Me again.

A busy day - shopping in Solihull then on to P & A's to do some jobs.
Keith had just finished plastering a patch in the kitchen ceiling, so there was plenty to do.
I am delighted with some underwear from M&S sale, other sale things were rubbish.
I was served by a mum of a v naughty girl from KS.

She recognised me as the headteacher!?
Home in time to save the washing from the rain, ironed whilst the dinner cooked.
Some photos from G:
 

Home again

Another exciting day with the TKP team!
It looked like another wet day in the offing so we opted for a "homestay".
Cleaner on her hols so we had a "Kate Day" - T & KP tidied & vacuumed their rooms, & cleaned the windows, to add an extra dimension whilst the dyson was in use by the competition, with great gusto & satisfaction.
We had a drink & biscuit mid-morning - the accepted perk of all those doing housework, planned the rest of the day, then had a pic-nic lunch in the lounge.(Dyson at hand for the "apres pic-nic")
We piled into B's car, planning to collect a parcel from the PO depot, then across Bicester to visit old haunts.
Plan failed when I couldn't get the handbrake off, despite it being pretty obvious, looking in the handbook, having instructions in stereo from the back seat & phoning B.
Bother.
Change of plan ; we walked to the old haunts, including the playground, twice, on outward & inward journeys, shopped & walked home.
T&KP chose their tea - sausage rolls from the "best baker in Bicester" - did include lots of tiny carrots & cucumber.
Cooked the dinner (mint in the potatoes) G to Marsh Gibbon (MG) for a back treatment, then home to bed.
Slept well!
Today may be an anti-climax, but we are going to Solihull, so M&S may do the trick!

Banbury, not cross.

Yesterday it rained.....& rained.... & rained.....& then stopped , after we arrived home!
We walked to the railway station (how I hate the term "train station"!), went to Banbury, at great expense, & walked around, in the rain.
Actually, it was quite good fun.
We did a few "Granny china shops" & played "Bargain Hunt", without the selling - we decide what the bargains are worth - all the deals come up in profit!
We had "Happy Lunches" in MacDonalds & a potter in M&S.
T navigated & found the best, dry route back to the Railway station.
We just missed the 13.44pm train - we saw the train on the platform, when we were going into the railway station, so we rushed up and down the stairs! As soon as we got down the stairs and onto the platform..... the doors closed, we rushed up to the train & were about to press the door open button when the train puffed and left the platform.
We waited 15 minutes, and did train spotting until an anouncment boomed out of the speaker it said.... " The next train at platform 3 is the 14:04 service to London Marylebone, calling at Bicester North High Wickham and London Marylebone.

We rushed up the stairs then down the other stairs to platform 3! the train door open buttons went orange; a man pressed one and the doors opened!

We found two seats and sat in them. K sat on Granny's knee! 12 minutes later we were at Bicester North and walked over the new bidge and home! 

 

We picked herbs from the garden  & cooked tarragon chicken with minted new potatoes & fresh vegetables, for dinner.

T had a mozzarella, tomato & basil starter.

 

We watched some of the paralympics opening ceremony, then bed.

Home tonight!

 

Part of this blog composed by T.

Guess!

Bicester.

I'm having a few days, being entertained by T & KP.
G brought me over on Monday evening then went back to Marsh Gibbon for a treatment on his bad back before going home.
He has a few days peace to work on the lotus,  take the Volvo for a service, this morning & host the fundraising meeting this evening.

Yesterday we had an energetic day - we walked into Bicester, pottered around & did "Granny's China shops"
We went to Pret a manger for lunch & a session on their playground, followed by a session on the Bicester village playground, then home via the horrible Tesco.
Out & walking about for six hours ensures a good night's sleep!

T says it's tiring walking around Bicester and Bicester village. I really enjoyed our trip!
Today we are going Oxford on the bus from the market square - lunch at MacDonalds?

KP says she enjoyed lunch, at Pret a manger and the two play parks!

Granny's going to be a "Sky captain" today.
It looks fun!
TV off!!

A day off.

Windy & wet today, too wet to garden, so G is working in the garage.

I am unaccountable!
I've spent the morning going through the wardrobe, sorting out jeans/trousers to just keep those that fit, store the odd pair of OS ones, as a precaution; some for the charity shop.
Whilst in the case under the bed I came across a dress that I've not worn for over forty years, then, just the once.
It fits!!
I phoned aj so she could guess what I was wearing; she got it in two.

Inspired, I tried my wedding outfit from 1995, which is a bit big.
G thinks i might wear it for D & E's wedding in May - not sure whether that's sentimentality or economy.

When asked if he'd marry me today, he said he would give it some thought!!!

Just had a wonderful lunch - note, no kale - followed by a nice cup Of tea & a sliver of b'day cake.

Yesterday I took the services at Sh and OW, then we went to a hog roast at Priory Farm in support of Elzabeth Finn Trust, where we met quite a lot of old friends made some new ones.
I had taken a large B'day cake to church, then wrapped up the remainder for friends, which we dropped off on the walk home.

Brilliant picture on the front of the DT of a knitted Prince Harry, in the buff, added to a display of knitted paraphernalia for the Royal Jubilee, in Saltburn, N Yorks.
It is all done anonymously by the "Saltburn Yarnbomber".

Take a look - I think she deserves a medal!

Off to Bicester later for a fun few days being entertained by T & KP..........
.  

Happy Birthday.......to aj & me.

On your birthday you should be able to do just what you want & be pampered all day, within reason.
I went down early, put the kettle on & phoned aj, sitting  in my favourite chair in the conservatory.
Just as she answered I noticed the front end of a small bat sticking out from under the settee!
I suspected it was a G joke, until it reversed & disappeared.
I gave it safe passage to a dark spot in the garden from where it has since moved on, so, presumably, it has survived.
I took G a cup of tea in bed, opened my cards & pressies - all brill, thanks - then got up.
We went to Warwick then on to Kenilworth to lunch at The Cross, in the old town, a favourite restaurant for lunch, on special occasions.
We went on to Kenilworth, to Waitrose, & bought beef wellington for dinner.
We have just eaten it, with runner beans & a nice bottle of St Emillion, followed by nectarines, b'day cake & coffee.
I made a v small cake for us & a large one for after Church tomorrow as Mary W's b'day was on Monday.

We've watched "Parade", I think, with Dom Cumberbach, on BBC i player.
Weird.

Services at Sh & OW in the morning then on to a Hog Roast at Manley's in aid of the Eliz Finn Trust, formerly, The Distressed gentlefolks association", which supported cousin Vine when she needed help.

A lot of rain today, on & off.
August isn't normally this wet, is it? 

Another fine day.

Up at 6.30am yesterday, finished the ironing then spent the day in the garden, until 7.30pm, so two reasons for not blogging
1. too tired/fell asleep after dinner
2. anticipated ridicule from family for enjoying such an uneventful day.
Result : laundry clear, all borders around the house pristine, including the one under the front hedge, & hedge face cut.
Now need some more plants to soften the brown!

Sitting in the kitchen (not scullery!), in the sunshine, to write a sermon for Sunday.
Feeling v pleased with myself as I have lost 21lb since going to Vietnam & am wearing a new short skirt, that was too tight before, having scrubbed up at length, right down to the body exfoliator - tube of cream with a high sand content, to abbraise with in the shower.
Must have been a freebie!
This micro-gardening takes it's toll on the knees - any suggestions?

Sermon on birthdays/joys of maturity coming on.
Article in Fri DT - those with faith have fewer mental health problems, so there.