Life outside Ambridge
Cheerful sculpture from New Zealand
Life in Ambridge
An upcoming storyline methinks!
Popular posts from this blog
Life in Ambridge
This is how village cricket should be…
Life in Ambridge
Who will win the Tug of War?
There is lots of fun & odd public sculpture/art in both Australia & New Zealand, this is one of the more normal ones but I found it joyful.
ReplyDeleteBasiaDecember 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
ReplyDeleteIn Our Time - Misha Glenny as next presenter, just heard, definitely gets my vote, couldn't be better.
AmbridgesMrsPDecember 4, 2025 at 12:39 AM
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% BASIA.
Went to one of his lectures many years ago.
Great journalist.
DELETE
ArcherphileDecember 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Janice, it was me who always downloaded the Jacqui Lawson advent calendar & also sent it to grandsons too. However, did not renew my subscription this year, hope it’s not too late.
On another subject I have been listening to a 5 part series on Radio 4Xtr which I really enjoyed. It is called ‘60 Degrees North’ by Malacy Tallack who lives in Shetland. As a boy he was fascinated by the fact that Shetland is on the same latitude as St Petersburg, and longed to visit. Eventually he travels all around the world at 60 degrees N including Canada. He ends up in Bergen, Norway where he gets his final ferry home. There are only 5, 15 minute episodes which are A delightful listen and episodes are still available.
REPLYDELETE
SozDecember 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
To cricket lovers - thank goodness Root has achieved 100+ runs in Australia and just when they really needed someone to stay calm and not give their wicket away!!!!! Aggers sounded quite cross with Brook in particular. I think so much of our modern game is focussed on scoring fast and furious with no thought of defence, that our young batsmen just think of hitting 6s or 4s whatever the risk.
Well done Root🏏🏏
My sis and hubbie were there!
DeleteHow exciting - a very interesting day’s cricket but also a frustrating one. Have they tickets for the rest of the match? England didn’t play well today. I don’t think it will end well. I wonder what your sister and binlaw make of it. I do hope they are enjoying themselves in spite of the results so far.
DeleteWhat a lovely park KP.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are having a super time KP.
ReplyDeleteI am safely home now but it was a fantastic trip, and I have loads of photos.
DeleteLooking forward to a night of strictly and the jungle.
ReplyDeleteDecided I want Tom to win the jungle. Haven’t seen him before but he’s grown on me in there.
Going with a friend to a Christmas fair at lunch time at a lovely farm shop that has a housey, gifty shop. All in all, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…….🎶🤭
Indeed PtbY. The weather being so miserable, I made a start on the Christmas present wrapping today, but still have some shopping to do.
DeleteI’m not looking forward to tonight’s results show. I would like George or Karen to win and if either Amber or Lewis is in the dance off it will be curtains for one of them. Lewis should have done a Gene Kelly dance maybe from American in Paris. George has so much natural potential it would be a shame if he’s not in the final.
DeleteInteresting results show on Strictly, I've got no idea who's likely to win. It's been very competitive this year with some really good dancers.
ReplyDeleteI think that balvinder should have gone this week but she won’t get voted off when she’s in a bbc program. I agree with soz, Karen or George to win.
ReplyDeleteAt least with Lewis out it means blinking “I love myself and haven’t I got a gob full of teeth” Katya won’t win the glitter ball.
I’m also capped that Ginge won the jungle. He’s such a fan of the show that to actually win it must be like a childhood dream come true.
Busy week this week. Out for 3 Christmas lunches!! Be waddling about come Friday. lol.
I felt sorry for Lewis being stuck with Katya. She does too much of the showy stuff and not enough proper dancing of which Lewis was perfectly capable. She thinks it will be popular with the audience but it didn't work with that salsa.
DeleteEveryone must be busy with Christmas preparations. LAN jan hope you can still connect - you must have some thoughts on England’s performance in Australia!?
ReplyDeleteMiriam I am missing your comments, hope you are ok.
There is plenty I should be doing but it takes time to summon up the energy and I drove a long way yesterday and still feel as though I’m driving.
So I’ll stop rambling.
I’m busy Soz with trying to get into the garden and do stuff in this lovely mild weather - when it’s not raining that is -
DeleteFortunately I’m alone over Christmas- hooray- my neighbour is doing a Christmas Dinner for a group of disparate people and I’m included. I’m not going to Cornwall - they are still up to their necks in the horse recovery programme- and the other family are doing the in laws this year.
The Christmas cards box has not been retrieved from the cupboard yet and I will need to buy more cards this year as well as stamps.
Over £1.00 for a first class stamp now.
Outrageous !
It’s certainly been very quiet on here for the last week.
Just put my tree up.
ReplyDeleteNice to sit down and think nothing else to do til the Christmas lunch.
Oh, what a pain! My hob has stopped working! I have an induction hob which I love but last night it went phut! Now I cannot boil, scramble or poach an egg or cook vegetables, pasta or rice. And no way to fry anything
ReplyDeleteYou don’t realise how much you use a household appliance until it stops working!
(Of course, electrician busy right up to Xmas but will ‘try to fit me in’ ). 😧 🤞
Don't take this the wrong way, but how about contacting Age UK or similar. They might have a list of trade persons that they can contact for immediate repair.
DeleteDon't be proud as it's worth a 'phone call.
Me again.
DeleteAP Do you belong to a Community Group? If so it's worth putting a message out for an electrician and why. There might be someone locally who could pop in and look at it for you.
There are always such messages on my local group and trades persons often reply that they can help after they get home.
That's such a nuisance Archerfile, I do hope that you get it sorted out.
DeleteARCHERPHILE
DeleteI endorse Miriam’s suggestion, put a shout out on your local social media page. I hope you do find someone soon.
And Cheshire Cheese, your daughter could do the same asking to borrow chairs over Christmas. If it’s your daughter in Bath, my lot are going to Oxfordshire so their chairs won’t be needed.
We could organise a swap, as they seem to be only a mile or two apart.
I'm still Bah Humbug!
ReplyDeleteI went to the supermarket this morning at my normal time of just after 10 o'clock. It was mega busy with people piling trolleys high and it reminded me of panic buying before Lockdown
Whether it was just because it is 2 weeks before Christmas or something to do with all the news about the Super 'Flu bug, no idea
I had my list + stuck to it, apart from the cream to go with the Christmas pudding (maturing in my un-heated porch/lobby) as dated Jan.4th plus a pack of mince pies, half price and well dated. There were some good bargains about though.
I can't believe a TV ad. I've seen a few times now - Park Savings (Park Studio that was) for starting an account for Christmas 2026!!😱
At least I'm warm, cosy + comfortable in my little abode.
Nothing much to
All our family are going to eldest daughter's for christmas this year. I'm contributing cake, pudding, mince pies, champagne and festive fruit salad ingredients. I've still got a few presents to wrap and the cake to almond paste and ice. Now we just need to work out how to get 4 dining chairs in the car as well as all our other luggage!
ReplyDeleteI've spent some of this afternoon going through the TV listings deciding what I want to record over the next 3 weeks.
I don’t understand why there is so much food buying at Christmas time. For all the households who have guests over the Christmas period, and need to do the catering, there’s another household that is doing the visiting so don’t need extra food.
ReplyDeleteI was in the pharmacy today picking up a prescription, and whilst I was waiting I was looking at the shelves near by. I couldn't believe my eyes - a jar of Vick Vapor rub - £5.10!
ReplyDeleteAlmost forty eight hours without any chat !
ReplyDeleteWhere is everybody.
I’ve spent two and a half hours in the glorious DECEMBER sunshine clearing the leaves from behind and under the recently trimmed back wisteria.
My neighbours will do the rest tomorrow and I must now take Lady to the beach.
I hope AP has got her hob sorted out.
ReplyDelete,it’s been a gorgeous day but I haven’t been as busy as you’ve been Mrs P and there is still much clearing to do if my spring flowers are going to be seen.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, my semi feral cat is on my lap at the moment. There are problems, not with Maggie, however her siblings are starting to think they might prefer an indoor life but with no attention to house rules. So I’m encouraging most of them to stay in the hay barn. The girls are cleaner than the boys!!
Be careful Soz, be very careful! 😂 When I was a child and being on a farm with stray cats congregating in the barns my mother ended up feeding 18 of them, most of whom would sneak in by the rayburn. In the end my father said enough was enough, and paid out to have them doctored, and with age the numbers gradually declined. They all had their personalities though. One of my favourites was a black and white one who if a spat was developing between two of the others would go and sit inbetween them and begin grooming himself to defuse the situation.
DeleteJanice, what a lovely image and a wise example. I wonder how we could transfer it to humans in the world of now.
DeleteWhere is everybody you said Mrs P. Well yesterday we fìrst took a bus tour to familiarise ourselves with what was worth visiting., and then apart from pottering around christmas markets and looking at the Christmas lights ( beautiful), we visited Schonbrunn castle, incredibly ornate and with stunning architecture inside and out, and I now know more about the Habsburgs and their past empire than I do about our own royal family. There is also a tremendous fairground there and after going to an Asian eat all you can buffet place where I sampled things I never have before ( they don't seem to sell pasties out here!) We went back to the fair and daughter celebrated her 40 th birthday by gping on the most dreadful rides there. My son braved some of them with her but Mabel and myself chickened out.
ReplyDeleteToday I woke up to the fact that the Spanish Riding School is part of the Hofburg castle complex but they were not doing any displays over the weekend, so we did the next best thing and took a 40 minute carriage ride round the old part of the city and along the outer ring where the old Roman walls once were. A lovely gentle, slower wsy of seeing things with the carriage going down old cobbled streets. Can't finish this just now. The others are knocking on my doir ready to go for dinner!
DeleteLovely word pictures Janice.
DeleteThank you
MrsP
Janice…. Have you drink the water? It’s fantastic in Vienna. It comes from glaciers in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteWe always do a hop on hop off bus tour first when we go anywhere. You get to see everything and decide what you want to see more of. Worth every penny I reckon.
I want to go to Vienna again because I never got to the Belvedere. I did the Albertina gallery but it was heaving with folk.
I thought the water tasted very good, and I have realised there is so much more to see than we can do in just a few days before going on to Prague.
DeleteAh. We went to Prague from Vienna. The castle complex there is worth a visit. Stunning. Just don’t walk up to it…..it’s never ending.
DeleteVienna is wonderful! I do recommend going to the Cafe Sacher, part of the hotel, for a slice of the classic cake, truly the best chocolate cake. I have in previous years ordered one to be shipped over, but need a large party to justify the rather steep cost, that said there is my brother’s 65th birthday early next year…
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is hoping to recreate the cake at home!
DeleteI'd like to express my horror and sadness at what has happened in Australia at the Hanukkah celebrations on Bondi beach.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree CC (and
Deletethoughts particularly with AP too 🕯️ ❤️)
At this time of year I usually take the opportunity to wish my friends here a very happy and peaceful Chanukah or Christmas, whichever you celebrate.
ReplyDeleteBut today I can hardly bring myself to mention the Festival of Lights after the appalling events at Bondi Beach - and following the attack on the Manchester Synagogue a little while ago.
Once again I feel the same fear my parents did in 1939 and throughout the war years.
Hearing about Farage’s behaviour at school reminds me that I had swastikas drawn on my exercise books at school, where I was the only Jewish pupil. It is something you never forget.
Has this great rise in antisemitism simply been caused by Israel’s attacks on Gaza or is there another reason for the increase, seemingly all over the world? I don’t know, but I fear it will never end and we will always be under attack in one way or another. 🕎.
This great rise, almost everywhere, in antisemitism is indeed very worrying ARCHERPHILE, and all Jewish people have my sympathy and support.
DeleteHowever, I do believe that it is due to the government of Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the support of that government to the settler’s intransigence to extend their activities.
It horrifies me to see that despite the horrific actions perpetrated during the holocaust the government of Israel is prepared to extend similar hatred towards those viewed as enemies.
I do not believe that those views are shared by most Jewish people outside of Israel and understand that many within Israel are against the wishes of their government in this matter.
A lot depends on whether you are a Zionist or not. My parents and I were never Zionists. My Dad was in the Royal Navy in World War I, mostly stationed in the East Mediterranean. As well as being at the Dardanelles he had to spend time in Palestine as it was then, and Egypt. He never felt that Palestine was his natural, religious home and was very uneasy about the Balfour Declaration. Though grateful that after World War 2 ended, European Jews were offered a home in ‘Israel’, he never agreed that they should displace the resident Arab population but hoped they would find a way to co-exist and live peacefully together.
DeleteI regret that Netanyahu has done far more harm than good to Israel and its reputation and you are right to say many, many, British and Israeli Jews are appalled by his actions and the consequences we are now seeing.
Thank you for responding ARCHERPHILE.
DeleteI was cautious about saying more, particularly about Zionism, but feel, personally, that Zionism is the huge problem.
It grieves me that the British government, of all persuasions, is still uncomfortable to admit that the Balfour Declaration was a mistake, whilst understanding of course why it fails to do so.
Since my earlier post I have listened to today WATO which was broadcast from Jerusalem. The final interview in the programme has certainly given me food for thought.
For context ( since this blog has consistently not discussed politics of any persuasion hither to, and I am mindful of that ) I have not ventured into the subject of the Palestinian situation, but would wish to say that I do not believe for one moment that the hostility between the two factions is one sided.
There is great and regrettable fault on both sides.
Sadly there is a lot of unease in the world today. As someone said we seem to have learned nothing in the 80 years since the end of the last war. We are now faced with economic and cyber warfare.
ReplyDeleteIt is 10 years since the two Paris and Nice attacks, all within a year. A few years later my sister was on her way home during shooting in Strasbourg. I heard the news a couple of hours later and on picking up the phone she said we are all safe indoors, which wasn't accurate because her dil ran from an open air market where she worked and sought shelter at the local restaurant where they knew her and she was let in. There were four victims, one known to the family through school.
The major Paris attack was on a Friday night, but I only found out the following morning and to this day I have to hear the news on a Saturday to check that everything is in order.
It seems that all we can do is to be kind to each other.
Well said, Basia
DeleteWhere I am there is the usual small Christmas Market in the Town Hall Square.
DeleteThere have been armed police patrolling in the surrounding street areas, and also mounted police were around last week.
It just gives an uneasy feeling and as such, I haven't gone into town to enjoy the market and all the wonderful festive decorations etc.
That is a shame Miriam, but should we give in to fear ?
DeleteThat is an open - rhetorical - question, not a criticism.
My question is really, Why should there be such a high profile police presence this year?
Deleteplus every main route into town had mobile ANPR units on them on Saturday night, plus the whole town had a displacement order on it for the whole weekend.
DeleteI agree Miriam, I find armed units intimidating and prefer to avoid them. Fortunately where I live they aren't visible at the Christmas market and places of worship.
DeletePrague seemed to have a lot of police around the railway station, but I don't know what is normal for here.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about the last few comments, plus a conversation with a Ukrainian taxi driver in his 30's. He came here with his wife and young child two years ago. He said 80% of his home city Mariupol had been flattened including his own home. Some friends had been killed and he and three of his friends decided to leave with their families. They are now scattered. Him in Czechia, one in Canada, one in Germany and one in France. His dad and a brother have chosen to remain in their homeland., saying they will survive Russian rule but he worries about them.
ReplyDeleteFollowing on from the above we visited Prague castle yesterday. The castle complex included St Vitus cathedral first founded by Wenceslas in the 900's but with its construction continuing in various ways over 600 years. The Gothic architecture is sublime, showing the creative genius of both designers and craftsmen present in stone and wood both inside and out. The more recent stained glass windows ( art nouveau) were the best most vibrant ones I have ever seen.
DeleteThen we visited the castle armoury full of weapons and armour, including King Wencelas's ( murdered by his younger brother) armour plus helmet. Then at the end of the passage was the torture room displaying horrendous instruments of cruelty. Humans inflicting terrible pain on other humans.
What is wrong with us? I despair ( and found it difficult to sleep last night).
On the one hand Man is capable of tremendous creativity and on the other of tremendous cruelty.
Are some people inherently "good" and others inherently "bad", or are we all similar but containing a deep dark flaw that can at times emerge?
In my mind all life is precious and should be treasured and protected.
Better get up quick now as the others will be knocking on the door to go down to breakfast.
Vienna & Prague, any other stops planned on this European tour? How are you travelling? MrNuts & I are thinking of inter-railing next year, it’s not only for students anymore, but we would pre-book decent hotels thinking in terms of doing 3-4 cities spending about 4/5 days in each.
DeleteWhat a wonderful prospect KP
DeleteAnd more lovely word pictures from Janice.
Unfortunately no more stops KP, but home just a few days before Christmas and then there will be a rush to get things ready for our friend coming to stay. What with having the cataracts done etc I am behind with Christmas this year. I have got some lovely Christmas lace runners and decorations for presents from the christmas markets here though, and a special one plus decorative candle for our neighbour friend who looks after our cats. They have apparently left them a present of a mouse on their windowsill.
ReplyDeleteWe flew to Vienna for the first few days, then travelled by train for 4 hours to Prague ( mainly flat countryside so not as interesting as passing by mountains), and for getting around the city we bought tickets that allowed us to use the metro, buses and trams. My favourite is the trams.
DeleteMy daughter spent a year teaching English in Zvetl as part of her German degree, and would sometimes spend a long weekend in Vienna meeting up with others on her course who inatead of working had opted to spend a year at the University there. She said if only English schoolchildren behaved as well in the classroom as their Austrian counterparts she would have been a teacher.
Lovely idea KP. I enjoy train journeys and have had my fill of camping and hostels so think I deserve a bit of luxury in my seventies, so thumbs up for decent hotels.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me this year, how little I know of European history. I read Victoria Hislop’s The Return set in Spain’s civil war - it was a shock to learn of the enormous loss of life of ordinary civilians. Yes I knew of the Spanish civil war but the tragedy of it hadn’t really registered.
Edmund de Waal’s The Hare with Amber Eyes was another book which gave a glimpse of life in the last century - this time mainly in Vienna. It is a fascinating book tracing the history of the Ephrussi family - one of the wealthiest and influential families in Europe on a par with the Rothschild’s - and what life was like in a city trying vainly to maintain its society’s sophisticated lifestyle against the increasingly antisemitic atmosphere and threat of war.
Don’t want to finish on a depressing note. I must do wordle before bed.
Well it looks as if I have been able to blog again..
DeleteGosh Soz I am glad I watched cricket in Australia in the latter part of the last Century and early part of this Century.
A friend’s son had tickets for the third day of the last Test!
Soz you mentioned Wordle.
DeleteI do that each morning but get irritated when I have the last 4 letters correct and have only the first letter to put in and there are a lot of choices.
Have any of you tried Nerdle ?
I prefer it as although luck plays a part, it is more logical .
In Wordle and Quordle I have learned that if you’re fairly certain of the last four letters, which you can often see, then do an elimination word using as many of the remaining letters, often something like fudge to work out the remaining letter.
DeleteI agree that Nerdle is far more logical, I still do it but am starting to find it slightly boring as I always use the same two equations to get the numbers, position of the = and most of functions. Maybe I should look into some of their other games
I've been enthralled over the last few days, seeing photos of Christmas in sunny climes.
ReplyDeleteBig Sis is in OZ with her daughter + grandsons ( my neice + gt. nephews) and eldest niece, partner + family in Mauritius with his parents.
Some-how a photo of a fully decorated Christmas tree next to a palm tree, with all in sun-hats, shorts, T-shirts, just doesn't seem right. 🎄🏝
Still it's been made-up by the youngest ice-skating for the first time whilst wearing a Christmas jumper and as a narrator in her school nativity event.
I say event, as although it was based on the nativity, it was very modern + different, but lovely and who knew hip-hop dances by the shepherds, were that popular.
Hey guess what!!!
ReplyDeleteLanjan can’t get on blog again. 🤦♀️
She says to tell soz that she thinks England cricket team are a shambles.
She’s met up with her son at the Ivy in Richmond today and is knackered!
I’ll phone her tomorrow and get the full tale.
Janice
ReplyDeleteI’ve just read that Tintagle Castle has been closed due to the very tough weather you are experiencing.
Hope all is OK with your patch.
We only got back home yesterday so missed all the torrential rain. Our neighbour said it was like a river running down the track but it passes us by because we are up a slope. It makes a nice pond for floating boats on down on the road, and apparently houses in one area of the village were flooded.
DeleteThere were very high winds as well. A very high wall on one of the tracks to the castle ruins collapsed. The council workmen had recently cleared it of all its ivy, and it seems the ivy was the only thing holding it together!
Back to reality today with lots of washing of holiday clothes.
DeleteVery tired too as a long journey yesterday, with the plane held up by fog for over an hour in Prague, so we well and truly missed our train in London, and had to get a later one.
During the delay the pilots invited passengers to come and look at the flight deck so we have a nice photo of Max and his mum in the co pilot's seat. There seemed to be an incredible amount of buttons to press. We had a very bumpy landing in London because of high winds so the pilots must have been very skilled.
Had the strange experience of being drenched with dirty water as I opened my front door this afternoon. Soaked from head to foot! It has been raining very hard all day & the road past the cottage is flooded right across both carriageways to quite a depth and under our gate. Large Lorries and many cars are ploughing through the water - some quite fast - which sends a tidal wave over our fence and down the front of the house. I just opened the door at the wrong moment! You’d think people would have the sense to slow down when faced with a completely flooded road but no, got to get there on time, never mind the danger to everyone else! If only Highways would do something about mending the blocked gullies - it is after all an A road
ReplyDeleteNot a very nice experience for you Archerfile, blocked gulleys and potholes are a constant bugbear everywhere.
DeleteOne upside of all the rain we've had lately is that the reservoirs are a lot fuller now.
Flood subsided this morning thank goodness but garden and paths covered in mess brought in by the water - much sweeping to be done!
DeleteThat sounds awful.
DeleteNo more shops for me now. I was off out to get the veg. this morning Sainsbury's 15p as this was the nearest to me. I got a huge red cabbage for that price.I love this with a stew or similar and I always add in the cranberries left over from making the cranberry sauce as tge pack always has more than I need.
ReplyDeleteOn way home popped into my local co-op to get a couple of items, which are better from there.
Coffee made + went to get my glasses out of my handbag - not there! Handbag turned upside down, supermarket bag similar, car searched but nothing. I hadn't worn then as drove using my prescription sunglasses and managed shopping without then as it was just Grab + Go! Dashed back to supermarket and so lucky, they'd been found +handed in, what a relief
It's a mystery though how I lost them without me noticing anything.
I lost a pair of gloves at Dunham Massey today. They were old ones with a hole in so I didn't bother trying to find them!
DeleteI’ve been watching a programme on some National Trust properties at Christmas. One of them was Cotehele. I wondered if Janice , who is probably the nearest, had ever seen the dried flower garland that is made every year. It looked impressive and after such a good summer there was a bumper harvest of flowers.
ReplyDeleteYes we did go one year Soz, and the garland is very impressive. They have apple orchards there where they cultivate old varieties. I also like Trerice which is smaller and a bit closer to us. It is Elizabethan and one year we joined a craft workshop there and made tudor roses to hang on the christmas tree; and they always have a Santa Claus who holds story telling sessions for children.
DeleteSanta Claus, plus elf, did in fact do his annual sleigh ride through Tintagel and around the outlying little villages this evening. This year he didn't just give out sweets but presents as well. Max and his parents had gone down to the shop and saw him stopped outside a house where there are several children and he waved for Max to come to the sleigh as well and gave him a beautiful little soft cuddly pugdog toy wearing a christmas hat.
We were obviously posting at the same time Janice.
DeleteI shall lookup Trerice.
Thanks for posting that Soz.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of this before so looked it up on Instagram- isn’t it magnificent !
I think Mistral in mid Devon is nearer to Cotele at Saltash than Janice who is on the west coast of Cornwall.
Sitting in the lounge & admiring our tree that we decorated today, quite pleased with it this year. Christmas is going to be quiet, we’ll go to my younger daughter in Winchester for lunch, which I will provide & prepare, but no large get-together with siblings (we normally try to arrange something but somehow didn’t this year) and a couple of friends over for a fancy multi-course dinner on New Year’s.
ReplyDeleteI have still stocked up with plenty of chocolate, panettone, nuts etc and will make a load of mince pies because they will get eaten regardless.
I am going to put the names of those who expressed an interest in joining in the Desert Islands discs in a hat and will draw the first tomorrow.
Hello to you all,
DeleteI have just tried and have managed to get onto the blog again.
I would like to be included in Desert Island discs please KPnuts but please leave me until later in case I cannot get back on..
I played every one of the choices people made last time and there was one really lovely piece of ballet music which sadly although I can remember what it sounded like I can’t remember the name of .
I remember -was it you Soz? -somebody having Amy Winehouse “Back to black “ as one of her choices.
I remember listening to it and thought it was great.
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas .
I hate cooking but very kindly PTBY has made me what looks like a lovely Christmas cake .
I will not start it until Christmas Day and Cowgirl has sent me some crab apple jelly and some cake as well as some eggs!
I “own” one of her hens ! George short for Georgina.
Just heard from son et al, that he has arrived at Bristol Airport, has hired a car and is on his way here via his sister in Whitchurch. Only problem is he had told me it would be tomorrow, so it’s panic stations moving furniture to get rooms ready, make up beds etc etc. I had everything neatly timetabled including meals, but shouldn’t grumble. It means we get an extra day with them.
ReplyDeleteThis is for ……..
ReplyDeleteMIRIAM
SOLSTICE GREETINGS
At last the longest day of the year Miriam…….. more daylight as each day passes from now on.
And of course Solstice greetings to all others …..MrsP
I always look forward to the days getting longer MrsP. Some bulbs are starting to peek through and that cheers me up.
DeleteIn this very mild and protected garden here in Minehead, spring bulbs have been sprouting through for weeks.
DeleteI’ve been clearing a small area at the front for several months now doing a little whenever I have the energy. At last I’m reaching the end of this task and have been digging out the final part over recent dry days, and needing to pot up bulbs that are just under the surface of the earth.
Soon I hope to be able to gravel over this smallish area and at last have my stone bench installed there.
Our hellebores are coming into bloom but the advanced state of the daffodils is disconcerting, one is already showing a yellow bud!
DeleteI have just published a comment but it has vanished!
ReplyDeleteOh it has returned just after KPNuts’comment .
DeleteSomeone telephoned when I was about to post it
I am about to press “ Publish” again.
Fingers crossed
Well done LJ - pleased to welcome you back…..yet again !
DeleteFirst castaway announced on appropriate blog
ReplyDeleteIt's the shortest day and longest night and from now on the days will be getting longer...
ReplyDeleteHoorah !! Race to see the first snowdrop/daffodil/hellebore ( actually my Niger hellebores are already out.)
DeleteAP What lovely news that family are arriving a day early. Don't push yourself, as am sure that they'd be only too happy to lend a hand. The important thing is that they are with you and you're all together.
ReplyDeletePS. I assume you got your hob sorted.
To those who watched Strictly ladt night.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't mind who won, though in my heart I was routing for George.
I had a bit of dust in my eye, with that letter to Tess + Claudia from Buckingham Palace.
Craig seemed overcome as well when he read it out, in his best way possible. What a responsibility he had to do it.
I didn't mind who won either Miriam, it's been a very competitive series this year. Tess and Claudia will be hard acts to follow, it will be interesting to see who they come up with.
DeleteI wanted Karen or George to win. I’ve nothing against Amber and she is the best dancer but that is what she does for a living. Whereas the other 2 are what Strictly is about - a non dancer having a go out of their comfort zone.
DeleteI have never taken that much notice of Tess but lately I’ve concentrated on her and realise that she does hold the whole thing together- she’s no dizzy blonde. I agree she and Claudia will be hard to replace. Maybe time to shake up the whole show and allow other presenters to do things differently.
I concur with everything you said Soz. I read yesterday that La Voix that was on this year could become a presenter on there. Well if that happens I will stop watching. I’m sick of having drag artists on every programme. Bah humbug!!
DeleteIt will inevitably be different with new presenters, I just hope that it isn't someone like La Voix who would command too much attention for themselves.
DeleteWe didn’t watch Strictly, as you know we decided to give it a miss this year.
ReplyDeleteBut did watch Sportsview Personality of the year (Mr H’s choice). It had 3 female presenter, not even 1 male, which surprised me. And I don’t mean to be unkind but the ever-present Clare Balding looked hideous in a peacock velvet trouser suit! It did her absolutely no favours, baggy and shapeless. She has usually looked smart before. Velvet seems to be everywhere this winter but ladies like me, of a certain size, really shouldn’t wear velvet. It enhances the lumps and bumps and may feel luxurious but does nothing for the figure!
The golfer Rory McIlroy won the Trophy
I was pleased Rory Mc Illroy won the Trophy .
DeleteI hadn’t a clue who the women were and the young darts player will get his chance in the future.
I haven’t watched the programme for years .
Did Liverpool win team of the year they should have done! or was it the Women’s football
team?
I suspect that most of the voters are women .
,
Thank you Mrs P .
ReplyDeleteIt is very strange the way I can get onto the blog sometimes and not at other times.
I have just had a face time session with PTBY.
Very enjoyable it was too.
Mind you ,we don’t always agree .
I know I am in the minority but I don’t watch Strictly or any Celebrity programmes and wasn’t struck on Traitors .
I still ask her for recommendations though !
,
,
You and me both in the minority LanJan.
DeleteI can’t stand those programs either.
After making negative comments about Traitors I did watch the final programme, but found it as mind boggling stupid as I had expected it to be.
I really do not under this hyped up attitude to ( almost ) everything in life today.
Someone please tell me what is wrong with ordinary !
And calm ?
Why does everything have to be over excited !
Sorry…. Do not understand
DeleteBecause nothing awful has happened to most people recently, the awful is always elsewhere, so they need to be excited/frightened out of their wits.
DeleteI'm not being judgemental, but having just heard of those programmes I don't think I'd watch them either.
One lady I know, now in a care home reads crime fiction which another told her is not real literature. Many in later years turn to this genre, including myself. I've got bookshelves full of 'real literature', but now prefer the unreal.
Any thoughts anyone on the 'real' Salt Path?
Basia ,.
DeleteI can’t remember if I have mentioned this already .
I read “The salt path “ for Reading Group.
It didn’t seem to add up to me.
I didn’t take to the wife at all especially when they left Campsites in the early morning to avoid paying..
I watched the programme about it.
I wasn’t really surprised.
We're off to our daughter's near Bath tomorrow so I won't have much time for looking at the blog for the next few days. I'd like to wish everyone all the best for the festive season and hope that everyone's plans come to fruition🎅🎄☃️❄️
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAlthough I havent written any thing for a while I still listen to the Archers and read all of your comments. I also still listen to the Archers. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from Italy,
Iwould like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happ New Year.
Here in Northen Italy it is cold but no snow so far.
Happy Christmas to you both CC and Gianna and everybody. 🎄☃️❄️🌟🕊
ReplyDeleteI have just finished making my pudding and the others should be up soon to have a stir and a wish. Might even write a few more cards, and might even make pastry for some mincepies. Never done things so late before.
DeleteAll the lights on the tree look really bright and sparkly through my two "new" eyes, think I'll make a cup of tea and look at them instead. 😂
Seasons Greetings to all, with wishes for a happy and healthy 2026.
ReplyDeleteAnd a very happy Christmas to you Burnham Beeches. Good to hear from you.
DeleteBig Sis returned home from OZ on Sunday to awful news. The 17/18yr old lad who lived next door, was killed in a car crash whilst they were away. She obviously knew him well and he was her paid helper in potting up veg. plants in her greenhouse. She's so upset, as are all the residents of the hamlet where she lives.
ReplyDeleteTonight's their tractor run, so all the houses nearby decided to put their outside lights up ready and to be festive.
On going to the supermarket today, she was by the canal collapse so saw it first hand. It's far worse than the pictures on-line show.
This part of the canal is on an embankment so is built up high. The latest thought is that a culvert which runs underneath this, collapsed causing the canal to then go down as well.
Oh my !
DeleteReturning from Australia to such sad news both close to home and nearby in the district.
What a cloud over Christmas that small community will have.
I’m so sorry for them all.
I’ve looked at those pictures and have looked on Google Earth at that part of the canal, and I saw that it is a raised area, so I’m not surprised to hear the suggestion you have written of Miriam.
I’ve always wanted to have a canal holiday, but the best I’ve ever achieved was a day trip to celebrate my best friends 60th birthday.
But I have lived close to canals in several homes and walked for miles along many.
Canals are one of my strong interests. I will be watching and following this story throughout its progress.
They've put dams in either side and tomorrow the canal will go back to it's normal level. However as this part of the canal is now closed, boats either side are now stuck probably for months, so cannot continue their journeys. Their Christmas will not be as planned.
DeletePopped over to wish you all the happiest of Christmas holidays with everything going according to plan and some moments of peaceful reflection as well as some fun. I’ve just encountered ‘saucer crackers’ in Waterstones,, the.size of cigarettes, and went into ‘what will they think of next.’ mode before giving in and buying a pack, despite the fact we’ll probably use mugs! Mary x
ReplyDeleteAnd happy christmas to you too Maryellen. 🎄🌟🎄
ReplyDeleteJust popped on to wish everyone a very happy Christmas whatever anyone is doing. Hope everyone survives a family get together. lol. 😘🤭🎄
ReplyDeleteAnd Christmas greetings to all on our friendly group from me.
ReplyDeleteNothing special for me this year, at home alone, and happy to be so.
Christmas dinner with a group of neighbours and hopes of getting some gardening done if I can brave the fierce wind.
MrsP
I popped to the supermarket late morning for a couple of items.
ReplyDeleteReturning to the car park I opened my drivers door and the van beside me pulled out ripping my car door with it.
My fault of course !
Are we not supposed to look in our side mirrors before moving off ?
Another few hundred to repair but no garages open until the second week of January and I have to get to Taunton to get the train - tickets booked - to Bristol on NY day.
That's awful. Has the supermarket got CCTV so has got the incident recorded? It's worth enquiring.
DeleteSorry to read that Mrs P
DeleteI am glad that no one was hurt .
I’ve taken some legal advice - online - this afternoon.
DeleteNot my fault …. His.
Tonight I’ve written a full account of what happened and sent him an email requesting his insurance details.
Can’t do anything about my car till after NY.
And slowly throughout the day it’s dawned on me that if his van had actually hit me harder than just brushing my shoulder, I could have been badly injured.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone, wherever you are and with whoever you're sharing this special time with.
ReplyDeleteMay it be peaceful, harmonious but fun! 🎄🎅
Happy Christmas to everyone.
ReplyDeleteGood to see Maryellen is on this blog even if briefly.
I hope to start tomorrow by playing
“O Holy Night “ on my Pad.
It is my favourite carol and I thought it was a newish one because we never heard it when I was a child but in fact it is 168 years old !
Voices from the past !
ReplyDeleteFlanders and Swann John Betjamin with Tamsin Greig and others - 5 o'clock this afternoon on Radio 3
Looking forward to that.
Tamsin Greig was in the drama yesterday and she also narrated Jane Austen.
DeleteHello everyone and a “Happy Christmas” many thanks for all your support throughout the last few months in particular. The last week has been very busy at The Lodge entertainment wise including a wonderful Christmas party. George has sung and clapped his way throughout except for Tuesday when he was out for the count all day not surprised I was feeling a bit that way myself 😂 so we did not join in that day but back to normal yesterday. I am going shortly for lunch so will leave it at this for now. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you LadyR for letting us know that you're getting used to the new normal.
DeleteIt’s so good to hear LadyR, that you are still very much included in Lord Rs daily life, despite now living under different roofs.
DeleteYou seem to have become acclimatised to the new regime pretty quickly, well done you.
I wish you and him a HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Survived today. Back in pj’s by 2.50pm ready for kings speech. 😁
ReplyDeleteDam it! I took my red rose down as I was going to temporarily replace it with one of Mr R from his new abode but I cannot get it to print even though it says add images and of course I cannot get mine back on either. I have changed photo before but as usual tech things change too 😈 Any tips?
ReplyDeleteWell after all that here it is! When I came back to the blog before it was just the orange circle with the B in maybe the image does not appear until a post is written so might try again.
ReplyDeleteWow what a fright that’s been at one point I could not get back on as profile said not available but having recklessly pressed this that and the other I am back - hopefully for more than today 🤣
ReplyDeleteLast one for tonight I promise - thank you Basia and Mrs P for your kind words.
ReplyDelete‼️ ( I am now a Pink Rose!!)
I’ve had a relaxed and pleasant Christmas Day, topped off by getting tonights Wordle in two.
ReplyDeleteLadyR - I'm glad you're tickled pink by the new rose. I pressed to see it in its full bloom, but profile unavailable. Just leave it and let it settle, the main thing is that we can see you here, these things have a mind of their own, best not to interfere and the rose is out there for real:)
ReplyDeleteI seem to be the only one that did not log in yesterday - apologies one and all, and have caught up with news now.
ReplyDeleteAwful incident in the carpark Mrs P. Did the driver not stop to see you if were OK and offer insurance details straight away? He must have realised what he had done. Good idea from Miriam about the supermarket’s CCTV. You chase him for every penny you can get . I am furious for you!!
We had lovely Christmas at daughters, with our whole family together for first time in several years, including the new member, Rosie’s husband, who experienced his first family Christmas in England. He told us about Christmas in Nigeria which involves specially killing a cow for the meal 😳
The French contingent have just set off to Bristol Airport to return home. Such a joy to have them all here again, with me not having to lift a finger over meals, Christmas lunch etc. They are hoping to ski in Andorra next week before school & work start again.
Lady R, so glad to hear your husband’s home was a good place to be over Christmas and put on entertainment for everyone. Also lovely that you could join in and celebrate the day with him. Please give him our very good wishes next time you visit.
My job today is researching and buying a new dishwasher, hopefully in the sales. Our old faithful Bosch one, which is about 23 years old, finally gave up the ghost on Christmas Eve!!
Thank goodness we weren’t doing family Christmas dinner here. Until we find one, Mr H is having an addition Christmas present of a new pair of Marigolds. 🧤🧤 😉
Oh poor Mr Archerphile 🤣
DeleteThank you for George’s best wishes. Oh my goodness Rosie married it does not seem possible a baptism of fire for her new husband then - I’m sure you were all very kind 🥰
Just a quick look in and what wonderful + interesting post's I've just read from everyone.
ReplyDeleteI had a lovely day yesterday. There were just four of us - Big Sis, Hubbie, his sister + little old me!
It was quality not quantity and what a laugh we had along with a gorgeous + tasty meal.
I was the one in the Marigolds, washing up those things which couldn't go in the dishwasher - wine glasses, the serving dishes (all from Gt. Aunts + family whicu are all real vintage dishes), and as for the roasting tins 😱
So cold today and I still had to scrape ice of my car on leaving at lunchtime.
Tonight -3C is forecast and CH is now on full blast!
Hope everything is still going really well for you all.
Miriam Xxx 🤗
PS My eldest niece had sent over a present of a board game for us all. She herself will be 49yrs this year and this game was called Nostalgia. It is all to do with decades in the last century ie 1999 and before. We were not sure whether to be pleased or insulted, as all of us are in our 70's!
DeleteSadly it wasn't opened yesterday, but I'm looking forwards to giving it a go at some time.
My four pennorth !
ReplyDeleteA very pleasant Christmas Day with neighbours and early to bed last night.
Woken this morning by a call from the man regarding the incident in Tesco car park.
Very apologetic for his disgraceful behaviour- his words - and an admittance of being ashamed. We agreed to meet later today to discuss his suggestion of avoiding the insurance route to resolve the issue.
My daughters in phone calls advised against a meeting so I cancelled, politely.
It will all be resolved in due course.
We are talking with each other, that’s important.
I managed half an hour in the garden mid afternoon and it really wasn’t that cold now that the wind has ceased, was then enticed away for a drink with neighbours again.