What I did today No.2

Marmight - lots of anniversaries to be faced - hope you are able to enjoy the up-coming festive season. Not too many whiskies!

I went by train to Cheshire yesterday to spend the night at my DD's. She was singing in a lovely concert at the Royal Northern College of Music last night. The train journey up was challenging as it was full of football fans heading fro a match in Manchester - the aisles were rammed with people. Luckily I had got in at the start of the run so had a seat, but I could not get to the loo!!!

Arrived in Macclesfield where SIL was there to pick me up - and the loos on the station were out of order!! Got back to their home where there was someone in the shower where the only loo is! Knees well and truly knitted!

Rang NH where OH lives and he was totally confused and in a very bad way.

Got to concert on a coach that had been hired for the purpose - but the driver got lost at one point!

However, once there and settled in my seat the concert was a joy. I have had to learn to compartmentalise my life, e.g. concentrate on helping OH, then switch that off and enjoy a lovely concert.

Got back to home town at 4pm and went to see OH - he was in a small lounge enjoying some 60s music.

Home at last - it is freezing here and I am hoping the heating will kick in soon.

I went for a walk with a friend and then came back and I helped her make a photo book for her DS in the US. She was so thrilled I helped her and gave me a big hug. Then there was a knock at the door and another friend had brought me a plant and gave me a hug. What would we do without good friends?

This morning I drove from Gloucestershire to East Sussex to clear out my late Aunts house. I spent the afternoon emptying various cupboards and wondering how the hell I am going to shift so many heavy books and heaven knows what else to the charity shop/recycling/home. Her lady-what-did is coming tomorrow to clean up behind me and take anything she wants. I’m not staying in the house this time as its too cold & sad, so have decamped to a hotel 6 miles away in Eastbourne for a couple of nights or maybe more, depending on how long it takes . I can get some food and then watch the tv from my bed and I’ve smuggled in a bottle of whisky..., Should have remembered some crisps too. Today would have been DH’s birthday so its kept my mind busy. Next Sunday would have been our wedding anniversary, then its Christmas and then the 8th anniversary of his death, so I shall be taking some big breaths. TG for the whisky. Maybe I shall find a toy boy in the restaurant? Probably not as this is Eastbourne & most people are about 101 although I did have a really nice chat with the yoof at reception who is all of 18 & hails from Leeuwarden in the Netherlands!
Its a very big, old hotel called the Hydro and as I write I can hear someone weeing in the bathroom next door - oh hell! ?

Woke this morning with a sore throat and earache. I just knew something was going on. Taken paracetamol and due another dose soon. My sister has just phoned to say she is going to relatives in India and on her way to the airport. My great nephew is having the Sikh wedding there. He married a Catholic girl here in Church last month. I would have loved to go. Maybe next year. My path needs sweeping but it can wait. My pot rabbit has been stolen from my garden. Surprised it lasted so long really. Snowycat is snoring in her chair. Kikicat is in my bed. Going to make a drink and back to bed after my tablets. See how I feel later in.

Shattered.!!!! DH and I have removed 13 barrow loads of leaves from the front garden .Back garden still to do. But that is enough for today. Quiet afternoon in store ( please )

Finished off the first full week of the Forensic Archaeology course, a grounding on how the science works.
Next week, 3 actual cases to solve. That should be interesting.

Did some laundry> Had fish poached in milk then thickend and fresh parsely added for my lunch. Was going to make mash to go with it but was too lazy.

Found some tiny wild strawberries in the garden and dared to eat them...not very sweet. If I never post again then I've poisoned meself!

harrigan Doc Martens shoes and boots in children’s sizes are massive. I buy from Cheshire Oaks outlet shop . I am an adult 5 but I have a pair of size 3 in children’s that fit perfectly. I do try them on just to make sure. They are a lot cheaper.

Have GD staying with me, she needed a new pair of winter boots but has size 6 feet. She is no longer able to wear children's shoes despite the fact that she is only 10 years old. I buy the GC's shoes but was somewhat shocked at the price.
Went to pick up a cushion off GD's bedroom floor and leaned on the bed, the whole lot collapsed. DH and I spent the evening dismantling the bed, it was very heavy as it is an electric one, we placed the basic frame on the floor and put the mattress on top and told her she now had a futon.
I am absolutely worn out and having a brandy to steady my nerves.

This morning I decorated some brown paper to make recyclable Christmas giftwrap. I used a holly stamp I have had for ages. I used it to wrap presents for DGD and baby DGS. I made some soup from odds and ends I had in the fridge, mostly squash and lentils with some chili flakes.
Did battle with the church photocopier which doesn't like the cold damp atmosphere in the vestry. I had had a dehumidifier on for 24 hours but it was still playing up. I left it and did the shopping, went home for a cuppa then went back and it behaved so I was able to take the newsletter to the other two churches in our group.
This evening DH and I went to a play by our local drama group. Now I'm going to catch up with Strictly.

Under the weather today. No reason for it. Took Snowycat for her nails clipping this afternoon. She was weighed. Nearly 2 stones. No point in dieting, she doesn’t eat too much it is her build she is just big and tall to boot. Vet, please stop trying to sell me tiny cans of food at two pounds each. She is 14. Leave her alone !
I wish I could take her somewhere else but they are nearest and my neighbour takes us.
I have listened to the radio and enjoyed some games here.
My roof is leaking
I will worry tomorrow when I have had a sleep.

A getting on with some housework day today, tackling the large ironing pile, polishing, and then wrapping some birthday and Christmas presents that had arrived in the post.
DH is ‘under the weather’ so looked after him, and cooked a casserole which we had earlier.

Luckygirl such a shame that you have to sell the bungalow that you moved into (last year?) but a smaller house and garden will be less work for you in the long run, as well as generating the money needed.A sad situation for you all round.

Grammaretto Sadly, no heatwave has crossed The Pond yet. Still only 21 degrees here.

GrannySomerset It's not shameful. I bless people like you who provide 99% of my clothing. Wouldn't want me to walk about nekkid as a jaybird would ya?

SalsaQueen If I send you my address, can you spare a couple of hours at my place?

grannyactivist It was a very scary time for teenagers, I felt much like you, especially after the 'near miss' Bay of Pigs. Dreadful.
Hope you have a better night

Cleaned the kitchen, a daily task. Sorted out the winter clothing to pack away until June when it begins to get a wee bit colder.

Looked and looked and looked for the lost/misplaced green scarf which is part of my uniform. Cannot imagine where it's got to.

Moved the couch, chairs, bed and even opened and re-packed the winter woolies in case it had inadvertently been tucked in with them. Nothing

Wrote to a friend in the UK with whom I shared a house (in Bournemouth) for a short time. We have once-a-year catch-up at Christmas and it's astonishing to think our little boys are now in their 40's and 50's.

Email from my dear daughter-in-law who was very happy with her birthday voucher for the French pâtisserie, Vaniyé.

Maybe she'll take me? {grin]

I got up at 1.30 am because I was in discomfort with my latest UTI, only hours after completing my course of antibiotics. Went back to bed a couple of hours later when it eased a bit.
Finally fell asleep but was woken up 8-ish when OH kicked me hard in the back. Not for the first time, I was on the receiving end of something that he was reacting to in a dream!

After a bit of toast and tea for breakfast, I started sorting out our spare room ready for the two eldest DGC to sleep in tonight. For the last couple of months, it has doubled as my craft room and the baby dgc's bedroom when I mind her during the week, and it had become quite a tip.
After showering, I put some washing in tbe machine and mopped the kitchen floor.

Finally, I found some time to sit down and do a bit of cross stitch, which I have longed to do all week.
At 1pm, I put on radio 2 and listened to some of the hits from 1976. I really enjoyed it - I was in my mid teens then, and some of my favourite records were played, bringing back so many memories.

The DGC arrived at 3.30, and we let them stay up past their usual bedtime, watching Strictly. It is always pretty full on when they are here, so now things are quiet. I've got my feet up and am enjoying a glass of wine and a bag of crisps.

Well, after yesterday's outing I had a dreadful night and so finally slept until 2.30pm today when The Wonderful Man brought me a cup of tea to wake me up! I've spent the rest of the day (such as it is) catching up on GN and not doing my expense sheet that is now many months overdue.

BradfordLass - 56 years since President Kennedy was shot! I was ten and had became very fearful due to the Cold War (in therapy many years later I learned this was a distraction from my own difficult family situation). I used to try to imagine living to be really, really old, about 60, but I was convinced that there would be a nuclear war and we would all be wiped out. I really thought that Kennedy's death would trigger this.

Your day sounds both more productive and more fun than mine, Salsa Queen!

So far today....

Up at 8am, showered, washed my hair, dressed. Fed the cat, and next-door's cat. Put a load of washing in, took rubbish out, made porridge.

Went to son's house (he's away for the weekend), scrubbed the bathroom tiles, vacuumed the bedrooms and stairs, also the lounge and kitchen. Wiped round in the kitchen, took rubbish out, cleaned the bin.

Went home, vacuumed the living room and kitchen, did a bit of ironing, made an omelette for lunch, washed up.
Watched a film on Netflix, spoke to my brother on the 'phone, did a couple of crosswords.

Time for dinner (pizza with sweet potato wedges) then going to a pub with my friend, to watch a group play.

Various domestic tasks including the dreaded finance filing. I am gradually getting on top of this because DH had got into a horrific muddle and given up well before I realised what was happening. Not helped by the numerous take overs of various financial institutions so that some policies are now on their fourth owner, as it were, which makes tracking down the past papers tricky. Job for next week will be locating the policy documents and filing them with the other papers so that in a crisis the “children” can find everything.

Trip to local hospice shop with five bags of clothes which have been lurking in the garage for weeks, so I now feel something was achieved today. The sad thing is all those clothes which I really never will be able to wear again. Shameful.

Made vegetable soup and will embark on sausage and mash for supper shortly.

The rain didn't stop so after my busy morning at the community cafe, baking, serving teas and lunches and eating the same, I retreated home to continue doing family history on-line. Rather a lazy day.
Does anyone else feel like hibernating at this time of year?
Not you BradfordLass. I know for a fact that NZ is getting the Australian heatwave from today - though hopefully not the bush fires.
Oh Luckygirl I do feel for you with all your worries but it is great that you have the children to amuse .

Realised with a shock that it is 56 years since President Kennedy was shot!
56 years I can hardly believe it.

Yesterday I had another estate agent to value my bungalow - so far I have had £450k, £430k and £465k. As I need to raise money to pay for OH's care I am hoping they are about right; as the property I wish to buy is a small new-build semi and will generate some cash for me. But will also cause the tiny LA contribution to be wiped out. Swings and roundabouts.

Visited OH over lunchtime - he is still suffering from paranoia - worse at night and during the mornings. Very weak today and I had to help feed him.

Set off early from nursing home to fetch 2 GC from school. Traffic in town is chaos just now and what should have been a 20 minute journey took over an hour - had to ring school and warn them that I was going to be late.

Lovely time with GC - we always start with me reading to them and we have just got to the end of a Womble book. These are beautifully written. About to start The Princess and the Goblin.

Helped children make sweets - marshmallow on a stick, dipped in melted chocolate and then sprinkles - they love them!

grannyactivist I'm glad you were able to have such a lovely day with your family, albeit an exhausting one.

It's just struck me, reading all these interesting days, we really do keep the world going don't we?

You in your small corner, and I in mine.

I was up at 5.45, got ready (shower, hair, make-up etc), put some washing in the machine, more stuff on the clothes horse. Vacuumed through downstairs, went to work until 12.

Met my friend at a garden centre, had lunch there and a good old chat, then I did a bit of shopping.

Got home at 3.30, did some ironing, watched tv for an hour, then made a curry from scratch with fresh ingredients. Loaded the dishwasher, read the paper, made a couple of 'phone calls, emptied dishwasher, watched a film on Netflix, had a bath, got my pyjamas on, did a couple of things on the computer.

I've had a lovely day - went out with several members of my U3A Art Discussion group to see a small but interesting exhibition of some of the private work of the illustrator and inventor of mad gadgets, William Heath Robinson, at the Museum in Pinner Memorial Park. Coffee before, lunch afterwards, lots of chat, all very enjoyable.

Home late afternoon, dinner with husband and then we decided to catch up with a serial we'd recorded several weeks ago: "A Confession", starring Martin Freeman, which I know was very well received. We've done 3 episodes tonight and find ourselves totally wrapped up in this true story. We'll watch the final 3 episodes tomorrow, and are prepared to be emotionally wrecked!

Today was a Red Letter Day for me!

I’ve been getting up and dressed every day this week, but today I followed The Wonderful Man’s instruction to stay in bed until 4pm. Then I got up and dressed and he drove me to Ikea where we met our son, daughter-in-law and one year old granddaughter for a meal! It was exhausting, but I’m so pleased to be up and about. Apparently I looked so tired after we arrived that TWM nearly drove me home again, but fortunately he relented and we ate, but didn’t hang around. I haven’t seen my granddaughter, except once very briefly, for three months, but she knew me straight away.

I came straight home to bed and was asleep in minutes, but then got a long phone call from my daughter, which woke me up. I’d had a couple of hours sleep so now I’m feeling really tired, but also wide awake. Ho hum.

BradfordLass your day sounds really special.