07-03-25

 Good morning, everyone.  It was an absolutely glorious day yesterday.  I had the back doors open letting the warm air stream in and it was a delight sitting out to sand the table.

First of all, for Jane:
I looked back through my other blog posts and this is the very first relevant one, the day I had my last meds review.
https://my30-30challenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/saturday-evening-24-08-24-and-necessary.html
You can read on from there by using the 'Newer Post' link at the foot of the post/comments on the left - it's on the left as I see it anyway.
Having read through some of those posts again, I really must rer-make some of those recipes.  It's too easy to forget!

I took a couple of photos of bulbs at the front.  Very pretty.

Just a quick one this morning as there's plenty to do.

The sander arrived, it was easy to get to grips with and now two of the three coffee tables have tops ready for varnishing.  They will have to wait for a few days though!  For a start, I won't be here and anyway I don't have any varnish.  I'm going to get one of those 'filler pen' things to deal with marks on the legs and around the edge.
I want to read up about varnishing first anyway.  

Today I will be off to Slimming World as usual (no loss this week, I fear) before finishing packing, tidying up and setting off to Five Lakes.  In the afternoon, Lindsey is doing an aqua class and then a Groove class and I would like to do both, if I can.
Then we all meet up for pre-dinner drinks before dinner and the evening entertainment.

I'll be posting as much as I can but don't worry if I don't - I will be back.  Have a lovely day/weekend and fingers crossed for the weather.  xx

06-03-25

Morning, everyone.  I'm starting today with a grumble - get it over and done with.  How stupid is it to wake at half past two and not be able to get back to sleep again.  Grrrrr.

There - grumble done!

It's a very much milder start to the day today - no frost but the sky is clear so it should be another sunny one.  Yesterday was gorgeous.  A two load totally dry on the line day with ironing in the evening.  I love good drying days.  There was just a hint of a breeze which really helped.

Edit:  we now have a frost, just on roofs, fences, etc.  

It felt weird, going to personal training in the morning as I almost always go mid afternoon.  I drove on to B&Q but their range of sanders to look at, lift, etc, was pathetic and expensive.  There were loads of drills, angle grinders, saws, etc, and one of two sanders and, sorry, I am not paying around £150 for one.  So I came home, looked on Amazon again and got a mid range one.  To be honest, to my uneducated eye and with what I need it for, they mostly look much of a muchness.  I also ordered some spare sanding discs (is that what they are called) and it should all arrive today so I'm really hoping I can finish off the first coffee table top ready for whatever comes next (I have a checklist and some super fine sandpaper).

Update on Bubbles and Squeak is - er - nothing.  Not a single sign of life. They're not going off, there's no mould, no nasty smell so I don't know but tomorrow they are both going to have to go into fridge hibernation for the weekend.   

I'm not giving up though, not this time.  I can start again next week.

I got a message through from the surgery and have booked a blood test for the 20th (gives time for this weekend's alcohol to clear from my system and more).  I also have to do the usual seven days of blood pressure readings to send to them .  It confirmed that there are no medication review appointments for this month so get the rest done, bring in the BP results and then they should be able to book me in.  Fine by me.  

And - they have freed up my prescriptions so I can get them again.  I wasn't very low but would be by the end of the month!
So - all good.  It will be interesting to find out if my diet changes have lowered the 'bad' cholesterol - I do hope so, I don't want any arguments about statins.

Today starts with a SET class online.  Then, usually, I meet with Chris for coffee and chat but not this week as Chris has an appointment elsewhere.

I want to get everything out for the weekend to make packing tomorrow easier and I hope to be able to do some sanding, fingers crossed.  Plus the usual housework, of course, there's always that, isn't there?

Well, time to go back up, have my bath and get ready for the day ahead.  I hope everyone's well and happy.  Take care, stay safe and see you tomorrow.  xx

05-03-23

Good morning again, lovely people.  How are you?  Hoping all is well for and with you.  
It feels cold again this morning round here although I'm sure it will warm up soon enough - yesterday was lovely and warm inside, thanks to the sunshine pouring in through the big windows.  Just lovely.

When I come down each morning, usually the first thing I do is make a coffee and then I open the technology and start writing this.  It's a great start to the day and today feels a little less 'rushed' - it rarely feels that rushed, just that I'm aware of slightly limited time available because of fitness classes or Slimming World first thing.

On Wednesdays, Personal Training is usually afternoon; today it is late morning so there's still plenty of time.

You may be relieved to learn that yesterday I did not book myself in for anything!!  Makes a change, doesn't it?  I did, however, look up power sanders and there's so much choice that I am confused.  They mostly seem to have reasonable reviews and, while I know to take reviews with a pinch of salt, they are still worth reading.

Chris and I took our usual walk down to the hall for Groove, enjoyed the class (how can we be half way through this block though?) and walked back again.  My step count is always good on Tuesdays!

Then, given the day, I made pancakes for breakfast . . .

. . . and very nice they were too!

Sharon arrived, worked her magic and now I have a less shaggy head of hair again.  Thank goodness - it was getting very messy!

I drove down to the surgery over lunch time.  Because of my hearing issues, I don't 'do' phones unless I absolutely HAVE to and, for anything important, I have Beth with me to help out.
Contrary to general opinion, the receptionist at the surgery (Beauchamp House, for anyone living round here) is absolutely lovely.  I needed to book a couple of appointments and the online thingy that we now have to use didn't allow for that and said I had to phone!!!
Anyway, she was lovely, understanding and helpful.  'Leave it with me', said she, 'And we will get back to you'.  She checked my mobile number and made sure it was on my records that I don't take phone calls (it was).

So helpful and I was grateful as I have a tendency to get either rather defensive or a bit upset regarding my hearing issues and their impact.  I know I do and I try not to but it isn't always easy.

The rest of the day was spent doing this, that and the other.  Nothing terribly exciting really.

Today is a later start and, after personal training is over, that's it as far as the diary is concerned.  I do need to do some washing and start packing for the weekend though, so I know I have what I need to take washed and ironed.  And Lindsey's home isn't too far from B&Q so I think I will make sure I am wearing my exercise leggings that look like ordinary leggings and just drive further on to take a look at sanders there after P T.  The hand sanding is going fine and where I have got down to the wood does look nice but it really is extremely slow.

That's it really.  Just a normal sort of day - plenty of good things to make life pleasant and I hope for the same for you, wherever you are and whatever you are planning.   Stay safe.  xx

04-03-25

 Morning, one and all.  Yet another cold, frosty and sunny start to the day.  It's lovely!

I'm ridiculously excited - I have booked a place on a sourdough course in June.  It's at Hitchin and I know Hitchin a bit as I used to go there shopping with Mum, especially to the market.  We found some great fabrics over the years!

I suppose one could argue that this is a want, not a need, but I, like many ex-teachers, think quite highly of the concept of being a lifelong learner and that's behind a lot of these new things I try.  It's not just the doing, it is the learning about and trying out.  If you remember, when I first retired, I went on a few craft courses - felting was one and another was willow weaving.  I've also gone to a number of art embroidery days and thoroughly enjoyed them.
One of my goals for 2025 is to have a healthy body and a healthy mind and I think this feeds (sorry!) very well into that, don't you?
And it's an experience - and it will be fun.
Here's the link to what it is.   https://www.kneadanddesire.co.uk/courses

Yesterday didn't quite pan out as expected.  I did circuits (good, as always), came home, had breakfast and then checked my messages to find one from Beth asking me if I could help by taking her and Ava (one of her cats) to the vet.  Her car was having its MOT and service and they had let her down regarding a courtesy car.
It was a routine thing, not an emergency, but it is hard to get appts with the vet just like it is for the GP so she didn't want to cancel.

Difficult choice - helping Beth out or doing the housework!!!

When I got home, my parcels had arrived so I sorted them out and then got on with some more sanding.  Slowly getting there and it is certainly easier with a sanding block, but still slow work.

As for Bubbles - nothing.   The method I am following says not to feed until there are bubbles so I'm not, but I spooned a bit off into a new jar and will try feeding that from the start and see if it makes any difference - although, if it's not eating (shown by the bubbles), I can't see that adding more food (flour) will make any difference.  It could either be called Squeak or Trouble
Oh, well.  We plod on.

Today, the lovely Sharon is coming round to wrestle my hair into submission.  I'm looking forward to feeling neat and tidy again.  There's the usual Groove class and maybe I will get some housework done - you never know!

Have a great day.  xx

03-03-25

 Morning everyone.  Another cold start today with plenty of mist but it should clear into sunshine this morning.  I swear we have had more frost these last five days than we have the whole of the winter.  I rather like a frosty start as long as it clears quickly.

We had a lovely sunset yesterday and I just managed to catch it.  Not a brilliant photo and I was a bit late to the party but you get the idea, I am sure.

Yesterday was good.  I bustled around getting things ready and realised that what was bothering me was fitting the trip to B&Q between starting the lunch and picking Beth and Alex up so I didn't go to B&Q, I went to Amazon instead!  Coming today - sandpaper and a sanding block although I give you fair warning, I may very well end up getting a sander once I've got the feel of it.  A friend did Beth's garden furniture a few years ago and she said it took a while, even with a sander.  She also said they are not too expensive and she's right.  A basic one isn't too bad at all  and way, way less that paying someone to do it..

It was nice to have Beth and Alex round.  We had a good old chat about stuff.

It was day six of Bubbles and she hasn't.  She looks 'healthy', smells quite nice and has no mould.  She is just sleepy, I guess.
Day seven is the day there should be a bit of live action but who knows?  I have time and am learning patience, and the bottom line is that it's just flour and water and I can always have another go, if necessary.

I booked something - I realised that there's a live showing of the new Royal Ballet's performance of Romeo and Juliet with the MacMillan choreography, one of my absolute favourite ballets and music, in the Cramphorn Theatre in town  So I have booked.  I nearly didn't get a seat there were only a few left; the one I asked for I didn't get because it left one seat on its own and the one I have isn't going to be the best view but better than nothing - that'll teach me to keep a closer eye on local events, won't it?
It's in three weeks' time in the afternoon.

Today is the usual Monday schedule.  Circuits and downstairs housework.  Then some sanding to replace the dust I will have just removed from the table, assuming my order arrives in good time.  Maybe it will feel mild enough to sit outside, well wrapped up, and do some sanding there.  That would be nice.  Also, there's the decluttering and the weed scraping but that won't take very long at all.  Just a normal 'plenty-of-things-to-do' kind of day.

But first I must sort out the kitchen - I didn't exactly leave it tidy yesterday, bad me!
Is it cold your way too or are you getting milder and maybe wetter weather?  And have you ever undertaken a wood furniture 'renovation'?  How did you find it?   
Have a lovely day.  xx

02-03-25

Good morning everyone!  I have no idea of the weather yet but it feels cold and I have a warm dressing gown on.  Hopefully, it will be like yesterday which was rather nice.  I've just drawn the curtains and, yes, there's a good old frost going on and the skies are clear.

I headed out yesterday morning, in the frosty mist, first stop Hobbycraft.  No luck there, sadly.  Of the yarn I wanted with the three for two offer, there was just one colour, a bright red, and I certainly didn't want that.  A darker maroon or a dusty pink, for sure, but not a Christmas red.  

So I continued on to B&Q where I got my sandpaper and some varnish stripper because there's a few little fiddly bits that it might be very hard to deal with.  I made a mistake though; more about that later.

I finished off at Sainsbury's which, by that time, was quite busy so it was all rather slow.  I wasn't terribly impressed with the clothes.  There were a few nice lighter dresses but when I get anything like that, it will be with the two 2026 holidays in mind and I haven't thought that through yet.   I did, however, get one T shirt, a nice ditzy patterned one (I think that's the term) because most of my T shirts are a bit too big now.  At just £4, it won't break the bank - which is just as well because the rest of the shop was rather eye watering.  Being the first of the month and not having done much of a shop at the beginning of February, there were some less frequent things I needed to buy - things like dishwasher powder, tinned goods, some frozen fruit and some steak mince - that sort of stuff.

It was nice to get the car topped up and it came to less that what I had allowed for so that's good.

I remembered to read the gas meter and send that off although I did take my torch with me as I nearly forgot and it was getting dark!

I started in on sanding the coffee table top and realised that I had made a mistake with the sandpaper.  I thought it was a pack with several different levels of coarseness but it wasn't, it was just very rough stuff  for getting the original varnish off - fine, I need some, but I need other as well.  Oh, well, with all the tops I may want to deal with, it won't go to waste, will it?

I finished off the ironing - yay.

And this . . .

No, it's not a sourdough loaf, I am weeks away from that, but I wanted to practise the shaping, cutting, baking techniques that I will use when (or if) I do get round to making a proper loaf.

This is my usual recipe, made mostly in Thermione with added seeds, part wholemeal, part spelt and part strong white.  No rye because Sainsbury's didn't have the wholemeal kind so I sent off for some and it will be arriving on Monday (good old Amazon).

This is what I got and I'm pleased with it.  Beth is taking it as I have plenty in the freezer already, so I've not been tempted!

As for Bubbles, she (she's a 'she' in my mind, I can't keep saying 'it') had another quiet day.  She smells OK and there's no sign of mould so I think the earlier activity must have been the 'false rise' and now it is the quiet days - or so I hope.  And my kitchen is just too cold so she's in the living room for now.

I haven't made it easy for myself, making a rye starter, I suppose.  Nor is it great timing as I am away next weekend, but not to worry.  We will get there and if not, I try again with  Bubbles II.

Today feels busy although it isn't really.  Beth and Alex are here for lunch and I'm picking them up so I can leave a bit earlier, stop off at B&Q and get the right sandpapers - they say we learn more from out mistakes, don't they?  I've already prepped the vegetables and the meat (a turkey breast thingy in a foil tray) is currently roasting in Nellie for reheating later - a time saver strategy!  Must remember to get some dried stuffing out of the shed and get a few piggies out of the freezer.  I didn't do the proper Christmas dinner that Alex so loves at the right time so why not today?  

Before then, at ten, Chris is over for half an hour of Groove online.  As Lindsey said:
Live stream FREE half hour groove aerobics for Let’s Dance campaign

. . . and here' the site:

https://lets-dance.org.uk/

. . . so I need to do a bit of a tidy up before she arrives and make sure everything is on and working.  It looks like we will be a big group and Lindsey is excited.

Right, well, better go and do something useful like tidying the kitchen!  Have a lovely Sunday, everyone, and stay warm and content.  See you tomorrow.  xx

02-03-25: February review and March's aims

It's really  helping me to keep up to date with all this so hopefully you won't mind too much if I have another ramble through my thoughts today. 

My goals for 2025 are

Healthy finances:

I'm still sticking to the needs only - mostly.  There have been a few things but nothing too wasteful or costly.

I'm keeping up with the bank account checking.  
I've dolloped another sum into my Jolly Holidays account that has come from the Needs Only goal plus the 'pay myself first' sum that goes from bank to savings on the first - or, this time, on the third - every single month on standing order.
I'm still not sure how much certain things will increase by, both incomings and outgoings, but will keep an eye on things.

Healthy mind and body.

Apart from the occasional twinge, the back seems fine now and I'm back to full efforts in the classes.

Potters next weekend should be a very energetic time, one way and another.

As far as my mind is concerned, does it count to learn a few more skills - like sanding down and recoating a table top and getting this sourdough thing sorted?  I think it probably does.

Healthy lifestyle.

Back on the healthy eating plan and having fun discovering new recipes that match both SW and the Mediterranean way of eating.

Plenty of social activities with friends but not so many that they become overwhelming.  I am an introvert at heart

February's aims were . . .

• To continue with the Needs Only spending.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue using what I have in freezer, fridge and cupboards . . .  Tick and ongoing
• Linked with that to move a specific amount across to short term savings at the end of the month.  I have a specific amount in mind but won't be sharing that.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue updating my spreadsheet every time anything goes out of my account so I absolutely KNOW where I am at any given point in the month.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue with the Food Bank collection and, specifically, to check what's really needed and make sure I focus on that.  Tick and ongoing
• To make a decision about whether to go for another cruise and to decide on a linked savings target to go towards that (I suppose you could call it a sinking fund but it will be on the spreadsheet, not a separate account.)  Done - no cruise but three planned holidays, one this year and two next.  Savings are underway
• To do one extra online SET class each week, if possible.  Tick
• To continue with the decluttering.  Tick, although it has slowed down since the redecorating - must get back on it.
• Resume the daily weed scraping when they start fighting back - and they will!  They have.  IU am!

 

So, all good.  Some are really feeling more like habits so can vanish from the goals list with the proviso that they come back on again if necessary.

March's aims.
The ongoing ones from February plus:

1. Resume the daily decluttering
2. Get to grips with sourdough starter and baking
3. Learn how to re-stain my coffee table tops - and at least get started.
4. Find another knitting or crochet project.