Welcome dear Kitcheners. I am very happy to be opening the door to my favourite Granspals.
We have a new Aga. The atmosphere is cosy ' The buffet is ready for the sharing of. In the quiet corner we have music to suit all tastes. There are reclining chairs and cosy blankets and if all one wants to do is relax, then please do so.
By the way, it is a dear pal Baggs birthday tomorrow. There is a birthday cake in the larder. There is also plenty of Champagne with which to toast her.
I am off to my bed.
Thank you all for being extra special people. 
moon]
Good to hear fgt. Should have known you’d have checked which way he was travelling. It didn’t occur to me he was actually heading home. Lucky man to chat to you.
There were four hours of uninterrupted sleep thank you granmarie, more than enough and so much better than my usual pattern.
Nothing clear from 90 minutes of hospital consultations today. As ever I’m described as unusual. Who wants to be usual? 
.
Yet more blood testing is needed. One apparently requires specialist analysis, I’m to wait for a phone call to tell me when that can be scheduled. In the meantime it’s all back on a shelf as far as I’m concerned. Rather than frustrated I’m grateful for the time and care coming from our beleaguered NHS. My concern voiced today at wasting their time was firmly rejected, kind people. We were certainly pleased to see the Costa handily located by the hospital exit, needed a re-group before moving on.
That is indeed a beautiful image brook. It’s been misty with some drizzle all day here, didn’t manage the walk along the coast we’d hoped for, made do with a turn or two around a garden centre. Enjoyed some excellent fish and chips there before visiting a couple of shops on the way home.
Quiet weekend ahead, I’m beginning to sort through 55+ years of photos. Plan to let go of most of the views which will mean not a thing to anyone else. I’m hoping to reduce the existing (large!) quantity of albums by half and label every photo. It will take time! I do need to acquire some new albums to move the keepers into, meant to look today and of course didn’t.
Go gently Redcar, all will be well.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend along with a hope poorly people are comfortable.
How good to be able to come into this lovely, peaceful place. I’ve just had a lovely catch up with you all and hope you all had as good a possible Christmas.
I wanted to say how pleased I was to see you Blossoming but very sorry about the deterioration of your heath.
I hope that USTBB had a reasonable Christmas and is now recovering her equilibrium.
Like Cornergaran, I was concerned about the elderly gentleman returning to his own home, but now I know that he has, I wonder if he is on his own there?
We had a disastrous Christmas, I’m only just feeling like writing about it.
The plan had been to get the house spick and span on the eve of Christmas Eve leaving only the cooked and ready to eat crab to collect on Christmas Eve morning.
Feeling exhausted I sunk into my chair on Monday evening about 7pm, DH brought me a glass of red wine and went to get one for himself. Somehow he missed the table when putting it down! Result red wine all over the freshly cleaned carpet. I just put paper towels all over it to soak up the worst. I still haven’t faced the floor underneath.
DH got out early on Christmas Eve and collected the crab and two prepared langoustine for Boxing Day, he bought a bottle of Portuguese champagne as a treat too.
So late Christmas morning we unwrapped the crab only to find that although cooked, it certainly wasn’t ready to eat. The claws had been separated but the shell was whole and solid as a rock. And the inside certainly wasn’t “ready to eat”!
We long since gave away our shellfish board and hammer so had to improvise with heavy pliers, couldn’t find a decent hammer.
We had a some champagne, ate what we could and rescued the overcooked new potatoes, so not too bad. Although DH was really, really silent and grumpy all day but in the evening asked if I’d like to share the end of the champagne with him. Unusually considering the time of year, we hadn’t drunk at all, all day. He caught his glass on something, it shattered and we had champagne and shattered glass all over the floor. At least it didn’t stain.
Boxing Day, I tend to think of as a day off, usually far more relaxing with little cooking, cold foods etc. Unfortunately the ready to eat langoustine weren’t cooked either. 
DH who had resorted to extra grumpiness by this time was also insisting that he would cook a proper meal for both of us. I was trying to relieve the tension so agreed although I would have been happy with bits and no washing up. I gave up on the leathery langoustine although DH struggled on and insisted on cooking a small salmon piece for me and the prawns that he struggled with. If we are around next year I think we’ll be going out.
Yesterday thankfully life was restored to normal. Whatever black cloud was hanging over DH’s head had gone away and everything feels relaxed again.
‘Evening All’.
Oh dustyangel what a catalogue of culinary disasters! No wonder you’ve felt shaken up by it all. Crikey.
We’ve enjoyed another good day. I’m getting very used to this. It’s bluddy wonderful to be honest. Lucky us.
A brunch with Himself’s two brothers and their wives. Then mulled wine in the Loungers Bar below us (see pic) with our little family late afternoon. The place was rammed. Quick head count from up on the mezzanine? 200 people! Families, friends, dogs. Wonderful. Some pubs/bars would give their right arm to be so consistently busy. What they do, they do brilliantly!
‘Evening All’
Crikey - It is quiet in here tonight! We are not long home. We’ve been out with my stepfather into Oldham to see my uncle, which was a real pleasure. He is mid 80s and lives on his own now as my aunt died two years ago. He is my only link to the past with my mum and dad. He offered us all a drink and poured my stepfather a whisky. I went into the kitchen to put the kettle on to make tea for Himself and me. I had to laugh when my uncle reached across to a kitchen cupboard and took out a mug saying put Himself’s tea in this. It was a Manchester City mug ha! When I took the tea in Himself laughed when he saw it and said yes, okay - I’ll drink it providing you’ve got some mouthwash for afterwards!
It was a lovely visit catching up on old times, Christmases past and memories held. It was heartening to hear my uncle saying my darling man is looking so well. Truly we never get tired of hearing people say that.
We then drove back and the three of us went for a curry which was most enjoyable. Home now, cozy and warm in our pyjamas!
This discussion thread has reached a 1000 message limit, and so cannot accept new messages.
Start a new discussion
