What are you all up to
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Well!!! Almost managed another December - and still standing (just about) - just two church services to go before Christmas.
I've lost track of the number of December practices, concerts and other performances, services etc - and the number of times we've loaded and unloaded the car with equipment!! We've had some lovely concerts/ performances etc., though, although some have required a bit of travelling..... and those make-do 'meal deals' from petrol stations (or drive through Costa), on the way.
Family time coming up, from Thursday, with family coming to visit at various points....
Hopefully, time to start thinking about getting out in the caravan... hope to have at least one or two short trips out in January.
David
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I used a mask on train last week, and when OH went for a scan last week @Wherenext . Having had both COVID and a very bad cold in last three months, I just donโt want to be ill again. Donโt care a hoot what anyone else thinks, I have Mum to think about and even a bad cold will likely kill her. OH goes his own way, he wonโt mask up, but thatโs up to him. Having said that, he seems to be remarkably resilient thank goodness. Handwashing and hand sanitising as well.
Got a day at home today, so tree is up, I have one more present to wrap, and all washing done. Joys of Docs and District Nurses again tomorrow, they are good and helpful, but itโs the uncertainty around arrival times that are wearing us out a bit. Canโt plan anything at all. First new mattress delivered had a fault, despite being brand new, alarming every three mins (we timed it๐คฃ) but all sorted now. Onwards and upwardsโฆโฆโฆ.3 -
We have done various bits of shopping over the past couple of days and that is it now - what we haven't got we will have to do without! The shops were busy but not as bad as I had feared. As @Wherenext said everyone seemed very focused and the staff were pleasant. We also managed to park in the Blue Badge spaces at most places. After a lovely bright sunny day yesterday it has been very dull, grey and damp here today. A 'lights on all day' sort of day. They days will be getting longer from now though.๐
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Well done @DSB it must be a tiring time for you so you now deserve your rest, if you can with the family coming, over Christmas.
It had been dull but dry for most of the day although just now we have had a shower of rain. Went for a walk along the Shropshire Union Canal this morning before calling in for some odd bits of food from Aldi, which was not busy, on the way back to the van. Hoping for a brighter day tomorrow.
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@Wherenext masks were being worn by people around the hospital when we picked our granddaughter up. But only saw a couple of people wearing them in Tesco.
I went with sister in law and nieces to our village church for a Christmas candle lit carol service this evening. The church, and itโs quite large, was packed, extra chairs had to be brought in. All ages there, so nice to see. And a very pleasant evening. Some of the better known carols were sung by the choir to new music, well not the music I knew anyway, or others it seemed as it sounded as though many stopped singing. I just thought maybe itโs my age but as we left my niece commented, I didnโt know those tunes, I prefer the old ones, sheโs 24. We have to move with the times I suppose.
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We've had a busy but wonderful few days.
We started on Friday by driving down to Morecambe for a night in The Midland Hotel. As it was an upcoming birthday for me I had booked a posh suite. We got there just in time to go out onto the balcony and watch the sun setting. We didn't eat dinner in the hotel as we were going out early evening - so I made use of a posh picnic basket I bought years ago in a sale - packed with home made food and drink.
Then we went across the road to The Platform (an old railway station, now a music venue) tosee/hear Merry Hell. One of the most joyous and uplifting bands I know of. Then staggered back across the road for more food and drink (actually it was Gin & Tonic and Maltesers.
Saturday passed in a blur as I recovered and caught up on sleep.
Yesterday was The Day. Another day older and deeper in debt.
I was given a "Farmer's Bouquet" by my husband who offered to do the weekly shop (which really was an excuse to buy me a bottle of Gin) and my oldest friend who is 2 days younger than me came round wih a present - a cushion with a photo of my favourite farm cat. Then we went across the yard to my son's house for cheese, mince pies and mulled wine with my husband's twin brother and family. There was even a birthday cake with a candle for me to blow out.
Today? Cooking normal food and paying bills. Then maybe icing the cake.
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@Goldie146 glad you had a nice birthday weekend
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That sounds like a wonderful birthday weekend @Goldie146 I love the cushion ๐บ
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Belated Birthday wishes @Goldie146. Hope it wasn't one of those with a "0" at the end. I hate those. Great idea of a present from your friend.
Up early this morning for a blood extraction appointment. I then rang the Opticians who sent me a letter telling me my annual eye tests etc were due. I was offered an appointment tomorrow but we hope to be doing something else so I have one early in the New Year.
Visited a sick friend later on. Not sure whether my presence made them feel any better though.
It's another very dull day around these parts.
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@Goldie146 a lovely birthday! I love the โFarmers Bouquetโ if they are hand picked they are very early. Glad you had a small if busy break.
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A lovely day. A phone call last night to invite us for a roast at granddaughters and her housemates home. Granddaughter cooked an amazing roast with all the trimmings everything cooked beautifully. We just supplied the pudding. After lunch we played Ludo with her housemates little 5 year old. He won and was so pleased with that, bless him. Then OH and granddaughter fixed her new motorised wheel to her wheelchair for outside use, she can now reverse, has a beeper, and a light. Just a warning from her Grandad to take the speed easy. ๐ Nice to have a day without any cooking. More wrapping to do tonight, then the ham to cook tomorrow.
Son and family were due to come for New Year but their dog developed a large abscess, the vet thinks she ingested a seed. Anyway complications and CT scans and an operation etc. Dog now recovering but they donโt want to travel here now, a long journey with her and she now needs tlc. Son also recoveringโฆ from the bill, told, between 9 to 12 thousand pounds. Dog is insured but not for that much. And they ask us why we donโt get another dog.
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Sounds like a lovely birthday break @Goldie146 and what a fine present from your friend. A belated birthday greeting from me.
Glad you had a very nice day at your granddaughter's, @DEBSC, perhaps her plan was to get your OH there to sort out her wheelchair!!๐ That sounds like an excessive amount for your son's dog's operation, some veterinary practices certainly know how to extract the last penny from concerned pet owners.
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It has been a dull and overcast day, never really brightened up but not cold although there has been a steady breeze. We just had a drive round the area, with a couple of walks. One was at Hodnet, where we knew the Hall gardens were not open, but there was still quite a bit to see. The 12C St Luke's church has a rather unusual 14C hexagonal tower, and on the horizon, looking along the beech drive from the Hall, stand a columnar folly.
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Well that was worth opening the post for. A letter from HMRC saying I owe them some money. I'll obviously have to move some money to the Cayman Islands!๐ Plus a bowel screening test kit! Merry Christmas.
Had a blood test yesterday morning and by early evening the results had been sent to my own Health records, accessible online. Rather than depress myself before going to sleep I left them until this morning. A few things I'll need to discuss at my appointments in January. It does explain some things for me though.
We did have some downtime this morning and I wanted to give the van a run out so we took it over to Parkgate, near Neston, on the Wirral. Not a long walk as we needed to be back home for 12.30 as MiLs Hairdresser was calling. Roads were surprisingly quiet going into Wales but heavy coming out.
Another very grey day but the wind has dropped.
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Belated birthday wishes from us as well, @Goldie146 - sounds like you had a wonderful birthday weekend. @DEBSC - your granddaughter is amazing doing all that, given what she has to cope with. Tell her to make sure she doesn't get 'nicked' for speeding๐
Seem to have spent the best part of the last two days, trying to sort out Meg's health insurance. I've been with More Than, ever since we got her - but the premiums have been getting higher and higher (as one would expect) - but this year when the monthly payment topped ยฃ275, I decided enough was enough. Having said that, when they were run by RSA, I was pleased with their claims handling and customer service but once Admiral Insurance took over just over a year ago, it went rapidly downhill - big time.
As with all insurance, it's a bit of a minefield shopping around. I'm more driven by customer service experience and claims handling that just cost so in the end I decided to subscribe to "Which" and see what they had to say. As a result, I decided to go with Agria - their "Best Buy" - who quoted a far more sensible ยฃ105 p.m.- and with slightly better cover. What is and isn't a pre-existing condition (which they won't cover) is a bit of a grey area, though.
At least it's all sorted now.
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Thank you for the Birthday wishes. It wasnโt a milestone year, so itโs carry on as normal for a few more years. Occasionally I mention my intention to โretireโ at 80, but I donโt think anyone believes me. Anyway, I would miss knowing whatโs happening if I stepped back. As long as I pay the bills I know whatโs what.
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just thought Iโd share a pic below of some of the decs we put up around our front door also have some nice lights out in the back garden might get a pic of them later Got this arch in January this year from a local garden centre half price due to Christmas being over so a good buy just had to wait almost a year to use it lol
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@Wherenext I too received one of those letters from the HMRC before we came away, but the nice people there said that I need not do anything.....they would just take it in bits along with that which they take each month!!
That is a lot of difference between quotes @richardandros so much for customer loyalty being rewarded. Hopefully you will not need to make use of your new insurer.
Nice looking decorations @Francis looking forward to seeing a photo of those in your back garden.
We have moved up to our final CL of the year, and we will be here until after NYD. The route we chose meant we missed town centres and included just two junctions on the M6, so we had no problems with holdups. There are just 2 other units on the site, so it is nice and quiet.
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Happy birthday @Goldie146 .... and I know it's a few hours early, but a Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope has a really lovely time and hope that many of you are able to get together with family over the next few days.
It'll be unusually quiet for us on Christmas Day. Our son, Tom (DIL Emma and two girls, Ella and Marcy) are visiting Emma's parents this year, but will be with us on Boxing Day; Anna (down in Exeter), is working on Christmas Day, so will be up later in the week, and Ruth (Wayne and grandson Euan), won't begin the journey down from the Outer Hebridss until the day after Boxing Day. So it will get busy here towards the weekend. I'm actually quite relieved, in a way. After a chaotic December, it will be nice to have a quiet day.. ๐คฃ๐คฃ
....so, have a great Christmas, everyone, whatever you are up to.... enjoy!
David
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About to start our Christmas with our daughter and family so now seems like the right time to. Wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. Whether away in your caravan, or spending it with family, or a quiet one at home I hope that you all enjoy it. Best Wishes to you all. ๐ ๐คถ
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I am on HMRCโs letter list too, in fact I have recently had 4 letters from them. First to arrive was the one asking for large amounts by the end of January, followed by 2 new code numbers sent out on 19 and 20 November, and finally a calculation unfortunately confirming the large amount due ๐ฆ. Will need to raid my piggy bank!
Lovely sunny day here, so far. We have our Christmas food order to collect at 13.30, things to take to DD for tomorrow, and still some presents to wrap later.
Hope you all have a good time at Christmas!
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We would like to wish all folk on here a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
A very dull and cold day here only 3C at the moment brr and could get a frost tonight so hope for a brighter day tomorrow.
Making a few savoury and sweet nibbles this afternoon and Turkey breast defrosting ready for tomorrow and will cook it in our new Phillips Air fryer and the old one will do the roast veggies and we have a pair of small Christmas puddings which we brought back fro UK in October.
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@richardandros when you changed insurers, did they ask about any pre existing, or past medical conditions? It was something we always asked when trying to move policies, along with acceptance that any dog over the age of 8 years was considered a higher risk. Some breeds even younger. It does seem a bit of a minefield does pet insurance, like any other. I do know that there are more well looked after pets either being euthanised or given up to rescues simply because they have an emergency that the owners cannot pay, including being insured as well. We spent upwards of ยฃ500 per month on medical stuff alone for our Choc lab, then of course there was food etcโฆ.on top. We were fortunate that we had this, and could do it, but taking on a pet and properly looking after it requires a lot of money, and some good luck nowadays. Itโs very sad, because pets provide a lot of happiness and company for so many. It a very emotive subject.
Just wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas, hopefully without too many mishaps. All the best to everyone๐๐๐
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We decided to go out for Christmas Eve breakfast and very nice it was too
We also met this very merry band
It is a cold but lovely bright sunny day here.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas wherever you are and whoever you are with ๐ ๐
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My best to one and all as well but especially to anyone who has to work over the next 2 days, like the emergency services etc. Thank you to them.
Thought I would have a restful day after our morning walk but I received a text telling me my meds were ready so headed off to a packed town as it was market day. A lot of last minute presents being bought. Sunny but cold today with that brisk easterly blowing.
All I've done today is made the stuffing and put it in the fridge. I think I have the night off cooking wise as it's Pizzas and a glass of red, or two.
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Well at last we had a lovely sunrise and a bright day, no lights needed indoors. Very chilly breeze and a struggle to get single figure temperature, but welcome after all.our grey days. Fabulous walk with the dog, furtherest I've managed in quite a while - saying nothing about feet ๐ค.
Just watched Oppenheimer,interesting, but glad I didn't go to the cinema to watch. Right back to it, almost everything sorted as far as it can be now. Just got a couple of bits in the garage and vac before cooking dinner. We're out to lunch, taking the starter - just the bread to make in the morning, rest together just need to.put on serving dishes.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas, however you spend it. ๐๐ฒ๐
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