CHARLES IS...

... In Birmingham today and I think the girls are sulking a bit. We've just been out for a sunny afternoon walk and bumped into Bill, our neighbour, who was out for his 'constitutional'. He's such a lovely man. We're really lucky with all our neighbours and have certainly spent more time in their company than we ever used to with the folk we lived next to in Fram. Looking forward to GBBO this evening. It's chocolate!! ( no need to say any more really!)

POOR ROSE!

She still has her stitches in because she was 'too scabby'.m We've got to soak the scabs off and take her back on Monday.

UP EARLY...

... And getting ready to go to the vets in Morpeth, where Rose SHOULD be having her stitches removed. Afterwards I'm going to stay on in Morpeth for a while and Charles is taking the girls to Blyth to see his Mum and then coming back for me. I can't begin to describe the sense of relief we have from knowing that the lump that was removed was nothing more than the result of a malformed hair follicle! Now we need to find out how soon we can take them to the groomers. They are booked in for this weekend, but the vet might think that's too soon. Hope it's not too long to wait though because both girls are looking very untidy now! Right, just finished my coffee, so need to get going...

WELL, TODAY...

... Didn't exactly work out as I had planned! I WAS going to have a lovely time making fairies and pixies. Instead I had an order from Centurion at lunchtime so needed to get on with that, after I had decided to make my own curries from scratch. I'd bought all the spices and got everything mixed for the marinades and then had to leave it to focus on cake and biscotti. In the middle of all this, there was a phone all from the vet. Thankfully, Rose's lump ISN'T malignant. It's not a problem at all. Apparently it was all to do with an abnormal hair follicle. The vet gave me permission to do a little jig! Believe me, I flew through all the baking after that! Oh, and the currise - chicken tikka and chicken passanda - were really tasty. Bit of a faff, but worth it I think. Tomorrow we take Rose's to have her stitches out, after which we need to go to Morpeth, then Blyth and finally do the Centurion delivery. Maybe after that I can start work on the fairies!

THE GIRLS ARE BACK...

... from their walk in the park and they are FILTHY!! Looks like they're going in the sink for a top and tail job!!wevegot to be careful with Rose because of her stitches, otherwise they would be going in the bath! Good job we've got twin sinks!!

WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY!

Difficult to believe that October starts this week. Sunny, warm and just fabulous. Lovely to see James and Claire this morning and to get involved in a bit of the excitement of baby shopping! January will soon be here. Home again now and about to begin making sugar pixies. This could be interesting!!

GOT SO CARRIED AWAY...

... with making my Transformer cake topper yesterday, that I completely forgot to put a post on the blog. We did other stuff too, so it ended up being a pretty full on day, topped off by the now customary Friday evening round at the neighbours for a meal, a few drinks and lots of chat. Drank white wine last night. I'm not used to it and feel a little fragile this morning!! Charles is up and out already, going with James to take their car for a service in Ashington. I'm guessing we won't see him till afternoon because he's going to see his Mum while he's over that way. And later, we have a match against Chelsea that I simply cannot face, so James is having my ticket and going in my place. It's the late kick off, on TV and is going to be a rout. Okay, time to get on. I've got quiche to make for a customer and I'm going to make a start on a pixie house cake topper. (Very excited about that!)

MOVING VERY GINGERLY!

And I didn't get much sleep, thanks to my back AGAIN! It's not so bad when I'm just walking around, so going into town this morning was fine, so long as I didn't attempt to bend down or carry anything. I am so pleased that I don't have a cake order due this weekend, because I would really have struggled. I'm finding it difficult to sit comfortably and lying down flat is a non-starter. The one thing that seems to help, more than tablets and deep heat, is ibuprofen gel, so I'm applying that regularly. Sadly, it quickly wears off! I might persuade Charles to get a takeaway this evening. He's round at the neighbours puppy sitting for an hour, but when he gets back I'm going to see what he thinks. OR - now here's a thought - maybe he could cook tea himself?!

THE VET WAS...

... Pleased with Rose's recovery. He will see her again on Tuesday to remove the stitches and, hopefully, he'll have the test results back by then. The girls went to see Grandma this morning. I'm not sure who enjoyed it the most! Charles and I debated. Going to the match this evening, but decided against it. I'm very glad we did, because, for the umpteenth time, my back has gone and I really would not have enjoyed sitting in the cold and feeling thoroughly miserable!!

WELL, ITS BEEN A WEEK...

... since Rose's operation. What a sorry little thing she was. She whimpered from the time we got her home until well into the next morning. I sincerely hope we don't have to go through that again with either of the girls. We have to take her back for a check up tomorrow, although the stitches don't come out until next week. I'm sure she'll be anxious when she realises where she is, but after that both the girls are going to see Grandma in Blyth while I meet up with a friend for coffee in Morpeth. I'm sure they both relax and enjoy seeing Marion - and SHE will love seeing THEM. Best thing about today was meeting up with James at lunchtime, only at Kingston Park, but it was so easy to combine it with our shopping trip. Other than that it's been business as usual in the kitchen for me. Getting ahead of myself with quiche production is always a good idea. I'm getting a fair number of cake orders in for this month. This is great news. It will be so good to get back to regulate production again. Only problem now is... Transformers! How do I make a Transformer cake? Good job I've got a couple of weeks to think about it!!

JUST WAITING...

... For the last two quiche to come out of the oven and then I will have made 20 since Friday. Not too bad, considering we've had a fair number of lengthy interruptions during the weekend. Charles has just been to a fruit and veg who.esaler nearby and has come back with three carriers bags of goodies - leeks, garlic, potatoes, courgettes, peppers, Bramley apples and carrots - all for less than £10. And they look fab too!! However, it does mean that I need to use them tomorrow, so it looks like it'll be another quiche day for me.

SO...

... I went out to buy new tee shirts for Rose and then Charles managed to get the girls mixed up and ended up dressing Lily in fetching flowers and stripes while Rose went unprotected and managed to have a good old chew at the stitches. One dog has a massive scar, the other doesn't. How could he possibly get the wrong one?

LEAST SAID ABOUT THE MATCH...

... the better. Is there any difference between the end of last season and this? I really don't think so. Yet again, we feel totally let down and cheated. Actually, when we got in from the game I was so angry that I just couldn't relax, even though it was Saturday evening, so I ended up making myself busy and baking quiche and getting them ready for Monday. I'm quite glad I did now, because I've had a very relaxed Sunday morning. We're going to Jesmond Dene House this afternoon, for Part Two of Lucy and Ata's wedding. We probably won't stay for the whole afternoon, but it will be lovely to see everyone and to have a bit of a catch up with folk we haven't seen for a while.

GOING TO THE MATCH...

... with no enthusiasm or optimism whatsoever!

TOO TIRED...

... to write anything now. In fact, it's tomorrow already. I have finally sat down after a crazily hectic day of wedding cake delivery, shopping, baking, getting another order in from Centruion and worrying about that, preparing stuff for a little BBQ this evening... ... Now I'm seriously knackered. I'm trying to work out how I'm going to prepare the huge Centurion order AND do all the other things we're supposed to be doing this weekend. Sadly, something has to give... Going to bed. Too tired to even think.

OKAY...

... We are pretty much over the trauma of Rose's surgery. The operation went smoothly. Lump removed. Fortunately, although it was quite sizeable, it was positioned more favourably than first feared and, although the scar looks pretty unsightly right now, it should heal up more quickly than if it had been on her elbow. I have to say, that she has been a little trooper. The first night was difficult. She and I slept downstairs and she whimpered all night long, so neither of us had much sleep, but I couldn't have left her. I think she was traumatised by the whole thing to be honest. Lily has been amazing. She hasn't pestered Rose, she coped without her sister on the day of the operation with no difficulty. She has been a pleasure to take out for walks because she has behaved brilliantly. In fact, we now know which of our little darlings makes all the noise!! Tuesday was almost silent in the canine department? Rose returned to the vets for her first check up yesterday and was doing fine. She has since had a little nibble at the wound so is now pretty much wearing the Buster collar all the time apart from when she's eating. We take her back again on Wednsday morning. In the midst of all this, I've had a wedding cake to do. We deliver it in the morning and it will honestly be a relief to get it there in one piece! Just getting it down the steps and into the car is going to be a serious challenge. It's our 38th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Can't believe it's been so long!!

SETING OFF FOR THE VETS

Oh how I wish we didn't have to. My little Rose has no idea of what today is going to bring - thank goodness. I just wish we could fast forward and get it all over and done with. Wish us luck - but especially Rose.

I ACTUALLY WISH...

... It was this time tomorrow. That way, Rose would be safely delivered to the vet (without her breakfast!), we would have gone through the ordeal of leaving her and we might have some idea about what happens next. I KNOW I'm being totally stupid about it. But I just can't help it. I don't want her to be frightened and hurt and, sadly, she's going to be both. She keeps carrying those mad raccoons around everywhere, so I'm going to take them with her to keep her company while she waits. She tried to carry one of them up the stairs last night, but kept tripping over it. It was the cutest thing to watch.

WALKED DOWN...

... to the Central motorway to watch the start of the Great North Run. Such excitement. We really enjoyed being so close to the event and getting caught up in it. Sadly, we missed the Red Arrows because we'd called in at the Allotments to collect my cake box from yesterday and we were in the hut, hearing about the person who won the cake and how she's going to put it into the St Oswald's Hospice raffle, so it's going to hopefully raise even more money. I just hope it's fit to eat once it's eventually finished being raffled. anyway, while we were listening to this, the Red Arrows did their thing and, sadly, you can't press 'rewind'. Since we got back, I've spent a couple of hours making hydrangeas and gypsophila for the wedding cake. I think I probably have enough flowers and foliage made up now. I'll be pleased to get it finished now to be honest. While I was doing that, Charles went off to Kingston Park to get Bill's birthday present and then took it round to Rachel's in Gosforth so that Bill got it close to his actual birthday instead of the usual weeks later. This evening we're going to eat at The Botanist. This will be a first for us, although James and Claire (who are coming too, because we're celebrating Claire's birthday!!) have had a meal there before. We're not eating till 8.30, so will probably be ravenous by then! Might sit in the garden this afternoon. It's such a lovely day. (Still sick with worry about Rose. Am absolutely dreading Tuesday.)

ROBBY AND THE LADS...

... arrived at 8.00 and were finished by 10.00. Front gates on, although it opens outwards which seems a bit odd. We might get him back to redo it. The arbour is in position at the back of the kitchen and looks great there. All the little finishing off jobs have been done and we are DELIGHTED!! Just going to the allotments now with the cake I've made for their raffle and a few cupcakes to sell. Then a quick trip to the shops I think. Shame it's raining for the mini GNR and the games. Hope it's better for the real GNR tomorrow.

BATHED THE GIRLS...

... this morning. They were booked in at the groomers next weekend, but Rose might not be up to it after having her lump removed. So we gave them a good scrub and discovered that the garden room makes an absolutely brilliant grooming salon! We can dry them both together and managed to get them both brushed and dried in less than half an hour. Pretty good going - and very pretty girls!!

ROSE IS BOOKED...

... For surgery on Tuesday morning next week. I'm already sick with nerves and worry. I know it needs to be done and, in a way it's great that they're just going to get on with it and get it out of the way, but she's my baby, and she won't understand what's happening. And she'll be frightened. And I can't bear it.

THE ONLY THING...

... HONESTLY that I miss about our old house is the black splash back behind the range. It made a brilliant backdrop for cake photos. Now I need to have a think about how best to create the same effect. I think large sheets of heavy duty black card. Charles thinks black fabric. Not sure! What would be best? Ideas please...

ROSE.

My darling little girl. The lump behind her foreleg is getting bigger and we feel we have no alternative but to take her to have it checked again and, hopefully, removed. It's going to be upsetting, I just know, but it needs to be done. The trouble with me is that I overthink everything and all I can focus on is little Rose, on her own, recovering from an operation at the vets without Lily around, being frightened and in pain. And I can't bear it.

NOT ENTIRELY SURE...

... why Charles bothers to watch England matches. He moans from beginning to end and NONE of the players (especially, it has to be said - Jonjo Shelvey, are fit to wear the shirt. Turn it off for God's sake. It's not compulsory.

BETTER GET ON!!

To be frank, I just feel like having a totally lazy morning. Charles has been out and got a paper (!) I can't remember the last time we read an actual newspaper!! It might be nice to just settle down with that and a cuppa, but first I need to rush out to pick up emergency supplies for the order I got from Centurion at about 8.30 last night. Admittedly, it doesn't need to be done immediately, but you know me... If I know about it, I have to get it done. So reading the paper will have to wait a while...

RELAXING NOW!

It's actually been a good day, even though it's been so busy, mainly because I've managed to tie up lots of loose ends and think I've found a solution to a cake decorating problem that's been worrying me for a while... How to replicate head and shoulder silhouettes of the bride and groom accurately and recognisably. It's taken a while, and we've had two very different sized images to work with ( the bride was twice the size of the groom!) but we've finally managed to finish up with an image that I think is going to work. My edible printer is knackered, so Charles is going to call into the cake decorating shop in Gosforth tomorrow to get the printing done, then I can relax about that bit.

MONDAY!

... and I'm too busy to blog!! Clearly getting back to 'normal' after holidays and moving!! Had a truly hectic morning, but am not going to try out the new 'easiest ever' Rose cutter that was delivered earlier. Easiest ever? We'll see! Will be back later, or even tomorrow!!

LOVELY DAY!

The weather has been fabulous - not a cloud in the sky all day. We have done loads in the garden and it looks amazing, although, sadly, the girls are getting onto it all the time so we need to find a barrier system tomorrow. I've planted dozens of. Bulbs, and I know that they are poisonous, so there's another reason for keeping the girls well away from the flower beds. Sean came round this afternoon, and he and Charles, along with Dave our neighbour have spent a good few hours talking about music stuff and playing about in the studio next door. We feel incredibly settled here. It's as if we've lived here for years. We love it!!

COULD HAVE DONE WITH A..

... lie in today, to be honest. It's only 9.00 and we've already been up for over two hours. The gardeners are here, working on the front garden, angle grinder blaring away. Bet the neighbours are a bit fed up! Anyway, that aside, we had a really fab time last night. It's hard to believe that we've only been living here for three weeks. We seem to have settled seamlessly into the social set up on this bit of Wingrove Road and it feels really nice. Not too sure what today will bring. We've got a delivery to do and I MIGHT start work on the next batch of quiche, other than that it's a question of waiting for the gardeners to finish so that we can finally begin some planting. I actually can't wait for that bit!

11PM...

...Home. Need to get to sleep. Was a really lovely evening though Night night.

SO, THIS EVENING...

... we are round at the neighbours again, this time for dinner, along with the guys we bought the house from. This could be interesting!! And possibly, a fair quantity of wine might be consumed!

CHARLES IS...

... painting the fence. Not the new fence. That's been treated already and we quite like the way it looks. No, he's painting the old fence outside the kitchen door that has just been exposed when the shrubs were removed yesterday.. The arbour is going to go up against it, so there won't be much of it on show, but it'll look better and be more protected from the elements now. It's a bit of a grey afternoon. Lily is snuggled up in the lounge, fast asleep under her Scruffs comforter. Rose on the other hand, is lying on the decking next to her Dad, watching every brushstroke and just being content to keep him company on this miserable day. She's such a little sweetie!

ANOTHER EARLY START...

... Although probably not as early as Robby and the lads who were on the doorstep at 8.15 and had completely dug out the front garden by 9.30. It's really exciting to watch it taking shape, especially as the end is now in sight. I'm sure the girls are going to love having the space to play!! There was a hint of Autumn in the air this morning. Appropriate for the beginning of September I know, but it always fills me with sadness. (Probably associated with all the decades of returning to school after the holidays!!) Okay, the cakes that are to be delivered to Centurion tomorrow are in the oven. The kitchen is stifling and I can't open the window because of the angle grinder! God knows how they will cool enough to be frosted! Might have to do the GBBO trick of popping them into the freezer to speed things up. Talking of GBBO - it's on tonight! Oh joy!!!!!

A PRODUCTIVE DAY!

I'm really enjoying having the Mazda back. Thank you so much to James and Claire got looking after it for me. It means I can get out and about a bit without having to rely on Charles. I've spent all day in the kitchen ( no surprise there then!) some of the baking was for the wedding cake, but mostly I was getting ready for tomorrow when James, Claire and one of James's work colleague are coming for dinner. Typically, I'd almost finished for the day when I got an order from Centurion, so I didn't start on it today, but have ordered all the ingredients from Tesco to be delivered first thing tomorrow so I can get started straightaway. Fingers are firmly crossed that the weather stays fair tomorrow so that Robby can put in a good day in the back garden!

TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

Hate it! Nothing good ever comes out of this day for Newcastle fans. Sooner it's all over the better.