Monday, February 28, 2005
Thanks For Linking
A big thank you to Woman Stuff, All About Beauty, Glacier Skiing at Chatter Creek, Ski Photography by John Dougall and Cat Skiing Articles for linking to us
Painting Weekend
We had a much more productive weekend than the last one, on Saturday we got most of the glossing done in the bathroom, stairs and kitchen then on Sunday we got two coats of emulsion on the walls and ceiling in the bathroom. There is just a little more painting to do on the stairs and then we should be almost ready. We've ordered new carpet for the bathroom and stairs, which includes fitting which I must say, I'm very happy about!
With snow still on the ground over the higher routes, we couldn't resist a trip over to Holme Moss on Sunday, the roads we're clear although some of the lay-by's were just big piles of snow with a blue 'P' sticking out ..lol.. There were hundreds of people up there with sledges and even a few trying to paraglide in little or no wind, it's usually blowing a gale up there!
The hunt is picking up now for a house to move to, we did visit one the estate agent arranged for us on Sunday but despite us telling them we were looking for semidetached, bay windows, a decent sized garden and a garage, the house they sent us to had none of those. Debbie took matters into her own hands with a drive round the areas we liked the look of and found we several places which we'll be looking into today.
We've still got to sell this place first though, hopefully it will only be on the market for a couple of weeks like other houses that have recently been sold round our area.
Paul
With snow still on the ground over the higher routes, we couldn't resist a trip over to Holme Moss on Sunday, the roads we're clear although some of the lay-by's were just big piles of snow with a blue 'P' sticking out ..lol.. There were hundreds of people up there with sledges and even a few trying to paraglide in little or no wind, it's usually blowing a gale up there!
The hunt is picking up now for a house to move to, we did visit one the estate agent arranged for us on Sunday but despite us telling them we were looking for semidetached, bay windows, a decent sized garden and a garage, the house they sent us to had none of those. Debbie took matters into her own hands with a drive round the areas we liked the look of and found we several places which we'll be looking into today.
We've still got to sell this place first though, hopefully it will only be on the market for a couple of weeks like other houses that have recently been sold round our area.
Paul
Friday, February 25, 2005
Funny Shaped Sheep
Passing the fields yesterday morning, I thought I could see the sheep that have been missing for the last few weeks but they turned out to be Canada Geese ..lol..
Unsettling Snow
Yesterday started well enough here with 4-5 inches of snow on the ground and still falling as we made our way into work. Astonishingly though, despite the temperature hovering just above zero for most of the day, the snow that continued to fall until late afternoon didn't even settle on any cars or cover any tracks made in the early morning. If all the snow that fell had stayed, we would have been under at least a foot of snow by the end of the day and indeed some higher routes around here had well over a foot of snow by tea time yesterday.
We were going to take the dogs out last night for a run in the field but with the snow getting all slushy and snow turning to rain, we gave it a miss and instead went to Meadowhall to get our Red Noses ready for the big day on Friday 11 March. The car Hair Fresheners are like gold dust again this year, they just don't seem to be sending enough of these out so I'm going to order those on-line instead.
This morning the fields around us are still looking lovely and white, the roads are clear with just frozen slush on the pavements. We've got loads to do on the house this weekend but hopefully we'll find time to take an hour or so out and pop up to Holme Moss where there will still be loads of snow.
Paul
We were going to take the dogs out last night for a run in the field but with the snow getting all slushy and snow turning to rain, we gave it a miss and instead went to Meadowhall to get our Red Noses ready for the big day on Friday 11 March. The car Hair Fresheners are like gold dust again this year, they just don't seem to be sending enough of these out so I'm going to order those on-line instead.
This morning the fields around us are still looking lovely and white, the roads are clear with just frozen slush on the pavements. We've got loads to do on the house this weekend but hopefully we'll find time to take an hour or so out and pop up to Holme Moss where there will still be loads of snow.
Paul
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Fields Of White
We actually got some more work done on the house last night, filling in the holes in the bathroom walls where we had pulled out screw plugs and finished off sealing the bath. We had a little more snow during the evening and a little more overnight.
This morning, it's been snowing almost non stop since we got up at 6am :-) The main roads are clear but the side roads are a little bit tricky today and the countryside around us look beautiful :-) We're hoping there is still some snow around when we get home tonight so Lollypop can have his first encounter with proper snow!
Debbie has got to work safely and should be ok for the return journey as the main road from Sheffield will be gritted well. The only problem would be if we had really heavy snow and traffic becomes slow moving or stationary, then the gritters can't get through and the fun and games start.
Paul
This morning, it's been snowing almost non stop since we got up at 6am :-) The main roads are clear but the side roads are a little bit tricky today and the countryside around us look beautiful :-) We're hoping there is still some snow around when we get home tonight so Lollypop can have his first encounter with proper snow!
Debbie has got to work safely and should be ok for the return journey as the main road from Sheffield will be gritted well. The only problem would be if we had really heavy snow and traffic becomes slow moving or stationary, then the gritters can't get through and the fun and games start.
Paul
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
It's Snowing!
We got one or two snow showers through the day yesterday but nothing really settled, then during the evening we got a few more heavier showers which did start to settle on the roads.
This morning we finally woke to a covering of snow outside and the snow was still falling. It's still falling lightly now but I don't think it's exactly going to lead to traffic chaos today although Debbie has just called to say it's taken her twice as long to get to work, it must just be the sight of snow falling making everyone panic.
Paul
This morning we finally woke to a covering of snow outside and the snow was still falling. It's still falling lightly now but I don't think it's exactly going to lead to traffic chaos today although Debbie has just called to say it's taken her twice as long to get to work, it must just be the sight of snow falling making everyone panic.
Paul
Monday, February 21, 2005
Waste Of A Weekend
It's been one of those weekends where we've been busy but not really done a great deal. On Saturday we met Debbie's sister at a horse auction which took up most of the day and we didn't enjoy it at all. Debbie ended up stumbling on the lethal car park which sort of summed up the whole experience.
Later on we took Lollypop and Lucy out for a walk on the field and with a few flakes of snow in the air, things we're starting to look promising. We only stayed out for a short while with it being a little bit cold for Lolly but he still did well, trotting along behind us all the way round the field.
On Sunday morning we did manage to get a few jobs done around the house and in the afternoon we we're on stand-by for the snow. We waited and waited and waited. After dark we did get a very short snow shower followed by another a couple of hours later, very disappointing to say the least.
All in all, a bit of a waste of a weekend so we'll be working on the house during the evenings this week or we're never going to get this place on the market.
Paul
Later on we took Lollypop and Lucy out for a walk on the field and with a few flakes of snow in the air, things we're starting to look promising. We only stayed out for a short while with it being a little bit cold for Lolly but he still did well, trotting along behind us all the way round the field.
On Sunday morning we did manage to get a few jobs done around the house and in the afternoon we we're on stand-by for the snow. We waited and waited and waited. After dark we did get a very short snow shower followed by another a couple of hours later, very disappointing to say the least.
All in all, a bit of a waste of a weekend so we'll be working on the house during the evenings this week or we're never going to get this place on the market.
Paul
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Kit Kat Day
Have a break, have a kit kat, that’s what I’m doing today after Debbie suggested giving the muscles a rest before cracking on with the bathroom again tomorrow.
Last night we gave Dad a lift over to my Brother’s to take his birthday pressies. It’s the longest Lollypop has been left and we were delighted to see both Lolly and Lucy safe and sound when we got home. We kept the cats separate in another room which will the norm now until Lolly gets a little bigger.
Lucy’s been crashed out on the sofa all morning but Lolly is full of beans and is wanting to play, she doesn’t look impressed at the little bundle of fun jumping all over her. Thankfully, Lucy is so laid back, she just takes all the harassment with a pinch of salt and just goes back to sleep.
Over the years we’ve tried to introduce a second dog but they’ve always been that little bit older and have ended up with fighting over toys and food with Lucy loosing out being so timid, so we’ve been overjoyed that sharing has not been a problem with Lolly.
If we give them chew stick each they both still want the same one but Lucy will take the first bite, then Lolly will pinch it and take a bit and Lucy has another go and so on but neither has ever growled or snapped which was always a problem before.
I had them with me in the bathroom the other day while I was getting on with the stripping and had to laugh when I saw this old flannel being dragged one way and then the other in a highly comical tug o war contest!
Paul
Last night we gave Dad a lift over to my Brother’s to take his birthday pressies. It’s the longest Lollypop has been left and we were delighted to see both Lolly and Lucy safe and sound when we got home. We kept the cats separate in another room which will the norm now until Lolly gets a little bigger.
Lucy’s been crashed out on the sofa all morning but Lolly is full of beans and is wanting to play, she doesn’t look impressed at the little bundle of fun jumping all over her. Thankfully, Lucy is so laid back, she just takes all the harassment with a pinch of salt and just goes back to sleep.
Over the years we’ve tried to introduce a second dog but they’ve always been that little bit older and have ended up with fighting over toys and food with Lucy loosing out being so timid, so we’ve been overjoyed that sharing has not been a problem with Lolly.
If we give them chew stick each they both still want the same one but Lucy will take the first bite, then Lolly will pinch it and take a bit and Lucy has another go and so on but neither has ever growled or snapped which was always a problem before.
I had them with me in the bathroom the other day while I was getting on with the stripping and had to laugh when I saw this old flannel being dragged one way and then the other in a highly comical tug o war contest!
Paul
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Going For Gold
Debbie’s just gone off to work and now the bathroom beckons once again, hopefully I’ll get the rest of that stubborn wallpaper off today.
One of our friends came over last night and Lollypop slept the whole time ..lol.. I think he must have been shattered after all that running about yesterday. He’s wide awake this morning though and both he and Lucy are going for gold.
Lolly’s been suffering a little from kennel cough so we’ve been giving him tixylix which seems to be doing he trick, he’s much better today and he’s not coughing after he’s been running about.
Time to get some breakfast, I hope these two tire themselves out soon ..lol..
Paul
One of our friends came over last night and Lollypop slept the whole time ..lol.. I think he must have been shattered after all that running about yesterday. He’s wide awake this morning though and both he and Lucy are going for gold.
Lolly’s been suffering a little from kennel cough so we’ve been giving him tixylix which seems to be doing he trick, he’s much better today and he’s not coughing after he’s been running about.
Time to get some breakfast, I hope these two tire themselves out soon ..lol..
Paul
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Stripping Off
Yesterday was quite manic, looking after Lollypop and getting the kitchen finished off with a couple of trips to the supermarket thrown in for good measure. Debbie’s still trying to shake off flu so rather than going out for a meal or anything for valentines, we stayed in last night and sampled a couple of bottles of wine.
Today I’m stripping the wallpaper in the bathroom and it’s proving to be much harder than I thought. We’ve got a steamer but because the walls have been skimmed it tends to fetch off the plaster as well so I’m just using a wet sponge and a blade. I’ve just about got one wall done with two more still to go so I might still be on with it tomorrow.
Lucy and Lollypop are getting on famously, at the moment they’re curled up on the sofa together, tired out after helping me in the bathroom this morning. We’ll be able to take them out for a walk next weekend and I’m dreading letting Lolly off the lead and having to shout ‘Lollypop’ across the field ..lol..
Paul
Today I’m stripping the wallpaper in the bathroom and it’s proving to be much harder than I thought. We’ve got a steamer but because the walls have been skimmed it tends to fetch off the plaster as well so I’m just using a wet sponge and a blade. I’ve just about got one wall done with two more still to go so I might still be on with it tomorrow.
Lucy and Lollypop are getting on famously, at the moment they’re curled up on the sofa together, tired out after helping me in the bathroom this morning. We’ll be able to take them out for a walk next weekend and I’m dreading letting Lolly off the lead and having to shout ‘Lollypop’ across the field ..lol..
Paul
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Introducing Lollypop!
This post vanished after I posted today, I remember blogger was being a bit fruity on Sunday when originally posting. I've managed to get the picture back and I'll try to remeber what I put ..lol..
This Lollypop, our new puppy! He's a Border cross terrier and he's adorable :-) Lucy and Lolly are getting on realy well together as he settles in to his new environment. We've bee paitently waiting to pick him for three weeks and yesterday the day finaly arrived.
After the events of last week this nearly didn't happen but after discussing this all week, we decided to go ahead and we're glad we did!
Paul
Friday, February 11, 2005
That Friday Feeling
Debbie's been struck down with flu over the last few days and it's really knocked her for six this time around, usually she just get's on with it, while when I get a sniffle I let the world know I think I'm dying ..lol..
We'll hopefully have some exiting news tomorrow after three weeks of patiently waiting, I can't say anything just yet as just like snow, if I mention it before hand, it all tends to goes pear shaped.
Anyway, thank crunchie it's Friday, we're definitely ready for a break and a stiff drink or three over the weekend :-)
Here's something that's doing the rounds here at the moment, someone who's definitely getting into the party spirit! Click here for a good laugh!
Paul
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Big Hair & Beyond
How about some light relief, Comic Relief!
We're on the countdown to Comic Refief's 10th biannual Red Nose Day. I can't believe it's been 18 years since the first red nose day back in 1988 when the likes of Lenny Henry, Griff Rhys Jones and Jonathan Ross had us in stiches for a whole evening and raised 15 million for those in desperate need all over the world. The last event in March 2003 has to date generated 59 million and hopefully this year will be even better!
Something that has always bothered me though is the number of people who must be watching the show and not coughing up any cash. Take the first show back in 1988, 30 million viewers, 15 million donated and that included the large sums from businesses so the number of tight arses must have been way in excess of 15 million.
So for the millions of people around the world who need a helping hand, get yourself down to Sainsburys or Oxfam and pick up a red nose or buy one on-line, they're a bargain at only one pound each. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, March 11 2005 is the one day that you can make a complete tit of yourself and be proud of it!
Paul
We're on the countdown to Comic Refief's 10th biannual Red Nose Day. I can't believe it's been 18 years since the first red nose day back in 1988 when the likes of Lenny Henry, Griff Rhys Jones and Jonathan Ross had us in stiches for a whole evening and raised 15 million for those in desperate need all over the world. The last event in March 2003 has to date generated 59 million and hopefully this year will be even better!
Something that has always bothered me though is the number of people who must be watching the show and not coughing up any cash. Take the first show back in 1988, 30 million viewers, 15 million donated and that included the large sums from businesses so the number of tight arses must have been way in excess of 15 million.
So for the millions of people around the world who need a helping hand, get yourself down to Sainsburys or Oxfam and pick up a red nose or buy one on-line, they're a bargain at only one pound each. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, March 11 2005 is the one day that you can make a complete tit of yourself and be proud of it!
Paul
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Coming To Terms
After a horrible day yesterday we're slowly coming to terms with what has happened. It's not just Zippy's death that we have to deal with, we've also got to make peace with our cats, Misty and Eric, while they were only doing what comes natural, it still breaks our hearts to think that they could do such a thing.
Emotions were swinging from one end of the scale to the other yesterday until last night when we accepted what we knew to be right, that the cats had only acted instinctively and that in time we'll be able to forgive them for what hey have done and forgive ourselves for not making sure that there was no possible way the cage could be opened.
As Craig & Debra from J-Birds have suggested, anyone who keeps any kind of parrot should remember that just because your precious bird has never shown any sign of trying to escape from his cage, it doesn't mean he never will and if you can open the cage, so can he.
Debbie and I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support yesterday, it really did help us get through the day :-)
Debbie & Paul
Emotions were swinging from one end of the scale to the other yesterday until last night when we accepted what we knew to be right, that the cats had only acted instinctively and that in time we'll be able to forgive them for what hey have done and forgive ourselves for not making sure that there was no possible way the cage could be opened.
As Craig & Debra from J-Birds have suggested, anyone who keeps any kind of parrot should remember that just because your precious bird has never shown any sign of trying to escape from his cage, it doesn't mean he never will and if you can open the cage, so can he.
Debbie and I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support yesterday, it really did help us get through the day :-)
Debbie & Paul
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Cruelly Taken Away
I really don't feel like posting today, Zippy died yesterday.
Running late yesterday I forgot to put the lock on his door and for the first time ever he must have managed to open the door for himself.
Debbie arrived home first as usual and was met by the horrible scene where she froze until I arrived a few minutes later.
We're both numb and sick from the shock of everything.
Lucy is missing her little friend.
We both loved our mad little parrot, Zippy by name and Zippy by nature, he just never shut up. Just as he was becoming closer and closer to us, he's been cruelly taken away.
Paul
Running late yesterday I forgot to put the lock on his door and for the first time ever he must have managed to open the door for himself.
Debbie arrived home first as usual and was met by the horrible scene where she froze until I arrived a few minutes later.
We're both numb and sick from the shock of everything.
Lucy is missing her little friend.
We both loved our mad little parrot, Zippy by name and Zippy by nature, he just never shut up. Just as he was becoming closer and closer to us, he's been cruelly taken away.
Paul
Monday, February 07, 2005
Gloomy Weather
The weather has been miserable all weekend, not sunny, not raining, not that cold, just plain old dull so we dropped plans to go out for the day on Sunday. With Debbie working on Saturday I actually got round to fixing the bath, the seal round the side was leaking but now after ripping it all out and filling it from scratch it's like new again. When Debbie got home from work we went out for a bit of shopping before getting ready to go out for the evening.
Our friends picked us up and drove us down to a local pub that does rather good meals and just as we remembered from last time, the food was excellent as was the John Smiths Cask which was going down a treat. It wasn't the best night out we've ever had, I think we're overdoing the going out thing, twice a year is usually enough for us and lately it's been a couple of times a month.
We didn't get up until quite late on Sunday but we still managed to get out in time to check out a hobby shop near Meadow Hall. Debbie was looking for a scrapbook but didn't find anything suitable. We tried at the warehouse but they had nothing either but we did pick up a new hoover to help us in the never ending battle against cat hair ..lol..
After a quick brew, we bundled Lucy into the car and went for a walk round Worsborough County Park to get some more pictures of the ducks and birds, the light wasn't helping though being late in the afternoon and dull as it had been all day.
In the evening we settled down to parts two and three of Harry Potter which we've not seen before having being a bit disappointed with the first one but there does seem to be a bit more action in the second two and we found them much more entertaining.
Paul
Our friends picked us up and drove us down to a local pub that does rather good meals and just as we remembered from last time, the food was excellent as was the John Smiths Cask which was going down a treat. It wasn't the best night out we've ever had, I think we're overdoing the going out thing, twice a year is usually enough for us and lately it's been a couple of times a month.
We didn't get up until quite late on Sunday but we still managed to get out in time to check out a hobby shop near Meadow Hall. Debbie was looking for a scrapbook but didn't find anything suitable. We tried at the warehouse but they had nothing either but we did pick up a new hoover to help us in the never ending battle against cat hair ..lol..
After a quick brew, we bundled Lucy into the car and went for a walk round Worsborough County Park to get some more pictures of the ducks and birds, the light wasn't helping though being late in the afternoon and dull as it had been all day.
In the evening we settled down to parts two and three of Harry Potter which we've not seen before having being a bit disappointed with the first one but there does seem to be a bit more action in the second two and we found them much more entertaining.
Paul
Friday, February 04, 2005
Morse Code
Debbie was looking at changing the background on her blog last night, I know some people seem to change their layout almost on a daily basis but it seems when we try, we always seem to hit trouble. We tried a few different patterns and colours but nothing came close to looking as good as the existing design so we've decided to leave it alone for now.
This morning, while eating our toast, we were both watching the usual mornings entertainment, Eric racing around like a kitten possessed, when for some reason he decided to leap on top of the TV. Unfortunately, he was travelling as such a speed, despite paws and claws being a blur as he tried to get some grip, he couldn't stop himself from falling off the other side! He landed on some tall grass effect thing we've got behind there which broke his fall and he appeared from under the DVD rack, unscathed but looking a little bit dazed and embarrassed.
Another trick Eric has learnt this week is that if he jumps on to the TV and manages to stay on it, he can reach up and switch the wall light on and off. The folks across the road must thing we're sending Morse code signals every evening!
Paul
This morning, while eating our toast, we were both watching the usual mornings entertainment, Eric racing around like a kitten possessed, when for some reason he decided to leap on top of the TV. Unfortunately, he was travelling as such a speed, despite paws and claws being a blur as he tried to get some grip, he couldn't stop himself from falling off the other side! He landed on some tall grass effect thing we've got behind there which broke his fall and he appeared from under the DVD rack, unscathed but looking a little bit dazed and embarrassed.
Another trick Eric has learnt this week is that if he jumps on to the TV and manages to stay on it, he can reach up and switch the wall light on and off. The folks across the road must thing we're sending Morse code signals every evening!
Paul
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Holidays Are Coming
Debbie booked our holiday last night, we're off to the Yorkshire Coast in May for a week of relaxation by the sea.
Neither of us has stayed in a caravan for years but from what I can remember, it's going to be much more homely than the hut in Scotland ..lol.. We'll be near to all our favorite places, Whitby, Filey and Cayton Bay which is the only beech that allows dogs at that time of year.
We're quite looking forward to going swimming in the new six million pound indoor complex, neither of us has been near a pool for years and it's going to be fun finding out if I still float ..lol..
We're also thinking about booking another week for October in the Lake District so we can go for a cruise round Lake Windermere and tour the Cumbrian Mountains.
Paul
Neither of us has stayed in a caravan for years but from what I can remember, it's going to be much more homely than the hut in Scotland ..lol.. We'll be near to all our favorite places, Whitby, Filey and Cayton Bay which is the only beech that allows dogs at that time of year.
We're quite looking forward to going swimming in the new six million pound indoor complex, neither of us has been near a pool for years and it's going to be fun finding out if I still float ..lol..
We're also thinking about booking another week for October in the Lake District so we can go for a cruise round Lake Windermere and tour the Cumbrian Mountains.
Paul
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Zippy Gets All Cuddly
Debbie felt much better yesterday and we both headed off to work as usual full of beans because we're booking our holiday tonight! We're going to have a week in a caravan on the East Coast so we can take Lucy with us, the cats will be going on holiday to the cattery for a weeks pampering.
We let Zippy out of his cage as usual last night and after he'd had ten minutes sorting himself out I got him my little hand held perch which is getting to be less and less of a battle. With him close to my chest he let me stroke him for ages while Lucy sat on the stool behind me, whining and whining and whining. When the ears couldn't take any more I popped him back on top of the cage and as if like magic, we had peace and quiet again.
Eric and Toddy have been going for gold this morning, chasing each other all over the house while Misty just dozed on the sofa as usual. Lucy's been in hiding mode again, we gave her a large dog biscuit a few days ago and she keeping hiding in one place then picking it up and taking it off to a more secure location.
Paul
We let Zippy out of his cage as usual last night and after he'd had ten minutes sorting himself out I got him my little hand held perch which is getting to be less and less of a battle. With him close to my chest he let me stroke him for ages while Lucy sat on the stool behind me, whining and whining and whining. When the ears couldn't take any more I popped him back on top of the cage and as if like magic, we had peace and quiet again.
Eric and Toddy have been going for gold this morning, chasing each other all over the house while Misty just dozed on the sofa as usual. Lucy's been in hiding mode again, we gave her a large dog biscuit a few days ago and she keeping hiding in one place then picking it up and taking it off to a more secure location.
Paul
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Under The Weather
Debbie wasn't feeling so good yesterday so stayed home so she could get an early appointment at the doctors. It's gone daft at the surgery now, last year we could just turn up after work and you'd be seen, but now everything is by appointment only and the hour after work is always the busiest slot. With three cats and a cling-on dog running about all day I don't think she got all that much rest and is glad to be back at work today for some peace and quiet ..lol..
We sat up watching a new drama on ITV last night but because it was on so long the eyes were going well before the end even though it was really good. They should put these things on earlier or limit them to one hour slots for folks like us who only see midnight at the weekend if at all.
Paul
We sat up watching a new drama on ITV last night but because it was on so long the eyes were going well before the end even though it was really good. They should put these things on earlier or limit them to one hour slots for folks like us who only see midnight at the weekend if at all.
Paul
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