Bed

I should not be typing this at this time of night as my new hobby is going to bed early. It is not a sign of age rather that the sheets on the bed have been put through a brand new process and ebay purchase. We are now owners of an ‘elnapress’. Now for those of you not around in the 70’s and 80’s or the owner of a small B&B go and look them up. For the grand total of 5.99 English squids the elna sits pretty on top of the washing machine almost begging to iron your newly laundered washing. You just turn it on and away you go...everything is now steam pressed within an inch of its life...but when it comes to sheets nothing can bring back that snugglomatic feeling the way it can.

It has been bloody cold here – apparently the coldest for 18 years – but more importantly it snowed! We could not, as couldn’t the whole of Southern England, get into town for 2 days. The trains could not run the boys could not go to school; the car could not get down the driveway. We were surrounded by white soft snow and it was fab. Both dogs went wild and as they are both white at night we could not see where they were in the garden. It was only when a spotty black eye appeared to move up and down on the grass that I could see that Dottie was there.

The little boys and I spent our annual Saturday in Brighton as Mummy and the lads the weekend before the snow came. We booked into the Albion Hotel in Brighton and set off for our adventure. We had the best room going. To me – sad old eyes that I have – it was a slightly unloved and run down room with 4 beds in it – to the boys – fresh and fun – it was a palace. The curtains (cutting out the view of the scaffolding) were a magnificent 20 feet long and the beds with their valances and bedspreads were the height of decadence as they did not have boring old duvets. Having checked in Alfie became Keyholder General and off we went to spend time and money on the Pier. We had a ball. Every driving and flying game was taken on and far too many doughnuts eaten. The next day we went to the Aquarium and just had fun! I have determined that a mum and sons day will happen every year – this is number 3 so I must mean it!
I finally officially turned 40! Another clever tactic I will continue. I had my birthday party 3 weeks after my real one and so for many – I am only JUST 40...

We hired the perfect little pub – the Skimmington Castle on Reigate Heath – and filled it with friends new and old. I had a great time and judging by my hangover, partied perfectly...

All happy, warm (now) and off to find those elnapressed sheets