Not dropping Santa down the chimney!: 2025 Santa, Shoebox & Life Chit,Chat,Chunter! ALL welcome....

Anglea

Hi everyone, friend overlooked a funeral so our more elaborate Equinox plans were altered so we were at a garden centre cafe that has views of a wooded hill with a hill fort in one direction and distant hill forts and caves are in another, you can't see anything other than shapes of hills but it's the knowledge they are in a direct line which is interesting if anyone is into Ley Lines as there are also churches in that line.

DS2 was given dairy free eggs that the friend had to get in Bristol as no sign of them where we live and we saw him the week before Easter and few days later I had a kitchen floor flooding/machine disaster, Friend pulled the machine out and saw nothing wrong with it. The washing had come out saturated and there was water over the floor. The next day I tried just doing a rinse and spin and it seemed ok however later on I found lots of water and .we later discovered the U Bend under the sink had come apart. I didn't realise because there was a lot of bags and stuff under there so water must have been falling into them and it wasn't until that actual day that it ended up on the floor.

He fixed the problem and today I've put on my first wash today after the fiaso and have gone on here to escape from the worry. I've put a large bowl under the ubend and towels on the floor just in case, but only put in  items that could be easily dried indoors (as it's raining hard).

DS1/wife turned up unexpectedly the night before they were due and I told them it's lucky the floor wasn't flooded as it had been a few days before. They are having a 2nd wedding in Japan next month, the first was in England, I'm not going but the exH is. He also arrived with more news, I can't recall if I mentioned he's a qualified pilot now (as a hobby) but he's being encouraged to take instructor training in the future but he's got to fly 150 hrs first.

Katiehound I'm looking forwards to your 39 hour update.

I am still waiting for my hospital appt to be sent and I've got to see the doctor in the next few months too as my BP was sky high after I got sent home from hospital and when I saw the gp afterwards I had to take daily readings and then got sent back for a discussion. I asked to have a go at reducing it myself before resorting to pills.

How have you been Happy Kitties?

Happy_Kitties

Anglea u definitely have not had a great start to the year at all.  Life has thrown a lot of things at you and you still keep going and now the washing machine and ur BP aswell. I’m glad that you still managed to do something for the Equinox, you visit some very interesting places. 

Brilliant opportunity for ur DS1 to do instructor training and all I can say about Japan is wow. A second wedding in Japan.

Im wondering if Katiehound has recovered from her 39 hour trip
I hope Chanie is doing okay, we haven’t heard from her for ages.

I was working away for parts of Easter so went to visit family on Monday. Duncle is looking to move so I took some bags of things to drop off at the CS for him. Then the best thing was he had saved me a shoebox that was filled with ties and a silk scarf. Some of the ties are brand new but doesn’t want them. I’ve been stashing extra things for the shoebox hub for the care packages.
I used to knit a lot but bec of my joints I cannot do it now. I’ve been on the hunt for adult gloves to finish the third shoebox. Found some in the Matal@n sale that are not in store. I’ve picked up children's gloves and hats in the store cheap but nothing else so have done one of their click and collect options with a few extra items. Really itching to get the third shoebox finished while I am in the mood!!

Had a sort out of other charity items and put together a box of bits and pieces for a charity. Things look abit tidier now and come Christmas the bedrooms will look bare with all of the items gone. Couldn’t send the parcel straight away as I have had food poisoning which was nasty and coincided with hospital which I have had to cancel for the second time. They have been very understanding and got me an appointment for next week. 

I’m away again next weekend and then hopefully I can give more attention to the house as it looks a mess at the minute and Easter went in a blur. Late with one birthday present as usual so must get that sorted……no change there!!

Anglea

Hi again, Happy Kitties it was good to read your update, do you go far when you work away? I'm sorry you developed food poisoning such an unpleasant thing to happen. Do you know the cause? I really enjoy reading about the boxes as I used to do them and the challenge of finding good items was just like a scavenger hunt.

I can't recall if I ever mentioned in December that the organiser of my art and craft group died unexpectedly (just before he left the house for the club) and ever since I didn't feel like I wanted to attend as it would feel very weird to look over to where he sat and he wasn't there plus he used to help me emptying the water urn of boiling water after we finished our teas and I would help clear up the art things etc and as well as this, I always seemed to either have an appt on the day in question or feel unwell so I still haven't attended and tomorrow (day of the club) I'm taking mum for a hospital procedure and I found out DS2 is going to a different hospital for something similar but in his case I expect he'll have general anaesthetic.

As a result of not going to the club, I haven't done a single thing towards my usual gift making, there's a birthday in June I always prepare for. I had a few ideas that involved crochet but I also bought a hand crafted heart made of cut down 1 inch wide wood branches that are sort of stapled together and there's a lavender ribbon for hanging and  artificial lavender attached but I'm thinking of adding beads and charms and other flowers (as I don't particularly think the lavender looks that good), It's for the friend that likes pagan things.

Chanie I hope you update soon. And you too Katiehound.

Sammy Kaye, how are you?

Katiehound

I'm planning to come back in a few day's time and write a long blurb but very tied up with doggy duvets- need some made asap!

 Today's question is: How far can a hard boiled egg go??!!  One exploded (I had forgotten they were boiling!) and it went.... everywhere, including on the ceiling. Much muttering ensued......

Anglea

Katie, that's unbelievable. What an awful mess to clear up. Good luck for the duvets.

Katiehound

My own stupid fault: I had forgotten they were boiling. I heard something making a noise in the kitchen- didn't investigate until it exploded- and that was quite a noise! The egg yolk is no longer on the ceiling....... Unfortunately very little went on the floor for dogs to clean- instead up cupboard doors. 
 Never too old for a new 'experience!!' Ha ha

Happy_Kitties

Katiehound what a nightmare. I hope everything is all cleaned up now and no egg left on the ceiling.

Anglea I work away several times a year. Only about 3/4 hours drive, 
Sad to hear about ur art and craft organiser dying, it can really throw u. 

I’ve still got a tree on an inside door made of tree branches cut down to form the tree shape  with  lights wrapped round them and various bits like snow flakes and white pom poms hanging off it. I should really take it down but I love the simplicity of it and it looks so pretty. 

I’m full of cold at the minute, it’s one thing after another. Been trying to get out and about. Picked up some more gloves and hats cheap. My leaflets have arrived for the shoeboxes so I’m going to use this weekend to try and get box 3 finished and box 4 done aswell as things are beginning to spill out of the bag I’ve got everything in.
Need to do some diy aswell.  I’m not the best at diy, built my chest of drawers, one drawer is falling apart so really need to sort that this weekend. Things are coming through the bottom of it!

I’ve got loads of bitty things that I need to complete so I’m aiming to get things done over the 3 bank holidays plus catch up on the washing which is overtaking the house!! Out with a friend today, 

When I went out to pick my meds up yesterday I had a quick nosy around the shops. I’m not one for shopping, it’s usually in, get what I want and then out but I was just trying to get some fresh air with this cold. I went in the W@rks and managed to pick up a couple of things in their sale for Christmas and more bits for the shoeboxes. I need to start being productive!!

Anglea

Hi everyone,

I  had a kitchen fiasco of my own last weekend. Luckily not eggs everywhere. In the middle of the night I felt a bit peckish and found 3 frozen meatballs and decided to put them in the microwave and left the room only to see smoke coming out of the micro on my return. It was really thick smoke when I opened the door and it seemed to embed itself into the walls and everywhere for days even with the window open 24/7.

I've sent two cards to DS1, another wedding card for them and a greeting card with a picture of Bristol on the front (as it's close to where I live) where I have written to his wife's parents in English for Daughter in law to translate into Japanese. Along with my exHusband, they are all flying on Sunday night but exH is staying in Tokyo for a while before going to her parents home which is somewhere on the other side of the island. He's having one night there with everyone then on the wedding day they are all staying in a hotel. The wedding ceremony is going to be at a shrine then the reception at a hotel. They will be wearing traditional Japanese outfits.

I was going to see the Flying Scotsman last Sunday but things went wrong so instead we had lunch at a garden centre then did geocaching around the area of Bristol where there is an annual International Graffitti week, artists from all over the world paint the buildings. It wasn't this week but it's a quirky place to visit and we had hot drinks in an interesting place called The Tobacco Factory, it's wasn't the place you'd imagine would have a farm shop in amongst a music venue, restaurants, bars and cafes, Seems they grow their veg in fields in the next village to me.

I was looking at possible gifts as there were books, natural medicines, soaps, plants and all sorts and there's also a Sunday market in the grounds. 

Saturday we're going to a neighbour's home for a street Coronation tea party and  bringing some savouries as I have issues with dairy although the hostess is baking a Dairy free cake. I need to remember to buy a birthday card afterwards as I overlooked a birthday on Sunday which can be hand delivered.

Happy_Kitties

Anglea have u got rid of the smell of smoke now? When u get smoke like that it takes ageeees to get rid of the smell.
Had a small disaster of my own but not in the kitchen. Went to sort out some of the charity items in the back bedroom as the cats took an executive decision that a gym ball wasn’t needed and I found it punctured. It has freed up a nice block of space. Yesterday I bought a large storage box and instead of doing one thing at a time I decided I could balance me on the stairlift, holding the vacuum and the big storage box. As I was going up the vacuum handle got wedged on the ceiling and went thru it 😬. Only a small hole but very annoying. I can patch and repair it but it is annoying me just looking at it at the minute. That’s me being impatient and has added to my DIY list,

Managed to sort out and tidy up some of the charity items, they look so much better. I sent a photo to the organiser who will be having them, it’s the shoebox lady for her care packages for when the hub gets up and running later on in the year. I worked out that will be in 6 months time and time is moving so fast.
i managed to finally finish shoebox 3, it’s only taken so long?! I’m going to start on box 4 tonight, I have set myself a target of 10 and I have to do them gradually. How Katiehound manages to do them all in one go, I couldn’t cope!!

Anglea u visit some very interesting places. It’s a shame u didn’t get to see the Flying Scotsman, I love the Flying Scotsman and had one in my train set as a child

Ive managed to pick up a couple of presents for DD for Christmas, she is getting harder and harder to buy for so when I see something now that I know she uses, I grab it. Makes for quite boring Christmas presents for her but at least I know everything is needed and will be used. 

Just trying to do more decluttering aswell. More items to the CS this morning, Not as much as I would like but it’s a start.

Katiehound

Finally managed to make it to this screen!

I have been at home for nearly 5 weeks and the 'delightful' duvets have taken over my life!! Today I packed 12 into the car for collection on Wednesday and another 4 went to the dog groomers 10 days ago. The 5 that I made whilst away have also gone (4 certainly sold) So made 16 recently and really don't want to see another for a while......(In total 21)

I've almost forgotten the travelling by now! On the outward journey I was not feeling well - severe muscle pains, in fact feeling out of it so much that I left my Irish mobile behind. I was about 3/4 hour into the journey when I remembered it so had to turn around to collect it. Oh, but what's an extra 34 miles & 1.25 hours on an already long journey??? 

On the way home : 3 diversions. One about 4 miles from the start. Another in central Dublin just about 5 miles from the ferry terminal but I did have rather poor directions printed out for that one. Last one , less than 1/2 hour from home. Passed the airport and wearily thought 'only another half hour!!'  ha ha, diverted down narrow country lanes on a road I have never been down before.

Whilst away I managed to find some hand creams at under 50 pence. Sewed a whole lot more shopping bags, knitted mittens and started another knee blanket. Whilst I've been home I have watched the odd programme online (Channel 4) and the blanket has grown to about 2/3. Currently using up really thin wool double: I want to get rid of it all! DK is so much easier.

My oldie hound is still here, she was 16 on Easter Monday and celebrated by getting caught out in a thunder storm with lightening and hail!! The back legs are wobbly but once she gets going she can be quite fast.

Next week I am going on a cruise, hopefully I will get the case out of the loft in the next couple of days & then find some suitable gear. No dancing so outfits can be worn several times!!

Hope everyone is well.