Good morning Mick and all GN's from a chilly slightly breezy morning in North Yorkshire. The sky is definitely lightening these days which is cheering and have the washing in clonking around. Dont have much hope of it going out today as we are promised high winds and heavy rain and cold again. So winter clothes still needed and my more cheering coloured linen trousers stay in the wardrobe for now.
Yesterday I was somewhat conned by the look of the weather. It looked quite sunny about 9am and the daffodils were looking very nice. At the moment , with the situation as it is , I am trying to use my buggy (being electric) and driving less, so put what I thought were suitable clothes on and off I duly went to the market. As I got to the further end of the market and the longest distance from home the wind picked up and my goodness it was very cold. I really feel it more on the buggy as I am sat there and not walking. Got very cold and regretted wearing a jacket and not one of my warmer coats or macs which all have gloves kept in their pockets, so arrived home freezing cold and took ages to warm up.
I spent most of the afternoon attempting to catch up with messages emails and paperwork. Made some inroads into the pile but everything these days seems to take me twice as long, and I didnt get anywhere near the amount I wanted to sort out. Also there were various things that having done all I could, still need other things doing and people contacting and it just seems endless . However one good thing was a short email from my son just to say they have been very busy which is why I havent heard from them, which put my mind at rest that they are basically ok.
Then I got something to eat and was off to play whist. A very good idea as it took my mind away from the things I hadnt been able to solve and sort in the afternoon. Got a decent place in the car park and good job as we were full again . We seem to be holding up with numbers and a few newcomers have become regulars now. One thing to be thankful for was the man who was making such a mess and a muddle of games last week wasnt there last night so the atmosphere was more relaxed and although I didnt win anything had a good evening and played well with what I was dealt, and even did win a box of grapes in the raffle, which was nice. It was a good antidote to paperwork and you also hear the local news from people and was told that the local Lakeland shop is closing so I shall try to pop in there at some point as they are cutting prices and I might see something I want.
Today our normal meeting place for the womens group is not available and we are going instead to have coffee and a quiz at Barkers, which is a local department store, with a large cafe on the first floor overlooking the local park. They are big enough to be able to deal with private groups and still plenty of room for their normal cafe people. Think "Are you being served" old style store and I enjoy looking at the staff and secretly awarding them roles - definitelysee a"Mrs Slocum" and a "Mr Humphreys" stand in!! So I shall make a little more effort to look reasonable, if not fashionable, and although my mode normally is to be clean and tidy and comfortable it will be quite nice to make a bit of an effort for once,
This afternoon the cleaners should be coming - fingers crossed- and I have to look for my trowel and small spade as hopefully Amanda will be coming to do a bit in the garden for me. With the forecasted weather I am not sure she will come or if she does she will need her mac on and I wont need to water plants in!! Nothing planned for this evening, and I think I shall continue this as a "day off" and ignore paperwork or anything else that is irritating and maybe have a chance to meet up for a coffee with a friend later in the afternoon.
Hope you have a good trip to Bicester Mick.GrandMattie sounds as though you had a busy time in the cafe. I have heard a couple of the Shardlake stories on the radio as plays and found them good, and may look for them in the library. I am not a keen detective sort of story reader but these are different with the historical angle and I enjoyed them. Used to enjoy some of the Cadfael stories in the same light. Bellasnana I dont think you are nuts at all. If that is what you enjoy keep doing it. There are not a lot of good things about being on your own, but at least you are not having to think of keeping others awake and a few nights watching something you enjoy is worth it I feel. Ashcombe I remember Jake Thackery very well. He had a very distinctive voice and could be very funny too, and I used to sing one of his songs, which I cant remember the words to now. I saw him live once and would make an effort to see him if he was on the tv. That takes me back a long way .
Well its time that I started to get organised and delve down to find my small spade and trowel etc and make a list of the things that I need doing the most, so that I dont forget , which includes getting them to open me another jar of beetroot, which defies me at the moment. Will have a go at most jars but the thought of throwing beetroot all over the kitchen and staining my clothes etc is stopping me from having a real go. Even thinking of D Trump as I tried to get the lid off didnt help and so I shall leave it to Jessie , the great opener of jars and finder of lost things to work her magic today. Hope everyone has a good day and manages to do something they need to get sorted , and awards themselves a good cup of coffee or tea to celebrate.
. £6 but I always give a tenner, as that seem so little for the job they do.