What I did today.

jeni, so sorry to hear that news. But I wish you all the best in your decision-making . My back 'went' once when I was in the loft. My mobile and DD3, aged 4, were downstairs. Scary not being able to move! DD did manage, eventually (imagine me shouting instructions calmly but urgently!) to bring me the phone...

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Kitty hope you are recovered enough to really enjoy everything tomorrow.

jeni trust you are feeling better this morning and can start to look positively at any move you may decide to make.

Bit worried today - reddish sky and you know the saying!

Early start through almost freezing thick fog to do a 30km round trip to get a blood test done at 7.30 on an empty stomach. Oh the joys of rural living!

ga, look after yourself. The mother of the bride needs to be in good shape. Hope it all goes well and everyone has a good day.

jeni are you ok this morning? Hope you're feeling a bit stronger today.

Morning Jeni I do hope you are feeling a bit more confident today. Just being tired can make everything seem so much worse, so I hope you slept!

Hope you had a better night jeni and you feel strong enough to make your choices

jeni I didn't see this thread last night when I asked your advice about cruising
I do hope you're feeling a bit better this morning, and stronger. Your DD sounds lovely and I'm sure will help you make the right decision - but go with what feels right for you

Kitty and GA lots of positive vibes for tomorrow's weddings.
Jeni the offer still stands xx

Good luck with this project jeni. Sometimes head must rule heart
Hope weddings go off well and that the sun shines as it did on my November wedding.
I am off to the MK mayors dinner tonight. We know the mayor - she is a close friend of a close friend. She is doing a great job.
Have assembled dressing up clothes. Going for the chiffon LBD (again), with a kind of dressy waistcoat thing over it, leggings, and my OTT Chinese silk pashimina thing. Very big, very black on one side and very fuschia on the other. DH bought it in HK from Shanghai Tang 17 yrs ago but it is just too big and slippery for any kind of everyday wear.
And, for your entertainment, this outfit is aimed to distract from a monstrous carbuncle on my chin. Usually a small, colourless carbuncle, it is this morning a big, red, pus-y carbuncle. May have to put a plaster on. What a cliche.

You may have to tell a tall story about being in a fight, JessM. Alternatively, all the best people are being knocked off their bikes this week.

anno it just looks like a giant teenage zit! I would never get away with biking accident.

jeni
ga hope you are feeling better
To all you lovely ladies
Stressful week has resulted in stomach pains and heaving nausea.

Oh heavens - I do hope everyone is soon feeling better/happier/safer very soon. Jeni my 97 year old aunt is still in her house - she has one of those key-safes at the front door (trouble is I can never remember the code ) but it's very useful for her carers. Hope the weddings go well - of course they will and everyone will look beautiful.
I have been with my 2 gs's for less than a day and am exhausted; how on earth am I going to cope with them for 2 whole weeks? Ok DD will be with them, but my goodness are they full on. The 2 year old whose room I am sharing, woke screaming at 1 am and when I put on the light he was covered in blood - a nosebleed - so not much sleep there - it must have been the crack on the head when he fell off the sofa was pushed off the sofa by his 15 month old brother!

Gotta , jess. Sorry!

I hope you can arrange things so you feel safer, jeni. Might be a daft suggestion,but do you have room to take in a lodger?

I tend to expect the best but my daughter worries about me, living alone on the second floor of a block of flats with no neighbours. My nearest friend is Juragran, who lives almost three hours away. The only other person in the block is the caretaker, and he does keep the stairs well swept when there is snow and ice. I have never been ill (other than a migraine and a scalded chest) in the two years I have been here but my daughter keeps pointing out that I am getting older and may not always be this fit. I expect I will end up living close to her in New Zealand (not with her!) but I value my independence very highly. Getting older is a pain, isn't it?

Morning all. Yes I'm still here Thankyou.
OLD GREY I'm only working 1/2 day on the 20th perhaps we could meet then?
I'm still very unsure of what to do. I'll talk about it with my DD tomorrow and take it from there.
A key safe is probably a good idea, but I don't know who I'd give the code to. All my neighbours are away travelling a lot of the time and I don't know many other people well enough. Most of my friends live elsewhere.
One good thing has happened, I've managed to get tickets for the Tallis scholars in December. I got a reduction and the friend I'm taking goes free as my carer.

jeni - is sheltered accommodation out of the question? Are there any purpose built retirement bungalows in your area? I know we all hate the thought of losing our independence, but safety and peace of mind come first!

jeni I like the sound of the bungalow with a better view. In this case, it makes sense to follow both head and heart. I'm rooting for you. Keep us updated please.

Tallis Scholars - I am very jealous. Where are they on?

I really like bungalows - there is something very homely about them.

mishap my son is going to see them I think this week in Ely or Cambridge. I'm going to see them at st George's Bristol on the 12thdec.

I'm now going mad! I'm trying to cook Nigel slaters chicken and leek pie! I can't even cook!
Watch this space!

What do I do with the left overs? It feeds 6. I CANNOT cook for one. You'd think after 10yeats I'd have learned, but!

Start with bought pastry - I thought that recipe looked delicious - will do a big one for the festive season I think. Before you start have

I've made the filling! Tastes good. I've divided it between 2pie dishes and will keep one for later. Can you freeze a filled pie? I propose to do it without the base, just the topping (less calories). I have the all butter puff pastry.(that's not fattening is it?) I'm supposed to be dieting but think that may be why I'm feeling exhausted and down. Perhaps a good meal will cheer me up.

jeni, I buy small foil pie dishes (each with its own foil top) so that I can freeze one-woman portions. Otherwise I might eat the lot in one go! . Lakeland sells them of course, but so does my local pound shop - at about half the price.

Is there a difference between a one woman portion and a one man portion