What a miserable day it is today. The wind is blowing in gusts, bringing with it intermittent snow flurries. The snow is not lying.
A delivery man told me that a lorry had been blown over on the northbound carriageway of the Forth Road Bridge. That will have caused traffic chaos. No doubt once the road is clear, high sided lorries will be have to travel in pairs, or even be banned altogether until the weather improves.
I am sitting indoors, snugly (and smugly) warm.
My wonderful cleaners have been, so the house is looking pristine once more. They changed my bed for me – it is so good to slip in between clean sheets.
I can’t make up my mind what to do this afternoon: I have a choice of reading, doing my jigsaw or watching my latest DVD.
The DVD is from Amazon and is called Hill Street Blues. For those of you too young to remember it, the catchphrase was “Hey, let’s be careful out there!” It was a series based loosely on the film “Fort Apache, The Bronx”.
The book I am reading is Belfast Confidential by Colin Bateman (the title referencing LA Confidential), which was a Christmas present from my daughter.
The jigsaw is a WASGIJ. These jigsaws usually required you to imagine the view from the opposite viewpoint to the picture on the box, however the ones now require you to work out happened next. Certain bits will remain constant, while others will have moved - great fun.
I think I must be very spoiled to have such a choice on a weekday afternoon.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Veg Box and Exercise Class
Yesterday I resumed my organic vegetable box delivery, which I had cancelled for the Christmas and New Year season as I was away so much of the time.
Yesterday’s delivery brought potatoes, carrots and onions plus a cauliflower, a Savoy cabbage, 2 leeks and 3 beetroot. The fruit was 2 oranges, 2 apples, 2 bananas and a pear.
Fridge all sorted out and salad drawer cleaned and all put away.
I really ought to take the (somewhat full) bin bag along to the refuse room, but I am hoping to make it last till Thursday when my cleaners come.
Lazy, moi?
This morning was my third pulmonary exercise class. The programmes are individually tailored to our needs - in my case I need to concentrate on my legs as I cannot get up from a chair without using my arms to push up and I have difficulty on steps.
I am pleased to report that the exercise bike was increased to a resistance of 4 and I managed 5 minutes instead of the 4 minutes at resistance of 3.
It was quite cold when I left (1.5 deegrees), but fortunately the ice on the windscreen was almost melted and a quick flip of the wipers cleared it. On the way, the sun was very bright, but low in the sky - as I drove down the slip road to the motorway. it suddenly shone right onto my offside wing mirror, meaning I could not see the traffic coming up on the motorway. Fortunately at the last moment the angle changed and I had good visibility.
Yesterday’s delivery brought potatoes, carrots and onions plus a cauliflower, a Savoy cabbage, 2 leeks and 3 beetroot. The fruit was 2 oranges, 2 apples, 2 bananas and a pear.
Fridge all sorted out and salad drawer cleaned and all put away.
I really ought to take the (somewhat full) bin bag along to the refuse room, but I am hoping to make it last till Thursday when my cleaners come.
Lazy, moi?
This morning was my third pulmonary exercise class. The programmes are individually tailored to our needs - in my case I need to concentrate on my legs as I cannot get up from a chair without using my arms to push up and I have difficulty on steps.
I am pleased to report that the exercise bike was increased to a resistance of 4 and I managed 5 minutes instead of the 4 minutes at resistance of 3.
It was quite cold when I left (1.5 deegrees), but fortunately the ice on the windscreen was almost melted and a quick flip of the wipers cleared it. On the way, the sun was very bright, but low in the sky - as I drove down the slip road to the motorway. it suddenly shone right onto my offside wing mirror, meaning I could not see the traffic coming up on the motorway. Fortunately at the last moment the angle changed and I had good visibility.
Monday, 28 January 2008
Elder Son
Today elder son came to pay me a visit (probably the temptation of the menu I posted yesterday was too hard to resist). We had a grand blether and I asked him to check the water tap in the hall cupboard as I was afraid it was leaking - fortunately it is ok.
Then we sat down to lunch, and elder son did the washing up while I cleared the table.
After that we went for a couple of items of shopping (partly, at least, to show off his brand new car) and I returned the light bulbs I had got at the wrong wattage and replaced them with the correct wattage ones. Elder son noticed that you could get energy saving globe light bulbs, so I bought a few of them to try out - they would have to be significantly better to compensate for the additional price. He also found the bin bags I had been searching for.
After he left to return home, I joined the Scrabble crew and played one round before it was time for tea.
I won!
I don't think I can manage to eat anything tonight as I ate so much at lunchtime.
Then we sat down to lunch, and elder son did the washing up while I cleared the table.
After that we went for a couple of items of shopping (partly, at least, to show off his brand new car) and I returned the light bulbs I had got at the wrong wattage and replaced them with the correct wattage ones. Elder son noticed that you could get energy saving globe light bulbs, so I bought a few of them to try out - they would have to be significantly better to compensate for the additional price. He also found the bin bags I had been searching for.
After he left to return home, I joined the Scrabble crew and played one round before it was time for tea.
I won!
I don't think I can manage to eat anything tonight as I ate so much at lunchtime.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
A Cook-in (of a sort)
I am hoping that elder son will be visiting tomorrow, but the nature of his job means that he may have to cancel at the last minute.
However, in preparation, I have made my chicken liver pate cordon bleu and in the fridge are:
Melon and parma ham as starter,
Pate (see above), Port Salut, organic cheddar, and a brie that looks as though it is ready to glide gracefully off the table, on to the carpet, then out through the french windows.
These will be served with a choice of breads (one of which is in the breadmaker even as I type this), and oatcakes.
There is an accompaniment of a choice of beers.
To finish, strawberries and locally produced home made ice cream.
If he can't come, guess who is going to feast royally!
However, in preparation, I have made my chicken liver pate cordon bleu and in the fridge are:
Melon and parma ham as starter,
Pate (see above), Port Salut, organic cheddar, and a brie that looks as though it is ready to glide gracefully off the table, on to the carpet, then out through the french windows.
These will be served with a choice of breads (one of which is in the breadmaker even as I type this), and oatcakes.
There is an accompaniment of a choice of beers.
To finish, strawberries and locally produced home made ice cream.
If he can't come, guess who is going to feast royally!
Homelessness Sunday.
Today the weather is again dry, but there is quite a strong wind. I am so pleased that I managed to get to Church today.
Today is Homelessness Sunday and the early part of the service was led by the Bible Class, who had organised a project to collect clothes and so on for Open Door.
The prayer for today is:
Lord, your door is always open to us.
Your heart is always open, overflowing with love.
Help us, your church, to keep our doors open to all
who struggle with poverty or homelessness.
Give us open hearts to recognise our sister,
our brother, in need.
And fill us with the will to work in our community
and our country towards ending the pain and
waste that poverty and homelessness create.
In the name of the one who emptied himself of all
but love, our Saviour, Jesus.
Amen
On our way out of Church, there was a poster of a line drawing of a house on the rood screen. We were asked to place a pound coin on a part of the line. Such a little to give, but
"mony a mickle maks a muckle".
(if you are unfamiliar with this phrase, I think the context makes the meaning clear.)
Today is Homelessness Sunday and the early part of the service was led by the Bible Class, who had organised a project to collect clothes and so on for Open Door.
The prayer for today is:
Lord, your door is always open to us.
Your heart is always open, overflowing with love.
Help us, your church, to keep our doors open to all
who struggle with poverty or homelessness.
Give us open hearts to recognise our sister,
our brother, in need.
And fill us with the will to work in our community
and our country towards ending the pain and
waste that poverty and homelessness create.
In the name of the one who emptied himself of all
but love, our Saviour, Jesus.
Amen
On our way out of Church, there was a poster of a line drawing of a house on the rood screen. We were asked to place a pound coin on a part of the line. Such a little to give, but
"mony a mickle maks a muckle".
(if you are unfamiliar with this phrase, I think the context makes the meaning clear.)
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Weather and Washing
How about that for a touch of alliteration?
Today the skies are grey, but light. There is a bit of a breeze, but no strong wind. It is dry, and does not even look like rain.
In other words, a very nice day for the end of January.
Perhaps that is what spurred me on to do my least favourite chore, two loads of washing (but I think it might have had something to do with a severe lack of clean underwear).
However it is good exercise as the laundry room is down one flight of stairs and then along a long corridor, so you go there (and, hurrah there is a machine free!) and put on the first load, note the time and return to the flat. After an hour you go down again to put on the long spin and then to remove things that are not for the tumble dryer. You transfer the spun clothes to a tumble dryer and load the next wash into the vacated washing machine.
Back home and wait for about an hour at which time you put the second wash on to a long spin and remove the dry clothes from the dryer, fold them and put them into a carrier bag. At this point you empty the water container from the tumble dryer and clear the fluff.
By this time the second wash is ready to transfer to the newly vacated tumble dryer, so back home with the first wash and put it all away.
After about an hour you go down to the laundry room again and collect and fold your second wash, empty the water container and clear the fluff. Back home again with only the dried wash to put away.
Phew!
Today the skies are grey, but light. There is a bit of a breeze, but no strong wind. It is dry, and does not even look like rain.
In other words, a very nice day for the end of January.
Perhaps that is what spurred me on to do my least favourite chore, two loads of washing (but I think it might have had something to do with a severe lack of clean underwear).
However it is good exercise as the laundry room is down one flight of stairs and then along a long corridor, so you go there (and, hurrah there is a machine free!) and put on the first load, note the time and return to the flat. After an hour you go down again to put on the long spin and then to remove things that are not for the tumble dryer. You transfer the spun clothes to a tumble dryer and load the next wash into the vacated washing machine.
Back home and wait for about an hour at which time you put the second wash on to a long spin and remove the dry clothes from the dryer, fold them and put them into a carrier bag. At this point you empty the water container from the tumble dryer and clear the fluff.
By this time the second wash is ready to transfer to the newly vacated tumble dryer, so back home with the first wash and put it all away.
After about an hour you go down to the laundry room again and collect and fold your second wash, empty the water container and clear the fluff. Back home again with only the dried wash to put away.
Phew!
Friday, 25 January 2008
Endorphins
This morning saw my second time at the pulmonary rehabilitation classes. The physiotherapist has noted that my biggest problem is my leg, and more my left leg (probably a result of a stroke), so she is concentrating on that as well as the other respiratory exercises. I am managing to increase the time or the weight or the resistance (on the bike) for almost every exercise, which feels good.
The weather today is foul with wind and rain making what should be an almost balmy 7 degrees celsius feel really cold and horrible. Still, better than ice or snow for the sixteen mile round trip to my class. I should have done a small shop on my way home to return some light bulbs as I got the wrong ones. However they, and the receipt, are in the car so I can do it next time (hopefully).
Not long after I got home the man arrived from the security firm to install the base unit and give me my new pendant alarm.
After going through all the small print - by the way, how many people take the trouble to read the small print on-line rather than just tick the box that says you have read and agreed them - we tested the base unit and the pendant.
I then checked that my telephone worked for both incoming and outgoing calls and that the internet connection worked too.
I was glad to get a cup of tea in the lounge after all that.
The weather today is foul with wind and rain making what should be an almost balmy 7 degrees celsius feel really cold and horrible. Still, better than ice or snow for the sixteen mile round trip to my class. I should have done a small shop on my way home to return some light bulbs as I got the wrong ones. However they, and the receipt, are in the car so I can do it next time (hopefully).
Not long after I got home the man arrived from the security firm to install the base unit and give me my new pendant alarm.
After going through all the small print - by the way, how many people take the trouble to read the small print on-line rather than just tick the box that says you have read and agreed them - we tested the base unit and the pendant.
I then checked that my telephone worked for both incoming and outgoing calls and that the internet connection worked too.
I was glad to get a cup of tea in the lounge after all that.
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