Wednesday, 06-09-23

 Good morning, one and all.  How are you today?  It is way too early to see what the sky is like but BBC reckons loads of warm sunshine.
However, overnight, it was surprisingly cool and comfortable - I was happy about that, even though I've woken far too early.

Yesterday was absolutely lovely.  I drove up towards and through Braintree and on to Petersfield Village where I met Suze (I was a bit late - she was very gracious!).  We had a little wander around looking at some fascinating antique/retro stuff, some of which really brought back memories of childhood and my Nana's home.

Then we went into the Fox in the Stables tearoom and we were there pretty much for two hours and I don't think we stopped talking once, did we Suze?  It was so lovely discovering how much we have in common.  I brought the lap blanket I'm working on and Suze brought some wonderful applique cushion covers she is making for friends.  Not to do, just a sort of adults Show and Tell (after all, we were both KS1/FS teachers).  And Suze gave me the most delightful counted cross stitch card to say well done for the Woman of the Year thingy.  We sat on a sofa rather than at a table - very comfortable and conducive to chit-chat.

(Not the best photo ever and rather limited because there were other groups of people to the right, sorry)

Here's the card.

Isn't it lovely!  It's definitely going in my memory box when I've finished displaying it.

Thanks for a lovely time, Suze; looking forward to the next meet up now.  😀

Once back home again, I got the dry washing in but that was it - I couldn't be bothered to get anything ironed so I have that to do today.

I ended up just doing some more crochet and fighting off waves of sleep - well, it was quite hot!  That's my excuse anyway.

Today, the first thing I am doing is popping into town.  I need to go back to Specsavers to get my new glasses adjusted - they are just a bit too tight and the arms are just too short before they start bending and they're giving me a headache.
Once that's done, I will probably have a little saunter round and see what there is to be seen in all the usual places before coming home to tackle the usual household tasks.  
And I MUST get up to date with finances too.

Just an ordinary, gentle day and none the worse for that. 
Are you enjoying the renewed warm weather or is it a bit too much for you?  xx

Tuesday, 05-09-23

Good morning, everyone!  Happy Tuesday!

After changing the duvet to my winter weight one, summer has returned - of course.  It was quite a warm night but I slept comfortably on top until early morning when I snuggled under again and was perfectly comfortable.

Yesterday was gorgeous with wall to wall sunshine so I gave the tomatoes an extra drink which I hope they appreciated.  I also have three cucumbers in the offing; one might be ready tomorrow.  Lovely.

I had a lovely time at Diane's.  We sat in the garden and laughed and chatted our way through a big mug of coffee each while the painter got on with the hall.  Her home is lovely.  It used to be the old schoolhouse so it is pretty old and beautifully maintained, as is the garden.  Just the sort of thing I would look for, should I want to move (and won the lottery).  It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to sit out and relax.

Once home, I hung out the washing I had started earlier and then I bought a ticket!
If you remember, I booked two coach trips for this month.  One was to the World of Harry Potter which, very sadly, isn't happening as there wasn't enough interest and the other was to Windsor in a couple of weeks.  I've never been there before so am really looking forward to it, so yesterday, I went online and have booked a visit to Windsor Castle plus a guide book.  I'd like to have also booked a tour of the Great Kitchen but the only time available was too late to get back to the coach.
However, included in the standard ticket is a visit to Queen Mary's Dolls House and I am REALLY looking forward to that.
I will have some time left after the Castle visit and some lunch - what else is there in that part of Windsor to see/do - anyone got any ideas, please.  I'd like to make the most of my visit and I'm not sure there will be time for a river cruise - I don't want to feel rushed.  I gather there are bus rides around - are they good, do you know?

And if I really like it I can always come back again.

Thank you all for your kind comments about the current hexagonal throw I'm concocting.  I think I might be close to finishing it now, I just need to make some half hexagons and pointy bits to infill the edges to get them straight.  I have found some YouTube tutorials and will probably start on them today.  For sure, it will be ready before the colder weather starts. 

Today, I already have some washing in the machine which will be finished before I go out so I can get it all up on the line.
The biggie today is a drive over to north of Braintree to meet up and have lunch with Suze.  I'm really looking forward to this and to seeing her latest applique project.  We're meeting in a centre in a village that has antique shops, etc, as well as somewhere to eat, so it's going to be interesting as well as enjoyable.  Very exciting.

Once home again, there will be dry washing to bring in and iron ut I might wait until it cools off.  Apart from that, I have no other plans than to make dinner and chill in the garden over my hexagons!  😎

Hoping things went well for children/grandchildren starting back at school yesterday and that you also had a lovely time enjoying the current sunshine.  Stay well and have a great day!  xx

Monday, 04-09-23

Good morning, everyone.  It is a slightly misty, Autumnal start to the day, coolish and fresh, giving promise of warm sunshine when the sun breaks through.  Just like yesterday, in fact.

It was very pleasant, over at Beth's in the centre of town, strolling around the local streets to remove the remaining 'Peter is Lost' posters from the lamp posts after which we sat outside in the communal area at the back of her flat for coffee and a chat before some snuggles with the cats.  Perfect.

I'm getting on with my hexagon crochet lap throw.  It's just a mish-mash of colours and that's fine.  It will be bright and cheerful on those chilly, dull, winter evenings when you just need a bit more cover for perfect comfort!

Now it is Monday, the day 'my' school restarts for the new school year.  Today and tomorrow are Non-Pupil Days and likely to be pretty busy and, maybe, a bit 'careful' with a new headteacher to start to know and get a feel for.
I with them all the very best of luck for a fantastic year but I am heartfelt glad that I am no longer involved, just slightly sad that I no longer have any kind of personal connection to the head as I have so often had in the past, either through friendship, acquaintance through school music or because we were already colleagues.
It just feels slightly 'odd' and yet another step away from my previous life.  I don't want to move too far away but a bit at a time is fine.  It makes me thankful that I had the kind of work that I still like to maintain links with because it was so lovely (apart from that perishing paperwork!)

Plans have changed for today.  Diane was coming over for lunch but she had a phone call from her painter to say he was starting her hall today.  Obviously, you can't say 'not today, thank you' after waiting for quite a while for him to be able to start so I'm going over to hers for coffee and the chat we are both looking forward to.  

There's no exercise classes this week which gives me more time for other things.  When I get home from Diane's, I might go out for a walk along the country lanes close by.  I could check on the damsons although I won't be picking any - I have plenty left from last year still.

Whatever else I do, it's going to be a nice day, I think, and I hope yours is too.  All the best and be happy!  xx

Sunday, 03-09-23

 Morning, all.  It's very early on Sunday morning and you can't see what it's like out there at the moment.  However, the forecast for the next seven days (according to BBC weather) is for wall to wall sunshine, not a cloud in sight and temperature going up to nearly 30 by the middle of the week.  Yes - bring it on.
The tomatoes will be happy too!

Yesterday morning, I checked my Premium bonds using the app I have on my phone (as you do) and yay, another win.  Nothing vastly huge but a nice little extra to go towards the cruise savings (although, for now, it's been reinvested, of course).  They come up with something pretty much every month at the moment and it does all mount up in time.  An extra thousand or so over a whole year is a useful sum.  So that was another happy thing to add to Friday's haul.

The muggy head soon cleared yesterday morning and I pretty much chilled all day apart from the daily chores.  I popped over to Beth's in the afternoon and there he was, the little rogue, being fussed over by the others who kept eyeing him up and grooming him - obviously not quite clean enough again for their fastidious taste yet!  Beth had given his eyes and ears a thorough clean and tended to a couple of broken claws so he looked in remarkably good nick, all things considered; he was very thin though so I wonder if he'd have survived longer term.  No need to worry now and he's not going to be allowed out until he's all tracked up.

Beth had been to the shops to buy thank you gifts for the people who helped - there are some lovely kind people about, aren't there - was going to give them out later on yesterday.  I went up and down her road, taking off the Peter is Lost posters and today I'm going back and we're going out together to take down the ones further afield.

Apart from that, there's very little in the diary although I read an email from the clerk of our governing body reminding us that we have to do the online safeguarding training every year and it's now up and live so please . . . before the end of September.
It's quite important anyway but also important because, if any governor hasn't done it, it can mean an automatic OFSTED 'fail' for the whole school.
So I might do that or at least start it at some point today.

So that's today.  The training will be a bit of a drag, most likely, but once done that's it for the year!  In between the daily housework stuff, I think I might make a loaf - the one in the freezer is nearly finished - which I will allow to cool before slicing it and popping it into the freezer.  That should keep me going for a while.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  Let's hope the weather is as good at the BBC promises.  It will be so nice to feel warm.
Take care and stay safe and well.  xx

Saturday, 02-09-23

Good morning, everyone.  I woke very early after a great night's sleep and it is quite mild at the moment.  The French window is open, letting the air in and it feels lovely.

Well, where do I start.  Yesterday was quite a day.

First of all, Slimming World.  After my co-codamol induced slight gain last week, I was hopeful for this week but didn't expect three and a half pounds off.
Then it was time to vote for our group's 'Woman of the Year' and looky look!

I was so surprised and happy.

After group, I came home and the cleaners were already there, doing their usual wonderful stuff, so I finished off my list and headed for Sainsbury's to get out of their way.
As expected, I spent quite a lot but now I'm all set up for the month as far as non-food items are concerned.  Also, as a sort of 'well done' to myself, I suppose, I bought a denim jacket, something I've been wanting for quite a while.

Dave, Anna and the food turned up and we'd pretty much finished eating (lovely, delicious food, very acceptable wine and great company) when Anna checked her phone and discovered a message from Beth saying that Peter was home.  No more details at that point and I'm afraid I cried!  I've been worried for Peter himself, of course, but more worried about the impact his disappearance was having on Beth.

This is what Beth posted later on last night:

Oh my goodness. So, 48 hours ago we heard there was a sighting of Peter near some allotments. We searched the allotments and Alex caught a glimpse of a cat he thought was Peter, and he had a red tag, but was scared by the flashlights and ran away. I sat there calling for a good hour after we left the allotment, and a nearby resident scaled the fence to look in. But it was a lead.

We targeted that area, and some hedgerow by the railway line. My sister in law Anna Taylor was round that area earlier today and I know Diana Bond was there this evening, not to mention sundry allotmenteers and neighbours who had been looking out/ calling.

I simultaneously had a call and a message at about 7pm to say they had seen Peter. Got down there and called... and Peter answered! Loudly! It took another 10 minutes of howling and a bowl of Whiskas shoved through the fence before he would show himself, and as soon as possible I grabbed him and hauled him through the bars and into the basket.

Got him home as soon as possible, and I can pinpoint the point he started to recognise his surroundings as he stopped howling and started sniffing... he started howling again once inside but after 10 mins or so remembered who he was and who I was and that actually he has 8 days of cuddles to catch up on thank you very much and that was that.

That was that indeed. She also posted a few photos - here's one. Catching up on sleep, obviously!

It's wonderful how Beth's neighbourhood has rallied round here, looking out, sending messages about possible sightings, climbing over allotment fences to check, etc. This week, Peter seems to have achieved a certain notoriety locally!

What a day, eh?

So, on to today.

I don't have a lot to clear up after last night. Just some containers/bottles to recycle, some best glasses to hand wash, a small portion of butter chicken to pop in the freezer (and hope that it freezes OK) and a dishwasher to start off once it is full.

What I do have is a slightly muggy head so I will spend the morning rehydrating, first on coffee (because you have to) and then with water.

Beth's invited me round for coffee this afternoon and I have offered to go out taking 'Peter is Lost' posters down from what looks like every single lamp post in the area.

The other thing I need to do is make my meal plan for the week. I usually have quite a good idea of how the week's going to go before I go shopping but not this time. Bad me! 😉 To be fair, I have other things on my mind!

And that's about it for today. How about you - what does your weekend look like? Doing anything really nice? xx

Good news

 Peter is home.

More news tomorrow but I just wanted to let you know as you've all been so lovely and caring.

xxx

Friday, 01-09-23

Good morning, everyone and welcome to September.  The first day of Autumn, if you go by the meteorological date (but not if you go by the astronomical one, that's the 23rd), and they say we have summer coming on soon!  Classic!

Yesterday was one of those days where you feel there is very little to do and yet you seem to get quite a lot of little things done.

I finished the ironing.

Have a good old chat with Chris.
Put away the stuff that was ironed on Wednesday as well as yesterday's.

Unjammed the drawer under the oven that had got jammed with too many baking sheets and trays (had to take the front off to do it)

Sorted out the contents so that the bigger ones that I only use when family are round are now elsewhere.

Cleaned in and around the drawer (it was a disgrace to any decent household!)

Unblocked the outlet thingy in the fridge and mopped up the water that was dripping and pooling at the bottom.

Put in the order for the takeaway this evening - yummy!

Got that mattress onto one of the spare room beds - a few twinges but nothing to complain about it so I am very thankful that it is so, so much better.  PT on Wednesday really helped loads.
Made up the bed so it's ready for guests.

Swapped over the quilts so now the winter one is on my bed, looking so, so snuggly - I was toasty warm last night.

Did some clearing and tidying so the place is cleaner friendly.

Phew.  Not so bad, eh.

Today starts with Slimming World.  When that's over I'm going shopping.  Sainsbury's this time as there's a few things I need/want that I can only find there.  So while I am there, I will have a good look at their new range of clothing - just for fun, you understand.

The cleaners are coming at some point, of course, and then I need to set the table, etc, for when Dave and Anna arrive later.  So looking forward to this evening.

Have a lovely day, everyone.