What are you all up to
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Another day with Mum. Took her to see her SIL today, we stayed on doorstep a good 2 metres away, just a 5 minute hello, but it didn’t half do both of them good. Last time they saw each other in the flesh was XMas last year, when we had a girly lunch out. Missed her so much, but at least we are all still here, small mercies this year🤞
Back home now, just had a forage for Xmas lights, might put a few up along with tree. I can’t summon up the energy to go the whole Xmas trim up this year. Might just look at last year’s photo of chimney breast instead.......
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Thanks
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Foggy and frosty start to the day.
Sun came out mid morning so managed to do an hour in the garden, then a run to the recycle centre to get rid of all the garden waste.
Still got the back garden to do yet, not to many silver birch leaves get there just the ones that dropped of the bushes there.
Birds feeding well, making a right mess though.
More card making this afternoon, need to start tidying it all up though, we pick up the Gkids on Thursday evening from boarding school. Got them staying with us until Saturday morning, when we take them south, meeting up half way with their parents.
Looks like the tier 4 areas of Scotland are going to come down a tier, FM to make announcement tomorrow, could be that Aberdeenshire might go up to tier 3 though their numbers are going up again.
Won't it be nice when we no longer have to wait for announcements to see what we can do next
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Have to admit CS, that Tyneside has the best collection of bridges in the UK. Glad we made the effort to go into Newcastle last year to look at them.
Had a lovely day, mostly! Had to take a trip to our neighbouring village to go to a Post Office as I had 4 cards for overseas that needed pricing. So instead of walking down the direct footpath but alongside a busy road we headed off on a circuitous route. Doubled the length but good walking weather. Cold, dry and windless.
Things starting going downhill when preparing the dinner. One of the 3 Salmon Fillets was off. By the time I found out the sticky Chorizo rice was in the oven. Nothing else in the fridge 😱 Mm? Stuck some Chili Moroccan Falafels in the oven and I had that. Bit different with the rice but not totally unsuited.
Checked my emails when I sat down afterwards to find my energy supplier had gone bust. Mild panic. Ofgem has appointed another supplier who could end up being temporary when everything sorted. Don't want to jump the gun at the moment as we're in credit with the old company so will wait until that is sorted.
An unusual Monday night drink for me now. Glass of red for medicinal purposes.
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Another very cold day, but at least we had some sun, which warmed the front rooms of the house enough to be able to turn off the heating for a few hours.
Bin day tomorrow so I spent some time cutting up all the cardboard boxes from recent deliveries to fit into the small wheelie bin, and discovered that even in the sun, it was too cold to hang around outside very long!
After putting on a loaf in the breadmaker, and starting off 2 lots of yogurt, we had lunch and then got most of our Christmas cards written. We need to wrap most of our presents for the family before the weekend as SIL and DIL will be doing a "present exchange" after school next week.
Tomorrow we have a pot of soup to make, and OH is muttering about some tidying I apparently need to do. 😟
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Ventured out to Waitrose this afternoon. We quite like Monday because it's generally fairly quiet. The trouble is that despite it being not that busy we are just not used to shops anymore and I worry we are getting a bit paranoid!!! We managed to get most of what we wanted, the standard stuff comes in the weekly delivery. More Christmas cards and stamps.
We have four cards that need to go abroad, three to Spain and one to Sicily. We weren't convinced we wanted to risk the local Post Offices. So I thought I would try online and discovered it is fairly straightforward to order, pay and print from your computer. The Post Office send you a .PDF file from which you print the labels. Fortunately I had some A4 sheets of sticky labels, four to a sheet. I was able to edit the print size to fit. Just glad all the ones to be delivered in the UK don't cost £1.70 each!!!
David
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Very frosty this morning and not foggy ,sun out and not a cloud in the sky at this time ,frost stiil on rear garden with sun being so low this time of year
Just reading they just done a another survey of Mount Everest and found it is two feet higher from sea level than previous measurements , which got me thinking?
does that mean it was even higher before the latest global warming? as they say sea levels are rising? so it might be getting lower in the future?
It may not keep me awake
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We could do with a bit of sunshine here dull damp and about 5C very chilly and a strong wind for the last 12 hours, no gardening here but most of it done until next year.
Just had a friend on the phone this morning saying she felt very down yesterday and kept hearing their old dog barking as she passed away mid October very strange only to have a phone call from a local dog rescue to say they have a crossbreed Labrador not sure of other breed female 3 years old so going to look at her on Friday but as it is more than 20km away will have paperwork from rescue centre to take with them she looks a nice quiet dog on photos sent to us so hope works out for them.
So it is indoor chores at the moment and hate being inside all the time houseitis as OH calls it, was hoping to go shopping to Villefranche next week but looks like the lock down will be staying a bit longer and as it is next department not allowed to travel there yet so it will be small local shops but some items cannot get from them will make do we did do butchers last week so got turkey joint ready for xmas day in freezer and have frozen some veggies also but will get some fresh ones nearer the date.
Take care and stay safe folks.
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Not so good a day here today RedKite.
We had heavy rain overnight and windy for a few hours. Today has been a mix bag, no heavy rain thank goodness we've had enough.
Bit of Christmas bits and bobs shopping this morning, just some stocking fillers for the Gkids we are taking down south on Saturday. They like to have money for birthdays and Christmas as they are always saving up for some new techy item or other.
After the shops it was into the bank to pay in the latest 'Fits' cheque and try and get some English bank notes for the Gkids.
Not really done anything much this afternoon, yet I've lots to do before picking them up Thursday teatime.
Off to make a couple of money wallets for them. Then I guess it will be time to cook tea. Fish tonight.
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If it’s anything like Ben Nevis, there are that many ashes scattered up there, it’s also been measured higher. 😬
When I worked as a Garden volunteer for EH, similar was one of the routine hazards encountered every so often. I would happily spend all morning grubbing weeds out in the Rose beds, pop down to bothy for lunch, then resume digging in afternoon. You started grubbing around, only to be met with a shower of grey ash.........very unnerving on a windy day I can tell you. First time it happened to me, I didn’t know what the heck had happened until the penny dropped. I was covered in it, not nice really....😕
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Overcast day here, but we had planned a walk today, so we stuck to our guns. Very muddy route around Roche Abbey, but we survived the bit of drizzle, and enjoyed ourselves. Like a small war zone at one point, shoot out on Earl of Scarborough Estate, blasting pheasants to bits. Our pooch got all excited as his “genes” kicked in, but all he managed was to look muddy, but he enjoyed himself pretending😂 Nice picnic back at car, now home with stove lit and dinner planned.
Meanwhile, to tired to do anything else today.......
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One of those complicated days, had to collect my prescription so asked elderly neighbours if they needed anything. I then discovered the prescription delivery service has ground to a halt, female driver poorly and van out of action. Asked for their extra prescriptions after diversion out of village and round the next village and they wouldn't be ready till Thursday (both neighbours use different names in their public and private lives, don't ask, it's ridiculous and you need a good memory in the pharmacy!) Unknown to me the younger but more unwell of our two intrepid neighbours was apparently having a phone chat with the GP whilst I was in the pharmacy. It turns out another GP had missed the infection in her lungs after an X ray over a week ago but had identified two collapsed vertebrae....
Patches have been prescribed, but can't be used whilst snuggling under an electric blanket which my neighbour insists on using and I don't blame her! My pharmaceutical knowledge has expanded over the last few weeks.... But had I known I could have picked up antibiotics straight away for the lung infection. I am wondering who should be keeping an eye on things in this situation?!
I feel sorry for many of the frail, elderly and car less residents of our village, we're under seige not only from the virus but from cable laying, the bus service has stopped till January and now no prescription deliveries. Hmm, I think I'll have some of the chocolate log I was saving.
It was too late for me to return for the antibiotics so that's on the list for tomorrow before we go out for the day.
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Writing our Christmas cards, well OK Mrs C writes them and chooses the card and prints off the addresses onto labels but I get to stick on the stamps.
Anyway I found a book and a half of second class stamps at the back of drawer when tidying up last week so was going to use them, I thought they were left over from last year but I was astounded when I noticed the date on the back!
I've just googled that the price and in 2011 second class cost 36p. I've 'made' £5.40
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Blooming heck brue😱Sort of confirms some of my worst nightmares about vulnerable elderly (and far too independent for their own good) who live in rural areas. Thank goodness for folks like you.
What about all today’s elderly taking the vaccine in their stride, getting on with it without much fuss. Jolly good for them, a credit to the country👏👏👏👏 Lets hope the next few weeks go as well.
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After 3 days when we had some beautiful sunshine today was a complete contrast. Although OH did manage a short walk with Flyte after lunch in the dry the 3 times that I've been out with him it's rained ever one, and it wasn't much better when we went for our shopping this evening. However I've still managed to pass my daily target of 20000 steps already today, and still another walk to do before bedtime.
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20000 steps Nell ?? Have you been in the check-out line at B & Q then ??Must admit I did some urgent shopping in M & S Crewe yesterday. Had to go in thro the knicker department,
wait 'til allowed past the Warder into the Food Hall. Scampered round as befits one so young ( and hungry ) then entered the knicker department again to try to find the start of the checkout line. At least it was all 'indoor' queuing -- unlike the crowd at Curry's !! Seemed more like a stroppy Union meeting to me 
Still they moved fast enough when I skipped past them cheerfully whistling a selection of my favourite Carols 0 -
Saw an article in the Waily Mail today Ttda which should make you smile Young lady bought two dozen Quail eggs, gave them to her children to try to raise at least one Quail. Surprise, surprise -- one dozen eggs hatched & survived - twelve little grouse chicks being nursed by her youngsters, taught to drink, eat & make a bit of noise !!
They are to be passed to a relative & used as breeding stock, not dinner !!
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Today started very grey, but we did have a couple of hours sun in the afternoon.
Made the soup this morning.....leek and potato......turned out delicious.Had a big plateful for lunch, and still enough for another 3 meals, will take some to DD tomorrow, she loves soup.
Have started trying to work out how we will tile the bathroom when we have it re-fitted......what size of tiles.....should we have a contrast mosaic .......should it be a horizontal border......or a vertical panel? Input welcome as we are at a loss to know what to do!
Otherwise, not a lot happening, I am avoiding the dreaded tidying......So far!
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Probably worse in urban areas TDA at least villages try to organise help.
Back to the pharmacy today for the prescription and a phone call to the family of the recipient!
Corners, those stamps, some seeds arrived here in a packet recently with a double line of old pictorial UK stamps, very low values but still OK to use.
Tiles KJ! Not easy, we used big tiles last year in a new shower room, no extras, we kept things simple.
Mid morning we're off for a pre booked coffee and cake in a garden centre near Bridport and then a pre booked art exhibition.
Very frosty start to the day, nice clear skies at the moment.
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A recent rummage in an overfull drawer produced these stamps - do you think I could use them?
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They are priced Goldie, 4d. Had they said 1st, or 2nd, you could indeed have used them😁 I need to find my old stamp album, I could be sitting on a small fortune😂
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20000 steps quite a lot about 10 miles? The most I have completed recently was 13000 on a trip to Newcastle a couple of years ago. Unfortunately buggered hips,knees and lower back make it more difficult these days! I spent about 35 years of my 46 year working like on my feet and although I never measured it I would have imagined that I walked quite a lot! We also used to walk fair distances for leisure as well. I have an app on my phone that keeps tabs on how far we walk but we are usually limited to 2/3 miles max now.
David
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Kj
Why not have a look at a few websites like Topps Tiles or the DIY sheds to see if you can get some ideas for tile styling? My suggestion would be to go for simplicity.
David
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K, re tiles.......
We had our bathroom half tiled originally, up to a horizontal tile border, then with a wooden dado, and then wallpapered above this to the coving/ceiling. Behind the loo was tiled floor to ceiling, with a contrast tile, but included a dado tile. Shower cubicle was tiled floor to ceiling with the same dark tiles at the bottom, the dado tile, and then the lighter contrast tile above this. It gave us the opportunity to completely change the look of the bathroom, as we could change the wallpaper. It was waterproof where we needed it. This arrangement, with one exception has stood the test of time, tiles are still like brand new. The one issue I wouldnt choose now, is to tile inside the shower cubicle. It’s an absolute pain trying to keep the grout clean and mould free. We are just in the process of changing our shower cubicle, and have found a tile effect panel, that mimics our tiles, but is smooth and easy clean.
As you know, Victorian house, so we have tried to keep the “Victorian feel”. Wouldn’t do this in a more modern bathroom, probably go minimalist wet room.
Photo of new decor, window dressing not finished, still shower to go in. Above the tiles had been a quite dark green wallpaper, this is gold, with bath painted gold. Gave it a completely different look without changing expensive tiles.
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You are right, brue, and I was trying to keep out of the decision making, but OH insists I need to be involved.
The room is 2.2 x 3.6m and will be fully tiled. We spent ages trying to measure up to see what size of tiles would fit best, and got so confused that I have decided to make an accurate drawing of the 2 problem walls.
On one short wall there are various wall cabinets, and floor standing cabinets which support a top with an inset basin, a large mirror, and a shaver socket, all of which are staying, and need to be tiled round without ending up with silly sized bits of tile or difficult cuts. And on the adjacent long wall 2 more wall and floor cabinets and a window. Also the toilet and the shower .The present tiles are 250x150.
We were planning to go for for plain white matt tiles, probably either 250x400 or 150x400, the latter would be fixed in a brick style. DD has the latter, one bathroom in light grey and one in a sort of light turquoise, both with a 100mm high mosaic strip about 1200mm above the floor, it looks very nice. We were going to just have only white until we saw that, now we are undecided as it would be a lot of white!
The bigger tiles would mean less grout to keep clean, but I think may also result in difficult cuts.
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"150x400, the latter would be fixed in a brick style."
Each to their own but to me that ends up reminiscent of a victorian public loo. Just as well we aren't all the same. Wouldn't life be boring.
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😁 Lovely little story, and an excellent result, all twelve. One of my BIL used to keep Quail, along with lots of other fowls.
We were given a broody hen, and she was sitting half a dozen Guinea Fowl. Few weeks later, half a dozen gorgeous little stripey chicks all following Momma Hen. Guinea Fowl can fly, and they roost in trees. So.....Momma Hen is safely locked away with other hens, brood are now growing up, but roost in trees. Sunrise........they all start crying for Momma Hen. The noise was incredible, even compared with our old rooster. We just couldn’t keep them, despite having very tolerant neighbours. Gave them to Wentworth Garden Centre for their visitor farm. The offspring are still flourishing. We did keep the hen though!😁
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