The longest day of the year

I think Paul and I both felt sick with anxiety for most of Friday.  It felt like every hour had far more than 60 minutes in it.  We dropped Coco at the vets for her operation early on - having to negotiate our way around queues for petrol stations where people were panic buying petrol.  The media should learn that the headlines 'no need to panic' will definitely result in panic.  We tried to keep ourselves busy to while away the hours before we could ring to see how she was, but oh how those minutes dragged.  We called at 2pm but she had only just gone into theatre and they said they would call when she was awake again.  Almost two hours later we nervously answered the call which told us that all went well and she was already ok to be collected.  You've never seen us lock up the house and get in the car so fast!

Here she is with her pressure bandage on showing just how skinny her little legs are when not covered with fluffy fur!  She's come home minus six teeth.  SIX! I feel like a bad 'mum' but she will not let us get a toothbrush anywhere near her mouth, even as a puppy she refused.  So Monday finds us taking her back to the vets for a post op appointment.  She has definitely been treated like a princess all weekend.  Who am I kidding? she's treated like a princess every weekend!

In theory we should be getting our flu vaccinations this week.  I say 'in theory' because I keep hearing of delayed supplies so I'll believe it when I get to the pharmacy and sit down with sleeve rolled up ready for the needle.

At least with trying to keep busy on Friday we have got quite a few jobs out of the way that had been on the list for a while.  We have a newly painted front door, the plants in the garden which have finished flowering have all been cut back, and here's testament to how I tried to keep my mind occupied - I am totally up to date not only with washing, but ironing as well!  

It's good to start the week with a tidy house, garden and empty linen basket - a perfect reason to sit down and get busy with my crochet.  Baby due in just over a month so I need to do some every day!

Have a good week x

Me on Monday

 D is for:

Daisy the dachshund.  I thought we'd start the week with a spoonful of cuteness!  This is the new addition to our daughter's family and she's very tiny and very cute.  Needless to say the children are beside themselves with excitement, we just have to now break the news to Coco that there's a new kid on the block getting the attention.  

Coco and I found ourselves with a free day on Saturday as Paul had an art class at a local museum and I decided the time was right to go through my wardrobe and donate anything summery that hadn't been worn, put away the things that I know won't be worn again until next year and replace them with the autumn/winter clothes that I packed away earlier this year.  It's one of those jobs that takes time and you have to be in the right frame of mind to do it properly or you make rash decisions with the donation pile (that you come to regret) or lose interest and just keep everything!

In normal times we normally celebrate the start of summer with a paella at our friends house, it's kind of a tradition, cocktails in the garden beforehand, then an authentic paella using a recipe that was given to them by a Spanish friend.  For reasons I don't need to explain, we weren't able to go to their house to do that this year so we found ourselves celebrating the end of summer this Saturday evening.

So with the tidying mood still flowing, today sees me tackling the pile of toys which is threatening to take over the spare bedroom.  This is a job that can only be done when you don't have a small person with you saying 'but I love that toy/game/book Nanny'. Neighbours very kindly offer us toys when their children outgrow them and I'm too soft to refuse anything but I have to face facts, there are things that don't get played with so wish me luck as I roll up my sleeves and add some more to the donation box!

Have a good week.

And the winner is ...

Emma Raducanu! It was unusual for us to sit and watch a tennis match on a Saturday night but how could we miss the final of the US Open when one of the finalists was an 18 year old British girl?  It was such a good match, both girls were equally talented but oh how happy we were when Emma won that final point.

There was one other English 'lady' who was not quite so happy that day.  Coco.  It was time for her annual check up and vaccination.  Last time we weren't allowed into the surgery with her and she got herself so stressed they queried if she may have a heart murmur.  This year Paul was allowed in with her and she was much calmer and they said if there is a murmur, it is very low grade.  But then they looked in her mouth and the news was not so good.  She needs a tooth removed so we've had to book her in for day surgery in a couple of weeks.  She's a devil for letting us brush her teeth, and we've hoped that dental chews would help keep her teeth clean but apparently they haven't done the job.  

As if that wasn't bad enough, Paul asked if we should be giving her any vitamin or mineral supplements now she is over 10 and they said she should be on Senior dog food.  Senior! She walked in a sprightly lady, and walked out a senior in need of dentures.

Needless to say she will be getting lots of extra cuddles and walks over the next couple of weeks leading up to her operation!

This Monday finds me about to load up the car and pop to Rachel's to give a hand taming her front garden; they really aren't gardeners and now we are heading into autumn it's time to deadhead and cut back the undergrowth and someone needs to go and show them what needs to be done.  

Yes I think it's time to acknowledge that autumn is well and truly arriving.  Despite having a lovely sunny day yesterday where we even ate our Sunday lunch in the garden, the solar lights in the garden are switching on earlier and earlier every evening, the mornings definitely have a chill to them and I'm thinking about packing away my summer dresses.  It's almost time to have that 'chat' about whether or not to switch the heating back on or just wear a thicker jumper!

Have a good week x

 

Me on Monday

 I'll let you in on a little secret - I was very apprehensive about last week!  But we survived to tell the tale and it is done and dusted now.  By the end of it I felt every single one of my 63 years old!  

Within the space of ten days we had babysat twice, had Max for his first sleepover, had all three grandchildren here for childminding at the same time, and had Leo and Rosie sleepover at the end of the week.  Rosie had never spent a night away from her mum ever and she is quite a determined young lady, it could have gone very wrong if she had suddenly wanted Rachel who was by then 109 miles away.  In addition to that it was Leo's third day back at school and he'd been apprehensive on both previous days so the prospect of dealing with that and trying to get them both breakfasted, washed and dressed in time to be out the house and take Coco for a walk was a little daunting.  However, it was all fine, there were no tears and no last minute worries. (From either of us 😉)

Back home for our Covid and blood antibody tests - Rosie was intrigued as to why Nanny and Grandad deliberately cut their fingers and caught the blood in a test tube, and was insistent that she chose a 'nice' plaster for me rather than the one the NHS provided.

 Yes that is Iron Man, strangely enough my box of Superhero plasters doesn't include any Superwomen.

I am hopeful that this week will be more relaxed - Max will be on holiday in Wales, there is no Zumba this week as the teacher is on holiday and there are no sleepovers planned.  

Forty one years ago today, I was all dressed up in a long white dress, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers, standing in a church saying 'I do' - where did those years go?  

We decided to have an early anniversary meal out, it felt like there would be more atmosphere on a Sunday lunch than a Monday evening and went to a local-ish pub that Rachel and Jon had recommended and the food did not disappoint - they had me at 'shredded slow roasted lamb'.  

The sun is shining, exactly as it was 41 years ago but instead of walking down the aisle, we are taking Coco to Hatfield Forest for a walk around the lake and through the trees, followed by a cup of coffee at the shell house. 

Have a good week!

A sentence a day in August

 The first day of August was autumnal in feel, I hope that the whole month isn't like that!  (Spoiler alert - it was)

Day 1 Rachel, Leo and Rosie came for Sunday lunch as James is still with his mum sorting out paperwork and arrangements for his Dad's funeral

Day 2 Went to friends in the afternoon for tea and cake, it was even warm enough to sit outdoors.

Day 3 Would have been my Dad's birthday today, had Leo and Rosie here, went into town then made more slime in the afternoon

Day 4 Max came for the day, had a crafty morning with him too, this time gluing googlie eyes on a card for his mum.

Day 5 Busy day! Had our ONS Covid and antibody tests, Zumba in the hall, hairdressers appointment, went to collect new glasses but the lenses didn't seem right so I didn't bring them home.

Day 6 We should have been seeing friends for drinks this evening but they are in isolation since their son tested positive at the beginning of the week.

Day 7 Treated ourselves to a Thai takeaway tonight - it was SO delicious

Day 8 Sunday lunch, invited Rachel and children round to join us - they were pleased to hear that James was coming home in the afternoon

Day 9 A day of sunshine and showers - a lot of crochet was done in the afternoon and I'm now ready to start the border around the edge.

Day 10 Took Leo and Rosie to a local park which has a Pet's Corner, they loved it

Day 11 Jon and Max came for the day and Jon had his second vaccination, we had friends over for drinks in the evening as they have now finished their isolation.

Day 12 Zumba - we have a new routine which includes the song Jai Ho and I am now happily singing it to myself all day (Paul not so happy!) picked Max up from nursery in the afternoon, it isn't local and we hadn't been there before so good to do a trial run in case we are needed when his little sibling arrives in a few months.

Day 13 Met up with ex-work friends in the garden in the morning and caught up with some crochet in the afternoon, I'm now on the border rows and SO close to being finished!

Day 14 A dreary day so baked rock cakes and spent the afternoon crocheting.  Blanket is nearly done!  

Day 15 Paul and I visited my cousin and her partner with my sister and brother in law - it was 2 years since our last Sunday lunch get together!

Day 16 Finished my blanket ....

Day 17 Took Leo and Rosie to Paradise Wildlife Park, we had a really lovely day

Day 18 Had Max here, and also Leo and Rosie in the morning as their childminder has been near someone who was diagnosed with Covid and is waiting for the results of a PCR test. 

Day 19 Zumba in the morning which always lifts your spirits, then went into town in the afternoon to pick up my new glasses - they had 'tweaked' the prescription and now I can actually see clearly out of them!

Day 20 It was a Friday which felt like a Saturday which is weird because when you are retired surely all days are the same?

Day 21 Leo's party - what an afternoon, he had so much fun!  We had friends over for a curry night in the evening who didn't go home until almost midnight so we were VERY tired when we went to bed.

Day 22 Sunday started very early for me, 4am to be precise, what a thunderstorm!  So much for getting a good night's sleep after a very busy day yesterday.

Day 23 Made birthday cake for Rachel's birthday tomorrow, started a new crochet project, a baby blanket so much smaller than my previous ones.

Day 24 Paul and I went to Anglesey Abbey in the day and then I babysat in evening while Rachel and James went out to celebrate her 35th birthday.

Day 25 Max came for the day and wore us both out

Day 26 Zumba in the hall and it was also National Dog Day, although to be honest, every day is Dog Day in our household!

Day 27 Caught up with chores around the house then went to friend's for dinner in the evening, it's nice to be socialising again although we are only seeing people indoors if we know they are being as cautious as we are in going out and about!

Day 28 Went out for a delicious Italian meal at lunchtime, babysat for Leo and Rosie in the evening 

Day 29 Leo's 5th birthday - he was one very excited boy when we popped round to wish him a happy birthday

Day 30 Max arrived in the morning to spend the day - and night - with us, he'd never come for a sleepover before so we were a little apprehensive but he was a very well behaved house guest

Day 31 What a busy day, Max, Leo and Rosie all here in the morning until Jon and Sophie came to collect Max at lunchtime, then a busy afternoon with L&R clearing up the pond area in the garden and discovering lots of newt babies.

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