15-Apr to 21-Apr 2012

Sun 15-Apr: Here's the kitchen looking like a bomb's hit it after I chipped off all the tiles this afternoon. Can't decided what height to have the tiles... we'll need to decide by Wednesday since the electrician's arriving that day to reposition and add power points. Should we paint the walls or paper, what tiles to pick etc etc... lots of these decisions are going to be put off until the kitchen units and granite are installed in May. Have decided to have a light oak shelf against the window so it's coordinated with the units.

Mon 16-Apr: Paige isn't happy! When we popped round to Beth's this afternoon the sausage was dusting everything in sight to gain a puffle point... 5 puffle points gets her £1. But she reckoned she'd lost £5 somewhere in her bedroom. Linda disappeared upstairs with her to search for it and success! They found 25p, which made Paige happy again. At least her moods aren't as bad as they used to be, when bedding would go flying and the temper would last over an hour.

Tue 17-Apr: There are times when you realise no matter how neat and tidy you keep your allotment, no matter how pernickety you are at keeping things straight, you'll never measure up to some people's standards. On a wander around the allotment site late this afternoon spotted this bed of potatoes. Looks almost artistic in the regularity of the rows. How on earth did the plot holder manage to get them so perfect without leaving a footprint? Truly amazing!

Wed 18-Apr: With the electrician due at 08:30 to update the fuse box, move/instal power points and fit an extractor fan and spotlights in the kitchen, off Linda shot up to the allotment. She hates being around when there's banging and here's her survival kit ready for what was to be a ten hour stretch mostly spent in the shed. Was grey and wet most of the day but she managed to do a fair amount of tidying up nevertheless. When I went to collect her early evening she was wrapped in a silver survival blanket doing a crossword.

Thu 19-Apr: To quote from the X-Files, 'Nothing Important Happened Today'. A dull day, stuck in the house while the electrician finished off in the kitchen. The highlight was a toss up between walking Jazz and collecting Linda from Becky's ~;0) ... might as well have done a shortcut and stayed in bed. Have to make up for it on Saturday when brother Andy and nephew Steven are visiting for general knees up and imbibing sessions.

Fri 20-Apr: Oops! That plant growing really quickly on the herb bank just must be a weed, so I pulled it's stems off, thus revealing the label which confirmed it was the woad plant I carefully placed this time last year! Fortunately the roots were fixed so firmly they stayed in the ground. Hopefully it'll sprout again, otherwise I'll be blue ~;o)

Sat 21-Apr: Here's the moment the games commenced, standing on the first tee of pitch and putt this afternoon with John, nephew Steven and brother Andy. We'd just had a bar meal and with the forecasted rain being replaced by warmth and sunshine we played off in what was to be a closely fought match. The England (me and John) v Scotland (Andy and Steven) event was won by England 5-1. The best round was shared by Andy and John, both on 36, me 39 (destroying my chances on the 9th with a 7 and two consecutive shots into the trees) and Steven, after some remarkable early putts, bringing up the rear with 45. In the evening all the family met for tea at The Dolphin followed by further male posturing (Chris and Barry now included) at The Legion for darts and pool, Steven making up for his afternoon debacle by winning at both.