Saturday 13th Feb: Feeling Thoroughly Spoilt!

 

Saturday was an early start for us...heading up to Leicester for camp reunion.

Teen One attends a Bible camp up in Harby every year and the reunion is one of the highlights of the following year...meeting up with her pals.

I happen to have a close friend now living up there, so we are able to fit in a visit with her first and a scrummy homemade lunch.

Her disabled son is an avid Leicester City fan, and has a season ticket.

I understand they are doing rather well at the moment...and as he is able to take a carer in for free, he has a queue of eager volunteers from church more than willing to take on the role!

 

 

The afternoon was spent with a church hall full of teens and twenties playing energetic games...such as this one made using newspaper bats and ball for a one to one game of hockey....the gusto with which they hit that ball is probably the reason they use paper bats!

Teen Two thought it was hilarious as the hyper competitive guys wrestled each other to the floor in order to get the ball!

He as thrilled when he got a goal himself, as was Teen One.

I was exhausted just watching them!

 

 

This "bus story" game was hilarious and Teen Two thoroughly enjoyed the mayhem as the story became more and more involved.

 

 

With the fun of camp reunion over, it was time to head over to our Hilton Hotel.

We are great fans of the Hilton, making the most of their special offer bookings.

For a family weekend break they work out very reasonable indeed.

This time we had several treats awaiting us!

Jelly beans, mixed nuts, wine ( great for cooking with when we get home)

 

 

 

A selection of herbal teas and decaff coffee (keeping a promise they made on our last visit!)

as well as Galaxy hot chocolate for the Teens!

 

 

 

Two large bottles of water (usually £4 a bottle!)

 

 

Chocolates!

 

 

And finally towelling gowns and slippers.

We felt thoroughly spoilt!

 

It was a lovely day and we fell into our beds exhausted but happy for the blessings of the day.

 

Today's Promise:
   Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3 / KJV
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"This Is The Question....?"

 

 

Starting with last night...hubby came home with these pretty "sweetheart" roses!

As we are away for Valentine's Day he bought me my annual bunch of roses early.

He mentioned wanting to buy a dozen red roses but couldn't find any... I was secretly pleased, I would begrudge the shops the money they charge at this time of year!

 

 

 

Soon after going to bed last night, the door bell went! Rather late for visitors....it could only mean one thing...trouble with someone.

It was the elderly neighbour the other side of my Recycled Teenager next door.

She had just come home from her daughter's and could hear a faint knocking next door but didn't want to investigate alone.

So with my dressing gown and slippers on, along with hubby we went along to investigate.

We were met by our poor friend lying on the floor at the bottom of the stairs!

We learnt he had been there for at least two hours, having slid down from the top!

He has a stair lift, but hadn't used it...infact it was at the top so he must have used it to get up, then squeezed past it to come down again...which might be how he slipped...also he was only wearing his socks!

Having established it wasn't a 999 situation we made his head comfy with a cushion and then called his son.

Together  he and hubby got him carefully to his feet and amazingly he doesn't appear to have damaged himself.

To say his falls are becoming a worry is an understatement and I cant help thinking he will have one fall too many one day.

Of course, to make things worse, he wasn't wearing his emergency neck cord!

Today the son came in with a pot plant to say thank you...he really needn't do that, we are just happy to help when we can.

 

 

 

 

 

This morning I popped into Aldi's...I had intended going to Lidl...but thought I  would ring the changes...and was so glad I did...look what I found!!

 

 

 

So we have a nice little supply at home now...we can enjoy our Saturday morning treats for a while longer...by which time hopefully production will be back to normal!

 

 

Teen Two came home from school saying there had been a cake sale...he only had enough money to buy two so ate one and said anyone can have the second....he never buys one just for himself, and generally they aren't as expensive as £1 each so we all get to share the treat...but when I saw the cake I realised why it was a bit more expensive than usual...sweet little tins and these adorable iced roses.

 

 

 

The valentines theme continued at Friday Club, with biscuit decorating.

 

 

Tonight was "shop", which means a time for the kids to spend the points they have been earning over the past few months.

Some of them really look forward to this time...but I dread it nowadays!

Kids of today, through no fault of their own, have higher expectations than those of even just a decade ago.

Trying to buy things that fit the Three A's ....appealing, affordable, appropriate, is harder and harder.

I keep trying to think of something I can buy easily and regularly to take the place of the traditional toys/craft items/stationery.

We have always avoided confectionery, but it is becoming an appealing option...although even that will be fraught with problems I can imagine...even the sweets we share out at the end are sometimes greeted with a turned up nose!

Maybe these sorts of rewards have had their day? I can't honestly say it really works as a reward system...those who have the tendency to misbehave , do so regardless, and those who find it easy to sit and be good, don't need the encouragement of this sort of reward.

So this is the question I end my week with...to reward or not to reward?

 

 

 

Friday February 12, 2016

Today's Proverb:
   Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Proverbs 9:8 / KJV
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Doggy Treats

 

Today was a beautiful sunshiny day...cold initially, with frost looking like snow on the school playground opposite our house.

It was so lovely I decided to risk hanging the washing out!

I went in to see my Recycled Teenager next door as usual and was sad to learn he had yet another fall in the garden yesterday, when I was at the funeral.

He managed to crawl back in the house after calling for his other neighbour for half an hour.

Once inside he was able to call his son.

It seems he has escaped with some cuts and bruises...although one of the cuts possibly needs stitches...but he isn't keen to get it seen to.

At the moment it is dressed with a plaster and he is wearing a bright yellow rubber glove to keep it dry!

 

 

It was my turn to run the activity table at mother and toddlers today.

With it being Valentine's Day this weekend, I provided some heart shape activities.

I explained we were making gifts for someone we love...but I suspect the cakes didn't make it home!

 

 

My Recycled Teenager who we had the false alarm with last weekend gave me a carrier of goodies today, as an apology for the trouble we were caused.

Of course it was no trouble at all and I was embarrassed she had gone to so much expense and trouble.

 

 

 

This afternoon I decided to try out my new doggy bone cutter for a certain couple of pooches.

 

 

 

 

Kirstie Allsop's Handmade Christmas was the inspiration behind these doggy treats.

Her recipe called for VERY LOW salt stock cubes....as too much salt is not good for our canine friends ( or us come to that!)

I adapted the recipe slightly this time.... and true to my usual haphazard style of cooking...I didn't measure out any of the ingredients....but this isn't the sort of baking that needs precise measuring.

I dissolved a stock cube in a mug of boiling water, put the water in a large bowl and then added enough flour ( and a teaspoon of dried chives...cos it looks pretty!) to make a soft dough.

The original recipe called for an egg, but as I didn't have any ( shock horror!) I added a tablespoon of vegetable oil.

 

 

 

 

They take about half an hour in a 180 degree oven

 

We shall see what Millie and Daisy make of them at the weekend!

 

Thursday February 11, 2016

Today's Promise:
   For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20 / KJV
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Remembering Our Late Recycled Teenager

 

Today of course was the funeral of our late Recycled Teenager who had dementia.

It has been a long few years...maybe a decade, of watching her slowly drift away from us.

More than the sadness of her not knowing who we were, was seeing the torment in her own mind.

Today therefore was a time to think about all she achieved in her life and remember the strong loving wife and mother she had been for seventy years.

 

 

 

I always knew she had been a hardworking lady, but this week we learnt new facts about her life that were amazing.

Firstly, one of her roles in the army during World War Two was to oversee the search lights over London for the bombing raids.

Who ever would have thought it!

How boring my life is going to seem after the heroism of her generation.

 

 

 

Another interesting fact was when her children were in their early teens, she worked in the refectory of a local college.

Every year a group of lecturers would hire a house in Cornwall...she was invited to bring her family for a free holiday in return for her taking on the cooking.

What a task that must have been, organising and preparing three cooked meals a day for everyone.

A lovely holiday for the teens, who learnt to surf down there...but hard work for poor mum!

The lecturers used to go mackerel fishing once a week....they would bring home their catch, where my dear Recycled Teenager would gut, clean, roll and sous.

What a smelly job!

 

There were of course many other interesting stories but of course as Christians, we were thrilled to hear that it is probably through my grandparents that she first attended a small church and there gave her heart to the Lord Jesus and spent the rest of her life serving Him.

 

 

 

 

 

There was more than enough food with plenty left over, so our packed lunches are sorted for the rest of the week and dinner tonight will be a mish mash of yesterdays leftovers and some of the left overs today.

I have for a long time thought that sandwiches are no longer as popular as they used to be, and today confirmed my thoughts.

We have stopped making them for children's parties...and even making considerably less today, hardly any were eaten...well that's not strictly true....the bacon and brie all went.

Wraps were popular, and what I would call "party food" were popular.

It was good to finally get home, have a cuppa and a chill out.

With Grandma and Grandad having returned home, all that's left is the memory of their company and the lovely flowers they gave us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually....that's not true!!!

Since uploading the blog I found a little surprise waiting for me in the kitchen!

A bone shaped cutter!

Regular readers will know at Christmas Teen One and I made some doggy biscuits as presents for various pooches in the family...inspired by KirstieAllsop.

We didn't have any doggie cutters so used a candy cane cutter instead....I THRILLED to own this cute cutter!

Many thanks Grandma x

Wednesday February 10, 2016

Today's Verse:
   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 / KJV
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Another Step Up The UCAS Ladder

 

 

This morning started with some housework, followed by a trip to the supermarket to make sure I had everything I needed for tomorrow's funeral.

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst browsing the aisles, I bumped into one of Teen Two's LSA's from infant school.

It was lovely to catch up with her and of course she was astonished to know he was in his last year of school.

How the time flies!

She said she often thinks of him and remembers his lovely little ways...it's hard to think this strapping lad that is now taller than me, was not so long ago a little five year old running around the playground and jumping in puddles.

 

 

Back home and with the shopping unpacked, it  was then time to get cracking with finishing off the cakes for tomorrow.

First the carrot cake...

 

 

 

 

 

...then the coffee and walnut.

 

 

 

In the afternoon Grandma and Grandad arrived...ahead of the funeral.

We spent the afternoon having a cuppa and chatting of course.

The Teens were excited about their arrival, despite having seen them fairly recently at Christmas, but its a treat to see them so soon...usually our meet ups are around six months apart.

 

 

Teen One had another interview offer today, from Oxford Brookes...which is her second choice, so she is delighted to have this one under her belt.

Its good to be another step up the ladder.

 

Today's Promise:
   Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 9:23, 10:27 / KJV
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A Windy Day!

 

Well today was as they predicted, a very windy day!

The night was also windy, but aside from garden furniture not being where it should be, we seem to have survived.

 

 

 

 

 

After the usual early morning chores and visits to Recycled Teenagers, it was time to hit the supermarket.

With supplies for the funeral to be bought as well as our own needs, it was rather a big shop, and annoyingly the list I had made went missing!

I have since found it (down the side of the car) so will cross check and see what is missing.

 

 

 

With washing on, it was time to do some more baking ahead of the funeral. This time something for the younger ones...Oreo Brownies.

 

 

 

 

Grandma and Grandad are coming for an overnight stay tomorrow, so I have made the white chocolate truffle torte for them to try.

I have also been reminded its pancake day tomorrow...so we will have to fit that in somehow!

Supper maybe??

 

 

 

Before I knew it, it was time to collect Teen Two from his English revision session.

I decided to go the long way round, avoiding the motorway which goes over the water and is very open....I wasn't that brave!

 

Monday February 8, 2016

Today's Proverb:
   Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Proverbs 3:27 / KJV
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Prayer Answered!

 

 

Last night was a very long and anxious night...waiting for the morning to come, when I hoped and prayed I would get a phone call from my dear Recycled Teenager.

I tossed and turned most of the night, worrying if I had made the right decision last night to leave a note and wait for morning.

I had anticipated that if she had read my note she would ring at 8am...that's when she usually rings if she has something to tell me. I know she is an early riser, but waits for a "decent hour" before calling.

8am came and went....so I rang her...no reply...I called her mobile...not on.

So, there was nothing for it but to go round and use the key safe to let myself in.

I was feeling very uneasy in the tummy by now and was starting to wonder what I was going to find....it seemed the day I had dreaded had come...and I was more involved in it than I had anticipated!

Just as I was putting my shoes on...the phone rang!

It was her!!!

She had heard the phone go but it was dead when she answered it.

She was very CROSS that I had gone out "so late" last night and even crosser that we had been caused such worry....not that I told her now much I had worried.

Why she hadn't heard her friends phoning or the door being knocked is a mystery, but I was so thankful to hear her voice!

When I told Teen Two she was ok he said " well that's good, because I prayed about it!"

So his prayer was answered!

 

 

 

Even with such wonderful news, the relief took some time to take effect and my nerves felt rather jangled most of the morning.
I think I had built myself up for what I might discover and the feeling didn't leave me.

Even a half hour sit down with a cuppa and something sweet didn't help!

 

 

 

After our usual roast dinner and a game of Scrabble, things eventually started to settle down.

 

 

Tea was easy...left overs from yesterday's party!

 

Sunday February 7, 2016

Today's Promise:
   I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:2b,3 / KJV
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