Finding life hard?

I am DIY expert

2009-12-15T09:51:00.001Z

I put together an Ikea stool.

But I think I will allow someone else the privilege of being first to sit on it.

Haven't mentioned Grand-Daughter for a bit

2009-12-13T19:33:00.001Z

Younger Son and Girlfriend went to visit Grand-Daughter last week.

Nice little motors

2009-12-13T19:07:00.003Z

Just round the corner and across the road from Elder Son's house is a Maserati and Ferrari dealer. They must have best part of £1,000,000's worth of cars on the forecourt.

The 'cheap' Maseratis. The slightly more expensive Ferrari. (Yes, that's £151, 850.)

And, amazingly, just behind the garage, you walk into National Trust property of fields and woods, leading up to the national Air Force Memorial (which was closed by the time we got there after our very long lunch).

Oooh, yum!

2009-12-13T18:43:00.005Z

We've had a lovely weekend with Elder Son and Daughter-in-law. Yesterday lunchtime, as a belated 60th birthday treat for Husband they took us to a Michelin-starred restaurant, The Glasshouse, in Kew. (Not to be confused with the nearby Greenhouse cafe.) I had a ham and potato cake for starters.

Cod and vegetables - the smoothest mash and the teeniest bits of cauli you've ever seen!

And syrup sponge with real custard. (Real as in made with eggs not Bird's) (And with an extra jug of custard for pouring - and, in my case, scraping out the last dregs with a spoon.)

It was all delicious - oh, and so was the bread - and The Glasshouse has probably taken the title of 'our favourite restaurant' away from Jack in the Green in Devon. You know a restaurant's good when you could sit and just eat a plate of mash.

Thank you very much, Elder Son and Daughter-in-law!

The Ikea phenomenon

2009-12-11T09:15:00.003Z

'I'll call into Ikea Cardiff on my way home from Devon and pick up the lights.'
'Do you know where Ikea is?'
'Yes, of course.'

You can hear the alarm bells ringing, can't you? I couldn't. Which is why I drove around all of west Cardiff - not to mention Dinas Powis - before phoning Husband. 'Where exactly is Ikea?'

And once in, it's as if the normal rules of time and space no longer exist. If you've ever been in Ikea you'll know what I mean. It's hard to explain except to say, 'Think Tardis.' Bigger on the inside than the outside.'

I came out two and a half hours later with a trolley-load of stuff I didn't know I needed.

Quick catch-up

2009-12-11T09:02:00.003Z

I'm home. Briefly.

In prison this morning, work this afternoon and off to Surrey tonight to visit Elder Son and Daughter-in-law.

The night before last I phoned Husband. He said, 'There's good news and bad news.'

I sighed. 'Tell me the good news.'

'Your cooker has arrived.'

'Yay! ... Oh no, don't tell me it's the wrong one!'

'No, it's the right one.'

'You've broken it!'

'NO!'

'What's the bad news then?'

'I've broken a dish.'

Phew. Is that all?

So when I got home last night the cooker and hood had been fitted, as had the replacement glass doors. The waste disposal was working and Daft Dai had even fixed the bath taps (the ones that we'd been without for about three months or more). It's like all my birthdays at once!

The house is still a tip, the kitchen has to be painted and the granite worktop finished, but there is hope now.

And Grand-Daughter is absolutely perfect. I know all grannies say this about their grand-children but she really is. Here she's saying, 'No, granny, I'm not going to open my eyes in this bright sunlight!'

Oh aar

2009-12-09T20:20:00.003Z

I'm in Devon at the moment helping Daughter. Primarily that means walking HollyDog.

We usually walk in the grounds of Killerton Estate, a National Trust property. It's excellent for dog-walking as it's a mix of open spaces and woods. I've got to know it well over the last few months but it's a good job Holly knows her way back to the car as every time I think I know where a path is leading, we end up somewhere else.

It's very much gentry country and most of the dog-walkers are green-welly-wearing spaniel owners. They're awfully nice and pass the time of day, commenting on the weather, giving me the opportunity to put on my telephone voice and say, 'Oh, yes, it's terribly muddy here.'

Unfortunately when faced with having to make conversation with anyone other than Holly or myself, I get flustered and turn into a yokel. 'Urm yeurh.'

Mud-caked trousers and fell-out-of-bed hair probably don't help either.

Things that make me faint

2009-12-08T19:27:00.002Z

In the past, times that I have fainted included:
in a first aid class;
when I cut myself;
when I thought Husband had been injured playing rugby;
when Younger Son as a toddler cut himself (I took him to hospital and I was the one who had to lie down);
giving blood (twice - they've banned me now);
and - until today the silliest - when visiting someone in hospital.

Today I excelled myself.

I fainted at the optician's.

Okay, I didn't actually faint but I had to ask if I could lie on the floor. Twice.

But my eyes are fine.

The joy of grandfatherhood

2009-12-06T16:15:00.004Z

Husband and I were both quite depressed on Friday evening so it was a good job we could get down to Devon yesterday to be brightened up. Kitchens don't seem so important when you're holding Grand-Daughter. Any resemblance to Grand-dad is unavoidable! Although Grand-daughter has more hair.

Elder Son and Daughter-in-law were also visiting. Here proud uncle tries to look not too terrified while holding a precious bundle. And he's rewarded with a rare eyes-open moment.

And it goes on ...

2009-12-04T22:13:00.002Z

While trying to get the plastic off the new fridge Husband broke one of the glass shelves.

While trying to work out how to work the new dishwasher Husband chipped a plate AND the new granite worktop.

And what's more, we have been blessed with Daft Dai, the thickest plumber this side of Merthyr. He's supposed to be coming back tomorrow morning at 11. Yeah, right, he said that last week too.

Good job we're going to see Grand-daughter tomorrow!

The kitchen saga continues

2009-12-04T16:26:00.003Z

End of week 2. Where shall I begin?

The cooker that should have been delivered next Wednesday won't be coming until the week after. Thus its fitting and that of the hood is delayed. (Will we have it for Christmas do you think?)

The new fridge didn't fit in the gap. Slav, our Ukrainian fitter, has had to remove skirting tiles.

The glass doors that were missing from the original order have been fitted - but now we've discovered they're the wrong colour. New replacements will be fitted the same time as the cooker.

We won't be able to open the dishwasher if we have the proper handle i.e. the same as all the rest, on the cupboard next to it. Slav is going to try to find an alternative handle as similar as possible. (And we paid 180 'beeping' pounds for those handles!)

Aren't these the sort of things kitchen designers are supposed to think about?!!

Things I haven't mentioned

2009-12-02T09:36:00.002Z

In all the kerfuffle of new grand-baby, new kitchen, Husband's birthday and being poorly, I haven't told you about:
a) George being beaten up by a small three-legged dog;
b) HollyDog and me being chased into bushes by cows (4-legged ones in spite of my drawing - I couldn't work out how to do the other legs);
c) Driving round the same roundabout in Exeter twice two times and using a Buses Only road.

So life pretty much as normal in the Hinds' household.

Too coincidental to be a coincidence

2009-12-02T09:01:00.003Z

I spent ages on Sunday afternoon looking for a book I knew I had. I went through my bookshelves several times in that 'I know it's here somewhere' manner, but with no joy. I assumed I must have lent or given it to someone.

I particularly wanted it before yesterday afternoon so I could write a short monologue from the information in it. I phoned someone else I thought probably had it: he didn't but suggested the library. I tried the library: they couldn't get it for me until the 9th.

I gave up and thought I'd have to borrow it from the prison chaplain yesterday afternoon; he didn't have a copy either.

My first choice for a monologue character had already disappeared off the face of the earth so I was getting a bit desperate now. I came home and started going through my shelves again. 'God, I really need this book!'

And there it was, not lined up neatly with the others, but actually sticking out from the shelf.

Coincidence? Maybe. But it's strange how often coincidences happen when I pray

How to win friends

2009-12-02T08:55:00.004Z

'I think you should read the part of the drug dealer because you're rough.'
'Oh yeah?'
'I mean, well, you sound rough.'
(Quizzical look.)
'No, what I mean is ... well ... you're from London.'

I'm thinking of a career change: there must be a diplomatic post in the Middle East for a woman of my talents.

P.S. Fortunately 'rough Londoner' was laughing. I say fortunately because not so long ago his reaction might be have been entirely more physical.

Happy birthday, sweetie!

2009-12-01T11:59:00.002Z

It's Husband's 60th birthday today! And I'm sure this rose shouldn't be blooming in December!

Before we got up this morning I said, 'Do you want breakfast in bed?'
'No, I'll get up.'
'Wait then while I go and put the oven on for the croissants.' (Luckily George had only managed to eat one before I caught him.)
'Nah, I'll just have toast for breakfast.'
'Okay, you can have bacon and brie croissants for lunch.'
'I was going to have cereal for lunch.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake! You are going to celebrate your birthday whether you want to or not!'

So we had croissants for breakfast on the dining table in between his laptop, an empty milk bottle, a piece of kitchen shelving and a pile of last night's dishes.

I could just imagine Albert Steptoe screwing up his nose and picking at a croissant while Harold wore a stripey jumper and said, 'This is the life for me, pater; I was born in the wrong country.'

P.S. If you don't know Steptoe and Son were rag and bone men and their home was a storehouse for their goods. Harold aspired to middle-classness.

Kitchen progress

2009-11-30T16:38:00.003Z

Our kitchen is coming on: the granite worktop was fitted today. There are lots of bits that still need doing but it's going to look groovy!

The dishwasher is installed and working but I haven't used it yet. My excuse was that I didn't have any dishwashing tablets but really it's because the spectre of my granny is hanging over me tutting at my extravagance and laziness. I have to resist the voice that says, 'I'll just swill these couple of dishes in the sink.'

P.S. Husband has pointed out that since the worktop has been fitted we can't open the dishwasher because the door handles have not yet been put on. So that settles my dilemma for a bit.
P.P.S. I found, in a roundabout way while doing an inventory for Linden's insurance, a fabby blackberry-coloured waste bin that would look super in our new trendy kitchen. Sadly it was £159. However it did have a very solid top and if it stopped George raiding the bins maybe ... no, you're right: Husband is not going to fall for that.

Kitchen saga

2009-11-29T11:29:00.004Z

We're washing dishes in the bathroom, cooking (microwaving) in the dining-room, eating in the living-room and the fridge is in the hall. But it's all right because I have a beautiful new grand-daughter!

The kitchen won't be finished until the end of next week and even then it won't be finished as the cooker doesn't arrive until the end of the following week. But Husband has started decorating. Or at least preparing for decorating as we haven't agreed on a colour yet.

Meanwhile we should be in Devon this weekend but stinky Husband gave me his stinky cold so we're not. I am dosed up on Max Strength Lemsip and some hideous cough medicine and I'm trying to do as little as possible. Husband is suitably unsympathetic as he said he kept working through his man-cold but my theory is that that is the reason it's hanging on for so long. I'm letting my body concentrate on getting well. Good theory, yes? Good excuse to sit down and do nothing too. In fact I must be due for a nap soon ...

Daughter sent us a video and some pics of Grand-daughter last night. Awwww, she is so absolutely scrumptious.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:15:00.003Z

To all our American friends. My first thought was that I don't know many American bloggers but then I started counting them up! Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Me, I'm thankful for my family - Husband, Daughter, Son-in-law, Elder Son, Daughter-in-law, Younger Son (and Girlfriend), Grand-daughter - and the good health we enjoy, for George, for my home and my life. I'm thankful for friends, for Linden and especially for Zac's. I'm thankful for Jesus.

And did I mention Grand-Daughter?!

Things have changed

2009-11-26T09:13:00.002Z

When my babies were born the midwives whipped them away, wiped and weighed them before wrapping them up and passing back to me; Grand-daughter was given a quick wipe and then straightaway laid skin to skin with mum to help bonding.

We laid our babies on their fronts or sides anywhere in the cot, and fed them for 10 minutes a side; Grand-daughter is lain on her back 'feet to foot' (feet against the end of the crib) and fed one breast at a time (empty one on one feed and the other next time).

Ideas may change but babies are always wonderful!

Now I must stop thinking about Grand-daughter (I find myself stroking her face with my cursor) and do some work!

See what I mean?

2009-11-26T09:09:00.000Z

All is well with the world.

One of those days

2009-11-25T18:55:00.002Z

Late getting ready, I was hurrying to set off for the prison when the granite man arrived. He looked at the kitchen and did a 'we have a problem' sigh. 'We have a problem here,' he said. 'You don't have a cooker.'
'No.'
'I can't make templates without the cooker.'
'That means I won't have worktops or, more importantly, a sink until mid-December. Couldn't you just do two sides?'
He took a sharp intake of breath. 'Jobsworth,' he said. 'I'll have to ask the boss.'

He disappeared off to phone his boss. When he came back in he said, 'Well, as it's Christmas ...'

By the time I got to the prison for carol service rehearsals I was half an hour late. But that was a minor problem compared to the 'casting' dilemma. (Did I mention that one of my star performers from last year has been transferred to another prison leaving me with just the one star?) There are about 380 inmates in the prison; how hard can it be to find one other man? Very, apparently. With about 3 weeks to go and limited times when I can go in I should be panicking by now. But I have a beautiful grand-daughter so I don't care!

As I was driving home thinking, 'what day is it? who am I?' I noticed the driver's door of the car in front opening. 'Oh, please don't do anything stupid! My reflexes are roughly negligible right now.' Fortunately he must have just been re-closing it.

I got home to be told we didn't have handles for our doors, instead of the two glass doors we'd ordered for top cupboards they'd sent glass doors for bottom cupboards, and we had the wrong sink.

It was dark by now so I took George down to the beach for a quick walk. As we got there the heavens opened. I don't know if he genuinely couldn't see me clearly or whether he was doing it deliberately but George came pelting down the beach and crashed into me three times. Then I saw a torch flashing in the bushes. Now this is the bit of beach by a rather notorious car park and it was also just about the place where a naked man had strolled out at me once. Enough is enough. I called George, 'Come on, butt, come and protect me.'

And then I got home and I sat at the computer and up on the screen came a photo of Elin Grace.

And the world is perfect.

Just like her chubby cheeks, cute nose, pouty mouth, soft skin, baby scent, biteable bottom, kissable toes, adorable fingers - (I can't comment on her eyes as she hardly opened them while I was there!) - but you get the picture.

All's well with the world.

Introducing Elin Grace

2009-11-25T08:58:00.005Z

Elin Grace was born at 1 minute past 8 on Monday. She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and is absolutely perfect in every way.

Daughter was in labour for 44 hours and managed without drugs - she had a little bit of gas and air but didn't find it helpful so didn't bother - and she was brilliant.

Granny with Elin at about 5 hours old.

I'm home now, leaving Mum, Dad and Elin to get acquainted properly. (I was willing to stay and walk Hollydog, cook meals, wash clothes and be immeasurably useful, but they feared I might start eating Elin so they made me go. 'Not even one tiny toe?' 'NO!')

Hopefully Husband will be better at the weekend and we'll be able to go down again so he can see Elin. (You know what it's like, when someone's in love, they keep mentioning the loved one's name.)

Thank you for all your congratulations and messages!

I'm a granny!

2009-11-23T10:04:00.003Z

Grand-daughter was born at 8 am today.

Daughter phoned to tell me and she sounded remarkably good after 44 hours of labour - without drugs! She and Son-in-law had been left alone with Baby even before Baby was weighed. And they haven't settled on a name yet so I don't have any more details.

Daughter said they'd phone back to tell me what they were doing and what time visiting is. Since then I've put in even more washing, cleaned the living-room and had my umpteenth cup of tea. (I thought to myself, 'Can a girl have too many cups of tea?' I decided the answer was no.)

Sure as omelette is eggs as soon as I get in the shower they'll phone.

Oh, and the kitchen fitter arrived at 8.05 am. It's all happening today. I should have known there was an inevitability about it.

P.S. In case of any confusion, Baby and I are in Devon; Husband and the kitchen fitter are in Swansea.

No news is ...

2009-11-23T07:22:00.003Z

7.22 am Monday morning
Daughter has been in labour since Saturday afternoon. I just phoned the hospital and all they would tell me is that 'she's fine' and they hope to have some news soon.

Fine? Is that a euphemism for knackered?

I've already done the ironing this morning and I'm about to clean the living room. Charlie Cat attacks me every time I walk past so that I'm a nervous wreck, I have no finger or toe nails left, and I'm just the gran-in-waiting. How must mum feel?

God, please let it be soon and safe.

All stations go

2009-11-22T13:36:00.003Z

Labour's started and I'm off to Devon!

Please pray for a safe delivery - and that I concentrate while driving!!

Poor Husband has to stay here as:
a) the kitchen fitter arrives at 8 am tomorrow;
b) more importantly, he is absolutely full of cold and coughs.

I don't think I actually believed it would happen but it is!

More reports will follow I'm sure!!