Buffalo

Today has been one of my more challenging ones. Last night, I received the phone call I’d been anticipating and dreading in equal measure. The one telling me that my Mum had passed away.

After a few more phone calls and a very broken night, this morning I drove down to visit my Dad to tell him the news. He is currently in hospital recovering from an infection. And I wanted to tell him face to face.

As I drove down, I was reminded of this fact. So I embraced my inner buffalo and charged towards this particular storm. This is going to be a new era for us all. One without my Mum.

This blog will continue. There will be lots of tears I’m sure. For now, I am shattered, drained and feel like my head might explode with all of the emotions. Early night for me…

Orangery

A new venue for me today. The Orangery Tea Room at Ketteringham Hall. Wow! Talk about stunning. I was so born in the wrong era?! I could imagine myself walking along the lake in some oversized dress. Very lady of the Manor. Oh who am I kidding?! I’d be on a horse somewhere probably breaking some rule or other. I definitely wouldn’t be below stairs. We know how good I am at cooking and cleaning. I’d be fired in a week!

I must admit, I was slightly nervous of going to an Orangery. The last thing I really wanted to do was eat in an oversized conservatory in the heat. Needn’t have worried, we were outside.

Lovely food, lovely company and very lovely setting.

I did end up in an oversized conservatory as I had time to kill between appointments. So I ended up popping onto the Rose Nursery. The smell was heady. Might have bought a new rose. Well it was called Agatha Christie. There’ll be no mystery where she ends up in my garden…

Bosch

End of an era Chez Langley. This washing machine has served me well. But things don’t last forever. I inherited it when I moved in over 10 years ago. I had no idea how old it was then! So it owes me nothing.

Like us as we age, it started having bladder issues and I’ve found a few accidents. The irony being that once I’d used a few tea towels to mop up the puddles, I needed to wash them.

That and it’s been prime drying weather these past few days.

So I started looking for a new one. It must be a good 18 years since I bought a new washing machine. Things have moved on massively. The bewildering array of functions is slightly overwhelming. As are some of the prices! For the money, I’d want the machine to fold and put the clothes away too.

So I went old school and popped to a shop. Had a good chat with the man there and a new shiny Bosch washing machine is being delivered tomorrow. Bye bye Bosch, I bought a Bosch.