Thursday, 05-11-26

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Thursday.  It's still dark so I have no idea what the weather is doing but it doesn't feel all that cold really.  I'm sitting at my desk, sipping my hot coffee and feeling so, so much better.  Everything's breaking up now, I sound awful but don't feel anything like I sound.  Happy days again!

The naughty calendar (maybe I need to rephrase that) - the indulgent calendar arrived yesterday.  Of course, I had a quick peek, just at the layout and it's lovely - simple and exciting!  I'll show you properly on December 1st which isn't all that far away now.  I'd better start gathering together my Advent music.

After two lethargic days, I felt loads more energetic yesterday and got downstairs tidied and cleaned plus a load of washing done.  It was a relief to sit in a tidier room again.

I'm off to personal training at 7:45 for an 8:00 start.  Lindsey asked to put it back as the other two people who have early sessions are both poorly.  Not just me then!

Once that is over, I will be going to Chris' for our usual coffee and chat and then I have copious amounts of paperwork to read for tomorrow.

And ironing - I really must do the ironing.  Fortunately, downstairs is relatively clean and tidy now but we won't mention upstairs, OK?
Thanks!

That's about it really.  I hope your week has gone really well, if you are feeling rough, get well soon, and have a great day.  xx

Wednesday, 04-11-26: I've been bad!

Good morning, everyone.  It's Wednesday already and it feels as if the week has barely begun.  I suppose it has for me, seeing as the last two days were rest days!

Thank you, all you kind people, for your messages over those two days.  I'm feeling loads better this morning.  The cold has broken and, while I sound terrible, I'm feeling pretty much normal now that the aches, the hard cough and the headache have gone.  You never know whether pushing on through or resting up is the right way to go until afterwards, do you?  I felt quite wimpish yesterday but it was right to have another rest day, judging by how things are this morning.

There's nothing in the diary for today but I'm really behind with stuff so it will be pretty busy (between sit downs - no point in pushing too hard).  I'll feel happier when certain things are done and dusted (quite literally dusted in some cases).  None of it will take too long; it just needs doing!

Confession time.
A few weeks ago, I was rambling on about Advent calendars, etc, etc, and expressed a wish (only a wish) for a certain ouchily expensive calendar but had decided not to splash out.
Well (you can guess what's coming, can't you), after two months of nice little premium bond winnings (nothing amazing but it's all extra money in the bank), I did some thinking, looked at the numbers and . . .  well, it is arriving today.  Ooops!

Part of my self justification was that, given what have I spent this past year on Jo Malone products which I use every day, it will partly pay for itself through 2027.  Another is that I had a good look at what was in it and there's nothing that I won't use which is unusual for that kind of calendar.  And another is that they will make nice little birthday gifts for people . . . maybe!
And, frivolous me, I feel happy!

But that's all waffle really.  It's sheer self indulgence wearing a Christmas hat and, if you want to look up the price, make sure you are sitting down first, OK. 

And I'm telling you now so you know before Advent posts start.  :-)

My conscience is definitely active at the moment (not that it stopped me) and I will make up in other ways - you know, giving rather than receiving.  And on that subject, I'm expecting my Advent of Change to arrive in the next few days.  I think it is a great scheme.

Better stop rambling now and get the day started.  Viv, and anyone else I hope you are feeling OK and the sore throat has gone away.
Take case, stay warm and safe.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday, 03-11-26

Morning, all.  Just a quick one because I'm still not quite right, woke very early and am going back to bed shortly to try and catch up.  No Groove today, sadly.  

Hope you are all keeping well.  Stay warm and be safe.  xx

Monday, 02-11-26

 Good morning, one and all, and welcome to a new week.  It's still dark here but doesn't feel all that chilly, thankfully.

Thanks you all so much for your kind comments on yesterday's post.  The day went OK, I rested between coughs and sneezes and slept like a log overnight - that was a real blessing after Saturday night!  I was sorry to miss lunch with my friends but they were very understanding and we have set a date in December for a 

I have two things in the diary.  One is circuits and I've pulled out of that because of too much coughing.  The other is Alex coming over for a roast dinner.  I'm happy with him to come but have let him know and he might not want to risk catching it -I'll leave it up to him.  Either way, it is fine.

Apart from that, I will rest up and chill and should start feeling loads better very soon.

Take care, everyone, and if you have this cold that's doing the rounds right now, get well soon.  xx

Sunday, 01-11-26

Hi, everyone.  Sorry about yesterday.  I wasn't feeling great and now, after a not very good night, I have a fully blown cold.  Just a cold but they can be miserable, can't they?  

Back to yesterday and I did manage to get into town.  Third time lucky.  Beth and I had coffee in the second floor area (very nice coffee it was too) before doing a trawl around that floor, looking at the festive gifts and decorations.  All very nice but nothing all that special so all I bought was a pack of needles from the haberdashery area.

Then we took the lift (because of Beth's wheelchair) back down and attacked the Jo Malone department where we had a great time spraying and sniffing and testing.  I now have Beth's Christmas present all bought and tucked away, a replacement for me as the old perfume has run out and a freebie which I can use as one of my Twelve Days of Christmas gifts.
On the way back, I popped into Body Shop and got some satsuma hand cream which smells gorgeous and absorbs really well.

Through the afternoon I was feeling increasingly rough and this morning - yuck.  So today is cancelled.  I was going out for lunch with Diane, Tracy and Caroline but I've pulled out of that.  I am sure my germs would not be welcome.

That's it really,  Colds don't usually go on too long so I should be feeling much more with it by tomorrow.

Hoping you are all well and enjoying the weekend.  xx

Friday, 30-10-26: being prepared

Morning!
All of us in the UK know about the latest advice from the Government's Be Ready checklist for short term survival should we be hit by severe weather (presumably they mean flooding/snow/very high winds) or cyber attack.

I'm not one to panic unduly but I've been going through things.  It feels only sensible. 

1.  See what you have already and plan for your household:   Seeing as it is just me, that's not to difficult.  I keep well ahead on my medication and, seeing as it is just blood pressure meds, going without probably isn't the end of the world.

2.  Food and water:  I have plenty of shelf stable food that could be eaten without heating first and I have some bottled water - and more is on the shopping list!  The advice is three litres for three days and I don't think I have that much.  I also have my little camping gas stove. Must work out how to get the canister in - working it out in the middle of a blackout would not be terribly helpful!

3.  Sanitiser, wipes, etc.  All ticked because we just do, don't we?

4.  Light and warmth.  I've been checking where my torches are and thinking where I can put them so I can get to them easily.  I also have a very good solar powered light, very powerful, designed for looking under cars, etc.  It has two setting, light and disco.  Maybe I could throw a party? 
I got it out today and now it's all charged up.  Even in gloomy days, there's some available charging.
As for warmth, I knew there had to be a reason for all those crocket blankets and I have the thermal stuff I bought before the Northern Lights cruise.  Miraculously, I know where it all is too.
I need to check where my flasks are, don't I?

5.  Communication and information:  I have power banks.  OK, they don't last for ever but I have three of them and use would have to be saved for real necessity.  I don't have a wind up radio so I have ordered one from Amazon.  Goodness knows how good it is or even how it works - I haven't listened to the radio for years and years - but Chris' Steve can show me if I can't work it out myself. 

6:  Money and documents:  I need to get some cash out, don't I, and not use it unless it is an emergency.  Copies of important documents is an idea - I'll get that done.

7.  Medical and health:  I've already mentioned my meds and I have a reasonable supply of pain killers.

8.  Baby products and pet products:  Not necessary as I have neither.

Let's be optimistic - if it the A bomb, I doubt any of us living close to London will be in a position to care anyway!  I refuse to worry about that eventuality.

Have you considered the Government's advice?

Thursday, 29-10-26

 Morning, everyone.  Just a quick one today as I'll be off to Personal Training in a short while.

There were no surprises yesterday.  Sharon did the necessary and now my hair feels a bit short but a lot neater.  I am four loads of washing down (great line drying day yesterday!) with one more to go.  Beth has arranged for her washing machine to be repaired (phew).  And the rest of the day passed gently.

Today I'm off shortly, thankful that they got the weather forecast wrong and it isn't foggy, and then a bit later Chris is round for our coffee and chat.  Then I need to carry on with that training I started last week.  This week is passing too quickly for comfort and, if I don't get it done, time will have run out.  And I have some paperwork to peruse carefully too.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx