A Monday off

The Builder has headed off to start his last week working in Handsworth. Ian and Marlo are still asleep. The washing is out (I noticed while heading down to the washing line that one of the panes of perspex in the greenhouse had vanished. Took ages to find it – it had blown down into the grass by the back fence!) What shall I do to amuse myself while waiting for something interesting to happen? I know. I’ll make a rhubarb and ginger cake to take into the office. So I did.

Then Ian got up and we trundled off to Chatsworth. It was our plan to create a magnificent, three course feast for the evening. Ian was in charge of the main course and wanted to seek inspiration at the Chatsworth butcher’s counter. Eventually, after much deliberation, he selected some belly pork. We acquired other delicacies to add to the feast and trundled back home again. It was a lovely autumn morning, a touch on the crisp side, fitful bursts of sunshine, misty strips hanging over the valleys . A pleasure to have the day off and to be able to admire it.

The Builder, of course, didn’t have the day off. However, those who are about to be made redundant are entitled to a half day off each week to seek for other jobs. The Builder took this afternoon, not so much to seek other jobs as to play with Ian and me. Freyja was also available for playing purposes; she doesn’t go back to work until tomorrow. So The Builder dropped by her place and brought her to Tupton and we all headed off in search of lunch. Alas, The Nettle is not open on Mondays. And nor is the Three Horseshoes, although we knew that. So we headed to the Old Poets’ Corner in Ashover, which The Builder and I have eaten in once before. It’s pub food, nothing exciting. But it’s good pub food. And they make their own, twice cooked chips which were absolutely wonderful. They also have multiple options for vegetarians, so Freyja had choices too. Even the wine choices, though not exciting, were more than adequate. Excellent.

We went for a stroll through the village after lunch, then headed back to The Sidings so Freyja could have her first cup of tea for the day (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Then The Builder and I took her home, then dashed back so I could continue preparing my bits of the feast .

We had a really good evening. Ian and I prepared a truly magnificent repast. We drank nice wine and engaged in good conversation.

Then The Builder and I went to bed, leaving Ian in charge of a submission he was writing for some funding, the coffee pot and the port bottle.

The Builder’s pay office is planning to pay all the people who are leaving on Friday all the moneys that are owed to them on Thursday. I think the leavers are firmly expecting that on Thursday evening, as they clock off, their bosses will say goodbye and thank you, thus giving them Friday free. I’m hoping that they won’t say that until lunchtime on Friday – thus giving me a lift in to work in the morning and a really good reason for asking to have the afternoon off!!!

Some horrid person has nicked Taffa's bike. This is something of an inconvenience because (a) she now needs to buy a new bike and bikes do not come cheap, and (b) it takes an hour to walk cto work as opposed to a 20 minute or so bike ride. Hoever, she says that the thief who took it didn't know what they were letting themselves in for. She says the bicycle has been something of a death trap lately and has seriously had it in for her. I think she will be glad of an excuse to get a new bike. Once she has saved up the dosh