Lockdown 3 - Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!  And here we are again in lockdown number 3.

Its been quite some time now since I last wrote a blog, not sure if I can remember what to do!

So how are you all?  I would say we are 'ok'.  It just feels like its never going to end, but I know it will eventually.  I am sure in years to come we will look back at it and wonder how we got through it.  I also think that maybe it has made us all stop and take stock of our lives.  It always felt like we were moving at a million miles an hour when we should really have been thinking about what we were doing and thinking of others.   I know that there are many thousands of people that are key workers and work on the front line every day and I bow down to you and appreciate all you are doing.  

I have to say it does feel tougher this time, probably as its winter and we aren't using the spare time outside.  I haven't been sleeping too well, have a cold (where that could of come from who knows), sore throat, headaches and just generally feel fed up.  I know it will end and we are very lucky that we have a garden and plenty of areas to walk, but you know... I feel like I am driving myself a little mad.  I will have to find more cupboards to clean out - there are still plenty of them and some I have made messy again since the last lockdown.

So what have we been up to?  Probably the same as most of you trying to find things to do.  We were planning on having Chris parents for Christmas Day and my Dad and Lu over for Boxing Day, but we cancelled all those plans.  We just didn't feel it was worth the risk having anyone here for one day.  We had a quiet day of drinking, eating and playing games.  It was really nice as I do wonder how many more years of having the boys here we have.  Matthew only has one more year after this at school and Simon only has two more years.  I would like to think that they would continue to come home for the holidays. I think Teddy has his eye on one of their bedrooms! 😂

The boys are both at home doing live lessons until at least half term and could be for the whole term the way things are going.  Their school has come up trumps and keeping them busy, which we are just so grateful for.  Simon has had his exams cancelled for this year, like Matthew last year.  Matthew has had his AS exams cancelled.  Hopefully, they have done enough work for them to grade them on - I am sure Simon has, but Matthew has only been doing his A levels since September.  I have to keep telling myself that everyone is in the same boat.  I do feel for parents with younger children of varying ages that they are having to home school, it must be very stressful.  I have got it rather easy - the only problem we sometimes have is our internet - me working from home and both boys on live lessons, it doesn't work well with a slow connection.

We have just started decorating the last room in the house.... only started all the decorating last January!  The lounge is having a makeover.  Its been a few years and when we last decorated we kept the same colours as previously.  As I started this blog on Friday evening and just finished it on Sunday, I can confirm that we have now finished the lounge.  My back is telling you it is definitely finished as it's not happy this evening. I will post some pictures later.  I am really looking forward to it as it was getting really tired and I want to move the room around a bit, although we are not sure how to achieve that as the room is long and thin.

We have been going on a daily walk still with Teddy.  He got a lovely present in the post today (Friday) - a friend sent him a new coat.  He wore it out on his walk today as it was just so cold. It needed a bit of a clean when we got back but at least he was kept warm.  He has to have a shower every day lately as the pathways are just so wet and muddy.  He still loves jumping ditches although when we went out for a walk Christmas Eve there had been so much rain, the ditches were so full and moving so fast we thought he was going to be swept along.  He has been going and seeing some friends twice a week for a while now and absolutely loves it.  He gets collected and taken to a paddock 5 miles away and runs around for about an hour.  He did get into trouble one week when he pinned down another dog - apparently, that was a one-time thing, it hasn't happened again since. He is a little monkey, he really is.  Teddy has turned 2 since I last blogged - picture below of him opening his birthday present.

I was lucky that my Birthday was when we were able to do more.  We went to the local restaurant/pub for an amazing meal at the weekend before and then went out to Prezzo on my actual Birthday and had a few cocktails.  We managed to get to Felixstowe for a walk along the front and the Christmas lights were all on.  Many years ago my parents used to drive us into London to see the Christmas lights on my Birthday, used to be one of the highlights.

We have been trying lots of new recipes out again lately.  We still have our subscription to BBC Good Food Magazine and this months edition has some delicious main meals. Matthew has still been baking a little, but since Christmas has given himself a rest, so I have had to take over.  It does feel like that's all we think about - what are we eating for tea or what can we make for pudding.  We tend to have a pudding every night, which we didn't use to do.

Along with Teddy's lovely coat I got a card from my firne and in that card was something that she had also seen and passed on - 

Not Everything is cancelled

Love is not cancelled

Relatives are not cancelled

Reading is not cancelled

Naps are not cancelled

Devotions are not cancelled

Music is not cancelled

Dancing is not cancelled

Kindness is not cancelled

Conversations are not cancelled

Hope is not cancelled

Makes you think doesn't it!

As you can see we have put our Christmas decorations away and the tree has had its cling film treatment!  We have been putting it away like this for the last 4 years and really does save so much time each year and doesn't feel like such a task to put all the decorations up.

Here are a few photos from what we have been doing recently - as you can see not a lot!!

I hope you all stay safe and well.  We all need to be sensible in order for us to get out of this sooner.

Love, Nikki xx

My blog!

Gosh, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted a blog.  I sort of feel

sad about it but relieved that I haven't put you lovely people through reading my ramblings, but here I am again anyway!  I actually started typing this 3/4 weeks ago and just didn't manage to finish it, so you have some old and new to read.

So what has happened since my last blog, well there has been quite a lot actually.

The last date I posted was 18th August and we are now on the 4th October! Time really does fly and I can't say it has all been fine, which is a shame.

20th August had us taking Matthew over to his school to collect his GCSE Exam results.  You may have seen my post on FB.  We are ever so proud of what he achieved.  It just goes to show that if you do work hard throughout the year you will be rewarded.  To celebrate we went for our first in-doors meal - Matthew chose Pizza Express.  We felt fairly safe there.  We got there fairly late in the evening, so there were not many tables occupied and it wasn't on the 'eat out, to help out' evening so was much quieter, which we were really pleased about.  A lovely time had by all.

21st August was my last day at work for a week or so, as I planned to take some time off.  I haven't had a break since February, so I think it was well overdue.  I had tried to find somewhere for us to stay outside of our normal four walls, but that wasn't going to happen, either it was too expensive, the accommodation wasn't what I wanted (yes I can be a bit picky) or it wasn't where I wanted.  To be honest I was quite pleased I didn't book anywhere considering the weather we got lumbered with!

22nd August was Chris Birthday.  He never knows what he is going to be doing that day, so we tend not to organise too much.  We went to Woodbridge for a little walk in the morning after having bacon rolls for breakfast.  Whilst we were there we bumped into Teddy's sister Bessie.  They had a right old catch up (posted pics on FB) - its as if they knew who each other was.  Teddy doesn't react like that with any other dogs, it was really cute.  After a good walk, a takeaway drink and more of a walk we headed home.  In the evening we went to a local pub/restaurant, which was really nice.  Again we felt fairly safe, although we are finding that fewer places have their staff wearing any sort of facial coverings, this has changed now as that is the rule, but it wasn't back then.

Monday 24th, Chris had some jobs to do in the morning and then we headed over to Great Yarmouth for a good walk along the promenade and just to get our fill a seaside town.  It was extremely overcrowded, so we tried to keep away from the main thoroughfare of people, which was not very easy.  We had a takeaway near the beach, some doughnuts and ice cream and then made our way home.  Not sure I will be rushing back there for quite some time! 

Tuesday 25th, it rained like crazy here in the morning, so waited for it to finish and walked to the next village.  It was probably a 4 mile or so round trip.  Popped into the co-op for drinks and something sweet for our pudding, as the bakery was closed when we got there.  Our bakery never seems to stay open very late.

Wednesday 26th, we headed over to High Lodge, Thetford Forest.  The boys went on Segways for an hour.  It was funny watching them - I obviously had to look after Teddy, in the rain!  Matthew apparently fell off it twice.  The first time whilst looking at an aeroplane flying over and the second time couldn't stop it wobbling and ended up in a tree.  We then went on a long walk.  We ended up doing around 6 miles, which was quite an achievement for me.  We well and truly deserved the picnic I had packed us. It was a really nice day out in the fresh air doing something different.

Thursday 27th, we decided to drive over to Old Felixstowe.  Just in case you didn't know its next to Felixstowe.  We parked up and walked along the beach.  As the weather has been all over the show you never know quite what to wear and as usual, we had too many clothes on.  We stopped at the Ferry Boat Inn for a spot of lunch.  We sat outside in the garden and it was lovely.  This has to have been one of the safest places we have stopped for food as all the staff were wearing some kind of facial covering and they were taking precautions everywhere. So if you are that way, do pop in there.  The food is really good too.

Friday 28th was a complete washout here.  Our shopping was delivered first thing and we then popped it over to Chris parents - that was our day. 

Although we were in the same 4 walls, I did feel like I had a break, although the cherry on the cake would have been getting away for a few days.

Matthew had a football friendly on the Sunday against an adult team and they beat them, so the lads should be really proud.  Not sure the men were particularly happy about it though!  He is now playing under 18's football.  They might as well be classed as a men's team after looking at the size of some of the lads.

As we had the Bank Holiday bonus, we decided to go to Southwold for the day.  We haven't been there for quite some time.  The weather was fairly kind to us, only a little bit of rain, whilst the boys were playing on the putting green.  We had a delicious pastry for breakfast when we got there and then had a good old walk around from the pier down to the Ferry.  It was really busy, which we expected, but we didn't feel uncomfortable which was good.

Sorry, it has been a while since I blogged, I have just been so busy with going back to work, getting the boys sorted for going back to school etc.  Simon has had some football friendlies also - which had been rainy cold affairs - not sure if I have missed the football or not!!  He thought I was mad sitting my chair with my umbrella up and Teddy sitting on my lap.  Well, I didn't want him to get wet did I! :-)  As I am sure you have worked out the season has now started and it is still raining.  I think we have had 2 matches where the weather was glorious but now, it's just awful.

I have succumbed and have been to the hairdressers.  I haven't had it cut since January so was in need of something doing.  I had some little hints of colour put through it and a good cut.  She said one side on my head was longer than the other - oh I wonder how that happened? Maybe somebody who couldn't see cut my hair in the night!

Matthew has now started his Sunday league football with is first game over at Clare, which is a lovely village, although not sure about the team he played again, they were certainly not lovely.  Basically, all of the team Matthew plays in are under 17's and the opposition is mainly made up of under 18's, so as you can imagine there was a slight size difference.  I have never seen such nasty 'kids' as their manager called them, playing against either of my sons.  I found it quite hard to watch.  Matthew came up with a bruised knee and bruises down the side of his ribs and back.  The next day he got up with a sore back and neck because of it.  He got shoved in the back so much we think he must have got whiplash.  

Matthew had his 17th Birthday on the 18th September and it was a fairly quiet affair.  I did make him a cake - picture here.  This is what he wanted.  His provisional licence has only just turned up and he starts his driving lessons next Thursday.  He is a little nervous about it.  He has already said he doesn't want to go out with me as I am 'Cautious Claire' - that my name when we are travelling anywhere.  I admit I am a bit of a nervous passenger and I don't like crossing the road - where that came from who knows, we all have our weird things don't we.

We haven't really done very much since the boys went back to school, we haven't even made it to the seaside, which is Teddy's favourite place to go.  We will get back there soon.... I promise Teddy.  

So how are you all feeling?  If I am being totally honest, I am really fed up.  It just doesn't feel like this is going to end.  We are due to go up North for the half-term and just not sure if the rules will change their or here before we go, which will mean we can't go.  I just really want to get out of our 4 walls as it were, even if we only walk along the beach every day, I just want to go.  We were hoping to meet up with some people but not even sure if we can do that due to numbers!  Fingers crossed it all works out.

As I have been fed up I have decided to take up a little hobby.  I hope to be able to share it with you on my next blog.  

I have included various images of what we have been doing and seeing since I last posted a blog.

Sorry its been so long, I won't leave it so long next time!

You all take care and stay safe.

Nikki

x

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

PS excuse the layout. Blogger have changed the way you use it and now I remember why I didn't finish it last time!  Its really isn't very good.

My Weekly Blog - Day 143 to 149

So here we are and another weekly blog.

Very much like last week, we haven't got a lot to report.

As you can see Matthew has been busy baking again this week.  We have had a lovely Lemon cake Chocolate Eclairs (Simon helped with these) and some sun-dried tomato spiral bread.  He does get a bit frustrated along the way, but he gets there in the end, bless him.  He also made a delicious chilli last night for our tea as I wasn't feeling 100%.

I have started getting my headaches again, not really sure why.  I had them for a few months and then they disappeared, but have come back again.  I don't feel particularly stressed but I am getting a bit more frustrated with the situation again.  I have next week away from work, just to have a rest really, as I haven't had any proper time off since February, so it feels long overdue.  I did try looking for somewhere for us to go and stay but there isn't anywhere fairly local, which is really frustrating.  I don't want to go anywhere further than around 1hr-1 1/2 away as Chris may need to come and go, but there isn't anything at all around.  I just want to walk along the beach a few times a day, not asking for a lot honestly.  We will probably just go out for days and we have a Birthday next Saturday but he will probably be working.

So Thursday is the day we are meant to be going and collecting Matthew's GCSE results - just wondering if that will still be happening.  Not heard anything different as yet, so I assume we just need to turn up as already organised.  Sounds like they have had a bit of a nightmare organising them.  They have had since the end of March to get this organised, but maybe too many 'cooks' getting involved.  As often happens the left-hand doesn't know what the right is doing.  Its a shame this is causing so much stress to a lot of people.

The weather has certainly changed since this time last week.  We had a really big downpour yesterday - 17mm in around 30 minutes.  We have still been going on our walks, even in the rain.  Tonight was really nice and we actually saw other people out.  At the beginning of lockdown, we saw lots of people, but in the past 2-3 months, there have been hardly any.  

Teddy has been up to his usual tricks this past week.  Obviously working is extremely tiring work, so he decided to hide under my desk and have a rest on the treadmill!  That dog is just hilarious.  He hates thunder and barks at, hates birds so chases them, hates helicopters so barks at them, but what is does like is his new food.  He is now on a muesli mix and can't wait for dinner time.

So until next week, please all stay safe and keep your distance.

Day 136 to 142 of my weekly blog

Well, what a very warm week it has been.  Today has been especially warm, with a few spots of rain.

We haven't really been up to much as usual but feels like even less than normal.

On Wednesday Simon had a friendly football match.  It was a warm evening and they got on really well considering he plays in an under 16's team and they played a men's team!  As you know he has been struggling with his knees, but we have purchased some new items that he used and he got on brilliantly although he could hardly walk the next day!

Harvest has carried on steadily over the days with the boys helping Chris every day.  They are getting there so I understand and fingers crossed they finish soon and the weather holds out enough.  

Teddy has been enjoying the 'cool' time in the combine.  We have felt it was best for him to be there rather than at home as its been just too warm, even with his cool mat and cool bandana on.  He is such a lovely little fella.

My cat duty finished on Saturday morning also.  I had been looking after our neighbour's cat whilst they were on holiday in Cornwall.  She was such a good little girl coming to see me every night, she was no bother at all.

The weekend came and went - not really sure what I did.  Boys were all out working, so I got on with some general jobs, like cleaning windows, washing and didn't bother with the ironing as it was just too hot.  I even managed 2 dips in the hot tub in one day!!!  It must be hot as I really haven't felt like having my usual tipple!  

Work has been so, so the past week.  It's just gone so quiet, but it does that this time of year, but we do have some projects on the go that have been keeping me busy and I have been enjoying learning new things.

Teddy thankfully hasn't had another sting from a wasp this week, although he did have an altercation with one earlier this evening, we don't think he got strung this time.

Matthew has a football match tonight, which I was going to go to, but Chris has taken him as he in between crops at the moment.  We also didn't want to have to close all the windows as we need the airflow at the moment - what airflow??  

The picture above was taken one evening from our bedroom window - it looked amazing so had to capture it for you.

I also managed to take a picture of our friendly green woodpecker.  It stayed there for ages and didn't mind me taking its picture.

Some good news - we have booked to go up to Yorkshire in the October half term.  It's the same place we went to last year as we really liked the location, although the house we stayed in was a bit tatty.  I managed to get a privately owned place rather than going through the resort, so fingers crossed it will be much better.

I joined DogFriendly magazine this week and looking forward to being able to find more places that we can take Teddy.  It has accommodation, beaches, parks, cafes etc that are happy for our four-legged friends to go to.  

Matthew has made another lot of chocolate fondants this week.  I got him some proper pots that he needed and they turned out much better, but he put too much mixture in them so they started to go over the top.  He gets so frustrated with himself as they are not perfect the first time - he has to realise practice makes perfect!!!

So as you can tell not a lot has happened this week and hope to have more news for you next week.

You all take care and stay safe - make sure you keep your distance!

Day 129 to 135 Another Weekly Blog

So August is here already, but we have some news from the end of July and quite a few photographs to share this week.

So as you can see the harvest started on Wednesday.  Chris started on Wednesday with his little band of helpers (Matthew, Simon and obviously Teddy).  It has been a little weird as I haven't really been alone in the house since March, but they all went off and left me.  It is something I have got used to over the years, but the boys helping is only in recent years.  They do look quite sweet (if 15 & 16 year old boys can look sweet) driving around in their tractors.  All the winter wheat and some of Ixworth has now been done, but plenty more over here where we live to harvest.  The crops don't seem to be ripening the normal way this year, as there are still a few green ears in the barley, but with this weeks expected sun, lets hope they will ripen so they can get a good run at it.  

As mentioned Teddy has been on the combine - he likes to look out for wildlife that runs from the crops, although I believe he has taken to sleeping on the seat this year, rather than the floor. This dog is treated just too well.  He has had a bit of a traumatic week.  He got stung by a wasp on Sunday evening on our walk.  He started scratching his face and jumping around a bit until we realised what was happening, it seemed to get stuck in his fur, but Chris eventually managed to flick it off.  He has been a little quiet since, but I am sure he will be back to his normal cheeky monkey self.  As you can see from the photograph here, he loves watching the TV.  He was watching the Meerkats that has been on most evenings the past week. He gets very vocal too -  I will have to post a video for you.  He never ceases to make us chuckle at least once a day - wouldn't be without him.

So on Thursday the boys and the Tedmeister were busy harvesting and got home late.  Simon decided he needs a hair cut there and then!  So I cooked their tea, cut his hair and poor Teddy still hadn't been for his long walk.  Most days I leave his walk until later in the evening especially when it's warm. So we ended up leaving home around 9pm for our walk, Chris says you may have 20 mins before it gets dark - nothing like worrying me!  So we start our 'fast' walk.  Now if you know Teddy he has to stop, sniff and wee at just about every bush, which isn't helpful when we don't have time.  So what did we end up doing? - jogging!  Luckily I had running shoes on but my dress really didn't cut it! I did manage to snap a nice picture that I posted on FB for you all to see - please note this was only taken at a sniff and wee stop! 😜

So Friday was blooming hot...can you believe it!  Why does our weather do such weird things at the moment?  One day it's pleasant but not particularly warm and the next it's boiling and you can't sleep.  So or shopping delivery arrived with Ocado, who we have been trialling.  Let's just say that customer services got a call and we got some food credited to us.  What idiot tries to carry 4 bags in each hand and then shoves them down!  Gord some people really need their head examined.  He was late and just before he left apologised for being late - well that should be the very first thing you should do, out of common courtesy. Let's say I am still trialling them and if anything else happens then I won't be trialling them again!  They are not cheap, so I expect an awful lot more from them.  This weeks rant is now over!  So after this, I sorted out the in-laws shopping and took over to them.  My Dad has started to do his own shopping.  He said Tesco last week was quite empty, maybe it was the time of day or just that people aren't wanting to go into shops at the moment?

Had a lovely relax in the hot tub Friday night after our walk with Teddy.  I stood outside talking to a neighbour in the day for about an hour as we are looking after their cat this week and I cannot believe I got sunburnt, but only on one side which must have been the way I was standing. I know it was hot but I didn't realise how hot.

Oh, some news I forgot to tell you last week.... we have had a wasp nest in our roof.  One morning I woke up and thought it was raining, but it wasn't and didn't understand what it was.  A noise seemed to be coming from the wall behind our bed - very odd!  I mentioned it to Chris who looked at me as if I was crazy, but he did come around in the end.  We looked outside and noticed those pesky things flying in through the tiles.  The pest man came out on Monday and killed the nest.  So no more pesky flying things -  I am sure we will find another nest somewhere soon as its apparently the season for the next building now.

We arranged to meet my Dad in Felixstowe on Saturday morning for a walk.  We got there around 8:45am and it was relatively quiet, which was nice.  Was really warm especially for that coast.  Went for our usual walk and when we got back to where we started Dad said is that all the walking you want to do?  There are a few reasons we are usually only there for a little while.  Firstly is was getting too hot for Teddy, secondly, we didn't think our favourite place was open for breakfast (apparently it now opens at 9:30am), thirdly we don't want to be there when it gets too busy and lastly we wanted to go to McDonald's for our drive-thru breakfast!  So did the Drive-Thru and it was really nice.  Dad stayed in the pretty garden area apparently until 2pm and said it was lovely.  I am so pleased he had a nice time.

As I managed to get all my washing done, beds stripped and washed, I spent most of Sunday morning ironing everything.  I really wanted to get it all tidied up.  I even washed a bit of the Grand-Prix which was so exciting towards the end.  Hopefully, this weekend will be equally as good.

Monday was a very quiet day in more ways than one.  Work has started to die down quite a bit, it usually happens this time of year, but it is still quite scary when that happens.  But I have lots that I can dive into to keep me busy.  I have even started my book again, which is coming along.  I popped out with Chris to run some errands, but I didn't even get out of the car, but it was a nice change of scenery.  Matthew had football training, so they didn't get home until nearly 9pm, so we had a very late tea.  It was a lovely mixed Chicken and Bacon Salad with New Potatoes.  At least it wasn't too heavy for a late-night meal.  Teddy just had a little walk last night and was very naughty most of the way back - he has a habit of biting his lead on the way back from places.  We are already on our 4th lead.

Simon went to Felixstowe on the Train on Monday with his friends.  He sounds like they had a nice time along with Fish & Chips - what a life hey!  I think its good that he is trying to meet up with his friends at least once a week.  It can be a little more difficult at the moment as he has to work, but yesterday worked out perfectly.

Also as you can see we got some Certificates home this last week.  Simon got his for Food & Nutrition and Matthew in Product Design.  It was very kind of the school to send them along with a £5.00 Amazon Voucher.  Really proud of our boys and what young men they are growing into.

So as you can tell it has been a busy week and looking forward another warm week ahead.

You all take care, stay safe and keep your distance!

Day 122 - 128

Day 122 - 128.  Can you believe this 'new' way of living has been going on this long, its crazy?

I am mighty pleased that we don't book holidays in the summer especially abroad at the moment.  I do feel for people that are stuck in the middle of this, but we have all been warned that if anything happens there could be lockdowns, even holidaying in the UK could be affected if local lockdowns are put in place.  We all have to be aware of this before we start parting with our hard-earned cash and not moan when it happens.  Anyway, off my soapbox now!

Not has a particularly exciting week, but let's be honest about it, who has?    The weather hasn't been too great again has it.  Looks like we might get some nice weather over the next few days and I can't wait as our hot tub is calling!

Football training has started in a big way now..... Matthew is training on a Monday and Wednesday evening and Simon should be training on a Tuesday evening.  The reason I say Simon should be is that he is having problems with his knees again.  We went to see a specialist in Biomechanics last October.  Basically, Simon has odd feet!  He also has Osgood-Schlatter Disease (Knee Pain) which is a growing pain.  He had it really bad towards the end of last year and since doing lots of exercises and having special insoles in his shoes it got better and now it has come back with a vengeance!  He has grown an awful lot in the last few months. He has done one, one-hour football training session and had to bow out of two other sessions as he is unable to cope with the pain.  It was difficult to walk without pain for a few days after, but it seems to have calmed down and he is still doing his exercises.  We have purchased some special knee straps, that he still needs to try out.

We have also received signing on forms for the boy's football teams and they hope to start playing competitive games in October, subject to everything being ok.

Simon has now finished school for the Summer.  He is still not sure if he has any work to do over the holidays.  In some ways, I want him to have a bit of a break, but in another, I don't want him to have got behind.  Matthew has finally received a letter from school about Sixth Form.  He will go back a day before Simon and an induction type of day, which sounds interesting. He has also been given some information he can start looking at online before they go back.  We have had to start buying him some clothes as he won't wear a uniform when he goes back and he doesn't have much that fits him.  He is now around 5ft 10, the same height as Chris!  It has been funny as some of the jeans I ordered for him actually fit Chris - my boys are growing up.

Dad and Lu came over for a curry on Friday night, which was really nice, followed by a walk with the Tedmeister!

We went out on Sunday evening, for dinner at some friends.  It was just so nice for a change of scenery and to actually sit and talk to people face to face.  We had a delicious meal with Lemon Meringue Pie and a Pineapple Cheesecake we took.  Their little puppy kept us all busy as he is just so cute.

As you can see above we found another deer on our walk, this one was last Friday when we were out with Dad.

You all take care and have another lovely week.

Stay safe, keep your distance and wear your mask.

Day 115 to 121

Another week has flown by and it's amazing to think its the 21st July already.  

As usual, not a lot has really happened.

Matthew has been doing his usual baking - He had a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce and a Chocolate Cherry Tart, with chocolate pastry.  They were all absolutely delicious.

Simon made us a chicken korma on Friday night with rice and naan bread.

I have made us some cheese and onion chutney scones along with a vanilla cake traybake.  As we didn't have any sprinkles I put pink glitter on it.  As I am the only girl in the house, apart from Pippa I decided that I would like it to look pink.

I did something really stupid on Friday, as you know I am sometimes one sandwich short of a picnic. I got an email from Ocado to tell me we could now order from them for delivery - you had to register and wait for a slot to become available as they were just too busy to take on new customers.  So I went on there and found I could get delivery on Friday morning, but forgot to cancel the slot I had already got from Sainsbury's for collection on the said morning.  I got an email Friday morning from Sainsbury's to tell me all I had ordered was available - now that wasn't a shock as I had ordered, 4 very large punnets of cherries, one £40 bottle of Champagne and a very nice £10 bottle of white wine.  As not to get blacklisted with them we went over there and explained what I had done and asked if they could refund the bottle of Champagne but we would take the rest of the items.  So we now had lots of cherries.  We gave one to my dad and one to Chris Parents and kept 2 for ourselves.  This is why Matthew made the chocolate cherry tart with a cherry sauce and most of them have gone now as they are extremely moreish.  I cannot believe I did that, but like I said I am not really there most of the time!

Saturday evening we had some lovely pulled pork in brioche buns followed by Eton Mess - this was a really yummy tea I have to say.

We didn't make it to the seaside this weekend as we just wanted to laze around, which we did plenty of.  I did manage to tackle the massive ironing pile I had been putting off.

I have managed to book Ocado for the next 3 weeks for delivery, which has made me smile as I just never know if we will get the slots from one week to the next.  My dad has said he will try and start to do his shopping this week, but I have said to let me know if we wants us to continue as I don't mind doing it.

We got a delivery of some top toil the end of last week as Chris and the boys cleared an old concrete slab from the garden a while ago and it was looking a right mess.  So today Chris and Matthew filled the gap in and set it with grass seed.  The sprinkler then went on for a while to make sure it was wet.  Guess who escapes into the garden - yes you have guessed it - Teddy!!!!  We tried and tried to get him back in but he wasn't having any of it tonight.  The next things we see are massive holes in the new soil and grass seed and Teddy running around with mud all over his nose and front paws.  Matthew and I managed to chase him into a corner, after nearly doing the splits and breaking out necks.  I got him straight in the bath - he was filthy.  He then escaped again just after the bath as somebody left another door open and he wouldn't come back in again, but little did he know that Chris has been outside and put some old Chicken fencing around the patch so he couldn't dig it.  He has wandered around the fence trying to get in there - I am not sure how he would feel if we could electrify it!!  He has been a really naughty little boy today, I'm not sure what has gotten into him.

So how is everyone feeling about this Pandemic that feels like it is never going to go away?  Although I don't tend to go anywhere I do feel much happier that people are going to have to wear masks in shops now from Friday.

I have been struggling with lots of headaches over the past few weeks which have been driving me mad.  I spoke to the doctor and she thinks they are tension headaches as all the other symptoms I have pointed to that.  Basically, take paracetamol or the like and de-stress.  It's

just not that simple though is it.  I have tried doing meditation and unfortunately, my brain just won't turn off, must be all the intellectual brain cells I have in there!  I could really do with getting away - a change of scenery.  But that isn't going to happen anytime soon, with harvest probably going to start next week and the boys to be taken to football training, everyone will need feeding and Teddy looking after.  

We are thinking of going away in October half term at least.  We would like to venture back up to Yorkshire again - so I will probably start looking there.  I did look at self-catering accommodation towards the end of August in Norfolk and I cannot believe how expensive it is for something decent.  I appreciate that people have to make some money this year, but think that is taking it to the extreme.

Simon met up with some of his mates on Saturday which was really nice for him.  I cannot believe that they biked around 12 miles from Eye to Harleston, I was really proud of them.  We did offer to give them individual lifts but they wanted to bike, so they did.

Simon has now finished school as of today for the Summer.  We are still yet to find out if he has any work to do over the summer holidays.  Matthew picks his exam results up on 20th August between 9:30-10am.  We had to book a slot to go in and collect them.  

We have seen some different painted stones around but have managed to photograph any this week.  I have been on quite a few walks though, even in the rain.  I just wish the weather would decide what it is going to do.  Its playing havoc with my wardrobe!  One day its jumpers and socks the next summer dresses.

I hope you have another lovely week and please do all stay safe and keep your distance.
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