What I did today.

Oh yes I purchasd that last week from Amazon but haven't started it yet

Mine arrived today!

Did a stack of hand washing today, now keeping fingers cdrossed it doesn`t rain for a few hours at least!

That should read "crossed"! And I`ve got a very wet t-shirt on that refuses to dry, anyone know where there`s a wet t -shirt competition?

My copy of 'Song of Achilles' arrived today also.
No time to read at present.
Trying to sort out CH problems .Three houses in my close have had serious CH problems in last 2 weeks. Are there gremlins at work?

Had an interesting day. Drove down to Weston-super-mare from Newcastle and found MrA's great-grandmother's grave in the churchyard at Worlebury. Although she lived till 1956 when he was nine, he never met her - rather sad I think.

DS2, made redundant a few weeks ago starts work tomorrow and will miss his new-found freedom. He's been running and cycling all round the district, getting back the fitness he lost during six years of commuting around 80 miles each day by car. He went to school with his younger son and helped to make a reading sack - putting items relating to stories in a bag. The other children chose nursery stories and our little (well, rather large) rascal chose Star Wars. There's a photo of him wearing a really scary mask! Nothing much scares him - except perhaps spiders...

We lived in Salford 5, off Oldfield Road, and we thought Weaste was posh!
I have had an absolutely spiffing day! (Shades of The Famous Five). Firstly, it has been warm and sunny. Secondly, I had a telephone call of nearly two hours from NZ, which always cheers me up. Then I took Gatsby for a short walk and set off to explore the lovely historic town of Besancon, which is about 50 miles away. The route is very scenic and I saw lots of side roads and villages that I want to explore. The town is small enough to get round all the old centre in two hours, and is in a loup of the River Doubs. The river is criss-crossed by bridges, so I went over one bridge, walked along an esplanade, watched a whole class learning to canoe, came so close to a heron I thought it was a statue, then crossed back by another bridge and explored the tiny, narrow streets with the tall houses with wrought iron Juliet balconies. I would hate to live in one -they must be so dark.
I had lunch in a bookshop cum cafe, well off the main square. Ham and cheese omelette, salad, and fresh baguette, plus a very good coffee - total cost, about £4. I always look for the cafes outside the main squares, because I am a cheapskate.
There were signs to the Citadelle, which said 'Access difficile'. Naturally, I interpreted that as a challenge and slogged my way up several very steep sets of steps. It was worth it - the view from the top was magnificent, right over the river, the town and the countryside beyond.

I had made a big pan of chicken broth before I left, so I am now about to reheat some - the rest will go in the fridge and will probably make meals for the next two days.

Had an interesting journey to a meeting today as my Sat Nav 'lost satellite connection'
Logs delivered this afternoon so spent an hour filling up the log store from where the logs were deposited on the path!
At last a bit of time to catch up on GN!

Greatnan, that sounds like a wonderful day out.

I'm jealous Greatnan I went to Besancon 7years ago for a French course but I didn't get chance to explore. No sooner had I got there, than I got a phone call from DS to say the OH had had a heart attack...how inconsiderate!Still I did get to travel back first class Eurostar, courtesy of my travel insurance.Are you anywhere near St Claude?

I am staying just over the border from Pontarlier, but in Switzerland.
MY own home is South of Lake Geneva, in Haute Savoie in the middle of the triangle formed by Geneva, Thonon les Bains and Chamonix. Whenever I house/pet sit here, I use it as a base for exploring parts of Switzerland and France that would be too far for day trips from my home.
St. Claude is quite near, but I have not explored it yet. My problem is one of choice - the scenery is beautiful in every direction and there are so many interesting villages and towns to visit. Poor me!

I got up this morning, took a look at my bathroom and decided on a whim to paint it. I did the walls and wooden bath panel, spring-cleaned it all, then stopped for breakfast. Job done! Don't know where that came from, but that's another job out of the way.

when I did similar the other day. Went upstairs feeling quite tired, and next thing, I'd rearranged all the furniture in the spare bedroom! Madness!

Greatnan your bookshop/cafe sounds familiar. We towed a caravan to the Jura in the late 80s. I think we stayed/camped near the Cascades du Herisson and lunched in a similar cafe in Lons le Saunier. (A bit further South than where you are, I think).
Today I have thought about sorting out my wardrobe, summer away, winter out! Tomorrow I shall tackle it. I hate getting rid of clothes, but have so many things that are being kept 'just in case' that really need to be moved on.

I MUST SORT MY WARDROBE!
Is anybody near me wanting size16 clothes? All in good condition?
Going free to a good home?

Going to bed now.

Crescent moon all! (I wish)

Night night Jeni, I'm off too. Only had 4 hours sleep last night as I watched Jimmy McGovern's 'Hillsborough' then couldn't sleep!

Same here with regard to sleep, but due to pain. Better tonight so might catch up!
Goodnight

Spent the whole day childminding as GD's one has gone on holiday, then other GD after school, should have been doing it for rest of week but I am off to Edinburgh and I wasn't giving that up, I got a cheap deal at the Premier inn.

Tonight I am aching in joints (right thumb and ankle) that haven't given me trouble for a long time. Is it the weather?

Strange day! Got a phone call at 3pm, ex-DIL in need of help to look after grandson whilst she takes her premature baby to hospital. My son (her ex, his dad) down in London and seems no-one readily available. Ended up bringing grandson here from school, fed him, then learned she would not be home tonight, so grandson is now tucked up in bed and I'll take him to school in the morning. This time last year she was sending abusive texts and threatening I would not be having contact with grandson, during her campaign of revenge. It's so tempting to utter those words......but I won't!

Went to bed too early, and woke up at about midnight with my knee really, really hurting, so I am sitting here waiting for the pain killers to kick in! The trouble is that we only have the conservatory furniture (and twin beds!) with us at the moment, and, attractive though it is, it's not terribly comfortable.

Ah well; the decorating is now nearly done, the lilac/pink tiles in the main bathroom go tomorrow, then the carpet fitters main bedroom) arrive on Wednesday, then soon all our stuff arrives. Far too much, I fear. I shall sit and plan where to put it all. When I have caught up with GN, of course!

when - Strange old world, isn't it.

Ariadne - Hope your knee is behaving itself this morning - hectic few days ahead! Very pleased to hear lilac/pink tiles are being removed. Not a good combo.

anno despite the large amount of pain killers and Ibuprofen I'm taking at the mo, my thumb too is desperately painful.

when everything comes to he who waits....

Ariadne hope your knee has stopped hurting