Imperial Commander beat Denman into second place and we cheered! I also fancied Mon Mome which came third and if I'd trusted my instincts and had an each way bet on him, we'd have won more than for a straight win with Imperial Commander!

We managed a walk tonight, to mum's to feed Jake but it rained heavily and we arrived back home soaked to the skin! It was still enjoyable though and I felt good for getting out and getting some exercise!

Quick one tonight!

We didn't have as lucky a day at Cheltenham as we did the last two days and my choices went badly wrong! Oh well! At least we had an interest!

It's been a busy day today and we managed another walk after work which was good - it's starting to become an enjoyable habit!

Another winner!

Big Zeb did the business for us at Cheltenham today and like yesterday, Keith recorded the racing for me to watch when I got home from work. Now we are into profit!

It's been a long day today. I took my parents to Luton Airport this morning for their flight to Cyprus and even at 6.30am the roads were busy. We were doing really well until someone had the cheek to  break down in the roadworks near Luton, but it only held us up for ten minutes.

Luton has changed considerably since I was there last. The approach road was different and the drop off point had changed as well. The cheek of it though...they charged £1 for me to drop off my parents!! Huh!

I raced back to work and managed to get there well before we opened which was a relief. Today has been busy but I managed to sneak off at lunchtime and visit my chiropodist who has an apartment in Puerto Pollensa. We had a good chat and she offered me the use of her place whenever I want so I may well take her up on it!

After work, and after watching the racing, Keith and I dropped dad's car back and then we walked home. It was another lovely evening but chilly out of the sun. A few daffodils were in flower but we did see lots of snowdrops. Maybe Spring is just around the corner after all!

Getting some exercise.

This afternoon, when I'd finished work, Keith and I went for a walk. First of all though, we watched a couple of races at Cheltenham as he'd put a bet on and his first horse won! He was very pleased as that means he can now enjoy the festival and his remaining bets are paid for! Let's just hope he has some more winners...

It was a beautiful late afternoon and we were out for longer than we'd intended. We took a different route across the fields which took us to a path overlooking Pitsford reservoir. It was lovely and quiet and we just saw one person in the distance.

As usual I took lots of photos of the trees, with the backdrop of the setting sun. I sometimes feel like a character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, forever drawing (in my case photographing!) the same picture! But I really do love the bare trees against the sky (you may have noticed) and I've mucked about with the pictures a little to make them a bit more atmospheric.

We went down to the bank of the stream to see if any of the daffodils were open, but they were still tightly closed against the chilly wind. Hopefully this time next week we'll see a mass of yellow heads.

It was lovely to have a walk and get some fresh air - hopefully it will become an enjoyable habit!

Start of another week....

...which will no doubt fly by like all the others!

Not much has happened today, but that's OK. It's definitely getting warmer - the temperature was about 8 degrees this evening at 7pm. So much better than -2!

I went to get Keith from the pub and Dave made me stay for a drink. I didn't need much persuading and it seems to be getting a habit now, this pub thing on a Monday night! I'm not complaining! The rest of the week is quiet which is great - for the first time in weeks we have a run of free nights so I'm going to try and get out for a walk when I get home from work and make use of these lovely lighter evenings!

Mothers' Day

It's been a busy weekend! Last night was very good and I managed to avoid drinking too much, which was a major feat as Liam was on fine form and insisted on ending the evening with cocktails - a Harvey Wallbanger and a lethal Blue concoction that I had just one sip of!

We also had a great day in Kent at the Jacobean Barn in Bexley, which is attached to the lovely Hall Place. As today has been so mild and Spring-like the whole area was packed out and the pub very busy but we had a great meal with good service despite how busy it was.

On the way home, because we were right next to the A2, we drove home via the Blackwall Tunnel and then Enfield. On the way we saw the O2 Arena and the area being developed for the Olympics. It's going to be incredible when it's all finished.

So, all in all, a good day and I received two boxes of chocolates and lovely cards from the children. I'm off now to sample one of them!

Joining the masses at the Garden Centre...

What a mistake that was! Last year I had mum's present sorted out weeks before Mothers' Day, but this year I've left it until the last minute. Sophie and I drove to the Garden Centre this morning to buy a pressie for my mum and a little something for Sarah tonight when we go around for dinner. I think everyone in Northamptonshire had the same idea...

I didn't see anything I liked and was horrified by the prices of mediocre bunches of flowers and grotty arrangements that would last for just a couple of weeks. I did see a very pretty Camellia but had a feeling they need lime free soil, which wasn't mentioned on the label (I was right). One very harrassed mum made me smile - she had two small boys with her and was obviously looking for a present, the same as me. As she passed me she said through gritted teeth..."My husband is going to pay for his morning round of golf!" I really felt for her!

Anyway... the present is sorted - a lovely bunch of yellow roses and Garden Centre vouchers so mum can go and spend them on what she likes when the mass panic has died down!

Ending the week with a sigh of relief.

Today has been good (if I can forget the woman who nearly drove into the side of us this afternoon) and the week was rounded off very well by drinks with Sue who provided a bag of crisps and pineapple and cheese on sticks to go with our Demi-sec Vouvray...delicious!

 We had a good natter as always and the time flew. The wine was lovely and I only wish that I'd bought more of it. Why is it that we always buy good wine in France when it's not so easy to get there if you want more?

And at last...I had the unibrow sorted! I now have two perfectly shaped eyebrows, even if it was painful as she ripped off the wax strips! I was very tempted to book myself a lovely sounding facial as well but I might give in later in the week, depending on how stressful it is!

Girls' Night In

I'm just back from seeing some friends. It was a really good night and we had a laugh which is always good. We ordered Chinese takeaway and the woman whose house we were in made a fabulous Tiramisu which rounded off the meal very well, but made us all feel very stuffed!

I used to work with three of the women, but the fourth I'd never met before. She turned out to be good fun and it's always lovely to make new friends. There was lots of cackling and giggling and it was great to relax and have a natter.

There'll be more of the same tomorrow night when Sue pops over but I hope she doesn't expect a lavish meal...I might stretch to a bag or two of nibbles!

Feeling very chilly!

After work today I dragged Keith out for a walk to the village, but after a few minutes we realised that it was not going to be a pleasant experience and we were both frozen! We trotted quickly into the village, both of us huddled into coats to keep out the nasty, biting wind! I did see a tiny clump of snowdrops next to the path and a few buds on the trees, but it felt far more like Winter than Spring.

After our walk it was lovely to get back into the warm house and have a drink while playing a game of cards!

I have a sociable time coming up in the next few days - I'm out tomorrow with friends, Sue is popping over for a drink on Friday evening and then we're next door at Sarah and Liam's house on Saturday night. Sunday is Mothers' Day (Yay!) and we're off to Kent for lunch. I think next week I may have to rein in the indulgences!!

Work hassles...

Our lease on the building we occupy at work is due to finish at the end of this month, but our Landlord is still playing stupid games. The building we're in was built in the early 70s and so has asbestos which has been designated as safe and not a risk (unless we deliberately damage it which would be silly). Our Landlord, before we sign a new lease, wants us to get rid of it! As you can imagine, we're digging our heels as the estimated cost would be around £50,000 and our current lease clearly states we have no responsibility for removing it. Dad almost had a big bust up today with our Landlord's agent and told him in no uncertain terms that the stuff is safe and it's staying! We want to put new cladding over it and therefore improve the external appearance of the building which would be as much for his benefit as for ours! Ho hum!

So, it's been a bit of a stressful day at work but these things are sent to try us. I had a nasty headache all day (I wonder why) and when I went to pick Sophie up from school I went straight home for a nice warm bath which helped very much.

It's still cold and there are very little signs of Spring, although we do have a few crocuses poking their green heads out. No actual flowers yet. Maybe I'm being a bit premature but I'm sure in previous years we had a show of daffodils by now. How welcome they'll be when they appear! And that first warm day when Spring has truly sprung...I can't wait!

Snowdrops

Ducking out of dinner...

It had been a busy day and on the way home tonight, after going to Mikey's weekly lesson, I thought...why not? The pub does two for one on a Monday night and I really don't fancy what we've got planned for dinner. So we went!

I'm not sure Keith was that pleased when we turned up en masse, but even he had to admit that he enjoyed our spontaneous visit and it was lovely not to have to cook and wash up. I had liver, which I really fancied, and it was cooked beautifully.

I love our local - we've been visiting through thick and thin since 1989 and it's like a home from home for us, with friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere. Tonight it was quiet, just how we like it.

It was a busy day at work, as I said. We scrubbed the floor and re-sealed it which is always a long and dirty job. My arms ache at the moment but when I walk in tomorrow it'll be lovely to see such a clean and shiny floor. How long it will last is anyone's guess though!!

Pruning...

It's been another beautiful sunny, but cold day. I didn't venture out to the garden as it was a bit nippy, but Keith did, and he launched another attack on our poor bushes and trees...

I stayed indoors to clean the bedrooms and change the bedding but I could see him out of the window and knew what he was up to out there... I just hope that everything comes back to life because at the moment we have a bunch of twigs.


So, even though it's the end of the weekend, I feel I've achieved a lot and have a great feeling of satisfaction!

Anniversary

Today, 22 years ago, Keith and I went on our first date. We worked at Black and Decker together, and under the pretence of work, he asked me to bring some telexes (remember them?) over to his office. He met me half way (a bit nervous, I think!) and asked me to go to Brighton for the day with him. The rest, as they say, is history.

I'm mightily proud of being with him for 22 years, especially as that figure is the difference in our ages. I've known him more than half my life now and we have a lot of shared memories. Let's hope we're still together 22 years from now! He disappeared off this morning to get the newspaper and came back with lots of flowers for me, which was totally unexpected and very welcome!

I spent the day giving the house a good Spring clean and golly...did it need it! I think hundreds of spiders have been busy spinning webs as there were a fair few hanging from the ceilings! I did things I don't normally have time to do, such as pulling out furniture and cleaning ornaments in cabinets, and opened all the windows to get some fresh air into the house and chase away the fuggy Winter air. So, tonight, I feel very smug surveying my clean downstairs rooms (I have upstairs to do tomorrow...yes, it was that bad!) and maybe even get out into the garden if it's nice. Let's hope it is and that it's the start of a proper Spring!

Friday!!!

Another week has flown by! Where has this week gone?

Conversation with my son in the car on the way to pick up hubby from the pub...

Son: Mr Ayton (his Headmaster) told us today that if you mixed baking soda with vinegar it would explode like a volcano...
Me: Really?
Son: Do we have any Baking powder?
Me: No!

Today has been a much better day - the sun has shone, it was pretty mild (9 degrees) and it was Friday...what more could I want? I didn't even have to rush around this morning as Keith had an appointment for some physiotherapy at 8.30am so it was down to me to take Mikey to the bus stop. This was was lovely as it gave me a chance to chat to the other mums who I don't see enough of.  Going to work at 7.45am every morning means I miss out on the mum chat at the bus stop, but I do love going into work early and missing the worst of the traffic. But I like to catch up every now and then and it was great to go out with them just before Christmas to the local pub and have a good gossip. It was very snowy that night and we walked the half mile to the pub with the snow crunching under our feet and a million stars above us. Nice memories!

One of the mums is holding a jewellery and gift card sale in a few weeks and I think I'll go and take my mum.

Today, the weather has been so lovely, I've felt like doing some spring cleaning! Keith and I sat in the conservatory when I got home from work and discussed what we were going to do with the Scalextric that has been sitting idle since Christmas. I want the conservatory back as a dining/sitting room now that the weather is getting better as I love sitting out there and gazing up at the sky. It was warm in there even though we didn't have any heating on. Over the weekend I think we'll sort it out and maybe set up the track in Mikey's bedroom, even if it means cutting it down a bit. The house needs a good deep clean so I'm pysching myself up to do it over the weekend...Wish me luck!!

This month's Photo Challenge is colours, which alternate every day. Today has been black and it just had to be Archie...

Grumbles...

Today has been one of those days and I'm really glad that it's over!

Nothing serious, just grumblings and bickerings which I suppose is part of life. The weather has been beautiful though and it was lovely to see the sun shining all day. What a difference it makes when we can see blue sky! It was also great to get up earlyish this morning (6.45am) and see that the day had started already! Those dark mornings are still fresh in my mind and it does make getting up a bit easier!

Turning the corner?

Is it me or are we over the worst? Keith and I drove over to Guilsborough this afternoon as he has to go to the surgery there on Friday morning for physiotherapy on his leg (as if he hasn't got enough wrong with him!!). It was a beautiful late afternoon/early evening and it was so lovely to see the sun still shining at 5pm. I feel as if we've turned a corner with the weather and that longer, warmer and sunnier days are on the way.

On a different note, we are now spending more time without the children which feels a bit weird...They now prefer to stay at home if we pop out to the supermarket or like last night, go to the pub. We have very strict rules but my parents are literally two minutes away and we have very good neighbours who would help in an emergency. Sophie is very sensible and grown-up for her age and she is under strict instructions not to answer the door to anyone and not to touch the cooker or light candles. When they were babies, I sometimes felt as if my own freedom took a back seat but now we seem to be regaining a bit of our life which is great. It also stops the arguing if they don't fancy a trip to the supermarket or to go and get a newspaper but I think they will still want to come out for a meal with us, which I always enjoy.

So today I feel a new sense of optimism and freedom. I know I'm not alone in yearning for Spring. It's been a long, long winter and even now there's no guarantee that the cold weather won't return. But I can see snowdrops flowering and hopefully, in a couple of weeks, the verges and gardens will be full of lovely yellow daffodils!

Undercover...as Agent Black Owl...

It's been a good day today, albeit slightly frustrating at times.

Keith took the car into VW at Kettering this morning and what should have been a half hour job lasted half the day. I had to drive all the way over to pick him up, drop him back at home and then go back to work. When the car was eventually ready it was all shiny and clean but came with a list of faults that the dealer had identified from its "Free Health Check"! The most shocking of all was the cost of a replacement handle for the glove compartment - they wanted £114 for that and £70 for a small switch that controls my wing mirrors!

Beating a hasty retreat I drove back to work wishing I'd started my own car dealership...

In the evening Keith and I went undercover to the Swan Inn in Braybrooke. I'd accepted a Mission as Agent Black Owl from Everard's to go along and have a meal and a drink and then answer a few (well, 50) questions about our evening there. It was most enjoyable. We left the children at home and had a couple of hours of good chat and a lovely meal. The Swan Inn is a really pretty pub in a small village and although we've been before, it was a good few years ago.

The welcome was warm and the food very good so we will definitely be going back, but next time without the moustache and dark glasses. I couldn't fault the place at all.

The only blot on the landscape was the puddle of slurry I drove through on the outskirts of the village which rather ruined JH02JLH's good looks...life in the country, eh?

A new month!

Well, the year is galloping by, but I'm hoping the worst is over. Today has certainly been beautiful with just a tiny hint of Spring, but I have it on good advice that we're in for some more of the bad stuff, so I won't be casting any clouts yet.

Today was pretty quiet and non-eventful, which is a welcome relief after all the excitement of the last couple of weeks. I felt a bit tired today and fell asleep on our bed after a lovely warm bath, but it didn't last long as the usual Monday evening events were waiting. The rest of the week is looking quiet but JH02JLH has to go back to the VW dealership tomorrow to have something looked at which sounds complicated...It's an official recall so should cost me nothing and she has been behaving herself very well lately, which is good. Like me, she is badly in need of a pamper and some TLC so I might get around to doing something about it very soon. A day at a Health Farm would be very welcome at the moment and no...that unibrow still hasn't been sorted!