Mid August Up-Date

Mon 21st August

Dad is leaving early as he is working in Coventry for the next three weeks, which means I am having to cycle to work every day, so of course it’s been raining, hasn’t it. Luckily it cleared up after not too long. Still very quiet at work, and HR are trying to find me a job with another department. The woman that had my position before me is leaving this week and apparently BD do a leaving lunch, so we were booked into the Coach & Horses at Chiselhampton. We left work about 12.15 and got back about 3pm !!! Very nice lunch, and there were 19 of us.

Washing machine finally given up the ghost. Put the wash on when we arrived home from Hartland, the noise was incredible, and it started walking across the kitchen floor towards me, so Dad leapt up and turned it off. Apparently, one of the concrete weights had finally given way, and crashed it's way through it's own innards!!!

I have been given some more work, I'm sending out tenders for maintenance contracts, so am having to work out the price and adjust the contract accordingly. A bit complicated but not difficult. About 2pm on the Friday I landed quite a bit more of this work, as the woman is going on holiday.

Made a coffee and walnut cake, yummee. (Just had the last slice as I type this into the Blog, Sat 2nd Sept, so it lasted well - Dad)

Sat 26th August

We got up at a reasonable time and Dad took the dogs out. We left about 10am and we arrived at Matt’s at about 12.00. Dad backed the car up to the washing machine and Matt’s Dad came out. So we heard all about the marriage and break up etc. Anyway we managed to get away and went and bought some fish and chips from the Littlestone chippie. Apparently they now have new owners, who had only just taken over 10 days before. We sat and ate them looking out over the sea by the Holiday Camp, and then we stretched our legs and I had a paddle, the first of the year !!!

We drove away at about 2pm, and got to Asda at High Wycombe about 4pm. The place was crowded. We bought a couple of pairs of jeans for Dad, as he has lost a bot around his waist, (Funny place to lose it really – Dad) and of course the usual socks and pants !!! It took us ages to do our shopping in a new supermarket as we could not find anything. The dogs were pleased to see us but we were absolutely shattered.

Sun 27th August

Leisurely breakfast in bed, and then took the dogs out. We went to the Stream field but before we reached the fording place Caspar had found an easier place to leap in and have a drink. We through (Do love Mum’s typos, and there’s a lulu coming up at the end – Dad) a ball for Sasha so she could go and have a paddle, but it was too shallow for any of them to have a swim. Then back home for the usual cleaning and help Dad fix the washing machine. Just thought, no wonder everything aches this week, it must have been the strain of lifting that into the car and house !!! I did masses of washing as I could choose the quick wash for most things.

As there is no room in the garden yet, I potted up all my seedlings of wallflowers, just in case they suffered whilst we were on holiday. There’s still loads of them to do. We had one of those big creamy trifles for tea (not all of it!!).

Mon 28th August (Bank Holiday)

Had a lovely phone call from Helen, she thought she would catch us before we left for work !! We have been leaving earlier than that as David is still working in Coventry. I hovered all of upstairs and all of down stairs, (Told you. Harry Potter and Quidditch have nothing on your Mum when she really tries!!) again, didn’t realise how bad your dogs are, Harley didn’t make this much mess, and of course they are always up and down depending where we are.

Whilst Dad was dead heading and generally tidying up, I carried on potting up. He dug up the rest of my potatoes and tidied the plot. We weren't sure whether or not to plant out the beetroot plants as they do not generally do much after August. However, I planted over 200 beetroots, and about 50 cauliflower, these will not be ready until the spring !!! When I had done that I was shattered with a capital K, and had a bad back, so into the bath for a soak, and an early night. !!

Tues 29-31st August

On Tuesday, Dad took me to work so I could have a rest !!! Had quite a bit to do for this other group, so day went quite quickly. We hadn't had our roast lamb over the weekend, and whilst I was cooking that, I made two pillow cases from that cream material we bought, they will go in the caravan as extra support in the evening.

Still cycling to work and still shattered. At the Gym on Wednesday night I ached all over and was so tired we thought we would have an early night. Big mistake - tossed and turned until about 12.00, and then kept waking up. The alarm goes off at 5.50 and Dad gets up and takes the dogs out, which he finds the hardest part of all at the moment. Still they are very good until I come home and let them out.

Well we are now up to date. You must tell me how much food they give you, so I can cut down my portions as well !!! Jen is off to Sri Lanka on Sunday so will not be going to the Gym for 3 weeks !!!

That’s it for now, more to come next week.

Love Mum, and Dad.