What are you all up to
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Very cold here now that the sun has disappeared, going to be a frosty night. We got the turkey order etc without problems, went to DD’s house, she was busy getting organised, and making a Yule log, Daddy had taken the boys to the park as it was such a nice day, and to give Mummy some peace. So I was put to work preparing the vegetables for tomorrow while DD and OH got out things to be defrosted and organised the fridge.
Later I had a good FaceTime chat with my little sister and her husband, they were just finishing decorating their Christmas tree, traditionally done on the 24th in Norway, then we headed home for some peace and quiet. Daddy had gone out again…….he had forgotten to buy his Mum a Christmas present!
We still have a couple of presents to wrap, but did most of them this morning so that should only take a few minutes. Down to DD’s for 11.00 tomorrow to help with the cooking and open presents once son and family arrive as they have to set off home by 16.30.
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As many of you know its not been the best of years for Margaret and I. Just another issue to add to the many. about a week ago Margaret was ironing in the utility room when she noticed the ceiling and wall was wet. This indicated a leak from the extension bathroom immedially above where she was ironing. Our son Simon managed to arrange a callout from a local plumbing company, this was after a few estimates, one going up to a possible £1500! We resisted that but it just goes to prove that you must be careful with posts on local Faebook pages. The long and the short of it is that the company Simon was quite keen on agreed to come out today and they were upfront about charging nearly £100 an hour which is not as un reasonable as it sounds as our usual plumber, who wasn't available, charges £75 an hour.Anyway the work done and hopefully sorted. The issue was an old glued joint which had started to leak, unfortunately situated under other pipes, So hats off to Tom who spent most of his visit laying on the floor sorting it. In the end it cost £240 which I thought was quite reasonable given that it is Christmas Eve. We have yet to put it fully to the test but fingers crossed. The irony of it was that I recently cancelled the plumbing cover I had with my British Gas boiler cover. That will teach me! In the past I have always been able to take such issues in my stride but as I get older I am less able to. Thank goodness I have family support around me.
David
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Wishing all a Very Happy Christmas whether you are home or away. We have a lovely quiet day planned tomorrow with lots of FaceTimes with various family around the Far East, I know our littlest ones (3 and 6) were getting very excited earlier today and I’m sure by 10pm our time (6am for them) they will be up and ready. Other half of family are arriving on Sunday so Christmas will start again. Our best wishes for the New Year and we hope 2026 will be a great one for all.
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We have been treated to fine sunny, if rather cold day, Along with doing a bit of last minute shopping we had a couple of walks at Brereton Heath Country Park. We will not be venturing far tomorrow as our daughter and SIL phoned to say that they are coming to the van for a few hours around lunchtime.
Thanks for the photos @Francis and @milliehull
All our best wishes to each and everyone for Xmas and hope you all have a healthy 2026. Safe touring to those who are away at the moment and those that plan to do so next year.
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Not too bad in the end then @DavidKlyne , £240. We have had to have a new flat roof installed, that’s set us back nearly £6,000. Could have done without that, but it had to be done. It’s got a fibreglass coating, so should last, probably see us out. Anyway, I do hope that you and Margaret continue to make progress in the new year, been quite a year for you both. I also extend my best wishes to others who have had problems/procedures.
On that note, Merry Christmas everyone 👍
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Let me be the first today - to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas. I hope all those with health issues continue to make good progress and that next year will be much better for you. I do sympathise with your plight @DavidKlyne. I used to be able to turn my hand to most things DIY and it's so frustrating when you can't. We are fortunate that we have an excellent plumber and when, recently, I tried to change an outside tap and made a complete pig's ear of it (on a Sunday, of course🙄), he was round within the hour and sorted it in five minutes - and refused to charge me!
We went out yesterday to get some fresh air and had a walk / scooter ride on the prom/beach at Scarborough North Bay. It seems that everyone else had the same idea and the cafe we use was absolutely heaving.
Part of the purpose was to test out Meg walking alongside me with the scooter - fearing that she might pull me over - but she was fine - just trotted along calmly beside me which was good. I also found out that the scooter doesn't like sand - even if it is hard-packed! Not surprising since it's only front wheel (one) drive!! Couldn't go to Scarborough without calling in at Harper's F&C shop near Staxton on the way home, though😋 As usual, the fish was superb - and huge.
For @Francis's benefit - here's my contribution to Christmas lights - not as dramatic as some of them round here, but the boys, next door, love the light pole.
@Takethedogalong - Like most insurers. Agria won't cover pre-existing conditions and perhaps this has been the main reason I have hesitated about changing in the past. Meg hasn't had any major problems but she does keep getting cysts and warts which have been removed. They said that any future ones may - or may not - be covered. It would largely depend on the Vet's opinion of whether they were connected. Given how poor my experience of Admiral has been since they took over More Than - and the fact that they use a call centre based in India and I can't understand a word they are saying - and there's no sympathy or understanding from their operators as there was when RSA ran it - I decided now was the time to change. Like you, if necessary I can fund anything myself and I would - because we both know what it means to share your life with your dog😀.
Anyway - hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Richard & Ros
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A quiet day in this neck of the woods. Sunny but cold. OH and myself went for a stroll this morning Then when we returned she took her mother for a shorter walk.
A glass of Champagne at lunch time with a mince pie then I popped into the kitchen on and off to prepare dinner. It seemed to be acceptable, nobody volunteering to do it next year. Now enjoying a glass of wine and putting my feet up whilst the Ladies watch the recording of Strictly.
Hope everyone else enjoyed a lovely day and avoided any mishaps.
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Another fine sunny day with some early morning cloud, which gradually dispersed, but a strong cold wind which kept the temperature at around 5C. We just had a walk around the farm fields from the van before lunch then our daughter and SIL came down for the afternoon, bearing cakes, chocolates, wine and beer! They had to leave just as it grew dark so we have postponed our planned Xmas dinner until tomorrow and instead had a curry!! With a clear sky it looks as if it might freeze tonight.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable and pleasant day, whether with family, friends or just by yourselves.
The newish moon as the sun set this evening.
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Merry Christmas all, we had a lovely day with daughter, SIL and grandtwins.some of the presents the twins ask for caused a rye smile, after shave for someone who doesn’t yet shave and perfume for someone that hangs around all day in football gear. 11 year olds aye. Tomorrow everyone descends on us so more fun and games
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We’ve had a lovely day just done our usual up this morning. To some nice sunshine but a heavy frost took a walk up to the cemetery as usual then I had a couple of pints in the local . Went to youngest sons for dinner which was lovely then after dinner we had a quiz which got very competitive. Now back home watching the telly
Hope everyone else has had a nice day
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Yesterday was cold here in Glasgow, but sunny and no wind. No frost here, but son, who lives NE of Kilmarnock, said that the ground was quite white at their place. They are pretty high up, with a clear view all the way to Ailsa Craig. We had everything organised at the front door, so had a leisurely breakfast, got on our best clothes, and set off to DD’s at 10.30 as we needed to fill petrol. Arrived a little before 11, just as they were, very belatedly, about to go off round to the in-laws to exchange presents.
DD had everything organised with lists of what went in the oven or air fryer when, so after saying they would not be long, asked us to pop the turkey breast joint into the oven at the right time, if they were delayed, which they were. OH took charge of the lists, while I had been instructed to prepare some salad to go with the starters. On their return DD assembled her Yule Log and took over putting stuff in the oven etc.
Then son and family arrived, so I had melon to prepare too before I could put my feet up and see all the presents the boys had already received , quite a mountain of stuff even before they had opened our contributions! We sat down to eat at 13.30, everything was ready on time and was delicious as always. We took a break before dessert to open presents, then after dessert and coffee, son and family had to set off home to take over looking after DIL’s Mum, who sadly has Alzheimers . She and her husband had been taken out for lunch by their son and his wife.
We stayed on until the boys went to bed, but we heard later that it had been ages before they actually went to sleep. Callum is mad about padlocks, and Nathan copies him, so we had included alarmed padlocks in their bags. Mummy was very apprehensive, but it turned out that they only made the , very loud, noise when interfered with. They were however really large, which we had not realised, but the boys were ecstatic, so much so that Callum fell asleep still clutching his!
After we got home, with several bags of stuff, and leftovers for today, we realised that we had left some stuff behind, nothing perishable fortunately, so OH rang daughter to ask her to lay the items aside, and was informed that son had left the dog’s bed behind, fortunately they have a spare one. Later we discovered another bag was missing too, obviously we got too many presents.
Today has also started sunny, although some clouds are creeping over. Discovered we had a huge pile of clothes to wash, so machine now on, normal life is resumed meantime.
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Nice, cold crisp day here. We are off for a walk, not sure where, we like a mystery. Well, preferably one without too much mud🤣 Sis says Mum is picking up a bit, which is good news, I am there tomorrow. Happy holidays to everyone.
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Have 10 minutes or so before I'm back in the kitchen (don't tell anyone but I quite enjoy it really).
Woke up to a sharp frost but went for a lovely walk this morning. More people out and about. Called in to see an elderly man who lives on his own. Knew he wouldn't have seen anyone for a couple of days. He won't accept a dinner invitation but can't stop someone knocking on his door for a chat. Apart from that there were a few people scraping frost off their cars, some of whom we haven't seen for a while so it took us a bit longer to get around.
Just doing a buffet for tonights eating. Prepared the coleslaw earlier.
Good to hear of an improvement in your mum @Takethedogalong
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@Wherenext thank you. I was a bit under weather yesterday, think it was all the running around, Mum caring, not sleeping well that caught up with me, but woke up after a good nights sleep feeling a lot better today. Another walk, home now and just sorting out todays dinner. Have put away a lot of nice things we got to eat, will partake of those down the next few months, hopefully as a treat while away in MH. Pondering on a football match to go see now, trip up to Middlesboro🤔
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Pleased to hear that your mum has improved somewhat, hope that continues @Takethedogalong and that you too are feeling better after a good night's sleep followed by a brisk walk out. We too have foodstuffs, and a bottle of two, which we can put away for our next time away.
It sounds as if you had a busy but very enjoyable day with the family yesterday, @KjellNN
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It was a bright sunny day with very little wind today but there was a little frost on the ground early on and it stayed around a rather chilly 5C all day. We had a couple of walks by Redes Mere before and after our picnic, and I took another from the caravan in the late afternoon. We are now only one of two units on site now but perhaps more will be arriving tomorrow.
This evening's sunset.
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It looks as if everyone else did as much as we did today......not a lot apart from walks with Flyte for us! It has been a nice sunny day after a frosty start but clouded up as evening approached.
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And the silence could be heard throughout CT! Is it something I wrote?
It has been a dull, still, cloudy day, but a little warmer than the last few. We visited the Peovers today, where we had a couple of walks, the second one along to Peover Hall and Church,although unfortunately neither were open. There were plenty of others out too taking the air.
The Tudor mansion of Poever Hall which stems back to its original build in 1585 by Sir Randle Mainwaring
St Lawrence's Church. The original is thought to built in the reign of Edward III, around 1315, with the present brick Tower built in 1739.
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Pleased to hear that others on here had a good Christmas. Lovely photos again @nelliethehooker
We had a lovely but busy Christmas. It started with me giving the reading at the Cathedral service on Christmas morning. I was more nervous than usual as the Bishop was in attendance but fortunately all went well and I didn't fall up or down the pulpit steps! (no handrail) We then went off to our daughter's where SIL had cooked a wonderful meal for 14 of us (as he is vegan he had cooked himself a nut roast) We opened presents in the afternoon and we all had a great time. On Boxing Day we went to our son and DIL's where there were 16 of us as our second eldest grand-daughter and her boyfriend joined us. It was so good to get most of the family together. We had a long phone conversation with our son and family in NI. The weather over the Christmas holiday was dry, sunny, bright but cold and we noticed the gritters were out when we were driving home both evenings. On Saturday we did mainly nothing! It was a dull, grey drizzly day. Yesterday it was back to the Cathedral where I was on coffee duty after the service and then we went out for a short walk with son and DIL in the afternoon as although it was dull and grey it was at least dry. Today it is sorting out what can be re-cycled and what can't from the Christmas wrapping and a general tidy up. My car has gone in for the back brakes to be sorted out - I wonder how much that will cost ££?
I hope you Mum is still improving slightly @Takethedogalong
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@milliehull she’s stable now thank goodness. She’s still got a very deep wound on one of her ankles (she’s very bony, and had moved one of her pillow pads overnight, spent the whole night rubbing her ankles together, bone on bone, hey ho😱) and is getting over a mild gum infection. But she’s never been in much pain thankfully, just grumpy and very uncooperative. Nurse this morning says her ankle is coming along really well. We were mortified at the time, it’s the first pressure wound she has ever had, but apparently it’s not uncommon. The new mattress we have been given for her is helping a lot as well. I have bought some pressure sore wound dressings, just in case we need anything for her, £5 per plaster, and they are only 2inch by 2inch. Kerrching, there went £50😱
We have had a very quiet Christmas, but have managed to do a walk every day so far, just trying to get some fresh air and whatever daylight we can find. Did bump into our best friend’s daughter and her lovely hubby yesterday, enjoyed a half hour natter with them, they are both working most of holidays, but we hope to get a meet up with her Mum and Dad soon, depends how well Dad is. Just planning a nice NY day meal, something Italian I think🤔
I watched Conclave last night, film about the voting for a new Pope, thriller with Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. Very good, interesting and well paced.
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Christmas Day was nice at our daughters, then we drove home and spent a nice quiet evening at home. 4am I was up with a very upset stomach. Very unusual for me, last time I was that bad was 14 years ago when we were away in our tourer, so very bad timing on both occasions. No one else was poorly, just me so quite strange. We had invited daughter and family to us for another roast dinner on Boxing Day, OH prepared the veg and I did manage to cook it all but I couldn’t eat anything. We sat down to play games after dinner but soon realised granddaughter was having problems. Ambulance arrived very promptly. Daughter was driving so hadn’t had a drink so her partner went with granddaughter in the ambulance, then daughter drove to the hospital. Granddaughter was taken straight into resus. As usual lots of treatments but she was allowed to go home the next day to rest. Our Son has decided to come to us for New Year and bring his dog, she has a thick bodysuit on to protect her wound and is drugged up to keep her calm so as not to pull the stitches out and hurt herself again. I’m about to sort out some old blankets for her as they can’t get her bed in their car. Just hoping that New Years Eve is less eventful than Christmas.
@Takethedogalong hope that your Mum’s wound heals soon and that she is more comfortable. We really enjoyed the Conclave too. We watched Beyond Paradise on TV and really enjoyed that.
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Well, we had a very boring Christmas, but that was okay. We've had our share of upsets in Christmas week in the past.
Well done @milliehull. Gosh, that must have been nerve wracking.
We have only done local walks over the long weekend but decided to have a bit of a stride out today so we drove down to Flint Castle on the coast and walked along the North Wales coast path for an hour. The castle is in a poor state in places but seeing as it was built in the late 1200s it's hardly surprising. Richard II and Henry, later Henry IV, did meet there and that meeting was used by Shakespeare in his play Richard II.
A lovely steel bench, better photographed from the rear overlooking the Wirral
And another later on
Plus we came across this chap.
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We hope your mum's ankle wounds soon heal fully @Takethedogalong and her gum infection clears up too. If you have been having weather similar to us your walks will have been in the dry for a change. Best get them in before the show comes next week!!
Well done, @milliehull it must have been a rather daunting experience to do the reading in the presence of the bishop. It sounds as if you had a lovely time with your family. I hope the brake replacement doesn't cost too much.
I hope you have fully recovered from your upset stomach @DEBSC and that your granddaughter is recovering too.
Fine photos @Wherenext we're pleased to read that you have enjoyed an uneventful Christmas.
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We had another drive out today, to pick up some dog food and fill the car up with diesel. Can anyone please explain why there is a price difference of around 10p per ltr between the cheaper filling station to the west of the M6 to those to the east of it? 😯
We found a new walk which we did in both directions either side of lunch around Stakerley Mere. This is a former sand quarry which flooded after extraction finished in the 1960s, and has been turned into a small country park, next to the M6, by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
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I think I have been diddled! Had a card through the door yesterday saying the Post Office can't deliver a letter because there was not enough postage applied, I had to pay £5 to release it. Companies tend to use business mail so it was unlikely to be anything important but at this time of year we gets lots of letters and cards from friends spread out across the country. The offending letter was delivered today, It was a Christmas card, also containing a letter. No evidence of a stamp being applied in the first place! These things happen of course. Just a bit miffed that the PO charge so much, double normal postage would be enough. The other choice of course is to ignore it and not bother but the curiosity would always be there.
David
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Well done @milliehull and what a (an?) honour in front of the Bishop. I think the only time outside of work I ever did a presentation was as a young teenager, a bible reading at morning school assembly.👏👏
@Wherenext I tried to look up your knight statue, couldn’t find much about him to be honest, seems to be known as The Flint Guardian. Flint Castle was one of the very first castles I can recall visiting. We holidayed in North Wales a lot, as we had family in the area. Dad took us to Flint for a picnic. I was around seven, so a very long time ago🤭
Hope those not too well over Xmas are feeling better.
I broke my gardening rest period yesterday, a nice couple of hours tidying our back garden gravel area, and making sure street outside of gate was neat and tidy. It’s something we all try to do in street, pick up litter, weed gutters, sweep leaves etc…… We cover for those who can’t do it as well, for one reason or another. Sort of paying a bit for it today though, got a bit of a sciatic limp, hopefully won’t take much to put right. I also ferried our next door neighbour to hospital and back, her hubby was rushed into A&E yesterday morning with breathing difficulties. He has previous, underlying lung issues, probably in for a few days then back home. Ironically, he’s an ex anaethetist, and not a good patient!🤭
Day at home today. Should be more gardening, but don’t think I should risk making my back worse. Maybe just a bit of gentle potting. I got some top quality garden tools from Sis, and some rose pruning gauntlets, my kind of presents. Planning a bike ride for Friday hopefully🤞
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It's the "Lets see how much less money have than last year" day today. We've had quite a bit of expenditure on various things in the house this year so expected a decrease and wasn't disappointed.😪
Apart from that I went for a short stroll this morning whilst OH sorted her mothers shower arrangements out.
My services don't seem to be needed today so I might start a new jigsaw. Oh, the excitement.😂
Btw, does anyone speak "Camellia?" I've told our one that the buds I can see are going to come out too soon but its not taking a blind bit of notice of me! Must be female.🤣
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Just a few photos of my short walk around our village a few days ago the bird is not based on a real bird as a few villages around here have different wildlife very strange ones as well as statues, the last photo is a rectangular pond which for the first time last year dried out and this year in the summer had about 2 feet of water left in it but did see 3 Moorhens in and out of it earlier this year other photos are of our puits (wells) which the local ladies used to fetch their water from about a 100 years ago.
We have some really warm weather for this time of year unto 18C a couple of days ago and now had a frost overnight with fog which is only just lifting and only 3.3C brr, no gardening here will wait until it gets warmer again. Hope folks that have been poorly are recovering I too had a sippy stomach two days ago both had same food except I had some coleslaw which OH does not eat, but better now thankfully.
@Wherenext the couple who had the campsite at Obterre sold it early this summer and are now living near one of their daughters in North Wales not far from the Menai Strait bridge, we had a Christmas card from them and a note to say where they were it has taken awhile for them to get registered with all Welsh departments although they did retain their bank accounts there and said they would be touring some next year and may catch up with us here not sure if caravan or small motorhome, the site is now owned by a Swiss couple and a few changes on the cards apparently possible a restaurant in the old unconverted barn so the villagers would have somewhere to go.
An early Happy New Year to everybody.
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Been busy the last l few days second youngest got the keys to his new to him flat last week literally round the corner from us but it needs a bit of work so we have been round there most of the last few days stripping wallpaper lifting carpets etc been hard work but very enjoyable. It’s needing new windows so that is next on the agenda after new year then it will be putting up new wallpaper painting etc before he moves in.
Just made our first booking for next season a weekend away local but making use of our free night voucher. If anyone hasn’t yet made use of it be aware the booking needs to be made before the end of play tomorrow
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