Thursday, 14 June 2012

Sam's Birthday

It was Sam's Birthday today - she had some lovely presents from her mum and Jerry - a purse, a new bag and some silver cuff links. I bought her a professional socket set - which she chose to make sure I got the correct one!Pip and Liam bought her some cherry Jim Beam and some cherry hot chocolate - which looks delicious.
Mum sent over sausage rolls and a chocolate cake and I made a chocolate cherry gateaux with fresh cherries and fresh cream!
We had a special dinner and then Sam went to bed as she had only had two hour sleep the night before as she had been working.

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Good News

Dad went to see the consultant today to find out his scan results. She said there was no sign of the tumour on the scan - which is amazing news. He has also put on a good amount of weight. The consultant thinks the swallowing problem is damage from the radiotherapy and that they should be able to do something to ease it. Dad has to go for a barium meal so they can have a look as well as regular check ups on his lungs every three months.
Great to have some positive news!

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Poetry

My sister had posted on Facebook that this had made her cry - I read it and it made me cry too!

Around The Corner

Charles Hanson Towne

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him",
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Monday, 11 June 2012

Puppy Test

Pixel passed his puppy test this evening in class. He was remarkably good and did nearly everything perfectly - especially the recall and the stay.
We are going on to do another six weeks of training - working towards the bronze award.

These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago when Sam gave Pixel a raw egg to try - he loved it!

Sunday, 10 June 2012

The weekend

The weekend started with Sam and I ordering our new kitchen from Ikea on Friday evening. we have decided just to order the cupboards and worktops from them and source the appliances elsewhere. Sam has already bought the integrated fridge. The new layout means we will gain not only more cupboard space but also more worktop - which pleased Sam greatly.

Saturday morning was spent at the nursery attached to the children's centre where I work. Sam kindly sorted out the printer and smart board for Sarah. After lunch we did a bit o shopping and checked out appliances. We have decided on a glass topped gas hob - just need to find one that has an oven we like too. Sam also did some sealing in the en-suite where the silicon had come away. She also had another look at the kitchen tap - which despite her best efforts continues to leak!

Sunday started with a skype chat to wish Vickie a happy birthday for yesterday - we kept missing each other on line yesterday! We did a bit more research for appliances, collected some clothes gifted on freecycle and spent the rest of the day chilling at home. I cooked us a nice roast dinner then played with Pixel as he was getting bored and naughty - currently worn out and sleeping, so it worked!

Sam is on earlies next week so an early night for us - but it means she will be home to see Pixel take his puppy test tomorrow evening.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Our Jubilee Weekend

Everyone was given an extra bank holiday this weekend - so no work till Wednesday (or Thursday for me, as Wednesday is my day off)! Sam and I started the weekend by repairing the bathroom taps - the basin one needed a refresher kit as we could no longer turn the tap on - knob just went round and round. Pip and Liam will be able to clean their teeth now when they come to stay. Sadly the kitchen tap that Sam replaced in the week is still leaking somewhere and still needs looking at.

Pip and Liam came to stay on Saturday afternoon. We collected them from the station - it's great living so close! Sam and Liam worked on his CV and covering letter and started looking at possible careers. Pip played on the new Pokemon game that Sam had bought her as a Birthday present and forgotten about. We had a nice vegan chilli for supper.

On Sunday Sam, Pip and I took Pixel for a walk on the Downs. It was raining quite heavily and we all got wet and soggy. Liam didn't join us as he had no suitable footwear - he carried on with his covering letter instead. Sam cooked vegetable soup for lunch - which was delicious, then Sam and I set out to mums for Jubilee tea. She had put on a great spread including coronation chicken and rice, sausage rolls, pork pie and her delicious cheese straws. To follow there was either chocolate cake or Victoria sponge as well as strawberry tarts! We all watched the river pageant and then played cards. Pip and Liam made use of the bathroom facilities while we were gone.

On Bank Holiday Monday we all went into Dunstable for a few bits and had a look in Wickes and Homebase at their kitchens before Sam and I make a final decision on the one we will go for. Sam and I have been working on the kitchen for over a week now and are getting close to a final design and price we like! We popped over to feed the bunnies at Charlotte's as her and Ian are away fishing. Pip and Liam went to his parents house this evening and Sam and I had a quiet evening together. We watched the Jubilee concert - which I enjoyed very much.

Tuesday was also wet - the weather has been a bit of a wash out for the Bank Holiday. We chatted with Vickie and Jerry for a while then fed the bunnies again. Sam also managed to replace the washers in the bath - it took a bit of work but the tap has stopped dripping now yay - it has dripped all the time we have lived here and the bottom of the bath had got furred up. I used some elbow grease and limelight to clean it up. We worked a little more on the kitchen design - we have decided on an Ikea kitchen as it gives us what we want at a reasonable price. Sam played xbox while I cooked fish and chips for dinner. Quiet evening watching a film then bed - ready for Sam back to work tomorrow.

Diamond Jubilee

The Diamond Jubilee has been a time of patriotism and community activities, including nearly 10,000 street parties. There have been many other events too, each celebrating the Queen's 60 years on the throne. I have put together a collection of photographs from the news over the last few weeks which I feel capture the spirit of the Diamond Jubilee.