It's hard to believe that the first month of 2015 is very nearly over. I woke early this morning and went downstairs to feed the cats and watch a film before breakfast (Maleficent...very good!). Outside the snow was falling again in small, light flakes and I hoped that it wouldn't carry on and get any heavier...we didn't need a significant snowfall on the busiest day of the week at work!
Mike went off to Brixworth at 10am and half an hour later Keith and I took Sophie into work. She is working all weekend, bless her, and I'm missing going to Market Harborough at the moment. It seems ages since we last went.
We called into Booker to get some chicken for dinner tonight. I keep getting posts on Facebook from various Florida organisations (especially those based in the Keys) so we decided to have a bit of tropical sunshine for dinner - Jerk Chicken pasta followed by Key Lime pie! It might bring a tiny bit of warmth into our frigid day!
The snow was heavy on the way to take Sophie but by the time we reached home it had turned to rain and was trying to brighten up a bit. I made my Key Lime pie, marinated the chicken and made some lunch. Mikey called me at 3pm to go and collect him as I suspect he was cold and bored of hanging around Brixworth in the freezing wind!
Back home he pleaded with me to cut his hair but I was too scared...if I made a mess of it I'd never have forgiven myself!
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Friday, 30 January 2015
Scary journey!
We had more snow overnight and the roads were a bit dicey this morning! It was best to take it easy, brake in plenty of time and not get too close to the car in front, advice from the motoring organisations that not everyone took heed of!
We dropped Mikey off and then made our way to work. All too late I realised I'd taken a scary route out of the village, up a steep hill that I regularly have to stop on! I made it half way up but then I had to stop and I could feel the icy crunchiness under the tyres... Luckily as I put my foot gently on the accelerator, the car moved forward but not after I'd broken into a sweat as there was a car right behind me and I had visions of slipping back down the hill!
This was the first time I'd driven my car in snowy conditions but it was fine, even after I'd spoken to a neighbour, Graham, this morning who said that German cars were useless in the snow, unless they were fitted with winter tyres! He has a Mercedes so obviously Audi are more superior!!
Once at work I put some food down for our hungry birds who swooped down on the nuts and seeds immediately.
I was expecting a quiet day but we had a steady stream of customers in and Sophie had to cover Reception while Polly helped out in the kitchen. Keith came in and helped me get one of our heaters going and then went home in a grumpy mood as he'd come in to go to Booker with me but we didn't need to go!
Sophie and I left work a bit earlier and went to the gym where we sat in the sauna and then wallowed in the warmish waters of the jacuzzi. Afterwards I treated my daughter to a Costa Coffee before going home and taking Keith to the pub. He had made a corned beef hash for dinner so there was very little for me to do except keep an eye on it and then venture out into the freezing night to pick him up!
We dropped Mikey off and then made our way to work. All too late I realised I'd taken a scary route out of the village, up a steep hill that I regularly have to stop on! I made it half way up but then I had to stop and I could feel the icy crunchiness under the tyres... Luckily as I put my foot gently on the accelerator, the car moved forward but not after I'd broken into a sweat as there was a car right behind me and I had visions of slipping back down the hill!
This was the first time I'd driven my car in snowy conditions but it was fine, even after I'd spoken to a neighbour, Graham, this morning who said that German cars were useless in the snow, unless they were fitted with winter tyres! He has a Mercedes so obviously Audi are more superior!!
Once at work I put some food down for our hungry birds who swooped down on the nuts and seeds immediately.
 |
| One of our crows enjoying breakfast |
I was expecting a quiet day but we had a steady stream of customers in and Sophie had to cover Reception while Polly helped out in the kitchen. Keith came in and helped me get one of our heaters going and then went home in a grumpy mood as he'd come in to go to Booker with me but we didn't need to go!
Sophie and I left work a bit earlier and went to the gym where we sat in the sauna and then wallowed in the warmish waters of the jacuzzi. Afterwards I treated my daughter to a Costa Coffee before going home and taking Keith to the pub. He had made a corned beef hash for dinner so there was very little for me to do except keep an eye on it and then venture out into the freezing night to pick him up!
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Snow showers!
This week has been very uneventful so not an awful lot to write about, I'm afraid!
This afternoon we were given a snow warning for this area and I went to tell Polly to close up early if we had no customers in by 4pm. She then told me we had an "impromptu" party coming in and they duly arrived at about 2.30pm. Just as I said this, it started to snow and we had showers, off and on, for the rest of the day.
Sophie and I left work at 3pm but most of the snow had disappeared so my idea of taking some photos on the way home had to be abandoned!
Getting home a bit early was lovely and Sophie and I sat and watched a programme called "Say Yes to the Dress" about brides choosing their wedding gowns. It's become a bit of an obsession with us at the moment! As darkness fell, Keith and I sat and played cards in the conservatory with a drink before making a hearty fish pie for dinner. Simple pleasures!
This afternoon we were given a snow warning for this area and I went to tell Polly to close up early if we had no customers in by 4pm. She then told me we had an "impromptu" party coming in and they duly arrived at about 2.30pm. Just as I said this, it started to snow and we had showers, off and on, for the rest of the day.
Sophie and I left work at 3pm but most of the snow had disappeared so my idea of taking some photos on the way home had to be abandoned!
Getting home a bit early was lovely and Sophie and I sat and watched a programme called "Say Yes to the Dress" about brides choosing their wedding gowns. It's become a bit of an obsession with us at the moment! As darkness fell, Keith and I sat and played cards in the conservatory with a drink before making a hearty fish pie for dinner. Simple pleasures!
Monday, 26 January 2015
Birthday celebrations!
I can't believe that Mike is 15 years old today! Where have the years gone?
Work was busy as we had the cleaning of the tube slides to do and they were really dusty. Keith went to do some work in the Nursery so Mum, Dad and I tackled the slides and managed to shift a lot of dirt. I was filthy!
We weren't going to go out for a meal but I felt a bit guilty so Keith asked Mike where he wanted to go and it was agreed that we'd go for an Indian at the Shagorika in Market Harborough. Mike opened his presents and cards when I got in from work and Mum and Dad popped around as well for a slice of birthday cake. Mike was very pleased indeed with his new speakers and a Play Station game that Keith and I had bought him. Mum and dad presented him with money and a very smart shirt from Next that he wore when we all went out.
We had a quick drink in the pub in Walgrave first and then drove to Market Harborough where we were pleased to see several tables occupied in the restaurant. I was a bit worried it would be empty!
We had a very pleasant meal and the children enjoyed eating at an Indian - I'm not sure, but they hadn't been to one for a very long time, if at all... We were all done by 9.30pm and heading home where it was time to get into comfy nightwear and sit up to watch My Five Wives!
Work was busy as we had the cleaning of the tube slides to do and they were really dusty. Keith went to do some work in the Nursery so Mum, Dad and I tackled the slides and managed to shift a lot of dirt. I was filthy!
We weren't going to go out for a meal but I felt a bit guilty so Keith asked Mike where he wanted to go and it was agreed that we'd go for an Indian at the Shagorika in Market Harborough. Mike opened his presents and cards when I got in from work and Mum and Dad popped around as well for a slice of birthday cake. Mike was very pleased indeed with his new speakers and a Play Station game that Keith and I had bought him. Mum and dad presented him with money and a very smart shirt from Next that he wore when we all went out.
We had a quick drink in the pub in Walgrave first and then drove to Market Harborough where we were pleased to see several tables occupied in the restaurant. I was a bit worried it would be empty!
We had a very pleasant meal and the children enjoyed eating at an Indian - I'm not sure, but they hadn't been to one for a very long time, if at all... We were all done by 9.30pm and heading home where it was time to get into comfy nightwear and sit up to watch My Five Wives!
Sunday, 25 January 2015
A teenage gathering...
As it's Mikey's birthday tomorrow he wanted to have some friends around this afternoon so the morning was spent giving the downstairs of the house a quick clean before moving upstairs and giving the bathrooms a thorough scrub.
His friends arrived at midday and congregated in the conservatory where they munched on Doritos and dips and sipped on Fanta and Coke. Keith cooked them some pizzas and they seemed very happy chatting and laughing among themselves!
Once I'd finished the housework Keith and I went to get the Sunday papers and I put the car through the car-wash as it was filthy dirty again. When I arrived back home I put a colour on my hair (the grey was starting to get really bad!) and then sat and relaxed while the teenagers moved upstairs to Mike's bedroom to watch a film on Netflix.
They were all gone by 6pm and Mike cleared up for me - we didn't even know we'd had them so I said to him that they could all come again!
We had a very relaxing evening with a delicious beef in red wine casserole and watched the last episode of the enjoyable Walking The Nile!
His friends arrived at midday and congregated in the conservatory where they munched on Doritos and dips and sipped on Fanta and Coke. Keith cooked them some pizzas and they seemed very happy chatting and laughing among themselves!
Once I'd finished the housework Keith and I went to get the Sunday papers and I put the car through the car-wash as it was filthy dirty again. When I arrived back home I put a colour on my hair (the grey was starting to get really bad!) and then sat and relaxed while the teenagers moved upstairs to Mike's bedroom to watch a film on Netflix.
They were all gone by 6pm and Mike cleared up for me - we didn't even know we'd had them so I said to him that they could all come again!
We had a very relaxing evening with a delicious beef in red wine casserole and watched the last episode of the enjoyable Walking The Nile!
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Watch the birdie!
Today has been very busy with a lot of driving about and not much relaxation!
First thing this morning we took Mikey to see his friends in Brixworth and then on the way to taking Sophie to work we called into the launderette to pick up all the cloths and tea towels for work as we'd forgotten to do it yesterday!
We dropped Sophie off at work and then went to Jones's as we needed some paper plates and napkins for Mikey's birthday gathering tomorrow and I bought some wireless speakers from Sophie as a gift. She told me that his speakers weren't working (news to me) so I'm hoping the new ones will fit the bill!
Back home I changed our bed linen and then, with my lunch, I spent an hour in the conservatory taking part in the RSPB's Birdwatch which is taking place all this weekend. As usual, all the birds that normally visit our garden stayed away, but I did see some Great Tits, a couple of sparrows and a lone blackbird. No robins, starlings, pigeons or magpies!
That done, it was off to the tip with our old boiler which had been irritating me every time I walked into the garage. We made two trips and everything except the foam padding was recycled, which was great.
I went to collect Sophie at 5pm and of course, Mikey wanted to be picked up at the same time! As he was out in the cold I went for him first and then Sophie who was pleased to be finished a bit earlier today. This meant that Keith and I could walk up to the pub for a drink before dinner and very pleasant it was, too! There was a Burns Night supper going on and people started appearing dressed in tartan! Maybe we'll have a wee dram before we go to bed!
First thing this morning we took Mikey to see his friends in Brixworth and then on the way to taking Sophie to work we called into the launderette to pick up all the cloths and tea towels for work as we'd forgotten to do it yesterday!
We dropped Sophie off at work and then went to Jones's as we needed some paper plates and napkins for Mikey's birthday gathering tomorrow and I bought some wireless speakers from Sophie as a gift. She told me that his speakers weren't working (news to me) so I'm hoping the new ones will fit the bill!
Back home I changed our bed linen and then, with my lunch, I spent an hour in the conservatory taking part in the RSPB's Birdwatch which is taking place all this weekend. As usual, all the birds that normally visit our garden stayed away, but I did see some Great Tits, a couple of sparrows and a lone blackbird. No robins, starlings, pigeons or magpies!
That done, it was off to the tip with our old boiler which had been irritating me every time I walked into the garage. We made two trips and everything except the foam padding was recycled, which was great.
I went to collect Sophie at 5pm and of course, Mikey wanted to be picked up at the same time! As he was out in the cold I went for him first and then Sophie who was pleased to be finished a bit earlier today. This meant that Keith and I could walk up to the pub for a drink before dinner and very pleasant it was, too! There was a Burns Night supper going on and people started appearing dressed in tartan! Maybe we'll have a wee dram before we go to bed!
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