This past very busy and slightly expensive week.

I can’t  believe how quickly this week has passed!

Living where we do, we don’t go anywhere far on August Bank Holiday weekend. The M5 and A30 are not a million miles away from us, so anyone coming down on holiday (or home) generally have to use one of these highways. As the weather was so lovely, we stayed in the garden. I did pop over to the gym on Saturday morning and hubby & I went over on Sunday, to sit out by the pool for a while.

Monday, I pottered in the garden until I got too hot! We heard from our son who was coming back from Reading festival. It took him two and a half hours to get out of the car park! He eventually got home at 3.30 in the afternoon, very smelly and a beard covered in glitter! Straight into the shower he went, haha. Hubby did a barbecue in the evening, which was lovely and very relaxing to be sat out in the evening sun.

Our daughter had a few days off, so Tuesday, we had planned to use our monthly guest gym passes for her and our son. But I had a call from her early in the morning to say she had done something in the night to her neck and she couldn’t move it without a lot of pain. I wondered if the lady who does my sports massages had any free slots and as luck would have it, she had one in the afternoon. So I treated my daughter to the massage, in the hope she could at least enjoy the spa part of the gym. It worked! It loosened up the muscle spasm. So the four of us lounged around in the jacuzzi, sauna and on the hot stone beds, followed by a nice meal in the cafe/restaurant (not really sure what it’s classed as!)

Wednesday morning,  I actually had my own monthly massage. Normally there is some part of me that needs a bit of work, but since going to the gym, I’m definitely less creaky! In the afternoon, my daughter picked me up and we drove to Honiton to meet my stepmum for coffee and cake in a great cafe and gift shop called The Little Shop of Seasons. They had only just changed their shop to Autumn the day before....

The cafe does the most wonderful cakes, however I was good and just had a cheese scone........and then a piece of chocolate brownie, ooops! We then wandered around the gift shop and I bought a few little mini pumpkins, acorns and cones to hang on a little tree, to put on the mantlepiece at Halloween.

In my last post, I said that hubby and I had visited a car dealer. Well, on Thursday morning, we went down to pick up my new car. (I feel very fortunate to be able to buy a different car, but this was only possible because my hubby nagged me several months ago to see if I had any PPI due back to me. It turned out I did and helped with this purchase)  I’ve got a Vauxhall Adam, a great little car which I hope will last for a very long time! It looks exactly like this one.....

In the afternoon, my daughter and I went to the cinema to watch Dora the Explorer and the Lost City of Gold. We used to watch the animated children’s programme when she was little. The film was with real people and was actual quite good. A bit like an Indiana Jones version of Dora the Explorer. Weirdly, most of the people in the cinema were adults, only a few children.

Yesterday was Blue Cross day. With all my gallivanting on Thursday, I didn’t have time for baking, so they had doughnuts bought for them instead. We have had a very busy kitten season this year. At the moment there are some very, very young ones who have to be hand reared by the staff and fed every two hours. They take turns to take them home and feed them through the night. Their love and commitment to these animals is phenomenal.

Today, hubby left for work early in the morning, so I had a bit of a lie in. I just popped over to the supermarket for a few bits and pieces. There was a massive cloudburst, just prior to leaving the house, but thankfully was all over by the time I came out of the supermarket (It saved me having to water the garden tonight)
I went to watch Exeter City this afternoon.  We won 1-0, but it wasn’t a good game. Still, it’s result which counts!

Tomorrow, I have Dance Fit at the gym in the morning and the rest of the day, I shall catch up on things, as housework has taken a back seat this past week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, cheerio for now, Ann x

Woodland Walk

Thursday was my day to meet up with my friend, this week. We decided on a walk at Haldon Forest with her dog, Bruce.....

First things first though, we drove to a nearby cafe to have breakfast. Well, you can’t walk on an empty stomach, haha! I had a delicious plate of bubble and squeak with egg and bacon. I also ordered an extra sausage, which I cut into little slices for Bruce. He lives going out with ‘Auntie Ann’.

Then we parked up in the forest. My friend comes up here regularly, so knows all the different walks. We went on the Raptor walk. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any Kestrels or Buzzards etc. this time. What I did see, were some gorgeous trees. I could’ve taken loads of photos, but that would be very boring for you, so I just took a few......

Look at this bark, the wonderful cragginess (if that’s a word!)......

We walked a fair distance, however Bruce ran about three times as far, darting into the undergrowth and coming out streets ahead of us, darting back again and appearing behind us! When we got back to my friend’s house, we had a well deserved slice of lemon drizzle cake, while Bruce retreated to his bed for a snooze.

Later on in the day, I made some flapjacks to take to the Blue Cross today. I can’t believe I’ve never made them before, they’re so simple! Don’t think they turned out to bad. One bit missing here, I had to test them.......

Today, hubby and I took an early trip down to a car dealer to enquire about a different car for me. I’m very excited and will tell you more at some point next week. As we were there a little longer than expected, we sped home. Hubby had to make his way up the M5 before the holiday traffic got bad and I drove up to the Blue Cross for my volunteer stint. The flapjacks went down well, what shall I make for next week? I sat/socialised with some lovely cats today. I was especially pleased when this one came out of her pen to me. She only came to our centre a few days ago and has just been having some fuss in her pen. But today, I sat on the floor by her pen and she came over to me and snuggled up on my lap! Purring away.......

This evening has been just me and Karma, hubby won’t be home until about 9 tomorrow evening. I treated myself to a Chinese (hubby will have the rest tomorrow), had a long catch up with my Mum on the phone and have had a nice relaxing evening. Not sure what I’m doing tomorrow, depends how hot it turns out to be.

Thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Pootling in the garden

The weather these last few days have been a bit up and down. If you’ve had washing on the line, you’ve had to had your wits about you. Sunny one minute, heavy shower the next! 

Thankfully it was nice on Sunday, as we went to a family ‘do’. A joint 40th birthday afternoon tea party. It was held at a sports club, so children were able to fill up on sandwiches and cake, then run it off playing games on the grass. The adults just stuck to the devouring of finger sandwiches, cake and scones/cream and jam, whilst catching up with family members we hadn’t seen for a while. 

Monday, hubby, son and I went out for late breakfast, before our son went off to work. He has late shifts this week until Thursday. We went to Greendale Farm shop, so I was able to get my shopping there afterwards. Then it was catching up with washing/ironing and other housework etc. for the rest of day. 

First thing yesterday, hubby left to work away for two days. I had my quarterly chiropractor appointment, just to help me keep in working order! Returned home to hang out bedding and on to Topsham, to the zero waste shop (milk, washing up liquid and hand wash soap this time) I caught up with my friend, Liz over a coffee while I was there. I also popped into the Devon Air Ambulance vintage shop and picked up these beauties, £4.50 for both!....

Once I got home, I quickly picked in the washing. There was a mahoosive black cloud overhead! Weirdly, this huge cloud only generated a very short light shower and moved on quickly. But while I was out in the garden, I noticed that the wildflower patch was looking a bit unruly. I know it’s meant to look natural, but the yellow mustard had taken over and was going to seed. It was hampering the other flowers fighting for space. So the mustard was cut back and the other flowers look much better now......

I’m not sure what these are called. They were in the wildflower seed pack......

The Rudbeckia is starting it’s wonderful late summer/autumn colour...

The bees are still hopping from one flower to the next...

The lavender in the front garden was out quite early, so has now gone over. The bees are no longer showing any interest in them at all, so I shall cut it back in the next few days. However, the perennial wallflowers are attracting the wildlife, particularly butterflies. When I come out of my front door, I often have to walk through a cloud of them! These two were sunbathing and kept still long enough to take photos....

I had Aqua fit in the evening, picked up my son from work at 9 and then relaxed with an episode of Midsomer Murder. 

Today Karma has a diabetes check at the vets. I’m then meeting my son in town, after he’s had his hair cut. We’ve both got a free coffee/cake voucher to use at John Lewis. Then it’s home for me to household chores, while this afternoon, keeping half an eye on the racing from York this afternoon.

Until next time, cheerio for now, Ann x

The Black Country Living Musuem

On Monday, we had to go up to Birmingham so hubby could have his 2nd epidural to help with his back problem. His appointment wasn’t until 4.30, so we decided to make a day of it and visit the Black Country Museum in Dudley, only 40 mins from where his appointment was.

I’ve wanted to go there for a while, as I’m interested in how people lived from the early 20th century onwards. Also we are big fans of the series Peaky Blinders and some of the filming took place there.

It was very busy with lots of families on their summer holidays having a day out, but it certainly didn’t feel crowded, as it is set in 26 acres. In many of the cottages there is someone dressed in the appropriate clothing of that time, feeding the range with coal, knitting or running the business. He or she will tell you the history of that particular building or about the family that lived there. I was fascinated!

Certain shops were actually open for business. There was a tailors shop where one half was in the 1920s, all vintage stock shown and the other side you could but new flannel grandad collared shirts, tweed caps, waistcoats, Trilby hats etc. A traditional sweet shop, you could see the lady making the sweets in the back room. A bakery, where I couldn’t resist buying some Lardy cake, hubby had a huge Viennese Whirl!

If you were wanting something more to eat there was the Bottle and Glass Inn. Traditional ale and cider on offer with Cob rolls filled with cheese. Or there was the traditional Hobbs fish and chip shop, with everything cooked in beef dripping and served in large handmade paper cones. We opted for this and had to queue for about 30 mins. They were delicious!

In the schoolhouse, you could sit in a lesson. There was one taking place when we looked at the school and as we were a bit pushed for time, we couldn’t wait for the next one, maybe next time.

For me, one of the most interesting bits, was looking at the way people lived back then. Most of the cottages were very poor and with the exception of the 1930s house, which had an actual oven, they all had their blackened ranges for heating and cooking. The lit ones were kicking out some heat! Most houses were back to back houses. There were a few lone cottages dotted about, one being the tilted cottage, so named because of mine subsidence. Some residences had just a yard with an outside loo, others had a garden where veggies and fruit were being grown and again the outside loo.

The foundry and canal was very interesting. This was where some of the Peaky Blinders scenes were filmed in each series. The barges lined up with smoke puffing out of their little chimneys, a massive pile of chains that had been made and piles of coal everywhere. It was fascinating.

So here are some of the photos I took, hope you find them interesting......

By the way, later in the day, hubby’s epidural went well, although his back is not good at the moment. We’re hoping this is just the settling down period and that his back will go on to improve even more.
The remainder of this week has been catching up on chores, going the gym and dodging the awful downpours of rain we’ve been having!

Thursday evening, we went to a quiz night at hubby’s golf club and our team won. Can’t believe it! Yesterday was Blue Cross and I baked them a fruit cake this week.

I’m off to watch Exeter City this afternoon. Thankfully the weather is better, so I should keep dry. Hope you all have a lovely weekend, thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Home Alone weekend

No, not like the film! Not that I've ever seen it.
Hubby has been working away in London all weekend. My son & a friend were going to Boardmasters festival in Newquay. But as it was cancelled due to the weather, they went up to London in hubby's car instead. They booked a last minute hotel, went to a footy match and 'out on the town' and will come back this evening with hubby.

So it was just me and Karma all weekend.

Yesterday, I had a rather lazy day, as did Karma (but nothing new there for her!) To say it was windy, would be an understatement! I ventured out relatively early in the morning, to get a few bits of shopping and intended to stay in and watch the racing at Ascot, listen to Exeter City's game on the radio and generally chill out....which I did for a while. Then I got a text from my daughter. Did I want to go over to her house and see what she had made? It all sounded very intriguing!  A ten minute car journey and I was there. She had bought an old bookcase from the Hospisecare shop for £3 and had upcycled it, painting it grey. It looked very good, particularly as it was the first time she had done anything like that. She has the upcycling bug now!

We had a natter, a cuppa and completed a few in her crossword book and I returned home in time to give Karma her tea and insulin. I spent the evening watching a documentary about Princess Margaret and her decadent life before catching up with a Midsomer Murder.

Today was bright and sunny when I got up at 7, but has gradually deteriorated. Still, I was at the gym for a 10am Dance Fit class. A different instructor today with a different routine. It was hard work! Not just the physicality of it all, but trying to get the steps right! I won't be on Strictly any time soon, haha!

I had a brunch at the gym, before going to the supermarket to pick up a few bits for my son's lunch tomorrow, otherwise being hungry, I would’ve bought up the shop! All the washing has been sorted and I'll be feeding the machine for the rest of the day. Hubby & son won’t be home late tonight.

Tomorrow, hubby and I will be leaving home earlyish, to make our way to Birmingham, as he is having a second epidural for his back problems. His appointment isn't until late afternoon, so we are going to visit the Black Country Living museum. I've wanted to go for a while and it made sense to tie it all in together. Hopefully I'll manage to get a few pics!

This load of washing has finished, so I'm off to refill the machine. I'll leave you will a vibrant rainbow, we had the pleasure of yesterday evening.

Thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Topsham Quay and some cardmaking

Since Monday, my days have been fairly quiet, what with ordinary housework and a couple of visits to the gym. However I needed to pop down to Topsham to get my milk from the zero waste shop. I parked up at the Quay car park and before popping into a friend’s shop to say hello, I thought I’d wander about the quay.

Back in the day, Topsham was a thriving port, so the quayside is quite broad and still is home to a large warehouse building, which sells antique goods on about 4 floors. I love having a good old mooch about. They sell absolutely all sorts.

I didn’t realise until I got out of the car just how windy it was. It was blowing a hooley! Still, I had a bit of a walk and took a few photos......

There were lots of smaller yachts moored up, nothing too big, this time. I must find out what the wrecked boat used to be. It’s been there as long as I can remember. I didn’t stay on the Quay for too long, as it was a bit gusty and chilly.

A steaming cup of coffee and a plate of creamy scrambled eggs were enjoyed whilst I had a natter with my friend, Liz and then I went on to my shopping.

Today it was my normal weekly meet-up with my friend, Wendy. As the forecast wasn’t great, we decided that we would have a day of crafting. So I drove over to her house, stopping on route to get the obligatory cakes, haha.

We put the world to rights while we’re card making, stopping for coffee and cakes and later some of Wendy’s homemade carrot and coriander soup, delicious! The cards I made, I will put into my hairdressers to sell. I only charge £1 a card and I then use the money to buy a some treats for the Blue Cross animals. Topper cards are easy to make, but I enjoy deciding which papers will coordinate etc..
.

The next lot of cards I make will be for family and I think I’ll be using stamps and ProMarker pens to make larger birthday cards.

The rain has now arrived and it feels quite autumnal. It got dark quite early this evening. I should be thinking about baking some treats to take to the Blue Cross tomorrow, but I think I’ll get up early in the morning instead. I intend to curl up in my chair and read some magazines until bedtime,
so cheerio for now, Ann x

A day of pottering about

Today has been a bit of a pottering day, a day of doing this and that. When I got up this morning, I had expected to look out the window and see some rain, as per the forecast the night before. But it was bright and sunny, so, after seeing to Karma’s food/insulin and having my own breakfast, I got the supermarket  shop out of the way.

Next was a bit of gardening. I cut back a few wayward and ‘going over’ plants which had made their way up into the cherry tree and pulled up a load of weeds that had sprung up around the composter. The little patch of wildflower seeds I had sown at the beginning of June are now blooming...

 As this seems to be a success, I might well sow more next year a little further down the border. My next job was one of my raised beds. Most of the veggies in it had been harvested. There were only leeks left, which I had omitted to thin out. So I’ve now thinned and transplanted. It’s a little late in the day to be doing this, but still stacks of time before I’ll be using them.

My first tomatoes, growing behind the raised bed,  are reddening nicely...

The other raised bed is doing well. The onions are now drying on racks in the garage, but there are still carrots....

and parsnips...

 I’m a bit worried about them, as the leaves are enormous, which makes me think the actual parsnip might be small. We will see, but not yet. I normally keep them in the ground well into winter.

After the gardening and some lunch, I wandered up to our local library to return some books and peruse the cookery books. I came away with this one....

Thought there might be some interesting items in there.

A nice relaxing evening catching up on some Midsomer Murders and now I’m off to bed,
so cheerio for now, Ann x