London Baby!

I hadn't spent any leisure time in London for around 7 years, so was just as excited as the girls. Maisie had free choice of what to do during the day as it was her Birthday treat, so off we went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham palace. I think it’s the first time I have been past the place and the Queen has been in, the flag was flying high and the crowds were gathering. We found a nice spot on a wall and waited. Our patience paid off as various horses, men and police, and lots of foreign tourists trouped by, it was actually quite exciting. We walked past the front gates, narrowly avoiding being trampled by a rather fine looking police horse and headed to the Royal Mews.

It was magical to see all the coaches you see on the telly. All the horse business had worked up a need for food. I was consulting the maps and was considering which area to walk to for food. I looked out the door and saw an inviting Italian cafe. Problem solved, and no more walking, and I was fairly confident they would have a flushing toilet. The staff were lovely, and very typical of an Italian cafe in London, you don't really get that in Chesterfield, only Gregs, its just not the same.

After our late lunch we wandered leisurely back to the hotel via the embankment to change for the evenings activities. We were unbeknownst to Maisie off to diner at the Savoy grill and the West End Show ‘Wicked’.

The Morning After

We woke up the morning after the wedding, and overnight Maisie had turned into a teenager. How did that happen? Leanne had organised for a balloon in a box to be delivered to the hotel, it said ‘teenager at last’ and delighted Maisie. She also received some flash headphones and various amounts of cash. Down to breakfast we trouped, having arranged to meet Alex, her mum and partner. We weren't expecting to see the newlyweds. The hotel did us a great breakfast, which included a birthday cake for Maisie which she was made up with, particularly as it was an ice cream cake. The newly weds joined us (looking a little worse for wear) for coffee and cake.

No time to hang around though, we were off to London town. After a stroll round Dartmouth we were in the car and off. Arriving in London in the late afternoon was pretty excellent, we drove past Harrods and Westminster and over the river to our slightly less luxurious accommodation relative to the Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth, Waterloo Travelodge. Nice clean rooms though, fully functional, so no complaints at all.

We hop on a bus like seasoned old hands at this traveling round London malarkey and arrive in Soho. Not your first location you might want to take a new teen, but Ed’s Easy Diner was calling, and we all like a nice burger. There was cool music, cool staff and plenty of milkshakes and chips for all. Alex tried a root beer for the first time, I’d tried it before and there was no way I am going to drink it again, it tastes like that horrible euthymol toothpaste that smokers use. The waiter says it tastes like detergent. Alex said it tastes nice. Weird.

Hanging out in Ed's Easy Diner, Soho

We wandered round the streets, hung out in China Town, and hopped on the bus to the Hotel. A pretty good day for all despite the long drive.

The Wedding trip

The very new Mr and Mrs Lumley

Lovely girls!

We scrub up OK!

Our eldest niece got married last weekend in Dartmouth, so a major expedition was necessary.  We all needed to pile into the car having arranged dog care, kitten feeding, milk cancellation, annual leave and leave of absence from school for Maisie, presents organised, outfits chosen and fitted, hair cuts and birthday preparations in hand. Yes, to complicate things, Maisie turned into a teenager the day after the wedding.

All ready with bubbles for the breakfast

It was a lovely day for a drive, and we drove, and drove, after numerous toilet stops we reached the ferry to take us into the heart of Dartmouth. Dartmouth is so pretty, real chocolate box material. It was lovely to arrive, and see Hollie the bride to be, hanging out the hotel window waving excitedly.

Returning to the hotel after photos

After unloading the car, off to our room, we chose to stay in the same hotel as the wedding venue, I think we were in the old servant quarters as we were situated under the eves right at the top, and no lift as the building was too old and listed for a lift to be fitted. Fortunately some unsuspecting hotel person lugged our luggage up the stairs.

We delivered Alex to her sisters room - much more salubrious as was fitting for the bride to be. Alex only had eyes for the Jacuzzi and I believe was in and out around five times in one evening, at least she was clean for her staring role as bridesmaid.

We had a leisurely breakfast, the bridal party had eaten their breakfast and were well into preparations by the time we had finished. We popped our heads in to check and get jobs if necessary. We could vaguely see through the clouds of hairspray. There was a team of two hairdressers and a makeup person working steadily through the four bridesmaids, the bride and the mothers.

Time to go pull on my shirt and gel my hair. Maisie had her GHDs and was in charge of her and Leanne’s hair. Makeup was applied, and off we went for a good cry, a laugh, some reminiscing, and were part of some very happy memories for years to come. 

The first dance to the the tune of "I've got you under my skin"

Just some words next to each other

Last week, I was mostly...at work. Last weekend, I was mostly...recovering. must be the weather that has made it so hard. Saturday, retail therapy was needed. So off we went to Ikea, not sure why we thought this was a good idea on the first Saturday of half term, but we went anyway. Using our highly honed parking karma skills, we found a boss park near the door.

First stop, the cafe for a fuel stop. There’s nothing quite like Ikea meat balls to fortify one for a busy Ikea on the first day of half term. (We must be mad)

We made the required purchases, and the obligatory impulse buys which included a plant. 

These snowdrops were under 3 inches of snow a week earlier

Yes, that’s right a plant. Maisie said “but you will just kill it Mum.” But I had a plan for the plant, take it to work. It will make a lovely green addition to my desk. So green, Leanne called it Kermit. And, I’m happy to report that after one week of ownership, Kermit is still alive. 

We have been making plans for our kitchen, and wanted to check out Ikea sinks and things. Leanne also made an appointment for a kitchen designer to come measure our tiny kitchen and see how many units would fit in, and if we could manage to have a dishwasher. The kids do the dishes at the moment (after a little ‘persuading’) but I think our immunity system has now built up enough to warrant getting a dishwasher.

The guy arrived, the dog was excited, the kittens were meh. Their excitement will come I guess when more work surfaces arrive for them to leave muddy footprints all over. The dog kept coming to say hello to kitchen man, and when you are sat on the sofa, conveniently your face is at dog height. Dog came up, kitchen man pats dogs head, dog does a massive burp in man’s face....awkward! Fortunately he saw the funny side, but it must have been through blurred eyes as the dog has the worst breath.

The White Stuff

Well, we waited and we waited and three came along at once! Three inches of snow that is or thereabouts! There was great excitement as the snow kept falling on Saturday, not enough for any recreational activities until about 8pm, guess what, there was a knock at the door, and a snowy rosy cheeked child asking if Maisie wanted to come sledging! They went off and sledged down the road, mad, I stayed with the dog in front of the fire. 

Up early for a dog walk though on Sunday, unusually Maisie is keen to join me and t’dog. It was so lovely in the early morning light. The dog wasn't that impressed unfortunately. 

After breakfast, Maisie was out the door and down the road to meet up with mates for sledging in the daylight. At a rather more leisurely pace Leanne and I followed. The dog was hiding in a bedroom, fearful we might drag him out again. Walking through the village, it felt fairly paganistic  as various villagers, their children and thin bits of plastic (sledges) were being drawn towards the same hill.

We were greeted with the shrieks and/or wails of delighted and/or slightly injured, wet children sliding down the hill at various speeds of fast, whilst dogs ran around between them unsure who to chase or what to do. We spotted Maisie and her mates, four of them appeared to be on the same sledge attempting to slide down in a big lump.

There were a few hardy parents having a go, and there were parents resolutely stood behind the gate. After watching for a while, I thought how bad can it be. I traipsed up the hill, hard enough in itself, it was much steeper than anticipated. I foolishly went to the top before looking back. What faced me was a very huge downward view with only one way to get down with my pride intact. 

On the sledge I get, and set off - at great speed which didn’t seem to be altered whether I had my feet up or not. All I was aware of was Maisie’s friends shouting “put your feet up you’ll go faster” as if it was a desirable thing. I arrive at the bottom, still with the sledge firmly wedged to my bottom, not really designed for the wider bodied middle aged figure. In addition to the awareness that I’d shrieked like a girl for the entire slide, I was covered in snow from attempting to slow myself down. Fortunately I had left some snow on the hill for other sledgers. I got back to Leanne and Maisie who was in charge of photography. Maisie said - “Mum, you’ll have to do it again, I missed it!”

So, please take my word for it, I did slide down the hill honest! I’ll do it again ...next year!

Back home for a hot chocolate and the fire, from now on I’m sticking with the dog’s idea of how to deal with the snow.

Sunday

Sunday came about all too quickly this weekend, to cheer ourselves up, we decided to take my Dad out to our local for a spot of supper. This is actually the same local where we over heard the conversation regarding the amount of fluid in some blokes lung. (see Do you know how much fluid I had in my lung?) As the pub has changed ownership, and we had an old chap of our own to help blend in, we thought it was a safe bet.

Leanne phoned up to book a table, and they asked if we were bringing our dog. A positive sign in my book. We have been bumping into the new owners fairly frequently whilst walking our respective hounds. I think it’s a sure sign we have ‘arrived’ in the village when the pub landlord is on first name terms with your pet.

We didn’t take the dog, nor did we take the cats. The cats have developed the habit of coming along on Chess’s evening walks. It’s very cute, they run along, in and out of Chess’s legs, dash into a garden, pop up through a hedge further up the path, and repeat. The neighbours cat joins in sometimes. Poor Chess, it can't be doing much for his street credibility.

Senior moments

Introducing the Seniors!

What an action packed weekend. Lovely friends from New Zealand to entertain, lovely weather, plenty of chat, good food and wine. We looked at spoons, survived the hamster escaping, (“I don't want to be alarmist, but I can’t see the hamster,” said our guest.) Slippers were definitely on trend for our used-to-way-warmer-climate kiwi guests. Undeterred by the predicted highs of minus one, we were intent on showing them some of the local highlights.

We chose Marks and Spencer to start. In our defense, this was requested. After a day in Sheffield to visit Marks and Spencer and see the cutlery exhibition in Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries (we thought it was our duty to show off Sheffield’s claim to fame), we needed to entertain a small boy with a passion for castles. Where do you go? Bolsover Castle, of course. It’s called a castle, so in theory should have some castle-like qualities.  

Laughing Cavaliers

After eventually leaving the house on Sunday morning- no small task as there were six bodies who needed to breakfast and shower (and only a small detour past the motorway roundabout due to bad communication regarding directions), we arrived.  Putting on my best Kiwi accent we gained entrance using our NZ Heritage card. As we were Kiwis (or so the woman thought) the woman behind the counter proceeded to guide us through every minute detail of the audio tour. Her attention to detail was impressive, shall we say. Others may have said overbearing. All we actually needed to know was; press 99 on the audio thing when you get through the door. Not where the door was (obvious), how to open the door (again obvious) and which foot to put in front of the other to walk (well not the last bit, but it was close).

When we got in to the castle grounds, the tour started off in the riding school bit. There’s a great area with hats to dress up as Cavaliers, a wooden horse, blocks to build your own fantasy castle - all very good stuff. After that came the castle grounds and the actual castle to explore. Unfortunately, by this time, both children started their mantra; “I’m cold, can we go home now?” Fair enough, we had been there for at least half an hour. We ignored the kids and carried on regardless.

It was all very lovely and castle-y, even the kids enjoyed it - especially the room with the oil-filled radiator. Back home by way of Hardwick Hall and lovely sun setting over the moors. What a lovely part of the world we live in and how lucky to have such good friends to share it with.