What I did today No.2

You can come and decorate my Christmas cakes, BradfordLass

My decoration will be worse, I know it!
They look yummy.

Enjoy yourself menopaws, with your precious new grandson.

I hope you are nowhere near the fires.

welbeck I hope all is well after that rather dramatic night.

MOnica reading that first sentence, I thought you'd been kidnapped and trafficked to Cologne! Glad it was a nice break for you.
Menopaws Congratulations! He sounds gorgeous; what a joyful Christmas you'll all have.

Looked up Nicola Benedetti Gramaretto - she's straight out of a pre-Raphaelite painting isn't she?

A mixed day for me: did the promised baking. Made lots of shortbread Christmas trees and stars. The decoration is clumsy and there were many failures but I'm amazed the icing hit the biscuit at all with my wonky eyes.

Did the laundry - then forgot to hang it out!

Phone call from my 90 year old (precious) friend to say she's not sending cards or celebrating Christmas as she's just lost yet another family member - 5 this year.
I don't blame her, poor soul.

Salad and spinach/cheese quiche for lunch. Won't bother with tea I don't think, will just make a cuppa.

couldn't sleep, s often.
some weeping and wailing. much Angel radio, good in itself and esp now for avoiding politicking.
paid BT bill. moved furniture, squeezed crawled under stairs, meter readings, told e-on, refused to discuss why I did not want smart meter, gave readings, to await new bill.
avoided neighbour across road. v pleased to see careworker for said neighbour, who brought me fish n chips, paid for by neighbour. feeling cold. not put heating on til late evening. warm my hand on warm outlet air from laptop. drop of internetting. walk up road with careworker. and back. need exercise. eat more food. change into pyjies. more internetting. angel radio on. neighbour rings me after midnight, says can hear scratching at window. I say its windy, things blowing around, suggest she listen to angel radio. now thinking will I go over, hope she's asleep. she sounded a bit deranged. I cant take it anymore. wont.;she's not my friend. a neighbour I assist. yesterday was funeral of oldest friend. she was a real person.

My Saturday already started as I am in Australia meeting my new grandson, my daughters firstborn. He is an absolute gem and so good for ten weeks old. I am resting and relaxing and loving the sun and my wonderful daughter and her husband.

We went to a concert tonight. Last minute tickets to hear Nicola Bennedetti and the RSNO. It was joyous and splendid.

Woke up in Cologne. German tv was on in the breakfast room, so the election results came to me filtered through the German language.

Later on in the morning I went to the station and started my journey home. Cologne-Brussels-London-Didcot Parkway.

Loved the break, all the Christmas Markets. Germany seems so much richer and more prosperous than us.

If we cannot beat them, we leave them, Hey-ho.

Drove the length of the M4 , then half way round the M25. With DS, DiL and DGDs now. Lovely .

Today, Friday.........the usual thing of getting ready (all that faffing about washing & drying my hair, getting my face on, etc), put the washer on, went to work, which was, as usual, very good.

Met my friend at a local garden centre, had lunch and cake.

Posted all my Christmas cards, went home, put cards through letterboxes of several neighbours, did online grocery shopping, vacuumed the bedrooms (3), cleaned the bathroom, made meatballs for dinner, and the sauce, from scratch. Chatted to a friend on the 'phone, replied to a few emails.

Had dinner, loaded the dishwasher, wiped around the kitchen, had a bath, now ready to watch tv.

and a Merry Christmas to you too BradfordLass!
I hope you pop in occasionally with your sound advice.
I can't believe it's dark here and I have achieved very little today.
I am halfway through making a pie to take to DD tomorrow as we are leaving early (before light) to drive to the wintry north for the weekend.
We will look out for the Northern Lights. I have only seen them once. It was a wonderful sight.

As we all get busier, I don't expect we'll have time to write about our day, so I'd like to thank everyone who participated.

It's been wonderfully interesting reading about the many and varied routines; how hard everyone seems to work, as well as dashing around trying to arrange Christmas.

I shall be thinking about you all, even if we don't meet here for a chat and a cuppa

I went out to lunch with friends whom I asked to have me back by 3pm as my homecare lady was due at that time.

We got back at 3:15 to find her waiting outside my house.

She'd been there since 1:30, hoping to start early as she had a wedding to go to at 3pm. I felt so awful, even though transport was out of my hands.

She was very gracious about it and assured me she'd only miss the church service - the celebrations would go on well into the night.

Merry Christmas Everyone - may you all have a Peaceful and Happy time.

Happy birthday for yesterdayMinimoon

After a slow start yesterday morning, DH made lunch and then I went to the school where I volunteer. Chaos as they were getting ready for an Infant Nativity that afternoon. Parents already queuing in the cold and rain. I heard about 12 children read. and had to explain several words , knickerbocker glory being one. Otherwise they just read the word with no curiosity about the meaning. Must take a dictionary with me next time so they can look things up themselves.
Walked home as it had actually stopped raining. Then DD and SiL came for dinner. One of their presents is to be a delivery of mistletoe seeds in February. We have several old Apple trees and an oak, so I look forward to seeing if I can grow mistletoe.

Quite an eventful day for many. Glad you are pacing yourself Lucky.

I do love donkeys Ella and used to keep goats myself. Escapologists every one!

Belatedly Minimoon

Wrote to my cousin in Cumbria early this morning then gave the kitchen a good thrashing.

Got butter from the fridge thinking I'd make a batch of Christmas shortbread for friends who ring and ask most months, 'Are you too busy to make me some more shortbread?'
The answer today, had they asked, would have been, 'Not busy but too lazy.'

I think it's the weather; it's hot, sunny but so heavy today and feels as if there could be a storm tonight. After such a long run of hot weather, we need one.

There's a Blackbird with an importunate child on my deck

How brave, Lucky, but so worthwhile. My DH has had to give up choir - no voice and struggled to follow the music. Really sad as he had sung all his adult life. I still manage it though the voice is definitely not what it was - and it wasn’t brilliant then.

Made my wreath for the front door this morning, a source of great pleasure and satisfaction. Came home to news of the sudden death of a dear friend of over fifty years with whom we have shared so many holidays, grumpy teenagers and celebrations of all kinds. DH is really upset by the news so we got the photograph albums out and relived happier times.

Long but enjoyable day. Went off early to a Safari Park, enjoyed the drive through the animal enclosures, had a surprisingly good lunch, wandered around, succeeding in not buying anything in the shops before a wonderful walk around the light installations. Beautiful and wondrously not too busy. Neither of us were driving so we finished the day with a rather large mulled wine. Even managed to stay awake on the way home. . A very different day from the usual.

I can imagine the mixed emotions today lucky but as you say, a good thing to do.

sane?? - sent!

What busy people you all are!

I am a bit of a wash-out at the moment so I have resolved to pace myself a bit.

DD appeared this morning to take photos of lots of our old photos, specifically of her Dad, as she wants to make a fun photo album for him for Christmas. I took delivery of a Tesco order and they sane piles of stir fry veg so I cooked up a chicken dish for DD and I. This may not seem very exciting, but I am not a very enthusiastic cook, so worth recording!

Lit wood burner and lay down by the warmth to have a sleep before another DD picked my up to take me to NH where OH lives to meet my choir - my OH used to sing with us when he was well - to do a small concert for the residents. I found it a challenge as it was so sad to see him crumpled up in his wheelchair - but 2 DDs had come to sit with him. Some of the singers had not seen him for a while and were shocked by his deterioration. But, in spite of the emotion it felt such a good thing to do - some of the residents who barely open their eyes and who do not usually speak could be seen to be mouthing the words of the carols and nodding their heads to the music. Music is such a healer!

It's my birthday today too BBevan.
After the usual shower and cup of tea, I set too and made goat curry for lunch. DD, her husband and my four grandchildren all arrived, DD bearing a chicken curry. She also brought a bauble cake for dessert.
When we had finished lunch I opened my cards and gifts.
I had a lovely day.
They all went home at about 3pm, and since then I've tidied up, washed the dishes and then watched TV.
I hadn't room for much supper, just a slice of bread and cheese.
Tomorrow, after visiting the polling station, I'm having my hair cut. It's fairly short already, but I fancy a very short pixie cut, I wonder if I'm brave enough to have it done?
Let you know tomorrow.

How lovely to have a donkey day, Ella. I miss the horses. I used to volunteer with RDA but retired for various reasons. I miss the animals (not the humans so much)
SQ, your day sounds frenetic as usual.
'
welbeck what a long day for you. What a good friend you are.

I am glad you enjoyed your birthday BBbevan
and that your weather has been glorious BradfordLass

I had a nice quiet day apart from the Dentist (a filling).
It has turned really icy cold here and snow is forecast for tomorrow.
It should make Election day interesting.

Today, Wednesday... got ready, put the washer on, took the rubbish out, emptied the dishwasher, went to work. On my way home, I helped a lady to start her car by using my jump leads (I had to have telephone instructions from my husband, as I'd never even had the bonnet up before)

Back home, I put the washing on the clothes horse, folded a load of dry washing, put it away upstairs. Did a load of ironing (it never ends), wiped kitchen surfaces, vacuumed bedrooms, changed the bed.

Went with son no. 1 to fetch his 2 girls after school (other side of town), went to a play centre, then pub for dinner, then shop. Dropped them back to their mum. Home, had a bath, made a drink, now for a sit-down before I put the washer on again and go to bed.

escorting neighbour to hosp appt, from 9am to 5pm.
for a 30 min interview.
last week was a 3 and half hour wait in clinic for transport, after seeing consult for 20 mins. so that was another 6and half hour day, inc travel. average of one hosp appt aeek plus numerous at home medical visits. i attend all.
tomorrow have to be ready for the off at 6am, she has investig, i will accompany then have to peel off, bus to funeral of long-timest and much valued friend.

It was donkey day today, brilliant for taking your mind off your problems.
Donleys love ear scratches, carrots and hay. Pretty much in that order?

My llama is wonderful. Gentle and affectionate, everyone should have a llama! The four goats I care for are absolute nutters. Fabulous, but totally mad.
Had a great day, then came home and crashed.
Going for a shower soon, out early tomorrow to collect my grandchilds birthday cake and take my dad to optician.

Bless you bradfordlass Just sitting here quietly waiting for DH to wake up. Then it will be tea and cards I expect. Hope you weren't up too long in the night making that lovely cake. ?
Eat a piece for me.

Lovely day yesterday.
When we moved we moved to a little hamlet. The people have been so lovely and welcoming. Yesterday all the ladies who live nearby went out for a Christmas lunch. It was just brilliant. I met some new people, had a lovely meal in such friendly company. I can't tell you how fortunate DH and I feel to have moved here.
Today is my birthday. DD and SiL are coming to dinner this evening. If the rain stops it should be a lovely day.