5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

VJsmum

Hello all - I think i'm better, i have a g and t 😂

Pleasures for yesterday

1. still feeling rough so the comfort of lemsip.  However, did test completely negative
2. a walk by the sea (eventually - took a while to get going).   More white stones collected for my garden path (i collect one or two every time i go to the sea to fill in a strip by the side of the flagstones).
3. finished my book "I know you" by CLaire McGowan.  Find her very readable
4. cleaned the house - taking many breaks in between tasks.
5. Picked up fish and chips for 3 and took them to my friends' house.  Was supposed to be book club but only two of us went, so i went to her house and spent the evening with her and her hubby (also a good friend).  Talked about the book a little then put the world to rights.

have a great evening.

LaineyT

Pleased to hear that you are feeling better VJSMUM 

For yesterday,

Drove into Uni City and the traffic gods must have been with me as all the lights were green so just sailed through, had time to pop into well known chemists for a nail strengthener and new lip colour.

Had my hair cut and coloured, put the world to rights with lovely hairdresser, drunk coffee and read my book, grand way to spend an hour or so.

Home, chicken and lentil soup with my love who was WFH.

Out to see pony, she had a rest day after working hard the day before, long groom to get rid of itchy spots ( she is starting to shed ) then enjoyed a cup of tea and a slice of cake with pal, love cake Fridays at our yard.

Made a chilli and had a glass of something cold & fizzy.

PaulieHerts

Morning all 😊
Recent pleasures:
Drove over to see my bestie on Thursday. She has had a bunion op, something I put off years ago, so is resting up.  I stopped at Tesco and bought lovely fresh tiger bread, chicken, fresh cream Victoria sandwich and some yellow roses and chocolates for her. So a lovely lunch and a good old natter 😊

My sister came over yesterday and we went to lovely local gardens to see the snowdrops, there were a few daffs and early purple crocus as well, a lovely combination. The sun even made a surprise appearance! We decided to treat ourselves and went to my local pub where I had my favourite gammon, egg and chips and she had fish and chips, both were very tasty.
just got back home and my old friend rang. I had to do a mercy dash to her doctors to pick up a prescription and on to the pharmacy then to hers.  She’s got shingles and was in a lot of pain.  I showed the pharmacist my peeling hands (it’s also on my feet) and she said it was probably a fungal infection ☹️. The cream she sold me seems to have helped already 😊
Got to pop to shops again today (I only usually go once a week) as poorly friend wants some bits including avocados!
Have a good Saturday everyone 😊

DundeeDoll

Pleasures for yesterday
1) My shower - due to lazy start and online meetings at home all morning didn't manage to fit it in till 10am meeting finished 15 minutes early - felt sooooo refreshed
2) getting my washing out and on the line - sheet even went back on the bed in the evening!
3) corn beef hash for tea - haven't had it for yonks, was lish
4) book club - although a couple of sad absences (one due to death of FIL, one due to recent C diagnosis) was a lovely evening
5) walked back with neighbour, she invited me in for a cuppa and we had a good giggle - also set next book - War Doctor: Surgery on the front line, and has lent me her copy

Highdays

Morning everyone.

Feeling pretty fed up as the cellulitis in my face has flared up again so it is red and hot and lumpy and I am all shivery and fluey. Grrr! Got a very busy very social few days coming up so don't have time for this.

Pleasures:

1) Luckily I have my emergency stash of antibiotics so started on them straight away and slept a solid 12 hours so fingers crossed it gets better soon and the tablets stop it in its tracks.

2) Littlest grandson is 9 today, hard to believe he's well on his way to growing up. Always been the sweetest, kindest, funniest little boy, he can have a bit of a temper but no nastiness in him. A massive and total pleasure.

3) After opening his pressies we are all going out for lunch to celebrate and then he's off to some climbing thing he wants to do then birthday cake and candles. So lucky to be such a big part of their lives. Making the most of it as he won't want grandma around for many more birthdays. 

4) My Wiltshire brother and SIL are on their way up for a few days. Luckily staying with my other brother so we get the pleasure of seeing them without the work!

5) Don't need to cook tonight as we are out for lunch so I can sit down and relax and try to shake off this infection.

Hope you enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

DigForVictory

All who are involved in education will get why I haven’t been posting much – the ucas form is now in! Also Christmas & New Year were heavier somehow. Didn’t stop me enjoying things, did slow me down posting.

 

Purple Kitten – I am so sorry your numbers are reduced but I don’t think there are happier more loved & cherished ferrets anywhere else. What a January.

Frith – awed respect & all the very best for the new future. Many fascinating challenges for you both. The meds for epilepsy really do work – and while everyone’s afeart of valproate this year, it is a workhorse for patients & it helps. However other drugs are available. All strength to your hoursehold.

VJsmum – so right to wring all the fun out of 60, &  hurrah DS getting his own train set! Ugh covid but fingers crossed one & done?

Dundeedoll, lurgified but recovering then away with academics a-conferencing & finally back home & pub refurbished for you

mhagster – just awed at all you keep doing. Including charity shops & stunning handles. Huge relief Haggis just eating grass after previous form. You & power tools & pressure washing & then getting out of wet pyjamas into shower..

LaineyT – good to hear you & yours doing well, & yard congenial. Hugs to all four footed!

SuffolkSue – delighted your gardener helping you declutter & doing the work with back& hands while you do the work with head & heart. Argh dental work specially waiting for someone else.

Highdays – a husband who cooks is a wonderful thing. Yikes cellulitis – hoping you can damp down the flare.

PaulieHerts – sounds a real warm family Christmas & then the delights of Lots of well planned for leftovers! Now you’re uplifting the bunion afflicted.

Ampersand – v belated happy birthday & while I do wish you’d abide by doctors orders, I understand sneaking out for meds (& coincidentally wifi). Please go on getting better.

 

OS the last month. Edited!

Executors have put Trust house up for sale on Rightmove. In the book of life, the pages are set to be turned. This is good, even if the screams are raucous. 

Homeowner list of things to do “tip trip, gousto order, get washing, rawlplugs, stewed steak” (those latter 3 all from family systems). I love his lists! Reassuring evidence of competence & planning. [Supported by a set of three lidded containers for receiving batch cooking.]

 Ah GQT on tree planting as the gift of hope. Also the folly of “I won’t live to see”. (Too much of that & all you’d grow is cress!) I didn’t plant a walnut as I had space in my heart for those who do laundry - walnut stains are the devils own job to wash out. The rest is all hope in pots…. (& fridge!) 

Got to church! Candlelight, squirming giggly children, a light but clear touch on Hope - good times.

The candelabra is lit! Himself made so many candles, least I can do is burn a few & illuminate the room. (Just he put them away in a drawer behind a heap of boxes & I’m a bit damp-eyed as well as muttering a bit but there’s half a dozen beeswax candles awaiting the chandelier.)

 

The Christmas treats have begun, salmon on bagels, Christmas cake, a tin of sweets open, even started on the ginger beer!

 Curled up under the teddy fleece. The great plaid idea sort of worked, but just nesting with it works even better.

 I’ve got a lovely fat stocking! (That pair of rugby socks keeps on coming in handy, year in year out!) Hm, it’s almost certainly ungrateful to be bemused by rose scented deodorant but I can’t smell.

 The “festive epaulettes” mentioned by Brian Bilston have captured family imaginations. Strictly to be made of recycled giftwrap, they are to be worn for the Christmas Day zoom & possibly at the Boxing Day shindig chez tante - who has an equally ruthless sense of humour. Tucking a length of bubblewrap & a bit of tinfoil under the bra straps has demonstrably proven the gist (cheers, sis!) so now I am contemplating the presents with a new eye… [they were so much fun we may adopt the idea for repeat use next year. (I sense this may lead to a sharp decrease in people my sons allow me near but they are simple & hilarious…. the Epaulettes I mean.)]

 I got mugs! My family listened! I wanted coronation mugs (I have one from the queen’s coronation via a charity shop & wanted to establish a family collection) Sons got me a Lego Concorde (knowing my many weaknesses), which is almost as long as I am tall & has a linkage so the nose cone tilts! 

 

Ah, Die Hard. Others may tut at the violence, the language, the property destruction - the lads & I love it…  Mind, I rewatch Aliens for similar aspects. 

 I observe an offspring has both brought the tin of sweets up and it is now tidily lidded & and all the wrappers have been tidied away. Have I actually taught them to hide the evidence?!

 The lads have agreed (just) to a photo shoot of what’s left of the family. It’s a sort of threshold before they depart the nest thing, if they cooperate. I’m touched they agreed, we really do not normally go along with things that rub in how two of us five are missing.

 The economist Christmas edition is always a pleasure. It’s like eavesdropping at a seriously intelligent but fun office party.

 Just found Youngest’s Gantt chart for cooking the big meal & remembering this is how dad taught Gantt to his research physicists. By no means all who could cook. (No Google then, so lots of bewildered phone calls home! And one who struggled, waited til his mother was awake in the home country & was talked through Every Detail of a state dinner - Dad roared with laughter & had All the efforts pinned to the walls & suddenly physics became fashionable as people boggled at the detail - and learned Gantt.)

 

A lull in the rain, so I strip the bed & plan to get it washed & onto the line, briefly! Meanwhile hospital corners & crisp clean linen await me tonight. (Too briefly on the line, but it’s a start.) {Ah linen, how I do love thee - jump into bed & it’s Welcoming - HWB at the toes & it’s heavenly.}

Oh it’s still Christmas. I found myself wondering if it was too early to eat chocolate & laughing at myself for wondering. Then planning to load up on the dark chocolate Guylian for presents, as they absolutely pass my QC! (One son boggling, one just shrugging “where do you want me to put them?”!)

Just heard Amanda Palmer’s “a mothers confession” & recognise so much of that, and how things keep on stacking up.

Argh. On antibiotics again & youngest asked “is it biological?” “why else?” “it might be metaphysical….” He is the delight of my I-hate-antibiotics years.

Bob Monkhouse on sleeping in the nude “well, maybe not on the long flights” (me happily sniggering hours later)

 

Ahem, whoever left the citric acid jar by the teabags set me up for a heck of a surprise but we’re all alive & laughing & one son is researching COSHH disposal facilities at work… “Judas! Lancelot! Lando!” I think he’s decided not to accept a brew, after all.

 Cor. All set to watch the second Indy film & the trigger warnings run to three sentences. Are some people born snowflake while others have it thrust upon them?

 Ah yes, must wassail the apple tree. Before the twelfth night so I should use daylight to identify it. 

 I’m reading a Harvard business school article on defusing fraught meetings & thinking it should be standard reading for parents…

 I recall a great aunt terrifying us with a brisk walk on icy Edinburgh pavements to settle the paper bill. She had the start the year with a clean home & clean slate thing & the newsagent stayed open for those souls. Me, I can’t claim the clean home but this year I overpaid the mortgage a bit & feel wonderful.

 

Read the meters & submitted the numbers online. Wildly not-smart but somehow satisfying.

 Ah the New Year’s greeting: “you look like a Stilton man” gesturing to the reduced price pile thereof. Remarkable how many emerge, when the price isn’t going to cause domestic lamentation!

 Ah brother bickering with brother over film, pizza, hair clippers etc. There are times it’s very easy to sense the other chaps’ proximity. The vigorously worded baclava denunciation is factually only one son’s opinion but the cheerful racket could be all four…

 LaineyT, just to repeat heartfelt thanks for “keep your Bendicks in the fridge” tip. Happy seasonal nibbling!

 Dear me but Valerian and the city of a thousand planets is impressively weird. Only 2017! Luc Besson is gifted with a vivid imagination. All that wonderful French cheese?

The offspring are eyeing my preparations to go wassailing with concern. I think this may be as I have no others, no toast, no alcohol & no loaded gun to scare away evil spirits. (Or just that they think my footwear on a muddy hill in the dark is inadequate & they foresee slide crash invocations not wassail…)

 OhDearGods. Gently coshing Youngest through thank you letters to find the idea of a written address is still something he needs reminding to copy. <brief whimper for lost Eldest who ‘got’ that prompt diligent courtesies earned good karma & spared me family sarcasm>

 The joy of a really thick stew. Comfort food and central heating!

 Youngest asking where is the really big knife - back in the block after being washed & dried. The “Oh” of enlightenment is a lovely noise.

 Nattering with sisters as to when & how I am to collect some planks to use for bookcasing. I’ll need to rent a van to fetch them so that’ll delay matters - I need abundant daylight & a son to keep me awake driving up & down the country, let alone lug!

 

No rain, good breeze, out goes laundry! The chaps invoke Fred Astaire as a protective deity over my not wholly reliable footwork.

Middleson abandoned a pile of clothes for youngest to choose from - the rest to go to a charity shop. I may accelerate that process with bedding. If he can’t tell single from double, why burden us?!

And tonight, extra fleece blanket added as temperature sub zero (& forecast to stay that way) so shall try to create a warm cocoon for as long as I can. Hm, sit in a sleeping bag tomorrow? Youngest has taken one of my nesting blankets (sensible lad) for bonus thermal. [Sleeping bag for work working brilliantly!]

Days leave booked to go spend long weekends with mum. Sisters ecstatic, they can do what they want guilt free, carer happy (she gets a weekday off), even mum pleased. (A change of cooking & portions judged by a young man, none of this “don’t overface her” nonsense but “just eat what you can” (several spoonfuls more & we’ve introduced her to Dorito type crisps as a little snack… This way she gets hearty nutrition And empty calories!)

I observe a box of brunch oat bars has a diagram “1 bar = 1 portion”. Slightly horrified, slightly amused this is public service packaging…

Admiring colleague’s wedding photos. He wears clothes well but the ladies are just sensational (& his daughter is a walking reason to keep up the martial arts training, so he can fend off unwanted suitors!) Any she wants, she’ll keep though, he does what he’s told….

“I‘m doing it, I was just going to whine about it a bit more first!” I love it when brother helps out brother.

I was just sitting down & singing a bit when “whaat? Sounded like a whale, under these headphones. A distressed whale. Drowning in custard.” That apple has not fallen far from the tree…

I do like Halifax railway station. It really does look like a railway station - and you feel the cast iron bits were so many from several hundred cast & used in stations all over Britain. 

Ah groceries. Youngest has “discovered” reduced prices! Excellent, now to persuade him to experiment a bit rather than cling to a recipe…

 

Middleson at 50 whatevers of platelet donation & me several inches off the ground with vicarious pride!

 And again, the wind and gap in forecast rain mean more washing & line drying of bedlinen. (Finished by the dehumidifier - got the line crisp texture, hurrah!)

Youngest has cooked biriyani in the ninja thing & is rightly pleased with himself, as it’s very tasty. (Ninja thing a present & defies previous cooking logic.)

Samira Ahmed on the art of Persia has me fascinated & the house artist shambling off. Not his culture, not intrigued, not curious. Me, watching her hands dance respectfully around the new year symbols, inspired to Google the details & my wish to obtain a copy of the Divan of Hafiz reinforced.

One of our young leaders will miss scouts as there’s a prize giving (attendance mandatory) - we’re cheering her on anyway & it’s nice to read a WhatsApp conversation that’s so full of cheerful positivity.

The deadline is looming & I’m struggling to remember what I was taught of application forms to coach youngest through the hoops. Just repeated “so what”? isn’t good for mother son bonding.

It’s done, it’s in, we’re still speaking & I do hope whichever academic establishment takes a punt on my lad reckons they’ve got a good student. Dear gods what a month but he’s been through so much to get this far. We’ve all been through a bit but he’s done a lot of the heavy lugging.

Oh my - one of mum’s clocks took a flyer & front & back hinges are lacking the teeny screws (pointy & larger than glasses’ but I may have to contrapt) but I’ve glued the shattered wood & polished it (think vinaigrette but just olive oil & vinegar). The clock mechanism seems fine being something hideous & battery powered. The screws needed are tiny but specific and (of course) Imperial. I may have to ask Middleson to make them for me… (Will ask the optician first.)

Called & got mum an energy bill refund that has even her lawyers respectful. (Easy, having done mine start of January!) Far more sensible DD set too, so everyone happy.

Aw house cook in a lather as he bought chopped tomatoes not plum. Loving mother in mercy dash… Relatives in sated awe at his competence.

 

Lady mother being gently nagged to leave her new varifocals On so her brain can learn to use the help provided. (As I was carrying a credit card, I know Exactly how much help they are & want her to get every tuppence-worth!) [Whether a progressively dementing brain can learn to operate varifocals isn’t a pointful discussion now.]

The whole tucking in good night process is a running joke between mum & I, as I tuck her in after years of the other way. It’s with silence on my side (albeit fluent gesture) as once the hearing aids are out, gesture still works. Plus it makes her chuckle. (I then find I miss the goodnight hug from Youngest but he has his status to maintain amongst these benighted others, kin though they be.) {Lady mother views us staying with her full time as heaven but is resigned “we shouldn’t be in heaven yet”}

Domestic politics…. Mum invaded (her) kitchen wanting something to nibble. House cook manfully trying not to lose All Patience, I coaxed her out, sat her by the fire & plied her with a sneaky Tunnock.

 

Health strength love & courage to all as have need, says she squinting slightly at all this daylight!

mhagster

Oh following in from a DFV chapter! Nice to read all your news! 

The weirdest dream ( which I then wrote to the person who was in and told them when I woke up!) which I wasn’t quite ready to wake up from but had an awareness a dog wanted out. So I made myself wake and was a bit discombobulated because of dream. Quick doggy walk and once again just in before the heavy rain came on. Lovely bird song this morning. There’s house building going on where I walk so was a bit weird this morning as they started to build so there were house shapes in the darkness instead of field. 

Back to bed and zzzzz! Another odd dream but woke up to sunshine. 

Discovered doggy had been sick in the spare bedroom. Sigh! 

Out in my wellies and a bit more power washing. Just two areas still to do. Then had my shower. 

Went over to DD2. And it’s actually been an age since I’ve been there but I’ve been watching the pup so much that they have been here when they drop off/pick up. Anyway we had a meal deal lunch and a chatter. Dogs had a good run and play. 

Home. Hoovered and cleaned inside of car. Half a beach was removed. And half price bags of kindling removed from the boot and into the garage. They’ve only been in the car for 2 weeks! 

Put a washing on…I reclaimed my ‘big coat’ that DD2 snaffled over a year ago. She got a lovely new one for her Christmas ( from me) and I was wearing another one I’d got in a charity shop for a fiver over a year ago. But the zip has well and truly broken. So I had half a load in the machine and then chucked the coat in too. So hopefully be dry by tomorrow. As I need a coat for doggy walking. Will ask my dressmaking friend if the zip is worth replacing on other jacket as  I really like it.

Hoovered upstairs and cleaned bathrooms. 

Had chicken Kyiv and mashed potatoes and sprouts and broccoli ( and once it’s used I’m not buying anymore) and carrots and green beans for my tea and very nice it was too! 

Thought I’d used all the RTC gammon joints up but found one lurking in the freezer so it’s in the fridge to defrost and I’ve sat the slow cooker out on the worktop for tomorrow. Which is a busy day so every little helps! 

And then filled my hot water bottles and have came up to bed. Not to sleep but just to be cosy! 

Purple_kitten

Enjoyed reading DFV's catch-ups.

1 The house is hoovered again, a pleasure it’s done again.

2 On the using things up, some previously picked blackberries defrosted, I opened a tin of pears and laid it on top, and made a crumble topping, serving with Christmas cream, it was still sealed and seemed okay.

3 Homemade pizza topped with sweetcorn, ham and leftover Christmas stuffing from the freezer, really lovely.

4 Checked on the sweet pea seeds but no signs yet.

5 Meal planned for the week ahead.

DundeeDoll

I like your thought that the ceiling in the pub was repaired just for me dfv :-) glad the UCAS is in
1) after the usual lovely slow start Saturday usually brings I finished reviewing a joint paper - needed taking down from 4554 to 4000 words as well as reviewing - I got it down to 4013 but as this included a couple of questions for the lead author (now graduated PhD student) I was very happy with leaving it at 4013
2) then we went to the garden centre so mum could use her birthday treat voucher - membership of their club includes birthday card with 2 free hot drinks and 2 sweet treats. We started with lunch which she kindly bought then she bought more plants for the garden which i dutifully loaded into the car and we went back in for the birthday treat but...
3) then she spotted two very nice pots the exact shape (long rectangle) size (big) and colour we had decided we wanted two of when looking at the general pot area unsuccessfully - these were in the sale section which we hadn't even spotted first time round, reduced from £149 to £60 each  - i then dutifully took out all the plants I'd loaded into the car, put the back seat down, loaded the two planters, reloaded the plants then I got my reward of a cuppa and a scone
4) after unloading the car and a lovely walk with the boys up Balgay I settled to listen to the 2nd half of the Newcastle Luton game - very very exciting #COYH
5) then the end of the Wales Scotland match which had my blood pressure up again!
and now the boys are snoring in their bed and i have snuck into mine cos the wind is blowing and the temperature has dropped. lovely to get longer days again though

Frith

Quick pleasures for today (Saturday)

1) Not a bad sleep. Scabies continues...

2) Park Run for MrU and a little sit in the car for me. Met with usual friends there afterwards for tea and cakes. 

3) Back home and spent an hour or so digging a long neglected bed and MrU had a bonfire. 

4) My raspberry canes and rhubarb heart arrived and I will plant them tomorrow. 

5) Football with smaller son and our team won for the fourth match in a row! They're still battling against relegation.

6) Had 2 games of chess. 

7) A fox in the garden again just now.