Helping out!

After taking Sophie to uni this morning we drove over to Mum and Dad's house as they had a cheque for Mike. They had been saving money for him, as they did with Sophie, and we're going to use the money to buy Premium Bonds for him. If I had my way I'd put the money into a pension for him and it's something I really regret not doing when the children were smaller. Rather than buying toys that they hardly played with, I wish I'd set up some sort of savings for them which they could access when they were much older, to either use as a deposit for a house or to go into a pension pot. I would still have bought toys for them at Christmas and Birthdays, but I would have spent far less as they never seemed to get the most out of what we bought anyway!

While we were having a coffee at Mum and Dad's they happened to mention their car insurance had been renewed and it was almost £500! I said I could get it cheaper for them...and I did! We went onto Compare The Market and I managed to get a quote for about £360 so they were very pleased! I urged them to look at other policies they had or think about switching their fuel providers as my parents tend to just keep on renewing every year with the same company, which isn't the best way of doing things. I know it can be a bit of a hassle but when you're saving money, it all helps!

We returned home where we had to wait ten minutes to get onto our own drive as next door's skip was being taken away, thank goodness. Our neighbours have had a new kitchen fitted and to be honest, it's been a real pain as the man fitting the cupboards has been sawing wood on the drive, meaning that both our cars have been covered in sawdust and it's all over the drive itself. We're just pleased it's all finished and things can return to normal!

I caught up with my usual jobs and then it was time to go and collect Sophie from uni. When she saw the Optician yesterday they kept her glasses as she has a slight change to her prescription and they're going to put an anti-glare coating on them to help with night driving.

In the evening we had a full moon but it was also a Super Moon. Sophie and I watched a programme all about it and also saw footage of the solar eclipse in the US last year, which brought back nice memories!

A busy morning!

We had a busy morning ahead of us, and after dropping Mike off at college we headed to Jones's where we bought some new dishes for the kitchen as well as new spoons and a spatula. We also treated ourselves to a new frying pan as our current one has a wonky handle!

From Jones's we went to Riverside and enjoyed a coffee in Costa and after a quick trip to Boots we drove to the Weston Favell Centre as both Sophie and I had eye tests booked, after postponing them last week.

Sophie's examination was at 12.30pm so while she was being seen we did some shopping for Tuesday and Wednesday night dinners and I trotted off to be seen at about 1pm. Fortunately, I was in and out within ten minutes as I just had a contact lens check but Sophie was still being seen. It turned out she has a little abnormality with a vein that goes over her eye so she will need to be referred to an eye clinic by her doctor. It wasn't anything urgent but it was a little worrying, nonetheless.

On the way home we dropped her off at work as she was interviewing some of her colleagues for her dissertation question. I just had enough time to have a quick bite to eat and then it was off to after-school club where we managed to get the children out into the playground for a while. It won't be long now before we can go out both before and after snack!

Monday rolls around again!

The weekends whizz by and all too soon it's Monday morning again! Keith took me into work and we saw a beautiful sunrise.

Work passed very pleasantly as there were only three of us in the office. Sophie and Keith picked me up at 2pm and we went home to have a quick bite to eat and a cup of tea.

At after-school club I learnt I was to be on my own for an hour as Lisa was taking her son to the doctor's at 4pm. As I only had six children (all of whom were my favourites) it wasn't a problem and we had a very pleasant session playing outside and using up all the foods in the cupboard for snack. While the children ate we talked about life and the universe which was great!

Lisa returned at 4.30pm and by about 5.45pm all the children had gone. Now I have two days off! Well, I still have after-school club, but I do love Monday evenings!

A glimpse of Spring?

It was great to have a lazy morning and at lunchtime Sophie and I drove over to collect my Mum as we were going for lunch at Farndon Fields. The weather today has been beautiful with blue skies and sunshine and a hint of Spring...am I being a bit optimistic?

The restaurant was very busy with people waiting for a table and we were seated at one that could have accommodated six! I did think we were going to get other diners but we had the whole table to ourselves, despite some people looking at us as if it wasn't fair!

We enjoyed sandwiches and cups of tea and afterwards we wandered around the shop and looked at some Spring plants. I was tempted but I know only too well that February can be a cruel month! Sophie bought some cider for a young lad who was leaving work today and I bought a pot of cream to go with Mike's cake tonight.

We took Mum home (Sophie did all the driving today and did really well considering that some of the country roads were very muddy and narrow) and spent half an hour answering questions that Sophie had devised for her dissertation on socially responsible cosmetics companies. It was very interesting and I think my Mum was delighted to take part.

From Mum's we drove to Sophie's work where she delivered her gifts and then it was home to relax for a little while before we had to go and pick up Mike from work. Keith came with me and when we reached the car park he went to see if he was ready and I couldn't believe how dark the area was. The sunny skies had given way to thicker cloud in the early evening but it had still been lovely to see the sun!

Mum and Dad came around for dinner at about 7pm and handed Mike his presents and cards. I still can't believe he's 18! The Coq au Vin we'd prepared in the morning was delicious. I'd used almost a whole bottle of French wine in the preparation and it made the sauce really rich. Afterwards, we had Mike's birthday cake and a dollop of whipped cream and I lit some candles for him!

Catching up with old friends!

I was amazed this morning to see Mike walk through the door at 10am looking much brighter than I had expected! He'd obviously got a lift home and had been in Market Harborough all evening. Apart from a couple of dodgy stains on his tee-shirt, he looked remarkably well!

The weather today has been horrible with almost constant rain and cold temperatures. I caught up with a lot of jobs and at midday we took Mike to work. Afterwards I called into the Co-op as I needed to get Mike a Birthday cake and I also wanted to get some wine and chocolates for Sue as we're off to their house for dinner this evening.

Back home I put a colour on my hair and Keith went off to see Sileby play. It was lovely to have a hot shower and then curl up on the sofa and catch up with a couple of recorded programmes. Keith came home at 5pm and minutes later Mike called to say he had finished work. I was really pleased he'd gone in today with no trouble and when we picked him up he said he felt a little tired and was going to stay in tonight. Hooray!

At 7pm we walked across the road to Sue and Paul's house and enjoyed a glass of Prosecco with cassis before our meal. Sarah and Liam also came for dinner so we had a very pleasant night catching up with our news and having a good laugh. Sarah had very kindly bought Sue and I a gift for our 50th Birthdays which was a lovely touch and totally unexpected!

Sue made us chilli con carne which is what Keith had cooked for Sophie and Mike, so that was a funny coincidence! We also had a delicious raspberry trifle and cheese and biscuits accompanied by Port.

Keith and I arrived back home on the dot of midnight to find both children still up so after a quick chat it was off to bed. Lie in tomorrow!

Phew! He made it to 18!

It' Mike's birthday today but we had to delay celebrating until we were all at home later in the day. Keith took me into work again and my session passed pleasantly enough, which was a relief!

Both Keith and Sophie picked me up at 2pm and we drove home in sunshine again. I have a feeling, though, that the weather is due to change over the weekend! My session at the after-school club was great, mainly due to the fact that Lisa was in a better mood and the children were very well-behaved (probably due to the dire warnings we both issued before we watched the film!). We took them all out into the playground for half an hour and then we watched Cars 3 which was very good - the setting of Florida also helped!

By 5.45pm all the children had gone and I sped home to have a quick freshen up and get changed as we were all off into Northampton to celebrate Mike's 18th. Keith had taken him to the pub for a quick pint and they arrived home as I was finishing getting ready. He opened his cards and presents and then we drove into town and parked in the small car park opposite the Princess Alexandra pub. It was heaving with early drinkers but we managed to grab a seat and we had a lovely time chatting and enjoying a drink with our son and daughter, both of whom are now fully-fledged adults!

We had a couple of drinks and then Mike went off to meet his mates while we drove home, collecting some fish and chips on the way. I felt really tired and headachey so it was bliss to have dinner and collapse on the sofa with my PJs and a couple of episodes of Modern Family. I tried not to think about what Mikey was up to in Northampton with his friends! Luckily, he was staying over at someone's house so I wouldn't be woken in the small hours by him coming home, a bit worse for wear!

Return of the sun!

It was back to work for me today and I'm glad that Keith took me in as the car park was full. We had a pleasant session as none of the managers were in so they weren't hanging over us and listening to our every word, which has been a bit disconcerting!

Keith picked me up at 2pm and we drove over to Kettering to collect Mike who'd been for a hair-cut. It's been a gorgeous day today with clear blue skies and sunshine...am I a little premature in hoping for an early Spring this year? Mike was waiting for us in McDonald's so we picked him up and Keith took me home where I barely had five minutes before it was time to go to the school. Keith then took Mike to Brixworth! I think he finds Thursdays and Fridays a bit hard at the moment as Sophie is at uni all day and he has to do a lot of running about in between shopping and trying to keep on top of our laundry basket which always seems to be full!

The after-school club was OK, but Lisa seemed to be in a bad mood for some reason. All of the children were gone by 5.45pm so that was a bonus, and I rushed home as I thought we needed to go and get Mike only to find he'd gone into town and was getting a lift home. Phew! One less journey!