I met up with someone here this morning and this afternoon is all about sorting things and catching up on Domestics. Easy pasta dish for tea and we won't be washing it down with anything alcoholic, for the first time in a while as we need to break our habit of WINE with most evening meals, followed by CHOCOLATE every evening... .
On to preparations for the next concert, the Bach B Minor Mass. I have listened to it on vinyl over the weekend. Unfortunately the major route into the city has roadworks-
for 12 weeks! So I am going to leave early and take a circuitous route.
Much as I love Bach's organ music, I'm not quite as inspired by his choral works (although my experience of them is admittedly small).
Mild and much drier today, so I took the Trusty Trolley to work and did the grocery shopping at lunchtime that I didn't do yesterday because Deluge. Sadly, Villa Maria is no longer on special offer 😢 but there was one called Brancott Station that was, so I'll give it a go, and if I like it I'll get some more.
Work was steadily doable, and supper was fish cakes and veggies.
Sadly, Villa Maria is no longer on special offer 😢 but there was one called Brancott Station that was, so I'll give it a go, and if I like it I'll get some more.
We know - and like - Brancott Estate; is that the one you mean?
Here at Casa Nen we are all about Sorting and Decluttering; I've spent the afternoon going through a boxful of Nenlet1's stuff that's been sitting in a cupboard here since she left home to get married nearly 14 years ago. This evening Mr Nen wanted to talk through a box of old photos he's decided to keep. We discarded a few, of people we both looked at and said to each other, "Who's that?" Also some of the scenery on our honeymoon, which was underwhelming to say the least. That is, the scenery was underwhelming; the honeymoon, I'm saying nothing.
Back from rehearsal. The return journey was quick. I risked the road works- just lane closures now, but on my way there I took a different route to avoid them. So did lots of other drivers, but there were no delays.
We sang through several movements of the Bach B Minor. I first sang it under David Willcocks and he signed my copy. This is my third time, but first time at baroque pitch. Our brilliant accompanist transposed it on sight!
Double posting to apologise for apparent non sequitur earlier. I was about to set off for rehearsal. A new paragraph would have helped, but I was in a rush.
Tomorrow afternoon our church choir has an extra practice for next Sunday’s Evensong. Normal night is Thursday. Local choral society is Wednesday, so this another busy week of singing.
I made a start on the knitting. I'm using the wool that was going to be a pair of gloves for me. I hope my neighbours don't think giving their new baby something red is a political hint.
I'm all ready for bed, but waiting till my husband comes home to find out how he did in the latest round of his photo club's competition.
Double posting to apologise for apparent non sequitur earlier. I was about to set off for rehearsal. A new paragraph would have helped, but I was in a rush.
No apology needed, it made me smile. Glad that all went well.
I have taken to writing people’s names on the back of photos so that Lord P will know who they are when he has to sort them out.
There is latitude for a bit of mischief doing that.
If you find a picture that has a random stranger in it, you could claim that it was Cousin Phillip(a) who came from the branch of the family we don't usually talk about.
Hehe...my late Ma was the branch of the Family that (at the time of my birth) no-one wanted to talk about...
Things changed for the better much later on, happily.
ION, yet another grey and mild day in Arkland the Soused, where it has been raining for hours and hours. They say that the taps will be turned off at about midnight, but then They say that they will be turned on again on Thursday morning at 7am. For the whole bloody day.
Hey ho. We need the rain, I know, and I've just hung out some Wash Ing (Sox, Pantz etc.) so that they will get nicely rinsed. No point in wasting free water...
I managed to get to Pilates, despite the rain and my aching Legs, and was duly put through the prescribed 50 minutes of Torture. The pain was worth it, even so, and various parts of me have been stretched and eased accordingly, though I might not feel the benefit until tomorrow.
Lunch is international - Chinese Sweet n'Sour CHICKEN, washed down by Polish BEER.
I have taken to writing people’s names on the back of photos so that Lord P will know who they are when he has to sort them out.
There is latitude for a bit of mischief doing that.
If you find a picture that has a random stranger in it, you could claim that it was Cousin Phillip(a) who came from the branch of the family we don't usually talk about.
We have four daughters and there was a very strong family likeness when they were young. Husband Beaky managed for a while to convince a chap that used to come round to visit him and could never tell the girls apart that there was a fifth one called Amy who was a very good swimmer and was always out at swimming club 😆
A bit of a strange day today. It started with our grocery delivery being delivered by my brother-in-law. We've been wondering ever since he started at the company back in November if he'd be coming to our place, but thought it unlikely as the area the company covers is large, but no the M delivering our groceries really was him. He couldn't stop for a chat but we're meeting up on Sunday so can catch up then.
Then my husband and I decided at the last minute to go to small town to the south of here that a friend recommended. We had a very nice time, and ended up spending money on various things we didn't know we needed, as well as visiting a couple of good cafes and an interesting museum.
Then back to the news that my fellow councillor and ex-mayor, L, has died suddenly. He was one of those people that should be shown to any would be politician what a life of service to your community really means. Everyone in town knew him and knew he would fight their corner if needed. He'll be much missed.
It has been a Very Busy Day at Casa Nen. It's Bin Day tomorrow and to that end the heat was on to get as much as possible into the black bin and the recycling. I then took a trip to town with a bag of donations for the charity shop and to our local Tessie's for some things that the GrandNenling needs (we're seeing her and Nenlet1 tomorrow ). Took myself to my favourite coffee shop for some well-earned Sittage and Quaffage (though not of the alcoholic kind, unfortunately) and a bit of angst offload debriefing into my journal. Got wet and cold on the way home. Mr Nen did a trip to our local Sort It Centre with a packed-to-the-gunnels Nenmobile. So it's been Productive but Exhausting .
Chick frick for tea, it's been a while since we had that; and it's Wednesday and all.
Very glad I don't have to go out again this evening.
A quiet but pleasant day in Arkland the Calm, though the Sun-Shine of this morning has been replaced by Cloud, prior to tomorrow's forecast Rain. No need to go out again until Saturday .
Still, the Wash Ing has been brought in, and is now Air Ing in the warmth of the Dragon. A quick trip to the village Co-Op resulted in BEER and MINCE PIES (it's still Christmass until Candlemass...), and there are GAMMON STEAKS for supper/lunch/tea - my meal-times get more erratic by the day.
I think there's another episode of A Touch Of Frost to look forward to on YouTube this evening. There is also CHEESE, not to mention the aforesaid MINCE PIES.
Sunny this morning with a heavy frost and black ice. I’ve spent the day doing admin, comms and marking, and I’m now cooking dinner before going to deliver a lecture on youth mental health. A long day.
I will be cooking meatballs in a creamy pesto sauce with fried gnocchi.
Busy day today. Washing and cleaning this morning, then late morning my son came over. Amongst other things he fitted a new Ring doorbell. He also brought the excellent news that Grandson W, who had two lumps removed last autumn, does not have cancer.
Scrabble group this afternoon, now a quick turn round with local choral society this evening ( Mendelssohn’s Elijah ).
I’m looking forward to a couple of free days to catch up with some admin and other chores.
Captain Pyjamas is under the weather. Yesterday evening he went to bed early complaining of a headache, and this morning it hadn't gone away. I gave him paracetamol, which he promptly threw back up again . He spent most of the morning lying in his bed listening to the radio, and napped this afternoon.
I think he's improving now, he's eaten a bit of dinner with apparently no ill effects. OTOH he did miss out on the spaghetti and MEATBALLS husband en rouge and I will be eating when he gets home.
I am not under the weather, but I am in recovery from a minor operation last week. Everything seems to be going smoothly except, uncomfortably, my insides are taking longer to recover from the anaesthetic than I had expected. Still, we are getting there.
In the meantime, I feel guilty about how busy my other half is. She had a lot on her plate last week, followed by very good news indeed! Tomorrow, separately, she crosses the country for a viva for her doctorate.
Went to my sister's for a meal last night, haven't seen her since last Christmas so plenty of catching up and bitching up of other family members to do. Finally got back at 2am, having driven round bits of rural Essex that even I as a former local had never heard if and were much amused to discover that the car that had pulled into a gateway to let us by had been her husband,
Husband and I went on separate Ramblers walks today as he didn't fancy the walk I wanted to do which was a tour of Newark's churches. It was an excellent walk, but today was probably the wrong day to do it. It was freezing and spending time stationary outside the various places of worship didn't help. The highlights were discovering it was one churches warm space day and diving in to use their loo, where upon I met various people I knew enjoying the warmth and the tea and biscuits and a coffee stop in another church where someone had the keys rather than the alternative place on offer which was the cemetery. Still I learned a few things I didn't know. about our town which is always a good thing.
I hope Captain Pyjamas is on the men @la vie en rouge, and that your insides sort themselves out pronto @BroJames.
@Sarasa - full marks to your local 'warm space' church. Our Place tried it a year or so ago, on a Sunday afternoon IIRC, but very few people used the facility. Mind you, we are off the beaten track, so to speak.
Virtual hugs to Captain PJs and Bro James - hope you both feel better very soon.
Busy day at work; one of the front office ladies went home early yesterday feeling ill (also complaining insides), so her colleague and I were left to look after things. My job is normally just typing, which suits me well; I rarely have to answer the phone, and when I do, I develop a stammer that I wouldn't otherwise have, and get very nervous about Getting Things Wrong. Also, what passes for my brain tends to go on strike, and if there's going to be someone who is talking from their mobile in the car with a very bad line, I'll be the one to get them ...
No matter; we Got There, and I'd taken a nice STEAK out of the fridge before I left the house, so it just needed to be marinated for a wee while, and given the company of some veggies and a glass of Malbec.
@Nenya, you were quite right - it is Brancott Estate. I don't know where I got the station bit from ...
@Bishops Finger , I noticed one of the other churches had a warm space day on Tuesday so I think they are working here. The care home my mum was in does soup and a roll for free for all that need it every afternoon which I think is a very good thing. @Piglet you have my sympathy when it comes to having to use the phone. My hearing is so dire I can only use my phone which is connected to my hearing aids via blue tooth. Even then it can be a difficult experience both for me and who ever I'm talking to.
Our Warm Space was not particularly successful until we renamed it "Drop In". Apparently some of our elderly people thought that "Warm Space" was for people who couldn't pay their electricity bill. As a weekly "Drop In" it has been very successful. Tea / coffee and homebakes 10-12, then soup, tea, coffee and homebakes 12-2. It's free, but there's a collection point for the Food Bank, which is well supported.
I had a very cold start today; the snow had finally melted enough for the Nativity in Nearest Town to be taken down. We assembled at 8am. It would have been easier if we had waited for the ice and snow to melt completely, but who knows when that will be?
Tomorrow morning our church is being visited by a holidaying American, the 6 x gt grandson of a former minister. I am looking forward to this very much although, alas, his 6 x gt grandfathers horizontal gravestone is still happed around with snow.
@North East Quine - good point about nomenclature. Our Place's 'Warm Space' might well have done better as a simple 'Drop In', especially as the nearby Community Centre isn't open on Sundays.
AFAIK, there are no plans to open the church hall for anything other than the usual monthly Saturday midday event.
I don’t know of any ‘ Warm Spaces’ in my town but there are a few places with coffee mornings where all are welcome to drop in eg Library, community centre, churches, WI hall, and a place called The Rosary. (?)
There are also several business which advertise that they are ‘ Safe Spaces’ where anyone (but presumably especially females) is encouraged to take refuge if they feel afraid, eg if they are being followed or threatened. In particular one is a clothes shop, two are hairdressers, one a nail salon, but there are general shops too.
One of our churches started a warm space aimed at people who were having to pay more than they could afford when bills went loopy. I'm not sure what the take up was and it has since morphed into English language classes.
One of our churches started a warm space aimed at people who were having to pay more than they could afford when bills went loopy. I'm not sure what the take up was and it has since morphed into English language classes.
It’s good that these “warm spaces” have morphed into what local people really need/want. So often churches think they know what is needed without trying to find out and are then surprised/hurt/discouraged when there is no take up.
One of our churches started a warm space aimed at people who were having to pay more than they could afford when bills went loopy. I'm not sure what the take up was and it has since morphed into English language classes.
It’s good that these “warm spaces” have morphed into what local people really need/want. So often churches think they know what is needed without trying to find out and are then surprised/hurt/discouraged when there is no take up.
This.
Our Place found that the handful of folk who came to the Sunday afternoon 'Warm Space' appreciated it very much, but I'm afraid the logistics of getting enough people to staff it each week proved too difficult for a very small congregation. The monthly Cafe/Stalls event has a small, but willing, team of workers who make it a priority.
Another Dismal Desmond of a Day in Arkland the Dripping, where it is still raining...I'm glad I have no place to go, and nothing to do when I get there IYSWIM.
My Neighbour S is the only one I've seen, but he has a Dog (an engaging and friendly little Jack Russell), so he has to take him walkies morning and evening, no matter what the weather happens to be.
Very wet and miserable here, but slightly cheered up by our MP getting in a spot of bother.
It was my first lip-reading class of the year today followed by my book shop shift. I intend to stay in the warm and dry for the rest of the day.
Hoping Captain Pyjamas and @BroJames feel much better very soon and that MrsBroJames's viva went very well.
It's been a grey wet day here too but we've spent most of it with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling which always gladdens my heart.
I am out for an hour this evening to a weekly commitment which I'm always glad to have gone to but the idea of staying at home in the warm is currently very appealing.
So it would appear ...
It was cool but mostly dry here; I had a little amble over to Tessie's at lunchtime, and work was decently quiet.
Having taken some sausages out of the freezer in the morning, I decided to make a sort-of cassoulet: I chopped up the sausages and browned them a bit, and then added a shallot, garlic, tomatoes, wine, a red pepper, a tin of chickpeas and rather too much basil (my hand twitched when I was shaking the jar).
Then added some orzo and a couple of splats of crème fraîche and let it bubble until it was the right consistency. Quite decent really.
My favourite local Italian restaurant offers a sausage dish which sounds rather akin to your cassoulet.
I don't know exactly what's in it (even the sausages are hand-made), but it's really delicious, and one of my must-haves when gracing the restaurant with my presence.
Comments
I met up with someone here this morning and this afternoon is all about sorting things and catching up on Domestics. Easy pasta dish for tea and we won't be washing it down with anything alcoholic, for the first time in a while as we need to break our habit of WINE with most evening meals, followed by CHOCOLATE every evening...
But nice.
for 12 weeks! So I am going to leave early and take a circuitous route.
I love the B Minor Mass, sang it at school (with a professional orchestra).
I'm sure the word "devastated" should have got a look-in there ...
And perhaps it should be "Choristers' heartbreak ..."!
Oooh another denizen of the orchestra pit. What instrument?
I haven't played the B minor Mass, although I did get to play Mozart's Requiem some years back, which was pretty damn amazing.
Mild and much drier today, so I took the Trusty Trolley to work and did the grocery shopping at lunchtime that I didn't do yesterday because Deluge. Sadly, Villa Maria is no longer on special offer 😢 but there was one called Brancott Station that was, so I'll give it a go, and if I like it I'll get some more.
Work was steadily doable, and supper was fish cakes and veggies.
We know - and like - Brancott Estate; is that the one you mean?
Here at Casa Nen we are all about Sorting and Decluttering; I've spent the afternoon going through a boxful of Nenlet1's stuff that's been sitting in a cupboard here since she left home to get married nearly 14 years ago. This evening Mr Nen wanted to talk through a box of old photos he's decided to keep. We discarded a few, of people we both looked at and said to each other, "Who's that?" Also some of the scenery on our honeymoon, which was underwhelming to say the least. That is, the scenery was underwhelming; the honeymoon, I'm saying nothing.
Violin. But we are talking a very long time ago.
We sang through several movements of the Bach B Minor. I first sang it under David Willcocks and he signed my copy. This is my third time, but first time at baroque pitch. Our brilliant accompanist transposed it on sight!
Tomorrow afternoon our church choir has an extra practice for next Sunday’s Evensong. Normal night is Thursday. Local choral society is Wednesday, so this another busy week of singing.
I'm all ready for bed, but waiting till my husband comes home to find out how he did in the latest round of his photo club's competition.
If you find a picture that has a random stranger in it, you could claim that it was Cousin Phillip(a) who came from the branch of the family we don't usually talk about.
Things changed for the better much later on, happily.
ION, yet another grey and mild day in Arkland the Soused, where it has been raining for hours and hours. They say that the taps will be turned off at about midnight, but then They say that they will be turned on again on Thursday morning at 7am. For the whole bloody day.
Hey ho. We need the rain, I know, and I've just hung out some Wash Ing (Sox, Pantz etc.) so that they will get nicely rinsed. No point in wasting free water...
I managed to get to Pilates, despite the rain and my aching Legs, and was duly put through the prescribed 50 minutes of Torture. The pain was worth it, even so, and various parts of me have been stretched and eased accordingly, though I might not feel the benefit until tomorrow.
Lunch is international - Chinese Sweet n'Sour CHICKEN, washed down by Polish BEER.
We have four daughters and there was a very strong family likeness when they were young. Husband Beaky managed for a while to convince a chap that used to come round to visit him and could never tell the girls apart that there was a fifth one called Amy who was a very good swimmer and was always out at swimming club 😆
Then my husband and I decided at the last minute to go to small town to the south of here that a friend recommended. We had a very nice time, and ended up spending money on various things we didn't know we needed, as well as visiting a couple of good cafes and an interesting museum.
Then back to the news that my fellow councillor and ex-mayor, L, has died suddenly. He was one of those people that should be shown to any would be politician what a life of service to your community really means. Everyone in town knew him and knew he would fight their corner if needed. He'll be much missed.
It has been a Very Busy Day at Casa Nen. It's Bin Day tomorrow and to that end the heat was on to get as much as possible into the black bin and the recycling. I then took a trip to town with a bag of donations for the charity shop and to our local Tessie's for some things that the GrandNenling needs (we're seeing her and Nenlet1 tomorrow
Chick frick for tea, it's been a while since we had that; and it's Wednesday and all.
Very glad I don't have to go out again this evening.
Still, the Wash Ing has been brought in, and is now Air Ing in the warmth of the Dragon. A quick trip to the village Co-Op resulted in BEER and MINCE PIES (it's still Christmass until Candlemass...), and there are GAMMON STEAKS for supper/lunch/tea - my meal-times get more erratic by the day.
I think there's another episode of A Touch Of Frost to look forward to on YouTube this evening. There is also CHEESE, not to mention the aforesaid MINCE PIES.
I will be cooking meatballs in a creamy pesto sauce with fried gnocchi.
Scrabble group this afternoon, now a quick turn round with local choral society this evening ( Mendelssohn’s Elijah ).
I’m looking forward to a couple of free days to catch up with some admin and other chores.
My inner 12 year old was itching to move one letter. It was the greatest source of joy in an otherwise drab day.
I think he's improving now, he's eaten a bit of dinner with apparently no ill effects. OTOH he did miss out on the spaghetti and MEATBALLS husband en rouge and I will be eating when he gets home.
In the meantime, I feel guilty about how busy my other half is. She had a lot on her plate last week, followed by very good news indeed! Tomorrow, separately, she crosses the country for a viva for her doctorate.
🤣
Today, terrifyingly, someone has asked for advice on how to have a career like mine
They must be desperate.
Tomorrow is another day...
I hope Captain Pyjamas is on the men @la vie en rouge, and that your insides sort themselves out pronto @BroJames.
Busy day at work; one of the front office ladies went home early yesterday feeling ill (also complaining insides), so her colleague and I were left to look after things. My job is normally just typing, which suits me well; I rarely have to answer the phone, and when I do, I develop a stammer that I wouldn't otherwise have, and get very nervous about Getting Things Wrong. Also, what passes for my brain tends to go on strike, and if there's going to be someone who is talking from their mobile in the car with a very bad line, I'll be the one to get them ...
No matter; we Got There, and I'd taken a nice STEAK out of the fridge before I left the house, so it just needed to be marinated for a wee while, and given the company of some veggies and a glass of Malbec.
@Nenya, you were quite right - it is Brancott Estate. I don't know where I got the station bit from ...
@Piglet you have my sympathy when it comes to having to use the phone. My hearing is so dire I can only use my phone which is connected to my hearing aids via blue tooth. Even then it can be a difficult experience both for me and who ever I'm talking to.
I had a very cold start today; the snow had finally melted enough for the Nativity in Nearest Town to be taken down. We assembled at 8am. It would have been easier if we had waited for the ice and snow to melt completely, but who knows when that will be?
Tomorrow morning our church is being visited by a holidaying American, the 6 x gt grandson of a former minister. I am looking forward to this very much although, alas, his 6 x gt grandfathers horizontal gravestone is still happed around with snow.
AFAIK, there are no plans to open the church hall for anything other than the usual monthly Saturday midday event.
There are also several business which advertise that they are ‘ Safe Spaces’ where anyone (but presumably especially females) is encouraged to take refuge if they feel afraid, eg if they are being followed or threatened. In particular one is a clothes shop, two are hairdressers, one a nail salon, but there are general shops too.
It’s good that these “warm spaces” have morphed into what local people really need/want. So often churches think they know what is needed without trying to find out and are then surprised/hurt/discouraged when there is no take up.
This.
Our Place found that the handful of folk who came to the Sunday afternoon 'Warm Space' appreciated it very much, but I'm afraid the logistics of getting enough people to staff it each week proved too difficult for a very small congregation. The monthly Cafe/Stalls event has a small, but willing, team of workers who make it a priority.
Our house sitter is off to another house sit for 2 weeks then back here when we're off to Germany for our son's 40th birthday.
My Neighbour S is the only one I've seen, but he has a Dog (an engaging and friendly little Jack Russell), so he has to take him walkies morning and evening, no matter what the weather happens to be.
SAUSAGES n'CHIPS for Lunch, because comfort food.
It was my first lip-reading class of the year today followed by my book shop shift. I intend to stay in the warm and dry for the rest of the day.
It's been a grey wet day here too but we've spent most of it with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling which always gladdens my heart.
I am out for an hour this evening to a weekly commitment which I'm always glad to have gone to but the idea of staying at home in the warm is currently very appealing.
It was cool but mostly dry here; I had a little amble over to Tessie's at lunchtime, and work was decently quiet.
Having taken some sausages out of the freezer in the morning, I decided to make a sort-of cassoulet: I chopped up the sausages and browned them a bit, and then added a shallot, garlic, tomatoes, wine, a red pepper, a tin of chickpeas and rather too much basil (my hand twitched when I was shaking the jar).
Then added some orzo and a couple of splats of crème fraîche and let it bubble until it was the right consistency. Quite decent really.
I don't know exactly what's in it (even the sausages are hand-made), but it's really delicious, and one of my must-haves when gracing the restaurant with my presence.