BELLA'S FIRST WEEK



DAY ONE AND I'M JUST GETTING THE HANG OF THIS SLIDING DOOR

 

MY COSY NEW BED

 

MEETING DEBBIE AND BEN

 

OF ALL MY NEW TOYS .... MY FAVOURITE IS
A CLOTHES PEG AND LIDL BAG!!!

 

AND I'VE EVEN LEARNED CATCH AND (ALMOST) FETCH IN 4 DAYS!!!

 

DAY ONE WITH BELLA

Oh how quickly we have taken this little lady to our hearts....she is adorable.

Since I am still on holiday today I took Bella into work to visit and, of course, everyone just loved her.   We then had a visit from Barbara and Harry this evening as they wanted to meet the new arrival

and she is getting plenty of good reports and cuddles.

 

Last night (her first night with us) I kept her in her basket at my side of the bed.....was a BIG mistake.

Bella was as good as gold and didn't get out of bed once.....I was awake ALL NIGHT...keeping an eye on her and making sure everything with her was ok.  Tonight she will sleep in the kitchen which will be her space for the future nights anyhow....and I am sure she will settle well.

DAY ONE - A LITTLE MUM AND BELLA BONDING

 

MISS BELLA ARRIVES

Collected our little Miss Bella on the way home from the airport - flight was slightly delayed and with our own diversion to collect the puppy we weren't actually getting home until 10pm.
Have just spent a couple of hours with this little lady and we are so seriously in love with her.

Just arrived in this new home for me - Daddy seems to like me ok !



ANDALUCIA SEPT 2014

Our holiday this year is one week in Andalucia. This is not our usual type of holiday...we favour less touristy destinations like Slovenia and Croatia but, since these take quite a bit of research and planning and I haven't had the time to dedicate to that, we thought we would take up this offer advertised on Travelzoo.

We now know that the typical 'package holiday' is really not for us. It may have been different if we had been booked into a more scenic area but we are in Algeciras which we have discovered is more industrial than tourist! Our hotel is very pleasant, set in beautiful gardens but around about there is really nothing of interest or beauty. Our benchmark is the rolling, lush hills of Slovenia, acres and acres of vines circling the hillsides...and Algeciras has nothing to compare!

The weather however has been beautiful which has been the one saving grace of Andalucia and we have had a lovely relaxing break....the batteries have been charged and we are feeling refreshed and I think nicely 'reconnected' having had the chance up spend so little quality time together in recent years.

We have spent much time walking and just 'being' and it has been good!

Today we have been married 28 years. Obviously we have had our moments but on the whole we have had fun together and have marvelled at the routes God has taken us along. We've learned much together and, while there is much I would probably do differently if I had a second chance at life, I do thank God for all He has given me in Jonathan.  I pray He continues to bless us as we live for Him.

PUPPY PREP UNDER WAY

We head off on Sunday - I am not packed yet, although I do have clothes

and some 'things' organised but.....

have been preparing a little for Bella's arrival  :)

AWAITING BELLA'S ARRIVAL

 



SWISS ROLL BAKING

Inspired by Great British Bake Off and reminded

of my long ago knack at baking a pretty

decent swiss roll I thought I would rustle one up tonight

-a 'fat free treat' for the office on Friday

after a week of healthy eating by all.

.....and a fairly decent roll has been achieved!

 

 



'HOUSEWORK'

Days spent prepping walls and cleaning up EVERY night!

Have been greatly speeded on in our work with the help of Harry who spent

2 full days chipping off plaster to get our walls back to bare brick.

Bedroom bay window

Lounge walls

Lounge walls

Lounge bay

Lounge walls

DOGGY MEMORIES

Thinking of training a new puppy, all the internet searches I'm doing at present, since it's been an unbelievable 20 years since we trained our puppy girls, Jessie and Jo.  And all this thinking has had me reliving many of the experiences they brought us through.  They were wonderful companions and such great company and I don't imagine we will EVER forget them.  And I do imagine little Miss Bella will often be compare to them ...... I just hope she lives up to her forerunners!

BEAUTIFUL, FEISTY JOJO

THE GORGEOUS, GENTLE, KISSING JESSIS

 

And we STILL say these are the two prettiest girls we've ever seen!!

SATURDAY BAKING

Lovely light, fluffy egg sponge sandwiched with blackcurrant jam and

rich velvety double cream..........

EGG SPONGE with BLACKCURRANT JAM and DOUBLE CREAM

Ok.....this is not baking but..... top hats at their best!

PARTY TOP HATS

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

We have always said we would never have another dog.  We both loved our two girls right through the 15 years we had them but, once we lost them, I was determined I never wanted to put myself in the position where I would have to inevitably face the same grief again.

 

Ben came to stay with us for a week....was here since last Friday.  He had just been here ONE NIGHT when I knew the battle was lost....we had to have another dog! 

We will never, ever forget our first two girls, Jessie and Jojo but

I am now ready to give a home of love to another little puppy.

 

I spent the week checking the newspapers and online -  initially thinking of a mini Schnauzer - then a Lhasa Apso, then a Shih Tzu.  I really was open to any offers!  There appeared to be no mini Schnauzers available, or Lhasa Apsos.  And then I found the most adorable little Shih Tzu puppy.... oh my goodness.... what's not to love??!! 

PUPPY BELLA FROM HER GUMTREE ADVERT

I could hardly wait to see her but we arranged

with the breeder to meet at Sprucefield on Friday evening and....

she is ADORABLE!!   Here's my first pictures taken

with the darling Bella.   One look at her, one cuddle

and she had both our hearts.....Jonathan is as

taken as I am!!

OUR FIRST MEETING WITH BELLA

What's not to love?????????

We pick her up on our return from holiday and I can hardly wait!!

 

ANNUAL BARBECUE

Annual bbq at Thomas and Norma's - always a good night enjoyed by all.

I go with the intention of not staying too late as I haven't been feeling so great -

but we're not home til about 10.30

- and had a really good evening.

Great food and company! I made one of my favourite salads to take along ......

PEPPER, FETA AND ORZO SALAD love it in the summer months!

PEPPER, ORZO and FETA SALAD

 

Ingredients: 1 red onion, peeled, halved and finely sliced
2-3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces orzo pasta
3 roasted red peppers (from a jar, sliced)
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1 small bunch mint leaf, chopped
salt and pepper

Directions: Put the onion in a bowl, season really well and toss with the vinegar and olive oil. Leave to marinate and soften while the pasta is cooking. Cook the orzo in salted boiling water until just
tender, then drain and rinse under cold water and drain really well again. Toss with the onion mixture and gently mix through the rest of the ingredients.

MANGO and WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

I also took along a MANGO and WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE.  First time I have made this and have to admit it didn't look very impressive.....the set wasn't very impressive either but it was rather tasty.  May be one that I never make again though....

Ingredients for 10

• 150 g oaty biscuit crumbs
• 40 g butter, melted
• 425 g can mango slices in light syrup
• Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime
• 300 g white chocolate, broken into pieces
• 280 g Philadelphia Original
• 150 ml double cream, lightly whipped



Instructions

 

Stir the biscuit crumbs into the melted butter until coated and press into the base of a 19-20 cm loose bottomed cake tin or spring form tin.

 

Drain the mango slices from their syrup and puree the fruit in a liquidiser or food processor with the lime zest and juice.

 

Melt the chocolate by placing it in a basin over gently simmering hot water.

 

Whisk the Philly until soft then whisk in the cream and chocolate. Fold about half the mango puree into the Philly cream and spoon over the prepared base.

 

Immediately swirl the remaining mango puree on to the surface of the cheesecake to give an attractive pattern.

 

Chill for at least three hours before serving to allow the cheesecake to set.

BEN COMES TO STAY

JUST BONDING

We've had Debbie's Shih Tzu Ben here to stay with us for a week.....what a pet!

He's always been ready with a growl for me at ANY time - but not so this week....Ben knows not to bite the hand that feeds him :)   He has been a darling and is such a character.  We just love how he brings a toy to you when you come home....and he even tidies his own toys away!

We've had a great week with him while Debbie has been in Rome - and we will miss him when he goes home......didn't think we would feel that way!

  

......even better bonding!

Just going to help Auntie Linda with the gardening

                               

Uncle Jon and I keeping up with current affairs

Off walkies

Our bedtime selfie

 

RETURN TO MILLBURN ROAD

We head back to our own homw in Millburn Road -  I have been SO looking forward to returning and yet I am hit with mixed feelings now.  We had thought our lovely home was in safe hands, having entrusted all the rental proceedings to a local professional letting company - and through them letting our property to a professional 'gentleman'.

It appears there was nothing 'professional' about either the letting agents or the tenant and our home is no longer recognisable as ours.

 

I hope to post photos taken on the day we handed over to Peter Race... and the comparison of what we found awaiting us.
In the meantime  -  this is how this man and his daughter was living in our home!!
WHY??  HOW??



LOUNGE




 

SIDE HALLWAY



BEFORE

 

 

AND AFTER!

 

 

 

 

KITCHEN BEFORE

KITCHEN BEFORE

 

and after.....

 

MIDDLE FLOOR (MAIN)   BEDROOM

TOP FLOOR - LOUNGE TV ROOM

 

 

SMALLER TOP BEDROOM  - 

LOWER STAIRWAY - 




 

 

 

HOTPRESS AND BATHROOM .....

 

STAIRWAY ................................