Another day at the chalkface.

Are these mine?
Is this Lady Dracula?


School, before the building on the playground, centre front.


G, beware!

Jessie, to raise a smile!

Tim, looking cool.

Ben, looking severe, but matching stripes.

My last day at Kingsbury, unfortunately, as it has been fun.
The kids have been great & I've taught some very good lessons.
I came home (after a natter), to do some housework. I made the mistake of having a cup of tea & a scone, on the settee, & woke up at 6.00pm, in time for the news & to prepare a cottage pie for dinner. A fitting end to an excellent joint of danish pork which started it's culinary life as Sunday lunch, cold with jacket potatoes on Monday & sandwiches for G all week.
Peppers are poison to G, as close family may be aware. He suspects that the canteen at work smuggles peppers into his lunch on a regular basis, causing digestive irregularities. It may well be that I am the greatest victim in this sad tale.
G will have to have cheese tomorrow. I'll make the decision as tomorrow is Friday; apparel for "business casual" will be enough of a challenge for ane morning.

I didn't shop today but seem to have no withdrawl symptoms as yet.

A fantastic programme on BBC4 about India, by Michael Wood, tonight. Catch it if you can.
Ed Balls (education) is on the news, defending proposed closure of small rural primary schools.
He has a defective "r"!
Perhaps I could be a minister when the Tories get back in. I'll write a letter of introduction when I have a minute. Any ideas of what I should include?

Beckham has been dropped from the England squad. Ridiculous!
Would any other country not include such an icon?

Thomas tomorrow.

A full set of choppers.

An action packed day.

I ironed 13 of the 16 shirts in the laundry along with things requiring no skill, had a quick shower & drove to the dentist in Solihull to admit to my two broken teeth.

An upper premolar with a bit missing since Christmas & a back lower molar, 1/3 filling, 1/3 missing, since Saturday.

I had my mouth open & full of gear for nearly an hour; the top tooth was mended whilst the anaesthetic numbed the other half of my mouth. The molar was then rebuilt - a new white tooth.

None of this was painful, although it did take quite a while for the feeling to return. During this time I drove to Solihull & had a skinny decaf cappuccino & matching cake in Cafe Revive.

I was worth it!

Ben had a descale & polish only; he sounds as though he has had major surgery.

Go for a regular check up & avoid the misery/ brush your gums as well as your teeth.



I did a little light shopping, went to the gym & then home in time to go out for a meal at The Plough in Mancetter with past colleagues - plaice & a very few chips - having left G a tray laid up & an M & S ready meal.



I am looking for a post as a parliamentary researcher - well paid, short hours & you can work from home, apparently.

If only G had gone into politics you could all have been researchers & topped up you salaries.

Back at Kingsbury tomorrow - that wont even pay the dentist's bill, unfortunately.

I begin to sound like an expat in Denmark!

Knackered!

I have been at Kingsbury School today, covering science.
I really enjoyed the day; the kids were welcoming & worked really well.
It was a treat to catch up with friends & the news.
I return on Thursday.
Tomorrow I go to the dentist to have a rear molar repaired - not a lot left really, but I have every confidence in Mrs Hill, my dentist.
I shall combine this with a trip to the gym, a little light shopping for Copenhagen & a cup of coffee somewhere, whilst in Solihull.
What a life!

Thanks for the comment E.
Further comments would be much appreciated to give this pretty slow blogger the impression that someone, somewhere is marginally interested.

A day in Bicester.

A few photos from the New Year selection:

Seeing 2008 in in style.

A change from the sink.

He doesn't watch Jamie Oliver for nothing.

Ben, checking how to turn on the oven, to help G.

Senior & junior - both well known for dressing before breakfast!

I forgot to take photos today......again.

We walked in Derby shire on Saturday, with Judith & Peter, lunching at the "Hardwick Arms"after celebrating J's birthday with bubbly, transported secretly by G, along with glasses, at the highest point of the walk.
The weather was kind, although it was muddy underfoot. We should do such things more often.
G went cycling on Sunday whilst I was in church.
P, Jessie & Thomas came for lunch, which added to the fun. Grandad played enthusiastically, before nodding off.
We both spent most of the evening asleep on the settee, for a change.
I went to Tim & KP's gym with E this morning.
Tim was particularly interested in the cabinet containing the stereo equipment, the CD collection, the fridge & suspension mechanisms for the apparatus. Otherwise, he climbed, swung from the bar & walked along a beam, amongst other things.
KP rolled & crawled with enthusiasm.
We visited the library & Bicester village after lunch & then caught up on our "Captain Pugwash" viewing before dinner.
KP eats with gusto, wielding a spoon like a professional. Protective clothing is necessary for all in the vicinity!
Home by 9.15pm.
School tomorrow.

TGIF

Haggis.

Derby shire, Hatton Hall entrance (nearby)

Moral: wear pants when you eat.

A new word for Tim...

Borrowed from Swad public library.

Such a small book!

G finds this funny.

No, actually.
Fridays have much less significance to us retirees!
I have had a lovely day with Thomas, including a 3 hour walk in training for tomorrow's hike in Derby shire.Actually, Thomas slept for most of the trip, it was me that walked, in the main.
We have eaten our haggis, mashed swede, charlotte potatoes & mixed fresh green vegetables on the side, with a nice bottle of New Zealand pinot noir.
Happy Birthday Robbie Burns.
We may sing "Auld Lang Syne" later.
I have had a problem posting photos, so have a selection for you delectation, that I have tried to post, & failed so far.
Fingers crossed!

Home again

I returned from Horseheath last night after a pretty good 2 hour journey.
JR & I went out to lunch on Tuesday & then had a tour around the very pretty villages locally. Home for tea, a snooze & bed.
On Wed JR test drove a Kia Sedona 2.9L, & bought it. This was a good decision, I think, as the garage have difficulty getting the parts for his Frontera, although it is only 7/8 years old.
Peter drove over from Mistley & joined us for lunch, which was most enjoyable & a challenge to the kitchen with the various dietary restraints.
JR eats at a different local hostelry each day. They all look after him very well, with little concern as to whats on the menu.
We sorted out the new car insurance, had tea & a snooze & then I drove home.
Today I vacuumed up the Christmas tree needles, amongst other things.
Is this a record?
After a serious workout with the dyson until 2.00pm, I took 2 big bags to the charity shop, went to M & S for food & spent 2 hours at the gym.
The good news is that both G & I have lost weight (mass really) following loss of appetite after the weekend "yuk". I am down by 6lb, G by 3/4 lb (he never gives a straight answer).
I am at Paula's tomorrow, doing a workout with Thomas, then home to cook the haggis.
On Saturday we are walking in Derby shire & visiting Hatton Hall with J & P Talbot, to celebrate J's birthday. At last a chance to use the rucksack fitted with bottle holder & wine glasses, that seemed a good idea pressie for G at the time.
I am visiting E, Tim & KP on Mon. I must remember to find "Life of pi" & take to E.
William left his copy here ages ago.
I am working at Kingsbury school on Tues, Wed & Thurs next week, which I hope will be easy, fun, & money for............
Life is going very well

Yuk & poo!

Not one of the best weekends, as I went down with, or more correctly, threw up with the tummy bug on Sat evening & spent Sunday in bed, asleep, waking at 3 hourly intervals when G brought me a cup of boiled water.
G found someone to take the morning service & did all of the odd jobs that had been piling up.
I felt like the first Mrs Rochester, banged up in the attic.
G succumbed on Sunday evening. Sadly he had just devoured a healthy meal of lightly dusted, baked plaice, a mountain of vegetables, fruit & yoghurt.
He has slept it off & gone to work.
I have had a weak cup of decaf tea & am still in my dressing gown.
This cannot continue, as I have to drive into B'ham, which I hate doing, to go to the Tax Office, somewhere near the NIA, to tax my car. The tax ran out in September, which I had not noticed.
No reminder was sent because the tax office had not received the paperwork from the garage, although they say they sent it.
When did you last look at your tax disc?
Friends at school pointed out my failing when I parked nose in towards the library.
I suppose that I am lucky not to have been picked up before now - the joys of driving a volvo!
Do you know that "spellcheck" picks up "volvo" & "yoghurt".
Off to see JR tomorrow, so emergency rehab needed - any ideas?