Wednesday

Hi!  Wednesday lands and there's no early thing in the diary.  I don't have to be out until just before eleven which feels great!

My diary is going bonkers though.  For people why are retires, it is proving almost impossible to find a meeting date that we can all attend.  There's things pencilled in, crossed out, pencilled in elsewhere, crossed out . . .  aaarrrggghhh.

I'm sure it will all sort out but I'm so glad I'm not the one having to organise it.

Having said that, the meeting I went to yesterday was great.  Really good fun and very positive.  

Today there's two.  One at eleven, meeting LEA people because there's an 'inclusion review' - nothing scary, just a 'where are you with this' kind of thing.  Should be very interesting.

Then a less formal meeting straight afterwards, quite different and I'm looking forward to that.

Housework?  What housework?  lol!!  xx

Edit:  p.s.  The new Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar is out!!  Yes, I have . . .

Tuesday, 13-10-26

Tuesday greetings, everyone.  

One of the things about sitting at my laptop and socially mediating (is that even a term?) at this time is noticing how much later light is dawning from day to day.  It'll be brighter for a while in under two weeks, when the clock goes back but, right now, seven am feels like it should be proper light and it really isn't.
Mind you, maybe the longer nights is one reason why I am sleeping better at the moment.  Do you find that the darker evenings and mornings are more conducive to better sleep?

Yesterday happened!  Circuits was a lot busier than last week.  Last week there were four of us - this week, double that number so it was lovely and chatty!

Did I get the housework done.  Er . . . well, a bit.  And I changed the bedding, got it washed and dried in the dryer (such extravagance) so it just needed folding nicely.  

I received some paperwork from school and went through it before today's meeting - it wasn't much and didn't take long.
I didn't get on with the training but I'm half way through and have time.
I fired off several semi-related messages.

And I got on with a bit of crochet - still practising!

And I sorted out my kitchen before bedtime.  Yay.

Best of all, I got a message from Kay saying things had calmed down and she would be returning to her job in December, should I still want her.  You can guess what I said to that!!

Today starts with Groove.  I'll be going on my own as Chris and Steve are away for a midweek break.  Then I have a meeting in school which should be good.  Then I'm back home so maybe, just maybe, a bit of housework will get done.  Fingers crossed.

Oh, and I need to look up a few things for another meeting tomorrow.  Being a governor isn't always like this, it is just at the moment things are a bit busy.  And I really don't mind the training stuff - it keeps my brain active.

Better stop rambling and say goodbye.  Stay safe and warm, everyone.  xx

Monday, 12-10-26

Morning!  It doesn't feel quite so chilly this morning, which is nice, and light is dawning.  I've made my lunchtime soup (carrot, tomato and lentil) which smells pretty good and now I'm thinking about bath and getting dressed - after this.

Yesterday was just as expected.  Both lots of bread came out beautifully and I got Beth's over to her soon after midday, staying for a little chat before coming home.
And that was about it!

Today starts with circuits and I can take Lindsey her bread and some tomatoes and then, being Monday, it is housework day.  Nothing very exciting but it will look nice when it's done.

And that's it.  My 'exciting' life.  🙂

How about you?  xx

Sunday, 11-10-26

Good morning, everyone.  I'm up early while it is still dark after a lovely night's sleep.  I did um and ah about a lie in but decided I didn't really want one!  I'm not really a lie and read person; I prefer being up and doing first thing and reading later on in my comfy recliner.

So I've sorted out the kitchen because I left it messy last night (bad me) and I noted with satisfaction that Bubbles has bubbled really well overnight.  I'll just give her another hour or so and then start Lindsey's sourdough.  Last week I made cheese and chorizo bread for her and she said it was fantastic as I think I mentioned.  This week it is the usual mixed flour loaves because she's nearly out of that.

Then I can make Beth's yeasted bread in the same bowl (I use Thermione for the kneading) because is amazing the difference just a bit of sourdough makes to a yeasted dough - it rises like a hot air balloon!

Back to yesterday and I'm still practising!  I'm not sure about this project.  It's 'cluttered' and sewing on the leaves was trickier and messier than I expected.
 The fir cones are very fiddly, I don't like the poinsettia so will have a think about how I can adapt it and the berries are not even and regular so more practise is needed all round.
If course, as a practise run, I am using the very cheap acrylic I already have which doesn't have a great twist and so comes out a bit fuzzy and undefined.  That's not helping.

I might try the bow today - that looks to be a little simpler.

Wish me luck.

I managed to get more of the Gov Hub training done.  I'm going carefully as I do need to remember the essentials this time.  Slow, steady and taking notes of essential points.

So, today I will do more of the training, I have bread to make, meals to plan and prep and a bow to try!  And tomatoes - so many tomatoes!!  
(no complaints - they can keep coming as far as I am concerned)

And the daily social media stuff on Facebook!

Better get going then.  Facebook first, I think, then tomatoes and then I can start the sourdough!

Have a lovely day and, to my Canadian readers, Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to you for tomorrow - have a wonderful celebration.  xx

Saturday, 10-10-26

Morning - it's a lovely sunny morning but it does feel quite chilly.  Not heating on chilly, just another layer chilly!

I now have a much happier nose!
I know Specsavers always say that if there's a problem just pop in so I did.  They were busy and I had to wait my turn so just under half an hour later I walked out all sorted, instant relief, no charge and 'would I like the blu tac back?', lol.  No, I didn't and we both laughed, me and the lady sorting it for me.

I did a bit of wandering around in town but when it came to it, I didn't eat out.  I did look in the M&S cafe but there was a queue and it was slow moving so I didn't.  Instead, I treated myself to an M&S pizza, garlic bread and a bit of alcohol - a bit naughty as I had gained on the SW scales but you have to have a treat now and again, don't you?

The rest of the day passed in a blur of snoozing, reading, crochet, snooze . .  it has been a busy old week and I think it was just the reaction because I slept well all night too.

This weekend the diary is blank - lovely!  Of course, I have things to do including a bit of extra governor training relating to something that's coming up before half term.  I don't HAVE to do it but I OUGHT to, if you see what I mean.  It will help.

Are you doing anything nice this weekend.  Going away, out, something special?  Whatever you do, have a great time and stay safe and well.  xx

Friday, 09-20-26

Hi, everyone.   I'm sitting here, fluffy slippers on, snuggle hood over my pjs and it's nice and comfy.  To be fair, the heating hasn't clicked on (it's controlled all year round by a thermostat) so it can't be as cold as it was yesterday morning when it came on and stayed on pretty much all morning.
Autumn is definitely here now, late but inevitable!

I'm still getting loads of tomatoes though.  Yesterday, I gave Chris a bag of them and then Vat took a bagful home too and today I have more to deal with.  Poor freezer!!
I had a bit of a sort out of my shelf stable stuff and I have enough cans of tomatoes to last for decades (slight exaggeration) so it's lucky I really love tomatoes, isn't it?

I can't remember if I said, I don't think I did, but I got my quarterly gas statement a few days ago and then an email saying I'm paying too much monthly and they are reducing it from next month.  That's OK although I had decided not to bring it up with them because we are starting the heavier usage season but it's swings and roundabouts really and I guess what with the amount they already have and what I will be paying monthly, I don't need to worry unduly about it.  A comfort if or when it gets really cold.  

The jury seems to be out on whether we will get a cold or a warm winter this time around, according to the Meteorological Office, despite all the alarming headlines about stocking up, etc.

While on the subject, the little gas stove arrived but I haven't looked at it or tried it out yet.  If we have sunny weather, I might give it a go in the garden with some sausages, etc, and just see how it goes!  :-)

Yesterday was lovely and far more relaxing than Wednesday.  

Chris turned up at half nine as usual and we had our usual mix of coffee, laughs and setting our world to rights.

While she was here, Seth arrived to finish off the last little bit of the new window that got overlooked on Wednesday.  It really is just a little bit of sealing, as you can see, but I don't have any and would likely make a real mess of it anyway.  Best left to the pros.
Now it is all done and dusted and I am waiting for the invoice to land so I can pay.  It's nice to know the view will be unimpeded by condensation between the panes. from now on.

Chris left, Val came and it was just lovely.  We have both had holidays since the last time we met so we shared the fun and then went to The Hare for lunch.  I brought half of my salad home to finish off for dinner!

Annoyingly, I have to go into town today; the little silicon nose pads have fallen off my glasses - both of them, not just one - and I have no idea how.  I do know when because my nose is very sore!!
At the moment, there's some blu-tac cushioning the worst of it but I know they will be able to stick some new ones on for me so no worries.

So I will go to Slimming World, leave early and get the bus into town to get them sorted.  I might be a bit naughty and have a bit of breakfast in town too.  There's several little coffee places I have wanted to try for a while now.

That's it for today.  Nothing else in  the diary so I can chill and maybe get on with some crochet later on.

Happy Friday, everyone.  Have a lovely day.  xx

Thursday, 08-10-26

 Morning, all.  Brrr - it's a pretty chilly start to the day here.  I've just been out for my early morning personal training and a coat was appreciated!

Yesterday was busy but everything went well, thankfully.  I've not slept well because of stuff buzzing around in my head but that just means I'll sleep better this evening, doesn't it?

Today is going to be good.  I've just had PT, Chris is coming over for coffee and chat and then Val is over and we're going out for lunch.
No meetings, no windows, no anything formal.  Phew.

And later on, I can get on with my crochet.  That will be relaxing.  

Have a great day, stay warm and stay well, everyone.  xx