Sunday

Welcome to the last day of November.  Tomorrow will see the start of my Advent blogs but more about that further down.

Thank you for the lovely, kind comments yesterday.  It set me thinking about the wide range of decorations that have to go on that tree.

There are . . .

decorations that I have made, ones that Beth has made, Mum and friends

decorations that I inherited from Mum and Dad's collection, including some beautiful ones they bought in Germany (I think) that are smocked

decorations that were lovely gifts from children in my classes and their parents - the more fragile, paper ones didn't last, sadly, but they had pride of place on my tree that year

decorations from places I have visited - e.g. cities, shows and Center Parcs

three very posh Liberty owls that I splashed out and bought after Beth saw an ad in the Sunday Times colour supplement - yes, they were ouchily expensive but I love them and put them carefully away each year in their original boxes (you can see one of them in the photo below)

decorations that I bought because I like to get one new one each year if, and only if, I see one that I absolutely love

fillers - just shiny red and gold baubles - they go on last

So much happiness and memory . . .

Yesterday was a pretty quiet day.  I finished Beth's loaf and took it and Alex home, went to Morrisons for a few things I had forgotten and then spent the rest of the day doing a bit of tidying up and then crafting and watching stuff on the telly.
I loved the Strictly Instant Dance challenge - it was so funny and so spontaneous.  I hope they keep that for next year.
I know who should go out and I am sad because they are my favourites.  However, it would be unfair if anyone else went - although we know Strictly is not just a dance competition, don't we?
I will know tonight - I always manage to avoid those idiots who think it funny to spoil the surprise and post the results earlier.

Today has a bit more going for it.  I need to just do a bit of tidying up and then Beth, Alex and two friends are over for a light buffet lunch and a good chat.

And then it is tidying up and more crafting. And the strictly results and Game of Wool.

And tomorrow it is the start of the Advent month - in the way of calendars, etc, rather than the Church Advent time.
As always, I will be doing my Christmas Music calendar in here.  Yes, most of them will be repeats because that's the music I love but it is only once a year so, really, that's not so bad, is it?
I will also be starting the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar with it always such a joy and delight and so much more than worth what it costs.  I've enjoyed them since the very first one and it's a major part of my December.

And there's the candle, the jigsaw and my own calendar comprising a little cross stitch that Beth gave me as well as my blanket challenge and a few little nick-nacks each day.  I have no idea how the blanket is going to pan out but it will be fun.

Oh - and the Advent of Change calendar.

Ooops - I may, just possibly, have gone overboard a bit this year.

Have a lovely day, everyone, and see you in December.  xx

Saturday

Morning, everyone.  It's mild and rather wet here today and the forecast isn't encouraging for the next few days but, as the 'experts' say, we really need rain so no grumbles - yet.

Yesterday went according to plan.  I did my duty at Slimming World and then came home and chilled until Beth and Alex arrived.  Then it was all hands to the Christmas tree.

And here it is in all its bad taste glory!  Sorry about the lights - this was the best of a bad bunch.
The pressies are under, the Guardians of the Christmas Tree and their Faithful Attendants (don't ask - family history!) are doing their duty on and by the radiator and Santa, Mrs Santa and a snowman are waiting for me to put the advent table the other side of the tree (it's there now).

Silly, isn't it.  Happy-silly though and packed with happy memories.  It's worth keeping it up, just for them.

The buffet was yummy and, for once, I got it about right.  There's bits left over but not all that much really.

Alex is still asleep upstairs and I have a loaf in Thermione that will soon need attention.  It's for Beth and I'd like it to be baked when I take Alex home so I don't have to make two journeys.

I have nothing in the diary today and I think I am just going to chill and relax, do knitting and crochet, wrap up a few pressies and just have a me day.  That sounds really nice.  xx

Friday

I've done it again, folks!!  Overslept and in a rush.
OK, so  most people wouldn't call 7:00 oversleeping but it is for me and I have to be out in about ten minutes so this will be short and sweet.

Christmas Tree Day has landed.  Yay.
I have to dash off to Slimming World first.  I'll do the weigh desk but will leave after that, not staying for the second half.
At some point this morning, Beth and Alex will arrive and we will decorate the Christmas tree which I set up yesterday (it takes ages to spread out the branches and twigs).

Early afternoon, Sharon arrives to do Beth's hair - it was supposed to be another day but Beth double booked.  So they will vanish into the kitchen while Alex and I carry on.

Then we will watch some Christmas films starting with The Snowman (doesn't everyone?) before a buffet meal.

It will be such a lovely day.

But now I must stop and get ready to leave.  Wishing you all the best day, whatever you plan to do.  xx

Later Edit:  a few photos from yesterday . . .

I used to but some wadding under for 'snow' but the trees never stayed up.  I need to get some felt or similar.

Ready and waiting!!  :-)

Thursday

 Good morning, everyone.  It's very much milder this morning.  Not a hint of frost and no iciness in the air whatsoever.  It feels a bit damp though so fingers crossed we will get some sunshine.

First of all, a link and an apology.  I thought the quiet skies pattern was free but it isn't, it costs £6.50 (UK) and it is a download.  Really sorry to mislead accidentally.
Here's the link to the pattern
https://madebyanita.co.uk/shop/p/quiet-sky-uk

Yesterday was a busy old day and I got a lot done.

I . . .
did four loads of washing, dried some and the rest has dried overnight
brought what I need of the Christmas china from the garden room into the house and had my first coffee of the season in one of my Christmas mugs
changed over cushions, throws, etc
brought the Christmas boxes and the Christmas tree into the house
changed the sheets in the blue room so it is now ready for Alex on Friday night
(the sheets I took off made the fourth load of washing)
got out my Christmas jumpers
sorted out one of the Christmas boxes that seemed far too heavy (it was big candles)
made three sourdough batons for Friday's buffet
made a big pot of soup
went to Lindsey's for personal training
did some ironing

Phew!

The living room, super-tidy yesterday morning, now looks as if a bomb has hit.  By the end of today, it will look great but right now I'm trying not to look!

So today starts with a lovely chat over coffee with Chris.  Then I will set to and restore order from chaos.  I will do the rest of the ironing and I will go to Morrisons and get the weekly shop done and put away.  And I have just remembered that I need to change my sheets so there's a bit more washing too.
also, I want to prep anything that can be prepped for tomorrow's buffet.  That won't take too long though.

And that's my day today.  What is yours?  xx

  

Wednesday

 Good morning, everyone.  It's a very chilly, frosty morning with clear skies so we're expected to have a fair bit of sunshine today.  Lovely!

Yesterday was an interesting day.

Groove was, as always, super-good.  Chris couldn't come which was a shame but we're meeting up again, as usual, tomorrow for a good old gossip and laugh over coffee.

The glasses arrived and they are lovely.  Not particularly 'poshly' boxed but I got them out because of checking them over and rewrapped them in nice, festive tartan tissue paper instead of white before re-boxing them and wrapping the box in the same paper (which, by the way, was really cheap from Temu and well worth it).
Another gift ticked off my list.

You may remember that a while ago I mentioned a friend coming round who couldn't make it because she had to pick up her poorly son from school?
Anyway, she is a Slimming World friend and recently she messaged me to say did I know of anyone who was interested in having housework, ironing or gardening done as she has started her own little business?
You know me - housework is not my favourite thing; I do it but would much rather be doing more interesting stuff.  So she came round and we had a chat about it - what she did, cost, timings, etc, and yesterday morning she came round to do an hour and a half which is less than I used to have but, to be honest, the previous cleaners didn't need to spend two hours here, not really.
She did downstairs, the stairs and the landing and made a grand job of it so we have arranged that she will come once a fortnight (for now).  Not ironing though - I know I am odd but I rather enjoy ironing.

And then, in the afternoon, she came back with her husband, and now I have a winter ready garden.  I enjoy my spring and summer gardening, as you know, but am very much less enthusiastic about the autumn haircut - which is why I kept putting it off!
And they did a good job, front and back and I am so relieved.  This will be an occasional thing, I don't need garden help on a regular basis.
To be fair, nor do I need housework help but I can pretend that I'm getting old occasionally, can't I?  And, as always, I don't take this for granted and am super-grateful that I have a decent pension income and can do this.  I'm also glad I can support a friend and a local business, something I always like to do if I can.

So I had plenty of crafting time yesterday and am still messing about with maple leaf patterns.  I think this is how I want it - in different colours, of course.  This is the browny shades; others will be based on red, blue, pink, lilac, and, perhaps, green, although the background is green so I will need to think about that.

I also think a monochrome blanket would be very effective - black, shades of grey (maybe not fifty though!) and white - another time though, not in the near future.  Anita's book is quite inspiring and I have ideas buzzing around my head.

I have subscribed to Naked Wines for a number of years now but have decided to discontinue this now so yesterday I went onto their web site and used up what was in my account getting Christmas wines before closing it.  That's another thing ticked off the presents and food/drink lists.

Today there is nothing in the diary until personal training so . . .

I am making another sourdough loaf, trying the same recipe and the last ones but cutting the water a bit.  It seems to have made a much easier dough to work with and I need to do the first stretch and folds so hang on . . . 
. . . yes, very much easier! 
I am making some batons for Friday.

I need to finish my shopping list as I need extra things in for Friday and want to do my shop tomorrow.  Friday, you see, is Christmas Tree Day.  Beth and Alex are round for the day and Alex is staying overnight.  We put up and decorate the tree, we watch Christmas films starting with The Snowman, and we have a festive buffet!

I want to get the Christmas china in from the garden room.  I won't need everything as Beth is doing Christmas day, but I will need some starting from Friday.
Amazingly, I have a spare shelf for it all!

And, if I can be bothered, I want to bring in the Christmas boxes and the tree (I have an artificial one), ready for Friday.

Rather more boringly, I have three loads of washing to do so fingers crossed that at least one load can dry in the sunshine.  The first load is already in.

It looks like a lot but it isn't really; it won't take that much time and some of it feels exciting!  What a babe I am sometimes - do you get that flutter of excitement as you start the Christmas stuff too?

Right, I seem to have gone on and on and on - sorry.  Have a lovely day, everyone, and stay good and warm.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday

 Morning everyone.

Yesterday was lovely.  Circuits was great; I handed over the bread and Lindsey got in touch later to say is was delicious so that was a relief. Then I drove off to Diane's and spent the best time catching up, exchanging news and views and generally having the best time over fish and chips and coffee.

Anita's book arrived.  I've glanced through it and it looks really good.

I took a photo of the blanket . . . it's really nice and I am very pleased with it.  The border curls in a bit so I will need to lightly steam that out but the main body sits well without any steaming because I blocked them all as I finished each square.

I've had a play with the maple leaf square.  I won't do a bigger square in the middle.  It doesn't look right and, anyway, I will want to use different shades.  

I have used a photo to work out shades - it looks like four will be best so that's what I'm trying now.   I can use the results to cover a cushion pad or something.

There's time to think about it all, isn't there?

Today I'm off to Groove and then I have someone round.  It should be another really nice day.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Monday

Good morning, lovely people.  Welcome to Monday and a new week.  And it isn't raining or cold which is a great start!

I got my loaves done and I was right, the sourdough was way too sticky and I ended up using loaf tins.  Right at the end of the recipe, I had written 'try less water' but didn't write that in the ingredients list.  I have now!  I've finished the blanket.  After all those doubts, I am really very happy with the outcome and it's my cosy snuggle of choice at the moment.

In the afternoon, I popped round to Beth's to take her loaf and we had coffee and a good old chat about Christmas which was really nice.

And today, after circuits, I though Diane was coming here but, in fact, I am going to hers so that will be really nice.

As Joanna mentioned in comments, Anita (who created the Quiet Skies blanket) has a book new out.  It was supposed to arrive last Thursday but was delayed until today.  No idea why.

I may fit in a bit of housework but the chances are I won't!!  After all, I will have a new crochet book to be inspired by, won't I?

Have a lovely Monday, everyone.  Take care and see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday

Hi, everyone, welcome to the Sunday post.  It's much milder this morning and very, very wet at the moment.  Maybe today will be something of a washout; we will see.

Well, I got to the Thermomix Studio just before ten thirty and it was the right time so that was OK.  It was very well attended with more men than usual - sourdough is evidently an OK manly thing to get involved in!  😉

(usually it is mostly ladies plus children and a few random men if partner wants to buy a Thermomix)

It was really good.  I didn't really learn anything new but I did pick up a few tips and tricks that I want to try out when I make a loaf for myself and the buffet table was lovely - several loaves plus some (Thermomix made) hummus, roasted red pepper hummus and whipped feta with spiced hot honey.  And some orange squash and lemon squash, also made in the Thermomix (loaded with sugar but occasionally won't hurt).

On the way back to the bus station, I stopped off in John Lewis but their range of what I was looking for was sadly uninspiring.
I went into Primark and got a couple more pairs of their slightly fluffy lined leggings which are really quite cosy and got lucky - down from £7 to £5 a pair.  No, they aren't super-quality, not at that price, but my lifestyle rarely requires super quality and the ones I got for the cruise two years ago are still going strong.

When I got in, I settled down with my crochet.  I've been focusing on the blanket recently, doing a bit whenever I sit and also through the evenings, so it's come on nicely.  Apologies for the bad light yesterday morning when I took this photo.

I'm on the border now and the 'mistakes' really don't show in context.

I'm loving the style of the squares and am already thinking of looking up some patchwork quilts to see if the designs can be replicated in crochet.  Maybe a maple leaf pattern?

Like this, which is basically a 5x5 plus a border.  I could manage that and it looks like a good way to use up stash/odds and ends . . .  

Ending up something like this, and with a border around each one.

When I have finished the Quiet Skies, I might have a practice before December and the Advent quilt (which I am getting a bit nervous about, to be honest).

(This was on Etsy and can be bought as a project, if anyone's interested.)

Last photo, I promise.

What I was looking for was a pair of champagne flutes, something a bit different but that didn't cost an arm and a leg and just a pair, not four.
It's for a joint wedding and Christmas gift.

I had no luck so I looked online via Google and this came up.  In my price range, different and, when I checked with Beth, she said the recipient (an old friend) would love it.
So I ordered them and will team them up with something sparkly!

I think they're probably a bit Marmite - some will love them and some hate them.  Me - I absolutely love them and was sorely tempted but resisted.
(I'm safe posting in here as the person in question isn't a reader).

And where from?  Well, this is the crunch.

Harrods.   Oooooh, posh!!
(Basement Harrods judging by the price, but J won't care and neither do I).

So that's something else ticked off the list.  Getting there.

Today is bread day - I have two loaves-worth of sourdough in the middle of stretch and folds (very sticky - what have I done wrong?) and one yeasted mixed flours and seeds load just on its second rise (I started it early and it is a quick rise recipe for some reason.
And I've had another go at the nut roast.  Diane is here tomorrow and we can have some for lunch.
I'm going to finish my social media stuff and then I want to finish the quilt in between bread making.

Strictly this evening (a bit different to usual - if you know, you know) and then the Game of Wool which I am enjoying, despite certain differences.  I'd like to see a bit of stitch design (e.g. creating your own Aran pattern/granny square/lace) but I don't think it's heading that way.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  Take care, stay warm and dry and be contented.  xx

Saturday

Phew.  Back again.  Thanks for the nice, understanding comments yesterday and I decided not to redo the post but leave it for today instead.  :-)

Thursday was lovely - chat with Chris, over to Lindsey for Personal Training and we managed to chat a fair bit too between puffs and, finally, Morrisons for a shop.  Small but, as is only to be expected nowadays, not cheap.

I looked inside my purse to get my debit card and there it was - gone!!  Goodness knows where I lost it between the Wednesday shopping around town and the Thursday Morrisons shop.  I paid with my phone instead (so glad I had it with me, I don't always) and when I got home, after a scrabble around my bag, I used the app to cancel my card and order a replacement.  It is such a simple process now, made simpler by the fact that the lost card hadn't been used anywhere else.  Then I went the rounds changing bank details and I expect I will have messages telling me 'your card has been refused, please change your bank details' for a month or so.  Oh, well!!

And while on the subject of money, my electricity bill shot up this past month.  I wondered why until I remembered the Garden Room.  I keep the thermostat low in there but when it's colder it does click on.  If I will go for these luxuries . . .

Yesterday started with Slimming World, really good with a great discussion, and then I picked Alex up for his cooking lesson.

We had a go at making a nut roast from a recipe Beth found with a view to possibly having it Christmas Day.  We made a few mistakes - over chopped the nuts and tried to do the mixing in Thermione so we ended up with a gloopy mixture.  It made LOADS too. 
The resulting loaf was/is quite tasty but the texture is wrong, I think, although it is up to Beth.  I'm going to have another go using third quantities and what we made won't be wasted!

After all that and driving Alex home again, I tidied the kitchen properly and flopped.

Today I am baffled.  I'm booked into a sourdough course at the Thermomix studio this morning.  The ticket and the site says it starts at ten thirty but the reminder message I got yesterday says be there for twelve.  I've fired off an email but I bet it won't be accessed until Monday!
I will get there for ten thirty and hope for the best!

As I'm in town, I will be getting a fee specific festive gifts before bussing home and spending the rest of the day on (and therefore under) the quiet skies blanket.  I'm joining the squares together now and decided to just accept the squares I made in wrong colours.  It's OK, I don't notice them as much in whole blanket context and the border will also help.  I am SO glad I don't have to frog them.

And, of course, it is Strictly in Blackpool.  Yay!

Friday

 Ooops.

Overslept and in a mad rush.  I will be back to write this later, if I can.  If I don't, I will be back tomorrow.
Sorry - and have a great day.  xx

Thursday

Good morning, one and all, and welcome to Thursday's post.  For some reason, I woke super-early this morning, a bit of a nuisance but can't be helped.  I decided that, instead of tossing and turning, I would come down and get on with stuff which is why I'm typing this at quarter to five!

It feels warmer than it ought to feel and I realise that I didn't put the clock back on the thermostat.   It's on the List!   Also, I'm warm and snuggly in my pjs, oodie and fluffy slipper boots so all's well in my little world.

I had the nicest time going round a few shops yesterday.  I did B&M, Lidl, Aldi, M&S and Lathcoats, all of which are out-of-town-centre places and came back with five bags of stuff - but nothing really bad.  The biggest was Anna's birthday present - it's bad luck, I think, to have your birthday at Christmas so I always make sure she gets birthday recognition as well as something for Christmas.
Apart from that, I got some gifts, some foody bits, some festive coffee pods (an indulgence, I know, but I do love my coffee), some decorative bits and some nice, fluffy, warm socks for wearing around the house or (avert your eyes if you are of a sensitive disposition) in bed . . .  😄
I have a tendency to cold feet so they should help a lot.

It took me a while to sort everything out, wrap things that needed wrapping and generally sort things out.

The Teams meeting later on was actually really interesting and I learnt a lot.

On to today:  Thursday is coffee and chat with Chris day and then I'm off to Lindsey's for my PT session which she moved from yesterday because of the meeting.

Then, I think I will write my shopping list and go to Morrisons to get it done rather than tomorrow as usual.  Alex is round for another cooking session tomorrow and, if I have what I need, I can prep some of it before he arrives.  We're trying something out for Christmas.

I've just checked my bank so I can update my spreadsheet and it looks like the winter fuel payment has arrived.  I gather that, if it has to go back, it will be taken in dribs and drabs via monthly tax rather than a demand for a lump sum but I will move it across into savings anyway so it doesn't just 'vanish'.

Have a really good day, everyone.  I hope the weather isn't too unpleasant for you and that you can be warm and cosy.  See you tomorrow!  xx

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone.  How's things?

It's a bit cold here but not as cold as yesterday, judging by the lack of frost on the cars.  OK by me.  Inside, the house smells of coffee because I have just ground a bag of beans in Thermione.  I would love one of those posh coffee machines that noisily grinds the beans needed and presents you with a wonderful drink at the end but this is for the cafetiere.
Maybe, one day - and maybe not!

Yesterday passed very pleasantly.  Groove was good and it was very satisfying to hand over two bags of unwanted fabric items.  Some of the things are still in really good shape, I just don't use them.  C said that they sell really good stuff to raise much needed money so that's really good.
Once home, I got ready to go into school to talk to the SENDCo - a very good meeting and I have plenty of info for my report to the governing body.

Early afternoon K came round and we had a good catch up over coffee as we sorted a few things out - not problem things, just things.  I'll tell you another time, if it works out OK.

And that was it - the house was as OK as it ever is so I sat down with coffee and my crochet and got stuck in to the Quiet Skies blanket.  It's going really well now; in fact, I'm not far off finishing the squares and then there's the challenge of working out where each bit goes.  I think I might have to redo one set of squares because I got the colours wrong - if I have the yarn to do so.  We will see.  It depends what it looks like once they are all laid out really.  If you can't tell, no worries . . .

Today is a day with nothing on at all until late afternoon when I have a Governors' chairs and vice-chairs meeting with the MAT trustees.  I couldn't get to the last one and before then I wasn't a vice-chair so it's a new experience for me.  I will sit quietly and learn!
There's some paperwork to go through and I do have to write up my meeting report which won't take that long really.

I'm thinking of doing a bit more Christmas window shopping - I do enjoy looking around and am usually not that tempted because I have all I need to create a festive vibe at home already.  It is just really nice - a feast for the eyes.

Better be off and doing, I suppose.  Stay warn, everyone, and have a lovely day.  xx

Tuesday

Hi, everyone!  It's still pretty dark here but I just stuck my nose outside the back door and it's not quite frosty -yet - but frost often develops as light dawns so we will see.

(later edit:  yes, we have frost!!)

I got done what I wanted/needed to do yesterday.  The washing basket is now almost empty and one load dried on the line in the breezy sunshine.  The second load didn't really but that made things easy to iron and they're now ready to put away.

When I emptied the airing cupboard before Matt was due to come, I realised quite how much old stuff I had at the back so, yesterday, I sorted the lot out - towels, sheets, duvet covers, the lot - and am taking all the stuff I no longer need down to the hall when I go to Groove to a friend who supports a local animal shelter which, she said, are always on the look out for that sort of stuff.  I was so pleased to get that done and dusted.

I did a bit of housework too, so my halo may shine dimly but at least it still shines.  

Today feels busy.  It isn't really, it just feels it.

There's Groove, of course, although we're not walking today; Chris is driving, because of the bags of stuff.

Then there's just time for a quick breakfast before I am due at school for my termly Governor's meeting with the SENDCo.  I have the paperwork printed out and it shouldn't take all that long although this term's meeting is quite an in-depth one and, with the changes in OFSTED guidelines, there will be plenty to cover, I think.

This afternoon is easier - I have the friend coming round who couldn't come last week so that will be very nice.

If I have time/energy, I will write up my report of the morning meeting - if not, I will do it tomorrow instead.

So that is my day - nothing too out of the ordinary and it will be nice to see everyone - Chris, Groove ladies, the school folk and my friend.  I think I will be all peopled out by the evening but that's OK.  😄

Have a lovely day yourself, everyone.  Stay warm, safe and cosy!  See you!

Monday

Morning, everyone.  As predicted, it has turned pretty cold round here.  Not frosty cold, just cold and with some wind!  Brrrr - definitely I am taking my coat to circuits this morning.

Yesterday was nice and gentle.  I made those loaves, did some washing, cooked, sort of tidied up and generally chilled.

Today starts with circuits at Shimmy Studio.  Then, as it is Monday, it is housework day and I have two piles of washing to deal with plus ironing that I really should have done yesterday but didn't.
That should keep me out of mischief today!

Thank you all very much for your kind comments yesterday - much appreciated.

Short and sweet today.  Have a lovely Monday, everyone, and take care.  xx

Sunday and a ramble

 Morning, everyone.  Happy Sunday.  After a damp, drizzly and rather gloomy day yesterday, this morning seems to be a bit brighter.  Not exactly sunny but thinner, higher clouds.  I haven't been out yet but I bet it is colder too.

Yesterday was, as expected, a slow day.  I was quite weary but managed to hold off from actually having a snooze which resulted in a great night's sleep overnight so no complaints there.  I pottered - you know what I mean by that - but in the afternoon I took a trip to one of the three (why do we need three, I ask myself) Aldis in town and came out with a steak, some vacu packed chestnuts (for Christmas) and some nice smelly things - candles and reed diffusers - destined for December usage.

The other things I was glad to do yesterday was just to schedule in some of the advent/festive prep stuff.  December is pretty clogged in the first two weeks and I don't want to leave everything until the last few weeks.  At least I don't have to worry about The Actual Day!

Today is another day with nothing in the diary but it is a two loaf day, as I mentioned before (one for Lindsey and one for Beth).  I was hoping to get the dough mixed last night for a long overnight cold ferment but the leaven didn't play ball.  It looked beautiful this morning so the dough is mixed and in the middle of its stretch and folds right now.

I had an interesting comment under my Norwich post which started me thinking and you know me, sometimes I like to think out loud - or, rather - through my typing fingers.
This was the comment:

Whatever age I was I'd be very worried if I couldn't remember a place I'd been to just 18 months ago!

First of all, I am not offended and assume the writer meant well.  It was anonymous but I am OK with anonymous as long as they aren't nasty.  Nasty things would get the boot pretty pronto but I am very lucky that my readers are a really nice bunch and your comments are lovely.  Yes, I get spam, although Blogger seems to deal with most of the for me nowadays, but apart from that, yes, I'm lucky.  Thank you all very much.

Anyway, I've always been bad with names.  When I was teaching, I would click faces straight away, no worries, but it took me longer than average to connect names to those faces.  Always.  I wonder if it is associated with my poor hearing, which has been an issue since teenage years, in some way.
(I'm also a bit dyscalculic - number sequences faze me, they really do, and always have done)

Ditto with places so as soon as we got to Norwich I knew and I remembered where I needed to go to do what I wanted to do, etc.  I remembered the place fine.  It was the name and I smile as I type this because that is so very me.

So - worried?  Well, no, not really.  I've lived with poorish auditory type memory for a very long time, long before I knew about auditory/visual memories, etc.
All my friends of a similar age to me talk about not recalling things as well as they used to.  It's not just me!

However, and it is a big however, I do have to bear in mind that my lovely mum had dementia in the last ten-ish years of her life so - who knows, eh?  I keep myself active, mentally alert (sudoku type things, reading, word puzzles, outings, blogging, etc), physically fit with my classes and YouTube videos, I'm as social as a rather introverted and hard of hearing person can manage, I keep the hand/eye coordination going through my crafting . . . and I can certainly still string ideas together into a semi-coherent account/waffle/ramble!
My finances are in order with savings in case I do need care in the future as well as my house, etc.

You do what you can, don't you, and accept that some things can't be avoided/changed?  I don't worry about this particular thing; worry is a waste of mental energy and there's more than enough things in the world to worry about at the moment anyway, but I do what I can and what will come, will come.

Thanks for the comment.  It's good to think about these things from time to time.  And thanks to everyone who has made it through to the end without yawning!  😉

Whatever the weather, have a lovely day, everyone.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday

Morning, all.  Half way through November and all back to normal for a little while.  My goodness, it didn't half rain yesterday!  No wind to speak of though so that was good.  Now they say it will turn a fair bit colder but that's this time of year for you!

Yesterday was a pretty normal Friday.  Slimming World first and then I dodged the raindrops over to Morrisons to get what looked like a fairly small shop - with a big bill as is always the case nowadays.
I went to pick Alex up as it was absolutely chucking it down by then, and together we made some sushi - me first and then he copied.  I'd already made the rice as he can follow the Thermomix instructions for that.  I wish I had taken a photo as he did really, really well and proudly took a plateful home for his and Beth's dinner.

When dropping him back home, I popped in for a coffee with Beth and we started working out the Christmas plans.  Early, I know, but it helps to know who is doing what and when.  Alex and I only have two more sessions before Christmas due to other commitments so we decided than next week we will try the nut roast recipe that Beth rather fancies for Christmas and then the other session can be for prepping - pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, roasties, etc, all of which can go into the freezer.

Today is a day for mopping up all sorts of bits and bobs - bits of ironing, some dusting, some kitchen stuff (it is a two sourdough loaf weekend) - that sort of stuff.  And now I know where we are with Christmas arrangements, I can make a timetable.  That sounds a lot more organised than it really is but I have four - four - coach trips in December and they eat away at the time.

They are:

Kew garden lights
Edinburgh (4 days) 

The Thursford Spectacular
and Harrods/RAH carols

Slight overkill there but I didn't really think when I booked them and I am looking forward to it all.

I was awake at stupid o'clock this morning so I suspect the day will also include a few snoozes here and there - and why not?  I can, after all.

Then in the evening it is Strictly - Saturday and Sunday evenings are nice at the moment.

What are your Saturday plans?  xx

A(nother) visit to Norwich

(It's a bit late, sorry.  The sentences didn't flow very well earlier)

 I really am getting old - I had totally forgotten that I did a trip to Norwich about a year and a half ago.  I wrote about it here. 

As we stopped at the drop off point I thought, I know where we are, and it all came back.  It was nice because I didn't need to spend much time finding my bearings.
I headed straight to the Forum to find the loo and managed to get a tourist map in the library.  I had a very nice coffee before arriving at the Castle Museum.

Going through the Royal Arcade, I had to take photos of these beauties.  Made of some sort of metal - aren't they lovely?

A bit of info about the castle.  It is one of the  finest surviving secular Norman building in Europe, the stone keep was started by William (II) Rufus and completed by his younger brother, Henry I, both sons of William the Conqueror.
It was very important at first but gradually its significance faded and it was used as a county gaol from the 14th century before it opened as a civic museum in 1894.
Since then it has developed and been improved and now, following a major development project with support from the National Lottery, it is a fine museum.
Now, visitors can see and explore the rooms of the royal palace, filled with furniture, textiles and decoration that would have been seen by Henry I.

The basement - this was originally split into two rooms with a stone wall down the length of the space - you can see the foundations under the glass.  In the left corner, there's a screen that plays a video of the history - very interesting and not too long.  

It doesn't show in this photo but the hanging lights outline where the wooden rafters would have been.

This was a hidden staircase, bricked in very early, and it shows the stairs pretty much in their original state rather than the rickety, fairly risky, worn away stairways we usually find in old castles.

It always amazes me how thick castle walls are.

The loos - or garderobes - were huge.  Room for up to sixteen bottoms in four compartments, with showed power and prestige at that time (says the guide).  We do still judge a place by its loos, don't we?  Thing of those posh shops and high end restaurants with really fancy and attended loos.

There was ye olde graffiti all over the place - people have always wanted to make their mark, haven't they?

This is the Virgin Mary (I think) and, over the centuries it has been worn smooth by being touched, stroked by the hands of worshippers.

A fireplace.  This was in the Great Chamber (I think) which also had an elaborate water basin and a well.  Mega luxury!

Being a weekday, there were a number of school groups.  It took me back to when I used to take the Y1s to a Victorian Experience Day at Braintree Museum.
The children were noisy, of course, but extremely well behaved, letting adults pass and being very polite.
Good for them and good for their teachers.

As well as all the history, there's also a museum covering natural history, fine art, decorative arts, the Royal Norfolk, Regimental Museum and other aspect of history such as medieval life, Anglo Saxons, Vikings and Romans.

I rather liked the large collection of teapots!

This also caught my attention.  Wow!

A view from the battlements - not the best picture because the gaps had safety glass and lifting my phone above the glass made it tricky to see what was in the view finder - but you get the idea . . .

By the time I had finished looking around the museum, taking in a diet coke and sausage roll in the cafe half way through (tasty), I headed for the shop where I found the compulsory fridge magnet(s) before leaving.

I took one more photo on the way out - the ancient keep with its Bath limestone facing and a far from ancient and very welcome lift for those who can't manage the hill and steps.

By the time I came out of the castle, there really wasn't time to walk past the Cathedral (which I 'did' very thoroughly last time) up and over the river to find the yarn/fabric shops and my feet were starting to hurt so I just did some gentle window shopping, including look in Jarrolds, a large, family run, department store which, I discovered provided a very refreshing pot of tea and slice of tiffin.  The tea was necessary, the tiffin not.  But it was good, all the same.
I nearly fell in the Jo Malone department but managed to stay firm, contenting my self with a good spray of my favourite perfumes.

I meandered round the market.  One of you said you find the market quite claustrophobic and I know what you mean - it's very - um - closed in and you have very little personal space.
Some of the street food looked and smelt amazing though.

I walked past the Guildhall which is the largest surviving medieval civic building outside of London.   I think it is rather lovely.

We were so lucky with the weather.  The forecasts had ranged from showers and drizzle through to torrential rain but none mentioned dry weather with sunshine.

Never was I more glad to get on the coach and sit down.  My feet and ankles are definitely older than the rest of me!!!

Will I go back?  Yes, I think I probably will.  There's so much more to see and places to explore.  Maybe next year . . .   and maybe next time I will remember beforehand that I already know what's there.  If I don't, please remind me, OK!   :-)

Thursday

Morning, everyone.  Back again after a day off and it is nice to be back.

Let's go back to Tuesday - Groove was really good; I do like the new block which is more dance-y than some have been but still just as good a workout.

Then Sharon came and gave my hair a good sort out.  It feels loads better now although I still have to see how it falls when I wash it and 'style' it (for want of a better word).  It doesn't seem to have one way of falling naturally, it varies from wash to wash so we will see - well, I will . . . you won't!

I made my bread and realised that I was pretty much out of all flour so I had to vary the mix.  I always use wholemeal wheat, rye and spelt and some white and I just emptied what I had into the bowl and made up to the right amount with spelt.  It worked, the bread came out really nice but . . .   So I am now stocked up again after a quick trip to Marriages where I also got some more of the Dove yeast I always use.  I don't like those sachets and the Dove yeast comes in a foil bag so you can spoon out what you need.
And now I can feed Bubbles with her rye again in readiness for the weekend baking.

I have uploaded yesterday's photos but haven't gone through them so I will either do another post today or make it tomorrow's post, probably the latter.

Suffice it to say, my feet and ankles are killing me today - I hate to acknowledge it but I am definitely feeling my age in some situations nowadays.  😉

I had a look through my diary to see what is coming up and was shocked to realise that, had it now been changed, I'd have been off to Edinburgh tomorrow.  It feels way too soon and I am super-glad the dates changed.  Tomorrow!  Crumbs!!

Anyway, there is nothing over this weekend which I am very happy about, next week is the usual classes plus my termly SEND Governor's meeting with the SENDCo where I guess the new OFSTED guidelines will give us plenty to talk about and SEND-type issues feature quite significantly.  

My dear friend, Diane, is over for lunch so that will be great.

Next Wednesday there's our Academy Trust's Chairs and Vice-Chairs forum (via Teams) which will be a new one for me and then, on the 22nd, there's another Thermomix demo/cookery class, this time relating to sourdough, which I am really looking forward to.  Bus in, a nice walk, class, another nice walk dipping into shops as I go and bus home.
The following week looks pretty blank apart from Lindsey's classes which is good and an opportunity to go through stuff before Advent starts.

As for today - it is the usual Chris and Joy coffee and chat and then Val is over for lunch.  I'm keeping it simple with toasties and a salad today.  And I want to go through all the towels I emptied from the airing cupboard as I have discovered that a friend from Groove takes stuff like that for local cats and dogs shelters and I can take them to Groove next week.

Better go.  I have a bit of a mess from unpacking my coach bag yesterday evening - I was so tired I just left it to sort out this morning - so that needs dealing with and the floor could do with a sweep before Val comes.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Take care, stay warm and see you tomorrow.  xx

Just opened this back up because see what I found on Facebook.  Made with Dorset buttons.  Isn't it beautiful?
Not this year, not now, but maybe next year . . .

Tuesday

Hi, everyone.  Welcome to my Tuesday blog.

The weather yesterday was pretty disgusting until later on but it makes us grateful for our lovely, dry homes, doesn't it?  It's dry right now but the sky is an odd colour so - we will see.

I was pretty shattered by lunchtime yesterday.  After my back to back fitness classes, I rushed around getting the place sorted out and then got a text from my friend saying she's had to collect a poorly child from school so please could we reschedule?

So I was able to chill all afternoon with a relatively clear conscience which was nice.

Today, Chris and I have Groove and then I want to sort out my bedroom before the lovely Sharon comes to sort my hair out, bless her.  I can't wait - I feel so shaggy and shabby in the hair region!!
Then I will get my coach bag ready for tomorrow - which reminds me . . . there probably won't be a post tomorrow morning but I'll be back Thursday morning . . .

Have a great day, everyone.  xx

Monday

Morning, all.  Welcome to the start of a new week, the second in November, and we are a third of the way through the month.

Thank you so very much for your suggestions of things to do/places to visit in Norwich.  It is clear that I won't be able to do everything but I have booked and printed off a ticket for the Castle Museum which looks really interesting - not that I expect it to be packed or with a queue but it's cheaper if you pre-book.  No Golden Oldie concessions but not to worry.
The coach is expected to arrive there at 10 so it gives me time to get my bearings and grab a coffee before going in at eleven.
I also very much fancy looking round the Cathedral before heading up, over a bridge, to find a few yarn/fabric shops down Magdalen St before turning back to look round some other shops.  Where I go really depends where the coach pick up is and I don't know that yet, just that it is somewhere central.  

There really isn't much to say about yesterday except that I knitted, crocheted, faffed around in the kitchen and had a gentle day.  Very pleasant indeed.

Today is a real contrast.  The day starts with Circuits and then I go straight on to Personal Training as I won't be around on Wednesday.  Lindsey is wonderfully flexible.
Then I come home and I hope that the sourdough loaf, which has been cold second-fermenting/proofing/whatever it is called will be ready to pop in the oven.  I must remember to take it out of the fridge before I leave for circuits.

Then it is the usual housework although the place isn't too bad really, just a bit messy.

In the afternoon, I have a friend round for coffee and we have something to discuss - tell you another time, if appropriate.

Finally, we have an addition to out Festive plans which Beth is hosting this year.  On Saturday she was at the wedding of a good friend that she first met when they were both late teens/early twenties.  To cut a longer story short, she and her new husband will be sharing Christmas Day with us - at Beth's.  Son lovely!

And now I need to get my Facebook duties done and dusted so I will love you and leave you with hopes of a great day for us all.  Bye.  xx

Sunday

 Morning, everyone.  As they say, better late than not at all!
It' a gloriously sunny November morning here.  Not warm (the heating is on) but very cheerful and happy-creating.

I had a very happy time pottering in the kitchen yesterday morning, making a loaf, some sushi and various other meal bits and bobs.  A shame about the mess it creates but that's why God invented dishwashers, isn't it?

Come the afternoon, I sat down with my yarn, finished off another Christmas gift and worked on the blanket for a while.  I got another square done so that was good.
I've had a word with Beth about that circular cardigan and we have decided that I will make hers next summer.  You see, Beth is having to be very careful with what and how much she eats now so she is expecting to be 'smaller' come the summer.  I thought that, in the meanwhile, I could make one for myself, just to work out the tricky bits and to make it easier to judge what size to make Beth's.
So that's a project in the pipeline too.

Today I am pottering again.  I want to make a curry to use up bits, bobs and leftovers and I've started Lindsey's sourdough loaf although I don't know if it will be ready for tomorrow.  Now that the ambient temperature is lower, it is taking longer again.  It isn't a problem, you just have to go with the dough - if I have learnt anything about sourdough, I have learnt that!

The other thing I need to do is look up 'Things To Do In Norwich' as my next coach trip is looming.  Any ideas - does anyone live there who knows . . .?  If so, please do post in comments, I'd be very grateful.  Thanks in advance.

Have a lovely Sunday and see you tomorrow when we will be a third of the way through November - eeek! 
xx

Saturday

 Good morning, everyone.  The weekend has landed and I have two totally empty days in the diary which feels really nice.   I've already started a yeasted loaf and I'm sure I will fill the time nicely!

Have any of you heard of Dorset buttons?
This is what they are - rings with yarn wrapped around, basically.  Don't they look fab?

(found on Google Images)

I think you can guess what's in my mind!!  There's YouTube videos (which I haven't yet watched) and I am intrigued and attracted to them.
Do any of my readers make these?

OK, back to earth again and yesterday was a really nice day.  I did my bit at Slimming World, managed a fairly small and healthy shop at Morrisons and then chilled.
I finished another WIP and have just one more to finish now.  I'm hoping I can get that done today and then I can wrap what I have made and cross them off the Christmas list!

As mentioned, I've started a yeasted loaf.  They are taking noticeably longer to rise now that it is cooler but that's OK - I have all day, after all, and it won't take that long.
Later on, as long as the weather stays fine, I want to attack the garden.  It's a real mess.
And this evening it is Strictly, of course.  I have one 'favourite' who I am pretty sure won't make the final but apart from that, I'm uncommitted.

Right, well, second coffee is calling so off I go - have a lovely day and stay warm.  xx

Friday

Morning - just a quick one again because I need to whizz off to Slimming World shortly.
How is everyone this morning?  Fit and well, I hope.

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  It started with a lovely chat with Chris over coffee after which I whizzed off to Lindsey's for my personal training session - really good as always and I'm a bit achey in a good way this morning.  I like proof that I've worked those muscles well.

Later on I attended a Governors' training session via Teams.  It was all about the new OF**ED  framework for inspections from our academy trust external adviser person who is also an OF*T*D inspector,
He's really very pleasant (apart from the O****D bit, maybe) and very helpful.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to be that great but, actually, it was really interesting and very helpful with opportunities for questioning and discussion and I'm glad I attended.

I don't know whether it was the thought of ****** or what, but I woke around two thirty and I don't think I got back to sleep again so today is going to be a weary sort of day.  I have Slimming World shortly and then a small (I hope) shop in Morrisons and then the day's my own as Alex can't come over after all.   I expect there will be a fair amount of snoozing going on this afternoon!

Sorry about all the ***s - my actual experiences of OFSTED were overwhelmingly positive but the fear that the whole thing created in school from the word go still remains with me and making a bit of joke about it helps.  I don't know if any teachers reading can relate to this or is is just me?

Anyway - on to nicer things - I hope you have a lovely Friday, packed with good and positive things.   See you tomorrow.  xx 

More of Thursday

Hello again!

Moving on . . .

Yesterday was really lovely.  The coach drive into London was trouble free and with very few holdups which is amazing for London around five o'clock.  The coach dropped us off near St Paul's and I found a Greggs with a loo - very important, that loo, given the loo arrangements in St Paul's. - where I treated myself to a coffee and (bad me) a sausage roll and wiled away the time on my phone.

A terrible photo but it was taken from my seat so you can see how good it was.  We were about eight rows back from the platform and that light on the left is the conductor's podium.

There were three works.  The first and last were Sir John Rutter compositions and he conducted all three.  The orchestra was the Royal Philharmonic and the chois was the Bach Choir.  Could that be any better?

The first, which was a world premier (it has been recorded) was 'I'll make me a World', a creation celebration using words from a collection of words and poetry called God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse by James Weldon Johnson.  No, I haven't heard of it either but I loved the words.

It starts:
And God stepped out on space
And he looked around and said:

I'm lonely -

I'll make me a world . . .

It was jazzy, bluesy, gospel-y with hints of Broadway and a big dollop of Rutter and it was gorgeous.  
A bit more . . .

Then the green grass sprouted

And the little red flowers blossomed

The pine tree pointed his finger to the sky

and the oak spread put his arms, the lakes cuddled down in the hollows of the ground,

And the rivers ran down to the sea;

And God smiled again . . .

Here's a link to the whole poem.  I really love it . . .

https://poets.org/poem/creation

The second work was Symphony No.5 in D major by Ralph Vaughan Williams.  Now, I love Vaughan Williams music so, although I didn't know this one, I really enjoyed it.  The programme notes described it as 'not absolutely a symphony of peace . . . but one grasping determinedly towards it' and, yes, you could hear the initial interplay conflict between the keys of C and D major and the final, triumphant closure on a resonant D major chord.

And the final work was 'The Gift of Life' which Rutter wrote in 2015.
Again, it was a collection of poems/songs, the poems coming from a variety of sources.  
Rutter said 'I wanted to write an anti-Requiem, a celebration of live.  But whereas there's a laid down text for the Requiem Mass . . .  there's nothing formal in Christian liturgy to celebrate life.'

So he invented one and it was just lovely.  Six movements of sections and I particularly loved 'The Tree of Life', a folk song-y, Appalachian like freshness (says the programme and I agree) with a beautiful melody, heart warming harmonies and some wonderful phrases for solo brass and woodwind.

And wow - that man!!  Eighty and he directed that huge choir and orchestra with humour, energy and absolute authority.  His character really comes out in his music and, while I know his many Christmas carols best, I was enthralled by both of these works.  I feel so privileged to have been able to be there.

Sorry - I know I have gone on but it was a lovely experience . . .

Back to normal (whatever that means) tomorrow.  xx

Thursday

Good morning, everyone.  How's life treating you.
I'm a bit rushed this morning.  I wrote the project and cardigan bit yesterday so will include it here but haven't yet uploaded the few photos I was able to take yesterday evening so I will post again later.  Just to say the concert was absolutely lovely - my sort of music.

Have a good day and I will be back, I promise (or is that a warning?).  

I have no shortage of projects - quite apart from the Christmas gifts which HAVE to be finished by a certain time, there's the Quiet Skies blanket which may possibly go on after New Year and the Advent calendar blanket which will most likely be finished by Twelfth Night.

And this . . .
Beth has asked me if I could make this for her so I found, bought and printed out the pattern but won't be able to start it until after Christmas - but that's OK.

It's chunky yarn but can be made with Aran weight, going up a size which  I think that's what we will be doing.  She has the fastening pin but doesn't knit or crochet.

I'll see how it looks and might make one for me - perhaps!

Has anyone made this?

Wednesday

Good morning, one and all.  Welcome to Wednesday (already - how??).  It's a dull morning so far but dry and mild.

Yesterday was a lovely day.  Groove was great fun - new block, new playlist, new sequences and they were great.  

Then I took the bus into town and met up with Beth outside John Lewis.  We spent ages browsing round the Jo Malone section (Beth and I are both devoted fans) before Beth spent a small fortune on fragrances and I - despite what I said last week about waiting until the New Year - bought the other perfume I wanted.  However, it's not all that bad.  Ernie (Premium Bonds gave the the cost of almost all of it and I have decided to wrap it up and pop it in one of the Twelve Nights bags.  Deferred gratification is what it's called, I think.

Unfortunately, they popped in a couple of samples and one is really lovely.  It's called cypress and grapefruit and wow!  Definitely not for now but in the New Year - maybe?

Then we went for lunch to Mowgli which, if you don't know it, is an Indian street food sort of place.

We went for a vegetarian sharing platter and wow, it was really good.  I have never been there before but I will definitely be going again, when funds allow.  Not too hot but definitely spicy and such flavours!!!
Beth had a birthday voucher from a friend and I paid the rest so it all worked out really well.

I popped into various shops on the way back to the bus stop and really enjoyed looking at the Festive earrings but I have more than enough (it's a bit of a self limiting things and wait until you see my daily Advent Calendar) so no temptation there, thankfully.

Today is a mostly homey day but with a real treat in the evening.

Lindsey has moved my personal graining session to tomorrow because late afternoon I will be on the Broomfield coach into London, heading for St Paul's to the Sir John Rutter's Birthday Celebration - he is eighty today, I gather.  Looking at the seating plan, it is an absolute sellout - I can only see three spare seats in the whole place - and I have no idea where our seats are so fingers are crossed.

Some of the bumph says:
Join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  for a concert celebrating one of the UK’s most accomplished living composers and icon of choral music, conducted by the man himself, Sir John Rutter.

I love his Christmas music - several of them appear in my Advent Calendar here each year (which I am certainly doing again through December this year) and they are so very singable.
I'm so excited.

Before then I have various homey bits and bobs to get done and dusted (literally) so I'd better stop waffling and get the day started.
Have a good one, everybody, and stay warm and safe.  xx

Tuesday

Morning, all.  It's a funny old start to the day.  It's dry but, somehow, there's a strange light.  I guess it will brighten up later - hope so anyway.

It was good to get back to circuits yesterday and I got some housework done although not as much as I should have.
That's because Santa came a-visiting wearing his postman's uniform - OK, so an Amazon order arrived but it was mostly Christmas gifts which are now all wrapped up and sitting in the corner.  I somehow managed to order four little jars of pickled ginger (for the sushi) rather than the two I was expecting but never mind, it will keep and it won't be wasted.  Alex and I are making sushi this Friday . . . 

. . . and nearer Christmas, we want to have a go at this - Christmas Tree pull apart bread using the Thermomix.
Looks fun, doesn't it?

I did some washing, did some ironing, all that good stuff, before sitting down and finishing one WIP (gift) and then working on the others.  The Quiet Skies blanket is taking a back seat for a few days while I work on the gifts.

Today is Groove and later I'm meeting Beth in town for lunch and she wants to do a bit of shopping.  I do love spending someone else's money.  When I get home, I will probably chill over a cuppa and my knitting.

All in all, quite a nice day.  How about you?  xxx

Monday

Hi again, everyone.  New week, same old!!

Thanks very much for your comments.  I think that when I say I have been lazy or idle, I mean I am doing things I want to do/enjoy doing rather than things I should be doing but am putting off - if that makes sense.
Somehow, things that are enjoyable never seem like work! 

I left home to go to Sainsbury's yesterday at 9:45 to get there pretty much as it opened and didn't get home until nearly 12:00.  It was packed.

In that time I had the best nosey round the shop (haven't been for ages), filled up with petrol and spent a ridiculous amount, none of which I regretted one little bit.
Sainsbury's had their Christmas range of clothes in so I had fun looking round, although I still think it's all a bit dull and dreary.  You couldn't say that for other areas of the shop - Christmas has landed good and proper.  I managed to get some Christmas gifts as well as stuff I was getting short of, I found a nice little bit of gammon for over Christmas and treated myself to a steak that was outrageously priced but there you go!  It's eaten now and was lovely!

Come the afternoon, I wrapped the gifts, sorted out the shopping, finished Lindsey's loaf and then enjoyed a knitting/crochet fest through some YouTube channels, Strictly results and the Game of Wool.

No spoilers but I was sad but not surprised to see the person leave.  It wont be long before the really good ones start dropping and it will be a case of 'who has had a bad show' rather than 'who is the weakest dancer'.
And there really are some good ones.

If you asked what I thought of Game of Wool, I would say . . . I don't really know.

I enjoyed it - anything to do with yarn is going to be enjoyable for me.  I didn't quite know what to expect and maybe the 'Sewing Bee' type of format needs to be modified somewhat in future series.  And I do hope it isn't chunky yarn and huge needles every week for the sake of speed.  Watching them made my hands ache!

I hope to see different yarn things coming up - crochet, weaving, maybe . . .??
And some teaching - I'd have loved a mini tutorial on how to weave yarn at the back in Fair Isle correctly.  Thirty seconds would have done it.

However, it was fun, it was colourful, I learned a few things, I loved the hand 'knits' everyone was wearing (including a hexi-cardigan that looked very like the one I made) and I think it will bring knitting into the modern era - which some people won't like, of course.
And it is new - it has to bed down and make its own way.  Give it time.

Did you watch it?  What did you think?

Today the new block starts and I am off to Circuits first thing.
Then, being Monday, it is housework day so I can safely say I won't feel lazy!  I am so glad I live now and not 100/150 years ago when housework really was unending, unrelenting, sunrise to sunset hard work.
Count your blessings, Joy, count your blessings.

And with that I will love you and leave you and start getting ready for Circuits.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday

Good morning, everyone.
First of all, many thanks for the lovely comments under yesterday's post.  They were so kind and comforting and very much appreciated.

However, and thankfully, life goes on so . . .

Yesterday was a very pleasant day.  First of all - Autumnal sunshine.  There's very little lovelier than a sunny, Autumn day with the trees in full colour, is there?  As I drove up to Gt Leighs, it was just such a gorgeous, colourful sight.  It rejoices our hearts, for sure.

The day started well - I wasn't feeling great on Friday, probably because of Ava, etc, but that all lifted overnight.  I got my sourdough fed, made a little yeasted loaf, started a leaven for Lindsey's loaf and generally had a good old potter around before setting off to pick Diane up and meet C and T for a girls' lunch together, which was absolutely lovely!   We talked and talked and talked . . .

When I got home late afternoon, there was a packet for me and it was the new Advent of Change calendars (one for me and one for Beth)
I've talked about this before . . .

Quoting from the John Lewis site:

Start every December day leading up to Christmas with the joyful feeling of giving. Perfect for the season of goodwill, this Advent of Change calendar reveals a new charity recipient every day that benefits from the purchase of your calendar.

From feeding the homeless to protecting our oceans, every day you can be sure the proceeds are doing something amazing. Each door holds a donation to a new charity and tells you how your contribution could be used, showing you exactly how you've changed the world for the better.

With 85% of the sale price going directly to charity, Advent of Change makes a meaningful gift for family, friends or, of course, yourself. It serves as a thoughtful conversation piece whilst also adding a touch of festive décor to your home.

Open up to change this year and help 24 charities to make a difference, this Christmas and beyond.

Each Advent of Change calendar is wrapped in a biodegradable potato starch film and made in the UK using FSC-certified paper, vegetable oil-based inks and biodegradable glue.

And here's the link to the site, if you're interested . . .   https://adventofchange.com/

And then Strictly was really good too.  No spoilers, but the first 40 of the season and, I felt, well deserved.  We all know how hard it is to get a ten from Craig!!

I don't think I showed these the other day - the Spode Christmas Tree plates I got from HomeSense.  They're small-ish, fine for one person who tries to eat more sensible portions and I absolutely love them.  I love the pattern, it is old fashioned and gives cosy, Dickensian vibes.  

On to today.  I have a throw it all in together soup in the slow cooker, having soaked some soup mix overnight so that will be my lunch or dinner and I will make Lindsey's loaf.
Apart from that, I need to get fruit and veg and I will drive over to Sainsbury's because I need a few items that only they do and, of course, I will have a good nosey round at the same time.  And I am making no promises whatsoever . . .

And that will be it as far as 'duty' is concerned.  I can knit (pressies), crochet (blanket), read (a Tracy Borman biography of Henrietta Howard) and I must remember, after the Strictly Results show, to switch over to 4 for the new yarn show.

And then tomorrow, Lindsey starts the new block and the week of idleness will be officially over. 

Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday, warm, cosy and happy.  See you tomorrow!  xx