What I did today No.2

KatyK Did you take a photo of those swans by any chance?
I'd love to see them if you did.

EllaKeat Loved the donkey pictures and the description of your lovely day. When I lived in Cornwall, I took my sons to a donkey sanctuary and loved every minute. My younger son (7) wanted to live and work there!

cornergran Very wise to wear a mask as long as the children are warned! You can pretend you're playing hospitals.

Auntieflo what's a 'dashcam'?

Happy phone call from my son on his way back to the office after collecting the book
The author had been lovely and welcoming and very happy that her book was going to an appreciative home. Refused all payment.

Did a bit of craftwork - nothing complicated these days I'm afraid, just some little Chinese lanterns. Will post a picture when they're finished.

As I gave my Christmas tree away last year, I've been looking for a new one (had decided I was too old to decorate trees - changed my mind ) .
Cannot believe some people will pay $800 (four hundred pounds) for an artificial tree!

May just bring in a branch of Manuka from the garden.....

Went to visit a NT house about an hour away, it was really lovely, all dressed for a Victorian Christmas.Had a walk around the grounds, a mixture of sun and mist, made it all look like a painting.Had a light lunch there, then returned home.We got all our own Christmas things down from the loft ( feeling inspired) ? and now it looks lovely and glowing and festive.Wouldn’t normally do it so early, but seeing it all done so well (Basildon Park, Berkshire) I couldn’t wait.
I had bought a few new things just last week to add to my hoard of Christmas bits and bobs, decided on all traditional colours this year, mainly green and gold with a bit of red.

God, SalsaQueen that makes me exhausted just reading it!

EllaKeat I'd love to spend my days with animals.

Today, I did the usual stuff of getting ready, putting the washer on, going to work at 8 am. My boss visited, talked about some new software, had a cup of tea.

I went home, vacuumed, polished and mopped (laminate flooring) all through downstairs rooms. Went to my son's, then we went to a Christmas fair thing. Collected one of his girls from school, went back to this (overpriced) fair. She went on a couple of rides, we had a few goes on the tombolas 0 I won some chocolates - then we went to the pub for dinner. Collected the other girl from school (she'd been on a school trip), got her something to eat, took the children home. Dropped my son at his house, I got home at 7.30.

I was booked, so I thought, to go to the light show at the Botanics this evening but looked for the confirming email and it was not there!
I had to rebook and luckily there were still tickets no wonder, they are expensive so we went with our little DGD and the other DGP. I think we were all passably impressed. The little one was missing her DP who have gone on a city break for a birthday treat.

I had just finished knitting myself a sweater so wore it for the first time having spent at least an hour sewing in all the loose threads. It is very warm.

Then I heard that the Christmas market this weekend which we have been preparing a stall for for weeks, has been called off due to the wet weather. They are worried that the car park will be a quagmire by the weekend. Hey well it isn't so important.
A bit like Glastonbury, I asked?. Hmm perhaps not quite on the same scale.

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It was my donkey day today, and for once the sun was shining.
With donkeys, goats, llamas and chickens as well as rabbits to care for, it is a busy but wonderful day.
Took them a sack full of carrots today and was mobbed?

Finished sewing dresses for children in a Carol Concert and pumped my car tyres up.

DH in charge of dinner, so he tried out our new air fryer. Had delicious chicken and jacket potatoes - very impressed.
Anotger busy day tomorrow,so an early night tonight?

GrannySomerset I have sent a PM 're Amazon prime subscription.

We have decided to have dash cams for our new car, so spent quite a while on the phone to H......s, trying to ascertain whether they had in stock, the one we wanted, and to book a fitting time.
I finished writing my cards, but need stamps now.
Later we had a phone call from an energy company, who wanted to speak to DH. He wouldn't tell me what he wanted to speak about, data protection, you know, and my name isn't on his list! I told hime I had been married to DH for 58 years, and that said DH was upstairs with shaving foam all round his chops. This made him laugh, but he still wouldn't give up.

One of our neighbours sent over a large piece of Christmas cake and a card, because evidently I had been kind to her.

On the way to the shops and bottle bank, I met my young neighbour, just back from a run. She was steaming in the cold air.
After dropping off the bottles at the bottle bank, I bought a couple of books of 2nd class stamps, in the local shop.
How much!
As I had to bend down in the shop to get to my purse out of my trolley, my back went again, so I had to perch on the window cill until it relaxed again.
I have been being lazy for the rest if the afternoon, reading my book and drinking tea and enjoying a small piece of the cake.
Just off to get supper now, and hope there is something decent on TV tonight.
It's been a lovely bright, but cold day, not windy, but the temperature is dropping again now.

Well, today I’ve managed to lose my glasses and am very cross with myself. I did do some of the planned cleaning but not later socialising as we were needed to help with a sick grandchild as we will be again tomorrow. Is it OK to wear a mask do you think. . Wrong time of year to share yet more bugs. Family pressures are mounting, all the more stressful because there’s not a thing I can do to change the situation, could do with some distraction I think. Enjoyed reading about the book bradfordlass, wonderful outcome.

Oh BradfordLass that was quite magical.
?

Just had an infuriating forty minutes on the phone trying to cancel Amazon Prime subscription, going round in circles with someone who insisted they needed to know my internet bank details (won’t internet bank). The call finished with Amazon disconnecting and I still don’t know if I have cancelled the damn thing or not.

Anyone any advice? Otherwise a good day but now feel frazzled, cross and stupid.

Well done Bradfordlass what a lovely result. Some things are just perfect aren't they?
Quiet day yesterday. Cold but lovely sunshine. DH out chopping wood whilst I did lots of cooking, shepherds pie, chilli , soup etc and did all the ironing.
Off to the hospital today for my eyes. They put drops in so I won't be able to see properly until tea time. Hence shepherd's pie. As I am awake early again I expect I will nod off after tea . ?

What a result, BradfordLass72!well done! I bet you can’t wait till Christmas to tell them.

I couldn't remember when my dental appointment is so I rang, got a message saying they would phone back.

Within a minute I had a phone call and a woman on the other end immediately yelling that she "didn't know what the hell I was on about and to stop ringing her"! She carried on so I put the phone down.

I dialled 1471 but didn't recognise the number.

Then the lovely dental receptionist phoned to confirm my appointment (in the NY) and to wish me a Merry Christmas

BradfordLass what a great result. I'm trying to work out who she is and if I have any of her books!

We went to IKEA to find something to help create a market stall for Sunday's Christmas market.

Tonight I was so tired, we lit a fire and dropped off to sleep after dinner but were rudely awoken by the Secretary from our community group meeting. Where were we?

I hope you got to choir Luckygirl
But I can sympathise if you didn't.

Don't know what happened to yesterday. Oh yes, I wrote a lot of cards, then we went to collect a book that I had ordered, and had lunch out. In the afternoon, I finished off crocheting my angels.
Today I had to be up early, for me anyway, as I was volunteering in the morning, instead of the afternoon. It was very busy and lovely. Then I drove home and we had a quick lunch before DH took the car to have a small thing rectified. I read a bit of my book and fell asleep. Prepared dinner, starched the skirts of my angels and caught up on Gransnet.
Then I think we are going to watch an episode of Vienna Blood , when DH has finished washing up!
Grannyactivist, I do hope your little grandson is feeling better, and BradfordLass, well done with your book search.

Wow!! That is an amazing story, BradfordLass with a happy ending

Yesterday I was part of a Christmas miracle and felt so happy about my small part in it that I could have flown round the room .

My dear son has made three attempts to get a rare, out-of-print book which his partner absolutely loved as a child.
She has often wished she had a copy but has searched in vain.

So my son began to try and locate it.

First attempt: the eBay seller re-thought the poor quality and refunded DS money.
2nd attempt: book got lost en route from France.
Third attempt: book successfully found in UK but seller doesn't post Internationally. However, via an agency it will come - in February 2020.

My son is a very capable, efficient man so I never interfer in his affairs but when he was sadly telling me the latest on this saga, something made me ask the book title and if he'd like me to try and find another copy, perhaps available in time for Christmas.
He didn't have much hope.
Extensive searching has found only these 3 copies world-wide but said I could try.

Thus began my research at 10:15 yesterday morning.
Utter failure with sellers in New York, UK and Australia.

Then I searched the author and to my astonishment found she was alive (she is 80) and living about an hour away from me, here in New Zealand!

My son had assumed the book and author were English (most children's books sold in NZ at that time were), so I had too.

Through my own contacts as an author I was able to send my details asking her to ring me if she would. Within 30 mins she did so and we had a delightful chat.

Amazingly, she shares a birthday with my dil, which made all the difference to her. "I knew I was keeping this book for someone special." she said.
So my son will collect a signed copy this week.

I hope he takes his partner too as I know she would be overwhelmed to meet the author of her favourite childhood book.

All this was accomplished before 1pm that day, less than 3 hours. A true miracle.

I hope you managed to get to choir, Luckygirl. I always find it so uplifting, no matter what sort of day I have had or how tired I am.

I went to choir last night, rehearsing Messiah, which we do every year.
Today I spent a couple of hours online, catching up with GN and banking, then made a packed lunch, caught the bus to the bank. I had a savings account mature so I closed it and paid the cheque in. Nice little financial boost at this time of year.

Then I went to do my voluntary work, but today it involved supporting a trainee, so was a bit stressful in a different sort of way, asi had to just sit there listening to her making a few mistakes, working very slowly, but she will learn from the experience and hopefully will improve,

Home to cook ( fish, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli) and watch TV, Holby City tonight!

Hope your GS recovers quickly ga

Weird day for me today - just felt too tired to function properly really. Went to coffee morning, where there was a storyteller, and also the hairdresser who took about 8" off my hair - and it is still long! But it will be easier to deal with in the shower now.

Was supposed to go to see OH in the nursing home but I simply could not face it at all and did not go. Listening to his distress is so debilitating, especially when there is nothing I can do about it. DD has gone over there now, so he will see a family member.

Picked two little GC up from school, and spent an hour with them reading stories from my box of Christmas books - they loved it.

I will eat something now and then decide if I can face going to choir half an hour away.

Onwards and upwards.

Emotional day for you GA! very touching to hear of the big brother's concern. I hope you both feel better soon.

I had a busy day helping to look after the DGD. You can't do anything else can you, with little ones around. Those pictures of a smiling granny knitting in the rocking chair while the children play happily around her, in book illustrations, are not real! The real ones find the one pin you missed on the floor.
We went to the cinema in the afternoon but left little sister at home with grandpa. Others hadn't been so thoughtful so there were infants crying but even that was quite reassuring during the scary bits. There was also the noise of sweet wrappers. See my thread about sugar consumption!

Thinking of you all GA , and hope your GS continues to improve, and that you do too.

I spent most of today on the phone tracking my grandson's progress. He saw the nurse before 9am, she advised he should see the GP, the GP sent him straight to A&E, A&E sent him to the children's ward for examination and blood tests. Eventually they came up with a diagnosis of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis. You have possibly never heard of this, and, thank goodness neither had my daughter, but some years ago it was the first indication we had that my nephew had cancer!!! So, although I know it's quite common in children and can be perfectly harmless I've been on tenterhooks waiting for further news.

My daughter was there with her toddler son as well as her poorly 6 year old, so was really struggling to manage them both and arrange after-school childcare for her older son. My son-in-law was recalled from London where he's working this week, but wasn't able to get home in time to be any help at the hospital.

Anyway, just before 7pm they were given the all clear to take him home, but if there is any deterioration he can return straight back to the ward without having to see the GP or wait around in A&E. He's in quite a lot of pain, but he's a stoic little thing and after a few days of feeling ill he's very tired now so hopefully he will sleep well tonight.

I can't tell you how relieved I am that the ML doesn't indicate something sinister, and my older grandson burst into tears as soon as his brother arrived home and he knew he was going to be alright.

Slow start to the day then out to a National Trust property to admire the beautiful room decorations. So many huge Christmas trees and the volunteers all in costume. Blue sky encouraged us to walk back to the visitor centre rather than use the courtesy bus. It had to be good for us? . The only disappointment was the huge, stationary queue in the cafe which deterred us from having a coffee stop. Came home via a garden centre for a snack lunch and a wander.

This afternoon I’ve done little other than speak to a friend On the phone. I’m left upset and worried, she’s been ill, won’t seek medical help and is upset she will be alone on Christmas day. She came to us last year but this years family arrangements mean it’s not possible. Logic tells me she has many friends living close by, we’re 90 minutes away, but I still feel overwhelmingly guilty and have been trying to work out how it would be possible for her to be with us. I know it isn’t, but I’ll keep trying.

Hope your grandson is ok ga and you continue to gain strength. Your buttons have gone to join my sponge I think grannysomerset, the bath sort not the cake type. I know I put it in a bag when we left our sons last week so how comes it wasn’t there when we got home?

Did the usual stuff of getting ready, then going to work (which isn't like work, it's more like a social thing, which is nice).

Met my friend for a snack and drink, in a local cafe. Chatted for a couple of hours, went home. Saw a neighbour, had a chat.

Went to order my repeat prescription, then did a bit of housework at son no. 2's house, whilst he was at work. Went home, made Spaghetti Bolognese when my husband got home.

In between all that, I rang my brother, who is feeling very unwell with a UTI and fever - his GP can't visit until tomorrow, 111 told him to ring the GP! Texts to and from a friend whose dog had collapsed, another friend whose mum has had to have an emergency care home placement due to mental breakdown/massive decline in Dementia, and my nephew, who is awaiting an appointment to have a CT scan of his brain.

All in all, I'm thankful to be home, and without any problems of my own.