Gggr on the tiles Frith but lovely to hear about youngest.
For yesterday,
As with PK a very welcome lie-in.
Out first to drop some old horse rugs off at a friend in need, home to dippy eggs with marmite soldiers.
Pottered about the house and sorted out another cupboard.
Over to see my own horse, they had all come in early due to the worsening weather and she was dozing with her head resting on the stable door. There were no lessons outside due to the conditions but a little girl was enjoying stable management with one of the Shetlands.
Home and the hatches were battened down, candles lit just in case and we all stayed cosy inside. On the odd occasion that small dog needed a comfort break it was achieved very quickly before she hurried back into the house!
1. Long chat with friend on the phone. Needed a chat with her.
2. Train journey to rugby was busy. Listening to a young child behind us who couldn't understand why we couldn't get off the train when other people were. His Mum tried to explain that it wasn't their stop.
3. Second train was interesting as lots of people in fancy dress going to Barbarians match and an hour before kick off the match was cancelled. Some not happy people but it seemed evenly split between going to the pub and watching the woman's match.
4. Quins match was cold and we lost but still got a bonus point.
5. Journey home was entertaining with a group of young men singing and encouraging everyone to join in.
fab news about ys frith good luck finding your tiles yesterday was very long and eventful 1) on dogs' morning walk trail of destruction including neighbours' fir down over their wall - my new fence seems to have survived 2) put beef stew in slow cooker, made apple crumble then spent rest of day alternating between housework and reading my Peter May book and the house filling with the delicious smell of stew 3) lovely catch-up with dd1 who is out in Holland - can't believe she'll be 30 next month! 4) then awful news from my sister - her husband was being rushed into surgery for a large abdominal obstruction - this was just before my friend (a consultant in dermatology) turned up for supper so was lovely to have her as a distraction as we waited and waited and waited - friend was able to reassure my sister that he would be gone some time 5) then phoned my sister - had a very long chat with her, first time we've spoken on the phone for possibly years (it's been complicated) she was in the waiting room - finally the news that he had been moved to ITU and she'll be visiting 4 - 5 today. so here the mse good news is my sister and I are finally talking again - I understand now what happened and now we can move on
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
How good that is, dd and also Frith, for ys! Unexpected loss, vl. Much surprise in Peacocks clubhouse, after our match. # 1. A hard-fought 13-all draw, always from behind, in conditions even more vile than forecast. Broken leg under gritty, swirling snow for opponents' no.10 meant both teams sent off field during long injury break. We roared our boys home, 3 tight scrums, then equalising try in 96/97th minute. Fantastic result and lengthy dancing, singing, celebration after.....long after😇😁😉
2. Again, generous forbearance with & as Raffle Harridan. Despite way lower spectator numbers, did well.
3. Safely out, safely back. Some big driving snow near midnight, but only over last couple of miles.
4. Hot water bottle filled, renewed. They are an undimmed pleasure for &.
5. Lazy brekkie brought back to bed earlier. Vg. Yes, dd - still on my Peter May, 'Lockdown'. Excellent, but reading time has been scarce with voluntary wotnot lately. # Everyone be careful and safe - on all fronts - and very omicron-aware, please. Masks and social distancing are still de rigueur for & and that isn't changing. Special wishes to McCulloch(whose Care Home address & now has. She will appreciate any osp contact😀) and MandM90, who must be mummy again by now?
'People don't want much. They want:"Someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for." Norman Kirk, NZLP- Prime Minister, 1972 ***JE SUIS CHARLIE*** 'It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere' François-Marie AROUET
Mhags! Hare of the Dog! Friths. I was thinking one wheel on my wagon with that night on the tiles, see above! Lazing Breakfasts! Apple Crumbles! I has the recipe for the lumpy custard available!
Round the Cape!
All good from the booster yesterday!
No game yesterday, well did watch the goooooooners and the main match was off! Tea was consumed!
Watched another flix on the box last night, Something like a Business. Pizza from the discount surplus store, cheeses and fiery fizzy waters were taken! Treats were given to kitty.
Put the tree up and decorated the windows for the yule! Looks good and we got a lit snowman as well!
Was up this morning with another helping of bangers and best back! Usual trimmings and tea was drunk. Popped out to fill the car, expensive! Why do people queue to use the pump when others are just unused? Slid straight up and filled again from other side!
Now sat again with me mug of tea, ham sandwich watching the cricket!
Dinner is salmon wellington with prawns, crushed tatties and peas! Homemade parsley sauce will also be served!
Time flies when you're having fun. And events make plans look a bit dewy-eyed when in fact they were very carefully mapped out before another Greek letter made its appearance...
DundeeDoll - still awed at you both run & play the piano. Hurrah new baby boy, crooned over by us here & watched over by the big sister he'll meet eventually. Real steam rollers? Almost worth being woken to see! Mum moving in, with books?! Annual leaves starts with bubble bath - hurrah! Yikes abdominal obstruction but congratulations reopening comms.
LaineyT - isn't a refund of almost any size a treat?! Like monopoly "Bank Error in your favour" - it isn't the money, it's the surprise! Oven has element replacement & carries on, hurrah! To find extra bedding is a happy relief. "bread, cheese, wine and olives all enjoyed" - hear hear! Aw stable management with Shetland..
[Deleted Users] - squirrels - a natural antidepressant! Admirable sense in the view of snow.
Happycas - so proud of you that "Enforced sorting and tidying of clothes" can appear as a pleasure! "Hold music" is almost always appalling, but even the Berlin Phil on that heavy repeat would loose their lustre.
Admiral - land speed record... Alas your emporium is pricing itself into closure. Seal bar?! I do very few cards, but this year will put the saved funds to SSAFA. Much impressed at ongoing gym habit. Plain covetous of salmon wellington, yum!
VJsmum - what do you do with copy paper? As I stand to inherit two trunks full of assorted papers & am a tad apprehensive about their care. Talking to brick walls - are you teaching face to face or via technology?! As latter oh yes, deeply unresponsive.
mhagster - these ouchy massages then mother - can you not reschedule your pain or do you need to be in spinal alignment to manoever mother? Isn't it wonderful to be the bearer of good news?! Absolutely right to decorate with ivy - it's usually wrong outside. Who will you ply with black pudding?! Son?
PaulieHerts - glorious photos & I shall use to shock offspring that "this is what I aim for every year" & my one little artificial tree is all I get. Tho in honesty glad not to be feeding that many.
Frith - Waitrose Christmas presents have an "ooh!" other purveyors can't match. A good day is a gladsome thing. A cold is not welcome, but the little set of lights sound great fun. Drat galore roof tiles but hurrah smaller son!
villagelife - that memorial service sounds well timed & warming. Cake iced. already? Awed! Oh my - love "boss allowed him to take an early lunch"! Ulp train full of Barbarians disappointed but (happily) diverting
ampersand - "Raffle Harridan"? An ungrateful name for a canny charmer who coaxes stupendous sums into the club coffers. Fingers crossed for identical twin grandsons - wishing them decades of companionable mischief. Yikes broken leg, and further ulp snow & ice driving with voluntary wotnots - please, you stay safe too?
purple kitten - some days an all stop on the redecorating gives new ideas time to grow.
OS Pleasures recently
Watching the restorers at mother in law’s & snarling gently at the work done & bodged. Pleasure is she’s happy & that’s most of the point.
Son has just yelled “Ay!” (Peeved at someone about something, but What is in the other side of my office door) & my prompt response was ”Bee”.. lovely pause as he tried to figure out why I thought this reasonable (still hoping someone will chip in “See?”).
Sister (grumbling over sore wrists & pins & needles) bought carpal splints online & complained they didn’t work. Cheerful vigorous family zoom as I produced my night mittens & explained how loose I wear them & showed off the steel splint hidden within. [Still not stopping pain on waking, but has a physio appt. On with the hoping.]
Lego has sold, but the really high price was to a Russian address when I was clear I do not ship overseas. Dash, but relisting along with duplicates…. Now to pack & label.
Blast. My energy supplier bulb going into special measures. Got meter reads in.
Book on Ruth Draper arrived! Blimey what a gal, & such a talent. Very nearly too late for tv & but an absolute stunner onstage as she presented the audience with the sketch outline & let their imagination complete & extend what they shared. That is was beautifully wrapped & carefully protected in cardboard from a case of gin, adds, somehow.
Husband strolled in having taken rubbish out “only did it so I could have a neb” - neighbours having a water meter fitted. Only 2 of them, house expensively rateable, wholly MSE just you won’t find it enforced apparently as the government doesn’t want to upset the pensioners. (Not convinced by that as a pretext but devout cynic here.) Pleasure in his honesty & my indolence leaving car off drive rewarded…
Saw a woman walk her dog & blinked, as while I saw the leash, the dog was camouflaged in leaves!
I mentioned the beautiful wrapping on the book? I sent an appreciative email & got a charming reply - sometimes correspondence is a delight! Son of the family runs wine shop with gin room of over 300 varieties!
Husband broadcasting “food in ten minutes” and lo, Middleson emerges! Now, how can I use this to get him to write thank you notes that he regards as pointless & (worse) raw hypocrisy?!
Cheerful family zoom including lively discussion over how best to shift £300 across the channel (debts incurred en route back from Moscow) & while international bank transfers are not easy for the uninitiated they have to be safer than wrapping treasury notes in tinfoil & posting them.
One of these days I will throw my children to the meter reader So They Learn. Honestly, I’m fairly sure they know Where the meters are, & how to check the person at the door is who they say, & yet “Mum!”…. My husband says “but you’re the one who deals with that sh*t”….
Up at dear gods o’clock to commute into Manchester to abide by the return to office & thinking hard about the role & the responsibilities of the breadwinner. Then realising I’ll be driving through Storm Arwen. Ah well. Informed choice is a very beautiful thing. [Back via Iceland so we have fish pizza & chicken to last another week.]
Family tree climbing sounds better than “I hunt dead people” but less threatening than “I know which branch the nuts come from”.(My beloved breathing eccentrics are from both sides & several branches!)
Anyone else seen the StepOne chaps underwear - the names of the colours have me chortling, “vacay camo”, “juicy plum” etc… It’s a bit juvenile but one of my lot love them. The price specials make me laugh - yes a mere £6.60 a pair, If you buy 15 at once….
We have enough snow to trigger Middleson’s protective instincts & thus a quick, “keep the parents indoors” top-up shop occurred. To his chagrin, I stowed away & got some series 20 Playmobil for my stocking… plus the cava Which recommended (“it’s alcohol, Mother”), yes the demon drink & I are old allies & exactly one bottle is Tradition rather than habit. Poor lamb, he wants to Protect me, which has to be an unrewarding ambition. Someone raffling about childhood comfort food indicating class. My fish finger sandwiches indicated I was a latch key lid by some definitions. Pleasure that I still love them but have met a chap who has widened my comfort food range enormously! Also my waistline but hey, comfort food is rarely carrot sticks…
Wow! Middleson, as post office employee, has been sent a wad of Christmas stamps! So, being an indifferent letter writer, he has handed them to me! Some I’ll use, some I’ll tuck into my stamp album. He’s uninterested in the bar code, whereas I’m riveted “This initiative will see Royal Mail become one of the first postal authorities in the world to add unique barcodes to stamps. By doing this, we are looking to transform the humble stamp so that we can offer our customers even more convenient, new services in the future. … The pilot of barcoded stamps reflects our commitment to constantly evolve our products and services in line with the ever-changing needs of our customers.“ coo! (Now, how do I get him to write his thankyou letters?!)
You know you’re getting a bit involved with family tree climbing when you count getting into the census as an achievement for someone who died young. The pleasure is that her sisters ensured her name lived on (and married early, making further tracking simpler!)
Our parents skipped the family zoom to attend a Carol concert. Us sisters could have just sat & looked at each other but conversation ranged from Marmite to Playmobil…
Youngest complaining of my limited ideas for an evening meal “you really only have 5 tastebuds”!
New duvet. Much wrestling…. Himself loves the soundtrack of small woman vs big duvet. (Warmer, heavier - worth the effort & the mutterings!)
Uploading Himself’s ebay stuff - his sales pitch has me blinking at times - gun cleaning rag in a roll “as used to bind & blindfold prisoners” - er, factually accurate (along with other trad cleaning uses), just unexpected.
A sister messaged me “what are the new rules” & I got the latest govt guidance over to her. Pleasure is she knows there are rules. I worry she goes over to my parents direct from the shop, no tests & that social contact just got more risky. We ran strict rules early on & I think I may have to remind the family that we can be infected by even loving friends. I will appear the joy killing thug but I’m aiming for both parents still alive at Easter.
Middleson off to Swindon for training & an exam. Me desperately trying Not to cluck, snow & ice driving being low on my list of fun things & him a young immortal “oh, it’ll be fine” when he’s only had 1 jab & doesn’t routinely carry disposable masks. Lovingly trying not to snarl, or sweat.
Right. Health, Strength, Love & Courage to all as have need, may your HWBs not leak & may you not have to venture out much in this dubious underfoot weather!
DundeeDoll - Hurrah new baby boy, crooned over by us here & watched over by the big sister he'll meet eventually.
Beautiful sentiment beautifully put. An early update from me tonight 1) the news that BiL is out of ITU and on the ward asking for his tech They think the tumour had been growing about 12 months and they think they got it all out - we are so lucky to have the NHS 2) DSis is unable to drive currently but neighbour is truly wonderful, giving her lifts and support - very comforting for those of us so many miles away 3) got myself new slippers from mr t - very cosy - and a new bath mat (ds's cat peed on the old one, i washed it and hung it on the line for a week, it still smelled so got the old heave-ho 4) now listening to advent evensong from down your way ampers - the boys are loving the fire, my 2019 pascal candle, rescued from the cathedral, is still going strong 5) later gbf will come pick me up, we will head off for the Cathedral advent service then we'll come back here for supper and Dr Who. Don't blink!
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Just back from the Hospice Light up a Life service. had both DD and DH names read out asked for them to be said together which they did .Thank you
Been going every year since DD died in 2011 ,used to be beautiful service with the church in darkness and real candles lit , new Hospice Chaplain in 2018 and tea lights ,was v unhappy .even worse in 2019 as tealights put on a tinfoil tray and turned into a carol service with names read as an afterthought?supposed to be Festive ? made my feelings known through tears after , was told it was health and safety naked flames etc etc .pointed out that church built long before electricity discovered so would have been lit by candles and had survived.Silence !
no service last year( couldn’t have gone anyway ,by then could only leave if a carer in ) spent the last week trying to decide whether to go or not .but did Bit better this year given one of those plastic candle/ tea type lights and all told please take with us. much more made of the Remembrance part of the service ,but still 3 carols ,no hymns .
must be me No doubt I will have the same do , I don’t I go struggle next year
Hello! Just put fire on which I wouldn’t normally as late in the day but DD2 called me at work this afternoon…there’s no hot water! Boiler had stopped so obviously no heating either. I’m mostly open plan downstairs so takes a wee while to all heat up so was freezing when I got in! But boiler sorted and heating on , about to partake of the hot water anf be thankful for it! And hope fire is a-roaring when I go back downstairs.
And the workety work is done! I’m out of office tomorrow! Hurrah! Had quite a good day as I knew it was just for one day only! ( get me…I only do two!)
Excellent tips.
Woke to snow! Quick doggy walk and then walked to work. Got a lift home though.
Hello doggy ( your backside is a bit whiffy though!) nice to see you too!
Replies
For yesterday,
As with PK a very welcome lie-in.
Out first to drop some old horse rugs off at a friend in need, home to dippy eggs with marmite soldiers.
Pottered about the house and sorted out another cupboard.
Over to see my own horse, they had all come in early due to the worsening weather and she was dozing with her head resting on the stable door. There were no lessons outside due to the conditions but a little girl was enjoying stable management with one of the Shetlands.
Home and the hatches were battened down, candles lit just in case and we all stayed cosy inside. On the odd occasion that small dog needed a comfort break it was achieved very quickly before she hurried back into the house!
2. Train journey to rugby was busy. Listening to a young child behind us who couldn't understand why we couldn't get off the train when other people were. His Mum tried to explain that it wasn't their stop.
3. Second train was interesting as lots of people in fancy dress going to Barbarians match and an hour before kick off the match was cancelled. Some not happy people but it seemed evenly split between going to the pub and watching the woman's match.
4. Quins match was cold and we lost but still got a bonus point.
5. Journey home was entertaining with a group of young men singing and encouraging everyone to join in.
yesterday was very long and eventful
1) on dogs' morning walk trail of destruction including neighbours' fir down over their wall - my new fence seems to have survived
2) put beef stew in slow cooker, made apple crumble then spent rest of day alternating between housework and reading my Peter May book and the house filling with the delicious smell of stew
3) lovely catch-up with dd1 who is out in Holland - can't believe she'll be 30 next month!
4) then awful news from my sister - her husband was being rushed into surgery for a large abdominal obstruction - this was just before my friend (a consultant in dermatology) turned up for supper so was lovely to have her as a distraction as we waited and waited and waited - friend was able to reassure my sister that he would be gone some time
5) then phoned my sister - had a very long chat with her, first time we've spoken on the phone for possibly years (it's been complicated) she was in the waiting room - finally the news that he had been moved to ITU and she'll be visiting 4 - 5 today. so here the mse good news is my sister and I are finally talking again - I understand now what happened and now we can move on
Unexpected loss, vl. Much surprise in Peacocks clubhouse, after our match.
#
1. A hard-fought 13-all draw, always from behind, in conditions even more vile than forecast. Broken leg under gritty, swirling snow for opponents' no.10 meant both teams sent off field during long injury break. We roared our boys home, 3 tight scrums, then equalising try in 96/97th minute. Fantastic result and lengthy dancing, singing, celebration after.....long after😇😁😉
2. Again, generous forbearance with & as Raffle Harridan. Despite way lower spectator numbers, did well.
3. Safely out, safely back. Some big driving snow near midnight, but only over last couple of miles.
4. Hot water bottle filled, renewed. They are an undimmed pleasure for &.
5. Lazy brekkie brought back to bed earlier. Vg. Yes, dd - still on my Peter May, 'Lockdown'. Excellent, but reading time has been scarce with voluntary wotnot lately.
#
Everyone be careful and safe - on all fronts - and very omicron-aware, please.
Masks and social distancing are still de rigueur for & and that isn't changing.
Special wishes to McCulloch(whose Care Home address & now has. She will appreciate any osp contact😀) and MandM90, who must be mummy again by now?
01274 760721, freephone0800 328 0006
Norman Kirk, NZLP- Prime Minister, 1972
***JE SUIS CHARLIE***
'It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere' François-Marie AROUET
Friths. I was thinking one wheel on my wagon with that night on the tiles, see above!
Lazing Breakfasts! Apple Crumbles! I has the recipe for the lumpy custard available!
Round the Cape!
All good from the booster yesterday!
No game yesterday, well did watch the goooooooners and the main match was off! Tea was consumed!
Watched another flix on the box last night, Something like a Business. Pizza from the discount surplus store, cheeses and fiery fizzy waters were taken! Treats were given to kitty.
Put the tree up and decorated the windows for the yule! Looks good and we got a lit snowman as well!
Was up this morning with another helping of bangers and best back! Usual trimmings and tea was drunk. Popped out to fill the car, expensive! Why do people queue to use the pump when others are just unused? Slid straight up and filled again from other side!
Now sat again with me mug of tea, ham sandwich watching the cricket!
Dinner is salmon wellington with prawns, crushed tatties and peas! Homemade parsley sauce will also be served!
Jen sends a Buzz
Keep Safe!
Someone raffling about childhood comfort food indicating class. My fish finger sandwiches indicated I was a latch key lid by some definitions. Pleasure that I still love them but have met a chap who has widened my comfort food range enormously! Also my waistline but hey, comfort food is rarely carrot sticks…
An early update from me tonight
1) the news that BiL is out of ITU and on the ward asking for his tech
2) DSis is unable to drive currently but neighbour is truly wonderful, giving her lifts and support - very comforting for those of us so many miles away
3) got myself new slippers from mr t - very cosy - and a new bath mat (ds's cat peed on the old one, i washed it and hung it on the line for a week, it still smelled so got the old heave-ho
4) now listening to advent evensong from down your way ampers - the boys are loving the fire, my 2019 pascal candle, rescued from the cathedral, is still going strong
5) later gbf will come pick me up, we will head off for the Cathedral advent service then we'll come back here for supper and Dr Who. Don't blink!
had both DD and DH names read out asked for them to be said together which they did .Thank you
new Hospice Chaplain in 2018 and tea lights ,was v unhappy .even worse in 2019 as tealights put on a tinfoil tray and turned into a carol service with names read as an afterthought?supposed to be Festive ?
made my feelings known through tears after ,
was told it was health and safety naked flames etc etc .pointed out that church built long before electricity discovered so would have been lit by candles and had survived.Silence !
no service last year( couldn’t have gone anyway ,by then could only leave if a carer in )
spent the last week trying to decide whether to go or not .but did
Bit better this year given one of those plastic candle/ tea type lights and all told please take with us.
much more made of the Remembrance part of the service ,but still 3 carols ,no hymns .
No doubt I will have the same do , I don’t I go struggle next year
sorry for rant
And the workety work is done! I’m out of office tomorrow! Hurrah! Had quite a good day as I knew it was just for one day only! ( get me…I only do two!)
Excellent tips.
1) Not a bad sleep.
2) Hens OK.
3) Popped to Sainsburys.
4) Bigger son popped in for tea (toad in the hole, carrots and leeks).
5) My school friend phoned.
6) Watched Top Gear.