All quiet on the Western Front

So, they've got off ok, I think the plane was delayed by about fifteen minutes, so don't know if they'll make that up on route. Aunty Sonia rang just as we got to the airport and I think they're going to try and email when they get to Dubai, dunno how successful that will be though! Probably result in a few blue words from you know who!

It's been wonderful to have them here and I'm going to miss them in the two months they'll be gone. I don't think it hit me really until they went through the gates how very far they are going, I hope they have a lovely time and that he has no need to wear a cardie!

In other news, both and Andy and I don't feel at all well, I have been sick and he feels sick, so I hope it's something we've eaten rather than anything else, although I just can't get warm despite the heating being on and all the layers I've got on. We've been in bed all afternoon sleeping.

As for next Christmas, Fuad can have his raw food, the rest of us will taunt him with our chocolates!

In which we use public transport

"We're going to Lincoln, why don't you come too," they said.

"Ok," we replied.

"It's on the bus though," they said.

Two missed connections, a rodeo, and lots of waiting around later and I've come to the conclusion that I never ever ever want to go on a bus ever again.

Lincoln Christmas market was a nice day out though.

Christmas Wreath

Spurred on by my mother's efforts with the wreaths and her instructions on how to make one, I decided to make my own to give as a gift to D and P or His Lordship's parents. I bought some chocolate orange sweets and made one, it looked crap so I've taken them all off and started again using Roses. I've got some red bows in the attic so I shall complete it tonight and take a picture to put here.

New shoes

I've been needing some new shoes for work and as I got vouchers for my birthday I thought I'd get them from Next. I had £20 and the ones I was looking at were £35. Not a problem because it meant that I only needed to put £15 towards them. Anyway, I went to the counter, handed over my voucher and a £20 note. The woman rang it all through, then announced cheerily, "You've got £5 left on your voucher."

I stared in disbelief and then said "I don't want it on my voucher, I would like the cash."

"Oh," she replied looking at me as though I was an alien. "I'll have to get my supervisor" she says before scurrying off.

The supervisor arrived and said "right, so you gave us a £20 voucher, and a £20 note, so that means...." she starts adding it up. "we owe you..." erm.. £5"

Now, I don't mean to be rude, but even I can add that up and I'm terrible at maths. But also, I think it's pretty cheeky to try and get you to come back into the shop by putting your change on your voucher that's already been paid for. I suspect it's company policy but if it isn't then the sales assistant was clearly an idiot.

Christmas already?!

I've come out of hibernation because it appears to be Christmas already. Or at least it does according to all the shops and all the adverts on the TV. Is it me or is it getting earlier and earlier every year?! I can't help but think that it's all taking the sheen off just a little. We're no sooner out of summer when the decorations and selection boxes appear. I would much rather start all that at the beginning of December. I wondered if the recession had anything to do with it. I know the shops are vying for a small customer base and Debenhams have said that there will be some good deals again this year.

Anyway, there's not been much happening hence the lack of updates, plus I get bored of blogging, not of reading them though, I enjoy that bit!

Happy Easter!

We went for a walk along the canal today because the weather has been so lovely. I also want to live by the canal so we can have a boat! Anyway, this is what we saw....

Keeping busy

I've also been trying out a new hobby today. I have a fondness for beaded bracelets and figure I could probably make them cheaper myself (yes, I am turning into my father).

So, here's what I've made so far...



and this...

Memories

As Aunty Sonia said it was nine years since Momma died yesterday and I must admit I did spend some time thinking of all three of my Grandparents and remembering all the things we used to do. These are a few that spring to mind immediately.

I used to make my Grandad put me in the cupboard in their dining table and then knock on the door for him to let me out. One Christmas he had to rescue me when the camp bed I was sleeping on folded up with me inside! And he alway used to wave us off with a special wave whenever you said goodbye to him, oh and always had Murrymints.

My Grandma and I spent some time sharing a room and I used to love it when she told me stories about how naughty my dad was as a child. Good until he was two apparently! She also bought me my Orville which I slept with for years as a child and took everywhere. I still have him and he sits by my bed! I also remember when she and Momma went on holiday together and she put a bit of half eaten toast on another woman's plate because she didn't want it to go to waste (Momma's face must have been a picture).

We went to Florida one summer with Momma and she was cold at night and we were sharing a bed and she insisted we have a sheet and a duvet type thing on and the heating! She also stuck up for me when I said I wanted to learn to play the drums when my mum was trying to get her to say it was a bad idea!

I could go on, but I'd be here forever! I just hope that I've made all three of them proud.

Home Alone

Even though I am on earlies and dog tired it took me forever to get to sleep last night. This is for several reasons, not least because I had worked myself up into a paranoid frenzy about being burgled whilst I was home alone and so stayed up to watch a programme about Holloway prison. Very interesting as it happens. Some of those women whilst may committed heinous crimes have never known a life other than that. There was one who was quite clearly doing bad things whilst banged up because she didn't have anything or anyone on the outside and staying in prison would mean a better life for her. What a waste of a life.

I digress. I finally got to sleep only to be woken by a loud crash. This made me start out of bed and then think oh my god we are actually being burgled! (See earlier point about me working myself up). I stayed really still to see if we were and then when I heard nothing else I just presumed the cat had done something.

I went back to sleep then the horse racing started up and down the stairs. I got up to see what on earth Poppy was playing at and she followed me into the bathroom. The look on her face read, "oh look she's up! let's play" and she started purring and circling my legs. I was less than impressed at this and told her to be quiet. Went back to bed and then after what felt like minutes the alarm went off and I had to get up. She better behave tonight or else!

Oh and the loud crash was the ironing board falling into the bookcase....Madam Paws at work.

Summer

So, the clocks have gone forward and like an idiot I decided that I would be on earlies just in time for that happening. I feel robbed of an hours vital sleep!

Not a lot is happening here, His Lordship is going to Scotland for a training course and I'm not at all looking forward to staying here alone. I realise this is ridiculous but the slightest sound gets me all nervous and then I don't sleep. This is not the state I wish to be in when having to get up at 4:30am.

The boiler broke and then fixed itself this weekend but not before I had to have a victorian style bath with hot water from the kettle! The reason for this was because we went to a fancy dress party on Saturday. I went as Minnie Mouse and he went as Doc Emmet Brown from Back to the Future. Pictures to follow!

I'm currently waiting for a book to be delivered that I ordered from Amazon. It's by Emma Kennedy and is called The Tent, The Bucket and Me. It's about her holidays when she was younger and featured on Radio 4's Book of the Week. Very funny and I can't wait to read it!

What happened next...

The lady from nextdoor came around and said it was probably her damp proofing that caused the hole in the wall, and in a big cheery voice said, "looks like you've got a free damp course." No apology though. Although it seems there is some justice in the world as the damage was caused last spring and last summer Poppy pulled up all her baby carrots and has been to the toilet in several of her pot plants.

Anyway, under the stairs has now been repaired, all the gloss work is done (even the doors) and we are now waiting for our new carpet to come. The man is coming on Monday some time in the afternoon. Once that is done, I might start about thinking about the living room. We're going to get it plastered and then paint it I think, just because the walls are very lumpy and bumpy. We're also getting people in to do the work as I really cannot face doing ourselves.

Here we go again...

So, today we planned on fixing the stairs and emptied the cupboard underneath in preparation. We weren't expecting what we found....



It seems that the next door neighbours could be responsible. She came around sometime last year to tell us she was getting a damp course put in and I think that it's got to be disturbance from that. I suppose we should have seen it earlier, but I don't think it's the point. Anyway, His Lordship went round to ask if they'd had work done and the man who lives there claims they haven't. He also said he would ask his partner when she comes home if they had! I know they have, because she came round to say she has, and this has been winding me up.

His Lordship has bought some stuff to repair it with, and today I became my Dad (mum will understand) until I had to tell myself not to be! I am annoyed but I don't think I need to make it into the end of the world.

In which the weekend begins

My mother is correct, she is in Mablethorpe, that is it's one saving grace (that and Pa is also there). My original point stands though.

I've been watching Heston Blumenthal's programme on channel 4 and I'm rather glad not to have to eat any of the things he has been cooking. I didn't much enjoy watching live frogs have their heads cut off. Blergh. I do think he is a genius, but I also thinks you can take something too far.

Yesterday I cooked curry from a Jamie Oliver recipe, the house still stinks of curry! I've got the windows and doors open to try and get rid of the stench. It certainly wasn't worth it. I just think there is no recipe for curry that makes it taste like you can get from a takeaway or restaurant. I made his chocolate brownies a few days ago, they were more of a success.

For me today marks the start of a few days off with which we are supposed to be sorting out the living room. I suspect apathy may take hold at some point this evening when we both decide we might just put it off for a few days and then Monday arrives without us doing anything at all. I should really be getting on with the gloss work in the hallway, but I figure i've been at work today and could do with a rest!

More progress

We've painted the hallway in yellow. It's a lot brighter than I would have liked, but, it is a very dark space so I suppose it makes it a bit easier to see in there now!

Now, we've taken up the carpet and are going to gloss this week before the arrival of our new carpet, which we'll be buying later this week when we will also be starting the living room. I'm a bit nervous about that to be honest because it's going to make us unsettled for ages, plus having chosen a bright yellow for the hallway, i'm not sure my design skills are up to all that much.

Our road trip is on the back burner because we want to get the living room finished and it's probably going to bleed us dry. That, and the fact that I really don't want to have to organise a trip on my own, and His Lordship is a bit useless when it comes to decision making like that. I do still want a holiday this year, but I guess it's Mablethorpe for us!?

Route 66

I have decided that when we get round to doing the living room I'm getting someone in to do it. This is because I have today started painting the hallway. This "should" be straightforward, but we have a hell of a lot of hallway for a house that has only a few stairs. It's not that it's long or anything, it's just very very tall. And, His Lordship won't let me go up ladders on my own. This means that I've painted half the undercoat and can do no more just yet. It's somewhat frustrating as I just want to get it finished, but can't. The cat is also sulking because she can't race up and down the stairs. We've decided on "Lemon Pie" because it's quite a dark space and the previous owners had painted it what I have come to lovingly call "Baby S*** Brown". I will take a picture when it's done.

Meanwhile, we're researching a trip to the USA with the aim of doing a bit of a driving tour. The trouble is, we don't know how to start or really where to start. We both like the idea of starting out in Boston and seeing a little of that corner. I want to go when it's warm though! The other option is to fly into one part and out of another, but it's all very complicated and I'm kind of snow blind from looking at too many options.

It's good to see everyone having a smashing time in Oz, I bet it's been a bit like old times!!

The gastly aftermath

So, we've had a bit of snow and by god don't we know it. I particuarly enjoyed Newsnight's coverage last night as it seemed to be the only sane news organisation in the country. Yes we've had snow, and yes it did rather grind things to a halt BUT and this is key I think it's the worst snow for 20 years, of course we aren't going to be able to cope! Having said all that, it's been particuarly rubbish snow here, I guess when you wish for something hard enough it doesn't happen, so I've been to work and there's been no disruption on the roads, HARUMPH!

I do feel sorry for Aunty Sonia and Michael though who have been very unlucky really, I hope they got on their way safely in the end though, it's no fun being delayed at airports.

Afternoon movie

We both had the day off today so we decided to make the most of it and went to see Slumdog Millionaire. There's been loads of hype about it as it's winning loads of film awards so we figured it would be a good option. It's actually quite good, a bit harrowing in parts though. I can also see how it might not be the best public image for India though and I think there's been some complaints about it there.

We've not really done very much else for a while, it was His Lordship's birthday last Wednesday, we went out for a meal to Chiquitos. It was quite full given there is supposed to be a credit crunch on!! I bought him the Dad's Army box set, some jeans, a few work tops and a new belt. We also went out on Saturday night to see one of my favourite DJs Meat Katie and he was once again brilliant.

Further extracts from living with Poppy....

With elements of our friend's cat thrown in for good measure...

We're all DOOMED!

It's good to see that the Government is spending it's advertising budgets for both radio and TV wisely. Over the festive period I have seen and heard numerous adverts all of a most cheery nature. We've had the ever present STIs, don't burn your house down, report domestic abuse, stop being fat and the "don't squash your baby when drunk or on drugs". Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I always thought Christmas was a time for celebration and nice thoughts. Furthermore, in times of recession shouldn't our government be trying to make us all feel a bit better about life rather than reminding us all about how crap it can be?

Thanks for all the advice on migraines. I don't get them very often and they often start without warning. I was reading somewhere that most aren't triggered by food so I'm not sure my cousin's theory checks out necessarily.

The new healthier us starts tomorrow so today has been spent making soup for lunches. I've done a tomato and pepper soup for His Lordship and butternut squash for me. The latter isn't as nice as normal and I suspect that's the fault of the squash rather than the rest of the ingredients, I'll still eat it though. My cousin will be pleased to learn that these are made from scratch and not out of processed food.

We've also decided to take a twenty minute walk a day on our road to being fitter and I think there are plans afoot to go to the council run gym with P and D too. Will let you know how we get on....

Happy New Year!

I realise I'm a few days behind but I had a screaming migraine all day yesterday which kept me in bed for most of the day. Anyway, I hope the New Year brings you everything you desire!

In other news, we transformed a cheap chest of drawers into a cheap chest of drawers with a new front to them...



I think they've come out well, and now at least they match the rest of the room. We also bought new bedlinen in the sales that go too. That room is now the most expensive in the house. I'm considering putting my pc back in there, but it looks so nice that I don't want anything messing it up, next stop the rest of the house! We've decided to do the living room next because we figure that will be the least expensive (touch wood) to do. I'm also going to paint the kitchen because the hospital green is getting on my nerves.