Keith took me into work again this morning as he had a doctor's appointment at 2.30pm and there wouldn't have been enough time for me to get home to give him the car. It's certainly taking some getting used to us having to share the Audi!
Today was very pleasant at work and the time passed quickly. At 2pm we sped off to Brixworth but we had to wait ages to see the GP. Keith's leg is still not right so the doctor gave him a new prescription for antibiotics that will hopefully get rid of the infection once and for all.
Back home I pootled about until Sophie arrived back, and then I could relax and start the weekend! She is at work tomorrow for her old job but it'll be her last day - the thought of her doing the next four Saturdays after working all week was a horrible one!
Keith walked to the pub and we settled down to watch 90 Day Fiance. Tonight we cooked a recipe from the Co-op magazine - chicken breasts rubbed with paprika and chilli flakes and baked in the oven with new potatoes. I also served green beans and asparagus with the meal and it was delicious.
It's certainly getting darker at night now, and we had to have the lights on in the conservatory while we were having dinner. Afterwards I indulged in a little relaxation with Gardener's World before Sophie and I watched Eight Go Rallying. Sophie fell asleep on the sofa, poor thing. Just one more day and then that'll be it!
Friday, 7 September 2018
Thursday, 6 September 2018
Being quizzed!
Our office was very quiet this morning as there were only three of us in. We didn't have many calls first thing and then it went mad at lunchtime with lots of queries about swimming lessons! I was at work until 3pm and Keith picked me up as he'd been to do the shopping and needed the car.
I had plans to go home and do some housework but that seemed to go by the wayside and even though I did some chores that needed doing, I felt like I'd wasted the time I had! I have to say, though, that it's great to not have to go back out again and work from 3pm until 6pm!
In the evening Sophie, Keith and I ate early as we were off to the pub quiz in the village. Sue had asked us as they were short and needed three people to take part. The heavy rain that we'd had earlier had cleared away so we walked up, but unfortunately Monty thought it was a good idea to follow us, something he's never done before when we've walked the other way out of the estate. In the end, Sophie was so worried that she and I walked back and locked him in the house while Keith carried on up to the pub.
The pub was packed and we met an old neighbour who told us, very sadly, that the landlord who used to run the Royal Oak in Walgrave had passed away today. To say I was shocked was an understatement as he was only 61 and we used to be really good friends with him and his (now ex) wife. We knew he'd had health problems lately but I never thought he would pass away so young.
We joined Sue at her table as she'd had a meal before the quiz and met the other members of the team who were all ladies of a certain age! Paul was also coming along later to take part. Keith was very disappointed with his beer which was completely flat so he was already looking a bit grumpy!
The quiz eventually started and we were given a sheet of photographs of Radio DJs. Paul and Sophie had a mega argument over one picture as Sophie thought it was a young Terry Wogan while Paul was convinced it was Noel Edmonds. I found it difficult to choose!
We didn't do badly in the quiz rounds and I wished we'd taken one of my answers and one of Sophie's answers as the correct ones as we would have come joint third. The photo turned out to be a very young Noel Edmonds, so that result caused a lot of hilarity! It was a good night, but it did drag on a bit and we eventually left at almost 11pm, way past my bedtime and that of a lot of other people too! At least Sue gave us a lift home so we didn't have to walk!
I had plans to go home and do some housework but that seemed to go by the wayside and even though I did some chores that needed doing, I felt like I'd wasted the time I had! I have to say, though, that it's great to not have to go back out again and work from 3pm until 6pm!
In the evening Sophie, Keith and I ate early as we were off to the pub quiz in the village. Sue had asked us as they were short and needed three people to take part. The heavy rain that we'd had earlier had cleared away so we walked up, but unfortunately Monty thought it was a good idea to follow us, something he's never done before when we've walked the other way out of the estate. In the end, Sophie was so worried that she and I walked back and locked him in the house while Keith carried on up to the pub.
The pub was packed and we met an old neighbour who told us, very sadly, that the landlord who used to run the Royal Oak in Walgrave had passed away today. To say I was shocked was an understatement as he was only 61 and we used to be really good friends with him and his (now ex) wife. We knew he'd had health problems lately but I never thought he would pass away so young.
We joined Sue at her table as she'd had a meal before the quiz and met the other members of the team who were all ladies of a certain age! Paul was also coming along later to take part. Keith was very disappointed with his beer which was completely flat so he was already looking a bit grumpy!
The quiz eventually started and we were given a sheet of photographs of Radio DJs. Paul and Sophie had a mega argument over one picture as Sophie thought it was a young Terry Wogan while Paul was convinced it was Noel Edmonds. I found it difficult to choose!
We didn't do badly in the quiz rounds and I wished we'd taken one of my answers and one of Sophie's answers as the correct ones as we would have come joint third. The photo turned out to be a very young Noel Edmonds, so that result caused a lot of hilarity! It was a good night, but it did drag on a bit and we eventually left at almost 11pm, way past my bedtime and that of a lot of other people too! At least Sue gave us a lift home so we didn't have to walk!
Wednesday, 5 September 2018
A challenging morning!
I was in at work today as an extra shift - now that I no longer work at the school I need to find at least another ten hours a week, but I haven't quite managed to achieve that yet!
We had a busy day with some grumpy people calling us so it made for a challenging shift! The girl I work with went to the doctor's for an hour and the phones went mad! My Mum and Dad made an unexpected visit as they are looking to join the gym so I popped out for five minutes to see them and arrange for someone to show them around.
As Keith had been stuck in the house all day I drove him over to Brixworth to get a newspaper. We know how to live! Mike's new girlfriend, Georgia, was at the house when I got home and I really like her. She seems very friendly and down to earth.
I had plans to hoover or wash the car but somehow I managed to achieve very little! Our new neighbours have moved in but we haven't seen them yet and I just hope they're going to be friendly. They have just returned from a long holiday in Australia so are probably very jet-lagged!
Sophie arrived home and seemed a lot happier. She has some travel coming up and is off to the NEC next Wednesday. She looks very smart in her office wear and it feels a bit weird to see her all dressed up like that rather than in her blue polo shirt and leggings that she normally wears to work!
Mike went out in the afternoon with Georgia and didn't come home for dinner so it was just the three of us. Sophie was supposed to have been going out but a friend cancelled so we had soup, garlic bread and pudding. Not what we'd planned but it had to do!
We had a busy day with some grumpy people calling us so it made for a challenging shift! The girl I work with went to the doctor's for an hour and the phones went mad! My Mum and Dad made an unexpected visit as they are looking to join the gym so I popped out for five minutes to see them and arrange for someone to show them around.
As Keith had been stuck in the house all day I drove him over to Brixworth to get a newspaper. We know how to live! Mike's new girlfriend, Georgia, was at the house when I got home and I really like her. She seems very friendly and down to earth.
I had plans to hoover or wash the car but somehow I managed to achieve very little! Our new neighbours have moved in but we haven't seen them yet and I just hope they're going to be friendly. They have just returned from a long holiday in Australia so are probably very jet-lagged!
Sophie arrived home and seemed a lot happier. She has some travel coming up and is off to the NEC next Wednesday. She looks very smart in her office wear and it feels a bit weird to see her all dressed up like that rather than in her blue polo shirt and leggings that she normally wears to work!
Mike went out in the afternoon with Georgia and didn't come home for dinner so it was just the three of us. Sophie was supposed to have been going out but a friend cancelled so we had soup, garlic bread and pudding. Not what we'd planned but it had to do!
Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Things improve!
We volunteered to take Sophie to work today as she had been told she couldn't park in the normal car park as they had visitors and would have to park in the pub opposite. We drove her in and left at 8am. The traffic was OK and we had a very sedate journey down to her place of work and arrived well before 9am. This could be down to the fact that the children haven't gone back to school yet, though! We also promised to pop down and take her out at lunchtime for a coffee, which she looked forward to, bless her!
At home Keith and I had breakfast and then I gave our kitchen a good clean. Over the summer we've had lots of flies in the house so I wanted to get all the worktops and the floor really clean. I worked away until lunchtime, had a shower and then drove back down to see Sophie. She seemed much happier and after a fruitless trip to the local Costa which was packed, we ended up at the pub opposite where we had a quick drink. It's been a lovely day today with blue skies and sunshine and we were almost tempted to sit outside!
After dropping Sophie back off at her office, we returned home and I started cleaning all over again after I'd had some lunch. I finished at 4pm and had just half an hour to watch the Tour of Spain before it was time to go and get her again! I'm glad we don't have to do this every day!
When she came out she was a lot happier so that was a relief! I hated to see her so miserable yesterday. We had fish for dinner and then settled down to watch Bodyguard afterwards. It's looking set to be one of our favourites!
At home Keith and I had breakfast and then I gave our kitchen a good clean. Over the summer we've had lots of flies in the house so I wanted to get all the worktops and the floor really clean. I worked away until lunchtime, had a shower and then drove back down to see Sophie. She seemed much happier and after a fruitless trip to the local Costa which was packed, we ended up at the pub opposite where we had a quick drink. It's been a lovely day today with blue skies and sunshine and we were almost tempted to sit outside!
After dropping Sophie back off at her office, we returned home and I started cleaning all over again after I'd had some lunch. I finished at 4pm and had just half an hour to watch the Tour of Spain before it was time to go and get her again! I'm glad we don't have to do this every day!
When she came out she was a lot happier so that was a relief! I hated to see her so miserable yesterday. We had fish for dinner and then settled down to watch Bodyguard afterwards. It's looking set to be one of our favourites!
Monday, 3 September 2018
New job!
Sophie started work but didn't have to go in until 10am so she managed to avoid the rush hour traffic. Tomorrow she'll have to leave at about 8am!
I was at work today and we were fairly busy with calls and enquiries. Keith took me in as now Sophie will be driving her own car into work every day. We'll have to get used to the new normal!
Keith picked me up at 2pm and as Mike is on holiday this week we didn't have to go and pick him up from work. We had a bit of a hair-raising trip home as a couple of cars decided we were a target and aimed for us! I was glad to arrive safely and in one piece!
As soon as I got home I packaged up one last parcel we had to send off and we drove over to the Post Office in Brixworth to post it off. Back home we mooched about until Sophie arrived home at 5.30pm. I rushed out to greet her and was a bit dismayed to see her looking dejected. She felt overwhelmed, she said, by all the new things she had to learn, meeting new people and driving in the rush hour traffic, which she's never really had to do before. One horrible woman driver had sworn at her and sounded her horn because Sophie was in the wrong lane on a roundabout!
Keith and I sat with her in the conservatory for ages and let her talk it all out. I knew she would feel like this as it's a huge change in her life and she's really missing uni and the friends she had there. We sat and had a good talk and she was more like her old self after dinner!
I was at work today and we were fairly busy with calls and enquiries. Keith took me in as now Sophie will be driving her own car into work every day. We'll have to get used to the new normal!
Keith picked me up at 2pm and as Mike is on holiday this week we didn't have to go and pick him up from work. We had a bit of a hair-raising trip home as a couple of cars decided we were a target and aimed for us! I was glad to arrive safely and in one piece!
As soon as I got home I packaged up one last parcel we had to send off and we drove over to the Post Office in Brixworth to post it off. Back home we mooched about until Sophie arrived home at 5.30pm. I rushed out to greet her and was a bit dismayed to see her looking dejected. She felt overwhelmed, she said, by all the new things she had to learn, meeting new people and driving in the rush hour traffic, which she's never really had to do before. One horrible woman driver had sworn at her and sounded her horn because Sophie was in the wrong lane on a roundabout!
Keith and I sat with her in the conservatory for ages and let her talk it all out. I knew she would feel like this as it's a huge change in her life and she's really missing uni and the friends she had there. We sat and had a good talk and she was more like her old self after dinner!
Sunday, 2 September 2018
Turning Japanese...
It was lovely to have today off but we had a busy time ahead of us! We did have a lazyish start, though, and then Sophie and I prepared the dinner by soaking the Shitake mushrooms in hot water and sorting out all the ingredients we needed.
I grated and chopped up ginger while Sophie measured out all the soy sauce, mirin, honey and rice vinegar for the sauce. I also cut up two shallots and some garlic and when the mushrooms had re-hydrated, I chopped them up and we added them to the turkey thigh mince, along with some breadcrumbs. This was then put into the fridge to chill and we made a start on breakfast while Keith went to get the Sunday papers.
Breakfast was lovely, if a little filling, and at lunchtime we drove the route that Sophie might have to take when she starts work tomorrow. It will undoubtedly be busy when she leaves for work and I'd suggested an alternative route that she did not enjoy driving! Back to Plan A, then! At least tomorrow she doesn't start until 10am so a gentler introduction to the joys of rush hour traffic!
We went to Starbucks on Riverside and then visited Homesense where I met my boss, Sara! We had a chat and Sophie and I kept bumping into them in the store. Sophie bought a diary and a notebook while I couldn't resist some wine glasses called Jane! As we are down to two glasses at the moment, we needed them badly!
On the way home we called into the new university campus at Waterside but we couldn't go any further than the entrance gate, which was a shame. We both wanted to have a look around but what we could see looked fabulous and so modern.
We returned home and mooched about, feeling a little disappointed that we hadn't sold more today on ebay. We're giving it a rest for a couple of weeks which will be welcome!
Dinner tonight took us an hour to prepare and we had a bit of a calamity with the bamboo skewers - the meatballs kept falling off! In the end we just moulded them into balls and put them on two baking trays in the oven. We also cooked rice and stir fried some vegetables to go with the meal. We heated up the sauce and the idea was to pour it over the meatballs in a pan until it thickened into a syrup. It was lovely but it wasn't as thick as I would have liked!
However, the meal was lovely and the meatballs were delicious. We'll definitely cook the recipe again but not bother with the skewers!
I grated and chopped up ginger while Sophie measured out all the soy sauce, mirin, honey and rice vinegar for the sauce. I also cut up two shallots and some garlic and when the mushrooms had re-hydrated, I chopped them up and we added them to the turkey thigh mince, along with some breadcrumbs. This was then put into the fridge to chill and we made a start on breakfast while Keith went to get the Sunday papers.
Breakfast was lovely, if a little filling, and at lunchtime we drove the route that Sophie might have to take when she starts work tomorrow. It will undoubtedly be busy when she leaves for work and I'd suggested an alternative route that she did not enjoy driving! Back to Plan A, then! At least tomorrow she doesn't start until 10am so a gentler introduction to the joys of rush hour traffic!
We went to Starbucks on Riverside and then visited Homesense where I met my boss, Sara! We had a chat and Sophie and I kept bumping into them in the store. Sophie bought a diary and a notebook while I couldn't resist some wine glasses called Jane! As we are down to two glasses at the moment, we needed them badly!
On the way home we called into the new university campus at Waterside but we couldn't go any further than the entrance gate, which was a shame. We both wanted to have a look around but what we could see looked fabulous and so modern.
We returned home and mooched about, feeling a little disappointed that we hadn't sold more today on ebay. We're giving it a rest for a couple of weeks which will be welcome!
Dinner tonight took us an hour to prepare and we had a bit of a calamity with the bamboo skewers - the meatballs kept falling off! In the end we just moulded them into balls and put them on two baking trays in the oven. We also cooked rice and stir fried some vegetables to go with the meal. We heated up the sauce and the idea was to pour it over the meatballs in a pan until it thickened into a syrup. It was lovely but it wasn't as thick as I would have liked!
However, the meal was lovely and the meatballs were delicious. We'll definitely cook the recipe again but not bother with the skewers!
Saturday, 1 September 2018
Driving worries.
I was back at work this morning at 8.30am and working with Sue. It's much more relaxed at the weekends as there is nobody else in the office and we're just left to get on with our work. Sue left at 2pm and I carried on until 4pm, but Sophie had sent me a text saying that my Mum and Dad were at her work and she was worried about them driving home in the new car, so I called in to find out what was happening.
My Dad had made the mistake of picking up his new Golf and driving to the very busy Weston Favell Centre rather than just leave going there for another day, and had found it difficult to adapt back to automatic driving after having a manual car for a while. We went out around the estate and I showed him how the parking brake worked and explained about the stop-start system on the car.
I then followed them most of the way home to make sure he was OK and his driving was fine. It is a worry though, when parents get older and their driving capabilities change. I'm sure than when he adapts to the new car, he'll be fine and at least he won't stall it, like he did with the Nissan!
Back at home I pootled about doing jobs and Keith came home from going to see Sileby play. They had won 3-1 and seem to be getting their old form back which has pleased Keith! We then went to pick Sophie up from work as I had taken her car today as we needed two cars!
We barbecued in the evening and Mike went off to the local music festival. We sat in the garden for a while and then cooked burgers, chicken and lamb steaks, accompanied by new potatoes and roasted veggies. It was delicious!
My Dad had made the mistake of picking up his new Golf and driving to the very busy Weston Favell Centre rather than just leave going there for another day, and had found it difficult to adapt back to automatic driving after having a manual car for a while. We went out around the estate and I showed him how the parking brake worked and explained about the stop-start system on the car.
I then followed them most of the way home to make sure he was OK and his driving was fine. It is a worry though, when parents get older and their driving capabilities change. I'm sure than when he adapts to the new car, he'll be fine and at least he won't stall it, like he did with the Nissan!
Back at home I pootled about doing jobs and Keith came home from going to see Sileby play. They had won 3-1 and seem to be getting their old form back which has pleased Keith! We then went to pick Sophie up from work as I had taken her car today as we needed two cars!
We barbecued in the evening and Mike went off to the local music festival. We sat in the garden for a while and then cooked burgers, chicken and lamb steaks, accompanied by new potatoes and roasted veggies. It was delicious!
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