The Ark is basically a tin Box, so Rain tends to sound heavy even when it isn't IYSWIM...
No Rain today, but the usual mix of Cloud and Sun-shine in Arkland the Autumnal. Tess Coe has been visited, but I didn't buy as many Tins for the Cupboard of Doom™, as I intended, because it's getting rather full. Tins of Soup and Mushy Peas will be eaten over the next few weeks, by which time there'll be more space...
Restage (and maybe a small amount of Quaffage) this afternoon.
Another day of walking today. The first two thirds were mainly on forest paths so rather nice. We then stopped at some amazing gardens that were developed to be full of allegorical meaning. They were interesting but I was already beginning to flag and the last third along a long straight road though easy walking was very dull. The hotel for the next two nights is in a spa complex. We hadn’t bought swimming things but the pool looked so nice we went and bought costumes and had a lovely time relaxing. My costume is hideous and will be promptly recycled when we get home as I already have a few much nicer ones.
Mr F requested scallops for Birthday dinner tomorrow, so I duly set out for upscale fishmonger, who had just about everything that lives in the sea except scallops. Called on friend who obligingly phoned other fishmonger, who even more obligingly phoned back to say Yes, scallops. They will be seared with bacon and black pudding and washed down with champagne.
But the extra walking on top of the dinner partying this week not great for my back (pulled muscle). So I'm minded to stay home and rest for the next three days, have groceries delivered Saturday.
The scallops sound heavenly, Firenze, and many happy returns to Mr F!
It was a beautiful day here, which was just as well, as I had to go to the Banking Hub to sort out the new mobile. Turns out it wasn't just my stupidity (boundless though it is), but something hadn't been done in the geek shop, and it was getting no signal. As I was nearly at that end of the street I went along, and the nice geek did something to it that he assures me was what's needed (why he didn't do it yesterday is One of Life's Little Mysteries).
I have consequently walked three times as far as I normally do in a day, and am feeling virtuous - and knackered.
Supper was pasta with prawns and slightly squishy tomatoes in a creamy sauce.
I have consequently walked three times as far as I normally do in a day, and am feeling virtuous - and knackered.
Most days I walk to one or other of our local supermarkets, and come home by bus. One has a frequent service, the other does not. Both are about 3/4 mile away.
This morning I went to "the other" one ... the bus was early so I missed it. The walk home is mostly uphill and the shopping was quite heavy. I was pleased to get home and have my breakfast croissant!
That’s a bugger @Firenze. Will the birthday meal keep? I do hope he is home soon.
We went to Padua today. Very enjoyable visit and a good piandini lunch. Walking again tomorrow, not that we didn’t do a fair bit today. Drinking aperol spritzes in our hotel dressing gowns around the pool on our return felt very decadent to us.
I'm so sorry to hear about Mr F - what a rubbish birthday for him and for you.
Sounds as though you're having a lovely time @Sarasa .
Overcast but very mild here in the Wilds of Wiltshire. Mr Nen is out for a walk. I shall soon be heading into Fairly Nearby Town on the bus to purchase a helium balloon for the GrandNenling's forthcoming birthday. Getting it back on the bus could be entertaining .
I’ve just had an invitation for my flu jab but when I try to make an appointment all the available dates are when we on holiday out of the country! Moreover, by late November there will be plenty of flu about.
I had a very enjoyable day with the hiking group, which I haven't been able to get to for a while. We walked about 16 km along a fairly new walking route close to the city, and then through the Parc de Sceaux. We had a warm, sunny day for it, and I feel much better for the exercise. I got home fairly early, and husband en rouge took Captain P to swimming, so I made the most of having the house to myself to practise Beethoven. Have I mentioned that the 9th is very hard?
Today I caught the bus to a nearby town for a short midday concert. I wandered round the market, shops and an artisan market for an hour beforehand, but that exhausted me so I came straight home afterwards rather than mooching round for another hour. ( Buses are hourly).
I caught up with some chores and admin but suddenly my laptop died.
Later a friend came round for a catch up and a cuppa. I had a ready meal of lasagne to heat up afterwards, quick and easy.
Tomorrow church is at 9.15. Later I am invited to my son’s for a late lunch as apparently it is Grandparents’ Day. Who knew?
The other Grandparents can’t get there till late as their Bishop is attending their service. I shall take my laptop with me to see if Grandson2 can resurrect it, or advise on a replacement. I’m hoping he can also scan and email a document I need to send. He owes me a favour as I have just given him some money towards a new-to-him car, slightly against my better judgement. I gave his older brother an amount towards furnishing his new house recently, but GS2 isn’t at that stage yet.
Glad Mr F finally got to enjoy the scallops @Firenze. I hope they were washed done with some suitably celebratory drink.
A walking day today. The walk wasn’t hard but I struggled due to my dodgy hip, continuing cough and the fact my balance on uneven downhill terrain is diabolically bad. We’re now staying two nights in a small town. We went and visited the art gallery which was interesting but the owner insisted on taking us round so we didn’t really have a chance to ponder the things that appealed. Dinner was pizza in a restaurant where the waitress spoke very good English having moved from British Columbia as a child. Nothing plan for tomorrow other than a short stagger up the road to Mass.
Glad to hear Mr F got home - wishing him well!
I've had a long but enjoyable day: up at stupid o'clock to go to Inverness with Scottish Voices, then lots of singing (see Eccles for details) and back home.
The closing organ voluntary was the Mulet Carillon - Sortie, which was sort of Our Tune (we came down the aisle to it), and, as I suspected, it caused slight eye leakage. Not enough to make an eejit of myself, but enough to feel a bit soft round the edges.
Predictably, my friends in the choir rallied round with hugs - they're such a lovely bunch.
I'm now somewhat zonked, and have decided to play hookey from church in the morning, although I'll go to Evensong.
I'm feeling a little bit achy and a little bit bleh after my flu jab yesterday - but better than I usually feel, partly thanks (I think) due to the antihistamine and ibuprofen taken beforehand. However I still feel bleh enough to have a day of doing nothing, especially as there's a marathon going on locally so traffic is woth avoiding (and using the bus means that traffic is still annoying, and shopping/going into a city centre is always more hectic on Sundays anyway).
Lazy here, with just a bit of laundry done, though I have also done some reading for my studies.
Lunch was bread and cheese (Roquefort, Welsh Brie and Scottish tomme), with some feta stuffed sweet red peppers. Tea will presumably be a couple of slices of pizza after church.
A Do Nothing At All™ day here yesterday - I had a tummy problem, which was eventually cleared by a good dose of Epsom Salts (let the Reader understand) and a substantial amount of Sleep...I refrain from giving you TMI.
Today is Sun-Shiny and Cloudy by turns in Arkland the Mild, but colder weather is likely from Wednesday onwards. The Plan therefore is to fire up the Dragon on Tuesday afternoon, so that he is then available for Cook Ing and Hot Water, as well as keeping the Ark nice and comfy by means of his ambient Warmth.
Coal has been delivered, and has been stacked neatly on the bank next to the Ark. Neighbour S is officer-in-charge of stacking (he's ex-Army), and it is he who usually makes sure that I always have a bag of two of Coal on deck, handy for me to fill the Scuttle as required, without having to go ashore. Other Neighbours also oblige, if they notice that there isn't a bag on deck (not often the case), so I'm well looked-after.
Some Wash Ing is about to be hung out - it is forecast to be fine and warm again tomorrow! - after which I shall see to some (late) Lunch. LAMB STEAKS n'CHIPS with Pickled Red Cabbage...
Church at 9.15 ( piano, no organ, only two in choir so we sat in the congregation again.).
Back home for tea and toast, and later went over to my son’s for an excellent 3 course lunch.
But before that, a quick run out in grandson’s new car. Very smart black and red mini, much too smart and sporty for his own good, so both his Grannies have impressed on him how disappointed we will be if he messes up car or license. ( He has history).
Beautiful sunset here this evening. The sky looked as if it was on fire.
A lazy day for me too, though I pootled up the road to Mass and potted down it some hours later for dinner in a local restaurant. Husband, being more energetic went for a walk.
Tomorrow’s walk takes us back to where we started last Monday. Home to the UK Tuesday and back to our home Wednesday.
I had one of the phone calls this evening - the kind you never want to get. I knew wasn't going to be good news as soon as Mr RoS said the daughter of a close friend from my teens
wanted to speak to me.
Her mother, my friend of 68 years, had died after a massive stroke yesterday.
Both her daughters were with her, and we are all taking what comfort we can from the fact that it all happened so quickly, and that she had enjoyed fairly good health in recent years.
Just two of us left now from the close group of four that had such fun together all those years ago.
I'm so sorry @Roseofsharon . Old friends are precious .
A lovely afternoon yesterday celebrating the GrandNenling's birthday, she much appreciated the helium balloon and was on very good form during the whole occasion.
Mr Nen and I head off this afternoon for a couple of days to a retreat centre where he is teaching a course. It's a place we know so will be a comfortable couple of days and No Cooking For Nen which, as I believe I've said before, is always A Good Thing.
My wife is having her appendix out today (not an emergency, but we hope it will get rid of stomach pains she's been having). I took her in at 6am - that at least meant we got a good parking space! She was taken to her bed after a few minutes and told she was 2nd on the list. No further news. I came home, washed sheets, had breakfast, did a bit of work, and went for a swim. Not sure when she will be allowed home, probably tomorrow but we shall see.
Comments
Ha! You haven't had to lecture in an African Bible School with a corrugated-iron roof and no ceiling, in the rainy season .....
No Rain today, but the usual mix of Cloud and Sun-shine in Arkland the Autumnal. Tess Coe has been visited, but I didn't buy as many Tins for the Cupboard of Doom™, as I intended, because it's getting rather full. Tins of Soup and Mushy Peas will be eaten over the next few weeks, by which time there'll be more space...
Restage (and maybe a small amount of Quaffage) this afternoon.
But the extra walking on top of the dinner partying this week not great for my back (pulled muscle). So I'm minded to stay home and rest for the next three days, have groceries delivered Saturday.
It was a beautiful day here, which was just as well, as I had to go to the Banking Hub to sort out the new mobile. Turns out it wasn't just my stupidity (boundless though it is), but something hadn't been done in the geek shop, and it was getting no signal. As I was nearly at that end of the street I went along, and the nice geek did something to it that he assures me was what's needed (why he didn't do it yesterday is One of Life's Little Mysteries).
I have consequently walked three times as far as I normally do in a day, and am feeling virtuous - and knackered.
Supper was pasta with prawns and slightly squishy tomatoes in a creamy sauce.
Most days I walk to one or other of our local supermarkets, and come home by bus. One has a frequent service, the other does not. Both are about 3/4 mile away.
This morning I went to "the other" one ... the bus was early so I missed it. The walk home is mostly uphill and the shopping was quite heavy. I was pleased to get home and have my breakfast croissant!
Or is any croissant a breakfast croissant regardless of the time of consumption?
It could be happier. He's just taken a taxi to the hospital.
He had a sudden increase in difficulty walking (balance problems at the best of times) and the cancer care nurse was insistent he come in.
Whether he's kept in remains to be seen.
We went to Padua today. Very enjoyable visit and a good piandini lunch. Walking again tomorrow, not that we didn’t do a fair bit today. Drinking aperol spritzes in our hotel dressing gowns around the pool on our return felt very decadent to us.
Me too. Five hours in he is still waiting to see a doctor.
ETA: oh bu**er. I’ve spent time in those. Hang on in there..
Horrible places, from what I have heard. Sympathy and prayers.
Sounds as though you're having a lovely time @Sarasa .
Overcast but very mild here in the Wilds of Wiltshire. Mr Nen is out for a walk. I shall soon be heading into Fairly Nearby Town on the bus to purchase a helium balloon for the GrandNenling's forthcoming birthday. Getting it back on the bus could be entertaining
🤣🤣🤣
Just got my flu jab and made it home before the rain starts - the clouds were looking very foreboding.
Let the scallops roll!
I had a very enjoyable day with the hiking group, which I haven't been able to get to for a while. We walked about 16 km along a fairly new walking route close to the city, and then through the Parc de Sceaux. We had a warm, sunny day for it, and I feel much better for the exercise. I got home fairly early, and husband en rouge took Captain P to swimming, so I made the most of having the house to myself to practise Beethoven. Have I mentioned that the 9th is very hard?
Great news - enjoy the scallops!
Today I caught the bus to a nearby town for a short midday concert. I wandered round the market, shops and an artisan market for an hour beforehand, but that exhausted me so I came straight home afterwards rather than mooching round for another hour. ( Buses are hourly).
I caught up with some chores and admin but suddenly my laptop died.
Later a friend came round for a catch up and a cuppa. I had a ready meal of lasagne to heat up afterwards, quick and easy.
Tomorrow church is at 9.15. Later I am invited to my son’s for a late lunch as apparently it is Grandparents’ Day. Who knew?
The other Grandparents can’t get there till late as their Bishop is attending their service. I shall take my laptop with me to see if Grandson2 can resurrect it, or advise on a replacement. I’m hoping he can also scan and email a document I need to send. He owes me a favour as I have just given him some money towards a new-to-him car, slightly against my better judgement. I gave his older brother an amount towards furnishing his new house recently, but GS2 isn’t at that stage yet.
A walking day today. The walk wasn’t hard but I struggled due to my dodgy hip, continuing cough and the fact my balance on uneven downhill terrain is diabolically bad. We’re now staying two nights in a small town. We went and visited the art gallery which was interesting but the owner insisted on taking us round so we didn’t really have a chance to ponder the things that appealed. Dinner was pizza in a restaurant where the waitress spoke very good English having moved from British Columbia as a child. Nothing plan for tomorrow other than a short stagger up the road to Mass.
And out of the dread assessment unit too! I suppose they are essential, but they are pretty tedious.
I've had a long but enjoyable day: up at stupid o'clock to go to Inverness with Scottish Voices, then lots of singing (see Eccles for details) and back home.
The closing organ voluntary was the Mulet Carillon - Sortie, which was sort of Our Tune (we came down the aisle to it), and, as I suspected, it caused slight eye leakage. Not enough to make an eejit of myself, but enough to feel a bit soft round the edges.
Predictably, my friends in the choir rallied round with hugs - they're such a lovely bunch.
I'm now somewhat zonked, and have decided to play hookey from church in the morning, although I'll go to Evensong.
I'm feeling a little bit achy and a little bit bleh after my flu jab yesterday - but better than I usually feel, partly thanks (I think) due to the antihistamine and ibuprofen taken beforehand. However I still feel bleh enough to have a day of doing nothing, especially as there's a marathon going on locally so traffic is woth avoiding (and using the bus means that traffic is still annoying, and shopping/going into a city centre is always more hectic on Sundays anyway).
I've had a nice lazy day, and a spot of brunch, and am about to take the laundry to the dryer.
Evensong later - I'm not a complete heathen - and then haddock Kyiv with veggies for supper.
Lunch was bread and cheese (Roquefort, Welsh Brie and Scottish tomme), with some feta stuffed sweet red peppers. Tea will presumably be a couple of slices of pizza after church.
Today is Sun-Shiny and Cloudy by turns in Arkland the Mild, but colder weather is likely from Wednesday onwards. The Plan therefore is to fire up the Dragon on Tuesday afternoon, so that he is then available for Cook Ing and Hot Water, as well as keeping the Ark nice and comfy by means of his ambient Warmth.
Coal has been delivered, and has been stacked neatly on the bank next to the Ark. Neighbour S is officer-in-charge of stacking (he's ex-Army), and it is he who usually makes sure that I always have a bag of two of Coal on deck, handy for me to fill the Scuttle as required, without having to go ashore. Other Neighbours also oblige, if they notice that there isn't a bag on deck (not often the case), so I'm well looked-after.
Some Wash Ing is about to be hung out - it is forecast to be fine and warm again tomorrow! - after which I shall see to some (late) Lunch. LAMB STEAKS n'CHIPS with Pickled Red Cabbage...
Back home for tea and toast, and later went over to my son’s for an excellent 3 course lunch.
But before that, a quick run out in grandson’s new car. Very smart black and red mini, much too smart and sporty for his own good, so both his Grannies have impressed on him how disappointed we will be if he messes up car or license. ( He has history).
Beautiful sunset here this evening. The sky looked as if it was on fire.
Tomorrow’s walk takes us back to where we started last Monday. Home to the UK Tuesday and back to our home Wednesday.
wanted to speak to me.
Her mother, my friend of 68 years, had died after a massive stroke yesterday.
Both her daughters were with her, and we are all taking what comfort we can from the fact that it all happened so quickly, and that she had enjoyed fairly good health in recent years.
Just two of us left now from the close group of four that had such fun together all those years ago.
A lovely afternoon yesterday celebrating the GrandNenling's birthday, she much appreciated the helium balloon and was on very good form during the whole occasion.
Mr Nen and I head off this afternoon for a couple of days to a retreat centre where he is teaching a course. It's a place we know so will be a comfortable couple of days and No Cooking For Nen which, as I believe I've said before, is always A Good Thing.
Try not to miss me.