Happy New Year.

Well organised for 2014 already, having partly prepared the food for tomorrow's lunch for friends, and finished the ironing.
What better way to end the year?
I wish that I'd remembered to buy the firelighters before Coleshill ran out of them, but I've managed without, and even have an overflow log box in the porch to keep the home fires burning tomorrow, with minimum effort.
I'm entirely confident that 2014 will be infinitely better for me than was 2013.
However good last year was for you, I hope that next year is even better.

 

Home Alone.

B et al travelled North on Saturday afternoon, Wet al left for Stansted on Sunday afternoon, after the boys had scooted to the playground, done the assault course 30 times then befriended a springer spaniel who took delight in fetching J's Frisbee, many many times.
I hope they slept on the plane.
We had a fantastic Christmas together - great food that just appeared when required and everyone on good form. 
To keep busy after they all left, I had a bonfire to dispose of boxes, now all glued into Grand Designs and decorated with glitter glue, along with wrapping paper and packaging.
By the time I'd finished Linda, an old friend who now lives in Scotland, had arrived for tea and a chat.
A couple of hours later I returned Linda to her son Chris's farm, in Fillongly, where he fattens pigs for Waitrose, amongst other things, and lives in a fantastic log cabin.
I then came home and did the did some more washing - six loads to date and all of the bed linen and towels now done, not all ironed.

This morning I was up early and in M&S in Solihull by 9.00am, almost alone.
The sale was disappointing, but I went on to JS to buy the food to cook for the lunch party on New Year's Day, along with some post-Christmas bargains.
I met Jan for coffee at Pre.
Three coffees later (no breakfast), we hit the sales again - Jan bought clothes and linen, I bought a small Victorian silver toast rack made by Nathan & Hayes in B'ham, hallmarked in Chester, 1894, because it was beautiful and the dresser needed one.
I didn't get home until after 7.00pm - max payment in the car park, minus the JS contribution.
I had scrambled eggs and finished the smoked salmon, for dinner, followed by the nut strewn top of the panetone that I bought to make a bread and butter pudding, on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, a check on the cleaning at church, ready for a wedding on Tuesday, then cooking.
An ironing mountain, for light relief, so that we can get to the booze fridge on Wednesday. 

Santa's been and gone......

Relaxing after supper, watching "Harry Potter", the children all safely tucked up in bed and the rest of us to follow shortly.
We've had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas.
The children have all been delightful, the food wonderful and the chores all done together.
I put masses of silver stars on the dining table, which have been played with and are now everywhere and will be a happy reminder for weeks to come.

Yesterday morning we all went to NW to the Family Service to celebrate and sing a few carols.
I took the service and the boys helped with the lighting of the Advent candles - all 5 on Christmas day - along with the other half dozen children in the congregation.
A good turn out and lots of positive comments afterwards - remember JC all year, don't just send a card on his birthday!
The rest of the day was normal - eat and drink, games and chat.

This morning we all went for a walk around the reservoir then back for lunch - guess!
Di, Steve and Chloe came for tea with great outdoor clothing for the children, all in their favourite colours - they had to do a turn around the garden to test them out!

Sadly, Primrose, the last of a long line of Steve's golden Guernsey goat, died on Sunday night - the end of an era as Steve has kept goats here for the last 21 years.
I shall miss her to talk to en route to the chickens and whilst working in the garden.

It's very windy this evening, hopefully it will calm down by the morning  so that we can run off some energy before going to the panto in Chipping Norton - "Jack and the Beanstalk" - followed by an Indian meal.
    

Only two more sleeps.........

although it will be a late night / short sleep tomorrow for those attending Midnight Mass.
As attendance is usually good it seems to me that it may be a good idea to have services throughout the year, in the middle of the night instead of mid morning on a Sunday, competing with shopping and the gym.

Life is pretty good - I've had my hair done, have two new pairs of jeans, size twelve, a new dress and the family here for the week.
I even have the lounge curtains hung properly
I collected  a fine turkey, minus wish-bone, for ease of carving, from the farm shop this morning, along with a large pork pie - traditional Christmas day breakfast in the family - I think it was just that Mum liked pork pie and it saved cooking.
Everything's done, so no need to go out tomorrow.

One sad note - Primrose, the last remaining goat, died last night, aged 13 years - a good age for a goat.
I shall just have to talk to the chickens a little longer in the mornings - I'm not sure that they understand me!

 

O Come all ye faithfull...............

And they did!
Shustoke carol service this evening by candlelight and Christmas tree lights - magical.
The church was packed, with chairs at the back for overflow and the choir was very good - a really good start to Christmas.
Obviously the congregation opted for the carol service rather than Morning Prayer as there were only six of us this morning.
I made up for the disappointment by going to Ventura Park to complete the food shopping for Christmas, thinking that it may be quieter than tomorrow.
The shops weren't that busy, M&S had the excess vegetables piled up like a market stall, which is much nicer than Solihull, where they leave them on wire trolleys.
Just the turkey, pork pie and meat to collect from the farm, then that's it - done, dusted and ready to cook.
The third off all clothes Saturday sale was extended by a day, so it took quite a while to "food shop".
I tried to buy more curtain fittings - dangly bits off the rail - with no luck.
I can't remember the make, which doesn't help.

Good films on TV tonight - I'm not spoiling myself by watching one - recording a couple for the grandchildren over Christmas.
 

Wet and windy.

Winter arrived today - 2 degrees when I released the chickens first thing - they're laying an egg each a day despite the time of year - and the car covered in thickish ice at 9.00am.
I had the Church Christmas Service times cards to go to all the houses in the village, which took three hours, including a dash to Coleshill to post the last of the parcels.
It was very cold and about 70% of letter boxes are rubbish - very difficult to push the letter through and/or try to take your finger off.
I came home for lunch then decided that it would be good to get the shopping done today - a sizeable list of Christmas Day requirements from W & MK - leaving only the vegetables and dairy to buy and the turkey to collect, next week.
I went to Solihull and even managed to buy curtains for the dining room (returnable if not the right colour), and two pairs of Per Uno jeans for me - indigo and black velvet - 30% off all Per Uno today.
30% off everything at M&S tomorrow!
I arrived home about 8.30pm, put the food away and then vacuumed through downstairs and, at last, mopped the floors.
Everywhere gleaming, just have to finish the decorating and wrapping now, or tomorrow morning - hairdresser at 3.00pm, then on to a party.

Just had a ......e mail re my take on the School Carol Concert.
Whew!
What on earth am I doing still up at 1.25am in a freezing house with a gale blowing? 

Nothing to blog yesterday - lazy day and frustration.
I visited Sh church in the morning and found the school rehearsing for their service that evening - delightful singing, despite the cold.
I volunteered to go back at 5.45pm to turn the tree lights on for the 6.30pm service.
After lunch I visited M & M, then Jan then back to church - cold, dark, wet and windy with people waiting outside.
By the time I left at 6.15pm there was chaos as cars went down to the car park, which was full, then found difficulty reversing up a narrow track in the awful conditions - Hawkins opened their drive to help out, on request.

Of note today - collected yesterday's parcel - it was for me!!!
A new water tank for the Nespresso - some design problem causing rust in the bottom.
had coffee with Jan.
Collected all of the wood that had blown down in the storm and burnt it on a bonfire with the recycling and waste from the bin, which was full.
Cleaned out the chickens - they are laying two eggs a day - amazing!

My wasted days will catch up with me as I still have to clean the floors, dust and put the decorations up, ice the cake, wrap the presents, deliver a church Xmas card to every house in the village and do the food shopping - that can be on Monday morning.
I only remembered the cards for the village tonight..
I'll start something right now.
What??
 

Pure indulgence.

I know that I am a bit of a slave driver - personally.
I always set myself a challenging agenda for the day and then chastise myself at the end of the day as I tick things of the list and prepare tomorrow's agenda.
Cleaning the floors - with the steam cleaner was high on yesterday's agenda, not having been done since the decorator left and probably not for some time before then.
Waking up early is usually a plus, as I can start early.

Yesterday's agenda still had chores from Monday as everything ran late.
went down early, started to vacuum under the Christmas tree, then realised that it was a waste of time as I hadn't decorated the tree and needed to remove the 80 x red lights, replace with the new 160 x white lights.
Three hours later the tree was looking pretty good, I'd vacuumed through and was feeling pleased with the day.
Too late to wash floors, so dressed properly to go to Coleshill to collect W's daily undelivered parcel, and finish Monday's jobs, then come home to sweep up leaves, as the sun was shining, then wash floors.

As I left I had a strange conversation with the driver of a large red van parked at the bottom of the drive - I thought he was the postman, as I had the sun in my eyes, so telling me that he'd just painted the fire hydrant and metal covers and not to drive over them did not equate!
Anyway, as he drove away, he commented "What a lovely house, it must be wonderful living here".
I agreed - I think he'd understood my confusion, either that or that I was an escaping inmate!

Anyway, after the Coleshill chores I revolted against myself and went to Knowle, then Solihull, had TWO coffees and a mince pie in Pret and bought TWO pairs of shoes in Gordon Scott's sale - not even sensible one to wear with jeans.

Home to shower and change, then carol Concert at NW followed by dinner at LM Hotel with a friend.
Sun's shining, I should clear the leaves from the yard after tennis - see how it goes - I may be revolting again!.

I feel like the white rabbit...

The one in Alice in Wonderland who was late.
I did remember to put my watch on today, which was a good start.
As it wasn't light until after 9.00am, by which time it was raining, tennis was cancelled.
I ran a bath, forgetting to put the plug in, but there was sufficient hot water to run it again, with the plug in and then slow poach for half an hour, chatting to aj, then PH on the phone.
I girded my loins and went to Coleshill - no parking places, so was a few minutes late for a meeting at the bank, having parked in the Solicitor's car park - no comeback, not sued!
On to Dorridge for a facial, then to Solihull to collect J & Th from school.
I cooked a great tea, chatted to a, who was home early, then did late night Christmas shopping for a couple of hours, in Solihull on the way home.
Not many people about, so  pretty good.
I think that I have all of the presents  - all scattered over the study floor in "people piles".
I bought a set of 160 white Xmas tree lights - I have 80 red on the tree, but no more red available, which is a shame as they look good.
I can't decorate the tree until they're on  - the red can go elsewhere - I was going to do it tonight, but was late home as a car has gone off the road in castle Lane, where a motorcyclist died a while ago.
The police and breakdown truck were blocking the road, so I had a long detour, just when I thought I'd arrived.
The truck driver said no-one was hurt - hope so.

Shop, shop, shop....

I was up early, ironing done and in JS by 8.30am as I have friends coming to lunch tomorrow and was in dire need of food and this was said to be the busiest shopping day so far - what do they know?
It just wasn't that busy.
I had the car washed whilst in JS, then went to M&S and parked with no problem, then on to Florascape - a rather strange garden centre, to meet Judith for coffee.
I then went on a search for red Christmas tree decorations, having taken all but my posh ones to church..
JL and JS had none in red so I finished up at Asda - not at all nice, but they did have red baubles.
that was offset by the fact that the poinsettia all but fell to pieces when I took the wrapping paper off.
I delivered the remainder of my Christmas cards on the way home, stopping for tea twice, so not home until dark.

House is now pretty neat and tidy, dining room decorated and Christmas tree in, with lights.
I have red lights - they look good, but not enough - 80, and it's a big tree - up to the roof.
A change from the 40+ sets of white lights on the trees at church.
I do have a set of blue lights, donated by B & E, but fear that it may look a bit UKIP with them as well!

I bought a 3 pack of Christmas music CDs - just need T  to change them!
Christmas can begin in earnest tomorrow, a little earlier than usual.

Come Dine with me.

Now a possibility, having spent about 6 hours carrying furniture and pictures downstairs, polishing and rearranging.
I think it looks wonderful.
Now, what to do with the things that I don't want to put back?
A bit more vacuuming to do and clean the floors and it'll be fit for inspection - friends coming for lunch on Sunday, but it has been a week since PtheP finished.

I was awake early, so finished the Christmas cards, posted 40, collected  a parcel from the PO, then delivered  a further 20 cards by hand, declining coffees en route.
I put the tree in its stand, ready to lift into the conservatory.....later.
No point until I have time/inclination to decorate it - might be tomorrow.
I didn't start the dining room until 3.00pm, by which time it was nearly dark, hence I finished late, too late to bother to cook.
I might just have to put the Father Christmases on the sideboard first.

Lots of leaves to clear up from the yard - next week now.
Going shopping early, Ventura Park, for Sunday lunch - everyone has pork on offer - then meeting Judith for coffee at a garden centre near by - Flora.....
Hope I can find it!

Mary, Mary quite contrary.....

Home again after an enjoyable stay in Bicester, being Mary Poppins, again.
Did MP watch daytime TV?
You can only do it if you are doing something worthwhile at the same time, hence the attraction of ironing - order out of chaos, removing the creases, with "Bargain Hunt" thrown in for good measure!
What more could you want?
B came home at lunch time to work from home, S & J arrived shortly afterwards and they all went to see KP do her "Mary" again, all home later for tea and chocolate cake.
I did a quick, successful visit to Bicester village then a slow journey home - heavy traffic on the M40 and M42.
A warm day - still 9 degrees when I arrived home at 7.00pm.
Welsh rarebit on sliced tomatoes and basil leaves for supper.
Delicious!

Christmas cards to finish then post/deliver tomorrow, alongside cleaning and putting the dining room back together.
Should be fun.
Friends for lunch on Sunday, so no more procrastination.

T has designed and printed invitations for New Year's Day for me - they are brill!

I have yet to even open the December Good Housekeeping which I was so pleased to buy last week. 

O Come all ye faithfull...........

I've been to my first carol concert this year - the Scout/Cubs/Beavers at St Egburg's in Bicester - nice carols and a particularly weird activity - laying a table for dinner in the aisle to a rather illiterate poem about Christmas.
A brave minister asked questions around the "What season is this?"
Answer "Easter"
              "Winter"
              "Chocolate"
T answered correctly - well done T.

A double first as I went to the first Nativity play of the year  - KP was Mary so it had to be good.

This morning I made a stew and chocolate before playing tennis, home to fill the cake, pack a bag and off to Bicester.
Tomorrow I shall do the MP* bit - great fun - then shop in town and the Village before setting off for home - only housework on the agenda - must put the decorated rooms back together on Friday - enough of this gallivanting!
* W referred to me as "Mary Poppins" for carrying out the au pair activities,
I quite like it.

So who is St Egburg - sounds Scandanavian.

 

Ding dong.....

I've just returned from bell ringing.
My second session went really well.
My first session started well and then I lost it completely, possibly because I wasn't standing in exactly the right place and certainly because I lost my concentration.
I think that it's like driving - full concentration until you are  proficient and then it just happens.
One day - hopefully not too far away.......

I went to Warwick this morning to meet a friend for coffee, we were still talking, so stayed for lunch as well.
I stopped in Solihull on the way home and bought towels - cloakroom and kitchen, to match the decor and bath towels so that the family are still impressed by the fluffiness.
Beatties had a linens sale on, I bought the kitchen towel in JL, designer, as it was the right colour and ridiculously expensive.
It will last a long time and I'm pleased with it.

I somehow forgot to have dinner, so was very cold at church - I've just had cocoa to make up and then to a nice warm bed.
Tomorrow, tennis - a sunny day is promised.

I've just done an on line order from M&S - free home delivery if you opt to collect from store as, I guess, they can't cope - will save queueing in store - try it if you're ordering 

Don't have the bronze!

I had a manicure today, to repair the damage of a week in the cold handling fir trees.
This is a rare event.
It is even rarer for me to have nail varnish as it doesn't look right, somehow and I damage it within the day anyway.
Today I was persuaded to have bronze - a mistake!
I have removed it and had a bath to soak off any remains.
Unfortunately, I put the remover pads on the white bath mat, which now has a bronze patch, so I may have an eternal reminder of my mistake.

I played tennis this morning, manicure, then off to Solihull for an hour before collecting J and Th from school.
Salsacise tonight, so well exercised, but the house is still upside down from the decorating - pencilled in to start putting things back on Friday.
No rush, but friends here for lunch on Sunday.

There was a tragic motor accident in Kingsbury on Saturday.
Three people from KS died - a Mum, her son and his friend.
The Mum was a technician at the school.
I taught her, many years ago - a real character, she later joined the cleaning staff and cleaned the
labs. As I worked late, we talked most nights and I hope that she regarded me as a friend.
She was such fun, she will be sorely missed.
It will be a very sad end to the term. 

Magic and Sparkle!

The show continues until twelth night, we may keep the church open for a while next weekend - see how the mood and need for a social life impede.
We've had lots of visitors, served lots of tea and coffee and all of my Christmas cakes had gone by 2.00pm, forcing me to go to Coleshill to buy more from Morrisons as my remaining cake wasn't iced.
it still isn't but no rush, now.
Family Service went well, finishing with the children racing remote control cars around the church during the final hymn - they had been watching the cars, lined up in the aisle and waiting for the moment to get hold of them throughout the service and hoping that it wouldn't be too long - the themes of Advent: "Watching and Waiting" and "Hope".
I have a wonderful quote from Desmond Tutu on Advent:
"We are an Advent people................together we can make the desert bloom"

I eventually came home at 5.45pm, church all cleared up and tidy.
Dinner - I've eaten cod all week as it's quick to cook - only one more portion left.
This was saved instead of published - tired and hit the wrong button, I guess.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Tinselled out!

Some finality today:

PtheP has finished the decorating, unfortunately he left a little earlier than I'd anticipated, so the wine  delivery didn't happen - I'll arrange another time tomorrow.

Both the dining room and the downstairs toilet look fantastic - even better than I had anticipated.
I've promised to leave the rooms to dry out for a week - a week off housework as well, what a bonus!

The 30 Christmas trees in church are all decorated and look stunning, especially in the twilight/dark.
Another tree - a fine specimen - was delivered as a gift at the 11th hour, which still has to be decorated.
Everyone "mucked in" with the clearing up - quite a task with all of those trees being moved around, so I was home by 6.30pm - earlier than I'd feared.
Lots of goodwill and fun.
If you are in the vicinity of Shustoke at the weekend, you must come in to see them - tea and  various Christmas cakes available.

Life gets even better - aj has won a 17 night P and O cruise around the Med on Oriana - who else would you want to take on this epic voyage than your twin sister!
Well done aj - it sounds brilliant.

I have Christmas cakes to ice before bedtime so that they will be ready for tomorrow - I think that I'll just do the one needed tomorrow - I'm tired.

Up early tomorrow to put the finishing touches and organise refreshments, then finish preparing Sunday's services.
Next week I shall relax.
I

Compatable!

Chatting to P the P yesterday morning - he's a marathon runner - I noted that I was really lucky as I had no aches and pains and still "felt like a 30 year old"
As I drove up to church I realised that it was yet  another thing that G and I had in common.

I'm becoming more debauched (that may be the wrong word!) by the day - I went down early to clear up the debris from last night's party, before PtheP arrived, made him a cup of tea and came back to have breakfast in bed - scrambled egg (today's) with smoked salmon and hors deuves left overs.
That's a first - I'm a  purist about eating in bed or perhaps I just used to be - it's 4 degrees and windy outside. I have let the chickens out and have a long day at church ahead - will be sociable, but little chance of food or comfort so I'm stocking up!
The party was great fun - about twenty ladies, all bearing food and/or bottles, chatting twenty to the dozen in a way that doesn't happen when the men are there - three glasses down, which must be a measure of something.
The dining room looks absolutely fabulous - I'm so pleased with the colour - eau-de-nil - and pattern.
Laura Ashley is now my designer of choice!
Curtains are at the cleaners - I just need a tall, guy with good manipulative skills and clean hands to put the finishing touches next week.
Must get round to finding curtains for my bedroom - curtain pole in situ, but still vertical!

The fields opposite have been ploughed now and it's beginning to look wintry, just some green in the far fields/meadows.
There are heaps of lovely dry crunchy leaves everywhere, I doubt that many will survive today.

(hors deuves doesn't look right - I'm sure I'll be put right!)

Thawing out.

Another cold day but I had to leave my warm bed at an early hour - OK, it was 7.40am, so not the crack of dawn, to be up before P the P arrived.
The socket must have dried out as the fuse went back and the boiler lit!
Brilliant!
The house was very cold, apart from my bed, so I've had the heating on to help dry the paintwork in the dining room - I am wearing 4 layers - vest, thermal thing, thin fleece, fleece jacket - I'm pretty warm, to be honest.
The painting and lining paper all done, but still no sign of a plasterer.

I had a double scrambled egg with a tomato for breakfast then went out to put up posters about the Christmas Tree Festival around the village and in Coleshill - still some more needed but mine were printing with a border only page between each - may be useful one day!
A little light shopping , including a Christmas Good Housekeeping" - my treat of the season, then home for lunch - salmon and tomato salad.
I think I may be in a bit of a tomato rut, but Morrisons' on the vine are delicious, especially with bay leaves, olive oil and black pepper.
So sustained, I made another couple of Christmas cakes, which are in the oven and smell wonderful.
Catching up on e mails before bell ringing.
I bought 2nd class stamps today as the PO was empty - never miss a chance!
Awaiting a New Year's day lunch Invitation draft from T before I get around to cards.
I hope that W has noted my diet  - fit for a Neanderthal!

I'd never heard of Juan Carlos.
Is one's 180th b'day significant nowadays  - I thought that important anniversaries were
divisible by 50.

The big freeze!

Up early as Peter the Painter started today, decorating the dining room and downstairs toilet as he only has a week, but he'll be back in the New Year to finish the rest.
He always starts before 8.30am and works flat out until 4.oopm - he's stripped the walls and done one coat of paint already
Unfortunately, he got some water in a socket, which blew the fuse - I didn't give it a second thought until this evening when I returned from salsacise at about 9.30pm, to a freezing house.
With a little help from B the problem was found - the laundry (boiler) and my bedroom are on the same circuit as the wet socket.
I've put extension cables from the landing to run my electric blanket, radio and lamp, so will have some comfort.
It took a while to get the TV working again, but too cold to sit and watch for long, even with the fan heater going.

Lots of phone calls this morning, even a visitor, then a visit to church , where Maurice was erecting trees and the estate guy had promised to deliver the big tree, so I didn't get off to Solihull as early as I'd hoped, little time to shop.
I collected J and Th from school and cooked tea, then watched Flog It - did a deal with Th - he could use the wifi!
It was the sale at Bigwoods that G and I went to about three years ago, because some of our stuff was in the sale.
I didn't notice us, but J did and hovered over the offending images - quite a lot of them as it's a small saleroom.
Strange seeing G smiling and chatting away at/to me.

Off to a ice warm bed - blanket on overnight I think.         

A new beginning?

Relaxing by the fire after a hectic weekend - had to fill the log basket first, in the dark - bad planning!
A lovely evening with J and Th on Friday and a lie in until 8.00am.
Such a lovely, bright morning that we walked to the playground for a scamp around, taking in the village shop on the way, to buy eggs for the Christmas cakes for church - too tall an order for just two chickens to cope with!
We were cake making when P arrived, so I had to finish them off - turned out well.
I chased up the remainder of my Xmas tree sponsors then visited the Wedding Venue to explain that they had been overlooked, but needed a tree as all of the local hostelries were represented - I was well supported by the staff, many of whom I had taught.
Success!
A cup of tea with Jan and Chris then home to put my sermon on paper - that went well as well, just needed a little tweeking first thing this morning.

Day spent largely in one church or another - Communion at Sh, then on to take the service at NW, home to make scones then back to Sh to test the Xmas tree lights whilst K, M and Steve erected the trees - ten down, 16 to go.
They are beautiful trees, from Denmark, for some reason - the church looks and smells like a forest.
Fairy lustre to be added by the decorators later in the week.
I shall pop in tomorrow, but unable to do much until all of the trees are up, then busy manning the church for the decorators - cold up there.
I'm hoping to have a lazy few hours shopping - bells to decorate the Bellringers' tree, marzipan for the cakes......
Peter the Painter arrives at 8.30am - I 've almost cleared the dining room, carried family silver, etc into the lounge, most movable furniture upstairs and lived to tell the tale!
K will get the plastering done when it's stripped - it'll all work out, I'm sure.

Most exciting purchase of last week - a pair of Gabor, knee-length leather boots with heels - my first long boots since I was 19, to go with my maxi coat.
I need updating!
Any further suggestions?
 

Home again.

From my break in Denmark with W, MK and the boys - complimented by being described as
 "a luxury au pair" - relaxing and enjoyable, taking DK to Bernehave/nursery (the boys are teaching me Danish, everyone else having given up -not a natural linguist!), two hours exercise, walking / shopping or whatever , then back home for lunch, a little light housework, collect the boys, tea then prepare dinner.
I have actually navigated my way around Ringsted and its environs with some competence - a first.
I have even managed to shop in the supermarket - no problem with vegetables and fruit - they look the same, apart from technicolour carrots (presumably to give some variety as Danes eat carrots the way Brits eat tomato ketchup - no meal complete without), packeted goods are more of a challenge as are  "chocolate marcipan bars" - a bagful brought home!

P met me at BHX at 9.40am with a scrummy Xmas coffee and saw me safely ensconced.
Home was as I left it with just a few more molehills on the top lawn, more leaves down and honeysuckle in flower???
No plastering done, the decorator coming on Monday and a "ladies get-together" here on Wednesday - where to start without causing chaos?
I visited M & M to catch up, ordered the Xmas turkey, etc from the farm and tried to make sense of the next week.
30 Xmas trees to be delivered to church next Tuesday, to be stood in blocks and wired for light, in position ready for the open weekend on 7,8 December.
Where are the 29 sponsors?
Will the Estate deliver the BIG tree by then so it can be put up first?
Have the others done their bits?
Is someone doing the wiring up of the lights, or is it me?
How can we heat the church - wiring has failed??

Up and at it - contact tree sponsors then to Solihull to buy wallpaper for dining room from Laura Ashley - Morris is just too expensive, food shop then collect J & Th from school, for a sleepover.

No answers yet
 

Ringsted, by day and night.

Never a dull moment.
W went sailing yesterday morning despite the threat of little by way of wind.
I went to Holbaek with MK and the boys, to buy them winter boots.
A really pretty town on the coast, with the most amazing fish shop - cutlets of salmon smoked with a wide range of foods, from chili to haws plus so many different fresh fish varieties.
The outdoor shop was a hunters' paradise, an automated wild fowl plucker on offer on the counter amongst a plethora of unrecognisable hunting necessities, to say nothing of more boots than I could imagine.
J and DK were delighted with their boots and have worn them for every outing since.
we went to T and B for a family meal at tea time - delicious, roast pork followed by amazing baked apples stuffed with.....marzipan.
K and L's three little girls are all delightful.

Lazy day today, MK running whilst DK was at the gym, W to crossfit whilst I ironed - flexing my biceps from time to time to select the next shirt!
Big lunch , a good walk and tea.
I've since watched the Paleo U tubes and taken a vow to avoid all grains and dairy to combat the insulin highs that cause my fat cells to fill up - fin and fit for Christmas??

Tivoli by day.... and night

Another fun day with the family.
After taking DK to nursery, I went for a brisk walk around the town, trying out new routes.
I decided that I'm at last getting my bearings, after visiting for eight years.
I can just about decide which direction I need to be going in in order to reach important points on the map.ie home, J's school, nursery, Netto.....
This is a first for me.
Perhaps I am developing a bump of direction'.

Later DK and I were picked up by T, B, and J, who had been collected from school, to go to the Tivoli Gardens.
They looked wonderful, especially after a glass of Gluck, whilst the boys enjoyed a ride.
They had such a good time - beaming faces, alongside
We later met W for dinner at 'Mothers' - wonderful pizza.

Time for bed I woke up far too early This morning,

Copenhagen

For Christmas tree decorations.
The trees in all of the shops looked magnificent,especially Georg Jensen & Illums Bolighus?
I walked to the station after taking DK to. Nursery, bought my ticket, without any assistance - ticket machines & never En instructions when it matters here - and met T on the train.
We had a brilliant day, visiting the Palace, shopping, viewing the Christmas table decorations at Royal Copenhagen and drinking coffee.
We bought some decorations and made plans, based on those in the stores.
Expect white and glitter in both Sorø and Shustoke this Christmas!
We were met at the station by B and DK, then home for beer and dinner with the family.

TV here is not good.
I seem to have woken up ridiculously early and need some entertainment - perhaps this will send me back to sleep - it is often implied that it has that effect on others!

Hej

J is teaching me a little Danish, starting with words that look the same/are spelt the same in both languages.
I sense that he finds me a disappointing student, by way of both pronunciation and memory - languages have never been my strong suit!

I've had a gentle day - chat to aj before showering and dressing, whilst the frost cleared, then a walk around town and to the Outlet Centre.
Back home to organise dinner before going to collect J from school - he was watching a programme on TV, so I collected DK first, then we collected J, together, DK on his bike, me jogging to keep up.
After a snack, we walked to the gym, for J's class, then came home to complete the dinner.
Snacks consist of MK's rolls, made this morning, before work.
Delicious.
The roast pork - local farm reared organic slow-cooked, was amazing.

Copenhagen tomorrow with T to see the Christmas decorations and table settings at Royal Copenhagen.
Brill.

Saturday Night Fever.

I feel that I should be doing something more on a Saturday night than sitting by the fire, napping.
It is a cold night, I've been out all day and I'm tired, so perhaps it's not a bad option.
I've been at a Readers' Training Day in Edgbaston, all day - led by Bishop David, two workshops on communicating and a nice lunch - OK, but not earth shattering.
I drove home via Erdington to go to Dunelm Mill to buy a curtain pole for my bedroom - antique ivory -  a quote for parchment velvet curtains - £590!!!!
Joking!

No heating in church for 3 weeks - rewiring needed!

Just watched Antiques road Trip, from Lostwithiel - where Dad went to live, briefly - he used to buy books at the Auction house there.
Both teams made big losses - tight lot in Cornwall, or are they discerning?
 

Motorways!

Yesterday, the M40, today, the M42!!
I set off for Bicester to meet a friend for coffee, heard the traffic news shortly afterwards, then spent the next two and a half hours covering the 63 miles, largely on the A46, standing still, having taken evasive action, to no avail.
I had a great time with the family, bought a new heater, with help on the market research front from B, then came home this morning, in record time - M42 at a standstill!
I had a facial in Dorridge - met Ann whilst parking, so went for a chat afterwards,  coffee in Pret in Solihull, where I met a friend from KS, not seen for some years, then home for a bit of fish and salad before going to Jan's for an evening putting together the paperwork for the Christmas Tree Festival.
Talked out!
Electric blanket is brill!
 

Winter?

There was a hard frost last night, which made the garden and the yard look immaculate this morning - pleasing after the efforts of yesterday.
A busy day of indulgence  - meeting a friend for coffee at M&S, Ventura Park this morning, to catch up on news, which took a couple of coffees each and nearly two hours.
I returned the jeans, ordered over  the Internet as they were 2 inches shorter than the pair bought in the shop.
Their quality control is poor.
I tried others on but failed to find any that fitted well - disappointing.
On to JS and Argos, to buy an electric blanket - Dreamland intelligent - it turns on and off depending on body temperature, can stay on all night and costs only 1 p per night.
I hope that it lives up to expectations - 20 years since I used one, I love a warm bed!
A manicure this afternoon and toenails painted purple - wicked!
I did have to walk back to the car in my socks, then park close to the garage to avoid walking across too much of the gravel - should have taken sandals as shoes wreck toe nail polish.

Parish fund raising meeting here tonight so I made a lemon sponge for refreshments and a chocolate cake to take to Bicester tomorrow.
Another day of self indulgence!                                                  

Do I want a piglet?

I spent four hours this morning sweeping up wet leaves and acorns from the yard - I have never seen so many acorns as there are this year, some already rooted on the rockery.
Six barrow loads, added to the four barrow loads I collected before the monsoon!.
Then I cleaned out and moved the chickens.

That done, I had a shower to get clean and straighten my back, then to Coleshill to do some chores - I rewarded myself by booking a manicure and pedicure for tomorrow afternoon.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with Jan, planning the fund raising events for church, for next year.
So far we have
*Burns' night
*Table Sale
*Charles Hanson Valuation lunch
*Cream Teas, to coincide with the Griffin Beer Festival
*Wine and Cheese evening at a "Posh" venue - TBA.

Does anyone have any bright/new ideas??

I've just had my fish supper - chili salmon with stir fry vegetables, tomato and basil salad.
Bell ringing at 8.oopm, followed by a drink in the Griffin - trying to make the latter a tradition - I'm better at drinking than bell ringing - I don't even dribble! 

Diet advice.

Don't come home after an exercise class and eat stir fried vegetables with scallops, followed by fruit salad, unless you plan to sit up half the night whilst your digestive system deals with it.
Actually, I did accompany it with a mug of ovaltine light - perhaps that was the straw that broke the camels back.

This morning I did paperwork and phone calls, including Nespresso, to finally acknowledge that the milk frother heater was no longer functioning. ie, the milk stays cold, no froth.
I was told that an e mail would be sent, would I attach the receipt and send it back.
I asked if she meant me to use the post, she said, "you do have a smart phone, don't you?
You take a photo , attach it to the e mail, and send it back".
Right, that's sorted then.
I've arranged a training session for tomorrow!!

I had an enjoyable shop in Knowle and Solihull today, met Jan for lunch in Pret, then collected J & Th from school, cooked tea, then came home via JS fuel station and M&S food, for fish and vegetables.
I had  time just to empty the car and change into tracky bottoms and trainers, before salsaexercise - good exercise but the dancing is almost beyond me.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Phew!

I don't know where the end of the week disappeared to - I did a blog last night, then it also disappeared, apart from the last word - perhaps they are together in the ether, somewhere.
I am relaxing prior to going to Sh church to take evening Prayer, having taken the family service  this morning, followed by Morning Prayer at OW, where I managed to leave my sermon and intercessions (prayers), as  one of the older ladies had a turn after the service, and we were awaiting the paramedics.
She is alright - tests done...

I came home to lunch with B, E and family and AJ - a combined effort.
All have now gone home, I've looked at my e mails - yawn!!
I wanted to clean the windows as the sun is shining, making them look a mess - I overcame the urge!
I have a quiet week planned - must get organised ready for the decorator and plasterer - hopefully in reverse order, find a curtain rail and curtains for my bedroom, before the freeze.

Table Sale yesterday went well - £335 for the church, £115 on my vintage stall and a good time had by all.
I wish I'd bought a Sunday Telegraph!
 

Out to lunch!

Up early to make a cup of tea, when I took pity on the Dyson, dissected it and washed everything removable - filters, tools, etc.
Once in the mood, I put the washing machine on then vacuumed through, binning everything that looked out of place.
Unfortunately, the recycling bin fought back and tried to break my thumb by catching it between the tray and the lid.
Ouch.
Bleeding profusely - just the job when about to do the ironing.
Protected by kitchen roll I ironed everything in sight, then set about my e mails whilst eating a toasted tea cake and flat white coffee.

Whilst suffering the disappointment of no froth for a cappuccino, I phoned Nespresso - water reservoir rusting - new one to be dispatched, then the no froth problem.
I was told to put water in the milk frother, with a little detergent and run it, to remove any clag.
After mopping up the soap suds, I phoned back to say, no change.
They will collect and replace - have to have a cappuccino out tomorrow.

I had a good scrub up, skimpy dress and black tights, then off to Purley Chase Centre for a birthday lunch with  a good buffet and excellent company.
Home by tea time.

Time to relax and write a few letters before an Alms Houses/residents meeting in a very cold church,  a visit to the Shopping Evening in the Village Hall on the way home - £2 entrance, to include a glass of yucky English wine and local cheese.
 Nothing bought, but a few locals to chat to before home to settle down.
Tired, with a cut, bruised thumb but an immaculate Dyson and clean floors.

I found an NHS site and calculated by BMI - 24.5
I knew I was still fat!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 

Beware the chocolate!

I made dietary mistakes today - toast & nutella for breakfast, before a sprint into town and back, then a drive to Knowle.
Feeling peckish, I bought a Bakewell slice at my favourite bakers - Curtis's - it was awful, tasting of oil, so a bad result all round - calories and little pleasure.
I went on to Solihull looking forward to a coffee, but didn't have time as I stopped to buy a pair of shoes - electric blue with stunning heels - an impulse sale buy because they match my favourite dress - just need an invitation to dinner now!
I picked up Jessie and we went shopping for a curtain rail for my bedroom - failed -  whilst Th played football, then, had a drink in M&S - my coffee, at last!
We bought very chocolate biscuits to feed to Grandad when he returned with Th - we had to buy three packets - why do they do that?
I ate two with my tea, then three more from another packet, on the way home.
I didn't have time for dinner when I got in and went bell ringing, high as a kite.
I was useless, couldn't catch the sally & scared myself and Maurice to death, eventually giving up.
I've since eaten cheese, tomato and toast - still buzzing.

I want to calculate my BMI - think I'll have to go metric first.
I watched a "Bargain Hunt" from last week at the weekend - there was me, in red tee-shirt, looking skinny, right in the centre, with Jan - the day we went to Hanson's in July - the non-celebratory team.
I've been busy deleting things so that that programme will not be deleted before Jan has seen it.
15 seconds of fame! 
Scrub up in the morning - out for lunch.  

Why Guy Fawkes?

There have been a great many dirty deeds planned, which subsequently failed, so why do we remember Guy Fawkes above all others?
Unless you're British, you won't even know who Guy Fawkes is.
How about incinerating replicas of the 1984 Brighton bombers every year?
Perhaps there's more to GF than I'm aware of - my ignorance is immense.

  I'm relaxing after doing the schoolrun/walk with t & KP - the best part of the day, which went like clockwork....apart from T's shoes - what's a bit of dried mud anyway!
I'm about to walk into town before setting off for Solihull to collect J & Th from school.
In between, I'm planning to do a little light shopping with coffee at Pret, somewhere along the line.
The joys of retirement - sounds a pretty good day - the company of four grandchildren, shopping and coffee!
Bellringing, perhaps followed by a tonic water at the Griffin, this evening.
I am waiting for the rain to settle down a little - give it 5 minutes, at most.
 

Home again

I appear to have got up during the night and put another duvet on the bed, so I must have felt the chill at some point.
Just in case, I lit a fire in the lounge this evening.
A good move as a friend came round and we spent the evening chatting, over coffee, by the fire.

This morning I got up at a gentle pace, having written tomorrow's sermon - Zacchaeus, that very little man, who climbed up into a sycamore tree, the saviour so to see - I wore my new jeans, which feel perfect - a good fit all round, bought yesterday in exchange for the birthday flowers that M&S got so wrong, three times.
I got my exercise for the day by running to Jan's and then spending four hours walking around "Antiques for Everyone" at the NEC, with Chris.
He is a mine of information, especially on things oriental; I'm a mine of misinformation on everything.
I would have bought an 1820 whatnot to use as a bedside table, had it not been over £20000 - good to have a wish list, I guess - something to work towards.
It's great just to look at and feel these things - a learning process.

Back for coffee and a chat with Jan, so I wasn't home until tea time - wet, windy and almost dark but a great home-coming as there were two moles on the car bonnet.
Thank you Arthur .
Traps still set so I guess that there are more to come.

I cooked scallops & stir fry vegetables for dinner, followed by fresh stewed apricots with vanilla ice cream - it was delicious.
I now have to finish my sermon so that I have time to visit Sh church in the morning, before taking the service at NW.
Lots to do.

The leaves and acorns on the yard have blown to the sides like the parting of the Red Sea - should be easy to sweep up, if the wind ever drops.
 

Spooky!

Trick or treating with the family and friends - ten children dressed as witches, wizards, ghosts and ghouls - tramping the local streets to visit  and claim sweets from any house decorated for the occasion - lighted pumpkin lamps through to complete camouflage with cobwebs and spiders.
The children had a whale of a time, bagging small bucket fulls of goodies, even a home made cup cake each from one committed householder.
We chatted with other groups doing the rounds, before retiring to the pub for a quick drink, then home for dinner.
Halloween is a big celebration in these parts due to the American families that lived locally - a lot of effort put in by a good proportion of locals.
I've spent the day quietly, entertaining myself with catching up on mail, chatting on the phone,  drinking coffee,shopping, ironing and watching TV - at least two at a time - don't think I can't multitask!
Time for bed - an even busier day tomorrow!

Feeling Impish.

Up early this morning - cold and dark - as a day out in Lincoln in the offing - B due at a mtg at the power station at North Hykeham at 9.00am.
A rare treat to be welcomed with a cappaccino & toast when I came down, ready for the day and with an overnight bag packed.
It was a beautiful morning, bright and sunny with blue skies, the journey goes through some lovely countryside, despite the M6, M1 and A46.
We arrived in plenty of time at the end of the road, to find the road closed in our direction - the council upgrading after the power station is operational - I suppose they only had about 10 years notice!
It took another 15 minutes to drive around and access the site.
I abandoned B and drove into Lincoln, parked the car by the castle walls, at great expense and pottered into the cathedral and castle - only the outer sanctums of each as the castle wasn't yet open and I intended to return to the cathedral at noon for the service.
Down the long steep hill to the town, in and out of shops, to coffee and a scone at M&S.
That must be the steepest pedestrian hill in the country, if not the universe!
I failed to buy any new jeans - all the wrong width, shape or length - I will have to try elsewhere.
What is the world coming to?
Back up the hill - didn't stop once - into the car and off to find B.
We shopped en route home and have just enjoyed a delicious M&S Indian meal - highly recommended!
Watching the "Great British bake Off - Masterclass" - how many calories do they manage to get into one dish?
Our dinner seems quite abstemious in comparison

How clean is your house?

A lot cleaner than it was yesterday!
J & Th came mid-morning; as the sun was shining I was tempted to sweep up the 2.2 million acorns on the yard and barrow them to the top of the field, but decided to spoil myself and so polished and vacuumed downstairs instead - didn't get as far as the scullery, porch and laundry.
I did quite enjoy it, which is pretty sad in itself, but I am delighted with the outcome - neat , clean and tidy with paperwork sorted, rubbish out, even the dustbin emptied.
After lunch we walked/cycled/scooted to the village shop to sort out a planning letter from the land registry with the chair of the PC and buy milk, then on to the playground for a scamper round for half an hour.
Home to make a chocolate cheesecake - lots of crushing, stirring and melting, then baking.
Boiled eggs and scotch pancakes for tea, then story writing until P came.
I went to BHX to collect Ben, home for dinner then, to my shame, a nap on the settee - I woke up too early this morning, then I have to do the calculation re BST to check whether it is too early.
I do need to wake early tomorrow, so hope that BST change is in my favour.
B's changed the clocks that baffle me by having no visible nobs.

What storm?

A great deal of water lying about this morning, but quiet& still - no sign of the threatened storm.
So much for having an early night with a Benedictine (liqueur, not monk!) in order to sleep through the turmoil.
I did sleep until 6.00am (7.00am really) which was good.
The house was really warm as the clock on the boiler needs changing.
How?
I'm sure that someone will visit and sort it and the bedroom clock - I can't find any means of adjustment.
I released the chickens then went back to bed, chatted on the phone & looked through the papers from Saturday.
The bank phoned to apologise and give me £100 for a couple of failings that had caused me grave concern - not bad without getting out of bed!
When I did eventually start the day, I ran to Jan's to do some paperwork for a couple of hours.
Home for a cheese sandwich, visits by two friends, Jane to invite me to her birthday lunch, John, to collect a chicken pen and offer to update my chickens  - no way, these talk to me now.
I managed to get the paperwork done before going to salsaexercise at 7.30pm - a laugh a minute, as usual.
I can cope with the exercise bit but the mambo/foot crossing/twirling and knees upping leaves me giddy at best, falling about laughing at worst - the final session of dancing leaves the instructor falling about laughing - I think that he does try to take us seriously.
Home for an avocado, e mails & staying up too late - the heating went off an hour early, must get the clock put right.
J and Th tomorrow so up early.

What did you do with your extra hour?

I woke early - 6.00am, but really only 5.00am, read some of yesterday's Telegraph then cleaned the bathroom, before getting up.
Beat that.
I've since been to church, had coffee & caught up a little more on the papers, whilst watching TV & waiting for the showers to stop -  I have about four barrow loads of acorns to sweep up on the yard, before the floods come tomorrow - hopefully the leaves will blow away, the acorns........
The exercise will do me good.
Out this evening so I need to keep clean or leave time to shower again.

The Barn Dance last night was great fun & great exercise - a good mix of ages, from 5 to 80, with a smattering of young farmers, the floor full all evening, apart from supper time - ploughman's supper, locally sourced! (Morrisons, Coleshill)
We covered our costs, which are high for a caller & band.

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary - the third spent apart.
On two occasions g has been diving.
Today he's in Boscombe, no doubt planning yet another trip to Thailand.
A sad day.   

Bats alive!

Yesterday I was woken before 8.00am by a phone call from the gas engineer, coming to service the boiler, arriving shortly - the evils of staying up until the early hours!
Presumably he did a grand job, recommended a magnetic filter  (£355) to be fitted to remove sludge from the system & a CO detector in the laundry (£30)?????
Jan came for coffee & a giggle which we then shared with Marion from Plumbs - measuring the settees for loose covers & choosing fabrics.
Are loose covers comparable with recovering?
I'll have a quote for recovering before making a decision - have to be soon, before the covers fall off altogether.
A trip to the Mill for bird food - more expensive to feed the wild birds than the chickens - then no more diversions to be found, I mowed the lawns.
This was hard work as the bin filled so quickly with leaves & acorns as well as grass.
It was dark by the time a flat tyre caused me to call it a day - outside lawns not quite finished.
Bother.
I'll get the tyre sorted & the mower serviced next week & finish the mowing with the little mower.
That'll be it for 2013!

A bath, a fillet steak & salad completed the day, whilst catching up with Doc Martin on TV - they've made him such a grumpy old doc with some mental imbalance this series, certainly not fit for purpose  as a husband or a doctor.
Shame, he was so nice - I hope they sort him out in the next series.

Presently watching CBBs with J & Th whilst the lunch cooks - house full of bats, ghosts, ghouls ; spiders already - paper everywhere.
Pumpkins to carve after lunch!
We watched the mole tunnelling this morning, just outside the conservatory - a rare site.

Thanks, Pret!

Two highlights of the day - Th's school harvest Service , produced by their brilliant music teacher -  delightful as ever, followed by a wonderful lunch in Pret a Manger, a gift !
The assistant said "have this on me", when I went to pay - apparently they give a meal away each day to a customer they like. I was really touched - it made it taste even better than usual.

 AJ & I returned yesterday from a long weekend in Richmond, staying with aj's son & girlfriend, in their lovely cottage, minutes from the park.
They took us out for an Italian lunch on Saturday, with little Harry, six. We then pottered around the shops before home for tea.
Aj & I babysat, or more accurately, maintained a presence whilst Harry slept & P & N went to a party.

On Sunday we ventured out in torrential rain to meet up with Tim, Rachel & Dick for a scrummy , late lunch somewhere in the countryside.
By the time we had finished eating the car park was under water but the sun had come out.

On Monday aj & I did Richmond, both sides of he bridge, stopping for coffee at M&S, then back to prepare a meal whilst aj ironed a dozen or so shirts.
We're better at domestic chores than shopping!

We came home on Tuesday, stopping off at Bicester for coffee & a potter around the village & town..
We found B at home when we stopped off to deliver a box of biscuits, so had a nice cup of tea & a biscuit before collecting T & KP for a cuddle & a chat, before we left for home.

This morning I collected Barbara for Th's  Harvest Service, then we went back for coffee, taking a senior citizen gift box for Adrian, Barbara & I being far too young to be mistaken for senior citizens.
We put the world to rights for an hour or so before I went in to Solihull, then home via Knowle.

I'm hoping to do some tidying up in the garden tomorrow - barrow loads of acorns, tons of leaves & ten molehills on the lawn - a good day is forecast, the only one for a while.
      

Viking invasion ended.

Sadly.
W, Mk & the boys left after lunch for Manchester Airport - they arrived home  an hour or so ago, to recoup in time for work/school/nursery on Monday.
W & MK took over the kitchen/catering for most of the week as they follow a Paleo diet, relaxed somewhat when here - a rare treat to be cooked for, even the shopping done as I'm not trusted to get it right.
Morrisons does have it's limitations!

W made gluten free pancakes for breakfast - a triumph with damson jam & cream or nutella.
Mk made a wonderful lunch of all of the food still in the fridge - hot & cold salads, meats, sausages & cheeses, with freshly made GF bread.

We did some jobs, played football & it was time to go.
I left shortly afterwards to collect J & Th from school - this necessitated running half the way from P & A's to school, by the time I'd managed to extricate the key from the front door.
Home before 7.00pm for supper with aj.
I've spent too long using the laptop since then - awaiting a letter that hasn't yet arrived.

Half term.

We had a lovely family day today - a walk around the reservoir in the sunshine - we walked, J & DK ran, then sat surrounded by ducks & geese, whilst we caught up.
We were home for lunch, followed by further building work to the cardboard bat house, whilst I went to the hairdressers.
The boys had a good scamp around the garden, venturing into the field to glean  a bucketful of potatoes.
The mud will wash off - boys & tubers!

We cooked a very special cottage pie  for dinner , which well deserved a nice bottle of wine.
Aj arrived in time to partake; we  then had a mini firework celebration to give J & DK  the opportunity to recognise Guy Fawkes night, strangely overlooked by the Danes!

The Bible discussion group took place, as planned, followed by tea & lemon cake & chat.

I have the dress & shoes ready for the weekend, only the manicure & packing to get done tomorrow.

Hi, I'm back!

My blog imploded today - my fault, I'm sure.
All of this stuff is a total mystery to me - I'm always surprised & delighted that it does work.
When anything goes wrong I turn the modem off, then back on.
If that doesn't work, I get upset, then phone a friend.
Presently W, MK & family are staying, all of whom are more competent than I am; W has saved the day!

J & I have had a fun day together, watching CBBs, to Coleshill to shop for lunch & dinner, picnic lunch on a rug in the lounge, scooting to the reservoir to feed the very appreciative ducks, baking a malteser cake & making a bat cage out of a collection of boxes, as a finale.
I prepared dinner - salmon joint with parmentier potatoes & stir fry vegetables, then picked up Keith for an Alms Houses trustees meeting at the Rectory - no wonder I'm tired!

We bought some fireworks  for a celebration tomorrow - it being Thursday & aj will be joining us, to the boys' delight - a large cascade & a sparkler each!
I hope the rain stops.
I'm watching a recording of today's "Flog It".
Paul Martin with shaggy hair, looking about 40, rather than his more usual 56, wearing a cord jacket that he has since grown into.
Bedtime - I hope to sleep beyond 4.00am, having done enough thinking for the time being.
 

Shop till the spirits drop.

No failures with the security system today, which is an improvement on yesterday.
No disappointed family members out in the cold to avoid the siren, given a key but no info regarding the alarm.
Today we went to Solihull as the Danish side of the family clothes shop whilst here as the prices are much lower & children's clothes also carry VAT in Denmark.
Even so, the children over there always look very stylish - especially my grandchildren, who gave a fashion show, had a bath, whilst undressed, & are now awaiting a meal.
I'm tired, not helped by a glass of wine before the meal.

I have just postponed the Charles Hanson valuation Lunch, planned for the end of the month; his PA phoned yesterday to say that he has cancer & starts chemotherapy next Tuesday.
We are hoping to hold this in the spring, when he is hale & hearty again.
Please remember him in your thoughts and/or prayers. 

Bottoms Up!

I bought a charming little tankard with a figure hanging over the rim, by Weetman pottery with the slogan  "Bottoms Up", written on the side, in a charity shop in Bicester today.
made in the fifties, I think, that's all I know.
I was on my way to M&S to buy an Indian meal for this evening - that was very good as well.
W, MK, J & DK are here for a week, which is great - the boys sparkle - they are excellent house guests.
We all went to Bicester yesterday - they went for lunch, I went in the evening as I had Family Service to take at 10.00am & Evening Prayer at 6.00pm, with a friend for tea sometime in between.
The grandchildren had a whale of a time together, turning T's bedroom into a dorm for the night.
This morning J went to school with KP & had the girls fighting over who should sit next to him - inherited his father's charm!
It rained all day yesterday, it has rained much of today & the yard is flooded, but is not too cold, just damp.
We should have had a fire tonight had I filled the log basket before the rain came.

Chief regret of the day - forgetting to tell W & MK about the burglar alarm - they arrived home from Bicester half an hour before me & were in the drive to avoid the noise (DK does an excellent imitation of the siren now) & to reassure the visiting neighbours

  

Glowing!

That's the house & owner.
Peter finished the decorating yesterday - it all looks fantastic - the grubbiness creeps up on you slowly & you don't realise just how grubby things are until you start afresh.
He's coming back again in a few weeks to finish the downstairs.
I'm still in my bedroom, admiring the results & with furniture rearranged so that it works better.
The family are arriving later today; I have the quandary of whether to try & move the heavy furniture back so all is done or leave it & let w help me later - some of it is really big!
I can manage, but it's a struggle.
I have tomorrow's sermon & Family Service to get down on paper yet.
Where shall I start & can I fit in a visit to the hairdresser?
Does he have an appointment anyway??
Decisions, decisions......

I have to decide on a new curtain pole & curtains for the bedroom & a lounge suite & then decide if I really can afford it all.
I have decided that the pole should be fancy & metal - decision made there as Peter sawed the other one in half to make it fit in the dustbin, the curtains should be pale & velvet, & the suite.....tartan.
I may even have seen the fabric - amazing & will look so good with the panelling.
Comments welcome.

Yesterday spent shopping, cleaning things & putting them back - lots still to do - photos on the hall walls, clocks, etc,.
I helped set out the harvest supper, prepared a quiz for the tables with ads for our forthcoming events & went to church to print off, showered changed & back to enjoy the aforementioned event.
Food was great & company was good - I ate more than I've eaten all week!
A first - I was told that "a whippet like me didn't have to worry about what I ate"
Never been called a whippet before, but I was wearing a slinky dress, which may have helped.
Lots of requests for my diet - a bit drastic for most, I suspect.

Not as chilly as it looks from indoors - 10 degrees when I released the chickens first thing, but damp, grey & leaves everywhere - about typical for mid October, I guess.
I filled the feeder & put clean hay in the laying box so perhaps the chickens will reward me with an egg apiece today - they have the pastry ends from a number of slab pork pies as their treat.
beat that!
I was tol

Ten years younger.

I am sitting here glowing, having had a wonderful facial & massage at the Skincare Spa in Dorridge at lunchtime., courtesy of a Travelzoo deal, hence a bargain, to boot.
It was a great experience - soothing & relaxing.
The last massage I had was in Vietnam on 23 May last year - today's was much more relaxing, I kept more clothes on & I wasn't offered sex at the end of it - much more to my liking really.

I was up early as Peter the painter arrives before 8.00am.
I spent an hour cleaning the church, came home to change then went to Knowle for a potter, then on to Dorridge to the spa, then spent a couple of hours in Solihull, starting with a delicious baguette & coffee in Pret.
I looked at curtain samples, but have to see the bigger picture; I fancy a soft sage green.
as I'm planning a new suite, I suppose I should choose that first.
Sitting in the lounge, or "drawing room",  as Dad called it, devoid of anything but the basics, I can see the suite in a new light & I don't like it - perhaps I never did.

The chickens are doing well - let out for the first time since replacement 3 arrived.
both in the box tonight & two eggs again today - I ate them for my tea, poached!
I walked around the village, putting up posters on the village noticeboard & in The Plough, delivering fliers to 30 houses, selected by likelihood to be interested in the forthcoming events or accessibility of letterbox, in the dark.

It feels like bedtime but I must clean the lounge so that Peter can put the hooks back in for the pictures, tomorrow morning.
he measures before taking them out & knows exactly where they go.
Amazing!  

Summer palace

The decorating's coming on a pace - my bedroom is "Summer Palace" by Laura Ashley - bedroom done, dressing room lined, painted so will be completed tomorrow - it looks brilliant - hall & landing started.
I have to find curtains to finish off the lounge & bedroom- those taken down have been up for over twenty years so are due for replacement - you only notice the faded streaks when the curtains come down.
Nearest Dunelm Mill needed for velvet curtains, to keep out the cold.
Any better ideas?

I spent far too long this morning trying to register for Royal mail shares on line, gave up  &picked blackberries & gleaned potatoes from the edges of the adjoining field whilst the grass dried out, then spent 4 hours mowing the lawns this afternoon, finishing in near darkness at 7.00pm.
Hopefully, this will be the last cut of the year so I was keen for it to be well done - apart from grass, I collected lots of leaves so it was easy to see where I'd mown, even in failing light.

I did have a second try at the Royal Mail shares later, with success!!
Have to wait & see now.

I had a much needed bath after the mowing, then off to bell ringing - not too bad this time, but slow progress, it seems.
I did manage to leave my handbag, with car key, in the ringing chamber, not realising until all was locked up - oh dear.
It was retrieved by a good Samaritan!
About time for bed - treats laid on for tomorrow - more later.

Indian Summer

and forecast to last for another day before the autumn arrives, on Wednesday.
Tomorrow I plan to mow the lawns & then put the mower to bed for the winter - I managed to start the little mower yesterday & mow a double strip around the edges & round the trees, which should make life a lot easier.
B mended the little mower - the cable had worn through where it came from under the casing, & so shorting.

A busy weekend, catching up after a week of Granny duties in Bicester & Solihull - all great fun.
The decorator had been in all week - lounge looking wonderful, but curtains needed.
He finished my bedroom today - it looks amazing - better than I could ever have dreamt.
The dressing room still to do, then the hall, stairs & landing & downstairs loo - should be done by Friday ready for the family to arrive on Saturday.

Yesterday I went to church at Sh, took the service at BW, had coffee with Jan then mowed for a while, made a couple of visits & collected a chicken from the farm - a chicken died whilst I was away - I warned them about going across the road, but they wouldn't listen!
A short life but a happy one!

Today I've played tennis, put up posters for the Barn Dance, Charles Hanson lunch & Entrepreneurs sale, tried to use my 20% off voucher at M&S, but failed as there was nothing I wanted, then collected J & th from school, tea, football & lego.
Home for a quick tea & salsaexercise class.

I heard part of "Museum of curiosities" on radio 4 at 6.30pm
It was brilliant - an anthropologist comparing man with apes, brilliantly - do catch it on I player  if you can.
Time for bed - two short nights, too much to think about & e mails to compose.
I need a holiday!
 

Good friday.

Friday was a good day, starting in Bicester, with T coming in for a chat at 6.15am, joined shortly afterwards by KP;, ending in Solihull, watching "Father Ted", having put J & Th to bed.
T & KP had a race getting dressed which T won - tights take more time to put on than socks!
T then played his clarinet for 15 minutes  - pretty well, by my judgement - a good way to wake everyone else up!

There was a charming Key Stage 2 Harvest assembly, with great singing, poems & presentations.
I visited Bicester Village & tried on a few dresses in Hobbs - they didn't do anything for me, so I settled for coffee & a sandwich at Pret, before setting off, eventually, for Solihull.
I pottered around the shops along the Stratford road for a while, in the pouring rain - too little time to go to Solihull & too early for school.
By the time we arrived home we were all pretty wet, but cheerful.
Lego is the choice of the week - T was particularly pleased with his leisure centre, especially the toilet, complete with "sitter".
After tea, time with mum & "You've been Framed" ........ bedtime .
Th was asleep within minutes, J read, briefly & I did some reading & thinking about Sunday's sermon.
I wonder how many channels you must have in order to find a programme that you want to watch, as opposed to watching the least awful.
Even "Have I got news for you" was disappointing - it has a team of scriptwriters - very obvious, on occasion.
"Father Ted" was good - stands the test of time.
Home late, lots of stuff to bring in from the car & a pile of mail I should have left until the morning.


 

Oxford was beautiful - the sun was shining & it was quiet with just a busker or two, sand artists modelling sleeping dogs, alongside the itinerants with their real sleeping dogs.
I pottered around the centre, main streets & side streets, as far as Christ Church College, walked around the gardens & had coffee in Pret before catching the bus back & speed walking back from town to collect T & KP from school.
We cooked chicken curry & made fruit salad for tea before KP was collected for Beavers, which she loves.
T & I visited Tesco!!!! to choose a special lunch for today - his school trip to Silgrave Manor(?)
Home, KP & so to bed then dinner in peace.

Today Kate came to clean, whilst I ironed, then I took three family photos to the framers so they will be ready to hang in the hall, which may have been decorated by now.
My planned visit to Bicester Village didn't happen - I lost the will somewhere, visited M& S Food & came home for coffee & some lunch.
I intended to mow the back lawn afterwards, but it rained hard whilst I had my lunch, so that didn't work either - I chilled for half an hour before B came home & we collected KP - T at digital leaders, to collect later.
B & E are having an evening at the theatre - TKP & I visited BCC - a local school - their Open Evening for potential year 7 students .
A newly appointed head to get them out of special measures, much improved, apparently.
We arrived early & had a look around for half an hour before the rather too long & tedious presentation - a DVD of the school, which we were about to see in the flesh, followed by EIGHT students telling us, in turn, what a wonderful school it was.
No criticisms at all - perfect!

Home for cocoa & bed!

Gleaming Spires.

Can anyone explain why last week's blog "Phew Again" has now had over 80 hits?
Did I unwittingly use any dodgy phrases?

Anyway, back to the more mundane for my usual readership.
I'm in Bicester this week picking up T & Kp from school & doing the myriad (exaggeration!) of clubs & after school activities - they tire me & I only do the transport.
They have been great fun as usual - never a dull moment.
T has a time issue - he insists on being very early for everything, especially school - not usually a family failing!

I played tennis on Monday morning before setting off - the decorator is in - he is brilliant so I know that I shall be delighted with the make-over, when I get home.
Yesterday I made damson jam, speed walked into town & pottered around for a couple of hours before picking up T & KP.
We made damson jam buns (delicious) - they are very good helpers in the kitchen, whilst the tea cooked, then off to cubs & gym.

Today I'm planning a trip to Oxford on the S5 - another speed walk into town for the bus.
Never a dull moment!

Love.

A fantastic "Point of View" by A L Kennedy on radio 4 this morning, on "love".
So, who is A L Kennedy anyway?
A deep female voice, or it could have been male??

A busy couple of days, B here on Friday, which was brilliant - loads of little niggling jobs/problems just swept away - small mower going (cable snagged by casing), clocks put right, furniture moved ready for the decorator, even a cappuccino in Pret, with a brownie.
I shopped on the way home, after picking up J & Th from school, tea, etc, as M&S have thoughtfully opened a new food shop at Monkspath, which can be on my way home - brilliant.
It even has a café, if I need a break after the shopping.
I was up ridiculously early yesterday - sometimes you just have to admit that you're not going to get back to sleep & activity may be a better option than lying awake, pondering - I cleared the remainder of things out of the bedroom, so now only the lounge to clear - furniture to the middle & move the ornaments, panelling to shoulder height, so no long pieces of wallpaper to manoeuvre!
Photos to take down in the hall & top off the grandfather clock, I guess - this evening as the family are coming to lunch.

I had friends to dinner last night - 7.00pm, by request as PT has jet lag, but they arrived at 7.30pm!
The salmon was a little overcooked, but the Eton mess with blackberries & gin, marbled with damson puree, was well received - I'd looked up damson recipes to accompany the fruit, given to folk, as there are better things than jam!
This year they are particularly good - large & sweet & an enormous crop.

I shall make a quick visit to church to take some notices, then leave shortly afterwards as the chicken needs to go on at 10.45am & no timer on the cooker - I'm not taking the service, so it won't be very obvious!


 

A nice day out.

A uter at all yesterday - how did I manage - I guess that I had a lot more time to do other things as once logged on the time seems to fly.
Technology is getting it's own back on me today by my btinternet account not recognising my password.
I've just give in & try again this evening.
Why would it do that?

Yesterday I was up very early to make cakes, then played tennis for a couple of hours, home to shower, fill the cakes - jam & buttercream Victoria sandwiches - take one to friends who need something nice & then on to MG & Bicester, laden with apples & damsons.
I did put the bags in a large bucket, to prevent spillage, which worked as far as MG!
I picked up T & KP from school & they helped to retrieve their damsons from every quarter of the boot.  
Life never goes quite according to plan, so I am finding.

We collected a  KP sweatshirt from a shop, dined on sausages, apples & sponge cake before KP was collected, T & I went for a lounge in Pret a Manger pure decadence!

I've done the school run & planned a day, involving a tootle around Bicester before the journey home - a meeting tonight if we have a quorum  - I can't find out until I can access my e mails!
A bit of a vicious circle!

I'm reading a wierd book about a strange guy in New Orleans, written in the 60's by a wierd guy in New Orleans, who committed suicide when he couldn't find a publisher; his mother found a publisher, posthumously!
The blurb says that it's ....."nothing less than a grand comic fugue".
Perhaps I misunderstood the word "fugue" - "A Confederacy of Dunces" - I'm unconvinced by the first three chapters

I'm sitting on the seat under T's bunk - it's backbreaking!

Phew, again.

I've achieved a lot today without seeming to have been busy.
I had a soak in the bath - bad planning really as I was going in the garden, then free until 8.00pm for bell ringing at church.
getting there is a slow process today as some thieving, thoughtless morons stole the electricity cable from along the main road so workmen have been there all day - long distance, slow traffic lights - they were still working when I came home at 9.30pm.

I picked the apples & a bucket full of damsons - these are large, sweet & delicious, obviously liked the weather.
The branches of the damson trees are so heavily laden that they are hanging down to the ground  - a bit dodgy to mow under as they attack you as you go under them & fall down your back/get squashed on the mower seat.
I've downloaded recipes, which I will deliver to the offspring, along with a big bag of damsons. Damson & blackberry mess with gin sounds good - I'll try it on Saturday as I have some "gourmet" guests for dinner.

I had a cappuccino & a good natter with Jan, made scones 7 took some to Muriel in OW.
She is 90 & comes "home" for a couple of weeks every so often - she is amazingly with it & loves laughing about the things we got up to in church in the past.

I came home to garden - the rockery, lawn edges & most of the border at the top of the garden, at long last.
I had a tidy up, cleaned out the chickens (pooh) & then had a shower & a sandwich before bell ringing.
All good fun & keeps me fit - I need to have a bonfire  - not sure where the smoke goes when there's no wind.

I listened to Ed's speech - not all of it as I didn't have a vomit bowl to hand!

Phew!
I played three sets of tennis this morning, despite drizzly weather when we started, it did dry up as time went on & we did enjoy it - I won all of my sets, despite shortcomings, having not played for a couple of weeks.
We always feel good for the fresh air & exercise.
I had an hour before needing to go to Solihull to collect j & Th from school - I think I may have spent this time eating!
Why is it that some days you don't care about food & other days you feel hungry all the time?
I had a slice of rye bread & salmon mousse - I fetched a handful of tomatoes & found I'd eaten them all before I got to my plate.

I made up for the gluttony by parking at P & A's & jogging most of the way to J's school, then speed walking to Th's school - J walks really fast as well.
We chatted, had tea then watched "Pointless", to see if we could answer the questions - we did get a few.
I came home , had a few minutes to close curtains & put the chickens to bed, before dashing out to collect Jan, & so to salsaexercise - one & a half hours of exercise, ending with salsa dancing.
great exercise - I'm not good at the dancing bit, but it's all great fun - we spend a lot of the time laughing, especially when doing the cross-over feet bit, combined with a turn!
A day off tomorrow - lots of jobs to do, outside.