A Day Of Two Halves

 

Today started full of promise...not least because of the beautiful blue skies we were blessed with.

Today was of course my Recycled Teenager next door's 92nd birthday.

I found a packet of cupcake gift boxes I forgot all about in the back of the cupboard, which made for a better presentation for the jam tarts.

He had to go to the hospital today for an xray on this throat.....we were all suspecting the worst, but the radiographer said all looked ok and the doctor would send a detailed report in due course.

 

 

 

My usual cuppa and catch up with my Monday Recycled Teenager was very positive.

Her radiotherapy doesn't appear to be giving her any side effects so far, and she was up for our usual trip to the supermarket.

She was very naughty and insisted on giving me today's chocolate from her Lindt advent calendar!

What a treat!

 

 

I fell in love with this tear and share panettone Christmas tree, so have put it in the freezer for Christmas Day tea.

 

 

I absolutely adore Panettone, so was delighted that Morrisons now have their fruit version on sale.

The chocolate one is rather lovely, but for me this fruit one is the best!

Todays batch was the best I have ever tasted...so fresh and just melted in the mouth...it was a rather naughty lunch and perfect with a cuppa.

 

 

After lunch I did a little more of putting the decorations up.

This is one of my favourite presents from last year...I saw it in the making and was thrilled to receive it ....imagine my face this afternoon when opening the mail and discovering this card...

 

 

...isn't this great! Next year it will be added to the decorations...so pleased with it...thank you

FQ2FF

 

 

I spent the afternoon sorting washing, wrapping some presents for Friday Club  (just when I thought I had the job finished!) when I had a phone call from a close friend.

She had just heard her brother in law had very unexpectedly been given two weeks to live.

They themselves have been coming to terms with their new way of life since her husbands heart problems and subsequent pace maker, so to hear his younger brother had unknowingly been suffering with  terminal cancer was a huge blow.

To give them some time together tonight, we are having Little Missy over .

 

 

 

 

I had to go and collect Teen Two from school as usual ( revision day) and was looking forward to hearing about his day.

There had been some issues at the back end of last week and some internal changes made, he was very buoyant about the change and looking forward immensely to the day....I was not expecting to have a low and downbeat son sitting next to me in the car.

Quite what has happened is a mystery and I hope school have managed to get to the bottom of it.

 Having a language disorder means he, at times, he is unable to find the words to explain himself, its frustrating for all concerned.

I feel we are right back at square one, with the added guilt trip of knowing how much the staff have tried to sort out the issues, all to no avail it would seem.

 

 

 

 

On the way home a text came through.

I wasn't able to read it initially and Teen Two was going to read it for me, but for some reason I said not to bother, I would read it at home.

I am so glad I did.

It was a message saying a much loved family pet retriever had sadly had to be put to sleep.

The Teens have enjoyed the gentle pace and nature of dear Katie, and whilst it was the best decision for this dear old canine lady, it doesn't make the loss any easier.

Our sympathy goes to  FQ2FF

It has indeed been a day of two halves.

Thankful To Be Safe And Dry

 

Today Storm Desmond has brought plenty of wind and rain our way...but unlike the poor people in the north, we have not suffered damage or flooding.

As we sit here, with the woodburner pumping out the heat (all free of course after yesterday's delivery!) Grandma and hubby snoozing in the chair, I am thankful we are safe and dry.

 

 

This morning was of course, church for us, followed by...yes...you guessed...

 

 

...roast beef with all the trimmings.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, I apologise for what must seem very repetitive and boring posts!

Log in almost any Sunday and there will be almost the same thing going on each time!

However, there is a certain amount of comfort in routine don't you think?

So many children grow up not knowing any routine, not knowing even if they will have a meal that day...even here in the UK, so hard to believe in this day and age.

 

 

 

You will know, by now, that after dinner...it's Scrabble time!

Today Grandma won...with the rest of us only a few points behind.

Her score was boosted by being able to place the word ZOO on a treble right at the end of the game!

 

 

 

Whilst the snoozers snoozed, I busied myself with some sewing of the less interesting kind...mending various things that I had set to one side.

Teen One has been doing what she spends so much time doing...homework, whilst Teen Two has been typing out a story he is making up on the PC.

 

 

We had a call from Teen One's piano teacher to say she has passed her Grade Four piano exam!

Well done to her for all her hard work.

With uni on the horizon she is not planning on taking the next grade, for the time being at least, but is hoping to keep up the lessons, maybe doing some work on hymns.

The Tree Is Up!

 

As planned, this morning we headed off early for Ikea.

We indulged in a rather larger than we expected breakfast, followed by a mooch around the store, and finally, the main reason for going...buying the Christmas tree.

Teen Two takes great pride in being able to carry it single handed!

We chose the smallest one they had as we have limited space, but it's still quite large!

 

 

The afternoon saw the Teens get the tree decorated...Teen One did the lion's share it has to be said.

Initially there was a little issue with the star...

 

 

...but we got that sorted pretty easily.

Our tree is always bedecked with ornaments the Teens have made over the years, handmade gifts from friends and family and as much tinsel as Teen One can get on there!

Every year as we open the box of decorations, we are always taken on a trip down memory lane.

Some of our decorations are "inherited" from various Recycled Teenagers in our lives, it really is an eclectic mix!

 

 

The rest of the house is staring to take on a festive look.

 

 

This is one of my favourite decorations...I was part of a round robin in a sewing group a few years ago, we all made a single bunting to send on to someone, with a particular theme each month.

I think I got the better end of the deal each month!

 

 

This was our Christmas card from FQ2FF two or three years ago... isn't it great!

 

 

 

This angel was also part of a swap

 

 

Buying decorations/ornaments is not something I generally indulge in...but I fell in love with this in last year's sale. We haven't found the perfect spot for it yet, or the perfect size candle to go in the middle....its got a very big diameter in the middle for a large candle...but a small tea light would make the fire look like it was alight..so which to go for ??

 

 

I fell in love with this moose the other year in The Range...imagine my delight when I saw him reduced to a couple of pound after Christmas!

It was his lovely  knitted cable jacket I really fell for!

 

 

Several years ago Teen Two was given this dear little nativity set for Christmas.

It had a lovely camel and donkey too....but a certain chocolate brown Labrador pup, who shall remain nameless...chewed the animals up.....poor Teen Two was so upset...he couldn't bear to see the set after that....this year is the first year I have had it out since then...I am hoping he has forgotten!

 

 

Monday my Recycled Teenager next door is 92.

He used to love his late wife's jam tarts and used to say no one could make pastry like she could.

Well I am certainly not going to try and compete with her, but thought he might be missing the taste of home made tarts.

I was going to make him a cake, but one or two of her friends still keep in contact and are keen bakers, so I thought I would steer clear of  that.

He doesn't like his birthday being celebrated and what a fuss he made over his 90th when his son wanted to bring fish and chips in!

"I won't eat them!" he said!!

Thankfully he did...but I know making a fuss of him is not going to put him in a good mood...so it will be just a little tin of these humble jam tarts and maybe a peck on the cheek!

 

 

This afternoon the son in law of my Monday Recycled Teenager brought round a car load of wood.

He works for a timber yard and he is able to get off cuts for us for free!

He brought several bags like this...

 

 

...which Teen Two dragged round to the shed for us.

We are very grateful for all his efforts....every little help when it comes to saving on the fuel bills!

 

For lunch we had the pumpkin soup from yesterday...which everyone said was delicious.

It was so thick the spoon stood up in it!!

I did add some water to thin it down a bit...but to be honest we all seemed to enjoy the plump texture and it was certainly filling...so much so, we have all decided to abandon any thoughts of having a proper evening meal!

 

 

 

The Decorations Are Out!

 

Today saw me putting away all the autumnal decorations and bringing the Christmas decorations out of the attic.

Thankfully for me, the attic is a simple walk up the stairs....I still haven't got used  to having a fourth bedroom in the house, but its so much easier at this time of the year...no more getting the loft ladder down and trying to bring boxes down it!

 

 

The bay has been cleared ready for the tree to go up.

We used to buy a tree locally each year, just a short walk round our pond to the greengrocer.

He used to go out and chop the trees down himself, they used to cost between £10 -£15.

About few years ago he started buying them in, most people seemed to want the needles that don't drop, which is all well and good, but it doubled the price of the tree.

£30+ for a few weeks at the most was just too much for us.

So, for the past three years we have bought our tree from Ikea.

It costs £25 and comes with a £20 voucher to be used in January.

So in effect, the tree costs a fiver, and is a good excuse for their £1.50 brekkie!

Tomorrow we will go and collect it and then the rest of the day will be spent decorating the house and of course the tree.

 

 

With the fireplace cleared of our leaves, conkers, gourds and of course pumpkins...it was time to make pumpkin soup.

Chopping up the pumpkin is my least favourite job I think, but it pays dividends!

Into the pan of water went the pumpkin, a roughly chopped onion, a good cupful of red lentils and some Polish seasoning (from Lidl)

Teen Two and I have just sampled it ( some two hours after I made it) and its delicious!

He can't wait for his lunch tomorrow he says!

 

 

 

For the past couple of years Teen One has made the most delicious cranberry sauce, using a recipe her Grandma passed on.

Its super delicious and I will share the recipe with you when she makes it.

I generally pay £2 a punnet for the cranberries ( cheaper if they are out of date and just as good) but today Lidl's had them for £1.29.

 

 

Tonight was the last part of the Nativity story and the last Friday club till the new year...not that we get to rest between now and then!

Next week will be the Carol Service, which is our busiest service of the year...traditionally its standing room only, we hope its the same this year.

The following week is the children's party....no less hectic and lots of clearing up to do...but its always good to see red faced sweaty children leaving the  church hall, going out into the chilly evening air!

 

 

You've Just Got To Love Sparklebox!

 

Walk into almost any Primary school in the land, and you are sure to see some wonderful wall displays, signs, posters and games.

Chances are they are from the free printable Sparklebox site.

It is primarily a resource site for teachers, but I am sure there are many parents and folk like me, who do a lot of work with children, who find it an invaluable resource, and all free!

I wish I had known about it when my own children were small...how glorious our walls would have looked!

They were always filled with educational posters, signs, pictures the teeny teens had created etc , but these Sparklebox ones are so much better and cover so many topics.

As well as printing off the above nativity colouring in pictures, which has such beautifully simple artwork....

 

 

...I also printed off some playdough mats and then laminated them.

These are always a hit with the toddlers and older Friday kids alike.

 

 

I thought the snowmen looked like really cheery chappies, so printed off a few of them.

 

 

 

The craft activity today was the responsibility of dear Peggy, who is in her mid 80's.

She cut out all these boxes by hand.

Once assembled and the tots back to their play...she filled each basket with some white chocolate penguins ( from M&S as usual!) all wrapped up.

What a surprise those little ones will have when they get home!

 

 

 

A Good Job Jobbed!

 

 

 

Today my Monday Recycled Teenager has her first bout of radiotherapy.

With my first thing in the morning chores done, before getting on with some present wrapping, I thought I would have a cuppa and a quiet time of prayer for my dear friend.

As I went to boil the kettle I thought...well instead of praying for her...I could pray WITH her.

Over the years various friends ( and even my doctor!) have spontaneously prayed with me and each time it has been a tremendous source of comfort.

I would not say I am confident at praying in anyone's earshot, but thought, why not try and be an encouragement to her.

So, I popped a couple of mince pies in a tub and drove round to her house.

She was very grateful to see me, it had up until then been a long morning, waiting for her transport to arrive early afternoon.

We enjoyed a cuppa and a quiet word of prayer, I have spent the afternoon wondering how it all went and will no doubt get a call later tonight.

 

 

A friend popped in for lunch, and then it was on with the task of the day....getting the Friday Club kids presents wrapped.

Of course, anyone involved with children's work, will know its always more than just wrapping them up!

I had to check how regular each child had been, and marry up  a present that was suitable with their attendance...not an easy task!

The cats as usual were interested in the changes in the living room....all those new smells!

Milly checked out the parcels...

 

 

...whilst Crystal checked out the empty bags!

 

 

 

 

So that's around 60 presents bought, wrapped and labelled....all ready for our Carol Service next week.

I still have a few small presents to find from stock and wrap, just in case any of the "one weekers" happen to turn up on the day.

I am so glad that is out of the way, I can now concentrate on our own present buying and wrapping...its certainly a good job jobbed!

Car Park Dramas!

 

 

Breakfast this morning for the Teens was a giant crumpet!

We are a household of crumpet lovers, so these new giant ones just had to be tried...especially as there are currently buy one get one free!

 

 

 

 

Not knowing how long I was going to be out of the house for today, I put some pork shoulder steaks in the slow cooker, ready to be turned into BBQ pulled pork for tonight's dinner.

Grandma had a cancellation appointment for her endoscopy offered to her yesterday, which she jumped at, and as we all know, hospital appointments and procedures can take quite some time!

 

 

As it turned out, I only had to wait for just over an hour...all in a comfy leather sofa and Bargain Hunt on TV! I had taken my knitting as well, so all I needed was a cuppa to make me feel right at home!

The hospital has a new method for charging, and being fairly familiar with  the various ways of paying for parking, I wasn't too phased.

As we entered the grounds there were big signs saying "pay on exit." Easy enough I thought.

When we came out of the hospital however, all the machines were covered up.

Maybe it was still in the process of being sorted, I thought.

However, having got Grandma sat in the warmth of the car and getting over her ordeal, I decided to go on a walk around and check there weren't any machines uncovered.

It was just as well I did, out of sight from where we had parked was a machine.

I didn't have my specs on, but it all looked fairly easy...press the green button...yes...that's today's date, press the button again....type in my car reg...up comes the charge £1.50.

Did I want a receipt...no...well...maybe I will take one.

As I walked back to the car I happened to notice the charges said £1.50 for the first hour, £2.50 for up to two hours.

Hmm....we had been 90 minutes, well maybe there is a period of grace, for those picking up and dropping off etc.

I took Grandma home, got home and popped the kettle on.

It had been a few hours since I had had a drink and was looking forward to it.

I happened to glance at the car park ticket I had taken out of my pocket and noticed it said I had arrived at 1pm...which was the time we were actually leaving....hmm....time to put the specs on.

Things were clearly not right....it was showing my exit time as my entry time and according to the ticket I still had almost an hour left .....maybe I hadn't read the instructions right...should I have manually entered the time I arrived??

Well it hadn't made it clear, and there were signs everywhere saying "pay on exit" so who would actually take note of the minute they arrived, and surely that's what the car recognition cameras are there for...to catch you coming in and then going out?

In fear and dread of getting a whopping great penalty notice in the post in the coming weeks, I decided the only thing was to go back to the hospital...but I daren't drive into the grounds as that would surely register be yet again  with its vehicle recognition camera.

So, I abandoned my freshly poured out cuppa and walked back to the hospital.

The receptionists of course were unable to help me, but thankfully a car park warden was just leaving for lunch, so was able to listen to my story.

She was mystified as to why it was showing an exit of an hour hence, whilst clearly showing my car reg.

The receptionists got involved as well...being equally mystified about my situation.

Noone could answer why I had only been charged for an hour, but made a note of my car reg and assured me they would waiver any fine that would come up.

I now just have to hope that is the end of the story!

I shall be taking careful note next time and not just press the green button in such a blasé fashion!