5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

DundeeDoll

Purple_kitten said:

1 Feeling good for having cleared out some things.

It does indeed - i think i need to join @Mrs_Salad_Dodger's declutter thread again for 2025 
oh mhags what a time of it you've had with haggis - hope all starting to recover (including the sofa or it may indeed need a recover)
1) while colleague and alumna host went to some energetic gym thing I sat outside with a coffee and my book
2) then i went and bought new luggage - i will marie condo style thank old battered case tomorrow as i leave her in the hotel room -she's done me well
3) lunch then a temple then we released fish into the river - it's a thing, you buy a big bag of water with some little fish swimming in the water, release them and release your worries - i can imagine the fish saying to the stall owner 'same time next week'
4) rested up this afternoon and packed my new case - would have had plenty of room but i bought a small one that is now in the big one so ended up being a bit of a squeeze 😋
5) then a birthday dinner at a club - my goodness it was fun - we arrived early, indeed were the first in a cavernous hall set with rows and rows of tables. but that meant we could chat cos when the music started 90 minutes later we couldn't chat at all. the music was fabulous - a mix of modern thai, the occasional one i recognised (e.g. voulez vous...) and some traditional thai. and the man utd game was shown on the two screens either side of the main stage. when we left the place was buzzing

and now i'm in bed. early start tomorrow - van picks us up at 7. we will miss breakfast which also starts at 7 but we'd rather get to the airport in good time. last hotel of our amazing trip tomorrow then back to blighty 26th. dd2 has already arrived and put the christmas tree up. ds i think is arriving later today (with his gf and cat) so by the time i get home it'll be a full house.

DigForVictory

mhagster - argh about the post but hugs to you & Haggis schnookying his duck. And then vomiting, oh dear for you Both! Hurrah DD1 on site! Oops chocolate. Heating & snoozing where possible  but oh what a lot of washing clean again.

Frith - eeep a bad back that can't cope with a car! Glorious print, though. Dear Gods your garage roof sounds a bit more exciting than you might wish. You wrap? Awed respects - I either bag or engulf in tinfoil. Oh my, explosion of cream! Hurrah your team winning, Again!

Highdays - Love the 'how to hold a Christmas Lunch' lesson & then off to 'how to decorate a stately home'!

Suffolksue - That Flu has been a thorough inconvenience & I'm very glad you're through it and into the coughing stage. "Unproductive" but irritating. Yikes DGS & dentist (he is registered as being on a low income & thus gets his dental work as cheap as the NHS can do it?)

LaineyT - what has it got in its bucketses - yes, a canny way to bribe the curious! Yes, the season of joy is often mined - this Flu means I'm carrying handkerchieves Anyway.

Purple kitten - I'm all for an organised exchange! (Ideally of presents, sometimes its verbal sniping [ah family]) Love the sound of your Christmas cake! I do love a meat raffle, well done winning & having space! 'Loungy day' sounds ideal, must try that myself when the kerfuffle dies down a bit.

DundeeDoll - oooh, all those different beds - your own bed will be Such A Treat!  Meanwhile, the buffets sounds great fun! Cute bees & your mum does Beautiful deft stitching. 'extreme karaoke'?! Gosh. Ooh what flavour icecream? (Still think you should try Durian for the bragging rights) Hurrah sister 'made permanent' & imagining table with charcoal central trench! Smitten with releasing fish!

Happycas - it is wonderful what a hearing aid tune-up can do! Oh good, you too buy veg for soup (Youngest was very withering, but I do intend to make soup, & eat it.)

OS pleasures recently 

Youngest, prejudiced, “you watching this?” gesturing to Strictly. “I’m watching the blind man dance.” He’s silenced. Frankly Chris McCausland is raising the hopes of every bride-to-be & it’s not going to end well! (“I can cut a rug with the best of them, woman” - big words small fry!) That man is redefining what might be possible after all.

“Using your cold hands as negotiating tactics, they work, but it ain’t right!” - love how Youngest is righteous even as fending my attempts to get warm… (though having just given myself an unexpected ‘thermal shock’, I owe him an apology.)

Boggling at the news & wondering how soon before the BBC presence triggers the green ink brigade (wonderful people, salt of the earth, vital part of democracy, etc)

Email Christmas “card” sent & first to reply a brilliant 90-something, catching me up on her children & grandchildren & applauding my visiting mum. Maintaining that conversation will be a privilege!

I say, “Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty“ with Charles Dance intelligently snarling and arrogant and terrified as Michelangelo - just absolute wow & we should be using this to teach history & art & politics & tolerance & why competition is not always a bad thing within reason (although the Renaissance had a very tenuous grip on reasonable competition!) . (Plus I just take one look at the Madonna della Pieta & crumple into tears but I think that’s near expected.)

Aw, mum knows there’s another book for book club but can’t recall the title. It’s in the diary, but she can’t put her hand on that. (Happily it re-emerged & Abebooks can route a copy along. All in time for Christmas I hope. Not as it’s a present [my taste in reading much more body-in-the-library!] just she does love to read!)

Started Magpie Murders & am enjoying it - Horowitz adapts well to the screen - not all murders do. [I say binge watching does help fight a cold - the temptation to try to do Anything else evaporated!]

I worry my Christmas letter is all sons scouts & seeds but too many areas of my work ‘just’ take half an hour to explain. Plus my colleagues are so amazing, they deserve their own newsletter…

Just finished Magpie Murders & am settling into Moonflower Murders - great fun & yes B follows A gracefully.

The pension people have agreed my arithmetic - youngest will get some academic support funds from his father’s estate until his 23rd birthday (in March but every little helps). Now to get Youngest to get the system paperwork… [I may need a mallet.] {A Big Mallet.}

I say, Strictly Final! Coo-er. “For everyone who was told they couldn’t” - yep, and the clear view of support. If next year they recruit on personality & intelligence, there’ll be a hideous 3 month gap in filming etc - stick to the usual blend!

I am so lucky. Middleson ruthlessly emptying bins, hoovering where he feels essential & enquiring if I have a Costco wish list… so, so lucky. Youngest unloading the shopping.

Oh gods. This whole festive delivery lark is not for the faint of heart. Still all my papers are in order. [And now I can step back from that logistics exercise!]

Storm trooper lanyard ready for new site ID card… (Just need an up to date mugshot first, argh.) [Oops, ah well, next year.]

Met a future colleague who’s ND means she needs a corner desk - brilliant - that should limit the inhibiting (but lovely) management from sitting there & spooking other trainees.

Current trainee needed a guiding hand, so I accidentally did a 10 hour day.

Playing hunt the replacement cable for colleague - we can buy spares but seemingly from Germany! Ulp, I don’t speak much of that. On with the hunt.

Youngest scarfing down a 'hammer, yellow' breakfast - bit of cheese with no bread…. Eyeing his chop & chomp technique, I remember him clearing Boursin in a slightly similar way a few years ago!

The joys of being a Wytham wood ticket holder, I get emails about the wood, it’s management, research ongoing (including, fascinatingly “Professor Sarah Knowles’ research into the gut biomes of mice”!) and the reassurance it is still all there.

The thankyou letters are going to be fun this year - I must thank one son for sheepskin slippers, Springsteen tickets and a kilo of rat poison. (The future of online shopping in detective novels is going to be Fascinating.)

Oh I can count on my family to make the festive season utterly ridiculous. In a zoom call where I may not be told what the surprise thing I am buying from Waitrose for mum is, mum got a little peeved (her hearing struggling with daughters) so I looked to webcam squarely in the eye & announced I was instructed by one sister to buy the pope some red frilly underwear whereas the other wanted me to get leopard print speedos. Mum heard every word (& the love, & the mischief) as the sisters whooped with laughter…

Aw Coz has posted video of daughter at axe range - “kids, ice, axes, what could possibly go wrong?” & I have crooned back the range looks well organised, I approve her technique & there’s the proud moment of eating her first kill - which should give him a disconcerted grin…

Youngest’s Godma has sent him a Fortnums box of biscuits. Glorious tin, superb packaging box which I have acquizzed for “nefarious purposes”. (Permitted so long as they’re nefarious!)

Some years ago, Granny viewed the Christmas cards on display & drily remarked that an alien visiting would think this was “a festival of drunken robins”. This year, all the robins have been to rehab & are bright eyed healthy cheerful critters….

Dear gods explaining “fractals” to mum, or trying to, when neither of us are mathematicians but I’ve seen screenfuls of the stuff….

And now my YouTube history has those magnificent men as she wanted “to know how it ends”. Pondering various world wars, I think “badly” but that’s not quite the answer she was ready to accept! (So proud of her.)

Youngest spotted a pack of yellow stickered doughnuts, brought them back to mum’s left them out of plain sight & now can’t find them. Me, trying not to laugh but equally, trying not to point any fingers. He thinks he may have moved then but can’t remember…

More weird dreams about negotiations. I’m looking forward to my own bed.

It’s a bit tricky to manage expectations when one side hasn’t got her hearing aids in. Happily, gesture can suggest this would help…

The cat is sprawled on dad’s armchair, ignoring me arranging lights & even that I’ve scrubbed out his food bowl & refilled it. My sons are more appreciative!

I took mum for a walk in the woods before the weather closed in & once recovered, she had her revenge hauling me up the road (a Steep Hill) to deliver local Christmas cards. Joy to the world but especially to those who can ease backache.

Drive home largely uneventful, despite big wind & sleet. Passed several coaches vehement in their loyalty to Man U. 

Middleson, planning his seasonal hosting, agrees to sprouts on condition they are cooked outside (apparently they smell?!)!

My Own Bed awaits! 

Health Strength Love & Courage to all as have need & hoping everyone has got through today's weather intact. Says she thinking if we have not got X for Christmas, we can cope without. And anyone who complains can be sent off on a healthy walk with a sprout to nibble on.

Frith

Pleasures for today (Sunday)

1) Not a bad sleep but an early start.

2) Worked from 8-12 this morning. Very busy but everyone made an effort to queue nicely and to be polite. 

3) Chicken and cheese toasties for lunch.

4) Had a lie down in the afternoon and listened to a podcast. 

5) Meatballs in wraps for tea, then mince pies, then cheese and biscuits.

6) Watched the Christmas edition of Great British Sewing Bee.

7) Bigger son came round while I was at work and put the panel back on the garage roof again. In the nick of time as there has been a terrible storm and rain since then. 

8) Smaller son and I walked to the little Tesco and back. 

Purple_kitten

1 I Iced the Christmas cake, I think I need some inspiration as my cakes look the same every year, but it tastes great and about 60 percent proof. I spent a long-time emptying cupboards looking for an icing topper I know I purchased, literally everything out, and back in, it doesn’t want to be found this year!

2 Pizza slice for lunch, and a tea of rtc turkey fillet slices grilled and rice and sweetcorn, honestly didn’t want it once I had cooked it.

3 Remembered to move the Turkey from the freezer to the Fridge.

4 Bets being had as we listened to the Christmas hits by sales top ten, we were wrong…

mhagster

Currently awake since 3am with an unsettled dog! I really could have done with a bit more sleep as I have too much to do today!! 

Anyway Sunday pleasures

Well  the very first one was a full night of uninterrupted sleep! 

Went to beach town. I have never been out in such windy winds! It was crazy. Picked up great niece and nephew and we were going to a festive event that had a kids activity. Very overrated for what it actually was! Had lunch which was alright ( have had much nicer elsewhere) 

Dropped them off and DD1 wanted to stop at beach. I’m surprised we never ended up on the big island! It was crazily windy!

Home and her luggage finally arrived after 4 days!!! 

Then we were going to a local winterfest type event. This had had the most atrocious reviews last weekend so I wasn’t looking forward to it ( I had paid for everyone as part of Christmas gift) and Saturday night event was cancelled due to weather though yesterday felt windier. 

Anyway it was alright was it worth the money? Absolutely not! Totally overpriced! But it was dry. 

And home! Big chat with friend on phone then tried to sleep but it was a bit not forthcoming…then probably fell asleep around 1am to be woken at 3am…waaah! 

Just going to take him a quick walk and thankfully we have vets at 8.30am ( for his eye check but he can get another once over!) 

Have a good Monday 

Highdays

Hello.

A calmer day weather-wise in our neck of the woods, hopefully in yours too. Hate big winds, farr tor unpredicatable for my liking!

Pleasures for the last few days:

1) A lovely but busier week that I've had for a long time left me happy but pegged out by the weekend, but plenty of time to rest and recover and I'm back on my perch and raring to go in a steady sort of fashion!

2) An extra minute of daylight each day now we have turned the corner.

3) Much preparing and freezing of veg bargains - carrot and swede, honey and mustard parsnips, braised red cabbage and homity pies tucked away in the freezers. Soups will be made today.

4) Son and grandsons are now home and on holiday until January. Brother and wife driving down to Devon today to spend Christmas with my sister and family in a holiday cottage by the sea and then everyone will be where they need to be and I can rest easy.

5) Looking forward to a 'steady away' Christmas.

May not be back before the 'big day' so Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, thank you for another year of sharing and caring, and wishing us all health and happiness over the festive season and beyond x

LaineyT

For the last few days,

1 - 5 Family, lots of and much needed. Both darling stepsons visited and lots of hilarity ensued as always. Missed the lovely gf who was visiting her own family but a date has been set for the wedding and a venue at least booked. 

Then brother, nephew, niece and great nephew who solemnly handed out chocolate coins with fair generosity. He sat on my lap to play cars and oh that back of the neck boy thing, my heart yearns to be a Grandma but will take what I can ❤️

Happycas

Good afternoon.  Brr.  Very cold but no rain!

Been baking and prepping today and I'm shattered!  And all I'm doing is the ham and two desserts!  To be honest, exhausted is my default position at the !moment.  I think 18 months of being support for DH has caught up with me.  And I'm really not moaning because I'm so glad we've got through it.  Anyway I've ordered some multivitamin and iron tablets and intend to rest as much as possible, starting today!

Hope all the poorly and sad, including Haggis the dog, manage to have a pleasant Christmas, and find some joy in memories of Christmases past.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone xx

Frith

Pleasures for today (Monday)

1) Not a bad sleep.

2) Spent about an hour making lemon curd.

3) Spent another hour extracting hollyhock seeds from the stems that had been drying in the garage. 

4) My friend came round in the afternoon and her Christmas present to me was a piano stool! I have never owned one but have always perched on a dining chair. 

5) Worked 4-8 with my 16 year old colleague who is very funny. I said it is my friend's birthday today and that is 50. She marvelled at someone being 50 and how I could have a friend that old. I pointed out that I am 49... I also had to explain what lentils are !

6) Not long got home and we had the LO meatballs in a wrap and I will have a mince pie later. 

Purple_kitten

Aw gentle hugs to Haggis.

1 I did a hoover and mop up and deep cleaned the bathrooms and declared the place presentable.

2 We went through all the animal toys in prep for the santa delivery, I think they are all panicking, some met their demise, some are packed in the loft and some are in a tomato water trough filled with both water and toys now.

3 We popped to aldi and picked up the animal meats at half price and 2 half price things for us snaffled to the freezer, and remaining bits and bobs all done.

4 I’ve just ordered a takeaway delivery, our normal place, and giving them a little bit extra, I know it’s not a lot but hopefully it’s better than nothing.

5 I might have wrapped up DH’s present's while also drinking a baileys, with a lot of help from Rhubarb.