Sunday 30th December 2012

Can`t believe it! Due to go up to The Lakes tomorrow for New Year with Auds and Co........and Macker has woken with an abscess again!! We`ll have to beg the dentist to see him first thing in the morning, or it looks like it`ll all be off! Party pooper!

Saturday 29th December 2012

FINALLY found a ski holiday! Off to La Rosiere in 14 sleeps. Can`t wait :)

Friday 28th December 2012

After Tom and Mary`s early 4.30 am exit, we were up with the lark to see Ann at 9 am. Between doing the shopping, sorting out the In Laws car and a little bit of work, we spent the whole day on ski holiday search. Not proving easy in any way shape or form! Will get there.........just taking a few man hours :)

Thursday 27th December 2012

Tom and Mary came round for tea, in our final foray into Christmas. Amazing how quickly it`s over and back to normal! Absolutely shattered now.......a bit like Baggy Cat :)

Wednesday 26th December 2012

Spent the day collating the answers to The Christmas Quiz sent by Bernard. The McGawley family, once again, were victorious! 84 out of 90, whereas the Burkie`s only got 81! Happy Days :)

Tuesday 25th December 2012

What a fab Christmas! Woke up to a champagne breakfast, then pottered home for a relaxed day with no cooking! We vegged on the sofa, drinking champagne and eating tapas. We even went to bed for a couple of hours in the afternoon ~ unheard of! Was absolutely perfect :)

Monday 24th December 2012

Leisurely day ~ picked up Tom and Mary at the airport and did all the chores that needed doing before heading down to Knowle for our Christmas Eve curry with Mums and Dicky. Had a brilliant night :)

Sunday 23rd December 2012

Got up early after possibly the worst nights sleep ever, and drove to Buxton to tackle The Dragons Back. Peak bagged 2 hills ~ Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill, in possibly the windiest conditions we have ever walked in! It was that strong in places we were blown off our feet ! Quick pint after in The Quiet Woman pub.....an inn that time really has forgotten, and now home to crash and burn before the fun of Christmas Eve:)

Saturday 22nd December 2012

Rainy play today, so sorted out making the soup for our walk tomorrow and making the vegetable pasta for when we get home! Talk about organised! I also made some Brownies ~ which once again I have burnt! Useless baker.......Nana would be so disappointed in me! Just as well I make up for it by being a relatively good cook in the rest of the kitchen! My Ice Watch turned up today......Love it :)

Friday 21st December 2012

Christmas Shopping finally done.....Not exactly hard work when it involves Gift Cards and a specific request!! Ann turned up with a crate of Bud and a couple of bottles of wines.......last time I looked it was supposed to be the employer giving the gifts not the employee, but she won`t be told! And on a final note, the first part of Rich`s root canal treatment went swimmingly......so fingers crossed it stays trouble free!

Thursday 20th December 2012

Bit of a bonus today....the watch I wanted for Christmas suddenly took a 54% price reduction.........straight into the post to me :) Love it, and can`t wait till Christmas to get it! My other Zaini hat arrived today as well, so a good day at McGawley Towers :)

Wednesday 19th December 2012

I have had a horrible hangover all day and it`s made me realise why I don`t drink as much red wine these days! Really not in a fit state to do anything so just sat on the sofa watching the goggle box! Postman arrived weighed down with parcels.......my new Zaini hat, my late and utterly wrong in every way Christmas jumper......and a lovely surprise of a bottle of Veuve from Nick our Architect. That`s Christmas Day sorted!

Tuesday 18th December 2012

Pulse`s Christmas do rime, had an absolutely brilliant day with Macker, Burkie, Auds and Rick at The Stretton Fox. Once again crackers were relieved from their tables in an appropriate ninja styley : Great fun!

Monday 17th December 2012

Rich went to the dentist this morning, and is now being fully loaded with antibiotics before the start of his root canal treatment on Friday! Nice little Christmas present :) Bought another hat off EBay.......not that I have a hat addiction or anything, but the collection is building quite nicely now! Apart from that, cold, wet and miserable today. Baggy Cat took herself off to bed with her teddy and hasn`t surfaced now for 8 hours! Think she`s got the right idea!!

Sunday 16th December 2012

Rich still suffering with his tooth abscess, so definitely a trip to the Dentist in the morning! Shame, as we were due for a Christmas lunch in Chester tomorrow which would have been lovely and festive. Consoled myself by doing a touch of shopping on EBay, and whilst i was selling quite a lot of items, I found the time to pick up this little beauty for £2.70. I love Zaini hats, and in almost Villa colours.........fate!

Saturday 15th December 2012

Poor Macker`s got horrendous tooth ache today, so has spent the most of the day sleeping. Have doubts we will get out on our walk this week.........but not sure he should be seen in public anyway as his face has swollen up like a chipmunk. Highlight however, has to be ..................VILLA BEATING LIVERPOOL AT ANFIELD!!!! 3 Goals to 1. Think we may have discovered United`s next big striker........but as long as he spends a while banging them in for Villa, I am not going to moan. Great day. 

Friday 14th December 2012

Christmas Card writing day ~ not being a particularly Festive soul, this is a day I dread for 364 days of the year! Softened by the fact that we had some better news at work today, it was a task I endured with bad grace until wine o`clock came round :)

Thursday 13th December 2012

Spent the whole day E Baying and now feel like my brain has been fried to a crisp. However, within minutes of the auctions going live I have bids, so definitely more to come for the ski fund! Got an unexpected gift arrive as well from Copella.......that went straight on E Bay as well! Horrible day in the office, with lots of complications and bits to overcome....but hey que sera sera. Feeling quite relaxed about it all for a change :)

Wednesday 12th December 2012

Well we appear to have got away with last night`s antics with no trace of a hangover!There`s something to be said for all day sessions when you get to bed by 11.00. I think it may be my new way forward! We spent the day consolidating the finances on Middleton and looks like we are relatively close to the appraisal which is good news. Apart from that, for the last time in 90 years, the clock showed 12:12:12 on the 12th of the 12th. I was so worried I`d miss this picture, that I practiced for quarter of an hour before to ensure I got the perfect screen rip. Turning into a geek!

Tuesday 11th December 2012

Great day out with Noddy and Mike celebrating Cheadle and talking about the future.  Went to The Church Green and had a really nice meal and lots and lots of wine and liquers! Rich and I went into Lymm after for a couple of scoops in The Bull with Lee Gerrard ~ and then ate chips on the street like teenagers! Really lovely day.

Monday 10th December 2012

Last night with Mary before she goes back to Spain. Not really seen much of her as she`s been running around all weekend! Looking forward to tomorrow now ~ a long, lazy lunch celebrating the sale of Cheadle Vets4Pets. Roll on the next one and may Christmas commence :)

Sunday 9th December 2012

Relaxed today after our big walk in The Peaks yesterday, so spent a lot of time " creating" in the kitchen. Made Indian Dosas, a type of street food made of spiced potatoes and chickpea pancake. They were really yummy and definitely on the menu for my Vegetarian friends! 

Saturday 8th December 2012

Got up at 7.30am and headed off to Fairholmes in the Derwent Valley. Upper Derwent Reservoir was mirror still in the morning, but as we climbed upwards onto Howden Moor and onto Derwent Edege, we were faced with more and more snow. Was an amazingly beautiful walk topped off with the best pasta tea at Pastiche in Knutsford.

Friday 7th December 2012

Really tired today as by the time we`d picked up Mary and gone to bed, it was gone 1 am this morning! Spoke to Burkie.....his Dad is in hospital in Egypt as his hip has gone AGAIN! Hope they get it sorted for him soon as he wasn`t insured for it. Apart from a bit of work today, I have mainly been cooking......and enjoying this little fella that just turned up in the post tomday. No idea where from. but a welcome little comp win!

Thursday 6th December 2012

First flurry of snow fell today.....began to get excited but sadly it came to nothing! Rich went over to the solictor`s this morning to sign the contracts on Sandbach, so hopefully, we are now on the way to owning an acre of the Town Centre! We heard that Muller`s scheme in Sandbach got thrown out by the Planners last night, which was even better news! I spent the day doing my "homework" for Macmillan as I am working for them tonight on a research project. The poster below shows my involvement and feelings about the charitable group. Mary arriving from Nerja at midnight.......so all in all, it`s going to be a long evening!

Wednesday 5th December 2012

Chilled out today and spent an inordinate amount of time in my hot bubbly bath. Love my bath :)

Tuesday 4th December 2012

Succumbed to all the subliminal messages that Christmas is nigh, and dug the old tree out of the loft. Have to say, I do like the twinkly lights. And mulled wine. And carols sung by choirs. So maybe I`m not as much of  a Christmas Grinch as i thought I was!

Monday 3rd December 2012

Day off today. It was soooooo nice to just watch telly and kick back! Entered loads of comps as well, but the way things are on the comping front at the moment, I`m not expecting anything back! But on another note, The Palace have announced that Kate and Wills are having a baby. Being a patriotic sort, I think this is great news, and Princess Diana would have been so so proud. Good on them.

Sunday 2nd December 2012

Finally a bit of luck. Got a roofer out to Cheadle to see about the leak.....and looks like it was only a bit of condensation after all! Sammy my Cae Du stone sums up exactly how I feel right now :) Tired, a little emotional and just glad that the Grinch hasn`t stolen Christmas!

Saturday 1st December 2012

Went out walking today. 8.7 miles.......2,182 calories burned! Left Hathersage then climbed up onto Stanage Edge. The views were amazing but it was bitterly cold up there, and relatively quiet for a Saturday!. Left the edge at High Neb and walked across Bamford Moor......knee deep in wet, peaty bog!! Luckily the wind stopped, or I would have got a bit cold because I was soaked! Walked back down Bamford Edge and back into Hathersage before departing for The Fallow Deer and a well deserved Baileys Mocha :)

Friday 30th November 2012

BAD day again........! Gained a leak in the roof at Cheadle, so God knows how much more that`s going to cost us! Putting it aside for the weekend though and going out with Burkie tonight for a meal as planned. It`s amazing how little unexpected things cheer you up though.....Ann turned up from Benidorm with a bottle of gin for me and Uncle Burkie turned up with my favs of all time.....Belly Flops! So it`s not all bad....got to have SOME good news soon surely!

Thursday 29th November 2012

Nothing sums up today better than this picture! We have had the highs of new potential projects,  the lows of losing profit on a job that was completing, back to finding profit on a job that HAS completed! Quite hard to keep the emotions on an even keel! Anyway, to cut a long story short.......Cheadle is done and dusted and the money is in the bank. Thank God for that! Oh, and my poorly phone came back home today all fixed and repaired.  Definitely wine o`clock!

Wednesday 28th November 2012

FINALLY exchanged on Cheadle today, so come tomorrow, we should be paid our 6 month salary.......not before time! Sucha relief.....and there seems to be so much more on the horizon as well! My prize came today as well.......Elemis and Fake Bake goodies.  Love my hobby sometimes! Went to The Village in Warrington to watch the mid week footie. No real shocks.....Man U beat West Ham, City beat Wigan. Think the title is already between the 2 Manc teams. Predicting relegation now as QPR, Southampton and Reading. Let`s hope!

Tuesday 27th November 2012

Woke up with a bit of an irritating cold, but luckily it seems to be just a mild one, so should be gone in a couple of days! Still not completed on Cheadle........though Rich managed to get another £900 on the deal today because of the delay, so that`s skiing paid for now....! Mum wasn`t well today....had to call the Doctor out to her at home, but seems as though it`s just a virus, so she should be better quite quickly. Best news of the day though......VILLA WON........! So happy, particularly as it was against fellow relegation rivals Reading. CLARET AND BLUE ARMY!

Monday 26th November 2012

Waved goodbye to my Samsung Galaxy 2 today, as it went off to The Phone Hospital for a little bit of TLC! Natwest rang to say that my insurance claim was accepted and I will either get a replacement handset or a repaired one within 5 days! Very happy that my poor little screen will get fixed......but already feel lost without access to all my apps!! Come home soon little phone :)

Sunday 25th November 2012

After such a big yomp yesterday, we have done absolutely nothing today......! I have spent the day comping after a recent boost when these Palmolive goodies came through the door! I got a well done e mail on Friday as well.......£50 worth of beauty products from BeautyCutey.com. Just need to land the ski holiday now :)

Saturday 24th November 2012

Got up at 7.30 this morning and headed to The Peaks to go for a yomp. Did a 9.5 mile walk in 4 hours 45 minutes.........in the toughest of weather conditions! We had rain, sun, mist and wind! But despite the weather it was great fun and we laughed our way round. Started in Baslow, then walked along the River Derwent and up onto Froggatt Edge all the way round and back down to Baslow. Went to The Fallow Deer after and had a Baileys Mocha and some Jalapeno Bites. Oh......and Villa drew to Arsenal so not a bad day really!!!

Friday 23rd November 2012

After a long long week, we stopped work at 8 pm and went to Pastiche for Spicy Amatricana Pasta and Firecracker Pizza. Vets have signed off the floor on Cheadle.....Blackburn is progressing, and Heads of Terms have been issued on Middleton. Pulse are finally, in business........looking forward to taking the foot off the gas!

Thursday 22nd November 2012

Absolutely miserable day! There have been floods up and down the country and it has not stopped raining or blowing a hoolie since 9.00 this morning! Poor Rich has got football tonight and for once, I`m quite happy to be home alone with a vodka and lime and a hot bubble bath! Ann`s off to Benidorm in the early hours of the morning, so hope for her sake the wind calms down in the next few hours!

Wednesday 21st November 2012

  Finally after a LOT of money, blood, sweat and tears, the floor at Cheadle has a screeded floor that`s not cracked and broken up!! We should now be on the verge of selling it and not before time! Finger`s crossed it`s still down on Friday when we are hoping the Vets will sign it off!!!

Tuesday 20th November 2012

Vegetarian Indian Cooking day! Spent all morning in the kitchen making spicy roast parsnip soup for lunch and a cauliflower, lentil and coconut curry for tea. The house smelt of THE most amazing aromas........chilli, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, lime to name just a few of my magic ingredients. I felt like an alchemist at work creating my magic from a few base ingredients! It may look like something the cat threw up ( My Mother`s words!!!) ....but by God it was tasty :)

Monday 19th November 2012

Well what a difference 24 hours make.....the weather has turned on a sixpence so thank goodness we decided to go walking yesterday! Rich went over to Cheadle this morning, and the floors are all looking good, so fingers crossed we are on the final stretch to selling the investment! Whilst he was out, I decided to make a spicy roast parsnip soup. After spending some time concocting the spice mix and carefully giving my vegetables a tender massage, I popped them in the hot oven........................and forgot. 1 hour later, I was left with a medley of charred vegetable crisps. Oven was hot, so baked potatoes saved the day........but will try the soup again tomorrow because before the burn it smelt yummy!

Sunday 18th November 2012

Got up at 7.30 am and headed for Hayfield in The Peaks. Parked on Kinder Road at the start of the Mass Trespass, and walked all around the Kinder Estate taking in Kinder Downfall.....which was more of a trickle today than a downfall! 8 miles, 4.5 hours and a lovely secluded picnic :) Pint at the Sportsman Inn rounded off a great day. Shattered now!

Saturday 17th November 2012

Had a quiet day, as we are planning a big yomp tomorrow in The Peak District, so just chilled out watching television and doing some cooking! Villa were playing Man City ....... a result that ended up being 5 - 0. I should have guessed when I got this text from my Father In Law at only 2 - 0, that it wasn`t going to be a very good day! With Man U losing to Norwich as well, it was a dark day of football in the McGawley household :(

Friday 16th November 2012

Another stress head day....if we did stress head! Lots of business type things went on, but the minute the clock struck 6.30, we downed tools and headed to The Swan With Two Nicks. I had red gurnard in spicy noodles and Rich had a cottage pie. Several drinks later, and possibly a pudding or two, we waddled home full, content and absolutely shattered!!

Thursday 15th November 2012

Finally some good news today! Rich met a flooring contractor on site at Cheadle.......and he is starting the job tomorrow. It`s not going to break the bank either, so couldn`t really have been a better day for Pulse, as we have also had confirmation that our guys are keen to progress with the purchase of Middleton. On a personal note, whilst Rich went for his monthly haircut, I decided to get out on my bike and cycled the 7 miles to Lymm and back to do the shop. Was eerily misty and didn`t see another soul for miles.......Just how I like it :)

Wednesday 14th November 2012

Were supposed to have a day off today, but the Cheadle floor situation has taken over and bang, a full day again! Rich is so tired now that he booked an appointment in Knutsford to get his hair cut, and turned up a week early! Definitely time for a break!! Still found time to have a brisk walk though ~ the first of what will probably be many under the veil of darkness and canopy of stars!

Tuesday 13th November 2012

Cold, wet day and STILL having problems on Cheadle! Just waiting to get a price for fixing the floor, but looks like Matt has finally done a runner. On another note, we have a preliminary offer on Middleton, so fingers crossed for some GOOD news soon! Day 2 of detox ~homemade soups all round. Today`s was good old tomato. Yummy :)

Monday 12th November 2012

Well after last night, not a lot got done by me today! Hangover wasn`t too bad.....just a bit weary, but think that`s from all the laughing! Had to bag up a load of parquet that I sold on EBay as well, so that sort of blew away some of the cobwebs. But 2 baths, some paracetamol and a Baxters Hug In A Mug later and I am firmly ready to make the acquaintance of my bed. With a cup of tea. Unheard of :)

Sunday 11th November 2012

Had such a lovely day......chilled out this morning, then round to Auds for a Sunday Roast.......Beef, Yorkshires, Roasties, Parsnips, Broccoli Mornay, Green Beans, Chanterey Carrots.........followed by cheesecake and profiteroles, washed down with lashings of cheese and Fleurie! Belly laughed so hard........amazing people...Auds, Rick, Macker and Burkie. Oh and Mackers new bestie....Barney the Dog :)