Old Style Daily Saturday 03 December 2022

Gers

Morning folks, leaving my cosy bed is awful but I need to make coffee. 

Gers

Having a coffee in bed is such a treat. Now I'm waiting for dawn to start. 

Yesterday my second shopping trip was much more successful although even the Tesco extra didn't stock tinned asparagus. Then I asked an assistant about where Marvel was, I thought it would be by the Coffee Mate. She looked it up on the wee hand-held scanner, told me that they didn't stock it but I'd find dried milk next to the all the oat / soy /UHT milks so I went there. Lo and behold, there's Marvel. 😀

Branston was easy to find. Then I worried about sending it to Berlin before having a wee flash of inspiration - I'd had two bottles of my favourite gin delivered on Wednesday (one is for a present) and they were packed in very robust bubble type tubes, with only a little encouragement the Branston jars fitted perfectly. Happy days!

Late on I decided to book a ticket to see Dawn French's show in October next year so that's done. She'll make me laugh. I still think back to Sandi Toksvig's show and chortle 

What I do today depends on the weather. There's a number of Christmas craft fairs taking place, one locally and two more less so. If the rain is awful I'll stay in and make a pot of lentil soup to replenish my freezer stocks. 

Ruby - thanks so much for the carol yesterday. I too miss Tru, her carols and stories about Scamp. Happy belated birthday to Mr Ruby. 

Snoozer - did you get more sleep last night? Did Esther settle better?
Camelot - how was your meal? As good as you expected?
Scarlet - I'm confident that you cracked your shopping. 😀
TA - what a day you had on Thursday. I hope that Sparkle didn't put up too much of a fight yesterday. 

Coxy - how was 'She Said'?
DP1 - I can just imagine DGD's excitement, she's now at a perfect age for Christmas. 
Bella - sorry to read that you're struggling still, it's an especially busy time of the year, not much time to rest. 
Izzy - the brass band carol service sounds so good, can't beat it. I hope it all goes well for them. 

Taff - not easing up much then? 😂
Nan - wrapping presents is such a soothing activity except for the sellotape bit, I always lose the end. 

Rosy - did you bring the tree down?
I've asked the chap up the hill for a tiny wee tree this year. I didn't want one last year even though he brought me what could only be described as a branch!  I've also asked him for a small fillet of venison as it's the season for it. It's time I moved myself out of the grief fugue. 

Time to rise and face the world, think it'll be a cold day. Keep warm folks. Happy Saturday to all. 

ScarletRibbons

Good morning, thanks for starting Gers.

I think it's damp and cold as usual, I always think of this as dirty weather, everything is wet and it's hard to sweep up leaves etc.

Our shopping trip went well yesterday, I managed to buy most of the things on my list.

Everywhere was busy of course, so we didn't bother going in for coffee anywhere, though I could have murdered one.We were home by 1pm, so we'd done quite well.

Today it's the usual household stuff, and I should do some wrapping, I'm miles behind this year.

Hope everyone has as good a  day as they can. Thoughts to Poppy, and anyone else who is poorly or sad.

Take care folks.

camelot1001

Morning All

My late night didn't result in a long lie this morning so I may have to have a little nap this afternoon! The meal out was lovely, I had forgotten how good it actually is and will make a point of visiting again next year. Good company but the end was spoiled a little by the usual arguement about the bill, those not drinking seem to have subsidised those ordering bottles of prosecco, cocktails etc. Still, not worth falling out over but I do feel a little peeved.

Glad you got all your electrics sorted Gers and you've got your shopping, what do you use tinned asparagus for?
Sounds like you've broken the back of your christmas shopping TA and Scarlett, always a good feeling.
I love a brass band Izzy.

My cold has developed into a very annoying cough but need to battle on today and finish the christmas shopping, I'll go out early and get that done. Not sure what to do about a tree this year, maybe I'll look for a small one, can't be bothered with the huge affair I usually get, it takes up too much room and involves moving furniture about.

Hope everyone is well and has a good weekend, take care. XX

TravellingAbuela

Morning folks and thanks GERS. The first coffee of the day is always the most enjoyable one I find.  Brr this has to be the nippiest start yet. I think we are steadily building up to the promised cold snap at the end of the week. 

As I lay in bed I mentally made a list of all the jobs I would tackle today! I do that most days but it seldom happens! I think the "list" has now been reduced to cleaning the kitchen and bathroom and then get stuck in to present wrapping or bagging and writing the Christmas cards and then I know how I stand with stuff. We are now told to post cards even earlier than early this year because of all the strikes. My 3 for Oz went 2 weeks ago so hopefully they will get there in time. 

Sparkle was a naughty girl yesterday. The vet got hissed and spit at so she had to be taken into the nurse to be pinned down and examined then jabbed. When we got home DD gave her a very early Christmas present to unwrap straight away.. It's a Christmas tree scratching post!  So far she wants nothing to do with it!

Have a good day folks if you can and ((HUGS)) for our poorlies, fed up or MIA. Thoughts are with POPPY as always.. Take care one and all and be safe x

Coxy11

Morning all and thanks for the start @Gers x We both enjoyed She Said - and thank goodness for the 2 investigative journalists and their tenacity which highlighted the issues and made the change. 

Off to FC later and TOTM finally made an appearance today, so not hopeful of a loss. I am off to Quaglinos in London after for a friends' significant birthday lunch. There will no doubt be 'jus' and 'reduction' and other such nonsense. I will not be going for the bottomless fizz at +£80/pp though - will stick with gin and slimline. More than one glass of fizz makes me squiffy.

Naughty Sparkle @TravellingAbuela - will she be on Santa's naughty list?
Oh how I love a brass band @IzzyBee - very jealous as nothing like that going on here.
Enjoy the Christmas market @Gers
When we eat out as a group we have a drinkers and non-drinkers price at the end @camelot1001. I'm usually the designated driver so that suits me but agree it can get awkward.

Still no call back from M&S re: my sofa issue. Armchair does not match the sofas and is different to the online photo. They said the photo is wrong and I should choose a different range and they will swop it. Chose something else but it's £500 more and they want me to pay the difference. I think not - what about you? Now stuck as no-one calling me back. I've tweeted, emailed but nothing. I know it's a first world problem but it really grates on me every time I go in the lounge! This has been going on since 18 October. I really expected better from M&S tbh.

Sorry for the vent. Hope everyone has a lovely day and sending hugs to those in need of one.
Coxy

IzzyBee

Morning everyone cold and damp here just housework to do today hubby has stormed off out to the phone shop he will be out for a few hours my new phone won’t turn on and his says he has no SIM card in it but I have had it a week and it won’t work outside the house so something needs sorting I haven’t a clue I’m afraid me and technology don’t mix ask me to fix something or build something I’m fine but you may as well be speaking Chinese if it’s to do with anything else . Coxy my friends daughter had loads of trouble with m&s when she ordered some furniture cancelled and went to next which was even worse between the two she had no furniture for nearly a year called in to a local furniture shop and was sorted within a couple of days your just a number these days . Thinking of all the poorlies hugs to those that need them have a good day everyone whatever you are doing 

Nelski

Morning

Its a nippy one here for sure. Going for the Michelin man look with jumper and fleece but the heating will be on for a couple of hours to warm the air a bit. 

Took a flying leap yesterday and consequently have a lot of bruises and very painful knees. Probably should get checked out but after the local news showing pictures of our local hospital with queues of ambulances waiting outside to check in and them having 0 beds available on the wards then I will live with it. Fortunately I have enough pain killers to keep it at bay. 
 
Success on the plumber front he turned up and I now have a new stop c0ck that works under the sink. Way more expensive than I hoped though. One stage left now just need to get the valve changed on the boiler that switches from heating to hot water as that's not working so I need both on to get either. Grief this has been a drawn out and expensive issue.

Today I will have to rest my legs quite a bit but there's a few bits of jobs I can tackle hopefully

You are all cracking on well with the Christmas shopping. I'm adding a few bits to my weekly shop but don't need much as its just me. I'll get mum a few bits to open today.

Have a lovely day all and keep warm x

-taff

Morning all... Got quite a lot done yesterday from my list, but did not meet friend, she had to go to urgent care for her foot [Nels, have you got one of those? Did you phone 111?] , and did not cut wood, friend with carpet took longer than I thought so it was too dark to start, so I chopped some kindling instead. OH did empty the box though so that's now upstairs and we've had a change around downstairs. And I fitted in a haircut. Today, cut and fix wood, start the pre Christmas declutter downstairs. And eat sinful chinese takeaway leftovers for breakfast...  

nanny, hope you find lots more things to use your wrapping mountain corn beef stew sounds lovely. Rosy, thank you...and hope the footie went well...Gers, ooo, that sounds good, I like her too. Hope you have better luck sending your food than I did mine to Spain last year. Izzy, enjoy the brass band, they're so great to listen to, well done your GD...Have your phones got mobile data switched on? Coxy, what a pain about your furniture. I may be repeating but have you gone through this? https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/#must Sounds like you definitely have a case for them not doing what they should. Enjoy the meal out! Very posh TA, bless her little octopus arms and legs...camelot, glad the meal was lovely...I have remedied that usual niggle by drinking too for the most part...it always annoyed me too. Scarlet, happy wrapping, it must be a Christmas music and Baileys kind of day then

Take care all, and the ones who are not feeling up to it, or feeling it...Different strokes...

🕯️ ⛪
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Tempus ad est gratiae hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina laetitiae devote redamus.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
👼

RedRuby1231

Morning all

Cold and damp here but no rain which is nice, I have stripped the beds and got the bedding on a hot wash hopefully it can go on the line for a while.

We had a lovely meal out last night for OH's Birthday, I had prawn and avocado for a starter and OH had  hot seafood in a tomato sauce then we both had a steak and then tiramisu and profiteroles it was all delicious but the diet went right out the window 

OH is going out walking today with the new rucksack I bought him - he is thrilled with it !  I am going to wrap the last load of presents, I am done then apart from some fresh stuff for the in-laws hamper but I shall get that nearer the time. Might sit and write my cards later and get the ones posted that need god only knows how long they will take to arrive ! DD is going into town to buy her last bits.

Dinner tonight will be pork belly and halloumi wraps with chips, we did this in the summer on the BBQ and its very tasty its lovely with some salad leaves and sweet chilly sauce.

Housework to do this morning and maybe a nap this afternoon.

Nels ouch you take care my lovely xxx

Have good days all xxx

bellabella

Morning all well winter is finally here its definitely getting colder had the heating on for about 20 mins this morning thats it till this evening now just pottering today and debating wether to go xmas shopping tomorrow trouble is i have to drag DH with me he doesn't want to be there and i dont want him there so it just ends up in a get in and out quick scenario ( I do love him really after 33 years)
Izzy we had the same trouble with DH phone last year drove us mad in the end we moved it from Virgin to Tesco and it worked perfectly goodness knows what it was we had new sim cards and all sorts of buttons pressed all to no avail I hope he gets it sorted
Nels Legs up and rest there's nothing that can't wait x
Coxy Grr on your behalf i dont go to M& S anymore they used to be so good years ago but like everything they have sadly let their standards slip
TA Naughty Sparkle hope she is ok she must be fed up with the constant trips 
Nanny send some of that paper mountain my way i haven't bought any yet 
Taff Thank you for the Carol x
Gers Hugs i get you about the furge  x
Right better get on with pottering around hugs to all those who are unwell or just not feeling in the festive spirit take some time for yourselves and stay safe warm and dry xx