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.
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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...