FB has also given me a “one song to the tune of another” earworm today, from the Cursed Carols posts: “Come thou long expected Jesus” to the tune of the Flintstones.
Complete tangent - I'm in the I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Appreciation Society FB group, and they just posted Rev'd Richard Coles singing Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood to the tune of When I was a lad, I served a term from HMS Pinafore, and it was one of the funniest things I've heard in years.
I've been enjoying Clue after a break of far, far too long. What took me by surprise was what they could do with guests who could *actually sing* - there have been some fabulous One Song to the Tune of Anothers.
And for us bereft lovers of Jeremy Hardy's dulcet tones, there's Henning Wehn who is almost as capable a singer.
It's worth watching the clips on FB just to see Jack Dee cracking up.
FB has also given me a “one song to the tune of another” earworm today, from the Cursed Carols posts: “Come thou long expected Jesus” to the tune of the Flintstones.
Part of the attraction of that particular game is trying to make things fit that don't. You either have to cram the words in or have some left over when you finish.
I have been for part one of my annual diabetes check.
My numbers went over the limits one year, but have been below, pre-diabetic, for several years now, but I still have annual checks. So far, so good.
Anyway, now I have provided bloods etc, maybe I can indulge ( a bit more than I have already this month). I have just eaten a sliver of iced Christmas cake, started last week for my French group, so needs to be eaten up.
Now that I have finished using the dining table for writing cards and wrapping presents, I am starting a jigsaw puzzle.
I'm afraid Our Place's Crib Service usually has the Holy Family, as well as the Kings and the Shepherds, following the star. I suppose it's a way of getting the whole story over in one go, so to speak.
A Dismal Day of Gales and Rain in Arkland the Tempest-tost, keeping me below decks. It might be more properly be termed Darkland, as full daylight seems to have passed us by.
I need to do a bit of Shopp Ing, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
I'm afraid Our Place's Crib Service usually has the Holy Family, as well as the Kings and the Shepherds, following the star. I suppose it's a way of getting the whole story over in one go, so to speak.
Does it include a donkey (who, according to the school Nativity I attended on Monday, was called Darrell).
No donkey - they are in short supply in Our Town, or so I'm told - though there is one (called Dave) who often stars in Another Place's Palm Sunday procession. They don't let him enter the church.
Very wet here today as well. I got soaked on my walk home from coffee with friends and a few bits of Shop Ing. I purchased a Christmas pudding at Aldi, as rumour has it they do the best Christmas puds in the Whole Wide World.
I also headed out yesterday on public transport - gave my newly acquired bus pass its first outing - and had a very nice coffee, lunch and a spot of Christmas Shop Ing with a friend. I think I've got most, if not all, of the presents now. Next up - the Wrap Ing. It's usually at this point that I find I have a huge pile of things for one person and virtually none for another.
Having been out for a couple of days this week the house stuff has got rather behind so I'm about to put the third load of Wash Ing of the day into the machine.
No donkey - they are in short supply in Our Town, or so I'm told - though there is one (called Dave) who often stars in Another Place's Palm Sunday procession. They don't let him enter the church.
We had a real donkey once - something equine anyway - which did come in to church. Some of the congregation were glad there wasn't a Blue Peter moment and the others were disappointed. Very much an age split.
I spent the morning doing houseworkerly things (cleaning loos and sinks) and then went off to do my bookshop shift. It was starting to rain on the way there but nothing too bad. I arrived to find the shop stuffed with volunteers. The manager was at a meeting and seems to have called in rather too many replacements. I decided to head off back home as I really wasn't needed. The heavens opened on the way back and it has been chucking it down ever since. I hope it stops soon as I really don't want a flooded back garden for Christmas.
On the way to the shop I bought the most twee Christmas jigsaw I could find, kittens playing beneath a Christmas tree. Hopefully that is going to put me in the mood to celebrate next week.
I had some shopping to do in Nearest Town. It has a very convenient large car park, but last year it switched from payment by coin / card, to payment by app. I haven't been able to download the app, so I headed for Tesco's car park, which is free. It was rammed! Cars were circling looking for a space, but I saw a car pulling out so got a space quite quickly. I walked past the convenient car park on my way into town and it was more than half empty. I went into Tesco on my way back to the car and it wasn't particularly busy. I suspect I'm not the only person parking in Tesco due the difficulty of paying to park in the convenient car park!
I have been for part one of my annual diabetes check.
My numbers went over the limits one year, but have been below, pre-diabetic, for several years now, but I still have annual checks. So far, so good.
Anyway, now I have provided bloods etc, maybe I can indulge ( a bit more than I have already this month). I have just eaten a sliver of iced Christmas cake, started last week for my French group, so needs to be eaten up.
Now that I have finished using the dining table for writing cards and wrapping presents, I am starting a jigsaw puzzle.
Well done, Puzzler, for fending off the diabetes!
I (sliding from pre- to actual- diabetic and with a tad too much cholesterol on board) have my next blood test on 2nd Jan. I'm doomed, aren’t I?
Both my parents were on all the pills and lived into their 80s, so I feel that a lot of it is genetic and I may as well get on with it. I, like them, am not very overweight, eat a fairly healthy diet and take plenty of exercise. There's room for improvement but…
It was Not Raining in West Lothian today; I suspect that BT, BF, Nen, Sarasa et al will (albeit inadvertently) be sending their surplus H2O northwards so that any semblance of coiffure that I might manage for the office Christmas bash tomorrow will be banjaxed. I may not be around much tomorrow.
No matter; nails have been decorated in assorted shades of festive sparkle and I shall try to get up in time to put my face on*.
As I was late getting home, supper was a popty-ping chicken thingie from Tessie's, and quite nice.
* I don't often bother with makeup, but for special occasions I will make the effort.
A very interesting evening last night at a local Mosque - two talks on Mary, one from a Christian and the other from a Muslim perspective, followed by Q&A. The differences in belief were not ignored by any means, both speakers were eirenic in their approach. A very warm welcome from the Muslim community (as always: I've been there before).
I always enjoyed the visits I paid to my local mosque when I had a job that took me to various places of worship @Baptist Trainfan. Always interesting to get other perspectives on our faith.
Husband and I were out relatively early to go to the farm stall in the market. Its only there on a Friday so needed to get the Christmas veg today. A stalk of sprouts, two leeks, a load of onions, potatoes, carrots and parsnips, a red cabbage and some cavolo nero come to about £8.00 and should keep us going for a while.
The weather is dry and sunny today which is a good thing as I had an automated flood warning notice from the Environmental Agency earlier. The river is high but still within normal range and the weather is forecast dry today and tomorrow. Then it looks rather wet, but hopefully not as bad as it was yesterday.
Sunny with occasional light showers here. I've just come back from carol singing at our Churches Together Community Shop. My wife has gone Christmas shopping.
Sunny and cold here. I did my morning walk to the sound of gunshots but as the area hasn’t noticeably deteriorated recently I assume there is a pheasant shoot at the local manor.
Usual morning admin and I am about to get stuck in to the usual pile of marking.
There may well be a lot of pheasant plucking going on in Heavenlyannieland this afternoon...
A fine Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Arcadian, with enough mildness in the Air for me to spend some S & Q time in the Wheelhouse.
I tremblingly essayed an Expotition to Tess Coe, and was pleasantly surprised to find the traffic Not Too Bad, and an empty disabled bay for me to drive into immediately on entering the car park. All that was required has been bought, so I won't need to go out at all over the weekend.
The holidays have begun. Yesterday Captain Pyjamas sang in the annual school Christmas concert, and today is a teacher training day. This morning we went to his usual therapy appointment, then to the market to buy fish. Concert #2 is this evening, and husband en rouge finished work at the end of the morning, so we ate our main meal at lunch.
I am proud to say that when I asked him what sort of fish he wanted, Captain P requested not fish fingers, but salmon. I take this desire for Proper Food as a tribute to my education. For the adults it was sole meunière, although when I got home and opened the bag I was a bit discombobulated to discover not the two skinned soles I had asked for, but three unskinned ones. I'm guessing they gave me someone else's bag, and the person who paid for three and only got two was more annoyed than me... It did mean skinning them myself though, which was a challenge. With the assistance of YouTube, I think I made a passable job.
The afternoon has been spent packing prior to leaving for foie gras land tomorrow.
We had some very nice salmon yesterday - simply seasoned with a touch of dill, salt and pepper, wrapped in foil and baked in the oven. Served with new potatoes and sliced runner beans.
I usually buy the Salmon Fillets in Lemon & Parsley, but they've been unavailable for some weeks. The ungarnished Fillets are fine (I just whang on some Salt, Pepper, and Vinegar when they're done - I might try putting on the S & P before baking them), but even they were out of stock today. I blame Trump. Or Brexit.
Fillets in Sweet Chilli sauce are on the shelves, but alas! I don't like Chilli sauce, awkward and fussy wossname that I am.
I've bought some ready-to-eat Salmon Flakes, though, which will make a couple of nice Sanwidges over the weekend.
Complete tangent - I'm in the I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Appreciation Society FB group, and they just posted Rev'd Richard Coles singing Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood to the tune of When I was a lad, I served a term from HMS Pinafore, and it was one of the funniest things I've heard in years.
I've been enjoying Clue after a break of far, far too long. What took me by surprise was what they could do with guests who could *actually sing* - there have been some fabulous One Song to the Tune of Anothers.
And for us bereft lovers of Jeremy Hardy's dulcet tones, there's Henning Wehn who is almost as capable a singer.
It's worth watching the clips on FB just to see Jack Dee cracking up.
I haven't listened since the wonderful Humph died.
I have made a good start on my jigsaw puzzle.
My granddaughter dropped by today. She brought me a much needed ipad charger. I seem to get through them far too quickly.
My laptop has now decided to reconnect with the internet after a three day outage.
Salmon is on my agenda too tonight.
Carol concert in the city tomorrow at 5pm so meals will be at weird times. I have sold six tickets.
A very productive day here, I marked more essays than planned and sent a whole batch back. Now there are just 2 late submissions to mark but I can do that at my leisure as I am officially on leave.
Tea was Lancashire hot pot made from mutton and cooked on the stove the traditional way (rather than as per modern recipes which seem to think it is a layered dish cooked in the oven). Obviously it had very non-tradition garlic added, and cream at the end.
Now I am consuming some red wine and lazing around.
My take home exams are due tomorrow. About a quarter of the class submitted them early so those have been marked. Officially, on vacation from my day job until January 5.
I had my shift at our Foodbank this afternoon. We fed 47 people, less than the Wednesday session when they had 72 😮
It was full on and I am tired (I do packing in the warehouse) but I'm really thankful for the generosity of our community which meant we had enough food.
I would love to have gone to the mosque’s talk about Mary that Baptist Trainfan went to - I am on their mailing list, but decided that four evenings out in a row would be too much.
Tonight was the annual Silent Films with piano accompaniment, which is always a highlight of the weekend before Christmas - this year we had Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Tomorrow I’m singing in an early music concert and Sunday night is the carol service.
We've had an unexpectedly hassled start to our day as Mr Nen is out for a Hearty Walk with his Hearty Walking Friends and received notification this morning that his lift was leaving earlier than anticipated. Consequently it was all hands on deck to make the packed lunch and see him off the premises with the various necessities - walking poles, layers of jumpers and coats, woolly hat, Christmas hat, gloves, neck warmers, packed lunch, bottle of water, two pairs of shoes, chocolate, navigational aids, and a partridge in a pear tree.
I, meanwhile, will be heading out later in a rather more sedate fashion for coffee with my Sedate Coffee-drinking Friends, on this bright cold winter's day.
Wrapping Christmas presents is also on today's agenda.
Horror of horrors, yesterday our espresso machine broke down and Mr Heavenly, engineer par excellence, has deemed it irreparable. We have had it most of a decade and knew it was on its way out but it is a very inconvenient time for it to give up the ghost. But it has provided Mr Heavenly the opportunity to order a very expensive replacement he had his eye on which hopefully will be here by Christmas. In the meantime we have no idea where our cafetière is so we are making coffee using a silicone travel filter.
I need to go out for a walk (not an Hearty Walk) and this afternoon we shall put the tree up.
Hope your replacement coffee machine turns up quickly @Heavenlyannie. My husband has so many different ways of making coffee that I think he could survive lack of his machine for a while. He tends to use his aeropress first thing, his V60 at lunchtime and his espresso machine in the evening. Other methods are used from time to time!
We headed out into town to buy a few presents, a process that wasn't altogether successful, but at least we got a couple of things and the place wasn't yet too crowded.
I had a crap nights sleep, so I've just had a long nap and now feel more in the mood for the Strictly final this evening.
I started quite early, shopping, swimming and the popping into the church where our Youth Club were having a sleepover. On the spur of the moment I booked lunch at a restaurant we hadn't been to before ... well it wasn't cheap but it was superb and we'll definitely go again. A quick supermarket visit on the way home. I'm now feeling comfortably full, and sleepy!
... He tends to use his aeropress first thing, his V60 at lunchtime ...
And there I was thinking V60 was a model of Volvo ...
We had a most civilised (and flavoursome) work Christmas bash yesterday. We were at the same restaurant we went to last year (just a few steps along the street from the office) and if anything it was even better than I remembered. I had seriously good duck pâté to start, followed by feather-blade beef with dauphinoise potatoes, black pudding and veggies (they even managed to make me enjoy Brussels sprouts) and then raspberry meringue for pudding.
Afterwards we repaired to the little wine bar a few more steps along the street for cheese and charcuterie and more WINE.
I was feeling a wee bit fragile this morning, but turned up for choir practice to discover that most of the choir seemed to think it had been cancelled (it hadn't). If I'd known that was what they were thinking, I would have cancelled it ...
No matter; we seem to have decided to cancel next week's, which will suit me fine.
Try to keep awake for the sermon tomorrow...
A rather chilly day in Arkland the Grey, after a frosty and foggy early morning. The wind has changed round to the east/north-east, and They have forecast Overcastishness and generally lowish temperatures for the Solstice and subsequent days. I hope FatherInCharge will allow the church heating to be put on for the many 'CHRISTmass' services.
No need to go out today, but a trip to the village Co-Op might be undertaken tomorrow. Somehow, I seem to be a bit short of BEER...
We have arrived in foie gras land. Last night's concert was a thoroughly successful business but it did mean a bit of a late night, and after all the travelling I'm feeling totally cream crackered. Usually the in-laws feed us the evening we arrive, but they've gone to a wedding, so we're heating up a carton of soup and calling it dinner. Then it's an early night, methinks.
I've had a good day with friends, although I mistimed things rather badly, arriving home just as my afternoon coffee date arrived; so I had no lunch.
However, stir fry (because Saturday) and wine and chocolate have been consumed, Strictly final has been watched and I have my bed and book in my sights.
I'm not a great fan of beef, moving in a pescatarian/veggie direction these days, but the bavette steak in teriyaki marinade was very nice. The remains will turn up in a miso broth for lunch tomorrow.
A sunny, if cold, day. And tomorrow is the solstice! The days will inch towards the light.
Comments
I've been enjoying Clue after a break of far, far too long. What took me by surprise was what they could do with guests who could *actually sing* - there have been some fabulous One Song to the Tune of Anothers.
And for us bereft lovers of Jeremy Hardy's dulcet tones, there's Henning Wehn who is almost as capable a singer.
It's worth watching the clips on FB just to see Jack Dee cracking up.
I can't make that fit.
My numbers went over the limits one year, but have been below, pre-diabetic, for several years now, but I still have annual checks. So far, so good.
Anyway, now I have provided bloods etc, maybe I can indulge ( a bit more than I have already this month). I have just eaten a sliver of iced Christmas cake, started last week for my French group, so needs to be eaten up.
Now that I have finished using the dining table for writing cards and wrapping presents, I am starting a jigsaw puzzle.
I don't have diabetes, but I have my annual bloods etc on December 30th.
I attended our church Playgroup's Nativity this morning - rather charming but biblically inaccurate (Mary and Joseph didn't follow the star!).
A Dismal Day of Gales and Rain in Arkland the Tempest-tost, keeping me below decks. It might be more properly be termed Darkland, as full daylight seems to have passed us by.
I need to do a bit of Shopp Ing, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
PS It wetteth greatly - again.
I also headed out yesterday on public transport - gave my newly acquired bus pass its first outing - and had a very nice coffee, lunch and a spot of Christmas Shop Ing with a friend. I think I've got most, if not all, of the presents now. Next up - the Wrap Ing. It's usually at this point that I find I have a huge pile of things for one person and virtually none for another.
Having been out for a couple of days this week the house stuff has got rather behind so I'm about to put the third load of Wash Ing of the day into the machine.
We had a real donkey once - something equine anyway - which did come in to church. Some of the congregation were glad there wasn't a Blue Peter moment and the others were disappointed. Very much an age split.
On the way to the shop I bought the most twee Christmas jigsaw I could find, kittens playing beneath a Christmas tree. Hopefully that is going to put me in the mood to celebrate next week.
Well, quite. AIUI, the donkey I mentioned (Dave) did once provide a Blue Peter moment, which is the reason they no longer let him in...
Well done, Puzzler, for fending off the diabetes!
I (sliding from pre- to actual- diabetic and with a tad too much cholesterol on board) have my next blood test on 2nd Jan. I'm doomed, aren’t I?
Both my parents were on all the pills and lived into their 80s, so I feel that a lot of it is genetic and I may as well get on with it. I, like them, am not very overweight, eat a fairly healthy diet and take plenty of exercise. There's room for improvement but…
No matter; nails have been decorated in assorted shades of festive sparkle and I shall try to get up in time to put my face on*.
As I was late getting home, supper was a popty-ping chicken thingie from Tessie's, and quite nice.
* I don't often bother with makeup, but for special occasions I will make the effort.
Sporting an orange and white coat, he had very floppy ears and enjoyed sniffing many of the passengers.
Husband and I were out relatively early to go to the farm stall in the market. Its only there on a Friday so needed to get the Christmas veg today. A stalk of sprouts, two leeks, a load of onions, potatoes, carrots and parsnips, a red cabbage and some cavolo nero come to about £8.00 and should keep us going for a while.
The weather is dry and sunny today which is a good thing as I had an automated flood warning notice from the Environmental Agency earlier. The river is high but still within normal range and the weather is forecast dry today and tomorrow. Then it looks rather wet, but hopefully not as bad as it was yesterday.
Usual morning admin and I am about to get stuck in to the usual pile of marking.
A fine Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Arcadian, with enough mildness in the Air for me to spend some S & Q time in the Wheelhouse.
I tremblingly essayed an Expotition to Tess Coe, and was pleasantly surprised to find the traffic Not Too Bad, and an empty disabled bay for me to drive into immediately on entering the car park. All that was required has been bought, so I won't need to go out at all over the weekend.
I am proud to say that when I asked him what sort of fish he wanted, Captain P requested not fish fingers, but salmon. I take this desire for Proper Food as a tribute to my education.
The afternoon has been spent packing prior to leaving for foie gras land tomorrow.
Mind you, Tess Coe were out of stock today as regards Salmon Fillets, but that may be due to the usual Yuletide rush of manic/panic buying.
Fillets in Sweet Chilli sauce are on the shelves, but alas! I don't like Chilli sauce, awkward and fussy wossname that I am.
I've bought some ready-to-eat Salmon Flakes, though, which will make a couple of nice Sanwidges over the weekend.
I haven't listened since the wonderful Humph died.
My granddaughter dropped by today. She brought me a much needed ipad charger. I seem to get through them far too quickly.
My laptop has now decided to reconnect with the internet after a three day outage.
Salmon is on my agenda too tonight.
Carol concert in the city tomorrow at 5pm so meals will be at weird times. I have sold six tickets.
Tea was Lancashire hot pot made from mutton and cooked on the stove the traditional way (rather than as per modern recipes which seem to think it is a layered dish cooked in the oven). Obviously it had very non-tradition garlic added, and cream at the end.
Now I am consuming some red wine and lazing around.
It was full on and I am tired (I do packing in the warehouse) but I'm really thankful for the generosity of our community which meant we had enough food.
Tonight was the annual Silent Films with piano accompaniment, which is always a highlight of the weekend before Christmas - this year we had Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Tomorrow I’m singing in an early music concert and Sunday night is the carol service.
I, meanwhile, will be heading out later in a rather more sedate fashion for coffee with my Sedate Coffee-drinking Friends, on this bright cold winter's day.
Wrapping Christmas presents is also on today's agenda.
I need to go out for a walk (not an Hearty Walk) and this afternoon we shall put the tree up.
We headed out into town to buy a few presents, a process that wasn't altogether successful, but at least we got a couple of things and the place wasn't yet too crowded.
I had a crap nights sleep, so I've just had a long nap and now feel more in the mood for the Strictly final this evening.
And there I was thinking V60 was a model of Volvo ...
We had a most civilised (and flavoursome) work Christmas bash yesterday. We were at the same restaurant we went to last year (just a few steps along the street from the office) and if anything it was even better than I remembered. I had seriously good duck pâté to start, followed by feather-blade beef with dauphinoise potatoes, black pudding and veggies (they even managed to make me enjoy Brussels sprouts) and then raspberry meringue for pudding.
Afterwards we repaired to the little wine bar a few more steps along the street for cheese and charcuterie and more WINE.
I was feeling a wee bit fragile this morning, but turned up for choir practice to discover that most of the choir seemed to think it had been cancelled (it hadn't). If I'd known that was what they were thinking, I would have cancelled it ...
No matter; we seem to have decided to cancel next week's, which will suit me fine.
A rather chilly day in Arkland the Grey, after a frosty and foggy early morning. The wind has changed round to the east/north-east, and They have forecast Overcastishness and generally lowish temperatures for the Solstice and subsequent days. I hope FatherInCharge will allow the church heating to be put on for the many 'CHRISTmass' services.
No need to go out today, but a trip to the village Co-Op might be undertaken tomorrow. Somehow, I seem to be a bit short of BEER...
No, no. A V60 is a German Federal Railway diesel shunting locomotive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_V_60
Nice little red (latterly) engines, with three wheels on each side, but probably not very good at making coffee.
However, stir fry (because Saturday) and wine and chocolate have been consumed, Strictly final has been watched and I have my bed and book in my sights.
A sunny, if cold, day. And tomorrow is the solstice! The days will inch towards the light.