A Day in the Life...........

March

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:35:00 +0000

Over a month since my last blog – whoops! No excuses; I have had the time but perhaps not the inclination. Sometimes life just ticks along and the ‘routine’ just seems too ordinary to blog about….

Since my last blog Spring seems to have sprung and it’s great. I’ve just had a lovely 4 days away from work to potter around at home and I’ve loved it – I’ve started getting the garden straight again – it never ceases to amaze me that after neglecting it severely for 4 months – you just rake up a few leaves, pick up a few twigs, do a bit of digging and wow it looks half decent again. The grass needs a trim but I’m leaving it to recover just a bit longer before I attempt that.

The car has been in the garage twice during the last month – a misshaped tyre meant it was like driving over permanent speed humps and it needed a new catalytic converter which is always an expensive job but at least it doesn’t sound like starting a tractor now…..

We’ve booked a short break in Kent for the summer and I’m currently hoping to rent a cottage in Norfolk for later in the year. The problem is that the week we need clashes with a half term and the price goes up about £100 just for that week and then down again the following week – hugely annoying but we can’t choose a different week as there are specific things going on that week which we want to attend.

On the book front I read a book in two days over the weekend which is extremely fast for me – ‘Found Wanting’ by Robert Goddard – excellent book and great author. We have about 10 second-hand copies of his other novels at home I have yet to plough through. My current book however is ‘Wedlock’ by Wendy Moore which I’m reading as one of the recommendations of More4/Channel 4’s TV Bookclub show. It’s quite a hefty tome and I hoping to finish it before they discuss it on the show – hopefully I should be able to manage it. It's a real eye opener of what it was like to be a woman living in Georgian times and the woman who the book is about Mary Eleanor Bowes certainly had her fair share of cads and bounders to deal with.

On the diet front – I’ve lost stone and 3lbs since I started my diet at the very tail end of January which I’m really pleased about. I’m a long way off my target yet but I find I’m in the right frame of mind to do it at the moment, so long may that continue – it would be really nice, come summer, to get into the huge amount of summer clothes I have stashed away that are currently 'too small' that's for sure.

Day Out in Dorchester

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:57:00 +0000

We had a lovely day yesterday. We went to the Dorchester Beer Festival which was held in the Corn Exchange (pictured). It was a good event and I tried a couple of halves whilst Peter got well stuck in to sampling the beers he had listed to try from the website.

About an hour before the end I withdrew from the Festival and found the local Costa and settled on their most squidgy of sofa's with a coffee and a book (Wide Sargasso Sea - which is a prequel to Jane Eyre by Jean Rhys); I love spending time in a coffee shop and reading and people watching. Peter came and found me at 3.00pm and we had a round of lattes before having a mooch around the very pretty town.

I'd forgotten how uplifting it is to venture into a different town for a change and just be a 'tourist' for the day.

Day 2 Snowbound

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:59:00 +0000

Day two of my work place (an educational establishment)being closed so I'm doing bits of work from home but without phone calls to answer! What did we do before remote email access I wonder? I guess businesses just went to sleep and nothing at all happened - as this freezing spell could go on for weeks the amount of money businessse are losing must be collosal.

It is interesting to observe how animals cope in the snow - our friendly neighbourhood squirrels definitely don't like it and try to find bits of fence to sit on which aren't covered in snow (their poor little feet!). The homemade fat square that I put for the birds (which contained whole peanuts) has been of much interest to the squirrels and was last seen being dragged across the garden towards the bushes to be attacked under cover.

This sort of weather provides the added bonus of more time for reading and I'm currently devouring The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths which is a forensic murder mystery set in Norfolk (one of my lovely Christmas presents). I'm really enjoying it and having fun working out which places in Norfolk the author is describing. Do you know that Lynn is Celtic for the 'place by the pool' or 'spreading waters' and it was originally Bishop's Lynn before being 'upgraded' to King's Lynn? Facinating stuff.

Well, time to check the works email again, bye for now.....

First Post-Christmas Expedition

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Today we went to the outskirts of Southampton to a well-known charity shop haunt. We are on the hunt for a second-hand bookcase and Oxfam have an excellent store there. I realised whilst in the car that it was my first proper trip out since Christmas Eve - I really did need to get out and about.....

As forecast, it was tipping down with rain, but we still spent a pleasant couple of hours bargain hunting. We picked up some books but no bookcase on this occasion, although the Oxfam shop did have some gorgeous arm chairs - if we could have squeezed them into our house I would have been tempted.

We were back home in time for lunch and this afternoon have just crashed out and watched some taped Xmas telly. I keep looking out of the window for the anticipated snow but no signs as yet.

One of my Christmas presents from Peter was an ice-cream maker so my first batch is 'churning' whilst I'm typing this. I've gone for banana as we happened to have all the ingredients to hand for that flavour.

The great thing about have time off over Christmas is that you do get a lot of time to read and I'm currently very much enjoying 'Howard's End is on the Landing' by Susan Hill - it's about Susan's year of not buying new books but taking time to read what she already has (something, I should really do). I'm so enjoying it that I'm rationing the chapters to a few a day.

Well, the ice-cream maker is sounding laboured in the kitchen which means it must be thickening, best go check.

Bye for now.....

Christmas Day Thank Yous

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:01:00 +0000

Just a quick blog on this rainy Boxing Day morning to say I hope everyone had a really lovely Christmas Day and to thank all my relies and friends for all the wonderful gifts we received and to Peter for the wonderfully thoughtful and intuitive presents he chose for me (he knows me better than I thought!).

The day started with me waking up at 6 and 'patiently' waiting for the alarm to go at 7.00am and for Peter to 'come to'. Then it was stocking opening time (yep, big kids that we are we still have them).

Mum and Dad were due to arrive at 10 O'clock so we had some Bucks Fizz and chocolate croissants and opened our presents before they arrived. Amongst the CD's I got was Susan Boyle's debut album - it is brilliant. Usually new 'TV discovered' stars are given dull covers to sing but this album is different - all the songs are personal to Susan and are stunning -'wild horses' is outstanding and totally haunting - go buy it people!

The day went well, Christmas Dinner was a success (I think!) but thank god we have a dish washer! Board games were played, and much sofa lounging took place.

Mum and dad left at about 8pm and the perfect end to the day was the very welcome comedy shows on Beeb 1 (The Royle Family and Gavin & Stacey).

Today we plan to stay in our night attire all day, look at and appreciate the lovely presents we received yesterday and consume leftovers. Perfect day ahead I think....

One of my presents from Peter yesterday was a Chinese Lucky cat (pictured above) with a waving paw - may he bring luck to everyone in 2010!

Wot No

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:43:00 +0000

Christmas Eve, Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:43:00 +0000

What a day Tuesday was - what was 'supposed' to happen was:-

.)Peter goes into work and goes to his team's Christmas lunch
.)The Tesco online grocery delivery arrives between 9.00am and 11.00am
.)Two of my friends come over mid afternoon for a present swap, chat and mince pie

All very calm and festive.

What 'actually' happened:-

.)Tesco's rang at 9.00am - they won't be making any deliveries today as roads too icy
.)Peter got stuck on his train at Southampton and came home as the live rail had frozen
.)Friends couldn't come round cos of the weather

What we did about it:-

.)Went to Tesco's to 'collect' our online shopping - spent 15 minutes circling car park for space, 10 minutes at customer service desk and quite a while in delivery bay whist the drivers unloaded our shopping from their vans.
.)Called in on friend number 1 and exchanged presents. Friend number 2 turned up unexpectedly (hadn't brought her present with us)
.)Got home and had lunch at about 3.30pm.
.)Delivered present to friend number 2's house at 7.00am Christmas Eve. Venutred into a shop (on Christmas Eve - am I mad?) and purchased an essential item that I had forgotten from our Tesco list - loo roll!

Back home now and I ain't going out again for at least two days .......I am now officially holed up for Christmas

Saturday Night & Sunday Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Last night I had a night out with two girlfriends, we are all a bit overspent at the moment so we went to Wetherspoons. We got to town about 7 O'clock and the place was reasonably quiet but by 9.30pm it was full of 15-18 year olds - oh how we felt our ages when we started commenting "god, she'll catch her death in that outfit". Anyway, by 10pm we were back at one friend's house swapping pressies and watching "Live at the Apollo" - we know how to live you know! Friend's husband had, as usual, gone to town on the garden Christmas lights - complete with moving reindeer - fab-u-lous. Friend's daughters are 17 and 20 and both have boyfriends so they are at the stage where they want to spend lots of time at Christmas at their respective boyfriend's places - it's hard for my friend who dearly wants everyone at home - the joys of having children eh?

Today I've only ventured as far as the garage to get a paper and Peter has braved the cold to dig up a 'test' parsnip from the garden. Said parsnip is great - a prince amongst parsnips. So we'll be digging up some more for Crimbo dinner later in the week.

Peter has also been baking chocolate chunk cookies today (a Hugh F-W recipe) and pretty delicious they are too. Peter will blog with the recipe later I think..... a man who bakes - great :-)

I'm currently watching 'Love Actually' - one of my favourite films - sniff sniff. The bit where Emma Thompson thinks her husband has bought her something thoughtful for Christmas but it turns out it was present for his mistress (but she doesn't let on she knows) is heart breaking....

Talking about films, I've been looking about to see what films are coming out that look good to cheer up January - so far they are:-

Sherlock Holmes

It's Complicated

Lovely Bones

Nine

Old Hampshire Sayings (I think!)

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +0000

When asking my dad whether he's enjoyed wandering around Winchester Christmas Market at the weekend he came out with "I'd rather have rubbed my arse with a rough brick" - well he actually said 'backside' but arse sounds so much better I think. It's the first time I've heard that one - one of his other favourites is "it fits like a sock on a chicken's lip" - work that one out!

Wow! it snowed today and more is forecast. I find snow so beautiful, romantic and full of memories. I remember having very heavy snow in the village where I was brought up - I must have been about 6 - the drifts were huge; we went for a walk along a cleared track and I remember the drifts of snow either side of the lane being way taller than my father - magic!

Today was my last day of work before Christmas - thank goodness for that, that's all I can say. Tomorrow I'll be holed up at home icing a Christmas cake and cooking up batches of mince pies and sausage rolls for the freezer whilst listening to something festive on Radio 4 hopefully. I really should be living in the deepest countryside, with dogs, an aga and making jam all day (oh and Fiancee too of course, he'll be outside chopping logs for the real fire) - one day, one day.

Friends, Crimbo Lights & Pineapple Hedgehogs

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:22:00 +0000

A very social day; I went to see my friend Carol mid morning and had a coffee and chatted whilst she wrapped some of her families Christmas presents (she should work in a shop - her wrapping is so proffesional - puts mine to shame!).

Next it was over to see mum and dad to deliver mine and Peter's presents - yes you read that right. As we both wanted stuff 'off the 'tinternet' I offered to get them and hand them over for wrapping. I was very good and didn't unpack the boxes when they arrived, so there's still a slight element of surprise - tee hee.

Got home about 5-ish and then got ready for a very rare Friday night out. We had been invited to a 'bit of a do' for people (namely Peter) who had helped out with Bournemouth Aviation Museum over the past year. It was a nice evening and I got to see some of Peter's mates that I knew and some that I'd only heard about, PLUS I saw cheese and pineapple on sticks - now there's a blast from the past!

On the way home we called into a street where they have wonderful Christmas lights but we arrived a bit late and the house owners had gone to bed - what they normally look like is pictured above - we'll be back....

Bring on the Clowns

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:27:00 +0000

Oh what a horrible day.

Had to minute a 3 hr meeting that's not my meeting - it was difficult to minute and dull (can you have the same thing?). This afternoon more work piled in so only made a slight dent in the minute editing. Brought minutes home to finish them as I've got another meeting to minute tomorrow morning at 8.25amand our old laptop won't open a Windows 7 file - aghhhh! Plus I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

But, on the plus side, I'm at home now in the warm with the Christmas lights twinkling on the tree and I only have 6 days of work left this year. So I'll keep focussing on that!

I hope there's some comedy on the telly tonight I'm in need of some mirth.

Peter's Birthday Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:06:00 +0000

It's been a while since I last blogged - just to make up for it, this one will be an extra long one!

Thursday 3 December

On Thursday last week Peter treated us to a trip to a matinee performance of Scrooge at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The production starred Tommy Steele. I remember seeing Tommy Steele when I was about ten in a production about Hans Christian Anderson, Peter had never seen him before but had always wanted to. The production was fantastic, thank goodness they had stuck faithfully to Dickens wonderful story and the set design and costumes were brilliant - the last 'scary' ghost of christmas future was particularly impressive. Tommy Steele was great and amazingly agile for someone of 73 years of age. It really got me into the Christmas mood.

Scrooge (Tommy Steele) and Marley (Barry Howard ex. Hi-de-Hi)

The size of the Ghost of Christmas Future was impressive as you can see from this costume shot.

After the theatre we popped in to the local Weatherspoons for some food. A nice end to the day.

Friday 4 December

As part of Peter's birthday celebrations I had devised a 'mystery tour' for places to go over Friday and Saturday. Peter was handed a sheet baring some GPS coordinates and instructed to drive to each location at particular times.

After some hasty packing our first stop was a pub lunch at the Seahorse at Shalford in Surrey. We'd never been before but their website looked promising and we weren't disappointed. The pub had some lovely 'squidgy' sofas to settle on prior to a meal, real log fires and the waiting staff wore old style leather aprons. I was particularly impressed with the sweet potato and coconut soup we had as a starter. Peter has promised to grow sweet potatoes in the garden next year so I can make it (I don't think we'll stretch to having palm trees though!).

After a quick mooch up to the local church (sadly shut) we set off for our next destination.....

The Aviator Hotel

I had been aware of this hotel for a while (it has been on my radar so to speak) but although it looked wonderful it was well out of my price range. However, thanks to a special offer I was able to book a room for the Friday night and I wasn't disappointed.

The hotel is futuristic looking from the outside and directly overlooks Farnborough Airfield.

When you go through the main entrance the first thing you see is the stunning art-deco style staircase ............

Once we had checked in we found our room on the 3rd floor - the corridors to the room were dimly lit to create atmosphere and the lighting increases slightly as you walk along. I had booked an 'airside' room (I think Peter would have been somewhat disappointed if we'd been overlooking the road instead) and I was very impressed with it, fantastic views (see pictures of Peter sitting on the window seat getting ready for an afternoon of spotting), gorgeous bed with fab cushions that I wanted to take home, wet room style bathroom, robes and slippers (I wanted to take the slippers home too), 'proper' filter coffee making facilities, tons of free movies and albums on the flat screen telly - wowser!

During the evening we visted the 'Sky Bar' where a jug of cocktail style drinks apparently cost £36!! - a quick search of the menu revealed that a glass of pims was under £3 so that's what we went for. Being unused to proper hotels we had headed to the bar upon arrival, but this is a posh place and you get directed back to your seat and a hostess takes your order (we were truly in an alien world!).

After the bar we sampled the restaurant - the waitress originally wanted to seat us in a dull corner but we swiftly asked to be moved to a view of the airfield. For dinner we shared a 'daube of beef' for 2 and the beef was melt in the mouth. For pud Peter has a creamy rice pudding and I chose a Creme Brulee which was probably the best I had ever tasted.

Before heading back to our room we took plenty of shots of the fabulour staircase which at night takes on a luminous quality.

Saturday 5 December

In the morning, after a lovely cooked brecci and Peter's pressie opening, we departed the hotel and headed for the final destination of the tour. Peter wanted a slight detour to a favourite plane spotting area of the airfield where we encoutered about 5 other cars full of men with binoculars (well I presume they were spotters). After a very quick stop there we followed the GPS directions again - at one point it seemed we would never get out of the Farnborough Airbase site - it is huge!! Every road just had more and more airbase buildings.

Polesden Lacy (National Trust)

I had arranged to get to Polesden Lacy at 12 O'clock to meet Peter's brother K and his wife A. We arrived about 10 minutes late due to various obsticles including a team of 4 cyclists who's last minute decision to turn right nearly had us taking them all out! A phoned me at 12 to ask where we were and I sent a quick text back - at this point I thought "ahh Peter's probably guessed now that we are meeting them" but no he hadn't. We also drove past K & A on our way to the National Trust car park, so focussed were we on 'finding a space'.

We both thought K was a hero in coming to meet us despite suffering with flu (thank you so much). K & A very very kindly treated us to a turkey lunch and our ticket in to the property. The mood was very festive, children queuing to see santa, a band playing, part of the house decorated for Christmas, a wonderful singer and piano player and a horse drawn santa sleigh. It was a lovely day, with great company, and Peter was so pleased with the surprise meet-up with K & A.

Here are a few pics of the day.........

The rain only really set in as we were about to leave, so after a quick exchange of Christmas pressies we headed home.

It was a rainy and windy drive home on twisty roads but a hi-light of the return journey was going through the town of Midhurst which old style shops were lit up beautifully with Christmas lights and where a Christmas Market was taking place - must go back there sometime.

And the North Wind Doth Blow

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:16:00 +0000

Up with the lark again this morning - best part of the day I think - watching it gradually get light and watching the widlife in the garden. This morning Robin, Blackbird and one of the squirrels were up early - we have some sweetcorn cobs that have gone over so we have put them out and the squirrels love them - they pick them up whole and eat them just as a human would (without the butter dripping down their chin obviously!).

The forecast wind is just starting to appear so I've quickly whisked the mower over the lawn and have come back in before it gets too bad.

Whilst surfing the web yesterday I came across this wonderful website - it's inspirational on both a culinary and travel level. The photography is wonderful. www.101cookbooks.com

Reading wise I'm thoroughly enjoying The 19th Wife - it's a wonderful tale and I'm learning loads about the Mormons and Latter Day Saints in America (a real eye opener).

An Evening with.......

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:20:00 +0000

On Tuesday night this week we trundled over to Winchester to hear the author, Robert Goddard, in conversation with the Guy Pringle, the publisher of Newbooks magazine. The setting was the wonderful Pilgrims' Hall in Cathedral Close, Winchester (pictured below).

On entering the room we were greated with a nice glass of wine and quickly found a good seat near the front. The talk was facinating and I was particularly intriqued that Robert spends months just structuring his novels before he even starts on the prose. The audience asked some interesting questions (there were definitely some budding authors in the crowd)and I think everyone went home very inspired. Needless to say we purchased some of Robert's back catalogue and got them all signed. On leaving the hall, we discovered that the Cathedral close secondhand 'open air' bookshop was still open, even thought it was dark - so we had a good rumage through their offerings.

We'd really like to go to some future events (Sadie Jones is the next author at the end of October) but we will probably pace ourselves and go to one every few months (or make an exception if there's an author who we love).

Anyway, at the cost of £7.50 - it was cheaper than going to the cinema and quite honestly more enjoyable.

Weekend Happenings

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:59:00 +0000

Peter was at footie so I had a pottering sort of day, a few chores here and there, and a bit of actually lying out in the sun in the garden (I could almost feel the vitamin D penetrating my bones and topping up their strength). I hope so anyway, cos at the grand old age of 45 I’ve started to creak. I’ve always had ‘bad knees’ they crunch and grind when I straighten them – I had them x-rayed in my teens but doctors couldn’t find anything but let’s face it, it’s not normal, and I’m convinced it’s due to lack of fluid around the joints and at some point it’s going to get painful. Anyway, I’ve now noticed a sort of clicky grinding noise, occasionally, in my right hip – ho hum old age is setting in.

On Saturday night we were glued to the X Factor and new game show ‘The Cube’ (I tape Strictly as Peter isn’t it’s biggest fan unfortunately).

On Sunday we went to Haskins Garden Centre and Hobbycraft. Haskins do a lovely brecci at a very reasonable price (well extra reasonable for me as Peter paid!) so we had that first, then a mooch around the garden stuff – staff were also busy decorating the Christmas trees in the Christmas section of the store! Then off to Hobbycraft where I bought a very expensive and likely very challenging cross-stitch kit. I want something to keep me busy in the winter months so that’s my project – here’s the picture below – detailed or what!

Yesterday, we also booked up to see ‘Scrooge’ starring Tommy Steele in December at the Mayflower. I love the Christmas Carol story and Peter has always wanted to see Tommy Steele so win win really. Lots of nice things to look forward too – that’s what I like.

The Lady in the Van

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:30:00 +0000

A pretty good day yesterday I'm pleased to report. Work was 'manic'with a capital M but I managed to 'just about' get through the urgent stuff before I left. When you are not in work for one day a week it's a real challenge to get everything done before you go I find.

Back at the ranch, Peter came home with the Echo and I discovered I'd won another competition -20 quid - brilliant.

Then it was off to Salisbury Playhouse to see Alan Bennett's 'The Lady in the Van' which was brilliant. The play had two actors playing Alan who had his look, manerisms and voice down to a tee but it was Marlene Sidaway as Miss Shepherd who stole the show - she was fantastic. I love love loved it!

Early One Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:53:00 +0000

Up at 6 this morning as it looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunny day (and tomorrow too!). Lots of plans today, the hedge needs it's last cut of the year, we have our fortnightly food shop coming, I want to tidy up the shed and also do some cooking for the freezer (including cooking up our rhubarb crop :-).

Lots has happened since my last blog - my parents moved house last weekend and I spent most of last weekend helping them unpack and get settled with Peter helping on the Sunday with all the very heavy stuff in dad's new garage/workshop (and I mean heavy - one cabinet was a struggle for four of us to move). Anyway, the place is lovely and I think they are going to be very happy there. I am particularly enamoured with the fact that they have a stretch of the river test at the bottom of their garden so they get visits from lots of ducks, moorhens and swans. Unfortunately they can't fish the river (unless they want to pay the local estate £4K a year!! - I think not)

This week was the annual Presentation Day at the College where the students receive their certificates and prizes in the setting of Winchester Cathedral. We in admin always go and help to get the guests seated etc and it's a nice occasion.

This week is also my first week of dropping down to a four day working week - as I told my worried parents - it's sure as hell better than losing my job altogether which could easily have been the alternative as people I work with are still losing theirs. Peter is also encountering changes to his working patterns with his employer trialing some of its employees working from home for half a week. In principle this is great but it will depend if the employer will help with the costs involved such as heating the house in winter when he's working here, providing IT kit and phone etc.

My brother has also just purchased a property in the last week (a holiday cottage on the edge of Exmoor). It needs quite a bit of work before he can start letting it but I'll certainly be promoting it to my friends and acquaintances when it's ready. He's going to tailor it to couples who are into walking and watching wildlife as it's in a very rural location.

Although we are very much tightening our belts at home we have booked ourselves a treat for later in the month to go and see Alan Bennett's 'Lady in the Van' at the theatre: it's a book I love so I hope the performance is as wonderful as the book.

I must admit I love this time of year as autumn approaches, chilly mornings with dew on the grass, leaves on the trees starting to change colour and I don't even mind the evenings drawing in - we are so lucky in this country having such changeable seasons. I remember many years ago spending Christmas Day in Australia and eating turkey in baking hot garden followed by a trip to Bondi Beech - wrong all wrong!

On the book Front I've weaned myself off Kate Atkinson for the time being and am getting into my new discovery, Robert Goddard, who I hadn't' heard of until recently and who, looking at his back catalogue on Amazon, seems to be quite a prolific author.

Friday Catch Up

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:25:00 +0000

I went to see 'The Time Travellers Wife'with some friends mid week - seeing the friends was fun but the film was pretty dire - if a film is moving I'm usually the first person with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye but this left me cold. I think it was partly that I wasn't accepting of the film's premise at all and partly that the actors left me cold. The book has received rave reviews and I suspect it is much better than the film.

I've spent most evenings on my own this week as Peter has been at football or helping out at the Bournemouth Air Show - so lots of late nights for both of us; him travelling back from Bournemouth and me picking him up from the nights station at way past my usual 'hit the hay' time. I do find staying up late a struggle.

The car was in for it's annual service and MOT today - I hate it when it's in and the 'not knowing' whether it's going to pass. Well, happily, it got through but I had to pay not much shy of 400 squid - yikes! Got told off for having the most gunged up plugs the mechanic had ever seen and the most clogged pollen filter he'd ever seen too (I felt proud that I had given him that new experience!)

This morning our shower also decided to cease working so we'll have to tinker with that to see if we can fix it or if a new shower is needed. I can't cope with the idea of a bath every day (baths are for when you are ill or freezing cold from a winter walk in my view).

Tomorrow my parents are coming over (we are aquiring their old chest freezer so we'll have lots of room to store our garden produce); a parental visit always instills in me a cleaning frenzy so I've been tidying and cleaning all week.

I've booked for us to go and see Robert Goddard, the author, speak in Winchester in September which I'm really looking forward to. Ironically I haven't read any of his books yet but I've got some secondhand copies coming in the post via Bookmooch shortly.

Bonza Night Out

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:57:00 +0000

On Friday we went for a very posh meal at the Wessex Hotel in Winchester. I had won a 3 course meal for two in a competition. It was lovely, the restaurant overlooks the cathedral and we had a good table right by the window, the food was divine and the waiting staff were attentive without being intrusive; a wonderful evening - I came away feeling really blissed out.

Saturday morning I spent with a friend, introducing her to my favourite second hand booksale: we followed this up with lunch at a garden centre. The rest of the weekend was pretty much gardening all the way but I think it's finally been tamed - post our holiday.

Monday brought a severe case of work blues and I couldn't wait to get home today. Half an hour pottering about in the garden in the sun soon lifted my mood though.

I feel the need to book some future things up to look forward to and today I booked for us to go and hear the author, Robert Goodard, speak in Winchester in September. It should be really interesting.

Back from the Broads

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:22:00 +0000

We got back yesterday from a 2 week holiday in Norfolk. Peter's sister kindly lent us her place whilst she went on holiday up to Edinburgh with her family - we earned our keep by doing some gardening.

We don't normally take 2 week holidays but it was bliss having that length of time away. Amongst other things we visited two bird reserves (I highly recommend the RSPB place at Cley Marshes), visited many churches which were open as part of 'Open Churches Week, had a number of lovely pub lunches, visited an air museum, visited a number of market towns, had a day on a virtually empty beech at Holkham, spent time in a lovely real ale shop and went to a local Country Show.

Having time to read was also a bonus, I got through a number of books and my author of the moment is Kate Atkinson, I read 'When will there be Good News', 'Case Histories' and am currently half way through 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' - I just love her but fear I will have soon devoured all her back catalogue.

When we got back home, once we'd forced open the front door which was being blocked by a mountain of post, we noted the challenge ahead in getting the garden up to scratch again, which is what I've spent most of today doing.

I have also bravely viewed my work emails from home (all 141 of them) to give me a head start on tomorrow. Oh tomorrow, how I dread it, please don't say I have to go back to work .............

I can but dream of next year's holiday which may be on the Northumberland coast as it's an area we've never been to.

It's been a while.....

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Blimey, it's been ages since my last blog. Work has been just horrid lately, so rather than turn my blog into a moan-fest I'm steering clear of that. Although I'm not out of the other side of the work thing yet, I am sort of 'resigned' to things happening that I don't want to happen (and have no control over) and Im trying to balance the work hassle with nice things in my personal life.

The nice things that have happened in the last fortnight are:-

Family Do at my parents place (I used to avoid family gatherings like the plague but I think at the of age 45 I've finally gotten over the dread factor - woo hoo it's only taken half a lifetime then!) Anyway, there were around 20 relies there and we had a good time and sat outside in the garden and played some garden games and had lovely food.

The Garden, although the grass seems to be burnt to a crisp everything else is growing like mad and we are starting to eat our first produce -spinnach, strawberries, raspberries and lettuce so far.

The weather , As the weather has been so nice I've taken to getting up before 6.00am, getting ready for work and then just sitting outside with a cup of coffee before work - it's really very calming. Although it does make it that much harder to actually leave and go to work!

Birds a lot of our garden birds have had their babies and we are now enjoying watching the newly fledged attacking our bird feeders.

Books Have just started A S Byatt's 'Possession' and Im loving it.

Friends - Had a late birthday celebration for friend, in friend's garden, great food and great company and fabbo weather.

One minor bad thing, I'm sitting here typing this having just 'had a go' at cutting my own hair - you know the joke about leveling a table leg and it just gets shorter and shorter - you get the picture! Peter is going to have to help me level it at the back when he gets back later!

Fantastic Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:40:00 +0000

Once in a while a day comes along that makes you forget all your troubles and think 'yes, this is what life is all about'.

Today we went down to Pompey to take up the magazine prize I recently won. We got down to Gun Wharf Quay at about 9.30 and were pleasantly surprised that we parked really easily in the multi-storey. Then we wandered out to the Quay and had a coffee in one of the numerous cafes that overlook the waterfront, harbour and Spinnaker Tower and enjoyed the view - the weather was fantastic. At 10 o'clock we went up the Spinnaker Tower - there are three viewing levels at the top (170 metres up) and a glass floor you can walk across if you are brave (Peter is pictured contemplating it and the next picture shows the drop!). We both did 'the walk of terror' and the views (on a clear day like we had) are absolutely wonderful - I highly recommend it.

After the tower we grabbed a roll from Subway and sat on one of the many seating areas overlooking the water; there we stayed for a few hours eating our lunch, people watching and watching the ferries and other shipping coming in and out. Peter was thrilled when a huge grey battle ship came in.

After lunch we headed off for the second part of my prize - a trip to the Kings Theatre Southsea to see Chicago. We parked on the street and risked the 2 hour only parking restriction (luckily we didn't get a ticket) and got two seats with no one in front with lots of leg room. The show was fantastic - Jimmy Osmond and Emma Burton (ex. East Enders) were the 'stars' and they were great but so were the rest of the cast and the dancers. We emerged, blinking into the bright sunlight, at about 4.45 and headed home.

We rounded off the day, after a bit of urgent garden watering, with watching Britain's Got Talent and the people I wanted to win - the dance troop 'Diversity'-won! They were out of this world. Julian Smith, the sax player, came third which should hopefully mean he will be picked up to follow his dream career because he certainly deserves to be. Susan Boyle, the favourite to win, came second which I am pleased about - she is very talented but I fear she wouldn't have been able to cope with the fame and pressure - she actually looked relieved when she didn't win!

Apodemus Sylvaticus

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Peter walked down to the Eastleigh Works Open Day today to see the steam engines etc so after a bit of housework I had a day in the garden relaxing and sun bathing. I've just started reading my first Harlen Coben book 'Deal Breaker' and I'm really enjoying it - good job as I bought a job lot of books by this author and have about another 9 to read!

Having seen our local wood mouse yesterday I did a bit of googling to see what he eats. Well he eats spiders, snails, nuts and dandelions and other plants BUT he also loves pea and fruit crops! Oh dear, something tells me he won't be so popular with us if he starts ransacking our cherished home grown produce!

The forecast for tomorrow is sadly not good, I had planned to serve a meal out in the garden when Peter's sister visits but it looks like rain and lightening is forecast for about 4 O'clock - lets hope the forecasters have got it wrong!

Mice and Moths

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:23:00 +0000

A day spent outside in the garden today; we spotted our friendly woodmouse and also the above moth which is apparently a cannibar moth which feeds off ragwort. He had obviously strayed a little ways as I can't think of a field of ragwort near here.

Phew - Got through the week

noreply@blogger.com (Lover of Books, Films and Good Coffee Shops Everywhere!) — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:17:00 +0000

What a week! As it has been for the last few weeks my job has dominated my thoughts big time. As my bosses job has been made redundant, my job has been made obsolete - there have been lots of ups and downs, an offer made and declined, but it seems that I will now be working 4 days a week for three different bosses with other things thrown in. I have mixed feelings (at the end of the day I want my old job but that's not there anymore) but I've got to make the best of it in these economic times.

I took a day off during the week and spent it with a friend at her place, eating lunch in the garden and meeting her little grandson from school. It was a tonic during a tumultuous week and just what I needed.

Another lovely thing happened this week to lift my spirits - I won a competition prize and we are shortly going to see the musical Chicago and a trip up the Spinnaker Tower!

Last night we spent a couple of hours tidying the garden - it's amazing what you can get done in a few hours and it looks lovely again.

This morning we have 'Mr Tesco' coming with our fortnightly shop and I plan a days pottering in the garden and have vowed not to think about work for 3 wholw days.