Life!

I took the old Fiesta over to Carolyn's - free parking anyway.  Got the paper chase underway for the log book to get it taxed.  Went home on the bus and tube - with a flask of honey and lemon from Carolyn.  Felt really awful with my cold and had another early night.  Not much better on Friday - although went to the fitness class. We had internet problems so it was difficult to get stuff done that I needed to do.  Didn't go ringing and had another early night dosed up.  Went walking with Maryanne on Saturday 4th - she had had a cancellation so I filled in at short notice.  We did a new walk from the Whip Inn near Princes Risborough.  We had nice weather, after early rain, but it was very muddy underfoot.  The pub did nice food although I felt the locals were giving Suki a long hard stare for being there.  We had soup each and shared a calamari starter.   Route card In the afternoon the BT Openreach engineer came to fix the o2 broad...

It was a godsend having Lorraine around to see to the children on the morning of the flight.  She also put all the stuff Amanda was leaving for Leanne in the loft once we had left.  The taxi (Transporter!) was on time at 9 am and we had a good journey to Stanstead - very easy and he was a good driver.  Amanda did all the heavy work with the trolley and bags while I took control of the buggy and Bethany. We were in plenty of time which was just as well as it took a while to check in - especially as the car seats and pram chassis needed to be checked in at the large baggage area.  After going through security we made a base and Amanda sourced some coffee and pastries.  The flight was quite full - both children were very well behaved.  The transfer worked well - and was very good value at £14 for all of us.  It was a minibus which we had all to ourselves!  Sam and his dad (Daz|) were waiting for us outside the apartment and it was good to be able to ...

Amanda and children were with us to the end of the month.  I did several stints of babysitting - just Harrison! I didn't feel I could manage Bethany as well so she went to Carolyn's.  Amanda wanted to spend time at Leanne's flat helping her to clean it out and rearrange it so that she could fit another baby in, not to mention Ifty who is moving in sometime soon.  Amanda wrote down the schedule for the day and I was instructed in the art of making bottles and making up the powdered food.  The first day Mike went off to work at 7 and Amanda left shortly afterwards and I was left on my own for the rest of the day. The weather was absolutely awful and I was unable to take Harrison out in the pram - not least because there was no rain cover for it. The first nap happened on schedule - but the long nap at lunchtime never happened.  So I skyped with Jayne for about hour and a half with Harrison on my knee - he was fascinated by the screen luckily so this worked qui...

Resolved not to make any New Year resolutions! On New Year's Day we went home - via Somerset and a couple of QPs for Mike at North Cheriton and Maperton with lunch in between at The Old Inn at Holton.  We arrived in time for the service at North Cheriton, but after the first hymn it was clear Suki was not going to settle so I took her outside again and left Mike to it.  The weather was appalling all day - rained the whole time although sometimes eased up a bit.  After the service Jay and I went to the pub for a coffee.  The serving staff were very nice but the landlady was very offhand and not a bit welcoming or friendly - at any time!  After lunch I walked from Holton to Maperton with Suki, despite the weather, and made good use of my mapping software again to find the correct path this time (I had failed to find it with a map previously).  I heard them start the QP again when I arrived at the church so I knew I was in for a long wait so peeled my wet t...

I was scheduled to ring handbells every morning for the remainder of the week once the bank holidays were out of the way.  I had thought of dropping out but in the end decided to go for it.  New Year's resolution - ensure Tim knows I only want to ring once or twice a week! Wed 28th -beautifully clear, crisp and very cold morning.  Scraping ice off the car.  Mike dropped me off at Tim's and then took Suki for a walk - the obelisk one again.  I got a lift with Tim and Sue over to David's.  Andrew joined us and we had a couple of attempts at a peal of Cambridge Royal.  I was much better than before and began to see more of it.  The first attempt ground to a halt after about 40 mins and then the second one went for longer and had really settled down when it was realised that 3-4 had been round the wrong way for a long time! So we stopped.  We then rang a QP of it and had a cup of tea.  I caught the bus back, which was a nice adventure. ...

Meanwhile the rest of the family got together in London for the big day (except of course for John and Gill who went off on a cruise to Madeira).  Amanda and Sam stayed in our house for the week which gave them extra space and eased the pressure on Carolyn's one-bedroomed flat. Amanda sent out this e-card on Christmas Eve Everyone had a big pile of presents to open - after two hours they were still at it and only the children had opened any! It was all a bit too much for Harrison! Unfortunately the day ended with Amanda and Lorraine taking Bethany to A&E where she was diagnosed with a perforated ear drum.  She was in a lot of pain poor little thing.  What a shame to end such a nice day like that. Dosed up with antibiotics and paracetemol she was running around again the next day, although her ear was still bleeding.  She had a new toy dog which she called Suki. Leanne accepted a proposal of marriage from Ifty and messaged us the go...

Amanda and Sam left early in the morning to go up to Melton to meet the removals people.  We got off to Devon in very good time and had a good journey down - so arrived at 12 rather than 1.  Wayne had popped out, but there was another builder there so we were able to get in.  The kitchen was just stunning.  Lots of light getting in and plenty of space to move about in.  It looked like something out of a magazine It wasn't quite finished - the replacement dishwasher will arrive in the new year as will the final end panels for the fridge and freezer (so the unit doors were not attached to the appliance doors) - but it was near enough to be jaw-droppingly fantastic. It even has lights beneath the cupboards I discovered to my delight one evening! The utility room was equally stunning, and beautifully warm with its new insulation, two new radiators, new back door and window and new glass panelled connecting door. The window in the small l...