All About The Birthdays........

 
My birthday flowers finally looked too sad to keep but two little sprays I really wanted to keep. I thought they were a type of tea rose but the stem is thornless and the leaves looked wrong, research revealed they are Texas Bluebells. I found out it would need rooting hormone powder (I don't have) to propagate, I also found out aloe vera gel (I do have) makes a good substitute. Thank you Google. 

Compost from our hot bin make these free plants, if they survive. Fingers crossed. 

12 days since the figs were picked and then put in a jar in the fridge and they came out much the same as when they went in WOW. Some had tiny white spots but that just wiped off. Actually I think they may have lost a little of their sweetness. 

 I would have left them longer as a first time experiment but we are going away and if I can't check them I might have lost them all and that would have been a shame. 

I've known friendL since we were at school and youth club together from age 11. Also born the same year as me so also celebrating her 70th. Together with other close friends and family we were invited to

Banyers House a lovely pub/ restaurant/hotel.

We gathered there Sunday afternoon and all watched as all her cards and presents were being opened. 

She loved ours and even wanted to wear the bow that came off our large bag. Part of the gift that I couldn't tell you about before was a Big Birthday Survival Kit, I'd included into a box things like Tissues=To wipe away any embarrassments, Camomile Tea bags=To help you relax after partying, Stapler Rubber Bands and Paper clip=To help you hold things together now...... you get the idea, I think there were 14 labels needed to be printed and attached to each thing. 

In secret with her husband and daughter the whole group of us provided photographs that her daughter collated into a memory book. 

Then everyone went to their rooms to get ready for dinner (except Hubby and me as we'd arrived ready 😉 ).

We carried on at the table till very late then all headed off to our rooms. We had actually booked all the hotel's rooms bar one. 

Then all down to breakfast together. FriendL brought her balloons to breakfast too. 

We had had a lovely celebration with this group for friendL but Hubby and I were not going home. Leaving Hertfordshire and heading towards our next venue we made a detour to Wroxham on the Norfolk Broads to look at the boats. That's a banana and caramel ice cream mmmmm.

Then we drove on to Gunton Hall holiday village it's aWarners holiday village for adults only. My usual group of six wanted this mini holiday to help celebrate my big birthday (belated as friendM had been away).

Our home for two nights were chalets 1, 2 and 3 in Sycamore block. 

We all arrived and gathered outside, some having a cuppa and some heading straight for a glass or two. 

Three course dinner and breakfast were included and all buffet style. Lots of choices so we were all well fed. 

There was lots of activities on during the day, but the weather was good and the grounds were lovely so we had a good walk round, the boys played pool, we all had tea and coffee on the terrace by the swimming pool and generally chilled out.   

One afternoon and both evenings after dinner we enjoyed the live entertainment. 

Apart from one little domestic (not us) a lovely time had by all. We may look at other Warner Hotels in the future. 

Home and it's full on packing as we are off early next Tuesday morning, so keeping fingers crossed cars, roads and airport etc all behave and you'll have something worth reading next week.

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Look What I Found.......

 
Combining the two vases of flowers I had for my birthday after throwing out the very sad ones I'm still left with a large vase full even though they are more than a week old, which is quite good for shop bought roses. 

Clever dog knows an empty peanut butter pot will need a lot of chasing on the vinyl floor so carried it immediately to her bed so she had full control for some concentrated licking out. 

Quite cross with myself, I'd spent ages creating a unique present for my friend (can't say any more in case she reads it before receiving) and laid it all out ready to take a picture, then called Hubby so he could see what we were giving before it was opened in front of him. He seemed impressed (often hard to tell) then I wrapped it all up prettily and securely......... I'd forgotten to take the photo ggggrrrrrr!

When Daughter comes back from Tudor camping her big tent and roof box need storing back in our garage, this time the inside edge of the tent had got a bit wet on the floor and the hessian flooring had a little damp mold which needed scrubbing away. First good scrub with suds and a second scrub with disinfectant. It could be on the line for a couple of days, so keeping everything crossed it doesn't rain. 

After a four year gap I had an evening with friendDP, we had a lot to catch up on. Got up to date with all our family news, who's doing what and the usual shock at how old the grandchildren have got, then somehow we got into sharing all our health issues (we both have/had lots) but not in a "feel sorry for ourselves" way, more in a "all that and we are still here" way. We laughed a lot too.

I've made another bag. I'm always a bit smug when I reuse old stuff to make something useful. Component parts are two pockets from a rain jacket (that's already been cut up and most parts used elsewhere), black Jersey strip cut from the remains of leggings and the front border of a cardigan (that has previously been parted from the body as it was needed for a cowl neck). The cross body strap was from a long ago binned camera case and I move it from bag to bag.  

I've also made a matching sun glasses case, it's padded with the stiffener from inside ties and lined with the cloths meant for specs cleaning.  

I had to dive right into my deep wardrobe (it is built across the staircase)  to get the suitcases out, two cabin bags needed for our holiday that's in a couple of weeks and we'll use one of those for a few days away this weekend. 

WOW! there on the floor under a shoebox was the missing sock!!!

Usual gang did meal in Prezzo then onto the pub. It was Open Mic Night (not my favourite but the others love it). One or two OK voices but more than a few dreadful ones! With one girl we always have a game of "What on earth is she trying to sing?" Guess they are brave even getting up and I feel brave sitting through it.

Big surprise was our old friend Vic being in there,  we used to see him regularly but we haven't seen him for about a year. 

We had another dog sitting afternoon and evening for Daughter as her family of four went off in three different directions. Thankfully she's no bother, (you know I mean the dog). 

Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend. Us retired folk don't benefit from Bank Holidays of course but actually we do have plans for this one that hopefully will make fun reading next week.

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No Use In Rushing........

 
The first part of my birthday present from Daughter was a jigsaw called "Escape to Norfolk" which I was really pleased with as I do enjoy doing jigsaws. However it was meant to be a little joke before telling me about the booked Norfolk holiday in November. 
I started the jigsaw Saturday morning. 

Good crop of figs, just a shame they all ripen at once (these were all picked Sunday)  and it's only me and R that eat them. Not sure what to do with them as there would be belly rebellion if we ate them all (R definitely doesn't want that while she's performing every evening) and I haven't been successful cooking with them so far, apart from jam (again only me that eats it) . All suggestions gratefully received. 

I'd read a suggestion a long time ago of putting fresh berries in jars in the fridge and they will last longer, so I gave it a try with the figs. 

I went for a second time to see The Winter's Tale, this time taking friendKK. So another opportunity to sneak in a couple of my favourite pics of R performing in it. FriendKK loved it as much as I did. 

FriendKK was driving so when she dropped us home I gave her some very ripe figs as they all need eating quickly. 

All too soon the jigsaw was finished. Really enjoyed this one as so full of details. 

FriendHM treated me to dinner out for my birthday present. We would normally go out as a group of girls which isn't going to happen but I found it better just the two of us for a proper catchup chat. 

Change of plan for Friday evening as R had a cast party after the show so said it would be too late for Hubby to go out to get her so she would sleep at home as they can drop her off. So I arranged for M to collect the dog and Hubby will pick them both up Saturday in time to get R to work. Friday evening seemed quiet at home. 

So another week has whizzed by and I really must get stuck into my 

to-do-list which all needs to be done before next weekend.

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I'm Smiling...........

 
I last saw my very good friendHG in person two years ago when we met half way for lunch. When we were both working I used to drive to her's in Essex after work Friday and sleep over so we had a good amount of chat time, often chatting till 2/3am before going to bed. We'd try to do that maybe three times a year. Neither of us need to do that anymore as we are in touch daily with online scrabble games, WhatsApp and video calls but we did think it was definitely time for a face to face catchup. She arrived just before lunch Saturday and went home just after lunch Sunday (obviously with a dinner, breakfast, lots of tea plus cakes in between). She saw Hubby at every meal but he can't sit still so kept busy in between, at one time fixing the computer she happened to have in the boot of her car and another time washing her car. Meanwhile we talked non stop about everyone and everything current and way back through our shared history of more than 55 years! Hopefully it won't be another two years before we do it again. 

The weather was so in between Monday morning Hubby set the garden table and chairs up for coffee morning outside, I thought it was too chilly every time the sun went behind a cloud so put everything on the dining room table, in the end we stayed inside but with the patio door open. 

I've finally driven Hubby's car. Eight years ago when he bought it he insisted I drive it immediately but it was the worst wet weather and I had a stinking head cold. I drive a manual boxy car and his is automatic with high dash board and sporty bucket seats and I felt very claustrophobic. So after that first time I've never driven it again..... till now because he's planning for us to only have the one car. No problem of course. 

It may come as no surprise that we did the test drive, asked lots of questions, haggled for a discount and bought the car. Two things surprised me though, it will take six months before we receive our new car and that the really lovely sales chap not only had the same first name as our granddaughter's boyfriend but at the end when it was a lot of everyone signing things we discovered he had the same surname, surprised him too! 

I've had my big birthday but didn't want a big party. The most important thing to me is having my precious family around me and we managed to get them all together for a bbq lunch in our garden. Son and fiancé brought this great cake and as it was vegan everyone could eat it.  
We needed two bbqs to keep the meat and not-meat separate. 

And the weather stayed really warm and dry all day. 

I had lots of good wishes online, lots of cards in the post and lots of great presents. My very best present has to be from Daughter and Son who have booked a holiday cottage in November and everyone is coming to holiday together, although some can do fewer days than others.

The cake should actually have been double the size but the bigger chocolate bottom half suffered in transit. It was far too much for the two of us to finish and far too yummy to waste so I've boxed nine portions and popped them in the freezer.  

So a very good week and now R and their dog are living here for the 10 days Daughter, E and O are Tudor-ing. 

Till next week then TTFN.

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For Going Out and Staying In.......

Hubby has started his next mission, to find our next car. I say "our" as at present we own one each, his has always been the good looking luxury transport for distance and comfort. Mine the small, nippy, economical, practical work horse. Mine for getting me wherever I'm going without him, and for him to use when taking rubbish to the tip, getting the shopping, collecting smelly takeaway, parking in a dodgy area, moving children and dogs around and driving us both anywhere social he may want me to drive home.... you get the idea? Now we are both retired, do so much more together and I drive so much less Hubby is researching us only having one car, but as we like the ones we've got the swap has to be perfect for us. So far (Sunday) he's on online images and specs, printed images and specs, spreadsheets for collating the data, reporting to me each new finding and constant collaboration with Son who will always be in the middle of petrol-head research. I'll let you know when we start test driving. 

Son had brought over a spare jar of lemon curd so with that oh so convenient ready rolled puff pastry I made a quick treat. Just as I was about to put them in the oven my lovely cousinS phoned, I put them in one handed but didn't set the timer as I'd normally do that on my phone and that was up against my ear, didn't set it on the hob either as that seemed like too many noisy beeps while having a conversation, so glanced at the clock and kept checking while chatting away. They did catch a bit but still very yummy. 

The plums on our tree are now ripe so Hubby went out to harvest. He wasn't out there long as this was the entire crop this year. Hahaha

Tuesday we visited both Audi and Mercedes showrooms having a good look and chatting lots. These added an extra to our ticklist of needs, can I reach the tail gate to close it or is it adjustable or automated? Definite don't wants is the Merc's fancy spaceship dashboard covered in chrome and the night package where it provides disco lighting. The salesman took great pleasure in showing me he could change the colours to match my nail varnish yuk yuk yuk. 

Did you know there's no such thing as haggling for discounts and deals, salesmen/women  are are all salaried now and not on commission? Spoilt 90% of my fun! 

Wednesday was a very wet day so Hubby stayed on the computer. By late afternoon and after doing yet another spreadsheet to calculate the annual costs of keeping our two current cars until they die and comparing it to the annual costs for a new one for the first five years....... he then announced it was daft changing now when we liked what we have so he's not looking anymore. I left it till bedtime then quietly asked if he felt disappointed that he'd decided not to buy a new one and he was certain that he wasn't and more than happy to stay with what we have. 

By Thursday lunchtime he'd changed his mind back, more online spec checking and a phone call to Audi to book a test drive slot for next week. I knew he would. 

All this vehicle chat between Hubby and Son got round to including motorbikes and to remembering Son's first real bike, a part of which still hangs on our garage wall. Thankfully Son went back together after that accident. 

It was in 2000 and as Hubby has recently trawled our photos he roughly knew where more photos would be. 

He enjoyed finding quite a few of himself, Son and Daughter all crash helmet wearing and having fun while I stayed home worrying. 

We've also had a guy come round to do a Home Survey on energy/ heat/ insulation/ efficiency of our living space stuff. Hubby has booked for a visit from two companies that can improve our cavity wall insulation (put in 35 years ago), which will no doubt mean taking the old out and putting new in. Hubby has been researching air pumps for installations, benefits and costs. I have to admit to patiently listening but not understanding quite a bit of all this info!

I'm hoping it will stop raining so he can get back to gardening.

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Varied Celebrations.......

 
Our usual group of Wednesday friends are only called that historically/hysterically although we do meet lots of other days too and holiday together and have had coach trips and day trips etc together and always try to mark each other's birthdays. Next month I have a big birthday and FriendM wanted to book us something to look forward to for as soon as she gets back from her holiday. Juggling everyone's commitments and preferences and following a suggestion I had from another friend we looked at our nearest Warner Hotel, they are adult only with meals and entertainment included. It then got really difficult for FriendM as her telephone enquiry during the week gave her a variety of details but it was Saturday evening when she'd heard back from the others and had the chance to go online and there were alternative details she hadn't been told about. We spent late in to the evening with her online and with each other on WhatsApp trying to sort each problem, the website wouldn't let her book three rooms at the same time then trying again it did, she was getting through to the payment bit and the site crashed, it didn't like form filling on her phone so she went off to find her ipad (pinched by her grandson) eventually and needing to use a different bank card it was a success. By this time it's about 11:40pm. She's very determined. I went straight on to my bank app to do a transfer to her but my bank were doing overnight maintenance! Things are rarely easy eh? 

Have you ever started explaining something then realised you shouldn't as it might spoil a surprise? I was going to tell you that I'd had an idea to make something as a gift, so I gathered the materials but ran out of space, so I brought it all downstairs from my craft room, got Hubby to carry down the heavy stuff and the sewing machine and rearranged furniture to set up a work station in the office. 

Half way through the second day I changed my mind and Hubby helped me put it all away again. So nothing much to tell really. 

Son and fiancé are finally nearing completion of their home rebuild and this week the ground floor floor is being leveled and made beautiful, it needs time to dry thoroughly so they moved in here with their dog of course. 

Another funeral this week for our dear friendTK of 40 years. His wife, one of my closest friends KK is often a Funeral Celebrant so bravely chose to conduct the service herself. As a very experienced public speaker she held it together really well and managed to squash his 76 varied, wild and interesting years into half an hour. Afterwards we were all treated to a true celebration of his life, with family and lots of us old friends swapping stories. FriendTK was an artist making it his full time occupation soon after I got to know him, so for my Art A level I asked him if I could do my personal study on him and he was honoured and gave me all the time and help I needed. This was a bit sneeky on my part as working on a famous dead artist (like the other students) would have meant the examiners would instantly know if I'd got things wrong or they already had strong preferences. 

This is the front cover, it's his name I did in signature art. 

And this was my portrait of him.

After my A Level pass I gave the study to him as a gift. When my friend said he'd died I cheekily asked if I could have it as it was full of memories of us working on it together. I was honoured his family had it on display at the celebration for all to look at and when Hubby, Son and I left it came with us. 

A catchup lunch with friendM was lovely and my bonus was she paid as part of my birthday present. I was supposed to receive the rest of my present at the same time but having been organised enough to get it all wrapped and ready in her rush to leave the house, as she was running late anyway, she left it in her hallway so she made an extra trip the next day and delivered it while she was frantically rushing somewhere else.  

I've already bought tickets for 15th August but was so pleased to be given a press night seat on 28th July and it was with Daughter, O, Son and Fiancé. Yes R is busy again all summer in this year's Red Rose Chain's Theatre in the Forest. 

A fantastic cast of eight, becoming about 18 characters plus a life size puppet operated so well that he makes you laugh when he plays and mourn at his death. 

Their first night they had very heavy rain but carried on anyway, thankfully for us it got a little chilly but stayed dry.

I'll give no more spoilers as it runs till 26th August so you've plenty of time to see it for yourself. 

Meanwhile if you want a challenge you can look for Daughter, Son, Fiancé, O and me in this audience. 

Memories.........

 
Hubby noticed his car making a noise, a tiny noise that with my dreadful ears I couldn't even hear, but it was really annoying him. As he noticed it soon after the windscreen had been replaced he assumed it was the cause and called them back. They checked it all and could find nothing wrong. Hubby then booked it in with Audi who did a full diagnostics check. The mechanic could also hear the noise but could find nothing wrong and suggested it may be tyre noise. Hubby wasn't convinced as the noise is there all the time and tyre noise changes with the changing road surfaces. They agreed to replace the windscreen again under insurance. The noise remained. 
He's now moving all the wheels around! It's still making the noise. I suggested he turned the radio up. 

Knowing I'd done a lot of family tree stuff one of my cousins in Canada asked for what details I had for mutual grandparents. None of my generation knew them as my dad lost both his parents and a sister when their East London house was bombed in WW2. My cousin suggested we have their details entered into "The Book of Names" at Yad Vashem Jewish Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, Israel. 

There's now forms to fill in and it had reminded me of visiting the original Yad Vashem Museum (it's been rebuilt since) on an Israel youth trip when I was 18 and it was very upsetting. 

What a coincidence! Hubby had just finished clearing our smelly drain then Daughter sent him a message to say could he go and look at her smelly drain. It took a lot longer to do hers and new parts needed but both fixed now. 

We held our first ex-work team lunch since the funeral of one of our team, her husband came in her place and our partners all came too. We knew it would be difficult but felt comforting all being together. Her husband really appreciated it too. 

We were talking about all the photos marking our team's history and afterwards I managed to find an internal office news paper that had done a full article on our department. The reporter had also been an excited/creative photographer who got us doing some unusual publicity shots. 

Had a lovely meet up with friendsL&K. It had been a long gap this time so plenty to talk about (not that L and I have ever run out of stuff to talk about). Went to the steak house that's half way between us and I had their bbq ribs as usual yummy yummy. They even brought me an early birthday present. We don't normally gift each other but this year we both have big birthdays next month. 

And when all of a sudden the bananas are far too soft for fresh eating.....

The best plan is banana bread (bit flat but still yummy). 

See you next week.

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Hot Then Finally Wet......

 
Saturday Hubby's old (school days) friendGC came over (he lives about 40 miles away). He often plays taxi for his elderly neighbours and this was bringing someone local to us and needing to take them back much later in the day so an ideal opportunity to visit us in between. 

I've also school day's friends I still keep in touch with and one of them has her next big birthday at the end of August (two weeks after mine as we were in the same class). Her husband rang to ask us to forward any good/funny/ very young photos we have to help him create a memory book. 

Hubby is enjoying looking through them but he won't get through them all,  we have millions of photos in drawers, albums, on line, up in the clouds, on hard drives and flash drives. We have found a few good ones. Her daughter has now started a WhatsApp group for us, and other friends, to send the photos to so my phone is constantly pinging. 

We went for a lovely walk with Daughter, O and the dog to Flatford Mill, a very pretty National Trust tourist spot, home of the artist John Constable.

Tea and ice creams in the coffee shop garden was needed as we'd got very hot walking, then home for a late lunch. 

Had fresh crusty bread here more than once this week and the ends seem to go hard so quickly. A quick Internet search found lots of recipes that use stale breadcrumbs, and with plenty of fruit in the freezer I tried this dessert. 

A sort of cross between a crumble/ pie/ bread and butter pudding 

And this was my result. Made a nice change. 

Friday I managed to get a blood test cancellation at my surgery so didn't have to wait till the end of the month, came home and cancelled the one I'd booked at the phlebotomy clinic. Won't see any results till next week though. 

Friday evening I met with friendLA for a long overdue meal out and catchup. We had lots to talk about but we were both mostly shocked at the ages of our grandchildren, I haven't had little ones for a very long time and she's now expecting her first great grandchild. We both felt very old. 

And that's another week done, hot and dry till Friday then constant drizzle all day.

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