The Queens Diamond Jubilee Garden Party

The Clathymore girls done us proud yet again.

When the invite came around for the Jubilee party to be held on the “Green” no one expected the weather to be as glorious as it has been today, not a cloud in the sky and 28 degrees. Smashing.

Everyone brought their own food, tables and chairs and collectively there was enough Champagne and Strawberries to feed an army.

Keith delivered a toast to the new neighbours, the old neighbours that are leaving soon to go to Australia and of course the Queen.

It was nice to celebrate the Queens Jubilee and remember and reflect on what has gone on during her reign.

A game of rounders, a game of football and then home.

VERY British !

Morning !

I’ve had the cold all week sniff sniff, but for the last three mornings, i’ve awoken at 05:25 on the dot !

I’ve been in London this week, but have since returned home, so it’s not even as though i’ve been in the same bed, with the same curtains or the same alarm clock !!! So why should my body choose to let me know that morning is here at 05:25?

The sunrise at home this morning was at 04:56, so giving the sun half an hour to get around to my bedroom window, that, i could see. But the sunrise yesterday in London was at 05:08, so why would my body choose the exact same minute to get me up?

Having the cold i’ve been taking sudafed to give me a chance of breathing through the night, so is this the time the medicine wears off? But the exact same time for 3 days?

So lets see what happens tomorrow morning? 05:25….. make my day!

The only constant factor in all of these days is my Husband.Hmm?

 

Grand Designs

Signing his Book at Grand Design Live 2012

Being a big fan of Channel 4′s Grand Designs Show, I was excited to get tickets to Grand Designs Live at London’s ExCel Exhibition Centre.

The train journey added to the thrill of the day as we made our way into central London and out the other side. The last part of the train journey was full of excited people also making their way to the exhibition. As i’m not in London very often, even the underground journeys appeal to me and add to the “holiday” experience.

We wanted to get some “ideas” as we will soon be converting our “space” above the garage into an en-suite bathroom and have been toying with doing “something” to our garden since we moved in 4 years ago. We headed straight to the Kitchen and Bathroom section of the exhibition, but were sadly let down. There didn’t seem to be any real emphasis on show casing “grand designs” in the bathroom areas and the exhibitors were very average. We are lucky enough to have the bathroom company on our doorstep and the items and service they have provided so far significantly out-weigh what was on offer at “Grand designs”.

The Build section of Grand Design was much better, which I guess is what Grand Designs Live is all about. There were dozens of  architects, all showing you how they can build you the latest glass fronted house and charge you the earth for having it.

We also got to see two shows, which were delivered by Kevin McCloud, the first being about a previous Grand Designs project Peckham House where the home owner talked about the process of his Grand Design and the second was about the use of colour in the home. Both of which were interesting and informative.

We then got to meet Kevin McCloud who signed his latest book for us :-)

All in all it was a great day out, we even bought a set of ladders! (try getting them home on an aircraft !)

 

Birthday Ideas

If you have ever Googled Birthday present ideas you will understand where I’m coming from. Why is it so difficult in this modern age to find good gift ideas for people?

Working full time means that usually I rely on the web to identify, research and buy presents. My Mother and Father in-law have recently turned 65 and as usual David and I ran out of ideas in regards to what to buy them. This is mainly down to the fact that they are the type of people who already have everything!

Finding the necessary inspiration proved very difficult in deed.

Yes the Web has the answer to every question I have to ask……. Who shot J.R? What is the length of the River Tay? What would my Mother and Father in law like as 65th Birthday present????

Forced to look through dozens of tacky sites, which offered to personally engrave “your name” onto a crystal vase, or experience tank driving lessons, or get the newspaper delivered for the day “you” were born. An acre of the moon for goodness sake. Erm No

Imagine if you were about to celebrate a birthday and all you had to do to receive that “special” gift was to create a wish list online based upon your age! Simply add things you would like onto your specific age allowing your family to see and buy things you REALLY want! No more forced smiles or” thank-you, your so kind” need come from your mouth again. You might actually be pleased with their purchase? But then again you might actually be reading this thinking hmm I wonder what news stories were around on the day I was born!

I give up! Come on GOOGLE make my day!

By the way it was Kirstin Shepard who shot J.R and the River Tay is 117 miles long, in case you were about to open a new browser page and ask.

Friends will be friends

I’m very fortunate to have great friends and last night David and I had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Perth with two old friends.

I hadn’t seen these guys since my wedding in July and had a great time catching up with them. The restaurant was very busy with a great atmosphere which helped to forget it’s been 9 months since i’ve seen them.

But it’s only at these times that I realise that life slips past you so quickly and I really should make more effort to see my good friends more often.

Quite often I make excuses to myself that I don’t have time, what with work, jobs around the house, dogs and spending time with David. But this is no excuse, so perhaps the time fairy will leave me a few extra hours in the day to allow me to spend time with the good friends that I’ve got.

To all my friends – I’m sorry.