July Phil

Another month gone but the weather has improved more than we could have hoped for.  Lots of things happened this month.  Mum came to the caravan to take advantage of the British summer when Georgina rang to see if I could pick her up from MK train station later that morning.  Ideal, it meant that Mum could come with me and see her at the same time without me driving Georgina to Melton.  As it turned out we couldn’t have come to Melton as Georgina started her summer job in Shrewsbury the following morning.  She has just finished her second year at London School of Economics (LSE) doing International Relations.  She was quite happy when she found out that she passed this year with a 2:1 in all but one subject where she got a first.  Better than she had expected for the amount of time and effort that she put in.  Unlike me, Georgina is naturally bright; I have to flog myself to death for a half reasonable result.  Since her exams finished she has had a part time job at the university but cant remember what she is doing.  Im not even sure I understood what she is doing.  We dropped her off at home as her Mum and Nick are on holiday.  She is getting to use her mum's car to drive to Shrewsbury in which should make an impression with the foreign students when she arrives.  She is administrating a foreign students language course for 4 weeks.

While we were at the caravan, Harriet came over to take advantage of the good weather.  She doesn’t like sunbathing outside her flat in the garden as its a bit exposed; especially since the hedge has been trimmed.  In fact Harriet came over to the caravan almost as much as we have been there lately.  Its such a lovely facility when the sun is shining; you seem to leave all your problems behind and relax while you are there.

I just had to put this picture in, its not very often I get to the city centre very often but I had to buy Claire a Birthday card.  They have a great display outside where the fountain used to be so I snapped this on my phone quickly.

We met John and Marie (Claire’s step Dad) in a pub at Cambridge which is half way between Suffolk where they like and MK.  This is a good compromise, we get to see them for just long enough.  Still it was a very pleasant lunch.

The other thing I have been threatening to do for years now, is to go over to Luton and see Jim at Mertech where he works.  I used to work at Mertech with Jim mary years ago but Jim and two others did a management buyout shortly after I left.  Jim has since bought the other two out and bought new premises which I have not really visited.  We did leave our car there when we flew from Luton once but I have never really had a look around.  As Steve is also between jobs, he came over with me.  Jim took this picture outside Alfi's Arms which is quite appropriate.

Jim showed us around town; I couldn't believe just how much it has changed since I was last there.  Some of the original buildings are there but surrounded by open spaces now, it really has changed for the better.

 

Good job the signposts were there else I wouldn't have known where I was.

Later that week, Sue insisted on taking us out for a meal for Claire’s Birthday.  Brian and I came along to Aspley Guise where they have opened up, “Little India” where the Blue Orchid Thai restaurant is.

They had made a nice job and we had a fabulous meal.  They sat us outside which was great with the weather that we have been having this month.  Although we would have taken coats for later if we had realised.

The food was great with a fabulous choice that we shared all washed down with copious amounts of wine.

 

Although its Indian they have lots of Thai waiters and waitresses.  This one was our favourite  she comes from northern Thailand and has only been here 8 months.  She speaks excellent English and brought us a complimentary sweet for Claire’s Birthday with a candle in it.  Not only did Sue pay for the food and wine but insisted on paying for the Taxi both ways so that we could all enjoy a drink.  Cant wait for my birthday!

 

The weekend came, the weather still with us, so it was back to the caravan again for a bit more R&R.  Of course, Harriet came too.  The girls soaked up a bit of sun while I sorted out lunch on the BBQ.  What a life.

 

Harriet wanted to go to the pool for a cool down and as I have yet to go there, Claire and Harriet insisted that I came for a dip as well.  They drove there leaving me to wash up and walk down.  I walked there via the two lakes but just as I arrived at the gates, I got a text.

 

“We came back cos it was too busy x”.  I had no choice but to take one photo and turn around and walk back around the lakes again.  This time I walked by the bank rather than along the footpath.  I found where all the carp hang out; well away from all the fisherman.  There were so many of them at the surface, I could have walked over them.

As it happened, that night we had party in the park which is an annual free event that our campsite puts on.  We had Sue and Brain, and Maddy and Steve come along with us.  Steve and Jan were to come but it was the same night as he was going out with Jan for a meal for his Birthday.

We had a massive BBQ along with all the food that Maddy brought with her, washed down with a drop of wine and then we toddled off to the park.  Claire and I had already taken and erected the Gazebo and the table and chairs.  We were a little late getting there as it had already started.  Next year, not so much food before we go, because we always take snack and drinks with us anyway.

Anyway it was a brilliant time and they always have fireworks at the end when it gets dark.  I love this picture.  The brass band were good but nat as good as the one we had last year because they had arrangements for contemporary tunes and let the fireworks off to the music.

The following morning we felt a little rough but had been invited to Dick and Carol’s for a drink outside their log cabin.  They bought it 10 years ago for £100,000 and have had the gardens landscaped since.  They asked the site how much they would buy it back for and were offered £23,000.  Still you don't buy a caravan for profit, unless you own a campsite.

It was only a couple of days to wait until we went off on our 2 days cruise on the Queen Elizabeth to Hamburg.

Its a fabulous ship and we had a tremendous 2 days on it for our £159 which included our flight back.  Its massive with 14 decks.

It was also the first time that we had been to Hamburg and we hadn't realized how many bridges and canals were there.  They have more bridges and canals in Hamburg than Venice and Amsterdam put together.  Have I said that before?

We found a lovely German bakery for a coffee but Claire preferred her McDonalds from next door.  I wonder where Harriet gets it from?  Following our mini cruise, I finally started back at Rexam.  It was months ago that I was first told that they had bought another computer for me so I could come back but their IT department are hopeless so it has taken months to get the software loaded onto it.  Its great Im only doing 3 days a week but am being paid enough for a week at a normal place; it was worth waiting for.  The other bonus is that they give everyone £5 a day for food off the wagon that comes around every morning.  I could even go there on my days off if I wanted.  Now there an idea.

No sooner back than the next weekend we were off to London for a meal on a boat down the Thames.  This was another birthday treat from Sue.  She even bought the train tickets and paid for a taxi in London.

The platform was by Tower Bridge and even the seagulls were queuing to get on as well.

Opposite the platform is HMS Berlin and the Shard which still look unfinished somehow.  HMS Berlin is open to the public.

Our boat was called the millennium of London.  I wonder how old it is?

Anyway, we had a really nice meal washed down with a little wine.

It was lovely having all the points of interest pointed out to you while you were being waited on.  This place is the Aquarium but further up it says “Movieum”, not sure what that is?  But its all in the old Town Hall.

One of the attractions is a replica of the Golden Hind, the ship that Sir Francis Drake sailed in.

Of course, we ended up back at Sue’s for more drinks and a made up game in the garden.  Thanks so much Sue for two great treats and it wasn’t even my Birthday.

For the last year or so we have been going to the Nags Head at Linford for our Wednesday night out.  Chris, one of the founder members came out with us for a change.  He’s the one at the back on the right and is Claire’s first husband and Harriets Dad.  The one next to him is the reason that Chris came out, he has a great name, Norman Night.  He used to be a headmaster in Brisbane and many years ago, Chris did a job swap with him.  Chris didn't really meet him at the time but all Chris’s friends got to know him over the year exchange period.  George ended up as one of his closest friends here.  He actually taught George's son Chris's wife Vanessa while he was here; small world.  That almost makes him related to George surely?   Anyway about 15 or 16 years ago, chris and I went over to stop with Norman for two weeks while he was living in Japan teaching English.  Norman was in Kobe when that had that really bad earthquake and moved to Osaka after it.  He has been living in Thailand almost since we last saw him.  Anyway, he is about to go back to Australia so he can claim his pension.  You have to live there for more than 6 months a year before you get it.  Steve, on the right, who had his Birthday this month had a biopsy for prostate cancer and just found out that he is in the clear.  He also started a new job the same day as I did.

Having finished work on Thursday we decided to spend our last weekend of the month at the caravan.  The weather was still holding out and we walked around the lakes stopping at the clubhouse for a drink where the Golf Society had a meeting outside and were giving prizes away.

As we were off to Melton to see Mum on Saturday it is always more convenient to go to and from the caravan rather than MK.  I fixed the leak from the outside tap and fetched mum’s travel kettle from the attic while Claire did a touch of painting. 

 Later on Saturday we had an invitation to steve and Maddie's garden party which is also close to the caravan.

 

Sunday I had promised Claire a meal out in the country.  I have a list of good grub pubs in the area that I have collected from people that have been in this area for years.  This was the second from my list, the Lamb at Little Harrowden.  Service was slow but nice food and menu at sensible prices.  As it was busy and the lone barman was also taking orders in the restaurant, bringing food out and clearing plates, it was hardly surprising so we will give it another go when we get chance.
On the IFA front; on the down side, Daphne's house is now sold subject to contract.  On the up side the Financial Ombudsman has agreed to take on my case and have now assigned an investigator to me.  On Monday I spoke to my MP outlining my problems and asked if there was anything he could do to get the police to do their job.  He asked me to email him an outline of events and he will forward it to the Chief Constable and insist that fraud and forgery should be investigated.  Lets hope I'm not disappointed again next month and I have something positive to report.
Well, next Saturday 3rd August we are off on our Norwegian Fjords cruise with Mum so don't miss the end of month blog next time, have a good one.

High humidity but good results

On Monday I set my alarm early to go to Melton to visit mum; I was pleased myself because I was on the road by quarter to seven.  I decided to go the back way via Overstone thinking that if I was early I would miss all the rush hour traffic but it didn’t make any difference and in the end it took me almost 2 hours.  I knew before I went down that Bet wanted me to do some painting but I hadn’t realised she wanted me to repaint the entire hallway including the ceiling and also the passageway in-between the kitchen and the garage.  But that was okay, slight problem because she had no trays or rollers and there was no way I was going to paint all the walls (and ceiling) with a fence brush so a quick trip to B&Q almost as soon as I arrived was needed.

The choice of colour was green for the walls and white for the ceiling, it wasn’t a big area to cover but not helped by the fact that I was painting over that anaglyptic wallpaper and I was also heeded by the fact that Phil’s mum insisted on holing the little ladder.  There was hardly room for me and the ladder let alone for her.  In the end I insisted that she grab a chair and talk to me in the doorway.  This was a little easier but if she’d have just left me alone and gone and read the paper I would have got the job done a lot quicker.

It was a really hot day and I was sweltering, more so because mum made me wear George’s old overalls which not only drowned me but they were also really thick and heavy.  I still managed to get paint on my leggings so they didn’t do the job they were meant to.  Anyway I managed to get the hall done and get a first coat in the passage way and then it was time to go out for lunch.  As I hadn’t seen mum for 2 whole weeks, the longest we have gone without a visit, and also she hadn’t seen a soul over the weekend, I insisted on taking her out for lunch.  We went to the Market Harborough Hotel in the town which was a bit grot, but the food was okay and cheap and not only did it get mum out of the bungalow but also saved her slaving over a hot stove on such a hot day.  After lunch we did a quick shop at the Co-op.

When we got back to the bungalow, I touched up in the hallway and did a second coat in the passageway and then mum cleaned the trays while I went through her post.  With painting finished and trays as good as new, we then went into the bedroom to go through the clothes that mum had picked out to take on the cruise.  The cruise has 2 formal nights and unfortunately it’s so long since she has socialised poor mum didn’t have a whole lot to choose from.  Day wear is going to be crimpolene elasticated trousers with a blouse and a hand knitted cardigan and for the formal nights she has trousers and another blouse and matching jacket.  Bless her, she has got skirts but she doesn’t like wearing them and really just likes to be comfortable.  I don’t suppose she will be refused entry to the restaurant but my main concern is that she doesn’t feel underdressed.  I had thought about going to M&S here in MK and picking her an outfit but we have so different tastes and I am not confident I would choose something that she likes.  The worst case scenario is that we hire an outfit on the ship but I’m sure it won’t come to this.

My last job of the day was to give mum a quick lesson on how to use the new mobile phone that Billy had kindly got for us.  The new phone has big buttons and it’s specially designed for the more mature user in mind.  Bett seemed to get on with it okay but the real test will be when she has to use it when she is on her own.  I left Melton about quarter past three and didn’t have a bad run back although the motorway was really busy.

The flat was like a furnace when I got home even though Phil had all the windows open.  Our flat is very warm in the winter which is fine but I swear when the sun shines it’s even stuffier than the caravan.  I didn’t know what to do with myself and poor Phil was suffering with the heat as well, there was no breeze and all the fans we have are at the caravan.  I was sticking to the leather sofas and ended up having a cold shower before I went to bed.

It’s a bit weird with Phil being back at work and I haven’t got into a routine. When he last worked he would always come home for lunch so I was always on a time restriction to get back from the gym ready to serve up at midday. I have a million things that have been on the ‘to do list’ for ages but I am ashamed to say with the heat and humidity this week I have been a little lazy. I don’t know about anyone else but I have struggled to function with the humidity.  I was at the gym on Tuesday and even though its air conditioned it was still hot.

Phil has been really really good on the diet and I am very pleased with him.  Okay we had a blowout at the weekend but Phil is really trying hard.  He went to the cinema on Tuesday and didn’t even have a snack, something that even I would struggle with. Part of the fun of going to a movie is munching on naughty nibbles.  I am not sure how healthy Phil’s choice is from the wagon at work but he says that he is only having a salad and I believe him.   I really hope that he perseveres because I know for a fact that he will feel so much better when he loses the weight.  I am a bit concerned that the diet will go out of the window when we sail to the Norwegian Fjords because the food is so plentiful when you cruise and the choice is so tempting.  But if he is sensible I am sure he can still lose a few pounds. 

On Tuesday when Phil was out I went to Sue’s for supper and then I drove her to a jazz night at a village hall in just off junction 13.  Sue did warn me that she didn’t know that if it would be any good and when we got there it turned out that me and Sue were the only audience!  I had to laugh; the night was okay, it was more of a jamming session for the musicians but I knew a few songs and it can’t have been that bad because we didn’t leave until it finished at 11pm.  Having said that, I am not sure if we stayed because we were the only audience and it would have been embarrassing to leave early.  Still it made a change from staying in and watching the soaps.

I was glad to see that it had rained overnight on Wednesday morning and the temperature was much more comfortable in the gym.   I did a shop in Asda afterwards and then went home to wash, dry and iron.  In the afternoon I went to pick up Phil’s prescription and then popped in for a cup of tea with Sue. Phil was out at The Nags Head with the Wednesday night boys as usual and told me that the results were all clear for Steve B’s biopsy so that’s really good news.

I had a fairly productive day yesterday. First job of the morning after Phil went to work was to sort out my wardrobe.  Even though I have stepped up my gym routine a lot of my clothes are too tight.  I have cut back on the wine and have mostly been on salad for the last 2 weeks so I am not of the reason why. I am only carrying 4 extra pounds but I have no option but to go up a dress size.  I’m not sure why everything is so uncomfortable, I can only put it down to middle age spread.  But we don’t have much wardrobe space at the flat so filling a black bag certainly helped.  I felt cleansed when I had finished.  I also cleaned the shelf in the bathroom and wiped all my bottles of potions.  I put them in order as well but I don’t think this will stay like this for very long.  After clearing and cleaning I went to Lidl’s to get toilet rolls, Wickes to get gloss and my final stop was Superdrug in the centre.  Lunch was chicken salad and when that had digested, I went to DW.

I was pleased to be busy being yesterday because I was thinking about Sue all day.  Brian took her in the afternoon for a colonoscopy.  When Sue had our ovarian tumour removed, they found something at the top of her appendix and wanted to investigate.  The procedure is not very pleasant and Sue had to drink a load of jollop 24 hours before hand and she also had to fast.   She’s had far more invasive tests over the last year or so but I know she was worried about what they would find.   So was I but she phoned me last night to tell me that all is fine, no cancer cells found. Thank god. Fabulous news and I am sure Sue is feeling very relieved.

Today there is much to do.  I am off to the gym in a minute, Phil is going to get his hair cut and then he is going to cook Omelette and home-made chips for Harriet.  After lunch we are going to pack the bags and are head to the caravan for the weekend.  Fingers crossed the good weather stays.   

Cruising through life

We had a lovely time on the Queen Elizabeth.  The train journey down to Southampton was smooth and we didn’t have to wait too long before we could board. Our room was lovely and we thought it was bigger than the room that we had on the Queen Mary.  Service was very slow on the first night but after I complained we were the first to be served on the second night.  The weather was glorious in Southampton but when we were at sea on day 2 it was windy and I wished I had brought a coat.  The food was very good but not mind blowing and we both thought that although it was step up from the Costa cruise it was not a patch on the Queen Mary.  But we still had a great couple of days and it was a bonus getting time sightseeing in Hamburg.  A worthwhile trip and thanks to my lovely husband for booking it for me.

I felt sorry for Phil starting work on Thursday especially after a Wednesday night out with the boys but he didn’t complain and I think he was quite looking forward to it.  The money will certainly come in handy and at least he’s not doing full time.  3 days a week fits in perfect for going to the caravans at the weekends.  It was strange not having Phil under my feet in the flat and I had loads to do on Thursday which I struggled to do in the heat.  I did a quick work out in the gym, did a big shop in Asda then spent the afternoon washing and ironing.  

Phil has finally decided that he is going to diet and be serious about it this time.  Rexam gave him vouchers for the van so he can get a sandwich and fruit for lunch and then I will do him something light for dinner.  It was so hot that he was happy with a tuna salad but I am going to have come up with different dishes otherwise he will get bored.  I seem to lose my appetite completely in the heat so maybe I will lose a couple of pounds with Phil.  We did a weigh in on Friday morning and will do the same once a week.  Anal that I am, I weight myself every morning.

I went to the gym again on Friday morning, I almost didn’t make it because there was a Jehovah Witness conference at the stadium and it was a nightmare with the traffic.  I persevered even though at one point I felt like turning round and going home.    Danielle, a new hairdresser that Harriet has been having come round at 11am to do me mesh highlights and a cut.  She was a very nice down-to-earth girl and seemed to know what she was doing.  She suggested that I had a ‘Frankie from the Saturday Girls’ cut and I said okay as long it makes me look younger.  Unfortunately I didn’t really like the finished result; Harriet said she liked it when she came round for lunch but Phil took the mickey when he got home from work.  Sue didn’t like it when she first saw me but then said the cut would grow on her.  At the end of the day, it’s only hair and will soon grow back.

I have been really spoilt for my birthday, not only did I get lots of nice cards and pressies, but Sue treated me along with Phil & Brian for a lunch cruise on The Thames.  This was a little naughty as she’d also taken us all out for a meal at The Blue Orchid on my actually birthday.  Sue picked us up and we caught the 9.46 train to Euston.  The London Midland train was packed and I didn’t think at first we’d get a seat but we managed to get 4 seats together and got to London by half ten.

Sue insisted on getting and paying for a taxi to Tower Pier, talk about being spoiled, it was a pleasant journey and we were soon at our destination.  After all the hot weather we’ve been having it was a bit of shame on Saturday it was a bit windy and cloudy.  We had to wait for half an hour or so for our boat but were the first 4 to board.  We asked to get our table changed but before we left the pier 2 other guests sat by the empty table by us but it wasn’t a big deal.  It was a little unfortunate that the guide commentary didn’t kick in until half way through our trip.  

The commentary was interesting but very loud.  We ordered wine and enjoyed a two course lunch.  The main course was chicken in a mushroom sauce with new potatoes and vegetables.  And very nice it was too.  The dessert was melt in the middle chocolate with raspberries.  Sue doesn’t really do chocolate and it was a little too sweet for me but Phil was only too happy to finish off mine.  

The original plan was to find a bar by the river but as it wasn’t sunny we decided to head to Euston and get the train home.  Brian only had one glass of wine so he drove us all back to Sue’s where we had cheese and biscuits and even more wine.  It was fun and we were lucky because the sun came out late afternoon.  We had a giggle as Sue got paper and pens and we all decided to do our bucket lists.  Thinking of 10 things to do before you die sounds morbid after a booze cruise but it was a right laugh. 

Interesting how all of our lists differed but variety is the spice of life and it would be bloody boring if we wanted to do the same things.  Of course,Phil & Sue’s bucket list were the most ambitious, mine wasn’t that outrageous and Brian’s list was probably the most achievable.  He didn’t seem to want to do very much before he pops his clogs but maybe he’s done it all?  The evening ended up with singing and dancing and it was almost dark by the time we got back to the flat.  Thank you Susie Sue (once again) for a great day.  Be warned though, I will get you back!!

We had planned to go to the caravan and spend the day and the evening. Harriet had planned to come over with Billy but then she cancelled and so we decided to stay in MK.  Phil had computer stuff he needed to do and I really should have gone to the gym but I was too lazy.  We pottered in the flat and then walked down to The Giffard where we met Harriet & Billy for a late lunch.  Billy is moving in with Harriet this week so we wanted to celebrate their commitment.  We both like Billy and so me and Phil are very pleased.  I think their plan is to save a deposit and buy a 2 bed.

Billy was busy helping a mate move house so it was only our Harriet that turned up for the lunch.  The Giffard wasn’t busy and we were in a chilled out mode so just a shame that we had to wait over an hour and a half for lunch.  I tried to blag a freebie but in the end I only got freebie garlic bread, but the food when it arrived was fine.  

Our afternoon was quiet, Phil caught up with paperwork and I did some research for our next cruise.  We leave Dover on the 3^rd of August and sail with Holland America to the Norwegian Fjords.  This trip isn’t about us, it’s all for Phil’s mum.  The Norwegian Fjords are meant to take your breath away; I am not fussed if it doesn’t take my breath away but fingers crossed it does something for mum. Not take her breath away literally, but I really do hope it gives her some joy and something of a way to look forward to a future without George. Fingers crossed………….