Belated Happy Birthday

On Saturday we celebrated (quietly) DH's 56th birthday.  His 'treat' was a full English breakfast at Wetherspoons (corporate, cheap and cheerful, but brekkie fills you up for the day).  We then went into Newport, our main shopping centre, to buy some more fabric to finish the waistcoat, and found that M&S now charges shoppers to use it's carpark - something to bear in mind.  In the afternoon we had a lovely visit from DIL and family.  Couldn't resist the works of art the grandkids made while they were here!  I was impressed that 5 year old grand-daughter decided grey hair wouldn't do for my portrait, I had to have the 'one size fits all' yellow princess hair instead.

We had home-made pizza for tea, custom-made to suit our tastes, so DH added chorizo bought from Manchester Christmas market, and chillies he grew in the garden last year, while I had chicken plus all the veggies.  The recipe I used for the dough was a new one for me and although it was OK, I think I may try an alternative next time.

I would have posted this yesterday, until I realised I had promised myself to have Sunday as a 'laptop-free' day this year.  So I have yet again been reminded that I need to be a little more organised to avoid late posts in future.  

It is not until you try to do without something, that it becomes apparent how much you have grown to rely on it, without even giving it any thought.  I find myself reaching for the laptop several times during the day, to look something up, to download photos, to check emails and blogs .....  the list goes on.  Yes, modern technology has many positives, but I am becoming very mindful that with very little effort, technology can easily rule our lives.  That's not what I want, yet I acknowledge how much I use it, and justify that useage.  So I think that's something I need to keep a careful eye on.  Hence my 'laptop-free Sunday'.  It stops and makes me think.  And of course, I manage perfectly well not plugged-in to the internet for 24 hours.