Birthday Treat

Went to Luton on Saturday as a belated birthday, for my son.  He had a party at his house with his mates on his birthday.  So he came to see us on Saturday.  We went round the shops and did a little shopping like you do.  We had decided that we would go back to Dunstable for our evening meal and eat out, but going into the Mall, we noticed a new restaurant a Toby Carvery so we thought why not.  Every thing was lovely, and we eat our fill. The staff where pleasant and attentive, "and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like," I  would like a hot chocolate please. I rarely ask for coffee on my first visit, as you know by my moans I am a little fussy with my coffee, however as lots of pubs serve food these days, a lot of the machines are pretty rubbish, but not all of them, which is what gets me   I know two pubs that have machines and no steamers, that serve decent cups of coffee, at a reasonable heat.  So I assume being a restaurant, they would have a steamer, wrong!"  My son looks on laughing my husband with trepidation, "Just have another Lemonade and we will go to Costa's", which again all the same machinery, but can be hit and miss, all though I must admit the only miss in the area is the one at the library end of the mall next to Toby's. 

I took a sip well it was smooth, creamy,  tasteless, and lukewarm not remotely hot, I thought at first it was froth, but no what an idiot I am when will I ever learn.  I sent it back and got the standard reply that is the temperature the milk comes out of the machine.  So no drink, until I got home, I can't belief that these manufactures,  or restauranteurs ignore there customers, so I must summise that I am the only one that complains. I will admit that Toby's is the coldest and weakest I have ever tasted, for a hot drink. Drinks are so expensive out, meals are getting cheaper so there must make their money somewhere I get it!.  It is not a problem with me I will pay for a good hot cup of coffee, I resent paying for lukewarm dish water, but I can't belief that these machines are set properly, the chocolate at Toby's was not remotely hot or chocolaty for that matter.  The other answer is that it was made and the waitress  left it sitting to long, but  I don't think so.  They did take it off my bill, which is rare, so at least I didn't pay for it, but I didn't get a hot drink either.  Rant Over.

Woman In Black

My son started playing on his phone, and said lets go to see the Muppet's! two groans.  The hotel film with all  the older actors in was not on until 8.30pm.  My son's favourite stage play is 'Woman in Black',  The film version being due to start in 20 minutes over the road.  While it is not exactly mine or Kevin's favourite subject matter and despite that Kevin always sleeps through films, with one exception The Kings Speech, we thought why not, so we went.  I loved it I thought Daniel Radcliffe was excellent, I am  one of those few people that is totally unbiased, apart from the TV film 'My son Jack', I have not really sat down and seen one of  his films all the way through, not even a Harry Potter.  Oh I do intend to watch them, but will buy them and watch them quite quickly, I hate waiting years for the next chapter.  I realy enjoyed the film if you can say enjoy to a horror film, but it freaked me out in all the right places, and had me holding my breathe in other's all in all a good film.  Even Kevin despite having the wrong glasses with him, did not nod off during it. My son, though he liked it, still prefers the stage play.  Now he wants to drag us to London  for the play, we'll see.  All in all an enjoyable day,  a magical moment to treasure. 

Skype

The wonders of skype, I managed to get skype up and running, a scary sight in the morning, looking at yourself, but never mind.  I dare say I will get used to it.  My youngest son is home today visiting and he said he would set it up for me, then phone my eldest son, and get him connected as well over the phone. No 1

son is as impatient as his mum so he got set up yesterday, but neither of the boy's could find each other. So I thought I'm going to have a go, I found both of them straight away.  No 1 son I knew would be in this morning, so we have been having a little chat.  He got me loud and  visually clear, he unfortunately having
a tower system and speakers, found it a little more difficult, and all I got was  a hiss, but we got there in the end.  The wonders of modern technology.  I can
speak to my kids without getting out of bed, and sitting in a drafty hall way, or using up all my credit on my mobile, all good stuff. 

Peacocks Shops

What great news Edinburgh Wool Mill, have bought Peacocks clothing store.  200 branches will close but fortunately for Dunstable ours will remain open.  We have so few shops, and apart from the outlets in supermarkets, we have few independent clothes shops that bring us a wide range of clothes.  Sun European Partners bought Bon Marche also part of Peacocks last month so as a small town, which has over the past few years been decimated with shop closures both of these bring a welcome sigh of relief.  We have had a few shops open up including a bike shop, a cake shop, a new age shop called Gentle Ways  that sells fairies, and candles, and will be doing Reiki and aromatherapy upstairs, a cafe and a craft shop. Unfortunately for those of us that like art and craft materials, This shop is a creative shop where you buy a pot and paint it, good for the kids, they also do workshops for cake decorating and cupcakes.  All lovely shops and very welcome but we do desperately need some old favourites.  I suppose until Dunstable Town Council start thinking of Dunstable, and doing something about the traffic, the big names are not going to come.  I go to Leighton Buzzard for Habadashery, and art and craft needs, but I do try to shop local, but it isn't easy.

Peacocks

Loft tidying

 Crazylane

I have now thrown away most of what I am throwing away, and now it's down to Kevin.  I have a son, who was an art student and I have spent the odd hour moving art work from the centre of the loft to the sides, so that they can pile on top of each other.  Needless to say camera ever ready I have taken a few pics.  Here is one or two of my favourites, the rest I will properly put on flickr it depends.

Maureen Moans

What is with all these reality shows, I rarely watch them, so as you can imagine I end up watching very little television. I tend to watch tried and tested DVD's or I play on my lap-top.

last night I watched channel 4 Daddy Day Care, only because I was at work, and it was on. It was dire. We are told that most men today would rather spend time working, or watching TV or down the pub with their mates then with their families. So each week 3 men are sent to work at a nursery because they don't do enough around the house, or with their own children.

Last night they sent them to a packed nursery for 168 children, in London to look after 12 children!!!  If you put any stranger in a room with 12 pre-schoolers and you will get havoc, guess what even a mother.

I want to know why the owners/managers of these nurseries gave their consent? money? fame? why?

We are told by the staff that the children have strict routines and that they need to be handled a certain way.  Yes by people who they know and who know them.

Nursery Nurses are trained professionals, after their training in college they are sent on placements to nurseries. Where guided by an experienced member of staff learn about the children, and the children get to know them.

Expecting a reluctant dad, to be able to get 12 children to sit down, and be read to, or to change nappies for a man whose wife hasn't had a baby yet, and the third had to get his 12 to sleep.

Yes Right.  It would not have been filmed if they had succeeded, so it was obvious they wouldn't.

Yes they are men out there who do not want any part in child care, so send mum on holiday and let dad look after his own kids for a week, not so much fun, well neither was this.  Even though they returned home, more determined to support their wife's it is all parts of the shows remit.  So if this is the best reality show you can come up with then give up and let's have some proper drama or comedy, shows made.

Needless to say I will not be watching the next 2 episodes, as it will just be a repeat of the first.  By the way I did not see a disclaimer saying that no Children or for that matter Dads where harmed during filming.

Let it Snow!!

I do love a bit snow, it was hard work walking to work in it, but never mind, at least I got there and on  time.  Unfortunately most of the snow has gone, now I have a few days  off.  Normally I do manage to get up the Downs to see the children with their sledges and to take pics from the top of the  Downs. Not this year though, shame.  Here are a few pictures, of  Dunstable taken on my way too and from work.

Maureen's Moans

This is a moan about bloggers who loose the tool bar at the top of the page, with next blog on it.  You will be sailing along jumping from blog to blog, which I find interesting. Then Stop! there is no next blog sign, where is it I got four in a row this morning and I had to keep going backwards to get new posts.  Leave the toolbar alone it is useful for those of us who like to blog hop, if you don' then, don't.

Next Blog

Sitting here in my bedroom, allegedly doing some work, I like most internet users get distracted.   So I click the next blog button or I check who has similar interests to me.  I follow a few, or just surf.  Funny how most of them are trying to sell you something advertising their wares, and the other half seem to be christian families from across the pond.  However this morning I have hit on 3 that where quite depressing, people who basically have had enough.   I sit I think somewhere in the middle, I have a good life and apart from the occasional  moan and rant, I enjoy it.  I live with Kevin my husband for 30 years + I work full time he from home.  My children are all adults living their own life's and making their own mistakes.  We are reasonable close I get phone calls, I phone them, they visit I am very lucky.  I am the sort of person that does not feel down for long and I am very much the optimist, growing up with my brother and sisters we were never what people would consider well off.  Now is no different when you choose to have children, regardless of your income, you manage.  I was a stay at home mum and I am glad I was.  I did enjoy being with them, being part of those formative years playing and loving them.  Yes coping on a small income with benefits topping it up, it was hard but now they have flown the nest I am happy for them, I did my best, was it enough who knows only them.  I am happy for me, and Kevin because now it's our time.  We all make mistakes big ones, little ones, Ginormous ones that changes your life completely, normally for the worst. It is done, unfortunately we have to live with it, get on with our lives.  Do not wish your life away, do not constantly look backwards, what if's will only drive you apart from your loved ones. Live for now, make the most of what ever life for you is, and be happy.