Ladies who lunch

Keith and I went to get my Dad's car from the garage today, as the paintwork had been repaired and it was ready to come home with us. We were impressed with the work, so we'll use this garage again! The scruffy huddle of mechanic repair shops and bodywork specialists is a hive of industry, down a very rutted and pot-holed track, but the standard of work is excellent. I sometimes wonder whether Rob, from the garage we used to use in Broughton, wonders where we are? All three of our cars now go to Glen in Moulton, and he does a wonderful job.

After getting back and having my second coffee, I pottered about and Sophie and I got ready to go to Olney in the afternoon. We had booked a table at Teapots for 1pm, and before we went to eat we had a look around the large charity shop on the main street. Sophie picked out some lovely tops and found four beautiful old glasses in the vintage shop next door. She was extremely pleased with her finds! It was a gorgeous day with sunshine and scudding clouds, and Olney was busy with shoppers.

I was glad I'd booked a table at Teapots; the little café was already busy with people eating and a couple behind us were indulging in an afternoon tea. We ordered a jacket potato with coronation chicken (me) and a club sandwich (Sophie). With a glass of raspberry lemonade, the food went down very well as we were hungry!

After the savoury came the sweet, and we had a pot of tea and a cake apiece - I chose the lemon and blackcurrant while Sophie opted for the rhubarb. The café became even busier as we sat there with two nearby tables reserved. I think people have cottoned on to Teapots being a wonderful place to come and have a bite to eat!

Before heading to Milton Keynes to take the recycling, we popped into Tesco to buy something to eat tonight. We had planned on having chicken and ham tangle pie but we both knew we wouldn't fancy eating it after our large lunch! Keith had asked us to get some cooked chicken he could heat up, and four bottles of beer. We hunted for the beer but couldn't find it, as he wanted bottles of Abbot, not his usual tipple, He's trying to wean himself off the high-strength beer as it's over 7%!

We dropped off the recycling and headed back along the M1 to Northampton. This was the first time I'd driven along this stretch after the change to make it a "smart" motorway and realised there was no hard shoulder at all, just safety lay-bys every mile or so. I am definitely not a fan.

Junction 15 had changed as well and was now a lot easier to navigate. Before, it was like a chicane which could be fun if was wet or icy! There is now a huge rail freight terminal at the junction and the works were still ongoing.

Something had happened further up the road and the traffic was at a standstill, so we diverted through Hunsbury and drove through town, stopping to look for the beer for Keith, and failing miserably! Back home Sophie tried on her "new" clothes and they all looked lovely. She had also had a delivery from ASOS and only one item looked good on her! How ironic is that!

After the impromptu fashion show, we relaxed and had a game of Scrabble with two very strong cocktails! Keith heated up his chicken while Sophie and I contented ourselves with a garlic flatbread and salad.

Our evening's viewing was a Netflix documentary about Waco which I remembered being on the news back in 1993. Very interesting!