27th September 2014

We've been busy over the last week or two driving about  ...first of all, Gravesend to visit Simon's mum, then onto Hoo to see Si's brother Roy and family and then up to Suffolk to help set up Si's friends (accountants) pc  ..and in between that, we've been to Heathrow to change our rental car ..poor ole Si, as he's the only named driver, he now has to do all the driving.

In between traveling about, I've been out on the bike and Si's been to the gym but has been taking it easy as his ankle is still painful at times.

Yesterday we attended our friend, Phils wedding reception which was great.  So nice to see him happy and to think he's emigrating to Canada is just brilliant  ...bring on the boarding holidays :-D

19th September 2014

This morning my sisters, Rosie, Fiona and I attended  'Decorative Techniques Workshop', working with Annie Sloan, Chalk paints in Alton.  It was great fun and very therapeutic.

The Annie Sloan paint is so easy to use and can be used on almost anything without any need to prime or prepare anything, which is my sort of paint.  You can paint walls, wood, floor, metal, plastic, terracotta and even materials.

In the workshop, we were introduced to the color range, history and the types of brushes, style and shown decorative techniques.  eg.  Gilding, Stenciling, Decoupage, Crackle Glaze and varnishing   ..so many things

 

Our finished artwork

Once the workshop finished, we walked around Alton, popped into a few charity shops and then stopped for a drink and nibble in little Tea Room  ...not a touch on Rosie's  ..Sandwich was very salty, tea was weak and the flapjack was solid as a rock   ...but I must say, I haven't laughed so much in ages :-)

Thank you for a lovely Birthday prezzie  xx

18th September 2014

THANK YOU for all my Birthday wishes. 

I had a super time, in fact I had a few days of festivities :-D

Stunning Birthday bouquet

It's only today that Si and I have returned from the New Forest.  We thought it would be fun to go away camping for a couple of days while the weathers good & also do 'Go Ape'  ...swing through the trees like monkeys :-D

On route!

It's been years since I've camped in the New Forest ..I remember going as a child with Mum, Mary Cotter & her daughter Helen.   'Careless Whisper' was released by George Michael   ..now there's an interesting fact!

We camped up at Red Shoot Camp site in Linwood.  A lovely camp site situated just behind a pub.  Very handy  ..even the New Forest ponies were queueing up. 

                                                                             

 'Go Ape' was a scream.  It's been years since we last did one.  Si took some good photo's of me traversing ..in a fashion :-D

14th September 2014

Sisters: Fiona, Jen, Jan & Rosie

Today my big Sis Janet and her husband Rob came up from Sussex for Sunday lunch

13th September 2014

Saturday morning, Simon, Iona & Chloe and I had a bit of a 'Bake Off'.

I paired up with Chloe and went for a traditional chocolate cake with butter icing and grated chocolate on top.  While Simon and Iona went for a more imaginative cake.

The Classic

The Creation

The Stand Off

A pertty hard one to judge! You'll have to wait until tomorrow for the tasting session and then we'll reveal the Winner









You would have thought with all that baking, Simon wouldn't be that hungry but after a quick trip to the shops to get some vital supplies, he made a sandwich as big as Iona's head LOL (Simon did miss breakfast ;-))

12th September 2014

Short one today...

I have been working on a website for several months now... Its quite big and I have reached a point of staring at the screen wondering what else to do...

I need some fresh eyes on it.. so I am inviting you to check it out at www.divekohtao.com

There is lots of info on diving, there is an online shop... and I would welcome any feedback!

x

SD

11th Sept 2014

Happy Birthday Squiddles!!!

X X X

10th September 2014

I was up bright and early this morning as I accompanied Charles to Froome to buy some livestock.  Young bulls to be precise.

We set off around 8am for the 2hr journey.   The roads were pretty clear and we arrived at Froome market/auction in good time to have breakfast and have a quick look at some of the stock for auction.

It's a long ole day.  The auctioneer does an amazing job. as there were over 300 calves to auction off.  By the time we'd sorted and loaded Charles new purchases into the trailer, it was almost 2pm.

The drive back was  much slower, especially with a fully loaded trailer.
We passed Stone Henge, which was nice to see.  Lots of tourists about taking photo's

Once back at the farm, we unloaded the young calves into a pen into the barn where they'll be divided again, so they'll have more room to roam and play.

8th Sept 2014

We've both been busy little bee's.

Saturday I got up around 9am and cleaned the whole house which took me a while.  I think I finished around midday.  Si had in the meantime been working on web pages and other UK work.

I left Simon around 1pm and popped over to Rosie's Tea Shop  ..if you've not been then you'd better pay a visit.  Rosie & Pip were very busy, I walked in and went straight the sink and started washing up :-D    The amount of people in for cream teas was crazy.  All sorts, oldies & youngsters.   I only popped in to say 'Hi' and nearly 2 hrs later, I was still serving, taking orders and washing up ..it was great fun.  I think Rosie & Pip were glad of the help.  We did have a laugh, all sorts of characters call in.

Saturday night was spent pottering ...we didn't go out.  I was busy putting things on Ebay :-D

Yesterday  (Sunday) was lovely day.  We all went to Fiona & Chris's for a lovely roast chicken followed by multiple puddings :-D  Why is it that you always eat too much :-D   Thankfully after lunch we all went for a lovely walk across the fields.

Today(Monday) has been glorious weather and making the most of it, I went out on the bike, calling in at Fiona's for a cream tea whilst Simon was making his way down to Kent to see his Mother and then onto Hoo for a meeting with one of his clients.

I'm making dinner tonight as Rosie's at the NEC in Birmingham.   Shepherds Pie and Apple Crumble. Easy!!!

5th September 2014

It's been a busy couple of days.  I've been out cycling and have had the help of Rosie and Fiona to sort a few things out in our lock-up.  The first trip was with just Rosie and when I opened the doors, I think she was surprised with how crammed it was.  So after moving a few things out, like the ping pong table, leather sofa's, futon and various boxes, we had room to move and to see what was what. After some consideration as to what should be kept/thrown, I decided to get rid of the sofa's.  They had a small bit of mould on them and on closer inspection, they were pretty tatty.   Our futon and a few other bits and pieces were packed in the back of Rosies car and brought back to the farm so I could photograph them and put on Ebay in order to raise a few pennies.

After our first trip, we unloaded the car, had coffee and a sandwich then Rosie, Simon and I all went back to the lockup to load the sofa's into the car and take to the dump.  Once the car was loaded up, Si left as he had UK work to do.  He needs to go through all the electrical stuff we have in storage.

Moving and sorting furniture etc is hard work  ..and I'm finding it really difficult to let go of things.  It's been great that I've had my sisters Rosie and Fiona to help, it's made my life so much easier.

 Always good to take a flask of coffee and sandwiches and to contemplate :-D

3rd September 2014

Simon's foot is still swollen and painful to walk on.  This morning we made an appointment at the surgery.  We waited for almost an hour to be seen.  Their electronic system that assigns a Dr, for some reason didn't register Simon appointment, so we sat and waited until Simon had enough and then he was seen immediately only to be told that it'd be a good idea to go for an X-ray at the hospital and then wait a week for the results.  So upon leaving the surgery, Simon dropped me back at the farm and headed for the hospital where he waited a further hour to be seen.  X Ray results will be produced in 7-10 days.



I on the other hand, changed clothes and headed out on my bike to meet my sister Fiona and my God daughter Iona for a cycle.  I was running late and peddled my heart out to try and make up some time as I said I'd meet them on the canal path near Odiham but by the time I joined the canal at Dogmersfield,  Fiona and Iona were already there, sat at a bench with a little picnic ready to munch :-D

With the weather being so lovely, it's been great going out for cycles every day.


We said hello to some pigs.



..did some climbing

and a bit of exploring

31 August 2014

Since being back in the UK it's been pretty hectic with one thing and another.

The weekend we got back we stayed one night at my sisters on the farm, in Heckfield and then on the Monday, drove down to Roy's.... Simon's brother in Hoo for combined Birthday/Anniversary bash.

On the Wednesday, my other sister, Fiona came over with Iona and Chloe and we spent most of the time messing around in the garden, playing cricket and then riding about the farm on the bike and pulling each other around in the go kart.   After lunch and later in the day, I packed some clothes and went with Fiona and the girls back to theirs for a sleep over.  Simon joined us later as he'd been at work most of the day.

Thursday morning, Simon and I were greeted in bed with a lovely cuppa  ..Thank you Iona & Chloe!!
It was so lovely to be spoilt.  After breakfast we headed back to the farm where Si continued working and I changed and cycled back over to Odiham to meet Fiona and Iona for a cycle ride along the canal stopping at King Johns Castle for refreshments :-D  

Fiona & Iona

King John Castle

Iona's new Mountain bike

We cycled a good few miles in total,  along the canal, on/off road and I just want to say what an amazing job Iona did for someone who's only just learnt to ride a bike.