Saturday, 31-12-22

Good morning, everyone.   It's a dull, drab old start to the last day of 2022 - par for the whole year really, at least as far as national and world events are concerned.  Thankfully, speaking more personally, 2022 might have had its ups and downs but it hasn't been such a bad year really.  There's something to be said for being Pollyanna-ish in approach; I know it can be hugely irritating to others at times but it's pretty healthy really.

That's probably all the reflection I'm going to do . . . 

It was really nice to see so many people and the Slimming World Weigh and Go yesterday.  Because Jen couldn't get a venue for the two Thursday groups, some went to one of the Wednesday groups and some came along to the Friday morning group and I was able to put some faces to names I have seen in out Facebook group.

Jen's really struggled to get any response from the people who organise the good number of little halls/venues around here because it's been the 'dead' week between Christmas and New Year and even official organisations haven't been responding to her emails.  I bet they'll all be pinging back to her on Tuesday but, in the meanwhile, she has no idea where half her groups will be next week which is a worry for her.

I gather SW is being very helpful and understanding but the local stuff needs to be done locally, of course.  Poor Jen, it has really messed up her Christmas.

It was really nice to see three new members coming in to join, looking at them and realising I knew them all.  It has been quite a while and they didn't recognise me in the least.  Fair enough, the last time I saw them, I was working (haggard expression??), had long hair and was extremely large.  
Jen said she's never known anyone who recognises so many members as me!  It's to do with having taught in the area and living round here for so long.  Anyway, it was good to meet E, M and A.

Once home again, I was more energetic than I have been all week.  Did some washing, did some ironing, did some kitchen stuff, changed sheets, made up my bed and generally got a bit more organised again which was nice.

Today Beth and Alex are over for the evening and staying overnight too so I must make up their beds (no hassle).  I'm doing a buffet using up all the bits that didn't get used up over Christmas.  There's plenty so no need to go shopping at all.  Apart from that, I think it's a relatively easy day with just a bit of tidying and hoovering to do.

This was my Twelve Days gift today.  Some of you might remember me knitting them earlier in the year.  What you can't tell from the photo is that they have just a slight sparkle about them which kind of lifts them.  I shall wear them today!

And that's about it for 2022.  Next time I post, it will be a New Year.
Are you celebrating in any way?  For me, tonight will just be a happy, family time and the chances of me seeing in the New Year are so slight as to be virtually impossible.

Wherever you are and however you spend this evening, I wish you a lovely time and a very Happy New Year.
See you tomorrow.  xx

Friday, 30-12-22

 Morning, everyone.  I'm really sorry about yesterday's non-appearance.  Those of you who read both blogs will know that I posted on the other one but not here.
I wish my sleep patterns would settle back down.  I'm guessing it is because I've been eating and drinking all the wrong things and it's thoroughly unsettled my system.  I haven't been exercising properly, or getting much in the way of fresh air either.  Not good.

Yesterday was quiet apart from when Beth popped round to collect a couple of gifts I had for a friend and those presents she left behind after Boxing Day.  I stayed in and slept, mostly, between catching up on Christmas recordings.  Very lazy and definitely not good for me!

Yesterday's twelve Days of Christmas gifts was a couple of 'slabs' of very nice hand made soap.  They came from a nice shop in the Peak District shopping place in Rowsley, bought during my holiday there in September.
I'm already using one of them and the scent id gorgeous.  I love citrus aromas.

Today's gift is these two small bottles of flavoured vinegars.  I can use them as dressings and will look up some recipes/mixes.

Today starts with Slimming World.

Poor Jen: on Christmas Eve she was told that she wasn't going to be able to hire the hall for the foreseeable future.  Whatever caused the flooding, it sounds as if longer term damage has been done.  Of course, this last week has been the very worst time of year to get hold of anyone, let along hire anywhere else.
Today we're back at the place the Wednesday groups use and it will just be a weigh and go.  Jen will be looking for alternative places.  As I have a big downstairs, I offered my house as a temporary thing but SW  'Central Office' have said not allowed.  Insurance issues, I expect.

After that, I have a home to get in order.  No cleaners this week so I will have to get my act together.  As Beth and Alex are staying overnight tomorrow, I have two beds to make up and I MUST do some washing and so on.
Life has to get back to normal again, the sooner the better, I reckon.

How has this week been for you?  Have you spent it feasting, fasting or asleep?  Is it a relief to get back to a more normal routine again?
Take care and stay safe.  xx

Tuesday, 27-12-22

Second time lucky!!

Morning, everyone.  After all the shenanigans of the last fortnight, today starts the walk back to normality again.  I don't really make a thing of New Year although Beth and Alex might possibly be over.

It's been a lovely Christmas.  I know I say I've had a lovely day rather often and it makes me realise how lucky I am to be able to say it in all honesty.  It was a bit different with just Beth and Alex on Christmas Day and two non-family gusts on Boxing Day for pretty much the first time ever but it was great.  Maybe a new tradition starting up.

I've been wanting to do this for ages - crackers with tuned bells inside and some music to play.  Eight crackers and an octave's worth of notes plus labels, 'music' and a little baton.

Mind you - some of the tunes were a bit - different.  Eileen and anyone else with a bit of music training will understand the limitations of one octave, no sharpened fourth or flattened seventh.  However, we managed and had enormous fun doing it.  I'm keeping them for next year when there will be a wider range of tunes to have a go at - I've already worked out a few.

Beth played her now traditional trick with the wooden nativity.  It started a long time ago with simple things such as hiding the baby or replacing him with a jelly baby and they became more sophisticated as the years went by.  Do you remember last year's?

Here we go . . .

. . . just to remind you . . .

. . . very topical

And very funny too.

This year's was brilliant but I will need to do a separate post on it.  Suffice it to say that it was based around my favourite ever Star Trek episode.  Can you guess which one it is?

My present from Beth and Alex this year was a Nespresso Inissia and she and Vincent must have been collaborating because he brought along a whole load of pods of various flavours and colours.
(as a side note, I had bought a reusable pod but it turns out that they are completely recyclable and make new pods - much better than some other coffee machines)

Beth didn't want my Dolce Gusto as she already has a Nespresso so I am now a posh person with two coffee machines.

After dinner and bells, Beth set everything up and we had a taster session.  She and I, being light-weights, gave up after three small, espresso sized coffees as we were all caffeined out, but the other two carried on for ages.  Where they put it, I have no idea!!  The Nespresso makes smaller amounts of coffee so I can use the other for mugs and the new one for the cheffy stuff!

Once everyone had gone and all was still and silent (apart from the dishwasher doing all the hard work), I set to and finished off the first of the mittens I am making to use up some of my four ply/sock yarn stash.

It's quite nice and fits well.  The pattern itself is not always clear and I'm not sure if I like the shaping at the top which I might adapt a bit when I start another pair, but it is OK for a more experienced knitter and the actual knitting is simple once one has mastered using double pointed needles.

I think this could be the first time I have started preparing for next Christmas before this Christmas.

On to today and there is absolutely nothing in the diary at all.  No commitments, no guests, nothing.  I did um and ah about staying in pjs and oodie all day but decided I wanted to have a bath and use one of my bath bombs so that rather means getting dressed afterwards - it does to me anyway.  
I have stuff I can do.  For a start, while the Christmas tree and certain decorations are staying up until Twelfth Night, there's quite a lot of other bits and bobs that can go away as and when the spirit moves, there's leftovers to deal with including quite a lot of turkey.  I stripped the carcass yesterday and boiled it up so I have some lovely stock to sort out.  There's also an untouched Christmas cake, sundry mince pies, etc, and way too much cheese.  Such a shame!!!
Then there's reading, knitting, Christmas telly recordings . . . oh, yes, plenty to do!

Here's today's Twelve Days gift to myself, some little scented candles.  Not the heavy, spicy scent of the Christmas season but, I hope, nice, light, floral fragrances to look ahead to spring.

Are you able to have an easier day today or are you still living it up?  Do say in the comments.  Whatever you have planned, have a great day and take care.  xx

Wednesday, 28-12-22

 Good morning, everyone!    Sorry this is later than usual - I got working in the kitchen and time flew!

Yesterday was just one of those days.  I had slept badly, woken early and what with this and that plus losing my blog post and then publishing the start of today's by mistake (I've left Sue's comment there), by late morning I had crashed out and spent the rest of the day mostly snoozing, even while watching things I was interested in.

To my surprise, I slept like a log and woke at seven thirty (so late for me), feeling so much better again.  Phew.

I was hoping that an ex pupil and mum would come round for coffee this morning, but he has woken with a nasty cough and very sore throat so they have cancelled.   I have mixed feelings.  Obviously they were absolutely right to cancel;  he's not up to it and I don't want yet another cold.  It's very disappointing though as I was looking forward to a good catch up chat with them both.
We will reschedule.

It's a day for cancellations.   Chris and I had planned to have lunch out tomorrow but that's been put back to next week as Chris and Steve have had to reschedule family things after Chris was unwell last week.  Another disappointment but I totally get why and another couple of days doing just homey stuff is probably just what I need!

Here's today's Twelve Days gift to myself.    Apologies for the slight blurriness - maybe I need to give the lens a bit of a wipe.

I've had some before and it makes a lovely drink - just as it comes, no milk, more like an infusion really.  I have some oranges so maybe I can add a slice of orange for extra yum.

So today has turned out to be another restful, stay-at-home-and-do-very-little kind of day.  I have had fun in the kitchen making some wholewheat pasta leftovers ravioli (I'll let you know!) for dinner tonight and now it is time for breakfast - I know it is a bit late I'm trying to get back into intermittent fasting again after letting it slide over the last few weeks or so.  A 16-8 suits me so well and it had become a habit so I need to work on re-establishing it.

Seeing as I fell asleep during Mary Popping (recorded from over Christmas), I need to rewind it and finish it off.  The last bit I remember was 'Spoonful of Sugar' so I didn't get very far into it, did I?  There's reading and knitting, as usual, and one of my gifts was an insulated coffee mug to go with my machine and it's brilliant, so I will be able to sip it long and slow without needing to reheat it several times.  Goodness, the luxury!

I was planning to do a leaflet drop for Jen (SW leaflets) up and down my road and the two avenues off it but it is absolutely pouring with rain today so this will have to wait.  Maybe tomorrow?

Are you finding this week is a bit of a nothing week between two celebrations too or are you buzzing around and keeping busy?  
Have a lovely day, however you are spending it.  Stay warm and dry and be happy!  xx

The poems of Peter and Friends

Peter

Once in Dickens' hated city,*
Lived a fearless feline four.
Till one day, to test their brav'ry
Came a knocking on the door
Be it monster, friend or beast
Who will stay to greet our guest?

Won't be I, says Baby Kitten,
Darting headfirst under bed
Peter's braver than his sister
Dons his danger floof instead
Stands his ground, well, for now on
But eyes the place where Lucy's gone

Fred decides a stroll might suit him
Bangs the cat flap as he leaves
Says not scared, just can't be bothered
Not that anyone believes.
And with utmost bravery
Quiet Ava comes to see

Sitting in the hallway shadows,
Bends a most suspicious glance
Friend or foe- who could be leading
Kitties on this merry dance
There is no more need to fear,
Favoured person - Grandma's here!

* Dickens once stated Chelmsford was “the dullest and most stupid place on earth”. It tickles me no end that there is an estate in Chelmsford called Dickens' Place, named, I like to think, entirely out of spite!

(Edit:  It's not actually called that, one of the roads is - all the roads on the estate are named after Dickens characters and books although the actual estate name is something quite different)

Ava

SONG FOR LITTLE BROTHERS BY LUCY

You better not shout

You better not bite,

You better not pounce

Or you'll get a fright

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

I'll give out a hiss

Of warning- I'm nice-

You better take heed

Not warning you twice

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

Why are you not sleeping?

You should not be awake,

I know that you're excited but

You're a cat, for goodness sake!

So settle down, squirt,

Give pouncing a rest

You don't want to put

Sister to the test

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

Lucy is the baby kitt-unnnnn

Thwappy Paws are coming to town!!!

Lucy

Purry night,

Furry night

Ava sleeps

All is right

Rumpled kitty in beautiful pile

Sweet old lady so gentle and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Purry night

Furry night

Fred's all cross, took a bite

Lucy's leaping and Pete's on the prowl

Ava wakes with a hiss and a growl

Someone is needing a thwap

Someone is needing a thwap.

Purry night

Furry night

Matriarch, stop the fight

Hush the kitten with moderate paw

Hard Stare issued and order restored

Ava, keeper of peace

Ava, keeper of peace.

A slightly out of focus Ava

Oh little cats before me

How still I see thee lie

You look so deep in slumber

I know this is a lie

You will not twitch a whisker

Through utterance or cough

But if I shake the Dreamies, you

Will take my hand right off.

All the cats (can you sort them out?)

While Hooman watched her cats by night

All sleeping on the bed

There came a burning quest-i-on

'Now is that Pete or Fred?'

For Pete had grown up big and strong

So different from the start!

That in the lamp light shadows, they

Were hard to tell apart.

Fear not! Said Hooman, for I have

An easy rule of thumb

A Pete, when stroked, will stretch and 'brrrrp'

While Fred will show his tum!

So both blue boys were given pets

And answered happily

A Merry Christmas Pete and Fred

You are so dear to me!

One of them - Peter, I think.

Oh sleep ye lazy kitty cats, let nothing you dismay

And dream of plates of turkey meat to come on Christmas day

We know you don't get fed a lot, you're wasting right away

Oh pining for Christmas turkey joy, turkey meat joy, oh pining for Christmas turkey joy.

Peter again - Beth has lots of photos of Peter!

Away from the strangers

Right under the bed

The sweet baby kitten

Is hiding instead

'I don't like the strangers

I run and I hide

But when they are gone

I'll be out by your side

For I'm the baby kitten

And happy I'll be

When the people are gone

and it's just you and me

So goodbye all the visitors

Send them off, shut the door

And put down lots of turkeys

Because Lucy wants it all'

Oh Lucy, silly kitty

You will just have to share

With your sister and brothers,

there are four who live here!

But you'll have a quiet Christmas

Lots of cuddles from me

And you'll get your plate of turkey

For you are the bay-bee!

Lucy and Beth

Monday: Boxing Day edited

 Good morning, everyone.  I was so tired yesterday evening but woke at two and couldn't get back to sleep so here I am, good and early, writing this.  I'll go back to bed soon and see if I can manage a few more hours.

Going back to Christmas Eve, the wine saga finally finished with the delivery mid afternoon.  It took ages to show as out for delivery and I had given up but it flashed up just before the 'cut off ' time for a refund.
Just the one box, thank goodness.  I'm now swimming in the stuff although my shed will look a lot less alcoholic once I give out the late gifts!

Some of you will have seen Beth's poetic feline efforts on Peter's group (Facebook).  I asked her and she said I could post them in here so it's two posts for the price of one today.  

I very much hope yesterday was lovely for you.  I enjoyed myself with Beth and Alex.  Today, two of Beth's friends are round for lunch which will be great.  Beth's doing some of the meal but basically it is leftover turkey, a vegetarian savoury crumble and veg.  Nothing too hard.
I don't think anyone will be staying too long and then I think I have the evening to myself.

Thank you for your lovely Christmas messages yesterday.

I'm off to bed again now and will do the 'poems' later on.  xx

Later on!
I got back to sleep, now it is nearly half past six and I feel loads b righter, thankfully.
Really, I have a couple more things to add.
One is that is that my Twelve Days of Christmas gifts start.  Today's is the only one that needs to be opened on a specific day - the others are in a bag for lucky dip.

You can see why.
The twelve smells of Christmas!

The other is that although the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar is now finished (and it has been brilliant this year), the word finding game carries on with one new word a day.  I wonder for how long that will continue.

Right - coffee calleth and I have to get going in the kitchen, I think.  Have a lovely Boxing Day - do you have any exciting plans for today.  xx

Sunday: Christmas Day 2

 

Thank you to you all - for reading, commenting, writing your own blogs which I enjoy so much and just being there.  Have a wonderful day.  xx