We have spent a few pleasant days in a friend's static caravan just outside St David's.
Today started rainy, but after lunch then sun came out and we were able to go to Whitesands Bay and try out the coastal walk.
A busy couple of days, visiting family in Devon (lovely to see grandkids) then a night in a beautiful old inn in Dartmouth and a glorious drive across Dartmoor. Awful traffic on the way home slightly spoiled things, but a successful minibreak.
I had a jolly nice time at the birthday party of the 105 year old. She was living independently until a couple of years ago, and though frail seemed to very much enjoy the celebration. She'd been a WAAF during the war so there were quite a few RAF people there and a flypast by the Red Arrows who are stationed not that far away.
A nice evening with pasta and pesto as its Friday and most of a bottle of red wine to wash it down.
We are entering the darkless time of year. Even with blackout curtains, there's enough light seepage that, wake at 4, and you can see sleep is a lost cause.
Into town in the morning to our solicitor to sign Powers of Attorney.
But then after lunch Morpheus strikes back -a pity as it seemed a bright if breezy afternoon.
Pizza for dinner because Friday.
Blackout curtains sound terrifying to me. Our bedroom windows face north and east and we only have very light curtains to ease the glare on very sunny days or when dealing with the occasional plague visitation. Clear nights with a full moon are too good to shut out. Right now the sun is much better than the alarm at 7:00. If we had neighbours it might be different, but the deer and other wildlife don't bother us.
Years ago Mr Nen declared himself unable to sleep unless the bedroom was really dark, so we have a pull-down blind plus lined curtains. I find it stifling, but have got used to it. When he's away I never pull the blind down, and leave a gap in the curtains. I agree that clear nights with a full moon are magical and too good to miss.
Sounds as though you're having a sociable time @Bishops Finger and glad the new neighbour seems nice. I can't take to the idea of living on a boat but I do like hearing about all the Arkland goings-on and the way everyone looks after each other.
We've had a good week and got into rather celebratory mood last night. We joined an online drink-and-chat zoom with friends, which started during lockdown and has kept going, and sank a bottle of Prosecco (with snacks) during the course of that. We then opened a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc with the intention of having one glass each to accompany our tea (salmon with roast vegetables and parsley sauce) and the next thing we knew we were finishing off the dregs . I felt a Tad Fragile when I woke up but breakfast and a Good Mug of Tea has put me right.
I’m currently waking up at 4-5am with the light coming through the blinds but I can usually get back to sleep.
A productive morning, I have finished my assignment article, put all 3 assignments together and submitted them. So next week I don’t have any teaching or studying to do. A relaxing week ahead.
Lunch will be cod and chorizo fish cakes with aioli and a tomato and burrata salad.
A productive morning in Sun-Shiny Arkland the Be-Zephyred (a light sou'westerly breeze is a-blowing). Some Paint Ing has been done, and the foredeck of the Ark now looks a little less like an entry in Scrapyard Challenge...
There is a sort of Unwritten Law in Arkland, which is not quite like unto that of the Medes and the Persians, but it's common knowledge that the Owner is happy if people at least make an effort to keep Arks looking reasonably tidy.
More good news, inasmuch as Neighbour S has returned today from his successful heart bypass op, and is looking (and, he says, feeling) a lot better. Some not-so-good news is that Neighbour D, who in his spare time is a Drag Queen (not quite Lily Savage, but very funny, I am told) is moving to a housing association bungalow - he's been on the waiting list for years, so it makes sense for him to move on, for the sake of his health. Alas! he needs to sell his beautiful Ark, a lovely old classic wooden motor-cruiser in excellent order (he's only just repainted it), but he should have little difficulty, as he's asking a very low price.
Lunch was CHICKEN with RICE & MUSHROOMS (one of Tess Coe's popty-ping specials), and very nice, too.
25C here, but forecast to be a chilly 21C tomorrow, with blustery winds.
Managed to sleep through until 6 am! Spent the morning in a Watercolour Workshop at a local gallery (currently hosting an exhibition on the Scottish Colourists). We were set Peploe-esque still lifes - small but complicated arrangements of fans, flowers, china and fabrics. I didn't think much of my effort, but otoh it was the most accomplished in the room.
Currently watching Roland Garros. Mr Draper doing well I see- but I do wish he wouldn't sport the back-to-front baseball cap which I think looks totally stupid.
Today we got on a public omnibus and went on a most delightful expotition to Barfleur, a small and most picturesque fishing village on the coast. I don't think it's well known, and so it wasn't overflowing with people like many seaside places. Somewhere we'll definitely go back to, I think.
Mr Nen is currently watching the rugby and I gather from the applause and "That's more like it!" comments coming from our living room that things are going well for his team.
I meanwhile did some pottering in the garden and found us to be the proud custodians of the national collection of Scarlet Pimpernel (They seek him here, they seek him there...)
Stir fry for tea because Saturday. Both red and white wine await us.
Beaky daughter number three just posted this on our family WhatsApp thread:
"Just coming down East Street and was mid-smoothie swig when I choked from laughing as a seagull came trotting past me out of Gregg's, bold as brass, with a packet of cheese & onion crisps firmly in his beak. He broke into them with three piercings. Tragically, I was too busy laughing to get a pic but I've since learned from staff he comes in every day and takes something. They call him Steven. Short for Steven Seagull."
🤣
That must have been a sight @MrsBeaky. What a cheeky seagull.
We went to the city to the north of us for a mooch round their excellent museum and art gallery. The cafe was rather nice too.
Cous cous salad and white wine, maybe in the garden, tonight.
My day started at 5am, when the NE Man woke me to say that he'd had a bad dream that his blood pressure was spiking. He tested, and it was. So I drove him into A&E.
The A & E doctor said that the next time the NE Man has a bad dream, and no actual symptoms, instead of leaping out of bed and immediately checking his blood pressure he should stay in bed, get me to make him a nice cup of tea, and spend some time scrolling through videos of cats before checking his BP.
After we got home from hospital on Wednesday, I made a nice table in Word and printed it off, to record his blood pressure readings. My husband is normally scathing about this sort of effort on my part, but he was too shaken on Wednesday to give me his usual advice that I should be using Excel. But he did say that my table would be a good stopgap until he made a "proper" chart on Excel later. We took the table to A & E with us. The A & E doctor suggested that even my nice table in Word was overkill, and that someone presenting at A&E after a bad dream should leave generating data from an Excel spreadsheet well alone!
They took bloods at 5.30 am, and by 10.30 we were in the exit waiting room, just waiting for the nod that we could go. Alas, the bloods showed raised troponin levels so we were sucked back in for another round of tests. The NE Man has been very thoroughly checked over and all is well. We got out at 4.30pm.
I have spent 11 hours doing nothing other than sitting on various chairs and I am shattered.
But also very grateful to the NHS; everyone we saw today was brilliant.
I hope you both get a good rest, NEQ, it must be very stressful for you.
I read your story earlier and my immediate reaction was that it was not a good time to check his blood pressure as he was probably anxious. Anxiety causes spikes in blood pressure, hence the advice on a cup of tea and cat videos, which does work. Slow deep breathing before testing blood pressure is helpful too.
I have done some weeding this afternoon, keeping the nice ones like scarlet pimpernel. We are now experimenting with making doughnuts in the air fryer.
Yesterday evening I opened the front door to go into the city and encountered rain, then hail! I grabbed my coat and dashed the 40 seconds to the bus stop, then it stopped. The rain and the hail, all 60 seconds of it!
I should have stayed in the house as the scheduled bus was cancelled, then eventually three arrived together - as they do.
Good rehearsal but a rather unpleasant walk to the bus stop, dodging the vomit on the pavements, police everywhere, streets thronged with youngsters wearing all sorts of weird and wonderful clothes. Fortunately the bus ran on time.
Waking at 7.30 after a good night’s sleep ( a rarity on both counts), I got up and decided I could make the 8.33 bus rather than the 9.53 to join my daughter to run her stall at an artisan and brocante fair. There was a constant stream of customers and we made some good sales. Her daughter arrived at 3pm to help with loading her Mum’s car ( as I am too feeble) then she gave me a lift home, and stayed for an hour’s chat, which was lovely.
Home made meat balls from the freezer have been consumed, washed down with white wine. I’ve nearly exhausted my supply of meals so I need to do some batch cooking again next week.
A lovely day in Wells. The sun was shining, I managed to get some extra birthday presents for my dil Lady P, and the Bishops Palace Gardens were lovely as usual.
A cooler day in Arkland the Beclouded, though it's still pleasantly warm. The Big Yellow Face is honouring us with Her presence now and then...
PIE n'CHIPS for lunch, eventually - I thought they should be ready about now, but suddenly realised I hadn't switched on the Remoska. The omission has now been rectified.
I did think of doing some more Paint Ing today - it's ideal Paint Ing weather - but still feel very tired and achey after yesterday's supermoominal efforts. I've got to the stage where I simply MUST realise that I'm no longer as fit and active as I was 20 years ago (or even 10 years), though my General Elf is reasonably good. Restage is called for, I think, and the doing of some gentle homework exercises prior to the next official Pilates session (on Tuesday).
@North East Quine 's story about the NE Man's dream (glad to hear he's OK, by the way, and has received good advice) reminded me of the old chestnut about the Bishop who dreamt he was in church preaching a sermon.
Agreed that a Covid vaccination was indeed the only reason to be out that time on a Sunday morning. Turned out he'd been taking quite a few fares from the neighbourhood for the same purpose - I suspect we have a higher than average level of old people.
Took a brief foray into the garden, which is looking tousled - the weather continues to be very breezy with alternations of sunshine and squally showers.
Breezy and cool here today too. We woke to rain, but it only lasted a few minutes and everything remains dustbowl-dry.
Church has been attended, after-church coffee with friends has been consumed, chicken's in the slow cooker for a roast chicken evening meal with pigs in blankets etc, to be washed down with white wine. One of the highlights of my week.
Quite a lazy day today, though I was reading the bidding prayers at Mass and we had a quick visit to our nearest garden centre. We did a bit of gardening and I was down to help my husband tidy up after he'd cut the beech hedge at the front of our house, but we had a shower and more possibly forecast so he put that off for another day.
Here in Madrid it's, as we say north of the border, scorchio!!!
The concert last night and Eucharist this morning went swimmingly, despite a few of us feeling a bit, shall we say, fragile.
Lunch today was an excellent rozzo con pollo, and Evensong went if anything even better than the Eucharist - the conductor was well chuffed. Wine and nibbles in the church courtyard afterwards, and now contemplating a bit of chill time before our last evening's supper before we head back tomorrow afternoon. 🙂
If the temperature would drop about 10-15° I'd rather like it here.
A @North East Quine 's story about the NE Man's dream (glad to hear he's OK, by the way, and has received good advice) reminded me of the old chestnut about the Bishop who dreamt he was in church preaching a sermon.
It sounds like life is going to be rather full-on in @TheOrganist households for a while.
It's nice and sunny here, if a little chilly in the shade. I went to my Pilates class this morning, but intend to have a lazyish afternoon listening to podcasts and knitting.
A lovely day in Wells. The sun was shining, I managed to get some extra birthday presents for my dil Lady P, and the Bishops Palace Gardens were lovely as usual.
A peaceful morning, emailing goodbyes to my students and doing some admin.
A woven wool tapestry jacket arrived from a charity seller on ebay, a red colourway of one I already have in blues and greens, but it has clearly been shrunk in the wash and does not fit. But necessity being the mother of invention, I have cut off the sleeves and will hem the arm holes tomorrow; it will make a pretty waistcoat.
Quite busy - swimming and shopping first thing, then preparation (unfinished) both for next Sunday's sermon and a difficult funeral on Wednesday. My car is having its MOT so I decided to book a visit to KwikFit this afternoon to get two new tyres (the old ones were OKish but it doesn't hurt to have new ones). The company lived up to its name but the traffic home didn't! We have just consumed scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam - we won't eat Proper Food till late as my wife has a Welsh lesson at 6, during which time I'll make spag bol. Oh yes, I've taken advantage of the weather to do three loads of washing - tomorrow's forecast is awful!
A quiet day again in Arkland the Sultry, as I'm saving my energy for Pilates tomorrow (said he, hopefully). At least my Legs aren't aching quite as much as they were over the weekend - I've been doing some gentle homework exercises, which usually help.
I'd like to catch up with friend Mr D tomorrow, as I have a packet of wild flower seeds for him - he and his daughter are creating a wild flower meadow in daughter's garden.
The twang-mobile has been MOTed. I've finished off the leftovers from the Chinese meal we had a few days ago.
Normal week coming up.
Off to see a dear old pal play with one of his bands on Friday.
I'm back. I wasn't supposed to be, but my friend Iona, who I was travelling and sharing an Air B&B with, had lost a close friend just before we left, and she discovered the day we arrived that his funeral would be today (Tuesday) and decided to come back a day early.
Having regretted not booking Wednesday off work, and realising I'd probably be wrecked when I got back, I decided to come back too. Apart from anything else, I didn't much relish travelling on my own, and I think she was quite glad of the company too.
I'm glad I did, not because I wasn't enjoying myself - we had a great weekend, and did some seriously good singing - but I really wasn't coping well with the heat, and consequently didn't do as much exploring as I should have.
It's a gorgeous city though, and we had some marvellous food (supper on the last night was particularly excellent).
We've apparently been invited to sing in Nice some time, and also possibly Reykjavik (our conductor is half Icelandic).
Now that's a trip I'd shift heaven and earth to go on!
Glad you had a good time @piglet, even if it was cut a little short. Hope you are having a lazy day today to catch up with yourself. More foreign trips sound like an excellent idea.
We're off to Verona tomorrow where the temperature is predicted to be in the high 20s. A bit too warm for me, but I know my husband will enjoy it.
Today has been lazy apart from going into town to talk to my bank. Two weeks ago they told me they were replacing one of my bank cards as a security measure. New card hasn't arrived so I went in to cancel it and order a new one. Seems rather ironic.
Welcome back @Piglet , sounds as though coming back early was a good move in the circumstances and glad you had some wonderful singing.
I've been out with my usual Tuesday lunch people and went coated and umbrella-ed on account of the downpour this morning. The downpour wasn't repeated and it's Turned Out Nice (though windy) so I arrived home Far Too Hot. My other usual Tuesday afternoon arrangement was Messed About with and then Cancelled; not that I'm Irritated Or Anything.
My car also has been serviced and MOT'd, with remarkable efficiency. Pity that taking it to the garage and collecting it both entail a bus journey of 40 minutes (longer this morning in rush-hour rain) and a brisk 20 minute walk.
Too much time has been taken up today with making arrangements, hampered by some faulty online booking sites, but I have succeeded in booking the travel and accommodation for a short break at the end of the month, based on the fact that I need to go up to God’s own county for a memorial event for a friend. I shall treat myself to a journey on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle railway ( not steam), starting from Skipton. I might perhaps do one way via Lancaster and Carnforth?
Meanwhile I now have a date for necessary work on the house this month and @Baptist Trainfan has reminded me that I need to book my car to be serviced too. The journey is too complicated by public transport to do anything other than hang around, but they provide free refreshments and comfy chairs.
I’ve also been batch cooking for the freezer, but I ate a piece of air fried coated fish plus fries- very tasty.
Shortly I have my first committee meeting for my local choral society- oh joy!
Shopp Ing this morning. At the market I scored a whole kilo of strawberries for €4, and they, along with a few sticks of rhubarb and some vanilla, have subsequently been turned into JAM. Though I say so myself, it is very delicious, and it's going to require considerable willpower on my behalf not to eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon. I would invite you round for some, but I haven't made my mind up not to eat the whole lot all by myself
This afternoon I took care of the English tea supply, which was dangerously depleted. Getting hold of the good stuff has become much more difficult since Brexit. The English brands can be found if you're motivated, but they're very expensive. Today I finally procured a catering size pack of PG Tips from the Sri Lankan corner shop and consider myself well contented. (I know the tea snobs are going to despise PG teabags, but my choices are (a) drink PG (b) drink French supermarket tea (much worse) or (c) remortgage the house.)
Piglet, a couple of years ago, the husband of a good friend played drums in a rock band. The group was asked to play at the British Embassy in Cairo but thought that they were being asked to play in Caerau, not too far from Swansea. S was not amused when she found out that R. was going to Egypt and the embassy was paying for wives to go as well, but R had thought she might not want to go!
Well, Moscow is in Scotland, New York and Boston are in Lincolnshire, Melbourn (no "e"!) is near Cambridge, Ipswich is in both Massachusetts and Queensland .... among others.
More confusingly, we have a Caerau in Cardiff and I think there's one in Anglesey as well.
I'm on the train home after a rendezvous with an old uni friend whom I hadn't seen for about 20 years.
The mess up with the train network on my return journey was the only downside to a glorious day. Glad we had exchanged recent photos of ourselves as we were able to identify each other 😆
I spent the morning at an online workshop on research ethics, and in the afternoon I hand hemmed the armholes of the refashioned tapestry wool jacket, now waistcoat. I’m now in the mood for more sewing so I might look at my unfinished pile tomorrow. Exciting to be sewing in my new uncluttered room.
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Today started rainy, but after lunch then sun came out and we were able to go to Whitesands Bay and try out the coastal walk.
A nice evening with pasta and pesto as its Friday and most of a bottle of red wine to wash it down.
Years ago Mr Nen declared himself unable to sleep unless the bedroom was really dark, so we have a pull-down blind plus lined curtains. I find it stifling, but have got used to it. When he's away I never pull the blind down, and leave a gap in the curtains. I agree that clear nights with a full moon are magical and too good to miss.
Sounds as though you're having a sociable time @Bishops Finger and glad the new neighbour seems nice. I can't take to the idea of living on a boat but I do like hearing about all the Arkland goings-on and the way everyone looks after each other.
We've had a good week and got into rather celebratory mood last night. We joined an online drink-and-chat zoom with friends, which started during lockdown and has kept going, and sank a bottle of Prosecco (with snacks) during the course of that. We then opened a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc with the intention of having one glass each to accompany our tea (salmon with roast vegetables and parsley sauce) and the next thing we knew we were finishing off the dregs
Overcast here this morning and very warm.
A productive morning, I have finished my assignment article, put all 3 assignments together and submitted them. So next week I don’t have any teaching or studying to do. A relaxing week ahead.
Lunch will be cod and chorizo fish cakes with aioli and a tomato and burrata salad.
There is a sort of Unwritten Law in Arkland, which is not quite like unto that of the Medes and the Persians, but it's common knowledge that the Owner is happy if people at least make an effort to keep Arks looking reasonably tidy.
More good news, inasmuch as Neighbour S has returned today from his successful heart bypass op, and is looking (and, he says, feeling) a lot better. Some not-so-good news is that Neighbour D, who in his spare time is a Drag Queen (not quite Lily Savage, but very funny, I am told) is moving to a housing association bungalow - he's been on the waiting list for years, so it makes sense for him to move on, for the sake of his health. Alas! he needs to sell his beautiful Ark, a lovely old classic wooden motor-cruiser in excellent order (he's only just repainted it), but he should have little difficulty, as he's asking a very low price.
Lunch was CHICKEN with RICE & MUSHROOMS (one of Tess Coe's popty-ping specials), and very nice, too.
25C here, but forecast to be a chilly 21C tomorrow, with blustery winds.
Currently watching Roland Garros. Mr Draper doing well I see- but I do wish he wouldn't sport the back-to-front baseball cap which I think looks totally stupid.
Steak'n'chips for dinner.
I meanwhile did some pottering in the garden and found us to be the proud custodians of the national collection of Scarlet Pimpernel (They seek him here, they seek him there...)
Stir fry for tea because Saturday. Both red and white wine await us.
"Just coming down East Street and was mid-smoothie swig when I choked from laughing as a seagull came trotting past me out of Gregg's, bold as brass, with a packet of cheese & onion crisps firmly in his beak. He broke into them with three piercings. Tragically, I was too busy laughing to get a pic but I've since learned from staff he comes in every day and takes something. They call him Steven. Short for Steven Seagull."
🤣
We went to the city to the north of us for a mooch round their excellent museum and art gallery. The cafe was rather nice too.
Cous cous salad and white wine, maybe in the garden, tonight.
The A & E doctor said that the next time the NE Man has a bad dream, and no actual symptoms, instead of leaping out of bed and immediately checking his blood pressure he should stay in bed, get me to make him a nice cup of tea, and spend some time scrolling through videos of cats before checking his BP.
After we got home from hospital on Wednesday, I made a nice table in Word and printed it off, to record his blood pressure readings. My husband is normally scathing about this sort of effort on my part, but he was too shaken on Wednesday to give me his usual advice that I should be using Excel. But he did say that my table would be a good stopgap until he made a "proper" chart on Excel later. We took the table to A & E with us. The A & E doctor suggested that even my nice table in Word was overkill, and that someone presenting at A&E after a bad dream should leave generating data from an Excel spreadsheet well alone!
They took bloods at 5.30 am, and by 10.30 we were in the exit waiting room, just waiting for the nod that we could go. Alas, the bloods showed raised troponin levels so we were sucked back in for another round of tests. The NE Man has been very thoroughly checked over and all is well. We got out at 4.30pm.
I have spent 11 hours doing nothing other than sitting on various chairs and I am shattered.
But also very grateful to the NHS; everyone we saw today was brilliant.
I read your story earlier and my immediate reaction was that it was not a good time to check his blood pressure as he was probably anxious. Anxiety causes spikes in blood pressure, hence the advice on a cup of tea and cat videos, which does work. Slow deep breathing before testing blood pressure is helpful too.
I have done some weeding this afternoon, keeping the nice ones like scarlet pimpernel. We are now experimenting with making doughnuts in the air fryer.
I should have stayed in the house as the scheduled bus was cancelled, then eventually three arrived together - as they do.
Good rehearsal but a rather unpleasant walk to the bus stop, dodging the vomit on the pavements, police everywhere, streets thronged with youngsters wearing all sorts of weird and wonderful clothes. Fortunately the bus ran on time.
Waking at 7.30 after a good night’s sleep ( a rarity on both counts), I got up and decided I could make the 8.33 bus rather than the 9.53 to join my daughter to run her stall at an artisan and brocante fair. There was a constant stream of customers and we made some good sales. Her daughter arrived at 3pm to help with loading her Mum’s car ( as I am too feeble) then she gave me a lift home, and stayed for an hour’s chat, which was lovely.
Home made meat balls from the freezer have been consumed, washed down with white wine. I’ve nearly exhausted my supply of meals so I need to do some batch cooking again next week.
Stir fry and wine now consumed; heading for bed and book.
PIE n'CHIPS for lunch, eventually - I thought they should be ready about now, but suddenly realised I hadn't switched on the Remoska. The omission has now been rectified.
I did think of doing some more Paint Ing today - it's ideal Paint Ing weather - but still feel very tired and achey after yesterday's supermoominal efforts. I've got to the stage where I simply MUST realise that I'm no longer as fit and active as I was 20 years ago (or even 10 years), though my General Elf is reasonably good. Restage is called for, I think, and the doing of some gentle homework exercises prior to the next official Pilates session (on Tuesday).
@North East Quine 's story about the NE Man's dream (glad to hear he's OK, by the way, and has received good advice) reminded me of the old chestnut about the Bishop who dreamt he was in church preaching a sermon.
When he woke up, he was...
Me coat's handy.
'Off for your jag?' asked the driver.
Agreed that a Covid vaccination was indeed the only reason to be out that time on a Sunday morning. Turned out he'd been taking quite a few fares from the neighbourhood for the same purpose - I suspect we have a higher than average level of old people.
Took a brief foray into the garden, which is looking tousled - the weather continues to be very breezy with alternations of sunshine and squally showers.
Church has been attended, after-church coffee with friends has been consumed, chicken's in the slow cooker for a roast chicken evening meal with pigs in blankets etc, to be washed down with white wine. One of the highlights of my week.
The concert last night and Eucharist this morning went swimmingly, despite a few of us feeling a bit, shall we say, fragile.
Lunch today was an excellent rozzo con pollo, and Evensong went if anything even better than the Eucharist - the conductor was well chuffed. Wine and nibbles in the church courtyard afterwards, and now contemplating a bit of chill time before our last evening's supper before we head back tomorrow afternoon. 🙂
If the temperature would drop about 10-15° I'd rather like it here.
Well done, Organistlets!
I thought that was west of the border? (Offa's, that is).
Well done!
I dropped off at ringing practice once.
I was ringing the tenor at the time...
ION we (next door #1 son and wife to be precise) have acquired a kitten - 9 weeks old and very sweet. The wee boys are entranced.
Life at your house sounds incredibly sweet!
It's nice and sunny here, if a little chilly in the shade. I went to my Pilates class this morning, but intend to have a lazyish afternoon listening to podcasts and knitting.
Did you see the bell ringing swans?
I can so clearly picture both scenes 😆😊
A peaceful morning, emailing goodbyes to my students and doing some admin.
A woven wool tapestry jacket arrived from a charity seller on ebay, a red colourway of one I already have in blues and greens, but it has clearly been shrunk in the wash and does not fit. But necessity being the mother of invention, I have cut off the sleeves and will hem the arm holes tomorrow; it will make a pretty waistcoat.
I'd like to catch up with friend Mr D tomorrow, as I have a packet of wild flower seeds for him - he and his daughter are creating a wild flower meadow in daughter's garden.
Normal week coming up.
Off to see a dear old pal play with one of his bands on Friday.
Having regretted not booking Wednesday off work, and realising I'd probably be wrecked when I got back, I decided to come back too. Apart from anything else, I didn't much relish travelling on my own, and I think she was quite glad of the company too.
I'm glad I did, not because I wasn't enjoying myself - we had a great weekend, and did some seriously good singing - but I really wasn't coping well with the heat, and consequently didn't do as much exploring as I should have.
It's a gorgeous city though, and we had some marvellous food (supper on the last night was particularly excellent).
We've apparently been invited to sing in Nice some time, and also possibly Reykjavik (our conductor is half Icelandic).
Now that's a trip I'd shift heaven and earth to go on!
https://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/en
A windy, noisy, gusty day in Arkland the Grey, with much Cloud, and a small amount of Drizzle from time to time.
Pilates session was tough, but effective - my very grumpy hip flexors (especially Lefty) are now in a better mood.
Lunch will be LEMON CHICKEN with Roast Potatoes and Mushrooms - another of Tess Coe's special meals for Sad Singletons...
Just wait until you have to try to grips with Icelandic pronunciation...
(got the T-shirt!)
We're off to Verona tomorrow where the temperature is predicted to be in the high 20s. A bit too warm for me, but I know my husband will enjoy it.
Today has been lazy apart from going into town to talk to my bank. Two weeks ago they told me they were replacing one of my bank cards as a security measure. New card hasn't arrived so I went in to cancel it and order a new one. Seems rather ironic.
I've been out with my usual Tuesday lunch people and went coated and umbrella-ed on account of the downpour this morning. The downpour wasn't repeated and it's Turned Out Nice (though windy) so I arrived home Far Too Hot. My other usual Tuesday afternoon arrangement was Messed About with and then Cancelled; not that I'm Irritated Or Anything.
Very Lazy Curry for tea.
I know; the first time David and I went there we stayed in a hotel across the road from it.
Post-holiday laundry is tumbling, Tessie's has been braved and groceries acquired.
Most of said groceries were assorted salads and cold meats, which will form supper for the next wee while.
Meanwhile I now have a date for necessary work on the house this month and @Baptist Trainfan has reminded me that I need to book my car to be serviced too. The journey is too complicated by public transport to do anything other than hang around, but they provide free refreshments and comfy chairs.
I’ve also been batch cooking for the freezer, but I ate a piece of air fried coated fish plus fries- very tasty.
Shortly I have my first committee meeting for my local choral society- oh joy!
This afternoon I took care of the English tea supply, which was dangerously depleted. Getting hold of the good stuff has become much more difficult since Brexit. The English brands can be found if you're motivated, but they're very expensive. Today I finally procured a catering size pack of PG Tips from the Sri Lankan corner shop and consider myself well contented. (I know the tea snobs are going to despise PG teabags, but my choices are (a) drink PG (b) drink French supermarket tea (much worse) or (c) remortgage the house.)
More confusingly, we have a Caerau in Cardiff and I think there's one in Anglesey as well.
The mess up with the train network on my return journey was the only downside to a glorious day. Glad we had exchanged recent photos of ourselves as we were able to identify each other 😆
I spent the morning at an online workshop on research ethics, and in the afternoon I hand hemmed the armholes of the refashioned tapestry wool jacket, now waistcoat. I’m now in the mood for more sewing so I might look at my unfinished pile tomorrow. Exciting to be sewing in my new uncluttered room.