That boy!

That boy drives me to distraction, sends me round the twist and into dementia; all the time!
That boy who was the sweetest, easiest, quietest baby ever to be born.

The boy who slept in my arms and made hardly a sound.

That boy who turned into a smiley toddler; I just had to say "can you make Mummy happy?" and he would give me his bestest smile, which is the widest smile you'll ever see and really does go from ear to ear.

That boy who crawled and hid behind the sofa with all the chocolates off the Christmas tree, and ate them all!
That boy who always needed a Mummy cuddle and believed me when I told him that we were psychically connected when he started school; if he was worried he had to do was think very hard about mummy & she would hear him & send a message back! (old fashioned texting??)

That boy who is so painfully shy but also so gifted and talented.

That boy who prised open a bottle of beer at age 3, "'cos I like the taste!"
That boy who should be admired for his continual optimism and positive thought, even if the school report doesn't say he's top of the class, he actually was, the teacher just made a mistake!

That boy who argues so much with all of us.
That boy who has made me smile and cry more than anyone else.
That boy who plays sport so hard that he must be exhausted and under pressure to perform all the time.

That boy who refuses all offers of a haircut until now, right now, this minute, when he absolutely must have one right now!

That boy who makes me almost say very cruel things, things  a mum mustn't say, things that may have been said to me when I was young.

That boy who's best present ever was the huge cardboard box filled to the brim with sugary, brightly coloured sweets - which disappeared very fast.

That boy who is so competitive it hurts, who, in this years 1500 metre race, came a close second to the boy who represents England.

The boy who never speaks out even when he knows he's been treated unfairly.
That boy who denies all knowledge of the disappearance of a whole box of Christmas chocolate biscuits but who is the only one to leave a trail of crumbs behind him.

That boy who always thinks he is taller than he is and has bigger feet than he does. Who sent me running around the city one Saturday to buy size 9 cricket boots before a match, as his size 7's were 2 sizes too small. Only for me to discover that he was still a size 7 but walked onto the pitch wearing his clown like size 9's, just to prove a point!

That boy who denies drinking all the "special occasion fizzy" although the denials come through a series of burps!

That boy who was presented with a school award today for the highest marks in the end of term exams in his year.
The same boy who, for the past term, has left lessons most days at 11am to play school or county cricket and missed most of the work.

The boy who only had to remember to get himself ready for the prize giving today and arrived at school having forgotten to eat his breakfast and was minus his blazer.

The boy who has caused me to have a permanent letter saved on the computer addressed to the school to explain why he has no shoes; they are left in a changing room/on a cricket pitch/on a rugby pitch/ on the bus, or just "missing"

The boy who never has homework, apparently.

That boy who has a room like a bombsite  and can never find anything but it is very definitely NOT HIS FAULT!

That boy who has friends but who is always on the edge of a crowd, never in the middle.

That boy who loves his family so very passionately, but seems to hate us most days too.

That boy who has never made a mistake, never got anything wrong, ever.

That boy who I have just left at school with an army issue rucksack bigger than himself, as he waits to go on an RAF camp for the week, looking a little shy and lost, and maybe a little smaller than he normally does.

That boy who will no doubt return home with a lot fewer clothes than he went with and will have found all the sweets at the bottom of his bag within 5 minutes of getting on the bus.

That middle child who drives me mad every day and makes me scared about what argument we will have next; that's him, the one I'm missing already and can't wait til he comes home Friday night!

A Little Book Review

At our book group meeting in May the newest member hosted and it was her choice of book. She's a friend of mine, we met as fellow parents of junior cricketers (surprise, surprise), she's a lovely lady although I don't know her very well.

She's always seemed to lack confidence, quite quiet and shy and doesn't  seem very adventurous at all so I was surprised when she asked if she could come and join the group.

She said she felt she needed to push herself a little to meet people and read more interesting books - she's assuming we actually read interesting books of course!

She doesn't go out a lot, mainly a stay at home mum, and I know she was a little nervous of meeting the other 8 members of the group.

Anyway she did a fine job of hosting the evening and then produced her chosen book......

My friend then went on to explain why she'd chosen this particular book. It's about Bill Bryson walking part of the Appalachian Trail and apparently her father, who is a keen walker, had walked the whole of the trail, in one go, a few years ago.

The trail is along the East coast of the USA and is around 2200 miles long!

 We were so impressed, she had photo's and stories from him about the walk, it had taken him 6 months and he'd mostly been alone, camping in the woods and shelters.

Well the book was such a hit that for our June meeting when we were due to get together for Pimms & nibbles, to discuss the book, it was suggested we invite "Dad" along. He obliged us and spent the evening telling us tales from his "walk in the woods" and answered all our questions. It was a great evening, probably the best we've ever had - I've since acquired 2 other Bill Bryson books which are now on my "must read" pile. He has a great way of story telling and there were no negative comments at all - that must be a first!

And what did we learn - never judge a book by it's cover - in more ways than one. We have a very valuable new member of our group.

Where should I start?

Sorry to have been absent for a while, I haven't even managed to read and comment on all the blogs I follow, or find new ones to read. Life has been even more hectic than our average June, if that's even possible. I think I start each post with the words "life has been a bit busy....."!

I've written several blog posts in my head whilst driving to and from various events, pitches and around the country in general but I've not managed to find the time to write them down.

This time of year is usually very busy but we've had several unexpected happenings (some good, some not so good) which have meant there's been an extra workload for both myself and The Builder. Heaps of paperwork which I thought was all done & dusted has been returned to me with queries and the need for T's to be dotted and I's to be crossed.... or whatever! - don't you just love local councils??

Various business problems (nothing dreadful) have arisen and it seems sorting them out is in my job description - who knew; I maybe need to check my contract? Obviously I don't have a contract; or pay for that matter! It would be a little useful if I actually knew how to sort these particular problems out but there you go!

I don't really know where to start and this could be a very boring post for everyone except for me so I thought I do a little selection of photo's from the last few weeks........

I do now have a new camera, a slightly more up to date point-and-shoot than I had before as the old camera had stayed missing.

However after a month, and exactly as I typed the paragraph above Little Miss popped her head in the door to say she'd found the old camera, can you believe it? It had fallen down behind a piece of furniture along with a bit of post I'd been waiting for!

 

Anyway here we go.....

 

Little Miss graduating for the Norfolk Children's University. A council sponsored scheme open to all 5-14 year olds to recognise the work they take on outside of school hours.

A lovely ceremony held at The University of East Anglia where she (amongst many others) was presented with her certificate by Louis de Bernieres - cue tears!

 

 Little Miss also had her second gymnastics competition where she did really well, no prizes this time though.

 

There was a 14th birthday with a very chocolatey cake, with added chocolate and a little extra chocolate for good measure - well why not?

 And guess how he spent his evening? No family meal out for us....

 

The new 14 year old had 6 matches that week, and on the one day there was no game guess what he did? Went to the Oval to see England play (thank you ebay & next day delivery!) - I think he did take his bat, just in case England were 1 short!


 We had primary school sports day and did get a first - no tears, I've just about had my fill of these type of events (bah humbug!)

After the sports the children opened their café for refreshments - an event that happens occasionally. They had baked cookies in the morning and donned their waiter & waitress outfits to serve the customers. One customer arrived unexpectedly (for the children anyway), our local MP, Norman Lamb. He enjoyed a cup of tea and a cookie but didn't join the races! Little Miss and best-friend-George had the pleasure of serving him (and his press photographer!)

Little Miss and I went to The Royal Norfolk Show (1st time in about 15 years for me).

We went with best-friend-George and his Mum as George was being presented with a prize in the education tent.

The first free game we came across was the cricket - like we don't have enough of that!

 

We enjoyed a fair amount of junk food along with as many free tasters in the food tent as we could get away with (returning to some stalls in varying disguises!) 

And a couple of fair ground rides were had, just to mix up the chocolate a bit!

 

 

I had a jaunt to Nottingham with number 1 son on Friday to look around the university, not a great drive but that's what all roads out of Norfolk are like - it's to stop you escaping I think!

 He has put no effort whatsoever into researching a potential Uni, he thinks maybe he should go

"up North" - why, what are the courses like? - that he doesn't know but the beer is probably cheaper!

We will be travelling many miles it seems, over the next few months, from Sheffield to Exeter - home in between, obviously! (Unless we get lost en route which is a distinct possibility)

He liked Nottingham, the bar and common room looked good; some of the rooms had double beds too, the food was tasty - he didn't like the sound of the course though!!

(I gather that might be important?)

 

An finally today, a 100 miles done and I don't seem to have been far from home, two cricket pitches and a bit of Go Go Gorilla hunting - we know how to live!

Well worth hunting them down if you're in the city centre, they're there til mid September I believe. We found 17 of the 53 today so will go back to find more as soon as we can. There were some really super ones, we particularly liked the builder (by the information desk in the Castle Mall) who was showing a little builders bum!

And just top off the week it seems our email account has been hacked and emails have gone to all our contacts (over 450) to request money to help us get home from the Philippines as we're stranded, apparently! I have had these from other people but always ignored them. We have had several phone calls and offers of money since the emails went out - nice to know some people worried about us. As a result of the hacking all old emails and all contacts (except a random 13) were lost, BT have been very helpful and tried to restore what they can but it has been a worry;
especially for a technophobe like me!
 

I'll finish now and try to catch up with a bit of blog reading. I have to be
up early tomorrow for a day of cricket - whoopee the children said, there should be cricket from 9am til 11pm at the club tomorrow! We have two New Zealand international players coming for the day, no chance of me recognising them as I didn't recognise Alistair Cook when I met him! If they stand too near the bar I'll have to assume they're both new barmen and order my drinks.

Did I go whoop, whoop at the thought of in excess of 12 hours cricket in one day? What do you think......??

 

Our June, so far.....

First of all can I say a huge Thank You to all those who commented with helpful links and advice about my Acne Rosacea - it was very unexpected and very, very welcome. The redness has died down but the spots remain, if I turn sideways I look like woodchip wallpaper! I am trying some different cream recommended by Green Girl in Wisconsin which seems to be helping right now. But thank you again for the advice.

Anyway this time of year is our busiest with all the cricket and I've had very little time to write a post or even read everyone else's,; well I say busy and I feel like I haven't had time to stop in the past few weeks but when trawling through my 'phone for any photo's I may have taken lately (still no camera) I found these....

 

So clearly I did put my feet up one day, I just can't remember it!

 

We have had some fun though, last Friday I went with a friend to see The Rocky Horror Show, we're both fans and I think it was the 4th time I'd been. From previous shows we knew you stand out like a sore thumb if you don't dress up according to the style of the show.

It's worth the money just to spend the evening people-watching. 

My friend is never so keen to don her fishnets so my back up plan was to have a spare pair and spare wig to ensure I didn't feel a complete plonker! In the past we'd always gone in a crowd but this time it was just the two of us, neither of us could summon up the energy to phone around, collect money, chase unpaid money and buy the tickets, arrange the cars etc. There were 2 shows on the Friday, 5.30pm and 8pm; we opted for the early show just because it was so much cheaper and it meant some food could be added in after the show - big mistake, HUGE! (a la Julia Roberts/Pretty Woman)

 

We were dropped off in the vicinity of the theatre and ran across the road, glancing around and noticing that there were no other weird and wonderful outfits. A few car horns tooted much to our embarrassment! We entered the theatre and bumped straight into a crowd of elderly, blue rinse ladies enjoying an early evening coffee - their jaws fell open as we walked in! I was going a lovely shade of red by now - Rosacea aside!

 

We hastily checked the tickets as it feltlike we'd come on the wrong night! No all was correct, what we hadn't factored in was that lots of people were coming straight from work, in office clothes! We were decidedly over dressed!

That's me on the right with long red hair and my friend in a Rod Stewart wig (well it was all I had) Her husband suggested we stood next to the pond for the phot to give a nice back drop - don't think a back drop mattered in this instance!

Obviously we needed to stay away from any naked flames,

we couldn't have worn any more nylon if we'd tried!!

 

So onto the show, it was brilliant as it always is, Frank n Furter was superb but the audience of the early show was a lot more subdued than how I remember past performances. Not too many dressed up and the "heckling" came from only one or two people. We did however stay in the theatre bar for a while after the show to watch the audience arrive for the 8pm show - they were fantastic.

What sights we saw, many very dapper business men (or so they appeared) in shirts, blazers, ties along with stockings and suspenders! We did wonder how many of them had worn them all day under their suit trousers, several looked far more able to walk in high heels than us!

 

Saturday saw me being the family taxi, taking Number 2 son to school at 9am for his cricket match then home to take Number 1 son to his; husband had already left for his match elsewhere! I then got a call to say when I picked up Number 2 from school could I take him straight to husbands match as they were one short. I then had to take Little Miss to Number 1 son's match to be minded while I went to my best friends 50th birthday party. I wasn't going to miss it despite the cricket malarkey!

 I left husband directions to the party with instructions to meet me there asap - he got lost and the 20 minute journey took and hour and a half!

 I had a lovely new dress (I don't buy clothes often) but no photos to show I'm afraid; I'm sure it'll get another outing at some point - I hope so anyway.

 My camera still hasn't turned up so I've ordered a new improved one which should arrive mid week - it'll probably take me awhile to figure out how to use it though so bear with me.

 

In other new this month Number 1 son finished his AS level exams and judging by his spotty face he stressed over them quite a bit. He then went on study leave until all exams were finished and has slept for most of the 2 weeks! We've also had a meeting at his college to get all the information for University applications - scary stuff! Neither the Builder or myself went to Uni so it's all a bit of a mystery to us.  I've drawn up lists of possibilities and grades required. I've checked and written a list of all the open days and I've made notes of what courses I think he might enjoy/be any good at. What's he done you may ask, erm nothing at all!

 

I also had to join Little Miss at school on Tuesday to do The Race For Life. This was organised in the school field with one of the parents in mind who is currently recovering from breast cancer. It had drizzled all morning but just as they needed to race the sun came out and it was glorious.

The children had to run around the field 30 times and had all raised sponsorship. I had misunderstood and thought I had to compete too, so work dress, glossy tights and trainers on, off I went! I surprised myself most of all as I do no exercise at all, I went around 28 times and then decided to sit with the other parents who were watching as I was feeling a bit silly (and getting dizzy, it's not a big field)! Little Miss did 50 laps "just for fun"

 

Yesterday Little Miss and I did what appeared to be a trolley dash around the city centre as it's Father's day today and we had nothing. At this time of year all organisation and good intentions fly out of the window! We got a few things and baked him a Dundee cake. We also had to try to find something for Number 2 son's 14th birthday next Friday. He won't give us any clues as to what he'd like as he "doesn't want to spoil the surprise" Well the surprise is we have got him

a big fat NOTHING!

 

I'm busy on ebay today trying to get some cricket tickets for mid week - the treat is he'd get a day off school! We really can't think of anything else, sweets to make him more hyper than usual maybe.....

 

I will try to catch up with everyone else's news soon, have a great week!

 

Prescriptions, overdue bills and camp

There's been a flurry of cricket just lately, not surprisingly given the time of year. School matches, club matches, county matches and the first game of the season for Little Miss (she did fine despite nerves). I spend a lot of time not knowing exactly where I'm supposed to be at any given time and rely a lot on the constant email and text reminders from various people who are clearly more organised than me. There often comes a text from a fellow parent saying "shall we share lifts" or "what time will you be at the pitch"; my reply, more times than I care to admit to, is "where are we going, just remind me...." or "erm which pitch is that?" 

But my week began with a doctors appointment. I have had a spotty rash on my face for around 18 months now (teenage spots, did I hear you say? Thank you) They come and go; sometimes it's bad and sometimes it disappears but over time it has certainly got worse. Angry red spots on my cheek and nose (lovely!) Every time I thought about seeing the Doc they disappeared for a few days, as these things always do.

However I recently spent some time with a friend who I chatted to about my rash which at the time was quite visible, I was saying how it was getting me down as "I always look like I'm.... " before I could finish she jumped in with " a hardened drinker!", no I was actually going to say "sunburnt!"

I had thought I may look like a flushed, rosy cheeked farmer which I could go along with

  but a drunkard? Erm No!

 

So off to the Docs I went and after much questioning I was diagnosed with Acne Rosacea and given antibiotic cream, so hopefully soon I will be back to my young and sober self!

 

The week didn't improve when I arrived home to find a demand for an unpaid bill. Apparently some weeks ago I had some beauty treatments which I had forgotten to pay for. I rarely have treatments although if I won the lottery I would actually move into a beauty salon, or maybe a spa., I love it. In a previous life many years ago I was a beauty therapist but right now I prefer to be a customer - if only finances would allow.

 

However I vaguely recall the treatments, I thought I'd paid, if not in cash but in kind. However the threatening note says that if I don't pay within 10 days the amount will increase.....better get my cash out!

 

If I don't pay up I may never be allowed back into "The Little Miss Bedroom Salon again!

She does do an excellent foot rub!

 

And finally to round things off Number 2 son came home from school with a letter regarding a compulsory cadet camp in July. Compulsory that we pay for it too! However it costs £55 and includes all transport, accommodation, food and activities for 5 days; he can be quite a handful so we may (this I couldn't possibly confirm or deny) have been a little keen for him to go on the camp. Where do we sign we thought!

He said he'd prefer to go on the other camp - there was another camp??

He explained that although he is in the RAF section he hadn't been included on the special RAF cadet camp as the spaces were limited and he really, really wanted to go on that one. So I hurriedly sent off several late night emails pleading for number 2 son to be considered for the RAF camp - apparently they get to fly on this one (I assume with a pilot?) It seems I pleaded his case well as he came home yesterday saying he was allowed to go, despite telling me the chap in charge had mainly chosen the "good boys" - Oh dear, I'm reading a lot into that comment!

We then received a copy of the letter with details of the camp from another parent, it appears I emailed before thinking it through, and have rather shot myself in the foot - this camp is £125!! Why did I not ask the price, was it my eagerness at the thought of him going on a 5 day trip that made me forget the essential questions like which dates, where to and how much?

I do love him really but a nearly 14 year old, very bright boy who knows everything and has never, ever, been wrong in his life can make for a stressful life!

I guess the beauty salon will have to wait a little longer for my money!

What's in a name?

I thought of writing a post about names some weeks ago, in fact it was slightly prompted by the 100th post giveaway I did, which was won by Justine over at Down to Earth With a Bump.

After the giveaway I emailed her for an address and my email was promptly dumped into her Spam folder! I wonder why?

Well the thing I'd forgotten and the thing I'm unable to change given my very limited computer knowledge is the lead name of our email address. We only have one main family email, I monitor it all as my husband, the builder, has a much more limited (if that's even possible) knowledge interest than me. However when the email address was initially set up it seems to have been given my husband's full name, in capital letters (ie shouting!) and that name is not the best!

 

 He is the youngest of quite a few children and his Mum was best described as "alternative" or possibly "eccentric"! His brothers and sisters have reasonably normal names for that era,

Peter, Susan types of names.

Well apart from one of the girls, who seemingly has 2 very nice Christian names, until you hear the full story. The midwife suggested to my Mother in Law that she should consider maybe naming her new daughter after the month she was born in, June? My Mum in Law was not one to conform and didn't like to be told what to do at any time of her life so rejected this suggestion. However after giving it some thought she decided it wasn't a bad idea and gave her the middle name of May, she didn't like June!! So she is named after the month she wasn't born in!

However the youngest got a raw deal and ended up with two Christian names best suited to an old, bearded, wrinkled man! (he is turning into a wrinkled old man but that's not really the point!)

I really need to change our email moniker to something more suited (and less laughable) but despite trying, I can't!

So Justine had initially thought that my email was from someone "trying to sell her diamonds from Nairobi" or advising of the unclaimed millions held in a Hong Kong bank account!

At the time of the giveaway I did mention to the family who are now slightly aware I've been writing a blog, that I was sending a parcel to a reader; they immediately warned me not to do so! You should never contact strangers on the internet (my own words echoing there), "Stranger Danger" came the cry from my youngest!

However we eventually got over that and the giveaway gifts were duly posted. I did explain to Justine that I was in fact a lady somewhere in middle age and not a seedy old man with an old mans name; I trust she believed me - did you Justine?

Anyway it did get me thinking about names and how we choose them, all the thought that goes into finding the right name for your children, such a responsibility.

 How did you manage to get it right; or maybe you didn't get it right?

 

I distinctly remember the discussions with our eldest, I preferred the slightly more unusual names, the builder quite the opposite. However we went with my choice (quite rightly!) but only after he had said several times, in the hospital ward, and very loudly, in his best BBC TV presenters voice

"And now, walking out to the wicket at Lord's, to save the day for England is ........"

 As long as it sounded ok we could go with my choice!

 

For his middle name we were a bit stumped (he he Stumped, couldn't resist!) so, just for a giggle, we decided to ask the builders Mum what she thought. As I've said this choice wasn't to be taken too seriously. But she came up with a perfect name, a solid, old English name but still current; and it also happened to be the middle name of my darling Grandad.

 My Grandad never got to see me married or to meet my children but he was the mainstay of my childhood and is never far from my thoughts.

 

Anyway the two other children's names came more easily, especially our daughters which had been in the back of my mind for years.

However it has been pointed out that all of our children are named after something sporty, the eldest a Formula 1 racing team (2 racing teams actually), number 2 son is a boxer and Little Miss is after a cricket team (a country in reality).

 

I'd love to hear any of your name related stories......

 

ps  My camera remains lost so sadly no up to date photos, I considering getting a new one when payday arrives.

 

 

Renovation of a cottage kitchen.... twice!

I thought I'd do another renovation post, for two reasons really. One is that it's been quite an interesting journey we've been on, doing up our house over the course of 20 years, well maybe just I think it's been interesting (occasionally horrific but interesting none the less!)! And secondly because I've lost my camera! I have taken a few photos just lately when we've been out and about, lots of cricket has been played and a few other events to record too. However my camera has gone missing, I feel sure it's not far away but as it's not in it's usual place (my handbag) I'm a bit lost!

So renovation posts are easy as I've mainly recorded and photographed what we've done over the years, some photos I've scanned in from the album and some are already on the home computer.

Our kitchen has had three incarnations from where we began in 1992. We purchased the two adjoining cottages that year and one cottage was lived in by an old lady who believed it had a functional kitchen, I however felt it lacked a little something! You may agree....

It was a little dark with the small window, one very tiny centre light and very low ceiling, but it did come complete with calor gas cooker circa 1920 I think! I didn't use any of the cupboards for fear of what may be lurking in them and we lived out of boxes and bags until planning was agreed. I've already mentioned the ancient water system here.

 

The kitchen in the second cottage which had been derelict for some time, looked like this...

Don't you just love the wallpaper?!

Believe it or not behind the wallpaper was a large copper over what would have been a fire and an old bread oven (sadly rusted to nearly nothing) complete with rusty baking tins!

 

We soon stripped the rooms out whilst living in a caravan in the garden - that's another tale!

The kitchen was to be built at the back of the house so was actually a new bit added on, it seemed so huge after 18 months in a caravan.


We were soon nearing the end, and Christmas was fast approaching, from the outside it looked like this with the roof on and all watertight.



 I dreamt of a rustic pine (with an orange hue!) kitchen very similar to the one I regularly drooled over in John Lewis at the time. It would cost approximately £10,000.00 (and this was in 1992) for the units I wanted, sadly our budget was nearer £10.00! Anyway I took the brochure (without the price list) to a local pine shop and asked if they could replicate it in anyway. They ummed and ahhed before telling me it wouldn't be cheap....did I realise I'd be looking at over £1000.00 for that kind of thing? After spluttering slightly and despite it still being over our budget I ordered it!

It took weeks to be finished and there was a slight hiccup along the way when the police were called..... I had arranged to pop into the pine shop on the day of delivery and get a lift home in their van, to show them the way. The builder was aware of this but it was in the days before we all carried mobile 'phones.
The pine shop owner was a bit of a wheeler dealer and as it turned out the kitchen wasn't quite ready. I waited in the shop for hours and hours while they trimmed and waxed the units. They were all handmade in large pieces of individual furniture.
 Anyway we hit the road to home quite late and arrived to find the builder in rather a panic having just got off  the 'phone from the police reporting me missing possibly kidnapped by a Arthur Daley/ Del Boy Trotter type character!

However after that slight kerfuffle the kitchen was all I'd dreamed of, we had to make do with some old plywood for worktops until another months pay hit the bank but we loved it!

It was all late 1980's/early 1990's bright colours and fancy swag and tail curtains.

 

 I loved it, but over the years it's taken it's fair share of knocks. As I designed the units myself (based on John Lewis' brochure) it didn't work brilliantly; although it looked pretty. We had lots of display cabinets to show beautiful china and ornaments. However there was a distinct lack of storage space for the baked beans - unless you have them on display?!
As it had been made by a furniture shop it didn't have the sturdy hinges and catches which would be more suited to doors and drawers which are in constant use. I had really set my heart on wooden worktops but they were beyond our means, except for a tiny bit used as a draining board.

 Laminate "wood look" worktops were fitted but I never really liked them.

The floor has Norfolk Pamments laid which were taken up from the rest of the house, cleaned by hand (took ages) and re-laid in the kitchen. The left over pamments were stored away safely (ie in a bed of nettles behind the house) and were actually used last year in our more recent extension. They make a very forgiving surface, they are a mottled brick colour and don't show the stains and spills. They are porous when not sealed but do hold the heat well and can be quite warm to bare feet.

Anyway the years went on, a couple of doors fell off and were re-attached as a temporary measure
(ie lasted another 10 years) The kids swung on the doors and slammed the drawers until 2 had chunks of wood missing!
 And in all that time the builder thought they just needed a "little touching up" here and there!

Well after much pestering we eventually dismantled the old pine units and sold them on ebay! Someone came over from France to collect them....weird!
And gradually the new kitchen took shape, it's more calming in cream and French grey. White walls and a wooden blind at the window - we still need something on the white walls like a picture of some sort, I'll know the right one when I see it.

Sorry it's a bit dark, I needed an extra pic & had to use my phone.

The tiles behind the cooker are off white and the worktops are iroko wood - I waited 20 years to get the ones I wanted and I love them!

The other end has French doors at the moment looking out onto some crumbling concrete - we had planned, some years ago to add a conservatory/orangery but this hasn't happened....yet!

There are actually NEVER flowers on this table, just for the photo - I should get a job as a stylist!

 I am  (or should I say we are?) really happy with the new kitchen,
it suits life as a family when we need easy access to more baked beans than crystal wine glasses....sadly!!

Have a good week all!