The end of an era...

I bid a fond farewell to Mike this morning and said that if he ever needed us, we'd be there for him. We just hope that he keeps in touch, and comes back to see us regularly! There was talk of us taking him down tomorrow with some of his things, but as the flat has fallen through, and they're staying with friends, all of their furniture is still being kept at Abbie's grandad's house. I did get a panicked call from him before I started work, though, asking where his passport was! I hadn't seen it and the last I knew was that he had it!

Today at work was as horrible as yesterday was lovely! There were a lot of extraneous people in our office, so sometimes the noise level was unbearable. We were very busy as well, and Jo and I had some nasty callers. One woman was screaming down the phone at me about her membership and in the end, I put the phone down on her, as there was no point in carrying on trying to help. When she immediately called back I got her again! She had calmed down a bit and did apologise, so that was something!

It was a huge relief to walk out at 4pm and sit for a few moments in the car, relishing the peace! At home I mooched about, deciding to leave any housework for tomorrow when I'm off. I love Tuesday evenings when I'm facing two days away from work!

While Keith cooked a delicious chicken pie this evening, Sophie and I played cards and had a deep conversation about relationships! A lot of the things I worried about when I was young now seem irrelevant but at Sophie's age, things can seem daunting!

Dining out!

I'm really not keen on working on a Bank Holiday Monday, but I'm on annual leave for two weeks from next Monday, so I can't really complain. Jo and I were working together, and we didn't know what to expect today. I was hoping it wouldn't be manic!

Luckily, my hopes were met, and although we had a few busy moments first thing, we were able to get a lot of other jobs completed. I did the weekend box office returns, put the rest of the films onto the system, processed a load of cinema invoices, and added the distributors to the spreadsheet to make it easier for Sheila when I am away. I also tackled some customer service emails so the time passed very quickly.

At 4pm I sped home and sorted out the recycling as our bin was full in the kitchen, and also in the garage. I was delighted to learn the other day that Tesco is now taking crisp packets and pet food pouches. Very soon we won't need to go to George in Milton Keynes anymore! 

We had decided to go to Akasaka for a meal tonight, as Mike is off to Southampton tomorrow with Abbie to start his new life, and we thought it would be a lovely send-off for him. We left at 5.30pm and went to The Princess Alexandra first for a drink. I just about managed to get into the car park opposite, taking the last space available. That's one of the problems with the pub - there is no parking otherwise!

We had a couple of drinks and watched a man who was obviously waiting for a date to arrive. I imagined it was his wife, and that he had come out while she finished getting ready, but Mike and Sophie were convinced he'd been stood up! He had already bought her a glass of red wine, and we all watched him like a hawk as various people arrived. Just as we were giving up hope, his very attractive date arrived in a flurry of apologies, and he looked immensely relieved!

Our table at Akasaka was booked for 7.30pm, and we were able to find a parking space almost right outside. The town seemed very quiet, and I think a lot of places close on a Monday evening. The restaurant was busy, and we were seated next to a group of young people who were swapping stories about their gap year. Again, Mike and Sophie listened in! We are so nosy!

The food, as always, was delicious. Sophie and I shared chicken gyoza and tempura battered vegetables, accompanied by a dish of spicy edamame beans that everyone tucked into. For our mains, Sophie and I chose the Katsu chicken curry, Keith had Teriyaki chicken, while Mike went for his favourite, the Ramen soup. I can't quite believe that Mike is leaving tomorrow, and won't be returning in a few weeks like he used to do. I just hope they both find somewhere lovely to live and make a go of it.

On the way home, he was contacted by friends that wanted to see him before he left, so Sophie and I gave him a lift to Brixworth. I knew I would see him in the morning, but I still felt a bit emotional when I said goodbye!

Ladies who lunch (and shop!).

Sophie and I went and picked Mum up at 11am this morning and after grabbing a drive-thru coffee at Costa, we trundled over to Weedon. We wanted to go back to the huge antiques shop by the canal and thought Mum might like to come with us.

She was astounded by how much there was on display! Sophie was looking for old glasses, while I was on the hunt for jars or bottles to decant our laundry products into, to make my little "utility" room look pretty. At the moment it hasn't got the look I'm after!

I didn't see anything in the antique part but next door, where there were more vintage items, I spotted a grey, laundry powder tin and a pewter hook for the door to hang our aprons on. I've made a start!

From Weedon, we drove to the Shires Shopping Yard and had lunch at Darlington's. We are always lucky with a table here, and we were seated by a huge fireplace. Darlington's is one of my favourite places to have lunch, or tea and cake, and the food is always good, with excellent service. Sophie and I enjoyed a club sandwich again with masses of salad, while Mum went for a plate of chilli con Carne with rice.

We all found room for cake and Sophie and I had a cup of tea as well. Suitably fortified, we had a look in the shops and Mum bought Dad a model Spitfire aeroplane kit, in the hope that it will keep him occupied!

While Sophie and I climbed the stairs to the fabulous cookshop, Abraxas, Mum went back to the car. I bought a glass jar with a chrome top for the laundry capsules we use. My collection is expanding! Sophie spotted some beautiful, and very unusual coffee cups and bought two for one of her work friends. There is so much gorgeous stuff in Abraxas and I could have spent a fortune!

We returned by a much more direct route and dropped Mum off at the care home. Before playing Scrabble with Sophie, I read the weekend papers and tried not to think about going back to work tomorrow. This weekend has not felt like a Bank Holiday weekend at all. The weather continues to be grey and overcast and I keep forgetting it's August!

After a game of Scrabble, we started dinner and made the Hairy Bikers' Chicken Makhani, a version of Butter Chicken. We both had so much room to cook and Keith sat with us as we prepared the meal. It was delicious and one we'll definitely try again, but next time we'll follow the recipe to the letter and grill the chicken to achieve that lovely charred effect!

 

Back comes the rat!

It was great this morning to be able to ease gradually into the weekend, and not have to rush about! A local painter and decorator arrived at 10am to give us a quote for the kitchen. Mum and Dad have used his services in the past to decorate their house, and have always said how good he was. We have given up on the man who came around ten days ago, as he hasn't even bothered to contact us with a quote and we've wasted time. We are both very annoyed.

David gave us a quote then and there but said that we had the wrong paint for the three doors. When I looked at the tin again I realised I'd been given emulsion and not paint for wood. Keith said that we could use it in Mike's bedroom, for one of the walls and that we'd go and get some more next week.

After David had gone, Sophie and I had breakfast and I pottered about, doing a few chores and some paperwork, and then ventured out into the garden to tidy up all the branches that Keith and Mike had cut down a few days previously. Sophie spent a good couple of hours preparing dinner for this evening, and marinating a pack of chicken for the curry we're planning to make tomorrow. Very soon the kitchen was full of gorgeous spicy smells!

Our grass hasn't really grown at all in the back garden, and it could be because there has been a distinct lack of sunshine this month. We seem to be having a run of very overcast and grey weather, and the thick cloud is horrible! Summer has been extremely disappointing this year!

I mowed the lawn and then cut up all the prunings and put them in the bin. By the time I'd finished, it was completely full! The garden did look a lot better, though, and I weeded the border and cut the edges. Thankfully, it doesn't take long to do and in between, I sat on the garden seat and looked out for the birds, but they had disappeared. For some reason, I have been a bit neglectful of the birds lately, so when I finished I put down some fat snax to encourage them back.

Unfortunately, it also encouraged our rat back. Keith had found three dead ones the other day when he was gardening, but we now have a very healthy, very big one back with us. Sophie and I both said that it's pointless to try and eradicate them. We are surrounded by countryside here, and although we've tried almost everything to get rid of them, they still come back. I will just have to stop putting food on the grass. Three whole fat snax disappeared in the space of half an hour!

Keith went to the football in the afternoon, and Sophie and I relaxed with a face pack. It has been a lovely day today, and just what we wanted from a Saturday. Sometimes it's lovely to just stay at home and chill!

While I was getting a shower, Abbie and Mike arrived, and we all congregated in the kitchen to chat, which is just how I imagined we'd be doing. Sophie and I played Scrabble and I was ably helped by Mike, so I beat Sophie, something I don't do very often these days!

Sophie cooked this evening - she made the delicious sausage and orecchiette pasta, accompanied by a huge mound of garlic bread. The food went down very well and needless to say, there was none left at the end of the meal!

After a cocktail and wine, Sophie was very sleepy and fell asleep on the sofa, bless her! Keith and I watched 50 years of celebrating Michael Parkinson, the revered talk show host. Some of the celebrities who featured looked so young, but then some of the footage was from 50 years ago!

Not a quiet end to the week!

Any hopes that today would end on a quiet note were dashed, as it quickly became apparent that we were going to be busier than the early part of the week. It meant that, reluctantly, I had to come off the phones to do the box office returns otherwise I would never have managed to do them before my shift ended!

There doesn't seem to be an end in sight to the swimming bookings, and I estimate that these calls made up 90% of our conversations today. Even the customers don't like having to book in advance!

Therefore, it was a relief to leave at 4pm and head home. Although this is a bank holiday weekend, I will be working on Monday, but I do have two weeks annual leave to look forward to, from the 6th September.

Keith was not at the pub this evening as his friend John was unable to make it, so we didn't have to go out at all. Sophie and I sipped a glass of red and started watching Desperate Housewives again, right from the start!

Dinner this evening was a simple chilli and jacket potato affair, and then we watched a new series called Deceit about the Rachel Nickell murder in the 1990s. I remember being shocked by what happened, and the series is about the "honey-trap" set for Colin Stagg who they think murdered her. Keith wasn't keen but Sophie and I enjoyed it!

A new broom sweeps clean!

After a slow start, Keith and I went to do the shopping at Aldi and Tesco. It's still school holidays so it was busier than usual, and Keith vowed to go earlier next week! I looked for new things for the kitchen in Tesco, but only found two storage jars and a muffin tin!

Back home we unpacked everything (so much easier now!) and had some lunch. I wanted to try and get some bits for the kitchen so we went to Jones's. I found two new doormats and a new broom, but no storage jars for the flour we use. As they're hidden away in a cupboard at the moment, I'm not too worried! As expected, Christmas items were beginning to creep onto the shelves in the wholesaler's and here's my annual picture of what's for sale, even though we're in August!

Gonks galore! I wasn't tempted... not just yet!

We drove back home where I tidied up, used my new broom, and then mooched about for the rest of the afternoon. We still haven't had a quote from the painter and decorator that came out to us last Tuesday, even though I messaged him on Saturday asking when we would receive it. Both Keith and I are very annoyed because now we've wasted ten days waiting around for a quote that will, most likely, never get sent. Why not just say to us he didn't want to do it? He had lots of recommendations on the local forums, so I can't understand why he just wasn't honest with us? I called a painter that Mum and Dad used to use, and who lives in the village, so I just hope that he responds to my plea for help!

At 5pm I had a wallow in a deep, hot bath and when Sophie came home we sat and watched television for a change. I am into George's Remarkable Renovations at the moment, and love seeing what other people have done with their kitchens!

Sophie cooked paella tonight, while Keith and I sat at the island and did the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.

This was just how I imagined it would be!

Eating at The Hare

Our aim today was to sort out the poor conservatory which has been used as a kitchen/dumping ground for the last few weeks! We had to make room for the computer table, and before we moved any furniture, I gave the place a good clean. I don't think I have ever seen so many dead flies!

Keith helped, and mid-way through the morning, he made me a sausage sandwich to keep me going. I was just glad it wasn't too hot! August has been very disappointing in terms of the weather... most days have been overcast and grey, and today was no exception.

I finished the conservatory much more quickly than I had imagined. We've now set the printer up, so we don't have to get it out of a cupboard each time we use it!

Once the conservatory was cleaned, I moved onto the rest of the downstairs rooms and mopped the kitchen floor. It came up beautifully when I'd finished, which was a relief as, when it was first down, I was worried it would show every mark!

Keith and Mike were outside trimming some of the bushes that were overhanging on our side of the garden. Sadly, Sarah and Liam haven't yet done anything with the Silver Birch on the other side of the fence. It is way too tall and really should have been pruned and maintained every couple of years, rather than let it get to the height it is now, which is taller than our house.

At 2pm I drove over to the care home to take Mum to see Avery Park again. We had to do another lateral flow test (I had already taken one at 1pm), and we came to the decision that Mum would be best sharing a companion room with Dad. I am worried she won't eat properly or take her medication on time if she lives in an apartment on her own, and she agreed. I was also worried a little concerned about security, and if she wakes up in the night feeling anxious.

We had another good look around, spoke to the manager, and said they would like the rooms on the ground floor when they become available. From there we went back to my house and had a cup of tea in the conservatory. Mum was delighted with the kitchen, and how lovely it looked!

Keith had taken Mike to Abbie's earlier, and when Sophie came home he suggested we go out to eat. We tried The Royal Oak first but they were busy, which was great news! We could eat straightaway, at about 6.45pm or wait until 8.30pm. Neither option was good, so we drove to The Hare at Loddington. We had visited the pub before for drinks, so it was new to us to have a meal there.

We were shown to a table, and we sat in splendid isolation all evening, but that was fine with us! We chose garlic bread to start (underwhelming), and steak pie, chicken forestiere and fish and chips for our main courses. It was me who chose fish and chips for a change! The food was very good, and Sophie and I even found room for puds - apple pie and custard, and a white chocolate and raspberry roulade.

Stuffed, we made our way home afterwards on quiet country roads, and collapsed on the sofa!

New horizons!

The frantic pace at work seems to be winding down now, which is a relief for everyone! After a busy thirty minutes the calls quietened down, and we were all able to get on and do other jobs. 

At 4pm I sped home to find one of Mike's chest of drawers on the driveway, and half of it sprayed black. He is starting to get all of his stuff together now to take down to Southampton, where he and Abbie have finally found a house to rent. It's costing £875 a month, so he will need to get a job very soon! He will be taking his own bed with him, and a van has been arranged to deliver their bits and bobs. His leaving date is next Wednesday, and I do hope it all works out for them!

Sophie and I played Scrabble again this evening and Keith cooked a cheat's Toad-in-the-Hole. He used shop-bought Yorkshire puddings rather than make his own... I think he is still wary of the oven!

The end is in sight!

We're into the last week of the school holidays now, and that's a huge relief! The time has gone very quickly, though!

Our wallboard was down this morning so we had no idea of how many calls were coming through. Sometimes, that can be a good thing! It went a bit mad for the first hour and then slowed down so I was able to do the box office returns and then put some new films onto the system.

At 4pm I sped home and did an hour's housework. Keith had been shopping and we'd decided to barbecue this evening after seeing the weather was going to improve. When Sophie came home we sat and played Scrabble with a glass of wine but we didn't finish the game as it was time to cook! I used the induction hob for the first time and cooked new potatoes, stir-fried vegetables and onions.

Keith had done another fab job with the meal and we enjoyed hot dog sausages, marinated chicken, sweetcorn as well as the veggies I'd prepared. Cooking was so easy and everything was within reach so we seem to have made the right decisions with the storage! The only issue we're having at the moment is the new tumble dryer. With our lovely old one, we knew how long to set the timer for and how long it has to go, but with the new one, we are still getting used to it and Sophie's clothes tonight took ages to dry!

Sunday brunch

Sophie was having another sociable event today - meeting her old friends from when she worked at our indoor play area. She had arranged to meet them at Lago Lounge at Rushden Lakes and asked if we could take her over. I agreed and said that I would buy her some nibbles in M&S as Laura was coming over this afternoon as well!

We dropped Sophie off, and Keith and I decided to have breakfast as well. We went to Bill's, which was busy with people enjoying the lovely food. We went for the Traditional option - eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato and toast. I love having breakfast out and today didn't disappoint!

We finished breakfast at 11am and Keith drove me down to M&S where people were already waiting to go in. I bought lots of delicious food for Sophie and Laura and a bottle of white wine for later. I got back into the car where Keith was waiting, and we drove back up to the restaurant to collect Sophie. 

Time was very tight, and we just about managed to pop to Aldi in Kettering where Keith bought some shopping, and I went to Argos to collect a bread bin and a chopping board that I'd ordered yesterday. I'd used all my Nectar points to buy them so they only cost me £10!

Back home we had a very quick tidy-up and Laura arrived. She said the kitchen was amazing and kept walking around with her mouth open! This is the kind of reaction I like! It is a dramatic transformation from our old kitchen!

Laura and Sophie sat at the island all afternoon, and Keith and I went to the tip in Brixworth with the rubbish and popped to get my car washed as it was filthy. There had been no point in washing it before because the dust still flying about would have made it dirty again!

I spent the afternoon sweeping the driveway and tidying up the front garden, strimming the verge, weeding and turning over the soil. We'd had a lot of rain last night so it was lovely to dig it over. The weather had improved a bit and when the sun was out it was very hot!

Keith cooked a roast chicken for dinner this evening and did an excellent job with a strange hob and oven!

Getting sorted!

We awoke to a dreary, grey day, and as a treat, Mike and I popped to McDonald's to get breakfast for all of us.

After we'd eaten we started putting everything back into the kitchen. How lovely it was to have it all back and within easy reach! Sophie put her beautiful glasses into the cabinets and they looked fabulous with the lights!

We worked steadily for most of the day and I put the old kitchen drawers in my car to take to the tip later. We have so much storage space, and we kept finding cupboards we didn't know we had! We've decided to put groceries in the tall right-hand cupboard and the baking ingredients and spices have gone into the corner cupboard which has shelves you can pull right out. In a funny way, it's a bit like being on holiday in a villa and finding cupboards in a strange kitchen!

Sophie went to lunch with her work friends at The Rose and Crown in Yardley Hastings, and we carried on with getting everything sorted. The weather stayed dreary and wet so I wasn't able to do anything in the garden.

Abbie came around at 4pm and was amazed at the kitchen. She couldn't believe it was the same house, and neither can I if I'm honest!

Sophie came home at about 5.30pm and we managed a game of Scrabble sitting at the island, definitely our new favourite place! Keith had prepared a Coq au Vin which was simmering away in the oven and the house was full of delicious smells!

We had a lovely dinner with five of us around the table, and after we'd eaten Mike and Abbie went to a party in the village. Keith and I watched a strange little film called The Burnt Orange Heresy, which starred Mick Jagger! Fascinating!

All done!

Day 24 of kitchen renovation.

I was itching to get work over and done with today, and start the weekend! Luckily, time passed quickly and although there was a lull halfway through the morning, it became a bit manic towards the end of the shift with lots of people booking football and bowls pitches, something I really dislike doing!

I arrived home to find the kitchen was finished! Now, we just need to get the walls, skirting boards and doors painted, find a cushion for the bench seat and invest in a few new things. It goes without saying we are over the moon with how it's turned out! It's amazing that in just over three weeks we've gone from this:

To this!

Although there were times when the cramped conditions in the conservatory got to us, the experience hasn't been as bad as I feared, and the men employed by Highfields have been brilliant, giving us everything (and more) of what we asked for. If we ever do another project in the future, then we will be straight back to them.

Keith and Mike went to the pub tonight, while Sophie and I kept an eye on the chilli con Carne for dinner and watched the first episode of Nine Perfect Strangers. It was great to see the book by Liane Moriarty come to life with Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy!

The Novices Handicap Hurdle

Day 23 of kitchen renovation.

We are at last beginning to see the end of our kitchen renovation, and everything should be finished by the weekend, giving us a chance to put all of our stuff back, and resume normality!

Tom and Jordan were working today, finishing off the flooring, plumbing in the dishwasher (yay!), and installing all the bottom plinths. Keith and I had booked to go to Stratford-on-Avon races today and decided to leave at 11am, giving us nearly two hours to get there before the first race at 1pm.

The weather was mixed with a fair amount of cloud, but some sunshine, too. We left the men to it, drove to Mawsley to get some cash, and then headed off along the A14, the M1 and the A46.

We encountered some roadworks around Warwick, and the time was creeping on. I have to say the roads were busy everywhere, probably because it's still the holiday season. As we approached Stratford-on-Avon, the traffic slowed right down and following signs to the racecourse, we crept along at about 5 miles an hour.

The traffic was so bad that we missed the first race, and went into the wrong part of the course in a desperate bid to get there! We followed signs for centre course parking and didn't go in the usual way where we could have picked up our badges and bought a race card. We felt like complete novices (hence my title, as we faced various hurdles!) and wished we'd relied on our instincts to not follow the signs for the racecourse, but drive in a loop around it as we used to years ago.

Predictably, the racecourse was busy with a mix of people in casual clothing (like us) or dressed up to the nines (a lot of women!). We picked our horses for the second race, but mine - Darling Du Large - came second and Keith's was nowhere to be seen!

We had the same sort of luck in the third race! My horse came third and Keith's was last! By now we were both feeling a bit fed up. We didn't have our badges so we couldn't go into the Club Enclosure, which was a pain as there were lovely seats and a great view! I was a bit peckish so Keith treated me to a hot dog which was possibly the most tasteless snack I have ever eaten. I smothered it in a garish yellow mustard and managed to get myself covered in it!

After looking at the horses in the paddock, and having an ice cream, which was delicious, Keith suggested trying to go to the entrance and seeing if we could show our tickets to get the badges. It worked! Several very helpful men came to our aid and gave us the coveted white badges that would give us access to the Club Enclosure. We'd paid £20 each for today so we might as well get the most out of it!

Before taking our seats in the stand we put a bet on our horses - I went for Cracking Destiny on a whim, which was 5/1. I put a fiver on it and hoped for the best!

Imagine my surprise and delight when Cracking Destiny romped home first and won me £25 plus my £5 stake! Keith had backed the favourite, Courtandbould, which was sixth, so although pleased for me, he looked a bit glum.

I didn't have a bet in the 3.15 race but when I went to collect my winnings, I put a £10 each-way bet on for Keith - Two Blondes. Again, it came nowhere, so we decided that the 3.45 race would be our last. I picked Capricia while Keith went for Lawtop Legend. This time we stood by the Parade Ring, right next to where the winner stands after the race and watched the action on the big screen.

This time it was Keith's turn to win and he managed to recoup some of his losses! He was delighted and I'm so glad he had a winner. He normally does well at home with the races so it was great to see him come up trumps today.

The winning horse came right up to where we were standing, and there was a lot of clapping and celebration.

Lawtop Legend ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies

Keith contemplating his next winner!

Lawtop Legend was hosed down with water to cool him off and walked around a lot! I could see his flanks heaving, poor thing, but he still looked bright after the long race.

Keith went to collect his winnings and then we made our way back to the car. I didn't realise how close the track was and I suggested we watch the next race from the car, to see them go by. Keith agreed and while we waited we chatted to a couple who were parked behind us, which was very pleasant. It was now quite warm in the sunshine and I said that the next time we came we should park in the centre and have a picnic!

Very soon the horses appeared and I was astounded to hear two of the jockeys having a conversation! One of them said he hated the next hurdle! On their second circuit, the lead jockey was really shouting at his horse, and this is something I've never experienced before as we usually just stay in the stand while the race is on. It was thrilling!

Although I enjoyed today, there was a small part of me that was still upset about the photos of a trainer sitting on top of a horse that had collapsed and died. I wish I'd never seen the photos, and despite knowing that they are extremely well looked after and given the best treatment, I still have that niggle that it's not right.

We set off for home and followed Google Maps' recommendation to avoid Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa. The route took us through some gorgeous countryside, eventually bringing us onto the M6 just before the A14.

However, within minutes of being on the A14, the traffic slowed right down so we turned off and drove through Thornby and Creaton towards Brixworth. Mike was at home and had been sorting out his bedroom so there were a load of clothes at the bottom of the stairs that he was chucking out,

The kitchen was almost finished! The dishwasher was working, the sink and tap all set up, and the bottom plinths in. Everything had been sealed and all they had to do was connect the new hob and the plinth heater. Tom is going to put in the skirting boards tomorrow, and that's it!

Sophie very kindly cooked dinner this evening, but before she did we relaxed with a glass of wine and told her about our day. Outside, it started to rain heavily, which was great as it washed our dusty driveway and car!

Starting to get straight!

Day 22 of kitchen renovation.

I picked up my Mum and took her into Northampton for a chiropodist appointment this morning, as she was having trouble with one of her toes, bless her. All of us have been going to Mrs Kirwan for years, and it was lovely to have a chat and catch up.

Afterwards, we drove to Benchmarx as I wanted to make up the paint for the doors in the kitchen and needed to know the code so I could take it to Dulux. The woman I spoke to suggested I go next door to Travis Perkins who had a scanner and would be able to scan the piece of wood I had with me.

They did a fantastic job and within half an hour I had a 2.5 litre pot of paint for the doors in the exact same colour! I had said to Sophie I would pick her up from the station at 1pm, so we just had time for a quick lunch at Dunelm. Mum chose a jacket potato but hardly ate any of it. She said she was so unhappy at the care home, and being in Dunelm, where she used to shop for her own house, probably made her worse.

At 1pm we sped off to the station, collected Sophie and took her to McDonald's for her lunch as she was starving. I had hoped to treat Mum to a McFlurry but they didn't have any! Sophie told us all about her trip to London and had had a brilliant time. We took her home as we then had an appointment at Avery Park Care Home at 2.30pm.

Avery Park is brand new (opened in March) and has a wing for independent living. They are owned by the same group as The Hawthorns in Northampton (where I wanted Mum and Dad to go in January 2020) and the decor and surroundings were very similar. We had to do another lateral flow test (even though I'd done one earlier today) and after the results were in, we went to have a look at a one-bedroom apartment for Mum. She would be on her own, responsible for her own cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc (which is what she wants) but would be able to spend her days with Dad, who would be in the care home wing. The cost every week was £600 less than she's paying now, but she could use all the facilities in the care home such as the hairdresser, therapy room, gym and cinema. She could even take her meals with Dad every day for a small charge.

If she decided against this, they had a companion room for them both at about the same price as they're paying now. We were both very impressed by the building and the staff and Mum seemed very keen.

I took her back to the care home and sped back to my own home where a large part of the floor had been tiled and the grouting was all done.

We are so pleased with the tiling and how it looks, especially the patterned tiles above the cooker!

This evening, when Jordan had gone, we dismantled the paste table and put a lot of things in the tall cupboards by the window. We did some cleaning and put the two ring hob on the worktop next to the cooker. The conservatory is now almost back to normal, which is a huge relief!

Keith cooked a delicious cottage pie while Sophie and I sipped G&Ts and played Scrabble, just as I imagined us doing!

An impromptu meal out!

Day 21 of kitchen renovation.

Work was quieter today, and I refreshed Sheila's memory regarding the box office returns, so she can do them while I'm away in September. While answering the phones I had some strange calls from people who asked many, many questions, so much so that I began to suspect they were mystery shoppers!

At 4pm I couldn't wait to get home and see what progress had been made today! Keith had taken Sophie to the station today as she was meeting Zain in London for his birthday, but before she went she got to see the bench seat made up! Now we just need a comfy cushion!

At the moment, its role is a general dumping ground, but I'm going to choose some fabric and get a long cushion made. However, as Sophie pointed out, it can have various uses and we could put a buffet or drinks there if we have people over for a party!

Jordan had finished putting the tiles on the wall, and had made a start with the flooring. I loved the colours and can't wait to do a real proper clean when it's all finished!

Keith had bought drinks for the men who had been working on the kitchen for the last three weeks and they were all delighted. They have been brilliant, and so helpful, friendly and efficient.

As we were child-free this evening, Keith suggested a meal out. Before we got ready to go out, though, we had a visit from a local decorator, Will, who lives in Walgrave. He arrived at about 5.30pm and his first word when he came into the kitchen was, "Wow!" which is what I'd been hoping he'd say! That's the kind of reaction I like! He had been recommended on a local residents' Facebook page and said he would give us a quote in a couple of days. We have decided on white for most of the walls and ceiling, but we're having an accent colour on the wall surrounding the new window. We've also decided to get the same colour paint as the doors made up and used on the under-stairs cupboard door and the doors leading into the lounge to tie it all together.

Keith and I headed for the Royal Oak, but as we suspected, it was closed. I did remember seeing something on their Facebook page about them closing Monday and Tuesday! We decided to go to The White Swan in Holcot, which has recently undergone refurbishment, and was in the process of being re-thatched. It's a pretty little pub in the middle of the village, and we were pleasantly surprised by how it had been brought up to date inside without losing any of the character.

An old acquaintance from when we ran the business was standing at the bar, and looked shocked to see us! We haven't visited The White Swan in ages (decades, probably) so he was asking why we were in! It was simple... our local was closed! Unfortunately, they weren't serving food, so after one drink we left and sat in the car park pondering our next move. We are blessed with a variety of pubs nearby, but we chose to go back to The Griffin in Pitsford.

We rang and made sure they were doing food - it was a steak and tapas night - and drove over. First impressions were brilliant as the young lad behind the bar queried our booking, and said there were only two of them working. Thankfully he returned and confirmed we were booked in! The pub was very quiet with only a handful of people in, and we elected to sit in the restaurant, along with one other couple.

Despite our apprehensions, and the slight eccentricity of the two staff, we had a delicious meal. The restaurant was only serving steaks, so we both chose the 8oz Sirloin, served with triple-cooked chips, mushrooms, rocket salad and a grilled tomato. We were both hungry so also ordered a side of onion rings and garlic ciabatta. The food was very good indeed, and the normal menu looked very interesting as well. We will go back!

Back home we were both weary so it was an early night!

Nearly there!

Day 20 of kitchen renovation.

The morning started out drizzly and miserable, typical since I'd hung a load of washing out on the line! I arrived at work half an hour before the phones were switched on so I could get ahead with the cinema box office returns. Attendance was disappointing again over the weekend, which was a bit worrying.

Work was busy, but nowhere near as bad as last Monday, thank goodness. At least I had time in between calls to get things done. Outside I saw showers of rain on a couple of occasions, and when I walked to the car I noticed how cool it was. We've not really had a lovely hot summer this year!

At home, I was delighted with today's progress. The tiling had been started and the two floor to ceiling cupboards had been installed. It is quite strange seeing what was once a design on paper, being brought to life!

I love the different tiles making up the splashback behind the cooker

We now have so much storage!

Jordan was still working and we said we'd have the patterned tiles on the boxed-in part of the walls as well to break up the grey. We realised today we have bought far too many grey subway tiles, so we might use them in what's going to be our little laundry room!

I spent an hour cleaning again and swept the drive a little bit as the mess is really bad! Dinner this evening was easy and the three of us sat in the kitchen until 7pm chatting about what we'd done to the room and how pleased we were with the progress so far.

I watered the garden after dinner and realised I'd been neglecting it over the last couple of weeks. Once the kitchen work is done, I will go out and make amends!

A change of scene

Day 19 of kitchen renovation.

We'd decided to go out somewhere today, as it was our wedding anniversary, and also to get away from the house for a while and have a break, but where? We live so far from the coast that it takes us over two hours to get to the seaside, and that's on a good day! The east coast is the easiest to get to, but the roads can be busy and apart from the A14, it's mostly single lane highways, so frustrating if you get behind something slow, like a tractor, which is very likely at this time of year!

We then debated going to Oxford or Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon or even Lincoln, but in the end, I suggested Southwell again, as it's only about an hour and a half away on the M1 and A46, and there were some nice shops. 

We set off later than we intended, after opening cards and wishing each other a happy anniversary - we celebrate 29 years today! The A14 was very busy, as was the M1 but once we turned off onto the A46, the traffic became lighter. We made it to Southwell in good time and managed to park right outside a pub called The Admiral Rodney. As we needed to use the facilities, we had a drink and looked forward to walking around and looking in the shops. I am after some pretty bottles for the kitchen to keep detergents in so I was hoping there would be some antique or charity shops open.

Imagine our disappointment, then, when we left the pub and absolutely nothing was open, not even the little deli/cafe nearby where we had hoped to buy some treats to take home! There were a fair few people walking around looking in shop windows but everywhere was closed. The wine shop we had visited before was all shuttered up and we were very disappointed - we had come here to visit the shops and then have a meal!

We got back into the car and found a pub I'd been looking at on the internet, The Hearty Goodfellow. It was on a pretty street on the outskirts of the town, and we walked in full of trepidation, as we were fully expecting them to be full with no tables available.

Luckily, we were able to sit at a table by the window and order within half an hour. We all fancied fish and chips and the food was very good indeed. Light, peppery batter, delicious chunky fish and fat chips accompanied by mushy peas, which Sophie now loves!

We were going to have dessert but the service was slow, so we decided to call at an ice-cream parlour we'd seen on the road to Southwell. It was due to close at 4pm so we hared off and made it just in time! It looked like part of a dairy farm, and there were lots of people sitting outside enjoying their ice cream. We queued up and ordered three ices and ate them in the car. I had a scoop of banana which started to melt on the way back to the car, and I realised I was wearing the same top when we had had the frozen banana at Naples Pier four years ago... today I was soon covered in banana ice cream again!

The journey home was quick and uneventful and the M1 was very busy again, but then it is the holiday season! Back home we relaxed for an hour and then it was time to resume our Scrabble game of yesterday and I beat Sophie! She beat me when we played again, though, so she had her revenge!

Settling in!

Day 18 of kitchen renovation.

Sophie and I took Mum over to the Weston Favell Centre this morning to try and sort out the Nationwide bank account. We spoke to a very sympathetic and understanding manager there who has sorted things out. However, they don't do third party mandates on the account, as Natwest do, so I would need to set up a Power of Attorney to have any control or access to the account. This is a very time-consuming and complicated process and one which I dread having to do!

We had seen Mum's friends Garry and Gloria sitting having a coffee, and once we'd sorted the bank account out, she joined them while Sophie and I popped into Tesco to get some shopping. When we'd finished we joined them for a coffee and had a great chat! For Mum, it was like old times!

Before going back to the care home, we had lunch in Jenny's, a restaurant on the ground floor, and Sophie and I enjoyed a jacket potato and halloumi salad. Mum wouldn't eat anything, which was a shame, and I think she felt a bit sad after catching up with her old friends.

After we'd dropped her off, we returned home where I did some housework - hoovering everywhere, and giving the living room a good dust! It certainly needed it! While I was cleaning, Vince and Sue arrived back from a week's holiday and were very impressed with how the kitchen had progressed while they were away. They loved our stable door as well!

Sophie had been packing for her trip to London next week, and when she'd finished we all enjoyed a glass of Prosecco to celebrate mine and Keith's anniversary tomorrow! We have been married 29 years now, so next year will be our Pearl! Our wine cooler is up and running so it was lovely to not have to pop out to the fridge in the garage every time we needed a top-up. Keith put one of his bottles of beer in there as well!

Sophie and I played Scrabble in our new favourite place! It was bliss to sit there with the stable door open and the new window ajar to catch the cooling early evening breeze. Our bar stools are so comfortable!

We ordered a Chinese takeaway this evening (I think we deserved one!) and after we'd eaten we watched The Dry, a murder mystery film set in Australia. I had read the book ages ago, but couldn't remember any of it, which was a good thing!

So glad it's Friday!

Day 17 of kitchen renovation.

It was Mike's last day at work today, so another era has come to an end. He is still looking for a job in Southampton, but doesn't seem worried! He can be so laid back!

Before I left for work this morning I asked Tom, the kitchen fitter, to please, please connect the washing machine so we could get our huge pile of laundry washed this weekend! He promised he would!

Work was fine today, and the time passed quickly. I sped home at 4pm to see what progress had been made, and I was delighted with the worktops, which although not finished, were in place. It now means we have some surfaces in the kitchen!

The window had been tidied up and Jordan, the plasterer, had also plastered the new cupboard in the hallway.

Mike was off to spend the weekend with Abbie so Keith and I dropped him off in town, and returned home to find Sophie was back from work. She was pleased with the progress as well!

We used the oven for the first time tonight, cooking some jacket potatoes, and they turned out really well! It was a lovely, simple meal to end the week on and I think all of us are heartily glad it's Friday and we'll have no builders coming in at 8am tomorrow. I am hoping for a lie-in!

Sad news.

Day 16 of kitchen renovation.

Keith's friend Dave died yesterday, and we found out this morning. It's very sad, and although we knew he was very ill, we didn't expect it to happen so soon. I really feel for his son, Josh, who only lost his mum a few months ago.

I was at work today at 8am, catching up with all of the cinema admin, my own emails, and doing some work for Sara. The time passed extremely quickly, and it was lovely to be off the phones!

At 2pm I sped home to find all the workmen on our drive looking at one of the worktops which they were attempting to cut in a curved way to match the cupboards. I don't think Tom, the kitchen fitter, was very happy...

As I needed diesel and had forgotten to get it on the way home, I fled in case anyone started shouting at me! On the way to get Mike, I bought two bottles of good wine for Pete, the electrician, as he had helped us out by lending us the oven (invaluable) and had gone over and above what we were expecting in terms of the electrics.

I picked Mike up from work (the last time I will ever do so) and he wanted a haircut... I knew that the extra hours I had today would be spent doing menial things! Luckily, he wasn't long and I was home at 4pm, only half an hour earlier than usual!

Today, the new stable door has been fitted, the oven is in and things are really progressing!

One of the pendant lights - matches my favourite Gin glass!

One of the new bar stools. The worktop still needs work!

I am so pleased with the stable door - it's wonderful to have the top half open and a lovely breeze coming in, plus all the extra light. I couldn't stop standing there and looking out!

Keith made me a cup of tea and then I did an hour's cleaning, hoovering the hallway, living room and kitchen floor before tackling the conservatory. I can't wait to get everything moved back and reclaim this room as somewhere just to relax and eat! Having said that, I think Sophie and I will be hanging out on the island a lot!

Dinner tonight was fajitas and we did a good job, cooking the chicken in the slow cooker, and roasting the veg in the oven. Our new oven is working but we were all too scared to use it!

Heat and dust

Day 15 of kitchen renovation.

I think today has been the worst day in terms of noise and dust, as a builder arrived this morning to cut out the new window in the wall overlooking the gravel garden. Keith, at one point, went into the living room and said it looked like it was full of smoke as the dust was so bad! And the noise! It shook the whole house!

However, it looked fabulous (well, it will do!):

I spent five hours doing three washes as we haven't been able to use the washing machine since Sunday, and the laundry was piling up. We took the twin tub into the bathroom and used the plentiful hot water supply from there, rather than staggering up the drive and into the garage with buckets! I also changed our bedding, which Keith said was silly, but I wanted fresh clean sheets on the bed!

I had an appointment to see my parents at 3pm in the garden room because today is my Dad's birthday. Although pleased with the gifts we'd bought him, he was grumpy and cantankerous, the argument of a few weeks ago still on his mind, so it wasn't the most successful of visits. When it was time to go I couldn't get out of the garden so I wasn't in the best of moods!

Back home, I was delighted with the progress made today:

The island is in place, and most of the electrics has been done, including the lights in the cupboards where we're going to display our glasses, the pendant lights, and the under-cupboard lights. When Sophie arrived home she was stunned by the lights in the cupboard - apparently, you can play around with the colours by installing an app!

Keith barbecued in the evening and the food was delicious! We had very smoky frankfurters and marinated chicken with roasted vegetables and cous cous. Yum!

Craving peace and quiet!

Day 14 of kitchen renovation.

Work was busy today, but thankfully not as bad as yesterday, and we did get some gaps in between calls. I was in half an hour before the phones were switched on, as I'd been to the garage to get a coffee and a pastry. This is going to have to stop!

When I arrived home there didn't seem to be much of a change, but the water pipes for the sink and appliances had been sorted out, and another couple of cupboards installed. There is only one man, Tom, working on the kitchen at the moment, which does surprise me. I had imagined there'd be a team installing everything.

Keith had prepared chicken curry for dinner, and it smelt delicious! We certainly haven't skimped on meals this week, and tomorrow, as the weather is set to be good, we're going to barbecue. We attempted to sit out in the garden this evening as the sun was shining, but the boy next door immediately began to kick a football around, so we all retired to the living room!

I know there are people far worse off than us, but I really feel like I could do with a holiday at the moment, or even a change of scene! It's our 29th wedding anniversary on Sunday, and I've suggested a day out somewhere, just to get away from the mess and chaos! While Keith was cooking we watched an episode of The World's Most Extraordinary Houses, which was a mistake as they were all outstandingly gorgeous and looked like havens of peace and quiet, something I could do with at the moment!

I flip!

Day 13 of kitchen renovation.

All of the kitchen cabinets arrived this morning, just as I was about to leave for work, so I had to take Dad'd car as the van was blocking the driveway. It was all very exciting! 

Work today has been horrendous, and even though there were three of us on the phones, there was no time at all in between calls to do anything. I had the box office returns to do from Friday and the weekend, and there was just no way I could do them. All three of us were completely fed up, so half an hour before we were due to go home I asked Sara if I could have a word, and it all spilled out!

Luckily, she understood completely (she'd been working yesterday on the phones and it was manic), so to cut a long story short, I've been given an extra six hours this week to deal with the cinema work and then do anything else to help. I did say that I was doing Stella's job almost completely, and she used to come in at 8.30am and finish at 1.30pm, so it wasn't really fair that I was expected to do all that in between sometimes long and complicated phone calls. Sara is very understanding, but I think she knew how fed up we were, and could detect real rumblings of discontent. It doesn't help that several staff are still languishing on furlough!

Back home, I was delighted to see that progress had been made and some of the cupboards were in place:

It's still a mess, though!

The previously large and empty space was now full of boxes, and there seems to be an awful lot of them!

For dinner this evening we enjoyed beef casserole (finally!). My dumplings were lovely cooked in the little oven and it was the perfect night for a hearty meal as it was pouring with rain outside and thunder was rubbing all around!