Genevieve's Blog begun March 21st 2020...

To be continued...

eWelcome to Page 20!

Sunday 22nd September

It’s been a lovely week. On Monday and Tuesday we went to Bromley on the train as there were no drivers for Edenbridge. We looked 👀 around the shops and went to Subway on Monday and Notes on Tuesday for lunch. Quite a nice change.

On Wednesday we went with SEC to see ‘Beetlejuice’ at the cinema in Bluewater. It was a bit scary but also very 😂 funny!
On Thursday we took the train to Rochester after I had spoken to dad on the phone. Jackie took me and Alan round the Cathedral which was lovely 😊. It is such a beautiful building. Lunch was at Subway again, a cheese and ham sandwich this time!
On Friday I went to Bluewater with Kelly, Louise and Alan to see ‘Beetlejuice’ again, as the others hadn't seen it, but I still enjoyed it!

On Saturday mum and dad came over as we had lunch booked at Efsane. Sam, Lucy and Ethan joined us and we celebrated mum’s birthday 🎈. I had been there before, but all the others were very impressed as it’s quite posh! Mum, Lucy and I had salmon and Sam and dad had a mixed shish of lamb and chicken 🐔. Ethan had chicken and chips. For afters I had cheesecake (don’t tell Slimming World!) Sam and Lucy had ice-cream with Ethan and there was heaps of it!

We went back to the house and sat in the 🌞 ☀️ sunshine with a cup of tea 🍵. ☕️

We said goodbye to Sam & co and left to drive to mum and dads, leaving Sara, Leah and Jean hanging Hawaiian 🌺 decorations for our end of summer party next week - Aloha!

When we got back we were too stuffed for much, so dad did cheese on toast with onions while we watched ‘Strictly’ mum’s favourite!

The next ‘Gen weekend’ will be 5th & 6th of October and we will go to Tunbridge Wells shopping with lunch at Bill’s - my treat!

Welcome to Efsane! Very nice!

This one was taken by staff in the restaurant

Sunday 6th October We’ve recovered from our Hawaiian party last weekend and have swapped all the decorations for Halloween, even though its a bit early! We all enjoyed the Hawaiian party and Sam, Lucy, Ethan and mum and dad came over. The sun shone and we spent a lot of time outside, chatting to Dominic’s mum and dad. I’ve had a lovely week this last week and the weather has been quite good. On Tuesday the new minibus arrived but we have only used it once due to lack of drivers! Tuesday was banking then Lunch club where we had beef burgers 🍔 with waffles and baked beans. For entertainment we played Bingo which was good fun 😁 ! On Wednesday we went bowling 🎳 with SEC which was fun 😁 and we went to Weatherspoon’s for lunch. I had a chicken and cheese sandwich, Jamie had smelly egg and Louise had tuna and sweetcorn. On Thursday after I’d spoken to dad on the phone, Halina took Alan, George and me to Bromley on the train 🚂. We went window-shopping, then went to Subway for lunch. George, Alan and I all had the same choice - a salad and chicken roll with cheese and chilli sauce - yum! We then took the train 🚂 back to Longfield to meet Gary, Jamie and Jennifer who had been to Sittingbourne. Friday was bits and bobs day, but we took Alan to Deal in the new minibus to see his aunty Barbara who is now ninety years old! We left him having lunch there, and we all drove to a beach cafe for our lunch - a fish finger sandwich and hot chocolate. We then went back to get Alan and drove back to Longfield. For our tea, I cooked 🐠 fish in a tomato 🍅 sauce with Jean and Beatrice before watching ‘Goosebumps’ on Netflix, which was very funny 😂.

On Saturday mum and dad picked me up and we drove to Tunbridge Wells for lunch at Bill’s (my treat) then shopping. I had duck curry which was very nice, mum had a naked burger 🍔 and dad had a big breakfast! We went to quite a few shops and wound up in M&S where I bought a trendy new coat of sheepskin lined leather look-alike. It’s nice and warm!

For tea dad cooked a chicken stir-fry with cashew nuts and peppers which was yummy 😋! We then watched’Strictly’ , The Weakest Link and a drama called ‘Apples fall’.

The next time I’m over will be 19th and 20th of October and we’ll go to Sevenoaks.

Dad and me in the Hawaiian sun...

Sunday 20th October I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I last blogged and we’re nearly three weeks into October! We’re using the new minibus regularly now and everyone likes it. This week began with Edenbridge on Monday, painting scenery for our Christmas panto ‘Pinocchio’ in December, then a beetle drive in the afternoon which was very funny. Tuesday was banking and Nancy’s (bacon sandwich with brown sauce - yum!) then on Wednesday a visit to the Gurdwara Sikh temple in Gravesend with SEC. We’ve been before but I always enjoy this. It’s a lovely place and very calming.

Thursday was back to Edenbridge after dad’s phone 📱 call. George and I got our nails done with Lisa. We both chose white this time - very Essex!

Friday was bits & bobs day and I went to the Co-op with Gary and Sarah H, my key worker and I bought a Cadbury’s flake and a birthday card for Lucy.

On Saturday mum & dad picked me up and we went to Sevenoaks. We went to Gales for our usual chicken and pesto burger, but they had sold out so I had a cheesy croissant, mum had a new york deli roll and dad had a chicken and tarragon hand pastie! We then bought birthday cards for Nina and Ethan, and some de-waxing stuff for dad’s ear…

For our evening meal mum cooked moussaka which was delicious. We then watched ‘Strictly’, The Wheel and ‘When Apples Fall’ which mum and I enjoyed, but dad went off to watch The Repair Shop instead!

Our next get together will be on 2nd November when we’ll meet Sam, Lucy and Ethan at ‘Eagle Heights’ to celebrate Ethan’s 3rd birthday and Lucy’s birthday 🎊 as well!

The Gurdwara Sikh temple looking very grand...

Here we are on Sunday 3rd November! Just to bring you up to date, last Saturday we all went to the cinema in Bluewater with Sandra to see ‘Wild Robot’ an animation which was quite funny 😂.

Monday was Edenbridge with Ian, when we played ‘The Wheel’ and painted scenery for our Christmas panto Pinnocchio in December.

Tuesday was Lunch Club and banking. In Lunch Club we played ‘charades’ and had jacket potato 🥔 and salad 🥗 followed by rice 🍚 pudding and jam - yum! 👅.

On Wednesday we went to the cinema with SEC and saw ‘hundred-per-cent wolf’ 🐺, another animation which was very funny!

On Thursday first thing, dad rang and we talked about Ethan’s 🎈 party which would happen on Saturday. On the actual day, mum and dad picked me up and it was raining! But by the time we got to Eagle Heights it had stopped, thank goodness! We had a great time with lots to look at and then the display of flying birds which was very interesting and exciting as they flew so close to our heads! One owl called Velma actually touched dad’s head as it flew by! We finished our visit with a cup of tea and Lucy’s yummy chocolate cupcakes with windmills on top. Ethan blew his candles out like a pro and made a wish. We then drove to the ‘Malt Shovel’ pub in Eynsford for lunch. I had steak and ale pie with veggies, Lucy and Marie had fish & chips, mum had liver and bacon and Sam had a casserole. Dad had a venison steak with chips and veggies. All very yummy and crazy low prices!! Ethan opened his presents and played with his favourite, play doh. We then left and said our good byes and we will see them all at Christmas, Hoh, Hoh, Hoh!

When mum, dad and I got back to theirs we were quite stuffed so we watched ‘Strictly’ then dad cooked cheese on toast while we watched ‘The Wheel’. After that mum and I watched ‘When apples fall’ and dad watched ‘Shed and buried’ as he didn’t like the drama.

The next time we will meet will be Saturday-week, the 16th & 17th and we are planning to visit a new restaurant in Sevenoaks, called ‘The Deckhouse’. It’s where ‘Bills’ was and looks pretty-much the same…!

This robot looks pretty wild...!

Its Sunday November 17th. I’ve had a good two weeks. Last Friday I went to Bromley on the train 🚂 with Jackie and Alan. We did Christmas window shopping and went to Prezzo for lunch. We all had sandwiches and a drink, but Alan spilt his coke down his trousers! I bought a toy hippo for my room in ‘Poundland’ before we caught the train back to Longfield. In the evening I cooked 👨‍🍳 meatballs with Sandra which everyone enjoyed. We had a lazy weekend and watched Harry Potter ‘order of the phoenix’ which was very 😂 funny. Saturday was also Sharon’s leaving do and the staff went to Efsane! Sharon got a bit tiddly, good on her!

On Sunday we had roast lamb cooked by Sarah H and Jackie, vegetables courtesy of Shirley. We had cheesecake for pudding - don’t tell Slimming World!

Monday was art at Edenbridge with Megan while Ian took a Zumba class next door. In the afternoon we did ‘rolling in it’ with Ian which was good fun!

Tuesday was Lunch Club and banking for the week. Entertainment was provided by Ruth & Tim who are singers. We all joined in and had a good time. We had sausages, chips and baked beans followed by Eton mess - don't tell Slimming world again!!

Wednesday was the last day of SEC before Christmas and we did ‘short mat bowls’ which I always enjoy 😊.

After dad had rung me on Thursday it was back to Edenbridge for ‘looking good’ with Lisa while the boys did puzzles. George had her nails painted red and I had pink. In the afternoon we went through our Pinocchio 🤥 rehearsals with Ian while Michael joined Peter and Sarah M for cooking with Lisa and Sarah H.

On Friday Jamie and I went to Gravesend with Beatrice, Jean and Sarah H for ‘bits & bobs’ shopping. I bought a pack of Rocky Chocs and a girlie magazine. We bought calendars for the guys and our ‘secret santas’. We have all the Christmas decs up at the house, finished on Saturday just before mum & dad came over. We were planning to go to The Deckhouse in Sevenoaks, but it was full-up so dad booked a table at Bills in Tunbridge Wells. I had festive turkey curry, dad had steak and mum had a naked burger 🍔. We started our Ho, Ho, Ho shopping at Waterstones with a present from dad to Sam and a present from me to dad. Dad bought some more jeans at M&S, then we went 🏡 home. Dad ran to see Norton and John, their new butchers and got some really nice mince for that evening’s spag bol, which he cooked while mum and I watched ‘Strictly’ then we all watched ‘The Wheel’, followed by a new murder mystery called The Flowermoon.

We’ll next catch up on Saturday 30th of November when we buy Xmas presents for the staff. In the afternoon Sue & John will arrive as they are staying over to go to a party. In the evening mum, dad and I will go to see the local ‘Am Dram’ Peter Pan. More next time…

Its Sunday 15th of December, a quick blog before mum and I go to tejuns for hairdos. We all went up to London to see the Christmas Lights which was lovely, and we had supper at Zizzi's, also good. Its been Panto season since then - oh yes it has! - first Peter Pan in Westerham which was rather good for Am Dram and quite funny, then Snow White and the seven dwarves at Bromley, Jack and the Beanstalk in Dartford, then finally our own panto at Edenbridge, Pinocchio!

Ian warmed up the audience and explained how they were to join in, then we got started - hoorah! Alan was Pinocchio and I was the evil Stromboli HaHaHa! Mathew was the Wishing Star and Sarah Vaughn was the Blue Fairy. Brett played Buttons who kept arriving in the wrong panto and was very funny. Right at the end he was in the right panto!

Its also the season for Christmas dinners and indulging - don’t tell Slimming World! We went to the Two Doors pub in Gravesend on Monday with SEC for a buffet and disco, then on Tuesday we went to the Fighting Cocks in Horton Kirby for a traditional roast which was very scrummy!

When mum and dad picked me up yesterday we went to Sainsbury’s to buy the last two staff presents for Jennifer and Akodia. Then back to mum & dads for a blur of wrapping - which dad is very good at - while mum and I wrote the gift tags! In the afternoon mum and I decorated the tree before moussaka and the final for ‘Strictly’ which was won by Chris the blind comedian and his amazing partner Diana!

This afternoon dad will put up the outside lights while mum and I get our hair cut.

Its very exciting, the next time I’m over it will be Christmas Eve, yippee!

The amazing angel of the Christmas Lights in Oxford St

Alan, me and George at Jack and the beanstalk in Dartford

Gary holding up the coach, me as the evil Stromboli in hat behind George who was playing Ludwick...

Buttons takes centre stage with Geppetto...

We all tuck in at the Fighting Cocks, yummee!

Friday December 27th. post Christmas blog.   Mum and Dad picked me up earlier than planned on Monday 23rd so that we had time to wrap the rest of the presents, tidy up the house, collect the turkey from the butchers and make the mince pies.

By Christmas Eve evening we were ready and we watched Wallace & Gromit ‘Vengeance most Fowl’ which was brilliant! On Christmas Day morning, mum got the turkey in the oven while dad and I prepared the vegetables. Sam and Lucy arrived with a very excited Ethan at just gone 11 o’clock. We got teas and coffees together and started unwrapping our presents. Ethan was so excited he began unwrapping everyone else’s presents as well as his own! Good gifts all round then it was time for a gin and tonic! Then mum barred us from the kitchen while she finished preparing the dinner. Dad carved the turkey and the gammon and Ethan was fascinated with the electric carving knife much to his dad’s horror… Things mechanical…

Christmas dinner was brilliant as usual - well done mum! After dinner we played with Ethan’s new toys until he got really tired and it was time for them to go. Then we settled down to watch more TV including the last ever ‘Gavin and Stacy’ which was very good!

On Boxing Day we always have another Christmas dinner - yummy - and then our neighbour Liz came over to help us drink a bottle of champagne mum had been given for her retirement present.

The dust has now settled for a few days before New Years Eve. On New Years day I will go back with all the others to Longfield to recover! The next time I’m over will be 11th & 12th of January and we’ll hit the sales in Sevenoaks with lunch at ‘The Deckhouse’ (you’ll remember we tried to go there once before, but it was booked up!)

We then go into ‘birthday time’ starting with Sam’s on February 17th, which we’ll celebrate on Saturday 22nd Feb!

Mum and dad's neighbours Theresa and Gerry made a nice festive decoration of their summerhouse

Everyone taking Christmas dinner very seriously

Ethan may have his crown on upside down, but is still enjoying his dinner!

Today is January 12th, nearly half the month gone! I’ve had a busy week. Monday was Edenbridge where I did art with Ian and ‘name that tune’ which was hilarious!

On Tuesday I did my banking with George and Beatrice, then we went to Lunch Club where We had yet another Christmas dinner! It was very yummy and followed by Christmas pudding and custard, then We played ‘Charades’ which was very funny 😁.

On Wednesday we played short mat bowls at the church beside SEC. We came back to Wetherspoon’s for lunch. I had a chicken sandwich, Louise had tuna and Jamie had smelly egg. In the evening We took a taxi to FAB Club where we had a 💃 disco.

Dad rang me on Thursday before we went to Edenbridge. There was a change of plan for Saturday as Sam had rung and suggested we meet up at Chartwell for lunch and a look around the shop. They were going for a winter walk there as their National Trust membership was about to run out. By the time we had arrived they were already in the cafe so We joined them. Dad and I had chicken pie and veg, mum and Lucy had 🍜 soup and Sam had a pulled pork 🍔 burger. Ethan had a sandwich and bits of everything. We all looked around the shop and I bought a sweet little bumble-bee key-ring for Ethan which he really liked. We said our goodbyes and agreed to meet up on 23rd February to celebrate Sam’s birthday!

Mum, dad and I went back to theirs and watched Renee Zelwigger and Ewan McGregor in Beatrix Potter which was very good. For tea, dad cooked corned beef hash which was very scrumptious!

It’s still freezing outside but hopefully will get warmer by the next time we meet on Saturday week, 25th January. Hopefully we will finally get to The Deckhouse!