Routine days then a visit from Pete

We spent all week doing our routine things, interspersed with gardening, cleaning the stonework and garden furniture, and Mas fixed the canopy over the garden swing which had broken with the weight of snow in the winter. For a break we had lunch one day at the Man in the Moon.

On Tuesday Jana phoned and said she could go for a walk tomorrow, and she would arrive around 9.00am. Mas and I took some videos over to Margaret's and John's and had chats with them. Pete came round in the early evening, and we sat around chatting about his concert, and looking at the score; Pete unreasonably refused to drink some beer which we had discovered at the back of the cupboard that was less than ten years past its' use by date! Mas made a lovely turkey dinner which we drank with some wine. It was a nice evening.

Peace and quiet after the storm

Today we went to Stanmore later than usual, and bought some cat treats in the form op chewy strips. Mas had bought him some earlier in the week, and Salty loves them. We then went to the Man in the Moon, which was empty except for the staff cleaning and tidying everything up. Apparently we had arrived at the perfect time as a football crowd had been partying there earlier. We had noticed the police van, and five policemen chatting together outside the pub as we went in which had given us a clue. We had a nice roast dinner, and gradually the locals drifted back in, and things got back to normal.

When home again Mas gave the cat some of the treats; I have never seen him react to food like this before, and am convinced that they must put some special cat drugs into the food.

In the evening we watched LadyHawk which was entertaining. Salty seems rather lethargic, and did not go outside as much as usual.

Busy days with the Brotherhood of the Wolf

Mas and I went to Stanmore to get shopping, and had lunch at the Man in the Moon which was a welcome break.
Pete sent me some of his poems to read, and I heard from Joan too.
In the evening we watched this French film, Brotherhood of the Wolf which was a stylish historical horror film, but very entertaining, and ate homemade bread and butter pudding.









Today we had a busy day catching up with correspondence and doing various chores. Diane called with family news, and Alex called to confirm that they would be coming over tomorrow for a visit.

Nice lunch and good eyes!

We had to get some shopping, and as the sun was shining we went off to Stanmore where we also had one of the roast Sunday dinners at the Man in the Moon. They do very nice Sunday lunches there, which includes a drink of your choice in the price. We came out feeling cheerful, and later for exercise I walked to Edgware and collected Mason's prescription medicines. It was dark when I got home again.

Toby phoned in the evening too which was nice as well. In the evening we watched an old tape of the Corsican Brothers film which made a change.

This morning I had an appointment at Specsavers to have my eyes tested. It is about three years since they were looked at, but I was told my eyes were healthy, and only the reading vision had changed slightly, not enough to warrant new glasses. I had been told before that I was getting cataracts, but these are still very small and don't seem to have got any worse.

Afterwards Mas and I went to Stanmore as we had seen two Opera mask faces that we really both liked, and reminded us of Budapest. The shop had been closed on Sunday, but when we got there today they had already been sold. Spoke to Pete later to see if all was well.

Sorting things out and School of Rock

On Saturday we went off shopping, and had lunch at the Man in the Moon. Afterwards I spent time sweeping up leaves from the front garden path and pavement in the interest of keeping the peace, and tidiness, but I enjoy it too.

Toby phoned in the evening and chatted which was nice. Mas and I watched School of Rock in which Jack Black, who wants to be a rock star, poses as a substitute teacher. It is funny and curiously uplifting.

Today I did more leaves, and saw Maheena and Glen. Later I began to tidy up my studio which has all my art stuff, knitting stuff, and sewing stuff all untidily stuffed into small spaces. I got out all my knitting projects which are only half done, and I hope to finish over the winter.

Dentist and wicker working

Mas had to go to the dentist again. The dentist had kindly wanted to finish his work on Mason's tooth before rushing off to the airport to be with his ill father, he also bought another Dan Brown book for me, despite having so many other things to think about.

I still have a sore throat, but decided to paint an undercoat on one of the wicker chairs we had bought at the car boot sale. It looked a bit weird, and Mas suggested we (we?) think of another colour.

This morning I felt a bit better, and we went off to Stanmore to do shopping and go to the bank. While there, we had lunch at the Man in the Moon which was nice. In the afternoon I finished off the chair in a very pale creamy white which slides unobtrusively into our colour scheme, and Mas thought it looked good.

Salty slides unobtrusively into our colour scheme too!

Pub grub and fresh fruit

Mas and I went shopping, then had lunch at the Man in the Moon. The pub was full of cheerful people, but emptied out as lunch time passed. We had a nice but unremarkable day just gardening, reading and doing things around the house.

On Saturday we drove up to St. Albans, got most of our vegetable shopping and met Tania and Robert at the Waterend Barn. We talked for a long time and I found myself very sleepy, no doubt due to the fact that I had woken up at 5.15am.

As we were leaving the market, later than usual, the stall holders were packing up. One stall was offering bananas at £1.00 a carrier bag full, so we bought some and when we got home Mas took some of the bananas over to Poppy and Ben. I spent some time blending strawberries and then freezing the surplus.

We had a light dinner and watched a video before bedtime.

Routines and surprises

Friday was bright and sunny, and Mas and I walked to Stanmore, had lunch (organic tomato soup for me,) at the Man in the Moon, then went for some shopping.

Mas took the bus back, and I walked. As it happened I arrived home before he did as there was some kind of delay, and received a warm welcome from Salty (this sounds nice, but is extremely bitey). Here is the mean kitty song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&v=Qit3ALTelOo&NR=1&gl=GB

I talked to Diane for a while, and we planned to meet when she next visits the Royal Free. In the evening we watched one of our films called The Edge (featuring Bart the bear) and Anthony Hopkins; we have seen this before, and interrupted it to watch an NCIS. I had a hard time sleeping and only managed about three hours all night.

This morning the postman called before breakfast so I scooped up the cat before I opened the door to stop him running out. The postman thought Salty was lovely, and luckily was stroking him so much he did not look at me which was just as well; I had not combed my hair or put my face on and so he avoided a shock.

The parcel sent by Toby and Romy contained some soft rainbow coloured knitting wool, some bamboo needles, a knitting pattern from Joan and a mobile of humming birds. Some of the birds had lost wings and tails, but Barry next door gave me some glue and before long it was fixed.
We are planning to put it in the conservatory, but where the cat will not be able to reach it! I spoke to Toby later, and caught up with his news.
We watched a Rosemary and Tyme episode in the evening, and went early to bed.

Tea party and Ben Allison double bassist

Yesterday when we woke up the snow was still covering the ground, and it was very cold, but the sun was shining which always improves things. Margaret phoned and invited us round to her place in the afternoon. When we went round Maheena arrived soon afterwards, we all talked and had tea, and I tried not to eat all the nuts and tasty snacks that Margaret and John had provided.

As it began to get dark we trudged carefully home, which was just around the corner. In the evening we watched a Horizon programme about cannabis, but did not learn much that was new about it.

Today the sun was shining and we thought we would have breakfast in Stanmore as we had to pay bills and get shopping as the forecast said that more snow may be arriving later. People were very cheerful at the Man in the Moon; they all felt bonded by the snowy weather.

Later I listened again to the Monday programme, Jazz on 3. I had heard part of this on Monday, it was a concert by the young New Yorker Ben Allison and his band Man Sized Safe. Nice interesting music; a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar. The band was named this way as he had heard that Dick Cheney had a man sized safe which he had thought was both funny and frightening.

Friends and a harmonious picture

Mas took my computer off to see if there was a problem with the hard drive, and I did not seem to have the energy to do very much all day, and that applied to Sunday as well. Christiane phoned, and I made some soup. All pretty uneventful.

On Monday morning Glen called in, and we talked of different places to find a kitten amongst other things. Mas took the computer away again so that it could have a diagnosis of the problems which will probably take a week to sort out. Diane phoned, and Chris emailed giving a very graphic description of his stomach upset.....thanks for sharing that Chris!

On Tuesday we went shopping, and had a late breakfast at The Man in the Moon where Sunil saw me and came over to chat. He went to school with Toby and is a teacher too. It is half term, but he still had to go into school to work, and was having lunch with the headmaster. It was nice to see him again. The weather turned rather cold, and in the evening there was a thunder storm and later it snowed. Joan sent this warm picture of bulbs drying on a mantelpiece, and how the colours blend perfectly with the wallpaper.

Gardening and Pan's Labyrinth

Yesterday was so spring like that we went out and got shopping, then had lunch at The Man in the Moon. Later I did a little tidying up in the garden, and looked at how all the plants were coming along; it is such a pleasure pottering in the garden.

In the evening we watched a very strange Spanish film called 'Pan's Labyrinth' which was very violent, interesting and rather disturbing, but at least we had not seen it before.

Relaxing and talking with Toby and hospital visit

Toby arrived home late from Wales, due to bad weather and flooding on the railway lines. We had a nice evening catching up on the news and chatting while we had dinner with a nice bottle of red wine. We were all rather tired and later watched TV for a while before going off to bed.

The next day we had breakfast, and Toby went off to spend the day with Gerald, and Mas and I went to the Royal Free hospital; Mas accompanying me in case I had to have anaesthetic, but I did not. When we left the hospital we had a coffee and quick lunch in Belsize Park before returning home again. We had a nice dinner with Toby when he returned, with lots to talk about as usual.

When we got up we had a long breakfast drinking coffee, and eventually decided to go to The Man in the Moon for lunch which made a nice break. Afterwards Toby and I went for a walk, and also called into the Two Jays bookshop to look at the books. Toby left early to meet Pete in town for the evening, and Mas and I relaxed and watched TV for a while.