Oliver attended his monthly Pokemon TGC tournament today, so in the spare four hours we had, Mark and I headed off to Sidmouth for a little jaunt. Our jaunts usually include many charity shops, grub in the cheapest caff we can find and Mark tutting and sighing as I try to skulk off into yarn shops, antique shops or shops full of beautiful things I cannot afford. So you see, we do live the high life.
Today was a good jaunt. We picked up:
- The Game Of Life £3.99 (we already have the electronic version but my GOODNESS the moaning Mark does when we play it is not worth the hassle, and he has long hankered after the olde worlde version)
- 2 recipe mags 45p
- pre cut paper chain strips (printed on both sides with festive piccies) £3.99
- Festive fridge magnets to make from plaster of paris. This is a loathsome craft to do, but Oliver will enjoy it and it was only £1.50 new.
- The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady £1.50 (always wanted a copy)
We had lunch in the White Horse Cafe - a very good value and nice clean caff which we have been to several times before. We were too late for breakfast - quelle horreur!! so we sulkily plumped for egg, chips and peas and a latte each. When it arrived, I was truly horrified to find that 'peas' meant mushy peas. Mushy. Peas. OMG. Since when have 'peas' on any menu EVER translated to mushy peas. I have never had them, as to me, they are the work of the devil, but I have to confess my friends, after some very suspicious pokings with a knife and a tentative curled lipped lick, I realised they were really tasty. Can you adam and eve it. I am converted.
I also got a yearning for a Christmas mug. I have seen Christmas mugs on other people's blogs, and decided that I must have one, being easily swayed, as I am.
Saw a very nice one in a posh shop, which turned out to be £16(!) I would expect a set of 4 for that price, so my search continued. I have ended up with a mug from inauspicious Sainsburys, which cost £1.66 and makes me feel very festive - and crafty, for some reason.
4th DEC:
Mark's birthday. We are going to go to River Cottage canteen (a la Hugh F-W) next weekend for his celebratory birthday meal, and so today was a handing over of some lame presents such as liqueur chocs and more chocs. Mark is incredibly difficult to buy for. Since we were going to 'do' his birthday next weekend, I planned on another week to gather together some more tasteful gifts, but it's all gone a bit t*** up. On the bright side, I found where I had gone wrong in my crochet ripply blanket and got to use my new shade of burnt orange. Does life get any more funner than this?
On Saturday, I had a phone call from the family who took Harvey in last Saturday. She said he has settled in really well, and they would love to keep him. This is a genuine relief to me - a) because I felt reassured by her voice and words that all actually is well and he is not pining, and b) the stress level in the house this week is noticeably lower. I still feel a tinge of sadness, but I know this will fade, and I am edging happily towards the sure knowledge that it was the right thing to do by him.
Here is the little pooch on the last walk I took him on. (sob)
