What I did today

Think this is the best thread ever *annsixty" - thank you so much for starting it. After my DH passed away before last Christmas everyone and myself wondered how I would fill my day. Ten months have passed and although I miss him so much I certainly have no problem in filling my day!! When in the house I feel he is still with me and I know he would want me to be more outgoing than I used to be (he was the sociable one) so have made a big effort to accept every invitation that comes my way (well, maybe not all but I do try!!). I find the weekends quite challenging as DS works most weekends although I do have DGS every second weekend but today was a bonus day as they were both around so I treated them to lunch in a fairly new eatery. I had been a few times with various friends but never had a meal so lunch there today was really good. DGS had a birthday party in the afternoon which will end with a sleepover so DS dropped him and then he headed off to watch football. I headed home and took advantage of some fine weather and had a big tidy up in the garden. Now being a "toff" and dining at eight o'clock. I had quick rummage in freezer and found small portion of lamb casserole and with some green beans and rice will fill the plate and will have some strawberries and yoghurt for afters. The strawberry season seems to be getting extended in Scotland as we are still getting strawberries from Angus in Aldi's!! Not a Strictly fan - like the music but not much else. Will catch up with "Scarborough" later as it has become my "Mum". I enjoy the slow pace of it and the humour. I also find with GN that a random mention in a post will quite often bring back memories - tonight it was of sitting in a swing on DH's cousin's porch in Alabama and it is good to be able to look back and enjoy a memory.

A better day today, the sun shone for a while, managed to make the back garden look like a garden and not a jungle, had a cuppa in a garden centre after getting more winter flowering plants for the big tubs and had a wander around a couple of shops. Goodness, that sounds a lot. Enjoyed it all. Half watched Strictly tonight with a glass of chilled white and an eye to the iPad. Managed a couple of emails, and offered to start volunteering again before the urge left me. A more than good enough day.

I didn't manage to get in yesterday as I was chasing my tail all day as I am also today.
My GD went to collect all her things yesterday, the house and garage are now heaving with stuff.
She wants all her own things in her room so I have to sort, a double bed, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe and two bedside cabinets.
The furniture is actually better than the stuff in the smallest bedroom so some will go in there but no room for a double bed.
We will get there eventually but the young folk want it done yesterday and I am not ready.
I am going to stay with a friend for three nights tomorrow and I am so out of going away I am in a total panic as to what to pack.
I am going by train so I am very limited to what I can carry.
I am half looking forward to it and half apprehensive, I haven't seen her for about 5 years but we keep in touch by phone and e-mail.
If I don't manage to post I will catch up when I get home.

Harvest festival service in our beautifully decorated medieval church, home to put out washing (sunshine and stiff breeze - perfect), afternoon with Sunday paper and now cooking roast gammon for supper with the last of the fresh peas. Not at all a bad day despite starting with DH trying to put on his trousers upside down (fortunately easily remedied).

That's interesting, Marmight, I was unusually tired yesterday afternoon, and this afternoon as well. I'm not sure whether to blame the flu jab or the after-effects of DH's surgery and (fortunately - I know how lucky we are!) recovery.

Today I went to our harvest thanksgiving service like you, GrannySomerset. We got not only "Come, you thankful people, come" but also "We plough the fields and scatter" so I felt it had been done properly! You're lucky you could get washing out though. It's been wet a lot here, which is quite unusual in our North-East corner, and so getting washing dried outside has been quite exciting. I can't get the grass mowed either (although it hasn't grown much) which is a bit annoying as I had been practising using the new mower so that DH wouldn't feel he should do it. Grump!

We, luckily, have had a beautiful sunny day today here on the Wilts/Gloucs border but it’s now clouding over and very windy. I cooked lunch for DD, SiL and 2GS. I’m really out of practice with cooking for others but I quite enjoyed it and it made me tidy up the awful mess on the dining table which I use as a desk! Roast lamb, roasted veggies, carrots & cavalo negro followed by apple crumble & custard, made with apples which I picked at my late Aunt's garden in Sussex last week. Just glad I don’t have to do it too often! Our Harvest service followed by lunch in the school is next Sunday. Hope you feel less tired tomorrow When. Early night for me I think to recover from my culinary exertions.

It has rained. Solidly. Heavily. All day. I have done nothing (apart from a bit of ironing this morning and a lot of phone chatting).

I've been a lazy so and so today. I'm going to be more industrious tomorrow

It has rained solidly in Suffolk too! I have done lots of ironing and I think I have finally got on top of the central heating!

I think the East Anglian water table is back to normal now Topsy!

We have had heavy rain all day here on the NE coast . Did a bit food shopping ready for lots of childcare next week .

I woke up with that awful feeling of dread for the week /month/year ahead . I had one of my walks along the sea front this evening in the pouring rain . Feeling really sad .

Mainly sunny day in Somerset. Washing dried outside and we finished the garden tidy begun yesterday. Took garden rubbish for recycling. It was more than busy so a staff member was directing the cars. He seemed to have a clairvoyant ability to direct each driver the the space furthest from ‘their’ skip. Garden waste deposited there was time for a coffee before coming back to cook a meal. The highlight of the day has been confirmation from a plumber that he will come in the morning. Huge relief.

I had a really lovely day.... after a few days of feeling rather unwell due to a kidney infection, I felt a lot better, so son2 called round, and we met my husband and son1 and his 2 children, and we went to an indoor play centre. After a couple of hours, we went to a pub for lunch, then to a park, then all back to my place for tea. I made Knickerbocker Glories for the children, then they all went home. Just watched a film on Netflix with my husband, got my clothes ready for work tomorrow, and had a bath. Perfect.

gillybob - sorry you are feeling sad. Hope the sea air will help calm you.

Had bit of a temp today - flu jab no doubt.

An old friend visited today and I took her to see OH in NH. Then came back here and cooked tea for us both. It feels lonely again here now she has gone; but it was lovely to see her.

It is blooming cold here! I have heating on but still hands freezing. Not relishing the thought of the winter to come. Cost of NH means I am going to have to be very miserly with the heating. Hot water bottle about to be filled!

Gilly

Sorry youv'e been sad gilly and sorry you've been cold lucky
Perhaps you're both tucked up in a warm bed now. I am!
A busy day here bùt nice and sociable.

Crossed posts gilly. I hope you can sleep well and that feeling passes. It’s one I know well and it can be a heavy burden.

Sorry to read of your sadness and apprehension gillybob, I wish you calm and happy soon.

Luckygirl I have a 90 year old friend who lives in an old and very draughty house. At the first signs of cold weather, she wheels her TV and comfy chair into her bedroom and uses it almost like a bedsit! With little sorties out to fill a flask or grab the making for a sandwich, she stays in just one, heated room.

I have one of those heated, fleece throws, they are SO cosy to put round the shoulders or over the knee. Cheap to run too.

I've had my 10 year old grandson here today and he's a delight. A couple of threads on GN now have his mark

The family came for breakfast at 7am: croissants, bacon, sausage, preserves etc but because DGS is sugar free, gluten free and dairy free, I made him salmon with slices of avocado on GF sourdough toast.

Adults left for work. Dgs sprawled on the floor, laughing heartily as something called Count Arthur Strong, watching on a portable DVD player, whilst I made a healing drink from the pomaderris kumeraho I was able to gather yesterday on the first sunny day for ages. Today it's raining -again.

Once the leaves were strained I made them into a salve to be used as a poultice for my friend's very severe acne. She will drink the potion.

Then began all the preparation for a roast pork and vegetable dinner for when DS and Ddil come home from work.

Rhubarb and apple crumble for dessert plus a dairy free, sugar free, GF free custard. Dgs had stewed apple and custard.
He volunteered to wash up and did so.
He's a dear wee lad.

It was sheer delight to hear him shout with laughter at the antics on the DVD, especially as there have been times recently when I thought he may never laugh again.
A truly lovely day.

BradfordLass
The very thought that a 10 year old was in a situation that you thought he may never laugh again just breaks my heart.
I hope he is over whatever was troubling him.
Count Arthur Strong is hilarous, childish but hilarious.
I must rewatch it.

Another day of doing not a lot at all. We did get the bed stripped and the laundry done, but as I am not supposed to lift anything heavier than bottle of water, I am frustrated. Mind you, as my hip has been playing up, I am glad to be sitting around. DH is being a star.
I did the face of my crocheted Turtle, and started on a Mouse.
Dinner was a lasagne from the freezer, with salad.
My preprepared stocks will soon run out.
Off to a clean and cosy bed now. Sleep tight everyone.

I love your turtle Auntieflo he is so cute . My 3 eldest DGC are all fast asleep in the next room, DH has been asleep for quite a while too. I’m playing “word soup” trying to stay awake as long as possible as I just know it’s gonna be “one of them nights” and quite an early morning with the breakfast cafe to open too.

Anyway just because I’m not quite miserable enough and to add insult to injury, the lock on my washing machine came off in my hand this evening just as I had piled a huge pile of washing in . Do you ever feel like screaming ?

I didn't know washing machines had locks. Why is that needed? My last 2 washing machines (over 25 years) both stopped mid-rinse) grrr.

Today I went with my Homecare lady (what a gem she is) to pick up, at the factory, new supplies of gluten-free bagels, rolls, sourdough and Paleo bread for self and Ddil.

Then on to collect pre-ordered supermarket stuff and annoyed to find no dairy-free cheese, which my grandson needs, in the order (it was on the website but not in store) .

But kei te pai, deep breath and move on.

Back home to poached gurnard and a bit of salad but I'm still not eating well, so couldn't finish it.

Made a mug of hot choc instead and completed the fourth week of the Book of Kells course with FutureLearn. Amazing - and I think it was someone on GN who alerted me to it.
Whoever you were Thankyou

It's now just after 8pm and I think I'll get horizontal and listen to the further adventures of Marcus Didius Falco.

My lost voice is back but very froggy.

Auntieflo your turtle has a very cheeky look - adorable.

Goodnight and God bless. everyone.

The sun shone a lot in Norfolk today. We had a lovely lunch with friends at an old inn in a village time forgot.

I've just been sipping 10 year old home made sloe gin (the bottle got itself to the back of the cupboard) to sterilise my cough. I can recommend it - I'm feeling quite mellow!

Lovely day with my friend.
The sun has shone and we have been out and about.
She has done 2 beautiful meals, tomorrow I will take her out for dinner.
We have hardly stopped talking, so much to catch up on.
So enjoying myself.

Today started off sunny and bright.
Another day of nothing much at all.
I did manage to waft a duster around, then had to have a coffee.
DH was out for the morning, and helped make some soup for lunch.
More crocheting this afternoon, and Mouse is only needing his legs to be sewn on, then he can introduce himself tomorrow.
Had two lovely phone calls from friends.
Rain deluged down, later on this afternoon.
Read a bit of my book, and kept on with the painkillers.
It's getting boring now.