The Cons And The Pros........

 
We've had another birthday, this week our granddaughters stepped out of their teens! Wow!

They were all coming over on Sunday. On Saturday Daughter and the girls went to the My Chemical Romance concert that had been postponed due to covid, and was in fact their 18th birthday present. While they were gone O and the dog came here. O's plan was to make their birthday cake, he brought with him all the ingredients and recipe for the vegan, gluten free, carrot cake.

Unfortunately after all his hard work the cake didn't rise, and stayed quite wet. So we kept putting it back in the oven. O had to leave before we had saved it but we had agreed on a plan. 

I got the cake as dry as I could, by which time it was broken in a few places, so the plan was to cut shapes. I managed six circles and four little hearts. 

I iced them white, then looking for my food colouring to do the rest discovered that my few colour remains was so out of date they hit the bin. Everything was against this. I finally found a little strawberry jam that made the icing pink enough for the hearts and letters. Of course no piping bag suitable for such a tiny amount, so I had to make one. 

Thankfully O appreciated my efforts but sad to report that the icing made them wet again and though a couple of people were brave enough to eat a little half the tray hit the bin. 

It was still a fun afternoon. We sang happy birthday over soggy cakes, M had brought the backup plan of lots of gingerbread men to decorate, there was plenty of tea and the weather was good, so they all stayed outside and got the juggling balls, hoops, clubs and flower sticks out. I took lots of photos but none seemed to have stuff up in the air, honestly all four were juggling. 

In other news, Hubby has been fence mending between showers. Front panels were fine it was the big rail along the back that needed replacing. 

Hubby had also remade the second bench. Don't they look posh?

I've finished the knitting/crochet I was working on but still can't show you as it's a gift that hasn't been given yet. 

I've had my regular CT Scan checkup and amazingly this particular radiographer got the cannula for the dye in first time with ease, which is unheard of, so I'm only booking scans in future if she's on duty! Results to follow of course, however I have had a clear mammogram result which is good. 

And that's about it for another week. 

Enjoy your week and extra bank holiday.

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Reasons to Celebrate......

 
My brother-in-lawK had a big birthday and his daughter arranged a small surprise lunch party for him. This is him arriving and being totally surprised. 

Hubby and I were thrilled to be invited and had a really lovely time. We did however have just over two hours drive each way, in the pouring rain, which was quite tiring (and I wasn't the one driving 😅). 

Monday I had a mammogram, quite uncomfortable but over quickly, and I'm so pleased the NHS do these regular checks.  

It's sitting by the pond with strawberries and cream weather yaay! 

And another food picture! Last week I showed Hubby's belated birthday present from our children and now he's caught up with a very belated Christmas present from me...... an afternoon tea gift voucher! 

He would have been smiling had his mouth not been full. 

It was the Best Western Hotel in Bury St Edmunds. The food was nice and very fresh, the staff were fine but a bit elusive at times and although it was 1:30pm there were still leftover breakfast things on one table and the breakfast buffet table not cleared away 🥺 didn't bother Hubby at all so I didn't say anything not wanting to spoil his treat, but won't be going there again. 

I was expecting to miss our usual quiz night on Thursday. 

This is the online virtual pub quiz that started in March 2020 to entertain people during the height of the pandemic, and yes it's still going, and yes Hubby and I still enjoy it every Thursday evening from 8pm. 

We were going to miss this week's because Hubby and friendP had been invited by our usual Wednesday pub (oh we are creatures of habit) to join their pool team, and the first organising meeting was on Thursday. So Hubby drove to Felixstowe, picked up friendP, arrived at the pub to be told the team organiser is ill so meeting was cancelled. Hubby and friendP had a pint and a few games of pool and Hubby walked through the door here just in time for the start of the quiz. Still our usual rubbish score (another habit lol).

While playing pool with friendP Hubby mentioned he was about to do some fence repairs so friendP gave him lots of feather boards that he had spare (he's a builder), more than enough for Hubby's needs. Daughter came round Friday so she could go with Hubby to buy the capping rails (her car is much longer than ours). While they were out O made a cake filled with cream and tinned peaches for after lunch, it was yummy, but I forgot to take a photo.

Hope you've had a good week too.

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Forecast a Sunny Busy Week......

I slept really well, having the bed all to myself. 

I checked with my intrepid explorers, when Hubby phoned me, and they all slept OK (probably not as well as I did).

I've been receiving regular pics from them just to reassure me they haven't been eaten by wild bears! This pic let me know they were adequately rehydrating. 

Meanwhile I made cakes, these are my mocha-muffins experiment, my attempt at using up some of the instant coffee and instant hot chocolate we seem to have accumulated. Quite nice. 

 
Plus a few housework bits, a lot more knitting and a bit more tv catchup. 

Sunday and no longer home alone as M dropped off O at 10am to spend the day here, R should have come too but she's unwell. Soon after our lunch the travellers arrived home, so O went up for a shower while we had tea and a run down of all that had happened on their trip. They've all really caught the sun and Hubby's walking in a slightly painful way, said it wasn't the nearly 14 miles they did yesterday but the eight mile(ish) they did this morning followed by the two hours in the car. A long soak in the bath will help. 

R was feeling a bit better Monday so came over for a shower, she brought Daughter, O and the dog too. They didn't stay long, just two cuppas worth. 

Tuesday Hubby went to Felixstowe to meet the guys for snooker. He said he played quite badly again and we think his verifocal specs could be the problem. He needs to research that a bit more.

Hubby had also taken his bike out for a long ride and car washed Son's car that is on holiday here while they have building work done. So Friday we went out together to Felixstowe just to blow the cobwebs away. We had a nice walk and investigated the new shops they've made using old lorry containers from the port, then lunch out, fish and chips (well you have to at the seaside don't you?) In the Regal restaurant as we know the food and service is excellent..... but the portions are huge and I feel so guilty leaving so much of it.   

I can't show you any knitting yet (and it's coming along really nicely) as it's a gift, so I'll just keep building the anticipation until it's finished and delivered hahaha. 

Meanwhile I'll leave you with my beautiful Lily of the Valley and the first two Oriental Poppies to open in what promises to be a very large display. 

See you next week.

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Wooley Words......

 
TahDah.... the finished blankets, 

the crochet project that's taken a while to do and if you've forgotten how it all started then you can go back to this post sunny-and-sociable

Sunday we left R and the dog to fend for themselves and went out to lunch with four friends we haven't seen face-to-face since before crazy season. It was so lovely having proper catchup chatting (rather than online or phone calls).

The main topic of conversation for our street coffee morning was one of the house, three doors down from us, being up for sale. It's been empty for a long time while our late neighbour's daughter renovated it. So who's going to come to the open house viewing at the weekend and can we vet them all to select our new neighbour 😂

Monday evening Daughter and O arrived just after 7pm, (back from their Tudor world) they both had super quick showers and sat long enough for us all to have dinner together, then R had a quick shower while O watched a program he'd been desperate to get home in time for but now couldn't, and then gathering up all their stuff and the dog's stuff they went home (Hubby had to drive R and the dog home as Daughter's car was still full of Kentwell camping).

Note: plumber coming the next day so hopefully have their shower fixed. 

Update: he came and inspected and he needs to do more so waiting for landlord's approval before coming back. 

Consequence: they'll be here for showers for a bit longer! 

I've sorted out some of my pastel coloured wools for my next knit.  

Makes a change from the bright colours I've been joining with crochet all in black. I'll need to take it slowly on this one as my right hand is suffering a bit from the crochet grip causing some rsi, but the knitting grip is different so shouldn't make it worse. 

Local election day Thursday, as it seemed to be in the whole of the UK. Hubby and I voted as we always do, the same, agreed beforehand, otherwise I feel we would cancel each other out! We now have a Labour Local Councillor.

Friday afternoon Daughter and dog came over and two cuppas later Son arrived. There was a bit of car contents juggling and then with Hubby they drove off together in one car and posted a photo to fb soon after they arrived. 

  

They will be gone till late Sunday having a walking weekend in North Norfolk........ so I've a home alone weekend. 

I've "This Is Us" a Prime series I'm way behind with (not Hubby's thing) that I'd like to binge watch while knitting. I'll try not to just sit for three days though. 

See you next week.

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