Day 593

Day 593...

After a week off it was back to work today although ordinarily I wouldn't work a Monday I was in today covering for another member of staff.

The day at work was a pretty standard sort of work day and all this week we are having a Halloween theme with lots of spooky activities for the children. We have a dark den set up with lots of sensory lights, we scooped out slimy pumpkins, made spider web pictures with marble painting and cut out spooky shaped sandwiches. All good fun and at the same time a little fundraiser for us as well.

On my way home I paid a visit to our local Asda as their Community Champion, Jon, had some items for me to collect. Asda are really good to us and help us out with lots of our activities, this week we are making pumpkin faces using wraps, ketchup and cheese as well as messy play involving spaghetti and Asda have given us all that we need to complete those activities. It was lovely to see Jon and have a catch-up and he will be visiting us in a couple of weeks when he will be making musical instruments with the children.

Arriving home there was a much needed coffee waiting for me. Molly has been going through more of her stuff and has filled at least three bin bags full of things she no longer needs. I was able to go through and grab a few bits that I can make use of at pre-school along with snagging a Mickey Mouse bum bag for me!

Simon has had a busy day making more progress on the game controller box he is building as well as getting mucky cleaning out the guttering, just before it decided to rain again!

And then Molly drove herself to her penultimate kickboxing class!!

Monday is done and I will see you all tomorrow.
xx

Day 592 - End of British Summertime

Day 592...

So we awoke this morning to have gained an extra hour in bed as the clocks in the UK have turned back an hour to signify the end of British summertime and by the heavy rain we had for most of the morning the weather seemed to agree. It was dark, grey, windy and wet - whoop!

Our first job of the day was to collect our weekly grocery shop and today we were able to try a new system where we can let the store know we are on our way so that our shopping could be ready and waiting. Well we arrived and there was one another car waiting; the app showed that the store knew we were on our way and by clicking the help button I could tell them we had arrived and what the colour of our car was. A short while later a very wet and bedraggled store colleague arrived with the first cars order and then asked for our name so that she could fetch our order...so I have no idea whether the app system actually worked or not!

Back home and we quickly got everything from the car into the house trying not to get too wet. But fifteen minutes later with all the shopping packed away I looked up to see sunshine and clear blue skies, the complete opposite of what the morning had been up to that point.

It was then time to head over to a local Halfords to see if we could get Molly's car stereo updated. We drove over in two cars so that in the event we had some time to kill and the weather turned on us we would at least be able to either shelter in a car or drive for a coffee. The staff were super helpful and quickly told us that they should be able to fit the new stereo (unlike the staff on Friday!) which involved Molly moving her car into a tricky parking spot which she handled amazingly. So while the stereo was being fitted we jumped in the car and headed out for a coffee to pass the time. About half an hour later we were back to pick up Molly's car with a new and functioning car stereo!

Back home and Simon spent sometime in the garage on his latest project; today he was replacing all the screws in the joints he'd assembled yesterday with wooden dowels as he wants the finished product to have a smooth and seamless finish. While Simon did that I had a couple of work emails to process as well as a little accounting as part of my shopping today also included items for pre-school. I then did a little online research for some new guttering for our house as ours seems to fail every time we have more than a shower of rain along with looking for a new outside light for our front door.

We then took a little time out for a coffee and a bit of TV watching before realising that I needed to sort through my Halloween decorations to take into pre-school for the week ahead as we are having a spooky themed week with a little fundraising thrown in too. In years gone by we have hosted numerous Halloween parties and so we have a number of boxes full of decorations, although we haven't really used them at home for a few years now...maybe next year!

And because I know we have a busy week ahead, and as we had a bonus hour today, I took advantage and got caught up with the ironing...not very exciting but I need to be organised this coming week. I am in work more than usual this week and we are building up to Molly's big move to Dan's at the end of the week.

Oh and I am also getting a tad excited as it is now 5 sleeps until we see my favourite band, White Lies! They are playing a stripped back concert in Bournemouth on Friday and as this is close to where Dan lives we are now pretty familiar with the area so it was a no brainer when the gig was announced...plus it 'coincides' with Molly's move down...or is that Molly's move coincides with our concert?!!!

And with that I will see you all tomorrow.
xx

Happy Halloween

Day 227...

Happy Halloween!!

Now over the past ten years or more we have held numerous Halloween parties and this year with Halloween falling on a Saturday it would have been a given that a Halloween party was in order.

Usually this means a gathering of friends, plenty of ghoulish attire, a selection of yummy treats, a few drinks of an alcoholic nature and the inevitable turning on of the karaoke machine.

We have had some great parties, hosted by either ourselves or by friends, over the years and that makes not having one this year such a sad time. So I thought rather than my usual blog piece I would share some photos of our various parties from years gone by!

Back in 2005

2010 with a Disney vibe

Karaoke with my bestie!

2011

Catwoman & Joker - 2012

Artwork by Simon - this was done as our party invitation

2013

And one more from the vault which is very appropriate as last night we started watching season two of The Mandalorian - which was amazing!

2015

It was fun looking back on all of these and I am sure I've missed a few, but great to have the memories to share and remember what being with people was all about.

And as we get ready for a second nationwide lockdown starting this coming Thursday it is good to remember the times that we have had and will have once again. Let's hope this will do some good but I'm really not sure. As far as I can make out lockdowns will not make the virus disappear all they do is buy us some time so that hospitals are not overwhelmed and that systems can be put in place to help us when we get out the other side of said lockdown. Let's hope that something actually gets done this time as it would appear that that didn't happen very effectively the last time.

So all we can do is keep safe, wash our hands, keep our distance, wear a mask and stay home as much as possible.

xx

Day 225

Day 225...

Another relatively quiet day today.

Started with a trip to my supermarket of choice to collect a grocery order as we've decided to have a few treats over the weekend in lieu of a Halloween party.

Next job of the day was to tackle the mountain of ironing that seemed to have accumulated, so while not very exciting there was a sense of accomplishment when it was all done.

Just after lunchtime I jumped online to chat with my good friend and fellow Disney Dream Girl, Michelle. It was, as always, just nice to catch-up with Michelle but we also managed to record two shows; one to come out this coming Sunday and another for our Patreon subscribers.

While I was busy recording Molly had taken over the kitchen and made a start on this years pumpkin carvings; and I think she's done an amazing job!

Later on Molly and I took another little trip out, I had a few items that I needed to drop off at pre-school ahead of our return next week and Molly had a USB drive to take to my sister-in-law's full of photos from her photoshoot at the weekend...think she had whittled it down to 130 photos!!

Then I indulged a little this afternoon with some 'me time', just sat watching a bit of TV, which I very rarely do but am trying to do more of.

As the evening drew in it was time to see Molly's pumpkin carvings in full effect; how awesome do these look?!

Stay safe out there, wash your hands, keep your distance and wear a mask.

xx

Here's the Weekend

Day 213...

And welcome to the weekend and our first day in Tier 2 restrictions...lockdown or whatever we are calling it. But to be fair we just carried on as we have been doing because what we have been doing is what Tier 2 is all about anyway!

First job of the day was to meet one of my pre-school committee members at pre-school to take delivery of some special treats ready for our Halloween Fun Week next week. A couple of our committee have taken all the goodies donated to us from our local ASDA and made up some treat bags and sweet cups that we are going to sell next week to raise some extra pennies.

Once that was sorted we then had a little furniture delivery to make as one of the items from our other house that we had tried unsuccessfully to sell was actually needed by our new tenants, they had changed their mind about needing it so we popped by to drop it off. 

Then it was back home to stop for five minutes with a coffee sat outside in the garden. Not a bad day today, a little chilly but it was dry so we took advantage and enjoyed the time and the coffee. And while we were outside we decided to have a quick tidy in the garage so that we can now fit the car back in there as well as sweep up a bin full of leaves.

This afternoon was spent sorting out candles to go with some of the Halloween decorations that I got out yesterday, posting a few more items for sale on Ebay, another coffee sat outside and Simon was finally able to assemble the mouse droid he has been making. This did mean I had a droid moving around the house for most of the afternoon...but just a few more final tweaks and then it will all be done!

Love this decoration, the candle inside makes the ghost in the chimney spin around!

One advantage of today has been that we have kept away from the news and social media and it has been quite nice not to be bombarded with the latest figures and rules and to just 'have a day'. I look forward to when we can have more 'just days' and life can resume and be embraced once again.

But until then please take care, stay safe, wash your hands, keep your distance and wear a mask.
xx

Yay it's Friday!

Day 212...

Last day of the working week has come around once again.

A pretty standard sort of day with the usual admin to complete. This afternoon pre-school got dressed ready for our Halloween fun week next week and the team did a great job of making the room look suitably festive!

Once home I had a couple of emails to send and a few bits to sort out but then found out our prime minister was giving a televised press conference. So, with all the rumours and speculations going about at the moment  I thought it may be worth tuning into.

Well...did I learn anything new? Did I understand anything better? Am I any clearer on what their plan may be?...Err....No. All I learnt was that it was a chance to attack one region of our country who are wanting greater clarity and control before entering into the highest level of current restrictions. We were told about amazing new and quick tests that will be ground breaking and enable us to function so much better but that we don't know when they will be available and probably not for a while yet - oh!

And then, as it always is with these briefings, the finger was pointed at us, the great British public, to pull together and do our bit because that's the only way we will get through this...oh really? So being locked down for 12 weeks from March wasn't enough then? People losing their jobs and their businesses wasn't enough then? Not being able to see friends and family hasn't been enough then? And I could go on.

As a family I think we have been pretty good. All the way through lockdown we stayed home, Simon and I would go out for a walk each day and once a week I would collect my grocery shopping and that was it. When lockdown started to ease I went back to work while everyone else continued to work from home. We continued collecting our shopping and stayed pretty close to home. I have been in a supermarket once to complete a shop and a couple of times to collect something on behalf of pre-school. I have been to my local post office off and on to drop off pre-paid parcels. I have been non-grocery shopping once and only went in one specific shop. I have visited a coffee shop twice indoors but for take-away only. I have visited outdoor cafe's just three times and have visited drive thru' coffee shops perhaps four or five times. We have visited large DIY shops about four times. I have met only two friends, and just one time for each. We haven't been out for a meal anywhere and have had a take-away meal just three times. If I can recall all of this since March then I think that shows that we have been doing exactly what we have been told to do to the very best of our ability and where has that gotten us? Have we made any progress? I really don't know.

As far as I can tell we are now being told that if we don't do as we are told that things are going to be as bad as they were back in March. But is that right? Some would argue that is not the case while others would agree that it's getting bad again. Some would argue that a full lockdown for a few weeks would buy us the time to ease the pressure off the health service and come up with a better working test and trace system as our current one really is not working as promised. But others would argue that a lockdown only pauses things and that once lifted the numbers will rise again and that actually hospital admissions are no different to what you would expect to see at this time of year.

So where does that leave us, the general public? Who should we believe and what should we be doing? I think over the course of the next few days or weeks we will be moved from one set of guidelines to another which will only cause yet more confusion and annoyance. We want, we need, our lives back. We need to be living, to be enjoying, to be experiencing life rather than just going from one day to another not knowing when we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And because of all of the above I have decided to embrace Halloween this year and have made a start on decorating around the house. Now this won't be a big affair (unlike Christmas) but I just felt the need to say fuck it lets have a little fun. We don't tend to go overboard on Halloween here in the UK but I have a few bits and so will do my best to invoke a little Halloween fun.

To set the right tone the music had to be right!

Outdoor pumpkin lights

A few decorative pieces

Outdoors....as one of my friends said....one way system must mean it's COVID safe!!

There has been more VR madness in the house tonight as Molly has had her turn and proven to be pretty good on the dance games! Me on the other hand has yet to have a go...I am sure I'll get there...at some point...maybe!

Anyway, just take care out there, whatever you may be doing and wherever you may be. Wash you hands, keep your distance and wear a mask.
xx

Belated Halloween Post

This maybe a few days late but I thought that as I have in the past shared my Halloween antics then this year ought to be no different...if a little delayed!.

As Halloween fell on a Friday this year we were actually able to hold our Halloween party on the day itself.  We had decided to go for a ghostly/Haunted Mansion theme as can be seen from this years party invite artwork (thanks to my wonderful and talented hubby - you can check out his artwork on his website www.simonphipps.com)

So we had the usual gathering of friends to partake in food, drink and and an all round good time!

My Disney Dream Girls co-host Michelle joined us for some spooky fun too!

I hope everyone had a spooktacular Halloween...same time next year??

Halloween Time

So once again we approach that time of year when the ghosts and ghouls come out to play!

Or in our case it's time for our annual Halloween party.  Now this year we were in two minds as to whether we would actually host a party...the most obvious weekend to hold a party was the weekend after the 31st but we had other plans. So although the weekend before felt a little 'early' for Halloween antics I really couldn't resist the idea of throwing a party.

So last night we had our party.  An evening of cool costumes, good food, great company and an odd Cosmopolitan or two!

Simon drew our party invite as usual and this year we decided on a vampire theme...

Although the final outfits turned out a little different with more of  punk/new romantic vampire meets zombies affect...

I even ended up wearing my new steampunk Mickey ears at one point...

And talking of Disney whilst we were at WDW this year we did have the privilege of seeing the Halloween decorations appear on Main Street, USA

Halloween decorations, this was at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom but these could be found all the way down Main Street, USA - beautiful

Main Street, USA

Town Square, Magic Kingdom

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Halloween Update

So last night was our annual Halloween party, an evening spent with friends who all entered into the spirit with suitably appropriate attire.  An evening with food, drink and karaoke and lots of fun....so what did Simon and I go as?

Simon & I - Joker & Catwoman

Thanks to all our friends both new and old for making it such a fantastic night.

Halloween

As we approach this special time of year I thought I would share what Halloween means to me and share some memories, and wishes.

A friend of mine the other day when discussing this time of year said to me that 'Halloween is as synonymous with me as Disney is'!!  Which kind of surprised me, but it got me thinking.

Over here in the UK Halloween can be frowned up...often talked about in derogatory tones and bemoaned as an 'American' holiday.  Yet in recent years this holiday has become more embraced by the British public and whilst we struggle with the concept of 'Trick or Treating' we love the excuse for a party!

So over the last seven years we have celebrated Halloween in style.  And over the years shops have also embraced this holiday resulting in a greater array of costumes and accessories with which to get 'into the spirit'!!

So it's time to decorate the house, dig out the horror make-up, mix up the cocktails and decide on what this years fancy dress should be.

We have been everything from Vampires, Evil Sorcerers, Mad Scientists, Zombie Doctor & Nurse and even Cruella De Vil but this year....what to be.....perhaps Simon's artwork for our party may give you an idea...

But each year the best thing about Halloween is it gives us a really good excuse to throw a party and hang out with those people we hold dear.  A chance to eat and drink (Simon makes a mean Cosmo!!), catch-up with good friends and if we're really lucky we dust off the old karaoke machine!

But there is one thing that I haven't yet done at Halloween....and it involves a little bit of Disney...I would love to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Walt Disney World.  To see the Magic Kingdom dressed up in style, to trick or treat down Main Street, to see the parade and everything else that goes with it!  We came close one year when at the end of our Summer holiday we saw the beginning of the decorations being put up, but that's as close as we've got.

Ah well, gives me something to dream about ;)