Well, the cold and frosty weather has disappeared to be replaced with dismal fog and then torrential rain! Keith helped out at work today and we went to Booker, which was a bit of a raw deal as we had to load and unload the car in a cold, driving rain. We got soaked!
The plan was to go out for a drink in the evening but after having a lovely, deep soapy bath I just felt like staying in as the weather outside was atrocious! Keith agreed so we lit candles in the conservatory and played a few games of cards over a bottle of wine and a couple of bottles of beer. With a three course meal to follow, courtesy of Tesco Finest, we had a very relaxed and enjoyable evening!
Evening Tipple: Chablis
Friday, 14 December 2012
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Celebrating 93 years!
It was my Nan's 93rd Birthday today but it was also Sophie's 6th form Parents' Evening as well so I had to do a bit of juggling to make sure I could attend both!
I drove down to Kent on my own which I have to say was an enjoyable experience! I listened to Ken Bruce on Radio 2 and sang along to the songs and made very good time! Mum and Dad left 20 minutes before me but I caught them up on the slip road from the M25 at Dartford, which I thought was pretty amazing!
Nan was surrounded by cards and presents when we arrived and was having a lovely time. We had arranged for someone to come and test her hearing with a view to getting a hearing aid, which she wasn't too happy about, but it's a real pain to have to shout at her all the time and it must be horrible for her not to be able to hear what anyone is saying.
Rather than go out for lunch my Dad and my uncle went off to get a KFC take-away (awful) and then we had a cake, sang Happy Birthday and sat and chatted. By 3.30pm it was time for me to say goodbye and drive home so that I could pick Sophie up from work and then go to the school with her. Her three teachers were all very happy with her progress and said that she should do well in her forthcoming exams in January. I didn't know that the exams next month were the real deal and Sophie explained that they learn a certain amount and then have an exam! When I did A-levels we did two years of study and then sat an exam! How easy they seem to have it these days! No wonder so many people go to University!
When we finally got home after a fairly long day I sat with Keith in the conservatory and had a chat over a very good glass of South African wine. I said that I'm not going to the gym tomorrow because we've had something on every single night this week. Time to get home from work and just relax, I think!
Evening tipple : South African Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz
I drove down to Kent on my own which I have to say was an enjoyable experience! I listened to Ken Bruce on Radio 2 and sang along to the songs and made very good time! Mum and Dad left 20 minutes before me but I caught them up on the slip road from the M25 at Dartford, which I thought was pretty amazing!
Nan was surrounded by cards and presents when we arrived and was having a lovely time. We had arranged for someone to come and test her hearing with a view to getting a hearing aid, which she wasn't too happy about, but it's a real pain to have to shout at her all the time and it must be horrible for her not to be able to hear what anyone is saying.
Rather than go out for lunch my Dad and my uncle went off to get a KFC take-away (awful) and then we had a cake, sang Happy Birthday and sat and chatted. By 3.30pm it was time for me to say goodbye and drive home so that I could pick Sophie up from work and then go to the school with her. Her three teachers were all very happy with her progress and said that she should do well in her forthcoming exams in January. I didn't know that the exams next month were the real deal and Sophie explained that they learn a certain amount and then have an exam! When I did A-levels we did two years of study and then sat an exam! How easy they seem to have it these days! No wonder so many people go to University!
When we finally got home after a fairly long day I sat with Keith in the conservatory and had a chat over a very good glass of South African wine. I said that I'm not going to the gym tomorrow because we've had something on every single night this week. Time to get home from work and just relax, I think!
Evening tipple : South African Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Four stuffed pears...and a mix-up with coats!
Today the landscape has looked beautiful. It's been one of those rare days when the trees and bushes were coated in white frost making the fields and hedgerows look magical. I just wish I'd had the time to take photographs.
After a busy day and a visit to the gym I went out with three friends to the Four Pears pub/restaurant in Little Houghton. Keith very kindly drove Lynda and me but once in the village it was clear that there was a lot going on as masses of cars lined the narrow streets. People were pouring out of the church so there must have been some sort of carol service going on and apparently it took Keith 15 minutes to get out of the village and onto the main road.
Andrea and Fiona were already well into their Gin and tonics in the lounge so after ordering more drinks at the bar we settled into the comfortable chairs to peruse the menus. The pub was not as busy as the last time we visited but there was still a nice atmosphere and the waiting staff were very attentive. I chose a spicy prawn broth to start, followed by pork belly with stuffing, creamed cabbage and mashed spuds as a main course. I was rather glad I went to the gym beforehand!
The food was delicious (the pork was sublime) but we managed to find room for cheese and biscuits, which on reflection, could have been shared between us as the portions were so big! There were four different cheeses, walnuts, grapes, celery and two different chutneys and by the end of the meal I felt well and truly stuffed, especially as I was wearing the jeans that are two sizes smaller than I normally wear!
We waddled back out into the lounge bar in search of our coats, only I couldn't find mine...I asked the waiter if he'd taken any coats somewhere else but he said no. There was one coat on the rack very similar in colour and style to my own coat so I had a good look at it to discover it was a Jaeger coat, three sizes smaller than mine! As there were still some women in the restaurant area I went back in to ask if the coat belonged to them, but no, it was unclaimed.
The waiter very kindly phoned a party that had been in and who he'd noticed trying on different coats but when he spoke to them they said they'd sorted out the problem and the woman had her own coat with her. I had no choice but to put the coat on as it was freezing outside and give my name and number to the waiter in the hope that the mistake could be put right!
I must admit, the coat is lovely and is about four times the price of my own that I bought in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill back on New Year's Day! However, I loved it, it was comfortable and my black gloves were in the pocket along with assorted tissues! The woman must realise that it's not her very expensive designer coat, surely!!
Evening tipple: A glass of Chenin Blanc followed by Chilean Pinot Noir!
After a busy day and a visit to the gym I went out with three friends to the Four Pears pub/restaurant in Little Houghton. Keith very kindly drove Lynda and me but once in the village it was clear that there was a lot going on as masses of cars lined the narrow streets. People were pouring out of the church so there must have been some sort of carol service going on and apparently it took Keith 15 minutes to get out of the village and onto the main road.
Andrea and Fiona were already well into their Gin and tonics in the lounge so after ordering more drinks at the bar we settled into the comfortable chairs to peruse the menus. The pub was not as busy as the last time we visited but there was still a nice atmosphere and the waiting staff were very attentive. I chose a spicy prawn broth to start, followed by pork belly with stuffing, creamed cabbage and mashed spuds as a main course. I was rather glad I went to the gym beforehand!
The food was delicious (the pork was sublime) but we managed to find room for cheese and biscuits, which on reflection, could have been shared between us as the portions were so big! There were four different cheeses, walnuts, grapes, celery and two different chutneys and by the end of the meal I felt well and truly stuffed, especially as I was wearing the jeans that are two sizes smaller than I normally wear!
We waddled back out into the lounge bar in search of our coats, only I couldn't find mine...I asked the waiter if he'd taken any coats somewhere else but he said no. There was one coat on the rack very similar in colour and style to my own coat so I had a good look at it to discover it was a Jaeger coat, three sizes smaller than mine! As there were still some women in the restaurant area I went back in to ask if the coat belonged to them, but no, it was unclaimed.
The waiter very kindly phoned a party that had been in and who he'd noticed trying on different coats but when he spoke to them they said they'd sorted out the problem and the woman had her own coat with her. I had no choice but to put the coat on as it was freezing outside and give my name and number to the waiter in the hope that the mistake could be put right!
I must admit, the coat is lovely and is about four times the price of my own that I bought in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill back on New Year's Day! However, I loved it, it was comfortable and my black gloves were in the pocket along with assorted tissues! The woman must realise that it's not her very expensive designer coat, surely!!
Evening tipple: A glass of Chenin Blanc followed by Chilean Pinot Noir!
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Hectic evenings!
I can't remember the last time I just went home from work and stayed there, without having to go back out somewhere in the evening! Tonight was no exception as Sophie was working for us and rather than go all the way home, then drive back to work, then go all the way back home again, I stayed at work until 6pm. The weather today has been very foggy and frosty indeed and by 4pm it was really quite nasty, a real wintry December day.
I had barely got home before it was time to go out again, to take Mikey to his Army Cadets meeting, which he's really enjoying. There's only one night in the week now that we don't have anything on in the evening and I'm going to make sure that after Christmas, this one precious day will remain free for going home and just relaxing!
Evening Tipple : Nothing!
I had barely got home before it was time to go out again, to take Mikey to his Army Cadets meeting, which he's really enjoying. There's only one night in the week now that we don't have anything on in the evening and I'm going to make sure that after Christmas, this one precious day will remain free for going home and just relaxing!
Evening Tipple : Nothing!
Monday, 10 December 2012
Two weeks today...
It will be Christmas Eve!
I'm the sort of person who tends to leave things until the last minute so although I've bought a few presents, there's still more that needs to be done before Christmas. It's also my Nan's birthday on Thursday this week - she'll be 93 - so I need to get her presents from all of us.
The forecast is for cold temperatures and snow this week which is not a good thing as I'm due to go down to Kent for Nan's birthday. On my own, I hasten to add, as I need to get back for Sophie's Parents' Evening at 6pm. Mum and Dad will travel down separately so I'm quite looking forward to the journey, in blissful solitude listening to Radio 2!
So, this week, no snow please!
Evening Tipple : Cotes du Rhone Villages
I'm the sort of person who tends to leave things until the last minute so although I've bought a few presents, there's still more that needs to be done before Christmas. It's also my Nan's birthday on Thursday this week - she'll be 93 - so I need to get her presents from all of us.
The forecast is for cold temperatures and snow this week which is not a good thing as I'm due to go down to Kent for Nan's birthday. On my own, I hasten to add, as I need to get back for Sophie's Parents' Evening at 6pm. Mum and Dad will travel down separately so I'm quite looking forward to the journey, in blissful solitude listening to Radio 2!
So, this week, no snow please!
Evening Tipple : Cotes du Rhone Villages
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Swimwear Malfunction...again!
It's been a pretty relaxed day today, which is just how Sundays should be!
Sophie had loads of homework to do so we postponed our gym visit until the late afternoon and just went for a swim. When I took my swimsuit out of my bag I noticed that the foam pads in the bust had somehow doubled over which made me look as if I had very weird shaped boobs! I tried to get them to go the right way but gave up and just shoved them to the side in an attempt to hide them under my arms but I felt quite self-conscious as I made my way down to the pool!
We swam for half an hour and then had a dip in the jacuzzi followed by a snack in the cafe. I have to say it wasn't one of the most enjoyable sessions I've ever had as there was a strange atmosphere in the spa for some reason...with some funny people wandering around! One man had an extremely hairy chest on which nestled a huge gold medallion! Not something you see every day, thank goodness!
Evening Tipple : Cotes du Rhone Villages
Sophie had loads of homework to do so we postponed our gym visit until the late afternoon and just went for a swim. When I took my swimsuit out of my bag I noticed that the foam pads in the bust had somehow doubled over which made me look as if I had very weird shaped boobs! I tried to get them to go the right way but gave up and just shoved them to the side in an attempt to hide them under my arms but I felt quite self-conscious as I made my way down to the pool!
We swam for half an hour and then had a dip in the jacuzzi followed by a snack in the cafe. I have to say it wasn't one of the most enjoyable sessions I've ever had as there was a strange atmosphere in the spa for some reason...with some funny people wandering around! One man had an extremely hairy chest on which nestled a huge gold medallion! Not something you see every day, thank goodness!
Evening Tipple : Cotes du Rhone Villages
Saturday, 8 December 2012
A wet and muddy walk!
Today has been very enjoyable although the walk Keith and I embarked on this afternoon was extremely muddy and hard-going!
We were woken this morning just before 8am when my Dad called to say that there was a problem with one of the slides at work. I was in the middle of a vivid dream about trying to get to the hairdresser's by way of flooded fields on a bike...premonition of later, perhaps? At first I thought it was Sophie waking us by saying it had snowed (she thought it was Monday morning and we were all late for work and school) but then she said that it had been my Dad, so I called him to find out the problem. He'd left for work so Keith and I went in as well to find it wasn't a slide but one of our climbing ramps that had come away from its fixings. Dad was netting it off so the children couldn't climb it and said we would sort it out on Monday.
Keith and I returned home (I treated myself to a Costa Coffee Latte at the petrol station as a treat) and then I spent the morning doing household chores before taking Sophie to work at 12pm. Her friend, Abi, was starting work for us today so I did a quick induction with her, then headed home to wash my car and finish hoovering the house.
Keith and I were being nosey neighbours as a couple came to view Tim and Gill's house...she was blonde and driving a white BMW while he was dark and shortish and although I'm not certain, I don't think they'll be buying as they were barely there ten minutes. It's a shame we don't have net curtains as we could then be twitching them, but it's certainly fun looking out for potential buyers and seeing what they're like...after all these people will be living extremely close to us in the future!
At about 3.30pm Keith and I set off for our walk and once over the fields discovered that they were very wet indeed! We took a different route and ended up down at the stream that runs through the middle of the fields and it was very full and fast flowing. I let out a few shrieks as I tried to jump over the water, trying my hardest not to fall in and then have to walk home soaking wet!
By the time we reached home it was fully dark and groping our way across the fields and trying not to fall down a rabbit hole was not pleasant. I think we'll leave this walk for a while, unless it snows hard, as it's not my idea of fun to be slipping and sliding about in the mud and getting filthy! I think we'll have to invest in some welly boots or stick to the paths!
Back home it was into the bath for a well-earned soak and then I went to pick Sophie up from work. Keith and I had planned to go to the pub for a drink and order a Chinese take-away from the van in the village and we had a great time chatting to some old friends and soaking up the lovely atmosphere. We realised we've been going to our local for almost 24 years and I never tire of being in there and having a drink!
Evening Tipple : The rest of the bottle of Firemark Viognier from Argentina.
We were woken this morning just before 8am when my Dad called to say that there was a problem with one of the slides at work. I was in the middle of a vivid dream about trying to get to the hairdresser's by way of flooded fields on a bike...premonition of later, perhaps? At first I thought it was Sophie waking us by saying it had snowed (she thought it was Monday morning and we were all late for work and school) but then she said that it had been my Dad, so I called him to find out the problem. He'd left for work so Keith and I went in as well to find it wasn't a slide but one of our climbing ramps that had come away from its fixings. Dad was netting it off so the children couldn't climb it and said we would sort it out on Monday.
Keith and I returned home (I treated myself to a Costa Coffee Latte at the petrol station as a treat) and then I spent the morning doing household chores before taking Sophie to work at 12pm. Her friend, Abi, was starting work for us today so I did a quick induction with her, then headed home to wash my car and finish hoovering the house.
Keith and I were being nosey neighbours as a couple came to view Tim and Gill's house...she was blonde and driving a white BMW while he was dark and shortish and although I'm not certain, I don't think they'll be buying as they were barely there ten minutes. It's a shame we don't have net curtains as we could then be twitching them, but it's certainly fun looking out for potential buyers and seeing what they're like...after all these people will be living extremely close to us in the future!
At about 3.30pm Keith and I set off for our walk and once over the fields discovered that they were very wet indeed! We took a different route and ended up down at the stream that runs through the middle of the fields and it was very full and fast flowing. I let out a few shrieks as I tried to jump over the water, trying my hardest not to fall in and then have to walk home soaking wet!
By the time we reached home it was fully dark and groping our way across the fields and trying not to fall down a rabbit hole was not pleasant. I think we'll leave this walk for a while, unless it snows hard, as it's not my idea of fun to be slipping and sliding about in the mud and getting filthy! I think we'll have to invest in some welly boots or stick to the paths!
Back home it was into the bath for a well-earned soak and then I went to pick Sophie up from work. Keith and I had planned to go to the pub for a drink and order a Chinese take-away from the van in the village and we had a great time chatting to some old friends and soaking up the lovely atmosphere. We realised we've been going to our local for almost 24 years and I never tire of being in there and having a drink!
Evening Tipple : The rest of the bottle of Firemark Viognier from Argentina.
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