5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

Highdays

Hello.

A quiet day here too, feels like the calm before the storm...

Some gentle pleasures for today:

1) Almost didn't put a tree and decorations up this year as it all felt too painful but I'm really glad I did, it has been lovely just having the tree lights and candles on in the evenings and having more happy memories of my mum and dad than sad ones. 

2) My dad's golfing pal was wonderful to him when he couldn't play any more and used to come and take him to the club house for a coffee and a bacon sandwich every week. My dad played for the captain's team at a very prestigious golf club, when he died  they lowered the flag to half mast in his memory. Today we four 'children' got a wonderful email from said friend with warm wishes for the season and remembering my mum and dad so touchingly. A lovely man and so kind to my dad and now to us.

3) The boys took a hamper of homemade Christmas goodies to our neighbours - mince pies, chocolate brownies, stem ginger bsicuits, white choc chip cookies and Rocky Road. Apparently very well received, we enjoyed making them and hopefully they will enjoy eating them. 

4) Hubby picked up the five books I had reserved from the library, all eagerly-anticipated new releases so a bit of a delicious dilemma trying to work out which to read first, couldn't decide so have started two!

5) Got all my ingredients together to cook the Christmas ham tomorrow, it will then be glazed on Christmas Eve and we will have it hot for tea with jacket potatoes and homemade red cabbage and apple slaw. Another bittersweet memory - I always do my mum's recipe, an old Cordon Bleu one with oranges, brown sugar and cider. By my reckoning this has been our family tradition for about 55 years or more - I can definitely remember doing it with my mum when I was about 15 and the smell of it roasting on  Christmas Eve will take me, as always, right back to my mum's kitchen full of happiness and good things. First Christmas without my precious mum but she will be right there... and all four of us will be cooking the same recipe at the same time so she will be with my sister and brothers too.

Haven't noticed the days getting longer yet but they surely will. Hope the poorly people feel better soon.

DundeeDoll

bop have you recovered from the World Cup? 
keep safe laineyt
1) lunch with colleagues - head of programme bought 2 pizzas at the canteen (they have pizza ovens and the pizzas are fab) and brought in flasks of mulled wine - very festive
2) another colleague, still off on maternity leave, brought her twins in - so sweet
3) then another colleague arrived (i did text her to say the twins were in!) and we went back to our temp offices to plot
4) then she invited me back to hers for supper and i met her Ukranian who is staying with her 
5) then i went to the pub to watch the match with DrM and MrG
and now of course bed with a cuppa and the archers. night all xxx

topsyturphy

Pleasures for Thursday 

1. Journey up north was ok apart from a delay of about 30 mins on the M6.
2. Saw dd & 2xdgs
3. Doggie was good and slept on the journey 
4. Builders turned up to sort out the bathroom 
5. Fish, chips and mushy peas for tea.

LaineyT

For yesterday,

A nice hot shower, very welcome.

Capt S, who is a couple of days ahead of me in the sick stakes, took a list and did a small shop for fresh stuff, we too will have a ham on the day itself as on pony duty and then a roast on BD.

He then took me over to see the horse, she was pleased to see me and the parsnip in my pocket ☺️

Bit more of an appetite so snorkers & roasted veg for tea.

Watched and enjoyed Christmas at Holkham Hall, a place that DM and I visited a number of times over the years so happy memories.

Admiral_Barbarossa

DundeeDoll said:

bop have you recovered from the World Cup? 

Gordon Banks played a blinder. I still hares Mum BoP on the phone afterwards. Think I had a sniff of wobblefizz as well. Old man was ... I'll get over it one day! Sis got soaked inn the rain!

MIA

Bin work inn hard at the Tower, all work no play for a pittance! Adds to pension though it does. Rule of the Admiral in force.

Has yous noticed how the media of carp is plugging you to has the pigs in blankets that have created at expense for you, when all the admiral does it himself! Steer clear of the carp and tat on the shelves. Other advice is available on the normal channels.

All is ship shape at work. I turn up, they pay!

Been watching loads of films on the box streamer. I recommend Three Day Millionaire. Though it does not show the nice hotel that was on the run with old Man Admiral in the 60s. 

Plenty of wobbelades and cheeses has bin taken, as well as lots of Uni Challenge! Was on a role last nite.

All set for santa, letter sent about the train set!

Just tuck the Albatross out for her lunch. She needs the fresh air!

All dust is settled for the season. Keep safe all!

Jen sends her

Frith

Pleasures for today (Friday - and Christmas Eve Eve)

1) A lie in!

2) Bigger son's last day at work for a week. They gave him a crate of beer and a tub of chocolates.

3) Did plenty of Arabic on Duolingo. You think, "Surely this must be the end of learning the alphabet", but there always seems to be a new accent or character waiting to be introduced!

4) Tidied up then went to floody town. It was raining so did not do much there.

5) Went on to M and S and carpet town was really pretty quiet. Got a few last bits of food. 

6) I told bigger son all about The Traitors (I watched all 12 episodes over 2.5 days) and he started watching when he got home from work this evening. He is now in bed and on episode 5...

mhagster

Good morning! It’s Christmas Eve…all of a sudden! 

I have a very slight reprieve before I have 2 little people coming to join me for the day! And unfortunately it’s raining but we are still going out and about. 

Anyway Friday went like this :

Awake early as normal ( was just watching the final episode of The Traitors Frith) and I thought oh I’ll check when l!dl opens. So it was at 7 instead of 8, so stopped halfway through programme, jumped in shower, got dressed and drove to other side of town. Was first in, got what I needed ( this is for Tuesday) and then went across to big supermarket where I can get my drink of choice that’s not available at our local store. But then I ended up in my local store on the way home ( but got some lovely RTC tulips) and eventually home! Met someone I know in carpark and had a quick chat. 

So I got round the shops no bother at that time ( but wasn’t doing a huge shop though in any store) had messaged friend to say I’d been out and about early. She called me at 11.45am from the queue for the queue! Traffic was being directed in the carpark. And then she had to join a queue to be directed to a queue. And then sent me a photo later from someone else who was stuck in gridlocked traffic. No thanks! 

Anyway , put all shopping away. Checked painted alcove didn’t need another coat of paint and manhandled huge mirror back into place. 

Had a chat with DD1 earlier and then a chat with the elusive son. The daughter is joining friends for Christmas and the boy was just getting provisions to head up a mountain for a week with 7 other like minded people! And the third child is in a sunnier land! 

Had a fire on and no heating. But will need heating on today so little people don’t freeze! 

Then had a work event which was nice. A lot of hard work goes into making sure it’s nice on the night but lovely to meet so many nice people…and such polite children! 

Popped back in to supermarket and got a couple of a RTC things and then into chop shop for a bag of chips! 

And then home to my doggy! And bed! 

Happycas

Good morning.  Wet but mild here

Lainey - I hope you're beginning to feel well enough to gently participate in some of the upcoming festivities.

A few days of finishing off - shopping, wrapping, cleaning.

Made gf shortbread yesterday for DD to go with the posh tin of shortbread I got them.  I bought it for the tin really but her OH does like shortbread too.

Ham number 1 is now in slow cooker bubbling gently in apple juice.  When that's cooked, ham number 2 can go in and they can both go in the oven with their marmalade glaze.  I've nearly forgotten how to turn the oven on, but they won't fit in the air fryer! One ham is for us, and one to take to DD for our dinner tomorrow.

Then Bailey's trifle to make.  I made it for years but have now lost the recipe so I'm winging it.  I know you slosh Bailey's generously into each layer!

And that's more or less that.  For the first time in 50 years I'm not doing lunch Christmas Day or Boxing Day.  It's a lovely thought.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone 🎄🎄🎄🎄

Suffolksue

Lainey  I hope you are continuing to improve,take it gently 
Popping in to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to thank you for all the support during the last year .
I am going to my sons later today ,back Boxing Day ,there will be the usual chaos 
I am taking the large Christmas Cake I made them which DGD came and iced and decorated 
she also decorated the two smaller ones we made together - 1 for her house (only she and her other granddad like it ) and this year one for me !
will go via them and deliver all the presents there .
my house is reasonably tidy ,just too much ‘stuff’ so next year I will be joining the Decluttering Thread ( whilst hopefully being more active on this one ) 
see you all on Boxing Day xxx

ampersand

Morning all - here's &'s:

Pohutukawa, New Zealand's Christmas tree-

Meri kirihimete!

 

1. Last night's Carol service saw church packed.  & read 6th Lesson.   So many of us aware that this is wonderful vicar S's last with us.

2. Another half of double-shock news received.  'No!' answered & to person concerned, truly had no clue.   What others may describe as 'solitary' does not bother &, who is fortunately not part of cliques or claques.

3.  Highdays - only 2 books on the go?  How good is that!😁   & hereby awards you this🎖for restraint!

4. Car still unworking, but having to tramp does add steps to &'s daily count.   At some point, will overcome impossible access to flasher relay unit, exchange it and cross fingers.

5. ....trek to surgery took a while, but & was asked to wait, be seen next!  Apologised for bothering new-to-& Italian/Libyan GP.   Turns out he's been there since 2018😄.  & very grateful for prescribed antibiotics.

#
& may well spend chrimbo morning making lemon curd.  Your recipe, Frith?
Vicarage lunch will be circa 16h>17h and we'll definitely be playing Poetry for Neanderthals😁😂😉🤣 
A splendid Eve to all.
Usual notspot trouble posting....🤞