Mint Balls!!!

Just come upstairs after doing the crosswords for the afternoon, and on the way I pinched one of Vin's Uncle Joe's Mint Balls. Of course he comes in the room and says accusingly "I can smell mint!"..Owned up then, and he says they're not too strong for you are they/ Not on your life, I used to buy them from the local sweet shop when I was a kid. They would come in tins, and the woman would put them in a white paper bag, shaped like a cone, and they would all stick together in your pocket. You would end up prising them apart.. Aah Nostalgia. I used to love things like sherbet lemons, which used to cut your tongue sometimes, or pineapple cubes which used to make your eyes water..Spangles which came in tons of different flavours including the sour acid drop. Lemonade crystals which you would get in little paper cones you would dip your finger in and lick the crystals off!!1p Arrow bars that were pure toffee in lots of flavours, and the little scented violet cachous that you would get hundreds of because they were light I suppose..like eating perfume chunks.There is a sweet shop in Ormskirk which sells all these nostalgic sweets..I daren't go in there..Everton mints with their black and white stripes and toffee centres, and triangular humbugs that would stick together.
No wonder our teeth were bad.
Disturbed night last night, must have been something we had eaten, Vin reckons it was the Goats Cheese tarts..must have been something because he has a constitution like an ox as they say. But we are fine today, but tired of course because of the disturbed sleep. Still these thing shappen.
Big coach over the road this morning, and according to the woman in the paper shop who is the fount of all knowledge it is a trip to the races. Chester I presume which isn't too far away. Not a bad day, but coolish here and a tiny bit drizzly, it was much nicer yesterday.
Crosswords were tricky today, mine had a theme of Mathematics, which I know nothing about. Hated Maths at school, my teacher Mr Moran used to teach the boys, and would face them when teaching. I can do the numbers on Countdown though, but nowhere near as good as Rachel Riley. Gorgeous girl that, so pretty and smiley and a figure to die for, and totally brilliant with her numbers as well.
All I can remember doing at school is Sines and Cosines and Logarithms..what a waste of time..never ever used them in the whole of my 65 years!
Tonight we are having:
Pizza with our tomato sauce
Peppers fopr Vin and Courgette for moi, pineapple and sausage meatfree one.
Potato and egg salad
Potato salad fpr mi and pasta salad for Vin.

a>

Moving On...

Again..Jane rang up a couple of days ago to say she was going to have a look at a house Didsbury I think still, but a bit further out. She was interested in this one because it had an en suite and was a nice house. So off she went to meet one of the housemates, funnily enough another Jane. She said it was a nice house, good lounge and kitchen and her room was on the ground floor with its own bathroom. Cheaper than where she is now and the bills were cheaper also, shared between three rather than two where she is at present. She had to meet the other housemate which she did today, and she rang up at lunchtime to say that they approved of her, and if she wanted it the room was hers. So, she will be moving again in a few weeks. Her present housemate Rachel is moving out of Manchester, so she will be going as well. They have been together for a number of years, so it will be a wrench I think for her, but won't do any harm. Glad it's a nice house though.She has had some truly horrible house rents in her student days, some parents would be horrified if they knew where their children ended up..But still, it's character building.
Beautiful sunny summer day today, sat outside this afternoon, and the new neighbour was banging away at next door putting in a new bath, there wasn't one before, only a large shower. I wouldn't like to do without my bath, love my bath and book and candles.
Vin went out to Maghull this morning, he had a few things to get,and he came back with a book from the animal rescue stall which is there every week. It is a diary kind of book about a Liverpool man in the wartime, so he should enjoy that. He reads non-fiction types of books, i prefer novels. I have just started a new one last night by Derek Longden called "The cat Who Came In From The Cold", really enjoying that so far..it's a very "catty persons" book..lovely. I think vin might enjoy that too he is a cat person..very much so.
Little Rusty seems a bit better today, she has been off colour for the last couple of days and we were getting worried, but she is perkier today, thank goodness.

She is such an adorable little sweetheart, we get worried when she is off colour. Perfect little cat, never does anything wrong, and so loyal and affectionate. Gorgeous.

Tonight we are having:
A M&S Meal Deal for £10, so we are having:
Goats cheese en croute..the vegetarian option,
Peas, beans and courgettes in a minted butter,
potato croquettes.
Cheesecake slice but we might not eat that yet,
Bottle of Chardonnay and we might save that for Christmas..we don't drink much wine at all these days.

Bank of Mum and Dad..

On banking duties today, had to pay £300 in for Janes rent until Wednesday. So it was either a case of going to Formby and the expensive Waitrose, or Crosby and the tiny Sainsbury or Ormskirk and Morrisons. We opted for the latter, so went over there. It's a nice run anyway, quite rural and quiet. Went to the bank first, and then to Holland and Barratts where we wanted to get some of their fishless fingers, but they didn't have any. Why on earth do shops always sell out of the very things we need. Why don't they order more? So they lost a sale and we came out without buying anything. Went to my usual shops and I bought a top in the Bon Marche, reduced in the sale so well pleased. Superdrug for my night anti wrinkle cream which doesn't work!!! but we try. Maybe i should have a face lift like lollipop Lulu..no perhaps not.
M&S for a few salads, and they were doing a meal deal for £10 so got that for Saturday night as a treat. Main course, veggie side dish pudding and a bottle of wine..a good deal.
Morrisons for coffee and a break. Very pleasant cafe, cheap but excellent coffee and cafe buzzing. Really makes a dofference when the kids are off. Must be so expensive for parents these days keeping them amused.
Got all our weekend things and time was getting on so hurried home a bit later than usual.
Vin is in the garden this afternoon pottering. Lovely word that..pottering. The new neighbour next door is laying flags in their garden which has been covered in gravel for quite some time. They have lived in flats apparently so I suppose a garden is a novelty.
Tonight we are having:
Crispy fillets
A few chips 200grms between us
Small tin of something tomatoey. Common tea tonight!!

Bang Bang in Stereo!!

Woke up this morning to loud banging from the house on the other side..the one where our neighbour had to move. Apparently there was a plasterer removing some of the wall in the bedroom where there was a damp patch. This is directly adjoining our wall where our bed is.
Just long enough to annoy us, or rather me, and then he went, presumably to come back another day to do the plastering! I was listening to Steve Wright on his radio show the other day talking to Chris Moyles. He has an early morning show on something, and was saying how he hates getting up in the morning. He says he has six or seven alarm clocks, one that turns music on in his bedroom..his producer rings him up early to get ready, and his duvet is like a concrete overcoat. I know what he means. I wish I was one of these people who open their eyes and jump out of bed..not me at all.Never have been. Not a morning person at all really.
Jane rang up again at lunchtime on the borrow again..she needs money to cover her rent until Wednesday when her cheque clears. She has finally, after about four years got her compensation through after her accident at work, at least that is done and dusted ,, so maybe we will have a rest from "What the solicitor said" for a bit.
Little Rusty is better today, she was off colour yesterday, and didn't move much, we were getting worried, but she seem ok today. Bobby is playing weather vanes at the moment. She is outside on top of their hut, and as soon as she feels a drop of rain she jumps down and sits inside it. Really cute.

At least cats don't keep ringing yu up asking for money all the time. She is a good kid though, it could be a lot worse.
Tonight we are having:
Cheesey kievs
The remaining baby potatoes
Carrots green beans and broccoli..

Out for Chicken...

Tragedy, the cats didn't have any chicken! Since they assemble in the kitchen every day at about1-30 for their daily dose of finely chopped chicken and we forgot to get some yesterday, we thought we would go out to get some this morning.
Lovely day today, really nice and pleasant but not too hot either, so we thought we would go to the garden centre and have our July free coffee. Vin wanted to get some new hanging basket brackets so he had a look for those. On offer, 2 for £5 ot £3.99 each, so not a bad deal. Had a look at a couple of nice benches, the type made for two with a table in the middle, one straight and one angled a bit. Round about £150 each with cushions. Vin has decided that he is going to do up our patio area and smarten it up. So maybe it is a good time to get rid of our older cast iron green table and chairs which are as hard as the hobs of hell to sit on. Funny thing, the new neighbour from next door has arrived to lay a new patio in their garden. What is it with these men and Patio's now?

One hanging basket of which we have two, but...somebody has ideas of a row of them now.
Had a lovely cup of coffee in their cafe, which is full of grandparents who have had kids dumped on them by the looks of things. Got me thinking, about the money that grandparents have to stump up on these minding jobs. Sure they don't mind though.
Home to find another appointment letter from Aintree, for an Ultrasound. One of those where you have to drink pints of water before you go, and it is to check the kidney's are performing properly. Better make sure Vin knows the smoothest route there!!!
Tonight we are having:
pasta verde with a little parmesan and
A small amount of garlic bread.

Men At Work...

The day started with the banging again this morning. Our neighbours builders were there doing more to her roof. Why does all building work involve banging I wonder?
Vin started doing the wall outside the kitchen which has needed doing for a long time. In fact I don't remember when it was last done. Looks good when it is done too. We were trying to think what paint was last used on it, thinking it was Snowcem. This would account for its flaking off which it did one particularly hard winter. Vin had a look on the Net to see what was recommended for problem walls and came down and said Sandtex..that was the name I had been struggling to find in my mind, just couldn't get the name out. He said Snowcem leaves a film and it is that which flakes off, so maybe we will go for Sandtex this time, see if it sticks better.

Here is my beautiful Orchid resplendent in her purple pot which matches perfectly. I knew it would. I could see Vin thinkink when I bought it, what does she need another plant pot for..but there she is, looking absolutely gorgeous. I o9nly wish I looked half as glamorous.

"Look" she is saying "How beautiful I am!"

I don't think she has ever looked so good. Definitely the Maralyn Monroe of plants this one. This is the second flowering of the year too, and the more luxuriant too.Vin fussed and faffed over taking these photos, and we had a spat over the camera. He said no-one told him how to work it meaning that if I wanted a photo do it myself. Trouble is the features aren't easy to see, not that simple when you are looking through a net curtain either. We don't argue very often, very little actually..but he can be so stubborn..I can see where Jane gets it from!

Gorgeous sunny day today, but not too warm, very pleasant really. He is now cementing the wall where the mortar has worn out, so that will keep him quiet for a bit.
Tonight we are having:
Quorn sausage rolls,
Small tin of something saucey in tomato
Vegetables
Potato croquettes.

In which Vin gets a refund and Jenny has a Wobble!!

Firstly Vin asks me which shop I want to get the veggies from, knowing full well that he wants to go to Formby to the Homebase to get his refund. He had been on their price promise website and found that the ladders he had bought were ten pounds cheaper in Argos. So off he trots to Homebase to get his money back, after ringing them up first. Parks outside their front wall.Leaves me in the car listening to Radio Two and counting the bricks in the wall. 30 across and 40 up !! Back after quite a while because he had a dealing with the woman at the counter. Eventually sent for the manager who agreed that Vin was right and refunded the money. So he is a happy bunny now.
Onwards to Waitrose. Surprisingly quiet even though there were children about. Got some lovely veggies there, they do have nice veggies do Waitrose, and home in time for coffee. The wobble bit is to do with my new tablets I think. They lower the blood sugar, and it was 2.3 which is very low for me. Quick sugar glucose drink that Vin keeps in the fridge and recovered eventually.
Total pain in the neck this Diabetes, horrible things happen to the body, like bad eyesight, kidney damage and feet problems to say the least. never mind, plenty worse off.
Our next door neighbour, the one who is always having things done, is having her flat roof redone, so we had banging from early this morning. They rang the doorbell to say they had disturbed a wasps nest so watch out at the back of the house, with some angry wasps flying about. Oh what fun! hasn't stopped intrepid Vin from getting his ladders to start his painting at the back of the house though. Well Done Vinny XX
Musings on our postal system. We got our post today at 2 O'Clock !! I remember the days when we used to get our post on the mat when we came down in the morning,,Huh..no longer. And, we used to get a mid-day post as well. Some Progress. I thought all this technology was supposed to make things better, and we get our p[ost mid afternoon nowadays.
News still full of Norway..what a terrible thing to happen, all those poor families. And, Amy Winehouse, the latest pictures show the flowers etc left outside her flat where she died. Plus..bottles of Vodka and Cigarettes.!! wHAT ON EARTH IS THAT ABOUT? dON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL. nOT REALLY INTO THESE SHRINES, BUT THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE GOING TOO FAR.

tONIGHT WE ARE HAVING:
gRUYERE CHEESE ESCALOPE
mUSHROOM SAUCE
vEGETABLES, CARROTS GREEN BEANS AND SQUASH
bABY POTATOES BAKED.