Easter already

Amazing that it is Easter this weekend. I've heard very little about it  - also surprised to see the clocks change this weekend as well.

So that means schools and colleges are finished for a while, and universities have sent everyone home. The knock on effect of this is that the Metrocentre  and town will be chockablock with people mooching around with (quite often!) glum faces as they do a little retail therapy.

Those of us who are retired probably shy away from these busy places - oh and that includes National Trust, English heritage sites and the like - and postpone our visits until things are calmer and everything is back to normal. I know dh takes one look at the calendar and shakes his head when I suggest we go out anywhere during these times. Let's wait, he says. Car parks will be full, the roads congested and there'll be kids running about screaming everywhere. It isn't that we don't like kids, we do; but en masse and often high on sugary drinks, they can be trying if not terrifying!

So probably this is one fortnight when we won't be out and about and doing things!

Life...

Hardly had time to breathe today, and certainly won't get any work done. First of all took Tim to the field at 9am where he had a great gallop around at full speed. Then dh and I left Tim at home and went to the Metrocentre and spent an hour on a little retail therapy. We don't do it often, so it's fun when we do.

Chopwell Woods yesterday

Then back home in time for lunch, fending off an ecstatic dog who was so pleased to see us he nearly didn't eat his biscuits. Once lunch was over, I got into my dog-walking gear - well might you ask - green wellies, Goretex jacket (I worked out the other day it is at least eighteen years old and still giving great service) woolly ski hat, thermal gloves, and then collected all the things I need - dog lead, poo bags, a few dog biscuits, a hanky, car keys. Then off we went three miles down the road to a lovely area at Stocksfield. It belongs to Lord Allendale, but he allows public access and dog walkers love it. It wasn't cold, and I take it as challenge to walk where there is no mud, and as you can imagine, with all the rain we've had, that is quite a challenge. Tim was in one of his I Don't Care moods and scampered through all the mud he could find  instead of keeping to the pine needles and leaves and dry bits. That meant that when we got home and hour and a half later, he had to suffer having his paws washed in a bucket. Still, he was nothing like as bad as he was when we got back from Chopwell yesterday! See picture!

Tim changed colour due to mud

Then it was time to make some chocolate brownies for tonight. Dh will make bruschetta with his homemade sourdough bread, too. Friends are coming for drinks, arriving about 8pm. Once the brownies were in the oven, it was a chance to sit down and watch the men's figure skating at Sochi. such a pity Evgenie Plushenko has had to withdraw through injury. I was looking forward to seeing him skate, but now there is a new wonder child from Japan - Hanyu, I think his name is. A quick supper of pizza and chips (we're lazy with our fresh food programme sometimes!) and once the skating is done I'll run upstairs and have a shower etc in time for our guests arriving. Phew! A glass or two of wine will be most welcome by then.