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!