General Chat

Gosh Mandy, what a to-do at Boots. Anything unpleasant and unexpected like that can leave you feeling quite shaky so try and put it out of your mind now.

I didn't have a very good night but got going fairly quickly this morning. I wrapped presents for OH's great-nieces and found a suitable box for them and off we went to town to post them. There was a great long queue at the PO in town so I was there for ages. The parcel didn't weigh very much but was too big to go as a small parcel. Even sending it by the cheapest possible way it still cost nearly £6 which all adds to the cost of the present. Then I picked up my meds which were all ready for me; no problems this time, thank goodness. Next it was the bank and then some bits and pieces OH wanted before getting back here at about 12 o'clock.

I shoved a couple more sheets and pillow cases in the washing machine, then I just had time to shower and wash my hair, wrap my Secret Santa present and sort out my contribution to the food before I had to leave for the Ladies Club which started at 1.30. It was a pleasant afternoon with mulled wine, tea and coffee and lots of lovely finger food. My present from the Secret Santa was a very heavy black tin containing a black fragranced candle. The fragrance is apparently "sea salt and leather" which is interesting to say the least.

Well, to the weekend.........I think I said that one granddaughter was able to come as well but had to drive from Edinburgh to her brother in Yorkshire and then they came on to us so didn't arrive as early as originally planned. My daughter and her partner came as well on Friday and we all had a lovely, relaxed meal together. There was lots of laughter and much wine drunk. Although daughter's partner is very seriously ill, he was feeling OK so was able to join us and was on good form. In spite of his problems he hasn't lost his sense of humour which was lovely to see. The stifado was a great success and turned out better than I could have hoped. There wasn't a spoonful left and daughter wants the recipe.

We didn't do very much at all for the rest of the weekend, except for a cold, foggy walk by the river on Saturday. There was lots of talking and laughing accompanied by music from old vinyl records and cassette tapes of ours that grandson found in a cupboard and they all enjoyed. We had a good Turkish take-away on Saturday night and they all enjoyed that as well. They left Sunday afternoon to spend the night with their Dad, our ex. son-in-law before travelling home on Monday.

Needless to say, the baby was the centre of attention the whole weekend. She's a delight to be with, a very contented little mite, and she's really beginning to take note of what's going on around her. She's also starting to smile a lot now and, of course, I got plenty of cuddles :-D

Tomorrow we are going with a group to Holkham Hall in Norfolk to see their Christmas lights and decorations. We'll stop for a couple of hours at Swaffham (I think) so we can have a wander around and get some lunch . We went to the same place last year and it was impressive with all the public rooms decorated and music playing.

Thursday I have to go to the dentist to have a bit of work done so might try and do a bit more Christmas shopping while I'm out. Our dentist is in a different town so there are one or two different shops to look around, though some of the shops have sadly closed down.

On Friday I am supposed to be going to Snape Maltings with the Ladies Club. We are getting there early enough for a good look around and some lunch before going to a 4 o'clock performance of a show in the concert hall there. I would like to go but I have had to cry off as I must have a bit of free time to catch up on all the things I haven't been managing to do lately. I knew the coach was full but there were still a few people who wanted to go so my ticket won't be wasted. Someone else can use it and enjoy it.

I must now quickly do a couple of emails before I leave the computer for the night. I hope you all have a good night's sleep tonight.

I meant to record that Mel ,I now looked in the TV book and episode 3 is on Friday at eight on channel. 5

Gosh Mandy that must have been quite frightening.

I started putting some decs up this afternoon but then my arm hurt as I had a bit of a scrape wwith the new scraper BIL bought to clear the sides of the driveway.

Why is it that they put the first episode or a series on the tv and then the rest of it on a channel you have to pay for each month? I fancied seeing The Doll Facory on channel 5 but the rest is on Paramount +.

Evening all,

It's been a funny old day the weather has been really dreary again and we've had a couple of showers too but it hasn't been as cold today.

I went to boots this morning to have my flu jab ,I filled in my form and sat down and all of a sudden there was a lot of shouting at the front of the shop ,the chap beside me shot up and ran to help ,I thought someone had collapsed or something ,the girls in boots were shouting get out get out ,a young chap was trying to shop lift and I suppose the girls recognise him, they said your not taking anything and he said you try and stop me , the next minute he flung the door open shouting and swearing and stormed out .
It was a bit scary as you never know if they have a knife or anything ,the chap who helped said I would have thumped him but then I'd be the one in trouble .
Anyway I then had my jab and did a bit more Christmas shopping .

Thanks Ann for the lovely card its smashing. :-D <3 :-D <3 :-D <3

Morning all,

Its 7 degrees here this morning and the pc says temps to rise by Thursday. Now sometimes in the winter if the temp rises we get snow. I hope not as people will be wanting to still go out to get presents.

Vera take it easy you have had a very exciting weekend with you lovely company. Have a rest the washing will still be there tomorrow when you may feel more like doing it. Can't wait to hear all about it and the lovely little one.

I need to write a few more cards and do up some presents today and its shopping day and I have ordered a bit more than usual as I am doing a hamper for BIL and SIL. Mainly for him he likes his savory chees biscuits and diet coke. As he lives in digs over his working days in the week I though it would be something he could take with him when he stays with his friend.

good morning all. 5 degrees here and murky. Chiropodist today. Hopefully I will BBL. Vera, visitors are lovely but the aftermath is so tiring as we get older. Hope your day goes well and I look forward to hearing about the weekend.

I've just come on to say I'm here after a lovely weekend. I'm too tired to write much now but I have managed to read the weekend posts. It's been a busy day, first changing all the bedding and towels used at the weekend and doing some of the washing, though I still have some of the bedding and towels to do. I also managed to get the rest of my Christmas cards written and most of them posted. I kept a few aside that needed a letter included and I have done those tonight. Then I had a delivery from Sainsbury's. There was nothing missing and no subs. It took me a little while to put everything away and divide packs of things up for the freezer and also cook our dinner.

Tomorrow is also going to be busy as I have to wrap a couple of presents and get them posted and also get my script. I hope I don't have the problems I had last time. Then in the afternoon it's the Ladies Club Christmas tea and Secret Santa but I will try to come online at some point and tell you about the weekend.

AnnG and Mel, thank you for the pictures. The advent ring looks perfect Mel. Ann, when you said about putting out your cottages I imagined one or two, not a whole Alpine village. It looks very festive.

Lovely photos Anng so much to look at on the table display .
I have a smaller tree up this year ,I do like the bigger tree but I have to move my chair forward to get it in the corner and this smaller tree is narrower but just as tall and it can stand to one side of the chair .
I do have a small tree in the Conservatory on the side cupboard as it makes it more christmasy and that's where we have our Christmas lunch .

When I went I to Roys they had some Newbury fruits in a box we always use to have those at christmas so I bought a box .

Nice to get out Mel.

It has rained non stop all day here and I have had the lights on all day.

I have put my little tree up and I am quite pleased with it this year. Plenty big enough for me. I really ought to look at getting rid of some of the larger decorations. They are all in separate boxes so not in the way. I suppose I keep them in case I decide to get a bigger tree.

I just went to change my solar lights from one window to another and there were 11 at least female pheasent running down past the bedroom window.

No not tried to connect it yet.

Still 6 degrees here and its been raining and its as dull as dish water out there.

I have been to Cornwall this morning with my neighbours to Homeleigh garden center and spent more money!!!! A bit of retail therapy does you the world og good. I bought myself new wellie socks with Robins on them!!! plus other presents for people. Hazel is mad about Christmas she really loves it and she was so excited when we went in she was like a kid in a sweet shop.

Afternoon all,

Another dreary say here with a light drizzle but no frost so thats one good thing , at least we don't have all the snow like Cumbria.

We went to Roys this morning and I got a few Christmas presents and then we took three tubs of garden rubbish to the tip.

Mel that was kind of BIL to get you a new keyboard have you managed to get it connected and used it yet.

Still a bit misty here and still only 6 degrees and its very cloudy.

good morning all, second day running that I have gone back to sleep and woken up later than usual. I had not had a very good night until then as I kept waking up. Very dark here this morning and has been raining and it is 7 degrees,

Morning all,

Gosh did it rain last night it came down in buckets. this morning its all misty out there but very dull and dingy. Pc says 6 degrees and rain starting in an hour and a half.

Ah yes. It doesn’t get any easier does it. We just learn to adjust and live with it. I have put all my cottages and figures out today, took most of the morning but luckily they all came on as soon as I plugged them in and switched on. I have also put together the two floral decorations so once I put the little tree up tomorrow that will be me done.

I stayed at home and cooked a mini Christmas dinner for myself.

Oh yes sorry Mel time just disappears. What did you do last Christmas? I find I can enjoy Christmas at daughter's even with the memories that are bound to come.

New keyboard just arrived now I have to find out how to connect it. I think I know so we'll see.