In Between Days

Tuesday.

We got up and got ready to meet Sue and Pete for lunch at The Loxley. It was lovely to see them as always. The food was OK, not amazing, but not bad. They mixed Pete's food up though, and we were almost eaten by the time his come. 

The thing that did put me off a bit was some of the clientele, I'm no snob, but they were a bit rough, loud and swearing as well as shoving all the chairs round a small table in the middle of the room, making it hard to get past for both us and other customers. 

I don't usually take much notice and ignore people most of the time, but these were a little bit too loud to ignore and made us having a conversation difficult. 

So, I think we will try somewhere else next time. 

Still enjoyed our catch up though as always.

We finished our shopping afterwards and came home. I finished my book on Kindle. And I can happily report I have after three weeks and two full 400 odd pages not had to recharge that new Kindle! Compared to the fire which I was charging every ten pages. 

In Between Days

Monday. Bank Holiday.

So we got up debating whether to have our usual chill out Monday, but we needed food for Main meal having only got stuff for the weekend. We decided that it was just as easy to get the bus to The Embankment as it was the village with them being hourly. That way we could head to the Trent Navigation and have a roast dinner by means of a change. 

So we got ready and headed there. The food was lovely. I had pork and Kev had beef. It was better than last time in our opinion. We had dessert thus time, crumble apple and rhubarb with custard. Nommy.

I had a pint of Czech beer, as I've been thinking about Prague lately, it might be somewhere we revisit now we have our passports. I loved it last time, and would love to go back without the hassle of other people with us like we had before. Apart from my Sister and Pete, I would be very wary of going on holiday with other people after that particular trip. But the city itself was gorgeous and there was a lot still to explore. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

Work. Busy again, lots of non verbal zombies, buying stuff for bbqs that might happen. The obsession with them never ceases to amaze. I have only been to a couple that have been fun or successful. Either you get undercooked or overcooked food, granted its always a good excuse to get deep in your cups, but I guess it's just not for me... The days when I still got drunk to any degree I much preferred going to a pub. 

The last time I got anything like tipsy was when we were at Butlins in February, blame the red wine ( always a bad idea with me)  In fact apart from the odd drink on a Tuesday I don't much bother.We have lots of drinks at home, and apart from the odd addition to a coffee most of sits untouched. 

I look back now and realise that I drank my hardest when I was unhappy, uncomfortable and under the most pressure. It enabled me to be more social, but I wasn't in my comfort zone. I guess now I am. Or maybe its just now I don't really care, if people like me or not. It didn't really get me anything but false friends, who were nice to my face. You live and learn... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Wow what a gorgeous day, I even went to work in sunglasses. It of course meant that the shop was heaving. Large orders too, one of mine spent £378, all on a bbq, no normal shopping was included, just booze, steaks, burgers and all the the other items you'd expect. I had no idea that people could afford to spend that much, unless everyone was chipping in. Which is always a possibility too. I know we did a Christmas lunch once at the pub and everyone chipped in £20 each it was all inclusive so they got the booze in that ( pump beer wasn't) but they got a great deal out of it as there was boxed wine and cans of beer on each table. And of course a Christmas cauldron cocktail.

In Between Days

Friday.

Way too nice to stay indoors and needing food for the coming weekend, we went into Bridgeford. We got stuff for an impromptu picnic from Greggs and sat in the park. Again another Wedding was cracking off at the registry office. A nice thing to watch while you eat your sarnies. It was damn hot, and we went to M&S to get stuff for when we get home from work. Along with some fruit. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

A dull start, not cold by any means but grey and overcast. We were staying in in any case because Kev twisted his knee when he knelt down the night before. So to rest it, it made sense to not go too far as we have work this weekend and it doesn't matter what pain he is in he will go. Very noble of him, but not very clever given the workload he ends up with on his own. 

So I got pages done and some sorting out, I'm currently working on my wardrobe, some stuff needs to go on Vinted and some stuff needs to just go in the recycling bin. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Kev got the washing on early as it was another lovely day we had made plans with Charlotte to go into Bridgeford for lunch. We went to the Little Green cafe in the park and eat, then we bought ice creams and walked over to the play area where there were seats in the shade. We did a bit of food shopping in M&S before heading home. 

It was lovely just to chill out and enjoy some time in the sun, something we can't really do outside the bungalow. You sit outside there and you get pestered, as we learned in the first lockdown. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Beautiful morning. I needed some posca pens as the ones I ordered on Amazon didn't come and I got my money back. So we went on a trek to Lady Bay.  I walked 7, 000 steps in total. We have a routine now. I walk down to the retail park and we head for a coffee, so I can sit, and rest up for a bit. Greggs was shut so we went in Dunkin Doughnuts. I had almond milk coffee, Kev had a latte and a doughnut. 

We then went to Hobbycraft and The Range. We got what we needed then walked back to The Navigation pub. It's had a refit and new owners since we last went in and it's lovely ( we thought it was OK before!) They do weekday roasts so we had one of those each. Monday and Tuesday the roasts are £7.50 each. They are good value and tasty. I think we will be going back, even on the days we want to go into town it wouldn't hurt to get off the bus and walk across rather than try and find somewhere in town when we are on our own. It gets harder to find somewhere decent. 

In Between Days.

Sunday.

A beautiful morning with a need for me to dig out my work sunglasses ( I don't risk taking my Ray Bans to work.)

The bus is indeed back to its normal route, the sinkhole covered in and new tarmac laid. 

A busy day from the get go, lots of bbqs going on, garden stuff being bought all that sort of thing. Still a Zombie kind of day, like most Sundays you speak to half the customers and they ignore you. Wrapped up in their own little worlds too busy to acknowledge the person serving them. 

At least the regulars chat, and because of the good weather it meant we didn't struggle to empty the shop. As for the few they wanted to get back out there ASAP anyway, so didn't dawdle and buggered off when told. That makes a change. 

Buses and tram got OK both ends. 

We got home had tea and settled down to watch the last episode of Interview with Charlotte, who hadn't seen the movie so we put that on too... It was good to compare the two, you can see the lines and threads of the story that they had included in the series, and of course the differences which are massive but, in a good way. It did need that update, and I must admit I'm not a fan of do overs when it comes to movies I love, but the series gives them time to tell the story correctly. The gay element of the tale is needed for you to really understand both Louis and Lestat, and even I must admit that Louis as a black Creole man works much better for the character. Claudia too is better shown in all her selfish,  demanding, Brat ways, very much like a young Lestat in all respects, which you don't pick up on in the movie, but you do in the book. 

If only they'd do a series on Sherry Roit's Vampires. Paris Immortal would be an absolute dream of a cast and the stories would be great to see off the page. Maybe one day... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Work. A sunny day bought them all out, buying bbq stuff, garden games and booze. 

It was foggy in Cotgrave as we went into work, so you knew it would lift and be a nice day. Funny as soon as we left the village it was bright and sunny. I said to Kev, we are now leaving the village of the damned, lol. 

Charlotte said when she came round that the sink hole is repaired and the buses are back to normal. We wouldn't know as we caught the 33 as our bus was late due to the football. There were hoards heading to the Forest ground. The bus was very noisy as there were some fans on the bus and they were encouraging the two young kids on the bus to shout and sing. 

It might sound very curmudgeonly but, it's something we could have done without that. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

We needed some food shopping so we had a trip to Morrisons at Gamston. It was a lovely morning, warm enough to not wear a jacket. I'm quite liking the detour the buses have to take because of the sinkhole. Straight down Stragglethorpe Road past the camp site and industrial units. There is a house on the corner before you turnback on to Hollygate Lane, almost hidden from view, set back and surrounded by large trees. It looks intriguing, if a bit run down, reminded me of the cinder house I used to go past when I used to travel from Scott's on the Black Cat bus to work in 2013. It looks like it has a story. I love solitary houses like that, like the one when we lived on Grafton Road that was tucked back where the old estate butted up to the new one. It looked abandoned, and definitely haunted. It had a large dramatic window that obviously used to show the staircase over both floors. The sort of grand staircase that you could swish down in a vintage ballgown Scarlett O'Hara style. It was demolished years ago, and I was heartbroken when it was. 

Anyway, I digress, I'd be quite happy if they had to keep this route for a while, but it looks like it might be back to normal in a few days sadly. 

We went to the cafe in the park in West Bridgeford for lunch. Its called Little Green and perfect on a nice day if you want a light meal or snack. Coffee is good, and I'm really pleased to see an independent cafe thriving. Busy enough, but not so busy that they don't have time for good food or service. We sat inside ( I'm not a fan of eating outside, really if I'm honest) and it's small but pleasant, with about four tables in there. There's another six or so outside. Perfect for a coffee overlooking the park. I hope it does as well as the previous one did. 

We got home and I started a few pages in my jump-start journal using that cache of magazines to collage with. I like to stick images in on a few pages and then go back and alter them later. It saves killing my pens getting glue on them, and also gives me chance to think about the direction I want my pages to go in. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Early start as it was wash day. Kev wanted it done nice and early,  so we could go out with Charlotte for lunch and coffee and a look round the new Oliver Bonas shop on Central Avenue in Bridgeford. I must admit I was very impressed and will certainly look there in future for some gifts. 

We had lunch in Cafe Nero, toasties and a tiny slice of lemon meringue ( naughty I know!) But it was scrumptious, and I don't allow myself much naughty food these days. I might pay for it later, since starting those meds anything naughty can give me a bad gut. So, we will see... 

We had a lovely afternoon. Sat in the park afterwards watching a wedding, well, the photos in any case. They did well with the weather ad it was pleasantly warm despite the rather ominous clouds hanging around. 

We came home and chilled out watching Interview ( TV series) again, as Charlotte hasn't seen it all, and as far as I'm concerned any excuse to watch Sam Reid as the deliciously evil Lestat, it was the brutal episode where he nearly kills Louis by draining him and dropping him from a great height. Domestic violence for want of a better description. Its a puzzle who I feel most sorry for, Louis for the beating and the subsequent long recovery period, or, Lestat for being driven to the point of madness by Louis and Claudia... 

In Between Days.

Tuesday.

We met up with Sue and Pete at Lloyd's no.1 at lunchtime. After a mystery tour of a bus ride down the back of the village via Hollygate Lane. When you see the village from that angle you realise how pretty it is... 

Seeing Pete and Sue was lovely as always. We enjoy our catch ups. She has been fixing a dress for her granddaughters prom with hundreds of seed beads and sequins, using invisible thread too... That's love for you. The hours that have gone into it and the skill she has are unreal. 

We got what shopping we needed and headed home... Again going the back way in to the village while they try and sort the hole outside the Manvers... 

In Between Days

Sunday.

It was quite a slow Sunday compared to the two previous ones, no Bank Holiday I assume meant that people weren't panicking thinking we might be shut Monday! 

Quite a pleasant day all in all, of course you get the usual zombies who don't talk, but on the whole most of the customers were in good spirits perhaps because it was a sunny day. It certainly changes what they buy, bbq stuff, ice lollies, pizza... 

We got home OK this week, no missing bus, so that was good, however, it does look like there will be problems this week as there appears to be a sink hole opened up just outside the manvers... The road for now is closed, but that might mean the buses will divert at least, in this village it can just mean they withdraw the buses completely, knowing Trent Barton they don't need an excuse. Charlotte will keep us informed as she has to navigate getting to work tomorrow... 

When we went past the area last night it certainly didn't look good, lots of blokes in hard hats looking at the hole drinking tea, no doubt making that noise that mechanics make when you take a car in for repair... "Big job, mate, looks like your rear ends gone" lol... *disclaimer* please note that the picture used is my sense of humour based, and is NOT the hole in Cotgrave... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Work. It was bitterly cold in the morning, and guess who was stupid enough to forget my gloves? 

Kev really wasn't well, but he went into work regardless. How he coped I've no idea, bless him. 

We got home and watched the Eurovision Song Contest with Charlotte. It was entertaining because its so bad its good... Kev had a bet on Australia to win or come second as he loved their song, it wasn't bad, but got nowhere, I liked Germanys entry but that came last... Shows anything remotely goth/rock doesn't tick the "pop" boxes... Mind you, 50 years anniversary of ABBA winning was a shoe in for Sweden to win, with a dirge that sounded a bit like Winner takes it all... The only good thing to come out of it in years is Sam Ryder ( his band played at the Appleby years ago) and his voice is amazing. 

Anyway, it was something to watch on a Saturday night as usually we don't bother... 

In Between Days

Friday.

A cutting out collage day. I have some magazines that I have been given, so I spent most of day happily cutting stuff filling my boxes. It's one of my favourite pastimes. I then just tip the box upon my table and assemble images randomly. I alter some with paint and chop bits up to fit where needed. 

I've showered and topped up my temporary colour in my hair ready for work. 

Kev isn't very well, he looks peaky, I'm hoping he won't be as bad as I was the other week. But knowing him he will still go to work, no matter how poorly he feels. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

We got up and got ready to go out being as we didn't go out on Tuesday. I needed pain meds and Kev having come down with man flu overnight needed meds too... Coffee from Holland and Barrett ( we have coffee substitute as it helps our sleep patterns) So we got what we needed and then went for lunch. The rain started to come down in stair rods as we waited at the bus stop. We got home just as it started to thunder. Again very lucky for me that we had, even though it was short lived. 

After that had passed I did my pages, and then finished The Call of the Grave another Dr David Hunter book on my new Kindle. I have the next one loaded up and ready to go. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this series of books after watching the TV series. 

In Between Days.

Bit of a crap night sleep wise, I couldn't switch my brain off, so I got up and read for a while. Eventually going to bed around 4.30am. I don't remember much else so I must have finally slept until 8 am. Not much sleep, but better than none. 

We got up and stripped the bed so Kev could take it over to the laundry, along with all the towels. We changed the duvet over for the summer weight one, as we've both been complaining of the bed being too warm of late. 

I made a card, and cut some magazine collage adding it to my box of Dyans. I like mixing it up. 

I had a letter from the hospital about my appointment on the 14th June. Along with a food diary, I'm supposed to ring and get a fasting blood sample done at the doctors beforehand, but when I rang the doctors they are only running an emergency service at the moment. That's useful... Not... I'll try later in the week. 

In Between Days

Tuesday. 

We didn't feel like going out, we didn't need anything, so we stayed in I did my pages from the weekend. And read my Kindle, which I must say I'm very happy with. Not only is it easier to access my library, it loads up so much quicker. 

This afternoon we sat watching TV when the storm clouds gathered, and we were treated to a couple of very loud rumbles of thunder and one flash of lightning. Didn't last long thankfully. Glad we weren't out. 

In Between Days

Monday.

Our Coronation get together with Charlotte. We watched the ceremony and waved our flags at the appropriate times, had a giggle at a few of the more unsuccessful outfits. Had our scones, and the rest of the buffet. Including a couple of glasses of Fizz. 

My Kindle paperwhite came. It took a little while to set up. Once I'd connected it to my amazon account all my books were there ready to go. Perfect. I've given it a full charge and then we will see how long it lasts. I like the display and back-light for late night reading as well as the anti-glare screen. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

Strange day with even stranger people. A lot of people seemed very grumpy, hungover perhaps? God knows. One woman arguing about the price of the chicken pieces, we  were waiting while I got someone over, then we waited while the supervisor went to check. When it was the price I told her originally she went herself to check again making the long queue wait even more. Came back with a smaller bag. Never apologised to the other customers or me. I finished serving her and started the next, obviously I apologised for the delay. The first customer ( who was still hovering at the end of the till) gave me a round of f***s for apologising and making her look bad. 

Luckily for me the guy I was serving then told her to wind her neck in as I was just doing her job, and I couldn't make her look any worse than she did anyway. 

Eventually got everyone else out there by 4.10pm and then we went for the bus. 

The Cotgrave was running late, and wasn't going to arrive until 5.50pm. So, Charlotte rang Ian and he picked us up instead, so we got home for 6pm, which saved us getting home after 6.45pm. Trent Barton get worse. The thing I never understand is how the Bingham bus that comes the same route more or less, gets through and ours doesn't.

But thanks to Ian we weren't just left kicking our heels at the bus stop for an hour. 

Later we watched the Coronation concert with Charlotte and had a bottle of fizz... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Coronation Day.

Work was going to be hard to call, first off was busy then by 11 am dead. By 2.30pm it was heaving and that continued. People obviously watched the initial bit and then scarpered when it got to the waffle. 

I watched the bitsI wanted to see on Iplayer when I got home, the beauty of that was I could skip the bit where they crowned "his" Queen. 

I love the history, so obviously loved all of the pomp and the Kings crowning. I might not be keen of Charlie, but I'm certainly not a fan of Camila at all. So that said, it was something to see and something that won't happen again in my lifetime.

In Between Days

Friday. 

I had stuff to do at my desk, so once I had done my usual stuff, exercises, chores etc I set to, and coloured all the stamped images out I'd done the day before. I've used Dyans inks for the first time in my Tim Holtz brushes and I must admit, I'm impressed. They aren't cheap but they are certainly easy to control. I have brush pens, but they don't last long and the cheap bristles splay out really quickly. So I'll definitely be buying more of Tim's brushes and Dyans inks to fill them with, but slowly, so I don't feel the cost all at once. 

Talking of cost, I appear to have bought a new Kindle. My fire tablet is not lasting on its charge, and its annoying as I've got back into my reading in a big way. Especially when there is nothing on the TV. It was a v vobooks, as you constantly have to download them, which means the WiFi and Bluetooth are on permanently. The battery goes before you've read a chapter! So I was looking as you do, and Amazon waved a paperwhite at me at a decent price, so I gave in and bought one. It'll fit the case I have. I won't have to keep loading my books and one cha4ge should last 10 days. 

In Between Days.

Thursday.

We went out early to vote so we walked to the leisure centre passports in hand and did our bit. Being able to vote is a luxury we forget, and one hard fought for. Even though they all pee in one pot so to speak, once in power, I would rather use my vote, and my voice, even though they are trying very hard to make it harder to vote, especially the lower classes. That's why they want voters to have photo ID because they know most people below a certain income won't bother applying for ID. It's a crafty way of silencing the very people who need the government's help the most. 

Well, they're not stopping me. 

After that was done, we got the bus and went into town, we didn't do much shopping on Tuesday, and there were a few bits we needed. Including stuff for our buffet on Monday when we will watch the Coronation with Charlotte, being as we are at work Saturday and Sunday. I don't know if they are doing a party for the residents here or not, but we shall have our own little drop of fizz, along with a sort of afternoon tea affair, including a Coronation Colin cake from M&S. The Sadies have their crowns and flags and we have a king bear with robe and coronet. I'm not keen on Charles or Camila and would much rather it be William and Kate, but, it is history in the making, and I might not be here to see another. And I do love all the pomp and ceremony. Like it or not, it brings in a lot of money into the country, and at least we have a history. I don't really think Charles will be a patch on his Mother, but it is what it is, hopefully they'll be a monarchy to hand on to William when he snuffs it..

 

In Between Days

Tuesday. 

A mixed bag of a day, both weather wise and otherwise. We had a short bit sweet catch up with Sue and Pete for lunch. We went to May Sum which for those of you not from Nottingham is a Chinese style buffet. It's all you can eat, but that also works in my favour as the plates are smaller, I don't feel pressure into having too much. I had a small starter plate of my favourites, one of a main course choice and a selection from the desert menu, which was enough for me and enough for the rest of the day. 

We left Sue and Pete who had to go fetch a poorly Abigail from school, and headed back to Cotgrave as I needed to pick up my prescription from the pharmacy. If you saw ny post afterwards you'll know how how that went. Needless to say if I could swap to another pharmacy I would, and would have if Sainsbury's still had one in store. But as that's the only one in Cotgrave I am stuck. Kev wouldn't even go in, he sat outside to wait for me the place winds him up so much. Its everytime I need more tablets. I could understand if the order was placed the day before, but it was five days ago for God's sake. 

Anyhow, we eventually managed to get a few to tide me over and went back to the bus stop. That was late because the driver didn't know how not to cut the engine once it stopped. So we limped home slowly, so much so, that the next bus actually overtook us. I'm beginning to think Kev is right, that Trent Barton are running the service down so they no longer have to cover this route. 

What with no buses in an evening and missing buses throughout the day it's becoming a joke. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

Busy day at work, I think most people weren't expecting us to be open on the Monday. So a lot of booze, barbecue stuff and treats were stocked up on.

It was a pleasant enough day all in all. Only snag was the bus ( 58) was ten minutes late which made it a but hairy getting into town and down to the market square in time for the Cotgrave. Squeaky bum time. We did it by the barest of margins. As that's the last one, it would mean a taxi home. I dread to think how much that would cost now... 

Monday.

A real bank holiday chill day, pj's and rest and relaxation was the order of the day. Just what was needed after the weekend at work. I started prepping my new dyalog. And finished April. It was also the last insert book for that cover, so time for a new one. I still need to finish decorating the next one. I need to stamp some canvas to add to the painted background... Just got to sort out a theme... Maybe tea-time...