It seems strange seeing redundancy as "exciting times", but if he's taking it as early retirement, then all the very best, and good health to enjoy it!
My husband has been hoping to be made redundant for about the last ten years, and now he's in his early sixties in seems like a good thing.
We've booked to go to a local restaurant to celebrate tomorrow.
That does sound nice, Firenze - must give it a go some time.
As S. has gone out for supper with No. 2 Niece and her partner (he couldn't come last night) I've been doing a fridge clear out: I had a salmon fillet with a whole shedload of leftover salads and a glass or three of cheap but quite decent* Californian pinot grigio.
* Marks & Sparks Dine In for £12, where you get a small choice of wine along with a main course and pudding - S. described the wine as "least worst", but really it was fine.
High end ready meal here tonight - salmon en croute. Followed by bananas baked with rum and butter.
I had thought of teaming the bananas with tomorrow's gammon, but searching the internet for gammon+banana threw up such horrors (banana wrapped in ham topped with cheese sauce) that I'm back to orange juice and Marmelade as per usual.
You may jest - but in the early days of our courtship, David treated* me to bananas wrapped in ham, cloaked in tomato soup, and sprinkled with grated cheese. As he served it, he warned me not to add salt, as it would taste like the Dead Sea Scrolls. It wasn't quite as bad as it sounds, but we didn't have it again.
It’s zoom Pilates for me this morning. We have a choice of classes - gentle, medium or challenging. I’ll be attending the gentle class.
I’ve been enjoying using my sewing machine which I got out of the loft (after 30 years!) making pretty face masks for my friends.
They have a nose tab to prevent glasses steaming up. My friend is picking hers up today. She can’t come in due to lockdown so we’ll chat on the doorstep. 🙂
It seems strange seeing redundancy as "exciting times", but if he's taking it as early retirement, then all the very best, and good health to enjoy it!
My husband has been hoping to be made redundant for about the last ten years, and now he's in his early sixties in seems like a good thing.
We've booked to go to a local restaurant to celebrate tomorrow.
Best thing ever, @Sarasa - here's wishing you and your Mr. S many happy years to enjoy it!
My sewing machine is going to emerge soon as well. It's time to start on Christmas presents - it comes faster than you think when you make everything yourself. I'm starting by making a dressing gown for my sister-in-law. I have some satiny fabric that's been in my stash for at least seven or eight years so I think it's fair to say I'm never going to make anything for myself with it.
So I went out shopping this morning. On the way I passed the doctors' surgery, where I put a prescription request into their postbox.
When I got to the supermarket I found I still had the prescription - but no shopping list.
Don't you think the NHS has enough on its plate without doing your shopping as well???
It would appear to be a sunny, but slightly blustrous day here in Embra, so I think once I've had a spot of lunch*, I'll go and have a little amble (before it changes its mind and starts to p*ss with rain).
* S. got a load of lovely artisanal bread from the family for her birthday, but as she's currently a bit off carbs, she needs help in eating it.
I’ve nearly finished making a reversible quilted sort of waistcoat for myself, the first garment I’ve made for about 40 years 😱! I’m really pleased with it, so, this morning, have spent a small fortune on patterns and material to try a long sleeved top and a skirt next (I love, love, love browsing in a haberdashery / fabric shop 😍 and the one that’s only about 4 miles away from me felt very safe, with proper Covid rules).
That sounds lovely, Doone. I have a list of things I really should make on my sewing machine, including some masks for my son to take to uni.
Lol, at BT!
I went for a shorter walk this morning and did some breathing exercises in an effort to retrain my dysfunctional breathing pattern. Now I need to buy some lunch from the corner shop and go and do some work.
The zip in a summer dress I've had for over 30 years has finally given up the ghost. I'm considering converting it into a skirt, which should be within my capabilities (I don't do zips).
I need to make a new peg bag soon, but the Dragonlets have made a bit of a mess of my sewing box. Otherwise the limits of my sewing tends to be buttons and name tapes. (I think I need to find them and label the jumpers I had to get Dragonlet 1 shortly before lockdown. And trousers if I get some more). School uniform is in the wash ready for Monday, although he is signed off PE for a couple of weeks as he broke a toe on Monday.
That was not my idea of how to spend a Bank Holiday afternoon, but at least it was quiet and quick in Children's A &E!
I don't have too many to do as most of his was bought big last year to last. He has a habit of trying to chew sleeves though. Nursery is own clothes so no uniform for Dragonlet 2 until next year.
If it was the pharmacy at a doctors' surgery, they're probably past masters at reading illegible handwriting.
It was a really nice day here, and S. and I went for a lovely, not-too-muddy walk round the Harlaw Reservoir with both nieces and both dogs (OK, the dogs got muddy ...).
S. and No. 2 niece are now investigating possible holiday destinations for some time in October - possibly Orkney, which would be lovely.
The little joys of life: I have just found a website selling the very same Duralex France glasses I'd known since I was a little child. They're very sturdy and really long-lasting, and don't break easily - there are some videos on tests and the fabrication process online.
So, should I wish to continue the family tradition of using Duralex glass, I can. This pleases me. Another kick in the behind of those who constantly need new, cheap, replaceable things. (And of myself, if I venture into that silly territory.)
Overcast here and no more than 18°C today, Sunday. The end of last week was up to 26 or 27°, and after some further, more seasonal temperatures, similar to today, we appear to have another day or two with 26°C plus in the week to come. - Did we have that in the 1960s or 1970s? Probably not that much. But as the days are getting noticeably shorter, I guess it remains bearable.
I've had a lovely Sunday morning in the company of Archie and his mum, while his dad (No. 2 Nephew, who's a painter and decorator) was doing some work at a house down the road. Archie really is the jolliest, most delightful wee chap you could wish to meet.
It's a nice day (17° and sunny), so I think some amblage is in order.
Lovely sunny Sunday here. I was delighted to spot a Painted Lady butterfly this afternoon, the first of that type that I’ve seen this year. A and I have just polished off some cauliflower cheese followed by melon.
We went to a friends’ house for Zoom church and then had lunch with them before playing a board game in the afternoon. It was nice to socialise with some friends and attend church with others, especially to sing together and share communion (separate cups for the two families).
Lovely sunny Sunday here. I was delighted to spot a Painted Lady butterfly this afternoon, the first of that type that I’ve seen this year. A and I have just polished off some cauliflower cheese followed by melon.
When I was teaching we used to ‘grow your own’ painted ladies. Great fun - I might do it again in the spring!
Little Beaky and his family have gone to Cornwall this week for a holiday.
This is quite some undertaking because of all the medication/ equipment/ specialist food etc that he requires let alone all the usual paraphernalia necessitated by taking a holiday with young children. They also did a risk assessment about where various hospitals are located in case of emergency whilst en route and during their stay.
I am pacing the floor, awaiting news of their safe arrival but I am also so pleased that they are having a break.
Very pleased to hear Little Beaky's family is having a break, hope you hear news of their safe arrival soon and that they'll have a really good time.
We had a very sociable week and weekend, Nenlet1 came to stay overnight to have her car serviced locally, we caught up with some old friends we haven't seen for years; also two other sets of friends over the weekend which involved much cooking Chez Nen*. The last load of dirty crocks is in the dishwasher this morning and the kitchen is finally put to rights.
This week's routines are looking a bit quieter so far.
*On separate occasions, not staying over, social distancing observed.
Only 4pm and I've already changed the bed linen (involves lifting several menhirs-weight of mattress), carefully mended 3 pieces of treasured pottery/china, completely re-sewed the waistband on a pair of trousers, hauled out the rubbish/recycling to the kerb, mowed the lawn.
As an earthly reward, my latest consignment of yarn arrived within 24 hours of my ordering it.
I have also just ordered a big fat load of yarn - I need to get going on those Christmas presents. I am chuffed to discover that Ravelry has a pattern for a woolly hat with the logo of a football team which shall remain anonymous but is my brother's favourite one.
From the same site where I got the yarn I have also ordered a kit to make Captain Pyjamas a cuddly dog. Dogs are absolutely his favourite thing at the minute, and a cuddly toy is the closest he's going to get to having a doggy of his very own.
I have stacks of homespun art yarn and loads of patterns but lack the motivation to make anything! I have a couple of blankets on the go with commercial yarn but I really need to crochet up my own yarn for presents, both random pressies and Christmas. Art yarn makes lovely eccentric chunky cowls and mitts. Part of my problem is I like to do that sort of thing while watching something on iPlayer in the kitchen but there is always someone around these days.
A productive day today, I decided to start working at 9am to get back into the pattern of working prior to term starting. Managed to sort out some issues with my research application and brush up on some software skills for teaching. I also got an unpleasant task out of the way.
I went for a walk this afternoon and don't think I ever remember a year when the oak trees were so heavily laden with acorns.
I've now depressed myself reading the Purg thread about reopening schools (I've a son in law who's a senior school teacher and a son who's a university lecturer) so am off now to start cooking our tea (paella, since you ask) and fending off the temptation to open a bottle of wine.
Walking home from visiting Daughter Erin and New Grandson I passed a friend’s house. She was standing at a window waiting for her daughter to visit and spotted me so we waved and had a catch up. I hadn’t seen her since March. Very cheering.
It’s supposed to be induction week at sixth form for my youngest but they are going in on alternate weeks. So he had an introduction this morning and prepped some physics in the afternoon ready for classes.
Tom yum for tea, made with chicken, tofu and veg, with rice noodles for everyone else.
If the junior beaky’s are down in the far west of Cornwall, there is a marvellous chip shop in Newlyn, only open 5 - 9, but there’s always a queue, which is the sign of a good chippery.
The fish is usually the “catch of the day”, as it’s just along the street from Newlyn fish market. Tonight’s was haddock or cod, and the piece of haddock I had was delicious.
Yesterday we went to the market and after remortgaging the house to pay for them, bought porcini mushrooms, which are now in season. Tonight husband en rouge chopped them up to make a sophisticated supper. A couple of minutes later I walk by and spot a little white worm wriggling about on the chopping board And then another one. And another one... it's kind of a good job I came past, actually, because they were very small, and visually impaired husband en rouge never would have seen them. OTOH the fact that only I could see the little blighters means I also got the job of chief worm catcher.
I am never going to that market stand again. He charged us three million euros a kilo for mushrooms and I got a chopping board full of worms for the privilege <shudder>
When Elder Son was about 9 or 10 he developed an interest in fungi. We used to go toadstool hunting in the autumn, and then he would draw them and make spore prints.
Having seen the livestock that emerges from a toadstool overnight in a warm kitchen, I haven't eaten a wild mushroom in 30+ years.
Apart from a trip to the Gyle shopping centre to get groceries (and fail to get a protective cover thingy for my new mobile*), I haven't really had a productive day at all (although I did achieve a bit of online banking stuff to do with my rights in D's British pension).
Tramping around Marks and Sparks will have to suffice in lieu of proper amblage.
As S. has come to the conclusion that red meat really doesn't agree with her, and we have almost totally different tastes in food, I'm to clear the backlog of meat in the freezer (much of which was bought with me in mind although not at my prompting), and she can have as much fish as you can shake a stick at. It'll be a bit of a faff - either each of us cooking our own food or me cooking two separate things - but there's no point in her eating things that make her ill.
* I've finally been dragged into the 21st century and got a smart-phone.
If the junior beaky’s are down in the far west of Cornwall, there is a marvellous chip shop in Newlyn, only open 5 - 9, but there’s always a queue, which is the sign of a good chippery.
The fish is usually the “catch of the day”, as it’s just along the street from Newlyn fish market. Tonight’s was haddock or cod, and the piece of haddock I had was delicious.
Reminds me of the old song about a Cat from the Netherlands:
*sings* How Dutch is that Moggy in the window...?
In the Stellenbosch Hotel there was a restaurant called Jan Cats (after a Dutch settler?) - that's not a misplaced 's'. I had a rather good zebra filet there many years ago.
I’ve got my Church *fellowship* Zoom this morning. I must say I do enjoy them. Keeping in touch is very worthwhile. Our Church is not open again yet, as Covid19 numbers are still very high in our area and lockdown continues.
A very soggy doggy walk this morning! It’s that kind of misty rain which wets you through. Thank goodness for excellent waterproof trousers, coat and boots. The coat and trousers are Páramo, bought with Terry Pratchett reasoning more than 20 years ago!
Sunny here. I went for a morning walk in the village and traffic was much busier than it has been, presumably due to schools going back (most of Cambridge’s independent schools are along the main road from our village into Cambridge).
I need to do some household chores and check on the garden.
As S. has come to the conclusion that red meat really doesn't agree with her, and we have almost totally different tastes in food, I'm to clear the backlog of meat in the freezer (much of which was bought with me in mind although not at my prompting), and she can have as much fish as you can shake a stick at. It'll be a bit of a faff - either each of us cooking our own food or me cooking two separate things - but there's no point in her eating things that make her ill.
I hope that wasn't too difficult a conversation. I guess it depends on your viewpoint. Food's a bit of an emotive issue for me and I tend to get annoyed when I've worked hard to produce something I think someone will like and then they don't.
I did my early supermarket shop and will be heading out in a while to meet friends for lunch. I'm trying to make sure I walk every day (the four times a week Zumba having completely gone to pot over the course of lockdown) so am planning to walk to the cafe. The weather's a bit changeable so I'll need to take my new Mac in a Sack - purchased while away in Scotland as I forgot to pack a coat. Fluorescent orange - just my colour.
A mixture of sun/clouds here, but quite warm and mugsome. RL Pilates session was good, if tiring, but tomorrow will be a Do Nothing At All Day, so as to recover.
Yesterday was also a Do Nothing At All Day - I did go on deck a few times, but didn't once set foot on shore. I'm finding it necessary to have such days 2-3 times a week, but at least I'm keeping away from the many covidiots for whom social distancing is but a myth. I drove through the city centre earlier, and was amazed at how crowded the pavement cafes and pubs were...
Ah well - they'd better make the most of it, before the next total lockdown...
We managed to sort of dance round each other to make our separate meals. I'd thought she might take a few of my roasted veggies, but as I'd tossed them in oil, she declined.
I think we'll muddle along, but it will be a bit awkward.
I'm going to look at a flat tomorrow, and another on Sunday, so fingers crossed ...
Not that I really want to move out, but I feel I should, if I can. Does that make any sense?
Comments
Husband is cooking cottage pie for tea.
My husband has been hoping to be made redundant for about the last ten years, and now he's in his early sixties in seems like a good thing.
We've booked to go to a local restaurant to celebrate tomorrow.
As S. has gone out for supper with No. 2 Niece and her partner (he couldn't come last night) I've been doing a fridge clear out: I had a salmon fillet with a whole shedload of leftover salads and a glass or three of cheap but quite decent* Californian pinot grigio.
* Marks & Sparks Dine In for £12, where you get a small choice of wine along with a main course and pudding - S. described the wine as "least worst", but really it was fine.
I had thought of teaming the bananas with tomorrow's gammon, but searching the internet for gammon+banana threw up such horrors (banana wrapped in ham topped with cheese sauce) that I'm back to orange juice and Marmelade as per usual.
* Actually, subjected might be a better word ...
I’ve been enjoying using my sewing machine which I got out of the loft (after 30 years!) making pretty face masks for my friends.
They have a nose tab to prevent glasses steaming up. My friend is picking hers up today. She can’t come in due to lockdown so we’ll chat on the doorstep. 🙂
Best thing ever, @Sarasa - here's wishing you and your Mr. S many happy years to enjoy it!
When I got to the supermarket I found I still had the prescription - but no shopping list.
Don't you think the NHS has enough on its plate without doing your shopping as well???
It would appear to be a sunny, but slightly blustrous day here in Embra, so I think once I've had a spot of lunch*, I'll go and have a little amble (before it changes its mind and starts to p*ss with rain).
* S. got a load of lovely artisanal bread from the family for her birthday, but as she's currently a bit off carbs, she needs help in eating it.
It would be churlish not to oblige ...
Lol, at BT!
I went for a shorter walk this morning and did some breathing exercises in an effort to retrain my dysfunctional breathing pattern. Now I need to buy some lunch from the corner shop and go and do some work.
That was not my idea of how to spend a Bank Holiday afternoon, but at least it was quiet and quick in Children's A &E!
If it was the pharmacy at a doctors' surgery, they're probably past masters at reading illegible handwriting.
It was a really nice day here, and S. and I went for a lovely, not-too-muddy walk round the Harlaw Reservoir with both nieces and both dogs (OK, the dogs got muddy ...).
S. and No. 2 niece are now investigating possible holiday destinations for some time in October - possibly Orkney, which would be lovely.
So, should I wish to continue the family tradition of using Duralex glass, I can. This pleases me. Another kick in the behind of those who constantly need new, cheap, replaceable things. (And of myself, if I venture into that silly territory.)
Overcast here and no more than 18°C today, Sunday. The end of last week was up to 26 or 27°, and after some further, more seasonal temperatures, similar to today, we appear to have another day or two with 26°C plus in the week to come. - Did we have that in the 1960s or 1970s? Probably not that much. But as the days are getting noticeably shorter, I guess it remains bearable.
Have a lovely Sunday, all!
It's a nice day (17° and sunny), so I think some amblage is in order.
When I was teaching we used to ‘grow your own’ painted ladies. Great fun - I might do it again in the spring!
This is quite some undertaking because of all the medication/ equipment/ specialist food etc that he requires let alone all the usual paraphernalia necessitated by taking a holiday with young children. They also did a risk assessment about where various hospitals are located in case of emergency whilst en route and during their stay.
I am pacing the floor, awaiting news of their safe arrival but I am also so pleased that they are having a break.
We had a very sociable week and weekend, Nenlet1 came to stay overnight to have her car serviced locally, we caught up with some old friends we haven't seen for years; also two other sets of friends over the weekend which involved much cooking Chez Nen*. The last load of dirty crocks is in the dishwasher this morning and the kitchen is finally put to rights.
This week's routines are looking a bit quieter so far.
*On separate occasions, not staying over, social distancing observed.
As an earthly reward, my latest consignment of yarn arrived within 24 hours of my ordering it.
From the same site where I got the yarn I have also ordered a kit to make Captain Pyjamas a cuddly dog. Dogs are absolutely his favourite thing at the minute, and a cuddly toy is the closest he's going to get to having a doggy of his very own.
*sings*
How Dutch is that Moggy in the window...?
A productive day today, I decided to start working at 9am to get back into the pattern of working prior to term starting. Managed to sort out some issues with my research application and brush up on some software skills for teaching. I also got an unpleasant task out of the way.
I've now depressed myself reading the Purg thread about reopening schools (I've a son in law who's a senior school teacher and a son who's a university lecturer) so am off now to start cooking our tea (paella, since you ask) and fending off the temptation to open a bottle of wine.
Tom yum for tea, made with chicken, tofu and veg, with rice noodles for everyone else.
Tomorrow - tbd. Wednesday hake in a green sauce. Thursday haggis, neeps and tatties. Friday, dunno. Saturday, it's usually steak'n'chips.
The fish is usually the “catch of the day”, as it’s just along the street from Newlyn fish market. Tonight’s was haddock or cod, and the piece of haddock I had was delicious.
Yesterday we went to the market and after remortgaging the house to pay for them, bought porcini mushrooms, which are now in season. Tonight husband en rouge chopped them up to make a sophisticated supper. A couple of minutes later I walk by and spot a little white worm wriggling about on the chopping board
I am never going to that market stand again. He charged us three million euros a kilo for mushrooms and I got a chopping board full of worms for the privilege <shudder>
Definitely a market stall to avoid.
Having seen the livestock that emerges from a toadstool overnight in a warm kitchen, I haven't eaten a wild mushroom in 30+ years.
Tramping around Marks and Sparks will have to suffice in lieu of proper amblage.
As S. has come to the conclusion that red meat really doesn't agree with her, and we have almost totally different tastes in food, I'm to clear the backlog of meat in the freezer (much of which was bought with me in mind although not at my prompting), and she can have as much fish as you can shake a stick at. It'll be a bit of a faff - either each of us cooking our own food or me cooking two separate things - but there's no point in her eating things that make her ill.
* I've finally been dragged into the 21st century and got a smart-phone.
Thank you. I will let them know.
It's only fair to warn you that next time you go out you may find that someone has taken away the gangplank.
In the Stellenbosch Hotel there was a restaurant called Jan Cats (after a Dutch settler?) - that's not a misplaced 's'. I had a rather good zebra filet there many years ago.
A very soggy doggy walk this morning! It’s that kind of misty rain which wets you through. Thank goodness for excellent waterproof trousers, coat and boots. The coat and trousers are Páramo, bought with Terry Pratchett reasoning more than 20 years ago!
☔️ 🌧
I need to do some household chores and check on the garden.
I did my early supermarket shop and will be heading out in a while to meet friends for lunch. I'm trying to make sure I walk every day (the four times a week Zumba having completely gone to pot over the course of lockdown) so am planning to walk to the cafe. The weather's a bit changeable so I'll need to take my new Mac in a Sack - purchased while away in Scotland as I forgot to pack a coat. Fluorescent orange - just my colour.
Aim to major on meals that are 80% overlap.
Trays of roasted veg for example - chicken or sausage in one from the get go, place fish on top for the last 10 minutes in the other.
Also fish in foil parcels - can go into an oven otherwise harbouring a roast or casserole.
A mixture of sun/clouds here, but quite warm and mugsome. RL Pilates session was good, if tiring, but tomorrow will be a Do Nothing At All Day, so as to recover.
Yesterday was also a Do Nothing At All Day - I did go on deck a few times, but didn't once set foot on shore. I'm finding it necessary to have such days 2-3 times a week, but at least I'm keeping away from the many covidiots for whom social distancing is but a myth. I drove through the city centre earlier, and was amazed at how crowded the pavement cafes and pubs were...
Ah well - they'd better make the most of it, before the next total lockdown...
I think we'll muddle along, but it will be a bit awkward.
I'm going to look at a flat tomorrow, and another on Sunday, so fingers crossed ...
Not that I really want to move out, but I feel I should, if I can. Does that make any sense?