After I'd spent most of Saturday evening cuddling Max the dog, I realised I really missed taking him for walks over the fields. So, after work this afternoon all of us went off and had a lovely walk with him and it was so good to see him bounding ahead of us, his tail wagging in enjoyment. Although it had rained hard on the way home from work, the sun came out and it was a beautiful early evening. Sophie took her bike and once we were in the village Mikey put max on his lead. When he was younger he was difficult to walk on the lead as he pulled like a train but now he's getting on a bit, he was a lot more relaxed!
Keith and I played cards for a while and then sat in the garden with our drinks for the first time in ages!
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Tuesday 21 June - Longest Day
The longest day of the year started off grey and miserable but luckily, by the afternoon the sun had come out and after a busy day at work, Soph and I went off for a walk to clear our heads. She is having to do a lot of exams at the moment and my mum is still not well at all, so it was bliss to get out and enjoy the fresh air and countryside, plus we had all the added benefits of exercise!
Keith had been cooking all day and was quite the domestic God. He'd made a delicious bread and butter pudding with leftover bread that would have ended up in the bin and a gooey, moist banana cake that was a hit with the kids when they had it with ice-cream for dessert!
Keith had been cooking all day and was quite the domestic God. He'd made a delicious bread and butter pudding with leftover bread that would have ended up in the bin and a gooey, moist banana cake that was a hit with the kids when they had it with ice-cream for dessert!
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Monday 20 June
Keith came into work with me on Monday and with our handyman, fixed the metal grille back into the wall with the aid of quick drying cement. As I'd been in all over the weekend (or so it felt like!) I had an early day and knocked off at 3pm. I went round to see Mum and Dad and gave Dad his Father's Day present, which he was really pleased with!
In the evening I made an unexpected visit to Sarah and Liam's house to help them with some computer stuff and was rewarded with a lovely bottle of red wine, the same one that I'd enjoyed on Saturday night, when I was so rudely interrupted!
In the evening I made an unexpected visit to Sarah and Liam's house to help them with some computer stuff and was rewarded with a lovely bottle of red wine, the same one that I'd enjoyed on Saturday night, when I was so rudely interrupted!
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Clearing up,,,again.
We treated the children to a McDonald's breakfast as we had to go into work and sort out the grill on the window. Keith managed to put it back into place and secure it with the old screws until we could buy new ones. Sophie was asked to work so we all went home and while she was showering, Keith and I popped over to B&Q in Kettering to buy some things to fix the window.
The hardware aisle in any DIY shop must be the most scintillating place on earth...not! We wandered up and down until I - note it was me and not Keith! - found the screws we needed. We also bought a padlock and chain to secure the two waste bins together as the burglars had used our big recycling wheelie bin to lever themselves up to the window. Back home we collected Sophie, drove into work and Keith managed to screw all six fastenings into the wall so at least that's secure.
After grabbing something to eat and a much needed cup of coffee, I spent the next few hours doing essential housework before it was time to fetch Sophie again. I've been through a tank of diesel like nothing on earth over the last few days!
I finished cleaning and went and had a lovely, relaxing bath. I deserved that as well!
The hardware aisle in any DIY shop must be the most scintillating place on earth...not! We wandered up and down until I - note it was me and not Keith! - found the screws we needed. We also bought a padlock and chain to secure the two waste bins together as the burglars had used our big recycling wheelie bin to lever themselves up to the window. Back home we collected Sophie, drove into work and Keith managed to screw all six fastenings into the wall so at least that's secure.
After grabbing something to eat and a much needed cup of coffee, I spent the next few hours doing essential housework before it was time to fetch Sophie again. I've been through a tank of diesel like nothing on earth over the last few days!
I finished cleaning and went and had a lovely, relaxing bath. I deserved that as well!
Saturday 18 June - an 18th Birthday Party and a bit of a shock...
Saturday was a lovely day...right up until 11pm when things went a bit pear-shaped...
First thing, I went and had my hair cut which was lovely as it was badly in need of a chop. Sophie came with me as we were going on to Market Harborough afterwards but had to sit in the car as the spare seats in the salon were all taken. She was not amused!
We drove to Market Harborough in torrential rain but the town itself was dry. What weird weather we're having at the moment! First stop was a skinny latte for me and a chocolate milkshake for Sophie who does not have to worry about her weight... We then popped into New Look and Soph tried on some very pretty clothes, but decided against buying them even though I offered to lend her the money. We meandered around the shops and then made our way to Duncan's as I wanted to get a bottle of whisky for my dad, for Father's Day. The shop was paked to the gunnels so we passed on the tasting and went straight for the whisky selection. I chose a peaty one called Finlaggan and a treat for Sophie as she was babysitting, a low alcohol sparkling wine made with strawberries.
Later in the afternoon all four of us went for a lovely walk, dodging the showers, which was a real bonus. Next door I could see a tent in the garden and lots of teenage voices so it looked like the party had begun. We fed the children, got ourselves ready and went around to find all our neighbours there and the party in full swing. We had a lovely evening, chatting and laughing but at 11pm my mobile phone rang and I looked at the number in dismay...it was our security patrol again. We'd been broken into.
I was so upset and angry that it had happened again when we were out enjoying ourselves with our friends. At first I just wanted to switch my phone off and pretend it hadn't happened, but I had to deal with it as Dad was away flying his model aeroplanes in Eastbourne and Mum was down in Kent. I spoke to the security guard who said he couldn't get into the building which surprised me as he had all the keys he needed. I eventually made him understand the door he needed to go through and then we set off for work, dreading to think what we would find. The children were still up so we decided to take them with us and I think they were more excited than frightened.
We drove in and met the security guard to find that the metal grill on our office window had been wrenched off and was lying on the grass some distance away. The window itself was open and they must have set off the alarm when they reached through. On the CCTV we could see they'd broken in at about 10pm, when it was still very light and that there was four of them again. I do wonder if it was the same people as last time. We locked everything up, left some lights on for security and went home where I found it very difficult to get to sleep!
First thing, I went and had my hair cut which was lovely as it was badly in need of a chop. Sophie came with me as we were going on to Market Harborough afterwards but had to sit in the car as the spare seats in the salon were all taken. She was not amused!
We drove to Market Harborough in torrential rain but the town itself was dry. What weird weather we're having at the moment! First stop was a skinny latte for me and a chocolate milkshake for Sophie who does not have to worry about her weight... We then popped into New Look and Soph tried on some very pretty clothes, but decided against buying them even though I offered to lend her the money. We meandered around the shops and then made our way to Duncan's as I wanted to get a bottle of whisky for my dad, for Father's Day. The shop was paked to the gunnels so we passed on the tasting and went straight for the whisky selection. I chose a peaty one called Finlaggan and a treat for Sophie as she was babysitting, a low alcohol sparkling wine made with strawberries.
Later in the afternoon all four of us went for a lovely walk, dodging the showers, which was a real bonus. Next door I could see a tent in the garden and lots of teenage voices so it looked like the party had begun. We fed the children, got ourselves ready and went around to find all our neighbours there and the party in full swing. We had a lovely evening, chatting and laughing but at 11pm my mobile phone rang and I looked at the number in dismay...it was our security patrol again. We'd been broken into.
I was so upset and angry that it had happened again when we were out enjoying ourselves with our friends. At first I just wanted to switch my phone off and pretend it hadn't happened, but I had to deal with it as Dad was away flying his model aeroplanes in Eastbourne and Mum was down in Kent. I spoke to the security guard who said he couldn't get into the building which surprised me as he had all the keys he needed. I eventually made him understand the door he needed to go through and then we set off for work, dreading to think what we would find. The children were still up so we decided to take them with us and I think they were more excited than frightened.
We drove in and met the security guard to find that the metal grill on our office window had been wrenched off and was lying on the grass some distance away. The window itself was open and they must have set off the alarm when they reached through. On the CCTV we could see they'd broken in at about 10pm, when it was still very light and that there was four of them again. I do wonder if it was the same people as last time. We locked everything up, left some lights on for security and went home where I found it very difficult to get to sleep!
Friday 17 June
I drove mum down to Kent today and whilst the journey down was good, the trip home was marred by heavy rain. The heavens have certainly opened now and the drought seems to be at an end. Back home, I waited for Sophie to come home from school (with Mikey - he had a day at her school today to learn about scientific things) and then I took her into work before going to the bank. As it's Fathers Day on Sunday I then drove to Booker and bought a case of beer for Keith as a present from the children.
No sooner had I got home before it was time to take Keith to the pub and then go and pick up Sophie from work. It was a real relief to get home, sort the dinner out and put a bottle of white wine in the fridge to drink later. I definitely think I deserved it!
No sooner had I got home before it was time to take Keith to the pub and then go and pick up Sophie from work. It was a real relief to get home, sort the dinner out and put a bottle of white wine in the fridge to drink later. I definitely think I deserved it!
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Walking the cat
This certainly made me smile today! At about 9pm I suggested to Sophie we walk around our estate and she readily agreed as the sky was a beautiful mix of blues and pinks. Monty was snoozing on the sofa beside me so I picked him up (he wasn't too happy) and we took him outside. In the past he's accompanied the children along the road but tonight he walked the entire way with us and was obviously very happy to do so as he had a whale of a time sniffing all the bushes, tail held high as he pranced about in front of us! At one point we heard the tinkling of a small bell and he stopped and listened, then disappeared into some bushes. As we moved off, he emerged, just as another cat, wearing a bell on its collar, leapt over a wall - he obviously knew what the sound was!
It made a lovely end to a somewhat stressful day!
It made a lovely end to a somewhat stressful day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)