A wee bit tired...

At work today we had a school visit of just over 100 children. They bought packed lunches with them and the mess was a sight to behold when they left! This meant that we had to do the cleaning all over again and hard work it was, too! It was also a warm day so that didn't help and by the time we'd finished I felt very weary!

Too weary to go and work out in the gym, I have to say, so Sophie and I just went to the spa and had a very relaxing hour lolling about in the warm, bubbly water and listening to the soothing music. I could easily have fallen asleep!

I moan like mad when the clocks go forward as I lose a precious hour and last night none of us felt like going to bed at our usual time as our bodies were still on winter time! This morning, though, it was difficult to get up and strange seeing the old time on the clock in our office!

After our lovely session in the spa I had a fabulous hot shower and washed my hair and then it was home to prepare dinner and see what Mikey was up to. Earlier today he'd had a brace fitted but it's very different to Sophie's who has to wear hers all the time and can't be removed. Mikey has one that looks like clear dentures and has wire on the front. He can take it out when he wants but it looked uncomfortable to wear and I predict it'll be out more than it's in!

Celebrating Mums!

I was up before the children this morning (too early as the clocks went forward last night!) so I had about an hour before I received some beautiful flowers, chocolates and wine. All my favourite things!

Keith and I took Sophie to work and then we headed off to Booker to get some essential things they'd run out of yesterday. We also had to pop to Tesco to buy the ingredients for tonight's dinner - Coq au Vin - which I said I would prepare as my Mum and Dad were coming and I was looking forward to cooking despite it being Mother's Day!

Tesco was heaving with people buying cards and gifts and the whole store was awash with flowers. It certainly pays to be a florist at this time of year! We bought everything we needed and headed home so I could get started before going out with Mum in the afternoon. Keith went off for a walk so I had a very pleasant hour preparing the chicken and adding a whole bottle of wine to the casserole. It smelt lovely!

In between doing all this I made a photo video for Sophie to celebrate her 18th Birthday next Saturday. I chose about 70 photos from different ages and managed (after a lot of difficulty) to add Charlie Simpson's cover of Re:Stacks which is one of our favourite songs and one we listen to in the car all the time. I'd done a lot of it this morning before she got up so all I had to do was burn it to a DVD which I did before going out with Mum. The only problem was that it wouldn't play on our DVD player!

Mum and I drove to the garden centre near Wootton and had a cup of tea in the cafe. The place looked like a bomb had hit it so they were obviously busy earlier in the day with lunches! We wandered about looking at plants but I wasn't in the mood to buy anything (except some Orchid compost) so we called Sophie to say we would be passing work and would pick her up. She took the opportunity to coerce me into buying her a Creamy Cooler from Costa Coffee! Typical!

Mum and Dad came around for dinner in the evening and we had a great time, with a heated debate about gay marriage causing a lot of amusement for all of us! The food was lovely, thank goodness, but I did feel a bit guilty about not making a lot of it myself, but with my very busy day I'd just run out of time! Keith really wanted to show Sophie her new video while Mum and Dad were with us so we showed it to her on my laptop and she was overjoyed with what I'd done and loved all the photos I'd chosen! Success!

Strange celebrations!

Sophie was due to go to a party this morning at 10am, which she wasn't really that happy about! Most Saturday mornings she has only just woken up by that time!

Anyway, I dropped her off at her friend Danni's house and went back home to sort out a Mother's Day present for my mum. The easy option would have been to go off to the garden centre and buy her a voucher but this year I wanted to do something different so I had a look through the Royal and Derngate theatre brochure that had been delivered by post. I spotted a production of "South Pacific" on Friday 31 October which was perfect as she loves musicals and she loves that film in particular. I booked the tickets online and was very pleased with myself for choosing this treat as it was so different and I'm sure she'll be thrilled.

With that out of the way I went out into the garden and did a general tidy-up with Keith. We spoke to Sue and Paul and then Tom, our new neighbour, stopped for a chat and mentioned something about parking on the estate and the possibility of there being lines on the road to stop cars from clogging up the narrow roads. Keith and I popped over to the noticeboard to have a look and saw that there was a mention in the Parish Notices so we'll have to keep an eye out for the promised leaflet which will be delivered to us all. I'm not sure how they'll go about enforcing the rule as I really can't see traffic wardens patrolling the estate!

After Keith and I had finished the garden I washed my car (and got soaking wet as we have a hole in the hosepipe) and then Sophie called me... She said that after getting to her friend's house and staying there for a couple of hours they were asked to leave as Daisy and her family were going to have lunch out, and it was a family affair only! This meant that Sophie and three other girls had to go and find something to do for just over four hours until the family had finished lunch, when they would then be summoned back! I was speechless when she told me and I suggested to her that I go and pick her up and bring her home but she said that they could go to Danni's house and stay there until the evening. I had never heard anything so bizarre in all my life and there was obviously a breakdown in communication somewhere!

Keith went off to watch the football in the afternoon and I settled down to watch North by Northwest on BBC2 when Mikey appeared (after spending most of the afternoon in the garden) and said he had a rash on his back and chest. I had a look and said we could go to the chemist and buy some cream for him. This mean that yet again, I wasn't able to watch North by Northwest in one sitting. I've never actually seen this excellent film all the way through! Luckily I was able to record it so we drove off on a fruitless journey to find a chemist that was open. We gave up after about half an hour and I told Mikey that it didn't look serious and we would buy some cream in Tesco's tomorrow. He seemed quite happy, poor thing!

Sophie went back to her party in the early evening and Keith and I picked her up at 11.30pm. She wasn't in the best of moods, I'm afraid!

Busy end to the week...

Today has been a long day and there was certainly no getting away early to go to the gym, unfortunately!

We were busy at work all day and I picked Sophie up at 1.30pm as she had a free period. Before she could start work, though, we had to go and buy a present for her friend's 18th Birthday on Saturday so we went off to Jones's and she chose a bottle of One Direction perfume. As the recipient is a huge fan of the band, we both thought that fitted the bill perfectly!

Back at work it was getting a bit manic as we had two parties again. The weather had cleared up and it was becoming sunny and warm so I was surprised we were so busy! It was gone 6pm by the time we could get off home and I have to admit to breaking my "no-drinking" rule by having a glass of Chardonnay while watching Neighbours!

Rushing about...as usual!

Today was much quieter at work even though we had a sleety rain shower in the afternoon and the temperatures plummeted from 12c down to 4c in the space of half an hour. At one point I really did think we were going to get some snow!

Keith came into work with me today and we sorted out his travel insurance for the holiday. I wanted him to speak to an actual person as I had to make sure his pre-existing heart conditions are covered when we travel to Florida! He had a great chat with the woman on the end of the line and now he's all fixed up, thank goodness. Now I just need to get the kids and myself covered.

I also contacted AOL and made the decision to leave them as we'll be going with BT Broadband instead. I've been with AOL for 14 years so I think it's time for a change!

I was really pleased we'd got two niggly jobs out of the way and after work I dropped Sophie off at the nail salon while I headed to the gym to have an eyebrow shape. It was great to relax for a little while after my busy day and after I'd been plucked I sat in the cafe with a coffee for half an hour until I received the phone call to pick Sophie up. We drove home under heavy, grey skies so the threat of snow has not abated yet!

Strike!

Mikey was off school today due to industrial action by the National Union of Teachers so I was forecasting a busy day at work if several schools were affected. Not only that, but we had two parties in the evening (one of over 30 children) so I asked Mum and Dad to swap with Keith and come in today in case we were swamped with customers!

My prediction was right and we were indeed very busy! We still found time to sort out a load of old documents and papers that need to be shredded as some of them dated from 2003! We have a mobile shredding unit visiting us next Monday as there is no way we could do it all ourselves! Dad and I went over to the unit to sort them out for half an hour and I was astonished at just how much stuff we have! A lot of it was damp and covered with cobwebs so I picked up the files very gingerly in case a huge hairy thing jumped out at me!

Sophie finished school a bit early (as a sixth-former she had to go in) and helped out Chloe in the kitchen. I'd resigned myself to staying late and it was almost 7pm when we finally left work and then took Polly home. The noise and chaos had been tremendous and I'd spent an hour just washing up so it was heaven to get home and relax...with a glass of sparkling water! I'd been sorely tempted to have a glass of wine but I didn't give in and just drank water with dinner. I hope the scales tell me it's been worth it!

A good day spoilt...

Today we had rain first thing which wasn't very nice to wake up to! I took the children to school but there's no sign yet of any disruption with the roadworks...perhaps they're waiting until the schools have broken up before unleashing the chaos!

I was having a really good day until about lunchtime when one of the weekend staff popped in to tell us that the girl she works with felt she could no longer carry on with her weekend job as she had so much work from Uni... Why she couldn't have come in and told us herself, I don't know!

Although this was unwelcome news it wasn't disastrous, but shortly after Emma left, Chloe, who cooks for us at the weekend and was covering for Maureen while she's on holiday, came into the office to tell us she'd found a full time job and would be leaving at the end of April... This was definitely not what we wanted to hear and I was very annoyed that she'd let us make lots of arrangements for the weekend rota without coming clean and telling us she was set on finding a full-time position.

After the conversation with Chloe, there was a lot of gnashing of teeth as finding a weekend cook has always been a challenge for us. We were all set for Sophie to help out on a Sunday cooking with Chloe, so that will have to be changed now.

At 3pm I left to pick up Sophie from school and then headed off to the doctor's where I had an appointment to discuss my recent blood test. It turns out I have a severe Vitamin D deficiency so will have to take supplements for the next three months to put it right. I was amazed at the news as I'd had no real symptoms but the doctor did say that being deficient can make you feel achey and tired, which does ring true. I just put it down to the general wear and tear of life!

As soon as I got home Keith and I went out for a walk despite the sky looking a bit ominous! However the rain stayed away and we had a great walk over the fields, following the route we took on Sunday. We were both a bit weary when we got home!

Busy Monday!

Today has been another gorgeous day, despite the heavy rain we had last night. I drove Sophie to school wondering what the traffic would be like around the school as roadworks were due to start today because of the new development of houses being built in the middle of the village. I think journeys into school over the next few weeks will be challenging, to say the least! Thankfully the Easter holidays are not far off!

Keith and Ian busied themselves erecting another barrier in the car park as we've had customers try and park their cars on top of one of our drain covers, which has resulted in the cover being smashed to pieces and leaving a deep hole that a child could fall down! It never ceases to amaze me what our customers are capable of! They put up a low barrier that will stop cars going onto the grass which should let it grow a bit and fill in the deep ruts left by tyres!

I spent the afternoon painting a couple of walls that were covered in black scruffy marks and then it was time for the gym with Sophie. I wore my new clothes and felt very smart for once!

In the evening I sorted through lots of old photos which were great to look at as they'd been stored in the wardrobes for ages. It's amazing to see how the children have changed over the years and I dug out a few old diaries as well which gave us all a lot of amusement!

Sunday snooze

After the sloth of yesterday I redeemed myself a little by giving the downstairs of the house a good clean before it was time to take Sophie into work. When I got back Keith and I went for a walk over the fields and as Mikey was still asleep, I left him a note to say where we were.

We had a great walk, popping into the village so Keith could show me a new house being built. It was enormous and I have to say I was very envious! We carried on over the fields varying our walk slightly by taking a different route, which led down to one of my favourite places - a lovely quiet area with a bubbling brook and a pool of clear water. I'd love to come down here with a picnic on a sunny day and spend a couple of hours just listening to the water!

As we were nearing the end of our walk my mobile rang and it was Sophie. My heart sank as I'd told her to call me if they needed any extra help as we still had people on holiday. I really didn't feel like having to dash home, get showered and go and work! However, she demanded to know where we were as Mikey had been calling everyone to find out what had happened to us! Apparently he'd woken up to find the ironing board and hoover abandoned, the back door locked and no sign of his parents! He obviously hadn't seen the large piece of paper I'd left in the kitchen explaining that we'd gone for a walk!

After getting home and taking the mickey out of Mikey, Keith and I drove over to Kettering to pick up a top I'd ordered from M&S (a black tee-shirt for the gym) and I bought some seeded bread for lunch. The store was full of Spring colours and banners reminding us that it's Mother's Day next Sunday! That has come around very quickly!

The afternoon was spent doing very little (I had a nap on the sofa) and I had to wait until 6pm to pick my daughter up from work. I drove through a gorgeous evening where the sky was a beautiful mix of smoky greys, blues, apricots and pinks. The leafless trees stood out against the sky and I wished heartily I could capture the colours on my camera!

Some pics I took last week on a late afternoon walk:

Service on Saturday

As predicted, one of our staff who was at Chloe's party last night, called in sick this morning... She was the girl who walked out to the car with Sophie last night and she seemed perfectly well at 11.30pm... Needless to say I was furious as we already had a couple of staff on holiday, Chloe included.

My daughter woke up feeling fine which was a relief as I had visions of her staying in bed until lunchtime, nursing a bad hangover! She very kindly agreed to go into work to help out so I was very pleased indeed.

I have to say that I spent today today very little. We had a visit from our heating man who took over the kitchen completely and and almost took our 13 year old boiler to bits to give it a good service. We don't know how much longer it will last as we have a few issues with it, but hopefully we can get another year out of it!

In the afternoon we experienced two pretty violent hailstorms which just go to prove that Winter is not completely over yet!

Non-stop partying!

We are now entering into a period of multiple 18th Birthday parties, with the first being tonight when Sophie was invited to her friend Chloe's house. Chloe works for us so I knew a lot of the staff would also be there, and I only hoped that they would turn up at work tomorrow!

I picked Sophie and her friend Danni up after school and took them home so they could start the long preparations for the evening ahead. There was nothing to stop me from going to the gym but I chose not to, preferring instead to stay at home and listen to the tramping of the floorboards overhead as the girls got ready.

Keith had returned from the pub and dinner had been eaten and cleared away by the time the girls were ready at almost 8.30pm! I have to say they both looked beautiful and I hoped all the effort was worth it!

As I'd had a glass of wine, Keith drove to Chloe's house (it's been almost three weeks since he's touched the demon drink) but I went with him as moral support. We dropped the girls off and then went home to wait for a text asking me to pick my daughter up.

The text came at 11pm and at 11.30pm we were pulling up outside Chloe's house where it all looked pretty calm! Sensibly her parents had stayed at home to  make sure things didn't get out of hand! Sophie was a bit worse for wear even though she'd assured me she wasn't going to have a drink. She immediately lay down in the back of the car and tried to go to sleep, but we made her sit up until we got home, which was probably a mistake as she did nothing but talk.

Back home I encouraged her to remove her make-up and undress as she'd just lain down on her bed fully-clothed and I knew she would regret it in the morning!

A shopping we will go!

After work Sophie and I went off to Milton Keynes as I needed some new gym wear (desperately) and my daughter wanted to buy her friend, Chloe, an 18th Birthday present. We parked very easily and went first to M&S where I picked out new leggings, tops, a swimsuit and a couple of bras. After trying them all on, I bought everything except a top which made me look pregnant, so that was my goal achieved!

Sophie went to try bikini tops on in River Island but couldn't find anything she liked and as I thought the jewellery was a bit tacky and cheap looking in there, I suggested we go to Accessorize which was full of some very pretty things such as scarves, bags and jewellery, and have a look. Luckily she found some anklets, a necklace and a couple of other pretty things that did the job perfectly! Thank goodness, as she was starting to get a bit stressed out by the experience!

From Accessorize we went to Boots and from there to John Lewis where we'd planned on having supper. Sophie had a yearning for their Moroccan chicken soup but when we got up to the second floor, the place was almost empty and they had barely a bowl of soup left! We decided to leave the shopping centre and drive the very short distance to The Hub where there was a huge choice of restaurants, but one in particular that Sophie is very fond of, Las Iguanas!

By now it was pouring with rain and we got soaked running from the car park to the restaurant. The place was busy with people eating and drinking and the atmosphere was great. We each had a glass of wine (I felt I deserved it after the shopping) and ordered a burger (me) and Tortas for Sophie which was a soft brioche bread filled with chicken. Sophie pronounced it the best meal she'd ever had afterwards so the extra expense was definitely worth it! My daughter had a second glass of wine (!) and we both couldn't resist the dessert menu, choosing ice-cream and cheesecake, both of which were sublime. This is now the third Thursday I've been out for a meal and I think that's it for now! Needless to say I wasn't tempted by the Tapas dishes on the menu...enough is enough!

The journey home was horrendous, due to the torrential rain and the amount of spray thrown up by the lorries. Not only that, but it was very dark indeed on the M1 and I had a rare moment of actually feeling quite scared by the driving, something I don't normally feel. It was a huge relief to pull off the motorway and get home!

Indulgence!

I woke up this morning after having a vivid dream about being at the airport and waiting to board a flight to Spain. The only thing was, I hadn't printed off any boarding cards or tickets and it looked like we were going to miss the flight! I woke up with a start and said to Keith that we really ought to check all our paperwork for our forthcoming holiday in August!

At work we did indeed check our ESTAs but they said they were still valid, but we will definitely check nearer the time! I do not want to fall foul of the US authorities!

After work Sophie and I went off to the gym accompanied by Laura again, even though I really did not feel like going! I half-heartedly did my weights and about half an hour on the treadmill and bike and then gave into temptation and went and sat in my car with my Kindle until the girls were finished! I didn't fancy going down to the spa or reading in the cafe so I had a blissful hour sitting with the window open and watching all the comings and goings in between reading Body Surfing by Anita Shreve which is a fantastic book, and one which I can't put down!

Sophie emerged from the gym at about 6.45pm and we went home to a delicious roast chicken dinner! Bliss!

Baking bread!

I had planned on going for a walk with Keith after work today but the sky turned an ominous shade of grey and when I got home I discovered that my husband had already been for a walk without me!

It was the perfect excuse to stay at home and make some bread! Earlier in the afternoon I'd visited the
Co-Op in Moulton to try and find something for our dinner and had finally settled on pate and olives. Rather than buy a loaf of bread I made my own to go with it and, as always, it turned out lovely.

It was great to lounge about and do very little for once!

Another week!

It's been a busy day at work and we've spent most of it cleaning so by the time we finished the place looked lovely. I spent quite a long time in the car park sweeping up the litter which our weekend customers leave behind them. The birds, squirrels and rabbits were out so, with the sunshine and mild breeze, it was quite an enjoyable experience.

Sophie brought her friend Laura with her to work as she was coming to the gym with us. On the drive there, I really didn't feel like going but I forced myself to do some exercise and managed about 30 minutes, plus my weights. My reward was a long session in the spa and I'm surprised I didn't come out all wrinkly from the warm water!

In the changing rooms, I met Sarah and we had a long chat about teenagers, both of us agreeing that they can be very challenging at times!

Spring Clean-out!

It's been another beautiful day, but a wee bit on the chilly side. Keith and I went for a walk after we'd dropped Sophie off at work and had a chat with Sue and another neighbour who were tidying up the bushes at the entrance to the estate. It looked hard work and I admired their community spirit!

The walk over the fields was lovely but the wind was on the chilly side, but what can you expect? It's still only the middle of March and this time last year it was snowing!

One cheerful sight was the lambs, though, and the amount of beautiful daffodils growing everywhere, in the gardens and over the fields where some nice person had planted them years ago.

Back at home Keith mowed the lawn while I sorted all the washing out and managed to get a lot of it on the line to dry in the sunshine and breeze. After lunch I decided to clear out my wardrobe and was quite ruthless, deciding to get rid of some clothes that have been hanging around for years and which I know I will never wear again. I also sorted out a load of bedding so the cupboards and drawers are now much tidier with more room...time for a Spring spending spree!

I took some of the clothes around to Mum's and she relieved me of a couple of jackets and a tee-shirt and then it was off to the tip with the clothes, bedding and four bags of books. As last week, the tip was busy with people doing pretty much the same as me! It's the weather!

Sophie called me as I left the tip to say she was finished work so I drove over to collect her then popped the car through the car wash on the way home. By the time I'd got home, finished off the car (I have a thing about the wheels being spotless and the car wash just doesn't get them as clean as I'd like!) it was bliss to sit on the sofa with a glass of wine and relax!

Chucked out!

Today has been very busy indeed! As Sophie has some friends coming over tonight, most of the morning and early afternoon was spent cleaning the house, something I hadn't really planned to do today! However it was great to see most of the house all cleaned up and we did concentrate on Sophie's room which really needed a deep clean!

In the afternoon we went to the gym for a swim and it was beautifully quiet, probably because the weather was so nice (and warm...17c). From the gym we drove to Aldi so that Sophie could get some wine, beer and nibbles for her small gathering this evening. She'd planned on getting pizza delivered but wanted ice-cream and crisps as well, bless her. She is turning out to be a good party hostess!

Back at home I had a go with Mikey's air rifle as he was practising in the garden. I managed to hit the target and my second shot was within the rings so I was very pleased!

Keith and I went out in the evening to the cinema to see Non-Stop with Liam Neeson and despite the bad reviews we enjoyed it very much. It's not quite in the same league as Taken and Unknown but we thought it was brilliant and ideal for a couple of escapist hours at the cinema.

From the cinema we drove to Market Harborough and chose to have an Indian in one of our favourite restaurants. We enjoyed Chicken Pakora to start followed by two hot curries accompanied by poppadums, mushroom rice and naan bread. The service was excellent and the meal was delicious.

By 10.30pm we were driving home and wondering how the kids were. Sophie had texted me to say they'd had problems getting pizza delivered as we live out in the sticks and when we arrived home they still hadn't had any food. We were sent to bed but the house was quiet, there was no mess and the four of them (along with Mikey) seemed to be having a good time!

Foggy Friday!

Another Friday, another foggy day!

As we had an extra member of staff coming in at lunchtime to help out, Mum and I escaped work this morning and went off to a local branch of Toys R Us to get a couple of toys for the Tots area. We found two cars that would be perfect for our age group so we bought them and then had a tussle getting them into the back of my car, even though it's an estate!

From Toys R Us we popped to the bank and had an indulgent cup of coffee before going back to work. We were pleasantly busy and by now the thick fog had cleared to another gorgeous day. The weekend is looking to be a good one as well.

I picked Sophie up early from school and the three of us went to BACA to get some new tee-shirts for the girls who look after our parties. While we were there Sophie managed to entertain everyone by measuring her face...don't ask!

We went off to the gym earlier than normal and even though I didn't feel like working out, we managed a good session, followed by some wonderful relaxation in the spa. Bliss!

Tapas...again!

The fog this morning was very thick as I drove over to the doctor's to have a repeat blood test. I asked why I had to have another one and the Nurse said that my Vitamin D levels were a bit low...it's hardly any wonder after the grey and gloomy winter we've had! On a much better note, though, my blood test results from last week were all normal so that was brilliant. My blood pressure was confirmed as being fine as well so I was very pleased! Hopefully after a weekend spent in the garden soaking up the Spring sunshine my levels might have risen a little.

The fog disappeared by mid-morning and by the afternoon it was beautiful again. After work Keith and I went for a walk and met one of his drinking buddies over the fields, who was walking his two smelly, slobbery dogs (they were very sweet though, and we had cuddles). We had a chat about Cheltenham races as both men were keen on betting on the horses even though Keith was a bit down on his winnings!

When we got back home I had a very indulgent bubble bath and then got ready to go out with Sue to a place a friend of hers had recommended - Good Friends Bistro  - in the gorgeous village of Grafton Underwood near Kettering. It was a good thing that Sue offered to drive as it was way out in the middle of the countryside and was a curious little place, in a large converted cottage.

We first walked into their tiny delicatessen shop and waited to be seated in a small dining area. There were two other tables occupied, one with a couple and another with three men and it was very much like sitting in someone's front room! The menu for the evening was tapas and there were about 12 different dishes to choose from. We chose seven - meatballs, goat's cheese salad, black pudding served with poached pears on bruschetta, Spanish omelette, ham and cheese croquettes, Patatas Bravas and stuffed vine leaves. The food was absolutely delicious and much better than Les Olives last week. It tasted fresher and I suppose that's why they keep the menu choices small.

I had two glasses of red wine and with a sublime dessert of apricots stuffed with mascarpone cheese and pistachios, and two coffees the bill came to a very reasonable £51. We looked at the normal evening menu which is served on Friday and Saturday nights and we'll definitely be back!

Wednesday workout

This morning it was very foggy and I was in a long line of cars all heading for Northampton in the misty gloom. I've just heard that there are going to be 150 new houses being built in the village of Moulton, which I think is full now! The site is just off the main street which is always congested in the morning so I think this will be an area to avoid in the near future!

My main priority today was sorting out Sophie's passport which we've been meaning to do for a couple of months. We took it to the Post Office in Weston Favell and used their "check and send" service so hopefully, within a couple of weeks we should get it back. It'll be her first adult passport!

After work Sophie and I went off to the gym. I didn't work as hard as I should have done, but I did do almost 40 minutes of exercise and most of my weights so not too bad. It was sheer bliss to relax in the spa afterwards.

Just as we got home I saw Liam walking Max so we had a chat about the poor old dog. He's really on his last legs now and it was really sad to see how much he's aged in the last year. In my mind I still think of him as a young dog, running around in the fields, ears flapping!

Feeling so much better!

I woke up this morning feeling better than I'd done for ages. My cold is finally going, I'm coughing less and less and I had far more energy. Perhaps it was my workout at the gym last night?

The grey overcast weather cleared in the afternoon to blue skies and sunshine so after a busy day at work getting a lot done, Keith and I put on our coats (although it was sunny, it was still chilly) and went for a walk over the fields. We headed for the village first and then walked up the more gentler incline back home. It was fantastic to be out in the fresh air and getting some exercise!

As Mikey was at Army Cadets tonight we had a supper of cheese and biscuits, which was delicious, but a bit naughty. I did eat a lot of celery and grapes, though!

Back into the routine!

So, it was back to work today and I did feel slightly better after my weekend out in the fresh air. Mum and I cleaned our tube slides today and hoovered all the framework which was dusty after the recent half-term holiday. While we did that, Dad scrubbed part of the floor in the kitchen so we certainly made up for not doing a lot over the last few weeks!

Sophie was off out with her friends in the evening so I went to the gym on my own. I have to admit to not really wanting to go, but I forced myself and actually had a lovely, very relaxing time. I just stuck to doing some exercise on the treadmill and the bike and then went down for a blissful spell in the spa. Sitting in the steam room was great for the last remnants of my cold and after a hot shower I felt great as I drove home!

Sophie called me to say she wouldn't be home until after 9pm so it was just the three of us for dinner. Something I'm going to have to get used to, I think!

Spring has sprung!

Today has been truly glorious - warm (19c) and sunny with cloudless blue skies! I always think we are lulled into a false sense of security though, as we could have snow next week!

Keith and I went to get the newspaper first thing and called in to see Mum for coffee on the way home. We only stopped for a short while as I was itching to get out into the garden and sort things out after the dreadful winter we've had. Another bonus was that we didn't have to waste time taking Sophie to work so we could get straight on!

We didn't do anything major and it was lovely to potter about and tidy all the plants up (Keith did prune our apple tree...Slasher Keith strikes again as he was a bit heavy handed!). I chucked out some plants that hadn't made it over the winter but a fair few had, which surprised me, especially a geranium which still looked healthy. I say we've had a bad winter but I meant in terms of rain, rather than cold temperatures.

We also moved some plant holders from the gravel garden to the garage wall and I filled them with pots of pansies so by the time we were finished everything looked a lot tidier. The only thing I wanted to do, and that we couldn't do as the grass was still damp, was mow the lawn and then it would have been perfect!

I even managed a trip to the tip with two broken bar stools and a load of books that have been sliding around in the back of my car for over a week. Predictably, the tip was very busy with people clearing out garages and gardens.

Just as I was hoovering out my car Sophie called to ask me to pick her up from work as we were very quiet. When we arrived back home it was lovely to sit out in the garden and relax with Monty who had stayed by my side all day, bless him!

Sociable Saturday!

Although the weather forecast had said the weekend would be sunny and warm, the day started off very grey indeed!

It didn't stop me from going out into the front garden, though, and having a chat with Sue who had the same idea! Keith joined us as well and as the morning wore on, the sun came out and the chilliness disappeared.

We didn't do a lot in the garden, just tidied it up and swept away all the leaves from the front of the house. I made a cup of hot chocolate for us (Sue had dropped off some hot chocolate mix earlier in the day) but the one laced with chilli did not go down well with my neighbour who took a sip and spat it out! I liked it though!

After having a good chat (and we even said hello to our new neighbours) I washed my car and then it was time to go to Market Harborough with Sophie for the afternoon. We had lunch in Costa Coffee first and then it was off to New Look as usual and a mooch about in Monsoon. Lastly, we called in to see Duncan who was in very good spirits as he was off to a party that evening in Fancy Dress, the theme being "Dead Celebrities". He was going as Amy Winehouse and I begged him to post a photo on Facebook! I tried three wines but bought a different one anyway - a Viognier from South Africa to go with our Chinese meal this evening.

Back home I made use of the beautifully sunny early evening and sat and read in the conservatory. It was lovely to see the sky turn from powder blue to indigo and we watched the birds flit about in the garden - which reminds me, we'll have to start looking out for the bats again!

Sophie was staying over at her friend Chloe's house so we dropped her off and then went to pick up our Chinese takeaway from Walgrave. After dinner we watched a silly film about a group of Londoners buying a race horse...it's about time they showed some decent films on a Saturday night!

Lazy Friday

For the first time in - I don't know how many years - I took another day off work as I still felt unwell. Keith went off to Tesco and my parents drove the children to school while I languished in bed. As I listened to the rain outside I felt very guilty...

So I spent today doing very little in an attempt to try and shake off this nasty bug. In the afternoon Keith and I watched a good film - Deadfall - which was very strange as it's something we never do during the day! The film was sent in the middle of winter with an abundance of snow and it was weird watching it while seeing the weather outside improve and become very Spring-like!

Hopefully, with more good weather forecast for the weekend I can get out into the garden and get some fresh air!

A Tapas treat

I woke up this morning feeling not the slightest inclination to get up and go to work, so I didn't. My parents took the children into school for us and Keith made an appointment at the doctor's surgery for me for later in the morning. My head felt like it was full of cotton wool and I had a hacking cough that made my head ache.

At the doctor's she said that I had Sinusitis and there was nothing she could do for me, as antibiotics wouldn't help. The only thing I could do was let it run its course.

After I'd seen the doctor we went off to Tesco as Keith had to get something for the children's dinner tonight. We had a celebratory Latte (tea for Keith) in Costa Coffee as today we have been together for 26 years!

The rest of the day was spent doing very little, except coughing and blowing my nose in a vain attempt to clear the blockages in my head! I was going out in the evening with friends to Les Olives, a Tapas restaurant in Northampton, so I had a bath and Sophie did my hair and make-up for me. I really didn't feel like going out but there was no way I could cancel again as the last time we'd planned to go here was when Keith was in hospital.

We picked Lynda up and then drove into Northampton and we found we could pull up right outside the restaurant. Fiona and Andrea were already there and the place was packed with people. There was live music and a flamenco dancer so lots of atmosphere!

A waitress came to take our drinks order but I must have been invisible as she went off without finding out what I wanted and then Lynda's drink went to the next table. Not the best of starts! We finally got ourselves sorted out and had a good look at the menu, choosing three dishes each for our main courses. For starters we had alioli and a broad bean mixture with lots of bread accompanied by a delicious Tempranillo.

For mains we chose a variety of Tapas including slow roast belly of pork, chicken livers, duck, pan fried strips of lamb and spicy chorizo. We also had langoustines, calamari and several vegetarian dishes including a delicious Spanish omelette.

The food was great but I don't think I'm a huge fan of Tapas. I think the dishes are great as snacks for lunch or a couple before dinner, but it was strange having to pick so many different dishes as a main meal. Fiona and I had dessert - almond cake for me, chocolate mousse for her - and then it was an early end to our evening. Keith came for us at 10pm which suited me fine as I really didn't feel like having a very late night!

Two days in one...

Not an awful lot happened on Tuesday and Wednesday so I've lumped both days together!

On the way back from Army Cadets on Tuesday night I got the feeling that Mikey's enthusiasm is starting to wane a bit, which is a huge shame. He was supposed to be away at camp this weekend but has said he doesn't want to go. We think he's having difficulties with some of the more complicated aspects of being a cadet, like map and compass work, so we'll just have to try and support him if he finds he can't do things. I, for one, will be disappointed if he gives it up as he has done much better at school after taking it up.

On Wednesday Sophie and I went to the gym after work. Not to do a workout, but to laze about in the spa as I still feel horrible with this cough and cold that simply won't go away. I sat in the sauna and the steam room but after half an hour we decided to call it a day, which was a good thing as Mum and Dad had been trying to get hold of me as they'd left their house keys at work and they couldn't get in to their home! I'd noticed and taken them with me so after a quick change they met us in Reception. I have to say I wasn't too keen on receiving 12...yes 12! missed calls while I was in the spa, but at least it wasn't a major problem!

Back to Monday again!

This morning found me at the Doctor's surgery waiting to have a 24 hour blood pressure monitor fitted. I must admit I wasn't that happy to be wearing it but at least I'll know if my blood pressure is OK or not!

I still felt rough with my cold so I didn't feel like doing any cleaning today. Hopefully next week I'll be feeling much better and we can get on with all the jobs that have been neglected recently. I'm hoping that this period of ill health will soon be behind us!

After work Sophie and I popped down to Boots at Riverside to buy some much-needed toiletries and then my lovely daughter treated me to a cup of tea in Costa Coffee. It was the highlight of my Monday!

Dreary Sunday

Today the weather has been horrible and grey and although I did hope we might see some sun, the sky remained cloudy all day.

Keith and I took Sophie to work and then it was home to do various housework chores for the rest of the morning. My cold seems to have made a comeback and Keith is still coughing so it was a bit of a miserable household today. In the afternoon I watched a film with Mikey while Keith coughed all to himself upstairs!

We did manage to have a delicious dinner in the evening though...at least I could taste it!

Some photos of yesterday, taken by Sophie:

A trip to the seaside

The morning, although foggy, held the promise of a glorious day, so I felt like we should make the most of it, preferably by going out and getting away from this house, which has felt like Germ Central at times this week!

Unfortunately, my family did not share my passion for going out for the day so a heated family argument ensued before it was decided that Mikey would stay at home while Keith, Sophie and I decided to head for the Suffolk coastal town of Southwold. I made sure I checked the weather forecast before we left (it said dry and sunny) but as we sped towards the sea the weather deteriorated considerably and we were pelted with rain as we neared Southwold...

The morning hadn't started well (the argument) had become worse with an ill-chosen breakfast in McDonald's (the breakfast wrap I had was abysmal) so this latest blow was not really needed! However, after we parked the car the rain stopped and although the sky never did materialise into the beautiful blue I'd imagined, it did stay dry.

We had a cup of coffee and a walk along the pier before venturing into the town in search of a chemist for Keith as his cough was getting worse (he hadn't stopped coughing the whole journey and was now really uncomfortable). I'd never visited Southwold out of season before but the place was still busy with people and we even managed a short walk on the beach to collect some pebbles for the garden.

By 2.30pm Keith had had enough so we headed for home, where the weather had been sunny most of the day! The one, highly enjoyable, part of my day was driving my beautiful car which sped along the A14 like an arrow. I'm going to have to keep a very strict eye on my speed as getting near 100mph was way too easy!