Keith asked me to take Mike into work this morning as he had been up early all last week and the weekend. I was more than happy to oblige and Sophie decided to come with us as well so I had some company on the way home. Getting up at 5am wasn't too bad, but I don't know how Mike does it every day! At least Keith sometimes goes back to bed when he gets home if he's really tired! It was a beautiful morning, so that really helped!
I was working an extra shift today and, thankfully, it wasn't as busy as yesterday! However, it was just as hot and I am so looking forward to the temperatures going down tomorrow! At about 1pm I did some roleplay with Sheila so I could practise selling a membership and I think it went quite well. I did feel a bit self-conscious though!
At 2pm I sped off to get Mike and as soon as I got home I changed and went with Keith and Sophie to do some shopping at Aldi and Tesco. We pootled about in both stores and bought chicken escalopes for dinner, accompanied by long stem broccoli, asparagus and a chargrilled vegetable sauce. We also planned to saute the potatoes again. Sophie chose Chicken Kiev instead of the normal escalopes but Keith said he didn't fancy that at all and just got himself a loaf of cheesy bread!
Back home we sat and cooled off in front of the fan and my Mum called to ask if she could pop around with my Dad. They arrived ten minutes later and I gave them some chilled sparkling water to drink as all of us are now alcohol free during the week!
My Dad asked Keith to go out to the car with him and they brought back a new BBQ for us, for our anniversary which is next Wednesday! It's a gas BBQ and Keith immediately started to put it together! We can cook the burgers on it for tomorrow night's dinner!
We sat in the garden and Sophie helped Keith assemble it all. Overhead, storm clouds were gathering and I did wonder whether we'd get some rain. The wind had also picked up and was blowing all the little brown leaves all over the conservatory floor. I had already hoovered up a mass of them! I just hope that now we have a new BBQ the weather doesn't change!
After my parents had gone home I cooked dinner and Keith and Sophie finished what they were doing. Mike had gone out with a friend and when we called him he said he would be late for dinner. Typical!
Dinner was delicious and we put Mike's plate in the oven to keep warm. He arrived about an hour later and tucked in. He said he was hot...join the club!
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Monday, 6 August 2018
Another Monday!
Work was manically busy first thing this morning and at one point we had nine calls waiting in the queue! One of the other managers had to give us a hand to cope with them and a lot were from parents booking their children onto the swimming courses we hold every week.
It's been another hot day and it was about 29c when I drove to collect Mike from work. He got into the car and looked hot, sweaty and dirty, poor thing! I felt very irritable this afternoon as I had a horrible tummy ache, I was hot myself and we'd been pestered with questions about the items we were selling on ebay! I've loved this warm weather but the heat is really getting to me now! Luckily, the temperatures are set to take a dive in the middle of the week...thank goodness!
I mooched about for the rest of the afternoon and fell asleep on the sofa! It's the heat! Sophie cooked dinner tonight and we enjoyed a delicious paella. Mike brought his mate Brad home but he wouldn't join us for dinner, which was a shame as we had quite a bit left over. Tomorrow, both Mike and Sophie are going to have it for their lunch!
Keith had noticed a pigeon in the garden and it had rings on its legs so we knew it was a homing pigeon. It kept its distance from us, but seemed to enjoy watching what we were doing! I kept calling to it but it stayed up on the roof and only occasionally came down to peck at the food in the garden. When we shut up the conservatory it was still about so we did wonder whether it was going to stay and make itself at home!
It's been another hot day and it was about 29c when I drove to collect Mike from work. He got into the car and looked hot, sweaty and dirty, poor thing! I felt very irritable this afternoon as I had a horrible tummy ache, I was hot myself and we'd been pestered with questions about the items we were selling on ebay! I've loved this warm weather but the heat is really getting to me now! Luckily, the temperatures are set to take a dive in the middle of the week...thank goodness!
I mooched about for the rest of the afternoon and fell asleep on the sofa! It's the heat! Sophie cooked dinner tonight and we enjoyed a delicious paella. Mike brought his mate Brad home but he wouldn't join us for dinner, which was a shame as we had quite a bit left over. Tomorrow, both Mike and Sophie are going to have it for their lunch!
Keith had noticed a pigeon in the garden and it had rings on its legs so we knew it was a homing pigeon. It kept its distance from us, but seemed to enjoy watching what we were doing! I kept calling to it but it stayed up on the roof and only occasionally came down to peck at the food in the garden. When we shut up the conservatory it was still about so we did wonder whether it was going to stay and make itself at home!
Sunday, 5 August 2018
A mammoth dinner!
Mike was at work again today and he called at 8am to be picked up. He goes in to cut the grass and collect the golf balls from the range so he's not needed for very long. I went to get him and once I was back at home Sophie and I started preparing dinner for this evening.
Our recipe today was from the Hairy Bikers Mums Know Best cookbook and we'd chosen the barbecue ribs with Boston baked beans. Sophie assembled the marinade for the ribs while I cut them up, which was a mammoth task! We'd bought a rack of ribs which doesn't sound a lot, but once cut up I realised there was a lot of meat on them! I then had to place them in boiling water for about five minutes but there was no way they were going to fit into our saucepan so I placed the boiling hot water into one of our shallow china dishes and put it over a low heat. This is our biggest dish and I even had trouble getting them into that!
After they'd been simmered in the hot water we put them into another casserole dish, coated them with the marinade and left them to cool. Unfortunately, I forgot about the other dish being hot and burned my fingers! And then, to cap it all, the whole thing broke apart when I was washing it up! Not the best of starts!
With that bit of preparation completed, we went to see Mum and Dad and called into the Co-op as we needed tomato ketchup (for the baked beans) and I bought some lovely cookies to have with our coffee at Mum's. They were both looking well and we enjoyed a chat before Keith helped them mend their parasol which had been broken by some strong winds. They were really grateful as now they can sit out in the garden in the shade.
Back home Sophie and Keith had crumpets for a late breakfast while I had toast and tuna pate, which was left over from last night's dinner. The children were not keen at all, but I thought it was delicious! We pottered about for a while and simmered the pinto beans in water for almost two hours until they were tender. Keith, meanwhile, cut back the bushes in the garden which is looking very dry and arid again. We haven't had any rain since last Sunday and it's due to get hot again over the next few days. He also gave the garden a good water and Sophie and I sat out for a while in the hot sun. I could feel my legs burning! It was a good job we'd bought the little plastic flexible buckets so we could pour cold water into them...ahhh!
It all got a bit too much so we retreated indoors and I had a lukewarm bath and a pamper. When I got out I said to Sophie that we should put the ribs on to cook as, although the recipe called for just an hour's cooking, I didn't think it was enough and I liked the meat to be falling off the bones.
We went and retrieved them from the casserole dish in the fridge and arranged them on two baking trays. After covering them with foil we popped them into a moderate oven and hoped that we'd given them enough time to cook!
We then prepared the baked beans by pouring a sauce over them that we'd made earlier and which consisted of black treacle (we couldn't find Molasses), tomato ketchup, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and American mustard. We cut up some smoked streaky bacon, mixed some in with the beans and laid some more over the top. This then went into the oven for two hours. We also cut up some potatoes to saute them later. There was a lot of food!
The dinner turned out to be delicious and the pork ribs were very tender and, as I wanted, fell off the bones! There were a lot of beans, though, so I think we'll be having them on toast tomorrow!
Our recipe today was from the Hairy Bikers Mums Know Best cookbook and we'd chosen the barbecue ribs with Boston baked beans. Sophie assembled the marinade for the ribs while I cut them up, which was a mammoth task! We'd bought a rack of ribs which doesn't sound a lot, but once cut up I realised there was a lot of meat on them! I then had to place them in boiling water for about five minutes but there was no way they were going to fit into our saucepan so I placed the boiling hot water into one of our shallow china dishes and put it over a low heat. This is our biggest dish and I even had trouble getting them into that!
After they'd been simmered in the hot water we put them into another casserole dish, coated them with the marinade and left them to cool. Unfortunately, I forgot about the other dish being hot and burned my fingers! And then, to cap it all, the whole thing broke apart when I was washing it up! Not the best of starts!
With that bit of preparation completed, we went to see Mum and Dad and called into the Co-op as we needed tomato ketchup (for the baked beans) and I bought some lovely cookies to have with our coffee at Mum's. They were both looking well and we enjoyed a chat before Keith helped them mend their parasol which had been broken by some strong winds. They were really grateful as now they can sit out in the garden in the shade.
Back home Sophie and Keith had crumpets for a late breakfast while I had toast and tuna pate, which was left over from last night's dinner. The children were not keen at all, but I thought it was delicious! We pottered about for a while and simmered the pinto beans in water for almost two hours until they were tender. Keith, meanwhile, cut back the bushes in the garden which is looking very dry and arid again. We haven't had any rain since last Sunday and it's due to get hot again over the next few days. He also gave the garden a good water and Sophie and I sat out for a while in the hot sun. I could feel my legs burning! It was a good job we'd bought the little plastic flexible buckets so we could pour cold water into them...ahhh!
It all got a bit too much so we retreated indoors and I had a lukewarm bath and a pamper. When I got out I said to Sophie that we should put the ribs on to cook as, although the recipe called for just an hour's cooking, I didn't think it was enough and I liked the meat to be falling off the bones.
We went and retrieved them from the casserole dish in the fridge and arranged them on two baking trays. After covering them with foil we popped them into a moderate oven and hoped that we'd given them enough time to cook!
We then prepared the baked beans by pouring a sauce over them that we'd made earlier and which consisted of black treacle (we couldn't find Molasses), tomato ketchup, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and American mustard. We cut up some smoked streaky bacon, mixed some in with the beans and laid some more over the top. This then went into the oven for two hours. We also cut up some potatoes to saute them later. There was a lot of food!
The dinner turned out to be delicious and the pork ribs were very tender and, as I wanted, fell off the bones! There were a lot of beans, though, so I think we'll be having them on toast tomorrow!
Saturday, 4 August 2018
Back to work...
I was back in at work today and facing a longer shift than I normally work in the week. The time went by quite quickly though and I worked with Sue so it was very pleasant, despite her having a nasty customer on the phone! I was on my own for two hours after she left and it was great to be picked up by Keith at 4pm.
It's been another hot and sunny day and Sophie texted me to say she was very quiet at work. I'm so glad we no longer have the business as this long spell of good weather would really have affected us. I sat in the garden with Keith for a while when we got home and we put our feet in buckets of cold water again which really does cool us down. It's at times like this that I wish we had a plunge pool!
Before Sophie came home I watered the garden and then it was time for a glass of something and dinner. We opted for a starter and dessert tonight and Keith and I enjoyed prawn cocktail while the children had pate and toast. It feels too hot to eat anything else!
Before bed Sophie and I went for a wander outside and had a look up at the stars. We were sure we could also see Mars in the distance. It was a gorgeous night!
It's been another hot and sunny day and Sophie texted me to say she was very quiet at work. I'm so glad we no longer have the business as this long spell of good weather would really have affected us. I sat in the garden with Keith for a while when we got home and we put our feet in buckets of cold water again which really does cool us down. It's at times like this that I wish we had a plunge pool!
Before Sophie came home I watered the garden and then it was time for a glass of something and dinner. We opted for a starter and dessert tonight and Keith and I enjoyed prawn cocktail while the children had pate and toast. It feels too hot to eat anything else!
Before bed Sophie and I went for a wander outside and had a look up at the stars. We were sure we could also see Mars in the distance. It was a gorgeous night!
Friday, 3 August 2018
Ladies who lunch...
It was great having Friday off but I was still up fairly early! Keith and Sophie went for a walk but I opted to stay at home and change our bedding, as I felt it was too hot. I was proved right as they both came back a little earlier than they'd planned as they said it was so warm!
Sophie and I went to Market Harborough at lunchtime and had something to eat at Farndon Fields before we went into the town. The restaurant wasn't as busy as we'd expected and we had a lovely lunch - I chose a wrap stuffed with fried chicken and lettuce served with a summer slaw and salad and it was delicious.
We went into Tesco and Sophie bought a bottle of Champagne for a friend who is leaving work and we had a mooch about Waterstones, but it was too warm to wander about so we headed home. We took the scenic route and the harvested fields looked beautiful under the gorgeous "Florida" skies.
We sat in the garden for a little while with our feet in buckets of cold water to try and cool down a bit! As Keith isn't drinking at the moment he took himself off to the pub and in between preparing curry for dinner we sat outside the house on our front steps, which was lovely!
Sophie and I went to Market Harborough at lunchtime and had something to eat at Farndon Fields before we went into the town. The restaurant wasn't as busy as we'd expected and we had a lovely lunch - I chose a wrap stuffed with fried chicken and lettuce served with a summer slaw and salad and it was delicious.
We went into Tesco and Sophie bought a bottle of Champagne for a friend who is leaving work and we had a mooch about Waterstones, but it was too warm to wander about so we headed home. We took the scenic route and the harvested fields looked beautiful under the gorgeous "Florida" skies.
We sat in the garden for a little while with our feet in buckets of cold water to try and cool down a bit! As Keith isn't drinking at the moment he took himself off to the pub and in between preparing curry for dinner we sat outside the house on our front steps, which was lovely!
Thursday, 2 August 2018
Sell, sell, sell!
I was back in at work this morning and hoping that it wouldn't be too manic! My shift was better than yesterday and at 1pm I went for some training with a colleague as from next week we're expected to try and sell gym memberships if people call up to ask for details.
We were finished by 2.30pm and I drove home, arriving just before Mike and Keith. Sophie and I spent the afternoon listing some unwanted items on ebay, including a vintage black leather biker jacket that I'd bought when I worked for Levi's in the 1990s. It has never been worn and was in fantastic condition and it aroused a lot of interest on the site! Keith also decided he no longer wanted two lovely old Levi's shirts and some black 501s so we're hoping to get some cash for all of them! It's fun selling stuff we no longer want and seeing how much interest each item gets!
It took us all afternoon to put everything on the site and then we decided to eat dinner a little early. The weather has been beautiful today with clear blue skies and sunshine. The temperatures are rising a little and it was 31c when I got into the car after work.
Dinner tonight was the cold meats and new potatoes that we should have had on Monday and after dinner Sophie and I binge watched a couple of 90 Day Fiance episodes. It was a relaxing end to a busy day!
We were finished by 2.30pm and I drove home, arriving just before Mike and Keith. Sophie and I spent the afternoon listing some unwanted items on ebay, including a vintage black leather biker jacket that I'd bought when I worked for Levi's in the 1990s. It has never been worn and was in fantastic condition and it aroused a lot of interest on the site! Keith also decided he no longer wanted two lovely old Levi's shirts and some black 501s so we're hoping to get some cash for all of them! It's fun selling stuff we no longer want and seeing how much interest each item gets!
It took us all afternoon to put everything on the site and then we decided to eat dinner a little early. The weather has been beautiful today with clear blue skies and sunshine. The temperatures are rising a little and it was 31c when I got into the car after work.
Dinner tonight was the cold meats and new potatoes that we should have had on Monday and after dinner Sophie and I binge watched a couple of 90 Day Fiance episodes. It was a relaxing end to a busy day!
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
A sociable day!
I'd swapped shifts with a colleague today but I was beginning to wish I hadn't because of some of the calls I received! Perhaps it's just the school holidays making everyone cantankerous!
At 2pm I went to pick Mike up from work and he was waiting for me today, which was great as I was then home before 3pm. I decided to clean Sophie's car and she helped me get it all clean and shiny before I turned my attention to the messy front garden, which was covered in dead leaves.
I cut back the bush at the front and managed to get at all the leaves trapped underneath it, putting them in a black bag as I'd read you could turn them into leaf mould this way. We now no longer have a garden waste collection (most of our garden waste goes onto the compost heap) so I've got to do something with all the leaves that make a beeline for our garden and back door!
Doing the front garden was very sociable as Sophie came out to sit with me and various neighbours walked past and stopped for a chat, including one woman who has two enormous dogs that she has to walk separately! She gardens for a living and also has four children so she's very busy! It was great to get to know her and meet the dogs.
I worked until 6pm and the garden looked a lot neater, with all the dead leaves swept up and the grass raked. Hopefully, this weekend I can get out and trim it a bit as with the recent rain it's started to grow again.
I had a lovely deep bath and at 7pm Sophie and I crossed the road to see Sue and Michelle for a catch up with a few glasses of wine and some nibbles. We sat in Sue's kitchen gazing out at the stunning views and had a good natter, which was very pleasant. Sue opened a delicious bottle of Champagne to thank Michelle and I for looking after the house and garden while they were away and then we moved onto Prosecco and a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa.
I didn't want to be too late tonight, though as I had work tomorrow so we said goodbye at 10pm and waddled off to bed!
At 2pm I went to pick Mike up from work and he was waiting for me today, which was great as I was then home before 3pm. I decided to clean Sophie's car and she helped me get it all clean and shiny before I turned my attention to the messy front garden, which was covered in dead leaves.
I cut back the bush at the front and managed to get at all the leaves trapped underneath it, putting them in a black bag as I'd read you could turn them into leaf mould this way. We now no longer have a garden waste collection (most of our garden waste goes onto the compost heap) so I've got to do something with all the leaves that make a beeline for our garden and back door!
Doing the front garden was very sociable as Sophie came out to sit with me and various neighbours walked past and stopped for a chat, including one woman who has two enormous dogs that she has to walk separately! She gardens for a living and also has four children so she's very busy! It was great to get to know her and meet the dogs.
I worked until 6pm and the garden looked a lot neater, with all the dead leaves swept up and the grass raked. Hopefully, this weekend I can get out and trim it a bit as with the recent rain it's started to grow again.
I had a lovely deep bath and at 7pm Sophie and I crossed the road to see Sue and Michelle for a catch up with a few glasses of wine and some nibbles. We sat in Sue's kitchen gazing out at the stunning views and had a good natter, which was very pleasant. Sue opened a delicious bottle of Champagne to thank Michelle and I for looking after the house and garden while they were away and then we moved onto Prosecco and a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa.
I didn't want to be too late tonight, though as I had work tomorrow so we said goodbye at 10pm and waddled off to bed!
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