Family Great British Bake-Off

For the month of March we’ve been having a family Great British Bake Off – this has been me, Charlotte, Tash, Jack, Grandma, Miles and Rui.

We all took it in turns to bake something and the efforts were brilliant – genuinely everyone produced something that was really good.

Charlotte organised it and it was such a good idea and we all felt involved and it was something to look forward to each week

Charlotte made a chocolate bomb and Mum made millionaire shortbread and both were the best – I think Mum might just shade it.

I made a Victoria sponge and I enjoyed doing it and it turned out pretty good in the end so I was pleased with that effort

We’ll find out who won later this week but it’s been one of those examples of winning not actually mattering because it’s been great to be involved.

Here’s my effort below…

Hot Tub up and running and getting used…

I stopped early on Friday afternoon so as to set up the hot tub in the nice weather and daylight! Added a new patio slab and then got to work on unpacking it all and setting it up.

It was fairly straight-forward and I was really pleased with the result of getting it up and running and the heater on and the chemicals into it!

It looks brilliant where we have set it up so I hope it will be a success.

Early night and hopefully we’ll get the chance to use it over the weekend

Update on Saturday!

It was freezing overnight and I was concerned it would all be frozen but of course it was running at about 37 degrees so was nice and warm. We left it the day until lunchtime when Tash got impatient so we both tested it out – it was great!

Jack and Noah tried it later which annoyed Charlotte as she’d planned a hot tub relax with Miles

Instead we waited until after dinner and in the dark the four of us got in and it was great. Quite a lot to drink but sensible etc – it soon cooled down but we had the jets on for 90 minutes! Probably not ideal use but there you go. Charlotte had bought us a light and it worked a treat.

Sunday it was just me and Tash so we used it around 5.00pm and didn’t have the jets on, just relaxed in the warmth and listened to the birds etc – it was more relaxing and peaceful to not have the jets on. I had added a towel and dressing down hooks panel and also added a shelf to the wall to make holding drinks and food easier and more reachable.

I was a bit frustrated that the top deflated but we’ll keep an eye on that but all told it’s been a really good purchase.

Lewis has said he’s ordered a drinks holder so that will be a welcome addition.

Walk in Bernwood Forest

Met Wayne and Kerry in the forest for a walk – not strictly supposed to but we kept our distances so should be fine.

Nice to catch up with them, haven’t seen them for ages.

Back home and I then took Tash over to Sue’s after picking up Nikki as it was her birthday and they were having a tea together.

Came back home and did some diary and work prep ahead of the coming weeks.

Picked Tash up again and wasn’t too drunk actually, walked Bella and Bess so that was nice for Sue’s dog as she doesn’t walk otherwise. Poor thing.

Back home sorted dinner and Charlotte & Miles had returned from their weekend in London and were setting up the new bed they’ve bought between them that has finally arrived at the weekend – it’s been a bit of a saga to get this thing and we did feel for some time it was a scam but when Charlotte’s patience finally ran out it turned up – same weekend as Lewis which he and Emily set theirs up today as well!

All good and they’re both happy with what they got.

Had a nice dinner – beef stew with dumplings and prosecco because it was Valentine’s day today, got chocolates and flowers and gin for Tash – think she was happy with that!!

Sat around chatting and catching up in the evening and then an early night – tiring weekend.

Great Grandma’s Cremation

Sad day today, another one!

Once more, the title is self-explanatory. Two weeks after her death we said goodbye to Great Grandma today. I worked in the morning as I had some urgent things to attend to and then from 11.00am we got ourselves sorted. We went over the the Crematorium about 12.20pm and there was a number of people there already, eventually most of the family were there which was pleasing, Louise and all her family, haven’t seen Trevor in about 5-6 years, Ricky and Lisa were there and so were the two girls which we weren’t expecting, Matthew and his wife too. Alan from the close was also in attendance and pleasingly Mum had been allowed to get Derek from the Nursing Home so he could come as well. He will have to self-isolate now for 14 days but he’s not doing much at the home so that’s not going to be any sort of inconvenience for him!!

We waited outside chatting and it was subdued as you’d expect but some normal chatter as well. The hearse arrived so we made our way down to the entrance and waited for a while and then were allowed in, sat at the front with Mum so I could support her if required and Derek was next to her in his wheelchair. Grandma was brought in and the service was present by a chaplain who was nice enough and instead of singing hymns there was music played and this worked. Nice to hear about Grandma’s life and admittedly it wasn’t as heart-breaking as you’d expect. Lewis stepped up to the plate and read her favourite poem, ‘”Wandered lonely as a cloud” and did brilliantly, I was extremely proud of him, and even afterwards Jack admitted to him that he’d not have been able to say anything so was impressed with his brother.

The service passed and then all done and we’re being ushered out, we waited around in the rose garden looking at the flowers and messages and chatting and comforting a few who were upset. After a bit we needed to make a move so Mum called for the taxi and we went and waited out in the car-park continuing conversations etc with people we hardly see anymore and will likely see even less of! Taxi came and that was the signal for things to finish. Mum went with him and Louise’s family went to her house – bit annoyed about that because it’s obvious they were going to but Mum played it down and was suggesting it wasn’t going to happen and that’s why they couldn’t come to ours – anyway, whatever.

So we came back here and sat around the dining room table for food and drinks and didn’t go back to work. Nice afternoon, chatting about everything and remembering funny stories about Great Grandma.

Mum came round later for an hour and the by about 5.30pm it was all done. We got changed into more comfortable clothes and put a film on. Had a bit more wine and beers but nothing to overdo things and generate hangovers!

Off to bed for an early night in what has been a long, tiring and emotional day.

Said it before, but Grandma was a remarkable woman and she’d enjoyed a great life and was well-loved which goes without saying. she’ll be sorely missed but we’ve been so lucky to have been able to enjoy so much time with her.

xxx