Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

That was lucky, @lizzie27, to find a suitable coat like that.

I've been up to the loft and brought down the decorations and the fake tree. Now that I'm usually with one of my children for Christmas I use a fake tree. Also there is not much room to put one in this cottage. I have an even smaller one to put on the shelf between the kitchen and the breakfast room. I've put it there now. Here it is.

 

I’ve treated us to an Heirloom Angel this year, she’s quite lovely

 

Good morning all. Yesterday was very cold, but this morning is much better. I will send the last Christmas card today. Parcel for my sister with a lot of goodies is on the way to Germany. I have few more minutes to finish my tea and must dash. Have a nice day.

Lovely photos @Busy-Lizzie and @Bluejayway.

 

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Good morning everyone. I had a very strange day yesterday. After returning from the visit I felt absolutely dreadful. I had had a rubbish night's sleep - being awake since 02:00 yesterday morning. I felt really cold to the point I was shivering so i decided that the best place to be was bed. I had a hacking cough and generally felt rough. I went to bed and stayed there until getting up today. This is so unlike me. @lizzie27 I think i may have done too much over the weekend for the Fayre. In my head I still think I can do 'stuff' I did when I was 30. I am going to take it easy today because I am having my hair done tomorrow - but only if I feel up to it. Love the pictures @Busy-Lizzie and @Bluejayway.

 

Good morning all!!

It was the same for me @Ladybird - same time - it was 3.20am for me (yesterday). I was worried about an unknown leak (received Email from the water board) - so on rising I called my nephew in NZ who is a plumber who told me to fill up on water - turn off at the mains and read the meter - which I did. So when it is a bit warmer - it is 3°C out there - I will check the numbers on the meter.

Not even tired; I had a busy day. Pruned the grapevine over the pergola. Cut the branches into lengths to dry for the barbecue in the summer - I keep the thick ones, and the others cut up for burning when they dry out. Swept up all the bits and pieces. Then I bunged up some holes on a unit I want to paint - took the dog for her run - a second wind. I slept more or less well, last night. I have just the 5 vines in the vegetable garden to prune and cut up. Not so bad, as no sweeping up - the trailer is filling up!!

We are having a cold week this week - not so good for arthritic hands that seize up around the secateurs - but although it is cold and there is no sun - there is no wind so, well-wrapped up, I even got a bit too hot - especially on the sweeping bit!! I may try and do some more pruning today as rain is expected over the next 3 days - then sunny on Sunday.

See you are all putting up the decorations for Christmas. None here for me as I won't be here, so no point in putting up and taking down!! I do like the odd Poinsettia though, for the Festive Season and a Christmas runner on the table.

Oh dear!! I have just dropped a blood pressure tiny pink pill on the floor and I can't find it - I had better get out the vacuum cleaner before the dog gets it!! Can you imagine what that could do to a Border Collie!!!??

Have a pleasant Wednesday folks.

 

Good morning all.

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well, @Ladybird4, I hope you feel better today. Haven't you had a cough for a while now?

The gardening club is having a party tomorrow with a bring and share lunch. I'll make a chocolate roulade and a salad. There will be a table decoration competition usìng leaves from your garden so I'll do that too.

 

Our meal yesterday surpassed expectations! There were 9 of us and the venue chosen was not the best, having rather negative reviews. They have had a new manager and I really couldn't fault the meal at all. I had pate to start, then sea bass, with crushed new pots and caper and pesto dressing.
I am out again today with my cousins, but I will only have a starter. I know they will both have fish and chips.
I have little pink pills for blood pressure, too, @Tui34 !!
@Ladybird4 I hope you do take it easy today and feel better.
Tomorrow, we had better start thinking of decorations. You're all ahead of me.

 

You've got company Ladybird4, another with the lurgy, hoping pills will fend off the worst. Luckily it's only us here for Xmas, though daughter has friends coming on the 26th. I might have a go at putting up my tree, but collecting foliage for other decs is going to have to wait!
She went out to feed the sheep this morning at about quarter to 8 and said it was so dark out there that that the barn owl was still out!

 

Thank you @Ante1 and @Ladybird4 . Hope you soon feel better @Ladybird4

 

Good day all.

Sorry to hear that some are under the weather - if you are then rest, drink plenty and dose-up with paracetamol and vitamins.

I had a list of jobs for my day off today but I slept in so might not achieve them all, but that’s ok.

Catch you all later.

 

@ButtercupDays OH brought me juice and coffee in bed this morning at 8:30 and I opened the shutter to find just a thin sliver of deep orange sun poking just above the horizon. Very cold too and a naughty north easterly feeling even colder than yesterday. I wanted to go back to bed but had to get up for physio.

OH even wanted me to leave early and follow him as he was dropping off the older car for a new headlight and then planned to come with me to physio and drive me home after but I had planned to do my shopping for his prezzie so he gallantly decided to walk home from the village - 5km with a following wind.

I got home to find him up a ladder hanging outside Xmas lights. Can't do gutters but he can do lights!!! He's also hung the branches I use in the kitchen and dining room so I've had to tell him to stop now till a thorough clean has been done. Xmas cards this pm.

I hope you're feeling better today @Ladybird4. It's irritating and frustrating having to pace yourself but better for you in the long run.

@Tui34 enjoy your calm weather. It's partially sunny here but perishing cold in the wind.

Love sea bass @Penny_Forthem . Glad it was a good meal.

@Busy-Lizzie Possum's Xmas nibbles and secret Santa at the office is tomorrow lunchtime. Can I please make sausage rolls for 35?

Have a fun day everyone, whether resting, playing or getting thru work or jobs.

 

Afternoon everyone!

Cold but dry here. My cough has almost gone, and OH, who caught my cold in spite of my best efforts to keep away from him, is also better. Hope @Ladybird4 , @ButtercupDays and anyone else with "lurgies", get plenty of rest and soon recover.

I'm very behind with food preparation for Christmas and New Year, though I do n0w know that barring accidents we'll be entertaining our grandsons and their parents over New Year, and going to our granddaughters & parents for St Stephen's (Irish for Boxing Day). The goose (now a family tradition) is ordered for New Year, and the belated Christmas pud is steaming. Must find out which foods are currently favourites with (or detested by!) the little boys. It seems to change very frequently... though sausages are always a safe bet, if all else fails...

 

Good afternoon, we went to local farm for our Christmas tree this morning. We know they buy them in but their prices are reasonable, and we've been going there for years so a bit of a tradition. We won't put it up inside yet, but we went a bit earlier than usual so we had a better choice. We wanted it about 6ft tall but not too wide, my wife did float the idea of not having one this year but the disapproving look from one of the GD'S was enough to persuade us.

 

Good news about the cough @Liriodendron. Now that OH has accepted he's the only one who eats Xmas pud, I don't have to make one so the only advance cooking I might do for Xmas day is sticky toffee puds. I do make Delia's Creole cake a week or so in advance but we never eat any of it before March so it doesn't count.

@Allotment Boy we bought ours last Friday. Like you, we like to get in early for a good choice but also to put it outside in a bucket of water so it doesn't dehydrate and droop. It'll come in some time next week (as late as possible for me) and go into water again. I found an old galvanised laundry tub in a flea market years ago and painted it red with gold stencils of Xmas trees and snowflakes.

Just 2 Xmas cards left to write and I'm done. The neighbours' cards can wait as the French and Belgians send NY wishes for a good year.

 

Lunch was very good. Yes, I had the meze starter! And no, I didn't have the crumble pud!
(is there a halo emoji? )
Bit of a sour note from yesterday; we were rung by the art lunch organiser to say we hadn't paid for our drinks. Actually, we'd paid on arrival, at the bar. 'Somebody' hadn't paid for drinks at the table, but a bit miffed to be accused it was us.
We're going to choose our tree on Saturday, at the Xmas tree farm near our caravan. We drive past it regularly and have picked out the tree we want.
Nothing planned for tomorrow. The last brown bin collection, but it's empty, so only recycling out.