We have a gas barbecue. We've had it for a few years now. It was a good price - end of season, shop display model, slight ding in the metalwork, etc. A liked the idea that we could get food on it within 10 minutes of making the decision to light it. And I admit, that was what attracted me to it so, against my desire to 'keep it real', I agreed we'd buy it.
The downsides are - the food doesn't taste the same as a good old-fashioned charcoal, light it at least 40 minutes before you want to cook on it one; I don't feel confident about connecting the gas bottle to the grill. This last one is quite important don't you think, especially in light of my recent run of 'accidents'. I have NO IDEA how it should be done and don't trust myself to do it right.
Today is a gorgeous day and, knowing the weather in this wonderful country of ours, I'd like to fire it up and get some serious carbon in my diet LOL!!! Think I might have to send D into the garage and see if we still have any of those dinky disposable ones. Them I am comfortable with; there's a nice Freudian thought, someone who is happy with open flame but not at all comfortable with a gas bottle. Might just go and make some potato wedges to go with it.
Cya later.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Sunday, 23 August 2009
We've won!
England have regained The Ashes! For some inexplicable reason the pitch at The Oval was not its usual flat self. It was dry and dusty, balls breaking through the surface on Day 1 - guaranteeing a result. When we were all out in the first innings for under 350 I thought 'hmm, could be a tight match'. Then when the Aussies were out for 160 in their first innings, that was it, that was when I knew it was on. Yes, some of the umpiring decisions were wrong but I think it evens out over the series.
So now I have to find something else to watch. Oh yes, the one day series starts soon. Poor A is beginning to feel like a cricket widower.
So now I have to find something else to watch. Oh yes, the one day series starts soon. Poor A is beginning to feel like a cricket widower.
Friday, 21 August 2009
Clever child - part 2
Yesterday was AS results day. D drove to college, me being on strict ankle rest (ha ha ha). He got the grades we expected, B in Chemistry and Geology, and C in Computing. Now he has to decide whether he wants to continue with Computing or start a new course. You see, he has a bit of an attitude problem with his teachers (a little knowledge is a dangerous thing type of attitude) and he doesn't really enjoy the theory side - programming is fine - so he'd like to find a different course. Unfortunately there isn't much choice - can you see him doing AS English (ROFLOL) - so he may have to swallow it and behave.
BTW, he has his driving test on 10th September. Clear the roads in the afternoon - you have been warned!
BTW, he has his driving test on 10th September. Clear the roads in the afternoon - you have been warned!
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
My unlucky streak continues
Today we went on a picnic to a local woodland with some friends. D drove us there and all was good. Then less than 100 feet away from the car park I decided to step on a piece of branch and roll my ankle over. I don't think it's anything serious - it certainly didn't stop us staying in the woods till 5pm. However, it now aches a bit and bruises seem to be appearing in various bits of my ankle/foot where it doesn't hurt!
Anyone have an isolated cocoon I can hire for a month?
Anyone have an isolated cocoon I can hire for a month?
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Back in circulation
Did you miss me? I've been on holiday, nowhere exotic, visiting family in and around Nottingham. And of course I continued to wreak mayhem for the early part of the week. On Monday I managed to splash myself with hot fat. Fortunately the dish had been out the oven for a minute so the fat was no longer sizzling, and most of it went down my clothes instead. There's just a tiny mark on the inside of my forearm. Equally fortunately MIL (where we were) had a copious supply of aloe vera so the blister that began to form soon went away. Almost immediately afterwards I tried to fall over the table leg and almost ended up head first in A's lap (bad visuals, huh?!). I decided that my issue was being stone cold sober so MIL plonked a glass of wine in front of me which seemed to help.
On Tuesday we went to Skegness for our annual jaunt. For me it was a day of NO mishaps, breakages, electrical issues, etc. We all had a blast and came home tired but happy, until that is Mum told us off (in fun) for not bringing home any candy floss or brandy snaps.
Wednesday was K's 16th birthday. We went to lunch at Mum's local golf club, and were joined by all K's grandparents and cousins. The cousins came back to Mum's for the afternoon and tea. All 4 children - cousins and my two - played outside nearly all afternoon, so it was quite quiet in the house. We also realised that D sounds exactly like my brother, even down to tone of voice and his way of pronouncing certain words. Scary, eh!!!!
On Thursday A helped Dad to fit a new internet wireless router. D, K and I went into town to buy sweets - there's an old fashioned sweet shop - and call in at Tesco to pick up some ingredients for tea on Friday. D drove home via the back country roads, and handled himself very well. When we got back Mum's washing machine packed up. It looked like my jinx was back by proxy. She blamed A, as it stopped soon after the router was switched on. That afternoon she and Dad bought a new one. Then K and I went for a manicure and full-body hot stone massage respectively. Very nice. That evening A and I went to the pub with A's Dad for a few beers. I was deemed safe to drive and therefore designated taxi for the evening.
On Friday we went into Nottingham, and had lunch at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. A took K ice skating whilst D and I went bowling. K loved it and is now insistent that Daddy take her skating every week. Sounds like some serious daddy/daughter bonding time.
We came home on Saturday, followed a few hours later by my brother and niece. Niece had a special riding session in the New Forest, a present for her birthday from some friends.
Since then, I've sorted out (finally) a fundraiser - 28th August 10.30am - 8.30pm if you're local enough - for a local cancer support group that do a great job, taken delivery of next season's stationery and some of the new product for my job. Still working on where to put it all. I've also received all my paperwork from the tax office, so have to get that sorted out this week.
This week is just as crazy. I shall be delegating the driving to D, as he has his driving test on 10th September. He's more than up for it. Good job my nerves are. ;-)
On Tuesday we went to Skegness for our annual jaunt. For me it was a day of NO mishaps, breakages, electrical issues, etc. We all had a blast and came home tired but happy, until that is Mum told us off (in fun) for not bringing home any candy floss or brandy snaps.
Wednesday was K's 16th birthday. We went to lunch at Mum's local golf club, and were joined by all K's grandparents and cousins. The cousins came back to Mum's for the afternoon and tea. All 4 children - cousins and my two - played outside nearly all afternoon, so it was quite quiet in the house. We also realised that D sounds exactly like my brother, even down to tone of voice and his way of pronouncing certain words. Scary, eh!!!!
On Thursday A helped Dad to fit a new internet wireless router. D, K and I went into town to buy sweets - there's an old fashioned sweet shop - and call in at Tesco to pick up some ingredients for tea on Friday. D drove home via the back country roads, and handled himself very well. When we got back Mum's washing machine packed up. It looked like my jinx was back by proxy. She blamed A, as it stopped soon after the router was switched on. That afternoon she and Dad bought a new one. Then K and I went for a manicure and full-body hot stone massage respectively. Very nice. That evening A and I went to the pub with A's Dad for a few beers. I was deemed safe to drive and therefore designated taxi for the evening.
On Friday we went into Nottingham, and had lunch at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. A took K ice skating whilst D and I went bowling. K loved it and is now insistent that Daddy take her skating every week. Sounds like some serious daddy/daughter bonding time.
We came home on Saturday, followed a few hours later by my brother and niece. Niece had a special riding session in the New Forest, a present for her birthday from some friends.
Since then, I've sorted out (finally) a fundraiser - 28th August 10.30am - 8.30pm if you're local enough - for a local cancer support group that do a great job, taken delivery of next season's stationery and some of the new product for my job. Still working on where to put it all. I've also received all my paperwork from the tax office, so have to get that sorted out this week.
This week is just as crazy. I shall be delegating the driving to D, as he has his driving test on 10th September. He's more than up for it. Good job my nerves are. ;-)
Saturday, 8 August 2009
You know you're running your own business when....
..... you're packing for your holiday and the first thing you do is make sure you have packed all your business paperwork needs for the week.
I mean, I used to laugh cynically at all those news reports of big (or those who think they are big) business men lying round the pool with their BlackBerry or i-phone permanently on, keeping in contact with the office back home. And yet, within 3 months of launching myself on an unsuspecting public I am doing a less extravagant version of the same thing.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This week I have launched a website - sorry the rules state I may NOT link to it from my blog, nor may I advertise it in the public domain (talk about limiting your ability to make contacts) - sorted through my customer contacts and entered them on to a database, used said database to send business e-mails, will be using said database to print address labels off for those customers whose e-mail addresses I don't have, started planning a fundraiser for a local charity (more info later), helped open a bank account for another group (for whom I am Treasurer), laid out the Aims of said group on paper, and now just have to type up the Rules for a sub-group of this group. All this over and above the usual mundanity of laundry, cleaning, tidying, shopping, etc.
If you really want my business website address, contact me by e-mail. G'wan, you know you want to.
I mean, I used to laugh cynically at all those news reports of big (or those who think they are big) business men lying round the pool with their BlackBerry or i-phone permanently on, keeping in contact with the office back home. And yet, within 3 months of launching myself on an unsuspecting public I am doing a less extravagant version of the same thing.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This week I have launched a website - sorry the rules state I may NOT link to it from my blog, nor may I advertise it in the public domain (talk about limiting your ability to make contacts) - sorted through my customer contacts and entered them on to a database, used said database to send business e-mails, will be using said database to print address labels off for those customers whose e-mail addresses I don't have, started planning a fundraiser for a local charity (more info later), helped open a bank account for another group (for whom I am Treasurer), laid out the Aims of said group on paper, and now just have to type up the Rules for a sub-group of this group. All this over and above the usual mundanity of laundry, cleaning, tidying, shopping, etc.
If you really want my business website address, contact me by e-mail. G'wan, you know you want to.
Friday, 7 August 2009
One of those weeks!
This has been an interesting week, techonology-wise. On Wednesday I finally plucked up the courage to get myself a Pampered Chef website. I'm not allowed to post a link to it on here but if you want it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you (strange rule I know, but.....). I then spent 3 hours playing with the settings, viewing the finished article to make sure everything was fine - most of the work is done for you, it's just the personalisation bit that you need to sort out. Then, suddenly, the website wouldn't come up any more. I assumed it was a case of waiting for final approval from on high, so I started playing with the content aimed only at us consultants.
Yesterday there was still no sign of a 'live' site so I started adding my customer information into the site's database, along with notes on what they'd bought and what they'd like if it ever came up on special offer. Then, suddenly, that bit broke - crashed completely. Cue one frantic phone call to the helpdesk. The nice man unblocked whatever I'd broke and I had a live site and a working database. :-))))))
Today I picked up the phone to call a friend. Bet you can guess what happened? Yep, the phone threw a hissy fit and refused to work. Soon got it sorted out but A has banned me from touching the new oven.
That's 3 technological hiccups. Ya think I've had my allocation?
Yesterday there was still no sign of a 'live' site so I started adding my customer information into the site's database, along with notes on what they'd bought and what they'd like if it ever came up on special offer. Then, suddenly, that bit broke - crashed completely. Cue one frantic phone call to the helpdesk. The nice man unblocked whatever I'd broke and I had a live site and a working database. :-))))))
Today I picked up the phone to call a friend. Bet you can guess what happened? Yep, the phone threw a hissy fit and refused to work. Soon got it sorted out but A has banned me from touching the new oven.
That's 3 technological hiccups. Ya think I've had my allocation?
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