Get a grip woman!

beanielou

Christmas stamps won't expire.

trix-a-belle

I agree Christmas decorative ones won't, but standard red 1st & blue 2nd (as is available on that offer link) are as far as I understood

Suffolk_lass

There is a free swap out scheme that RM are running though that runs until March 2023 with a form to fill out for up to £200 worth

enthusiasticsaver

Good offer on the stamps but I cannot bring myself to spend £68 on stamps either. We have stopped sending out a lot of Christmas Cards now so have got it down to around 20.  We don't send to close family on the grounds that one or other of us will see those living a distance away and act as postman and I don't send to people we do not maintain regular contact with.  DH has lots of uncles, aunts and cousins which he has not seen for more than 30  years so I consider it a waste to send them out.  He is at liberty to do so but doesn't bother. My mum at 86 has stopped sending cards altogether. I must read up though on how the stamps will work when the new system comes in. 

Eek to the bees and your DH getting stung.  

Suffolk_lass

Off to click and collect this morning. SM in one direction, replacement toilet seat in the other from the Argos in big town. Too many treats really but it needed to be over £60 to get £15 off

SusieT

Suffolk_lass said:

Thanks for joining in @SusieT. Do you know if they were honeybees or bumble bees? Our shed roofs all seem to attract buff-tailed bumble bees (Bombus terrestris). They will die out in late August or early September if the latter. Well worth leaving alone. Here's a link to the bumblebee conservation trust with a good picture. They are the smaller bumbles that we tend to see. We also get ground nesting ones here (under some boards in the cart lodge that DH parks his bike on, so when you go past they squeal as they get squashed a bit).  

It's a bit warm outside, hence I am back in for a little break

They seemed to be smaller than the bumble bees and had no white on their tails, so they must be honey bees I think. I do see smaller ones on the plants but I just ignore them and let them get on with whatever they are doing!

Suffolk_lass

Good Morning Monday!

A busy few days (with a headache for me, so almost no computer screens). We delivered our community lunch on Friday - catered for 26 but three people dropped out on the day or the day before. I did chicken thighs, slow cooked in stock and served with roasted veg, steamed savoy cabbage and thickened the stock a little with cornflour (£15 for 26 portions) - the joy of buying big packs of meat! I can't get over the chicken at £4 for 13 big thighs in one pack and 14 in the other. With wonky onions, carrots, potatoes and homegrown butternut squash and 1.5 savoy cabbages there was plenty, and my partner lady for the day had bought a selection of Cornettos on offer, so no extra washing up for the pudding. It was what we needed, an easy lunch this month and next month we skip. All cleared up and home by 3.15pm

Anyway, the rest of the last few days meant us leaving pup while we went to a delayed 60th birthday party with an overnight stay. Pup first had a play date with a friend and neighbour's two dogs, and then DS collected him and puppy-sat until we got back yesterday. Pup ran his little legs off on his play date so ended up sleeping all afternoon and evening, only for poor DS to have to sleep on the sofa with him overnight as he knew we were away. The party was lovely, in the middle of a Spa Town, and involved a wedding reception style party, with a canapé and fizz reception, then a sit down meal and lots of chatting with a free bar. We left there at 9pm but having both had plenty to drink, we were grateful for the comfortable and spotlessly clean basement apartment we had rented instead of the more expensive hotel options.

Yesterday morning we had both slept well, in a bed a little too narrow for us (double, rather than King) and after lovely hot showers we had breakfast in a trendy cafe before the 2.5+ hours drive home. We took DH's car, which is petrol, rather than my big old diesel cruiser. To be honest, it probably did it good to have a proper run. I finally worked out how to relay test match special and google maps audio via my phone through his radio while charging my phone. Then afternoon tea in the next village (in a shady churchyard) - lovely homemade fruit scones!

We got back and the usual set of chancers were out, driving too fast. One overtook in the Village, on a blind bend, met an oncoming 4wd and swerved, hitting a van, a pole and turning their car over. My neighbour rushed out, driver unconscious and seriously injured, he got them conscious, made sure the car wasn't going to catch fire and calmed the screaming. The baby was not in the car, but the confusion of the loss of consciousness meant that initially they thought it had been thrown from the vehicle and fields were searched. There was a bottle of wine in the back that it seemed had been in play too and the speedo was stuck on 70mph. The road was closed for at least 4 hours (chaos, with no diversion signposted, the neighbours and we gave directions to maybe 40 vehicles). Just thank goodness nobody was killed, but I understand multiple fractures to neck and pelvis to the driver and whiplash for the innocent van driver. 

Dropped my car off at the garage in the next town for its service and three or four other checks and resets. I hope that is not too expensive (air con re-gas is £80!). We shall see. The service is part of a pre-paid plan.

Today I have bees to inspect, herbs to plant, washing to do and maybe lawn-mowing in places. I also need to finalise the fundraising thing I have organised for next Saturday. Seriously considering taking our large carpet/rug outside to clean it this week too.

trix-a-belle

Having seen the aftermath of another not dissimilar, but non rural, speeding & flip that occurred this weekend elsewhere (not including the F1) i'm very glad no one else was significant collateral damage. I would say the weather is going to their heads but there are just too many impatient idiots about
Hope the van driver recovers ok.

Sounds like a wonderful birthday celebration & break for you both.

Karmacat

What a thing, SL, I'm so sorry it happened, and in your lovely village too.  Thank heavens you're okay.

EssexHebridean

And THIS is why "baby on board" signs in cars - originally intended as a notification of fact, but now seemingly all too often displayed as a proud symbol of virility - are a complete PITA for emergency service workers. Sorry to hear that the poor van driver was injured - hopefully the idiot car driver will have significant enough after effects from his injuries to remind him - and with any luck any friends he may have who drive similarly -not to be so stupid in the future. Glad your neighbour was able to do all the right things on witnessing it anyway! 

Bother - you've just reminded me that my car was meant to have an aircon re-gas before I headed off in it the weekend after next - that might mean I'll be taking MrEH's car instead!