HAIR. DONE...

... Back home, baking again!

Nearly topped myself in SAKs because all Barry wanted to talk about was Newcastle. In fact, I'm surprised I've got any hair left, he was so mad about it all I thought I'd end up scalped!

Got the Chronicle with its Twitter-inspired P45DEW headline. Very clever!

Am now baking a little batch of sponges to do some sugarpaste practice on over the next couple of days when things will be a bit quieter than the beginning of the week. Looking forward to doing some creative stuff.

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Warm, sunny and just the sort of day that makes you want to be outside and not stuck in the kitchen!

Hope it stays like this for a while so the back garden begins to dry out. It's got a long way to go mind you, and there are still huge puddles of water in all the flower beds, so really unworkable at the moment. It's really annoying, because I'm desperate to get on with it (Charles isn't!), I should have a few lighter days in the kitchen coming up and it's really the perfect weather!

One. Thing that would have improved today no end would have been if we had woken up to the news that Alan Pardew had been sacked or resigned. I cannot for the life of me imagine how he continues to blag his way from one disaster to the next without appearing to shoulder any responsibility for the teams shocking performances. How have they become so appalling? Is it just that they think they've done enough and that's it? What will Saturday be like? Will any players actually be signed up in. The summer? How many will go? Aaaaaaaargh!! WHY do we continue to care??? Eh?

BUSY. START TO THE WEEK!

One massive delivery out this morning and another ready for tomorrow. Have managed to replace everything that's going out so stocks are still okay.

Have just ventured out into the back garden to discover my worst fears are confirmed. We are going to need to spend at least two whole days weeding and cutting back - to be honest, stuff that should have been done months ago. It's like a bog out there right now, so I hope we get a few dry days this week so that we can make a start on it.

FACEBOOK...

... Was having serious issues this morning. Some sort of  ' major outage' caused a lack of service for many users. Me included. I honestly thought that I, myself, personally, was going to have a meltdown because I couldn't check my newsfeed while having my honey on toast and coffee for breakfast. That is quite serious actually and clearly indicative of yet another obsessive behaviour. Need to watch this!!

ABSOLUTELY KNACKERED!!

Okay, this may not sound very impressive, but this is what I've made today, after I went shopping for the ingredients that is...

44 portions leek and bacon quiche
36 portions vegetable quiche
20 spinach and ricotta tarts
24 Bakewell tarts
24 chocolate brownies
Chocolate cake
2 carrot cakes
And 20 biscotti

I am now shattered. The last batch of quiche are just finishing off. In the oven and once they're out I am going through to the lounge to watch whatever rubbish I can find on TV!!

MASSIVE ORDER...

... From Centurion for next week. It's been a bit quiet from them because they've been having a kitchen refurb, but it looks like we're back with a vengeance, so I've spent most of the morning getting their cakes baked. Tomorrow and Sunday will be all about quiche and savouries. Busy, busy, busy!

HAD A LOVELY EVENING...

....with Hannah yesterday. She was really chatty and bubbly. Good to see. Got lots of tips from her about our little visit to Cornwall, including NOT eating outside because of the seagulls! This may prove to be an issue actually. It was bad enough at Amble yesterday afternoon, but any worse than that and I'd really struggle.
Saw photos of Lily and Roses's new baby beagle cousin. Very cute! Can't wait for Rachel and James to bring him home!

BEEN OUT...

... For the afternoon, with James and Claire. Didn't quite go according to plan as we'd hoped to spend a couple of hours at Low Newton, but discovered when we got there, that quite a lot of other people had had the same idea, so many so that there was no way we would have got a seat, meal or drink anytime this side of midnight, so we left and ended up having fish and chips in Amble (Oh yes, from one extreme to the other!) where there were far too many seagulls. So many so, that the girls just seemed to be stunned into submission and didn't even attempt a mini-growl. We then ended up having ice cream at Morwick, where everything else was fine and the girls were perfectly behaved! #perfectwesties. #modeldogs
Now letting all of that settle and then getting ready for a takeaway with Hannah! As you can see, the diet is going really well. (I've done three chocolate mousse with MACARONS for dessert!)

MISERABLE WEATHER!

Such a shame. It was Linda's wedding today. James and Claire we're going up to Edinburgh for the day, travelling by train so they could really relax. And typically, after the last few lovely days, the weather today has been grey, misty, cold and very wet. Such a shame.

QUITE ENVIOUS...

Of  Man Utd this morning. Certainly wishing  Newcastle could be in the position of being able to chose the perfect person to take the club forward. Rather irritated by their fan club representative who thinks that Man Utd fans DESERVE the best manager. Why do you? Why more than  other clubs? We all pay our money, we all deserve the best. Sadly, we're not all going to get the best. I just wish Mike Ashley was looking at the coverage today and thinking, " Hmm, our performances have been far worse than Man Utd. Why on earth am I sticking with " But he won't.

WAITING FOR...

... The wedding cake to be picked up. This is happening at 11.00, so not long to wait. Just hope they like it! Mind you, judging from the hits it's got on the cake decorating facebook group I belong to, I would say it should be okay.

After that, no plans really. Might do a bit of food shopping, although it could wait I suppose.  I'm still recovering from last nights fab meal at the Northumberland Arms. Brilliant food and lovely company. I really enjoyed it. Sadly though I have got to stop all this eating and need a few weeks of far more frugal food consumption. Tomorrow then...

CHARLES HAS JUST BOOKED...

... A mini-break in Cornwall next month for us and the girls. It'll be a real treat. I know it's a long way to go, but it's many years since we last went to Cornwall, and I've said for a while that it's something I'd enjoy doing, so it's all arranged. Just need to sort out the coffee shops before we go!

STILL UP AND WORKING...

... On the wedding cake that I was going to start tomorrow. It's just that when we for back from the match I was so fed up I needed to do something to occupy myself. And that seemed the obvious thing to do. Actually, it's taking longer than I thought it would, so maybe it's a good thing I got an early start on it!

Now that I've sat down I suddenly feel tired and headachy, so maybe I'll call it a night.

BEST BIT ABOUT TODAY...

... Will undoubtedly be going to Fenwicks for milk shakes with Claire and James. Worst bit will be trying to work up any sort of enthusiasm or hope for the match this afternoon. When we reached the 40 point mark weeks ago and I asked Charles and James what would happen if we didn't win another match, I never imagined that it would really happen. Okay, maybe we've won one, but that was a last gasp, injury-time fluke so far as I remember. I'm pretty sure the majority of Newcastle supporters feel, like me, that today is about going through the motions, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if our players felt the same way too.

EASTER WEEKEND

I always find this weekend emotional, regardless of when it falls in the calendar. It seems to have been a pivotal time for our family on many occasions and consequently brings back many memories. One of the happiest was when James's was christened. It seemed appropriate, having been born on Christmas Day, to do the baptism thing on Easter Sunday. My Dad did the baptism, carrying our little scrap around the church and showing him off to the congregation. He was so proud! And the bitter sweet memory, is of Dad's memorial service, just days before Easter. Never could I have imagined such an uplifting occasion. We'd just lost our Dad and yet the day was filled with smiles and laughter and happy memories and ridiculous anecdotes. One of the ministers said that when she heard Jim had passed away she had said, "Thank God. Jim will be home for Easter." This might seem a complete nonsense to many people, but I think that as a family we took huge comfort from those words.  So I suppose my thoughts this morning are of my Dad and how much I still miss him.

I'M DELIGHTED...

... To say that the princess birthday cake has been very favourably received this afternoon. Sadly I can't post a photo on here because for some reason this iPad won't let me select photos from it's own photo album. How bonkers is that?

I'm now looking forward to the next cake. A chocolate wedding cake, that began quite low key and has turned into a bit of a project in glamour!! I'm going to try out a slightly different frosting technique this time, so will have a little practice first on some tiny cakes that I may have to distribute to the family over the weekend!

I'm going to have my weekly hairdo this afternoon and, of course, after a few beautifully warm, calm and sunny days  we now have rain and gale force wind!! Typical.

Have just realised we have a match on Saturday. Against Swansea who are second from bottom, I think. So, that'll be another loss then.

STILL IN BED!

How lazy is that? 8.45 and I'm lounging around in bed. This never happens, but as I have no real plan for today, I can't see any harm in having a bit of a lie-in. See you later!

HAVENT WRITTEN THE BLOG...

...today. To be honest I haven't really had a minute to myself. I've completed the princess cake for April Sweetheart!! Real name, honest. I've made more flowers for the wedding cake and prepared a meal for James, Claire and Hannah this evening. We're now sitting feeling stuffed, although James is debating how big a slice of chocolate cake he's going to have at half time!  Yuk! Couldn't eat smother thing!!

HAD A SUDDEN CRAVING...

... for ginger cake! So I've got one in the oven right now, smelling wonderfully spicy and warming. Can't wait till it's ready to eat.

Not much planned for today. As I didn't win the lottery I won't be going out to choose a new car or to book a fab holiday, so the best that's on offer for me will probably be a trip to Sainsburys to buy some carrots. Great!

MET UP WITH...

... The kids in  Barluga this morning. Just had coffee, but we all had a bit of a laugh. It was Just so nice to all be relaxed around each other. James always makes me chuckle about something and Christina was just being lovely with everyone. Happy times!

I went up to the wholesales afterwards, while Charles went to Blyth to see his Mum. I'd been needing to go for ages, not for much, just for a few bits that I can't get anywhere else, or have to pay through the nose for. So it's a good job done and will keep me going for a while.

Currently I've got a couple of cakes in the oven and a batch of scones cut out and chilling in the fridge waiting for space! I also desperately trying to avoid any news about NUFC having inadvertently glanced at Twitter a minute ago to see the phrase, 'comedy defending by Newcastle' - I think that's all I need to know.

THAT LITTLE DOG...

... next door (whose name is Reuben by the way and not George or Edward like all their other Jack Russell's) is driving the girls absolutely bonkers. He does seem a little more up for confrontation than their other dog used to be and the fence between the two houses is actually in danger of collapse if he throws himself against like he has just been doing. I'm going to take the girls out for a walk, but this may not be easy!!

THE NEIGHBOURS...

... Have just got a new Jack Russell. A rescue one, about two years old. In all the time we've lived here they have had a succession of Jack Russell. The last one died before Christmas and they swore there wouldn't be another one, but when I was on the village shop the other day, Margaret was telling everyone (it's the sort of shop where you tell everyone everything) that she was thinking of getting a rescue dog. Actually I'm really happy for the nigh ours AND for the dog, because he will have a good home.  However, our two little darlings have seriously got their noses pushed out! They are not liking having competition from next door. The previous dog was so old that he barely bothered them at all. This one has already given his owners the slip and come running up our drive. It could get very interesting!

HAD ANOTHER MIGRAINE...

.. Yesterday evening. In fact it was almost like a double one because I started with the aura, took painkillers straightaway, thought I'd stopped it in its tracks, but then awhile later it all started up again with the flashing lights, tunnel-vision etc, so it was one on the worst I've had for years. Annoyingly it came hard on the heels of another one last Friday, so less than a week apart really isn't funny. I know that my migraines are usually light related, and as the sun was pretty bright and low yesterday evening that would have triggered it, but if I get another one soon I really. Think I might go and have it checked out. I never have, ever, so it might be a good idea.

PEACE AT LAST!

Do you remember that book? The one with the elephant family? You know the one. The Large family I think they were.

Anyway, I'm having a lovely peaceful day and it reminded me of the title of the book, not the actual story, because if my memory serves me right there wasn't an awful lot of peace to be had till the end of the book. I, on the other hand, have had a day sans dogs who are having  their hair done and sans Charles who is over in Blyth seeing his Mum, oh and so far, sans  Christina who may or may not put in an appearance later on.so I've had a lovely day making chocolate roses for a wedding cake for Easter weekend.

Lovely, calm, quiet and creative. Highly enjoyable.

GREY DAY!

Again!

Never mind, I'm too busy in the kitchen today to really notice it. Hopefully, it will be dry tomorrow when the girls go for their hairdos!!

Hannah is coming round this evening, so I'm looking forward to that. We're having Cranks soup,  pate and baked Camembert with crusty bread followed by caramelised fruit and cream! Yummy!!

BACK HOME!

Feels like we've been away for ages. It's been lovely to spend a weekend with the family. We've had some good laughs and we've eaten and drunk far too much, so we desperately need to cut down this week - and probably for the foreseeable future.

The girls have had a fab time at Auntie Helen's. Lily decided to try and take on the Japanese Akita that lives next door to them, through the fence I'm relieved to say. We all thought this was an incredibly bad idea, but nothing much fazes Lily, which is a bit of a worry really, as one day she will put herself in harms way and suffer the consequences. Both girls are shattered and are flat out, draped across the furniture, just enjoying being back home. As are we!!

TOO TIRED...

...full of drink and food, footsore and windswept to write anything much now. Just need to get to bed on this Holiday Inn, have a good sleep and, hopefully, wake refreshed. Tomorrow means more food sadly and right now I never want to eat again. But we need to get back to Yorkshire, see Mum for her birthday, have lunch with the family, collect the girls and go home. I actually can't wait to get home! I really hope that Patrice has had a brilliant 21st today. It's certainly been an experience!

MIGRAINE!

Could really do this either than that this right now.

HAIR DONE...

... Just about to do nails. Christina is tanned and has changed the colour of her hair completely! Outfits are chosen and packing is done. Just need Charles to get the radio show done then we can set off!!

AND THAT PLAN WORKED A TREAT!

Mum's birthday all sorted with a bagful of little treats and gifts from the Chantry - and Rutherfords too I have to admit! Even the bag is a gift as she can use it for shopping. Brainwave!!

Also got myself an upgrade on my iPhone while we were out. I've been getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of signal, so called into the O2 shop and sorted out an early upgrade, which appears to be working so far.

ANOTHER MISERABLE DAY!!

This has gone on all week. Getting pretty sick of it now.

Got to go and buy something for my Mum's birthday today, but have absolutely no idea what! I've made her a cake, got her a lovely card, but am now stumped for idea, although as I type I realise that I got her card from the Chantry craft centre in Morpeth and that they will almost certainly have something suitable for an 87 year old!! Great. Sorted!

REALLY TIRED TODAY!

Not sure why. I had a reasonable sleep, just got up on e to the girls and then slept through. Didn't spent hours reading, so not sure why I feel as if indeed an extra shut-eye. This afternoon. Could be the miserable weather I suppose. I don't think we've had proper daylight since the clocks were changed. It's been foggy and pretty depressing for days.

I suppose it could also be that today I haven't had that much to do for the coffee shops and I never react well to having nothing to do. Yesterday was just nicely busy, plenty of baking to do and a birthday cake for my Mum which I started and completed within the day, but today all I've had to do is make three quiche, so now I twiddling my thumbs and thinking that I might go and grab my Kindle, knowing that what is really going to happen is that I'm going for forty winks!

MADE A BIRDCAGE CAKE...

... for my Mum today. It's her birthday at the weekend and we will be able to see her on our way back from the Grand National. Hope she like is. It looks pretty of the outside and will hopefully look good on the indeed as it's an ombré cake - very on trend!!

SILK!!

Didn't watch it last night. Last episode ever. Needed to watch SAFC for some reason. If you've seen it, don't tell me what happened. Really disappointed there won't be any more.