Today I shall be Mainly...

[Wendyf]

Going to collect my Santa Suit ready for tomorrow's Santa Fun Run (or Fun Walk in my case). Looks like it's going to be a wet one!

[Stanley]

No chance of anything like that here Mags, we may have a Christmas Day frost and perhaps a bit of fog. That's the closest we will get to a white Xmas!
Not too sure about today, nothing is pressing, I am effectively marking time until Mo and I have our trip on Monday. I may have some news to communicate after that...
A bit of shed pottering may be in order! Then I have to make a decision on Xmas reading. At the moment I'm fancying a re-read of 'History of Christianity' by one of my favourite authors, Diarmid McCullough. Seems appropriate for the time of year and these troubled times.....Could take my mind off Brexit!
Just seen your post Wendy. You're right, the forecast looks very wet and cold. A good rub down with goose grease before you get kitted up?

[Marilyn]

Don't know about Goose Grease, but I may have some Duck Fat after cooking my Duck tomorrow.
I have no desire to rub it on your chest though Wendy. You can do that yourself!

[Wendyf]

Don't worry Maz, I always have a barrel of goose grease handy for wet winter days when I feel like running around the fields in my birthday suit....

[Marilyn]

Hubby was asking if there is any footage of this? Poor quality mobile phone footage accepted...

[Wendyf]

It's pay to view I'm afraid....

[Marilyn]

Any grainy black and white footage for free?
Infra Red even?
( it's ok. I shall give him the bad news after he has had his heart pills...and his right leg stops it's dreadful trembling...)

[Stanley]

Another disquieting image that will haunt me for a day or two..... Be still my heart!
Cooking and pottering with a bit of 'A History of Christianity' thrown in I think. That should keep me calm and occupied.



In retaliation, olive oil in this instance! (Catalina Island a long long time ago.)

[Marilyn]

Qwe just got back from a long walk on the beach...sun on our backs and soft white sand between our toes. Lovely.
Didn't see anything as nice as THAT photo down there though!

[Stanley]

Those were the days Maz. Important to remember them as we get older!
I always remember a quote from a Bernard Shaw play. A man sees a woman across the room and says "There are, about her, the remains of a fine woman"

[Marilyn]

We all have more past than future, Stanley. My heart still skips a beat when I see photos of my husband when he was younger.
( and his father was a very handsome man in photos too...though I never met him)

[Stanley]

[Marilyn]

eye candy is eye candy...no matter how old we gets!

[Stanley]

I agree, this was about the same time. I wonder where my Speedos got to?



This could excite you even more Maz. I'm steaming this 57p cauliflower and it's a big one. It's been a good year for them.

[Marilyn]

I paid 3x that price for a very small cauliflower yesterday. The thing is they are so useful, either hot or in salads. We always eat the whole lot, so I am prepared to pay, unless they are very substandard. ( then there is the frozen option, though I am not keen).

I've always said the white speedos were a confident choice!

[Stanley]

I think I know what you mean......

[chinatyke]

...going to Nanning and staying at a friend's for 3 nights. 3 dinners to attend starting tonight with a boozy-do! We'll be like stuffed pigs when we return home.

[Stanley]

Getting my ducks in a row for Mo picking me up at 9AM. I shall make sure Jack has had two walks and is full of sausage so he doesn't miss me! It's our Airedale Fun Day......
05:30 I am on track. We have had our first walk and now I shall cook the Xmas veggies! Then a short walk to settle Jack before I leave him.

[Stanley]

Relaxing in the aftermath of yesterday.
Revising my plans for Xmas dinner because of the arrival of my Xmas wrap-up from the butcher's.
A bit of a potter in the shed and some thought about what I want do do for my next project. Now I have some assurance about my future I can consider spending money on castings!
Most of all enjoying Xmas radio....... One of my annual treats!

[Wendyf]

Well our day didn't go as planned. Breakfast went well as did a brief present opening session then Col and I decided to have a bracing walk before putting the turkey in the oven. We had just got to Kelbrook when the neighbours phoned to say the ponies were out of their paddock and running round in their field so we had to head back up the hill as fast as we could! There is a lot of half buried wire netting around at the neighbours so I was a bit worried about that. They were a bit over excited when we got back but otherwise OK so we managed to fix the electric fencing and catch them. That made us late getting started with the turkey. Just had a bite of lunch when it became apparent that Bertie was in some distress and couldn't get up from his bed.
We had to make a quick decision to phone the vets and managed to get him in the car and down to Colne by lifting him on his bed. He's a big dog.

Rip Bertie.

Not really feeling like carrying on with the meal preparations but we are going to have a go at it.

[Marilyn]

Oh dear.
How awful for you both. Christmas Day just wasn't your day this year.

[Wendyf]

The meal was ok but we may have drunk a little more than usual! Some tears have been shed but life goes on.... No doubt there will be more dogs who need a country home! I just hope the next one doesn't shed a few pounds of hair on a daily basis.

[Marilyn]

Very brave to be thinking of a next one.
We still aren't brave enough, and it's been 10 years since we lost ours. I still miss her.

[Stanley]

Wendy! That wasn't the best Xmas day ever! Glad you managed to cope with it all. The one good thing is that Bertie made a decision for you. That would have helped me to do what was necessary. I hope today is a better day.



Today I shall be being very selfish and thinking about this young lady..... and others who have buried their kids. Concentrate on the good memories!

[Stanley]

Then reality struck and I did a bit of cooking.
For a few days I have been considering my kitchen lights. We all know that even in the best kept households they collect the stain from cooking fumes and then you have the small addition of pipe smoke in my case. I had noticed that they were losing brightness and so this morning I got the steps out and took both the plastic shields off and gave them a good clean. Any project that requires climbing is very carefully approached! All went well, the steps were a good investment, they are very stable. I now have much better light!