Bloody British Weather

Afternoon all, just a quick pop in to let you know where I am at. First of all, yes I know I had said that I was going to try and do daily blogs but hey ho, I also knew that was never going to happen! I do have a good excuse though. We were away. No internet access.

Do you know, it's actually a funny thing about internet access. We went away in February and were staying at Wareham Forest. It is a rural area in Dorset, but that said it is also just a few miles from a very busy, urban, tourist area.

On our van Tallulah, we had between us, 2 smart phones. 2 Ipads, a very expensive Snooper GPS unit, all singing and dancing with internet, plus our own MI-Fi hotspot. Could we get on the internet? Not on your Nelly. Could we get a phone signal? Absolutely no chance. Somehow, I thought things were better than that nowadays. Obviously not.

Anyway, we were away with no internet. As some of you know we should still be away. We had planned to be way until Eater Monday. We were going to travel the North Norfolk coast and then go to Verity's for Easter.

We managed just one night. We went on Monday to Brancaster and had quite a nice day despite it being very cold.  A few photos:

Things started to go wrong around dinner time when we visited 2 dog friendly pubs where we thought we could have a nice meal out. What we hadn't thought about was that “dog friendly” means the world and his wife are there complete with their family of dogs! This is therefore not going to work for us as Beanie is nervous of other dogs. So it was a long walk in the wind and rain back to the van for pasties and beans.

Earlier in the day Simon had attempted to put up our Drive Away awning, despite the wind! He has only ever tested it once before, last summer when we purchased it. Of course by now he has forgotten how to do it and has lost the instructions. He did get it up but it didn't actually look quite right. The wind did not help and in fact it proved impossible to attach to the van mostly because of the wind. I kept telling him it was way too windy, but men always know best until the wife proves to be right!

So, we went to bed. It wasn't pleasant and the wind was picking up more and more and the rain was torrential. After about a quarter of an hour I got up. It was bloody scary. The wind was rocking the van quite violently and actually making me feel sick. Imagine being on a boat in really rough sea or on a plane with the worst turbulence ever. You have some idea.

Long story short, I spent the night sitting in the drivers seat with my feet propped on the seats opposite, trying to console Beanie who wasn’t entirely happy with this new experience. Simon of course stayed in the bed although he didn’t sleep much.

After a very long night where I was checking my watch about every 20 minutes, just longing for dawn to come, Simon finally got up. I was able to inform him that our lovely new awning which we have yet to use was now lying in a tangled, muddy mess on the ground. I watched it gradually go down over the course of the night. Nothing I could do. I have no idea at the moment if it is salvageable or not. It is currently in a heap in the back of the van waiting for a dry, non windy day so we can get it out in the garden and survey the damage.

With rain and strong winds forecast to go on until today we decided that after just one night it was best to head for home. I could barely move. A night spent sitting upright had made me very stiff and set off my lower back pain again. Just when I thought I had got rid of it. I also had the beginnings of a migraine almost certainly due to the stress of it all.

And so we are at home. Feeling pretty fed up. We had been looking forward so much to our first, longer foray. Right now, I am seriously considering if “motor-homing” is really for me. Something always seems to go tits up. (For my Merikan friends, who may not know that expression; it means gone wrong!).

JILLY

Catching up......yet again.

Oh dear all my good intentions of daily blogging have gone out the window once again.  It is a week since I have been here.  Well a week since my last blog.  I have been here, late at night, reading and occasionally, when I have been able to engage my brain, I have even left a comment.  How on earth did I find time to work years ago?  There is just not enough hours in my day. I need double length days. 

In my last blog I said I would tell you about my weekend.  That is not this weekend just gone but the one before!   We had a busy, busy time.  Saturday was our wedding anniversary.  33 years and counting.  I am proud of that.  I still love him just as much as I did on that day 33 years ago....most of the time!  Some days I could quite cheerfully strangle him! I guess that is a marriage.

Anyway, Saturday was a busy day.  The Christmas lights were being turned on in our nearest town of Bourne and it is quite a big event for a small market town.  They have a fair (albeit a small one!) and lots of stalls and the like.  The Three Counties dog rescue had a charity stall selling bric a brac  and the new calender for 2013 plus the Christmas cards.  They also had a tombola.  As well as the stall they had tin collectors out all day too.

Simon took me to the kennels first thing as normal.  It was a bitterly cold day.  He then went off to help the ladies set up the stall.  There was a need for man power!  Once that was done he came back to the kennels to collect Molly the Beagle who was doing 2 hours of tin collecting with him.  He returned at lunch time looking very, very cold.  I changed my coat and boots in the car as there wasn't time to go home.  Simon and I were manning the stall from 2pm to 4pm.  The stall was on the corner of the arcade and the wind whistles down there.  We were absolutely frozen.  We ended up staying until nearly half four as the people taking over from us were late.  

Our plan had been to go home and get washed and changed to go out for an anniversary meal.  We didn't.  We were both so cold we just couldn't face going out again.  We ended up having sausages and mash in front of the fire!  I seem to remember a few glasses of the red stuff too.  We agreed to go out the next day........Sunday.

Sunday was a nice lazy kind of day with Simon in his garage and me sewing.  I had a nice bath, put on my make up and glad rags and we set off at 6pm heading to our favourite local pub, the Bull at Rippingale a nearby village.  I had already planned what I was going to have.  A dish called drunken chicken.  I LOVE it.  Guess what?  They were closed!!!  WTH?  Never seen them closed before.  We decided to come back to Morton and go to our own local pub called the Five Bells.  We haven't been there yet despite trying out the pubs in other villages.  Not sure why we haven't yet tried out own as it has a good reputation.  Guess what?  they were open but they do not serve food on a Sunday night, only lunch time!  WTH?

OK now what to do?  We sat in the car park pondering and finally settled on the Three Bells at Edenham which is a village about 7 miles away.   We have been there twice in the summer and it was really good.  We were getting hungry by now so we made haste through the lanes.  Guess what?  We couldn't freakin believe it.......It was closed.  What is it out here in the Fens?  Does no one go out to eat on a Sunday night? 

We decided to cut our losses and just go home.  We came home through Bourne and as we were coming down to the main roundabout we both remembered that the new pub on the corner was due to open on the 2nd of December........  TODAY!  YES, lets go there.  NO.  It actually was opening on the third, the following day!   We went home.  I can't remember now what we ate but I think there were a few more glasses of the red stuff!

We finally went out on Tuesday evening as it is Simon's day off. We went to the new pub which is called the Sugar Mill.  It was very nice and I think we will go there again.  Just remind us not to try going out to eat on a Sunday.   Village life is very different!

On Wednesday I went up to Stevenage to pick up my Dad who was coming to stay for a few days.  I ended up going much later than I had planned as they had snow and Dad was concerned as he had heard on the radio that there was a 2 hour delay on the A1.  After speaking to my brother in law who said that it was fine I finally set off at midday.  You wouldn't believe that I actually did the journey the quickest ever.  Dad and I were back home here by 5pm.  

Dad stayed with us until Saturday.  We had a lovely, lazy time.  Lots of talking and reminiscing.  I gave him Mum's scrap book and he was very pleased with it.  On Friday Coralie and Denise came over for sewing.  My Dad and Denise had never met before so there was a lot of chatting and no sewing got done.  It was nice though and Dad did ask Denise about a few things he is having trouble with.  He has got himself a sewing machine and is getting into quilting.

On Saturday we had a  family dinner for him at a pub in Peterborough.  His 86th birthday is this Thursday so we wanted a family celebration.  My sister and her husband came too.  Unfortunately her children were not able to be there and neither was Saskia as she is currently performing every weekend.  The rest of us had a great time and I think he enjoyed it.   My sister  took him home.  We are a bit concerned that he is insisting on spending Christmas at home on his own.  He says that he will not be alone he will be with Mum....she is buried in the garden.  Well, her ashes are buried in the garden.  I wish he would change his mind but I have to respect his right to do as he wants.  I just keep thinking that this could be his last Christmas and we will have to look back knowing he was alone. 

Yesterday and Sunday were fairly normal weekend days with Simon at home.  He was working in the garage. He is slowly moving stuff over from the barn now. He had to take Alfie to the vet on Sunday as we had noticed that he didn't seem well and was having trouble peeing.  The vet has diagnosed a urine infection and he is on antibiotics and pain  killers.  If he is no better by Saturday he has to go back for a scan of his bladder.  He is not any better so far.   I did some sewing.  I also did all my Christmas cards yesterday  and wrapped a few presents.  Did I mention that I am taking part in a secret Santa thing with my blog friend Kathy?  She is in the Orzaks in Merika.  Basically we each make something and swap with each other.  The idea is to use what you have.  I can't tell you yet what I made as it will spoil it for Kathy but I can confirm that it is right now winging its way over the pond.  I hope she is pleased.

Today is a housework day.  I didn't do much while my Dad was here and of course over the weekend with Simon at home for 3 days I still didn't do much.  I have a massive amount of washing and ironing to catch up on including towels and bed linen.  There is also dog bedding waiting to be done. I have lost count of how many times I have mopped the kitchen floor so far today.  Alfie is "dribbling"!  The mop is out constantly and I am having to disinfect it.   I did make a banana  loaf cake this morning  though so at least that is one good thing done.  Right now I am taking a bit of a break.  It is 2.20pm  and I still have to hoover upstairs. After that I will be nearly done, just ironing as each load of washing comes out of the tumbler.

Simon has a parents evening tonight and won't be in until 7.30pm so I have a bit of extra time before I need to start on dinner.  Think I shall do some sewing when I have finished all my jobs.  I am half way through another bum bag. Must do the binding on Verity's baby quilt too.  

Speaking of Verity...she is still off work.  I can't see her going back to be honest.  She is really suffering.  The flu that she had they have now said is whooping cough and will still be some weeks before it goes away.  It is not that which is keeping her from working though.  She has SPD  (symphysis pubis dysfunction) This is a condition of pregnancy where the pubic bones pull apart.  It is incredibly painful  Coralie had this too.  Verity is currently on crutches and really suffering.  They are saying she could need a wheel chair for the final months. 

OK, time to get back to the grind stone.  Hopefully will try to get back and blog tomorrow.  I am going to Ellie's school carol concert in the morning and I am looking forward to that.

Playing catch up....again.

Goodness, it is ten days since I last did a blog. I think my motivation has gone a bit as I don't have so many readers now.  It is funny that bothers me because I never set out to have readers. This was, and is, my online diary so it really shouldn't matter.  I think I am just missing all my old friends who have scattered across the blogasphere.  Blogger doesn't seem an easy place to find new friends.

So, the last 10 days......... not sure that I can remember that far back!  Actually, I can as 10 days ago I celebrated my 46th birthday, or if you prefer, I celebrated the 7th anniversary of my 46th birthday! It was a quiet day really as Simon had a parents evening after school and wasn't home until 9.30pm.  Coralie came over with Flynn and we had a nice few hours before going out for a pub lunch.

Last Friday evening we went out to dinner as we hadn't been able to do that on my birthday.  We went to a pub in a village about a half hour drive away. We had lunch there a month or so back and it was lovely.  Once a month they do lobster night there so we booked up for it while we were there having lunch.  Unfortunately when we arrived they had no record of our booking.  They eventually fitted us in but we had to have a table in the main part of the pub rather than the restaurant.  It wasn't the best start.  The service was terrible.  We waited nearly an hour for our lobster.  It was very nice but they were much smaller than I had hoped for.  They were very expensive so I expected more.  I do like seafood. We also waited 45 minutes for our desserts.  I forget what we had now so they obviously were not memorable.  Don't think we will go back there which is a shame as it had such promise.

Last Saturday we had the family here for a birthday dinner.  However before they came I had work to do.  The dog rescue people had their stall on Peterborough market and we had collected a car full of stuff from Gyll, the owner, on Friday night which we had to get to Peterborough by 8am.  It was an early start. I had said that I would drop off the stuff but couldn't stay to help this time because of having the family coming in the afternoon.

They were desperate for help so in the end I stayed.  Simon helped unload the car and set up the stall then he went off home to get on with the garage.  I was there until 1pm and I really enjoyed it again. I do not know yet how much they raised.  Verity and Steve picked me up on their way through from Cambridge.  We got to our house just as Simon got back from collecting Saskia from the station.  We were followed shortly after by Sam,Lisa and the girls and then Joshua and Charlotte.  Coralie was away for the weekend so we didn't see her family.  It was lovely to have everyone here and they all cooked the dinner between them. Oh, and Verity had brought cheese, onion and choritzo muffins for lunch too.  She is a great cook.

Sunday was another early start as I was off to London with Denise for the knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace.  It is years since I have been to anything there.  We had a great time although the train journey was a bit of a nightmare.  Wrong train going and then cancelled trains coming home which meant we had to get a bus and then the tube just to get back to the mainline station.  We were home later than expected, it was a long day.  I did enjoy it though.  The exhibition of the quilts was superb.  As you entered they had a display entitled "seams of gold".  The entrants had been allowed to interpret that anyway they chose and I envy their imagination as I could not even have come up with the ideas that alone put them together.  The standard was very high.  Here are a few photos. They aren't the best as I had to take them from funny angles and some are through glass.

There were lots and lots of very interesting trade stands  but we didn't buy much.  I got a knitting pattern book and some wool as Denise has very kindly said she will knit some stuff for the new grand baby.  I also got a nice big roll of "heat and bond" which I need for my little Slice machine.  We did come away with lots of ideas though.  Denise thinks she may take up lace making.  Looks way too complicated to me!

After seeing all the lovely quilt projects, particularly the ones for the "seams of gold" we thought what a good idea it would be for us to try next year.  So although we haven't yet told Coralie, we have agreed that in the new year we will pick a theme and then each of us will have a month to do a small  piece,  interpreting the theme in out own individual way.  No discussing, no helping, just come up with our own idea  and get on with it and then when they are done we can compare them to see how we all did and how different they are.  I am quite looking forward to that, should be fun.

This week has been the normal round of house work followed by sewing time. I have finished my scrappy quilt.  However when I put it through the wash to get the frayed, frilly edge some of the squares came away a bit on the back so I had to hand stitch them.  I am reasonably pleased with it.  I wouldn't want it on a bed but that wasn't ever really my intention.  I shall use it as a picnic rug.  Guess that means it will be put away until next year.

I have also worked on a nightdress case which is a Christmas present for Ellie.  It isn't finished yet as I didn't get enough fabric and have had to order more.  From the little that I had left over I made one of those little monster Nini that I made a while back.  The nightdress case is based on that pattern too.  The other thing I have done this week is the 5th row for my row of the month quilt.  Only 7 more rows to go!  I shall do a  "show and tell blog" then you can see.

Yesterday I got the bus down to Bourne as I was doing a 2 hour shift on an information stall that the Three Counties dog rescue were doing.  They also had tin collecting and bric a brac for sale. I was there with another volunteer called Marjory who is a lovely lady.  She gave me a lift home afterwards. It was later than I had hoped as it took forever to load up her car.  As we were the last shift of the day we had to pack everything up.

Today has been a nice day.  I like Fridays.  Simon is home early and the weekend looms ahead.  This is a long weekend too as his day off next week is Monday.  Since he dropped to 4 days a week, he has Monday off one week and Tuesday the next. He has been busy working on his garage.  Mainly inside, screwing up the frame work for the insulation and the boards that will go over it.  The outside is still awaiting guttering but that was delivered today so hopefully that will be done soon. The electric goes in during half term week which is just a week away now.

Tomorrow I shall be helping out at the dog rescue kennels in the morning and then I think I may go into Peterborough in the afternoon as I want to get the fabric for the living room curtains.  I have finally found some that I like and Denise is coming for the day next Wednesday specifically to teach me how to do lined curtains as I have never done that.  We are going to make all the curtains for the kitchen too.

Well, what do you know, I did manage to remember most of  the last 10 days. I was busy!  No wonder there was no time for blogging.   Time goes so quickly.  I never seem to be able to fit in all that I want to.  Did you know that there are only 66 days until Christmas?

I shall  leave you with that thought!

Sunday 19th August - weekend catch up

Over half way through August already.  Where did the summer holidays go?  Simon only has one more week and then it will be back to the grindstone.

This weekend has been quite pleasant.  Simon worked a bit more on the garage extension yesterday while I worked on shifting more blogs.  In the late afternoon we decided to go for a drive as it was so nice out.  Warm and sunny but not muggy with it like today has been.

We drove out to an old airfield that Simon had seen on the local ordnance survey map. It is about 2 miles from the neighbouring village of Aslackaby.  A funny thing... I had always thought that was pronounced as it is spelt..... As-lack-a-bee. I met a villager recently and discovered that it is actually azel-bee.  Like hazel with out the H.  Weird.

Anyway, I digress.... Simon wanted to go and take a look at this airfield and have a walk around.  In the event when we found it, we couldn't go in as there were signs up saying private property, no trespassing and 24 hour surveillance.  We could however look over the gate and what we could see had us dumbfounded.  In the far distance we could see loads and loads of old vehicles. It was too far away to work out what they were.  I tried to take photo's but clearly I need a better camera.

We decided that our best bet was to drive around to the other side to see if there was a better view from there. It was quite a drive as it is a large area.  We couldn't get any nearer but we could see that there were even more vehicles than we had first thought.  We agreed to check it out online to see what we could find out.

By this time it was gone 6pm so we stopped off at the Five Bells in a neighbouring village of Edenham for drinks.  This was our first time trying out the Five Bells and it proved to be very nice.  As the evening was still in the seventies we sat outside in the garden; me with a nice big glass of the red stuff and Simon with a glass of cider.  We sat there for ages enjoying the evening warmth and chatting.  Quite in depth chatting actually about how every decision taken throughout your life brings you to the present moment.  I might blog about that.

We sat there for so long we decided to order dinner.  That was a good decision as the food was really good.  I had pan fried salmon with pan fried potatoes and crispy leeks.  Never had crispy leeks before... they were superb.  I must try to find out how they did them.  Simon had daube of beef with garlic mash and veggies.  A kind of rich casserole.  He said it was lovely. Neither of us had any room for dessert so we made our way home.

Simon went online and checked out the airfield.  It was very interesting. I shall do a separate blog for it.  I think we will go back and chance our arm for a look around.

Today we went to the Great British Craft Festival at Donnington.  It was an hour and a half drive.  When we got there we were told that it was all sold out!  Apparently this was the first time this show had been held and they had totally under estimated the numbers.  Due to health and safety restrictions they were not selling any more tickets.  We were told that yesterday they turned away thousands!

However, a very nice staff member told us that if we went and waited by the exit we could ask people coming out if we could buy their tickets from them!  The tickets were not being marked in anyway when people entered so no one would know.  I wasn't too sure about this idea but Simon was!  He said we have come all this way so we are going in.  We were lucky, we only waited about 5 minutes and 2 ladies sold us their tickets for the face price.  They got a good deal!  We actually gave ours away for nothing when we came out.

The show was good but wasn't really my thing.  It was mostly for paper crafting, card making and scrap booking.  I do all of those things but I do them on the cheap.  I don't buy all the bits and bobs.  I did make a couple of purchases, you have to, don't you?  I got a little pack of silver herat shaped beads for use on a wall hanging that I am making.  On the same stall I got 5 beads that will fit my Pandora bracelet.  They were only 30p each so not the real thing!  They are pretty though and will look nice.  The other thing that I got was a kit to make a Christmas hearts and bells decoration.  Will show you once it is done.

The Create and Craft team from the shopping channel were there and I noticed that they were going to be demonstrating the Slice Fabrique machine.  I have had my eye on that for ages so we decided to sit and watch.  It is a really brilliant bit of kit.  I nearly got one.  Probably still will get one but they are expensive and I have only just had my Sizzix Big Shot machine a week ago courtesy of a lovely hubby.  They do different things so would be complimentary to each other.  I shall think about it.

The demonstration was being broadcast live from the show and it was no less boring seeing it live than those things are if you ever watch shopping channels.  One of the presenters was Anthea Turner, she is a bit of an old has been.  She used to present various proper TV programmes, the most notable being the children's programme Blue Peter.  She is one odd woman.  Totally over the top and saying really quite odd things.  I wouldn't want to have spend long in her company.

After that we decided that we had seen all there was to see so we got a coffee and walked back to the car. We stopped on the way home in Melton Mowbray (home of the famous pork pies).  No we didn't have pork pie we had Kentucky fried chicken.  Hardly ever have that but I do enjoy it and it always brings back memories of our first visit to "Merika" in 1979.  Kentucky fried chicken had not arrived in the UK back then so it was a novelty for us and we virtually lived on it while we were travelling.

We got home about 3.30pm  by which time I had a pretty rotten headache.  I think it is due to the weather.  it is very heavy here today.  Hot, humid and muggy.  Head achy weather.  We probably need a storm to clear it.  There were a few claps of thunder but that was all.  Since then Simon has been in the garden working on the garage. I think there are 3 more half panels up.  They will have windows above them.

I have been resting upstairs.  I need to move myself shortly and get dinner under way.  I don't actually feel hungry but I am sure Simon will be.  It's roast lamb so it will be some hours yet anyway.

I shall try to get back tomorrow with a blog about the airfield.

Garage extension progress

Time I think to do a blog that is nothing to do with Multiply closing and where are we all going etc, etc.  That is getting kind of boring!

So I thought I would tell you about the garage extension progress.  As you know it has been much slower than we had hoped, due to the weather.  Rain and more rain.  The last few weeks we have had spells of fair weather interspersed by rain. Today is hot but the sun is fighting with the clouds and not always winning. I am just grateful that it isn’t raining.

Anyway, progress is being made. He finally got all the hardcore level and then it was covered with a large water proof membrane...plastic sheet to you and me! That took some getting in place! After that it was filled with big polystyrene sheets and then wire mesh.

The concrete was piped in last Saturday.  Sam came to give Simon a hand to spread it out and tamp it down.  Simon had made a big wooden bar for tamping.  The concrete comes out pretty fast once it starts coming through and a couple of times they were knee deep!  It was hard work getting it all level.

Once it was, silly me thought that we could go out for the day.  NOOOO..... it has to be sprayed with water to prevent it drying out too quickly which apparently causes cracks!!  We did manage to have lunch out at a local pub. 

On Thursday this week my sister and brother in law came and Pete worked on it with Simon.  They made a lot of progress.  Putting in some panels at the far end as a retainer and then getting 7 wall panels screwed into place.  There are a lot more to go!  The back wall will remain in place until the end when it will be taken out and put in on the new end if that makes sense.  My sister and I had a lovely time catching up on stuff. Before they went home we all went for a meal at a pub in a neighbouring village that Simon and I quite like.

Sam popped in this morning with the girls and gave Simon a hand to move a few more panels.  Unfortunately they are extremely heavy so there is no way at all that I can help to lift them and then carry them half way across the garden.  

Simon has now gone to his barn to make some wooden "wedges" which he needs for the bolts to go through, or something like that, not sure really!

I have been enjoying the sun while it lasts. It is presently quite overcast, hence I am now indoors and on the computer. Tomorrow I am hoping for a day out. There is a large Craft Festival at Donnington Park which is about an hour and a half drive from here. It isn't really Simon’s thing but hopefully he will be happy to go since it will keep me happy!