Feelin' Good

It has been a good day today. Dearest daughter came over with her younger son together with a big plastic bag of clean washing, said wash done by TBSITW.

A black plastic bin bag does not sound too salubrious, but said TBSITW had sorted and folded the clean washing into white plastic bags, like with like. All I had to do was say where each item belonged and, as though by magic, there it was placed.

After all that, the three of us headed to Dobbies for lunch; I had my usual salad - and as usual my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I could not finish it all, but at least I started off with a smaller plate than usual

After that and a quick tour of the place, with daughter buying a couple of things in the butcher's part. we headed back to the ranch.

Before she left, daughter made me a cup of tea, which was much appreciated.

I feel a little tired now and think I shall just sit in my chair and "rest my eyes" for a couple of minutes.

Dearest Daughter

(No, not in the vein of "Mommy Dearest"!)

This morning daughter and I arranged to meet at a Farm Shop equidistant between our two homes. We enjoyed our respective lunches - I had broccoli and pear soup with cranberry ciabatta and she had macaroni cheese.

We both went and had a good look round and I bought one or two vegetables - tomatoes, rhubarb and russet apples. I also treated myself to 4 mince pies and scones as well as a little Christmas ornament that I could not resist.

Over lunch we had a grand blether and caught up on a lot of things. I then handed over Christmas presents for her two boys and a black bun from Dobbies. I can testify that it is absolutely delicious!

Elder Son Visit

Yesterday morning it was once again bright and sunny but cold. As I looked out of my window the trees opposite were still green, no autumn colours yet, but I have found one leaf on my windscreen so it can’t be long.

TBSITW sent me an email to say that if I sent her my file of Christmas address labels she could print them that morning and bring them round later. I don’t know what it is but my printer makes a rotten job of the alignment and leaves parts of the addresses sticking out over the top of the label or over the bottom of the label and yet the same file prints on her printer. What is particularly annoying is that the labels are HP inkjet labels and my printer is (yes, you’ve guessed it) an HP Deskjet. Aaargh!

Later in the day, elder son called to take me out to lunch and, before we left, he has downloaded many folders of recent photographs. This means that (if I ask TBSITW very nicely) she may print out the photograph I have been asking him for, namely the studio one of him and daughter-in-law.

As elder son arrived so did the mail and I received a wonderful surprise. After I developed epilepsy following a stroke I had to surrender my driving licence, which I did voluntarily. When I had a year free of seizures, I applied to have my licence renewed; obviously the DVLA had to confirm with my GP practice that I had indeed been free of seizures for a year and they then issued me with a three year licence. This was due to expire on November this year, so I recently sent off an application to renew my licence, expecting it to take ages to be approved, but here it was. This was wonderful and such a relief (though I don’t know why I expected there to be difficulties – perhaps a lingering fear of red tape).

We had a lovely lunch; I had baked potato with brie which came with a side salad and humus.

When we got back, there were the labels which TBSITW had printed out - now there's fast service.

Shortly after this, elder son had to set off back home to see the painter who is decorating their front room. It was really good to see him.

I then joined the ladies for a cup of tea and a biscuit while waiting to pay the milk bill and then returned home to make my evening meal.

Btw. As I was sitting eating my evening meal, I looked out of the window and saw that the flowers that I thought were gentians had opened out and were obviously lavender, but quite a different variety from the one that I already have.

Another thing that arrived in yesterday’s post was a promo from the garage that did the deal on my Motability car telling me of all the wonderful new cars they can offer me for next year. The thing is that I love my Vauxhall and that has now been taken over by Chevrolet. I don’t care much for the look of that brand and I may be tempted to have a look in the near by big city. When I bought my current car, the garage was in the town where I live, but then they moved to another town near by. The journey there is no easier than the journey to big city, so I could be tempted. On the other hand I probably shall not bother (inertia rules)

Later.....

After the exercise class, which I must confess I found rather an effort today although I completed almost everything in the list, I paid a visit to the very large garden centre at the edge of the town. First off I found a disabled parking bay - hurray! - and then I grabbed a trolley; these make an excellent substitute for a zimmer frame.

To start with I went to the food hall and had a chat to the butcher, deciding on a bit of silverside for a pot roast and a chicken breast slit and stuffed with haggis then wrapped in bacon. I shall cook this tonight, eat half then keep the rest.

This would be easy to make at home as you can buy haggis in small quantities, as you just make a slit on the longest side, stuff it with haggis and wrap streaky bacon round it to cover. To cook you would just wrap it in foil and put in the oven at 180 Celsius for about 40 minutes.

I also bought 3 bottles of wine and 2 slices of banana and toffee pie. I went to eat some when I got home but it was SO rich I could not finish one portion. Daughter may fall lucky.

After the shopping I went for lunch; it was so good having room in the trolley for the tray, so I was able to be indepent while I chose lunch, (salad with ham and an assortment of cold salads) with a bottle of lemon refresher. Ate it while looking out at the sunshine.

Got back home and all the parking places were taken, but managed to find a space in front of someone's window.

Got a doctor's appointment to discuss my falls. I am pretty sure there is absolutely nothing he can do, but when you get sent to Occupational Therapy by the ambulance service, and sent to your GP by the OT you just have to go through the motions.*

*for all nursing and medical readers, these are not brown.....

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!

Out for Coffee

This morning I went to visit the very good friends who left here recently following the difficulties I wrote about earlier; they moved into their new home about a month ago, and have had to carry out a lot of work. The house is a good size with 2 double bedrooms, bathroom and single bedroom which they are using as a study; downstairs is a large sitting room/dining room with kitchen off, and a toilet. There is a good sized garage at the side.

Since moving in the lady of the house (whom I shall call L.) has painted all the cupboards before unpacking into them as they were very dusty; now the unpacking has been done. The garden was overgrown and they filled 2 skips with garden refuse, so there is still a lot of work to do there. They plan all sorts of things for the future in making this the house of their dreams, but are taking a well-earned rest for the meantime.

We enjoyed our coffee and blether and I stood up to leave and come home, when Mr L. said where was I going? They were taking me out to lunch at a near by good hotel (which they describe as their local hostelry). As usual I ate too much.... I drove us there and they walked back leaving me to do some shopping, fill the car with petrol and claim my free car wash and wheel scrub.

A Quiet Weekend (Not)

Well, the weekend started with a wonderful evening with S and P; we started off with champagne cocktails, and continued with a delicious meal PLUS pudding PLUS petits fours (and of course wine). They are such good hosts. After dinner we sat in front of a lovely fire. Slept the sleep of the just and was wakened in time to have a breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and scrambled egg on homemade soda bread with a cup of tea.

Left clutching goodies from the garden, a couple of courgettes and some beetroot, then drove the long way round the centre of town to seek a parking place for church.

After church, daughter and family came as arranged to go for lunch at the garden centre and then on to the cinema to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Enjoyed the car chases – always liked playing dodgems as a child!

They came back to me to see my new kitchen, and then had to leave shortly afterwards. Bless daughter - she brought me a pressie of a couple of bottles of Noilly Prat. She certainly knows what I like..

Have to say that, what with Saturday's dinner and yesterday's lunch, could not eat a thing yesterday evening!

This was a good weekend!