Spring Is In The Air

The Decorating Bug Is Back

Just like the seasonal flu virus that comes around every winter to shock us all and make us worry about the pro's and con's of vaccinations, so does the seasonal decoratingitis break out the moment a glimpse of sunshine, the appearance of spring bulbs poking through the soil and the sound of twittering birds getting earlier every morning.

I woke up this morning and after a few cups of tea and a round or two of toast I descended the stairs only to find the kitchen in disarray and not the usual disarray of our chaotic household kitchen. All the conservatory curtains, rails and brackets were down. Step ladders in the middle of the kitchen and up above the ceiling was like a war zone.

Debra had come down with the dreaded Decoratingitis Virus and was swiftly at fever pitch. There was no running away from it, it had struck with a force of such magnitude that no part of the house was safe. I was dispatched to the local DIY store for essential supplies, hoping that it would be a swift infection. One that could be isolated with quick decisive action, alas I fear that I am fighting a losing battle and soon I too will be overcome with this vile outbreak and forced to get out the drill, saw and heaven forbid, the paint brush.

Surely there must be a vaccination against this dastardly infection. The misery caused to the male population when other half succumbs is palpable. We need research and government funds to combat this seasonal outbreak before it's too late!

Updated to say that it is too late for me, the drill has come out from the garage, I am lost to this for another year!

SAVE YOURSELVES!!

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Taxi Service

TAXI

Friday night was a blast..... NOT!

Debra went out to Manchester with her friend from work, I was stuck in the house with no prospect of a Friday night drink or two due to my offer to pick them up at whatever time they had had enough.

Time seemed to tick by so slowly that evening, even the extremely funny Lee Evans at the O2 didn't seem to make the time progress any faster. Anyway the time eventually came when my phone rang and Debra's voice chirped up "ready to be picked up, just come out of the pub, come and get us"... "it might be an idea to give me a clue as to which pub you have just come out of" I replied... (giggle, giggle) "oh yes!". This went on for a few more mind numbing seconds before I told her where to wait for me. Into the car and full blast down the road to Manchester. It was an abysmal night of rain lashing the streets and I just wanted my bed. As I reached Manchester and started working my way through the backstreets it seemed eerily quiet and deserted except for a few drunken, sodden soles walking down the middle of the streets, shouting into their phones seemingly pleading with their local taxi firm to come to the rescue. The highlight of my evening was creeping up along the road as close as possible and giving them a blast of the horn to shift them out of my way, I wish I had set my video recorder up now, their reactions were priceless and might have netted me a bob or two from You've Been Framed too! Thankfully Debra and her friend were waiting where I had directed them to and they were surprisingly coherent, I was quite shocked to be honest. I had spent all evening awaiting the call and they didn't even have the decency to get pissed so that I could have had further fun. What is the world coming to!

After taking a ten mile detour to drop her friend off we finally arrived home in the early hours of Saturday morning and I flopped in bed, totally ignoring the noise coming from the other side of the bed, no not Debra snoring just her telling me all about the evening, which she had already done half an hour earlier in the car. Maybe she was more drunk than I originally thought!

6:30 am, Olivia and her friend start making noise, "shhhhhhhhhh be quiet, Oscar is asleep" she shouted (not so) quietly as she passed by him. He heard her but didn't rise to the goading and just shoved his head under his pillow until they had taken the hint and left him alone.

Bleary eyed I got up and pulled my self together. They were making preparations for their day trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and I was the designated taxi service for them and a couple of others.

Back down to Manchester, back along the familiar streets home and back up the stairs to bed!

My god it's knackering being a Taxi Driver!!

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Finally The Back Door Can Be Opened Up To The Sunshine

Look Up Take A Breath And See Blue Sky

At last I have been able to open the conservatory door up and attach the hook to keep it in this unfamiliar state for as long as possible.

The kids are off school and Oscar especially has been bored to tears this week. Anyone would think he has got nothing to occupy him in his cramped bedroom, guitar, drums, keyboard, playstation, telly! All of which could drain a nuclear power station of energy if they were played with simultaneously! Olivia has been her usual happy go luck self, making demands upon our resources and floating around the place as if she were an empress, where has my little princess gone?

I have just had my first cup of tea outside, sat on the decking since the weather turned sour (probably march 2009!) and Oscar came outside, which was shocking in it's own right! "can I have my bike out Dad, I am going out". After the initial shock had worn off I jumped up and hurried to the garage to dig out his bike before he changed his mind. As I watched him ride off it amazed me how he still remembered! Sitting back down to enjoy my cuppa once again I had just closed my eyes and turned my face to gain as much vitaminD as possible when Olivia turned up asking me to get out the hoover and the ironing board so that her jobs could be done. I wonder if she is so keen to be doing her chores because she is off to Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Saturday with her friends, no of course not, stop being such a cynic Mr Mangini!

Up once again to fight with the ever growing ironing pile and retrieve the ironing board and hoover. She was left to her jobs and I returned to the decking to resume my vitaminD top up. I picked up my cup of tea and took a swig, GOD DAMN IT! It was freezing cold. Back into the kitchen, put kettle on, make brew, go outside, shut the bloody door behind me and lock it! Ahhh peace at last. :-)

Just heard the gate clang, OSCAR'S BACK!

Arrrrrrrrrgggghghhhh!

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Carden Park Hotel Rope Adventure Park

BIG BOGIES

A weekend surprise for Debra, Olivia and Oscar.

I came across a deal on Travelzoo website and decided it was too good to pass up. A night in the Carden Park Hotel BnB for the four of us costing £69 for us all. We stayed in a family room, which has two very comfortable and large double beds and all the mod cons you would expect. Spotlessly clean and with a view over the Golf Course and surrounding countryside that doesn't get any better.

It was our second stay at the hotel so when we arrived quite late (8pm) on Friday night we knew our way to the bar. After a swift couple of refreshing drinks it was time for something to eat. The brasserie is small but super efficient and the food delicious. Back to the bar by 9.30pm and settled into some super comfy seating for the evening. Free WiFi kept the kids occupied and copious amounts of alcohol kept Debra and I happy. The bar staff need to be sent on a cocktail training course though as there repertoire is sadly lacking. We showed them the way and eventually got passable Harvey Wallbangers, Serendipity and Vodka Martini's.

We had a great evening and the hearty breakfast the next morning helped soak up the excesses of the night before. A wander around the grounds and we passed through the rope adventure course, which looked great but the green moss on everything made it all look extremely slippy. Olivia was goading Oscar into having a go, just so that she could see what it was like and give him the opportunity to test out just how slippy everything was before she would entertain the idea. He was having none of it and eventually they got bored and wandered off, which was a pitty as I wanted to get them on video screaming along the 250ft zip wire... oh well maybe next time!

I can't praise this hotel highly enough. The staff are first class, the facilities are 5 star and the location is A1!

Keep your eyes open for a deal or two there and you won't be disappointed. I am already contemplating a return visit before the deal expires!

:-)