What I did today.

I lost track of this thread after posting last week - I didn't realise a new thread had been started .

Looks like you've all been having a really busy week. I've done a bit of 'kiddie-sitting' (don't they make comfy cushions!), been to the gym a couple of times, a bit of baking, a shift at the charity shop (came across a couple of bargains that I just HAD to have - aaarghhh) AND think I've found a solution to my 'housing need problem' - have been waiting to move out of my house for a few months.

This morning I've done half an hour on Ancestry, 'tidying up' my Family Tree; a load of laundry sorted and now drying on the airer and just planning a trip to our 'local village shopping centre' to find out if any 'whoopsies' (yellow sticker bargains) have got my name on them .

I've taken a large tub of Oxtail Stew and two small tubs of home-made soup out of the freezer for later today - so no cooking today!!!!!

Also meeting some friends later at the gym for the 'grannies grunt session' lol!

ga and kitty hope you both have a day to remember

GrannyA and Kitty, I hope your weddings are wonderful and the sun shines!
Ga I do hope you are well enough to enjoy it

Have a lovely day today, ga good luck to the happy couple

I spent yesterday strewing rose petals! This is the last of our daughters to marry so quite momentous.

Thank you ogm and Jane for your good wishes.

jeni sure your daughter will give you good and loving advice.

Good luck GA
all!

Thanks all for good wishes. kitty and I will let you know how our weddings go I'm sure. Right now I've started a second lot of (stronger) antibiotics, but feel grim and am hoping for the best tomorrow. The groom got a job last week and the bride just heard this evening that she was also successful at her recent job interview.
Feels a bit strange being mother of the groom - was quite tearful at the church rehearsal, reality check; my 'little boy' is a six foot man!! Good job I love his wife-to-be. Goodnight all.

I had a lovely day and went to see DGS who is now just 6 weeks old. He has changed a lot in the last 3 weeks since I saw him and is now 2lbs heavier than his birth weight. He is a lot less grizzly and quite alert when he is awake. His proud parents insist he does smile at midnight and 3am feeds!

I even got Mr Moser to come with me. (an old story this) I laid down an ultimatum of the leaving home time and it worked.

As it is was Mr M did an excellent job of settling DGS just by calmly reciting poetry to him. He could have been reading a recipe for all DGS cared but it worked.
Night all!
Night Night DGS! dont keep mummy and daddy awake for too long!

Don't let him try that on the QM

We decided to finish our week on the Trent and Mersey Canal with dinner in the bistro at Aston Marina. MrA enlivened the atmosphere by setting fire to his menu [what's he like emoticon]
Kitty and Ga hope it's not too late to wish you both a lovely day tomorrow

Jeni, you know, surely that all butter puff pastry is calorie free, so tuck in and enjoy it!

You always come across as an eminently sensible and pragmatic soul: you will be able to make an informed and rational decision about where, and how you should live. I hope, that when my time comes, I will be able to channel a bit of that dispassionate logic, and make the right decision for me. Good luck, Jeni xxx

Well Nigel Slater's chicken and leek pie was scrumptious! I'm glad I bothered to make it. Perhaps I ought to take up cooking again?

MMm. yes. Our Extracare villages in Mk are not really very supported living in the main - but we have lots of development land here so building a 400 unit apartment complex is easier. I think with the baby boom generation retiring that this kind of thing will develop and diversify. I visited a nice retirement village in NZ where residents had quite roomy houses - the central facilities were there for those who were interested. But land cheap there.

Go for it, jeni

I've just been looking at cruises for next year. I've already booked the QE to the Black Sea in sept but that seems too far away. I've found one I think I'll book in June. If I book it on board QE at Xmas I get it slightly cheaper. The only trouble is that I have to have a disabled cabin and the Qeen Victoria has only got two in the princess grill class. I think I'll take a chance though and wait. This one is fiords and geysers. The second bit sounds like me!

he he he!

And there was I thinking you were making a cake for me J05

There isn't jeni.

I have just got Baubles' Xmas cake in the oven.

(Well, Baubles recipe! )

Also I must have my sea view!

I have a fall alarm thank you. Also a panic button and burglar alarm which old git next door ignores as he says they're a nuisance and should be banned.
I've thought of supported living but all the places are so tiny I'd hate them. Also they're full of old people!

Glad you are feeling better today jeni . Have you got a fall alarm set up in case of accidents?
Sounds like you need to be very honest with your DD. I am guessing you do not like asking for her help - but help is going to be needed if you move.
I know some people who have bought flats/ bungalows in Extracare retirement villages - they have settled in happily and appreciate the combination of having their own front door, people around to chat to when they feel like company, zero property maintenance worries, backup on site if they should be ill, catering on site if they don't feel like cooking, no worries about security, or leaving the property empty during holidays. Worth a look before deciding maybe?

Is there a difference between a one woman portion and a one man portion

jeni, I buy small foil pie dishes (each with its own foil top) so that I can freeze one-woman portions. Otherwise I might eat the lot in one go! . Lakeland sells them of course, but so does my local pound shop - at about half the price.

I've made the filling! Tastes good. I've divided it between 2pie dishes and will keep one for later. Can you freeze a filled pie? I propose to do it without the base, just the topping (less calories). I have the all butter puff pastry.(that's not fattening is it?) I'm supposed to be dieting but think that may be why I'm feeling exhausted and down. Perhaps a good meal will cheer me up.

Start with bought pastry - I thought that recipe looked delicious - will do a big one for the festive season I think. Before you start have