As usual for a Tuesday, we had to go and do the shopping for the rest of the week but today I also wanted to get my Mum's presents for her birthday on Thursday.
We didn't have to take Mike to college because he had a lift in with a friend, so after getting ready we traipsed over to the Weston Favell centre and made a beeline for Tesco where Sophie bought cards for my mum. We made our decisions about meals and whilst shopping in one of the aisles spotted a woman drinking from a small bottle of red wine! Sophie couldn't believe what she was seeing and exchanged amazed looks with another customer who was also gazing at the woman in disbelief! I know that Cameron Diaz drinks from a bottle of wine whilst grocery shopping in The Holiday, but I've never seen it happen in real life!
From the Weston Favell Centre we drove down to Next on Riverside and were smacked in the face by their Christmas offerings as soon as we walked through the doors! There's no hiding from it now! We looked at the homewear stuff but in the end decided on a beautiful necklace and a snazzy scarf to match. We hope she likes our choices!
The Costa at Next was crowded so we walked the short distance to the other Costa and enjoyed hot drinks and my first mince pie of the season!
Tuesday, 7 November 2017
Monday, 6 November 2017
Time flies!
Today has seen, for us anyway, the first frost of the season and we had mist as well, which added to the beautiful scenery on the way to work. I heartily wished I'd had my camera with me to capture the gorgeous images of the sun appearing through the fog.
Work was ok, but quite busy so the time flew, which was a good thing! I escaped at 2pm, dashed home and enjoyed a sandwich in the conservatory with Sophie and Keith. Sophie had had a good driving lesson and now feels more confident about her upcoming driving test, thank goodness.
Work at the after-school club was very quiet - we only had six children with us so it was lovely, actually! We sat and played Monopoly and chatted to them, which was great. For once, Lisa and I were left in the school alone at the end of the session so it was a bit creepy when it was time to go home!
I drove home and enjoyed a couple of drinks before Sophie and I cooked Spaghetti Carbonara for dinner. It was delicious and creamy and was pronounced one of the best I'd ever made, but I did have some great help!
Sunday, 5 November 2017
A quiet day...
Sophie was at work this morning and it felt strange to be taking her on a Sunday! I dropped Keith off at Pitsford reservoir on the way home so he could have an hour's walk.
The weather today has been a mix of sun and cloud and it's noticeably cooler. When Keith arrived home we took Mike to work and then it was time for lunch of bacon rolls.
I spent the afternoon at my computer in the conservatory and managed to get some more writing done. It's something I'm really enjoying and I love how the characters are subtly taking over!
It was back out at 6pm to get both Mike and Sophie and then home to relax with a drink before we enjoyed a delicious beef pie for dinner!
Here are some more photos I took yesterday:
The weather today has been a mix of sun and cloud and it's noticeably cooler. When Keith arrived home we took Mike to work and then it was time for lunch of bacon rolls.
I spent the afternoon at my computer in the conservatory and managed to get some more writing done. It's something I'm really enjoying and I love how the characters are subtly taking over!
It was back out at 6pm to get both Mike and Sophie and then home to relax with a drink before we enjoyed a delicious beef pie for dinner!
Here are some more photos I took yesterday:
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Foodie treats!
It was heaven to wake up this morning and know we hadn't got to rush off anywhere. Sophie had swapped her working day with another member of staff so she was free and Mike wasn't working either.
Keith and I had a Neighbours binge fest first thing and the rest of the morning was very lazy. We had torrential rain early in the day and at one point the sky went really dark. Good job it wasn't like this last night at the fireworks!
In the afternoon Sophie and I went to Market Harborough and had lunch at Pizza Express as a treat. We enjoyed the dough-balls to start and shared a pizza with a glass of wine. Perfect! When we emerged from the restaurant we discovered a foodie market taking place in the main square - there were stalls from France and Germany (currywurst!) and it was all really festive. It made me yearn for the Christmas markets of Berlin!
We had a mooch about the shops and called in to see Duncan and his merry crew. His shop had been changed around quite considerably and they now offer a wine bar on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! It was very busy indeed and we had a little tasting before buying two bottles of wine. I explained to Duncan that I'd been working for Majestic and he looked a bit surprised!
As the car park ticket was just about to run out, we dashed off and drove over to Mum and Dad's as I haven't seen them for a while. We had a cup of tea and some cake and then it was time to go home where I discovered that Mike was still out. I thought that Keith was going to pick him up on his way home from the football! Just as I took my boots off, he rang so Sophie and I went to collect him from Moulton.
The A43 is closed this weekend so there was lots of traffic trying to get through Moulton, which is difficult enough at the best of times. Sophie spotted a huge lorry trying to turn around on a side road - obviously the driver hadn't followed the official diversion signs and had probably used his SatNav to find the way, with disastrous consequences!
As we headed back home we could see fireworks in the distance and a strange white light hovering over the clouds. We thought it was a laser but Mike said he'd seen it before when he'd walked to the village! Weird!
Sophie and I were cooking tonight and had chosen a Hairy Bikers' recipe for Chicken Parmigiana. By the time we got home it was almost 7pm and I really didn't fancy cooking a new recipe, but after Keith suggested having a takeaway instead, I felt guilty so Sophie and I pressed on. She prepped all the vegetables while I grated a block of Parmesan cheese and chopped up an onion (borrowed from Sue and Paul!). We then made the tomato and red wine sauce, butterflied the chicken and covered the breasts in breadcrumbs mixed with the cheese. It was a bit of a faff but by 8pm it was all ready. We added mushrooms to the base of the dish which we probably won't do again as they created more juice then we wanted but we all agreed it was a lovely meal and next time, we'll just adapt it slightly!
Keith and I had a Neighbours binge fest first thing and the rest of the morning was very lazy. We had torrential rain early in the day and at one point the sky went really dark. Good job it wasn't like this last night at the fireworks!
In the afternoon Sophie and I went to Market Harborough and had lunch at Pizza Express as a treat. We enjoyed the dough-balls to start and shared a pizza with a glass of wine. Perfect! When we emerged from the restaurant we discovered a foodie market taking place in the main square - there were stalls from France and Germany (currywurst!) and it was all really festive. It made me yearn for the Christmas markets of Berlin!
We had a mooch about the shops and called in to see Duncan and his merry crew. His shop had been changed around quite considerably and they now offer a wine bar on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! It was very busy indeed and we had a little tasting before buying two bottles of wine. I explained to Duncan that I'd been working for Majestic and he looked a bit surprised!
As the car park ticket was just about to run out, we dashed off and drove over to Mum and Dad's as I haven't seen them for a while. We had a cup of tea and some cake and then it was time to go home where I discovered that Mike was still out. I thought that Keith was going to pick him up on his way home from the football! Just as I took my boots off, he rang so Sophie and I went to collect him from Moulton.
The A43 is closed this weekend so there was lots of traffic trying to get through Moulton, which is difficult enough at the best of times. Sophie spotted a huge lorry trying to turn around on a side road - obviously the driver hadn't followed the official diversion signs and had probably used his SatNav to find the way, with disastrous consequences!
As we headed back home we could see fireworks in the distance and a strange white light hovering over the clouds. We thought it was a laser but Mike said he'd seen it before when he'd walked to the village! Weird!
Sophie and I were cooking tonight and had chosen a Hairy Bikers' recipe for Chicken Parmigiana. By the time we got home it was almost 7pm and I really didn't fancy cooking a new recipe, but after Keith suggested having a takeaway instead, I felt guilty so Sophie and I pressed on. She prepped all the vegetables while I grated a block of Parmesan cheese and chopped up an onion (borrowed from Sue and Paul!). We then made the tomato and red wine sauce, butterflied the chicken and covered the breasts in breadcrumbs mixed with the cheese. It was a bit of a faff but by 8pm it was all ready. We added mushrooms to the base of the dish which we probably won't do again as they created more juice then we wanted but we all agreed it was a lovely meal and next time, we'll just adapt it slightly!
Friday, 3 November 2017
Fireworks!
Yesterday, Majestic had called me about a job I'd applied for (in Kettering) and wanted me to go for an interview next Monday. Because I was working I couldn't make it so the manager was going to call me back to arrange a different day. I sat at work trying to weigh up the pros and cons of both jobs and I have to be honest and say that I was better off doing the job with the phones as it was more money, more hours and not such hard work! I loved working at Majestic in the summer and doing deliveries, but it might be a whole different matter in the depths of winter when it's dark at 4pm and the roads could be snowy and icy!
Time did drag a little today as we weren't that busy but now that I'm more confident of what I'm doing I'm enjoying the job more. I also like talking to customers and helping them with their queries, and if I get a complaint I can always pass it on to a supervisor, not like when I had the business with Mum and Dad and the buck stopped with me!
Lisa had set out the hall with paints and crafts this afternoon as she'd decided to stop doing film night. We took the children out into the playground first to let them burn off some energy and after snack we let them loose on the crafts. The aim was to make Christmas cards and things to sell at the fair in December but most (not all) of the children just made a huge mess! They decided to paint their hands and therefore spread it over a wide area and very soon they were covered in the stuff! I even managed to get some on my coat when I leaned over the table where the pictures were drying!
Lisa asked me to take them outside while she started clearing up and we swapped over as it was a huge job! There was paint on the floor, all over the toilets (luckily one of the older boys told me about this) and the tables and benches were covered in blobs of brightly coloured goo!
We cleared up and swept and mopped the floor helped by the oldest boy who did a really good job, bless him! We finished the session in the library and they even managed to create havoc in there! By 5.45pm I was glad when the last child was picked up and I could rush home to get ready for the bonfire night in the village.
Keith dropped Sophie, Mike and me off in the middle of the village and then he drove to the pub in Walgrave. He's not interested in fireworks! We walked the short distance to the field and paid our entrance fee and first up was a cup of mulled wine for Sophie and me, and a beer for Mike. He saw one of his mates from the village and then we met Richard and Michelle who had bought some food so we all watched the fireworks together, which was lovely. I do like them very much and it seemed ages since we'd all been at Sue and Paul's house! We agreed that we needed to make a date for the next wine tasting, hosted by Keith and I, probably in the new year.
The fireworks were fantastic - they seemed to go on forever and there were lots of bangs and beautiful colours. We thoroughly enjoyed them! Afterwards we walked home with masses of other people and arrived back to find Keith putting the finishing touches to a delicious chicken curry!
Time did drag a little today as we weren't that busy but now that I'm more confident of what I'm doing I'm enjoying the job more. I also like talking to customers and helping them with their queries, and if I get a complaint I can always pass it on to a supervisor, not like when I had the business with Mum and Dad and the buck stopped with me!
Lisa had set out the hall with paints and crafts this afternoon as she'd decided to stop doing film night. We took the children out into the playground first to let them burn off some energy and after snack we let them loose on the crafts. The aim was to make Christmas cards and things to sell at the fair in December but most (not all) of the children just made a huge mess! They decided to paint their hands and therefore spread it over a wide area and very soon they were covered in the stuff! I even managed to get some on my coat when I leaned over the table where the pictures were drying!
Lisa asked me to take them outside while she started clearing up and we swapped over as it was a huge job! There was paint on the floor, all over the toilets (luckily one of the older boys told me about this) and the tables and benches were covered in blobs of brightly coloured goo!
We cleared up and swept and mopped the floor helped by the oldest boy who did a really good job, bless him! We finished the session in the library and they even managed to create havoc in there! By 5.45pm I was glad when the last child was picked up and I could rush home to get ready for the bonfire night in the village.
Keith dropped Sophie, Mike and me off in the middle of the village and then he drove to the pub in Walgrave. He's not interested in fireworks! We walked the short distance to the field and paid our entrance fee and first up was a cup of mulled wine for Sophie and me, and a beer for Mike. He saw one of his mates from the village and then we met Richard and Michelle who had bought some food so we all watched the fireworks together, which was lovely. I do like them very much and it seemed ages since we'd all been at Sue and Paul's house! We agreed that we needed to make a date for the next wine tasting, hosted by Keith and I, probably in the new year.
The fireworks were fantastic - they seemed to go on forever and there were lots of bangs and beautiful colours. We thoroughly enjoyed them! Afterwards we walked home with masses of other people and arrived back to find Keith putting the finishing touches to a delicious chicken curry!
Thursday, 2 November 2017
Scary film!
I had quite an enjoyable session at work today as there was just one other woman and me manning the phones and the office was very quiet. Yesterday was noisy as a lot of the supervisors were in and one woman in particular thought it was a great idea to spend the session cackling away like a witch and completely ignoring the fact that we were trying to hear customers on the phone! I get on very well with Sue who was working with me and in between calls we had a nice chat!
Keith picked me up at 2pm and we rushed off home so I could grab some lunch before starting work again at 3pm. We all stayed inside this afternoon and as we had about thirteen children it did get a bit noisy! We played monopoly but some of the other children kept demanding our attention so it was hard to concentrate! I also promised to find out the rules of chess so we could all learn how to play properly!
Back at home Sophie and I indulged in a couple of episodes of Modern Family and then watched the 1978 film Halloween after dinner. Sophie watched mainly from behind a cushion and there was a fair amount of screaming going on, both on the television and off!
Keith picked me up at 2pm and we rushed off home so I could grab some lunch before starting work again at 3pm. We all stayed inside this afternoon and as we had about thirteen children it did get a bit noisy! We played monopoly but some of the other children kept demanding our attention so it was hard to concentrate! I also promised to find out the rules of chess so we could all learn how to play properly!
Back at home Sophie and I indulged in a couple of episodes of Modern Family and then watched the 1978 film Halloween after dinner. Sophie watched mainly from behind a cushion and there was a fair amount of screaming going on, both on the television and off!
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Halloween excitement!
I didn't sleep very well last night, mainly due to the fact that I kept waking up and wondering what Sophie was doing out on the town! I can't remember the last time both my children were out all night! Sophie was staying over at her friend's house and did text me at 3am to say she was back from her evening out and was going to sleep, so when I saw that at about 4am I was very reassured!
To make things worse I was at work so my alarm went off at 6.30am...groan! However, it was a beautiful morning and since the clocks went back it has been a little lighter first thing. At work I sorted out the days I'm going to be working up until Christmas but I was a little annoyed to be asked if I could work until 4pm on a Thursday as they knew when I started that I had my after-school job which I really enjoy doing.
Talking of which, we were very quiet as the school Halloween disco was on this evening and so we only had eight children attend. Excitement was running very high so we took them outside for a lot of the session so they could run off some steam. It was a beautiful afternoon so it was a real bonus to be able to get out and have some fresh air, especially for me as I'd been cooped up in an office all morning.
Towards the end of the session, the children we had left started to get ready and then they went running around the school in the dark trying to scare the few teachers who were still in the building! The last mum arrived at about 5.30pm and had brought with her some facepaints so she made up her own children, and Lisa's as well, and they set off to have some fun!
I went off home to sit in the conservatory with a glass of wine, and played cards with my family! Bliss!
To make things worse I was at work so my alarm went off at 6.30am...groan! However, it was a beautiful morning and since the clocks went back it has been a little lighter first thing. At work I sorted out the days I'm going to be working up until Christmas but I was a little annoyed to be asked if I could work until 4pm on a Thursday as they knew when I started that I had my after-school job which I really enjoy doing.
Talking of which, we were very quiet as the school Halloween disco was on this evening and so we only had eight children attend. Excitement was running very high so we took them outside for a lot of the session so they could run off some steam. It was a beautiful afternoon so it was a real bonus to be able to get out and have some fresh air, especially for me as I'd been cooped up in an office all morning.
Towards the end of the session, the children we had left started to get ready and then they went running around the school in the dark trying to scare the few teachers who were still in the building! The last mum arrived at about 5.30pm and had brought with her some facepaints so she made up her own children, and Lisa's as well, and they set off to have some fun!
I went off home to sit in the conservatory with a glass of wine, and played cards with my family! Bliss!
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