Oh Noooo!!

Went to use the machine yesterday made a grunching noise and informed me there was a problem with the motor, so its going back. I am not taking it this time, I need to go up into the loft and get the polysterene packing down and pack it up for collection next week. The shop is closed today and tomorrow for the autumn retreat. I just hope my surge of sewing energy does not desert me in the mean time.

Very cold this morning, we are off into town to get our vaccination top ups. We will then have to wait for our flu jab appointments at the Drs in a couple of weeks.

Not a lot ging on here, so will sepnd most of the day reading, I need to finish books before the library van comes on Monday.

Usual fish and chips for supper tonight. Ice cream for dessert.

Home again

we set off just after 9.30am. I wish I could say the journey was uneventful, but with DB navigating, I managed to get on the wrong road. Once at the machine shop the embroidery arm was soon sorted, hoops much easier to get in and out. The machine was then stripped down, the shuttle case was damaged and there was also some damage to the shuttle race.

I had taken a picnic so we sat in the car and had our picnic, two hours after we arrived we were on our way home. Once more the oracle sent me the wrong way.

I was shattered when we got back. Supper egg andchips with ice cream for dessert.

I took painkillers when I went to  bed and has a really good nights sleep, mind you I was shattered. Long distance driving is going to become a thing of the past I think.

Heavy rain overnight, its very dull and grey this morning. I have towels in the washer, they are going to have to go in the dryer. Thankfully I signed on to a fix when we had to change fuel suppliers, I have just had a bill and we have cash in hand. The fix does not run out till August so I am pleased I fixed, I can use the dryer without worrying. Hopefully things might have stabilized by the time the fix ends in August.

Supper tonight is bacon fritatta and  celery and tomato salad, might have a scoop full of ice cream for dessert.

On An Away Day

Taking my machine up to Sheffield for Tim to have a look at it. Back tomorrow. 

Brrrrr

Its cold this morning and quite overcast. We did have several 'showers' of rain yesterday.

I ended up with the sheets in the dryer. I have a couple of loads of coloureds to do this morning, I think they will be going in the dryer as well, need to check the forecast.

Not really much to report, we are taking the machine up to Sheffield tomorrow, it played up again yesterday afternoon, so its packed in its cases ready to load into the car. I need to pack up a picnic to take with us, we will have to wait whhilst Tim looks at itl

No idea whats for supper will have a root in the freezer. There is enough crumble for dessert. 

What a grey day

It started off quite sunny, but by the time I came to want to put the laundry out on the line it was raining, so into the dryer they went.

DB had to help me put the duvet cover on, a job he hates and didn't we know it!! Still its done.

My sewing machine has decided to have another hissy fit, so a journey up to Sheffield on Wednesday to see the repair man. All Christmas sewing it at a stand still for now, the machine and arm are packed away in their bags ready to be loaded in the car on Wednesday morning. No cleaner to help me this time!! She is in Scotland taking her Mother up to see her sister who is 101!! 

Its turned very cold, I am putting the fire on in the sitting room for about an hour each afternoon. I have ordered 2 fleece coveralls which can either been used on a chair or as a coverall......

Supper tonight is chicken, salad and jacket spuds. I made a crumble yesterday so there is enough for today and tomorrow for dessert.

Hmmmm

we should have been setting off for Norfolk this morning, however because DB's health is so upsie downsie I decided to cancel, and we will not be going on any more holidays. I just cannot take the risk anymore.

Usual Sunday breakfast, so late getting up. I need to do the veggies for supper.

Yesterday was another day on the machine, when I have finished the mat I am on now I will be doing another couple of things, a friend asked me for 2 bookmarks, I made her 2 some years ago, she wants a couple more. It is her golden wedding on Friday, I will do them and post them in a card.

Its rather dull this morning and quite chilly. DB is going to clear out the coal shed and I am going to get a load of logs, just in  case. We have some wood we can cut up for kindling and I will get a packet of fire lighters and keep them in case we need them.

Supper tonight is roast chicken crown and veggies, will look at making a crumble as well.

Lovely morning

sun shining, warmish out of the wind, sadly it did not last, right now its pouring with rain, but that does not bother us, we need the rain for the garden.

I have spent most of the morning on the machine, I am on my fourth mat. The last two are going to be done in different design but still in Christmas fabric.

Gardener was here yesterday, he helped DB move another of the deep beds, it is going to be grassed. DB will just have one long bed next year. There are a couple of smaller ones with strawberry plants in.

DB had a choking fit at lunchtime........I am saying nothing,apparently despite having a nursing background I know nothing!!

I have to admit, I am noy sorry we are not going away, the forecast is not good especially on the east coast.

Supper tonight is all day breakfast, we have creme brulee for dessert. 

Its Friday

Appointment at the Surgery for DB this morning, he needs another blood test. So a trip to the next village.

I was shattered yesterday after the shopping, I actually went to bed early and slept, did wake briefly to go to the loo but apart from that a reasonable nights sleep for a change. I feel much better this morning.

I am sorting out the fabric for the mats for the christmas lunch, they are initially a gift to the Chapel, if any of them sell I will donate part of the cost to the chapel. It runs on the funds it generates.

Nothing much going on just now, everywhere is quiet, and hunkering down for winter. Its colder this morning, but so far no heat on. Just for an hour in the evening when we watch TV.

Usual fish and chips for supper tonight, I treated us to a couple of creme brulee, so we will have those for dessert.

 

Autumn is here

Its brrrr this morning temperature down to single figures.

Coffee morning went off well, the Mandala mat was well received and another lady asked me for 2 of the Celtic runners. I agreed with B to do 6 of the round mats for the tables for Christmas lunch. So quite a productive day one way or another.

We are off shopping to Aldi this morning. QD in the town have the toilet paper I like on offer, so will call in there on the way. 32 rolls should last us at least 9 months.

Supper tonight is chicken and rice, might just get custard tarts or something from Aldi for dessert.

Yay!!!

I now have 2 working keys for the car....... it took almost 2 hours, mind you they did valet the car as well....We got there a few minutes after 10 and left at 12.15pm. I decided to go to C & C for lunch which saved me cooking last night.

Coffee morning this morning. I am taking the mat which was ordered and also the place mat I made from scraps. I measured the outline and I can actually use slightly smaller scraps which is great. Also looking into using gold thread. The satin stitch is very dense and I have a feeling the gold thread might not be strong enough, will have to see.

Shopping tomorrow, I need to go through the cupboards and sock up the larder cupboard and get replacements. I also need to stock up on toilet paper.

Supper tonight is shepherds pie, I had some beans last so mixed them with the mince, just need to put the potato on the top and reheat it. We finished the oranges in jelly last night, so not sure if we will have a dessert.

Its all over.

DB spent all but an hour yesterday glued to the box. I did get an hours respite when he went for his siesta.......in between I made lunch and cooked supper, he still insisted on watching the news. I am so glad its all over till the Coronation, which I think will be either April or May.....

This morning we drove into Leicester and after a bit of a cuffulle, got the new key programmed to the car. It did take almost 2 hours though. We called at C & C Potting Shed on the way home, DB had Bacon I had sausage bap, so no need for a huhe meal tonight, just poached eggs on toast.

Tomorrow is coffee at the little chapel. I have a finished mat to take and also a sample mat made mostly from scraps.

Mandala table mat.

Table mat.

The Mandala was an order. The other one is a sample, I am going to possibly make 6, 3 for each of the tables for the Christmas lunch.

I have another one cut out, I need to see if I can use smalled bits for the petals, that will give me more scope with the fabric scraps I have.

Did not post yesterday

we were late getting up, which put me behind for the day. Apart from which there was nothing much to say.

Thnakfully after today things will die down a bit, DB will be glued to the TV  for most of the day.

I was not feeling 100% yesterday, but I cannot afford to give in, so plodded along nursing my back, which is getting worse.

Its a grey morning and cold, will not be doing the laundry, it can wait till tomorrow. I will be starting the heating comparision from 1st October, gas heating first, then a month with the oil heaters, see how it compares.

No cleaner today, she is coming on Thursday, an arrangement I made last week when we were going away.

Sausage, mash and baked beans for super tonight. I did manage  oranges in jelly yesterday so that will do drssert for a couple more nights.

Yesterday

was not a good day. I managed to get DB to see the nurse pracitionar and she has asked for blood tests I have sent in a sample and DB has another one coming through the post.......

In the afternoon he was out in the garden with the gardener, came in and promptly collapsed.......fortunately I was able to get him into bed. He recovered ok and seems not too bad this morning. I am rapidly getting to the point where I cannot cpe with him........and he knows this.

I will not be making any more plans to go anywhere, I have lost a lot of money cancelling next weeks trip, but I just could not take the risk of something happening whilst we are away. My machine is going to have to go up to Sheffield at some point, I need them to look at a couple of things. I may well have to go up in the attic and find the foam travelling case and sent it up rather than take it.

Sunny morning, but boy has the temperature gone down it was 6c overnight.

Towels in the washer they should dry on the line. Have also cooked a gammon joint and got a loaf of bread on. The gammon is for tomorrow.

Supper tonight will be frittata and salad.

Hey Ho

Holiday cancelled DB has a problem, we are seeing the nurse practitioner later this morning.......He had C. Diff some years ago, I am not sure if its not rearing its head again.

It was so cold last night the heating came on, its off again now, will go round and turn the rads off. Extra jumpers needed...... although the sun is shining its quite cold out.

I actually got to speak to the garage about the key to the car. We are going in on Tuesday for them, hopefully, to fix it, fingers crossed. I am not impressed with the service from the garage.

Fish and chips tonight, again no dessert.

Grey day

It was very dark and grey when we got up, the sky is lightening up now. I was going to put towels in the wash but have decided to leave them until Saturday.

There were very moving scenes on TV yesterday, DB as an ardent royalist was of course watching.

The list has been prepared for our holiday, I now have to get the suitcases out and pack them, I have a small mandala to finish and then I will put the machine 'away'. until we get back.

I still have not got the second key for my car, I am now getting a little more than annoyed, phoned this morning and asked to speak to the manager......He is busy!!! He won't be busy if I go to the papers and post on the net, he will be out of a job!!

Not sure whats for supper tonight, I get so bored with menu planning at times. My back causes me to limit so much that I used to do

Another day

another dollar.

Sunny but a cool breeze. I have a coloured load on in the washer, it should dry ok.

DB was glued to the TV again yesterday and will be this afternoon, me I am getting really fed up with it. We should get a break now until Monday.

The garden is beginning to go back now, lots of clearing up to do, Not sure if we will need the gardener after the end of this month. I need to make a beef casserole for tonights supper and prep the veggies for tonight. Then I need to tackle cleaning my machine down. 

The flat we lived in when we were first in Edinburgh was in a mews at the back of houses on Southqueensferry Road, we could just see it behind the houses, it was above a Coach House and would have been where the head coachman lived.

I need to get my brain into gear, need to start pulling things together for our trip a week on Sunday. DB will enjoy making the lists, me? I have to put out whats needed.

So tonights supper is beef casserole and veggies, we are not eating dessert at the moment.

Sunny

a very weak sun trying to shine this morning. I had to get the sheets etc in quickly yesterday as it started to rain and I did not notice, had to finish them off in the dryer.

We had a council meeting scheduled for tonight, but as a mark of respect it has been cancelled. We are going into Morrison to get bits we cannot get from Aldi.

DB again spent most of yesterday glued to the TV, I did a bit more sewing, have almost finished a second mat. One more to go. I think then I have almost finished Christmas presents.

Supper tonight will be salmon and salad. 

Wash day again

Bed stripped this morning and in the washer, it should dry outside. Cleaner is here today, I need to have a quick clean up in my sewing room, there is stuff all over the floor.

DB spent most of yesterday watching TV. I saw the last few minutes of the coverage of the Queens body travelling to Edinburgh, we saw the house we used to live in on Queensferry Road.......

I spent most of the day in my sewing room, another mat on its way, this one is an order. I then have a smaller one to do for a Christmas present.

It was fine yesterday but it looks like we had some rain overnight. I had one of my famous 'awake ' nights. The alst time I looked at the clock it was 5.30am. I needed to wake at 7.00am to take my horrible medication. DB was still asleep.

Supper tonight will be more of the pork, DB has asked for veggies with it, so a cooked supper. I think we may well skip dessert.

Its Sunday

the start of a new week. The sun keeps coming and going, its certainly cooler than it has been, so autumn is on its way.

We watched the Proclamation  of King Charles 111 yesterday. The coverage is still endless and gets very boring when one sees it for the nth time.

We switched the TV on last night for the news to be greeted with an amazing sight, The Prince and Princess of Wales walking and talking to the crowds at Windsor along with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, my goodness, it was a shock. They have been told by the King to make up and shut up, he really needs Megan and Harry to help out especially as he is going to limit the family to close members, ie The Princess Royal, who already does more than her fair share of engagements. The Earl and Countess of Wessex as well as The Prince and Princess of Wales. Life is going to be interesting over the next few weeks and months.

I had to buy a new slicer, my other one fell to bits, this morning I tested it out, it works fine, so I sliced bread and also the joint of pork I cooked yesterday. All is bagged up and in the freezer apart from the pork for tonights supper.

I had a very bad moment yesterday, I finish joining the mat up and putting the centre circle on, started to cut it out and cut through the top!! I did not swear or jump up and down.......just groaned, not sure if I can do a sneeky repair on it, will have to see. Just now I am doing a smaller one for a present.

So supper tonight is roast pork and veggies......might have fruit and ice cream for dessert.

So it begins

Years ago mourning meant wearing black for at least a year. Now days 3 weeks to a month is the official mourning period. We enter a 19 day period of mourning until the day after the Queens funeral.

Last night King Charles 111 appeared on TV and broadcast his first message to the nation and comonwealth as King. He has a heavy burden facing him and has had to wait a long time. I fear his reign will not be a long one.

We watched the programme, but then switched over to watch videos we had recorded, the main TV channels have been swamped with endless programmes which become a bit boring after a bit.

It is a rather grey day, quite cool too, needless to say rain is forecast.

DB is out in the garden, will call him in soon, for the first time we are to see what happens when King Charles is officially proclaimed King. It has never been televised before. He acceded to the throne the moment the Queen died, but this ceremony is to proclaim to the Country and the world that he is now King.

No idea about supper. might do salad.

Sad news

 We are a country in mourning following the Death of our Queen, it seemed she would go on for ever, but like all mortals that was not to be. I had been concerned about her for a long time, it was obvious that she had lost weight, her problems with mobility were not really supprising when taking in her advanced age.

We now have a King who we know has some revolutionary ideas. We will see whats comes to pass. 

I have made great strides with the Mandala, I should finish it this weekend. It is already sold. I plan to make a smaller one for a Christmas present for our old neighbour.

Fish and chips for supper.

Quick post

going shopping, and to visit our old neighbour, so just a quickie this morning.

Sold one of the runners and also the candle mat at the coffee morning. Had an order for the Mandala I am making as well. Pastor at the chapel suggested I make a few of the mats and he will put them on the tables for the harvest festival with a note of how much they are..... very kind of him.

No idea about supper think it will be something with salad. 

Its that morning again

We do so look forward to going for coffee at the little chapel and meeting up with friends, the discussions are often very lively and there are more than a few laughs. I am taking the finished runners with me. Started a different mat yesterday, a mandala. I was asked how the runners were made, so I have deliberatly not joined up the first and second pieces of the mat.

I had a massive fail yesterday, put a loaf on and it came out like a brick...... so cross a waste of flour and energy. I will have another go this morning and see what happens. Will use a fresh packet of yeast. I only use a teaspoon full for each loaf, so there is often yeast left in the packet, I do reseal it, but I have to admit it does go off. There was enough mince left after supper for a shepherds pie, so its in the freezer.

A bright morning, we have had more rain overnight, the grass is slowly recovering, but after the first inch the ground it still very dry.

No idea whats for supper, will need to put my thinking cap on later. I might do sausage with mash and green beans......we have enough rice pudding for dessert, it was delicious. 

More rain

DB announced we had another half inch of rain overnight, the garden is too wet to work in, so he is going to be working in the shed this morning.

Meds are due to be delivered and I need to go up to the Post Office, will wait until DB comes in from the garden.

I got the laundry dry on the line yesterday, so apart from a shirt of DB's which needs ironing, it is all folded and put away. I need to get myself into gear, we are due to go away in a couple of weeks, so need to sort out clothes etc.

I have an appointment to get my hair cut this afternoon, its curling, so long past its cut by date!!

I have cut out the fabric to make another mat, a different one this time, 8 pieces that need sewing together.

Supper tonight will be mince and dough balls, no dessert, the dough balls will fill us up.

Wow

we had a massive thunderstorm at 3am this morning, sheet lightening and huge claps of thunder. This morning you would never guess, the sun is shining and we are expecting a high of 23c!! The thunder woke us, DB was gazing out of the window at torrential rain.

Yesterday I managed to break a needle sewing the circle centre on the mat I made.

I doubt I will make another one, a bit too fiddly, but it does look nice.

No plans for the day, the cleaner is due this morning, I have a load in the washer so it should dry fiarly quickly.

Supper tonight will be egg and chips, no idea re a dessert as yet.

Its windy

not as bad as it has been in the past,  but the wind is increasing, we are also forecast a week of rain which we badly need.

I have started a round mat, made in a similar way to the celtic runners, it does not take as long to embroider but you still have to take time to trim the fabric etc. Using up some of the fabric left from the runners. I have also started piecing bits of stabilizer together with wash away thread.

Scraping the barrel for supper tonight, beef and bean casserole rather than a roast dinner. I need to go through the outside freezer again and bring more stuff into the inside one. I also need to look at making a dessert of some discription. 

So

after sweating all week making those runners I have decided againat putting them in the show. I think I need to become a lot better at doing them, especially the cutting round the sewn edge without cutting the stitches!! My hair is 3 shades greyer!!

DB asked what was for lunch, hmmmm not sure, home grown tomato, cucumber and lettuce in the fridge, would it keep till Monday? I doubt it, so salad sarnies it was. Fine until we came to eat them, bite into them and mayonnaise, tomato and cucumber started to do a little dance and squeeze out of the sandwich. Managed eventually to eat them, but not without tomato seeds running down my chin, closely followed by cucumber, even though there was mayo to stick the filling together!!

I am about to try a circle mat on the machine, same designer as the runners,  pray for me!! I must be nuts.

Its a fine but cold morning, the sun is out, just pleasant outside. We are forecast a week of rain next week, we cartainly need it.

Supper tonight is ADB, we will finish up the ice cream for dessert.

Its Friday

A dull morning, DB says we are due light rain this morning, hopefully it will clear in time for the gardener this afternoon, some of his favourite jobs, cutting down!!

The fabric came yesterday, I have got 2 pieces done, need to do the third and fourth and see what it looks like. I am still waiting for the cartridges for the water jug. Our water here is very hard and leaves 'scum' on cups especially after we have tea in them.

I was very prudent when we had to sign with a new energy supplier and put a 3 year fix in place, it runs until August next year, so hopefully will see us through this winter with reasonable bills what happens after that remains to be seen. I still intend to do the comparison using electric and gas for the central heating.

Fish and chip night tonight........ need to sort out a dessert.

Pinch

a pinch an a punch for the first of the month. The first of September and atumn is on its way!!

Yesteday afternoon our neighbour off loaded 4 of his old slabs onto the stand for our waste bins which stand outside our gate. A distinct improvement on the welsh slate they were standing on. 

DB has had a telephone assessment by our local chemist on the medication he takes, we get one once a year. I had mine a couple of months ago.

Its a sunny morning, but a cool wind. windows open to air the house a bit.

Still waiting for a delivery of delayed post,  

Supper tonight is frittata and salad, ice cream for dessert