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!