Birthday Curry 26-27 January 2013

This week, I spent three days in Cardiff working at the airport, and to no avail apparently. When we left everything was working fine. Four hours later it all went wrong again. Oh well looks like another trip could be the order of the day....I also had my first physiotherapy session for my dodgy shoulder. I'm sure it is going to do me good in the long term, but I just felt that I had taken a good beating!

Saturday.

I was awakened early by Sarah, who suddenly said 'quick quick we have to get up!'. 'No we don't its Saturday!' I replied.  Turns out she was dreaming that it was next Saturday and we were going to London with Stevie and Co. Having spent the morning watching stuff on the box, I decided a trip out to get the car washed was required. The first place I went to was packed out, the queue was back into the road. So after a quick visit to the model shop for some railway bits we went over to a car wash behind Homeplus. They did a good job as well. At home, I spent the rest of the afternoon in the garage. Then it was time to head for Gravesend. Its my brother's birthday tomorrow so he had booked a table or two at an Indian Restaurant. He was a regular there, but it was the first time we had visited this place. The food was OK, although the service was pedestrian. We had the service charge deducted because of this and we didn't leave a tip.  We all had a good time though, although I have to say I preferred the last meal we had in the Gandhi.

Sunday.

It must have rained hard last night. The path round the side of the house was almost flooded. After the weekly shop we had lunch, then went over to Canterbury to buy some curtain poles. I notice some people on FB have been exercising their baking skills. Obviously inspired by Hollywood and Berry. I found some rhubarb in the freezer, so decided to make a crumble. Very nice it was too! There is loads of good stuff on the TV tonight, so I'll be in front of the box.

Until next week then...

Winter Arrives - 19-20 January 2013

I left work early on Friday. The snow was quite heavy in SE London so I wanted to beat it home. I got back to Ashford and there was no snow until much later on. Mind you the disruption has caused me work complications. I am supposed to go to Cardiff Airport next week. Plan A was travel on Sunday to start the job on Monday morning then be home by Wednesday. Now Plan B is on. Travel to Orpington on train, get collected then drive to Cardiff, Start the job on Tuesday and hopefully be home late Wednesday night or stay until Thursday. Trouble is I won't know if I'm going until Monday morning, and we get the OK from the Airport. 

Saturday.

We were supposed to be doing some radio training this morning, but there was disruption due to the weather so it was postponed. Instead we ventured into town. There was a 'Green Energy' fair on in County Square, basically energy saving hints and tips from companies. They had TV Weather presenter Kaddy Lee Preston there, and on the Ball Contractors stand Webbo was promoting stuff. We had a chat with John about radio stuff and talked to Matthew about Solar panels. Last year we tried to get them fitted for nowt, but we were blown out twice after being assured we were eligible. Now it transpires the prices have tumbled, almost half of what they used to cost. Its almost a viable proposition now with the price of energy rising.

After a nice lunch I spent the afternoon in the garage laying railway track, until I couldn't feel my toes any more. We had planned to go down to our friends for a curry, but they have had an outbreak of dreaded lurgy, so we have had to postpone it. We still fancied curry, so went to the Indian Diner in town. The food in there is good, I had a dish with Chicken Tikka and lamb meatballs in a spicy sauce. Sarah went for the Pasanda, which she found a tad too sweet, but it did describe it as 'Fruity' on the menu. Back home we watched 'Gremlins 2'. Not as good as the first one but still entertaining.

Sunday.

The real snow has arrived. I looked outside about 7:30am and it was falling quite heavily.  The roads are still clear. It looks as though the Highways Department have done their homework and gritted well before the event. We were in Asda first thing. Then I had to pop into the station to get a ticket for tomorrows journey. I didn't fancy the Monday morning queue although there was still a bit of a queue there. Its a good job the firm is paying for the ticket. 20 quid for a single journey, mainly because I'm travelling before 9am. 

We had nothing planned for the rest of the day, so we watched 'Taken'.  A good film, must get to see 'Taken 2' now. Then we went for a walk around Singleton Lake. We fed a few Swans and Ducks, walked around the lake then came home. At 5pm I can report it hasn't stopped snowing all day. Tomorrows travel arrangements are looking decidedly dodgy!

Until next weekend then...
 

Stargazing Live 12-13 January 2013

Saturday.

We got up early, thinking someone would turn up this morning to check on what the water company think is a leak. Apparently our meter is turning very very slowly when there is no water drawn, odd. Anyway he contacted us and said he would be round on Sunday. I recorded an interview Drew did for Radio Kent as part of Stargazing Live, then we went into town. I had to get a holdall for the PA system and get bits for tonight's Stargazing Live event. We had a good lunch in the Chinese Restaurant, they do a very nice lunchtime special. On the way back home we stopped to get the milk. Then I managed to get an hour or so in front of the telly before it was time to load up the car and head for Woodchurch.

We arrived just after 4pm and everything was in full flow. Chairs were being put out, telescopes were being set up. It was a pity the weather was terrible. The forecast said sleet, it was drizzly, cloudy and cold. Not the ideal conditions for Stargazing. Still we had nearly 100 people turn up and they were treated to great talks by Drew (Space Rock Thingies) and Dave (Mars). The ladies (and Lukey) did a great job in  the kitchen serving up hot dogs, soup and drinks. I think the evening went really well. Hopefully next year we can hold it again, this time with better weather. Ironically when I put the TV on at home they were showing Armageddon, the subject of Drew's talk. Photos of the event can be found here.

Sunday.

We did the usual shop, then after lunch a work associate of Sarah turned up to check on our so called water leak. He couldn't hear anything in our pipes, I reckon its dribbling from the meter end.

I spent the afternoon in the garage, installing the layout for the model railway. Andy turned up to collect some bits, and he ended up helping me in the garage finish off the frame. After a nice dinner we are now settled in front of the box for the evening. Looking forward to watching 'Ripper Street'.

Until next week then...

Back to Normal, Whatever Normal is 5-6 January 2013

I was going to write a review of the second half of 2012 but really couldn't be bothered, so I've condensed each month into one sentence.

July - Olympic Torch procession
August - Batcamp
September - Edinburgh
October - Winchelsea Cellars
November - Fireworks
December - Christmas

Saturday.

We went into Tenterden this morning. I had to get some  pellets for the air rifle I just purchased. Andy and  myself are going to a rifle range club in Ashford on Monday and hopefully I can get a bit of target practice. 

When we got home I took down all the Christmas lights and stored them in the loft until December. I noticed one lot had packed up, so they went in the bin. 

The afternoon was spent in the garage re-building the railway layout. I've changed it from 6ft x 4ft to 12ft x 2ft, and the layout will be a straight with sidings, rather than an oval. It also frees up some space in the garage. After seeing what dross they had on the telly, this evening was spent  watching 'The Hangover' A film I seemed to have missed, and I found very funny. Then Channel 4 were showing 'Inglorious Basterds', the Quentin Tarrantino classic. I watched it until I dropped off  about midnight, then retired. I can always finish it off on DVD.

Sunday.

We must have used a lot of our supplies last week because the shop came to considerably more than normal. Plus we bought extra stuff, in fitting with our resolution to eat more fruit and veg and less junk. After lunch (soup) I set off for to the Radio Station to record a promo for this Saturday's Stargazing Live event. Then I was home in time for Andy & Julie, who came round so we could arrange an overnight safari experience at Port Lympne. Its all booked for May as part of my half-century celebrations, We are all very excited about it. 

Until next week then....