I Got Da Bluuuuues

When ever my BFF and I have to say bye-bye there is always a lump in my throat, but this time there was significant eye leakage, several sobs and yes a couple of stomach gripping knots as the taxi turned right out of my street taking her to the airport and home to hubby, daughter and two ginger cats.

It’s impossible to put my finger exactly on why, it’s part history, part friendship, part closeness, part loss, part safety, part encouragement, part silliness, and a whole heap of, it’s just fun to be together.

So what wild shenanigans did we get up to…….. well, you might not believe it, it could possibly shock some, but, well, none.  Just chatting, watching films, finding all kinds of things on the Internet,  eating good treat food, doing some stitching, relaxing, taking a walk to the beach, shopping for treats; just being removed from our expected usual everyday.

Highlight – Lazing in bed, not quite asleep when BFF remarked “What the…..oh it’s you!”  You need a little backstory here.

A neighbourhood cat has taken to sitting on my recycling bin which is just outside my back door. He peers in, looking curious, has wandered into the kitchen when the door was open. BFF opened the kitchen window and he strolled in and discovered two suckers for head rubs, chin scratches and ham, chicken and dreamies.  If the window was left open he’d just stroll in and say hello, not in a hurry to leave.  Over a day or two of repeated visits (BFF is such a softie) little encouragement was needed. He’s been nicknamed Mickey because he’s white with a black tail and black ears.  One night it was rather warm so BFF opened my bedroom window slightly, maybe four or so inches, the curtains were slightly gaped, we comfortably resettled to sleep.  Cheeky Mickey got brave from the bin top and mastered the narrow, tilted, slippery windowsill, squeezed through the gap, avoided the bits and bobs on the windowsill as well as the bookcase, jumped to the floor and neither of us heard anything until he jumped on the bed and walked up BFF!  Lol, cheeky, little devil.

We were productive, I’ve ‘almost’ finished the cot blanket, and already started a second (naughty me, should finish one before starting another), BFF knitted a couple of hats and booties for the doll. Yes, Mickey helped with the wool tension on the big ripple afghan.

Now it’s time to get back to the normal everyday, not as much fun, not as much company and not such enticing food. Familiar aches are returning. Time to reset the countdown app for her return in March. 

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Mature Teenagers

It’s time to play the music……. It’s time to light the lights……..

BFF has arrived and plugged her phone in, rummaged to find her comfy stuff, made herself at home; groceries have been delivered to make tasty home cooked foods, the shipment of Coke Zero has been unloaded (she’s a Coke fiend, I’m a coffee one), this is our idea of a staycation…. Doors are locked, curtains may or may not be opened….. Pleasing ourselves, watch a movie or two, stitch and create, render some donkeys backlegless, laugh hysterically at something silly until our sides hurt…….it’s like being a teenager left at home. AWESOME

*insert happy big grinning smilie face here*

 

UnMindFull

I’m not sure I can trust that last bit either…….

Tuesday is a case in point ….. I woke up thinking it was Thursday.  When chit chatting to BFF she remarked about something ‘a week tomorrow’ (meaning Wednesday) I remarked “Oh has it been moved to Thursday?” which would mean I thought that today was Wednesday, but my Sister is here for on a Wednesday never a Tuesday and she had not been here.  As the conversation continued and turned to the evenings culinary delights brain went ‘oh goodie fish fingers tonight’ which I have on Fridays and I knew I was having chicken curry because it was defrosting in the kitchen.  I give up!

A week tomorrow (Friday’s still follow Thursday’s, right? And today is still Thursday? Okay just checking) my BFF arrives for a couple of weeks. I haven’t finished the cot blanket nor untwizzelled the troll hat yarn.  I haven’t sorted additional groceries nor accumulated any good films (might have to do trawl through the charity shop). In truth I haven’t done much of anything. Although I have booked the carpet cleaner lady.  I’m fed up of feeling not myself, exhausted, energy less, heavy, weary and generally fatigued. It’s taken me all week to put this blog together.

*sniff-sniff* I know I’ve turned off the beef stew that’s been percolating on the hob, but now I am questioning whether I actually did!  I craved boiled eggs for lunch, so I must be ill. You see whenever as a child I was ill (be that with a cold, ear ache, stomach bug, chicken pox) my dear old Mum would stand beside my bed looking concerned saying “I don’t know what to make you for lunch, how about an egg (I groan), a boiled egg, (I groan), poached egg, (I shake my head), how about scrambled (I shake my head more) but fried won’t be nice for your tummy, I don’t know what to make” (how about toast, chicken soup in a mug) … I cannot face eggs when ill but usually ended up with a couple of boiled ones.  I had boiled eggs for lunch.

Now to get motivated into a book review, is “It was alright” descriptive enough, entice you to either read or avoid the title, thought not.

Brain is saying I need a pee, maybe that but is still working. 

 

Salad eating is dangerous

It sits there, looking all innocent, colourful and organic. It’s refreshing crispness, matched by its wholesome flavours. Little does it warn that during the eating of, it will disguise you chomping down on your inner cheek, trapping your tongue between molars nor somehow managing to scratch your own gum!

Never have that problem with KFC, lol.

 

Cravings ..

So, let me see, I am craving …..

• Popcorn [thank you TV]
• Cheese on toast [thank you TV]
• Cheese on crackers
• Malt Loaf with real butter
• Crumpets with real butter
• Subway Sandwich [thank you Tracey!]
• Pickled gherkin
• Cheesecake, blackcurrant or strawberry

Oh well, I’ll just have to imagine my pastrami sandwich is all of those things …

 

Eyes to the Right!

Last Wednesday [yes, the day before the world went pouty mad] Big Sis, BIL and I got up early and headed to the train station, our destination, the big smoke, Londinium, the capitol … this years escapades involved a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament and a river cruise, plus dining at our now favourite place The Drift at Heron Tower.

We arrived without hitch or hold up and taxied to the Lord Entrance, past the growing floral tributes to the Late Jo Cox MP laid out on Parliament Square.  Through the ‘airport style security’ and into the hallowed grounds.  We had planned a light luncheon in the Jubilee Cafe and to get the bargain priced guide book from the shop (£5, thoroughly recommend) before perusing Westminster Hall in readiness for the tour to begin.

If you ever get the chance, grab it, I organised my tour through my MP’s office which meant it was free, but even at the ticket price of £25.50 is better value than some venues.  Our guide Phillip made the walk around engaging, enthralling and amusing, bringing in all his tourees to be seen as a person of history – I was a new MP experiencing first State Opening and no hope of heck getting into House of Lords to hear the Queens Speech and how I go about getting myself seen and heard [you have to put your prayer card in the holder at the seat you choose on the benches before morning prayers], the significance of ornament .  You learn of the assassination of Spencer Pervecal in 1815 at the hand of John Bellingham … which bits are victorian fake gold and which bits are stolen, well purloined, Welsh Gold …. the blue carpet and why the royals only tread in specific areas … the significance in the position of the Mace … how to become  Lord/Lady and sit at cross benches … anecdotes such as Henry VIII aged 9 rode his horse into Westminster Hall; the place where Thomas Moore [Man For All Seasons] was tried, where Charles I was tried by Cromwell … how the Palace was re-jiggered following the bombing in WWII that struck the Commons …. when it became a permanent home to Parliament [prior to this it followed the Monarch on progress or from Palace to Palace] … the politics of position and the Parliamentary Post Office …. we saw copies of Hansards and how it is produced … the Parliamentary voting system and how it is more foolproof than any paper or electronic system.

It had not clocked with me that as Parliament was in recess for the continued referendum campaigning, that we would be able to go into the Commons and Lords, bonus for us! After 90 minutes and utter entertainment, we wanted to go round again. I imagine you could do so with different guides and discover something different each time.

We sauntered across Westminster Bridge and to the London Eye, the embarkation point for our 40-minute trip and were boarded quickly. The ropes let go and the engines revved we sailed down to Tower Bridge, our commentator trying his hardest to name and fact various bridges and buildings.  It was over all too quickly, and we taxied back to Heron Tower for some super fabulous gorgeous tasty food {I have been lusting for their scotch egg on piccalilli since last year!

scotch egg with black pudding on piccalilli

Home and a bed by 11pm ….. 17 hours after leaving it, educated, entertained and exhausted.

Now to read the guide boo to remember all the things I forgot to mention here!

 

p.s.  Big Sis searched, she looked, she scrutinised but she didn’t find an upside down Union Flag *phew* LOL

 

12-night sleep over

I am just about getting back to my usual routine after the visit with my BFF.  How quickly we fall into our ways together, turning my hovel into a grown-up slumber party.  It is such a change and welcome return to something so comfortable.

We watched loads of good stuff, documentaries, serials and films, like …..

• Coal House [1927]
• Coal House at War
• The Edwardian House
• Downton Abbey [almost to the end of series 3]
• O Brother, where art thou?
• Nell
• Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
• Churchill’s Secret
• Philomena
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I am sure I have forgotten some.

We eat good food that we cook ourselves, which makes a welcome break from my usual stews [which I am already bored of].  BFF was finishing a ripple afghan in silver birch, I become the wool unwinder so she can crochet at blurring speed [skip2-11-3in1-repeat; I’m nearly reciting that in my sleep!].  I was starting a new project [blog to come] and wanted her guru teacher mind to help me get started.

We talk, laugh, watch youtube stuff, discuss politics, newsy stuff, talk cats and their antics.

All too soon there are discussions about flight times and pick up times, and things working their way back into a suitcase.  She’s coming back in 165 days, not that I am counting down.