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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
Since people seemed to enjoy the last Simon's Cat....
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDelete🐈 🤗 🐈 🤗 another very quiet day on the (old) blog nothing before its closure!
ReplyDeleteHello again everybody! The Archerphile is back in Blighty!
ReplyDeleteI must first apologise for not having had time to read any of the comments on either blog, so am not up to date with what’s been happening in TA or with any of your news - so please forgive if I do not refer to anyone’s personal news, good or otherwise. I have to listen to two whole Omnibuses before tomorrow’s one, to find out what’s been happening in Ambridge! And I will try to read through the ‘other’ blogs next week. (After the mountain of washing & ironing is done 😒)
Regarding the cruise - I’m afraid it was a bit of a nightmare for me, due to my arthritic knee becoming exceedingly painful. I was unable to walk more than a few yards without real pain, couldn’t even walk the length of the ship - so it was just as well that our cabin was aft, near the restaurants, rather than at the bow where the theatre, bars, cafes and library were situated!
I was totally unable to climb one flight of stairs to the restaurant so I spent a lot of time waiting for the lifts!
We had booked to go on 4 shore tours on the various islands we were visiting, but I could only do one because I couldn’t walk the distance from the ship to the tour coaches. Mr A did go on them all though & reported back on what I had missed.
The one tour I did manage was to an amazing cactus garden, planted in the caldera of an extinct volcano on Lanzarote - I have never seen such giant cacti, but couldn’t tour the whole garden, just sat in the cafe, surveying the scene. 🌵🌵🗻
Fortunately I have an appt. with my GP on Monday morning and will ask to be referred for my knee replacement ASAP . Because I need to be reasonably fit by next April, I may have to be prepared to consider a private operation. I am not happy about doing this , jumping the queue etc, but my consultant does operate at the private unit at our NHS hospital, which helps fund the hospital, so that eases my conscience a bit. I shall not be contributing to a commercial health company which seem to charge prices only suitable for those with health insurance!
Lovely to be back online again - was not prepared to pay £26 per hour for WiFi on the ship! 💷 💷
Lovely to have you back Archerphile, sorry your knee held you back during your cruise but from what you told us prior to it I rather felt it might do so.
ReplyDeleteWishing you luck Monday and 🤞 that the NHS will come up trumps as your badly arthritic knee is now affecting your daily life so badly.
If not go for The Candover Unit as you have noted your fee would help the NHS side of the hospital in any case.
Good to hear from you, Archerphile, but so sorry that your participation on the cruise was severely limited. Very disappointing even though sort of expected ( I think I would have wept some salty tears in the cabin, but perhaps you're made of sterner stuff...) At least you saw the cacti !
ReplyDeleteDon't see why you should have ANY conscience about having the operation privately, as your quality of life is so badly affected now. I understand why you might feel that way, but....
Enjoy catching up with TA, &, more important, all the best for Monday.
Good to have you back Archerphile, even though the trip was hampered by your knee.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with your GP and many hopes that you can get it done very soon.
And don't forget the magnesium oil. Have it ready for as soon as the wound is closed, to aid the healing.
Archerphile,
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back.
Sorry to hear about your holiday experience not being what it should be because of your knee.
Have you thought of acupuncture?
Perhaps your GP could refer you to an acupuncturist.
Forward thinking GPS are all for it.
Today I have been to an acupuncturist because of sciatica which arrived suddenly and very painfully during Tuesday night.
Since then I have not been able to lie down at night and find walking very difficult.
But
I am absolutely convinced that I will be cured by acupuncture.
I am going to sit in a chair and read my Nevil Shute until I feel tired enough to sleep and hope I will get some shut eye.
Archerphile, instead of thinking of it as 'jumping the queue', consider the fact that you will be making everyone else's journey to the top of the list one name shorter.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Archerphile. Take good care of yourself the way that’s best for you. Hope you’re pain free ASAP.
ReplyDeleteLanJan, sorry to hear you have been in pain as well. Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope the acupuncture does the trick.
So lovely to hear from you all with encouraging messages.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
LanJan - re acupuncture, I did have a course arranged by my GP right back at the beginning of my knee problem about 4 years ago. I was not at all sure it helped very much at the time. I think the damage is now so great (causing intense pain in my calf and thigh as well as the knee) that I need more drastic treatment! But thanks for the suggestion and I do hope your sciatica improves quickly.
Good to have you back, Archerfile and sorry to hear your cruise was spoilt by the knee problem. I hope it will be sorted soon. I know that knee and hip replacements can make a big difference to quality of life so wishing you all the best!
ReplyDeleteI have had a quiet week after several hectic ones! The dogs continue to take a lot of time and when you add in various appointments, work being done on the house and TG work the minutes and hours fill up! Last week at TG we had a speaker who had been a Beefeater at the Tower of London and he was so interesting I am after him to come again next year!
We had the behaviourist in this morning to talk about Dudley and she did give some useful tips but I think it will take time to give him the confidence to accept he isn’t responsible for guarding the house excessively! I am thinking of changing his name to Ronnie as he is a Barker!!
Best wishes to all who are below par at the moment. Thinking of you!💕
Welcome home Archerphile. It only seems like 5 minutes since you were setting off on your hols. Shame about the knee prob. Hope you get it sorted ASAP then you’ll have to go on another cruise to make up for it. 😉
ReplyDeleteOur neighbouring town Christmas lights got turned on this evening. The lights in our village go on next weekend. Before you know it’ll all be over and it’ll be miserable January time. It really doesn’t seem long since last Christmas.
All us sickly folk should have a communal “put your feet up day” tomoz and get rested up ready for the madness to come. That includes you Spicy!!!
😁
Mrs P, 9.08 yesterday
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued to read your suggestion about magnesium oil.
I have not heard about this before. Could you kindly tell me a bit more about it, how to use and where to get it?
Many thanks.
New to me too Archerphile - Bio Oil yes but not magnesium...
DeleteWelcome back, AP, sending lots of ❤️to you and all suffering bloggers..
ReplyDeleteWelcome home Archerphile. Hope knee is sorted quickly. Sounds like the cruise was a positive confined rest. No cooking, cleaning, shopping and all those other domestic tasks.
ReplyDeleteAlso you missed the the great flood of rain dumped on us from the heavens.
Always look on the bright side.
Wish I could take my own advice.
Thank you Stasia - yes, enforced rest, but it got very boring, not being able to go on tours and join in ship activities. The fantastic food, and inability to exercise (4 laps around the deck = 1 mile, but I could only manage a few yards!) have meant I gained over a stone in weight 😳 and now have to go back to 800 cals. a day to loose it as fast as possible !
DeleteOh no 😱 still you have the best motivation possible to do this AP - good luck👏🏻
DeleteMagnesium Oil
ReplyDeleteYes bio oil has magnesium in it, but magnesium oil is just that. Magnesium !
It was my daughter ( always very up to date on these subjects) who said I should use it.
Got it from the usual health food shop, but H&B probably sell it too.
Once the wound had closed and clips / stitches out I started to apply it every night after my bath. ( remember that damp skin is more porous (sp) ) rubbed it in gently. Apparently aids healing.
Now then, one thing my body does do very well, is heal, so I cannot say that the M oil was responsible, but I used it for over six months on my knee every night. And my scar is a very thin line and hardly noticeable.
When at the hospital this week discussing my finger the doctor wanted to know how well I healed and asked to see my recent scar. He was amazed and repeated what my knee surgeon had said a year ago, " it doesn't get better than that. ! "
M oil is no more expensive than similar stuff so worth trying I would think.
I use magnesium for cramp anyway, so I had some before daughter suggested it.
M comes in cream and foam also but I think for the purpose of scar healing the oil is best.
Good luck Archerphile with losing the extra weight and with getting the referral under way ASAP.
Many thanks for the information Mrs P, it certainly sounds like a good thing to use, so I will order some from H&B online.
DeleteI tried Bio Oil when it first came on the market some years ago. It was said to be good for scars, so for several months I used it on an old scar on my stomach, obtained when I had to have a Kirby-grip removed as a small child. The emergency operation had left me with a 3inch long x 1/2 inch wide very raised scar right across my waistline which frequently got abraded by clothing and stopped me ever daring to wear a bikini! Unfortunately the Bio Oil made no difference whatsoever but that was probably due to the scar being over 60 years old - I was probably expecting miracles!
Hopefully, the magnesium oil, used soon after the op, will be much better.
AP, don't want to inundate you with tips, but I used organic hemp oil from a health food shop after having a lump removed from my forehead earlier this year - definitely not a place where you need a scar, visible to all !
ReplyDeleteBiopsy having been taken, I assumed the lump probably was a basal cell carcinoma, as I know people who've had this, luckily with no further eruptions, like Parsley had removed recently, & which Spicycushion is due to have removed soon, but it wasn't - apparently, a sweat gland gone haywire, that's all, albeit quite large. Anyway, returned to the consultant 2 months after removal, &, as with Mrs P, he thought it was healing very well. He says the scar usually fades after 6 months, but it looked like mine wouldn't take more than 3-4.
I do know I heal quickly ( thinking of dental implants in particular), but the hemp oil probably helped.
Just a thought, though I've taken many lines to express it !
So there you are.......
ReplyDeleteWhat do we know ?
Before we had what we have today - bio, hemp, magnesium, coconut, we bought those little bottles of olive oil from Boots and used it for everything, including salad dressings if we were posh enough.
And who knows, it just might be the ' oil ' that's the secret.
Maybe it's worth trying melted butter.
Mrs. P, olive oil - we would NEVER have thought of using it on salads , (that's what vinegar was invented for), because we all knew it was Dad's sun tan oil....
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all with health and dog related issues, I too have both at the moment.
Hope both are better in time for Christmas.
DeleteIt was my suntan oil of choice too Mistral, but I mixed it with salt.
ReplyDeleteAnd boy did I get tanned with it.
Which 'issue' ( Carolyn ? ) is of greater account Mistral, the dog or the health ?
Eh?
DeleteOne of Katy’s colleagues had a nasty fall when out jogging. It resulted in a bad injury which wouldn’t heal. She tried Manuka honey on it and it did heal. Gypsy has a tumour on the back of her head which couldn’t be operated on as the vet found her liver wasn’t good so she couldn’t break down the anaesthetic. The tumour bled a lot and wouldn’t heal over and Katy tried the honey and it is now much better. You have to get the strongest honey which is quite expensive even at half price from H & B but it does seem to work.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Manuka Honey in Sainsburys and wondered why it was so very expensive, compared with ordinary honey.
DeleteNow I know! Thank you Ev, looks like I have many suggestions for post-op treatments.
I just have to get that referral, this morning!
Noel Fitzpatrick the Bionic Vet uses Manuka honey on animals who don’t heal very well. Seems to work.
DeleteCarolyn - above....
ReplyDeleteJust referring to your dislike of the use of the word ' issue '
A sort of apology.
Get it ! It's fine in some contexts(imo), like the above, where the 'issue' is between 2 things, or it's about something to be discussed, but not when simply a 'problem' is meant. Special bugbear is 'mental health issue' when ' mental health problem' or 'mental illness' is being referred to.
DeleteWho on earth can have an issue with mental health ? Nice if you've got it, surely ! Not many can claim unblemished mental health, after all...
Referral obtained! GP writing to consultant today, so hopefully an appt. soon. 🦵
ReplyDelete🤞
DeleteSounds hopeful Archerphile, any idea at all of waiting time from your Dr (in order for you to decide if paying privately is to be an option?)
DeleteKeeping my 🤞 NHS comes up trumps for you.
Call to Miriam, are you out there?
ReplyDeleteGood news so far, AP.
ReplyDeleteYes, excellent news as I’ve just been offered appt. at 4.30 next Monday! It’s at a different hosp as the consultant had a space there, but I’m just relieved to get the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteGP thought it very unlikely I’d get to top of NHS list before April, so no choice really. Hoping for a lottery win! 🤞
Yes Stasia, I was wondering earlier today, or might have been yesterday, that Miriam has been silent for some days, possibly as long as a week.
ReplyDeleteHope all OK Miriam.
Perhaps on holiday ?
Well done Archerphile. We will all hope for your operation to be as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime do keep up with your exercises. I found that the strengthening ones actually helped the pain prior to my operation.
Have just allowed myself the pleasure and luxury of sitting and watching a Yorkshire Walk - Leyburn to Bolton Castle.
ReplyDeleteCan recommend to all walkers, on BBC 4 - 7.30 every evening this week.
Will watch this on iPlayer- thanks Mrs P!
DeleteAh. didn't know 'issue' was an issue!
ReplyDeleteMy dog is a scavenger, and although always on a lead through the town, she spots discarded fast food quicker than me, and often gets it before I realise. Add to that her habit of chasing rabbits, (caught two this summer), and bingo, pancreatitis. She has been really ill, I have been endlessly cooking chicken and rice, many hours spent snuggled up on the settee. Two of ny dogs have died just before Christmas, I thought it was about to happen again. However, she is now on an expensive prescription low fat diet for life, and is recovering well.
I somehow damaged my ligaments around one kess, excruitiating pain, could n't walk, but physiotherapy and daily exercises have been marvellous, although my leg keeps giving way and it's hard doing stairs. Mostly pain-free but unreliable leg now.
The dog is 70, I am 64, we are a pair of crocks....but I know there are far worse off than us, and also thank my lucky stars for PetPlan insurance.
Mrs P - 8.06pm 2/12
ReplyDeleteMr R & I have just watched the Yorkshire walk prog. Thank you 👏🏻 so much for mentioning it we enjoyed it immensely. What a treat no background music at all just the birds and the sheep and stunning scenery and here and there a chat in passing - no set ups. Brilliant and look forward to the other 3 progs.
Thanks to you both, Lady R and Mrs P for this recommendation, we shall watch first one on catch up and record the rest.
DeleteWe love this type of programme when there is no music - just natural sounds.
So many progs. these days are ruined (for us) by overloud, repetitive and unnecessary music. Even some of the David Attenborough films have become unwatchable for me unless with the sound off and subtitles on!
We loved those ‘slow TV’ programmes like the canal journey which were music and commentary-less with simply beautiful photography and the odd on-screen caption.
Yes we saw the canal prog too Archerphile it was so relaxing, this one also puts up little bits of info on screen and the artist doing the walk does talk about how she is enjoying the scenery etc. Hope you both enjoy it.
DeleteThe walk was on regional tv in Nov and therefore iPlayer follows on automatically with 1-4 but of course one can watch as and when.
I can highly recommend Chinese Acupuncture ,Mistral!
ReplyDeleteIf you do decide to go, please check that the person administering it is a member of the British Council of Acupuncturists.
Lanjan, thank you. I'll investigate.
ReplyDeleteKaty has given me a gin advent calendar with a double gin each day! So far it has revealed a blackberry, a quince and today a rose petal flavoured gin. When I have tried all 25 flavours will let Toby know which he should go for! 💕💕🍸🥂cheers!
ReplyDeleteI have a formulated a theory about weight gain and loss - at least, it seems to apply to me, and perhaps others too.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 14 days of our cruise I was horrified to find I had put on a whopping 1stone, 2 lbs!!.
I hadn’t been indulging in much alcohol, just 1 glass of wine with dinner, but I had allowed myself the full range of food on offer, including bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and puddings etc. And cakes at teatime too.
Having discovered my horrendous gain on Saturday, I instantly went back on 800 calories per day with NO carbohydrates whatsoever. This morning, after just 3 days, I have lost 9 lbs!
So I am wondering if I am actually unable to metabolise carbs, so the are all stored as fat - or if I may be ‘allergic’ or ‘intolerant’ to carbohydrates in some way or other?
I wish I (or my mother) had known this way back in my childhood so I needent have been so fat all my life. Hopefully by following a carb free regime for the rest of my days 😢, I may be able to maintain an acceptable weight 😇
Archerphile. You may find when your knee is fixed, and eventually are able to take more exercise you won’t need to rely on 800 calories per day. Most people on cruises 🚢 put on weight. It is one way of keeping everyone entertained, vast choices of food. I have been on the Queen Mary four times and every time I passed the ice cream dispenser I had to help myself. Wonderful food and great variety to:choose from p, 24 hours a day. I compensated for my indulging so much by going to the sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool every day.
DeleteWell done 9lbs in 3 days. Here is virtual 🥘 🥙🥗🍽🍷dinner.
Thank you Stasia - that looks delicious!
DeleteArcherphile,I was put off Cruises by whatever programme it was that starred Jane Macdonald .
ReplyDeleteIt seems that all there is to do apart from look at the sea is eat ,drink and go to talks one would not normally bother about.
As regards diets.
Have a look at the Hay diet ,Archerphile.
The late Sir John Mills swore by it.
Basically you don’t mix “food that fight” so you don’t mix carbohydrates and protein .
This of course is a problem if you fancy fish and chips or cheese on toast
It does make you feel good though.
I think Sir Geoffrey follows or followed it.
I would have thought a diet without any carbohydrates would not be good but I am probably wrong.
Cut out all cakes,sweets, chocolates,biscuits ,bread and alcohol and you should be fine!
Eat potatoes in their jackets too.
To add to above....
ReplyDeleteProgramme on R4 last week, probably one of the science programmes or might have been the Food Programme..... talked about the science of some being able to eat all the carbs possible and it never adding weight, whereas others can't.
Simply put, weight has to do with us as individuals.
Surgery Gloucester Royal 8.30 am tomorrow.
Dog is with carer now, I have a taxi ( friend) at 6.15 and have to be at hospital at 7 am.
Trying to get to bed for nine.
But unlikely now before ten.
Needed to make many phone calls. But all arranged now.
Hospital called me at five pm this afternoon to tell me date and time.
My goodness that is short notice, but good to get it done. Plan a treat for afterwards so you have something nice to look forward to.🍰☕🍦
DeleteLanJan, I've only seen snippets of that cruise programme with Jane Macdonald and it was ghastly - no cruise I've ever been on was remotely like that! It's true that I could spend all day long watching the light on the sea changing in the course of the day, but I've also enjoyed first class concerts and piano recitals, brilliant dancing and presentations by the onboard theatre companies (although do make sure that the ship has a resident band because the ones that have shows backed by pre-recorded music are dreadful - sound badly balanced and always far too loud! )
ReplyDeleteIt's a fantastic way to see a whole list of places which would be difficult to get to by land, thousands of miles of travel, excellent food in a four-star hotel setting, and a library big enough to keep a bookworm busy for years. Expensive, but excellent value and well worth saving up for. For obvious reasons, this autumn's cruise had to be cancelled, but the next one is booked for 2021 with a friend I used to work with. Mediterranean, here I come.
Mrs P, I'll be thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteMrsP. Best wishes for an improvement in your hand. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Mrs. P. What a horrible early start.
ReplyDeleteCruising... Last year I went on a Norweigan ferry journey with Hurtigruten up the entire coast of Norway to the Russian border. No open seas, hugged the coastline. Fantastic, but no shows, entertainment, which is why it was so special. Lots of fish to eat. Planning a trip to Svalbard now.
All the best, Mrs P. Good they are acting quickly, so easier to sort out that finger. Early start, yes, but over sooner, then you can rest !
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Mrs P. Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteRe cruising. Smaller ships are better and it is great to have a lovely meal every night! We don’t have afternoon tea as a cuppa is sufficient. Fred Olsen has tea making facilities in the cabin. There is a midnight feast too but again we don’t frequent that one! It is a good way of having tasters of different locations, no airport hassle and one unpack for the whole holiday!
Tried the blackberry gin tonight and it is superb - probably right at the top of my list!
Ev - our anniversary cruise on Breamar next April is only possible because it is a small ship - we shall be going to Cadiz, then up the Guadalquivir River to Seville - something you could not do on one of the huge floating palaces!
ReplyDeleteWe did have tea, scones and the odd cake on Balmoral as we were on second sitting for dinner and it’s a long time from lunch to 8.30!
This year there was a wonderful female Russian concert pianist on board and I managed to get to the theatre twice to hear her play. She was amazing, but my painful leg put me off walking the length of the ship for the evening shows.
Mrs P:
ReplyDeleteBest of luck for tomorrow, I hope all goes well and you are soon home with a mended finger.
We watched one of those Yorkshire walks programmes you recommended tonight.
It was bliss! Just the type of thing we love and made us
think of a combination of a Julia Bradbury walking programme and one of those slow TV films.
Beautiful!
MrsP, hope everything goes swimmingly today.
ReplyDeleteMrs P, all the best for today. I hope the op goes well.
ReplyDeleteBy the time you read this Mrs P it’ll all be over. Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery. 💐
ReplyDeleteJust watched cruising with Jane McDonald this last weekend. She cruised from Detroit, through 2 Great Lakes and up the st Lawrence river to Quebec and back down to Montreal. It looked wonderful. She went on a trip to Niagara and I was very jealous that she got to do the zip wire next to the falls. It wasn’t open when we were there otherwise I’d have been first in the queue.
ReplyDeleteIt was the first time I’ve seen a programme with her. Thought she was good. Very Yorkshire!!!👍
Anyone watching I’m a celebrity?? If so, who do you want to win?
I didn’t know hardly any of them. But I’d like either Andy ( coronation street apparently) of Kate garraway to win. They are both so nice.
No, PtbY , not watching I’m a Celebrity anymore. Watched the early series but gave up when there were more ‘celebrities’ I’d never heard of, than those I recognised!
DeleteAnd I agree with Chris Packham that they shouldn’t be using animals/insects in those awful Bush Tucker trials!!
But we are still Strictly fans and I’ hoping for Anton du Beke to reach the final this year. Don’t think he’ll win but it’s nice to see him with a decent dancer in place of all the no-chancers he’s been paired with in the past. 💃 🕺
PtbY. I don’t watch programmes that subject people to torture, even if they have given themselves up voluntarily.
DeleteMy favourite is The Repair Shop, happy 😃 outcomes. I’m enjoying His Dark Materials, though it does have moments of mumble gate.
I’m also addicted to Master Chef, but Greg Wallace gets on my nerves. When he smiles he looks lecherous and scary.
Mrs P : hope all went well 🤞!
ReplyDeleteAre you able to type yet Mrs P?
ReplyDeleteI expect you are still recovering from the anaesthetic etc, but hope we can hear you are OK tomorrow. 💐
Back in the land of the living, and all seems to be well.
ReplyDeleteI have a very large bandage half way up my arm.
Recovery were fantastic, but back on the ward, not so good.
They forgot to give me water,so spent the fist two hours wth no further hydration having had brief sips in recovery.
Senior, very efficient nurse commented on no water and ordered it up, but an hour ago was told I could now have a cup of tea, and still no sign of it.
Have got myself to en suite lavatory and put warm top on.
Will probably be told off for that.
See no reason to be able to go home tonight.
Thank you CowGirl.
Good Luck Mrs. P.
ReplyDeleteAm loving both Strictly and Masterchef, but just can't abide I'm a Celebrity - Jungle.
Ev. Did you sort your new door out?
ReplyDeleteAsk this, as mine is making so much difference. It was costly, but the difference is wonderful. My little home, is so warm and snuggly, and what a difference.
Money well spent. 😁😁
Mrs P so glad to hear of your successful op 🤗 hope you are at home now. Take good care of yourself and enjoy plenty of fluids....and a good sleep. 💐
ReplyDeleteGlad it's done, Mrs P, & hope you've assuaged your thirst by now, & will enjoy a long sleep tonight !
ReplyDeleteIs this working?
ReplyDeleteOh thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI signed out by mistake .
Mrs P,I wrote a bit about your op and pressed sign out instead of publish.
ReplyDeleteOf course you would have got the blame had I not been able to get back!
Pleased the op is over.
All the best.
MrsP, wishing you a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteWent to see "Knives Out" this afternoon - it's bloody brilliant!
ReplyDeleteMiriam, my new door is on order but have heard today due to high demand will be delayed and not delivered until 8 January! Was hoping for it to be done by Christmas but hey ho, these things happen! The door has two thirds glass which has a lovely floral pattern kind of a big swirl and it is in a colour called pebble a creamy beige. Like yours it was a bit more expensive at £1760 but will look really nice and probably like yours will benefit the warmth of the house. Thanks for asking!!
ReplyDeleteThe door is pebble, not the glass!!
ReplyDeleteWe don't get the regular BBC prongs but I still don't think I'd like the shows mentioned including strictly or Masterchef. Does everything have to be a competition these days. Doesn't anyone do anything for the sheer pleasure of doing something without being subjected to scathing criticism from "so called experts".
ReplyDeleteNow what I am looking forward to is the new season of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. If you haven't seen the first 2 seasons. .well it's absolutely ..Marvellous!
Thanks for all good wishes.
ReplyDeleteI did get fed and watered in excess eventually, but needed to ask five times to read my notes.
Couldn't be found for three hours and too busy ( excuse ! ) to explain them to me for two more hours.
My eventual demand, and assertion that I was perfectly able to read them myself thank you, one hour ago, produced them. ( 9 o'clock)
No doctor round post op, and due to unfound notes by 7.30, unable to bear the thought of daughter driving from Bath to Gloucester, then home to settle me, and then
Returning to Bath, I negotiated an overnight stay. Ward practically empty presumably as it's a day case surgery ward. I am in a single side ward with en suite.
I can go home on bus tomorrow, or friend who works in Glos can take me home after 3. But very nice sister on adjacent ward suggested Red Cross could provide transport.
Something of a relief to be here overnight rather than travel and struggling to see to self alone at home.
Expect to have a good nights sleep.
Have had good news that Lady doing fine.
So agree with Autumnleaves.
ReplyDeleteI recently found a wonderful trip on the canal from Bath to Devizes. No commentary just a few written words on screen at significant points, buildings, locks etc. And no music either, just the lap of water, the chug of engine and birdsong.
I have walked much of this canal over five decades so a delightful experience to watch.
Sleep well Mrs P, let others look after you for tonight and enjoy going home tomorrow . 😴
ReplyDeleteNight night Mrs P🍁🍁
ReplyDeleteGary......saw knives out yesterday. Daniel Craig’s drawl eventually got on my wick a bit but I loved the film. Great entertainment.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are sorted Mrs P. You have a good excuse not to write any Christmas letters now if you don't want to!
ReplyDeleteHad a good night's sleep MrsP?
ReplyDeleteMorning all! Very thick frost here today, so going to tuck up indoors and tackle yet another batch of post-holiday ironing. Finding it tricky as I cannot stand for long enough and find it almost impossible to iron sitting down. Maybe the bedding will have to stay creased this week!
ReplyDeleteHope you’ll be OK going home today Mrs P. Will you have anyone to help, (should you need it)?
Look after yourself and take care with that hand 😘
Take good care of yourself, Mrs P. Hope the finger heals well. It’s good that Lady now settles with someone else who can help you out when needed. Bet she doesn’t realise the bother she’s caused! She’ll greet you warmly no doubt when she comes home.
ReplyDeleteNursing a cold this week so resting up before the next journey north in about ten days. Looking forward to a less draughty house up there with my new windows and back door. I kept my front door as I didn’t want to lose the old stained glass above but we managed to seal and varnish it and there’s a vestibule to keep the hall warm.
Enjoying those Yorkshire walks - all places I know and love.
The reindeer herding trip is on again on Saturday but clashes with Strictly...hmmm.
Oh also meant to say I agree about competition. The chap that presents The Repair Shop was on a quiz programme and when asked, said happily that he is not at all competitive. Loved him for it. Thanks for introducing to that lovely programme. I am addicted.
DeleteAbout to have lunch before being taken home by very nice Red Cross lady.
ReplyDeleteDifferent staff this morning and it's like a different ward.
Lovely staff, lovely therapy assistant with advice and a proper sling, doctor explained and showed X-rays of procedure done.
I will not be able to drive for ( possibly) four months.
Heavy plaster at present, then a lighter one,
More later
So glad to read of your better hospital experience today Mrs P 🤗
ReplyDeleteYou will miss being able to drive of course but no way around that unfortunately 😞 and of course you had same post knee op - how long that time?
Enjoy being home rest and sleep well (hopefully) sending thoughts and get well wishes 🌻
MrsP. Sounds like all went well. Did the therapy assistant recommend management for bathing and showering? I believe there are coverings for the plaster to protect it from getting wet.
ReplyDeleteIf I can be of any help please don’t hesitate to ask.
ReplyDeleteChristmas stamps should be religious in my opinion.
Anyone who does not wish to celebrate Christmas can just send ordinary postage stamps.
However we can only have religious stamps every alternate year.so that non Christians are not offended.
This year we have religious stamps which are so dark that it is difficult to see what the picture depicts.
Most disappointing
Totally agree Lanjan ✔️
Delete💐Mrs P
ReplyDeleteWhat a quiet day! How are all our under par bloggers doing?
ReplyDeleteWell Lady R, I tried driving to Sainsburys today, to return a useless clock radio to Argos.
ReplyDeleteManaged the actual driving OK but getting in and out of the car was rather painful.
But the worst bit was walking to the back of the supermarket where Argos is situated.
I had to stop and rest 3 times, leaning on a counter to rest my leg!
All around me were shelves of Christmas goodies which had appeared in store whilst I was away.
I was dying to browse for gifts, wrapping paper, festive tins of biscuits etc, but simply could not manage to because of the pain in my leg.
I almost crawled back to
car with the replacement radio and drove home .... feeling very sorry for myself!
I do hope all our other poorly members had a much better day than I did. Oh well, onwards and upwards, as they say on GQT
Oh dear Archerphile how are you to last until possibly Spring for your op. I do hope you are seen as an emergency case - and soon 🤞 or raid your piggy bank !
DeleteI'm afraid I'm not having a good time, although my daughter and two of the G children came this evening with lovely food. And we all talked, and both the G C helped with small tasks that I have been unable to do, replacing light bulbs etc while my daughter did the food. Also shopping done by a good fairy.
ReplyDeleteBut I was unable to get to the surgery for my B12 injection or collect prescription, and was so exhausted by four o'clock that I went back to bed for a couple of hours.
When the carer brought Lady back last night, she reported that she had been very good BUT...... she had chewed through the drivers seat belt, when left in the car just prior to bringing her home.
This person then presented me with a quote from her garage and insisted on a cheque for over £400.
I kept very calm whilst telling her I was not in a position to give a cheque, she suggested I asked a friend or relative for the money, and finally told me that she would have to take me to the small claims court.
Still calm, but steely eyed, I pointed out that I believed we had a relationship of trust, not being previously known to each other, and only met when shopping in Waitrose. I had trusted her to look after my dog, whilst knowing very little about her, yet her response to the situation was to immediately escalate her request for a cheque, to threatening litigation.
She calmed down enough to allow me to suggest a compromise whereby I would pay her in increments over a period of time, and I wrote a note on her quote in the form of an agreement.
As soon as she had left I was in conversation with a person with legal expertise and later with both daughters.
This morning was spent talking for over three hours with my garage, my insurers and the legal friend again, and in due course coming to my own conclusion on the options available to me and the way forward.
I will take action tomorrow.
And the day has finished on a warm note.
I hope all will forgive me for writing about this unfortunate event.
It has been a form of reflection for me, enabling me to stay grounded and to see this event with a degree of clarity.
I did at least have a full nights sleep last night and woke and was up by 7.30.
The pain is at a high level but I am allowing myself the pain relief.
Thank you for the flowers Parsley.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pity you have had to deal with something like that when you should be relaxing after the operation. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteMrs P, that’s dreadful. As Janice says, not what you need to deal with just after surgery when you are trying to rest and recover. So much for finding local support.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a better day today.
Archerphile, so sorry I also wish you well with your knee problems. Was looking forward to the possibility of your suggested meet up in the spring but it will have to wait. Hope you are soon offered surgery and are on the mend as quickly as possible.
DeleteOh my goodness Mrs P you are having a bad time of it. I’m so sorry. I know this is a case of after the horse has bolted but have you ever thought of getting a muzzle for lady to wear when in the car. Not a plastic mesh one, can be chewed through (experience of this), but a canvas cone one. She wouldn’t be able to do any damage then.
ReplyDeleteOne of ours used to bark terribly when in the back of the car. She couldn’t when wearing the muzzle.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. 💐
Another Lady disaster was the last thing you needed, Mrs P. , exhausting & worrying, but it sounds as if you've figured out what to do, having found out the options.
ReplyDeleteDo hope today is less fraught, & that the pain relief is effective. As you've said you heal quickly, the poor finger should soon settle in terms of intense pain, though complete healing takes longer with bones ( thinking of tooth implants here !)
A thought : if the driver's seat belt was chewed through, doesn't that mean she can't legally drive her car until it is replaced ?
Thinking of you both, Mrs P & Archerphile..
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this,Mrs P. Sounds as if you are getting good advice and I hope it can be resolved. We once had a border collie and when young he was attacked by a Jack Russell belonging to an old lady who thought hers could do no wrong. After that he only had to see this dog and he was the first aggressor. Another lady had an identical dog and on one occasion Dandy went for him. There was no blood and Dandy was severely reprimanded. That evening the lady came round presenting a vet’s bill which we paid and subsequently the original old lady complained I had not paid bills for her dog who caused the whole problem at the start! It all leaves an unpleasant taste! In view of the large amount involved here though you need to fully investigate liability and indeed the sum demanded. Also how long was the dog left to enable her to chew through a seat belt!? Thinking of you, you really don’t need this.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Mrs P,
ReplyDeleteonly just read this, Lady is causing you so many problems.
Glad you took some legal advice, you could do without all the unpleasant ness.
I hope your pain is under control soon.
Archerphile I do hope you have your op soon, meanwhile take care.
Janice glad to hear you are making slow progress
Oh dear, some of us are in a pickle aren’t we?
ReplyDeleteMrs P - so sorry to hear about your unpleasant encounter with the ‘helper’. Not at all what you need so soon after an operation and just returning from hospital. I do hope your family can help sort this out for you. I suppose the woman was annoyed at the damage to her seat belt, but to present you with an invoice so soon after your return and are in pain was very uncharitable to say the least. I’m sure there was a much less antagonistic way she could have dealt with the situation!
Sorry for my rather pathetic post yesterday, feeling sorry for myself after my attempt to go out shopping. Not usually like me!
But on the bright side, that 1st 2lbs I put on during the cruise has all gone after a week of very drastic dieting, thank goodness! Now I can face my consultant on Monday at almost the same weight I was when he replaced my hip. I had been really worried he’d say I had to loose weight again and would want to delay an operation.
Seasider - don’t worry about a Spring meet up - I shall do my very best to make it somehow but it will probably have to wait until after the knee op, even if I have to get Mr A to act as chauffeur!
It wasn't a pathetic post, AP, at all ! I felt your frustration at being so hampered in the supermarket. I think I would have dropped a tear, or shouted an obscenity or both, quite honestly.
ReplyDeleteLike Seasider, was also thinking about your suggestion of meeting in Winchester, great idea, am well up for it, but obviously it has to wait. Fingers crossed for late Spring/early Summer.
May your knee op happen very soon.
Archerphile, absolutely no apology needed. Pain is dreadful and I can imagine the frustration of being within touching distance of something you needed to do after all the effort it must have taken to get out. I was feeling frustrated this week as I had to cancel a few events because of a streaming cold, which is nothing much at all compared with your ailment and other bloggers.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to another meet up in lovely Winchester next year.🤗
Sorry to hear your news Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteWas the dog carer a dog walker or just a friend?
I was thinking that if she were the former she would have Insurance to over Lady’s “accident”.
I do hope things improve for you very quickly.
Archerphile ,I don’t know if it will help your situation but as well as having acupuncture for the sciatica, on the advice of my son I have joined a Health Club for the first time , at a lovely 5* Hotel 2miles away.
ReplyDeleteI have no intention-can’t physically anyway- of going into the gym but there is a jacuzzi,steam room, sauna and swimming pool
I went yesterday and spent two hours there , loved the experience and I am convinced it is doing me good.
Archerfile, glad to hear you are back to pre-cruise weight but be careful with dieting. Apparently your body goes into famine mode when on a diet and then relishes extra attention when returning to normal so the weight piles on again hence the dramatic weight gain. Again and again people lose weight with weight watchers etc and then proceed to put it all on again and then some! I think the only thing we can do is to watch what we eat all the time but steer clear of these drastic diets. Exercise is important too of course but as we grow older aches and pains can stand in the way! Good luck and hope
ReplyDelete...your aches and pains will resolve in time! Sorry published too soon!!
ReplyDeleteYes, Ev, I have experienced that trampoline effect with weight loss several times in my life.
DeleteMany, many years
ago I lost several stones at Weight Watchers, got to goal, was sent up to London for a posh hairdo and photography session to be featured in their Magazine.
When the magazine came out, not only had they given me the wrong name but attributed to me various things I had never said in the interview.
I was so disappointed I stopped eating sensibly and within 6 months had regained all the weight, plus a bit more!
I am much more careful now and seem to have found a food regime that I can stick to and works for me.
Your advice is spot on!
How sad to read, so many are having many problems.
ReplyDeleteDon't give in, just ask for help, as + when needed.
Many will only be too pleased to be asked....and will be able and willing to help, if approached.
Don't spoil this Festive Season.
It means so much, to so many, in many differing ways.
Good Luck + Good Wishes, to All.
PS Am only listening to The Archers on the Sunday morning Omnibus, at the moment.
Just prefer the continuity with the S/Ls.
I have found myself reading or doing something else when TA is on where it used to be sancrosant time. It is getting a bit boring but will listen to the Omnibus tomorrow. I have no patience with the younger generation in the programme except for Jonnie!
ReplyDeleteMrs P appalled to read of your latest unhappy experience! Most unfortunate that Lady damaged “her minders“ car seatbelt and the drivers one at that. Even so what a disagreeable person she turned out to be unkind and insensitive I would say in your current circumstances. Wishing you well in sorting this issue.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lady R and others.
ReplyDeleteI am sorting it, but am now in dispute with both daughters insisting that I travel to Cornwall by train for Christmas and find some one from the charity to look after the dog.
I do not want to travel by train, it's difficult enough in ones own home managing with one hand to do the most basic of tasks. And I don't want to be without Lady.
The irony is that my daughters in laws will be traveling from Oxford/Northamptonshire borders, and if they knew of the situation I am sure they would help. But daughters would be appalled if I were to ask, and wouldn't think of doing so themselves.
I am intending to try to find a lift through social media. A long shot but worth a try.
Oh Mrs P go with the family option! I am puzzled why your daughters would be appalled for you to ask for help in your current situation particularly when your d-I-laws are to hand and would no doubt be delighted to be of assistance.
ReplyDeleteI worry about you sorting this via social media in this day and age (although this maybe just me!)
Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteI think the main points are that you don’t want to be without Lady .
and you don’t want to go on the train.
Then why do either?
If you do go to Cornwall you will worry about Lady all the time so won’t enjoy yourself
You have just been in hospital .
Enjoy the rest.
That is definitely what I would do we’re I in your situation.
Stay at home ,get some easy to prepare food in and take it easy.
I agree with Lady R ,,please do not try get a lift via Social media.
May I add.....
ReplyDeleteI would tell your daughters that much as you would love to be with them at Christmas because of the various setbacks you have had recently you really want to take it easy at home with Lady .
(This may not be true but if you say that then they won’t be made to feel guilty)
So agree. You must do what is right for you!
ReplyDeleteOn a totally different subject, for a mo.....
ReplyDeleteI ordered a couple of things from Amazon as soon as we returned home last week.
One of the items was delivered within 2 days; the other, a children’s book for Christmas was not.
This is very unusual for Amazon so I tried tracking it, only to find that ‘delivery had not been possible and the book had been sent back to Amazon’. There had been someone at home at all times so I don’t know why it had been impossible to deliver.
I arranged redelivery for today.
Just now we heard a lot of door banging in the small lay-by outside our cottage so Mr A went out to investigate.
He found 3 Amazon delivery vans parked with their rear doors open.
The drivers were sorting out masses of parcels to see if they could rearrange their parcels into a more satisfactory delivery order - not easy in the pitch black!
Sadly, not one of them had my book.
Such is modern life when you have to rely on online shopping!
I sympathise, AP, & , yes, Amazon used to be so reliable ( maybe pressure of Christmas orders?)
DeleteMr C.ordered 2, not identical, Kindle covers recently : his arrived, mine has not...are you going to reorder the book, or wait a bit longer ?
AP have you checked any outbuildings? Mr R was at home this afternoon in a room right by the front door didn’t hear anything at all. However much later I checked my email as it had said delivery of books today (and in my case saw that Amazon had sent a delivered message)
ReplyDeleteWhere were they - in the shed!
Which is better than Royal Mail yesterday (when we were both ou) who left a Christmas parcel sent to us by a 93 yr old relative outside the front door. Luckily we are in a small Close at the bottom end but possible for people to walk across a small open green nearby our door!
Yes, checked the greenhouse which is where parcels are usually left. Clicked the ‘rearrange’ box on Amazon for tomorrow. Keeping fingers crossed!
DeleteTold daughter this morning that I did not feel up to traveling by train, even though she offered to take my bag for me. Also said that I did not want to hand my dog over to yet another person even if such a person could be found.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked why and I replied with, ' I'm committed to the dog ' the response was ' what about commitment to your family and grandchildren ? '
This from daughter who, when I was planning to move out of London forcefully said 'your not to come and live in Bath mum, Simon and I are very private people and we don't want you living near us.'
She did say a year later that she realised that she couldn't dictate where I lived, but if I were to come to live in Bath, I wasn't to visit without an appointment.
I believe she said this because both her fifteen year old daughter and her own sister had told her at some point that she should never have made the first statement.
However hurtful, words spoken can never be unspoken, nor forgotten.
Mrs P - that is absolutely dreadful from a daughter. I would be devastated if it were my daughter saying that to me.
DeleteI cannot imagine any daughter being so hurtful to a parent and I would find it quite unforgivable.
You should do exactly what suits you, and Lady, this Christmas. Can you arrange a home delivery of the necessary Christmas food from a supermarket or Ocado shortly before the day? Preferably some pre- cooked items that only need reheating?
Stay at home, put your feet up and enjoy some peace and quiet - definitely don’t subject yourself to train journeys at this time if Year.
We’ll all be sending you warm wishes, I’m sure. 🎄
💕💕💕
DeleteMrs P please please don't go with anyone you don't know from Social media. Would either of you daughter in laws have room for you and Lady in their car if you really feel up for the journey? I think it is perfectly reasonable for mothers and mother in laws to ask for help when needed. I am quite amused by the respect shown to me by my Philippino daughter in law who calls me Mum. Showing respect to, and giving help to, older family members seems to be part of their culture.
ReplyDeleteMrs P, forget what was said years ago.
ReplyDeleteFrom what you have said now ,had your daughter not wanted you to visit her for Christmas she would have breathed a sigh of relief and said something like ‘That’s a shame but obviously your dog must come first so I realise why you can’t come.”but she didn’t.
She sounded disappointed.
She is probably realising that she could have said things better and regrets it.
Put it out of your mind..
Stick to your guns.
Christmas isn’t all about food .
You can eat what you fancy when you fancy it.
You can get a flask ,make a few sandwiches and take Lady out for a walk and anyone you meet will wish you a merry Christmas.
To be honest I would hate to go away for Christmas .
However kind everyone is it is often awkward.
When can you use the bathroom?
When do you go to bed ?
You have to watch the programmes the family want to watch .
When my mum was in her 80s she decided to go and help in a soup kitchen in Salford on Christmas Day
She really enjoyed it.
I am not suggesting that you do that Mrs P I am just saying Christmas is not necessarily about being with close family.
l
Mrs P - last Christmas Katy and I went to Tenerife again as it was still difficult to face Christmas without Mike. We left Gyp and Buddy with friends and although we had a good time we did miss them. This year, our third since he passed we are looking forward to spending it with the dogs. I’m sure you have this bond with Lady and will enjoy Christmas with her. Have some easy cook good food and enjoy your time together. We will be taking the dogs to Quarr or maybe the beach in the morning and then relaxing for the rest of the day. I have ordered a turkey crown with bought gravy from M & S! Have already made the gf pudding so not too much work. We will enjoy and so will you!!
ReplyDeleteMrs P. It is very easy to feel obligated at Christmas, just try and work out what you want to do and put that to your daughter. It might be a case of someone driving you and lady down to her place, just spending time with friends or quiet on your own at home.
ReplyDeleteThere is such emphasis on everything being perfect, playing happy families, it’s just setting people up for feeling disappointed. I aim low, a good meal, slightly too much to drink, dozing in front of the TV, and phoning siblings at some point during the day. After the last large family get together 2 years ago my brother & sister stopped talking to each other so a few smaller sibling meet ups for lunch over the festive period but we have always each had our own Christmas Day in our own homes.
I'll be spending Christmas by myself as well, Mrs P - just do your own thing. My son and d-I-l were willing to up-sticks and bring their two down to me for Christmas, but I'll be so busy with extra Carol service on 15th, usual Sunday service on 22nd and 2 more on Christmas Eve finishing at 1am, I'll probably sleep till midday on 25th and never get round to getting dressed!
ReplyDeleteI'm taking the 5th Sunday off and going round visiting for New Year when it's all over and done with done.
That should be 'all over and done with'.
ReplyDeleteFeel much the same as KPnuts. All the preparation, commercialism, hype, family tensions, so far removed from original reasons for celebration. The person who completely ignores it all must be rare to non existent in the West ! I find the iron grip utterly dismaying, though our family & friends take a fairly relaxed stance, no pressure or emotional blackmail etc.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find a way to please yourself this year, Mrs P, that suits the situation around Lady & your injury, which will also settle your family.
Having said that, I'm now thinking that I must write & send abroad cards really soon.....grrrr, that iron grip again- over minor stuff !
DeleteAnd I had better stop having fun putting silver glitter glue on cards and actually write and send some!
DeleteRemember to write first, Janice, before sending 😉
Deletecarolyn, I am one of those rare creatures you seek! I enjoy the extra efforts the TV companies make and that's about it. I have no desire to be with family or buy people gifts or send cards or think about world peace. It is completely baffling to me to see others run about screaming in panic, worrying that it all must be "perfect" and even getting into debt!
ReplyDeleteMadness, I tell you. Madness!
Gary, more happy than I can say to hear this ! 😊😃 Admire your stance.
DeleteI try to keep to the minimum, but that iron grip hasn't totally loosened - still send loads of cards, don't I ? 😗😙
I'm with Gary in spirit at least.
ReplyDeleteI have always deeply disliked Christmas, even as a child, when the only positive was receiving a book as a present and being ALLOWED to read at leisure.
Usually ......( have you got your head in a bloody book again ? ).
I didn't like Christmas food either. I would have tinned beef casserole !
I have continued to dislike the increasing commercialisation of this Christian Celebration and do try to go to midnight mass if I can escape.
My lifelong ambition has been to spend Christmas alone on a small island.
I will never achieve it !
I personally always send cards with the subject of the Birth, usually an 'art' card.
Never a bobble hat or Robin in sight.
After forty odd years my relationships with my daughters is improving and I suspect the fact that their father who lives in Australia is now very fragile and they are unlikely to ever see him alive again, is contributing to this improvement.
But there is still a way to go, and treading carefully must be my priority.
I admire your honest stance GG, and will use this opportunity to at the very least, not send cards this year.
I've lost my address book anyway, so cannot contact some at all.
I am still sending cards to folk I haven’t seen in years and do a short letter all taking ages and costing a lot with post. The thing is though I love to receive them and they add to the decorations! Some people though don’t enclose any news, others go on about family members you have never met and never will!
ReplyDeleteWell I enjoy making, sending and receiving cards.
ReplyDeleteI like to find out how old friends whom I have not seen for donkeys’ years and are unlikely ever to see again ,are getting on .
I enjoy decorating the house.
I love the feeling on Christmas Day that I don’t actually have to do anything I don’t want to.
I like the fact that I can sit and eat chocolates and not feel guilty.
The one thing I don’t like is receiving typed Round Robins from folk who as Ev says write about members of their families one has never heard of .
The other thing which annoys me if when people just sign their name.
It seems then that that person is finding it all such a chore to write cards that he or she wants to write as little as possible .
I
I so agree, Lanjan. When they just sign their name I wish they hadn’t bothered to send a card. Even just a sentence about their year would be valued. One former neighbour of ours in Cornwall used to cover her card in the latest news about herself and the other neighbours but sadly she has passed away so will miss her yearly bulletin! Sending Christmas greetings to all of you!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine stopped sending cards to anyone who just wrote his or her name.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately one of my best friends who writes letters to me regularly, does that
Another friend had a husband(sadly died a few years ago) who wrote all the Christmas Cards but enclosed a Round Robin with them all .
Although I saw them regularly I still got the Round Robin..
Mr LJ writes two cards.
One to me and one to a former work colleague.
I send them to folk I have never met in my life who he knew before I came on the scene.
Wondering how you got on today Archerphile 🤞 was your surgeon able to give you good news re possible op waiting time. Maybe an offer via a cancellation (I think this happened with you hip op ?🤔)
ReplyDeleteAs an atheist I have absolutely no interest in the religious aspect of Christmas. I do however like giving 🎁 presents. This celebration has its origins in pagan practices and winter was a time for getting fattened up for the long cold time ahead when food was difficult to obtain. Christianity used that time to continue celebrating and getting stuffed with all sort of food and alcohol.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the Americans commercialised the event and gave us Father Christmas with his Ho, Ho,Ho.and red coat.
I always volunteered to work Christmas 🎄 so not doing the big family, jingling all the way suited me. I simply see the 25/26th for many people as a break in the monotony ❄️ Of darkness and damp cold weather.
Eat, drink and be merry, and 😊 enjoy.
Lanjan 2.01pm.
ReplyDeleteYou sound just like my sister. She loves Christmas, but was born five days before a I suppose as the sixth youngest of seven enjoyed all the aspects of being a child and having two lots of present so close together. All her cards are works of art 🖼 but then she was an art teacher.
I love making cards although I used to come near the bottom of the class in every art exam I did at school.
ReplyDeleteI may have mentioned this before but in one exam the subject was “muddle”
I painted a kitten in a ball of wool.
I thought it wasn’t bad.
The two girls behind me spent the time sloshing paint on each other’s paintings.
I came 32nd
They came first and second.