I just wanted to say a big thank you to my readers for sticking with this 'doesn't really go anywhere' blog over this year and for the kind and encouraging comments posted.
May the coming year be a good one for us all.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
A very Happy New Year to you all
I'm posting this now because there's not a chance in a million that I will be awake at midnight to post then.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to my readers for sticking with this 'doesn't really go anywhere' blog over this year and for the kind and encouraging comments posted.
May the coming year be a good one for us all.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to my readers for sticking with this 'doesn't really go anywhere' blog over this year and for the kind and encouraging comments posted.
May the coming year be a good one for us all.
Wednesday: New Year's Eve.
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| Borrowed from Google. |
Not for long, probably; after all, it is winter.
Yesterday was another mostly lazy day. I did pop out in the morning to look in a few shops but it was so jolly cold I decided to pop back home again after a short time. It couldn't have risen much above freezing as there were pockets of frost that stayed around all day.
Because it is a weekday and on weekdays I have the thermostat set quite low because I'm at work, the house was a bit chilly when I got home so I decided to snuggle under my fleece and watch some rubbish telly rather than turn up the heating. The next thing I knew it was over an hour later. Yup - I'd had my snooze again! That fleece is so cosy and so comfortable!
Today is, of course, New Year's Eve. I was hoping to spend it with Beth and Alex or, rather, them spending it with me, but Beth's not well and it's best that she stays home and looks after herself. So I have a bottle of sparkly stuff all to myself, oh, dear, what a shame, how will I cope, etc, etc! We were going to pool Christmas leftover resources for a buffet but I have enough to produce a nice spread for one.
Get well soon, lovely daughter. ((((hugs))))
If you are planning a celebration this evening, I hope you have a wonderful time. Cheers!!!
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Tuesday
Waking up to another heavy frost makes me grateful (yet again) for a secure home and plenty of things to keep me warm because it is really bitterly cold out there this morning.
I gather it is likely to warm up a bit tomorrow and into the New Year before perhaps getting colder again. We shall see but one thing's for certain and that is I won't be able to change what is due to happen one iota!
Yesterday was interesting. I didn't mention this in my last blog because it is not sensible to announce that ones home will be empty for most of the day. The thing is, my car has been causing me some concerns recently. She's sluggish and unresponsive and doesn't give me quick speed when I need it any more which has been annoying and, on occasion, a bit scary. Now, she is old - fifteen plus years old, in fact - and has done me very good service over the years but things move on and things wear out.
Yesterday I took her to the Peugeot specialist garage in town. It has a very, very good name and Beth has always been satisfied with their work. The brief was to give her a thorough going over to see what does or doesn't need doing to bring her back up to a decent performance, if possible, and, more importantly, whether it is actually worth having any necessary work done.
The answer to the latter part was no, it's not worth it, something I expected but I thought I really ought to investigate as I don't like to ditch things too readily. I've been very fortunate with my car. She's given me very little trouble and very little expense for many years but everything seems to be going at the same time and the time has come to replace her.
She's drivable although they recommended no long journeys (I rarely do long journeys anyway) and they checked I had AA or RAC membership (I do). So I have time. Also, fortunately, I have access to funding without taking out a loan, which is a very Good Thing.
So that was yesterday's excitement. Test drives, here I come.
While the car was in, Beth came to pick me up and I spent the day with her, kitty adoring and - surprise, surprise - snoozing! Yes, I got my snoozes in, of course I did. I slept restlessly the previous night because the whole car thing was on my mind and kept buzzing round and round my dreams. It's worry/uncertainty more than anything else that makes for bad nights for me and the night before last was no exception.
After Beth had picked me up we popped into her local Tesco for a few bits and bobs. To my delight, they had gammon hams at half price which was great value so I grabbed a couple to freeze. They also had some roasting beef so I got a good piece which I will cut into four smaller lengths, two for Beth and two for me.
Also, over Christmas, I was mortified with the condition of my glasses. They are always washed in the dishwasher and it was showing big time! Mind you, they were cheaper than cheap (because I knew I'd use the dishwasher) and have actually lasted for years without looking tatty, so they've done jolly well. It might sound a bit cheapskate of me but I haven't the time to faff around with hand washing too much and want classes that will stack for reasons of space and those plain and cheapos from the likes of Tesco are just the ticket so I bought four boxes of four at £1.50 for four which should see me OK for many years to come.
I was pleased with all those purchases.
Today will be, I hope, a gentle day. I have some info about cars to read through and I need to pick up some work from school, getting in via the library. I didn't manage to do the fridge yesterday so I will get that done today too. Looking at the car folder, I seem to have kept just about every single piece of paper since I got here, including, would you believe, the outside bit of the car tax thingy that had to be displayed in the car. Another thing that needs sorting out. After all, I really don't think I need to keep the letter notifying me that my insurance is up for renewal in 2003 any more, do you?
But first - yes, you got it - another coffee!
I gather it is likely to warm up a bit tomorrow and into the New Year before perhaps getting colder again. We shall see but one thing's for certain and that is I won't be able to change what is due to happen one iota!
Yesterday was interesting. I didn't mention this in my last blog because it is not sensible to announce that ones home will be empty for most of the day. The thing is, my car has been causing me some concerns recently. She's sluggish and unresponsive and doesn't give me quick speed when I need it any more which has been annoying and, on occasion, a bit scary. Now, she is old - fifteen plus years old, in fact - and has done me very good service over the years but things move on and things wear out.
Yesterday I took her to the Peugeot specialist garage in town. It has a very, very good name and Beth has always been satisfied with their work. The brief was to give her a thorough going over to see what does or doesn't need doing to bring her back up to a decent performance, if possible, and, more importantly, whether it is actually worth having any necessary work done.
The answer to the latter part was no, it's not worth it, something I expected but I thought I really ought to investigate as I don't like to ditch things too readily. I've been very fortunate with my car. She's given me very little trouble and very little expense for many years but everything seems to be going at the same time and the time has come to replace her.
She's drivable although they recommended no long journeys (I rarely do long journeys anyway) and they checked I had AA or RAC membership (I do). So I have time. Also, fortunately, I have access to funding without taking out a loan, which is a very Good Thing.
So that was yesterday's excitement. Test drives, here I come.
While the car was in, Beth came to pick me up and I spent the day with her, kitty adoring and - surprise, surprise - snoozing! Yes, I got my snoozes in, of course I did. I slept restlessly the previous night because the whole car thing was on my mind and kept buzzing round and round my dreams. It's worry/uncertainty more than anything else that makes for bad nights for me and the night before last was no exception.
After Beth had picked me up we popped into her local Tesco for a few bits and bobs. To my delight, they had gammon hams at half price which was great value so I grabbed a couple to freeze. They also had some roasting beef so I got a good piece which I will cut into four smaller lengths, two for Beth and two for me.
Also, over Christmas, I was mortified with the condition of my glasses. They are always washed in the dishwasher and it was showing big time! Mind you, they were cheaper than cheap (because I knew I'd use the dishwasher) and have actually lasted for years without looking tatty, so they've done jolly well. It might sound a bit cheapskate of me but I haven't the time to faff around with hand washing too much and want classes that will stack for reasons of space and those plain and cheapos from the likes of Tesco are just the ticket so I bought four boxes of four at £1.50 for four which should see me OK for many years to come.
I was pleased with all those purchases.
Today will be, I hope, a gentle day. I have some info about cars to read through and I need to pick up some work from school, getting in via the library. I didn't manage to do the fridge yesterday so I will get that done today too. Looking at the car folder, I seem to have kept just about every single piece of paper since I got here, including, would you believe, the outside bit of the car tax thingy that had to be displayed in the car. Another thing that needs sorting out. After all, I really don't think I need to keep the letter notifying me that my insurance is up for renewal in 2003 any more, do you?
But first - yes, you got it - another coffee!
Monday, 29 December 2014
Monday
Brrr - another extremely chilly morning here with a heavy frost. Still no snow and it doesn't look as if we will get any either, not this time.
Seven more days before school starts again sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn't it? In those seven days I have various bits and bobs to do but generally it's going to be unstressed and easy going, I hope. Can't complain about that!
Yesterday I slept in the morning, I slept in the afternoon and I had areasonable night's sleep too. Something else not to complain about. In between snoozing I watched back-to-back Doctor Whos and made some delicious chunky turkey soup and some equally delicious turkey curry, all nicely embedded in the freezer in single portions now. I also managed to keep the kitchen fairly tidy which is amazing.
Today - well, this and that really. Perhaps more snoozing later on, depending on how much the lack of caffeine impacts. I do need to sort out the fridge a bit so that's top of the list, I think. Hopefully there will be no wastage. I have tried to be more careful this year. Once I have done that I will know what I can make. It will involve ham, that's for sure. Ham, eggs and wedges sounds quite nice, doesn't it? We will see.
And now the not-caffeine calleth!
Seven more days before school starts again sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn't it? In those seven days I have various bits and bobs to do but generally it's going to be unstressed and easy going, I hope. Can't complain about that!
Yesterday I slept in the morning, I slept in the afternoon and I had areasonable night's sleep too. Something else not to complain about. In between snoozing I watched back-to-back Doctor Whos and made some delicious chunky turkey soup and some equally delicious turkey curry, all nicely embedded in the freezer in single portions now. I also managed to keep the kitchen fairly tidy which is amazing.
Today - well, this and that really. Perhaps more snoozing later on, depending on how much the lack of caffeine impacts. I do need to sort out the fridge a bit so that's top of the list, I think. Hopefully there will be no wastage. I have tried to be more careful this year. Once I have done that I will know what I can make. It will involve ham, that's for sure. Ham, eggs and wedges sounds quite nice, doesn't it? We will see.
And now the not-caffeine calleth!
Sunday, 28 December 2014
Sunday
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| Borrowed from Google |
More or less back to normal now apart from some washing, drying and ironing and rather a lot of bits and bobs of food to finish off. Fortunately, Beth and Alex always come over here for New Year's Eve so that will be a good opportunity to put out a selection of frivolous foods I really shouldn't have spent good money on in the first place.
I am also back on decaf coffee. While mum and dad were here I made a nice big pot of the full fat type each day and indulged but I have a feeling it has contributed to my restless nights. Not bad nights exactly but I have been waking several times each night since Christmas Eve. It may not be linked but it seems likely. So, from today, the caffeine goes. You can get decaf for a coffee maker and, judging by the aroma filtering through from the kitchen, it will taste wonderful.
It's another quiet day today. I expect no visitors so I think it will be a PJ day unless I feel like getting properly dressed. Yesterday I slept through the afternoon and today might very well follow a similar pattern. If it does, no problems! I gather there's a lot of Doctor Who on one of the channels today so guess what I will be doing! between snoozles, that is.
I need to make some bread. The loaves I made just before Christmas have lasted wonderfully well but are now only fit for toast, croutons and breadcrumbs. Another sign of normality, to make bread at the weekend.
And now for that coffee . . .
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Saturday again
That moment when you have just waved your last guests goodbye, come inside and everything is still and silent and empty . . .
Never mind, off to Morrisons and then I shall have a lazy day and wine with my lunch!
That'll do nicely, thank you.
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Saturday: that's it for another year.
All that work, all the planning, preparation, expectation. All over now for another year. Was it worth it? Well, of course it was. If we didn't have Christmas we would have something else. It is part of being human, this 'need' to celebrate the passing of time one way and another and this is a goodie, a huge promise of hope and deliverence, perched on the end of the year when nature is at her darkest with one week before the change of the year and its shift of focus from the past to the future. It's a bit of a no-man's- land, these coming days before New Year's Day and another opportunity to make merry, an opportunity to take breath and take stock.
I was extremely energetic yesterday and 'dealt' with the turkey, blessing my pressure cooker as I did so. I had a pressure cooker as a young wife and mother but was always a bit nervous of it and didn't use it as much as I should. It was only this year that I took a deep breath and shelled out on one and I have used it so much since then.
It made an easy and speedy task of boiling up all the remains after I had stripped off the easiest bits. I had a whole side of breast that came off in a chunk to be sliced the Paul Kelly way plus oodles of brown meat, the tastiest meat and yet the most ignored. I also have a lot of stock and today I shall be boiling most of that down into a thick jelly for freezing.
Dinner yesterday was, of course, easy. I did cook more sprouts as I had some peeled and prepared (but not cooked) on The Day itself so the broccoli had to wait. Everything else was simply heated up and it was absolutely delicious!
There's still a few vegetable leftovers so today I am definitely mushing them together to make patties (I didn't yesterday after all) and that, with some more turkey and gravy, will make a jolly good dinner just for me. Or I might include the turkey in the mushing and just have some nice, crunchy patties with gravy. After all, I can't honestly say I'm hungry, even first thing in the morning, so that will be more than enough.
My visitors will be going home today. Sad, but true. It's been a lovely four days but there you go. Part of me is looking forward to a day doing very little and I shall make the most of that. I do have to pop down to the shops to get some fresh veg for the turkey hotpot - not a traditional hotpot, more a chunky soup/stew, but we have always called it 'hotpot' and it is part of our post-Christmas tradition.
The last thing I intend to make with the leftovers of meat is a curry. Just a curry, nothing special, just warm and spicy and flavoursome. That, I think, will feed me next week, so the freezer will come into play once again.
Now - any ideas what I can make with left over custard?
I was extremely energetic yesterday and 'dealt' with the turkey, blessing my pressure cooker as I did so. I had a pressure cooker as a young wife and mother but was always a bit nervous of it and didn't use it as much as I should. It was only this year that I took a deep breath and shelled out on one and I have used it so much since then.
It made an easy and speedy task of boiling up all the remains after I had stripped off the easiest bits. I had a whole side of breast that came off in a chunk to be sliced the Paul Kelly way plus oodles of brown meat, the tastiest meat and yet the most ignored. I also have a lot of stock and today I shall be boiling most of that down into a thick jelly for freezing.
Dinner yesterday was, of course, easy. I did cook more sprouts as I had some peeled and prepared (but not cooked) on The Day itself so the broccoli had to wait. Everything else was simply heated up and it was absolutely delicious!
There's still a few vegetable leftovers so today I am definitely mushing them together to make patties (I didn't yesterday after all) and that, with some more turkey and gravy, will make a jolly good dinner just for me. Or I might include the turkey in the mushing and just have some nice, crunchy patties with gravy. After all, I can't honestly say I'm hungry, even first thing in the morning, so that will be more than enough.
My visitors will be going home today. Sad, but true. It's been a lovely four days but there you go. Part of me is looking forward to a day doing very little and I shall make the most of that. I do have to pop down to the shops to get some fresh veg for the turkey hotpot - not a traditional hotpot, more a chunky soup/stew, but we have always called it 'hotpot' and it is part of our post-Christmas tradition.
The last thing I intend to make with the leftovers of meat is a curry. Just a curry, nothing special, just warm and spicy and flavoursome. That, I think, will feed me next week, so the freezer will come into play once again.
Now - any ideas what I can make with left over custard?
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