No snow in Linlithgow, but the odd Patch of Treachery™ and it was rather cold. For (I think) the first time ever, I didn't turn off the heater in my office until I was leaving to go home; I turned it up part way through the morning, and didn't feel any inclination to do without it until late in the afternoon, but got distracted by a phone call, and didn't think about it until I was leaving.
I decided I wanted a cheat's supper, so I got one of Tessie's Finest SOSSIDGES & MASH, which was quite decent. I've also brought home some lamb and a load of veggies with an eye to making a casserole tomorrow (or possibly on Friday if I decide to do it in the slow cooker - I'm on leave on Friday and Monday, so I should have plenty of time).
Busy day, but at least I slept properly last night. Exercise group this morning, then a quick lunch before going to an interesting talk about Framework Knitters, almost exclusively found in the East Midlands, including some of my ancestors, before the lace-making industry developed in Nottingham.
I succumbed to a ready meal so I didn’t have to rush to cook before going out again to choir this evening. Pretty cold but not cold enough for snow here.
I think we had snow here this morning. I have been informed of this separately by a friend and by Mr RoS who were both out in it.
It explained the brief view of the rain I saw through the window briefly falling in what I call 'thick raindrops'. It might have been actual snowflakes before I looked out, but none had settled anywhere, and I didn't spend much time gazing at the wet garden.
Dry but cold (had to scrape the car windscreen) but shaping up to be a lovely day and less windy than yesterday. Went to see "Christmas Carol That Goes Wrong" yesterday - excellent and very funny, a packed theatre and enthusiastic audience.
Only snow on the roofs of a few cars that have obviously come from Further Afield. But Jings it's cold. Despite having had a grocery delivery on Tuesday and a trip to supermarket yesterday (albeit that was mainly for chocolate), still out of a few basics, so tottered up to Tessie's. Haven't really thawed out since. The CH has been on since half seven and has managed to inch up to 17°C. I've turned on the supplementary radiator, in hopes that my fingers un-numb sufficiently to knit.
Cold and grey in Arkland the Depressed, with a bleak northerly Wind.
Italian cuisine for lunch - Lasagne al forno, one of Mr Co-Op's tasty ready-made thingies. The Greek version from Tess Coe which I had a day or so ago was disappointingly bland, so will not be repeated.
I shall stay in today, having nowhere to go, and nothing to do when I get there, and may do the same tomorrow...
It's jolly cold out here in the East Midlands and we had flurries of snow this morning. It didn't settle for which I'm very grateful.
No lip-reading class today but I did do my bookshop shift. It was freezing in the shop, not helped by people leaving the back door open.I came home via several shops to pick up some trousers I'd ordered and a cushion pad. The trousers are just what I wanted but they'll need turning up before I can actually wear them. I thought the cushion pad looked a bit on the small side, but it seems to fit my knitting OK.
Tonight is my writing group. It looks like not that many of us will be there, though the excuses from going to see John Cooper Clarke, to filming in Dublin and on holiday singing karaoke were entertaining. I should go as I have some ideas for our contribution to next year's book festival to share. But, do I fancy going out in the cold to sit in a dark cellar or would I rather stay at home in the warm?
Hehe...I think you just answered your own question...
I spoke to Neighbour T today, and she tells me that she and F are also getting low on Coal, so I've bespoke(n) my usual tonne (100 bags) for when she places the order with the Merchant. I have no doubt she'll negotiate a fair price - the Arkland Coal Co-Operative must be one of the Merchant's best customers in this area.
It's not cheap, alas! but it does cover heating, cooking, and hot water. I do have Gas on board (Propane), but use it very little during the Winter - in fact, the bottle which is connected (there is a full spare bottle nearby) has been turned off since the end of September.
Some Vegetable Spring Rolls are heating up in the Dragon, and there is a glass of WINE to go with them.
After a very quiet day at work, I'm now off until Tuesday, using up some annual leave so, like BF, I have nowhere to go in the morning, and shall have a lovely long lie.
I've ordered a pizza for supper (which I do about two or three times a year) and am messing about on here while I await its arrival.
Hope you enjoy your annual leave @Piglet . We are off tomorrow to spend the weekend with some old university friends; no lie in for us.
I've been out for the past couple of evenings, both of which involved encounters with a local bishop, which have been uplifting and enlightening. If we end up moving house to where we plan, we will be attending the local parish church and as we were both raised in the Church of England it feels a bit like a wheel coming full circle. Or like going back to our roots. Or something.
My day off today. Yoga this morning but I didn’t stay for coffee as Master Heavenly the Elder stopped off for a few hours on his way from Heathrow to York. Usually I do study (or even marking) on my day off but this was a pleasant interruption.
Tea was thai red lamb and mushroom curry with sticky rice. Then to bible study group.
I braved the cold to go to my writer group and fun it was too, so glad I went.
Enjoy the weekend @nenya and I hope the house moving plans continue smoothly. Also enjoy the lie-in and the long weekend off @piglet.
A lovely sunny morning, but the sun moves round to the side of the bungalow quite early at this time of the year, so we didn't get the benefit of its warmth coming through the French doors for long.
The central heating was on for most of the day.
On the one hand, sleeping more or less continuously from 10.30 to 6 is good, but on the other it means staying in bed is bladderly impossible. And too late to resume sleeping. So that's witnessing another Winter dawn. It's one of those subtle ones with a clear grey-blue modulating to a pale orange on the horizon and the usual black stencil of chimney pots and leafless trees.
Very cold of course, but no cause to go out in it.
My son came over yesterday and after lots of chat he did a bit in the garden, filling the green bin. First time I have seen him in jeans rather than shorts since about March.
News of grandson W- his tumour isn’t cancerous. Not sure why they need to remove more cells though. His older brother had a lump removed about ten years ago. Apparently this was a remnant of a potential identical twin who never developed.
I had a leisurely meal of meat balls in home made sauce with pasta, adding various veg from the fridge, very warming in this cold weather. I don’t have to go out today, but might a bit later as I need the exercise, though I ought to do some cleaning which will stretch the muscles.
Cold and frosty here, with blue skies. I probably will go out for a walk before starting work, because I should. Then I need to do the usual admin and emails, write a tutorial (public health, not sure of the subject yet), then it’s back to that pile of marking for the afternoon.
Like @Puzzler I see some housework in the near future. But at the moment I'm thawing my hands on my morning coffee mug.
Mr F has even more tooth trouble than usual, so devising dinners that easy eating. Tonight, meat balls and polenta. Tomorrow something paella-ish. Sunday, fish. Monday red-braised pork (though that needs to be started Sunday). Then it's probably back to mince.
Chilly this morning. Thermostat reading 14.5C when I switched on the CH at 8am.
Nipped out to Sains Local on the corner to see if they had any bananas a bit riper than the ones I bought at Lidl on Tuesday.
I don't like my bananas to crunch, especially the ones in my porridge.
Got a small bunch that were just OK, and hoping the others have softened up a bit by the time these are finished.
How delightful! That's what I was afraid of for here, but it hasn't happened. The wintry precipitation of yesterday has disappeared, and we have clear roads and bright sunshine. It will all go horribly wrong tomorrow, but for the moment, I'll take what we have.
Cold again in Arkland the Calm, with (unusually) virtually no Wind. It was Sun-Shiny enough this afternoon for me to indulge in a few minutes' worth of Sittage and Quaffage in the Wheelhouse, on my return from a brief visit to Tess Coe.
I hadn't planned on going out today, but Heavy Rain is set to batter us over the weekend, so to speak.
I had a ridiculously long lie (in fairness, much of it was a long sit, as I was sitting up in bed messing about on Farcebark).
Once I surfaced, I headed out to Timpson's for a new watch battery, and thence to the post office to send a Small Bear on his way to my (well, actually David's) newest great niece, Sally, who arrived a few weeks ago. I came back via the toy shop to start looking for presents for the littlies on my side of the family, and though I didn't buy anything (waiting for instructions from parents), I've seen a few possibilities.
There's another of my historian friend's Zoom talks this evening, which I'll watch before pootling over the road for the obligatory f&c.
I very much didn't get a lie-in. We had to be at the hospital at 7:30 am this morning, which meant being up at 5:45. As one of those people who don't really believe that the hours before 6 a.m. exist, this was a bit of a challenge.
Captain P's tonsils have been successfully reduced, and he's now back home. He has one of those bed over a desk arrangements, but children aren't supposed to sleep in a high bed the night after a general anaesthetic, so we've had to transfer his mattress to the floor. He seems to have conked out quite quickly.
One nice thing is that I discovered that one of the people working in the operating block comes to our church. I had no idea that was her job. She was working in the recovery room.
My session leading the philosophy group went OK though we went rather off topic. It is so nice to be able to argue in a friendly manor with an interesting group of people though.
The rest of the day was devoted to laziness, rounded off by pasta and pesto as its Friday with a bottle of red wine.
Hope Captain Pyjamas is fast asleep after his op today and you are OK too. When I had mine done back in the late 1950s I was in hospital for a week which I hated. I've not been keen on hospitals ever since.
I had my tonsils out in my thirties (nearly 50 years ago).
I was rather disconcerted to be given sausages as the first meal afterwards. All my friends, who'd had their tonsils out as children, got ice cream. I felt very let down, but it was explained to me that something with a bit more substance, such as toast, (or sausages) were better for clearing any debris still in the throat.
Fashions change, I wonder what Captain Pyjamas' generation gets!
These days you're in and out the same day but they don't let you go home until they've seen that you can eat without any problems. For a couple of days it's cold soft food (ice cream, yogurt, compote...) and nothing red or brown so you can spot any bleeding. After that you move onto warm purées and soups, and you can have normal food after about four days. No very hard food like crusty bread or hard biscuits for three weeks.
My session leading the philosophy group went OK though we went rather off topic. It is so nice to be able to argue in a friendly manor with an interesting group of people though.
Yes, we have a U3A philosophy group near here.
I'm tempted but I'm in several groups so may find it one too many. 🤔
I wonder if there are any online philosophy groups - or maybe the Ship could have a dedicated thread?
Monday - volunteering at warm spot. Tuesday U3A photography. Wednesday U3A German. Thursday Cheddar Art group. Friday volunteering at the hedgehog sanctuary.
All are day time activities as I'm not very keen on turning out in the evenings. 🙂
I’m not sure where I read it @Boogie, it might have been on here, but I try to follow the theory that when you’re retired you divide the day into three, morning, afternoon and evening. You try to have sometimes on for at least one of those slots each day and most days there is something in one of those slots. I don’t mind going out in the evenings though I do find it harder in the dark and cold.
Today not much is planned, I’m heading into town to drop some things off at the Oxfam bookshop and buy some WINE. This afternoon I’m zooming with my friend from cathedral city to the north. We keep on failing to find a mutual time to meet up in person so this is the next best thing.
I think I've reached the One Thing stage, which is today I can manage one activity or outing per day. I try and put that in the morning. Afternoon therefore is recovery time, frequently including a nap. Evening is cooking and something passive like TV or reading.
I think I've reached the One Thing stage, which is today I can manage one activity or outing per day. I try and put that in the morning. Afternoon therefore is recovery time, frequently including a nap. Evening is cooking and something passive like TV or reading.
Much the same for me, though 'morning' is more likely to be around noon...
One outing per day, mostly Shopp Ing, but including Pilates on Tuesdays - the highlight of my week!
Restricting social interactions has been the norm for me since my diagnosis of bipolar disorder age 27; life can just be too overwhelming which triggers mania. Alas, I still have to work for a living but I’ve worked from home now for almost 20 years.
A very lazy day here, we got up late and by the time I got dressed it had started raining so I haven’t even managed to go for a walk. But the laundry is now on and I have done the weekly food order.
Lunch was chicken burgers with homemade coleslaw. We might venture out to Waitrose later for the monthly shop.
I think I’m almost going to be in the One Thing stage today as I have already been to my exercise group and got petrol on the way home. I do need to pop across the road for a top up shop ( the only sort I do actually), but I am not inclined to go out tonight even though a choir is performing some lovely music. But they are not a Really Good choir, so I’d be better listening to music at home.
I’m thinking of skiving my extra rehearsal for Carols tomorrow too. I just don’t have the energy for everything. Most days I have One definite Thing and some options. When too much comes in the same week I run out of steam.
... Thursday Cheddar Art group. Friday volunteering at the hedgehog sanctuary ...
I'm envisaging you getting those two mixed up, and carving a hedgehog out of cheese ...
I can understand the One Thing theory: during the week that would be w*rk, although cooking and eating (and sometimes shopping) need to be fitted in as well. At the weekend, it's choir practice and church, with laundry being accommodated too. What an exciting life I lead!
Having accomplished choir practice (and brunch), snoozage will follow shortly, and then a spot of cooking: turning the lamb and veggies I bought the other day into a casserole.
Cold, wet, and windy in Arkland the Dreary - definitely a day for doing nothing except sitting close to the Dragon...
Lunch is LIVER n'BACON from Tess Coe - tasty and warming (I hope).
A surprise message yesterday from my Niece - she's in the area tomorrow, and wants to call on her Pore Old Uncle, and take him out to brunch. The offer has, of course, been duly accepted, even though it means POU having to get up earlier than usual!
Quite a busy day yesterday. After early swimming and a quick shop, it was time to help at our church's Christmas Market. Having set things up on Friday night, there were tables and chairs and other items to be moved afterwards. On the way home we stopped at the chippie for a very welcome late lunch. Out at 6 to go into the city, we allowed plenty of time because we thought the buses would be held up due to the rugby match, but all was fine and we were able browse a bit in the shopping mall before going to the theatre for a very fine performance of "Fiddler on the Roof".
Church this morning, a very ‘proper’ service led by a retired priest who knew what he was doing, was not full of his own importance or uncertainties and took the trouble to thank all who had helped in any way, plus the best of our team of visiting organists. A good sermon too. It seems ages since we had such a ‘proper’ service in our own church, as during the vacancy the service is held in a different church in the group each week, with different clergy/ laity/ liturgy/organists/ pianists/ pre-recorded music.
A new couple attended, having moved to my town to be near their daughter. Unfortunately, in my efforts to get to know him, all he seemed to want to talk about was his previous church where he had been Church Warden. Meanwhile his wife was busy signing up for the newsletter and getting relevant information, so it looks like they may stick around.
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I decided I wanted a cheat's supper, so I got one of Tessie's Finest SOSSIDGES & MASH, which was quite decent. I've also brought home some lamb and a load of veggies with an eye to making a casserole tomorrow (or possibly on Friday if I decide to do it in the slow cooker - I'm on leave on Friday and Monday, so I should have plenty of time).
I succumbed to a ready meal so I didn’t have to rush to cook before going out again to choir this evening. Pretty cold but not cold enough for snow here.
It explained the brief view of the rain I saw through the window briefly falling in what I call 'thick raindrops'. It might have been actual snowflakes before I looked out, but none had settled anywhere, and I didn't spend much time gazing at the wet garden.
Dinner will be oxtail stew and mash.
Italian cuisine for lunch - Lasagne al forno, one of Mr Co-Op's tasty ready-made thingies. The Greek version from Tess Coe which I had a day or so ago was disappointingly bland, so will not be repeated.
I shall stay in today, having nowhere to go, and nothing to do when I get there, and may do the same tomorrow...
No lip-reading class today but I did do my bookshop shift. It was freezing in the shop, not helped by people leaving the back door open.I came home via several shops to pick up some trousers I'd ordered and a cushion pad. The trousers are just what I wanted but they'll need turning up before I can actually wear them. I thought the cushion pad looked a bit on the small side, but it seems to fit my knitting OK.
Tonight is my writing group. It looks like not that many of us will be there, though the excuses from going to see John Cooper Clarke, to filming in Dublin and on holiday singing karaoke were entertaining. I should go as I have some ideas for our contribution to next year's book festival to share. But, do I fancy going out in the cold to sit in a dark cellar or would I rather stay at home in the warm?
I spoke to Neighbour T today, and she tells me that she and F are also getting low on Coal, so I've bespoke(n) my usual tonne (100 bags) for when she places the order with the Merchant. I have no doubt she'll negotiate a fair price - the Arkland Coal Co-Operative must be one of the Merchant's best customers in this area.
It's not cheap, alas! but it does cover heating, cooking, and hot water. I do have Gas on board (Propane), but use it very little during the Winter - in fact, the bottle which is connected (there is a full spare bottle nearby) has been turned off since the end of September.
Some Vegetable Spring Rolls are heating up in the Dragon, and there is a glass of WINE to go with them.
I've ordered a pizza for supper (which I do about two or three times a year) and am messing about on here while I await its arrival.
I've been out for the past couple of evenings, both of which involved encounters with a local bishop, which have been uplifting and enlightening. If we end up moving house to where we plan, we will be attending the local parish church and as we were both raised in the Church of England it feels a bit like a wheel coming full circle. Or like going back to our roots. Or something.
Tea was thai red lamb and mushroom curry with sticky rice. Then to bible study group.
Enjoy the weekend @nenya and I hope the house moving plans continue smoothly. Also enjoy the lie-in and the long weekend off @piglet.
The central heating was on for most of the day.
Very cold of course, but no cause to go out in it.
News of grandson W- his tumour isn’t cancerous. Not sure why they need to remove more cells though. His older brother had a lump removed about ten years ago. Apparently this was a remnant of a potential identical twin who never developed.
I had a leisurely meal of meat balls in home made sauce with pasta, adding various veg from the fridge, very warming in this cold weather. I don’t have to go out today, but might a bit later as I need the exercise, though I ought to do some cleaning which will stretch the muscles.
Mr F has even more tooth trouble than usual, so devising dinners that easy eating. Tonight, meat balls and polenta. Tomorrow something paella-ish. Sunday, fish. Monday red-braised pork (though that needs to be started Sunday). Then it's probably back to mince.
It's sunny and cold - minus seven degrees.
Nipped out to Sains Local on the corner to see if they had any bananas a bit riper than the ones I bought at Lidl on Tuesday.
I don't like my bananas to crunch, especially the ones in my porridge.
Got a small bunch that were just OK, and hoping the others have softened up a bit by the time these are finished.
I hadn't planned on going out today, but Heavy Rain is set to batter us over the weekend, so to speak.
Lunch was a tasty Tess Coe version of FISH PIE.
Once I surfaced, I headed out to Timpson's for a new watch battery, and thence to the post office to send a Small Bear on his way to my (well, actually David's) newest great niece, Sally, who arrived a few weeks ago. I came back via the toy shop to start looking for presents for the littlies on my side of the family, and though I didn't buy anything (waiting for instructions from parents), I've seen a few possibilities.
There's another of my historian friend's Zoom talks this evening, which I'll watch before pootling over the road for the obligatory f&c.
Captain P's tonsils have been successfully reduced, and he's now back home. He has one of those bed over a desk arrangements, but children aren't supposed to sleep in a high bed the night after a general anaesthetic, so we've had to transfer his mattress to the floor. He seems to have conked out quite quickly.
One nice thing is that I discovered that one of the people working in the operating block comes to our church. I had no idea that was her job. She was working in the recovery room.
The rest of the day was devoted to laziness, rounded off by pasta and pesto as its Friday with a bottle of red wine.
Hope Captain Pyjamas is fast asleep after his op today and you are OK too. When I had mine done back in the late 1950s I was in hospital for a week which I hated. I've not been keen on hospitals ever since.
I was rather disconcerted to be given sausages as the first meal afterwards. All my friends, who'd had their tonsils out as children, got ice cream. I felt very let down, but it was explained to me that something with a bit more substance, such as toast, (or sausages) were better for clearing any debris still in the throat.
Fashions change, I wonder what Captain Pyjamas' generation gets!
Yes, we have a U3A philosophy group near here.
I'm tempted but I'm in several groups so may find it one too many. 🤔
I wonder if there are any online philosophy groups - or maybe the Ship could have a dedicated thread?
Monday - volunteering at warm spot. Tuesday U3A photography. Wednesday U3A German. Thursday Cheddar Art group. Friday volunteering at the hedgehog sanctuary.
All are day time activities as I'm not very keen on turning out in the evenings. 🙂
Today not much is planned, I’m heading into town to drop some things off at the Oxfam bookshop and buy some WINE. This afternoon I’m zooming with my friend from cathedral city to the north. We keep on failing to find a mutual time to meet up in person so this is the next best thing.
Much the same for me, though 'morning' is more likely to be around noon...
One outing per day, mostly Shopp Ing, but including Pilates on Tuesdays - the highlight of my week!
A very lazy day here, we got up late and by the time I got dressed it had started raining so I haven’t even managed to go for a walk. But the laundry is now on and I have done the weekly food order.
Lunch was chicken burgers with homemade coleslaw. We might venture out to Waitrose later for the monthly shop.
I’m thinking of skiving my extra rehearsal for Carols tomorrow too. I just don’t have the energy for everything. Most days I have One definite Thing and some options. When too much comes in the same week I run out of steam.
I'm envisaging you getting those two mixed up, and carving a hedgehog out of cheese ...
I can understand the One Thing theory: during the week that would be w*rk, although cooking and eating (and sometimes shopping) need to be fitted in as well. At the weekend, it's choir practice and church, with laundry being accommodated too. What an exciting life I lead!
Having accomplished choir practice (and brunch), snoozage will follow shortly, and then a spot of cooking: turning the lamb and veggies I bought the other day into a casserole.
PS - glad to hear Captain P is on the mend.
Lunch is LIVER n'BACON from Tess Coe - tasty and warming (I hope).
A surprise message yesterday from my Niece - she's in the area tomorrow, and wants to call on her Pore Old Uncle, and take him out to brunch. The offer has, of course, been duly accepted, even though it means POU having to get up earlier than usual!
I suppose true repentance could be exhausting, especially if one has committed manifold Sins and Wickedness...
Ah... the distant memories to be enjoyed in one's old age.
A new couple attended, having moved to my town to be near their daughter. Unfortunately, in my efforts to get to know him, all he seemed to want to talk about was his previous church where he had been Church Warden. Meanwhile his wife was busy signing up for the newsletter and getting relevant information, so it looks like they may stick around.