Ah - it sort of makes sense now. When I was at school that bit of the day was usually occupied with orchestra or choir practice.
I'm feeling a bit less dopey today; I went to bed shortly after 11, was out like a light and woke up with the alarm. It's amazing the difference a decent night's sleep makes.
@Piglet great you slept well last night. The strange dreams from Lockdown 1 are revisiting me, but thankfully I’m still sleeping.
I just spent 3 times as much on postage to the other side of the pond as the calendar inside cost! I don’t mind as it’s cheaper than a flight there and I don’t have a lot else to post. Each year I tell myself to find a smaller calendar that will fit through the post office size thingy, and each year I forget! Maybe I should find out if the recipients even want a calendar - it’s a tradition going back over 20 years.
The dreams are extraordinary, aren't they? I wonder whether it's been the same for people in other pandemics. Glad you slept better @Piglet .
I used to buy my mum a calendar every year for Christmas - it had to be a certain type and I always tried to get a flowery one for her. She's been for 8 years now but I still look at them all and choose the one I'd buy for her, if I was still buying.
It's my birthday today so I'm taking a bit of time out for myself, have bought a nice easy tea and will be Zooming with the family later over a glass of something alcoholic and bubbly.
I’ve been a lovely sunny walk with the pup. He had a gallop round the field then a pottering sniff round the park. He met lots of little doggie friends. He towered over them but he’s a gentle giant and they all like him. 🐾🐾
This afternoon I’m meeting five friends for a take away coffee standing round near the lake. I see them a lot on Zoom, but it will be lovely to see them in person.
I'm tired this morning, having taught last night. I've taken it easy and had a walk and browsed but after lunch I need to finish and submit my assignment.
Happy Birthday @Nenya . This morning I've been doing my shift in the charity bookshop. Still very busy, it's great to see people buying real books.
Just about to go out for a stroll with my husband to make the most of the fact it's not raining.
I managed to catch an earlier train this evening - mainly by resisting the temptation to go into Marks and Sparks - so supper (the rest of the beef casserole) will be a little earlier than usual.
It's been a nice day in Embra - I thought it was going to be wet earlier on, but it's cool and dry -just my sort of weather.
Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I've had some very lovely presents and cards and a rather muddy walk with a couple of friends. The Nenlets and their partners gave me a lovely birthday gift - flowers delivered to my door every 28 days for six months. The first lot arrived today, packed (to my surprise) in a flat box with instructions on how to feed and arrange them. It's a beautiful vaseful and something to look forward to for the next six months as well.
...I think this was about the time I discovered you can set fire to wire wool with a nine volt battery.
That does all sound fun. Does that make me a closet arsonist? Don't worry, I think I know that answer.
Am indexing a book at the moment with entries about canal flooding and the rainy season of 1762-63 and it's pi**ing it down outside. How atmospheric...
Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I've had some very lovely presents and cards and a rather muddy walk with a couple of friends. The Nenlets and their partners gave me a lovely birthday gift - flowers delivered to my door every 28 days for six months. The first lot arrived today, packed (to my surprise) in a flat box with instructions on how to feed and arrange them. It's a beautiful vaseful and something to look forward to for the next six months as well.
I buy those, Nen - they last for ages in a cool place. I get them fortnightly, and at one point had three lots on the go at the same time <amazed> And I sent one lot to our widowed friend, and she is going to get them too as a way of having something to look forward to in the dark locked-down days of winter
Belated happy birthday*, by the way!
*I have a friend, possibly even more pedantic than I, who goes crazy at the thought of 'happy belated birthday!'
Work bought me some of those when my Mum died since then there has been a steady cascade of flower buyers to that firm. I bought flowers for my sister and my sister then bought flowers for her friends.
Work bought me some of those when my Mum died since then there has been a steady cascade of flower buyers to that firm. I bought flowers for my sister and my sister then bought flowers for her friends.
(I only know this because I will be getting myself a subscription when the Christmas decorations come down, to see if it helps to fight the winter blues somewhat.)
Speaking of flowers, the cyclamens (I always think of them as Cycling Men) in our church garden are doing very well, and will make a lovely welcome IYSWIM to anyone attending our Christmas services...
My commute seems to be getting easier: for reasons best known to themselves, Scotrail have changed the time of the 7:16 train to 7:14. As I always like to leave myself more time than I need, this is no hardship, but the advantage is huge.
You wouldn't think that such a tiny change would make a difference, but it does: the number 37 bus now seems to appear just after I get to the bus stop, rather than 15 or 20 minutes later. This gets me to work at about five past eight, which in turn means I can leave at five past four.
And home in time to cook and eat supper by a decent hour.
Since you ask, supper this evening was salmon with potatoes and veggies, and a sauce made from crème fraîche, tarragon and mustard.
Maybe they changed the time of the train so it tied in with the bus? I'd much rather start earlier and finish earlier, so that all sounds very civilised @piglet.
This time of year I start early and finish late, but with a long break somewhere around lunchtime to walk round the park while it’s light.
Staying in bed later is also quite a tempting idea - but although the sun isn’t getting up very early, the cats are, and they see it as their solemn duty to make sure all the humans are up and about before they start their morning nap.
Actually that was a serious issue (and not just in Britain) - light powder snow blew in through the cooling vents and got into the electrical equipment, then melting and shorting things out. The usual heavy mushy stuff we get isn't a problem that way.
As for timetables: quite apart from any temporary Covid and Leaf-fall alterations, they generally change in mid-May and mid-December; fortunately this winter's changes have worked for you!
Maybe they changed the time of the train so it tied in with the bus?
Don't be silly, this is Britain!
Well indeed - not long before everyone stopped travelling by train here, a new timetable was introduced with "Lots more trains" - which meant, on the London-Oxford route a gap of 55 minutes at peak evening commute with no trains in! Then four trains in the next 55 minutes after that...
I’ve been tempted by the flower sub before, might have to join in the new year (I’ve just sent my husband a small Christmas tree).
Last day of term today but I have lots of marking todo so will need to work tomorrow and Monday before I can knock off. But yoga this morning and I need to clear the room.
Tonight is my husband’s online work do, he has a goody bag that includes cocktails for me 🍹
It’s very dull and dark this morning. I’ve got Zoom Pilates and always feel better after the session. But I’m beginning to think I’d like to skip winter and move straight to spring like the hedgehogs do!
Glad to hear about the change for the better to the commute @Piglet .
It was a wild wet night here and still very windy this morning, but the rain has stopped for now. I meant to get present wrapping yesterday and didn't so I really should make a start today and Mr Nen and I are planning a foray to the local T***o to shop for the Christmas alcohol. We need Beer which I know nothing about and would hate to get The Wrong Thing.
Decided to move past page 1 (Basic White Loaf) of my bread maker recipes, and make Cider Apple Bread - BWL + grated apple, pepper and rosemary and cider of course. Very successful, slightly chewier with a faint applely tang. Hot toasted and buttered, it could be the new love of my life, even displacing Waitrose Sourdough with Fennel and Apricot.
That sounds delicious, Firenze. I keep meaning to have a go at bread making again and got some supplies in during the first lockdown as Mr Nen is gluten intolerant and certain types of bread were in short supply. Then the problem resolved so I never did it. But last time I shopped I got the spelt flour again just in case of future shortages...
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I'm feeling a bit less dopey today; I went to bed shortly after 11, was out like a light and woke up with the alarm. It's amazing the difference a decent night's sleep makes.
I just spent 3 times as much on postage to the other side of the pond as the calendar inside cost! I don’t mind as it’s cheaper than a flight there and I don’t have a lot else to post. Each year I tell myself to find a smaller calendar that will fit through the post office size thingy, and each year I forget! Maybe I should find out if the recipients even want a calendar - it’s a tradition going back over 20 years.
I used to buy my mum a calendar every year for Christmas - it had to be a certain type and I always tried to get a flowery one for her. She's been for 8 years now but I still look at them all and choose the one I'd buy for her, if I was still buying.
It's my birthday today so I'm taking a bit of time out for myself, have bought a nice easy tea and will be Zooming with the family later over a glass of something alcoholic and bubbly.
I’ve been a lovely sunny walk with the pup. He had a gallop round the field then a pottering sniff round the park. He met lots of little doggie friends. He towered over them but he’s a gentle giant and they all like him. 🐾🐾
This afternoon I’m meeting five friends for a take away coffee standing round near the lake. I see them a lot on Zoom, but it will be lovely to see them in person.
I'm tired this morning, having taught last night. I've taken it easy and had a walk and browsed but after lunch I need to finish and submit my assignment.
Just about to go out for a stroll with my husband to make the most of the fact it's not raining.
I managed to catch an earlier train this evening - mainly by resisting the temptation to go into Marks and Sparks - so supper (the rest of the beef casserole) will be a little earlier than usual.
It's been a nice day in Embra - I thought it was going to be wet earlier on, but it's cool and dry -just my sort of weather.
Ah, lovely thing it was. I think I've got a roll or two of the thermal paper somewhere.
You could have great fun (well, for the 80s) drawing on it with something hot. Or arsing about with a battery sparking at it.
I think this was about the time I discovered you can set fire to wire wool with a nine volt battery.
Fresh flowers for six months - what a lovely idea for a birthday gift!
That does all sound fun. Does that make me a closet arsonist? Don't worry, I think I know that answer.
Am indexing a book at the moment with entries about canal flooding and the rainy season of 1762-63 and it's pi**ing it down outside. How atmospheric...
I buy those, Nen - they last for ages in a cool place. I get them fortnightly, and at one point had three lots on the go at the same time <amazed> And I sent one lot to our widowed friend, and she is going to get them too as a way of having something to look forward to in the dark locked-down days of winter
Belated happy birthday*, by the way!
*I have a friend, possibly even more pedantic than I, who goes crazy at the thought of 'happy belated birthday!'
That always irritates me more than somewhat. It is, after all, the greeting that is belated, not the birthday, which arrives punctually each year.
Exactly so!
Jengie, doesn't that say something about those flowers - must be good!
Please PM with details!
Details here
(I only know this because I will be getting myself a subscription when the Christmas decorations come down, to see if it helps to fight the winter blues somewhat.)
Flahrse es orl roight, but et's taters as feeds yer...
But they are poisonous, as are the fruits. They are a member of the nightshade family.
Thanks for the idea of flower subscriptions - I may do that for her this next year.
You wouldn't think that such a tiny change would make a difference, but it does: the number 37 bus now seems to appear just after I get to the bus stop, rather than 15 or 20 minutes later. This gets me to work at about five past eight, which in turn means I can leave at five past four.
And home in time to cook and eat supper by a decent hour.
Since you ask, supper this evening was salmon with potatoes and veggies, and a sauce made from crème fraîche, tarragon and mustard.
This time of year I start early and finish late, but with a long break somewhere around lunchtime to walk round the park while it’s light.
Staying in bed later is also quite a tempting idea - but although the sun isn’t getting up very early, the cats are, and they see it as their solemn duty to make sure all the humans are up and about before they start their morning nap.
Whoops, got that wrong
As for timetables: quite apart from any temporary Covid and Leaf-fall alterations, they generally change in mid-May and mid-December; fortunately this winter's changes have worked for you!
Well indeed - not long before everyone stopped travelling by train here, a new timetable was introduced with "Lots more trains" - which meant, on the London-Oxford route a gap of 55 minutes at peak evening commute with no trains in! Then four trains in the next 55 minutes after that...
Last day of term today but I have lots of marking todo so will need to work tomorrow and Monday before I can knock off. But yoga this morning and I need to clear the room.
Tonight is my husband’s online work do, he has a goody bag that includes cocktails for me 🍹
It was a wild wet night here and still very windy this morning, but the rain has stopped for now. I meant to get present wrapping yesterday and didn't so I really should make a start today and Mr Nen and I are planning a foray to the local T***o to shop for the Christmas alcohol. We need Beer which I know nothing about and would hate to get The Wrong Thing.
It's raining again. *hums appropriate Supertramp song*