The Bank Holiday was hot but our problems with the Land Rover meant that we were not able to enjoy it properly. It was a difficult week because we now have only one car so Jay must drive me to the station in the morning and pick me up in the evening. My car was due for an MOT so I booked it into a garage near to Canary Wharf and paid up-front - all rather inconvenient now Jay had to drive in for the test. Still, at least the cancelled Water Babies session had been rearranged and this time Harriet got to go under the water.
However, our spirits were rising towards the weekend. It was to be yet more good weather and Jay's sister Cathy and her two boys were coming to stay for the weekend. It would be my first time meeting them and their first time meeting Harriet.
Due to the lack of car I was planning to catch the bus home. However, I was too busy reading the paper to notice the bus properly and it only dawned on me that I had missed it when I looked at the number on the rear as it pulled away. Sheepishly I called home so I met Cathy for the first time as she turned in Stansted Abbots High Street, mounting the pavement as she went (she had lived in London and still drove like a Londoner she told me later, somewhat unnecessarily).
We had a perfect weekend. I joined the party late but it was in full swing and as temperatures rose we just became more relaxed and everyone, animal and human, was at ease. In addition to Cathy and the boys there was Chewie, the first dog I have ever known to make Billy look small. This horse crossed with Husky was a force of nature but very agreeable so once Scamper had informed him of the house rules (i.e. what she says goes) there was no trouble.
On Saturday we were treated to lunch at the Bull and in the evening I pulled out all my culinary skills and provided sausage and chips to keep us going through the drama of Britain's Got Talent.
I can't wait till they next come down, not least because I will have practised on the Playstation 3 and be able to give a better account of myself.
Next weekend we keep up the pace with our second visit to Blandford, this time to see Karen and Chris along with Sarah. We will be without the dogs as they are going to their favourite Essex Holiday Camp and it marks our last weekend without the new (older) Land Rover! The following week Jay will no doubt be driving around the congestion zone in his new 'bus' and I thankfully will not be lingering in bus shelters studying every word of the Metro.
Sunday 31 May 2009
An eventful week
Never, ever write something stupid like a blog with the title "An uneventful week" because that will be the end of your peace.
We had a perfect Bank Holiday weekend with a walk on Saturday to Hertford from Ware along the river and back only to be greeted with a Land Rover missing its coolant. This was the last straw since this car has been nothing but a liability and we resigned ourselves to finding a replacement. Every penny we spend on pointless things like this means that we have less money for expanding our family so whatever we get has to be cheap and reliable.
We tried a couple of large car supermarkets in North London because they would have a wide range but there was nothing inspiring. The best we could come up with was a Kia, which was on a very new plate (an '08) but still at the top of our price range. The next day we went to London in the baking heat to see an older one but discovered that the garage had to order it in from its storage site, which was closed so completely pointless. We were all extremely frustrated and irritable now.
I checked every website for every model of car desperately hoping that something would stand out. Of course on a whim I looked at Land Rovers too to see what we could reasonably expect for selling ours and looking enviously at what the same amount of money would buy if we had chosen a sensible Land Rover Defender instead of the chav-mobile Discovery.
At the bottom of the page were the cheaper vehicles and I jokingly suggested we look at one which was dirt cheap although it had done 200,000 miles. That garage was closed but we carried on looking and the idea of getting a Defender started to gain momentum. I found it difficult to accept the idea of buying such high mileage vehicles but clearly that was the norm and after all the joy of these Land Rovers is that you can fix them easily enough and if the engine needs replacing, well replace the engine.
I found one company who had several interesting looking vehicles and a helpful webpage that explained to novices like me what was important when looking at these. I gather that the chassis was the be all and end-all. More or less everything else could be mended or replaced cheaply enough and a Defender could give many hundreds of thousands of miles on a reliable frame.
The garage was in Somerset but the idea had reached fever pitch now. Unlike a Kia, Vauxhall, Ford or whatever the Defender looks great. The long wheel-base version has more than enough room for us plus any any guests we might have. The basic nature of the interior means that we would not worry about transporting anything or anyone, unlike the chav-mobile Disco.
So after 150 miles and 3 hours of driving we arrived at the garage to check them out. This was unlike any other car purchase I have ever made. There were five vehicles in our price range - one of which was essentially in bits and being put back together again, one had just had its interior done but was awaiting a new roof and the other three were more or less complete. To view one of them we had to literally walk over the other one since they were so tightly packed in the workshop.
The owner took lots of time with us to explain the different aspects of each truck (that is the correct term, this is not a car I discovered). He warned us not to worry about trivial little details like the interior or the colour or the choice of engine since all of this could be sorted out later (the one that was in bits currently had a V8 but they would change it to a diesel as desired). All the consumables in the engine including the timing belt would be replaced and the first service is free. He showed off some of their projects and their passion for getting the details right and they clearly had a lot of business from some very demanding customers. When we chose the truck he walked round it with us and started marking things that would be changed In fact we felt like we hadn't really seen our truck at all but just given our specifications and they would do the rest.
Buying something that has done 130,000 miles was not really on my agenda at the beginning but I feel confident that this truck will do at least that again whereas I doubt the discovery has got 130 miles left in her.
The day was even better because our 150 mile trip had taken us within 35 miles of Karen and Chris in Blandford so we met them in the pub (a short stagger from their front door). They showed us their absolutely stunning new place and provided us with a welcome and much needed meal. We'll be back down next week but it was a real boon to show Harriet off sooner than that.
The week had turned thank goodness.
We had a perfect Bank Holiday weekend with a walk on Saturday to Hertford from Ware along the river and back only to be greeted with a Land Rover missing its coolant. This was the last straw since this car has been nothing but a liability and we resigned ourselves to finding a replacement. Every penny we spend on pointless things like this means that we have less money for expanding our family so whatever we get has to be cheap and reliable.
We tried a couple of large car supermarkets in North London because they would have a wide range but there was nothing inspiring. The best we could come up with was a Kia, which was on a very new plate (an '08) but still at the top of our price range. The next day we went to London in the baking heat to see an older one but discovered that the garage had to order it in from its storage site, which was closed so completely pointless. We were all extremely frustrated and irritable now.
I checked every website for every model of car desperately hoping that something would stand out. Of course on a whim I looked at Land Rovers too to see what we could reasonably expect for selling ours and looking enviously at what the same amount of money would buy if we had chosen a sensible Land Rover Defender instead of the chav-mobile Discovery.
At the bottom of the page were the cheaper vehicles and I jokingly suggested we look at one which was dirt cheap although it had done 200,000 miles. That garage was closed but we carried on looking and the idea of getting a Defender started to gain momentum. I found it difficult to accept the idea of buying such high mileage vehicles but clearly that was the norm and after all the joy of these Land Rovers is that you can fix them easily enough and if the engine needs replacing, well replace the engine.
I found one company who had several interesting looking vehicles and a helpful webpage that explained to novices like me what was important when looking at these. I gather that the chassis was the be all and end-all. More or less everything else could be mended or replaced cheaply enough and a Defender could give many hundreds of thousands of miles on a reliable frame.
The garage was in Somerset but the idea had reached fever pitch now. Unlike a Kia, Vauxhall, Ford or whatever the Defender looks great. The long wheel-base version has more than enough room for us plus any any guests we might have. The basic nature of the interior means that we would not worry about transporting anything or anyone, unlike the chav-mobile Disco.
So after 150 miles and 3 hours of driving we arrived at the garage to check them out. This was unlike any other car purchase I have ever made. There were five vehicles in our price range - one of which was essentially in bits and being put back together again, one had just had its interior done but was awaiting a new roof and the other three were more or less complete. To view one of them we had to literally walk over the other one since they were so tightly packed in the workshop.
The owner took lots of time with us to explain the different aspects of each truck (that is the correct term, this is not a car I discovered). He warned us not to worry about trivial little details like the interior or the colour or the choice of engine since all of this could be sorted out later (the one that was in bits currently had a V8 but they would change it to a diesel as desired). All the consumables in the engine including the timing belt would be replaced and the first service is free. He showed off some of their projects and their passion for getting the details right and they clearly had a lot of business from some very demanding customers. When we chose the truck he walked round it with us and started marking things that would be changed In fact we felt like we hadn't really seen our truck at all but just given our specifications and they would do the rest.
Buying something that has done 130,000 miles was not really on my agenda at the beginning but I feel confident that this truck will do at least that again whereas I doubt the discovery has got 130 miles left in her.
The day was even better because our 150 mile trip had taken us within 35 miles of Karen and Chris in Blandford so we met them in the pub (a short stagger from their front door). They showed us their absolutely stunning new place and provided us with a welcome and much needed meal. We'll be back down next week but it was a real boon to show Harriet off sooner than that.
The week had turned thank goodness.
Saturday 16 May 2009
An uneventful week
It has been an uneventful but tiring week. It was the first without the dummy so we have had to provide much more entertainment and endure not a few tears but at least now when she smiles we can see her do it and we can hear her cooing.
The main event was supposed to be her first trip to Water Babies but unfortunately they had a problem with the boiler and the class was cancelled at the last moment (everyone was already changed and waiting by the poolside). The boiler had superheated the pool and it was just too hot for the babies.
This weekend will be quiet. Gill and Chris were originally stopping off en-route to Europe but they have postponed their trip. More than likely it will involve a trip to the pub for the lunch and Eurovision in the evening.
No drama this week then and that is just fine with us.
The main event was supposed to be her first trip to Water Babies but unfortunately they had a problem with the boiler and the class was cancelled at the last moment (everyone was already changed and waiting by the poolside). The boiler had superheated the pool and it was just too hot for the babies.
This weekend will be quiet. Gill and Chris were originally stopping off en-route to Europe but they have postponed their trip. More than likely it will involve a trip to the pub for the lunch and Eurovision in the evening.
No drama this week then and that is just fine with us.
Saturday 2 May 2009
Springtime for the Love-Masons
It seems too decadent to have a bank holiday when Easter has just so soon passed. Then there is another in May before the long slog through to August. That is the cruellest one as one contemplates the end of summer and the fact that there are no more holidays until Christmas. These facts are more important to me than ever because I have almost no other holiday left for the rest of the year (the little I do have I need to keep to ensure I don't have to return to work between Christmas and New Year).
That grumble aside it is difficult not to be optimistic and hopeful in the spring. The good weather and light mornings makes walking the dogs at 5am something of a pleasure. In the evening Jay and Harriet typically join us and there's no doubt that if you can put the blight that is our next door neighbour's house out of sight this is one of the most beautiful and peaceful corners of England. Even the dogs seem to be in better cheer and have not murdered any rabbits recently (Mango is another story of course but let's not give the elderly serial killer too hard a time since she is clearly enjoying herself).
Our diary is pretty full. This weekend my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and her friend have been in London to see a show (my brother-in-law has kicked off the series of significant birthdays that will take place this year and next). We met them in our new local, The Green Man on Berwick Street (just off Oxford Street) and then I decided to take a chance on visiting Little Venice. Thanks to reading the Metro I knew there was some special event on and indeed despite my misgivings it all turned out very well and we had a good walk along the canal and lunch in a nice little pub.
Next week Aunty Betty is down to see Harriet since she was away when we visited Scotland. Then Gill and Chris are stopping off en-route to Europe. We're away in Arto for the next precious Bank Holiday then it's off to Karen and Chris' new place. Then it's our anniversary. Then it's... well you get the picture.
Time flies and our little girl is developing and growing each day. Jay needs to manage the complex wardrobe rotation as she becomes too big for some things and not quite big enough for others. She is becoming increasingly aware of her hands and feet and her control of them. We are hopeful that soon she will start sucking her thumb in preference to the dummy. She's had her injections and will be going back for some more in four weeks. A month after that she will start trying her first solid based food. Terrifying.
In the glorious spring sunshine, amidst the beauty of the resurgent trees and plants, the contented sunbathing dogs and warm buzz of family and friends it is her piercing gaze and dazzling smile that tells us just how blessed we truly are.
That grumble aside it is difficult not to be optimistic and hopeful in the spring. The good weather and light mornings makes walking the dogs at 5am something of a pleasure. In the evening Jay and Harriet typically join us and there's no doubt that if you can put the blight that is our next door neighbour's house out of sight this is one of the most beautiful and peaceful corners of England. Even the dogs seem to be in better cheer and have not murdered any rabbits recently (Mango is another story of course but let's not give the elderly serial killer too hard a time since she is clearly enjoying herself).
Our diary is pretty full. This weekend my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and her friend have been in London to see a show (my brother-in-law has kicked off the series of significant birthdays that will take place this year and next). We met them in our new local, The Green Man on Berwick Street (just off Oxford Street) and then I decided to take a chance on visiting Little Venice. Thanks to reading the Metro I knew there was some special event on and indeed despite my misgivings it all turned out very well and we had a good walk along the canal and lunch in a nice little pub.
Next week Aunty Betty is down to see Harriet since she was away when we visited Scotland. Then Gill and Chris are stopping off en-route to Europe. We're away in Arto for the next precious Bank Holiday then it's off to Karen and Chris' new place. Then it's our anniversary. Then it's... well you get the picture.
Time flies and our little girl is developing and growing each day. Jay needs to manage the complex wardrobe rotation as she becomes too big for some things and not quite big enough for others. She is becoming increasingly aware of her hands and feet and her control of them. We are hopeful that soon she will start sucking her thumb in preference to the dummy. She's had her injections and will be going back for some more in four weeks. A month after that she will start trying her first solid based food. Terrifying.
In the glorious spring sunshine, amidst the beauty of the resurgent trees and plants, the contented sunbathing dogs and warm buzz of family and friends it is her piercing gaze and dazzling smile that tells us just how blessed we truly are.
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