Thursday

 Morning.  Sorry this is so very late.  For one, I slept later and then had to rush around to get dressed and get out for my early morning shop.  I managed to get some social media stuff done but not this one.  

I looked online and found the quilt I wanted.  It's is now winging its way here although it won't arrive until next week sometime.  With any luck, one it's on, I won't have to turn on the electric blanket after the inevitable journey down to the loo and back in the middle of the night.
I was prepared to go into town to go to the shop but I'm glad I didn't have to.

I met up with Lewis and he did a lot of measuring up while I contemplated the autumnal mess and made tentative plans for a good old tidy up.  Next week, weather permitting, maybe.  

After personal training (as good as usual which is very), I went on a bit further to Sainsburys because I want to try to make my own sushi and I needed various speciality bits and pieces.  Last week, I noticed the Sainsbury's had a whole area devoted to sushi stuff so I went there.  I'm sure we have good ethnic shops in town but I don't know where.
It will be a few days before I have a go - probably next Monday or Tuesday.
However - I need a few Brownie points because I went straight from Lindsey's, still in my exercise wear (with a nice long jumper to hide the lumps and bumps) which was very brave of me, I think.

Today it's the usual early morning shop (done) and then a good old natter with Chris (also done but not in the garden).

Then I have a whole list of 'little' things to do.
Nails
Kitchen
Washing (I changed the bedding)
Tidy my bedroom (it's not bad but it will be if I don't sort a few things out)
Make and open freeze the pigs in blankets for Christmas - and yes, I do them around this time normally and even thought we're not having turkey on Christmas day, we are still having pigs because what's Christmas without pigs in blankets, eh?
Sort out the fridge - again!
Nothing majorly big, difficult or time consuming but it all needs doing so I'd better get started, don't you think.  It is midday, almost, after all.
Have a great day, everyone.  xx

Wednesday

 Morning everyone.  It's looking promising out there right now - clearing skies and quite a strong breeze.  Yesterday was definitely a day of two halves.  The morning was gorgeous but then the clouds rolled in and the rain started just before two - when I left home for the dentist it was sunny but I needed my umbrella to go in.

Lewis turned up and we went down to the allotment.  He's quite happy to take on the work and we talked about  where and what.  He will build some raised beds too which sill be nice.  I'm hoping we can go back down today for him to measure up so he can cost it all out and give me a quote.

Then I pottered around at home for \a while.  Chris and Steve came across and he checked the tyres again.  They are fine.  Reassuring because I think that if there had been even a slow puncture, it would show is reduced tyre pressure.
They sent me the link to the gizmo he uses and I have ordered one, to arrive today.  If I can check regularly, it will be a peace of mind thing.  I've also ordered a set of those caps that Diane mentioned.  They're not too costly but will take a while to come.  Not to worry, I can wait.

Then it was off to the dentist.  While I was waiting (they let people wait inside now), someone I know turned up.  not exactly a friend, but one of the check out ladies at Morrisons that I always chat to and she also comes to SW when she can.  If our paths crossed more, I think we probably would become friends as we do get on well.
Anyway, she was having a similar thing so we had a good old chat about it and I stopped feeling nervous.  
All went well, the implant was perfect this time, it feels so comfortable and I not have to get used to not having to sort of clear the gum just there when I'm eating.  It's a habit after all this time.
We discussed the next procedure (there's another gap at the back and I asked about my lower front teeth which are very worn away.  Not until next year though, I've had enough for now.
Oh, and I paid the bill which, as almost always, was the most painful part really.  Good old Lump Sum!

The rest of the day was normal stuff.  Nice and gentle.  A parcel arrived and Cheryl will know what it was, me having admired her acquisitions the other day.  It's all her fault!   :-)

Today there's one set thing and a maybe.  I may be taking Lewis back to the allotment as mentioned above and it's personal training with Lindsey.  I'm looking forward to that.

Oh, and one other - I've found I'm waking up cold in the middle of the night, even with a blanket over the duvet which is a fairly lightweight one but very good quality (and worth every penny as it's still lovely, soft and un-lumpy.  I got it from John Lewis so I'm going online this morning to order a higher tog (do they still use tog measures for duvets?) one for winter.  Another ouchy thing but worth it.

Well, better go.  Duties call.  Have a great old day and stay safe and well.  xx

Tuesday

 Morning, everyone.  After an obviously very wet night, things are clearing a bit as day starts.  The sky looks to be clearing a bit and the rain seems to have stropped.  The forecast is not great, however - heavy rain and a 'fresh breeze'.

Yesterday was sunny though.  Not especially warm but not cold either and very pleasant.

There were just three of us (out of six) at circuits so we first rotates round three activities before doing some core work on the mats.  It was easier than last week - things are definitely improving and now, if I could only get my calf muscles back to full strength . . . 

Later on, I popped down to the allotment and picked.  Still plenty of dwarf French beans (given the few plants), still some raspberries although not that many now and one courgette.  There are loads of little ones but they're not growing terribly fast in this cooler weather.
Sadly, I was upset to see that all the pears have vanished, every single one.  They haven't dropped, there were none on the ground, and last week there were plenty.  Some &^%**$£*& has come along and picked the lot.  Ditto for the redlove apples.  They have very sensibly left the laxtons which are very damaged and wormy this year.
But isn't that mean?  I've had about four pears this year with two more ripening in the kitchen and Beth hasn't had any.  Now there's no more and there were loads last week, lovely sound fruit.
I will report it, of course, but that won't help - allotments are vulnerable places anyway.  The gate is locked but it's still simple to get in.

It makes me even more glad that I am investing in some little fruit trees for the garden.  At least, next year, and in subsequent years too,  there should be some fruit that is 'safe'.

What with the plum tree dying, the laxton apple being a dead loss and now this, it's not been a great year for allotment fruit.  Oh, well, that's the nature of the beast, isn't it.  Some you win, some you lose and some you have nicked!

Today there's two things in the diary.

The first is the Lindsey's son (Lindsey is my personal trainer) is coming round to see what he can do about fitting some new borders to the allotment beds.  Poor man, I used to teach him in year one so goodness knows how he is feeling about advising me but let's hope he's OK.  I'd like him to have the work, if possible.  It's been tough for him over this pandemic as the sort of work he did in the catering industry has been severely curtailed and what he does now is very prone to delays and cancellations and no work, no pay.
So fingers crossed it is all satisfactory.

The other is what I am trying to ignore - another trip to the dentist.  You may remember that there was a problem with the fitting of my implant last time and I'm hoping that has all been sorted out this time.  Finger crossed.

So that's today.  What with bad weather and dentists, I think I will be glad when it's over but you never know - it might end up being a really lovely day.
I hope yours is great!  xx

Monday

 Morning, everyone.  Thank you for your lovely comments yesterday.  I am glad to say that I did catch up on my sleep yesterday, had an early night and a solid eight hours overnight, so I'm feeling much better this morning.
It was quite a pleasant day yesterday, not all that warm but sunny with just a couple of heavy showers to add interest!  Today is supposed to be fine but dull and, as is usual at this time, the temperatures are getting a bit lower on average.

I didn't do much yesterday but got one thing sorted.  I'm pretty useless where car stuff is concerned.  I reckon that's what services are for and leave it to them to dig out and sort any issues.  However, last week the tyre decompression warning came on.  It's happened a couple of times before and each time it's been a slow puncture.
However, what with fuel issues and not getting out and about much, combined with an obviously happy set of tyres and no 'drag' while driving, I didn't do anything about it at the time.  However, yesterday, I asked Chris if Steve (her other half) could possible just check my tyre pressure (I really MUST get one of those gizmos) which he did and found do problem, no deflations, nothing.  So I will keep an eye on it and wait and see.  He said he could check it again in a few days.
Actually, Steve said his gizmo came with the car so I must take a look under the carpet in the boot and see if I actually have one myself.  I may very well do - I know there's a spare and a jack there.  If not, it's ho! for Amazon!
Yes, I ought to know already but I don't!

In the handbook there are instructions for doing a temporary puncture repair but it lost me after the first two sentences.

I watched Strictly, of course, and I feel justice was done in who was eliminated (no spoilers) but was sad because the professional concerned is one of my favourites and it always seems very tough to be the first pair out - after all, they've hardly started.  However, I'm glad it was them and not the other couple in the dance off who I didn't think deserved to be there.

Today there is just one thing in the diary.  Usually there's two, circuit training and tuition but my student is off on the Y6 residential trip this morning so - no tuition this week.  I hope they all have an amazing time and I admire the staff who cheerfully volunteer to go with them, year after year.  I never did!  lol

So that leaves the Monday circuit training with Lindsey.  She's said to bring our mats so that means more ouch!  :-)

I'm also going down to the allotment, not to work as it will be sodden after all the rain, but to pick green beans, courgettes and raspberries and see how the autumn cropping broad beans are doing.  Last time I went, there were mini pods developing.

Then it is just the usual, every day homey sort of things to do, the things that oil the wheels of a happy life and keep everything nice and friendly at home.
Enjoy your day.  xx

Sunday

 Morning, everyone!  After a shockingly wet and rather windy day yesterday, right at the moment (just after five), it is dry and calm again.  I haven't checked Beeb but it doesn't matter to me because I have no plans to go out.

After several nights of great sleep, I awoke at around half three in the middle of a very vivid and not nice dream.  It was weird and very much showed the sort of anxieties I had as a teacher, in idiotic form.  I had heard about a post in school that had been advertised so I had said I would go for it, although I had no idea what it was.  The next moment (as dreams tend to progress) I was watching another candidate teaching a group of four and realised I had no idea what the job was and what I was supposed to be teaching.  I asked the head and the deputy who were observing along with several governors and someone from the LEA but no-one would say.  I was going to pull out but wasn't allowed to.  Then to 'my' observed lesson in my own old classroom - no plans, no learning objective, no outcomes, no resources apart from an old fashioned white board on a easel with kitchen paper bulldog clipped in (that's going back a good few decades now, isn't it?), a whole class of children I didn't know, restless and unsettled and aaarrrggghhh.  I woke just as I was getting into my stride with some waffle about healthy minds and bodies and what to do when you feel fidgety!  It was terrible.
And then I couldn't get to sleep again.
Never mind, I can snooze during the day but, for me, it was a horrible dream and where it came from, I have no idea.

Yesterday was a lovely, easy, self indulgent day.  The hair is clean, the nails are shiny and I have caught up with some new QIs that I recorded as well as vlogs I follow before shutting the bad weather out by drawing the curtains before six.

Strictly was good.  I have my own thoughts as to who should go this week but we will see this evening.  I know there are spoilers out there saying who has gone but I don't go looking for them.

And the apple was totally delicious.  Very juicy, sweet with a bit of tang to it, crisp - everything that a good apple should be.  I'm looking forward to the next one now, whenever that will be.
I'm also looking forward to my other columnar trees being delivered some time this month, I believe.  A pear, a plum and a Braeburn apple.  They should be fine outside and if really severe winter weather is threatened, it won't be too hard to bubble wrap them for a bit of protection.

Today is another quiet day although I will do a few more chores around the house.  I have some presents to wrap for Beth's birthday later this month and a few more Twelve Days of Christmas presents to wrap too.  I'm doing them early in the vague hope that I will forget details although I will remember one which is a book!  I think I'll make sure that's opened good and early, maybe the 27th!
With some nice meals planned, it should be a good day.  I hope yours is too.  xx

Saturday

 Good morning!  It's dry this morning, unlike yesterday when it absolutely lashed with rain until around ten o'clock, but it is clouding over and the Beeb forecast is absolutely dire . . .

. . . as you can see in this not terribly clear screen grab.

So it's just as well I have planned a nice, self indulgent, inside day today anyway!

Yesterday first though.
Because of the rain, I drove the short way to Slimming World rather than walking where I was on the weigh in desk after weighing myself.  One and a half off - yay!  For those unaware, I did get to target last summer but in the unsetting times before and after Dad's death in June/July, I comfort ate and drank and gained again so it's steadily working back down to my target range again.  As we say, slow and steady wins the race and, if you follow my other blog, you will know I eat well and widely.  No diet deprivation in this house!  :-)

After that, it had stopped raining so I decided to take a little drive to the two closest filling stations, just to see if.  The first one was closed but the second one was open and the queue really wasn't that long, mainly because it was limited to £30sworth per customer.  That was fine for me, I wasn't anywhere near empty, just at the point where I was thinking about when to fill up.

You see, for the past five years or so, while first Mum and then Dad were not 100%, I got in the habit of making sure I always had enough duel in the engine to get me to their home and back again, just in case there was an emergency (and there were some from time to time).
So now, when I get to that point, I start feeling slightly uncomfortable, even though the need is no longer there.  Habits are hard to make and harder to break, don't you think?

So I got my £30 of petrol and drove home with a lighter heart.

Once at home, I had a good hard look at the living room and changed some furniture around to accommodate the coffee table more attractively.  Now it is set diagonally in the corner which really works and shows off the more interesting side really well.  I am happy with it where it is now.  It also helped to finally sort out some long standing clutter and get the gopak table folded up and in the shed - it's been out way too long.

Then the cleaners came, worked their weekly magic and left after admiring the table.  :-)

That was it really.

So - today.  I plan a me day with just a few chores.  There's one load of washing to dry and iron and then I want to get my old trainers washed (fingers crossed).
I'm going to wash my hair, not that that's anything special, and then give my nails a doing.  I've only just started giving them any attention or wearing varnish, etc, but I'm liking it so hope to make it a weekly thing.  Don't get me wrong, I always keep them clean, obviously, and neat but not polished and shiny.  
Then I have some new magazines to snuggle into and some telly to catch up with and I might dig out a counted cross stitch kit to start.  And if I feel chilly, I will turn up the heating without any guilty pangs.  It's going to be that sort of day.

And look . . . the first apple from the flamenco ballerina tree.

Simple things please simple minds, says the proverb.  I reckon simple things please happy people and I feel happy.
Hoping you all have a happy day too.  xx

Friday

 End of September, beginning of October, pinch and punch for the first of the month and white rabbits!

Morning, everyone.  It's wet again today although we did get some sunshine yesterday later on which was nice.  There may be more sun today, we will see.

Yesterday was another nice day.  I mentioned the shopping yesterday; after that I got a basketful of ironing done and put away and prepped for the evening meal with Alex before leaving for my personal training with Lindsey.

Dinner was good - Al and I had a good old talk and enjoyed the food together.

Today, being Friday, it is Slimming World meeting first thing and then I need to get a few corners sorted out before the cleaners come this afternoon.
And that's about it really.  Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx