All Under Control - maybe.........

 
Son and fiancé spent lots of Saturday here with us, their little dog was with them of course. Lunch, afternoon tea, constant conversation and present swapping as they are off to Cornwall for Christmas and New Year.

The last few things I've had on order have now arrived, so that saves me the postage stress. I'm still stuck on what to give Hubby though, but amazon have kindly given me a free prime trial account so if I suddenly have a brainwave I could get it next day. I've notes and reminders set up to make sure I cancel the prime account before I get charged for it. 

We've had our only social Christmas meal with friends this week. The hotel restaurant almost empty and just six of us spaced round a large table. Sadly two of our friends had to cancel as their son had tested positive. Think we made enough noise to make it feel like a room full. 

I've been itching for ages to try making crumpets and this first attempt was quite successful. Think next time I'll have the pan a little cooler so they cook slower and I need to experiment with different utensils as my metal tongs slipped on the stainless steel rings. 

I'm wrapping the presents this weekend. Daughter has brought over the vegan main bit to be in place of the turkey for three of them, all the veg is vegan anyway of course. Hubby has the shopping booked in for next week. So I can relax before all the cooking starts and then have family fun. 

I may not get a chance to post another update so I'll wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Like Liverpool Street Station...........

 
I don't like football but don't mind Hubby watching while I'm on my tablet, in fact I rarely look up, however, Sunday's Arsenal v Chelsea women's game made me keep looking up as I was so impressed with the Wembley lawn pattern! 
The groundsmen deserve a trophy! 

I'm actually reading a book! 

Ron is a very dear friend of ours and this is his first published book and so far there are two others to follow. Fiction based on fact which I believe are from his own life. He's been retired for quite a few years and has finally found the time to fulfil a long held dream of being a published author. 

This has been a manic week for Daughter working both weekends at Kentwell as the only piper from the twelve days of Christmas, plus all week days with three others performing (mostly her production) The Tailor of Gloucester and Carol sing-along which follows dinner and tour of Layer Marney Tower, plus a morning midweek performing with the Colchester Waites. Therefore we have lots of grandchildren and dog comings and goings and lifts and feeding in various combinations. 

Monday was R,O and the dog here all day. They said that was the day they would do our decorations. Our grandchildren have done our decorations since the girls were three years old. Today Daughter got them both up early and dropped them here at 8:30am. They both had breakfast then worked well unpacking and building the tree and started decorating it until they both ran out of steam...... at 9:30am hahaha

So with the Elves on strike Hubby and I have done the rest. 

Friday included E who as well as working from home also had a job interview on zoom and here was more convenient for that. We had a bit of desk moving so she had a suitable background as we have so many windows in that room that would cause her to be just a silhouette, but facing the windows would give our gym equipment and craft shelves as a background. She managed to find a good spot. 

Meanwhile in the lounge was R, O, Hubby and myself with the dog hoping she wouldn't find too much to bark at out of the front window. E thinks the interview went well apart from her briefly losing her voice. 

Lovely seeing Daughter every day who has stayed for a cuppa and chat at both dropping off and picking up times. 

Outside of this busy venue there's been worrying news of how fast the omicron variant is spreading plus it's getting really cold although we haven't had any snow here so far, so I'm pleased to stay home. 

Three jabs, mask and sanitiser still seem the best protection, so please keep yourself safe, protect others and don't take chances in crowded places. 

And finally if you've any suggestions on what I can buy Hubby for Christmas I'd be so grateful.

. 

Lots of Buying.......

 
You may remember Hubby wanting to rearrange the lounge because he sits a little twisted to watch TV (has done for about 18 years) and is now getting a sore back. He has moved this very heavy furniture around a few times but no other configuration has worked totally, so he then talked about removing the chimney breast which would consequently mean rewiring power, aerial, Internet, sky box to dish and who knows what else to get tv and all the stuff that goes with it to the other side of the room, which would involve lifting carpets and moving furniture upstairs too. Phew he thankfully talked himself out of that option. 

I suggested he could change the three seater sofa to a two seater and add a single chair for himself that he could place angled directly facing the TV leaving the lounge with the social dynamics that already work and more importantly me and my stuff can stay as we are. Off to the shop we bought this suite from and ordered his chair, which is a rocking swivel recliner (he'll never want to leave it) Only downside is there's a 15 week delivery,  but he's waited this long so a little more won't matter! Apparently this now allowed going into the next store to buy the bigger TV!!! (Not so old one on the floor, very new one in the box while he puts the stand together). Hubby's happy. 

 

We've got through this pandemic, especially the lockdowns, with social media and knowing we have great neighbours. As I've mentioned many times we have enjoyed our "end of your own drive coffee mornings" every Monday since March 2020 only missing a few when weather stopped us. One of the neighbours wanted to acknowledge what good friends we are and arranged lunch at the local hotel. So Monday after sitting out in the cold with blankets and hot water bottles, nine of us went for lunch and it was lovely having conversations in the warm.

I'd organised the Christmas meal for the team I used to work with and partners for 20th December and we were all really looking forward to it as we couldn't do it last Christmas and only managed to get together for a lunch once this year. Sadly with the omicron variant being found in East Anglia and one of our group now on chemo and two others vulnerable we've decided to cancel. Have to stay positive though and hope we can soon socialise worry free. 

Late panic Friday evening due to Daughter's fridge freezer dying, so I managed to clear two whole shelves in my nearly full freezer by moving, over stacking and squashing (I may never find what I need again) and she promptly came round and filled them. Stayed long enough to have a cuppa and order another fridge freezer with delivery next Thursday. We all have a very busy week ahead so then had to work out who could be at her's to take delivery! 

Think I'm starting to get on top of the prezzie buying too, just hoping the stuff I have on order all arrives in time. 

Wrap up warm and stayed masked and enjoy your week.

.