Getting ready

I took myself to work this morning and felt a bit nervous driving! There were some idiots about and with us going to France tomorrow in the car, I didn't want a bump! Luckily, I made it to work in the heavy traffic without mishap and had another busy day.

Back at home, I packed for Keith and me and ran the hoover around. Sophie came home and we decided to eat an hour earlier than normal. We have to be up at 2am tomorrow so it was an early night for us! I hadn't slept well last night and had woken at 4am this morning so the lure of an early night was very tempting!

Sophie loaded the car with the luggage and we managed to get the cats in so they could spend the evening with us. We debated whether to keep them inside but felt it wouldn't be fair. They both love going out and thankfully, the freezing temperatures of last week are set to be replaced by much milder ones.

By 8pm, I was in bed - I was shattered!

The start of a short week!

So, it was back to work today but I was facing a very short week! Sheila was waiting for me in the car park with an almost-new stroller that she thought might be useful for my Mum. It was certainly an upgrade on the one she has now!

My shift passed quickly, because I was so busy, and Keith came to collect me at 4pm. We sped home (the traffic was light for once) and I pootled about at home doing the usual chores. Amazon delivered a gorgeous throw I'd ordered with the gift card I'd been given from work. I've been looking to replace the one on my bed for ages as it's too heavy and cumbersome, and my new light, incredibly soft one was beautiful. Mooney definitely had his eye on it! He can keep his claws off it!

Dinner tonight was a delicious soup that Sophie made. She used tins of Heinz chicken soup but added more chicken and pasta. It was perfect for a chilly night!

A grey day

Unfortunately, the grey skies were back today and it's been dull and cold. Keith and I dashed to Tesco first thing and bought toiletries for my Dad, as well as migraine tablets for Sophie as she had a headache. She spent most of the day wearing her migraine cap, bless her!

We dropped off the toiletries at the care home and it looks like my Dad has a cough and cold again. It's not surprising as there are so many cold and flu bugs doing the rounds at the moment. I daren't tell them we're going away to France on Wednesday... I feel slightly embarrassed we're off again but that's what happens when you have a birthday so close to Christmas!

Back home, we were all hungry so we started the lunch preparations. The casserole had been simmering for an hour so we cooked the vegetables and we were sitting down by 1pm. It was delicious, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should cut down on meat? I didn't enjoy the beef and pork dishes I chose on holiday and I ended up leaving quite a bit of the meat I'd put on my plate today. I am also heartily fed up with broccoli and cauliflower and crave light, fragrant Asian dishes at the moment! I might cut down on meaty meals and see if I can regain my appetite! We did drink a beautiful red wine with lunch though - the Séguret Cotes du Rhone Villages we bought in France in October. It was a mighty 14% and was packed full of cherry flavours. Gorgeous!

The rest of the afternoon was spent digesting our meal and relaxing. Keith and Sophie watched Newcastle play Bromley in the FA Cup and I pootled about doing a couple of jobs and putting off packing! I'll do it on Tuesday night!

Pre-Spring cleaning!

We awoke to sparkling sunshine this morning and blue skies. It was still very cold, but I don't mind when it's combined with gorgeous sunshine!

Sophie and I watched Saturday Morning Kitchen in its entirety with coffee and Portuguese Pastel de Natas, so a relaxed start to the weekend. I then felt like cleaning, so I blitzed upstairs while Sophie tackled some jobs she needed to do. We keep the house ticking over, but every now and then it's good to do a deeper clean.

Keith had prepared tonight's dinner of beef casserole with loads of vegetables, so we were all gainfully employed today! I suggested we have the goat's cheese I'd bought in London for lunch, and it was delicious with the crackers and a sneaky glass of white wine. It wasn't overly strong and was soft and creamy so Sophie enjoyed it. Maybe it's French goat's cheese she objects to!

After lunch, I cleaned downstairs and then had a soak in the bath. Keith had been hoping to see Sileby play this afternoon but the game, predictably, had been called off because of the cold conditions. 

We decided not to have the beef casserole for dinner tonight. My lunch of goat's cheese had filled me up and then I'd nibbled some chocolate that had been given to me for Christmas, and I couldn't face a heavy meal... We decided to have the casserole for lunch tomorrow instead. I was just fortunate that both Keith and Sophie agreed with me!

Sophie made me a G&T and we played two games of Scrabble. I beat her both times, much to her disgust - I seem to be on a roll at the moment with the game and we're definitely taking it to France with us!

I didn't eat again in the evening but Keith and Sophie both had a light tea. Later in the evening, we watched a new programme about Mallorca (they spelt it Majorca on the television) which was narrated by Joanna Lumley. Soller and Port Soller were mentioned - the train and tram especially - but they concentrated on other parts of the island as well, including Port D'Andratx. The island looked stunning and we did see a brief glimpse of the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor, but no mention of Pollenca. However, they featured an artist working on a huge mural and it was the same man who had painted the wall in La Scalinata!  

A good end to the working week!

Today was a pleasant shift and a great end to a busy week. I managed to tackle all the emails and put on a new swim teacher course. Plus, the playscheme places went live for February, which will be here before we know it!

Sophie went out for a meal this evening with her friend Laura, and Keith went to the pub, so I was on my own for an hour. It was great to pootle about, and both cats came in to keep me company. It's been another bitterly cold day, with temperatures this morning briefly going down to -6c. I actually wore my long woolly cardigan to work—it was so cold!

After Keith and I had eaten dinner (quiche and new potatoes) we watched an episode of Vera. It's a shame this long-running drama will be coming to an end when Brenda Blethyn steps down. Keith and I try to identify some of the areas of the North-East!

Sophie arrived home earlier than I expected and we chatted about her evening for an hour, while watching Graham Norton. I'm so looking forward to a lie-in tomorrow!

Back to reality!

It was back to work and reality today... we need to pay for these extravagant days out!

Keith took me to work and then drove to the hospital for his pre-op appointment. He hasn't been given a date yet, but we armed him with a list of days to avoid if he was asked when he could have his hernia operation.

At work, I tackled the emails and ploughed my way through them until I finished at 2pm. Keith collected me and I dropped him off at home before going over to Kettering to pick up my Mum for her nail appointment. I said I wouldn't do this again, but the evenings are getting lighter which helps! We made it back to Northampton in good time and today she chose a beautiful shade of blue.

Rather than call on Keith again, I took Mum straight back and was home just after 5pm. It does make such a difference when the evenings are a little lighter, but it's been another bitterly cold day today with temperatures hardly getting above freezing.

Sophie had fantastic news for us this evening and she'd called into Waitrose on her way home to buy a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate. She's been given a pay rise and has a new role, one that doesn't involve managing people which she is delighted about. It's just what she wanted! Both Keith and I were delighted for her.

Keith had prepared a spicy curry this evening but I wasn't in the mood for it at all and barely ate any. I do hope that the Indian meal we had in Mallorca hasn't put me off this kind of cuisine! There was nothing wrong with the food in Mallorca, but I just felt queasy for a couple of days afterwards!

First trip of the year to London.

Sophie and I were off to London today. We left at 8.30 a.m. for our planned train, which was leaving just after 9.15 a.m. However, the traffic heading towards Northampton was terrible, and we missed it! It was a bitterly cold morning with frosty patches on the road, and we hoped that the wintry weather wouldn't affect the train departures today.

Being late meant we could have a coffee and pastry, and we managed to grab seats on the next train, already on the platform. We sat next to four men, one of whom loved the sound of his own voice! He never stopped talking for the whole journey!

We hailed a black cab at Euston and made the short journey to Marylebone High Street, where we popped into Daunt's Books for a good look. Sophie picked out one book while I noted the title and author of another! It was then across the road to Bayley and Sage where I was sorely tempted by a round of creamy white goat's cheese. It was leaking a bit, so I left it, but the lure was too strong and I bought a round with a box of crackers! I did ask the girl on the till to wrap it up for me! Sophie treated us to a wedge of comté.

We then visited a charity shop where Sophie bought two tops before we decided to go to 31 Below for a glass of Prosecco each, and a bowl of green olives. Perfect!

For the first time, we were seated right at the back of the café and the surroundings were beautiful. We had about forty minutes before Sophie's appointment with Dr Bawa so it was great to relax and chat.

Sophie wasn't looking forward to her appointment today and was dreading the filler being inserted into her nose. We waited in the reception area, our eyes widening at one of the procedures being offered at the clinic! I'm sure there is a treatment (or tweakment) for every body issue!

When Dr Bawa came out to greet us, he seemed more cheerful than last time and he chatted to us about what we'd done at Christmas. He said that Sophie didn't really need filler at this appointment but she'd need to come back towards the summer as it had been two years since she'd had it on the bridge of her nose. He gave her Botox in the usual places and also added some to the frown lines on her forehead, as they had been bothering her. Dr Bawa chatted to us and let slip that he treats celebrities! He wouldn't say which ones, though!

He arranged a video meeting with Sophie in two weeks and another appointment for May and that was it for today. Our lunch booking at Cote Brasserie wasn't until 2pm so we called into Inn 1888 for another drink and a plate of arancini balls, which were delicious. The fire was alight and it was lovely and cosy, with hardly anyone in there.

At just before 2pm we strolled the short distance to the restaurant and were seated in the window, as we had requested. It's only because we're both so nosy! We ordered a bottle of fizzy water, and both chose our meals from the set lunch menu. We opted for the chicken liver paté to start followed by a breast of chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce. For wine, we chose a carafe of Sauvignon Blanc.

The meal was delicious and the service was efficient and friendly. We both found room for puds - chocolate mousse for me, and crepes served with bananas for Soph. It was great to sit in the window and people-watch and outside it grew darker as the afternoon wore on.

After we'd paid the bill, we managed to grab a black cab outside and asked him to drop us off at St Pancras station. Sophie wanted to go to the Mac make-up store on the ground floor of the station and buy make-up that had originally been launched in the 1990s. She made straight for the stand and one of the sales staff gave her a lot of help. Another woman also turned up, looking for the same make-up and she and Sophie chatted about a woman on TikTok who had been promoting the range. Amazing!

Once Sophie had bought what she wanted we made our way upstairs to The Booking Office. This place is now like a magnet for us! We arrived at about 4.15pm and were shown to seats on the long wooden bench again. I ordered a Negroni and Sophie asked if the barman could make her a French Martini. Neither of the cocktails were on the list, but with the huge range of drinks behind the bar, it wasn't a problem.

The barman making our drinks

This place is truly beautiful, and so romantic. It felt like we'd been transported back in time to 1920s Morocco, Istanbul or Egypt. Our drinks were delicious and served with mini crackers. One of the waiters appeared and started to get the Rum punch ready for 5.05pm, the magic time!

We did a fair bit of people watching and a woman arrived and sat at the bar, ordering two glasses of red wine. We speculated that she was meeting her beau, but another woman arrived. Still could have been! You never know these days! Another woman was shown to a seat opposite us and ordered herself a glass of champagne. It was evident that she was doing OK for herself with her designer suit and handbag, but she spent about fifteen minutes on the phone to a garage about her car's number plate. Laptops aren't allowed in The Booking Office and I think that people should be forbidden from making loud phone calls as well! It just spoils the ambience!

At 5.05pm, the head waiter gave a speech about the rum punch and the history of the hotel - it started in 1873 and the booking office for the station opened in 1869. He added the drinks to a large punchbowl and set it alight. This brought oohs and ahhs from the gathered crowd!

We were all given a small glass of punch and applauded the waiter! Such a lovely custom!

Sophie and I ordered another round of drinks and had a chat with Rosario, the waiter who'd served us previously. Thankfully, we didn't feel as tipsy as we did last time! Reluctantly, we finished our drinks, paid the bill and went outside to grab a taxi back to Euston. It'll be the last time we do this, though, as the traffic was horrendous and it would have been quicker to have walked back!

We were lucky to get a train that was already waiting on the platform and stopping at just Milton Keynes and Northampton. By 7.20pm, we were back and Keith was waiting for us. It was still cold and the temperature was hovering around -1c. Brrrr! 

We arrived home, and did very little for the rest of the evening!