The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Hello all on this blustery day.
Chrystal it is Preston Park, are you a NE girl then?  We also take a turn around Ropner Park too at times.
Thanks Beanie I did have a fab weekend, hope you did too.
So Saturday walk with friend P went well and the rain stayed away and many steps were achieved.  Take away coffee was available which we drank sitting diagonally across a large picnic table.  It is good to see so many families out walking despite the weather and in a space where it is still possible to socially distance.  On Sunday I was invited to brunch at DS's house were he made a frittata and sour dough bread with sardine pate, swiss cheese, croissants and fresh coffee.  We all had a good leisurely chat and catch up, all very civilised and fun.
Work was very busy yesterday, my second week of working via Zoom and then my IT let me down.  after an update the cursor disappeared from my laptop and then my phone stopped making and receiving calls and data.  I ended up conducting my final meeting of the day via Whatsapp !!  Still it got done and I've managed to sort it all out today without resorting to DS's expertise.
I've only had one meeting today and then had the new blinds fitted in the office and my bedroom.  I am slowly getting the house how I want it, and enjoying the process.  I am also enjoying repurposing items around the house and garden to fit my the new decor rather than going out and buying things, very MSE.
I passed on a tine of green emulsion from the garage (inherited from previous owners) to friend P to paint inside her display units and she gave me a hosta from her garden.  Fair swap I think.
So the rest of today is all mine to do what I want with so I'm currently online with GD1 helping with a paper she is writing, more a sounding board really but it seems to be helping.  I managed to get a line of washing dried outside but it's looking a bit stormy now so I think that needs to come in.
Ok I'm off to do that before the rain starts.
Speak later
Dottles x

Chrystal

Hi Dottles
Yes born and brought up in Oxbridge, so Ropner Park is also well known and loved by me.   I moved from Hartburn to Billingham but wanting to move back to Fairfield area in the not too distant future. (long story!) 
It seems as though your really getting your house sorted out and your days sound full of joy since you decided to 'retire'.   Lovey to hear that it's all working out for you.  X
 

Dottles1

Hi Chrystal, my parents used to run The Moor pub in the 70's so I know Oxbridge well.  I also moved to Fairfield when I was married but left and moved around quite a bit when I got divorced.  I'm settled in Norton now so only a stone's throw from you.  Small world isn't it?
Well my IT issues have continued over the last few days with my phone getting worse after following Apple's advice.  Anyway I have managed to fix it with the hep of DIL this evening so she has now been nominated as IT support (whether she wants to be or not!).
I went for another walk with friend P this morning and discovered a new take away coffee point and was given details of a long local walk which we may try next week.  We both said how much we are enjoying going out for these walks and will continue them.  If it wasn't for lock down we would have been meeting inside coffee shops so something to be thankful for I suppose.  I do lie to try to find a positive in a situation, look hard enough and you will find one.
I now have the whole weekend to myself - bliss.  I have arranged to meet DD1 in a local market town where she lives and take Tilly with me for a socially distanced walk by the river (see if you can guess this one Chrystal).  We have all pitched in to buy DD2 a watch for her 40th birthday so I want to show it to her before I send it off.  I can't believe that my youngest is going to be 40, how the time has flown.  It doesn't seem two minutes since I was pushing her in a buggy.  Still, they have all 3 grown up into lovely people so I can't ask for more than that.
Next week is the last week before payday and I still have money in my personal spends account.  I'm working out whether to use it to buy food extras for the freezer for Christmas or to put it into the presents pot.  I also have a little left in the groceries pot but that may be used by getting some fresh fruit and veg.  I'll be doing a tidy up of the budgets this weekend and a meal plan up to next Tuesday so will decide then.  
I have made a start on Christmas shopping but still have lots to do so that could be a Sunday afternoon job now that my IT is sorted
Any way I'm off to sort out some food as the timer has just gone off.
Speak tomorrow
Dottles x

savingholmes

Glad you are still able to see family, catch up with family, get out for walks and your business is going well. Simple pleasures. 

Chrystal

Oh I remember the Moor pub, and also the annual fair that used to use the actual moor when I was little   I used to go in the Moor in the 60s when the 'ultra violet' lights were a thing and we all glowed on the dance floor like glow worms!! 
The local market town wouldn't be Yarm by any chance would it?  Lovely place to live if it is. 
I know what you mean about the years flying by and the 'shock' that the kids ages brings!  My youngest is 47 and I honestly don't know where the years have gone.
I haven't even made a start on Christmas shopping yet... think I'd better get my finger out and hit the internet
Hope you're having a lovely weekend. X

Dottles1

You are so right Savingholmes, simple pleasures are important.  I have always been a family person but this year and the restrictions it has brought has made me much more conscious of how quickly time can pass in between seeing people.  I suppose I took for granted that I could see them whenever I wanted to and now we all have to be more creative and proactive about any contact and plan it into my week.
Right again Chrystal about the market town.  We avoided walking by the river as it was very muddy and took a walk through to a little near by village full of pretty cottages and a small green where we sat for a bit and chatted..  It still surprises me how many people we meet out walking and how chatty they are in passing.  On the way back we got take away coffee to warm us up.  The hardest thing I find is not being able to hug my family.  I know I'm not alone in this but I do miss human touch at times so DS tends to get it all as I'm in a bubble with him.
I didn't tell you about my bargains did I?  I ordered a warm coat, a pack of socks and some pj's (xmas present) from M*S online.  As I have a c/c for that store that I use to collect points I had £6 in vouchers left together with a gift card they sent me for staying with their bank for a year so I didn't have to pay a penny for any of it.  Even better, I still have £60 + on the gift card to put towards Christmas presents.  The coat arrived and fits beautifully so I wore it yesterday for my walk.
On today's agenda is a small amount of sanding and painting that I have been putting off, meal plan for the week with associated shopping list and I want to make a large chilli for today and the freezer.
I need to transfer christmas items to the freezer in the garage and the one in the kitchen looks like it could do with defrosting soon so I may as well get it out of the way before pay day and big shop next week.  After that I am going to sink onto the sofa with a coffee and my book.
 First on the list though is a nice long walk with Tilly while the sun is shining.
I hope yuo all have a lovely day
Dottles x

beanielou

Great news on the gift card x

Sun_Addict

Just catching up with you. My youngest is 34 in January which is very scary as she is still living at home 😱 DS is 36 next month 😱 I keep telling them they’re nearly as old as me 🤣

savingholmes

Still living at home at 34 - wow! I couldn't cope with that. I'm antsy my 22 year old is still home LOL. 
Glad you had a good day out Dottles and glad you can still get hugs somewhere.

Dottles1

Hi Beanie and Savingholmes and nice to see you back Sun_addict.
I got rid of all mine and lived on my own for10 years then my DGS came to live with me for the next 8 years.  It took a bit of getting used to but I wouldn't change it for the world.  However, I do like living on my own now, I just have to make sure that I get out and see people during the week.
Well this week has been as busy as ever tough I can see signs of things slowing down for Christmas but as I'm gong to take 2 weeks off, I am trying to fit everyone in before I finish for the festivities.  During a Zoom meeting on Monday Tilly jumped up and climbed onto the arm of my chair, there for all to see!!  Fortunately the person I was talking to found it amusing and her cute.  She does not like to be left out.
As I didn't have any work on until 4pm yesterday I went for a walk in the park with friend A and our dogs.  Tilly found her voice and let all in the vicinity know she was there but other than that behaved beautifully.  We had a take away coffee from the cafe in the park and strolled and chatted with plenty of fresh air thrown in.  By the time we left for home the temperature had begun to drop and it was good to get back to a warm house feeling refreshed ready to start work.  I don't start work until 1pm so plan to take Tilly out early and get a few jobs done in the house beforehand.
I'm plodding away with my Xmas shopping with parcels being delivered regularly but still feel that I'm not getting anywhere but then I always get a bit of a panic on and then end up sorting it all in plenty of time.  Does anyone else feel like this?   
This weekend I want to turn my mind to planning some baking/cooking for Christmas as I'd like to fill the freezer and make a few new recipes for easy meals and snacks so if anyone has any tried and tested veggie ones I'd be happy to hear them.
I've been watching episodes of The Fall over the last week and I'm gripped so I may get my food out of the oven and have it on the sofa whilst starting the second series.  Tilly of course is fast asleep curled up on the sofa.  Oh for a dog's life  
Speak soon my lovelies
Dottles x