We decided this morning to tackle the seven mile walk around Pitsford reservoir which we haven't done for years. We set out at 10.30am with some drinks and snacks and made a good time, stopping half way round for refreshments. The second half of the walk was hard going as the sun came out and it became very hot but we all felt fine and Keith's hip gave him no trouble at all so he was mightily chuffed with himself. He confided to me that he thought he'd never be able to do it again so he was very happy. As the day was so pleasant, a lot of people were out cycling, walking and enjoying the sunshine and again, I felt so lucky to have the reservoir on our doorstep.
The afternoon was spent doing very little and I managed two naps! Needless to say we didn't venture out for a walk later in the evening as we did on Saturday!
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Saturday 30 July
Our summer seems to have arrived at last as today was warm, dry and sunny. Keith and I walked up to mum and dad's house in the morning to feed the fish as they were away in Eastbourne for the weekend. I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon pottering about in the house and clearing out some drawers that were so full of stuff we could no longer close them properly!
As it was a beautiful day we barbecued in the evening and then at 9pm went for a walk over the fields, much to the delight of the children who loved being out so late. By the time we reached the village it was quite dark and we saw bats flying among the trees. There was obviously a party going on somewhere as we saw a succession of Chinese lanterns floating above us, still very much alight! It was a good job they burnt out before they hit the ground as all the fields around us are very dry at the moment!
Back home we watched a silly film called The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (a remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers) and then caught Top of The Pops showing bands from the 80s which they children enjoyed, laughing out loud at the fashion of some of the singers!
As it was a beautiful day we barbecued in the evening and then at 9pm went for a walk over the fields, much to the delight of the children who loved being out so late. By the time we reached the village it was quite dark and we saw bats flying among the trees. There was obviously a party going on somewhere as we saw a succession of Chinese lanterns floating above us, still very much alight! It was a good job they burnt out before they hit the ground as all the fields around us are very dry at the moment!
Back home we watched a silly film called The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (a remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers) and then caught Top of The Pops showing bands from the 80s which they children enjoyed, laughing out loud at the fashion of some of the singers!
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Friday 29 July
Friday was what I call a "non-day". I woke up feeling hungover which was all my fault so it was a good job Keith was coming into work with me as I think I'd have still been over the limit to drive... The weather stayed grey and overcast all day and matched my mood!
It was a relief to leave work a bit early and go home. We called into Tesco and bought a couple of DVDs as there is still nothing worth watching on TV over the weekend. Why can't there be some really good films on on Saturday evening for those of us who don't venture out? Huh!
It was a relief to leave work a bit early and go home. We called into Tesco and bought a couple of DVDs as there is still nothing worth watching on TV over the weekend. Why can't there be some really good films on on Saturday evening for those of us who don't venture out? Huh!
Friday, 29 July 2011
As stuffed as a Stuffed Olive!
Last night I went out with three girlfriends I used to work with to a lovely restaurant in Northampton called The Stuffed Olive. As the name suggests, it's a restaurant specialising in Mediterranean cuisine located on a busy street rather than in the Tuscan hills!
We arrived at 8pm to find the place buzzing and the big front windows open to the night air which was an authentic touch, but a shame that the outlook was the local Sainsbury's rather than a balmy sea or blue-tinged Italian hills!
We were given huge menus with a good choice of dishes. Meat eaters, fish lovers and veggies were all very well catered for and at first my friend Lynda thought the whole of the main course choices were vegetarian! She soon spotted the meaty options though so she relaxed a bit! We spent ages perusing the menu and I would have liked the freebie olives and bread to have been provided as we made our choices but they arrived after we'd given our order. I think I've made Lynda a convert to olives as I managed to persuade her to try a stuffed olive (what else?) and she was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. For my starter I chose the scallops served in their shells and topped with garlic, ginger, chilli and parmesan cheese. I love scallops and when they arrived they were big and juicy and delicious! My main choice was the stuffed chicken which was beautifully cooked, moist and tender and served with lots of vegetables, cheesy mash and a mushroom and white wine sauce.
The service was a bit slow between our starter and main course but it wasn't a problem as we enjoyed a bottle (or two!) of Chilean Merlot and had a good natter. The restaurant was very noisy, which was my only gripe, and with the windows open to the very busy street outside, the atmosphere was great but I wouldn't recommend it for a romantic evening a deux.
We went the whole hog with the menu and three of my friends chose cheese and biscuits while I abandoned my diet big time and enjoyed a very moreish chocolate cheesecake. We were almost the last to leave and it was heavenly to be chauffered home by Keith for a change!
The Stuffed Olive
We arrived at 8pm to find the place buzzing and the big front windows open to the night air which was an authentic touch, but a shame that the outlook was the local Sainsbury's rather than a balmy sea or blue-tinged Italian hills!
We were given huge menus with a good choice of dishes. Meat eaters, fish lovers and veggies were all very well catered for and at first my friend Lynda thought the whole of the main course choices were vegetarian! She soon spotted the meaty options though so she relaxed a bit! We spent ages perusing the menu and I would have liked the freebie olives and bread to have been provided as we made our choices but they arrived after we'd given our order. I think I've made Lynda a convert to olives as I managed to persuade her to try a stuffed olive (what else?) and she was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. For my starter I chose the scallops served in their shells and topped with garlic, ginger, chilli and parmesan cheese. I love scallops and when they arrived they were big and juicy and delicious! My main choice was the stuffed chicken which was beautifully cooked, moist and tender and served with lots of vegetables, cheesy mash and a mushroom and white wine sauce.
The service was a bit slow between our starter and main course but it wasn't a problem as we enjoyed a bottle (or two!) of Chilean Merlot and had a good natter. The restaurant was very noisy, which was my only gripe, and with the windows open to the very busy street outside, the atmosphere was great but I wouldn't recommend it for a romantic evening a deux.
We went the whole hog with the menu and three of my friends chose cheese and biscuits while I abandoned my diet big time and enjoyed a very moreish chocolate cheesecake. We were almost the last to leave and it was heavenly to be chauffered home by Keith for a change!
The Stuffed Olive
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Wednesday 27 July - rescuing my baby oak tree...
Wednesday was a lovely day - nothing fantastic happened (well maybe it did as I lost another four pounds when I weighed myself, bringing the total loss to 16 pounds!!) but it was just a pleasant, easy day which is always welcome.
Sophie worked for us over the lunchtime rush and then we went out in the afternoon to drop our books off at the Accountants and to have a quick peek in New Look (for Sophie). I managed to get a pair of jeans on in there two sizes smaller than normal so that chuffed me to bits!
We left work slightly later than usual as Sophie had to oversee a party and after getting home all four of us went out for a walk over the fields. I took a small shovel with me and a pot full of soil and dug up the baby oak tree that had planted itself onto the edge of one of the wheat fields. Its parent tree is beautiful so I really hope that it survives although what I will eventually do with it if it grows huge, I don't know!
Sophie worked for us over the lunchtime rush and then we went out in the afternoon to drop our books off at the Accountants and to have a quick peek in New Look (for Sophie). I managed to get a pair of jeans on in there two sizes smaller than normal so that chuffed me to bits!
We left work slightly later than usual as Sophie had to oversee a party and after getting home all four of us went out for a walk over the fields. I took a small shovel with me and a pot full of soil and dug up the baby oak tree that had planted itself onto the edge of one of the wheat fields. Its parent tree is beautiful so I really hope that it survives although what I will eventually do with it if it grows huge, I don't know!
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Interior decorating!
After work Sophie and I went off to Homebase and bought some spray paint. Yesterday, on our walk, I'd had an idea to collect the dead stalks and flowers from the cow parsley that are abundant in our verges and hedgerows (see yesterday's photos) and spray them black and silver to go in her room. From Homebase we went down to Home Sense and I treated her to a vase and a frame for the pictures I bought her in Ikea last year. We raced home and with Keith, did a bit of decorating!
I have to say the cow parsley looks very fetching in its purple vase and we also painted her bright pink chair silver. She wants to do a New York skyline on it, so we'll have to see how that turns out!
We were slightly busier at work today as the weather has been dull and grey and not very summery at all!
I have to say the cow parsley looks very fetching in its purple vase and we also painted her bright pink chair silver. She wants to do a New York skyline on it, so we'll have to see how that turns out!
We were slightly busier at work today as the weather has been dull and grey and not very summery at all!
Monday 25 July
So...the first day of the long summer holidays...I always feel a little wistful at this time of year, for some reason. Friends and family are going away, the streets are a lot quieter and the daily routine has been disrupted. I'm not sure whether children need six weeks off these days. Sophie commented over the weekend that she wished she was going back to school on Monday as she misses all her friends already!
As the weather was sunny and dry we were quiet at work so it was off at 4pm and out for a walk with Soph. I took some photos of the glorious fields, but am I right in thinking there was just the barest hint of Autumn in the hedgerows? The berries were beginning to ripen and there was a slight change in some of the leaves, moving from fresh green to a more tired looking hue. Before we know it we'll be wondering where the days of summer have gone!
As the weather was sunny and dry we were quiet at work so it was off at 4pm and out for a walk with Soph. I took some photos of the glorious fields, but am I right in thinking there was just the barest hint of Autumn in the hedgerows? The berries were beginning to ripen and there was a slight change in some of the leaves, moving from fresh green to a more tired looking hue. Before we know it we'll be wondering where the days of summer have gone!
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