NOT MUCH HAPPENING TODAY!

That's all I've got to say really!! very slow morning. Just did a bit of food shopping, didn't even bother to go for coffee. Came home, made a carrot cake and a rather yummy baileys and malteser cheesecake because I was bored. Now have nothing planned for the afternoon at all. At Least tomorrow should be a bit more fun, with our Mum and Son morning in town to look forward to!!

GOING TO PUT THE HOUSE...

... On the market with Pattinsons. Apart from one whacky family who would have done better looking round a commune in a teepee, we've had absolutely no interest at all with the previous agents. So the way I see it, we have nothing to lose. We've informed the previous agents and are having the photos done on Monday. Fingers crossed something happens this time. Had a really quiet day today. Just a bit of baking and sorting out the freezers ready for the kitchen inspection next week, but nothing much more than that. The coffee shops are all pretty quiet - especially Radcliffes - so while I'm enjoying the slightly slower pace, I'm hoping it's going to pick up soon.

I DONT KNOW...

... Who Charles is on the phone to, but it's something to do with his web page, and he is giving the person at the other end of the line such a hard time. I am so glad it's not me!!

HYDE PARK BOMB

The news last night about the untimely, inappropriate and completely ballsedup release of one of the perpetrators, brought it all back. At the time I taught at a secondary school in Oxfordshire and had a sixth form tutor group we, and other sixth formers, we're going to London for a day out - as you used to be able to do in the Dark Ages. The tinier army we'd circulated to parents informed them that we would be having picnic lunch together in Hyde park! before everyone was free to go and do there own thing. We were stuck in traffic on the approach to the park. This was in the days before mobile phones. We had no idea what had occurred in the place that we were due to picnic in. We sat on the bus for ages, nobody knew what was going on and it appeared to be a traffic incident. In the end we all left the coach, abandoned the idea of lunch and went out into the city. It was only when the billboards started appearing and the sense of panic became tangible that we realised we were so close to such devastation. Parents at home were frantic with worry. Of course they were. And they couldn't contact us. Every single pupil and member of staff made their way back to the coach hours ahead of the agreed time and we travelled back to Faringdon without speaking. I think we were all aware of what a lucky escape we had had, but nothing helped us get over the fact that those bandsmen and the horses had lost their lives. RIP

PAPERWORK!!!

Don't ya love it!! It's not normally something I'm too bothered about, but I have a kitchen inspection coming up next week so I want to make sure everything is up to date.No doubt there will be areas to improve, but I think that's kind of inevitable when you work from home. Anyway, I'm not worried, just want it out of the way!!

REALLY ANNOYING!!

I'm trying to import a photo from this iPads library into the blog to show you what a fabulous day it is up here, and for some reason, it just won't let me. It doesn't even give me the option of using the photo library at all. How odd and infuriating! Anyway, take my word for it - it is absolutely glorious outside, sunny, bit of a breeze, but some warmth - makes you think Spring is well and truly on its way!

THATS A RELIEF!!

Just back home from the match. For long periods it was incredibly frustrating, but Loic Remy knocked it for us in stoppage time. Overall, I think we really did deserve the three points and I'm especially thrilled that it came against Villa. HWTL

FEEL SICK!!

Probably due to nerves because of today's match!! I really don't expect to win and am going without much hope, but it hasn't stopped me feeling the usual pre-match anxiety. Added to this, we had Charles's brother staying last night and he's a Villa fan. He enjoys nothing more than phoning us up when our teams done badly and winding us up about it. mind you, the Vile haven't exactly had a brilliant season so far and yet we have never felt the need to remind him about that. This morning at breakfast his one objective was to wind me up though. He pushed and pushed until I just had to walk away from the table, breakfast and his pettiness. Not much difference between being a wind-up merchant and a bit of a bully to be honest.

SO TOMORROW...

...my little brother (well, if I'm being bitchy perhaps I would say, my NOT so little brother> is going on a fortnight's Caribbean cruise, while I am going to watch another numbing match at SJP v Aston Villa who will almost certainly win and this will be doubly intolerable because Charles's brother is staying overnight and going to the match And he supports Villa. Mind you, he only started supporting them out of spite so not really a true fan, but typical of the Vile supporters though.

AND THE GOOD NEW IS...

.... That my prescription has changed very little, so I probably don't need to rush out and buy new specs, although apparently I would benefit from a middle distance one for when I'm using the laptop - but I think I can live without that. Was in and out of the RVI I in under an hour, so we managed to have a bit of time in town, even sitting down for coffee and a blueberry muffin! Marion was quite perky when we saw her. I think she's looking forward to Richard coming over this weekend, which is more than I can say as he's also got tickets for the match... And is a Villa supporter. Oh joy.

GOT TO BE...

... Up early tomorrow and out of the house by 8.00 to get to the RVI by 9.00 for my appointment with the optician. Let's see how long the wait it this time! we've got a few other things to do: two deliveries, quick run around town to get a birthday present for Helen and some piping bags, probably need to go to the bank, then we need to call in to see Charles's Mum and a bit of food shopping on the way home. Hate early starts!

WHY AM I...

... So tired? I'm really struggling to stay awake this afternoon. There's an apple cake in the oven right now, but as soon as it's done I'm off for forty winks. I wS the same. Yesterday evening.As soon as I settled down to relax in front of the telly I nodded off and completely missed all the stuff I'd asked Charles to record. Fortunately we've still got them so I'll have another go at watching when I think I can manage to watch all the way through.

STILL GETTING OVER...

... The migraine I had yesterday afternoon. Migraleve is brilliant for stopping it int it's tracks, but I do think there is some residual imbalance that still needs to work its way out of the system, so today I'm feeling unfairly 'hungover'! Fortunately, I'd pulled myself together enough to be able to cook dinner for James and Claire! Enjoyed having them here. Great company as always.

TONIGHT'S DINNER...

.... Seems to be turning into a mini-Christmas dinner! Not a turkey, but a big chicken with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pud (yes, really! I found a spare one!) or sticky toffee pud (homemade) pr jam roily-poly (not homemade because it's the one thing I cannot make!! So, dinner sounds just the ticket for anyone who's counting calories!! #dayoff

WHERE'VE YOU BEEN??

I can hear you say? Well, okay, probably not! But it's just been a crazily busy day with baking and shopping that by the time I'd packed up for the day all I was capable of doing was collapsing on the settee with the girls! Two big deliveries go out tomorrow and then there will be a further two at the end of the week. In between getting those sorted out, I want to start on the big clean before the kitchen inspection in a couple of weeks time. I've decided to go through all the cupboards, then the fridges and freezers. The oven can be cleaned just before the inspection - although it's actually reasonably okay. I need to check the paperwork as well, but I'm pretty sure that everything will be alright. It'll just be nice to get it out of the way for another couple of years.

BACK HOME

Always good to get home, even after a weekend! I've loved the whole weekend and can't wait for the next one! We've soon got back to normal though. The laundry is done, housework finished and I've made biscotti, carrot cake, coffee cake and brownies ready for Centurion. Tomorrow I think I've got a whole day of quiche making, but it's quite pleasant to have a day to concentrated just one thing. Right, feet up, time for a couple of hours in front of the telly!

JUST A QUICK...

...check in from Vanbrugh House Hotel in Oxford - a delightful boutique hotel right in the middle of the city. Possibly one of the best appointed and most luxuriously furnished rooms we've ever stayed in. Shame I'd had so much to drink yesterday that I had a pretty sleepless night!! Talking of yesterday - it was brilliant. catching up with so many people from the past - whilst at once daunting in terms of looking into the faces of dozens of very middle-aged folk when one is trying desperately to ignore the fact that age creeps on - when that shock had been overcome and one looked Beyoncé the wrinkles, there were old friends just waiting to be re-discovered and remembered. I haven't laughed so much for years!! Oh - just need to go for breakfast now. Back later!!

AT HELEN'S

Had a very lazy afternoon, sitting around chatting, watching wedding videos, generally just relaxing with the family, which has been really nice. My brother and his family will be joining us later and no doubt there will be some wine flowing! There'd better be! I bought three bottles with me! Then tomorrow morning, it's up and straight off to Oxford. We need to get there by 1pm. I'm really looking forward to catching up with old friends again!

GOING AWAY...

... for a couple of days over the weekend. Tomorrow we go to Helen and Bill's in Yorkshire, stay overnight and then leave the girls with them while we go to the Westminster Reunion in Oxford on Sunday, returning to collect the girls on Monday around midday hopefully. It'll be nice to see old friends again and, I suppose, it'll be good to get away from the house, and the kitchen in particular, for a couple of days.

FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S DEBACLE...

... I think James will be cancelling his season ticket - along with many others I expect. The promised protest was extremely low key, but I suspect it will gather in membership if things don't improve. meanwhile, I am trying to price a light aircraft for aerial advertising during the next home game. The banner will read "NUFC for sale, contact Mike Ashley".

MATCH DAY!

Will it be another humiliation? Will NUFC actually be able to put out a squad that wants to win? Will there be any form of protest at Mike Ashley? Who knows. We're meeting James and Claire for tapas in Gosforth before the match. I expect this to be the most enjoyable part of the evening!

MIND YOU...

I bet the folk in the south-west, who have been coping with flooding for about seven weeks now, are pretty fed-up with all the coverage the south-east are getting now!

SHOCKING SCENES...

... along the Thames today. We know it so well from our many boating holidays, but it's unrecognisable right now. Feel so sorry for local residents. I'm sure the last thing they need right now is a bunch of politicians playing the blame game. It's happened - just get on with putting it right for now.

OFF TO GET MY BLOODS DONE!

Just going to the nurse in the village, as we weren't able to wait at the RVI the last time I was there. The tests are to make sure that the meds I take to control the cold sore virus aren't having any detrimental effect. I sincerely hope that everything is okay because I would hate to have to stop taking the tablets and start getting. Cold sores again. Fingers crossed!!

WOW!!

Just watching the cross-country skiing. How on earth do they not fall over each other when they're so bunched together at the start?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT NEWCASTLE?

Yeah - I know what I said last week about giving up on them - and I really HAVE done so, because there's only so much pain I can take - and I have NO HOPE for today or the rest of the season, or the immediate future whilst the club remains Ashley's plaything - BUT it still won't go away and leave you alone will it? It's still there, bubbling away on the background like a pan of rancid tripe. IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO SAY YOU DON'T CARE ANY MORE, BUT MORE DIFFICULT WHEN IT ACTUALLY COMES TO IT.

FRIDAY NIGHT!

Funny how important it used to be and yet these days it's just like very other evening. Nothing special!! Just waiting for Charles to get back from Lionheart. I've listened to the show while making lots of Valentines day decorations? I have no idea why I have done this. I have no orders for valentine cakes and have no intention of making any. So what I was thinking about I haven't got a clue.

FULLY RECOVERED!

How quick was that? Doubled up with pain on Tuesday, but absolutely fine today! Just what the doctor ordered!! Lots of stress around the house this morning. We've had to contact the mental health team twice since yesterday afternoon. feels like we're always taking two steps forward and then two steps back, so we're not actually making any real progress at all. As a result we both feel pretty drained right now.

MUCH BETTER NOW!

Admittedly I threw up all the painkillers that had got me through the night when I managed to get out of bed this morning, but since then I have noticed a huge improvement in comfort and mobility. I've managed with just some pain-relieving gel which is unbelievable considering the stae I was in yesterday. Infact, I've managed to make 5 dozen scones and a tray of bake wells, lifting the trays in and out of the oven no problem!!

OFF TO THE DOCS!

Don't often go the the surgery, but am in so much pain I'm hoping I might be able to get some heavy-duty anti-inflammatories. Can't actually put one foot in front of the other without having the breath knocked out of me at the moment. Anyway I've got a 5pm appointment in Rothbury and by the time we get back James will be here. Thankfully we've decided on a Chinese for dinner tonight so I have very little to do. Going to watch PSG tonight! Yay!!

PUT MY BACK OUT...

...this morning and am now dosed up to the eyeballs with painkillers and have a heat pad stuck to the affected area. What a flaming nuisance this is.

QUIET DAY!

Nothing much planned for today. The order for Radcliffes tomorrow is all done and there's no room in the freezers for more stock so I have very little to do in the kitchen. Rose is off her food today and has an extremely noisy stomach, so we need to keep an eye on her. Hopefully she'll get over whatever it is quickly. Nothing much to write about. Still reading up on the aftermath of last week at NUFC. I'm still managing to remain detached from it all, but am keen to see what repercussions there will be. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to watching PSG tonight!!

LASAGNE...

... For dinner this evening. Can't wait! Caramelised pineapple, peaches and mango for pud - can't wait for that either!

AND NEWCASTLE LOST!

Pretty spectacularly as well. Can't think of one player for NUFC who had a good game today. I'm feeling totally unmoved by it though. It was sadly predictable. Will no doubt be the beginning of their rapid slide down the table while Sunderland pass them on the way up. I hate it when fans get onto the pitch but I can totally understand the guy who gave his season ticket to Pardew. I wanted to feel pride in my club and share in the collective passion that is such a vital heartbeat in our city, but all I feel right now is numb. Do I feel bitter towards Mike Ashley? That would be something of an understatement!

DERBY DAY!

Whoopidoo! Since my life-changing decision last night, I can honestly say that I have no nerves, no expectation and no worries whatsoever about this. I even managed a full night't sleep! It's the way to go!