Early call

8.10 am the phone went, a delivery due in 10 minutes. As I did not sleep till about 4am this morning, I was not at my best, however delivery was made.

Next door neighbour came round to give me a hand, a new TV, the old one is going in to our bedroom and I will sell the very small one I bought for DB a couple of years ago. It is up and running, much bigger screen and has a connection through the internet, sound is better too.

So I managed to get the carpet cleaned and the wall dusted behind where the TV stands, just wish I could hide all the messy cables.

Chicken and rice for supper. I want to get some fruit out of the freezer for a rhubarb and raspberry crumble for tomorrow. 

So the end if another year, I wonder what the next year holds for us.... we will just have to wait and see.

Last but one

 day of 2022, not a nad year for us, DB only had one hospital stay, I  have avoided covid and just put up and shut up about my other health issues.

Today we are, hopefully, getting either a new cistern or lavatory, not sure which till the chap comes. The large bookcase is also getting picked up, so I can clean behind and the carpet under where it stood before we put the new one in place. I will also clean the sitting room. In the past I have always cleaned the whole house on New Years eve, just cannot managed that now, will have a flick round with the duster over today and tomorrow, also need to do laundry. The cleaner is back on Monday. She called in yesterday with our Christmas present, I was able to give her hers.

Another grey day in store, DB has informed me that its raining again. When we went out on Wednesday the roads were very wet, large puddles where the roads usually flood. Looking forward to better weather, but not such a hot summer as last year.

Our usual fish and chip supper tonight.

A change

in our routine. Yesterday DB had an appointment to get his hearing aids looked at, so a visit to our local hospital. I have never seen the car park so empty!! New bits and the aids cleaned, he has to go every 6 months to get them checked. I need to make an appointment to go, one of mine is blocked with wax.

DB missed his siesta, so a long day for him. He fell asleep watching TV at one point.

Today I have a grocery delivery coming. Tomorrow and Saturday will be busy. DB has to empty the book case, its being collected tomorrow morning, I will then put the new one in place once I have given the walls a dust down and everything cleaned. Its lower than the old one, so will not dominate the room in the same way. We also have a delivery due on Saturday.

I downloaded a set of free standing lace ornaments to stitch, I was so disgusted with the nativity baubles I have deleted them.

Supper tonight is a mystery, but I think its chicken, DB put the containers in the freezer and did not mark them!! I will do the veg shortly. No dessert tonight. 

Oh dear

Another grey day, we have the lights on its so dark. We are not forecast snow, but its certainly raining.

DB's vertigo is ramping up again, he was in bed for 2 hours yesterday afternoon. I have told him to start doing the exercises they gave him at the clinic.......will have to make sure he does them at least twice a day.

We have a visit to the hearing clinic today to get his hearing aid checked, will get them to check his ears as well for wax. I have been putting olive oil in them.

I did start sewing yesterday, but gave up, I love the design on the baubles but the finish is pants, I will maybe start doing some lace baubles till I can find a decent pattern.

Supper tonight is gammon, jacket spuds with toamto and cerley salad, migh have a spoonful of icecream for dessert.

 

Tuesday

 We had a good time with dd2 and little miss. We were treated to some dancing and gymnastics. She was wearing a pretty frozen outfit, a second different dress was donned before we left. We watched a Disney film as well. Coffee and cake went down very well.

No lunch needed, DB went for his siesta, I prepped a couple of platters for a  'help yourself' supper.

We watched 'Matilda', The Repair Shop and then Death in Paradise before retiring to bed. A much better nights sleep

Today its back to housework and laundry. Load has been washed and a quick dry in the dryer. It's raining so no drying outside.

Db requested sausage, mash and baked beans for supper

 Your wish is my command, master!!!

Very cold, but a little sun

We had a very quiet day yesterday. Had breakfast in bed. I prepped the veg for supper, sliced the bread and also the gammon and turkey. We have a well stocked freezer with cold meat.

DB went for his siesta, I read for a while, and then had a short nap. We had messages in from family and friends around the world which was very nice and DB's sister phoned, just as we were going to have supper, so he phoned her back later. She had a houseful of family.

We watched a bit of TV, picking what we wanted to see.

Our supper was very nice, the turkey crown cooked so well on steam roast, still very moist.

This morning we are going to see our GGD and DD2 for coffee. I have meat for supper, so we will have a pick what you want, when you want it meal and finish off the trifle.

It is cold, but thankfully we do not have any frost or snow, the sun is shining, not that there is much warmth in it.

 

                      A happy Christmas to each and every one of you. 

Its feeling a lot like Christmas

the big day is nearly here. I cooked the turkey crown this morning, so its ready to slice tomorrow.

I left a loaf on on yesterday afternoon, it came out like a house brick, guess the yeast was old, so I put another loaf on overnight, cooked to perfection by 8.30am this morning. I think I may do that again.

So all the food I can get ready is ready, we are having bacon frittata and salad tonight, possibly ice cream for dessert. I have a trife which needs finishing on Boxing day, might just have to sample a bit of it.

We had a visit from DSS with Aimee yesterday, she is coming on, walks round the furniture, and actually came to sit on my knee. Its going to be a long job, but at least now SS has got full disablity living allowence and is in the process of getting a disability car. Its going to be a hard slog for him. It appears that she has an extra chronosome, and also has some brain damage as well.

Our visit to our old neighbour went well, she is looking better and was quite bright and eager for news of the village.

Everywhere is very quiet, M & N were out shopping this morning, but thats about it, no cars in or out.

To end, I wish my readers a very happy Christmas, hope it is a good day for you all.

Its raining

Chucking it down, very dark and grey.

We are going into town to take our old neighbours present and card. SS is due to come this morning, hope he is not late, we need to be away before 2pm so we can get back in the light if possible.

I have cooked a gammon joint, have a load of laundry on and also need to make a loaf, I will set it just before we go out, so its ready when we get home. I have put lentils etc in the cooking liquor to make some lentil soup for lunch.

I am feeling so tired, every night this week has been a disturbed one, I need to shuttle back a bit and may be sleep in the afternoon for an hour.

The turkey crown is defrosting in the fridge, I am going to cook it tomorrow, it will be easier to slice then. I will prep the veg when I get up, so all I have to do is actually put the gas on to cook them.

Supper tonight is fish and chips. 

Getting closer

Its hard to believe that its Christmas Day on Sunday, the year seems to have flown past somehow.

I put the window display up yesterday, it looks good, it will stay up until after Boxing Day.

I took the photo whilst the sun was still out so the top is reflecting the sky. Now it will be on to the stuff for the craft fair next year.

We are expecting delivery of the small bookcase this afternoon.  I still have the big one, waiting for it to be collected by the Air Ambulance charity shop. I had it on Guntree but the person that asked about it did not come back, so its off. It does not owe us a penny, we bought it 30+ years ago when pine was all the rage.

I am doing chicken and rice tonight, no dessert.

 

 

Last coffee morning for 2022

The next coffee morning will be in January 2023, this year seems to have gone really quickly. A good attendance, mince pies, biscuits and after 8s with our coffee.

The new bookcase is due tomorrow, it will have to go under the window until I can get the old one collected by the charity shop.

No sewing done, might start again next week, will see how I feel. I have been looking at new designs and ideas for next year. I need to trawl the sales for felt. One of the projects takes 3mm felt. One of the designs I am going to do is a nutcracker.....

Supper tonight, cornbeef salad. We can use the cornbeef in sandwiches later.

10c+ warmer

turned the heating down last night, we were too warm, if it continues like this I will be turning it off.

Out this morning to Lidl in Bingham, much bigger that the one in Melton, just a couple of things I could not get, not vital so thats ok. 

Half cleaned this morning did the shower room except the floor, just have to refill my 'cleaning fluid' bottle and I will do the toilet. Again will leave the floor, will be doing the kitchen floor at the weekend so will do the shower room and toilet whilst I have the steamer on.

Left a load of washing in, its in the dryer. I have put a seperate load of thicker things in to wash now.

I bought a small bagette, will fill it with beef paste, tomato and cucumber, cut it in half for lunch.

Supper tonight is mince with potato, cabbage and the remains of a bag of frozen mixed veg, will finish off the raspberies in jelly for dessert.

Its Monday

Bed changed, I have had to clean the bedroom myself this morning cleaner has called in sick, she will not be back for 2 -3 weeks......I am considering cutting her down to every other week. At last managed to get DB to the Drs re his vertigo, she has referred him to the ENT at LRI. apart from that he is ok. Wish I was.

Feeling the strain quite a bit. Nothing I can do about it though.

No sewing, I have the old duvet over the chairs in the sewing room, its about to be rolled up and put out for the bin men. I have ordered a new one, but its not coming until 29th December.

The frost has gone, we now have rain and gale force wind.....wonderful.

Supper tonight is egg and chips, raspberry jelly for dessert. 

Fingers crossed

This may be the last day for a short while we have very low temperatures, it is at 0c just now, prediected high of 6c this afternoon.

Usual Sunday brekkers,  shower and have prepped the veg for tonights supper. So the rest of the day is ours. Will probably spend it reading. I am planning on sewing out the night sky ornaments next.

We are planning to go into town on Tuesday morning if the weather is ok, will then go on Friday to see our old neighbour and take the presents.

DB is spending a lot of time reading, at this rate he will have read all his books.

So roast beef and veg with raspberries in jelly for dessert for supper tonight.

Bright morning,

but oh so brrrr..... Once again I did not wake until 8.45am, so a quick scramble to get washed and dressed.

I have cleaned out my machine, will be starting on stuff for next year's sale. Planning on doing some free standing lace ornaments for the tree, I can sew several at a time in a large hoop. Will need a lot of white thread. Also keeping my eye on the sales of fabric for Christmas stuff to make mats and table runners.Felt will be on the shopping list as well.

It took DB 4 hours to get over his vertigo attack yesterday, got up just in time for me to cook the fish and chips.

Staying in the warm today, ADB for supper tonight. Need to venture out to the shed for fruit for a crumble, it will do today and tomorrow.

A quiet day

We spent a quiet day yesterday, just a delivery from Morrison. I spent part of the day sewing.

The weather is still very cold, the forecast had said it was to improve at the weekend. This morning they are forecasting  2 - 4 inches of snow....uurrgggg.

I have finished the gold bell, so machine cleaned. I am not sewing at the weekend, will start on stuff for nexy years fair next week.

DB is in bed sleeping off a vertigo attack........ I had to shout at him to get him into bed, cannot do with him collapsing in the hall. He is still in bed.

Once he gets up it will be fish and chips, Its friday.

A day for reflection

7 years ago today my youngest Son Nicholas passed away. We have everlasting reminders of him in our hearts and often speak about him and his exploits when he was young.

Its still very cold -6, but the weather is to get warmer at the end of this week, cannot wait. because of the condtruction of the house it takes ages to warm up.

No sewing yesterday, I might do an hour after lunch whilst DB has his siesta. Do not have to rush anything now. No more orders to do.

Supper tonight will be beef casserole and veggies.

 

Its getting worse

It was 9am this morning before I woke up, we just made it to the hairdresser in time. Both had our hair cut, mine had grown quite a bit.

Home again I made bacon rolls for lunch, we are having salad tonight.

I had a bad day sewing yesterday, so giving it a bit of a rest. Maybe make it back tomorrow. 

Whats that?

the sun is out but having little effect on the frost, it has been below freezing for several days now. Parts of the country have snow, but we are clear. Surrounded by hills the snow tends to dump on the far side rather than on us. Lets hope it stays like that.

We were very late getting up again this morning, almost 9am before DB woke up. At the moment, until the heat builds up, bed is the warmest place. I am going to have to put the winter quilt on when we change the bed next week, the lighter one is just not cutting it now.

I have a parcel to ppost, but once again the mail is on strike. I fear they will have to wait until after Christmas, no way am I going into Leicester in the present conditions.

Yesterday I got Mrs Claus's body finished and part of her face, I hope to finish her today.

Supper tonight is mince, and veg. No dessert, we are eating chocolate, white toblerone, one piece each at night with some grapes, so no dessert.

Snow?

No snow for us, its too cold, down to minus 3 this morning and very brrrrr.....

Laundry in the washer, no chance drying it ourside, so the dryer again. I am nervously wondering what our fuel bill is going to be, the heating is on from 7.00am to 9.30pm at night.....I just will not be cold.

I started another Mrs Clause yesterday, might get her finished today and then its on the the santa mug rugs.

Sausage and mash for supper tonight......no dessert.

Its even colder

Very cold when I finally woke just before nine am. Quick shuffle into the kitchen for our Sunday breakfast,  we finally got up about 10.30!

The thread and some fabric I had been waiting for arrived yesterday, so this morning, what's left of it,I havebeen sitting at a hot machine.

Supper is roast pork and veggies, no dessert. We finished the bread and butter pudding last night.

Brrrr

Its sunny with a slight breeze but its -1 outside.....brrrr.

The lunch yesterday went off very well, we asked for, and got small servings which was quite enough for us. We had cheese on toast, DB had yogurt and I had an apple sfter 6 last night.

Another bad night, we were drinking tea at 5am and then slept over, e did not wake until 9.30am!!

Quiet day today, and a slow one. I am still waiting on thread for my machine, no sign of it so far.

Supper tonight will be the fish and chips we usually have on a Friday and the last of the bread and butter pudding.

A Jolly

Its the over 60's Christmas lunch today, so we will be eating a full christmas lunch at midday. Looking forward to it.

Jack frost has been again, good job we went out yesterday and did everything we needed to......after my black ice accident I will not travel when there has been a heavy snow fall or frost.

I have an order for Mrs Claus, I am waiting for thread, once it comes I will get it done out of the way. I am hoping to 'do the window' this weekend and also put up the small village scene in the sitting room on one of the empty shelves in the book case. It will be well after Christmas before I managed to get the cash together for the new bookcase and sell this one.

Supper tonight will be cheese on toast and possibly the remains of the bread and butter pudding I made yesterday.

 

He was here again

Brrrr even looking out the window makes you feel cold!!temperature went down to -3. It is starting to thaw slightly, but not a lot. We have to go into Town this morning, waiting a bit longer to allow the car to thaw a bit before we set off.

As suspected Mrs Claus has had an order...... I am waiting on white thread, so for the time being it will be the santa mug rugs I will be doing, they are fairly quick to do. J was delighted with her bells. It was quite a lively morning. I did not do any sewing, just sorted through a few bits and bobs. It is the over 60's lunch on Friday.

Supper will be bacon frittata and salad, I am also going to make a bread and butter pudding......have some stale tea cake to use up.

A visit

from Mr Jack Frost overnight, I was awake at 5am, and it was blooming cold. When we got up there was frost on the greenhouse and the grass was white. The sun came out, the frost had lifted a bit by the time we walked round to the chapel for coffee.

As I thought, the lady who bought the Santa, also wanted Mrs Santa and willingly paid the cash, I was not supprised, it was what I ecpected, had even bet DB she would ask for one. I have told her I will deliver it at the  next coffee morning which gives me a bit of a break to make something else first. I have more of the santa mug rugs to do. I have to get more fleece whist its on sale. I have plans for more figures, but that will be later.

Frost is also forecast for tonight.

DB has lost his hearing aid, its not where it should be and I am sure its not in the house, this is the second one he has lost, so he will have to pay for a new one.

Supper tonight is beef casserole and veg. Cold weather needs hearty food.

Together at last

Finished at last Mrs Claus, she is far mmore complicated that Santa.

 

Its extra brrrr

my goodness its cold this morning. The thermometer in the sitting room is at 18c!!!

Had to use the dryer for the bed linen and will have to use it again today for the general laundry which is in the machine.

I need to finish Mrs Santa today, so not much else going on. I have the face and hair to do. I also have to stitch a ribbon on the stacked baubles hanging. This evening its adrress and pack up bits for the coffee morning at the little chapel tomorrow.

Will need a small shop for essentials next Thursday, I have an order for Christmas coming on 20th.

Our neighbour who lived across the road has been in hospital, have not heard from her son, so can only assume she is still in. 

Bad night last night ended up reading at 2am, so slept over a bit this morning. my sleep pattern seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Supper tonight will be egg and chips, we ended up eating up some gammon and the last of the chicken from Sunday with salad last night.

Its Brrrrrr again

Snow is forecast for later this week, yesterday was very cold and it has continued overnight although we have had some rain. More is forcast for later this morning. No cleaner she is away, its bed change day......laundry is in the washer, it will have to go in the dryer. I was going to change the duvet over, but changed my mind.........

No sewing yesterday, but I will be back to it today, have decided about the display for the front window. Bells Mrs and Mrs Claus and snow men.

The new freezer is working, I have some stuff to transfer into it today.

Message recieved yesterday, the over 60's Christmas lunch is on Friday.

Looks like an egg and chip night, no dessert, we finished the rhubarb crumble last night.

Late again

I think we are suffering from light deprevation......it was 8.50 before I woke this morning, so another late start.

Veg prepped for lunch, I have also put the Ninja on to steam clean, hot water, bicarb of soda and lemon juice and the skins on steam for 30 minutes. Fingers crossed it will looseb some of the grease and I can scrub off the rest. I have a chicken breast joint to cook for supper. Whilst it is resting I will cook the roast potatoes.

No sewing yesterday, not sure if I will do any today, just depends how I feel, a bit sewed out just now.

Grey day, DB tells me we are to have frost next week... brrrrr.....

Its Saturday

The two snowmen were collected last night. I started Mrs Claus, the light began to go so I gave up.

I was late waking this morning. DB brought me breakfast in bed, the first time for ages. I have decided to have a day off sewing. I need to do a clear up in the sewing room, its getting really messy, stuff all over the place, cannot find anything.

Fine morning, sun is out, for how long I do not know, at least the fog, which lingered all day, has gone.

Supper tonight will be belly pork with veg and crumble.

Its here

I woke at 6.45 and checked the delivery information about the freezer 7.40 to 8.40, so I got up in my dressing gown just in case. Checked again. 8.30, so I went and had my shower and got dressed, opened the side gate and updated the page, the delivery arrived at 8.50. I felt sorry for the chaps, who ever packed the van had put the things in to be delivered back to front, so whilst they were here they repacked the van in delivery order. Freezer is in but not switched on. I will go out shortly and throw the switch.

Its a nasty morning rather foggy, dull and damp.

I finished both snowmen yesterday, they are being collected today, so I am starting on Mrs Claus.......watch this space. She is mostly made from scraps apart from her dress, so hopefully I will not need to cut into much more felt.

Fish and chips tonight, I am going to put a rhubarb crumble in for dessert, Rhubarb that was in the outside freezer which I could not get in the freezer box. Just need to make the crunble and cook it.

Early delivery

When I went to draw the curtains in the sitting room, there was a Morrison van outside. Checked my watch 8.30 he was not due till 10.30. Apparently he was in the village, so took a chance.

That allowed me to spend a chunk of time on an urgent snowman commission, pleased to say its finished!!

We are having beef burgers and salad tonight, so not too arduous

Freezer delivery tomorrow, old one has been defrosted, so we are all ready.