5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

DigForVictory

Limps back in. (That ricked knee isn't better - I'm getting better at figuring around it.) Anyway, everything's better when I read your posts.

Bala - Flo & Fluffy brought Flossy along?! Awed at your dad... Tuna pasta with olives & anchovies <carefully mops keyboard, ahem> I do hope you have a planned trip with baskets & a lift home for those blackberries?

Happycas - always plant herbs when the sun shines! Oh, the sound of a Spitfire is a very special pleasure. Daily phone chats stay daily when both sides get something from them - maintain good habits! HURRAH & WELCOME baby grand daughter! The new hairdressing experience is massively disposable but unquestionably safer.

mhagster - bet those sad lavender plants are happier with you. Belfasts are a swine to shift, empty - be careful of yourself? Hair up in bunches, sounds, (sorry) cute. Oh cobblers spine after work. But passionflower! Mud room being built in howling weather. Rapid test of fitness for purpose. Awed that you are still in touch with oncologist. Oh, the sploosh of a duck landing! 

DundeeDoll - yeay Oor Wullie! and Chanel #5 Love an appropriate Chinese supper! Hugely impressed by the fitness but smitten by the Andrew Lang! Please be careful of bitter courgette - cucurbitacins are Toxic. LiveAid, Who & Queen - ahhhh.

Purple kitten - restoring parent-child links is a special talent. Sudden onset of chocolate cupcake want. A sunny day, a though breeze & the lure of a soak. "looks more loved"- there's the magic. Broken toes are blinking tricksy.

LaineyT - love is love, no matter how muddy. Meadowsweet is wonderful. Fingers crossed for baby walnut tree. The beautiful one has a particular sense of humour about bathing. A very formal invite? Love the idea of homecooked meal with small dog sat awaiting leftovers.

BoP - real actual cricket? or repeats to hold off the cravings? Ooh-er Y fronts. Always right to remind folk that barbecues can bite. Wood fried pizza, eh? Oooh that stove curry - do I see chickpeas or is it sweetcorn (or both?) There's a kedgeree, bach. 1:72, eh - will you paint it?

VJsmum - sinus issues are beastly - hoping recovery prompt. All 4 family pitch in cleaning? Awed! Well done gentling DD back into daylight, & leftovers already plated! I may destroy is one of the series with Ita O'Brien facilitating? (Fascinating job!)

ampersand - it never feels right when a young 'un dies, but she was in the right place and they have your rose. Congratulations on NZ vote - awed at their inclusiveness - never seen the homeless so gracefully included. Hurrah Bastille Day even trapped here.

Frith - did it feel odd to go into another house? Intrigued by a houseful of 7 musician siblings - thank you! Hurrah video & ye Gods, Council... "King of the Mountain" - strava ennobles! Sounds like your GP has had dealings with CAMHS & knows the terrain - hoping County get the idea you want.

PaulieHerts - a walk with a muntjac & a rabbit is a  special treat.

Cranky - sorry about gallstones but hurrah messenger-ed photos of great nephew and great niece. I do love a happy family pizza supper. Homework without complaining - you're doing a Wonderful job. Vanilla ice cream, and home grown raspberries and blueberries - just wow! Lazy days allow you to recharge!

Mrs SaladDodger - covet your tomato plants but love "freshly shorn" of DH! 

villagelife - it's amazing what a good break can do. Osteopath in a tent has my imagination happy - I hope its helpful. Hope neighbour's return to work is open to discussion if needed. Handsome retirement presents are good for remaining morale.

OS Pleasures recently

Made time to shroud unlovely plastic compost bags (nurturing tomato plants) in sacking & then peg trellis to encourage upwards secured growth! [One looks disconcertingly Jedi in brown cowled covering, the other much more slugged. I ran out of puff to wrestle trellis as well.] 

Middleson has replaced his wipers all by himself! A proud moment, even as he blinks at the amount of plastic waste included...

All my reusable ‘tank’ shopping bags have been nested & stashed in bit of cupboard. (Some will migrate to car, but I have to buy it first.) Huge thanks to determined son (who wants to paint the hall, & is tidying like one about to give birth.)

Youngest reading cocoa instructions “‘two teaspoons per person - more if you’re feeling decadent’ well, thanks for the lifestyle advice, tin!”

One sibling sniping “if bro was in an alternative universe, he’d think the Borg were the good guys”! Strange pleasure in cutting remarks, but brother is not always sweetly worded unto brother.

Clive Anderson struggling with Iron Age cookery - even churning butter far more effortful than he thought for an elevenses! His expression at marrow extraction was a picture.

Husband gently engrossed by Bob Ross, his brushes, his paintings, the barns, the repeatedly happy things... (“happy little mountain” so far, now “a happy little tree”, crooning gurgles alongside me.)

I’ve bought a car. Mostly as it’s very like my son’s (so familiar with knee & elbow room & controls) but with a slightly larger engine & with barely any mileage on the clock so I hope to get several years motoring out of it. [Reworded not to tempt Fate]

My herbs have been rooting in plain water! Must make time to pot them on so they can grow hearty enough to fend off the slugs. [Ahem, yes, Really Must. Still.]

Middleson’s black box is giving erratic readings after the new battery. He’s “going off” telematics... Since he scolds me whenever I drive him, I cheerfully agree with his lack of enthusiasm.

Oooh, the sign language explaining the prep of a plane for Battle of Britain anniversary! [Inspired me to do an hours BSL class by Teams which was great fun. Managed to thank my teacher correctly!]

Listening to Alyson Krauss singing. Acapella As I Walked Down to the river with the Union Station humming. Awed at their calm assured togetherness, and enjoying the music.

Replacement driving licence arrived within days! (Original thought to be in work locker, where it can stay for several more months with my blessing.) New one in fireproof lockbox, at family behest. (They heard & helped in the hunt, & we found my passport...)

Sorely tempted to try “wild swimming” but never done it, no idea so introductory course with swim the lakes Seems brilliant! Uni mate loves them & spent time in Grasmere with them last week. Socially distanced hot chocolate was included.

Husband, watching me happily engrossed in the racing, has said he’ll have to take me to the races sometime! His Methodist upbringing may struggle but I do adore the beautiful creatures. Wonder if youngest might be intrigued by the colours & curves of racehorses, or if he’s devoted to dystopian cityscapes. Not seen an Angrove runner yet, beautifully multicoloured.

Neighbour taking power clippers to the hedge agreed with my perception “lockdown haircut!”

Washed the various fat quarters that are to become masks, laid them on the radiator in the bathroom to dry & puttered off. Son decided it was time to re-plasterboard the side of the shower & I’m pretty sure never saw the fabric so that’s now getting a second wash <shrug!> but he gets to hoover the plaster footprints from the hall carpet. [Now washed, ironed & ready to cut, just need to negotiate well lit table time with husband! Sons not taken by William Morris, will watch their reactions to Miffy prints with glee..]

Beginning to assemble treat boxes, since I know my spirits soared when I got one. In part prompted by finding two tea towels intended as Christmas presents, ahem.

Singing “to keep my love alive” I researched just what a “horse’s neck” might mean. “ a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion” seemingly. Small wonder an appendectomy followed, but I do vaguely wonder at my parents’ blithe disregard of my show tune hobby. I was plied with Agatha Christies regularly - can you try to raise an assassin? (Girls’ school, as well.) Or was I just expected to marry a chap with a library?

Where have I been? Just been steered to Olive & Mabel on YouTube. The meeting, o gods, too accurate. Frankly weak with laughter And There are More “episodes”.

Rubbish truck brings a grin. Someone’s bin is melodious with glass...

Work call, study-2-part-3 & colleague came back in from hairdresser so pause to share screen, engage camera, croon, & return to work!

One thing I hate about staying as locked down as possible (we’re not shielding but the front door isn’t used much) is that as I sorted stuff to go into the new-to-me car, I chucked 3 tubes of sunscreen - all out of date but 2 were 5* MSE identified poundshop bargains. Right now, poundshops are as accessible as the moon. Aye well.

Looking for little cold pack you freeze to soothe bruises etc - lovely pharmacist had wrap sized for around knee, but knew what I meant & apologised - elsewhere in store May have Mr.Men - I opine husband’s insulin can go wrapped in unicorns (which would leave him muttering darkly to himself) Difficult to share a 6’ happily mischievous grin under a tube mask but he got the idea & we shared a chortle.

Found a tin of root beer. Wonderful how memories surfaced of amazing American holiday, one of their national parks, barbecues dotted along the carpark & host’s youngest son looking like a young greek god in pinny & shorts, cooking. His mother lounged where she could monitor but left him to produce a delicious lunch, of burgers with All the Trimmings, several sorts of cold salad & a startling array of canned drinks. He was chided for not chilling the root beer (by his mother) but it still tasted glorious.

Health, strength, love, & courage to all who have need, to the obvious & the unspoken. All this "returning to normal" as we still do not know what we are up against has me hugely thankful I can work from home. Please, stay safe. 

Frith

What a silly day! 
Pleasures for today (Thursday)

1) No lie in, but made a cooked breakfast before bigger son's bike trek.
2) My brother appeared and he and bigger son did the first 25 miles together. My parents met them at my brother's turning round point (their first trip out of the house really, since March, but they were on a canal bank a few miles from where dad grew up). 
3) Bigger son continued for another 50 miles and is now wild camping in the Peak District. My brother in law will drive over tomorrow so they can do some climbing. 
4) I did lots of tidying and cleaning whilst not being mithered by bigger son! Changed his bed, cleaned the bathroom, hoovered everywhere, tidied...
5) Phoned Autism West Midlands as instructed by CAMHS yesterday (no answer).
6) Phoned special college locally (no answer).
7) Spoke to smaller son's solicitor.
8) Tried to get in touch with district council for the millionth time about the planning over the road where I park my car (no answer). 

9) Then... a rare knock at the door! Spent a jolly 45 minutes in the garden talking to the builder who has applied for the planning permission over the road (opposite our row of cottages). A pox on all councils locally - he had received no objections to his earlier proposals, because the council had forgotten to send them to him and attach them to his proposals online! So that was 6 letters of objection from locals he had never received. He had to amend his plans anyway, due to Highways. I then objected again and only when he read it (on Monday) did he realise I was referring to things in my "earlier objection"...
He is now including a pavement round the site (dangerous rural crossroads). This includes dropped kerbs on "my" pavement and the new pavement opposite, so we can cross the road and access our cars. The end planned house has been moved back 5 metres or more and the corner will be turned into a village green including a bench. The 2 houses facing us have had to change to 1.5 storeys (he had to explain this to me - it means the windows of the upstairs stick out of the roof, making it a bit lower overall). 
I don't live in a pretty village - it is former mining houses (1840s) and a strange hotch potch of modern houses at jaunty angles inbetween. Our car park is waste ground where there used to be a large pub so there is no pavement or flat grass. He is retaining 18 spaces, although technically he doesn't have to keep any at all, and renting the whole 18 out for £1 per year. He's also going to put tarmac down and painted parking space lines. 
Turns out he knows my siblings as he was in the school year between them. He went to the same school and sixth form college as me, but that goes without saying, as they are the only ones. He is also building an autism base at bigger son's school, which I found quite difficult to hear. There was no provision there for smaller son so he had to go to a different high school from bigger son, and what turned out to be a pretty ropey one, leaving him in the predicament he finds himself in today.

10) Smaller son and I went to Sainsburys - his favourite place in the world.
11) Had pizza then Eton Mess for tea.
12) An email from the County Council. They are actually making headway with smaller son's paperwork (it may have had something to do with being contacted by CAMHS and a solicitor...) I have just spent 2 hours correcting their paperwork and emailing it back to them. We shall see.
13) Funny phone calls from bigger son in his tent as his air mattress has a leak!
14) Smaller son is playing online with a friend and guffawing.
15) I will go to bed and watch Ambulance just now.

ETA
16) Sainsburys now stocks a range of sausages where the company name is my surname! It is not a particularly common surname and this has amused us greatly. Photos have been shared and we wonder if we are tasty, or just fatty and greasy!

mhagster

Good morning. ‘tis a tad wet this morning and looks like it’s on for the day. 

Yesterday started wet but ended up dry.
so on Wednesday evening I made a very foolish ( and I kind of realised as I was doing it) decision to try and open a tin of paint with the garage key! It of course bent, I tried to bend it back. It bent back. I tried to put it in the lock and it laughed at me and snapped in half ...with the half being stuck in the lock! Managed (somehow) to get that out and was left with two parts of key...messaged son ( who was up mountains) do we have a spare garage key? Nah. Don’t think so. Never seen one. Anyway yesterday morning I went into town and to the locksmith who managed to make a copy. Was cheaper to buy 2. ‘It might not work’ It did work. Hurrah! ( more later) 
Whilst in town I popped into M&S and got a black top for £3 and an apricot Swiss roll and some eggs. Admire my restraint! No crisps were purchased. 

Home and after trying out the garage lock took the doggy through the muddy fields. Met colleague on way back so stood and chatted to her for about 20 minutes. 

Enjoyed the peace and quiet for a bit. Hoovered and washed floors. Managed to get washings out and mostly dried. Rain had stopped by now. 

Son came home mid afternoon. 

Ordered a takeaway meal...went into a drawer to get some change. There randomly was a key...to son ‘ what’s this key for?’ That will be the garage key...that we didn’t even know was there! Anyway we now have three garage keys! 

As I was waiting for meal, I was putting bins out and met friend going by so we stood and chatted which was nice to catch up. 

Managed to finally get all the bedding plants I’d bought RTC last weekend planted. And by crikey they’ve had a good watering in. 

Chat on phone to friend. 

Have a lovely day. I’ve more eye tests later this afternoon. Had thought to walk ( would take 40 minutes) but may just get son to drop me off. I’ve not to drive afterwards. Shall see ( ha!) how the day goes! Have a lovely day .

Sue I hope things are okay with you and yours. Thinking of you all x

balabooberlies

Had the greatest day.

Mum, Dad, My sister, BIL . nephew and niece spent the day in their new garden (and myself).  They moved about 2 weeks ago.  I love their new house.  A tad smaller than their last one but feels more like a home.  Cannot explain it.  It cuts my sister's driving time by about half.  Such a great garden, bigger than the last but it's the very mature trees behind that make the whole feel very rural.

Mum got up early and cooked a massive cottage pie, my sister supplied beautiful breads, cheeses, hams, olives etc.  I wanted to grab, hug and not let go of all of them..............but didn't.  Just seeing them in the flesh was heaven.  

My sister has really interesting witty new neighbour.  94 years of age.  He joined us for tea in the garden.

Early evening took a train and tram home.  Hardly any other people.  I was fully masked but some weren't.  I made sure I touched very little and sanitised my hands a few times.  Tiggy went potty when I came home.  She got loads of kisses and cuddles.  I missed her too..............

Well, this is becoming interesting.  Put the food out about 6.30am.  Just went to let Tiggy out and of course on the fence were my family of crows.  On their designated table was another one with a white patch on it's breast, not seen before.  Clearly from the same family.  Am not going to name it as it may have been just a flying visit.  tee-hee............

A wonderful day wished for one and all

x

balabooberlies

D4V.............have 'planned' to make that trip to the golf course at least once a week.  It really was food for the soul.  Am hoping that I and Tiggy can build up to walking there and back but aside from my very real 'pains' I have to consider Tiggy.

My wish for your (and yours) safety.  And a huge hug on it's way.............

x

villagelife

1. Colleague/friends retirement - she loved her presents and laughed at the amusing one. We were the only ones that got the joke! We didn't explain.
2. Managed to get my eyes tested- they hadn't changed so will be able to order prescription sunglasses
3. Oestopath appointment in a tent - so relaxing and I feel so much better for it.
4. More accounts done with a glass of wine in the garden
5. DS2 cooked tea

LaineyT

Epic post as always DFV, Olive and Mabel are particular favourites of this house.
For yesterday,

Bursts of enthusiasm for housework interspersed with wandering around the garden.

Ate our main meal at lunchtime due to beloved’s work commitments, toasted sesame halloumi with a broccoli & courgette salad, delicious.

Mama deer and her fawn were once again in the field, little one noticeably grown in a few days.

Small dog and I sat on the swing seat at twilight, having a cuddle and watching the bats flying around the cottage.

Beloved finally emerged from office at just gone 10pm after a marathon zoom meeting of just under 5 hours!

Nargleblast

Pleasures accrued recently... having just had two busy days at work in a row,  my days are all mixed up but I do know it's now Friday and I am not at work against till next Wednesday.

Dogwalking pleasures - as ever, seeing her catch sight of a big fat crow or pigeon and take off across the park, chasing them with such enthusiasm. The mean devils wait till she's near them then take off. I am sure they are laughing as they do.

Seeing the buddleia bushes in the park all in bloom. A mass of purple. A very heady scent, a little sickly maybe, but anything to attract the bees and butterflies.

Near the buddleias I found an interesting arrangement of a hawthorn bush entwined with a honeysuckle and with some sneaky blackberry branches coming through too. Imagine the combination of berries all in one place.

The smell  of home made bread as it bakes. I have found if I make a quantity of dough in the bread maker it makes enough for two loaves, bake one and put the rest in the fridge for a few days ready to bake the second loaf when you're ready,

Collecting a few mange touts every few days and storing them in a box in the freezer. Very disappointed in my courgettes, though, two healthy vigorous plants but no sign of a flower.

Stepmum's 90th birthday today, with her health issues I am surprised she got this far, but all good things to her on this special day,

Anticipating son's birthday tomorrow, presents and card stuff stacking up. He will be 22, where has the time gone?

A snuggly tabby and white kitten/cat sprawled across my lap. He was a cute little thing last November, when he was 11 weeks old. Now he's 10 months old and all fish breath one end and rancid farts the other. Yes, Roger, I'm talking about you.

The sun is shining out there, I must get up and hunt for more pleasures - washing, vacuuming, you know the sort of thing.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Rite Mess!

Had too do this one today!
Frith. Council Woes. Where's me old boots about that!
DfV Proper cricket! Sweet corn. Chick peas are for the birds, not proper food! Y fronts are on!
PK Proper diecast! We is dipping through the After Life!

Now with another version of the Life of BoP's

PM2DD Game On. Raffles is on it and the kittens could be down on this one. That wood sent the fishy forum inn too orbit! One on the radio expressed that he hopes they like playing the #GIMPS. Not that BoP would be biased inn any way! Cheerio Kittens!

Just gets mes elevenses inn. Proper chocolate wafer this day, with loose tea fresh brewed tea. Drinked. Nice inn the day too has the proper stuff. We has a friend who does instant tea. That is for those that never paid the tax on the tea. Not proper!

Watched another flix last nite, a take on Pretty Woman.  but I thinks better! The Escort. Too raunchy for & and DfV! Cheese, peanuts and cocoa was consumed. Buttered marmite crumpet was also wolfed down. Be careful of eating peanuts as young people could choke on them and the worlds worst airline don't serve them! Only flewn once with them in thirty years and theys still carp. AVOID!

Was inn front yard this morning sore ting the weeds. I had sum proper exterminator of weeds before, but we are not aloud to sue it any more. So I now has some from a secret supply. Deadly. Please do not sue at home! Will wait until dry spell to use!

Reversion dinner this evening of crumbed prawns, bargies, and chicken bits. Still has some of them buzzard wings for the morrow! Details of the flix tomorrow.

Rites, lunch is the usual, and tart today is the Bakewell's! Nuts of ginger are also available!

That is you're lot!
Imagine that as it goes into the ether again!

VJsmum

Evening all 

Pleasures for yesterday
1. OH and I did a circuit by the sea - at last! 
2. Saw lots of people who seemed pleased we were back
3. Did the garden - the weeds were horrific but fortunately the garden is tiny so was all sorted in a couple of hours
4. watched ambulance - the men were too grumpy after villa drew to concentrate on anything else
5. OH cooked spag bol for tea - that i had with veg rather than spag

And today

1.  Cracked on a bit with this batch of marking - the pleasure is getting through it rather than doing it
2. we went to Barmouth - parked the other side of the bridge and walked across
3. washing dried on the line
4. OH cooked spanish chicken and chorizo traybake
5. family film night - OH's choice about someone born into apartheid south africa.
Have a great evening.