Category Archives: Our Home

House, Garden you name it, its in here!

Spa Day!

Yesterday was St. George’s Day, Patron Saint of England! I missed it!!

Here is Miss Floof, defloofed!!! She looks so much better and smells alot better too! She was very good at her Spa and when she got home, after being out for necessary duties, got a Bonio biscuit!

I am busy trying to catch up with home jobs as I am so far behind. In fact I have cancelled my haircut tomorrow to try and get on top of things. One thing that does wind me up is when our home is in chaos, The old saying of “Tidy House, Tidy Mind” certainly applies to me!

Off to get some more washing done and then down to the basket of ironing! Have a Wonderful Wednesday, half way through the week.

Hugs & Love, Susie & Skinny Coco xx

Chaos!

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I blink and I miss a week! I don’t know where last week went but I do know it was chaos (Warning Picture Heavy Post!)

DH and I had a lovely time in London. We went down on Thursday November 9th and met a friend for lunch and then had dinner in Covent Garden, which was all decked out for Christmas.

An old bus transformed into a Gin Bar outside the Transport Museum at Covent Garden. I am reliably informed by DH that this is the sort of bus he and his friends went to school on!

The decorations inside one of the halls in Covent Garden, they are different every year.

There were some musicians playing classical music when we arrived and we thought it would be great whilst we got a coffee, until the woman arrived to sing Opera, she was not very good!

This is a display window of an old fashioned toy store which actually covers up the fire fighting equipment!

This was above where we sat with our coffee, it reminded me of a Christmas Minion! We sent it to the Boys!

Thursday evening we ate dinner in Covent Garden at Brown’s.

Which is next door to the Noel Coward Theatre.

This is one of hundred’s of pubs across London but just in Covent Garden.

Friday we had a nice relaxing day. We did pop out to do a bit if Christmas shopping and went to my favourite store, Fortnum & Mason who were also ready for Christmas.

It was busy but not as busy as it will be nearer to the big day! Sometimes you cannot move in the store for people!

Saturday was the day we were going to see the Harry Potter Play, which starts where the last film ended. However there was going to be a huge demonstration in the capital on the Saturday, part of which was going pass the end of the road that our hotel is on. We decided to leave at 11.30am to get to the theatre for the performance at 2.00pm just in case. Good job we did as we were not far from where we were going when three police vans pulled up along side the taxi and lots of Police came pouring out heading in the direction we were going! It did not last long and the road opened again but well it always happens to DH and I.

There as this little pub just across the road from the theatre so we had a drink and snack in there until it was time to queue to get in.

It was a typical London pub!

Because of the Stop Oil people invading the stage at one of the other theatres, we had to have our bags searched thoroughly, we were then wanded and our tickets checked before we even got in the theatre! The Play is split into two parts so we went to the afternoon performance, went round the corner to a lovely Italian restaurant for dinner and then back to the theatre for the evening performance!

Was it worth it? Yes we liked the play although DH thought it was a bit long winded. What was very good were the special effects to create the “magic”. Very hard to do live but so easy to do on film with CGI. It was a long day and we didn’t get back to the hotel until 10.00pm.

We had tea by the fire.

Sunday was of course Rememberance Sunday and we watched on TV but could here the Guns and band from the hotel which was great. We left the hotel afterwards when the roads had re-opened.

Eldest was on parade with the Fire Service in Ashbourne where he is an on-call fire fighter. We said when we saw this that he looks about twelve with the hat on!!!

It was back down to earth with a bump on Monday morning with work and everything else that needed doing. It is always the same when you have a holiday! Last week flew by work. Jayne and I got to have lunch on Tuesday which was very nice but the rest of the week was busy with work. The weekend DH was at Matlock swimming pool for a swimming open both days. I got quite a bit done but still need to finish some jobs off. As DH told everyone at the Open yesterday it is only five weeks to Christmas! OMG!!!!

Have a wonderful week you lovely lot!

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

PS Coco is not here for the next two weeks, she is on her holidays too, as the plumbers started today doing the new bathroom! I cannot wait although I think it is going to be a long two weeks!!!

The Universe Is Having A Laugh!

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I think the Universe has it in for us at the moment! You know how you go along and everything is fine and then suddenly you get weeks of things just not being right, well last week was one of those! The week started off well enough when Jayne and I went out for a very nice lunch and a lovely catch up. Then I was with Eldest at his work to get his jobs done and then Thursday I was having a much needed haircut!

We are still having to cope with the bathroom only having our bath, shower and sink in it as the Plumbers cannot start the work until the end of November. We are still waiting for the Plasterer to come and fix the ceiling and Friday the Roofer should have been here to do the roof. However all last week they were warning us of the Storm Babet (silly name) which could affect us over the weekend.

Thursday evening it started to rain and never stopped until midday on Saturday! The laugh is that our water authority had been sending out emails saying we needed to conserve water still as the stocks were only 75% full! Well after last week we don’t need anymore water! We are very fortunate as we live on a hill and I am so glad we do because here is what happened.

This is the River Derwent which runs to the south of our village. This is where it runs through the centre of Derby. By the end of Friday you could not see the steps.

This is the road leading into the city centre which they closed at 2.00pm as it was completely flooded.

This is in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The above picture and below are our village. Above the curly bit with the trees around it is the river and you can seen how it has burst and taken over the fields. It is meant to do this as it is the floodplain.

The big green area is the village park where the Carnival is held and the road in front of it so the water did not quite get there.

This is where Youngest used to work in Derby and as you can see the water is very high here and it is still like that today!

In the midst of all this I get a phone call from Eldest to say that he is on his way in a police car to the Hospital as he managed to fall over going to a fire call and dislocated his other shoulder! With all the flooding I had not been intending on going out but went to the hospital and after waiting for an hour to try and park found him in A&E. Yes he had dislocated it! They got it put back and then I took him home! DH came over as his event on Friday evening had been cancelled and so had the Saturday evening one as well because of all the chaos! I didn’t get all my home jobs done because of spending three hours at the hospital and then helping him and Suzie sort out at home. Saturday was chaos as well and Sunday we did manage to go out with our friends for Sunday lunch which was great after all of this!

I am now running to catch up with everything this week! Friday we are out with another set of friends and Saturday we are having a family dinner as it is DH’s Birthday on Sunday but he is out then at another swimming event (!). I think it is going to be like this from now until Christmas!

How is your week going?

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx

Living in an Oven!

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It topped out at 104°F yesterday and it was just dreadful! I did the least amount I could and Coco just lay on the cool tiles all day! As I say I know there are places which are far hotter but in the UK we are not geared up for it. We had fans going and all it seemed to do was move the hot air around!!

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Coco’s Corner

Yesterday was so hot I just was asleep most of the day with Mom!!!

The other day Mom said I was looking a bit scuffy mut so she brushed me!!! I am not very happy with the brush but Mom still keeps brushing me anyway. She took these pictures because she knew that within five minutes I would look a scruffy mut again!!!

Mom also keeps mentioning this spa day I will be going to eventually and that she wishes good luck to the ladies, it is so nice of her! I am sure I will be really good when I go!!!!!

I have not been on any walks since the heat hit and just been in the garden but Mom won’t let me stay out either because it is too warm! I also got ice cubes in my water bowl but they did not last very long in the heat!!!

Today is a little cooler but still warm but it is going to cool down over the next few days!

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I have abandoned getting jobs done because of the heat and just doing the minimum, it is going to be cooler next week so will get things done then. Tomorrow is home jobs and shopping and then Friday I am out running errands and I am going with DH in the evening as he sets things up for the weekend to have a look at the new pool. Over the weekend I am going to be doing some quilting; Christmas in July!!!! Even though it is hot I will be dreaming of snow and hot chocolate!!!

Stay Cool in this weather. Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx

That Was The Week That Was!

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Last week passed in a blur of work and trying to get things sorted. Nothing major going on just lots of jobs!!! “That Was The Week That Was” was an old TV show in the UK during the 1960’s, I just thought the phrase was appropriate for last week!

DH and I were out on Thursday for work and also managed to catch up with a work colleague who had retired and he and his wife have not long moved to a new home and we called to see them. Their new home is actually built into the hillside and looks a little like a Hobbit home. It really is amazing and although very modern which I don’t usually like, it is really designed well. We then called to see our Boys Godparents and had a lovely catch up with them too.

The weekend passed in a blur of getting jobs done and Youngest was at the Hospital yesterday to have his mole removed, so he will be at home with me for the next two weeks. The removal went well although it was quite large and situated on his spine. They are testing to make sure it is okay but the Consultant did not think it would be a problem, it is just the healing process now and also because of his job they do not want him bending, hence the two weeks off.

Now I know that there are lots of places in the World hotter than this but for us in the UK this is REALLY HOT! Above is today’s top temperatures this afternoon and tomorrow below:

As you can see even hotter! We in the UK are just not geared up for this heat unlike hotter countries, certainly in our homes as we do not have air conditioning. All we have are fans doing battle with the heat! Of course it is only due to last today and tomorrow and by Wednesday it will be back to 70° so we will be wearing jumpers by then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is this morning’s job before it gets too hot and I also have some business work I need to do before again it gets bad. Jayne and I were due to go out for lunch tomorrow but have moved it to next week now as businesses are talking about closing so we thought it best and also to not be out in a car during the worst of the heat!

It is always the same though in the UK we get a few days of some extreme weather and the Government and Media become Chicken Licken running around shouting the sky is falling!!!! As I say by Wednesday it will be back to our normal summer temps and raining of course!!!

After finishing the two quilts I am now sorting out my quilting and trying to put aside what I want to take with me on holiday. I like this process of sorting out things and getting things tidy again even if it is all tucked away at the moment! I am hoping this coming weekend to do a bit more quilting and am aiming for a “Christmas in July” quity weekend, well that’s the plan. DH is out all weekend at the new 50m swimming pool in Derby which has just opened. The event is to see how things go and if anything needs to be sorted out before hosting a major competition there, so that should be fun. I am going on Friday evening to have a look see!

Coco went with Eldest to his business on Saturday and he got out to open the gates and this was the face looking at him, as if to say “and where do you think you are going without me!”!!!!!!!!! She had a great day and came home around 4.00pm exhausted!!!

Still got lots of jobs to get done which I am trying to sort out this week, especially as it is going to be so warm!!! I hope you lovely lot have a great week and stay cool if you are having top temperatures too.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

Plans.

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On the back of yesterday I have been making plans for my Spring Cleaning! DH helps out, especially with the moving of the furniture and it does go quicker with the two of us and I have lost a weekend. So the plans are getting up early this weekend and next to get all the jobs done!

I will be getting all the extra washing sorted out too, cushion covers, curtains, throws, bed protectors etc washed and out of the line. We are due to have a warm and sunny weekend.

I also use it as an opportunity to declutter things. If I haven’t used it in the past year I recycle it to our local charity shop. When my Mom passed I was still living at home and I had to find certain legal papers and it was an absolut nightmare. My Parents had lived in our home for twenty five years and I don’t think my Mom had ever thrown anything away. Then when my Grandmother passed DH and I had to clear her home out and she had lived there with my Grandfather and her mother, so there were in effect two homes. It took us weeks and weeks to get it done so I am determined that I will not have that happen in our home. My good friend Susan has had to go through the same thing and has also vowed to declutter her things too! Perhaps we should set up a Blog Hop of decluttering!!!

Of course we have lots of boxes in the attic stored with the Boys baby things and toys which eventually will go to their homes when they have them!!!!!

For me the Spring Cleaning is one of those jobs I hate to start and really get cross doing it, but absolutely love it and how our home looks once it is done! But isn’t it the case with any big job?

I have resorted to my list making, so I don’t forget anything and of course using my Spring Cleaning lists which you can find on my side bar. It really does help to have it all written down and tick it off once you have completed a task, I love ticking things off!! You can’t guess that as a little girl I loved stationery, notebooks and lists!!! It really helped when I was studying for my exams, I had notes and lists pinned up all over the place.

How is your Wednesday going? Thursday tomorrow with home jobs and Friday I am getting a start on things and grocery shopping of course.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

My reward when all the Spring Cleaning is done; a cup of tea and an hour to read!!!

Home Maintenance.

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Work on your home never stops!!! We did a lot to ours when we moved in so of course things are now breaking or need replacing as it has been twenty years!! The basin in our main bathroom has developed a crack which is starting to creep so we are getting a new one, which of course means new taps. We are also going to replace the taps on the bath too because you can guarantee if we don’t it will fail immediately after the plumber has been!

Another job is we have some blown units in our double glazed windows so we are getting those replaced before Winter. The problem at the moment is that everyone is so very busy, which is great for them after the last eighteen months but things are taking a long time to sort out. The windows have been ordered and we are just waiting for them to set a date to come and replace them.

We are now waiting for the plasterer to come and quote to replaster the ceiling where the rain got in and still waiting for the roofers to come and seal the tiles and clean the gutters out before Winter! Of course you do know what will happen don’t you? They will all turn up in the same week! Yep especially as it is me, these sorts of things always happen to me!!!!

One of the windows which needs replacing is in our dressing room, which means I am going to have to empty it for them to do the job! Of course that means I can have a clear out at the same time so it is not all bad news!

Today has been busy with work and I had an appointment this afternoon, I don’t know where the days and weeks are flying to! I hope you are all having a good Tuesday.

Hugs & Love, Susie & Treacle xx

Treacle’s view on the day!

Sunday.

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Here are some pictures of our work in the garden yesterday. DH got the grass cut which always makes the garden look so much better and also got up the leaves that had fallen. Of course a load more of fallen since!!!!

The table and chairs are still out at the moment but we did put the umbrella away as it was nice and dry, which was a good job as it rained all night and most of this morning. We will put the furniture away next week after I have given it a clean.

The vegetable bed has been cleaned and tidied and I wil put some winter greens in, when I visit the garden centre for the Winter pansies.

The pots waiting to be filled and I swept the patio stones. I clipped the box bush in the top left of the picture and made it look tidy and we just now need to trim some of the plants before Winter.

Next time we need to tackle the plants on the right hand side as they need tidying!

Busy sorting things out at home now as the weather has been up and down today including rain, wind and sun!!!

Happy Sunday everybody.

Hugs & Love, Susie & Treacle xx

Biscuits.

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I don’t know if you have ever noticed in this day and age of how things are updated/upgraded and changed every month it seems sometimes, biscuits have not changed ever!!!!

I was filling up our biscuit tin the other day with DH & The Boys favourites when I realised that these were the biscuits I used to eat when I was little and my Grandmother used to buy!! Obviously I am in the UK and I am sure that wherever you are in the World your biscuits are different but here are the ones which seemed to have transcended time:

Chocolate Digestive Biscuits DH & The Boys favourite!

Rich Tea Biscuits My Favourite

Ginger Nut Biscuits – DH

Malted Milk Biscuits – My favourite when I was little and Treacle loves them!

Bourbon biscuits (no alcohol in them) DH & Youngest loves these

Custard Creams – Everyone loves these

Jammy Dodgers – Eldest’s favourite

I am sure if you showed these pictures to our Grandparents and even Great-Grandparents they would recognise them!!!!

When our Boys were little, and still now I suppose, buying biscuits at the supermarket really made me feel like a Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Biscuity Sunday.

Hugs & Love, Susie xxxx

Garden Done!

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Dh and I spent a lot of last year’s lockdowns getting our garden back into order after a few years of only doing the minimum. So much so that although we have not been able to do much so far this year it really has not gotten out of hand and only took us Saturday to tidy it all up. It has been lovely and warm, although Sunday was very hot, but yesterday was back to being nice and warm and today but tomorrow we have forecasts of possible thunderstorms which we always seem to get after some nice warm weather.