Sunday: Blogmas day 18

Edit:  Just realised I posted this in my other blog - ooops.  It was a mistake to try and do it quickly while my guest got ready.  Really sorry, everyone.  Here it is, in the right place this time.  :-)

 Morning, everyone, and thank you for your comments wishing me a good day with my friend.  We have had a lovely time, talking nineteen to the dozen, catching up, discussing things, enjoying a Christmas dinner together and generally knowing yet again that just because you don't physically see someone for ages, the friendship still endures.

Annoyingly, it was Famous Last Words yesterday morning regarding the condensate pipe.  Not long after I wrote that, I went into the kitchen and, lo and behold, there was that flashing red light.  I got dressed, did the kettle thing and got it sorted although I did happen again mid morning.  I'm not surprised - it was incredibly cold (for round here) down to minus eleven according to my thermometer.   It's very much milder this morning, only half a degree below freezing.  It's a bit cloudy and is set to rise pretty rapidly through the day to comfortably above freezing.

There's a very pretty sky too - lovely and pink and, for once, the camera seems to have caught it nicely.

While waiting for Sonja to arrive, I got busy in the kitchen and made some gingerbread biscuits (and then ate far too many of them - ooops) and some more of Delia's veg not-sausage rolls only this time I use a little 'pasty press' thingy I have as the filling does fall out of a conventional sausage roll shape.  They look nice so here's hoping they work.  They're in the freezer now and I will need to test run one at some point.

Today, Sonja leaves this morning and this afternoon I don my Santa hat to get the girls' gifts around to them.  I'm just hoping the warmer temperatures mean that I can get into my garage - I need some little bottles to decant the plum gin into and the lock was frozen when I tried yesterday - grrrr.  

Also there's some washing, including the bedding and I need to finish my big shopping list because I want to do it early tomorrow morning.  So that's enough to keep me out of trouble.

For today's Christmas music, I have chosen a couple of shepherd themed pieces.

The first is The Shepherds' Farewell from L'enfance du Christ by Hector Berlioz (he f that great opera, 'Carmen', fame), sung by Kings' College.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_pyk3wmHGw&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=16

. . . while the other is the Shepherd's Pipe Carol by John Rutter, again such by Kings' College Choir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMYLb6O2QQ8&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=17

Saturday: Blogmas day 17

 Good morning, everyone.  I can't believe how cold it is right now at half past four and I'm very thankful that the condensate pipe seems to be behaving itself (fingers crossed) right now; the heating is on (and seems to have been on low all night which must have helped) and I don't need to go out in the dark, in pjs and oodie to do the kettle thing!!

Yesterday ended up a very, very lazy day indeed.  I did a bit of housework, etc and spent the rest of the day crocheting, reading, watching rubbish TV and sleeping quite a lot.  

Today is more exciting.  Those of you reading who are old FirstClass/OU contacts may remember Sonja.  Well, she's coming to spend the night here and we're having a Christmas Dinner this evening.  I haven't seen Sonja for years and I'm so looking forward to a good old catch up.

All is ready apart from the meal prep so I will do that this morning and then chill (hoping that's not Famous Last Words).

I think it is about time I started some Christmas carols so here is the lovely old 'Away in a Manger' from the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOinJuhtjrE

And another one, this time from Pentatonix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjtYtBGrP6Y

Friday: Blogmas day 16

 Good morning, one and all.   So sorry this is late.  I had a rough night (tum cramps) and have been slow to start the day.  
It is still so cold outside; -4 at the moment and the lovely sunshine is having no impact whatsoever on the snow.

Yesterday worked out fine.   Chris came over at ten and we had a good old chat over coffee and mince pies.  Then she went and Val arrived and we had a festive lunch of cranberry brie and chicken toasties with crisps and salad followed by - yup, mince pies.

The infant show was just fantastic.  Having a reserved seat, I had a really good view and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Well done, everyone.

Today was supposed to have been the Slimming World group Christmas taster party but I haven't gone.  I'm gutted because I was so looking forward to it and now I have to decide what to do with twenty four little potato blinis that I was going to top with soft cheese/smoked salmon/chutney/etc.  I think they will freeze - I hope so anyway.  I made them yesterday evening, knowing that there wouldn't really be time this morning.
Oh, well.

I've done my bit of tidying up for the cleaners and am going to take the rest of the day easy.  I think the problem was too much fatty stuff yesterday - I munched on some nuts in the evening plus finishing off the brie with some cracker thins. 
Sometimes it is fine and sometimes not having a gall bladder causes a few issues.

Anyway, I'm just feeling rather drained and weary now so that's OK.

Today's Christmas music is 'When a Child is Born' by Johnny Mathis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCqhX89WV_0&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=24

Thursday: Blogmas day 15

 Good morning, everyone.  It was such a cold night round here, the coldest it has been this week, I think.  Yesterday, though, was gorgeously sunny for the first half of the day so fingers crossed today is the same although it's predicted to stay really cold all day and it won't really start warming up until the weekend.
(Edit - it's quarter past eight and the thermometer tells me it is minus 8.5.  Brrrrrrr)

After the initial changes, Wednesday all went according to plan.  Personal training online was good as I have enough bits and pieces to make a programme - a few weights, some resistance bands, a step, a balance plate and a balance ball plus a very basic exercise cycle.  Enough to fill an hour, for sure.  

Today has started with a mini drama.  The heating came on, I know, because the house was warm as were the radiators, but when I went into the kitchen the red light was flashing.  I knew what the problem was - when we get very low temperatures, around minus six or seven, the boiler outlet where the condensation drips, can freeze and then the boiler shuts off.  It's a safety feature.  So it was out with a kettle and a jug and all is now well.  I think, given the predicted temperatures today, I will do the kettle thing every hour, just to be safe.  

The rest of the day is much nicer.  Chris is round for coffee at ten and then Val is coming later for lunch.  Come the evening, I'm off to the Infant show, assuming the school's repaired heating stays repaired, of course.  Must remember to keep checking the mail.

Also, I'm expecting a delivery.  I ordered some beer from the Eyam Brewery to be sent to John as a housewarming/Christmas gift.  They muddled the order and sent it to me but I wasn't in and it needed signing for.  At first, I didn't KNOW what they were trying to deliver, of course, but rescheduled it for today as it's the first day I'm in all day.  Then I pondered and fired off an email to the brewery just to check that my order had been sent to John - and it hadn't, it had been sent to me by mistake.  
Fair enough, the response was excellent, they packed up another box and John received it two days ago, but the first box couldn't be re-diverted back to the brewery so Gervaise said to keep it as an apology.  So I will have a box of twelve speciality beers and ales to share around.  Nice.

Today's Christmas music is another choral standard for Christmas Choirs, The Three Kings by Peter Cornelius, sung by Voces 8.
Beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCriF2I2-q4&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=40

Wednesday: Blogmas day 14

 Good morning, everyone.  It's still cold outside and, again, Beeb doesn't think it will rise above freezing  so I am really very glad I don't have to go out at all today.

Yesterday was mixed.  I don't think the temperature got up to zero at all so the ice pretty much remained all day.
I drove very carefully down to the hall for Groove; The hall car park was like a skating rink and one of the ladies slipped over but was OK.  There were only six of us there but Lindsey had worked out some routines for Christmas songs, such as 'All I Want For Christmas', 'Last Christmas' and 'Feed The World' so we were singing as we grooved!  Well, puffing anyway!

I decided to do the Christmas cake and have kept it simple this year, nothing fancy, but  I think it looks quite nice.  I'm getting better at putting on the icing and smoothing it nicely, I think.  I am just umming and ahing about putting a little silver bauble in the middle of each star.  What do you think?  Would it work or would it look overdone?

While browsing Facebook, I saw there was a message on the parents' page, read it and went to my governor mailbox.  The school is closed, not directly because of the snow but because the heating is on the blink.  Oh, dear, what a time to go.  Fingers crossed they manage to get it repaired quickly.

Obviously, the infant show had been postponed.  They are hoping to reschedule the performances but that depends on repairs and the last day of term is next Tuesday anyway.  What a shame - it's the first show for three years so none of them have even taken part in an Infant show, not even the Y2s.  I really do hope . . . 

Today there have already been two changes.
Lindsey messaged to say that the side roads round her house (which I have to use to get there) are still like skating rinks so how about doing an online session.  I agreed - it only seems sensible and at least I will save on petrol and won't get cold going out.

Not nearly so nice, I have just had a message from the lovely Sharon who was going to do my hair today.  Her husband is pretty unwell and she doesn't feel she can leave him right now.  Extremely sad.

I've gone from feeling I need to rush around and get the kitchen (where Sharon does my hair) looking respectable to knowing I have enough time to do a proper job.  
I might strain off and bottle the Christmas plum gin (in little bottles for gifts) today and I have a bit of pressie wrapping to finish off and that, said John, is that!
(apart from washing and drying, some clearing, some sorting out . . . . . . . .  )

Today's Christmas music is a very thoughtful song from Graham Kendrick, Thorns in the Straw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeZ2zl_QhT0&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=23

Tuesday: Blogmas day 13

 Good morning, everyone.  It is so very cold outside right now - Alexa says it is currently minus six round here; even if that's a slight exaggeration, it's still exceedingly cold but oodie and heating are working their much appreciated magic and I'm nice and warm.

Quite a lot happened yesterday
I got another phone call from Potters regarding my weekend break with them at the beginning of February.  It appears that the room the have allocated me won't be available so they have given me a free upgrade.  I have no problems with that although the usual rooms are lovely and I would be perfectly comfortable with that too.  So that was nice.

After a bit of Facebook discussion, Lindsey changed circuits to online delivery.  I would have driven there but it was a relief not to have to  The main roads were fine by then but the side roads generally don't get gritted and, of course, there is a slope up to get out of the cul de sac and that can be a problem when it is slippery.

When circuits was over and I was nice and warm, I grabbed my snow spade and broom and went out the front to do some snow clearing.  Earlier I had made a path from house to shed and, out the front, Steve and his next door neighbour had already been out clearing their front and there was also a clear path up the cul de sac.
My not-so-new neighbours came out to join me and then Steve's neighbour (Can't remember his name, I'll ask Chris when I see her) also came out and between us we sorted out our side.  I produced a bag of my now not needed granular salt and we sprinkled that around too.  Neighbour explained why the slope was clear - it appears he has a friend who works in the gritting department and he asked him if he could come and do our slope, if possible.  So he did.  That was so very nice of the friend and Neighbour will convey all our thanks to him with a nice bottle of something for Christmas.  What a useful person to know!
I left the remaining salt in the bag round the side in case anyone needs any today and my snow spade was much admired - I have to say it did make the job a lot easier.  Another reminder of my lovely Dad - he bought it for me decades ago when he got one for himself.  It doesn't get much use, obviously, but when needed it is grand.

The delayed meeting with Kay took place and now I have almost a brick of paper regarding what Kay is doing with all my money - investments, etc, the rationale behind her choices, etc, etc, etc.  In return, I gave her a cheque and will need to make some online investments as soon as I get the detailed info through.
It's a relied to know it is being put to good use - i.e. earning me some money, and as I don't need any for income, it should do quite nicely, I hope.

Finally, I've been using up the mis-bought yarn - some of it - making a scarf out of granny squares with some other yarn from my stash.  I saw one on the telly and thought:  I like that and it looks dead easy.

It needs a bit of blocking and steaming but I'm really pleased with it and will use it, for sure.  I think there's enough to make a hat using the same colours (but not the same stitch).

On to today and there are three things in the diary.
The first is the Groove class for which I will need to go down to the hall so fingers crossed things aren't too slippery by then.

The second it that it is the Infant Show at school and, as a governor, I have an invite.  Lovely!

Thirdly, it says 'ice cake'.  I'm not sure I mill, I'll see how everything else goes and there's plenty of time still.

I also need to work on a few shopping lists.

I do love a good bit of acapella and I think this is lovely - In The First Light, sung by Glad.  It's quite old now but remains a favourite song.  Those harmonies are absolutely gorgeous!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOob4CRW8m0&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe_hFFjGJ5Sg1tUJw8jwNLA&index=3

Monday: Blogmas day 12

 Good morning, one and all.
The other day I said something to the effect that we never get snow here, I wasn't bothered about any forecasts, etc, etc, etc.

Ooops.

It started around seven in the evening aftyer a very dull afternoon.

Carried on past my bedtime . . .

. . . and looked very lovely when I woke this morning.   

No, it's not loads and loads but it's more than we have had for ages, since the Beast From the East several years ago.

As it had clouded over by lunchtime yesterday, I didn't go out for a walk; it wasn't at all tempting.  I stayed in and was very lazy - I mean restful!  I did some crochet and I got the marzipan onto the cake.  I used ready rolled marzipan, just to give it a go.  It was certainly less hassle to prepare - well, there was no preparation - and there was hardly any left 9over which was great and what I wanted.  However, it wasn't nearly as easy to handle, less flexible than the kind you have kneaded to pliable yourself, and it tore a bit when I unrolled it.  It was OK, the join will be covered by the icing, but I've never had a tear before.
It's now sitting on a board, under an upside down tin awaiting icing which I have scheduled for . . . er . . . checking diary . . . Tuesday.

Today, I was planning to go into town early but no way - they won't have treated pavements consistently and it's nothing urgent, nothing that can't wait.
Therefore the first think I have is circuits at twelve.  I'm perfectly OK now, just a bit of a chesty cough and an annoyingly drippy nose at times but that won't stop me.

I need to just get downstairs into some sort of order because, early evening, Dave and Kay are coming round to finish off the 'making my money work for me' thing.  I expect it will consist of Kay going over her investment plans, Dave asking questions and translating for me and me signing stuff and handing over the money.
And that is today sorted!

Christmas Advent Music

I had a nice choice for you yesterday until YouTube/Blogger/whoever started playing silly sausages and not allowing my links.  No idea why, I've not had this before.  So, from now on, I will try to post the clips but I will also post the live link so you can go to YouTube to listen, if it is necessary.

I've not heard this one before and it started playing as background music.  I thought:  I know that style, it has to be Rutter, and so it was - arranged by him anyway, the melody is an old French tune.  Beautiful.

And here's the live link, in case . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zslpqi63UKI&list=PLjBnYixEZmRe0eA8SfgTI92le8VLpJkMd&index=12

The words are in the drop down box below the playing window.