Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow....

Today I woke up to the first snow of the year, although it is starting to look less pretty now with all the car tracks.

Yesterday I took down all my Christmas cards and matched them against my list of cards sent before shredding the odd one or two with addresses on them before disposing of the rest in the paper recycling bin.

After this I got a bit antsy about my Christmas decorations and so I used my long pole to fish out all the boxes and bags from the cupboard and took them through to the living room.

Then I started packing away some of the easier things; I have an old biscuit tin which I use for smaller things and this sits inside a supermarket box. Between the two I can put away much of the decorations and many more have their own boxes. Other things I wrapped in bubble wrap or tissue paper and, for things like tinsel I used polythene freezer bags.

Just as I was well on the way to “calling it a day” I managed to trip over my two feet and down I went once more.

I tried every which way to get up again and eventually managed. Phew!

To TBSITW: please don’t give me a row, it is not necessary – I can hear it from here.

Up this morning after another disturbed night and finished off packing away all the decorations as far as everything is boxed or bagged. I truly, truly will not put any of it away in the cupboard.

The Second Day of Advent

This morning I went to the exercise class, and was back on form. I had to go to Asda for petrol on my way home as I was driving on air. I put in 38 litres - the most ever.

Once I got home the phone rang and it was the physiotherapist from my own town to offer me a place in January which I have been delighted to accept.

In honour of my gentleman friend coming tomorrow to take me out for dinner, I have put up my Christmas decorations. I had been planning on leaving them until my cleaners came on Friday, but - with a bit of a struggle - I managed myself. I have even put up the wreath on my flat door.

The place looks quite festive now, so I am just waiting for the sun going over the yardarm to pour myself a well-earned libation.

Noilly Prat, of course.-

Bridge and an old friend

I am delighted to report that the new dose seems to be working and I continue to have a good night's sleep.

As this is the first day in Advent, our house manager and one or two residents put up and decorated a Christmas tree in the residents' lounge and hung up many decorations together with some others on tables. There is also a "singing santa" on the fireplace!

The event may be sacred but the decorations are definitely not although I must confess the room looks very bright and cheery.

This afternoon I went to the bridge club. My usual partner had said she might not make it, and indeed she did not turn up, so I ended up playing with S. our leader. In spite of playing for once with a clear head, I made a number of mistakes. I am sure I shall learn from some of them, but I shall never remember them all. My usual partner will be pleased to discover that we came third last week.

I arrived back in time to join the ladies (the gentleman was absent) for a cup of tea and a biscuit, and a good blether.

I had no longer sat down than the telephone rang and an old friend, whom I have not seen for ages, called I. I invited him over for a meal, but he insisted on taking me out. We agreed on a venue as it was better not to be any distance from here and I have phoned and made the reservation for Wednesday evening.

The White Tornado (s)

Yesterday evening I collected all the Christmas cards, and took down the holders, then went on to collect together almost all the rest of the decorations, some of which went back in their boxes and some of which went into a large green supermarket box which had lurked in my hall cupboard; some of the items in the box I wrapped in tissue paper to protect them, the rest I collected on the dining room table apart from two new purchases which I had put n the bottom of my wardrobe and the bridge of candles which I could not get down to unplug.

My two cleaning ladies arrived and I said I was not concerned about the housework, but I could really do with a hand puttting away the decorations.

Well, no sooner said than done.

Bridge of candles unplugged.

Bottom of wardrobe emptied and Hoovered, then ALL the Christmas stuff packed away including the green box; this was stuff that had previously taken up so much room all over the place.

Then she sorted out the hall cupboard, and as part of the process, Hoovered that too.

On top of all that, the other lady Hoovered round the house and dusted, while the first one washed the kitchen floor.

Then I went to join some of the ladies for a cup of tea.

Lady Muck, I think!

Luncheon

... well, not so posh, but more lunch

Today has been excellent in my small corner of the blogosphere. I have been delighted with the responses to my tags by mousie and the shrink. Apparently neither had been tagged before, and both (like me) have an innate dislike of that sort of thing, but the fact that the subject was books (and, of course my delightful personality ;-) ) hooked them. It is very interesting to read people’s choices of books in the different categories. Reckon I am somewhat pretentious and a. certainly called my bluff by arranging to send me a Fred Vargas book in French – it has not been translated into English, so I can’t cheat!

Today has been particularly good in that I took L and Mr L out for lunch to a local garden centre. When I called to pick them up, I was amazed to see how much more work they have done in their garden since I last went there.

We enjoyed our lunch then had a good look round the Garden Centre’s Christmas exhibits; they have put on an excellent show, no tat but all good quality stuff, much reminiscent of Austrian and German Christmas markets. I bought a stair of candles (electric) as they look really nice in the window before Christmas and the last set I had lost all its bulbs over the years, with no more replacements to be found. I also bought (not from the Christmas bit) some stems of (artificial) pussy willow, to put in a vase in an unused space in my bathroom. I have been looking for something appropriate to put there, and now reckon I have finally found it.

Okay, from the sublime to the gor blimey. This morning I decided to sort out all my dirty washing as it was overflowing the basket. Turned out to be 3 good loads; one the whites, one the darks and the third the bedding. So, back I came from dropping my friends off and carrying in a gift from them of a lovely bunch of flowers which I have snipped and put in a vase with water and plant food, then I had really no option but to make a start on the washing. We are allowed to use only one machine at a time, so the first load washed, then into the dryer, then put away. Should really do another one, but sufficient unto the day….

See what an exciting life I lead!