Blogmas day 21

Morning, everyone.  Day 21 begins and it looks like an easy one for me.  

Yesterday's Slimming World party and taster was great fun - Heidi brought three games with her including one that had a prize for everyone.  Mine was a jar of Options hot chocolate which is quite nice added to yogurt.

Oh, and we had a snowball fight!!

After tidying everything up and making sure we left the hall in good nick, I headed over to Morrisons and the 'fun' began.

To be fair, although it was very crowded, everyone seemed in good humour and was happy to shift over, move out of the way, make space with a smile or a friendly word.  It makes shopping so much nicer, doesn't it?
The bill, even after the deductions for points, More Card special prices, etc, was eye-wateringly scary but, when I got home and had time to sit down and think about it, I did get quite a lot for my money really.

They had restocked on the half price beef, pork and lamb and I managed to get the last leg of lamb.  I don't need it now but a whole leg of lamb for £15 is too good to leave.  I did ponder more beef but didn't because I cut the last one into four small roasts which will do me and Alex nicely.

I got loads of Schloer zero because it was a very good special price and I almost always get a bottle each week.

There was alcohol, of course - that always costs.

I now have plenty of cheese - we all love cheese.

And nuts - raw nuts.

And they had veg at 10p a bag (really!) on my More Card so I got some - I need to get them prepped and in the freezer at some point.

What I didn't get was crisps.  There's four days to go and crisps are my downfall.  I'm going to walk round on Tuesday (must check opening hours) to get them and, already, a few extra items are on the new list - I'm nearly out of plain flour, for example.

Never ending, isn't it?

Once everything was away in fridge, freezer, kitchen cupboard or garden room, I sat down with a coffee to ponder the bill before jumping up again to do some baking,

Here we are!

I baked a loaf that I decided to keep freeform rather than in a tin - I always add some mixed seeds to the dough nowadays but yesterday I also crumbled in some chestnuts and it is delicious!  I use a mix of strong white and wholemeal plus spelt and/or rye and it does make a nice, flavoursome loaf that doesn't sit too 'heavy'.

I used Thermione to make some sweet pastry for nine mince pies - one fall apart as I lifted it out so, obviously, I had to eat that one.

Then I made some oatcakes.  There's a lovely YouTube channel called 'Ali lives well on less'.  Ali used to comment on here occasionally; some might remember her.

Anyway, she does Money Mondays and Foody Fridays and her recipes are great.  Simple, frugal and delicious.  Often, the simplest recipes are the best and when I make them again, I will try using melted butter instead of oil and adding some finely grated hard Italian cheese (the basics kind).

Here's the link to the oatcakes recipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjq-7zrZbNU&t=237s

The bread, all nicely sliced  and now in the freezer, as are the mince pies.  

(boring picture, I know, but I love a home made loaf!)

Today's M&S offering is a cleanser, something I will definitely use, so that's good.

The Advent of Change today focuses on Winston's Wish, a charity that supports bereaved children.

Today you have funded a Memory Box giving a grieving child somewhere special to keep treasured memories of someone they love.

A lot of these Advent of Change charities relate to children and, after a lifetime of working with children, this means a lot to me.  I'm definitely 

doing this again next year.

https://winstonswish.org/

And here's the puzzle for the last three days.  Only three more to go and then I will carefully break it up, day by day, put it back in the little boxes and store it away to use another year.

As I said above, today should be an easy day.  I have already made a batch of ordinary shortcrust pastry in Thermione (so it  might work better than making it by hand) and I am going to make mince pie bites, an idea I got from another good YouTube channel, Budget Cooking UK.

Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5oUx86a9nU&t=334s

I know it sounds like I have loads but when I thought about it, there's four of us on Christmas Day, I have a friend coming to stay over next weekend and I probably have five of us here on New Year's Day.  And I probably won't need to shop much until well into January.

The other two things I want to got done today is to make Beth's crumble topping for her savoury crumble and to make some of those mixed seed crackers that we loved so much.

And then I can catch up on my recordings, listen to some Christmas music, chill, knit and generally have a good relax.

I hope you have a nice a day as I plan to have.  Stay safe, be happy and enjoy the vibe.  xx

Two videos today - I always link these two together in my mind, probably because of the breath control needed to sing the choruses.   I always need to take a sneaky breath halfway through!

Blogmas day 20

Good morning, lovely people.  Happy only-five-days-to-go-mas!

While I think of it, tomorrow's blog might be a bit late because I think I will be going to M&S for a few things Morrisons doesn't have in at the moment (e.g. smoked salmon) and M&S opens at six tomorrow morning.

Yesterday was a lovely day.  I went over to Chris' for a chat and she provided mince pies with our coffee.  Home made ones - lucky me.  They were delicious!

Then Val came over and we went to the Horse and Groom and had a lovely lunch together.

It's just as well I have decided I won't be weighing at SW until January, isn't it?

The M&S calendar has given me some Bloom and Blossom soothing foot and leg mist.  Now that will definitely be used, especially as the weather gets warmer again.

I'll have to do the puzzle later as I'm a bit pushed for time this morning.

The Advent of Change supports the National Autistic Society today.

Today you have provided relief and reassurance to the parent of an autistic child by giving them access to emotional support and connecting them with others who have been in their shoes.

Because of Alex, I really do know how crucial that can be.

https://www.autism.org.uk/

It's Slimming World today and it is a taster session/party.  I'm taking in some turkey, cranberry and chestnut festive baubles (aka little meatballs on cocktail sticks) with some cranberry sauce for dunking.

Then it is the dreaded Christmas shop at Morrisons.

I've made my list, 

I've checked it twice (more, actually)

I've tried to make sure

It's naughty and nice

(but not too naughty) . . .

Er . . .

(any suggestions for the next line from you talented lot?)

Then  I will be putting it all away and starting to work through a Little List - I have bread to make and I've decided to make some mince pies using a thermomix recipe for pastry in hopes that just maybe, if I hardly touch it, it won't be too like cement!

I'll get them done and in the freezer today and then I could tackle my bedroom which isn't too bad, won't take too long but does need doing.

And then I can chill.  Nice.

Advent calendar music.

If you are a primary teacher, you will have come across Out of the Ark, a wonderful, talented company that produces all sorts of music for children - assembly songs, songs for special occasions, musicals . . . so, so much, all with amazing backing tracks, overhead words, everything you could want to make the music fun.

This is one of my favourite ever Christmas songs from them, 'Child in a Manger Born'

Blogmas, day 19

Oh, my gosh . . . so close!

First of all, for Chris and anyone else interested, here's a link to some info about the whole Swingle story from their first days to now, through their various incarnations.

https://www.theswingles.co.uk/about

I got plenty done yesterday.  Circuits was great fun - not the group I usually go to but I know several in the other group.  

At home, I got more wrapping done (there's always more, I'm finding), wrote cards, got the downstairs dusted and tidied (great relief), finished the ironing although, like wrapping, there's always more in the offing, worked on my shopping list (too long and too much unnecessary stuff) and went back to Lindsey's for personal training, gift in hand.

And I got my little olive wood thingy on the tree where it looks cute.

I slept well!!

Today's offering from M&S is a purifying pink clay detox mask which seems to solve every skin woe under the sun, according to the blurb.

I've been lucky enough not to have had any real skin problems apart from getting old and wrinkly (which isn't really a problem, it's just a fact of life) and the usual teenage spots during the sixties.

I'll use this though - after all, why not.
I was going to do a sort of pamper day on Christmas Eve but I'll have things to do so I'm blocking off a day in the New Year, maybe the first Sunday, to try out some of the goodies from the calendar.

I'm not sure I've ever done a pamper day at home, only a few spa days with Beth.

Today's Advent of Change supports the Panathlon Challenge.  That's another new one to me.

Panathlon Challenge provide sports competitions and training days for young people with disabilities and special educational needs - I think that's a brilliant one, having worked as the school's SENCo for many years

Behind the door, it says:

Today you have helped a child with disabilities to throve, by providing a leadership course designed their confidence and self-esteem.

https://panathlon.com/

I'm going to do the puzzle later.

Today is a bit of a sociable day - I'm round to Chris for coffee and chat and I will take Bertie's present round with me - Bertie is Chris' little grandson.

Then Val is, I hope, coming over and I've booked a table at the Horse and Groom as a Christmas treat.  

The rest of the day is just the usual to keep a home ticking over and finalising the shopping list.  I suppose I ought to give the fridge a bit of a sort out so there's room, although I can put stuff in a box in the shed (the garden room is heated a bit) which is now rodent proof.  The old shed really wasn't and did have little visitors from time to time.  I never saw them but they kindly left evidence.

Anyway, enough waffling for now.  Have a great day and see you again tomorrow.  Enjoy the music.  xx

Here's your Advent music link for today.

It's the great King's Singers with their version of 'Deck the halls'.

Blogmas, day 18

Day18!  Eeeeek!

Yesterday was Groove - new festive playlist and good fun routines  - and the the trip into London to have fish and chips followed by the lights.

On the way there, Ray announced that, if enough people were interested, the coach driver had agreed to park somewhere nearby so we could have a short while to look round a Christmas Market at Trafalgar Square to sort of make up for the Rochester one being cancelled.  After a show of hands and a round with the box to tip (bribe?) the driver, it was so.

Fish and chips first though.  The meal was delicious, fresh cooked and very speedily produced, together with a very welcome mug of tea or coffee, followed by an unexpected dessert of cheesecake or apple pie.  So nice.
No photos though - it wasn't really appropriate.

Then it was all back on the coach and we drove through the area of the Lights.  Now, a coach isn't the best place to view that sort of thing and I didn't manage many clear photos but we saw enough to make it enjoyable.

To go with the stalls around Trafalgar Square, there were other things going on - carol singing for example.  One adult choir was singing carols while a large group of children wearing Santa hats were waiting excitedly for their turn
(teacher's nightmare, I should think, in the dark)

When we got back on the coach, the lady next to me offered to change seats (she had the window seat).  Very kind of her.  She got her reward as, in the raffle draw (using our seat numbers), she won!

This was the only other half decent photo I took - the Strand Palace, all decorated up and looking much nicer than the photo indicated.

I didn't buy much at the market, just a couple of 'Radiator Bags' which are just gauze bags filled with scented Christmas potpourri (have I spelled that right?) that you lay or hang on the radiator to make your room smell festive (they work!) and this, a dear little nativity tree decoration made of olive wood and with a quirky mismatched roof!
It's going to take the place of the usual fridge magnet purchase and each year I can remember this trip when I put up the tree.

We weren't late back either - the traffic seemed pretty light once we were out of London. When I got home, I grabbed a coffee and sat down, reached out for my knitting or crochet and - I didn't have any.

So I have started the moss stitch jacket I planned to start around the 27th.

It's an aran weight yarn on size 4 needles so it should grow pretty quickly and I really do need something to do with my hands of an evening.

On to today.

Today's 'beauty' (fat chance!) product from the M&S calendar is a tube of 'hair treatment'  The blurb says 'for smoothness, volume, conditioning, strength and polish.'

Polish!!!???

It's just one of those styling products you add to towel dry hair.  I use something similar already so it won't be wasted.

By the way, I used the shampoo and conditioned on Monday and it was OK - very nice to use but I haven't noticed any difference really so I'll be sticking to my lower budget products!

Here's the puzzle for yesterday and today.

The Advent of Change for today supports Big Change.

'Today you have unlocked a further £12 of funding that will support young people to thrive in the UK.'

That's a bit non-specific, isn't it?  It seems that this charity works with 'partners' to improve the prospects of young people and every pound donated unlocks a further £5 from these partners for a wide range of projects.  
Now we know.

https://www.big-change.org/

This is getting long so I will just say that today is energetic.  Circuits (changed from Monday), lots of housework and back to Lindsey's for personal training in the afternoon.

It should keep me out of trouble anyway.

Today's Advent music is the beautiful 'The Angel Gabriel' sung by the Swingle Singers (not the ones I remember from my youth though)

Blogmas, day 17

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to the 17th day of Blogmas; Just over one week to go - not that you need telling, I'm sure!

Yesterday was a busy day!  

I walked round to school to watch the Infant Christmas Show dress rehearsal.  There's a tradition that the rest of the school watches this dress rehearsal so everyone was piled into the hall, staff and all.
Obviously, it was lovely.  One of the wonderful Out Of The Ark shows, 'Lights, Camel, Action' and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

A short while later, I was off out again, this time to the dentist.  Not nearly so pleasant.  It was a cracked filling that needed replacing, that's all.  To be honest, the worst bit is almost always when the numbing wears off as it itches like crazy but it's too numb to feel any scratches.  Most irritating!  Do you get that too?

And finally - out to the Harvester to meet up with the Girls for a meal and Christmas celebration together.  I have some photos but need to ask the girls if they mind first.  We had a lovely time together, exchanged gifts (thank goodness they liked what I had made) and enjoyed the meal.  It was Harvester so it was fine, nothing special but nice, all the same.

Today's Advent of Change is about a charity called Think Equal.  
Today you have given an early years teacher the knowledge and resources needed to help teach their class about kindness, diversity and empathy.

So important nowadays.

https://thinkequal.org/

Today's M&S gives me some Ageless Throat and Decolletage Crème - for signs of aging on the neck and decolletage.

I'm laughing - I don't know what good they think it will do but - well, I will use it anyway for the 'pamper' feeling.

I haven't got time to do the jigsaw this morning - maybe later.  My PC is definitely playing silly sausages.  I have someone who can look at it after Christmas but, until then, I am doing what I can on it and then changing to my laptop for the rest.  I'm glad I have the choice!

Remember I said I was playing around with my crochet hook (and knitting needles) - you can see the results in the photo.  Really not great but cute and something I can work with and improve.  Not finished either, I hasten to add.

Right - well, today is Groove and the walk there and back again, then I MUST do some dusting, etc , and this afternoon I'm jollying off in the coach to have fish and chips and then a coach tour of the London Lights.   A really nice, easy outing, nothing challenging and I probably won't have any photos worth sharing but - well, we will see. 

Have a lovely day, everyone.   Signing off from my laptop!  xx

Today's Advent music for you is a beautiful rendition of Silent Night, from Celtic Woman.

Blogmas, day 16

Morning, all.  Another week starts and we get ever closer to Christmas.

I caught sight of this yesterday as I was walking past just as the sun shone on it.  It looked nicer than the photo shows.  :-)

This week is kinda busy but it's almost always nice-busy.

Monday:  Infant Christmas show dress rehearsal, dentist and Girls' Night with Beth, Linda and Julia

Tuesday:  Groove at the hall, off on a coach for fish and chips and a tour of the Christmas lights (REALLY looking forward to this and, thankfully, no nasty weather forecast)
Wednesday:  Circuits (moved from Monday), personal training
Thursday:  coffee and chat with Chris, Val round for a festive lunch
Friday:  Slimming World - taster and party (as much as you can party at nine in the morning), probably then a Christmas shop in Morrisons, seeing as I am there anyway

Thankfully, next weekend is free - apart from icing the cake.  I decided to leave it until next weekend as it was free.

Yesterday was such a lazy day.  Really lovely, though, it has set me up nicely for this week.  I made fudge (delicious), wrapped a few parcels, read, knitted and, generally, had a thoroughly easy day.

Today's Advent of Change spotlights Farms for City Children.

'Today you have enabled a class of vulnerable children to enjoy an enriching week surrounded by nature on a heritage farm.'

Here's the link.  https://farmsforcitychildren.org/

Today's bit of the puzzle was by far the easiest so far!

The M&S offering today was some tinted lip balm.  I will use this - since my cold, my lips have been very dry and the tinting is very light, hardly noticeable.
Another useful one today.

Today starts with watching the Infants' Christmas Show dress rehearsal (lovely), moves on to having a cracked filling replaced (unwelcome and expensive) and finished with a lovely meal out the The Girls (three cheers).

In between, I would like to do the downstairs housework and a load of washing.

 And finally, today's Advent Calendar music, another favourite and, yes, I sang it a number of times with the Chapel Choir at school.

Peter Cornelius' 'The Three Kings' 

Blogmas day 15 - and a Strictly Final spoiler

Morning, everyone.  It may be dull and damp outside but it's bright and sparkling in here, for sure!

I shall pop this at the top in a little while.  
I have three of these owls and I've had them for ages.  Beth pointed them out to me, a long time ago, after seeing an advert.  They are from Liberty (yup, arm and a leg type stuff) and I still have the lovely, purple boxes they came in.  Each year, they are carefully placed back in their boxes until the following Christmas Tree Day and they are the first to be put on the tree.

Let's start with the advent stuff.

The Advent of Change today supports Baby Lifeline, a mother and baby charity.  It says:

Today you have sent life-saving aid to pregnant women and their new born babies in parts of Ukraine affected by conflict.

https://www.babylifeline.org.uk/

M&S obviously thinks everyone is stressed!!  They could be right, especially at this time of year.

It's another Cowshed product, a calming body lotion which, like the bubble bath, smells amazing!

And here's the puzzle.

Yesterday I . . .

prepped glazed parsnips and carrots and froze them

finished my scarf, fringes and all.  I'm so pleased with it

finished the things I was making for the Girls' Night Santa bag - just as well as it is tomorrow evening.

I didn't get the roasties prepped because I didn't have enough.  Ooops

I didn't ice the Christmas cake - that's for today.

Later on, I popped to Morrisons to get some potatoes and also to restock on carrots and parsnips and to indulge in a couple of foil trays for the various roastie things on Christmas Day.  Hopefully, I can wash and reuse them but, if not, no worries.

I'm OK for the leg of lamb because I have a lovely enamel roaster which will be Just Perfect!

Wasn't Strictly brilliant?

I always get a bit tearful when they go over the finalists 'journeys' but last night was another level entirely.  And that whole Chris and Craig thing - oh, my gosh.
(if you watched it, you know)

I know Chris wasn't the best dancer but, equally, I know Dianne was the best teacher.  She's got three - THREE - non dancers to the final (Joe, Bobby and Chris) and won with Chris.  Absolutely fantastic.

And Chris totally and absolutely deserved to win.

On to today and I'm having a very slow start because I can!

I have a few things to do -

ice the cake

make the fudge

finish prepping the roasties - they are peeled anc chunked and sitting in water as I type so I just have to par boil them, etc.  By this afternoon, they will be in the freezer.

I don't have any knitting or crochet projects on the go, given that I am leaving the jacket and the blanket until after Christmas, so I've been playing with my crochet hook, working out a pattern to make a wee gonk/gnome/troll thingy.  Must remember to write down what I do because you always think you will remember and you never do!

And that's today!

On to your advent calendar and today's music is two versions of the lovely Carol of the Bells

Enjoy.  xx

Blogmas day 14

Good morning again, everyone.  Time is still flying past and there's really not very long now until Christmas Day.  I have my Little List and I keep saying 'It is just one day' - because it really is.  Christmas Eve will be me-time to finish prepping and to enjoy some down and pamper time and Boxing Day I'm round to Beth's.  So it is just one day - and four people.  Easy peasy.

Yesterday was Slimming World, of course.  I had already decided I wouldn't weigh this week but the main event of the session was that the technology wasn't playing nicely, it wouldn't accept anyone's card and the queues were lengthening - in the end, Heidi phoned the online support and they sorted it out.  I have no idea what they did but it worked.

Then it was a Morrisons shop and I was a bit miffed to see that they had half price legs of lamb that were less than the special price I got from Sainsbury's.  I might walk round there today and pick up a couple for the freezer - I dearly love lamb but rarely get it because it is costly.
They also had beef joints at half price and I did get one of them, cutting it into four smaller pieces when I got home so that's roast dinners for me and Alex when he's here.  I'm happy with that!

Then it was just a case of getting things ready for when Dave and Anna came.

And it was a lovely evening.

It was perfume in box 14 this morning.  Velvet amber, it is called, and it's nice.  More of an evening perfume really, just as the earlier perfume is more a day time scent.
I'm spoilt for choice with scents at the moment and I happen to know that Beth and Alex have bought me a selection of Jo Malone for Christmas.  I dearly love a nice perfume.  

Here's the jigsaw for today - cute, well behaved children on a cute, well behaved walk through the snow

That lad has obviously done some serious weight training!!

The Advent of Change today is about supporting young carers.

It says:

'Today you have ensured that an isolated young care leaver receives regular supportive phone calls over the Christmas period, letting them know they are not alone.'

The charity is called Become and it supports children in care and young care leavers.

https://becomecharity.org.uk/

Today (and tomorrow) I have an empty diary.

I also have that Little List, of course.

There's things I really would like to get done.

I have a Christmas cake to ice.  Nothing fancy, just marzipan, icing and some little decorations to pop on top.

I have some fudge to make for Monday but I will leave that for tomorrow.
I would like to get some of the Christmas veg prepped and into the freezer.  Potatoes, carrots and parsnips can all be got ready and frozen to save time later.

I have some Christmas crochet to do today or tomorrow.

And I want to get my online Christmas cards sorted, 'written' and set to go out just before The Day.

I'd also like to get the various menus all written into my Christmas survival book.  Once that's done, I'm well away!!

And, of course, it is Strictly final this evening.  I will miss it very much -what with It Takes Two plus the show and the results show, there's been something Strictly every day of the week for the past three months or so.

I have found the recipe I want to use for the lamb and I have all the ingredients so that's good.  It's a Jamie Oliver slow roast leg of lamb recipe involving garlic, rosemary and red wine and taking four hours or so.  Basically, prep it, bung it in the oven and leave it.  (let's hope we have sunshine on Christmas Day so my solar panels can take some of the cost away!)

I'll shut up now - I'm starting to ramble.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.  All the best and stay safe, warm and well.  xx

Today's Advent calendar music is a very old carol, The Angel Gabriel, sung beautifully by the Beatus Choir.
(and, yes, I sang it in the choir at school)

Blogmas day 13

Lucky Friday 13th!  :-)

Morning, one and all, and welcome to day thirteen!

I so enjoyed yesterday, even if it was a disaster on the healthy food front.  I had a nice, lazy morning getting the ironing done and then enjoying my crochet.  

At around midday, Chris and I set off for Ego where we had the most delicious meal from their festive menu.  We went for the two courses - I had starter and mains while Chris had mains and a dessert and it was all delicious, washed down with water and finished off with coffee.

I've never been there before but I will go again, for sure, at some point.  Eating out is not cheap nowadays but we agreed that, for what we got and for the quality, the final bill really wasn't bad at all.  The service was good too.

By the time we got home, it was starting to get dark and I had a nice, chilled evening.

Such a lovely day.

Today's M&S thing was a whopper.  I don't think I have ever seen such a big box in an Advent thingy.  When opened, it was some body butter, supposedly for overnight care (it says) when it 'works hard whilst you sleep to support skin vitality and renewal'.  Well, I think it's missed the bus on that particular aim as far as I am concerned but it won't hurt and anything that smells nice, which it does, is worth using.
A bit of pamper never hurt anyone, after all!

Here's today's puzzle.

And, lastly, the Advent of Change today is for Alzheimer's Research UK, a charity close to my heart because of Mum.  It says 

Today you have provided a set of ten slides for scientists to study samples under a microscope, helping them discover the causes of dementia.

(On the calendar, it says that the examples behind the doors have been supplied by the charities themselves and illustrate the ways they could use my donation.  However, they will actually use the donations where they feel it will best support their work.)

https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/

Today I will be going to Slimming World as usual but won't be weighing!!

Then I need to pop into Morrisons for a few bits and bobs before coming home to housework and preparing dinner for Dave and Anna.  Most of it is already done because I froze stuff after they had to defer a fortnight ago but I am changing what I had planned for veg to a more festive vibe with roasted parsnips and carrots and doing sprouts with bacon in the air fryer.  
Should be good!

Today's Advent Calendar music is one we all know.  Two versions.

By the way, as usual I am saving all this music into a playlist and will post the link to that on Christmas Eve.

Blogmas, day 12 - a long one! :-)

Morning, everyone!  It's nearly eight o'clock, very late for me to be starting this but, for once, I slept in later than around five.  It's just as well I don't have a 9:15 fitness class, isn't it?  Also . . . no, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Back to yesterday first.

We had decided to do a bit of shopping and shop trawling - I did have a Little List, mostly small gifts - as I've pretty much got all the bigger, family presents.  First of all, I headed to Riverside to look round Home Bargains, Homesense and Matalan.

Yes, I found pretty much everything on my list plus a few things for me.
Have you ever come across wooly tumblers?  They look rather like tennis balls but made of 100% pure New Zealand wool (it says on the box) and you just add them to the tumble dryer with whatever you are drying.  They're supposed to act as a natural conditioner and help items to dry faster. 

Now, I rarely use my dryer but I do dry my towels in it and, when the weather is damp and my drying rack is full, I will sort out items that I am happy to dry that way.  They really weren't very expensive and I thought 'give it a go'.

The other thing, totally unnecessary but seriously beautiful, was some really nice olive wood salad servers.  I love olive wood and was looking at little 'chopping' boards in Homesense.  Sadly, the one I really liked had a splash of glue on the top which wouldn't scrape off with my nail (the pads underneath were stuck on and I'm guessing that's how it happened) so I walked away and this pair of servers jumped up and into my basket.  

Yes, they did!

The only thing I got in Matalan was some tights.  They had lovely festive cushions but I already have festive cushions on every chair in the living room and they were way too expensive for the garden room!!

I then meant to drive on to B&M but got into the wrong lane so decided to go to Hobbycraft first and then backtrack.  I'm glad I did because Hobbycraft had what I was looking for - some little gift bags - that were much nicer than anything I would find in B&M, made from sturdy brown paper with stars on and an absolutely perfect size. 

I also picked up some yarn (you knew I would, didn't you); I have a patterns for a nice moss stitch cardigan that a friend in our SW group gave me.  It takes aran yarn but it isn't actually traditional aran as such and I saw that the WI brand had some aran weight in a nice, dusty blue and - this was the decider - 400g balls and three for two.  The patterns said I needed 900g but I want to make it a bit longer so I needed three balls but only had to pay for two.  And I will have some left for a smaller project - a wooly hat, perhaps, or a cowl (or both!)

I've put them away for now - it's going to be my New Year knitting project to go alongside the Persian Tiles crochet project.

That feels really nice.

When I got home, I unpacked, wrapped, labelled and under the tree it all went, as you can see above.  Really nice and relaxing!

In the afternoon, I pootled off to Lindsey's for personal training and then it was the governors' meeting.

Such a good meeting - lots of laughter but some very serious stuff too.  I've taken something on (nothing too time consuming) too but will tell you about that another time.
I had a really nice chat with Jenny (head) and Liz (chair of governors) after the meeting and, as I am not able to go to any of the Infant Show performances, Jenny asked if I would like to see the dress rehearsal on Monday.  Lindsey is happy for me to go to Wednesday circuits rather than Monday's so that has made me very happy.  Almost, I would rather see it that way.  For years, I was in charge of the Infants' show so I know just how much hard work goes into it from everyone involved.  They will have a very understanding and sympathetic governor watching, for sure.  :-)

This post isn't half going on - sorry!

Today's Advent of Change is supporting the Well Child charity which aims to give seriously ill children the best chance to thrive at home.

Behind the door, it ways:

Today you have enabled a child to enjoy a fun arts and crafts session with their family when they are too unwell to leave the house.
Isn't that fantastic?

https://www.wellchild.org.uk/

The M&S one gives me a nail and cuticle serum with instructions so tiny that I dug out my magnifying glass to read them!

I needn't have bothered; you just rub it in - twice a day!  No chance, but I am sure the occasional times I remember won't hurt!

I don't have troublesome cuticles anyway, they are very well behaved!!

And here's the puzzle for yesterday and today.  It's half done now and I'm really enjoying it.

I have another one that I made up last year and I think I will get that out and do two a day during the Twelve Days.

Now that the Governor stuff is done and dusted, although I still have quite a busy diary, it's all fun stuff rather than responsible stuff.  Meals out, friends round, etc.  Lovely stuff.

Today, as there is no SET class and no chat with Chris, I am being very lazy.  There's a bit of ironing to do and there's always housework, of course, but nothing very much.

There's no chat because Chris and I are out for lunch together.  Mostly we do coffee and chat but occasionally - birthdays and Christmas, etc, we go out for lunch and today's the day.  I'm really looking forward to that.

So that's today.  How about you?

On to the musical Advent calendar and today's music is an absolutely beautiful selection from the great John Rutter, who writes such wonderful Christmas music.  Enjoy!

Star Carol

Nativity Carol

Angel's Carol

and Christmas Night

Blogmas day 11

Good morning, you lovely lot!  How are you today?  According to the Beeb, it's going to be a dull old day outside but it will be nice and bright inside, what with decorations and lights, etc.

AFter all that fuss yesterday, the Cyber training turned out not to be what I would call training at all.  To me, online training is a whole load of info followed by questions to see if you have understood it - and if you haven't, you can't move on until you do.  At least, that's what the annual Child Protections thingy is.
This was 'watch a half hour YouTube presentation on cyber security for schools.  Interesting but not brain aching, thank goodness.

The school visit was good.  Obviously, no details in here about it but I got enough info to then get the report written and send off.  It took a few hours to rite because my report writing brain retired at the same time as the rest of me so the sentences don't flow quite as easily as they used to.

It's a great relief to have got all that done and completed.  Now there's just the governors' meeting this evening but that's not a worry.  I have downloaded the paperwork, read through it and sent it to my laptop so I'm all prepared (I hope).

The day started with Groove, of course.  It was damp and drizzly so we drove there - I was relieved as I'm still a bit chesty and breathless at times.  And it was packed - there were over twenty of us and I don't think I have ever known it so full.  Lindsey had put together a Festive playlist so it was all great fun 'dancing' and singing.

And, yes, I had time to sit and relax at the end of the afternoon.  So nice.

Today's M&S offering is (and I am reading off the box) a water resistant inner rim liner.  A what???

On the back it says 'use on inner upper lash line for maximum eye definition.

OK!

It may be fine for the Winkleman look but for me - hmmm.  I might give it a go, though, just for a laugh!

Do any of you use eye liner?  How do you find it?

The Advent of Change is one I have never come across before, Surfers against Sewage.  Interesting!

Quoting from the Wiki page, it says:

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is a marine conservation charity working with communities to protect oceans, waves, beaches and marine life. It was created in 1990 by a group of Cornish surfers from the villages of St Agnes and Porthtowan on the north coast of Cornwall.  

In 2012, Surfers Against Sewage was recognised as a national marine conservation charity focused on the protection of waves, oceans, beaches, marine wildlife and coastal communities.

In 2018 it was one of the seven charities nominated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to receive donations in lieu of wedding presents.

So now we know.

The calendar actually says:

Today you have enabled a child to join Ocean School, inspiring them to protect our oceans for generations to come.

https://www.sas.org.uk/

On to today and there's two things in the diary.

The first is Personal Training at Shimmy Studio - I'm looking forward to that.

The other is the Governors' meeting and I'm looking forward to that too.  It's nice keeping up with things in my old workplace and now that I've done the necessary, I feel so much 'happier' again.
It's starting half an hour earlier which means that it will finish half an hour earlier too because, if we're good at one thing, it is finishing on time.  Two hours max.
And there are biscuits!

This morning, I am planning to set out early (because of parking) and do a bit of a shop trawl to see if I can mop up the last of my Christmas gifts.
And then a look round Hobbycraft, just because . . .

Have you ever come across Surfers Against Sewage?  And what are your festive plans for today?

Have a good one and stay good and warm.  xx

Here's your Advent Calendar music for today.
It may be a very old, poor quality clip but I don't care.  I think it is just wonderful.

The fantastic Steeleye Span with 'Gaudete'.

Blogmas day 10

Good morning again, everyone.  We're now into December double digits and the time is passing so very quickly.  I can feel stress levels rising and have another Little List of things to do that should help considerably!  Hopefully, anyway.  :-)

Yesterday was lovely.  It started with Circuits and then I drove over to Diane's to pick her up and bring her back for lunch.  Goodness, how we chatted!!

Later on, I finished the scarf I'm making.  I can't post a photo yet, in case my friend sees it, but I think it looks really nice and want to make one for myself in a different colour vibe.  
I've decided not to start working on the Persian Tiles project until after Christmas.  Maybe I will start it in that week between Christmas and New Year when things fall a bit flat.

And I popped into Morrisons and was really pleased to see they had turkey leg packs - thew drum and the thich separated bit in the same pack and for just £6.00.  OK, so it's not all white meat but turkey drum meat is delicious in soups, stews and casseroles while the thigh will give me some slices for roast dinners as well as for other things.  And the stock, of course, it so good.

(Mind you, I can remember when it was just £1.99 but I suppose that was a while ago nbow)

Yesterday and today's puzzle sections.  It's fun to do - not too hard and not too much.  It gets my brain a bit more into gear, I think.  

I was really pleased with today's product which is the conditioner that goes with yesterday's shampoo.  Remarkably thoughtful for an Advent Calendar.  Well done, M&S.  

Another I will definitely use.

I tried the day cream a couple of days ago and it was really nice.  It won't do any permanent good, of course, but it felt great.

The Advent of Change today features the Tommy Charity.

The website says:
We’re the leading charity stopping the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and making pregnancy and birth safe – for everyone.

On the calendar, it says:
Today you have helped soon-to-be parents hear the sound of their long-awaited baby's heartbeat for the first time.

(why that isn't a NHS responsibility, I don't know, but it sounds a wonderful charity, all the same)

https://www.tommys.org/about-us

Today is a busy day.  It starts with Groove and the walk.  When I get home, I really need to do some training that I should have done ages ago and forgot.  Then I am in to school for a SEND meeting, followed by writing up the report - I MUST do that today.
That's going to take most of my day really.
Oh well, I will feel loads better once the day is done and I have achieved all of that.

Today's Advent Calendar music is one you will most likely only come across here.  It's from a local singer/songwriter/ pastor couple, Pete and Nicki Sims, 'Love Came Down'.

Blogmas, day 9

Good morning, everyone.  Thank goodness the rough weather seems to have settled now and there might even be some pleasant weather at some point.  Wouldn't that be nice?

I stirred my stumps yesterday and got things done.  I'm now ready for my guest for lunch today and I feel so much better mentally as well as physically.

The Strictly elimination wasn't a surprise and, my goodness, what a semi-final it was.  I'm so looking forward to next Saturday's final now and must remember it starts earlier than usual.  I think a bit of alcohol might be on the cards as I watch.  😉

When I  slotted that naughty hearing aid into the charger last night, to my great delight, it lit up red (meaning it was charging) and this morning it was green like the other one, meaning it was fully changed.
I still have no idea why it started defaulting but let's not worry for now anyway!

Moving on to the advent calendars.

The M&S one gave me another hair product (I'm good with those and will use them), this time a 'colour security shampoo'.  I have no idea what makes it different from an ordinary shampoo, something to do with keeping coloured hair bright because there's no residue after rinsing but it's not going to hurt on any kind of hair, even the boringly non-coloured kind, is it?  

I did today's puzzle but forgot to take a photo before rolling it up.  Sorry!

The Advent of Change today is a goodie.

Today you could have saved a life, by purchasing a blood-giving set, enabling air ambulance crews to administer emergency blood transfusions.

Wow!

https://www.airambulancesuk.org/

Today starts with circuits and then I am driving over to pick Diane up and bring her back for lunch and a really good natter about all sorts of stuff.  I was hoping to get her a nice Christmas present at the market yesterday from one of the artisan stalls that were bound to be there.  Oh, well - there's time to find something else, I am sure.

Well, better get going; there's a lot to do and limited time in which to do it.  Have a great day, everyone.  Don't spend too much.  😉

I dearly love acapella singing and this is one of my favourites.  In The First Light, performed by Glad.

It's a pretty old recording now but I love it.  

Blogmas day 8

Morning, all!  We've had another very blustery night and it's still windy with a fair bit of banging (fencing, mostly) but there's no damage as far as I can tell.  Bins, pots and egg chair are all still where they ought to be although the chair is a bit of a funny shape and when the wind has calmed down and things have dried off, I need to take off the cover and see if the bit that holds the basket seat has twisted out of shape.

If the drizzle dies off, I hope to use the residual wind to dry some clothes on the line but I suppose that's not going to happen today, seeing as BBC weather promises us gusty winds and rain.  Oh, well . . .

I really hope you are all OK after this weekend, wherever you are.

I did my personal training yesterday, not terribly well but I did it and that is the main thing.  Then I came home and chilled for the rest of the day instead of getting on with housework, etc.  Part of that was tiredness which is fair enough, but part was sheer laziness and I need to snap out of it.

I'm a bit miffed that my doorbell has ceased to work.  I've changed the battery but no luck.  So I've ordered another one that you can either screw on or stick on so if the holes are not right for the new bell, no problems.

One (among many) nice things that happened yesterday was . . .  Backstory is that since Wednesday or Thursday, my right hearing aid has been refusing to charge up, no idea why, so I was wearing my spare aid in my right ear.  It's not a bad aid, just not as good/clear as the posh one and the other one wasn't terribly happy, trying to connect up to the one that wasn't there.

If you see what I mean . . .
Anyway - I went up to bed last night and there, in the charger, was the aid, shining green as if it had never had any problems.
I have no idea what happened but I am very relieved because I don't have a big enough window of time to get into town (on the bus as parking is shocking over December) to drop the aid off at Specsavers.  Yes, it obviously needs looking at but, assuming it charges up tonight (fingers crossed, please, everyone), it can wait until the New Year.
So I was/am happy!

I found today's puzzle surprisingly hard.  Maybe my brain hasn't properly woken up yet.  

Today's Advent of Change supports Sand Dams Worldwide, a charity that seeks to empower dryland communities to transform their own lives and land.

It says: 

Today you have given a mother in Africa drought-tolerant seeds, used to grow a reliable source of fresh food for her children.
Isn't that great!

https://www.sanddamsworldwide.org.uk/

Today's M&S calendar has produced a good one - it's from Cowshed and is a 'calming bath and shower gel' which I will definitely love to use.  I might save it for Christmas Eve - I usually bath/shower in the morning but, maybe, I will indulge in the evening after Carols from Kings.
Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Today, as mentioned earlier, is the day I get my act together.

There's nothing major to do but I have made one of my Little Lists because when I do that, I get it all done.

Have a good day, everyone, and take care.  xx

Today's Advent Calendar music is a most beautiful and thoughtful song, again from Graham Kendrick, entitled Thorns in the Straw.  It's from his Christmas Album, 'Rumours of Angels' (1994)

Edit:  Cherie, here's a link to that scarf pattern and I will give it another go - I think maybe the starting chains should be 11 and then 9, not what it says - fingers crossed.
It's probably me making some sort of silly mistake.  xx

https://theunraveledmitten.com/2024/11/22/wildwood-patchwork-scarf-crochet-pattern/

Blogmas, day 7

Morning, everyone.
First of all, I want to say that I hope very much that those of you over the other side of the UK - Wales and the South West (and anywhere else in the Red Warning area) are safe and sound this morning with minimal or, preferably, no damaged to property or person.  I gather it has been a shocker of a storm.
It's gusty here as far as I can tell but the egg chair is still standing.  I haven't checked the bins yet.

Yesterday was a day of ups and downs.

I was thrilled with just a one pound gain at Slimming World, meaning I am still comfortably in my happy zone - phew.
However, after that and a bit of shopping (really not much but even a little costs an arm and a leg nowadays, doesn't it?), when I got home I was pretty wiped out and had a couple of sleeps during the afternoon in between other stuff not too heavy.

Steve, bless him, took Chris and me to the County Hotel for the Shimmy 'n' Groove afternoon tea and we had a great old time.

I forgot to take any photos of the food until we had made a fair inroad into the sandwiches and scones - both very fresh and the scones were still warm - lovely!

Most of us couldn't manage the cakes as well so the staff brought in some doggy boxes and people loaded up.  
I didn't - it's not really my sort of thing and by then the aches and headache had started again anyway.  Now - if it had been bags of salt and vinegar crisps or nuts - quite a different story!
And we were driven home again which was very pleasant indeed.

However, it just showed me that the decision not to go on Sunday was right although when I checked my mailbox, there was email from Ray and Jan to say that Rochester had cancelled the Christmas Market and Dickensian Festival for both today and tomorrow so we wouldn't have gone anyway.
Poor Ray and Jan - two full coaches to notify - one hundred and four people to contact!  
Refunding will be a fair old job but they suggested that it become a credit note towards the next trip and I was very glad to agree to that.  So they will hold the money until it is claimed.
And the coach company will have insurance for that sort of thing too, I am sure, if necessary.

So I didn't need to pull out but the outcome is the same - better, probably, as it's a definite refund rather than a definite non-refund!

Moving on to my advent stuff and I've done the puzzle for day seven so let's start with that.

Day six which I found trickier, despite the two straight edges.

Not that tricky though!

And day seven which I think is really pretty.

The Advent of Change today spotlights Willow which supports seriously ill young adults.  It says:

Today you have sent a box full of special treats to brighten the day of a young adult receiving palliative care.

Another good one and here's the link for more information:

https://www.willowfoundation.org.uk/#

As for the M&S calendar, today was a posh one - well, posh for me who usually uses Aldi stuff - when I remember.

It's a little pot of Clinique cleansing balm.  If feels lovely and I will definitely be using it in the run up to Christmas.  

I can see why they have sung the praises of this calendar.  There's been some really good stuff so far.  OK, so I won't use the nail varnish, but I will be very happy to gift on to someone who does and, if you just think about face value, it must be getting reasonably close to what I paid for it already.

Today, there's very little in the diary apart from the rescheduled personal training with Lindsey this morning.  I know Lindsey will accept whatever I can do and will understand if I flake out so I'm happy to go and do some exercise after a week of none.  I'm going to catch up with her Advent Calendar too.  Each day is very short and, again, you do what you can.

There's washing to do, I didn't get the dusting done yesterday, and the kitchen needs some attention (when does it ever not?) and I want to make some crackers that I can then pop in the freezer for Christmas - edible ones, I mean, not pull-bang ones.

Have a lovely day, everyone and, even more than usual, I wish you safety and wellness.  Take care and be sensible today.  xx

Today's Advent Calendar song is a very lovely one.  It is The Candle Song (or Candlesong as it was originally called), by Graham Kendrick, from 'The Gift - Make Way For Christmas and sung beautifully by the Gaitway brothers.

This goes straight to my heart . . .