Time to make changes

 

Well, lets just say , my day to day work life is quickly turning into a farce, I know I said I wouldn't be mentioning  it again, but I am totally sick and tired now.

I've drawn up a list of possible jobs.

Tea party arranger ( with china and linen provided) seems to be top, but I think its a niche market.

Dinner party provider, yep could do that but again I think that it is a weekend job.

Chatelaine, because lets face it I should be living in a chateau doing chambre d'hote.

Any old dogs body job, because  that's what I am doing now.

I seem to just be unlucky in jobs, these last 2 jobs have been in a strongly male arena, but in this day and age that shouldn't mean that if you are a woman you do only admin/ data input and any job that the men don't want to do. 

However no point in moaning about it, time to get on and make the change.

There has to be something out there for me.

To be honest this is nothing to complain about in the grand scale of things, my poorly sister was admitted to hospital again last night and that makes you put things in prospective.

With things being the way they are, I may not be back here this week, especially if like last night I had very little sleep.

Stay safe all and I hopefully will be back soon.

Its Monday again

 

Here we go again, Monday comes around so quickly. What a weekend though.

Firstly, as you know ( and were probably bored of hearing about) I had the girls round for tea! I had visitors on Saturday at Maison des Guichets!

and what a fabulous afternoon it was. Never underestimate the power of sitting around a table with friends.

I feel recharged.

And then there was cricket, or more to the point, there was BIG LUKE!. I'm sure that Worcestershire and their fans never want to see Luke Fletcher bowl again. Taking 7 wickets in the first innings and 3 in the second, Worcester were on the way home much quicker than imagined and Notts  were in the pavilion on the beer  in well deserved celebrations.

I genuinely love Luke Fletcher, he is one in a million. He is a man mountain, he even manages to make me feel small. He has had his ups and downs as well as an absolutely horrific injury, but he just keeps bowling.

Well played Notts.

Sunday saw me heading over to my poorly sisters house to drop off food and some afternoon tea she is not too well again and although she got up to see me she had to go back to bed. We are hoping that the next couple of weeks will see her feeling better. Its a worry.

I had a quick trip to the charity shop and then home to do washing and all the usual stuff., before an early night, yes all the excitement took its toll.

My teeny Tykes are in action today against Durham at Headingly, this match is allowing members back to the ground so I imagine a good turnout. Sadly I can't be there but no doubt I will be kept up to date with the goings on.

Wonderful word of the day.

Macrosmatic

This is a fabulous word which means having a good a sense of smell.!

Have a great day 

Happy Friday

 

Yes it is Friday, I checked twice when I woke up just to be sure, its half day too and I cannot say how glad I am.

Lots to do when I get home, and its also cocktail hour later. 

Hopefully all the prep will be done for tomorrow and I can have a sit down and relax.

Who can remember how much work went into having guests??!! I think I might put myself back into lockdown after this. 

To be honest I am just making sure that the house is super clean, more super clean than it has been, better to be safe and all that.

I am tired again this morning, things aren't improving and do seem to be getting worse, who needs all  of that. I might just invest in a lottery ticket, you never know!

My teeny Tykes drew their match against Notts, the weather is not being kind to any of us.

'Sandpapergate' just doesn't seem to go away, for me the CCTV coverage near the players dressing room will always be the outstanding memory . To be honest Australia lost all credibility and despite trying to regain their foothold on the cricket stage, they knowingly cheated and that's that.

So Jofra Archer is to have surgery on an elbow injury, hmmmmmm.

Over at Leicestershire it was good to see Ed Barnes flourishing, another one let go too soon.

Well nearly time to wend my way down the 167.

Wonderful word of the day

Drumly

This may not be a term used in modern weather forecasting, however in the middle ages up to the 19th century this word described a 'gloomy, cloudy troubled sky'

Well its bee drumly here all week lets hope that things get bettter.

Happy Friday, have a great weekend,

Here we go

 

Oh the disappointment at 5.20am this morning when I realised that it was Thursday and not Friday, and then the relief as I still have a million things to do before my friends  come on Saturday, so small win there.

Over in York my teeny Tykes have to get 8 wickets  as Notts have a target of 359. I will be trying to keep an eye on this game as I can this morning.

I know I give a very biased  report on these matches, but I really do think that Ben, Tom and Matty have played brilliantly. I chose to sponsor them to give a them a tiny bit of support as they forge out their career.

Not all clubs do a players sponsorship, I think that it is a good idea and brings in funds for the club. It also gives the lads some extra support. 

OK this is a short one this morning, not a lot to report, apart form I have set the table ready for tea on Saturday, that's how excited I am to see people.

Wonderful word of the day is 

Lennow

Obscure as its origin may have been the meaning of lennow was unmistakable to those to whom it may have been addressed from the 16th century onwards.

Lennow meant flabby or limp, a description one is hardly likely to forget.

So as I haul this lennow body out the door, I wish you a Happy aThursday.

Hello Wednesday

Well its midweek and closer to my 'Garden party/afternoon tea, which may well be taken indoors we are only 4 and will have a lot of ventilation. I do not fancy us being in the garden under a gazebo with torrential rain falling all around us, or worse still hail stones!

Everything is organised, food and drink wise and I just have to clean the house from top to bottom.

I'm really excited to have visitors, especially as these are my oldest friends.

I am sure that if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will be bored with the pictures.

The teeny Tykes had played on Monday and Tom and Ben saw the day out together. Yesterday morning weather wise was not great and start was delayed, but then................well I went up in the attic at the office on the pretence of doing work so that I could just watch the scorecard ( yes I am that sad).

 Ben and Tom got away well, and then Tom just motored on, sadly falling just short of his century, but a fabulous knock none the less. Matty and Ben scored 20and 37 respectively.

They then bowled Notts out for 115 and over night saw Matty on 5 and back at the crease today.

I may be in the attic a lot this morning!

I am proud of all the lads, but I am always  delighted to see 'my' three lads doing well. I'm sad that I couldn't be there to cheer them on but hopefully soon.

Wonderful word of the day

Nipcheese

This was slang for a ships purser in the 18th century, by the 19th century it ha become  word used to mean a skinflint ( which in itself is a wonderful word)

Right I am off to Ladylaineyworkville and there is currently a ray of sunshine and no rain.

Happy Wednesday

Teddy Central

 There's a lot of sewing going on at the moment, as I push on to get the last of the teddy jumpys put together to go out to Scarbados. Lovely little chaps they are too. I'm just trying to get the last ones sewn up and then a parcel will be delivered to Owzat cricket.

There was a lot of rain yesterday and looks like no play in York. Hopefully today will be better ( but judging by the forecast Id say no).

Lots of activity at Maison des Guichets last night as new carpet went into one of the built in wardrobes. All fresh and clean now and ready for everything to go back in.

I've done my Tuesday morning workout as I had to wrestle my beloved Hoover larder fridge ( the biggest fridge in the world in my book). I've just had to man handle it outside the gate for collection. Easier said than done with 2 steps to negotiate. All done and I will probably be in agony by the end of the day, old age is no fun.

Well time for word of the day 

Evasorious

A rare form of evasive, this was coined in the 17th century as a somewhat grandiose version of the word we still use.

So Im off to the office to close my door and be as evasorious as possible.

Happy Tuesday 

Eau de nil Monday

 

Yes no blue Monday here its all about Eau de Nil, and THE CHAIR.

I won, I finished it, more broken nails, and lots of swearing but it is done and although an upholsterer would say its not perfect, its perfect for me, now to get the trim on the under stairs doors and get them painted to do the chair justice in its little spot. 

In the cricket world, its all about  TLJL, with his 127 no. Why oh why  do former Yorkshire players go from strength to strength when they move on. ( look at TLJL and Bressy last season). Yorkshire dumped Jack onto the 2nds for the his last two seasons , and he is now playing exceptional 1st team cricket at Kent.

Talking Yorkshire, they drew  in a weather affected game.

Teeny Tykes are in York this week.

Jofra Archer ruled out of New Zealand series, never going to live up to the hype in my honest opinion.

And the weekend, weather wise probably much the same as yours., I headed out of town to do some charity shopping, which was both productive and had some great bargains to boot.

 Funky the chauffeur and I went for a night out at the local brewery  which was going great until the ex husband came in. Undeterred we cracked on sampling the local brew, yesterday I had to make fish pie to take to my sisters. Yep not the best idea when you feel like your head is going to fall off and your stomach is impersonating a washing machine.

And of course I finished THE CHAIR.

Wonderful word of the day.

Sinapistic

As an alternative to asking for the mustard, you could try requesting the sinapisitc condiment, 

Sinapistic simply means 'consisting of mustard' and the word derives from the Latin word sinapis which is mustard.

So now you know what to have on your roast beef.

Have a great day.

Hurrah, its Friday.......

 

......and later it will be Cocktail hour ( if I make it back from the Gin factory).

If you follow  cocktailsandchina  on Instagram you will know that it isn't just cocktails, I also do 'mocktails'. Something for everyone.

This has become something of a labour of love as I do spend quite a  bit of time putting together the cocktail recipe, then deciding if there should be some special nibbles to go with it and don't get me started on glasses, trays, china and linen. 

I enjoy it and it does make me switch off from other things.

Well things are just becoming silly on the work front and I wont bore you with more stupid details. Just take if they continue as they have this week,  this time next month I will be running the place on my own as I will  be doing everyone's jobs.(not)

I do think this is a ploy to push me out and believe me as soon as I can go I am out of there.

Over in Scarbados the teeny Tykes match was drawn ( as expected) but  some great bowling and catching ( yes I am biased!).

My poor sister is not too good again, she is once again having speech problems and we are waiting to hear what the consultant thinks, its been so rough for her. Surely this year has to improve soon.

Yesterday  I received a wonderful present of a fabulous hydrangea, such a very thoughtful gift and much appreciated. 
After an hour soaking up the last rays of sunshine, it was back indoors and into the downstairs shower cubicle. Better to be safe.

Right I am off to finish this week and get ready for the weekend.

Have a great time. stay safe,

Thursday musings

 

So its Thursday, I am still sounding as if I have a peg on my nose. Early days.

Who knew that they brewed gin and vodka in Ladylaineyville????? well they do and I am off round tomorrow after work to have a little look, and maybe sample some of the said liquid. As it is about 15 minutes walk from Maison des Guichets, I might take the car home first.

My teeny Tykes declared on 300. Super proud of  all the boys as they lost a day through the weather. They go into today with Lancs on 195/5.

First day of the big lads game against Glamorgan today too.

And we plod on in the office, well some do and I am galloping around trying to get all my duties and new duties done, also I was informed yesterday that we will be going onto a new system so I  will have to make sure I am up to speed as I will be doing the training.

I tell you for an 'administrator' I have a lot of duties not really to do with admin.

And today I will be preparing 14 O & M manuals to go out the door and believe me getting these completed is a task and a half.

These are manual on 7 jobs that have all completed at the same time and if you know anything about these manuals you will appreciate that it isn't a half hour job.

As I said we plod/galllop on

Wonderful word

Claggy

A northern word  meaning sticky or able to make sticky lumps

and I am off to do what I have to do.

Until tomorrow and last working day of the week.

What's new?

 

Well sadly I am not lying on this beach, so nothing new on the holiday front.

I did however have a long torch like thing stuck up my nose yesterday to find the cause of my constant sniff and nasally voice. ( as well as a host of other nasal problems). So it looks like polyps and I am on some steroid drops and will be seeing an ENT specialist. 

Ah it never rains but it pours.

The Teeny Tykes got out to play yesterday , sadly not on the beach with the donkeys but at North Marine Road.

I have been awaiting a special table for the belated birthday party and for the 2nd time in a week Hermes have lost an item that I have ordered. Last week a set of very expensive glasses and this week the table, I am not sure why or how they lose a table! I wonder how many claims they have against them.

So I spent an hour and a half up in the attic yesterday ( yes I am sure the dust is helping my problems) and made no headway what so ever.

Ah well I got a sit down and no phone calls so that was a relief.

Well no wonderful word of the day as I have to put in my drops and them lie still on my side for a couple of minutes.

Happy Wednesday back tomorrow.

On we go

 

Hello Tuesday, lets have a good day.

After a major struggle yesterday due to extreme tiredness, I had a bath, a glass of hot milk and an early night last night. Nope didn't work I got off to sleep OK, and the 4 hours later wide awake. 

I need a break and yes I know I could take time off now, but I've been at home for a year and if I have to use holiday I want a proper holiday, so I am hanging on.

Well hanging on was what my teeny Tykes were doing yesterday as conditions at Scarbados were not great due to rain, so I think that it was donkey rides on the beach, and candy floss for them yesterday afternoon. fingers crossed for some cricket today. And all three of my boys are in the squad.

Not really much else to report, oh yes I've been given another job, I now have to go into the attic and clear out all the files up to 2011. As the  initial company had been going 40 years, I am thinking this isn't a 10 minute job. Not sure how I will also do my job, the buyers job the directors job, answer the phone , meet and greet and do the cleaning too.

Wonderful word of the day

Wabbit

This has nothing to do with cartoons or wascally wabbits, this is a Scottish  term for being exhausted.

and as you know I am wabbited a lot of the time

Happy Tuesday 

And that was the weekend!

 

Just before the weekend I lost my diary, which was a total disaster for me as it had the next 6 weeks cocktails for my insta account 'cocktailsandchina'. Plus all the cocktails from the last couple of months.

Its not the end of the world but it is a mystery as to where it has gone as it is always in my work bag with two notebooks, both of which are still there. I update it at lunchtime at work and at a push its on my desk, but I do remember putting it in my bag on Wednesday night and come Thursday it had gone. 

Not a very interesting read to anyone  unless you love cocktails as much as I do. 

Luckily my favourite charity shop came up trumps on Saturday as I hunted for a new diary to try to backtrack and record the cocktails and put in new one, not only a diary but a fabulous bound notebook

There was lots of cooking going on  at the weekend as I got things ready to drop off at my sisters. She is much better, looks better and well on the road to  better health.

And then there was THE CHAIR. Ah yes, well I decided to knock out the last of the cricket Teddy jumpys for Andy at Owzat Cricket yesterday early afternoon and then at 3pm I started to cut out the fabric for the back of the chair.

Fitting and faffing about and started to staple, got 3 staples in and the staple gun packed up. 4.25pm and Screwfix closed! not a happy bunny. I am sure that THE CHAIR has it in for me.

And cricket

The big lads drew against Kent, ironically a catch by TLJL saw the match over.

Teeny Tykes at in Scarbados this week.

will be keeping an eye on that

And with that I am off, wonderful word will be back tomorrow

Hurrah for Friday

 Well it is Friday and I am on the count down to cocktail hour, but I've a half day to put in first and also a lot of cooking to do for my sister before this can happen.

Thursday was OK, I spoke to a couple of recruitment agencies, and to be honest with one consultant I actually said I was sorry but I was going to terminate the conversation. I know it makes me sound hoighty toighty, but after answering about 10 questions for him and him answering 'FABULOUS love' to each one, when he asked me one in particular and responded to my answer 'O. M. G. ( not, oh my god, but O. M. G.) amazeballs' ( is this still used???), I knew it was time to put the phone down.  Seriously is this the way that office and phone etiquette has gone? 

Cricket? well I am buzzing as the 2ns secured a trilling win late yesterday against Essex, this is  3 out of 3 for them and I personally am over the flipping moon.

Ben messaged when he got home last night, and I wish my 3 'boys' a relaxing weekend. Monday sees  the 2nds in a Roses clash at Scarborough.

The 'bog' boys were at home to Kent, score at stumps Kent 224-7 (TLJL 47).

and now for the weather, well as we are now in May lets have more hail storms. We have had them everyday this week and everyday the stones are getting bigger, by Sunday there will be footballs falling from the sky. Not sure what happened to global warming but it has certainly bypassed us!

Wonderful word of the day

Cockshut.

The use of electric lighting for over a century has detached our awareness of the seasonal variations determined by the rising and setting of the sun. Consequently words like cockshut have disappeared from everyday speak. Before artificial light cockshut was a synonym for twilight, that period of evening when the poultry would settle down and are shut up for the night.

well now you know.

Have a great weekend

stay safe, wear a mask and still keep your distance.

Everyday's a school day

So Wednesday in the office started strangely, 'Stan' ( not his real name but the name he goes by!) one of the draughtsmen was chattering away annoying everyone, when Graham ( new Project Manager) said 'OMG Stan you'd test the patience of a Saint' . Then began a debate about whether there is a St Stan.

I was hit by deja vu as in a job many years ago, my boss was Catholic and for some strange reason , we had to have  a  Saint of the day' segment  in the morning meeting!

Anyhow long story short, there is a St Stanley , an American priest who was murdered in Guatemala in 1981.

You learn something new everyday.

The 2nds got back out to play down in Billericay and I was able to watch Matty and Ben in action. Matty bowling and Ben back behind the stumps. Essex were 219-7 overnight. I think we know the outcome of the match

And news on the grapevine is that TLJL is back at Yorkshire, sadly for the opposition but great to have him back, I know someone who is very glad.

Local election day, the day when all the whales splashing around in the drop of rain, make an appearance. 

Ah here in Lady Laineyville, they are going to work miracles, when I asked how on several issues, they  failed to respond. To be  honest the way one is going on, you would think that he was up for the a seat in Parliament.........................or is that his aim. 

always a good chuckle though. I can't take them seriously though, one who was all over TV and the press saying she wouldn't believe coronavirus was real until one of her family had it ( she didn't hand sanitise or wear a mask as it was a 'plannedemic') She went very quiet when her husband was hospitalised with it after Christmas and by all reports the poor man is still not fully recovered.

Anyhow we will see in the next couple of day s how this has gone.

Wonderful word of the day

Condog

This was once used as a verb meaning to agree or concur, and it is the latter meaning that has led to the conjecture that condog may be a pun on concur, although there is no evidence to support this.

I wish you all a good day one, 

Lets take stock

 

Its is still raining, this is annoying as I am trying to sort out my afternoon tea, belated birthday party, I was hoping to have it on the 15th , which would be the halfway point between birthdays but now it looks as if  it will be the 22nd.

Hopefully the gazebo will not be needed!

I'm still busy, last night I spent another hour in the wardrobe!, I have had a peep this morning and it is looking OK, which means that I can get  things put back in it ( you didn't think it was empty did you?). Then get the new pictures up on the wall, and the room should be nearly good to go. Exciting times ( that's as good as it gets for me at the moment).

I even managed a really good clear out last night, in lots of ways. Sometimes it has to be done. 

And I put 'stuff' on eBay which is a constant but hey it brings in some pennies. I keep hearing from people who through all the lockdowns and working from home saved a fortune, sadly I still incurred the usual costs, although  when all but essential shops were closed I did save some.

My theory, well you can't take it with you. I am however going to invest more money in me, something that I don't think that I do.

Cricket!

Well rain affected the game at Billericay although Matty did hit 39 so that was a bright spot on a dull day.

I actually drove home through a 15 minute hail storm which was both amazing to see but not great to drive in.

I have also found that I have developed 'maskzema' which is not pleasant and I am trying out an over the counter cream to see if this helps.

so taking stock of all of that it seems, I need to finish odd jobs, organise my party, save more, not be taken for granted, be kinder to me and put my face cream on. As well as getting to see some cricket soon.

Wonderful word of the day 

Bibble

This word describes the sound of eating or drinking noisily.

Hopefully this is something that I don't do.

Have a great Wednesday 

Here we go again

 

Well another Bank Holiday over until the end of the month and now for a 4 day week.

The weekend was as expected, some sunshine and lots of rain.

It was as I had expected, a lot of working on the odds and ends that need doing.

Good news, THE CHAIR, has finally  got a seat on it, I managed to get that reupholstered over the weekend and  now just have the back to do ( probably what I thought would be the hardest part before I started painting the thing).

I spent two afternoons in the built in wardrobe in The Sanderson Suite, . once again, one coat paint fails to do what it says on the tin and another coat could be going on tonight. 

There was a lot of sorting out for the charity shop, I am following the 'one in , one out' rule not and after  buying 5 things at the weekend, I had to find 5 to go.

And then there was cricket.

Yorkshire were up again Northants and let me just say this, at a game like that  I just wished Cally had been here to do the commentary.

Nail biting stuff has nothing on it. A win by one run for Yorkshire, 20 points  in the 'bank'' A good bit of bank holiday sport.

My boys started their game down in Billericay scene of many jaunts by moi after the Great aunt and uncle retired there from Richmond ( Surrey not Yorkshire).

Not a great innings for 2 of them although there was some great batting form Wharton and Waite.

Well time to head into the office and put in a days holiday for June when I will be playing host to Micky the Border Terrier for one long weekend and then two wwkes later having him overnight.

Ahhh I can't wait.

Have a great day.

Wonderful word will be back tomorrow.