Five OS Pleasures in your day today

ampersand

Morning all - and thinking of Reverbe and now finding the lovely words above from mineallmine.
Yesterday, R would have been 82. I think again how he can never have thought what his taking of his own Life would do do to ravage mine - 9 years coming up.

- with neighbour's brother, hanging a lovely heavy old gate I've had for years. Will start planting in a hedgeline when the last post has gone off.
- enjoying the heady scent of the elderflowers while there and again appreciating this tree.
- while then looking out over the wheat to the poplars and sheep, hearing the rustles, whispers, and 'baaa's', seeing two herons fly over.
- walking down village for back garden eggs from chap who knows NZ.
- cabin fever persists, so joined the Devil's Dyke walk last night, last done 2 years ago. It rained throughout and still felt good. Fitted mood and I dawdled back with many WH Davies moments of 'stop and stare' and thoughts of the Saxons and Romano Britons and unknown others whose tread preceded mine.
- finding astoundingly good progress news, post-op., re i-t, from mumoftwins on mobile when I returned late.
- just now finding my elderflower champagne IS starting to work, at last.
Recommend this blog and the other links within, for encouragement:
http://www.catstripe.co.uk/2007/05/elderflower-champagne.html
Suspect the water was still too hot, but should be able to do another batch and use less sugar, too. Have been unsuccessful in finding the discussion on HFW's much contested recipe, despite receiving the RC Newsletter.
- re: the lovely mot, finding her post for Reverbe here, having mentioned the sadness of this lady to her.
- now returning to lapsang from last night's walk's Thermos. It's good, becomes even more intense - I like!

Thinking of another outstanding poster on the dfw and bankruptcy Threads whose Life hits have been dark and many, while his cogent input here to others is constantly goodhearted, sound, born of experience, kindly, relevant, endlessly patient. Via the thoughts of everyone who reads here, may some of this be channelled back.

Olliebeak

Hello :hello: to all this chilly morning (at least it's chilly here today)

How this thread soon moves along quickly - I've been missing for a couple of days due to comp probs yet again and there are so many postings that I can't keep track. Will need to come back to you all later in the day for a really good read.

Sorry to hear about your lack of 'quality' among your friends, Reverbe. I have to say that, when I take time to think about it, I don't have many real friends either - lots of work acquaintances, tenants (who occupy much of my waking day), many neighbours (the majority of whom I would definitely NOT choose to live near) but not many people that I would refer to as 'friends'. But, I'm lucky, I do have my lovely family and I'm surrounded by them on many days. I do have friends that I remain in contact with via the internet - but many of them moved away following college/university/marriage (which happens so often these days).

So here are some blessings for the past few days:

1. Not having to water my plants in the garden - :T Thank you God - He did it for me!

2. Another new couple for my sheltered scheme (they're moving in today) - so back to a 'full house' again.

3. Blackpool trip is now almost full - so it looks as though it will be 'self-financing' - phew! It can be such a worry that you may not get enough money in to cover the cost .

4. Finished off the last of Sunday's roast chicken via sandwiches last night for supper - the bones are also in the freezer with three other carcasses so there'll be a pot of chicken stock going on tonight .

5. Need to remember to post DS1's birthday card today - he'll be 36 tomorrow - my how time flies!!!

6. It's almost payday, money ran out a few days ago, BUT we've survived with some 'no spend days' and STILL got long-life milk in the cupboard and a pint of fresh (whole milk that can be diluted) in the freezer, plus lots of whoopsied meals, another loaf, veggies and meat products.

7. So glad I don't have to find money to get to work each day - the major blessing of living/working in the same place :j.

8. Listening to some Runrig on my comp while I'm typing away - love their music. If I close my eyes, I'm back on holiday again.

9. Finding out that one of my lovely nieces is involved in a local debt advisory service - could be a useful contact to send people to.

10. Found the final batch of lovely Pea and Ham Soup in the freezer yesterday (thought we'd used it up ages ago) and had that for evening meal last night - OH had his final pack of whoopsied ES Alaskan Salmon fishcakes as well.

11. After typing up all these blessings, it looks as though the sun is fighting to get through the clouds now. Fingers crossed - it could still be a lovely day :j.

Hope we have a beautiful day of money-saving blessings ((((((HUGS)))))) to all - love Ollie xxx

Reverbe

Thanks folks. I really am humbled by the response to what I considered a throw away comment.:embarasse

Yay Mser's:T:beer:

Tuesday

1. Roast Chicken breast and spinach for dinner

2. PM from an Mse'r

3 Burn After Reading - free extra rental from Lovefilm - funny how they sent me my top choice film in addition to my tariff after I threatened to leave following various issues.:p

4. defrosting HM prawn and wild rice soup made in the wintery weather earlier this year

5. finding a huge and very funny brand new graphic novel in the library.

bellaquidsin

Strange day today, I feel as though I'm perched on a cliff edge waiting for DH to retire tomorrow.

My rather dubious pleasures have been.

1. Not going out as waiting in for washing machine repair man - hence NSD today.

2. Enjoying making cards more now that I don't have the pressure of turning out a quantity to sell.

3. Baby carrots from the tubs in the garden as I didn't go out to buy carrots.

4. Homemade Apple and mint chutney with pork dinner tonight because I didn't go out to buy cooking apples. Think apple sauce if for peeps who don't have any Apple and mint chutney.

5. DH coming home after a retirement presentation at work with cards full of the most wonderful comments about him. I feel priviledged to be married to such a man. Now I just have to get to know him:rolleyes::rotfl:

Bella.

Olliebeak

What a wonderful evening the day has turned into. It's been beautiful here all day - albeit a bit windy.

- Good result with LoveFilm, Reverbe - wtg girl - you tell 'em!

- Can't imagine how it feels for you today, Bella! Anticipation, excitement, trepidation and lol at 'now just have to get to know him' . Congratulations to your OH on his retirement and Best Wishes to you both for the future years together. One more chapter in Life's Great Journey. I can remember my granddad's retirement day - he came home with a pressure cooker as a present from his work-mates. Poor nan was terrified at first, but soon got used to it and then taught me how to use it as well - even today I love my pc.

Couple of more blessings for today:

1. Sheets, duvet cover and pillowcases all washed and then blown dry on the line . I'll just give them about 15 mins in the TD to finish them off before putting them away.

2. Changed the Spring-weight duvet for the Summer one today - just hope it isn't too chilly tonight .

3. Visit from DD at lunchtime with dgd2 - as usual lovely to see them both.

4. Had a good visit and chat with my new tenants this afternoon. Great chance to get to know them .

5. Not sure if I've posted this blessing before - my direct debit has been reduced from £82 per month to £66 for joint gas/electric account . That's £18 per month in MY pocket instead of THEIRS :j.

Hope we all have a great evening (((((HUGS))))) love Ollie xxx

Patchwork_Quilt

1) A clean and almost tidy house
2) Baking a loaf of spelt bread
3) Making a moussaka - more veg, less meat, so very MSE
4) Four loads of washing dried on the line as I caught up with the backlog after our repair
5) A twiglet has appeared on the apple stump

SunnyGirl

Evening everyone,

Nearly falling asleep so will be off to bed soon. My 5 for today are:

1. Another petunia has sprouted

2. My Mum finally bought another frame for a bowl of crocuses that I'd cross stiched & framed for her last Christmas. The frame got broke going onto the wall so it's been waiting ever since & with hospitals, life etc it's been a long time going up there! She loves it though so worth all the wait :T

3. Cleared out the 'back' room as it's called with DH this morning. I think it was a coal cellar in days gone by but is now shelved and doubles up as a pantry/general [STRIKE]storage[/STRIKE] dumping ground. It looks lovely now.

4. Started a book that I'd forgotten I had from the library.

5. Spoke to my cousin on the phone for the first time in ages.

ampersand

Today you and your DH launch into the beautiful blue from the cliff edge bella.
Reverbe - the coinfinding was left to you yesterday:D. I managed not to.

1. Went and tried the Secret Garden[not very:rolleyes:]gate. It feels good - must transplant things. The wheat is beautiful, hints of dusky powder blue in the green stalks and ears.
2. Broad beans seem to be surviving; runner beans are running away up canes.
3.Cabin fever persists, so Cambridged mit Bus Pass[guilt-free whims/needs indulged]and yet again enjoyed other people's gardens from the height/vantage that car cannot give. Tuck ideas away, too.
4.Having Googled Lakeland, found one in Cambs to spend a £3 voucher in, received via an mse Thread. Not easy to find anything humbly priced therein, mind you, but interesting to see a Remoska, about which much is written on mse. Finally chose fridge magnets(no, I know they're not me]temperature/weight/volume conversions - which I've told myself several hundred times to type up and stick up somewhere in kitchen. So, lazy, not mse, but FREE!
5.Drawn by crowd in Sidney Street, see a great performance by - I have his card before me - John Nations, Comedy Juggler - a rather brilliant American, with graciousness, natural heckler-handling wit, great humour and intelligence and the complete courage to follow his preferred path. Speaks vg French and Spanish, too. As for all street performers, his living depends on the mood of onlookers to feed the red hat on the ground. He'd go down a storm at Reach Fair, for one. After Norway, he's back in Cambridge for the Darwin festival, early July, also on U-tube I'm told, though I've never used that.
Anyway, posting here is as good as.....:D.
6.Appreciating the sheer goodness and endurance of neighbour I[and her brother].

Wishing everyone a day of at least 5 OS moments of simple pleasure.

mineallmine

Morning all,

Well done Ollie on reducing your gas/electricity bills. Good for you and good for the environment. :T

Hope Bella is enjoying her OH being home, now he's retired.

You lucky thing SunnyGirl to have a back room/pantry in your house, somewhere to put your bargains and any home made stuff.

Hi to ampersand, always good to hear about your trips. I love being on the train and nosing at people's gardens.

Hello to everyone else.

Here's my 5:-
1. Not being bothered (or greedy) to get all freebies I can but being selective. Bought a magazine and put the free gift away for Christmas for my neice (Glamour magazine/Benefit mascara).
2. Re-organised cupboards are working well. Putting things in different cupboards must be good for the mind. Confusing but good.
3. Asparagus for later. About third time this week :eek:
4. Hearing from my friend that my donations (clear out) went down really well at the charity shop.
5. Blue skies. Need to do some washing today (this is a feeble excuse to use this image I found on another thread):

Olliebeak

Oh what a beautiful mo-rning, oh what a beautiful daaaay ....................... - and to think I spent y-e-a-r-s having to be dragged out of my pit and now it's my favourite time of day . How much 'peace-time' I've wasted :doh:!

- good one Patchwork - great when we get the use of the WM back again isn't it.
- mmm lovely empty space, SunnyGirl - wouldn't last long in my house though - I'd soon find something to fill it with :rotfl:
- we now have a Lakeland store in Liverpool, ampersand - but I still haven't allowed myself to visit it yet. I've heard so many stories about how irrestible they are that I can virtually hear my purse getting emptied ........ and I just KNOW that I need some loaftin liners :rolleyes:!
- lol at the confusing cupboards, mineallmine - my OH dreads me having a kitchen sort-out and moving 'things' around. I'm after some brackets for the wall to get the microwave off the work surface so I can have a bit more space - that will really him!

Today's anticipated blessings:

1. DS1's birthday - should get a visit from him later.
2. Scouse (from the freezer) for evening meal tonight with crusty bread and pickled red cabbage.
3. Also expecting a visit from DD and dgd at some point
4. Wonder if I can find anything to be washed - a day like this shouldn't be wasted with an empty washing line :j.
5. Need to sort some more seedlings out if I get chance - or may just leave them till tomorrow when I won't have any distractions.
6. Forgot to mention yesterday, a lovely young workman (:drool:) came and put new hinges on my shed door - galvanised steel ones that won't rust this time - so many thanks to the Housing Trust :T. The door can now be safely opened and closed - just need to find the padlock now - hmmmmm . Wonder if they'll sort out the socket in the ground for the rotary washing line - worth a try of asking .

Hope everybody is enjoying the same lovely weather that I am. Speak again later :wave: - love Ollie xxx