Getting ready...

We were able to have a bit of a lie-in this morning as we were taking Sophie to work. We all left at 8.20am and braved the rush hour traffic down to Brackmills. It wasn't too bad at all, and far better than I'd been expecting!

After dropping Sophie off we had a coffee and pastry at Costa on Riverside and popped into Boots to get some holiday essentials. It was then off to Tesco in Kettering where we bought some new masks and other bits and bobs we needed. We now have to wear masks in the shops, and it's a relief to be honest, as now we all know where we are with the rules.

After shopping, I took my filthy car through the carwash, and then it was home to sort out things for the holiday. I started packing and found all the plug converters and other things that we'll need while we're away. 

Once that was done, Keith and I sat down and booked our airport parking at Luton, and a hire car. We weren't going to bother until we saw the prices for taxis, and so we've booked a car for Pollensa, which will be delivered to our hotel in Palma. This means it'll be a lot less hassle than last time when we had to get a taxi back to the airport and then pick up the shuttle bus to take us to the Hiper car rental office. We are literally five minutes away so it seems madness to get a taxi back to the airport! It also means that we are free to go where we want, and can visit Cala San Vicente and Puerto Pollensa without having to rely on taxis or buses.

Keith and I prepared dinner for this evening (although he was having homemade celery and stilton soup) and then went to get Sophie from work. The traffic was very busy, and I drove through town to avoid the busy A43. Keith came with me to keep me company, and after picking Sophie up we took her to the beauty salon for a quick treatment while we waited. It gave us the chance to talk about meals for the rest of the week, and what we're going to do when we return and can't go out and do any shopping! We'll have to buy foods we can freeze and rely on tinned vegetables for once!

Back home Keith enjoyed his soup and then disappeared upstairs to watch Newcastle play. Sophie put the finishing touches to the meal of sausage orecchiette with cheesy flatbread, and we ate our meal in the kitchen. Afterwards, it was an episode of Escape to the Chateau and their new sky bar!

So cold!

I was the only one getting up early this morning because Sophie had a day off, and Keith was having a lie-in, lucky thing. I left at 7.30am and woke Sophie before I went. 

Sara was very understanding about our travel problems and will ask another member of staff to swap, so I can go in on Thursday instead of Monday. I just hope we'll get the all-clear by then!

Work was fine and I had lots of admin work to do which kept me busy. Unusually, our office was cold today so we actually shut the window for a change! We saw a beautiful fox, though, who sat and stared at us staring at him! We occasionally see wildlife outside the window, but it's normally squirrels, so seeing the fox was lovely!

Back home I had a lovely bath as I was so cold. The temperatures haven't lifted much today but tomorrow is set to be milder. Before dinner, we sat in the kitchen and discussed the holiday, changing sterling into euros, and what we're going to do when we get home and can't go shopping! It might mean a few days of takeaways!

The case of the missing lights...

I was awake much earlier this morning - 6.30am! I went downstairs, gave Monty his breakfast and caught up with writing this until 9am. It was still bitterly cold, and we have snow flurries forecast for later today. Maybe we are in for a bad winter with the snow coming so early?

We had put aside the whole of today to put up the Christmas trees, as next Sunday we won't be here. Keith brought everything down from the eaves of the garage, and we fetched some boxes down from our wardrobe. Sophie sorted the decorations out for both trees, and we went in search of the lights, but we couldn't find them...

We searched everywhere - the garage, the wardrobe, boxes in the garage, the drawers under our bed, the drawers in the bedroom, but we couldn't find them anywhere! Where had we put them? We normally put all the Christmas decorations within easy reach in the garage, and Keith didn't think we added the lights to the boxes outside, so it still remains a mystery! Keith and I had to go over to Tesco to buy some more!

To be honest, the new lights seemed to shine brighter, and when Sophie had finished with the trees, they looked beautiful. I hoovered and tidied up, and generally fretted about the new travel restrictions which will come into force on Tuesday.

We had some more leftovers for lunch, and in the afternoon it started to snow quite heavily, and enough to have a covering on the paths and hedges. Unfortunately, our outside lights didn't work either, so we were a bit miffed we'd had so much trouble with the lights this year!

When everything was done I had a look on the Government website and ordered three PCR tests for £35 each. That means we have now spent nearly £200 on tests, which is outrageous and deeply annoying. Our late break is starting to cost us more money than we had anticipated! I also had to cancel Andrea, Fiona and Lynda coming over to us on Friday 10 December as we will have to self-isolate until we get the results of the PCR tests back. I'm hoping that we can take them on Friday and get them back as soon as possible for analysis. I will have to speak to Sara tomorrow and try and swap shifts that week!

To relax, Sophie and I played Scrabble and she narrowly beat me, the little monkey! Keith cooked chicken en croute for dinner, and it was delicious, as ever. Storm Arwen has been causing a lot of damage over the last couple of days, and I'm A Celebrity has been cancelled as the weather caused problems in the castle... oh dear!

New acquaintances!

Sophie's boyfriend, Zain, was visiting today, so we could meet him before we all go away next Saturday! He was due at lunchtime, which was good as I didn't get up until 9.30am! Outside the weather was cold, wet and windy, and we've had our first named storm of the season today - Arwen.

The house was still looking lovely from last night but Sophie hoovered again and titivated everywhere. Zain arrived at about 12pm bearing flowers, wine and chocolate biscuits! He can definitely come again! Keith and I felt like we knew him already as we'd heard so much about him from Sophie, and we all sat in the kitchen and chatted. Sophie had booked a table at Farndon Fields for 1.45pm so we had time for a pot of Masala tea and biscuits. The tea was delicious, especially as it was so cold outside!

We set off into the wind-blown countryside, but didn't come across any fallen trees today! Our table at Farndon Fields was in the marquee and I have to say it was chilly. The temperature was 15c when we arrived and at one point it dropped to 13c, so not ideal. The constant hum of the heater and the flapping of the plastic sides were also annoying!

Keith, Zain and I had fish and chips, while Sophie had a jacket potato and chilli. Sophie and I normally just have a sandwich when we visit so it was different to try something more substantial. After we'd eaten, we had a look around the farm shop, and Keith spotted rabbit in the chiller cabinet. After making sure he could freeze it, he decided to buy it, as it's something we usually find difficult to get hold of.

In the car park, a woman was having trouble starting her car, and Keith and Zain helped but it soon became obvious that it was going nowhere so they gave up. It was bitingly cold, and we all piled back into the car and turned the heating on full blast!

Back home Zain stayed for a while, but it had turned sleety so he headed home. I had a nap, and I woke up to find the three angels of death (Whitty, Valance and Boris) giving a press conference about the new variant that's been detected - Omicron. The shock news was that all passengers entering the UK must take a PCR test on Day 2 (normally a lateral flow) and that the wearing of masks in shops and on public transport will become mandatory again. This was bad news about travel, as we'd only just ordered our lateral flow tests and they cost us £23 each. PCR tests are considerably more expensive, 

In an effort to try and relax, Sophie and I played Scrabble, and she beat me even though I came up with some good words. It was great that we didn't have to cook dinner this evening, and we just nibbled on cheese and biscuits later in the evening.

Keith watched an action film after we'd eaten, but Sophie and I were bored and went upstairs. Even though I'd had a long sleep last night, I was still ready for bed at 10pm!

Entertaining!

Both Sophie and I woke up with a headache this morning, and we wondered whether it was the soy sauce we put into last night's meal? Sophie went off to the gym, and another class (Pilates) while I had a coffee and got ready for work.

I was hoping for another quiet Friday to end the week, and I got my wish! Only Kathy, Sheila and I were in the office, and the phones weren't too busy thank goodness. I had another tranche of films to put on, so now we're done up until the 6 January.

At 4pm I sped home and helped Sophie make the house ready for Sue and Michelle. We prepared all the food (and there were lots!) and lit all the tea lights. Sophie had set the table, cleaned the conservatory and mopped the kitchen floor so everything looked lovely. It was the first time that both women had seen the kitchen properly, and Michelle couldn't get over what we'd had done! She said she felt disorientated as the kitchen was so different!

Sue had also bought a bottle of Champagne, and a gorgeous chocolate cake so we had plenty to eat and drink. I put a Youtube video of a crackling fire on the computer and Sophie played a recording of rain on Alexa. Outside it grew increasingly stormy and at one point the rain turned to sleet and snow! It was lovely to sit and have a really good natter, as it had been so long since we'd caught up with each other. Luckily, the heater kept us warm as outside it was truly freezing!

Keith had driven himself to the pub and came home at 7.30pm to raid our table! He took himself off to the living room and watched television, only coming back out to help himself to cheese and biscuits.

Sue left first and got a taxi home, and Michelle left at about 11pm. Sophie and I stacked the dishwasher and went to bed, as we were both shattered. It had been a long, but enjoyable day!

Tea, cake and a natter!

Sophie was up extra early this morning as she does a class on a Thursday. I got up with her, but went back to bed with Monty, even though I couldn't get to sleep again!

Keith and I went shopping first thing and I bought lots of nibbles for Friday night when Sue and Michelle are coming over. Michelle has very kindly offered to look after Monty while we're away, which is a huge weight off my mind! I bought a bottle of Champagne to celebrate, and another two bottles of white wine to drink as well. 

It took us ages to do the shopping, but by lunchtime, we were home and having something to eat. I did a test and gave the kitchen and living room a bit of a clean. Sophie is finishing early tomorrow so can get the house ready for our guests, but I wanted a head start!

I picked up Mum and Dad from the care home and brought them back for tea and cake. Again, it was easy as Dad used his zimmer frame and sped up the drive, and into the house! We had a chat about Christmas and sorted out the Nationwide bank account before I took them back.

Driving back to Kettering was difficult as it was getting dark and there were so many vehicles on the road. There'd been a broken down van at the Broughton turn which may have had something to do with it, and Dad said he was glad he wasn't driving anymore! I was as well!

Dinner this evening was a pork stir fry dish with noodles and Sophie cooked it for us while Keith and I kept her company in the kitchen. We'd prepared all the vegetables and meat and she made a very good job of it. The food was lovely!

Christmas lights!

It was fabulous to have a lie-in this morning and I had a lovely night's sleep for once! Sophie was going to go to the gym but she changed her mind so we had a lazy start to our day. By 11am, we were driving over to Weedon to visit the antique centre in the old depot buildings. 

The Old Depot has a long history and the buildings were used to repair and store arms and cannon, as it was so far inland and safe from an invasion on the coast. Now, there are various businesses running from the old buildings, and we love the antique centre and, next door, a shop selling vintage items and all manner of bric-a-brac.

Sophie was on the hunt for a jug and glasses and she found what she wanted, as well as a pretty little pink covered dish that would look great on the windowsill in the kitchen. I scoured the items but didn't see anything I liked.

By 1.30pm we were both hungry so we made our way to the Shires Shopping Village. We were surprised to find there was only one table left in Darlington's, outside in the marquee, although it was quite warm. I think a lot of people were visiting today to start their Christmas shopping! Today has been very cold, and even more, wintry weather is on its way at the end of the week. 

We ordered a Club Sandwich to share, which was delicious, and then fruit pies and custard for dessert. As we're not having a proper dinner tonight, we didn't feel guilty! 

We lingered over our lunch and the restaurant started to empty out. After we'd eaten we wandered over to the shops and had a good look around, marvelling at the prices of some of the items in one of the shops. Everything I liked was hugely expensive, including a beautiful blue painted globe that lit up and was £115! Trust me!

We left Weedon and drove back home as it began to get dark. We were looking forward to going to Delapre Abbey this evening to see the Winter Light Trail and before we left we were able to relax in the kitchen.

We left home at 5.30pm for a booking at 6.20pm, and I ignored Google maps and decided to go through town. I began to wish I hadn't when up ahead the traffic was at a standstill. I'd seen there was an accident in town but it had been two hours ago, and it looked like it was still causing problems, We turned off into a maze of narrow residential streets and wondered where on earth we were. The area looked a bit dodgy, to be honest, and I was mightily glad when we emerged onto the main thoroughfare. The road was closed so we had to go back the way we came and take a different route.

Luckily, we had a twenty-minute window to arrive and we made it on time. We paid an extra £4 to park and made our way to the start of the Light Trail. It's about a mile long and it was beautiful. First up was the walled garden and a bar right ahead of us. Of course, we stopped for a paper cup of mulled wine that set Sophie back £10! However, it was a decent amount, but they had left the cloves in so we had to find them in the dark and throw them out! Ugh!

The grounds of Delapre Abbey are extensive and there were colourful lit-up Chinese lanterns above to mark the trail as well as lights in the trees and in the bushes. At one point the whole path was lit with different colours which were very pretty.

As it was a mid-week booking, there weren't that many people about, and at times it was a bit spooky. I think they missed a trick at Halloween!

Although billed as a "Winter" Light Trail, there were lots of Christmas lights, to make it very festive, and as we near Christmas I would think it would become a lot busier.

We had a brilliant time following the trail and seeing all the lights, and I think a lot of hard work had been put into it. There was a fantastic Disco Maze with glittery balls and fake snow! 

Disco balls!

Children from a nearby primary school had also decorated some baubles which were strung up as we made our way out of the maze...

We came to the end to see the Abbey itself lit up in a range of colours:

At the end of the trail are various stands selling hot food, doughnuts, crepes and marshmallows that can be toasted over an open fire. Sophie and I were eager to enjoy currywurst, but they'd sold out so we made do with a bratwurst instead. Delicious!

We sat at a picnic table, but for £20 you could hire a Swiss cabin for an hour or so and meet up with friends and family while enjoying a cocktail or mulled wine.

Rather than have another drink, we headed home where Sophie made us a hot rum punch. Perfect for a chilly winter's evening!

Babysitting...

I was looking after a new member of staff today, called Tracie, and she sat opposite so I could help her out with any queries. I came off the phones as there was no point in me being on at the same time if she needed help, and she did need quite a bit of help with a lot of calls. I didn't mind, and the time certainly passed very quickly! In between helping Tracie, I dealt with the customer service emails again, but as I won't be in tomorrow and Thursday, somebody else will have to deal with them. Sheila, probably!

It was great to go home and look forward to two days off. Even better, Sophie is off tomorrow, and we've decided to go to the antique centre at Weedon and look for a pretty jug and glasses. They're bound to have what we want there!

Sophie arrived home feeling very tired, so we both relaxed on the sofa this evening, but when Keith cooked dinner I sat in the kitchen with him, to keep him company. He cooked a delicious curry that was perfect for such a chilly night!

A new room!

Another Monday rolls around. but before we know it, it's Friday again! I did my two hours of admin work from 8am until 10am, and managed to clear a lot of the customer service emails. My shift wasn't bad at all but it was lovely to drive home at 4pm and see if Keith had done anything in the spare bedroom.

And he had! He'd put the curtains back and everything looked lovely. I was quite jealous! It looks better than our room!

Our newly painted curtain pole!

I am so pleased with the painted frame of the picture and the headboard! What a difference to a room that had been neglected over the last few years and it got to the point where I refused to go in there. We have no idea what Mike's going to say when he comes home for Christmas, but while he's staying in there, he'd better look after it! I just need to find some more pictures and cushions, and maybe a throw to tie it all together!

 

Glossing over...

Keith went shopping first thing this morning as Mum and Dad needed some bits, and while he was gone I made a start on glossing the woodwork in the spare bedroom. It's a job I really don't like, and I spent most of today crawling about on the floor painting the skirting boards or stretching up to do the top of the door! When it was finished I was pleased with how it looked... it's like a brand new room!

Outside the weather was glorious, but there was a very cold wind so I was glad I spent all of today indoors! Sophie hoovered the whole house for me and we changed our beds, while Keith prepared all the vegetables for tonight's roast beef, so our house was a hive of activity. No lazy Sunday today!

While I painted I was able to listen to the television, which was a bonus. We're hoping this room will be a spare if anyone comes to stay, but it will also be a retreat to spend time in and watch television as we have Netflix and lots of terrestrial channels. The room also seems warmer now, probably because the door is open most of the time! For the last twenty years, it's been Michael's room and has been a tip if I'm brutally honest, so it sometimes feels weird to have it back and looking so lovely!

I finished the painting by mid-afternoon, and Sophie and I indulged in a face pack and watched television. I then had a long wallow in the bath but I made sure I was out by 5.30pm so we could play Scrabble again, and this time I beat Sophie. Ha!

Keith cooked roast beef tonight but he was very unhappy with the joint from Aldi. He said it's fine for a casserole but it was a bit tough for a Sunday dinner. After we'd eaten Keith and I watched I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! which was set in Wales again. I hardly knew any of the celebrities, so it'll be good to get to know them over the next few weeks!

Getting crafty!

Sophie took me to work this morning, on her way to the gym, as last time I worked on a Saturday I couldn't get parked! 

I had a very pleasant shift with Sue, who I hadn't worked with for ages! The time flew by and we weren't busy so I was able to deal with the customer service emails and do lots of other admin jobs.

Sophie came back for me at 2pm and we sped home. Keith was going to see Sileby play and took Dad's car to give it a run. After half an hour of relaxing, Sophie and I decided to tackle the headboard... we were both excited but a little nervous, to be honest!

First of all, I removed the back material and took out all the staples with my new handy little tool. We then gave the headboard a thorough wash and dried it. After that, we put the new material flat onto our kitchen island and wrapped it around the headboard. We had more material than we needed so we measured out the borders and cut the material to fit.

We had a bit of a problem with inserting the staples into the new staple gun machine, but after a lot of perseverance, we did it! We then wrapped the material tightly over the headboard and stapled it into place. The tricky bits were the corners, but Sophie managed to do them perfectly so there was no sags or unsightly bulges. We were over the moon with how it worked out seeing as it was our first time doing anything like this!

Old headboard - ripped back and black faux leather!

We have enough material left to make some scatter cushions for the bed, so we were delighted!

When Keith came home he was amazed at what we'd done and very pleased! Now all I need to do is gloss the woodwork tomorrow and we can put everything back. It would be great to get a new carpet but that might have to wait until next year. In the meantime, I'll hire a carpet shampoo machine and we'll do a thorough clean!

In the evening Sophie and I played Scrabble and she beat me, as usual. We indulged in some crisps, olives and cubes of cheese...

Monty's new favourite place is curled up on one of the barstools - he just about manages to get up by himself, but we're trying to discourage this as he launches himself up by clawing at the fabric of the chair! I have visions of the barstools being ripped to shreds!

After a lovely dinner of Coq au Vin, we watched the film Dead Calm starring an extremely youthful Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and gorgeous Billy Zane. A great end to a very fruitful day!

Back to work!

Going back to work was a bit of a shock this morning! I felt like I'd been away for ages! Luckily, it was a very pleasant shift with only Kathy, Sheila and me in the office. Bliss! We weren't busy and I was able to get some admin jobs done.

Sophie had finished work early today so she was home when I arrived, and the house was looking lovely. I took Keith to the pub and we both wondered what changes would be made with the advent of our new landlord. I asked him to get all the gossip for when I picked him up later!

Sophie and I sipped a glass of Chardonnay and watched Escape to the Chateau. Although I love the series and have been watching it right from the start, I do wonder if their lives are as perfect as they make out! In the episode we watched, they were knocking down walls and making new walk-in wardrobes as well as building a mezzanine structure for the children's bedroom!

I went back to pick up Keith from the pub and already noticed changes - a rickety old gate that stood in the entrance had gone, and the space behind the bar in the back room had been spruced up so it looked a lot better. I had a quick look at the new menu - quite restricted - and noticed that the prices were very reasonable... Only time will tell!

Patchy painting!

Sophie didn't go to the gym this morning as she had a bad headache in the night. This meant that she travelled to work during the school run, just like I did on Monday, and she said that the traffic was horrendous and even worse than before the pandemic!

Keith did the shopping while I made a start on the bedroom. When I painted the walls today, they looked even more patchy and I was in a bad mood when Keith arrived home!

The headboard visible in this photo with its ripped cover!

I actually think that the second coat is even worse than the first, and it looked horrible while we were painting. I used a large brush for the second coat while Keith went to the other side of the room and used the roller. By 1pm both coats were on and we stopped ourselves from endlessly going over the bits we'd already painted. I am at work tomorrow, and on Saturday, so the glossing will have to wait for Sunday, another job I dread! I just can't wait to put everything back and start buying pretty cushions and throws for the bed, as well as some pictures!

Sophie went out in the evening with Laura and Daisy to a pub in Harlestone. Daisy very kindly gave her a lift so that was a bonus! Keith and I watched The Bodyguard after we'd eaten, a film I hadn't seen for ages. Our daughter returned home at 11pm looking tired - she wasn't the only one!

A spot of decorating...

Sophie had today off work and she was roped into helping us paint Michael's old room, bless her! I did heat up some pastries for breakfast first, though, and it was lovely to sit with her and have a coffee before we started.

Keith started on one side of the room with the roller while Sophie did the other, and I did the fiddly parts near the skirting boards and inside the windows. Outside, the weather was gorgeous, with clear blue skies and sunshine. Typical!

The first coat of paint always looks horrible and patchy, and today was no exception. We were using a very light grey called White Mist so I knew it would take a couple of coats, or more, to cover the existing taupe colour on the walls. Halfway through the morning, Sophie went to put a coat of metallic silver on the pine curtain pole, so we're hoping this will match the new picture frame. 

We were getting in each other's way a lot in Michael's room, and it was hard work, so we were all glad when the first coat was on and we could have some lunch. Sophie and I had hummus with breadsticks and olives, and we decided to go to B&Q to get some more paint, and also look at fabrics at The Old Mill House to cover the headboard. 

We arrived at about 3pm and found some lovely material that was on sale. We bought three metres and chatted to the staff who were very helpful and friendly. I have never covered a headboard before but it looked easy on a YouTube video, and the material wasn't expensive, so we'll give it a go! I'm just going to cover the existing material, and in B&Q we bought a staple gun and a staple remover as well as some more paint.

Before going home we popped into Aldi and bought some squirty cream and German biscuits to go with our hot chocolate. It was a gorgeous evening, with the sky a deep indigo blue behind the setting sun. Sophie made us hot chocolate laced with a tot of rum and we started on the shopping list for tomorrow. Keith cooked dinner of mince and dumplings, which was another successful meal and perfect for a chilly night!

Packed!

I had today off work and had an appointment with the deputy manager of the care home this morning to discuss the fees for Mum and Dad with her. I arrived at 11am and met Mum and Dad in reception. We used the family room on the second floor, and although the meeting wasn't that helpful, at least she gave me some suggestions about what would happen in the future when, sadly, their money might run out.

Mum hadn't been very well, and she still wasn't right, so we put off going out for a cup of tea this afternoon. The weather was horrible, anyway, with grey, misty skies and a chill to the air. A real November day!

I sat with them until 12pm and then returned home where I suggested to Keith that we pop out to Smith's farm shop and buy a couple of things we needed for the evening meal. The weather tried to cheer up as we drove into Northampton, but the brief glimpse of sun didn't last. We had a quick look around the farm shop, noticing that they now have a cafe, so that's one to remember for the future! We bought some carrots, part-baked baguettes and some crackers to go with cheese for lunch, and made our way home. 

In the evening the three of us went to the pub as it was Ian's last day and the staff had thrown a surprise party for him. I had imagined people arriving in dribs and drabs throughout the evening, but when we arrived at 6pm the front lounge was packed out! There was no space at all, so we made our way through to the back part of the pub where it was quieter, and I suggested to Keith that Sophie and I return home and cook dinner. There were just too many people for my liking, and the risk of catching Covid was too high for me. I do wonder if there'll be an outbreak in a week's time?

We'd planned a dish tonight called Pan Haggerty, and it originates from the North-East of England. I cooked some streaky bacon until it was browned, then set it aside and fried some onions and carrots. We then layered potatoes, bacon, carrots and onions in a big casserole dish, poured over some chicken stock and popped it into the oven. 

We had just enough time to sip a glass of wine before going back and collecting Keith. Even the back room was now full and there was a speech in progress. I felt sad that I hadn't personally said goodbye to Ian but I'm sure we'll see him in the pub in the future and on the other side of the bar!

Back home the smells were delicious, but the meal wasn't ready until about 8pm. Sophie had prepared some vegetables and just before we were due to serve the meal I covered the top layer of potatoes with cheese and popped the dish under a hot grill. The meal was lovely and one we'll definitely have again.

It was fitting that we'd eaten a Hairy Bikers dish as we watched the last episode of their Northern Odyssey after dinner - this time they were visiting Si's stamping ground of Newcastle and it was a real treat to watch them cook some more delicious food!

The case of the lost red pepper...

My regular alarm clock, Sophie, had the audacity to be off work today, so I set our bedside clock to go off at 6.30am. However, I had failed to notice, when I set it, that the pm and am were mixed up, which meant that it didn't go off as planned!

Keith woke me at 7am and I groggily went into the shower, before deciding to text Sara and ask if I could use an hour's holiday and go in at 9am instead! Sophie laughed when I told her, and said that it was a good job I relied on her every morning to get up!

Going in at 8.30am was not pleasant as I was right in the middle of the school run, something I haven't done for about three years! Maybe 7.30am is a better time after all! Work was OK, and not as busy as I feared despite Kathy calling in sick after having her booster jab yesterday. Sara's daughter came in to help out and we had a very enlightening conversation about our new MD!

Sophie had texted me to say we needed a red pepper for the evening's meal but I told her we'd bought one yesterday. Apparently, Sophie and Keith turned the house upside down trying to find it, and Keith went to the local shops to get another but failed. I decided to go to the Co-op in Moulton but I couldn't even get parked in the car park, so I gave up and went home. We'd have to do without it!

Sophie had spent the morning at the gym but she'd managed to hoover the house and prepare tonight's meal, a Hairy Biker sausage pasta dish. The house was lovely, warm and cosy and we sat and watched Escape to the Chateau before preparing dinner.

Keith went upstairs to watch the football (we beat San Marino 10-0) while Sophie and I watched a film called Worth starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci. It was about a lawyer trying to get adequate compensation for the families of loved ones killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was very good indeed!

Frying tonight...

Keith and I had to go shopping this morning as Sophie went mad when I confessed to not getting the ingredients to make two sauces. They were going to accompany the Korean Fried Chicken for dinner this evening, and she couldn't believe that I had left them off the list! I didn't want to faff about with making the sauces, but Sophie said it wouldn't be the same without them, so off we went.

Never, ever will I go shopping again on a Sunday! Both Aldi and Tesco were packed, and such a difference to when we go on Thursday! We bought what we could in Aldi, and then popped next door to Tesco to buy rice wine vinegar, mirin, hot sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil.

Whilst in Tesco, Keith spotted a gift pack of four miniatures with tonic and, as I needed four more mini bottles to make up my boozy Advent calendar, I bought it! Now I'm complete and looking forward to the 1st December! I have a range of Gins and Vodkas to try, and I have Keith to thank for inspiring me with the idea last Christmas!

Back home we unpacked the shopping and Sophie made the sauces - a soy sauce and a sweet chilli one. I have to admit that they smelt delicious! She had already brined the chicken thighs, and I helped her make the vodka batter. It was great to get as much as we could done, as then we could relax a bit tonight. I made lunch of pan-fried leftover new potatoes, accompanied by bread and ham, and then we tackled some of Sophie's paperwork that she needed to look at. 

The afternoon was spent relaxing and I had a long hot bath, spending far too much time in there! When I eventually emerged it was 6.30pm so too late to play Scrabble and make dinner. We opened a bottle of French Chardonnay and I coated the chicken in flour followed by the batter. Sophie made Jasmine rice and we put some long stem broccoli, baby sweetcorn and asparagus in the oven to roast.

The fried chicken turned out to be delicious, and Keith was mightily impressed! We fried the thighs for about eight minutes and then again, at a higher temperature, for two minutes. They came out brown and crispy. Success! I do always worry about deep-frying, but I never take my eyes off the oil, and we never overfill the pan. Keith liked the batter so much he suggested using it for frying fish next time. Praise indeed!

Getting ready!

It was great to plan a lie-in this morning, but I was awake at 7.30am, which for me seems to be the perfect time to wake up! I was glad Sophie wasn't home as we had horses clip-clopping around the estate at 8am and I could hear them in the conservatory. They would definitely have woken Sophie up!

This morning Keith and I tackled the walls of Michael's old room, removing all of the stickers he'd put up and washing them down in readiness to paint them next week. Keith went around filling the holes in and I washed the windows. With all the stickers and memorabilia down, the room looked better already!

One of the pictures that used to be in the old study was left in the spare room, and I decided to re-paint the frame in silver. We took it apart and cleaned the glass of the tiny black flies that somehow manage to find their way in, and I painted the frame outside. I'd bought some metallic silver paint ages ago and it was perfect. When I've put on a couple of coats we'll reassemble it and it will look lovely in the spare room!

We also applied a thick goo to the sealant in the bathroom (and on Michael's window edges) which is supposed to remove mould. I tell you, there's no excitement like it!

Once that was done I hoovered all through and, just as I was finishing, Sophie called to say she was coming home earlier than expected. This meant we could play Scrabble and drink wine! Fabulous!

Keith and I drove down to the station, and our daughter emerged at about 5pm. Once home, she took out some leftovers from the Indian meal she and Zain had shared last night. They had ordered way too much, and the bill was an astonishing £180! As the leftovers had been hanging about all day, none of us fancied them and they wouldn't have gone with our dinner of beef stroganoff!

Sophie and I enjoyed a bottle of Alsace Pinot Gris this evening and I served them in Sophie's Alsace glasses. They're so pretty and seeing them took me straight back to when Keith and I went to Alsace before the children were born. Ah, happy memories!

Dinner tonight was delicious - Keith certainly excelled himself, and as the Pinot Gris was all gone, we opened a bottle of Portuguese red, which was lovely and fruity. We don't often drink wines from Portugal, but we'll definitely get this one again!

A wet end to the week!

The weather on the way to work this morning was abysmal - it was raining hard, and horribly dark at 7.30am. I hate the commute now!

I arrived at work and was the only one in the office until 9am when Kathy came in. Sophie was off to London today to see Zain but went to the gym first to do a class. I had warned her about the state of the roads, and the awful weather, but it did clear up by mid-morning.

Nicola was late in this morning, and Kathy and I were working well when our new Managing Director showed up. I had heard that he was going to be coming in every Friday and I wondered why... to listen to us on the phone to customers, as he's done before? The office was very quiet today and I'm sure he could hear every word we said so we both felt uncomfortable and like we were being monitored.

I was very glad to escape at 4pm and go home. Keith had taken Sophie to the station at lunchtime and my wonderful daughter had taken herself off to a Thai restaurant for lunch and a bar for cocktails while she waited for Zain to join her. Go girl!!

I missed my wine buddy this evening but I was glad she was having a great time in London. I took Keith to the pub and returned to catch up on some programmes I'd recorded and make dinner. After we'd eaten I shooed Keith upstairs to watch the football and Monty and I watched The Shipping News, a film I'd always wanted to see. It was OK and was jam-packed with stars, but I found it a bit plodding and dreary!

No jab!

Keith and I went shopping quite late this morning, after a sleepy start to the day. I wandered around the aisles for ages in Aldi, looking at the special offers and all the Christmas products. It was lovely to have time to look and not have to rush about!

We didn't get home until almost 1pm and after putting all the shopping away and having lunch, we drove over to Moulton Park to see if I could have my booster jab. The way I understood it was that we could go five months after having the second injection, but I was very much mistaken! We could book the jab after five months, so I was turned away by a very scary woman steward and told to go and book at home. I didn't want to argue with her!

Back home I booked the booster and will be going on the 1 December. I wanted to have the third jab before we went to Mallorca so I've got my wish! Once that was all sorted I put a colour on my hair as the roots were seriously grey, and lounged about while I waited for it to take. At least that's another job ticked off the list!

The blinds go up!

Julie came at 8am with her blind fitter (he's not blind, he just fits them) and dressed our two windows in the kitchen. They made a huge mess in the kitchen, as all the leaves blew in, but I loved what they did and the fabric couldn't have been a better choice!

I love looking at the fabric and noticing all the birds and flowers. I was very pleased, and they both did an excellent job. Keith looked grumpy all morning, though, and wasn't pleased that we couldn't pull the blind all the way down at the window over the kitchen sink, because of the tiles. I don't want it all the way down, though, as it would get dirty!

Once they'd gone we popped over to the Co-op in Brixworth and I bought my Mum flowers and a couple of sheets of wrapping paper as my stocks of gift bags had all gone (in the clearout of the kitchen!). The weather today has been dismal in the extreme, a real November damp and grey day, which sort of matched my mood this morning! When we got back we had a late breakfast and then I cleaned the kitchen and the downstairs rooms. The kitchen is now finished unless we decide to go ahead with the bench seat next year.

I took some photos and sent them to the Highfields Facebook page:

At 2pm I went to get my parents and was delighted to see my Dad emerge from the building using his zimmer frame. He set off at a great pace so that was a relief! When we got home I parked at the bottom of the drive and he was able to get into the house without any trouble at all. Now we're just keeping fingers crossed that this blasted virus doesn't spoil our Christmas!

We spent a very pleasant afternoon drinking tea and eating gooey chocolate cake and reminiscing about the past. I took them both back at 4pm and then returned to relax for a while before Sophie came home. We lit the candle in the kitchen and drew down the blinds and it was very cosy. 

There was some material left over and we realised that having the bench seat in the same fabric would have been too much. Sophie has her eye on some gorgeous fabric, but we'll have to save up!

Wacky Races!

The commute into work at 7.30am is definitely not pleasant! This morning I was stuck behind the most enormous tractor I'd ever seen. When I got to Walgrave he turned right, and I was tempted to go left and drive through Hannington, but he did seem to be driving quite fast as we entered the village, so I stayed behind him. I wish I hadn't! Another Audi driver behind me obviously thought I should overtake, and drove close to me and in the middle of the road, all the way to Holcot yet didn't have the bravado to overtake.

The tractor was so large (I could have stood up in its wheels) that oncoming vehicles had to keep right to the edge of the road, so if the Audi behind me expected me to risk my life to gain a few seconds on the commute, he was mistaken! There are also remnants of the trees that came down a few weeks ago on the verge, and the tractor was driving in the middle of the road to avoid them!

Once I'm off the country roads and onto the A43, it's like the Wacky Races, especially on the new stretch of dual carriageway. It definitely is dog-eat-dog, and I think back fondly to the days when I drove in at 9.30am and everything was a lot calmer!

Work was better today and not so busy as there were four of us manning the phones, and I managed to input the Christmas crash courses onto the system. It was great to look forward to two days off! Once I was home I called my Mum, as it was her birthday today, but she'd spent part of it at the dentist with my Dad! This time last year she was in isolation because of a positive Covid test, but I've arranged for them both to come to us tomorrow for tea and cake.

Keith went to watch Sileby play this evening, and Sophie and I enjoyed a garlicky chicken breast with crispy potatoes and vegetables. We had decided to watch The Holiday, always a favourite in our house, so we had an exceedingly pleasant evening!

So loud!

I'm really starting to loathe Monday mornings, but there's not a lot I can do about it... they arrive with amazing regularity!

Work was busy today and the noise got to me. One of my colleagues has a loud, strident voice, and at times I find it difficult to hear my own telephone conversation! One of my customers even commented on how loud she was, so that's not good if they can hear all that she's saying! It was lovely to escape at the end of my shift, and I tend to sit in the car for a few minutes relishing the peace and quiet before going home! Sometimes my ears are literally ringing!

Sophie had an appointment at the beauty salon at 6.30pm so I said I'd give her a lift in case there were no spaces. Luckily there were two left in the tiny car park, so I sat and read my Kindle while she was inside. It was very dark out there, but lovely and peaceful!

We sped home and managed to have a glass of wine while Keith put the finishing touches to his cassoulet. The smells in the house were divine and the meal was delicious! Definitely, one we'll do again!

I had high hopes for a new drama series on Netflix this evening called The Defeated, as it was set in post-war Berlin, but after about twenty minutes I gave up and read my Kindle instead!

Shopping hell...

My idea of hell is a busy crammed shopping centre, and today I had to endure just that! Dad wanted us to take my Mum out to get her some birthday gifts, and today was the day. I remember, in my youth, when all the shops were closed on a Sunday, and the roads were lovely and quiet. Now, Sunday is no different to Saturday, and I sometimes yearn for the old times when you were guaranteed a bit of peace and quiet!

We collected Mum at 11am and drove over to Rushden Lakes, which was already packed with cars and queues waiting to go in. We parked some way from M&S and the main shops because the car park was so full!

Neither Sophie nor I wanted a big lunch and we decided on M&S so Mum could enjoy a baked potato. There was a long queue in the cafe, and we must have waited about twenty minutes before we got to the counter. Sophie had taken Mum to sit down and the place certainly wasn't busy.

Sophie chose a small sandwich while I enjoyed a turkey and cranberry one. Mum ate about half of her baked potato so I was glad we hadn't gone for a big lunch in Bill's or Pizza Express! After we'd eaten we bought the birthday gifts - underwear, a new dressing gown and chocolates. Perfect!

From M&S we popped into Next and I bought Mum some perfume and jewellery from my Dad. She was getting tired now, and the jostling crowds were getting us all down! It was hot in the shops as well, and my heavy coat was making me perspire!

We left Mum sitting on a bench outside Next, and I wrapped her up in my coat to keep her warm while we fetched the car. Although it was sunny today, the wind was bitingly cold. We sped back to the car, collected Mum and returned her to the care home, getting caught in a traffic jam on the way at the new Chowns Mill roundabout, that held us up for almost half an hour.

We took the scenic route (another lovely sunset), and back at home, we relaxed with the Sunday papers. In M&S I'd bought a bottle of white wine, and some accompaniments - prawn toasts, spring rolls and other little prawny things, so we were looking forward to our meal.

Sophie and I sorted the dinner out by decanting the food into oven-proof bowls and heating it all up. There was still a lot of food and tonight's planned dinner - cassoulet - will do for tomorrow!

Lazy Saturday!

Today has been a very quiet day, and Sophie and I haven't moved from the house at all! I had a real craving for pancakes this morning so Keith made me a couple and they were delicious. Sophie and I even managed to watch Saturday Morning Kitchen, which was great!

It was bliss to mooch about the house and not feel we had to be anywhere. Just like a proper weekend should be! Sophie did a workout and we did do lots of laundry so it wasn't all lazy! In the afternoon I went out to the garage and hoovered up all the leaves that had blown in (we keep the door ajar at night in case the hedgehog goes in there), and I sorted out the recycling ready to take to Tesco next week. Our recycling programme is winding down now, and it will be easier for me to take the pet food pouches to the supermarket.

Keith went to see Sileby play, Sophie hoovered, and by 4pm the house was warm and cosy. I had a long soak in the bath and relaxed. What made today even better was that dinner was a Chinese takeaway, and it was being delivered! Pure decadence!

Keith returned home from the football looking cold, so it was definitely time to put the heating on, make a Vodka martini and play Scrabble. We had a bit of a bicker about the meal - I wanted to have the set menu for three for a change, as we always have the same old thing, and after a bit of debate, Keith and Sophie agreed with me. 

When the food arrived at 7.30pm there was loads of it, so we're going to have it again for dinner tomorrow! We are taking Mum to Rushden Lakes tomorrow and we'll pop into the food hall in M&S and buy some accompaniments to pad it out. There was no way we were going to waste it!

In stitches!

I was awake at about 5am this morning, so I felt a bit sleepy first thing! Work was stressful, to begin with, as I struggled with an excel spreadsheet for the box office returns, and then my phone wouldn't work. I learned that another member of staff had sat at my desk and had been fiddling with the headphone lead but Sheila managed to sort it out for me while I temporarily sat somewhere else. I'm so used to my own computer and phone now, it's hard to believe I used to sit at different desks when I first started there!

After the hiccups, we had a pleasant shift and Nicola came out to have a chat. We started talking about beds and sleeping with our partners and we were soon in stitches! I used to get annoyed when I first joined, and Nicola would laugh loudly, but we all turned into cackleheads this morning!

At 4pm I sped home and relaxed. Sophie took a different route home this evening, to avoid some roadworks, so arrived back a lot more quickly! I took Keith to the pub, and then we returned home to have a glass of wine (my November abstinence has gone by the wayside, but it was my first drink this week!) and watch The Wedding Planner starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Lopez. Both of us agreed it was very cheesy indeed!

Getting things done!

We had another lie-in this morning - what bliss! Keith went to do the weekly shop while Sophie and I started on some things that we needed to do. First up was a new bank account for her. The one she has is just a basic account that she's had ever since she did a weekend job, so she felt it was time to upgrade a bit! The bank I use is fantastic and very easy to use, so she has switched to mine, and this will happen later in the month.

She also paid off the rest of her car as the agreement is coming to an end in a couple of months. This pleased her enormously - how quickly the years have gone by since she bought her little Hyundai! She wants to get herself a credit card for emergencies, but we decided to wait until her new bank account was opened.

We couldn't check in for our flights to Palma until later in the afternoon, so we helped Keith put the shopping away, had a late breakfast and did some housework. Keith had painted Mike's small chest of drawers so we put that in the spare bedroom and took an old television down from the loft to go in there as well. Sophie can then watch Netflix in there when the room is all decorated and cosy!

After a lunch of cheese and biscuits, we all went to the tip in Brixworth to take the old quilt and the bedding we no longer wanted. I was accosted by one of the staff who asked me to fill out a survey. He was very jokey and a real character!

From Brixworth, we took some toiletries to my Mum in the care home and then went to Tesco at Kettering. Sophie took two watches to Timpson's to have a battery fitted and some links taken out. While that was being done we had a drink in Costa and a slice of cake. We are eating out a lot just lately!

Back home we were able to check in for our flights and start to fill in the Spanish Health form. We put our details in but we can't submit it until 2 days before we fly. We are getting there, and all we need to do now is arrange for our lateral flow tests, two days after we arrive back in the UK.

At 6pm Sophie and I went back over to the care home to watch a firework display in the grounds. There were more people there than I thought there'd be, and although the display was shorter than the one in the village, it was still lovely to see fireworks! We missed them last year!

We returned home to baked potatoes and chilli - perfect for a cold night like tonight!

Lovely bargains!

It was lovely to have a lie-in this morning, as Sophie has taken today and tomorrow off work. She went to the gym at about 9am to do a class, but it was so full she went and did a workout instead. 

We'd decided to go to Market Harborough so we left at midday with the intention of having a light lunch there. On the way, it rained and started to get windy again, with flying leaves everywhere, but in the town, it stopped thank goodness! I didn't fancy battling the rain and the wind again!

The lovely and cosy Polka Dot cafe is now well and truly closed, which is a huge shame as it was one of our favourite places to go. Instead, we went to Miller's cafe which is even cosier and just has four small tables inside. It's run by two young girls who are friendly and hospitable, and we ordered sandwiches - toasted chicken, mozzarella and pesto for Sophie, and tuna and sweetcorn for me - as well as hot drinks. After our sandwiches, we couldn't resist a small slice of cake!

Reluctantly venturing back outside, we noticed a new dress agency called Ginger Kate, which looked to be in direct competition with The Attic. We went inside but quickly realised that the prices were far higher than The Attic. Sophie didn't see any item of clothing for less than £50! There was no one in there at all, so we do wonder how long it will last. Everything was very artfully displayed and was described as "pre-loved" but it's no good if all the clothes are horrendously expensive!

We then had a good mooch in the charity shops and Sophie bought some gorgeous old glasses and a pair of black strappy shoes in the Age UK outlet. She was thrilled with the glasses as they will be used at Christmas for tiramisu.

Sophie went to The Attic while I stood outside and chatted to Nick, an ex-colleague of mine when I worked at Duncan's. We had a great chat, and I learnt that his wife was trying to break into writing novels for a living. Sophie emerged with two items of clothing - the prices in The Attic are much more reasonable... and the shop was packed!

We visited a couple more shops, then headed home as it was getting late. We took the scenic route and marvelled at the colours of the distant sunset:

Sophie was out this evening, dining at The Rose and Crown again in Yardley Hastings with Laura. Keith and I cooked gammon and homemade chips for dinner, and the food was lovely. After we'd eaten I swept and mopped the floor, and then settled down with my Kindle Fire to watch a film called Made In Italy starring Liam Neeson and his son, Micheal Richardson. The story dealt with the death of the mother, which I think made for uncomfortable viewing, seeing as Liam Neeson's wife and the mother of his son, Micheal, had died some years earlier...

Sophie arrived home at about 11pm, after getting caught in roadworks on her way home... You'd have thought that at that time she would have breezed through!

Job perks!

The weather today has been glorious, with plentiful sunshine and blue skies. It has been chillier, though, but I don't mind that! I had today off as I'd originally taken it to help Mum and Dad move to Avery Park, but that is now off. As I have a lot of holiday still to take, I kept it.

Keith and I went to Jones's first thing and bought a new quilt and cover for the spare bed, as well as lots of other things we needed. The Christmas decorations were out in full force, and I bought some more Peter Pauper cards that are truly beautiful. I'd already ordered some on Amazon so I definitely have enough now!

From there we drove to Brackmills to meet Sophie for lunch. Tonight we're all going to see No Time To Die so we wouldn't be able to eat this evening. It seemed a good idea to go out for lunch at the nearby Cafe 900, and we were joined by Luca, Sophie's work colleague. Keith ordered chicken wings with chips, I had a Scotch egg and Sophie had a jacket potato with cheese and beans. The food was OK, but not sure I'd order a hot Scotch egg again! 

At 1pm we returned home, I did a lateral flow test and picked Mum and Dad up at 2.30pm. We went to Nationwide in Moulton Park to again try and sort out their bank account. We were all heartily fed up and had agreed beforehand that if they didn't help we were going to start the process of closing the bank account and making a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.

Luckily, we spoke to a lovely woman and she told us that the bank account was now open again and she would order a card. I said that if we didn't have one within seven days we would make good on our threats! I think she understood!

Before taking Mum and Dad back we had a coffee in the Costa at Tesco Kettering and the woman serving was delighted to see my Dad again, She remembered him from before he broke his leg as he used to call in often for coffee and bacon rolls!

Driving back home at 5pm, the sunset was gorgeous, the sky a glorious mix of greys, peaches and pinks. There was a huge looming cloud over our house and I was surprised we didn't get any rain! 

We set off to see the film at 6.30pm and parked, with some difficulty, at my place of work. The car park was jammed as people arrived to see the film or use the gym. Before going into the cinema, I showed Keith where I worked!

We all enjoyed the film immensely, even though it was very long. The ending was a bit sad and we speculated as to who the next 007 will be! Driving home the temperature plummeted to 0c, the coldest we've known since last winter! Brrr!

Monday again!

Although it was horrible getting up this morning, at least I had three days off to look forward to. Sara at work gave me my remaining holiday hours on Friday, and I have another 26.5 to take before 2022! I might take a few Tuesdays to make a really short week!

Luckily, the trees that had fallen on mine and Sophie's route to work had been cleared away, so no problems on the commute this morning. Work was fine and after a mad rush of calls first thing, it quietened down. I was expecting far more people to have attended the cinema over the weekend as we were showing No Time To Die, but I was a little disappointed. However, the figures for October were slightly better than September, so that's some consolation!

At 4pm it was already starting to get dark and in the west, the sun was retiring for the day in a blaze of smoky clouds. Beautiful! At home,  I tidied up and hoovered before lighting the candles and making the house cosy.

Keith and I have decided to abstain from alcohol for November in readiness for Mallorca so tonight our tipples were sparkling water and elderflower tonic served with lemon and ice. Hmmm!