The pressure was certainly off today which was a welcome relief and we had a chance to relax and mooch about the house.
Going to Tesco's was not as stressful as I feared. In fact, it was pretty quiet and Keith and I popped into Costa Coffee for a latte before we hit the aisles. Planning next week's meals was pretty difficult as we didn't know at the time how long Keith would be in hospital. When we arrived home there was a letter for him from the John Radcliffe hospital and reading between the lines, it looks like they will just be having a look at his heart on Monday before deciding on further treatment. He has to be there for 7.45am and I will need to pick him up in the evening so that will be a long day!
The rest of the day has been lovely. The weather has been beautiful but we haven't ventured out as I've been catching up with some jobs that have been left because of our busy week. One thing I managed to do was brush Archie's coat which was a bit matted. He didn't like it one bit and hissed and growled at us, but it had to be done and I even had to take the clippers to him as some bits of fur were very matted and I couldn't comb them out at all. We had to appease him with cheese but even that didn't work at times! He's such a scruffy cat and so totally different from Monty who is immaculately clean and tidy. I haven't really finished him and his bottom is a no-go area at the moment, but I don't want to have to take him to the vet to get it done.
A letter from Althorp put a huge smile on my face today, though...Bill Bryson will be at the Literary festival in June! Tickets go on sale in April so I can't wait for that! What a treat to look forward to!
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
Almost back to normal?
Never has the saying "Thank God it's Friday" been more apt! It has been a long and eventful week and today we had a layer of snow that, amazingly, did not cause any disruption to the business! I arrived early with mum and dad and put some salt down on the entrance but within a few hours the snow was melting anyway and we saw blue skies and sunshine which was a welcome relief.
Keith stayed at home with the children and it was lovely for them to have a day off and spend some time together. They really missed their dad for the short time he was away.
So today has been like a normal Friday which is good. I'm hoping we'll have a relaxing weekend before it all starts again on Monday. The weather forecast is for snow, and I just hope we have a good run down to Oxford without any problems. Both children have Monday off school as it's a Training Day but I think mum will come around at 6am to get them up and then take them into work. I was really hoping all this would be over but never mind. The important thing is to get Keith sorted.
Just after I arrived home this afternoon, it started snowing again. The sky went a funny orangey colour and the snowflakes were huge! I stood and watched them fall and they reminded me of scraps of paper falling from the sky. It went on for about two hours and then stopped and I'm not sure whether we'll have any more before tomorrow. I hope not as I really don't want to go into work in the morning and try and clear the car park again!!
Tomorrow I have booked a lie-in before my trip to Tesco!
Keith stayed at home with the children and it was lovely for them to have a day off and spend some time together. They really missed their dad for the short time he was away.
So today has been like a normal Friday which is good. I'm hoping we'll have a relaxing weekend before it all starts again on Monday. The weather forecast is for snow, and I just hope we have a good run down to Oxford without any problems. Both children have Monday off school as it's a Training Day but I think mum will come around at 6am to get them up and then take them into work. I was really hoping all this would be over but never mind. The important thing is to get Keith sorted.
Just after I arrived home this afternoon, it started snowing again. The sky went a funny orangey colour and the snowflakes were huge! I stood and watched them fall and they reminded me of scraps of paper falling from the sky. It went on for about two hours and then stopped and I'm not sure whether we'll have any more before tomorrow. I hope not as I really don't want to go into work in the morning and try and clear the car park again!!
Tomorrow I have booked a lie-in before my trip to Tesco!
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Another loooooong day...
Well, today has certainly not been dull here! I phoned Keith first thing and he told me that he was going to stay in Oxford for the next few days as they were going to try the angioplasty again but he obviously had to wait for other patients to be seen. I went into work with the children and luckily today we had more staff in so I didn't have to work in the kitchen. Mum and I went to Booker, which was a fun experience as when I came out to load the car it was snowing...
Back at work we were busy and then Keith rang...he was able to come out after all and would ring later with the time I could pick him up from Oxford...gazing out of the window at the steadily falling snow, my heart missed a beat!
Driving was horrible. I always take it slowly in the snow, but even so, I managed to go into a skid twice which terrified me. I borrowed mum and dad's SatNav which got us to the John Radcliffe without a wrong turn, but it almost took me longer to find a space in the car park and the Coronary Care Unit than to drive from Northampton to Oxford!
Keith was mightily relieved to be home but he has to go back to Oxford on Monday for another angioplasty and has to be there for 7.30am. In the meantime he has to take it easy and has warned me that hoovering and ironing carries a health warning...Yeah!!
Back at work we were busy and then Keith rang...he was able to come out after all and would ring later with the time I could pick him up from Oxford...gazing out of the window at the steadily falling snow, my heart missed a beat!
Driving was horrible. I always take it slowly in the snow, but even so, I managed to go into a skid twice which terrified me. I borrowed mum and dad's SatNav which got us to the John Radcliffe without a wrong turn, but it almost took me longer to find a space in the car park and the Coronary Care Unit than to drive from Northampton to Oxford!
Keith was mightily relieved to be home but he has to go back to Oxford on Monday for another angioplasty and has to be there for 7.30am. In the meantime he has to take it easy and has warned me that hoovering and ironing carries a health warning...Yeah!!
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Hard day...
Today has been long and hard and I have every sympathy for people who work in restaurants and cafes in holiday resorts which are busy for the summer months!
First thing this morning we took Keith into hospital for his second angioplasty. I dropped him off at 7.30am and hated to see him walk off on his own, but we'd agreed that it would be best as we couldn't stay with him anyway.
Work was manic and I had three lost children (not all at once!) who wanted their mums and couldn't find them. I spent half the time patrolling the play area and shouting at naughty children and the other half frantically serving and clearing tables. Sophie was brilliant today - she served and went on the till all day and we really couldn't have done without her. She'll earn a nice fat pay packet at the end of the week!
Keith's angioplasty didn't go as well as planned and he's been transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where they are going to keep an eye on him overnight as he had chest pains after the surgery. In a way I'm very relieved as he's in the right place and I just hope we can get it all sorted out.
So...a very tired and weary Janie is just about to go off to bed to try and get a good night's sleep!
First thing this morning we took Keith into hospital for his second angioplasty. I dropped him off at 7.30am and hated to see him walk off on his own, but we'd agreed that it would be best as we couldn't stay with him anyway.
Work was manic and I had three lost children (not all at once!) who wanted their mums and couldn't find them. I spent half the time patrolling the play area and shouting at naughty children and the other half frantically serving and clearing tables. Sophie was brilliant today - she served and went on the till all day and we really couldn't have done without her. She'll earn a nice fat pay packet at the end of the week!
Keith's angioplasty didn't go as well as planned and he's been transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where they are going to keep an eye on him overnight as he had chest pains after the surgery. In a way I'm very relieved as he's in the right place and I just hope we can get it all sorted out.
So...a very tired and weary Janie is just about to go off to bed to try and get a good night's sleep!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Weird weather
I picked mum up at 7.15am this morning as we had to do the cleaning at work which was a pain. On the way in we drove through a dramatic hailstorm that coated the roads and paths and looked like snow. As soon as it began, it stopped and once through Holcot the sky was blue with little fluffy pink clouds. Very strange! I sometimes think that Holcot has its own micro-climate as in the past I've witnessed the village being battered by freak storms and snow.
Today was very busy at work. It took mum and I two hours to do the cleaning and the bacon sandwich dad made us mid-morning was very welcome! Michael limped about and although Keith wanted to take him back home after bringing Sophie in, he decided to stay. Yesterday he twisted his ankle climbing on the steps of the bouncy castle and he's made his discomfort known ever since! He was OK until just after Keith left to go home and then he came into the office crying with pain again. I dosed him up with Calpol, gave him a chocolate milkshake and he spent the rest of the day on mum's computer.
Driving home later we saw what looked like a tornado in the distance - a long spiral of dark cloud almost touching the horizon. We drove after it but it changed shape as we watched and disappeared. It looked like we were in for another storm but not much happened and the sky stayed blue and grey which was very pretty. I cursed myself for not carrying my camera with me to capture it.
So, tomorrow Keith goes into hospital and tonight he cooked us a delicious roast chicken. We stood in the kitchen and chatted and realised that nine years ago today we completed on this house. I still can't believe we've been here this long. Time certainly flies!
Today was very busy at work. It took mum and I two hours to do the cleaning and the bacon sandwich dad made us mid-morning was very welcome! Michael limped about and although Keith wanted to take him back home after bringing Sophie in, he decided to stay. Yesterday he twisted his ankle climbing on the steps of the bouncy castle and he's made his discomfort known ever since! He was OK until just after Keith left to go home and then he came into the office crying with pain again. I dosed him up with Calpol, gave him a chocolate milkshake and he spent the rest of the day on mum's computer.
Driving home later we saw what looked like a tornado in the distance - a long spiral of dark cloud almost touching the horizon. We drove after it but it changed shape as we watched and disappeared. It looked like we were in for another storm but not much happened and the sky stayed blue and grey which was very pretty. I cursed myself for not carrying my camera with me to capture it.
So, tomorrow Keith goes into hospital and tonight he cooked us a delicious roast chicken. We stood in the kitchen and chatted and realised that nine years ago today we completed on this house. I still can't believe we've been here this long. Time certainly flies!
Monday, 15 February 2010
Waiting around...
I sometimes wonder how much of my life I have wasted by standing in queues, or sitting in traffic, or just generally waiting around. We were in the bank today and as usual, it was heaving. I normally drop mum off outside the bank and drive around for a little while rather than trying to park. Our bank is in a busy shopping centre and it can be hell on earth at times. This morning I dropped her off and she could see the queue stretching to the door, so I found a space and waited with her. The woman in front of us could hear our grumblings of discontent and joined us in our moaning.
One of the staff members was walking up and down asking customers if she could help by directing them to one of those machines that gobbles up your money, but sadly this is not an option for us. The lady we were talking to was almost apoplectic with anger as to why she was prying into customers' business and readily admitted she was a "grumpy old woman"!
We promised that we would write to our Business Manager and moan to him. Who?? He used to go by the name of our friendly Bank Manager, I think, but has long since disappeared in the name of progress and no doubt, money saving efficiency...
It must have been lovely in days of olde when customers were treated with proper respect and courtesy but these are gone now, unless of course, you've just won £56 million!!
One of the staff members was walking up and down asking customers if she could help by directing them to one of those machines that gobbles up your money, but sadly this is not an option for us. The lady we were talking to was almost apoplectic with anger as to why she was prying into customers' business and readily admitted she was a "grumpy old woman"!
We promised that we would write to our Business Manager and moan to him. Who?? He used to go by the name of our friendly Bank Manager, I think, but has long since disappeared in the name of progress and no doubt, money saving efficiency...
It must have been lovely in days of olde when customers were treated with proper respect and courtesy but these are gone now, unless of course, you've just won £56 million!!
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Valentine's Day?
I was up early this morning, savouring the peace before the rest of the house awoke to watch the end of The Piano which was excellent and definitely my sort of film. The children managed to persuade Keith to take them to McDonalds (YUK!) and we had a coffee while they tucked into their Sausage and Egg McMuffins which I think are greasy and horrible. I had a much better breakfast while reading the Sunday papers when we got home - delicious poached eggs on toast.
In the afternoon we drove to Woburn for a look around the antique shops. Mum had seen a chair on a previous visit and she was tempted to try and haggle the owner of the shop down, but chickened out. Sophie discovered a little room stuffed full of 20s hats and dresses and antique curtains and wallpaper. It was like an Aladdin's Cave and we could have spent ages in there. There were some beautiful vintage hat boxes that would be lovely as storage so I might be heading back there after I've decided what colour scheme the bedroom will be (one day soon, I hope!)
In search of our Sunday afternoon tea and cake we went to Woburn Abbey and their Antiques Centre but we were told it would be £2.50 each to get in and they only had tea and biscuits! Pah!! We politely declined and drove back to Woburn where we called into the village hall where there was an antiques fair being held. There were some lovely women selling homemade lemon cake and tea in mugs so that was good. And it only cost £1 to get in!!!
There wasn't a great deal to see although I did fall in love with a clock that was £425...typical! Sophie bought some earrings and a bracelet so she was happy.
Our journey home was a bit of a roundabout route - we headed off to Buckingham from Milton Keynes and then ended back on the A5 on the outskirts of the town! Back home eventually, we called into mum and dad's for a glass of wine which was very relaxing.
So, that's another Valentine's Day over! Phew!!!
In the afternoon we drove to Woburn for a look around the antique shops. Mum had seen a chair on a previous visit and she was tempted to try and haggle the owner of the shop down, but chickened out. Sophie discovered a little room stuffed full of 20s hats and dresses and antique curtains and wallpaper. It was like an Aladdin's Cave and we could have spent ages in there. There were some beautiful vintage hat boxes that would be lovely as storage so I might be heading back there after I've decided what colour scheme the bedroom will be (one day soon, I hope!)
In search of our Sunday afternoon tea and cake we went to Woburn Abbey and their Antiques Centre but we were told it would be £2.50 each to get in and they only had tea and biscuits! Pah!! We politely declined and drove back to Woburn where we called into the village hall where there was an antiques fair being held. There were some lovely women selling homemade lemon cake and tea in mugs so that was good. And it only cost £1 to get in!!!
There wasn't a great deal to see although I did fall in love with a clock that was £425...typical! Sophie bought some earrings and a bracelet so she was happy.
Our journey home was a bit of a roundabout route - we headed off to Buckingham from Milton Keynes and then ended back on the A5 on the outskirts of the town! Back home eventually, we called into mum and dad's for a glass of wine which was very relaxing.
So, that's another Valentine's Day over! Phew!!!
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