She's So Glad That's Over!

 

 

This morning was very hectic, seeing my Recycled Teens, shopping, housework, stripping beds....I worked up quite an appetite I can tell you!

Having just bought a freshly baked chocolate Panettone at Morrison's, I couldn't resist a slice with a cup of tea...it was delicious!

I would prefer a fruit Panettone, but the Teens and Hubby prefer this chocolate one...and I must say, the blend of the bitter sweet chocolate and the salty butter is divine!

 

 

The afternoon was no less busy than the morning, a trip to town for various bits and pieces, taxi-ing Teen One around, then over to get Teen Two from school revision.

I was chilled to the bone at one point, and noticing I had about 20minutes  before revision finished, I diverted to Costa and bought myself a delicious latte...skinny decaff hazelnut...my favourite! What made it better was it was free with my reward card.

 

 

 

The main event of today however, was Teen One's piano Grade Four exam.

She was understandably nervous.

Here she is in the warm up room...she certainly needed to warm up her fingers, it was freezing walking from the car park to the church hall.

I hadn't realised how tense she had been looking, until she came out from the exam with the biggest smile and flushed cheeks!
The relief was evident!

We now have a couple of weeks wait to see if she has passed.

She's so glad that's over!

 

An Unexpected Brisk Walk!

 

As you know, last night was the coldest we have had in a long time.

We have a monthly Saturday night church service and last night Teen One, Hubby and I went.

We were toasty and warm inside...but boy was it cold outside!

At the end of the service and supper, Hubby offered to go and get the car, which was parked about ten minutes (oh to have our own car park!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some time later, with only Teen One and I left at church hubby rang to say he couldn't get the car started!

There was nothing for it but to walk home...and me being a silly billy was wearing a gilet, which is of course sleeveless!

The wind had thankfully died down, but it was a brisk walk indeed!

 

 

The assumption was the battery was dud, so once home Hubby went straight online and reserved a new one at our local Halfords.

 

 

 

 

Today was of course our family service followed by lunch.

Once that was over we drove to where Hubby's car was parked and guess what....it started first time!!

However, having reserved the battery, we decided to go to Halfords and get them to check the old one....it was only holding half the charge...so we went ahead and bought the new one.

I am so thankful it was  a simple solution...I have a hectic week and didn't fancy not having my car!

 

 

We had a quick tea...but one the Teens love....a family size pack of Doritos, with salsa, greek yogurt and grated cheese scattered on top...placed under the grill until the cheese melts....delicious!

 

 

 

A Change In The Weather!

 

This morning saw the start of our Christmas family traditions.....going to our local Church of England's Christmas Fayre.

It's always been a popular time with the teens, since they were very small.

The church have plenty of traditional stalls, which Teen Two in particular enjoys.

There are always stalls selling home made wares, very handy for little presents.

A lacemaker is always there and over the years we have bought several of her beautiful decorations.

This year there was a spinning Jenny as well.

The walk to and from the church was absolutely bitter.

The sun was shining brightly, but the wind was biting.

 

 

My butternut squash soup has proved a hit recently, and being so quick and easy to make, I made some for lunch today.

On such a cold day, it was a healthy hearty meal....if you discount the soft batch loaf of bread and butter  we had with it!

 

 

This afternoon Teen One has been doing homework and also piano practise, ahead of her Grade Four exam on Monday.

 

 

 

 

I spent some time in the kitchen. Tomorrow is our family service followed by the bring and share lunch, so I have been preparing for that.

Last time I took blackberry flapjack it went down well, so again, being quick and easy, I made another batch.

 

 

I had some ironing to catch up on,  ironing this tea towel, from a friend, always makes me smile and just about sums me up!

It also reminds me of my grandmother who regularly used the phrase just after she had eaten her favourite chocolate, Galaxy.

 

 

After finishing the ironing I felt like a bit of a breather...but someone had beaten me to my seat!

It's a cat's life isn't it!

 

 

There has been a real change in the weather today... so this afternoon hubby has been out sawing up wood for us...we now have a lovely cosy fire to relax in front of.

Within the next couple of weeks the pumpkins will be made into soup and the autumn display replaced with Christmas decorations...it doesn't seem so long ago we were packing them away!

 

What Fun We Had In The Good Old Days!

 

Last night, Teen Two announced Friday was cake sale day at school.

"That's fine" I said, "take some money out of the pot"

"I don't need to buy any" he replied...."I have to take them in for other people to buy!"

At 8pm, at the end of a very hectic day, having not long sat down, it was the last thing I wanted to hear.

"Well I am sorry love...you will just have to buy at the sale instead of contribute...it won't matter."

If I was not so tired, I would have happily whipped up something for him to take in, and of course with more notice we could really have gone to town.

After a few minutes I remembered I had a packet of French chocolate sandwich biscuits in the cupboard...they wouldn't take long to bling up a bit.

So I tasked Teen Two with the job...apparently they were a big hit!

 

 

This afternoon Teen One and I finished putting the lollypop stables together...and here are some of the finished products, the kids had great fun colouring in their people and the parents were very impressed when they came to pick them up....they may even make it onto the  Christmas tree by the sounds of things!

 

 

With Grandma not being well, Hubby has taken on one of her roles at Friday Club...issuing the reward cards out as the kids turn up.

He found it very frustrating doing it Grandma's way...wading through a pile of cards each time.

He thought an index box would be ideal...but when he saw they were mega bucks ( and I mean mega bucks!) he baulked at the idea...so I said I would try and make a quick one for him.

I found an old box a writing set had come in years ago ( maybe 30yrs ago...I knew it would come in handy one day!) and a sheet of dry transfer lettering that came with hubby when we got married over 20years ago and has been sat in a drawer ever since ( obviously something he knew would come in handy!)

So with some endless stock of gold card ( no doubt every one in the family will have some of this amazing stuff stashed away somewhere courtesy of our recycling bank!) I sat and cut out the index cards...rather haphazardly I must admit, but they will do the job.

Teen One was amazed to see how the letters were rubbed very lightly and then adhered to the card...looking so professional!

Living in a day when almost anything is possible with a printer and can look very professional in minutes at the touch of a button...she was really fascinated with how we did things in the old days!

I asked her if she would like to finish the job ... she didn't need asking twice!

What fun we must have had in the good old days!

 

She even made a little label for the box.

Hubby said everything went much smoother tonight with his new super duper index box.

 

Lolly Sticks and Glue Dots Challenge!

 

This morning started wet and dreary again.

As a consequence we didn't have too many out at Mother and Toddlers, but seeing as Grandma was not up to coming again, it meant a slightly easier morning, although no less toys to clear up!

 

 

After lunch I did my usual cleaning for next door.

I discovered he had a leak in his conservatory, not only that, but it was running through his light before dripping onto the floor!

Having put a bowl underneath I urged him to tell his son when he came in this afternoon.

We have several leaks in our old conservatory roof, but none of them over electricity thankfully.

 

 

This afternoon was rather momentous, in a very quiet and unassuming way...Teen One started to complete her online UCAS application!

 

 

 

Whilst Teen One was doing that...I had a pile of lollypop sticks to deal with!

 

 

 

 

I had seen this brilliant nativity scene on Pinterest, and with a never ending supply of lollypop sticks, I thought it would make an ideal activity for the Friday Club kids tomorrow.

I usually would use double sided sticky pads, from Poundland, for an activity like this. No waiting for glue to dry etc.

Sadly, the pads we have at the moment aren't as sticky as usual, maybe they are older than I think...so I decided to buy a new pack.

However, my trip to town yesterday was unfruitful and they only had glue dots.

Having limited and not very positive  experience of glue dots, I was a bit apprehensive about using them.

It seems I was quite justified in my concerns!

They want to stay stuck to their paper roll instead of the lolly sticks!

 

 

 

 

My plan was, to leave a glue dot (unpeeled) and let the children assemble the stable themselves.

What I didn't take into consideration was the fiddliness of those wretched glue dots!

So it looks like tonight Teen One and I will be stable making!

 

 

Teen One has made some examples for Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and I think that will be plenty for the kids to do, aside from then attaching the three remaining lolly sticks themselves with those pesky glue dots!

We aren't going to bother with the angel, after all it was a star that led the Shepherds to the stable...and a star is much easier!

We have lots of coloured sticker stars at church  and will also add a piece of raffia or similar so the nativity scene can be hung up.

Another thing I hadn't anticipated by using glue dots was, the stable is very flexible! I hope the dots eventually dry out so the stable is firm.

I can imagine little hands having fun with the moving sticks otherwise!

 

Remember To Read The Signs!

 

This morning started with another trip to the doctors with Grandma.

She was given a thorough examination, which only showed that she didn't appear to have any abnormalities.

The doctor was very reassuring and had a lovely bedside manner.

He suggested she snack all day instead of having "three good meals." Although she has only been eating small portions at meal times, maybe the snacking will be easier on her stomach.

He has arranged for an endoscopy, so we shall wait and see what that shows.

I am hoping that with everything coming up as clear, she will feel more settled.

It is difficult to believe that her symptoms are all in the mind though.

We shall just have to do our best to make her as comfortable as we can until it passes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having dropped Grandma back home, I did a bit of running around in the car. A quick trip to town for some essentials, a visit to my Recycled Teenager in the dementia home.

Today she was just lying there looking into space. No recognition that I was there at all.

Very sad.

 

 

 

A friend came in for lunch, we enjoyed a steaming bowl of carrot and coriander soup with some fresh crusty bread and of course a good old natter.

 

 

 

Storm Barney has made it very windy down here.

Whilst it was overcast, the strength of the wind meant I managed to get three loads fairly dry, just needing to be finished off in the drier.

 

 

 

 

For the last two weeks we have had signs on all the lamp posts in our road warning people not to park on November 18th as the council are carrying out "deep cleaning."

Last night I parked my car in the next road, and was surprised to see so many people parking their cars here this morning.

Staff from the nearby school regularly use our road ( despite having a car park!) and I did manage to speak to a couple of them this morning, pointing out the sign. They were very thankful and parked elsewhere.

However, when I went to take Grandma to the doctors I saw a tow truck taking a car away!

Oh dear....someone is in for a shock when they come out of school tonight!

They will wish they had paid more attention to the signs!

My neighbour said it will cost them £250 to have their car released...once they have worked out where it is!

Breakfast In Style!

 

This morning started off in style!

A friend and I had arranged to meet for breakfast at a new bread shop, that has opened up a small café in its premises.

They specialise in sour dough and have recently expanded to patisserie delights as well!

Heaven aye!

I was a little spoilt for choice, but ended up choosing the avocado and poached egg on sourdough toast.

Infact I asked for the bread NOT to be toasted.

I love fresh bread in its natural state.

Mundane sliced bread is what I prefer toast to be made from.

We had a delicious latte....well...actually we had two, we were there for that long!

AND.....dare I confess....we had a cinnamon roll as well...but that was two hours after breakfast!

I imagine the bakers thought we were never going to leave!

 

 

 

 

I had intended calling in to see my Recycled Teenager in the dementia home on the way back, but got caught in a downpour...without my brolly and in a short jacket with no hood.

I was so drenched I couldn't face the visit, so will try and fit that in tomorrow.

 

 

I then decided to finish a job I had started yesterday in our bedroom.

Pulling out the large pieces of furniture to hoover behind and wash down the paint work.

I found an embarrassing number of dust bunnies...and yes I know its cruel to break up their habitat...but it just had to be done!

 

 

 

 

I had a chat with Grandma on the phone. Sadly she had a bit of a relapse in the night and was once again in pain and suffering from nausea.

Her blood tests have come back normal, so on one hand that is good news, on the other hand it has left her despondent, with no reason for her suffering.

Quite what was tested we don't know.

She hasn't been taking her antacid regularly, as suggested by the doctor, so I have encouraged her to do that and try to eat a little each meal time, maybe keeping a food diary to see if the pain is triggered by something particular.

She is not really feeling like eating, understandably.

Today is the first day I haven't taken her something for dinner, I am thinking I will make some vegetable soup and see if that agrees with her.

 

 

 

I popped into Lidl's this afternoon.

I thought these gingerbread tree decorating sets looked rather good.

Boxed and with everything you need to decorate two large cookies, at £1.99 I thought they were good value.

I have bought a few as stand by gifts for Friday Club.

I always dread missing a child from the list ( even though I check check and double check!)

If they aren't needed, the Teens will love them that's for sure!