Feeling warm!

Sophie worked from home today and sat in the conservatory in the morning while it was still relatively cool. Keith and I pruned the tops of one of the bushes so it looked much neater. The trees that Mike cut down last year have started to produce buds of leaves, so very soon they will be in full leaf and providing lovely shade. 

After gardening, Keith and I went through the finances for the holiday; I find it astonishing that it's May tomorrow! This year is flashing past!

Sophie stopped for lunch at 12pm, and we walked into the village. It was a glorious day and warmer than I had expected, which made me a little grumpy! We took a look at the community field that was bought by our Parish Charity committee, and saw the new trees which had been planted to create an orchard. We are very lucky to have this large field for our use! As we stood looking out over the field, we saw a man approaching with a dog who was making the most of the warm weather and was shirtless. Why do some men persist in doing this when they really don't have the body for it?! We said hello, and he echoed our own feelings at being so lucky to live where we do.

We carried on into the village and then turned around to walk back. Sophie made sandwiches for lunch, and it was lovely to sit in the garden to eat them. Mooney came out with us and started digging up the grass again. I hope it's not ants that are attracting him... we found an ant nest last year, which was horrible!

After lunch, I made a batch of banana muffins, and Sophie moved into the kitchen, where it was cooler. We did the dreaded shopping list and had a cup of tea and a muffin each before I went upstairs for a shower.

This evening, Sophie made the postponed chicken pasta dish, and it was delicious served with crusty garlic bread. I'm glad I went for an hour's walk today!

Warming up!

Our office was a hive of activity today, with some of the managers in, but the noise levels weren't too bad. I sat at Sheila's desk and started the moan report, so I was very pleased. I had to email the document to my old email address and work on it like that, but I was determined to get it out of the way this week!

Our MD came in briefly, and we had a chat about the soft play business, which was great. The fact that we sold our business to my (now) employer will always tie me to the company, and to see it go from strength to strength is a source of great pride for me.

By the end of my shift, the moan report was virtually finished. Yipeee! Now to make a start on next month's!

It was hot driving home, but at least I had dressed to suit the weather today! Keith and I sat in the garden and chatted and watched Mooney dig about in the grass for something! He was rolling about and trying to bite the greenery, but we had no idea what it was!

Mooney enjoying the sunshine!

I did some exercise again, and Sophie texted to say she was delayed at work. It was well past 6pm by the time she arrived home, and we sat at the island in the kitchen and had a good chat about our working days. As Sophie was late home, we had another simple dinner and then relaxed by watching a Channel 5 compilation of programmes from the 1970s. I remembered most of them!

Glorious Monday!

We awoke to another beautiful day, and I keep forgetting it's only April! I was busy at work today and managed to clear all the emails, so that should help tomorrow when I'm determined to tackle the moan report. I also carved out some time and put the May playscheme places onto the system, which were long overdue!

Keith collected me from work and we drove home to sit in the garden for half an hour. Mooney came out with us; he loves us sitting in the garden with him and playing with him using the "tickle stick." He is so much like Monty in that respect!

I did some time on the exercise bike while watching Pointless, and Sophie came home a little earlier, looking worn out by her team day at work. She was frazzled, bless her, so we had an easy supper tonight of cold meats and salad. This fine weather is expected to last all week, with Thursday being particularly warm. Time to get the tootsies out!

A messy job!

I had a fantastic night's sleep, whether it was because of the gardening or the relaxing music of Mancini and Baccarach, I don't know.

Yesterday, Keith set up my new exercise bike, and Sophie used it for an hour this morning while she watched the Marathon. I tackled the laundry and made a start on cleaning the oven. I had two things I needed to get done urgently this weekend: the back garden and the oven, and one had already been ticked off the list. I wish I could say that cleaning the oven was as enjoyable as tackling the garden, but it was a horrible, messy job, and I managed to get some of the corrosive cleaner on my arm, which burned.

I smeared the cleaner over the oven and used the large plastic bag to clean the grills. I left everything in the conservatory and went to get ready to accompany Sophie to M&S at Rushden Lakes, where she was going to buy breakfast items for a work meeting on Monday.

It was a glorious day with sunshine and a Florida sky. I had worn the wrong clothes and felt hot and uncomfortable in the car as we drove to the retail park. Luckily, M&S was cooler and we headed up to the café first for lunch. I ordered a jacket potato with beans and coleslaw while Sophie chose a breakfast bap with salmon and poached egg.

After we'd eaten, we headed down to the Foodhall and I totted everything up while Sophie chose fruit, yoghurts, juices, granola, biscuits and baked goods. She had £60 to spend for 40 people, and I think we did very well!

Driving back home was hot as Sophie's air conditioning didn't seem to be working. As temperatures are supposed to climb next week, it's something she will need to sort out so she doesn't bake!

Back at home, we sat in the garden with Mooney for a little while and had a drink. It was blissfully quiet! However, the thought of putting the oven back together drove me indoors, and an hour later, everything was back, even the door we'd taken apart to clean! I was so relieved, and the oven shone!

After a great game of Scrabble, Sophie made chicken parmo tonight for dinner, served with potato wedges and salad and the meal was delicious. Keith and I watched an episode of Beyond Paradise after we'd eaten and that rounded off our weekend nicely!

Garden exertions

Keith went to Tesco this morning, and Sophie went to the gym to try to get a space in a yoga class. I pottered about and did some housework. This included tidying our big cupboard in the kitchen, which houses all the stuff we don't know what to do with! Items get chucked in there until they fall out, usually landing in the cats' water bowl directly underneath! It felt great to tidy it up, but I fear it won't last long!

When Keith and Sophie returned, we had a delicious breakfast of bacon and boiled egg baps, with a side of hash browns, and watched Saturday Kitchen. Outside, it was glorious with blue skies and sunshine.

Because the weather was dry and sunny, I decided to cut the grass in the back garden. It was a job that was long overdue, and the grass was long, interspersed with dandelions and daisies. Keith drove to the surgery for his spring Covid jab, and when he came back, I had cut the grass and was pruning the bushes, which had run riot! The little robin came to see me, pecking away at the ground in the hunt for worms.

Inside, Sophie was busy making an asparagus and smoked ham flan from the Hairy Bikers' Dieters book. It smelled delicious and had filo pastry as a base.

Sophie and I sat in the garden with Moon Bums, and he loved being outside with us. It was a gorgeous day, not too warm, with a gentle breeze. Perfect! It was wonderful to listen to the different birdsong as well - I love to hear blackbirds - and we had cooing pigeons and squawky jackdaws. Our robin always sings in the tree opposite the house, which is lovely.

We had a lot of garden waste, so Sophie and I drove to the tip to get rid of it, alongside some other rubbish we had accumulated. Luckily, it wasn't too busy and we were soon driving out and heading to the garage at Kingsthorpe to buy an ice-cream to take home as a treat.

After my exertions in the garden, I had a soak in the bath before Sophie and I played a game of Scrabble. I managed to beat her (not by much!) for the first time in ages! Dinner was delicious and the flan was served with salad and new potatoes.

After dinner, we watched the Henry Mancini night at the Proms again, and indulged in a Vesper each! A lovely end to a lovely day!

Cheers!

Mesmerised!

My day didn't get off to a good start when I spotted "Peugeot Man" ahead of me in Walgrave. The driver is notoriously slow and is usually followed by a long line of cars, as overtaking along the stretch between the village and Holcot can be tricky. If I ever get directly behind him, I go via Hannington, but today there were at least six or seven cars following him, so I joined the queue.  I sometimes think that slow drivers are as dangerous as those who speed, and his snail-like pace causes frustration and risk-taking amongst those forced to follow him. In Holcot, we were held up in "cut-throat alley" by the bin men, so it was turning out to be a frustrating start to the last working day of the week!

At work, I concentrated on the flood of emails coming into the customer service inbox. It's like standing on the beach and trying to hold back the tide! I abandoned my plans to start the moan report as I was so busy, despite Kathy helping me out!

We received some news at work that unsettled me a little, so that added a worrying tone to the day. At least I had something to look forward to this evening, though! A trip to the National Space Centre in Leicester with Sophie to see "Mesmerica"!

Sophie had finished at 3pm today, and when I arrived home, we hastily ate a Tesco Finest meal before getting ready to drive to Leicester. It was a lovely evening, and we found the venue easily. Parking was free, and we were able to go into the Space Centre and have a drink before the doors opened at about 7pm.

Overhead were two spacecraft, one of them being a Soyuz vessel from the former USSR. I marvelled at it, as it looked ancient!

Sophie and I weren't really sure what to expect of Mesmerica, and we were quite excited! We filed into an auditorium and took our seats. Overhead was a dome, with psychedelic patterns, and music was playing, along with the faint voice of a man. Were we all going to be hypnotised?

Once everyone had settled into their seats (you could recline), the show started. We were instructed to relax, enjoy the sounds and sights, and not talk or use mobile phones. Anyone wanting to pop out to the loo wouldn't be allowed back in!

The composer of Mesmerica is James Hood, and we enjoyed a beautiful show featuring artwork and music. Sometimes, it felt like we were flying through forests, with birds singing in the background. It was a bit like peering through a giant kaleidoscope toy! It was relaxing and enjoyable!

The show lasted about forty minutes and we felt a bit disorientated when we stood up to leave! Outside, it was still light and we had a great journey home through the centre of Leicester, before taking the road to Market Harborough and home.

We managed to get both cats in when we arrived home, enjoyed a glass of wine and looked forward to the weekend!

Puppy tales!

Sophie worked from home today, so we enjoyed a coffee while watching most of Race Across The World, which started its new series last night. Because Sophie would be at home all day, I drove Olive to work, which was a treat! I do like driving her car, even though sometimes she's a bit bossy and tells me off if I don't drive in the centre of the lane!

My shift passed pleasantly, and Sue popped in mid-way through the morning with her gorgeous Labrador puppy, Willow. She was a bundle of fun and mischief and dragged things out of the bin to chew!

Sue and Willow

I dealt with as many emails as I could before leaving at 2pm, and going home to have a cup of tea with Keith and Sophie in the conservatory. It was warm in there, which made me sleepy, so I had to have a little nap... what a treat on a Thursday afternoon!

Sophie went out for dinner this evening with Laura to The Rose and Crown at Yardley Hastings. Keith and I had a simple dinner of sausage and mash and watched the last three episodes of Feud. It was a drama, but to me it had a hint of farce about it, and I'm just glad I didn't live on the street where it was set!

Sophie arrived home at about 10.30pm, so I was glad I'd had a little nap earlier in the day!

Tea and gossip!

I woke up at 6.30am this morning and realised that Sophie wasn't going to the gym. Her bedroom door was still closed, and when I knocked, she woke up with a gasp as her alarm had been turned off. And she would have gone to the gym, as well! She hastily went to shower while I made myself a coffee and eased into the day slowly! 

All plans to get out into the garden this morning were abandoned because of the wet weather. Keith and I popped to Brixworth to get a cake and a newspaper at the Co-Op, and then we returned home to do some housework and the normal Wednesday chores.

At 2pm, my friend and neighbour, Michelle, came over for a cup of tea and a slice of the Bakewell tart cake I'd bought. We sat in the kitchen and chatted for three hours while Keith watched the snooker in the living room. We would have sat in the conservatory if the sun had been shining, but the kitchen was warm and cosy. It was lovely to sit and have a good chat with Michelle, as I don't see her regularly because of our busy lives. Mooney came in for a cuddle and eyed up the treats Michelle had brought with her. We have two spoiled cats!

Back to normal!

Within a few minutes of being in the office this morning, I knew that Sheila was in a bad mood. I kept my head down and got on with my work! It's the best way! Sara is off this week, so maybe she's feeling the pressure!

Today has been pleasant, and because I'd caught up with lots of jobs over Easter, I was able to clear all the emails and catch up with my own inbox. I sped home at 4pm and kept thinking that today was Monday. I'm off tomorrow! I was hoping to get out into the back garden tomorrow, but looking at the weather forecast, it's due to rain.

Sophie cooked a delicious meal this evening - chicken in a red pepper sauce, which she had made herself yesterday. She served the chicken with rice, and it was gorgeous, with enough for lunches tomorrow.

Keith went upstairs to watch football while Sophie and I watched a riveting documentary called Con Mum. It was about a British chef who had reconnected with his birth mother after being apart for forty years, but she certainly wasn't the loving mother he was yearning for. It was very interesting!

A wet Bank Holiday

The glorious Easter weather ended today, and it was raining when Sophie took me to work at 8.30am. She carried on to the gym to take part in a yoga class while I started work. I was working with Jo today, and my shift was every bit as I expected - busy with calls about swimming, noisy, and nowhere near as enjoyable as Friday and Saturday. We took about 120 calls, so double that of the previous days I'd worked. It just shows what a difference the weather makes! 

Sophie picked me up at 2pm and we sloshed along the A43 to Kettering to collect my Mum and take her to Tesco. We had coffee first and chatted before going shopping and buying some items Mum needed. The rain hadn't stopped, and we got soaked running to the car! 

We dropped Mum off, had a chat with my Dad and headed home to relax. As Sophie had been off work today, she had completed all the tiresome chores for the working day tomorrow, so that was a bonus.

We enjoyed the tangle pie again for dinner, livened up with vegetables and roast potatoes and relaxed after dinner. It's back to normal tomorrow!

A  beautiful rainbow this evening:

A little tidying up

I had threatened to do nothing at all today, but I knew that was unlikely! After a decent lie-in, I made a banana baked porridge and we ate our breakfast watching yesterday's Saturday Kitchen. It was a great start to a relaxed day.

Sophie spent the morning preparing tonight's dinner of chicken and ham tangle pie, and I had a pampering session upstairs. We did loads of laundry, managing to get some of it outside to dry in the sunshine. I had thought we would get rain this Easter Sunday, but it's been beautiful all day.

As the weather was so lovely, I mowed the front verge and weeded the border before sweeping up a big boxful of dead leaves. I noticed, to my horror, that our BT manhole cover in the grass verge had moved, and the surrounding bricks and concrete had come away, leaving the installation underneath exposed. It was a tripping hazard, but it was also open to the elements. Lynn came past with Daphne dog, who accepted a lot of fuss and cuddles, and we had an enjoyable chat. I was so glad I'd tidied up the garden as it was looking a sorry mess!

Back inside, I contacted Openreach, and the woman I spoke to said an engineer would be out within four hours. We were all sceptical, but he arrived in three! I went out to speak to him, and he said he'd take photos, but that the actual repair would take a couple of weeks. We think it's down to vans driving over the manhole cover, and I wish I'd noticed it before. Our neighbour, who walks his dog regularly and passes by the manhole every day, could have said something as well!

Sophie and I played Scrabble before dinner, and it was a close game, with both of us neck and neck until the last few tiles were played, when she thrashed me! She then made dinner, and I cooked a tray of roast potatoes to accompany the delicious pie. It was a lovely meal with enough left over for tomorrow's dinner as well!

It's been a lovely day and very relaxed. But it's back to work tomorrow!

Sunny Saturday!

I was back at work at 9am and working with Nicola's daughter, Macy. Thankfully, the phones were quiet again, so I was able to get a lot of jobs done, including all the box office returns, and putting more films onto the system. Most of our calls were asking about swimming sessions and what time the centres were open over Easter. It was a very pleasant shift, and Macy was great to work with.

Sophie had dropped me off this morning to go to the gym, and she collected me at 2pm. It had started to rain, but by the time we reached Olney, it had stopped. We parked easily and walked to The Courtyard Brasserie for a late lunch. The sun had come out, and it was a beautiful afternoon.

We had a lovely lunch, and I chose a delicious warm chicken and orange salad, while Sophie had a BLT sandwich. We each had a glass of wine, and it was great to know that I wasn't back at work until 9am on Monday. Relaxation beckoned!

After eating, we mooched about the charity shops with lots of other people who were looking for a bargain. Charity shopping has definitely caught on now, and Sophie bought some beautiful clothes, including two lovely summer dresses, perfect for our holiday.

The shops a little farther up the street had closed at 4pm, so we walked back to the car and enjoyed an ice-cream sitting in the sun! Well, it was a Bank Holiday weekend!

We took a leisurely drive back home and relaxed for a couple of hours. Keith had gone to see Sileby play their last match of the season and came home to report that the game was a draw. I can't believe the season is over! Where have the months gone?

The evening was spent watching Newcastle lose against Aston Villa (Keith and Sophie were not happy) and doing very little. The salad I'd eaten at lunchtime had kept me going all day!

A Good Friday!

I was working today, but I didn't mind as it was a very short shift (9am until 2pm) and my companion was Sue, who is lovely. Sophie dropped me off and went to the gym, and work passed very quickly. Sue volunteered to answer nearly all the calls for me, so I could get on and catch up with lots of jobs, which was a huge bonus. I was very grateful. She also fed me Sushi and cheesy crackers! What more could I ask for!

We were lucky that the weather was fine and dry, otherwise it may have been a different matter! At 2pm, Sophie collected me and we headed home to relax before our evening out to see Jamali Maddix (known for Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Taskmaster) at Derngate in Northampton.

We had booked a table at Lola's (formerly John Franklin's) for 5.30pm and we arrived in plenty of time, parking easily in the car park next to the theatre. We perused the tapas menu, choosing Spanish tortilla, ham croquettes, Padron peppers, chicken strips, patatas bravas, and bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A bottle of the house red to accompany the food was a perfect choice.

Gradually, the bar filled up and we sat back, stuffed full of good food. It was a short walk around the corner back to the Derngate, and we learned that the show was to take place in the Royal Theatre. We had front row seats! I was not expecting that!

We sat down, and I said I was nervous as I didn't want to be picked on and dragged up onto the stage. The woman usher found this hilarious! While we were waiting for the show to start, awful rap music was played, which I found irritating. I hoped that we were going to enjoy the show...

Jamali Maddix announced a warm-up comedian first, and he was very funny. He came on wearing wrinkled, scruffy clothes, but he made us laugh out loud, and it was great to see him so close. Sitting in the front row made us obvious targets, but thankfully, he didn't pick us out, which was a relief!

After the warm-up comedian, there was a twenty-minute break before Jamali Maddix came on. The first thing I noticed was that he had lost weight, and this was the topic for the next half hour. I have to say that Sophie and I didn't laugh as much as we did for his warm-up man, but he was funny and it was great to see him close-up. He asked me if I watched Michael Barrymore on TikTok, but I hadn't a clue that he was on the app, so I said no, and thankfully, that was all! He had a lot of interaction with two couples in the front row, though, so I think we got off lightly!

The show ended at about 9.30pm, and he said he would be in the foyer for photographs, which I thought was a nice touch. We headed home and managed to get both cats in before bed. I had no idea what day it was, as it felt like a Saturday, but I'm back at work tomorrow!

Easter Eve!

To my delight, the customer service emails appeared on my computer today, so that was a huge help. I still had to sit at Sheila's desk to forward the old emails to our new address, but we are definitely making progress. Sheila was back today and had spent her weeks off going out for lunch and enjoying herself, so she looked very well!

I was busy for my shorter shift and escaped at 2pm to take Keith home. I then drove to Kettering, collected my Mum and drove back to Northampton for her nail appointment. It's been a gorgeous day today, with a "Florida" sky this afternoon - blue skies with big, fluffy white clouds!

On the way back to the care home, Mum had a small attack of the "maudlins" as I call it. I understand it's difficult for her, but she'd just had her nails done, her hair had been styled earlier in the day, and she'd been out with me... what more could she want?! Her care home is a palace compared to Val's residence, and the staff are wonderful. They even have baby chicks in reception at the moment!

I dropped her off, drove home and realised that Sophie isn't at work tomorrow, and I'm in from only 9am until 2pm, so no need for porridge! Yippeee! Small things!

Sophie and I treated this evening like Wine Night, so we sipped glasses of Austrian wine and watched the last episode of Tempting Fortunes before dinner. Keith had prepared a spicy curry, which was hot and delicious.

Although I'm working tomorrow, Saturday and Monday, I'm still looking forward to the Easter weekend. Bring it on!

Getting things done!

After a decent lie-in (and I didn't feel guilty!), I tackled my long list of chores. These included sorting out the financial assessments for my parents' contributions to their care home fees, making an appointment for a mammogram, and lots of other little things that needed doing, like checking my bank statement, answering emails and writing the shopping list. I've been so busy lately, I've been putting things like this off!

I was hoping to get out and cut the front verge of the garden today, but the wind has been really strong and there would have been no point in trying to sweep up leaves and grass cuttings. By lunchtime, I was pleased with my progress, but I'd been forced to email the council about the figures as I had no idea how they had calculated the contributions.

Taking a break, I enjoyed leftover chilli for lunch, and it was as delicious as last night! Keith had prepared the ingredients for a chicken and pasta soup earlier (we bickered about celery), and I made a start after I'd eaten. The basis of the soup consisted of celery, onions, carrots, garlic and chicken stock, and I let all the ingredients simmer away for the afternoon, filling the house with lovely aromas!

Sophie came home from work, and I blitzed the vegetables in the soup and added cooked, shredded chicken. With some pasta added, it was a delicious meal, and we served it with garlic flatbreads.

Sophie and Keith watched Newcastle play tonight, and they won 5-0 against Crystal Palace. They are doing so well at the moment!

A busy shift

I was flitting backwards and forwards between my desk and Sheila's today, dealing with emails, doing the box office returns, sorting out orders that should have been done last week, and finishing the moan report! Hooray! Now, March needs to be done before the end of this month!

It was good that I was going backwards and forwards all the time, as it meant I kept moving and wasn't sitting still for too long. Work wasn't bad today, although the phones were very busy first thing, but Jo was in a terrible mood and was constantly moaning. It didn't help that the weather today has been rainy for the first time in weeks, and people were calling about swimming and visits to our soft play centre. In the end, I think we were all fed up with her, as she was bringing down the mood in the office. I'm just glad Nicola wasn't in to hear her!

I sped home at 4pm and Keith and I watched Beyond Paradise, which was a bit naughty! I don't tend to watch television during the day, although we both enjoy Pointless when it's on - it's a shame they no longer invite an audience in to see the programme, but I have applied for tickets to see Would I Lie To You. Fingers crossed!

Keith made a delicious chilli con carne for dinner, and I was looking forward to the meal. I'm trying to lose some weight at the moment, so I had eaten very little during the day. Even though I was hungry, I resisted second helpings and went to sit in the living room. Thankfully, Sophie put a portion aside for my lunch tomorrow!

Road repairs

I was back at my desk at work today, while Sara sorted out the customer service emails. I did all the box office returns and then spent the rest of my shift working on the moan report. It was way overdue, but everyone understood why! I  had to use Sara's laptop to look at the February emails, so I was working on three screens!

Keith picked me up at 4pm and we trundled home, driving via Hannington as the road between Walgrave and Holcot was closed for "surface dressing." We were hoping that the multitude of potholes along this stretch would be fixed, as the road is appalling to drive on. Sophie was able to use the road on her way home as the workmen had all left for the day, and she said that some areas had been repaired.

Keith and I played cards this evening, and he beat me soundly. Every time I tried to get a good set of cards, he won a hand. Grrrr! We played two games before I cooked the dinner, putting the bubble and squeak into the oven to bake for a change. Again, it was a delicious dinner with enough chicken left over for sandwiches.

Our viewing entertainment tonight was Tempting Fortune again. We're well and truly hooked!

Celebrations!

After yesterday, we had some catching up to do this morning. Loads of laundry needed to be sorted, and preparations were made for a roast chicken lunch. It was all hands on deck, with Keith preparing the vegetables and Sophie vacuuming the house. 

I managed the laundry and cleaned the kitchen, managing to wash the light fittings over the island, which I've been meaning to do for ages. I then cooked lunch, which we enjoyed at 2pm. It felt almost like it was Christmas Day today, as we had pigs in blankets with the roast chicken, stuffing and roast potatoes. Sophie and I enjoyed a bottle of Austrian wine, and the meal was delicious! We benefit from not having a roast too often now! Keith had prepared enough vegetables (seven varieties) to have bubble and squeak tomorrow, so that will be an easy dinner!

By 3pm, the house was clean and tidy, the washing was drying, and the lunch was cleared away. Time to relax! Keith and Sophie wanted to watch Newcastle play Manchester United at 4pm, so we settled in the living room to watch the game. At 5pm, I had a bath, and when I went downstairs, I learned that Newcastle had won! It was the perfect excuse to open the bottle of Champagne we'd bought for Sophie's birthday and celebrate their win! It was gorgeous!

Sophie and I spent the rest of the evening watching Tempting Fortune, and very enjoyable it was, too!

Up North again!

By 7:15am this morning, we were up, showered and dressed and ready to hit the road. It was a gorgeous morning with no rain forecast today at all. 

We made good time and stopped at Woodall Services for a loo break, coffee and pains au chocolat. The roads seemed a bit busier today, probably because of the Easter Holidays now in full swing. We turned off the A1(M) at 10:15am, so it had taken us three hours to get here, including our breakfast stop, so we were delighted with the progress we'd made.

Yesterday, we telephoned a pub in Croxdale called The Daleside Arms to see if they were open today, as Keith wanted to have a drink there. They said they'd be open at 1pm, so we decided to have a coffee before seeing Val, and then we could leave a bit later and go to the pub afterwards.

Sophie directed me to a Starbucks on the edge of Bishop Auckland, which was on a large retail park. I found the road layout very confusing and I think I annoyed several drivers as I negotiated my way around! We had a drink and a snack, topped up the car with petrol, and then made our way to the care home to see Val. The gardens of the care home looked beautiful with an abundance of tulips and daffodils, but the inside was as depressing as ever.

Val beamed when we walked in, so that was lovely to see, and he really seems to appreciate our visits. He was angry with his son, Jeffery, as he hadn't been able to contact him on the phone and spent a good while grumbling about him! He was a bit hard of hearing, so he did a lot of talking, and I tried to contact Mike to have a FaceTime session with him, but he didn't answer. We had given Mike the chance to come up with us today, but he was doing overtime at work.

We stayed for over an hour chatting, with Keith finding out some information about his family that he didn't know before. That's the problem; once Val goes, a lot of valuable information will go with him. When Val's lunch arrived, we said our goodbyes and left, hoping that he'd be moved somewhere else a little more comfortable when we next see him. We drove the short distance to Croxdale, driving through the town of Spennymoor on the way. Sophie has a friend at the gym who was born in the town, so she wanted to see what it was like! 

At first sight, Sophie wasn't impressed with The Daleside Arms, and seemed reluctant to go in. However, inside was quirky, and it was obvious that it was a shrine to Newcastle United. As soon as we walked in, the landlord recognised Keith, which was great, especially as they hadn't seen each other for thirty years!

Sophie and I had half of Hobgoblin Stout each while Keith had a pint of Vaux's Samson. Keith stayed at the bar chatting to the landlord while Sophie and I sat and relaxed.

We passed a very pleasant hour at the pub, with Sophie and I sharing a second half pint of the Stout and Keith enjoying another pint. The pub was very old-fashioned but welcoming, with a couple of grizzled, grey-haired, tattooed men nursing pints of lager and watching the football showing on the television screen. There were pictures of Newcastle United everywhere - Sophie should have worn her shirt today!

The landlady came in with a bowl of roast potatoes for the regulars and was pleased to see Keith as well. He'd had a great time reminiscing with the landlord at the bar, and I think it did him good.

Although the plan had been to go to Durham today, Sophie asked if we could go back to Barnard Castle instead, meaning we'd take the M6 home. We drove past Raby Castle and stopped at The Wheatsheaf in Staindrop so we could use the loo! I had always loved this pretty village with its large central green and cottages, so I was more than happy to stop.

We walked into the bar and Keith ordered a pint and two halves of Guinness. We sat at the bar and Sophie really did not like this pub at all! The upholstery in the lounge had the aroma of a thousand bums ground into it, and it was old-fashioned and tatty. The people were friendly, though! When Keith and Sophie went to use the loos again, Keith pulled the handle of the door off... we made a rapid exit after that!

It didn't take us long to get to Barnard Castle, and we managed to find a space in a small car park off the high street. We wanted to have lunch here before the long drive home, but the first two pubs we looked in weren't great. We settled on The Three Horseshoes Hotel, which was busy with people sitting outside and enjoying the Spring sunshine.

They were serving Hobgoblin ale and Sophie was delighted to see a North-Eastern dish, Chicken Parmo, on the menu. Ever since I'd seen a man carrying a bag with fish and chips earlier in the day, I'd been craving the same meal, so that's what Keith and I chose. We also ordered potato skins and garlic bread to share as a starter (big mistake!).

It was evident that the pub was well-run and the staff friendly and efficient. Our starters were delicious but on the large side! Sophie thoroughly enjoyed her Chicken Parmo, but it defeated her, like mine and Keith's fish and chips. Keith was impressed with the crispy batter, something he rarely encounters in a pub fish dish. I think in the future, we will resist starters unless we're ravenously hungry!

Obviously, we had no room for puds, so we left to return to the car. Keith went back while Sophie and I had a look in a charity shop, run by a strange young woman. In fact, we were to encounter some quite weird people on the short walk back to the car... firstly, a man who had been standing behind me while I hovered in the doorway. When I realised it was a stranger and not my daughter, I apologised, but he completely blanked me and scuttled off. There was also a couple looking around, but they were weird as well! Brother and sister or married couple? It was hard to tell!

We saw them again in the small Morrisons when we popped in to get some provisions. I think I was in their way, but I was met with blankness when I apologised. I suggested to Sophie that we get out as soon as we could! It was like being on the set of A League of Gentlemen! The woman who served us at the checkout had the weather-beaten look of a farmer's wife, and this could have been a clue to the way the local people were, living on remote farms on the harsh fells and not coming into contact with a lot of others!

We made another hasty retreat and started on the long journey south, with Sophie sitting in the front with me while Keith dozed in the back. It had turned a little cloudy, and I could just imagine how inhospitable this part of the country can be, with remote farmhouses scattered over the fells.

The journey home was long and tiring, and I came across many, many cars sitting in the middle lane of the motorway when the first lane was empty, which was annoying. The gantries should flash a message up saying stay left unless overtaking, a simple rule that would make driving on the motorway a lot easier!

We arrived home, finally, at about 8:45pm and Sophie made me a drink, bless her. I definitely needed it!

A pleasant end to the working week!

Things were back to normal this morning, and Sophie went to the gym. I was facing a full day at work and hoped to get as much done as I could. Over a hundred emails were waiting for me. It felt a bit daunting, but Vicki helped again and I steadily worked through them until my shift ended.

It was a very pleasant day in the office, though, and there was a great atmosphere. I do enjoy my job, and with all the things we need to do at the moment, the time is flying by!

When Sophie arrived home this evening, we opened a bottle of Austrian wine - Unearthed Gemischter Satz from Aldi (£8.99). It was the same wine as one of the bottles we tried in the wine bar in Vienna and was delicious. We had a few nibbles with the wine and watched the first couple of episodes of Tempting Fortune that we'd recorded. I was amazed at the selfishness of one participant, but I did wonder whether she was told to do what she did by the production crew? 

Keith wasn't at the pub tonight, so he prepared our very simple supper of baked potatoes and salad. We are facing another long day tomorrow when we head up north to see Val. It will be an early morning again!

Another busy day!

Sophie didn't go to the gym this morning, because of a headache, so that was a worry. She looked a bit pale and said that she was going to cancel her evening out with Laura and postpone it until next week. We watched Grand Designs with a cup of coffee, so a lovely, relaxed start to the day.

Work was busy, as ever, and I tried to answer as many emails as I could. Sue and Vicki helped out with a lot of them, so that was a bonus. I had to change seats again, and I'll be glad when things return to normal!

At 2pm, Keith collected me and we drove to Tesco where I swapped my Mum's trousers for a smaller pair. I had lost the receipt, but with my Clubcard, they were able to find the item listed on my purchases, which was quite clever!

We drove to the care home and I sat with my parents for a while before returning home to do some housework. This week has sped past and I can't believe it's Friday again tomorrow!

What day is it?

Because we've been so busy at work, and Sara was swamped with tasks, I offered to do half a day today. I'd been awake in the night thinking about the cash ups, so I sorted them out first, taking lots of bits of paper and making them into an orderly pile in date order. However,  because things had changed, I couldn't access the spreadsheet I needed... one step forward, two steps back! 

This proved to be the case for today when I tried to print off the cinema returns. They refused to print even though I tried everything! It was so frustrating because I just wanted to get on and do as much as I could. In the end, I had to write everything down and transfer the figures onto the spreadsheet, to be printed at a later date. At least I was able to email the distributors and let them know the figures, which was a huge relief.

I stayed until 1pm and then drove home to have lunch and potter about, so it felt like a Thursday today! It's been yet another gorgeous day with blue skies and sunshine, but out of the warmth of the sun, it did feel a little chilly. Sophie wanted me to make Mulligatawny soup for dinner, so I did that, thanking Keith for preparing all the vegetables earlier in the day. It smelt delicious, simmering away on the hob. Mooney had been sitting on one of the barstools the whole time, so that was lovely! One of his favourite places is curled up in the kitchen on the barstool, and he pops his head up so we know he's there!

I have to confess to having a little nap once I'd prepared the soup. I haven't slept well for the last two nights, so a half-hour nap was most welcome and made me feel refreshed. By the time Sophie arrived home, I'd made the porridges, hoovered and tidied up.

All I had to do for dinner was cook a bag of rice and grill the naan breads, so we relaxed with a drink and Keith and I played cards. It was a more balanced match tonight! The soup was delicious and spicy, and the accompanying naan breads went perfectly with the dish. There was enough left over for lunch tomorrow, when I'm back at work again!

Back to work

I wasn't sure what to expect this morning when I went to work, but Sara had said it had been a tough few days coping with our new systems. She wanted me to concentrate on the customer service emails today, but I had to sit at Sheila's desk as that was the only way to access the inbox easily. 

We had a lot of people coming into the office today, and at times, it was noisy. It felt strange being at another desk, but I took my chair with me! Today was also the first day of the Easter holidays in Northamptonshire, so the phones were busy with people making enquiries. I'm just glad the weather was still beautiful. If it had been cold and rainy, we would have been swamped with calls about swimming!

It's a case of us helping each other at the moment with the new system until we get used to it. I'm sure that this will all be a distant memory one day! I sped home at 4pm and found Sophie already there as she'd been to see the Nurse Practitioner at the surgery who had prescribed antibiotics due to a chest infection. We might give flying a miss for a while!

It was great having Sophie home so early, and Keith and I played cards before dinner. I thrashed him, much to his annoyance!

The celebrations continue!

Keith went shopping this morning and I gave him strict orders not to lift anything heavy! Sophie made an appointment to see the doctor as her cough still bothers her, especially at night.

Once Keith had returned from shopping, I started making the Bolognese sauce for dinner this evening. I have found the best way is to cook the sauce slowly for hours until it thickens and becomes unctuous! The smells were certainly divine!

In the afternoon, I suggested we go and get the VW cleaned in Market Harborough, so we drove over in the beautiful sunshine and took it to the carwash just outside the town. They did a fabulous job for £11. Sophie was amused by the carwash as I had to place the driver's side wheels onto a conveyor belt, and it moved along by itself! At the end, long furry cloths move over the car to dry it. It was a bit spooky, like long spider legs!

Sophie wanted a tub of Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dessert tonight, and I drove to the small Tesco Express where we bought something for a quick lunch as well. Back home, we relaxed and decided to eat early as both Sophie and Keith wanted to watch the Newcastle v Leicester game at 8pm.

Sophie opened a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape... the celebrations were definitely still carrying on! The meal was delicious and had benefited from the long, slow cooking all afternoon. There was enough left for lunch tomorrow as we're back at work!

A little mooch

Thankfully, Sophie felt better today, although she still had a cough. Our plan today was to go on a mooch to three pubs in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, recommended by my work colleague, Sheila. They are all CAMRA pubs, so I hoped the beer would be good for Keith.

We had a lazyish morning and set out at 11:30am, calling to see Mum and Dad first to take some foot cream she needed. I found her trying on the outfit I bought her for Mother's Day, but the trousers were too large, so I'll have to return them and buy a smaller pair. We stayed for a little while and then joined Keith, who had been waiting in the car for us.

We set out for Stamford, which wasn't far from our first pub in Market Deeping. The journey was going well until we reached the outskirts of Stamford, where the traffic ground to a halt. We crawled slowly into the town, but there was no reason for the hold-up at all! We continued to crawl through the town, but once through, we changed the order we were going to visit the pubs and went to The Five Horseshoes in Barholm, Lincolnshire first.

We were lucky it was a gorgeous day again with clear blue skies and sunshine. In the sun it felt warm! We parked behind the pub and went inside to order our drinks. Sophie and I had a half pint of Coffin Stout, while I ordered a pint of Excelsius for Keith, who had popped to the loo. The beer was 5.2%, so perfect for him as he loves a stronger beer.

With a couple of bags of Frazzles, we sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed our drinks. Keith loved his beer, so that was a relief. We have been so disappointed in the past with pubs, it was lovely to find a good one for a change! There was a lovely atmosphere in the pub, which seemed to be frequented by locals.

We stayed just for one drink, and then headed to the village of Maxey in Cambridgeshire to visit The Blue Bell. Again, this looked like a hangout for the local villagers, and there was another good atmosphere in the pub, with a friendly landlady. Keith was delighted to see Fullers ESB behind the bar, Sophie had a half pint of Neck Oil, and I settled for half of Guinness. We sat outside in the sunshine and it was very warm!

Our third pub was in the large village of Market Deeping, again in Cambridgeshire, and called The Vine. Inside, people were chatting animatedly, and Sophie was asked for ID... she was 29 yesterday! She was delighted!

Keith chose a pint of Exmoor Beast, while Sophie and I enjoyed a half-pint of a Cappuccino Stout, which was delicious. We sat outside in the pleasant garden and soaked up some more sunshine. For me, it felt like an Easter weekend!

Keith wasn't keen on returning home via Stamford, so he directed me to Peterborough and then along the A605 until we reached the A14. Back home, Sophie and I sat in the garden with a sandwich and a glass of Leffe (the bottle we'd bought last year in Vaison-la-Romaine!) and Mooney emerged from the bushes to come and see us. It was bliss!

We had a lazy evening and the leftover Chinese for dinner. We sat and watched the BBC2 music programmes after we'd eaten. A lovely end to a great day!

A little fragile...

Sophie's actual birthday dawned, and she was thrilled with her card from us. I popped some pastries in the oven and we sat in the kitchen to eat them with a coffee. The plan for today was to go with Keith to see Sileby play this afternoon, but mid-way through the morning, Sophie said she didn't feel too good and would rather stay at home. She developed a cold on Thursday night, and it was so lucky she was able to taste and smell yesterday!

I made her a concoction with grated ginger, soda water, lemon juice and whisky, and she sipped that before eating some toast. I think she was a little hungover from yesterday, and I suggested a long bath to clear her sinuses and a nap.

Keith went to see the football match and I dealt with loads of laundry, managing to get it all dry on the line. It's been another glorious day, but the wind is still about, perfect for drying our washing in the sunshine.

While Sophie was in the bath, I read my latest book and the house was blissfully quiet. After her bath and a nap, Sophie said she felt a lot better and more than able to indulge in a Chinese takeaway tonight. I thought Keith and I would be eating beans on toast instead!

We sat at the kitchen island and chatted. Sophie and I have changed our minds about going to Oslo in March 2026, as we did a little research and discovered that it's not cheap to eat and drink in the restaurants. We looked at a menu and saw that normal pasta dishes were about £30 and bottles of wine about £40-£50! No thanks! Instead, we might plan a holiday in May 2026 to celebrate two big birthdays next year, and visit Belgium, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein (where I've always wanted to go) and Austria again. Sophie had noticed that of the five times she's flown over the last two years, she has been ill after four flights... driving is definitely the way to go!

Our meal arrived at about 7:30pm and we ordered enough to have leftovers tomorrow night. Once we'd eaten and cleared away, Keith and I watched the last episode of Death in Paradise and then turned over to watch BBC2 and some great music to take us up to bedtime!

Champagne and oysters!

After an argument with an idiotic driver in Cut Throat Alley in Holcot, and then thinking I'd left my phone at home, Sophie and I caught the 9:30am train from Wellingborough this morning for our birthday trip to London. We had toyed with the idea of booking a chauffeur-driven car back from St Pancras, but it was proving to be ridiculously expensive! Instead, we paid a few pounds more and went from Wellingborough rather than Northampton, meaning we only had a short walk from The Booking Office to the platform.

We were half an hour early for the train, so we had a coffee and a sausage bap in the lovely waiting room at Wellingborough. Our train was quiet and we had a choice of seats... what a difference to the crowded trains from Northampton!

We arrived at St Pancras and walked outside to hail a black cab to take us to Marylebone High Street. It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Later in the day, the temperatures were set to rise to about 20 °C!

Our first stop was Daunts Books, where we had a good browse. I bought three books for Sophie as a birthday present, and I looked at a travel book about Oslo, where we're thinking of going next year. From Daunts, we popped into an Oxfam charity shop and Sophie bought a load of tie-dye T-shirts, a pretty blouse and a pair of trousers for £40! I bought three books for £11!

We then bagged a seat near the window in 31 Below and enjoyed a glass of Prosecco each and a plate of padron peppers. They were hot and delicious! It was bliss sitting and chatting and watching people walk by. 

We think there may have been a celebrity sitting at a table at the front of the café as a woman stopped and asked for a selfie. However, we had no clue as to who it was!

31 Below

Spring has sprung!

Easter is on its way!

Our happy place!

After we'd finished our drinks, we popped into Bayley and Sage and Sophie bought a couple of cheeses and a jar of mayonnaise. No sausage this time! We had one last stop in an upmarket charity shop before heading the short distance to Le Relais de Venise: L'Entrecote.

As it was just after 12pm, we expected a queue of people waiting to go in, but there wasn't one, and there were plenty of tables free. A waitress asked if we'd been before - definitely, yes! - and we were asked how we wanted our steaks cooked. Sophie asked for rare while I chose medium. 

We were both surprised at how quiet the restaurant was, but maybe people take a half-day on a Friday, so there weren't so many workers about? Or perhaps all the city-types who work at the Stock Exchange were in mourning over Trump's tariffs?! Who knows?

We enjoyed our walnut salad with crusty bread and ordered a bottle of the house red, a Bordeaux wine made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Next up was the steak, accompanied by a mound of crispy French Fries in a delicious sauce. Yum!

Empty tables for a change - notice it's mostly men!

The meal was delicious and the steak as tender as butter. We cleaned our plates and had a little rest before we ordered dessert! I opted for creme brulée while Sophie chose profiteroles. We polished off the wine and sat back, replete! No dinner for us tonight!

Although some more diners did appear, the restaurant was much quieter than we were used to. We had no close neighbours today! Sophie paid the bill (she insisted it was her treat) and we ambled slowly to Inn 1888 for another glass of wine and a natter.

London mews and gorgeous April sky

As we strolled back to Inn 1888, Marylebone High Street had come alive with people sitting outside cafés, pubs and restaurants, enjoying the warm sunshine. There was a real air of festivity and a great atmosphere. We couldn't sit outside the pub, so we sat inside next to an open door. We ordered a glass of red wine each and chatted for an hour, doing some people-watching at the same time!

At about 3pm, we went outside and managed to get a black cab back to St Pancras. He dropped us outside the entrance to the station, and Sophie made straight for the Mac store. Queues of people were lining up for the Eurostar, and everywhere we could see passengers dragging suitcases behind them, bound, no doubt, for Paris or Brussels.

I sat outside while Sophie bought herself make-up as a birthday treat. We then made our way to The Booking Office, where we had a reservation at 4pm for drinks and nibbles. The woman who greeted us was lovely and asked whose birthday it was! She made a fuss of Sophie and showed us to a table next to the long wooden central bar. We were delighted to see Rosario was on duty, and he came over and said he would be our waiter. 

Sophie ordered a Negroni Sbagliato - Campari, sweet Vermouth and Prosecco. I was feeling a little tipsy, so I ordered a mocktail called a Berry Garden, which was Seedlip Garden, strawberries and Fevertree Mediterranean tonic. It was delicious!

We sat back and enjoyed the beautiful ambiance of the surroundings. The only fly in the ointment was the two men sitting at the bar near us who sounded like complete prats... oh well!

Sophie was presented with a plate with "Happy Birthday" written on it in chocolate and three gorgeous macarons! What a lovely touch! 

The bar manager (we think that's who he was, he looked very important) came over and chatted to us, and was lovely. He was from Albania and asked Sophie whether it was traditional to treat friends and family on your birthday, as she'd told him this treat was on her. We had a long conversation and he was great! 

At 5:05pm, the story began of the hotel, the bar and the cocktail. The men next to us gathered around the waiter who was telling the story, but at the end, the manager brought us a cocktail over, which was lovely. Sophie felt so spoilt!

We ordered another round of drinks, this time I had the Negroni Sbagliato while Sophie treated herself to a glass of Champagne. Our train wasn't leaving until about 6:20pm, so we had plenty of time to sit and chat and people-watch. For our final treat of the day, Sophie ordered a French Martini, I had another Negroni, and my daughter ordered two oysters for herself! She had never eaten them before and was keen to try them! We also ordered a little bowl of peppery cashew nuts.

I took a video of her eating the oysters, which was hilarious, but she loved them! She has expensive taste! They were served with a delicious sauce, and a waiter brought over a small bottle of Tabasco sauce as well.

The last final birthday flourish was a card from the staff wishing Sophie a happy birthday! She paid the bill, again insisting it was her treat, and we waddled off to Platform 1 where our train was waiting. We found seats easily and the journey back to Wellingborough passed quickly. Keith was waiting for us in the small pick-up area of the car park, and he drove us home with a gorgeous sunset keeping us company. The sun was like a huge orange orb in the sky. It was lovely to get home in the daylight!

I'm afraid neither of us was much good for anything in the evening! It was a case of collapsing on the sofa and chilling out!

Confusion reigns!

Sara texted me before I left this morning to warn me that things had changed at work and I might not be able to access our files and folders. She told me not to worry about the moan report, but to concentrate on the customer service emails instead. 

Our new IT man came in at 9am to help us access everything we needed on the computer, but I had to go incognito when I accessed our emails. It was all a bit confusing, and it will be like this for the next few days until things are sorted out. We also had some of our senior management team in to get them sorted, so the office was a bit lively! Shirley kept asking me questions, which I patiently tried to deal with, but I felt, when I left, I had hardly done anything. What makes it worse is that I'm off tomorrow and Monday!

I left at 2pm and headed home briefly, before going to see my parents. My Mum was very confused when I said it was Sophie's birthday on Saturday and asked her to sign a card. She thought, for some reason, it was November! With the sun shining outside and warm temperatures today, I didn't think so!

I stayed and chatted for an hour before returning home. It was a lovely thought that tomorrow both Sophie and I are off, so no porridges or lunches had to be sorted out! And we'd been shopping as well! Yeeha!

We started the birthday celebrations this evening with Prosecco and nibbles, and then a buffet-style meal. We treated this evening like Friday wine night and watched another episode of Grand Designs, this time with the project a floating boat!

Our buffet supper

A charitable donation

After a mini lie-in, I enjoyed a coffee and sorted out the charity shop donations for my appointment at the Cynthia Spencer shop on Moulton Park. It was another gorgeous, but breezy day, with plenty of lovely sunshine. 

While Keith and I were sorting out the pictures in the garage, Lynn came past bearing information from the Parish Council, and we chatted about the cats. They stray into her garden and tease her own moggy, Cora! Lynn was OK about it, though, but as cat owners, there's not much we can do to stop them from going wherever they want!

We dropped the box of ornaments and pictures off at the charity shop, wheeling it all in with a trolley, which was very helpful. I just hope they make lots of money for the charity. From there, we drove to Tesco and did the shopping for the rest of the week. At least it means we don't have to compile the list tonight!

It was then home for lunch and an afternoon spent pootling about. Sophie was late home again, many due to major roadworks taking place on a busy roundabout near where she works. This is going to be happening for the next nine months! I just hope her journey every night won't be affected!

Keith and I played cards before dinner, and after we'd eaten, Sophie and I watched the new series of Grand Designs. A couple had bought a decrepit barn for £400,000 and were spending another £500,000 making it into their home. As with so many of these projects, we thought they were mad! 

A better day!

Sophie went to the gym this morning, so normal service was resumed. I was hoping for a better day at work, and it was! I was still hectically busy, though, and I dealt with as many emails as I could as well as doing my monthly reports. 

Outside, the weather was gorgeous again, and it's set to stay like this for the next few days. I hope it will last until Friday when Sophie and I are in London to celebrate her birthday.

Before dinner this evening, Keith and I played cards while Sophie prepared a chicken pasta bake that was delicious. After we'd eaten, Keith watched football and Sophie and I headed upstairs with Mooney to watch the penultimate episode of The White Lotus. This has been hugely enjoyable and we can't decide what will happen in the last episode next week!