Happy Stuff.......

 
WOW Saturday night and with Daughter and O we went to see "Outcast" written and performed by Red Rose Chain youth theatre, their Chainers.

I couldn't put a review any better than Daughter did on Facebook, this is what she said.....

     I went to see this show last night, and I’m not just saying this because my daughter works for this theatre and co-created this show but it is fantastic! 

     Outcast is a play based on the Anglo Saxon tale of Beowulf.  It touches on lots of themes such as the changing role of women in our society, how we treat those different to ourselves, as well as being an epic tale of battles and love. It was adapted from the epic poem by the cast themselves, and spun into an hour and a half of wonderful storytelling. 

     They have three more shows next weekend with some tickets still left.  

Red Rose Chain ❤️

This was my first live theatre outing since 2019 and it was perfect. Powerful performances from the whole cast, expecially R, and we know the huge amount of input R had in the creating, writing and production of this. R was also interviewed  for the local newspaper. So so proud of her. It was so good and knowing friendKK would enjoy it I bought two more tickets for Friday evening. Apart from the slight glitch of friendKK not seeing my message about "tickets bought get to mine at 10 to 7" so at 10 past I rang to say are you on your way? As she wasn't I went in my car and she frantically drove across town to meet me there arriving only just before curtain up (although they don't have curtains 🤣). Was worth it, she loved it. 

Pancake Day and I remembered just in time to take a pic before the last yummy mouthfuls were consumed. 

Happy to report I survived a dental checkup, nothing needs doing and thankfully in and out of the chair in minutes. I went with Daughter and O as usual, before that together with Hubby and R we had lunch here first and left Hubby, R and the dog behind while we popped to the dentist. Afterwards R and the dog stayed for dinner as Daughter and O went on a date to Pizza Express as O had a gift voucher. When they came back they had bought me daffodils. 

NeighbourJM came up for a coffee and chat. She'd only been up before when we had regular coffee mornings in the house so part of a room full of conversations. It was so lovely to have a proper long chat just the two of us. 

A happy week for me but still praying for the people in Ukrain 🇺🇦 and all the other refugees from war torn countries 🙏 💔

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Definitely a Challenge........

I just wanted to give E a nice surprise. She now has her very first independent home, a flat rental that she got the keys for on Friday. Hopefully her boyfriend will join her by the end of the month. Saturday she was in the flat and Daughter and O drove down with a car full of all her stuff. So I ordered a card, a bottle of bubbly and a plant to be delivered on Saturday. 

By the end of Saturday and after lots of messages back and forth with me Daughter and E, I was cross. Sunday morning I sent this which explains why......

Dear Moonpig

     As you can see below I placed an order for three items to be delivered yesterday, Saturday 19th Feb.

     My Granddaughter moved in that day to her first independent home 230 miles away so I couldn't be there for her in person. 

     My order was split with part delivery by Yodel and part by Royal Mail. 

The plant was delivered by Yodel but as it wasn't with the rest she had no idea who sent it. Eventually when I checked the Royal Mail tracking it said "Recipient not at address. Returned to sender".  

     My Granddaughter had obviously popped out just at the wrong time, however there was no failed delivery note put through her door, no attempt to leave it with a neighbour or even to leave it at the post office directly opposite. I cannot contact the local sorting office as they are closed on a Sunday and she works full time so can't be home for another delivery for the whole week.

     Please let me know how we can resolve this. 

I got quite a quick reply, saying how sorry they were, they've resent the order to be delivered on Monday! Of course I replied immediately to remind them that I'd already said she's not there as she works full time. I then asked if they could send to a different address (her dad's) but apparently now dispatched so too late to change anything. Then I received the Royal Mail email with tracking link, so I forwarded that to E for her to change the delivery options, but that forward bounced, twice, saying it was spam! Finally got the information to E by just sending the tracking url and not the whole email. She will collect from the very nearby post office. Monday had the email to say parcel ready for collection, bring ID and the email..... finally got that email to E (servers really don't like forwarding the Royal Mail image).  5pm text from E she had collected and seemed pleased with what I'd sent. Phew! 

As people are still clearing up after Storm Dudley last Wednesday quickly followed by Storm Eunice last Friday Sunday/Monday we have Storm Franklin which will be followed by Storm Gladys but I don't know when they are just saying soon. So that could be four named storms in very quick succession, I've never heard of that before especially affecting the South East! It was sunny but so windy Monday morning we didn't manage coffee morning. 

Tuesday O and the dog were here for the day which was lovely, haven't had O to myself for ages. 
 
I've been booked onto a Diabetic Prevention scheme following a blood test last August which showed me as only just on the border line for pre-diabetes. I've just had the 40 minute phone call for initial assessment and now there follows regular onscreen hour long group sessions that goes on to November and possibly beyond. I've requested another blood test as it may have all changed since last August!  For now I'll see what it's all about as I've nothing much else to do. 

Thursday we were told by Boris we have to "live with covid" as all isolation, mask wearing, compulsory testing, track and trace, covid passport requests, etc have been lifted. Lots of advice though to stay cautious and take personal responsibility which of course Hubby and I definitely will. 

Also on Thursday Putin declared Russia is now at war with Ukrain, to invade and take it as their own! There are many wars around the world, far too many, but this one seems to have further reaching consequences and people here sound worried. 

And my next challenge is to find happier things to report on and provide some lovely photos but that will have to be for next week.

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Celebrations and Uninvited Eunice........

 
Hubby had a big birthday this week

We celebrated the day before with a meal out with friends on the Mariners floating restaurant on Ipswich Waterfront. Bitterly cold outside with a fierce wind but a warm welcome once we'd survived the walk from the car park and got on board. Six of us on a round table and friendM had bought Hubby a cake and candles and the waitress brought that out towards the end and of course all the customers sang along with us. 

He had lots of cards and gifts. 

My gift to him was this crash helmet, which he obviously had to choose for himself. He's taken the big sticker off now 🤣

R and the dog are here for a week so on the day Son and fiancé came over (after work) and we all shared Chinese takeaway mmmmmmmm 
The table was very full for just five of us, but we did our very best 🤣

Their dog kept a very close watch on our dog (would Son's dog and Daughter's dog be cousins?)

And every birthday needs more cake with candles. 

The house is quiet now, it's Wednesday, R went to work, FriendMC came for a two-cuppa visit, Daughter came with O back from their holiday, had lunch gathered up R's and the dog's stuff and went home, the house is quiet now.

 Thursday and the only topic of conversation and news is storm Eunice which is due to hit the UK in the early hours of Friday, coming in from the west so they will be worst hit. Of course with E now living in Dorset it's a worry. And then they gave East Anglia a red warning too! 

Early start Friday with all the neighbours employing their safest wheelie bin tactics, not putting them out too early, tucking them close to walls hedges and even lampposts, then bringing the empty ones in immediately. Looks like we all avoided too much runaway rubbish then neighbourT did a great job of chasing all the flyaway debris up and down the close.

Twice hubby had to brave going out to the garden to rescue the benches which had been roped to the fence but still managed to escape and nearly landed in the pond. 

Unfortunately Friday was the one day we had to go out, a hospital appointment, and I phoned to check that the staff were in and the clinic was running and as it was six months since they last checked on me I really didn't want to cancel. We drove through town which was busier than normal as the Orwell bridge had been closed all day but it was fine and we only had to drive round one fallen tree........ and my procedure result was still cancer clear so well worth the journey! 

This morning Hubby had to repair one fence panel and later needs to repair a shed roof so not bad at all. It's been a lot worse for so many. 

Stay safe.

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Lots Of Sorting.......

 
Quiet weekend and happy to TV watch while it howled outside.

Monday coffee morning was chilly but we sat out there in glorious windless sunshine. We've sort of adjusted into a large circle with one couple on the pavement to get the best of the sun and another couple actually in the road to make it easier to hear everyone. This was disrupted by the van that needed to come up our drive. The carpet fitters had arrived. 

Hubby came in to supervise and I stayed out chatting. It seemed a very short time later when we disbanded and I came in, perfect timing as the carpet men were getting into their van. 

So this......

Became this........

And now the daunting task of putting everything back! 

Daughter and R came on Wednesday morning bearing cake, yummy. 

While they were here Daughter and Hubby washed her car. 

While O was totally engrossed on making domino rally shapes which got far more creative and elaborate than this one. 

We need to gloss over the Thursday quiz as he'd introduced a "What year" round which we were dreadful at! 

Friday R and the dog moved back in about 11am-ish. We all had cups of tea and chat before Daughter and O headed off to Sherwood Forest for their holiday with friends. 

This is a busy weekend ahead with lots of stuff to do today for a social Sunday and celebratory (is that a real word?) Monday, which means hopefully plenty to report on next week. So I'm off to get started on it all.

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A Mostly Food Related Story......

 
Word of the week has been 'windy' cos it has been, making it even chillier, we still managed coffee morning outside though. 

R and the dog are with us Monday to Friday this week while Daughter and O are enjoying their postponed holiday with friends and here we all just slot back into a comfortable pattern of work lifts, meals and what to watch on TV. 

A month after Christmas and managing to run down our stock of food there were no more excuses, so forced ourselves to defrost the freezer! It always seems such a daunting task but actually takes about 60 mins to 90 mins at the most. The longest bit for me is unloading and blocking it all together to avoid thawing and of course the inevitable reloading afterwards. 

This bit in between is hot pans and scraping, which Hubby does as he knows how much I hate cold painful hands. My job is to reboil the water in the pans as they cool (so I spend more time watching him than working 😉).

Daughter had left the remains of her weekly veg box and some of it was not going to last much longer, so with the oven on I roasted the three beetroot which we will eat cold, roasted the one parsnip which I've frozen, on the plate is the leftovers of the savoury wedges we had with our burgers and the large dish is a vegan layered vegetable bake that includes brussel sprouts, carrots, onions and potatoes. The enormous red cabbage looks fresh enough to give her back. 

Late Friday afternoon the holiday makers returned looking very tired, had a cuppa and left with our lodgers. Today of course is not windy at all, it's dry and the sun is out, now there's no dog here that needs walking! 

And that's about all the excitement from this week. I'll try to be more entertaining next week 😉 .

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Winter Draw(er)s On.......

 
The plan on Sunday was for Daughter with dog and Son to arrive here at 9am and leave with Hubby for a 2-3 hour walk and back here for lunch. Best laid plans eh? Daughter had an unexpected overnight guest Saturday who wasn't leaving till midday Sunday and Son couldn't do the walk Sunday afternoon, so Son was here all morning for tea and chat, Daughter arrived with O and dog later and we all had lunch, then Son went home and Hubby, Daughter and dog went off for their walk. 

While they were out O and I had a marathon domino tournament. I won nearly every game but he didn't mind as he decided to keep score with a pack of cards, adding cards numerically corresponding with the number of dots left on his remaining tiles taking great pleasure in managing to use all the numbers in a matching suit. A definite upgrade on a basic game. 

On Monday our neighbour just beyond the hedge had OpenReach there fixing their broadband, as their van was in the road we brought coffee morning up onto the drive. No different of course but it did mean I could get a photo screenshot from our cctv.

One of our neighbours had said they have an old VHS recording of collected family events from the 1960s and they no longer have a working video player. We do still have a lot of working equipment so Hubby has now done a transfer to DVD for her. 

The video has to play on the TV while it copies so I watched some of it, very odd watching lots of people you don't know, until right near the end when suddenly there was a snippet from our neighbour's wedding day. I recognised them immediately. 

Friday afternoon Hubby and friendP had arranged to play snooker in the club in Felixstowe, so friendM and I went with but sat in the bar area and chatted while they played. It's a lovely member's only club and will be even better in the summer as right on the sea front so the large balcony makes for comfortable wave watching. 

It still feels like winter to me but the sun is shining and even though it's still January Hubby has mowed the lawns this week and is now out there planting bulbs! 

Stay wrapped up and stay safe.

. 

Very Frosty Mornings.......

 
You know when there's a sudden strange noise and you can't decide if it was outside or inside, downstairs or up, something to ignore or worry about? Between Hubby and me, Daughter, R and O we sort of agreed it sounded more like it was inside upstairs but Hubby did the full house tour and discovered nothing........ until bedtime when he went up then came down again to report the whole rail inside his wardrobe had come down. Another big job to empty, go to B&Q for bits, repair, sort and refill leaving a pile for the charity bag or bin plus some old biking leather jackets and trousers, I've taken photos and suggested to friendMC that if she sold them she can give the proceeds to SERVSC. As she's a trustee and now events manager she's amongst all those bikers.  

Really nice lunch out catchup with friendM on Monday. She keeps having trips to her place in Spain, especially when the weather is horrid here, so this was fitted in as she came back last weekend and is off again in February. And because she's back the usual Wednesday gang met up again this Wednesday...... nearly! FriendsT&F both have coughs and colds so didn't come, friendHS has a long drive and there are far too many road works and diversions at the moment to make coming for a meal out worth it, and friendHM is an accountant and totally swamped with end of year stuff to take an evening out, so there were four of us which was still lovely. 

I can't stop laughing 🤣 just read this on Daughter's Facebook post...

"That point after you tape three loo roll tubes together to make a pen pot inside your plastic cracker tub, that you realise you have turned into your mother." 🤣🤣🤣

And that's about it for this week. We have the dog all day today while Daughter drives all the way to Weymouth and back,

so the girls can see their dad and other grandparents for the weekend. Tomorrow Daughter will collect R but leave E behind as she is now relocating down there to start a new job on 31st and has a week of flat hunting. Good luck E.

Same time, same place next week eh?.

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He's At It Again.........

 
New Year and another Hubby project!!! (Maybe you heard me groan a little bit). 

This time he NEEDS to recarpet the craft room! It's my craft room and I'm quite happy with the 38 year old, thread bare in places, foam backing perished to powder, floor covering as it is, even with the spongy creaky uneven floorboards underneath, well it was expensive good quality Flotex so it should last for ever right? 

Here's a quick view of how much stuff is in there now, and how much will have to be moved out. 

He started Sunday in the girl's room and brought down the two single mattresses to the office (in case R needs to sleepover at some time) and dismantled the bed frames.  This gave enough floor space to move in the two large cupboards, sofa bed, drawer pedestal and a few stacks of storage boxes. Our other spare room, we call it the "What" room (long story) now has the two long desk tops and the whole double bed is now full of stuff and there's just enough room left to open the ironing board if needed. 

By Tuesday the room was clear(ish). I really did help lots, reluctantly.

Wednesday we started the day with our click-and-collect groceries and when that was all put away Hubby went to Daughter's to try and improve her radiator flow. Sadly they were defeated and she'll have to call in the landlord's brother who is a plumber. 

In the afternoon Hubby did manage to cut up and black bag all the old carpet and then clean up the room. He wore a heavy duty face mask because the rubber backing had perished so badly. He also had to completely dismantle our vacuum cleaner so it could all be thoroughly washed out afterwards or it may never have worked again. 

Thursday he booked a slot for the tip, then we went carpet shopping. Third shop and the very cheapest was this one. Their chap came Friday to measure up and it should be fitted mid February. 

Picture above taken from their website as the photo I took in the shop was all different shadows and only looked anything like the right colour at the top right side. 

So with time to spare Hubby is playing with all the excess cables that make a huge mess under the desk and is either ordering shorter ones or planning on tying them up tidily. 

And if there's been any other news this week we've been too busy to notice. 

Stay warm, stay safe and see you next week. 
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Memories Made.......

 
Hubby started 2022 with a new year bike ride. It's mild and dry and perfect weather for motorbikes. He thinks there were about 20 of them in convoy up to the north Norfolk coast to have a good walk along the beach looking for the sea but the tide was right out, then the two hour-ish ride home again. 

Before we put all the decorations away for another year I wanted to share a few memories. We rarely buy anything new as for me it's a time for tradition, for reassurance that life in this family will always be familiar, comfortable and reliable. Nearly everything has a back story and so many people have added to it. 

E, as a young teen, had bought us all Santa hats, so I made a hat rack, where they have to double up. One of them got covered as a reversable santa/elf hat for Daughter to perform in.  

R made this 3D snowman picture for us as a present when she was about four I think. I love it. 

I made lots of these Santa teddies when I was doing craft fairs probably about 40 years ago. The bears were all made from an old camel coat, the red fabric was a skirt and the wool trim was an undone old scarf I'd found at a jumble sale. 

At evening classes, about 25 years ago, I learned "bead needle weaving" used mainly for jewelry plus the teacher showed us a few tree ornaments. I made a sparkly fairy and a Christmas tree, although the tree is supposed to gradually get wider and wider, hahaha I got it wrong but still love it and it goes on the tree every year. 

When R and E were about three or four they painted these paper frames that go onto the lights. As they are paper we have had a few tear but will treasure the rest for as long as I can. 

Daughter had a birthday and they all came for lunch and candled cake.

While up in the loft Hubby found a small carrier bag with some old photos. Amongst them were these two from my youth club days, both 1969.

Yes that's me bouncing. 

This was a musical play about the suffragettes and I was Christabel Pankhurst, far left. 

I put them both onto the youth club Facebook page and there has been lots of great conversations about them and the people in them. 

While we are still a bit restricted from making new memories it's good to remember some old ones. 

Have a good week. 

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Our Festivities 2021..........

 
The last coffee morning before Christmas saw all the usuals outside with blankets and hot water bottles. Hubby and I wore our Santa hats. NeighbourAB brought out warm sausage rolls she'd made and mince pies. Plus we had an old friend drop by with our card and a quick chat. 

Our cancelled past-workmates meal was replaced with a zoom gathering of all nine of us. We were on Hubby's laptop and neither of us could remember how to get a screenshot before our 40mins was up and zoom chucked us off. Really don't enjoy multi-people zoom calls but better than not seeing them at all. 

Christmas eve M, R, O and the dog arrived with their veg box and between the five of us (that's with me and Hubby and not the dog of course) all the veg was pealed chopped and washed within an hour! 

Before bed I brought all the nibbles into the lounge and the dining room table was laid ready. Actually I added party poppers after I took this photo. 

We had a lovely Christmas day. They had all covid tested before they came (crazy times eh?) and the dog was suitably attired. 

Kettle on first of course, present unwrapping, 3-course dinner for carnivores, vegetarians and a vegan that's gluten free! We had to make sure all leftover food, too hot for the fridge, was put straight into the office with the door shut so the dog didn't sneak back for extras. A little game playing, this one was fun Just One. One toy broken after about 10 mins that I need to contact the seller about. Nobody wanted any supper food but most happy to eat the snacks and chocolates that were out, have to say I was still too full for anything other than more mugs of tea. 

E and her boyfriend left first as they had more evening celebrations back in Norwich, we waved them off with a carrier bag of vegan food. Then we all settled down for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, another cuppa then the others went home. Daughter taking another bag of food with them. 

Boxing day we realised Daughter had forgotten the rest of her veg box, so she invited us to bring it over and stay for lunch. 

Hubby's present to me was a circulation reviving machine

as I do suffer with restless legs, swollen feet and ankles and very cold knees and ankles. Hopefully after some daily use I'll be able to report back if it has helped. In fact we are both using it. 

Eight of us braved the in-between-Monday for coffee morning. Everyone reported having had a lovely Christmas time but also a couple of hiccups. NeighbourC had to take her mum to A&E boxing day, treated and home again quite quickly. NeighbourAB had a mishap with a knife going through the foil roasting dish and she was still struggling to de-grease her kitchen floor. 

On the 27th backache was caused by sorting what we can't eat now and chopping and boxing all the rest of the leftovers for the freezer. Amused me there were only two leftover brussels sprouts and no stuffing balls at all. 

A couple of days of normal stuff like two machine loads of washing done and Hubby having to fix Daughter's loft ladder and Daughter and R here for lunch then we blinked and it was new years eve! 

As we've done for quite a few years, friend and next door neighbourA joined Hubby and I for our at home Chinese takeaway to see in the New Year. 

Obviously it was far too much food for three of us, so I've dinner for tomorrow sorted. 

Hubby was on call for SERVSC overnight and into 2022 and had decided that after nearly 10 years he's done enough so that was his last shift. He was called out, leaving home just after 9pm so friendA went with to keep him company. Three boxes of blood to collect and deliver to Ipswich Hospital. They were back about 10:45pm as the roads were empty. Hubby checked he was unlikely to be called again so he relaxed and had a pint to see in the new year. Midnight hugs and good wishes between the three of us, and lots of fireworks going on around us, so a few minutes of running from window to window out the front door and out into the garden to watch a few. FriendA went home, we cleared away the few nibbles still out, switched off all the Christmas lights and went to bed. 

And now all that's left for this post is to wish you all