So January was a bit shit.   Norovirus followed immediately by cold/flu virus which led to a chest infection.   I could have really done without it.

I'm not great with chest things because of my asthma, so when things kicked off I needed a bit of emergency medicine to get me back on track.  Thank you, NHS.  Even the prescriptions were free.

We' ( Read more... )

Honestly have been a whirlwind.  What with the birthday (dress was acquired, cake was beautiful, guests were plentiful and arrived from all corners of the UK (and Amsterdam) and the party itself was great...didn't get to bed till 3, wasn't asleep until 4) and the rest it's no wonder I've not had the chance to post.

After the weekend of the party ( Read more... )

I've been in Brum today, which was a nice thought for my Sunday night.   Not having to get on a train to start my working week was excellent.  Home to rustle up a dinner from a selection of random ingredients bought for other meals, and a quick spurt of cleaning and tidying.   The lovely Elaine has been on a cruise, but she's back tomorrow to sort ( Read more... )

Yet still here it is.   Fantastic early Easter weekend - Noel for 5 nights, an assortment of fun and frolics.   And a new cold.  Bah.

Things are shaping up this year.   We're now planning for the structural engineer to come round to do the design for the supports for the new structure and the internal changes we're planning.   He'll then inform the ( Read more... )

I spent Sunday and Monday at Hoar Cross Hall in the spa, a christmas present from my beloved.   Although it's a much bigger, busier place than our normal spa (which I disliked) it had a great range of spa 'things' - in particular the snooze room (heated water beds!) and some of the water treatments - ice and steam and cold cold plunges.

So I had ( Read more... )

That last post was written on the 13th.  Today I posted it.  It's the 16th.

On Valentine's day we celebrated our 15 years together in Solihull.   I came home from work and we got a takeaway curry, just as we had on the evening we moved in.

It was horribly romantic.   And we had both bought each other the same Valentine's card.   Again.

To Odeon Broadway Plaza for a noon showing of Three Bridges Outside Ebbing, Missouri.  I absolutely loved it.  I said to Matt afterwards that it was the best Coen Brothers film they never made (and he scoffed at me and said it wasn't like a Coen Brothers) but having thought about it a bit more, I think it's the evolution of Coen.  It's not just the ( Read more... )

To see the Knights of The Raj exhibition at BMAG - but got lost on the way there so saw the exhbition about the growth of the city first.  Despite living here nearly 15 years (and seeing many shows in the galleries) I'd never seen that exhibit.  Really interesting stuff - and one I'll take visitors to the city to.

Lunch in the Edwardian Tea room ( Read more... )

We had fun. We sat around the table for hours and chatted, and gossiped and drank. Here are Jamie and Lucy looking well.
( Read more... )

Japan was amazing.   No question.  I loved it and felt very at home there despite the language barrier ( Read more... )