Hope tomorrow turns out better @Priscilla and so glad that you managed to sing @piglet and the service was a good one.
I've had a lazy afternoon doing a Christmas jigsaw and then watched a very silly film on Netflix this evening. Husband being away means that Strictywill be watched tomorrow when he's back.
I made mince pies - with home-made pastry!
Must be two years since I last made any, as there has been an unopened jar of mincemeat in the cupboard since last December. Also, earlier in the week, I had found my jar of plain flour was infested with teeny-tiny beetle like things, so had thrown it away, washed out the pot and soaked it in a solution of bleach to kill off any critters still hiding in the ridges of the screw -top fastening.
I dealt with the problem of mincemeat being too sweet by tipping the jarful into a bowl and stirring in 1 tbsp of pomegranate molasses. Seems to have done the trick, as the resulting pies are very palatable.
I do like my own pastry, although it's not as good as my mother's was, but I can never roll it out evenly, so have some pies with thin pastry and some with thick.
I have the same trouble cutting a slice of bread that is the same thickness from one side to another, especially fresh bread.
My sister in law has a brilliant pastry recipe that she gave my son, and his mince pies are excellent. I always buy a jar of mincemeat so he can make some when he comes home. Her maids of honour tarts are even better, but we don’t have the recipe for the filling unfu.
My contribution to the post-concert festivities last night was a tray, for the carrying of glasses of wine to the seated audience. I forgot to bring it home. It is a Most Useful Tray for jigsaw puzzles so I will need to retrieve it somehow.
The concert went well overall but the men messed up big time in one carol and a minor way in another. I realised just in time that I didn’t need my Green and Orange carol books after all, as the words were on the sheet and I know the descants. Everything else was separate sheet music. It made my folder so much lighter, but still didn’t avoid the back ache that I only get when singing.
Today is a day of rest and recovery.
I decided against church this morning; I was very snufflous, still coughing and had a bit of a headache, so a lie in and some extra zzz was had.
I finally bestirred myself and had a little amble to the corner shop to get bread, red WINE and some more orange juice, and picked up a BACON ROLL on the way back.
Laundry is laundering, and at some point I'll put a STEAK in to marinate for supper.
We've had a busy weekend. Yesterday we had the blind association Christmas dinner, then one of the people stayed at ours last night prior to going to church together this morning. Afterwards we came back via the market and ran into a bloke dressed as Father Christmas.
Our singing at Bletchley Park went well today. Our audiences were sparse but appreciative. It stayed sunny and dry though chilly out of the sun.
Much excitement in our family as eldest grandson is in California with his Dad and cb for his karting league finals. So strange to watch his races on YouTube and see his name displayed.
@piglet I hope your throat gets better soon and you’re having a better day today @Priscilla
Some years ago we had a young French tenor in our choir who was bemused by the instruction “bring your greens and oranges for the carols”. When I showed him the copies of Carols for Choirs he was astounded that choirs had such a wonderful resource in the UK - proper choral arrangements of varying difficulty and style.
... I was coughing like an engine during the first part of the rehearsal (and getting some rather old-fashioned looks from the conductor)...
I can well imagine. We are under strict instructions to stay away if we are in the least bit coldy/coughy/snuffly as he doesn't want the possibility of folk bringing and sharing something and buggering up the Christmas services.
For Shipmates seeking the True Path etc, some enlightenment from this morning from Difficult Relative.
She messaged me to say that she was trying to phone the NE Man but his phone seems to be off. I replied saying it is probably off as he is in a church meeting. To which DR replied: You find God by being empathetic and caring, not by a position in the church.
AFAIK the church meeting is not trying to find God, but is trying to find a way to make church property more energy-efficient. But when the NE Man gets home, I'll be sure to pass on DR's words of wisdom.
DR doesn't attend church, having flounced from the last three that I know of. She feels churches fall short of her own personal spirituality, which is on a Higher Plane.
O dear. DR sounds like one of those crosses that has to be borne...
After a weekend of laying low and doing nuffink, I sallied forth to Tess Coe for this week's supply of Ready Meals, Poor Old Singletons For The Use Of...
Two Angels Of The Lord assisted me in this task:
AOTL 1 was the Nice Lady who looks after the trollies in the car park on Mondays. As soon as she spotted me parking the car, she came over with a trolley for me, to save me hobbling to the place where they're stored.
AOTL 2 was the Nice Lady on the checkouts who always - without asking, or being asked - packs my two bags for me, making sure that the loads are distributed equally.
Back to a rather grey and windy Arkland the Noisy, where the walkway near the Ark is being repaired by two of The Lads, with much Hammer Ing, Saw Ing, and Drill Ing. The repairs are urgently required, as the walkway (which fortunately I don't have to use) is nearing the time when it may have to be completely rebuilt.
Lunch is LASAGNE - one of Mr Co-Op's specials - because use-by date.
With only a few hours’ notice, our final rehearsal for next Saturday’s carol concert has been put back from 6.45 to 7.30pm start, because the school where we rehearse needs the hall. We were going to have an early finish then seasonal refreshments ( mainly but not exclusively mince pies) were due to be served, but this has now been cancelled, or rather postponed until January.
Oh dear @North East Quine . Does DR every ask you how you are as they are obviously so empathetic and caring.
I mooched off to cathedral city to the east to do a bit of shopping. I managed to buy one present. The funniest thing was bumping into a friend in three of the shops I visited. We obviously have the same tastes in women's clothes shops (Seasalt, White Stuff and Fatface).
After a busy week last week this one is shaping up to be quiet apart from lunch out with some friends tomorrow.
I've just come back from an excellent Nativity Play at the school where I'm a Governor. It was thoroughly Christian - no sign of God being evicted as some might claim.
... I was coughing like an engine during the first part of the rehearsal (and getting some rather old-fashioned looks from the conductor)...
I can well imagine. We are under strict instructions to stay away if we are in the least bit coldy/coughy/snuffly as he doesn't want the possibility of folk bringing and sharing something and buggering up the Christmas services.
Hope you feel better though.
Thanks Kingsfold - I did feel a bit guilty, but I so didn't want to miss it! Still a bit chesty today, but not as snuffly as I was yesterday.
I hied me to Tessie's at lunchtime and procured some of their rather excellent fish cakes, one pack of which claims to be made of cod and chorizo, which I haven't tried before, and is now heating merrily in the oven.
I've just spent half an hour enjoying my elevenses coffee and my book on Kindle. Now I must get to it. The dogs have been walked and the housework has been done, so it's time for more Christmas preparations.
It's a lovely day so I'd rather be doing outside work!
A bright, sunny morning, most of which I've spent in various pastel-painted rooms of the Oncology department of the WGH. Next scheduled appointment is with the consultant on Hogmanay.
Now back to the usual afternoon of knitting, reading and dozing off.
A busy day in Arkland the Gloomy, though it is still exceptionally mild for The Time Of Year. Pilates has been endured, and my right Leg is still telling me that he did NOT appreciate it, but a spell of S & Q (with painkillers) is helping. No more torture sessions are programmed until January, so I have some homework exercises to do in the meantime.
'CHRISTmass' presents and cards have now all been posted or delivered, though there are a few cards still to write (for my Neighbours), and there is CHOCOLATE to take into the Arkland Office for the ever-helpful Staff.
Lunch is COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas - another of Tess Coe's Simple Sustenance for Sad Singletons.
I'm just back from lunch with three friends at a local Keralan restaurant. One friend isn't that keen on Indian food and ordered what she thought would be a plain turkey dish, it wasn't. The rest of us enjoyed our food and I think she enjoyed the company so all was not lost. Only downside was that I've lost one of my Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer earrings on the way home.
Hope the visit to the Oncology department was as good as such things can be @Firenze.
The NE Man has departed southwards for a 2 day conference. Dinner tonight will be crackers, cheese, chutney and a pear. This will involve no cooking and, even better, will generate one plate, one knife and one spoon to wash up afterwards. I am a happy quine.
Today, instead of the invariable soup, I had a salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, onion, chickpeas with the addition of Polish pickles - cucumber, mainly. All dressed with lime juice and sweet chilli. It was thoroughly tasty, and I will have it again tomorrow.
Wishing you all the best for your next consultation, Firenze!
A fairly gentle day at work (although it was Decidedly Colder getting there). Then appointment for eyebrow waxing after work, and pasta with prawns and greens for supper (because it's relatively quick to make).
Concert #1 went well last night. Over a hundred people turned up, which is good going for a Monday night. I got back late, so didn't do anything exceptional today apart from Shopp Ing and a bit of Iron Ing. We're playing the same programme again on Friday.
Tonight husband en rouge is dining with a friend who is passing through Paris. I had dinner early with Captain P. Apparently owing to the very mild weather in November, France has a big surplus of certain vegetables, especially cauliflowers and leeks. Consequently they are very cheap and eating them helps the farmers who need to sell them. Tonight we did our bit by eating a leek tart.
Two days of No Cooking For Nen, due to birthday celebrations yesterday and pre-Christmas lunches today. We had a happy day yesterday - went to playgroup with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling and saw the little one meet Santa for the first time!
I am slightly more caught up on festive preparations than I was - our decorations went up at the weekend and I wrote and posted the cards today and also sent a parcel to Nenlet2 and his husband as we won't be seeing them over the Christmas period.
Out and about tomorrow seeing a friend for coffee and lunch and a spot of shopping. It would be nice if it didn't rain, but I think it's going to.
Comments
I've had a lazy afternoon doing a Christmas jigsaw and then watched a very silly film on Netflix this evening. Husband being away means that Strictywill be watched tomorrow when he's back.
Must be two years since I last made any, as there has been an unopened jar of mincemeat in the cupboard since last December. Also, earlier in the week, I had found my jar of plain flour was infested with teeny-tiny beetle like things, so had thrown it away, washed out the pot and soaked it in a solution of bleach to kill off any critters still hiding in the ridges of the screw -top fastening.
I dealt with the problem of mincemeat being too sweet by tipping the jarful into a bowl and stirring in 1 tbsp of pomegranate molasses. Seems to have done the trick, as the resulting pies are very palatable.
I do like my own pastry, although it's not as good as my mother's was, but I can never roll it out evenly, so have some pies with thin pastry and some with thick.
I have the same trouble cutting a slice of bread that is the same thickness from one side to another, especially fresh bread.
The concert went well overall but the men messed up big time in one carol and a minor way in another. I realised just in time that I didn’t need my Green and Orange carol books after all, as the words were on the sheet and I know the descants. Everything else was separate sheet music. It made my folder so much lighter, but still didn’t avoid the back ache that I only get when singing.
Today is a day of rest and recovery.
I finally bestirred myself and had a little amble to the corner shop to get bread, red WINE and some more orange juice, and picked up a BACON ROLL on the way back.
Laundry is laundering, and at some point I'll put a STEAK in to marinate for supper.
Much excitement in our family as eldest grandson is in California with his Dad and cb for his karting league finals. So strange to watch his races on YouTube and see his name displayed.
@piglet I hope your throat gets better soon and you’re having a better day today @Priscilla
I can well imagine. We are under strict instructions to stay away if we are in the least bit coldy/coughy/snuffly as he doesn't want the possibility of folk bringing and sharing something and buggering up the Christmas services.
Hope you feel better though.
She messaged me to say that she was trying to phone the NE Man but his phone seems to be off. I replied saying it is probably off as he is in a church meeting. To which DR replied:
You find God by being empathetic and caring, not by a position in the church.
AFAIK the church meeting is not trying to find God, but is trying to find a way to make church property more energy-efficient. But when the NE Man gets home, I'll be sure to pass on DR's words of wisdom.
'Reasons for not attending Church'
no: 22b
After a weekend of laying low and doing nuffink, I sallied forth to Tess Coe for this week's supply of Ready Meals, Poor Old Singletons For The Use Of...
Two Angels Of The Lord assisted me in this task:
AOTL 1 was the Nice Lady who looks after the trollies in the car park on Mondays. As soon as she spotted me parking the car, she came over with a trolley for me, to save me hobbling to the place where they're stored.
AOTL 2 was the Nice Lady on the checkouts who always - without asking, or being asked - packs my two bags for me, making sure that the loads are distributed equally.
Back to a rather grey and windy Arkland the Noisy, where the walkway near the Ark is being repaired by two of The Lads, with much Hammer Ing, Saw Ing, and Drill Ing. The repairs are urgently required, as the walkway (which fortunately I don't have to use) is nearing the time when it may have to be completely rebuilt.
Lunch is LASAGNE - one of Mr Co-Op's specials - because use-by date.
With only a few hours’ notice, our final rehearsal for next Saturday’s carol concert has been put back from 6.45 to 7.30pm start, because the school where we rehearse needs the hall. We were going to have an early finish then seasonal refreshments ( mainly but not exclusively mince pies) were due to be served, but this has now been cancelled, or rather postponed until January.
Will this mean no mince pies? Please?
I mooched off to cathedral city to the east to do a bit of shopping. I managed to buy one present. The funniest thing was bumping into a friend in three of the shops I visited. We obviously have the same tastes in women's clothes shops (Seasalt, White Stuff and Fatface).
After a busy week last week this one is shaping up to be quiet apart from lunch out with some friends tomorrow.
I've just come back from an excellent Nativity Play at the school where I'm a Governor. It was thoroughly Christian - no sign of God being evicted as some might claim.
Thanks Kingsfold - I did feel a bit guilty, but I so didn't want to miss it! Still a bit chesty today, but not as snuffly as I was yesterday.
I hied me to Tessie's at lunchtime and procured some of their rather excellent fish cakes, one pack of which claims to be made of cod and chorizo, which I haven't tried before, and is now heating merrily in the oven.
It's a lovely day so I'd rather be doing outside work!
Now back to the usual afternoon of knitting, reading and dozing off.
How do you know it was "a bloke dressed as" and not the genuine article?
A busy day in Arkland the Gloomy, though it is still exceptionally mild for The Time Of Year. Pilates has been endured, and my right Leg is still telling me that he did NOT appreciate it, but a spell of S & Q (with painkillers) is helping. No more torture sessions are programmed until January, so I have some homework exercises to do in the meantime.
'CHRISTmass' presents and cards have now all been posted or delivered, though there are a few cards still to write (for my Neighbours), and there is CHOCOLATE to take into the Arkland Office for the ever-helpful Staff.
Lunch is COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas - another of Tess Coe's Simple Sustenance for Sad Singletons.
Hope the visit to the Oncology department was as good as such things can be @Firenze.
Tonight is pork steaks, pineapple and fried rice.
A fairly gentle day at work (although it was Decidedly Colder getting there). Then appointment for eyebrow waxing after work, and pasta with prawns and greens for supper (because it's relatively quick to make).
Tonight husband en rouge is dining with a friend who is passing through Paris. I had dinner early with Captain P. Apparently owing to the very mild weather in November, France has a big surplus of certain vegetables, especially cauliflowers and leeks. Consequently they are very cheap and eating them helps the farmers who need to sell them. Tonight we did our bit by eating a leek tart.
Another day of marking but I have sent back one batch of pre-Christmas marking. Another lot arrived today to start tomorrow.
Tea was sweet potato chilli with tortilla chips and sour cream, topped with crispy pork chop. Followed by a Tanquerey Rangpur Lime gin with tonic.
I am slightly more caught up on festive preparations than I was - our decorations went up at the weekend and I wrote and posted the cards today and also sent a parcel to Nenlet2 and his husband as we won't be seeing them over the Christmas period.
Out and about tomorrow seeing a friend for coffee and lunch and a spot of shopping. It would be nice if it didn't rain, but I think it's going to.