Grey, chilly, and dull here in Arkland the Dismal, but it is at least dry. Next week is forecast to be much the same (so They say), which is OK by me, as long as rain and snow hold off...
I seem to have got behind with meals, so Dinner (rather than Lunch) will occur later on - LAMB CHOPS with CHIPS today.
Inspired by something I saw from a journaller on YouTube I have written a letter to myself on this, the shortest of days, from 2025 Nen to be read on this day next year by 2026 Nen.
We are having our meal shortly as we are off to the lessons and carols service at our local anglican place this evening. Having had the one carol we sang at Our Place this morning massacred by our worship band I'm looking forward to some Proper Stuff.
Dull and cold here. The weather's not great either.
Our parish church has just reopened today after being closed for over a year for major repairs and refurbishment. The have lessons and carols at 5pm. which is almost worth considering heading out for. On the other hand it is damp and cold and I can't quite believe that they will have sorted out the heating to make it warmer than glacial in the winter. The place is the size of a small cathedral, a left over from the middle ages when this was a very wealthy area.
After being at our respective places of worship this morning we headed off for a walk along the river this afternoon. It is flooded down by the weir towards the end of town, but as long as the river doesn't rise (and it was going down last time I looked), we should be OK where we live. A truly miserable day, but it is forecast to brighten up in time for Christmas.
I abandoned the idea of an Expotition; I had the ingredients for chickie frickie (pace Nen) so made that, because use-by dates, and there's enough for tomorrow (also pace Nen).
I'll be down at the Tessie's end of the street tomorrow anyway, because work, so I may as well get stocked up then. I must check the pâté recipes (my contribution to the Christmas festivities) before I head out, to make sure I get the right ingredients.
Just back from our service of lessons and carols, which went as well as could be expected.
We had some “ extras”: a very good alto, a good tenor ( aka the officiant) a good bass plus a useless bass who didn’t even make the rehearsal. So 4 basses, 4 altos, 2 tenors and 4 sopranos. Sopranos were the weakest link. One had been to no rehearsals, but for once she did not mess up, or kept it quiet if she did. Another who I had the misfortune to sit next to struggles with pitch, especially on the higher notes. My small solo bit was ok, but I am now sung out, after a concert last night as well with all those descants.
Apart from seeing family, that is my last event for a couple of weeks. Phew!
I cooked a proper lunch with lamb steak, so just a sausage roll and a ham sandwich this evening. I expect I will look for some cheese and/or chocolate later.
There was heavy rain while we were in church for this evening's service but it obliging stopped before the end so we walked home in the dry.
I haven't made chick frick for a long time - I think I overdosed on it by having it every week. Mind you, we've had stir fry once a week for years and I never tire of it.
Despite having the heating on I haven't been able to get warm since we arrived home so I plan to crawl into bed shortly.
The Christmas tree was decorated yesterday and the candle bridge put in the window. Our tree lights are web enabled, designed by Mr Heavenly, and every year a new colour or pattern is coded to the selection by him or one of the Master Heavenlys. Last year it was a new rose gold colour by the Younger but this year has a rainbow scheme. We dug out our old discarded lights and decorated the hall staircase with them.
Dry today until half way through the evening service when it poured down, the warehouse roof noisily alerting us to this. It was a nice evening service, starting with a medley of carols and then a baptism of one of the youth. The sermon was on Joseph’s choice to stay with Mary. We were late back as Mr Heavenly helped clear the baptistry away so he could set up for the Christmas service.
Sausage in a bun was served after the service and when we got home I made us cocktails: pomegranate and rose liqueur, orange juice and Prosecco, which was accompanied by a nice multilayered caramel and peanut sponge cake from the corner shop.
I'm dreaming of a grey Christmas
Just like the ones I've always known
When it's dull and damp
And drear and dank
And there's never hide nor hair of snow;
I'm dreaming of a grey Christmas
With every dark and soggy day
May you somehow survive until May
While all your Christmases are grey
If freezers have gunwales, ours is packed to them. I included a number of duplicates in yesterday's grocery delivery - things that we go through daily, like breakfast scones (Mr F) and thin bagels (me), and one inadvertent duplicate (granola). To which the supermarket added another - a second box of battered haddock. So that's tonight's dinner sorted.
In common with everywhere else, it is fairly wet, though forecast to turn colder and brighter through the rest of this week. I may go to the local mall, in search of a cut-price calendar, and discounted Christmas goodies on Boxing Day, but no other call to be out.
Yesterday was quite busy - pop up nativity in the morning, lunch out, then carol service at 6. We. have a late service on Christmas Eve but no service Christmas morning.
Looking up the V60 I found myself on a page that had a story about coffee potentially being banned by the Pope in 1600. The story is** that some clergy heard wild rumours that people were conducting Satanic rituals with it and wanted Pope Clement VIII to denounce it but he had a cup and declared it to be too nice for the infidels to have sole use of it.
I like that story @The Rogue, I'll pass it on to my husband
Our Christmas delivery arrives this afternoon. I've tweaked it loads of times, but I bet there are things I've forgotten. I went out this morning to pick up some more wrapping paper and then later went to Waitrose in a vain attempt to get a couple of things. The place was heaving, and though I fancied some more mince pies or similar the aisle with them on was so rammed I gave up. What I forgot to get was some paper for my husband's birthday presents. That will be tomorrow's task.
Bright and cold here and we've had the Christmas grocery delivery this morning and a Christmas parcel from Nenlet2 (which should have arrived days ago, Royal Mail are really struggling this year). Once I've done the wrapping (which I keep putting off which is silly as I actually don't mind doing it and there isn't that much of it) we are pretty much Good To Go. We are off to some carol singing this evening so early tea for us.
I am starting with a cold. At least all the singing is done. I drove to see my sister this morning before the coughs and sneezes start and now I just want to hunker down, but the neighbours have invited me round. I explained I didn’t want to spread any germs, so will see.
Jigsaw and book await and a nice beef stew in the slow cooker, with probably three more portions for the freezer.
Things are getting quiet in South West London, in the streets anyway. Robins are singing well, parrots are wailing in a nice discordant way, and leaf blowers can be heard in back gardens, I suppose tidying up for guests. What a strange medley, but it's life! I realize wrapping presents kills my back, but press on.
Sorry to hear about the Cold @Puzzler - a wee dram of WHISKY might help see it off...
A lighter and brighter day today in Arkland the Thankful, as the Sun seems to have returned post-Solstice (albeit veiled in Haze).
I tried to get to Tess Coe this morning, and braved the traffic on the bridge leading to TessCoeTown. However, the queue trying to get into the car park was just silly, so I activated Plan B (which should have been Plan A), and went to the village Co-Op. This was OK, but I'll need to make another trip tomorrow to pick up a few more items which I forgot today, as Gravy, Port, and BEER. They've run out of Christmas CAKE, alas.
Meanwhile, Arkland itself is quiet, as many denizens seem to have abandoned ship for the holiday. The Office closes at noon tomorrow, after which the Borders are Closed (well, the security gate is - we locals have pass keys), and the rest of the week should hopefully be peaceful.
The rather damp and dank weather is making me generally Achy, so some Restage is called for after lunch (late, as usual).
Comments
I seem to have got behind with meals, so Dinner (rather than Lunch) will occur later on - LAMB CHOPS with CHIPS today.
Happy Solstice, all! The Sun will be back soon...
Apparently not. As I write, it is beginning to Rain.
We are having our meal shortly as we are off to the lessons and carols service at our local anglican place this evening. Having had the one carol we sang at Our Place this morning massacred by our worship band I'm looking forward to some Proper Stuff.
Dull and cold here. The weather's not great either.
After being at our respective places of worship this morning we headed off for a walk along the river this afternoon. It is flooded down by the weir towards the end of town, but as long as the river doesn't rise (and it was going down last time I looked), we should be OK where we live. A truly miserable day, but it is forecast to brighten up in time for Christmas.
I'll be down at the Tessie's end of the street tomorrow anyway, because work, so I may as well get stocked up then. I must check the pâté recipes (my contribution to the Christmas festivities) before I head out, to make sure I get the right ingredients.
We had some “ extras”: a very good alto, a good tenor ( aka the officiant) a good bass plus a useless bass who didn’t even make the rehearsal. So 4 basses, 4 altos, 2 tenors and 4 sopranos. Sopranos were the weakest link. One had been to no rehearsals, but for once she did not mess up, or kept it quiet if she did. Another who I had the misfortune to sit next to struggles with pitch, especially on the higher notes. My small solo bit was ok, but I am now sung out, after a concert last night as well with all those descants.
Apart from seeing family, that is my last event for a couple of weeks. Phew!
I cooked a proper lunch with lamb steak, so just a sausage roll and a ham sandwich this evening. I expect I will look for some cheese and/or chocolate later.
It started raining hard later - just at the wrong time for our service!
I haven't made chick frick for a long time - I think I overdosed on it by having it every week. Mind you, we've had stir fry once a week for years and I never tire of it.
Despite having the heating on I haven't been able to get warm since we arrived home so I plan to crawl into bed shortly.
Dry today until half way through the evening service when it poured down, the warehouse roof noisily alerting us to this. It was a nice evening service, starting with a medley of carols and then a baptism of one of the youth. The sermon was on Joseph’s choice to stay with Mary. We were late back as Mr Heavenly helped clear the baptistry away so he could set up for the Christmas service.
Sausage in a bun was served after the service and when we got home I made us cocktails: pomegranate and rose liqueur, orange juice and Prosecco, which was accompanied by a nice multilayered caramel and peanut sponge cake from the corner shop.
Well, it is December
I'm dreaming of a grey Christmas
Just like the ones I've always known
When it's dull and damp
And drear and dank
And there's never hide nor hair of snow;
I'm dreaming of a grey Christmas
With every dark and soggy day
May you somehow survive until May
While all your Christmases are grey
In common with everywhere else, it is fairly wet, though forecast to turn colder and brighter through the rest of this week. I may go to the local mall, in search of a cut-price calendar, and discounted Christmas goodies on Boxing Day, but no other call to be out.
** Pinch of salt recommended
Our Christmas delivery arrives this afternoon. I've tweaked it loads of times, but I bet there are things I've forgotten. I went out this morning to pick up some more wrapping paper and then later went to Waitrose in a vain attempt to get a couple of things. The place was heaving, and though I fancied some more mince pies or similar the aisle with them on was so rammed I gave up. What I forgot to get was some paper for my husband's birthday presents. That will be tomorrow's task.
Jigsaw and book await and a nice beef stew in the slow cooker, with probably three more portions for the freezer.
A lighter and brighter day today in Arkland the Thankful, as the Sun seems to have returned post-Solstice (albeit veiled in Haze).
I tried to get to Tess Coe this morning, and braved the traffic on the bridge leading to TessCoeTown. However, the queue trying to get into the car park was just silly, so I activated Plan B (which should have been Plan A), and went to the village Co-Op. This was OK, but I'll need to make another trip tomorrow to pick up a few more items which I forgot today, as Gravy, Port, and BEER. They've run out of Christmas CAKE, alas.
Meanwhile, Arkland itself is quiet, as many denizens seem to have abandoned ship for the holiday. The Office closes at noon tomorrow, after which the Borders are Closed (well, the security gate is - we locals have pass keys), and the rest of the week should hopefully be peaceful.
The rather damp and dank weather is making me generally Achy, so some Restage is called for after lunch (late, as usual).