Spare Room Makeover

We have a fairly old loft conversion on our home. We had the important stuff of new windows and new shower room fitted fairly soon after we moved in. Whilst all very sensible and grown up to get these things done, I have been wanting to make this room more cozy and nice for yonks. Jonny was not so bothered - typical boy. However when he was banished to the spare room a few weeks ago, full of spluttering cough and cold, he quickly assessed the room needed "sorting out."

Now. Once given the go ahead to spend money on home decorating, I always move extremely swiftly. In other words, before someone changes their mind again. So. Within a matter of weeks the room has changed from this:

To this:

Didn't I do well? Carpets are well and truly on my finely tuned house budget radar next.

It's snow time

Or alternatively, and perhaps more realistically, it's slush time. However, the headlines are snowmania, and as per usual the UK transport system is unable to cope. I was heading back from the Junction earlier and there were numerous cancellations and delays, including it would seem any trains to my local station. It seems that any variation in weather in this country and we moan and/or the rail network seems unable to cope. Too hot, too cold, too little rain, too much rain... and my all time favourite of "leaves on the track." You'd really think they'd have that one figured out by now, but every autumn it causes all sorts of problems.

To be fair, some parts of the country do seem to be suffering more than slushville round here. My friend who lives in a village in Worcestershire is literally snowed in and her daughter had to be rescued by a 4x4 to be brought home from nursery. And many schools are closed because, um, it's too cold or dangerous or something.

I just don't get why we are so bad at coping with changes in weather in this country. We have a similar snowfall every couple of years or so, and yet every time the roads don't get gritted in time, pipes freeze up and the press create lots of panic about getting supplies of food in.

Or maybe I am just being grumpy because I didn't get my wish of so much snow that Jonny had to stay home today. That and I hope our friends make it back to the UK from Rome tomorrow. They live in Canada, where "a lot of snow" is a whole new level to what we get here. And I bet trains could cope with a bit of slush there.

The Big British Freeze

It is cold. I mean like REALLY cold. The past couple of days I have got in my car at about 11am and the temperature has been -5. Even radio 4 are saying that the government have announced it is officially cold apparently. Like we need that kind of communication from Gordon? Whatever. I can say officially that New Years resolution number 157 not really going to be happening in this weather. And I don't really feel like getting on the wii fit either. I did stretch this morning though in my class.

My sister in law lives in Manchester and they have had a lot of snow. And apparently it is heading down South overnight. There is only one good outcome if that is going to be the case. That is it will snow so much that Jonny will have to work from home one day this week. A sprinkling of slush is not so welcome.

The past few days have been a bit hmm... well elephant appointments don't help. That and it is dark and cold. Boo hoo. And the sky plus box is misbehaving. Maybe that's fed up with the cold weather too.

New Years Resolution Number 157

Get on my bike.

Am just back from a cold but lovely bike ride in Richmond Park. I looked out the window this morning while reading the Sunday paper and decided it was too nice a blue sky to miss out the park today. Not been on my bike in far too long. It was really lovely. Look what I live next to:

It's not always easy to get in the zone of just enjoying what is. Of seeing other people, out and about, whom I presume don't live with elephants.

But I feel good for the fresh air and the exercise. And the park is a good place be.

And yikes. United are 1-0 down to Leeds at Old Trafford right now...come on United. Sort it out. Otherwise I will have a grumpy husband return home later. And I don't think pictures of deer and talk of bike rides will lift his spirits.

Wii Fit Plus

We spent quite a lot of our time in Jerusalum playing on the Wii fit board. And in true Crossfield style as soon as we were home we were on Amazon and ordered a copy for ourselves.

We have had our Wii fit board for well over a year now. We have failed spectacularly to use it very much. It has been good fun if you have friends over but we've just never really got into the discipline of using it.

But having enjoyed it while we were away I had a proper go on this new game this afternoon. It offers all the same games that you get on the standard Wii fit game, but also some new games and some new functionality.

The new games are great. Particularly like the skateboard one and Jonny is far to good at the maths balls one. The snow ball one is hilarious although I am actually useless at it.

The new functionality is good. If you want to use this as a proper "at home" fitness tool, you can create your own programme, or choose one of the recommended ones depending what you want to work on.

So. As I am in the mood for structure and resolutions I am going to try and use it more and report how I get on. I did half an hour or so this afternoon so that is a start. My arms ache from the wing flapping one so it must be doing something.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Day 1 of the New Year. Vegetables needed. Slight problem of too cold/can't be bothered to go to the supermarket. This is based on a soup that we had in Jerusalum and what I could find in the kitchen. Hit the spot.

Ingredients:
1 Butternet Squash
1 red onion
Few cloves of garlic
Few small tomatoes
1/2 pint of vegetable stock
Dash of sherry
Pinch of mixed spice and ground cinniman

Method:
Pre heat oven to 200. Cut and roast all the vegetables for about 50 minutes. Leave the skin on the squash.

Transfer all to a big heavy based pan. Add the hot stock and sherry and spices. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Whizz and season well.

Nice.

New Year

We had a lovely evening last night. Spainish tapas was delicious. Great company. We played Cranium which was good fun, even if none of us could really figure out the rules. I seem to remember an explosive firework just after midnight that was meant to be a rocket, but seemed to spray everywhere. Both Jonny's cold and my migraine subsided for a few hours and we both had fun. And drank. A lot.

Both woke this morning with my headache back and Jonny's cold returned.

Been a little teary sat here. Not helped by the fact I am looking at a half dead Christmas tree and the house is a mess. I don't know. Elephant is misbehaving I think. Feeling a bit sorry for myself. I often get like this around New Year. But this year I seem to be worse. Sparked by stuff. Tough stuff.

Anyway. Time to tidy the house and go and hang out with hubby. Am sure a brew and a shower will help.

Rise above it and keep on Jo. Keep on.