BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY!

What a drag!! At one time I would have loved every minute of an extra day added to the weekend, but now it's just a bit of an inconvenience. Too many people out and about on the roads and in the shops (get back to work), no deliveries (I'm waiting for stuff that I've ordered) - it just feels like a bit on a nothing day, a waste of a day. (Just goes to show how my mind set has changed since I left teaching!) So, I'm just carrying on from yesterday. Late last night I baked the first of my 11" round sponges for the wedding cake. This morning I've done the second. It will probably only take one more to reach the requisite height and then all the baking is done. Just need to work out how to do these silhouettes now!!

NO SUNDAY MORNING...

... lie in for us today! Up at 7.00, and ready for Robbie and co who arrived less than an hour later, putting in another shift before knocking off at lunchtime. Hey, it's Bank Holiday Sunday. I think that's fair enough. In fact, I think it's incredible that they turned up at all on a Sunday! L We're hopeful that we should be finished - back and front - by next Saturday. They should be back on Wednesday, weather permitting and then finish off on Saturday. And it is going to be amazing!! So, funny old day really. I've made two tiers for the wedding cake that goes out in September. They are in the freezer, levelled and sandwiched, with their first coat of buttercream done. I'll make a start on the bottom tier tomorrow. I've made roses, painted roses and ivy leaves and made ribbon loops to mix amongst the flowers. Had another brisk walk into town and did some fairly uninteresting shopping. I actually LOVE being able to walk to the shops and don't really mind that I don't do that much when I get there!! Charles is out this evening and the girls and I are enjoying 'Big Blue Live' - and profiteroles ( me, not the girls, obviously!)

OH DEAR!!

Maybe Robby SHOULD have been a tad nervous. Certainly didn't see that result coming. And as for our game? Least said the better really, except to note that Marriner COMPLETELY ruined the match and probably had an Arsenal top on under his refs gear. He was shockingly biased. I think it got to the point when the only member of our team without a yellow card was Tim Krul and having watched him approach Marriner and his cronies at the end of the game, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that he was also awarded one for his impudence. Pathetic refereeing performance.

OUR GARDENER...

... supports Liverpool. He's Belgian. Maybe that explains it. Anyway, it was interesting that the moment he arrived on the doorstep this morning he asked me if I was nervous about our match today. I answered that of course I am. We're playing Arsenal. Infact, it wouldn't really matter who we were playing, I would still feel nervous. I've got the pre-match butterflies already. Indeed, I woke up with them!! And that is the point of this little post. Liverpool are also playing today and Robby has no doubt at all that they will win. They're playing West Ham, I think, and you would expect them to win comfortably, but there was not even a flicker of uncertainty in Robby's mind. He has total confidence in his team. When was the last time a Newcastle fan could say that?

IT WAS SO LOVELY...

... to see the girls from Heddon last night. Great choice of venues - Browns for cocktails and Zizzi's for extremely delicious food - but the best thing was catching up after all this time, but feeling like we'd just seen each other yesterday. We had such a giggle. I caught up on all the gossip and learned how much they miss me - which was really nice! All agreed it was a great evening and we need to do it again soon.

JUST SITTING AROUND...

... Chilling! This is very odd. Charles is out in Morpeth getting the Freelander MOT'd. I've got to stay in because I have a delivery coming today. I finished the birthday cake for tomorrow yesterday evening. Have done all the cleaning... ...Actually have nothing to do! So am drinking coffee and having snuggles with the girls!

PRETTY EXCITED...

... about tomorrow evening. I'm going out with the Heddon staff, en masse, for the first time since I left! No doubt it will be a loud night, full of laughter, fuelled by cocktails! Can't wait!

PROGRESS WITH THE GARDEN!!

Sleepers are in, making a flower bed at the top end. The hard core is down ready for the paving slabs. We' ediscussedtjeplacing of the arbour (or 'harbour') as our Belgian gardener insists on calling it. Work will continue on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

GOT THAT WRONG!!

Charles didn't walk to the ticket office. He got the bus!

THE PLAN...

... is all starting to come together. We were pretty serious when we said that one of the reasons for moving was so that getting to the match would be quicker and easier. I know people thought we were bonkers, and we probably are, but there you go. That's us. This evening we will be going to OUR first home game this season. Charles has just walked down to the ticket office (!), James is coming round after work for a pre-match meal and then we're going to walk down to the ground and get a taxi back at the end. Am actually more excited about the logistics of getting to the ground than the actual game, although it will be interesting to see the new players, especially as it's Thauvin's home debut. It would be good to see some passion and determination too. (Only joking about not being excited about the game. Of course I am!)

THE GIRLS...

... Have had a good long walk this morning, showing their Uncle Richard around Fenham and the park and the Town Moor. They even visited the allotments and Charles signed us up (at the princely sum of £1 each) to the Friends of Fenham Allotments or whatever they call themselves. This gives us lots of benefits apparently, but not an actual allotment. Just waiting for Charles and Richard to bring their Mum to have coffee ith us. I hope it's t going to be too much for her, because there are steps up to the front door to negotiate and she will need considerable help with that. Might go into town this afternoon...

HAVEN'T WRITTEN THE BLOG TODAY,

Mainly because I've been so busy. The morning was spent in the kitchen making quiche for a Centurion and starting the sponges for the motorbike cake that goes out next week. I also made an apple pie. Haven't done one for ages. We went round to James and Claire's this afternoon. It was lovely to see all the things they've got ready for the baby. It'll be here before we know it! Went to the Garden Centre (Cowells) and bought a few plants and some trellis. Also had a good look at things we might buy once we've seen the results when Robby has finished. This evening we've had a house full. Patrice and Richard, Helen and Bill and James and Claire joined us for an Indian (and assorted desserts!) Am truly shattered now, but really want to stay awake to watch the match from earlier.

FRIDAY MORNING!

Been here just short of a week. Today we're having the boiler serviced and the electrician is returning to complete the huge list of tasks he began yesterday. After that I think we have a few days break before the gardeners return next Wednesday to get the paving at the back and the front of the house sorted. I might go out and buy some plants over the weekend. Also need to go to James's to take the Mazda for a drive. It's been parked at his house for nearly a month nowadays needs to stay there until the garden is finished, but I'm missing it terribly!!

ITS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE...

... that this time last week we were still in Cornwall! I've never really known a week like this. It's been absolutely non-stop action. Today is a case in point. Electricians are rewiring, installing outside lighting, putting up indoor light figments and other stuff, then the TV guy is coming to set up additional points, I'm busy baking for Centurion. Rose is beginning to move a little more easily on Ther poorly paw, although she still limps quite often. Tomorrow will bring the guy who is going to service the boiler and set up a thermostat and timer that aren't in place at the moment. It really is all go! Oh, and I need to begin thinking about celebration cakes. I've got a motorbike cake to do for next weekend and a pretty complicated wedding cake to do in about three weeks. And before I do anything at all with sugarpaste, I need a marble block to sit on the top of our wooden worktops, because there's no way I would get a smooth finish without one.

FENCE POSTS...

... are going in. Four guys here today. Again, they were here well before 9.00. At least the weather is better than yesterday!!

POOR LITTLE ROSE

She hurt her back right paw on Monday, moving day. I was outside with her when she suddenly yelped with pain and began limping, unable to put any weight on it. Ten minutes later though, she was running about as though nothing had happened. But, late on yesterday afternoon, she began to worry at it and started seriously limping again, so we've managed to get her an appointment with the vet this morning. We've decided to take her back to the practice in Morpeth, because they know her there. Charles has taken both of them. Rose will no doubt be glad of Lily's company. Stupidly, I gave them breakfast this morning. It may well have been better not to because she is so sensitive to it being touched that it may be necessary to sedate her. I HATE it when they are in pain. Ridiculously, I just go to pieces, so I've stayed here and poor old Charles is having to cope with it on his own.

RELATIVELY LAZY DAY!!

Can't remember the last time we just sat around in our own home. Okay, we've just come back from a fortnight's holiday, but even then we were always on the go. Today has been very chilled though. Admittedly it started quite early and our gardening guys arrived before 8.30. Maybe, watching them work so hard all day has increased my feeling of laziness by comparison. To be honest, the garden is looking horrendous now. The trees have gone, as have most of the overgrown shrubs. The decking by the dining room has gone, but, typically, there are air bricks (they had been covered by the decking!) right where we don't want them to be and that's going to complicate matters when it comes to putting the paving down. Why is nothing ever straightforward?

SO, HERE WE ARE...

... settled in, remarkably quickly. I think the two part move helped a lot. If we'd had to sort all of the kitchen stuff yesterday we may not be sitting around feeling quite so smug this morning. I didn't sleep well though. I think I'd got over-tired, I ached all over and just couldn't switch my brain off. Never mind, we've been invited round to the neighbours for drinks and nibbles this evening, so the consumption of a decent red wine should aid restful sleep!! At the moment, the garden is being ripped apart by the guys from Longhorsley Garden Services. Hopefully, by tomorrow evening, the leylandii will be a distant memory and we should have a smart new fence in place. We need to go out to buy a few bits and pieces to enable us to hang a couple of the bigger pictures better. Some of them have adopted a decidely jaunty angle overnight!

ALL DONE!

Too tired to type though. But happy with how things look now. For the first time in weeks we are completlely straight and sorted. The removal men left at 4.30 and we carried on until there was only one box left to do - and that one can wait till tomorrow! Night night! (Oh, just need to say - we LOVE our house!!)

MOVING DAY!

And BROADBAND finally installed so can join in with the world again! Will be back later when unpacked!

QUICK!!

It won't last, but right now I'm connected to the Internet. We've had zero connectivity here for the last two days and have just had to rely on our phones while we've been out and about to keep up to date with facebook etc. It's so frustrating, but makes you realise how much we have come to rely on instant communication these days. Well, there's been nothing instant about the blog. I have to say, it will be really lovely to be able to get back to regular posts once we get home!!

BROADBAND???

In Cornwall? I don't think so? I've waited all day for a signal and have only just got one in the last few minutes. Hopeless. Sadly, it's far too late to be going into detail about our day, other than to say we've had a day on Bude Beach. We are all glowing from the sun. Then we had a great pub meal out this evening and are all knackered now, so it's bedtime for everyone... ... And when we wake up it will be Charles's birthday... AND James and Claire will be on their way!

CAN ONLY POST...

... On the blog when I have a signal...and I've waited pretty much all day to get one today. Very frustrating. It's been a much better day weather-wise today and we went to Boscastle and Tintagel this morning. I honestly don't rate Tintagel at all - it's just an excuse to make money so far as I can see - but Boscastle is a different matter. I was really surprised at how rugged and unspoilt it is. Because we were there so early we were able to see it in all it's natural glory and didn't have to share it with other tourists. It is difficult to imagine the sheer scale of the flood that caused such devastation, and it was clear from talking to some of the residents that the horror of it hasn't diminished. This afternoon we stayed around the house and sat in the garden enjoying the sunshine. Hannah and Bentley arrived at 4.00 and Charles and I went into Launceston to do some shopping and for me to get my hair done. Charles went round to Chopper's house. Actually cooked a meal this evening!! Nothing flash, just pasta, but it was quite nice to eat in for a change!

WEATHER IS HORRIBLE...

... this afternoon. We managed a cloudy morning in Polzeath and Port Isaac before the weather really broke down while we were in Bude. We rushed into Launceston to get some supplies in and are looking forward to a cosy evening in with Cornish pasties and cream scones. Hugely fattening, but extremely delicious. I did think I should let James know that stout footwear would be advisable when they come next week. Not that we expect Claire to be scrabbling around the cliff tops, but in order to stroll from the car parks into the villages I just think good shoes are going to be better than flip flops or sandals. We saw lots of young girls this morning who were gingerly making their way down the hill into Port Isaac, practically falling out of their flip flops.it was going to be even harder work when they had to get back to their car at the end of the day!!

TODAY FOUND US...

... Getting a really early start and arriving in Looe, on the south coast, at 8.00, in time to wander empty streets and watch the little town wake up. We had a fab time, enjoying the peace and tranquility, finding a great, welcoming cafe for breakfast. When it began toget busy, we took a taxi to Polperro and we're delighted to discover that it was just perfectly charming and picturesque. The weather was lovely. The girls have walked and walked, and have certainly both lost weight!! Wish we had. This evening we are going out for burgers and a drink with Chopper.

THE SECRET...

... to a happy holiday in Cornwall, is to go to bed early. If you do this, you can get up,at the crack of dawn, enabling you to drive to your preferred location for the day ahead of the hundreds of other tourists who want to share the holiday with you. We've done well so far. We were in Padstow before 9.30 and the main car park was pretty full, but the village itself was relatively quiet and really pleasant. Walking along the cliffs was an absolute joy and, when we reached a hidden expanse of beach that we had pretty much to ourselves, our delight was complete. We drove back over Bodmin Moor in hopes of seeing Ross Poldark, but were disappointed on that front.

VERY ANNOYING!

The broadband connectivity is so rubbish here that blogging is almost going to be impossible. I've written a few posts that have failed to publish at all, but only realised this when it was too late to try again. So, could just be intermittent posts for a while.

GOOD MORNING FROM CORNWALL!

Had an early start because Charles got up to go to the loo at 6.00 and then I couldn't get back to sleep. He went back to bed. I was up for the day. Might drive across to Bude after breakfast, then I think we're having Sunday lunch at the dog-friendly pub we went to last year with Chopper and Jenny.