I had a sociable day yesterday, meeting up with various friends for coffees and catch-ups, and was home in the evening to enjoy stir fry, wine and the Last Night of the Proms. I remember when Bohemian Rhapsody was aired for the first time on "Top of the Pops" - I was a teenager and there was Much Talk about it at school the following day.
I helped with the coffees at Our Place this morning as a one-off (I avoid rotas like the plague) and it was a very long morning - we have two services so it involved getting there at 9.30am and I didn't get home until after 1pm - and not the most fun I've ever had so I won't be in a hurry to agree to it again.
It was fine all morning but now raining and windy, and only set to get worse, by all accounts. I'm expecting Mr Nen to arrive home damply this evening, with a fair bit of mud on shoes and trousers. But there is Wine for later, and that's the main thing.
No church for me this morning as it was Pancakes and Praise and I couldn’t be bothered to go anywhere else.
I cooked a tiny lamb steak with lots of fresh veg, as I am trying to eat more healthily, however I have just made another pear cake, as the pears are ripening at a rate I can’t keep up with.
It is a dull grey day, with frequent drizzle, so I am not inclined to go out anywhere.
I was looking forward to Choral Evensong on Radio 3 but the gremlins got in and sabotaged the live broadcast. After a couple of attempts we heard an old one from elsewhere.
Yesterday, it being a Heritage Open Day, I made a trip to Gorton (Manchester) to visit St James's Church, where I was baptised many years ago. I took several photos, including one of that very font.
Today, to church as most Sundays now. Unfortunately, I was much troubled by vertigo, which made the usual standing and sitting manoeuvres a tad more difficult. Still, I got through. They are great people at my church, and the communion service always seems to lift my spirits. As I suppose it ought to do.
Quite domestic today. Made an interesting potato, chilli and preserved lemon soup for lunch. Converted a dozen or so of the Blood of the Boynes into a tart, currently baking in the oven. And slapped a wodge of Stilton between two fillets of chicken and wrapped the whole lot in bacon, for this evening.
Hoping for a better night than last, as I had frightful cramp in my legs. In the less painful reaches, had a long complicated dream featuring me, Queen Camilla and a very small guinea pig.
@Firenze do you take magnesium? I know there are problems with excessive Mg, but it seems to be sworn by as a way of keeping off leg cramps and the closely related restless leg syndrome.
Another grey, windy, damp day in Arkland the Miserable, though less tempestuous (so far) than They forecast.
The Dragon was woken briefly from his estivation, as I lit one of those magic logs that burn off the Soot in the chimney. The smoke duly went where it should, and Neighbour S said he'd sweep the chimney again for me sometime this week, just to make sure it's as clear as can be. The next lot of Coal is on order - 2.5 metric tonnes, divided between three Arks...
I've been moderately productive; the aforementioned Iron Ing has been accomplished and an adaptation of a recipe for lemon, green bean and basil pasta has been tried.
It was a bit like a deconstructed pesto: lemon zest and juice, toasted pine nuts, garlic and basil with green beans and a couple of broccoli florets chucked in at the end of the pasta cooking time, with a goodly grating of Parmesan on top.
Our heating came on this evening after a very wet afternoon where I didn't do very much, and certainly didn't fancy standing around in the rain watching the dragon boat racing.
That pasta dish sounds right up my street @piglet, I hope you enjoyed it. We had a very nice couscous salad with vegan feta 'cheese', which is surprisingly OK if not quite as nice as the real thing.
Another very blustery day in Arkland the Tempest-Tossed, though not quite as Awful as They predicted. The Sun-Shine is welcome, though - mid-60sF, and possibly a bit warmer later in the week. No need to fire up the Dragon just yet...
Tess Coe has been visited, and the store was less busy than it usually is on a Monday, so perhaps the Wind kept people away. Everything on my list - I took a written one with me! - has been obtained, which is something of a minor miracle.
A rather wearing day so far. Up betimes. Found iPad had not charged overnight - it's been erratic of late. So added that to my not-unheavy art bag, and set out for bus no 1. Found our Monday milk had not been delivered. Bus took me the length of the computer repair shop, which could find nothing the matter. Bus 2 to Art Group venue - 3rd floor and lifts still out. Two goes at painting a landscape, both miserably unsuccessful. Stopped off at butcher and acquired 'nother heavy bag. More bus roulette. Put out bins and bottles.
Thoroughly tired, with prospect of plumbers coming at the skreagh of day tomorrow to replace 6 radiators. Obliged to find new homes for all the stuff that sat on the shelves above the old ones. Bah humbug.
I'm exhausted just reading that @Firenze.
Monday, so Pilates, with a very windy walk there and back. Class was good though, and I managed about 98 per cent of it which is encouraging.
The wind has caused our runner bean plant to keel over yet again, and it snapped the rather large tree spinach plant. I was cutting up said plant by the compost bins when the heavens opened. I'm now slightly damp. I had been intending to sort out the chilli plants in the greenhouse, and now the rain had stopped I should go off and do that.
The rest of the day is being spent doing odd bits and pieces such as painting my toenails interspersed by packing for our holiday tomorrow.
Very breezy here, so much that we appear to have obtained a new parasol! We think it must have come over our neighbour’s 7 foot fence and will pop round when they are in later.
I have had a productive day of writing tutorials ready for the new term and catching up with some assessment changes. I’ve also done some preparatory study for my own assignment. I have cut out the pattern pieces for a skirt for the Younger’s girlfriend but will cut the fabric out tomorrow.
Mr Heavenly is out at monthly meet up for Christians in business and I assume he will be eating out. I am going to have a bacon and cheese omelette.
... Found our Monday milk had not been delivered ...
Do you get yours from McQueen's too? I can only justify a pint a week, which should be delivered on a Thursday. Two weeks past last Thursday, no milk; I thought it was just a passing aberration, but last Thursday there was none either, and I haven't got round to phoning them to complain yet. I was on the verge of cancelling my order altogether a while ago, because I certainly couldn't use 2 pints a week, but when I phoned to cancel, the lady on the phone persuaded me to go with one pint a week. All fine and dandy, but un fat lot de bon whenever it doesn't arrive and I have to get it from Tessie's anyway ...
/rant
Mixed weather again today; I got to work dry, but got fairly wet at lunchtime going to get the ingredients for a veggie curry. I fancied a change, and used cauliflower instead of potatoes, along with carrots, green beans, chickpeas and peas, and it came out rather nicely, albeit a bit bland; I've added a bit of extra salt for tomorrow's iteration. I also defrosted and tipped in the extra rice from the curry from last week.
Quiet day at work, as three of the bosses not in (two are always off on Mondays, and J wasn't back from his holidays yet). All hell will likely break loose tomorrow!
Bright and sunny here this morning; I'm out for lunch with friends (usual Tuesday date) and seeing a couple of others this afternoon. We have our first house viewing this afternoon so are scrabbling about this morning tidying :rolleyes:
Sun-Shiny and Cloudy by turns in Arkland the Noisy, where much Hammering of Metal has been occurring, though They seem to have stopped hammering now...of course, when living in a working boatyard, one gets used to hearing people working on boats, but today's hammering seemed especially sonorous.
No Pilates, as Herself is unwell, which left me with something of a Hole in my day. One or two little Jobs have been jobbed, though, and Lunch has been eaten (a rather tasty Ham, Leek, and Potato thingy from Tess Coe).
Replacement milk on the doorstep this morning. I found it as I opened the door to the plumbers at a quarter past eight. All six radiators replaced, done and dusted by half eleven.
Not done a lot with the rest of the day - read, knitted, napped, that sort of thing.
Dinner will be fancy saussies, polenta and Parmesan, and a Portugese rosé.
Glad to hear you got your replacement milk - I must give them a ring if I remember in time tomorrow.
The "all hell" didn't break loose after all; it was really quite a gentle day. Parted with £££ for my new contact lenses (which I haven't got yet, but I thought I may as well pay upfront). The optician was rabbiting about different sorts of lenses (each type more expensive than the one before), and the fact that some of them would need to be replaced every six months. I vetoed that fairly sharpish; do they think I'm made of money? In the end she decided to go with the same sort I have at the moment (rigid gas-permeable), but with exhortations to put lubricating drops in several times a day (more ££). It's apparently something to do with my age; my eyes don't lubricate themselves as well as they used to.
The joys of old age, eh?
Supper was the second half of the curry, and I think it had rather improved overnight, the way curries do. It was washed down with a bottle of Corncrake from the Orkney Brewery, which was also very nice.
We are in Abruzzo, Italy after a rather lengthy journey. Set off at 4.30am UK time and got to our hotel at 7.00pm European time.
So far so good. The hotel is nice, the food well cooked and interesting and the company fun. Half the group are a hiking club from California so lots of cross pond discussion.
I have had a very lazy day following my flu jab this afternoon.
The nurse was bemused that I had been sent an appointment, because I don't fall into any of the categories entitled to a free flu jab.
As far as I was concerned, I'd been sent an appointment and I'd turned up. If the NHS wants to stick a needle in me, who am I to query it? However,the nurse had to tick a category so ticked "carer."
Today a friend and I went on a coach trip to the Kinema in the Woods at Woodhall Spa to see the new Downton Abbey film, which we both enjoyed.
Church choir practice had been switched to tonight just for this week but I knew I would be late and three others messaged in to say they were unwell, so it was cancelled at the last minute. Another reason given was road works. Three major routes are currently closed from 8pm to 6am, making travel extremely difficult, especially as the signed diversions suggest one of the closed roads. Crazy.
Booooo. I would like sympathy, after a vicious bout of food poisoning overnight (a dodgy egg I think). Recovering now, but feeling decidedly fragile.
Captain Pyjamas is starting a theatre workshop this afternoon so I have to take him to that, but apart from that I am going very slowly today.
And sympathy you shall have - I had food poisoning once (dodgy chicken, I think) and it's not an experience to be recommended...
Hope you feel stronger soon, and that the good Captain's theatre workshop is as much Fun as it can be!
A grey, chilly day in Arkland the Dismal, with no sign of the Big Yellow Face. No need to go out, though, so I'm staying below decks (the little electric heater is on), and waiting for Lunch - PIE n'CHIPS.
A very nice walk today in the Abruzzo National park followed by a beer in a very nice bar. Slobbing around until dinner time, feeling I’ve deserved it!
I’ve had a productive few days. So far this week I’ve written all my introductory tutorial presentations, attended a module briefing and brought myself up to date with the assignments I will be supporting/marking.
I’ve also managed to get ahead with my own studies and the first assignment and have written a short presentation on my dissertation proposal and a short written summary of the key debates. I’m really looked forward to spending a year writing about something I am interested in and having the time to do it (I have reduced my work hours this year).
Not sure what is for tea, I think I have some beef so possibly beef and mushroom stroganoff with garlic bread.
Impressive progress, @Heavenlyannie. Good that you will have the extra time to do justice to your topic.
This morning I waited until the heavy rain had passed but there was still enough for me to get wet when I went to collect my prescription. Only one item was ready. The two I had ordered online had not been processed, so I had to go to the medical centre and get them to do it, but it will take four days, so that means Monday, I guess, to go through the system. I am right out of a tablet I am supposed to take every day.
This afternoon my son came and instead of gardening ( the rain had stopped but everywhere was too wet) he cleared the study of all but three items, which his son will come and help with next week, ready for the decorator. I just need to decide on some colours. An electrician is booked to add some sockets before then.
Meanwhile the other grandson W is due for an operation on Friday. I’ll add him to the prayer thread.
Not sure what is for tea, I think I have some beef so possibly beef and mushroom stroganoff with garlic bread.
Snap. As with all classic recipes, there are any number of variants online, but I think I'll go with the one from the gravy-stained pages of The Cookery Year what I've had these 50 years.
Talking of food, I registered an interest in a new U3a group - a lunch club where you cook and present an interesting dish(es) and discuss. I didn't think it would take off tbh, but it seems there's now a quorum (8). Thing is, I don't have eg 8 chairs (nor a table big enough to set them round). In fact, I don't have 8 matching sets of anything - neither plates nor cutlery. I've always done small-scale catering, except when I've done dinner at a friend's who does have the resources and the cooker to match (she used to cook professionally).
So do I back out? Or hope another member of the group might host, or share?
I feel your pain, Firenze - I have 5 dining chairs (a set of four plus a mock Rennie Mackintosh one), plus a 2-seater sofa (three at a pinch) and two Orkney chairs. My posh cutlery (which would need comprehensive polishing before it could be used) has 8 settings, but my crockery consists of a 6-setting set from IKEA which came with the flat, and two four-setting sets which don't match each other but are quite nice (one is a Mackintosh design, the other has a piano keyboard design on it).
Today's episode of porcine brainlessness was inadvertently switching off my laptop, and wasting about half an hour fecking about re-setting passwords and swearing.
Supper was a couple of Tessie's fish cakes (smoked haddock and something or other) with greenery, and rather good.
I'd give it a go @Firenze . We don't have eight matching anything either, and when we host our occasional "Meal and Discuss" group people just have to go with that. The slow cooker is often employed. Though I'm not sure that anything I cook would qualify as "interesting". The menus in your house always sound good.
We've had a lovely day with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling and Mr Nen is now packing for another trip - a jolly in Italy with his car club.
I am on a zoom at 8pm and am very much hoping I manage to keep awake. We had bolognaise for tea and washing it down with red wine seemed not only desirable but obligatory.
I wouldn’t have 8 sets either and would just mismatch crockery. I could do 8 chairs at a push, including the bathroom stool, and a very crowded table. Presumably you are not the only one in this situation though and something more informal might be done on knees. That’s how church home group meals often work, in my experience.
I once signed up for a temporary church group for a similar meal sharing club over a term and it was really enjoyable.
I can just about cope with having my Sister visiting, and even then we invariably eat out...
The church group meal-sharing club sounds rather fun though, as @Heavenlyannie says, and I'd suggest it to Our Place's PCC if I didn't know that they'd reject it out-of-hand as being from someone Outside.
ION, another grey and windy day in Arkland the Depressing, though it's still quite mild. The Big Yellow Face may deign to pay us a pastoral visit tomorrow, They say. Meanwhile, Wash Ing is Hang Ing out in the westerly breeze.
I can tell that the year is rapidly running on, as I've just had to tax the Car, and remind myself that the MoT is due before the end of next month. Deep Joy, but I always live in hope that my Mechanical Man will find nothing amiss, or will mend it quickly...I do a very low mileage (maybe 1500 miles a year), so wear-and-tear is not too bad.
Hopefully that's an end to tradesmen trampling through the house. Today was the annual check of gas appliances, including a small 'coal' fire. The manual (printed off the internet some decades ago) was for the 18" and 20" models but not the 16" which is what we have. Could be risky! Yeah, well, it's not killed us in the last 30 years, so let's hope our luck holds.
A sunny but breezy afternoon, but I doubt I'll do anything useful for the rest of the day. Read, knit and nap most likely. Haddie Florentine for dinner.
This morning after going to the hairdressers I popped into a local shop to look at wallpaper, but soon left when I saw their prices. Some were £120 a roll! The cheapest was £44. It is many years since I bought wallpaper, but I don’t really want to buy it online. I need to seek out a more affordable store.
My neighbour, a retired Methodist minister, has kindly relieved me of various church-related items which I was finding hard to get rid of, prior to finally clearing Mr Puzzler’s study. She hopes to pass them on to other contacts. In return I gave her some pears from my tree.
The electrician is coming tomorrow. I had to check the code for my keysafe to give him in case he has to arrive when I am out. ( I know him -and his excellent reputation - so I have no hesitation about this). I have a meeting to go to which will not be quorate if I don’t turn up. Meanwhile I need to empty a bookcase so he can put in a new socket and trunking.
No church choir practice tonight as our young DoM is abroad for a wedding.
It seems from my very limited experience that painting walls, rather than papering them, seems to be the fashion nowadays. I don't know if that's actually the case.
I went to my usual aerobics class this morning and met with friends for coffee. I've been home this afternoon and got rather distracted by things - including trying to track Mr Nen's flight which was badly delayed but is now airborne. I'm out for an hour or so this evening; something I'm always glad to have gone to but on a damp windy evening like this one staying at home seems much more appealing.
I can truthfully say that I've never papered a wall in my life. I have painted over several which were papered by other people, but to be honest, I'm not sure I see the point of wallpaper at all.
I've had a very busy day at work (I stayed on until about 5:30 to get one of the voice files that had accumulated finished), and from what people tried to sneak in after 5 when they thought I wouldn't be there, tomorrow's going to be more of the same. I'm not feeling the absolute best; that cold from last week is lingering like a bad smell, and I could Just Do Without It. I should be at a Vestry meeting over the road at the moment, but I felt so generally cream-crackered I sent my apologies and bunked off.
I'd bought some salads at lunchtime thinking I wanted a nice quick, undemanding supper (which I had); now a spot of Lazing About and the Grauniad crossword are beckoning.
It was, however Quite A Nice Day; it's still rather mild, and it held off from raining while I had to be out.
It seems from my very limited experience that painting walls, rather than papering them, seems to be the fashion nowadays. I don't know if that's actually the case.
.
This is the fifth room to be decorated. The others have been stripped right back, then lining paper put on, then painted. As this is a bedroom, I thought I might have one more interesting papered wall, but might just settle for plain walls again. I’m really no good at decor. Completing this room will be a gradual process, once electrics, decoration and carpet are done. I might need some more furniture, if only for storage. I don’t want to put anything in the loft.
We have been to a stunning modern dance performance by NDC Wales this evening, including a fascinating brand-new piece based on The Mabinogion. A standing ovation, well deserved.
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I helped with the coffees at Our Place this morning as a one-off (I avoid rotas like the plague) and it was a very long morning - we have two services so it involved getting there at 9.30am and I didn't get home until after 1pm - and not the most fun I've ever had so I won't be in a hurry to agree to it again.
It was fine all morning but now raining and windy, and only set to get worse, by all accounts. I'm expecting Mr Nen to arrive home damply this evening, with a fair bit of mud on shoes and trousers. But there is Wine for later, and that's the main thing.
I cooked a tiny lamb steak with lots of fresh veg, as I am trying to eat more healthily, however I have just made another pear cake, as the pears are ripening at a rate I can’t keep up with.
It is a dull grey day, with frequent drizzle, so I am not inclined to go out anywhere.
I was looking forward to Choral Evensong on Radio 3 but the gremlins got in and sabotaged the live broadcast. After a couple of attempts we heard an old one from elsewhere.
Today, to church as most Sundays now. Unfortunately, I was much troubled by vertigo, which made the usual standing and sitting manoeuvres a tad more difficult. Still, I got through. They are great people at my church, and the communion service always seems to lift my spirits. As I suppose it ought to do.
Hoping for a better night than last, as I had frightful cramp in my legs. In the less painful reaches, had a long complicated dream featuring me, Queen Camilla and a very small guinea pig.
The Dragon was woken briefly from his estivation, as I lit one of those magic logs that burn off the Soot in the chimney. The smoke duly went where it should, and Neighbour S said he'd sweep the chimney again for me sometime this week, just to make sure it's as clear as can be. The next lot of Coal is on order - 2.5 metric tonnes, divided between three Arks...
Winter is on its way...
CHICKEN KYIV (just the one) for Supper.
I've been moderately productive; the aforementioned Iron Ing has been accomplished and an adaptation of a recipe for lemon, green bean and basil pasta has been tried.
It was a bit like a deconstructed pesto: lemon zest and juice, toasted pine nuts, garlic and basil with green beans and a couple of broccoli florets chucked in at the end of the pasta cooking time, with a goodly grating of Parmesan on top.
That pasta dish sounds right up my street @piglet, I hope you enjoyed it. We had a very nice couscous salad with vegan feta 'cheese', which is surprisingly OK if not quite as nice as the real thing.
Tess Coe has been visited, and the store was less busy than it usually is on a Monday, so perhaps the Wind kept people away. Everything on my list - I took a written one with me!
SALMON FILLETS for Lunch, because use-by date.
Thoroughly tired, with prospect of plumbers coming at the skreagh of day tomorrow to replace 6 radiators. Obliged to find new homes for all the stuff that sat on the shelves above the old ones. Bah humbug.
Monday, so Pilates, with a very windy walk there and back. Class was good though, and I managed about 98 per cent of it which is encouraging.
The wind has caused our runner bean plant to keel over yet again, and it snapped the rather large tree spinach plant. I was cutting up said plant by the compost bins when the heavens opened. I'm now slightly damp. I had been intending to sort out the chilli plants in the greenhouse, and now the rain had stopped I should go off and do that.
The rest of the day is being spent doing odd bits and pieces such as painting my toenails interspersed by packing for our holiday tomorrow.
I have had a productive day of writing tutorials ready for the new term and catching up with some assessment changes. I’ve also done some preparatory study for my own assignment. I have cut out the pattern pieces for a skirt for the Younger’s girlfriend but will cut the fabric out tomorrow.
Mr Heavenly is out at monthly meet up for Christians in business and I assume he will be eating out. I am going to have a bacon and cheese omelette.
/rant
Mixed weather again today; I got to work dry, but got fairly wet at lunchtime going to get the ingredients for a veggie curry. I fancied a change, and used cauliflower instead of potatoes, along with carrots, green beans, chickpeas and peas, and it came out rather nicely, albeit a bit bland; I've added a bit of extra salt for tomorrow's iteration. I also defrosted and tipped in the extra rice from the curry from last week.
Quiet day at work, as three of the bosses not in (two are always off on Mondays, and J wasn't back from his holidays yet). All hell will likely break loose tomorrow!
Dinner was that hoary standby, tuna pasta bake.
*you don't want to pay for milk you didn't get
No Pilates, as Herself is unwell, which left me with something of a Hole in my day. One or two little Jobs have been jobbed, though, and Lunch has been eaten (a rather tasty Ham, Leek, and Potato thingy from Tess Coe).
There is CHEESE for later.
Not done a lot with the rest of the day - read, knitted, napped, that sort of thing.
Dinner will be fancy saussies, polenta and Parmesan, and a Portugese rosé.
The "all hell" didn't break loose after all; it was really quite a gentle day. Parted with £££ for my new contact lenses (which I haven't got yet, but I thought I may as well pay upfront). The optician was rabbiting about different sorts of lenses (each type more expensive than the one before), and the fact that some of them would need to be replaced every six months. I vetoed that fairly sharpish; do they think I'm made of money? In the end she decided to go with the same sort I have at the moment (rigid gas-permeable), but with exhortations to put lubricating drops in several times a day (more ££). It's apparently something to do with my age; my eyes don't lubricate themselves as well as they used to.
The joys of old age, eh?
Supper was the second half of the curry, and I think it had rather improved overnight, the way curries do. It was washed down with a bottle of Corncrake from the Orkney Brewery, which was also very nice.
So far so good. The hotel is nice, the food well cooked and interesting and the company fun. Half the group are a hiking club from California so lots of cross pond discussion.
The nurse was bemused that I had been sent an appointment, because I don't fall into any of the categories entitled to a free flu jab.
As far as I was concerned, I'd been sent an appointment and I'd turned up. If the NHS wants to stick a needle in me, who am I to query it? However,the nurse had to tick a category so ticked "carer."
Church choir practice had been switched to tonight just for this week but I knew I would be late and three others messaged in to say they were unwell, so it was cancelled at the last minute. Another reason given was road works. Three major routes are currently closed from 8pm to 6am, making travel extremely difficult, especially as the signed diversions suggest one of the closed roads. Crazy.
Captain Pyjamas is starting a theatre workshop this afternoon so I have to take him to that, but apart from that I am going very slowly today.
And sympathy you shall have - I had food poisoning once (dodgy chicken, I think) and it's not an experience to be recommended...
Hope you feel stronger soon, and that the good Captain's theatre workshop is as much Fun as it can be!
A grey, chilly day in Arkland the Dismal, with no sign of the Big Yellow Face. No need to go out, though, so I'm staying below decks (the little electric heater is on), and waiting for Lunch - PIE n'CHIPS.
That’s sounds like a lovely day, Sarasa.
I’ve had a productive few days. So far this week I’ve written all my introductory tutorial presentations, attended a module briefing and brought myself up to date with the assignments I will be supporting/marking.
I’ve also managed to get ahead with my own studies and the first assignment and have written a short presentation on my dissertation proposal and a short written summary of the key debates. I’m really looked forward to spending a year writing about something I am interested in and having the time to do it (I have reduced my work hours this year).
Not sure what is for tea, I think I have some beef so possibly beef and mushroom stroganoff with garlic bread.
This morning I waited until the heavy rain had passed but there was still enough for me to get wet when I went to collect my prescription. Only one item was ready. The two I had ordered online had not been processed, so I had to go to the medical centre and get them to do it, but it will take four days, so that means Monday, I guess, to go through the system. I am right out of a tablet I am supposed to take every day.
This afternoon my son came and instead of gardening ( the rain had stopped but everywhere was too wet) he cleared the study of all but three items, which his son will come and help with next week, ready for the decorator. I just need to decide on some colours. An electrician is booked to add some sockets before then.
Meanwhile the other grandson W is due for an operation on Friday. I’ll add him to the prayer thread.
Snap. As with all classic recipes, there are any number of variants online, but I think I'll go with the one from the gravy-stained pages of The Cookery Year what I've had these 50 years.
Talking of food, I registered an interest in a new U3a group - a lunch club where you cook and present an interesting dish(es) and discuss. I didn't think it would take off tbh, but it seems there's now a quorum (8). Thing is, I don't have eg 8 chairs (nor a table big enough to set them round). In fact, I don't have 8 matching sets of anything - neither plates nor cutlery. I've always done small-scale catering, except when I've done dinner at a friend's who does have the resources and the cooker to match (she used to cook professionally).
So do I back out? Or hope another member of the group might host, or share?
Today's episode of porcine brainlessness was inadvertently switching off my laptop, and wasting about half an hour fecking about re-setting passwords and swearing.
Supper was a couple of Tessie's fish cakes (smoked haddock and something or other) with greenery, and rather good.
We've had a lovely day with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling and Mr Nen is now packing for another trip - a jolly in Italy with his car club.
I am on a zoom at 8pm and am very much hoping I manage to keep awake. We had bolognaise for tea and washing it down with red wine seemed not only desirable but obligatory.
I once signed up for a temporary church group for a similar meal sharing club over a term and it was really enjoyable.
The church group meal-sharing club sounds rather fun though, as @Heavenlyannie says, and I'd suggest it to Our Place's PCC if I didn't know that they'd reject it out-of-hand as being from someone Outside.
ION, another grey and windy day in Arkland the Depressing, though it's still quite mild. The Big Yellow Face may deign to pay us a pastoral visit tomorrow, They say. Meanwhile, Wash Ing is Hang Ing out in the westerly breeze.
I can tell that the year is rapidly running on, as I've just had to tax the Car, and remind myself that the MoT is due before the end of next month. Deep Joy, but I always live in hope that my Mechanical Man will find nothing amiss, or will mend it quickly...I do a very low mileage (maybe 1500 miles a year), so wear-and-tear is not too bad.
A sunny but breezy afternoon, but I doubt I'll do anything useful for the rest of the day. Read, knit and nap most likely. Haddie Florentine for dinner.
My neighbour, a retired Methodist minister, has kindly relieved me of various church-related items which I was finding hard to get rid of, prior to finally clearing Mr Puzzler’s study. She hopes to pass them on to other contacts. In return I gave her some pears from my tree.
The electrician is coming tomorrow. I had to check the code for my keysafe to give him in case he has to arrive when I am out. ( I know him -and his excellent reputation - so I have no hesitation about this). I have a meeting to go to which will not be quorate if I don’t turn up. Meanwhile I need to empty a bookcase so he can put in a new socket and trunking.
No church choir practice tonight as our young DoM is abroad for a wedding.
I went to my usual aerobics class this morning and met with friends for coffee. I've been home this afternoon and got rather distracted by things - including trying to track Mr Nen's flight which was badly delayed but is now airborne. I'm out for an hour or so this evening; something I'm always glad to have gone to but on a damp windy evening like this one staying at home seems much more appealing.
I've had a very busy day at work (I stayed on until about 5:30 to get one of the voice files that had accumulated finished), and from what people tried to sneak in after 5 when they thought I wouldn't be there, tomorrow's going to be more of the same. I'm not feeling the absolute best; that cold from last week is lingering like a bad smell, and I could Just Do Without It. I should be at a Vestry meeting over the road at the moment, but I felt so generally cream-crackered I sent my apologies and bunked off.
I'd bought some salads at lunchtime thinking I wanted a nice quick, undemanding supper (which I had); now a spot of Lazing About and the Grauniad crossword are beckoning.
It was, however Quite A Nice Day; it's still rather mild, and it held off from raining while I had to be out.
That will be my next port of call, but not till next week as it means a journey.
This is the fifth room to be decorated. The others have been stripped right back, then lining paper put on, then painted. As this is a bedroom, I thought I might have one more interesting papered wall, but might just settle for plain walls again. I’m really no good at decor. Completing this room will be a gradual process, once electrics, decoration and carpet are done. I might need some more furniture, if only for storage. I don’t want to put anything in the loft.
All the sympathy ever--I've been hospitalized with that before, and it's the worst. Grrrrrrrr.