Surprise Surprise

I can now reveal that our secret holiday is a week in Spain to surprise step dad John and his partner Marie. They are once again spending the winter in La Manga and I have lost count of the number of times they have invited me and Phil over to visit. This year we have decided to go and see them and see La Manga for ourselves. We have heard so much about the place, not just from J&M but also from Sue & Alan and Anne & Jim.

We were awake at 3am this morning, far too early but I needed a bucket full of tea to wake myself up. It was almost quarter to five by the time we left the caravan which was a little later than we had planned. Phil had programmed the sat nav in for Birmingham airport and it took us all round the back roads before finally directing us on to the M6. As you would expect, the roads were quiet at that time of the morning and we made it to the long term car park within the hour. It was drizzling and horrible and we were glad we didn't have to wait too long for the courtesy bus to take us to the main terminal.

We were flying with Monarch Airlines, not our favourite airline but actually check in was straight forward with no queues. We had only had the one bag to check in so once we got boarding passes it was straight through customers and into the departure lounge. Enough time to grab a coffee, a newspaper, a sandwich and I also treated myself ot a bottle of Angel. We boarded the plane at 7.00am and amazingly our flight left on time with no delays whatsover.

The flight was uneventual and took just a couple of hours. I am writing this blog from Alicante airport where we have a couple of hours to wait. The reason being is that Sue is also flying out to La Managa but her flight was from Stansted. We met Sue & Alan through my step-dad and Marie which is also how we came to meet Anne & Jim and Kay. Kay has been brilliant at sorting out this surprise visit , phoning both me and Sue and she has also sorted out our accommodation. Sue will be staying with Kay in her little campervan but we have our very own caravan with a sea view.

Kay phoned me to say that John had asked if he could accompany her to the airport to collect Sue and our plan is to suprise him in the arrivals hall where he and Kay will be waiting for Sue to come out. That's the plan, but of course there is a chance that it will all go tits up because Phil and I will somehow have to make ourselves scarce otherwise the surprise will be ruined. We will give it a go. I can't wait to see his face. I'm tempted to go to the bar for a beer but I think we are out for a meal tonight so best save myself for that. In the meantime, I have checked the flight information and Sue's flight seems to be on time. So far so good. Just need now to get me a broadband connection now so that I can publish.

Contemplating life on a Saturday night (as you do)

I have been thinking a lot about life and death just recently and my own mortality.  I am not sure if that’s because I’ve been spending a lot of time with Sue of late whose own loss and grief is almost as raw as it was 6 months ago but I don’t think so.  Thoughts of life and death and the big ‘C’ have been part of my life for the last few years; first up was losing John to stomach cancer, then my friend Jess who lost her battle with ovarian cancer, then Phil’s diagnosis with prostrate cancer and last, but by no means least, was Alan with his diagnosis of terminal kidney cancer.  And that’s not all, there’s Jim’s mum and dad and Alfie, who is, by all second hand accounts, at least winning his fight with a brain tumour.  Cancer is everywhere you turn and I don’t think it’s unusual or strange for me to thinking about it or indeed my own mortality.  Especially when you get to a certain age, and have friends of a similar age who also have parents who are at least 20 years you’re senior.  Mortality, and not just your own, is bound to be part of every day thoughts.

Or at least it is in my little mind.  But I am sure I am not alone, because after all, we are all dying, it’s just a case of when and whether sooner versus later.  Anyway,  all these thoughts and it got me thinking about me and how I would feel if I were to be diagnosed with some incurable cancer and given a certain short time to live.  Sure, I would feel mad at first and probably a little sad for a bit, but you know what, I don’t think I would be too devasted.  And the reason is, put quite simply, is that I have had a good innings, and to be honest, I’m surprised I have lasted this long.  For those that don’t know me that well, that’s 46 years to date.  To round the numbers up, I’d probably prefer to make to half a century but that’s just a number thing. Of course, the last 10 years with Phil have been the best, but that said, I’ve also packed a lot in to my 46 years.  Yes, there’s a few things that I would change, a few regrets but not too many because I think that the things that you’ve messed up on make you the person you are today and those experiences are memories, whether good or bad ( or plain ugly).  No, safe to say, there’s not much I would change.  If my time is up, then it’s up and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  I consider myself lucky overall, I have loved and I have lost, I have had fine wines (lots of) and seen a good bit of the world. I have giggled, danced until my feet hurt and partied hard. Maybe a few bad things that I would prefer to forget but if I were to score me out of 10, then I’d give me a 9+.

The only thing that I do regret is the fact that I am a fairly unremarkable person, for want of a better abjective, average would be how I describe myself.  Not beautiful but not certainly ugly enough that I want to vomit every time I see myself in the bathroom mirror every morning.  Not huge, but then again, not stick insect or that size 6 that I would like to be.  As for intelligence, that is sorely lacking, I lucked out badly in that gene pool.  I have never had high powered jobs or earnt good money, I have never project managed or been a boss.  In fact, I go as far to say, that the good jobs that I have managed to get, I have blagged or blatantly lied to get, all the time whilst in post, feeling a fraud and being afraid anytime that I’d be found out.  Actually that never happened, I’ve never been fired or been made redundant or actually really badly failed, hah I got by with the skin of my teeth.  Certainly good fortune has been on my side in that they never found me out!

All that said, I think my biggest disappointment with me is that I never had any real talent or none that I discovered.  I can’t sing, I can’t play an instrument and I don’t speak another language.  I can’t paint (well you can’t count emulsion on walls), I’m not a member of MENSA; there’s a mountain of things that I can’t do and I suppose what it all boils down to, is that I have no special skills.  I was always hopeful that I would uncover some talent but at the ripe old age of 46, I am resigned to the fact that it’s not going happen. Not now or never.  I don’t’ have any special hidden talents.  You won’t see me on X-factor (I'm thinking of Susan Boyle), you won’t see me in print (unless it’s a scandal).  The bottom life is, if I were to pass this earth tomorrow, you wouldn’t miss me, because I am unremarkable.

In case you’re wondering what the point of this posting is, or what the message I am trying to get across, please, simply give up now, because there is no point or message.  This is simply me sharing my clairabella, crazy and somewhat self-indulgent thoughts of the Saturday night.  What’s brought this on you may well ask and the answer to that is, that I am really not so sure.  Well actually that’s not strictly true;  earlier today I clicked on to one of the blogs that I follow daily; it made me a little sad and it got me thinking.  http://alrighttit.blogspot.com/

What has the beautiful author, 31 year old Lisa Lynch, done so bad in this world that warrants that her time is up?  Breast cancer, bone cancer and a brain tumour. Terminal, , game over.  And more importantly, why does an old wrinkley wino like me get to stick around to tell the tale???  It doesn’t make sense or at least I don’t think it does.

So many questions; I am not contemplating the universe, nah, I’m certainly intelligent enough for that but sometimes it makes you wonder.  I have racked my brains to think of my personal talents and they are as follows, (in no particular order):  a) I can probably drink most people under the table, b) I type at 75 wpm and c) I can speed read.  And that’s about it.  What’s so sad about these particular talents is that they are so spectacularly unimportant and the stark fact is, that they have no impact on the world.  In my next life, I have decided that I’m definitely coming back as a bloke and more significantly, I’m coming back with a talent! 

Fog, Frost & Fish

It’s been a funny old week.  I set off for MK from home just after to 7am on Monday morning thinking I’d leave early to miss the traffic but with the fog, it took me nearly an hour.  Luckily I was able to get off at the services so my first stop off was Sue’s.  She was expecting me and was already up and dressed and ready to face the day.  We caught up with a cuppa and then she had to go out, leaving me to search for a staple gun amongst our tools in Sue’s garage.  Phil was convinced that he’d seen it one of the boxes but could I find it?  I ended up going through all of the tools but it just wasn’t there and neither was the box of staples that he also said he had seen.  In the end I gave up and took myself off to the gym.

Aside from searching for the staple gun, I had a whole list of jobs to do in MK, things to buy and things to take back to shops but in my rush to leave early I’d left half the stuff back at the caravan.  It wasn’t a productive day but then maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind.  I stopped off at Sue’s after the city centre for one last cup of tea and then drove back home the back way.  Phil had showered and was already changed into his pyjamas when I got home but I couldn’t complain because he’d been busy laying insulation underneath the bedroom and also he’d made a liver and bacon casserole.  Of which I was very grateful for because I was starving.

It wasn’t the nicest of days on Tuesday but Phil was determined to get the skirting fitted at the back of the caravan.  It was very wet on the ground because it had been raining most of the night and I did wonder whether if it was the best day to tackle this job but I desperately wanted the skirting fitted so I said nothing.  Again, this wasn’t an easy job because Phil was working with a load of old skirting which the previous own had just shoved under the van.  Phil had to first fit a baton of wood and then work out which bits went where before screwing them down.  It took him the whole of the morning and he managed to get it all fitted by lunchtime.  How secure it is and whether it will survive the storms, I don’t know, but at least it will cut down on the wind factor and hopefully stop our pipes from freezing.

After lunch I went to the gym leaving Phil home alone.  I had a good workout and a swim. On the way back I managed to find a long stay car park so and find my way into the town centre.  I am very slowly beginning to find my way around Northampton.  It’s taking time but I am getting a little more familiar with my surroundings and am not so panicky.   I can find my way to a Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Primark.   I have yet to explore Weston Favell Shopping Centre and for now I am still doing most of my shopping back in MK.  

On Wednesday morning Phil had me awake at 3.45am.  This is a fairly regular thing these days and its making me feel knackered.  We read in bed for a while but got up at first light. It was freezing in the caravan and I wasn’t surprised to see a frost outside when I opened the blinds.  The gas fire was put straight on full and it warmed up fairly rapidly thank goodness. Phil did some writing and I got on with some domestics and then after an early lunch we went to MK. 

First stop was Sue’s to drop off bags, beer and 2 bowls of chicken chilli men that I’d cooked for me and Sue’s supper.  Sue, bless her, had not been having a good day and I think it all had begun to get to her. She had her final inspection at the Caldecotte flat on Monday and I think it must have been fairly emotional closing the door on memories for one last time.  I think it also has been bitter sweet returning back home.  Sue’s not been having a lot of luck in the white goods department either; the tumble dryer that I gave her blew all her downstairs electrics every time she put it on and the second tumble dryer that she got from a friend wouldn’t get hot. On top of that, her broadband wasn’t working, her phone line which had previously been on, had gone off and her washing machine had packed up.  And I think it was the washing machine going wrong that was the final blow.  Sue had phoned me before we left Overstone and I’d managed to order her a new washing machine on line for from Curry’s but even that wasn’t straight forward and I managed to change her PIN number.

Phil went off to the OU to change his books and not long after he’d gone SCS turned up to deliver Sue a temporary sofa and a snuggle chair.  Phil came back to pick me up and we went off to B&Q and Staples and then it was back to Newport.  By this time it was cracking on for tea time and Phil decided to go early and pick Steve up from Westcroft and bring him back to Sue’s for a beer before going to the pub.  This worked well and after the boys had gone, Sue and I ate supper and drank wine, lot of wine.  All too soon Phil was back from the pub and joined the party, and well, it was the early hours before we got to bed.  I think after Sue’s bad day, her plan was to get comatosed; we didn’t quite get there but there was some numbness, which for me, was still there the following day!

Sue made us sausage sandwiches for breakfast and we weren’t in a great rush to leave because the new washing machine was down for a 7-11am delivery and I wanted Phil to plumb it in for Sue before leaving.  Well, we waited and we waited, 11am came and then Sue phoned the customer service line who said that the delivery was scheduled but was running late.   Typical!! We left Sue to wait on her delivery and went back to Overstone stopping off at The Manor to collect the post.  I persuaded Phil to have a look in the shoe shop in the garden centre where he managed to find 2 pairs of shoes. 

Unfortunately when we got in the van, we had completely forgotten that we had put the alarm on until the security car turned up at outside.  Actually, not only did security come but also the site manager just a few minutes after.  We felt a little silly but actually we were really impressed at how quickly they got here.  It was a lovely afternoon, so before lunch, we decided to take a walk around the lakes.  The ground was mulchy underfoot with wet leaves but it was good to be out in the fresh air and gave us a chance to clear our heads.  We were almost back to the clubhouse when we heard a shriek of joy coming from a tree.  We investigated, only to find an angler who was ecstatic because he’d just caught an eleven and a half pound yellow coy carp.  The angler who turned out to be Toby told us he had been trying to catch this particular fish for 2 years.    His joy was obvious and quite lovely to witness; personally I don’t ‘get’ fishing but obviously Toby did.  He had all the kit and before we went he got Phil to take a photograph of him and his prize catch.

After our walk, yesterday afternoon was pure slobbing out in front of the television.   I did do some paperwork and some filing but did join Phil on the sofa when the urgent stuff was done.  The only time Phil left the sofa, aside from going to loo, was last night when we went out to get a Chinese takeaway.  I wasn’t fussed but of course as soon he dished his out, I had to have some.  So much for the diet.  Still, I don’t suppose it matters, I am out tonight for dinner and then Sunday we are away on our surprise holiday.   Bring on the weekend!

New Boots & Panties

The title of today’s post might suggest something saucy but I am afraid it’s not just me trying to be creative and pinching the title from an Ian Drury & the Blockheads album (1977). Phil & me both love listening to Ian Drury, god rest his soul.  So back to the title and my reasons; well I did finally buy new boots last week and pants from Asda.  I won’t talk about the pants because that would be crass even for me but I will tell you about my new boots.  I resisted the expensive boots at Billing and find a pair, nearly as nice in Brabanto.  They are almost perfect although they don’t look up to much in the photo.  Last winter I took 2 really bad falls on the ice and this year I want to be prepared.   Actually, I got 2 pairs of boots; the second pair I got from Billing in the sale and although they look like plain old black wellies, actually they have a gold speck in them and the best part is, that were reduced from 30 quid to only £10.40.  Phil needs a pair of boots and some new shoes so I must take him shopping this week.

I have given much thought as what look I wanted for my winter wardrobe but I have to come to the conclusion that there is only one look I need, and that is ‘warm’.  I’ve got a new winter coat, I’ve got a stock of woolly tights, I’ve now got the boots and all I need to buy now is thermal pyjamas, thermal socks and one of those fur hats with long ears and then I’m sorted.  I know I am really getting old when I opt for comfort over fashion but do I care?  The answer is no, I don’t, I’d rather be ready for the big freeze and I hate being cold. 

I spent most of the day in MK on Friday as did Phil because he had house viewings throughout the day.  I had some shopping to do in the city centre and I got my eyebrows (and chin) waxed in Superdrug and then I spent a couple of hours with Sue who was unpacking boxes in Newport.  Sue has done wonders with No 2 and the house is almost there.  I know that she’s had a bit of help with the redecoration but she’s worked herself ragged and I am very proud of her. The house is looking really good, and I can only hope, that when she moves in which was today, that she can find some peace.  Yeah I say that but not sure she’s going to find much peace when Phil I descend upon her sometime in January!!!  

It was grey start to the day on Saturday morning so I was surprised when Phil got dressed in his work clothes and went outside to cut and lay some more polystyrene underneath the bedroom. The polystyrene that he and Steve laid underneath the lounge floor really helped with the heat, it made such a big difference so I think Phil wanted to crack ahead because it does get cold in our bedroom even with the oil filled radiator being left on all night.  It wasn’t an easy job shuffling about on a slab of concrete in a confined space amongst rat droppings but it’s a job that has to be done, and sooner rather than later.  I couldn’t really help so I took myself to the gym for a workout.  Phil was still underneath the van when I got back but he worked until he ran out of polystyrene and then we stopped for lunch.  Lunch was easy, left over coq au van, mash and brussell sprouts.

After lunch, Phil got a shower and we drove over to Wickes at Rushden.  Wickes is okay for certain things, we brought a new toilet seat and some coat hooks but that was about it.  We discovered a massive Waitrose but the car-park looked full so we decided to go in another time.  It was cracking on for 4pm by the time we got home.  We weren’t in for long when we decided to go to the club-house to have a chat to the bar manager about Goa.  Paul and his wife Jo have been going to Goa for the last 4 years in the close down period and this time they want to meet up with some friends and spend time in the south.  Because we know south Goa like the back of our hand, Phil promised to take him some information.  I jotted down the details of some guest houses and restaurants and put some leaflets and business cards in an envelope that we had in our travel brochure.

Paul was working but he managed to sit down and have a drink and a chat with us which was good of him.   It was a bit of an exchange of information really and an ideal opportunity for us to find out more about life at Overstone.  Saturday is a bit of a busy night at the club-house because they lay on free entertainment so when Paul had to attend to the bar, we were almost ready to go when Brenda and her hubby and their friends turned up.  We stayed for a drink and then chatted with them in the restaurant whilst they waited for their food.  One of these nights we are going to have to make the effort to get dressed up and sample the entertainment.  I am not sure though, I am ready for that quite yet.

The insulation underneath the bedroom really helped and we were almost too hot on Saturday night.  Phil needs to finish up filling in bits around the edges for which he needs to get a few more sheets of polystyrene.  Then he is going to staple pieces of silver foil over the polystyrene and then we are going to attempt to fit back the skirting.  And only then, will we be ready for winter, or as ready, as we will ever be.

We had a bit of a late start to Sunday which in a way was nice; the extra insulation under the bedroom floor helped and also so did my red thermal blackout curtains which I’d picked up from the dry cleaners on Friday and fitted on Friday evening.  We had breakfast; I did a few domestics and then headed off to the gym leaving Phil to write his book. I was driving on the A45 when I took a call from Phil on my mobile to say that he was going down to his mum and dads to meet the buyer who had successfully won the bid for the caravan on eBay.  I did offer to turn round and go back and go with him but time was of the essence and he had already decided to go alone.  I went to the gym and afterwards brought some LED lights for Sue that I’d spotted in Next.  I did briefly debate whether to drive to MK but there was stuff to do at the caravan so I headed back home.

Sunday was another grey and foggy day in Overstone, certainly not a day to cheer the soul.  I picked up the newspapers from Neil at the shop and sorted out the lunch because Phil had phoned to say he would be home for lunch rather than eat with his mum and dad.  The fog hung around all day, so once Phil got back, it was lunch, papers, telly and a reasonably early night.  Not much to write home about I’m afraid.

And that was our weekend. Not sure how this week will pan out. As ever, I’m off to Milton Keynes to spend the day and Phil says, if the weather is good, then he is going to finish off the polystyrene.  The days seem to be busy and we never seem to have time to do what we need to do, which is crazy when you consider that we don’t work.  We do have something exciting planned for next weekend but I can’t share that right now because it’s all a big surprise.  I like surprises and I just hope the person that we are planning to surprise next Sunday likes it too, otherwise we're buggered.

ps: thanks to Shirley & Jim for the lovely moving in card.  Nice touch guys and we loved the Robb family picture!

A blogger with issues

I have been really struggling with the blog since we’ve lived in the caravan.  Its not that I have a problem with finding stuff to write about, far from it; I may have a little, sagging one, but it’s never a problem getting stuff off my chest, in fact it spills out too easily.  So easily that I can write about 5,000 words which is roughly around 5 pages of A4 and then up editing and deleting most of it.  Which, believe me is a good thing!  Nah, the issue is not the writing; it’s the technology that’s giving me the headache.  My little cheap Acer laptop over the last couple of months has been getting slower and slower but since we’ve been here at Overstone, it’s like it’s lost the will to live. I’ve debugged, I’ve defragged and I’ve been a good girl and deleted internet cookies and every conceivable file and photograph that I can bear to lose but it’s not made any difference.

I am convinced that it’s a two fold problem; first up is the fact that I don’t have any proper ‘Windows’ application installed so when I first brought my Acer, I downloaded ‘Word Starter’ which is a free, basic version of Windows Word.  It’s never been very stable and lately I have lost a fair few files, which for a wannabe writer and amateur blogger, is annoying to say the least.  Not helped that patience is definitely not one of my virtues and crashed files makes me angry, very angry.

Last Friday, I decided to give up on word starter and resort to notepad which is so basic.  Notepad gives you no chance to spell check and is a simple application, but I didn’t mind, or at least I didn’t, until my file crashed.  I almost threw the Acer out of my non double glazed window but it was early and I am always mindful not to upset the neighbours; so instead I very politely asked Phil if I could borrow his Compaq laptop.  He said yes straight away and there was no protest which surprised me somewhat, but then afterwards I thought he is tied at the hip to his new applemac Air, that he barely uses his old Windows Compaq anymore.

 Anyway, I diverse and bore with too much detail but all was going well with blog writing on Friday morning until I went to load in photographs.  When I came to load them in on Google Blogger, which is normally not a problem, on Phil’s Compaq I could only upload one photograph at a time.  Not only that, but I had to load one photo then save in draft and then go back to edit my post. Nightmare (Phil’s favourite word) and in the end, it took me 90 minutes to post the blog.  This is plain ridiculous and I don’t have the time to waste, life is too precious and my patience is short.  And yes I know, if this is my only issue in life than I am blessed. I know that, but it’s a pain in the arse if this is the way it’s going to be from now on in.

God I am a moaning Minnie and if I didn’t have this blog to let off steam, god only knows what looney bin I’d end up in.  More moaning and letting off continues I’m afraid, so if you want to click on somewhere else, I fully understand.  I was up and raring to go on Monday morning but Phil wasn’t.  He was so hungover that he was reluctant to change out of his pyjamas and come to the gym with me so I left him slobbing and went to DW in Northampton. Because of the problems with posting the blog, I was late leaving Overstone and late getting back to the van.  I got back after midday and was just in time for Phil to serve me baked potatoes with tuna and sweetcorn.  At least he’d summoned the energy to make the lunch, which I suppose was something.

After lunch was cleared away, Phil took up his usual position, which is reclined on the sofa in front of the TV and I took myself off to the Billing Garden Village.  I have said it before I know but I love this place.  I didn’t realise that there was a car wash service so I drove up, dropped off my keys and went shopping.  First stop was the manor to collect post and then a visit to the butchers to buy fresh mince.   I like going into the butchers, it’s like going back in time. After the butchers I went to check on my car and it was still work-in-progress, so I went into the garden centre to see if I could find some white fairy lights for Sue.  I  had a good poke around but there was nothing suitable to I went into the shoe shop to try on a pair of boots that I’ve had my eye on.  This was the 3^rd time that I’ve tried on this particular pair of boots and not made a purchase.  There are times when one is shopping, that one really needs a girlfriend for a second opinion.  Note, I said girlfriend and not husband, because husbands say whatever they think you want them to say, anything to get out of the shop.  Normally, because time is of the essence, I impulse buy without pondering, if I like, I like, but these retro boots were expensive.  I came away with buying, collected my car which was sparkling clean, inside and out, and took myself home.

Ummmm, I still have a problem with referring to the caravan as my home but actually it is my home and I am beginning to think of it as home.  I was disappointed to find Phil still in bed wear and still slumped in front of the telly.  He went to bed at 6pm and so Monday evening was a quiet one.  We were up early on Tuesday morning, which was just as well, because we had to be in Newport for Phil’s doctor’s appointment.  Although we were awake at 5am, we didn’t leave the van until five past eight which meant we were caught in the Northampton rush hour.  It’s different to MK; here you have to be out and about and on the road before 7am if you want to avoid the traffic.  The road from Overstone to the A45 was congested, the A45, when we got on it, was slow and we decided to go the back way.  Phil drove like Lewis Hamilton and by the time we got to Newport Medical Centre, we were almost 10 minutes late.  It wasn’t a problem though, the dippy and very unprofessional senior diabetes nurse was also running late and we had to wait ages before Phil was seen.

You already know the results because I couldn’t help but share the good news in a mid week post.  I was relieved and you just don’t realise how anxious and worried you get before you actually get the results until you finally get to hear them. I suppose it’s all a waiting game really but I can’t tell you how relieved we were to find out his PSA level 0.9.  Afterwards we went to Sue’s house but she wasn’t there and as we weren’t too sure exactly what she needed us to do, I sent Phil off to do some errands.  He didn’t complain and went quite readily after his coffee and after scoffing 2 of Sue’s bakewell tarts whilst telling me he was committed to losing the 2 stone in weight that he’d put on! I will belive it when I see it; he’s been there before, several times and brough and worn the t-shirt.  Will this time be any different?  I’d like to think so. 

Sue got back to her house around 10’ish and we got stuck into unpacking boxes and suitcases from her storage unit.  It can’t have been easy for her and I was glad I was around for moral support.  Or was I, I’m not so sure. I really couldn’t do much to help because it was her call but I tried to help where I could. Phil came back and put up the curtains in the blue bedroom and then it was time for lunch.  We had planned to go to the Kingfisher but Sue needed to book a table at the Ship Ashore for her bereavement group so we went there instead. Service was slow, the shepherd’s pie from the light bite menu was off, but we had a nice meal with a glass of red and a nice chat. 


Tempting as it was to stay in the pub, you know the scenario, one glass isn’t enough and ten is too many but it wasn’t an option so it was back to Sue’s for a cup of tea.  Unfortunately we all felt a little sleepy after lunch so the rest of the afternoon wasn’t so productive. We put the curtains up and Phil went off to Oldbrook for an appointment.  He was meeting someone from MK council at the OB flat to get a valuation to buy the remaining 30%. It makes sense to buy the 30% so we own it outright and then this gives us the chance to re-mortgage and buy something else.  Phil came back to Sue’s and said it was a good meeting but we have yet to receive the formal valuation.  While Phil was with the council lady, Sue & I did a trip to the tip via the charity shops in Newport and when we got back to No 2 Phil was already waiting outside in the car.  He was anxious to get home to avoid the traffic so it was a speedy goodbye and then back to Overstone.

And so to Wednesday.  Phil had me awake at 3.30am when he got up to go the loo.  It was a cold morning and we were freezing and once again I fear about how we are going to cope when the real bad weather sets upon us.  We read for a while and then at 5am Phil demanded lights out; this didn’t work for me so I got up to make tea.  I roused Phil at 7am because I needed to get dressed. I went to the gym and yet again couldn’t persuade Phil to join me.  .

I was up early enough to make a lasagne, workout and had enough time to get back to the van to clean up, put baked spuds in the oven and greet Emma when she arrived from MK.  It was a bit weird because she managed to turn up at the van without me giving her specific instructions, I was impressed.  Very kindly, she brought me flowers and a delightful air freshener.  Its not that she thinks I stink, it’s just that she is an avid reader of the blog and wanted to bring me something to mask the smell of stale smoke.  I both thank her and salute her and my caravan now smells of mulled wine and cinnamon apple! 

It was good to catch up with Emma and hear all the street gossip although the street gossip isn’t so exciting now that Phil and I have left the cul-de-sac.  Emma said she liked the van; lunch thank goodness was edible although I didn’t get a pudding which I really should have done.  I really appreciate any friend that makes the journey to come out to see us because it’s not a walk in the park especially with fuel being so expensive. Although I do like Overstone and the surrounding countryside, if I could, I wish I could pick up the van and move it nearer to MK.

Not long after Emma left, I got Phil’s things ready and he went off to MK.  He had lots of jobs to do, Sue’s venetian blind to put up and a whole load of other stuff.  His final destination was Steve & Jan’s house as they very kindly said that Phil could stay the night.  Phil took Steve some cider which I learnt later that he drank entirely all by himself but more about that in the next paragraph.  I admit I was a little bit lost for what to do with myself when Emma and Phil left.  I drove to The Manor to pick up mail then went back to look at ‘the boots’. I didn’t get them but got sausages from the butchers instead.  By this time it was cracking on for 4pm. I got back to the van, pulled the blinds, drew the curtains, did some paperwork jobs and then settled myself in front of the TV. At first it felt a bit weird being home alone in the van but after a while it was cool. I switched on lights and fires in all the rooms, which was brave of me, given that |I knew that this could trip the electrics and I wouldn’t know how to get it back on again.  Mental note to myself to find out how to do this.

I slept soundly but was awake at 5am. I’d gone to bed fairly early so this was no big deal.  I didn’t expect Phil back from MK early so I decided to go to the gym.  The traffic wasn’t too bad and I was in the gym for just after 8am.  Plenty of time for a run and a swim then it was back to Overstone.  Phil had brought Steve back with him as he had very kindly offered to help Phil with doing some more of the insulation.  Steve had the job of cutting the polystyrene and Phil got underneath and fitted it.  Unfortunately Phil was hungover and lying underneath the van was making him feel sick so in the end of the Steve got underneath.  It can’t have been a very pleasant job and by lunchtime they’d managed to get the front end of the van done and the skirting back on.  Lunch was left over lasagne and baked potatoes which I managed to burn.  Phil had used up all of the polystyrene and I did suggest that he go to Homebase to buy some more so he could do the insulation underneath the main bedroom but this went down like a lead balloon.  He wasn’t having any of it.  I admit he did look like shit but I had little sympathy, it was all self induced.  After lunch, Phil took a shower and then him and Steve went to Earls Barton to look at the Barker shoe shop.  They didn’t buy any shoes because apparently they were mega expensive.   Afterwards they stopped off at Billing Garden Village and both of them came back with bags of meat from the butchers.  I made everyone tea and Steve very kindly sorted out Phil's iPhone, his iPad and his AppleMac.  He also took at look at the Compaq and that seems to be a little faster now.  Cheers Steve!

While they were gone I threw a coq au vin together in the slow cooker which wasn’t going to be ready until 7ish, so I suggested that Phil take Steve to the clubhouse for a pint. One pint turned into a few because they got talking to the bar manager and his wife about Goa.  I didn’t mind too much because Phil did at least phone me to say they would be a little later.  It was gone 8pm by the time we had dinner, then it was TV and a fairly early night.  Steve slept on the sofa bed and said it was quite comfy when I brought him a cup of tea this morning.  Thankfully it wasn’t a cold night.

Phil was feeling a little better this morning.  He made sausage sandwiches, had a shower and has taken Steve back to MK.  He has a day of house viewings planned but I will not be accompanying him because I have my own agenda.  I am not sure if it’s a good decision letting Phil loose to view properties all by himself; let’s hope he doesn’t get carried away and makes an offer without consulting me.  Otherwise there’s going to be trouble at the mill and I will have even more issues.  Why is life never straightforward???

Good News

A couple of weeks ago, Phil went for his annual diabetes test which involved an early morning wee sample and bloods; many of them, and whilst they were at it, we asked for a PSA blood test.  It made sense when he was having so much blood taken for various tests.   The cancer consultant, who is rubbish by the way, told us there was no need to be tested until March but we needed to know what the score was, or to be more specific, I needed to know what what happening, so we insisted on the PSA.  Luckily the surgery acommodated us. We are not alone, Dave and Janet from the canal boat who we met at the hospital demanded the same and I was delighted to get phone call a few weeks back to say that Dave's PSA count came back at 0.3.

This morning, we went to Newport Medical Centre to get Phil's results.  The diabetes nurse was crap and the clinic itself was so inefficent  that I almost walked out, but we waited, literally with bated breath for Phil's blood results and I managed to hold my temper for Phil's sake.  The nurse took her time to see us, but the results, when we got them were great.   Phil's diabetes is under 7, still high, but still under control; his colestoreol is high, as is his blood pressure ,but his PSA level came in at 0.9.  This probably won't meant much to any of you but when he was diagnosed his PSA was 7.5.  I got it down to 5.5 with the prostrate diet but a reading of 0.9 gives us some indication that the radiotherapy has woked.  We are over-the-moon.   Of course, Phil is not out of woods quite yet, not until his appointment with the consultant in March with yet more PSA tests and an MRI to confirm that his cancer hasn't spread.

Today has been a happy one, and I suppose for me, the lesson of the day is that you can live (happily) in a caravan and have all the money in the world in the bank.  But if you don't have good health, then put, quite simply, you don't have a frigging thing.

One life my friends, live it for today and live it well.

Friends, Family & Red Wine!

Kettering didn’t reveal to me any delights so it was just as well I had no expectations.  We parked easily enough and found the pedestrian centre of town.  There was a bit of a market thing going on, a few banks, I suppose they had a Marks & Sparks, but worst of all, we couldn’t  find any quaint little bistros or any half decent pubs to have lunch.  Kettering, I thought, was a little better than Wellingborough but overall I was disappointed.  Anne Barby told me that there is an Asda on the outskirts of town so that’s something in its favour.

Not being able to find somewhere suitable for lunch, we headed back to our old favourite, The Griffin in Mears Ashby. It was a cold, foggy day on Friday so we were glad of the open fire.  Cold weather means comfort food, which for both of us, was the steak and ale pie. It was nice and we’ve had it before but I would have preferred mash instead of new potatoes.  Fed and watered, we headed home.  Phil wasn’t in the mood to write so he decided to watch some TV whilst I did some washing and went to Great Billing to get the post.  Friday evening’s viewing was the finale of Big Brother.  I haven’t really been following it much this year; I felt they were all a bit boring.  I was surprised that Aaron won as he definitely had a game plan and he bored me shitless. Glad this series is finished.

Our weekend was pleasant and without any surprises.  We got up early and after tea and porridge on Saturday, Phil settled down to write and I took myself to the gym.  DW in Northampton is okay but the equipment is not as up-to-date as the MK DW.  When I got back to the van and Phil had already left.  He was picking up G and there were going to spend the day with Phil’s mum and dad.  G was only back from Uni for the weekend, so it gave her an opportunity to spend some time with her dad and see her grandparents.  It also gave me the day free but I’d already planned to spend the day with Harriet and she turned up in her little black VW Fox about ten to eleven.   Harriet isn’t a confident driver (much like her mum) and the drive from MK to Overstone was a big deal for her.  She had the Tom Tom and had had the sense to print off directions from the AA website as a backup.  She was stressed out when she arrived but she didn’t get lost which was the main thing.

I showed her around the van which took all of 2 minutes and then we got in my car and drove to Bedford as we both wanted to check-out Primark.  Harriet had been before but I hadn’t ever shopped in Bedford, although of course I’ve driven though.  Bedford town centre didn’t do very much for me but I got a few bits in Primark and then we headed back to Northampton.  We had lunch at Overstone Manor and the food was good.  I keep changing my mind about food at The Manor but I think it very much depends what you order on the menu.  I can’t recommend the carvery, not only is it frozen veggies but it’s cooked to a pulp.   But I have had the fish and chips and the steak and they were both of a good quality when you consider the price which is cheap!  I didn’t want Harriet to drive back in the dark so she left for MK around half price three.   She wasn’t keen to hang around at the van and she’s got a real downer on caravan living.  Harriet is one of the gang that thinks me and Phil are completely crazy!  I think perhaps she would feel happier if we were nearer to Milton Keynes and well, so would I if I am to be honest.

Phil got back to the van just after 5pm and was very happy once he’d opened a can of beer and plonked himself on the sofa.  When he’d arrived in Melton, his mum served up a roast chicken dinner and then she presented Phil with a list of jobs.  I think he rather fancied sitting down to watch the qualifying but instead he mowed the front lawn, pumped up the tyres on the caravan and got more stuff down from the loft.   The eBay sale is going well and the caravan bidding is now up to £200!  Poor George still isn’t feeling any better and after trying to help Phil with pumping the tyres had to sit down.  Part of me can’t help but wonder if he will survive this house move but I certainly hope so.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny and after my porridge, I took myself off to the gym.  I tried to coax Phil to come with but to no avail.  When I got to the Overstone roundabout I decided not to go on to the A45 but instead to drive straight over the roundabout and follow the signs to Weston Favell and town centre.  I was a little nervous but I figured 8.30am on a Sunday morning, when the roads were quiet, was probably my best bet.   The road was straight; I found the Weston Favell shopping centre on my right and then just followed the signs to Northampton Centre.  I was very pleased with myself and once in town, I easily found my way to the gym.

I had a reasonable workout but unfortunately didn’t have time for a swim as I had to go to the manor to pick up the mail and buy cream from the farm shop.  Also we had guests coming over, so I wanted to clean up the van.   Cleaning up the van takes 10 minutes tops and that’s what I love best about caravan living.  Of course, once a week I give it a proper going over and dust and polish and give the windows a clean but you really don’t need to this every single day.

Sue had offered to drive and picked up Steve & Jan from their house and driven over to Overstone to join us for lunch at The Griffin.  It was a glorious day and the sun was out in full when they got here, which was sometime just after half twelve.  I had booked the table for 1pm which just about allowed time to show Jan the caravan and to have a drink on our terrace.  Sounds very civilised doesn’t it, but actually, how great to be outside in cardigans drinking wine in mid November.  Jan absolutely loved the caravan, she had seen it unfurnished a few months back but obviously it’s different when you clutter it up with all your stuff.  We’ve still got stuff to do inside and out but this will be done come next spring. 

The boys wanted to watch the start of the Dubai Grand Prix which was fine but we were almost half an hour late getting to the pub.  I had phoned them to tell them we were running late, because for some reason, I thought they shut at half two.  The pub was heaving when we got there, service was a little slow and I hadn’t realised, that on a Sunday, they have a limited menu.  But the food, when it came, was good and freshly cooked.  We all had a starter and a main, which except for Jan, who had baked haddock, was a good old Sunday roast.  Two courses for £9.95 isn’t half bad. 

After lunch, it was back to ours for more wine for everyone, except for Sue because she was driving.  Steve & Phil watched some more of the race and then it was time to go back to MK.  A very nice day indeed, so thanks chaps for coming over.  Phil & I had a couple more drinks, then with the gas fire on, full promptly fell asleep.  I woke up at nine, just in time to fill my hot water bottle and went to bed to watch the start of the new series ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’.  I thought the contestants were all a bit old and wrinkly, mostly has beens, but I shall enjoying watching Mark from TOWIE; not only is he handsome, he is also very fit!  I bet on him to win.

A week of catching up

We were up and about early on Monday morning and on the road before half past seven.  Having recognised that Phil's mum and dad are going to need our full support with their imminent house move, we've promised to go down to Melton Mowbray at least one day a week to do jobs.   That's fine by me, I don't do sitting on my backside for hours on end, I much prefer to be busy and besides, they've been so good to us over the years and now it’s our turn to help them out.   Monday was grey and miserable and I can't say it was a pleasant drive to Melton especially with Phil grumpy old man and road rage but thankfully we arrived at mum and dads' safely just after half eight.

When we arrived, mum and dad were sat at the dining room table trying to fathom out selling tick sheets sent by their solicitor; I'd taken down our photocopier so I tasked Phil to help George load up the car with stuff to take down to the tip and got stuck into the paperwork.  Phil's mum had filled out most of it but I filled in the gaps, then made copies and got together a list of signed documents ready to take to their solicitor.  The trip to the dump really took it out of Phil's dad, so we made him sit in the chair and rest and I went with Phil to do the second trip to the dump.  I always love tipping rubbish but I am not fond of new tips and the Melton one was a bit splayed out for my liking; plus it was drizzling and really not a good experience.  They didn't have a license for old paints so I had to bring them back with me and tip in MK. 

Mum and dad didn't like the thought of sending their passports or and house deeds in the post to the solicitor so Phil drove them to Loughborough to hand deliver and to sort out their identification.   I stayed home alone to sort out the lunch and to let in their buyers surveyor.  Lunch was easy because I'd made a lasagne at home and brought it with me so all I had to do was reheat this and put some baked potatoes in the oven.

The surveyor was running late, I made him a cup of tea and felt a little sorry for him climbing up a ladder in the rain.   Phil, mum and dad arrived back home shortly before midday and were more than ready for lunch, which thankfully, was ready.  Lunch over and washing up done, the surveyor came in with a couple of queries which I pretty much answered, even though I had little knowledge of the house.  He was a nice chap and said the only issue he had was with the wooden lintel in one of the bedrooms.  Only old houses have wooden lintels and even I know that they must be concrete.  Before I could stop him, George admitted that he installed the wooden lintel after a bodged double glazed unit put in by a local builder.  We have yet to receive the surveyors report but we know that the lintel will need to be replaced before the bank will approve a mortgage on the property.

Our job after lunch was to get up in the loft and bring down stuff to either take to the tip or to the charity shops.  I wasn't happy that Phil's mum was up the ladder like a shot but I suppose I did need her to tell me what was what.  If it were up to me, I would tip the contents of the entire loft, but it isn't my loft and I have to remember that Phil's mum and dad have lived in their house for almost 50 years.   Plus, they are a completely different generation to me.  We got a lot of stuff down and I think the 'minimalist' in me persuaded mum to dispose of stuff that probably she'd have like to keep.  I was on tender hooks though worrying that mum would trip and fall down the loft hatch at any moment.  The thought of her, going up by herself fills me with worry, so much so, that I can't even go there, let alone think of the consequences.   We got all the stuff down from the landing and into the front porch but there was no time to dispose of it because mum and dad had to get down to the doctor’s surgery to collect prescriptions and Phil wanted to get home.

On Tuesday I drove over to MK to pick up and Sue to take her to have her eye laser surgery as she wasn’t allowed to drive afterwards. This was the third appointment she’d made for surgery; the first appointment was cancelled because the surgeon was ill and the second appointment was cancelled because the laser broke down.  We had decided that if it didn’t happen on Tuesday then it obviously wasn’t meant to be.  Sue was the first one in for surgery and I was surprised that she was ready to be taken home just 15 minutes after the operation.  She came away with bags of eye drops and I took her home wearing her dark glasses.  She was advised to wear dark glasses and to keep both eyes shut and sleep for the day which is just what she did.

I didn’t go straight back to Overstone because I had quite a few jobs to do in MK.  After leaving Sue, I popped into Harriet’s flat to collect mail and then took myself off to the health club for a quick run and a shower.   Afterwards I popped into Asda; I haven’t found an Asda in Northampton yet so I visit the one in MK whenever I can.  I then headed to Giffard Park to drop off my new bedroom curtains to be taken up at the dry cleaners and my last job of the day was a trip to the dump to get rid of the old paints that I’d brought back from Melton. 

It was another early start to the day on Wednesday morning and another trip back to MK as I’d promised Sue I’d take her for a follow up appointment at the eye clinic.  Her eye was only a little bloodshot and she said it was still a little irritated but otherwise she was feeling fine.  We had to wait outside until the doors opened but that was okay as she was the first one to be seen.  Thankfully her eyes were fine when she was checked over and they said she had 20/20 vision.  So the operation was a success and for now she is pleased that she took the plunge.

After a quick cup of tea with Sue at her flat I drove straight back to Overstone has I had stuff to do.  I had a shower and a hoover and tidy up and for lunch we had butternut squash soup which Phil had made.  I caught up with paperwork in the afternoon and set up the new Applemac printer which Phil got with his iPhone.  It was tricky but I managed to do it and now we can print wireless without being connected. We should also be able to photocopy and scan but I haven’t tried that yet. 

As were staying the night in MK we decided to put on the alarm in the caravan for the very first time.  I don’t think there are any security issues here on the site but you never know and our insurance is invalid if we don’t put on the alarm on when we’re out so we really must get into the habit.   Before driving to MK, we drove to Northampton train station to buy a cheap day return ticket to London. We found the station quite easily and you get 20 minutes free parking in the short stay car park which was good.  We got a little bit lost trying to get out of town and got stuck in traffic for ages which made us very late by the time we eventually got to MK.  Our first stop was Argos to buy a digital recorder.  Phil had seen one in the Argos catalogue but when we were in the store he actually chose and brought a different recorder. I didn’t care as long as we can record programs.  We really miss BT Vision.  BT said that there was a chance that we could pick up BT Vision once the line had been tested but we know there is not a bats chance is hell as our broadband is soooooooo slow. 

It was dark when we left Argos and the traffic was building up.  So just time to go to IKEA to pick up a desk for the office and some rails to hang in the kitchen.  We weren’t too sure what desk we wanted and we hadn’t measured up but we spotted a desk for £9.99 and hoped that it would fit.   Jan & Steve had kindly offered us a bed for the night but we weren’t expected until 6.30pm, so with some time to spare we stopped off at Sue’s flat for a cup of tea.  Well the cup of tea actually turned out to be a glass of red but we weren’t complaining!

I dropped Steve & Phil off at the Ship Ashore to meet up with the rest of the Wednesday night boys and went back to have a night in with Jan.  It was good to have a girlie night and catch-up and it gave us a chance to talk about Australia.  As it happened, Jan’s daughter, Charlotte who is living in Adelaide happened to ring on Skype so I got to say hello to her.   Steve had made us fish Thai green curry which was lovely if a little spicy.  I love spicy and managed to finish mine but Jan struggled.  We had wine and both Phil & I slept like logs.  Jan had to be up to go to work but still found time to make us a sausage sandwich before we left.  Steve was off down to see Jan’s dad in hospital so we all pretty much left at the same time.  

We drove home on the A5 which was busy but the traffic was horrific on the approach to the A45 which was not really surprising because we were in the middle of rush-hour.  I think the thing I hate most about living out here is no matter what time of day, the A45 and Northampton town centre is always busy.  Still, not much I can do to change that so best just get used to it Claire.  It just doesn’t help that I am a crap driver and I do wonder how long it will be before I have an accident. 

When we got back to Overstone which was sometime just before 9am, there was no time to be idle because I was meeting Christine in London.  I just had time to shower and change and then Phil very kindly dropped me at the station.  I caught the 10.26 train which got into Euston at half eleven.  No hold ups thank goodness and I took the Victoria line to Oxford Circus where I had arranged to meet up outside Top Shop.   Christine phoned me as I came out of the tube station and said she was in Fenwick’s in New Bond Street which is where we had lunch.  It had been months since we had seen each other so loads to catch up with.  Consequently it was non-stop chat for 2 hours and then the train back to Northampton.  I can’t believe I went to London and didn’t even go into one shop!  Actually I find London a little over whelming and after lunch I was keen to get home. 

Phil picked me up from the station and we were back before dark.  I was pleased to see that he had put together the new desk and this was set up in the office.  I had to laugh though when he told me that he assembled the desk only to find that it wouldn’t fit through the door so he had to take it apart and reassemble in the office.   Things are never straight forward with caravan living as we are finding out as time goes by.  I was also pleased to hear that he has successfully put Phil & Mum’s old 1970’s caravan on eBay.  Although he’d brought on eBay before, he’d never sold so this was a first.  We are excited this morning to see the bidding is up to £80; there’s 8 days to go so let’s hope we can get some serious cash for them.

Even though I was awake before 6, I am on the drag this morning.  I started writing the blog last night and had typed about 3,000 words when my laptop went and died on me.   I tried everything I could to recover my file but to no avail; with auto-save I managed to retrieve about a page but that was it.  I felt totally disheartened last night and left it to this morning to re-write.  Today we’re off to explore the delights of Kettering.  Whether Kettering does have any delights to offer, well I shall just have to wait and see.  For now though, I must get my arse into gear and get going.