🌞 Happy Days in our Golden Years 🌞

Fortune_Smiles

Lots to be grateful for...

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts.  We are disappointed of course but I'm concentrating on all the things we have to be grateful for this Christmas of which there are many.

Yesterday was a relaxed day.  I carried on with the household chores I'd planned for the morning and then we started our Christmas... mainly because I've had to re-think the menu plan to make sure none of the Christmas food goes to waste 😂  We had patridge and pear pate with fresh baked baguettes and salad for lunch.  Then dropped FDawg off for this Christmas bath and popped into the small market town whilst we waited.  We had a mooch around and stopped off in a pub for a warming hot chocolate (for me) and pint (for Mr F).  Supper was charcuterie with lots of gifted, home-made preserves and cheese accommpanied by a glass of red and followed by a couple of salted caramel and chocolate cookies.  It was delicious and we enjoyed it in front of the log burner whilst watching some nostalgic Christmas TV.

It's a bright morning here in the Shire today.  Very still and cold with a pale lemon sun breaking through.  We have walked FDawg around the meadow and come home to a warm house and hot coffee.

We can see a canal from our meadow and were troubled to think that, some miles downstream the embankment had collapsed with the water rushing away into a nearby field.  Two narrow boats have sunk into the resulting hole with another stranded.  The boats are homes rather than holiday lets and the owners have lost everything.  What a dreadful thing to happen at any time of the year but especially so at Christmas.  A g0fundm£ page has been set up for those affected so we will donate to that.

I would, of course, prefer the chaos and bustle of family arriving today but am enjoying the still quiet of the house instead which is giving me a chance to reflect and consider.  I have lit the log burner and intend to stay in front of it for most of the day 🔥.

Happy Christmas Eve all 🎄

Fortune x

debtfreewannabe321

Aw fortune I'm sorry your plans had to change and hope littlest fortune continues to improve and is well soon. 

I saw a post on FB about the boats that had sunk, they thought it was a sinkhole at first didn't they? Such a shame, I didn't realise it was someone's home, we've lots of canal boats here too but many are holiday let's or homes. I hope they make enough to recover everything (I'll look for that gof*Nd me as well).

Enjoy your day 🎄🥂♥️

VintageHistorian

I saw the news about the boats Fortune but didn't realise that was your neck of the woods. Along with the horrible loss of homes so close to Christmas, the original report mentioned that if the fire brigade hadn't shoved in a load of flood blocks the nearby town (village?) would have flooded as well!

rtandon27

Happy Chrismas Eve to Clan Fortune ❤️💚

Your dinner menu from yesterday will form part of our grazing table tomorrow - no cooking for us until twixmas!

Fortune_Smiles

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Aw fortune I'm sorry your plans had to change and hope littlest fortune continues to improve and is well soon. 

I saw a post on FB about the boats that had sunk, they thought it was a sinkhole at first didn't they? Such a shame, I didn't realise it was someone's home, we've lots of canal boats here too but many are holiday let's or homes. I hope they make enough to recover everything (I'll look for that gof*Nd me as well).

Enjoy your day 🎄🥂♥️

Thanks @debtfreewannabe321 - it is what it is and we have to make the most of it... what else is there to do 🙂  I do appreciate your kind comments.

They did say it was a sink hole when they first reported it but, no, the embankment had given way.  It's incredible how the local community have pulled together to help.  The real spirit of Christmas.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

VintageHistorian said:

I saw the news about the boats Fortune but didn't realise that was your neck of the woods. Along with the horrible loss of homes so close to Christmas, the original report mentioned that if the fire brigade hadn't shoved in a load of flood blocks the nearby town (village?) would have flooded as well!

It's not our village @VintageHistorian but it is in our area.  It's on the down stream of the canal so, yes, the entire contents could have emptied out and flooded the place.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

rtandon27 said:

Happy Chrismas Eve to Clan Fortune ❤️💚

Your dinner menu from yesterday will form part of our grazing table tomorrow - no cooking for us until twixmas!

And to you RT 😘  Yes, it'll be a day without cooking for me too tomorrow - bliss!

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Are things looking up?

Two presents arrived today.  Our friendly local farmer turned up on the doorstep with a brace of pheasant and two blocks of cheese (made with the milk from his herd).

And, we finally heard from our solicitor with positive news about our chances in court which means our costs for legal advice will be met by our insurer.

As planned, I have spent the day in front of the log burner contacting old friends to wish them a merry Christmas and catching up with a little admin. A nice relaxed day.

We had Halloumi Fajitas for lunch.  And for supper, the infamous Macaroni Cheese with Pigs in Blankets from Mr M & Mr S with garlic dough balls and a bottle of red followed by home-made mincemeat ice cream.  Such indulgence!

Maybe our luck is changing.  Let's hope so.

Hope you make it to the 'Nice' list.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Fingers Crossed Fortune! Very glad to hear the solicitor costs will be met by the insurer - that's one less thing to think about, and I hope a good sign that you will win!

rtandon27

Woohoo - good news from the solicitor!

...and homemade cheese - what a treat!