Mum and Dad took today off and I had the whole of my family in with me at work. Sophie wasn't needed as we had another girl in and Mikey went off with some of his friends to roam around the village.
We were quiet, which was hardly surprising as there was a big Play Event going on in the local park. On the way to the bank, Keith and I drove past and there were hundreds of families there enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
I managed to leave a good bit earlier today and Keith and I pottered about in the garden and then sat and had a drink. All very civilised and relaxing!
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Slogging it out!
Today has been a long day. We were all at work early to do the cleaning before we opened and I didn't leave until well past 5pm as Sophie was doing a party for us in the evening.
It was bliss to get home, sit in the garden and relax while Keith barbecued the dinner. It's been beautiful weather today with more forecast for the rest of the week so I don't think anyone can complain about this summer being a washout this year!
It was bliss to get home, sit in the garden and relax while Keith barbecued the dinner. It's been beautiful weather today with more forecast for the rest of the week so I don't think anyone can complain about this summer being a washout this year!
Monday, 5 August 2013
Decisions, decisions!
I have decided to postpone my climb of Ben Nevis next month until next year. When I compiled my Bucket List I never thought for one moment that Keith would agree to us driving to Berlin. As I did around 1500 miles I am reluctant to do another 1000 miles driving up to Fort William and back in 6 weeks time. I also don't feel as physically prepared as I should be so I'm feeling some relief that I've decided to do it next year, probably at the end of June.
I may well add another two activities to my list as I failed at riding the scary rollercoaster in Florida! They will have to be simple though!
I may well add another two activities to my list as I failed at riding the scary rollercoaster in Florida! They will have to be simple though!
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Bored and restless!
Today has been one of the those days when I really should have had something arranged as I've felt restless and moody all day! The grey damp weather certainly didn't help either!
After popping in to see Mum for coffee I went home to help Sophie colour her hair (and I did mine too, as I resemble a badger). I spent the afternoon feeling guilty that I wasn't at the gym or out for a walk but I didn't feel like doing anything!
I brightened up in the evening as we went out for dinner at Bella Italia, to celebrate all our homecomings. The place was almost deserted and we were warned by the woman who showed us to our table that there was a problem with the service. They were even turning customers away who hadn't pre-booked a table.
We had a good meal, but the place was exceptionally quiet and we were almost the last to leave at 9.30pm. I'm not sure we will go back to this particular restaurant as the last time Keith and I were in there it was also very quiet, but I put that down to a football match going on next door at the Northampton stadium.
Today, Sophie edited some of the 500 photos she took in Berlin. Here are a few showing some scenes that I would never think of capturing. She's got a good eye!
After popping in to see Mum for coffee I went home to help Sophie colour her hair (and I did mine too, as I resemble a badger). I spent the afternoon feeling guilty that I wasn't at the gym or out for a walk but I didn't feel like doing anything!
I brightened up in the evening as we went out for dinner at Bella Italia, to celebrate all our homecomings. The place was almost deserted and we were warned by the woman who showed us to our table that there was a problem with the service. They were even turning customers away who hadn't pre-booked a table.
We had a good meal, but the place was exceptionally quiet and we were almost the last to leave at 9.30pm. I'm not sure we will go back to this particular restaurant as the last time Keith and I were in there it was also very quiet, but I put that down to a football match going on next door at the Northampton stadium.
Today, Sophie edited some of the 500 photos she took in Berlin. Here are a few showing some scenes that I would never think of capturing. She's got a good eye!
 | |
| View from our window |
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| View over Wallstrasse (and building work!) |
 |
| The road of hell! We have to cross this busy 6 lane road to get to the Nikolai quarter. Luckily there are pedestrian crossings! |
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| Cobbled street in the Nikolai Quarter |
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| Alexanderplatz station |
 |
| Bode Museum |
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Family reunited!
Mikey kept in touch with me all afternoon about the time he was due to get home. I'd picked Sophie up from work and we'd gone off to do some shopping and have a Creamy Cooler at Costa Coffee when the text came through that he was just outside of Northampton.
We drove over to the Barracks to find them all back and hordes of people waiting to pick up their sons and daughters. When he eventually emerged from the throng he looked taller and thinner!
We went straight home and Mum and Dad came around for a drink to see him and us after our holiday. As you can imagine, there was a lot to say! Dad surprised me by saying that he'd been very worried about us doing the trip to Berlin and was mightily relieved that we were home safely! Ahhh!
After Mum and Dad had gone home, we barbecued and have an evening catching up with all that we'd been doing!
We drove over to the Barracks to find them all back and hordes of people waiting to pick up their sons and daughters. When he eventually emerged from the throng he looked taller and thinner!
We went straight home and Mum and Dad came around for a drink to see him and us after our holiday. As you can imagine, there was a lot to say! Dad surprised me by saying that he'd been very worried about us doing the trip to Berlin and was mightily relieved that we were home safely! Ahhh!
After Mum and Dad had gone home, we barbecued and have an evening catching up with all that we'd been doing!
Friday, 2 August 2013
Post holiday chores.
There were certain things that had to be done today, no matter what! Of course, we had a suitcase full of dirty washing that needed to be sorted out and the car windscreen and bonnet were covered in 1500 miles worth of dead flies that had to be removed. I did some ironing and then swapped with Keith who loves to watch sport while he presses all our clothes.
While he was doing that I tackled the dirty car and chatted to Gill who told us that they'd bought a new house, so things look like they will be moving soon and we will definitely be getting new neighbours. My second urgent task after cleaning the car was to sort out our garden which was a shaggy mess. There were dead leaves all over the unkempt lawn, half the flowers needed dead-heading and I couldn't stand looking at it a minute longer!
Once the lawn was mowed it immediately looked better and once I picked up all the dead leaves and gave it some TLC I was very pleased! Now I'll be able to sit out and relax! The weather, which had been dull and cloudy, gave way to warm sunshine and a lovely breeze - perfect for drying our mounds of washing!
My last urgent deed of the day was to give Archie a fur-cut. He'd disappeared for a couple of days, but with psychic instinct he'd made a return today so while Sophie held him I used our hair apparatus on him (I'm no longer allowed to cut Mikey's hair) and shaved off the big tangles that had appeared on his back. He now looks a bit like he's had a bad haircut but at least he'll feel a bit better!
I can cross off another activity on my Bucket List!
While he was doing that I tackled the dirty car and chatted to Gill who told us that they'd bought a new house, so things look like they will be moving soon and we will definitely be getting new neighbours. My second urgent task after cleaning the car was to sort out our garden which was a shaggy mess. There were dead leaves all over the unkempt lawn, half the flowers needed dead-heading and I couldn't stand looking at it a minute longer!
Once the lawn was mowed it immediately looked better and once I picked up all the dead leaves and gave it some TLC I was very pleased! Now I'll be able to sit out and relax! The weather, which had been dull and cloudy, gave way to warm sunshine and a lovely breeze - perfect for drying our mounds of washing!
My last urgent deed of the day was to give Archie a fur-cut. He'd disappeared for a couple of days, but with psychic instinct he'd made a return today so while Sophie held him I used our hair apparatus on him (I'm no longer allowed to cut Mikey's hair) and shaved off the big tangles that had appeared on his back. He now looks a bit like he's had a bad haircut but at least he'll feel a bit better!
I can cross off another activity on my Bucket List!
Visit Saltaire near Bradford - a Victorian model village built by Sir Titus Salt for his mill workers.Drive to Berlin (maybe a bit dodgy this one but I'm going to persevere).- Visit a UK Christmas Market.
- Walk through Dovedale in the Peak District.
- Make a Christmas cake.
- Write a short story - it's about time I got back into my writing.
Visit Coton Manor Gardens.- 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...)
Visit Portmeirion in Wales.- Ride one of the scarier roller coasters when we visit Florida, but NOT the Hulk!
Visit the National Gallery.Read Wuthering Heights.- Grow a Sunflower from seed.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Berlin Road Trip
Day 6 - Thursday 1 August
We were awake very early and before actually getting up I looked ahead to the journey and hoped fervently that I'd be tucked up in my own bed tonight! We'd agreed that Keith would drive the Autobahn sections as the speed of the traffic last Sunday really did frighten me!
We managed to get all packed up, showered and breakfasted by 7.30am and then Keith and I went to collect the car from the underground car park. After managing to squeeze all our luggage into the boot (we had less toiletries and food but more beer and wine!) we were ready for the off by 8am.
By now Berlin was in full swing and the traffic was quite heavy. We programmed Gladys although we had great difficulty finding the car ferry at Calais so we put in a random address! She gave us an arrival time of 4pm which was brilliant as our ferry was due to go at just before 7pm. We were still thinking of stopping overnight if the traffic was bad and there were hold-ups and I had the address of a Novotel in Eindhoven with me just in case. Sophie was longing for us to stop in Bruges overnight, but that was really too much of a temptation!
We set off and I did feel very nervous but within half an hour we were out of the city and filling up with diesel at a station just before we got onto the Autobahn. I said to Keith I would drive and see how I felt but to my surprise the motorways in Germany were the best part about today so I drove the whole way. Although the traffic was a lot heavier than when we drove in on Sunday, and there were loads of lorries about, it was a real pleasure to drive, with only a handful of speed merchants zooming by. I have to say I think there is a real argument for having certain sections with no limit as the traffic flowed a lot better than it does in the UK. There is none of this hanging about in the outside lane and not concentrating, as unless you are doing well over 100mph, the trick is to get out, overtake the slower vehicle quickly and then get back in. It certainly makes you concentrate more!
We had a great journey, with a lunch stop near Hannover and a fuel and ice-cream stop somewhere in the Netherlands. We had a bit of a hold-up in the very busy city of Antwerp and we went a bit wrong near Gent again (I took a wrong turning on the way out as well!) but we made it to Calais at just past 5pm. It had grown increasingly hot all day and when we pulled up in the ferry queue it was registering 37c!
Luckily we were able to board an earlier ferry which meant we were back in the UK by 6.30pm. I called Mum to say we were on our way back and texted Mikey who seemed to be having a great time which was a relief.
On the radio we heard that a part of the M25 we would travel on was closed so we decided to stop and have a meal in Kent. We used the AA Pub Guide on my phone and then put the address into Gladys and within twenty minutes we were drawing up outside the Pepper Box Inn near Maidstone. It was a beautiful little pub and was very popular with lots of people enjoying the warm weather and sitting outside in the garden. They were able to fit us in for a meal but we all felt a bit scruffy and dishevelled! Of course, nobody knew that we'd just driven all the way from Berlin!
We had a lovely meal (garlic bread and crab salad for starters, beef stroganoff, fish and chips and schnitzel (!) for mains) and then it was time to go and tackle the British roads. I actually felt quite ashamed as there were hold-ups in Dartford as they'd closed one tunnel and half the toll booths and then we had the mother of all jams through the roadworks when they closed two of the three lanes which caused chaos. It was still warm - 28c at 11pm - and the relief when we finally made it home at midnight was immense!
So, would I do it again? No doubt it's far, far easier to fly but there was a real sense of adventure about driving and we could take whatever we wanted. It's just sharpened my appetite for driving on the continent as the roads are fabulous and on the whole, the driving is far better than in the UK. If I had my way I would definitely do it again but perhaps stop en route half way!
View Larger Map
We were awake very early and before actually getting up I looked ahead to the journey and hoped fervently that I'd be tucked up in my own bed tonight! We'd agreed that Keith would drive the Autobahn sections as the speed of the traffic last Sunday really did frighten me!
We managed to get all packed up, showered and breakfasted by 7.30am and then Keith and I went to collect the car from the underground car park. After managing to squeeze all our luggage into the boot (we had less toiletries and food but more beer and wine!) we were ready for the off by 8am.
By now Berlin was in full swing and the traffic was quite heavy. We programmed Gladys although we had great difficulty finding the car ferry at Calais so we put in a random address! She gave us an arrival time of 4pm which was brilliant as our ferry was due to go at just before 7pm. We were still thinking of stopping overnight if the traffic was bad and there were hold-ups and I had the address of a Novotel in Eindhoven with me just in case. Sophie was longing for us to stop in Bruges overnight, but that was really too much of a temptation!
We set off and I did feel very nervous but within half an hour we were out of the city and filling up with diesel at a station just before we got onto the Autobahn. I said to Keith I would drive and see how I felt but to my surprise the motorways in Germany were the best part about today so I drove the whole way. Although the traffic was a lot heavier than when we drove in on Sunday, and there were loads of lorries about, it was a real pleasure to drive, with only a handful of speed merchants zooming by. I have to say I think there is a real argument for having certain sections with no limit as the traffic flowed a lot better than it does in the UK. There is none of this hanging about in the outside lane and not concentrating, as unless you are doing well over 100mph, the trick is to get out, overtake the slower vehicle quickly and then get back in. It certainly makes you concentrate more!
We had a great journey, with a lunch stop near Hannover and a fuel and ice-cream stop somewhere in the Netherlands. We had a bit of a hold-up in the very busy city of Antwerp and we went a bit wrong near Gent again (I took a wrong turning on the way out as well!) but we made it to Calais at just past 5pm. It had grown increasingly hot all day and when we pulled up in the ferry queue it was registering 37c!
Luckily we were able to board an earlier ferry which meant we were back in the UK by 6.30pm. I called Mum to say we were on our way back and texted Mikey who seemed to be having a great time which was a relief.
On the radio we heard that a part of the M25 we would travel on was closed so we decided to stop and have a meal in Kent. We used the AA Pub Guide on my phone and then put the address into Gladys and within twenty minutes we were drawing up outside the Pepper Box Inn near Maidstone. It was a beautiful little pub and was very popular with lots of people enjoying the warm weather and sitting outside in the garden. They were able to fit us in for a meal but we all felt a bit scruffy and dishevelled! Of course, nobody knew that we'd just driven all the way from Berlin!
We had a lovely meal (garlic bread and crab salad for starters, beef stroganoff, fish and chips and schnitzel (!) for mains) and then it was time to go and tackle the British roads. I actually felt quite ashamed as there were hold-ups in Dartford as they'd closed one tunnel and half the toll booths and then we had the mother of all jams through the roadworks when they closed two of the three lanes which caused chaos. It was still warm - 28c at 11pm - and the relief when we finally made it home at midnight was immense!
So, would I do it again? No doubt it's far, far easier to fly but there was a real sense of adventure about driving and we could take whatever we wanted. It's just sharpened my appetite for driving on the continent as the roads are fabulous and on the whole, the driving is far better than in the UK. If I had my way I would definitely do it again but perhaps stop en route half way!
View Larger Map
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