That Friday feeling is here, as of course, its Friday now in my camping trip recollections.
To be perfectly honest, Friday really came and went without any major events. We went shopping, got more wine, read more of our books, and I even got a new book which I’m really excited about actually. It sounds fantastic. Its all about archaeology with lots of historic reference and just the sort of thing I love.
I feel I have to tell you also, that we have been listening for the first time to an audio book in the car – The Quest by Wilbur Smith. Its brilliant! and we really enjoyed it, a definite for the future. Its worth noting, however, that you need to be relatively careful with the book content before listening to in a car and stopping at traffic lights, petrol stations or car parks. The book we were listening sounds quite reasonable but in parts it was a little, er graphic, and possibly a bit too graphic. One thing we noticed about when you’re in the car and driving is, you need the volume turned up quite high to hear it, especially when its on a n ipod. Then when you stop driving, for example at a petrol station, it blares out as if you’re a boy racer with the bass turned up to the max. Not a problem at all unless your book is describing some romantic interaction between two characters in what can only be described as explicit detail. Embarrassing is the only word that springs to mind here.
Help, there has been an invasion today. Surprisingly really as the weather has been so bad, but lots of people have appeared as if from nowhere!. The previously empty field behind us on the campsite is now full with tents the size of Buckingham Palace and full with complete families of people. Where did they all come from, they seemed to just materialise.
So with our newly almost full campsite we embark on our last but one night of our holiday.
Summary:
Friday – mostly dry Night – It’s a miracle! No rain, a clear night and more cold, but the stars are beautiful!
Monday, 22 September 2008
Singing in the Rain
Bring on Thursday the weather is good…. Or perhaps not. Ahh yes, what is that stuff falling from the sky, surely it couldn’t be rain again? Ohh but it is. How did the 80’s band Wet Wet Wet get their name, did they go camping too? We did, precisely nothing on Thursday but read books. Not that that is a bad thing you understand as its not something we tend to do at home, so although it drizzled all day and the sky was that flat gray colour that only the English sky seems to be capable of, we did have a good day – reading.
The reading was helped in the late afternoon by a few glasses of wine…. It didn’t even seem to matter when the words kind of blured a little.
This night, was actually home to weird dream number two. This time I was dancing over wooden platforms listening to Euphoria on my ipod. It was night time and I remember being very aware of the fact that I was on my own and it was dark. This one I think I can probably explain, the wooden platforms were obviously reincarnations of our trip on Wednesday to Flag Fen. It’s the dancing bit I stuggle with explaining…. Firstly, and more importantly, I can’t dance, but secondly, although I really like Euphoria and it is on my ipod, I can’t see the connection as I haven’t listened to it for a while. As I said before, I think I’m just plain, well, odd.
Summary:
Thursday – light rain all day, and persistently all day. Night – dry, but damp and clear skies and it was cold, brrrrr.
The reading was helped in the late afternoon by a few glasses of wine…. It didn’t even seem to matter when the words kind of blured a little.
This night, was actually home to weird dream number two. This time I was dancing over wooden platforms listening to Euphoria on my ipod. It was night time and I remember being very aware of the fact that I was on my own and it was dark. This one I think I can probably explain, the wooden platforms were obviously reincarnations of our trip on Wednesday to Flag Fen. It’s the dancing bit I stuggle with explaining…. Firstly, and more importantly, I can’t dance, but secondly, although I really like Euphoria and it is on my ipod, I can’t see the connection as I haven’t listened to it for a while. As I said before, I think I’m just plain, well, odd.
Summary:
Thursday – light rain all day, and persistently all day. Night – dry, but damp and clear skies and it was cold, brrrrr.
Flag Fen
Guess what we did on Wednesday?…….. we went to look at caravans LOL. We had to drive all the way to Peterborough which was a bit of a pain, but it was worth going even if it was more of a tentative look rather than buy.
By complete accident we found Flag Fen whilst we were there which turned out to be really interesting.
Flagg Fen is a Bronze age site which has been excavated. Because of its unique wetland location a lot of the ancient timber work that people would have used 3000 years ago has been preserved by peat and environment. A small portion of this is now on show to the public. The site is far more extensive than just the excavated wood working, and also hosts working examples of Bronze age and Iron age round houses, and even an exposed section of Roman road.
The entry fee is reasonable and I would thoroughly recommend it. Whether you’re just interested in the history or Britain or families with children, there is something there for everyone and we really enjoyed our visit.
For those of you who I know are eagerly awaiting the weather forecast for our Wednesday camping, it might surprise you to find that it was:
Summary:
Wednesday – mostly cloudy (note, no rain!) Night – dry (yahhay! No midnight mud wading when using the site “facilities”)
By complete accident we found Flag Fen whilst we were there which turned out to be really interesting.
Flagg Fen is a Bronze age site which has been excavated. Because of its unique wetland location a lot of the ancient timber work that people would have used 3000 years ago has been preserved by peat and environment. A small portion of this is now on show to the public. The site is far more extensive than just the excavated wood working, and also hosts working examples of Bronze age and Iron age round houses, and even an exposed section of Roman road.
The entry fee is reasonable and I would thoroughly recommend it. Whether you’re just interested in the history or Britain or families with children, there is something there for everyone and we really enjoyed our visit.
For those of you who I know are eagerly awaiting the weather forecast for our Wednesday camping, it might surprise you to find that it was:
Summary:
Wednesday – mostly cloudy (note, no rain!) Night – dry (yahhay! No midnight mud wading when using the site “facilities”)
Rain drops keep falling on my tent.....
Ohh my goodness, I really do have the strangest dreams. Only a week or so ago I had a dream about cabbage of all things, and the first night we’re away, what do I dream of? Penguins playing the woodwind section in an orchestra!? What on earth? Ohhhh yes, they were all there playing clarinets, flutes, oboes, you name it. Frankly, I think I’m just odd!
Anyway, back to the camping. Monday came and went without any great dramas, it was wet again, but nothing we didn’t really expect. Squelching across muddy grass is beginning to become second nature now – Crocks are just the most essential camping footwear!! Okay so they are a bit ugly, but they really do come into their own when camping.
On Tuesday we met with my parents for a belated birthday lunch for mum. We had a fabulous meal at the Cricketers in Clavering – Jamie Oliver’s parents own it and my mum just so happens to know the manager there. It was very nice, and we managed to have a few minutes sat outside afterwards, that is to say, until it started to rain – again!
In summary:
Monday – rain Night – more rain
Tuesady – mostly rain Night – this should be no real surprise, rain! But no weird dreams, or at least not that I can remember. Perhaps I should be grateful for small mercies.
Anyway, back to the camping. Monday came and went without any great dramas, it was wet again, but nothing we didn’t really expect. Squelching across muddy grass is beginning to become second nature now – Crocks are just the most essential camping footwear!! Okay so they are a bit ugly, but they really do come into their own when camping.
On Tuesday we met with my parents for a belated birthday lunch for mum. We had a fabulous meal at the Cricketers in Clavering – Jamie Oliver’s parents own it and my mum just so happens to know the manager there. It was very nice, and we managed to have a few minutes sat outside afterwards, that is to say, until it started to rain – again!
In summary:
Monday – rain Night – more rain
Tuesady – mostly rain Night – this should be no real surprise, rain! But no weird dreams, or at least not that I can remember. Perhaps I should be grateful for small mercies.
Camping in September!?
Ahh its been a while since I put anything on here so thought I should do something…..
Two weeks ago we went camping, and yes, if you’re wondering, it was very wet, and basically mostly cold too. Ever since we bought a tent (last July) it has rained. Not exactly all the time you understand, but on and off and the UK has had the worst weather “since records began” or so we are lead to believe. Thankfully, I don’t hold myself entirely responsible for this phenomenon as my friends bought a tent at roughly the same time so I feel we can both share the guilt, although I have to admit there is a certain degree of irony with this coincidence.
Camping in September admittedly could really go one way or the other with weather – and this time it was most certainly the “other”. We weren’t even sure if we really wanted to go and it was very tempting to stay snuggled up in bed on the Sunday we were due to leave. However, we prized ourselves out of nice warm environment and packed up and went.
3 hours later, and after doing a complete around trip of Surrey – just don’t ask….. we arrived at the campsite in Cambridge. Checked in, found the driest pitch we could with the help of the lady who checked us in and set up our tent. I would like to add at this point that all the time we were setting up we could hear thunder in the distance and there was a very ominous looking black cloud making its way in our direction.
Luck however was on our side it seemed, and the black cloud that appeared to be quite rapidly eating up the sky moved itself all the way around the campsite but didn’t once actually rain on it! Yahhay - We stayed dry! Although…….. perhaps that was a bit optimistic. That night it rained almost all night.
In summary:
Day one – dryish. Night one – wet. How expensive are caravans?
Two weeks ago we went camping, and yes, if you’re wondering, it was very wet, and basically mostly cold too. Ever since we bought a tent (last July) it has rained. Not exactly all the time you understand, but on and off and the UK has had the worst weather “since records began” or so we are lead to believe. Thankfully, I don’t hold myself entirely responsible for this phenomenon as my friends bought a tent at roughly the same time so I feel we can both share the guilt, although I have to admit there is a certain degree of irony with this coincidence.
Camping in September admittedly could really go one way or the other with weather – and this time it was most certainly the “other”. We weren’t even sure if we really wanted to go and it was very tempting to stay snuggled up in bed on the Sunday we were due to leave. However, we prized ourselves out of nice warm environment and packed up and went.
3 hours later, and after doing a complete around trip of Surrey – just don’t ask….. we arrived at the campsite in Cambridge. Checked in, found the driest pitch we could with the help of the lady who checked us in and set up our tent. I would like to add at this point that all the time we were setting up we could hear thunder in the distance and there was a very ominous looking black cloud making its way in our direction.
Luck however was on our side it seemed, and the black cloud that appeared to be quite rapidly eating up the sky moved itself all the way around the campsite but didn’t once actually rain on it! Yahhay - We stayed dry! Although…….. perhaps that was a bit optimistic. That night it rained almost all night.
In summary:
Day one – dryish. Night one – wet. How expensive are caravans?
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Dreaming…..?
For those who know me this will come as no shock whatsoever, but I do have the strangest dreams. So, I’ve decided to try, when I remember and when I can be bothered to document them on here – my blog.
Since I had a very strange dream last night I thought, “there is no time like the present!” and thought I would start now, so here goes….
I actually had two dreams last night, but I’ll document only one of them.
My husband and I love camping, and well, in this dream we were camping but instead of a tent we had quite a well equipped camper van – which is fine, but I don’t think I’ve actually ever been in one. We were sitting down to dinner, when Rory Bremner (with his wife/partner) knocked on our door. We ended up going back to their tent where he presented us with a cabbage. The cabbage was ceremoniously taken back to our “well equipped” camper van, shredded and then cooked.
Any ideas where that came from? Hmm, I thought not.
I’ll be perfectly honest, this was the strangest dream I’ve had for some time – thank goodness for that!
Since I had a very strange dream last night I thought, “there is no time like the present!” and thought I would start now, so here goes….
I actually had two dreams last night, but I’ll document only one of them.
My husband and I love camping, and well, in this dream we were camping but instead of a tent we had quite a well equipped camper van – which is fine, but I don’t think I’ve actually ever been in one. We were sitting down to dinner, when Rory Bremner (with his wife/partner) knocked on our door. We ended up going back to their tent where he presented us with a cabbage. The cabbage was ceremoniously taken back to our “well equipped” camper van, shredded and then cooked.
Any ideas where that came from? Hmm, I thought not.
I’ll be perfectly honest, this was the strangest dream I’ve had for some time – thank goodness for that!
Invites for Mum & Dad’s Ruby Wedding Anniversary
Well, as promised, here is a picture of the invites! Not complicated, simple but nice I think – it was the border on the right hand side that gave me the headache, but everything done now and everyone happy.
I enjoy making the invitations, although it always takes me a while to get going. But I enjoy putting them together and even don’t mind the repetitiveness of doing them and its always nice seeing the end result. When you see them all piled up there is a lovely feeling of satisfaction, not only did I design and make them, they always look more professional than I ever imagined and it makes me smile.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
We’ve turned into children again!
Two weeks ago we bought, or rather invested in a Wii – the gaming machine that licenses adults to be childish. But. for all its simplicity, its really captured us - although we have, for all intensive purposes regressed to 8 year olds since having this machine in our living room. Having said that we have had the biggest amount of fun we’ve had in years and its brought out a competitive streak in the two of us which just makes us laugh.
We have just got the Summer Athletics game which is just madness and is affectively Nintendo’s answer to a game covering the Olympics. God only knows what anyone walking past our front room window must think if they look in when we’re playing on it. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re expecting something to happen or not, but it takes you by surprise and then there’s a frantic movement needed to achieve the desired effect. I’m sure we’ll master it eventually but at the moment I would settle for knowing how to dive and enter the pool without looking like some sort of demented spider, and as for the tipple jump….. well, it doesn’t bear thinking about.
Well, I’m sure I’ll ache tomorrow……
We have just got the Summer Athletics game which is just madness and is affectively Nintendo’s answer to a game covering the Olympics. God only knows what anyone walking past our front room window must think if they look in when we’re playing on it. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re expecting something to happen or not, but it takes you by surprise and then there’s a frantic movement needed to achieve the desired effect. I’m sure we’ll master it eventually but at the moment I would settle for knowing how to dive and enter the pool without looking like some sort of demented spider, and as for the tipple jump….. well, it doesn’t bear thinking about.
Well, I’m sure I’ll ache tomorrow……
Why?
For the first time in a few days I actually left work on time today and rushed home to do the invitations for my mum and dad’s 40th wedding anniversary next month.
All was going well until, I managed to break the punch I was using to create the border on the cards…. They only wanted 10, I’ve managed 9! How incredibly frustrating. I mean if it had broken after doing 2, that would have been bad, but after 9 – it just added insult to injury.
After a bit of a panicked phone call to my parents the crisis is averted as they will manage with only nine. Phew!! I’ll post a picture when I’ve finished them.
All was going well until, I managed to break the punch I was using to create the border on the cards…. They only wanted 10, I’ve managed 9! How incredibly frustrating. I mean if it had broken after doing 2, that would have been bad, but after 9 – it just added insult to injury.
After a bit of a panicked phone call to my parents the crisis is averted as they will manage with only nine. Phew!! I’ll post a picture when I’ve finished them.
Monday, 18 August 2008
Tomatoes Update
Well, our first season of tomato growing has not been as bad as we had envisaged. The picture shows just one weeks worth! And we’ve not had to buy any for a few weeks now…. So, less expenditure, and those who read my previous post, you will be thrilled to hear – NO PLASTIC!
The Green Quest
Well, I’m on the “going greener” band wagon again.
I’ve been reading an article on the BBC website about one of their reporters who is trying to not buy any new plastic for an entire month. It means that she is trying to not buy anything that has plastic in it, around it or on it.
Its made exceptionally interesting reading, and its made me think. So much so, this weekend on our usual shopping trip (without the last antics of tantrums and parking worries) I tried, and failed rather spectacularly, to not buy plastic.
I think it’s a great thing that this person at the BBC is doing, and from other blogs and comments I’ve read can see the real benefits of not using plastic, but at the same time I think we have to be at least a little bit realistic.
For the vast majority of us who shop at the usual large supermarkets shopping without plastic is virtually impossible, as discovered by me at the weekend. We came away with just one thing that didn’t have some kind of plastic in its packaging – bananas. And I’m sure that if I really investigated the true origin of those it would involve plastic of one type or another at some stage in their growing and shipping life, not to mention the obvious food miles its taken to get them to the store.
It really is amazing to think that so much of what we consider perfectly normal and ordinary has a wrapping on it that is threatening to wrap our world.
I’ve been reading an article on the BBC website about one of their reporters who is trying to not buy any new plastic for an entire month. It means that she is trying to not buy anything that has plastic in it, around it or on it.
Its made exceptionally interesting reading, and its made me think. So much so, this weekend on our usual shopping trip (without the last antics of tantrums and parking worries) I tried, and failed rather spectacularly, to not buy plastic.
I think it’s a great thing that this person at the BBC is doing, and from other blogs and comments I’ve read can see the real benefits of not using plastic, but at the same time I think we have to be at least a little bit realistic.
For the vast majority of us who shop at the usual large supermarkets shopping without plastic is virtually impossible, as discovered by me at the weekend. We came away with just one thing that didn’t have some kind of plastic in its packaging – bananas. And I’m sure that if I really investigated the true origin of those it would involve plastic of one type or another at some stage in their growing and shipping life, not to mention the obvious food miles its taken to get them to the store.
It really is amazing to think that so much of what we consider perfectly normal and ordinary has a wrapping on it that is threatening to wrap our world.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Growing Pains
Well, in our bid to be more environmentally friendly, and also to try and reduce the shopping bill, we’re growing our own veg. Not wanting to take on too much we’re only trying some simple salad type things – radishes, spring onions, tomatoes, chilli, peppers, and various herbs.
So, here are some pictures of how they’re coming on so far…. I don’t think we’re exactly going to feed the fivethousand here, but, for our first growing attempt, I don’t think we’re really doing too bad.
So, here are some pictures of how they’re coming on so far…. I don’t think we’re exactly going to feed the fivethousand here, but, for our first growing attempt, I don’t think we’re really doing too bad.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Food for Thought
Well, following on from my last topic of Organic food v Supermarket food, I would like, I suppose, to have a bit of a rant about supermarket shopping generally.
Today, we tried to go shopping – for normal stuff, salad, bread etc. After categorically stating I would never go back to our local Tesco after last weeks chaos, we went to our less than local Tesco Extra store.
I suppose I should really explain what happened last weekend before continuing…. We got to Tesco, queued to get into the car park, managed to grab one of the last few trolleys that were left, and then proceeded to manoeuvre around the hoards of people that seemed to have descended on the store. At one point I got so frustrated by the whole experience I stood in the middle of isle blocked with people, trolleys and internet shopping staff and said “I hate this Tesco, I really, really hate it! I hate it soooo much, I swear to God I am NEVER coming back here!!” and I meant every word and hadn’t exactly said it quietly. There were a few raised eyebrows from other shoppers, although I did get one knowing nod from the lady who was squashed next to one of the shelves. Then as if to add an extra evil twist, we then had queue to get out of the car park.
Anyway, back to this week…. We got to Tesco Extra, and queued to get into the car park (again), drove around the car park not finding a parking space twice before leaving and feeling frustrated. Still needing shopping, we decided to try something completely different and go even further a filed and go to Morrisons. Got there, found a parking space relatively easily, and feeling hopeful entered the store. We were met by utter madness. People everywhere! And of course, now it becomes clear why the entire world was out shopping today, its Mothers Day tomorrow. The basket that we had picked up on the way in was quickly abandoned in an isle and we left hurriedly, and once again shopping-less and feeling frustrated.
Ok, so, “third time lucky” they say, we made our approach to supermarket number three – Sainsbury. So far it looked good, no queuing to get in, we found a parking space easily, even picked up a trolley without any problems. Then we entered the store…. For the first time in the past two weeks, shopping actually wasn’t the traumatic experience we were preparing ourselves for, it was fine! We came away with all the shopping we wanted with a minimum of fuss, but feeling relieved that we had actually finally achieved what we had set out about 2 hours earlier to do.
I guess, my question really is, why on earth is shopping like this. It shouldn’t be. Everyone has to do it, and we can now do this 7 days a week and quite often 24 hours a day. So why is it at the weekend, when everyone should be doing “fun” shopping in town for clothes etc. are they now going to Tesco, Asda and all the other big supermarkets. To me this really doesn’t make sense. Is it that society is getting greedier? or is that more people are working between Monday and Friday so the weekend is the only opportunity? Is it the fault of the supermarket or consumer? – Why? And when did this happen? It hasn’t always been like this.
I am perhaps over analysing this social hobbit a little too much, but the sheer frustration and annoyance we went though today is beginning to be a regular thing and am really beginning to understand the popularity of internet shopping (although that in itself poses questions – if more people are grocery shopping online, whey are they at supermarkets as well?).
Exploring a couple of these ideas, the supermarkets certainly don’t seem to help the whole shopping experience at times. Parking is obviously important, especially if the store is out of town, but is it absolutely necessary to cram cars in like sardines in a can? This I know isn’t solely restricted to supermarkets, as I recall recently getting into a parking space at a local shopping outlet and not being able to open the doors of our car wide enough to get out. It does seem that unless you have Smart car, its virtually impossible to park in a sensible sized parking space.
It also seems that as these stores get bigger and, obviously want to stock more products, the isles get smaller and smaller. I may as well also point out, whey do they put fruit and veg at the front of the store when all the heavy stuff is at the back – so, you put all your nice fresh soft and squashy fruit and veg in the bottom of the trolley and then pile in the bottles and frozen goods on top? Is this really practical?
Consumers play an equally big part in making grocery shopping quite unbearable. The bigger the trolley the ruder people seem to get! Is there any reason why people can’t just use the words “excuse me” when reaching for something you’re stood in front of? Or, equally say “sorry” when they ram you with their basket? And whilst on the subject of consumers, what on earth do people do with the quantities of things they buy? Admittedly, we have no children, and although are on a tight budget we can more or less not have to think too hard about how much we buy to put in the freezer. But it does astound me when I see people buy goods in the quantities they do – what do you do with 48 packets of crisps?
What worries me is that there used to be trends in shopping, Christmas, Easter, Public Holidays, would always increase supermarket popularity. Now every day is the same. It does seem to me that people and stores alike are getting greedier. Consumers with the goods they buy, and stores with the goods they sell and profits they make. Is there an end? Will things change with people being encouraged to ditch cars for a more eco-friendly mode of transport? Questions, I’m sure, that will get answered in time. I can only hope, however, that shopping in the future will not be the experience I am now finding it.
Today, we tried to go shopping – for normal stuff, salad, bread etc. After categorically stating I would never go back to our local Tesco after last weeks chaos, we went to our less than local Tesco Extra store.
I suppose I should really explain what happened last weekend before continuing…. We got to Tesco, queued to get into the car park, managed to grab one of the last few trolleys that were left, and then proceeded to manoeuvre around the hoards of people that seemed to have descended on the store. At one point I got so frustrated by the whole experience I stood in the middle of isle blocked with people, trolleys and internet shopping staff and said “I hate this Tesco, I really, really hate it! I hate it soooo much, I swear to God I am NEVER coming back here!!” and I meant every word and hadn’t exactly said it quietly. There were a few raised eyebrows from other shoppers, although I did get one knowing nod from the lady who was squashed next to one of the shelves. Then as if to add an extra evil twist, we then had queue to get out of the car park.
Anyway, back to this week…. We got to Tesco Extra, and queued to get into the car park (again), drove around the car park not finding a parking space twice before leaving and feeling frustrated. Still needing shopping, we decided to try something completely different and go even further a filed and go to Morrisons. Got there, found a parking space relatively easily, and feeling hopeful entered the store. We were met by utter madness. People everywhere! And of course, now it becomes clear why the entire world was out shopping today, its Mothers Day tomorrow. The basket that we had picked up on the way in was quickly abandoned in an isle and we left hurriedly, and once again shopping-less and feeling frustrated.
Ok, so, “third time lucky” they say, we made our approach to supermarket number three – Sainsbury. So far it looked good, no queuing to get in, we found a parking space easily, even picked up a trolley without any problems. Then we entered the store…. For the first time in the past two weeks, shopping actually wasn’t the traumatic experience we were preparing ourselves for, it was fine! We came away with all the shopping we wanted with a minimum of fuss, but feeling relieved that we had actually finally achieved what we had set out about 2 hours earlier to do.
I guess, my question really is, why on earth is shopping like this. It shouldn’t be. Everyone has to do it, and we can now do this 7 days a week and quite often 24 hours a day. So why is it at the weekend, when everyone should be doing “fun” shopping in town for clothes etc. are they now going to Tesco, Asda and all the other big supermarkets. To me this really doesn’t make sense. Is it that society is getting greedier? or is that more people are working between Monday and Friday so the weekend is the only opportunity? Is it the fault of the supermarket or consumer? – Why? And when did this happen? It hasn’t always been like this.
I am perhaps over analysing this social hobbit a little too much, but the sheer frustration and annoyance we went though today is beginning to be a regular thing and am really beginning to understand the popularity of internet shopping (although that in itself poses questions – if more people are grocery shopping online, whey are they at supermarkets as well?).
Exploring a couple of these ideas, the supermarkets certainly don’t seem to help the whole shopping experience at times. Parking is obviously important, especially if the store is out of town, but is it absolutely necessary to cram cars in like sardines in a can? This I know isn’t solely restricted to supermarkets, as I recall recently getting into a parking space at a local shopping outlet and not being able to open the doors of our car wide enough to get out. It does seem that unless you have Smart car, its virtually impossible to park in a sensible sized parking space.
It also seems that as these stores get bigger and, obviously want to stock more products, the isles get smaller and smaller. I may as well also point out, whey do they put fruit and veg at the front of the store when all the heavy stuff is at the back – so, you put all your nice fresh soft and squashy fruit and veg in the bottom of the trolley and then pile in the bottles and frozen goods on top? Is this really practical?
Consumers play an equally big part in making grocery shopping quite unbearable. The bigger the trolley the ruder people seem to get! Is there any reason why people can’t just use the words “excuse me” when reaching for something you’re stood in front of? Or, equally say “sorry” when they ram you with their basket? And whilst on the subject of consumers, what on earth do people do with the quantities of things they buy? Admittedly, we have no children, and although are on a tight budget we can more or less not have to think too hard about how much we buy to put in the freezer. But it does astound me when I see people buy goods in the quantities they do – what do you do with 48 packets of crisps?
What worries me is that there used to be trends in shopping, Christmas, Easter, Public Holidays, would always increase supermarket popularity. Now every day is the same. It does seem to me that people and stores alike are getting greedier. Consumers with the goods they buy, and stores with the goods they sell and profits they make. Is there an end? Will things change with people being encouraged to ditch cars for a more eco-friendly mode of transport? Questions, I’m sure, that will get answered in time. I can only hope, however, that shopping in the future will not be the experience I am now finding it.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Food Update
Well, we had our Venison last night and actually it was delicious. Not too dissimilar to beef really, but with a slightly different flavour. I did a garlic and mustard mash to go with it along with a pepper sauce (although that was a packet so I cheated a bit there). Its an expensive treat but I would recommend it!
Tonight we are having the garlic chicken – hmmm, I’m going to be popular in the office tomorrow with all this garlic LOL. We’re cooking it with a stirfry so hopefully they’ll go together ok.
Tonight we are having the garlic chicken – hmmm, I’m going to be popular in the office tomorrow with all this garlic LOL. We’re cooking it with a stirfry so hopefully they’ll go together ok.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Organic V Supermarket
Ok, well, for my first entry into my blog in 2008, I thought I would start with something a bit different – Organic Produce.
Today we basically did the rounds where food shopping is concerned. We started at about 10am this morning with a farm shop selling a small selection of just about everything including a butcher and a fishmonger.
I must admit, that this was not the first farm shop we had been to and I if I’m honest, I think I prefer the other one. But, we did get a few things, chicken, and some salad bits. We got these amazing Spanish tomatoes (although I’m sure that isn’t good for “food miles”) which were absolutely fantastic. The chicken we’ve not sampled yet, but its currently stinking out our fridge with garlic as it had been marinated.
We then went on to an organic butcher, and I have to say their meat looked amazing – I don’t think I’ve ever seen beef like it! We spent quite a lot of money there on not very much frankly. Having said that it was probably our own fault as we bought some venison – God only knows what I’m going to do with it mind you. I’ll keep you all informed!!
Next on the shopping agenda was Tesco and then finally Sainsbury, although Sainsbury was only because we forgot something at Tesco.
It was surprising when comparing what we had bought at the farms to what was in the supermarkets. There was in most cases a complete difference in price, but when we had the salad for tea tonight it was quite clear that the supermarket salad did not have as much flavour as the organic equivalent – I noticed this particularly with the peppers.
Well, I’ll write again tomorrow when we’ve had the venison – wish me luck! Ha ha ha .
Today we basically did the rounds where food shopping is concerned. We started at about 10am this morning with a farm shop selling a small selection of just about everything including a butcher and a fishmonger.
I must admit, that this was not the first farm shop we had been to and I if I’m honest, I think I prefer the other one. But, we did get a few things, chicken, and some salad bits. We got these amazing Spanish tomatoes (although I’m sure that isn’t good for “food miles”) which were absolutely fantastic. The chicken we’ve not sampled yet, but its currently stinking out our fridge with garlic as it had been marinated.
We then went on to an organic butcher, and I have to say their meat looked amazing – I don’t think I’ve ever seen beef like it! We spent quite a lot of money there on not very much frankly. Having said that it was probably our own fault as we bought some venison – God only knows what I’m going to do with it mind you. I’ll keep you all informed!!
Next on the shopping agenda was Tesco and then finally Sainsbury, although Sainsbury was only because we forgot something at Tesco.
It was surprising when comparing what we had bought at the farms to what was in the supermarkets. There was in most cases a complete difference in price, but when we had the salad for tea tonight it was quite clear that the supermarket salad did not have as much flavour as the organic equivalent – I noticed this particularly with the peppers.
Well, I’ll write again tomorrow when we’ve had the venison – wish me luck! Ha ha ha .
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Well, ok, its been a couple of months again – I’m just not very good at keeping up with everything that is happening.
Since my last update, on camping, we have actually made it out again! This time we went to Duxford in Cambridgeshire. We had tickets to the Duxford air show and so we made a long weekend of it – in fact, I braved 4 whole nights under canvas!
Despite having a bad cold in the week before we went, once again it was surprisingly good fun, and even though we found that we were in bed by 9 each night (it was September and it was getting dark earlier then) it was fine – still got up half way through the night for the loo though!?
The air show on the Saturday was really good too and Rob took about 40billion pictures of planes LOL, but really enjoyed it.
So, all in all it was a good long weekend.
Since my last update, on camping, we have actually made it out again! This time we went to Duxford in Cambridgeshire. We had tickets to the Duxford air show and so we made a long weekend of it – in fact, I braved 4 whole nights under canvas!
Despite having a bad cold in the week before we went, once again it was surprisingly good fun, and even though we found that we were in bed by 9 each night (it was September and it was getting dark earlier then) it was fine – still got up half way through the night for the loo though!?
The air show on the Saturday was really good too and Rob took about 40billion pictures of planes LOL, but really enjoyed it.
So, all in all it was a good long weekend.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Camping - pt 2
Well, the first night in the open air actually went ok. We weren’t quite brave enough to do a meal on our camping gaz thingy so we had our food at a local shopping centre, but we did manage to get a game of travel scrabble in before snuggling up in bed. We decided we would get a double sleeping bag (Tesco’s are quite reasonably priced!), and despite I really did think there would be lots of spare limbs floating about – everyone has that spare arm that they only find when in bed - it was actually quite cosy, and not as “arms and legs” as I had thought (there’s a pattern emerging here “not as I had thought”?)
One thing that bothered me more than ever is that I did think that I was going to have to get up half way through the night to use those “excellent facilities” this site has, but much to my amazement, midnight was the last time I had to leave out tent, and I have to admit Rob was really sweet and came with me.
Now, something I hadn’t actually mentioned was that it had been raining since about 8pm that evening, so everywhere was beginning to get quite wet and squelchy by the time midnight came about. So, we squelched to the loo at midnight, after being in bed for about an hour, and probably just getting to sleep. But that being said, once again it really wasn’t really that bad and once back in bed, the morning came around quite quickly and I found I had made it through the night, without being eaten by anything and with actually getting more sleep than I had thought I would have! I don’t want to admit this, but this really isn’t that bad (keep this quite, but I actually quite enjoyed it!)
One thing that bothered me more than ever is that I did think that I was going to have to get up half way through the night to use those “excellent facilities” this site has, but much to my amazement, midnight was the last time I had to leave out tent, and I have to admit Rob was really sweet and came with me.
Now, something I hadn’t actually mentioned was that it had been raining since about 8pm that evening, so everywhere was beginning to get quite wet and squelchy by the time midnight came about. So, we squelched to the loo at midnight, after being in bed for about an hour, and probably just getting to sleep. But that being said, once again it really wasn’t really that bad and once back in bed, the morning came around quite quickly and I found I had made it through the night, without being eaten by anything and with actually getting more sleep than I had thought I would have! I don’t want to admit this, but this really isn’t that bad (keep this quite, but I actually quite enjoyed it!)
Its been a while - but here's to camping!
I know! Its be simply ages since I last updated my blog, but, well, things have been rather hectic…. although, saying that I really don’t have that much to write about.
Anyway, here is your long awaited instalment of my life……………
In true British style, we have made an exceptionally brave decision and invested in some camping equipment! Most people who know me are probably staring dumbfounded at the computer screen now as this is something that I wouldn’t have even contemplated before. But, after a rather nightmareish few weeks at work and an even worse month end at work, I feel that a weekend camping is better than a weekend thinking about work and being at home. And so, equipment bought we have ventured out on our first weekend experience of the out door life.
Of course, I hasten to add its basically poured with rain ever since we bought everything – only we could think of doing this in probably the wettest year the UK has ever experienced.
That being said we have visited our first campsite and had a fairly successful weekend. Once I had got over the fact that it wasn’t at all like the film Carry on Camping I actually discovered it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined.
The “facilities” were actually excellent, and the showers had under floor heating, and as an added luxury that I didn’t think actually existed, lockable doors on the shower cubicles.
Of course, me being me had forgotten to take a hair brush with me, and the first thing I did when we had successfully put up the tent without any arguments, was have a shower and wash my hair (not realising before hand that I hadn’t actually packed that all important hair brush).
My hair, being quite thick, quite fine, and quite long (half way down my back), didn’t take long to accurately look like bushy and unkempt. Rob, much to his amusement I think, made me stay like that until we went to Tesco the next day where I could purchase a brush! Arghh.
Anyway, here is your long awaited instalment of my life……………
In true British style, we have made an exceptionally brave decision and invested in some camping equipment! Most people who know me are probably staring dumbfounded at the computer screen now as this is something that I wouldn’t have even contemplated before. But, after a rather nightmareish few weeks at work and an even worse month end at work, I feel that a weekend camping is better than a weekend thinking about work and being at home. And so, equipment bought we have ventured out on our first weekend experience of the out door life.
Of course, I hasten to add its basically poured with rain ever since we bought everything – only we could think of doing this in probably the wettest year the UK has ever experienced.
That being said we have visited our first campsite and had a fairly successful weekend. Once I had got over the fact that it wasn’t at all like the film Carry on Camping I actually discovered it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined.
The “facilities” were actually excellent, and the showers had under floor heating, and as an added luxury that I didn’t think actually existed, lockable doors on the shower cubicles.
Of course, me being me had forgotten to take a hair brush with me, and the first thing I did when we had successfully put up the tent without any arguments, was have a shower and wash my hair (not realising before hand that I hadn’t actually packed that all important hair brush).
My hair, being quite thick, quite fine, and quite long (half way down my back), didn’t take long to accurately look like bushy and unkempt. Rob, much to his amusement I think, made me stay like that until we went to Tesco the next day where I could purchase a brush! Arghh.
Monday, 2 July 2007
Thursday - PT2 Hurst Castle
We eventually got to Hurst Castle at about lunch time.
The castle is on a spit of land in the Solent channel. This basically means that there is a sort of island shaped bit of land connected to the mainland by a line of shingle, sand and stone. The Spit creates a sheltered bay from the onslaught of the sea in the English Channel and ultimately the Atlantic.
The weather, being a rather typically British coastal type of weather, was gray and windy – but, it actually wasn’t really that cold and to our great relief it wasn’t raining.
We had picked up a sandwich on route and when we parked the car in one of those car parks that you get in coastal towns and we sat facing the sea, watching the waves and gray clouds and ate our what my mum would call a picnic (although it bore very little resemblance to anything I would call a picnic). We both agreed that we felt about 80 years old sitting there. It was the type of thing you always see the “older generation” do. Sitting in the car, watching the greyness and drinking dish water coloured tea from a Thurmos flask in a tartan pattern which you could only buy in the late 70’s – as if having, and indeed using, something that old is a way of trying to stubbornly defy the advancing years.
Looking around….. we had one of those sort of, Victor Meldrew moments “I don’t beeeelieve it!” there it was, a Crawley Luxury coach – ohhh GOD, is there no escape from home!? Wondering who, or what, we would bump into we left the relative comfort and safety of the car for our 1.5 mile walk along the shingle/stones to Hurst Castle.
The wind felt as though it was going at about 1 million miles an hour, but of course it wasn’t. Having said that, both of us was almost deaf by the time reached even the 1/3 point because of the wind. 1.5 miles really isn’t that far, until you’ve walked it on soft shingle/stones. Bearing in mind that we had pretty much walked a minimum of 3 miles almost every day on holiday, this should have been a walk in the park – I have NEVER been so grateful to see a castle drawbridge in all my life! I imagine that on a nice day it was probably quite nice, however on our gray and miserable day it was just damn hard work. But, lets try and be positive, it wasn’t raining!?
Wohhha! the castle was much bigger than I had thought. It was first built and used by Henry VIII as one of his many South Coast defences, and then it was used, pretty much throughout time and extended for WW1 and then again for WWII.
Getting there was basically a bit of a relief. Right, first things first, where’s the café? We neeeeed a hot coffee! Paying our entrance (even though we are members of English Herritage, I forgot the passes – another bone of contention), we made our way to the Naffi (or Café). Understandably it wasn’t exactly packed with people, until that is, a group of Private School teenage girls arrived with their posh accents and permanent giggles – we tried to make a hasty exit before the entire place was stampeded.
The castle was great. We chose to look around the WWI and WWII parts first, and saw cannons that were tested in Malta for their power before moving them to Hurst and “active” service. There was lots to see and a lot of the rooms were open to explore. Going into one room, and looking around we found ourselves joined by a couple of the “lar de dar” bunch. Both giggling, one of the girls said to Rob “you should look up into that hole there….. its sooooo dark….”Rob of course did what she said, and then told her what it would have been used for – “its for moving ammunition from a safe room to where it can be used – it’s a lift shaft”. She actually looked quite surprised (huh, can’t have that good schooling then!?). They giggled and left the room. We also left, walking around to the next room.
Rob, walked to the corner – low and behold, there was an identical looking hole here too! (you can see where this is going can’t you?). Hearing more giggling, but this time emanating from the hole in the wall, the mischievous came out in the both of us…… Rob signalled to me to be quiet, and both of us looked to the floor. As if something had read our minds, there it was a small, but perfectly formed stone….. Rob picked it up and threw it down the shaft in the wall….. Ha ha! Have that – hope you don’t watch Most Haunted!? There was a scream and a “ohhh my God, what was that!?”, and then more giggling and a lot of hasty footsteps. Rob and I walked away, as if from a scene of a crime, trying to look innocent and trying to hide the smug satisfaction we both had.
Honestly, we are over the age of 10! Although, maybe there is a good reason for being asked for ID when buying Neuophen……
The castle is on a spit of land in the Solent channel. This basically means that there is a sort of island shaped bit of land connected to the mainland by a line of shingle, sand and stone. The Spit creates a sheltered bay from the onslaught of the sea in the English Channel and ultimately the Atlantic.
The weather, being a rather typically British coastal type of weather, was gray and windy – but, it actually wasn’t really that cold and to our great relief it wasn’t raining.
We had picked up a sandwich on route and when we parked the car in one of those car parks that you get in coastal towns and we sat facing the sea, watching the waves and gray clouds and ate our what my mum would call a picnic (although it bore very little resemblance to anything I would call a picnic). We both agreed that we felt about 80 years old sitting there. It was the type of thing you always see the “older generation” do. Sitting in the car, watching the greyness and drinking dish water coloured tea from a Thurmos flask in a tartan pattern which you could only buy in the late 70’s – as if having, and indeed using, something that old is a way of trying to stubbornly defy the advancing years.
Looking around….. we had one of those sort of, Victor Meldrew moments “I don’t beeeelieve it!” there it was, a Crawley Luxury coach – ohhh GOD, is there no escape from home!? Wondering who, or what, we would bump into we left the relative comfort and safety of the car for our 1.5 mile walk along the shingle/stones to Hurst Castle.
The wind felt as though it was going at about 1 million miles an hour, but of course it wasn’t. Having said that, both of us was almost deaf by the time reached even the 1/3 point because of the wind. 1.5 miles really isn’t that far, until you’ve walked it on soft shingle/stones. Bearing in mind that we had pretty much walked a minimum of 3 miles almost every day on holiday, this should have been a walk in the park – I have NEVER been so grateful to see a castle drawbridge in all my life! I imagine that on a nice day it was probably quite nice, however on our gray and miserable day it was just damn hard work. But, lets try and be positive, it wasn’t raining!?
Wohhha! the castle was much bigger than I had thought. It was first built and used by Henry VIII as one of his many South Coast defences, and then it was used, pretty much throughout time and extended for WW1 and then again for WWII.
Getting there was basically a bit of a relief. Right, first things first, where’s the café? We neeeeed a hot coffee! Paying our entrance (even though we are members of English Herritage, I forgot the passes – another bone of contention), we made our way to the Naffi (or Café). Understandably it wasn’t exactly packed with people, until that is, a group of Private School teenage girls arrived with their posh accents and permanent giggles – we tried to make a hasty exit before the entire place was stampeded.
The castle was great. We chose to look around the WWI and WWII parts first, and saw cannons that were tested in Malta for their power before moving them to Hurst and “active” service. There was lots to see and a lot of the rooms were open to explore. Going into one room, and looking around we found ourselves joined by a couple of the “lar de dar” bunch. Both giggling, one of the girls said to Rob “you should look up into that hole there….. its sooooo dark….”Rob of course did what she said, and then told her what it would have been used for – “its for moving ammunition from a safe room to where it can be used – it’s a lift shaft”. She actually looked quite surprised (huh, can’t have that good schooling then!?). They giggled and left the room. We also left, walking around to the next room.
Rob, walked to the corner – low and behold, there was an identical looking hole here too! (you can see where this is going can’t you?). Hearing more giggling, but this time emanating from the hole in the wall, the mischievous came out in the both of us…… Rob signalled to me to be quiet, and both of us looked to the floor. As if something had read our minds, there it was a small, but perfectly formed stone….. Rob picked it up and threw it down the shaft in the wall….. Ha ha! Have that – hope you don’t watch Most Haunted!? There was a scream and a “ohhh my God, what was that!?”, and then more giggling and a lot of hasty footsteps. Rob and I walked away, as if from a scene of a crime, trying to look innocent and trying to hide the smug satisfaction we both had.
Honestly, we are over the age of 10! Although, maybe there is a good reason for being asked for ID when buying Neuophen……
Thursday - PT1
Rob wanted to show me where he had been on his cycle ride the night before so we went out for a bit of a ride in the car before setting off for Hurst Castle.
The road that Rob used, was actually closed for maintenance that day so it meant that we had to go a different route through the village and in turn that meant that we couldn’t quite follow the route Rob had taken. After a few wrong turns we actually ended up in somewhere called ………… It was a really pretty little town, with lots of “chocolate box” looking houses, with thatched roofs and black beams, and although were effectively terraced style houses, were all slightly different heights.
We decided to stop and pick up a couple of things from their local small, but adequately stocked, supermarket to save us going out when we returned home from Hurst. Rob waited in the car outside and I ran in to grab the things we needed, I actually only picked up a packet of Neorphen and some water in the end.
Checking the size of the queue when I entered the shop as I was aware of Rob waiting outside, I grabbed the most important things (nerophen and water) and joined the queue – it might be baring in mind that there was only 2 people waiting when I walked in, and when I joined the queue there was then only one. I waited, and the two people serving, chatted to their customers quite happily. Then one of the customers asked if the assistant could check the price of something before making the long, drawn out, and painful decision of whether to buy it or not, then one of them walked off and came back again….. by this time the lady in front of me was beginning to fidget and I was beginning to randomly look around at things thinking “what the hell was the delay, could they not see that there were people waiting?”. Eventually after about 20 minutes, and you have to remember that the lady in front of me was there when I walked in (so how long she had actually been waiting is beyond me), she actually got served (and lets have a round of applause!). By this time of course, the poor woman in front of me had almost gone gray we had been waiting so long, and I had begun to take root.
Finally I got my turn at the till – ohh the relief! - and then, as if the wait hadn’t been bad enough (will this torture never end, I only want to buy two items), the lady serving me looked at the other till operator and said “what is the age limit to buy pain relief like nerophen?”. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, I looked back at her in almost disbelief as she repeated the question to her colleague. My patience level dropped to an all time low and I snapped back “I’m thirty-bloody-three!” she looked at me as if I had just said the worst possible thing in the whole world and said “well you can’t be too sure these days” and then sought confirmation from the other lady…… my response “seriously, you are joking?” and then came the sarcasm, “you’re implying I look about 15 – errr, I don’t think so!” - I almost wish I had added the “bovvvvvvered?” to the end of that of the, I don’t think so - thankfully, however, I didn’t. She sort of stared me, and rung through the water and the neurophen tablets and then said “you should take it as a compliment really”. That just about did it for me, I almost threw a five pound note at her, picked up the items and stompped out of the shop shaking my head.
Thinking back….. perhaps that’s exactly what a 15 year old would have done LOL
Of course, because I had been so flipping long in the shop, when we finally left the town to go to Hurst Castle we both needed the loo, so we ended up going back to the apartment!
The road that Rob used, was actually closed for maintenance that day so it meant that we had to go a different route through the village and in turn that meant that we couldn’t quite follow the route Rob had taken. After a few wrong turns we actually ended up in somewhere called ………… It was a really pretty little town, with lots of “chocolate box” looking houses, with thatched roofs and black beams, and although were effectively terraced style houses, were all slightly different heights.
We decided to stop and pick up a couple of things from their local small, but adequately stocked, supermarket to save us going out when we returned home from Hurst. Rob waited in the car outside and I ran in to grab the things we needed, I actually only picked up a packet of Neorphen and some water in the end.
Checking the size of the queue when I entered the shop as I was aware of Rob waiting outside, I grabbed the most important things (nerophen and water) and joined the queue – it might be baring in mind that there was only 2 people waiting when I walked in, and when I joined the queue there was then only one. I waited, and the two people serving, chatted to their customers quite happily. Then one of the customers asked if the assistant could check the price of something before making the long, drawn out, and painful decision of whether to buy it or not, then one of them walked off and came back again….. by this time the lady in front of me was beginning to fidget and I was beginning to randomly look around at things thinking “what the hell was the delay, could they not see that there were people waiting?”. Eventually after about 20 minutes, and you have to remember that the lady in front of me was there when I walked in (so how long she had actually been waiting is beyond me), she actually got served (and lets have a round of applause!). By this time of course, the poor woman in front of me had almost gone gray we had been waiting so long, and I had begun to take root.
Finally I got my turn at the till – ohh the relief! - and then, as if the wait hadn’t been bad enough (will this torture never end, I only want to buy two items), the lady serving me looked at the other till operator and said “what is the age limit to buy pain relief like nerophen?”. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, I looked back at her in almost disbelief as she repeated the question to her colleague. My patience level dropped to an all time low and I snapped back “I’m thirty-bloody-three!” she looked at me as if I had just said the worst possible thing in the whole world and said “well you can’t be too sure these days” and then sought confirmation from the other lady…… my response “seriously, you are joking?” and then came the sarcasm, “you’re implying I look about 15 – errr, I don’t think so!” - I almost wish I had added the “bovvvvvvered?” to the end of that of the, I don’t think so - thankfully, however, I didn’t. She sort of stared me, and rung through the water and the neurophen tablets and then said “you should take it as a compliment really”. That just about did it for me, I almost threw a five pound note at her, picked up the items and stompped out of the shop shaking my head.
Thinking back….. perhaps that’s exactly what a 15 year old would have done LOL
Of course, because I had been so flipping long in the shop, when we finally left the town to go to Hurst Castle we both needed the loo, so we ended up going back to the apartment!
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