No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

[Deleted User]

Morning, happy 2014. We've had a very disturbed night, poor old Doc not only had the afternoon fireworks but the 12 o clock armageddon set too and then some heavy thunder, pood old lad was beyond help at that point and trying to dig his way out of the front door so I ended up on the sofa with my duvet and He Who Knows upstairs in bed but he wouldn't come to either of us, he was too upset. He finally settled at 3.30ish this morning and lay by the front door but facing me in the lounge. I must have drifted off then and woke just after 8 this morning with him fast asleep in his armchair, poor little mite. I don't wish people to give up pleasures that make them happy but, do we really need fireworks to mark the new year as well as fireworks for 5th November? It never used to be the way we marked New Year, I just hope we don't get more tonight as I'm pretty jaded and would like some sleep, have a good day everyone, Lyn xxx.

charlies-aunt

My sympathies Mrs L-W - we have spent a cosy night with both our two slob-radors and the cat quivering on our bed due to the midnight fireworks party next door.

[Deleted User]

Sympathies with you CHARLIES AUNT and with all those poor stressed out pets and livestocks who get caught up in the fireworks madness. Hope you all have a much quieter and sleepful (is that a word?) night tonight, Lyn xxx.

flowertotmum

Hello all...hope all humans and doggies are ok and over the trauma of fireworks..we had the pleasure again last night..this time jack was growling and barking..

Had a lovely day yesterday..nice piece of pork for lunch and the last christmas pudding...i won't have to do a shop for a while..only need milk and some toothpaste so my bank account is looking pretty good at the moment..
We spent the afternoon going through our memory jar..good and bad..we reflected on the last year and all made a promise each..to try and be better people and try new foods..for the faddy amongst us..be more frugal and only buy what we need..the girls have promised to try new food which is good as i am planning on few veggie meals for the meal plans..they still bunged up and look so tired...but are in good spirits..
I spent some time last night and made a calendar for the year for the family..love my printer..and i also made them a colouring book each..lots of things in it that i know they will like..it was met with ooh's and ahh's this morning..
Our pond burst it banks yesterday afternoon..we now have a huge mud puddle..the chickens evacuated to higher ground..we had to put lots of fresh straw down for them..they are ok this morning and having a good time rummaging through the straw..can't wait to extend the chicken run for them..
hope that everyone is ok and keeping arm and dry..
love
ftm

[Deleted User]

Afternoon everyone, the weather here has been very much kinder today and we managed a walk in the sunshine this afternoon with only one tiny shower so very much better than yesterday when it was cold, wet and strong winds so not at all nice to be out in. On the way round the footpaths I found some hazel catkins fully open and blowing in the wind like lambs tails, so pretty and a welcome sight, however, the daffodils which are normally in bloom along those same footpaths at this time of year are only just showing flower buds despite it being so mild. I wonder if that's a sign of nature knowing we have some colder weather in the offing? I'll have to wait and see. It looks as if we're due another windy wet day tomorrow, I'm looking forward to a calmer spell of weather with increasing impatience, I hope this unsettled stuff doesn't carry on for much longer, none of us like it do we?

Christmas brought me a wonderful surprise, DD1 has booked us a week in Paris at easter (she and I) and got each of us a Paris City Card to cover transport, entry to many of the museums, a river trip and much more. I'm going to buy the meals as we're not booked in for breakfast at the hotel which is close to the Arc de Triumph, so we'll have a week of cafe culture, real culture and exploring a new place to me as I've never been to Paris before, what a cracker of a present!!!

We had a much better night's sleep last night, only one set of fireworks at 10.30ish which were quite low key so the lurcha didn't get too upset and did settle again after 20 minutes or so and slept the night through too, I hope your puppies did a bit better too ladies, let's hope that marks the end of the stupidity, Lyn xxx.

flowertotmum

O MLW..wow a trip to paris how wonderful..we want details of it all..pics too..such a lovely present..

Well its windy here and chilly too...our garden looks like a mud patch..but your right about the catkins my hazel bushes are full off them..darn heron was back today with his beady eyes on my fishes...
OH came home from work with some brightly coloured dice and some tea towels..weird you think..the dice were from a casino night and the tea towels due to health and safety are replaced regularly so staff can have the old ones..i must say though they are too nice to be tea towels..going to cut them in half and hem to make place mats..pure white they are gorgeous..
I want you all to stay warm and dry..
VJ's mum how did your dd get on with her audition..
love ftm

VJsmum

Thanks for asking FTM. She said it went really well, and she doesn't think she could have done much more to prepare. More to the point, she really enjoyed it (given she was stressing with nerves a few days ago, and I had to threaten her to learn the stuff, these auditions are costing us a lot of money) as this is what she wants to do for the next three years and beyond, it is just as well

We will know in 10 days or so whether she has a second audition. We have 9 more first auditions to get through yet - including RADA :eek:

I had a lovely day doing free stuff - mostly the V and A, and a walk in Hyde Park. It amazing how much is free in London.

After we met up we went to Jersey Boys, the musical about Frankie Valli and the four seasons. Got amazing deal on tickets for £20 each :T It was brilliant, not at all my kind of music but we loved it and caught a train home an hour earlier than we thought.

Mrs LW what a lovely surprise. I hope this doesn't sound too ars*y but I know Paris reasonably well, and can make some recommendations for eateries, or at least areas to aim for (to put in context, my OH works for one of the train operating companies so we get free travel, and vastly reduced Eurostar, so we have made the most of it. We stayed near the Arc de Triomphe last year).

scottishminnie

Happy New Year all.

I hope all the pets are better now that the fireworks have come to an end. I'm currently on a little gulf island where fireworks are banned completely. If only some places back home would follow suit it would be great!

Thrilled to hear about your Paris trip MrsLW. I haven't been since I was a spotty teenager and I know mum would love a trip sometime so I have it in mind. Just having something to look forward to and plan for is half the fun I think.

FTM - hope the mud patch dries out soon although I spoke to my mother today who informed me it hasn't stopped raining since Boxing Day and there is no sign of a let up yet.

Not much more to report at my end. I'm making the most of some free time to watch as many home improvement and DIY TV shows as I can. So many ideas - so little time!

charlies-aunt

Another dire day weather-wise - hope everyone stays safe and dry today.


We are on flood alert up here because of very high tides over the next few days but no tidal surge predicted so hoping that we will avoid further flooding - especially as the environment agency are still pumping out from the pre-Christmas flood


Our dogs and cats have settled down again after the blitzkrieg of New Year - and are back in their own beds again


Busy weekend ahead as I checked our onion/shallots store last night and found that some are starting going soft - so I will be making quite a few batches of caramelised onion chutney this weekend to use some up and hoping to get round to using the black cherries out of the freezer to get some cherry liqueur on the go

[Deleted User]

VJsMUM I'd love to know of anything you'd care to reccommend by way of eateries or anything else. DD1 had a week in Paris last year on a combined History/Language/Culture trip with a large party of kids from the school she teaches at and loved the place so knows a couple of nice cafes near our hotel but, you can't do much independent exploring when you're the responsible adult in charge of a school trip can you? Any heads up will be very welcome indeed, thank you so much, Lyn xxx.