Very heavy frost here but now the washing is out in the sunshine.
All Christmas decorations are away and cards made into gift tags for next year.
Looking forward to tomorrow at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol - Rapunzel. No, it's not a pantomime (I hate them!) it's adapted for the sensitive - particularly to suit the needs of those with an autism spectrum condition, or sensory difference. 🙂
Very heavy frost here but now the washing is out in the sunshine.
All Christmas decorations are away and cards made into gift tags for next year.
Looking forward to tomorrow at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol - Rapunzel. No, it's not a pantomime (I hate them!) it's adapted for the sensitive - particularly to suit the needs of those with an autism spectrum condition, or sensory difference. 🙂
Saw Rapunzel at the Tobacco Factory on Boxing Day with my family. Really enjoyable, good time had by all
Lots of sitting, not to mention sleeping this afternoon and early evening. No quaffing though as we're doing dry January. I often think I ought to consider giving up alcohol permanently, but I like wine too much.
Good there are buses to nearby towns so you wouldn't be too cut off @nenya. One of the reasons we upsized when we moved here was that we lived in a small two-bed cottage before and husband had taken over the spare room so all my hobbies were squeezed into a small bit of the living room. Here we both have studies and with two living rooms can spread out there if needed. I hope there will be space in the new place for what you want to do.
Shortly we are going to be looking at possible summer holidays. We have two things already planned for this year, but nothing abroad yet.
I am indeed currently indulging in Sittage* and Quaffage*. Supper was orzo with tomatoes and prawns (a bit like a risotto, but less faff), which of course required WINE to go with it.
* both of which have now been added to my Tablet's rather limited vocabulary
Steak'n'chips has been a frequent Saturday dinner over the years, but tonight's was a particularly fine instance. A nice little piece of fillet which I halved and then beat the living daylights out of with a meat hammer. Briefly shown a frying pan and then rested in a warm oven while Stilton melted gently over it. Accompanied by a NZ Pinot Noir which would have been £26 were it not for the 50% bin end discount. Now finishing off the last glass of a Carlos 1 brandy. Sure it could all be worse.
I am indeed currently indulging in Sittage* and Quaffage*. Supper was orzo with tomatoes and prawns (a bit like a risotto, but less faff), which of course required WINE to go with it.
* both of which have now been added to my Tablet's rather limited vocabulary
Sometimes I sits and I quaffs, and sometimes I just sits.
Harrummph... All this drinkage and quaffage is just an attempt to disguise serious boozage. (Says he after dealing with a couple or so glasses of exceeding agreeable Shevchenko dunkel lager).
Another cold but bright day in West Lothian; not quite as many in the congregation at St Pete's as last week, but that's not really surprising.
I was quite shocked that they were taking down the crib and decorations after the morning service; the Wise Men had only just got there, and it's not even actually Epiphany yet!
When I pointed this out to the lady who organises these things, she said they couldn't get anyone to do it on Tuesday, which is, I suppose, fair enough, but they could have left it until Saturday.
Laundry is laundering, and brunch will ensue shortly. Evensong tonight, although I think it's going to be very sparsely attended; the bloke who's officiating is also going to be playing the organ (O joy - it's The Organist Who Doesn't Practise). I offered to sing the office, but he said he wanted to do both ...
Supper will be f&c, because I can't be bothered to cook afterwards.
Then back to old clothes and porridge* tomorrow, as my dad used to say.
Another cold but Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Frore. The early-morning high tide (about 1am) left a crust of Ice on the road leading from the Ark to the Car, leaving me no option but to stay on board...
...until the afternoon tide melted the Ice, giving me a brief window of opportunity to make a quick visit to the village Co-Op. We may well get another Frost overnight, but the Sun-Shine has (as you might expect) given me the chance for some S & Q.
One result of the chilly weather was the sight of a lone Dunlin, feeding on the water's edge at the end of our creek, as the tide receded. These used to be common winter visitors - flocks of them - before Climate Change™, but I haven't seen any for years. There may well be many more in the vicinity, further up (or down) the river, of course:
I went into our back garden to see how deep our snow is, and my 30cm ruler wasn't long enough!
Church was cancelled this morning, owing to the snow. Our minister broadcast online from an almost empty church - himself, the tech person, the tech person's wife, who did the readings, and the Session Clerk.
I will 'fess up to having "attended" church in my PJs.
Very cold and bright here: icy underfoot on the walk to church and back. I had coffee with a couple of friends afterwards.
We'll be having roast a bit later, though without a few of the trimmings as I couldn't get all I needed in the shop on the way home. No matter - with plenty of Quaffage I'm sure we won't notice the lack.
Our Place had (for us) a very good turn-out, despite the chilly weather - there was glorious Sun-Shine to compensate, though. AFAIK, we're not likely to have much (if any) Sn*w.
I'm hoping that there are no major Treaches of Patchery in Arkland tomorrow, as I need to go to Tess Coe, because Monday. Today's quick trip to the village Co-Op wasn't 100% productive, but I do now have a good supply of CRUMPETS.
And WINE.
Also MINCE PIE WHIRLS, by Mr Kipling - I've no idea what they're like, so will try one later this evening.
A light fall of snow here. Unfortunately the temperature is not forecast to rise above 1°C tomorrow. Which means the pavements may be a thin but deadly slick of frozen water. I may pass on going to the Art Group.
Meanwhile, gammon and spinach for dinner.
And a new series of the pottery throw down starting!
The family continues its excellent run of luck with aviation. After the saga of the paternal suitcase last week, our flight back to Paris this afternoon was cancelled.
In some ways it's better for it to be completely cancelled than extremely late, as it was initially. We'd already decided that we were better off getting a flight tomorrow than taking off after midnight (the time it was showing at) but now it's actually cancelled, Easyjet have to pay for the hotel. Profuse apologies have been sent to Captain P's school.
We shall head out in search of a brasserie later, for which Easyjet will also be getting the bill.
No snow but it has been bitterly cold, I have been trying to introduce my kittens to the idea of outside, and they think it is some sort of terrible punishment. They scramble to get back inside and find a radiator - we managed about 90 seconds.
@la vie en rouge - are you marooned in Toulouse, or thereabouts? I have no doubt that a suitable brasserie will be found...make the most of it, if Easyjet are paying!
Enjoy your enforced extra day on holiday @la vie en rouge , though a pain about the cancelled flight.
It was -4.5 when I got up so the walk to church was rather chilly. This afternoon we went for a brisk walk in a local country park, which like many round here in on the site of an old colliery. I came home in time to do a bit more of my jigsaw. I hope to finish it by Tuesday as it is a very over-the-top twee Christmassy and much as I like all things Christmas related I want to move on to things new.
The only downside to today was finding a nick in our relatively new and expensive work surface. Neither of us can work out how it happened, but hope the kitchen suppler will have an idea about how to disguise it.
A thin layer of snow here overnight. I have gone outside to switch the heating on in my office and retired back to the kitchen for a cup of tea while it heats up. I expect a long morning of emails and admin, possibly writing a mental health tutorial if I have time, followed by some marking this afternoon.
This morning I am attempting to book a coach trip, or two. It is a small family business. Booking opened at 9am. It is a crazy system, trying to get through on the phone. Some people go in person and queue at the door. Emails are dealt with at the end of the day. With only three staff working I don’t know when I’ll get through. Single person places are very limited. I just keep trying every few minutes. Meanwhile I am getting on with my jigsaw.
I cancelled going to Pilates as I really didn't fancy walking nearly two miles in snow in a temperature of -5. Instead I did an on-line Pilates video and cleaned the loos.
The snow isn't very deep but is certainly crisp and even.
Just a sprinkling here but my neighbour has kindly swept my drive. I am not needing to use the car today as a choir friend has offered me a lift tonight.
Still trying to get through to the coach company. It is engaged of course. I have reached the queue six times now, then got cut off.
My persistence was rewarded and I have now got two trips booked. Nothing very adventurous but that’s ok. Includes places I have not been to before, in Shropshire and north Wales. Picking my way through many concert and key rehearsal dates was tricky. Tomorrow booking opens by email for my singing holidays. That will still leave me time for some independent travel.
Back at work today and the place still hasn't warmed up. We currently have our sister-in-law's car on our driveway so I used that to get here rather than the bike because ice. There is a small layer of snow everywhere and the temperature according to the car was -6C which was a surprise as the rabbit's water bowls were less frozen this morning than they were yesterday.
Yesterday, despite having a fridge and cupboards full of food and needing only milk, the NE Man succumbed to some primal instinct to the weather and came home with two bags full of groceries.
Looking at the new veg he'd bought, I decided to make a large pot of soup to use up some of the existing veg.
Today he's struggled through the snow to the butcher and returned in triumph with more food! Including the butcher's own-make tattie soup. I'm going to have to freeze the soup I made so that we can use the soup he's bought. And I'm going to have to do more cooking and freezing to use stuff up.
Another bright, cold, Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Blest, with a fresh nor'westerly breeze. A few clouds are beginning to appear in the Firmament, and we may have some rain on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, each succeeding high tide covers the road from the Ark to the car with a coating of Ice, making it hazardous to negotiate. I did manage to dodge the partly-melted skating-rink in order to make the trip to Tess Coe, because Monday, but it will freeze over again early tomorrow morning.
Not much traffic about in Our Town, possibly because (a) cold weather, and (b) schools go back today. The Nice Lady on the checkout packed my bags for me, and Neighbour T put them on board the Ark when I returned home. Angels Of The Lord™...
COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas for lunch, after a bit of S & Q.
I wussed out of the Art Group because of the cold. No actual ice or snow here, but just taking the bins out had me perished. Also not currently in a Happy New Yearing mood tbh.
Dinner will be cheesy haddock with a side of Brown Tom. And I've made a head start on tomorrow by giving an oxtail a couple of hours.
Dafling major and I went on a forty five minute round trip to the shops this morning. Dafling major went out with bare head and legs. Somehow she is not currently a block of ice.
We got home a mere 20 hours late. We emerged from the metro station to snow I know not everyone enjoys snow, but personally I am a fan. We haven't had a decent snowfall in Paris since the week Captain Pyjamas was born, nearly 8 years ago.
Just done my equivalent of taking the Christmas decorations down. The Christmas chocolate-making stuff has gone away in a new place in the KITCHEN for the very first time. It makes me happy.
Tomatoes layered with breadcrumbs and baked. The breadcrumbs can be mixed with onion, garlic, herbs, lemon zest, parmesan or chopped bacon. I used to make it frequently when I lived on my own, but haven't in years.
We attended a traditional Welsh "plygain" carol service this evening, followed by Psygodyn a Sglodion.
Plygain night for us too. Our party did not cover ourselves in glory ( alto and a soprano fine. The bass let us down), but as Mrs Hare pointed out, it is a service, not a concert, and the other parties made up for it.
No pysgod a sglodion to follow, but usual swper provided by the host church.
Back to work on a baltic morning in Linlithgow, where the Council (bless them) had cleared/treated a pathway through the Patches of Treachery on the High Street pavements, making getting there much easier.
One of my colleagues was less fortunate: she slipped on the ice outside her house yesterday and broke her arm. 😳
Supper was fish cakes and veggies, and very nice indeed.
We had friends to lunch today - I was going to go all Domestic Goddess and do a home made soup, but decided I couldn't be bothered and bought two cans of the stuff instead.
Then I went to Pilates - thankfully I wasn't driving as the small amount of snow we had last night has not really melted and remains in Patches of Treachery. I will be heading to bed soon as I was awake for a lot of the night. Mr Nen has a bad throat and was coughing, and when he was asleep he was moaning. I would have hied me to the spare bed but it was covered in wrapping paper that I've been sorting, and a car part (they get everywhere). This situation is now remedied so I can jump ship tonight if I need to.
Tea was a fairly new (to me) recipe; we need something quick on a Monday evening as Pilates is at a really awkward time. It's pasta with green pesto sauce and a tin of tuna thrown in, served with grated cheese on top and peas and sweetcorn out of the freezer. Quick and tasty and has been our Monday evening meal for several weeks now. At Casa Nen you can usually tell what day it is from what's served up for tea.
No snow here, but a few days of a continual hard frost, for which I am grateful.
Currently we have a major freezer defrost session underway, so the contents of the fridge/freezer have to be eaten asap, or be moved to the garage, which is only a viable proposition because of the hard frosts.
This has come about because there is a build up of ice behind the back panel of the freezer, which has probably been accumulating for 4 o 5 years (when the same thing happened). It was pushing the frozen food storage drawer forward and making it difficult to shut the door.
It will take a couple of days to slowly defrost, as long as we keep the kitchen warm, but the water runs out on to our laminate floor, so high vigilance is needed to keep mopping it up.
It seems that this is probably happening because we have a split in the door seal, so we will have to get that done - but defrosting comes first!
First day back in the office today. No queue at the train station ticket machine, but the touchscreen needed a right firm push to recognise a press.
Expecting the office to be roasting once inside, so have gone with multiple layers for the commute.
Comments
I resemble resent the implication, When I Quaff, I do not Spill. That would be Wastage, which Is Outrage...
Saw R
Saw Rapunzel at the Tobacco Factory on Boxing Day with my family. Really enjoyable, good time had by all
Good there are buses to nearby towns so you wouldn't be too cut off @nenya. One of the reasons we upsized when we moved here was that we lived in a small two-bed cottage before and husband had taken over the spare room so all my hobbies were squeezed into a small bit of the living room. Here we both have studies and with two living rooms can spread out there if needed. I hope there will be space in the new place for what you want to do.
Shortly we are going to be looking at possible summer holidays. We have two things already planned for this year, but nothing abroad yet.
* both of which have now been added to my Tablet's rather limited vocabulary
Sometimes I sits and I quaffs, and sometimes I just sits.
I was quite shocked that they were taking down the crib and decorations after the morning service; the Wise Men had only just got there, and it's not even actually Epiphany yet!
When I pointed this out to the lady who organises these things, she said they couldn't get anyone to do it on Tuesday, which is, I suppose, fair enough, but they could have left it until Saturday.
Laundry is laundering, and brunch will ensue shortly. Evensong tonight, although I think it's going to be very sparsely attended; the bloke who's officiating is also going to be playing the organ (O joy - it's The Organist Who Doesn't Practise). I offered to sing the office, but he said he wanted to do both ...
Supper will be f&c, because I can't be bothered to cook afterwards.
Then back to old clothes and porridge* tomorrow, as my dad used to say.
* not literally - ugh!
An expression also current in my childhood.
...until the afternoon tide melted the Ice, giving me a brief window of opportunity to make a quick visit to the village Co-Op. We may well get another Frost overnight, but the Sun-Shine has (as you might expect) given me the chance for some S & Q.
One result of the chilly weather was the sight of a lone Dunlin, feeding on the water's edge at the end of our creek, as the tide receded. These used to be common winter visitors - flocks of them - before Climate Change™, but I haven't seen any for years. There may well be many more in the vicinity, further up (or down) the river, of course:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlin
Church was cancelled this morning, owing to the snow. Our minister broadcast online from an almost empty church - himself, the tech person, the tech person's wife, who did the readings, and the Session Clerk.
I will 'fess up to having "attended" church in my PJs.
We'll be having roast a bit later, though without a few of the trimmings as I couldn't get all I needed in the shop on the way home. No matter - with plenty of Quaffage I'm sure we won't notice the lack.
Our Place had (for us) a very good turn-out, despite the chilly weather - there was glorious Sun-Shine to compensate, though. AFAIK, we're not likely to have much (if any) Sn*w.
I'm hoping that there are no major Treaches of Patchery in Arkland tomorrow, as I need to go to Tess Coe, because Monday. Today's quick trip to the village Co-Op wasn't 100% productive, but I do now have a good supply of CRUMPETS.
And WINE.
Also MINCE PIE WHIRLS, by Mr Kipling - I've no idea what they're like, so will try one later this evening.
Meanwhile, gammon and spinach for dinner.
And a new series of the pottery throw down starting!
In some ways it's better for it to be completely cancelled than extremely late, as it was initially. We'd already decided that we were better off getting a flight tomorrow than taking off after midnight (the time it was showing at) but now it's actually cancelled, Easyjet have to pay for the hotel. Profuse apologies have been sent to Captain P's school.
We shall head out in search of a brasserie later, for which Easyjet will also be getting the bill.
@la vie en rouge - are you marooned in Toulouse, or thereabouts? I have no doubt that a suitable brasserie will be found...make the most of it, if Easyjet are paying!
It was -4.5 when I got up so the walk to church was rather chilly. This afternoon we went for a brisk walk in a local country park, which like many round here in on the site of an old colliery. I came home in time to do a bit more of my jigsaw. I hope to finish it by Tuesday as it is a very over-the-top twee Christmassy and much as I like all things Christmas related I want to move on to things new.
The only downside to today was finding a nick in our relatively new and expensive work surface. Neither of us can work out how it happened, but hope the kitchen suppler will have an idea about how to disguise it.
As predicted, there were only three of us at Evensong, but we still managed to make a reasonably joyful noise, and it was actually rather nice!
The psygodin in my P&S was absolutely huge, and very nice.
Yes.
We made the most of the extra day in the South West to eat at a traditional cassoulet establishment.
The snow isn't very deep but is certainly crisp and even.
Still trying to get through to the coach company. It is engaged of course. I have reached the queue six times now, then got cut off.
Looking at the new veg he'd bought, I decided to make a large pot of soup to use up some of the existing veg.
Today he's struggled through the snow to the butcher and returned in triumph with more food! Including the butcher's own-make tattie soup. I'm going to have to freeze the soup I made so that we can use the soup he's bought. And I'm going to have to do more cooking and freezing to use stuff up.
Another bright, cold, Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Blest, with a fresh nor'westerly breeze. A few clouds are beginning to appear in the Firmament, and we may have some rain on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, each succeeding high tide covers the road from the Ark to the car with a coating of Ice, making it hazardous to negotiate. I did manage to dodge the partly-melted skating-rink in order to make the trip to Tess Coe, because Monday, but it will freeze over again early tomorrow morning.
Not much traffic about in Our Town, possibly because (a) cold weather, and (b) schools go back today. The Nice Lady on the checkout packed my bags for me, and Neighbour T put them on board the Ark when I returned home. Angels Of The Lord™...
COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas for lunch, after a bit of S & Q.
Dinner will be cheesy haddock with a side of Brown Tom. And I've made a head start on tomorrow by giving an oxtail a couple of hours.
Tomatoes layered with breadcrumbs and baked. The breadcrumbs can be mixed with onion, garlic, herbs, lemon zest, parmesan or chopped bacon. I used to make it frequently when I lived on my own, but haven't in years.
Plygain night for us too. Our party did not cover ourselves in glory ( alto and a soprano fine. The bass let us down), but as Mrs Hare pointed out, it is a service, not a concert, and the other parties made up for it.
No pysgod a sglodion to follow, but usual swper provided by the host church.
One of my colleagues was less fortunate: she slipped on the ice outside her house yesterday and broke her arm. 😳
Supper was fish cakes and veggies, and very nice indeed.
Then I went to Pilates - thankfully I wasn't driving as the small amount of snow we had last night has not really melted and remains in Patches of Treachery. I will be heading to bed soon as I was awake for a lot of the night. Mr Nen has a bad throat and was coughing, and when he was asleep he was moaning. I would have hied me to the spare bed but it was covered in wrapping paper that I've been sorting, and a car part (they get everywhere). This situation is now remedied so I can jump ship tonight if I need to.
Tea was a fairly new (to me) recipe; we need something quick on a Monday evening as Pilates is at a really awkward time. It's pasta with green pesto sauce and a tin of tuna thrown in, served with grated cheese on top and peas and sweetcorn out of the freezer. Quick and tasty and has been our Monday evening meal for several weeks now. At Casa Nen you can usually tell what day it is from what's served up for tea.
Currently we have a major freezer defrost session underway, so the contents of the fridge/freezer have to be eaten asap, or be moved to the garage, which is only a viable proposition because of the hard frosts.
This has come about because there is a build up of ice behind the back panel of the freezer, which has probably been accumulating for 4 o 5 years (when the same thing happened). It was pushing the frozen food storage drawer forward and making it difficult to shut the door.
It will take a couple of days to slowly defrost, as long as we keep the kitchen warm, but the water runs out on to our laminate floor, so high vigilance is needed to keep mopping it up.
It seems that this is probably happening because we have a split in the door seal, so we will have to get that done - but defrosting comes first!
Expecting the office to be roasting once inside, so have gone with multiple layers for the commute.