De Ja Vu

I've had a real sense of de ja vu this last couple of days.  The windowsill in the living room is once again full of the jars from the kitchen.  There is mess and chaos all around and the sound of electricians feeding cables, shouting across to each other and chomping on their lunches.

Yes, we are in the final throes of the building work, well to be more exact, the connecting us to the National Grid via our solar panels.  It should of course have all been completed back in October ...

... when this picture was taken.  

But it was deemed necessary to move our electricity meter to the outside of the house before any connection could take place and it has taken this long to get things arranged.

So now the shelves in the kitchen are once again empty, the hatch in the false ceiling was open and wires trailing down just moments before this photo was taken ....

... something just like this one on the other side, as wires were fed through, connected and then re-routed.

Soon hopefully this stage will be complete, the meter will be moved to it's new secure cupboard on the exterior of the house and then we will be connected.  As well as giving us 'free' electricity it will mean that the solar panels and all their electronic wizardry will be feeding excess power first to our storage batteries, so we always have a backup supply, and then to the National Grid .... and the garage and workshop roof will be earning us money.

It's taken us a long time to get here, but at last we are on the point of being able to tick off one more aspect of self sufficiency.

*** *** ***

Reverse Advent - Day 15

A Filofax.  It's in fantastic condition considering it used to be bulging with all my activities and day to day notes needed to manage two shops and travel across the Lake District on a daily basis, but of no use to me now in my smallholding life.  This last few years it has merely been an overly large address book and Christmas card list holder.  So it's off on it's way to someone who will hopefully be able to put it back to it's proper use.

Sue xx

Teaching a Young Dog Old Tricks - Mavis

Mavis is around five, officially of course we don't know her age and her previous owner was less than forthcoming, so we didn't press for any definitive information.  When we first took her to the vets just after she came into our lives on 31st December 2013, they estimated her age by her bone structure and her teeth, so officially on her vaccination record she is down as having a birthday of 1 January 2011.  So in a couple of weeks she will be five.

Absolutely in her prime  :-)

Having three dogs does tend to mean that they get less one to one time with me, but I do try and give them that whenever I can.  They get individual outings with me, and of course Rosy is often out and about with Lovely Hubby as she loves to ride in the cab of the truck with her Dad.  As pack leader I have been the one to train them, and whenever I can I fit little training moments into their days to keep them learning and fresh with their tricks I do.

When Rosy was young she learnt her doggy ways from Sophie our beloved Border Collie, anyone who has or has had a Border Collie knows that they are the nearest dog to a human there is.  Training a new dog with an intelligent older dog that does the command immediately it is uttered is a doddle, and thus Rosy knows as many words of the English language as it is possible for a Jack Russell to know.  

We've tried all the spelling of the words so she doesn't pick up on what we are saying when we are discussing the possibilities of a walk in wet weather.  But even W. A. L. K.  spelt quietly out means get to the door fast we are on our way somewhere exciting, as does 'should we have a perambulation along the prom', a jog round the field etc etc.   We've given up ... she knows we're going out before we do!!

Mavis on the other hand came into our lives knowing only orders, following a pack of dogs for information on what would happen next, hoping one would get it right and therefore none of them would be punished ... and at all costs to keep out of the way of any raised hand or booted foot.  

She flinches if you move suddenly, presses herself into her bed if something scary startles her, and ducks low if she doesn't understand the words leaving your mouth.  Because of this she's harder to train.   Repetition leaves her fearful, the tone of your voice if impatience leaches into it even slightly, means the end of you loving her .... in her mind .... and she shuts down.

So to train Mavis I work slowly, imperceptibly slowly, she doesn't know she being trained.

It takes me an average of one to two months to get a command into her sweet little brain so that it can stay there.  She's learnt sit and stay.  She knows that 'wait' is for her own safety and she will wait, watching your face intently all the time for confirmation she's doing it right.  As the only dog that wears an extendable lead on our paddock walks she was apt to get herself wrapped around trees when she went this way and that, so I spent over our allotted two months teaching her 'round' ...  she got it!!  She now knows if I say 'round' and she backtracks her last few steps, the lead will magically free itself from the gate post or tree and once again her freedom will be there.  She can even double 'round' and free herself from two obstacles.  I'm proud of my little girl for this trick, neither of the other two have the faintest idea what 'round' means.

I made the mistake of trying to teach her to 'high five' after reading about it being a marker of a dog's intelligence in an article .... big mistake!!  A hand in that position strikes fear into her heart and her eyes, we tried it twice ... we won't be trying it again, she doesn't need to know how to high five.

Last week she had her fastest ever lesson ....

... she learnt to wink in just five days  :-)

It was harder to photograph than it was to teach her.  

Where is she at the moment I can almost hear you asking .....

... she's on the Blogging cushion with Suky!!

While I am on the computer my two little companions in crime sit on the old dog cushion at my side,  watching to see when blogging time will be over and snoozing peacefully away until Mum springs back into action with something that will be much more interesting to them.

The next little trick we are working on is 'paw'.  I simply wait until she is sat next to me on the sofa and every now and then, just a couple of times a night, I lift her paw and say the word.  The first few times she lept off the sofa, now she is at the stage of just looking at me slightly bemused.  The other two both do this easily and have since they were tiny, and of course Rosy being the little show off she is does 'other paw' and 'other, nother paw' (three handshakes) with great gusto, Suky does it with much trepidation ... she has extremely ticklish feet, and one day very soon Mavis will join in and that will be one more trick under her collar :-)

*** *** *** *** ***

Reverse Advent - Days 13 and 14

I didn't post yesterday as I was feeling pretty yuk, just a bad cold no need to worry, but luckily I had already sorted out two things to go.  Two Christmas candle holders and a dress shirt that Lovely Hubby no longer wants.

Sue xx

An Anniversary Treat

Last week was our eighth wedding anniversary. as I had been lucky enough to be asked to review the new festive menu at The Bells of St Mary's in Prestatyn we asked if we could be booked in on our anniversary.

We were lucky and that's exactly when we went.

We were greeted warmly by the lovely chap behind the bar, we should have asked his name but he was busy and other people needed his help so we kept things brief.  He got our drinks, opened the tab and then invited us to choose a table to sit at.  The restaurant was quiet as we had chosen to go for a 6pm meal due to the distance we had to travel, but the folk that were there were lively and chatty and it was a brilliantly informal atmosphere.

We had a look at the offerings on the carvery table, had a chat with the cheerful chef and one of the other kitchen  lads and then sat with the menu and made our choices.

Lovely Hubby started with a Prawn Cocktail, a real blast from the past but he just fancied it.  I had the Roast Parsnip soup.  I'll let you into a secret .... I don't like parsnips, but this was the only veggie option on the starters ..... it was delicious, I am a convert!!

The only thing we both felt left the starters down was the cheap sliced bread, a small bread roll would have been much better and most likely not added much cost to the course.

The mains we chose were a two meat carvery selection for LH and I had a Sun Blush Tomato and Squash Kiev with a selection of vegetables from the carvery.  The vegetables were delicious, all steamingly fresh straight out of the kitchen and you could help yourself to as many Yorkshire Puddings, vegetables and as much stuffing as you wanted.  The gravy was all suitable for vegetarians which I thought was a nice touch.

The mains were delicious.

And I think this photo just shows how good the puddings were ... we got stuck in the minute they arrived and then remembered to take a photo!!

Lovely Hubby had the Profiteroles, and I chose the Apple Pie, which usually comes with custard or ice cream, but I had it plain .... deliciously so, it tasted completely homemade.

And the exceptional thing about this lovely three course anniversary treat was that  it was £8.79 a head!!  So with a glass of cider each on arrival and then another pint for LH and a sparkling water for me as I was driving, the whole bill came to less than £25.

Where else can you get good, wholesome food and two drinks each for this price, well I guess other Crown Carvery establishments .... we will have to look out for them on our travels.

The absolute stars of the night were the staff ....  everyone from the chap that greeted us and got our drinks, the chef that chatted about the food and explained how everything worked with the carvery system to the smiling girl that delivered each course and kept all the tables cleared as folk left the restaurant were lovely.  It was nice to go to such a friendly, relaxed place on our special day.

 I would like to thank Chloe at Spotty Dog Communications who offered us the opportunity to do this review, she was warned that I would say it exactly as I found it and I have.

A brilliant night, with good food and excellent company.

Happy Anniversary again my Lovely Hubby ... now where are you taking me next year  ;-)

Oh, and if you've not planned your Christmas dinner venue this year and you like eating out, .... the Christmas Day menu is just £35.99 for adults and £17.99 for children, and the Boxing Day and New Year's Eve menu a real bargain at just £11.99 for adults and £5.99 for children.

*** *** *** ***

Reverse Advent - Day 12

A book all about John Deere tractors, it didn't feature the one that Lovely Hubby restored so he's donated it ... he doesn't actually know yet .... ooops!!      ;-)

Sue xx

Calender Girls and Christmas Cards

Most weeks when I go to Mum's I take either Suky or Rosy with me.  Suky is the most usual travel companion as she is so laid back.  Me and Mum tend to nip out for a spot of lunch while I'm there and Suky is happy to be left quietly on her own, she rarely barks.  Rosy on the other hand has super sensitive hearing and will bark and jump around whenever there is any movement outside Mum's lovely little bungalow and as it is in an enclosed garden there is quite a bit of tooing and froing by Mum's neighbours and visitors.

When we get back she is rewarded with a second lap of Worthington Park which is just across the road (the first lap is when I arrive so she can stretch her legs after the long car journey), and once a year a local photographer takes photos of dogs that walk regularly in the park for a charity calendar. 

Look who's a calendar girl on the January page of next year ... Suky!!  Doing her little bit for Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Friends of Worthington Park.   :-)

(I don't take Mavis to Mum's because she has never been left on her own there.  She is much better off at home with whichever of the dogs is not accompanying me.)

At last my Christmas cards have been written and will be posted off tomorrow, I'm just waiting for Lovely Hubby to come home with the rest of my Christmas stamps.

Reverse Advent - Day 11

A scarf.

Sue xx

Christmas Has Arrived

I went to Mum's in Manchester for the day yesterday and when I got home there was a wonderful surprise ..... as Margo would say .... 'Christmas had been delivered'.

Of course as soon as the parcel was in the house the dogs and Ginger had to have a good look around the box and check it met with their approval.

And Ginger thought it a brilliant new perch.  We'll have a proper look through the contents later, one thing I can guarantee is that there won't be anything for the doggies and moggy in there, I'll have to sneak in a few of their treats so they don't feel left out.

And before anyone jumps in and attacks me for being so extravagant and ordering a hamper from good old F&M, I will point out that we get one of these every year from the agency that Lovely Hubby works through, as a thank you for his hard work at lining their pockets with vast amounts of money.

Ginger loves his new perch.

Also through the letterbox was this ... the Christmas edition of the Radio Times. 

 I usually sit pen in hand over my morning coffee and plan out my holiday viewing.  I have to get the circles round the good films and programmes before all the cowboy films, space films and daylong NCIS view-a-thons get planned by a certain other resident of the house ;-)

Reverse Advent - Day 10

A pretty little hand decorated dish that has been languishing away in a drawer for the last few months, someone else should be enjoying it.

Sue xx

That's Not the Way To Do It .....

That's not the way to do it ..... said in a Punch voice from Punch and Judy!!

Taking things into the charity shop the other day I just had to stop for a little browse .... well it would be rude not to wouldn't it!!   In amongst all the bric a brac on the back shelves I spied this gorgeous little vase .  The shop in Llanrwst seems to get some lovely old china donated on a pretty regular basis and I am always tempted but usually I am firm with myself, this time however I caved in, handed over my 99p and the vase was mine.

The backstamp dates it to just after 1900, it's been around along time.  I've added it to the shelf with my Victorian Pug .... which cost me a heck of a lot more earlier this year.

Reverse Advent - Day 9

Another book.  Good reading but not the sort of book I need to read again.

Sue xx

The Freezer is Full

I spied a few bargains when I was out and about the other day.  

Not vast amounts of money off as I was shopping quite early in the morning, but the coincidence of finding some reduced British and Welsh lamb only hours after Lovely Hubby's admission that he would prefer some lamb for Christmas rather than the chicken he usually gets, meant that these packs on the reduced shelf caught my eye immediately.

We don't have turkey in this house .... ever.  I have a 'thing' about the way they are handled and treated in the processing plants.  I saw a programme back in the late eighties when my turkey ban began, and the images have lived with me until this day.

We have talked a few times about raising a few turkeys ourselves so that Lovely Hubby could eat a home reared one, but he has a fear that we would end up with half a dozen of the ugliest pets ever running around the paddock until they finally keeled over from old age.

A turkey is for life .... not just for Christmas ;-)

I got a couple of other things alongside the lamb.

The cheese was a fantastic reduction and is now nestled in the freezer, grated and boxed and ready to last us for a long time.  The beauty of buying mature cheddar is that a little goes a long way in the taste stakes, and as I try not to eat too much cheese, although I love it, that suits me just fine.

The fish pie selections are also in the freezer, which is now full ... to the very top.  Usually I have a  bit of room for Christmas purchases but unless we eat a lot over the next two weeks there is no room.  It is not a worry though because at least this means we are going into next year with a good selection of food, both bought in and home produced.

All in all not a bad saving, what would have cost me £41.77 actually came to just £27.44 a saving of £14.33.  I've got to get in the habit of bargain spotting  even more than I currently do if we are to survive next year with our limited housekeeping budget.

I'm ITCHING to open the Sealed Pot to find out what cash we will have to go with the Nectar points and the vouchers and coupons that I have pinned to the notice board in the kitchen, but I've been told to wait until LH is home for the Christmas holidays so we can do it together.  I do keep picking it up and marveling at the weight .... I hope it's not all coppers!!

Reverse Advent - Day 8

Three unused make up items.  

Never has my make up bag been lighter!

Sue xx