Friday evening, 04-10-24

 Evening, everyone.  It's been a gorgeous Autumnal day today.  After a pretty chilly start, the skies cleared, the sun shone and it felt nice and warm.  Lovely.

I went to Slimming World as usual and, also as usual, I had a good time there.  Our leader/consultant, Jen, is leaving the area and moving up north and next week is her last week.  Today, the lady who is taking over, Heidi, was there to get a feel for the group and to say 'hi'.  We will miss Jen terribly but Heidi is very pleasant so fingers crossed.

After group I popped to Morrisons and now I have the Christmas Day meat safely in the freezer.  I have decided we are having a nice leg of lamb instead of turkey.  It's a nice feeling to know that it is there, all safe and sound.

Then I came home and, basically, just pottered for the rest of the day.  I did some housework, some cooking, some clearing out, some crochet (the blanket is really coming on now) and booked some tickets.

One of the guys in the SW group, Mark, is vicar of a local Methodist church that has quite a good music and drama group and in a fortnight they are doing a concert performance of Chess and Mark is in it.
Now, I know the pro stage show didn't do terribly well and was heavily slated by the critics but the music is, I think, absolutely great and I'm really looking forward to this.  I'm going with a couple of SW friends so that should be great fun.

On a less happy note, while I was filling dates in next year's diary, I realised that I have double booked so I have had to pull out of the coach trip to Legoland.  I'm really disappointed and embarrassed but that's life, isn't it.  Maybe they will do another one in 2026. and at least I have given them plenty of time to fill my space.

Saturday tomorrow but the diary looks pretty clear.  I can do the on;line SET and then, weather permitting, I might attack the garden.
What are your plans for the weekend?

Sleep well, everyone.  xx

Thursday evening, 03-10-24

Evening, everyone.

The day started very dismal and a bit damp but it brightened up gradually and by mid afternoon the sun was shining beautifully.

I set to early to prep lunch for me and Val so after she arrived I would be able to spend most of the time chatting rather than in the kitchen.  Then Chris came over and we had a jolly good natter about this, that and the other including where we would like to go for a Christmas lunch in December and when.  It's now all sorted and booked which is lovely.

Val turned up and the chatting continued.  It's been about a month and a half since I last saw her so there was plenty to cover.  Lunch went well; the quiche was delicious, salad is always nice and the little roastie type potatoes (not chip shaped) were great.  And best of all, there were enough leftovers to sort out my dinner and two lunch sized portions of quiche are now in the freezer so that sorts out a couple of lunches next week.

The 2025 diary turned up (ordered from Amazon) and I've filled in all the necessary stuff from this year's diary.  I don't like to leave it too long because all the pretty covered diaries get snapped up and I do like a pretty cover.  The insides are always the same so it definitely is a case of judging a book by its cover.  😉

As the sun came out, the garden came to life so here's just a few photos.

The bedding dahlias have been absolutely amazing.

Nature's patterns are so fantastic, aren't they?

The cyclamen - Mum gave me one corm (it is a corm, isn't it?) decades ago and it spread year after year and now covers the bed, even the bits you can't actually see because of other plants.

In a short while, the leaves will come up and pretty much cover the flowers so I am making the most of them right now.

One of those £5.99 filled barrels from Home Bargains . . .

. . . and the other, both beautifully filling out and giving a lovely splash of colour.

Definitely one of my better impulse buys!

Last, but not least, the broad beans.

They've come on so well, there are loads of flowers and this afternoon the bees were merrily buzzing around them.

Also merrily attached to one stem - just one - was some blackfly.  Ex blackfly, I should say.  I am afraid any pretence at organic gardening flies out of the window as blackflies enter the room.

At least they were spotted early, pesky things!

Well, time to wrap this up for today.  I hope you've had sunshine too; it is so very cheering after a dull morning.

Sleep well and sweet dreams, everyone.  Stay safe and warm.  xx

Wednesday evening, 02-10-24

Evening, one and all.  

I woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise.  Good old Premium Bonds.  £125 isn't a huge amount but every bit helps nowadays and it is nice to know it's there to fell back on, should it be needed.  I am happy with that.
Great start to the day.

I have Val round for lunch tomorrow and have been dithering about what to make and have decided to make a crustless quiche of some kind with some salad and, perhaps, a few chips made in the Ninja.  All very easy and relatively fool proof.

I got all the stuff done that I wanted to get done before popping out to Lindsey's for personal training.

And that was today.  It's all very ordinary and everyday at the moment, nothing very exciting but also nothing very drastic or difficult.  I do like a quiet life.  I must try to remember to take a few photos at some point to brighten things up.  

Have a lovely rest of evening, everyone, and sleep well.  xx

Tuesday evening, 01-10-24

Evening, everyone.  It's dark and it is not quite seven yet.  Ho hum!  The doors are locked for the night, the curtains have shut out the darkness and the candle is burning.  All nice and cosy! 

It has been quite a busy day.  Chris and I drove to Groove today rather than walk although we could have walked as the expected rain didn't start until later.  We were actually in the church today because the windows were being replaced in the church hall, so it felt a bit different but nice to have that extra room.

When home, I remembered to read the gas meter and send off the readings.  I should be getting the quarterly bill in around a week and then the more expensive time starts.  The heating has clicked on a few times but it's nice to feel a bit warmer.

I then went straight out again, shopping list in bag, to Sainsbury's to do the first shop of the month and to fill up with petrol.
I did look at the clothes (Christmas jumpers or PJs, anyone?) but really wasn't tempted in the slightest.  I found most of what was on my list and now I'm well stocked and should be OK for around ten days, hopefully; longer for some things.

As I was wandering around looking for stuff, who should I see but my friend, Diane.  She'd had a rotten morning and was seeking some gastronomic consolation, bless her.  We had a lovely chat and, if I had been close to finishing my shopping, we'd have gone for a coffee - but I wasn't even close to finishing so that was that.

It took me ages to get everything properly put away when I got home but it's all ship shape again now.  I got all the ironing done and that just needs taking up and putting away.

And that was that.  Tomorrow is also a fairly busy day because Thursday is going to be packed with social things and I really need a clean and tidy downstairs and a lunch for two prepared.  And there's personal training.  There's time, it is nothing too heavy, but it needs doing.
But for now, after posting this, I'll sit, chill and knit.  Nice and relaxing.
I hope you have all had a really good day.  Sleep well, everyone, and stay warm.  xx

Monday evening, 30-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  When I checked the weather forecast this morning, it wasn't that encouraging, so I wasn't expecting much and wasn't disappointed.  Another day for indoor drying!  

So that's what I did - I have a neat little drying rack that is perfect for drying one load of washing and it tucks in beside a chair, out of the way, if not out of sight, and close to a radiator (which helps when it's on).  That means I have a little pile of ironing which I will do after I've posted this.

I woke at stupid o'clock this morning, wide awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed so I came down, opened up the PC and got my September finances sorted and 'closed'.

It's not been a great month for savings.  I've done the usual standing order into my non negotiable savings and there was a little left which I moved across to October's total rather than inso savings (for now).
I'm planning a No-Spend November.  It can't be October because I have various commitments including a short holiday but I think I might have an October ban on Amazon stuff apart from Christmas gifts.

As for November, all the bills will get paid, of course, as will the monthly normal spending such as food, cleaning products, petrol, etc, but no extras.   

We've agreed, Beth and I, to slimline Christmas this year anyway so that will help.

Anyway, moving on . . .

Thank you all very much for your feedback on the little tryout clip.  Much appreciated.  I'd left it as 'private' when I should have changed it to 'unlisted'.  Lesson learned!

I went out twice today.  The first was circuits.  There were four of us and Lindsey worked us hard.  I'm definitely putting in a lot more effort and seeing results in increased stamina.

And then, this afternoon, I was off to the dentist to see the hygienist and have my teeth scraped.  It was OK.  Not great fun but not bad either and I gather they weren't too bad - my teeth, I mean, not the hygienists!   

Well, I have an online chat coming up at seven so I will check this over and get it sent.  I really hope none of you have had so much rain that there are floods.  Stay safe, stay warm and dry and sleep well.  xx

Sunday evening, 29-09-24

Good evening, lovely people.  It's been a lot less sunny today but no rain so I'll take that with gratitude, especially in light of tomorrow's forecast - eeeek.

Last day of September tomorrow so there's a little list of Things to Do, the biggest of which is closing the month's accounts and opening October's.

This morning was a lazy sort of time, although I did do a loads of darks which are drying on the rack, but this afternoon I drove over to Beth's and we had a lovely time going over arrangements prior to our forthcoming break at Center Parcs.  We booked tenpin bowling, a meat at Hucks (Alex's choice) and talked about what we are taking, found where our lodge is on the village map and, more importantly, worked out how to get to it without getting lost.  It involves going all round the houses (literally) but is pretty simple really.  It's an adapted lodge because of Beth's wheelchair.

And that was about it really.  Tomorrow is busier.

I had a play with the camcorder part of my new camera which is a lot more user friendly than the older one.  More modern, I suppose.  I uploaded straight to YouTube without editing because I don't know how to yet and I wanted to check sound.  It's nonsense really, just a clip, but the picture/sound quality isn't terrible, I think.  What do you think?

(I didn't do any intro, etc.  I have to learn that.  :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwj07tHPO5k

(second go - is this better, Sue?  Anyone?  Can you access it now?

How has your day gone?  xx

p.s., after Strictly - no spoilers but that was a surprise.  

Saturday evening, 28-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  What a pleasant day it has been.  The rain has departed (temporarily), the wind has died down and we had sunshine.  Not warmth, that would be expecting far too much!  😉
I am hoping that none of you has had any issues with the poor weather today or yesterday.

Talking of warmth, today's the day I gave in and put the heating on.  I was hoping to wait until October at least but there's such a thing as being sensibly frugal and such a thing as being a Scrooge, isn't there?   I am after the former, not the latter.
It was only five degrees Celsius outside this morning.  That's cold without heating!  Or maybe I am just a wimp!

And on a totally different subject, big apologies to Jules.  There were four of her comments in my spam folder,  FOUR!!!  They're where they should be now and thank you for commenting.  

Here's the jumper I have finished.  I said it was chunky and slouchy!  It is also super warm and very comfortable to wear and looks nice with a roll top underneath and leggings or jeans..

I have some yarn left so I've dug out a child's jumper pattern and I'm making a jumper for Chris' grandson who is rwo soon.

The blanket is coming along really nicely too and it is really nice to chop and change from knitting to crochet as I fancy

(and it keeps my fingers warm too).

I haven't really done anything very much today really.  Just pottered, doing homey things in a homey sort of way.  It is, of course, Strictly this evening so I am very much looking forward to that.  It's the first elimination week and there's a little group of them who are jostling for that 'honour', I think, and I don't want any of them to go.
What do you think - who do you think will be in the bottom two and who will leave?

Well, I am going to get this posted now.  Do enjoy whatever you have planned this evening and stay warm.  xx