Old versus new!

After dropping Sophie off at work, Keith and I popped to the Co-op in Moulton and bought all of the salad stuff we needed for tonight's Wine Evening. I even bought some early strawberries to put in the Summer Punch cocktail I was serving beforehand.

Back home we enjoyed poached eggs on toast in the conservatory before I made a start on cleaning the downstairs of the house. When we took Mike to work we realised we needed butter and napkins so it was off to the Co-op in Brixworth to get those! There's always something!

I spent the rest of the day giving the downstairs rooms a good clean and setting the table ready for tonight. I do like it when the house is all set and looking clean and tidy! After having a bath Keith and I settled down to watch the Grand National as we had both backed several horses in the race. I chose Seeyouatmidnight which I think stood a good chance.

I have no idea why I actually watch the Grand National as it always has me in tears and today was no exception. Seeing the horses fall was horrible and at one point I couldn't stand it any longer and got up to run out of the room, but I still watched. What amazes me is the riderless horses gamely jumping along with all the others!

Unfortunately neither Keith or I had a winner (and neither did the children who had picked horses) but it was great to know that all the horses were fine after the race.

We went to collect Sophie from work and then carried on to get Mike as he said he was finishing at 6.30pm. It's been a beautiful day today so we knew he would be busy! Even though he said he'd be finished we still waited twenty minutes for him to come out, and I was champing at the bit as I needed to get home and put the finishing touches to the buffet and get changed! I was just glad I'd made the salad before we left!

Keith and Sophie helped prepare the food and I went to get changed. Michelle and Richard arrived at 7.30pm and Sue and Paul shortly afterwards so there was a flurry of welcomes and serving cocktails. Sophie was a huge help as always and she beavered away in the background as we chatted to our guests in the conservatory.

With the buffet I served the two sparkling wines we'd bought - the French Chardonnay from Waitrose and then the New Zealand Oyster Bay. Both of the wines were lovely but we all preferred the French fizz. Next up was Richard and Michelle's wines - a Vouvray from France and a Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Again, the old world won as we all loved the Vouvray!

Lastly we enjoyed two Merlots from Sue and Paul - one from Chile and a French wine. I preferred the Chilean but it was interesting to note that there wasn't any left in the bottle (or jug as Sue and Paul had decanted it!) at the end of the evening!

We had a really great night and according to Sophie we were "really loud"! Everyone left at midnight so after clearing the table of glasses (Sophie had washed up the plates earlier) and leaving it all in the kitchen for tomorrow morning, it was off to bed!

Steak night!

Sophie had an appointment this morning at 9.15am at Woodlands hospital for a specialist to have a look at her right eye, the one that the Optician was a bit worried about. We had a bit of difficulty parking (as predicted) but we managed to get a space in the end and sat and waited in the comfortable reception area.

Luckily we were called into the consultation room at just after our appointed time and Sophie explained that she'd had a problem about four years ago but that everything had been fine since then. The optician had a thorough look (he was a bit grumpy) and said that everything was fine and that the veins in eyes can vary from person to person. I think the original optician she saw was just being very zealous but it was a huge relief to find that she was OK and there was no further investigations needed.

We drove home along the busy A14 and then I had time for a quick breakfast before I went off to work. I'd arranged to take three hours as holiday so I was due in at 11am and found it difficult to park this morning! Normally, at 8am, there's plenty of spaces! I parked in the Weston Favell Centre and dashed off to work where I did my three hours until 2pm.

The weather today has been grey and dismal but fortunately the fog has dissipated so we just have a lot of cloud hanging about. Mike had also been working today but came home at the same time as me so that was good - I didn't have to go out and get him at 6pm!

Keith went to the pub, but drove as he was my taxi driver for the evening. I was going out with Lynda, Fiona and Andrea to the Miller and Carter Steakhouse in Northampton, which used to be a tired-looking Toby Carvery. Sophie did my hair and Keith drove me the short distance to the restaurant where I met Fiona and Andrea at the bar ordering their drinks.

We hadn't seen each other since just before Christmas so we had a lot to catch up on! Lynda arrived looking very glamorous wearing a short skirt and jumper and had an enormous pair of heels on! She looked fab! We were shown to our table and took ages to choose our food because we were talking so much!

In the end I decided on the Sticky Chipotle Chicken followed by an 8oz Sirloin. My starter was delicious and my steak cooked to perfection. My only gripe was that I'd ordered normal fries and was given sweet potato fries which I hate!

After a decent interval we found room for pud and I chose the Lemon and Clotted cream posset tart which was lovely, if a little sweet. With drinks beforehand, a bottle of Argentinian Malbec and liqueur coffees the bill came to £162 so not a cheap night, but the food and service were very good.

Keith and Sophie came to pick me up at 11pm and when we got home my daughter told me who'd won Masterchef as she'd found out by Twitter earlier in the evening! I was surprised and delighted to discover that Kenny won so we watched the last fifteen minutes before going to bed!

Work cuddles!

I was in at work at 8am this morning but it was a nice thought that I could go home and not have to go out again!

Halfway through the morning I went to get myself a cup of tea from reception and I saw Gill, who looked marvellous! She appeared really healthy and I was delighted to see her looking so good! We hugged and had a quick catch up, promising to get in touch soon and have a coffee. As I went back to the office I saw one of my after-school club children so I had another cuddle and I told her I really missed seeing her every day, which is the truth!

Just before I went home one of the women who works in the office brought her granddaughter in to see us all and as she was only 9 months old it was a real treat to have yet another cuddle! It was a lovely session at work today and I only wish every day was like that!

Back home it was time for a cup of tea and a biscuit and a catch up with Sophie and Keith. Luckily Mike hadn't gone out so we didn't have anywhere to go, which was bliss! Keith cooked dinner and afterwards we watched the penultimate episode of Masterchef. It's the final tomorrow and I predict that Nawamin will win! Let's see!

Change of plans!

Sophie drove to Beckworth this morning to meet her friends Daisy and Laura for coffee while Keith and I went and did the big weekly shop. It wouldn't have been my first choice of things to do but needs must! The weather has been horrible, foggy and grey again and really very depressing so we wouldn't have been doing anything exciting anyway! I'm hoping there will be an end in sight at the weekend as I think the whole country has had enough of this blanket of grey gloom now.

We went to Aldi and Tesco and bought groceries for the week, and for Saturday night in particular, when we have Paul, Sue, Richard and Michelle coming around for a Wine Evening and buffet. By lunchtime we were home with everything put away and Mike asked us to take him into town with one of his mates, Charlie. We picked him up in Brixworth and drove into town, dropping them both off by the Guildhall. I remembered it would have been my day to be at CAB and I did wonder whether Frank was still volunteering.

Back home I waited nervously for Sophie to come home and when she did she said she'd enjoyed driving on her own and had given Daisy a lift home. We decided to go down to Riverside, visit Boots and have a coffee in Costa, which was busy with families having a half term treat.

Back home Sophie and I relaxed by watching The Island with Bear Grylls and then she went to get ready as she was off out again in the evening to have a meal with friends. However, her mate Danni called to cancel so Sophie decided to just go out with her friend George, but he cancelled as well, just five minutes before we were due to leave to meet him! Sophie was furious as she'd spent a while getting ready and to be let down at the last minute was very annoying.

We went to get Mike from Moulton and while we were gone Keith made a real hotchpotch of a dinner! We weren't expecting Sophie to be in so we'd bought a steak pie and a ready meal for Mike, who informed us when we got home that he was going to Pizza Hut with his friends later in the evening! Keith put the pie, the ready meal, last night's cottage pie and some leftover chicken in the oven and then became really grumpy as we sat down to eat. It's no wonder!

Swapping cars

I had to take my car into the Audi dealership this morning as it had been recalled over a heater fault. The weather continues to be horrible and today was no exception, with heavy grey cloud and constant drizzle.

Keith and I drove to the dealership and the operation was all very slick with a man greeting me and directing me to take my car into the service area which was a covered garage. From there I was met by another woman who took my keys and then showed me to a desk where we were asked if we wanted coffee. I definitely did as it's always good!

I had booked a courtesy car and was hoping for an A5 or even an A6 but I was given a brand new, white A3 which had only done about 50 miles. I took out the option to have the excess on the insurance reduced from £1000 to £50, which cost £12. Heaven help me if anything happened so I thought £12 wasn't a bad price to pay for peace of mind, especially as I was getting the courtesy car for free!

Keith and I drove home through the drizzle and we particularly liked the pop-up satnav! The car was great to drive but I do prefer my own A4!

Mike was supposed to be working today but he was cancelled because of the weather so he stayed at home while Keith, Sophie and I went to the Weston Favell Centre. To be honest, despite having a lovely new car to drive today, the whole experience was a bit depressing. This weather and the lack of sun and blue skies is really getting to me now.

I wanted to buy my fizz for Saturday night and I picked out an Oyster Bay Sparkling wine which was on offer. I looked in vain for an Old World wine to match it but the only bottle I could see that was made from 100% Chardonnay was an expensive Champagne!

I decided to pop to Waitrose afterwards as I knew there was a French sparkling wine there made from Chardonnay, so after buying some bird food in Wilco's, we drove there and I managed to get a bottle for £10.

It was then home to have some lunch and wait for Audi to call me to go and collect my car. Before they called, though, they sent me a text saying the brake fluid needed changing and something about the cam belt...Keith told me neither needed any action and after a few minutes they rang to say the car was ready.

I had been hoping they wouldn't try and sell me other services so I was amazed to see a "recommendation" about the brake fluid, the cam belt and the rear tyres which came to a cost of almost £800! No thanks!

I swapped the A3 over for mine and after a short while we were driving home. The weather did brighten up briefly in the evening and we saw some blue sky but the forecast for the rest of the week is still dull and cloudy!

Back to work!

It's been another dreary, grey day with rain and chilly temperatures. I went back to work and we were really busy with calls throughout the session. Some parents were even booking their children into the holiday playscheme we operate but a few were disappointed as the slots they were looking for were full.

At 2pm I went home and it was lovely not to have to go back out again at 3pm! I sat and chatted to the family and stayed in the conservatory for most of the afternoon. Before dinner we played cards and Sophie made us a Margarita with the last of the Tequila while the boys drank beer. If the weather had been better we could have sat outside in the garden but it was still raining! Never mind!

Nosy parkers!

Mike started work today at 11am which was a bit of a shock as he normally goes in at midday! I woke him at 10.15am and by some sort of miracle he was ready to go half an hour later and was (almost!) on time!

In the afternoon, Sophie and I went to pick up my Mum as we were off looking at showhomes...and therefore being very nosy! The weather today has been atrocious - constant rain and heavy, grey skies. We are all really fed up with it now and the day we had in London seems like a miracle!

We went to a new sprawling estate on the outskirts of Kingsthorpe and looked at a five bedroom, three storey house from Martin Grant Homes. I have no intention of moving, we just wanted to have a look at the latest trends in decorating and what colours are currently "in".

The house we looked at had a very small layout downstairs - I'm sure our living room was bigger - with a kitchen/dining room to the right of the front door. There was no utility room, which would be something I'd expect from a house of this size. On the first floor were four bedrooms, one of which was being used as an office, while on the second floor were two more large bedrooms and a bathroom. To be honest, we weren't impressed!

The house was decorated in neutral shades but I would have expected more living space for the price, which was a jaw-dropping £530,000. Five bedroom, three storey houses on our estate have recently sold (albeit a couple of years ago) for just shy of £500,000 with a lot more space!

We then went across the road to David Bloor Homes but their show homes were closed so we got back in the car and drove to the outskirts of Moulton, to a new development called Morrisse Fields. They had two five bedroom homes open to look around and we all fell in love with The Kirkham. The difference in layout and finish was amazing!

https://www.avanthomes.co.uk/find-your-new-home/morisse-fields/plot-35/

The house was beautiful with two large living areas and a huge landing with five bedrooms. We particularly liked the downstairs cloakroom as Sophie said it reminded her of a spa.

I loved the huge sink even though this was the cloakroom!

The house next door was equally beautiful but we preferred the first for the finish and the decor. We all knew that this had been done by professionals and that if you moved into one of the houses you wouldn't get the same specifications, but it was nice to dream for a while! We all like the baths which had an integral shower:

Very clever! I like it!

On the way out we had a chat with the saleswoman and she knew we were just having a look around, but we still complimented her on the houses. If I win the lottery I would be tempted!

From Moulton Sophie drove us to Beckworth where we had tea and cakes. Amazingly, there was no queue! Perhaps the horrible weather had put people off going out! I enjoyed a cheese scone with cream cheese and chutney while Sophie had a normal scone with jam and cream. My Mum chose a slice of lemon drizzle cake and it was great to sit and chat about the houses and get some inspiration from them for our own houses!

After buying a few trays of violas to brighten up the garden we sloshed home along the sodden roads and dropped Mum off before going home. Mike was back from work which was a bonus as now we didn't have to go out again!