Back to work...grrr!

Getting up early to go in and do the cleaning at work was a bit of a shock this morning after our long day yesterday!

I did find out what the noise was, though! One of our warships, HMS Montrose, was doing exercises off the coast off North Wales prior to the ship being deployed, so that explains the loud booming noises! Nobody was told, however, and the police and coastguards were inundated with calls from worried residents wondering what on earth was going on! Not a sea monster then, as we feared!

Of course, yesterday was a Bucket List day, so another one has been crossed off the list:

1. Visit Saltaire near Bradford - a Victorian model village built by Sir Titus Salt for his mill workers. 
2. Drive to Berlin (maybe a bit dodgy this one but I'm going to persevere).
3. Visit a UK Christmas Market.
4. Walk through Dovedale in the Peak District.
5. Make a Christmas cake.
6. Write a short story - it's about time I got back into my writing.
7. Visit Coton Manor Gardens.
8. Climb at least one of the highest mountains in the UK - either Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis or Snowdon (hmmm...got to get that treadmill at the gym on a higher incline...)
9. Visit Portmeirion in Wales.
10. Ride one of the scarier roller coasters when we visit Florida, but NOT the Hulk!
11. Visit the National Gallery.
12. Read Wuthering Heights.
13. Grow a Sunflower from seed.

I'm also hoping to cross off number 13, as I planted lots of sunflower seeds on Sunday...hopefully one will grow!

Portmeirion

I'd been watching the weather forecasts carefully as I really wanted to visit Portmeirion in North Wales today. To appreciate the full beauty of the place you need blue skies and sunshine and I didn't want to go if there was a risk of grey clouds and rain!

Luckily, the whole area was forecast to be bathed in Spring sun so we firmed up the plans, much to the annoyance of Mikey who blatantly did not want to go. However, there was no question of him staying at home as I knew we would be back late and I just wouldn't enjoy the day if I kept thinking about him at home alone, despite my parents being two minutes away.

So, with a grumpy Mikey and a sleepy Sophie in the back of my little Audi we set off at just after 8am. We called into McDonald's first to appease the children with breakfast and then I filled up with diesel. Keith navigated me brilliantly even though we had Gladys with us as well. The traffic at first was very light, especially on the M6, but as we joined the A5 it became heavier as people made for the coast.

Almost as soon as we were into Wales, the scenery became stunning. Keith took me on a very narrow road right through the Snowdonia National Park and the mountainous landscape took our breath away. There were sheep everywhere and it delighted the children when they were grazing by the side of the road and then skittered away as the car approached!

We arrived at Portmeirion at lunchtime, four hours after we set off so it was a fair journey! The weather had held and the whole area was bathed in beautiful sunshine. Portmeirion was designed and built by the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is truly beautiful. Of course, it is also famous for the setting of "The Prisoner" which was filmed in the 1960s, starring Patrick McGoohan.

Luckily the place wasn't crowded so we wandered around and then had lunch in a small cafe which specialised in ice-cream much to the children's delight! It really did feel like we were on holiday in Italy and it was strange to think we were actually in North Wales!

After lunch we walked down to the beach and the children attempted to go into the sea but it was freezing and the water looked quite deep. The views over the Traeth Bach estuary were stunning and I could have sat and gazed at the scenery all afternoon.

There was beauty everywhere you looked and it was a photographer's dream! Looking back at the village it really did resemble an Italian village perched on an outcrop overlooking the sea...

We wandered along the beach and we were so glad the tide was out as we could really appreciate the beauty of the estuary.

The sand was very hard and littered with little shells and seaweed. We walked around the headland and another vista opened up before us, with rocky outcrops, little pools of water and flaming yellow gorse bushes.

We had great fun clambering over the rocks and looking for crabs and then we made our way up to the woodland walk which led back down to the village. There were huge bushes of what looked like rhododendrons everywhere and the flowers were gorgeous...

It was very peaceful and every now and again we'd glimpse those gorgeous views through the trees - it's a stunning place to visit on a sunny day and I was so glad we'd made the journey. Back at the village we sat in the sun in the main square which had a fountain and pool and just relaxed. It really did feel like we were abroad!

While we'd been at Portmeirion, we'd kept hearing loud booming noises and we had no idea what the sound was. On our way out, we asked one of the staff at the admissions desk but he didn't know either, which was a bit alarming! I was reluctant to leave (there are self-catering cottages available and I would love to come back to explore the whole area) but the time was getting on and I wanted to drive along the coast through Harlech, where I'd visited on a school visit when I was about ten. I remembered the gorgeous coastline and the imposing castle standing looking out to the sea.

Well, my memories must have been a little out, as Harlech castle was surrounded by houses and was a fair way from the sea! It just goes to show that memory can't be relied on, although it was about 35 years ago!

We followed the coast road through Harlech and then the village of Llanbedr where I stayed in a Youth Hostel - oh, what a great time we had then! The village was a lot bigger than I remembered and we didn't find the Youth Hostel, but I really would like to go back one day and explore a bit more, preferably without two grumpy children!

Before we reached Barmouth we turned off the main road and drove to the beach, and what a beach it was! Wide, sandy and miles long, it was perfect for sunbathing and building sandcastles (or digging holes, which is what my two did!).

How old are they?!

The booming sounds we'd been hearing all afternoon were still there and it was quite creepy as the noise seemed to be coming from the sea itself. We asked a woman strolling along the beach with her son if she knew, but she was as ignorant as we were so we really did start to feel alarmed! We also heard a man telling his wife that he'd Google the noise when they got home so it was a real mystery!

Again, we reluctantly left the beautiful beach and Keith plotted our route home. The plan was to stop after about two hours for a pub meal and I'd hoped we wouldn't be too far from home. However, the traffic had other ideas! Before half an hour had passed we'd slowed down because of roadworks, which held us up for nearly an hour. We then found the road we wanted was closed so we were forced to make a long diversion. On the way, Keith spotted a tiny little road snaking up into the hills so onto it we went and that was certainly an adventure as we wound right up through fields of sheep and dry stone walls. The scenery was spectacular with views for miles and miles. The kids wondered where on earth we were taking them but it did mean that we got back onto the road we originally wanted, despite the bumpy ride!

As it was now past 7pm and we'd been driving for three hours and were still in Wales (!) we decided to stop for a bite to eat. I stopped the car and we called up the AA pub guide app on my phone which recommended a pub called The Old Hand and Diamond in Coedway, near Shrewsbury. We entered the postcode into Gladys who took us there by a very narrow winding route, through yet more fields of sheep!

The pub was as good as we'd hoped and we had a great meal. Keith and I chose lamb (what else in Wales?) while Sophie had chicken and Mikey had lasagne. I was so glad I'd downloaded the AA guide as we would never have found it on our own and it would have meant coming off the busy A5 and trying to find something which has always proved difficult in the past!

We had a much faster drive after our stop and pulled onto the drive at 10.30pm. It had been a very long day, but I enjoyed every minute!

Garden duties!

This morning, on the way to pick Sophie up from her friend's house, Keith and I popped in to see Mum and Dad to catch up, as they'd been away for the week in Norfolk. They gave us some yummy presents - beer for Keith, vodka for me and chocolates for the children...they can go away more often!

We had a good chat and then went to collect our daughter who looked very tired and a bit hungover...serves her right! We took her home and then Keith and I pottered about the garden, raking up most of the dead leaves from our gravelled area and cutting back some plants that looked in a sorry state. At 12pm we drove Mikey to Brixworth as he wanted to meet some of his friends - this is the problem with living in the country...the kids have to be driven everywhere as there are certainly no buses on a Sunday!

In the afternoon Mum and I went to the garden centre for afternoon tea and I bought a load of plants to add some colour. I chose violas, geraniums and a couple of plants that will flower and make the garden more attractive throughout the summer, and will hopefully attract bees!

Back home I spent almost two hours putting them all in and then went and relaxed with a film and a glass of something long and cold...tomorrow is another holiday and we're off to Wales for the day!

Watching bats

Today I have mostly driven about, being an unofficial taxi driver.

Sophie and her friend Abi wanted to be picked up from work early as we were very quiet, due to the weather, although there were a few heavy showers about in the afternoon. I took them home and then they started getting ready for the party they were going to - 5 hours to get made up? Mikey also had an outing planned - into town with some friends to go shopping and see a film.

I left them to it and went to the gym for a 45 minute swim which was lovely. I certainly felt like I'd done something when I got out of the pool and went to relax in the spa! Back home, two more of Sophie's friends had arrived so I retreated into my bedroom to watch "Twister", which brought back happy memories of Universal!

At 7pm I took the four very excited and giggly girls into town to one of their friend's houses and dropped them off, saying the latest I would pick them up would be midnight...groan!

It was almost 8pm by the time I arrived back home to find Mikey still out and no word as to when he would be back. I called his mobile but it went straight to voicemail so naturally I started worrying! Keith told me to stop and within a few minutes he'd replied to my text to say he was on his way home.

After dinner, just as it was getting dark I went out into the garden with Monty and we watched the bats flying about. Well, I did...Monty just sat there and miaowed. It was a beautiful evening and very quiet, just what I needed after my busy day!

I received a text from Sophie saying that the girls wanted to be picked up at 11pm so off I went and my daughter had turned into a very giggly tipsy one indeed! Her friend James had also been to the party but he was on his motorbike so he went ahead to Charlotte's house where they were all going to sleep over...hmmm! My daughter is certainly growing up!

Gym bliss!

As ever, this week has flown by and it's Friday again...and a Bank Holiday weekend to boot! Hopefully the beautiful weather we've had all week will continue for the next few days!

We were exceptionally quiet at work so Keith and I did the usual Friday chores without worrying about getting back to help over lunchtime. Despite Sophie promising me she would come to the gym after work, she said she couldn't go without her earphones, which one of her friends had borrowed. I suggested a walk, which was met with rolling eyes, so I took her home and went to the gym by myself.

I was glad I did as I had a great time listening to my music and catching the start of Pointless which I enjoy. As I was heading back to the changing rooms I met Liam and we had a chat about wine (as usual!) and I said how much I'd enjoyed last Saturday night as it was so relaxed. I think rather than the wine evenings we'll just hold informal suppers and drinks lots of wine instead! Sarah also appeared so we chatted about her plans to do a 5K run in June and then I went off to the spa to have a truly relaxing session in the bubbly warm water! Bliss!

Enough is enough!

This week has been beautiful with lots of sun and warm temperatures so we've been very quiet at work. Keith and I planned to go to Ikea in the early evening to take back an inflatable ladybird I'd bought last week and which had a part missing. As Sophie's beau was due around again we said we'd take Mikey with us and then go to Bella Italia on the way home for a meal (I had vouchers!).

As soon as I picked Sophie up from school we went home and I asked her to put the hoover around to help. She looked at me like I'd just dropped out of a dog's bottom and flounced off saying that she didn't have much time to get ready now...

We then told her that we'd treated her and James to a Tesco Finest meal of meatballs, mashed potatoes and gooey puds. Well! You'd think we'd bought her a plate of tripe by the way she reacted to this news! "I wanted pizza!" she moaned which certainly made our blood boil! How ungrateful is that!

At 5pm we left her wallowing in the bath and set out for Milton Keynes. Unfortunately, before we'd even reached the A43 we'd had an argument with Mikey about sausages and he was so rude to both of us that we turned the car around, took him home and left him there, much to his and Sophie's disgust.

We really have had enough now of the constant arguing and bickering that's been going on since we returned from Florida. Sophie seems to be constantly making demands on us while Mikey spends most of his time in a mood. We've been thinking of booking next year's holiday this week but at the moment Keith and I are seriously thinking of going away on our own and leaving both children at home. Next year, Sophie will be 18 and we did wonder whether she would want to go away with us, but with her recent attitude, the problem seems to be resolved!

We went to Ikea and had a good look around in peace. It was actually blissful to be away from both children for a few hours so maybe we all need a break from each other. On the way home we drove to Sixfields and realised that the Cobblers were playing so the car parks were heaving. Luckily, the Bella Italia car park had loads of spaces as they controlled who could park there so we parked and walked into a very quiet restaurant indeed. We had a delicious meal, with assorted breads and a balsamic vinegar and oil dip to start followed by chicken for Keith and a breaded escalope for me served with spaghetti and roasted vegetables. We managed to fit in gorgeous gooey desserts and then called into the pub for a nightcap before facing the music at home.

Mikey ignored us and disappeared off to his room so it looks like he'll be in a "moopat" (my made up word for his moods) for a while to come...am I bovvered??? No!

Getting dirty!

Sophie disappeared off to her friend's house tonight so rather than go to the gym on my own, on such a glorious day, I went home and worked in the garden for two hours. Keith cut down one of our shrubs that was a casualty of the winter snow while I weeded the borders and then cut the lawn. I pottered about, enjoying the sunshine and was really pleased with how the garden looked after we finished. We even sat outside with Monty for a short while and soaked up the sun. Bliss!

Dinner was just the two of us as Mikey wasn't happy with our choice (which was actually Sophie's choice!) so he had a toastie...once there were four, then there were three and now it's only two!

At 9pm I received a call from Sophie asking if I could pick her up at 10pm from her friend's house as she was having such a great time...I am definitely going to put a taxi sign on my car!