Bora da!

Hello from Wales ...


Sorry there has been a big gap in between posts but there has been a lot to do and unpack.


The move went well - weather stayed dry and eventually furniture all fitted into lorry! Removals left at 4.00pm and we spent the rest of the day cleaning and trying to calm our cat down.


Went for a lovely Italian meal in the evening (no food left anywhere in the house, except Sheba and you would have to be desperate to eat that!). We  then settled down to sleep in sleeping bag, with pillow, on carpet in lounge!  

Surprisingly I did sleep quite well, and woke at 3.00am with my cat sleeping soundly on my pillow!  After packing up essentials, setting Sat Navs and settling Jess into the car complete with Feliway sprayed everywhere to help settle her, we started off at 3.45am on the road to Wales.


There is something quite lovely about driving in the dark and seeing the day break literally in front of you. The weather stayed fine the whole way as well.  We stopped at Streatham Services to stretch our legs and then carried on. Arrived in Glais at 8.15am.  Considering my only previous experience of motorway driving was an hour from Cardiff to Bristol, I think I did pretty well. It helped that there was little or no traffic to be fair!  My son also insisted on watching a Japanese cartoon with English subtitles on the way down - that coupled with "screaming" music did little to help my already frayed nerves!


We stopped just outside the village to leave Jess in The Cat Retreat for a few days just to calm her down.  Rebecca was lovely and very welcoming and I knew Jess would be happy there while we made the house a home for her.



We arrived at the house about 8.30am and met with the landlords who were very welcoming.

The removal men arrived about an hour later and so the job of unpacking began. They were very good and worked so hard bless them and eventually finished about 4.00pm.  I don't think we stopped that day until midnight, although we did drive out for a KFC and just about summoned up the energy to eat it.


The next day dawned bright and sunny and the unpacking continued. I also did a big shop at the local Tesco! The house is lovely and spacious and I have so much room in the kitchen. I hung out some washing ... on a line, with a prop!  I LOVE seeing the washing flapping in the breeze. Takes me back to my childhood.


The rest of the week passed much the same, unpacking, re-arranging, cooking and unpacking!


On Saturday however, our eldest son came to visit for the weekend with our little grandson, (sadly my daughter-in-law was working ) and what a wonderful two days we had.  We went into Swansea and had a walk on Caswell Beach which is a truly beautiful place, even on a drizzly day.

On Sunday it was youngest son's 19th birthday so he was up with the lark (8.00am - has to be a world record for a teen) and off we went to Swansea Leisure Centre for a swim.  Well, I didn't as I don't do water in the leisure sense. I spectated and I did so fairly spectacularly!  Another lovely day after the fog lifted and then home for a traditional roast beef Sunday lunch!


Son and grandson left soon after - hate seeing them go - but knowing they will be back in two weeks, this with my daughter-in-law!! 


And now it's Tuesday! Already today we have had Sky fitted - so much choice - and later I am taking Jess to the vet because for the last four/five days she has been sneezing incessantly.  I have taken her out on a few occasions into the garden on a lead (!) which seems to work and she finds her way round in her own time, but she has now started to sneeze a lot so need to get it checked.


Now I am back up to speed I will check in again soon. Maybe not every day - there is only so much one can write about cooking and a cat, but certainly as often as possible!!

2 days ......

Well, the last time I wrote was on Friday of last week.  A LOT has happened since then!

Saturday I got up reasonably early and went shopping in Sainsburys.  We were having a little get-together for family and friends in the evening and I needed to get some nibbles.  Did my shopping - very pleased with my purchases - went to pay ... no purse.  I had left it at home. Embarrassed is not the word I would use, although apparently it happens a lot ... but not to me!  Tried to call home - phone would not work. So I had to admit defeat and ask the nice supervisor if I could go home and get said purse.  'Of course madam we will keep it in the cold store for you'.  True to his word he did just that. I returned 15 minutes later collected shopping - paid for it - and came home via Tesco where I had to get other bits that Sainsburys don't do.  

After a quick "put these away please" to my other half, I headed into town to the local beauty salon. For my birthday in June my husband had bought me a duo of treats. I chose to have a hot stone back massage followed by reflexology, however at the 12th hour I changed it to a Decleor facial and hand and toe file and polish!  Am I glad I did. The facial was out of this world; so good in fact I fell asleep when she left the room I was so relaxed!  The manicure was also very relaxing , however I didn't think it through very well as I had arrived in socks and trainers and needed to keep my toes uncovered, so they sold (!) me a pair of polystyrene flip flops for a £1 which promptly disintegrated the moment I stepped into the street.  Undeterred I half shuffled, half slid to my car and drove home!

The rest of the afternoon was a flurry of cooking, preparing, making up beds etc for the family.  At 5.00pm the first of our guests arrived and from then on every half hour or so another set would turn up.  The afternoon/evening went really well.  Much laughter and partaking of drink and food took place and eventually we got to bed at 3.00am!

Sunday I rose late and my Mum, brother and sister in law were all eating breakfast by the time I got downstairs!  It wasn't until they went to leave that it struck me that I wouldn't be seeing them again until October time.  Needless to say it was a very emotional farewell and not one I want to repeat any time soon.

Monday I went to work ... penultimate day ... and all I could think about was that it was my last day on Tuesday.  My boss had made a gorgeous cake filled with strawberries and cream.. it was sooo good! 

Tuesday ... what can I say?  Apart from it being a really busy day  it was also very sad.  I walked into the office at 8.30am to a desk covered in Good Luck confetti and helium balloons and banners!! Also my boss had made another cake - this time lemon and it was so tasty!  At 4.00pm we had a leaving presentation and I had the loveliest things said about me - I swear he was talking about someone else.  All my friends had bought me a pair of large silver earrings and a beautiful shell necklace studded with tiny pieces of silver.  So pretty.  We had some Bucks Fizz and after a lot of hugs I said my goodbyes.  Picked my son up on the way home and dropped a card into my best friends house as had not seen her.  Got home, and best friend called in!!! 

More tears ... moving is such a pain when you have to say goodbye's to special people.

After spending the rest of the evening with other son and daughter,  finally went to bed about midnight.

Wednesday Started the cat on Zylkene today to calm her down in readiness for the move. Hope it works! I was on the road by 8.15.  What!? You say? You have finished work... Aah , but I went to have my hair coloured before leaving.  Not a radical change but subtle .  Back into work to take the partners birthday cake in - joint birthday tomorrow - chocolate cake with buttons! 

Home and no sooner had I got in the door, then we were out again back to Stamford for form signing and picking up a Sat Nav for me for the long journey to Wales on Sunday morning, as well as subsequent drives in and around Wales once we have arrived at our destination.

Spent the rest of the afternoon packing.  I NEVER want to move again.  Stressed? There must be a more suitable word. Answers on a post card please ...

It is now 11.00pm and I am off to bed as totally cream crackered.

Night nite :)

8 ........

Today started like any other - at midnight!  Sorry , feeling silly ...


Busy day at work ... only two more days left after this one. Still doesn't seem real.  A really lovely day - the sun was warm, quite a contrast to yesterday when it seemed to rain for 90% of the day.  


Home at 5.00 and had a bath in readiness for my leaving meal tonight at Pelangi 7. Had a little doze and then got ready. One of my son's friends came round to say goodbye to him as she is off on holiday tomorrow. She was really upset to see him leave ... they have been friends all through senior school so it was a bit emotional.


Got picked up at 7.15 by my boss and the meal was amazing.  Really good food.  A mix of Malaysian, Thai and Asian.  Very tasty.  Quite strange to have us all together for the last time in my case.  Still we will be back for the firm's 10th birthday party and a 40th celebration as well so that is at least two trips home!


Home by midnight on the dot and then bed.  A wonderful evening but tinged with deep sadness.


Nighty night :(

9 and counting ........

Woke with a dreadful knotty stomach and they are not even my results!!  Woke the boy (although I don't think he had slept much). Dropped him at school at 8.00am and drove to work alternating between happiness and dread.  No breakfast for me today!  As I parked the car he rang ... got into the Uni of choice!! So proud of him .. now my worries will start again for a different reason...


Rain started about 11.30am  and did not let up until 4.30pm ... another busy day.  Home and going out to Nando's to celebrate.....


..... back from Nando's in Peterborough. Very nice!!! Only opened yesterday ... very busy.


Home and now off to bed after a very busy, eventful day.  Should sleep well.


Nighty night:)

10 to go ...

Hello, nearly forgot to write today! Woke in a much better mood this morning. In complete contrast to the previous night, I dreamt I had a mild affair with Prince Harry!!! Much better than strangulation in my book anyday ...


Had another busy day at work.  Still not sunk in that I will be off soon. Finished at 4.30and went to get my hair cut. Had a choppier style this time. Quite short at the back and sides..really like it. Home by 6.00 then a quick change and out again to Italian in Market Deeping with two girlfriends. Had a really nice meal of pasta, chicken, tomato, pesto and onion with a  lemon dessert. Such a busy day .......... off to bed ...A level results looming in the morning  ...


Nighty night :)

11 to go ....

Hello again.  Today started off in a very strange way ... husband woke me up from a nightmare. I was being throttled by a very malevolent force in the shape of Tom Cruise (?) and even though I knew I was dreaming I could not wake up!  Took me ages to come round and it stayed with me all day ... what does that mean? Answers on a post card please ...

Anyway, off to work and at least I didn't fall off anything today. I did however, insult my colleague.  She was saying that her boyfriend would never go off with anyone else - why would he want a burger , when he has steak at home?  I replied by saying not only does he have steak, he has the whole cow !  She didn't take it in the spirit it was meant and I now have a lot of grovelling to do......

Very tired today - probably due to being woken up - and so when I got home I had a nap ... for an hour and a half! When I woke  the cat was neatly curled  into the curve of my body .. spooning I suppose in a weird cat like way.

Nervous times in the house at present.  A level results are looming and I am more nervous than anyone.  Not liking the idea of youngest son going off to Uni but have to deal with it.  Read this ... Kahil Gibran ...  it is very true.

Off to my last book club meeting at 8.00pm.  Met my three friends there who very kindly, and unexpectedly, bought me two maps to use whilst in Wales, as well as goodbye cards.  Very touched. It is going to be a week of goodbyes .. starting to become real now.

Well, now off to bed as believe it or not I am still tired and need to get my eight hours in.  Just hope Tom is not lurking round any doorways tonight.....

Nighty night :)

12 to go ...

Off to work for 8.30am.  Still can't believe that in two weeks I will be in Wales, probably still unpacking!  

Today just flew by really. Had a mad moment this afternoon when I was kneeling on the back support stool whilst tutoring my protégée.  Leant forward and nearly bit my tongue off as my head almost came into contact with the desk ... the wheel had come off said chair and tipped me forward! So funny ... you had to be there really. Now we have taken all the wheels off .. better to be safe etc.

Drove home with the roof down .. so warm today that I had to pose with shades and all (drew the line at a Bridget Jones scarf).  Looked like rain as I got closer to Bourne so prayed that I would get home in time - I did.

Not much to report today really so will write a more interesting page tomorrow.

Nighty night :)