The Strongest Connections......

 
This week started with a fabulous connection

We are all first cousins, eight in the UK and two in Australia, unfortunately the one in the USA couldn't make it this time. In typical family fashion everyone talking at the same time, which doesn't actually work on zoom, however it was great fun, especially as I haven't had contact with the Australian cousins since childhood. It took an hour and a half before we could all say goodbye, promising to do it again. 

A very quick pop over to see Son&fiancé, just long enough to present swap and a garden cuppa.

Hubby agreed to theatre with me, online of course but still a big deal for Hubby. We always try to support Red Rose Chain for all the great community work they do. Alice was pure nonsense and fun, which is exactly what they were aiming for. 

We were both so impressed. Knowing how their huge cast off 20 filmed all their action totally alone at home in front of a green screen, for the small group of backroom people to use tech wizardry to pull it into this amazing production where often three or four characters are all interacting together, sometimes even a song and dance number, and the end where all the performers are on stage together for the finale. WOW!

Of course my strongest connections are with our two children and it definitely works both ways. As I said we had a quick garden cuppa with Son and when we sat down fiancé had waiting for me a hot water bottle and blanket and it was so cosy. Knowing we'd be outside Christmas evening I quickly ordered some hot water bottles as soon as we got home. When they arrived there was two boxes as Son had ordered some for us too! 

Flowers in a box arrived with the postman, the photo card inside was from Daughter, R, E & O. When I messaged Daughter with my thanks she told me it's a monthly subscription Christmas present 😍

Hubby loves being busy and like an excited elf he's getting ready for our different Christmas day. We won't see Son except on a video call but Daughter and family are coming over but not into the house. The plan is to have our dinners in our own homes then they will all come for a garden gathering evening. So far Hubby has twinkly lights up, gazebo up and well strapped to the ground and building to keep the worst of the weather off us but still very ventilated especially when we unzip the back as the fire pit will be just outside. I have pillows to go on all the seats and a mountain of blankets plus those hot water bottles and my small patio heater. So different to our usual but should be fun. 

I know it's only Thursday but it's Christmas Eve so I'll post this week's now and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas And let's hope 2021 becomes a covid free year. Until it is stay safe, protect others and find ways of caring and being kind to each other. 

The Wrapping Week.......

 Turned really chilly at the weekend and wet but still managed a cuppa outside on Saturday with Daughter and R so the dog could have a garden run. 

Sunday Hubby had requested Italian style meatballs on pasta, so I made a very simple tomato bolognaise sauce. As I was leaving the room with Hubby's in hand I heard something drop to the floor hitting a few things on its way. Sure enough when I returned I discovered it was the large serving spoon that had been perched on top of the tomato sauce. So I cleaned the cooker and the floor then turned to throw the kitchen paper in the bin and realised most of my kitchen now looked like a chicken pox breakout. I cleaned up then finally sat down with mine. Monday and I'm still finding splashes on the front of the freezer and up various walls!             

Back in the summer when Daughter had a bit of a sort out of the pottery stuff lurking in our shed she decided these pots were not worth glazing so I rescued them. 

Covered with hessian or wool and painted with acrylics and ready to use as gifts. (Don't think the recipients read this blog) 

Really sunny and mild on Monday and very pleasant for our on-your-own-drive coffee morning.

Hugh Grant was a Graham Norton guest and spoke about this so we watched. Six episodes and it kept us guessing and doubting our guesses right to the end. 

In total contrast Hubby loves all the corny Christmas films. This one I watched with him. 

Wednesday evening had been advertised as the Doorstep Carol Concert supported by all the local radio stations. 

Obviously no group photo as we are all so far apart, but thought you'd want proof we froze for the cause (lazy me sitting) 

And every day I've been wrapping!

Hope........

 Lovely friendsM&S brought this round as a get well soon gift. M makes them up herself. We are all hoping to share tea and biscuits with them in the garden very soon. 

I'm now on the BCG treatment which will hopefully stop the recurring and persistent bladder cancer for good. Two down four to go then maintenance top-ups.

This week the UK started rolling out the first Ffizer Covid Vaccine outside trial conditions. The biggest hope to combat this pandemic. Not sure how soon we will be offered it, or if I can have it while on the BCG so I may have to stay isolated a bit longer. 

Actually popped to Felixstowe for pleasure not medical. Had a lovely long walk along the prom down to friendsK&J who run a tea, coffee and cake beach hut takeaway purely for charity. I haven't seen friendK for at least 18 months. Then down to the pier for another cuppa with friendM  who I haven't seen for 10 months, then we walked back together to where we had parked. Stayed dry and walking kept us warm enough. So lovely to chat in person and not just via the internet. 

Still hope to find my missing earring, a casualty of the mask on mask off outing 

R has a friend in the US, a teenager with amazing and diverse general knowledge and we are all pleased when she joins us on quiz night even sometimes from a hospital bed as sadly she has poor health. Her name is Hope.

E has had interviews for a new job, fingers crossed for her. 

We all need hope! 

Stay safe x

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Planning, Plotting, Paying, Posting......

Watching the Ps with no Qs!

Probably not relevant just smiled at a catchy title. 

Pen action getting the Christmas cards written. They will all have to go into the regular post as the Scouts local post service isn't happening this year, which must be a huge loss of income for them. 

Pulling all our Christmas out of the loft. 

Paying our respects remotely. 

We couldn't attend my cousin's funeral due to the Covid restrictions so we attended via the webcast. So glad that we could but sad that we needed to. I attend funerals to support the living and unfortunately this way doesn't let them know I was there. 

Perfectly pretty, big tree in the lounge (thank you R).

Petite and pretty tree on the dining room window sill (thank you O). 

Planning Christmas day with Daughter and wanting not to relax carelessly, so we won't have them inside for dinner but hoping we can make the day special some other way. 

Palaver with this week's sainsbury click and collect. Hubby arrived at 8am as always but the guy had given our full order to the wrong customer. Hubby hung around for about 45 mins while they tried to sort it out. The wrong customer hadn't unpacked it so said she'd bring it all back and collect her order, however she couldn't do that immediately and agreed to get back for 10:30am. She will put our frozen stuff in her freezer till then. So Hubby came home and went back. Our breakfast crumpets became nearly lunch. OK mistakes happen but sainsbury made an apology refund of £3 which I thought disgusting but Hubby just shrugged. 

Puff pastry mince pies are my favourite but the sainsbury ones are not, so this click and collect shop included ready rolled puff pastry and a jar of mince. For ease I made pin wheels....... then forgot about them so quite a bit overcooked. Still edible! 

PayPal is my preferred way to pay for online purchases. 

Plus the hospital procedure I'm having does make me pee a lot! Or is that too much information? 

Perhaps you can enjoy your bit of post lockdown flexibility but stay safe please.

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