On a cold and frosty morning.....

     .....thought I'd post a few from last weeks cruise...

                        Naples.

                Messini.

            Arriving in Tunis.

             Simply pretty!

       Just spotted the dog...... thieved my coffee, little sod..... spilt it all over the carpet and is now licking it up.....watching him closely........he's rolled on the wet patch......then dried HIS wet spots on NEV'S blanket.
He had his hair cut the other day and has being on super mode ever since, he has taken to going to bed at about 8 o'clock every night, but is hyper active all day long.  He is hating the cold garden, but bursting to go for his walk every afternoon.

      Darsh has already gone off on his next holiday, he flew to Malaysia on Sunday for a couple of weeks.
      Charlotte took us to view an old warehouse the other night, it has been converted into flats in the city centre, very nice, dark and huge, loft living at its best.  A funny part of town to live in, not particularly safe to walk in after dark at present.  It will improve in time, but wouldn't be a good idea to wander around there just yet.
     There is a huge amount of building work going on around here.  On Sunday I went to a fair in Sutton town hall, it has been sold for developing as flats and apartments.  They are going to be done in a stately home fashion, more to my taste than the industrial trend, and in an area that needs new life breathing into it.  I shall keep my eye on that development.
      It is still very cold and frosty here but it looks as though this is about as good as it will get today, so I think I will get my coffee-coated dog on his lead and go for our walk.  Then I am going to get my paint out and decorate an old drawer unit a certain daughter found in a bin ages ago.  If it looks as horrid painted as it does unpainted.....it and I will go to the tip!

Getting back to normal.....

       ......Sally came over to be with me last week, and for that I will forever be grateful. 

 All the girls were here too at some point over that weekend, and I now I have been given the all clear.

So after a week of taking things easy,  we are concentrating on getting back on track and getting ready for our cruise on Saturday.  

     Charlotte and I went painting again, so we have got two more pretty planks that we don't quite know what to do with.  The class was good fun, decoupage, stencilling, craqueleur and guilding.

Watch out hall mirror, we are going to get you just as soon as we get back from holiday. 

        We have had slow easy days out too, an amble round Brownhills along the canal, a caravan picnic in Hednesford, and a walk on Cannock Chase, which is rapidly becoming a favourite afternoon out.....

     ......the toadstools are so numerous this year, I don't think I have ever seen so many....

     We got back to the car just as it started to rain, Joe was pleased,  he so hates wet fur, and insists on being carried if he starts to get wet!

     There was a couple of nice properties for sale nearby, so when we got home out came "Zoopla".
How much?.....we will stay where we are then.

Happy Halloween....

      .....beetroot blood for breakfast....

We put the clocks back last night.......

       .....and Joe just doesn't get it....

         ......why is my dinner soooo late today?

Who said.....

     .....they wouldn't ripen in the greenhouse....

      .......well they did......which is more than the ones being cosseted in the warmth, in a paper bag, snuggling up to a banana....

     ......they didn't!

      I've been on the lookout for some tiny succulents to go in my little cups (preferably ones that didn't cost the earth).  Found one yesterday so I'm off back soon for another couple.

   

      Also on the kitchen windowsill.....

        ......a little present from Charlotte.  One she made at the festival of thrift on my birthday weekend.

      This weekend we are both off to our Annie Sloan painting session, and despite dad and Nev's enthusiasm for another painted plank.....I am looking forward to it, so there.

"Puzzled"

       We had been for a morning stroll in the park, and as usual, Joe wanted his treat when we got home.
  He had eaten them all, but spent ages in the garden, sniffing round intently......

      ......he was sure there was another sweetie around somewhere near...
 

         .......he could smell it but couldn't find it....

       He kept staring across at me, pretty sure I was tricking him some how, but he couldn't work out how.
    The missing sweetie was stuck in the hair on the top of his head and after a good 10 minutes it fell off, I was stood watching him and laughing.

However, revenge is sweet, I later found him curled up on my bed

 

          Wet, muddy and totally content, I must remember to keep my bedroom door shut....

     The sunset on Sunday evening was totally wonderful, I expected some good gardening weather, but it has rained heavily and more or less constantly all of this week (so far)

     I just wish that street light and pylon wasn't there in the snap!

     A bit of grafitti has appeared in town, people are wondering if it is a bit of Banksy...

Oohhh, look Sara.....

     .......a whole kilogram....

     .....of oily slurpy tastiness found in Costco yesterday for a fraction of the price of of the little jars.

       I must must must make sure it lasts longer than a week this time!

       I will have to ration myself strictly and only eat some of it off the end of a teaspoon.

Guess what I had for breakfast.....and lunch....the rationing doesn't look too promising at the moment.

Afternoon tea....

     .....and a swim.
     Darsh found us a good deal on his internet deals (he should do...he spends enough time reading them)  So off we went for a lazy afternoon.

           First we spent a couple of hours in the pool and steam room area.

     Then we went over to the hotel for our tea.

      It really looks like I need an afternoon tea.  But it was a shame to waste it all, so we didn't.

     One little bit did go into my camera bagged, all wrapped up in paper napkin.....

     Charlotte's tea?

    Never has a small dog been so excited to see a doggy bag come through the front door...

and in usual blog style struggles I still can't get my videos to download....

     JOOOOHHHHNNNN.....help.

We didn't need a doggy bag today...

         Sat in the sun, waiting for our dinner to arrive. 

                      (This is the end of September, and in England too.)

       Some were more patient than others.

     He could see the next tables chips, he could smell the next tables chips, he was not allowed to go and eat the next tables chips.

  Patience is not his greatest asset.

     Sharing is far more up his street. 

 He was so exited when the waitress came our way with two huge plates of food.

     I am not talking about the dog here.

After eating we went for a walk, and only a walk, along the exercise track through a new, and very attractive housing estate in Lichfield.  

       No cars, they are only allowed at the back of the houses.  

Loads of grass, trees, tracks, play areas and space, what a wonderful place to bring up children.

     Back home and looking at the property prices....some of those beautiful houses were up to £600,000!

However, I'm sure we will go back again for another stroll and to shop in that beautiful Waitrose we found there.

The festival of thrift.....

     .....my birthday treat.

We all squashed in to the car and travelled all the way up to Darlington, just to see.....

    .....the biggest pig ever....

 

     .....from all angles.... 

      .....peruse the many interesting stalls.....just so many ideas and pretty things...

      Natter to the local policeman.....about bikes of all things.....it was lovely to hear all the Northern accents again......

      ......make a turban from an old shirt.....and a hair band as modelled by Nev....

         Trying on.....

      Giggling at the many entainers......and trying to keep out of the way of her and her bike...

     .......acquiring far too many items in the swap shop stalls 

(Sara Singh you have a lot to answer for)

      .......staring in amazement at some of the performers on stage.....

        Blurry, but scary too by Pete's reckoning.....

      And scoffing a whole Nutella crepe when you think no-one is watching......

         .....spotted you through my zoom lens Selina.   The food was yummy even if queues were huge....oh that lemon cake.....nom  nom nom.

        ........and even getting dressed up as a tap of all things.

Yes the festival of thrift really was good fun.