Weekend is calling

Hello Friday, I've only had a 4 day week but it has felt like 8 days at times, luckily half day and then home to take delivery of a new radiator cover as well as a weekend of doing as little as possible.

I'm not lazy I am just very tired. 

The clocks changing does nothing for me. although this week I have been going to work in daylight that will change by the end of next week, I am already driving home in the dark.

Yuk!

I had a go at candle making last night and they don't look too bad, some are lily of the valley fragrance, some are orange blossom. I'm not keeping them as they are gifts, so bad luck to those of you who may be getting one in the post in the next couple of months.

I am going into crafty mode ( as I do every year with the approach of Xmas), I am not sure how I ended up working in the land of water I'm far better suited to making and creating, however for me I don't think that it would pay the bills.

Nothing much on the crickety news front, so I will sign off now and head off to work.

I'm just waiting for the news that we are going into tier 3. 2020 stinks!

Have a great Friday and a fabulous weekend.

Stay safe.

Christmas for one part 1 (for meat eaters)

 

Welcome to part one of my 'Christmas for one' although it can be altered to suit 2 /3 or up to 6.

We are all now getting used to the idea that Xmas might be a lot different this year so I thought that I would try to give some tips on how to survive on your own.

I have had many Christmas' on my own and to be honest I enjoy it, I don't have to share the champagne with anyone!!!!

Its a good job that I am not making a vlog, as it would be very reminiscent of the great Keith Floyd!

I thought I would start by giving you my plan of what I do.

22nd/23rd Dec

Buy veg/fruit  and any last minute things that you think that you will need ( an extra bottle of wine never goes amiss)

I haven't touched on meat for the day.

So here is what I do.

As a single person I buy a small turkey crown early December and cut it in half and freeze both pieces. ( the other half can be used at New Year or in January ). I buy a gammon usually at Aldi and again cut in half  and freeze both pieces. 

Now as a cheat for this, places like Aldi and Tesco  ( and possibly Iceland) do stuffed chicken breast rolls and  gammons in the frozen section ( sometimes in the fridges) theses are ideal for one person and any left overs can be used with salad and pickles on Boxing day. These are usually in foil trays and cook in very quick time. 

I have had these in the past and they are perfect for one person, quick and fairly fool proof to prepare.

We are all led to believe that you should have a whole turkey, which isn't practical when on our own. There is no shame in having chicken, or if you are lucky enough to have a butcher who stocks duck breast this is a great alternative.

Local farmers markets may also  provide some alternatives, poussin or quail? Worth a look.

Christmas Eve

Prepare all veg and put in bowls of water ( usually 2 bowls as I do enough veg to last a few days change water daily)

ALTERNATIVELY  you can buy bags of ready prepared veg and stick it in the fridge until Christmas day! even frozen veg if you like it.

Lay the dining room table ( yes I sit at the table)

Put wine/champagne/mineral water in the fridge

Take meat out of freezer

Make chicken liver pate ( if required)

Feel very smug as you are halfway there!

Have a glass of wine to celebrate

Christmas Day

I am always up super early ( 4.30am ish) I just love the peace and quiet, I often go for a walk around the block ( or further) before anyone is up and about.

Home  and I have a dry martini ( yes I do! because I can).

Starters

I personally don't have a starter on Christmas Day, however here are a few quick ideas if you  want to have one.

Smoked salmon salad

In a coupe ( or side plate) arrange some salad leaves, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Add some smoked salmon.  

Drizzle on a homemade dressing ( wine vinegar, oil lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried mixed herbs and touch of sugar all mixed together). 

Serve with a slice of brown bread and butter if desired.

Quick Chicken liver pate

1/4lb chicken livers

1.75oz butter

0.75floz double cream

1tsp brandy

Melt butter in frying pan and add chicken livers, cook until coloured on outside and pink inside.

Add to food processor or use hand blender, add cream salt and pepper and brandy, whisk.

transfer to ramekins ( 2 ) cover with cling film and put in fridge. Serve with melba toast either shop bought or home made.

 

Fig and Blue Cheese Salad

Arrange salad leaves on a plate, cut a fig into quarters arrange on leaves. add some apple slices ( this could be left over from the red cabbage see below).

Crumble Roquefort or Gorgonzola cheese over  the top and add chopped walnuts.

A dressing can be added recipe above.

For a cheat  starter buy a luxury ready made soup, heat and swirl  fresh cream on the top. quick and easy

 

Now to the big part.

The meat will be defrosted and as it is only for one person, you do not need to have it in the oven at the crack of dawn. It usually takes less than an hour to cook.

 I use an electric steamer to cook my vegetable and the roast potatoes can go in the oven an hour or so before you want to eat dinner ( roughly same time as meat).

If you are a stuffing lover, there are lots of packet mixes on the market at this time of year. 

If you buy sage and onion you can add dried apricots  and walnuts to the mix to jazz it up a bit. My favourite is chestnut stuffing which I add frozen elderberries to ( foraged in Autumn and frozen).

If you like bread sauce and don't mind a packet mix, then you can make as much as you need.

The main thing about being on your own is that  you can do things at your own pace and not to suit others ( not as selfish as it sounds). 

If you want to watch The Sound of Music for the 10 millionth time before you eat that is entirely up to you.

Vegetable ideas

Brussel sprouts with chestnuts  ( much loved in my house which might explain a lot!)

Roast potato and roast sweet potato ( great combination)

Honey roast carrots and parsnips ( just roast and drizzle some honey on them, alternatively roast with a couple of splashes of balsamic vinegar)

Cauliflower and broccoli gratin ( steam the veg, put in a dish throw some  cheese over and put in the oven until the  cheese melts!)

Red cabbage, layer in a small dish  add some apple cider vinegar, splash of orange juice sliced apple brown sugar and nutmeg,cinnamon and star anise. Cook for an hour with the meat OR cook on christmas eve and reheat 

Now what about gravy, well I suggest that you would make up using granules that way you can make the amount you require. You could cook some onions quickly in the microwave and add for a bit more taste.

Dessert.

You can now buy single Christmas puddings if this is your preferred dessert. I personally don't like it  and so have in the past made; 

Lemon and Ginger fool

Poached pears in red wine with whipped cream

These are very quick and easy to make.

Lemon and Ginger Fool.

This makes 2 so one for tomorrow

3tbsp Mascarpone 

100ml double cream

1tbsp stem ginger syrup ( and small piece of ginger chopped up)

3 ginger biscuits

1-2 tbsp  lemon curd

Mix Mascarpone, cream ginger syrup and ginger with lemon curd

crumble up the ginger biscuits and divide between two small bowls or ramekins or glasses.

Add mixture to and top and put in fridge.

Top with more biscuit crumbs before serving.

Poached Pears in Red Wine

One Pear 

Red wine 

1tsp sugar

Star anise

Peel pear, you can poach it whole or half it.

Put into a pan with wine, sugar and star anise.

Cook slowly until pear is softened.

Remove the star anise before serving 

This can also be cooked on a low heat in the microwave but always watch as its cooking.

Serve with whipped cream.

I rarely eat tea on Christmas day and if I do have anything it is usually cheese and biscuits  and as many chocolates as I can stuff before I feel sick!!!

Any leftovers from lunch can be eaten hot or cold over the next fews days , as you will have prepared some more veg you can have a roast dinner if you  like.

I hope this helps in some way, 

My main priority, is to make my Christmas day  ( and the run up and afterwards) as easy as possible so that I can relax and have time for me.

Its been a testing and strange year and many more of us may be on our own at Yuletide, don't forget to call, video call, FaceTime and message those you love and care about. Sometimes just one message can change someone's day.

If  you want any further info or advice re food please message me and I will try to help. I would also ask that if you are reading this on Twitter that you could retweet so that  it can reach a larger audience, and hopefully give some  help to anyone who may be preparing to be on their own for the festive period.

Look out for part 2 soon which will be vegetarian Christmas food

 

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Happy Birthday Ben

Its Wednesday and its also Bens birthday, this time last year he was celebrating a landmark birthday in Australia, this year he is celebrating in Yorkshire, well we all know where the best place is don't we!.

Its not been the cricket year that either Ben or I expected but he did get to play his first T20 game ( and took a catch) as well as a couple of days earlier being spotted on Sky when he was 12th man.

Ben has signed a contract for next season and I will be behind him all the way, he's a credit to the club and I am pleased to be able to support him.

I hope that he has a great birthday, despite the current situation. 

After a day back in the office I am beginning  to think that either I am on a shorter fuse than ever before or its time to retire. The latter is the favoured option however a lottery win may be needed to fund this.

There isn't really any other news, so I will sign off and head to the office.

Have a great Wednesday.

 

Making a plan

After a great response to yesterdays blog, I will be moving from the boundary to the kitchen over the next few weeks, where I will hopefully be giving some helpful advice to having Christmas on your own.

Its going to take me a few days to get the first instalment together, I will be offering up 'cheats;, home cooking ideas, menu plans and recipes.

As Christine suggested yesterday, being able to buy some ingredients in advance will save on extra stress of shopping nearer the time.

I really hope that these will be helpful to people like myself who will be on their own at Christmas.

What I would like to say is that, just because you are going to be on your own, it isn't  an excuse to not treat yourself, its actually the opposite. 

I am even considering giving up my vegan 'sausage' roll recipe which I have clung onto for many years, but feel that in these times, its only right to share.

In other news after my fabulous facial on Saturday I am now shedding skin like a snake  ( which was expected) Its not noticeable although I know. I am booked in again before Xmas for the same again. Yes I am a glutton for punishment but my skin does look amazing.

I had an extra day off yesterday and  I headed out to  take things to the post office and also the charity shop. Busy day on the clearing and eBay front. I also managed to collect some very huge blackberries when out on my walk as well as some more elderberries and a heck of a lot of very big sloes. 

I can home and made some more sloe gin and after finding some cherries in the freezer, that  I had foraged earlier in the summer from the trees around here, I set some cherry brandy away for Christmas.

I may not have done everything that I had planned to but, it was a relaxing day and that was the main thing

well off to the office now, have a good day.

A lie in

 I'm still in bed and it's after 8am.

Well, so what, sometimes a little bit of change is what is needed.

On Saturday the lovely Christine  owner of Christine Sadler Unforgettable Jewellery in Ayr, was asking on Twitter how people were looking to spend Christmas, either with their bubble or alone.

Having answered, Christine suggested that I write blog with ideas about cooking for one at Christmas.

It would include recipes and ideas  and although Christmas is probably the last thing that we want to think about at the moment, it might just take your mind away from what is going on around us, even if only for any hour or so as you hopefully start to make preparations.

I think that it is a really good idea, but I'm throwing it out to you my readers.

1. do you think that it worth a blog or two ( or three)?

2. Would you like to see mixtures of traditional , vegetarian, vegan menus?

3. Would you share the blog with friends?

As many friends will know I've spent a good part of lockdown cooking and just trying to while away the time. Its what I do, I had enough training and time doing it!

The recipes I will include will be my own personal ones, tried and tested over many years ( yes I have had a lot of Christmas Days on my own and I like it that way).

So what do you think?

The Christmas blogs are in your hands.

Have a great Monday, I think I had best get up as it is 9am now! Lazy daisy!!!!

Big Al's today

 

Well its Friday so that's a good enough reason to smile, its also my last day until Tuesday, which makes me super smiley.

I have to put the order in at Big Als on the way in as we have a full house today, well the 5 regulars.

I am going to be busy today  as I am going to the hairdressers to get the straight locks looked at, and then race home as Steve the Wine man is delivering ( always worth racing home for).

And then its  the weekend.

In crickety news, the   England, South Africa tour is going ahead which is good for South Africa and they will be playing one day matches and T20's, the  tours in 2021 to Sri Lanka and India have not been confirmed as of yet.

I do think that as it stands now it will be a while before we get back to how things were both cricket and life in general.

We are  on the brink of Tier 3 lockdown, although in this house that's been the order of the day really since March.

I was talking to one of my colleagues who works from home and he was saying that he is really struggling  the moment, due to really not seeing anyone. I am lucky enough to see the same faces 5 days a week, but some weekends apart from the person on the supermarket check out I don't see anyone, ok maybe the little girls next door shout to me from their bedroom window, which is lovely and usually end up with me being shown their newest drawings.

Its very hard and will become worse when the clocks go back this weekend.

So although I can't call on anyone, I am making a plan to drop cards through the doors of friends who are on their own like me, over the coming weeks just to let them know that I'm thinking about them.

Take good care out there and stay safe.

Have a fabulous weekend.

How on earth did it get to be Thursday ?

 I'm not sure where this week has gone, I was struggling on Monday  and now its Thursday! 

I've been planning a little treat for me on Saturday when I am going to have a facial, sadly it wont halt the effects of time and stress but it will cheer me up. poor Laura who is doing it, I normally fall asleep, and dare I say.......snore!

However 1.5 days work to get through before then though.

A strange thing happened yesterday when I took a call at lunchtime from the hotel that I should be staying in at Seaham. The 15 minute phone call ended with me having my booking cancelled and to say that I am now convinced the weeks holiday in November is jinxed is an understatement.

There was a genuine reason for the cancellation but I'm desperately trying to find another place to stay.

I have to admit I did go to the loo and have a very girly cry, but this morning I am looking at it in a positive way, everyone seems to be planning for the worse ( except me obviously), and if things get worse then I guess a week at home might be just as beneficial as a champagne tasting trip to Dizy and Bouzey, or a week in Seaham.

It does look as if we will all be in Tier 3 before long.

I have been working out what else to do this weekend and apart  from my facial, I am planning an Italian evening ( change of country cooking wise), and having a bash at making candles. 

Christmas cakes are on the cards too and as I have Monday off that could be the day for it.

Well time to get Thursday out of the way.

Just 3 of us again today. Should be quiet!

Have a great day.

Mid week musings

 

Well its the middle of the week and I am about to put a holiday form in for next Monday, a nice little long weekend again, I am trying to use up some holiday, I was going to take extra time off at Xmas, but to be honest I can't see the point, I'll be sitting at home like Billy no mates for nearly 3 weeks, no Malta trip, no friends or family over ( because we all know that is going to how it is). Might as well stay at work until we close and be with my boys.

Funny isn't it that the last 2 Christmases we haven't been able to take holiday apart from the bank holiday, but this year..............

Well enough said about all that nonsense.

I have checked out cricket and there is not a lot to report, which is only to be expected.

Work  at The Wickets has been ongoing with the arrival ( finally ) of the gutter cleaner, you now have to book a slot 2 months in advance to get him to come out.

He was very confident it would be done in no time, so armed with his 'hoover and camera on a stick, he set to.

One hoover full is the norm, he said cheerfully. 

2 hours later and 4 hoovers full, he was not so chirpy but the gutters were cleared. Remind me if I ever buy another house to make sure  they are cleaned before I go in.

Now to deal with the patch of damp in the lounge and hope that the builder comes to do the pointing soon.

I've  had so many probs getting tradesmen whilst living in Ladylaineyville. It makes me wonder if I am asking them to do outlandish things ( like wash windows?)

the lovely Rhys is not back yet due to a positive Covid result in his family, he is due to be available next week  so we will be able to move forward then. And his family member is on the mend thankfully.

Well off to the office where there are only three of us today, so peace and quiet will be the order of the day.

stay safe out there.

Thoughts for Tuesday

 

Well here we are at Tuesday and  I think here in my neck of the woods we may be bracing ourselves for a two week circuit breaker if rumours are to be believed. Will this help? I am unsure, I am doing everything I can to keep the virus at bay, however I have noticed in the last week or so, many people going into shops without mask. One man when challenged said he couldn't wear a mask because he had asthma.........................and then I passed him in the pedestrianised area of town having a cigarette! 

One thing that has happened is that my hair has gone straight and I mean straight , not a curl or a wave in sight, 7 months have taken its toll I'm afraid. Not even the magic of Jacqui the barnet tamer can do anything with this, I will do as I did when I had mumps ( unknowingly)and my hair went straight ( although not as straight as this), Ill have it cut into a bob and leave it to grow.  

It is what it is, I will have to take the rough with the smooth, or the straight with the curly as it is at the moment.

I know that there are lots of us going through tough times, and  my woes are miniscule, to those of you who are going through the mill, I send much love to you. We all need to try to stick together and be there for each other. 

I'm spending a lot of time cooking, it does appear by some of my tweets that there is a lot of wine or champagne involved, there isn't really, its  usually a glass or two and the remainder  saved for another day. 

What I am trying to do is to go back to  my wine experience  and expand on that, and then get back to cooking, doing some pairings with food. 

Its enjoyable and making me think outside of the world of water.

I have finally made all the chutneys that I  intended to this year, so now onto the Xmas cakes.  

Its going to be a busy few weekends coming up.

I have had to have a change of plan for my Birthday weekend and have sadly had to cancel York and instead I am heading off to ................Seaham! 

Who knew that in one year my holiday destinations would be Wetherby and Seaham ( or Cham as one of my colleagues in London called it)

Anyhoo time to head off to the office.

To all of you where ever you are, please stay safe and take care.

Have a great day

TLJL Day

 Its not very often that one player takes over the blog ( in fact in 8 years of blogging it has happened 5 times including this one) and even more unusual for me to write a blog on a Sunday. However today is the birthday of TJLJ.

Although he is no longer a White Rose I personally will always see him as that.

It was a tough couple of seasons for him before he left Yorkshire at the end of 2019 season to move to Kent, something that now, despite Coronavirus and lockdown has seen him make his mark  at the club. In only his second game with them he made an  unbeaten 220  with Jordan Cox batting with him, in what was Kents record partnership for  any wicket.(423 runs against Sussex)

There was much cheering at The Wickets I can tell you.

Over the years at Yorkshire I have seen him play first team and seconds, always with the same enthusiasm.

Cheering him on very vocally at Finals Day in 2016  is how I met TLML. Luckily she did see the funny side of the  shouting old lush behind her!

Amd I will never forget cheering him madly from the posh seats after THAT catch

Jack  has spent winters in Australia working hard on his game over the last few years, not sure about this year though.

And as he notches up another year and more years ahead of him in cricket, I  just want to say happy 27th birthday Jack.

I wish you the very best of luck in the coming year.

There's only one TLJL!!!

Last working day for me

 Hurrah!!!

Today is my last working day this week, as I am having tomorrow off and  will be having things done at The Wickets, hopefully the gutters cleaned and some pointing repairs. Things that need to be done sooner rather than later.

As my great friend 'James Bond' told me 'take one day at a time' so I will be getting through today and trying not to think any further ahead.

I was at a bit of a loss last night after spending the last few evenings wrapped up in the Aussie cricket team bubble. 

I did a bit of housework ( well Roxy comes today so like a lot of  woman I do the house work before the cleaner comes), and also wrote a shopping list for the weekends weekly shop.  No French evening this week, I still have cheese to polish off!

In domestic cricket Yorkshire have been showcasing the players who have extended contracts. I had a quick flick through the county In's & Out's, I still can't bear the thought of Notts without Christopher David Nash. 

Hopefully there will be some news soon about what he is going to do.

Well its that time again and I am heading off for the 9 long hours.

Have a great Thursday, I probably wont blog tomorrow as I will hopefully be catching up on some  Zzzzzzz's

Watch if you can

Cricket is and always will be a huge part of my life, from growing up surrounded by family  players,  being encouraged to play by my great friend Harry Latchman { and getting coaching from him too}, to sponsoring  two up and coming players. It has been the main focus of my summers for many years and I am very lucky to have a large circle of friends involved in the game in many ways.

This season has been a strange one with none of us being able to support our teams in person and players playing to empty grounds. Something that we hope will not be the norm.

The season came and went and to me it just felt like it had never been here at all. 

However I decided the other evening to watch 'The Test' on Amazon Prime and  I have to say I was hooked. I was hooked by the brutal honesty of the fly on the wall documentary of the Australian team trying to come back from the sandpaper scandal and win the Ashes.

No matter what you feel about Australia { and the cheating} it is, in my opinion, a great watch.

It was great to watch players delighted to play for their country, trying to make their mark and make their country side great again.

As many of you know I am not really an international fan I love domestic cricket, but this was great watching.

The funny thing is that when I woke up this morning my first thought was, I love cricket!!!!!

How great is that!

Huge thanks to my great  friend 'James Bond' who gave me some great advice yesterday.

'Take it a day at a time'

And so with that and my love of cricket in mind I am wending my way to work.

Have a great day 

Here we are

Well we are now pretty much stuck in the same situation after the PM's briefing on Monday night  and I can honestly say that I am not  taking it  too well.

Tiredness and other factors make getting out of bed this morning harder than normal, I am running on empty and struggling to find any energy to get through today, although we all know I will be in the car shortly and spend the rest of the day along with my team, trying to make things right in the world of water.

I have been sorting out things at The Wickets  and the bags are filling up again to go the charity shop, it is becoming a bit of a circle, one in one out except at the moment it seems to be one in 5 out, which is not a bad thing.

I started to watch 'The Test, last night, interesting to see behind the scenes  of the reinvention of Australian cricket. There are some players that I am still not too keen on ( not always the obvious ones). Interesting watch if  you fancy it.

I have taken Friday off this week to try to make the most of the weekend. I think that I might spend the day at the seaside, with a picnic and no mates..............its becoming the norm..

Well best to crack on and do some work, another day, another day closer to retirement.

Happy Tuesday 

What to do

 

Well its Thursday and things are not getting any better, I am coming to terms with no Champagne birthday and no Malta Christmas, its all a bit bleak, and going to get bleaker for us if the rumours are to be believed.

I am considering putting my tent up in the garden and freezing me what nots off for a few days. Or walk to Redworth Hall for a couple of nights and then walk home( I reckon half hour each way) could even go on the bike, decisions , decisions.

In all seriousness, I just need a break and not at home, I've been home all but one week this year and much as I love my house I badly need a change of scenery.

I know that I am not the only person in this situation, its tough, its been a very tough year and I don't see it getting much better.

I guess I can start to make the Christmas cakes!

One thing I do need to do is cut the lawn, hopefully I'll be able to do this at the weekend.

Things have ground to a halt at home as Rhys has been away on large jobs, and my little ones have taken a back seat. Its not a problem, as it gives me a chance to do some of the finishing touches in the rooms that have been competed.

Well time to do some work.

Another day, another job application filled in!

And that is the season over

however not without making an already strange season even stranger.

Lets start with Saturday 

Getting out of the shower to a message from Chris Nash was the start of it, { yes Chris Nash , buns of steel boy!}, more of that to come in coming weeks.

I ran around like a mad thing after that, getting everything done as much as possible before 10.30am. Lunch was in the fridge and dinner ( a french meal to accompany a lovely French red)  was supposed to be prepared, but due to the rain and  not being bothered to go out it was postponed to Sunday. 

Which is exactly what happened to the T20 finalsday.

There was so much precipitation up and down the country that I think plans for Arks were  probably the most googled thing!

In other Saturday news, my friend Philip came home from hospital after having brain surgery. It was a tense couple of weeks for lots of us Huge sighs of relief all round, and great to see him on the mend. I think crying in Home Bargains at 2.14pm on Friday  when I got the news that surgery had been successful will go down in history as one of my finest hours !!!

Yesterday dawned with sunshine here in the North East of Blighty, it also became apparent that this really was a brand new day for me. I really felt that a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I went to town and shopped and prepared food and then waited for what would be the last day of the cricket season { in October}.

At 3pm the toss was made for the first semi.

Overs were limited but I'm sure that no one watching cared about that

Surrey v Gloucs

Surrey won!

Notts up next against Lancs

OMG Chris  Nash {BOSB} only went and got injured fielding.

Notts won though with some outstanding batting especially from  Dan Christianson in the last overs.

Surrey v Notts

So I'd cooked and eaten my French meal and sat feeling sick.  Nashy couldn't play so Peter Trego  stepped in.

AND THEY WON!!

and I got messages from Harry { Notts lad} and cracked open a bottle of champagne because to be honest after Yorkshire , Notts are the matches that I have seen  a lot of .

And that's it for 2020.

The year  that never really was, the year we were all on hold with crappy music. The year we got a year older and looked at life slightly differently.

And now its a new week, a fresh start and in my books its winter now that cricket is over.

Happy Monday 

Friday musings

Well Autumn is well and truly here, dark mornings, the nights drawing in and the trees changing colour. The  fabulous Horse chestnut along from The Wickets is laden with conkers and I think I will be going down to collect some, not for a game of conkers but they  apparently deter spiders, and I no likey spiders.

Usually at this time of year,I would have written my review of the cricket  season , but there has been so little season and nothing that we could go to see.
Highlights for me were TLJL and his amazing 220* in the game against Sussex. What a great player and of course a personal fave of mine. ( that poor lad!)
Also 'my' Ben and his T20 debut, taking a catch and making my day. I will be continuing to support Ben next season as I know that he has a lot to offer the club.
Yorkshire did not fair well in either the Bob Willis Trophy  or in the T20 competition ( which completes tomorrow with Finals Day in an empty stadium!). However it was a strange season  ( and has been a strange year) , lets see what next season brings.

We are now in October, how quickly this year has gone by, not something that I would like to repeat in a hurry.
I live on my own and although I like my own company 6 months of not seeing many people, is quite telling, I jokingly say that I am becoming a hermit, but sadly with further lockdown in Prince Bishopville, I fear that I may not see anyone but my work colleagues before the New Year.
It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but we all soldier on.

I have something like a million and 20 days holiday standing....................I also have a flight to take ( UK), I really just want to get away somewhere ( yes I know I went to Wetherby a month ago!). Just a change of scenery would be lovely.
However the restrictions imposed on us mean that we are not to leave the area unless it is really necessary.

Oh well I can always change bedrooms and move into The Sanderson suite.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend.
Come on Notts!!!!

Thursday chat

Well last night involved going to collect some more wardrobe doors which should be installed this evening when lovely Rhys comes.
I really have taken to doing some of the things in the  house using reclaimed items as it saves them going to landfill and they are  too good for that. I could have bought new, but being from Yorkshire I do like a bargain.
I have to say that the wardrobes in my room will have bespoke doors because I wanted something that was not available to buy. ( and never seen on Gumtree or FB Marketplace)
I am ebaying  with a vengeance, its sometimes my favourite thing to do when I get home from work, I really want to get shot of a lot of things that have just been in cupboards or drawers since I moved which is over a year ago and as I haven't needed/used them in that time, I think that they can be moved on.
I got my beautiful picture that I bought in Spain back in 1997  reframed and that will be put back on the bedroom wall at the weekend. New bedding is due to arrive so my room will be looking  close to completion.

Its all go.

I am kind of stuck here in the land of the Prince Bishops, as we are in lockdown and any flouting will see huge fines, not sure how they are going to police this as the police in Ladylaineyville can't even stop the kids who are racing trail bikes on the road near my house. No helmets, probably no licence and definitely no insurance. A worryingly horrible accident waiting to happen.

I was hoping to catch up with friends this weekend, but I'm not sure if I can, travel restrictions have not been implemented, just no one can come to my house, I can travel but not meet anyone apparently . I'm totally brain dead as to what I can do where I can go and who I can see.

If I can't see friends then I will cook, I need to peruse my cookery books as I am going to cook a meal to go with a bottle of Bistro Chic, a French red from Bordeaux.
more info in the link below
https://www.foxywine.co.uk/product-page/bistro-chic-red-blend-france


Have a great Thursday, hurrah its nearly the weekend.

Hello Philip hope your Thursday is a good one. x