5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

mhagster

Sunday's Number one pleasure...sleeping through the night. Woke up at 5.45am!

For Saturday....I was so utterly exhausted when we got home last night it was all I could do to climb in to bed and quickly call my mum to let her know we were safely back! Then zzzzzzzzz

We went cross country a visiting family . The drive to the other side of Scotland from us was lovely the sun was weakly out but I needed my sunglasses on so it was there. Saw lots of kestrels, rooks, magpies and deer.

First visit to my SILs who lives right in the country in the most stunning house. She is a star and had rolls and sausages waiting for us....choice of slice or links! To see my children ( particularly my son who is quiet) flourish and be confident and laugh and be gently teased and just relish in the aunt-ily attention makes a mummy's heart glad. Her and her partner are two of my favourite people and we had such a lovely time with them.

Then it was off to 2 other favourite people and my favourite dog. My aunt and uncle live near enough to SIL , also in the countryside and I have spent so much of my life there. It feels very homely and 'right' to be there. They are looking after our dog whist mum recovers ( she kept our old dog when we emigrated) , dog has a degenerative condition so we probably won't see her again but we got to spend a few hours with her and said a sad goodbye.
Again my children flourish with the love and kindness shown to them in this house from 2 lovely people who have been such a constant in my life and in theirs.
Had a lovely tea of meatballs, rice, roast veg, potato-y dish, pizza...help yourself. DD2 and I did the dishes happily. Funny how holiday dishes are easier than done than ones at home.

Our dog , after a few moments hesitation knew who we were and talked and talked to us for the first hour....she has done this every time we see her. Much belly rubbing and ear rubbing! I am sobbing as I type this as I miss her still so much. One of the hardest decisions about our move was to leave her. She would not have coped well with the journey and certainly not with the heat. She was a much loved part of our family and of course still is. But knowing that we probably won't see her when we next visit is hard.
However, she doesn't know she is deteriorating and she is happy in her country cottage and aunt and uncle are happy having her to stay with them.

So a lovely day spent with much love, laughter, food , sweets , scenery.....lots of birds in SIls garden, blue tits, yellow hammers, blackbirds and the fat wood pigeon.....my children went out and took photos of this HUGE bird. A day with dogs and cats. Aunt has a new to us cat who is a rescue boy and very lovely , their older cat was very loving ....and then would take a tiny bite! SIl has 2 daft dogs so was nice to be welcomed by them! And of course time spent with our old girl...lots of photos taken.

Drive home listening to "Take the floor" on Radio Scotland.....Dundee Doll thought of you and your accordion!

Then it was bedtime and I've slept like a log....must have been that east coast country air!



Re the list poem.
I like lists , I like words and I like to write.
I like the satisfaction of ticking or scoring through a completed task.
I've always written lists . OH will say put them on your phone, put a reminder on your iPad but nah! I like to write and I like to run a pen through the job done. On Friday my friend and I sat up late ( all other friends had gone) and were just chit chatting and funnily enough were talking lists...but she always carries them over to the next day...she writes too many so she still has something to do...I like to get it all done and have a(smug) sense of satisfaction .

Have a lovely Sunday, church today for me (" will there be mince pies for afters ? " asked DD1... To determine whether she shall go) and visiting oldest friends again today for tea.

Cosy country cottage hugs to those who need them.

ampersand

What a lovely post mhags!
I know you don't need &hugs, encircled by all those precious others from 4-foots and 2-foots, but anyway.....
dd - I posted the glorious Spooky Mens Chorale sound over and over. Bought Deep and The Spooky Men in History when at first Concert. Can understand peeps skipping/glazing over my excessive linkies, but here, just for you, please have a little listen:
http://www.spookymen.com/videos.php

-and from youtube,
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=spooky+men's+chorale&rlz=1C1GGIT_enGB308GB353&oq=spook&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j69i60l2j0l2.8299j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=122&espv=210&q=spooky+men's+chorale+you+tube

recommend this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqNAonCJEMM

The moment they're touring again, I'll be groupie-ing! They might be in NZ next year. If so, will be tailoring dates. There are 2 beautiful love songs too.

Quite early bossing for a Sunday - only 'cos I saw your light on.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

DD Shut it
Ashes Shut it


At least Yellow Thing was out!


Yesterday, was in Oxfordshire





Back later with treasures

Skint_yet_Again

Hi all I'm home again after Christmas oop norf in the bosom of my family

Sparrer, glad to hear procedure went ok hope rest that follows is over quickly and all clear

CCP so sorry to hear about your sister, its beginning to sound like incompetence. Hope they sort this out soon

Broomstick, tonsillitis not nice hope you are feeling better x

Frith, lovely acknowledgement from older son.. bless him!

Recent Pleasures:

1. made it up the M25 M1 in one piece to DP's house

2. lovely gathering with sister nephew and niece/nieces bf.... and much laughter

3. met up with old school friend and lots of blether

4. made it to scarboro for xmas at DSis house

5. santa came and we were all up at 6am unwrapping, but sister/BIL were up at 1.30am ! and almost every hour after that with nephew... glad I didn't hear him !

6. lovely xmas dinner cooked by sister and DM/MiL washed up. I offered but was surplus to requirements

7. lovely yellow thing thanks BoP and a brisk walk in the fresh air on boxing day, followed by leftovers for tea

8. fish and chips for lunch on day after boxing day on way back to DP's from scarboro

9. safe journey home yesterday. M25 a nightmare but we made it safely back to the sunny south

10. not too much storm damage. It looks like the garden gate has taken a battering (or someone has broken in) will get dressed after this and go and have a look. Am still lounging in PJs at the mo but have got some washing on! Sun has got his hat on.

DigForVictory

Frith - hoping your aunty is recovering & that the urge to bean your mother has already worn off. Hefting logs is not fun, but part of the real fire workout... Enjoy Dr. Who?
Sparrer - so glad you're back home & recovering & yep, 3 cheers for the NHS! You've a free day & so choose to clean the oven. Enjoy the yellow thing!
Broomstick - if you can outsleep this bug, I'll recommend it as a more pleasant alternative to the office & Beechams...! You banish chaos?! Blimey - I'm waiting to see what happens when sons leave (ulp!). Hurrah son got voucher for being a nice chap!
Tealady - glad to hear roof Not As Bad & ooh, ooh secrets!
Mhagster - feel your pain re iPhone/iPad. Splendid real Scottish delights re Tunnocks & yippee yet another bath! Beginning to get to Highland time? Aww - extra hug to loved dog & chuckles at DD's religious observances.
DD - what's a lighthouse tea cloth? Stardrops workout sounds formidable! Crowned pawn dead right to sort bed linens, brew & enjoy!
Mcculloch - family & dogs a good Boxing Day mix! Focus on the living friends whilst cherishing good times with lives lost? Helps get through the pain til you can remember & smile. Eventually. (Big Hug)
VJsmum - High Society on iPad? (Must go reprogram mine...) Boxing Day knees up sounds a successful gamble but sometimes hiding behind marking makes sense!
BoP - rain means not having to wash the car. Being very tough, loving cricket.
Ampersand - Johnny Vegas & Beatrix Potter? Now there's a combination. Love, love, love The List-Maker! Thank you - that will go into workspace. Stunning chowder & hurrah for white sweet peas! (Very well played with the spuds, all round!)
Mommyof4 - welcome!
Chickenopolis - am eyeing the pills warily, wearily, respectfully - they work. Just my voom is one if the casualties - happily not family! Blimey - 3 under 5 is a solid down payment on a pension & yes, even sprightliest terrier needs protecting! It'd take a mobster to make me line up my tins...
CCP - who do you want us to kill for you? Glad Isis has you back! Aargh about sis & tests & medics & repeated tests - can I recommend felting as a therapeutic hobby? (Sponge, wool, evilsharp needles, stabbing - she may find it pleasant or a nasty reminder.)
VickyA - glad your grandma can sign, enjoy flying visit to Aberdeen & location spotting is a real OS pleasure!
Skint yet Again - up North is warm & civilised (sez immigrant!) Young 'uns will start Christmas early. Best of all to be surplus to washing up! Enjoy the yellow stuff!

Yesterday's pleasures
Oh my. Of all the excuses/ pretexts/ reasons (delete as applicable) to stay in bed, not get up, not join in my solitary morning meditations over antibiotics or even get dressed & come on the restocking after Christmas shop, this one has um, novelty. He's a thought peeved the offspring have neglected the laundry & thus he had no clean underpants to put on. Offspring, having been sent to check dryer etc have retreated to duvet themselves as it's too cold... Finally resolved.

Ah the dulcet sounds of Magic (the card game) in play. They only call each other those names when feeling particularly as if they're about to loose...

The replenishing shop is done, the fridge door will barely shut & we should not have to go shopping perhaps til next year! (Porridge consumption the variable - more than once & we'll need more milk.)

Coming to join the family & catching the tail end of 'The African Queen' - excellent! The more bedraggled they get, the more adorable I find them. Got to be one of the most fun weddings I've ever seen.

Princess Bride! Aww! It would be worth being sick to hear Peter Falk reading to you...! (Just one small problem with that.)

And for today?
Fresh air! Exercise! Bargains! Oh. Car boot shut. Ah well. (Some excellent discounts on biscuits at Ald! but the meat was disappointing.)

Watching son ambling around looking for bin bags. It's taken over 53 minutes so far... (Ah. Kitchen worktop. Masquerading as the grill.)

"Child! Where are your pigs?" Followed by "no, the big pigs, not the little pigs!".
Well, that was inevitable at some stage...
[Variant on East Stowe longhouse also under construction. (For 28mm figures - each structure could be stored in a mug.)]

I was thinking of Doing Something with what's left of the pork (not much) but the lads are sounding profoundly unenthusiastic. More soup, I feel.


Great big hugs to all who need them, comfort & strength to all facing Acts of God (& man) & for anyone considering a Shaped Pelmet, there is always time to reconsider.

Tealady_2

Morning


Lazy morning here so far. Pleasures for yesterday.


1. Bit of a lie in
2. Food shopping done and all under budget even though lots of store cupboard and freezer things bought on offer. Plus Aldi had half price on all fruit and veg so well stocked up. Need to do some cooking and freeze some of it.
3. Easy but tasty dinner of HM veg soup with Ravioli with Garlic bread. Total cost for the 3 of us about £1.50.
4. Little snooze in the afternoon
5. DD having a major clear out in her room


Hugs to all who need or want them

Chickenopolis

Good evening all !

Mhagster - lovely post xx your description of the feelings that you have about the dog made me have something in my eye ..

CCP- I am sorry to hear that your Dsis is in hospital longer than expected.

Skintos - you sound like you had a lovely time with your family.Welcome back . I hope PK is enjoying herself too.

DfV - Bravo for tackling the shopping when you would have rather been in bed .

5 for today

1. Family down at DM's about 20 people most over 6ft 2 ,except the great nephews all being toddlers all in the lounge. Whoa! what an assault on the senses .. I said after present giving "Much as I love you all.. there's just too many people " because it was true and then I scooted off home . I am sure it will go down like a lead balloon..DM needs a bigger house !

2. Washing line dried as it was soo beautiful here ..Nice clean bedding tonight.

3.Took the tiny terrier to the beach as it's the only place without mud! It was nice to see people out and about enjoying the lovely weather and getting their Vitamin D fix.

4. Beef stroganoff doing it's thing in slow cooker.It smells divine.Rtc casserole steak of course.

5.Looking forward to a relaxing evening .. work tomorrow:( Still I can pick up some shredded paper from work for the hens nesting box .. every cloud and all that :rotfl:

Have a good evening all !

DigForVictory

My 11yo, having escaped a 3 generation party (4 70-something's, 5 40-something's & 6 between 3 & 14 opined his great aunt "needs a bigger kitchen table, or fewer relatives". The latter in a meditative pitch that would fit comfortably alongside Mafiosi...

He doesn't stress about height (growing, he can afford to) whereas I get a bit tired of being loomed over by all bar 5 present...

Have you never had a fire drill go a bit sideways? As I think baling from DM was a smart move!

CCP

1) A nice night back in my own bed, with a feline hwb snuggled against my legs. (And never mind that I haven't seen Isis since, as she's sulking in the bedroom again - I'll never understand cats. :huh:)

2) Popped up to the shop to get a couple of bits for dinner and found they'd been going round with the yellow stickies - I was particularly pleased with the big pot of cream for 30p, which will go beautifully with the mini Christmas pud my grandmother gave me.

3) While away at my parents I lost an earring which was part of a set which went with a bracelet :mad:, so I was very pleased to find a replacement pair online today, heavily reduced in the sales. :money:

4) Did a half-hearted hour or so of studying, which I guess is better than nothing.

5) Bacon-wrapped sausages for dinner tonight - I love pigs in blankets. :drool:

Chickenopolis

DfV- fantastic ! I will use that one myself

CCP - pets do like to "punish" their people after a period of absence.