October 2006 Half Term

I can't believe how quickly it has passed. We have been busy but relaxed too.

Monday, I went into Watford to return a few things to Primark. I also went into John Lewis to purchase a dishwasher. I carefully checked with the salesman how easy it would be plumb in. I mentioned we already had a Bosch and he told me it was very simple. Of course when it was delivered on Wednesday, it turned out that it wasn't simple at all. Monday evening I went to Tring to see my J and her baby E. E is now almost 6mos and very cute, it still amazes me how quickly babies change in their first year.

Tuesday I went in to town with Sam and Tessa, Michael and Jamie had gone in earlier on the train to meet with Doris's stockbroker about her investments. Sam loved the train and was doing all the actions and sound effects each time we pulled out of a station. We met at Tower Hill and ended up walking through the City past St Paul's Cathedral to find a Wagamama's. We walked past my old office in the City, I only recognised where I was by recognising a pub where we had once had lunch. I have to say that I didn't often go into the City and the first time I had a meeting there, as I had arrived early, I decided to have a walk round the area. Well, within a couple of turnings I was completely lost. Although there are lots of interesting buildings, they end up looking very similar, old buildings all look old, modern ones look modern and a building site looks pretty much like a building site and there was lots of building, by the time I made it back I was the last to arrive. Lunch was really good, we had a table all to ourselves out of the way and the children really enjoyed their meal too. Afterwards we hopped on a bus to Westminster Abbey and saw the sights all along the route past Fleet Street, along the Strand, past Trafalgar Square and along Whitehall and Westminster. It was definitely easier on our legs than walking and saved our ears from any whining.

Wednesday I went with the children to see friends in Barnet and we all had a great day till I received a call from Michael saying that I needed to pick up a part to seal off a pipe as the washing machine couldn't be plumbed in and needed a plumber to do some new pipework for us, and in the meantime we couldn't use the sink or the washing machine as water would flow out. The bits I got didn't fit the pipe so Michael went out and thankfully brought back pizza for dinner, and we used paper plates to avoid washing up. Then he phoned the plumber who agreed to come round on Thursday morning.

Thursday, the plumber came and did his plumbing and our dishwasher now works beautifully. Very pleased with it. Then we had lunch out at Harvester which was OK, the salads and main courses are fine but their puddings are rubbish. Then we did our shopping and home for dinner.

Friday, we have a couple of the children's friends round for the day as their mum is working. So for the morning they are entertaining themselves and in the afternoon hopefully we will take them to Hampstead to fly kites on Parliament Hill, and lunch is homemade pizza. Just hope Tessa will eat it as I think she is scunnered of pizzas now.