This time last year.....

Well I had a fabulous trip to England and spent some lovely time with friends and family.  I am now in contact with two Aunties, two cousins and my best friend from school.  I came back to a lovely welcome from Smallest and Huffle with a welcome sign.  Small was at a football game and when I arrived there he half waved at me.  I marched onto the field and made him hug me (they were only warming up).  Now I have been back a whole week and I’m full of cold and barking like a growling dog!

His team came third

We are now all back in our normal routine and my trip is just a lovely memory.   I started my new Pottery class course which went well.  I got straight back on the wheel and made three pots, bigger and higher than before.  One I made into a jug, just because I could.

Huffle spent three days in the office, one of them in Toronto, just the day after the horrific mowing down of pedestrians.  Scary!  Friday was a PA day and the boys and I went to work and moved pallets, picked up rubbish from the ditch and cleared a load of cut down plants.  We collected a lot of things for the new Bug House they are going to build in the Summer.  They are calling it Bugginham
Palace.

 

Today we all drove to the train station and went to Toronto to watch The Blue Jays play baseball against the Texas Rangers.  We got there early so I didn’t have to walk too fast.  So wheezy and weary at the moment.  Smallest played on the games and won two snap bracelets.  Huffle and I signed ourselves up to be designated drivers which enters us into a chance of winning a prize plus we

get a big free soft drink.  I am on a diet so I gave mine to Smallest who loves fizzy drinks but isn’t allowed them very often.  Huffle spilled his down his trousers!

The blue Jays won and had three home runs.  It was a good entertaining game and we weren’t bothered by any silly or drunken people.

Afterwards we walked to a place we haven’t eaten in before and all had pasta.  It was nice.

As we were all tired, we came home.  The boys played football and basdminton in the garden and Huffle and I sat and relaxed.

Nice day and a daffodil came out which is a bonus but weirdly on exactly the same day as it did last year.  Plus we went to the Blue Jays this time exactly last year too.  Weirdly peculiar!

FRIDAY : THORPE - BRADGATE - LRI - THORPE

A nice relaxing breakfast with the owners of the B&B today (G&G).

Moo and AuntPear arrived to take us to Bradgate this morning.  It was another glorious day with temperatures touching 22* but it felt much hotter.  AuntPear drove us and we walked from the car park to the new memorial Garden where I decided I would like a memorial leaf, but only somewhere where no one else’s leaf was, then decided I didn’t want one when everyone decided they might join me.  Honestly, I still can’t get a bit of peace and quiet, even when I’m a leaf!!!!

The deer were out lazing in the sunshine.  There were also a lot of people about.  We walked the path and I climbed a small hill and we meandered along nicely, chatting and laughing.

We visited the memorial garden, played Pooh Sticks on PoohBidge (I think I won) and had a quick tea in the cafe.

Unfortunately I had to cut our walk short as I had a hospital visit to do but it was a good walk and I saw everything I wanted to see (it made me feel quite sad as I love it there and it is one of the places I often think about).

AuntPear drove us past the reservoir and I jumped out of the car to take photos even though the car behind was not happy we were slowing and stopping!  She dropped me at FossePark taking Moo back to Grandmas and Grandad then drove me to the hospital.

MrsElderflowrMeadow was looking much brighter and had just done a short walk to the window (aided). The dreaded tube had gone and she was drinking and nibbling a piece of dry toast.  I only had an hour but we made the most of it.  I have my whole body crossed that she can overcome this hurdle of not eating so she can get more strength and start moving about more.  She has done one week and has done so well.  Another two to go in Hospital and another three weeks of rest at home.  It was very tough and sad to say goodbye.

Grandad drove me home and showed me some more sights.  I tried to check in for my flight tomorrow but the stupid site said I had tried too many times (with the correct references I might say) and would have to try in 24 hours. Doh,  considering I will be on a plane in 24 hous BA, that might be too late!!!!!!  This annoyed me on top of feeling sad plus various emails from the Football Club which were frustrating too!!!!!!

I left Moo and Grandma preparing the ‘Cards Feast’ for later and met AuntyMiaow, UncleTuc, LittleT and Hen at the local Thorpe pub for a swift half.  AuntyMiaow walked me back.  It was very sad to say goodbye.  By the time I got back I was properly bawling and had to call Huffle.  He told me it was time to come home now.

Moo helped me pack my big case with all the chocolate and gifts I have been given or bought.  It weighed just under what it should thank goodness.  I have had to leave a few toiletries but I decided on chocolate over smellies!!

This evening AuntPear, UncleGrump, CousinE, CousinD, HB and GeorgiePorgie came round and we ate the feast and played cards.  It was a lot of fun and a very good night.

Saying goodbye to Moo, HB and AuntPear wasn’t easy either.    Oh dear, why is this so hard?

THURSDAY : KIBWORTH - THORPE - THURLASTON - THORPE

After breakfast, Yahoo and I took Peb out for a walk again across the fields.  We ventured past the sheep and the whole field came to see me at the gate.  So funny.  One of the fields was one we shouldn’t have crossed and the farmer chased us with his huge sprayer.  He probably didn’t chase us but he was close by and it made us walk very quickly.

I lurrrvve this photo soooo much

Yahoo had her ironing job to do and I walked to the Co-op and bought far too much chocolate to take home.  Once back I packed my bags and sat and chatted to Yahoo while she ironed.  Later,  Yahoo drove me back to Grandmas and I had lunch and Grandad took Grandma and I to the Leicester City Murals.  They were fantastic.  So clever.  I took many photos, plus a video, plus silly shots.

Grandma wanted to go somewhere nice with water so Grandad took us for a drink at TheMillOnTheSoar.  It was very busy and full of ‘interesting people’.  Not at all the ‘middle clarss ’ public I have been mixing with the larst couple of days!!!!

We came back briefly and got ready to go out for our evening.  Grandad took us to THURLASTON for a very nice dinner with UncleGrump and CousinE.  It was fabulous and the chef came and spoke to us several times.   Mainly to tell Grandma about the OliveDistbecause she kept forgetting to listen.

Nice day and evening.

WEDNESDAY : KIBWORTH - HARBOROUGH - KIBWORTH

I slept really well and had a lovely breakfast of poached eggs (yahoo taught me to make a perfect poached egg years ago so it seemed the perfect breakfast for us).

We donned our walking boots and took her gorgeous lovely dog for a walk across the quintessentially English countryside.  The weather was gorgeous.

Later we went and visited FlowerLady who has a lovely local business and we sat and chatted and
tried some healthy chocolate.

MarketHarborough was our next call and Yahoo drove us there.  We popped in a few shops, bought some placemats, got snotty with a lady who wanted to give us two 5p carrier bags when we only needed one, and picked up a picnic which we ate by the river.   Awwww just like old times.  I always
brought the kids here to eat their picnics when they were little.

I can’t believe how hot it was.  If I had my shorts with me, they would have been worn.  Such a beautiful day.

We can back to Yahoos and sat in the garden relaxing and then we had a long jump on the trampoline
which made us laugh a lot.  We always laugh a lot anyway.


In the evening we dolled ourselves up and walked to th local Italian Restaurant and had a drink outside in the sunshine whilst waiting for MrsChappo, LizzieDotDot and nJill.  We had a lovely night, I was the only one properly drinking but the food was delicious and the company fabulous.

Lots of cuddles and we all left.  Yahoo and I walked home.  Good night.