Floors and cake

The guys were coming to lay the hall flooring and maybe other rooms if the order had come in. But they couldn't do the hall floor as the concrete wasn't dry, but they weren't worried about the damage caused by the ply yesterday. They are coming back on Friday to lay the new flooring in the hall.

They did lay the flooring in the shower room and bathroom, both looking good, although they have removed the bathroom door, so another thing to get sorted.

I pottered in the kitchen and sorted a lot of stuff to take to the charity shop, and I actually got marzipan onto one of the cakes, Mikes to be exact so his will just need some decoration now as he doesn't want the icing.

I had thought about getting to the surgery again although maybe not the leisure centre, but I only got as far as the charity shop as the ankle and knee are still playing up. Had a relaxing afternoon with my feet up, then got dinner for Darren and myself as we were off into Hull to be at a recording of the Mark Steel show.. We were fairly near the front of the queue when we arrived, quite a chilly walk to the venue, but well worth it, he was very funny and although the show is only half an hour on the radio he was on stage for over an hour and half.
Tina got home about the same time as us so we had a cuppa and a chat and I am off to bed now.

A walk it the (muddy) park

Tiredness has caught up with me a bit so last night I started bees waxing the drawers of the cello cupboard, not that you can really call it  a cupboard, they are very little drawers! A bit of a long term project to do it all and a few tins of beeswax methinks!

This morning I took a walk turning right out of the drive for a change. I did a couple more left turns onto Eastgate, some nice looking buildings along there.

One house had a great tree house in the garden, bet their children loved it, although I think it is old and probably not played on much now.

There were several entrances to the park, it is like a heath, very popular with dog walkers, although not that many around when I walked across. I can see them in the morning from my bedroom window.

It was very waterlogged in places and pretty muddy.

I thought this was a great tree, I know, like the weirdest things!

The next two pics are of the church and our house from the park. The church is almost screened out of the picture and the french doors on the house are the living room.

The men came and filled the dip in the hallway ready for new flooring. They covered it with some ply to keep the cats off, I asked if it would be okay and they said 'it isn't glue, it is just concrete and it will be fine'. It wasn't, the ply dipped down and made a bit of a mess of the surface, but it should be okay, have removed the ply now so that it can dry by tomorrow and is hopefully hard enough now not to add paw prints to the damage!

I went out this afternoon and managed to hand my application form for volunteering into the charity shop, but as I went on, aiming to go to the leisure centre and the surgery I realised that the pain in my knee and ankle were too bad today and I needed to get home and take the weight off.
I went down when Darren came home and Blue was on the tower, I think Charlie was using the scratching post on there earlier, so looks like it will become popular.

Darren drove us over to Scarborough this evening to collect the last bits from the house in Woodall Avenue, was nice to get the chance to say goodbye to it. Then we went to Scalby Manor and had a carvery meal before I drove us home. I am tired and very achy, so not doing much else this evening.

Little trees new home

This morning didn't start well, I needed to make a couple of phone calls re my change of address as they couldn't be done on line. The first one had me on hold for nearly half an hour and then a series of questions that I didn't know the answer to, very stressful, but eventually updated, the second one was quicker, but again questions I wasn't prepared for! Most changes done now I think. 
I had a package that wouldn't fit in the post box so decided to walk to the post office, told Tina I would find the doctors' surgery and get registration forms for us, as it was near the cottage hospital which is a bit further on from the post office. I took a little walk into the park on the way and this shot has the church in the distance.

When I got to the post office I was told it was closed, not just for the day but for a few weeks! There is another one on an estate at the other end of the town, so, as the package wouldn't fit in the box there either it looked like I was stuck with it for now. I went up the road towards the cottage hospital and the only doctors' surgery in the town was at the entrance. It is a reduced hours hospital but does deal with minor injuries.

I got the registration forms and on the way out noticed this rather good idea, being used as well, by a bench just outside the grounds.

I walked up to the seafront, my knee is still being troublesome but I think I need to get a bit more walking done, may help, fingers crossed. Had a cup of tea and then a walk along the sea wall, very calm and clear today.

Nearly forgot to mention that as I walked t the front I saw a post box on the other side of the road that seemed to have a bigger slit. It did, and as I had already put the stamps on it did manage to get the package posted.
I took this picture in the memorial garden on my way home.

When I got home Darren helped me get the bonsai tree stand into a corner and I got the trees back onto it in their new position. It is a bit of a mess out there and I had been going to make a rockery in that corner, but I needed to get the trees back off the ground.

I pottered a bit with Tina this afternoon but haven't done a lot really. Feeling tired today so have sat in my rocking chair a good bit.

Skirlington market and new cupboard

Darren and I went to Skirlington market and car boot sale this morning. They also had a Christmas event going on so it was very busy. Indoor and outdoor markets and then the car boot in another field. We found a great stall to buy our sausage sandwiches from and sat quite near a duck pond. Took pics of the pond from different sides and one of a very unusual piece of play apparatus which is presumably not usually a water jump!

We got some nice veg and pies for dinner but resisted buying lots of other bits as it will take us weeks to sort through what we have already!
Not long after we got back the man from the second hand shop arrived with my bargain cabinet. Got it into place behind the door, hoping it would prove useful for boxes etc.

It did, as the next picture demonstrates.

This afternoon, among other things, I have been letting people know like banks etc that I have changed my address. Got the driving licence sent off at the beginning of the week and wrote Christmas cards early with the new address inside, so I am getting there.
Before I went down to sort dinner I found some paints and a brush as I really wanted to try and capture a picture of the lovely flowers Anya sent a week ago. Not a great picture, but was nice to get something down on paper.

Still sorting, trying not to do too much as the knee is still not a happy bunny. Will watch Strictly results and Blue Planet ll.

A non sunken sponge! First one in over three years.......

Today has been quite varied again and a bit busier than my leg appreciated, but on the whole a good day. I had spotted a cupboard in the nearby second hand shop and he was open today so I booked it as it was a very reasonable price. He had said he would fetch it round but he hasn't today, but I am not in a rush for it as long as he doesn't sell it to someone else! I decided it was time I walked further than the local shops, so went via the park to the post office.

Then turned and went to the front had a cuppa and walked along a way and back into town via another road.

I called in at the leisure centre and got price and membership details, they have a pretty good offer on in December so will probably get joined up soon and try to get back to swimming.

I picked up some of those cream scones on the way back and some nice sliced beef. When I got home Tina has received a large box with the even larger cat stand in. The instructions were minimal but said I would have a go at assembling it. 

That was it, no written instructions to go with it, and this is the pieces with just two put together.

Darren and Tina helped me finish off as it became a bit more complicated as time went on! But it is made and so far they have shown no interest, but I am sure they will.

It is huge! Got a picture of Charlie outside, he doesn't stay out there long yet,

This afternoon Darren and Tina went across to Hull, after the guy in charge of the building work had put the cooker in place for us. I had bought the ingredients to make a butternut squash risotto in a slow cooker. Tina had one so I had sold mine, but hers is more like a cask iron casserole dish that can be used on the hob or in the oven. I cooked the risotto on the hob, quicker than my old slow cooker and it did catch a bit at the bottom, so will try using it in the oven another time. I thought I had everything to attempt a sponge and test the pressure here. I did have enough ingredients but I had to use a mixture of granulated and caster sugar, and a mixture of plain and self raising flour, so not quite my usual recipe. BUT, it rose, not a lot, but more importantly it didn't sink!! So onward and upward with the baking now hopefully.

My knee has been dreadfully painful all day so it is a telefest evening ahead I am afraid.

Christmas trees and carols

Quite a busy day today, the view this morning was not as spectacular as yesterday, but still great to look at.

Tina and I decided it was time to let the cats have a look outside and came to the conclusion that the best place for them to go in and out was through the living room french doors. First problem of the day, they were painted over and wedged solid! With the help of a hammer and crowbar the locks were moved and then with several hefty tugs they were open. Blue was in and out in her usual manner, Charlie much more cautious. This picture of Blue scampering off over the over side.

Didn't get one of Charlie at all, he went out of sight so I went off round the house looking for him, by the time I got back he was in and not inclined to explore anymore.After we had struggled with the doors and watched the cats Tina said it was selfie time. She took two which she then deleted. So I took one with the camera, not so easy as you cannot see what you are taking, silly, but it is going on Tina!!

Tina and I both went along to the church as the choir were singing carols and then there were refreshments. Tina and I both talked to the members of the choir and other church members when they had finished some very lovely carol singing. Then I took some pictures of the Christmas tree festival in the church before I came home.

The church was looking impressive, although it always is as it is a lovely building.

We decided it was time to get the washing machine in place. It had been stood for a year and the soap tray had been truly disgusting, so once in place we put it on a boil wash with plenty of liquid. It was making a lot of clattering to start but then settled down a bit.
We had to go to the builders merchants for some mix to level off part of the hallway, so why we were there we bought new door handles as two of the doors and being opened and closed with string at the moment. Before coming home we went to Hornsea Freeport, had a good look round the fabulous craft outlet, got a couple of things to do, just in case I have time on my hands! Then we both got some new slippers and had a cuppa and a scone. That was funny, at the poor lass who was serving us expense. Tina asked for two cheese scones and said 'with jam and cream of course!' and the girl rang in the jam and cream, oops.  The sky was looking quite nice over the car park when we were leaving.

When we got back we set to with the door handles, the doors really aren't in good shape and have way too many layers of paint. Anyway, in the living room all seemed well when the handles were on, so we closed the door, then couldn't open it! Slight panic for a moment or two. Luckily we were in the room where we had attacked the french doors, and my outdoor shoes were still there, so I was able to go out and walk round the house, just as well I had kept the front door key in my pocket! So both doors are done and do open safely now, another job sorted.
The washing machine has been on with the towels, I could hear it all over the house and when I went down as it was finishing it was deafening, but the towels seem okay.
Darren will be home tomorrow, I think Tina and Darren will go and finish off at the house in Scarborough. Someone needs to be here as a man is allegedly coming to put a door on the upstairs loo!