Waiting about!

The weather reverted back to blustery and wet today, and Keith and I went to do the shopping in Kettering. We went to Aldi first and I had a good wander along the central aisles looking at the bargains! We then drove to Tesco, but on the way, stopped to get diesel at the garage. Yesterday they didn't have any diesel, and we needed to get some as we're driving down to Southampton on Sunday.

Keith put some in my car, and then we waited for about ten minutes for the idiot in front to put fuel in his car, and then go and pay. I had no option but to sit and wait and I was fuming! I would have been mortified to keep someone waiting so long!

In Tesco, we had just entered the store when the fire alarms went off! We were told to go outside and wait, but it was freezing cold so we decided to abandon the trip and go home. I was taking Mum out this afternoon, so I said we'd go to the Weston Favell Centre and get the rest of the shopping in the Tesco there.

Back home we put the shopping away as best we could amidst all the dush sheets and paint pots, and I tried on my new boots, which have come at the right time, now the weather is on the change! I then did a test and went to pick Mum up at 2pm. 

We headed over to the Weston Favell Centre and had a cup of tea and a sandwich first in The Lounge. We then popped into Tesco where I did the rest of my shopping while Mum treated herself to some new make-up and a jumper.

On the way home, she showed me the letter she'd received from Nationwide and it wasn't the new card I'd been expecting! It was a whole sheaf of bank statements and a letter so I've asked her to call the number tomorrow to try and sort it out. They wouldn't talk to me anyway, but she might have a chance with them if my Dad is with her.

I dropped Mum off and it was almost 6pm by the time I got home. The painting is finished now and we are very pleased with how it looks. I wasn't sure about the pink wall at first, but it's growing on me! We love the blue doors and I said it's been decades since I lived in a house with coloured doors!

Parkgate!

Keith and I took Sophie to work this morning, and as we were early, popped to Cafe 900 for a coffee. I also indulged in a sausage bap that was delicious! The weather had improved overnight and the sun was shining out of a beautiful blue sky. Gorgeous!

After dropping Sophie at work, we drove to Halfords on Riverside and managed to bag the last jerry can in the store! We also bought a spout so we could put it into Sophie's tank! From there we drove to the Tesco garage at Weston Favell and we were able to put about a gallon's worth of petrol into it. 

Back home we put the petrol in Sophie's car, and then gingerly drove over to Tesco at Kettering. The needle had barely registered the gallon at all, so she must have been really low coming home last night! We managed to fill her tank, and then we drove the car back down to her office and left it in the car park for her. Neither of us fancied driving down to Brackmills in the rush hour this evening!

Apart from getting petrol for Sophie, we didn't have any other plans, so we went on the hunt for pewter handles for the doors in the kitchen. We tried Wickes, and then Homebase, but they didn't have any we liked. Keith was now getting a bit peckish so we popped to Next for a coffee and a toasted sandwich for him.

We made one last attempt to find what we wanted at a small ironmongery store on Moulton Park and then went to Brixworth to pick up a parcel and try the tiny shop there. We realised that we would have to buy them online. So much for shopping locally!

Back home I decided to plant the rest of my bulbs, and while I was on my knees in the front garden I saw Sue, my erstwhile neighbour and good friend. I hadn't seen her for a while, and she was about to take the doggies for a short walk. She was intrigued about a Mexican standoff on the road around our estate, so we went to investigate! Two cars were nose to nose, blocking the road and the driver of one of the cars was sitting in the driver's seat. He got out as we approached, and we asked what was going on? He said that he was driving to his house when the road was blocked by a courier driver who had just left the car in the middle of the road. He'd asked the courier to back up and reverse, but he'd refused. Apparently, that was almost two hours ago and the courier had disappeared!

We had a chat and then returned home. Personally, I think the resident was being a little silly about the whole thing! I said goodbye to Sue and resumed planting my daffodil bulbs, and about fifteen minutes later saw the resident drive past, so he must have come to his senses!

Keith and I pottered about in the garden after I'd planted the bulbs, and we managed to dislodge some apples from our tree. We hope to make an apple crumble with them over the weekend! It was a beautiful afternoon with plenty of Autumnal sunshine. I put some bulbs in a couple of empty pots and that was all of them planted! Roll on the Spring!

Sophie was out this evening, having dinner with a friend in Yardley Hastings, so it was just Keith and me eating. He wanted to see Spectre again (he said he didn't remember any of the film) and as No Time To Die is being released - finally! - tomorrow, we thought it would be a good idea. I grilled two gammon steaks and cooked some oven chips and peas, while he fried a couple of eggs, and we ate in the kitchen. The meal was delicious - this oven is such an improvement on our old one!

Running on fumes!

I followed Sophie to the garage at Moulton this morning, to try and get some petrol, but they didn't have any at all. Our next stop was the Tesco garage at Weston Favell, but they were closed. Sophie had just enough to get her to work and home again, so I said we would try and sort it out this evening. This situation is getting ridiculous!

I arrived home to find Keith emptying out the kitchen again, in readiness for David, who arrived promptly at 8am. I fled into the shower and then left for work at 9am. There was no point in hanging around! I went to the garage at Moulton to find they still didn't have petrol, but I bought a ticket for the carwash and a coffee and pastry for my breakfast.

Unfortunately, the carwash wasn't working (a bonus as it poured with rain later in the day) so I went straight to work. Jo was back and feeling better, and my shift passed quickly as I had a lot of things to do to keep me busy!

When I arrived home at 4.30pm, David was putting all of the dust sheets away, and I was very pleased with the progress so far. I just can't wait to see the doors painted! I hoovered the kitchen floor after he'd gone and tidied up. Once that was done I tried to contact Mike about his tax code. A letter had arrived from HMRC, and it looks very much like he's on the wrong tax code. I logged onto the website but halfway through the conversation with him, I received a panicked call from Sophie to say that she was stuck in traffic on the A43, and the car was registering no more miles of petrol in the tank. I told her to drive as steadily as she could home, and we would sort it out.

Understandably, she was stressed when she arrived home and wanted to go out there and then to get petrol, but there was no way we were taking her car. And definitely not in rush hour in the pouring rain! We said that we would take her to work in the morning, buy a jerry can and then fill her car up. She disappeared upstairs for a while, and then came down to say she wasn't worried about it anymore, safe in the knowledge we would sort it for her!

Dinner tonight was Jerk Chicken Pasta for Sophie and me, as we thought Keith would be at the football. It was as delicious as ever, and Keith contented himself with a beef sandwich! He's mad! The weather had turned really nasty outside, so we decided to test the new heating plinth in the kitchen. It worked beautifully and the room was lovely and cosy!

We get decorated!

The beautiful weather of yesterday disappeared this morning, to be replaced with wind and rain! Horrible! Which reminds me... here are the names for the 2021-2022 storms:

Arwen

Barra

Corrie

Dudley 

Eunice

Franklin

Gladys

Herman

Imani

Jack

Kim 

Logan

Meabh

Nasim

Olwen

Pol

Ruby

Sean

Tineke

Vergil

Willemien

Sophie was up early to go to the gym, and as she was going out of the door, she spotted something scuttling up the drive. My first reaction was to scream as I thought it was the rat, but it was a hedgehog. We'd closed the door so we didn't see where it went... the garage or the garden?

I busied myself with emptying out the kitchen and giving the cloakroom a clean before David, the painter arrived at 8am. I put some food down for our birds who I feel I've been neglecting recently. I saw the robin hopping about, and then a squirrel! It's brilliant we have so much wildlife in the garden!

The rain and wind stopped before I went to work, and when I emerged from the office at 4pm the sun was shining. It had been a bit of an emotional day as Jo had returned from holiday without her Mum, who was still in Crete with Covid.

On the way home, Sophie tried to get some petrol at Moulton but there wasn't any. It's not funny anymore - she has about 60 miles worth of fuel in her car, so we'll have to go out early tomorrow to see if anywhere is open.

I cooked a curry for dinner tonight but we didn't sit in the kitchen. All of the cupboards are swathed in plastic sheeting to protect them from the paint so it didn't have our usual vibe!

Don't panic!

Keith and I went out first thing this morning to see if we could find a garage that was open so we could get some diesel. I had a quarter of a tank and, although I could probably get to Milton Keynes with that, it would have left me almost empty.

Both the Tesco and the Morrison's garages were closed, so we made one last attempt by going to Asda in Kettering. Thankfully, this was open, there was diesel, and the queue was manageable. I recognised the woman taking payments, and we both realised we knew each other from the nursery I used to run with my parents!

Back home we spent the morning doing housework, Keith emptied the fridge freezer in readiness for the painter coming tomorrow, and I did several loads of washing. It's amazing how it builds up after just one day of not doing any! As it had turned into a beautiful morning, I was able to get it all on the line so it smelt lovely!

Sophie kept me in touch with what she was doing and said she would be arriving in Milton Keynes at about 3pm. She was getting the train from Barking station where Zain had dropped her off. She'd had a great weekend and had enjoyed the boxing match despite Anthony Joshua losing!

Keith and I gave ourselves plenty of time to get to Milton Keynes. We saw two garages on the way and both of them were rammed with cars queuing to get fuel. It's madness. We took the scenic route and drove through Roade, and it seemed a much better way to go as the station is near the A5.

After a short wait, Sophie emerged into the sunlight and we returned home. The queues at one of the garages were even worse and the line stretched all the way onto the dual carriageway! I just hope Sophie can get some petrol in the next couple of days as there's now the danger of the garages running out completely.

Before going home we called into the Subway on Brackmills and treated ourselves to a wrap. I was feeling very peckish and it was just what I fancied! We also bought a couple of cookies and enjoyed them at home with a drink.

The evening was spent playing Scrabble (I beat Sophie for once!) and then cards. Dinner tonight was roast beef and this was the first time we'd cooked a joint in the new oven. Keith made Yorkshire puddings and they were perfect - beautifully risen and crispy. The new oven seems to cook food much better than our previous old one and the meal was delicious, despite Keith having a bit of a stress! Calm down!

A day at the races!

So, Sophie was off to London this morning, and Keith and I were going to the races at Market Rasen. We left home at 10.30, and we were very bemused to see people queuing at all the petrol stations on the way, to get fuel. There has been panic buying because of the shortage of drivers delivering to the petrol stations, and some garages have been closed as they've run out. We are living in a mad world at the moment... Tomorrow, Sophie can't get a train back to Northampton because of striking workers, so we will have to pick her up from Milton Keynes instead.

We dropped her off, and on the way to the M1, tried to get hold of a Racing Post and some cash. We stopped at one garage on the A45 and they had no diesel, not that we needed any. We had over half a tank, but I knew we would need some for tomorrow, so it was a bit of a worry.

The weather today has been very overcast and grey with thick lumpy clouds. But it was muggy as well! Next week is set to become more Autumnal with temperatures dipping below the average. I have to say I'm pleased!

We followed Google maps to Market Rasen, travelling on the M1 and then the A46. We've found with Sat Navs in the past, that they have a fetish for narrow country roads, and Google Maps was no exception. A few miles from the racecourse she directed us onto a deserted narrow road that ran through flat fields, and I wondered where on earth she was taking us!

It turned out that there had been slow traffic on the A46 so this was a way around it! We continued on, and then just before we arrived, she sent us through a housing estate! When we got to the racecourse, there were loads of cars and coaches so we had managed to avoid all that traffic!

To be honest, Keith and I, for some reason, didn't think it was going to be that busy, but the place was jammed full of people and there was a long queue to get in. There was a weird combination of people wearing very dressed-up clothes (a lot of women were wearing fascinators in place of hats) and the usual scruffs. Unfortunately, though, there was a lot of pale and wobbly flesh on display, and I don't mean mine!

I flirted with the idea of doing a Tote Placepot bet, but it looked a bit confusing, so I stayed with the bookies. I had picked out all my horses at home and was going to stick with them no matter what I read in the Racing Post. In the first, my choice was Mulberry Hill. Keith chose Dazzling Glory, but Haseefah won, a horse I had looked at as well. Mine came second.

In the second race, I chose Scots Gold as the horse I'd already picked, Sacre Pierre, was a non-runner. Keith had a bet on Whyzzat, but Addosh won. Mine came second again...

We mostly stayed by the parade ring, so we stood the whole time we were there. I was glad I was wearing flat shoes! I enjoyed an ice cream, but we'd taken some Keith-made sausage rolls with us, which we'd eaten in the car so we weren't hungry. 

In the third race, I placed a bet on Regaby while Keith went for Vinnie's Getaway. However, Railway Muice won, pushing his way to the front at the last minute! Our horses came nowhere!

By now we were feeling a little dispirited and said that if we had no luck in the next race, we'd go home early. We weren't going to stay to the end anyway, and one of the horses I'd picked, Near Kettering, was a non-runner which was disappointing. In the fourth, Keith chose Buster Thomas and I placed a bet on Flamboyant Joyaux. It was a good race, and Keith won £55! Mine was nowhere again so I was glad I hadn't done the Tote Placepot!

Buoyed up by the win, we stayed for the 4.30pm race and I blew £10 on an each-way bet on Pawpaw, which was rated highly by one of the pundits in the paper. Keith chose Valentino Dancer and for most of the way around the course, they were neck and neck! Unfortunately, for me, Pawpaw came last but Keith won another £45 for his horse! It would have been brilliant if my horse had come second!

We left the crowds behind and walked back to the car. Luckily, hardly anyone else was leaving and we were able to make it out without any problems. The exit was along a very narrow wooded road so I dread to think what it would be like later when everyone was going home!

Scots Gold, my second bet

The jockeys going out to meet the trainers and owners

The crowds

We wound our way through flat farmland, and pretty villages until we picked up the A46 again. As Keith had had a couple of wins, we decided to find a pub for a meal on the way home. We opted to go onto the A1 after Lincoln, rather than the A46, which is fast but a bit boring! At Stamford, we would link up with our very own A43 so I suggested The Queens Head at Bulwick.

By the time we reached the pub, it was well past 6.30pm and we were dismayed to find it closed. What had happened? This was a pub featured in the little book we'd found in Southwell and they were raving about the food! We sat in the empty car park and I googled pubs nearby. The Hatton Arms at Gretton came up so we made our way there, driving along tiny country lanes with the sun in our eyes, so at times we could hardly see! In the distance, we could see what looked like a huge sports arena and it seemed so strange to see it in the middle of nowhere! Like it had been dumped!

Gretton is a very pretty village and it has two pubs - The Hatton Arms and The Blue Bell. We drove past The Blue Bell and found The Hatton Arms tucked down a narrow street. There were only two other cars in the car park, and we feared at first this was closed as well!

Inside we ordered our drinks and enquired about a table, to be told they were full... There were empty tables in the bar area and when we left the tables in the restaurant hadn't been set up for dining. Keith said the landlady didn't like the look of us!

We went instead to The Blue Bell and although I ordered half a pint of Guinness, I received a pint! We dithered over which table to sit at, eventually choosing one right in the middle of the bar area and sat down. As I sat down I did something with my foot, sending Keith's entire pint everywhere! It was all over the table, all over me and all over the floor! I was so embarrassed!

The pub was only doing pizzas, and as I was covered in beer and smelling like a brewery, we fled. We drove back to Kettering, called at The Trading Post for fish and chips and went home. By now, we were both very hungry and I was tired from all the driving and the drama!

Needless to say we had an early night!

Birthday celebrations

We face-timed Mike this morning, so he could see Keith opening his birthday present - the gorgeous aftershave that he'd insisted on buying. He seemed very happy, and we saw the kittens again who looked delightful.

I was hoping for a quiet end to the working week, but it wasn't to be. I walked in to find Kathy on the point of leaving, as her husband had to go to hospital in Oxford this morning. That meant that I was on the phones with Sheila, so any plans to catch up with other work had to be put on hold. I struggled all morning and by the end of my shift, I still hadn't processed some invoices that had been sent through. 

I sped home at 4pm and mooched about until Sophie arrived. Keith then opened the rest of his presents - casual clothes to lounge around in at home, as well as a new book, and he also opened his cards. I ran him down to the pub and returned home to have one small glass of wine with Sophie. We watched most of the latest episode of Grand Designs and chatted. Sophie still felt tired from the two days she spent away and wasn't really looking forward to going to London tomorrow. She and Zain have tickets to see Anthony Joshua on Saturday night, and they're staying overnight in a hotel. I said we could look forward to a quieter Sunday and a game of Scrabble!

At 7.30pm we went to the pub to have dinner with Keith. Sadly, the place was almost deserted, which was very worrying. We took our seats in the restaurant and there was only one other couple dining. There was a small group of men having a drink, and that was it. Not good for a Friday night.

We ordered starters - breaded mushrooms with a garlic dip for Sophie and me, and whitebait for Keith. For our main courses, I had pork belly, Sophie had Hunter's Chicken and Keith went for his usual of cod and chips. However, he was sorely disappointed. His fish looked like it had come out of a box and certainly not battered by hand as it usually does. My pork belly was huge (I gave some away to Keith and Sophie) but it was tasteless. We were all dismayed by the food as normally it's very good. What has gone wrong? Ian looked ill and worn out so not the best of evenings for a birthday celebration!

We were all done by 9pm and there was only one other man in the pub. I fear very much that we could lose our village pub if things don't improve. It would be a huge shame as we have been going there since 1989!

Another early start!

It was a bit of a shock to get up at 6.30am this morning, and leave home an hour later to go to work! It was just like old times!

Sheila was in when I arrived and she said how lovely and quiet it was. We had two hours before the other four staff came in at 10am! I managed to get a lot done today - I did all the box office returns, I put new films on, updated the spreadsheets, sorted out my orders, and got on top of a lot of things that had been niggling me. I was very pleased!

At 2pm I went home and enjoyed a cup of tea with Keith. I then emailed Avery Park with financial stuff for my parents and hoovered the house. It's the season for the little brown things that manage to find their way into the house. I now know where they come from... the Silver Birch. They hang down from the branches like little fir cones, but each one is a tiny, brown, papery disc. The window was open in our en-suite and they literally covered the floor!

Sophie texted me to say she would be home at 5pm so we set off at 4.30pm. The traffic was horrendous, especially in Kingsthorpe, but we arrived only minutes after she got off the train. Sophie was very tired (she'd been up until 4am having fun) so a quiet evening followed!

An early start!

Sophie and I were up very early this morning as she was off to an exhibition in Birmingham, and I was taking her and a work friend to the train station. I got up at 6am and made myself a coffee, and we left at 6.30am, going to her workplace first to pick up Luca. We had given ourselves plenty of time to get to the station, and arrived just after 7am, so at least they were able to have a coffee before they travelled. She was staying overnight in a hotel and helping at a Gala Dinner, so a busy day lay ahead for her! I didn't mind getting up early as the morning was stunning - mist hung over the fields, and the sun was an orange orb in the sky. So beautiful!

Back home I had another coffee and did some jobs. As today is my only free day this week, I was determined to get a lot of things done. Keith and I went over to Kettering first thing, and he treated me to breakfast in Costa. I then went to Next to get presents for his birthday, which is on Friday. The early mist had cleared, giving way to an absolutely gorgeous day, with plenty of gentle Autumnal sunshine, and the trees were beginning to change colour. It was glorious. 

Next had nothing, so we drove to Tesco instead where I stocked up on things Keith needed. I had also, first thing this morning, ordered another gift online and designed two birthday cards for him from Moonpig. I think he will be spoiled on Friday!

From Tesco, we drove to Beckworth Emporium to see if they had any turkeys yet. They didn't but the butcher said he hoped they'd be on sale in October. There are some alarming reports in the news about empty shelves and difficulty getting food transported at the moment, due to the shortage of drivers, so we were hoping they'd have some. We will be back in October! 

Keith was astounded at the changes in the restaurant and was amazed that we'd been told about the 45-minute wait on Sunday, bearing in mind how big the place was. It was probably because of staff shortages! We wandered about and looked at the garden tools, but in the end, we didn't buy anything. I wanted to get home as I still had more jobs to complete, and I was picking Mum and Dad up this afternoon to take them to Avery Park again.

At home, I did a lateral flow test and wrapped Keith's presents. At 2pm I collected Mum and Dad and we drove to Avery Park. We had to do another test (a fact that made me very annoyed) and then we were shown around. My Dad asked loads of questions, which was great, and we discussed fees. If they have a companion room it will be slightly cheaper than the home they're in now.

Dad wanted a CD player for a CD I'd ordered for him (despite saying he had something to play it on) so I popped into Asda and bought him a portable player and some batteries. Back at the care home I also managed to call Nationwide to try and sort out their joint account, so by the time we were finished it was well past 5pm and I was beginning to flag a bit!

It was a huge relief to get home, enjoy a drink and sit at the island with the daily crossword, one of my favourite things to do at the moment. Keith sat with me and we did the shopping list and discussed meals. There wasn't much discussion as we are out on Friday night to celebrate, and on Saturday we're off to the races again!

What a fiasco!

I seem to be very irritated a lot of the time lately, and this morning, driving into work, the actions of some drivers made me see red! I'm sure there are people that believe that they are the only ones on the road, and drive without any consideration for others! This morning, a woman was driving slowly in the outside lane of the new stretch of dual carriageway, for no reason (she wasn't going right at the roundabout), and then on the very busy Round Spinney roundabout, a car had just stopped and was blocking one of the lanes. He may have broken down, but somehow I don't think he had. He was just sitting there!

Work was equally frustrating. I was the only one in the office able to process orders, and my desk was covered in them at one point. Each one seemed to have a problem! It was a relief to get out at 4pm and go home! 

Sophie and I had an appointment to give blood this evening, and I had arranged to meet her at Moulton Village Hall. She was due at about 5.30pm and as we were driving to meet her she called me to say her appointment had been cancelled! Nobody had bothered to let her know, and to say she was fuming was the understatement of the year! We met her in the car park and she was furious that she'd wasted her time. I was furious as well, and let the poor man on the front desk know my feelings. He said they were short-staffed but I said someone could have at least let her know.

To be honest, it was a fiasco of an evening. I have donated almost 50 pints of blood, and this evening, for some reason, my blood just wasn't playing ball. The nurse inserted the needle, which hurt a bit more than usual (and she'd been faffing about) and after literally two minutes, the alarm sounded. A donor carer came over and said that the blood had stopped flowing. Even with him trying to adjust the needle, nothing was coming out so we had to stop. I then had a nurse pressing my arm to try and stop me from having a bruise (but for the first time ever, I have one). It was not a good night. I am certain that the first donor carer inserted the needle incorrectly, and I'm sure I have had this lady before, and she had to go and get someone more experienced. Normally, the needle goes in, I relax for about fifteen minutes and am all done with no problems!

I drove home where Sophie was a bit worried but I felt fine. I was annoyed that we'd wasted our time and I'm sure they could have squeezed Sophie in. Keith went to see Sileby play football, while Sophie and I enjoyed chilli and baked potatoes. We then had an evening of Desperate Housewives, which certainly cheered us both up!

Back to work!

My two week holiday has certainly sped by, so it was back to work this morning! I wasn't sure what to expect, but actually, the phones weren't too busy and I was able to wade my way through about 50 emails I'd been sent and catch up with orders. There was only Kathy and I working today, so we were glad it wasn't too bad!

Sheila asked me if I'd work an extra day this week, to take care of the cinema admin, so we agreed on Thursday. At least I could start at 8am and then finish in the early afternoon!

Sophie had had an equally busy day but she'd had far more emails than me, bless her! Her tally ran into the hundreds!

We had a quiet evening and stayed off the drink for a change! Sophie made me a mocktail, and it was very acceptable!

Let them eat cake!

We all spent the morning catching up with housework - you could tell we had been out of the house for the last three days (well, Sophie and I had!). I had mounds, and I mean mounds, of washing to do as both beds were changed, plus there was more dirty laundry waiting to be sorted out. Keith did the ironing, and Sophie and I cleaned the house, as well as preparing the chicken and vegetables for the paella tonight. Phew! certainly not a lazy Sunday morning!

At 2pm we went over and picked up Mum from the care home to take her out for a cup of tea at Beckworth. The car park was full when we arrived, which didn't bode well for our visit! Sophie and I were both a bit peckish so we headed for the restaurant, only to be told by a woman that there was a 45-minute wait and the staff were handing out buzzers to let you know when a table was free...

There was no way we could hang about for 45 minutes, so we left. If this is what it's like now, heaven knows what it'll be like closer to Christmas! We drove to Dobbies (formerly Wyevale) at Wootton instead, to find a notice in their restaurant saying they were unable to provide breakfast or lunch, just drinks and cakes! The world has gone mad!

There used to be a Costa outlet here, but that's now gone, so we had no option but to use the cafe. We each had a cake and a cup of tea, and after we'd eaten we all did some shopping. Sophie bought some gifts for a friend at work, I bought three packs of daffodil bulbs, and my Mum bought some cards. These places have ceased to be garden centres - they're more like department stores, and there's a Sainsbury's outlet as well!

By now the time was getting on, so we took Mum back to the care home, and decided to take the scenic route back to our house, to see the sunflowers that we'd glimpsed last night. As we drove onto the narrow, single-track road, we could see a Virgin hot air balloon in the distance again!

We found the field of sunflowers and stopped for a while to gaze out over the view. It was so peaceful and quiet. Ahead, the balloon hovered, and every now and again we could hear the burners being ignited. We decided to follow it and drove into Old where we could see it low over the fields near Scaldwell. It looked like it was coming down, so we turned for home but they must have ignited the burners as it was slowly gliding over our estate!

Sophie and I played Scrabble before dinner and she beat me... again! She then cooked the paella while Keith and I sat at the island and read the Sunday papers. The meal was delicious and there was enough left over for lunch tomorrow!

Photo courtesy of Sophie

Monty steals the show...

Sophie was meeting her friend Danni this morning at Rushden Lakes, and as Keith and I had some shopping to do as well, we gave her a lift over there. She met Danni at Bill's, while Keith and I went to M&S. Before going to eat we had a look at jackets and Keith tried a few on, but there was nothing he liked.

Breakfast was bacon and sausage ciabattas with coffee and tea, and after we'd eaten we spent a long time fruitlessly looking at trousers. From M&S we went to Boots so that Keith could pick out an aftershave but all the samples were locked away, and there were no staff about to help. I bought myself some mascara and lipstick (the first items of make-up in over two years), and then we ambled across the car park to Fraser's.

At least here we could spray ourselves with scent and soon both of us were covered in different aftershaves! We also had a look at clothes, but we were both astounded by the prices! I must be so out of touch with how much things cost at the moment! One ordinary looking grey sweatshirt was £100 just because it had a designer label on it!

Sophie texted us to say she was getting the bill so we arranged to meet her outside Fraser's. We sped home as we were going to the neighbourhood barbecue which started at 12.30pm. Driving onto our estate we could see tables and barbecues already set up on the front green.

We all changed because it was getting warmer by the minute, and then lugged everything up to the green. As before, there were two distinct camps, but we did meet a couple of people we'd never spoken to before, and we had a lovely time chatting and drinking (non-alcoholic) wine in the sun.

Monty had followed us up to the green, and stayed with us, mingling with everyone and completely stealing the show. Numerous people asked if they could pick him up - no - but he seemed happy just roaming around and receiving lots of attention.

Keith cooked a burger for us, and at 4pm I drove Sophie into town as she had an appointment at the beauty salon. I sat in the car and waited and almost fell asleep! Back home Keith had returned and was dozing on the sofa as well. He said that one of the little boys next door had come into the house and was asking him loads of questions, which he found very amusing!

Keith fancied a beer at the pub in the evening, and he wanted to see how Ian was, so I dropped him off and went home to play Scrabble with Sophie. However, neither of us really felt like playing, so I suggested going to see if we could follow a huge hot air balloon I'd seen hovering over the village. I thought it was coming our way but in fact, it was heading over towards Maidwell.

We followed for a while but it became obvious that we weren't going to keep up with it, so we headed back to the pub in Walgrave and had a drink with Keith. Ian was there, but he looked quite ill and seemed very out of breath. He said that covid had hit him really hard despite being double vaccinated.

Back home Keith had some leftover chicken and bread for supper, while Sophie and I had a pizza and salad. I will be very glad tomorrow when we're back to our routine of having a proper dinner in the evening!

Cat cuddles...

Mike left home again this morning but for good this time! He took his television with him, as well as a small table, and various other bits and bobs. Keith took him to Abbie's granddad's house as the van was arriving to take all of their stuff to the new flat in Southampton. It had been great to see him again, but he was looking forward to getting back to his job and his new life with Abbie.

Sophie and I were off to a Cat Cafe in Bedford with my manager, Sara, and Sheila who I also work with. We picked up Sheila at 11am and drove over to Rushden to collect Sara. Her house isn't far from Bedford at all, so it didn't take us long to get there. We parked in a multi-storey and, as we had a few minutes to spare, looked in a couple of charity shops. There were lots of them on the High Street!

We had a booking at the Cat Cafe at 12.15pm and we were ushered in and given a talk about the rules. They have ten cats, a few of which have medical issues (one only had three legs) and we were able to walk around and stroke them, but not allowed to pick them up.

Included in the entry price were various drinks, and Sophie and I chose a flat white... I was amazed this was included as you had to pay extra for a cappuccino or a latte! We soon realised why when our coffees arrived and they were just instant! How they had the audacity to call them flat whites I'll never know!

The cats were mostly asleep in beds in the window lapping up the sun, but a few did wander about. One of them, Steve, was very anti-social and wasn't at all friendly. He kept swishing his tail whenever we went near, and then took himself up to a high bed out of the way of everyone!

We sat and sipped our drinks and more and more people arrived so it was quite busy. We weren't allowed to go up to anyone with the cats, and they were being monopolised at the front of the cafe, so we didn't really get to interact as much as we wanted with any of them. As we all have cats of our own (Sara has four!) I felt that it was a bit of a pointless exercise! However, we did have a good chat, Sheila treated herself to a scarf and a bag as it was her (long-overdue) birthday celebration, and Sara seemed to enjoy going and stroking whichever cat was available.

I do wonder about these cat cafes, though. I'm not sure the cats really enjoyed the attention and a couple were determined to keep out of the way! Once our time was up, we walked down the street to a pub that Sara knew and enjoyed lunch - mostly wraps served with chips or salad. Again, we had a lovely chat and it was very relaxing sitting in a pub in the afternoon!

We dropped Sara back at her house and went in to see her cats (well, three of them). They were gorgeous! 

Back home it was time to relax and enjoy our Friday evening. Keith wasn't at the pub tonight but it will re-open tomorrow, which is good news. Sophie and I enjoyed a glass of wine and watched Desperate Housewives - a brilliant choice!

London's calling...

Sophie and I caught the 9.24am train from Northampton this morning, which got us into the capital at the very reasonable time of 10.30am.

We had a coffee and pastry first at a tiny outlet in Euston, and then took the underground to Charing Cross. Emerging out of the gloom, we found our bearings and made for the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.

We hadn't even thought about pre-booking, but we had to go onto the website, pick a time, and book two tickets. We then had to register, and show the QR code to the staff at the entrance... what a faff! Three older people wanted to go in and had to ask what to do. Luckily, they were directed to the staff at the counter who no doubt did it all for them! It's getting silly now with everything only available online. What if you don't have a smartphone? Not everyone has them!

We headed for the cafe first, for a cold drink and a coffee, and then tried to find our two favourite paintings: Susanna At Her Bath by Francesco Hayez, and The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche.

Obviously, my photo doesn't do justice to the painting! The colour of her dress is particularly luminous.

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey featured on Fake or Fortune recently, as it had been damaged by a flood and written off as beyond repair, rolled up for about four decades and forgotten about. Luckily, it has been restored to its full beauty and any damage is invisible.

It seemed to me that the gallery wasn't up to full capacity and it looked like only a few rooms were open. We did see some of the Impressionists as well as two Van Gogh paintings. None of the lifts was working, so I dread to think what you'd do if you were in a wheelchair or had a pushchair. We stayed until about 12.45pm as we had a booking at 1pm for The Clarence in Whitehall, a pub Keith and I went to a few years back when Sophie had an interview nearby.

Outside, it was glorious, a beautiful Autumnal day. The streets were packed, and we saw three unmarked police cars scream past, their sirens blaring. London is such a huge contrast to our sleepy little village!

It was a short walk to the pub, and we were seated at a table by the window. Sipping on half pints of Guinness we looked at the menu and chose some "small plates" to share - halloumi fries, triple-cooked chips with aioli, chicken goujons, and hummus served with toasted bread. The food was delicious, the pub pleasantly busy with people eating and drinking and we spent a very enjoyable hour there relaxing.

Our reservation at Buckingham Palace Gardens was for entry between 2.45 and 3pm. We walked down the Mall and alongside St James Park, which is gorgeous. People were out enjoying the sunshine and some were sitting on deckchairs on the grass.

The crowds at the front of Buckingham Palace seemed a lot less than usual, which wasn't a surprise! We headed to the left of the palace, around to Gate A where a small huddle of people were waiting. We had proper tickets so we were shown in, and then had to pass through airport-style security.

Once through this, we followed a path through tall flowering bushes and came to the indoor riding school. It all looked very promising and I thought we would go on to see the stables and maybe some horses of the Royal household.

Once past this, we came to the grounds - a large lawn on which lots of people were having picnics, and the back view of Buckingham Palace. 

It was warm, so we decided an ice cream would be perfect! We chose two scoops and found a bench in the shade to enjoy them, watched intently by two magpies and a pigeon! Some people had bought huge picnic bags, blankets and chairs - how they managed to get them through security is beyond me!

After we'd eaten our ice creams we wandered around and witnessed a man being told off by a member of staff for walking through some long grass and not keeping to the path. Beyond the perimeter of the lawned area, the grounds were roped off and there were many staff about to keep you away. They were very friendly but I thought it was a bit heavy-handed. Both Sophie and I had imagined there would be beautiful gardens to look at, with roses, flowering beds, trees, maybe even statues and topiary, but the lawned area was all there was to see. We were a little disappointed, to be honest.

We wandered right up to the building and tried to see in, but the windows had thick curtains. On the terrace, there were some tables and chairs, and I should imagine if you came here with a picnic intending to stay for a few hours, it would be quite pleasant, especially if you had small children.

Our last stop was the shop where we were astounded by the prices! There was a boxed set of coffee cups and saucers retailing for £295! We made our way over to a small selection of Christmas decorations and Sophie picked out a little cushioned one with Buckingham Palace 2021 on it, but it was selling for £25!

We swiftly made our way back out into the sunshine and decided to leave. It was a ten-minute walk to the exit, and the path skirted a lake where you could sit on a bench and relax, which is what we did for ten minutes. There was a steady procession of people walking past, but you would never know you were in the middle of London as it was quiet and peaceful.

Back out into the hustle and bustle of London we made our way to Victoria Underground and took a crowded tube train back to Euston. By now it was about 4pm so the trains were getting busier. At Euston, we saw there was a train leaving at about 4.50pm for Northampton, so we managed to get onto that one, and it was heavenly. We had imagined there would be crowds of people, and I was preparing myself for standing all the way, but it was very quiet, with hardly anybody in our carriage.

Keith met us at the station and said that Mike had been in touch to say he was on his way home for the evening. Within half an hour of being at home, he arrived and we decided to have an Indian takeaway for dinner. I wasn't that hungry so I just had a starter, but the others tucked into curries, naans and poppadoms!

Bargains galore!

After a grey start to the day, the weather did brighten up a bit, which was a relief! Sophie went to the gym this morning, while Keith went to do some shopping, and when they both returned we made Club sandwiches for lunch. 

Sophie and I were going to go to Olney for lunch, but tomorrow looks to be a heavy day cash-wise, so we decided to make our own. I cooked some bacon, Keith cut up a whole cooked chicken and hard-boiled some eggs, while Sophie prepared the lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise, and toasted bread. All three of us were able to work comfortably in the kitchen which was brilliant!

The sandwiches were delicious, and we saved ourselves about £20 by doing our own! It was lovely to sit in the conservatory and have lunch, read the paper and chat.

In the afternoon, once the sun made an appearance, we drove over to Olney. We were able to park in the small car park in the centre of the town, and we made a beeline for the first charity shop. Sophie found a soup mug for about £1, which was a bargain as they're about a fiver in Tesco, and then she discovered a beautiful dress and a pair of trousers. The dress was perfect for wearing tomorrow, and the trousers, a gorgeous shade of blue with pink roses, were brand new, with the price tag still attached... they were £110! The charity shop was asking £8! She tried them on and they looked fantastic! What a bargain!

From there we had a look around a very strange gift shop next door which, amazingly, is still in business. We had no idea why, when the likes of Debenhams has gone to the wall. The tat they were selling was indescribable, but we did see a soft toy cat, curled up in a ball, that I was tempted to buy. I was going to put it on the sofa and see what kind of reaction we'd get from Monty, but it was £27.99 so I thought better of it!

We wandered around another couple of gift/homeware shops, and then visited the vintage shop on the high street. Sophie immediately spotted two beautiful old glasses for £6, which would be lovely for Port, so she had to buy them to add to her collection.

On the way home, we called into The Deli farm shop at Castle Ashby for an ice cream. The little shopping yard was very quiet and after mooching about in the shop and buying a tub each, we went outside to sit at one of their tables in the sun. One of the staff was faffing about outside and said that the tables were only for customers eating from the small cafe they had. There was not a soul about, and technically, we were eating their produce, so it wasn't as if we were taking tables away from anyone eating, but we duly moved to a bench outside the seating area. How petty! I think the woman knew she'd made a mistake as she then tried to engage us in conversation, but I did think that now, more than ever, people need to be aware of customer service and friendliness towards others. I would have understood if the place was packed but there was nobody else there!

We trundled off home and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing. I was still full from our mega sandwiches, but we still enjoyed Keith's chicken pie for dinner, served with vegetables!

After dinner, we watched the new episode of Nine Perfect Strangers and decided to give up on it. The White Lotus has spoiled us as it was so brilliant, and we had no idea what was happening with Nine Perfect Strangers so we turned over and watched Grand Designs instead. Much better!

A very grey day...

Today the weather has been awful, with almost constant rain and heavy grey skies. Our plans to go to Olney this afternoon were definitely postponed, and we'll probably go tomorrow instead!

Sophie went to the gym, so at least she ventured out today! When she returned home I made a cooked breakfast of sausages (veggie and normal) potato waffles and spaghetti hoops served with toast or bread and butter. It was definitely the day for nursery food!

After we'd cleared away we made some choc chip cookies and indulged in a face pack lying on the bed. I'll start to think it's Sunday! The rain continued for most of the day and the clouds didn't shift at all.

In the evening Sophie and I played Scrabble, and Keith joined us at the island. We listened to some music on Sophie's Echo Dot and Keith said he thought Alexa was creepy... I think she's very polite and does exactly what we ask her to! I love it when we say goodnight and she replies, "Nighty Night"!

Recently, I joined a Facebook group for Key West and the Keys Photography. I submitted a photo of Key West taken back in 2014, just after we'd had a torrential downpour of rain:

It appeared yesterday and so far, I've had 500 likes which I find amazing! The photo brings back some fantastic memories of a lovely evening and I was so glad I was able to share it.

Travel at the moment is a distant memory and I miss going abroad so much, even if it's just for a couple of days in France. Hopefully, we won't need to do tests when we get back to England soon, but judging by the news this evening about coronavirus, I think we're in for a tough winter. On the bright side, at least us oldies will get a booster jab soon!

Pastures new...

The morning was spent doing housework, and I gave the bathroom a thorough clean which pleased me as I'd been putting it off for a while. I hate cleaning bathrooms! 

Outside the weather was dry, with a mix of sunshine and clouds so I was able to get a wash out on the line. How much longer I wonder? There is a real Autumnal feel now, and I can't believe that September is almost half over! I don't think we've had much of a summer this year, and August, particularly, was a real disappointment as it was so cloudy.

At lunchtime, Sophie and I drove over to Elliott's Fields, an out-of-town shopping centre in Rugby. Keith and I had seen it on our way home from Stratford-upon-Avon a few weeks ago and I'd spotted a Homesense. There was also M&S, Next, New Look and a defunct Debenhams.

We parked easily in the huge car park and headed to M&S for lunch. Although the cafe was quiet, we waited for ages in the queue! I chose a chicken salad with edamame beans, tomatoes, cucumber and lots of lettuce while Sophie went for a jacket potato with cheese and beans. 

After we'd eaten we wandered about in the store before heading next door to Homesense. I was hoping to get some things for the kitchen, but all I picked out was a new apron! Amazingly, we met Judy who is married to Keith's old boss from Black and Decker, and we had a long chat. She lives in Brixworth and is 80 this year, but looked at least 15 years younger!

We wandered around Next and I looked at the homewares, but I don't think either of us were really into it. I had thought there was another home store in the retail park, but there wasn't, so we decided to drive home via the A5 rather than the M6 and A14.

The A5 took us through a large flat plain that used to have loads of radio masts years ago. They have all been demolished, but I remember the area was quite eerie with all the towering masts lit up in the darkness. Now, the land has been given over to huge warehouses, and the roads were full of lorries.

We turned off the A5 and headed towards Crick and West Haddon, before eventually arriving in Brixworth. We were in the mood for tea and cake, and decided to go to The Workhouse, opposite the row of shops in the village. There were so many cakes to choose from (too many, in my opinion) and we decided on two traybakes, both of which were overwhelmingly sweet. Sophie couldn't manage all of hers and took it home! This was my second visit to this cafe and I have a feeling it may well be my last!

The evening was spent playing Scrabble, enjoying a drink and watching Keith cook dinner. The heavy cloud hadn't lifted much all afternoon and rain is forecast for tomorrow. We are planning on going to Olney but we may have to change our plans!

Hooked on Oxfordshire

We had a very lazy start to the day, and I cooked scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. Keith had Googled some pubs in an area just over the border in Oxfordshire for us to try, and we were hoping for lovely places and good beer!

We set off and we were actually later than yesterday! The traffic was heavy on the A43, and it was great to turn off onto the much quieter B4525 and head towards Banbury. We didn't think a lot of Banbury, but were soon through and heading towards our first pub in the tiny village of Sibford Gower, The Wykham Arms.

The car park was full (always a good sign) so we had to park a little way away. The house opposite was gorgeous - all thatched roofs and mullion windows, and it had a blue plaque on the wall, so someone famous had lived there called Frank Lascelles (I'd never heard of him).

The pub was very friendly and pleasantly busy, and we sat at the bar with our drinks. Keith had a pint of Tribute and said it was very good. After yesterday's indulgences, Sophie stayed away from alcohol! There were lots of families eating and enjoying Sunday lunch, and the atmosphere was lovely. It's a shame it's so far from home!

As we walked back to the car, I noticed a signpost for Hook Norton, and Google maps told us it was six minutes away, too close to resist! Hook Norton is famous for its brewery and I've enjoyed their Twelve Days before, especially in the winter.

There were three pubs listed in the village but we chose The Sun Inn and we were glad we did as it was lovely.

There was a choice of four ales - Keith opted for Haymaker, while I had half a pint of Old Hooky. Sophie stuck to ginger beer! We sat at high stools and shared two bags of crisps while chatting about the journey and where we'd go next. There was another pub on the outskirts of Hook Norton called The Gate Hangs High and we thought we'd give that a try before moving onto the village of Bloxham.

The Gates Hangs High stands on its own on a crossroads not far from the village. We walked in to find mostly locals enjoying a Sunday drink, and the atmosphere was very convivial once again. Sophie and I stuck to soft drinks while Keith had a pint of Hooky Gold. This was perhaps our least favourite pub as the inside was a bit bland and characterless, but the landlord was very friendly and obliged Sophie with a slice of lime for her drink.

Our last pub of the mooch was The Red Lion in the large village of Bloxham. Here, we couldn't order at the bar, and there were lots of signs everywhere about covid, something we hadn't seen much of in the other pubs. The pub was very pleasant, though, with muted colours and wood panelling, but it didn't feel that friendly. By now we were all a bit peckish but the menu only had main meals so we decided to have one drink and head home. 

Keith sat in the back while Sophie guided me back through Banbury, and onto the A43. There was a McDonalds on the outskirts of Towcester, so we decided to call in there, use their facilities, and share some chicken tenders and French fries. The place was heaving with people and we sat in the car munching our (very) late lunch before going home.

Sophie elected to cook this evening - the Hairy Bikers' beef in gravy. Keith disappeared upstairs for a nap while Sophie pan-fried the beef steaks and onions, and prepared the vegetables. I sat at the island reading the Sunday papers and it was extremely relaxing!

Keith appeared about half an hour before we were due to eat and sat with me. It had been a lovely day and it was great to get out of Northamptonshire for a little while!

 

Return of the sun.

The weather today has seen a return of the sun and warmer temperatures, and it was perfect for drying our laundry out on the line. Lovely!

Sophie was going by train to Milton Keynes to have lunch and cocktails with her two friends from work, so we dropped her at the station at midday. We had planned on going for a mooch into Oxfordshire, but it would have been too late to start, so we've postponed the trip until tomorrow when Sophie can come with us.

It took us longer to get out of Northampton town than it did for Sophie to get to Milton Keynes, as the traffic was horrendous, and we became embroiled in a traffic jam! Once through the town we drove over to Kettering to pick up two new window handles I'd ordered yesterday from Screwfix. The ones we have now are bronze, but I had ordered two in polished chrome which should match the handle on our new window. I just then need to order some pewter door handles for the cupboard door under the stairs, and one for the door going into the lounge. They will then match the cupboard handles, and I will be very pleased!

As soon as we arrived home Keith sorted out the new handles. He had to cut the spindle with a hacksaw, which was hard work, and I helped by holding it steady. When they were done, they looked fabulous, and even like new windows!

After lunch, I pottered about and planted the bulbs in the garden, putting the daffodils into the border in the corner, and the rest of the bulbs - Anemones, Alliums and Dwarf Irises - into some empty pots. I took pics to remind myself! March is a long way away!

Keith was glued to the television watching the football, so I went upstairs to watch the box in our bedroom. I discovered a new programme called Bang on Budget and it featured several kitchens. I love seeing what other people have done with their kitchens now, so I was hooked! Sophie texted me to say they were having one more drink and then leaving and would be getting in at about 7pm, which was great and a bit earlier than I had expected.

I duly left the house to go and get her and texted her to say I was leaving. When I didn't get a reply I had a sneaking feeling that they wouldn't get the train at the time they said, and would be later... and I was proved right! They missed the train which meant I had almost an hour to kill waiting at the station, and I wasn't very happy! When my daughter got into the car the alcohol fumes almost knocked me out. Hmmm! A few cross words were exchanged between us on the way home, and Keith handed me a large G&T when I walked through the door! I needed it!

After dinner (and Sophie ate some to soak up the alcohol), she disappeared upstairs, and Keith and I watched the US Womens' Final from New York where our very own Emma Raducanu was playing Leylah Fernandez. We had thought that it was only being shown on Amazon Prime, but we were able to watch on Channel 4. After the first set, Keith went to bed as he said he didn't want to jinx the game - Raducanu was one set up - and Sophie came down to say goodnight. She was in a better mood, and she watched the rest of the brilliant game with me. When Emma Raducanu won, we were elated!

Testing times...

Keith popped to Tesco this morning to get some shopping for the weekend, and bought me a new Gin to try, Haysmith's Blood Orange and Wild Berry. Aldi have a large selection on offer, and all the bottles are really pretty - definitely designed to catch the eye!

The weather has been very showery and wet today, with torrential rain first thing, but no thunderstorms, sadly. We could see the garden heaving a sigh of relief as the rain came down!

Apart from taking Mum's jumper back to her, and buying some kidney beans and a red pepper to go into tonight's chilli at the nearby Co-op (where I also bought more Spring bulbs), Keith and I didn't go out again today. This will change next week when Sophie is also on holiday, and we have various things planned. I have enjoyed chilling out at home, though, and enjoying the new kitchen!

Both of us took a lateral flow test today as news of Ian's positive test is all over the local Facebook pages. Keith said he had a headache, which is unusual for him, so we did the tests and they were both negative. I didn't realise that you can get a free PCR test if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, so if we do show any symptoms over the next few days, we'll get a PCR test organised. Although the bar staff tested negative using the lateral flow tests, these aren't as efficient, apparently, so there is a slight worry about the staff who were serving us in the pub yesterday, especially as they had been with Ian.

Keith was unable to go to the pub tonight, although I did offer to drive him to The White Swan in Holcot. He took care of dinner (I'd chopped up the onion and pepper) while Sophie and I sipped our drinks (no wine tonight) and watched Grand Designs, which was much more realistic than last week, and where the owner of the house put in a tremendous amount of work for his family. Their tiny plot of land was squeezed in between a busy road and a railway line, but the finished house looked gorgeous.

After dinner, we watched the last two episodes of The White Lotus and this will definitely go down as one of our favourites, up there with Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives. It was quirky, fun and we loved the background music. Will there be a second series? We hope so!

Saying goodbye.

The weather was due to break today thank goodness. Our poor gardens really need some rain to liven up the grass! I was also looking forward to cooler temperatures, especially as today was Dave's funeral and we had to wear slightly more formal clothes.

Two of our neighbours popped around this morning to look at the kitchen, as they live in the same house, but a bit further around the estate. As you can imagine, I was delighted to show the kitchen off to them, and they were very impressed with how we'd opened it up and used the dining room, which used to be a waste of space.

They stayed for about an hour, and we discussed what they wanted to do with their house, which included extending out a bit further at the back and losing their garden gate. If they go ahead, I can't wait to see what they choose!

Keith and I donned some suitably sober clothes and left the house at 1pm. Typically, as we drove to Kingsthorpe, it started to rain so I popped to the post office near the cemetery to buy an umbrella, just in case! There were signs directing us to the burial site, and we managed to park in a little lay-by on the other side of the extended piece of ground. Within minutes of arriving, we saw Josh, and Dave's other children, Spencer and Lisa.

A car drew up next to us and a couple asked if we were going to Dave's funeral. It was a man called Andy, and his wife, who used to meet Dave regularly in the pub on a Saturday at lunchtime. We all walked over together and chatted to the others who were arriving.

I have never been to a burial before; all the funerals I've been to in the past were cremations, so this was new for me. Because the chapel was closed, the whole service was held by the graveside, which I found a bit odd, to be honest. If it were me I would have had the service at Walgrave church and then the burial at Kingsthorpe. The vicar arrived, and he had a sound system rigged up in the back of his car! We were given orders of service and had to sing a hymn which felt really strange! I did wonder what the people who lived in the houses on the other side of the fence thought about it all!

It was quite emotional when the coffin was lowered into the ground, and lots of people threw a rose on top, including Keith and John, who looked very sad. At the end, they played the theme tune to Only Fools and Horses as Dave was a great fan. I always said to Keith that Dave reminded me of Leonard Rossiter in Rising Damp - he looked exactly like him!

The wake was held in the pub, and we received some shocking news when we went in: Ian, the Landlord, had tested positive for covid this morning... This meant that the pub would close after the wake ended, and remain that way for the foreseeable future. Just what Ian needs at the moment...

We mingled with Dave's friends and family, and the wife of Andy (I think her name was Karen) seemed to take a liking to me, urging me to come up to the pub on a Friday night (Sophie would disown me), and saying I should join her book club!

We went home just before 5pm to take off our uncomfortable shoes and, in Keith's case, his black tie, and relax. Dinner tonight was a simple affair of cold meats, crusty bread, new potatoes and salad as Keith and I had nibbled at the buffet served in the pub!

Lazy Wednesday!

Today has been a very lazy day, spent at home pottering about again, and trying to keep cool. Keith and I did venture out first thing this morning, to Kingsthorpe cemetery to acquaint ourselves with the layout and the parking for tomorrow. We were astounded at how big the cemetery was - it stretched on for far longer than we had imagined, and some of the graves were covered in little windchimes, windmills, cuddly toys and flowers.

Once back home it was lovely to relax, read the newspaper from cover to cover, and just try and keep cool. It's been another scorcher of a day, and towards the afternoon it became very breezy, which just dried everything out even more. I did manage to sort out some recycling and deliver it to one of our local bins, and I was surprised at how arid the gardens are. But then I can't remember the last time it rained, so it's not really that surprising! We have thunderstorms and lower temperatures forecast for the next couple of days so that's a relief. The grass and plants could do with a good drink!

When Sophie came home we had a drink and sat and chatted. Keith went out to barbecue while we girls cooked the new potatoes, fried some onions and set the table. It was still very warm so back in the living room I threw open all the windows and Sophie and I watched another couple of episodes of The White Lotus, which we both really enjoy! There are only six episodes so we just have two left!

It was very hot going to bed and I was so glad we had a fan! Phew! Roll on the cooler weather!

Girls' night in!

Keith and I went shopping at 9am this morning before it became really hot. We popped into Aldi first and I picked up some Spring bulbs to add to the daffodil ones I bought last week. I am determined to have some colour next March! Keith bought a new white shirt in Tesco for Dave's funeral on Thursday, and we were all done by 10am. When we emerged into the sunlight, it felt really warm! 

Back home we unpacked and then had a late breakfast. With the warmth today, we decided to stay at home and potter about, which is what we did, and very enjoyable it was as well!

Mike texted me to say that he was working as a Covid tester for people embarking on cruises:

He really looks the part!

That's one less worry to think about! Now they just need to find a flat to rent!

Today has been very relaxing, and I managed to get a fair amount done, in between relaxing and keeping cool. I planted some of the bulbs into containers, ready for next Spring, did a load of washing, hoovered the house, did a pile of ironing as Keith's foot was hurting him, and hand-washed a jumper for my Mum. By the time Sophie came home the house was looking lovely!

Keith went out this evening to watch Sileby play football, something he hasn't done on a Tuesday evening for absolutely ages. Traditionally, we would have eaten Jerk Chicken but as there was just Sophie and me, it wasn't worth it. Instead, we had lemon and herb-crusted chicken breasts, served with mash and vegetables and washed down with a delicious Greek wine I bought in Aldi. We ate the meal at the kitchen island, and I have to say the kitchen was looking beautiful as it became dark outside, and I lit some candles to dot about. Although it's now a lot bigger, it still feels cosy.

After we'd eaten we watched a new series called The White Lotus which is supposed to be a rival to Nine Perfect Strangers. We loved The White Lotus, especially the manager of the hotel who was very much like Basil Fawlty!

Trying to get things done!

I had arranged to meet Mum and Dad at 10am this morning to take them to the Weston Favell Centre. The plan was to go to Nationwide and sort out why Mum hadn't received a card yet. 

Getting my Dad in the car was a lot easier than I had imagined, so that was a bonus. We managed to park in a very tight disabled space, and then it was time for a coffee in The Lounge where they used to go twice or three times a week.

My parents love the Weston Favell Centre for reasons that are beyond me, but I suppose they used to meet friends there and sit and have a coffee, and it has been a part of our lives for decades. When we had the business we used to visit daily! We sat and enjoyed a coffee, and started talking to the man at the next table who remembered how it used to be, the same as we did! 

In Nationwide we were taken to the office at the back and saw a lady who tried to find out where Mum's card was. Of course, we had the old rigmarole about identification (I wished I'd had Mum's passport with me) but the manager intervened and said he would try and sort it out.

From there we popped into Tesco to do some shopping, and we bought Dad a pair of new trainers and some casual trousers. We then had a hunt for curlers before giving up and having lunch in Jenny's. My parents chose a cheeseburger each, and my Dad demolished his, but Mum ate a quarter of her meal, asking for it to be boxed up and taken back with her. I had a limp tuna and sweetcorn sandwich on tasteless white bread, so I was not impressed!

After I dropped my parents back, I went home to sit in the garden with Keith. By now it was very warm with the temperature about 27c. It was peaceful and lovely - the schools weren't out yet!

In the evening we all sat at the island and Keith and I played cards, but his heart really wasn't in it. He cooked beef stroganoff for dinner and Sophie prepared garlic bread. The nights really are getting darker now, and it was properly night by about 8.30pm. We watched a very interesting documentary on Osama Bin Laden (the 20th anniversary of 9/11 is coming up if you hadn't realised!) and we all tried to make sense of the different organisations and political history. It was very confusing!

Return of the sun!

Today has been a very lazy Sunday - I am on holiday!

I woke up later than I wanted, so the time has flown by. Sophie was meeting Zain in Woburn for lunch and we bid her farewell at about 12pm. I attempted to put my daffodil bulbs into the front garden, but the soil was dry and very hard to dig. Maybe I'll wait until it rains! The sun has made a return today and it was hot at the front of the house!

Therefore, it was heaven to sit at the island, with the half door open, and the window behind me ajar to welcome the breeze, and thoroughly read the Sunday paper. Bliss! I didn't feel guilty at all! I did tidy up Mike's room, though, and clean one of his windows, but we'll wait until he takes his bed down to Southampton to really scrub the walls and paintwork. I think we'll need to get a new carpet, and we'll definitely have to decorate!

I hoovered upstairs as well and did a half clean of the bathroom so I wasn't that lazy! I also managed to put a colour on my hair, have a face-pack and a foot-pack. I sent a pic to Sophie to show what I looked like - Hannibal Lecter came to mind!

Sophie was back by about 5pm so, after a good chat, we played Scrabble while Keith re-heated the chicken in a red wine sauce from last night. I really didn't fancy any dinner, and I'm heartily sick of cauliflower, broccoli and carrots at the moment!

A bargain find!

This morning dawned grey and overcast again, but sunshine is not far away. Next week is looking much better, and the temperatures are set to rise to about 27c! The smells of the countryside were much in evidence today - last night when I took Keith to the pub, Walgrave was particularly smelly, but it hadn't spread to us. This morning was a different matter, and it was very ripe!

After a lazy start, and pastries and coffee for breakfast, Sophie and I drove to Market Harborough. My daughter was on the lookout for glasses, a dress for her date with Zain tomorrow, and a new handbag. I was looking for a new wok to replace the one that we can't use on the hob. We've had to rearrange our meals and cook the beef stroganoff on Monday night because of it!

We decided to have lunch first, though, and went to Louisa's Place for a club sandwich, accompanied by salad and crisps, and washed down with a refreshing glass of raspberry lemonade. Sadly, our favourite cafe, Polka Dot, is well and truly closed as we later found out when we went into the shop at the front of the building. What a shame, as it was a lovely place to enjoy sandwiches, cakes and tea.

After lunch, we popped to Wilko's but the woks available couldn't be used on induction hobs. We then concentrated on the various charity shops in Market Harborough, and The Attic, which is a clothes agency, but Sophie didn't find a dress or a bag she liked. She bought two tops in The Attic but nothing else caught her eye.

I found a beautiful bowl in one of the shops and decided it would look great on the island with fruit. It cost me 99p!

It was very similar to the glasses that a friend had bought for Sophie, and we were extremely pleased!

Before going home we called into Gallone's for an ice cream. My sense of smell was acute today and everywhere we'd been was full of aromas, some good, some bad! In Gallone's, I could smell a mixture of chemicals and vanilla, and we found out it was the waffle machine!

There was a long queue as although the weather was still cloudy, the temperatures had risen. We wanted to sit outside in the fresh air, but all the tables were taken so we sat inside and were witness to a mum on the next table shouting at her poor son for getting ice cream all over his shirt. Sophie really felt for him as he looked so embarrassed by her outburst.

Once home, we relaxed and then it was time for Scrabble and a G&T. Keith joined us at the island and watched the cricket from his bar stool. Sophie beat me again before we finished the game and concentrated on dinner, which was chicken in a red wine sauce with dumplings. 

The meal was delicious but we've noticed now that we're having to put the lights on in the conservatory when we eat. The nights are drawing in!

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Today was my last day at work before two weeks off, and I really didn't want to be in! I was hoping that it would be quiet as I had two important things to do before my shift ended! After an initial rush of calls, it did go quiet, which was a huge relief, and I was able to get the box office returns completed and emailed over to the distributors, do the two tasks I had to do, and tidy up any loose ends.

At 4pm I sped home and mooched about until Sophie arrived. Keith went to the pub this evening to see his mate John, and Dave's son, Josh. It was great that he was able to join them for a drink. I still can't believe that Dave has died. I keep thinking I'll see him walk out of the pub when I collect Keith.

Dinner tonight was a simple affair, but it was very good. We enjoyed two Tesco Finest pizzas with crispy potatoes and salad. The pizzas were better than normal and I did wonder whether it was because of the new oven?

Sophie and I watched another two episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers, and I still think it's weird, and nowhere near in the same league as Big Little Lies. Nicole Kidman seems so wooden in it, and her wig is ridiculous!

Catching up

Keith did the shopping at a more reasonable time this morning, leaving me to do some housework. I was having lunch with my friend Lynda today, and she wanted to come and see the kitchen before we went out. I had suggested Manvell Farm tearoom, but despite calling them several times over the course of the morning, I couldn't get hold of them.

Lynda arrived just as I'd got out of the shower, and after admiring the room, we left for the short journey to Manvell Farm tearoom. I was hoping it wouldn't be busy, and I was pleasantly surprised to find just a few people occupying the tables.

We sat in the airy conservatory part of the building, overlooking the fields. Lynda chose a hearty sandwich while I opted for a generous bacon, chicken and avocado salad, served with croutons. The food was delicious. We found room for a slice of Bakewell tart afterwards to go with the rest of our pot of tea.

It was great to catch up with Lynda and talk about what we'd both been up to since we'd seen each other last. She dropped me home and I mooched about for the rest of the afternoon, managing to have a nap before Sophie came home! Very lazy, but who cares!

Before we cooked dinner this evening, all three of us sat at the island and Keith and I played cards. Keith loves his new bar stool and it's great that it tucks away neatly under the island. We had already done a lot of preparation for tonight's meal - pork and noodles with a peanut sauce - and after Keith had beaten me at cards we stir-fried a load of veggies and cooked the noodles. The induction hob didn't like our wok so we had to resort to cooking everything in our large frying pan. We're still learning!

After dinner, we watched the much-anticipated new episode of Grand Designs that I'd recorded last night. I absolutely love this programme and I think I've watched every episode ever made. Tonight, it featured a huge house in Devon, built by a local entrepreneur, which dragged on for four years. He just threw money at it and seemed quite detached emotionally from the whole process, which is unusual for the series. When it was finished it looked more like a museum or art gallery than a family home!

Righting a wrong...

This unending grey weather is now starting to really get to us, and there's no sign of it ending any time soon. I think we have high pressure over us, but there's no wind, so the grey, lumpy cloud just stays. It's depressing!

Keith and I had to go and get some new paint this morning, as the pot I'd had made up the other week was emulsion, and therefore not suitable for doors. I could have kicked myself for not noticing earlier, but we can use it in Mike's room, perhaps, as the feature wall! 

We called into Waitrose first as I thought a coffee and bacon roll would be a good idea. The place was packed with ladies of a certain age, and Keith went to find a table while I queued up. Although the cafe had been tarted up, it was still basically the same. I picked out two bacon rolls from the chilled cabinet but when I looked at them, and the price, I felt they were a bit of a rip-off! £3.05 for what was an anaemic roll with no doubt a thin sliver of bacon inside. I put them back, called Keith, and we went to Costa instead. The prices were comparable, but the quality looked a lot better! And I love their Flat White!

At B&Q we headed for the paint mixing service, and although it was a different paint brand - Valspar - the process was the same. We opted for the Satinwood in a more durable finish, and the colour was identical to our cupboards! Whilst in the store we looked for bar stools for Keith, as he feels left out when we're sitting at the island, but they didn't have any he liked. He wanted one that he could tuck under the overhang to keep it out of the way.

After paying, we crossed the road and went to Dunelm where Keith found the perfect seat - an adjustable bar stool in a dark grey cord that was only about £40! After a quick jaunt into Pets At Home to see if they had any bird tables (to thwart Mr Rat) we made one last stop at Homesense to look for pretty storage jars.

By now, although cloudy and dull, it was warm and I was wearing the wrong top so I felt a bit uncomfortable! We left Homesense, and Keith suggested a drink in the pub before going home. Now we don't have to pick up Mike in the afternoon, we can do what we like! Oh, the freedom!

We stayed for two drinks and chatted to Ian about Dave's funeral next Thursday. Everybody will go back to the pub after the service in Kingsthorpe where Dave will be buried, and we chatted about what he would have liked for food - sausage sandwiches, apparently!

Back home I tidied up, made up our bed that I had changed this morning, and generally mooched about. Halfway through the afternoon, I saw Sarah with a tree surgeon, so it looks like something may happen, although she didn't message me to say she was coming. 

In the evening I did most of the cooking - a savoury mince crumble served with veggies. The weather, if anything, became worse and it felt very Autumnal!