Watty's Awakening

badmemory

I find most non alcoholic drinks too sickly sweet.  The best I have come across is lime & soda (how boring is that) & even then I can land up telling them to be mean with the lime.  They certainly taste better after a couple of the good stuff before!!  But then I have the same problem with pretend meat.  I would far rather just eat veg than have replacement meat.

Starlight_at_Sea

I will continue my research with you in mind Watty! I agree, often far too sweet. I'm lime and soda too badmemory, and with you on the fake meat! 

daisy_1571

Blackcurrant and lemonade for me please, no ice

Daisy xxx

Suffolk_lass

I like the Gordons 0% Gin more than their gin with alcohol. I have it with a premium (FT) elderflower tonic, lots of ice and a slice. I do prefer a good tonic to the gin, probably. Have you tried smearing gin round the rim of the glass (a la Marguerita minus the salt) and just drinking tonic with ice and lemon? 

I tried nosecco at our bee-post-Xmas social where I was driving. I bought it in Morries. I will not be buying it again. Too reminiscent of grape juice and soda, but three times the price.

Watty1

Aldi's is similar @Suffolk_lass.  

I think my drinking falls into two parts.  Firstly, socially so maybe a glass of wine on a date with the VNM or fizz (often lots) with girlfriends or the "I'm tired and frazzled and want/deserve some wine at the end of the day" .  This second category is perhaps more of an issue because I need to reframe that to I am tired and frazzled and need to go to bed and I need this even if I have planned to see a friend or the VNM.  Last night I was in bed and asleep by 9.10 pm  I don't feel a lot better for the sleep this morning but I know I feel a lot better for not staying up until 10.30 pm having a glass or two of wine.

Going to try the Gordon's 0%   I did not know they did such a thing and with a nice tonic that might be a lovely treat!

Last night with dinner, instead of a glass of wine we (the VNM was here) had a glass of kefir that was gorgeous. Not quite sure how this batch tasted so lovely but it was really light, refreshing and tasted of raspberries and chilled. Served in a wine glass we both felt we had had a treat (clearly we are easily pleased!)

Watty1

Very busy day juggling work and Most Handsome.  An absolute win for the month is that I have now on board a new IT support company to sort out back ups and "stuff".  It is a monthly expense which my old company was not but my old company was tardy and after that last comment that they were working with "important" clients I thought it was time to jump ship.

Have also sorted out a new Virtual PA.  Just need to sort out a data processing agreement with her and then she can start.

I know the eventual plan is to look for an exit strategy and downsize, but, until I am in a position to explore that these small things should make the working life easier and less stressful.  

Most Handsome is depressed he is still lame, and, so am I.  I missed a call from the vet today but I did get a bill for last week's visit.  I will try her tomorrow morning, hopefully blood test results are back.

debtfreeoneday

Hope blood results are positive 

Watty1

Some days there are no words but lots of laughter.  Got up early and started work at 6.00 am so I could go for an hours ride  just after 9.00 am   Left Fellpony in to keep Most Handsome company and left back gate open so I could easily return.  When I got back Fellpony had escaped from his stable and was wandering around the yard.  (I must have forgotten to put the kick bolt at the bottom over on his door).  I don't mind, I often let him wander around the yard keeping Most Handsome company - except this morning he did something he has never done. As I led Charming Cob onto the yard Fellpony slipped past me.  

This is no mean feat - remember he is of substantial build, some may say "fat".  I prefer stocky but to be honest he is built like a mini tank.

Fellpony heads off to the garden so I quickly secure Charming Cob then return to catch Fellpony who has spied the open gate and thinks now is the time to go adventuring on the road. With a lot of waving of arms I manged to head him back to the garden, shut the gate and eventually capture the little darling and return him to the field. (He was hard to catch and has explored the garden which as many of you know is a mess anyway luckily)

The gate to the field is always left open so the two of them can pop in and see Most Handsome and I leave both horses in the field.   In all the palaver I forgot to secure the haybarn bolts before coming in to work.

Returning to the yard at lunchtime to entertain Most Handsome, I find Charming Cob and Fellpony have now broken into the haybarn and are stuffing themselves with as much hay as they can.  They have clearly been munching for some time.   Charming Cob calmly leaves the barn after a stern word, Fellpony yet again is uncatchable which is quite something in a barn and demonstrates more stealth mode by returning to the yard when I finally get him into the field as I try to shut the gate. I am unclear how such a well built pony can slip past me through the narrowest of spaces? 

After I had cleared up the mess and returned to the house I sat an laughed.  Little devils.

In other news I have cleared the office and it looks very neat and tidy.   This might have been a distraction from doing the VAT return I suppose but it will count as 1/29 and I found a very sweet keyring that I bought for a friend then lost so 2/29 as I will pop in her birthday card later this week.

Watty1

Most excitingly I have just unwrapped my  new-to-me bread maker.    There really are lovely people in the world. I'm delighted and looking forward to my first loaf already (flour and yeast already purchased).    

themadvix

That did make me laugh Watty! You're very good at telling these stories - can you draw too? They would make great children's books (maybe I'm being influenced by Fellpony looking a bit like a Thelwell!).

It sounds like it's been a good day all round though (maybe excluding the VAT procrastination).