Wishing you all the best for the move @Nenya, and hope you can find the really important things you will need easily at the other end (kettle/mugs/corkscrew/wine glasses - delete the unimportant stuff! )
I dread to think what will happen to our books when. we die. I have rehomed some of my cross stitch books and I have some lace books to give to a friend, but we have books everywhere!
We cleared out several bookcases worth when re-did the old study and landing. We sold some to world of books who paid us over £100 and paid to pick up the boxes. We still have several bookcases full though, and I’ve added to the history ones! I might get rid of some of my educational research ones as I won’t need them again.
Mr Heavenly cooked a very nice venison jalfrezi for tea, and I am now having a rather quirky Austrian sparkling rose.
Mr P managed to sell a huge number of books before we moved here, but as he kept buying new ones until his death, I had about 3000 to deal with. His Will specified that they should be offered first to a book dealer he had used previously but this person failed to reply to me. I managed to sell a few, I invited various clergy and musical friends and others to take their pick, about 500 went overseas, but the rest went to Oxfam books and National Trust bookshops.
David's vast collection of hymnals, anthem books and assorted biographies of eminent church musicians went to his successor at the Cathedral, and his even vaster collection of organ periodicals to an eccentric old gentleman who used to come to his organ recitals.
It was an absolutely glorious Spring day here, perfect for a little amble round the Artisans' Market, where I got some Italian style sausages, a couple of apples and an avocado.
I then came home, had brunch, set some laundry going and dozed off on the sofa, completely missing the rugby.
Realising I hadn't got anything organised to take to my niece's tomorrow (one of the littlies has a birthday and there's a get-together), I ambled down to Tessie's and stocked up.
Glad you've got a lot of the packing sorted @nenya. I was only really attached to one of our places which we wouldn't have moved from if it wasn't for our son starting secondary school and the journey not being very good for him. I loved the idea of the house before this one but it turned out to be far too small on far to busy a road and pretty though it was I was very glad to move here.
The civic event this morning went well and the garden of light event this evening looked amazing though we didn't stay long. We'd gone out for a meal first. looked at the light parade and then headed to a pub with a live singer for a glass of wine before heading home.
I'm homeward bound from Manchester to Bristol. I had a lovely time. Meal with good friends followed by an art gallery visit the next day then another meal with more friends. Lots of chat and catching up. 🙂
I have got rid of fifteen boxes of books. I have three packed to go, another three to pack, and I would guess still a good dozen on my bookcases. Given that in 2020 I probably owned another 20 boxes of books on top of that this is downsizing!
I just bought a book as I decided trusting a poem to two pieces of paper with my throwing out ability was probably NOT A GOOD IDEA. I have one other book to order, which I lent to a friend, and I suspect I will not get it back. Its not the books I can't give up but the habit of buying them.
Another very nice Spring day here. A kind neighbour gave Captain Pyjamas a scooter that was sitting in her cellar unused, so this afternoon we took it out to the park. Upon our return, I went back to work on my Wild West fancy dress costume. I have now completed the bonnet, and have also turned an old bed sheet into an apron. I've ordered a floral fabric and when it turns up, the frock will be next.
I've had a very busy day. Church this morning then a walk into town for an International Women's Day event. It was a really nice event but I couldn't stay long, I did have some very nice jollof rice cooked by someone from our church who appeared to be able to be in two places at once as she was leading the children's liturgy at Mass as well beforehand. I then headed off to a local cafe where I was talking about my book of short stories with one of my local fellow writers for a monthly book event. It's inspired me to get going with a lot more writing, I've been very lazy about it recently.
I've come home and intend to have a very lazy evening.
The lights are going out at Casa Nen. Surrounded by boxes and Stuff Everywhere, the packers arrive tomorrow morning and once contracts complete we'll be on our way. We don't get TV or Internet at the new place until 17th March so see you all sometime after that.
Wishing you safe travels, uncomplicated packing and all the very best in the new Casa Nen!
My apologies for playing hookey yesterday: it was my little great-nephew Coen's fifth birthday and there was a Family Gathering, with much food (delicious) and drink (ditto). When I got home, a couple of hours of snoozage ensued, and after that it was pretty much time for bed.
Today was rather more productive: a decently busy day at work, followed by making a potato curry for supper.
It's been a long and stressful day at Casa Nen, on a theme of packing and sorting. We are surrounded by filled boxes and are having the packers round tomorrow "to pack us up." I observed to Mr Nen that for people who are supposed to be having professionals to pack for us, we seem to be doing rather a lot of it ourselves.
We are in the same circumstances in Oz.
We are packing boxes and putting them in our garage ready for the removalists to take. There is so much stuff, and we are downsizing considerably, though the place we are going to costs not much less than what we can sell our current place for.
All quiet on the British front today, I hope everyone is OK and @nenya is enjoying her new home, though probably not the unpacking.
I had a bad night's sleep last night, probably because I had an afternoon nap. Of course, I was so tired this afternoon that I had another one today and now don't really feel like going to bed though I should.
The day wasn't totally lazy as I did manage to read the agenda for a meeting tomorrow and go to a meeting tonight about our bid to become 2028's Town of Culture. I imagine every other town in the UK is also working on a bid, but it was an encouraging meeting to talk up all the amazing things we do in the town.
I spent my evening at a Vestry meeting, where I got press-ganged into taking minutes (a task I hate), and then trying to get my bloody laptop to work* to type them up.
Very naughty words have been said.
* it has two speeds - dead slow and stop. And why does the cursor keep jumping around the screen???
Before I went out, supper was the other half of the curry.
I’m busy here with a stack of marking (4 afternoons of marking every week for 5-6 weeks!). Today I have a long day where I get to do both marking and an evening tutorial (on poverty and mental health). Today’s marking is on public health innovation, medical versus social/environmental.
I spent my evening at a Vestry meeting, where I got press-ganged into taking minutes (a task I hate)
I hope they had the decency to ask you before the meeting. I once worked with someone who waited until the end of a meeting before asking me to take the minutes.
I was quite pleased to see the Bank of England's announcement that the new set of banknotes will feature animals. Not sure what shipmates might think, but I wanted the animals to go in rough size order of the denomination of banknote. E.g. £5 - harvest mouse; £10 - hedgehog; £20 - badger; £50 - red deer.
It’s my fortnightly Scrabble group this afternoon. A number of people have told me they won’t be there, and a couple of others just don’t turn up most weeks without letting me know, so I think numbers will be low and we probably won’t cover the rent. The two strong men who help with putting up and putting away tables are both away this week. At least the refreshments person will be there.
Then it’s a quick turn around with choir tonight. Spag bol as usual.
I play against the computer, but it comes up with words nobody has ever heard of. It also has American spellings even though I have changed it to UK English.
We had 9 at the group, so played at tables of 4, 3, and2. Everyone helped.
Just resting after blood donation no 98. I hear you get a Flake with 99...
That's seriously impressive! I've been donating since I was 19 but a fallow period when I was living in a particular area means I'm only up to the mid-60s. Several of my contemporaries have reached 75 donations, at which they were taken out to dinner at the Metropole in Llandrindod Wells by the Welsh Blood Service.
Well done you!
Just resting after blood donation no 98. I hear you get a Flake with 99...
Do you raise your bat and take off your helmet for the one after that?
Dunno about the helmet, but I am absolutely taking the bat with me!
Coincidentally as I biked home, I saw a lad, talking to a friend at one of the ebike stands, in full whites complete with cap and pads. I couldn't see a bat or kitbag, so I'm not convinced that it wasn't fancy dress. I'd have stopped and had a quick word of I didn't know supper was cooking.
Well done @Sandemaniac, that is impressive.
A very nice walk with the Ramblers today, followed by a council meeting this evening. The weather has been rather nice, if a little chilly on my way home. There wasn't even too much mud on the walk, though there were some rather tricky stiles.
Good on you, Sanders! ❤️
A rather blustrous day here; by the time I got to work I looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards, but at least it was dry ...
... which it emphatically wasn't when I went out at lunchtime to leave my hearing aids in to get checked - it was sleeting almost horizontally and I came back a rather soggy piglet.
Supper was salmon baked with veggies, potatoes and a crème fraîche and mustard sauce, which was rather good.
If someone schedules an interview for you in a hurry, you think they are interested and need the role filled fast.
No - only the HR guy is in a hurry. The panel weren't planning on interviewing until the end of the month, and the job is even worse than the job description made it look. I could do it in my sleep, and probably would be by the end of the day. I suspect I only applied to keep the Job Centre happy. But why the hell would you interview someone for a rock-bottom job when they can see experience on your CV going back nearly 20 years?
A total, total waste of everyone's time and effort. Looks like I start at DPD on Monday then. Assuming they tell me where I am going for my training!
I don't know whether to be incandescent or collapse in tears, I really don't.
My brother-in-law is an Ocado driver and seems to be enjoying it, so I hope DPD works out for you as well @Sandemaniac , hopefully on a temporary basis.
I must admit that I am looking forward to (a) a break from endless applying for jobs I know I'm not going to get and (b) being able to park like a twat and get away with it.
I'll let you guess which of those is me being facetious.
Well done on the blood donation, @Sandemaniac. Somewhere there are people going about their lives unaware that they are the reason I didn't die in 1998. They're they reason my children didn't grow up motherless, the reason I'm here today. I owe them everything - seeing my kids graduate, seeing my daughter marry, getting my degrees, being a Shipmate.
I was a blood donor myself prior to that (not been allowed to donate since) but that does not lessen the immense gratitude I feel for those whose blood ended up in my veins.
98 donations! Think of the myriad ways in which people are going about their lives thanks to you!
What a lovely way of putting it, NEQ!
For the second time in as many days, I became a very damp piglet: it was chucking it on my way to work, and I only just made it home before it started again. In a general sort of way, we don't seem to get a huge lot of rain here, so getting soaked two days on the trot isn't that common.
Supper was smoked haddock fishcakes and veggies, and was most excellent.
Well done on the blood donation, @Sandemaniac. Somewhere there are people going about their lives unaware that they are the reason I didn't die in 1998. They're they reason my children didn't grow up motherless, the reason I'm here today. I owe them everything - seeing my kids graduate, seeing my daughter marry, getting my degrees, being a Shipmate.
I was a blood donor myself prior to that (not been allowed to donate since) but that does not lessen the immense gratitude I feel for those whose blood ended up in my veins.
98 donations! Think of the myriad ways in which people are going about their lives thanks to you!
Thank you, @North East Quine , you have made me well up in a good way. Been too much in a bad way of late.
Thank you @North East Quine for the reminder about how we are all connected to each other by our actions, and that small gestures (not that giving blood is a small gesture) can mean a lot.
Being Thursday it was Lip Reading day followed by book shop shift. I had lunch with my husband in between. He was going to visit a friend in Yorkshire, but cancelled because of the rather wild and windy weather here.
Well done on all those donations, Sandemaniac. I used to give in my teens/20s but then I pricked my finger on a forcep I had used on one of my HIV patients and got banned for 2 years! (this was the mid-90s). I got out of the habit of donating again and then had babies/developed medical problems which prevented me returning.
Yoga as usual this morning and then I came home and wrote a presentation on my masters dissertation for next week’s history study day. Bible study group this evening.
Tea was muntjac saddle, spinach and wild garlic in a garlic and ginger sauce. For pudding I made hot cross bun pudding (bread and butter pudding made with whole buttered St Clement hot cross buns).
We went to a very good contemporary dance programme last night. When we came out of the Dance House the rain was absolutely torrential and the wind was strong and blowing straight into our faces. We battled our way to the (covered) car park (200 yards) but got absolutely drenched! It was cold too, which didn't help.
Hedgehog duty today at the sanctuary. Always enjoyable but absolutely exhausting!
Then my son and granddaughter are coming over from Germany for the weekend. That's one perk of having a pilot as the other son who can get mates rates. 🙂
The toys are out of the shed ready and the beds made up. This evening we are having a family games and curry night, I'm really looking forward to it.
I am expecting a delivery this afternoon. In recent weeks if I've been expecting anyone at the door I've been sticking a post-it note on the bell saying "Not working. Please knock." However, post-it notes tend to blow away and it's windy today. So I typed "Door bell battery flat. Please knock" in 72 font on a sheet of A4 and I was going to laminate it for extra staying power today.
The NE Man is not happy. He has pointed out that he has been saying that he will recharge the battery for over a month. He feels that if I stick on a post-it note it suggests I accept that the problem is transitory and that he will recharge it "soon."
But he thinks a laminated A4 sign suggests an unbecoming lack of wifely confidence.
We have compromised - my A4 sheet of paper is on the door, but has not been laminated.
The rain it raineth muchly. This morning I went to a meeting at Captain P's school, and thencely to the market, where I got sopping wet.
At lunchtime, we went out to an Iranian restaurant. Nothing to do with current affairs: Little Tehran is just downstairs. Basically, in the early 70s, an enterprising French real estate promoter betook himself to Tehran and sold a load of apartments in this neighbourhood. Then the Islamic revolution happened, and the owners of said apartments decided they were going to take up permanent residence in their Parisian properties. So we have a load of Iranian groceries and restaurants, and very tasty too. We got a selection of starters to share, then I had beef meatballs with pomegranate and walnut sauce. On another day I would have got the saffron ice-cream (it's to fall on the floor for, as the French say), but it was too cold and miserable for it, so I got baklava instead. It was very delicious. I bought fish at the market this morning, but I don't know if I'll have room for it now.
That does sound delicious, La Vie!
NEQ's talk of husbandly procrastination reminded me of when I went back to Orkney for a holiday with my sister, and David said he'd paint the kitchen while I was away. When he picked me up at the airport, he said (rather sheepishly), "Well, I've bought the paint".
It never did get done: in fairness to him, he may have already been becoming ill, and just didn't have the energy.
Another cool, blustrous and intermittently wet day here, although I managed to dodge the showers.
After being awake for over two hours in the middle of the night, with rain hammering against the window, I needed a quiet day at home pre- concert tomorrow, enlivened by a short visit from my son, bringing four plants for the garden for my Mothering Sunday gift, though he didn’t have time to actually plant them today.
Comments
Mr Heavenly cooked a very nice venison jalfrezi for tea, and I am now having a rather quirky Austrian sparkling rose.
It was an absolutely glorious Spring day here, perfect for a little amble round the Artisans' Market, where I got some Italian style sausages, a couple of apples and an avocado.
I then came home, had brunch, set some laundry going and dozed off on the sofa, completely missing the rugby.
Realising I hadn't got anything organised to take to my niece's tomorrow (one of the littlies has a birthday and there's a get-together), I ambled down to Tessie's and stocked up.
The civic event this morning went well and the garden of light event this evening looked amazing though we didn't stay long. We'd gone out for a meal first. looked at the light parade and then headed to a pub with a live singer for a glass of wine before heading home.
I just bought a book as I decided trusting a poem to two pieces of paper with my throwing out ability was probably NOT A GOOD IDEA. I have one other book to order, which I lent to a friend, and I suspect I will not get it back. Its not the books I can't give up but the habit of buying them.
No bookshelf space in our tiny cottage. 🙂
I've come home and intend to have a very lazy evening.
You're amazingly creative @la vie en rouge .
The lights are going out at Casa Nen. Surrounded by boxes and Stuff Everywhere, the packers arrive tomorrow morning and once contracts complete we'll be on our way. We don't get TV or Internet at the new place until 17th March so see you all sometime after that.
Hope all goes well, and that you're back online soon.
My apologies for playing hookey yesterday: it was my little great-nephew Coen's fifth birthday and there was a Family Gathering, with much food (delicious) and drink (ditto). When I got home, a couple of hours of snoozage ensued, and after that it was pretty much time for bed.
Today was rather more productive: a decently busy day at work, followed by making a potato curry for supper.
We are in the same circumstances in Oz.
We are packing boxes and putting them in our garage ready for the removalists to take. There is so much stuff, and we are downsizing considerably, though the place we are going to costs not much less than what we can sell our current place for.
I had a bad night's sleep last night, probably because I had an afternoon nap. Of course, I was so tired this afternoon that I had another one today and now don't really feel like going to bed though I should.
The day wasn't totally lazy as I did manage to read the agenda for a meeting tomorrow and go to a meeting tonight about our bid to become 2028's Town of Culture. I imagine every other town in the UK is also working on a bid, but it was an encouraging meeting to talk up all the amazing things we do in the town.
I spent my evening at a Vestry meeting, where I got press-ganged into taking minutes (a task I hate), and then trying to get my bloody laptop to work* to type them up.
Very naughty words have been said.
* it has two speeds - dead slow and stop. And why does the cursor keep jumping around the screen???
Before I went out, supper was the other half of the curry.
I’m busy here with a stack of marking (4 afternoons of marking every week for 5-6 weeks!). Today I have a long day where I get to do both marking and an evening tutorial (on poverty and mental health). Today’s marking is on public health innovation, medical versus social/environmental.
I was quite pleased to see the Bank of England's announcement that the new set of banknotes will feature animals. Not sure what shipmates might think, but I wanted the animals to go in rough size order of the denomination of banknote. E.g. £5 - harvest mouse; £10 - hedgehog; £20 - badger; £50 - red deer.
Then it’s a quick turn around with choir tonight. Spag bol as usual.
We had 9 at the group, so played at tables of 4, 3, and2. Everyone helped.
That's seriously impressive! I've been donating since I was 19 but a fallow period when I was living in a particular area means I'm only up to the mid-60s. Several of my contemporaries have reached 75 donations, at which they were taken out to dinner at the Metropole in Llandrindod Wells by the Welsh Blood Service.
Well done you!
Dunno about the helmet, but I am absolutely taking the bat with me!
Coincidentally as I biked home, I saw a lad, talking to a friend at one of the ebike stands, in full whites complete with cap and pads. I couldn't see a bat or kitbag, so I'm not convinced that it wasn't fancy dress. I'd have stopped and had a quick word of I didn't know supper was cooking.
A very nice walk with the Ramblers today, followed by a council meeting this evening. The weather has been rather nice, if a little chilly on my way home. There wasn't even too much mud on the walk, though there were some rather tricky stiles.
A rather blustrous day here; by the time I got to work I looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards, but at least it was dry ...
... which it emphatically wasn't when I went out at lunchtime to leave my hearing aids in to get checked - it was sleeting almost horizontally and I came back a rather soggy piglet.
Supper was salmon baked with veggies, potatoes and a crème fraîche and mustard sauce, which was rather good.
No - only the HR guy is in a hurry. The panel weren't planning on interviewing until the end of the month, and the job is even worse than the job description made it look. I could do it in my sleep, and probably would be by the end of the day. I suspect I only applied to keep the Job Centre happy. But why the hell would you interview someone for a rock-bottom job when they can see experience on your CV going back nearly 20 years?
A total, total waste of everyone's time and effort. Looks like I start at DPD on Monday then. Assuming they tell me where I am going for my training!
I don't know whether to be incandescent or collapse in tears, I really don't.
I'll let you guess which of those is me being facetious.
I was a blood donor myself prior to that (not been allowed to donate since) but that does not lessen the immense gratitude I feel for those whose blood ended up in my veins.
98 donations! Think of the myriad ways in which people are going about their lives thanks to you!
For the second time in as many days, I became a very damp piglet: it was chucking it on my way to work, and I only just made it home before it started again. In a general sort of way, we don't seem to get a huge lot of rain here, so getting soaked two days on the trot isn't that common.
Supper was smoked haddock fishcakes and veggies, and was most excellent.
Thank you, @North East Quine , you have made me well up in a good way. Been too much in a bad way of late.
Being Thursday it was Lip Reading day followed by book shop shift. I had lunch with my husband in between. He was going to visit a friend in Yorkshire, but cancelled because of the rather wild and windy weather here.
Yoga as usual this morning and then I came home and wrote a presentation on my masters dissertation for next week’s history study day. Bible study group this evening.
Tea was muntjac saddle, spinach and wild garlic in a garlic and ginger sauce. For pudding I made hot cross bun pudding (bread and butter pudding made with whole buttered St Clement hot cross buns).
Then my son and granddaughter are coming over from Germany for the weekend. That's one perk of having a pilot as the other son who can get mates rates. 🙂
The toys are out of the shed ready and the beds made up. This evening we are having a family games and curry night, I'm really looking forward to it.
I am expecting a delivery this afternoon. In recent weeks if I've been expecting anyone at the door I've been sticking a post-it note on the bell saying "Not working. Please knock." However, post-it notes tend to blow away and it's windy today. So I typed "Door bell battery flat. Please knock" in 72 font on a sheet of A4 and I was going to laminate it for extra staying power today.
The NE Man is not happy. He has pointed out that he has been saying that he will recharge the battery for over a month. He feels that if I stick on a post-it note it suggests I accept that the problem is transitory and that he will recharge it "soon."
But he thinks a laminated A4 sign suggests an unbecoming lack of wifely confidence.
We have compromised - my A4 sheet of paper is on the door, but has not been laminated.
I asked Mr. Boogs to paint the skirting boards about 6 months ago. When you've got dogs they soon get a mess.
He sees painting as 'his job'. I didn't go on about it but when it still wasn't done I got out the paint, intending to do it myself.
Came home from my trip up north and lo - the skirting boards had been done!
At lunchtime, we went out to an Iranian restaurant. Nothing to do with current affairs: Little Tehran is just downstairs. Basically, in the early 70s, an enterprising French real estate promoter betook himself to Tehran and sold a load of apartments in this neighbourhood. Then the Islamic revolution happened, and the owners of said apartments decided they were going to take up permanent residence in their Parisian properties. So we have a load of Iranian groceries and restaurants, and very tasty too. We got a selection of starters to share, then I had beef meatballs with pomegranate and walnut sauce. On another day I would have got the saffron ice-cream (it's to fall on the floor for, as the French say), but it was too cold and miserable for it, so I got baklava instead. It was very delicious. I bought fish at the market this morning, but I don't know if I'll have room for it now.
NEQ's talk of husbandly procrastination reminded me of when I went back to Orkney for a holiday with my sister, and David said he'd paint the kitchen while I was away. When he picked me up at the airport, he said (rather sheepishly), "Well, I've bought the paint".
It never did get done: in fairness to him, he may have already been becoming ill, and just didn't have the energy.
Another cool, blustrous and intermittently wet day here, although I managed to dodge the showers.
F&C for supper, because Friday.