Typical Weekend 23-24 February 2013

Its been a three day weekend for us. We had Friday off and spent the day in Maidstone. we had a stroll round the shopping centre, then stopped for lunch at a place called 'Mexxa Mexxa'. The theme is 'Mexican' and the lunch specials seemed good value. It was OK. Next a quick look around Maplins (essential!) then we took advantage of Blockbuster's closing down sale and grabbed some cheap Blu Ray films.

Friday night was Astronomy night, and true to form it was cloudy and snowing. That didn't dampen proceedings though. I sold a hat and set up Jason's laptop through the PA system, to great effect. Emma gave a great talk on the (Dwarf) Planet Pluto. I put 'Dwarf' in parenthesis because I, and many others still think Pluto as a planet, even though the powers that be have demoted it. Oh and sarah won a tenner in the constellation raffle. All in all a good evening.

Saturday.

The morning was spent hoovering and dusting. We then met up with the rest of Sarah's family for lunch at the Chinese buffet in town. We have eaten there many times before, and although the food is OK, I think the quality has decreased over the years and now I actually prefer the Chinese restaurant on the High Street. Its a bit more expensive but the food is freshly cooked and you can eat what you want for a fixed price.

The afternoon was spent at the Designer Outlet. Everyone bought shoes and things, except me who bought nowt, even though I was after a pair of trainers. By now I was gasping for a cuppa, so we headed for home where the kettle went on straight away. The evening was spent with Sarah's Parents. We had a few games of cards, which I won quite a few chips, and the Rummikub came out. I only learnt to play this game in the past few years, I've yet to win a round....

Sunday.

I see we had some settling snow last night. Winter just doesn't want to disappear just yet. We did the weekly shop, then popped into Currys to get some printer cartridges, and ended up buying a new shredder. Plus we got a 10% off voucher for printer cartridges, so saved a couple of quid on them as well. 

We really didn't want to go out anywhere today, so after waving goodbye to Sarah's parents, we had lunch then settled down to watch 'Skyfall', a great film. I was channel hopping after dinner and found an episode of  'Enterprise'. The jury is still out on that series, I could never get into it like I did with 'Next Generation' Although I have to say Jolene Blalock plays a very good Vulcan!  

Until next week then...

Posh Nosh 16-17 February 2013

This week I was given  a courtesy car for a day whilst mine was in having warranty work done. For a basic motor it was bristling with tech. There was a scrolling bargraph display showing how much fuel I was using. A rear facing camera came on when I put it in reverse and there was this annoying little indicator light that told me when to change one of the six gears. Back in the old days my first car had an AM radio and windey-up windows. No power steering, central locking, airbags, traction control, antilock brakes, air con, trip computers etc.. I wondered how we managed back then.

Saturday.

We had to go to my parents place to collect a keyboard for somebody, so it was a good chance to visit Dartford and call in at my brothers. Dartford doesn't get any better. I blogged last year that the town was dying on its arse, there seems to be little improvement. Apparently Mary Portas was supposed to visit this week as part of the 'Portas Pilot Scheme'. She never turned up. The only improvement I saw was an extension to the '99p Store'.  That says it all really. After lunch and a chat at Brothers place we stopped at a well known haberdashery/homeware chain to get a curtain pole. They didn't have the one we wanted. We collected the keyboard from my parents, did some food shopping for tonight and was home in time to cook dinner for the masses. Home made Lasagne with minced STEAK, not Shergar, and very nice it was too.

Sunday.

After the weekly shop, including a rather unsavoury episode in Sainsburys, we got ourselves suited and booted for lunch at Eastwell Manor. We had a Sunday lunch gift token from Christmas to use. The food and service was top notch. I had Pigeon breast salad with carrot puree, very nice and a first for me. Not sure if the added popcorn enhanced the dish though. Then it was roast beef with all the trimmings including a delicious red cabbage, cooked with redcurrants. Dessert was a Choclate Fondant with Tonka Berry ice cream. Probably the best I've ever eaten. I had to look up Tonka berries when I got home. They are used in cooking in France and the rest of Europe and have a Vanilla/Cinnamon extra flavour. Apparently it is banned for human consumption in the US as there is an ingredient that can be harmful to humans, but only if you eat a bucketload. The same can be said for Nutmeg, which is poisonous in extra large doses and yet we eat custard tarts with it sprinkled on all the time, so what do they know? 

Afterwards we drove down to St Mary's Eastwell to visit the reputed tomb of Richard Plantagenet. What with his old man being in the news lately the place has become a focal point for visitors. Whilst there we saw a man doing some brass rubbing, not quite a good description because the tomb is stone but you know what I mean.  

Until next week then...

Song Marathon and Star Trek 9-10 February 2013

Saturday.

This weekend, AHBS hold their fundraiser. Basically we ask for money from the public and play their requests and dedications. I was hosting a soul show from 5-7pm. The morning was spent in town. There wasn't much we needed. We looked at wallpaper in Wilkos, I bought a newspaper in Smiths and had a frothy coffee and muffin in the coffee and muffin shop. Suitably refreshed we headed for home. 

After lunch We went down to the hospital and spent the afternoon with the AHBS crew who were presenting a show from the Foyer. I had to prepare for my show, which I decided to play all the music from CDs. Normally I use the PC, this time it was just for Promos/Jingles etc... It was soon time to get myself on the air, and after handing over control back to me in the studio two hours soon flew by. On the way home we collected some Chinese grub, well it is Chinese new year after all.

Sunday.

The weather is atrocious, rain, wind, cold and later snow is forecast. After the weekly shop and lunch of bacon sarnies I actually managed to watch the rest of 'the sixth sense' which Sarah had recorded. A film I gave up on years ago after I guessed the ending twenty minutes in. Actually it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I then went out to get petrol. Whilst in the shop I saw a couple of Cadbury 'Egg n spoon' desserts, so I bought them. Then I popped into the studio for a chat with the afternoon crew, and sort out some of the playlist for Tuesday's show. The weather was really turning bad, and just as I got home it started snowing. After a great dinner of Enchiladas I watched the next Star Trek Film (III). It is true what they say about the Star Trek Movies. The even number ones are better than the odd numbers. I is boring, II is excellent, III is so-so, IV is good, V is pants and VI is my favourite of the series. The snow is now settling, should be fun getting to work tomorrow!

Until next week then...

Day at the Museum 2-3 February 2013

Today's event had been planned months ago, and we were all eagerly looking forward to it. We had been invited to other events today, but of course we turned them down to celebrate Bear (Steve's) Birthday. The plan was to spend the day in London, first a trip to the British Museum then food and drinks afterwards. We gathered at Ashford International, and took advantage of cheap group travel offers (4 people travelling on the HS1 and tube/bus in town for less than 20 quid each). Less than forty minutes later we were walking through St Pancras and Kings Cross station to get a photo opportunity at the Harry Potter 'Platform 9 3/4' display. Then it was a quick walk up the Caledonian Road to Cafe Oz for a great breakfast, just what was needed for the day ahead. 

I have never been to the British Museum before. There is a lot to see, including Mummies, pots, spears, alabaster statues and rather rude potteries. We all wandered off in different directions, with plans to re-group later for a drink in the pub opposite. After seeing most of the rooms, we missed a few but we can always re-visit, we adjourned to the pub where we met up with Terry. The others soon joined us and after a couple of pints of 'Old Peculier' we headed for Covent Garden. Some went to look for plastic boxes, we had a look in the shops and watched a good street magic show. We re-grouped again for a swift half in the pub before heading to Leicester Square for dinner at Ed's Diner. 

We heard that Manky had been offered a freebie in the street. What he thought was a sweet turned out to be soap, which he discovered after eating it. Oh how we laughed. We managed to get seats at the counter in Ed's and ordered burgers and milkshakes. Not bad at all and I liked the traditional jukeboxes. By now I was feeling rather full, so turned down dessert! We jumped on the tube back to Kings Cross. The train was already at St Pancras so we  didn't have to wait for long and was home in fifty minutes. It was a great day with great friends. We don't go to London enough,  Something we must rectify this year.

Sunday.

I think I earned myself a lie-in today, so we didn't get down to Asda until much later than normal. Sarah's parents were down and they had brought a load of records, a mixture of singles and albums for me to root through. Apart from Napoleon IX and Sid Vicious there was not much of interest, but there were two Rock n Roll 78's (Shake Rattle n Roll and Whole Lotta Woman) and a really old 12" 78 in its original cover. It must be at least 1920's vintage. I'll have to do some research on it. Dinner went in, and there are great roast lamb aromas wafting around the house whilst I'm watching 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'.

Until next week then...