August Update

Well my plans to blog regularly last month didn't quite go to plan. I did have a few posts in draft but they are well past their sell by date now so I thought I might as well delete them and just get on with a whole new one. So here we go with a August recap. We had a couple of busy weekends and the first one was my birthday - oh joy I am now another year older! I had a fab weekend though and was thoroughly spoilt by Tom and my family and friends. I got loads of cards and some really lovely gifts which included flowers, chocolates, gin, bubble bath, beauty products and wine. Tom bought me a bottle of Aviation which is my fave American gin, he also bought me a new handbag from Cath Kidston and some more charms for my Pandora bracelet.

I was at work on the morning of my birthday but my bosses kindly sent me home just after lunchtime which was a great start to the weekend. After a couple of hours of chilling out and eating cake Tom and I went to the B Street Deli for a bite to eat. Our fave table in corner at the back of the bar area was gone but we managed to get a table right on the deli counter which was perfect. As always it was fab and we had our usual platter of cheeses and meat, all of which were delicious and more than enough to fill us up. Saturday was spent doing some shopping at Bluewater followed by a trip to my Mums for some more cake! The Sunday was a lovely lazy day at home, we did some gardening and spent the rest of the day sitting outside enjoying the sunshine.

On August 11th we took a trip to Peterborough to attend the Reeves Family BBQ. It was a fantastic day spent with some of the friends that we have recently made through Twitter and You Tube. We got to meet some of our fave vloggers which was just amazing, finally after months of seeing these people on our TV on a weekly basis we were actually talking to them in real life. I am not ashamed to admit that I had several fan girl moments!! Everyone was so lovely and we were made to feel very welcome into the whole #Disfam community despite the fact that we are not proper 'vloggers' (yet!). We are already looking forward to attending next years event and to watching all the new vlogs that are going to be appearing in the coming months especially as a lot of these guys are soon going to be jetting off to Florida later this month.

The rest of the month was pretty easy going with nothing too much to report. We had a family BBQ at Toms sisters house for her birthday and I had a Scentsy party which I did really well at and means that I get to stay active as a consultant for another three months. We went to the Disney store to get our August Micky Memories and we had a meet up with our friends Gina and Ian who were in London to watch the rugby at Wembley. I also had a hair cut and Tom did a couple of overtime shifts. The Bank Holiday weekend was a very laid back and chilled out one, I even managed to finally spend some time in my craft room. I had a good clear out of some old stuff and finally started to get myself a little more upto date with Project Life and Scrapbooking. Fingers crossed there will be a lot more weekends like that coming up, I really want to get as upto date as I can especially as there will be a lot of scrapping to be done after our hols.

I honestly cant believe that we are now in September and that the Summer is almost over. There is definitely an Autumnal chill to the air now and the nights are starting to draw in. As sad as I am to see that happen I am also excited by it as it means that out holiday is drawing ever closer. We have 70 days now until we fly out and just 10 days until I can start booking our fast passes. I have booked next Friday as a days annual leave so I can stay home with my laptop and hopefully get us all the fast passes we want. However we do need to sit down this weekend and make some kind of list as to what rides we want to do and when. If you have any hints and tip for booking fast passes please feel free to leave a comment below.

As always thanks for stopping by for a read.

Love and hugs - Jane x

Bank Holiday Bliss

Good morning and welcome back to my blog. I hope that you all had a nice bank holiday weekend and that you enjoyed the glorious weather that we had.

Tom and I had a lovely few days, for the first time in ages he didn't have any overtime so we had the weekend completely to ourselves which was very nice indeed. We didn't do anything major, we just pottered about and generally chilled out and relaxed.

Image Created on the Pic Collage App

On Saturday we went to Bluewater so Tom could spend the last of his Christmas/Birthday vouchers and money. He bought himself a pair of wireless Sony headphones to go with his new iPhone, yay to no more tangled wires getting in the way or caught up. The ones he got are also noise cancelling so they will be perfect for any long haul flights that we take. I didn't get much on this visit, I was very sensible and just got a couple of bath bombs from Lush and a new mop from Lakeland. We had planned on having lunch while we were at the centre but we couldn't decide on where we wanted to eat so we didn't bother. Instead we popped into my Mums on the way home to say hello and have a quick cuppa. Once we got back to our home we went straight outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine, after all the awful weather we have had it was so nice to feel the sun on our skin. Far better than being stuck inside with all the windows closed and the heating on. Before long our conversation turned to what we were going to have for dinner, after much debate we settled on going for a curry and headed for the wonderful Tower Tandoori (watch out for a separate blog post/restaurant review). As is always the case when we eat at TT the food and service were first class, we have been eating there for at least 18 years now and whenever we visit we are welcomed and treated like family. It was the perfect way to finish off what had been a very nice day indeed.

Sunday saw us get up fairly early, it was another beautiful day and even at 9am you could feel the heat from the sun. Our plan for this morning was something that we had been putting off doing for a good year or so, but with Tom at home and the weather being good we had no excuse - it was time to clear out the garage. In the end it only took us about 2 hours to do and we managed to get rid of a whole load of rubbish - I cant believe some of the stuff that we had in there. Its all done now and once the last few bits have been disposed of and some other stuff has been taken to the charity shop the garage will once again be usable. The rest of the day was spent outside enjoying the sun before we headed in to watch a YouTube live stream that was hosted by our friends Shaun and Caroline (and not forgetting Dave & Harley of course) of See Shaun Vlog. It was a great stream and although there were some serious issues discussed there was also a lot of fun and laughter. Tom and I are both really looking forward to meeting up with them next weekend when they come to London and hopefully again in Nov when we are all in Florida at the same time.

Bank Holiday Monday saw me in my craft room for a couple of hours early on. I tidied a few of the cupboards and even managed to do two layouts before we decided to make the most of the day and headed out for a walk along the river. Even at 11am the crowds were out in force and the stretch of riverfront between Tower and London bridges was packed. Tower Bridge is my most favourite of all the bridges that span the river Thames, I never tire of admiring it, especially on a beautifully sunny day.

We came home via Bermondsey Street and stopped in the B Street Deli, Tom had a coffee and a doughnut and I had coffee and Spanish toast. Once we got home we spent the rest of the day sitting outside making the most of the gorgeous afternoon & evening. It had been a wonderful weekend and we really didn't want it to end. Oh well, only 3 weeks until we have another one.

Thanks for stopping by to read, love and hugs as always.

Jane

Blogmas 2017 Day Twenty Three - An apology and a catch up.

Saturday 30th December 2017.

So it appears that my attempt at Blogmas didn't quite go as planned and I totally lost my way with the last couple of days. To be honest I just got caught up with all my Christmas planning and prepping and the last thing on my mind was blogging. I will attempt to catch up before the year is out, below is my post for Dec 23rd and I will do another one for Christmas Eve.

Saturday 23rd December.
Our Tesco delivery was booked for between 9 and 10am as I wanted to get it all sorted and put away bright and early. Being the day before Christmas Eve I was honestly expecting it to be a little late but it was the complete reverse as the van arrived at 8.55! Fab, shopping all unpacked and away by 9.30am. We spent the next couple of hours pottering about and doing some housework before we got ourselves ready and headed up into London to see the sights and pick up the final couple of Christmas presents. We went to Fortnum and Mason to get a jar of stilton for my Dad and then we made our way over to the Prince Edward theatre to get Scarlett the Aladdin snow globe that she had asked for. The West End was a little busy but nowhere near as busy as we had expected it to be. We walked down to Trafalgar Square to see the tree and then we walked through to Covent Garden where we caught the bus home.

We stopped off at the B Street Deli for something to eat and a couple of festive drinks. It was so very quiet in there, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. As is usual we had one of their cheese and meat platters and it was fab,so delicious. The new manager came over and had a long chat with us, a really nice chap who we are looking forward to seeing a whole lot more in the New Year. We are going to try and visit a little more often but at different times so we can try brunch and coffee and cake.

Thanks for stopping to read and apologies again for not keeping up with Blogmas.

Love and hugs, Jane x

August Bank Holiday 2017

Yay, a long weekend. Time to relax and recharge the batteries a little which is very much needed after 3 weeks of feeling ill.

The weekend started with Tom working overtime (again) on Friday night so it was just me and Daisy home alone. I had a lovely long soak in a Lush filled bath and then I curled up on the sofa to watch a few more episodes Gilmore Girls. Now I know I am VERY late to the GG party but to be honest I don't think I was even aware of it when it was first on our screens. Anyway over the last few months its something that has popped up several times on my Facebook timeline as I have friends that watch it so I decided to give it a go. So far I am loving it and I am looking forward to working my way through the entire series, with the cooler Autumn and Winter months fast approaching its something that can keep me occupied when its too cold to go out.

On Saturday we took a trip over to Billericay as we needed to meet our friend Collette to collect the keys to her apartment in Spain which is where we will be staying on our forthcoming holiday (less than 4 weeks to go!!). I noticed on the Barleylands website that the Farmers Market was on and both Tom and I were looking forward to having a nosey at that but there were only 2 stall so we were a tad disappointed. We were going to pop into Ikea on the way back but the traffic was awful so we just went straight home so Tom could go back to bed for a couple of hours. It was a gorgeous day weather wise so we decided to head out for a bite to eat, neither of us was hugely hungry though so we opted for the B Street Deli again where we shared one of their Union Platters which was delicious. Feeling suitably stuffed we took a leisurely walk home along the river before heading back home to have a few drinks and watch the 2017 CMA Music Fest on Sky Arts.

Sunday afternoon saw us head over to Toms sister and brother in law's house for a BBQ. We had a wonderful afternoon sitting outside enjoying the unusually beautiful Bank Holiday weather. Billy and Mel came too so we got to spend some time with our gorgeous great nephew. We got home around 9pm and as usual there was nothing on TV to watch so we ended up browsing You Tube and watching videos and vlogs of Disney. Its all part of the planning for next years holiday, which is still over a year away but with so much to see and do in Orlando there will be an awful lot of planning needed.

Bank Holiday Monday was a pretty lazy day. We made a very quick trip over to the Apple store in Covent Garden where Tom bought me a Apple watch before heading home to do nothing. I played in my craft room for a little bit with some more bits from the Simple Stories Say Cheese III line that I got from Papermaze. I was inspired by a recent You Tube tutorial I saw in which Lisa from Lollipop Box club made a Disney holiday planning journal. I already had the little note book that she used I just needed to add a few more bits to my stash to start getting creative and making the inside of the book a bit more than just plain pages. Once I have done a few more of the pages I will take some pictures and share them with you.

 On Monday night we got a FaceTime call from our friend Andy in the USA. A couple of months ago Andy and his wife Liz shared the news that they are expecting a baby in Feb of next year. This is fabulous news as its something that they never thought would happen for them, but it has and we couldn't be happier for them. Anyway the reason for the call was for them to ask us to be God Parents to baby!! Of course we said yes, we feel so honoured and privileged that they have asked us to do this, what a perfect way to finish off a great weekend.

I hope that you all had a good weekend and that you enjoyed the wonderful weather it bought with it.

Thanks as always for stopping by and reading. I would love it if you left me a comment and a link back to your blog.

Love and hugs, Jane xx

Its August Already

Is it really August or have we somehow skipped a few months and ended up in October! Seriously what is happening with our weather, instead of sitting outside with my kindle and a glass of wine I am curled up on the sofa in pj's!! All I can say is roll on September when we head off to Spain for a little bit of sun and sangria.

The last few weeks have been a little busy for me. Firstly my friend Sarah came to visit the last weekend in July. We had a lovely girly couple of days just chatting, catching up and drinking gin. As is usual when Sarah visits there was an obligatory girls weekend shopping trip. This time we avoided the High Street and went to Spitalfields Market which was just fab. Its a real haven of stalls and shops selling handcrafted and unusual items. There were so many wonderful things on offer, we could have both quite happily spent a fortune, as it was we were actually quite restrained but we have said that we will return closer to Christmas. There is also a large selection of street food stalls which looked and smelt amazing. After a Starbucks Frappuccino stop (we had a #bff BOGOF offer) we headed to Borough Market to pick up some bits and pieces for Saturday nights supper which was a tapas style coffee table picnic, very naughty but very nice too!

After a lazy Sunday morning Sarah and I headed to the B-Street Deli in Bermondsey Street for a coffee and a spot of brunch/lunch. This tiny little deli is a little gem of a place and its fast becoming Tom and I's fave local hangout. The food is always fresh and delicious and the service is friendly and welcoming. The only problem (for us) is that its a very popular place with both locals and the tourists who flock to the area for the nearby food markets meaning we cant always get in when we want to.

August arrived bringing with her a lot of rain and my birthday - oh joy I am another year older lol!! I was at work during the day but Tom was off so he came to meet me afterwards so we could go shopping. We went to Pandora where he bought me a gorgeous ring which is going to be my eternity ring (I am more than happy with this as I am not into super expensive jewellery) and will replace my wedding and engagement rings, both of which are far too big for me now. He also got me some flowers, chocolates, a bottle of American gin and a new set of Project Life cards - I really am such a lucky girl. On the way home we stopped in Waitrose and bought a Chinese meal for dinner which was a lovely treat. We both had the next day off work and after several lengthy discussions about what to do and where to go we ended up heading down to Brighton for the day. We were a little worried that the weather wouldn't be on our side but it was a lovely day, a little breezy at times but on the whole the sun shone meaning that we were able to fully enjoy a day at the seaside. We walked along the Laines and the seafront before heading to the pier were we stopped and sat outside a bar with a couple of drinks. Dinner was fish and chips right on the beach followed by a couple more drinks before we headed home. We both agreed that this is something we really need to do more often, especially as Brighton is just an hour away from us on the train from London Bridge.

Saturday saw us at Mums for birthday dinner, we had a nice time and ended up bringing Scarlett home with us for an impromptu sleepover. Tom was at work on Sunday so it meant that we had the day to ourselves. I managed a couple more layouts (I will do a separate post later to show off some of the pages I have done so far) for the holiday album before S and I curled up on the sofa to watch Disney movies. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially as I could feel the beginnings of a cold - fingers crossed it doesn't develop into a full blown head cold.

Thanks for stopping by - feel free to leave me a comment and/or a link back to your own blog if you have one.

Love and hugs, Jane xx