This afternoon I started transcribing an old diary of a holiday we took in France, back in 2001. I often wish I'd started this blog years ago as it's so great to read back on what I've been doing with my life. Time passes so quickly it's nice to know what I did every day.
I have therefore started adding this old diary to my blog, in date order. The holiday we took in France was a bit of a disaster as we fell out with some good friends, two of whom we haven't spoken to since, despite them still living in the next village!
At the time, Sophie was five years old and Mikey was about 16 months, so still very much a baby and a naughty one at that! I hope you enjoy reading of our week in Normandy and a link to it can be found here:
A Wine Club trip to France May 11-18 2001
To carry on reading, scroll down to the rest of the entries on the right hand side of the page under 2001.
Saturday, 5 January 2013
New Year clear-out!
After a little lie-in (I like being up by 8.30am at the weekend!) and a cup of coffee, it was time to take down the Christmas decorations. It was sad taking down the lights as at this bleak time of year we all need cheering up!
I took down the tree and all the cards and put them away for next year, which will be here before we know it! After a breakfast of tomatoes, bacon and crusty bread I washed both cars and then Keith and I tackled all the dead bedding plants that were still languishing in our hanging baskets and tubs. I also raked up a lot of leaves that were covering the lawn and afterwards I felt great for spending a couple of hours in the fresh air. It was a lovely mild morning with the sun breaking through every now and again and at one point I actually sat on our seat in the garden and felt the sun on my face! There is always a danger in this as we are lulled into a false sense of security by thinking an early Spring is on the cards and then the temperatures plunge and we get a load of snow!
I spent the afternoon clearing out the drawers in our study and throwing out a lot of old papers and cards that we had kept (for some unknown reason). Again, it felt really good to have a clear out and make some space!
Just before sunset Sophie and I drove to a nearby vantage point and took some photos of the sunset and the winter fields. Although the temperature was around 9 degrees the wind made it feel a lot colder so it was great to get back into the car and turn the heating on!
Sophie is at a Winter Ball tonight so excitement is running high in the house as she gets ready. I'm chief taxi driver again and, like Cinderella, her coach will await her at midnight!
I took down the tree and all the cards and put them away for next year, which will be here before we know it! After a breakfast of tomatoes, bacon and crusty bread I washed both cars and then Keith and I tackled all the dead bedding plants that were still languishing in our hanging baskets and tubs. I also raked up a lot of leaves that were covering the lawn and afterwards I felt great for spending a couple of hours in the fresh air. It was a lovely mild morning with the sun breaking through every now and again and at one point I actually sat on our seat in the garden and felt the sun on my face! There is always a danger in this as we are lulled into a false sense of security by thinking an early Spring is on the cards and then the temperatures plunge and we get a load of snow!
I spent the afternoon clearing out the drawers in our study and throwing out a lot of old papers and cards that we had kept (for some unknown reason). Again, it felt really good to have a clear out and make some space!
Just before sunset Sophie and I drove to a nearby vantage point and took some photos of the sunset and the winter fields. Although the temperature was around 9 degrees the wind made it feel a lot colder so it was great to get back into the car and turn the heating on!
Sophie is at a Winter Ball tonight so excitement is running high in the house as she gets ready. I'm chief taxi driver again and, like Cinderella, her coach will await her at midnight!
Friday, 4 January 2013
Manic!
Today we've been so busy at work - a good end to the school holidays but it did take us by surprise as we've been nice and steady up until now.
We were all roped into helping out so I was in the kitchen washing up and serving customers, Mum and Dad cleared tables and Sophie looked after the two lunchtime parties we had. It was manic! The funny thing was that the weather was beautiful rather than rainy so maybe people thought we were going to be quieter!
It had been decided to go to the gym and get back into our proper workout but both Sophie and I felt a bit weary so we swam for almost an hour instead, followed by a very welcome dip in the jacuzzi!
We were all roped into helping out so I was in the kitchen washing up and serving customers, Mum and Dad cleared tables and Sophie looked after the two lunchtime parties we had. It was manic! The funny thing was that the weather was beautiful rather than rainy so maybe people thought we were going to be quieter!
It had been decided to go to the gym and get back into our proper workout but both Sophie and I felt a bit weary so we swam for almost an hour instead, followed by a very welcome dip in the jacuzzi!
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Games evening
It was really lovely to relax tonight (after a busy, noisy day at work) and play cards in the conservatory with the children. It's something we haven't done for a long while and it's very rare for the four of us to play cards together, which makes the game a lot harder! Needless to say I lost every time!
I'm keeping watch of the sunset times now as every day brings another minute or two of daylight. It won't be long before we can resume our evening walks!
I'm keeping watch of the sunset times now as every day brings another minute or two of daylight. It won't be long before we can resume our evening walks!
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
(Almost) back to normal
Phew...I think it's over! So, back to normal today...well, almost!
Sophie and I went off to the gym after work for a swim as my daughter still hasn't replaced her trainers which died on her a couple of weeks ago. However, when we got there the swimming lessons were still on and the pool was full of children!
We waited until 5pm but gave up as it looked like there were only a couple of lanes in the middle for serious swimmers (we're not, but you know what I mean). So instead of doing some exercise to work off the Christmas indulgence, we just lazed about in the jacuzzi and did very little!
I made sure that on the way home we stopped off to buy Sophie some new trainers. We are definitely back to it on Friday!
Some photos from yesterday:
Sophie and I went off to the gym after work for a swim as my daughter still hasn't replaced her trainers which died on her a couple of weeks ago. However, when we got there the swimming lessons were still on and the pool was full of children!
We waited until 5pm but gave up as it looked like there were only a couple of lanes in the middle for serious swimmers (we're not, but you know what I mean). So instead of doing some exercise to work off the Christmas indulgence, we just lazed about in the jacuzzi and did very little!
I made sure that on the way home we stopped off to buy Sophie some new trainers. We are definitely back to it on Friday!
Some photos from yesterday:
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| Horse and Hound Pub, Broadway |
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| Beautiful Cotswolds buildings |
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| The Lygon Arms, Broadway...one day!!! |
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| Vintage transport |
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| Sophie and Mikey trying on hats - Edinburgh Woollen Mill |
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| Interesting architecture, Broadway |
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
A journey through the Shires
Last night Sophie had some friends around for a small "gathering" as she called it and although there was a fair bit of alcohol involved, I was very impressed with their behaviour! There were seven of them in total, three girls and four boys, but we kept them contained in the conservatory and by 1am it was all over. Keith and I had a very quiet New Year's Eve sitting in our living room and watching TV but we did open a bottle of Cava at midnight and Mikey was first footer. Let's hope he brings us luck for 2013!
So, it was a bit of a slow start to the first day of 2013 as Sophie emerged late from her bed, but by midday we were on the road to Broadway in the Cotswolds for lunch and a mooch about the shops. Luckily the weather was beautiful and we were parked in the car park of the Horse and Hounds by 1.30pm. We were even luckier to get a table and had a delicious meal of lamb (Keith and me) steak and ale pie (Mikey) and chicken fajitas for Sophie. We pushed the boat out and had desserts and I was delighted to find they had the same beer on as last year - Rosey Nosey!
After eating we ambled around the village and I popped into the Edinburgh Woollen Mill to see if I could find another coat to match the one that was taken from me. No luck this year, though, so I just treated myself to a new pair of gloves and some shortcake biscuits and we headed home.
We took a bit of a roundabout route to get home and counted up the Shires we drove through...five in total! Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire! Shame we didn't see any hobbits!
So, it was a bit of a slow start to the first day of 2013 as Sophie emerged late from her bed, but by midday we were on the road to Broadway in the Cotswolds for lunch and a mooch about the shops. Luckily the weather was beautiful and we were parked in the car park of the Horse and Hounds by 1.30pm. We were even luckier to get a table and had a delicious meal of lamb (Keith and me) steak and ale pie (Mikey) and chicken fajitas for Sophie. We pushed the boat out and had desserts and I was delighted to find they had the same beer on as last year - Rosey Nosey!
After eating we ambled around the village and I popped into the Edinburgh Woollen Mill to see if I could find another coat to match the one that was taken from me. No luck this year, though, so I just treated myself to a new pair of gloves and some shortcake biscuits and we headed home.
We took a bit of a roundabout route to get home and counted up the Shires we drove through...five in total! Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire! Shame we didn't see any hobbits!
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