5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

mcculloch29

1. Dr C. is in his own place although half his stuff is still here. All will be gone, eventually
2. Dr C gone means I can apply for council tax rebate, yay!
3. Some interesting things to review in the post
4. Anticipating a hefty taxi fare to attend a funeral, I think I have been offered a lift . Need to sort this..
5. My brother sent me up a big bundle of yogurt pot lids with claim codes on for some freebies. 1 rather nice shopping bag on its way so far. I do have a weakness for bags.

Skint_yet_Again

mcc - good luck to Dr C in his own place x

Frith - hope all goes well for smaller sons op x

Pleasures this week (despite being at work!)

1. went back to spec savers and had eyes re-tested for free with voucher. Have been told my prescription has changed (since September) and found that the adjustments on the last lenses for astigmatism (sp?) are in the wrong place :-\ didn't even know I had astigmatism must google cos I haven't a clue what this is
so.... the result is free new lenses in current frames and free new set of glasses with close vision lenses for computer work


2. free takeaway with remaining credit for late delivery on hungry house

3. put new sealant round the bath - looks good even if I say so myself

4. managed to source a new seal for the shower screen door and a decent price with free delivery from bay of e

5. its Friday ...

villagelife

Skint astigmatism is where the eye is rugby ball shaped rather football shaped and is nothing to worry about unless it changes dramatically.

Not posted for a while as been busy.

1. The weekend started for me at least.
2. Picking loads of veg from the garden. Love eating stuff I've grown myself.
3. DSs getting instilled

4. DS2 cooking foruszall

[Deleted User]

1) Being back home after having to dash to DD2 yesterday as she was very poorly. Much better today and I had a lift home with He Who Knows and DD1.

2) The smile on my little 17 month old grandsons face when I went in to get him after his morning nap.

3) A wonderful present that my DD has got me from her trip to Iceland and it's a knitted rabbit fur scarf, so soft and warm and snuggly.

4) Supper this evening, I couldn't do what I'd planned due to being called away yesterday so we had fried eggs, baked beans, fried tomatoes and toast, and it was smashing!.

5) The smell of the river as I got out of the car this evening, it's the smell of home.

mhagster

Hello from Saturday night.

2 days of work done just 5 to go!
Commission well earned today, we've had a quieter past fortnight whilst winter school break was on , so today was our first busy day in 3 weekends! Mad at times but we got there!

Hello to friends, hello to an old customer..." I know that face, thought she....I definitely know that voice. " nice to see her and catch up very briefly.

New internet / phone provider chosen and order put in. Looking forward to the end of the month!

Art at a fraction of the price.....a fabulous picture for sale in fave cafe. $500
I can't justify that for a picture. Had a look online, took a screen shot, printed off a photo. Now on my kitchen wall....where the original would go if ever I had a spare $500, as this is unlikely in the near future, my $5 print and $8 frame will have to do!

A bit of a poorly OH, the kids have all had lurgy in past week and OH has succumbed, he doesn't have the immune system to deal with it and is feeling and being rather miserable.

To be very chilly overnight so will probably have to scrape car in the morning. Not where we are but there's been so much snow the last few days. Even Queensland had snow. Very unusual for there. Coldest July in 25 years apparently.

Do have a lovely weekend

ampersand

T'internet, landline, mob. et al work less and less here.
& interest in beaming into them diminishes also. 2 goes at the rubber band propellors this morn has taken 40-ish mins.

These osps gather from many of last week or so.
#
1. Kent Truck Stack in operation way over 20 miles out[ on way back, even longer], but & waved through and onto earlier ferry, thus arriving with the dawn in Dunkerque, pre-0500h. Glorious, glorious, as was boulangerie stop .
Found self thinking of Frith picking up new car, but have now caught up read of the eek moments which accompany most new-to-me car buys. Remember you, sparrer, debating the big outlay on your truly new one...
Brekkie le premier taken along miles of concrete wartime ramped plage[turn right at Mardyck and just keep going, past all the ugly, all the industrial, the cranes, the tank refineries till reaching the end....voilà, la mer, a vast horizon, endless sands. & turns right, miles along to the very end, La Manche à gauche, a long finger Port of lined up cargos and freight and ships on the right. Again I emphasise, there is no pretty here. Stinks, smokes, manoeuvrings, sirens, warnings in sound and colour of belchings from grandes chemin!es, ladings - I love it all.
Many of these lever up and fall again as shipping necessitates.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_ponts_de_Dunkerque
- renewing my love affair with all the tugs, esp. 41, 43, 44 and 47, fabulous balletic, insistent skills: Adroit, Aventure, Foudroyante - all named for ships sunk in battle.
http://www.dunkerque-port.fr/en/
[Stop now &, let people breathe/move on]

2. Next: bought this year's €2 Agenda des brocantes tout autour for plotting hunt'n'gathers starting next day. Repeat, &'s trips must have £/€offsets aimed at self-financing. Happily done at Mâlo-les-Bains[free navette transport from Grand Large, o/s YH where Thermoses were recharged daily, is excellent] I've praised both before. Beaches are vast and empty and there is a wonderful new passerelle, linking both endroits[ 2 marvellous Contemporary Arts Museums near both ends] like a smaller skyhanging Pont de Millau.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=passerelle+dunkerque&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIhvTr9sHkxgIVCr4UCh1NiQDU&biw=1024&bih=590

& started across from the Dunkerque WWII monument, always an early pause. No idea how many crossings and lingers I eventually made.

3. Planned next day's circuit and stopped near that night. En route, saw sign for St Joseph Village d'Antan. So glad I went. Long talks with founder's son. Papa is still going strong at 92. The whole place is his hymn to old crafts, his papa, old mentors, ways of working, knowledge, tradition, that he does not want lost - and he still is a brilliant recognised inventor and engineer. It's an ongoing labour of absolute love, no grants sought, low-key, unpushy, not very commercial at all. Had to become more so, when bunch of greysuits tried to close it down some years ago. Resultant publicity has assured its current life. & had to insist hard on paying the €12 for papa's book[all monies to valid Charity]. Asked for inscription, stayed on for invited lunch, rugby talk, jeux de cartes, made no. 5 to a habitual daily Gang of 4 philosphes. All completely without side, but for the immense pleasures of shared talk, table, songs, music played[guitar and piano and accordian], vin.
A great day One.

3. Fine safe middle of nowhere night in car under hedge on empty farm track. Ist of &'s 4x5l water started. Thought of your 5 Glasto showerless days, vjm. We can do perfectly, cleanly, well, with little enough water - and no real risk to ourselves in obtaining that little, unlike much of world.
Sounds of night and creatures and beauty and mists in vales and rolling small hills all around.
Contentment.
Had also thougt of you when reading this, but hadn't got round to posting it:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/04/cerys-matthews-music-for-after-glastonbury

4. Recognised one brocante as place where petit matelas in &obile had been bought last year.
Wandering another km around village perimeter, heard &name called. Looked up along...surely not moi? Mais Oui, upon & surged X and Y. met a few years back and not seen since. Bought from them then, token this time. So easy to simply take up talk where left off last time. Happy days, invitations from all and sundry. Then onto 2 more. 8 good bouteilles champagne- €20, nursed under mattress, very Princess and Pea. Round-up over succeeding days included fab. hand-beaten copper kitchen service and rack c.1820>40, Redskins tailored full-length black lambskin leather coat, supple as milk, exquisite rippling quality, with blue/gold pinstripe shot silk lining, buttons re-sewn this morning early, interesting franc-maçonnerie glass pichet, studio pottery various, a few paintings, old chinoiserie, old Hôtel Georges V Chanel guest packs, circa 1960, old books, old docs, vestments for &[they just have something I don't find here], loads of good garlic....tonnes [could be literal] more, mostly still in &obile.
I love it. Might get round to unloading today.

5. Bastille Day, Church, chanced on ceremony at Fort Grand Philippe, excellent speech from young Mayor.
http://www.communaute-urbaine-dunkerque.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Institution/Sony_Clinquart.jpg
Thought of your reminders, bop, and why things mean something and should always do so by those fortunate enough to be around to commemorate them. Back to Hôtel de Ville, Dunkerque and tour gratuit with marvellous paintings back on show, retrieved from all over world specfically for this year. A marriage took place too and in we were swept to be part of same! Champagne luck continued.
Spotted a curiosity. A huge marble wall plaque from 2000, 50 years since Operation Dynamo, notes in French 'dans le pr!sence du Prince de Galles, Charles Philip Arthur George', but the English translation completely omits him. Odd. Went over and over it. but no, edited out from mother tongue version.
Why?
Asked - it's never been noticed before and Maire wishes to write to &. On verra.

On to night-time feux d'artifice and happy wanders down to Môle 1 and easy acquaintance with peeps around, all sat around grand bassin, on wildfower banks over water. Gorgeous night. Gorgeous feux d'artifice choregraphed to stunning musique. No pushing and shoving or impatience to come and go. Great watching mouettes before all started, scooping down into water, then rising high to let moules drop accurately onto barge roofs and capstans with a Clang! in order to break shell, then extract yummy insides.

6. Mercredi. visit farming family. Always so good and & welcomed wonderfully. Silly gifties offloaded, appreciated. Raspberry runaways had survived, were planted by the rising moon. On verra. Talk, empathy, hard work, table, glasses, cups filled/emptied, last week's wedding of grandson. More beautiful butter made then and there! &'s 5 kilos now in freezer, some for ultra-special gifts to come. So much more, but & has more than 1 list to tick off today, mhags.
Promises of return and stays made.
Bonheur top-up has gone pretty well. Best not miss ferry.

7. It leaves over an hour late anyway, which means & showers, washes hair and changes on board, in order to reach coach for Beth Chatto Gardens trip in time.
Which all comes to pass. More marvellousness. Just a few nomoreplants, inc. gift for giver of ticket. No excuses for all the rest, so wot?
Heron came down. alit on grey boat as & stood, quite alone in one-time boggy part, now water garden. He fished. Pics taken.
#
Back now.
Stop &, you do go on.
All brave wishes to younger son, Frith. Both boys are doing so well ,as are you. No surprise in any of this:-).
Please stay in that job. Other children need you in that school.
bop - astonished to find self in agreement with 3 of your strong observations. [For the avoidance of doubt, & does not drive car of germanic extraction. Phew. Safe from curse of bop then.]

Good weekends to all
&'s will be fruity - huge juicy dark cherries, apricots, pears, poires - sold off on a mizzly mercedi matin, 3k for €3 anywhere on the lush, abundant stall. &'s beloved melons charentais too, 7 for €2.

Frith

Pleasures for yesterday and today (so far).


Yesterday (Friday).


1) Last day at work!


2) Bigger son had lovely letter from TA (who is leaving).


3) Smaller son had birthday card from school (as his birthday is in the holidays) and his TA had written, "Happy birthday, mate!" :-)


4) Smaller son got home from school at 1pm so my brother took him out for a game of tennis until I got home.


5) Builders came 8am! By 3pm all the plasterboard had gone and bath and sink disconnected. And flooring taken up! This is the remedial work for the not so good builders last year...


6) Took sons to the barbers for short summer haircuts.


7) Survived the car journey (wandering steering, near constant cutting out).


8) Swimming with sons and my brother.


9) Last Leg.


Today


1) Smaller son went to watch the motor racing practice locally.


2) Booked our holiday! We are doing the rail and sail from Harwich to Amsterdam. Overnights so cabins booked. :-) 2 nights in Amsterdam also. By chance, the cheapy hotel I booked is metres away from Vondelpark where we will be able to cycle around and go geocaching all day. :-) We will have 2 nights in the hotel but the ferry means a further 2 nights and a chance to look round London a bit.


3) Ordered the new tiles for the bathroom.


4) Garage man came with a tow truck and naughty car has gone and we have a courtesy car (or a courteous car as smaller son calls it).


5) Swimming later.

[Deleted User]

1) A really good long nights sleep.

2) Homemade cinnamon buns for breakfast, hot from the oven.

3) Trip into town with DD1 who is here ready to take He Who Knows to Norway for a weeks holiday tomorrow.

4) Homemade Scandinavian Mushroom Soup with Dill for lunch as that's what she fancied.

5) DD2 and DSIL had their offer accepted on the house they are wanting to buy, it's empty with no chain and their flat is sold to a cash buyer with no chain, wonderful stuff!!!

Susan1962

1. Deep cleaning the livingroom. Not a pleasure in and of itself but I got rid of a whole lot of unnecessary, unloved bits and pieces which makes the room look bigger. It also looks all shiny and new and I can enjoy sitting in it tonight.
2. A washing on the line. The second I finished hanging it, some dark clouds appeared. But that's ok. If they get wet, they'll get dry again and will smell lovely to boot.
3. Marinating chicken for a HM chow mein for tonight's dinner.
4. Enjoying having a long weekend off work.

Skint_yet_Again

villagelife wrote: »

Skint astigmatism is where the eye is rugby ball shaped rather football shaped and is nothing to worry about unless it changes dramatically.

4. DS2 cooking foruszall

Thanks villiagelife.... do you have a recipe for that foruszall sounds delish

Frith - had to laugh at courteous car :rotfl: Kids say the funniest things at times

MHags hope your OH is feeling better soon. Great saving on the picture !

Pleasures for Saturday

1. DS got back safely from holiday with gf and appears to have had a good time. Got in at 6am and went straight to bed then up at 8am and out to field gun !

2. got 2 loads of washing done and out on the line to dry

3. went along to field gun family day, met up with DS gf and we watched for a couple of hours. Its the last time he's going today as he has too many other commitments now to be able to continue

4. cheque arrived from car dealer due to their mess up with setting up 2 service plans and trying to take 2 payments from my bank account. I sent them an email telling them (again !) that I had stopped the incorrect 2nd direct debit before payment was taken - and they told me to keep the cheque anyway as a gesture of good will

5. got 2 more loads of washing done late afternoon when got home including DS holiday towels still wet from pool and they had dried out on the line by the time I brought them in an hour ago. Its raining here now brought in just in time

6. treated myself to a groupon deal 30 min facial and 30 min indian head massage for £15 will be covered by dealer cheque. Went there last year when they had same deal on and it was fab

7. cheeky takeaway tonight part paid by dealer cheque :cool: