5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

ampersand

I started on today's list, only to see that my keyboard light was not on[again] and nothing was appearing. It's very frustrating, but at least I know what to do nowadays. Shut putah down. Unplug lilac plug/lead thing at back of hard drive, put it back in and restart putah. It takes so long, but I now know if keyboard light has illumined by the time the Welcome screen blues up, tout va bien, otherwise it's Repeat The Process.:eek: It's bad enough once, but when it's sometimes 2/3 times...grrrr! Today, once was enough, but that's been another 40 mins.

1. My funny little freecycle aloe cactus[and I am not a cactus-y person]has, after several years, suddenly put up a 30cm stalk with a multi-bud head. I wonder what the flowers will look like.
2. Still no car, so>early morning bus, which went too early, more:mad:. So, swapped to other side of road and re-planned agenda in opposite direction. Into Cambridge Mr T on bus arriving 5 mins later, twiddling through the villages. Quick shop for Grauniad and oranges, then back out for direct bus>Newmarket.
3...but found a wonderful 226point womble receipt on way out :T. To be added next week.
4. Bus arrived on time, necessary as I would have only 20 mins in Newmarket to struggle along, not only with shopping, but lugging 2 frames and pictures into Julian for sorting out, picked up in Scotland last month. I do enjoy being in there and I think we like our exchanges. He still asks after a very interesting Artist's Proof etching of mine he craves and cannot get out of his head, after 3 years. I still have it - haven't taken it anywhere since, but it is a haunting, almost menacing image of 2 strange monkeys, whose expressions are...je pas...perturbing?disturbing? Well signed, need to do more research. We may do a deal. Told him his 4 French SNCF posters went last month down in France on the Med, as I expected, given their locaux. They were terrific.
5.Thence to the country bus to Cambridge, which takes in all the villages[mine and Church fête one included]and all my timings were right, despite the back to front beginning to day. So satisfying to be in excellent time for 14h start.
6. Despite crazy skies penduluming between seering sun/blue and towering leaden cumulus downpours, Church end of village was dry, although 1/4 mile back, roads were puddled, streaming and strewn with wind-driven vegetation. Crazy.
7.This stunning theatrical backdrop see-saw sky[stopped to watch it several times while walking from bus]continues still and I must not forget to bring laundry in. Decided to chance putting it out when I arrived back, around 18h and it was blowing hard. In fact I'll go and check now.......near enough. In hotwater cupboard to air o/n now:D - feels good to have saved it in time.
8. Incredible luck at fête - some wonderful jewellery and old toy buys, also a heavy crystal decanter. Have spent an hour or so cleaning jools and am about to start the exciting research on marks et al.
9. Chose a wonderful bottle of vintage port as raffle win!!! My ticket was the 17th of 20 drawn, but no-one seemed to choose the winey prizes. I thought they'd go first - :owhich says what sur moi?:o[especially as I never drink alone, and rarely in this country anyway.]
10. From early morning, have loved[twice]the final episode of Mrs Gaskell's 'Wives and Daughters', wonderfully dramatised and realised:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jsxz

Then came Alan Bennett's 'Lady in the Van':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0120vy5

and Alan Titchmarsh, who I now find so much better in every way[writer, broadcaster, self-perceptive, honest]than I have long given him credit for, after sth which happened long ago when our paths crossed in my London Governor days. This is very good and reflective and funny:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sn7jn

So, much to stave off pining for Garrison Keillor.
11. Will hear golf through the night - don't know why it pleases me, but it does. This began a few years ago, when I was astounded to realise I was gripped by it and found it exciting to listen to. I don't play, never will play - that part doesn't appeal, but I'm hoping young Rory McIlroy will hold his nerve this time and win.
12. As I topped up birdy bath/drinking water just now, a movement near the hose revealed - utter disbelief - a beautiful, handsome baby toad, golden with black spots. I haven't seen one for 3 years now. My avatar pic is of a regular size darker one that I rescued here 7 years back. But today's little prince I have seen only once before and did manage a couple of pics. Will be on look-out demain with camera.
13. Have taken plunge for a big Antiques Fair at R's old school, Gresham's, next month. Some of today's bits will accompany me.
14. About to sort Bastille Day flit - 5-day short stay fare - before bigger stay July/Aug/Sept.
15. By and large doing quite well re: not feeling scared/guilty/anxious about this expenditure, as my journeys must pay for themselves while I am away and any surplus boosts my confidence and my pension. These new ways are a long time coming. But this year it is all still very, very new and different from the last 10-12...........
16. One of my silly pleasure buys today was also on the toy stall - first thing I homed in on - one of those gloriously rackety wooden clacker things, for whirling round in the hand to make big noise. And, quelles couleurs! - bleu/blanc/rouge!:j. Quoi d'autre? Quoi de mieux?
17. Hungry now, so will quickly dry pan-fry a salmon fillet, rtc 19p[remembered to take it out of freezer this a.m.]to eat with baby Chantenay carrots[from 29p rtc Finest pack], windowsill salad leaves, broccoli.
18. Did first slacking/tightening of elderflower champagne - 13 litres this year. Satisfying little hisses, then tops screwed back.
19. Golf has started - Rory is managing so far....and rather well.
21. Phil Tufnell is proving a happy, quirky addition to TMS.
22. Book just sold on Amazon - AND I HAVE FOUND IT INSTANTLY:T!
Sales are scarce these days.
23. Called L in next village and learnt[via her daughter] that grandson is back in hospital, beset by mystery illness/virus that has Addenbrookes stumped. V. v. worrying in a muscular, dynamic, athletic, active young man who has never been ill - blood tests, sweat tests, bile/vomit ditto, skin too. Has lost all strength, appetite, has fever, some sporadic rash evidence, sleeps without realising, losing blood oddly....it's been over a fortnight now. A few days at home last week was not sustainable and more blood tests confirmed need for readmission. All they can do atm is keep him under observation. Thank goodness he is in a noted teaching hospital with global expertise at hand.
24. Just placed hottie in bed as it's turned very cold.
25. I have not only Blvd Grauniad to tackle, but with lush anticipation will shortly return to the excellent Fred Vargas' 'Seeking Whom the Wolves Devour'. Frith, you must try her[says she, being even more pushy after linkies left earlier].
26. Had good talk with interesting lady from whom I bought root ginger at Fête.
27. As I left Church, a robin accompanied me, hopping from headstone to headstone.
28. 3 kind young bus drivers out of 4 today. They made a point of checking that everyone was seated before setting off. Having noticed, I thanked them: they beamed, seemed pleased and surprised that someone had noticed. After horrors yesterday, I certainly did.

That's 5 enough for now:D. Can't believe the time - it's still rather light, if clouded over, outside.

sparrer

Pleasures for the past two weeks include
1. Being able to spend the time with my Mum, and meeting up with a friend when we called into Rhodes for a day.
2. All three of us surviving an horrific RTA in Rhodes, very relieved none of us was hurt badly. Someone was certainly watching over us.
3. Leaving Athens the day before the street disturbances.
4. Getting back to finding the grass 12" tall, but DD has found me a reasonably priced gardener so at long last I won't have to struggle with it any more.
5. Good to be home and read everyone's posts
Night night, sleep well
S

giddynici

Saturdays Pleasures.

1 - A lovely lie in with DH as he was leaving later than he thought for a weekend away.
2 - His parting give was a kiss and a bounty... nom nom.
3 - Mount ironing has been defeated.
4 - SATC reruns while ironing.
5 - I'm going to bed in a minute to take notes from my awesome library book The Thrift Book by India Knight.

Broomstick

Welcome home Sparrer. I am so glad you, your mum and friend have a guardian angel (or several).
Thanks for the Titchmarsh link, Ampersand. I'll follow that one up.

My five pleasures for Saturday:

1. The lovely woman at the garage fixing me up with a free loan car until the end of the weekend.

2. My dad (the star :T) checking on the quiet that his garaged car still works - he doesn't use it any more and hasn't got rid of it yet but keeps it legal to drive - and he has put me on his insurance as a named driver so that I can borrow it for the rest of the week.

3. DS1 passing a test that now enables us to seek all kinds of grant funding for things he wants to do. Soooo pleased. Lots of things become possible now that this one little hurdle has been sorted.

4. The DSs washing up and drying up the kitchen while I went to Mr S to top up on bits and pieces.

5. Sitting and waiting in the sunshine and rain for DS1 this afternoon for a couple of hours getting on with some writing that was flowing really well.

Sweet dreams
B x

Frith

Bit late so 5 quick ones.

1) Bit of a lie in.

2) Helping MrN out with a bit of an upset this morning. He is off on his oldest son's stag do tonight so won't see him til tomorrow. :-D

3) Popped to Sainsburys with sons and got lots of stuff in.

4) School friend came to tea.

5) Most of MrN's brood away but had his son3 here this evening and he seemed happy enough to eat and watch a film with us. :-)

6) Bigger son OK but will be relieved when he has had his scan.

Interesting news - just sitting on the edge of my bed typing this and a small brown mouse came out of my bathroom, stopped on the landing, looked at me then ran away! It is the first mouse I've had in the house for a few years (can hear him scratching behind the plasterboard now). One year we were overun, they used to pop out from under the piano at night when I was sitting on the sofa! Also disconcerting to be sitting reading in the bath and to have one trot by.

Ampersand - getting into Hedgehog now.

ampersand

sparrer - you sound shaken still - will we hear about cruise later? Hope you really are getting over the fright. Being back at home/daily normalcy/familiar things may help it shake down again, stop any flashback.

That's good Frith - Fred Vargas next.
Yes, re: mice, although they're currently outwitted - traps, bait, blocked ingress. Ongoing in France, but we are, après tout, sharing agricultural and farmland habitat in both places. I just need them to stay out of shed-stored boxes. Moving to lidded crates as funds allow or eyes spot at carboots.
Quick 5 already -
1.Bee buzzing in sage flowers outside at 4am! Is it the one I saved in sink, trapped beside washing-up bowl last night?
2. Great sound at same hour, loud, rhythmic, ululating - wind soughing line of poplars across field.
3. Had last of cr♪epes, zapped with broken dark choc[many freebies]and new h/m rasp. jam and a coffee. Made 9 which froze/stored well from a 2-egg mix.I like this start to day looking at world, listening.
4. Don't know why Alt+136 is no longer giving me the French 'e-circumflex'', but it's disappeared. Little pleasure, seeing musical crotchet pop up instead:-)!
5. No car today so can't hunt and gather, but will be forced to tackle things that need it.
#########
Oh, realised I have had 21 June much in head for other reasons connected with Charity work, so fast-forwarded remembered Anniversary date in error - explains that marriage:D.

broomstick - do let me know what you think re: Alan Titchmarsh prog. His Trowel and Error is a good, thoughtful, well-written thing, too. Nobbut a Lad: a Yorkshire Childhood stays with me, v.moving at points: it struck certain powerful chords.

Ooh, Goon Show about to start. Toodle-pip.

mhagster

hello, nice to 'see' familiar faces back in the fold!

Sunday evening and been a pleasant enough day, dry with a wind! So out went the washing on the line & came in almost dry.

1.Slept later than usual today, which is nice for a change!

2.Was a most industrious homemaker today! Made: rhubarb & ginger jam, lemon curd , put steak in slow cooker for later, DD1 made scones (delicious with jam) and a lemon drizzle cake. Then DD2 & her friend returned from sleepover & they washed hands & donned a pinny! DD2 made chocolate cookies & friend made brownie cupcakes. Then I made lentil soup. Stewed apples & pears that were past their best for eating. They are in freezer for use at a later date!

3.Sat with my cakes! (yep, plural!) and watched a lovely film on television.

4.My boys were out cycling all day so came in appreciative of all cooking/baking!

5.Got my bed all changed so will be nice to slide under covers tonight!

6. had very delicious steak pie & roast potatoes & veggies for dinner...then a lovely piece of lemon drizzle cake to follow!

Ladyhawk

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back Sparrer!

I've had a lovely weekend... though very tiring!

1) Lie in yesterday

2) Went down to my oldest brother place as my mum arrived for a visit yesterday.

3) Lots of cuddles with my cute as a button nephew

4) My middle brother and SIL then arrived and annonced that they are expecting their first child in January.

5) Dinner with my three DB's, DM, SIL and FSIL at Pizza Xpress... yum yum!

6) Went down to my uncles with eldest DB, DM, FSIL and nephew. I don't know that side of the family at all so it was nice to meet them all.

Righteo... time for little ol' me to snooze....

L

bellaquidsin

1 Lovely quiet day here, just the two of us, which makes a change for a Sunday.

2. Left a turkey thigh in the small top oven cooking slowly while we went out this morning with a rice pudding alongside.

3. Had carrots, peas, homegrown potatoes with turkey and also gingered cabbage which I had previously cooked and frozen, it made a lovely accompaniment for the turkey.

4. A lovely afternoon nap, much needed after the last two very busy days.

5. Homemade (Remoska baked) scone with the last of yesterday's ginger and mango cheese for tea, followed by homemade yogurt with homemade lemon curd, all so exceedingly yum.

Bella.

Tealady_2

Evening

Sparrer - Glad to see you back and glad you are unhurt
Frith - Hope son feeling better and scan goes well

Pleasures for last couple of days:
1. Tea in bed thanks to DD.
2. Family cuddle in bed this morning, everyone happy with each others company
3. Walked to local town yesterday and missed the rain showers. Few bargains in Mr.S
4. Breakfast in local cafe this morning, enjoyed by all and not too expensive
5. Visit to inlaws today, nice catch up on news and FIL liked present. Plus hopefully SIL has some tickets for me and DD for Wimbledon next weekend, fingers crossed.
6. Chat with dad on the phone. He also liked his fathers day present and was very impressed with his card (freebie thanks to MSE :money:)

Hugs to all who need them