Thursday evening instead of Friday morning.

 I won't we able to post tomorrow morning so here I am early, just like the olden days!!

Today has been good.

After a great chat with Chris (and her grandson), I set off to Riverside, fingers crossed that there were parking spaces.  It was packed but I was lucky.
I tackled Home Bargains, the Costa loo (thanks, Costa), HomeSense and Matalan.  Then I went off to Longacres because I felt like seeing their Christmas stuff.

Did I get the wrapping paper, I was looking for . . .

Yes, I did, but it took some looking.
To be fair, I am a bit fussy about Christmas wrapping paper.  The cheaper, the better, but it has to be in my Christmas colours of red, green and/or gold, preferably red.  Tartan is perfect.  

I got one roll in Home Bargains, one in HomeSense and two in Longacres and now I am all set up for several years to come.

Also, in HB I got a nice stash of reverse Advent food, in HS I got a couple of items for my Spode Christmas Tree collection and several quirky foody things for Dave and Anna and in Matalan I got . . . 

. . . this.

Let's pull out a bit.

That's better!

No, I wasn't aiming to get a Christmas jumper but I really couldn't not, could I . . .

It will be perfect for Slimming World.

When I got home, I did some wrapping and dug out my Christmas book (see first photo) to start writing things down for this year.

As I said, half term is, and always has been, Christmas preparation week for me.

Then I settled down with my knitting/crochet.  I have four WIPs at the moment which is probably three too many but all the knitting is Christmas gifts and it is nice to change focus now and again.

I won't post tomorrow but I will be back on Saturday morning.  

Sleep well and have a lovely day tomorrow.  xx

Thursday

Morning, all!  
After a really horrible, wet day yesterday, the BBC thinks today will be much nicer round here.  That's good.  A bit of sunshine warms the house up very nicely, doesn't it.

Mind you, yesterday might have been dreary outside but, as hoped, it was a really nice day inside.  I got a few chores done and then enjoyed chilling with Kindle and crafting.

In the evening I had a visit from my neighbour who came round bearing gifts - a little thank you for feeding the hedgehogs!  So kind.

Today starts as usual with Coffee and chat - I'm over to Chris' today and look forward to seeing her newly decorated front room.  I gather her little grandson might be there too - that will be a treat!

Then I plan to drive over to the Riverside Precinct and see if I can get my Christmas wrapping paper.  There's Home Bargains, Matalan and HomeSense so, surely, between all three there should be something.  I'm also wondering if HomeSense has the usual Spode Christmas Tree china in.  Every year they have some and every year I add something to my collection but the best bits do go quickly.  Because I use my Christmas china all through December and up to Twelfth Night, I don't feel all that guilty.  
Also, I guess I can look for more reverse Advent items in Home Bargains.  They have super stuff for not as much as other places.
Assuming there's parking, of course . . .

Once home again, there's more of the usual, including some washing and bed changing (followed by more washing) and I may as well give the carpets a going over (I really do like my new cleaner!).  And my desk needs sorting out yet again.  All the incoming paperwork just gets piled up and when it starts falling over, I tidy it all away.  Ho hum!!

I've just done my end of month finances so, apart from a few bits and bobs, that is all done.

I gather there is a new Mary Berry series out as she celebrates her 90th birthday - what an icon she is, to be sure.  I've missed the first one, I think, but it will be on iPlayer, so I want to watch that.

So that's my day today.  Hopefully it will be both fun and productive.  Better get going on my other social media stuff.  Bye, everyone, and have a great day.  xx

Wednesday

Morning, all, and welcome to Wednesday.  It's dull but dry outside and I'm feeling hot in my snuggle hood.

Yesterday morning started off awful - heavy rain and some wind.  I ummed and ahed about going into town but decided I would because I really needed to collect that framed picture.  If you get wet, it's not the end of the world, after all.
However, the rain stopped, the sun came out to play and it was a lovely morning.  

So in I went.

I picked up the framed picture - they have done it beautifully and I will definitely use them again,  I'll show it when I have my decorations up as it's festive.

I popped into Franklins because you have to, don't you, and bought a couple of balls for some Christmas gifts I am making.  Yesterday was hand and wrist warmers, this year it is Sophie scarves!

Then I walked back through town, stopping off at Lakeland (poly bags) and on to John Lewis where I got my perfume.  I was a bit cheeky and when the lady asked if I wanted it gift wrapped, I said 'yes, please'.  Buying a Jo Malone perfume is a bit of an occasion, after all.  Now I am all set, perfume wise, for a while.  And, yes, they are expensive, but they last and last and a little squirt is all you need.

I had a look at their Christmas area while I was there but it was smaller and not as exciting as last year.  Everyone feels the pinch nowadays, even posh shops.

Once home, I dumped my bag and set off again because I wanted to look in Home Bargains for some specific things.

One was this - a proper, decent sized, sturdy, coir, Christmas door mat.  I have some of those thin ones but they don't really do a proper job, do they?  These (I got two) will be inside, by the front and the back doors and they may just possibly be there before December 1st because I love them.

I was also looking for festive wrapping paper but didn't like what they had in.  I will need to look in Home Bargains and Matalan, I think, maybe tomorrow.  I want to start wrapping and I'm pretty much out of Christmas wrapping paper.

I do like to be ahead of myself and, when I was teaching, I aimed to get everything bought and wrapped by the end of the half term break because the half term leading up to a school Christmas is absolutely crammed.  Mum used to laugh at me for that!  It is just a habit.  
Mind you, I will have an easier ride this year.  Dave and Anna won't be around so I'm going to Beth's on Christmas Day.  Yes, I will provide stuff, etc, but it will be less work for me.  
How do you organise the whole gift getting/wrapping /etc?

Back to yesterday.
Then I went over the road to Aldi and bought some Christmas things for the reverse Advent for the food bank.  I'm a bit annoyed with myself - I got some boxes of mince pies without checking the date so will need to donate them in the next few weeks.  Oh, well, they won't be wasted.

Here's one of the finished blanket squares.  I do think it looks nice but I doubt I can do more than one a day and, probably, less than that.  So it is a proper project and the challenge is to have the blanket done and dusted by the end of November.

That is do-able, I hope.

Today is a lazy day in.  There's a load of washing (and then ironing) to do and I want to do a bit of dusting and sweeping but, after that, the day's my own and I will chill, read, knit and crochet.  

I love my life . . .

Have the best day, everyone.  Stay warm and cosy, whatever you do and wherever you go.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday

Hi again, everyone.
After a nice long spell of sleeping until a sensible time (even last Sunday), today I woke at just after three which is beyond stupid!!  I read for a while but sleep didn't return so here I am at quarter to five, writing this.  

Oh. well . . . more time for crafting!

Yesterday was a lovely day.  I bustled around in the morning, getting everything neat, clean and tidy for Diane's visit - and, also, because it was Monday, of course!  I'm loving the Ultenic.  It's so easy to use and my carpets have never been so clean.  I must get out of the habit of turning to check the flex though.  😁

It was so good to catch up with Diane - she is such a lovely friend and it's hard to believe that I have only known her for about four years.  I guess it was a friendship just waiting to happen.  We chatted and laughed, she enjoyed the roast dinner (phew) and was happy with the sourdough loaf which rose properly this time!  
And we made Plans for next Christmas.  Not a cruise, much closer to home, but definitely exciting!  Whether it comes off remains to be seen but fingers crossed.  

A new Thermomix Class popped into my mailbox and I think it was one that I suggested in the feedback sheet at the sushi course - I mean I did suggest it but it may already have been in the pipeline.  Anyway, it is about Sourdough and the Thermomix and I'm intrigued as to how the two could work together.  I've registered and printed off the ticket so now I just have to wait.

Today, the Quiet Skies CAL starts but it won't come as much of a surprise when I tell you I have already started!  That sort of blanket is always 'do the same thing in different colours' and, once I got the specific details, it isn't tricky.  And I think it is going to look gorgeous, just like a patchwork quilt.

My main plan for today is to take the bus into town.  I have a framed picture to collect, I want to pop into some of my favourite shops and I have just run out of my favourite perfume so I will get some more, given that, for once, there's money left at the end of the month.
And then I can just wander until I get tired and be home in time for lunch!

Nice!

What are your plans for today?   xx

Monday

Good morning everyone, and many thanks for the lovely birthday greetings for Beth. I did one reply in comments for everyone and will pass your good wishes on.

I had a lovely time at hers and we had a feast!

The sushi was a great success; both Alex and Beth love sushi and the whole lot was eaten.  

I think we have another 'must have' to go with the Delia not-sausage rolls - which also vanished like snow on a dyke.  They both agreed that Brie, chestnuts and cranberry sauce (with shredded veg) would make a great festive filling and Christmas Tree Day isn't so far away really.  Maybe I can find out how to make a different shape of sushi before then.
And Alex wants to know how to make sushi so that's our next lesson sorted, isn't it?

Beth's main pressie was the laptop Alex and I clubbed together to buy her but I gave her some plastic storage cases and a project bag for her sewing and a glass rainbow sun catcher thingy from the Knit and Stitch show because you HAVE to have things to unwrap on your birthday, don't you?

The other day, I got a reminder that my Center Parcs repeat guest offer was about to run out so, as we had planned to go again next May anyway, we went online after lunch and got it booked and paid for.  

It's quite a good thing, this offer.

You get £50 off the cost.

You can pay a much smaller deposit (but we like to pay the lot and get it done with).

There's a lower price promise - but it is up to you to find it!

There's no amendment fee (the amendment insurance is hefty so this is worth having)

And you get two free visitor day passes - we could invite Dave and Anna over for the day, or a couple of Beth's friends.

Beth and Alex were so disappointed not to be able to go this autumn so this makes up for their disappointment.  Beth starts her new job in a fortnight and will book the time off as soon as she can but, if we need to amend it, we can do so free of charge.

This week there's no fitness classes so my starts to the day are more leisurely.  Not that they are ever a rush - I wake early - but it's that half-term feeling.  
I'm glad to be staying in because my lovely friend, Diane, is over for lunch.  I'm doing a roast chicken dinner so have plenty of time to get things prepped.  Roast dinners are easy once the prepping is done, aren't they?
Unusual for a Monday, I know, but I didn't have one yesterday and it's nice to share.

Now for the potentially silly thing that I did that has turned out to be not-silly after all.

You will remember the issues I had with the rechargeable vacuum cleaner I ordered and had to send back.
Well, I started looking around again but I really had researched this one, it was personally recommended and it was the one I wanted.  It wasn't an impulse buy or anything like that.
So I decided to re-order, knowing that it was unlikely for two consecutive orders to have problems - I had looked all over but couldn't find cutting out as a common problem at all.  If another one had the same problem, maybe it was me doing something wrong, not the vacuum.  And returning was a lot easier than I expected and the refund was rapid.
So I re-ordered, it came on Saturday and it is absolutely fine, just what I wanted.  I am so glad I took the risk, I really am.
But it could have been a very silly thing indeed!

And, finally, something that made me laugh.

Remember after Mum died, I got my financial things sorted out and took out LPAs for finance and for health and bought into a funeral plan.  I paid the lot rather than monthly because - well - that's what we do.
That was a mistake because Covid landed and the company went bust.  Oh, well, thought I, live and learn, it's annoying but at least I could afford to lose what I paid.
Then, earlier this year, I got a letter from the liquidators informing that there would be a bit of a payback by the autumn.
Oh, good, thought I - a few hundreds are always useful.

On Saturday, the letter arrived with a cheque - for the magnificent sum of £6.46!!!  Yippee!

More seriously, it isn't good, is it.  Yes, I could afford to lose the money but a lot of people probably couldn't and had gone without to make life easier for their children after they died.
I have an insurance policy now, that will cover everything - funeral, death duties, etc) after I die.  Beth and Dave know about it and I am comfortable knowing that they won.t have to go into debt, however temporary it is.

You have to think of these things as you get older, don't you?

So, on that slightly gloomy note, I will love you and leave you and go and peel some potatoes!  :-)  Have a lovely day and stay warm.  xx

Sunday

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH.
(and Annabeth - it must be the name!!!)

Morning, everyone.  A quicker one today, I hope.

The lunch out was lovely although I disgraced myself by arriving late and then throwing my phone under a bench (accidentally, I hasten to add).  Not to worry, once that had all died down, I had a lovely time chatting with good friends over a nice lunch.

In my peripheral vision are two loaves, one sourdough and one yeasted, both super-healthy and sliced ready for Beth/Alex to chuck into the freezer.

I've been a busy bunny this morning.
I started another leaven overnight and the dough is now mixed for a loaf for my friend Diane who is coming round tomorrow for lunch.
I made some sushi from start to finish (it doesn't take that long really) to take over to Beth's for her birthday lunch.  It has feta, carrot, pepper and spring onion with sriracha mayo so not traditional but fine for a vegetarian!  It's still in two wrapped logs in the fridge - I will cut them just before I go over.
And one of the chicken crowns I bought on Friday is just finishing off in Nellie.  I thought I'd do a roast dinner for me and Diane - we both live solo so a roast is a great and I can reheat the chicken.

Phew.

As you can imagine, the kitchen is a right mess.  I'll go and sort that out after I've taken a break.

I'll be off to Beth's later, gifts in one hand and food in t'other.  Note to self - don't forget the sausage rolls from the freezer!!!

Have a very happy Sunday, everyone.  All the best and see you tomorrow!  xx

Saturday

Good morning, lovely people.  

I woke feeling so c-c-cold this morning and wondered why it was that cold . . . until I realised I had left the window on tilt overnight by mistake.  Thank goodness for electric blankets!

Yesterday was a lovely, gentle sort of day.  Slimming World was enjoyable and, for once, people arrived all through so there was never a big queue to be weighed.  That means Berny and I could have nice chats to people rather than rushing through.

I had a short shopping list but did get a few more things, including three biggish chicken crowns for a tenner which seemed very good value.  I prefer a whole chicken really because of the carcass/stock/etc, but it can give me rather too much meat.  Anyway, one is in the fridge and two are in the freezer.

I made the vegetarian sausage rolls - half for Beth tomorrow and half for Christmas Tree Day plus a bit more of the filling left over and frozen.  This year I cheated slightly and bought puff pastry instead of making it.

I finished off a bit of ironing after drying stuff on the rack in the sunshine. 

And I got on with a Sophie scarf (a Christmas gift for a friend).  
I did, however, forget to practise my continental knitting - bad me!

The Wool Warehouse order did arrive yesterday.  

I actually got more than needed because I wasn't sure which colour would work best and knew the extra wouldn't be wasted.

So the choices are . . .

. . . this or . . .

. . . this

The difference is the colour in the middle, silver-grey or taupe and this one with the taupe is the colourway I am going for.  Gray yarn is very useful so no worries.

When ordering, I dithered for ages between pinks and peaches and I'm glad I went with the peaches - it's a bit different to my usual choices and goes beautifully with the living room decor.

The CAL starts next Tuesday!

T was sorry to wake early (and cold) this morning because I have nothing in the diary until lunchtime and was hoping for a bit of a lie in.  I can still have a slow and lazy start though and I have some bread to bake which always relaxes me.

I'm meeting up with my SW Golden Oldies group for lunch.  A number of us can't go on the walks now (healthy reasons) and they have pretty much stopped, but it is nice to make time to chat together over a lunch.

And, of course, it is Strictly this evening.  There's been news coming out of the Strictly camp this week, hasn't there.
Firstly Dianne and Stefan have had to withdraw due to Stefan's injury.  I think Dianne is very disappointed - quite apart from not dancing in the shows now, she wanted to make a point about women's bodies being amazing and, with common sense and taking medical advice, not being a reason to stop dancing.  I agree with her - I enjoy watching the Royal Ballet classes for the annual World Ballet Days and there's always at least one dancer with a bump.  They interviewed one lady who was quite close to dates and she said that, obviously, she could no longer do the jumps etc, during centre work but the stretching and coordination work at the barre was incredibly helpful in keeping her strong and well through pregnancy.

And the other news is about Tess and Claudia.  Oh, dear, although I did wonder how much longer they would stay.  They must get some phenomenal alternative job offers and Strictly must take up so much of their time.
I wonder who will replace them.  

I am rambling now - I'd better go and see how the leaven has coped with a fairly cold night and start Beth's 'wholemealy, seedy gorgeousness' (her words) loaf.  That's two loaves, by the way, a yeasted one and a sourdough one.   :-)

Stay cosy and warm, everyone.  Happy Saturday to you all.  xx

Friday

Good morning, all.  It's Friday!!  Next Friday it will be Halloween and the last day of October - eeeeek!

Thankfully, Benjamin turned out to be a storm in a teacup round here.  Yes, it was was over Thursday night and a bit of Friday morning and yes, we had some strong-ish gusts of wind at times, but really nothing to cause any concern.  No pots tried to escape and the egg chair stayed put.
I know it was far, far worse in other areas and I hope you weren't too badly affected.

I took a few photos of the Joseph's Coat blanket.  I know it is gaudy but it's cheerful and the perfect size for throwing over my lap of an evening or over my bed on top of the duvet.  Ad I had a lot of fun making it too.   xx

 

It was all made with leftovers of yarn apart from the maroon for joining and the border  so it is what it is and looking at the whole thing, I can see where things could have been arranged differently and of a different way to make each square but that's OK.  It's meant for our eyes only!

The yarn for the Quiet Skies blanket might arrive today.  I used Wool Warehouse - even 40p-ish off a ball makes a big difference when you're buying for a whole project.  I'm not great with coordinated colour so fingers crossed it works.

It was a homey day - I had a lovely chat with Chris, I got the ironing finished, I fed the Christmas cake, I did the usual stuff, I sort of tidied the kitchen and I did something that might be a bit stupid and I might tell you what in due course if it turns out to be not stupid after all!!

And the window cleaner came after the rain had stopped and the sun had come out.  Lovely!

Today is Slimming World and weekly (very small - ha ha) shop but no cookery lesson as Alex can't come.  Instead, I hope to start off a sourdough loaf for Sunday and to make the not-sausage rolls.
And then I can chill.

Have a good day and stay nice and warm.  I gather that cold air is heading our way so I'm wearing layers at the moment.  
See you tomorrow.  xx

Thursday

And it's another Good Morning to you all this wet and windy Thursday morning.  The forecast looks great (slight sarcasm alert) with heavy rain and winds up to around 50mph although, to be fair, we don't usually get the full force round here - something to do with the lie of the land, maybe?  I hope storm Benjamin isn't affecting you too much.

I managed to get the stick vacuum dropped off for returning.  I suppose I have been very fortunate but I can't remember the last time I needed to return anything and I'm not someone who orders more than I need because I can return what I don't want to keep.
So I was a bit anxious about how it would all work but, like a lot of these things, the reality was dead easy!

Personal Training was good too.  It's the last class until November as Lindsey is away for half term so I need to get my act together and do some stuff by myself as I've missed a number of sessions this past block through illness.

Apart from the usual stuff, I baked a white loaf (!!!).  You see, it's Beth's birthday on Sunday and I am making some of our favourite Delia's vegetarian sausage rolls.  One of the main ingredients is fresh breadcrumbs; only once did I buy sliced white to make the breadcrumbs and you could taste it - I could, anyway - and I thought 'never again'.  Also, I've been wanting a reason to have a go at Portuguese bread in Thermione so - I did!  
It was a very nice, soft, tasty loaf that had a bit of a tang to it because you mix the flour and water and leave it to hydrate before creating the dough.   I needed most of it for the breadcrumbs but ate the rest; far too much and my innards are complaining, but it was delicious.

And in the evening I finished the Joseph's Coat blanket.  It's garish but I really like it and I'm getting a lot better at a basic edging.  It didn't need steaming out or anything, it just fitted!

I think the Quiet Skies CAL starts on Tuesday so I have nearly a week to fill with something as well as practising the knitting.  I could practise the squares for the CAL - I have the pattern, I have scrap yarn and there's a YouTube video.  Yes, I might do that!  I need to do something, I can't just sit and watch telly!  😉

Today, thankfully, I don't have to go out at all.  Chris is over for the usual coffee and chat and then I have a day to myself.  I have a bit of ironing (I managed to get a load almost dried on the line yesterday) and my bedroom needs a declutter.  I found a magazine called Festive Air Fryer Cooking or something similar so I'm looking forward to browsing through that and the Lakeland Christmas catalogue landed a few days ago too.
I won't be bored, that's for sure!

Time to make a coffee, I think.  Have a good day, one and all, take care and stay warm and dry.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday

Hello again, everyone.  After a pretty sunny day, it looks like being quite nice again.  Tomorrow, however, is quite another tale but I won't fuss about that until I need to!

Thank you so much for all your comments about the continental style of knitting and the new show.  There doesn't seem to be much info out there about what the latter will contain and as for the former, I have some scrap yarn and needles on the side and I am going to practise for five minutes or so every day, just to see how it goes.

Alison, I changed my crochet style a very long time ago.  I learnt before YouTube, etc, and did it a bit like I did knitting, holding hook and yarn in my right hand and lifting the yarn round the hook.  It was clumsy and we won't even mention tension issues!!  In those days, I didn't really like crochet - I wonder why???

I do it properly now, using a knife grip rather than a pencil grip - it just works better for me.

(This is the photo that came with the email)

While on the subject, I got an email from Anita yesterday - not a personal one, I hasten to add.  It was to let me know there's a CAL of the Quiet Skies quilt that I bought the pattern for last week, in the Stylecraft Facebook group.  I've asked to join the group and must take a good look at the pattern and get yarn.  You can buy a pack but I prefer to choose my own colours this time so a trip either to Wool Warehouse or Franklins or Hobbycraft is on the to-do list.

Her CALs are so helpful and it is great to see how the designer did it. 

(I've nearly finished the Joseph's Coat blanket so this has come at a very good time - I think I have a bit of a crochet addiction, sadly)

Today is just a bit more housework, ironing, etc.  Lindsey has asked me if I can have Personal Training this morning, which I can, so then I have a clear rest of day.  Time to look at the pattern and think about colours.  Oh, the hardship!!

One more thing.  I had a letter yesterday, telling me that I will be receiving the winter fuel payment, etc, etc, etc, but I'm not spending it as I suspect it will be clawed back in tax.  I am fairly sure my pre-tax income is over the limit.
I'm not complaining - I feel very blessed to be in such a position.

OK, better get going.  Have a lovely day, everyone, and I hope the sun shines for you.  xx

Tuesday, 21-10-25

Morning, all. After a day with both sunshine and heavy rain, today looks to be much nicer and, fingers crossed, Chris and I can walk to Groove.  That will be so good.

Exciting news!  I think it is exciting, anyway.  I don't know if you knew but there's a new crafting 'show' coming on Channel 4 and it is called The Game of Wool, with Tom Daley.

Quoting from https://www.gathered.how/news/the-game-of-wool-with-tom-daley-is-coming-soon :

Set against the picturesque landscapes of rural Scotland, the show is a competitive knitting series where ten contestants face weekly challenges, judged by a panel of knitting experts. From what we know so far, it looks set to follow a format similar to GBBO, but for knitting, as the contestants compete to become the UK’s first TV knitting champion.

The first programme is on November 2nd at 20:00 and I can't wait.

So, what with Strictly on Saturday and Sunday and now this on Sunday, I'm going to be very spoilt, although I did wonder why there's an overlap with the Strictly results show - until I realised that they are back-to back (on different channels).

While on the subject of knitting, I watched some knitting channels while 'researching' (I use that term very lightly) the Sophie scarf and noticed that many knitters use what I believe is called the continental style.  I use the style my Mum taught me with the yarn in my right hand and the project in my left.  I think it is called the slip off style?  I just wondered - is the continental style easier, faster, more consistent?  I might have a go and see if I like it.

If you knit, what style do you use?

Yesterday - I didn't do much housework - what a surprise!!!  I did, however, make great strides with the Joseph blanket (that's what I am calling it - it's multicoloured!).  It's lap blanket size so I can use it in the evening instead of turning up the heating.  Just call me Scrooge!  

I may not have done housework yesterday but I did start a sourdough loaf for Lindsey and also I made this.

I thought I had rice vinegar, couldn't find it, used apple cider instead and then found an unopened bottle of the rice vinegar later on.  Oh, well.

Yes, a bit messy but it tasted OK (stronger tasting seasonings and fillings needed, I think) but it was OK and I have left for today plus some leftover sushi rice in the freezer.
And Alex likes the idea of having a go.  Yay!

Circuits was good too - I was able to give it full energy and that felt great!

Today HAS to be housework.  I have piles of washing, old ironing in the basket, shame on me, and Chris is here for our chat on Thursday.  At the moment, I wouldn't let anyone past the front door (only slightly joking here) . . .

Groove comes first though - lovely!   And I have a loaf to finish off too.

Better get going - time flies, doesn't it?  Have a great day.  xx

Monday

Good morning and welcome to a new week on my blog.  
The weather yesterday was a right old mix.  Cloud first, then some sunshine and by early afternoon it was drizzling.  And then it rained properly.  Not heavy, but steady.  It's raining now so I guess today is a staying-inside sort of day.

Which is probably just as well because after a fortnight of feeling less than 100%, the house is a total tip and needs some serious attention.

As always, thank you for your comments.  I confess that I popped out to Morrisons yesterday and got some sushi rice and some nori.  I didn't want to wait until Friday!  😁  Hopefully I will be able to sort of reproduce what we made on Saturday!

I now have a Christmas cake!  Using Delia's classic recipe, I changed the alcohol to Cointreau, some of the fruit to cranberries, added extra glace cherries because Beth likes them, made half amounts and chose the tin carefully so I have ended up (intentionally) with a cake that is quite a shallow cake, more like a Victoria sponge size.    I like that - it means that a thin slice of cake won't be so much and I bet it will slice easier too.

It's now wrapped up in paper and I need to dig out a suitable sized container.

As well as the cake, I baked a crustless quiche which is mostly in the freezer now, so the house smelled wonderful.

Alex popped over to pick up his cycling helmet which he left at mine and I drove him back because it was starting to rain - he uses those scooters to get about as he doesn't drive and finds bicycles hard too - he has my poor balance, I reckon!  I popped in to have a coffee with Beth and we settled on our Christmas Tree Day date so that's in the diary.  I have to admit, the end of the year is looking more than a bit busy!

Oh, and I paid the rest of the money for the coach trip to the Thursford Spectacular in December.  so that's good.

This week, however, looks pretty empty.  Apart from the usual fitness classes, chats and Slimming World, the only added excitements are the window cleaner, a meal out Saturday lunch and over to Beth's on Sunday to celebrate her birthday.
Actually, that's not so bad really, is it?

So today starts with Circuits and then it is housework and I think I need a list because there's so much to do and I will feel much happier when it's done!

It's time to wander over to Facebook for the usual stuff so have a lovely day, take care, stay dry and see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday

Good morning, everyone.  Happy Sunday to you.

Yesterday was a right gloomy day round here.  My electricity bill is creeping up again, now there's less sunlight and it's more diffused.  It's up £10 from last month but it's expected - and it will go up again for the next goodness knows how many months.  That's life!
I'm still waiting to hear how much the gas bill is going up by.

Well, yesterday!  I got the half past eleven bus into town and had a leisurely stroll around the centre before heading to Moulsham St.  

I dropped off a cross stitch I have finally got round to having framed - do you remember the quirky Christmas owls that I put up as one of my December banners? Where did I put the photo?  

Here it is!  The frame is just done on the computer but now it will have a real simple, red frame around it and it will have a stand up thingy on the back because it's part of a display, not going on the wall.

(I had fun finding this photo - it's on what was salvaged from my broken desktop and the route is not simple.  I think (hope) I have a link from the desktop to the photo files now, fingers crossed.)

Then I popped over the road (more or less) to Franklins where I bought the yarn to join and border my current blanket, a variegated yarn for a Christmas gift for someone - what I will make with it, I mean - and there was a bargain basket where I found a couple of balls of Stylecraft Special DK for a pound each - bargain indeed!

Then I went downstairs and looked longingly at the overlockers until it was time to go to the Sushi thing (just back over the road again).

It was such fun!

At the beginning, everyone was very quiet;  a bit nervous, I think, and unsure of what to expect.  Like me, pretty much everyone was interested but hadn't made sushi before.

The advisers (that's what the TM team are called) demo-ed making the sushi rice using the TM7 (but it would be the same for earlier models) and talked us through how to 'do it', so to speak.  I have to emphasise that this wasn't classic, traditional train-for-years Sushi making, it was how-to-do-it-easily-at-home sushi making.

At first we were all very quiet.  Then a few of us stood up to see better, then people edged nearer to the work station and by the time we were asked 'Now, who would like a go', it was all hands on deck, so to speak.
(I've blanked out faces apart from the advisers- it's only fair.)

By the time we had finished, we were all chatting and laughing and it was lovely.
This isn't the full assortment, there was plenty more.  I didn't get a photo of the full table, and any trained and qualified sushi maker would die of shame but we didn't care.  It all tasted amazing and, as people had used different fillings and sauces, it didn't all taste the same by a long shot.

This is some of the fillings, all nicely shredded and ready for us to use.  There was also smoked salmon.  No meat.

Ok, a mess, I know, but some of these were made using a silicon doughnut mould thing (such a clever idea) and some were free form to use up the last dregs of the rice.

And every bit was eaten, there wasn't a single piece left by the time we had finished,

And then we all went and left the lovely TM ladies to tidy up and clean.  Yes, I felt a bit guilty but not guilty enough to offer to help.
(and they would say no anyway because they know where everything goes and how it should all be left)

It was surprisingly easy and now I have a few things extra on my shopping list.  I'm just wondering if Alex might like to have a go.  I know he and Beth do like sushi.

Also, I could use the technique and adapt - how about some Christmas Sushi with chestnuts and avocado and cranberry sauce, turkey, smoked salmon, etc.
Someone said they would try with some slow cooked aromatic duck - now doesn't that sound good?

Moving on . . .
There was some wonderful dancing on Strictly last night but there was some dreadful stuff too.  No spoilers but I totally agree with Shirley's low score - it was terrible and I think she was rather cross because it shouldn't have been that bad.  It was almost like they didn't care although I am sure they did really and the public sympathy vote may very well 'save' them.

Today is, of course, a day for specially remembering my lovely Mum on her birthdate.  I think about her and Dad a lot anyway, of course, but she always made the Christmas cake on or around her birthday so I now do the same.

The fruit is soaked and I just need to get Delia's recipe up and printed out and we're good to go!

It's going to be hard on the old electricity today, isn't it?

I also have some leftover canned potatoes so I think I will make a frittata type thing with some chopped bacon, onion, peppers - you know the kind of thing.   Perhaps I could slow bake the frittata at the same time?  Yes, maybe.

And then the kitchen will need a jolly good sort-out.  lol

It's time to jump over to Facebook and do my social stuff over there so I will love you and leave you with hopes that, if you do have rain, you are able to stay warm and dry in your cosy home.  Take care, everyone, see you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday and my post!  It looks like the weather is going to turn.  Rain, rain and more rain although, to be fair, it also looks as if the east side won't get nearly as much as other areas.
Time will tell.

Yesterday ended up quite busy.

I went to Slimming World and faced those scales.  Oh, dear.  Never mind, it is what it is and I know why.  Isn't is annoying how one goes for rubbish when feeling poorly!  As if that will help!!!

Then I did the weekly shop.  It was a shocking price for not much but I got the Christmas cake ingredients including the alcohol.  I don't care much for brandy so I use Cointreau which makes a really lovely cake.  

Alex came over and roasted the chicken really well.  I wish I had taken a photos - it looked so good and he was well chuffed.  He took pretty much all of it home and I hope he's really enjoying it - him and the cats.  Beth won't have any, of course.

I've done two thoroughly Christmassy things.  The first is getting the fruit soaking in the Cointreau.  It's plumping up beautifully and smalls amazing!  It's be ready for making the cake tomorrow, for sure.

The other thing is . . . 

. . . this.

Yes, the Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar is out so I have bought mine!  It just wouldn't be Christmas without the calendar!  This year is is a sort of 'build a village'.  It starts with your house as in the picture and, I gather, each day adds another building to the scene.

This is not an ad or anything, I've been a subscriber to her lovely cards for ages now and I still like them, even though the style has changed over the years.  Do go and take a look.
https://www.jacquielawson.com

Today, I have had a gentle start.  

I made some really nice soup using the chicken stock that Alex didn't want and some tomatoes from my neighbours' garden.

No, I didn't steal them.  E and N are away on holiday and I am feeding the hedgehogs (yes, hedgehogs!!) and they said I could have the tomatoes as they will just rot on the plants otherwise.  Some were split so I decided that roasted sweet potato, red pepper and tomato soup was just the ticket.
When it's all cool, I will freeze it and it should brighten up some lunches in the wet days to come.

The only diary thing today is a Thermomix class about making sushi - and by that I am guessing it is how to cook the sushi rice in the Thermomix and then how to use it to make sushi.
These classes are so good and, amazingly, they are free.  I've had to pull out of the one I had planned to go to on November 1st but I have booked one about making Christmas food gifts in the Thermomix.  That should be really good.

I'll take the bus in (remembering my brolly!) and I want to pop into the picture framing shop and into Franklins as I walk to the studio.
Beth sorted out the problem with the non delivery of her machine.  A crowded shop and staff with Covid.  And then had her address, of course, but no contact info so they couldn't let her know.
It should have arrived yesterday late afternoon so fingers crossed.

I decided that, for once, I will support local business and get the yarn I need in Franklin's rather than Wool Warehouse.  A bit more expensive but . . .  you know!

And then this evening I can knit/crochet while I watch Strictly.  Perfick!!

Well, I may be having a gentle start but I have to get dressed at some point so I will stop whittering and get going.  Have a lovely day, everyone, whatever the weather.  All the best.  xx  

Friday

Good morning everyone.  How are you this Friday morning - good, I hope.  
Yesterday turned out to be quite a pleasant day, weather wise, yesterday.  We even had a bit of sunshine which really helped to cheer the spirits somewhat.  Fingers crossed for today now.

Yesterday was three plusses and a disappointment.

Chris popped over and we had a really good old natter about life, the universe and her little grandson.   I do enjoy our chats very much.

Then I had the loveliest drive up the Braintree road to Val's.  The sun was shining and the trees lining the road were just glorious in their autumnal leaves.  Beautiful!
I arrived at Val's, she made coffee and within two minutes we were sitting in her living room, knitting out tongues and needles going nineteen to the dozen!
We meet up once a month so there's always plenty to talk about and I've known Val since our families were very young - she was the first visitor when I moved out of the 'family home' into where I am now.  I've must realised it was forty years ago last month - oh, my gosh, such a long time ago!
We have November and December's dates sorted and in our diaries so that's good.

In the evening, it was my third social chat of the day, my online chat with my Slim Win buddies.  We had a general natter and shared favourite soup recipes.  Mine was Roasted Fridge Rubble Soup!
By that time, I was fading out rapidly and my voice was definitely the worse for wear but it was all really nice, all the same.

The new vacuum arrived and . . . it doesn't work properly.  Whenever I try to turn it to one of the higher suctions, it cuts out.  I've read the instructions and there's nothing I should be doing.
I decided I didn't want to faff around with the company so I am doing a return - it's pretty easy on Amazon although I've never returned anything before - and there's two returns shops close by.  I kept all the packaging intact so it should be a simple enough experience.  I just have to clean out the dust container because, of course, I did start using it - and was horrified with the amount of dust/fluff it collected.

So back to square one again!  Maybe I need to go for one of the better known names, even if they cost a bit more . . .

What a disappointment!

Today, being Friday, is a bit busy. Slimming World first and I'm not looking forward to what the scales say after three weeks or so of feeling a bit rough and going for easy options.  Oh, well, better to know that not to know, I suppose,

Then I'm doing the weekly shop.  I have my list and it contains what I will need to make that cake.  It also contains a chicken because . . . 

. . . finally, Alex is getting his roast chicken lesson, bless him.  I usually use my aur fryer but today I will use the oven because that's what he will use at home so fingers are crossed for sunshine and co-operative solar panels!
While he's doing the chicken, I can set my dried fruit soaking in Cointreau (don't like brandy!).  The house should smell like Christmas!

Once I drop Alex home, the rest of the day is my own and I will probably chill.  I'm still fading out as the afternoon progresses so it is only sensible to take it slowly when needed.

Wishing you all a lovely Friday, packed with happy things.  Take care, all the best and see you tomorrow.  xx

Thursday

Hi again, everyone.  It's Thursday!  It's damp but not raining - the weather is dismal at the moment but it could be worse so I won't complain - much!

Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's post.  I used to go for Dysons too and loved them but I found them none too reliable, sadly.  I remember James Dyson on Tomorrow's World (remember that) talking about his ballbarrow in the 1970s.  He wore a beautiful emerald green sweater, I think.  Goodness, the things one remembers.  At least I think it was Tomorrow's World and I think it was green . . . 

It used to be a good company . . .

Anyway - after the third Dyson went on me (and I hardly gave it heavy use!!!), I got a Miele vacuum, not cheap (I  was working and the kids had left home!) and have never got on with it.  It's strong, robust, reliable but too heavy and the single use dust bags and filters are ridiculously expensive.  And I do the stairs by hand because it's just too much of a faff.
It's a shame because it's a good machine, just not suiting me.  It's lasted around twenty years so it's had a good run, it's still going strong, and I will keep it as a back up if needed, until the dust bags and filters run out.
(I inherited loads from Mum and Dad's house so it will probably be here after I have left this world, especially if I'm not using it much!!!)

The one I have bought is the Ultenic U20 Cordless.  Not a name I recognised but some good reviews (you're never going to get 100% good reviews), including a personal one, and a good price for what you get in comparison to names like Dyson, GTech or Shark.
It's coming at some point today so - we will see, won't we?

I've finished the trial Sophie scarf, put it on and loved it.  Because it's garter stitch, if is nice and flexible, wraps round the neck and ties comfortably and you don't have long dangling chunks of scarf.  It may have just been a try out, bit I'm keeping it, not unravelling it, and I've started on using some of the yarn I bought.  The lengths are a bit different but it's OK - you increase until you have used half the weight of yarn and then decrease.

Life is hotting up again.

Today I have the chat with Chris - face to face this time, seeing as neither of us has any concerns about infections now, and then I am off to see my friend Val and have another good old chat.   And then in the evening it is the Slim Win chat.
Thursday is definitely chat day!

Tomorrow is Slimming World, weekly shop and Alex's cooker lesson (must confirm that with him), Saturday is a Thermomix demo, making sushi this time, and Sunday is the 19th, Mum's birthday, so it's Christmas Cake day.  I think I will set the fruit to soak on Friday so I can actually bake it on Sunday.  Must remember to add stuff to my shopping list.

Time to get the day started.  Have a good one, everybody, thanks for reading, thanks for all the comments and take care.   xx

Wednesday

Good morning, all.  It was a damp old night but it seems to be brightening up a bit at the moment.  A bit chilly but nothing to turn the heating up for.  

I managed to get a few things done yesterday.  Firstly, Groove.  Chris and I had agreed to drive down as neither of us has been 2100% but, in fact, it was wet so we would have taken a car anyway.  It was good, Groove was, although I did find some things difficult to do full pelt so I just did what I could.  There were a number of people absent, mostly due to illness.  It's that time of year.

I am glad to announce that I got housework done.  Yay!  Upstairs is a bit of a mess (but no-one else sees that) and the kitchen floor needs a wash but I was glad to get the rest done.  

I had a play with the Mystical Lanterns pattern.  It's not quite right, I'm not sure of the join as you go and it definitely needs blocking/steaming.  I'm not sure I like it all that much but that might just be because it looks so uneven and shapeless.

I will leave it for a while and see how I feel about it in a few weeks.

In the meanwhile, I am getting on with the Sophie scarf (nearly finished) and the Joseph's coat quilt.  I must get the border and joining yarn ordered.

Talking of ordering, you may just possibly remember that a couple of months ago I bought a REALLY cheap stick vacuum (is that what they are called?) from Temu just to see if I liked the 'action' - they way they moved - as I've never used one.
When I say cheap, I mean around £30 so I knew it was a means to an end.
I do like it, my stairs have never been so clean, I'm choosing to use it over my heavy Miele vacuum, so I have ordered a better one, a middle-of-the-road priced one that looks pretty good for what you get.  I was rather astounded at how much some were.  I'm not that devoted to keeping my carpets clean, I just want something that does the job for minimal effort.

I will keep the cheapo one in the garden room.

(If I ever win that million from Ernie, I will get a robot sweeper.  Maybe several, one for each carpeted room!)

Today is another fairly gentle day.  I have ironing, a kitchen floor to wash, the usual stuff with the loo and bathroom and, in the afternoon, personal training.  It won't be long now before I come back from PT in the dark so I can try the anti-glare clip-ons I bought a while ago.  I hope they work - I hate the nighttime glare, especially when the roads are wet.

Time to love you and leave you.  Have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow.  Bye!

Tuesday

Morning, everyone!  Tuesday has landed and, at nearly seven, it is still dark.  Not cold though, thankfully, although that will come, of course.  In a fortnight it will be better after the clocks go back on the 26th although then the evenings will start earlier.  I think I prefer lighter mornings and an extra hour is always useful.

Yesterday was OK.  I managed circuits although I did the lighter options, e.g. half jacks, lightest weights and so on.  I did a bit of housework during the day but also had quite a nice snooze in the afternoon, all bundled up in snuggle hood and blanket as I felt really cold.  
I got some reading done, also some knitting and crochet so it wasn't a totally wasted day.

Today is similar.  Groove first thing and, for the first time in a while, Chris and I can both go.  That will be nice.
I've already started Lindsey's loaf off and will get it to the long(ish) fermentation stage before Groove so I can just leave it out to work its magic.

There's nothing else in the diary so I can have a restful day just pottering from one thing to another.  I'm OK, just post-virally weary and the advice is not to push things too hard but give it time.  So that's what I am doing - giving it time.

A short one today after yesterday's mega posts.  Life has calmed down again after the show.  I'm off to Val's for lunch on Thursday and there's the usual Friday stuff.  Then, on Saturday I have the Thermo sushi class and Sunday is when I remember my Mum by starting off the Christmas cake.  Nothing too wearying there.
And then it is half term!  How?  It still impacts my spirits and, I think, always will.

Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone.  All the best and take care.  xx

The Knit and Stitch Show - VERY photo heavy

 I've already said a few things about my visit yesterday so let's dive straight in to some photos.

As we entered the show, there was an exhibition of wonderful quilting.

Made by a class of Y5s and 6s - with help from Miss, I expect!  

It the hall, there were stalls galore - so many different crafts were represented.  Lots of patchwork/quilting as well as the yarns and fabrics, buttons, silks . . . so much!

A catwalk show with people showing their own designs and makes.

This is quite similar to Anita's Quiet Sky blanket, isn't it?

Nothing to do with a stall - Beth would love it, being a Crazy Cat Lady!

I was tempted . . .

Gorgeous fabric - but hard to make up, I am sure.  

There were rows and rows and rows of gorgeous patterns and colours - all surrounded by hoardes of people!

Lots of bags.  I don't remember there being so many bag stalls last year.  

I was sorely tempted (again) but didn't fall . . .

Gorgeous!

Loads of Christmas themed stuff.  Not just advent things, there were cards and cross stitch kits and bead decorations and - oh, so much.  If I were younger and hadn't collected so much over the years, I could have spent a fortune.

It seems the have a Best Looking Stall Award.  This was the best view I could find . . . it was crowded.

Finally, there was the usual Graduates' Exhibition area.  It was just mind blowing!

Yes, I did buy some things.

These are for my Christmas tree - I got a rainbow one for Beth too.

Very cheap but very pretty earrings.  No idea how long they will last but they're nice.

I got this for Beth - it is her birthday in less than a fortnight.

Fabric - I think I will make a skirt or a top with this.

This fabric will be a kaftan.  Comfortable to wear but dressy enough for evening, if I want.

I got a bit of yarn - not much, just 100g but hand dyed and very soft.

And the other - a lovely silky feel, maybe not that easy to work with but - we will see.

They both came in skeins which I have rewound into balls.  I love a twisted skein but they are not practical for knitting from!

I think both will make winter warming somethings.

There was some lovely sock skeins but I have so many hand knit socks and also some yarn not used yet, so I didn't.

A couple of cross stitch kits . . .

Whether I will make them this year or next, remains to be seen but I love them both.

And finally . . .

I have the basic Granny Square deck, Beth night be getting me the flower deck for Christmas and I think this is the new one just out.

I decided on the colour I want for the quilt I'm making but will get it more cheaply at Wool Warehouse or LoveCrafts.
(I still miss Deramores!)

I had the best time - it was crowded in the morning but eased off come the afternoon and, as it was the last day, a few things were reduced.
Those stall holders looked exhausted.  I hope they have scheduled a few days off to recover.

Will I go again next year?  Not half - and maybe Beth will come too.