Monday came around too quickly. The garden still has some snow lying around and it's still freezing!
Nicholas phoned this morning as he had hit a pothole and his windscreen now has a very large crack in it! After a quick visit to Morrisons, Sarah and I had to stop and take some photos of the potholes for him because its always dark when he comes home. It was embarrasing standing in the middle of the road as people drove past, obviously wondering what on earth I was doing! The things I do for my children.
Afternoon jobs consisted of packing Sarah and Matts clothes and christmas presents ready to take to Catterick. There are boxes and boxes and with only 5 weeks until Matt gets home we really need to get everything taken to their home. I've no idea how its all going to fit into the cars as there is so much.
On to Tuesday. While Neil took Riley to the vets for his chemotherapy injection and check up on his paw, Sarah and I went to Auntie Joan's to do her cleaning. Next was a very quick trip to town for some shopping for my Dad and money for Auntie Joan. It was extremely cold again and I certainly didn't want to be outside for too long so we raced about to keep warm and get home as soon as we could.
After Lunch I had a visit from Cheryl, another of Neil's cousins who I try to catch up with as much as possible. Unfortunately it isn't often enough as we are both busy and as we all know, time just passes us by. However it was good to have a chat and catch up with each others news.
Our local vet is pleased with Riley's progress and has spoken to Caves in Taunton to discuss the next step. The good news is that we can start to reduce his mediction. From today we are cutting out more tablets and cutting others down. It's great news, although I know I will worry as we wean him off more and more. I didn't think we would would ever reach this stage or that Riley would even recover. I know he can relapse but for now its the best news possible.
Monday 25 March 2013
Hotel in the Cotswolds!
Friday 22nd March saw Neil and I, Heather and Rob setting off for a hotel in the Cotswolds. We had been planning a couple of nights away for some time and decided on the Cotwolds as we didnt want to travel too far away. We just felt in need of a break. The hotel looked lovely online and was advertised as a Luxury Cotswold Hotel. I was a little surprised when it was about 3 miles away from Gloucester centre so "Cotswolds" was stretching the point! Anyway our weekend started at 5.30pm on Friday evening, when we picked up our travelling companions. Heather is Neil's cousin and we go away as much as possible for days, weekends and even our fortnight holidays. We are guaranteed lots of laughs as the four of us get on so well. Oh the fourth member is Rob, Heathers partner.
Our rooms at the hotel were very clean and tidy. After a quick change ( after all, we had been travelling for about an hour, haha! ), we met for a drink in the bar while ordering our dinner. Everyone enjoyed their meal and our waitress Elsie was a real character. Slightly forgetful and reminding me of Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques, she added a little something to the restaurant and the evening. After retiring to the bar for hot chocolate and cookies ( which I'm afraid were dreadful), it was time for bed.
Unfortunately Heather spent most of Saturday in bed so we visited Nicholas at work in Gloucester then spent about an hour at Swindon outlet. By the time we returned, Heather was feeling much better and ready for afternoon tea. This turned out to be a scone with cream and jam, over which we recounted the most appalling breakfast any of us had ever had! Never mind, if Saturday nights dinner was as good as last nights then all would be forgiven.
Oh dear, carrot and ginger soup which had too much ginger added. No one could eat it and I'm sure no one in the kitchen had tasted it before serving. The blood in my lamb ran all over the plate, which for me is a total NO! Dinner turned out to be another disaster.
After another dreadful breakfast and more undrinkable coffee (we hadn't had a coffee that was palatable since we arrived) it was time to pay the bill and visit some cotswold towns.
The hotel had been a hotel of two halves. Excellent and appalling food. Lovely hot chocolate but awful coffee. Some very pleasant staff but some very rude. All in all strange but we still had a good time.
We drove through Bourton on the Water,Stow on the Wold, Moreton in the Marsh and Broadway and then had a fantastic meal at the Red Hart in Kington Worcestershire. Gorgeous.It was a shame the snow and freezing temperature had stopped us from exploring as we usually would, but the weekend had still been a success. I hadn't laughed so much for a very long time. I did say we were guaranteed lots of laughs.
Our rooms at the hotel were very clean and tidy. After a quick change ( after all, we had been travelling for about an hour, haha! ), we met for a drink in the bar while ordering our dinner. Everyone enjoyed their meal and our waitress Elsie was a real character. Slightly forgetful and reminding me of Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques, she added a little something to the restaurant and the evening. After retiring to the bar for hot chocolate and cookies ( which I'm afraid were dreadful), it was time for bed.
Unfortunately Heather spent most of Saturday in bed so we visited Nicholas at work in Gloucester then spent about an hour at Swindon outlet. By the time we returned, Heather was feeling much better and ready for afternoon tea. This turned out to be a scone with cream and jam, over which we recounted the most appalling breakfast any of us had ever had! Never mind, if Saturday nights dinner was as good as last nights then all would be forgiven.
Oh dear, carrot and ginger soup which had too much ginger added. No one could eat it and I'm sure no one in the kitchen had tasted it before serving. The blood in my lamb ran all over the plate, which for me is a total NO! Dinner turned out to be another disaster.
After another dreadful breakfast and more undrinkable coffee (we hadn't had a coffee that was palatable since we arrived) it was time to pay the bill and visit some cotswold towns.
The hotel had been a hotel of two halves. Excellent and appalling food. Lovely hot chocolate but awful coffee. Some very pleasant staff but some very rude. All in all strange but we still had a good time.
We drove through Bourton on the Water,Stow on the Wold, Moreton in the Marsh and Broadway and then had a fantastic meal at the Red Hart in Kington Worcestershire. Gorgeous.It was a shame the snow and freezing temperature had stopped us from exploring as we usually would, but the weekend had still been a success. I hadn't laughed so much for a very long time. I did say we were guaranteed lots of laughs.
Sunday 17 March 2013
A Trip Down Memory Lane.
Sunday 17th March didn't get off to a particularly good start. I woke up feeling pretty awful. Only a cold, but awful none the less. I suppose it was obvious that it had to come my way as Sarah has been feeling poorly all week. It seems that no matter how hygienic you try to be, germs like to spread themselves everywhere. As I spend so much time with Sarah at the moment her germs were always going to spread my way. I did bring her up to share though so its not totally her fault.
A few weeks ago Dad recieved an invitation from his younger brother, my Uncle Alfie, to his 60th wedding anniversary celebrations. I used to love visiting Uncle Alfie and Auntie Phyls house when I was growing up, but don't see them at all nowadays. In fact the last time was at Mums funeral 10 years ago. The same goes for my cousin Jill and Dads three sisters, Olive, Sylvia and Rene. There are also a whole group of cousins and other relations that I haven't seen for much much longer. 60 years of marriage is a great accomplishment and we promised to take Dad to see everyone, so with Nicholas and Sarah, we all set off to Monmouth. I enjoyed the few hours we spent with everyone, catching up with cousins and cousins children, meeting partners for the first time and generally going over the "old days"! Jill and Lorna had pinned up some photos of Auntie Phyl and Uncle Alfie's 60 years together. They were fantastic to see ( if you knew me you would know just how much I love photographs) but one in particular jumped put at me as soon as I saw the display. It showed my Nana and Grandad celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. My Mum had a party for them and the family at our house all those years ago and although I don't remember the day too clearly, I do have some recollection. I was quite taken back when I saw the photo, as I haven't any of them together, and this was exactly how I remember them. It was fairly difficult to keep the tears away. Jill has said that she will send me a copy. It will be amazing if she does. I will be waiting for the postman every day just in case and if I do recieve a copy it will make an appearance on my blog, but for now, here's some of the long lost family.
A few weeks ago Dad recieved an invitation from his younger brother, my Uncle Alfie, to his 60th wedding anniversary celebrations. I used to love visiting Uncle Alfie and Auntie Phyls house when I was growing up, but don't see them at all nowadays. In fact the last time was at Mums funeral 10 years ago. The same goes for my cousin Jill and Dads three sisters, Olive, Sylvia and Rene. There are also a whole group of cousins and other relations that I haven't seen for much much longer. 60 years of marriage is a great accomplishment and we promised to take Dad to see everyone, so with Nicholas and Sarah, we all set off to Monmouth. I enjoyed the few hours we spent with everyone, catching up with cousins and cousins children, meeting partners for the first time and generally going over the "old days"! Jill and Lorna had pinned up some photos of Auntie Phyl and Uncle Alfie's 60 years together. They were fantastic to see ( if you knew me you would know just how much I love photographs) but one in particular jumped put at me as soon as I saw the display. It showed my Nana and Grandad celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. My Mum had a party for them and the family at our house all those years ago and although I don't remember the day too clearly, I do have some recollection. I was quite taken back when I saw the photo, as I haven't any of them together, and this was exactly how I remember them. It was fairly difficult to keep the tears away. Jill has said that she will send me a copy. It will be amazing if she does. I will be waiting for the postman every day just in case and if I do recieve a copy it will make an appearance on my blog, but for now, here's some of the long lost family.
Feeling a little flat.
The weather has been a very mixed bag this week and to be honest that's how I would sum up my time since last Sunday. It was lovely to see some sun streaming into the conservatory and I just wanted to sit in there with my coffee for hours, if only I had had the time. The conservatory is my favourite room in our house but during the winter we have to move back into the living room as its just too cold for comfort in there. I think that although we haven't had a hard winter it seems to have been such a long winter and I will really be glad when its over. No sooner than the sun was shining it was absolutely pouring down and so cold. Then, to my total dismay, it was snowing and actually quite blizzardous. The weather seemed to settle a little more by the end of the week until last night when, yes that's right, more snow! Thankfully it hasnt stuck and by today although it was cold, the sun had managed to put in another appearance.
My week as you will see was just as mixed. On Monday I decided to make a start on sorting out my wardrobe and drawers in the bedroom. Our bedroom needs decorating so a good spring clean is also in order. I've been quite ruthless (in Sarahs words) with my clothes and at last I can actually see what's in my wardrobe. A visit to the charity shop is now on the list for this week to drop off several bags of clothes that are no longer required.
Tuesday brought yet another trip with Riley to Caves Vetinerary Clinic in Taunton. Riley was due a check up and at our last visit it was suggested that we would have a plan of Riley's future medication and that he would be discharged. We had to wait for blood test results before they would administer Riley's cyterabine injection as sadly he now has a nasty infection in his toe. After the great news that his operation had all gone well and after about 8 weeks he no longer had to wear a bandage, it was so sad. Poor little thing has had enough troubles since December and I really thought it was all coming to an end. How wrong I was. It seems that the meningitis and other problems are under control but now his foot is slowing up a full recovery. We came home from Taunton feeling totally deflated, very flat! At the moment we don't know if we've got to back again as it all depends how the infection looks tomorrow.
The next three days were spent sorting more cupboards and drawers, cleaning at Auntie Joan's and food shopping.
Yesterday Neil took Sarah and I to Cheltenham. We had a visit to The Range, Next Home and BHS Home, which was great. I love looking at the home shops and departments but usually find so many things I would love or so many ideas of things that I would like to do in my own home. It would possibly be much better to stay at home, or at least Neil would think so. We also called into a store which was new to us, Wholefoods Market. It was amazing. The fruit and vegetables looked fantastic, so fresh and very colourful. They are stacked very carefully and sprayed with water every few minutes. The spices smelled gorgeous, the beans and pulses looked great and the choice of coffee beans left me not knowing which to choose. Every department and aisle in the store was clean colourful and very well displayed. It was a superb shop. Everything fresh and wholesome. We will certainly visit again.
I'm very behind with my photo a day, which I'm not at all happy about, so maybe I need to spend next week catching up. Somehow.
A few photos follow, mostly from our visit to the Wholefoods Market and I will be back tomorrow to tell you about my trip down memory lane. It was lovely to see family this afternoon, that I haven't seen for at least ten years and many that I probably haven't seen for maybe! Anyway that's a story for tomorrow.
My week as you will see was just as mixed. On Monday I decided to make a start on sorting out my wardrobe and drawers in the bedroom. Our bedroom needs decorating so a good spring clean is also in order. I've been quite ruthless (in Sarahs words) with my clothes and at last I can actually see what's in my wardrobe. A visit to the charity shop is now on the list for this week to drop off several bags of clothes that are no longer required.
Tuesday brought yet another trip with Riley to Caves Vetinerary Clinic in Taunton. Riley was due a check up and at our last visit it was suggested that we would have a plan of Riley's future medication and that he would be discharged. We had to wait for blood test results before they would administer Riley's cyterabine injection as sadly he now has a nasty infection in his toe. After the great news that his operation had all gone well and after about 8 weeks he no longer had to wear a bandage, it was so sad. Poor little thing has had enough troubles since December and I really thought it was all coming to an end. How wrong I was. It seems that the meningitis and other problems are under control but now his foot is slowing up a full recovery. We came home from Taunton feeling totally deflated, very flat! At the moment we don't know if we've got to back again as it all depends how the infection looks tomorrow.
The next three days were spent sorting more cupboards and drawers, cleaning at Auntie Joan's and food shopping.
Yesterday Neil took Sarah and I to Cheltenham. We had a visit to The Range, Next Home and BHS Home, which was great. I love looking at the home shops and departments but usually find so many things I would love or so many ideas of things that I would like to do in my own home. It would possibly be much better to stay at home, or at least Neil would think so. We also called into a store which was new to us, Wholefoods Market. It was amazing. The fruit and vegetables looked fantastic, so fresh and very colourful. They are stacked very carefully and sprayed with water every few minutes. The spices smelled gorgeous, the beans and pulses looked great and the choice of coffee beans left me not knowing which to choose. Every department and aisle in the store was clean colourful and very well displayed. It was a superb shop. Everything fresh and wholesome. We will certainly visit again.
I'm very behind with my photo a day, which I'm not at all happy about, so maybe I need to spend next week catching up. Somehow.
A few photos follow, mostly from our visit to the Wholefoods Market and I will be back tomorrow to tell you about my trip down memory lane. It was lovely to see family this afternoon, that I haven't seen for at least ten years and many that I probably haven't seen for maybe! Anyway that's a story for tomorrow.
Sunday 10 March 2013
Mothers Day.
I've been thinking of my own Mum even more than usual today. I suppose its only to be expected, but today it seems to have been harder than other years, all except for the first Mothers Day without her. I don't understand why this year should be worse than others and I wish someone could explain. Im not very good at not understanding. There is a reason for everything and if I understood, then maybe it would help.
I am though, extremely blessed to have two fantastic children who remembered me today. I was brought coffee and toast in bed this morning by Sarah, and a lovely gift of a rosette die for my craft and the most lovely red vase for my kitchen. Beautiful. Nicholas visited a couple of times during the day, at meal times of course, bringing some coffee beans and lovely flowers as my real present hasn't yet arrived. To my great surprise I also recieved a message from someone else this evening, hoping that I have had a good day. I am sure he would be horrified if I mentioned him by name in my blog, but if he ever reads this (although no one actually knows I have a blog! so there's not much chance) he will know how thrilled I was. It was such a lovely thing to do and yes I did have a little cry! If you knew me that wouldn't surprise you at all. In fact my son, having been asked to describe me in three words, once said that I was,Clean..Weepy...and Nice. I'm still not quite sure how to take his description.
Well that's it for today. Some photos of my cards and presents follow as well as an update on Myfanwy. I'm not totally convinced on how she looks but for now....
I am though, extremely blessed to have two fantastic children who remembered me today. I was brought coffee and toast in bed this morning by Sarah, and a lovely gift of a rosette die for my craft and the most lovely red vase for my kitchen. Beautiful. Nicholas visited a couple of times during the day, at meal times of course, bringing some coffee beans and lovely flowers as my real present hasn't yet arrived. To my great surprise I also recieved a message from someone else this evening, hoping that I have had a good day. I am sure he would be horrified if I mentioned him by name in my blog, but if he ever reads this (although no one actually knows I have a blog! so there's not much chance) he will know how thrilled I was. It was such a lovely thing to do and yes I did have a little cry! If you knew me that wouldn't surprise you at all. In fact my son, having been asked to describe me in three words, once said that I was,Clean..Weepy...and Nice. I'm still not quite sure how to take his description.
Well that's it for today. Some photos of my cards and presents follow as well as an update on Myfanwy. I'm not totally convinced on how she looks but for now....
Saturday 9 March 2013
Myfanwy.
I was looking forward to our old and very tired pine Welsh dresser being returned to us this morning. Myfanwy, as it is known in our household, has been stored away for several years and was a little worse for wear. I must admit we had pine furniture everywhere but as tastes and trends change, I was particularly fed up with it, although still really loved the Welsh dresser. Not wanting to keep it in any room in its pine state, but not wanting to send it to a sale or charity shop, poor Myfanwy was stored in a garage. I had thought that one day I might work on it, sanding and painting but it never happened. A fortnight go we sent it to a local company to be updated and today Myfanwy came home. I am so pleased. It's amazing. A total transformation. I can't wait to arrange ornaments trinkets and nik naks tomorrow. I haven't a clue what to put on but it's going to be fun finding out and am sure that the display will be constantly changing. I will post a photo when the display is done but for now, this is my wonderful new dresser.
Friday 8 March 2013
Where has the time gone?
I can't believe that I haven't blogged for almost 3 weeks. I have no idea where the time has gone, or what has made it go so quickly but here we are well into the month of March!
I really don't like this time of year and am always very grateful when April is over and this year has been no different to any other. I'm a big believer in the condition SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and am sure that I have suffered from it for many years. That coupled with loosing my fantastic Mum, ten years ago has made me dislike the months after Christmas even more. Mum was just 63 years old when she died in April 2003. February was her birthday month, March was Mum and Dads anniversary and is Mother's Day, then in April she became ill and died within 2 weeks. It's Mother's Day this coming weekend and I find that an especially hard time even though I am blessed with two wonderful children who never let the day pass without a card and present. Every year I tell them not to bother as its not Mother's Day without my Mum, but am told that as I am their Mum things must go on. I suppose they are right and am so lucky that they care enough for me to want to make me happy. Well I hope you understand why I don't like the first quarter of each year, but that still leaves the SAD. I get more and more convinced about the condition when we get the odd sunny day during the horrible dull winter months. This week we had a couple of beautiful days which changed my mood and gave me the ability to accomplish much more than usual. Total spring cleaning to be precise.
I spring clean to some extent every year but this year it was always going to be a little different. Sarah, my daughter, as you know is living at home for 7 months. With only a couple of months left she has lots to do and even more that she would like to do before her husband gets home. Then she will be moving to another part of the country and doesn't want to move things that she doesn't need anymore, just to get rid of them there. Makes sense, so, bring on the sorting cleaning and a large Charity Shop van. Sarah and I spent last week sorting every drawer, cupboard and wardrobe in each room of her house. It was very tiring and hard work with all the lifting and carrying, but so rewarding. I have never thought of her as a hoarder and still don't, she takes great pride in keeping her home clean and tidy so where did everything come from? Sarah says she felt " liberated", I felt shattered and the men that came to pick up everything for a charity shop felt very happy. They were really pleased with everything they took away and it was almost a full van! The photos show the mess we made while sorting everything out and the furniture and bags that were stacked ready to be picked up. Such a worthwhile job and one that I have started at home this week.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I have a Welsh dresser being delivered. It was bought at least 18 years ago for the breakfast room, when we lived in Hull. I am sure you know the type of dresser I mean. I always loved it and we still fondly call it Myfanwy when talking about it. Silly I know but it's just a family thing. Over the years I fell out of love with pine and it has been stored for the last five in a dry garage because I just couldn't bear to let it go. A fortnight ago it was taken away to be sanded painted waxed and refurbished. Tomorrow Myfanwy comes home and I can't wait to see it. Hopefully I can post some photos tomorrow.
I really don't like this time of year and am always very grateful when April is over and this year has been no different to any other. I'm a big believer in the condition SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and am sure that I have suffered from it for many years. That coupled with loosing my fantastic Mum, ten years ago has made me dislike the months after Christmas even more. Mum was just 63 years old when she died in April 2003. February was her birthday month, March was Mum and Dads anniversary and is Mother's Day, then in April she became ill and died within 2 weeks. It's Mother's Day this coming weekend and I find that an especially hard time even though I am blessed with two wonderful children who never let the day pass without a card and present. Every year I tell them not to bother as its not Mother's Day without my Mum, but am told that as I am their Mum things must go on. I suppose they are right and am so lucky that they care enough for me to want to make me happy. Well I hope you understand why I don't like the first quarter of each year, but that still leaves the SAD. I get more and more convinced about the condition when we get the odd sunny day during the horrible dull winter months. This week we had a couple of beautiful days which changed my mood and gave me the ability to accomplish much more than usual. Total spring cleaning to be precise.
I spring clean to some extent every year but this year it was always going to be a little different. Sarah, my daughter, as you know is living at home for 7 months. With only a couple of months left she has lots to do and even more that she would like to do before her husband gets home. Then she will be moving to another part of the country and doesn't want to move things that she doesn't need anymore, just to get rid of them there. Makes sense, so, bring on the sorting cleaning and a large Charity Shop van. Sarah and I spent last week sorting every drawer, cupboard and wardrobe in each room of her house. It was very tiring and hard work with all the lifting and carrying, but so rewarding. I have never thought of her as a hoarder and still don't, she takes great pride in keeping her home clean and tidy so where did everything come from? Sarah says she felt " liberated", I felt shattered and the men that came to pick up everything for a charity shop felt very happy. They were really pleased with everything they took away and it was almost a full van! The photos show the mess we made while sorting everything out and the furniture and bags that were stacked ready to be picked up. Such a worthwhile job and one that I have started at home this week.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I have a Welsh dresser being delivered. It was bought at least 18 years ago for the breakfast room, when we lived in Hull. I am sure you know the type of dresser I mean. I always loved it and we still fondly call it Myfanwy when talking about it. Silly I know but it's just a family thing. Over the years I fell out of love with pine and it has been stored for the last five in a dry garage because I just couldn't bear to let it go. A fortnight ago it was taken away to be sanded painted waxed and refurbished. Tomorrow Myfanwy comes home and I can't wait to see it. Hopefully I can post some photos tomorrow.
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