Day 113
Our new carpet was due to be fitted today so as soon as Sophie had started work, Keith and I cleared out our bedroom as much as we could. I had already taken out all the bedding and the bedside cabinets, and we managed to move the chest of drawers and a wooden storage box into Sophie's room. We leant the mattress up against the banisters but we kept the divan in the bedroom and managed to separate it into two single beds.
It was hard work and after we'd finished I hoovered the floor again. I am more than ready for the new carpet now, and hate walking on the bare boards!
I decided to go and tidy up the front garden this morning and was pleased that the soil was lovely and crumbly after the rain we 'd had. Keith had cut the verge on Sunday and we could see that the grass seed we'd put down had definitely sprouted. I swept up all the leaves on the road and tidied everything, and then had a good chat with Michelle as she pulled onto the red brick driveway.
When I was finished Keith transferred some of the soil onto the verge and we put some more grass seed down. There's no harm in trying! While we were working the carpet fitter arrived and when it was time for him to take the new carpet in, Keith and I had to help him up the stairs with it as it was so heavy! I have no idea how he could have done it on his own!
We were delighted with the room when he'd finished and I hoovered the carpet and down the stairs which was full of fluff and loose bits of material. After lunch Keith and I went to Kettering to look at bed headboards in two stores but we didn't see anything we liked. After we'd mooched about looking at all the choices we went and collected a new white valance from Dunelm that I'd ordered this morning. While we were in there we checked out the curtains but we've decided to live with the new carpet for a while before making any decisions about new curtains and quilt covers.
As we had some time until we had to collect Mike, we popped to the Laura Ashley store near Tesco where they were having a closing down sale. Again, we didn't see anything we liked and in Next nearby we saw some very strange little ornaments that looked tacky and cheap!
Back home I ironed the new valance and put it on while Keith and Mike moved all the furniture back into the room. After we'd finished we decided that a cup of tea and a new documentary about the rise of the Nazis were just the thing, so we collapsed in a heap on the sofa and watched television for an hour! We'd had a very busy day!
It was lovely to sit and play cards in the evening before dinner and all four of us played. I was out early on so I started the dinner - very simple roasted chicken drumsticks with salad and new potatoes after our busy day!
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Monday, 13 July 2020
Olive moving day!
Day 112
Sophie was back at work this morning and went for a run first thing. I think she really enjoyed her week off so the first day back was a bit of a shock!
Keith and I went to Mum and Dad's care home this morning to take a document from the solicitor that needs to be signed. I had no choice but to leave it with the staff and explained that it had to be signed so we could proceed with the sale of the house. I said we would go and do some shopping and call back for it later.
Keith and I went to Aldi and shopped for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Tonight we're trying a new recipe - crispy ginger beef, which sounds delicious and which we should have had last night!
We called back at the care home but the form hadn't been signed as the senior carer was in a meeting so I said I would call back for it again tomorrow. Before going home we popped to Mum and Dad's house and I made sure everything was OK and checked the bank statements. The grass was looking a bit long so Keith and I made plans to go around later in the week and cut the lawn.
Back home I took a call from the care home to say that my Dad was unsure about the form so we agreed a meeting next week when I can go in and sort it out. My Mum has another Urinary Tract Infection which has made her a bit confused again, and explained why she wasn't making a lot of sense when I spoke to her this morning.
In the afternoon I re-potted an olive tree that we have had for years and which doesn't seem to be growing very well. I have been meaning to sort it out for ages so today was the day! Another plant had invaded the pot it was in so I managed to separate the two of them and put the olive into a much larger pot. I'm hoping it will thrive!
When Sophie finished work she prepped all the ingredients for dinner and then we cooked it together. a bit later in the evening. We served the beef and vegetables with Jasmine rice and it was delicious!
Sophie was back at work this morning and went for a run first thing. I think she really enjoyed her week off so the first day back was a bit of a shock!
Keith and I went to Mum and Dad's care home this morning to take a document from the solicitor that needs to be signed. I had no choice but to leave it with the staff and explained that it had to be signed so we could proceed with the sale of the house. I said we would go and do some shopping and call back for it later.
Keith and I went to Aldi and shopped for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Tonight we're trying a new recipe - crispy ginger beef, which sounds delicious and which we should have had last night!
We called back at the care home but the form hadn't been signed as the senior carer was in a meeting so I said I would call back for it again tomorrow. Before going home we popped to Mum and Dad's house and I made sure everything was OK and checked the bank statements. The grass was looking a bit long so Keith and I made plans to go around later in the week and cut the lawn.
Back home I took a call from the care home to say that my Dad was unsure about the form so we agreed a meeting next week when I can go in and sort it out. My Mum has another Urinary Tract Infection which has made her a bit confused again, and explained why she wasn't making a lot of sense when I spoke to her this morning.
In the afternoon I re-potted an olive tree that we have had for years and which doesn't seem to be growing very well. I have been meaning to sort it out for ages so today was the day! Another plant had invaded the pot it was in so I managed to separate the two of them and put the olive into a much larger pot. I'm hoping it will thrive!
When Sophie finished work she prepped all the ingredients for dinner and then we cooked it together. a bit later in the evening. We served the beef and vegetables with Jasmine rice and it was delicious!
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Gardening weather!
Day 111
Today, the weather has been beautiful - a perfect day of gorgeous blue skies, fluffy clouds and lovely warm temperatures.
Mike was at work again at 5am and Keith went to collect him after he'd finished. I woke Sophie up at 9am and she was feeling very annoyed as we had two horses walk around the estate at about 7.30am and they'd woken her up. I have no problems with people riding horses around here but why do they visit so early?
Daisy and Laura were due at midday so Sophie and I went to Brixworth to get lunch and on the way back we took the slightly longer route and returned via Pitsford reservoir. The scenery was utterly beautiful.
While Sophie dashed about preparing the food and tidying the conservatory, I mowed the back lawn and trimmed all the Euphorbia back as the longer stems were dying. I also neatened the edges and generally tidied everything up so it looked a lot better. Keith cut the front verge for me - the grass seed I'd put down a few weeks ago had sprouted so it looked a lot healthier than it did earlier in the year when we had a long spell of dry weather.
It was quite hot outside and I went back into the house all sweaty! Much of the afternoon was then spent relaxing and I had a blissful deep bath later in the day and all my dirty clothes went straight into the wash bin!
Daisy and Laura stayed until about 6pm and I watched the end of Shirley Valentine to round off a great day. Keith cooked the chicken pie we should have had yesterday and very good it was, too! Sophie and I even managed to sit in the garden for a little while after we'd eaten but I think we were too early for the bats. We haven't really sat out much this summer and seen them so for the rest of the season we'll have to make more of an effort!
Today, the weather has been beautiful - a perfect day of gorgeous blue skies, fluffy clouds and lovely warm temperatures.
Mike was at work again at 5am and Keith went to collect him after he'd finished. I woke Sophie up at 9am and she was feeling very annoyed as we had two horses walk around the estate at about 7.30am and they'd woken her up. I have no problems with people riding horses around here but why do they visit so early?
Daisy and Laura were due at midday so Sophie and I went to Brixworth to get lunch and on the way back we took the slightly longer route and returned via Pitsford reservoir. The scenery was utterly beautiful.
While Sophie dashed about preparing the food and tidying the conservatory, I mowed the back lawn and trimmed all the Euphorbia back as the longer stems were dying. I also neatened the edges and generally tidied everything up so it looked a lot better. Keith cut the front verge for me - the grass seed I'd put down a few weeks ago had sprouted so it looked a lot healthier than it did earlier in the year when we had a long spell of dry weather.
It was quite hot outside and I went back into the house all sweaty! Much of the afternoon was then spent relaxing and I had a blissful deep bath later in the day and all my dirty clothes went straight into the wash bin!
Daisy and Laura stayed until about 6pm and I watched the end of Shirley Valentine to round off a great day. Keith cooked the chicken pie we should have had yesterday and very good it was, too! Sophie and I even managed to sit in the garden for a little while after we'd eaten but I think we were too early for the bats. We haven't really sat out much this summer and seen them so for the rest of the season we'll have to make more of an effort!
Saturday, 11 July 2020
Getting rid!
Day 110
Mike was at work today and had to be in for 5am...not pleasant! I was up by 8am and waiting for him to call us as he really only does a few hours work at the weekend. However, Keith volunteered to go and get him and popped to Aldi at the same time so it was a late start for all of us. We didn't have breakfast until mid-morning!
After we'd eaten, Keith wanted us to help him take up the carpet in our bedroom and all four of us managed to do it very quickly and efficiently! Mike and Keith cut up the carpet in sections and then took it all downstairs, including the very heavy underlay. I hoovered the floor and then we moved all the furniture back. The new carpet is being fitted on Tuesday and we suspect we'll have to try and take the bed out, which won't be an easy task!
Mike and I took all the carpet, the underlay and various junk we'd accumulated to the tip. I was expecting long queues (the other day we'd seen 20-30 cars waiting) but there was no queue and it was all very effortless, thank goodness. We deposited several broken electrical appliances into a big skip, the carpet went into another and we even managed to get rid of two bottles of old cooking oil. The only thing that we had to put in the landfill skip was a misshapen cushion!
After taking Mike to the Co-op in Brixworth so he could get himself some lunch, we headed home where I had a much needed hot shower! Sophie and I popped over to the care home with some bits for Mum and Dad and then onto Tesco where we took a load of plastic bags for recycling. I think we've done our bit for the environment today!
Back home we had lunch of leftovers from the other evening when Sue and Michelle came around, and we had a sneaky glass of wine as well. It was all very relaxed and lovely sitting in the conservatory with the sun shining through the windows. I hope the weather has changed for the better now!
We played cards in the evening and none of us fancied our planned dinner for this evening, which was chicken pie and vegetables. Sophie and I were still full from lunch so we decided to have a light supper and have the pie tomorrow.
Keith disappeared upstairs to watch the football while Sophie and I indulged in a couple of episodes of Married At First Sight Australia. It was filmed three years ago and Sophie and I suspect that none of the couples are still together!
Mike was at work today and had to be in for 5am...not pleasant! I was up by 8am and waiting for him to call us as he really only does a few hours work at the weekend. However, Keith volunteered to go and get him and popped to Aldi at the same time so it was a late start for all of us. We didn't have breakfast until mid-morning!
After we'd eaten, Keith wanted us to help him take up the carpet in our bedroom and all four of us managed to do it very quickly and efficiently! Mike and Keith cut up the carpet in sections and then took it all downstairs, including the very heavy underlay. I hoovered the floor and then we moved all the furniture back. The new carpet is being fitted on Tuesday and we suspect we'll have to try and take the bed out, which won't be an easy task!
Mike and I took all the carpet, the underlay and various junk we'd accumulated to the tip. I was expecting long queues (the other day we'd seen 20-30 cars waiting) but there was no queue and it was all very effortless, thank goodness. We deposited several broken electrical appliances into a big skip, the carpet went into another and we even managed to get rid of two bottles of old cooking oil. The only thing that we had to put in the landfill skip was a misshapen cushion!
After taking Mike to the Co-op in Brixworth so he could get himself some lunch, we headed home where I had a much needed hot shower! Sophie and I popped over to the care home with some bits for Mum and Dad and then onto Tesco where we took a load of plastic bags for recycling. I think we've done our bit for the environment today!
Back home we had lunch of leftovers from the other evening when Sue and Michelle came around, and we had a sneaky glass of wine as well. It was all very relaxed and lovely sitting in the conservatory with the sun shining through the windows. I hope the weather has changed for the better now!
We played cards in the evening and none of us fancied our planned dinner for this evening, which was chicken pie and vegetables. Sophie and I were still full from lunch so we decided to have a light supper and have the pie tomorrow.
Keith disappeared upstairs to watch the football while Sophie and I indulged in a couple of episodes of Married At First Sight Australia. It was filmed three years ago and Sophie and I suspect that none of the couples are still together!
Friday, 10 July 2020
Scrub a dub dub!
Day 109
Yesterday at 5pm, the announcement came that I had been waiting for - gyms will re-open on Saturday 25th July. It will be 123 days since I left on the 23rd March and I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest. I don't think we will be holding classes to start with and everything will have to be booked online, something that quite a few of our members are unable to do. Sophie was delighted and plans to go back on Monday 27th for an early morning work-out!
Today dawned sunny and dry, so that was a relief! Sophie drove to Milton Keynes station to meet her friend and Keith and I mooched about the house getting jobs done. Between us we did a huge amount of laundry (Mike's girlfriend, Abbie, was staying over so he had chucked all the clothes on his bedroom floor into the wash basket!) with me loading the washing machine and hanging it out while he ironed.
I managed to clean my car inside and out and boy! did it need it! The back seats were like a field, where Mike gets in after working and spreads grass and soil everywhere! When I finished it looked a lot better but as I was going over it on the drive to polish it off it started to rain... typical!
Mum called me today to say that she was allowed out of hospital and could I pick her up, but I was very reluctant to, to be honest. In the end she went back to the care home with the community transport but will now have to self-isolate with my Dad again for two weeks, which will be a nuisance.
In the evening Keith, Mike and Abbie went to the pub while I stayed at home and cooked cottage pie for dinner. I missed my wine buddy! Sophie arrived home at about 8pm and had had a great day, visiting Woburn Safari Park and eating out for breakfast and dinner.
We caught up on a couple of episodes of Married At First Sight Australia and then it was time for bed. It's the weekend!
Yesterday at 5pm, the announcement came that I had been waiting for - gyms will re-open on Saturday 25th July. It will be 123 days since I left on the 23rd March and I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest. I don't think we will be holding classes to start with and everything will have to be booked online, something that quite a few of our members are unable to do. Sophie was delighted and plans to go back on Monday 27th for an early morning work-out!
Today dawned sunny and dry, so that was a relief! Sophie drove to Milton Keynes station to meet her friend and Keith and I mooched about the house getting jobs done. Between us we did a huge amount of laundry (Mike's girlfriend, Abbie, was staying over so he had chucked all the clothes on his bedroom floor into the wash basket!) with me loading the washing machine and hanging it out while he ironed.
I managed to clean my car inside and out and boy! did it need it! The back seats were like a field, where Mike gets in after working and spreads grass and soil everywhere! When I finished it looked a lot better but as I was going over it on the drive to polish it off it started to rain... typical!
Mum called me today to say that she was allowed out of hospital and could I pick her up, but I was very reluctant to, to be honest. In the end she went back to the care home with the community transport but will now have to self-isolate with my Dad again for two weeks, which will be a nuisance.
In the evening Keith, Mike and Abbie went to the pub while I stayed at home and cooked cottage pie for dinner. I missed my wine buddy! Sophie arrived home at about 8pm and had had a great day, visiting Woburn Safari Park and eating out for breakfast and dinner.
We caught up on a couple of episodes of Married At First Sight Australia and then it was time for bed. It's the weekend!
Thursday, 9 July 2020
Out and about!
Day 108
I was awake at 5am this morning and offered to take Mike to work, and although Keith initially agreed, when I went back upstairs to make sure our son was getting ready, Keith said he would take him. I went back to bed as I felt very tired. The next thing I knew it was 8.30am! This will have to stop otherwise it's going to be a huge shock when I go back to work and have to get up at 6am!
Keith was shopping and when he arrived home I helped him put everything away and then went out into the garage to sort out the recycling we were going to take to Milton Keynes today. I had several large bags of pet food pouches and a bag of Tassimo pods, so the plan was to take them to George and then pop to M&S to get some nibbles for tonight, when Sue and Michelle are coming over.
Before we could go, though, Sophie and I went to get Mum's mobile from the care home as I have been unable to contact her since Monday. We picked up the phone, took it home to be charged up and then left for Milton Keynes.
Tomorrow Sophie is driving to meet her friend at Milton Keynes train station and going with him to Woburn Safari Park, so I said we would scout out the route to the station to make it easier for her. It was a very simple and straightforward route and before heading to the shopping centre, we dropped the bags off at Downs Barn where the crate of recycling was already full.
We parked outside M&S and headed up to the cafe for some lunch. It was a bonus that they were open! We enjoyed lunch (socially distanced, of course!) and then went back downstairs to the Food Hall where we bought some lovely food for tonight. Things feel like they're back to normal!
I had told Keith we would be back in time to get Mike from work, so we left and arrived home at just after 2pm. Mum's phone was fully charged so Keith and I left early to take it to the hospital before collecting Mike. We became stuck for a brief while on the A14 but managed to get to the golf course in time to pick up Mike. A few hardy golfers were making their way to the 18th hole and they were all very bedraggled, as the weather has been even worse today with a steady, soaking drizzle that hasn't stopped all day. Mike emerged from the shed where they work and was covered in mud!
Back home Sophie and I cleaned and tidied downstairs and at 6pm Sue and Michelle arrived. I had planned on sitting in the garden this evening but there was no chance of that so we sat around the table in the conservatory and had a lovely evening with lots of chat and gossip! A great escape from our current woes!
I was awake at 5am this morning and offered to take Mike to work, and although Keith initially agreed, when I went back upstairs to make sure our son was getting ready, Keith said he would take him. I went back to bed as I felt very tired. The next thing I knew it was 8.30am! This will have to stop otherwise it's going to be a huge shock when I go back to work and have to get up at 6am!
Keith was shopping and when he arrived home I helped him put everything away and then went out into the garage to sort out the recycling we were going to take to Milton Keynes today. I had several large bags of pet food pouches and a bag of Tassimo pods, so the plan was to take them to George and then pop to M&S to get some nibbles for tonight, when Sue and Michelle are coming over.
Before we could go, though, Sophie and I went to get Mum's mobile from the care home as I have been unable to contact her since Monday. We picked up the phone, took it home to be charged up and then left for Milton Keynes.
Tomorrow Sophie is driving to meet her friend at Milton Keynes train station and going with him to Woburn Safari Park, so I said we would scout out the route to the station to make it easier for her. It was a very simple and straightforward route and before heading to the shopping centre, we dropped the bags off at Downs Barn where the crate of recycling was already full.
We parked outside M&S and headed up to the cafe for some lunch. It was a bonus that they were open! We enjoyed lunch (socially distanced, of course!) and then went back downstairs to the Food Hall where we bought some lovely food for tonight. Things feel like they're back to normal!
I had told Keith we would be back in time to get Mike from work, so we left and arrived home at just after 2pm. Mum's phone was fully charged so Keith and I left early to take it to the hospital before collecting Mike. We became stuck for a brief while on the A14 but managed to get to the golf course in time to pick up Mike. A few hardy golfers were making their way to the 18th hole and they were all very bedraggled, as the weather has been even worse today with a steady, soaking drizzle that hasn't stopped all day. Mike emerged from the shed where they work and was covered in mud!
Back home Sophie and I cleaned and tidied downstairs and at 6pm Sue and Michelle arrived. I had planned on sitting in the garden this evening but there was no chance of that so we sat around the table in the conservatory and had a lovely evening with lots of chat and gossip! A great escape from our current woes!
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
Out for a meal!
Day 107
The plan today was to finish painting the walls in the bedroom as there were a few patchy bits about! I managed to move the bed into the middle of the room and did all the patches that I could see whilst listening to Radio 2. It did look better when I finished and Keith had to agree, even though he had said it was fine.
My 2012 blog book arrived this morning which I was very pleased about! It looked great and will go with the others on the shelf and hopefully be passed down the generations! If nothing else, it'll be safe if anything ever happens to the website which hosts my blog!
The weather today has been truly horrible with heavy grey skies and constant rain in the afternoon. Sophie and I went to collect Mike from work and he was late out (the last time Sophie came with me he was late!) and he was drenched, poor thing. Hardly anyone was playing golf and I don't blame them! Apparently this area of low pressure is the tail end of tropical storm Edouard, and I wish he would go away!
In the evening we had booked a table for 7pm at The Saracen's Head in Little Brington. We had originally wanted to go to The Althorp Coaching Inn in Great Brington but there was no answer when we called to see if they were open. When we drove past, the windows were boarded up, which wasn't a good sign...
Everything was very professional and safe at The Saracen's Head. We were taken straight through the bar into the restaurant and seated at a table a fair distance from any others. The waitress took our drinks order and Keith volunteered to drive home so Sophie and I could enjoy a glass of wine. We ordered a French Viognier which was delicious.
We decided to order the deli platter to share between three of us while Mike chose the prawns. The food was lovely and we enjoyed cold meats, olives, mozzarella, crusty bread and an olive oil and balsamic dip.
For our main courses we chose fish and chips (I wonder who?), a vegetable curry, gammon for me and a Caesar salad for Mike which surprised me! It's not the sort of dish he would normally go for!
Again, the food was lovely, well-cooked and delicious. We had a very enjoyable evening with good banter and it was a pleasure to be out, doing something normal and relishing some family time.
We left at 9pm and the journey home was very wet indeed. It looked more like an Autumn evening rather than a midsummer one!
The plan today was to finish painting the walls in the bedroom as there were a few patchy bits about! I managed to move the bed into the middle of the room and did all the patches that I could see whilst listening to Radio 2. It did look better when I finished and Keith had to agree, even though he had said it was fine.
My 2012 blog book arrived this morning which I was very pleased about! It looked great and will go with the others on the shelf and hopefully be passed down the generations! If nothing else, it'll be safe if anything ever happens to the website which hosts my blog!
The weather today has been truly horrible with heavy grey skies and constant rain in the afternoon. Sophie and I went to collect Mike from work and he was late out (the last time Sophie came with me he was late!) and he was drenched, poor thing. Hardly anyone was playing golf and I don't blame them! Apparently this area of low pressure is the tail end of tropical storm Edouard, and I wish he would go away!
In the evening we had booked a table for 7pm at The Saracen's Head in Little Brington. We had originally wanted to go to The Althorp Coaching Inn in Great Brington but there was no answer when we called to see if they were open. When we drove past, the windows were boarded up, which wasn't a good sign...
Everything was very professional and safe at The Saracen's Head. We were taken straight through the bar into the restaurant and seated at a table a fair distance from any others. The waitress took our drinks order and Keith volunteered to drive home so Sophie and I could enjoy a glass of wine. We ordered a French Viognier which was delicious.
We decided to order the deli platter to share between three of us while Mike chose the prawns. The food was lovely and we enjoyed cold meats, olives, mozzarella, crusty bread and an olive oil and balsamic dip.
For our main courses we chose fish and chips (I wonder who?), a vegetable curry, gammon for me and a Caesar salad for Mike which surprised me! It's not the sort of dish he would normally go for!
Again, the food was lovely, well-cooked and delicious. We had a very enjoyable evening with good banter and it was a pleasure to be out, doing something normal and relishing some family time.
We left at 9pm and the journey home was very wet indeed. It looked more like an Autumn evening rather than a midsummer one!
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