'im out out doors and I

enjoy a drop or two of red wine.

We are rather partial to

Sangre de Torro.

This is how Waitrose describes it !!!

"Sangre de Toro is a justifiably popular choice with our customers for its fruit forward style. This is Torres tribute to Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, otherwise known as ‘Son of the Bull’. Like a Mediterranean matador’s cape, this Garnacha and Cariñena ruby red blend will dance across your tongue"

The bottle comes with a little plastic bull attached.

I should 

collect them really 

& find a use for them !

Any ideas ?

I was doing a big shop recently

& one of the little bulls

fell off it's bottle onto the counter.

The young man on the til 

said they find them all over the shop.

I replied that

the bulls have tournaments at night when the shop is closed.

He smiled & humoured me.

I know that my husband, daughter and son think I'm barking mad

having conversations like this.

They load up the shopping as quickly as possible,

barley make eye contact with the assistant

and look totally miserable.

I tell them off about this & say

that they could at least smile.

Hubby always looks downright fed up !

One of the main reasons I like volunteering in the charity shop

 is the banter with customers 

which can be quite mad at times.

I've heard that in the big chain charity shops

assistants are not allowed to make conversations with customers.

How ridiculous.

I know  some of our customers enjoy a chat

& it might be their only contact that day with another person.

We try to make them feel special and welcome.

One or two regular customers bring us cakes and flowers

which is so kind.

I use the Co-Op in the village daily

& really enjoy a chat with Nick or Mary at the counter.

We end up in fits of giggles or singing

as I load my shopping.

I really don't care if  other customers

think I'm quite mad.

A smile can go a long way

and make someone's day.

Thank you all for your happy birthday wishes,

I really did have a lovely day.

Jess made a Lemon Drizzle cake.

We have a Mary Berry cake recipe book

and her lemon drizzle cake is mouth watering !

Some local friends popped in 

and we had a nice hour or so of coffee, cake & chatter.

Then Jess & I went to Southampton

where we'd booked cinema tickets to see 

This Means War

which was fun.

Not the best chick flick / Rom Com I've seen

but I do like Reece Witherspoon

& the guys weren't half bad either !

( Oh to have two hot CIA Agents fighting over me...sigh )

Hubby & I went out to dinner

but I'm sad to say

we didn't have a great meal.

Normally serving Pizza & Pasta

they had gone for a special Valentine's menu

which didn't really appeal to us.

We did ask if we could order from the usual menu & were told not

but later saw that another couple had !

They brought me the wrong starter,

brought my main before they'd cleared our starter plates...

and didn't bring hubby's main meal at all !!

I finally began mine & ate very slowly to wait but it was ridiculous-

I ate alone.

The lamb was delicious

but the saffron Risotto looked like mashed potato.

I heard the gent on the table behind us make the same comment.

He then proceeded to tell the restaurant owner how to cook Risotto !

I had a pile of rocket leaves as garnish

but don't like them so when hubby's fish finally arrived 

I ate his spinach as he hates it

( I thought sailors ate spinach to make them strong ! )

We had dessert on the house as an apology which was scrumptious

then sat on the big leather chairs by the fire

with two friends for coffee.

( they'd had a lovely meal )

Such a shame.

We didn't leave a tip

but we will try the restaurant again for their usual menu sometime

as the ambiance & setting is lovely. 

Hubby gave me a Macro lens for my camera

so I gave it a try photographing

two plants in very attractive containers I received as gifts.

Joe is probably going to study photography next year

so he can use my camera-

then teach me how to use it !

He is still away in New York.

I've asked him to bring me back 

The Empire State building...

in a snow globe !

Jess has booked a wonderful day for the two of us

here

What a treat !

Count down to fifty now.

I plan to stop biting my nails

( yes I bite my nails )

& lose another stone

to look fab at fifty !!!

HAPPY 

VALENTINES
DAY

Today Jess & I are going to the cinema

to see this film which is having an early screening

before general release in March...

Then tonight hubby & I are going to a new restaurant in the village.

I went to the opening party a while back

and totally love the way it's been fitted out & decorated-

driftwood, pine furniture, leather armchairs

distressed off white paintwork, candles in jars, pots of Rosemary

a stunning chandelier & masses of twinkling lights.

I could live in it

and...

they are opening a shop soon !!!

It's my birthday !

49   : ( 

Down the slippery slope to 50 !

I had to be born by C Section 

so mum was offered 

February 13th 14th or 15th 

so chose Valentine's Day.

I was as a very chubby baby

so they nick named me 

The Michelin Man !

 That's nice !

 tho I suspect many a baby has been fondly nick named 

after the cuddly character !

My eldest brother has always chosen pretty Valentine's cards for my birthday.

Hubby has always grumbled at the price of red roses.

I kept them dried out for years as they never seem to open

finally after several house moves they were looking a bit battered.

One year he gave me lilies which I love

and I've had them ever since.

( The way I see it he gets to do birthday & Valentines' flowers

 on the same day so is actually saving money !!!) 

I'm looking forward to the cinema & dinner

but first,

coffee & cake with friends !

Jess has made a delicious Lemon Drizzle cake.

Jess & I are hatching a plan to visit New York

next year for my fiftieth & her twenty first birthday.

She said to me yesterday,

" I'm going to be 20 this year Mum.  That's two decades. Weird "

I answered,

" Try being five "

Hope you have a good day whatever you are doing.

Thinking of my dear new friend whose lovely daughter 

would have been twenty two today.

" Here's one I made earlier..."

I made this a while back for a wonderful postcard exchange I took part in 

here

The image of the Stevedore

( I never knew this name 'til I researched the image ! )

is one of those iconic ones taken

during the construction of the Empire State Building.

I didn't want to use the most famous one

 of the Stevedores all sitting along a girder eating their sandwiches.

These men had no safety gear you know.

Brave men.

I printed the image onto acetate

then attached it with poppers

( wanted to use small nuts & blots ! )

over a background where

I'd printed  famous New York landmarks.

So why am I talking about New York ?

Well, my lovely boy leaves tonight for a week

on a school trip.

NEW YORK !!!

SCHOOL TRIP !!!

A WEEK ???

I went on a day trip to Dieppe !!!

We all brought back a French stick & some cheese.

The bread was stale by the time we got home and the cheese stinking !

 Mind you, in the sixth form, 

 I did go to Italy on a week's ski holiday-

twice ! 

I learnt to flirt with Italian boys, 

say, " Chow " drink Cappachino & red wine !

Joe will visit;

Times Square, Ground Zero, China Town,

The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island,

The Empire State Building,

Little Italy, NBC Studio-

go to a Broadway show ( Jersey Boys )

see a youth theatre performance

and attend a Brooklyn High school for a drama workshop.

They also go ice skating in Central Park,

go to the cinema in Times Square, 

eat in several restaurants,

have a Harry Potter themed evening

and a shopping day !


At one of the information meetings Joe went to,
his fantastic drama teacher had a replica of the Harry Potter  sorting hat
which told them which house they will be in for their themed evening !

Also a personal video message from gorgeous actor, Jason Isaacs
who plays Lucius Malfoy in the films !
He told them to be bad...
very bad !

I bumped into the father of a friend during the week.
He said his grandson was going to New York too
as part of his Photography degree.
We joked that we'd like to be students again
he said ,
" I'd like to be a student "
I answered,
" Yes, I want to be an IMMATURE student !"


What a fantastic week they will have !

but the downfall of this super trip ???

The coach leaves school for Heathrow

at three fifteen

AM !!!

We got there and back safely...

"there"  being a girls' weekend break at
Manor House Hotel
Okehampton, Devon.

There was snow on the hills behind the hotel
but we didn't have any.

Out of a group of over twenty women,

I  shared a room with new friends Anne & Chris.

Our weekend didn't get off to a great start when my Ann's car wouldn't start !

With the help of Chris's husband

& a poor lad cajoled to help,

we pushed it around the car park

( haven't done that for years !)

and it burst into life.

We loaded up & set off for Devon
a three hour journey.

After a while,
Chris pointed at something & exclaimed,

" Antelopes !"

I giggled,

" Sorry to burst your bubble Chris

but they are ornamental Deer in a garden-

not even real "

This led to a conversation about herds of Wilder beast

& the Hanging gardens of Babylon " !!!

We passed a long wall

marking out a large estate

( there would have been Deer in there ! )

There were Lions on the high walls by wrought iron gate posts

which led to more giggling.

Does anyone know the name of this place ?

We passed by
Poundbury

Chris likened it to 

Port Merion where the TV series

The Prisoner was filmed

& I thought it looked like Stepford !

After stopping in a lay by for coffee..

the car wouldn't start !!!

Luckily we were on a hill

& Anne rolled the car down which kick started it.

Chris put on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones

& I started singing

" Climb every mountain "

to the tune of 

" I'm every woman " !

Arriving at Manor House by lunchtime,

we unloaded our bags

& I took the girls to the activity boards.

This is where lists of activities are displayed

& you add your name 

making a note on your timetable.

It's a bit like being back at school.

The sports halls & craft buildings really do remind me of being back at school
especially the woodwork room.

I chose hot press printing
& printed a picture of a Giraffe onto a canvas bag.

Then enamelling where I enamelled a brass Dragonfly.

Ann & Chris wanted to play badminton.

Later, we met up in our room

to shower, open a bottle of wine & get ready for dinner 

then head off to meet the rest of the group for ten pin bowling.

No one else turned up so we three played.

The food at Manor House Hotel is plentiful & superb for the value-

buffet breakfast & lunch & served dinner.

We stuffed ourselves !

After dinner on Friday night there was a quiz.

On Saturday

I opted to go to a falconry display

& a talk about insects.

As I've done most of the other activities before

I thought I'd do something new.

I got to have a Kestrel, Hawk & Owl

fly to my ( gauntlet covered ) hand.
They were stunning & the talk was fascinating
but I couldn't help feeling a bit sad
that these beautiful birds of prey were born & reared in captivity.
Not only used for giving displays & talks,
they are also used for seagull control
in areas where seagulls have become pests

 I held a stick insect, snake and a...

COCKROACH !!!

I made myself do the latter as I hate them !!!

We had a short siesta-
all being snorers hadn't slept at all
( sadly my snoring was the worst ! )
I went to a  stretch & relaxation class
and had a half an hour massage.

We had a game of table tennis before dinner on

Saturday night
and after dinner there is a disco.

 Sunday morning, I had a
Hopi ear treatment
booked.

I've had this before & it's very soothing. 

 I was going to order some of the ear candles

but have since read some negative articles on the net so not sure.

Has anyone else had this treatment ?

We left around 11. 30 with a packed lunch.

and the car started fine

then wouldn't after a coffee, sandwich & wee stop !!!!
Luckily were parked on a slope again.

It was fabulous to go away,

great to be with old friends, 

 get to know new friends better,

and lovely to come home too. 

I'm posting early this week 

as on Friday morning I shall be heading

HERE !

I'm going a girls' weekend away

for a spot of crafting with choices including;
glass etching, enamelling, jewellery making, pottery,

silk painting & candle making.

Also activities including;

archery, shooting, tennis, badminton,

bowling, swimming,

and taster sessions of 

line dancing, Salsa, Yoga,

also very subsidised treatments available...
 I have booked a Hopi ear one !!!

A group from my village have been attending for many years.

I went four years in a row

then had a two year break

so am looking forward to revisiting with two new friends recently moved here.

We will share a room

but all say we snore so not expecting much sleep !
Very grateful to the one driving us there.
I'm taking a flask of coffee for the journey
& a bottle of wine for our room ! 

We have such a giggle. 

One friend laughed so much at our candle making attempts that 

she had tears running down her face.

She is a nurse & likened it to an occupational therapy class !
Another makes my birthday present
& we have a good giggle when she presents me with it.
Another has turned out to be a crack shot at shooting
and wins best score of the weekend
so given a T shirt as a prize every year !

We have a good dance on the Saturday night
so I'm grateful that I'm feeling a lot better.

So what else are this week's positives... 

Dinner at a friends' on Friday-

lovely food & lovely company.

A Haggis supper here on Saturday-

 good company and lots of  laughter

and enough Haggis for left overs.
Thank you to Waitrose for exchanging the Veggie Haggis
we bought by mistake.
They said they couldn't sell the returned one
but they exchanged anyway.

I had to giggle at Blogger Sabrina's comment,

"So People really eat Haggis ?

I thought it was just a funny thing they liked to bring up in the Movies !" 

On Monday I had a hydrotherm massage

This involves lying on warm water pads & having your back & neck manipulated.

It was so soothing.

I joked that I need to be stretched out on a rack

as I'm sure I've shrunk !
It's really helped my neck.

We've had some lovely winter weather this week

bright & sunny with a frost-

my perfect winter morning.
I wrap up really warm & take Dillon out.
It's so funny watching him slipping across the frozen pond.


Very grateful for all your well wishes & comments,
I'm less achy now.

I'm feeling more positive which is what these Friday posts are all about-
looking for the things to be grateful for
even if some weeks it can be a struggle.
Thank you to
Virginia

our Rocking Friday host.
Why not join us ?

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLDER WHEN

Your teenage daughter borrows your old reading gasses

 for a fashion statement.

Your husband borrows your old reading glasses to be able to read.

You need new reading glasses !

You tell someone you think you have shrunk.

You measure your ever so tall sixteen year old son

& discover he is six foot one.

Your ever so tall son towers above you.

You buy new walking boots for your sixteen year old son

and the elevens are a bit too small.

You groan when you put your socks on.

You realise you have turned into your own mother.

You start stretching the skin on your hand to see how elastic it is.

You look for liver spots on your hands.

You have your hair cut shorter

and people tell you that

you look ten years younger !

Your teenage daughter gives you a lift for your night out.

Your teenage daughter collects you from your night out.

Your teenagers tell you goodnight

and that they'll be up later.

You like nothing better than cuddling up with the cat.

You start reciting silly rhymes from your youth.

Your teenagers roll their eyes when you

start reciting silly rhymes from your youth.

Your teenage son exclaims

" Dad hasn't got any teeth !"

Painkillers become your friend.