SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

... And I'm in the uncomfortable position of having finished all the chores I needed to do, either shopping, baking and cleaning. I've already walked the dogs twice and now I'm wondering what else I can find to do

I could bake a cole more cakes so that I have extra for Moonday, but that just means that I never run down my freezer stocks, so it would be a good plan to resist that idea. I don't want to practice any more cake decoration (well actually, I do) because without cake dummies. It means someone has to eat the damn things, and I really don't want to do that. I've still got an entire birthday cake from last week that hasn't. Even cut into, so don't need any more cake.

I might go through to the lounge with the girls and my Kindle for a while. What this actually translates to is that  the girls and I might settle down for 40 winks.

The  I'll make a decision about the cakes.

I suppose I could reach some butter out of the fridge to start softening...

CHARLES IS..

... Away for the weekend at Twickenham with the kids from Croftway. He was up at some God forsaken hour  and left the house long before 6.00, so. The girls have obviously been up since then, as have I, and we're feeling a bit on the dozy side now.

I haven't wasted the morning though. I wanted to have a go at a beach hut cake, so I've done that and later on I'm going to make a start on a ruffle cake. Don't ask!!

BUMBLE!!

Oh what a gorgeous little Beagle puppy he is! I think I might have lost my heart! He is such a little character and so amazingly trainable that , on the space of less than a fortnight, he has learned to sit, give a paw, lie down, roll over and even to wait, ON COMMAND! I was absolutely bowled over last night. Oh and it didn't matter who was giving the commands either - he could do it for any of us!! Amazing little dog.

GOING TO MEET...

... Bumble the Beagle Puppy later today. He belongs to Rachel and James and lives on Gosforth. The rest of the family have done their intros last week, so we're a bit tardy!  I've got a couple of little toys for him and a bag of cheesey bites if he's allowed them. Can't wait. He looks such a cutie from the facebook photos.

Also looking forward to dinner with James and Claire who are jetting off to Ibiza on Friday for a week long celebration of their second wedding anniversary. Where has that time gone? Scary!!

COLD AND WET!

Just had a look outside. Looks really miserable. Nipped along to turn the thermostat up because it's so chilly. Now going back to bed for an hour or so!

QUICHE IN THE OVEN!

Quite a light day baking-wise. Just a few large quiche and a tray of caramel shortcake. I keep checking for orders from Applebys and Centurion because I know that the minute I relax a bit they will come through and I'll have to start over again. Maybe I'll just stop looking!!

ISNT IT LOVELY...

... That the kids are all on holiday from school, getting in everyone's way at the supermarket and around town, taking up seats in coffee shops and generally raising noise levels from the calm and gentle norm? Such a shame they'll all be back at school next week!

DID ACTUALLY VENTURE OUT...

... But only as far as Heighley Gate to get some bedding plants and that was so crazily busy I really wished I'd waited until tomorrow. But you can't live your life waiting for tomorrow can you? Only bedding plants, but it's the principle.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY!

ANd it's sunny! Amazing!! Almost makes you want to go ojt so ethereal, but the. You stop and remember that everyone else on the world will be out on the roads and on all the places you want to go to, so it's really not worth it. Might just as we'll stay at home.

If we didn't have a gardener booked for sometime this week, I would have suggested that we make a start, but there's no point of we're paying someone to do it. Might as well let them do the initial hard work and then we should just need to do the maintenance.

So I'm just going to spend the day in the kitchen - for a change.

THIS TIME LAST WEEK...

... We were just starting our mini-holiday. Think we could have done with a fair bit longer!!

I've baked all day and feel like I've never had a break!

Oh well, I do recall that the kids gave me tickets for an overnight stay in London and Les Mis in a couple of weeks, so that will be like a mini-mini-break!

BACK TO WORK...

...today. First order of the week came through just as we were setting off for lunch yesterday so I need to get the ingredients in for that this morning. Fortunately it sit for delivery until Tuesday, so I have plenty of time to work on it.

GREAT DAY!

A lot of hard work went into planning today and I'm very grateful. It has been lovely to have so many of the family together and to have such a laugh with them? The practical joke of swapping the dogs' collars and then waiting for hours before I actually noticed was hilarious!! Very tired now and, in a strange way, relieved that all the birthday stuff is over and we can get back to normal. But I've loved my birthday week, so thank you to everyone who made it happen!

SO...

... The boiler repair man was back again this morning, and with a two hour break to go for a part, finally finished at 5.30. It is clearly  just a matter of time until it becomes irreparable.

I've got pretty frustrated about the situation to be honest and quite tearful at times. Stupid I know, but maybe it's an age thing! I'm still having difficulty coming to terms with my great age.

NEARLY OVER!

Been a funny old day. I've enjoyed the evening, having the family around. Had some lovely presents. Probably the best of those is the trip to London next month to see Les Miserables. Thank you to Christina, James and Claire. I can't wait!

Next thing to look forward to is the big family get together on Saturday!

BOILER'S KNACKERED...

...AGAIN!

Miserable day outside, cold inside, not hot water - great start to my birthday!

TODAY IS...

... my birthday. A significant one. One that leaves me feeling ancient. I never imagined being this age.

Oh well, just have to deal with it I suppose. There's not a lot I can do about it!

Disappointingly, the weather is total pants this morning. Very heavy rain and quite chilly, so even that isn't going to help to cheer me up.

HOME AGAIN!

Long journey, but actually we did it in really good time. Left Bude at 8.30 and we're back in our house at 4.00. Really enjoyed the comfort of the Freelander!  The girls amazingly slept from the minute we put them the car to the moment we pulled up on the drive, with only a ten minute break for a wee and a leg stretch. They have been brilliant all the time we've been away and have coped with everything that they've encountered. It's certainly made me think that we need to get away more often, and that  it will be great to take them with us again.

Right - need to get on with the ironing!

LONG DRIVE HOME!

Setting off straight after breakfast. It's a glorious morning and should be lovely for the drive home. I've just seen the forecast from my birthday tomorrow though - it looks thoroughly miserable!

Right, will write again when we're home although it could be pretty late!

OUR LAST DAY ALREADY!!

How quickly it's gone. But we are determined to return soon and for longer, probably renting a cottage, maybe with Helen and Bill or even our kids!

Today was a bit disappointing because of the rain which brought our visit to Padstow to an untimely end. Our drive across Bodmin Moor was a little underwhelming. Call that a moor? Get yourselves up to Northumberland and we'll show you what a moor is like!

Driving up to Devon was a big mistake. Clovelly was a non-starter as you had to park miles from the village and then pay to enter it. Clearly that wasn't going to work with Charles. Westward Ho was horrid, so we ended up in Bideford for a bit of a mooch and a coffee. Nothing special though.

However, this evening, our good friend Chopper is coming over with his partner Jenny and we're going to eat together, probably in the restaurant downstairs again as we like it so much!

ITS RAINING!

BOO! We don't want rain today. We are going to explore Bodmin Moor and it won't be nearly so lovely in the wet. Very disappointed. Mind you, it's still pretty early, so let's hope it dries up by the time we're up and organised.

It's already our last day. Tomorrow we have the long hike back home to look forward to. Shame, this has been great and we need to do it again - soon!

NEWQUAY...

...St Ives, Treloyhan Manor, Tintagel and Boscastle - we've had a pretty full-on touristy day today. Got quite emotional during the St Ives and Treloyhan part of the day because those places have such strong connections to holidays during my youth and brought back vivid memories of my Dad. It's been a brilliant day though. We've eaten far too much and there is still an evening meal to go! Photos are on facebook!!

STUFFED!!

Oh, why have I eaten so much today? ( and drunk so much too!)

We stopped to have lunch with an old college friend about half an hour from Bude and that was absolutely lovely. Then this evening, we've eaten again at the hotel's Italian restaurant and that was also lovely. BUT I am far too full and feel FAT and HORRIBLE.

The hotel is lovely, right on the cliff top by the coastal path just between Bude and Widemouth (pronounced Wid- muth) Bay. Very pleasant staff, can't do enough to help. The girls have settled in well and are currently fast asleep, one in her own bed and the other on our bed. I now for a fact that all four of us will end up in the bed by the end of the night!!!

AT HELEN'S

Watching the Cup Final and knowing that the current regime at NUFC have no interest in competing for cups. Just imagine Newcastle fans at Wembley! So sad that this will ever happen.

ARRIVED IN YORKSHIRE!

Lovely journey to Yorkshire with the girls. Slight delay through Otlry, but it's Show Day, so that explained the hold up. Looking forward to a catch up with Helen, Bill and Hannah.

PHEW...

... That's better. Had a slight scare when my hair turned bright yellow, but Andrea sorted it out as she always does and it's much neater and tidier now.

Can't quite believe that we're going away tomorrow. I don't know why that should be! Maybe because it's so long since we actually went away anywhere, let alone down to Cornwall!

Should be a good break though. Looking forward to it.

BEAUTIFUl DAY!!

Warm and sunny. Lovely.

I have a hair appointment today and I absolutely cannot wait. It's the full thing - colour and cut - so I'll be there for a while, but I am so looking forward to it. I'm going to meet Charles and his Mum for coffee first, so that'll be nice too!

Got sorted for going away tomorrow. Just need to get Charles to decide what he's taking and get the girls stuff ready, then we're good to go!

HURRAY!!

No more coffee shop baking for ten days! You cannot imagine how good that feels. Not that I don't love baking - I do - but I seem to have done so much without a break since Christmas, that I'm really looking forward to a few days off.

Typically, however, I've already written my 'to do' list for when I start work again and there was a tiny part of me this afternoon that just thought for one second that it might be an idea to get started on it and begin replenishing the freezer. Thankfully, I came to me senses!

Can't sit around doing nothing though, so I've started the oven deep clean, the dishwasher is having a thorough clean because my son says it smells and the front garden needs about an hour spending on it before we go away. I've asked Charles over and over again to come outside and get to grips with the weeding but he has resolutely refused to acknowledge the idea at all , so it looks like it's down to me then...

SORRY!!

Totally rushed off my feet today. Actually really wish that was true because they are killing me. Haven't sat down at all all day, but have managed to put together a delivery for Radcliffes that should see them through the next twelve days! So tired now though.

UP TO. MY EYES...

... in quiche! Far too busy for. This blogging lark. Having to make a batch, freeze them in their tins, then once they're solid I'm wrapping them, re-freezing them and re-using the tins. It's full-on production-line stuff here today.

Right, I'm off to the outside freezer...

HAVING A FEW DAYS OFF...

... next week.  Were going to Bude for a couple of days, with Lily and Rose! It'll be lovely to go to Cornwall again  - we haven't been for years, probably decades! It's a long way to go for such a short time, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Mind you, before we ho, I need to make masses of coffee shop stuff to keep them all going. Already the orders have started coming in. Centurion are wanting 19 big quiche - well, that's not going to happen, I haven't got that many tins anyway!

Of course the other downside is having to catch up again once we get back...

...in fact IS it worth it? Not so sure now I come to think of it!

MEETING...

... James, Claire, Christina and Graeme for coffee/brunch later this morning, then back home to watch the football. Looking forward to the coffee!

LAST DAY...

... Of the footie season today. Haven't got a hope of a result in Liverpool and will be glad it's all over so far as Newcastle's concerned, but will really miss all the action. It's been a fascinating season for all sorts of reasons. I suppose there's the World Cup coming up, but it's not the same as the cut and thrust of the EPL  somehow.  Ha ha ha - just thought, there's all the nonsense of the transfer window coming up. That'll no doubt be the usual frustrating, humiliating disaster for NUFC fans!

AWAKE...

... but not getting up yet. I'm lying in bed listening to the rain hammering against the window. Hope it dries up soon - James and Claire are going to a wedding this morning and it will be such a shame if it's like this.

Actually, while I'm typing it does appear to have eased off a bit. Might get up and investigate...

FEEL A BIT...

...miserable today. I think the impending significant birthday that nobody will let me forget is probably the reason, plus the news that Claire's Mum and Dad have had an offer on their house and we're still waiting for any interest at all. I find the constant friction between our dogs and the new arrival next door is really beginning to wear me down as well. I've noticed that Charles has started to get really engrossed in that TV programme  'Escape to the Continent' and he keeps saying that that is what we need to do.  Maybe he's right! Maybe a complete change us what we need. I don't want to feel like this. Life's too short to be feeling so miserable all the time.

TWIDDLING MY THUMBS!

Waiting for Charles to get home with my quiche tins! He's been out since before 9.00 doing deliveries, seeing his Mum, watching the Croftway kids playing rugby and has the tins in the back of his car. I've been shopping, have made brownies, bakewells, biscotti and chocolate cake. I've made all the quiche fillings and have ground to a halt now. Hope he's not much longer...

JUST GOT BUSIER!!

Centurion decided to place a whopping order as well, so that's made the day a lot more hectic than it was originally. I won't get their's done until the beginning of the week, but at least I've made a start on it. Good that the work is coming in though!!

UP EARLY!

Radcliffes seem to have sorted out the days of the week and managed to send an order through before 8 am, so I was able to crack on with that first thing. Just grabbing the first coffee of the day before heading to the wholesales and supermarket for supplies, then it's back to bake 60 scones for Applebys...

BUSY DAY AGAIN!

Thought it was going to be pretty quiet really. Enjoyed a relaxed run through to Gosforth this morning and had coffee at Adrianos, then got home to discover that Appleby's want a big order tomorrow, so  that meant my lovely afternoon with the Kindle became a little more frantic in the kitchen. Still need to shop for some stuff for them so they're only getting a part delivery tomorrow with the rest to follow on Thursday, but I think they realised that might happen when they placed their order so late.

Radcliffes have had me pretty confused today. Having had a message from Andrew at the weekend saying they would need a delivery on Wednesday and he would send they order through on Tuesday morning, I was expecting it to arrive while we were out, but nothing transpired. In the end, mid-afternoon, I sent them a text to the effect that I assumed they didn't need a delivery after all but it would have been nice to be informed, only to get a text back saying that they were fine tomorrow and definitely needed a delivery on Wednesday as they'd already informed me! Well, let me tell you Radcliffes, today is TUESDAY, that makes TOMORROW WEDNESDAY. So perhaps you'd like to rethink the instructions you've given me, just so you can perhaps see how I might have become just a tad confused.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Actually don't rate these Bank Holidays one bit. All that really happens is that the roads get completely clogged up with traffic and people spend their precious day off sitting fuming in a traffic jam wishing they'd stayed at home. I can't understand why nobody ever seems to learn from previous experience. You know it's going to happen. It's going to cause friction. You're going to get completely stressed and probably won't even get to the destination you originally intended to reach. What is the point? Stay at home and do the gardening I say.

LAZY SUNDAY

Not much happening here. I'm faffing about a bit making a Noah's Ark cake topper, for no reason really, just to show myself I can do it. Christina and Graeme have popped round on their way to Rothbury and we've demolished a tray on mini orange scones straight from the oven , complete with strawberry jam and clotted cream - delicious! Now we're going to settle down to watch the Chelsea v Norwich match which could decide the top of the table ( for this week) and the third relegated team. Nice to watch with no pressure!!

FINALLY GOT...

... a win! Messy and frustrating mind you, but ended up with three goals to. Cardiff's nil, sending them back down. Hardly a resounding win. Pardew was booed every time he tried to get up from his seat. Lots of anti-Ashley chants, although nothing like I was expecting to be honest. Okay, a few thousand walked out, but it seemed to have little impact. It'll be interesting to see what it looked like if there's so me TV coverage later on, but I don't think Mike would take too much notice. The players did a low-key walk round the pitch with their babies, which went okay really. Biggest cheers of the day came for Ryan ' Over the Wall' Taylor (who hasn't played all season) and Hatem Ben Arfa ( who is totally out of favour with Pardew and has probably played his last game for us).

Home now, still stuffed after lunch at Fujiyamas where we were greeted like old friends and where we met up with Christina and Graeme. Best bit of the day!

TODAY 'S MATCH

Staying away? Walking out on 60 mins? walking out on 69 mins? Staying to the bitter end? Turning back on players?

Who knows? Who cares any more?

REALLY ANNOYED...

...with Radcliffes today. They are already well overdue with their payment and had promised a cheque today, but when Charles got there with the delivery there was no payment and Kevin and Andrew were in Huddersfield. Brilliant!

We've been doing better with them to be honest, since we had a bit of a showdown after Christmas. Anyway, they're about to be hit with a late payment charge. This is something they have been made fully aware of, but it's the first time we've actually enforced it, so it'll be interesting to see how they react!

PRETTY MUCH...

... Spent all day messing around trying out different cake decorating ideas and playing with some of the equipment I've had for ages but haven't got round to using yet. It's been fun, I've really enjoyed myself!