Friyay, yeah!

It was a lovely feeling this morning to know I hadn't got to go to work tomorrow like I did last week, and could enjoy the weekend!

My shift went pretty smoothly, even though at times, it was a bit like the blind leading the blind, as Shirley and Tracie were in, and they're still not that confident when it comes to certain queries. I had to come off the phones for most of the day as I had so much to do - the cash-ups, the holiday activities, and another load of films to input, and it was great to do as much as I could.

At 4pm I sped home and opened a bottle of red for our Wine Night this evening. It's been a lot cooler lately, and for dinner this evening we were having the leftover minced beef from the "stand and stuff" tacos of last night. There was so much leftover that it seemed silly to try and freeze it so the beef was a great accompaniment to our baked potatoes.

Keith went to the pub and Sophie and I sipped our delicious wine - a Cabernet Sauvignon - and watched Race Across The World. Dinner was delicious and the beef was even tastier than last night!

A mad cleaning binge!

I am so busy at work at the moment... Sheila is now off until next week so it's my job to do the daily cash-ups. Sara is off next week so I will be doing the customer service emails and the moan report. The summer school holidays are now about three weeks away, so all the swimming crash courses need to be input as well as the numerous holiday activities that we offer. It doesn't sound a lot but we offer about seven crash courses at four of our pools, and holiday activities at three of our centres.

Then, of course, there's another load of films to put on, as well as taking care of any Amazon orders that come in... phew! Oh, and did I mention I take calls as well?! 

I did as much as I could before the phone lines opened at 10am, and there was just Shirley and me taking calls in the office. Denise was helping out from home. When I left at 2pm I sped over to Brixworth library to send a pair of shoes back to Marisota that Mum didn't want, and then it was time to go home.

A mad cleaning binge seized me at home, and I took down our living room curtains that badly needed a wash. I put one half in the washing machine, and then removed the sofa cushions, hoovered underneath and cleaned down all the walls which were draped with dust and spiders' webs! I gave the living room a really good clean while Keith sorted out all the CDs in my car as he was looking for an old Dire Straits album. All this frenzy of activity must have been a reaction to the sloth of yesterday! I was amazed at the hidden dust and webs so I felt a lot better when it was all dusted and cleaned!

It made me think, though... I could clean this house all day, every day and it would still need more! We're certainly not a dirty family and we clean regularly but there's never an end to chores! The grass in the back garden needs cutting, the cars need washing and there are meals to be made every day and lists to be compiled! Bring on the holidays!

Robin talk

The weather today has been disappointing. We've had heavy grey clouds hanging about all day and it's been uncomfortably humid. I pootled about first thing, Keith made me eggs on toast for breakfast, and then I decided to venture out into the garden. 

Keith cleaned the barbecue and put it away, and I just wandered about, not really feeling the urge to do anything, to be honest. Everything was so dry and scruffy! I pruned our rose bush (the one I moved from the gravel garden) as it was looking straggly and unhealthy, and half-heartedly did some tidying up but I really wasn't in the mood!

The robin appeared so I put down some bird seed for him and he pecked at it, one eye on me constantly. I talked away to him and he kept putting his head on one side as if he was listening to me! I was very pleased to see so many butterflies, birds and bees in the garden, so although it's a bit scruffy, the wildlife obviously think we're doing something right!

I hadn't the energy to tackle the gravel garden today, so I went inside and tried to finish transcribing my 1985 diary. I wish I still looked like this:

Me, aged 17!

I am really hoping to get the diary finished by the end of this week. When I went to see my parents this afternoon I took all the photos with me so we could look at them and reminisce. It seems incredible that the photos were taken 38 years ago! Where have the years gone! I think I loved the 80s the most, to be honest!

I stayed with Mum and Dad for an hour and it was a bit stuffy and warm in their room. I briefly went into the lovely lounge at the end of the corridor to watch the building works going on, and I asked Mum why they didn't sit in there more often? It was lovely and airy and cool.

Back home I hoovered downstairs and made the porridges for the morning, while Keith started the shopping list... groan! Trying to think up meals to have is so bloomin' difficult! We decided to leave the meal plan until Sophie came home, and then she moaned at me for not taking it seriously!

A cool barbecue!

Sara was back today and not happy about the situation with Sue, especially as she was finding it very difficult to arrange cover... I said I would answer the phones on Thursday but really didn't want to extend my hours until 4pm. I love my Thursday afternoons off!

It was cool and cloudy today and of course, Keith had decided to barbecue! On Sunday there must have been a pall of barbecue smoke hanging over our estate but at least it stayed dry for him out in the garden this evening! We enjoyed meaty beefburgers, salad and crushed new potatoes and the meal was lovely and just perfect for a summer evening.

I'm looking forward to having tomorrow off and hoping, that with the cooler weather, we can maybe get back out into the garden again!

Staff shortages!

Work wasn't too bad today, and in between phone calls, I answered all of the customer service emails and sent off the box office returns. I was all alone until Jo and Angela came in at about 9.45am so I had a pleasant and quiet start to the day!

Just before we went home, Sheila said that Sue was going on long-term sick and she wanted us to try and cover her shifts on a Thursday and a Saturday. I have just worked two Saturdays, and I'm not prepared to cover any more at the moment, so it'll be interesting to see what happens... We have people on holiday at the moment as all of us try and avoid the school holidays so that means we don't have staff available!

It's been a lot cooler today, thank goodness, with the temperatures at a much more reasonable 21c!

Feeling the heat!

Today has been very hot, and I called my Mum to postpone our meeting this afternoon. I just wanted to lie low and try and keep cool! I used up three black bananas and made a lovely porridge, adding desiccated coconut and walnuts to give it some zing!

Sophie and I debated changing our meal choice this evening but in the end, we went ahead and prepared the Chicken Katsu curry.  Sophie prepared the spices and I ground down some Star Anise before flattening the chicken breasts and coating them with Panko breadcrumbs. When Sophie took out the ginger from the fridge, she noticed it was mouldy, so Keith and I popped to the Brixworth Co-op to get more. The shops were empty! Keith also bought some lager to enjoy at lunchtime - well, you just have to when it's hot! 

Once all the preparations were complete, we sat and chatted in the kitchen and sipped a cold lager. We also did the list of dinners for the next few days so that was one chore out of the way!

It was really too hot to do anything so the afternoon was spent relaxing. We did manage a game of Scrabble in the evening and I won for a change! Sophie cooked the curry and it was hot and spicy. It was delicious served with Jasmine rice!

A busy shift!

Keith dropped me off at work today and I was very glad he did as the car park was full. I was working with Tracie today and unfortunately, our wallboard wasn't working so we had no idea of how many calls were coming in. It was non-stop for an hour, so that was a shock! Maybe Sue is right about Saturdays, and I know this shift was far busier than others I've worked in the past!

Although the phones were busy, I did manage to clear the customer service emails and tackle the box office returns, so I was kept busy! At 2pm, Keith came to pick me up and we went home to relax. Sophie had gone to London with Vikesh, and his brother and sister-in-law, and they were having a foodie day visiting Borough Market and trying lots of food.

It's been another hot day today, but with a fair amount of cloud, so it's been humid and uncomfortable. I didn't do a great deal in the afternoon and we decided to order a Chinese takeaway from Broughton, but they weren't delivering this evening... Sophie had texted me to say she was on her way home and wanted something to eat as well, so we ordered from Brixworth instead, and the food was delivered as she arrived home, a lot earlier than we'd anticipated!

We put the food in the oven to keep warm, I poured my daughter a glass of wine and we sat and chatted before eating. She'd had a lovely day but was tired and hot. Tomorrow is set to be even warmer with temperatures of about 29c forecast! Phew!