Productive day

Went to Maidstone and got our Harry Potter outfits sorted out! Then spoke to the Estate Agents - they are coming round tomorrow to take photos etc and get the property on the market. Ian and I ended up cleaning the utility room and blimey was it dirty - yuk. Anyway all looks very much better now. And we did lots of other jobs around the house. Had supper and then a hot bath. Now I feel very nice.

Public Holidays

Well the snow seems to be melting at last, although it is grey and cloudy outside. Monday and Tuesday are Bank Holidays because Boxing Day and Christmas Day fall at a weekend. So all is quiet and shut down. Things start to get back to normal on Wednesday. Then before we know it we are back in holiday mode with New Year festivities. Oh well, shouldn't complain. Ian and I are living a quiet life. In fact it is rather nice. I think the best thing he ever did was take early retirement, so we can always be together. We took Charlie for a walk up to the church this morning (to return the Church Diary) and then played two games of Scrabble. Ian beat me but I think I was beginning to improve on the second game. Its a good game to play, like Granny and Poppa played a game every evening. This afternoon we are on the laptops - Ian doing family history and me doing my sermon for next Sunday at Christ the King. So, with Charlie asleep on the sofa and Jasper asleep in the chair - all is well with the world!!

Sibling Christmas

Went up to London on Wednesday to meet with Susie and Lindy and David. We had lunch at Olivia Italian Restaurant in Chelsea and had a great time. It's not often that we all meet up together but its a chance to catch up on all our news. We seem to have progressed from talking about our children to talking about our pets, although Susie does not have a pet - she gave me her goldfish!

More snow.....

We walked to church this morning where there was a fair turn-out considering the weather. A lot of the elderly people did not come as they are frightened of falling on the snow and ice - which is understandable. Tonight at 6.30 is the Christmas carol service which I persuaded Ian to sing in. He has got quite a good singing voice. He has gone up to the church for the last practice session and will be back home soon for a hot cup of tea and piece of cake before we both go back again. Will try and get some photos of the event. At the moment, I am watching The Mummy on telly. It's really good - I love adventure films with lots of action!

A new house???

Yesterday Ian and I went to see a house at Great Totham near Maldon. It was very nice and we both liked it very much. The front part is very old (1720) and the back part is more up to date. The garden is a good size and it has a garage. Today we put in an offer but not have heard anything back yet! Are we being a bit cheeky?? Here is a photo of it. Are the wheels beginning to move regarding our move?

Snow again!

I am sitting on my laptop looking out of the sitting room window. The snow has come again and it is perishing cold. Ian and I are confined to the sitting room with Charlie and Jasper asleep on the sofa. Here is a photo of the view - black trees outlined against a clear sky. Very cold. Here is a photo of Jasper and Charlie asleep on the sofa - although it looks like Charlie has briefly raised his head in order to change his position on the sofa!

Christmas presents

Today we went into Maidstone to buy Christmas presents. Unfortunately we didn't leave early enough and when we got there could not find parking anywhere. It was very frustrating. Eventually decided that Ian would drop me in Maidstone and go home and then pick me up two hours later which I think he was OK about as it meant he did not have to trundle around the shops! Anyway, I got quite a few presents. Not sure if they will hit the mark but they should be OK. Had a hot chocolate in Waterstones. They now have quite a large selection of Christian books - which is good! I think I may make a mention of that in Steve's Scribblings and encourage people to buy from there. Ian picked me up from the back of Boots. Got home and had lunch - soup and toast. Then a bit of time of the laptops and then Jasper to vet for another bandage - hopefully his last one! He was very restless when we came back home because he wanted to go outside and Ian said he shouldn't yet. Also the last couple of days he has slept for England, day and night, so he probably wasn't that tired. Poor Jasper. I pray for him every day and feel very sorry for him. After supper Ian went to choir practice for the Christmas concert. I have sort of pushed him into going but he has got a good voice and I am hoping he will enjoy it!

A hectic day

Today Ian and went to see "Eat, Pray, Love" with Julia Roberts at the cinema. It was very good and I cried nearly the whole way through it for different reasons. It reminded me of Anna and what she is doing at the moment being in India - trying to find herself! We then went to Pagitt street to try and sort out the flipping boiler but no luck. So we have decided to get a plumber in. Someone should be coming tomorrow morning at 9am and hopefully get the thing sorted out. I phoned Anna Cunningham and told her, so she isn't phoning us again tonight saying the heating is not on. Weather still cold and icy. Jasper went to the vet to get another bandage on. The vet says he is progressing well. I let Jasper out this morning because he is going stir crazy. Needless to say I don't think he was very impressed with the cold weather and the snow. It wasn't long before he whizzed back in again! Poor Jasper I do feel for his blight. Mad appointments to see two properties in Essex on Thursday. I am feeling like we need to move. But when? and how? in this depressed housing market. That is the 64 dollar question!!!! Tonight we have home group at our house - studying Corinthians. Don't think there will be many people here as the weather is still horrible.

Back ache

Woke up this morning in extreme pain in lower back. Stumbled out to bathroom and decided to try Tiger Balm as this has helped with lots of other aches and pains. Tried to go back to bed again but too painful, so went downstairs and released Jasper from his prison in the sitting room. He has to have Metacam which he likes, then some food. Later on his bandage came off so Ian put a new one on. He is very patient with this (Jasper, that is) and sits quietly whilst you minister to him. Usually he would not put up with being held. Weather still cold, so we have decided to cancel the "Battle of the Sexes" quiz evening tonight. Probably the best thing - everything else as been cancelled, including the service at Christ the King tomorrow at which I was supposed to be leading and preaching. It's quite nice really, cancelling everything. Gives you a bit of a breather.

Photo of Jasper with bandage. He is now getting BORED! Wants to be independent again and go outside.

Snowy Days

Had to take Jasper to the vet this morning to re-bandage his leg. Couldn't get the car out of the drive due to volume of snow so decide to walk it. All in the name of good exercise! Managed to get there on time and without slipping on the snow. Seems like the whole world around us has come to a grinding halt because of the snow. Oh well, quiet days at home, watching telly, on the laptop and looking after Jasper.... and Charlie.

Photo of Ian walking down Park Crescent in his walking gear.

Shrove's Tuesday

The last time I wrote on the blog was Christmas 2008 when we were at Susie's house. We are now February 2010 and it is horrible weather, cold and wet. I have just done a funeral up at the Crematorium as I am doing funeral training. It was very sad - but I am learning a lot. I will soon have to do a funeral on my own which seems very daunting.
Ian has a day off today and has gone to help at Crisis Recovery in Tunbridge Wells and will be going on to Wadhurst to his parents house which is now up for sale. Ian's father died in October 2009.
Today is Shrove's Tuesday and so we are going to have pancakes today - when Ian gets back.