Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  Pinch and a punch for the first of the month and white rabbits to you all!  December has now begun!

Thank you all very much for the lovely comments yesterday.  I think I have replied to them all and very much appreciate them.  I also seem to have some new followers so a warm welcome to you!

Yesterday was a good day and the drive over to Mum and Dad's was absolutely lovely.  Clear roads, moving traffic, no hold-ups and the sun was shining.  Best of all, I had remembered to wash the windscreen so there was much less sun glare on said windscreen than there could have been!

I bustled around early morning, getting stuff done and organised and made a few plans for sorting out the mess in my bedroom (again).  I need to make better use of the high cupboards for things I don't want to chuck but which aren't needed very often; that would sort a few things out nicely, I think.  I also have to deal with the small bedroom, the one over the stairs, as I am likely to need it over Christmas and it's my dumping ground.
So - I made plans!

Today I have ironing, cooking, maybe a bit of shopping and generally being there so not too busy.  I'm hoping to be able to spend plenty of time on my knitting - that would be good.  Weather permitting, I'd like to go out for a walk, but we will see!

Have a lovely day and remember to burn that advent candle, open that door in your advent calendar or do whatever you do once December starts.  I'm afraid my candle will have to wait!

Here's a favourite advent carol ever - always has been since I was little.  It's very old and very 'modal' and beautiful (I think).

Friday

Good morning, everyone.

One and a half pounds off at weigh in yesterday.  I can live with that!

It was worth making that list yesterday.  By the end of the day, everything was ticked off, including a few things that had been waiting to be done for quite a while.  I even managed to promise on my now too-large jeans to a friend.  Four pairs that are not all that old and still in great condition, just too big now.  I'm really glad someone else can use them now.

Today I have the usual Friday morning stuff including getting the siurfaces clear for my cleaner.  People smile when I say this but I maintain that I want her to clean, not to spend all the time tidying up after me so it's worth the twenty minutes maximum that it takes to get things ready.

If I don't post anything tomorrow or Sunday, don't worry; I will be back on Monday.  In the meanwhile, have a splendid day and stay safe.

Thursday

Good morning, everyone!

You know what they say about the best laid plans!  I didn't get half the stuff done yesterday that I had planned to do.  I pootled off to Sainsburys because I had decided to get one of their Christmas cakes this year as Beth is way too busy to make one and I am not confident enough.  I also trawled around their clothes and - er - bought some!  I am getting very naughty about this; it never used to be a 'thing' but it is now because I can!

I was also pleased to get something - or somethings - for little gifts for our girls' lunch.  You may remember that a small group of us meet regularly, albeit not frequently, for lunch or dinner.  December's is going to be lunch here at mine.  At the one just before Christmas, we get each other a little gift, nothing costly, just a token really but not tat!  I won't tell you what because they might be listening in but I'm really happy with what I have planned!

I then decided to detour to Wyvale on the way home and I'm glad I did because I managed to pick up a few bits and bobs for the hamper gifts plus a lovely poinsettia that should, treated properly, last into January and beyond.

Having rather idled yesterday away, I have made a list, a written list, for today so I'm hoping it will be a more productive time.  It's a free day (checks diary to make sure - yes it is) until tuition so I should achieve more than before!  And in between tasks, I shall get on with my knitting!

I hope you haven't been negatively affected by the bad weather.  Stay warm, dry and safe and have a lovely day.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone.

It's yucky-wet outside right now but there's very little wind.  That's for tomorrow, according to the BBC.  The rain is a different matter; it's forecast to last more or less all day so it's a stay-inside-and-get-on-with-stuff sort of day today.

I know I said I'd make the vegetarian sausage rolls today but, when it came to it, I made them yesterday and they are now in the freezer, as safe as something like that ever is in my house.  Beth tasted a couple and said that they are well up to the family standard so that's one item ticked off my list.

We started making these when Beth was a young teen who had decided to become vegetarian.  Delia's Christmas book was new out and my Mum, being a great Delia fan, had the book so decided to give them a go.  The rest, as they say, is family history.

I also did some crafting with Beth, made some very tasty spicy red lentil soup, planned and delivered some tuition and generally had a useful day with the dishwasher working overtime!

Today looks pretty free until tuition time so I will seize the opportunity to get on with some Christmas prep, some clutter-clearing and get my ironing basket emptied.  There's some stuff to chuck out, some clothes to recycle and a few things to wrap which means a trip down to the garage to get the Christmas wrapping paper out.  I might also get started with the cards.

It should be a very useful day!


By the way, if you're interested, Delia's recipe is here.   I bought puff pastry and I used soft cheese rather than cream as that's what I had in.
https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/vegetarian-food/vegetarian-sausage-rolls

Tuesday

Good morning, everyone.
Thank you all for your kind comments yesterday about the decorations.  Every time I walk past, the colours lift my spirits and yesterday's student said he loved it!

I managed to get a fair bit of sorting out done yesterday and a few corners look much better than they did.  In the afternoon I was at school and the Infants were having a full rehearsal (all the classes together rather than just practising their own bit) so I went along to watch and immediately took a dive back into my own recent history.
Longer term readers will remember that, as KS1 coordinator, I was responsible for the Christmas Show for several years and at this time of year my entries were filled with moans, groans and worries.  It always came together on the night and this one will.  It's lovely and the singing is fabulous!

I've been invited to the full dress rehearsal next week and then to the first full performance and am looking forward to it immensely.

After that it was tuition and, as I've said before, it is so lovely to work with a student who really cares, wants to make progress and just gobbles up what you give them.  Such a delight.

Today is a little less busy.  I need to pop to Morrisons to get a few things as I want to make our traditional vegetarian not-sausage rolls for the freezer.  It is a Delia recipe and we, the family, absolutely adore them.  I'll probably make them tomorrow.  Beth's round so the sewing machines will be out and we will be busy.
Then a bit of tuition finishes off the day nicely.

It sounds lovely, doesn't it?  Here's to a good day for us all.

Monday

Good morning, everyone!  I hope your weekend was enjoyable and restful too.

I had a pleasant time.  The morning was spent in a bit of the old housework and some cooking while the afternoon was spent in a bit of gentle crafting.
I turned a pile of bought stuff into one of my Christmas  sideboard arrangements.  A bit early but it seemed daft to put it all away and then get it all out again and the tuition srtudents will like it so . . .
(terrible light, sorry)

Today is a bit full.
This morning, I have planning and then I want to tackle a few very untidy piles of 'stuff'.  After lunch, I am off to school to help out in FS before coming home for tuition.  It should be a pleasant day and I'll get plenty done which is always satisfying.

That's about it, really.  How about you?

Sunday

Good morning, everyone.  It's dull out there and looks damp but I haven't been to the shed yet so have no idea if it's chilly.  I'm glad I don't need to go out.

I'm also glad I made the effort to go into town yesterday.  I think it must have been 'meant' because the bus was waiting at the stop on the way there and turned up just as I reached the stop in town on the way home.

I think the Christmas Fair would have livened up later on and by the time the lights came on late afternoon, it would be rocking, I am sure.  It was OK in the morning, some good stalls and plenty of food (no, I didn't).

Each Christmas I have a little personal tradition which is to buy a new tree decoration, but only if I see something I absolutely love.  Some years I haven't bought anything at all.
However, one of the stalls was a 'fused glass' stall and they had Christmas decorations for sale.  I bought not one, not two, but three.
https://www.helenroseglass.co.uk/

(apologies for the bad light quality)

Cute, aren't they?

I also went to Lakeland but was very restrained.  I got a lovely big roll of parchment and also some Christmas pasta.  Nothing else though, and I could have, believe me!

On the way back to the bus I popped into a 'candles and craft' sort of shop and bought my Christmas candles.  They also had some little Christmas tree shaped bowls that one can use in the oven so I bought a couple.  At £2 each, I couldn't say no, could I? 
No, I couldn't.

Today, Beth is round for lunch so it should be a lovely day.  I'm looking forward to it.  I hope your Sunday is good too.