My mobile phone troubles don't seem to be over just yet as I received a text from my provider this morning asking me to contact them about a recent order I'd placed with them. As I hadn't ordered anything, this was a bit unsettling, so I called them straight away and discovered that someone had tried to order a phone in my name last night, right after Keith and I had cancelled the other fraudulent order with EE.
This put me in a bit of a grump for the rest of the day when really I should have been in a happy mood! I rushed around decorating one of the party rooms for the Halloween games later in the day and when Keith arrived with both children we went over to the bank and made sure they knew what had happened in case any funnies turned up in my account. Yesterday and today seem to be full of doing paperwork and calling companies whose list of numbers to press never seem to correspond with the query I have!
Back at work Sophie and I hosted the games and I think the children all had a good time with the apple bobbing, hanging donuts (they had to eat them as they swung to and fro without using their hands!) and finding the sweets I'd hidden in a bowl of flour. There were some very sticky faces leaving work today! There were some really sweet children playing the games and we had great fun with the spooky music and a scary skull whose eyes moved!
It was a relief to go home at the end of the day, though, and I made an apple crumble with some fruit that nobody had bothered to eat, rather than throw it away. I have to say it was quite good with Keith's custard! While I was at work Keith and Mikey had carved the pumpkin and I put out a bowl of sweets ready for the trick or treaters, We had a very slow start and I began to wonder if anyone was coming at all, but all of a sudden hordes of children arrived so I was able to get rid of most of the bowl, thank goodness! My two don't need any more sweetness!
Thursday 31 October 2013
Wednesday 30 October 2013
What a day!
Today has been fairly intense - not a bad day, by any means, just intense!
I woke early (again) and went downstairs at 6am to make a coffee and watch the news. After ten minutes I checked Facebook and saw that I'd had a message from Ginny who runs another play centre in Northampton. Apparently, last night, our new rivals had posted messages trying to get their customers to arrive by bus or taxi and offering a whole host of incentives to stop people getting to their place by car, as obviously the parking is proving to be a huge problem (as we predicted). This prompted a storm of angry comments which Ginny had alerted me to.
I spent a good half hour reading over 130 comments from their FB followers and I have to admit if it was my business I would be distraught about what people were saying. Facebook is certainly a good way of achieving publicity but it can also work against a new business.
I went into work early and did the tills, opened up and was sweeping up the car park when Mum and Dad arrived for work. Naturally they were very interested to hear about the comments on Facebook and we wondered what would happen next with the parking...double yellow lines to stop people leaving their cars all along the road?
At 9am Keith came into work and we drove to Audi to talk about getting a new car. The A4 I'd driven on Saturday was looking a better prospect and we had another look at it before we saw Tim and went inside for a chat (and more delicious coffee!). To cut an extremely long story short, and after much haggling and gnashing of teeth, the A4 is now mine (or will be on Monday!).
I am mightily relieved, to be honest. I've enjoyed having my little A1 but I haven't been in love with the car and the size and lack of doors is now becoming a real problem. It was not a totally enjoyable process haggling for the new car but it's all done now and I can look forward to taking delivery of it next week.
We dashed back to work and then Keith left to go and pick Sophie up from her friend's house. She sounded a wee bit hungover on the phone after her party/sleepover so I was glad she was going home to rest and recuperate!
The afternoon was spent getting ready for Halloween at work tomorrow and trying to find small gifts for the children that we hope will turn up in Fancy Dress. In the end we decided to give anyone who dresses up a party bag and we bought little mini diaries for any adults that are brave enough to come as witches or Draculas!
Back at work we were busy and the noise level was very loud. There were emails flying backwards and forwards between Ginny, the Planning Officer and ourselves and I just wanted to go somewhere quiet and lie down for a few hours! I called Sophie about going to the gym only to find that she was asleep so I decided, regretfully, to leave working out for tonight and go home to get some peace and quiet!
When I arrived home I opened a letter to discover that someone had tried to take out a new mobile phone in my name and that I had a bill of £51!! It took Keith and I an hour to sort it all out on the phone, which I hope is the end of it. Luckily they didn't have my bank details so that was a relief but it wasn't quite the relaxing end to the day I'd hoped for!
I woke early (again) and went downstairs at 6am to make a coffee and watch the news. After ten minutes I checked Facebook and saw that I'd had a message from Ginny who runs another play centre in Northampton. Apparently, last night, our new rivals had posted messages trying to get their customers to arrive by bus or taxi and offering a whole host of incentives to stop people getting to their place by car, as obviously the parking is proving to be a huge problem (as we predicted). This prompted a storm of angry comments which Ginny had alerted me to.
I spent a good half hour reading over 130 comments from their FB followers and I have to admit if it was my business I would be distraught about what people were saying. Facebook is certainly a good way of achieving publicity but it can also work against a new business.
I went into work early and did the tills, opened up and was sweeping up the car park when Mum and Dad arrived for work. Naturally they were very interested to hear about the comments on Facebook and we wondered what would happen next with the parking...double yellow lines to stop people leaving their cars all along the road?
At 9am Keith came into work and we drove to Audi to talk about getting a new car. The A4 I'd driven on Saturday was looking a better prospect and we had another look at it before we saw Tim and went inside for a chat (and more delicious coffee!). To cut an extremely long story short, and after much haggling and gnashing of teeth, the A4 is now mine (or will be on Monday!).
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| The new car! |
I am mightily relieved, to be honest. I've enjoyed having my little A1 but I haven't been in love with the car and the size and lack of doors is now becoming a real problem. It was not a totally enjoyable process haggling for the new car but it's all done now and I can look forward to taking delivery of it next week.
We dashed back to work and then Keith left to go and pick Sophie up from her friend's house. She sounded a wee bit hungover on the phone after her party/sleepover so I was glad she was going home to rest and recuperate!
The afternoon was spent getting ready for Halloween at work tomorrow and trying to find small gifts for the children that we hope will turn up in Fancy Dress. In the end we decided to give anyone who dresses up a party bag and we bought little mini diaries for any adults that are brave enough to come as witches or Draculas!
Back at work we were busy and the noise level was very loud. There were emails flying backwards and forwards between Ginny, the Planning Officer and ourselves and I just wanted to go somewhere quiet and lie down for a few hours! I called Sophie about going to the gym only to find that she was asleep so I decided, regretfully, to leave working out for tonight and go home to get some peace and quiet!
When I arrived home I opened a letter to discover that someone had tried to take out a new mobile phone in my name and that I had a bill of £51!! It took Keith and I an hour to sort it all out on the phone, which I hope is the end of it. Luckily they didn't have my bank details so that was a relief but it wasn't quite the relaxing end to the day I'd hoped for!
Tuesday 29 October 2013
Busy, but not too busy!
This week will show us whether the new indoor play centre is really having an effect on us. This morning we had a satisfying queue of people waiting to come in and overall, it's been a good day. Not hectically busy so we can't cope, but a steady stream of customers choosing to visit us, which we are very grateful for.
I did pop down to Riverside at about 2pm and was horrified at the amount of cars parked along the side of the road. Their car park is about half the size of ours so it's difficult to tell if they were as busy, but I certainly wouldn't have wanted to leave my car parked on the road as there were several lorries about, including two huge car transporters.
After work I went to Sophie's school to give blood and experienced the new chairs! Sophie was supposed to have come with me but a crowd of them are having a party tonight and I didn't think it was a good idea for her to have some drinks after donating a pint. I enjoyed the new recliner chairs (so much better than the rickety beds!) and was rewarded with a cup of hot chocolate and a biscuit...I'm easily pleased!
I did pop down to Riverside at about 2pm and was horrified at the amount of cars parked along the side of the road. Their car park is about half the size of ours so it's difficult to tell if they were as busy, but I certainly wouldn't have wanted to leave my car parked on the road as there were several lorries about, including two huge car transporters.
After work I went to Sophie's school to give blood and experienced the new chairs! Sophie was supposed to have come with me but a crowd of them are having a party tonight and I didn't think it was a good idea for her to have some drinks after donating a pint. I enjoyed the new recliner chairs (so much better than the rickety beds!) and was rewarded with a cup of hot chocolate and a biscuit...I'm easily pleased!
Monday 28 October 2013
A dark and stormy night!
I was awake at 5.30am this morning and went downstairs to make a cup of coffee and could hardly believe what I saw when I looked out of the living room window! Sheets of rain blew across the front garden and the road and I could already see deep puddles forming as the drains struggled to cope with the onslaught of water. As the rain was torrential, it almost gave the wind a body as it fell from the sky and I did wonder whether some of the nearby trees would fall, especially as the fields are waterlogged.
Within ten to fifteen minutes, though, it had all quietened down and this appears to have been our share of the "storm"! Not that I'm complaining as in the news we learnt that several people have been killed by the violent weather, including a young boy who was swept out to sea.
As the day wore on the weather turned dry and sunny, but we had one last surge when it was time for Sophie and I to go to the gym. We had to wait inside for five minutes as the rain lashed down again! But we were rewarded with a double rainbow!
We had a good workout at the gym followed by a short swim and then a soak in the jacuzzi. There was a strange atmosphere in there tonight, though - it was a bit leery - so we left earlier than normal and went and had a hot shower!
Within ten to fifteen minutes, though, it had all quietened down and this appears to have been our share of the "storm"! Not that I'm complaining as in the news we learnt that several people have been killed by the violent weather, including a young boy who was swept out to sea.
As the day wore on the weather turned dry and sunny, but we had one last surge when it was time for Sophie and I to go to the gym. We had to wait inside for five minutes as the rain lashed down again! But we were rewarded with a double rainbow!
We had a good workout at the gym followed by a short swim and then a soak in the jacuzzi. There was a strange atmosphere in there tonight, though - it was a bit leery - so we left earlier than normal and went and had a hot shower!
Sunday 27 October 2013
Christmas cake Part 2!
Well, the clocks went back an hour last night so when I awoke at 7am it was really 6am...
The extra hour gave me the opportunity to make my Christmas cake - for real this time...no eating it as soon as it came out of the oven! The fruit had been soaking in Brandy since Wednesday and it was all plump and juicy, and smelled really lovely!
It went into the oven at 10am and when I got back from a swim at the gym at almost 2pm Keith had turned the oven off and it was cooling down. Mum and I went off to an Antiques Fair in Kettering in the afternoon and the gorgeous Mason china that she collects was there as one of the dealers specialises in it. However, the prices were ridiculous - £195 for a toast rack and I know that Mum has never paid that much before when she's bought various bits of china. She was really disappointed as there was a lot of crockery to choose from but she was not prepared to pay the high prices.
We left and went for a cup of tea at Beckworth's and then it was time to pick Sophie up from work and then go home for a glass of wine and prepare for the storm!
The extra hour gave me the opportunity to make my Christmas cake - for real this time...no eating it as soon as it came out of the oven! The fruit had been soaking in Brandy since Wednesday and it was all plump and juicy, and smelled really lovely!
It went into the oven at 10am and when I got back from a swim at the gym at almost 2pm Keith had turned the oven off and it was cooling down. Mum and I went off to an Antiques Fair in Kettering in the afternoon and the gorgeous Mason china that she collects was there as one of the dealers specialises in it. However, the prices were ridiculous - £195 for a toast rack and I know that Mum has never paid that much before when she's bought various bits of china. She was really disappointed as there was a lot of crockery to choose from but she was not prepared to pay the high prices.
We left and went for a cup of tea at Beckworth's and then it was time to pick Sophie up from work and then go home for a glass of wine and prepare for the storm!
Saturday 26 October 2013
Car hunting
For some time now I've been dreaming about getting a bigger Audi as, although I love my little A1 to bits, it's becoming more impractical with just the two doors and small boot. I've been eyeing up A4 estates on the internet so this morning we took my car to get washed and then called into Vindis in Northampton who are our local Audi dealer and where I bought my car almost two years ago.
It was a miserable morning with grey skies and drizzle but I was determined to get my car washed to show it at its best. We had a quick look at the used cars on offer (no way can we get a brand new one!) and we were approached by one of the salesmen who asked us what we were looking for. He took us into the showroom, gave us some fantastic coffee and asked lots of details before going to have a look at my car and taking it for a short test drive. Craig, who sold me my Audi, was still working there and recognised us which was nice!
They had an estate with an 08 plate so we went to have a look but I wasn't impressed as it was a bit rough around the edges and had 70,000 miles on the clock. Tim, the salesman, then said there was a newer car at the Cambridge showroom but we could take out a demonstrator so I could see how the car drove and whether I liked it or not.
We took out a lovely A4 estate and Tim drove it to a quiet industrial estate as the area around the showroom was very busy - both Northampton Saints were playing and the Cobblers had a game on as well! I took control of the car and, as predicted, loved it to bits. The one I was driving was over £17,000 so a bit out of my price range, but the Cambridge car sounded ideal and only had 30,000 miles on the clock.
We arranged to come back next weekend and then left to go home in the pouring rain. Horrible! The afternoon was spent in Market Harborough as Sophie wanted to do some shopping in New Look and we had lunch in Caffe Nero like old times!
It didn't take Sophie long to spend her money so by 4pm we were home and I gave the downstairs of the house a quick hoover before Mum and Dad came around for a drink, as they'd bought Mikey some new clothes in Next. We had a couple of drinks and a great chat and outside it grew increasingly stormy. The southern half of the UK is set to be hit by a storm on Sunday night/Monday morning, so we'll see if it's as bad as the one that happened in 1987 when a lot of damage was done to the south of the country.
We had a delicious dinner after Mum and Dad left and Keith broke his no-drinking rule and had a few beers! I'm sure it doesn't hurt at the weekend!
It was a miserable morning with grey skies and drizzle but I was determined to get my car washed to show it at its best. We had a quick look at the used cars on offer (no way can we get a brand new one!) and we were approached by one of the salesmen who asked us what we were looking for. He took us into the showroom, gave us some fantastic coffee and asked lots of details before going to have a look at my car and taking it for a short test drive. Craig, who sold me my Audi, was still working there and recognised us which was nice!
They had an estate with an 08 plate so we went to have a look but I wasn't impressed as it was a bit rough around the edges and had 70,000 miles on the clock. Tim, the salesman, then said there was a newer car at the Cambridge showroom but we could take out a demonstrator so I could see how the car drove and whether I liked it or not.
We took out a lovely A4 estate and Tim drove it to a quiet industrial estate as the area around the showroom was very busy - both Northampton Saints were playing and the Cobblers had a game on as well! I took control of the car and, as predicted, loved it to bits. The one I was driving was over £17,000 so a bit out of my price range, but the Cambridge car sounded ideal and only had 30,000 miles on the clock.
We arranged to come back next weekend and then left to go home in the pouring rain. Horrible! The afternoon was spent in Market Harborough as Sophie wanted to do some shopping in New Look and we had lunch in Caffe Nero like old times!
It didn't take Sophie long to spend her money so by 4pm we were home and I gave the downstairs of the house a quick hoover before Mum and Dad came around for a drink, as they'd bought Mikey some new clothes in Next. We had a couple of drinks and a great chat and outside it grew increasingly stormy. The southern half of the UK is set to be hit by a storm on Sunday night/Monday morning, so we'll see if it's as bad as the one that happened in 1987 when a lot of damage was done to the south of the country.
We had a delicious dinner after Mum and Dad left and Keith broke his no-drinking rule and had a few beers! I'm sure it doesn't hurt at the weekend!
Friday 25 October 2013
Turning back the clock to the 70s!
Tonight it was my friend Fiona's turn to host our monthly Come Dine With Me at her house in Northampton. I had planned on going to the gym after work but I realised that I just wouldn't have time to get ready if I didn't get home until 6.30pm!
Sophie helped me to transform myself into a 70s hippie and I was really pleased with the result! I wore my long blue dress that I bought in the summer (never imagined I'd be wearing it in October!) and Sophie did my make-up for me and tied a long scarf around my head. She then drew on a little CND tattoo on my face and with some jewellery I was ready to go!
We picked up Lynda on the way and she looked great as a hippie, too! When we got to Fiona's house she answered the door with an authentic 70s dress on in muted shades of browns and beiges! She looked brilliant!
Andrea was already downstairs in the converted cellar wearing a blue psychedelic top, leggings and knee high boots. She said she wasn't brave enough to wear the top without anything else! We nibbled on vol-au-vents and cheese and pineapple on sticks and drank martini and lemonade! Delicious!
For dinner Fiona served prawn cocktail, followed by Chicken Kiev with lyonnaise potatoes, carrots and peas. All the homecooked food was delicious!
Fiona had made a Black Forest Gateau for dessert, entirely from scratch and it was beautiful! She served a lovely Chablis with the starter along with Prosecco and Lynda's cherry vodka so it was a great and boozy night! Fiona's various offspring and dog wandered in throughout the evening and we all had a great time. Andrea will be hosting next with the theme as "Nautical" so that should be interesting!
Sophie helped me to transform myself into a 70s hippie and I was really pleased with the result! I wore my long blue dress that I bought in the summer (never imagined I'd be wearing it in October!) and Sophie did my make-up for me and tied a long scarf around my head. She then drew on a little CND tattoo on my face and with some jewellery I was ready to go!
We picked up Lynda on the way and she looked great as a hippie, too! When we got to Fiona's house she answered the door with an authentic 70s dress on in muted shades of browns and beiges! She looked brilliant!
Andrea was already downstairs in the converted cellar wearing a blue psychedelic top, leggings and knee high boots. She said she wasn't brave enough to wear the top without anything else! We nibbled on vol-au-vents and cheese and pineapple on sticks and drank martini and lemonade! Delicious!
For dinner Fiona served prawn cocktail, followed by Chicken Kiev with lyonnaise potatoes, carrots and peas. All the homecooked food was delicious!
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| Lynda, Andrea, me and Fiona |
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| Lynda eyeing up the Black Forest gateau |
Fiona had made a Black Forest Gateau for dessert, entirely from scratch and it was beautiful! She served a lovely Chablis with the starter along with Prosecco and Lynda's cherry vodka so it was a great and boozy night! Fiona's various offspring and dog wandered in throughout the evening and we all had a great time. Andrea will be hosting next with the theme as "Nautical" so that should be interesting!
Thursday 24 October 2013
Autumn walk
As you can see from the photos, Keith and I managed to squeeze in a walk after work today as it was dry and sunny for a change!
The skies were looking beautiful this afternoon and it's hard to believe that this weekend, on Sunday, the clocks will go back an hour, signalling the end of British Summer time for this year. We had a good walk and with the recent rain the fields were quite muddy and wet.
When we go home neither of us gave into temptation and had a drink...aren't we good for once!
The skies were looking beautiful this afternoon and it's hard to believe that this weekend, on Sunday, the clocks will go back an hour, signalling the end of British Summer time for this year. We had a good walk and with the recent rain the fields were quite muddy and wet.
When we go home neither of us gave into temptation and had a drink...aren't we good for once!
Wednesday 23 October 2013
Rushing about!
My mornings lately have been very hectic and today was no exception! I tried a different route into work today and wished I hadn't when I became embroiled in two traffic jams! It's at times like this I wish I had a helicopter!
Keith arrived mere minutes after me even though he'd left later than me and had taken Sophie to school. While he went and did some jobs with Ian I sorted out the tills and unlocked. I had a large cup of coffee which was badly needed after my journey into work!
Today we had our first Booker delivery. It's taken ages to set up and the first hitch was when the driver couldn't get through our entrance gates! Polly went to sort him out and then he brought our order in on two big cages so we had to offload them and put them on our own trolleys! It was somewhat easier than going and doing the shopping ourselves, though, but I did get a few things wrong...six HUGE tins of baked beans arrived which was a surprise as I thought I'd ordered much smaller tins! Oh well...they'll come in useful next week when it's half-term!
We also received 10 boxes of disposable blue gloves which would have lasted us about six months so I sent them back! It's certainly been a learning exercise!
Things quietened down a bit after that, thank goodness and Keith and I went to the bank and then went and bought a load of Halloween decorations. I also bought a second lot of ingredients for the Christmas cake I'm going to bake (again) this weekend, including a bottle of brandy to soak the fruit in. This baking lark ain't cheap! The ingredients cost me almost £20...wouldn't it have been far cheaper to have bought a cake! However, Keith was very impressed with my first attempt and I'm looking forward to baking one again and icing it for Christmas.
After work Sophie and I went off for our usual stint at the gym and my daughter forgot her trainers again! I was not tempted to go down to the spa so I did a very good workout and had a lovely chat with Liam who came over to see me while I was pounding away on the treadmill. We chatted about our respective children and how time has flown. I remember baby-sitting his children when they were much younger but they're both all grown up now and set to fly the nest soon. Frightening!
Keith arrived mere minutes after me even though he'd left later than me and had taken Sophie to school. While he went and did some jobs with Ian I sorted out the tills and unlocked. I had a large cup of coffee which was badly needed after my journey into work!
Today we had our first Booker delivery. It's taken ages to set up and the first hitch was when the driver couldn't get through our entrance gates! Polly went to sort him out and then he brought our order in on two big cages so we had to offload them and put them on our own trolleys! It was somewhat easier than going and doing the shopping ourselves, though, but I did get a few things wrong...six HUGE tins of baked beans arrived which was a surprise as I thought I'd ordered much smaller tins! Oh well...they'll come in useful next week when it's half-term!
We also received 10 boxes of disposable blue gloves which would have lasted us about six months so I sent them back! It's certainly been a learning exercise!
Things quietened down a bit after that, thank goodness and Keith and I went to the bank and then went and bought a load of Halloween decorations. I also bought a second lot of ingredients for the Christmas cake I'm going to bake (again) this weekend, including a bottle of brandy to soak the fruit in. This baking lark ain't cheap! The ingredients cost me almost £20...wouldn't it have been far cheaper to have bought a cake! However, Keith was very impressed with my first attempt and I'm looking forward to baking one again and icing it for Christmas.
After work Sophie and I went off for our usual stint at the gym and my daughter forgot her trainers again! I was not tempted to go down to the spa so I did a very good workout and had a lovely chat with Liam who came over to see me while I was pounding away on the treadmill. We chatted about our respective children and how time has flown. I remember baby-sitting his children when they were much younger but they're both all grown up now and set to fly the nest soon. Frightening!
Tuesday 22 October 2013
All change!
After work today Sophie had an eye test at the Optician's. She has glasses to wear for reading and looking at screens, but she has complained lately of things appearing fuzzy. The optician gave her a thorough check and came to the conclusion, that like me, she is very slightly short-sighted. I remember being about her age when I discovered that I couldn't see things clearly at a distance so it looks like she's taking after me!
Once we finished at the Optician's and picked her out a new pair of glasses (thankfully free - I steered her away from the Designer section!) we went and had her photograph taken for her provisional licence and for her passport renewal. Her passport runs out in May next year so now is the time to get it renewed but we have to send it off to the DVLA first to prove that she is who she says she is on her licence! Bah! Paperwork!
Once we finished at the Optician's and picked her out a new pair of glasses (thankfully free - I steered her away from the Designer section!) we went and had her photograph taken for her provisional licence and for her passport renewal. Her passport runs out in May next year so now is the time to get it renewed but we have to send it off to the DVLA first to prove that she is who she says she is on her licence! Bah! Paperwork!
Pizza...with a side of mouse!
My two crows now wait for me every morning at work to feed them. Woe betide me if I forget as they sit up in the trees or on the roof of the building and watch me with their beady eyes. The female is quite timid and flies away if I walk towards her but the male is quite brazen and will happily swoop down and grab his breakfast if I'm only a few feet away.
This morning, Archie (I'm assuming it was him, may be wrong!) left us two mice on the driveway. They were quite intact so I gingerly picked them up and took them in to feed the crows who just love a tasty mousey morsel! I know it sounds a bit horrible but they would only be thrown into the bin so at least they gave their lives to feed another creature! It's the ultimate recycling! The cats sometimes eat the mice (there's been half a mouse lying outside our garage door for a couple of days now and I am amazed I never stepped in it before now!) but most times they just leave the poor things as a present to be stepped in or squashed by the cars!
I also had some pizza crusts that Mikey left from the night before so they had a very varied breakfast this morning. Within seconds the male crow had flown down and picked up both mice in his beak. He then flew off somewhere with them, presumably to hide them for later. I'd noticed him doing this the other day when he hid some scraps I'd put out under a tuft of grass he'd pulled up. So clever!
With winter just around the corner I will be stepping up the feeding so that they survive the colder weather. They are joined by a pair of magpies and the robin is still flitting about in the trees and appreciating the bread I put out for him!
This morning, Archie (I'm assuming it was him, may be wrong!) left us two mice on the driveway. They were quite intact so I gingerly picked them up and took them in to feed the crows who just love a tasty mousey morsel! I know it sounds a bit horrible but they would only be thrown into the bin so at least they gave their lives to feed another creature! It's the ultimate recycling! The cats sometimes eat the mice (there's been half a mouse lying outside our garage door for a couple of days now and I am amazed I never stepped in it before now!) but most times they just leave the poor things as a present to be stepped in or squashed by the cars!
I also had some pizza crusts that Mikey left from the night before so they had a very varied breakfast this morning. Within seconds the male crow had flown down and picked up both mice in his beak. He then flew off somewhere with them, presumably to hide them for later. I'd noticed him doing this the other day when he hid some scraps I'd put out under a tuft of grass he'd pulled up. So clever!
With winter just around the corner I will be stepping up the feeding so that they survive the colder weather. They are joined by a pair of magpies and the robin is still flitting about in the trees and appreciating the bread I put out for him!
Monday 21 October 2013
More scrubbing!
Today was spent scrubbing the carpet at work, trying to undo the mess we made last week of it!
We've had another day of wind and rain and everywhere is saturated with puddles. Keith and Ian cleared out one of our storerooms which was full of junk and trod wet leaves and mud all over the floors! Good job we weren't cleaning them today!
Despite working hard, Sophie and I went off to the gym and did a good workout. However, as my swimsuit resembles Nora Batty's stockings (anyone remember her?) we didn't go down to the spa this evening. I really need to get a new bathing costume as mine is now all saggy and in the jacuzzi, when the bubbles start, it all billows up making me look very strange indeed!
We've had another day of wind and rain and everywhere is saturated with puddles. Keith and Ian cleared out one of our storerooms which was full of junk and trod wet leaves and mud all over the floors! Good job we weren't cleaning them today!
Despite working hard, Sophie and I went off to the gym and did a good workout. However, as my swimsuit resembles Nora Batty's stockings (anyone remember her?) we didn't go down to the spa this evening. I really need to get a new bathing costume as mine is now all saggy and in the jacuzzi, when the bubbles start, it all billows up making me look very strange indeed!
Sunday 20 October 2013
Shattered on Sunday!
This afternoon Mum and I went to Beckworth Emporium for a cup of tea and a cake. Going out into the garden area was impossible because of the rain (bad weather again!) so we contented ourselves with looking at the delicious foods on display and avoiding the marquee housing all the Christmas decorations (it's really in your face now!).
I bought some bread flour and yeast as I want to make my own bread at some stage over the next couple of weeks. The Hairy Bikers make look so easy!
Mikey was picked up by Keith so after buying all our bits, I took Mum home and sped back to see my son. He still had camouflage on his face and was absolutely shattered! We helped him unpack his Bergen and then encouraged him to have a hot bath! When I got back from picking Sophie up from work at 6.30pm he was dead on his feet so he had a lie down (on his new quilt cover we bought for him yesterday) and promptly fell fast asleep!
Rather than wake him (he'd eaten the remainder of the chicken pie Keith had made yesterday) we went ahead with our roast beed dinner only to see him appear half way through the meal. He sat down and ate a bit of meat, Yorkshire pudding and roast potato but went back to bed before he could be roped in to help clear up...as if we would make him do that!
I bought some bread flour and yeast as I want to make my own bread at some stage over the next couple of weeks. The Hairy Bikers make look so easy!
Mikey was picked up by Keith so after buying all our bits, I took Mum home and sped back to see my son. He still had camouflage on his face and was absolutely shattered! We helped him unpack his Bergen and then encouraged him to have a hot bath! When I got back from picking Sophie up from work at 6.30pm he was dead on his feet so he had a lie down (on his new quilt cover we bought for him yesterday) and promptly fell fast asleep!
Rather than wake him (he'd eaten the remainder of the chicken pie Keith had made yesterday) we went ahead with our roast beed dinner only to see him appear half way through the meal. He sat down and ate a bit of meat, Yorkshire pudding and roast potato but went back to bed before he could be roped in to help clear up...as if we would make him do that!
Saturday 19 October 2013
Bad weather!
Today we've been hit by wind and rain so any chance of getting out into the garden to tidy up before winter is upon us has been impossible. I felt sorry for Mikey as he will be outdoors all this weekend!
Sophie had an appointment to have her nails done this morning, so Keith and I dropped her off and then drove to Jones's to get a few things we needed. As expected it was heaving with people all buying Christmas stuff! There is no way I could think about Christmas so early!
When we got back to pick Sophie up she wasn't quite ready so Keith and I had a mooch about the parade of shops where the salon is situated. We counted four fast food takeaways, three supermarkets, three hair-dressers and a bizarre little locksmith shop that had an identity crisis! As well as selling locks it had medals and trophies for sale and a strange little range of secondhand goods!
I spent the afternoon researching my family tree as the weather was so horrible. In the early evening we had gales and torrential rain and the sky went a very strange shade of orange! One of the things I like doing is standing at Sophie's bedroom window and gazing out over the fields. There's always something to see and the changing colours of the sky can sometimes be beautiful.
Keith and I did contemplate going to the pub for a drink, but we stayed in instead and sat and played cards in the conservatory. We've noticed a little black bird sitting on the fence at around 6pm whenever we are in there - he (or she) just sits there watching us which is a bit strange, but lovely!
Sophie had an appointment to have her nails done this morning, so Keith and I dropped her off and then drove to Jones's to get a few things we needed. As expected it was heaving with people all buying Christmas stuff! There is no way I could think about Christmas so early!
When we got back to pick Sophie up she wasn't quite ready so Keith and I had a mooch about the parade of shops where the salon is situated. We counted four fast food takeaways, three supermarkets, three hair-dressers and a bizarre little locksmith shop that had an identity crisis! As well as selling locks it had medals and trophies for sale and a strange little range of secondhand goods!
I spent the afternoon researching my family tree as the weather was so horrible. In the early evening we had gales and torrential rain and the sky went a very strange shade of orange! One of the things I like doing is standing at Sophie's bedroom window and gazing out over the fields. There's always something to see and the changing colours of the sky can sometimes be beautiful.
Keith and I did contemplate going to the pub for a drink, but we stayed in instead and sat and played cards in the conservatory. We've noticed a little black bird sitting on the fence at around 6pm whenever we are in there - he (or she) just sits there watching us which is a bit strange, but lovely!
Friday 18 October 2013
Busy end to the week
We were busier at work today as we had a lunchtime party and the weather hasn't been good at all - wet, breezy but mild. At least we haven't had to put the heating on!
Mum and Dad went off at lunchtime to an auction as they'd put a beautiful table in for sale, with a reserve price of just £50. It was too nice a table to donate to a charity shop but they no longer wanted it so thought that it would be successful at auction. Just as they left hordes of customers arrived so I was kept busy manning Reception and running backwards and forwards to the kitchen to help wash up.
I also had one of our girls in to do an online Food Safety course so she was keeping my computer cmpany while I dashed about. Mum and Dad returned at 3pm to say that not one person had bid for the table so Keith and I might give it a home as our dining room table is a bit scratched and worn!
After work Sophie and I went to the gym but we just lazed about in the spa, which was a bit naughty of us! It had been a busy week so that was our excuse and we're sticking with it!
No sooner had we returned from the gym than it was time to take Mikey into Northampton to send him off on his weekend away. It was raining and blowing a gale so we really didn't envy him at all!
Mum and Dad went off at lunchtime to an auction as they'd put a beautiful table in for sale, with a reserve price of just £50. It was too nice a table to donate to a charity shop but they no longer wanted it so thought that it would be successful at auction. Just as they left hordes of customers arrived so I was kept busy manning Reception and running backwards and forwards to the kitchen to help wash up.
I also had one of our girls in to do an online Food Safety course so she was keeping my computer cmpany while I dashed about. Mum and Dad returned at 3pm to say that not one person had bid for the table so Keith and I might give it a home as our dining room table is a bit scratched and worn!
After work Sophie and I went to the gym but we just lazed about in the spa, which was a bit naughty of us! It had been a busy week so that was our excuse and we're sticking with it!
No sooner had we returned from the gym than it was time to take Mikey into Northampton to send him off on his weekend away. It was raining and blowing a gale so we really didn't envy him at all!
Thursday 17 October 2013
Busy day!
We had more appointments today as Mikey wanted his hair cut before he goes on his Army Camp weekend. I told him repeatedly to meet me after school as otherwise he would go off to camp with his hair covering his ears and no doubt get into trouble! He frequently forgets to meet me if we have to go anywhere after school but today he surprised me by appearing as I waited up the road! This made Sophie mad as she'd been looking all over school for him.
This annoyance brimmed into a full row between the two of them in the short distance from school to work so it was a relief when I took Mikey to have his hair cut. I sat and read the shop's copy of Tatler magazine so that was very relaxing for me!
I had intended to go straight back to work after the haircut as Sophie was working until 6pm but Mikey insisted we go home so he could shower off all the little hairs that were covering his neck and irritating him. In the short time at home I made a rice pudding for dessert later on and used a recipe from the Hairy Bikers' "Mum's Know Best" book. I'm quite getting the hang of following recipes!
This annoyance brimmed into a full row between the two of them in the short distance from school to work so it was a relief when I took Mikey to have his hair cut. I sat and read the shop's copy of Tatler magazine so that was very relaxing for me!
I had intended to go straight back to work after the haircut as Sophie was working until 6pm but Mikey insisted we go home so he could shower off all the little hairs that were covering his neck and irritating him. In the short time at home I made a rice pudding for dessert later on and used a recipe from the Hairy Bikers' "Mum's Know Best" book. I'm quite getting the hang of following recipes!
Wednesday 16 October 2013
Early morning chores!
Today started off a little bit frantically as the children and I had a dentist appointment at 8.30am in Northampton. We made sure we set the alarm this morning as we had to be up and out by 7.45am!
The traffic seems a lot worse this year for some reason and I really dread the journey into work every morning, especially if I have to drop Sophie off at school on the way. The village where the children's school is constantly grid-locked and the amazing thing is that they're still building more houses!
We made it to the dentist with plenty of time to spare and we all had a check-up with me lying prone as he gave my teeth a clean, something I hate! Mikey is the next one to need braces so he's been referred to the Orthodontist as well.
The children came back to work with me for half an hour and stuffed themselves with breakfast before Keith dropped them back at school. After that, peace reigned!
The traffic seems a lot worse this year for some reason and I really dread the journey into work every morning, especially if I have to drop Sophie off at school on the way. The village where the children's school is constantly grid-locked and the amazing thing is that they're still building more houses!
We made it to the dentist with plenty of time to spare and we all had a check-up with me lying prone as he gave my teeth a clean, something I hate! Mikey is the next one to need braces so he's been referred to the Orthodontist as well.
The children came back to work with me for half an hour and stuffed themselves with breakfast before Keith dropped them back at school. After that, peace reigned!
Tuesday 15 October 2013
Wine and gossip!
I wasn't looking forward to today but it has gone over very well, culminating in a relaxing glass of Rioja in the evening with my friend Sue from over the road! It started off badly when we all slept in this morning, waking an hour later than normal at 7.40am...Ooops!
Work was pretty good and I managed to get a lot of paperwork done which was a relief. At one point my desk looked like a tornado had hit it, but by the time I went home it was all tidy and I felt a sense of achievement that some jobs had been done that I'd kept putting off!
Sue came around at 6pm and we had a good chat. We speculated about what our new neighbours will be like (next door's house sold, then went back on sale again and has now sold for the second time). We ate some lovely olives and stuffed peppers and drank a very good Rioja which Sue surprised me with as she's normally a white wine drinker. She said that as Autumn is upon us she decided to go for the red and I have to agree as I tend to drink heavier reds in the colder months. My vodka and tonic days are well and truly over!
Work was pretty good and I managed to get a lot of paperwork done which was a relief. At one point my desk looked like a tornado had hit it, but by the time I went home it was all tidy and I felt a sense of achievement that some jobs had been done that I'd kept putting off!
Sue came around at 6pm and we had a good chat. We speculated about what our new neighbours will be like (next door's house sold, then went back on sale again and has now sold for the second time). We ate some lovely olives and stuffed peppers and drank a very good Rioja which Sue surprised me with as she's normally a white wine drinker. She said that as Autumn is upon us she decided to go for the red and I have to agree as I tend to drink heavier reds in the colder months. My vodka and tonic days are well and truly over!
Monday 14 October 2013
A somewhat stressful day!
Today's been hard work! We decided to scrub the floor in our seating area and also try and clean a section of carpet that was stained, and I really wish we hadn't bothered! We've just bought a new Vax carpet cleaner and at the end of the day we came to the conclusion that it's OK for dealing with spills and light stains but we really need an industrial carpet cleaner to deal with a larger area of the floor. It should be OK for use at home though!
The tiled floor didn't look as good as it normally did so I felt we'd wasted most of the day cleaning and it didn't look any different!
As I was on my feet all day (in my boots that have a fair-sized heel on them) my feet were a little achey when it was time to go to the gym...Sophie and I decided to give it a miss tonight and went home where I jumped straight into the bath for a long soak!
The tiled floor didn't look as good as it normally did so I felt we'd wasted most of the day cleaning and it didn't look any different!
As I was on my feet all day (in my boots that have a fair-sized heel on them) my feet were a little achey when it was time to go to the gym...Sophie and I decided to give it a miss tonight and went home where I jumped straight into the bath for a long soak!
Sunday 13 October 2013
Christmas cake!
I spent what felt like most of the morning making my Christmas cake! The girls were all still asleep so after breakfast I shut myself away in the kitchen and set to!
I followed the recipe exactly and after about an hour the cake was ready to go in the oven. Here's a pic:
It took about three and a half hours to cook and was ready when Sophie and I got back from a swim and lunch at the gym. It looked lovely and I have to say that Keith and I had a slice with a cup of tea! I wanted to make this cake the experiment and I will bake another next week. I've found a Mary Berry recipe that calls for the fruit to be soaked in Brandy for three days so I'm going to try that!
I followed the recipe exactly and after about an hour the cake was ready to go in the oven. Here's a pic:
It took about three and a half hours to cook and was ready when Sophie and I got back from a swim and lunch at the gym. It looked lovely and I have to say that Keith and I had a slice with a cup of tea! I wanted to make this cake the experiment and I will bake another next week. I've found a Mary Berry recipe that calls for the fruit to be soaked in Brandy for three days so I'm going to try that!
Saturday 12 October 2013
Thrown out!
After a fairly busy day Keith and I were made to go out in the evening as Sophie had invited a couple of her friends around for a girly evening in. To be honest Keith and I really didn't fancy going out as Keith had decided to stop drinking until Christmas and a pub was the last place he wanted to be! We thought of going to the cinema but that didn't appeal either so after much debating we decided that for one night only, he would break his rule and have a beer.
I suggested The Swan Inn at Braybrooke as we hadn't been there for a while and it was on the way to Market Harborough where we intended to finish the evening at an Indian restaurant. It was a horrendous night - torrential rain and winds - the sort of evening made for staying in!
We sloshed our way over to the village and parked a short distance away, which meant we entered the pub looking like drowned rats! Keith had a taster of a dark beer called Titanic Plum Porter and ordered a pint before saying he disliked it! Make your mind up, man!
We were able to sit at the bar and watched with amusement as a crowd of people arrived dressed up to the nines. The women were in evening gowns while the men wore black tie so obviously something was going on! We both felt under-dressed even though there were people sitting eating and drinking who were dressed as casually as us. We both agreed it was a one-drink only pub so after downing our drinks we sloshed our way back to the car and drove over to The Queens Head at Sutton Bassett, another of our favourite pubs from the past, and one which has undergone different fortunes in all the years we've been visiting.
Tonight it was undergoing one of its less favourable periods as it was like entering someone's living room. The Queens head has never been one of the most modern of pubs (at one point in time it had the original cash register from the 1940s, I think!) and the building consists of a small front lounge with window seats and a corridor leading to the small back lounge with more tables and chairs. We think the pub was going through some sort of refurbishment as they only had two beers on pump (neither of which Keith liked) so he ordered a pint of Poretti lager and a sparkling water for me.
As we sat at the bar he pushed the lager towards me and asked if I could drink it while he had the water and then he'd drive from now on. He was seriously underwhelmed with both pubs we'd visited and, feeling a bit guilty about drinking in the first place, said he would stick to water for the rest of the night!
We had just the one drink (what a shame we will probably not go back) and then drove to Market Harborough to an Indian we've been to before which goes (or went) by the name of The Shagorika! We were able to park nearby and I was mightily glad I had one of our Berlin umbrellas with us as the rain was still tipping it down.
We arrived at what was the Shagorika to find that it's now called Dhancora. The restaurant was very quiet with just a few other tables taken but we had a delicious meal. We started with poppadums and relishes followed by Chicken Pakora (beautifully crispy) and then a curry for each of us. I chose Chicken Jalfrezi while Keith opted for an eye watering Vindaloo, but I think my dish was the hotter of the two! With some Naan bread and a side of Mushroom bhajee, we were stuffed to the gunnels at the end of the evening!
It was still raining heavily when we left and we arrived home to find the living room looking like a beauty parlour!
I suggested The Swan Inn at Braybrooke as we hadn't been there for a while and it was on the way to Market Harborough where we intended to finish the evening at an Indian restaurant. It was a horrendous night - torrential rain and winds - the sort of evening made for staying in!
We sloshed our way over to the village and parked a short distance away, which meant we entered the pub looking like drowned rats! Keith had a taster of a dark beer called Titanic Plum Porter and ordered a pint before saying he disliked it! Make your mind up, man!
We were able to sit at the bar and watched with amusement as a crowd of people arrived dressed up to the nines. The women were in evening gowns while the men wore black tie so obviously something was going on! We both felt under-dressed even though there were people sitting eating and drinking who were dressed as casually as us. We both agreed it was a one-drink only pub so after downing our drinks we sloshed our way back to the car and drove over to The Queens Head at Sutton Bassett, another of our favourite pubs from the past, and one which has undergone different fortunes in all the years we've been visiting.
Tonight it was undergoing one of its less favourable periods as it was like entering someone's living room. The Queens head has never been one of the most modern of pubs (at one point in time it had the original cash register from the 1940s, I think!) and the building consists of a small front lounge with window seats and a corridor leading to the small back lounge with more tables and chairs. We think the pub was going through some sort of refurbishment as they only had two beers on pump (neither of which Keith liked) so he ordered a pint of Poretti lager and a sparkling water for me.
As we sat at the bar he pushed the lager towards me and asked if I could drink it while he had the water and then he'd drive from now on. He was seriously underwhelmed with both pubs we'd visited and, feeling a bit guilty about drinking in the first place, said he would stick to water for the rest of the night!
We had just the one drink (what a shame we will probably not go back) and then drove to Market Harborough to an Indian we've been to before which goes (or went) by the name of The Shagorika! We were able to park nearby and I was mightily glad I had one of our Berlin umbrellas with us as the rain was still tipping it down.
We arrived at what was the Shagorika to find that it's now called Dhancora. The restaurant was very quiet with just a few other tables taken but we had a delicious meal. We started with poppadums and relishes followed by Chicken Pakora (beautifully crispy) and then a curry for each of us. I chose Chicken Jalfrezi while Keith opted for an eye watering Vindaloo, but I think my dish was the hotter of the two! With some Naan bread and a side of Mushroom bhajee, we were stuffed to the gunnels at the end of the evening!
It was still raining heavily when we left and we arrived home to find the living room looking like a beauty parlour!
Friday 11 October 2013
Autumn arrives...
Today the weather has been horrible, but worryingly, we weren't busy at work. I picked Sophie up from school and we went home early so I could attend to some feminine tasks (colouring my hair as I was beginning to resemble a badger!).
Keith's mate Dave phoned up and said he was ill which meant that Keith stayed at home - so rare for a Friday evening! We sat in the conservatory and played cards and I opened a delicious bottle of Chilean Merlot which I think my Dad brought me when my parents came to dinner one evening. I had to resist drinking the whole bottle as it was gorgeous!
Keith's mate Dave phoned up and said he was ill which meant that Keith stayed at home - so rare for a Friday evening! We sat in the conservatory and played cards and I opened a delicious bottle of Chilean Merlot which I think my Dad brought me when my parents came to dinner one evening. I had to resist drinking the whole bottle as it was gorgeous!
Thursday 10 October 2013
Not a good day...or was it?
Today has been horrible. Work has been very stressful today and we had a customer complaint that I had to deal with mid-morning whilst I was in a meeting with the local HSE representative, which I could really have done without!
Today we'd advertised it was "Freeday" at work, rather than Thursday, something we're doing one day a week to give our customers a little freebie. Today we were giving everyone a raffle ticket for a free draw to win a month's pass, potentially worth around £100 but one customer assumed that we were offering free entrance! She'd already been arguing with Polly and had then demanded to speak to someone in Management so I had to leave my meeting and go and talk to her. Realising that whatever I said wasn't going to make a difference, as she was like a spitting cat, I apologised and offered her some free tickets when she left. Who in their right mind would run a business these days!
Sophie and I went off to the gym after work and it was great to get rid of my stress by doing some much needed exercise! I relished the half hour I spent in the jacuzzi just relaxing and enjoying the warm water.
Back at home Keith had made a fish pie for dinner which was delicious. Even the children ate it all up! For dessert he suggested fruit salad but it was nearly the last dish he would ever eat as he started to choke on a piece of apple and really started to panic. I've never seen him looking so scared so I knew it was serious. I made him bend over slightly and hit him hard in the middle of his back, but that didn't work, so I hit him again harder and luckily this made the piece of apple move and he was able to spit it out.
All of us were shaking but Mikey stayed very calm and I didn't panic myself, even though I always thought I would in a situation like that. However, if that hadn't worked then maybe I would have felt a lot different. Funnily enough, I sat and watched a programme on BBC2 that touched on the subject of saving lives so it was quite apt. I did my First Aid course almost two years ago and I'm glad that I have a basic knowledge.
We all shakily sat down to watch TV again and after about fifteen minutes the phone rang. It was my Dad to say that the alarm had gone off at work, for the second time. Knowing he wanted me to go in with Keith I said we'd pop in to make sure everything was OK. Watching a recorded episode of "Whitechapel" was not the best thing to be doing tonight as it's been very scary (and a bit silly, if I'm honest) so the children flatly refused to stay in the house while we drove to work!
My place of work at night is not great and as it was a windy night the whole building was creaking! We soon found the problem up in the Nursery as the girls had hung a huge banner from the ceiling which was activating the alarm sensor. We took it down, locked all up and headed home where Sophie insisted we all watch an episode of "How I Met Your Mother" to cheer us up before bed. The finish of "Whitechapel" will have to wait!
Today we'd advertised it was "Freeday" at work, rather than Thursday, something we're doing one day a week to give our customers a little freebie. Today we were giving everyone a raffle ticket for a free draw to win a month's pass, potentially worth around £100 but one customer assumed that we were offering free entrance! She'd already been arguing with Polly and had then demanded to speak to someone in Management so I had to leave my meeting and go and talk to her. Realising that whatever I said wasn't going to make a difference, as she was like a spitting cat, I apologised and offered her some free tickets when she left. Who in their right mind would run a business these days!
Sophie and I went off to the gym after work and it was great to get rid of my stress by doing some much needed exercise! I relished the half hour I spent in the jacuzzi just relaxing and enjoying the warm water.
Back at home Keith had made a fish pie for dinner which was delicious. Even the children ate it all up! For dessert he suggested fruit salad but it was nearly the last dish he would ever eat as he started to choke on a piece of apple and really started to panic. I've never seen him looking so scared so I knew it was serious. I made him bend over slightly and hit him hard in the middle of his back, but that didn't work, so I hit him again harder and luckily this made the piece of apple move and he was able to spit it out.
All of us were shaking but Mikey stayed very calm and I didn't panic myself, even though I always thought I would in a situation like that. However, if that hadn't worked then maybe I would have felt a lot different. Funnily enough, I sat and watched a programme on BBC2 that touched on the subject of saving lives so it was quite apt. I did my First Aid course almost two years ago and I'm glad that I have a basic knowledge.
We all shakily sat down to watch TV again and after about fifteen minutes the phone rang. It was my Dad to say that the alarm had gone off at work, for the second time. Knowing he wanted me to go in with Keith I said we'd pop in to make sure everything was OK. Watching a recorded episode of "Whitechapel" was not the best thing to be doing tonight as it's been very scary (and a bit silly, if I'm honest) so the children flatly refused to stay in the house while we drove to work!
My place of work at night is not great and as it was a windy night the whole building was creaking! We soon found the problem up in the Nursery as the girls had hung a huge banner from the ceiling which was activating the alarm sensor. We took it down, locked all up and headed home where Sophie insisted we all watch an episode of "How I Met Your Mother" to cheer us up before bed. The finish of "Whitechapel" will have to wait!
Wednesday 9 October 2013
Planning!
No gym for us tonight as Sophie was at school until 5pm so it was home, a soak in the bath and then a lounge about watching Pointless...ahhh! Simple pleasures!
While Keith cooked roast chicken for dinner I started planning my Christmas cake. I'm going to cook it this weekend as time is running out and I still have some Bucket List things to do before 2013 ends. I think I will be glad when this year is over, to be honest. I said to Keith that it's been a good year for travel, but a bad year for people. So many people I know have died this year (Polly at work has lost three members of her family).
The weather is set to change over the next few days and the mild temperatures are due to be replaced with an Arctic blast!
While Keith cooked roast chicken for dinner I started planning my Christmas cake. I'm going to cook it this weekend as time is running out and I still have some Bucket List things to do before 2013 ends. I think I will be glad when this year is over, to be honest. I said to Keith that it's been a good year for travel, but a bad year for people. So many people I know have died this year (Polly at work has lost three members of her family).
The weather is set to change over the next few days and the mild temperatures are due to be replaced with an Arctic blast!
Tuesday 8 October 2013
Autumn skies
After work I bullied Keith into going for a walk with me. Time is running out as on this date next month it'll probably be dark at 5pm - what a thought!
Luckily the gate was open so we sneaked through it, which cut off a fair section of the first part of the walk. Once we'd emerged into the large field we could see that the left hand side of the meadow was obviously going to be fenced off for more sheep farming as there was a stately procession of posts already marked out. Our estate backs onto this field, and whoever had bought it had already put posts right up next to the boundary fence. The people who had cheekily installed a gate in their fence are in for a shock by the look of it!
We had a shock when we reached the gate leading into another field and saw a machete embedded in the post! We'd never noticed a rickety old stile before but whoever had left the knife had been clearing the area of brambles so it looks like we're going to have to climb over that rather than walk through the always-open gate.
The rest of the walk was uneventful but I did take some photos of the beautiful stormy sky!
Luckily the gate was open so we sneaked through it, which cut off a fair section of the first part of the walk. Once we'd emerged into the large field we could see that the left hand side of the meadow was obviously going to be fenced off for more sheep farming as there was a stately procession of posts already marked out. Our estate backs onto this field, and whoever had bought it had already put posts right up next to the boundary fence. The people who had cheekily installed a gate in their fence are in for a shock by the look of it!
We had a shock when we reached the gate leading into another field and saw a machete embedded in the post! We'd never noticed a rickety old stile before but whoever had left the knife had been clearing the area of brambles so it looks like we're going to have to climb over that rather than walk through the always-open gate.
Monday 7 October 2013
Strange Monday!
I awoke this morning after a series of bizarre dreams, which included stealing onions and hiding them in the bodice of my dress (I think I was dreaming of a past age!) and living in a house on the banks of a river which then disintegrated and fell into the water!
It took me several minutes to bring myself back into the real world and remember that it was Monday again and time for work! Our cleaner had taken the day off today so that meant we had to spend most of the day cleaning which wasn't a pleasant prospect!
A strange thing happened today - we heard a bang on one of our Fire Exit doors and when we went to investigate we found a dead pigeon lying next to the door. We can only think it was chased by other birds as I can't imagine why a pigeon would suddenly decide to commit suicide! The poor thing was still warm and it was quite heartbreaking to see it lying there so perfect yet so lifeless.
After work it was off to the gym and my daughter worked very hard for a change! I manged to sneak in four lengths of swimming but the pool was packed and very choppy! It was like swimming in the sea!
It took me several minutes to bring myself back into the real world and remember that it was Monday again and time for work! Our cleaner had taken the day off today so that meant we had to spend most of the day cleaning which wasn't a pleasant prospect!
A strange thing happened today - we heard a bang on one of our Fire Exit doors and when we went to investigate we found a dead pigeon lying next to the door. We can only think it was chased by other birds as I can't imagine why a pigeon would suddenly decide to commit suicide! The poor thing was still warm and it was quite heartbreaking to see it lying there so perfect yet so lifeless.
After work it was off to the gym and my daughter worked very hard for a change! I manged to sneak in four lengths of swimming but the pool was packed and very choppy! It was like swimming in the sea!
Sunday 6 October 2013
Driving through green tunnels...
Today has been spent driving around the gorgeous Kent countryside with my Mum and it's been very indulgent, I have to admit!
We left Northampton at around 9.30am and made it to Kent in two hours - very good considering there were still roadworks on the M25! We stopped for coffee before setting Gladys to direct us to the village of Brenchley near Sevenoaks, about 30 minutes drive away.
Gladys took us back onto the M25 and then onto the A21 and very soon we were driving through some beautiful countryside, passing through the lovely village of Matfield, with its green and duckpond, on the way.
I managed to park near the church and we had a wander around the huge graveyard...it was quite creepy, if I'm honest and reminded me of a miniature Highgate Cemetery!
The village of Brenchley is stunning. My 5x Great Grandmother was born here around 1776 and lots of my relatives called it home. I could have stayed all day!
Mum told me that when she was living at home her parents would take her deep into the Kent countryside for hop-picking holidays. Imagine that today! Telling the children their main holiday would be a working one! She said they used to have a lot of fun, though but I can't quite see my two having the same feelings!
From Brenchly we re-traced our steps back up the A21 towards the village of Cudham. Gladys delighted in taking us along some extremely narrow roads, where the trees formed green tunnels. At Cudham we parked near the Blacksmiths Arms where we had a sandwich for lunch, sitting in the pretty flower-filled garden and enjoying the lovely warmth and sunshine!
We didn't linger for very long in Cudham (birthplace in 1806 of my 4x Great Grandfather) as the roads were all very narrow indeed and time was getting on. We headed towards Keston, which was really the outskirts of Bromley and had a look at the church there.
My 4x Great Grandfather moved from Cudham to Keston and spent the rest of his life there, as an Agricultural Labourer. At the village hall at the back of the church a lot of people were enjoying their Harvest Festival Supper so we discreetly wandered around the graveyard looking for familiar names and, of course, finding none!
From Keston we somehow became entangled with Greater London and the traffic was very busy so we headed quickly for our last stop of the day - Wrotham, pronounced "Rootum". Again, Gladys took us along the narrowest of country roads through dense green forest with some spectacular views of the Weald of Kent. I dreaded meeting another car but thankfully the traffic was non-existent!
At Wrotham (birthplace of my 3x Great Grandmother in 1816) we parked the car and managed to get into the beautiful church, which to our astonishment, wasn't locked!
We wandered around for a little while but as the time was really getting on we reluctantly decided to head for home. It felt very strange being in Kent and not going to see my Grandmother and both of us said that we missed the journey down to Kent as we'd been going down on a regular basis for 40 years!
We took the Blackwall Tunnel on the way home and drove up the M11 for a change. It had been a great day and I'm looking forward to going back again and maybe stopping off at the library in Maidstone to look at some Parish Records that haven't made it on to the internet yet!
We left Northampton at around 9.30am and made it to Kent in two hours - very good considering there were still roadworks on the M25! We stopped for coffee before setting Gladys to direct us to the village of Brenchley near Sevenoaks, about 30 minutes drive away.
Gladys took us back onto the M25 and then onto the A21 and very soon we were driving through some beautiful countryside, passing through the lovely village of Matfield, with its green and duckpond, on the way.
I managed to park near the church and we had a wander around the huge graveyard...it was quite creepy, if I'm honest and reminded me of a miniature Highgate Cemetery!
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| Brenchley church |
The village of Brenchley is stunning. My 5x Great Grandmother was born here around 1776 and lots of my relatives called it home. I could have stayed all day!
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| Brenchley Post Office |
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| A converted Oast House |
From Brenchly we re-traced our steps back up the A21 towards the village of Cudham. Gladys delighted in taking us along some extremely narrow roads, where the trees formed green tunnels. At Cudham we parked near the Blacksmiths Arms where we had a sandwich for lunch, sitting in the pretty flower-filled garden and enjoying the lovely warmth and sunshine!
We didn't linger for very long in Cudham (birthplace in 1806 of my 4x Great Grandfather) as the roads were all very narrow indeed and time was getting on. We headed towards Keston, which was really the outskirts of Bromley and had a look at the church there.
My 4x Great Grandfather moved from Cudham to Keston and spent the rest of his life there, as an Agricultural Labourer. At the village hall at the back of the church a lot of people were enjoying their Harvest Festival Supper so we discreetly wandered around the graveyard looking for familiar names and, of course, finding none!
From Keston we somehow became entangled with Greater London and the traffic was very busy so we headed quickly for our last stop of the day - Wrotham, pronounced "Rootum". Again, Gladys took us along the narrowest of country roads through dense green forest with some spectacular views of the Weald of Kent. I dreaded meeting another car but thankfully the traffic was non-existent!
At Wrotham (birthplace of my 3x Great Grandmother in 1816) we parked the car and managed to get into the beautiful church, which to our astonishment, wasn't locked!
We wandered around for a little while but as the time was really getting on we reluctantly decided to head for home. It felt very strange being in Kent and not going to see my Grandmother and both of us said that we missed the journey down to Kent as we'd been going down on a regular basis for 40 years!
We took the Blackwall Tunnel on the way home and drove up the M11 for a change. It had been a great day and I'm looking forward to going back again and maybe stopping off at the library in Maidstone to look at some Parish Records that haven't made it on to the internet yet!
Saturday 5 October 2013
New bed!
With Mikey's bed due to arrive at any minute Keith and I wasted no time in clearing out his bedroom to make space. I hoovered the floor and gradually we made order out of chaos! At around 10am I received a call to say that the delivery would be with us in an hour so we were wise to have started so early! I didn't just clean Mikey's room, though, as I had our bed to change and the rest of the house to hoover and clean!
Of course, the bed wasn't delivered until 12.30pm, just as I was about to take Sophie into town to have her nails done! I told Keith to leave making it until I got home and we left five minutes after the delivery men left which was a good thing as their van was blocking the driveway!
Sophie's nails took an hour so I left her in the salon, went and filled the car up with diesel and then took it to Westbridge where a team of very helpful men gave it a complete valet. At the end my car looked fabulous! And all for just £10 which I thought was a bargain!
I arrived back at the salon just as Sophie came out and we headed for home where I made up Mikey's bed and grabbed a quick bite for a late lunch. Sophie tried to persuade me to take her down to Riverside to go to the Costa Coffee but I resisted and spent the rest of the late afternoon planning my route in Kent tomorrow. Mum and I are off for the day to look at some of the villages where my ancestors were born and brought up so I needed to sort out where we were going otherwise it would be an aimless wander!
After a naughty Chinese takeaway, we watched the film "Argo" which I thought was very good indeed. No wonder it won so many Oscars!
Of course, the bed wasn't delivered until 12.30pm, just as I was about to take Sophie into town to have her nails done! I told Keith to leave making it until I got home and we left five minutes after the delivery men left which was a good thing as their van was blocking the driveway!
Sophie's nails took an hour so I left her in the salon, went and filled the car up with diesel and then took it to Westbridge where a team of very helpful men gave it a complete valet. At the end my car looked fabulous! And all for just £10 which I thought was a bargain!
I arrived back at the salon just as Sophie came out and we headed for home where I made up Mikey's bed and grabbed a quick bite for a late lunch. Sophie tried to persuade me to take her down to Riverside to go to the Costa Coffee but I resisted and spent the rest of the late afternoon planning my route in Kent tomorrow. Mum and I are off for the day to look at some of the villages where my ancestors were born and brought up so I needed to sort out where we were going otherwise it would be an aimless wander!
After a naughty Chinese takeaway, we watched the film "Argo" which I thought was very good indeed. No wonder it won so many Oscars!
Friday 4 October 2013
The aroma of fresh paint
Mikey's bed is due to be delivered tomorrow so Keith has been busy decorating his room in readiness. We arrived home from work today to the lovely smell of fresh paint and his room looks wonderful. We chose Malt Chocolate from Dulux and the walls look great against the clean whiteness of the skirting boards and door. Mikey seems to like it as well which is a good thing as we made the choice for him!
It's been a busy day today and I have a busy weekend ahead so it was great to get home, lounge about in the bath for a while and relax!
It's been a busy day today and I have a busy weekend ahead so it was great to get home, lounge about in the bath for a while and relax!
Thursday 3 October 2013
Tears before bedtime...
After work today Sophie had an appointment at the Orthodontist and she was really hoping that her braces would be removed. However, when she was prone in the chair, the Orthodontist proceeded to tighten them up rather than remove them. He then told us to make another appointment for 7-8 weeks, which as you can imagine, did not go down well with my daughter.
On the way back to the car she was so frustrated and upset that she resorted to a few tears and I said that she should have asked him to remove them. I did say that he was just doing his job and that he must have thought she needed them otherwise he wouldn't have tightened them even further.
I did think she would use this an excuse to wimp out of the gym, but no, she didn't say a thing until we got up to the changing rooms and she realised she'd forgotten her trainers...
I was undeterred, though, and spent a good hour doing all my weights and exercises and I felt great afterwards. I found out from Sophie that she'd fallen asleep on one of the loungers in the spa so her teeth can't have hurt that much!
On the way back to the car she was so frustrated and upset that she resorted to a few tears and I said that she should have asked him to remove them. I did say that he was just doing his job and that he must have thought she needed them otherwise he wouldn't have tightened them even further.
I did think she would use this an excuse to wimp out of the gym, but no, she didn't say a thing until we got up to the changing rooms and she realised she'd forgotten her trainers...
I was undeterred, though, and spent a good hour doing all my weights and exercises and I felt great afterwards. I found out from Sophie that she'd fallen asleep on one of the loungers in the spa so her teeth can't have hurt that much!
Wednesday 2 October 2013
It's started...
Walking through Tesco's today I noticed the insidious creep of Christmas stuff. It wasn't really blatant, just the odd display here and there, but it was there nonetheless and we're barely into October! There is just no way I can even begin to think about Christmas yet...let's get Halloween and Bonfire Night out of the way first!
Tonight I was looking forward to going to the gym for a good workout, but my daughter wimped out on me, saying she didn't feel well. I agreed to go home on the condition that tomorrow we were going to have a good session, no matter what!
Tonight I was looking forward to going to the gym for a good workout, but my daughter wimped out on me, saying she didn't feel well. I agreed to go home on the condition that tomorrow we were going to have a good session, no matter what!
Tuesday 1 October 2013
Strike!
A lot of schools were closed throughout Northamptonshire today because of teachers striking, which meant we were busier than normal at work. At the moment any extra business is very much needed!
Mikey was off school because of the industrial action but Sophie went in even though she had no lessons. However, mid-morning I called her to ask her to work over lunchtime as we really needed her help! She was not at all happy but she did agree to come in (reluctantly) and by 1.30pm she was back at school and enjoying a pizza delivery with all her friends!
We spent the evening discussing universities and we've booked another Open Day at De Montfort in November and one at the University of Lincoln. Sophie is very undecided about what she wants to do, which I think is normal. Planning the rest of your life is a huge decision to make and I've told her she has all the time in the world!
Mikey was off school because of the industrial action but Sophie went in even though she had no lessons. However, mid-morning I called her to ask her to work over lunchtime as we really needed her help! She was not at all happy but she did agree to come in (reluctantly) and by 1.30pm she was back at school and enjoying a pizza delivery with all her friends!
We spent the evening discussing universities and we've booked another Open Day at De Montfort in November and one at the University of Lincoln. Sophie is very undecided about what she wants to do, which I think is normal. Planning the rest of your life is a huge decision to make and I've told her she has all the time in the world!
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