Shock news...

Keith hadn't slept again last night, so Sophie worked from home. He had another nurse appointment at 11:45 am, and we didn't think it was a good idea for him to drive.

I had a busy day at work, with a steady stream of people popping into the office to chat and use the printer. Just before I left, I opened an email from the woman who is covering Dan while he's off sick. She said the new downstairs office was almost ready and that she'd planned on me moving there, with another couple of staff, and there'd also be a desk available for anyone to use who needed a quiet space. I went down to the Duty Manager's office and asked one of the girls to show me. I had no idea where it was, and hadn't even been shown the office!

Gabi took me right past my old office, through two sets of doors, down two flights of metal steps and into a gloomy corridor. The office was just before the new gym changing rooms. When we walked in, I was horrified! It was dark and gloomy, with just two narrow slits for windows, which were still boarded up. Now I knew why it had been given its nickname of "The Dungeon"! The thought of being down here, so far from everyone else, and at times completely alone, made me shudder. I couldn't quite believe this was happening to me! I had come to work for Dan, who was now off work sick, and in a lovely, airy office close to reception, which was now going to be taken away from me!

"The Dungeon"

I left work, popped to Aldi to buy meals for tonight and tomorrow, and went home to tell Sophie what had happened. She was horrified as well, and said that I might have a case about the lack of natural light and ventilation. The office would be fine to use on a temporary basis, but not for eight-hour stretches! I felt thoroughly depressed, to be honest, just when I was starting to get to know the job and the different processes.

It made for a gloomy Monday evening (again). The nurse hadn't given Keith anything for his terrible cough, just told him he had to "ride it out, and it could last for six weeks!" Nooooooooo! Sophie made us dinner of chicken burgers with roasted vegetables, and I had a G&T. I felt so miserable because I couldn't bear to have to find another job and start all over again, this time with people who were strangers. 

We sat after dinner and did a Tarot reading, and mine was quite interesting!

Thwarted plans...

Sophie and I were up early again and ready to go to Kettering station by 8:15am. Keith dropped us off, and when we walked into the station, we heard a woman saying that our 8:53 train was delayed by at least 50 minutes. That did not bode well for our day in London!

We bought coffees and almond pastries and walked over to platform 3, where we kept a close eye on the information board. The following train, the 9:17, was also delayed, due to engineering works going over schedule.

We sat and sipped our coffees and tried to avoid eye contact with a man who was wandering about, wearing a mask and mumbling to himself. It was a gloomy, misty day, perfect for wandering around Highgate Cemetery!

As we waited, we learnt that our train had been cancelled, and the 9:17 was delayed and not expected to get to Kettering until about 10:10am. It meant we had to try to put back our lunch booking at 2:00pm and also meant we wouldn't have as much time as we thought to travel to the cemetery by bus, have a good walk around and get to Ognisko. They didn't have another table until 5:30pm, which was a dinner booking, not lunch! We didn't want to get home too late tonight!

By this time, we noticed that two transport police had arrived and were chatting to the station announcer. We went back over to the main building and asked if there was any more information, but nobody could give us a definite time. Sophie was worried as to why the police were at the station, and when we went back to the platform, they came over as well. The platform was gradually filling up with people who had been planning to take the two trains, and I said that if it was full, we should go home as I wasn't prepared to stand all the way to St Pancras after our 90-minute wait! No way!

Sophie was looking more and more anxious and kept glancing at the two policemen. Were they there to intercept somebody from a train? The arrival time kept changing, and we learnt our train was en route but still a long way off. We suddenly decided to abandon the day, even though I had suggested going to the Serpentine Gallery instead of Highgate and still having lunch at Ognisko. We called Keith, and he came over to collect us. We were both bitterly disappointed, but worried about the trains home this evening and whether they'd be delayed too.

Back home, we quickly freshened up and drove to Woburn to have a drink and then lunch at the Thai restaurant we'd enjoyed after the day at Bletchley. The car park was crammed with cars, but luckily we were offered a space by a couple who were returning to their vehicle. As they were pulling off their walking boots, another car left, so we were able to park at last!

We walked to The Nook to find it closed, but as we went to walk away, the owner opened up, saying they'd had a late Halloween party the night before and he was a bit fragile! He poured us two drinks, and we sat and chatted about the events of the morning, saying we'd made the right decision to abandon the day, even though it was disappointing.

When we finished our drinks, we walked the short distance to the Thai restaurant and took our seats at the back of the seating area. It was still chilly and gloomy outside, and I wished they'd had the heating on, as I was freezing! We ordered a set menu of mixed starters and main courses served with rice, and also ordered crispy duck as a second course and a bowl of prawn crackers. We were very hungry! We also treated ourselves to a bottle of Thai wine, which was utterly delicious!

The food was fabulous, and the service was wonderful and friendly. We both said we felt a little strange as we'd supposed to have been in London today, not Woburn! We said we felt like ghosts! We had no room for dessert and waddled back to the car after an enlightening chat about wine and where it was traditionally made in the world! I think that years ago, Thai wine was unheard of!

We took a winding country route home, avoiding the M1, and drove through Olney again. The fields, hedges and trees were various shades of brown and orange, and we couldn't wait to get home, see the cats (hopefully) and relax!

Keith had kindly made my porridge for me, and a sandwich for my lunch so we could sit and unwind. We watched Saturday Morning Kitchen with a glass of Alsace Pinot Noir, both of us wishing it was a perpetual Saturday morning. How wonderful would that be! We also watched an episode of War, and we are definitely becoming hooked!

Spooky happenings!

Sophie and I were up early for a Park Run in Towcester this morning; my daughter to take part, while I spectated! We left the house just after 8:00am and had a good run to Towcester, leaving Celine in a small car park opposite where the run was to take place.

It was very misty this morning and perfect for Halloween! The run started at 9:00am and before we went into the park, we treated ourselves to a coffee from a van opposite. My flat white was very good indeed! Lots of people arrived and some were dressed up for the occasion in witches hat or spooky outfits.

Before the run started, the man in charge said a few important things about safety, and then everyone was off, for four laps of the parkland. I stood under a huge Oak tree and was amazed to see the first of the runners emerge from the mist about four minutes after they started!

The front runners literally tore around the course and were finished by about 9:15am, some of them sprinting hard as they made their way to the finish. There was a lovely atmosphere, and it was great to envisage this happening all over the UK, and Europe and the US as well!

"Come on, Sophie!"

Sophie thought she had done the course faster than any other time, and this was confirmed later in the day! Well done! It was a great experience, and I will look forward to accompanying her again!

After the run, we walked into Towcester and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Ten Hands café. Sophie had originally booked a table for three of us, but we felt it was best for Keith to stay at home in the warm. He would have been frozen standing around in the cold!

Sophie enjoyed Eggs Royale, while I went for the full English, which defeated me. I had to give a sausage away to Sophie! We enjoyed a flat white and a matcha before heading back to the car and driving home.

When we pulled onto the drive, Sophie noticed that someone had scratched the front of Celine, which was very upsetting. I've only had the car four weeks! There were scratches on the front bumper so I'll have to get them sorted, which was huge annoyance. This put me in a foul mood, made worse by the discovery in the conservatory, of a half-eaten bird and a dead shrew. There was blood and feathers everywhere! Mooney was the culprit!

Sophie and I went over to Olney once she had showered and changed and we had difficulty parking at the rugby club as there was a match taking place. We didn't even try with the car park in the centre of the town and luckily found a slot on the main road, quite a way from the shops. 

We walked down to the shops, had a look in a couple, and then had a pot of tea and cake in the Courtyard Brasserie. It was quiet as the lunchtime rush was over and we sat and relaxed with a scrumptious scone and Victoria sponge cake.

We ambled slowly back to the car, stopping briefly in The Nest where there was a scrum of people, and drove home through the Autumnal countryside. On the way we spotted the sun lying low in the sky, and through the mist it was a giant orange orb! We didn't know whether it was the moon or the sun at first!

At home, I rushed around putting up the Halloween decorations (I found our cackling witch!) and making the front of the house suitable scary! We had quite a few trick or treaters, and they arrived steadily between 5:30pm and 7:00pm. Our bowl of sweets was almost gone by the time they stopped coming! Sophie scared the living daylights out of one little boy when she opened the door and went "Arrggghhh!" It was very funny!

We watched the 1973 film, Don't Look Now, written by Daphne du Maurier as a short story. It was great, as ever, and scary at the end! It was another early night for us as we are going to London tomorrow, to visit Highgate and have lunch at Ognisko!

Health worries

When Sophie went downstairs this morning, she found Keith up already, and he said he hadn't slept at all. She texted me when she left, and I said there was no way I would allow him to drive me to work and then go to the doctor's for his morning appointment. I said I would work until 10:30am, go home, take him to the surgery and then go back to work, but my lovely daughter volunteered to work from home and take him instead. She briefly went to the gym, drove to her office to pick up her laptop, and was home before I left for work at 7:30am.

Sheila was in with me today, and she helped enormously with the complicated bookings that needed to be changed because of the refurbishments taking place. By the end of the day, I was mightily glad she was in to help!

I went home to find Sophie looking a little fed up, but I had been so relieved she'd been with Keith all day. She'd bought him a bottle of Covonia Night Time in the pharmacy to help with his sleeping, as he badly needed a good night's slumber. He had seen a nurse today, and she'd said his chest was clear, but she made him another appointment for Monday to see how he was then. This infection is dragging on and on and getting all of us down, but especially Keith, who is suffering the most.

We had a simple supper of Tesco curries for dinner, and before and after eating, Sophie and I watched The Company of Wolves, a horror film based on the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. I had seen it in the 80s and thought it was great, but films have become a lot more sophisticated since then, and tonight it seemed a bit amateur!

The prices!

I had a most enjoyable day at work, and was alone in the office for my whole shift. It was bliss! My lovely day started with a Greggs sausage bap, and I had the occasional visitor come in to chat, but I got a lot done and felt so much better about my job at the end of the day.

Keith picked me up at 4:00pm and warned me that he had been coughing a lot. On the way home, he coughed nonstop, without even a brief pause between bouts, so I said we'd go to Mawsley and buy some honey to help soothe his throat. I had never known him to be as bad as this, and at one point I was frightened by how intense his coughing was. 

As soon as we got home, I made him take some cough syrup and then made him a hot toddy. This seemed to calm the cough a little, but I felt sorry for Sophie having to put up with it this evening! I was meeting Lynda, Fiona, and Andrea for a meal at The Griffin's Head in Mears Ashby, so at least I could escape for a few hours!

Before leaving, I tried to look at the restaurant menu on their website but was unable to access it online. I walked into the pub to find my three friends there already with the menu on my placemat. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the prices for the meals! The starters were £12 each, the main courses ranged from about £25 to £39, and the desserts were also £12 each!

We chatted at first and caught up on our news, and then perused the menu. We all chose soufflé to start, followed by three of us opting for pork belly, and Andrea choosing the lamb. Lynda and I were driving, so we stuck to soft drinks (I had a Guinness Zero), but Andrea and Fiona shared a bottle of Italian wine priced at £40!

The cheese soufflé starter

I wasn't that impressed with the cheese soufflé, to be honest. It wasn't particularly hot, and the crispy onion shards were difficult to eat! Fiona wasn't that impressed, either!

I gamely worked my way through my pork belly, but it defeated me, and Lynda refused to eat the black pudding bonbon on her plate. The food was good; there's no denying that, but I was still astonished at the prices! Keith and I used to come here regularly, and the landlord of the pub in Walgrave ran it at one time, but I had no idea that it had become so upmarket!

It was lovely to chat with my friends, though, and we discussed Christmas, families, jobs and my accident in the VW. When our main courses were cleared away, the pub had emptied out and it was very quiet. Andrea, Fiona and Lynda shared a plate of cheese and biscuits while I had a delicious chocolate fondant that oozed beautifully and was served with prune and armagnac ice cream, a chocolatey crumb and a honeycomb tuile (someone has been watching Masterchef!).

The bill came to an eye-watering £259, the most the four of us have ever spent on a meal. Andrea deducted the wine and Gin and tonics from the bill for Lynda and me, and we both paid £60 each. Phew! She and Fiona paid £85, and Fiona had been quibbling about the price of an M&S turkey earlier that was £135! Am I really that out of touch with prices?

We said goodbye, hugged in the car park and said we would meet up in the New Year. It was starting to get misty as I drove home. A spooky weekend awaits!

A bit "bleugh"!

Today has been a bit of a "bleugh" day, and not particularly enjoyable! Sophie went to the gym, and after seeing her off, I went back to bed, but I didn't return to the land of Nod. Keith was already downstairs and still not feeling great with his cough. 

I had a Pensionwise appointment first thing, and I was surprised it went ahead, as I was calling about my Dad's pension and what it meant for my Mum. I didn't think they would be able to talk to me about his lump sum. I was on the phone for nearly an hour, and the advisor was great, but I still think I need advice. I may need to contact a later-life financial advisor as well.

Needless to say, while I was talking, I closed the door to the living room so Keith's cough didn't disturb us! I spent the rest of the morning catching up with jobs, and went to see my mum at 2pm to discuss her care plan with a member of staff. I took a new universal remote control with me, as my Mum has lost her other one. It took me ages to get it paired with her television, and in the end, I used AI for advice. It then worked straightaway!

My Mum was very confused today, something that had been confirmed in her care plan, and it wasn't the best of visits again. I told the carers about the remote control, and they suggested keeping it on a high shelf. If it's there when I visit her next, I will be amazed!

I drove home through showers of falling leaves and a grey, misty landscape. It's truly Autumnal now!

Forty-nine pints...

Keith and I left for work a bit earlier this morning, so he could get back home and call the GP Surgery at 8:00am. I faced another busy day at work and shared the office with Gina. Two members of staff were sitting outside, but that will all change soon when the balcony area will be used for classes and a group meeting, and the big tables and sofas will be stored elsewhere. We are in for a period of disruption as our dance studio and sports hall will be refurbished. It's good news for the centre, but I can see there being some noise and dust for us in the office!

As Keith had dropped me off, there were no issues with parking this afternoon, but I had a blood donation appointment at 4:30pm at a local school. Keith dropped me off, and Sophie said she would pick me up on her way home.

The nurse who initially screened me asked me lots of questions about the travel I'd done in the last six months, and I had to tell her I'd been to France (three times), Austria, Belgium and Germany. West Nile Virus is present in some of the areas, so she constantly checked my dates.

When it came time to take blood, she said she was a bit worried about a vein that branched off, so she sought advice from another nurse who expertly inserted the needle and started the donation process. I was all done within about twenty minutes, my forty-ninth pint!

Sophie texted me to say she was waiting outside, and after a quick cup of water and a Club biscuit, I went out to join her. We drove home in the dark and watched the end of a George Clark programme we'd started watching this morning. Sophie still had a headache this morning but now felt a lot better, and Keith had been to the doctor's and had seen a paramedic rather than a GP! He had another course of antibiotics, and we're praying this will cure him! The coughing is constant!

Mooney also seemed a little better and ate some treats I gave him. He still wasn't interested in a cat food pouch, but he wasn't sick again, so that was a relief. If he had been, it would have been a visit to the vets tomorrow!

Down in the dumps...

The weather is set to be windy and wet for the next couple of days, and with the darker nights, it was not a pleasant prospect. Those hot and sunny days of summer seemed a long time ago! Did we really moan that it was too hot?

Work passed very quickly today as I had so much to do. Keith hadn't gone shopping today, as the meal we were supposed to have had last Thursday was on the agenda for tonight! When I went out to the car park, I found a mini wedged almost up against my car, making it impossible to get in. I was furious that someone had parked so badly and thoughtlessly. My fear was that it was a customer having a swim, but when I went to reception, they recognised the car as belonging to a new member of staff who was sitting in her little nook where she sells memberships.

I asked her to move it, and she burbled on about the cars on either side of the space being right on the line. Mine wasn't, but if you can't park, go somewhere else! I then had to navigate out of the car park as a van had broken down and was being picked up by a recovery vehicle. I was mightily glad to get home!

This set the tone for the evening, unfortunately. Sophie came home with a bad headache, Keith's coughing is getting worse and driving everyone mad, and Mooney was sick three times. We were a very despondent little family tonight, and Sophie and I urged Keith to make another appointment at the GP surgery tomorrow.

Mooney was definitely not himself this evening, and when Sophie picked him up to say goodnight, he let out a series of little grunts, as if trying to tell us he felt poorly! We felt so sorry for him!

Meeting old friends!

Although the worst of the weather was behind us, it was still very windy today. It was sunny, however, and lovely to see blue skies after all the grey of recent days. We had a lazy start (the clocks went back last night), and at 10:30am I left to meet my colleagues from my old job. I had suggested the café at White's Farm Shop near Earls Barton, and Kathy was already there when I arrived. We hugged and went into the café, and we managed to grab a table for six to accommodate our little group!

Sheila, Jo, and Angela arrived shortly afterwards, followed by Sue, and then Denise. The atmosphere in the café was quite loud, and our chatter definitely added to it! We ordered our own drinks and some of us had a bite to eat, including me. I fancied a couple of crumpets with butter and jam, which were perfect!

We sat and nattered for over an hour, and said we'd definitely meet up again to catch up. Maybe somewhere a bit quieter next time, and for lunch! I said goodbye and had a look in the farm shop, selecting some squashes for Halloween decorations, a box of cheese biscuits, cheese and a tin of soup for my lunch at work next week.

I drove home, noticing small twigs and branches on the road, and a busy covering one half of my lane near Holcot. Storm Boelo was still causing mayhem! 

The afternoon was spent relaxing, and I read for a short time in the conservatory. Sophie and I played Scrabble in the early evening, and my daughter opened a bottle of Champagne that a friend had given her. It had a lovely, soft rose tinge and was delicious as an apéritif before our dinner of chicken stroganoff.

I think Sophie and I had a twinge of Sunday syndrome this evening. This weekend has sped by, but once Monday is over tomorrow, it's downhill again until Friday!

Storm Boelo

Sophie had a flu jab booked for this morning, and after she'd been vaccinated, we drove to Market Harborough. It had just started to rain, and we'd forgotten to take an umbrella with us! We parked as close to the town as we could, dropped off a parcel at the post office and grabbed two seats in the window at Just So Italian. The owner was back and made jokes with Sophie when she ordered our coffees and almond croissants!

It was lovely sitting in the warm café and watching the world go by. We had another coffee and split a chocolate twist before venturing out into the light wind and rain to go to Steffan's, where Sophie had sold one of her necklaces.

From the jewellers, we crossed the road to browse in Waterstones, where Sophie bought two books. As we emerged, we realised that the rain had become heavier, so we walked quickly to Duncan's, where we had a small tasting of two of his wines: a French white of a blend of grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc and an Italian red. We weren't keen on either, so we bought two bottles of Portuguese wine instead! It was lovely to chat with Duncan and Nick, and I popped a bag of Brittany crisps into the bag to munch on later at home. 

After a last visit to The Attic, we walked around the corner to The Wine Shed and asked for a table for a drink and some nibbles. I chose an Argentinian Malbec while Sophie had an Alsace Riesling. We ordered a plate of paté and bread as a light lunch and settled back to relax. The wine bar gradually filled up, but the service was a bit disappointing today. The normally attentive and lovely staff seemed to be preoccupied, and we just couldn't get their attention to order another drink. Sophie wanted a Negroni, but we gave up after twenty minutes of waiting, paid the bill at the bar and left. The drinks menus are never left on the table, which makes it difficult to order!

By now, it was raining hard, and we trundled back to Northamptonshire and headed for Kettering to see my Mum. We stayed and chatted, but she wasn't making a lot of sense today, as usual. It makes for quite an upsetting visit, as it's impossible to have a conversation with her, and the television didn't even work today. I have no idea what she does with it!

Back home, we decided to watch a film called The Substance early (it was a good job we did, as it was over two hours long) and postponed our planned meal for tonight. I don't think any of us fancied it! The film starred Demi Moore as an ageing fitness guru who's fired to make way for someone younger, and discovers a mysterious substance that splits her into two. The alter ego is young and beautiful, but not all goes to plan! It was one of the most gory films I've ever seen and definitely not for the faint-hearted! Sophie watched half of it behind her hands, and I couldn't bring myself to watch one of the violent scenes... Keith wondered what on earth we were watching! It'll certainly be one to remember!

Storm Austen

It's been a wild and woolly day today, with high winds and constant rain. Shiela popped in to say hello first thing, and then I got on with my work, trying to sort out some bookings and payroll issues. I was on my own in the office all day today, and at one point, when I looked out of the window, the rain was lashing down, and the wind was blowing leaves about like snow.

Keith picked me up, and we headed home to start the weekend. He'd been to the doctor's today about his cough and was given a course of antibiotics. It's been a while since he suffered from a cough and cold, but he's well and truly caught one this autumn!

He wasn't out with John this evening, and Sophie and I watched Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. I had seen it before, a long time ago, and Sophie has just finished the book. I was disappointed to learn that none of the scenes was filmed in France, and the beach location was Redcar in Yorkshire! It was a tad depressing for a Friday night, but a good film nonetheless!

All by myself!

I drove myself to work this morning and enjoyed a Greggs breakfast as usual. I was in the office on my own for most of the day, and I had a telephone chat with my manager, Dan, who seemed to be on the mend. This was a huge relief, and I hope he'll return soon, but not until he's fully better. 

At 3:00pm, Liam came in, and my heart sank, but he only left his stuff in the office while he had a meeting, so I was spared the pen clicking! It was great to escape at 4:00pm and go home to relax. One more day and then it's the weekend, not that I'm wishing my life away, of course!

The UK is bracing itself for two storms over the coming days: Storm Austen tomorrow, which will affect mainly the south and south-west of the country, and Boelo from Saturday, hitting Northern Ireland, the north of England and Scotland. The storm season has begun with a bang!

Plans finalised!

Keith went to Tesco this morning to do a quick shop, and I waved Sophie off to work. While Keith was out, I made a start on the jobs I needed to get done today... and there were a few! We are still unpacking from the weekend! When he returned, we had a light breakfast and got ready to go to Riverside for an appointment with Jamie at Wickes.

The weather today has been atrocious, with constant rain and heavy, leaden skies. As we neared Riverside, it became busier, and there was a queue to get onto the retail park, which was unusual. As the stores came into sight, I saw a huge Percy Pig and my heart sank... today looked like it was the opening of the new M&S Foodhall. No wonder the traffic was so heavy! I doubted very much we'd get parked, but amazingly we did, and we sloshed our way across the car park to Wickes, a little early for our appointment, but determined to sort out the en-suite today!

We had a wander around the bathroom displays, and I spotted one I hadn't seen before, which I immediately liked the look of:

I liked the taps, and the handle on the loo was very similar to what we used to have in the house when we first moved in. When we saw Jamie, I showed him the sink and loo and said we had changed our minds about moving the door and had decided to have a smaller shower, but one that was still bigger than the one we have now.

We sat and thrashed out the design, and looked at tiles, picking a patterned tile for the floor and a plain white subway tile for the walls. We have even moved the sink to another place to give us more room for a slightly bigger shower.

I thought this would match the chrome accessories

New layout

I could then paint the upper areas of the walls in green matching the loo seat. Jamie showed me photos of two rooms in his house, and I was astounded! They were gorgeous! He certainly knew what he was talking about!

Keith looked very bored today, and I began to think it would have been better to do this with Sophie! We finally finished the plan, and I was very happy with the result. Hooray! Keith paid the 10% deposit, and we shook hands with Jamie. It was done!

We thought we only had three hours of parking on Riverside, but it was four, so we drove down to Halfords, and I bought two new number plates with my own person registration on them. I've had to retain the registration plate for the last two years since selling the Audi, so it was always the plan to put them on my next car. I was thrilled!

Before going home, we went to Costa for a cup of tea and something to eat as we hadn't had any lunch. I was so pleased with what we'd achieved today and relieved that we'd finally made a decision on the en-suite. If it gets done before Christmas, it'll be great, but it's not urgent.

Back at home, I vacuumed and lit our little battery-powered tea lights to make the house cosy. When Sophie came home, I explained our change of direction with the ensuite, as Sophie thought we were going to have green tiles on the wall. I'm just hoping she will like the end result!

Small annoyances!

I drove myself to work this morning and was back to my usual hours. Gina, who is covering for Dan, came in and spent all day in the office. Most of the time, she was taking phone calls, making phone calls or talking on Teams, giggling and simpering about one of the senior managers contacting her directly. I know I sound like a moaning minny, but it was quite annoying! 

I spent most of the day with the cinema admin, managing to get the films on until early December and sending off the figures from the weekend. Everything seems to be running smoothly now, as I knew it would!

It was bliss to leave at 4:00pm and drive home, where I tried to catch up with the blog. Tomorrow, Keith and I are going to Wickes to sort out the en-suite once and for all, and I have a hundred and one things to get done as well!

We are currently enjoying War on Sky with Dominic West and Sienna Miller, so it was great to sit and watch another episode after dinner!

The Monday morning blues...

It was truly horrible getting up this morning, even though it was an hour later than normal, as I'd decided to work from 9:00am until 5:00pm. Never again will we come back from a break or holiday and go to work the next day!

We still had loads of things to deal with, and I sorted out the laundry for Keith to do for us today. Other things would have to wait until Wednesday or the weekend! Sophie and I left at 8:15am and went a different way to avoid the heavy traffic.

I arrived well before 9:00am and had worried both Amanda and Sheila (who had been for a swim) as I was so late! I explained we'd been delayed the night before and I'd decided to work different hours. Sheila came up to the office for a short while, and I gave her the gifts I'd bought back from France for her.

Thankfully, the day passed swiftly, and it was great to get home and make a start on the weekend's blog! Keith had managed to get all the laundry sorted for us, but there were still some things that needed unpacking. It would have to wait until Wednesday, when I was off. Hooray!

Northern France, 16th - 18th of October 2026

Back to Ypres

Our plan was to get up reasonably early this morning and be out of the house by 9:00am, to drive into Belgium and visit Ypres. After a coffee, we packed, showered and made sure the house was left in a good state. I explored the garden while Sophie finished getting ready and took some photos of the stormy sky. I'm sure I heard thunder in the distance!

Sophie didn't appreciate me popping up at the window as she put on her make-up!

By 9:00am, I was gingerly reversing out of the driveway, helped by Sophie. We did the same little route as we did yesterday to get back to the front of the house, facing in the right direction, and then put directions in for Ypres, avoiding the motorway this time.

Our route took us past St Omer again, and through some pretty villages surrounded by farmland. We saw mounds of what we thought were swedes or turnips piled up in the fields, probably set aside for winter feed. I became stuck behind a large tractor and trailer, but spotted a garage and decided to fill up while we had the chance!

On the outskirts of Ypres, near the town of Poperinge, we stopped for coffee, and I called Keith to check that he was OK and to see if he was still suffering from his cold. We enjoyed our coffee and the rest of the pastries before setting off for Ypres, just a short distance away.

Sophie directed me to the main square in Ypres, and we found a parking space easily. The last time we were here was Easter Sunday, and it was a little busier today, but still lovely and quiet. We saw a few school groups milling about, and when we took our seats outside at a bar, a group of teachers sat behind us.

We ordered a local beer and sat and enjoyed the ambience. What a delightful way to spend a Sunday morning! 

While we sat, Sophie looked at several restaurants for lunch, but we couldn't resist going back to Vivaldi across the square. Before we went, we called into a chocolate shop and bought some treats to take home.

Vivaldi was very quiet when we arrived, and they invited us to choose our own table. We chose one next to a fire and had a good look at the menu even though both of us knew what we were going to choose! I opted for the chicken skewer served with curry mayonnaise, salad and French fries. Sophie couldn't resist the pork escalope, accompanied by apple sauce and French fries as well. We ordered two Wipers Times beers and sat back to look forward to a good lunch!

Before our main courses arrived, we were treated to a little amuse-bouche - a scoop of sausage meat served with mini silverskin pickled onions. Delicious!

The food was as good as ever, and as we ate, the restaurant gradually filled up, with a big family party sitting next to us. There was a lovely atmosphere, and we really didn't want to leave! I had noticed chocolate fondant on the menu, so we had to have it! It was gorgeous, served with vanilla ice cream.

I urged Sophie to enjoy a glass of Cointreau with her dessert, and she didn't hesitate! While we were eating, Sophie was messaging Michael, and after we'd paid the bill, we walked to another little shop to buy some beer and chocolates for him. The shop where we'd bought Keith's La Chouffe glass in April had closed down (what a shame). We picked out two beers, a lighter and a chocolate willy on a stick (I think the Cointreau had gone to Sophie's head!).

Gearing up for Halloween!

Train troubles!

We returned to the car, and Sophie suggested a rural route back to the motorway. I agreed, so we navigated the outskirts of Ypres and made our way into open countryside, passing through pretty, sleepy little villages, some of which, as we neared the French border, had two names. It was a delightful route and much better than going onto the motorway. There was no great fanfare when we drove back into France; just a change of language!

We turned onto the motorway, and it started to rain heavily. We arrived at the shuttle terminal earlier than our check-in time, but there was no offer of an earlier train, which was a disappointment. We were forced to sit in the car for ages due to the torrential rain, but in the end, Sophie ran into the terminal to use the facilities and buy a bottle of Cointreau to take home!

When we were called to board, we managed to get through passport control pretty quickly. However, it was obvious that we were going to miss our planned train, as it took ages to actually get onto it! We had just parked, turned off the engine and settled back to relax when we heard an announcement that we were to be taken off our train and put onto another due to a problem... great!

We sat and waited, and we chatted to the driver of the car behind us, who said he had been delayed twice over the summer and received compensation! Eventually, we drove off our train, up the platform slope, down to the next and along the platform again, this time right next to the train tracks below. It was a bit hairy!

The delay meant we didn't get back to the UK until 6:00 pm, and it was already almost dark with torrential rain falling. It was a most unpleasant journey on the M20, and I kept to the inside lane, not going above 60mph due to the weather conditions. Thankfully, as we turned onto the M25, the rain lessened a bit, but it was a long, slow journey home, and we didn't get back until 8:45pm. We then had to unpack the car, and Keith hadn't put the heating on, so the house was freezing!

We dumped as much stuff as we could to be dealt with over the coming days, and I relaxed on the sofa with Keith and told him all about our break while Sophie disappeared upstairs with the cats. We'd had a fantastic time after a wobbly start, but we weren't looking forward to going back to work tomorrow!

Northern France, 16th - 18th of October 2026

Second thoughts...

Both of us had a decent night's sleep, but we hit a low point when Sophie went to have a shower and said there was no hot water. We'd already had issues with the loo and the lack of a decent flush, so this was the final straw. We had already mentioned the possibility of going home early because of the weather, and I said that if we didn't have any hot water, we'd be heading back over the Channel.

Luckily, after twiddling about with the control, hot water gushed through, and we were both able to have a decent shower. Outside, the heavy grey cloud and low mist had gone, to be replaced with towering storm clouds and showers. Occasionally, the sun would peep through these clouds, so we decided to change our plans and try to visit a museum.

While Sophie was showering, I Googled local art museums and found an interesting one in the town of Cassel, about fifty minutes away. The Museum of Flanders specialised in Flemish art, so it sounded very interesting and useful for dodging the showers!

Market Day in St Omer

It took me two attempts to manoeuvre out of the driveway, and Sophie had to stand in the road to direct me. It wasn't ideal, and I wasn't looking forward to driving back onto the driveway this evening, when I planned to reverse in.

As I found it better to turn left, I had to do a series of left turns and rejoin the road. Outside one house was a "body" encased in black plastic hanging from a window. The French seemed to be mad about Halloween!

Back at our starting point again, Sophie put directions into Jeeves and our journey took us onto beautiful country roads, with the occasional small village. The sky was very interesting indeed, with brilliant sunshine one minute and heavy rain the next. As we neared the town of St Omer, we decided to stop for a coffee. It was market day, but we managed to find a space in a large car park, just a short walk from the market square.

The town was bustling with people shopping in the market, and we found a lovely little brasserie for a coffee. Some of the locals, including three jolly women of a certain age, were indulging in glasses of wine already! We both ordered a café allongé crème, but the dairy came in a little pot, not hot and frothy as we'd hoped! It was still heaven to sit and relax and soak up the lovely atmosphere in the café. There were also delicious smells wafting about!

After paying the bill, we wandered around the market, looking at all the different foods on offer, including one stall selling a vast array of sausages. One, I am sure, was horse!

Strolling away from the market, we stumbled upon a gorgeous wine and spirits shop. It was a delight to peruse the shelves, and I picked out a red Sancerre, rarely seen in the UK, and a wine from a village - St Pourcain - where I used to stay with my parents back in the 1980s. Again, I have never seen it in the UK.

We also splashed out on a sparkling Vouvray and a bottle of beer for Keith. The owner was very chatty and gave us a box for the wine so we could transport our bottles back to the car safely. St Omer was a very pretty town, and one we'd been to a few years back with the children on a day trip.

Dining with giants

Back at the car, we headed for Cassel, taking more smooth country roads through mainly arable fields. The village names became more Flemish as we neared the town, and we knew we weren't far from the Belgian border. Ahead we could see a forested hill and realised this was Mont Cassel, with the town perched on the top. The road wound up steeply, and we followed signs for parking near a chapel. As we got out of the car, we were treated to stunning views across the countryside; it reminded me strongly of Montreuil-sur-Mer with the ramparts and cobbled streets. What a find!

We strolled to the centre and looked for somewhere to have lunch. One restaurant looked full to bursting, while Sophie said another hadn't received good reviews. We walked over to another eatery called La Terrasse des Géants and had a look at the menu. As we were reading, it started to rain, so I suggested we go inside. Sophie wasn't happy, as one of her favourite things to do is study menus, but it had great reviews, and I was hungry!

It was a great decision, and although the interior was a little basic and there was a giant television screen opposite our table, the food and service were tremendous. We ordered smoked salmon and toast to share as a starter, followed by a beef Flemish casserole, with chips and salad. The food was delicious, and the chips were the best I have ever eaten! And I don't say that lightly! We ordered a pichet of red wine to accompany the meal, and it was equally delicious.

The woman who served us was lovely - very motherly and friendly - and we were very glad we'd chosen to eat here. Towards the end of our meal, a group of eight men came in for lunch, and we suspected they'd either been fishing or farming, as the aromas surrounding them were very earthy! They were friendly, though, and they all said hello as they took their places at their table.

We had no room for pud, and it was only as we were walking out that I noticed the chocolate fondant on the blackboard... uh oh! I'd broken the law!

What is that?

Our bill came to a highly reasonable 60 euros, and we found the meal extremely good value for money. The 500ml pichet of wine was 9 euros... try getting two large glasses of wine in the UK for this price! We bade the staff a fond farewell and walked across the road to the museum. Imagine our delight when we were told that the entrance was free, as there was work going on upstairs.

The rooms containing the art were very dim and dark, highlighting the gorgeous paintings. We saw a painting by Rubens and one by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. But it was the art by Hieronymus Bosch that really caught our eye (if indeed it was by him). Very weird and nightmarish, to put it mildly. Below are details of the paintings we saw:

This was my favourite... it resembles me looking at John Mayer...

What's with the screaming face?

Creepy!

A  bit more conventional

Topless creepy nun?

It was lovely wandering around and gazing at the art. It wasn't busy at all, and at first there was only another group of people having a tour, so it was quiet and peaceful. I just wish we could have gone up to the next floor. We will be back!

We were able to go outside and admire the stunning views and the architecture of the building itself. I love the crenellated roofs and the beautiful brickwork.

Outside sculpture

Between showers!

Sophie bought a couple of postcards, and we emerged into the pretty square. Before heading back to the car, we called into a patisserie to buy a couple of cakes for later in the evening. The young girl serving asked me to hold a pane of glass that was part of the cabinet, while she attended to an alarm further in the shop! Her mother came out and said it wasn't going to fall, but I didn't dare risk it! 

A little indulgence!

We left Cassel via a cobbled road, and we later learnt that the town has been occupied since Roman times and some of the ancient roads still exist. The views back down were beautiful, and it's a town we'll certainly return to again.

Before heading back to the house, we decided to drive to Bray-Dunes, right on the coast, and apparently the northernmost town in the whole of France (including its territories). Sophie was in the middle of reading Atonement, and one of her characters died in the town. It played a big part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in the Second World War.

Interesting skies!

The journey was extremely pleasant, and we passed through pretty villages and along straight roads. We managed to park near the front and walked the short distance to the wide promenade that stretched on either side of the town. It reminded me a little of Houlgate.

We spotted a café and went into its warmth as it was windy and quite cold. I was glad I'd brought my coat! We took seats next to the window and ordered two hot chocolates with frothy cream and a little treat, a glass of Grand Marnier each. Bliss!

For both of us, this was the highlight of our little break, and it was heaven to sit and chat, people-watch from the windows, and enjoy our delicious drinks.

We paid the bill and reluctantly left to drive back to the house, using the autoroute and its mad drivers. I always find the area around Dunkirk and Calais to be frenetic and the driving crazy. I have no idea why, but today was the same! It was a relief to get off and drive on normal roads!

I tried to back into the driveway of the house, but every time I tried, another car would appear. We didn't know why this road was so busy! In the end, I drove into Ardres again, turned around and approached from the left, driving in as normal. Sophie would have to help me get out again in the morning!

We lit the pellet burner and had a very relaxing evening, watching two game shows on French television that were originally from the UK - Family Fortunes and the 1% Club! Amazingly, I managed to get a few questions right on the equivalent of the 1% Club! We also spotted a couple of pheasants in the garden and other guests had mentioned deer in the field next door.

Halfway through the evening, we enjoyed our platter of meats and cheeses and the rest of the tabbouleh, accompanied by a couple of glasses of red wine. The cakes we'd bought were delicious as well!

A few more photos of gorgeous Cassel:

Old cobbled streets