Monday 22nd to Wednesday 24th February

Monday 22nd – At bowling tonight, we managed an 8-0 win. I didn't expect to win. I had been exchanging Facebook comments with a member of the opposite team during the day. He was convinced he was going to lose, especially as we had the handicap advantage. Weeks 1 and 2 are a bit strange like that. For week 1, we carry over the handicap from the last week. On week 2, the new handicap is calculated based on the scores for week 1. They had a particularly good start to the season so they had low handicaps.

Tuesday 23rd – At work today, we were chatting about what colour car is best to buy. Apparently blue is not a good colour for cars. Red still suffers from losing it's colour. I still love my blue car and I'd have a pink one too. I still love the magenta Fiesta Zetec even though I could probably only sell it on to girls or gays!! This evening we watched another episode of Heroes.

Wednesday 24th – This evening was the archaeology club meeting. Starting with the AGM. Lesley started the meeting. She got to about item 2 on the agenda and then asked if anyone was taking notes. If I had known beforehand that I was going to be given the job I could have taken along my laptop or at least a decent note pad. So I scribbled some notes on the back of the Treasurer's Report. I hope I can make sense of them later. After the meeting, Avice showed us some slides from a festival held in Lenham Square from the 1980s. Some of the ladies dresses looked like they'd been made out of curtains. Avice said that a lot of them probably had. I prefer her talks on Village Signs.

Sunday 21st February - Happy birthday

After Dave had opened his cards and presents, we were getting set for a quiet day after our busy Saturday. Then Simon and Corinne phoned. Did we want to meet up somewhere? Great idea. Dave did a bit of research and we soon set up for Johns Cross. It was a pub that he knew of from years ago and we could go look around the nearby camper shop afterwards, and it was about half way. When we arrived we were met friendly staff and we sat at the bar chatting and picking at the cheese and peanuts on the bar. Here is their website address: http://johnscrossinn.com/ in case you want to find it yourself one day. On the menu it was really a choice of the roast or spicy Persian lamb. With the roast you could choose chicken, beef or gammon, or a bit of all 3 which was good. The lamb won for me though. Something a bit different. We all succumbed to dessert. Apple and blackberry crumble with custard. Yum. Then we all wished we hadn't as we were very full!!

Out in the rain and down to the camping shop. We were in the shop for ages. Simon got the mega giggles about something but I can't remember what it was now. We saw lots of tents that would be suitable replacements for ours and they were not much more than £100. Dave got a gay pink mini lantern and he bought me a lovely casual bag that will be great for our holiday. When I need a new chair I will go back there again. They have different designs now. I got my flower one from there and it is lasting me well.

We got home in plenty of time for bowling. I was able to get 3 decent enough scores to possibly use as a pre-bowl one day.

Saturday 20th February - ELO

As it was a sunny day, we walked up to town. We had a look around the toy shop first. We hadn't been there since it had moved. There's some good stuff in there. We also went to the book shop nearby too. I must remember to look out for the Haunted Castle book again some time. We bumped into Bernie and then we all went to MacDonalds for MacDinner! We like MacDinner. Afterwards, we went to the jewellers, a few other book shops and HMV. In Waterstone's I saw a book that one of the girls at work would find useful as she had mentioned that she might be getting a laptop at home but I think I would have been in trouble if I bought it for her. It was called Laptop Basics for the Over 50s!

On the way home, we went into the pet shop in Beaver Road as we often do so that Dave can brood over the snakes. We were both fascinated by the African Pygmy Hedgehogs. We spoke to the owners about life expectancy and other care. They gave us an interesting care sheet. They would make a really good pet. Our only reservations about getting one are the costs and if we could get someone to look after them if we were away.

In the evening, we went to the Sinden Theatre in Tenterden to see “The ELO Experience”. They are a brilliant tribute band. Kat came too which was surprising. She said that she enjoyed watching us more than what was going on down on the stage. She only recognised one of their songs and there was one other that she said she “liked”!! I think that was “Wild West Hero”. Dave sung the whole way through. Guess he'll have a sore throat in the morning.

Week beginning Monday 15th February

Monday 15th – Tonight was the official start of the bowling league. We are back to 8 teams again which is good. Batty and I had a practise/pre-bowl game which went OK. I was able to beat him 6-2 which is due to his new bowling style. I have to make the most of when I win now, it won't last!!

Tuesday 16th – This evening when I got back from picking Baerbel up, I came home to a full house. It's good to see lots more friends on Tuesdays these days. It's been a bit quiet of late. We watched another episode of Heroes. One with George Takei in.

Wednesday 17th – After work I went to Asda to find something for dinner. I chose meatballs and then bought some tinned tomatoes and vegetables to make a sauce. I also had to open a bottle of wine to help cook the meatballs. One of my favourite sayings “I like to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food. I was quite pleased with how the meatball dish turned out. Another one to try again one day. We watched the Igor film that I've recently recorded. Dave had every intention of only watching the beginning but stayed until the end. It was better than expected. It had some great lines in it.... “evil lasagne” :)

Thursday 18th – As is usual with half term week, Maria invited me to go to their house for Chinese, with the excuse of celebrating Chinese New Year. The Chinese was from the Golden Gate in Cheriton and is definitely the best. Jose had made madeira cake in the bread maker machine which was very good. Lovely hot with ice-cream. Enrique had got the new Up film from Blockbusters this week and dragged me off to watch some with him. It looks good and he obviously loves it as he had been watching it for two days. Must get to see it properly one day. I started watching the Winter Olympics as there was nothing else much on TV later. I've not really followed it before but I got quite into it. The Olympics are being held in Vancouver. It was the female Bob Skeleton event that was on. The speed they travel down the track is amazing. I have to use my brakes going down a hill on my bicycle. There is no way you would get me to lay on board about 6 inches off the ground and fly down an icy track, head first at 100km+ per hour.

Friday 19th – I was invited to an Ann Summers Party. It was at a friend's house that I hadn't been to before. The numbering on the long road was really difficult to work out and it took me about 20 minutes to find the address. Eventually I found it. As there were only a few of us there, we didn't have a proper demonstration, just wine and a laugh. When I got home I watched some more of the Olympics. The BBC presenter had a go down the track and really enjoyed it but it's still not for me! Each contestant does 4 runs and it's the combined shortest time that wins. Amy Williams got a gold for Great Britain. Tonight her two runs clocked 53.68 and 54.00 making a combined time of 3:35.64 minutes.This is only our ninth gold medal in Winter Olympic history.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/20022010/58/winter-olympics-britain-winter-olympic-golds.html

Sunday 14th February 2010 - Valentine's Day

I woke up to the sight of a red envelope on the bedside table. If only I was that organised. I was accused of having to rush to the shop to buy one but I’m not that bad. I just had it downstairs. My card even sings to me..... apparently “you’re gorgeous”!!

A quiet morning probably wasted on the computer and then off to Tesco for the usual re-stock. There was time before I had to start preparing the Sunday roast for us to go down to the garden centre at Ham Street for an outing. Again I’ve been to a garden centre and forgot to pick up some food for my orchids. I guess they won’t need them for a while anyway as they are both flowering. One of them was a birthday present and is budding again. The other one has been in flower since I got it before Christmas from the Pamper Day event. It was intended for a Christmas present but I fell in love with it so kept it. I loved the colours especially as it matches my front room. Yet where do I keep it? In the kitchen with the other plants. I have four plants at the moment: the two orchids; my annual Christmas Poinsetta from my mum which is still alive; and a plant that I got for my birthday a couple of years ago. It’s never flowered again, it’s just got about 3 times bigger. Must remember to show CA and Brian when they come over next.

Bowling was fun, even though we lost 8-nil. We start the league in 7th place, out of 8. Sara was playing particularly well. She can kiss her high handicap goodbye. She was playing off a 68 handicap from last season and now it has gone down to 46. Although my handicap has gone from about 50 down to 42 as my games were OK, my main handicap (sorry, Bat) was my team partner who is learning a new bowling style. His handicap went from about 49 to 65. His bowling should improve dramatically now though as he gets used to bowling “properly”. I guess I’m going to get told off for saying this :) He has also ordered a new ball which will take time to get used to when he gets it.

Saturday 13th February 2010

I was stirred from my comfy pit by the arrival of the Everest man who had come to repair the front door. It was not sealing properly and needed to have the handle pushed up fully to stop the draught coming through. He made some minor adjustments to the metal work in the frame, oiled the hinges and off he went. I’m not sure it is ”fixed” as now you have to close the door really tight to get the door to lock into the catch but it is better than it was. For the rest of the morning, I spent far too long on my PC to get anything sensible done. Very soon it was time for me to rush around to get ready as we were walking to Chris’s via the town. Martin joined us and we went to MacDonalds for lunch. We didn’t have time for any other shopping as it was 1 o’clock when we went to Iceland.
At Chris’s we had a fun afternoon playing pinball and Wii. I’m not sure if I’ve got a favourite pinball table. I like “Dracula”, “Bride of Pinbot”....she can speak you know, “Revenge of Mars” and “Star Wars”. I’m not playing the new table as it is a boxing one which I’m not interested (Sorry, Chris!). I’m quite happy playing the others. The muscles in my arms are going to ache for a while. Pinball finds muscles that don’t get a lot of use. Glenn made some lovely tacos. We got through a couple of bottles of wine. Kat thrashed me at tennis on the Wii. We would have loved to have stayed longer but we had received an invitation to dinner in the evening with Brian and Rachel.

It was a lovely evening. Starter was crispy french breads with home made salsa topping. Main course was freshly cooked veal with potatoes, mange tout and carrots. I’ve not tried cooking with pine nuts before. I must try this one day. Dessert was a home made pear and syrup pudding. It was very sweet but not heavy. As one who doesn’t generally eat much, I hardly left anything. The wine, also Asti and Champagne, was flowing all night. All of this was followed by port and cheese. An altogether very civilised grown up time. We should have more dinner parties.

Thursday 11th February 2010

It snowed heavy overnight. Another 4-6 inches in places. Thankfully the car was easy to clean off. Why do some people not think to clean their lights too? I left for work later than I intended and it took about half an hour so I was late again. At least I made it in though. Some didn't. The City Link drivers didn't show later so I had to go down the their office again. In the evening, as Dave was on the late shift, I made us chicken in white wine sauce. As I had some honey that needed using up, I decided to make a cake. I found a recipe in my favourite set of books for Devonshire Honey Cake. I halved the ingredients as I didn't have the full amount of honey. Dave and Dan love it. Here is the original recipe in case you'd like to try it:

225g/8oz unsalted butter
250g/9oz clear honey, plus about 2 tbsp extra to glaze
100g/4oz dark muscovado sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
300g/10oz self raising flour

Takes 1 ½ hours / Serves 12

Preheat the oven to 160 C/Gas 3/fan 140 C
Butter and line a 20cm/8in round loose-bottomed cake tin
Cut the butter into pieces and drop into a medium pan with the honey and sugar
Melt slowly over a low heat
When liquid, increase the heat under the pan and boil for about 1 minute
Leave to cool

Beat the eggs into the cooled honey mixture using a wooden spoon
Sift the flour into a large bowl and pour in the egg and honey mixture, beating until you have a smooth batter

Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour until the cake is well-risen, golden brown and springs back when pressed

Turn the cake out on a wire rack
Warm 2 tablespoons of honey in a small pan and brush over the top of the cake to glaze
Leave to cool