Clickety click!

W senior has reached that ripe old age today, living in USA with wife 3 and their 4 year old daughter and a third career to occupy him - congratulations.
This makes me seem very staid, still living in the family home with chickens for company and enjoying life as a granny.
I spent today buying a new double bed to complete the transformation of the study into my "winter quarters" - decorated, carpeted and complete when the bed is delivered on 21 Jan.
I have to buy a white valance before then and will disappoint T and KP, as I promised that they could sleep in the new bed tonight, not realising they were made to order.
It's a "Sealy".
The salesman at Dreams assured me that Barak Obama slept in one - possibly a higher spec!

Today has been cold but bright and sunny all day - the frost remained here all day.
I went into town - the first time in at least a couple of years - parked at Lee Longlands and enjoyed walking into town and along the canal and drinking coffee.
No purchases made.
 

Boxing Day +1

Three relaxing days with the family and Sunday still to come.
Brilliant!
Christmas Day with P, A, J and Th - champagne, lovely presents, a traditional lunch and games at the table until tea-time.
Yesterday I went to Bicester to see "Cinderella" at Aylesbury, with B, E  and extended family - a sparkling performance, slightly let down by Russell Grant.
Back to Bicester for dinner and a sleepover then  a day with the family before returning home this evening, in case of snow tonight.
Today, I ate too much!
Sitting here watching a recording of Sherlock Holmes and having checked my lottery tickets (useless) I begin to wish that I'd agreed to stay for another night in Bicester

Nearly there.

That magical moment when you know that you have Christmas in the bag and can relax, came yesterday afternoon.
I'm now into enjoying Christmas
I went to Bicester on Tuesday to see the family and take the presents - wonderful.
After a sleepover, I came back yesterday lunchtime, stopping off in Solihull to buy the Christmas lunch and a few odds and ends.
A successful mission - let M&S take the strain!
J and C came to dinner to share a Waitrose "Indian", which was delicious, but gave rise to a disturbed night of indigestion, during which I spent a couple of hours catching up on e mails.
Today I've been on a long walk, including visiting friends to deliver cards and presents in Shustoke and Whitacre.
I've finished wrapping the presents, put more baubles on the tree and laid the table for Christmas lunch. I have to ice the cake whilst cooking fish for dinner then stay awake  for Midnight Communion at 11.30pm.
I shall come home and open a couple of presents before bed.

I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Christmas Trees over and out!

Having spent the last three Sundays, and one Saturday, at church, welcoming and serving teas to visitors to the Christmas Tree Festival,, we finished this afternoon, packed up the remaining cakes and mince pies and came home, leaving the trees lit up, ready for the carol Service at 6.30pm.
I decided that I'd spent sufficient time at Shustoke church and went to Lichfield Cathedral to the service of 9 lessons and carols.
It was brilliant, wonderful choir and readers and shook hands with the Dean and the Bishop on the way out.
Beat that.

Yesterday I had a day out with Jan - we went to Studley, Alcester and Warwick, visiting the charity and antique shops and drinking coffee - great fun, lots of chatting and laughing, which did us the world of good.
I got home at about 6.00pm, then went into work mode, vacuuming everywhere, starting with the new carpet that was laid in the back bedroom that morning - looks great.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Is there a Valuer out there?

It would appear that there are three main elements for a successful valuation Day:
a valuer
a venue
punters with objects to be valued.
Unfortunately, we fell at the first hurdle today, as Charles Hanson phoned early this morning to say that he was unwell - he had a bad cold and little voice -  and would I mind if he sent a colleague in his place.
An hour later he phoned to say that they were all ill and no-one was available - we visited the auction on Friday and two of the auctioneers were sorely afflicted with colds and voice problems.
The two of us who were running it spent the next hour standing in the cold by the Hall gateway, apologising to visitors and visiting locals who we knew were intending to come.
one friend e mailed  my events list (70 people) and another put the cancellation on Facebook.
Outcome: no aggravation and not too many visitors.
Charles promises an extravaganza in the spring.

Anyway, with the little time freed up, I now have the outdoor lights up, the conservatory cleaned and the tree up, awaiting decoration and some housework and ironing done.
I went to Solihull late night shopping with a friend and had dinner in Jimmy Spices - happy hour or two until 7.00pm, meals £11.99.
Where else can you get that many calories in such variety for that much?
What am I doing up at this ridiculous hour when I have clean 420tc sheets on a hot bed waiting?
 

The many delights of Laura Ashley!

Having had a great response to my last blog, I decided that the title was a good one, so have used it again, with minor changes, to reflect today's activities.
Today was the last J and Th pick up day before Xmas, just J actually, as Th went home with a friend then back to football practice.
I left home early to visit Dorridge for a facial - a rare treat - my first visit since the new JS opened.
This replaces the sad old shopping precinct, has a roof car park and underground shop with a rather strange smell.
The car park's good and even has an attendant to direct you to a space.
I seemed to have lost the plot after that as I wandered around Solihull for a couple of hours, failing to buy anything off my list.
I was saved by Laura Ashley in Homebase at Monkspath  on the way home - I stopped off to buy some Xmas tree baubles, having used all of mine on the trees at church.
I bought wonderful baubles along with lots of other brilliant things that I wouldn't have thought of.

Charles Hanson returns tomorrow for a Valuation day in the Parish Hall - tea, coffee and biscuits bought, raffle prizes ready, just the tables and chairs to put out, in the morning and hope that the punters turn up. 

The many delights of Llandrindrod Wells.

I've just spent a great couple of days in Powys with  a friend, courtesy of a Travelzoo deal at The Hotel Metropole in Llandrindod Wells.
The hotel was first class - big beautiful room with supersized bed, en suite with bath and shower, lovely swimming pool and gym, big airy lounge and bright dining room with good acoustics and couples away from Xmas parties.
We had an excellent 6 course taster meal which included a fillet steak, local produce, including some grown in the grounds, and a glass of bubbly.
Breakfast was equally good and the staff were really good.

We stopped in Leominster on the way down and pottered around the antique shops before coffee and cake, then on to LW and a swim before dinner.
Yesterday we had an early morning swim before breakfast, then pottered around the town, visited Holy Trinity church - the largest church in Wales, warm and fascinating before going on to Builth Wells for coffee, then on to Ludlow for afternoon tea before driving home.
One highlight on Wed was finding the place where we used to holiday when we were teenagers and older - Llanavon Fawr, near Newbridge.
The last time we were there, B was a baby, aj and family visited in Dad's motorhome - hot weather and we picnicked by a nearby stream with the children - aj expecting T?
The little cottage has been replaced by a modern house, the road has been straightened and widened, but the old farm remains at the top of thee hill
In the evening it would open the front room as the local pub - The Red Lion - we would sit on the wall and drink cider or play darts inside.
Now it is a proper, full time pub - "The oldest in Powys"
We would have loved to have dinner - Wed is steak night - but decided that the drive home would be too arduous after dinner.

I wrapped the first Xmas presents before I left - parcel dispatched to Denmark on time.

I'm listening to Woman's Hour - a Danish Xmas - amazement that Danes sing carols around the Xmas tree on Xmas Eve - all recipes on the WH website. 

The second Christmas cake.

and some of this one left.
Up early again this morning to ice the second Christmas cake and then make a couple of dozen fairy cakes with the remaining egg yolks, iced with the remaining royal icing and topped off with red and green Smarties - all done in time to attend communion at Shustoke at 9.30am before going to NW to take the service.
Cakes all out for the congregation at Sh to enjoy after the service, topped up again for the rest of the day.
We had a good number of visitors to see the Xmas trees again today, met lots of nice people and served lots of cups of tea and cakes.
The trees were greatly admired - I was particularly pleased with the one for AH - metalworker - decorated with silver spanners, paintbrushes and toy cars, with a welders glove on the top.
He visited with his family yesterday and was "tickled pink".
We are planning to stay open and serve teas on the Sunday afternoons until Xmas.

Home by 4.30pm, O arrived for a chat just in time for G and Ts in front of the fire, where I have stayed ever since.
Watched "Strictly" - fancy Pixie Lott going out - definitely the winner, I thought.
Thank goodness that "Missing" has finished - I'll certainly not miss it - unbelievable gobblydigook!
 

The first Christmas cake.

I made two Christmas cakes yesterday to serve at church this weekend during the Xmas Tree festival
I was up to marzipan and ice one of them, early this morning - no time  and insufficient marzipan to do both.
We have been at church all day, after a quick trip to Coleshill to buy stolen, panetone and chocolate logs - no time to make everything.
We had visitors all day and helpers to make the tea, giving time to chat to the visitors, who loved the decorated trees and praised the Christmas cake - all gone.
We're delighted with the day and the pleasure that it gave to people.
I now have to prepare tomorrow's sermon and ice the other cake ready for tomorrow.
Do visit, if you are able, after 3.00pm when the lights look really good as the daylight fails.
We shall aim to keep the church open on Sundays until Christmas - a shame not to.

So what is the favourite Xmas card this year - the robin, as far as I can discover.
That doesn't seem very likely.
I'm sure that it won't be any of the party leaders! 

Up and ready to run!

Another two full days spent at church, apart from a couple of quick visits to buy more Xmas tree lights and baubles, and the job's done!
The Church looks brilliant - sparkling throughout in every sense of the word and well worth a visit.
I made a couple of Xmas cakes before leaving home this morning and cooked a slow roast leg of pork whilst the oven was on low for a few hours.
I hope that the cakes are as good as the pork - I have to marzipan and ice them in the morning before we open up.
A little disappointed to find that our Village Shop has a large poster for Maxstoke Xmas Tree Festival, but not ours, up.
How's that for support?

I've just woken up and now ready for bed - far too easy to fall asleep in front of a big log fire, after dinner.

A chill in the air.........

................especially high on a bleak hill, in an old church with no heating on with doors open to allow admission of Christmas trees.
able to cope, though, with four layers of clothing including a thermal layer, cashmere polo neck sweater and down coat.
All of the 29 trees are sponsored - last one snapped up today - last one yet to be put in but no adequate stands left.
The nine trees in the East end/sanctuary and chancel, are all done, as well as three of the six window sill trees, and all look great.
Two more days there to get it all put together.
I was there from 9.45am until nearly 5.00pm today, with decorators in and out.
I decorated the trees either side of the altar - green with small boots for the Horticultural Society (their president came to admire it), silver with bells and streamers for The Wedding Barns.
I put deep red/purple balls on the Dugdale tomb and did two multicolour trees in the high windows of the South wall, one for a grandchild (with  Santas), the other for Shustoke Council (without santas!)

We went to Ventura Park for more lights, small rubber chickens (butchers) and toy tool sets to spray silver.
No success with the decorations so I may need to go to Solihull early tomorrow to repeat the search.
Church Council meeting tonight but I was knackered - even slept through "The Apprentice"!
Two more days to go for setting up and then open all weekend, with tea and Xmas cakes-  - still to make and a sermon to write.
Having a week off next week!

O Tannenbaum!

Or twenty seven tannenbaums, to be accurate - all up and in position in Shustoke church.
Some even have the lights  on as they are so tall that steps were necessary to reach the uppermost points!
We don't want ladies falling of ladders whilst topping their trees!
They looked magnificent ass darkness fell, even without decorations.
Two days now for the decorating.
A real nip in the air this evening so a four fleece day in a cold church all day tomorrow, I guess - coffee and chocolate biscuits to keep the spirits up!

Not a lot else to report apart from the house needing some care and attention with the Dyson, mop and bucket and dusters after a few weeks of neglect - have to wait until next week, I'm afraid.
Christmas cakes to make for church asap, ready for the weekend - icing needs time to set.

White Rabbits!

Time to start your Advent calendar - mine has a picture of Santa Claus by JRRTolkein - another 24 of his pictures to come.
This is "Preparation for the Christmas Tree Festival" week!
K, M and I have spent the day at church - eleven trees are mounted and in place, 17 to go.
The extension cables are in place and the lights tested and ready for allocation.
A lot more to do tomorrow before decorating starts on Wed.

The local authority started resurfacing Shawbury Lane today, so access to the church only by the main road.
As they were tarmacking the junction, I had to park at the Griffin and carry everything across the road - hopefully they'll be out of the way tomorrow.

Slower progress this year as the trees are so large  - beautiful trees, 7ft tall, and too big for the drilled blocks that we have used for holding them in previous years, so a lot of extra work to be done.
I bought another six stands today, to make the job easier, so all systems go tomorrow.
Any ideas for "butchery themed" decorations for Tuckeys' tree?

I left early to collect J and Th from school, hence the tree stand shopping.
Th has a cold and was with B for the day, but managed most of his tea so on the mend.
Old clothes and a full day at church tomorrow - perhaps we'll manage a drink in the Griffin at some point.

Happy St Andrew's day.

Patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Rumania, Russia, Ukraine, Constantinople and Barbados.
Not a lot of people know that.
Celebrated by doing traditionally Scottish things, like................
Presumably, in Russia, celebrated by doing traditionally Russian things  (watch out Ukraine!), in Greece, typically Greek..........................

I've had a whole week of relaxation, with no housework, little driving and a lot of exercise, so feeling relaxed and up to the challenges of next week.
I went to Bicester last Sunday and have been a presence there for the week as E was abroad with work.
T and KP were excellent company, as usual - so well organised and thoughtful.
T does have an obsession with being more than punctual, especially for school!
KP isn't bothered at all, but can be chivvied.
We did go swimming without her kit and to school without PE kit, but all put right with a little backtracking/going home to fetch it, pronto.
T told me that I "handled it very well"
Praise indeed!

Three days of parking, walking a couple of miles, shopping and drinking coffee.
This took in the opening of the new Joules shop in Bicester Village, with gifts, mince pies and bargains and a visit to the odd charity shop.
On Thursday I went to Oxford on the S5, visited the Ashmolean for an hour, then pootled around for a couple of hours in the sunshine before bussing home in time for school pick-up.

Home fitter and a little lighter - I must get into some exercise routine, but what?
Jan's B'day dinner last night - great meal and a giggle.
A trip to Cheltenham today to deliver a top hat and give the Lotus it's final run of the season.
Used it yesterday - 10 degrees and little wind so fine with a woolly hat.

30 Xmas trees (coping with the abbreviation at last) at church waiting to be erected and positioned tomorrow - a team of good men/a good team of men (what's the difference) lined up so that I can check 40 sets of lights and position trees.
Hope the weather holds - it can be a very cold job.  

Shwapped out!

After weeks of planning - borrowing clothes rails and  glasses, buying wine and mince pies, advertising to arouse enough interest to have a room full of vendors and advertising.
In all we had 18 rails and tables and the hall was full of good clothes and accessories for sale.
A good time was had by all but we could have done with a lot more buyers.
Those that did come went away loaded down with bags full of clothes and stall holders all bought from each other.
I bought a new Jaeger dress for £10.
That's Christmas day sorted!

the chickens have taken a new stage in evolution today, roosting six foot and higher in the cherry tree by the conservatory.
This is either to watch us - they all sit on the well and watch me when I'm ironing in the laundry, or to have a better view of life in general.
Friends here for lunch - toad in the hole. I wish I'd been told the two of them were vegetarians!
Beans in the hole isn't quite the same.
How is it that W and B can both make better Yorkshire pudding than their mother?

A marigold day........

Two marigold days in fact, so the house is now shining from top to bottom, apart from the downstairs floors that still need mopping.
A tidy house makes for a tidy mind, or something like that.
I've been rewarded both days by going out to dinner - The Chapter, with local clergy and Readers on Tues, to meet the new Archdeacon, and to The Cock at Wishaw yesterday, with "The Dream Team" from KS some time ago, to celebrate the retirement from teaching of BS to return to the church, full time, after a very successful teaching career.
The other two are sorting out schools that need support, then there's me!

Today I cooked a leg of Welsh lamb and mint sauce.....blackberry and apple wholemeal crumble, and M and M came to lunch.
That's it - didn't really get much else done, apart from washing, which was on the line for a couple of hours and came in damper than when I put it out.

Clothes Shwap tomorrow, cooking to do for guests and clothes to find and price.
Ah well - I'm sure that it'll be alright on the night.

Missing.

home late so watching a recording of tonight's episode - I do hope that they find young Ollie, now 8 years older, before too long.
It's a bit miserable.

I managed to do some housework today - upstairs and the top half of the stairs are gleaming, the rest to do tomorrow, if tennis is off again.
Russ, from Hearns is coming to measure the "Winter Palace" (back bedroom) for  a carpet after lunch - a soft grey to pick up the colour of the willow stems in the paper.
Dinner at The Cock in the evening with the rest of "The Dream team" - the management team from Kingsbury School for a few years in the 1990s - the most fun years of my teaching career when we achieved so much.
The most improved school in the country one year, invaded by the press and great celebrations.

I've been to The Great chapter dinner at St Clements, Chelmsley Wood - which was very nice - to meet the new Archdeacon of Aston -  an RAF pilot before entering the church and has come from inner city London, so lots of experience.

No nap today as I didn't sit down so about to nod off - bedtime first!

Thank you Morrisons!

I think that the "Clothes Shwap" preparations are well under way - 18 rails booked and quite a few tables, wine bought, glasses ordered and folk on hand to help out - door and bar.
We don't have access to the hall until 5.30pm on Fri, which gives me the day to sort out and label things to sell.
I gave a lot of clothes to the charity shop in Coleshill a while ago so I may not have much; I do have a rail - full from aj anyway.
Anyone else want a rail?

I've praying for Xmas tree sponsorship in every post.
So far Morrisons, Bloor Homes (Whitacre Gardens) and The Wedding Barns have confirmed, along with 3 churches, 2 pubs with and 4 families - 14 in total, so half sold.

I shopped in Solihull on the way to collect J and Th from school.
I bought nothing - must be a record.
I did stop at the Monkspath M&S Food on the way home this evening to buy a basil plant.
They were all dead, which I did point out to the assistant.
Remains of yesterday's cottage pie for dinner - scrummy.

I've just watched a programme on the history of dance, with "Len" - the Assembly rooms in York was the first public dance venue  and I've danced there - a student ball when I was at St Johns.
They moved on to Sion House - I've been there as well, to a wedding reception, which was memorable.
I'd been to some of the other venues as well - I've forgotten where now, too busy with e mails.
Time for bed - linen to put on it first but worth the effort  - one of life's simple pleasures, getting into a bed with clean white cotton sheets.

A quiet Sunday

a lie in then a rush to church, coffee, home for breakfast/lunch - bacon, egg and tomatoes - then to Blyth Mill.
The water mill is intact and was working until 1972 and housed in a rather dilapidated red brick building.
There is a move to renovate ,clear the mill ponds, etc - very wet and muddy down there and a bit of a shambles.
A visit to J and C to catch up, then home to cook - cottage pie for dinner and cakes for friends for tomorrow.
Dinner eaten and a nap instead of watching pretty second-rate TV.

Chickens have found that they can play around by the stables and keep the 1000w security light on, which saves going to bed.
Whatever next - chickens with brains the size of a soya bean!

Car Wash.

Having had a day out yesterday, I determined to catch up on some of the outside jobs today, whilst the weather was so good - mild, eleven degrees and even some sunshine.
As usual, I was waylaid - cleaned the scullery entirely, sorted e mails, posted the meter readings for Scottish Power and made some sense of the heap of letters from Santander.
After a cappuccino to celebrate, I emptied the stable of children's bikes, cleaned them all, cleaned the stable in the aftermath of the 2014 swallows and put them all back.
I cleaned the toy jeep, which the chickens have taken a liking to and parked that up along with the bikes - they will have to find another roost!
A friend came to help chop some logs and start a log pile to dry out for Christmas and I washed and collapsed the tent that has been erected for about two years now.
Wild bird feeders filled , two with nuts, two with fat balls - they cost about five times as much to feed as the chickens, but are very rewarding.
The pleasure of making order out of chaos!
The chickens kept me company throughout - no egg today, but two in the last few days so things are looking up.

Steak and jacket potato for dinner followed by "Strictly" and a nap on the settee.
A pretty good day all in all.
Time for bed.

Seven shades of grey.

That's the number of carpet samples I have spread out on the "second bedroom" floor - decorated in Laura Ashley "Willow",  a soft pinkish shade of grey seems to fit the bill, but how many shades of grey are there?
I'm sure that I have the right one there, somewhere and will make a final choice tomorrow, in daylight.
The only thing left to do then, is to buy a double bed, to complete the transformation from study to "Winter Palace" - my bedroom for the winter months (the wallpaper in my present bedroom is Laura Ashley "Summer Palace")
Quite exciting really - the first time I have actually designed a room. - photos when it's completed.

I had a nice day in Kenilworth, having planned a day in the garden, tidying and moving logs, but finding the wind a bit too cold.
I visited Hearns, the carpet shop again, Coffee, a potter around then a visit to Waitrose before driving home in the dark.

I'm excited about the promised metamorphosis of "Ed" into a possible PM - is there a miracle worker out there?

 

Brrrrrrrrrrrr

The November weather has arrived, which is a shock after such a long mild spell.
I had difficulty in getting going this morning and was still working on my laptop, in my snuggly, warm dressing gown, when the postwoman arrived and I had to run around to the front door, to be told that there wasn't a parcel but the chickens were across the road.
Tennis cancelled due to rain so a day to spend, at last, doing housework.
I haven't started yet!
I have sent out 70 Clothes Shwap posters, done the final Xmas festival letters and delivered them and put up some posters.

I've eaten early - a cutlet of cod and a load of vegetables, so have no excuse re lack of energy or having to cook.
Two dinner invitations today - small dinner with our best ever school management team as the last one leaves teaching to return to the church, and a "Greater Chapter" dinner for clergy and readers to meet the new archdeacon.

Wonderful Remembrance day services today, strange to think that in the 70s and 80s discussions were held on how long "Remembrance" could continue. 

Bye bye HSBC

I have moved my accounts from HSBc after banking with them all of my life.
The final straw was realising that they were paying me the great rate of .0007% on my savings account.
The rest of the day was spent getting up after a lie in trying to finish Saturday's telegraph crossword, then visiting J and new baby Bethany for a cuddle for an hour or so whilst J caught up on some jobs.
Babies can be very tiring.

Yesterday I took two Remembrance Day services - Sh then OW - a great deal of preparation done for them as work has been done on the names on the memorials, I wanted to give a view of the lives of these individuals and how their loss affected their families and the community.
I think that they went well.
I then went out to lunch at the newly re-opened "Railway Inn" at NW - food was great but running very late and the room stark - walls and windows only!
Wet evening by a roaring fire.
I could have done with a fire tonight but was lazy, so I'm cold and have to make up the bed before I can retire.
Bother.

Lunch with Charles!!

Can it really be Saturday morning - still Friday night as far as I'm concerned!
I've spent today getting the Christmas Tree Festival at Shustoke Church, off the ground - 30 trees to sell/find sponsors for, to be decorated  to turn the church into a glittering wonderland for the Christmas season.
Four sold immediately.

On Tuesday I collected 17lb of mince from Farmers butchers - a new butchers in Coleshill - excellent local meat (at cost), then spent the rest of the day making cottage pies for seventy, cooked, ready to be reheated for lunch on Wed.
I made three different cakes and three trifles, sorted 70 sets of cutlery and packed the other necessities for the meal and aftermath.
I'd like to say that I slept well after that, but I was rather stressed about the  Charles Hanson Valuation lunch on Wed and the logistics of having all of the food hot at the right time.

On Wed I was up early to complete the preparations, decorate the cakes and whip the cream for the trifles, then round to the Parish hall to check that the men were getting the tables in the right places and lay them with cloths, cutlery and napkins.
The meal went very well and Charles was thoroughly charming and entertaining for a couple of hours.
He didn't manage to value everything there - he did do my teddy bear, Fred (a little worn) - and will come back on 16 Dec to value.
He phoned on Thurs morning to say thank you and check that we were satisfied.
Wow.
I'll start a fan club!
All that fun and we made £620 for the church.
The two K's did sterling work in the kitchen - K1 keeping the food coming as cooked and joined by K2 to do all of the washing up and heavy work.
Time for bed.
  

Where to put fat balls?

I have squashed them in the past, so they will fit into a flat metal holder.
No longer.
Today I bought two cylindrical "fat ball holders" 1/3 off at Robert Dyas, whilst in there to buy rechargeable batteries for the badger camera.
Presently the wild birds cost about ten times as much as the chickens, to keep in food - woodpeckers and jays have good appetites, not to mention the odd squirrel.
The chickens like to sit under the car - don't know if they still sit there when I'm out in the car.

Played tennis this morning, took cakes to friends, home for coffee then off to Solihull to collect J and Th from school.
We went to JS to buy a few things for tomorrow's mass cook of cottage pies for Wed's lunch.
I baked cakes when I got home - lemon, coffee and chocolate - to be tarted up for Wed's lunch.
I have to make three trifles tomorrow, so that the desserts are done - the ovens will be full of cottage pies tomorrow.
A friend from church is making apple pies so we should have sufficient, all served with ice cream - not making custard for 65!

Nice warm bed with clean sheets awaits........... 

Winter?

A busy day, still wide awake and I haven't even had 40 winks!
Beat that!!
Shustoke for communion at 9.30am then on to NW to take the All Saints day service.
Would you want to be a saint - shining with the light of JC?
Having decided against it, came home for a tomato and basil salad, then went for a walk for a couple of hours, across the fields towards Maxstoke - very glad I was wearing my wellies (Hunters, gift from W and MK and brilliant)
We did get rained on, but not too wet.
Friends for dinner, so busy with salmon mousse salad, Somerset pork (made with left over white wine), pears in red wine with rice pudding, individual lemon and buttercream Victoria sandwiches.
Olwen brought her charming uncle, a fascinating man with a lot of tales to tell and a novel to publish - I'm promised a signed copy!
Now watching a recording of "Bargain Hunt" before bed.
Lots to do tomorrow - shopping for Wed's lunch and school pick up.

All Hallows.

or "All Saints Day", as it's better known.
I survived Halloween without a single visit from "Trick or Treaters" - the benefits of being out in the sticks!
I spent the first couple of hours this morning rewriting the sermon that I wrote yesterday, before getting up and going to Solihull, shopping - the first free day for a long time.
I did a little of the shopping for Wednesday's Charles Hanson Valuation Lunch" - cooking for
nearly 70.
I have to make desserts that don't need the oven as the ovens will be full of cottage pies - gateaux (cakes) and trifles seem like a good idea at the moment.
Any other ideas?
K has organised the crockery, glasses, wine and potatoes; the new butcher in Coleshill is supplying the meat at cost, a few more things to get on Monday, then cooking all day on Tuesday.
Simple!

Tables are going well for the "Clothes Swhap" on 21 Nov - just need the shoppers to come to make it a success.

I'm watching "Strictly", which is excellent, planning to clean the cutlery ready for Wed.
I realise that this may not happen as I'd rather have a soak in the bath and paint my toe nails.
Perhaps I'll do both!
 

Happy Birthday J.

Nine today so the flags will be out in Ringsted along with combined Halloween/Birthday celebrations.
I've just returned from a couple of wonderful days in York, in bright sunshine, seeing the sites but mainly to deliver a bed to J and J, who are expecting a baby any time now and will need Lily's cot not long afterwards.
I'm having a double bed in place of the single.......eventually.
Not decided on the carpet yet - possibly a large rug so some boards are visible?

K's a "man with a van" and so was an excellent choice of companion for the trip - rewarded with a night at AJ's, a fish and chip supper, a  walk around the city walls, a pretty thorough exploration of the city, a visit to St John's (which had it's open day), Holy Trinity Church, and Evening prayer at the Minster.
AJ found some posh frocks for the "Shwap" on 21 Nov and we drove back yesterday evening, pretty tired.

A glorious day again today and much warmer than yesterday.
Lots of jobs to do re the Charles Hanson lunch next Wed - sold out - food to order, plates and glasses to organise........
More publicity for the Clothes Shwap and letters to get out re The Christmas Tree Festival in order to find sponsors for the trees.
A much needed visit to the hairdresser at 5.00pm, before  going to The Belgrade to see a new musical.
I'd love a day in the garden - perhaps the sermon won't take too long and I can garden on Saturday. 

On this day in 1995.......

Latvia applied for membership of the EU
A great day for Latvia.
To celebrate the day I've just played three sets of tennis, wearing sweatbands in the Latvian colours.
I'm about to do the ironing that seems to have been mounting up for the last couple of weeks whilst I've had better things to do, then go to Coleshill to put up "Clothes Shwap" posters, then prepare dinner in preparation for a visit from no 2 son.

I've spent the last three days seeing JR finally put to rest - his ashes buried in his parents' grave on Friday.
"I should be in my box" was one of his much used phrases in later years - I suspect that he anticipated a rather larger box at the outset, but the grave only had space for a small casket, hence the cremation.
K and I spent the remainder of the time emptying drawers and cupboards  to sort out the family papers and photos to bring home, material of local interest, for the local historical society and a pile of memorabilia for The Leys School in Cambridge.
I doubt that many 90 year olds still have their school cap, scarf, boater, OCT uniform, school magazines, reports, accounts and even the letter sent to parents in 1939 outlining the details of the evacuation of the school to a hotel in Pitlochry.
As it was, the family came here for the duration of the war and lived with his maternal grandparents (my grandparents, as well).
It was during that time that JR worked on local farms, enjoyed it  and so the family bought Shardelows farm at the end of the war.
That era is now at an end.
The valuation of  farm and contents, for probate, is being done today - impressed by the cleanliness of the house, apparently.

We have patronised The Linton Kitchen for coffee and cake/sandwiches on many occasions and had a couple of dinners at The Dog and Duck, also in Linton, both highly recommended and a welcome break from all of the sadness and hard work entailed.
No more older relatives left so hopefully those are skills that I shan't need again.

York tomorrow to deliver a bed to J and J, making room for a new double bed for what was my bedroom as a teenager and will become my cosy winter bedroom.
Should I cover the lovely oak floorboards with a fitted carpet, to make it even cosier?

Happiness, happiness........

the greatest thing that I possess.
I'm watching a programme about happiness (recorded earlier), apparently the nation is a smidge happier than we were last year and it's much more to do with what we do/who we are than how much we have.
Doing things for other people increases your own happiness; having happy employees saves you £500,000 p a .
Wow!
I think that I'm usually happy, I would be happier if I lost the weight that I've put on in the last few months so that I could wear my size 12 jeans again.
This would involve dieting rather more successfully than I am presently, but eating makes me happy.
A quandary.

I've been out to dinner with a charming man following a day visiting an antiques centre and delivering the chest of drawers that I sold on e bay, both in the vicinity of Wolverhampton.
Tomorrow I'm going back to Shardelows, possibly for the last time, following the burial of JR's ashes - the end of an era.

Winter seems to have arrived - much cooler and lots of leaves down.
The chickens are doing well despite not laying yet - can't have everything!

Chicks away!

The chickens have had their third day out of the run today - this afternoon actually, when I came home from tennis - with only one minor infringement when one roosted by the stables last night, but easily found and put to bed.

Two hours/three sets of tennis of which I won two,  5 - 6 in the other, so not too bad.
Perfect weather and good fun whatever.
I came home to put the washing out and have some lunch, then sorted out the paperwork for the Christmas tree Festival before going to Solihull to collect J and Th from school.
Two games of football with Th, one win each, tea and spelling practice before coming home  for dinner and not a great deal else achieved.
Never mind, tomorrow's another day!
 

Home Alone

Just had a great day - church at Shustoke followed by driving to Newton Percy, near Wellesborne, with friends, where we went for a nice walk to the pub in Ashorne for lunch in the Village Tavern - very good.
We walked back across the fields to have tea with the congregation at St Georges church and then Evening Prayer - an inspiring service taken by the vicar.

Yesterday I took the family to BHX to fly home then went on to Solihull for coffee and a little retail therapy and to avoid the empty house.
It was lovely to have the family here - a tree house promised before their next visit.

Safeguarded against flu.

Just a small prick and I'm guaranteed a flu free winter and no side effects to date.
Can't be bad.
Actually, I should have gone yesterday, but got the date wrong but the surgery computers had all gone down, resulting in some confusion, so the nurse saw me during the break.

This afternoon W, MK and K pruned the wisteria and pear tree growing up the house, with some difficulty as the wisteria was growing under the guttering and up the roof .
The boys collected prunings and found all sorts of games to play with them, before reaching the bonfire.
As we were all in the garden in the sunshine, I let the chickens out for the first time.
They had a good time scratching around in the field and all went to bed before dark.
We've dined on Morrisons' free range chickens and posh sausage with a load of vegetables, followed by the long awaited Malteser cake, decorated by J and DK.

Just watched "Pinky Blinders" - a very violent period drama with some strange Brummie and Black Country accents - not a patch on "Antiques Road trip"!

Oxford Natural History Museum.

is brilliant!
W and MK were planning a visit to London to the Natural History Museum but decided that a London visit warranted a two day trip, so settled for Oxford, an easy drive away.
It is a beautiful, light building with wonderful architecture and a freshly restored glass roof.
Everything well presented and immaculate with enough dinosaurs/prehistoric monsters to impress anyone.
Add a dodo, the Alice in Wonderland connection and a host of large, hands on specimens, not to mention the adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum of man made artefacts and there's hours of pleasure to be had, all for free. (donation)
Even a café with real tea.

We went there this afternoon after a tootle around the town, through Christ church Meadows and lunch at an Organic restaurant in Friars Passage - excellent food  but surroundings  a bit grubby.

A great day but tiring - I had to retire early to the museum café for a sit down and a cup of tea.

I've just watched the second episode of "The Apprentice" - irritating, but necessary in order to enjoy "You're Fired" with Dara O'Briain afterwards.
What a lot of no hopers this year - at least, three have gone.
Steve and Sarah must go next!   

It's stopped!

Raining, that is.
The yard is largely under water after  24 hours of solid rain - J and DK have wet weather gear with them, so some fun in the garden later.
The jeep has two new batteries and is going better than ever and there are three new chickens to be checked on at regular intervals - one in lay at the moment so taking it in turns for today's egg.

The weekend just whizzed by - the family went to Bicester whilst I finished preparing Sunday's services and cleaned the church with K, on Saturday, took the services at Sh and OW, had lunch at the Bull, read the papers then back to church for Evening prayer on Sunday.
A bit of a common theme there, but the last Evening service  for the year and the next two Sundays off for good behaviour.

Charles Hanson Valuation lunch tickets for 5 Nov have gone really well, nearly all sold.
I just have to decide on the menu now.
Clothes Swhap planned for 21 Nov - bring along your unwanted clothes and accessories, sized and priced.
We put up the clothes racks and tables  and provide a glass of wine - have I missed anything vital?
Time for breakfast.

Breaststroke

We, MK, J, DK and I went to Tudor Grange swimming baths this morning - the first time I've been there since W and B were small boys, in the kiddy pool.
Little had changed apart from the crowds - only two people in each pool, apart from us, so we had a great time.
We went on to lunch in Pret, bought boots and jeans for the boys and did the Beatties sale before wending our way home to play in the garden, cook the tea and mow the lawns - guess who did what.
Actually, the mower fought back so I didn't get far.

Three new chickens arrived yesterday, selected by J and DK, sort of - we even had an egg today, so breakfast settled.
All well so far, but they are still in the run so the fox is having to look elsewhere for dinner.
I have a wildlife camera in the wood focused on the latest badger sett, so hoping to see some photos of these elusive lodgers after years of anonymity - time will tell.

Welcome

An epic day, Manchester airport to collect W, MK, J and DK - arrived just in time, having forgotten which terminal to go to.
haircuts for the boys at W's hairdresser from the Manchester days whilst MK and I had coffee, then on for lunch, hospital appointment and then home, driven by W.
We experienced every type of weather from sunshine to downpours, 8 to 13 degrees - that's Manchester!
M&S Indian meal bought on the way home and an early night, just me to go to bed now.

Yesterday was a hive of activity cleaning, polishing , making up beds, lawn mowing and garden tidying - I actually vacuumed up the last of the broken glass from the vase that fell over in the conservatory on my birthday at the end of August.
All warm and cosy, fire laid but not needed.
A lazy day planned for tomorrow, some new chickens to be collected and welcomed into the family.

Officially Autumn.

Blimey it was cold and wet this morning.
Every year, as far back as I can remember, or certainly since W was born on 1 Oct 1974, the weather has changed on his birthday, summer has gone and autumn has arrived.
Every year this takes me by surprise - today was no exception.
It took longer than expected to get up, due to the cold and needing to cook bacon and egg for breakfast.
It did warm up to a sultry 12 degrees by the afternoon when I was in Solihull en route to collect J and Th from school.
House of Fraser has a sale; I bought Christy sheets and towels at less than half price and had great service from the assistant. - well worth a visit.
I bought socks, undies and a sale T shirt from M&S as they're having a bad year, I believe.
Home by 7.00pm, having bought dinner for the rest of the week at M&S at Monkspath, cooked, ate and checked my e bay account - much easier than I had anticipated, so now selling everything that's not bolted down to pay for my round the world cruise.

Sorry for the typos - Matthew has started dropping his aitches (please note, especially if you work for HSBC and answer the phone, THERE IS NO H IN AITCH!!!!!) and Newbold Pacey is near Wellesbourne, Newbold Percy is something altogether different!
A story for another day.
 

Mattew. 21 33 - 45

I thought that I had my sermon in the can for tomorrow, then it all fell apart and I had to start again, hence the late blog.
God moves in mysterious ways indeed.
I was so confident that I hadn't even worried too much that I had forgotten to take my notes to Bicester when I went to babysit yesterday and even took a leisurely route home, stopped to shop for food and watched most of "Strictly" before coming to bed to complete it (I turned off the boiler when I left yesterday and had forgotten to switch it back on, so a little chilly)
All done, just the intercessions to complete, after a night's sleep. 

Another year older........

Friday already - where did the last week go?
I think that Mon and Tues were lazy days, recovering from the weekend - work on the church fundraising events and collecting J and TH from school.
By Wed I did get around to some housework, upstairs all ready for the family visiting next week, more still to do.
Yesterday was a day out - Newbold Percy, to see the lovely church, Warwick to potter around the Antiques Centre,  then Kenilworth to visit Waitrose.
In the evening I went to The Albany Theatre in Coventry to listen to a concert of barbers shop choruses, which was brilliant.
Today was baking followed by a trip to Bicester where I've spent a lovely evening with T and KP and have learnt one rule about adding"ing" to the end of a verb.
ie repeat the final consonant for words that have a short vowel and end in a consonant.
beat that.
Sunday's sermon to complete, but I've left my notes at home.

I've bought Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's new cookery book - "Light and Easy", sort of Paleo.
Really good and useful next week, I hope - off to bed to make a shopping list.
 

Charles Hanson Valuation Lunch ready to be served...............

Well, not quite, but I have spent a good few hours on advertising and contacting people who may be interested in coming to the lunch, item to be valued, under their arm, on 5 November.
Shall I cook cottage pie or lasagne?
Latter is more time consuming to make but only requires salad and ciabbata to accompany.

The last few weeks have been rather hectic - organising JR's funeral and sorting, cleaning and arranging Shardelows for the wake, though not in any particular order as I had to wait for the paperwork.
The whole thing went off very well, a short service followed by a trip to the crematorium in Cambridge then home for a lovely afternoon tea prepared by local caterers.
Burial of ashes to organise.

In between organising the funeral and it happening, aj and I spent three days in Richmond at her son, P and N's wedding - a glittering family occasion at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park.
N looked fantastic in a ballerina type dress and brother Dick gave a memorable Best Man presentation.

As a reward I spent the rest of the week relaxing in Wales, with a friend - Portmadoc and Cricceth, which were as lovely as when we visited with the grandchildren five years ago.
This included a seaweed wrap and massage at the Spa in Portmeirion - brilliant!

Having a lazy day whilst waiting for the washing to finish - catching up on e mails and the like and trying not to eat as I've put on too much weight this summer.

Smile renewed.

I've had yet another self-indulgent day.
Washing in then off to Solihull to the dentist for a check up and a polish, but mainly to have half a tooth rebuilt that fell off last week.
A brilliant job and I didn't feel a thing.
On to Dorridge, where a new JS store is being built, making parking worse than ever, for a facial and a visit to sister in law, Ann.
Shopping in Knowle and Solihull between and after , for odds and ends, including mascara and eye-liner from Boots (buy two No 7 products and get a gift of make-up that you really don't want, worth £26, but you still have to go for it)
Half an hour at home then a PCC meeting at church - all problems boil down to lack of numbers.

Dinner at The Bull at Furnace End, last night was brilliant - great food, charming service and really reasonable (main courses, 241)
Highly recommended - you'll need to book, even mid week.

A visit to Hansons Auction tomorrow to collect a jug that I left last time - part of a mixed lot.
Perhaps it will be beautiful/priceless?
It's the first day of a three day general sale, so should be interesting.

The Tv's on the blink - flashing and going off from time to time - all of the time at the moment.
Do they mend nowadays?
 

Lazy Days.............

The purists amongst you will note that yesterday's post - Monday - was a day late.
I seem to recall that I arrived home late, having stopped at my most loathed supermarket - Tesco (trying to take over the world, now failed) - as I had a "spend £30 save £4" voucher, and needed fuel.
Big, horrible shop with a most unpleasant first floor, full of horrible tat.
After my tomato (and Jarlsberg) salad I fell asleep, woke up and did e mails and a blog, after midnight, went to bed and couldn't sleep (W right, as usual), so read Chaucer until 2.00am.
I must have forgotten to push the "publish" button, so blog only in draft until now.

Today was to be frenetic housework - still glass on the conservatory floor from the birthday party 3 weeks ago!!
What a slut!!!
I haven't started yet - showered then tried on clothes to find outfits for Saturday's wedding and Tuesday's funeral - successful, then pottered up to Coleshill in the Lotus because the sun was shining and I was desperate for mustard, salad and home made salmon mousse for lunch, watching Bargain Hunt, had a nap and have only moved to make coffee/tea.
Out to dinner tonight with a friend - The Bull's Head, Meriden, for old time's sake - at least I'll stay awake.

Some brill photos on William's little World - I've forgotten how to post photos!
Come to think, I haven't taken any.

Happy Birthday Jessie.

We had a grand birthday tea party for Jessie after school this afternoon, - chocolate cake made last night, filled this morning and candles added by Jessie.

Apart from today, the last two weeks have been hectic and hard work, both physically and emotionally.
The paperwork enabling me to organise JR's funeral did not materialise until last Tuesday - Addenbrooke's Hospital could not have been more supportive and helpful, but there is no short circuit available.
The delay left time to put the house straight, having been at the mercy of carers for the last three or four years, energy having been put into removing furniture to odd places, but little into cleaning!
Ceilings, walls as well as floors are all vacuumed, furniture polished and all back in the right place, bathrooms scoured and bleached and Home sweet Home restored, ready to welcome the locals for the final time, after the funeral next Tuesday.
The funeral  service is planned, orders of services done, eulogist and reader organised and caterers sorted - afternoon tea at 5.15pm, on our return from the Crematorium.
Just the flowers to be finalised now and some of the many photos I've found, to be displayed around the house - I was delighted to find JR's OTC uniform to display alongside his school scarf, cap, reports and prospectus for the Leys School, circa 1935.

On a brighter note, we have a family wedding to go to in Richmond on Saturday, so a couple of nights in The Richmond Gate Hotel, which is within walking distance of the venue in Richmond Park.

Onto the next job........

Which, sadly, is arranging JR's funeral.
He had a second stroke on Monday evening and didn't recover.
The positives are that he had a long and fulfilling life, some good friends and remained in his beloved Shardelows Farm until the end.
The last three days have flown by with sorting things out, meetings and making the house welcoming ready for the wake - we did fit in a lovely walk around Bartlow and a visit to the church - it is built of flint, has a round tower and some beautiful Medieval wall paintings, recently restored.
We've just returned from The Dog and Duck in Linton, having not really eaten since breakfast and little food here - brilliant meal, lots of fresh fish on the menu and home made desserts.
Certificate to collect in Cambridge tomorrow, then home.

Back on the job!

Summer has officially come to an end and school summer holidays have ended, so life will return to normal, if I can remember what that is.
I've spent some wonderful days with the grandchildren over the last month, including ten days in Denmark _ DK is now at St Joseph's with J - they are back at school by August, so that was doing school runs and  playing after school.
Friends mowed the lawns and cleaned the windows when I was away whilst P the P painted the outside doors
AJ and I had a birthday party last Monday, which was good fun - 40 of us in all, family and friends for lunch - I still have to run the vacuum round - tomorrow!
Not tomorrow as I've just had a call to say that JR is in Addenbrookes, so a trip to Cambs instead.
A thought or a prayer for him and his carers  - a 90 year old with dementia.

WW1 commemoration day.

Back from a great week in Bicester helping with the church-run holiday scheme - five mornings of activities, singing and drama with a Christian theme, with a games session on the school field thrown in for good measure.
80 children aged from 4 - 10 were at our venue in a local primary school and a further 40 at the local church, both run by a most joyful group of church members aged from 12 - 70!
T and KP had a wonderful time, even the vacuuming up at the end of the day!

Home on Friday to attend Jamie and Amy's wedding reception in Cannock - a noisy family affair with some KS staff in attendance - a most handsome, well - matched couple.
A late night so a lie-in yesterday followed by brunch and an afternoon of sermon writing ready for today's special service at NW, prepared by the Archbishop or someone very important at Westminster!!
I was not consulted but it was excellent.

I've been for a long walk around the footpaths of Sh and OW (should have been NW, but got lost - I need a walking partner with a sense of direction or GPS)
I'm getting bolder!

Tennis tomorrow if the weather holds.

Summer continued............

We played tennis in almost ideal conditions this morning, home to change and then to The Bull at Furnace End for lunch to spend the tennis ball kitty that builds up over the year - delicious meals, very well presented and a bargain as they have two for one deals, seemingly all of the time.
Now home again and trying to feel energetic - eating at lunch time is not really a good idea if you want to achieve anything in the afternoon!

Lazy weekend - friend for dinner on Friday evening and stayed up far too late so tired on Saturday and, added to the fact that it rained on and off for most of the day, I really didn't do much apart from vacuuming up the dead flies and some ironing.
Walked to church yesterday in the sunshine and saw lots of tiny toads crossing Moat House Lane, from R to L, for about half a mile - smaller than bumble bees.
Friends for lunch and tea hence there's the remains of a Malteser cake to be avoided/given away.

Very warm and muggy this afternoon, I shall wash the cars.....shortly!
 

Lazy days.

I'm having tea in the conservatory, having had a lazy day - clearing up done from last night's dinner party, loads of washing on the line, a visit to the neighbours to see Ann, who has been in hospital, round to Jan's with Magnums to eat in the garden, followed by a visit to see M and M, Mary recovering from surgery last week and looking very well.
I'm fighting against feeling guilty, but it has been a warm day following a late night.
I still have to buy the wallpaper for the study as the decorator starts on Monday.
I'm hoping to find something suitable on line - nothing in Laura Ashley - shame as they have 50% off.

Washing to get in, iron and put away, more still to put on the line.
The chickens are laying well and keeping to the field, in the main apart from the odd foray into the house.

Tomorrow forecast to be very warm, so another lazy day?
 

C of E meets the 21st century.

At last - the Church of England has convinced a majority that there is no reason to discriminate against women - hallelujah!

After spending most of the week with B&E, I spent Saturday morning training for their church's summer holiday extravaganza - mainly learning the songs, with a great group of people (and a guitarist of note)
I eventually arrived home on Sat evening, having stopped off in Kenilworth to meet a friend - a walk across Abbey Fields and around the castle, in Mediterranean heat - brill!

Three services yesterday - the parable of the sower - a big garden set up for the Family service, with rocks, paths , thorn bushes and good soil - the congregation to cast their seeds wherever they wanted.
all but one planted on the good soil - we've put it outside to see what happens.
A God of hope who even has hope in the hopeless!

Beautiful day today - tennis this morning, a quick nap and then to Solihull to pick up J and Th.
Both have brilliant reports from school - only four days to go.
I'm very proud of all them all.

Whew! Heatwave in Bicester.

A baking 32 degrees when I returned to the car, left by Bicester Library for a couple of hours during the day.
I wish that I could say that I'd been working in the Library on my services for Sunday (Matt 10 = parable/allegory of the sower), actually I parked there to walk across to B Village for coffee in Pret, a look in the Radley shop (disappointing) and a potter around the town before coming back to collect KP from school, T being involved in the school play.
Years 5 and 6 put on a modern version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
It was brilliant - some real talent and such stamina - the show lasts one and a half hours, two performances yesterday and a third this afternoon.

Yesterday was a day of culture as I went to Th's school play - a year 2 production of "The Wizard of Oz" - another triumph - word perfect and excellent diction and singing by such little people.

I have brilliant grandchildren - three amazing end of year reports seen so far and more to come.

This morning I surprised myself with my navigational skills - 3 3point turns and two referrals to passers by to find the PO parcels depot, where I have been a number of times in the past.

More fun and games tomorrow.

That's it folks!

Wimbledon all over for another year, but some brilliant tennis and some new blood  - didn't make the final though!
I did watch the final set - what do I watch now - I've forgotten.
in the summer I tend to be busy/in the garden/out until quite late so don't even turn the TV on many evenings - I've set the new Freeview box to record my favourite programmes, but don't yet know how to retrieve them - I did for about half an hour one evening..............

Glorious weather, no tennis as too many on holiday - I'll have to change into sensible clothes and get on with the day - Solihull/ school pick up after a potter - a clean day!

Jan and I had a "Day out" on Friday, at short notice - Warwick and Alcester, in the sunshine - a laugh a minute!
Saturday, I was awake early and had written Sunday's sermon by 8.00am
Brilliant - not necessarily the sermon, but that I had the rest of the day to shop, cook (Sunday lunch - poached salmon and salad, summer pudding) and garden.
I finished mowing the lawns at 9.30pm - Malcolm had cut the front hedges so the front needed tidying, he's presently cutting the side hedges, which will take the day.
Church yesterday then friends to lunch, Keith stayed on to watch the tennis, tea and supper.

Lotus is ready to go so I hope the sun keeps shining! 

What happened to Andy?

I've just spent a couple of days in rural Cambridgeshire with cousin JR - 90 years old with dementia,  Alzheimer's and two live in carers, one night, one day, with overlap.
Presently the carers are two Polish girls in their 30s, who are a delight - great fun and care for him so well, with infinite patience.
He does like to sit with you, hold your hand, stroke your arm and shower you with superlatives, interspersed with thanks for everything - he is presently happy and smiling, apart from occasional bewildered sessions. Yesterday I took him out for a drive - the first time that I've felt confident to do so for a long time - all down to the wonderful care he's presently getting, compared with the previous agency - more later.

We've watched Wimbledon in the afternoons - his Father (no, he's not here, he died 38 years ago, honestly)used to watch, so he makes some sense of it.
So what happened to Andy?
He never got going - you kept thinking he was leaving it for a while and then it was all over - he can't even blame anno domini, yet.

Home by 9.00pm yesterday - great drive at that time of day - straighten out all of the corners and still improve the fuel consumption!
Just had an aj breakfast - bacon, tomatoes, fresh egg and a small slice of fried date and walnut loaf - delicious!
I never eat stuff like that - must have been hungry.
A day in the garden today - I'm hoping to put some chicken wire across the field and then let the new chickens out, without them making a mess of the borders/keeping them in the field.
Don't know if I have enough chicken wire or the skills to do the job.
Time will tell.

Hottest day of the year??

He's done it again!

The Murray / Anderson match started just as J, Th and I got back from school, so we watched most of it, apart from cooking and eating tea.
There was a battle going on for the 11th game in the third set, when I left for home t about 6.30pm, though I assume that Andy eventually won.
I played tennis this morning I  lovely weather, then shopped for tonight's dinner, came home and prepared it, showered and dressed properly, then transferred to the Lotus to drive to Solihull to collect J and Th from school.
Back home with half an hour to spare before the guests arrived, to do the salads and vegetables  and cook the pudding.
About to fall asleep - chickens left to their own devices - they are shut in the run anyway and it's a warmish night.
Glad I'm not a chicken.
They don't seem to be eating the layers pellets - I did buy a new bag today and start afresh, to tempt them.
What next?

St Peter and St Paul.

Well, they've bought some better weather with them, which is more than can be said for B on Friday - a good start to the day, then B and the deluge arrived together.
I now have two working mowers, the heating and hot water coming on and going off at sensible times, a Scottish chest removed to the garage en route to the saleroom and the furniture swapped over in the back two bedrooms (well, the bed settee swapped for the bed, which moves the study)
B is a miracle worker - obstacles swept aside and even the correct tools to hand - no knackered screw heads allowed!
I now need a desk, but no urgency as the decorator is coming to complete the changeover in a couple of weeks.
I shall enjoy the  space for a while.

I baked whilst much of this went on - two each of coffee, chocolate, carrot and Victoria sponge cakes, and a parkin, ready for Open Church this weekend, then went to meet the decorators at church, clean and lay up tables for the feast.
Yesterday I was up early to make six dozen scones and open up the church for 11.00am.
They was already a couple there, who were looking for a church to attend, had a chat and a cream tea.
A small number of interesting people called in during the day - many more expected today after the morning service for all four churches.
I was more than a little taken aback yesterday evening  to find a message on the answer machine telling me that there was a Baptism at 12.30pm, so church out of public use for a good hour!!!!!
The open weekend has been on the diary for six months - God moves in mysterious ways indeed.

I did pop across to The Griffin to put up posters - live music, an array of real ales and a good turnout - looked interesting.
I may go back for a sample today, between noon and 1.00pm!!
 

The rains came.

At last, it started to rain yesterday evening, whilst the "ladies" sat in the conservatory drinking wine and eating nibbles - I had a glass of Proseco and was merry, after the second ...............
The limitations brought on by not drinking very often, to build up a tolerance level!
A "cheap date" I was told recently, although I hope that that actually referred to the fact that I ate very little for lunch, and drank tonic water.
I was certainly very "proper" (a word used to describe me this week - strange), so it must have been a reference to the bill.
Anyway, the air feels fresh and the garden looks good for the watering.

I had a lazy day yesterday, waiting for a couple of visitors and watching tennis in the main.
I did clean the windows downstairs
I'd had a call from Muriel, a very elderly friend, asking me to visit her as she was back "home", staying with her son - I did that at tea-time, collected a couple of dozen eggs from the farm for todays baking marathon for the church open weekend, then put out glasses and laid up for the ladies wine.

I have numerous big bites on my upper arms and legs - mosquito repellent didn't work.
I must cover up to mow the lawns.
I'm sure I say that every time and then decide that I'll be alright.
To the kitchen!  

Come on Heather!

I will not be buying soup again for a long time - I bought Covent Garden Pea and mint and carrot, both of which should have been delicious.
On heating them up, both done on evenings when I'd been in the garden for too long, had a shower/bath and wanted something easy for dinner, a friend has phoned, the soup has boiled all over the cooker and it's taken longer to clean up the mess than it would have taken to cook a meal.
And the soups not so good after a good boil.
Stick to the fish/steak and salad!

Another lovely morning - played tennis yesterday, to Jan's for coffee with a mutual friend then back home for an hour or two of tennis before gardening until 8.30pm - it's looking really good from here.
I now take my watch off so have no idea of the time - usually an hour or two later than I think.
I mowed all the lawns (whilst the mower was in a good mood), tidied all of the "done" beds and the edges of the lawns to make mowing easier - took brambles and prizewinning nettles out of the hedges as they attack me mercilessly when I'm mowing.
A large bonfire waiting to be lit, when I have the nerve, a bucket of water, and the strength to manoeuvre a settee up the field - presently having respite by the stables.

Visitors both this morning and afternoon followed by the "Ladies Wine Evening" here this evening - all welcome as long as you're local and have a chilled bottle of proseco!
.  

Come on Andy!

Another glorious day, I'm sitting in the conservatory  watching the birds and a rogue squirrel that has realised that I've relented and filled the bird feeder with nuts again.
As it's early - up to let the chickens into the run, fill their feeder and water bowl and treat them to my date and walnut loaf - there are still long shadows across the lawn.
I'm trying to have a Paleo week, without bread as I'm going out to dinner on Saturday, and I'll have a greater choice of what to wear - I've put on half a stone since Christmas, friends all say that I look much better for it, then I see those amazing bodies at Wimbledon (women players, in the main), and realise that it looks good to be thin - not that I ever expect to look like Sharapova!

Yesterday I met Judith for coffee in Ventura Park - out of the Lotus and into the Merc 4x4, sublime to the ridiculous - to go to the local garden centre for the merc to have a shampoo and set whilst we drank coffee, then back to shop at M&S, where else!
M&S have a marvellous sale on - strictly for size 8s and 24s though.
Came home, watched tennis and did e mails and accounts.
I meant to work in the garden but I didn't get round to it - Jan came for tea and a giggle and I then spent hours analysing cousin JR's JS bills from last year to get some idea of the volume of goods that the carer was really buying for her family.
Can two people really get through 12 tins of Quality Street every month?
Perhaps they're used as currency in Haverhill.
The cat food is also something of a mystery.
At the bottom of each receipt it says:
"Based on price perception data, you can live for less than you thought at Sainsbury's"
I guess that the carer took this message to heart!

Whew, what a scorcher!

A long time since I've used that title, but today the weather has been perfect - an Enid Blyton summer day for having adventures in the great outdoors.
My biggest outdoor adventure was probably taking the family to see the badger sett, before they went home this evening, although I did mow the lawns again, in dress and sandals, seduced into doing it by the fact that the mower started  and sounded very healthy when I went to put it away, behind the children's jeep, after they had gone home - I shook the seeds and various other bits out of my clothes later.
It must be feeling it's age as it now seems to flag after half an hour and want a nap - obviously an elderly male!

A lovely day, prepared lunch, vacuumed (mainly to remove the fly corpses) and went to church, coffee, then on to hear the same service at OW, to work the CD player for the service, then home to finish the lunch.
Family here, seven of us in all, eating in the kitchen to be near the open garden doors - delightful.

Delivered cake to friends - becoming a habit - replaced the two metres of turf along the verge, removed by the farm implement coming out of the field opposite, couldn't repair the road surface that has been likewise damaged from here to the farm, then went to see Jan and Chris for a natter before bed.

Replaced my freeview box with the new one so now have no TV as there were fewer connections - obviously I discarded something vital.
Wimbledon tomorrow - help!!  

Flower pot.....cakes

I bought some silicone flower pot cake cases at Easter and eventually got round to using them today, cakes iced and decorated with a flower and presented to Jan on a silver serving dish - looked good!
M&M, in comparison, merely had a coffee cake, sprinkled with grated dark chocolate, the same as the one for tea here tomorrow.

I've made the most of the longest day by starting early - Coleshill for strawberries for the trifle and fuel for the mower, home to bake/cook, take in a Viyella dress that I bought last year in their sale, then off in the Lotus to deliver the baking.
This took much longer than intended, but it was warm!
I didn't get into the garden until after 4.30pm, then spent too long mowing around the trees and under the hedges with the little mower, until it got it's cord in a twist.
I abandoned it for the ride on, mowed outside, started the field, ran out of fuel, refilled and  as usual, it sulked, limped around for a while, with a lot of rests and died.
I swept the laundry and put them both away in the naughty corner, planted some dianthus (bargains from Morrisons) on the rockery and hollyhocks (grown by Jan from seeds given by Eliz) under the kitchen window, where Granny's grew.

I may look for new mowers on Monday - I'll buy a lottery ticket.
A really good day - even mastered the sewing machine - given me a taste for dressmaking again. 

Topless!

Today was a Lotus day - sun shining and very warm - brilliant!
Coffee at Planters Garden centre with a friend, being entertained watching standard rose bushes seemingly travelling around unaided as they were pushed on trolleys behind counters laden with flowers.
Easily entertained!
I went on to Ventura Park to M&S, by which time I needed another coffee, and JS to buy Sunday's lunch.
I stopped at Jan's on the way home and spent an hour sitting in/admiring her garden and nattering.
Not much else done as I was clean and pretty smart.
Delighted that the new chickens put themselves to bed tonight - last night only one went in, after a quarter of an hour of cajoling whilst my dinner burnt.
A good day all round, more to come and Wimbledon next week.
All I need now is some followers for my blog - I'll post some photos when I remember how.

Blow me.

Another self indulgent couple of days - perhaps I'm getting the idea of retirement at last or perhaps it's because the sun's shining.
Yesterday I visited a couple of friends in the morning, taking them cake - ensures a warm welcome!
Iw was lunchtime by the time I was home again, so I ate a piece of cake, before changing into old clothes and getting on with the garden.
I hacked/pruned away for a few hours to trim the pyracantha on the garage and house, the wisteria, ivy and odd bits of honeysuckle.
I weeded the area by the back door, then since it was only 7.30pm, I mowed the lawns around the house.
This was a bad idea as the hedges were full of biting insects and the first circuit is under the hedges - I'm bitten all over, to go with the scratches from the pyracantha.

This morning I did another couple of hours in the garden before showering and going to the hairdressers - half of Shustoke in there (well, two anyway)
Hair looks great so I'm reluctant to get under the hedges again as I'm meeting a friend for coffee in the morning.
I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Foiled!

I was at the hairdressers this morning by 8.00am to be foiled, leaving a James Martin Madeira cake in the oven.
Apparently, my hair is now more interesting.
I then picked up a couple of friends to come home with me for coffee and cakes, along with a few more friends - a lovely, relaxing morning all round.
I made up by spending the afternoon in the garden, trimming edges of the top lawn - along the yard, by the factory and under the hedges - dirty and difficult.
For a change I started weeding the yard - about 2sq metres done in an hour and my knees stiff from kneeling.
I had some wonderful JS smoked salmon with salad in a Jewish pitta bread (named Hollylands) for dinner and have since drunk lots of coffee and eaten some cake - a Malteser cake, a twin to Th b'day cake yesterday.

I'm having an indulgent week - yesterday was tennis followed by a pedicure and wonderful pink toe nails.
Home to dress properly then off to Solihull for coffee in Pret and  shopping, before collecting J and Th from school.
After tea, the family came to celebrate Th birthday and share his Malteser cake, then JS and home by 8.00pm.  

On the road again!

I'm surprised that I haven't blogged since Tuesday, but went to Cambs to see JR on Wednesday, coming home on Thursday evening, having done a good deal of sorting out, mainly to clear a bedroom for myself as he now has two full time carers, the second in "my bedroom".
The new carers are doing a grand job - JR looking good and the house feeling like home again.

Friday, I met Jan for coffee in Solihull, had a facial and picked up J and Th from school - shopping didn't happen as I ran out of time.
I went in the Lotus, intending to tax it, but was thwarted by the queue in the Post Office, so just parked obscurely and taxed it on Saturday morning in Coleshill, when I went tot buy food.
I managed a good few hours in the garden after shopping - sorted the border on the side lawn, planted some more perennials and even the rhubarb.
Jan and Chris came to dinner - salad, baked salmon with asparagus and jersey potatoes, chocolate biscuit cake with ice cream, cheese - light until nearly 10.00pm, so we could see the mole hill that had appeared on the top lawn.
Bother.
By this morning there was a mole hill on the side lawn as well - Arthur to the rescue before it's a quarry like last year.

Today, church (Trinity Sunday) then lunch at Olwen's with some fascinating folk, including a jazz singer, who regaled us after lunch.
We made a good assault on a baked salmon, a fillet of beef and large dish of coronation chicken before visiting Maxstoke castle open day, returning for deserts, which were amazing.
Home early evening, intending to bake but distracted, so it will happen early tomorrow - Malteser cake for Th birthday, tomorrow and cakes for Tuesday's coffee and cake morning.
I have a new, interesting banana cake recipe - James Martin, my latest culinary hero.
I still have to read Saturday's telegraph!
I must ask T to show me how to download and post photos - I've forgotten.  

One man went....

mowing for about four hours - the lawns look better than ever after their raking a couple of weeks ago, followed by a  shorter cut today.
So inspired I trimmed the edges, tidied the  rockery, and lopped a pile of branches off the oak tree to let light in to the rockery.
By the time I'd cleared up and swept the yard it was 7.30pm  - in for a hot bath to get my back straight again.
a satisfying day, lots done.
 BT have put me on a cheaper tariff as I don't download stuff, and I'm getting a new freeview box.
we have an excellent new local free paper - The Coleshill Post.
I've written a couple of paragraphs about forthcoming events at church and e mailed them - perhaps I'll be in print!
Visiting JR tomorrow to check on his new carers - hope it doesn't rain.

Whit Monday

Always a holiday in the old days - still is in Denmark - the first of the summer, sometimes a week of partying -  Morris dancing, etc as it was a quiet time of the year on the farms - all done , for a week at least.
I celebrated by playing tennis, having lunch with "Nanny" and then collecting J and Th from school and cooking tea.
Home by 7.00pm to eat salad, watch TV, answer e mails and organise events for the next few months - Charles Hanson Valuation lunch in the autumn, ladies get together, with wine and nibbles, later this month.
A day in the garden tomorrow so I hope that the weather forecast is as inaccurate as usual.

Pentecost.

An inspiring e mail from Bishop Andrew this morning,  about Pentecost, just before I set off to church, an hour in advance of the Family Service.
I was laden with coloured card, felt and tissue paper in orange (courtesy of Le Crueset) and red to make a scene of the disciples at Pentecost, being licked by tongues of fire - the children to compose.
On to OW for 11.00am morning Prayer - I didn't need my sermon notes by then as I'd been through it so many times.
I came home and had my customary cappuccino followed by an almost customary nap - those services are hard work, then a salad.
By this time it was raining so the plan to mow the lawns was off and I had to settle for watching the first two sets of the French Open Final - brilliant!
I managed a couple of hours weeding and planting the rockery before the rains came again, just in time to watch the final game of the match.
I went to Sh to take Evening Prayer - only three of us so we settled for the Evening collect and a chat.
Home for a cheese omelette and Russian chocolates and an evening watching recorded TV - not very inspiring!
Some fascinating e mails, including a lunch invitation and a trip to Maxstoke castle for next Sunday - perfect, as I have a weekend free of commitments. 

Rhubarb.

At last I've bought the rhubarb plant that I've wanted for a while, thanks to the generosity of Bicester Garden Centre - I looked yesterday but couldn't find any then the \garden \centre sent me a voucher last night for £10, if I spent £25.
I went back again with greater determination, found a plant in a greenhouse - £10 - and bought some perennials to make up the balance.
Back home from a lovely week in Bicester looking after the family whilst e was away with work.
I've just returned, on foot, from supper with friends in the village, a little too much proseco so I'll go through tomorrow's services tomorrow morning, early!
 

Cezanne at the Ashmolean.

That's for tomorrow as I have a day to myself, between school runs.
I intend to complete the day by going to Communion at the Cathedral at 1.00pm
Monday was an inset day; T, KP and I went to Oxford on the top deck of the S5 from Pioneer Square.
We then did the walking tour from the tour guide - estimated to take two hours and take in a dozen or so of he most well known buildings - sounds dull, but was great fun, T and KP taking it in turns to check out the buildings and take a photo - very good photos actually.
Our route started at the Martyrs' Memorial  and proceeded down Cornmarket past St Michael's Tower (1000years old, originally part of the town wall) then past the golden arches to M&S, then back to the golden arches, aka MacDonalds, for lunch.
Suitably re-energised, we continued down to Christchurch, went through the meadow to Merton St, looked at the colleges and wound our way back to the Bodleian and Sheldonian and back to the bus stop by way of an ice cream shop.
T had a dental appointment at 3.30pm and KP swimming lessons at 4.30pm, then home to cook tea.
We all slept well

Weather has been great today - a good drying day, which I've made the most of - ironing still to do.
I multitasked and watched the French Open - the Sharipova match was 4-4 in the final set when I had to leave for school - I still don't know the result!
I hope the sun shines - better for waiting at bus stops!

......and Amazons!

I'm sitting in the conservatory delighting in watching the swallows swoop around the garden, occasionally settling briefly on the roof.
This must be the first brood out of the nest in the stables as there are so many of them - I must have missed the flying lessons last week whist in Cambridge.
I heard the cuckoo for the first time yesterday, with T and KP - much too late, I must have missed it earlier as they usually arrive at the end of April.
Perhaps they don't like rain!
So many birds nesting in the garden this year.

The last two days with T and KP, J and Th have been great fun - never a dull moment.
Yesterday afternoon the KP and Th (both 7) played football whilst J and T scooted around on wheeled vehicles in a play of their own making, when exhausted they all came in for sustenance, swapped partners and played Harry Potter!
I'm scarcely needed.
All gone now and I'm in the middle of a sermon, which I really want to finish so that I can mow the lawns, B having got the mower going for me (as well as removing the honeysuckle from beside the kitchen window - I thought that it needed a new trellis, it had abandoned that in favour of the gas pipe! - and replacing the bathroom light bulb which I had replaced with one which came on and off unpredictably, apparently due to the unusual red spot on its base)

Cousin JR's care seems to be sorted out now and he has two young blonde ladies in constant attendance - apparently his rather dim old eyes sparkled when they arrived - I think that he may be getting more regular visits from the neighbours now!

Back to the sermon........Ascensiontide - only got a s far as the holiday in Combe Martin and the Elvis tribute, so far - the moment he said it, I knew that it was a sermon - God moves in mysterious ways
I've read a brilliant piece by Ian Poulson, "Eternal Life - we have the best, the most attractive , the most wonderful, the most fantastic, the most wonderful thing in the entire world to offer to people - why aren't churches so full that we have to build more?"
Why indeed?

Chicken Eve!

A great evening; E arrived with T and KP, shortly after I got home from JR's.
We organised the requested dinner - chicken korma, tikka and mixed starters from JS.
I had to leave them to chair a church meeting in the next room.
KP thought it was "great to have a meal with her big brother, like grown ups" - they served mine, ready to microwave later, had their pudding, watched B's got T and came into the meeting to advise on what they enjoyed about church.
What stars!

Achieved a good deal at JR's - sorted two bedrooms and arranged for my Aunt and Uncles clothing  from the 40s - 70s to go to auction, vintage shop, charity shop or bagged for the bonfire when the gardener's in on Thursday.
Wardrobes and bedrooms cleaned and tidied ready for two new carers arriving on Friday, to replace the one already there, with waking night relief.
I've been sharing in JR's care since Monday, which is rewarding despite the sadness of his state - dementia and Alzheimer's.

The journey down marked mainly by the coach that attempted to pull out into the side of me as I drove alongside, in the outside lane - brakes, rumble strip and horn.
The journey back took far too long due to roadworks on A14 and an accident on M6 - small bump on our carriageway, apparently something far worse on the other carriageway, which I didn't see.
J and Th joining us tomorrow for a couple of days of fun - hoping to collect three new chickens and settle them in whilst the g/children are here to meet them.
Should be in bed - I expect an early morning!