DELIVERY DONE!

I went along with Charles this morning. It was actually really nice to catch up with some of the regulars again. Made me feel that I'd been missed!!

Then it was a quick visit to the Toon. I was supposed to be doing birthday shopping for Charles but he wasn't giving me many ideas, so I ended up buying a couple of summery tops for me. Just watch, that'll be the end of the warm weather!

Paid in a couple of cheques this morning, one of which we practically had to force from Kevin, but we got there in the end.

Then had a fifty minute extension to the journey home because we called into Ridley Park to see how Grandma was, only to discover she was well enough to be having her hair done. And that's pretty much how the conversation with her went!

Home now, apple and sultana cake and carrot cake in the oven. Might have a little nap for a few minutes while they're baking!!

FEELING SO SORRY...

... For Claire's parents today. It should have been the day the moved out of their home and temporarily moved in with James and Claire for a couple of weeks before completion on their house in Jesmond.

However, they had a call this morning to say that their buyer had backed out, so all their plans have just stopped.

Since James told me about it I have wandered around the kitchen in shock. God only knows how Bob and Margaret are feeling.

OOOH!

Missed blogging yesterday!

I know it ended up being a pretty busy day, but I don't often forget.

Anyway, the grooming update is that the girls look  amazing and were treated really well and we will certainly be taking them back Kay9Grooming. Very pleased.

Not sure where the sun has gone today. It's quite grey and cool. Typically, we were going to have a day at the beach. Never ind. there will be other opportunities I'm sure.

Instead, Charles will be going to see his Mum again. cease she's even a little under the weather for a while now. I'm staying out of the way, because one of her conditions is conjunctivitis and I only need to be in the same room as someone who has it for it to find it's way over to me and with the eye problems I already have I really do not want to take the risk. Might sound a bit harsh, but having spent one whole summer unable to cope with any light at all, even the light transmitted by the TV, I'm not taking chances.

Instead I shall go into Morpeth (whoopiedoo), get something for tonight's dinner and probably have a cuppa. Mind you, I read somewhere last night that giving up your daily latte (only one a day?) can result in a loss of 7lbs in six months. Not earth shattering dieting, but half a stone nevertheless.  Might have to think about it...


...have thought about it. I enjoy my cappuccinos and lattes far too much to give them up. I'll just have to find another way of losing that half stone.

TAKING THE GIRLS..

.. To have their hair done this afternoon. We're trying a different place in Blyth and their appointment is for 3pm today (Sunday) which, for some reason, just strikes me as really odd! They will be there till 7.00 so we'll need to kill time and that will almost certainly involve Charles's mother and food.!!

It'll be interesting to see what sort of job they do. The last place we took them to was only open for a few months, but they did a fab job and gave them a proper Westie cut. The original place that they used to go to in Shilbottle, that they hated, just tended to do a uniform length all over and anyway they were so uptight when they realised where they were going that it isn't worth taking them back there.

So, all will be revealed later...

AFTERNOON TEA...

.. was lovely, although we were all overcome with heat and, at one point, the lovely sommelier, thought he was going to faint. But, the tea itself was lovely, although we didn't finish everything, and Christina actually ate very little. She looks very thin.

At least we all met up and managed to eat tea without her losing her temper or storming out. She did seem pretty detached though and certainly didn't show any affection towards any of us.

Still, small steps...

34 YEARS AGO...

... today, Oxford was hit by one of the most dramatic thunderstorms I've ever experienced. A little while after it finished, Christina was born!!  Always one for making a memorable entrance!!

Hope she has a lovely day today. We are all meeting up later at Jesmond Dene House. It will be the first time since she walked out,  so I'm not sure what to expect at all, but I really hope she manages to enjoy her day.

Just got  ack from Morpeth. I know there's nothing exciting about that, but it's a gloriously not and sunny day and I was in the MX5 with the top down - perfectly lovely!

PERFECTLY...

... Gorgeous day. Thankfully I haven't had to do any baking today. We've been to Blyth to see Grandma ( Blyth was a bit overcast, and Grandma was full of cold and a bit sleepy and confused), Morpeth to have a mooch (very hot and sunny), the ice cream farm at Morwick ( met James and Claire there, all ended up itchy cos of all the flies, very hot, but ice cream delicious), came back home and sat in sun for a while, but couldn't cope with the heat so came inside a had another play with my fabulous steam mop! ( sad, I know, but I added a few drops of a molten brown fragrance to the water and the house is not only sparkling clean but it smells amazing too!)

SETTING OFF...

... Shortly to delivery the Christening cake for baby George Derek Southern. I was going to meet up with his my tomorrow on Morpeth to hand over the cake, but it's turned out to be far too big and heavy for that to happen, so we're taking no chances and delivering it ourselves. This means driving at around 20 mph and annoying the hell out of other road users!!

Can't wait to get it there!! Just hope it's still in one piece when we arrive!

UP. EARLY...

... Made a start on the fillings and frosting for the Christening cake that I'm doing today. Currently there are two very deep sponge cake sitting on the work top, letting the frosting firm up a bit.

Actually I'm going to leave them for a bit while I go into Morpeth and meet a friend for coffee. I'll settle down better to the cake once I know I have the afternoon free without any distractions.

JUST SETTLING DOWN...

... To watch the Newcastle match from earlier today. Charles find a really early delivery do that he could get back to watch it live. I missed out because I was at SAKs. So, I know the result and can just enjoy the match!

Have thoroughly enjoyed driving the Mazda with the top down today. Glorious warm sunshine.What a great time to get a convertible


Got James here at the moment, which is lovely.

Oh, we've just scored and I missed it. Better concentrate!

SUCH A BUSY DAY!

Got up quite early because the dogs were barking, looked at my phone and there was an order from Radcliffes there already!

Cracked on with that first thing, then went into Morpeth for ingredients to replaced what's going out tomorrow.

Charles and I went into Newcastle this afternoon. I needed a few things from Lakeland and we used it as an opportunity to buy Christina's birthday presents as well. I don't know that she'll want them, but they're here, all wrapped, just ready for her.

Late afternoon was time for baking again. In fact I've still got a big cake in the oven now! Should be coming out soon I hope.

Just going to collapse on the settee in front of the telly now!

MORNING COFFEE..

... At Jesmond Dene House Hotel today. We're taking Grandma and meeting James and Claire and Patrice and Lucy there.

 While we're out, Christina is coming to collect her things.

I'm quite anxious about this - not the coffee bit! - I just wish we could see her to try and assess her current state of mind.  I hope she's nice to the girls, because they will be so happy to see her!

BECOMING...

... increasingly concerned about Christina's welfare. She now wants absolutely no contact with us at all, even going so far as wanting us to be out of the house when she comes to collect her things. I've told her, by text as that is our only means of communication these days, that we won't talk if she doesn't want us to, but she replied that she doesn't want to be anywhere near us. We think we know who she's staying with, but are not absolutely certain. So we are both frantically worried that she is becoming increasingly unwell and may be at risk again.

If she cuts ties with us altogether, we won't be able to keep an eye on things at all, so won't be able to alert the mental health team of our concerns.

I seem to feel constantly sick these days.

VERY ANXIOUS...

... About Christina.


We haven't seen her for over a week now and have just had a couple of texts making it absolutely clear that she needs to collect things from here but doesn't want to see us.

We've had an opportunity to talk things through with the mental health team and it is clear that they share our concerns.

However, unless Christina admits that she needs help, nobody is going to be able to influence or help her at all.

I feel physically sick at the thought that she may well end up back where she was two and a half years ago. So sad, because, if she would only take the meds and follow advice, she would be almost be okay.

AH WELL...

... I suppose I'd better get up!

Looks like a nice morning. I think I've got a relatively light say baking-wise. I need to make a topper for a builders birthday cake so that should be fun! And I'm going to take the Mazda down to Morpeth, hopefully with the top down today.

Right, need to make a move...

FAR TOO..

... busy to blog today!

Have just completed two big orders ( One of which I wasn't expecting. Guess who that was from!)

My feet are killing me.

I'm hungry and irritable because it's far too hot on this kitchen and sadly I can't keep out of it.

Never mind, I did drive the Mazda down to Morpeth earlier. Was absolutely fine with the clutch which I'd found a bit tricky yesterday. Loved driving it, just a pity it wasn't sunny!!

GOING TO...

... pick up the MX5 in a little while. Seems a perfect day for it as well. No worries, St Swithin!

James and Claire are coming round this evening for tea. We're going down the takeaway route tonight and hopefully going to try Nadon Thai in Morpeth. James ate there recently and really enjoyed it.

I have, however, made puddings!

THIS IPAD...

Is so annoying. During the past fortnight it has suddenly decided that it's not going to store any of my log in details for anything at all, even when I tick 'remember me'. James suggested that we take it to the apple store, so I think we may well be doing that by the end of the week.

On another note, it looks as though there will be a little Mazda MX5 sitting on our drive tomorrow. After all this time however, we still haven't got all the plates changed over. I think DVLA workers must have been seconded to the passport office!!

LYING IN BED...

... listening to the rain! Wondering how on earth we'll get the girls out side to have a wee, short of just picking them up,  throwing them out and slamming the door! Haven't heard rain like this for a long time!

Going to meet James and Claire later this morning for coffee. Hope it's dried up by then.

Actually, even as I type, it appears to have eased off a little. Still very heavy, but a bit easier I think. Better get up and have a look!

HAVING...

... a very relaxed day today, but feel as though we need it after the events of the last week. Charles is relaxing over in Corbridge where he is enjoying their music festival. I'm at home with the girls and we're just chilling together. I'm reading a book on my kindle and the girls are snuggled up next to me. I would sit outside but there are too many flies about thanks to the local farmers who have been muck spreading this week. Anyway, it's actually much cooler and far more pleasant inside.

Looks like we've finally got all the documentation through for the Mazda so I'm guessing well be picking that up this week sometime. Mind you, even when we do, we've still got to go through the procedure again to change the plates on the Freelander AND on the Mazda. It's only taken a month to get this far! By the time it's all sorted and all the plates are where we want them, summer will be over! This is what happens when all the local DVLA offices are closed and everything's done centrally!

THE MORNING...

... After the night before.

Feeling sick, anxious and pretty hollow really.

Don't think either of us slept much.

Haven't seen Christina this morning. She took a taxi last night and hasn't been back since.

MAJOR...

...blow up tonight. Christina angry and incoherent. She's left the house and isn't coming back.

Of course we're frantic.

I managed to have a brief conversation with the crisis team just before she left so they are aware of the situation, but I've tried to phone them again and just get an answer phone.

So worried and upset.

BECOMING...

... Increasingly worried about Christina's state of mind. Obviously it is to appropriate to go into detail here, but I think it's fair to say she is presenting with worrying signs at the moment and that this situation has been developing over the past few weeks.

I cannot bear to think of her slipping back to how she was before her diagnosis. Just hope the calls we've made to the mental health team trigger some appropriate action from them.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND...

... why this iPad has suddenly decided NOT to remember all my log in details for everything I do on here. Email, bank account, this blog, facebook, it won't remember any of them. This is so odd and so annoying. What is going on?

NOTHING MUCH...

... happening today, apart from the usual delivery and visit to Mum (Charles) and shopping and baking (me).

Have had a go at two different chocolate tarts, hopefully for tomorrow when James comes round. I've never found a really good chocolate tart when we've been out for dinner. I tried one at Loch Fyne and it was so rich and dense and bitter, that it really didn't appeal at all. So then I thought...

...all the recipes I've seen have been for DARK chocolate tart, what about a MILK choc version. A little google search and found a recipe for milk chocolate tart and another for white chocolate tart with raspberries.

So I've had a go at both. It'll be interesting to see what they're like when they been chilled, but they look okay so far!

Right, I need to know what time the football is on tonight. Certainly getting withdrawal symptoms now that they're down to the last few games.

GOT A TEXT...

... from Andrew early on this morning, just letting me know he's back from his hols and everything should get back to normal at Radcliffes now. Thank goodness for that!

Charles has just left for his gig in Newcastle. Hope it goes really well for him!

LOVELY MEAL...

... With James and Claire last night. But very tense atmosphere in the house today with Christina. This isn't easy and I'm really very worried about her at the moment. There seem to be a lot of behaviours emerging that are indicative of her struggle with Bipolar. Hopefully, she will be able to bring things under control but I suspect she will need support in order to do this.

NEED TO SIT DOWN!!

I'm too hot, tired and irritable and have a splitting headache. I've worked like a mad thing all morning and have baked my socks off! Hopefully, I all organised for the next delivery to Radcliffes. I thought I was yesterday, but he caught me unawares with his request for a Saturday delivery. Happily for me, he's accepted that he has to pay a late-order charge, so I haven't lost out really.

Thank God Andrew will be back this week!

BRAZIL V. COLOMBIA

What an electric atmosphere. It must be incredible to be part if that crowd. Just hope the game lives up to expectation!

SEEMS TO BE...

... something amiss with blogger this afternoon. Unusually I had to sign in, which I don't normally, and it went through a very convoluted process before I was able to access the posting page. Very odd.

Just enjoying a bit of relaxation with my girls, watching the footie. Oh how we've missed it for the last couple of days! Really want France to win, but they haven't had the best of starts sadly.

Looking forward to dinner tomorrow evening at Loch Fyne with James and Claire. It's a while since we ate there, so it'll be quite a treat!

Oh. Don't anyone mention Kevin Radcliffe. Just saying.

HATE THESE DAYS.

... Of just hanging about waiting. It's not something I'm good at. I enjoy being busy, but actually have nothing to do this morning. The house is clean, the laundry's done, baking is all up to date until another order comes through and I'm not going out to do the shopping until this afternoon when we have to go into Morpeth anyway for a meeting with Christina at St George's. Consequently I'm now completely wired on too much caffeine!!

MURRAY'S OUT!

No fight at all from him today. Such a disappointing match. But, we can now enjoy the rest of the matches without the stress of supporting him! Bit like the World Cup since England went out really!

EARLY START...

... Today, because Christina was leaving the house before 8.00 and can't get herself up and organised quietly!!

However, that wasn't a bad thing because I've managed to get the order ready for Centurion and have so e a few. It's that I think Kevin might need as well, so I hope I'm a little bit ahead of myself.

Andy Murray is about to come onto court now, so my plan is to sit in front of the TV for the rest of the afternoon!!

ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY...

...HEY HEY!

And one of us is daft enough to be cooking a full roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings!! The things you do for love eh!!!

Obviously James and Claire are coming round this evening!!!!!!!