Well that didn't go well, did it!

I feel a bit sad that so many people seem to be stopping blogging at the moment, including several whose blogs I really enjoy.  Not only that but January seems to have been a very lean month for posts from quite a lot of people - including me!

I have decided that my aim this month will be February Fun.  I've got a very special day out arranged next week, I've just acquired a new-to-me camera, and life should be good.  The month ends with Pancake Day so provided I am in my own house (see my other blog for why I need to say that) I shall definitely be finishing on an up-beat theme.  I shall interpret "fun" fairly widely to include pleasure and delight in all sorts of things.  No mere foggy February for me!  I feel better just for writing this so if you are reading (which you are!) I hope February's a fun month for you too!

Doorstep deliveries

Just recently our local authority has decided to switch off street lighting between about midnight and six in the morning.  It's just like it was when I was a girl!  Many men worked shifts in my home town as steel making can't be turned off at night so lighting was on until about 11.30 at night to give men coming off the 2-10pm shift time to get home.   It came on at about 5am for people cycling to work to start the 6am-2pm shift.

It also meant that milk deliveries could start soon after 5am.  A stream of milk girls would walk along the main arterial road in our town, each pulling a milk float which was battery powered but it still had to be operated by a girl on foot.  Gradually the stream would diminish as first one girl then another would peel off to do her round.  My mother used to buy a supply of "milk checks" from the Co-op.  These were little plastic discs which could be left out for the milkgirl to pick up when she delivered a pint.  Daily deliveries were vital when few households had a fridge.  Those days are long gone and these days I buy my one pint a week from the supermarket.  

These days even if I wanted a doorstep delivery I couldn't have one.  I'm not the only one to have voted with my feet.  Doorstep deliveries are no longer viable.  

The one sure doorstep delivery now is post.  I've lived in a country where one had to go to the post office to collect letters etc and I much prefer hearing letters rattle though the letterbox. I don't want voting with my feet to endanger that service.  I've opted out of junk mail, I get most regular bills as e mails, and I get very sniffy about the unaddressed junk mail makes the hallway so untidy.  However, I am beginning to feel that if we opt out of too much the Royal Mail may say that doorstep deliveries will become a thing of the past.  I know e mail is cheap and convenient but I am still happy to send letters as I feel they are excellent value for money.  The multitude of Amazon deliveries do their bit to ensure that the postie will keep his job a little bit longer.  Yes sending e mails is frugal but I really don't want the postie to go the way of the milk girl.

Remember me?

Remember me?  Quite a while since I was here!  Sorry about that!

I had a small accident with my camera and my trundle truck.  One ran over the other but I'll leave to to you to work out which was on top.

Anyway, I've managed to work out how to take photos with the new phone I bought and, even more stunningly, I've worked out how to get those photos on to my laptop.  Acquisition of a new camera is in hand but this method will have to do for now.

On Friday I went to Mandy's so here are the results.  We actually made four but the last one defeated my IT (lack of) skills

I rather liked this one.  It's a bit different from my usual style but still flowery.

Easter chicken.  Rather red in the face as she's a bit flustered.

fiddly but nice

And for the third time

This is the best resolution I've ever made, so for the third year here it is.

How was it for me?

Not a bad year!  I don't think I've done much but I've had a great time doing it!

 The garden was beautiful.  Thank you, Jack!

I had a lovely break in Brugge.  Thank you, my dear nephew and your wife.

I made some gorgeous cards.  Thank you, Mandy.

And through this blog I've made and maintained some lovely friendships.  Thank you, one and all.

Have a great 2017.  

Home alone

Just before Christmas I can single-handedly raise the stress levels of an awful lot of people.  Now let’s be clear on this, they are nice, kind loving people, but there’s an awful lot of them.

I am one of the most blessed people alive.  I get an incredible number of invitations to go to other people’s homes on Christmas Day.  Cousins, friends, church members, fellow church leaders, all invite me to join them but I just won’t budge.  I prefer to be home alone.

Christmas is a very special day.  It starts like a Sunday morning here.  I get up and have a leisurely cup of coffee whilst I check in with the Almighty, then I dress and it’s off to church.  I think I’d be missed if I didn’t go as I’m the gal who leads the service and Christmas is one of those days when I feel more than usually blessed to be able to do so.  The congregation is extra happy and I get a generous number of hugs and often gifts of wine or baked gifts.  Yummy. 

On the way home I call to see Auntie Hettie (who has just been to chapel) and I have a coffee and a natter there but from then on it’s a solitary day. 

I come home and maybe unwrap a present before I go for a snooze but it’s a day for pleasing myself.  When I get up I gradually open my presents but take time to enjoy each one, especially the homemade ones.  My meal can be at any time (this year it was in the evening) and can be anything.  This year I had a turkey roast with pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach, bread sauce and gravy with some rather nice cranberry sauce which had arrived in my stocking.  I decided to keep the pud for another day.  During the day I listen to the radio or an audiobook, watch TV, read or do puzzles.

And I am truly blessed.  I know that if I changed my mind and wanted company I could go to any number of houses and a place would quickly be prepared for me at the table.  I am blessed in that everyone who invites me would truly make me welcome but respects my desire to stay at home.

In all I am blessed for the love which Christ showed in coming to earth is shown in my family and circle of friends.  I hope that you too have been blessed this Christmas.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a post from Jack!

Hi Everyone

I’m back from Malta with a nice tan and it’s got round to that time of the year again – Christmas.  Christmas isn’t a good time for me.  My mum died around this time nineteen years ago.  Also in December 63 years ago the good Lord called my sister to join him.  She was only fifteen years old and it devastated my parents.  Christmas wasn’t the same after that.  I like to spend time on my own and I get rather emotional as well, but I am getting better.  This year I am wearing Christmas jumpers so I think at last I am getting better.

On arrival at my friend’s house I could sense something was wrong.  We had a chat over a cup of tea.  It turned out she was a bit out of sorts and so tired.  Vicars have a hard time of it this time of year but I hope my visit cheered her up.

I put up the outside tree and planted some plants I’d got her for Christmas then did a few more bits and bobs outside and then while she had a rest I did my bit on the kitchen.  After about an hour and a quarter the kitchen was sparkling clean including the floor.  Then I assembled an oil heater so she can sit in the conservatory.  Next I hoovered through the house.  Then after I’d sorted the sitting room I got two more Christmas trees out of the garage, put them into position, and brought in the decorations for her to trim the tree but before that DINNER!!!  Today’s menu was baked spuds with sweetcorn and grated cheese with butter on as well.  I hope I’m not making your mouth water!  Surprise, surprise – no mistakes today.

She knew I had to go before 2pm as my wife was going to see “Frozen on Ice” as part of her Christmas present from our daughter so I just daren’t be late.  My eldest granddaughter Louise, who also helps my friend when I am in Malta, was driving them all to the show and they were taking my younger granddaughter too.  Due to circumstances we didn’t meet this granddaughter until she was 2½ years old.  She was very shy at first but soon she would meet me before I got out of my car, grab my hand and take me up and down the street telling everybody, “Look, I’ve got a grandad!  I’ve got a grandad”.  I’m the only grandad my two granddaughters have.  It is   such a great feeling to be held in such high esteem. 

Christmas is all about giving – well someone on my family is going to be very happy.  It’s nothing to do with money and it’s nothing edible.  You’ve all heard of the twelve days of Christmas?   I’m going to write twelve words on a card to someone and I know they will be so happy when they see it. 

Rambler, I hope you get your knee done. I think I am heading down that path as well.  The doc has said that am too young (at nearly 74!) to have it done.  Good luck with yours.

To all the good folk who follow this blog (and I mean you as well, Vicar) I hope you all have a happy Christmas and a great 2017.

To everyone wherever you are, whatever you do, wherever you go, may the good Lord be at your side always.

My best wishes, Jack

PS, see you in the New Year, Vicar, and thanks very much for everything.

Jack came just before Christmas and sent this post soon after so I'm a bit late posting it.  Sorry, Jack but I hope Christmas was good for you too.

Stable times

I love Nativity sets and I love chocolate-free Advent Calendars.  When I see the two combined I'm a lost cause.

Early in the year I saw some lovely sets and I bought them for lots of children and one very big child.  Me.  Each day I can open a new window and find another piece towards my stable.  Day 1 was the stable itself but since then I've found two trees and a sheep.