Whatever is this Iron Ing of which you speak? It is indeed perfectly possible to live without it
Indeed it is. I cut Iron Ing out of my life years ago when the Nenlets were quite young, to carve out some time for Other Things, such as being with them. The funny thing is I quite enjoy(ed) it. I think the last time I ironed anything was Mr Nen's and Nenlet2's white shirts for Nenlet1's wedding, 13 years ago. Lots of Smooth Ing and Fold Ing goes on at Casa Nen, together with Whisk Ing Items Out of the Machine As Soon As It's Finished, Giving Them A Good Shake and Putt Ing Them On Hangers.
Mr Sainz Breeze Obliged this morning and we now also have food and toilet rolls. We're having roast vegetables and salmon in parsley sauce for tea, one of our favourites.
Bright and breezy here - the sort of day when I stepped out of the door in a coat and felt cold and by the time I'd walked into town I was hot.
[Lots of Smooth Ing and Fold Ing goes on at Casa Nen, together with Whisk Ing Items Out of the Machine As Soon As It's Finished, Giving Them A Good Shake and Putt Ing Them On Hangers.
Same here, although Roll Ing of T-shirts also figures. My wife is better at the Good Shake than I am.
After catching up with post-holiday washing, I now have enough items which would benefit from being ironed to justify getting the ironing board out.
My grandson came after school for his tea, before going running with his Mum. I helped him open a new savings account, now that he has a Saturday job, and he carried four boxes of books downstairs and out to my car. So tomorrow a trip to the nearest National Trust bookshop is on the agenda. Then I will drop in to a nearby shopping place where a free cup of tea is on offer to celebrate VE day anniversary.
The day has been cold but it is now warmer and the sun is shining again. Speaking of hail, I experienced a similar hailstorm as LVER once when I was in France. My friend’s tent was ruined and his car roof was indented by hailstones as big as golf balls. This was in August.
[Lots of Smooth Ing and Fold Ing goes on at Casa Nen, together with Whisk Ing Items Out of the Machine As Soon As It's Finished, Giving Them A Good Shake and Putt Ing Them On Hangers.
Same here, although Roll Ing of T-shirts also figures. My wife is better at the Good Shake than I am.
I'm completely incompetent at such things and so am doomed to iron (accompanied by beer and Sunday tv it's not too grim). Still need to look smart for work so shabby chic won't pass muster I'm reliably informed...
A very nice afternoon. A good catch up with my friends in a local coffee shop and then off to collect my raffle prize which was a hamper of beauty products and a bottle of prosecco, plus a voucher for a local beauty place. I don't normally go in for facial treatments etc, but I might give it a whirl.
As we still have a skip on our drive we're parking our car at a neighbours. He came out to give us a plant he'd promised us and then invited us in for a drink. It was a lovely chance to get to know them better and find out a bit more of the history of our road, not to mention a chance to drink more prosecco!.
Lots of Smooth Ing and Fold Ing goes on at Casa Nen, together with Whisk Ing Items Out of the Machine As Soon As It's Finished, Giving Them A Good Shake and Putt Ing Them On Hangers.
Same here, although Roll Ing of T-shirts also figures. My wife is better at the Good Shake than I am.
I thought men were taught the Art of the Good Shake at quite a young age.
We enjoyed our salmon and roast vegetables. We refrained from having wine with it, and I even refrained from a Little Sherry while I was cooking, so am feeling very virtuous.
It's decidedly chilly here this evening and a hot water bottle is to be employed.
There must be something winning in the air; I won a prize on the People's Postcode lottery this week. It was only £30, so I'm not going to be retiring any time soon, but thirty quid is thirty quid!
I ought to have done some Iron Ing too, but I was too busy (a) getting my nails done; and (b) going to Night Church, so all I had time for between work and that was a quick bite of cold meat and salad for supper. The Iron Ing will have to wait.
It was a glorious day here; it got up to 17°*, with cloudless blue skies.
* I know that may not seem very high, but to this hyperborean piglet it's Just Right.
Quite cool here too.
I did my weekly admin and planned my next lot of marking, then did a couple of hours of study (very enjoyable as this week it is on disability in the early modern period, which is a key interest of mine).
Mr Heavenly was out this evening so I did some more study and then cooked myself some roasted chicken thighs, accompanied by garlicky mushrooms in cream and white wine, and had a glass of prosecco.
It was a glorious day here; it got up to 17°*, with cloudless blue skies.
It felt like more, but then I was on the sunny side of the garden trying to gouge holes in the brick-like ground. Behind me, the cotoneaster was quivering with bees.
We had a 3 ft cotoneaster hedge between us and the neighbour at our previous house, and it was a delight to see & hear the bees at blossom time.
That hedge is the only thing the new people haven't grubbed up. Maybe they think it belongs to the neighbours (who are probably the only ones keeping it trimmed).
With regard to ironing, I would find the full ironing basket pretty off putting. I solved the problem by buying a second basket and would put a small number of things to be ironed in it plus a few more. The amount in the second basket looked manageable and could be done, and the ironing backlog gradually decreased.
These days, I have an ironing lady.
The NE Man has an Ironing Lady. Our ironing board is stored in the garage.
The NE Man used to worry that I was rotting my brain by watching home makeover shows etc whilst ironing. He kept saying that if he ironed his own shirts, he'd find something Serious and Important to watch, except of course he couldn't iron his own shirts because he was Too Busy. And I knew I couldn't iron and give Serious and Important things my full attention.
So I relieved his anxiety by stopping ironing his shirts which was a solution to the problem, but not the solution he had anticipated.
I tried to persuade @Celtic Knotweed that not ironing my stuff would be entirely acceptable to me, with a very few exceptions that I could handle, and would save considerable quantities of her life.
Apparently it's easier to iron everything than it is to sort out one person's stuff and iron that only.
Now that podcasts exist that she can listen to, I just let her get on with it.
Mr Puzzler was actually very good at ironing and we had an agreement that he would iron his own shirts. In due course he decided they were fine without being ironed.
My ironing pile is now bigger than is acceptable, so I’d better tackle it tomorrow.
This morning I delivered four boxes of books to the NT place and did a 20 minute walk, encountering a deer at close quarters, had my free cup of tea at the shopping centre and bought nothing. I topped and tailed the trip with buying petrol and had the car washed.
Now I’m playing catch up with new music for my second choir this week, the third one being tomorrow.
The only thing I have ironed in the last 20 years is fabric for sewing. Mr Heavenly irons his own shirts and if we are going to a wedding he will iron my dress and jacket too. We don’t iron anything else. My normal daily wear is a creased long cotton dress worn in a hippy style.
I spent the morning writing a tutorial and the afternoon marking. Then I phoned a student this evening.
Mr Heavenly went to York today for a graduate job fair (where he also met up with the Masters Heavenly) and I am not sure what time he will be back or if/when we will eat.
David knew how to iron; he had bought an iron and ironing board before we were an item, and (I presume) used it at least occasionally. Once we had a tumble dryer, ironing was much less of a necessity (and he generally dressed more casually by then anyway). I had a few Need To Iron things, and would have a blitz every so often (much as I do now, although I have all these linen tops, which definitely Need Ironing), and if I was packing for us to go away, I'd iron his shirts before folding them, as it was easy to fold them on the ironing board. In fact, I ought to go and do some right now.
For some reason, when I left for work this morning, I had a really nasty pain in my left knee, and (as they say in Northern Ireland), it's swollen up like a bap. I hobbled home after work, and have applied some industrial-strength ibuprofen gel to it in the hope it'll sort itself out. I know I don't have to walk very far, but when something's giving you gyp, a 10-minute walk can take 20, and feel like 30.. It also means I don't feel like going for an amble, which is a shame, as it's a bonny evening, although not as warm as it's been.
Supper was pasta with prawns, greens and garlicky cream sauce, and very nice too.
I too agree about getting your knee seen to, @piglet. What a pain in all senses of the word.
I've had a nice day, a lovely walk with the Ramblers taking in three very different churches in the area. One was built by a landowner in the early 19th century who had the medieval church demolished as it spoilt the view from his new house. This evening was a meeting of my writers group. They were announcing the results of a poetry competition, which I hadn't entered so I was happy to listen to the winning entries and not feel cross that mine hadn't made the cut!
My knees have given up on me these last few weeks. GP sent me for physio. The exercises don’t seem to help. Climbing stairs is hard work now, but level walking is ok.
Last night under pressure I finally agreed to have my name put down for choir committee, ready for the AGM next week. I shall regret it I’m sure, and will doubtless have to practise saying No to more tasks. Our treasurer has been telling everyone it is his last year for the past four years. That is one job I absolutely refuse to do. Numbers and I don’t mix well. Our Chair has three jobs in the choir but seems reluctant to shed those. She is good behind the scenes but does not communicate well.
Learning how to say *No* is an important accomplishment!
Sun-Shiny, but (as usual) windy, in Arkland the Dustbowl. Tess Coe has been visited, and sufficient Essentials laid in for a while - I have only a very small fridge, and limited cupboard space for Tins (not that there are any Pilchards to be had yet ), so need to go Shopp Ing every two or three days.
In honour of VE Day 80, I suppose, the Tess Coe sound system was playing a Vera Lynn song when I went in. An hour or so later, and I can't offhand recall which one...
Learning how to say *No* is an important accomplishment!
Indeed it is. I have a couple of people in my life who need reminding every so often that "No" is a complete sentence. Possible alternative phrasings: "I have a clash of dates"; "That doesn't work for me"; "That's not my gifting"; "I'm afraid not. Sorry." (There's also, "I'll check the diary and let you know" but you have to make sure you keep a paper diary and that it's not on you, otherwise you'll be expected to check your phone and commit (or not) straight away.)
I've been out to my exercise class followed by coffee with friends. Then a zoom call this afternoon and out again after tea. It's overcast and chilly here.
ETA - @Piglet, please check in with news about your knee.
VE day is a public holiday in France. This morning we lazed about a bit, then I went and rehearsed Rachmaninov with the pianist, while husband en rouge took Captain Pyjamas to the funfair. I feel slightly envious that I didn't get to join them on the bumper cars.
A full day by my standards. Mr F and I went to an exhibition of Scottish Colourists in their European context, had lunch at the gallery. Then I spent the afternoon in blazing sunshine, putting in the last of the perennials and bedders.
Thanks for the good wishes re: the porcine knee. It seems to be behaving better today, after putting a cushion under it last night and another splat of ibuprofen gel this morning.
However, it never rains but it pours - I seem to have either lost a filling or broken a tooth - there's something that feels sharp at the back of my mouth. I haven't been to a dentist in mumble mumble years (fiscally driven), and am not looking forward to the pain in mouth and wallet ... 😳
In other news, two nice gentlemen delivered my new bed this evening, and another is coming to assemble it on Sunday.
It's a glorious evening, and I really ought to amble, but as I might have to do a bit of tramping about in Aberdeen tomorrow, I think I'm better off resting tonight.
Supper was F&C, because although not Friday, I didn't know when the bed would be delivered, and hadn't made any cooking plans (and I'll be eating somewhere in Aberdeen tomorrow night, and probably not F&C).
A lovely day today. Weather perfect - I would be delighted if the whole summer stayed at this temperature. Spent most of the day in the garden, mixed three wheelbarrows full of coir compost, well rotted garden compost, the used compost from 2023's runner bean tubs and a little chicken manure. Used that to fill 4 large post for growing tomatoes.
Might do some more tomorrow, if I am able to move.
Luckily yesterday's Sains order had included a fish pie, and I had some leftover green veg in the fridge, so needed nothing more than putting containers in oven & microwave was necessary for dinner. Not sure I could have managed any actual cooking.
A busy Thursday as it was lip reading this morning, book shop shift this afternoon, followed by a hair appointment and a VE Day civic celebration in the Town's Market Square this evening. Lip reading was interesting as due to various problems with where we usually meet we ended up in the Town Hall's ball room. A great place for a concert, not so much for a group of deaf people, specially as there was banging going on above out heads (goodness knows what that was).
I discovered on my way to the chippy that my old, dismantled bed had gone, but as I'd had an email from West Lothian Council saying they'd pick it up next week, I'm assuming it wasn't them.
I'm not all that bothered - glad to be rid of it! - but as I'm a Good Little Citizen, I emailed the Council to let them know, so that they don't think I was just having them on.
If I'd known someone was going to just help themselves, I needn't have paid the Council to do it! 🙃
We're having our kitchen redone and the old range cooker and dishwasher were outside along with the skip. Some scrap metal merchants asked if they could have cooker and dishwasher within about ten minutes of their being put out side. We're still waiting for the skip company to take away their skip. Glad your bed went so quickly @piglet.
We're waiting in today for the people to come and fit the new worktops so one step nearer to the kitchen being finished. It's slightly annoying as it is a nice sunny day and we could have gone out somewhere rather than having to wait in. Instead I'm catching up on council business and various other things I don't seem to have had time for lately.
I've just had a reply from the Council saying they're going to refund my fee anyway! 🙂
I can't imagine what use anyone would have had for the bedframe, except firewood - it really was falling to bits!
Having a lazy morning - I'm taking the day off work to head up to Aberdeen later, but it's a glorious day, so I think I'll get myself organised and have a little amble once I've had some breakfast.
When some work was done in the kitchen of Our Place's then-untenanted vicarage, some years ago, they dumped two derelict (and very dirty) gas cookers close to the church. When I spotted this, on my arrival for Morning Prayer, I manhandled them onto the pavement.
Half-an-hour later, they'd gone...
There are, of course, people who make a living by collecting odds-and-sods dumped - often illegally! - on the pavement, though I think those who took the Porcine Bedframe must just have needed some timber.
Our Place used to sometimes see a little Roma lady pushing a trolley around, laden with all sorts of junk. She asked me one day if we had anything going for scrap, and was delighted when I gave her a couple of defunct vacuum cleaners from the church hall. I'm guessing that the value of such items lies in the amount of re-usable wiring, plugs etc....
ION, another day of Wind, Dust, and Sun-Shine in Arkland the outlier of Kadath In Ye Cold Waste. I might do some patch Paint Ing after lunch, but it's really rather too chilly in today's strong wind, and next week is forecast to be warmer and less blustery. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow!
Meanwhile, time to put today's FISH PIE in the trusty Remoska. I popped up to the village Co-Op to buy some more Spuds, only to find the place looking as if it had been visited by a Plague of Locusts - apparently, the Co-Op (and other emporia) are having IT problems affecting deliveries, which seem to be happening more and more lately.
On my visit to the next village I might have gone to the Co-op, but in one of those fortuitous moments I encountered a lady from one of my choirs who I always say hello to but never get to know. I have been going to suggest meeting for coffee but it has never happened. Today was the right day. She had got it into her head that I am a vicar (Not So) and wanted advice on a problem with people in her church who have hurt her. She said as we parted that it was a God-given moment.
@Puzzler I'm sure you were wise and helpful.
It's Friday!! I'm making chips and various things (fish, scampi, chicken nuggets) sipping a G&T and listening to john Coltrane.
Dump run tomorrow deep joy.
I popped up to the village Co-Op to buy some more Spuds, only to find the place looking as if it had been visited by a Plague of Locusts - apparently, the Co-Op (and other emporia) are having IT problems affecting deliveries, which seem to be happening more and more lately.
Still no pilchards, then?
Mr Nen and I have been out to lunch with friends we used to meet with on a regular basis until life took over and the group stopped working for a number of us. It was hard work as we were in a huge restaurant with an echo (we were one of only two tables who were occupied) and louder-than-necessary music playing. Also, with eight of us at a rectangular table it was hard to talk to everyone and the table kept splitting into two conversations. And the pizza (I often have pizza when out, as we never have it at home) was mediocre at best, and not very hot.
Apart from that it was a most delightful occasion.
On our return home we had a cup of tea while sitting on the patio, have also indulged in some no-alcohol gin and tonic (with ice and a slice, of course) and will have a snack later in front of the TV. No cooking for Nen - yay!
Our kitchen is not yet finished but it is looking very much better now the work surface is in place. We went for a walk this afternoon down the river and then ordered a Chinese take away for tea. We don’t often eat Chinese food as it isn’t always as vegan/vegetarian friendly as Indian food but it was very nice. Ours was washed down with the bottle of Prosecco I won the other day.
I popped up to the village Co-Op to buy some more Spuds, only to find the place looking as if it had been visited by a Plague of Locusts - apparently, the Co-Op (and other emporia) are having IT problems affecting deliveries, which seem to be happening more and more lately.
Still no pilchards, then?
<snip>
No, not one - and Tess Coe yesterday was even short of Sardines!! I blame Trump, Brexit, Putin, and the general bloodymindedness of the universe.
We are back from two nights in Madrid, flanked on either side with a night staying with our son, and finished with a night at my mother's house.
The NE Man was working in Madrid last Tuesday, so I had the day to myself. I loved what I saw of Madrid, and would really like to go back for a longer trip. What struck me most was the lack of empty shops, and the variety of interesting shops. City centre shopping here ceased to be a pleasant leisure activity years ago, but in Madrid I enjoyed window shopping past shops selling chocolates, or hats, or guitars, or ice cream, or religious books, or wool, or lingerie, or expensive cameras.
I spent the morning in our local town where there were VE Day celebrations including a brass band playing some of "The Old Music" and there was meant to be a live singer at some point although I didn't manage to hear that.
I also bought a dress (unusual event for me) and tried on some sandals that may be suitable to wear for Nenlet2's wedding in July (sparkly and unusual but flat, which is what I'll need as we're going to be on our feet pretty much all day).
Now home and doing domestics, also catching up on all the journalling I want to do about our retreat last weekend. I also have to decide which of the four books I ordered, on my return, I'm going to start reading first.
Stir fry for tea because Saturday. There will also be Wine and possibly a Cook's Perk Sherry, because Weekend.
I am going rather unexpectedly to a wedding next Saturday - which will be my excuse to breakout the matching trousers and waistcoat I got from Next and wore to commit democracy the other week. I just need to decide if I get a matching ribbon for my white straw hat - it has a navy and white pattern ribbon at the moment, I may go and inspect John Lewis haberdashery.
(The outfit is cream with a green vertical stripe.)
That sounds like a nice outfit @Doublethink.
It's my birthday today so this morning we went to visit a garden that we went to a few weeks ago and really liked. My husband checked the times the place is open but not the days. When we got there we found out it doesn't open Saturdays. Instead we headed to an outlet store we were intending to visit anyway and then on to Hardwick Hall for a walk round the grounds and an early lunch.
This evening we're off to our town's one and only fine dining establishment.
I woke far too early and couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up and caught up with admin on my lap top, followed by a time-wasting effort to write, save and send another doc as an attachment, but Microsoft seem to have interfered with my set up and what should have been a short task took forever. Even so, when I decided it was time to start the proper day, I got downstairs to discover it was 9 am not 8am so I failed to get all my Saturday chores done.
This afternoon a friend and I went to a good art exhibition in a village hall, well worth the effort, though we didn’t buy anything. Then a pretty drive through the villages in the Vale to the wildflower centre where we had tea and cake and a walk. I am pleased to have found someone to go out and about with.
Happy birthday, Sarasa!
That sounds like a lovely afternoon, Puzzler.
Our neighbours had a skip delivered yesterday but only needed to part fill it so we were able to use it as well (we will be returning the favour in a few weeks). This meant we could finally get rid of the old large chicken shed and run we removed to fit the garden office. This has pleased Mr Heavenly greatly as last year we had an immaculate lawn which was his pride and joy but since November there has been a huge pile of rubble over half of it. The lawn is now mowed but we will save reseeding the bare bit until my decking goes up around the office.
Cheese and crackers and olives for lunch. Mr Heavenly usually cooks at the weekend but I may have to volunteer this evening as he is tired from all the heavy lifting.
I am going rather unexpectedly to a wedding next Saturday - which will be my excuse to breakout the matching trousers and waistcoat I got from Next and wore to commit democracy the other week. I just need to decide if I get a matching ribbon for my white straw hat - it has a navy and white pattern ribbon at the moment, I may go and inspect John Lewis haberdashery.
(The outfit is cream with a green vertical stripe.)
Happy birthday @Sarasa
It's been a boring but fruitful one so far today - been to the dump, taken stuff to charity shop, done more clearing at the late mother in laws, picked up middle twanglet from the nearest train station (she's now back for the summer - I'm sure in my day we had a proper summer term mumble mumble).
Self topped pizza for dinner
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Mr Sainz Breeze Obliged this morning and we now also have food and toilet rolls. We're having roast vegetables and salmon in parsley sauce for tea, one of our favourites.
Bright and breezy here - the sort of day when I stepped out of the door in a coat and felt cold and by the time I'd walked into town I was hot.
Hope your hamper is full of good things @Sarasa .
Same here, although Roll Ing of T-shirts also figures. My wife is better at the Good Shake than I am.
My grandson came after school for his tea, before going running with his Mum. I helped him open a new savings account, now that he has a Saturday job, and he carried four boxes of books downstairs and out to my car. So tomorrow a trip to the nearest National Trust bookshop is on the agenda. Then I will drop in to a nearby shopping place where a free cup of tea is on offer to celebrate VE day anniversary.
The day has been cold but it is now warmer and the sun is shining again. Speaking of hail, I experienced a similar hailstorm as LVER once when I was in France. My friend’s tent was ruined and his car roof was indented by hailstones as big as golf balls. This was in August.
I'm completely incompetent at such things and so am doomed to iron (accompanied by beer and Sunday tv it's not too grim). Still need to look smart for work so shabby chic won't pass muster I'm reliably informed...
As we still have a skip on our drive we're parking our car at a neighbours. He came out to give us a plant he'd promised us and then invited us in for a drink. It was a lovely chance to get to know them better and find out a bit more of the history of our road, not to mention a chance to drink more prosecco!.
I thought men were taught the Art of the Good Shake at quite a young age.
We enjoyed our salmon and roast vegetables. We refrained from having wine with it, and I even refrained from a Little Sherry while I was cooking, so am feeling very virtuous.
It's decidedly chilly here this evening and a hot water bottle is to be employed.
I ought to have done some Iron Ing too, but I was too busy (a) getting my nails done; and (b) going to Night Church, so all I had time for between work and that was a quick bite of cold meat and salad for supper. The Iron Ing will have to wait.
It was a glorious day here; it got up to 17°*, with cloudless blue skies.
* I know that may not seem very high, but to this hyperborean piglet it's Just Right.
I did my weekly admin and planned my next lot of marking, then did a couple of hours of study (very enjoyable as this week it is on disability in the early modern period, which is a key interest of mine).
Mr Heavenly was out this evening so I did some more study and then cooked myself some roasted chicken thighs, accompanied by garlicky mushrooms in cream and white wine, and had a glass of prosecco.
It felt like more, but then I was on the sunny side of the garden trying to gouge holes in the brick-like ground. Behind me, the cotoneaster was quivering with bees.
That hedge is the only thing the new people haven't grubbed up. Maybe they think it belongs to the neighbours (who are probably the only ones keeping it trimmed).
These days, I have an ironing lady.
The NE Man used to worry that I was rotting my brain by watching home makeover shows etc whilst ironing. He kept saying that if he ironed his own shirts, he'd find something Serious and Important to watch, except of course he couldn't iron his own shirts because he was Too Busy. And I knew I couldn't iron and give Serious and Important things my full attention.
So I relieved his anxiety by stopping ironing his shirts which was a solution to the problem, but not the solution he had anticipated.
Apparently it's easier to iron everything than it is to sort out one person's stuff and iron that only.
Now that podcasts exist that she can listen to, I just let her get on with it.
My ironing pile is now bigger than is acceptable, so I’d better tackle it tomorrow.
This morning I delivered four boxes of books to the NT place and did a 20 minute walk, encountering a deer at close quarters, had my free cup of tea at the shopping centre and bought nothing. I topped and tailed the trip with buying petrol and had the car washed.
Now I’m playing catch up with new music for my second choir this week, the third one being tomorrow.
I spent the morning writing a tutorial and the afternoon marking. Then I phoned a student this evening.
Mr Heavenly went to York today for a graduate job fair (where he also met up with the Masters Heavenly) and I am not sure what time he will be back or if/when we will eat.
For some reason, when I left for work this morning, I had a really nasty pain in my left knee, and (as they say in Northern Ireland), it's swollen up like a bap. I hobbled home after work, and have applied some industrial-strength ibuprofen gel to it in the hope it'll sort itself out. I know I don't have to walk very far, but when something's giving you gyp, a 10-minute walk can take 20, and feel like 30.. It also means I don't feel like going for an amble, which is a shame, as it's a bonny evening, although not as warm as it's been.
Supper was pasta with prawns, greens and garlicky cream sauce, and very nice too.
Sayeth the owner of two dodgy ones.
This.
I've had a nice day, a lovely walk with the Ramblers taking in three very different churches in the area. One was built by a landowner in the early 19th century who had the medieval church demolished as it spoilt the view from his new house. This evening was a meeting of my writers group. They were announcing the results of a poetry competition, which I hadn't entered so I was happy to listen to the winning entries and not feel cross that mine hadn't made the cut!
I was a bit late for swimming this morning, but still managed to do a reasonable number of lengths.
I'm feeling quite tired today but have quite a lot to do.
My wife suffers from arthritis and osteoporosis, she had one knee replaced about 10 years ago and it hasn't worn terribly well.
Last night under pressure I finally agreed to have my name put down for choir committee, ready for the AGM next week. I shall regret it I’m sure, and will doubtless have to practise saying No to more tasks. Our treasurer has been telling everyone it is his last year for the past four years. That is one job I absolutely refuse to do. Numbers and I don’t mix well. Our Chair has three jobs in the choir but seems reluctant to shed those. She is good behind the scenes but does not communicate well.
Sun-Shiny, but (as usual) windy, in Arkland the Dustbowl. Tess Coe has been visited, and sufficient Essentials laid in for a while - I have only a very small fridge, and limited cupboard space for Tins (not that there are any Pilchards to be had yet
In honour of VE Day 80, I suppose, the Tess Coe sound system was playing a Vera Lynn song when I went in. An hour or so later, and I can't offhand recall which one...
I've been out to my exercise class followed by coffee with friends. Then a zoom call this afternoon and out again after tea. It's overcast and chilly here.
ETA - @Piglet, please check in with news about your knee.
Now going to make fish'n'chips.
All this and a new Pope.
However, it never rains but it pours - I seem to have either lost a filling or broken a tooth - there's something that feels sharp at the back of my mouth. I haven't been to a dentist in mumble mumble years (fiscally driven), and am not looking forward to the pain in mouth and wallet ... 😳
In other news, two nice gentlemen delivered my new bed this evening, and another is coming to assemble it on Sunday.
It's a glorious evening, and I really ought to amble, but as I might have to do a bit of tramping about in Aberdeen tomorrow, I think I'm better off resting tonight.
Supper was F&C, because although not Friday, I didn't know when the bed would be delivered, and hadn't made any cooking plans (and I'll be eating somewhere in Aberdeen tomorrow night, and probably not F&C).
Might do some more tomorrow, if I am able to move.
Luckily yesterday's Sains order had included a fish pie, and I had some leftover green veg in the fridge, so needed nothing more than putting containers in oven & microwave was necessary for dinner. Not sure I could have managed any actual cooking.
I'm not all that bothered - glad to be rid of it! - but as I'm a Good Little Citizen, I emailed the Council to let them know, so that they don't think I was just having them on.
If I'd known someone was going to just help themselves, I needn't have paid the Council to do it! 🙃
We're waiting in today for the people to come and fit the new worktops so one step nearer to the kitchen being finished. It's slightly annoying as it is a nice sunny day and we could have gone out somewhere rather than having to wait in. Instead I'm catching up on council business and various other things I don't seem to have had time for lately.
I can't imagine what use anyone would have had for the bedframe, except firewood - it really was falling to bits!
Having a lazy morning - I'm taking the day off work to head up to Aberdeen later, but it's a glorious day, so I think I'll get myself organised and have a little amble once I've had some breakfast.
Half-an-hour later, they'd gone...
There are, of course, people who make a living by collecting odds-and-sods dumped - often illegally! - on the pavement, though I think those who took the Porcine Bedframe must just have needed some timber.
Our Place used to sometimes see a little Roma lady pushing a trolley around, laden with all sorts of junk. She asked me one day if we had anything going for scrap, and was delighted when I gave her a couple of defunct vacuum cleaners from the church hall. I'm guessing that the value of such items lies in the amount of re-usable wiring, plugs etc....
ION, another day of Wind, Dust, and Sun-Shine in Arkland the outlier of Kadath In Ye Cold Waste. I might do some patch Paint Ing after lunch, but it's really rather too chilly in today's strong wind, and next week is forecast to be warmer and less blustery. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow!
Meanwhile, time to put today's FISH PIE in the trusty Remoska. I popped up to the village Co-Op to buy some more Spuds, only to find the place looking as if it had been visited by a Plague of Locusts - apparently, the Co-Op (and other emporia) are having IT problems affecting deliveries, which seem to be happening more and more lately.
It's Friday!! I'm making chips and various things (fish, scampi, chicken nuggets) sipping a G&T and listening to john Coltrane.
Dump run tomorrow deep joy.
Mr Nen and I have been out to lunch with friends we used to meet with on a regular basis until life took over and the group stopped working for a number of us. It was hard work as we were in a huge restaurant with an echo (we were one of only two tables who were occupied) and louder-than-necessary music playing. Also, with eight of us at a rectangular table it was hard to talk to everyone and the table kept splitting into two conversations. And the pizza (I often have pizza when out, as we never have it at home) was mediocre at best, and not very hot.
Apart from that it was a most delightful occasion.
On our return home we had a cup of tea while sitting on the patio, have also indulged in some no-alcohol gin and tonic (with ice and a slice, of course) and will have a snack later in front of the TV. No cooking for Nen - yay!
Bright and sunny here, but with a chilly wind.
No, not one - and Tess Coe yesterday was even short of Sardines!! I blame Trump, Brexit, Putin, and the general bloodymindedness of the universe.
The NE Man was working in Madrid last Tuesday, so I had the day to myself. I loved what I saw of Madrid, and would really like to go back for a longer trip. What struck me most was the lack of empty shops, and the variety of interesting shops. City centre shopping here ceased to be a pleasant leisure activity years ago, but in Madrid I enjoyed window shopping past shops selling chocolates, or hats, or guitars, or ice cream, or religious books, or wool, or lingerie, or expensive cameras.
I also bought a dress (unusual event for me) and tried on some sandals that may be suitable to wear for Nenlet2's wedding in July (sparkly and unusual but flat, which is what I'll need as we're going to be on our feet pretty much all day).
Now home and doing domestics, also catching up on all the journalling I want to do about our retreat last weekend. I also have to decide which of the four books I ordered, on my return, I'm going to start reading first.
Stir fry for tea because Saturday. There will also be Wine and possibly a Cook's Perk Sherry, because Weekend.
(The outfit is cream with a green vertical stripe.)
It's my birthday today so this morning we went to visit a garden that we went to a few weeks ago and really liked. My husband checked the times the place is open but not the days. When we got there we found out it doesn't open Saturdays. Instead we headed to an outlet store we were intending to visit anyway and then on to Hardwick Hall for a walk round the grounds and an early lunch.
This evening we're off to our town's one and only fine dining establishment.
This afternoon a friend and I went to a good art exhibition in a village hall, well worth the effort, though we didn’t buy anything. Then a pretty drive through the villages in the Vale to the wildflower centre where we had tea and cake and a walk. I am pleased to have found someone to go out and about with.
That sounds like a lovely afternoon, Puzzler.
Our neighbours had a skip delivered yesterday but only needed to part fill it so we were able to use it as well (we will be returning the favour in a few weeks). This meant we could finally get rid of the old large chicken shed and run we removed to fit the garden office. This has pleased Mr Heavenly greatly as last year we had an immaculate lawn which was his pride and joy but since November there has been a huge pile of rubble over half of it. The lawn is now mowed but we will save reseeding the bare bit until my decking goes up around the office.
Cheese and crackers and olives for lunch. Mr Heavenly usually cooks at the weekend but I may have to volunteer this evening as he is tired from all the heavy lifting.
Ooh, sounds lovely.
It's been a boring but fruitful one so far today - been to the dump, taken stuff to charity shop, done more clearing at the late mother in laws, picked up middle twanglet from the nearest train station (she's now back for the summer - I'm sure in my day we had a proper summer term mumble mumble).
Self topped pizza for dinner