It actually stopped raining for a good part of the day here. I made the most of it to tidy the balcony - the tomato plants were definitely dead and have now been cleared away and all the canes put into storage. Now it's all tidy, I need another break in the rain to plant my tulips.
Must be lovely to see the baby.
Do you not have to quarantine when you arrive in Germany from high risk parts of the UK? I thought they had imposed restrictions on some areas?
We got in under the wire. We arrived on the 1st October, the quarantine rule came in on the 2nd October!
Best stay in Heidelberg for as long as you possibly can...
Sounds wise to me!
Today is sunny and breezy 18°. We are going for a pram push to find some cows. Anuka is saying her first word - a multi lingual ‘moo’ so we must find some real cows to show her! There are some highland cattle in the forest.
🐄
Enjoy your walk in the forest.
I had a two hour walk in the rain this morning, which was surprisingly refreshing. Just finished Zoom church and a chat in a breakout room with old friends so a nice morning.
Bread and cheese for lunch as normal on Sunday. Husband has church games afternoon (Online) so I will sit and spin some wool while watching some history documentaries on iPlayer. I might crochet a cowl from my hand spun as a gift for someone too.
After all the rain and dreichity yesterday, it looks like quite a decent day here. The chap building S's new deck has just arrived (it's coming along very nicely), and I think I'll go for an amble before the weather changes its mind.
Still raining here so church was pretty well empty...
We have our Annual Parochial Church Meeting* after service next Sunday, so it'll probably be even emptier
(*Anglicans will know what this implies)
Still, it will allow for some detailed study of the phenomenon of the anti-parishioner, seen only when the desire to not be in church actually draws people from the church who aren't there, leaving an anti-parishioner behind. The properties of the anti-parishioner aren't well described, but it is suspected that they listen carefully to the sermon, take home the notice sheet in order to study and digest the readings further, pay close attention to all announcements and eagerly volunteer to take minutes at meetings, producing such that are considered true and accurate by all present. I'm sure others can speculate on other attributes.
I understand that FatherInCharge intends to give his review of the year (which will include the period of lockdown etc.) as his homily.
Hopefully, he'll keep it short and to the point, but the idea is (a) to keep the actual business meeting brief, and (b) to catch include those who will inevitably rush off immediately after the service!
I gather our APCM is being done as part of the service that Sunday. I could get paranoid as this is the second year running it's been on a date I'd booked off the organ bench, but I cheerfully submitted my report plus apologies and gave silent thanks I'm missing it.
April happens to be my birthday month, and I do always book my birthday off the years it falls on a Sunday especially when I go to churches prone to later APCMs. I couldn't have predicted my regular October weekend off would be APCM weekend when I booked it back in January.
I understand that FatherInCharge intends to give his review of the year (which will include the period of lockdown etc.) as his homily.
Hopefully, he'll keep it short and to the point, but the idea is (a) to keep the actual business meeting brief, and (b) to catch include those who will inevitably rush off immediately after the service!
My understanding is that this is the APCM for 2019 and anything to do with 2020 is in next year's APCM? (I'm sure All This will get a mention regardless of that.)
Well, it's the APCM following the year ending 31st December 2019, and would have been held in March or April 2020. The accounts for up to the end of 2019 will be reviewed and accepted etc. etc.
But yes, The Plague Year will get a mention, so FInC says, as he's in only the second year of his time with us (he was licensed just before Lent 2019).
I guess we will receive words of thanks and encouragement (he's good at doing both those things), and I expect he may outline a few of his ideas for the somewhat uncertain future...
The custom in Fredericton was to have the AGM following a communal lunch, and David and I would go to the lunch (I had usually cooked something for it), and as soon as we'd eaten we'd sneak off ...
I was thinking this was an odd time of year for AGMs, but of course, the plague would have put the kybosh on them at their usual time. I really must stop being a heathen and go back to church some time.
I was thinking this was an odd time of year for AGMs, but of course, the plague would have put the kybosh on them at their usual time. I really must stop being a heathen and go back to church some time.
It may also be a provincial variation thing - in my neck of the SEC the Annual meeting is after the service on the feast of Christ the King. So just before Advent. When I was in England, Annual meetings were in Lent. So ours would be coming up in a couple of months as a matter of course...
The usual practice in the C of E is for the annual meeting to be held at some point before the end of April - so possibly, in some years, after Easter.
The Plague has indeed altered the situation this year...
...as it has in regards to the car's annual MoT test - due in April, but given a 6-month extension by the government, mine is due this very day at 930am!
I went swimming - first time for six months and "dipping my toes into the water", so to speak. Our local Leisure Centre is still closeed (it's been rented out to a local rugby team) so I thought I'd try it. I now realise how unfit I've become, even though I've been walking quite a bit - that of course doesn't exercise the arms! The Covid precautions made it a bit weird but I'm glad I went.
... Anuka is taking a few steps, I think she will be walking by the end of the week. 😇
Go Anuka! (and move everything out of toddler-reach!).
I'm just back from what is probably the shortest amble in history - it was spittering a bit when I left the house, but by the time I got a couple of hundred yards it was getting decidedly moist, so I thought, sod it, and came home again. Just as well - it's properly raining now.
Laundry has been laundered, and is on a clothes-horse - I'm not faffing about with putting up the whirly-gig and having to rush out and take things back in again every time the heavens decide to open. Anyway, J. is still working on the deck (rain notwithstanding), and I wouldn't want to get in his way. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
We're going away for a couple of days, so it's Cleat the Fridge time. So lunch was a - though I say it myself - very nice soup of smoked bacon, carrot, onion and potato, with a handful of mange tout tossed in for the last 4 minutes and a slosh of smoked chipotle sauce.
I'm not faffing about with putting up the whirly-gig and having to rush out and take things back in again every time the heavens decide to open.
...
I have some of the travel dryers (similar to this) for my smalls which I hang on the whirlygig - mine has a hole at the end of each arm, but the old one I just hung one in the middle of each set of lines. So if it looks as though the drying is going into reverse, it's quicker and easier to take the lot off at once rather than faffing around one peg at a time. It aslo makes it easier to unload the whirlygig at the end of the drying anyway - and I can peg socks next to one another in pairs.
I might get something like that for socks. Other smalls stay indoors. I had a problem with the main dryer when getting the garden ready for the incursion of scaffolders. It turned out, I had forgotten, to have the upright in two parts, and I couldn't get the base part out, so it was a trip risk, and then some, over a foot high. Eventually, with a lot of WD40 injected down the sides, I got it out. But I can't do any outside washing until the painting is done.
The nice people at the garage said that a number of folk who, like me, had had their MoTs extended were surprised to find that reduced usage of their cars had resulted in various problems and MoT failures.
I was thankful that mine was OK - all I had to fork out was the £35 test fee, which by today's standards is IMHO quite cheap!
Our ageing van, affectionately known as beastie, has been for his pre-MOT checkup and been given the all clear, which should mean he'll be in and out in under an hour next week and we won't be stuck on the mainland without a vehicle for days while they order and fit a part (as has happened before).
Glad to hear that the MOT was fine. We had ours done in the summer as part of the annual service, but did need one bit fixing. (The tyres had been replaced beforehand.) We also have trouble with a warning light that is perpetually on, as the replacement catalytic converter isn't as good as the original that got nicked, although it passes its emissions tests.
We had cheese and tomato pasta tonight, followed by a home-made Minion cake, as Dragonlet 1 was 6 today, so I let him choose dinner in the absence of the usual family party. We had the usual Monday night Skype call with the in-laws, it's the turn of my parents tomorrow.
I was quite happy when he decided on a Minion for his cake, as not only did he specify Bob, who is the smallest one, and can be made from a square cake, if I had been indisposed, an expeditionary party could have been dispatched to the supermarket for one, unlike last year's giraffe!
I never did get the 'old' one looked at, so don't actually know what is wrong with it. I eventually found a repair man and had a "telephone consultation", when he diagnosed the problem, distantly, as 95% likely to be terminal, but not necessarily imminent. He thought it was almost certainly the bearings and said I could go on using it a while longer, but it would get worse and eventually 'go' completely.
Not fancying playing Russian roulette every time I put a wash on, and risking it dying on me with a load half washed I bit the bullet and went to the washing machine shop (we have one of those just across the road!). Delivery tomorrow afternoon. They will also install it and take away the old one - for a price.
Worth it for peace of mind.
S. has a little peg octopus which can be hung from the whirlygig or clothes horse, and is fine for smalls, but wouldn't be any use for bigger things.
I made really rather good roast veggies for supper, and I think I've sussed out the right relative cooking times (at 200°C, tossing each lot of veggies in olive oil, salt and pepper before adding them to the tray): spuds, carrots, onions, garlic and herbs for 20 minutes, add cauliflower, broccoli and coriander seeds, another 10 minutes, then add peppers, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and cook for a final 15 minutes.
For a moment I thought S. was one of your little ones, and had a 'pet' octopus! Though the one on the pic looks nice too, but not as cuddly and soft-toyish as what I expected!
Mmm, roast veggies are yum.
I taught last night for about 2 hours and am knackered today. Supper afterwards was fresh tuna with Chinese veg and noodles cooked by Mr Heavenly.
Today is tutorial planning as I have 3 more evening tutorials over the next week. Then I get a breather.
For a moment I thought S. was one of your little ones, and had a 'pet' octopus! Though the one on the pic looks nice too, but not as cuddly and soft-toyish as what I expected!
All Guide Dog puppies have a pet octopus to play with when in the whelping box - it must be policy, or the cuddly octopus makers like the publicity. 🐙 🙂
I will never forget, on our very first visit to Greece, many, many years ago, when I was sun bathing (with not very much on) on a tiny little beach, which I thought was private to look up and see, rising from the sea, a diver, in wet suit and goggles, holding a trident on one hand and an octopus in the other.
He kindly averted his eyes, and after banging the octopus many times on a handy rock, disappeared up the narrow track to the village.
Piglet, we have something similar from the very large Swedish owned shop in Cardiff Bay. It probably has some incomprehensible Swedish name, but we call it the socktapus.
We're in the East Midlands house hunting. We saw one place last night that was nice, but maybe a bit small. We're looking at three more today, one of which might do if a north facing garden is not a deal breaker. This morning we went for a long walk in a local country park, and managed to end up walking through an industrial estate. We seem to be masters at ending up in the less salubrious parts of places we visit, it usually involves car parks and or prostitutes.
Comments
We got in under the wire. We arrived on the 1st October, the quarantine rule came in on the 2nd October!
Best stay in Heidelberg for as long as you possibly can...
Sounds wise to me!
Today is sunny and breezy 18°. We are going for a pram push to find some cows. Anuka is saying her first word - a multi lingual ‘moo’ so we must find some real cows to show her! There are some highland cattle in the forest.
🐄
I had a two hour walk in the rain this morning, which was surprisingly refreshing. Just finished Zoom church and a chat in a breakout room with old friends so a nice morning.
Bread and cheese for lunch as normal on Sunday. Husband has church games afternoon (Online) so I will sit and spin some wool while watching some history documentaries on iPlayer. I might crochet a cowl from my hand spun as a gift for someone too.
We have our Annual Parochial Church Meeting* after service next Sunday, so it'll probably be even emptier
(*Anglicans will know what this implies)
Lovely bacon sandwiches for lunch!
Still, it will allow for some detailed study of the phenomenon of the anti-parishioner, seen only when the desire to not be in church actually draws people from the church who aren't there, leaving an anti-parishioner behind. The properties of the anti-parishioner aren't well described, but it is suspected that they listen carefully to the sermon, take home the notice sheet in order to study and digest the readings further, pay close attention to all announcements and eagerly volunteer to take minutes at meetings, producing such that are considered true and accurate by all present. I'm sure others can speculate on other attributes.
Hopefully, he'll keep it short and to the point, but the idea is (a) to keep the actual business meeting brief, and (b) to catch include those who will inevitably rush off immediately after the service!
Of course, all Baptists are always of that saintly ilk (ahem!)
April happens to be my birthday month, and I do always book my birthday off the years it falls on a Sunday especially when I go to churches prone to later APCMs. I couldn't have predicted my regular October weekend off would be APCM weekend when I booked it back in January.
My understanding is that this is the APCM for 2019 and anything to do with 2020 is in next year's APCM? (I'm sure All This will get a mention regardless of that.)
But yes, The Plague Year will get a mention, so FInC says, as he's in only the second year of his time with us (he was licensed just before Lent 2019).
I guess we will receive words of thanks and encouragement (he's good at doing both those things), and I expect he may outline a few of his ideas for the somewhat uncertain future...
I was thinking this was an odd time of year for AGMs, but of course, the plague would have put the kybosh on them at their usual time. I really must stop being a heathen and go back to church some time.
It may also be a provincial variation thing - in my neck of the SEC the Annual meeting is after the service on the feast of Christ the King. So just before Advent. When I was in England, Annual meetings were in Lent. So ours would be coming up in a couple of months as a matter of course...
The Plague has indeed altered the situation this year...
...as it has in regards to the car's annual MoT test - due in April, but given a 6-month extension by the government, mine is due this very day at 930am!
<votive> that it passes OK...
We are awaiting the Little Family for brunch at our flat. Anuka is taking a few steps, I think she will be walking by the end of the week. 😇
It passed, thanks be to God!
Happy Dance
No problems, and no *advisories* (such as 'Your tyres are OK for now, Sir, but you'll need a new set in about a month's time...'
Enjoy the brunch (and the imminent walking...)
I'm just back from what is probably the shortest amble in history - it was spittering a bit when I left the house, but by the time I got a couple of hundred yards it was getting decidedly moist, so I thought, sod it, and came home again. Just as well - it's properly raining now.
Laundry has been laundered, and is on a clothes-horse - I'm not faffing about with putting up the whirly-gig and having to rush out and take things back in again every time the heavens decide to open. Anyway, J. is still working on the deck (rain notwithstanding), and I wouldn't want to get in his way. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Tonight a pork mince version of bobotie.
...
I have some of the travel dryers (similar to this) for my smalls which I hang on the whirlygig - mine has a hole at the end of each arm, but the old one I just hung one in the middle of each set of lines. So if it looks as though the drying is going into reverse, it's quicker and easier to take the lot off at once rather than faffing around one peg at a time. It aslo makes it easier to unload the whirlygig at the end of the drying anyway - and I can peg socks next to one another in pairs.
I've been out for a walk and from the window of my little study can see the first blooms on our winter jasmine.
I was thankful that mine was OK - all I had to fork out was the £35 test fee, which by today's standards is IMHO quite cheap!
We had cheese and tomato pasta tonight, followed by a home-made Minion cake, as Dragonlet 1 was 6 today, so I let him choose dinner in the absence of the usual family party. We had the usual Monday night Skype call with the in-laws, it's the turn of my parents tomorrow.
I was quite happy when he decided on a Minion for his cake, as not only did he specify Bob, who is the smallest one, and can be made from a square cake, if I had been indisposed, an expeditionary party could have been dispatched to the supermarket for one, unlike last year's giraffe!
I never did get the 'old' one looked at, so don't actually know what is wrong with it. I eventually found a repair man and had a "telephone consultation", when he diagnosed the problem, distantly, as 95% likely to be terminal, but not necessarily imminent. He thought it was almost certainly the bearings and said I could go on using it a while longer, but it would get worse and eventually 'go' completely.
Not fancying playing Russian roulette every time I put a wash on, and risking it dying on me with a load half washed I bit the bullet and went to the washing machine shop (we have one of those just across the road!). Delivery tomorrow afternoon. They will also install it and take away the old one - for a price.
Worth it for peace of mind.
I made really rather good roast veggies for supper, and I think I've sussed out the right relative cooking times (at 200°C, tossing each lot of veggies in olive oil, salt and pepper before adding them to the tray): spuds, carrots, onions, garlic and herbs for 20 minutes, add cauliflower, broccoli and coriander seeds, another 10 minutes, then add peppers, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and cook for a final 15 minutes.
I taught last night for about 2 hours and am knackered today. Supper afterwards was fresh tuna with Chinese veg and noodles cooked by Mr Heavenly.
Today is tutorial planning as I have 3 more evening tutorials over the next week. Then I get a breather.
All Guide Dog puppies have a pet octopus to play with when in the whelping box - it must be policy, or the cuddly octopus makers like the publicity. 🐙 🙂
He kindly averted his eyes, and after banging the octopus many times on a handy rock, disappeared up the narrow track to the village.
Intelligent and sagacious, yes, as has been proved by scientific experiments, and possibly tasty in a sea-food platter sort of way, but not cuddly.
Too many arms...