Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moments yesterday were all to do with celebrating my son's 20th birthday at home with my daughter, my son and I.  It was a lovely relaxed day, as my son wanted Morleys chicken, barbecue pork ribs, hot wings and chips, so I had a day off from home cooking.  I just bought the smallest birthday cake that Tesco sells and we lit a rocket candle and sang him happy birthday.

My son and daughter had fun once again playing card games together. They did ask me to join in, but I was enjoying watching TV, while reading, so declined the invitation. I love it when my son is not caught up in playing computer games and decides to pass the time with more old fashioned past times. 

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends....

sounds like you all had a great time Sugarbaby......you can't beat nice relaxed family gatherings, either at home or in a favourite restaurant.  Tbh I'm just as happy At home these days, maybe even more so.  Like you I enjoy cooking and it's nice to just be able to sit at the table afterwards, playing cards or games, chatting and laughing, maybe drinking wine and some posh nibbles or chocolates, some nice music in the background.  You can take your time and of course no worrying about drinking and driving.....😂🤣

The Spanish have an expression for it "Sobre Mesa". It translates as "after the table", it just means that lovely time after a nice meal when you all sit around and just relax.  

Had a disastrous shopping trip to Asda just now.  Did my shopping and was just about to head for the checkouts when the alarms went off.  No one knew whether it was a fire or a bomb alert. After hanging around outside for a while in the cold wind I was desperate for the loos so had to abandon all thoughts of finishing my shopping so I came home. Felt a built guilty for abandoning my trolly though but tbh I don't think I was the only one.  I saw quite a few people give up.  

So a bit of a frustrating day.  In the end I popped into the mini Tesco and just got a few basics.  On the plus side I probably saved myself a few pennies. 😂

phoebe1989seb

Glad you had a lovely, relaxing time celebrating your son's 20th birthday, sugarbaby   

I've been hobbling around myself since Friday as I managed to fall in the house whilst carrying our smallest dog who was petrified of the thunder storm. Nothing broken, just loads of bruises and my knees are more painful than usual. Tbh, I was more concerned he'd been hurt.....but he ran away completely unscathed 

carolbee

phoebe1989seb said:

Glad you had a lovely, relaxing time celebrating your son's 20th birthday, sugarbaby   

I've been hobbling around myself since Friday as I managed to fall in the house whilst carrying our smallest dog who was petrified of the thunder storm. Nothing broken, just loads of bruises and my knees are more painful than usual. Tbh, I was more concerned he'd been hurt.....but he ran away completely unscathed 

Ouch 🤕

sugarbaby125

Ouch Phoebe, I hope your bruises fade soon and that you are able to keep your pain under control. Look after yourself. 

Thank you ladies for all of your birthday wishes to my son. He really appreciated them.   

LL is has been great fun family time for all 3 of us, now my son is home from University for the summer break. All of the extra home cooking and subsequent washing up is worth it. It is great having another of my adult children really enjoy the meals that I cook and receiving even more compliments.   

phoebe1989seb

Thank you, ladies, I'm feeling a little less fragile today but won't be doing anything too strenuous 

Current champagne moments include - the announcement that those of us residing in Wales will soon be able to meet up with family again, our first crop of broad beans being ready and the first few buds appearing on the recently purchased bare root roses!

Also, the courtyard is smelling sweet today - particularly handy when the local farmer has embarked on his latest muck spreading regime, lol! I'm so pleased we planted heavily scented flowers there amongst the veg and aromatic herbs!

The huge lavender (only £14 at b&m) is still looking fab and there's another - that I almost ditched as it was looking rather woody - throwing loads of buds up. Although the honeysuckle and pink jasmine are finished, the (sc)rambling roses - and sweet peas - are continuing to colonise the space with colour and scent 

carolbee

Beautiful, you have a real flair

mrs_slapshot

sugarbaby125 said:

My Champagne moments yesterday were all to do with celebrating my son's 20th birthday at home with my daughter, my son and I.  It was a lovely relaxed day, as my son wanted Morleys chicken, barbecue pork ribs, hot wings and chips, so I had a day off from home cooking.  I just bought the smallest birthday cake that Tesco sells and we lit a rocket candle and sang him happy birthday.

My son and daughter had fun once again playing card games together. They did ask me to join in, but I was enjoying watching TV, while reading, so declined the invitation. I love it when my son is not caught up in playing computer games and decides to pass the time with more old fashioned past times. 

My son asked if I wanted to watch a film with him the other day...a rare activity because like your son, he's usually playing computer games! I really enjoyed spending time in his company - it was a Marvel film, he has seen all of them and I am still working through them, so he was humouring me.  I think he asked because he knows I've been doing a lot for him lately and it was his way of showing he loves me 

sugarbaby125

mrs_slapshot said:

My son asked if I wanted to watch a film with him the other day...a rare activity because like your son, he's usually playing computer games! I really enjoyed spending time in his company - it was a Marvel film, he has seen all of them and I am still working through them, so he was humouring me.  I think he asked because he knows I've been doing a lot for him lately and it was his way of showing he loves me 

Mrs Slapshot, I know how much the simple pleasure of watching a film or a TV programme with either my son or my daughter brings me. I always try to show my adult children how much I like them as well as love them, by taking care of them and they really understand this about my hands-on style of mothering them.   

helensbiggestfan

hello my lovely friends....

Phoebe - as ever your garden looks stunning. So pretty. 

 I'm so disappointed with my rear garden this year, I'm practically having to start from scratch because last winters floods ruined nearly everything. I cant replant yet because I need to spend so much time trying to prepare the soil, rescue the lawn and try and improve the drainage. I think I've made a difference though, because so far there has been no further flooding even though we've had some heavy rain.   Oh well I'll just keep at it and seeing pictures of your beautiful garden does spur me on. 

My front garden at least has some colour. The lavetaria has exploded into a riot of flowers and looks really pretty,  unfortunately it has taken over and is choking the delphiniums and hollyhocks. 😱. Never mind I will move them next year and give them some space.  It brings meaning to the expression "bloom where you are planted" 😉. It's all trial and error in a new garden isn't it. .  

I'm pleased to say that although I was terribly late planting the dahlias they seem to be coming through ok now so there will be a good show for late summer into autumn.  When I get back from holiday I will look at adding some later summer bedding plants to fill in the gaps.  So all in all the front garden isn't looking too bad,  its just the back that looks like an empty desert. At least all the shrubs in pots seem to be doing ok so I have a bit of a head start when I can eventually get round to planting.  And that claybreaker stuff seems to be having the desired effect. 

Slapshot and Sugarbaby.....how Lovely that you are getting chance to spend time with your "babies". Lovely champagne moments right there,  

Sometimes I wish I could  turn back time  and relive those happy carefree days when my husband was hale and hearty and my boys were still at home. (Not really serious, we have to let go do we not).  As my mum used to say "our children are not ours to keep, we only get to borrow them for a while".   I'm happy to say that they have grown into fine men with families of their own and I don't begrudge that at all but I do miss them at times.  We don't get many opportunities to watch films etc together these days but when we do I really cherish those times.  

 Yesterday  DS1 and I had the chance to watch "Pointless" together. It made him reminisce about how we all used to curl up together, my husband and one son on one sofa, and me and the other son on the other sofa. I was a bit taken aback because he sounded rather wistful. He never says much but I guess there are times when he remembers things and when he misses his dad. Still it is  nice that he that he has such fond  memories, even if they are tinged with sadness. 

And now of course GS joins in, bless his little heart. He piled on the sofa with us because he loves Pointless.....he doesn't understand it of course but he is numbers mad and loves recognising and repeating the numbers when the scores appear on the screen. Then whilst his daddy was taking the opportunity to clean the car whilst it was parked on my drive GS and I watched a bit of the Simpsons.  And then he started posting his books under the sofa. 😂🤣

Tired tonight, have had a busy day. First a trip to the supermarket and then cut the grass and did some weeding so at least the garden would remain tidy enough whilst I'm away on holiday next week.  Not exactly champagne moments but it's satisfying to be well organised.  

Going to have a bit a pamper session tomorrow. I am sooooo worth it. 😁.