JUST IN CASE YOU THINK...

... I'VE FORGOTTEN THAT THIS IS THE LILY AND ROSE BLOG...

ROSE

LILY

CHOCOLATE FUDGE BIRTHDAY CAKE!!

YUM YUM!!

TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY!!

Can't see any other arrivals today. Just hope we don't lose anyone of any significance, although if Xisco went would anyone even notice? Foul weather today. Blustery and wet, hardly conducive to going out anywhere. Aaaargh - SSN has just shown pics of Mike Ashley's helicopter arriving at Newcastle. That means I have to watch now. Please please please don't let him do anything stupid.

WHAT A RELIEF!!

Might have been a good first half, but the second was a nervy affair. Nevertheless we got the three points against the team I most dislike. Great to see some of the new boys, but, for me, Cabaye was sublime!! Just waiting for 9.00 and then I'm off to Jesmond, dropping Christina off o the way at the Holiday Inn for a meeting. I like to wait till 9.00 because the traffic is so much lighter once everyone's at school or work. Then it's back to work on a birthday cake, replacements for the coffee shop and preparations for a family meal tonight!!

FEELING SICK!

Kick off in half an hour. Can't bear the tension.

BAD NIGHT...

... with the girls - very disturbed. I ended up reading until about 3.30, having been up with them twice before that and even then they were still getting all agitated at 4am, so don't feel particularly rested today. Typically though, they are all snuggled up fast asleep right now!! Christina and I have been through to Jesmond with an interim delivery, calling into Morpeth on the way home for a bit of shopping and a rather enjoyable coffee and elevenses at Marks and Spencers. Was very nice, really enjoyed it. Now we're back home and I'm baking (obviously) while Christina has forty winks. Aaaaaarrrrgh!!!!

BIG PAN...

... of bolognese sauce bubbling away on the hob. Smells delicious. Hope Charles gets home soon cos I'm starving!! Christina's still here! I think she probably will be for the foreseeable future.

STILL GOT...

... Christina here! Think she must be rapidly approaching decision time. All we can do is wait and then support her in whatever she decides is right for her. In the meantime I might see if she fancies giving me a hand in the kitchen. Could be a big help actually!!

HAD A...

... lovely evening with the family last night. The Ridley Arms was pretty central for everyone and we had a few hours of laughter together when individual problems and worries were set aside. Christina came home with us and stayed the night, Not planned, but absolutely not a problem - plus it saved taking her back to the farm along the very icy lanes that we encountered earlier in the evening. So, we're planning a lazy morning, watching the tennis and will probably end up taking her back this afternoon and maybe combining that with taking a delivery through to Kevin.

LOOKS LIKE...

... an Alpine scene out at the back this morning. Brilliant blue sky, snow covered hills and trees and roofs, with about a foot of the white stuff lying in the garden. Very pretty!! Hopefully, that's the end of it for a while. Doesn't look a though the will be anything new happening on the NUFC front today. Not surprisingly after all the activity this week. Shame it hadn't happened in the summer, but at least it shows some intent. I just hope Alan Pardieu is the man to take us forward with all this new talent! So quiet on the weather and footie front. On the other hand, Helen and Bill are coming up shortly. Sounds as though we'll be spending most of the day with them and then going out for a meal this evening with the young uns!! It'll be good to catch up with Helen actually, especially after my reconciliation with our brother earlier in the week!!

MORE SNOW!

We've had enough now thank you. Sadly though, it seems to have started again and is forecast to be pretty bd this afternoon and evening. Charles has to go out to a funeral shortly so I hope he can get back safely and easily. Helen and Bill are intending to come up for the weekend. I think Hannah is struggling and could do with having people around her. Hope they manage to get up here from Yorkshire okay. The difficulty will be leaving after school and at the beginning of the rush hour which is when the snow is supposed to be at its worst. As for me - I'm in the kitchen, all warm and toasty!!

SLEPT BETTER...

... last night. Glad I had that talk with my brother. It's certainly cleared the air a bit. Having a lazy morning today. Just baked a few batches of cookies and am going to try out a new recipe for an apple and sultana cake, but other than that I'm not doing much until I get the order from Radcliffes! Looks like the big thaw has begun, thank goodness.

AN HOUR...

... and many tears later, I think my brother and I might have made up. I'm not going into details, but lets just say that he can be in no doubt about my feelings on certain issues, but at least now he does KNOW what my feelings are and is able to understand them. Similarly I have listened to him and understand where misunderstandings have occurred. I actually do feel as if a weight has been lifted. It has really been getting to me during the past few weeks - well, since the wedding really - and, although thee are still a few matters to sort, mostly I'm happy with the outcome. Might sleep better tonight!!

JUST ABOUT TO...

... phone my brother. Wish me luck!!

THANK YOU BIN MEN!!

Oh thank you very much. If you hadn't left our bin smack in the middle of our drive after you'd emptied it and if there hadn't been a car right behind me when I returned home, I would not have got stuck in the snow and had to spend three quarters of an hour digging the car out. Honestly, I can't believe how thoughtless some people are.

AND IT'S STILL...

... snowing!! Ridiculous levels now. But according to Charles, although the road through the village is bad, the main roads are fine, so that's something. It may not be the case tonight though, when we're due to have temperatures as low as -4! I'm not sure about what to do today. I MIGHT go into Morpeth later, or if I'm being a wuss I might just go to David's shop! Before I can do that though, I need to clear the remaining snow off my car. I started doing that earlier, but gave up after a while and now you can't tell I'd started it!! At least we are snug and warm today. Good old Bob the Boilerman!!

AM VERY IMPRESSED!!

Bob the boiler man has been and fixed it. Amazing service. Will be using him again.

AM NEARLY IN TEARS...

... with the cold AND the attitude of some people when I've rung about getting an engineer here to fix the boiler. Apparently, Heatsource who have serviced our boiler for years, have gone bust. Pearts who supply our oil, recommended a company by the name of Team Energy, who I rang. I have now had two conversations with two different women, both of whom were extremely unhelpful and snotty. Neither could tell me when an engineer will be able to get out to us, because he will deal with contract customers first. Okay, I understand that there will be lots of people in the same boat but a little bit of respect and understanding wouldn't go amiss. Customer relations??? On the other hand, I've just rung another company I've found in yellow pages. They were extremely helpful and understanding and are sending Bob out later today if he can get up the A697. Looking out of the window I have to say that it has snowed pretty much non-stop all morning, but I think it's quite wet and hopefully the main roads will be clear. Fingers crossed Bob manages to get here and I'm sending a great big raspberry to the snotty cows at Team Energy.

THERE WILL BE...

... people living on the streets who are much colder than I am right now. I keep reminding myself of this. It makes me feel marginally better about my situation, but then I feel really bad about homeless people... Charles couldn't wait to get to work this morning. Could that be because there'll be heating on there???

STILL TRYING TO KEEP WARM!!

Kevin very kindly leant us a little radiator that he has in the coffee shop, so that's helping a little. I feel positively miserable when I'm chilled through and think I've got to the stage where it doesn't matter how many layers I put on, I'm never going to warm up. Hopefully, once we've demolished the roast chicken dinner that's in the oven now, we might feel a bit more comfortable.

GOING TO TAKE...

... Kevin's delivery over to Jesmond this afternoon. At least there's a heater in the Rav!

AND TO TOP IT ALL...

... the boiler's knackered. No heat, no hot water. Just great. Totally fed up with everything and everyone. Sick.

BEEN BACK...

... from the match for about two and a half hours and am only just starting to calm down. I can totally understand dannymatt's decision to give up his season tickets after that showing today. We've been heading for disaster for months now and I honestly can't see how we're going to get out of it. Even if we manage to avoid relegation, I can't see many of our current 'big' players wanting to stick with us much longer. Pardew - yes or no? I honestly don't know. I suspect he may have lost the dressingroom - all the indications are there, in which case he needs to go, but who on earth would replace him? The way he has tried to partly apportion blame for this afternoon's debacle on the fans is totally out of order. I don't like booing, but I think it was a case of 48,000 fans expressing their disbelief at his substitutions. Cisse looks totally uninterested to me. Shola hadn't a clue what he was doing today. Williamson gives me the willies whenever he gets near the ball. We are slow, predictable and gutless. Right now I wish I lived in Manchester!! Oh wait a minute...

SETTING OFF...

... for Newcastle in a minute, stopping off in Morpeth to pick up Matthew and Gosforth for James. Then it's into town, hopefully finding a parking place without too much difficulty and on to Landmark for lunch before the match kicks off at 3.00. I suspect the best bit of the day may indeed be the lunch bit!!

WELL, THE SNOW HAS...

... faffed about up here all morning, with heavy showers on and off, but we seem to be in for heavier and more prolonged snowfall over night. Charles has just been out to clear the stuff that's accumulated during the day and we're now tucking into hot drinks and toasted lardy cake. (Haven't got him back on the diet yet!! It's got to happen soon though!) We've been out and about this morning, doing deliveries to Applebys and Radcliffes, then another drop to Applebys this afternoon. Annoyingly I asked if they were sure they didn't need fruit scones today, was told no, only to get a call around lunchtime to say they did need them after all. Christina has returned to the farm after staying overnight. She seems a bit down at the moment and it's difficult to know how best to cheer her up. Will the game go ahead tomorrow? We'll see, but I have to admit to being more excited about the Landmark lunch than watching the match!!

ONE MORNING...

... when we could have had a lie-in, taken our time getting up and guess what... ... the window-cleaner decides to come before 8am! On a freezing cold day, snow and ice everywhere. Must be absolutely bonkers. Or really hard up I suppose.

HA - THAT'S BETTER!!

I've been trying to post for ages and blogger wouldn't let me for some reason, but it all appears to be sorted now. Very strange. Got Hannah with us at the moment. Poor kid. As soon as dinner was finished she settled down - on the floor - with piles of books to mark! Oh the memories!! It is absolutely freezing tonight, in fact I can't remember the last time it felt so bitterly cold. We're supposedly in for more snow over the weekend. I kind of hope it'll snow so much that the game will be called off on Saturday. Just don't think I can stomach another crap performance. Think I might start supporting Man Utd.

FEELING A BIT DEPRESSED TODAY.

Not sure why really, but that kind of "on the verge of tears all the time" sort of feeling. I suppose I've been a bit confined to the house for the last couple of days which hasn't helped. BUT, I keep going over all this stuff with my brother even though I know it won't resolve anything but I can't help myself. If I didn't think it would end up as a slanging match I would get in touch with him, but I know what will happen and I need to keep my distance from that. Also the last thing I want is for Mum to get dragged into it all. She really doesn't not need it, and. although she knows there are tensions, she has absolutely no idea how deep the gulf has become and I want it to stay that way. Added to that, the news from NUFC is totally depressing as well.

RE LAST POST...

... Ha ha ha! He didn't even get here to be put off by the weather. Thanks Harry.

STARTED SNOWING...

... a couple of hours ago, pretty heavily actually. Already got a covering of a couple of inches. Apparently the bus isn't getting through to Rothbury and is terminating in Fram. Presumably this means that Rothbury is pretty much cut off, especially as the bottom road is already closed due to the landslide earlier in the month. Wonder how the middle school kids are going to get back to Fram? Hope this weather doesn't put Loic Remy off!!!

LIKE A MINI HOLIDAY!!

That's what today feels like. Having taken the delivery across to Jesmond last night AND got all the baking done, I now find I have a day off!! The promised snow hasn't really arrived, apart from a dusting, so I'm guessing I could go out later on if I feel like it. In the meantime, there's a big gingercake in the oven right now and smelling wonderful. I know I said I'd done all the baking, but this is a little extra that can be stored away for a few days to mature. Yum yum!!

PREPARING FOR...

... the snow and ice that's supposed to be on it's way this week!! In fact, we're taking the delivery for tomorrow over to the coffee shop later this afternoon, just to ensure that it gets there safely. I see we're expected to have heavy snowfall around morning rush hour and there's no way I want to get caught up in that after my last experience of snow and ice. Christina is still with us and it looks like she may well be here for a while. That's fine. She is great company and I've suggested that, if she's going to be with us for a while, she could start working with me in the kitchen. It would lighten my load if we could work it out.

FUNNY OLE DAY TODAY!!

Nothing much has happened, and yet it's been both enjoyable and stressful in fairly equal measures. Enjoyable from the point of view of being pretty relaxed this morning, having a leisurely brunch at Radcliffes with Christina and Charles and looking forward to an evening with Hannah and I think Tim's coming round too. Stressful because Helen and I had a long chat on the phone this morning about the ridiculous family stuff that's gone on this week. She's a great listener so it helped to get it all off my chest, but I think it's left her feeling pretty unhappy about relationships. Also stressful because we've had a match this afternoon that has literally just finished at 0 - 0. Needed a point but a shambolic performance by all accounts.

HAVE REALLY LOVED...

... having Christina here for the last couple of days. She has a lot to think about in terms of her relationship with Tim and just needed a bit of space really, but she has been such lovely company. You know, in spite of all the crap that's been going on this week, she never has a bad word to say about anyone. I just wish people could put their prejudice and misguided perceptions aside. They could learn so much from her. She has gone through so much and has tried so hard to rebuild her shattered life. I am hugely proud of her and love her to bits.

FORGOT TO MENTION...

... that we had a lovely evening yesterday. James came up after work, Christina was (is) still here. We had lots to chat about and laugh at - mostly all the crap that's going on with certain members of the extended 9and fortunately distant) family. It occurred to me that none of this would have happened had one member of the family who will remain nameless, but it rhymes with throne, not decided to share a private text from myself to my uncle with a section of the family who already have problems with me (and my daughter)! There was absolutely nothing in that text that would cause offence and yet somehow they've all got their knickers in a twist over it. They're loving it, because they're the sort of people who are only ever happy when they've fallen out with someone and this time it's ME!! Thankfully, my family have helped me to put it all into perspective and we've had a good chuckle about it all!

CAN'T DO THAT DANNYMATT!

It's too awful, embarrassing and vile. Totally unjustified. Really hurtful. Apparently, I'm the family cretin. Shouldn't let it bother me but it does. Have talked about it with the only people who really matter (Charles, James and Christina) and we're just going to try and rise above it. Can't imagine the next family gathering mind you!! (Having said that, they chose to go away to Venice for a mini-break with a friend's work colleagues instead of coming to James and Claire's wedding.) Brother? What brother?

DIDN'T SLEEP MUCH...

... last night. This was largely because during the evening I discovered the bigoted and ignorant side of some people on facebook who are sadly related to me and who I have clearly upset. Don't know what to write really and whether it would help to put it all down in the blog anyway because I suppose , even though only dannymatt reads it, it's still technically open for the world to see. I'm just so sad that people have taken my words and twisted them until they've become unrecognisable.

BEEN TO SEE JAMES THIS MORNING!

Well just for five minutes as he was at work, but he'd got me a new baby card and present last night that he is going to give to Ed and Jen this evening and he wanted me to sign the card. Pity I couldn't have got there round lunch time and then we could have gone somewhere for a bit longer, but I just called in on my way back from the coffee shop, which was absolutely heaving this morning I have to say. Right - just a little bit of baking and then a pretty relaxed afternoon for me I think!!

SLEPT REALLY WELL...

... last night. Best night's sleep I've had for weeks I think. Didn't even hear the girls, who apparently woke Charles up twice! Unfortunately I still wasn't really ready to wake up when Charles got up for the day!! It's a very grey and miserable morning. Might have to go into Morpeth later, but I'll give it a chance to brighten up first. It's now nearly a week since I met up with the guy at the Centurion. Interestingly I still haven't done anything about pulling out of the proposed plan. Maybe I really want to give it a try. Perhaps if I start in a small way with a limited range I might find I can cope with it?!

SUCH A LOVELY AFTERNOON!!

For once I didn't come back from Jesmond and make a start on replacing stuff, mainly because I'd already taken care of that and, okay, I DID make four lardy cakes, but they take no time at all so it really didn't feel like I was doing anything much... ...Instead, I've had a really lazy time with the girls. I've read my Kindle and they've snuggled up one on either side of me, for most of the afternoon. Just reading and dozing... lovely! Actually, I've pulled something in my back, which wasn't helped by Kevin deciding to give me a big bear hug and swinging me off my feet in the coffee shop this morning, so it's been rather nice not to have to lift things in and out of the oven.

JUST HAD...

... another oil delivery in the space of just over a month. This cannot be right. I keep turning the heating down so how are we getting through so much? Charles has gone off to work unhappily!!!

HAVE RETURNED HOME...

... reeking of BBQ smoke, as Christina and I were in charge of the burgers and sausages for a while! Really wish I hadn't bothered washing my hair this morning!! Had a quick peak at twin newborn lambs. These were apparently a bit of a surprise as Tim hadn't been planning for ANY lambing this year!! Had a bit of a misunderstanding about James's house and the rubbish tip v the Tesco shopping. My fault obviously.

ALL BACK TO NORMAL TOMORROW!

I don't know where the holiday has gone really! I know I started deliveries again last week, but Charles goes back tomorrow and that really feels like the end of the hols. I'm all ready for Radcliffes and Applebys so haven't got too much to sort today. We may go over to the farm to see Christina and Tim. I think there's a cyclocross meeting over there this afternoon. And while we're out I need to get some supplies in so we may have to brave Tesco at Kingston Park. I did think we were supposed to be helping James and Claire with taking stuff to the tip, but that doesn't appear to be happening now. Still smarting from the football yesterday.

THINK I NEED...

... to find another team to support - and Charles certainly does if he values his health. Abject display. Totally hapless. Again. Am hating this season. I'll give Richard (Charles's brother, supports Villa) half an hour to get on the phone to gloat! Not that he's got that much to gloat about with his team this season, but he sadly makes the most of every opportunity to do so whenever he thinks he can get away with it.

STILL TRYING...

... to reach a decision about the Centurion Bar and realise that I've got to do so fairly quickly. This headhunting lark sounds all well and good but has certainly unsettled me this week.

EMERGENCY ORDER...

... on it's way to Jesmond right now, thanks to Charles. I'm making a start in the kitchen. Need to get the freezers filled again!

HAD A PRETTY PRODUCTIVE...

... business meeting yesterday! First time I've ever had a business meeting really. (Kevin and Appleby's just sort of happened) but this was quite full on, four people plus Charles and I. They were very very keen to stock my cakes, hugely complimentary, outlined enormous opportunities for the future in their other prestigious establishments. Could potentially make a lot of money!! BUT Can't actually do it because I can't manage that sort of quantity on my own and in a domestic kitchen. I'm gutted to be honest, because that sort of opportunity won't come along every day and I feel as if I'm letting myself and everyone else down, but it just isn't going to happen.

MATCH TONIGHT!

Not sure if I'm going to be honest. I have offered my ticket to Warpath Redpath, but he may not be able to take it, in which case I will be going. Before that though, we've got a meeting at the Centurion Bar at the station. You may recall that I received a query about supplying them with cakes before Christmas. I'm not convinced that it's something I want or need to do, but I'm happy to go and look at the set up. Have a bit of a stressed household this morning as my Uncle has managed to post a totally inappropriate comment to Hannah about her difficulties and in particular about her work situation for all the world to read. Maybe 75 year old buffoons should be barred from using social media unless they can demonstrate a clear understanding of potential repercussions.

STUFFED!!

Feel ill with food. Urrrrggggh!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Didn't get much sleep. Up till the wee hours, watching the most amazing firework display at midnight, then John Bishop and then some complete New Year's Eve rubbish, grabbed a few hours sleep and then was up early getting a couple of legs of lamb sorted for lunch - takes 5 hours. Also needed to get the chicken and all it's accompaniments sorted as eleven of us are sitting down to 5 hour lamb AND roast chicken today. So, it may be NYD, but I'm still in the kitchen and not likely to get out of there until this evening!!