Ketchup

Things are looking very, very good on the house front. The solicitor rang today to say that the contracts have been exchanged and he will ring on Friday to tell us when we can collect the keys. Might have to take Friday afternoon off to go on a key collecting adventure. I can't think of anything that could go wrong now -- unless the solicitor decides to take the money on holiday somewhere warm and sunny. But that doesn't seem likely, somehow.

I don't think The Builder will be able to go on the key collecting adventure. I think he might be working. After quite a dry period in the agency work stakes, they seem to have rediscovered him. There is the possibility coming up of some longer term work -- though it is in Wetherby. Still, Wetherby has quite a nice race course. He can watch the horsies running about if it all gets too much!!

Freyja is very excited. She finally got paid today. All this getting up and trundling into the city centre for 10:00 has eventually proved worthwhile! Mark, unfortunately, has yet to be paid. Bread and water for him for the next month, then.

We had quite a food and wine time last weekend. We went to Paul and Carol's place on Saturday evening for good food, lots of wine and much chatter. On Sunday we drove out to Tupton to inspect the house (from the outside). Couldn't inspect the garden. The side gate was locked :-( We have, though, found the allotments. Not more than a 5 minute stroll from the house. (I rang the allotment association man the other day and asked to be put on the waiting list. He says there isn't really one. He thinks there may be a plot vacant, otherwise there's just us waiting. I'll ring him again next week when we actually have the key in our hands and see what's what.) Then we drove across country to the Chatsworth farm shop and bought a side of lamb. And some veg. Then we went back to the Mudhut ready to roast the hind leg for a feast.

Since The Builder and I had been away when we would normally have the Easter feast, we had decided to have a St George's Day/Shakespeare's Birthday/Gareth's birthday feast instead. (Gaz's birthday is actually the 25th, but what's two days among friends?) Tabitha and Gareth came around mid afternoon, when she had finished work. We sat outside before the feast and ate twiglets and crisps in the sunshine. (I think spring has finally sprung, though there isn't a lot of time for it to be springlike before the summer kicks in!!) We had roast lamb. The veggies had a cream cheese and hazelnut roulade. We all had lots of potatoes and vegetables and much, much wine. It was a lovely afternoon. Did, though, lead to quite a sleepy evening!!!

That's it for now. Think happy key-collecting-adventure thoughts for me on Friday.

Oh -- and think sticking-pins-into-the-infidel thoughts for the rabble downstairs. It's the beginning of the final term, exams are approaching -- and the rabble are merrily and loudly hanging from the rafters on L2. Let them hang, say I. I shall completely ignore them until someone comes and complains about the noise.

Ah -- a manager has appeared from somewhere. She's going down to throw them out. Excellent. Wonder how successful she'll be