What I did today No.2

will do Bradfordlass although I was almost asleep by the end of that meeting so may not recall all the films we discussed

Got up to a frosty, misty morning, drove to my Tai Chi class in a nearby town through a lovely landscape. The class was, as ever, great fun and we are lucky to have an excellent Shifu, who has devised a learning programme suitable for the not so young. Nipped into supermarket on my way home to get ingredients for DH who is taking advantage of my trip into London tomorrow to make pasties .... I hope to come home to an unwrecked kitchen and an oven that is still working!

Is it that time already. What I have forgotten to do today is my mantra.
Hared off to get MiL to her doctor's appt. Very late.
I forgot the bank. I forgot the fish van. I forgot to nip into the restaurant to check they can really do vegan food for a family member who is getting anxious.
My excuse is an unannounced visit from a friend whom I hardly ever see and who does love to chat.
Your Tai Chi sounds fab Gulligranny

Jane10 I was quite busy yesterday, but then I knew I'd have a quieter day today - just work and my own housework.

LuckyGirl I felt really pleased to have helped him, knowing that he went home to a clean and tidy place. He lives alone, is very busy with work, and it gave me something to do

I left at 9am this morning to accompany my fiend and neighbour to a dermatology appointment in Malaga which necessitated a train then a short taxi ride. She’s 84y and an anxious lady at the best of times, bless.

Anyway, great news, her facial skin lesion is benign, a seborrhoea keratosis (sun damage) and her prescription for a retinoid tube of cream (50ml) was €46!! Worth it whatever for peace of mind as she said - you can’t buy that.

She will sleep well tonight from relief.

We got the train back and got off in Torremolinos. Such a nice town now, much upgraded and pedestrianised. We shared a pizza & wine to celebrate in the sunshine!

Home now, she lives in the next but one apartment to me.

I’ve my pj’s on, a cuppa and about to watch Boris -v- Corbyn debate on ITV for my sins!

Hope others here have had a good day. x

A really frosty morning here, spent the morning washing up, load of washing in, tidying up, early lunch then out for a Health walk.
Walked for a good hour with the group then a coffee and chat in the local cafe. I had filled my drinks reward card so it was time for a free hot drink!
Then another 25 minute walk to pick up younger DGD from school, then another 15 minute walk home.
Made tea for DGD, helped her with her homework and got her ready for Brownies.
Had my dinner, home made turkey burger with chunky fries, (and a red wine!)
Relaxing now watching Professional Masterchef.

Highs and lows today.

OH woke me at 7.30 on the phone in the grip of paranoid delusions again. It is so hard to calm him down when he is like this - one thing that does not help at all is trying to reason with him.

In the morning my DD and I visited a potential house for me to buy to raise some capital from my existing property to pay NH fees - it is back in the village where we lived for so many years and where all my friends and activities are. Back home really. It is in the flat part of the village so easy walking for me out onto the beautiful green and common. New-build semi in a little cul-de-sac so if I moved there I would have people around and not feel so lonely.

The big downside is that if I raise this money SSD will withdraw their small contribution to OH's nursing home fees until the savings dwindled once more. They get you all ways round. Whatever you do, the authorities are waiting in the wings to dump more manure on you. Sigh.

Went to NH with a view to raising the subject of house sale with OH, but did not do so as he was so down and muddled.

So the possibility of something positive - but how to make it happen?

Went and had tea in a cafe with two people with whom I sing in my choral society and then on to a practice. These two ladies have been very kind to me; and they have asked me to join them in a singing workshop in the New Year - as I have said before, it is random acts of kindness that are keeping me going. Thank heaven for them.

Up at 6, I got myself ready and went to work until noon. Went to B&M, bought food for the garden birds, went home.

I did some washing, rang a friend for 40 minutes, changed my bed and vacuumed upstairs.

Went for a hospital check-up, went home, watched tv for an hour, cooked the dinner, loaded the dishwasher, went to Zumba.

Emptied the dishwasher, did a load of ironing, so now I'm going to bed.

DH brought me tea in bed around 0730, then I remembered the mobile beautician was coming at 0900 to tend my eyebrows, so showered quickly, went downstairs and tidied the kitchen. After she'd gone I did a quick sketch for a picture I might paint on a canvas for our newly decorated hall, showed it to DH who wants me to leave out the bird. Went for my usual half hour fast walk around the village and bought DH a newspaper. He doesn't read the news but likes to do the puzzles. Ordered two jumpers from Uniqlo, messaged a friend about an event we are going to tomorrow, ate some fruit for lunch, then hairdresser at 1430 (she cut it too short) and home in time for a cup of tea. Cooked dinner, then watched Boris v Jeremy. Now it's time for bed.

Yesterday. Packed up a parcel for DD in Oz. Took it to our weekly outreach PO in the village hall (postage more than value of contents) then on to the dreaded Tesco/Aldi to stock up on essentials. Spent far too much but I did get a few stocking fillers for the GC. Then in the opposite direction for a hospital appt. 2 weeks ago after waiting for weeks I saw a consultant who was arrogant, rude, indifferent and unhelpful. This time I saw a different one who explained everything and was charming. Chalk & cheese, but it shouldn't be like this should it. I came away feeling much happier. Choir rehearsal for the Christmas concert. DD sang an angelic solo. Proud Mumma. Singing is the answer to (almost) everything and I returned home feeling contented and ready for sleep. Pity I’ve been awake since 3 .....?

A housebound day again today, so pottering and making the very few Christmas cards I still send by mail.

Most of mine are e-cards from the excellent Jacquie Lawson site but I'm not sure I'll renew my subscription this year as finances are getting ever tighter and I don't need it.

It's been very cold, with wind from the Antarctic, so I did something I rarely do, even in winter, I made myself a fry-up.

Bacon, potato, egg and baked beans. It was delicious and warming and I felt a good deal better for it.
I'd had a cup of coffee at 7am but didn't feel like eating until 11:30 so that was brunch.

At 6pm I had some coleslaw with freshly chopped mint and toasted sunflower seeds and a bit of the cheese my son smoked at the weekend. Followed that with 6 fresh strawberries, half a banana and a dollop of plain yoghurt.

I have a DVD to listen to, 'Blandings' with Timothy Spall and Jennifer Saunders, so I've switched on my electric blanket and will snuggle down with that on my portable DVD player.

Luckygirl It never ends does it, Love?
Damn them.

Pleasant dry day today, so went off to Henley-On-Thames, where we mooched around the shops, then had a delicious pub lunch at The Angel On The Bridge.After that we walked off the calories ( sort of) by a walk along the riverside out to Marsh Lock, and then back again, admiring all the boats as we went.Home, put all the lamps on as getting grey out, and feet up with a cup of hot coffee.

I do love The Angel at Henley lemongrove The last time we went there we met up with our nephew and his partner who had just bought a houseboat to live on. We sat outside on a beautiful August evening watching the world go by. What a lovely place Henley is.

Came back from WI last night to find that DH had spilled coffee on the beige sitting room carpet and then rubbed it well in using not one but two new tea towels. Tried Vanish carpet cleaner on it last night and again this morning but the stain is awful. Any suggestions welcomed!

Craft this morning making Christmas cards which was very enjoyable even though the results are distinctly amateur. U3A Latin group this afternoon and am now contemplating supper and the unfinished ironing. Not on the whole a bad day despite the carpet disaster.

Henley is a lovely place Greenfinch ( with lovely property prices to match)
Are your nephew and partner keeping the houseboat at Henley ( permanent mooring) or did they just collect the boat from there?
The rowing museum there is very good, and I like the shops, many different ones ( and one called Lemongrove) hah, has to be good.?

Enjoyed a very brisk walk along the beach in Bournemouth. Quick lunch and then drove home the 270 miles! Had quite a good run though. Just had a nice meal and sitting down. Washer on and all the unpacking done too.

Up at 6.30 woke at 4am but manged to get back to sleep at 5.30 for an hour. Not working today, so porridge for breakfast, then cleaned two windows and venetian blinds, before going shopping had lunch of two crumpets with cheese, haven't had them for ages, made a change.Prepared a curry, to slow cook in the oven, then off to pick up mum for her eyesight test and hearing aids adjusted, she then needed shopping so all in all turned out to be a four hour trip.Just eaten curry, thought it may have dried out, but was fine phew ! Having a quiet day tomorrow, fingers crossed .

I had a really indulgent day - still having it infact.
My women's group in the morning, (lots of chat and coffee) out for lunch with ex colleagues, played badminton this evening and as DH is out I thought I wouldn't bother cooking just for me but our Helper has just told me he's rustling up some vegetarian delight for us both! Back to reality tomorrow. back on the scales too!

Got up at 6.15, showered, washed my hair, dressed, did my make-up and hair, fed the cat, fed the birds outside, took the rubbish out, folded clean washing, went to work until 12.

On my way home, I called into a local shop for a couple of things, then when I got home, had soup and toast, washed up, fed the cat. Called round to my eldest son's, drove to the other side of town, then we went around the shops, had a coffee in a cafe, then drove to fetch his youngest girl from school (a different part of town), went to a play centre with her, picked up the other granddaughter from an athletics competition, went to a pub for dinner, took the girls home to their mum, took my son back to his house, came home, fed the cat, had a shower, got my pyjamas on.

Agreed. That's a lovely walk to Marsh Lock lemongrove. Our nephew was just passing through Henley. They both work in London so they are moored near Tottenham or anywhere near an underground station.They love the life on the river.

Gosh, there are some very energetic GNers on here! ?
I got up at 6.45, wandered around in my pyjamas before showering and dressing. Drove to my hairdressers and had a trim before returning to the village to see a very dear friend and her husband and have a coffee.
Spent a lovely couple of hours then came home and enjoyed panini from our wonderful village câfé and spent much of the afternoon knitting.
I have spent a couple of hours on here this evening, catching up after a year or so away from GN. It's lovely to be back!

It's lovely to see you back loopylou. I hope your local cafe knows panini is plural: one is panino. Off to Pedant's Corner ....

SalsaQ I can't believe your cat is fed 3 times a day!
Is this you and the moggy?

Haha, so put that on the other thread ( where they don’t like cats) ?
I thought the same, the cat must be very happy with three meals a day ( mind you, I am too.)
Had a nice day today, being NT members we try and visit as many places as possible, so went to The Vyne, a Tudor house.
It was grey, misty and very cold, but that added to the atmospheric feel of the place.Well worth a visit if you happen to be near enough.Warmed ourselves up afterwards with soup and a panini in the barn teashop, where they had a log fire
going.
Home this afternoon....looked at the ironing pile and then decided against it, curled up and read my book club book instead.

I should have gone to my history group but I stayed in the warm and sneezed a few times
I did finish my crochet blanket though

Tesco run this morning and consequent putting away and tidying up fridge. Laundry, drying, ironing and putting away, then frustrating hour getting DH’s computer sorted out and him using it, though have no confidence that he will have remembered anything by tomorrow morning.

Supper (sausage penne) almost ready, then looking forward to an evening with one of several books awaiting my attention.