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!