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Well today was a bright and sunny day... when I pulled up the blinds it looked like had been a very light frost....
Amended my Waitrose order for the last time and looked again for a slot nearer to Christmas week... the latest I could find was Saturday 19th so I booked that one..
As it’s Sunday today I read the papers after breakfast... not much in them really...read an article in the  magazine about Dolly Parton at 75 she’s still going strong unbelievable woman.. the next article was about a Danish chap who owns a fashion brand but has bought up huge areas of Scotland with the intention of rewilding the areas... other than those nothing else of note... the main paper I’ve almost given up reading as I don’t believe most of what they write and too much news isn’t good for ones nerves so I just skim read...
Finally went to get dressed and continued making cards...
OH made lunch and as it was such a lovely afternoon we decided to go for a walk...it was quite bracing and I definitely needed my gloves...
We met quite a few people on our rounds doing just what we were doing and it was pleasant to chat to them .... no sign if any dogs so I think they’ve got the message!
On our return had a cuppa and went to do some more cards as I’d decided this would be my last day for the moment...I’ve managed to do about 90 so not too many left to do and special ones for the family...
Prepared dinner  loin of pork, roast pots and parsnips, make my own sage and onion stuffing, carrots, leeks, beans and cauliflower...
Took a tip from Viktoria and for last 15 mins I sliced of the skin lay it on the top if the meat, turn up the heat and result was lovely crackling...
Watched some tv... read whilst OH watched end of snooker ...
Tired today as I’d woken early too.
Hope others days have been pleasant... as they can be at the moment... another week coming and we’ll find out what scheme they’ve come up with to appease people with for Christmas.... if we have to stay at home to be safe for everyone then that’s what we’ll be doing!
Thoughts with Carol... Annette too with her neutered to worry about...
Night all
Caroline

 Drat... I’ve just lost everything I’ve just typed.....

Well I’m too tired to write it all up now so I’ll just mark the start and do it in the morning....

Awake early so will now try and recreate what I wrote last night!

Weather.... we always talk about the weather... I think us Brits are obsessed with it! So I’ll do just that....it was definitely not raining.... but it wasn’t sunny either... I think it was just one of those greyish dull days... 
so I put some washing on...
After breakfast I got my trusty new vacuum out  and I went through the whole house like a whirlwind! Being cordless seems to make it so much easier.... my one and only complaint with it is that you have to hold the switch down all the time and after a while I find it makes my hand stiff.... otherwise it’s brilliant..
Had a shower and then put out the  washing ...
Sat with a coffee and sorted out some info on the author of the book I’d chosen for our book club .... having a zoom meeting on Wednesday afternoon....  kept getting interrupted by OH who was busy having a zoom meeting about the pub... could I do this that and the other.... think he’s forgotten we’re retired and we used to have a secretary who did all that .... and it wasn’t me!Oh well...
Made some lunch and took it up to my work room and shut the door to get some peace!....
messaged a friend to see if she was about for a chat...
got on with my production line of Christmas card making... will do a few then change designs,,, so many great ideas on Pinterest to look at...
Some while later hear back from my friend and we have a short chat... nice to catch up even for a brief natter...
OH goes off to doctors for his shingles jab...
carry on for a while card making .... get a call from a friend ... very sad news... we have over the years supported a local breast cancer charity by fundraising for them.... started in 2001 by a wonderful lady... was head teacher of a primary school... she has raised £3 million which has been given to two local hospitals for equipment, setting up special areas in each hospital... she’s the most amazing inspirational positive person I’ve ever met... and now she’s going to have to close the charity down... as all their funds come from fundraising events which of course have completely dried up with this @%/§#/% COVID .... they have a drop in centre and councillors who have helped so many women... such a great pity... I wonder just how many other small local charities up and down the country are facing the same situation... they are all such vital parts of every area and it will leave such a gaping hole in people’s lives ... Truly devastated by this news...
Dinner was chicken rogan Josh with rice, Indian snacks and vegs..
Watched some tv... finished the blanket and started another one..
Hope others have had a better day...
Caroline

Added;- well done Chris for holding the fort and so sorry to hear that you’re now going through a lockdown period too. As you say Oz, generally has been very fortunate ....
 

Well looks like I’m up first....
Another month that’s half way through... Christmas now just under 6 weeks away..it’s hard to believe isn’t it...
 this time last year I was knee deep in the Christmas Craft Fayre a friend and I were running on the last Saturday of November in our village hall.. we were very excited about doing it and had got some lovely stalls... no tat ..just nice classy goods ... we were raising money for Northamptonshire Young Carers...we had planned to do one this year too... raising money again for the young Carers .... now what... nothing... our hall lies empty... our crafters are doing??? Who knows and the Carers no money this year... I’m gutted we can’t do it...
 I’m hoping by spring we can hold something for them... I’m keeping my fingers crossed...
Who would have thought how much our lives would change in just this short time...

I woke early this morning and I could tell it was dull outside... it was, wet dark and dreary...
In fact it was so dull I turned on the side lamp in the lounge to cheer the place up and it stayed on all day...
After breakfast we watched the rugby match between Argentina and NZ... we couldn’t believe Argentina were winning, a wonderful game to watch... half way though our daughter FaceTimed us to have a chat and catch-up.... ideas for Christmas for the boys...
Where are they then...
Upstairs in T’s bedroom making a den...
Upstairs she goes with her phone... knocks on the door as T has written a sign that says ‘Children Only’
Well can grandpa & grandma say hello
Ok but we’re playing chess!... they’re still in their pj’s!
Usually they’re off to swimming but that’s not on now... it’s raining so an at home day...
Finally they appear downstairs for a quick chat and T gives us a rendition of what he’s been learning in his guitar lessons.. that’s it... goodbye and off they go!..
We just sit down to watch the rest of the match when the phone goes and it’s some friends we’ve not spoken to for a while...
OH suddenly realises the time and has to dash off to the kitchen for a zoom meeting about the new planning application for the pub...
I have a chat for almost an hour with them... ( I’m still in my dressing gown 😱😱)
We both finish zoom meeting and phone call and watch the end if the match!
By this time it’s nearly 1.30... quickly get dressed and time for lunch!
After lunch watch some of the golf...
go up to my sewing room to finish the Christmas sacks ready for Monday drop off..
Watch the two episodes about Diana whilst sewing...
We have a game of scrabble... throw in the towel after a few goes and restart... I win by nearly 100 points... had some great letters and good scores... now I’m only 1 behind...
Dinner is cooked by OH... usual steak, chips, peas, mushrooms and last of our tomatoes!
Watched tv ... more golf .. I did my knitting...
Sadly we’ve not heard any updates re the vicious dog situation... either the police chap didn’t go, they weren’t in... annoying really.... hope we hear on Monday..
As the weather was so awful today they probably weren’t outside...

Hope others days have been better and weather kinder...
Couldn’t believe watching the news to see people marching in Bristol and Liverpool up in arms because of lock down... I despair... truly I do... what’s the matter with them ...
On that note I’ll say good night! Hope tomorrow is a better day all round. Looking at the forecast probably not... need to start Christmas cards... ebpven more important this year to send good wishes to everyone...

Caroline

I’ve just logged in to my Ancestry account and found my maternal grandmother on a family tree that has all the right people in it and I want to send him a message....

What have they done to the messaging service... I’ve clicked on his name , then the message bubble ... it’s taken me to my messages but nowhere can I see how to message him....

Please can someone advise me....

Thanks in anticipation

Caroline

Looks like I’m first up tonight... not a huge amount to report as life goes on pretty much in the same manner as the last 7 months....

Having had a disturbed nights sleep I was woken up by my phone messaging early as I’d forgotten to switch to silent....
The weather was dull and miserable.  ...
after breakfast and a shower we trotted off to the surgery for our flu jabs which were quick and painless... OH got told he was now eligible for the shingles one.... he had singles a couple of years ago and was very poorly so a good idea to have it ..once home my two friends/ neighbours cane down for our usual Tuesday coffee, cake and chat... our lounge is large allowing us to very easily social distance and we had good ventilation....
By the time they left it was after 1.30 so a latish lunch....
oH said he didn’t know what we could find to talk about for so long....
daughter sent some pictures of the boys carving out their pumpkins and then with lights inside in the darkest room in the house.... the downstairs loo! She’s certainly got plenty of innards to make soup....
We had a game of scrabble and I got soundly beaten.... all square now...
Dull and wet and grey... pulling the curtains at 4-30 felt awful but it was getting dark anyway.... roll on spring... think I might hibernate for the winter and awaken in the spring!
Continued with more sewing whilst listening to the radio...
dinner was chicken casserole with mash and cabbage...
Watched tv... new series on Dky Atlantic with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.... has potential...
Well that’s all for today.... highlight having flu jab and now a stiff arm!
Hope others have had a more interesting day...

Caroline