We awoke to grey skies and rain this morning so maybe it was a good idea that we had to take Sophie to uni and then pick her up later in the day, as I didn't fancy walking to the village to the drinks party we'd been invited to this afternoon.
Sophie, predictably, was tired and a bit grumpy and not at all pleased that she had to go into uni and do some work. An ideal day for both of us would have been to have curled up on the sofa to catch up with our recorded programmes but it wasn't to be. We drove her in at 11.30am and then went straight to our friend's house where people were starting to arrive. John, the host, was manning his "bar", their large kitchen table laden with bottles of beer, wine and Champagne. His wife Sue had prepared a delicious buffet and after being given our drinks we went into their cosy sitting room where a log fire was burning.
It became a bit of a squeeze in the sitting room after more people arrived so we escaped to the kitchen and chatted to Dave, another of Keith's drinking chums. We had a very pleasant time and stayed for about three hours. I had a couple of glasses of Champagne but Keith enjoyed four bottles of beer so we when we got home he went straight to sleep on the sofa!
I mooched about with the Sunday papers and then ventured out into the windy evening to pick Sophie up at 6pm. When we got back Keith was looking a little more lively so he cooked dinner while Sophie and I watched A Place in the Sun featuring apartments on Florida's Gulf Coast. How I would love to be there at the moment!
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Saturday, 30 January 2016
Homeward bound
I woke early this morning at 5.30am and the first thing I did was check the status of Sophie's flight. They were heading towards Ireland and the flight was on time so that was great.
Over a cup of coffee, Keith and I watched two episodes of Alaska: The Last Frontier which was a very pleasant start to the day. It was a lot colder this morning with more wind and showers forecast, some of them wintry. We have another storm heading to us on Monday and indeed, when Sophie landed and I asked about her flight she said it was horrible due to the turbulence.
She called me at about 10.15am to say they were in Northampton which was a slight shock as I'd asked her to call me when they were passing Milton Keynes, but she'd fallen asleep. This meant we had a scramble to get out of the house and I had to hassle Mike who wasn't ready, thus putting him in a foul mood.
I'd promised the kids something to eat on the way home (and Mike was off to Heather's) but that resulted in an argument because Mike didn't want to set foot in McDonald's (his hair wasn't right) but Sophie moaned that she'd been cramped up in a plane and a coach for the last ten hours and wanted to sit inside. So, the lovely reunion I'd fondly imagined all went a bit pear-shaped with our grumpy offspring bickering at each other and Keith and I fed up already!
We dropped Mike off at Heather's house and returned home where Sophie promptly disappeared to bed. I loaded her washing into the machine and she came back down to lug her case up to her room. She showed us her goodies from New York which included tee-shirts, hats, jewellery and make-up. Needless to say she'd spent all her dollars!
In the afternoon I made some chocolate chip muffins and Sophie emerged from her room at about 5pm, looking very bleary and saying she was shattered. I knew she'd be like this today and I did feel for her as it's horrible coming home from a holiday and trying to get back into a routine.
Keith and I went to the pub for a quick drink in the evening after ordering a celebratory Chinese from the van in the village. The pub was packed but we managed to bag our seats by the window and had a chat with a couple we've known for a long time. We only stayed for two drinks and went to collect our dinner which was all ready for us. I'd planned on watching a film after dinner but Sophie went to bed so Keith and I caught up with Alaska: The Last Frontier. The day has ended how it began!
Over a cup of coffee, Keith and I watched two episodes of Alaska: The Last Frontier which was a very pleasant start to the day. It was a lot colder this morning with more wind and showers forecast, some of them wintry. We have another storm heading to us on Monday and indeed, when Sophie landed and I asked about her flight she said it was horrible due to the turbulence.
She called me at about 10.15am to say they were in Northampton which was a slight shock as I'd asked her to call me when they were passing Milton Keynes, but she'd fallen asleep. This meant we had a scramble to get out of the house and I had to hassle Mike who wasn't ready, thus putting him in a foul mood.
I'd promised the kids something to eat on the way home (and Mike was off to Heather's) but that resulted in an argument because Mike didn't want to set foot in McDonald's (his hair wasn't right) but Sophie moaned that she'd been cramped up in a plane and a coach for the last ten hours and wanted to sit inside. So, the lovely reunion I'd fondly imagined all went a bit pear-shaped with our grumpy offspring bickering at each other and Keith and I fed up already!
We dropped Mike off at Heather's house and returned home where Sophie promptly disappeared to bed. I loaded her washing into the machine and she came back down to lug her case up to her room. She showed us her goodies from New York which included tee-shirts, hats, jewellery and make-up. Needless to say she'd spent all her dollars!
In the afternoon I made some chocolate chip muffins and Sophie emerged from her room at about 5pm, looking very bleary and saying she was shattered. I knew she'd be like this today and I did feel for her as it's horrible coming home from a holiday and trying to get back into a routine.
Keith and I went to the pub for a quick drink in the evening after ordering a celebratory Chinese from the van in the village. The pub was packed but we managed to bag our seats by the window and had a chat with a couple we've known for a long time. We only stayed for two drinks and went to collect our dinner which was all ready for us. I'd planned on watching a film after dinner but Sophie went to bed so Keith and I caught up with Alaska: The Last Frontier. The day has ended how it began!
Friday, 29 January 2016
Gathering storm
I changed Sophie's bed today and we took her large bedspread to the launderette to have it washed before she comes home tomorrow. It's been ages since I went to the launderette but the man running it remembered me from when we used to take all our work laundry there so that was good!
I treated Keith to a snack at Beckworth and as we arrived too late for breakfast and too early for lunch we each chose a scone with jam and clotted cream. Very naughty, but so very nice! I wanted to buy something for the hostess of the drinks party we are going to on Sunday and as they have asked us not to bring alcohol I went for a posh box of chocolates instead.
On the way home we drove back to the launderette to pick up Sophie's bedspread and then it was home to do a few chores before relaxing in the conservatory. Outside the wind had been getting stronger all day and in the afternoon the heavens opened and we had torrential rain. Mike brought Heather home with him and they were both very wet when they came into the house! We are now experiencing Storm Gertrude but Scotland and the north of England seem to be having it much worse than us.
We had a slight problem when Sophie sent me a photo of a pair of Converse boots she'd bought for Mikey. He loves Converse but normally only wears black so I was a bit surprised to see that Sophie had picked out a pair of red and brown boots. I felt I had to show him (even though they were a Birthday gift) but he was very hesitant about them and said he hadn't really got any clothes to wear with them. I told him that if he didn't like them he must say as I didn't want Sophie to spend $60 on something he would never wear. I went back, told Sophie what he'd said and she went mad, which led to a bit of an argument...in the end she said she would take them back to the shop and would have to get him a gift from the airport instead.
At 6pm I drove Keith to the pub as there was no way he could walk in the horrible weather and then returned to a very quiet house. Were the two lovebirds having a nap?!
We took Heather home at 7pm and then drove to pick up Keith. I was keeping an eye on my phone all the time to see if Sophie's flight was on time and she sent me a message to say she was at the airport, which was a huge relief!
I treated Keith to a snack at Beckworth and as we arrived too late for breakfast and too early for lunch we each chose a scone with jam and clotted cream. Very naughty, but so very nice! I wanted to buy something for the hostess of the drinks party we are going to on Sunday and as they have asked us not to bring alcohol I went for a posh box of chocolates instead.
On the way home we drove back to the launderette to pick up Sophie's bedspread and then it was home to do a few chores before relaxing in the conservatory. Outside the wind had been getting stronger all day and in the afternoon the heavens opened and we had torrential rain. Mike brought Heather home with him and they were both very wet when they came into the house! We are now experiencing Storm Gertrude but Scotland and the north of England seem to be having it much worse than us.
We had a slight problem when Sophie sent me a photo of a pair of Converse boots she'd bought for Mikey. He loves Converse but normally only wears black so I was a bit surprised to see that Sophie had picked out a pair of red and brown boots. I felt I had to show him (even though they were a Birthday gift) but he was very hesitant about them and said he hadn't really got any clothes to wear with them. I told him that if he didn't like them he must say as I didn't want Sophie to spend $60 on something he would never wear. I went back, told Sophie what he'd said and she went mad, which led to a bit of an argument...in the end she said she would take them back to the shop and would have to get him a gift from the airport instead.
At 6pm I drove Keith to the pub as there was no way he could walk in the horrible weather and then returned to a very quiet house. Were the two lovebirds having a nap?!
We took Heather home at 7pm and then drove to pick up Keith. I was keeping an eye on my phone all the time to see if Sophie's flight was on time and she sent me a message to say she was at the airport, which was a huge relief!
Thursday, 28 January 2016
News from afar
Today has been very quiet, which is just what I intended. After Keith returned from taking Mike to school we sat over a cup of coffee and wrote out the week's menu as we both wanted to go and get the shopping out of the way as soon as possible.
We were all finished by 11.30am and I spent the afternoon catching up with stuff in the conservatory and talking to Sophie on Messenger. It never fails to amaze me that although she was over 3000 miles away we could communicate so easily. When I went to Nepal back in 1987 I had to cross Kathmandu to find a hotel that was able to make international telephone calls. They were no mobile telephones, no internet, no instant communication of any kind and I can only wonder what I put my parents through when they were unable to get hold of me!
After having a conversation on the computer she actually called me via Messenger and we had a somewhat unsatisfying chat. Firstly, she told me that in Central Park the day before a man had come up to their group and had demanded donations for a children's charity. He looked very rough and Sophie said he appeared to be on drugs so they were polite and refused to give any money. At this, he starting calling Sophie and another girl in the group some really nasty names which obviously frightened them both to bits. He went away, thankfully, and started to hassle other people but he continually looked back at Sophie and her friend and still shouted out names at them. I became very alarmed when I heard this (obviously) and wished she had waited until she arrived home before telling me the story!
She then went on to say that a group of them had wanted to all go out on Sunday night which further inflamed me as Keith and I had said before she left not to plan anything on this day as we're going to an afternoon drinks party and there was no way I was going to drive afterwards!
We rang off but by now I was in a bad mood and even a game of cards with Keith in the conservatory didn't make me feel any better. He roundly thrashed me (apart from one game) so I made him go back to the kitchen and finish the dinner! Bah!
We were all finished by 11.30am and I spent the afternoon catching up with stuff in the conservatory and talking to Sophie on Messenger. It never fails to amaze me that although she was over 3000 miles away we could communicate so easily. When I went to Nepal back in 1987 I had to cross Kathmandu to find a hotel that was able to make international telephone calls. They were no mobile telephones, no internet, no instant communication of any kind and I can only wonder what I put my parents through when they were unable to get hold of me!
After having a conversation on the computer she actually called me via Messenger and we had a somewhat unsatisfying chat. Firstly, she told me that in Central Park the day before a man had come up to their group and had demanded donations for a children's charity. He looked very rough and Sophie said he appeared to be on drugs so they were polite and refused to give any money. At this, he starting calling Sophie and another girl in the group some really nasty names which obviously frightened them both to bits. He went away, thankfully, and started to hassle other people but he continually looked back at Sophie and her friend and still shouted out names at them. I became very alarmed when I heard this (obviously) and wished she had waited until she arrived home before telling me the story!
She then went on to say that a group of them had wanted to all go out on Sunday night which further inflamed me as Keith and I had said before she left not to plan anything on this day as we're going to an afternoon drinks party and there was no way I was going to drive afterwards!
We rang off but by now I was in a bad mood and even a game of cards with Keith in the conservatory didn't make me feel any better. He roundly thrashed me (apart from one game) so I made him go back to the kitchen and finish the dinner! Bah!
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Funeral in Kent
Today I drove down to Kent with my parents to go to a funeral of the husband of one of my Dad's cousins. I had never been to a funeral before where I didn't know the person who had died, but I did know his widow, who I think is my second cousin.
The day was forecast to be very windy and wet so I wasn't sure if the bridge at Dartford was open. We left at 8am and immediately hit traffic on the M1 and this was the pattern for the rest of the journey on this particular motorway. We literally crawled along as there'd been an accident between junctions 11 and 10 and there were also roadworks which slowed us down.
Things picked up on the M25 but I was a little worried we'd be late if something else happened. We decided to risk the bridge rather than the Blackwall Tunnel and I was glad we did as things went smoothly and we arrived at Eltham Crematorium with half an hour to spare.
My Aunt Pat was there as well and had been kindly given a lift by a friend of the widow. Steve was lovely and very friendly but he did remind me a little of Dobby from the Harry Potter films, bless him! Walking into the chapel reminded me of when my Nan died and I gave a Eulogy - I was very glad I didn't have to do that today. However, the lady that did went on and on...and on! If I didn't know the deceased when I walked into the chapel I certainly did at the end of her speech and we were informed of every little thing about his life! The eulogy lasted about fifteen minutes, far longer than it should, in my opinion!
Eventually we emerged into a rainy, blustery day and had a quick chat with the widow who seemed remarkably cheerful! We were invited to the wake at a nearby golf club and I followed my Aunt and Steve who drove a very rugged Land Rover Defender. Not an easy car to lose in traffic I was glad to see!
Arriving at the golf club we were met with an almost gale force wind and driving rain so Mum and I pulled our scarves over our heads and just bolted for the door. We arrived looking like bedraggled rats. By now I would have killed for a cup of coffee but when we went to the table where the pots and cups were, the coffee had all gone!
Luckily a lady came to re-fill them but there was no food to be seen at all and my small breakfast bar at 6.30am was a distant memory! There were just a couple of chairs free as all of the funeral congregation had decided to go to the wake. Dad and I made Mum and my Aunt Pat sit down and eventually some staff arrived with small cake stands on which were a couple of tiny sandwich triangles and some small cakes. Dad and I stood behind Mum and Aunt Pat and encouraged them to take a sandwich but I'm not one for grabbing food and there were about six other people at the table so I said I'd be fine and we'd go and get something to eat when we left. Dad looked very annoyed at the tiny selection and took a sandwich and a scone and made me eat them!
The scone I had was dry and as there were no knives we couldn't spread anything on them. One lady who was near to me was clearly bemused by the whole affair and I have to admit to it not being the most welcoming of wakes! A buffet spread out as we arrived would have been far better! I seem to be a real moaning minny at the moment when it comes to food and eating out so I apologise, but a lot of people looked very hungry as it was now past lunchtime and some of us had obviously travelled a fair distance to attend.
Some more staff came out with plates of sandwiches and some of the mourners fell upon them like a bunch of starving wolves. We felt it was time to leave now as we didn't want to be home late so we said our goodbyes and a lady very kindly offered to direct me back to the A2 if I followed her in her snazzy little Mazda sports car. We had a good journey into London as I'd decided to go home via the Blackwall Tunnel and Mum and Dad reminisced about the time they both worked in East London.
We stopped at South Mimms services and Mum and I had a prawn sandwich while Dad treated himself to a burger. He must have been really hungry! I called Keith at home and said I hoped to be back before 5pm which I was!
He suggested a drink at the pub, which opens at 5pm, so I readily agreed. Heather had come home with Mike from school and was staying for dinner of cottage pie. Keith and I had a very pleasant hour in the pub then went home to finish off the evening meal which was delicious (as always). Heather really enjoyed the meal and it was great to have her around for dinner. Again, I wished Sophie was at home but she'd sent me a message earlier in the day to say she was having the time of her life which I was really pleased about.
After dinner we treated Heather to some early videos and photos of Mike and she found them hilarious! The funniest was the one where I videoed him having an almighty tantrum and Sophie shouting at me that she hated me...oh happy days!
The day was forecast to be very windy and wet so I wasn't sure if the bridge at Dartford was open. We left at 8am and immediately hit traffic on the M1 and this was the pattern for the rest of the journey on this particular motorway. We literally crawled along as there'd been an accident between junctions 11 and 10 and there were also roadworks which slowed us down.
Things picked up on the M25 but I was a little worried we'd be late if something else happened. We decided to risk the bridge rather than the Blackwall Tunnel and I was glad we did as things went smoothly and we arrived at Eltham Crematorium with half an hour to spare.
My Aunt Pat was there as well and had been kindly given a lift by a friend of the widow. Steve was lovely and very friendly but he did remind me a little of Dobby from the Harry Potter films, bless him! Walking into the chapel reminded me of when my Nan died and I gave a Eulogy - I was very glad I didn't have to do that today. However, the lady that did went on and on...and on! If I didn't know the deceased when I walked into the chapel I certainly did at the end of her speech and we were informed of every little thing about his life! The eulogy lasted about fifteen minutes, far longer than it should, in my opinion!
Eventually we emerged into a rainy, blustery day and had a quick chat with the widow who seemed remarkably cheerful! We were invited to the wake at a nearby golf club and I followed my Aunt and Steve who drove a very rugged Land Rover Defender. Not an easy car to lose in traffic I was glad to see!
Arriving at the golf club we were met with an almost gale force wind and driving rain so Mum and I pulled our scarves over our heads and just bolted for the door. We arrived looking like bedraggled rats. By now I would have killed for a cup of coffee but when we went to the table where the pots and cups were, the coffee had all gone!
Luckily a lady came to re-fill them but there was no food to be seen at all and my small breakfast bar at 6.30am was a distant memory! There were just a couple of chairs free as all of the funeral congregation had decided to go to the wake. Dad and I made Mum and my Aunt Pat sit down and eventually some staff arrived with small cake stands on which were a couple of tiny sandwich triangles and some small cakes. Dad and I stood behind Mum and Aunt Pat and encouraged them to take a sandwich but I'm not one for grabbing food and there were about six other people at the table so I said I'd be fine and we'd go and get something to eat when we left. Dad looked very annoyed at the tiny selection and took a sandwich and a scone and made me eat them!
The scone I had was dry and as there were no knives we couldn't spread anything on them. One lady who was near to me was clearly bemused by the whole affair and I have to admit to it not being the most welcoming of wakes! A buffet spread out as we arrived would have been far better! I seem to be a real moaning minny at the moment when it comes to food and eating out so I apologise, but a lot of people looked very hungry as it was now past lunchtime and some of us had obviously travelled a fair distance to attend.
Some more staff came out with plates of sandwiches and some of the mourners fell upon them like a bunch of starving wolves. We felt it was time to leave now as we didn't want to be home late so we said our goodbyes and a lady very kindly offered to direct me back to the A2 if I followed her in her snazzy little Mazda sports car. We had a good journey into London as I'd decided to go home via the Blackwall Tunnel and Mum and Dad reminisced about the time they both worked in East London.
We stopped at South Mimms services and Mum and I had a prawn sandwich while Dad treated himself to a burger. He must have been really hungry! I called Keith at home and said I hoped to be back before 5pm which I was!
He suggested a drink at the pub, which opens at 5pm, so I readily agreed. Heather had come home with Mike from school and was staying for dinner of cottage pie. Keith and I had a very pleasant hour in the pub then went home to finish off the evening meal which was delicious (as always). Heather really enjoyed the meal and it was great to have her around for dinner. Again, I wished Sophie was at home but she'd sent me a message earlier in the day to say she was having the time of her life which I was really pleased about.
After dinner we treated Heather to some early videos and photos of Mike and she found them hilarious! The funniest was the one where I videoed him having an almighty tantrum and Sophie shouting at me that she hated me...oh happy days!
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
More Birthday celebrations!
Today has been spent making Mike a Birthday cake, the first time I've ever made one! I took a recipe from the BBC Good Food site and made him an easy chocolate cake, topped with cocoa frosting and filled with cream and jam.
As well as doing that I also changed his bedding, and ours, and tidied the house as Mum and Dad were coming over for a meal this evening. It's been a wet and windy day today but very mild again for this time of the year.
I was very happy when I finished making the cake...
Mike wanted gammon for dinner so we cooked that as well as home-made potato wedges to accompany the meat. Mum and Dad arrived at 7pm and I opened a bottle of Prosecco to toast Mike's 16th Birthday.
The meal was delicious and the gammon very succulent and tender. My parents thought it was lovely and it was a bit of a change from what we normally serve when they come around for a meal. After dinner we enjoyed the Birthday cake and Mike blew out his candles. It was a shame Sophie was in New York but I sent her the video so she could see what we got up to!
As well as doing that I also changed his bedding, and ours, and tidied the house as Mum and Dad were coming over for a meal this evening. It's been a wet and windy day today but very mild again for this time of the year.
I was very happy when I finished making the cake...
Mike wanted gammon for dinner so we cooked that as well as home-made potato wedges to accompany the meat. Mum and Dad arrived at 7pm and I opened a bottle of Prosecco to toast Mike's 16th Birthday.
The meal was delicious and the gammon very succulent and tender. My parents thought it was lovely and it was a bit of a change from what we normally serve when they come around for a meal. After dinner we enjoyed the Birthday cake and Mike blew out his candles. It was a shame Sophie was in New York but I sent her the video so she could see what we got up to!
Monday, 25 January 2016
A clear out!
I took a deep breath and went into Mike's bedroom this morning in an attempt to have a tidy up. As usual, the scene that met me was one of utter mayhem, with empty bottles strewn all over the floor, his bed unmade, clothes everywhere and chocolate wrappers (minus the goodies inside) scattered over a wide area.
I tackled the wardrobe first and took out all the clothes that he hasn't worn for ages. I then put them all in a pile on my bed for him to sort out when he returned from school later in the day. He had so many old tee-shirts that I had to form two piles!
I then emptied his underwear drawer and found about a million socks that he'd been given and probably never worn either! Keith arrived on the scene and took all the plates, cups and glasses downstairs then came back with a bin bag for the rest of the rubbish. We hoovered, dusted and cleaned and at the end it all looked so much better. Heather is coming to dinner on Wednesday evening so tomorrow I will change his bed so at least the room smells a bit fresher and not so much of teenage boy!
I cleaned the rest of the house and Keith and I sat and watched Alaska: The Last Frontier with lunch and a cup of tea. A bit indulgent, I know, but we felt we'd earned it! We had to drive out and collect Mike from school at 4pm as he had stayed back for a revision class, but after that I didn't have to go out again as Keith was being picked up by his mate John and taken into town for a drink later in the evening.
Mike sorted out his clothes and to his credit he did decide to give a lot away to charity. He also sorted out old school stuff (from his primary days) and some toys he no longer wanted. If I'd known then what I know now I don't think I would have spent so much money on toys and games when they were little as all we seemed to do was give them away after very little use. I wish now we'd saved the money and put it into a savings account for them, as a deposit for a house or towards University fees!
At 6pm Keith, John and Dave went to The Garibaldi pub for a pint and then, apparently, tried three other pubs in Northampton! It meant that dinner was very late (Mike and I ate before Keith) as he didn't get home until about 8.45...dirty stop-out!
Sophie phoned us in the evening via Facebook which I thought was brilliant and she sounded like she was having a fantastic time. She went to Times Square on Sunday night and was heading out to Chinatown after she'd spoken to us. I was so happy for her!
I tackled the wardrobe first and took out all the clothes that he hasn't worn for ages. I then put them all in a pile on my bed for him to sort out when he returned from school later in the day. He had so many old tee-shirts that I had to form two piles!
I then emptied his underwear drawer and found about a million socks that he'd been given and probably never worn either! Keith arrived on the scene and took all the plates, cups and glasses downstairs then came back with a bin bag for the rest of the rubbish. We hoovered, dusted and cleaned and at the end it all looked so much better. Heather is coming to dinner on Wednesday evening so tomorrow I will change his bed so at least the room smells a bit fresher and not so much of teenage boy!
I cleaned the rest of the house and Keith and I sat and watched Alaska: The Last Frontier with lunch and a cup of tea. A bit indulgent, I know, but we felt we'd earned it! We had to drive out and collect Mike from school at 4pm as he had stayed back for a revision class, but after that I didn't have to go out again as Keith was being picked up by his mate John and taken into town for a drink later in the evening.
Mike sorted out his clothes and to his credit he did decide to give a lot away to charity. He also sorted out old school stuff (from his primary days) and some toys he no longer wanted. If I'd known then what I know now I don't think I would have spent so much money on toys and games when they were little as all we seemed to do was give them away after very little use. I wish now we'd saved the money and put it into a savings account for them, as a deposit for a house or towards University fees!
At 6pm Keith, John and Dave went to The Garibaldi pub for a pint and then, apparently, tried three other pubs in Northampton! It meant that dinner was very late (Mike and I ate before Keith) as he didn't get home until about 8.45...dirty stop-out!
Sophie phoned us in the evening via Facebook which I thought was brilliant and she sounded like she was having a fantastic time. She went to Times Square on Sunday night and was heading out to Chinatown after she'd spoken to us. I was so happy for her!
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