What I did today No.2

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EllaKeat Sorry you're feeling rubbish but don't you dare drop dead - we DO care and wish you all the very best.

Glad to say an old-friend lurks here and enjoys our comments and photos. I was sad when I thought we'd lost her.

The weather where I live is absolutely gorgeous Gramm aretto and has been consistently hot and sunny for ages now, so much so, the gardens really need a good downpour. However, if your son lives only 30 km away it could be raining there. That's NZ for you. Yes, White Island is a tragedy.

SalsaQueen It may not seem like work to you but just reading your daily schedule makes me want to sit down and rest!

Today I thoroughly enjoyed our Communicare party and the company.

It was something of a trial (to me only) when the entertainer-guitarist sang for 90 minutes, mostly 60's and 70's music.

The table looks bare here as it was only Morning Tea time but for lunch it was filled with hot sausage rolls, savouries, home-made pineapple cake, ice creams and strawberries.

The raffle table was colourful; everyone got a really good gift as well as a tin of Danish Butter Cookies to take home.

Next party - Friday

Oh EllaKeat I hope you feel OK after your appointment. It's hard isn't it. My DH is living with cancer and has been having treatment for 3 years now. There's no cure but it's managed.
Sometimes I feel sorry for myself!!

Today he went to a Christmas lunch while I went to the dentist. I intended to write cards but procrastinated .

The weather was foul wasn't it. I wrote some emails. Did some craft work. Pondered Christmas... and the election.

Our French helper cooked a fantastic meal. I had 3 helpings and wine. No wonder I can't lose weight.

The weather isn't too good in NZ at present either is it BradfordLass so our DS tells us and the disaster on White Island sounds horrific..

Well my day didn't start too well. I turned off the alarm, but don't remember hearing it. I also didn't hear, or sense that DH had got up to make tea. He came back to bed, put on the light and I finally became conscious. The bin men had been, evidently, clattering about.
When I was up and about I tidied up a bit while DH was out for a couple of hours, and put away the clean laundry.
Then while I sat and had a coffee, I did a bit more of my knitting/ crochet, before getting ready to go out to the charity shop where I volunteer.
At first it was very quiet, but gradually got busier, even despite the rain. Had a lovely afternoon, with lovely people.
My neighbour knocked while I was getting dinner, bringing us a beautiful Cornish loaf, that is so tasty.
Now having a sit down and watching TV, and a bit more of my project.

Thank you Ella We're not far from Worcester. I hope you get a good one of you lab eventually!

KatyK I feel your pain!
A torally different thing, I know, but I have two dogs, a yellow and a black labrador. The yellow one photographs beautifully, I have lots of lovely photographs of her.
The black lab is just a blob. Everytime. A black blob.
Go9d luck for next time ?

Yes Bradfordlass it is annoying. They weren't just blurry. The swans looked just like a white blob of cotton wool in the distance although they were quite near to us. Maybe we'll go back and will be lucky enough to see them again and get a better photo.

Had a meeting with my Oncologist today to manage me going forward, so feeling a bit rubbish tonight.
NOT looking forward to donkey day tomorrow (I volunteer with donkeys, goats and llamas), the weather is so atrocious.
Plumber came and replaced our kitchen tap today and I did some clearing out of rubbish no one would be interested in if I dropped dead tomorrow?
Parcelled up Christmas gifts for mother in law and sister in law and got them posted, wrapped up all other gifts for Christmas and did cards,

Quite a productive day really!

Grammaretto I'm 60, but my job isn't what you'd call "work", so I suppose I feel able to do other things.

Tuesday... did the usual routine of getting ready and doing a couple of jobs before I went to work. 10 of the elderly people went out on a day trip, so I visited a couple of the ones who had stayed at home. I posted Christmas cards to all 30 residents.

Got some petrol, went home, had a snack, emptied the dishwasher, got some washing dry in the dryer.

Went to son no. 2's house (1/4 of a mile from me), cleaned his kitchen and bathroom, put his rubbish out, vacuumed and polished through all downstairs.

Went home, made a shepherd's pie, then went to Asda to fetch some beers and snacks for husband and son on. 1, as they're going to watch The Irishman on Netflix (it's 3.5 hours long). Loaded the dishwasher after dinner.

Just going to get ready to go to Zumba soon - although it's dark, windy and raining, and I don't feel like going out - to meet my friend.

KatyK isn't it annoying when your photos are blurry? I'm tempted to ask you to post anyway as with my eyesight, everything is always blurry!

BBevan Finally, a day when you take it easy and it took a storm to do it!

I was awake at 4am as usual when the Tui began his glorious song outside my window.
It was well over 45 mins before any other bird joined him. Dawn Chorus is particularly heartening right now.

Two invitations dropped into my Inbox; both sending taxis for me - so on Friday and Saturday I'll be a party animal

Twenty six degrees and climbing but my Homecare lady and I simply had to go out: library and a little essential marketing. Everywhere is SO busy

Came back about 3:30 but too hot to eat lunch - flopped on my bed with a bottle of iced water and listened to the cicadas and an Anna Jacobs audio book.

Communicare Xmas party tomorrow and we're having a musician to entertain us.

Not a lot got done today. We had the most horrendous storm last night. Terrible wind and torrential rain. DH and I were awake at 1.30 and didn't go back to sleep until gone 4. So I did a bit of ironing and made a low carb quiche in the morning. We both nodded off after lunch and had a rude awakening when the post man rang the door bell
Hope it is a quieter night tonight.

Bit of a lazy day to start with - but I was awake at 5.15 and could not get back to sleep again. I did though manage to change my bed - I will not tell you when I last did it!

Picked two GC up from school and took them to another village where I was doing a singing workshop for the Beavers - it was exhausting! Then back for food at DD's How I hate driving in the dark! I try and avoid it as much as I can.

But back home now to find two phone messages from my OH - both complete rubbish - such a shame.

What I would do without my family and my singing I do not know.

OOh Marmight what a lovely plan. I hope you enjoy it on such little sleep. You certainly deserve it.
I had a phone call to say I had won the raffle, a hamper, at the Christmas fair on Saturday.
My reaction was to tell them to offer it to someone else, more deserving, perhaps the foodbank.
Now the other side of me is wishing I'd seen it before handing it on!
I had better not tell my DC or they will say they are the deserving poor.

Today (now yesterday) I organised the chaos in my garage i.e. rearranged it and made it look slightly tidier and chucked away things I’d kept ‘just in case’. I then wrapped all the GCs Christmas presents, managing to get more sellotape on me than the parcels. Also parcelled up 3 items I’ve sold on eBay ready to post on monday. Cleared away the mess Id made on the table ready for a late lunch for the family. Prepared and cooked the lunch, cleaned out the fireplace and lit the logs, served the lunch then washed up the whole b****y lot. Went to sleep in front of the TV which is why I am wide awake right now. Taking myself off on a jolly to Oxford tomorrow - a bit of shopping/culture then a night in a hotel ready to meet a GNer for lunch on Tuesday & an exhibition at the Ashmolean. I think I deserve it after to/yester day!

Spent the day in Hove with my writers’ group, critiquing each other’s work and having lunch. A really nice day at the end of what has been an anxious week.

DH had decided as it wasn’t raining today we’d go and check how much rain water water had got inside our little boat before the yard got the cover on. Its amazing how it gets in. She’s out of the water and up on trestles, jammed in between all the other bigger boats.

Undid the front end of the cover, ladder in place DH up the ladder, squirmed along under the back of the cover and into boat. I lifted the side of the cover to pass the bucket and sponge up and a gust of wind lifted it like a balloon. I spent the nearly an hour hanging on to try to keep it more or less in place while he baled out. (The colder I got the more I needed the loo!). Another half hour to get the cover back in place. It was a rather outsize effort provided by the boatyard.

Home for a quick lunch and then out again to clean the car as I’d foolishly said I would do it. I was feeling I hadn’t had enough exercise lately!

Apologies Bradfordlass I've only just seen your post/question. Yes I did take pictures of the swans on my phone but unfortunately the camera on my phone is rubbish and the pictures weren't clear. It was quite a sight. I've since read that there is a swan sanctuary in Worcester which would explain the large gathering.

Today, Sunday -

I did a bit of ironing, then did the usual thing of getting ready for the day. Went to son no. 1's, picked up him and his 2 girls (8 and 5). My husband picked up son no. 2.

We all met up at a play centre, chatted over a coffee whilst the GC played - my sons and my husband all had a turn of chasing the GC round in there! Went to a nearby pub/restaurant, had lunch, desserts, drink.

We all went back to my house. The kids played, then had sandwiches, crisps, fruit, et., before their mum (son's ex) called to pick them up and take them home. I took sons back, each to their respective home. Got back in, faffed about on the computer for a bit, and now I'm going to have a bath.

Went up to have coffee with DD this morning. Blowing a gale as she lives half way up a mountain. DSiL washed our car whilst we were indoors. Than home. DH made a cheese omelette for lunch. Pretty good it was too. Now sitting by the fire watching 'The Snowman' Very windy outside.

Cards! - oh goodness yes - I have not even started!

Very busy yesterday meeting friends, so this is a catch up. Just to add to the reports of Christmas decorations to say that the decorations in Liverpool were stunning too and the city was buzzing. I think we'll make a special journey just to walk round them when my DGS arrives for Christmas.

When I got home I played Christmas Carols from Kings College whilst writing my cards and I whizzed through about 50. I can recommend it.

What a nuisance about the book! Can you make it a birthday present instead? BL
I love your festive windows too. I was in Sydney at this time of year 7 years ago . It's not the same as here but so colourful and exciting. It must be terrifying there now with the fires.
I'm glad you enjoy your choir Luckygirl. I wish I could sing. My DGS is a musician and I marvel at his gifts. Good too that DH was calmer.
A new hip Annsixty! and quite soon. My DS had one and she's back skiing! I have never tried to ski.

As for you Salsa where do you get your energy? You must be young.

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All this Christmas festivity sounds grand and makes me feel quite envious. Of course it is Christmas here too but I don't see any sign of it.
Auckland's Queen Street will be decorated but that's a very long way from where I live. Schools, churches and the library will be too - but I don't see them either.

I had a good day with my son; he came for brunch after getting his car's Warrant sorted.
My poor, poor dil has been diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori and is on strong antibioics which are making her feel very ill indeed. I'm hoping this will be well over by Christmas.

Spoke to my friend in New York and that city too is very festive - she was just back from a winter fair, held on a frozen lake where skating is free. Not for her though at 63 and walking with a cane. She bought herself some beautiful earrings and was wearing them when we Skyped.

I had ordered a Book of Kells as her Christmas gift and was told, on August 28th that it would take 54 days to process and post to her.
Today they tell me it isn't even published until August 2020 !!

Surely they knew that. Why didn't they make that clear?
Disappointed because now I can't get anything to her by 25th.

Saturday............ got up at 7, lounged about reading the paper and having breakfast until 9am. Then I checked e-mails, Facebook, the news online.

I vacuumed all through the whole house, changed bedding, did 2 lots of washing, mopped all downstairs floors.

My groceries arrived, so I unpacked all that. I posted some cards. Made dinner, loaded the dishwasher. I did some ironing, washed my hair, got ready and went out at 7.30, with a friend and my husband, to meet a couple of friends in a local pub. The band was very loud but good. Got home at midnight, fed the cat, put the washer on.

Good that you know when your hip is to be done ann

The Christmas event that my choir puts on went extremely well last evening - packed out and everyone joining in and having fun. So....this morning I did not wake up until 9.40!

Visited OH on NH - he was a bit better today - not so paranoid. There was a Christmas fair going in there so I persuaded him to let me wheel him round a bit.

This evening I went to a murder mystery evening - boy was that boring! The actors were hopeless (bar one) and all reading laboriously from their scripts; and I nearly fell asleep! But it was in a good cause.

And so to bed.......