What are you all up to
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@Wherenext I think that if you mention to your OH that you are a bit short, and so might just have to revert to wearing you older night attire, she might come up trumps with the additional funds!😁😁
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Thanks @RedKite I think your answer above explains it, but here is a link to an article about it's installation.
That hanging tree should be worth a visit sometime, so have made a note of it, but not this trip, as Burnham on Sea is too far for a run out in the car from here at this time of year!😁😁
@Takethedogalong the Charles II oak is at Boscobel House. This link tell you all about it.
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@InaD sorry to have missed you, maybe we will bump into each other sometime. You did well getting it at that price ours is a little higher. The site is still quiet but is slowly acquiring more units each day. We won't get to Worcester this trip, having been before, but have been to Upton today and will go to Croome Park on Friday.
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We had quite spectacular skies first thing this morning! Two view looking from the van. Towards the East
Looking North West
Although it has been wet on and off all day we did manage a dry walk around around Upton before lunch. The town was very quiet but there is a good display of Christmas Trees by the Pepperpot.
More rain this evening…Ahhh!😫
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So sorry to hear that your Mum isnt well at the moment @Takethedogalong I hope she picks up soon.
Pleased to hear you had a good day out @Wherenext That must have lifted yours and your OH's spirits.
Beautiful photos of the sunrises @nelliethehooker
Wet again here this morning 😧
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Not posted for a few days - so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law, @Oneputt - especially sad at this time of year. Lovely photos @milliehull - Ros went into our local garden centre the other day (well it's not a garden centre any more - just a glorified gift shop and restaurant that happens to sell a few plants! - and it's always heaving). She was horrified to see that it was £20 to go and see Santa - ridiculous!
Hope your Mum is soon feeling better @Takethedogalong .
We made a big decision this morning. We spent yesterday taking Philomena (my late friend Tony's - widow) out for lunch. We had a lovely time but I had to walk the 300 yards each way from her house to the village pub (couldn't use my scooter for reasons I won't bore everyone with) and I really, really struggled. Plus the hour's drive each way to Old Malton wasn't easy on my back and therefore, we have decided to cancel going to the Sandringham site on Monday. I just couldn't face the prospect of at least a 4 hour drive and I think Ros realised just how bad I had got. Really disappointed and feeling a bit guilty even though it's only the second time I have ever cancelled a booking, but I know it's the sensible thing to do at the moment. I'm hoping that the appt. with my consultant of the 30th of this month will produce some solutions. So - for only the second time in 11 years, it will be Christmas at home this year!!
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@nelliethehooker great photos. In relation to the cost at Blackmore, there was an extra 10% off that we made use of; on top of the oldies discount 😉
When we went to Upton there were no Christmas trees by the Pepperpot, looks lovely. Worcester was somewhere we'd never visited and turned out a good choice. Also visited the Medical Museum within the University; it's only small, but quite interesting. Being ex-NHS we're both interested in things like that.
@richardandros I'm sorry to hear that your walking and driving are causing too many problems and made you cancel your planned trip. It must be a big disappointment. I hope your appointment on the 30th will have a positive outcome with a solution.
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@richardandros so sorry to hear that you have had to decide to cancel your trip to Sandringham over Christmas because of your mobility problems. I do hope your appointment later in the month will offer you some hope. So disappointing for you. I hope you have a good Christmas and New Year nevertheless.
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@richardandros it's a shame you have had to cancel your Christmas trip. I can't take NAIDS now because I am on blood thinning medication as there is an increased risk of leeding. My stroke consultant suggested an Ibuprofen topical gel for my knee which is massaged into the point of pain. Might that help you? I would prefer Voltarol but apparently that is not recommended because of whats in it, albeit very effective.
David
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So sorry to hear that because of your back and knee problems have forced you to cancel your Christmas trip @richardandros fingers crossed that you consultation will produce results that will ease, if not clear up completely, the pain. I hope the issue with your scooter can be readily remedied.
@InaD perhaps that additional discount had ended when we booked, as I am always on the lookout for such nicetiesl😁
Thanks again @milliehull Will this rain ever stop, as we and I guess you too have had enough of It?😫
It started off dry this morning but the rain came as forecast, and was heavy at times. We had a short drive into Malvern before going for a walk on Castlemoreton Common, and getting caught in the start of it. Spent a productive afternoon writing the last of our Xmas cards and then swapping over our energy supplier, from EDF to E.ON Next, as contract renewal date was approaching.
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Thank you all for your supportive comments. As I said, I did feel a bit guilty about having to cancel at this late stage, but I think it was the sensible thing to do.
@nelliethehooker - sorry, I probably misled you. There's nothing wrong with the scooter - just that there are steps up to the front door of the pub. I wouldn't leave it outside because of the value, and therefore my only option would have been to put it in 'suitcase mode' and attempt to get it up the steps. Not a good idea! Plus the place was absolutely heaving when we got inside so I don't think it would have been very welcome!
@DavidKlyne - I do actually take an NSAID even though I am also taking anti-coagulants. It's called Celecoxib and my GP thought long and hard about it before prescribing it. Apparently, it has the lowest risk of causing a haemorrhage of all of them. I'm not convinced it's doing any good though! Tried Voltarol in the past and that wasn't much good either - but thanks for the suggestion.
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@richardandros so sorry to read that you have decided not to go away for Christmas. As you say it’s probably the right decision, being away in the caravan if you aren’t 100% is quite hard work, so better to be safe and comfortable at home. Disappointing for you though. Hopefully you can get some helpful solutions after Christmas.
We braved the shops yesterday, still looking for a veggie main! We have now spent too much time and effort on at least 2 trial runs to find a nice tasty one. Even the expense of buying a food processor! I saw the recipe from @Takethedogalong, many thanks, but they aren’t cheese lovers so we thought we wouldn’t risk that one either. Waitrose had hardly anything left in their Vegetarian section, a lot of empty shelves. Then drove to M&S where we managed to get the very last one on the shelf of their version, which looks pretty small for 2, I must say, but I will have lots of veg accompanying it so it will be ok.
Basically we are just about ready for Christmas now, we have a supermarket delivery on Monday which I hope will bring the fresh stuff and last minute things. Just hope we don’t have too many things missing! Although I must admit the home deliveries have been very good recently, we are using it more and more.
Also on Monday I have the pleasure of root canal treatment at the Dentist in preparation for a crown.😳 I have been having problems with my back tooth for some time and she said she could remove it or go down this route. I didn’t want to lose the tooth as I think chewing would be more difficult so needs must.
@nelliethehooker, (won’t go red!) I am enjoying the pictures. The caves look amazing.2 -
@richardandros sorry you will miss your Christmas away, but still hope you manage to have a nice time. @heddlo take a look in Aldi for veggie alternatives, they do some really nice things such as Veg Rostis, veg en croute, other different things. Look in the veggie freezer bit, rather than the festive food areas. We don’t rate M&S at all for veggie options, always find them a bit lacking in options. We take things like this away with us all year round, as Aldi and Lidl always do some good veggie mains.
Evening out for me with knit and stitch group last night, lovely micro pub let’s us take in our own food, and we had a lovely spread and lots of fun. Back into it this morning, two lots of specialist District Nurses coming to help us with Mum, hopefully can make her a bit more comfortable. We have been provided with a special air flow mattress, electronically operated, just need to set it up and make sure we use it as required. Hopefully Mum will just sleep through everything🤞 OH is sorting out an Aldi shop, wrapping last of presents for family, then tonight we are off to see Everly Pregnant Brothers at Sheffield Uni Octagon. Got a niece sleeping over here, she will look after us two old dodgers at the concert🤭 Pulp’s drummer moonlights with the EPB’s, they are superb live, great fun.
Might get round to putting tree up this weekend, although we have got a lovely lit up one out in the garden this year🎄🎄🎄
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@richardandros sorry that you are suffering, I hope that you feel better very soon.
@Takethedogalong I hope that your Mum gets more comfort with the airflow mattress.
@heddlo 4 of our family are vegetarian, our daughter since she was 8. I have tried ‘special’ Christmas mains for them but difficult as our daughter is allergic to nuts and our granddaughter to so many things. (I spend many hours reading ingredients lists in supermarkets 😁) Ive long ago settled on quorn fillets, which they all like. I find that with lots of veg, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puds, (which, according to our grandchildren, are a must, even with turkey!) With all the other food included they are all happy with these. So maybe worth a try for you.
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Ear hoovered again on Tuesday, no it still didn’t work! Next appointment in January, that will be the fifth try. Hairdresser yesterday for both of us, she was very busy. And so many ladies the other side waiting to have their nails done, I must try it sometime. Dentist today, not looking forward to that. Then maybe a clear day to get on with things. Not looking forward to veg shopping next week but worth waiting for the cheap veg before Christmas in Tesco as we have family coming and we eat so much of it. The presents are almost all wrapped and the cake is iced.
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That bed sounds very high tech @Takethedogalong! Hope it works and your Mum gets the relief she needs. Sorry that your ear is still causing you problems @DEBSC - I know how frustrating it can be. Obviously they didn't use a Dyson then?😄
Just got back from the Drs. I have been getting increasingly short of breath recently and, this morning, when I took Meg out, I was gasping - even though I was just walking slowly. (Another reason why we cancelled Sandringham). Managed to get an appt. within the hour and the Dr I saw - not seen him before - is thinking that the NSAID I am taking for arthritis is probably affecting the way my heart is working. Another load of tests booked, including an ECG - but not until the New Year. He also thought I was wise to have cancelled going away in the van.
Ros has now gone to Tesco's to do the shopping she planned to do earlier and says she'll probably be back some time next week!😯
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Yahoo!!! A dry day. I would have settled for just that but the Sun made an appearance and has been out all day here.
MiL has been stuck in this week so took her to a rarely visited, for us, Garden Centre about 20 minutes down the A55. It's very popular despite being in the country near a small village. It was crammed full of Christmas goods. MiL decided yesterday that she does after all want some decorations up and she wanted some new ones on a small tree. So we returned with same and she seems happy now even though she's currently snoozing in her chair.
It's been quite a busy week one way or another and I'm looking forward to an extended lie in on Sunday but of course it won't happen. I'll probably wake up early and be ready for a walk by 9 o'clock.😁
Found myself having to sign in on my android last night when looking in after 10 pm so presume it was just a blip. Didn't bother looking for my details so don't know if it was my android playing up or CT. Didn't have a problem opening it just now on my MacBook.
If people are looking for a bought in Vegetarian meal, not for the big day itself but maybe for Boxing day etc. then I can thoroughly, to my amazement, recommend Tesco's Free From Spinach and Basil Ravioli served with a spicy arribiatta sauce, some fresh basil and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese. Other two aren't interested in Veggie food but I like to have one every week or so to balance out my intake.
Hope things work out with the bed for your mum @Takethedogalong and you get some answers and improvement in your health @richardandros
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Another very wet day here, but we had Prescriptions to pick up so had to venture out after the joiners had brought the new handle for our patio doors and taken away the old doors. However it was far too wet for them to finish applying the final sealant, or measure up our front steps for a quote, so they will hopefully return on a dry day in January.
Shopping precinct was very busy in all the car parks, but we got the last free disabled space at M&S, and the rain had stopped. Shops were quite busy, so we decided just to treat ourselves and get everything we needed in M&S…….some dinner items for the freezer, little sausages for the 25th, some party food, cold meat, potato salad, and a huge pineapple. That should keep us going for a while, especially as OH has very little appetite at present, so just the 3 ordered items to collect from Morrisons on the 24th.
There is some tidying to do in the kitchen later, those curtains to finish tomorrow, and still cards to deliver, presents to wrap, and various small kitchen appliances to take down to DD before we are all ready for Christmas.
A new Sainsbury’s opened nearby earlier this month in the previous Lidl store, so after 6 months we now have somewhere walkable again to buy milk and odds and ends. Interestingly, they have only DIY checkouts, but it looks good otherwise.
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@Takethedogalong many thanks for your suggestion of Aldi for vegetarian food. It may seem strange but I have only been in an Aldi or Lidl about half a dozen times - ever. Certainly not used one since Covid. Not sure why we don’t use them more often but I just didn’t like them, (as a place to shop) although we have mainly bought vegetables so can’t comment on any other food they sell, we will obviously have to try again. @DEBSC thanks for your suggestions too, I do know our Granddaughter likes vegetable burgers, don’t know about quorn ones as we don’t see her that often, I suppose I just wanted something a bit more special for Christmas dinner; although she is one of those finicky types that has a change of mind quite often about her food likes and dislikes! Oh joy!! 🥹 You also reminded me about present wrapping, I really must get on with that tomorrow.
We had a lovely day at the Sewerby end of Bridlington today. Enjoyed a nice walk along the cliff tops. Kept well away from the hussle and bustle anyway.
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Also on Monday I have the pleasure of root canal treatment at the Dentist in preparation for a crown.😳 I have been having problems with my back tooth for some time and she said she could remove it or go down this route. I didn’t want to lose the tooth as I think chewing would be more difficult so needs must.
@nelliethehooker , (won’t go red!) I am enjoying the pictures. The caves look amazing.
@heddlo I was in the same situation as yourself and went for the root canal treatment, and now have to return in the New Year to have the tooth capped. As it happens a filling dropped out a couple of days ago so I phone our dentist's and was able to make an appointment to get it replaced 30 mins before my other one, saving having to go there twice. The caves are very interesting although it does require a bit of a climb up to them along a good path from the Vine Rock car park beneath Kinver Edge.
I see that at 20:00 tonight there are tankers and pumps in place near the bridge as the R.Derwent was up to 9.3m, hope you are well away from the river. Glad that you enjoyed a day out at Brid. today.
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Thanks @richardandros I was a bit puzzled about whether or not you are using your scooter regularly. Hope that you are able to get your breathing under control and that the tests show what is causing you the problems. It appears that you were definitely correct in cancelling your Xmas trip.
Hope that the airflow mattress eases your mother's problems and that she is more comfortable @Takethedogalong
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It has been a lovely sunny day with a gentle breeze, just right to get the washing dried outside! We paid our usual visit to Croome Park today with a walk through the grounds before lunch and then through the Hall to see the Christmss decorations and the Rapturous Delights exhibition, which was different from last year.
One of Capability Brown's Cedars with the Hall in the background.
A few of the decorations
Some of the Rapturous Delights light show
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@nelliethehooker We are well away from the river here thanks for your concern, it’s mainly the businesses in the village that get inundated occasionally but not so much these days with the flood walls. Although it has happened twice since we moved here 16 years ago, when the pumps fail! We are 8 metres above high water level, right on top of the ‘hill’ so it would be pretty biblical to affect us!!! 🤞🏻. The river burst its banks weeks ago and has been very high ever since. There is a sewage pumping station in the car park next to the river, and it appears that there is a failure on its discharge pipe, so the tankers are taking the village sewage to prevent pollution in the river. They can’t do much with the broken pipe until the flood levels recede. It’s causing chaos for parking, closing a whole large car park but needs must. We do feel sorry for the residents near that end of the village as it’s obviously a constant noise, it must be dreadful for them.
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After Thursday's torrential downpour all day we had a lovely bright, sunny and dry day yesterday. I met a friend for lunch and exchange of presents. I hadn't seen her for a while so it was great to have a catch up. I then walked back through the shopping centre to catch the bus and have a look round the new Frasers store that has now opened in part of the old John Lewis building, There were a lot of people in there but the goods they were selling - Ugg, Hugo Boss, Ted Baker amongst others - were not my taste but it was very good to see that end of the centre busy again. It is very misty here this morning but looks as though it might lift. We have to brave one of two shops this morning 🙄
Lovely photos @heddlo . Looks like you had a great walk. Glad to hear that you are safe so far. I love all the Christmas decorations @nelliethehooker . So very festive
I have had to sign in to this site again this morning.
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Well we did it. We risked Tesco. Very busy but not too bad. I got all the 15p vegetables I need for Christmas plus a few extra to make soup. The only thing left is to go to Iceland for a couple of nice puds for Boxing Day. I need to make a bit more room in the freezer first. All shopping put away, when a call from granddaughter, she was rushed into hospital again yesterday but they let her out at 6pm today. So we picked her up and took her home, all she wanted was her bed as said they were doing tests most of the night and she was hooked up to various drips etc so hadn’t had much sleep. Lovely nurses though.
My cousin, same age as me and best friends since babies, phoned today and said, all this fuss for one day, then she went on to say - ‘I’d ask you to come away with us to a hotel next year but I know (my OH) wouldn’t consider going away cos he likes to be with the kids and grandkids at Christmas’. I agreed that he wouldn’t consider it. Then I suggested next New Year which she agreed with. I tentatively suggested this to OH, he said, ‘umm well’ as though possibly considering it. That was all I needed! 😁 Cousin and I have decided that, due to all our ages and many health issues we will wait a few months, and then have a great time choosing a place and suitable hotel for next year New Year. Already looking forward to it.3 -
Thanks @milliehull it is definitely worth a visit, especially at this time of the year, there is always something different to see there.
Glad that you are well above the high water mark @heddlo We have used that car park a few times, and know just how close to the river it is. It can't be good for trade at the shops close by when potential shoppers can't park there.
It was freezing with a low thin mist when we got up, but also had a clear sky above it. We moved on to our last new CL, for this year, following an easy drive, and were surprised how little traffic was about having heard yesterday's traffic news. We drove past and over the R.Severn at Worcester and the surrounding field were submerged! Thankfully it did warm up to around 6C and stayed dry all day, with periods of sunshine but a chill breeze. We are the only unit on the site so it will be a few quiet days before we move into our Xmas location.
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Busy day here yesterday got all the outside decorations up a bit later than usual but yesterday was the only free day we’ve had. Then in the evening we went out for a lovely family meal to our local pub was nice there was 8 of us and we used vouchers that had been given to us earlier in the year for golden wedding so was nice to share them with the family. Not too much planned today it’s quite mild so might get some time out in the garden tidying up
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Snap!! @Francis - just spent the last couple of hours, doing the same. I wasn't going to bother but then, with deciding not to go away for Christmas, plus the boys next door had commented that I hadn't put my 'light pole' up - I thought I was being a bit miserable. Although I struggled getting up and down the steps, it's all done now 😀
Quite mild here as well - but so grey again - hardly got properly light at all. Still, it's the shortest day today, so things can only get better.
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We have a dull and cold day here too with a bit of rain at lunchtime.
Inconveniently I made a blood test appointment for tomorrow morning without forward planning. As a consequence we broke our golden rule to never do Christmas shopping on a Sunday before the big day. Whilst it was packed everyone seemed very focused on lists, none of this prevaricating lark, so we were able to get the vast majority of what we needed, obviously excluding the things we forgot to put on the list!😂 It seemed strange but we decided to wear masks and were the only ones doing so. Even though there's a flu epidemic (according to the news) and COVID is still prevalent masks seem to have been discarded. Anyone else use them? We only tend to use them in enclosed areas which have a lot of people.
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