Glad the test came back negative @Sandemaniac.
Another wet, cold day here. I've been on 4km walk to the Leisure Centre and back for a Pilates class. My coat and bag are now in the downstairs loo (the warmest room in the house) drying off before I have to go out again for a hair appointment in an hour or so. At least that is less than ten minutes walk away.
This evening we're off the the local am dram theatre to see The Queen and I. We very much enjoyed Its a Wonderful Life there before Christmas, so have high hopes it will be good.
Another quiet day in Arkland the Mild, after some early Rain. The Coal has been delivered, and I think Neighbour F intends to unload the Trusty Trailer tomorrow. Saturday is a better day on which to employ the old nautical practice of obtaining staff by Press-Ganging...
Neighbour F uses a lot of free wood - he has a virtually inexhaustible supply of pallets, courtesy of a friend of his. The wood warms Neighbour F thrice, to wit, (1) when he's carting it to his Ark, (2) when he's cutting it up (he has an electric saw thingy), and (3) when he's put it in the Stove.
Sweet n'Sour CHICKEN for tea. because (as usual) use-by date...
I had some most welcome time to myself this morning while Mr Nen was out doing Car Stuff, so I did a few domestics, wrote many pages in my journal and tiddled about on the web. This afternoon I was out for coffee and a catch up with friends. This evening Mr Nen and I are going to a meal at the house of some friends. They live two doors down, so we thought we'd walk so that we can both have a drink and it is a No Cooking For Nen evening which is always A Good Thing.
Left the office 10 minutes early tonight so I could get the earlier train home. Wasn't the first out of the door, by some way, though.
Made it to the early train. Then just before it was due to leave they announced that they were completely changing the route and weren't calling at most of the intermediate stations (including mine). So I disembarked and am now on my usual train.
Aargh, so irritating. Today I cycled into work as the BBC had lied been mistaken about the wind speeds. Lucky I did, as on the way home the roads around my house were gridlocked due to an accident. Also glad I didn't have to wait around for a bus for 50mins as I did on Tuesday, when they cut out two in a row.
I’ve been going through stuff stored on my laptop, sorting and decluttering. I re-read some of my annual Christmas letters and decided to print off some of the most interesting years, as part of my files for my memory book. I’ve included the year my parents died, my children’s weddings, arrival of grandchildren, thoughts on retirement ( before, during and after) as well as records of holidays, choir trips etc. Happy memories.
One rare moment I recorded was a choir rehearsal with a guest conductor. Working on pitch, he made us sing 7 different notes from G to G#! The next week, with our usual DM, she commented that the sopranos were singing flat. A number 6, she said. Not too far off, but still flat.
Kedgeree tonight. I made double, one for the freezer.
... there is nothing up my arse that shouldn't be there ...
TMI, but I'm so pleased to hear that!
Another cool, dry day here; no actual bruises from yesterday's mishap (I don't generally bruise easily), but I do have a few Aches, which I'm attempting to relieve via ibuprofen gel.
After a fairly quiet day at work, supper was, predictably, F&C, because Friday.
We came home at the interval from the play. The cast were fine its just that The Queen and I hasn't really aged well and the staging was rather creaky meaning that pacing was lost.
A very nice sunny morning here, though rain is forecast later. I'm pleased about that as I'm meeting a friend at the station and taking her on a scenic walk to look at a house she might be interested in buying. We're then taking the less scenic walk back into town so she understands the area and will spend the rest of the day catching up in various cafes, not to mention a mooch round the shops.
It being sunny has given me some energy so I've cleaned the loos.
We are all ready for the house sitter, who arrives this afternoon. We are then off to a spa hotel for the night followed by a flight to Munich for a couple of nights. Then train to Heidelberg for my son's 40th birthday. We'll be staying there for a week.
The house is spick and span - that makes a change!
Four days post-op the hand that had the cannula is purple and green, but neither stiff nor painful. I can stay awake for, oh, hours
at a time, and walk about without constantly clutching passing furniture. Very little required in the way of painkillers. Certainly not missing anything out of doors, which is still gloomy asa wet hen.
Good to hear @Firenze ! Keep on keeping on going...
The post-Cannula Colours can be quite lurid - I know whereof I speak.
Mild and sometimes Sun-Shiny in Arkland the Relieved, where the Press Gang has dutifully unloaded and stacked my Coal. Some S&Q has been indulged in, along with a fair bit of general chit-chat with various Neighbours. There are days (usually the grey and rainy ones) when I see and/or speak to no other Humming Bean at all, so today has definitely been a Good Day.
CHICKEN n'CHIPS for lunch, because (inevitably) eat-by date...
Glad you are back posting. Good the weather is allowing you to rest up without thinking you are missing out on the sunshine @Firenze.
Friend has now headed off to the station. She is back on Friday when we are going to look at the house she is interested in. We met the lady who would be her neighbour when we went to look at the outside and she seemed very nice, so so far so good. One of the plus sides of the house is it is near the Leisure Centre. While having a coffee in a nearby cafe I realised I hadn't got my glasses which I carry round in my bag. We nipped into said Leisure Centre and yes I left them there yesterday.
Yes we do have two stations here @Baptist Trainfan It's one of the big plusses of the place.
Good neighbours are Very Important - and one of the reasons I would hate to have to move away from Arkland.
That day may not be all that far off, as I grow Older and Pheebler, but I take courage from the example of @Firenze, and will keep going...
There may be Good Neighbours elsewhere, of course, along with assorted Angels Of The Lord™, but I'm happy with those I already have, thank you very much...
An excellent concert by le Vend du Nord last night. They play music from the French speaking part of Canada.
Oooh, they're fabulous. I've heard them a couple of times at Celtic Connections, and always try to look out for them. (Sadly it wasn't an option this year)
Good to hear of your recovery, @Firenze ; keep up the good work.
We had a really lovely evening with our friends last night, I've been out for coffee today, lots of paperwork sorting this afternoon and stir fry for tea (washed down with wine) because Saturday.
I'm wondering how early I can decently crawl into bed with my book.
An excellent concert by le Vend du Nord last night. They play music from the French speaking part of Canada.
Oooh, they're fabulous. I've heard them a couple of times at Celtic Connections, and always try to look out for them. (Sadly it wasn't an option this year
Please pardon the pedant, but I think that should be Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind). I think the other would translate as
‘The (he/she) sells of the North’ which doesn’t quite make sense.
Damp and miserable here again. I headed off to church and then back home via Asda for a cucumber for lunch and a snooze. Since then I have been out in the garden trying (and probably failing) to sort out a clematis.
Enjoy Germany @Boogie and the birthday celebrations.
Happy Birthday, Master Boogs! 40 is, AIUI, the new 30...
Raining and miserable in Arkland the Damp, but various Stovepipes are emitting gentle plumes of Smoke, which indicates that the denizens are at least warm.
STEAK n'CHIPS for a late Tea/early Supper, with CHEESE, Biscuits, and PORT for grazing on later...
I may have a nothing-doing day tomorrow, as there's really no need to go Shopp Ing again until Tuesday (which is also Pilates day).
Roast chicken evening meal consumed, washed down with quite a large amount of white wine and followed by chocolate eclairs and then coffee and chocolate. I was made redundant almost six years ago and still haven't got over the thrill of enjoying a lovely meal on a Sunday evening knowing that there's no work tomorrow .
Very glad the mornings are finally getting lighter. I always note the light levels when I leave home at 7:15. First half of last week, I was stuck at home, but Thursday, Friday and this morning, it wasn't pitch black when I walked outside.
It's not quite light enough to distinguish between my keys (like knowing which way up a USB goes in, I always get it wrong first time) but we're getting there. Heard some more varied birdsong at the weekend too; another sign that spring is slowly getting its socks on.
A rather damp and dismal day in Arkland the Dank, though it's not actually raining (thanks be to Hadad) at the moment.
The general gloom and dampness is probably what's making my pore Legs ache summink crool. After a late lunch (LAMB CHOPS and Painkillers) I shall retire to my berth for snoozage, preparatory to going to Pilates tomorrow
I generally find that a couple of hours' worth of snoozage does the trick, and that I feel much better in the evening, when it is time to eat CHEESE.
Dismal here too, though no rain and I caught a glimpse of sun this morning. I even got out and did about 20 minutes gardening. I probably ought to start getting out and tidying things up ahead of the growing season more often. I also did some Pilates and aerobics as I didn't get up in time to get to the Leisure Centre. My hip is now aching, but hopefully that will subside soon.
Lunch was some left-over frozen lentil dahl that I turned into a soup.
Cold and grey here too. We've been out all morning seeing the solicitors about our house move and we then had a snack lunch in town before returning home. Mr Nen has a friend helping him to get stuff (car parts) out of our loft and I am banished to my study. Mr Nen's last words to me as he closed the door on me were, "Nothing to see here..."
Having slept badly I am ready to crawl into bed now, but the helpful friend is staying to tea so I need to stay awake for a bit longer. I'm quite thankful we have a good excuse not to go to our Pilates class this afternoon. I know it Does Me Good but I so much don't enjoy it.
I'm afraid that I've cancelled my customary Tuesday Pilates, though I don't like to miss a session.
I need some time to stretch my pore Legs (in my berth), and to generally feel less flaky, and the prospect tomorrow of (a) yet more Rain, (b) a cold East Wind, and (c) a high tide at awkward times for getting on and off the Ark have decided the matter for me...
I managed to get to Tess Coe earlier today, so all Essentials are now to hand. No need to go ashore - or even on deck! - tomorrow...
Happy Candlemas, everyone. As is traditional on the occasion, I have made crêpes. I don't really enjoy the process because it takes so bloody long to make them one at a time, but Captain Pyjamas would sell his soul for said confection, so made they have been. Auguste Escoffier's recipe no less.
We got back this afternoon from a long weekend away in Cromer with our bible study group. 10 of us were there and we had a nice relaxed social weekend with lots of walking by the sea.
Alas I needed to do some work emails and admin when we returned this afternoon but I managed to hold off the marking until tomorrow. Mochi is pleased to see us and purring away on my lap.
Tea was a leftover roast chicken, potato and veg curry as Mr Heavenly overcatered on the Sunday dinner. We have leftover crumble to eat for supper and I’m having a gin and tonic.
That sounds like a lovely weekend @Heavenlyannie . We are going to Cornwall with some friends in April, which will be sociable and with Hearty Walking - or, in my case, Much Reading and Journalling.
Mr Nen is very pleased with what he's managed to achieve this afternoon with the contents of the loft, with the aid of the Helpful Friend, and said friend was duly grateful to be fed. I'm now hanging on as long as I can before falling into bed - it feels like 11pm to me - in the hope of a better night's sleep.
Had to bite the bullet at the w/e and do the annual clear out of the kitchen cupboard that houses cans, jars & packets, wash the shelves and re-stock with ones with the current year's BestBefore date from my 'Brexit' stash in the garag
Unfortunately I have been a bit lazy about fetching items in from the garage as the kitchen cupboard stock is used. Nor have I been very assiduous about re-stocking the garage supply, but have used quite a lot of cans etc as I have bought them.
Consequentially I now find myself with quite a lot of 2025 cans & jars that need using up, and even have a dozen or so of cans dated 2024.
For most of the last year I cut down on using the oven, to save on gas, so have not been cooking the beany casseroles that had been a good part of our diet, and a vast number of the cans dated 2024,25&26 contain various types of bean. Our menu for the next two weeks has been rejigged to increase the consumption of beans, as I really need to, at least, get through the 2024 cans while they still have some texture!
There is some good news in all this. I have unearthed a can of pilchards dated 2026, and three dated 2027. I think that will be one for Good Friday, and one for Mr RoS's birthday this year, and maybe save the other two until next year!
For most of the last year I cut down on using the oven, to save on gas, so have not been cooking the beany casseroles that had been a good part of our diet, and a vast number of the cans dated 2024,25&26 contain various types of bean. Our menu for the next two weeks has been rejigged to increase the consumption of beans, as I really need to, at least, get through the 2024 cans while they still have some texture!
Cutting down on gas and eating more beans may be mutually exclusive!
It was the Requiem Mass of L, a well known figure in town and fellow Town Councillor. It was very well attended and was a very moving and fitting farewell. It was amazing to see people from so many different parts of town coming together to give him a proper send-off.
The rest of the day will be spent catching up with myself.
I'm not a great fan of crepes, but the use of BUTTER and orange flower water sounds delicious...
Another dank, dismal, cheerless day in Arkland the Bleak, where Rain is still (gently) falling, and the East Wind is (gently) blowing. Definitely a Good Plan to cancel Pilates and Shopp Ing, and to stay below deck in the ambient warmth of the Dragon.
If I'd gone out at the usual time, I'd have been unable to get back on board, owing to a higher-than-predicted tide this afternoon. The East Wind, and a load of groundwater being sent down by Those upstream, flooded the access road and car park. I thought this might occur, so moved the car yesterday, but one or two less prudent Arklanders didn't. AFAICS, the water did not reach their car sills, so they should be OK.
A late Lunch might be CHICKEN and ROAST SPUDS, as the spuds' use-by date is tomorrow...
Comments
🤣
Luckily this was just the poo stick test.
That's the one! You can have a third one, but it's likely to fall between two stools.
Another wet, cold day here. I've been on 4km walk to the Leisure Centre and back for a Pilates class. My coat and bag are now in the downstairs loo (the warmest room in the house) drying off before I have to go out again for a hair appointment in an hour or so. At least that is less than ten minutes walk away.
This evening we're off the the local am dram theatre to see The Queen and I. We very much enjoyed Its a Wonderful Life there before Christmas, so have high hopes it will be good.
Splendid... Extra points for that.
Another quiet day in Arkland the Mild, after some early Rain. The Coal has been delivered, and I think Neighbour F intends to unload the Trusty Trailer tomorrow. Saturday is a better day on which to employ the old nautical practice of obtaining staff by Press-Ganging...
Neighbour F uses a lot of free wood - he has a virtually inexhaustible supply of pallets, courtesy of a friend of his. The wood warms Neighbour F thrice, to wit, (1) when he's carting it to his Ark, (2) when he's cutting it up (he has an electric saw thingy), and (3) when he's put it in the Stove.
Sweet n'Sour CHICKEN for tea. because (as usual) use-by date...
Hope you are ok after your fall @Piglet .
I had some most welcome time to myself this morning while Mr Nen was out doing Car Stuff, so I did a few domestics, wrote many pages in my journal and tiddled about on the web. This afternoon I was out for coffee and a catch up with friends. This evening Mr Nen and I are going to a meal at the house of some friends. They live two doors down, so we thought we'd walk so that we can both have a drink
Made it to the early train. Then just before it was due to leave they announced that they were completely changing the route and weren't calling at most of the intermediate stations (including mine). So I disembarked and am now on my usual train.
Have had a packet of wine gums.
One rare moment I recorded was a choir rehearsal with a guest conductor. Working on pitch, he made us sing 7 different notes from G to G#! The next week, with our usual DM, she commented that the sopranos were singing flat. A number 6, she said. Not too far off, but still flat.
Kedgeree tonight. I made double, one for the freezer.
Another cool, dry day here; no actual bruises from yesterday's mishap (I don't generally bruise easily), but I do have a few Aches, which I'm attempting to relieve via ibuprofen gel.
After a fairly quiet day at work, supper was, predictably, F&C, because Friday.
We woz there too! It was indeed excellent.
I went out early and the sun was rising. However it gave false hope as the rain now raineth muchly. Indeed it might have Set In.
It being sunny has given me some energy so I've cleaned the loos.
The house is spick and span - that makes a change!
at a time, and walk about without constantly clutching passing furniture. Very little required in the way of painkillers. Certainly not missing anything out of doors, which is still gloomy asa wet hen.
The post-Cannula Colours can be quite lurid - I know whereof I speak.
Mild and sometimes Sun-Shiny in Arkland the Relieved, where the Press Gang has dutifully unloaded and stacked my Coal. Some S&Q has been indulged in, along with a fair bit of general chit-chat with various Neighbours. There are days (usually the grey and rainy ones) when I see and/or speak to no other Humming Bean at all, so today has definitely been a Good Day.
CHICKEN n'CHIPS for lunch, because (inevitably) eat-by date...
Friend has now headed off to the station. She is back on Friday when we are going to look at the house she is interested in. We met the lady who would be her neighbour when we went to look at the outside and she seemed very nice, so so far so good. One of the plus sides of the house is it is near the Leisure Centre. While having a coffee in a nearby cafe I realised I hadn't got my glasses which I carry round in my bag. We nipped into said Leisure Centre and yes I left them there yesterday.
Yes we do have two stations here @Baptist Trainfan It's one of the big plusses of the place.
Sarasa - good luck to your friend with her house-hunting; it's something I always found to be a mix of stressful and exciting!
Apart from choir practice (where we got a new member!), I've had a very lazy day, with much snoozage.
However, there were vegetables whose sole raison d'être was to be turned into SOUP, and that ambition is in the process of being fulfilled.
Together with some bread and CHEESE, that'll be supper.
That day may not be all that far off, as I grow Older and Pheebler, but I take courage from the example of @Firenze, and will keep going...
There may be Good Neighbours elsewhere, of course, along with assorted Angels Of The Lord™, but I'm happy with those I already have, thank you very much...
Oooh, they're fabulous. I've heard them a couple of times at Celtic Connections, and always try to look out for them. (Sadly it wasn't an option this year)
We had a really lovely evening with our friends last night, I've been out for coffee today, lots of paperwork sorting this afternoon and stir fry for tea (washed down with wine) because Saturday.
I'm wondering how early I can decently crawl into bed with my book.
Please pardon the pedant, but I think that should be Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind). I think the other would translate as
‘The (he/she) sells of the North’ which doesn’t quite make sense.
Now, snoozage, crosswords and later, Evensong.
Supper will be more SOUP.
Munich then Heidelberg for our son's 40th birthday. I clearly had him when I was 15! 😂
Enjoy Germany @Boogie and the birthday celebrations.
Raining and miserable in Arkland the Damp, but various Stovepipes are emitting gentle plumes of Smoke, which indicates that the denizens are at least warm.
STEAK n'CHIPS for a late Tea/early Supper, with CHEESE, Biscuits, and PORT for grazing on later...
I may have a nothing-doing day tomorrow, as there's really no need to go Shopp Ing again until Tuesday (which is also Pilates day).
Roast chicken evening meal consumed, washed down with quite a large amount of white wine and followed by chocolate eclairs and then coffee and chocolate. I was made redundant almost six years ago and still haven't got over the thrill of enjoying a lovely meal on a Sunday evening knowing that there's no work tomorrow
It's not quite light enough to distinguish between my keys (like knowing which way up a USB goes in, I always get it wrong first time) but we're getting there. Heard some more varied birdsong at the weekend too; another sign that spring is slowly getting its socks on.
The general gloom and dampness is probably what's making my pore Legs ache summink crool. After a late lunch (LAMB CHOPS and Painkillers) I shall retire to my berth for snoozage, preparatory to going to Pilates tomorrow
I generally find that a couple of hours' worth of snoozage does the trick, and that I feel much better in the evening, when it is time to eat CHEESE.
Lunch was some left-over frozen lentil dahl that I turned into a soup.
Having slept badly I am ready to crawl into bed now, but the helpful friend is staying to tea so I need to stay awake for a bit longer. I'm quite thankful we have a good excuse not to go to our Pilates class this afternoon. I know it Does Me Good but I so much don't enjoy it.
I need some time to stretch my pore Legs (in my berth), and to generally feel less flaky, and the prospect tomorrow of (a) yet more Rain, (b) a cold East Wind, and (c) a high tide at awkward times for getting on and off the Ark have decided the matter for me...
I managed to get to Tess Coe earlier today, so all Essentials are now to hand. No need to go ashore - or even on deck! - tomorrow...
The place will look very dull tomorrow. 😢
Supper was the last of the SOUP, with bread and CHEESE.
Alas I needed to do some work emails and admin when we returned this afternoon but I managed to hold off the marking until tomorrow. Mochi is pleased to see us and purring away on my lap.
Tea was a leftover roast chicken, potato and veg curry as Mr Heavenly overcatered on the Sunday dinner. We have leftover crumble to eat for supper and I’m having a gin and tonic.
Mr Nen is very pleased with what he's managed to achieve this afternoon with the contents of the loft, with the aid of the Helpful Friend, and said friend was duly grateful to be fed. I'm now hanging on as long as I can before falling into bed - it feels like 11pm to me - in the hope of a better night's sleep.
Unfortunately I have been a bit lazy about fetching items in from the garage as the kitchen cupboard stock is used. Nor have I been very assiduous about re-stocking the garage supply, but have used quite a lot of cans etc as I have bought them.
Consequentially I now find myself with quite a lot of 2025 cans & jars that need using up, and even have a dozen or so of cans dated 2024.
For most of the last year I cut down on using the oven, to save on gas, so have not been cooking the beany casseroles that had been a good part of our diet, and a vast number of the cans dated 2024,25&26 contain various types of bean. Our menu for the next two weeks has been rejigged to increase the consumption of beans, as I really need to, at least, get through the 2024 cans while they still have some texture!
There is some good news in all this. I have unearthed a can of pilchards dated 2026, and three dated 2027. I think that will be one for Good Friday, and one for Mr RoS's birthday this year, and maybe save the other two until next year!
Cutting down on gas and eating more beans may be mutually exclusive!
The main difference is that French crepe batter contains a little melted butter. I also added a splash of orange flower water.
The rest of the day will be spent catching up with myself.
Another dank, dismal, cheerless day in Arkland the Bleak, where Rain is still (gently) falling, and the East Wind is (gently) blowing. Definitely a Good Plan to cancel Pilates and Shopp Ing, and to stay below deck in the ambient warmth of the Dragon.
If I'd gone out at the usual time, I'd have been unable to get back on board, owing to a higher-than-predicted tide this afternoon. The East Wind, and a load of groundwater being sent down by Those upstream, flooded the access road and car park. I thought this might occur, so moved the car yesterday, but one or two less prudent Arklanders didn't. AFAICS, the water did not reach their car sills, so they should be OK.
A late Lunch might be CHICKEN and ROAST SPUDS, as the spuds' use-by date is tomorrow...
Another dull, cold, wet day here. I've been out for lunch with a friend and now being home in the warm am feeling glad I don't have to go out again.