Today Keith, Sophie and I went off to Stratford upon Avon as Keith had arranged to meet his mate Malcolm, whom he hadn't seen for ages.
We set off on a different route to the one we normally use to get to the Warwickshire town and sped through some beautiful countryside, eventually using the ancient Fosse Way to get to Stratford. The weather had been a bit drizzly when we left and although the sun never made an appearance, it did stay dry, which was a relief.
We said goodbye to Keith and went to Cox's Yard for a well-earned cup of coffee. It was very quiet in there and it was lovely to sit and relax for half an hour over a Flat White and a muffin. From the cafe we walked into the town but there were no entertainers about today and certainly no crowds of people sitting in the sun! Everyone was well wrapped up in coats although it was still mild.
We had a quick look in an Oxfam bookshop and then wandered around a beautiful gallery admiring the different paintings and sculptures. It's something I don't normally do but it was very enjoyable. Luckily nothing I saw caught my eye...some of the art was selling for thousands of pounds!
Leaving the gallery we went to H&M and then Waterstones as I was looking for a recipe book from World War II for my Come Dine With Me evening next month. There was nothing available so we decided to go and have a bite to eat at a lovely little place called No 37 Cafe. Sophie chose a panini while I opted for a slice of quiche and salad and both dishes were great. I certainly felt stuffed when we walked out to go and meet Keith!
He'd had a great time with Malcolm and was in good spirits when we left to drive home. As usual we found a different route home but like a moth to a flame, we were drawn to Leamington Spa once again. I don't know what it is about this town but I always manage to do a circuit every time we visit Stratford!
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Busy!
Life is really busy at the moment - I have no idea how I found the time to work!
We dropped the kids off at school and university and then I left Keith at Pitsford so he could go and do his walk. I sped home to put the hoover around and after Keith had finished his daily trek and showered we went to collect Sophie to go to Jones's.
While we were shopping the weather turned rainy and it was lashing it down when we came out. I got soaked taking the trolley back and resembled a drowned rat! Not a good look!
After Jones's we headed to Tesco and the post office as I'd received a nice little cheque in the post from a credit card protection scheme I'd taken out about ten years ago. The amount I received wasn't huge but it'll keep the wolf from the door for a couple of weeks! I didn't have to do anything either, just fill out a claim form that had been sent to me and send it back. This all happened about ten years ago so it was great to get a little windfall!
I couldn't pay the cheque in at the post office without a paying in slip, so I told Sophie we'd call in at Brixworth on the way home from university later in the day, which we did. Just outside of the village I pulled over in Jim and let Sophie drive the rest of the way home. After being a little nervous she did very well and enjoyed driving along the country roads. We need to get out and do some practise every week!
In the evening it was just Sophie and me as the boys were out to their usual Tuesday night activities. A girls' night in means Chicken Kiev, mashed potatoes and sweetcorn all washed down with a glass or two of Bicicletta Viognier. Delicious!
We dropped the kids off at school and university and then I left Keith at Pitsford so he could go and do his walk. I sped home to put the hoover around and after Keith had finished his daily trek and showered we went to collect Sophie to go to Jones's.
While we were shopping the weather turned rainy and it was lashing it down when we came out. I got soaked taking the trolley back and resembled a drowned rat! Not a good look!
After Jones's we headed to Tesco and the post office as I'd received a nice little cheque in the post from a credit card protection scheme I'd taken out about ten years ago. The amount I received wasn't huge but it'll keep the wolf from the door for a couple of weeks! I didn't have to do anything either, just fill out a claim form that had been sent to me and send it back. This all happened about ten years ago so it was great to get a little windfall!
I couldn't pay the cheque in at the post office without a paying in slip, so I told Sophie we'd call in at Brixworth on the way home from university later in the day, which we did. Just outside of the village I pulled over in Jim and let Sophie drive the rest of the way home. After being a little nervous she did very well and enjoyed driving along the country roads. We need to get out and do some practise every week!
In the evening it was just Sophie and me as the boys were out to their usual Tuesday night activities. A girls' night in means Chicken Kiev, mashed potatoes and sweetcorn all washed down with a glass or two of Bicicletta Viognier. Delicious!
Monday, 5 October 2015
Return of the rain...
As forecast, today dawned grey and drizzly but I don't suppose we can complain after all the sunshine we've had lately!
Keith went for a walk after dropping the kids off at school and university and when he returned we popped to Tesco to buy some veg and something tasty for lunch.
In the afternoon we met my parents at a showhome as they've decided to buy a house on a development not far from where they live now. They wanted us to see the showhome and let them know what we thought. I was very impressed!
Keith went for a walk after dropping the kids off at school and university and when he returned we popped to Tesco to buy some veg and something tasty for lunch.
In the afternoon we met my parents at a showhome as they've decided to buy a house on a development not far from where they live now. They wanted us to see the showhome and let them know what we thought. I was very impressed!
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| Their plot - it should be finished in March 2016 |
Sunday, 4 October 2015
Quiet Sunday
Yesterday we had a day of cloud but today dawned bright and sunny again, but I think this will be the last we'll see of the sun for a little while!
Keith and I popped in to see Mum and Dad for a coffee, then it was time to take Sophie to work before coming home and having a late breakfast.
I didn't get up to much today - I caught up with some stuff on my computer including answering an email from a lady in Canada who'd contacted me about the possibility of sharing a relative from the 1800s. It's always interesting hearing from somebody who could potentially be a distant relative so I sent off an email hoping that she would get back to me to confirm that, somewhere down the line, we're related!
Keith and I popped in to see Mum and Dad for a coffee, then it was time to take Sophie to work before coming home and having a late breakfast.
I didn't get up to much today - I caught up with some stuff on my computer including answering an email from a lady in Canada who'd contacted me about the possibility of sharing a relative from the 1800s. It's always interesting hearing from somebody who could potentially be a distant relative so I sent off an email hoping that she would get back to me to confirm that, somewhere down the line, we're related!
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Hanging around...
This morning Sophie had an appointment at the nail salon so I dropped her off and then made the mistake of going to the Weston Favell Centre as I needed diesel for my car. The place was packed and the garage was like something out of an apocalyptic war film where people think fuel is going to run out very shortly...
I did a circuit of the forecourt that was crammed with cars and decided to go elsewhere to get my diesel! After buying a newspaper I went back to park near the salon and wait for Sophie to be finished.
From there we went to an equally rammed Riverside for a quick cup of coffee before she went to meet her friend Daisy in town for lunch. By the time I eventually returned home I had had enough of driving!
The afternoon was spent very pleasantly watching Downton Abbey and Grand Designs as Keith had gone to watch a local football match and Mike was in town with friends. Sophie came home at around 4.30pm shortly followed by Keith who was on a high as his team had won 7-2!
I'm afraid England's rugby team couldn't be so successful as they crashed out to Australia in the evening which means for the first time ever, the host nation are out of the World Cup before getting into the next round. Oh dear!
I did a circuit of the forecourt that was crammed with cars and decided to go elsewhere to get my diesel! After buying a newspaper I went back to park near the salon and wait for Sophie to be finished.
From there we went to an equally rammed Riverside for a quick cup of coffee before she went to meet her friend Daisy in town for lunch. By the time I eventually returned home I had had enough of driving!
The afternoon was spent very pleasantly watching Downton Abbey and Grand Designs as Keith had gone to watch a local football match and Mike was in town with friends. Sophie came home at around 4.30pm shortly followed by Keith who was on a high as his team had won 7-2!
I'm afraid England's rugby team couldn't be so successful as they crashed out to Australia in the evening which means for the first time ever, the host nation are out of the World Cup before getting into the next round. Oh dear!
Friday, 2 October 2015
End of the first week!
So, Sophie's first full week at university is over and I'm very happy to report that she's enjoyed herself and has made lots of new friends, which is great news. She had a short day today and was finished at 2pm.
As it was such a beautiful day again Sophie and I decided to walk down to the village but the cats thought it was a good idea to follow us and today, for the first time ever, they came out of the estate and kept on following us down the path.
We have no idea why they did it but when we got to the gate that leads to the field behind the estate we thought they would go through and make their way home but they carried on after us. Worrying that they would end up getting run over we abandoned our walk and went back home after doing a lap of the estate first.
Mike went over to Brixworth in the evening while Keith walked down to the pub...he's taking advantage while he can and the weather's OK!
As it was such a beautiful day again Sophie and I decided to walk down to the village but the cats thought it was a good idea to follow us and today, for the first time ever, they came out of the estate and kept on following us down the path.
We have no idea why they did it but when we got to the gate that leads to the field behind the estate we thought they would go through and make their way home but they carried on after us. Worrying that they would end up getting run over we abandoned our walk and went back home after doing a lap of the estate first.
Mike went over to Brixworth in the evening while Keith walked down to the pub...he's taking advantage while he can and the weather's OK!
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Balmy Autumn days...
The glorious weather is continuing and Keith went off for a walk around the nature reserve this morning while Mum and Dad came over to finish off all the accounts. By 1pm everything was all done and after dropping Sophie off at University we drove to the accountants and left the books with them.
Keith and I arrived home and sat and wrote the weekly menu before going off to Tesco and doing our weekly shop. It was lovely and quiet in there again and we had a great chat with one of the checkout girls who is a member of Keith's little harem!
Mike wanted to go to Brixworth in the late afternoon so I drove him over and then it was time to pick Sophie up from University. She finishes at 6pm on a Thursday and we decided, on the way home, to call into the Whyte Melville in Boughton for a drink before driving onto Brixworth to collect Mike.
We had a very pleasant hour sitting in the pub and chatting about our day in Whitby and then it was time to go and get Mike in the gathering gloom. Although the days are warm (it was 20c today) the evenings are a bit chilly and it gets dark by 7pm now.
Dinner tonight was a very delicious beef stroganoff and Sophie pronounced it the best ever. Praise indeed!
Keith and I arrived home and sat and wrote the weekly menu before going off to Tesco and doing our weekly shop. It was lovely and quiet in there again and we had a great chat with one of the checkout girls who is a member of Keith's little harem!
Mike wanted to go to Brixworth in the late afternoon so I drove him over and then it was time to pick Sophie up from University. She finishes at 6pm on a Thursday and we decided, on the way home, to call into the Whyte Melville in Boughton for a drink before driving onto Brixworth to collect Mike.
We had a very pleasant hour sitting in the pub and chatting about our day in Whitby and then it was time to go and get Mike in the gathering gloom. Although the days are warm (it was 20c today) the evenings are a bit chilly and it gets dark by 7pm now.
Dinner tonight was a very delicious beef stroganoff and Sophie pronounced it the best ever. Praise indeed!
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