🦞🦂 *What are we up to?*🦂🦞

You sound busy Doodle. Are you sewing a card?

I was out for lunch again and am rather sleepy now. It may be the last time our walking group have our Christmas lunch at the golf club as the chef is leaving. Retiring I think.
He always cooks me a special vegetarian meal. I seem to be the only veggie at these things. I wish I'd asked him what it was I was eating! I could then recreate it for my Christmas Dinner.
He calls it vegetarian Wellington but it didn't resemble anything I see online or have tasted before.

Here is the sunset. About 4pm!

A good day here today.
Christmas brunch with a good friend (1982, Playgroup mum!), where we both exchanged extremely soggy presents and found ourselves discussing - as usual - the trials and tribulations of life in our 70s, unlike early chats on toddler taming and costume making for our little ones' Nativity plays.

Getting my ducks in a row for my initial out patient appointment tomorrow for lung function tests. I have this sneaking suspicion that my surgery's chosen e-platform does not talk to the hospital's. I know that my GP can't access results of investigations undertaken at the hospital and the hospital can't see my surgery test results. I think there will be a lot of duplication, time and cost implications too.

Did your helper get away safely, Grammaretto? It sounds like she will be sadly missed.

Grammaretto not surprised your helpers upset. Dreadful thing to happen.
I’m feeling very relieved today. I’ve finally found out address spreadsheet. DH used one for our Christmas cards and I couldn’t locate it. Got a hefty bill from the taxman today, very nice in the lead up to Christmas, not too bad though. I was expecting it so have been putting some by,
Trying to make a card for my friend. Haven’t used the sewing machine for such a long time I’ve forgotten how it works. I have some painting to do too but must do all the practical jobs first.
Love to all 💕

Last year I learned to make the paper stars that are popular in the Phillipines. They look complicated but are actually quite straightforward.

Unfortunately they are too puffy to send in a card but I made some huge white ones to hang in our window.

Here's a video if you have paper, scissors and glue!
I found it easier to glue all the loops one side and then do the other

share.google/k42HPMzYEoI8rvfBm

I love your story ixion - we had a modern version of that book I think, from thd library (though can't say it was exactly the same).
We started off buying a craft-book (with the model pieces printed on card as a sort-of pull out) and then progressed onto one where we had to start from scratch.

Like your dad, I really loved making them but they were so perfect in white that I didn't want to decorate them.
The children made the simplest and the really tricky ones were left to me...

No idea what happened to them eventually!

She's leaving tomorrow Doodle and flying to Japan on Wednesday.
I shall miss her. Today she was very upset about the atrocity at Bondai Beach. She's Australian.

I like your decorations a lot NotSpag. We made 3D stars at a friend's house today. She makes lots of folded paper stars but has to teach me anew each year. We both enjoyed it.

Tonight the film was a silent Charlie Chaplin the kid with music man playing the piano while watching the film for the first time, in the dark. He was brilliant.

I must write the rest of my cards tomorrow but there's another Christmas lunch to go to. The weeks race by.
How lucky to have your very own Jeeves NotSpag.
I'm feeling chilly tonight. I had a hot bath to warm up.

Grammaretto is your NZ helper staying with you or was it just a quick visit. How nice so. Many if your helpers return to see you.

Kaimoana your story about your mum brought back memories. My mum too had a list of people she sent cards to from holidays, casual meeting, people she’d met at work. Mum died just before Christmas. Her flat was full of cards mostly from people we’d never heard of.
I’m still sending cards but I do agree with you it is a waste of money.
I
Nptspaghetti your cards are lovely. How clever you are, what time and patience you must have to do all your cards yourself.how lovely you’ve kept up with your tradition of making them. I’m sure the recipients are very pleased.

Ixion what a coincidence about your Dh. You were obviously meant to be together.

I’ve been wrapping presents most of the afternoon. Not a job I like now. Tomorrow is finishing off the cards day and waiting a list of what else there is to do.

We grew up with 'mathematical models', NotSpaghetti, dodecahedrons, stellated this, that and the other.
My father used to make them all as a hobby, from very stout card and glue. They were but huge, think football size.

I used to take them into (primary) school and latterly we would 'glitterise' and paint them and hang them as Christmas decorations.

His vade mecum was Cundy and Rollett's Mathematical Models (1951) - see photo if interested!

Lo and behold, when BF (Mr.I to be) and I set up home together, what did he have on his shelves?
The selfsame book, courtesy of his father!

Auspicious sign?

Here are four cards "off the press" Doodle. Standing on my rotary cutter/folding board.
This year I've made origami stars which I taught myself to make. They hang on a hoopy thread so people can put them on their tree if they wish.
I did think they'd be easy!!
😵‍💫

I have got much quicker at the folding... but obviously I was wrong about speed overall as although I've got the making of the shapes OK I seem to have failed to take account of the cutting of paper squares, co-ordinating the cards and liners, finding the correct sized envelopes, threading the elastic or jewellery cord or thin sparkly gift-string...
😬

Many years ago I made fold- your - own Christmas decorations which was an octahedron (2 square bottomed pyramid shapes stuck together into a diamond). I had printed it as a net - I'd drawn Christmassy scenes, an angel, 3 kings, the mother and child etc on it and watercoloured them. I'd then made a sheet of instructions and pre-cut double sided sellotape and stuck it on the right places! Oh lord! That was a mammoth task!
🤣
I still have have a "prototype" on my Christmas tree! It's looking pretty rough now though!

No two of my cards are ever quite alike - so, (probably tomorrow) I'll be choosing who might like which and writing them.

My husband likes the ones made out of old maps.
They aren't really old - probably 1990s - they used to live in the car.

I've used up the "important" and "special" pages from them already - as gift wrap for friends and family. They have always enjoyed seeing a little part of their life on the wrapping.

I have made cards every year since I was a girl - and I know (some) people really like them and keep them year to year and once they are done, I have family birthdays and Christmas itself.

PS. My husband is Jeeves whilst I'm making abd then he writes nice little updates in many of them - and does nearly all the envelopes.
Very lucky
#stillateam ❤️

Horizontal strings - we still use dedicated ribbons which come out every year.

Very well done NN - yes, please tell us a little about your rôle and what future this lass and babe will have.

I'm so glad you are able to find peace at the Hospice Doodle.

I remember my mother writing and posting 200+ Christmas cards.
She couldn’t do it alone so one year I helped.
'Who's this?’ I asked as time and again I came upon an unfamiliar name and address.
“Oh that’s a couple your Dad and I met when we stayed in a B&B in Cornwall one year.’ (8 years ago it seemed)
OR ‘You Dad got talking to a bloke who rode a Vincent and we swapped details.’
So this long list was of people they met casually but felt duty bound to send a Xmas card each year.
Crazy – but Mum had got locked into it.
She was in some distress having just lost my Dad, not only for the expense but whether or not to put both their names or just hers.
I volunteered to take over the task – to her great relief - as I felt she never had a better excuse to get out of this maze than being newly widowed.
We went through the list, I knew all our family of course, and the rest were people she didn’t know other than a casual meet somewhere.
We wittled it down to 14!
Fom courtesy I sent cards to the others, explaining her situation and saying this would be the last card. I’m sure they must have been as relieved as she was.

I do remember the long, horizontal strings on every wall in the living room. Cards were folded over these and sometimes we ran out of space once every horizontal surface was filled as well.

I don't think I have ever sent a Xmas card in my life. Total waste of time and money.

Notspaghetti well done with the shopping. I hope your friend feels better soon. Making Christmas cards, that’s a lot of work. What sort of cards are you making?
Grammaretto how nice your NZ helper returned for a visit. Good you’ve managed to dispose of your drawers to someone in need. (That doesn’t sound quite right the way I’ve written it 🤣)
Oh Ixion i could do with a fairy for my tree. Please pop over with Mr I and he can boost you up to the top.
NN what an amazing and wonderful experience to be part of. What a lucky thing you were with her. A really special time, a new birth.
I’ve been to the hospice today. Love going there for some peace and quiet and people watching. Then went to the hospice shop in a different part of town. The. To Waitrose for my weekly shop and home. Really tired now.

Oh wow! How amazing Naughtyneine. What an experience.
I don't think I knew about your involvement with safe families.
What happens next? will you continue to be involved in the baby's life?

You'll be almost as exhausted as the mum!

I think some of you may have read this on Soop's kitchen but I know you will share my joy.
I am just in from the hospital... The lass that I've been supporting through the Safe Families charity called me at midnight to say the baby was on its way. She had been induced as the baby was small. I went in at 5am just as they were setting up the syntocinon drip. I then came back home for a couple of hours and then back in. The baby's heart rate kept dipping and a 12 noon she was 3cm dilated and there was a mention on a CS which she was terrified of having so it was agreed they would monitor her carefully for another few hours. At 1.55pm she went into the en suite and when she hadn't appeared I called out to see if she was ok....No can't back the answer...I went in to find her standing up with the baby's head practically delivered. I shouted for the midwife who ran in and knelt on the floor and I held her up as she pushed the rest of the baby out. I honestly don't know how I managed to hold her but I did... Adrenalin probably. We then managed to get her to her bed and I held the baby while the placenta was delivered. A little girl..tiny but just perfect. I'm off to Mass shortly to give thanks for a safe delivery. I feel very blessed and privileged tonight to have shared that wonderful moment of a new birth. I'll be back later when I've come back down to earth.

🤐

ixion
Photos required!
🎅 🧚‍♀️

Too tired to post last night, I am signing in at the start of my day, adding another layer of procrastination to avoid domestic tasks overdue.

One the jobs I am procrastinating over is the repairing tree baubles, my standby bags of the standard plain round ones which, depending on the height and configuration of the tree, are brought out to provide quantity not quality.
Unfortunately, most seem no longer to have any viable hanging mechanism, so it's out with the silver and gold threads and restringing them.😴

The annual Christmas jigsaw has been set up and started, that's always a good distraction.

I was 'taken' by a nifty bird feeder for Mr.I to add to his ornithological collection of bird feeders. Well actually, most are ravaged daily by crows and squirrels who qualify for gold medals in gymnastics in their ability to cling on to any feeder, shape or size, that is seen to contain food.
This one I spotted was for ground feeding small birds (put-your-meal-worms-in this- sort of thing).

Then I wondered how, or whether, he would manage picking it up and putting it down at ground level these days. Sadly not.
Must look elsewhere for inspiration for Santa.

As for dressing up, Doodle, we alternate: he as Santa one day, and me in my fairy outfit the next.
Pity there's no Argy anymore to strut our stuff.

Excellent news from DS Kaimoana 👏.
So much better than 12,000 miles.
I hope you'll now see Gubbins more regularly.

My NZ helper from last year came out yesterday and she and my Aussie helper got on well, exchanging traveller stories. Then I asked them to bring a couple of chests of drawers down from the attic as buyers arrived to take both away. We were all most satisfied. The buyers were both young people furnishing their first flats who wanted old furniture.

Oh how lovely that Mr I chatted away - warming someone's day- without even knowing them. What a dear man he is.
I don't have to post Christmas gifts anymore - well only one really - as nobody "long distance" except my son and his wife.

I have arranged treats from Fortnum and Mason to go to them in the Philippines in an attempt to cut out the customs lottery.
🤞
Because he has a birthday just before, I bought a men's fragrance from the only department store I could find there with a website - and miraculously that arrived in four days!
This is remarkable as getting around there seems quite difficult.

I'm currently making Christmas Cards (late again!)... I may be gone for some time...

Kaimoana and Naughtyneine- hope you both are more mobile soon - or at the very least, get the help you need!

One of my oldest friends is currently in hospital after heart surgery. I'm waiting to hear from her son. The operation went well but she is still drugged up. She's much fitter than I am and her medics expect a good recovery - so that's comforting

Have a lovely weekend.
🌞

Kaimoana good news about your son’s job search. 40 miles isn’t as far as the Uk so that’s something. Hope you can arrange some transport soon. How far away does your son live at the moment?

I too find crying brings some relief after too. Trouble is if the reason for the tears is ongoing then there are always more to come out. I wish I could give you a big cwtch too. I’m sorry for your pain and troubles and pray things look better for you soon.

Ixion you have done well with your deliveries. Could I borrow MrI please. I could do with a delivery man. Do you dress him up in a Santa outfit before he sets off?

Hope all goes well at the dancing Grammaretto have a good time.

Oh Kaimoana, I wish I could give you a cwtch, I know it wouldn't change anything at all. I hope your son visits soon and gives you a much needed hug. In the meantime you cry away if you need to....and it helps. Xxx

I am learning to let the tears flow as it brings just a little calmness.

There are so many reason to cry right now (as well as the good stuff) that I'm just not able to hold back every time.

What a damp squib, Kaimoana, that day to the seaside. I feel very sorry you - whatever possessed the organisers?
Pleased to read that your son has received job offers, disappointing that they will be moving further away. But at least the right continent this time.🌺

Doodle, I do 'get' that being busy everyday isn't the answer to your sadness.
After my DF died, well meaning friends and relatives kept on at my DM to go away, stay with her family, take a 'little break' (with whom?🤔), but she always refused, saying that as soon as she returned home, the pall of sadness and darkness would always be there waiting for her.

I can understand the sadness that certain music tracks can upset.
As for Leonard Cohen - whoa!! Just the opening chords of So long, Marianne render me a blubbering wreck.

Mr. I earned his spurs this afternoon. My round of parcels all 'landed' at their destinations today, as scheduled. I was busy fielding thank you calls on my mobile, while the landline was ringing in with the more senior callers who don't 'do' mobiles.
I went into the sitting room and mouthed to DH 'who is it'?
He seemed to be having a jolly time.
'Marie' he replied, with a rather desperate shrug.
Having finished the call, he asked 'who is Marie?Do I know her?'
She obviously loved chatting as I know that, in her 80s, she is really lonely since her DH died.

I hope those awaiting scans, Xrays, other investigations are being attended to in a timely fashion with answers sorted before Christmas.

Are you 'calling' tonight, Grammaretto?