5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

Broomstick

Evening everyone.

Frith, thanks for the mention of the Titfield Thunderbolt. Added it to my list.

VJsmum, tuna and fennel is a lovely combination. I think it's quite traditional. It's what I always end up doing when we get a fennel in the veg box. I just chop up the fennel into small slices and fry it in butter with onion/leek before adding sweetcorn and rice. The feathery green bits from the fennel get chopped up tiny and are added in at the end with the tuna... well I like it anyway and it's easy.:D

Five pleasures for Tuesday:

1. Temporary fence repairs from yesterday seem to have held despite the second load of stormy weather that came through in the night.:T

2. Waking up to clear skies and sunshine.

3. Very much enjoyed watching the documentary about Ladybird books. It was a huge nostalgia-wallow-fest into growing up in the 50s and 60s - ie my childhood - and was really interesting. Recommended.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03mp53s/Timeshift_Series_13_The_Ladybird_Books_Story_How_Britain_Got_the_Reading_Bug/

4. Lunch with my parents - very simple food, unfussy and delicious.

5. An afternoon of playing Scrabble with them. We got them a set of Large Print Scrabble which works well, especially since their sight is a bit affected by old age. The letters are clearer and larger and the bigger board allows the tiles to lock in place so that the words can't be knocked out of alignment. Very sensible.

I'm going to be lighting a candle at about 10 to midnight to see in Christmas day. Do join me with lit candles if you want.:D

Sweet dreams, keep safe and warm.
B x

Frith

Christmas Eve!!


Here are my pleasures for today:


1) Bit of a lie in.


2) Brother in law took smaller son away for the day to play on his new Sims X Box game. Smaller son on his return said the game was good, they also walked the dog and had (drum roll) Nutella on toast!


3) Bigger son and I faffed around inefficiently getting last minute bits and pieces, firstly from the farm shop down the road then from the nearest big village.


4) Had a quick cup of hot chocolate while we were out.


5) A nice man stopped me while I was reversing the car to come home to tell me I'd had a puncture. Managed to limp round to the garage and pumped it up and at the last look (3pm) it had stayed up...


6) Bigger son and I went to mum and dad's for lunch. Lots of food then Christmas cake and a game of Scrabble.


7) Back home where bigger son wanted to make some crackers. They're massive!


8) Smaller son came back. He also decided to go to church with sister and my mum and dad. That's the first service he's ever been to. He was impressed that grandma played the organ and granddad and my brother did the mulled wine, the mince pies, the lighting of the candles down the path to the lane, went round with the collection plates etc. It is true that there is no one else who does it.


9) Quick tea of sausage sandwiches.


10) Christmas Eve pyjamas!


11) Watched the Titfield Thunderbolt. VJsmum - did you know the film is based on the volunteers at Talyllyn and a novel by Tom Rolt?


12) Watched Holby.


13) Sons have gone to bed and are creepily silent! Hoping to get to sleep quickly.


14) Will watch a bit of television now, stove going well and a glass of sloe gin and a mince pie is waiting for Santa...

DigForVictory

not pedantic - treat yourself to a few wobbleades! (Indeed, please have one for me - I've just been put onto antibiotics.) Hang onto your handle!
BoP - hoping trainset steaming your way! Pudding at 6, eh? Shrewd thinking, thank you!
sleepymans - oh yes - the smell of breadmaking is glorious! (And one of the few smells I can recognise.)
CCP - Darn to hear you're dampened - but enjoy Tudor Farm! Blast and Drattit that sis can't escape hospital today but at least has the hope of New Year.
mhagster - delighted to hear it's all going so well & that mum's recovering is happening. Tulips are a delight! Keep up the baths - they're so much more fun when you're used to metered water! Interesting that Aus wind sounds different to Scot wind. Snuggle down!
kittikins - glad to hear Oxford not too busy & I wouldn't worry about the shopkeepers - they farm tourists & students all year... Delighted to hear different generations trouncing each other at different games & hurrah for boozy trifle (coax the recipe now?!)
ampersand - isn't it odd how the strangest things becomes pleasures once you're a parent?! Buses. Most contrary vehicles in creation. You don't forget good people have problems - it's part of why this site is.
Broomstick - I feel your pain about the non-waterproof pocket. Have fun with the meals! I will chase that Ladybird link - sounds like lots of fun! Candle lit here with you.
Frith - I love son filing trunks at pool - there's male logic! Enjoy the Thunderbolt! Fingers crossed tyre stayed inflated & brilliant younger Frith intrigued by Church!
VJsmum - my apologies all that family language - but a 28mm model is big fun to my chaps.... You're into G&S as well? The dental impressions now need to star in family snaps at assorted locations. Son reading? Without bentwood chair & whip? HURRAH!
Chickenopolis - "chase me Charlie" eh? I'm more familiar with the over, under, round or through! (Some spectacular unauthorised dismounts in my youth, most "impressive" of which was off horse onto drystone wall into nettles into fresh cowsh!t. My mount look distinctly offended for the rest of the ride, as did my father - with the same expression! 'better than the alternative' is going on your tombstone?! ('it worked for us' for me...)
lovefullshelves -Elvis & a selection of hats - happy times! Awww - night before Christmas with 17yo - special times!
sparrer - bless the folks who advised on parking & helped with packing! Virtal namaste to neighbour who repotted after a benevolent fumble AND patched the gate. Nothing to do is bliss!
DD - aka Dundee Doll - love the ideas of warm sherry & all safely gathered in! Sax & Piano duets - glorious!
Tealady - quality time in bed, family & presents sorted - hurrah!

OS pleasures for today (and for a couple of days as the antibiotics get a grip)
I may be one of the few Little Helpers tonight stuffing stockings with "bullets" of Lynx Because It's Flammable. (Dysfunctional sense of smell but *that* stuff I can Taste... Eyuch!)

The glint in Accomplice's Eye as he locates The Stockings for me. (Some person has eaten the chocolate coins but left the wrappers. If I only knew who, I'd know whose stocking to put them in... Ah well, the grin is worth the peeve.)

For all their professed loathing if foreign languages, his brothers have dubbed him the Fat Accomplice. Were it not for the challenge if finding a lump of coal at this notice, I'd be annoyed, (but still chuckling.)

Some blessed soul has changed the bed linen.

I was planning to enjoy QI, but the chaps were entranced & so I packed stockings. There is always iPlayer, & the bulges do look & feel intriguing. Although I do wonder if putting china mugs in is not tempting Fate somewhat...

Just earned eldest's awed delight as having sent him to bed, I recanted so he could watch Star Wars Family Guy. Means Santa has to stay up yet longer, oh darn.

Very Merry Christmas, all!
If anyone's raising a glass, have a swig for me? Tonsillitis means antibiotics for 10 days...
Big hugs to all who need them, tempting squishy rustling stockings all round (four paws included!) & for all spending Christmas without someone - special extra hugs!

Broomstick

DfV, raising my cup of tea to you, and to all of us. Candle lit with midnight mass on R4 on in background.

B x

not-pedantic-just-correct

Thanks for all the welcomes.
Frith Titchfield thunderbolt is a classic. Have you tried the other ealings? Ladykillers is very good.

Spent most of the day cooking and listening to R4.
Lovely evening with kids at friends' house.
Stockings up and mince pie & a good single malt ready for FC.
Kids over excited.
I wish you all a merry and peaceful Christmas.

sparrer

I'm doing the same. Tea for me too as it's a dry household, and candles lit for my dear ones who are with me in spirit.

Good to know that although some of us are on our own we need never be lonely, huge thanks to Martin and to all the forumites.

Once again, sweet dreams and have a blessed Christmas x

ampersand

:xmastree:Just in from Midnight Mass.:xmastree:

1. Things crimbo'd around to recipients, 2 of whom were out, meaning I could sneak in and out unseen. That's the way I like it.
2. 2 good chance meetings...in w8rs, where else?
3. Driving into a dramatic sunset, to which live choral sound from Kings' Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols - just a few miles distant - was very fit accompaniment.
4. I caught up with them, was just across the road for midnight and the bellringers did their stuff as we came out. Great sound declaiming the watchnight in the heart of Cambridge.
5. Barn owl and I kept pace with each other over the last 2/3 miles back. Special.

Summertime Christmas lunch well underway for NZ family. King William quiz to work on in The Grauniad, or here, for those of you who don't:
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/dec/24/king-williams-college-quiz-2013
We have all of the hols to complete it, CORRECTLY.
As usual, sparrer says all that's apt and necessary in her thanks for this site.
ccp - let's feel relief that little sister is where she needs to be. They would not have kept her there unnecessarily, especially over crimbo.

Bless you all. Merry Christmas.

:xmastree:

'Scire ubi aliquid invenire possis, ea demum maxima pars eruditionis est'

ampersand

Looks as if I'm offering bucks' fizz to green light frith and green light npjc. Orange juice headed my last-min list this arvo. and I actually remembered.
npjc - you know you're with us for good, don't you? You saw all of that good f/b on your name. Further, I read this 'and listening to R4. '[yes, yes - we do a lot of that] then 'mince pie & a good single malt ready for FC' [a fine practice], so you'll always be welcome.

Just don't encourage bop's sprouts in port. What a waste! - with uncertain wave to [STRIKE]dd [/STRIKE]iltoc?

mhagster

Been wide awake since silly o'clock......having slept through Christmas Eve evening!

DD2 and I are snuggled up on the sofa......she's been into the selection boxes already ! Cosy country cottage owners delivered more home made shortbread last night....I've had some for early breakfast!

I want to wish you all a merry Christmas ....May your day be all you want it to be, enjoy all the food ( preparation and eating of!) , opening and watching others open gifts and time spent together with family and friends ...if you're on your own....treat yourself kindly

Have a lovely day...I'm just hoping to make it to Downton time!

As we did gifts last weekend for m-early Christmas today will just be a relaxed day!

Frith

We've been up for 2 hours already *whimpers*


Merry Christmas! Hope everyone has a lovely day. :-)