An early start yet again !!

Up early this morning. The boys jumped all over the bed at 5.30am waking me up. So there was nothing for it but to get up. Even Olliecat was up and about. He sat and watched the wildlife with me.

We had a good weekend this past weekend. On Saturday we drove over to Sutton Valence to pick up D's new car. He is really pleased with it - you could almost see him grinning when he drove it. And me being me had to fiddle with all the buttons - well a girl has to know what the car does..lol

I really wanted to get myself a new car while we were picking up D's one. I really am going to have to chase up Mum's money now and get it all sorted.

Then on Sunday we went to D's parents as D's brother C was there and our niece T had come down with him. Blimey she's a livewire, she has so much energy for a 9yr old. It's exhausting watching her

We all went out for a meal at a restaurant that we had been to before. The food was nice but the service left a lot to be desired. Trouble is I think the owners had tried to change the running of this restaurant but it wasn't quite working. But it was a nice meal and we all had a laugh.

Spent the afternoon back at D's parents and got totally exhausted watching T playing in the garden with D and C. T didn't even stop talking when we all sat down for tea. It was lovely to see T but boy I don't think I could have her full time .

The animals didn't seem to notice that we had gone for the day. I was a bit worried as we are dog sitting my friend S's dog Beth. But my worries were unfounded - all the dogs and cats slept all the time we were out. Although it was bedlam when we did get indoors - Bear and Jet bouncing around and Beth jumping around the dogs. She's a lovely dog and considerably smaller than my two. The cats aren't bothered at all by Beth being here, in fact Olliecat is being even more of a little sod. He loves nothing more than sitting on the living room window sill and staring at poor Beth. It's almost as if he's saying "it's my house and I have let you stay here". Daft cat!!

Tattybird was here again this morning. He was making sure the starlings didn't fly to the ground. He's getting very territorial over the garden now.

Thankfully the heatwave is supposed to break today according to the weather experts. I don't mind the heat it's the humidity that is too much to bear. Also the pets aren't happy either in the heat and the birds are really complaining too.

The plants are flourishing but that's probably because I am wathering them eveyr day in the evening and morning as well. They could do with a good dose of rain though.

Dead headed my roses and various other plants this morning, checked the baby pumpkins are growing okay. Hopefully they won't get munched on.

Picked a nice bunch of rhubarb from the plant outside, which I will make into a pie to freeze.

Popped to Asda for a couple of things but didn't stay long, it is too hot outside and definately too hot for driving. My little car doesn't have the luxury of air conditioning like D's car.

Caught up with the second half of the BBC Proms Dr Who special. The first half we were listening to while driving to D's parents, and didn't hear the 2nd half. I did my ironing to it while blasting the surround sound out. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it certainly made the time ironing pass quicker.

A quiet day..22 July 2008

Had a very quiet Monday - I think the weekend/Friday was catching up with me.

Weather was glorious but I didn't take advantage of it. Afraid I spent the whole day either sleeping or watching Big Brother on t.v.

So today was a better day. An early start and the bed stripped, bedding washed and hung out on the line. Then a nice cup of tea while watching the wildlife and planning my day ahead.

Mr and Mrs Dove came and had a bath in the bird bath and Tattybird popped in the garden during the morning.

Sunday 20th July

The reunion on Friday evening went really well. I had spent the afternoon with N chatting and watching t.v. Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the reunion.

We left at 7pm to go and pick up and old school friend who was going to the reunion as well. We got to the pub at 7.45pm and met up with several other old school friends. It was great to catch up with everyone. Finally the stragglers arrived and we had a full compliment of 18 from the "Class of 84". After a couple more drinks we all moved down to the S's 40th birthday celebrations at Palm Cottage down the road from the pub. A lot of dancing, drinking and general chatting was done by all.

It was so weird seeing everyone after 24 years. Obviously we had all aged - but one of the group still looked exactly the same. You could definately tell who it was I, where some of the others you had to think about who they were. The really weird thing was that the girls that had bullied me at school were so friendly, although I think they had been drinking a fair bit. Actually I got on better with them than the girls I was friends with at school. Strange how time changes things. N got chatting to her ex K nearly all evening - or let's just say he was very attentive to her. Shame my ex R never showed up, he must have bottled it!!

Then all too soon we got booted out of the club and all staggered down to the local nightclub. That was an experience for me - my first time in a nightclub. Don't think it will be my last either if a couple of the girls have their way later on in the year. Who would have thought it - 40 and clubbing!!

I left the club at 1.30am so N and I walked back to Palm Cottage to pick my car up. Drove back to N's for a cuppa and a late night chat. Finally got home at 3am. Then to bed only to annoy D by being so bouncy. I wanted to keep talking, I must have eventually fallen asleep though!!

Saturday I felt like I had been up all week and I hadn't been drinking either, but my head was pounding. Thankfully D went out early to take his car to be serviced in Maidstone. I must have fallen asleep as next thing I knew D was back home with a courtesy car. Thankfully I was feeling more human by then :-)

At about 1ish we went to pick uphis car and price up a new Citreon C1. Funnily enough I preferred the C2 Cachet. So we took one out for a test drive. I loved it - it was a gorgeous car to drive. So guess what - 3 hours after going to pick up D's old car he had signed, sealed and bought a brand new Citreon C2 Cachet in silver. He wasn't intending on doing this just I kind of talked him into :-) We will be collecting it in a weeks time all being well.

And when mums comes through I am going to treat myself to a new Citreon C1. I fell in love with this one, but I will go for a 1.4 instead as I am used to a 1.4 and I don't want to drop engine size.

So all in all Saturday was a hectic day.

Sunday was more sedate thankfully. We only popped out to buy the paint and bird food/seed from our new Wilkinsons in Sittingbourne.

Came home, filled the feeders up and watched the bird population re-appear in our garden.

Also my mouse family are back - Mr and Mrs Mouse were spotted on the peanuts in the evening. I have no idea where they have been but they are back.

And we have a new resident - a blackbird. I think he is a semi-grown one but looks so tatty. We have called him "Tattybird" and he has been around a bit.

I have 4 pumpkins growing which I am pleased about. I am worried abou the courgette plants - the leaves are turning yellow. Will have to keep an eye on them. Everything else is doing really well amongst the veggies :-)

Made a start on Shepherds Bush "Baby Bug Ball" while watching t.v. tonight. Got confused with the colours though, as they are so close together. Will have to sort them again tomorrow in the daylight, either that or phone B to see if she can help me sort them out.

D came home with his new Blackberry which he got from work, so I aquired his old one. Now I have to sort out a new sim card for it as he has to take the original card. Also I have to sort out a wireless network so I shall be exploring Virgin Media's package for phone.

Tuesday 15th July 2008

5.50am - another early start this morning. Yep the dogs woke me up again, so I had to get up to let them out in the garden. Then poor Jet wouldn't come in so I had to go out and get him in. He was fine until he got to the back door then he heard the smoke alarm charging up. Well that was funny, if anyone could've seen me - I had to get behind Jet and physically push him on his rump. Okay if he was a smaller dog but not a 3stone collie!!! He eventually got indoors and then proceeded to play with his ball as though there was nothing wrong - daft mutt!!

It was the Kent County Show at the weekend so we along and took N with us as well. We got their nice and early and somehow we managed to bypass the traffic going up the A249 by going off the Bredhurst turn off. We parked in a back carpark and we actually got near the entrance which was a bonus. The weather was fantastic - not too hot and not too cold. And the crowds were minimal. I think most people thought they would go on Sunday when it was supposed to be hotter. We ended up spending a good 5 and a half hours there before we left. I treated myself to a gorgeous handmade mouse doorstop. I also got some more of my aprons that I like - I think D has given up with me and aprons. At this rate I'll soon have one for each day of the week and some extra days. I was then drawn to a beautiful crystal stone called "Goldstone" which I treated myself to.

Yesterday was mum's 61st birthday so I took some lillies up to the crematorium and put them on her plot. I also tidied up her rose bush and cut a couple of budding rose blooms to put in a wee vase home here.



I can't believe this is the 2nd birthday that Mum isn't here. It really doesn't seem possible that she has been gone nearly 2 years this coming November.

I did notice, while I was at the crematorium, that I am the only one that visits mum and takes flowers. I thought this last year when it was her one year anniversary but dismissed it. But yesterday just made me realise if I didn't go up there she would have no visitors. So much for all her friends and relatives - they can't even be bothered. And they do know where she is as I sent out letters telling her friends and family. Oh well just goes to show we may have had a bad past together, yet I don't forget her up there at the crematorium. I find I can be close to her when I am there - if she only knew!! For all my faults, according to her when she was alive, I'm the one that is there for her. None of the rest of the family and her friends seem to care. I think it's a case of "out of sight, out of mind" for them. As they say "There's nowt as queer as folk" and this is so true!.

Mr and Mrs Dove have been down for their morning bath, and Mrs Thrush has been snail bashing by the front door outside.

Still no sign of my mouse family thought :-( Lots of baby sparrows though - I love to see them in the garden waiting for their parents to finish feeding so they can feed next.

Beer in ale for dinner tonight, with plum pie afterwards. The beef went in the slow cooker not long after D left at 6.30am. And I shall use the plums that have been ripening off in the fruit bowl Plenty of sugar, a cinammon stick and lovely squishy plums all stewed together. Then homemade pastry to make the pie with.

I also want to make some cherry flapjacks, to make use of the oven while the pie is cooking.

The afternoon will be spent packaging up some parcels that need to be posted and then settling down with my stitching.

A Day in my Life

It's that time again, although I am a day late. Feel free to pop over to Jenny Wren's blog to find out what it is all about. In the meantime here is my contribution.

My day started at a reasonable time for a change. As soon as I woke up I just knew it was going to be one of those days. You know where you just don't feel like doing anything at all. So that's what I did, nothing!! Oh yes I obviously did the necessary chores to keep the house looking tidy and clean but nothing else!!

The added factor was that it was my mother's 62nd birthday, so I had to take a wee trip to the crematorium up the road to place some flowers on her plot.

So anyway I got up, pottered around upstairs before going downstairs to get my first cup of tea of the day. Unfortunately the cup that D had made me, before he left for work at 6.30am, had gone cold. The dogs wanted to go out so I let them out in the garden, and then Olliecat wanted to wander around his territory - all of 10 ft of earth at the back of the garden.. While they were exploring the garden I sat down and pondered the day. Made plans in my head as to what I was going to do and just generally watched the wildlife going by in my garden.

After getting dressed, tidying upstairs and then doing the washing up downstairs I spent a good hour or so watching Big Brother 9 and chatting to some friends online.

After lunch of hoisin duck in a wrap, bought from Asda - I'm not that good at making wraps..lol, anyway after lunch I popped to Asda and bought some lillies to take to the crematorium. They were beautiful and even had 20% extra.. :-)

Drove to the crematorium, saw several magpies along the route - not bad considering the crem is only a 5 minute drive from my house. It was really weird as I was the only one in the carpark, but was so tranquil and plenty of birds singing.

Tidied up mums rose bush and placed the lillies in the vase I had bought recently especially for her plot. I also placed a little plaque by the rose bush saying "Mothers are angels in training". And then took a couple of rose buds from the bush to put in a small vase at home.



I also kept back one of the lilly stems to put in a glass vase to have on the table at home as well.



I stayed at the crematorium for a while just sitting there listening to the birds and being watched by two magpies. Funnily enough I didn't get upset which I was quite surprised at. Maybe it will hit me another time.



I drove back and noticed that the gypsies had finally moved on from along the main road. Thank gods they have gone, but they have left the most awful mess. I am sure they will be back again within the next few weeks. That is what they did last time they were moved on from the same area.

I decided rather than go home I went and visited my friend who lives opposite for a natter and a cuppa :-) So we put the world to rights and her husband and I discussed our school days. It was quite odd really as I didn't know he was even from the same area as me - Gillingham, Kent. He knew of all the old places where I grew up.. We had a lovely time remember the old haunts!!

Had to get home though as I had to feed the animals and D was due home from work. Didn't have to cook dinner as D was doing his stir fry and I can't have the sauces, so my dinner was a ready meal of Jambalya and a chicken and pesto pasta thing.

After dinner I sat down with D and we watched the t.v. and chatted about our days.

And there you have it, that is a day in my life :-)

Thursday 10th July 2008

I am getting up earlier and earlier - today it was 5.05am. I know it's precise but D was in the shower and I remember looking at the clock, because the news and weather had just come on the radio. Had to get up to let the boys out in the garden. Then when I got back in the smoke alarm started to beep, telling us it needed recharging. Well that was enough for young Jet. He hates that noise, so proceeded to make himself as small as he could up against me while I was laying on the bed, after getting back in. I gave up after 10mins as one trembling dog and one demanding Amycat do not go together!!

Thankfully Jet calmed down and proceeded to play with his tennis ball for a while - daft dog!!

The rain, that had been going all night and all yesterday, had stopped and we even had a blue sky this morning. Still mustn't complain as it has been a welcome relief to all my veggies and plants.

Jet played solidly for half an hour with his tennis ball. He was just running up and down the living room with it. At one point he tried to give it to Olliecat - to say Ollie was not amused was perhaps an understatement :-) Ollie gave Jet one of his famous frowns so Jet tried giving it to Bear then. Poor Bear was trying to sleep. In the end Jet finally gave up and went to sleep in his bed.

Where does the washing come from? I haven't been able to do any washing for a couple of days due to the rain. Now it's a nice day I thought I would try and clear the basket. But I am sure it has been breeding - there is more than three loads. Oh well I might have to give and use the airer if it rains again :-(

Not a long going on in the bird population in our garden. Although I did only fill the feeder up again this morning. It will take them time to realise there is food. Mr and Mrs Dove have been around nearly every day for a bath - except for yesterday when they probably didn't move from their cosy home.

Still no sign of the mouse family, but Mr and Mrs Thrush have obviously been around. I keep finding battered snail shells in neat piles in the garden.

Wanted to make some oat and cherry flapjacks today but on checking the cupboard there are no oats. So that is on hold until I go shopping!!

Friday 4th July 2008

Had a lay in this morning which was nice. The animals could obviously sense that I didn't feel well so they stayed asleep, bless them.

We had no sign of the thunderstorms here in Kent, that the rest of the country had been having yesterday.

Thursday 3rd July 2008

5.15am - Very early start for me this morning. D came up to get me as poor Scruffy had been ill over the chair. So it was my job to clean it up while D carried on getting ready for work. Not a nice start to get up to especially as I hadn't been feeling too well the past few days. Anyway Scruffy kept going out in the garden to eat grass and after about half an hour of doing this he came in and settled down to sleep.

Can't believe how cooler it is today, especially after the heat of the past few days. I think the rain all day yesterday did some good to not just my veggies - it cleared the air finally!!

It's funny sitting here at 6.30am, with the clouds in the sky, I notice how the birds aren't so active as they are as to when it's a lovely sunny morning.

There must be more food around for the birds at the moment as the peanuts aren't going down so quickly this week.

Mr and Mrs Dove have been down for an early morning bath and a peck around, but still no sign of my mouse family. Good news is that Mr Pigeon seems to have found a new haunt as he hasn't been seen in just under a week now :-)

And would you believe it, the window cleaner turned up yesterday. Blooming typical!! Still the upstairs and downstairs windows all got washed as well as the front windows and door. That's when it rained after they were cleaned.

Comments..

Unfortunately due to problems with Haloscan and for some reason it keeps coming up as a blocked site on my firewall I have had to revert back to Blogger comments.

I don't know what's happened to all Halascan comments and I'm not sure how to import them over here for Blogger to pick up. So it looks like I may have lost all comments going back to the beginning of this blog.. :-(

Wednesday 25th June 2008

Up at 6am today, though I have no idea why as I didn't settle down until 1am. I got engrossed in my library book and had to finish it before turning the light off.

Spent 2 hours from 6.30am till 9.30am ironing, where does all the ironing come from I want to know, there's only me and D.

Still no sign of the mouse family in the garden.

Tuesday 24th June 2008

Early to rise this morning. It was lovely to wake up with the sun coming through the bedroom window. Put a load of washing on and sorted out another two loads ready to be washed.

Ollie and Smudge went out as soon as I opened the back door. The two dogs stayed asleep in their lazy beds. Thought about tea tonight and it will be nice and lazy as I already have the bolognese prepared in the freezer.

Decided to repot the vegetables that needed doing while it was reasonably cool out the back. I am a wee bit worried about one tomato plant – for some reason the stem is suffering. I am going to have to keep an eye on this plant.

Had a look at the rest of veg planted – the cabbages in the front garden are growing nicely. The two rhubarb plants, also in the front garden, are flourishing which I am pleased about.

The pumpkin out the back has also flourished, as are the courgette plants. I even have small flowers starting to grow. The other rhubarb plant, that was planted out in its own pot, is really growing lately.

As I write these observations down Amy has found a lovely sunny spot near me, and is stretched out to full length on her back. I imagine I'll see her tanned before long – she is definitely a a cat that is a sun worshipper!! I have noticed on sunny days she follows the sun around the house via the windowsills – this is definitely a side of her I didn't know she had before she came to live her. When she was with me up north she was a totally different cat. Amazing what a stable and loving home can do to a nervous cat. She loves being around Ollie, and occasionally tries to beat Sumdge, the geriatric cat, up but normally loses! She is also starting to voice her opinion when she wants some cat biscuits or food. I think she has got this idea from Smudge who is a very verbal cat!!

Had to cancel Dr's appointment today, my body let me down again. So I now have to wait a week or so and ring for another appointment where Michelle will fit me in straightaway as my body is so unpredicatable.

Noticed while watering the plants and vegetables that I actually have two tiny courgettes starting to grow.I'm keeping an eye on this pigeon that has taken a liking to our garden for some reason. D says it is because I am growing a few more vegetables than previously I have done. My Pigeon had better behave himself otherwise he could find himself in a pigeon pie!!

Tuesday 1st July 2008

6.30am - Got up early this morning. It was probably something to do with the sun streaming through the bedroom window. I do like it when I can wake up to sun, it makes my day begin really well.

Managed to do 2 hrs of ironing before it started to get too hot downstairs. And also got two loads of washing out on the line. I am definately sure the washing pile is breeding.

Waited for the sun to move off the front of the house, then cleaned the downstairs front windows outside and the front door. Have given up waiting for the window cleaner.

If the weather holds up I shall do the outside back kitchen windows and french doors tomorrow.

Bear doesn't like this hot wather and all he does is sleep on the sofa but Jet doesn't seem to stop playing with his toys. He does grab 40 winks now and again but wakes up and starts all over again.

Mr and Mrs Dove were back early again, this time taking a bath in the water bowl outside, twice I had to fill it up for them.

I've noticed the wood pigeon has gone away - thankfully!! Don't want him around eating all my bean plants. I have enough trouble with the snail population here.