5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

Highdays

Hello.

Enjoying the long weekend, hope you are too.

Recent pleasures:

1) Glorious warm and sunny weather yesterday and so far today. Doors and windows thrown open and a real feeling of summer in the air. I know, I know, ne'er cast a clout (?) til May is out and all that but it's lovely while it lasts!

2) Busy day yesterday, cleaning and putting ou the garden furniture and some sorting of garden tubs and pots. All looking good.

3) Joy of joys, opened my summerhouse for business. Cleaned and de-cobwebbed it from top to bottom and then filled it with all my precious stuff that had been stored in boxes through the winter. Not precious in terms of financial value, but priceless to me - like my dad's old wooden stool that he sat on for years in his greenhouse tending his tomatoes, now at the side of my reading chair with  basket of books on top. Very worn and old but gives me such a grounded feeling, like he is almost here with me again. Oh dear, getting a bit fanciful there! Anyway, felt very calm just sitting there enjoying.

4) Can now start my 'summer' crafts but will keep the knitting and tapestry to hand for a bit longer as I do know in real life it's maybe a bit too early to be casting my clout!

5) Youngest grandson came to tell me it's only two weeks til our trip to Legoland. Yikes, that's come round quick! Lots going on in the 'big house' this weekend, plasterboarding of the new kitchen is in progress and the bigger boys studying - hopefully - for A Levels and GCSEs which start this coming week so we have arranged to take little fella out for a picnic and to feed the fishes in our favourite garden and to plan our Legoland trip in great detail. Thankfully the sun is shining so perfect picnic weather.

Better get dressed and on with picnic prep, might have time for a quick coffee in the garden before we go.

Hope you enjoy the Bank Holiday whatever you are up to.

DigForVictory

Lurches in still filthy from gardening. It's all a been a bit crazy recently.

OS Pleasures recently

The sheer pleasure of seeing it’s cold & wet but I’m delivering training from home. All the fun of a class & feeling then develop in confidence without the commute, carpark, classroom setup. Still lots of scope for technological “oh dear” and even fire drills but I’ll be in the warm & dry.

Off to try to get some data, failed but the photos we took triggered a cheerful game of “spot the difference” & when the hammer falls, the business will regret trying to remove technology from public view. 

Seems the class is both bright, motivated & has done some of this before. Ah. After a slightly aggrieved teams exchange, we will carry on, to ensure they have Robust Foundations.

Discovered I had low blood sugar tremor & son applied a bowl of hot bean stew in minutes. It being vegetarian (& possibly vegan) he refused to eat the stuff himself, but it’s flavoursome, warming & worked!

My sisters are laughing at my indignation - I appear to be developing a bunion (very early stages) & am outraged as I haven’t worn silly shoes or anything else to deserve one & yet… I’ll polish the blundstones that are only half a size too small & ebay them & blue the change on another pair the right size. (The bigger pair are just Bliss.)

I have done all the paperwork required to reclaim £8 in mileage. I also clicked through another, slightly larger, claim so my new boss sees all the work I’ve been doing…

Yeargh! Brief panic when phone went flat at work. This is a bad thing but the power bank I have was in the wrong place & has been ruthlessly correctly re-filed. Pleasure in that all carried on anyway but the adrenaline!

Class very nearly teaching itself as todays children far more tech savvy & some bighearted enough to ask “why doesn’t this work?” & screenshare. Hugely proud of them. Have I said I love training? And the adrenaline rush of “are we really prepared?” “What Will they ask?” & What am I adding other than reassurance?

Trying not to wince at cavalry amok in the capital, nor chuckle that the news diligently reports on all six horses and as a P.S. mentions the thrown soldiers are all relatively well & expected to make a full return to their duties. Ah the English & the priorities.

Ecstatic murmurs of “yes, yes!” as I find son has put hot water bottle in guest bed. Such a honeybunch!

Scout nicknames being generated at pace: Sloth, Snort maiden & Mini Egg so far… Occupant of loo or shower has to reply “do doo di do do” if challenged “mner Mner”, which is disconcerting the D of E lot rather. (Shared facilities require practice & they’re short on that.)

Oh my. Bored boys delighted to be distracted by that fine Ankh Morpork entertainment, belching the alphabet. I still don’t think it At All Wrong - it kept them amused occupied & manageably quiet whilst I coached our most autistic scout through archery technique & discipline.

The grins of triumph, “of I did it!”, & of thank gods all packed away now. Scout camp is wonderful!

Men’s European gymnastics. Formidable health & strength & elegance & they just fly through the air. Wow!

Fell into bed clutching handkerchief (runny nose) & woke, blew & ‘oh’. Underpants!

Ah the Peppa pig first aid kit. Bought mostly for the digital thermometer, but also the additional caution with sharp tools - neither son wants a Peppa pig sticky plaster… <loving mother’s evil smile> Health insurance takes many forms.

Blimey the trainees are bright & sharp as scalpels, but nice to each other, and developing their skills and helping each other as I watch. They barely need me!

Hurrah pharmacist has cleared me as “not infectious” with sore throat which hasn’t yet cleared up. Phew as due to see mum this weekend.

Youngest has added extra herbs to the bolognese to make it as near a healing potion as extra garlic, thyme and oregano can manage! 

New Mark Knopfler album! It’s glorious in his own style, and oh those hands. Sure he’s getting on, but the skill is still there, quietly maintained with daily practice (he said once if he skipped one day he’d hear it, if three days the audience would - that’s professionalism!)

Just met the Rutherford Soddy Law of Radioactivity & dived into the rabbit hole of measuring radioactivity and then the phenomenon of nuclear research wives - intelligent women who work alongside their spouses but somehow become invisible. Despite the label of Mrs.Soddy.

All that virtuous line drying. Then the second lot left on the line overnight (whoops, but it dried ) then the third lot which started to dry, then got rained on. Oh the Fates…

Setting up digital exam halls for my trainees, revising the invigilators aide memoire, sending out the invites & hearing the steady chirps as candidates accept!

Sis is taking her new dog to puppy school. I want to know what’s on the curriculum, as I doubt it’s reeling writhing & fainting in coils.

Ah Midsomer, how I do love thee. The world is crazy but staunchly moral.

Coaching Middleson in how to take his grandma out to lunch (nice pub, get the bottle of her favourite wine as better value than by the glass, take her carer & target the specials) All booked.

Cleaner & I pondered at oats on the floor - turned out someone had knocked the muesli onto the phonebook shelf & it was gradually migrating south. Stood on a chair to brush it, then got most into bird feeder.

Rousing hurrahs the local library not only has Which? online but, for the asking, got it loaded for me. Not so much a name or address or a date of birth asked, just by all means & delighted us daughters want to look after our mum properly.

Sisters in agreement on heat pump tech & grandson coming south anyway & knows how to plug in a drier & heft the old device off to the recycling centre. (Diligent training from an early age!)

One of the joys of visiting mum is I get to read the local free journal “the sprout” which is So Local I recognise my play school & primary school. Just the index delights me: “opera for beginners, 2nd (local) brownies, people with Parkinson’s” - where to start ?! At the back is a splendid & formidable list of organisations babies Brownies, library, choral society, books on wheels, ladies’ a Capella, bell ringers, conservation, flower arranging, cricket, karate, bowls the WI & rugby…. (No wonder Midsomer has lasted if it has that grade fodder in reality!)

Yikes lady mother at it again - “demotic” really I went straight to the Egyptian which was wrong as it has a second meaning, of colloquial of which I had been sublimely unaware!) Fair play, she wholly missed the “N slur” & I had the Dickens of a job yelling that into one hearing aid, without risking our lovely carer returning to the motherland in umbrage. Honestly this review of a rewrite of Huck Finn is (nearly) more fraught than  Trump.

Refilled mum’s bird feeder (fat ball holder alongside seed holder) then boggled as greedy squirrel came to scoff. He 

I must be such a dreadful daughter. I show my beloved lady mother a fun time by taking her to the recycling centre & requiring her to sit in the car while I throw things into skips. She, meanwhile, watches the satnav, charmed & intrigued… (I have taken her to coffee shops twice, & sat her where she can watch people coming & going whilst I plied her with lattes & croissants…)

“Vapid” - how can you get to her age & wisdom & not be wholly familiar with the strategy of presenting a valid expression offering nothing that is challenging ie bland?!

“Apostate” - I knew that one but that it could be political as well as religious? Coo.

Oops, I bumped the car & Middleson being swiftly thorough & knowledgable about how to get it checked & hopefully still legal as well as functional.  I do love competence!

Happily, shares in Youngest plc are also buoyant - he has earned golden opinions from lady mother & her carer for his cooking, and since succumbed to the present bout of ManFlu with impressive stoicism. 

Only a Dig could celebrate paying off a mortgage on a Bank Holiday. Still, I can now try to start on Middleson’s £10k in easy access challenge (as he reckons my credit card is insufficient….)

Health Strength Love & Courage to all as have need. Especially to all who have mothers &/or sons - a terror & a privilege. 

mhagster

Eek! 

Waves at dfv 👋


Up early.

Drove longer way to garden centre. Met DD2 and co for brunch. I paid. Gulp! But they paid for dinner last night which would have been a lot.
Anyway it’s nice that I’m included as it’s his family time. 

Drove home the motorway way! Gah! 

Tip appointment to take stuff from garage and went over to DD2 to take stuff from hers. 

Getting big dog crate picked up tomorrow by an animal charity. It was the one H came over from Australia. I think when it’s gone I’ll see a big difference in garage. 

Sun peeked through at times today. 

Went dog walk with old work colleague friend. Had a good catch up. 

Then met friend who has two pups so chattered with her and said do you need this this & this! Yes please! So said give me two ticks till I grab the garage keys and walked down with her. Trying not to trip over puppies 😆

Then home and I’m sitting with the patio door open listening to the birds singing. 

Frith

Pleasures for today (Monday)

1) Not a bad sleep.

2) Bigger son was here by 9am to put up curtain poles for me. The dining room patio window one was too tricky as it will need special drill bits to go into a metal beam. The one in smaller son's room was much better (despite going into 1960 concrete render, not plasterboard). His £18 charity shop curtains are up and look good, after several months of just having cardboard propped up!

2) I cleaned out the gutter around the porch. 

3) Mowed one lawn and talked to the neighbours on and off. 

4) Washed the curtains ready for when the patio door curtain pole is up. They were here when I moved in but not too bad. I am considering dying them. 

5) Changed my bed and got the washing dry outside (plus the curtains).

6) Told smaller son the Post Office would not be open today to return his headphones. It was an Amazon return, so didn't need the counter open and the lady did it for me. 

7) Got a very few bits from Sainsburys.

8) My friend phoned me and we might go for a curry tomorrow night. She asked me questions about MrU (which I couldn't answer, after not hearing from him for 7 weeks) which was a bit uncomfortable. 

9) Had a little lie down and listened to a podcast.

10) Pheasant casserole for tea with bread and butter. then fairy cakes. 

Don't know what to do this evening now. Lovely weather still. 

Happycas

Good morning.  We've had three glorious warm sunny days.  And at a Bank Holiday too.  I think whoever is in charge of the weather pressed the wrong button. Back to cloudy today though.

Had a lovely weekend
Met DD and fiance for breakfast on Saturday and to admire her new (company)  car.  Very nice too.

Went to DS for a second birthday tea for DGS.  We'd missed the official one when DH was in hospital.  Anyway it was a good birthday tea for a 10 year old boy.  Burgers and chips followed by a football theme cake.  We'd got him a punchball which he was really pleased with..

Has been lovely to spend some time in the garden, either gardening or just sitting. And have the windows open all day too.

Today's tasks are more NHS admin.  Sort out the right clinic appointment for DH and chase up my prescription.

Happy Tuesday everyone

LaineyT

For yesterday,

After a disturbed night with small dog having one of her night terror episodes we all had a lie-in with a cuppa.

Sunny morning so, after making a loaf and leaving it to prove, headed out into the garden. Planted the potatoes, courgettes and salad seeds in the big veg beds. We are growing just three varieties of tomatoes this year, red & yellow cherry ones plus a beefsteak, re-potted the plants and left them on the back door step as they need hardening off. Fed all my herbs with a seaweed mix. Back inside to bake bread.

Lunch then over to see equine pal, just 17 miles down the road but weather was totally different with heavy rain so very glad that I had a waterproof in the car! It was still very mild though and, after seeing another horse heavy with sweat in just a lightweight rug, I put her out naked, she won’t shrink ☺️

Back home and handed beloved my sopping wet coat and cap as still no sign of rain at ours. Cup of tea and slice of fresh bread with honey.

Chatted about going out for something to eat but neither of us could be bothered so just had a picky tea and re-watched an old series of Strike.

VJsmum

Nice to 'see' you DforV

Pleasures for yesterday

1. a clean house once again
2. friends for lunch - hence #1 - OH made quiche and salad.  I did a fresh fruit platter to which they added strawberries.  Yummy
3. train back to the Midlands during which i did some marking
4. out for dinner.  The annual 'lads birthday meal' which i hated last year.  However, last night was fine.  Had delicious linguine marinara
5. the walk back from the station was not as grim as it can be.  And - bonus - DS hadn't locked us out.

have a nice day all.

Highdays

Evening all.

Heard today that my oldest remaining uncle died while we were away, aged 98 so no surprise really but another 'end of an era' sort of thing. Left me feeling a bit wistful for what has been, he was a big part of my childhood.

Anyway, there are pleasures:

1) I come from a big, happy and close family eventhough our numbers are dwindling somewhat.

2) Another lovely sunny day, an hour idled away in my summerhouse this afternoon in the sunshine.

3) Lovely shop lady sorted my returns, purchases, online purchases and returns and a pile of receipts that didn't seem to relate to anything with a degree of patience I wouldnt have been able to show as I had got everything into a bit of a muddle. Well done her and she smiled all the way through!

4) Did some money stuff, boring but necessary and a pleasure once done.

5) Very hungry these last couple of days after the excesses of holiday eating but a nice, tasty and low-calorie tea is planned and currently cooking and we will enjoy it all the more for having a sharpened appetite. 

Have a good evening. 

mhagster

Hello! Just about to head up to bed.

Up early then dozed off again. 

Pup dropped off.

Thought I’d put washing on so when I went to take it out before I went out it hadn’t been on and I don’t like to leave it on whilst I’m out. Anyway it didn’t get hung out till 2pm but was dried in a few hours. 

Into town. Parked at town supermarket so walked down the hill ( which means I have to crawl back up it!) and dropped off a bag of stuff in charity shop.

popped in to bank to sort something out.

Over  to solicitors to sort out new will and POA ( being now of an age!) 

Back up the hill! Hips complained all the way. 

Supermarket. A few things RTC . 

Home and hello dog! Pup was out on his walk. 

Phoned sister ( and managed to hang out washing at same time) 

Made Tuesday Tea. Chicken and mushroom and peas and sweet potato pie! I am using up!! With RTC green beans and RTC baby corn. Parsnips too. 

Washed the freezer drawers and I only have one drawers worth of food! My sellers are leaving a fridge freezer ( they have two so I don’t know which one) so mine may be going to DD2. 

Such a laugh tonight at Tuesday Tea! Doubled over belly laughing ! 

Person collected big dog crate. Hurrah!

Purple_kitten

1 Took Boost in for his Jab, the vet is always so happy, and happy to natter a little.

2 Home and made a seafood salad for lunch.

3 I got on and gardened a little putting some shorter sunflowers out but still lots to get out. I want to see how the initial ones fair first.

4 A cuppa in the garden with a book and ferrets playing, one of my happy places, the other being just pop me to a beach for the sounds of the se or countryside.

5 We popped out to pick up meds, and stopped in aldee for a shop, snaffled some reduced to clear meat to the freezer.