11-03-25

Good morning, everyone.  I'm back home and trying to get back to normal after a very lovely and enjoyable weekend at Potter's Five Lakes.

I only found one more usable photo on my camera, part of the Games Hall.  It's huge.  To the right of this shot there is a full sized bowling green that could accommodate four games easily.  To the left there's loads of small games, shove halfpenny tables, darts, and goodness knows what else while behind is the studio where all the fitness stuff happens.

Like Center Parcs, it is definitely a holiday the weather can't spoil.

After a very leisurely breakfast yesterday where everyone was obviously most reluctant to break up the party, Diane and I loaded my car up before I went back in to talk to the rebooking people.  Yes, I have booked another weekend!  Just me this time, so it won't be the same at all, but it's still good and I can still be active as there's the Potter's run fitness-type classes that cover all sorts of things from a wake up, stretch out session through to things like cheerleading, dancercise and line dancing - plus the pool, of course.  I didn't actually use the pool this time, which is a shame.

Anyway, that's in June.

Diane lives a little bit closer to Five Lakes than I do and, thankfully, it involved going under, not on, the A12 (I don't really like the A12).  I went in for coffee and another good old chat before heading home.  Goodness, I was shattered!  What with a late night on Sunday and waking at stupid o'clock on Monday, sleep was a bit on the deprived side.  

I had intended to unpack, etc, but instead I sank into my comfy chair and chilled.  I may have slept a bit too.  😊

Consequently, today is rather full.  I) will be off to Groove in about an hour and a half and this afternoon I have my SEN link governor visit to school (must dig out that paperwork).  In between these two, I have unpacking, making dinner, doing some washing and generally tidying up.  I don't think I will get anything else much done today.

So that's today.  It is nice to get back to normality again but I'm very glad I will be going back again not too far into the future.  

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

10-03-25 - home, sweet home

Morning, all.  It's just before seven and I am up, bathed and ready with only my handbag, tech bag, toothbrush and toothpaste remaining in my room.  Breakfast is at nine so I have time to write this now.

Typically, although we sang the evening away until nearly midnight, I was up and zooming round a five.  I'll feel that later on but it's OK, part from the whole unpacking and meal prep thing, I have nothing else important today.

I decided not to go to aqua and SET this morning (or is it circuits?).  Apart from feeling achy and weary after a very full and active weekend, I just don't need the added complication.

Here's some photos.

The entrance.  It's lovely when the trees are in leaf.

Ditto for the car parks.

Five Lakes was a spa hotel before Potters took it over with quite a well known golf course .

One of the 'lakes'.  I suppose Around Five Largish Ponds Spa wouldn't sound nearly as attractive.

Their bulbs are a little behind the ones at home but you can see they will look a real picture soon.

A very photogenic swan . . . 

. . . and his/her mate (I presume).
How can you tell which is which?

A view of the actual hotel itself

Inside and poor lighting but not to worry.

The Garden Bar

To the right of the Garden Bar, a smaller stage where the hold the daytime quizzes, performances and games and the late night singsongs, etc,

Some of the fancy lighting.

They have some nice wall art.  I'd love this in my home but I think it would be hard to smuggle it out in my handbag, don't you?

The Orangery, where the craft sessions are held.

There is, of course, a little shop,that sells all sorts of stuff including some rather nice sparkly things.
Was I tempted - of course I was.
Did I?  Nope.  

My halo still shines.

And, finally, here's the Mersea Suite where we had all our fitness classes apart from Aqua.

I have a few more photos but they are still on my phone or camera so I will put them in tomorrow's post.

Yesterday was another busy and enjoyable day.
I did Groove with Lindsey, Abbacise and line dancing with the Potters team, went for a walk, played games and did a craft session - lily folding which is nothing to do with flowers and really not too difficult at all.  I'll show you my effort tomorrow and here's a YouTube video that explains it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSiGUdpiwtE

We're meeting up for breakfast at nine and going our separate ways although I'm driving Diane home (Caroline brought her) and I want to talk to the rebooking team (after all, why not?).  I'm pretty much ready now so I think that after posting this I will take my tech bag down to the car and then sit in the Lakeview Lounge with my Kindle and have a quiet read.

Back home and back to what passes for normal by tomorrow.  Have a good day, everyone, and may the sun shine on us as beautifully as it has here all weekend.  xx

09-03-25 - still at Five Lakes

Morning, all.  Welcome to Sunday and the second (and last) day at Five Lakes.  
I'm afraid I have been a Very Bad Girl and don't have any photos to share with you.  I've been too busy enjoying myself around and about the place and just forgot.  Ooops.

We're so lucky with the weather this weekend.  Glorious sunshine and it feels really mild too.  I wish I had brought T shirts with me rather than polo neck tops.  Today might go up to 15C which seems very warm in comparison to the frosts we had last week.  

Yesterday started with a SET class with Lindsey, then a quick light breakfast before returning to the Mersea room for a circuits session.  That started the day off well.  Apart from that, later on we went to a Potters run dancercise which was great, we played games in the games hall - things like Jenga, four in a row, bouncing ping pong balls, beanbags through holes - that sort of thing, we went to quizzes, drank too much coffee and generally had a great time.  By mid afternoon, Diane and I were wiped out, especially as both of us were suffering from an excess of Friday evening indulgence, so we retired to our rooms for some down time to take us through the evening.

Right now, I am sitting up in bed, typing this, enjoying a coffee and thinking about what I might like to do today (depending on the others, of course).  There's four of us going round together which is really nice.

I'm not going to the circuits first thing at eight but I will go to Groove from eight forty five to nine thirty and then have breakfast.  That's still a bit early for me to start eating but that's OK.  If I'm ready earlier than Groove, I might go for a walk in the early sunshine (and try to remember to take photos!)
I'll need to make half an hour or so for packing this afternoon.  I like to get everything but what I need for the evening and tomorrow morning into my car so there's no feeling of rush on Monday morning.
Apart from that, it is unadulterated enjoyment doing just what we fancy.  There's a few Potters run fitness things, all the quizzes, some crafting sessions and lots of sporty things like darts, bowls, archery, clay pigeon shooting, etc, etc, etc.  We're spoilt for choice.

Again, big apologies for the lack of photos.  Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Have a lovely day, wherever you are and whatever you have planned, and be happy!  xx

08-03-25 - at Five Lakes

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to Saturday and my weekend at Five Lakes.  It was a lovely drive here yesterday.  There's two main ways you can get here from home.  One is slightly shorter but means going on the A12 which can be a right headache so I choose to go via Danbury and through Maldon.  OK, so Maldon's not the best place to drive through when it is busy but it wasn't busy and I made sure I knew all the roundabout exits, etc.

So - pleasant drive, mostly through countryside and villages.

When I arrived, I was waiting to check in when Diane pounced on me - she got here before lunch and had booked a lunch meal which you can do now.  I recognised lots of other Shimmy n Groove people too which was really nice.

This is my bedroom.  It's not huge but it is really nice, very comfortable, good air con, windows that open but not such a great view this time.  That's not a problem because I don't intend spending very long here anyway.

That door is into the bathroom.

I had decided not to do aqua - I was just another thing to organise - so I unpacked, had a coffee and then headed off to Groove.  It was the same sequences as Lindsey does in class so thoroughly enjoyable.

After a bath we had a pre-dinner get together in the Lakeview Bar before all heading down for dinner.
I'm afraid I rather overdid it - food, not alcohol.  My poor old tum is not used to three courses in the evening and is complaining a bit right now but self inflicted and I did enjoy it.
Then it was off to the theatre for a game or two, some singing and The Show, which was songs from the musicals and very good, albeit rather loud.

Today is going to start with a SET class at eight (am I bonkers?), then a very light breakfast before some Circuits.  I will grab some fruit, etc, from the buffet to have at my normal breakfast time of around eleven.  I don't know what else we intend doing today.  There's plenty to choose from and I am sure a walk around the 'lakes' (ponds, really) will happen at some point.  No more fitness classes though - two is enough for one day although Lindsey is leading two more this morning.  I really don't know how she does it and can then dance the night away after the show.  Diane and I just go to bed!

And talking of Diane - we will be discussing holidays at some point.  Nice.

I'll see if I can take more (better) photos but don't bet on it.  For now, I need to finish my coffee and then get myself up and ready before chilling until Groove.  No dishwasher to empty, no clothes to put in the machine, no meals to prep - it's very nice for a change although I don't think I would always like to live like that, would you?

Have a great day, lovely people, stay safe and I hope the sun smiles on you today.  xx

07-03-25

 Good morning, everyone.  It was an absolutely glorious day yesterday.  I had the back doors open letting the warm air stream in and it was a delight sitting out to sand the table.

First of all, for Jane:
I looked back through my other blog posts and this is the very first relevant one, the day I had my last meds review.
https://my30-30challenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/saturday-evening-24-08-24-and-necessary.html
You can read on from there by using the 'Newer Post' link at the foot of the post/comments on the left - it's on the left as I see it anyway.
Having read through some of those posts again, I really must rer-make some of those recipes.  It's too easy to forget!

I took a couple of photos of bulbs at the front.  Very pretty.

Just a quick one this morning as there's plenty to do.

The sander arrived, it was easy to get to grips with and now two of the three coffee tables have tops ready for varnishing.  They will have to wait for a few days though!  For a start, I won't be here and anyway I don't have any varnish.  I'm going to get one of those 'filler pen' things to deal with marks on the legs and around the edge.
I want to read up about varnishing first anyway.  

Today I will be off to Slimming World as usual (no loss this week, I fear) before finishing packing, tidying up and setting off to Five Lakes.  In the afternoon, Lindsey is doing an aqua class and then a Groove class and I would like to do both, if I can.
Then we all meet up for pre-dinner drinks before dinner and the evening entertainment.

I'll be posting as much as I can but don't worry if I don't - I will be back.  Have a lovely day/weekend and fingers crossed for the weather.  xx

06-03-25

Morning, everyone.  I'm starting today with a grumble - get it over and done with.  How stupid is it to wake at half past two and not be able to get back to sleep again.  Grrrrr.

There - grumble done!

It's a very much milder start to the day today - no frost but the sky is clear so it should be another sunny one.  Yesterday was gorgeous.  A two load totally dry on the line day with ironing in the evening.  I love good drying days.  There was just a hint of a breeze which really helped.

Edit:  we now have a frost, just on roofs, fences, etc.  

It felt weird, going to personal training in the morning as I almost always go mid afternoon.  I drove on to B&Q but their range of sanders to look at, lift, etc, was pathetic and expensive.  There were loads of drills, angle grinders, saws, etc, and one of two sanders and, sorry, I am not paying around £150 for one.  So I came home, looked on Amazon again and got a mid range one.  To be honest, to my uneducated eye and with what I need it for, they mostly look much of a muchness.  I also ordered some spare sanding discs (is that what they are called) and it should all arrive today so I'm really hoping I can finish off the first coffee table top ready for whatever comes next (I have a checklist and some super fine sandpaper).

Update on Bubbles and Squeak is - er - nothing.  Not a single sign of life. They're not going off, there's no mould, no nasty smell so I don't know but tomorrow they are both going to have to go into fridge hibernation for the weekend.   

I'm not giving up though, not this time.  I can start again next week.

I got a message through from the surgery and have booked a blood test for the 20th (gives time for this weekend's alcohol to clear from my system and more).  I also have to do the usual seven days of blood pressure readings to send to them .  It confirmed that there are no medication review appointments for this month so get the rest done, bring in the BP results and then they should be able to book me in.  Fine by me.  

And - they have freed up my prescriptions so I can get them again.  I wasn't very low but would be by the end of the month!
So - all good.  It will be interesting to find out if my diet changes have lowered the 'bad' cholesterol - I do hope so, I don't want any arguments about statins.

Today starts with a SET class online.  Then, usually, I meet with Chris for coffee and chat but not this week as Chris has an appointment elsewhere.

I want to get everything out for the weekend to make packing tomorrow easier and I hope to be able to do some sanding, fingers crossed.  Plus the usual housework, of course, there's always that, isn't there?

Well, time to go back up, have my bath and get ready for the day ahead.  I hope everyone's well and happy.  Take care, stay safe and see you tomorrow.  xx

05-03-23

Good morning again, lovely people.  How are you?  Hoping all is well for and with you.  
It feels cold again this morning round here although I'm sure it will warm up soon enough - yesterday was lovely and warm inside, thanks to the sunshine pouring in through the big windows.  Just lovely.

When I come down each morning, usually the first thing I do is make a coffee and then I open the technology and start writing this.  It's a great start to the day and today feels a little less 'rushed' - it rarely feels that rushed, just that I'm aware of slightly limited time available because of fitness classes or Slimming World first thing.

On Wednesdays, Personal Training is usually afternoon; today it is late morning so there's still plenty of time.

You may be relieved to learn that yesterday I did not book myself in for anything!!  Makes a change, doesn't it?  I did, however, look up power sanders and there's so much choice that I am confused.  They mostly seem to have reasonable reviews and, while I know to take reviews with a pinch of salt, they are still worth reading.

Chris and I took our usual walk down to the hall for Groove, enjoyed the class (how can we be half way through this block though?) and walked back again.  My step count is always good on Tuesdays!

Then, given the day, I made pancakes for breakfast . . .

. . . and very nice they were too!

Sharon arrived, worked her magic and now I have a less shaggy head of hair again.  Thank goodness - it was getting very messy!

I drove down to the surgery over lunch time.  Because of my hearing issues, I don't 'do' phones unless I absolutely HAVE to and, for anything important, I have Beth with me to help out.
Contrary to general opinion, the receptionist at the surgery (Beauchamp House, for anyone living round here) is absolutely lovely.  I needed to book a couple of appointments and the online thingy that we now have to use didn't allow for that and said I had to phone!!!
Anyway, she was lovely, understanding and helpful.  'Leave it with me', said she, 'And we will get back to you'.  She checked my mobile number and made sure it was on my records that I don't take phone calls (it was).

So helpful and I was grateful as I have a tendency to get either rather defensive or a bit upset regarding my hearing issues and their impact.  I know I do and I try not to but it isn't always easy.

The rest of the day was spent doing this, that and the other.  Nothing terribly exciting really.

Today is a later start and, after personal training is over, that's it as far as the diary is concerned.  I do need to do some washing and start packing for the weekend though, so I know I have what I need to take washed and ironed.  And Lindsey's home isn't too far from B&Q so I think I will make sure I am wearing my exercise leggings that look like ordinary leggings and just drive further on to take a look at sanders there after P T.  The hand sanding is going fine and where I have got down to the wood does look nice but it really is extremely slow.

That's it really.  Just a normal sort of day - plenty of good things to make life pleasant and I hope for the same for you, wherever you are and whatever you are planning.   Stay safe.  xx

04-03-25

 Morning, one and all.  Yet another cold, frosty and sunny start to the day.  It's lovely!

I'm ridiculously excited - I have booked a place on a sourdough course in June.  It's at Hitchin and I know Hitchin a bit as I used to go there shopping with Mum, especially to the market.  We found some great fabrics over the years!

I suppose one could argue that this is a want, not a need, but I, like many ex-teachers, think quite highly of the concept of being a lifelong learner and that's behind a lot of these new things I try.  It's not just the doing, it is the learning about and trying out.  If you remember, when I first retired, I went on a few craft courses - felting was one and another was willow weaving.  I've also gone to a number of art embroidery days and thoroughly enjoyed them.
One of my goals for 2025 is to have a healthy body and a healthy mind and I think this feeds (sorry!) very well into that, don't you?
And it's an experience - and it will be fun.
Here's the link to what it is.   https://www.kneadanddesire.co.uk/courses

Yesterday didn't quite pan out as expected.  I did circuits (good, as always), came home, had breakfast and then checked my messages to find one from Beth asking me if I could help by taking her and Ava (one of her cats) to the vet.  Her car was having its MOT and service and they had let her down regarding a courtesy car.
It was a routine thing, not an emergency, but it is hard to get appts with the vet just like it is for the GP so she didn't want to cancel.

Difficult choice - helping Beth out or doing the housework!!!

When I got home, my parcels had arrived so I sorted them out and then got on with some more sanding.  Slowly getting there and it is certainly easier with a sanding block, but still slow work.

As for Bubbles - nothing.   The method I am following says not to feed until there are bubbles so I'm not, but I spooned a bit off into a new jar and will try feeding that from the start and see if it makes any difference - although, if it's not eating (shown by the bubbles), I can't see that adding more food (flour) will make any difference.  It could either be called Squeak or Trouble
Oh, well.  We plod on.

Today, the lovely Sharon is coming round to wrestle my hair into submission.  I'm looking forward to feeling neat and tidy again.  There's the usual Groove class and maybe I will get some housework done - you never know!

Have a great day.  xx

03-03-25

 Morning everyone.  Another cold start today with plenty of mist but it should clear into sunshine this morning.  I swear we have had more frost these last five days than we have the whole of the winter.  I rather like a frosty start as long as it clears quickly.

We had a lovely sunset yesterday and I just managed to catch it.  Not a brilliant photo and I was a bit late to the party but you get the idea, I am sure.

Yesterday was good.  I bustled around getting things ready and realised that what was bothering me was fitting the trip to B&Q between starting the lunch and picking Beth and Alex up so I didn't go to B&Q, I went to Amazon instead!  Coming today - sandpaper and a sanding block although I give you fair warning, I may very well end up getting a sander once I've got the feel of it.  A friend did Beth's garden furniture a few years ago and she said it took a while, even with a sander.  She also said they are not too expensive and she's right.  A basic one isn't too bad at all  and way, way less that paying someone to do it..

It was nice to have Beth and Alex round.  We had a good old chat about stuff.

It was day six of Bubbles and she hasn't.  She looks 'healthy', smells quite nice and has no mould.  She is just sleepy, I guess.
Day seven is the day there should be a bit of live action but who knows?  I have time and am learning patience, and the bottom line is that it's just flour and water and I can always have another go, if necessary.

I booked something - I realised that there's a live showing of the new Royal Ballet's performance of Romeo and Juliet with the MacMillan choreography, one of my absolute favourite ballets and music, in the Cramphorn Theatre in town  So I have booked.  I nearly didn't get a seat there were only a few left; the one I asked for I didn't get because it left one seat on its own and the one I have isn't going to be the best view but better than nothing - that'll teach me to keep a closer eye on local events, won't it?
It's in three weeks' time in the afternoon.

Today is the usual Monday schedule.  Circuits and downstairs housework.  Then some sanding to replace the dust I will have just removed from the table, assuming my order arrives in good time.  Maybe it will feel mild enough to sit outside, well wrapped up, and do some sanding there.  That would be nice.  Also, there's the decluttering and the weed scraping but that won't take very long at all.  Just a normal 'plenty-of-things-to-do' kind of day.

But first I must sort out the kitchen - I didn't exactly leave it tidy yesterday, bad me!
Is it cold your way too or are you getting milder and maybe wetter weather?  And have you ever undertaken a wood furniture 'renovation'?  How did you find it?   
Have a lovely day.  xx

02-03-25

Good morning everyone!  I have no idea of the weather yet but it feels cold and I have a warm dressing gown on.  Hopefully, it will be like yesterday which was rather nice.  I've just drawn the curtains and, yes, there's a good old frost going on and the skies are clear.

I headed out yesterday morning, in the frosty mist, first stop Hobbycraft.  No luck there, sadly.  Of the yarn I wanted with the three for two offer, there was just one colour, a bright red, and I certainly didn't want that.  A darker maroon or a dusty pink, for sure, but not a Christmas red.  

So I continued on to B&Q where I got my sandpaper and some varnish stripper because there's a few little fiddly bits that it might be very hard to deal with.  I made a mistake though; more about that later.

I finished off at Sainsbury's which, by that time, was quite busy so it was all rather slow.  I wasn't terribly impressed with the clothes.  There were a few nice lighter dresses but when I get anything like that, it will be with the two 2026 holidays in mind and I haven't thought that through yet.   I did, however, get one T shirt, a nice ditzy patterned one (I think that's the term) because most of my T shirts are a bit too big now.  At just £4, it won't break the bank - which is just as well because the rest of the shop was rather eye watering.  Being the first of the month and not having done much of a shop at the beginning of February, there were some less frequent things I needed to buy - things like dishwasher powder, tinned goods, some frozen fruit and some steak mince - that sort of stuff.

It was nice to get the car topped up and it came to less that what I had allowed for so that's good.

I remembered to read the gas meter and send that off although I did take my torch with me as I nearly forgot and it was getting dark!

I started in on sanding the coffee table top and realised that I had made a mistake with the sandpaper.  I thought it was a pack with several different levels of coarseness but it wasn't, it was just very rough stuff  for getting the original varnish off - fine, I need some, but I need other as well.  Oh, well, with all the tops I may want to deal with, it won't go to waste, will it?

I finished off the ironing - yay.

And this . . .

No, it's not a sourdough loaf, I am weeks away from that, but I wanted to practise the shaping, cutting, baking techniques that I will use when (or if) I do get round to making a proper loaf.

This is my usual recipe, made mostly in Thermione with added seeds, part wholemeal, part spelt and part strong white.  No rye because Sainsbury's didn't have the wholemeal kind so I sent off for some and it will be arriving on Monday (good old Amazon).

This is what I got and I'm pleased with it.  Beth is taking it as I have plenty in the freezer already, so I've not been tempted!

As for Bubbles, she (she's a 'she' in my mind, I can't keep saying 'it') had another quiet day.  She smells OK and there's no sign of mould so I think the earlier activity must have been the 'false rise' and now it is the quiet days - or so I hope.  And my kitchen is just too cold so she's in the living room for now.

I haven't made it easy for myself, making a rye starter, I suppose.  Nor is it great timing as I am away next weekend, but not to worry.  We will get there and if not, I try again with  Bubbles II.

Today feels busy although it isn't really.  Beth and Alex are here for lunch and I'm picking them up so I can leave a bit earlier, stop off at B&Q and get the right sandpapers - they say we learn more from out mistakes, don't they?  I've already prepped the vegetables and the meat (a turkey breast thingy in a foil tray) is currently roasting in Nellie for reheating later - a time saver strategy!  Must remember to get some dried stuffing out of the shed and get a few piggies out of the freezer.  I didn't do the proper Christmas dinner that Alex so loves at the right time so why not today?  

Before then, at ten, Chris is over for half an hour of Groove online.  As Lindsey said:
Live stream FREE half hour groove aerobics for Let’s Dance campaign

. . . and here' the site:

https://lets-dance.org.uk/

. . . so I need to do a bit of a tidy up before she arrives and make sure everything is on and working.  It looks like we will be a big group and Lindsey is excited.

Right, well, better go and do something useful like tidying the kitchen!  Have a lovely Sunday, everyone, and stay warm and content.  See you tomorrow.  xx

02-03-25: February review and March's aims

It's really  helping me to keep up to date with all this so hopefully you won't mind too much if I have another ramble through my thoughts today. 

My goals for 2025 are

Healthy finances:

I'm still sticking to the needs only - mostly.  There have been a few things but nothing too wasteful or costly.

I'm keeping up with the bank account checking.  
I've dolloped another sum into my Jolly Holidays account that has come from the Needs Only goal plus the 'pay myself first' sum that goes from bank to savings on the first - or, this time, on the third - every single month on standing order.
I'm still not sure how much certain things will increase by, both incomings and outgoings, but will keep an eye on things.

Healthy mind and body.

Apart from the occasional twinge, the back seems fine now and I'm back to full efforts in the classes.

Potters next weekend should be a very energetic time, one way and another.

As far as my mind is concerned, does it count to learn a few more skills - like sanding down and recoating a table top and getting this sourdough thing sorted?  I think it probably does.

Healthy lifestyle.

Back on the healthy eating plan and having fun discovering new recipes that match both SW and the Mediterranean way of eating.

Plenty of social activities with friends but not so many that they become overwhelming.  I am an introvert at heart

February's aims were . . .

• To continue with the Needs Only spending.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue using what I have in freezer, fridge and cupboards . . .  Tick and ongoing
• Linked with that to move a specific amount across to short term savings at the end of the month.  I have a specific amount in mind but won't be sharing that.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue updating my spreadsheet every time anything goes out of my account so I absolutely KNOW where I am at any given point in the month.  Tick and ongoing
• To continue with the Food Bank collection and, specifically, to check what's really needed and make sure I focus on that.  Tick and ongoing
• To make a decision about whether to go for another cruise and to decide on a linked savings target to go towards that (I suppose you could call it a sinking fund but it will be on the spreadsheet, not a separate account.)  Done - no cruise but three planned holidays, one this year and two next.  Savings are underway
• To do one extra online SET class each week, if possible.  Tick
• To continue with the decluttering.  Tick, although it has slowed down since the redecorating - must get back on it.
• Resume the daily weed scraping when they start fighting back - and they will!  They have.  IU am!

 

So, all good.  Some are really feeling more like habits so can vanish from the goals list with the proviso that they come back on again if necessary.

March's aims.
The ongoing ones from February plus:

1. Resume the daily decluttering
2. Get to grips with sourdough starter and baking
3. Learn how to re-stain my coffee table tops - and at least get started.
4. Find another knitting or crochet project.

01-03-25

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday, March and Spring.  I know I said this would be later this morning but I woke and daft o'clock so here I am, downstairs and typing.  Ho hum!.  Fortunately, it is not a scheduled sort of day and if I need or want to snooze, I can!

Thank you for your interest in Bubbles.  At the start of day five, I am happy to report that Bubbles likes sunshine and there's been some action; just a bit but better than none.  A very little rise and some bubbly activity underneath although not many are surfacing yet and I am not ashamed to admit that it (is Bubbles a he or a she?) spent the night tucked under a fleece. 
I've found a helpful YouTube video which I will link to for those of you who are interested.  There's so much conflicting info out there, everyone seems to have their own way and it is easy to get confused; however, I find this guy sensible, practical and down to earth - and generous with his advice and ideas.  Pop over and take a look if you're thinking about this. 

I was a bit flummoxed to find that on the scales at SW, I had gained (eeek) half a pound.  Oh, well, it is what it is and, hand on heart, I've been on it properly since last Friday evening when Dave and Anna came round so - just carry on, Joy!

It really was a glorious day, yesterday, after quite a heavy frost and some morning mist.  We had bright sunshine and, while it wasn't all that warm outside, the sunshine through the glass made inside lovely and cosy-warm.  No need for heating.

The solar panels loved it, of course, as did the washing on the line.  I did some ironing and will finish it off today.

Apart from the ironing, this morning will be taken up with a bit of shopping.  I'm starting with B&Q where I want to pick up some sandpaper to start in on the first little coffee table.  I spent some time yesterday looking up what/how to do this as Ray advised, and found a useful website; not YouTube for once - YouTube seemed full of boys with their power tools and I have no intention of even thinking of buying a sander until I know I can do this and do it well.  Even then, I am not sure and, thinking about it - maybe Chris or Val has one I can try.
Anyway, I do really want it literally to be a hands on thing as that's how we learn, I think.

Then it is on to Hobbycraft in hopes.  I have finished and worn that cardigan and it is lovely, warm and cosy, fine for over a thicker jumper but a bit big and I'd like it a bit longer.  I did add several inches to the measurement but even so . . .

So double fingers crossed, firstly that Hobbycraft still has the buy three for two thing (I think it does) and secondly that there's a colour I like and enough of the same dye lot.
If not, I am no worse off!

And then on to Sainsbury's for my weekly shop and monthly petrol top up.  I will be considerably poorer by lunchtime but nothing is wasteful.  OK, so the yarn will be more a want than a need but very productive in several ways, not wasteful at all and certainly not gimmicky!
Thank you, Catriona, for sending me that shawl pattern.  I love it, it could be something to make and take with me on my two holidays next year, for evening wear, maybe.  I need to consider what colours . . .

This afternoon, there is ironing and I would really like to start sanding down the table top.  I know it won't be a quick job done like that but I don't mind - I think it will be very satisfying.

So today, St. David's Day, is quite busy but in an enjoyable way.  Have a lovely day yourself, whatever you do.  Round here we seem to be forecasted frosty starts, a bit of early fog and then glorious sunshine in the low teens for the next five or six days which suits me!  

I wish you warmth and sunshine too.  xx