Happy New Year.

I have been cooking for six hours this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's lunch party - six lasagne requiring a gallon of white/bechamel sauce.
That's the most tedious bit.
Jen arrived at tea-time, we have eaten, but none of us feel up to a late night, so will save our greetings for the morning.
W phoned earlier, to save being woken at midnight (11.00pm here) as the family have health issues.
I wish that I hadn't eaten that piece of Christmas cake after dinner.

I hope that the new year will be successful, joyful & peaceful for you all.

Back to work.

Well, for some, but not many.
We have had a lovely Christmas with all but the Danish part of the family staying for a couple of nights, starting with J&G on Christmas Eve, P&A on Christmas Day & B&E on Boxing Day.
Christmas Day was wonderful, starting with midnight mass at Shustoke home for a nightcap then up early to organise the lunch before taking the 11.00am service at NW whilst G prepared the vegetables.
Lunch was excellent, the grandchildren (& outlaws) behaved well, & we spent the remainder of the afternoon opening presents - thanks to everyone who gave us such fun things.

J&G stayed until tea-time on Sunday, which I would normally call Boxing Day, but I'm not sure this year. I think that Boxing Day was on Tuesday.
B&E arrived later & stayed for a couple of nights.
We went to see Sarah & Matt on Monday in their beautiful new house - fantastic decorations & a lovely meal with the rest of the family.

B&E left yesterday morning, G & I set off to see JR, taking lunch with us.
We stayed overnight, leaving after lunch today so G could have another couple of inoculations at the doctors.

Tonight we are relaxing by the fire, eating mushrooms on toast.
Happy Christmas!

One day to go.

Another cold, lazy day.
We have started to stay in bed until about 8.30am, unless we have to be up & about.
Today, we didn't.
I've finished preparing the house - all clean & tidy with beds made up & piles of towels out. Everything made of fabric has been washed, ironed & put away, the table is partly laid for Christmas lunch & the cards are up.
Tomorrow I have to wrap the chipolatas in bacon - 120 should do, do some baking & prepare a meal for J, G & family, who are arriving in the early evening.
We shall be going to church for 11.30pm - the start of Christmas - then I am taking the family service at NW at 11.00am, which I always enjoy.

Friends from the village popped in for coffee & brought a delicious looking pate & cranberry pie for Christmas.
We went to Coleshill for G to collect pills from the doctors & to get some oddments, then G cooked a curry. Great

Only lacking red candles & milk.
I can "borrow" some of the former from church.

A balmy day.

Not too much snow considering that it snowed all day.
.We had a busy weekend as the church had a festival weekend & was open, with refreshments, finishing with a lovely service of nine lessons & carols on Sunday evening, which I lead.
There was a good turnout.
We spent Monday at P & A's, being entertained by Jessie & Thomas, including sledging in the park.
Tuesday I shopped all day, in Solihull. Not too many people about because of the poor conditions on the roads; I had to park on the roof of the car park & paddle through inches of snow, ice & slush. Having secured a turkey & a mountain of vegetables, I relaxed into completing the shopping, even finding curtains for the back bedroom.We have been trying to find some, on & off, for years. G put the curtain pole up this morning, the curtains have keyholes & slot on. They look really good.
I have wrapped all of the presents, finished the bedrooms, extended the dining table to sit fourteen & put the cloth on.
All's well with the world, apart from the presents for B, E T & KP, which I have been unable to deliver because of the snow.

What snow?

My parcel was delivered this morning, having waited in for most of the last two days, on a promise. Apparently, the driver took out 40 parcels each day & only delivered 20. There was me thinking that it had been delivered to Hollyland Cottages.
Anyway, that's another three ticks on the gift list.
I went to church this morning to clean/decorate ready for this weekend extravaganza. It does look very nice. I've made fairy cakes, so a splash of icing & the odd smartie & we're all set.
I hope that the snow doesn't keep people at home.
I've put cards on local noticeboards, to sell the travel cots - the low-tech version of e-bay!
I went on to Solihull to shop, quite successfully, & on to the gym, then home to cook dinner.

I'm quite well organised for Christmas, as far as planning to extend the dining table with the kitchen table, to seat 14 of us - now the grandchildren sit at the table, rather than high chairs.
One or two presents to get, wrapping to do & the fresh food to buy.
That will be a very early trip to M&S on Wednesday, whilst they have a selection of turkeys.
They open at 7.00am.
We have to source an affordable Christmas tree, perhaps a smaller one on a low table.
It was -3 degrees when I came home at 6.00pm, white over. It feels very cold.
Watch out for ice tomorrow.

What snow?

G was out today - dentist for a cap to be fitted to a large implant, Chiro/James for some orthotics & a retirement lunch in Oxford.
I planned to go to the gym & then finish the Christmas shopping whilst in Solihull. The weather forecast was bad so I decided to play safe & stay at home as the lotus is not good on ice/snow& disappears altogether under more than 2 inches.
We did have some nasty rain & a little snow, but nothing extreme.

My parcel has not arrived, despite an e-mail saying it was on it's way fro B'ham yesterday morning. I don't know what to do. Perhaps it has been delivered to the house down the road that shares our address. Help.
I've done lots of jobs, nearly finished Sunday's sermon & nearly booked a Nile Cruise so not a bad day all in all.

We watched The Apprentice last night - farewell to "The brand", at last.
What a shame he caused Liz's demise last week as I think that she could have won.
Lord S is on again tonight - "Why they were fired"
Could it be because they were egotistical,talentless plonkers?

Wednesday already.

So what happened to the last few days?
I'm watching TV whilst researching holidays & catching up on the family news as G is in London.
I took him to the station at 6.30am, came home, tired, for breakfast & a chat to aj to catch up on the news.
I have to see Kristian later for an hour's A level physics. He can talk it through & I'll fill in the gaps, with the help of his text book!

On Sunday we helped to decorate the church/put up the huge Christmas tree, had a late lunch then went down to Marsh Gibbon. They were out shopping, so we went to see B & E & eventually I joined them at the Christingle service at Launton church whilst G went back to see J & G, where I was dropped of later. The church was full of children & really cosy - Christingles with light sticks. I took 3 spare ones for O & the twins, they particularly liked the sweets on the orange.
We had a lovely meal with B&E & did a sleepover, then B took G to the station for an early train to London for a meeting. I went to spend the morning with Gina & the twins, picked up Oscar from pre-school, then we all went to Funkey Monkey for some rigorous exercise.

Yesterday was a Thomas day. G went in to B'ham for a meeting.
We went to church when we got home, to tidy/clean the area at the back. This took three hours of hard work. We went to the Polash afterwards for a balti, which was delicious.
We were congratulated for cleaning our bowls & rewarded with a brandy & a Baileys.

Spellcheck change balti to Baltic - strange.
I've already eaten my Advent calendar chocolate - a penguin. Shame.

TGIF

Today was party day.
I baked, cleaned & put up some Christmas decorations whilst G went to pick up Thomas from nursery & be Grandad for the day. Timing was superb & I was just coming downstairs, done up to the nines in my new blue Christmas top, black skirt & Lady Di/Kate M sapphire pendant, when the first guests arrived.
We had sherry whilst the sausage rolls & scones cooked & then had afternoon tea.
I think that they all enjoyed themselves, as Dad would have said.
We had a bring & buy, which made nearly £50 to go towards the Christmas fun weekend at church on 19 & 20 December.
It was good to have a house full as we have gone in for small gatherings this year rather than mass events.

We have had a number of Christmas epistles, including one from Maureen. She does appear to be in a desperate state & in need of some support.

The weather has improved greatly, the only frost left is on the factory roof. Actually, I've only been out to go to the dustbin all day, but the house is much warmer.
Just sipping a Grand Marnier before going to bed, knackered.

Another crazy day.

I find myself in a cleft stick: I blog about my enjoyable days & am criticised for being boring.
Yesterday we went to Cambridge to see JR, after G went to the dentist to be measured for a cap to attach to the finely engineered posts in place of lower premolar 1 right.
JR is 86, he is always delighted to see us, but sorting his post, writing his Christmas cards & sorting gifts is not very exciting. We did have a good lunch at The Crown in Linton yesterday & a pretty neat fish pie & rice pudding, cooked on the Aga today.
We arrived home at 4.30pm today, since when I have spent nearly three hours in the hairdressers having foils, cut & blow-wave.
I am pleased with results & am now prepared to face the Mothers' Union at tomorrow's tea-party - scones, sausage rolls, banana & coffee cakes to be made in the morning & tables laid.
Should I make sandwiches as well?

G is doing odd jobs & planning his "belated, constricted gap year".

What about these students?
Tonight they have attacked the Prince of Wales & Camilla, on their way to the theatre, following a day of student violence & vandalism.
Surely taxpayers must question whether supporting these young people is a good use of their hard-earned money.

And another one.

York was again the coldest place in the universe yesterday - -2 / -13 degrees. Copenhagen was a balmy 3 /-3 whilst B'ham was 0 / -5.
The countryside looks magical with the build up of frost on everything, which makes up for the cold to some extent. We have had the heating on for a couple of weeks now, with a big log fire from tea-time. The house is still cool apart from when you first come in.
I've been to Coleshill to post the cards to foreign parts & delivered a few cards nearer home.
I did a police-style chase from Coleshill crossroads to The Railway Inn, when Joyce from Lea Marston, turned in front of me. With tyres squealing I pursued her car until she parked up at The Railway, for a late lunch. I delivered the MU party invitation then sped off to catch a few more very senior citizens before they took their afternoon naps.
I have since iced three Christmas cakes, ironed, cooked & had a nap.
G has a dental appointment in Warwick tomorrow, to be sized up for his cap; we shall then go on to see JR, weather permitting - some snow is forecast in the East tonight.

"Young beautician of the year" is on TV. Four beauticians waxing the torsoes of four incredibly hirsute men, more like monkeys . Yuk!

I note that I'm not worthy of any comments.
Ah well.
Bed.

A visit to the gym.

We have joined Bannantynes gym in Solihull.
We went over this morning, had our fat contents calculated, a workout prescribed & got on with it. I found it hard on my poor unexercised leg muscles, but fortunately there wasn't sufficient time to do the full stint. I swam ten lengths, had a nice shower & we left, feeling really good.
We did a little light shopping in Solihull, had a snack in M&S (under protest from G, whose soup took ages to arrive & then was turkey & vegetables rather than the tomato & basil he had ordered. Shuks)
I walked around the corner to see Kristian & do an hours A level physics - I think that he knows as much as I do anyway. We worked through some questions together - I do have the edge there!

It has been amazingly cold all day, -6 degrees this morning, going up to -3 when the sun came out. More of the same tomorrow.
He asked me to do another session next week, so he must get something from it.

Another cold day.

Yes. It was relatively warm today, a chilly 1 degree.
Yesterday was cold, Birmingham o/-7, Copenhagen -3, -6, but aj in York braved the elements to go to work & do a little shopping at -4, -11!
I'm not really obsessed with the weather, just finding it very cold.
Today was something of a red letter day; G & I went to church early so that he could set up the sound system. He stayed for the service, did a few other jobs & is re booked for next week.
We came home for breakfast (scrambled egg), chopped logs, swept the yard, took down the hanging baskets & put up the Christmas lights on the garage.
It was then time to come in, warm up, light the fire & read the papers.
I phoned Bannantynes gym , as they keep making enticing offers on rejoining fees - I hadn't rejoined last November as we were going away for a month, & then avoided the expense.
I have convinced G that joint membership, off-peak for £24 a month each, is a very good deal, especially as they have just had a £100,000 refurbishment. We are going for a work out tomorrow morning & a fleecing!
This should be the beginning of a new era.

Three chocolates gone.

I have an Advent calendar for the first time, I think - a gift from G, so I have a nice little chocolate awaiting me.
It's been a Thomas day today.
He was at home, not very well, but did improve enough for a light lunch at McDonalds & a trip to the airport to take G for a plane to Amsterdam, for a party.
I hope that it all goes well & he can get back tomorrow.

I eventually got to Waitrose & collected my six free "Duchy all butter mince pies" , at a saving of £3.99 for six.
I have just eaten one & it was delicious.
This followed a bowl of homemade chicken soup & smoked mackeral with toast.
Scrummy.
I filled the car with diesel on the way home, at the second attempt.
JS had no diesel so I went on to the dreaded Tesco.
Apparently there may be a shortage because of the weather.

I am sitting in the lounge, alone, without having lit the fire as I don't want to spoil myself. The temperature this morning was -8 degrees, it was -3 when I drove home tonight, but tomorrow is supposed to be warmer.
I think we may have had enough of the cold now - I walked round to Shustoke School this morning & it was bitterly cold - my bowl of bird water froze solid quite quickly.

I may go to bed early, with a hotty. (I always have a hotty)

Money for old rope.

School phoned at 7.50am; I was in bed at the time but managed to be at school by 8.35am, thanks to G defrosting the car & making me a flask of coffee.
I had a good morning in the maths department - two lessons with top year 11 & two with bottom year 9. Then the bombshell - it was snowing, there was snow on the road through Kingsbury which must therefore be dangerous, so we were closing.
I worked through lunchtime & until 2.55pm, supervising pupils & then cleared the snow of the car & drove home - clear roads, apart from Hollylands.
There were still about 60 pupils in school, awaiting collection when I left.
What a frustrating waste of time.
Anyway, another day's pay owed.

We drove around the villages delivering the invitations to the MU party, next Friday - not Man United, they have caterers in, but Mothers' Union, who don't.
Any ideas for the menu for afternoon tea for 20+, of a certain age?
It was -4 degrees, -10 forecast for tonight. Winter draws on.
A Thomas day tomorrow, following a visit to Shustoke School to discuss the Christmas weekend at Church. I have to fit in a visit to Waitrose to collect my free mince pies.
G is off to Amsterdam for a knees up, I think it was knees anyway, so I have the remote for the evening.

White rabbits.

So I wasn't worth a comment yesterday, when I went out & had a really good day & got my ovens cleaned.
Today I have no hope of comments - a relaxing day, I think it could be called.
I don't know where this morning went; I remember coming down to make cups of tea & going back to bed to read. We breakfasted in our dressing gowns & suddenly it was lunchtime.
I have since made three Christmas cakes, one for us, one for the MU party next Friday & a little one for JR. I have done the invitations for the MU party & mopped floors.
It has been pretty cold & snowed, but not heavily, for much of the day.

We have just watched "The Apprentice" & "You're Fired"
Moany Laura has gone. She's a lightweight who never stops talking, so a good decision there.
"The girl with the dragon tattoo" is a good read with lots of twists. I don't think I fancy the film though.