Wednesday, 21-01-26

Morning, everyone!

I was thinking about the coach trips and wondering how many I have booked this year.  I really must get it all together on one sheet somewhere . . . I wonder if there's a page in my diary I could use.

Nothing in January

February:  St Albans

March:  Cambridge; Stratford upon Avon

April;  no coach trips but I will be going to Crete

May:  Leeds Castle; Poppy Factory and river cruise; five days at Center Parcs with Beth and Alex

June:  Paddington (so looking forward to this)

June:  Southwold (just for the day); Barnham

July:  Sandringham flower show

August:  nothing (yet!)

September:  Shimmy and Groove in Spain

October and November: nothing

December:  Thursford; RAH; 

Exciting and it's the sort of thing I wanted to do when I started these coach trips - do things and go to places I wouldn't necessarily visit on my own because of travelling, etc.

Yesterday changed from being a busy morning to an almost nothing morning.  I drove over to Beth's and we did what we needed to do with a helpful outcome which I was pleased about.
However, by the time I drove past the hall where Groove was, there was only ten minutes left and by the time I had warmed up it would be time to cool down.
Kay had already texted me to ask if she could do Wednesday instead of Tuesday which was fine by me.

So today is a bit busier - Kay in the morning and Personal Training in the afternoon.  OK by me!

Have a great day, everyone,  Stay safe and warm.  xx

Tuesday, 20-01-26

Good morning, everyone.  A quick one today (no  cheering at the back there!!) as it's a bit of a busy start to the day.

I thoroughly enjoyed circuits yesterday morning - I can feel the strength returning and it wasn't until nearly the end that I could feel the 'crash' (not literally a crash, it is just how it feels).  So mush better than the past two weeks and it's a relief.

I have now booked two trips for next Christmas - the two that I had to back out of this past Christmas because of The Virus.   To be accurate, one, to the Royal Albert Hall Carols, is booked and I am waiting to hear about the Thursford Spectacular one.  It seems a long time away but there trips get booked up so quickly and, having missed the last ones, I really would like to go this year!

Diane came round, we exchanged Christmas gifts (better late than never) and had lunch, talking nineteen to the dozen all through.  We're meeting again with the other two for lunch half way through February but may get together before then.  She left planning what to have with some of the loaf I made for her for dinner!!

It was a really lovely day.

Today, for once, I am not rushing around clearing the decks for Kay.  I think that if the place is messy, the has to spend some time clearing and I want her to clean - you can't clean a mess really!  However, it's fine from yesterday and the weekend and I really ought to learn a lesson!!

Very first thing, I am round at Beth's to help out with something.  I'll go ready for Groove in hopes that I can get there for at least part of the class.  Then Kay is here to work her magic and, while she does that, I have a few things to sort out upstairs.
I feel terribly guilty if she's working and I'm idling.

Things calm down this afternoon.  I might go for a walk if the weather is nice but I have several episodes of Pottery Throwdown to catch up on.  I could do both, of course.  :-)  

I thought it was going to be quick but I seem to have rabbited on as usual.    Have a lovely day, everyone, whatever the weather.  Stay warm and cosy and see you tomorrow.  xx

Monday, 19-01-26

Hello, everyone!  How're you doing?  I love Mondays - I know in reality it's just the next day but, for me, there's a sense of cutting off, leaving behind and moving on into new things.  
Not that there's much to cut off really, it's same old most of the time - and that's not a whinge, I love  most of my 'same olds' very much, it's just a feeling.

Yesterday was busy in a gentle, homey sort of day.  Lots of kitchen stuff.

I made three sourdough loaves in the end, two to to take to Lindsey for her and her friend and then I remembered that Diane is here today and I always make a sourdough loaf for here, not because she asks for it or expects it, but because she likes sourdough and she's a good friend.
I had to do a bit of experimenting as I didn't have any more active leaven so I mixed some more and got it bubbling using Nellies 'prove' function before putting together my own loaf recipe.  Thankfully, it worked which I was relieved about.

I sorted out a pack of cooking bacon.  Quality varies with these packs but in the one I got more than half was a thick wodge of gammon ham which I can boil or bake (or both) at some point plus two small gammon slices and some bits which went into the ravioli filling (see below) - and not a lot of fat to cut off.  Most of it is in the freezer now.

Then I set to making some filled ravioli from scratch.  I'm on a bit of a mission to find the most wholemeal-y home made pasta, the problem being that the more wholemeal used, the less pliable the dough is.  50/50 with a bit of psyllium husk powder seems to work fine so that's a good starting point!

And, finally, I cooked a batch of savoury mince in the slow cooker, using stuff from the freezer.  Four portions are now in the freezer and one portion for this evening or tomorrow.

The dining table is now clear, I have a very tidy and organised corner cupboard and a bag of stuff for the charity shop.

And I dusted and swept.
What I didn't do and need to do is tidy my work table - it is covered with paper!!

It was a very satisfying sort of day!

Today I have Circuits first thing and a bit later Diane is over for lunch and a chat.  Between those two, I hope I can get some order into my work table (with the computer, etc) so that even if it's not 100% done, at least it looks better.  If I can get that done, I will be a happy bunny!

Oh, and I have piles of washing - not quite so interesting but necessary!

Better get going.  Happy Monday, everyone, stay safe and well.  xx

Sunday, 18-01-26

Good morning again, everyone.  How are you all?

So sorry about yesterday.  I was a bit rushed in the morning; it was my own fault for having a very lazy sort of start to the day and then I just got stuck into things.  Out of sight, out of mind, as the saying goes.

Going back to Friday - what a lovely day it was!  I went to Slimming World and weighed in at half a pound off.  Not much but, given the sort of week it had been, I was relieved.  There was a great buzz with returning members including target members who wanted to pick up their new book and there's several people who were mums of children I taught in year one.  It's so nice to catch up with them - how their children are doing and so on.  That's one of the nicest things about living close to the school - you see lots of familiar faces and old friends.

I got the bus into town and met Alex outside the Giggling Squid.  We had a very delicious lunch.  We started with prawn crackers and a dip, moved on to some crunchy chilli chickpeas (so good - I want the recipe!) and then a Bangkok bites sharing platter plus some wonderful chunks of belly pork done in a very sticky sauce.  All this was sharing platter stuff as you can from the photo of the Bangkok bites, taken from their site.

I finished off with some lychee yogurt ice cream which was amazing!

Here's the link to their site:
https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/chelmsford/

And to some info from the founders/owners:
https://www.gigglingsquid.com/news/20-questions-with-cofounders/

. . . just in case you are interested.  Well worth a visit if you have one near you.  

Thanks, Alex, for a lovely time out with you.

When I got home, I just chilled and got on with my crochet.  The maple leaf blanket is coming along nicely; I've nearly finished sixteen squares and have four more to go.

Yesterday (Saturday), I had a slow start before driving down to Tower Gardens to meet the others for our walk.  We had two 'new' people, S and P, who were two of my parents quite a while ago now and when we stopped for coffee, up rolled J, their 'child' with his wife and children to say hello.  Wasn't that lovely?  
The sun was shining and it was the perfect way to start off the new year's walks.

Later on I finished my shopping list and popped over to Sainsbury's where, you were right, Viv, they had loads of different kinds of flours so now I know.  I also found the maple syrup I like best that Morrisons hasn't had in for weeks.

And that was yesterday!

If Friday was my personal reset day and yesterday was a chill out day, today is house reset day.  I need to get all that stuff away in the corner cupboard again and one of my walking friends told me of a local charity shop where you don't have to make an appointment to donate things so I can take all the stuff I have sorted out tomorrow, maybe.
It is a Kay-day on Tuesday but I have a friend over tomorrow for lunch so I must do a quick dust and sweep over the bottom half of the house too.

I need to draw up a rough plan of the week's meals.  Usually I do that before shopping but I'm very much using what I already have so it wasn't necessary.

And, finally, I have a double batch of sourdough that has slowly risen overnight and looks very healthy so I need to finish that off today, one for Lindsey and one for her friend who might be interested in me making her a loaf once a week too.

I'm rather looking forward to getting everything sorted and in order again.  I know where everything is going now, it just needs to be done and dusted, so to speak.  It should be a very satisfying day!

All the best, everyone.  Have a great day, packed with good stuff.  Take care, stay warm and see you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday, 17-01-26

 Running late and put for a walk fairly soon, will post properly later.  :-) 

Later:
Ooops, sorry, the day just got away with me.   I'm calling today a washout and will be back properly tomorrow morning.  Hoping you have had the best day.  xx

Friday, 16-01-26

Morning, everyone.  It is warm and I have enjoyed a bath followed by a shower to wash my hair.  Yes, both, just this once.  It was absolute bliss.  And I have warm fingers.  The smallest pleasures are the most important.

Now I have to get used to new controls.  Matt went through it all with me so fingers crossed.

The weather was dreadful yesterday so I cancelled the demo which was a real shame because it was one I wanted to go to.  Matt did need to discuss a few things so perhaps it was just as well.

I went over to Chris' for our coffee and chat and warmed up there first thing.  That was really lovely.

Today I have Slimming World and then I am meeting Alex in town.  He's treating his old Nan to lunch at the Giggling Squid.  It will be lovely, won't it?

And I'm in a bit of a rush so need to send and go.  Have a lovely Friday and stay warm and dry.  xx

Thursday, 15-01-26

Morning all!  Happy Thursday to you.   We have a bit of a dire weather forecast here today starting with rain and then moving on to torrential rain.  Yuck!
On a brighter note, how can we be pretty much half way through January already?  Where has the time gone?  January is supposed to drag, we all know that.  😉

Yesterday morning, I said it didn't feel too cold in the house and it truly didn't; it was cold but not THAT cold.  However, when I drew back the curtains, there was a really heavy frost.  It stayed cold all morning with the most glorious sunshine which was very cheering!  Frost makes everything look so very pretty, don't you think?

Anyway - Matt turned up and work commenced.  Just before nine, I set out to take the bus into town to drop off my glasses so the lenses could be changed.  I was so glad that my precious pair were fine - I remember they said then that there was hardly any change but I decided to get new ones anyway.  Yesterday, I was very glad I made that decision.
I trawled around the town a bit but nowhere could I find the 'health food' stuff I was looking for - buckwheat flour, spelt flour and psyllium husks (I use the flours in my normal cooking and there's a reason for the psyllium, I've never bought it before and have no idea . . .).
So, sadly, when I got home it was off to Amazon and they will be delivered today.
It wasn't until later that I remembered I might have been able to get the flours in Lathcoats.  Darn it!!!

Yesterday was a bit hokey cokey - apart from going into town in the morning to drop off my glasses, I went round to Lindsey's at midday for my personal training session.  It was still quite hard but I can feel my stamina coming back a bit and we had a good old chat at the same time.
And then I went back into town late afternoon to collect my glasses.  I'm so grateful for a good bus service and my golden oldies bus pass.  It may take longer that using the car but it is a whole lot more frugal and, to be honest, easier, especially in rush hour.

The change of lens has been great.  Everything is clear again and I'm not blinking and rubbing my eyes in an effort to clear my vision.  Such a relief.

It is possible that today will be the last day of all the plumbing work.  Matt said it would take four days.  I discovered this morning that I have water out of the 'hot' taps again although it's not hot, of course, as the boiler isn't on and one of my bath taps is dripping so that needs sorting pronto because it wasn't.  I'll mention it to Matt when he arrives.

It's Thursday so I am over to Chris' for coffee and chat.  That will be really nice. 
Then I am booked to go into town yet again for a Thermomix cookery demo but I'm not sure about that.  There's a bit of a walk from the bus to the demo place and the forecast is for heavy rain so I will just see how it goes and cancel if it's really bad.  I have no wish to come home dripping wet to a cold house.  I'll have to ask Matt what the chances are . . .

Then, this evening is the weekly online chat which I'm very much looking forward to.  So quite a busy sort of day in a way but, also, not busy because it's fun stuff.
That's all so I will stop waffling and get mu second coffee started.  Have a lovely day, whatever the weather your way.  See you tomorrow.

Update at 11:00 - we have warm radiators!  Three cheers!!

Wednesday, 14-01-26

Hello again, everyone!  How are you today?  It doesn't feel so cold this morning and I have no idea what the weather is doing yet.  Yesterday it was absolutely miserable.  Rain, rain, rain all day and I felt cold and low, probably because I slept really badly over Monday night.  Doesn't help, does it

It wasn't a bad day apart from the weather.  Chris and I drove down to Groove, did some fitness fun stuff and drove back again.

By the time we got home, Matt had taken over the kitchen and I wish I had taken a photos.  Oh, my!

By the end of the day, the old boiler was out, the new one was in and it all looks a bit - steampunky? - in that corner.

I was so tired that I took myself and a fan heater upstairs and had a snooze in the bedroom.  That helped!

Matt's corner.  I see no point in the poor chap loading everything into his van and then unloading it again the next day.  He sorts everything out so it's all stuff he will need the next day.  Ditto with the carpet protection.  He would have cleared that but I said don't bother.  Waste of time really.

(and it gives me a reason not to hoover the carpet!!)

All the stuff from the kitchen cupboards that needed emptying is on the living room table and each time I go by I take a look and am, gradually getting rid of stuff that initially I decided to keep.  Having it out there for days really makes a difference.

It's proper unsettling, having a mess, but helpful too, in a way.
What I do find more difficult is having someone else around all day.  I am so very used to solo living and having my safe space to myself most of the time, and have been for decades.
Not a grumble or a whinge, just saying!  😊

Today I am out a fair bit which Matt said is just as well! (not quite in those words though) as he will be working in the kitchen, on the landing and in the attic.  I have to take the bus into town to drop off my glasses so the lenses can be changes and will be wearing my old glasses through the day.  I have a few things I need to do in town too.

Lindsey kindly changed my personal training time to twelve so I will be out to that.  

And, finally, I will be bussing back into town to pick up my glasses so I will, I hope, have proper clear vision again.   Thank goodness for bus passes!!

Fingers crossed for better weather.

Time to get moving.  I have plenty of time before Matt gets here which is good.  

Have a good day, everyone.  Stay warm and dry and see you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday, 13-01-26

Good morning, everyone!  How are you all?  It's not that cold again this morning although I have to admit it was hard getting out of my cosy, warm bed!

Yesterday went pretty well with just one hiccup.

Matt rolled up bang on eight o'clock, unloaded everything, told me I could go out and about as much as I wanted and set to while I drove off the circuits.

Matt is a very tidy worker - this was as bad as it got in terms of big stuff although there's a bit of a mess around the now defunct boiler (still on the wall in the kitchen) and the landing was a bit of a no-go for much of the day.

For me, the worst thing was having no water - just just two flushes-worth, one upstairs and one down - so I whizzed off to Morrisons to get some bottled water (not for the loos, I hasten to add)!
However, by early afternoon Matt had the water on again so I now have a fair bit of bottled water to use up.  Not to worry, I'm sure it will come in useful at some point!

The hiccup was some very dodgy pipework/non existent welding under the landing floorboard that dated right back to when the house was built.  So Matt had the carpet and boards up, sorted out the dodgy stuff (I think I was lucky there!), replaced everything and you would never know he'd done anything at all except that I think he also sorted out a certain 'springiness' in the boards and they now feel nice and firm to walk over.

That's put him back a few hours but I'm so glad he was able to sort it.  And it was simple, unlike a recent job, Matt was telling me, when he found unsuspected asbestos and the job had to be halted while it was checked and properly dealt with, adding considerably to the cost of the work.
Thank goodness it wasn't complicated like that!

He's left me with some alternative heating.  I have the oil filled radiator on right now and it's certainly making a difference but yesterday evening I didn't need any heating, triple layered as I was with double socks and an electric fleece over my knees, just like an oldie (no rude comments, thank you!!).

The worst thing now is no hot water.  I am not a fan of top to toe sink washing but at least it's only for a few days.

I've just remembered - I had a bit of a panic yesterday.  On Sunday I had the garden room and garage unlocked as I was putting all the festive stuff away and yesterday morning I couldn't find the keys (which are on the same ring).  I hunted high and low and was getting a bit worried.  I have spares but that's not the point really.  

Thankfully, I found them eventually - I had put them on a dining chair and then pushed the chair under the table.  That'll teach me to put them away properly where they should go, won't it?

Today starts with Groove although whether we walk there and back depends on the weather.  Then it is another day of doing not very much - it's hard when key areas are in use and there's certainly no point in dusting, etc, at the moment.  I had to empty a few cupboards in the kitchen (for pipe access) so I can go through the contents and deal with anything I haven't used recently and as for what I had under the sink - words fail me!  I can certainly get rid of some of that, for sure.

So it is all go for today and now I need to boil a kettle and have a nice warm wash at the sink (better than nothing!!) and get dressed ready for Groove.
Have a lovely day, everyone - see you tomorrow when, fingers crossed, I will be nearer to having hot water!  xx

Monday, 12-01-26

Morning, everyone!  It's Monday - new week and, fingers crossed, new and fully functioning boiler by Thursday or Friday.  It's is a fair bit milder this morning which is good because I wont have any heating - well, I will, but from little appliances!
(Poor electricity bill)

Back to yesterday and a grand old tidy up.  There is now no evidence that Christmas ever happened round here with everything put away, dismantled, sorted out, etc.  It took ages but it is all done and dusted.

The blue room is, if not totally tidy, at least organised.  The airing cupboard is empty again - which is why the blue room isn't tidy - and even the kitchen is ready for Matt to come along and cause havoc!!

I'm hoping that my life can go an as normal meaning that I can get to my fitness classes.   Home won't be normal, of course, but it is temporary and for the 'greater good' so I can live with that.

I need to get a move on, have my bath, get dressed and be ready for Matt's arrival at eight.  Have a great Monday and see you tomorrow!  xx

Sunday, 11-01-26

Good morning, everyone.  Sorry this is a bit late.  I got started in the kitchen and forgot the time.

I managed to get down to Iceland to finally spend my raffle tenner and came back with some SW ready meals and a few other healthy bits.  I also went into Home Bargains as I needed a few other bits and bobs too; a few storage boxes and some olives.

Later on I went with Beth to an appointment.  She nearly didn't get there; just before it was time to leave, Alex managed to block and flood the loo and it was all panic stations.  However, he has come a long way recently and once the immediate flooding was dealt with, he sorted the rest on his own and, as Beth said, when she got back again :

I returned home to a functioning toilet, towels on a boil wash, a scrubbed and shiny floor and bathtub and two emergency plumbers poking around the guttering. Well done Alex. He's even returned the -cleaned- plunger with a nice tub of quality street to our kind neighbours.

Well done, Alex.

On balance, the appointment was productive too so all good.

Today is all home-based stuff. After I have sent this I will be re-emptying the air cupboard for Matt tomorrow and then I'm having a good old sort out, long overdue! The step count should be good.

Well, better get a move on, hadn't I? Talking about it won't achieve anything. Have a lovely day, everyone. See you tomorrow. xx

Saturday, 10-01-26

Good morning, people all!  So, here we are, a third of the way through January.  This month usually drags and drags and feels as if it's never going to end but it is whizzing by for me at the moment.  I'm not sure why but it is very welcome - the days are already getting longer, I can open the curtains earlier and draw them again later and when I came out of Lindsey's personal training session on Wednesday, it was still light.

As expected, yesterday was a dull, wet, dreary sort of day, cold and a bit windy.  However, I was so thankful that the really bad weather either passed us by round here or it had abated somewhat before reaching here.  Peeking out, the ground looks almost dry so that's good too.

Alex didn't come over yesterday (for very good reasons) so I had a bit more time to do stuff.  I picked up my new Slimming World recipe book that I got free because I took out a countdown, so I had a bit of a browse through that and noted some recipes to try this week.

Today I am out with Beth later on, going with her to an appointment, but earlier I must start off Lindsey's sourdough starter and then I want to go to Iceland to spend that £10 I won at SW last week.  

Yesterday I got some info about the Crete holiday that I want to go through so I will print that out, go through it and make a few notes about clothes, what to take, etc, so I know what I need to do/get, etc.  I know it's four months still but these things have a habit of catching up and taking us by surprise.  I also want to sort out a few dates for Diane to come over (she's on this holiday too) so we can but our brains together.
Is this the sort of thing you do or are you more laid back than I am?

Apart from all that, it's the weekend - mind you, after retirement, isn't it always the weekend? - so I will chill, read, craft, maybe go for a walk, weather permitting, and just enjoy life.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  See you tomorrow and stay safe, warm and well.  xx

Friday, 09-01-26

Morning, my lovelies!  Welcome to Friday!  It's a cold, wet, yucky start to the day although it is supposed to be clearing later on.  I've just been out to the shed and it's raining, a bit windy and cold but no ice anywhere and nothing blown over.  I thing we got off lightly!

I really hope none of you has been affected by this storm that is moving through.

Yesterday was busier and way more spendy than I anticipated!

As always, the chat with Chris was great.  We never seem to stop talking and it's so much fun.  
Then I drove over to Beth's, stopping to fill the petrol tank on the way so that's something ticked off the list.

Once I'd finished at Beth's, I stopped off and did a bit of shopping at M&S as I was going past the shop.  I'm absolutely fed up with Morrisons not having any decent frozen fruit and I know M&S have a good range.

Once home, I had a message from One Traveller reminding me that I needed to pay for the rest of the holiday to Crete and complete their paperwork so I had to get the travel insurance sorted out first (should have done it weeks ago),  before completing the form with the info that they need and paying the rest.

Between the petrol, the M&S shop, the insurance and the holiday - oh, my gosh.  I had the money saved but it's still kind of painful, isn't it?

Today starts with Slimming World and then I am picking Alex up for his cookery lesson.  Once he is home again afterwards, I think my weekend starts!

What are your plans for today?  Have a lovely one, stay warm and dry and I'll see you tomorrow.  xx

Thursday, 08-01-26

Hi, everyone, welcome to Thursday!  What a change - it no longer feels icy and it's a gloomy start to the day, such a change from the bright and frosty early mornings so far this last week.  I can't imagine we will get any of this snow that is supposed to be coming over, just pouring rain.  

The roads will be safer, thank goodness.  When I drove home from personal training, the gritters were out.  I was glad to see that but it looks as if it was wasted effort.

I'm not sure I did very much yesterday.   The Christmas tree still reigns supreme and I expect it will stay that way until the weekend now. 

 I spent some time in the kitchen prepping/making meals and I worked out a SW friendly recipe for tattie scones (my version of them anyway!)  My ex/late Scottish m.i.l. would turn in her grave but I bet mine are healthier and, once smothered in egg, will taste fine, I expect.

And I think they look OK - nice and rustic!

Just remembered - before Christmas, after a meeting at school when someone said they didn't really know what the Governing Body did, I suggested to J (head) that the news letter had a series of paragraphs called 'Meet the Governor' or similar and each of us could write a short paragraph in turn.  And I foolishly offered to go first!
So yesterday a message pinged into my mailbox asking if I could write something for tomorrow's Newsletter.  Eeek.  So I had to think!  Brain aching stuff, guys, it really was.  I went into full on SENDCo report writing mode (I'm the SEND link governor, you see) and it took a while to reduce it to something appropriate and friendly!
J was happy with what I sent so phew!  Now I can smile while the others sweat!

Oh, and the photos of me that the school has is dire so I took some time to take another one, edit it to get rid of the background and send that to J too.

Today Chris and I are back into routine again so she is coming over for coffee and chat and then I am popping over to Beth's as we need to discuss something.  

After that, I don't know - probably some meal planning so that I can write my shopping list for tomorrow.  

I think it will be one of those days when I spend all day doing not a lot but still managing to fill the time.
Have a great day, everyone.  I really hope this incoming storm doesn't affect you too badly.  Take cane and stay safe and warm.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday, 07-01-26

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to Wednesday, a slightly warmer day than yesterday but very much less attractive!

We did get a very little snow in the afternoon yesterday and some more early evening which quickly turned to rain.  It initially froze but that didn't last long either.

(You can hardly see the snow in this clip - it was very fine)

I sorted the boiler out with three boiled kettles - poured over the condensate pipe, I mean, not over the boiler - and when I got home from Groove, the house was lovely and warm again.

Matt has confirmed that the boiler work will start on Monday and that he has plans for the pipe so this shouldn't happen again (unless it's very cold again this week).

I didn't feel super-cold anyway, I used my little fan heater for a while and there was plenty of piping hot water for my bath - or I could have had a shower anyway as that doesn't rely on the boiler.

I had to chuckle at myself.  Do you remember that when I went on the Northern Lights cruise I bought some clothes for the extreme cold.  A balaclava hat, long johns, thermal trousers, etc.

Well, yesterday I wasn't going to walk down to Groove with just legging on my bottom half so I dug out a pair of the trousers and the balaclava.  Those, with two layers under my coat, gloves and a warm scarf meant that by the time we got to the hall I was so hot!!

I'm keeping it all out for next week when I wont have any heating for a few days - just in case!  :-)

Kay came, worked miracles and left.  Bless her, it is so nice to have a bit of help with the housework again and once a fortnight is just enough for me not to feel too self-indulgent.  And she's nice - we get on well.

Did I dismantle the Christmas tree.  Well - er - no.  It looked so lovely and sparkly.  I've not turned the tree lights on this morning because I know me.  In fact, I don't have anything in the diary first thing so it's top of the list.

Also on the list . . .

Changing bedding
Washing, drying and, maybe, ironing
Finishing doing my bedroom

Sorting out the blue room - all the Christmas fabrics go in there and at the moment it's all just over the two beds.  Chaos!!

And this afternoon I have personal training, the first one for a long while.  I really enjoyed Monday and yesterday's classes so it should be good and it is always nice to catch up with Lindsey.

Well, I may not have anything in the diary but I do have a load of dough in Thermione and I need to check how it's going so I will love you and leave you.  Take care, stay warm and I hope that the weather is kind to us all, wherever we are,
See you tomorrow.    xx

06-01-26 and the Last Day of Christmas

'The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.'

Theodore Roosevelt
(Hmm - depends on your definition of 'success' I guess)

Morning, all.  It is very cold outside - I know that because my boiler refused to start and that red light is flashing.  So it's cold!!

It's a known problem to do with the drainage pipe freezing up and, if my boiler had been replaced in the autumn, it would now be OK.  However, for good reasons, it wasn't so now it's cold and never have I been more glad for my warm, fluffy socks, slipper boots and long snuggle hood (with hood up!)
At least I have immersion heat so I will be able to have my usual hot bath!

To be honest, I was half expecting it.  I have dug out the fan heater and, if it's really cold (it isn't that bad inside at the moment really) I can decamp to the garden room.

OK, grumble over!

Moving on - or, rather, back, we actually woke yesterday to a very light sprinkle of snow so almost the first thing I did when I drew back the curtains and realised was brush a path to the shed.  Never get between a girl and her food.

To be fair, it wasn't slippery but it might have been and there's no point taking chances.
I bet Jackie, Chris, Sharon, etc, are thinking 'What????' given the metres of snow they get every winter but round here it is most unusual nowadays.

It wasn't too hard to clear the car and the roads were clear so there were no hassles getting to Lindsey's for circuits.  They were pretty empty too; I thought it would be worse but then remembered most of the schools round here don't start back until today.

Most of the day was spent doing a good old tidy up of all sorts of stuff lying around.  It's still not great but I can carry on while Kay is doing the cleaning stuff so, by midday, all that will need doing is the tree.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . . 

Another reed diffuser

thirty tea bags

one cross stitch moggy

one Christmas book

my favourite perfume

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair

one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

This wasn't an accident - I already had the first diffuser when I saw this one in the Center Parcs shop and loved the scent so I decided to get another one.  One up and one down!

And that's the twelve days all over and past.  😐

Today is Kay-day so by midday I should have a lovely, clean, more-or-less tidy downstairs.  That's such a nice feeling!
Before then, Chris and I will walk to Groove, do class and walk back again so I think by lunch time I will have earned an afternoon with my crochet and books, don't you?

If the heating isn't on by the time I get back from Groove, I can boil kettles and thaw the frozen external pipe (terrible design hiccup, that pipe is) that is stopping the boiler from lighting.

Better get the day started.  Have a good one, stay as warm as you can and I will see you again tomorrow.  xx

05-01-26 and the Eleventh Day of Christmas

I've just noticed that, in my new diary for 2026, each weekday has some sort of 'motivational quote' that I thought I would reproduce in here because - well, why not?  

Today's is:

Be a first rate-version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.

Judy Garland

Morning, all!  It's another cold one but it's cosy inside which is something to be very thankful for.  Anyone had any snow?  ❄❄❄

I've been working on the maple leaf blanket and thought I'd lay some of the squares together to get an idea of how it will look.  I can tell you two things

1.  It's going to be nice and colourful and

2.  It will be a big one!!!  

I've done more squares than those on show and should end up with twenty so it will be a 4x5 rather than a square like the Quiet Skies one.  

I think the shading works quite well.

Yesterday I spent some time in the kitchen, sorting stuff out, making and baking Lindsey's sourdough loaf and making some bacon and butterbean soup (delicious).  That's about it really - a lazy day before proper, real life resumes - apart from the crafting.  I admit I spent quite a lot of time wielding the old crochet hook!

I missed the first of the new Great Pottery Throwdown; I have it recorded so I will enjoy that today or tomorrow.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . . 

Thirty tea bags

one cross stitch moggy

one Christmas book

my favourite perfume

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair

one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

I can't really remember getting these but I obviously did.  They might be helpful in weaning off the coffee a bit, you never know.

Lindsey's new six-week block starts today with circuits.  I'm looking forward to it but a bit uncertain.  Exertion is still starting off the coughing but, well, of I have to stop and cough, I have to stop and cough.  Her online classes were a real godsend over the past two weeks, keeping me in the loop a bit after missing the last two weeks or so of the previous block.

Once I am home again, it is Monday so housework day.  As tomorrow is a Kay-day, I will concentrate on getting everything but the Christmas Tree down and away in the boxes.  That includes the festive china . . . the lot!  I'm sad, I love the brightness, but tomorrow is twelfth night so it has to be done.

I will make a yeasted and seeded loaf for Beth - I do her one a week.

And I will work on getting pages set up in the other blog - the first lot didn't work at all and I have no idea why not.  Time to read the instructions a bit more carefully, I guess.

Time to go and do my Facebook stuff so I will love you and leave you.  Have a good day, stay warm and well and, whatever you have planned, may it all go really well.
See you tomorrow.  xx

04-01-26 and the Tenth Day of Christmas

Morning again, all.  How are things your end?  It's been pretty cold here but no snow.  By keeping moving or using my heated fleece, I've not needed to turn up the heating which is always a Good Thing.  

I've noticed the days are getting slightly longer which is cheering.  It's more obvious in the afternoon than in the early morning because I'm drawing the curtains closed later than a week or so ago.  

Lovely!

Yesterday, I did all the ironing, some more washing, an online Groove class and some meal prep, etc.  Nothing exciting.

The coffee machine arrived and I drank more coffee than is good for me trying it out.  :-)  It's good; just one problem - well, not exactly a problem more a niggle.  The maximum amount of water it uses for one go is a bit less than I want.  No worries, I just push the button one more time.  It makes the coffee weaker but first thing in the morning that's perfectly OK.  It's quicker, the coffee is hotter and the water holder is bigger.  And it doesn't seem to grumble when I use my Wonky Pods; the old one used to be a right pain about Wonky Pods.

https://wonkycoffee.com/

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . . 

One cross stitch moggy

one Christmas book

my favourite perfume

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair

one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

This one wasn't a mistake.  I want to make it for Beth for next Christmas.  It's a good kit and even has the frame but I might have it properly framed so it can stand up.

I'll ask her nearer the time when I've finished it.

Today is clear in my diary but I will be spending some time in the kitchen.  I have bread to make (the leaven has been - er - leavening through the night and is pretty much ready to go) and I want to try a soup recipe from Pinch of Nom that arrived in my mailbox yesterday.  Bacon and butterbean soup sounds really nice, doesn't it?

Real Life starts again tomorrow - The first week of Shimmy and Groove new block starts and, weather permitting, I'm off to circuits.  Christmas was nice but December as a whole was quite chaotic one way and another and I am glad normality is resuming.  It will help my eating too - it's always better when everything else is on an even keel.

03-01-26 and the Ninth Day of Christmas

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to the first weekend of 2026 and a very cold start to the weekend it is too.  We're lucky in that we hardly ever get snow in any amount but we can get the cold and yesterday, with a bit of a wind, oh, my word!

Thanks very much for all the helpful info about freezers - plenty for me to consider there!  

Alex didn't come over - he has gone down with something that sounds suspiciously like the virus I had, poor chap.  So I had quite a lazy day to myself.
I went to Slimming World for the first time in weeks, what with Edinburgh and then being unwell.  And I won the raffle which happened to be £10 to spend on SW meals, one way of another.  I will perhaps use it in Iceland to try out a few of the new SW ready meals or I might get some 'scratch' food - things like chicken or whatever.  I'll see what is there when I go.

I did a quick stroll round Morrisons and bought four things - a savoy cabbage, some tomatoes, some kefir yogurt and some Philadelphia light and it came to just over £8.  For four items.  Oh, my goodness!
Still no maple syrup!

For the rest of the day I did some washing and drying and chilled with my crochet and my reading materials - including the new SW book and the new magazine which I missed before Christmas - wrapped up warm in my snuggle hood and heated fleece.  Very cosy!

So now it is Saturday . . .

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . . 

one Christmas book

my favourite perfume

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair
one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

I didn't think, when I bought and wrapped this, several months ago, that this gift would have been better as a stocking filler.  Not to worry, it's nice having a stack of books to read.

Today I HAVE to get to grips with washing and ironing; that's top of the list.  I also have an online Groove class, the last online class of this season as the f2f classes start again on Monday.  Finally, I think I might be getting head to head with Beth for a chat although it depends on how Alex is really - I'm not risking another bug!

I think my new coffee machine is arriving today so it will be fun testing it out.

And Ernie has not done his duty.  Again, I am not a millionaire, or even £100,000 better off.  Still, £25 is better than nothing < grin >

(Truly, no complaints - I am very aware that it could be a family's weekly food budget.)

It should be a nice day.

Take care,  everyone, stay warm, cosy and well.  See you tomorrow.  xx

02-01-26, the eighth day of Christmas and thinking out loud.

Morning.  It's Friday and I'm still getting my days muddled.  It will feel good to get back to what passes for a normal routine on Monday.

It was a jolly cold night - I was super-grateful for my electric blanket that stayed on all night.  Very cosy!  And this morning we have the thinnest ever sprinkle of snow.  Most unusual around here.  It won't stay around, of course.

OK, all together . . . 

On the Eighth Day or Christmas

I gave unto myself . . . 

my favourite perfume

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair
one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

Jo Malone English pear and freesia, bought a while a go and tucked away for now.

Thankfully, I felt a lot more energetic yesterday.  I think the post viral aches and tiredness are finally leaving.  I did Lindsey's online SET without too much coughing and I didn't flake out afterwards.  A great relief.  I'm sleeping better too - three morn9ngs this week I have overslept and had a morning rush!

I got the other blog up and running.  I'll post the link in here for a few days for those of you who said they missed the old one and I am super-grateful for the comments it has already had.  

https://sw-the-med-way.blogspot.com/

Today starts with Slimming World and I'm back on it.  I've gained loads but it is what it is, as I am fond of saying, and now I move on.  New blog, new SW book with all the changes, new year.  

Then Alex is over for his cookery lesson.  Sausage, bean and cheese mini pasties (using wraps instead of pastry) - I have everything needed  and am trying to use up, use up, use up.  I have less than I used to have but still wayyyyy too much!

Thinking out loud!

I got started on giving my freezer its more or less annual sort out a few days ago and finished it New Year's Eve.  There wasn't that much waste, there rarely is, but it did set me thinking about what I really want out of my new freezer when I get it.

I'd prefer a frost free one, of course.  That is very important.  When I got this one, quite a long time ago now, the frost free ones were very expensive.  Now they do seem to be more or less standard.
I've decided to go for upright, front opening rather than chest.  In the past I have preferred chests - you can get more in and there's less 'wasted' space but as I get older and shrink a little bit (as you do), getting down to the bottom becomes more of a challenge - I keep imagining head in one bottom corner, little legs waving in the air!  I already have everything organised in bags so it's not such a big organisational change to shelves, is it?

So I've started looking.   Unless you are going for an 'American' fridge/freezer - which I am not - the double door ones tend to be catering standard and very, very expensive!  You can get pretty tall single door ones but I don't want tall for the same reason I'm moving away from chests.

So - maybe I should look at a couple of smaller freezers - I've looked it up and you can put light things on top as long as there's circulation and the air vents are not blocked.  After all, built-in freezers are fitted pretty snugly especially where the top is concerned.

Still pondering, there's plenty of time and I need to have a good look around as I hope whatever I get now will see me out.  :-)

Well, I had better start the day given that I have to be out for SW some time after eight and, yes, I overslept.  Have a lovely day, everyone, stay as warm as possible and, if you have snow or ice, be very careful.  See you tomorrow.  xx

01-01-26, New Year's Day and the seventh day of Christmas

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to 2026 and a very Happy New Year to you.  However you spent it, I hope you had a really good last evening of 2025
It's a cold, cold start to the New Year.  I will be layering up today.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . .

twenty gnomes to crochet

stuff for my hair
one book to read ................

two smelly soaps

one reed diffuser

warm, fluffy socks

and a Jamie Oliver book

When I saw this I pounced.  It uses lots of scraps and I have plenty of them.  They also look fun and adaptable and just a little bit bonkers.
Hmmm - I wonder why this book appeals to me so much . . . 

I had a lovely chat with Chris yesterday before heading to Morrisons.  I wanted to leave it until the New Year, just to keep it neat and tidy but really needed a few things so . . . off I went.  Lots of gaps on the shelves and no maple syrup.  They had maple flavoured gunk but no thanks!

Any way, with what I got and what I already have, I am well sorted.

I finished off reorganising the freezer.  Not that I needed to do all that much really, just tidy things up, re-bag a few items and move things about.   Defrost will happen either tomorrow or Saturday while it is still really cold.

I was fast asleep by the time then New Year rolled around so I've missed out on any luck from opening the door to let it in, haven't I?  Never mind, I will manage.

Today, I want to . . .

read the gas meter

do some tidying and dusting

ironing

get the replacement blog up and running - if I can.  It's a bit complicated for a girl of Very Little Brain - how did I manage last time?  I looked things up and it doesn't do what they say it should do so . . . well, I will try!  If it doesn't happen today, really sorry and I will have tried.

At the beginning of January last year I wrote this about my intentions for 2025:

Healthy finances

Healthy lifestyle

Healthy mind and body

I don't think there's any need to amplify on these really, do you?  I have my finances organised, I have those fitness classes, I have some lovely friends and I have various interests and enjoyments.  I will just keep looking out for those opportunities and see any set backs as a way to grow and develop.

Most importantly, I will be me and not a shadow or copy of anyone else.

Now, you might have noticed that I can be quite awkward sometimes.  😉

From the time I returned to teaching having 'experienced' two children and a divorce, target setting became more and more prescriptive, more and more punitive, more and more guilt laden less and less about what the children actually needed and more and more about 'evidence'.

To be totally fair, I taught at a really good school where senior management was lovely, understanding, supportive and helpful - and still is with bells on - so please don't take this totally literally but even so - expectations from 'above' (I mean LEA, Government, OFSTED . . .) weighed heavily.

So, when I finally retired, some of the overwhelming emotions related to 'no more targets' alongside 'no more annual reports' and 'no more extreme record keeping'.

Also - and Infant teachers will relate to this - no more sticking work in books!

So - right now, I am feeling awkward < grin > and I am not setting any new stuff for 2026, targets/goals/resolutions/aims - whatever they can be called.  I am just aiming for the best my life can be at any particular moment, whether it be finance, lifestyle, fitness, family . . . or whatever

And that (said John) is that!

I will rely on my Little Lists to get me through one day at a time, make decisions as they come along  and the rest will take care of itself.

How about you?

Edit:  SW the Mediterranean Way is not live and should be open to all.  Here's the link.  https://sw-the-med-way.blogspot.com/