Finally Friday

 

Ah its Friday and tonight at 'Maison des Guichets, I will be 'transporting' myself  back to one of my favourite villages in The Champagne region.

After cocktail hour, there will be half a dozen oysters and a bottle of Perrier Jouet whilst sitting on the deck dreaming of France. ( who knew that Morrisons at Morton Park had fresh oysters).

Its been some week and I need to escape away for a few hours! ( even if it is only pretending ).

Anyone else had that kind of week?

Yorkshire 2nds, had a great first game down in Gloucester, after breaking records , they came through and were well deserved winners, by an innings and 81 runs. Well done all, and great to see all three of 'my boys' together yesterday.

Not so the 'big boys' who were 60-0 at one point and then all out for 150!

In reply Sussex are 113-3 overnight.

Wonderful word of the day.

Jentacular

After getting  out of bed, if you are offered a 'jentacular' cup of tea, don't worry it means anything ( in this case tea) to do with breakfast.

I've already had my jentacular cup of coffee so time to  head off to start the last day of this working week, lets get it over and done with.

And finally a huge thank you to a very lovely person  who went above and beyond to give me some much needed help yesterday. I will not forget this act of kindness.

on we go

 Another day another delve through the goings on at work.

It has been 'discovered' that a huge amount of work by the Director that left, was not done, I could have told them that. To be honest the auditors have just highlighted the failings of the people put in charge by the former company. Not something that any of us are surprised by, luckily the area that I have been dealing with for the last year has gone through fine, as has my own work and the other two jobs that I took on due to furlough.

I just have get through a Water board audit next week and I may be able to take a breath.

The one thing that I have taken out of this is that no matter how much you do, they will put more on you. ( and they have). Sadly no pay rise to accompany it.

Yorkshire 2nds have been in record breaking form this week. This is the first time in 627 2nd matches that they scored over 600 in an innings. Previous highest score was 585against Lancashire at Scarbados.

And yesterday both Matty and Ben took two catches.

Come on lads 8 wickets to get today to win by an innings.

The big lads start the first of 4 days against Sussex today.

Wonderful word of the day

Absquatulate

Meaning to leave abruptly

right I am absquatualting. 

Midweek

 Here we go again, audit day mk2.

Yesterday was fraught to say the least, today and next week look to be just as bad.

However good news for me when I had lunch was that  my Ben was on 34 in his 2nd's match , sadly Matty was not so lucky but hey the first game of the season.

Love a 2nds match, it will always be my favourite cricket, as I have said on many occasions.

They declared on 602/8. Flipping brill 1st innings

Not a lot else to report as I am now (6.21am) on my way out of the door, so until tomorrow if I have the energy.

Wonderful word of the day

Panidculation 

This is what happens when you wake up in the morning and stretch, as you stretch  your muscles might go rigid for a moment, which can be really uncomfortable. It also describes the combination of being  extremely sleepy, and stretching and yawning. Now when this happens to you , you know what its called.

Not looking forward to today

 And as Tuesday begins, I've been awake most of the night as we are being audited today by the new company. I can only hope that everything is OK on my side of things. 

I am then being audited by one of the countries water companies next week. 

Things have not progressed well with the former home shirker, who does not want to be in the office. Yesterday was one long complaint after another. Needless to say I closed the office door and put my headset on. 

He apparently was having panic attacks on Sunday  at the thought of coming back to work yesterday, and in the next breath was saying that he had been at the pub all of Saturday afternoon with all his mates that he hasn't seen for months! 

In cricket it was great to see both Matty and Ben in the 2nds away at Gloucester.

Will Fraine on 184 over night.

I will check in at lunchtime ( if I get lunch that is).

A little bit more normality with 2nds matches.

Wonderful word of the day

Ulotrichous.

This words describes what some people would like and what some people who have would prefer not to, |( I was one of these until recently).

Ulotrichous  refers to people with curly hair

and with that I am off to be audited.

Have a great day 

Back to it

 So the weekend is over and its back to the salt mines for me.

This was the weekend that I went out out, for the first time since last September, on Saturday I was up and in the car and off to the coast of North Yorkshire to visit my friends Jacqui, Tony and Spike. What an absolutely wonder time. I had cuddles and kisses galore from Spike which was guaranteed to make everything right in the world.

A wonderful walk along the headland and then some charity shop shopping, followed by  wonderful cakes, what a great day.

Yesterday was busy as washing, shopping and gardening had to be done, I was up and out litter picking in the square at 7am, something that  I want to do every week, just a little pride in my area.

Cricket was thrilling in all areas, Yorkshire pulled off a win against Kent, and David Willey showed his total class with a 5fer.

Tom scoring in the 20's in both innings, and Adam Lyth getting another century,as well as Joe Root. great games.

Lots to do this week and there will be no evenings in front of the TV this week, as I try to finish guest room 1 off completely. Its been in limbo for too long.

The dressing room is  going to have an overhaul, I still haven't painted the  wardrobe doors  but that can wait now for autumn as they don't look too out of place, which reminds me I need to pop to get more paint at lunchtime.

All in all a relaxing weekend with the joy of seeing friends.

Now to get my belated birthday party sorted and jobs a good 'un.

So best go and scrape the car as we are still having thick frosts which I fear may have a devastating effect on my hydrangeas.

Well lets get Monday started.

Wonderful word back tomorrow

Welcome to the start of the weekend

 

Finally I have woken up and it is Friday!!! 

Its going to be a good day, I am getting the barnet chopped at 3pm.

And then  it will be home for cocktail hour. I was trying out the potential cocktail for tonight and still cannot get it right so it will be worked on for another Friday and I will be preparing my plan B option.

I was reading some cocktail related sites and had to laugh, as people that prepare cocktails now refer to themselves as 'Mixologists' shades of Maureen Lipman and 'an ology' . I wonder what Harry Craddock  who was one of the most famous BARTENDERS of the 1920/30's would make of it. His time at The Savoy, behind the bar, resulted in one of the best cocktail books.

With what has to have been one of the most testing weeks at work in a while ( and next week looks to be able to top it), yesterday was another day another bombshell. New owners have decided that we all have to take 8 days holiday out of our entitlement at Christmas, with us finishing on 17th. This would be OK for most of us ( although we don't want to ) but the workshop gang only get 20 days holiday a year and so they are now about to mutiny. 

I'm too old and tired  for all this s*&t .

I suppose it not as a bad as having all our Christmas holidays cancelled 2 years ago.

Cricket!

Tom was  selected to play and hit a respectable 27.  Lythy seems to be on form  and was just short of another ton.

Come on lads.

I spoke to James Bond who is currently on manoeuvres in another part of the county. Plans afoot to meet up when we can. 

So now I am off to start Friday and see what joys are waiting for me when I get in.

Have a great Friday and if you are on instagram pop over to cocktailsandchina to join in with cocktail hour later.

have a great weekend

Hello Thursday

 I'm struggling this week, words I never thought I'd be saying this early in the year.

I'm totally worn out and the last couple of mornings have been an epic battle just  to get one leg out from under the duvet. Mind you  the weather has a lot to do with this. I really don't do cold.

Well now yesterday  I had a bit of an issue with Amazon. I had ordered something that I needed for today. I ordered it last Friday with Prime so it should have arrived on Monday. 

Monday came and the item was in Leeds at the depot. 
It was now due Tuesday, Tuesday came and the item was now in the depot at Carlisle.

Yesterday morning the item was in Edinburgh. Seriously its had more of a look a out in 3 days than I have in 4 months!!!!

I contacted  Amazon, they couldn't guarantee it would arrive tomorrow and to expect it on Saturday. ( by which point it will have circumnavigated the UK ). 

I explained that this was not acceptable I pay for Prime and expected that it was delivered when they said.

I cancelled the order and got a refund ( 5-7 working days as that money will have to circumnavigate the UK too obviously). They then gave me a £5 voucher.

So I ordered the same item from another seller with Prime.......................

Yes it isn't going to arrive tomorrow. ( I ordered at 9.30am and they let me know at 3.30pm it wouldn't be coming Thursday). Not a happy lapin. Not the best week to mess with a redhead.

Work is continuing to be a battle with the last year homeworker. The 'own loo roll' yesterday very nearly pushed me over the temper precipice, I managed to restrain myself gave him his own 4 pack of loo roll and them made a cup of coffee for everyone, he doesn't have a drink with us as he has his flask.

He is disturbing the office with his constant demands and its not good, having brought this up with a Director yesterday and getting nowhere, I will just concentrate on not losing my temper ( as this is what he is aiming for).

So lets have a wonderful word of the day

Awk

Awk is related to the old Northumbrian word 'afug' which gradually changed its sound and spelling to become the Middle English word awk.

Both words meant 'directed the other way in the wrong direction'. They also carry the meaning 'from the left hand, which links awk with the familiar word ;awkward'

Happy Thursday, make it a good one.

Easing out of lockdown

 

 We're easing out of lockdown

Though we aren't in the clear

Pubs are open and hairdressers cutting

Something to bring a bit of cheer

We are easing out of lockdown

And looking for more freedom

Holidays in this country

Im sure that we all need 'em

We're easing out of lockdown

Lets walk out of it, not run

I know some feel restricted

But lets spoil the fun

We're easing out of lockdown

Is this  for the last time?

Take care, stay safe

And we'll hopefully  be fine

Strange days

 

What on earth is going on with the weather, when I got out to the limo yesterday morning it was thick with ice and the temperature was -3!!!  I think that I had a bit of frost bite by the time the windscreen was cleared.

Got to the office and by 9am, the sky was blue without a cloud.

In the office we have had everything set up with hand sanitiser, thermometers etc since last year, all desks are cleaned twice daily and the office is cleaned every day too ( by yours truly),first day back in for one of the homeworkers, he was stood at the back door as I pulled up, I asked him why he hadn't gone in, his reply  was that he wasn't touching the door so someone would have to open it for him.

He then refused to touch anything on his desk, saying it had to be cleaned and sanitised in front of him.

He wanted a new keyboard and mouse, he wanted  his telephone cleaned thoroughly.......

Cue a loss of temper from moi, a quick count to five and then me handing him all the sanitising equipment.

He did his own cleaning and then sat in the corner sulking.

He wants to 'work from home permanently', he doesn't 'like mixing with people', he isn't happy about 'being made to come back to the office'

 I know too well the stress of going to work through first lock down was very frightening, all unknown, he was lucky to be able to work from home and feel safe,  however he has had both of his injections and is in a better position than the rest of us.

It does seem to highlight that some homeworkers are struggling to go out into the big world.

However not him, he has not adhered to lockdown regulation ( by his own admission) and I am at a bit of a loss.

He has been referring to the powers that be in the company as 'his bullying employers'

oh and he brought a flask of coffee so that he didn't have to touch anything in the kitchen.

Ah well lets see what today holds.

I am working on Friday nights cocktail already, one  takes a bit of making and I have thrown in an alternative just in case , which I sort of made up and it has history behind it.

So that's all to look forward to on Friday.

word of the day 

Shruff

When open fires were in every home Shruff was an important domestic commodity, The word referred to refuse used for burning especially pieces of light wood and cinders used for fuel.

Happy Tuesday

 

And just like that the weekend is over

 

Where the flipping heck did the weekend go?

I was enjoying cocktail hour on Friday and the next thing I know its Monday morning, not literally, my cocktails were not that strong, its just that I, like many of us, never seem to have enough downtime.

I'm not worried as I know that better times will be coming soon, I truly believe that things will all fall into place for me very soon.

So back to the weekend, and I think that a lot of us in the UK have experienced every season over the last 48 hours, we had snow at 7pm last night not at all what I wanted to see

Cricket was affected by it too and that is quite rare ( except if you live in the North East of Blighty ) Last time I remember this happening was either 2015 or 2016 when Middx were playing Durham at Chester le Street.

Anyhoo, Yorkshire  managed a draw, and there was some outstanding batting from Adam Lyth. 

And today we are going to have a bit more freedom, I hear that some pubs opened in the early hours of the morning for those 'dying' for a drink. As I had work today this would not have been an option for me and I also have no desire to go to the pub ( or on a plane for that matter). It really makes me wonder what the priorities are in some peoples lives.

Each to their own I guess.

I'm thinking that by July we may be back in some sort of lockdown.

Wonderful word of the day

Knosp

This word was  from the  German  word 'Knospe' (a bud) and was used in English as an Architectural term for an ornament in the form of a bud or forming a bunch-like or rounded protuberance.

 And with that I am off for the first day of the return of  a couple of 'home workers'.

Oh joy!

Have a great week

Wow Friday already

 Well the first cricket day of the season started so well, my Tom was in the 1st team and also got his 2ndXI cap. Me being a proper girl got all choked up when I was told.  ( by 008).

Its good that the season is up and running, lets hope that we see some as spectators this season.

There were centuries aplenty, with Sam Robson hitting the first at Lords.

It was even better to see TLJL hit 79 for Kent, he really is showing his ability after being relegated to the 2nd's for the last couple of seasons at Yorkshire. Ollie Robinson hit 84 and it was great to see him wearing my shirt with my age on.

Yorkshire were off to a flying start with early wickets but  Van de Gugton put the brakes on for Glamorgan as he was 80* overnight.

The Root brothers were playing, on opposite teams obviously.

So we go into day 2.

Wonderful word of the day is

Bumbo

which was an 18th/19th century name for a drink made form mixing rum with sugar, water and nutmeg.

In Italian bumbo was a childs word for a drink.

very apt for Friday and cocktail hour I thought although we aren't having bumbo this evening.

No Big Al's today either as we are foregoing again, everyone is a bit subdued at the moment so I am nipping to Lidl to get fresh patisserie. there's nothing like a 'pain au chocolat' to raise the spirits.

Happy Friday and Bon Weekend

first day proper

 

Today is the first day of the cricket season proper and it could be even better for me, as my Tom was named in the squad, fingers crossed that he will  make the team and not be water boy ( although there is no shame in that ).

11am radio tuned to any cricket commentary and that will be the remainder of the day. One thing that I think will be the most important thing for my boys, put your thermals on!

There is a lot of fuss at work as the new owners are insisting that certain members of staff who have been 'shirking' from home for the last year are to come back from Monday, all safety aspects sorted.

Oh dear!!! the moaning and complaining is unreal, apparently they don't feel safe coming back to the office, yeah well tell me about it, I ve been doing it for a year and this time last year thought that the stress of it all would possibly kill me before  Covid.

Its all falling on deaf ears with the new bosses who are showing themselves as a 'take no prisoners' company.

Wonderful word of the day 

Alan

This is the English version of the word found in Southern Europe, where an Alan was a large hunting dog, similar to a wolf hound. 

the word first appeared in English during the 14th century and was in use until the 19th century

Right I am off to face the day.

Happy cricket day

Come on Yorkshire.

Midweek already

 

And then I got back in to  bed to write this!

However its Wednesday and we are half way through the week, that's enough to make me smile.

So work was as normal, unnecessarily painful, if there is a long hard way to do something, that's the way we do it. ! I'd love to see a time and motion report  ( do they still do these??).

I have my car back and the mechanics have named it for me, my car is now called 'Steve Austin'! ( you have to be a certain age to appreciate that).

There was a flurry of fountain pens at Headingley this week as seven players extend their contracts , including my Tom.

Exciting times

And we are a day away from cricket proper.................

.......which may explain the weather which is bizarre to say the least. 

I was waiting for my car to come home last night, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and virtually cloudless and it was snowing!. What the Donald Duck is that all about.

Lets see what today holds for us weather wise.

Wonderful word of the day

Croodle

This has two meanings both of which fit to the soft sound of the word.

In one sense it is a low murmuring noise similar to a doves coo.

Croodle also means to draw together for warmth and nestle close to a person.

If this weather continues we will all need to be croodling with someone.

Take care stay warm

Happy Wednesday 

Another four day week

 Well that long weekend went far too quickly and although I haven't done everything that I wanted to do, I have managed to clear out some bulky items, paint THE CHAIR after giving it a final sanding.

The garden also got  tidy up and I started work on the front of the house, lets see how that turns out this summer.

I've walked a lot as the car  is still on the waiting list. John my mechanic, has worked all weekend to try to get through the cars on his lot. Hopefully this week.

I am hanging on as long as possible to leave for work, I just don't want to go back. Even in the old job with all the trauma of working with 'Trill Boy', I always enjoyed going to work, that speaks volumes.

I think the sales over the last few years haven't helped .

Great to see Tom and Matty in the team playing the University side over the weekend. decent scores and a wicket, made me smile.

We go forward now into the season proper

So that was my weekend and now back to the grindstone.

wonderful word 

Paranymph

dating back to the 17th century, paranymph was used in English to refer to a person who stood 'beside' a bride. so a Bridesmaid.

Rightio, off I go.

Have a good Tuesday. 

one of those days!

 

Well not a great start to the week, as the Ladylainey limo took ill and is still waiting to go to the garage which is currently booked up until next week ( due to  Easter  and people returning to work).

I'm sort of at that stage when I'm not sure how much more I can take. Obviously I will and can take a heck of a lot more, but this really put  the dampers on my week. Mainly as I would have been able to go and see people, but now can't!

ARGHHHHH!!!!!

Never mind just shut the garden gate and get on with all the things that I haven't done. ( like tidy up!). If the weather stays nice, I should be able to get a lot of things done both inside and outside of the house. Possibly even THE CHAIR, but then again.....

As things are slowly moving towards end of lockdown ( and judging by some pictures I've  seen I fear the virus rates will rise again) its started to make me think. I wonder what you will take away with you from the last year, I know what I have gleaned from it and it has in  some parts  been an eye opener. I have also been so glad of the lovely friends that I have, keeping me laughing, checking up on me, so very kind, even if the husband of one thinks I'm a donkey!!! (hehehehehe that was the funniest conversation ever!).

I hope that even when we come out of lockdown restrictions, we all still remember to be kind, even a little bit goes a long way.

Cricket wise, I see that Ashley Giles has been saying, losing England players to the IPL could be dangerous for the future. Non merde!!!

Not like I hadn't been bleating on about it for years, only a couple of years ago they were encouraged to go , to fill up the their money pot!

Hmmm.

So my last day in the office until next  Tuesday and  a much needed rest.

Have a peaceful Easter.

GJG  so hard to believe its been 2 years

Four day week

So the weekend is done and we have 'sprung' forward an hour.

Its time to look forward to a little bit more freedom and to eventually  being able to travel a little bit further than the local Aldi.

Strange developments in the barnet department, after the ginger afro went suddenly straight at Christmas and I was really struggling to come to terms with it, it suddenly ( Friday morning) developed a bit of 'wave and slight curl' which is considerably better than the lank lifeless mess of the last few months. I do appreciate that I (like everyone) have been struggling with stress and trying to just soldier on. Sometimes its not good for your at all. I think my whole body has been rebelling.

Moving onwards now, just have to lose about 20 stone and all will be good.

So the weekend was as follows.

Friday, shopping cooking and cocktail hour. A fabulous 'Ginger Glamazon' which I will definitely be trying again.

 In bed by 9.30pm. Yes I think my raving days are over. I can't remember the last time I saw 10.30pm!

Saturday, up and out early as I was doing the food drop at my sisters , then I had to go to town to pick up some essential wool.  Came home with Spode pasta plates and a couple of Mason Cash bowls!

Home and should have had the power tools out, but instead, I faffed about( like normal)

Created a 'mocktail' for my friends daughter, in Ireland and it went down a storm.

In bed about 9.45pm( wow that late on a Saturday).

Woke up at 5am and we were in BST.

Turned over and went back to sleep, eventually dragged by bulk out of bed just before 10am, this is something that never happens unless I am ill, and I'm not, I'm just shattered.

So Sunday was all about washing and cooking and getting things ready for a 4 day week.

I am so excited about this, I have huge plans for my 4 days off, like do all the jobs I have been threatening to do since the start of 2021 lockdown! 

Wonderful word of the day

Snede

This is an old English word for ' a small morsel' and was first recorded in English oer a thousand years ago.

have a good one

 

Here comes the weekend

 Well here comes the weekend and I am ready for it.

Cocktail hour is set and I have power tools at the ready.

Last night I got home from work and decided to make some candles ( as you do) the house smelt amazing as I had made then all lily of the valley and orange blossom fragrance.

These are to go in the party bags for my belated birthday tea party which is nearing having a date set for it.

I have to go to Iceland when I finish work, I keep saying this in hope that it sounds like I am having a little break, this will be closely followed by Sainsburys ( which doesn't sound anything like as exciting).

Then home and  cooking before cocktail ( and potentially mocktail) hour.

Plans for the weekend.

Sanding & painting THE CHAIR ( again)

Food drop for my sister

Sanding and painting bedside cabinets ( possibly)

House work

Nice meal on Saturday evening.

ebay 'stuff' on Sunday

Hmmmmm I wonder how much of that gets done.

Stay tuned on Monday 

Tom is playing again this time at Derby he retired on 32. 

Wonderful word of the day

Appetency

which is a longing or desire

I can assure you I have no appetency for the next 5 hours.

Have a great Friday and a good weekend.

* breaking news* I have now added to my sponsored players and  am proud to say that along with Ben and Tom, I am now ( finally after being thwarted last season) sponsoring Matty Revis.

Welcome to Team Lainey, Matty.

Lets get serious

OK lets not, I think that we have had enough seriousness in the last year to see us through  for a heck of a long time.

So I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane.

This time of year I used to be packing my case and heading out to Nantes on holibobs.

Usually flying Leeds/Manchester or East Midlands to Nantes by the cheapest means.

My sister  had found us a cheap KLM flight from Manchester to Nantes before the Christmas and booked it. All good.

Then they changed it and said we were flying Manchester to Amsterdam and then Amsterdam to Nantes.

All good, quick run through Schiphol and job done.

Yes probably in everyone else's world!

Flight Manchester to Amsterdam was great, had a cup of coffee and quick nap as it was VERY early morning.

Arrive at Schiphol and head off to  the correct gate, stand in queue waiting to get checked before heading through to the next block of gates, and stand watching the clock tick over.

There was a fast track gate but the mean Dutch woman wouldn't let us go through.

We are now into 20 minutes before the flight is due to leave, and still not getting through to get to our gate.

Eventually after me losing my temper they let us queue for the fast track, as my sister was a few people ahead of me I told her to run down and tell them I'm on my way.

As I am running down I see a bit of a 'thing' going on at the gate.

I get to the gate in time to see them shut it and see my sister on the bus waving to me as she goes to the plane!

A guy in front of me somehow has got through with a full size suitcase and has stopped everything!

Security are called and I am by now nearly blowing a gasket.

I am trying to explain I'm on the flight with my sister and that she actually has a lot of my documents ( not passport and boarding card luckily).

By this point we are minutes from the plane taking off and I am stuck.

security still dealing with the man with the suitcase.

A member of the KLM staff them pulls me through and I am rushed out to a bus, on my own and driven goodness knows how far ( not walking distance that's for sure) to the plane.

As I get on I get a filthy look from a woman in a seat near the front, seriously she was so lucky not to get a tongue lashing.

My sister???

Sitting happily at the back of the plane having a drink.

I blow!

Using words like, chuffing and flipping and hecky thump ( of course I did!)

At which point a stewardess comes out from behind a curtain with a basket of patisseries and says 'Its all ok, have some of these'.

'Yes those and a very stiff drink love and keep them coming!!!

Luckily we got to Nantes in an hour. 

Which Nantes time was 10am.

Far too much excitement for that time in the morning!

I hope your day is less stressful.

have a good one

 

Things to do today

 

I have lots to do today, although none of it is to do with work.

I have off loaded a chest of drawers from the dressing room, they are going to someone at work, which means that there will be no tip trip this weekend or having to wait for the charity shop to reopen.

I feel that this is a tiny step in the right direction.

I am putting together plans for the bathroom revamp, which I have 'extravagantly' thrown £50 at, that's paint and everything ( including a possible bath re enamel! I may need to be more 'extravagant').

I have put together a mood board, which looks fab................not sure that the finished effect will be anything as grand, but it will be better than the magnolia finish at the moment.

Will it get done over Easter? who knows! 

I got a lovely picture of Tom yesterday, huge thanks to Jonny who wandered over and had a chat with him, Jonny also took a photograph of the tree that I bought before I left MTS, it is behind the pavilion near the permaloos!!!! just in case you ever make it down there.

Oh and Ben made 35 no yesterday at Headingley so that is a great start to his season. Over the moon for him.

As its Wednesday  I am starting to think about the cocktail of the week for Fridays 'Cocktail hour'.

And possibly some snacks to go with it.

you know the important things! 

Wonderful word of the day

Curmuring

Remember when you had an important meeting/zoom call/teams call and didn't have time to eat before hand? And just as the Director starts to speak, your stomach starts to rumble. That's curmuring.

Best go and have some fruit and yogurt or I will be curmuring in the morning meeting.

Happy Wednesday 

Tuesday musing

Tuesday.

Another day closer to being able to see people.

Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Monday though was a day of days and just when you thought it couldn't get any worse!

It did!

I continue to clear out things and am looking to sell my Framed 2014 signed training shirt. I know who's shirt it is as I won it at an 'evening' early 2014 season where he was a speaker. 

I'm also considering parting with my signed Jocelyn Galsworthy  print of The Adelaide Oval, also signed by 2 aussie and Yorkshire greats.

I have had them sat in a wardrobe for nearly 2 years and  think that they need to be on show although I have nowhere to put them. 

Hopefully they will find new homes.

So my boys were playing yesterday, Ben was at Headingley and Tom was at Merchant Taylors School, my old work place/ home  and the most beautiful ground and cricket Pavilion. I was so envious when Jonny a friend and former work colleague ( who still works there) said he was going to pop down!!!

This is one ground that you should try to see. 

So here is todays wonderful word

Zafty

This is a person very easily imposed upon.

I think there have been a few times when I could be described as Zafty.

And with that I am off to work where they constantly zaft me.

Have a great Tuesday.

One year on( near enough)

 

So this time last year we all headed off the work not really thinking that very much would be changing.

What a shock we were in for.

However hopefully now we are finally on the run down to freedom of some kind.

Cricket starts again today with my boys playing a friendly against Durham.

I have been having a check of 2nd XI fixtures and may head out to one or two but nothing like I would have normally headed to.

The weekend went slightly awry as seems to be the norm, I was called out at 3.30am yesterday morning as alarms  were going off. The key holder thing is going to be dealt with today you can be sure!.

So after a quick nap when I got home, the washing machine and dishwasher were on and I tiredly tried to get prepared for this week.

I am kept going by the thought that this time next week it will only be a 4 day week!

I should be feeling much more energised as mornings and evenings are so much lighter, I need to take much more advantage of this.

There was a lot of ebaying going on yesterday and I have a long list of things to go, as well as 2 bags of clothes and bric a brac that is set for the charity shops when they reopen.

I am not sure how, with the shops not really being open for  a year I have still managed to accumulate more stuff. ( well I do as Amazon is my new best friend).

So new week, new owners and new attitude from me, it is time for me to move forward and stop wallowing in a job where I am underpaid and working well over my paygrade.

Right I am off to face the week.

Have a good one

Let Friday begin

 Hurrah!!! It is Friday! half day in the office and then shopping, cooking and COCKTAIL HOUR.

This really is the highlight of my week. 

This time last year unbeknown to us , we were in our last weekend of freedom, to be honest over the last year  we have been allowed out of lockdown for a short time, where I live, and then were in Tier 3 most of the flipping time once they made that system up, so its been a long old year.

I am hoping that my lockdown food and drinks evenings get picked up by a publisher and I get offered a book deal for recipes etc. I am going to name the book 'Lockdown living with Lainey' quite a nifty  title I thought. ( OK there isn't a lot to report this morning and I'm just trying to fill up the page!).

England lost their latest T20 match and so it sets it up for  series decider. 

We are nearer to the start of the domestic season here although it just doesn't feel like it. I need to get my cricket mojo back. Although at the moment I only seem to have my food and alcohol mojo in place.

Weekend for me.

Somehow I got myself involved in dog sitting!

Not sure how that happened, guess its how I always seem to get steamrollered into things.

I will take a lot out of the last year, I have learned a lot about people and life in general.

I may do something with THE CHAIR, but with a 3 legged lurcher in the house I am not sure how much I will get done.

I am also having a move about of furniture  in the  dining room but really need to get it stripped and redecorated. ( not this weekend though).

Ah well lets see on Monday what I really got done.

Wonderful word of the day 

Snollygoster

 This is a person who has intelligence but no principals.

And I will not comment further on that one!

So cheers to the weekend, stay safe.

Hello Thursday

 

 

Here we go on the downward stroll to the weekend, yes I am constantly talking about it but as being at home for 2 days is all I have to look forward to at the moment, it is the highlight of my week.

Mind you only 2 weeks until I get a very long weekend off, again not as if I can do very much, but might finally  get all the bags filled to go to the charity shop when they reopen.

I am still trying to get all the final things sorted for my birthday tea party when I can have a few of the girls around. New outdoor table and chairs should be arriving soon. I need to get the garden sorted.

Work is work and there is no getting away from it, we are still no further forward  with the sale implications, I just keep saying to take a day at a time. 

England didn't do too bad in the cricket the other day. If you think that I sound a little disinterested in the international cricket, you would be right, I realise that I am much more a domestic cricket girl and miss it so much. 

I have settled on the cocktail for tomorrows cocktail hour and am looking forward to it, more details next week. (or instagram if you follow me there)

Wonderful word of the day

Kickshaw

Which is a fancy and insubstantial dish.

I can tell you I've had a few of those most notably at Anton Mosimanns , which resulted in a kebab on the way home!

Well I have made myself a non kickshaw lunch, so best to stick it in my bag and head out to work.

have a great Thursday.

Back to it

Hello Wednesday and we are half way  to  the weekend, ( and cocktail hour Friday).

So yesterday I had  a day off and had lots of things planned.

Itinerary

get up at normal time

read for an hour

Have a leisurely breakfast

Go collect parcel from sorting office

Set to work on THE CHAIR

Have a lovely lunch

Get more paint on THE CHAIR

Do sewing project

Have a glass of  wine whilst preparing dinner 

Have a lovely dinner

Finish sewing project

Have a bubble bath

Go to bed and read.

REALITY

Woke up normal time

Dragged my bulk downstairs

Kicked THE CHAIR as I passed it

Made a coffee went back to bed and watched rubbish on Amazon Prime

Got up had a leisurely breakfast

Went to get parcel from sorting office

Sorting office closed as they had changed their hours AGAIN

Got in car effing and jeffing like a trooper

Dropped some things at my sisters house ( still effing and jeffing)

Came home kicked THE CHAIR as I went past.

Made lunch

Sat in garden to eat it.

Read a few chapters soaking up the March sun

Came in looked at sewing machine.

Kicked THE CHAIR again for good measure

Laid down on the sofa and went to sleep for 2 hours

Got up prepared dinner

Ate dinner

watched TV

had a bath

went to bed to read.

Hmmmmm not quite as planned. However the fact that I wasn't in the office made the day so much better.

and now I am running late so off I go.

Happy Wednesday 

 

Welcome to a new world ( well at work)

 

Well its a whole new world in the land of waste water ( and other types of water). As suspected  we have been sold.

There is still a lot going on in the background, which will take a few weeks to sort out but we know roughly what is happening.

As for us, it looks like a deal which covers us for 3 years, although watch this space. 

In the picture you will see THE CHAIR, my nemesis, the reason for me purchasing power tools and to be honest if I don't see an improvement in the next week I will be buying a saw and chopping it up for the fire pit.

And today, well I have taken a day off....................yes!

I am having a day at home, doing 'stuff' after a strange and stressful few days, I took calls from colleagues quite a lot over the weekend, there was a lot of uncertainty, and as I was not privy to the info I was no help at all.

Its been difficult for all of us over the last couple of weeks, when we knew something was afoot but nothing to really base it on.

Up side , one Richard jumped ship over the weekend!

So I am keeping it short.

My wonderful word of the day is 

Holiday

because for me today this is the most wonderful word.

Have a great day.

Another week closer to some sort of normality

or is it???

We are all called into a 'state of the nation' meeting this morning at 8am and I think that most of us are under the impression it is the news of a sale.

Or maybe we are just closing, which wouldn't come as a surprise to me.

They are calling in all the furloughed staff so the plot thickens.

No point in surmising, we will all know soon enough.

The weekend has been a quiet one, still not moving on with THE CHAIR although it has moved out of the dining room.

I  had a lovely cocktail hour on Friday , when I tried a Bamboo.

Extra dry and rosso vermouth and fino sherry. A dash of orange bitters and a twirl of orange peel.

It was very nice, but I can assure you one is enough!

The search for this weeks cocktail begins again.

Saturday, I went to drop food for my poorly sister who is very much on the mend.

She very kindly gave me a bottle of White Port. Well obviously I had to try it!

And it was lovely.

Sunday was the usual trying to get organised for the week ahead and not being too successful.

Having delved into the dark side of social media for a journalist friend, I had stayed on a couple of  groups.

One is for a now highly popular  TV programme.

For Mothering Sunday, I had posted a pic of mum and I and also the breakfast that I had prepared for me.

Stating that my mum was no longer around and despite having no children of my own I was celebrating all mums and treating myself.

Well blow me down, one 'lovely' follower of  the group saw fit to call me 'weird' for celebrating Mothers Day when I had no mum and was 'childless' (her words)

As I had joined this group as part investigation , I was not surprised, I had seen other things on there that were pretty rude and cruel.

Firstly no one knows how hard it is for me ( or so many others) to face Mothers day, no one knows why I don't have children and every one, especially in these times is really trying to face each day in the best way.

Please be aware that I was not phased by this in any way. I know  why I was doing it. You have to feel slightly sorry for keyboard warriors, they have nothing else to do but be vile.

If you can't be kind, be quiet' is my motto.

Wonderful word of the day

Letating

From the Latin verb associated with happiness, which gave rise to the seldom used, but should be brought back , word 'letating' which meant, making glad.

we should all try to be letating in our daily life.

Have a fab week, I may be here tomorrow, not sure, what happens today may scupper my week.

see you soon.

 

 

best day of the week

Well here I go walking sedately into the weekend, rather than racing in like I normally do.

I have shopping to do when I finish work. and then coq au vin to make and then it will be 'Cocktail hour'.

This is my new tradition at 'The Wickets' ( now  2 weeks old), its my civilised step into the weekend. I have been busy finding an appropriate cocktail for tonight. This is not as easy as it sounds as

1. I do not ( surprisingly) have a well stocked bar.( lots of fizz not so hot on all the spirits etc)

2. I  am using only what I have in the house. ( will buy as needed)

More info about tonight's cocktail will come next week.

Last week I made a martini with a twist.

It was a rosemary martini.

Gin, extra dry vermouth and olives stuffed with pimentos which had been 'marinated' in their brine with rosemary added.

They were then threaded onto a stick of rosemary to garnish the martini.

I had some nibbles with this  and it was just as I had hoped, awfully civilised ( even for me).

 

The rest of the weekend I  will just take as it comes, although I will be delivering food to my poorly sister.

I also have a sander! and I am going to sand THE CHAIR down again and see if I can finally get a better finish before I take it to the tip!

Wonderful word of the day

Pot-Valiant

meaning bold or courageous under the influence of alcohol

Something that I don't intend to be after cocktail hour.

So time to head off and see today through.

Bon weekend tout le monde

Bit of a natter

 

So last night I was having a bit of a natter with an old friend of mine. He mentioned that he had seen my post on Instagram for International Women's day and commented very favourably on a picture that was from just before we met. I commented that it was 30 years ago, and he replied

' you are still the same person'

This made me think and I mean really think. Since nearly losing my life and having very serious facial and body injuries in a car accident at 17, I had struggled with self image, this was due to having modelled prior to this and then being told to get in touch after plastic surgery. ( nothing can be done surgically ). Also being so tall, I was bullied unmercilessly at school. This was not helpful either.

I was always very conscious of how I looked. 

Only in recent years ( and yes I know I've been whinging about losing my curls) have I become much more comfortable in my skin. Seeing how people are obsessed with looks is worrying.

The last year has seen me piling on weight, leaving the house daily without a scrap of makeup ( something that previously I only did at weekends) and dressing like a bag lady, but in the words of my friend ' I am still the same person'.

6 words that made me sit up and really think ( and comb my hair this morning).

As I have said so often over the last year, never underestimate the power of words.

There is no cricket news that I can hit on apart from the very unexpected death of Joey Benjamin. 

Sad news.

I thought that I would let you know  the books that I am currently reading

or rereading in the case of 

Christopher Lee 

The Dark and the gruesome.

His autobiography.

I absolutely loved Christopher Lee and reading this book the first time I realised that we had trodden the same streets and frequented the same places, in Uxbridge and Watford.

A wonderful book and an actor that I miss.

I am also reading C.S Lewis The biography  by A.N. Wilson

The Wine Widow  by Tessa Barclay

I have also been dipping into a charity table find at the local Co op which is The Cooks Encyclopaedia by Tom Stobart.

Quite a mixed bag there for this months reading.

Wonderful word of the day

Petrichor

This word describes the smell outside after it has rained.

The earthy smell when rain has hit dry soil.

Taken from Greek

I love that word.

Have a great Thursday and don't forget to comb your hair.

middle of the week

Wednesday has crept up again and we are closer to the weekend.

Once again I worry about wishing the week away. we are nearly in the middle of March and the year is marching on.

To think that we are nearly a year  from being locked down the first time.

How quickly that time has gone by.

However over night winter seemed to have returned as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, by 5.30am this morning all was calm again.

Talk is turning to the new season which is a month away although we won't be able to see it live just yet.

I am thinking about when to have a week off and some time to clear my head. I wont be heading off anywhere exciting but to be honest, much as I love my home, I need a break from it badly. I am sure I can hear a lot of head nodding and agreeing on that front.

I am however planning a road trip possibly this time next year.

Well it passes the evenings.

Wonderful word of th day

Earth apple

Now any French speakers ( myself included) will straight away think of the French word for potato (pomme de terre), however back in the 11th century, earth-apple was the word for cucumber.

so now we know.

Well lets get Wednesday started  and hopefully it will be a good day.

Stay safe, take care and remember that we are still in the throws of a pandemic and still  locked down.

Lets take stock

 

 

Well its Tuesday and we do seem to be moving very slowly towards more relaxed  days.

I do feel that I will still be very cautious for a good long while and I don't think that is a bad thing, however in myself  I feel a lot better since I had the jab.

I may be able to see friends again, which will be nice, although still not able to travel.

I was busy last night packing up the ebay stuff and putting things away in the new airing cupboard, I also set about sorting out a cocktail for Fridays cocktail hour ( not its not just throw it in a glass and hope for the best).

I may also be doing a spot of cooking but that's still in the very basic stages and may now evolve any further. Although the cooking for my sister continues.

Yesterday was International Womens Day and it was good see woman and men encouraging woman. I feel very lucky to have had  some lovely things written about me. It actually took my breath away.

Words are strong and powerful in all forms, so to have such lovely things written about you can make a a massive difference. A kind word at the right time can make all the difference.

talking words, lets have a wonderful word for the day.

Jimp

this word was used in Scotland from the 16th century meaning 'slender, slim or delicate. It was introduced into English literature in the 19th century.

I'm sure that we would all like to be a bit jimper!

And with that I am off to work. only 2 of us today as my colleague has her Mums funeral today and is having the rest of the week off.

have a great day.

 

Marching on this Monday

 Here we go again, its Monday and a new week.

So lets look at some positives.

I've had my first jab on Friday, which was fine. After effects? Saturday evening developed a dreadful headache and got so cold and shivery that it was hot bath, hot toddy and paracetamol and bed.

Yesterday fit as a fiddle, or as fit as this old fiddle can be.

I got the remaining wardrobe doors put on and also doors under the stairs.

And the airing cupboard got new shelving built it. floor to ceiling. This was exactly what I wanted and although I haven't had time to get everything put away, its just perfect.

A good weekend on the home work front and more things ticked off the list. There is however a bit of painting to do !

I had a good selling week on eBay so more 'stuff' has been moved on.

Negatives?

the chair is still staring at me from the dining room!

I have a heap of tidying up to do.

England played , well like England.

The schools  go back today so traffic is going to me horrendous!

And with that I need to get out of the door.

Have a great Monday.

Welcome to nearly the weekend

 

Its Friday and we are not ( by unanimous vote)  having Big Als, I am taking fresh fruit salad and greek yogurt ( in date I hasten to add).  I think that Morty will eat that and then sneak round to Als for a double steak with onions, egg and cheese!

Cricket started yesterday morning................... England had to really pull their socks up, Stokes was the highest scorer  with 55!

This morning thee lads look to be in a better place as they have taken 4 wickets.

Tykey Vikings have signed Lockie Ferguson for the T20 spell.

I am hoping that Ben and Tom get a look out too.

Wonderful word of the day 

Escal

Although this might look like a modern day name for a Multinational company or an acronym, it is derived from Latin  and was used in the 17 & 18th century, meaning pertaining to food.

Tonight there will be a 'cocktail hour', I have decided that this is going to be a 'thing' every Friday at The Wickets'.

Last week I had  a champagne cocktail known as a 'Sunrise Mimosa'

Orange juice and grenadine, topped up with Champagne. ( can be made with alcohol free fizz)

I had mini cakes to go with this, Macarons, mini eclairs and mini Battenberg.( purchased at ........ICELAND!)

Awfully civilised.

Have a great weekend.

Stay safe.

What's going on ?

 

So here we are at Thursday and another week nearly done.

Its been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and I am now hoping that after getting my jab tomorrow ( and again in May), I will feel less stressed about everything ( although obviously not work), and hopefully my hair might take on a tiny bit of curl.

If rumours about the jab messing with your DNA are true, I would request that I turn into a  6ft 3in, 11 stone, platinum blonde. you never know!

Work is plodding along, we were informed again  via email that there will be no pay rise or bonus this year due to covid ( same email end of March last year which was clearly done with a crystal ball as no one knew what was going to happen). 

They are a priceless bunch of Tators that's for sure.

Last night I was trying to sort out the hall in preparation for Rhys coming to do door things ( and airing cupboard things) this weekend. 

I really need to get myself motivated, I put THE CHAIR in the dining room last night and shut the door, I will look at it after the weekend.........maybe.

I've got some knitting to get on with so I will be cracking on with that this weekend too.

And I finally have a date in my diary ( apart from screening and vaccine appointments). I'm going out out! In July! OH MY DOG!!!! that alone is the most exciting thing in a year! Although probably not as exciting as going to Wetherby for my holidays last year!

Best get the foot on the diet accelerator, I don't think tracksuit bottoms and a kaftan top will be acceptable!

Wonderful word of the day

Glaucous

From the Greek adjective that describes the colour of the sea. By the 16th century it had entered the  English language and described the colour 'bluish-green grey'

Right I am off to get Thursday sorted 

have a good one

half way there

 Bonjour et bienvenue  Mecredi.

Half way through and feeling like I am wading through treacle.

Anyone else feel this way? 

No?

Just me then.

However....................I am getting my the vaccine on Friday and my 2nd one on 28th May, all booked in.

I'm relieved and over the moon.

Its put a bit of sunshine on my day.

Well I have returned to 'house hunting' in France as my evening entertainment.

Wow, I know I need a new bathroom here at The Wickets, but some of the ones in the houses I've been looking at are colourful to say the least. Yes, you could date the installation of said sanitary ware, by the colour. So far a lovely lime green ( we didn't have that in the UK I am sure), one best described as puce, and a lovely sunshine yellow ( which to  be fair I quite liked).

Don't get me started on wallpaper and gloss work!

Its fun to look through and dream. It doesn't cost anything and always makes me smile.

Win, win.

I am sure that we all have our guilty pleasures during lockdown and this is my absolute favourite. 

I even sometimes take a 'walk' down the street courtesy of Google. Best to check out the neighbours!!!

I'm not planning any dinners or afternoon tea this weekend, I have a lot of cooking to do for my sister and  so I think a fairly laid back weekend(plus playing it safe in case feeling rough after jab)

Now to the chair, yes the chair that I have been  trying to revamp for the last 100 years( well it seems like). 

So here is the update, stripped off all the upholstery, sanded down the brown carcass, undercoated, sanded down again, undercoated, undercoated again, still faintly see the brown. Painted it with white satin wood paint, had a chat with TLML about how s****y it looked, put another coat on.

It may now be going to landfill and I am glad that I didn't cut the stunning fabric for the seat and back before hand.

Not sure why with all the sanding and undercoat it still has a 'fawn' colour, not the desired effect.

Put it behind me and down to experience.

And with that I am off to face the office.

have a good Wednesday.

Stay safe.

Tuesday musings

 According to my A 'level English studies into the 17th Century Metaphysical poets, 'No man is an island' ( John Donne).

I think that those of us who are living through lockdown on our own would beg to differ. Donne was talking about  no one being isolated from the rest of  humanity, however a lot of us are ( I still go to the office so do see some people).

Some people have not had any human contact in nearly a year.

What will be the effect on us when we can go freely ( or sort of freely) about our way?

 I have become very cautious and weigh up pros and cons about most things that this time last year I took for granted.

Am I over analysing the situation? I like to think that I am just taking good care of me.

I notice in crickety news that England have taken on more backroom staff, sorry 'elite' coaching staff. I think that there must be at least 2 coaching staff to each player now, no wonder tickets are so expensive, I wouldn't mind one months wages bill in my bank account!

I was looking at ordering some bulbs for the garden ( yes I am late to the party), I was happily clicking away on the ones that I wanted, when I noticed the delivery charge. Now this is a company in the UK, bulbs are not usually mightily heavy, but they wanted £12 delivery or free if you spent £150. Well that's a lot of money or  lot of bulbs to get free delivery, and  my garden is not as large as when I lived at the chateau.

So I abandoned the order, and this morning have 3 emails asking me if I knew I had left 7 items in my basket.

Well yes I did but wasn't adding £12 on top of that. I am from Yorkshire after all.

I will be having a little walk to B & Q at lunchtime today

We have a full contingent in the office this week(4 of us), and another week closer to some for of normality.

I am waiting for my jab, wonder when that will be?

have  a great day and stay safe.

Lets get this week going

 So weekend done and time to head back to the office.

The weekend has been as  quiet as I could  make it, I continue to try to keep my social media interactions as low as possible. I still post but try to keep my viewing time on there at  minimum.

Saturday was a gloriously sunny day, so the washing was  out on the line all the windows were open and Rhys made a flying visit, promising to come and spend all day next Saturday catching up on his jobs.(we'll see)

I dropped off the food at my sisters house and  spent the afternoon in the dining room, having afternoon tea. 

I went all retro and made creamed mushroom vol au vents. A taste of my childhood,

Yesterday was another glorious day and all the beds were stripped and washing was once again out in the sunshine.

I cleared out the wardrobes too, can't take it anywhere but put some things on eBay and then sat in the dining room having breakfast.

It was  in fact a very relaxing weekend.

I am now preparing myself for the week ahead.

I decided not to have the interview with the Dutch company, I'm not sure that it was right for me and going back fully to the technical side was not something that I had planned on doing.

So I'm off to brave the traffic, because having driven everyday through the first lockdown, this one is nowhere near the same! I drove down roads that looked as though the apocalypse had occurred, this time it is back to the norm, with the exception of school traffic ( until next week).

Right off I go.

have a good day