Sunday is supposedly the day of rest......well not for Tony, he had a pond to finish digging and guess what folks....as with all best laid plans, the frog has disappeared from the bucket LOL Anyway, my darling hubby continues his journey to the centre of the earth. The hole wasn't very big but bag after bag of dirt came out of it.......I am sure if you tipped it all back in, it wouldn't fit! Finally the pond fitted neatly into the hole and was not far off being level. So we wrenched eldest son Jack out of his room and headed off in the car to purchase him a new mattress for his bed, the old one was well and truly passed its sellby date and he was having to put up with stray springs trying to trap him each night. A new memory foam mattress purchased and popped into the car with ease - I was amazed how small they can vacuum pack the foam ones. Into Wickes to buy some sand to line the pond hole with and on our way back a quick stop at Tesco's to buy something for dinner.
Lara had gone to the cinema with her new schoolfriend - the first time she has been without us. She is a chip off the old block though at times, she got us to buy small snack bags of popcorn and sweets so she could save money and just purchase a drink at the cinema. Had to borrow one of my handbags to fit all her contraband in lol I get a phonecall after the film to say she is going back to Jaime's house.....fine a few more quiet hours and then a little later another call to say she had been invited to stay for dinner. She finally came home at 7pm having had a really good day. I am pleased for her after all the trouble she had throughout the summer break with her so-called "old friends".......pastures new and all that.
With all the groundwork finished and the pond three quarters filled, Tony and I went back to the watergarden centre in Nazeing to buy some plants. Tony chose a small pink waterlilly and I picked a miniature bullrush plant and a stripey/bamboo looking grass type plant (I have the labels outside but can't be asked for ya's sorry), we also got a couple of oxygenating weeds that were weighted and you just drop in. Within minutes all little water bugs had come out of the plants and were swimming / walking around the pond. Now wheres that bloody frog LOL
Time for dinner came quickly and with my new griddle pan (everything is going to be griddled, sizzled & seared lately 
) I pan fried some lamb fillets with garlic, jacket potatoes were baking in the oven to be had with soured cream or butter (hey I like to give a little choice here and there) while the lamb was resting, courgettes and asparagus went into the griddle pan with a little butter, while the cabbage and leek mix was gently boiling. With the veg removed I added some shitake mushrooms and what was left of a bottle of red wine to reduce down for Tony and I - the boys don't like it (yet lol). The lamb was just how I like it, a little pink in the middle, juicy and tender.....Tony reckons it's the best meal I have "conjured" up in a while. Praise indeed!
Lara arrived home and announced that her brain had to handed in tomorrow not Thursday - now before you get any wild idea's, she had to make a model brain, otherwise I would have donated mine! So, a quick scour of my cupboards, glass mixing bowl, flour, oil, salt, water & some food colouring....1 minute in the microwave and hey presto kiddo.....pink playdough......get moulding. So glad my pre-school knowledge has paid off at last.
The rest of the evening went as most others in our house, fights over the bathroom for baths, Guitar Hero blaring for a bit, before I rudely interupt them to watch Stephen Fry in Last Chance to See. Watch House till 10pm and I am ready for bed.......knowing that Monday morning will bring its usual madness back into my life....until at least 8.10am and the kids have all left for school.
Thought for today:
When they are alone they want to be with others, and when they are with others they want to be alone. After all, human beings are like that.
Gertrude Stein
