Our New Life in Devon

 Daughter went home on Friday with the granddaughter so it's just our son here now. I think they had a good week, but granddaughter managed to break her arm running down a slide into a wall! I had started trying to teach her to knit but 2nd lesson didn't happen due to her arm in plaster for the next 4 weeks. So it was off to the amusement machines where she won lots of tickets and exchanged them for sweets. Found money left in the machine trays too so kids aren't very careful to check. Only 2ps but lots of them. The big clean up has now started here as I do very little when family stay over. Three loads of washing so far and more tomorrow. Did the ironing today which I like doing. Managed to get most things dry on the washing line and finished it up in the dryer. All the visitors' bedding is packed away in the top of my wardrobe. Bought some grey zipped storage bags on Amazon which keeps the duvets and pillows tidy. It feels like Autumn here today and there's a chil...

          1st Prize for the Waggiest Tail We decided to enter the dogs in the Dawlish Carnival Dog Show just for fun. Ava, our granddaughter, and our daughter were staying with us so Ava was delighted to take one of the dogs in the ring. She was closely followed by OH holding our other dog. Molly won the waggiest tail, coming first and was rewarded with a rosette and cone of dog biscuits. Her tail does wag constantly and at least twice the speed of other dogs lol. Nice afternoon there and thankfully the weather stayed dry for the day. Ava had a go on the bouncy castle and Mark won her a soft toy penguin on the rifle range. Managed to get the washing dry on the line today as tomorrow's forecast is heavy rain and thunder storms. It really seems like Autumn rather than August atm. The Carnival parade is tomorrow but we won't be going to that due to the weather. Bye for now All the best x

  Carnival Brochure Travelled to Dawlish this afternoon to see what the Carnival week was all about. On the lawns, in the center of town, there was a large marquee with a stage inside and rows of chairs. Long table at one end selling a variety of cakes and a raffle table with various prizes. I bought 5 tickets for £1 but didn't win. Outside the marquee there was a stand selling coffee and tea in paper cups. Didn't see any other food stalls around but there are a lot of cafés in Dawlish. Lots of stalls around the lawns selling sweets, handcrafted item, gifts, etc and the local police had a tent up to meet the public. There were a few fairground rides, giant inflatable slides, trampoline harness ride where you go up and down, toddler play area, hook a duck, rifle shooting, darts etc like a mini fairground really. A display by a bike rider in the centre was good too. Wandering along the shops we came to the Strand center where a huge exhibition of entrys for various competitions w...

 Came home last night after visiting daughter and granddaughter as it was Ava's birthday. She had a sleep over with her friends the day before. They had all left before we arrived so it was just us, our 2 sons, Daughter-in-law and other granddaughter, daughter's friend with her husband and 2 children. Nice number for the lovely barbecue we had. Ava had some really nice presents, lego, a bike, a fit bit, clothes, a Harry Potter game, money and pokemon albums. Also lots of small gifts from her friends.            Charity Shop Bargain Clock The next day we all went to Wilko to try and support the shop as they have called in administrators. Sad really that another high street name is going bust. Their prices seemed much higher than they used to be so we didn't buy much. We also looked around the charity shops and noticed they are cheaper than in South Devon. OH bought a clock for £2.99 and a set of French CDs for £1 to help Ava who is learning French at sc...

 Just about to go to bed at around 1am when all the electric cut out! OH was already in bed as he usually goes up around 10pm. We're definitely on a different time scale lol. I woke up Mark (our son) who was dozing on the sofa. TG I have a torch on my phone. Went outside in the garden and next door neighbours had a bedroom light on so our power and lights had all  fused. Climbed up on a chair to the fuse box and tried to reset it but it cut out instantly again. Mark told me to wake OH who eventually managed to get power and lights on again in the house, but the shelter where we bath the dogs in the garden just kept blowing the trip again. So there we were at 4am having coffee and debating what had caused it. On a positive note this morning OH found it was a faulty heater in the shelter, that he installed to stop the water pipes freezing in winter. All working now but we need a new heater, or the thermostat it operated on. Feeling very washed out today as 4.30am is late to go t...

 Busy day today as I'm still catching up on the housework and decided to cook dinner. I've washed the floors downstairs as OH did the vacuuming. Also managed to sort out the freezer which we are trying to empty and start afresh. Caught up with some brass and copper cleaning as some hasn't been done for weeks now. Why does it tarnish so fast? Apple and Raspberry Sponge Spent the afternoon cooking lasagna and apple and raspberry sponge for dinner. Used up the one apple I had in the fridge with the windfalls I gathered yesterday from the pub garden. Had to hunt for the dish I bought first and also my mixing bowl. OH discovered he had his plant pots stood in them in the garden. Not happy, but he did wash them thoroughly. I've added some frozen raspberries from the freezer for a change from just plain apple. I needed to drain the raspberries well after thawing but it all went together well. Made a basic Victoria sponge mix in the food processor for the top. It's quick to...