5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

Happycas

Good morning.  Very dark out there but I don't think it's raining, for a change.  Yesterday we had the most vivid orange sunrise ...followed by rain.

Frith -  those tomato puree decorations are fabulous.  I'd never have thought the inside was that lovely colour.  You're so clever. X

Went to local pub for an end of term lunch after yoga with my friend.  When we asked for white wine we were given a choice of Sauvignon, Pinot or posh Pinot.  We opted for the posh pinot as it's nearly Christmas. It was very nice, as was the meal.

Whilst there I was telling my friend I was reading a book in the Shetland series that I'd somehow missed before.  Oh, she said.  That's when ( major plot twist ) happens. Ah well.  No need to carry on reading then😂   

And on those lines, bought the latest Louise Penny yesterday.  Am going to read Grey Wolf again first though as I understand they're sort of connected. Don't think my friend reads Louise Penny so I should be ok there

Sainsbury's yesterday morning.  Very unbusy for the week before Christmas. Since they closed their cafe they're nowhere near as busy as they used to be but it makes it easier for me.

Then Littlest DGD nativity. It was a modern take on the traditional story though I'm still not quite clear why the cowboys were there.  DGD was an angel with a wonky halo - a very beautiful one too.

Unfortunately DH had to miss it as he has a fluey? Covidy? thing.  He's not dreadfully ill but didn't want to pass it on to anyone.

So today more prep and sorting.  Only a week to go!

Happy Thursday everyone

Purple_kitten

Argh I copied the post for here, and then I copied something else and lost the lot, argh.

I finished putting up and decorating the tree.

I made a banana, apple, Biscoff milkshake using up the fruit and it was great

Received a surprise hamper containing a big, cooked ham and pickles from DB, a very pleasant surprise, and exactly what we needed, with thank you notes tooing and froing while he checked on the delivery.

Leftover subway roll reheated up for lunch, and from the freezer was turned into one bowl Chilli just now.

Finally received a decent discount code for something I wanted to order for DH with free delivery, I’m just fingers crossed it arrives in time thou.

The house is far cleaner and clearer than it has been in a long time, I do have the joy of the display cabinet in the hallway awaiting me, but that’s tomorrow’s final thing.

mhagster

Hello. Having an early night.

Quietish day. Up early. 

Hung out washing outside… dry and a wee breeze this morning…though currently lashing with rain. 

Sorted out spare room for my next set of visitors. One of whom has a dust allergy and a dog allergy! 

Then took my dusty hairy dog down to CP for a lovely walk. He was full of nonsense! 

A red kite swooped down low in front of us and then was sat atop a telegraph pole. And saw small younger deer on the way back. Quite well camouflaged where they were. 

And home. A pup had been dropped off for a wee while. Then he was collected. 

Chat to niece on phone.

Been watching a lovely series called Ripples on Netflix which was nice. Just finished the last episode. 

Had satsumas and pineapple for my tea! Needed using up. 

Frith

Pleasures for today (Thursday)

1) Not a bad sleep. 

2) Went to Ludlow and used my free breakfast voucher in Bill's Kitchen. 

3) Went round the charity shops afterwards. 

4) It absolutely poured down for hours so all the shoppers kept leaping from one shop to the next! 

5) Smaller son and I put the Christmas tree up. 

6) So much water leaked in that half the electrics have fused. Made tea in the microwave then made an apple pie in the air fryer! 

DundeeDoll

1) woke horribly early with my stomach telling me it was breakfast time - it was 2am here but 9am Thailand so my 1st mse pleasure of the day was eating a banana and getting back to sleep
2) 2nd mse pleasure is long soak in the bath and finishing my book (James McBride's Heaven and Earth Grocery Shop)
3) a lovely afternoon snoozette
4) fabulous RSNO concert - rehearsal then RSNO and soloist did the snowman 1st half (we ate our packed teas) then RSNO with nearly 150 singers from the Dundee choral academy and the Glasgow choral academy - amazing!
5) and managed to get straight off to cathedral for the end of their rehearsal so I could pick up the music for Sunday's 2 services (also need to practice for next RSNO concert, also on Sunday!)

Frith

Pleasures for today (Friday)

1) The cat disappeared yesterday and did not come back. Good to get up after a disturbed sleep. I was out with the torch at 2am and smaller son went out at 4. She is nearly 20. 

2) I went to the coffee morning and they held a Christmas party. 

3) Got home and the cat was waiting for me in the porch! She looked very pleased with herself and has been asleep in a heap ever since. 

4) First of 4 shifts done at work. Busy but customers were jolly. 

5) I'm going to watch television until bedtime. 

DundeeDoll

20:22 and in my bed - still a bit too much on Thai time!
1) woke at 4  - my mse pleasure was listening to 3 episodes of Dads' Army on sounds (as i didn't get to episode 4 reckon i was awake 90 mins)
2) then slept till after 9 (oops) so 2nd mse pleasure is Teams for 1st meeting of the day
3) into work and 3rd mse pleasure is seeing the office decorations including the tree (1st day in the office since 5th)
4) dd2 phoned - she had an interview at 3 and a job offer at 4:30 and today her fiancée also signed the contract for his new job - it's been quite a week - engagement and 2 new jobs!
5) 5th mse pleasure - my bed! 

DigForVictory

Purple kitten - 4ft wood cat wheel?! bonus day out - how's it going?! "blooming cleaning, but it’s done" Definitely a pleasure! Named Crunch - delighted to hear her settling in & so well done turning back from a queue! A surprise hamper - hurrah!

PaulieHerts - oh gods the Schrödinger move, hoping the building control engineer is feeling brisk & cooperative. 

Frith - "breakfast in the museum" has my imagination happily doing laps. Awed & impressed by decorations! Yikes at leak & missing dinner but charmed you got deposit back. Love the photo & utterly smitten lamp painted in Landy paint! The 2am chats - you wonder! So rainy the electric have fused, ulp. After an anxious night "cat was waiting for me"!

ampersand - delighted to hear you ruthlessly testing the Emporium delices & rehoming barley twist chair to one who can appreciate it multiple ways over

topsyturphy - did you have a good birthday weekend? "leftovers for work lunches" yum! Chocolate! 

DundeeDoll - tickled that academic gifting is of scottie dog tins with shortbread biscuits. "the waitress remembered us from last year" - wow! "we treated her to dinner at the hotel bar while the lovely pianist played on" - your care for your students is glorious! Rousing hurrahs DD2! "applying medical education to ceilidh dancing" - no wonder you're invited back! Welcome home, via a capsule hotel! "eating a banana and getting back to sleep", absolutely. Celebrating "engagement and 2 new jobs" even while not quite on GMT...

LaineyT - a "chocolate smeared face" reassures us that it Wasn't Just Us failing to keep infants clean tidy & presentable at all points. Aw, beautiful grey in burgundy - yes, so 'on trend'!

mhagster - the ouchy massage just makes you take a brief break in your otherwise near-perpetual motion? Productive day and how, but then clean sheets, Yum! Only prudent to check presents to avoid vet bills. Well done you sticking to your day off! Decorated gingerbread - yum!

Happycas - love the family traditions observed with daughter & oh yes, you shouldn't croon over "normal" stuff but it's hard not to when you think of the path required to get there. Aww DGD Nativity (cowboys as oxen need wranglers too?) Well done DH on self discipline not to share.

weenancyinAmerica - I too am inspired by Frith!

Highdays - "more root canal work"?! Still better done than wondering & before Christmas.

OS Pleasures recently

Hallelujah the Annual Epistle (a Round Robin I began back in the 1990s) is written & emailed out. Better still no deaths in this one, lots of outrageous quotes from the lads (I’ve learned not to consult them - the year I asked & they said no [to the sharing of some of their most robust observations] was very quiet) & now I can focus on most awkward blighters present. He “can buy anything he wants” which suggests he needs Education. Anyone know a gripping introduction to philosophy?!

Hopping into a bed where a hot water bottle has been doing its sterling work! Gods, that's good. If we had a real fire, I’d be looking for a warming pan to put the coals to use with, but an HWB  can be left in the bed for hours whereas I think the warming pan might required staff to waft & then remove. Progress, eh?

Colleagues joking at my spectacular crazy golf - never have they seen a score so high! No one hurt, phew. (They weren’t there as I had to go, and my feet went straight to the tobacconists that did Himself’s pipe tobacco. Some days you don’t see the wave coming til you’re gasping. Aye well.)

Yoga class & I’m warm, calm and looking forward to the weekend!

News awash with flu & me glad I’m jabbed & have masks for the crowded locations.

HWB to the toes is a special pleasure.

Aww, Middleson off to see fellow apprentice & play with him & little daughter. Not sure how good he is with little children, so hoping all well & happy whilst wondering a bit. If the young lady is into Lego, she’ll have an ally.

Hardly news that love doesn’t stop when the vital signs do, but saw a Maltesers advent calendar & thought “we’d have found that Hilarious”. One, a day?! In a household of always-ready-for-a-little-something boys?! (Hence the shortbread is well concealed.) {well, so I thought - young toad may get a jauntily wrapped box <containing an empty hot water bottle for the weight> on the day. }

Just started Murder before Evensong, wow! Love the introduction of his mother… Then I’m find I’m knife spotting as if Himself were watching alongside me. (Oops. Handkerchief.)

Ah, scrubbed self sprawled on clean bedlinen, bliss!

Reading peacefully, and vaguely wondering at what time I should be planning to join Middleson for a brew & to admire the garden shed under construction, he called! Answering the phone in bed seems decadent somehow.

Contemplating Christmas cards for Himself’s side of the family & shrugging we’ve left the time for picky taste several weeks ago. (Plus although his sister has confirmed the addresses, I’m not 100% sure they’re right.)

Amazon customer service surprisingly helpful & cooperative. After a “your item is not eligible for self return” that was a relief!

Tiger bread & pate, I love bread that fights back!

Youngest viewing my assemblage of festive pâtés opines “we could reassemble a duck”. Given he chose the chicken liver one, it might be Frankenduck.

Aliens Earth watched a couple more episodes with Middleson. He’s building a tool shed & it’s growing & refining. I can feel your hand over it love, it’ll be a place to dream dreams & build visions.

There’s something very satisfying about pizza. Both hot from the oven & cold from the fridge next day, when the flavour seems to have developed a bit more.

Oh, the Amelia Peabody books, and the delightful little details: of Egypt, archaeology etc that gave me enchanted & chuckling.

I’m invited to a meeting but on break so not attending. Boggling at the chat though - some quiz with As & Bs & an unexpected “we go for chicken!” All splendidly bewildering & happily still not my problem.

Colleague has brought in Indian sweets (“contents sugar, sugar & still more sugar”) & oh my, how does it look like cheese & taste like pudding?!

Oooh fun tech class tomorrow & I’m invited! Excellent. There are new toys & I want to learn this game…

Just back in after 10 from a visit to Macclesfield which is the wrong side of Manchester for me. Still, in the education of our trainees we make sacrifices. In my case, sleep.

Wonderful day of learning & having fun! (I even got paid for it!)

Chatted with a charming colleague who loves fishing (hours sat in silence, no phones, no chat) & she thought a day outdoors with a shovel sounded blissful. Belatedly I realise I forgot to ask if it was gardening, agriculture or off-record burial she had in mind.

Strenuous writing of cards to Himself’s family, trying to strike a balance between bewildered widow & feckless correspondent. Both of which are intermittently true, but neither correct 90% of the time. Migods the cost of time & money, but if I don’t hold doors open for my sons, they may lose contact with half their relatives. (Their view is if the paternal lot are like mine, a lucky escape. I disagree & wish they’d give their cousins a chance!)

Youngest & I playing with “equanimical“ as a as word. Properly rooted in equanimity, he lost massively on points believing it to mean something along the lines of conducive, as in to success. Clearly I need to review his bookshelves more carefully if he can misplace a concept thus. 

You know you’ve achieved ultra-rich privacy when you can change your electoral roll address & don’t hear from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s not illegal to scrutinise the open copy (I used to leaf through the block of electoral print in the library boggling at names) but the speed with which they welcome new homeowners & condole with the bereaved is slightly disconcerting.

Initially I was bewildered when I got emails about big purchases at screwfix - then I realised son using my loyalty card. Now he’s got a sparking sander, it’s under 6 months old & my account has a copy invoice - he got the SAD FART lecture & should get a replacement tomorrow! [Has. Splendid.]

Scout Christmas party, the classic ‘hat scarf gloves knife fork & bar of chocolate as the dice is passed around’ game for starters, followed by a joyous ‘decorate your patrol leader’ (several photos from which will adorn our AGM presentation!)

Scout leaders social (after we’d herded the young out into the cold wet & into their subs-paying persons’ care) included dark chocolate with Himalayan pink salt which wasn’t bad for 60% dark. (We divided fairly neatly along like dark chocolate & like the salt lines!) plus an assortment of festive crisps & the chilli ones were definitely a big hotter than flavoursome (to me!) 

I asked ‘what are AI agents?’ hoping to hear something like digital spies & ye gods they’re not. Frankly a bit spooky but more study may get me past this ick!

Jewish colleague’s birthday so looking up traditions & greetings & rituals to understand & cheer on. It’s been a rocky couple of months, the individual deserves our affection & support even if the politicians do not.

I just do not get into an organ recital with a beloved old uni friend. Mostly as she finishes it with “I should be an exotic dancer for the blind” & my imagination sorts music, suggests wardrobe & generally laughs itself helpless in a corner in another county.

“EV charging etiquette” - I need to sign up for other emails. They think there ought to be an offer to pay (reasonable, but I’d hope for very clear reassurance on how much, how fast/long [oh do quit sniggering, offspring at my shoulder] & how you plug the blighter in before I part with my petrol vehicle.)

I should eat at an earlier hour, if only so I don’t try to inhale rice. Youngest rightly shocked & appalled, more by my suggestion we eat a croissant after midday “it’s a breakfast food, you savage”. 

Much intrigued the Epstein files are released as many colleagues start their seasonal holidays. There’ll be some fascinating off-formal-channel chat!

Health, Strength, Love, & Courage to all as have need, layers as it gets colder and wetter & may your HWBs not leak amongst all the other gifts from Fate.

Happycas

Good morning.  Dark!

Lainey - hope all is well and that you're happy Christmas busy, not Christmas overwhelmed.

DfV - it happens this time of year.  You're trotting along merrily thinking about gift tags or some such and out of nowhere comes an almost flattening memory. Hug incoming x

Well, DH indeterminate illness has developed into full blown gastric bug. He's had nothing except water, dioralyte and Imodium for the last two days and it's still not settled. Visitors are banned from the house and we're looking at next Thursday with bated breath.  

Meanwhile I'm continuing with preps as if it's all going ahead, with emphasis on things which will freeze. 

And it's so dark!  Good old pathetic fallacy.

Happy weekend everyone

LaineyT

Still here and reading along HappyCas it’s just that every time I’ve gone to post this week something else needed doing first 🙈 sorry to hear that beloved has the lurgy, everything crossed that it will be better for next week.

Recently,

The last of the presents have been purchased and wrapped, cards written and sent, sighs.

Visits and visitors, an evening meal for some and chocolate bread & butter pudding that went down a storm, Capt S was disappointed with the meagre amount of leftovers.

During the evening C dog came wandering through from the lounge crunching suspiciously and we realised that she had cleared up the pistachio shells that one of the guests had left on the coffee table. Nothing reminds you that you have a labrador in the house more that the “tidying” up that gets done. Luckily there was no noticeable side effects.

The emporium sells mince pies for dogs and yes, she has some for the big day.

Mud, so much mud and keeping a horse’s legs clean isn’t for the faint hearted especially when you really miss the hot wash at your previous yard but mud fever is enough to strike fear into any equestrians heart so daily washing followed by a towel drying is a necessity.

Talking of the beautiful grey one she had her annual jabs for equine flu plus tetanus, she didnt even flinch as the needle went in and was praised for ease by the vet, apparently some poor souls have to be sedated for their vaccinations. 

DN has results from MRI and is 50/50 as to what caused the problem but he has been cleared to fly so the Sydney test is still on for him & DB

Message sent to eldest DN, it’s the winter solstice plus a new moon this weekend so a small ritual suggested. She is tentatively following the same path as me so happy to share what I know, hmm who am I’m kidding, am over the moon that there will be another witch in the family!

Picked up a Radio Times and circled those programmes I fancy, happy memories of doing the same with my brothers at home but far less channels then.

We are not talking about the cricket, at least United got 3 points last night and still sit in a play off spot.