Last of the Summer ?

I don’t know if it’s the same for anyone else but the August bank holiday signifies the end of the summer.  The mornings are chilly and the nights are drawing in. The kids go back to school this week and very soon, before you know, it will be time to turn back the clocks in readiness for the onset of winter.  I went to the gym on Saturday morning leaving Phil to watch the Grand Prix qualifying.  I did try and coax him to coming with me and record the qualifying but he couldn’t be persuaded.   I dropped by the market on the way home to get flowers, 8 bunches in total for only five quid, a real bargain if you ask me.  I also stopped off at the Co-op to stock up with some red wine that Phil really likes that is on offer until the 6^th September.  It’s a French 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve which is currently reduced from £8.49 to £4.49 which is a real bargain.   It’s called Saraphine in case anyone is interested and they also have a Chardonnay on offer at the same price.  

We finished off the last of the lasagne for lunch then decided to walk to the city centre to watch a film at The Odeon.  Phil wanted to see The Expendables which I wasn’t too keen to see but I figured the walk would be good exercise for Phil.   Although the sun was shining when we set off, by the time we got to John Lewis car park the skies darkened and it bucketed it down with rain.  We walked through the centre to look at the new restaurants in the square but weren’t terribly impressed. It’s good to have some eateries in the main centre but I think the planners could have done much more with the middle of the square; it was fairly unremarkable.

The film was crap but my expectations were already low when I read in the opening credits that the film was directed and produced by Sylvester Stallone.  It was a real boy’s film with lots of action but even Phil thought the plot was pointless and pathetic.  Thankfully it wasn’t on for too long and we were out of the cinema by quarter past six.  Unfortunately it was still raining when we came out of the cinema so walking back home wasn’t an option.  Phil phoned Harriet to see if we could scrounge a lift but unfortunately she was in the pub with her mates.   We couldn’t suss out the bus timetable so in the end we got a taxi home.  Saturday night was The X-Factor and Big Brother and bed by 10pm.

On Sunday morning I managed to persuade Phil to join me in the gym where he had a reasonable workout.   It wasn’t a mammoth one because we had to be home for the start of the Belgium Grand Prix which started at midday.  All the cold wet weather we have been experiencing lately makes me want to eat comfort food and Sunday was no exception.  Whilst Phil watched the race from the comfort of the reclining sofa I cooked a roast leg of lamb with all the usual trimmings. It was lovely even if I do say so myself.  When the race was finished we programmed the Tom Tom to take us to Christine’s new house in a rural village called Charlwood in Surrey.  The road works on the M1 slowed us and our journey wasn’t helped by a breakdown near Junction 11.  Still the M25 wasn’t too bad and we arrived at Christine’s cottage just before 5pm. 

Christine has only been in possession of her house keys for just over a week and in that time, she has been rewired, had a new fuse box installed, and has had a new course of damp proof.  Last week she had new carpets fitted and last Friday she took delivery of her furniture which had been in storage.  She had emailed me photographs of works in progress, and well, I was amazed with what she has achieved in such a short space of time.  Christine had obviously worked her socks in readiness for us, her first house guests (apart from Paul) and with a little help from Stan, her handyman, has achieved wonders.  I wasn’t too sure what to expect but I guess, if I’m completely honest, I thought we’d be virtually camping for our overnight stay.  How wrong I was.  The only downside when we arrived was that the electrics had gone down at the sub-station which meant no electric for the whole village since 2pm that afternoon.

Paul arrived shortly before 6pm having travelled down from Sheffield.   Christine had planned to cook us all dinner in her new home but come 8pm the electric still hadn’t come on.  There was no choice but to get in the car and drive to the next village for a pub meal.  The boys opted for cheese burger and chips, Christine had a risotto and yours truly had the fish pie.  It was okay’; posh pub Surrey food at posh prices;  Unfortunately when we got back to Friars Cottage the electrics were still out so Paul lit the log fire and we drank wine with candlelight until midnight.

Our bed was so comfortable and we slept entwined until the dogs, Purdy & Buffy, came in to lick us awake and the electric came back on at 6am having been off for off for 16 hours.   A little while later Phil snoozed, Paul went for a run and Christine & I walked the dogs around the cricket pitch.  The village of Charlwood is pretty, it has 3 pubs, a church and a newsagents oh and a posh kitchen shop all of which were closed on bank holiday Monday.  We had a fry up for breakfast and then Phil put up a curtain rail in the lounge.   He also measured up the kitchen.  One of the reasons for going to Surrey was to measure up and design a new kitchen for Christine.   It makes sense because after all me and Phil have fitted quite a few kitchens in the last couple of years.  The problem with Christine’s kitchen is that it’s a galley kitchen and the space is small compared to the rest of the cottage.  Still I’m sure we can up with a design that will maximise the space.

The drive back on the M25 & M1 wasn’t too bad given that it was the bank holiday.  Traffic was heavy on the M1 because of the road works but the journey home took us roughly about an hour and a half.  Phil cooked us mash with pork chops in an apple and onion gravy which we had with some left over vegetables.  A late night and an early start and we were both knackered so it was a quiet afternoon in front of the telly and an early night in readiness for the week.   At least this week is a short one.  Phil has already left for work; unfortunately he had the radio on in the shower way too loud and woke Harriet up.  She’s just stomped down in a hump to get a bowl of cornflakes.   Unlike her mum, she is not a morning person.   I have just realised we have no milk; it’s time to get this blog posted and get the show on the road.