Flying solo

please-let-me-be-lucky

I'm glad you (almost) got the Christmas you wanted. The tears are perfectly understandable but big hugs all the same.

Fat Dog sounds just like me!! I too am ruled by my tummy

Make sure you get your festive meal today Xx

NewLeaf_2

Robin the moon sounds amazing. How cool are almond trees! I have never seen one in person.

I think it was PC sending you a beautiful Christmas present.

xx

Fudgefund

NewLeaf wrote: »

I think it was PC sending you a beautiful Christmas present.

Just caught up with your diary Robin, I thought the same as New Leaf when I read your last post. There is really something comforting in nature's renewal with the changing seasons. I did think of you yesterday.

It sounds like you had a good day anyway, and were surrounded by some very amusing doggies. I suggest you have a good lounge about with a box of Maltesers until New Year.

dorothy52

Hi Robin et al

Well your Christmas sounds as if it was very different from mine, and tbh I think I would rather have joined you than spent the festive period with my warring adult children! I agree that the almond trees were a present from PC, and can totally relate to your thinking back to last Xmas and not knowing what the future held my dear. Still, you have come through the worst of it now, and well done on going to PC's cottage, I know that you weren't relishing the idea and am so pleased to hear that it wasn't the ordeal you expected it to be. How lovely that your friends thought of you and took the time to visit, all in all whilst it was unusual, it sounds as if you had a lovely day.

Will check in tomorrow as usual, and as always wish you (and all your mse friends) well

Dot
xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and dear MSE friends, :hello:

NewLeaf wrote: »

How cool are almond trees! I have never seen one in person.

NewLeaf, just for you (hope these work!):

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=8d6feb00a6&view=att&th=13bddb699082b0e8&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8nVHJyIVEvC2KzmWKlIeKZ&sadet=1356634481285&sads=uVfaiVKSGE6x-HxL69ot3BEMswI

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=8d6feb00a6&view=att&th=13bddb699082b0e8&attid=0.2&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8nVHJyIVEvC2KzmWKlIeKZ&sadet=1356634816676&sads=mMwFvY81JZWPqOQLjDa6a9spZzw

..If my links are duff please can someone tell me how to add 'photos? [Why can't I copy & paste in the "add url here" window?].


I had to smile at suggestions that DH has gifted me the fifteen baby almond trees - in fact their origins are far more prosaic; DH and I were not here to harvest Almond One, our biggest mature almond tree, so thousands of nuts have fallen onto the terrace below.
When I cleaned off the weeds I just dug them in; most will simply become part of the tilth, but some have done what the Creator designed them to do - gone forth and multiplied.
..Each tiny sapling is now marked with a plastic ring cut from large water bottles - to stop me or Daft Dogs accidentally treading on them before they're moved into pots in my 'nursery' up by the cottage (where I can give them more TLC as they grow a decent root system, before planting out to look after themselves).

Last night I finally got my xmas dinner, but the packet of 'gourmet breast of duck' was not what I was expecting; turned out to be fillets rather than a single piece, and the lovely crispy skin had been removed.
Oh well, it was tasty enough with orange sauce (which would have been better if I'd had some Cointreau to add; didn't check the booze cupboard beforehand and it turned out someone had drunk it and left the empty bottle :mad: - but never mind!).

Today I should be cleaning the cottage and changing beds - two dear friends are coming to stay and I've just found out that DGD will be here on New Year's Eve as well (her Dad's fianc! wants to go and Party at a 'no kids' event).
It will be lovely to spend some time with DGD but her presence means the others will have to sleep in the caravan - it hasn't been used since DH and I were here last spring so will definitely need some attention from Mr Dyson and Mrs Mop!

Meanwhile, dear old Blind Dog has rallied somewhat - he was getting very restless at night and even more wobbly, so I've swapped his last pill of the day for another of my migraine meds (yes I checked it's ok - Dear Vet said she would have suggested it if she'd known I had this particular med at home). Since then BD has been much calmer, hasn't had any more 'accidents' and yesterday managed to eat all his lunch before Fat Dog finished hers and came to find out what he'd left in his bowl.

Both Fat Dog and Clever Dog are now reminding me when 'sausage time' arrives: They come and stand next to me, tails waving gently. I turn to look at them, they both start licking their lips and when they're sure that they've got my attention they both rush round and sit down in front of the fridge, staring at it intensely. :rotfl:
..What would I do without my Daft Dogs to make me laugh!

*Robin*

Ok this is task avoidance - can't quite face cleaning up the kitchen yet (after two sons visited one after the other, each adding a layer of chaos to the previously tidy and hygienic room!).

dorothy52 wrote: »

Well your Christmas sounds as if it was very different from mine, and tbh I think I would rather have joined you than spent the festive period with my warring adult children!

Oh dear - I feel for you! ..If only we'd known beforehand, eh? (My caravan was unoccupied.. ).

dorothy52 wrote: »

I can totally relate to your thinking back to last Xmas and not knowing what the future held my dear. Still, you have come through the worst of it now, and well done on going to PC's cottage, I know that you weren't relishing the idea and am so pleased to hear that it wasn't the ordeal you expected it to be.

Well, it didn't go as well as it might have done; tbh I ran away pretty quickly, though that was mainly because the neighbours were out in force with sympathy and hugs - which had the opposite effect to the one they intended.

Fudgefund wrote:

I suggest you have a good lounge about with a box of Maltesers until New Year.

Nooo! :eek: ..Only just made my target weight as it was, and have far too much to do, preparing for the next visitors. (Have wrapped the other pot of maltesers as a Three Kings gift - in Spain we do it all again on January 6th! ).


ps. Please can someone tell me if those links work, the ones in my previous post? ..They do on my pc, but the 'photos are in it's memory already. <I don't know..?>

please-let-me-be-lucky

Robin, the link sends me to a google gmail sign up page rather than to a picture. Xx

Fudgefund

Alright, alright, perhaps there are rather more practical reasons for the appearance of the almond trees but I do like the idea of something shining through to you occasionally in the universe to remind you of somebody. They sound rather less poetic now they've been protected from trampling.

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Sorry, haven't been about much as visitors arrived early, in fact they're turning up thick 'n fast ready for NYE celebrations..

Am keeping all digits crossed that none of them contracted novovirus on the 'plane, or is already brewing it. Sometimes I'm very uncomfortable with the habit of hugging hello at every opportunity.
..It's a raw choice; be thought incredibly rude or accept the near certainty of getting sick.
<Hmm>.

Old Dogs are doing better on the other meds - both ate their lunch today and enjoyed lots of cuddles from visitors.

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Robin, the link sends me to a google gmail sign up page rather than to a picture. Xx

Thanks, Be Lucky - when life calms down again I'll try and learn how to put 'photos up. :cool:

*Robin*

Oops, just done the end-of-month bank check - @m@zon deals have been my downfall; overspent by £35 [on charity gifts not stuff for me] so that's another overdraft fee on my '££ wasted' list.

On the plus side, going out so infrequently has saved £75 on fuel allowance.

Won't be an NSD tomorrow as the fridge needs replenishing. Might splash out on a small bottle of B@ileys to toast in the NY.