Not Lapping up the Laptop

It's a little bittersweet to think that the last thing your laptop will likely do is help you research a new laptop. I spent most of this week waiting on a brand spanking new device to arrive and today was the day. I peeled away the layers of cardboard housing the new bit of kit, only to quickly discover that I just didn't vibe with it so I had to return it. Bit sad really, but I'm trying to 'buy nice, not twice' at the moment and if I already had problems with it I just knew they'd haunt me far into the future. So dealing with all that took up most of our day, thankfully we left all that stress in place in Bristol as we headed over to Newbury. Dad had just got back from hand surgery (nothing too serious) but everyone was in good spirits. It's a bit of a lay over today though, our final destination is Bournmouth where we'll be enjoying the sun for the final few days of my time off.

Bash the Fash

My day was full of (relatively) unexpected Nazis. My breakfast YouTube video was all about the Nuremberg Trials. We watched Cabaret this evening which has our fascist friends bubbling away on the periphery. Finally the new Indiana Jones game went on sale just as I was thinking to myself 'gosh it's been a long time since I punched a Nazi in the face.' 

Otherwise the midway point of my Hiatus has come and basically gone. It started off as an ocean of opportunity, but it's drying up into a lake of maybes. Time at home has been productive in a different way, but now I'm ready for one last change of scenery before I'm back to it on Monday. Bournemouth beckons... 

My Best Friend's Wedding

On the topic of spending each and every day of my holiday we'll I'm proud to say I did something that I have been putting off for far too long, (and maybe you have too).

I defrosted my freezer.

After that I was actually invited to the cinema to go catch 28 Years Later but plans fell through at the last minute with the chaps I was meant to be going with. Instead Rebecca and I continued our Rom Com fiesta with My Best Friend's Wedding which was not great. 

I read a few user reviews of the film who argue it works better when you embrace the fact that you're meant to accept the fact that love makes you so crazy things, even if it makes you the anti-hero of your own movie. I can respect that if it was the intent but somehow I doubt Hollywood would attempt something like that. The script was dead on arrival, minus Rupert Everett, who's charm and charisma carries the whole thing.

Farewell Cottage

With heavy hearts, Rebecca and I packed our bags to leave the cottage and our chums behind. Back to a fragment of reality at home but we are still on our holibobs so we're going to do the most we can with it! We went out for lunch almost immediately after getting back to Bristol up at the Sundial Kitchen. I've never had lunch there but never had any doubts about it's excellence, indeed, we left stuffed. While waiting for our food I drew up a little list of all the films I want to try and watch this break. I put 10 on there, an ambitious but achievable number and so far I've already seen two of them so I'm well on the way. Gotta try and do a lot of the things we love this week.

Sunday Stout

Pretty perfect Sunday all told. Rebecca and I wanted to repay our most gracious hosts by cooking them a meal, so a short trip to the local Morrison's was in order. We left with all the ingredients for a chicken picatta (one of my new signature dishes) but we had plenty of time to kill til supper so we played Mario Kart and Bananagrams. We fancied a walk latterly so we all ventured down to the nearest pub, only a brisk walk away. We all discovered Nightjar Stout and quickly fell in love with it (and the non-city prices). I brought a few games to play on a pub bench for a change of scenery and we stumbled home. 

Very glad we agreed to stay on another night, it just meant we could all enjoy one extra day here. There no Sunday Scariest niggling at the back of our minds, just an upcoming week of easy going and recharging. The only thing I will be thinking is I don't think we'll be able to top the last few days out here in Hereford anytime soon. 

Transparent Needle In A Haystack

The porridge that lined my belly was more than enough to take me up Hay Bluff. We parked up the car, pointed at the big hill and said we're gonna climb that. A short while later we were stood next to a Trig point, admiring the view while surrounded by Welsh sheep. We headed into Hay on Wye for some book shopping, Rebecca was in her element and gave us all the best venues to pop into. Just as we were headed into the final shop I put my hand into my pockets to check for my belongings and noticed I only had one of my Invisalign retainers... I sheepishly informed Rebecca then even more sheepishly retraced my steps around town before resigning to the fact my upper retainer was lost to Wales. I tried to play it cool all the way back to the car, after all it would be near impossible to find a set of transparent dentures in a busy village. 

'Oh, are those them?' Matt asked, pointing at the side of the road where we parked the car. I'd recognize my teeth anywhere and lo and behold, Matt found a needle in a haystack. A quick rinse and they were back in my mouth.

Mum read the Blog yesterday and messaged to say the cottage we're staying at sounds a bit like the one from Withnail and I, which I chortled at, then immediately clarified that it was in fact very lovely, in spite of reading about a past incident in the guest book involving a dead owl and the wood burner. Gosh we found that entry funny, until we ourselves heard a flutter inside the wood burner. 

Rebecca bolted out the room while Matt and I fashioned a cage out of a laundry bag which we pressed up against the cast iron doors. Gingerly, we opened it up. Yet we heard no commotion, nor could we see a sign of life. Had it escaped up the chimney? Maybe died of stress? We moved aside to investigate further, dropping our guard for just enough time for the sparrow to fly into our faces and around the room. I dashed to open a window and it got the memo and quickly flew out.

A beer was in order after that, so we opened the fridge and settled into a lazy afternoon of games and drinks while Ben busied himself with slow cooking a joint of lamb. Every second of marinating and slow cooking was worth it when it finally hit our plates. I just went very quiet as I slowly and deliberately took mouthful. It was that good. 

One more full day in the cottage tomorrow, I doubt it'll top how eventful today was, but I don't want to speak too soon.

Fantasizing about Fun

 The anticipation for wrap was on the mind of every single crew member. The promise of a week off was impossible to put out of our minds. Some are going to Spain, others Corfu, others are having a staycation. But everyone will get the chance to rest and recharge thoroughly and holding that thought in the mind is a very powerful thing indeed. 

For part one of our hiatus fun, Rebecca and I drove along the windy roads up to Hereford. Matt and Ben have a relative who partially owns a cottage there which we're all staying in. Frankly, it's a miracle I can post the Blog tonight since the service it patchy and there's no WiFi here (but after slamming my out of office on, zero interest sounds like a blessing). We dusted the cobwebs off our bed, drank beer in a cost living room and discussed plans for the coming days. Holiday starts now!