new specs

happily arrived today. I thought i woulndt be able to get them till tomorrow as the optician closes at 5 and i was at work as i thought till 5. but the afternoon appointments went quicker than they shoudl have done, the 3 pm cancelled, i got the 4 pm to come in early and the boss said yes i could go early and get them (he knew about the headaches!).

the driving/distance ones will probably be a success re lenses - but i picked the wrong frames, they're a bit "femma" - that is, feel as though they'll collapse in a heap!

the reading/computer ones make the screen look curved, it's really weird!

anyway, partner found out that english heritage had organised some open days at places we don't normally get access to. so we went to see Aykley Heads House, a grade 1 listed building (that is, mega preserved, everything has to be exactly as it was) in durham. i've been trying to find something about it on the web to link to, but there's not a lot out there. the best i could find was a mention in this page.

anyway, we were glad we went. the house started, as the page says, probably in the 12th century. the present house has its basis in two farm buildings (still part of the current buidling) from the late 17th century, then the present house was startedin the early 18th centruy and then gradually expanded and altered. it was sold to the county council in 1942, then had a nasty fire in the 90's i think it was, has been fully restored and is now occupied partly by what used to be call edht county youth/careers service and partly (in what used to be the kitchen) a posh bistro that we can't afford to eat in save as a treat for an occasion!

by the time we'd done that i was knackered so mollly only got fed and then we came home. mind, i'm usually knackered on friday night and molly usually does get that night off!