Football - a win and a decent game

Saturday morning saw us scrubbing the house as we had time to fill before the football. I also packaged up and organised postage for some bits we were returning to online shops and the old saucepans that I had sold on eBay. Unfortunately My Hermes decided that they didn't like how my box was, you know, box shaped and that it would be much better looking like it had been run over. This dented one of the saucepans and now I have to go through the hassle of doing a damage claim.

The afternoon saw another trek up to Wembley, this time it was my turn to drive. We arrived early as usual, but not as early as we have been for the midweek games and it was really busy. The mean lady at security made me take my old collection of bag stickers off and threw them in the bin.

We actually saw a pretty good game with us beating Everton 4 - 0. This raised our goal difference enough that if Man City beat Liverpool we would go above them in the table. Unfortunately that game was 4-3 to Liverpool but was an absolute cracker, ending City's unbeaten run for the season.

Sunday Warhammer, baking and games night

Sunday morning saw the last of our group Warhammer games before Nigel goes back to sea. There was no Tom, and Nigel couldn't get to ours until 10 so Ollie sat out so he could get some chores done and Nigel and I played a 50 point objective mission game.

It was a close game and at 1 point I thought I was going to loose miserably. However, I got a bit lucky with my objective cards and picked up one for my warlord that I managed to achieve giving me 6 points in one go. I finally got my new hand to hand guys into a fight in the last round and they were really effective.

Nigel managed to loose Samuel fairly early on (as usual) but at least this time he didn't blow himself up.

In the afternoon I baked healthy chocolate brownies for dinner, some for Ollie's lunchbox and a coffee cake for after dinner snacks for this week along with mushroom puffs for lunch.

At 4pm we headed over to the Farenden's for dinner and games. We played who's the dude first while Kiera watched cartoons. She was coming down with a cough so was feeling very sorry for herself. We had fajitas for dinner which were very tasty and then after Kiera had gone to bed we started a game of Catan. I got to pick the version so we played one with fish that we hadn't done before. It gave an interesting element to the game, but my strategy didn't pay off and it was pretty clear from early on that I wasn't going to win. Nigel emerged victorious which made up a bit for his early Warhammer defeat!

Saturday loft challenge

I've been wanting to get up in the loft and sort it out for ages. It was on my jobs list for our week off in December, but we couldn't quite fit it in with all the other things going on. As we didn't have any football on this weekend and no firm plans we decided now was as good a time to start as any.

Ollie devised a plan that would involve minimal disruption to the rest of the house, namely we (I) would create a space in the loft by throwing some very obviously rubbish large things away. I could then put the things we were definately keeping that didn't need much sorting out in the created space, creating more space to sort more stuff out (following so far?)

So I started by passing down a load of random bits that were quite obviously things that should have just been thrown in the bin in the first place (rusty tins, old accounting textbooks long out of date, the shower attachment for bath taps, the attachments for the exercise machine that got thrown out 3 months ago, 8 old used lumpy pillows!).

Then we started on duvet mountain. I had 5 duvets in the loft plus the 2 boxes for the duvets that are currently residing on our bed and the spare bed. That included 2 very old and cheap 12.5 tog duvets and a 13 tog duvet. Now I can't remember the last time we went higher than a 7.5 tog duvet and I think the 7.5 only stayed on the bed for 4 days when we had a particularly heavy frost. 3 duvets went to the recycling along with the old spare bed and matress that had bits missing.

After duvets was backpacks. I really should throw the old broken ones away when I get a new one rather than sticking it in the loft. I think I found 8 old ones up there.

Then it was the turn of the empty box stash. We keep all the empty packaging boxes for pretty much everything we buy because you don't know a) if you will need to send it back and b) if you upgrade and sell on ebay you get much more for it (and it's easier to post) if you have the original packaging. Still, we managed to fill the whole of my car with empty boxes (after i broke them all down) for things that we either don't have anymore or we aren't going to upgrade or sell in the future.

3 trips to the tip later it was 4pm and I finally have a walkway down the centre of the loft with a large section that has been sorted. Unfortunately there is still a LOT left to sort out but it's a start.

The evening was met with a well deserved G&T, I cooked tapas including green sauce and canarian potatoes and we watched the Edge of Tomorrow which was really just Groundhog Day with Tom Cruise and aliens instead of Tom Hanks and a groundhog.

Blog resurrection

I recently signed into Chrome on my work laptop. This installed all of my bookmarks from about 5 years ago when I stopped using the PC at home and switched to my ipad. One of these was the link to my blog.

I re-read all my past entries, had a laugh and then thought that it was a really good idea and I should start doing it again. I had completely forgotten half of the stuff that we had done back then.

So expect more of the same in the future, more DIY, funny antics and maybe even the odd craft project or two.

ATDML Sketch challenge

This is my attempt at the sketch challenge.

The original challenge can be found here.

 

Posted with Blogsy

ATDML Read all about it challenge

This is my attempt at using more journalling in my page. I don't usually add lots of journalling, so it's a big difference in page for me.

The original challenge is here

 

Posted with Blogsy

ATDML Olympic challenge

This is my effort for the Olympic challenge from last weekends cyber crop. The challenge was to use 1 piece of card stock (I gutted the bazzil at the back to also use to matt my photos) 2 pieces of patterned paper (I used basic grey granola and vintage paisley) and 3 photos.

 

The challenge can be found here

 

Posted with Blogsy

ATDML Cybercrop

I'm playing along with the cybercrop over at ATDML and this is my bunting challenge for Challenge 2.

 

 

Debden 2012

Last weekend I was lucky enough to go away for the weekend with some very special ladies. It was our annual mini retreat to Debden. There was much laughing, a bit of drinking, footie watching and even some playing with paper!

 

I decided to take an afternoon off work and head down at lunchtime to make the most of the crafting time and so I wouldn't have to drive mums car in rush hour traffic! Sarah kindly offered to pick me up from the tube station and we made it with no problems and quickly set up our stash. I had done most of my ATCs before the rest arrived. We did manage to get the football going on the 60 inch screen and set about cheering on our team. Poor Soo was sitting with her back to the TV and got an awful scare every time we screamed when we scored!

 

Saturday I was very producible with my scrapbooking and Sunday I made quite a few cards for my emergency box although we did have a brief interlude for a photo shoot.

 

I can't wait unit next year!

 

Finished Bedroom

Our bedroom was the last room we decorated and the one we were least looking forward to. We couldn't afford to strip the wallpaper and replaster, and the removal of the fitted wardrobes had left gaping holes that all needed to be filled. Combined with the swirly artex ceiling in a fetching sunshine yellow, it looked awful and we weren't sure if our quick fix up job would look even halfway decent.

Before photos...

After the wardrobes were removed to rescue stupid cat

Take a look at this wallpaper!

I must say I am very pleased with the finished room. We're toying with the idea of a shelf above the fireplace. I also much prefer the furniture how we have it now.

After photos...

Look, we found a fireplace!

Garden

Ever since we moved in we have hated the huge monstrosity between our garden and next door. It blocks out all the light and harbours more than one family of snails. 

Before photo

Next door started trimming their side back, so we started trimming our side and before we knew it we were talking to next door about getting rid of it completely.


We started removing some at the end of the garden and next door finished the job off during the week. 

It took us 10 trips to the tip the weekend to get rid of all of the debris but the garden looks so much open now. I can't believe how much space we've gained. Next door is going to help us put up some willow screening next weekend (well actually helping Ollie, as I will be at work). Then we just need to get rid of the flowerbed so we can actually have room to sit on the patio.

Hottest October since Record Breakers ended

We had one last weekend of glorious weather for the summer (or should I say one weekend of glorious weather in the summer). As Nigel was home we had arranged a couple of things with him and Sarah. The first was a night out in Croydon, our first since moving here 18 months ago. Sara and Keira joined us and we had a few drinks in Yates and then moved on to Reflex, the 80s nightclub. I must say, there are some very funny looking people who go out in Croydon on a Friday night! Still a great night was had by all and we danced until the wee hours of the morning. I must say that the evening was only marred by the lack of kebab shops open at 1:30 on a Saturday morning so I had to come home and make us all cheese on toast!

We were booked in to do a wine and wisdom on Saturday night in Faversham. We had planned to go down at lunch time and make the most of the weather in the pub garden. Unfortunately Nigel banned that idea as he said we would be in no fit state to answer the quiz questions. So after a rather yummy pub lunch we went for a 'walk'. This turned out to be a six mile hike across the Kent countryside. It was a bit hot but very enjoyable to be walking in the sunshine.

There was no food provided at the wine and wisdom so we had all organised a piece of dinner. We were the only table to turn up with a full 3 course meal, even if Paul misunderstood when we said we needed spoons for desert and we ended up with 2 spoons between 8 of us! 

The questions were aimed at people about 20 years older than us so needless to say we didn't do too well. We became the rowdy table in the corner instead. We didn't come last though, managing to languish mid table. A professional quiz team had managed to sneak past the invigilators and they won the Kentish apple juice, but were very ungracious, leaving as they picked up their prize and throwing their raffle prizes in the bin! How rude! If you don't want it at least throw it away at home!

New Fish

My tank was ready for fish a couple of weeks before my birthday. Ollie went and got the first ones from our local fish shop while I was at work as he had a day off.  He got 3 white Mollys and 2 Ottos.

The Mollys spent the first 2 weeks hiding in the log refusing to come out. They would only stick their noses out to eat whatever food fell their way.

We decided that part of their problem was the fact that they are community fish and they didn't really have a community. As the water levels were holding out ok, we went to get the next batch - 5 cherry barbs.

3 days after we brought them home one of the Mollys gave birth to more than 30 baby fishes. They were so very cute! I've never managed to breed fish before so it was a major shock! So far all of the babies have survived and a week later we had another smaller batch from the other female Molly. The tank is now completely overstocked and we had a third batch of babies last Thursday! Luckily the local fish shop has agreed to take them back - I just need to catch them! We're thinking that we may want to get a fish that will eat the fry if we have any more - the Mollys are supposed to eat their own fry but ours don't seem interested.

Brian is still very interested in the fish. He hasn't quite worked out a plan to get past the 'force field' yet though.

Liz and Nic's birthday party

Liz and Nic had a 50s themed party for their 30th birthdays. It was fun to see all the outfits and Ethan looked so cute dressed up just like his daddy!

I'm especially pleased with this last photo having played with the manual settings on the camera enough to take a half decent photo in really low light levels!

Birthday Party

It was my 30th Birthday in September and I had a bit of a party to celebrate. We hired a hall at the community centre by Mum and Dads. Lynn and Ian brought their speakers so I could play my own music and mum and I spent 2 days baking cakes and other goodies.

Gemma helped make a mountain of sandwiches that was far too many to be honest.

We all had a great evening dancing away. Sebastian, Harvey, Dylan, Zach and Ryan had fun playing with the balloons. Finley enjoyed his first ever party and slow dance with Granddad. We had a great time teaching Ethan and Niamh the moves to YMCA and Grease.

Finished Lounge

We finally got round to putting the new blinds up in the lounge. Unfortunately when we opened the box with the big rail we were missing all of the component parts. Luckily I called on Monday morning and the new bits were delivered Tuesday with no argument about the fact that it had been 4 months since they were delivered.

It looks so much nicer with clean blinds rather than the old manky ones.

I also have my new fish tank all set up and ready. Ollie got it for me for my birthday. It's growing fish friendly bacteria at the moment, but it will definitely be ready for some fish before my birthday.

What's wrong with these people?

Watching the news last night with all the rioting in Croydon along with the awful fires was bad enough. We had also been following twitter to keep up with all the scaremongering, attempting to incite people as well as updates on where had been hit (there is only so much the BBC and Sky News helicopters can cover)

Our area kept being mentioned, but as they had suspended all transport in and out the area it seemed unlikely to materialise. Unfortunately we were wrong and at just gone 3am this morning the thugs managed to set fire to the co-op in our parade of shops. (There was also reports of the Lidl being hit but that looked fine). The chicken place had their shutters ripped off and the glass panel in the door kicked out. The good news is that this seems to be the extent of the damage - our local independent stores seem to be ok. Martin's the newsagents is alright which is good as they only just replaced the whole of the front of their shop after a ram raid at the beginning of the year.

When Ollie headed off to work just after 5:30 this morning he came face to face with 6 fire engines including one from Northolt some 27 miles away. All the trams were suspended (the track and overhead lines caught fire at Reeves corner where the furniture shop burnt down in the town centre anyway so I doubt they would have been running a normal service anyway)

There were a LOT of angry people out when I had a wonder down for some fresh air and to see if I had any hope of getting a gift voucher for Sebastian's birthday tomorrow (I am off sick with Gastritus, never have I been so glad to be sick so I didn't have to worry about fighting my way into work). These angry people included a lot of angry young people who don't want to be associated with the trouble makers and a worrying large quantity of people with very scary looking dogs! I'm worried that if it kicks off tonight there will be an angry mob waiting to 'sort 'em aauut' as I overheard one particularly scary looking bunch claim. I can't say that I blame them and yes, we should stand up to these people but I can only see this making the police's job even harder and leading to more casualties, more problems for A&E and less access for the fire brigade when the fires are started.

Anyway, here are the ugly scenes - the flats above ARE residential and they are occupied. I sincerely hope that everyone made it out ok.

Camping with the Keebles

The weekend before last saw us packing up our camping gear and heading off to sunny Folkestone for a weekend away with Gemma, Marc, the boys at the site where Ian and Carole have a static caravan. We had added several pieces to our camping gear to make us more self sufficient including a camping stove, kettle, table and funky new moon chairs.

The weekend didn't get off to the best start as I was almost taken out on the M20 by a foreign lorry and unfortunately the postcode for the campsite doesn't actually take you to the location of the campsite when you plug it into your satnav. After a couple of phone calls to Gemma and several wrong turnings I finally arrived! Ollie caught the high speed train after work and me and Gemma picked him up from the station after a trip to Sainsburys for essentials. (Chocolate buttons and cake!)

The site was lovely. Nothing like I was expecting. When Ollie told me that the campsite was halfway up a cliff I was really worried. We've done camping by the sea with no protection from the wind and it wasn't fun! But this was completely different. The site was broken up into tiny areas on loads of different levels, all protected by trees and shrubs and felt very private. The views were amazing.

Friday night we pitched our tent and had a very nice BBQ. Unfortunately the guys pitched just above us also had a very nice BBQ and a few bevvies and were making noise until gone 3am! Then the boys got up at just after 5 so all in all very little sleep was had.

We were still determined to make the most of the day though and packed up our picnic and headed off to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway. I hadn't been since I was small and there were lots that I hadn't seen.

We went in the model railway at New Romney and then hopped on the train to Dungeness.

We thoroughly upset some miserable old bid by getting in a carriage with her and she huffed about it all the way to Dungeness before trying to get out before the train had stopped, managing to shut her head in the door as she did so!

We stayed on the train back to New Romney to eat our picnic in the play park.

It was then back on the train towards Hythe. We decided that we didn't want to spend the extra 40 minutes on the train for 20 minutes watching the turntable so got off at Dymchurch leaving Ian, Carole and Zach on the train. We spent a fun 45 minutes putting 2ps in the machines in the amusement arcade. Harvey managed to win the phone charm I had been working on.

Then it was off to the beach. We hadn't got any beach gear so we sat and had a drink and a snack and the boys went off with Marc and Ollie to play long jump across the breakwater. I had to have a go as well but managed to loose my sunnies on my first jump and stamped on them while trying to avoid them. Luckily the sand was soft and they just sunk, no damage done.

Donkeys on the beach

Once we had meet Ian, Carole and Zach it was time to hop back on the train and go home for our fish and chips for tea. We walked off our fish and chip supper by a climb to the top of the cliff. It was quite hard going as it is quite steep in places, but the views from the top were amazing.

It's a long way up!

While we were out some Eastern Europeans had moved into the pitch next door and we were a bit worried about all the coolers full of beer and the giant fire pit. However, there was nothing to worry about as they went to bed quite early and as the owners of the site had a quiet word in the ear of the noisy lads it was a very peaceful night all round.

Sunday we had decided to go and get some exercise, so after we had packed up our pitch we headed off to the tennis courts. Marc and I won the first set and the second set was called a draw after we were tied on games and the last game kept going from advantage to deuce and back again. Ollie, Gem and I left the others to go for a round of golf while we headed to Sainsburys for more picnic supplies.