This past week was busy and lovely. The snow from last week stayed on the ground in places until Thursday. Granted, it wasn't everywhere, but it was nice to see on my walks around town, to and from work, etc.

Monday after work I went to the supermarket to buy some things for a dinner I was having on Wednesday. I came home, got things put away and watched some telly. As it was a blustery evening, I ate some of the soup I'd made over the weekend.

Tuesday after work I came back and got the table set, things kind of picked up and straightened up (the maid was coming on Wednesday), and I made part of the dessert for Wednesday. I also got all the pots, pans, dishes, etc. I would be needing organized. I made sure I had everything in site in the cabinets I would need for cooking, then watched a bit more telly and off to bed.

Wednesday I hurried home and started getting things together. Working in the office right in front of my flat, Peter was the first to arrive. I gave him a gin and tonic and continued to do some cooking and preparing as we talked. Sally, Richard and Liz were next, followed shortly by Gareth. Bruce was in Chamonix skiing with friends, and that's why Sally was on her own. We all had a great time, and they all seemed to enjoy the meal. I went into the kitchen to prepare the dessert. I'd made brownies, using some of the pecans I'd brought back from Texas. Now, I'd thought I'd make kind of an ice cream sandwich, with Bailey's Irish Cream poured over the ice cream and another brownie on top, and then double cream over all. WRONG! I had ice cream on the list, I thought I'd purchased it, but it was not to be found. No problem. I just mixed the Bailey's with the double cream, poured it over the brownies, and they all thought it was delicious. American ingenuity at work! Everyone had said they wanted it to be an early night, and the last group left about 11:15pm. I then attacked the kitchen, and I got it all cleaned up a little after 1am. Now why didn't I think to have the maid come on Thursday? After all, no dishwasher here other than me. Anyway, I like to get it all cleaned up afterwards, because I don't like to get up and face a mess in the morning.

Needless to say, Thursday was a long day. I'd meant to be having my hair cut on Tuesday lunch at Lawton Henry's, but he'd called that morning to say his doctor had given him the wrong pills for his stomach problem. He's allergic to penicillin, and they had that in them! So we'd changed to Thursday after work. As I walked down there, I was rather tired, and when Samantha had me in the chair for my shampoo and head massage, I told her that if she kept that up, I'd fall asleep. Lawton offered me a glass of wine or a beer, and I had to kindly decline, because I knew I'd probably fall asleep. Anyway, afterwards I walked home, did a load of wash, had dinner and went to bed.

Friday was a very busy and long day, or so it seemed. After work I headed over the bridge and to the Red Lion. Karen and Mike weren't far behind me, and then Paul and Martin and Martina. Rachel arrived quickly, and did Richard and Liz. Then, in came Emma Heath and her partner, Nick Kirkland. Later on, somehow or other we got on the subject of Leap Year, and Emma announced that on Leap Year day, February 29th, she'd asked Nick to marry her, and he had accepted! Congratulations all around. About 9pm I went home, as I was quite tired, and watched a bit of telly and went to bed.

I was up and doing more laundry on Saturday, and that afternoon Liz came round and off we went to do some shopping and to watch "Footballers' Wives". It's a series here, and a number of us had not realized it was on Wednesday night until everyone was here. So Liz had called Lee Jones to have him tape it. Peter took it home on Thursday, and since I only have a DVD player, that found me at Liz and Richard's home watching it Saturday afternoon. After we'd finished that, Liz brought me back, and we unloaded my stuff, then she dropped me at the Old White Swan pub, where I met up with Richard, Rachel, Paul, Simon Gallantree, Tim and Matt Gillies. We were watching Arsenal versus Portsmouth in football. Arsenal has had an unbeaten season, and if they win it all, they will be the first team to do so in nearly 100 years. Rachel is an ardent fan, and they did win that night, 5-1. Liz was back by 8 to pick up Richard, Tim and me, and off I went home.

I was up and at work at 7:45am today, and I worked until a bit after one. Karen Sinnott, Lilias Sutton and Jo Thacker were also in. We have so many books to go through that the clients have sent back, books to be sent out, and claims to be lodged, that it has been early mornings, late days and some weekends. This was one of those weekends. It was a gorgeous day today, and after work I walked into town and bought some fish and chips to bring home for lunch. Tonight I am off to the Grand Opera House here in York to see Swan Lake ballet as performed by the Chisinau National Ballet of Moldova, which was part of the former Soviet Union. It has received a great review, and they are utilizing Marius Petipa's original choreography. I am looking forward to it.

I guess that is all for this week. Seems to have been a busy one for me. Again, I hope you are all doing well, and I hope to hear from you; or better yet, come visit!

Cheers,