Friday 17 December 2021

Friday: Advent day seventeen

Good morning, everyone.  Another mildish start to the day after a very warm (for December) night.  Has anyone else seen that 'they' are predicting a 'Beast from the East' around Christmas time.  I'll believe that when it happens and not before! 

Yesterday was a really lovely day.

First of all, Chris and I had our weekly coffee and chat.  Last week she provided Festive nibbles; this week I did and I'm pleased to say that the mince pies and the vegetarian 'sausage' rolls were both lovely (I think) and they, and the biscotti, went down a treat.  We are not meeting next week as both households are not really going out and about the week before before Christmas but keeping ourselves as safe as possible.  We may do an online chat though.

Then I drove over to Val's, loaded down with more mince pies and biscotti, knitting and Christmas gifts - oh, and slippers.  I've known Val for decades - she was the first person to welcome me into my house in 1985 when she lived just down the road and she stayed to help to get things unpacked and away.  A lovely lady.
She made a most delicious lunch of a toasted roll, spinach, smoked haddock, an egg and a topping of hollandaise sauce.  So, so good.  We then scoffed a mince pie and a biscotto (is that the singular?) each.  What with that and a really lovely chat, I had a super time.

And then, once home, Dave popped round, stayed for coffee and we had a good old natter.  He and Anna are coming round next Wednesday for a take away Chinese and a game of Scrabble so that's something else to look forward to.

Today, it's the Slimming World party and taster and then I'm home for the day.  I will be covering the cake with marzipan and then making stollen using the remains of the marzipan.  I'm going to enjoy today, I think.


Today's Advent music is a personal favourite, 'Thorns in the Straw' written and performed by the great modern Christian singer/songwriter, Graham Kendrick.




18 comments:

  1. Another piece I'd not heard before, although not one for community carol singing! That Graham Kendrick is a clever bloke

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    1. He's very gifted, isn't he.
      Definitely NOT for a good old Christmas carol knees up, for sure! :-)
      xx

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  2. Replies
    1. Thank you. It's a very thoughtful one, I think.
      xx

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  3. I haven't heard that carol before. Truly beautiful! In fact although I have been commenting each day I have enjoyed all the carols you have treated us with. Thanks for sharing :-). Enjoy your day Amanda x

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    1. Thank you, Amanda. I'm glad you have enjoyed the music.
      xx

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    2. That should read "although I haven't been commenting" and "you have treated us to". sorry for typos :-). A x

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  4. It sounds like today is going to be a very tasty day :-)

    Mavis had a Zoom call with Alan yesterday, it was fun to watch!! (We both had to download Zoom for the first time, we use Teams for our business meeting so have never had a reason to use Zoom before.)

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    1. What fun!!
      Zoom is remarkably easy to use, isn't it?
      xx

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  5. It sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday. I still have 2 mince pies in the freezer from last Christmas. I bought 6 and froze them individually as I can't be trusted with a box of them. I'd forgotten about them until I rearranged the freezer last week pre Covid. I haven't been to SW for 18 months now. I should have swapped groups really... I called in one day at the end of group, to drop off some excess veg and the leader was being ridiculously hard on someone Ive known for a very long time ( who has terminal cancer and has been on treatment for 15+years) for having eaten a toasted teacake.She then tried to force me to get weighed. I couldn't face going back after that.

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    Replies
    1. Lost track of time, its actually 2.5 years!

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    2. That certainly was not a good experience. Thankfully, Jen is nothing like that - she sometimes says 'no blame and no shame' - and her meetings reflect that. I wouldn't go if she was as you describe either.

      Enjoy your mince pies.
      xx

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  6. It's a beautiful Christmas song. I've heard it before but don't really 'know' it yet.

    Hope you enjoy your SW party xx

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    1. I think it is lovely too. I have accompanied it on keyboard in the dim and distant past and fell in love with it then.
      xx

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  7. What a lovely day you had.

    I have never heard that song before. Thanks for sharing it.

    God bless.

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    1. It was a super day, thanks. Glad you liked the song.
      xx

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  8. It has turned chilly here overnight, with even a ground frost the last couple of mornings.
    Your friendship with Val sounds wonderful, and one to be treasured. X

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    1. It's turned a bit colder here too, I think. No frosts yet, though.
      xx

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