Cluck, cluck!

My lone chicken is being cossetted.
This morning, in my dressing gown, the cold and rain, I redesigned the hook that holds the food hopper, in an attempt to keep the food dry as the rain has been getting in, causing the food to clog and block.
I cleaned and refilled the hopper, put a new sheet over the run and the chicken gazebo alongside.
I hope that this works.
I did give chick date and walnut loaf - one of her favourite treats, to make up for the weather.

Aj and i have done chores in Coleshill. then on to Bicester for lunch at Pret and a potter around the shops.
I have a fantastic quilted coat and freeze from the Musto sale and a handbag from Radley - you will never guess the colour.....unless you're a Dane!

Now relaxing with T and KP, awaiting B's return, to keep us all in order.
I think that we have had more than enough rain, surely it will stop soon.

Thawing out!

My wonderful plumber has solved the problem with the hot water tank and the heating was back on when I got home early on Sunday morning.
I have spent the last week avoiding being at home as it was so painfully cold, only relieved by putting the fan heater on. As the house has solid brick walls, any heat put in disperses within minutes of the heat source being removed -  the electric blanket has been a life-saver!
Most days I have gone to the gym early on, emerging about 10.00am, warm and glowing, to face the day - shopping and coffee out or with friends.
It has been far too wet and windy to garden to keep warm.
I have chilblains on both feet and a couple of fingers - the ointment doesn't seem to be having much effect.
Anyway, all's well that ends well, even if you have a plumber who always arrives at 7.00pm, bringing his dinner with him, to microwave on Saturday.

It's been a hectic weekend with a big Burns' Night party, complete with photographer, on Friday evening, dinner with friends in Tamworth on Saturday, two services to take on Sunday morning and Aj arriving in time for dinner.

Today we went to the gym first thing, home for breakfast then on to Knowle and Solihull to shop and have coffee in Pret, before collecting J & Th from school, tea and "Pointless".
Home by 7.00pm for dinner and a busy evening.
I have a new mascara and eye liner from "Body shop", so shall look a new woman tomorrow.
Perhaps not.

Succumbed!

The house seemed colder than ever this morning but I was thrilled when I came downstairs at first light as my one remaining chicken, who had gone AWOL last night, was pecking up crumbs by the shed.
Thank you God.
Next good news was perfect BP, measured by the practice nurse -  one sleepless night and a couple of forgotten pills added to a fair level of stress had given me cause for concern.
Friends came for coffee and cake - the kitchen and conservatory warm and cosy thanks to electric heaters and a good fire, now drawing well, in the lounge, made the downstairs warm for the first time for a week.
The plumber, Jeff, came at 3.00pm and spent three hours under the wash basin, kept going with tea and cake. New tank not needed - third bit of good news for the day.
He's coming back tomorrow - lots still to do before the hot water and heating return.
Jan came for coffee and a chill, I started Sunday's sermon and ate a steak and grilled tomatoes, before folk came for the Bible discussion group, which went very well and saw the back of most of the cake afterwards.
The lounge is warm and cosy , having had a good fire in all day - I have succumbed and am snuggled up on the settee in my onsie, under a duvet for the night, gym kit ready for the morning.
The bedroom is very cold.
Hopefully, the heating will be back on by tomorrow night and I'll go back to bed.

Silver linings.

It has taken me five days to find it, but I'm at last appreciating the benefits of having no heating.
Today Mr Patrick came to sweep the lounge chimney - it wasn't done last year and was smoking.
This was in part due to the birds nest that had been built on the top, which he removed.
He came in through the front door, with his equipment and I could just leave the door open for an hour with no loss of heat.
I think that I'm becoming acclimatised to the cold - there wasn't a frost last night - fortunate as the plumber has phoned and won't be here until tomorrow at 3.00pm, instead of 8.00am.
Another day in the chiller!
Actually, it won't be as I have friends coming for coffee and cakes in the morning, so shall get the house warm early on, then sit back and enjoy it.
I've spent the whole day cleaning and baking in preparation - a fruit cake in the oven, finishing off - Malteser cake, coffee cake and shortbread done.
Bible discussion here tomorrow evening, to finish eating the cake and discuss the reading from last Sunday's sermon.
BP check in the morning - what's the best policy to ensure a low reading? 

Freezing still.

The main problem with not falling asleep until 3.00am is that you don't wake up at the right time the next morning.
This can be good, if the central heating is functioning as the house had time to warm up.
If there is no heating there is no advantage that I can think of.
I awoke at 8.30am, dressed in shorts in record time, to avoid hypothermia, and was at the gym before 9.00am.
A couple of hours later I was warmed up, sparkling and made up - 4 layers, including a HH base layer and cashmere sweater, ready for home.
I did the chores in Coleshill then home to tidy the garden, after some lunch.
The gardening didn't last long - too windy to achieve much, so I did washing and drying instead.
The sweep's coming in the morning so any gym visit must be early - hopefully a clean chimney will help the fire to burn up more - lots of logs burned since the last sweep.
My fingers are freezing on the keys - time for bed.

Still chilly.

Winterwatch" has just informed me that it may be 2 degrees hotter in a wood pile than in the surroundings - perhaps I should bring in a few more logs and build a shelter!
Not a problem really as I have the answer to the chilly conditions whilst awaiting the plumber's visit on Thursday morning - get out and about and keep active.
This works really well during the day - this morning I went to the gym at 8.00am, tennis was cancelled due to the freezing temperatures, so I went on to Solihull to shop and have coffee before collecting Th, from Nanny's (impetigo) then J from school, cooking tea and playing football.
Shopping was a triumph - jeans from M&S, size 12 - 60% off and a brill Kaliko dress, size 12, black fitted and a bit short, to wear with my tartan sash for Burns' Night.

On Sunday I went to Sh church - as cold as home - took the service at NW, came home and mucked out the chicken and the stable, which had not been touched since the demise of Primrose, the goat, 4 weeks ago.
I then cooked a nice joint of beef, prepared the rest of the meal, made a sponge cake and took it al lover to P&A's for dinner, having decided that the house was too cold for them to come here, even with heaters on.
The meal went very well - the Yorkshire pudding didn't quite rise to the occasion, but tasted good

Jan too busy for Salsacise so giving it a miss tonight, planning an early night to try and get on with "The Luminaires" - Mann Booker prizewinner that W & MK gave me for Xmas - a very heavy tome that needs concentration and time.

I'm really enjoying the gym - I do the usual gentle machines, 1.2km on the rowing machine - building it up -  then some of the weight ones, then a swim, shower and home, feeling great.
I'm making good use of my membership - I'm hoping to spend tomorrow in the garden, if the weather allows.
If another frost, I'll go to the gym first thing, otherwise, at the end of the day.

Time for bed - thank goodness for the electric blanket and my amazing onsie!
 

The big chill.

It is 5 degrees in the kitchen, a little warmer in the lounge as I've just put the fan heater on.
There was a water leak from the bathroom, down the newly decorated hall wall and across the ceiling, early this week.
I put it down to a leak from the bath waste, under the shower and just used the shower, which seemed to work as an interim measure.
I went to the gym on Wed morning, then on to Bicester to have a potter around the shops and collect T and KP from school.
I stayed for a couple of nights, which was great fun, as usual.
I was well entertained from 6.30am, by T and KP, until bedtime - comparing our reading material, reciting poems, music practice.......
I ventured into Bicester Village for coffee.
I did try on the odd fleece and gilet in North Face, having gone off Berghaus as my newest fleece has pilled badly after only a couple of washes.  
No sale though - too expensive.
I arrived home at about 7.30pm yesterday to find the hall ceiling dripping, ceiling paper ballooned and the wallpaper blistered.
Ben came over - my hero of the day - and spent over 4 hours sorting out the problem - either a gasket on the tank outlet or a new tank needed.
He has drained and labelled everything ready for the plumber next week and managed to restore the cold water supply, so only hot water and heating missing.
I have  a lounge fire to sit by whilst I prepare my sermon and may then go in the garden to clear some leaves, if it is still light by I've finished.
The power shower, fan heaters and dishwasher will cope until the plumber comes next week to access the job - 4 layers of clothing are working well at the moment.
Yesterday evening I wore my onsie - Christmas present from B and E - it was really warm and cosy -I love it!
I went to the gym this morning after B went home, Keith came to bring the Xmas tree blocks from church, to store, I've had two cappuccinos, a lump of cheese and I'm ready to face the sermon:
 John . 29 - 42.
I hope that it's straightforward but I doubt it - anything from "John" is usually a challenge!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Salsa or .bust

I've finished the day at Salsacise - over an hour of trying my best to "mambo", "susique", "grapevine", etc, without tripping over or finishing the exercise facing the opposite way to the rest of the class.
I'm improving but I'm really not very good.
On the plus side, it's fun and I enjoy the exercise bit.

I played tennis this morning - a bright sunny morning, low sun and no clouds and so really difficult to see from one end of the court.
I had a meeting at the bank then on to Knowle and Solihull for coffee and a little light shopping - a pretty relaxing, indulgent day all in all.
The joys of retirement.  

Chilly.

I'm watching "Sherlock", about the only programme that seems worth the effort at the moment.
He has a girlfriend!
No he doesn't - it was a con.
Good - didn't fit the character.

It's been a good weekend - having been to the gym on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, I decided that I should give Saturday a miss in order to have time to paint the conservatory.
I'm sure that self-denial is good for the soul.
I cleaned and painted, scrubbed the floor, cleaned the carpet and put it all back together by 7.00pm
I'm really pleased with the result - warm orange/peach which goes very well with the tiles.
I prepared today's Family Service before I started - Magi - just in case.
I had a bath and an early night, then found that it was the bath plumbing that was leaking - could be worse, at least I can use the shower....I think.

I've taken three services today - two morning and an Evening Prayer.
In between, I went to Jan and Chris's for lunch and a chat.
During the evening service I cleaned the church and stripped off the notice board - work that one out.

Tennis tomorrow, if it's not freezing, if so, the gym, then Solihull for coffee and shopping.
Sounds like a good day.

We've arrived - Happy Birthday MK!

I'm sure that W will be cooking dinner or taking MK out  whilst T & B babysit.

I'm watching a programme on how to have the perfect lawn - they haven't yet mentioned what to do about the spoil heaps and undulations caused by moles - Arthur caught 9 in total - a record!.
He thinks that they were coming from across the road, but why here - none next door?
The experts are mixing small clover with grass seed as it wears well and looks good  - I've got that bit right - 90% clover, large though.

I went to the gym this morning - 4 miles away so a 2 hour trip, allowing for showering and hair drying.
I felt great afterwards.
I prepared to paint the conservatory, but by the time I'd put the cabling away, brought back from  church yesterday and sorted out ladders and had coffee............the light was going.
I'll start in the morning - might go to the gym first.
I have to prepare the family service for Sunday, but already have it planned in my mind, so not much to do.
Shall we make Magi out of coat pegs?
10 minute max activity needed - perhaps we'll make stars instead.

Damp patch on the hall ceiling - I don't know when it came but do remember that the shower door wasn't properly closed the other day - hope it was that.
PtheP can redo it when he comes back in Feb.

M&S have plaid furniture in the sale - only 4 furniture shops, nearest/ most convenient is Leeds.
Just have to decide whether I need/can afford it - chair, lovers chair (wider) and settee.
I think that it might just be a dream.

No spelling mistakes........
 

Happy Birthday Kate.

The Duchess of Cambridge is 32 today - for the info of royal watchers.
Perhaps Wills has cooked dinner for her whilst baby George slept - married bliss!

I was up early and at the gym by 8.00am, to work on the machines, do some weights and have a swim.
I came out feeling great - about 25 and fit as a flea.
Perhaps a good walk would be better but it wouldn't make me feel as good and the weather was foul - puddles everywhere.

I was at church by 9.30am and together with 4/5 friends we undressed the 32 Christmas trees, carried them outside and cleaned up.
I eventually left at around 5.00pm, having vacuumed  through - not too many needles as the church had been cool, to say the least, as the heating broke down the weekend that we put the trees up.
It's actually been Arctic in there all Christmas.

Trying to accept the news that sugar is a killer and smoothies are bad for you - who'd have guessed?

Happy Birthday Elvis.

Elvis would have been79 today, had he not died prematurely of obesity and drugs.
I looked up two birthday sites and only knew a handful of the names on either site - the first was too academic, the second too "popular"
Elvis, Ron Moody, 90 and Stephen Hawking, 72 and David Bowie, 67 appeared on both.
I wonder which of them is most widely known.

I'm in bed in my onsie, thinking that I may be far too warm and that I should change as it's only really your shoulders that get cold if you stay awake reading after the heating curfew.
It's been a cold, windy day since about 11.00am - we started playing tennis in bright sunshine, it clouded over and then a cold wind blew up - I don't think that I've been warm since then.
I went to Ventura Park to buy paint for the conservatory, intending to come home and paint it before the light failed - I knew in my heart of hearts that I was really going to M&S to have a look at the sale first.
That necessitated coffee and a delicious small beef baguette - a new tasting menu, £1.50 - a bargain.
I'd not had breakfast as I left in a hurry for tennis.
I have a navy blue furry fleece and a pot of Autumn Fern 4 paint, mixed specially for me in Homebase - not sure that I've got it right, but it's a scrummy caramel colour.
Home too late to paint, so tea and "Pointless", TV and e mails.
What a waste of time.

Church Xmas trees out tomorrow so about 7 layers of clothing needed - I'll take coffee and biscuits for the troops!

Despite the cold, wet weather, the week as started well - J and Th here for the last day of their holiday on Monday.
We read, played, watched CBBs and played Trivial Pursuits with Jan, which Th won!
All heating was working flat out to keep us warm.
The new settee from M&S was delivered by "Man with a Van" at 7.30pm.
It's caramel with a tweedy texture and perfect - marches the background colour of the patterned arm chairs.
A big matching one will be delivered in Feb.
Anyone want a big green settee with worn cushions?
Buyer collect.
Jan and I went to salsacise - I'm not good at the dancing bit as there are too many steps to remember and they keep changing.
It's good exercise and fun anyway.

This morning I went to LM gym at 9.00am, left at 10.30am to go to the dentist, feeling really good.
Teeth and gums were A1, so a good morning altogether, worth coffee in Pret followed by a browse around the shops in Solihull then Knowle and home by tea time.
Bell ringing tonight - two practices then I rang a round with the team.
I am getting better but it's a slow process.
If I get it wrong I loose confidence.
Tonight the ropes were short - apparently they twist more when it's wet - so it took a long time to get sorted.
I was going to garden tomorrow but it's boggy at best so that may be postponed  

Fighting Fit!

It's been a really good day - ironing done early (lots of tablecloths and serviettes) then off to the gym in Lea Marston with Jan, as her guest.
The gym's very friendly and well-equipped but the pool is small and oddly shaped.
 I may join to get some exercise during the winter months as it's only 5 minutes down the road, membership is monthly, and very reasonable - we both felt great afterwards.
We felt so good that we went to Ventura Park for lunch at JL, followed by shopping and tea at M&S.
I bought a couple of settees in M&S at a knock down price, I now have to persuade someone to collect the smaller one, which was in the store, the larger one has to be made and delivered.
Anyone want two older settees in need of covering?
I'll paint the conservatory to match/co-ordinate - the week after next??

It's still raining.
I'll have to move the chickens to higher ground if it doesn't stop soon.
 

Happy Birthday Marie.

Big sister Marie will be 67 by the time you read this. - she lives in France and doesn't feature greatly in my life, nevertheless, Happy Birthday.
AJ stayed last night, we were up early and had a great day sale shopping in Solihull and Knowle, including coffee at Pret a Manger.
We bought some clothes, in preparation for our holiday and some china, because we liked it.
We were home for a late lunch - finishing the cottage pie from yesterday's party and then checking out holiday destinations before aj set off for home.

It's been a wet and windy evening - I hope that the chicken run is secure, nearer to the stables as it blew  away, wholesale in the last storm.

I've been watching fat programmes on and off all evening - "50  facts about diet", followed by "Fat Women" - fancy being sat on (squashed) by a 600lb woman?
Not me offering - it's how some make a living.
Apparently, many youngish people have the joints of 70 year olds due to ......running!
Really bad for the joints if taken to excess, so W is right - walking is much better for you.
Having said that, I'm going to Lea Marston gym in the morning, as guest of Jan, then on to Ventura Park to shop/ have coffee at John Lewis.
I can do the ironing later in the day.
Sounds like a pretty good day. 

2 Jan already.

An excellent start to 2014.
We had a good party - a couple of dozen good friends and the icing on the cake - B, E and family arrived for lunch en route home from "Up North".
Lots of wine, bubbly, flowers and chocolates, the meal went well and only a Stilton mountain remaining, due to excessive buying on my part.
I should have looked in the fridge before going shopping.
Bread and butter pudding made with panetone was a big hit as was pear and chocolate trifle.
I thought that the dishwasher would cope with clearing up, but two loads later I realised that it needed help as the sinks were still full of saucepans and serving dishes.
All done, time for bed.