RIP Rocco

I thought something was wrong last night when we got back from Amsterdam and only one cat came to meet us. Normally both appear, stretching and trying to look neglected and hungry, but failing miserably. Then Stuart saw the answer phone light blinking, and we listened to a message from the City Council asking us if we could phone them back as they had some news about our cat, and "it wasn't good". Rocco didn't appear all night, so I knew what I was going to be told, and sure enough, a very lovely lady from Streetforce told me this morning that Rocco had been found dead on the road on Monday morning, just at the back of where we live. Luckily he was tagged, so they could identify him and us.

Normally I'm a bit of a tough old boot, but this has really upset me. Rocco was definitely my cat, had a real personality, and was really affectionate. I even had him as the wallpaper on my iPhone, and had been known to blog about him!




So, now the difficult decision of do we get another? I've had at least one cat, (and up to 5), for as long as I can remember. Always rescue cats, and they have nearly all died of old age. Just recently though we've not had good luck with them, losing 4 cats in the last few years. Lucy of kidney failure, Ollie of cancer, Neo unexplained found dead in our neighbours garden, and now Rocco run over. Not sure what to do now. But, give me a while, and I can see myself off to the cat shelter.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cold weekend in Goathland

This weekend we went to Goathland with a group of friends and family for a weekend camping, and to a day of traditional sword dancing.

Friday - set off mid afternoon, in rain. Got to campsite in Goathland which was down a mile long lane, full of potholes which were full of water so you couldn't see them.  The camping field was very muddy, but we got to our spot eventually. Didn't think we'd get out again if it carried on raining all weekend, but owner of site offered to pull us out if we got stuck! Got very cold putting tent up which had wet, steel poles - my fingers were so cold I couldn't hold anything, and when I tried to warm them they hurt even more. I used to call it "Hotaches" as a kid and haven't had it for ages.  So, we had to have a glass of whiskey mac before we carried on.

Eventually tent was up, all indoor stuff erected (I camp with a lot of home comforts - wardrobe, fridge, electric light, huge airbed), and we sat down for another whiskey mac. Purely for medicinal purposes.

Then it was a trek down the lane to the pub - The Goathland Hotel - or the Aidensfield Arms if you watch Heartbeat. Everything in Goathland is targeted at the Heartbeat market...

A good meal, and a few drinks, and we came back again to sit in our friends awning of their newly acquired VW camper van. It had stopped raining, and wasn't too cold. But worse was to come...

Saturday was sword dancing day, organised by the local team, the Goathland Plough Stots. It was raining when we woke up, so I got up late. Then it hailed while we were having breakfast. Not a good start. Eventually made it into the village where we saw the Plough Stots, together with their young team.

Then up to the shops where a rare treat was in store - the Papa Stour Sword dancers, from Shetland, who had never danced in England before.

 Our local team and friends Handworth were also dancing.


Then down to the station which was Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter film, and some steam trains - it was a special steam weekend.

 A sandwich on the platform, and back to the pub for a drink before we set off to walk to Beck Hole. Lovely walk, and the pub when you get there  - the Birch Hall Inn - is worth it. Tiny, old fashioned, good beer, and a favourite with word dancers.


Gradually all of the dancers arrived from their various locations, and it was great to see so many traditional teams together- our two Sheffield ones, Grenoside

 and Handsworth.

 Goathland Plough Stots the local team and of course Papa Stour. Even Snark, the tea total rapper team were there.

Quite a crowd had gathered - great atmosphere.

About an hours walk back to the campsite, and as the sun was out we had a BBQ - lovely to sit in the sun. But of course, the sun gradually went, and it got colder. Sitting in the awning later wrapped in blankets, it was very cold. So, lots of sleepy juice, (Spanish Brandy", and off to bed. in the night I got up to see that we were camped in a winter wonderland where everything was white with frost - even the tent was covered in ice! Luckily inside the tent and our bed was warm and cosy.


Next morning we were up early to catch a steam train to Whitby, but were slightly delayed making the bacon butties as the olive oil had set solid.


Steam train to Whitby,where the first thing we saw was that the Scoresby Monument was no more - blown down a few weeks earlier.

Off to Sanders yard for coffee and cake, then a mooch round the lovely shops on the East Side whilst the kids went off to play indoor crazy golf and bowling.  I found a dolls house shop - bonus!


Lunch was Fish and Chips (of course) in Mr Chips - very civilised. Then a wander over the west side - Whitby is definitely one of my favourite places

 - then up to West Cliff for a game of outdoor crazy golf.

Pint in the Elsinore, and back to the station for the train back. Dinner in the Goathland Hotel, and back to the campsite. This time, as we knew it would be cold again, we got sealed in the the tent with the heater on early - much better, even though there was another frost.


Lovely sunny Monday morning, and a communal breakfast - everyone cooking something, and a slow pack up. Great to see steam trains so close to the campsite

Home via the crooked Billet at Towton for lunch.  A great weekend, despite the weather. We heard when we got back it ad been colder than at Christmas, yet nothing would persuade us to camp in December!

Skirting boards and lights

When I bought the biggest dolls house I could find, I thought it would take me ages, but I'm really enjoying decorating it, so suspect it may be finished soon. Then I will have to furnish it. Then, I'll probably start again and redecorate. Or maybe I'll just get another one....

So, this weekend it's all been about skirting boards and lighting. Last time I posted a picture of the dining room which I'd almost finished. but now I've added some nice mahogany skirting board, and I think it looks so much better.

So impressed, I added some to the Living Room  - it finishes the room off nicely I think. Getting quite a dab hand at the mitering now as well.

I've also connected many of the lights up, including as you can see the little orange ones in the fireplaces. It is a very fiddly job, lots of very tiny wires and plugs.  I've bought some reading glasses especially to help.

Finally, I've decorated the kitchen - had huge problems with the floor, but the finished result  doesn't look too bad:

Am loving how the house looks at night all lit up. Only top two floors to go now.

And, finally, one of the lessons I said I'd learned was not to kneel down too much. Well, I've spent the last couple of weeks with a very painful knee, and this morning it was so bad I went to the doctor. Turns out its either a torn ligament or bursitis - and I've got to take anti-inflammatory tablets for a few weeks. So, the house is now on a table, and I sit on a stool!

More Dolls House decorating

Time for the latest Dolls House update. Just realised that although I've shown you what the house looks like from the outside, I've not included a picture of the whole house with all of the doors open. So, here it is taken a few minutes ago:

It's getting there, a couple more rooms decorated, and even some furniture.  But, I'm still learning loads, mainly through making mistakes. So, what have I learned recently?

• Don't stick the stairs to the hall walls until after you've decorated. Wallpapering or even painting round them is going to be great fun now they're all fixed with superglue!
• Don't try and do anything in varifocal glasses. No matter what angle you're at, it's the wrong one
• Only stick the carpets down when you're absolutely certain you don't need to get under them again - like to hide wires, or install skirting boards for example.
• Put the house on a table, and sit on a stool, don't kneel down  - you hurt your knees!
• Don't try and saw through anything whilst resting it on your knee....

So, what have I done recently. Well, I've decorated the living room:

And I've installed coving to the ceiling. Now, you might think this is no big deal, but I had to mitre the corners. For that I had to buy a very small mitre box and work out which way to cut the strips. Nor easy with my lack of spatial awareness. Only did one the wrong way round. Next thing is to take the carpet up and put some skirting boards in. Then re-trim the carpet because it will be the wrong size. Flooring definitely has to go in last.

I've also started decorating the Music Room with some very nice trompe l'oeil wallper and marble flooring (which isn't stuck down yet)

Last time I posted I'd done the Dining Room, and now I've added some furniture and extra lights:

This is only temporary. I've had to unstick the carpet which needs to be removed to install the lights in the room below, and I think I'm going to put either a dado rail or skirting boards in, or maybe both. Given the amount of movement whilst you're doing the house, getting to the back of it to plug the lights in for example, I'm not sure any furniture will go in until the decorating is finished.

Really enjoying it - I'm learning new skills (I didn't know what mitring was for example until the weekend...), and I'm acquiring my own set of miniature tools. Here's this week's purchases, complete with inquisitive cat!

Strange cat drinking habits

I've blogged before about my stupid cat Rocco, who refuses to drink out of a bowl and prefers taps. He has a drink every morning from this bathroom tap when I get up, but looked a bit indignant when he saw me photographing him.

 Well, now he's got a new trick. Sometimes when I get up and go downstairs to the kitchen he's asleep in the sink. When I turn the tap on he lazily stands and lets the water hit him on the head, run down his nose into the sink where he laps it up.

When he's had enough he has a bit of a shake, and finds somewhere a bit drier to sleep.

Well, he keeps me amused!

Dolls House continued

Dolls House update. Spent part of the train journey to London on Friday working out which rooms would go where. This is the latest plan:

As for the period, well I think its going to be a mixture of Victorian, Georgian and modern! The sort of house I'd like to live in. Today I decided to decorate one of the main rooms, with wallpaper I'd bought from a little shop in York last week. But, it's quite complicated. I had to paint the ceiling, stain the door and door frame, install a light fitting, put the paper on including cutting it round the door, and lay a carpet. Here's what it looked like when I'd finished.

Not too bad. I'm learning lots as I go, the main thing today being that my very sharp paper knife will not cut though the wallpaper when it has paste on.

 I'm not a particularly tidy person, and here's the mess I made doing this one room:

Diary of an Easter Weekend in London

Friday.
Get up, slightly later than normal :-) Tram to station. First class train to London (advance tickets, very cheap). Walk to hotel, via a lovely little sandwich shop called Chive - I had chicken, smoky bacon and leek, very nice.
Check in at hotel, and get warm chocolate cookie each, yummy.
Tube to Pimlico, and short walk to Tate Britain. Not been here for ages, but loved it, especially the pre-raphaelite stuff. I had Ophelia and the Lady of Shallott on every student room I ever lived in.

Walk back down Thames via Westminster, Big Ben etc, and back to hotel.

Quick G and T, relax, and back out again for walk to Covent Garden.
Dinner in Dishoom, a Mumbay cafe style restaurant. sort of Indian Tapas. We had about 6 dishes - lamb biriyani, chicken curry, black dhaal, spiced fish fingers, minced lamb on hot toast and garlic naan. and beer - of course.

Cambridge Theater for Matilda the Musical. Bit of a shock when charged £32 for 4 glasses of white wine. But, show fantastic. Can't find enough superlatives. The music (by the wonderful Tim Minchin), the set, the songs, the children and the choreography, are to die for. Can't help but smile all the way through.

Back to hotel for  nightcap and a film.think it was Minority Report but I nodded off...

Saturday
Nice breakfast - lots of fruit, yoghurt etc
Tube to South Kensington and off to V and A where we'd booked tickets for the special exhibition, Great British design from 1948 to now. Excellent stuff. Lots of great things.

Ecxited to see Keith's spoon in Silver gallery.

Coffee in the garden, then  Camden market.
Never been before. couldn't believe how big it was. Great designs on shops on Camden High Street.

Lunch in Camden Lock market sitting on chairs made from scooters. Think we could have just walked round trying free stuff.

Underground market in horse tunnel very impressive.

Back to hotel. Bath to relax aching legs. Quick drink and out again for tea. Couldn't get in Cabana, the Brazilian restaurant we wanted to eat in, so had nice meal in Zizzis instead.
Rock of Ages. Fantastic. Plastic lighters to wave. Great rock songs. Lots of clapping, standing up, singing, fireworks, gold glitter bombs, tinsel bombs. Real feel good night.

Sunday
Realised it was Easter Saturday, so couldn't do shopping day we'd intended, but walked to Covent Garden anyway.Craft stalls open, and lots of eggs around.

 Walked to Trafalgar Square via Leicester Square and went in National Gallery so Stu could see Madonna of the Rocks.
Then to National Portrait Gallery. Contemporary portraits,  Portraits of unknown people.

Back to hotel. Pack. Walk to St Pancras,. Lunch in Betjenman Arms.
I had a Sunday Roast sandwich,
Ace idea!

Train back, nap, angry birds, and back to Sheffield in time for curry in Saffron Club. Closing in a couple of days so our last night with Naz, Nash and the lads. very sad, but great end to great weekend.