Friday finally

 Well its the end of the week. I cannot tell you how glad I am.

So here are the plans for the weekend ( Fridays version).

Rhys is coming to fit doors.............................I will believe this when they are in situ.

I am going to strip the fabric from the chair to be upcycled and if I feel like it I will also rub down the chair. this will happen that is for sure.

I will re watch numerous  episodes of 'Escape to the Chateau', 'Escape to the Chateau DIY' and  'Escape to the Chateau Make do and mend'.

I will be trawling the internet for wallpaper.

Yes, after kicking up a right royal stink about a specific Laura Ashley wall paper I wanted for my bedroom, getting 5 rolls on ebay and getting the room done, I have now decided that I want a different paper. 

You can sort of see why I am single!!!!!

I am also cooking, nothing foreign this week and nothing flash, I am batch cooking braised steak in the slow cooker so that I can take some portions to my sister for her to put in the freezer. There may also be a chicken casserole.

I might crack open a cheeky bottle of champagne too.

I am also going to try to do 3 thoughtful things for others this weekend.

One will be letter writing

One will be dropping off some craft supplies for a friend who is shielding.

And I have to think about the third one.

It doesn't take a lot to do something thoughtful, even a text or call might make someones day.

Wonderful word of the day.

Embouchure

Which is the mouth of a river or valley.

Say it, it is a positively lovely word to say.

There is no Big Al's today as he is not reopening until we are out of lockdown. 

So I have made my  breakfast danish pastries for the chosen few in the office ( thats the 3 of us that are in the office at the moment)

Have a wonderful weekend, take care, stay safe, be kind to yourself as well as others.

On we go

 Morning and welcome to a very snowy Ladylaineyville.

Cricket is on TMS this morning it started at 4.30am.

I will have the cricket on in the office as I am the only one in the main office for the majority of the day. 

I have been out to try to clear the car, which was pointless as it was covered again before I had moved round it, so I will be out again to head to the office as soon as I finish this.

It will be a slow journey and I will get there when I get there.

As if we haven't got enough going on!

As you probably know I am an avid reader and  constantly have at least 3 books on the go ( throwback to English A' level).

I am currently reading 'The French Intifada' by Andrew Hussey, 

'Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier' by Britta Rostlund

'The Yorkshire Pudding Club' by Barnsley author Milly Johnson

and everyday I dip into  'Change your life  one day at a time  by Drs Patricia Macnair and Ilona Boniwell.

A proper mixed bag there ( and after juggling D.H Lawrence,Seamus Heaney, Keats , Shakespeare etc  back in the 80's this is a breeze)

So today I will give you a suggestion from the  'Change your life book'

Daily inspiration

'Rules for happiness.

Something to do,

Someone to love,

Something to hope for.'

Short and to the point  think.

Now lets have a wonderful word of the day.

Quiddle,

Someone prone to waste time with idle chatter in Medieval England might have been accused of 'quiddling', this was the verb for quiddle which meant 'to discourse in a trifling way.

Sounds a bit like my blog to be honest!!

Well best get my boots on and head out.

Have a good day, stay safe and if you have snow don't be a Lainey! stay at home, in bed!

Midweek verse

 

The world has become a stranger place

You go to the bank with a mask on your face

Washing your hands, is a national pastime

Calling on friends can get you a fine

Remember the days before there were zooms

When you tried on clothes in changing rooms

Sitting in a café with cake and tea,

Chattering with friends so carefreely.

Life has changed so much for us all

Work from home,  video call.

Essential travel is what we should do,

Can you remember the last time you flew?

Keep your distance, give some space

Daily exercise, no need to race.

No gathering with friends at anytime

Who ever thought that would be a crime?

But its not all doom and gloom

For kindness we can all make room,

Compassion, love and friendship are all in fashion,

Even if kisses and hugs are both  on ration.

Its not forever, even if that's how it seems

One day we will drink wine amongst sunbeams

Follow the rules, and stay safe at home.

Have a great day thanks for reading my poem.

Things to be thankful for

 Good morning, Its Tuesday, just in case (like me) you just get up and do your usual routine without any concept of the day.

Another day in Ladylaineyville and although cold , there has been no more snow and for that I am truly thankful. I was not made for digging out cars and scraping windscreens. Mind you I think thats all of us to be honest.

I am feeling a lot more upbeat than I have since well before Christmas, mainly due to the fact that my sister seems to be on the mend from Covid and pneumonia. One less thing to worry about really.

I appreciate fully that I am one of the lucky ones, some people have not had their family members overcome this horrible virus. And that makes me count my blessing.

My friend who lost her father in law on 2nd January lost her mother in law on Saturday both to covid. She said that in said times she was happy that they are back together again, having rarely been apart in 60 years of marriage.

.

Last year I was unable to see any cricket and despite what is being said, I am unsure if we will see any before summer if then, I remain hopeful, but also wondering if I will  be so keen to drive off to a game, stay in a hotel and mix with others albeit socially distanced.

I continue to letter write and also to put together parcels to send out, sometimes a handwritten  letter can be a real tonic, I know that I have enjoyed letters from my 'penpal' ( yes I have one of those) in America.

Friends have been incredibly kind sending me parcels, I received a fabulous 'hamper' on Saturday which was wonderful and to my lovely friends who sent it I am very grateful. 

also  don't forget that a telephone call, text message or video call, can lift some ones spirits, and as we are living ( literally at the moment) in dark days, its good to bring some light and love and laughter into some ones life.

In other news 

I have ordered my upholstery fabric for my  acquired chair!, now I need to strip the old off and wash the frame down do some minor repairs and then paint it, I reckon that I have until about June to get this done.

I will put a lot of love as well as hard work into bringing the chair up to how I want it.

I am always thankful that I inherited my Dad's have a go spirit. He never thought he couldn't do things, he just did them.

Which is a bit like how we live at the moment, we may not be able to do what we want to do but try something else and find some pleasure in it.

And now for Wonderful word for the day

Gwenders.

This is the tingling feeling you get in your fingers when they are cold.

Now make sure you put your gloves on before you head out of the door.

Have a good Tuesday.

New week begins

Another week begins and its been a two cup of coffee morning already here as I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning. After a peep out of the blinds it is good to see that the snow is all but gone. It is however bitterly cold.

However on we go.

The weekend has been nothing at all as  I envisaged.

I had planned French evening for Saturday and after the most amazing starter, which was my my twist on French toast, I couldn't eat the chicken fricassee that I had made or the chocolate mousse with toasted hazelnuts. After two glasses of champagne I was fast asleep in bed at 10pm!

I had set the slow cooker to do its stuff over night, and yesterday I portion up some of the chicken and vegetables from Saturday evening and the beef cooked over night and dropped off at on my sisters doorstep.

The food was prepared so that it was easy for her to chew and swallow, although she still has Covid and pneumonia, her underlying  myasthenia gravis means that her food has to be tiny pieces or mashed/pureed.

She is back in her own home and in isolation. I did see her from a very safe distance and she looks far better than I thought which is a huge relief.

This really is great news and huge steps forward.

I have not done anything that I planned, but does it really matter, not at all, I had a peaceful and restful weekend and that is by far the best thing.

All the jobs will get done, I am not going anywhere in the near future.

Positives from the weekend, sleep,sleep and a bit more sleep.

I was searching for some upholstery fabric and I think that I have found the perfect one, more on that later.

There is still lots to be grateful for and one thing is that plants are starting to slowly show signs of life, I imagine that somewhere snowdrops will be starting to push through. 

The buds are starting to form on my hydrangeas and that always makes me smile, nature truly is amazing.

My pleasure for today is that I am going savour a couple of squares of dark chocolate, I will be having them after dinner with a cup of cardamom coffee ( which will have a splash of evaporated milk in ,try it its delicious even in ordinary coffee).

Enjoy everything!

Wonderful word of the day is Philotimy, from the Greek word 'philotimia'(love and honour). The English derivative is from around the 16th century and was used in the sense of love and honour and also ambition.

Go and fulfil your own philotimy today.

Happy Monday.

Stay safe.

 

Fryup day

 Healthy eating is trying to be adhered to, but it is Friday and so it is greasy fry up sandwiches from Big Al's, that's if he is open and none of us had the sense to ring yesterday to find out, so I might have a wasted journey this morning to take the order in, and there will be some disappointed boys in the office!

Although trying to remain positive, furloughing a draughtsman and an Electrical engineer has not sat well with me. How long before my turn?

Time for a wonderful word of the day

Boondoggle

This is a project  that is considered a waste of time or money ( yes I'm sure we've all been involved in a few of those).

I thought I would give a recipe today for a warming and comforting drink. So here is my recipe for Easy Chai Tea.

Serves 4

• 8 cardamom pods
•         8 cloves        
• 4 black peppercorns
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 bags black tea (such as Darjeeling)
• 8 teaspoons sugar or more, to   taste
• Put the cardamom, peppercorns and cloves  into a bag and crush.
• Put into a pan with ginger and cinnamon, milk and two cups of water, bring to the boil and then remove from the heat, add the tea bags and leave to cool slightly,
• Strain into cups and add sugar to taste.
• If you want an extra kick add a shot of espresso to make a 'dirty chai'.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend, I know that we can't do much but how about an early morning walk to see the sun rise or late afternoon stroll to see the sun set.

Even in these dark times there is beauty all around us we just have to take the time to see it.

stay safe and I will be back on Monday.

• 
  

Time to get busy

So firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to all those of you who responded to yesterdays blog. It was so lovely to hear the comments. I hope that it was helpful in some way to you.

And now is the time to get busy, I personally do not think that there will be any cricket to watch until the summer ( if then) and so I am now preparing to get more things done at home. 

I have some curtains to make for a special project which will be seen when ( and if ) I ever get the joiner back into the house. I also have some cushions to make.

My reading list has got longer as I have just ordered 'The French Intifada' by Andrew Hussey and look forward to starting that.

Cooking will be high up on my priority list, as I try out new recipes and have my special Saturday night meals again ( I loved doing that in the 1st lockdown).

The picture shows my attempt at making candles, I knew those chopsticks would come in handy for something!!!!!

Will I finally get the decorating done in the dining room????..................I don't want to really commit to that as it does depend if I get the joiner back, some of the 'fittings' are in this room and it is difficult to move them around.

Evenings after work, I have put dinner on and gone for  a walk around the 'big' block, its very cold at the moment and horribly dark, so I do it as quickly as possible. 

Yesterday morning when  I got to work , I was so busy looking at the icy puddles along the edge of the car park, that I didn't notice the sheet ice by the side of  the car.  I discovered that Jayne Torvil  I am not, I did however skid to the far end of the car park on my derriere quicker than those speed skaters!

I've got a lovely bruise now!

I will try daily  to add a wonderful word of the day, words that we rarely use now in the English language.

Today's word  is 

Erinaceous

Which means, pertaining to or resembling a hedgehog!

I am looking that our lockdown here in England will probably spread into March if not longer so , instead of going down the moaning route, I want to think positive and  think of what I am grateful for. 

 I am grateful for the lovely family and friends that I have

for the fact that I am healthy and able to go to work

and I am grateful for seeing another day.

I am trying to remain cheerful and cheer others up too.

Life is what you make it.

Make it worthwhile!

Half way through the first week

 

Welcome to Wednesday and here we go.

Unless you are an anti vax, anti virus, anti everything person, the majority of us will now be settling down to how the next few weeks will be.

Its going  to be very hard for small ( and large ) businesses, its going to be hard on peoples mental health. Its just going to be hard, but what is the option?

I was told on Monday night that a school friend, her husband, daughter and son in law are all struggling with Covid ( she is asthmatic and her daughter has underlying problems), as if  that was not bad enough, her husbands father passed away from Covid in hospital on Saturday and his mum is still in there. She was allowed to be with her husband when he passed away. Her chances are very low.

They had not been in contact with each other this was a string of very awful coincidences.

I cried, I cried for my friend,  and I cried with the sheer desperation of the situation.

I'm tired of know it alls who mock authority and decisions made. Just do what they are asking and lets all pull together to try to get through this.

When going to the pub or out for a meal is the most important thing in your life, think about it, is it really?

I for one am not looking forward to being on my own for another 6 weeks, I've been on my own for most of the last 9 months and probably for another 2 at least. I haven't faired too well through it all, but I have made it this far and intend to make it further.

I fully appreciate that we all have our own thoughts and ideas on what is happening, we all have huge weights that we are bearing, and we are sad that we can't do what we want, however I want to live to see another year.

So as we move into a full lockdown, please stay safe, take care of loved ones and just try to abide by the rules laid out for us.

Tuesday musing

 

So yesterday saw the first recipients of the Oxford vaccine, lets get this rolled out as soon as possible.

And then we got lockdown again. Amazingly my email pinged at 8.30pm with my letter declaring that I was needed to work from the office.

Well prepared for some thing those 'tators'

Sadly my sister is still  in hospital having had a negative covid  result and being moved to an other hospital, and then 2 positive covid results, what is that all about? I've no idea. I worry, but I'm not a nurse or a doctor, I can't visit, so I have just have to take each day, which is always best.

One of my colleagues had the added horror of her mum falling downstairs and breaking her pelvis whilst staying with her, luckily ( if there is a lucky) as she lives in the wilds, her Mum is in a local 'cottage hospital' which is apparently very lovely with few patients.

2021 will get better we just have to get through the early storms of the year and on we go.

No point whinging and moaning, there are going to be laws in place, so time to just do as told (again for some of us)

I have not planned anything at all this year, I really don't want to set myself up for the disappointment I felt last year. The only thing that I have planned is the menu at The Wickets for the next week so that I can go and shop in one session.

My physio is carrying on again this year even though it is virtual, I am still using the acupressure mat which I swear by and also have my vibration plate which has done wonders for my hip and knee. If I was to plan one thing for the year it will be  to get fitter ( rather than fatter). However one day at a time.

I have a lot of books on the bedside table which are currently waiting to be read, so that is also a day at a time thing, I am reading a chapter every night before bed. Relaxing.

Cricket wise, South Africa and India were into the 2nd day of their test. Looking interesting.

In Australia due to a spike in  Covid , Sydney has cut the crowds for the test against India. Maybe the really sensible thing would have been to just play behind closed doors. My thoughts only! 

Worrying news that Moeen Ali has tested positive for Covid  on arrival in Sri Lanka and is now in isolation. It looks as if the team will be under close watch in the next few days.

And with that I am off to wend my way to the office. What I will say is that here at The Wickets there is the sound of a lot of traffic on the main road which actually sounds like more than normal!!!!! 

Day 5 page is open and ready to be scribbled on, nothing exciting in it I suspect for the next 6 weeks. One thing I will be doing is getting the sewing machine out of the cupboard, I have plans!!

Have a great Tuesday, stay safe and stay at home.

New Year week 1

 Monday morning 5.30am and back to work today, Having had just over a week off, I should be feeling refreshed and recharged, yes should.

So what is in store this week, well yesterday due to us having furloughed our cleaner back in March last year, I went into the office to give it a clean for going back. I know that there hadn't been anyone in but better to be safe and all that. As for the rest of it, there will be the usually flood of holiday requests as well as the pipeline meetings.

England arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of  the two test tour, they were met by strict checks, the press making quite a lot about men  in protective  suits, I thought it was refreshing to see strict precautions being taken.

In Australia India have run into trouble as five players are in isolation after breaching their bio bubble.

Here in the North East of blighty in Tier 4 we are looking at further restrictions. I will still be working from the office until someone is stuck down with the virus, and I have no doubts that it is going to happen in the near future. Maybe this will wake up the hierarchy.

A busy week at The Wickets as things start to take shape for the next stage of renovations. There have been sketches ( I use that term loosely) emailed over to the joiner for him to get a head start.

I really don't think that I will be seeing any cricket again this season so might as well put the time and the money into something useful.

Well, time to head out the door and get the 4th page of the year scribbled on.

The start of the New Year is  already giving me a positive feeling.

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year and a huge welcome to 2021.

I don't think that a year has ever been heralded with so much expectation as this one.Lets hope that it lives up to all the hype.

I had a very early night manged to get a couple of hours sleep before the firework started, obviously terrifying ever dog in the street not to mention the little girls next door..

First grump of the New Year, fireworks should be banned.

Usually today I would do a review of the year, but I can sum it up in a paragraph.

January and February dreaming of the cricket season, March got locked down,Didn't do much. July got a bit more freedom, cricket happened but not to go to  watch. Saw some friends!!! August got a holiday, not to Norway as planned but to Wetherby. Notts won T20 trophy. Got locked down again. Friend very  ill and in hospital. Couldn't have birthday in France, had birthday at home. Lost a friend. Sister seriously ill. Christmas came, couldn't go to Malta, stayed at home. Ate my bodyweight in food on New Years eve, went to bed at 9.45pm.

And here we are, 1st January 2021, a new day, a new year and a fresh page.

So what to do this year, what I really want first and foremost is to be able to be vaccinated.

I also would like to see people.

I want a hug, never underestimate the power of a hug.

Covid life is continuing, but a New Year always brings new hope and after the last year we all need to be hopeful.

So I wish you a very happy and healthy 2021, there are 365 pages in the book of this year to fill.

Lets get the first page filled in.

Stay safe.

last week of 2020

 This time last year I had spent the day in Saltburn with my lovely friends Jacqui and Tony and Spike the BT, such a carefree day, Spike racing around he beach chasing balls,having fish and chips on the sea front, falling asleep on the way home.

None of us had a clue then about what was going to unfold in the following weeks.

Sadly judging by stats we seem to be going into a worse version of the virus than back then.

My sister was given the Covid all clear yesterday and shipped out of the Covid ward and off to another hospital.(apparently the ward was filling up quicklly) She is still struggling with pneumonia (side effect of covid) , and hopefully  at the new hospital they can start to manage the original problem which is a rare auto immune/ neuromuscular  disease.

Fingers crossed the new year will see treatment to keep it under control.

So crickety news, since Boxing day  I have been sleeping with the Australia team and then at 8am running downstairs to snuggle up on the sofa with the South Africa team.

One team have been spectacularly disappointing and despite some heroic attempts by the tail last night it was all over and India levelled the series.

I got quite a good nights sleep.

S.A were in top  form yesterday , especially Faf, yes he was out for 199, but there was some  great crickt there.

Poor Sri Lanka have been plagued by a myriad of injuries.

today I am popping to the town, to drop off about 20 bags at the charity shop ( and so the clear out begins).  I need a frame so will be heading to Wilko who do some excellent ones ( not paid to say that).

I also have things to put on eBay. Busy busy.

I hope that you all had a good Christmas, it may not have been what we wanted but it was  only that way for a reason. 

I am now ever hopeful that my sister can turn the corner and start to make a full recovery. 

It looks like it is time to really knuckle down and stay safe until we can all get the vaccine ( yes I want it).

I hope that you have a great Tuesday.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all, it may not be the Christmas that you wanted, but I look at it that I would rather see next Christmas than see other people at the moment and that's not meant in an offensive way.

I should have been preparing to fly to Malta for a longed for break, however I am at The Wickets with an abundance of Champagne and  food and know that I am in the thoughts of friends and loved ones, ( as they are in mine). 

Sadly I have not been able to see my sister who yesterday had to celebrate her birthday in a Covid ward. Not what any of us would want.

I have  been for a very early morning walk, there were no lights on even at the houses where I know there are children, so some parents are getting a lie in.

Now I am showered and in new PJ's and this will be the order of the day, I'm not seeing anyone or going anywhere so it will be our little secret.

I am about to open my presents and have my Christmas martini, its the annual outing of the crystal martini glasses, for some reason I use them only on Christmas morning and then pack away.

I didn't manage to get the cricmas tree up but did make a cricmassy arrangement, ,;ate  tonight /early morning, I can listen to the Australia test match and then tomorrow morning I can watch South Africa, sounds like a perfect Boxing Day to me.

Well time to wish you a peaceful Christmas, it won't be as we wanted  but make the most of it and start some new traditions.

With much love to you all 

Lainey

x

Push to the finish line

 

So here I am, the last few days of work for 2020.

Obviously the 'Richards' are already on holiday, lead by example is not in their book of management.

I'm trying to organise some food for the troops on our last day, just to have a sort of party, normally I would have made it, but at the moment I don't have the energy.

The weekend was not quite as relaxing as I wanted with the horrible news that my poorly sister, now has pneumonia. Its just awful, however we are 2 days on and although she is not well she is obviously fighting.

I've been trying to get some sleep but sadly the minute I close my eyes, my head goes into overtime. At 2am this morning, I was listening to the sounds of forklift trucks drifting  on the wind from the industrial estate to my bedroom, I was actually comforted that I wasn't the only person awake.

Over in Australia, Dan Christian, the Notts player hit the second fastest half century in BBL history. as his team the Sydney Sixers beat the Adelaide Strikers.

That's about it for Crickety news, although I did  start to watch The Test again at 2.30am this morning and I genuinely am enjoying it again. As I said last time I watched it, if you have Amazon Prime and want a good watch ( even though its about Australia) give it a go.

I know that we are all in turmoil with various parts of the  country going into another tier, I'm looking at it that not mixing for one Christmas will mean that we all have lots of Christmases to mix in future.

I know its hard, but make your day special in your own way, Christmas isn't cancelled, its just different this year. 

I wish you all a peaceful time.

I am signing off for the remainder of the week.

Happy Christmas

Stay safe.

last working Friday of 2020

 

I'm ready for the last day of the week and then a weekend of doing 'stuff' at home ( which will probably be none productive and make more mess than already there).

More than likely I'll be Escaping to the Chateau, no not the old house, but the TV programme that has been my lockdown saviour.

I've rewatched  all the series  and the new one as well as the DIY episodes.

For me its been real escape from everything that has been going on around us.

I'm not happy with Royal Mail as items that were posted last week, according to their tracking service have not been delivered, in total I posted 20 boxes and only  5 seem to have made it to their destinations. 

Out of my hands and I remain hopeful that some arrive before Christmas in fact just hoping that they arrive.

Fixtures were released yesterday, I cannot think about any of that at the moment, so I just skipped over them, words that you never thought that you would hear from me..................

I purchased an acupressure mat ( as recommended by physio) and good lord! its pretty good, I am still not able to lie for the recommended 10 minutes but am now  up to 8 mins and my hip and back pain are a lot better, I will be using it every night for the foreseeable future. I haven't been sleeping any better but I guess that is down to my head being a little bit battered at the moment.

Quirky it might appear, but if it works and helps a little bit it is well worth the money.

Wonderful word for today is

Circumjacent

meaning surrounding.

Have a good Friday and weekend

Thursday already

 Another morning, another struggle to hoist my bulk out of bed, any chance of me walking two miles before I head to work are a distant memory, even walking downstairs is a total chore at 5.15am, and thats for coffee!

Cricket news seems to be a bit like most news, Covid outbreaks and teams shut down or players fined for breaching restrictions.

Its all a bit gloomy for my liking.

There are new signings for the upcoming season. Will we see live cricket?

anyone's guess.

Am I the only person who cannot understand why when pubs and restaurants are going to close people lose their minds. Pictures of people on the street, drunk and hugging each other ,being close to other people and no masks on, hmmm makes you wonder why we can't get a handle on the virus.

At least their is a vaccine for the virus, there is no cure for stupidity.

And all the hoo haa about 'no Christmas', of course there will be a Christmas, it will just be very different from one that we have had before. Seriously for one year, think hard about what you are doing.

Since the first  lockdown the furthest I travelled is to Wetherby about 40 miles south of me ( this was in August when we could travel again). Yes I've lost holidays abroad, but that's nothing in the scale of life.

And rant is over.

Wonderful word of the day is 

Apricity

Dating back to the 1620's

You know those cold winters days but the  sun is warm?

that's apricity.

Tuesday writings

 

Well its Tuesday  and now only over a week to finishing for a much needed break.

Its been a rough few weeks and a very distressing weekend.

Friday saw me get the news that they had finally  diagnosed what was wrong with my sister who had by this point had spent the last 3 weeks either in hospital or isolating. 

She had been back in hospital for a week and after finally seeing the neurologist it was decided to move her to another hospital where the Consultant worked from. 
All good and moving in the right direction.

Feeling more positive than I have for a week.

Saturday, she tested positive for COVID! and now was in the covid ward and would not be moved ( obviously).

She is not feeling too great at all and to be honest I don't know my bottom from my elbow.

Monday saw me struggling round the corner to my local post office to send out parcels, not being able to visit and deliver has not only meant that lots of us are cut off from contact with friends, but 14 boxes is a lot to carry! 

Monday also saw the funeral of Gary, which thanks to a video link I was allowed to pay my respects to one of my oldest Yorkshire friends.

How hard has this year been for us all!!!

I am not sure what the blog situation will be over the next couple of weeks, it will be very much like most of this year, hit and miss and depend totally on my energy levels.

I will leave a wonderful word with you

Groak

This is to stare silently at someone as they eat......................I'm sure we have all seen dogs do this

Have a great day and stay safe.

Friday

 Well its Friday and I have handed the baton of food ordering to Mickey Dripping, as I have too much to do before I get to the office.

It involves a high volume of boxes which at the moment are weighing down the boot of the limo.

I should be getting my hair cut this afternoon, but have put it off as I have too much that I have to do at home, I will get it done  before xmas but time is very short for me at the moment.

How do I get to the 11th December and still so much to do.

In cricket, Englands tour to Sri Lanka in January is confirmed.

BBL started yesterday, I didn't listen.

As you know I have a soft spot for Dale Steyn, however since lockdown I've loved the fact that he has grown his hair. Not seen much of him playing cricket but lots of vids on Instagram of him surfing ( and fishing which is not so glam).

Wonderful word of the day is 

Fudgel

which means pretending to work when you are actually not

and with that I am off to fudgel my way through Friday.

Have a great weekend.

Week nearly over

 Thursday is here and the week is nearly over, gosh I am totally tired out, is it just 'that time of year' or is it 'the year that it has been', I don't know, I just want to get things sorted out so that I can kick back and relax.

I have stopped watching the news and reading the paper, far too much negativity about everything. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge criticised for touring and bringing a bit of joy to some around the country. 

No deal for Brexit.

I have enough woes at the moment and  do not want to be part of any others.

At least the vaccine is here.

We are on serious countdown now at work and planning our Xmas lunch for our last day.

I am still awaiting news of sis who is still in hospital, however my friend is now home and recuperating, which is good news.

In cricket, England are on their way home, questions are being asked about whether they didn't give it a fair chance. 

Ben Stokes lost his father, very sad news and although never a good time to lose a loved one, this time of year makes it even harder.

David Warner ruled out of first test against India, and not a piece of sandpaper in sight.

BBL trying to get people interested by changing the format again!

So time to have a wonderful word for today 

Tittynopes

these are the left overs, whether crumbs on a plate, or dregs in a glass.

and with that I am off to face the world of water.

have a good Thursday.

 

Sing-a -long

 

O Come Yorkshire Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Headingley.

Come, support Galey ,

through another season ;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

Sing Western Terrace

    But drink in moderation ,

Sing all you members of Headingley .

Sing To our captain, 

leading the team steadily;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

.One and all

All Hail! Boys we greet  you,

Ready for the season ,

Preparing  for the challenge

 that is lying ahead

hail to Martyn guiding from the sidelines;

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

O come, let us applaud Him,

One and all

Tired out Tuesday

Welcome to Tuesday, I have really struggled to get out of bed this morning, it really is that tired time of year. I know that I am not the only one struggling with this.

However there are only 11 working days after today and then I can sleep to  my hearts content.

Sister still in hospital, no further info, apart from IV intervention and awaiting neurologist. And then my best friend was 'bluelighted' to James Cook on Sunday night, after an operation a month ago she now has a bladder full of blood clots! and as any of you who know me well will know, the mention of blood clots fills me with absolute fear, having had a very close shave with a blood clot myself. 

I'm waiting on news of both of them and cannot go to see either.

Please let things get better soon, I am now on limited tears and my nerves are in shreds.

England have cancelled their tour of South Africa, after two unnamed tour party tested positive. 

English players are also  pulling out of BBL.

Cricket is still suffering and to be fair, I do not think that it will get that much better by April, vaccine or no vaccine.

So lets try to have some positive news this week.

Right time for 'Wonderful word of the day'

Oenophile

this is a lover of wine!

Well how wonderful is that!

 

Have a great day and stay safe.

My countdown continues

 

weekend done and dusted and time to head back to the office and try to get another week under my belt,  I should be able to get a lot more under my belt thanks to a small bout of food poisoning on Saturday night/Sunday morning!!

Great news for me the charity shop is open again, bad news for me I have forbidden myself to buy anything until the New Year ( apart from food and alcohol!). I didn't even go in, just stood with my nose pressed against the window,crying!

Sis is back in hospital she seems to have developed a myriad of other problems although luckily not COVID. I am waiting for her to see the neurologist. Hopefully then there will be good news.

Yesterday  was a bit of a wash out on the work at home front as I was not really up to dashing about and doing 'stuff' so this week will be busy as I try to get the first lot of Christmas pressies ready to go in the post.

 I did manage to get the pictures up on the wall in the lounge which is coming together (slowly), I never seem to get things done as quickly as I want.

Cricket has become a bit of a worry in South Africa as COVID seems to now be in the England camp. Maybe quarantine them all and then get them back home? 

The mystery is how this happened as they are supposed to be in a bio secure bubble.

Fingers crossed this is knocked on the head very quickly.

Will life ever return to some sort of normality, at the moment even with the vaccine here, I still think not.

Well I have tidied up my wonderful word book and cannot remember where I have put it. 

So until tomorrow, have a great day.

Another week over

 

Ah the relief of it being Friday and another week over.

I am ready for the weekend and all the excitement that it holds.

I am going for another fabulous facial tomorrow and then have some boring things to do like washing, I have cards to write and send out and then  I think  a restful weekend..................yep as you know that will never happen.

I am expecting lovely Rhys coming this afternoon with the shelving for the airing cupboard AND wardrobe doors for the other 2 bedrooms! Oh my dog I am excited about The Sanderson Suite as finger crossed the doors will be spectacular. 

The dressing/fitness room will have lovely wardrobe doors too and hopefully in the new year this will be back to its proper use and less of a junk room.

I am planning on putting the 'Cricmas' tree  up next weekend, I was going to have a 'proper' tree this year but decided to have the crickety tree for one more Christmas.

I have to call and put in the order at Big Al's ( or Rotund Alan as he has now been renamed in the office), only 2 more after today.

There is some cricket again today from Newlands and I will hopefully be listening to it.

I have just been doing a bit of tracking down of wallpaper and think that I may be having a quick jaunt after work to look at some which may be perfect for the dining room.

Ah my work is never done!

Now for wonderful word of the day 

Onfang

a word used in English form the 9th to the 14th century meaning to receive or accept.

So we all be waiting to see what we onfang at Christmas

Happy Fridayy have a good weekend.

Joyeux Noel

 

Well now, do I really want to blog about a French Christmas menu, well of course I do, however France is a VERY large country and  I know that all I can do is a general menu as a lot of areas have different variations.

So after putting my thinking hat on and doing a lot of research I have put together the menu that I (hopefully) will be having on Christmas day

I will not be having the traditional Christmas Eve meal 'Le Reveillion' , it will be transferred to our Christmas day.

I will be leaving my shoes out for Pere Noel ( instead of a stocking) and hope that I get a present.

So far I have decided on 

Starter

Smoked salmon and cavier to start, with bran bread which I am going to have a go at making myself.

The French love seafood and have oysters for starters  for festive meals ( actually any meal), however I am not sure here in the north east of blighty  I will be able to get oysters or that they will be fresh for Xmas day.

Main

I will be having turkey with chestnut stuffing ( not a whole turkey and it is  traditional in parts of France too ),I had considered a goose ( traditionally French too) but that was going to be way too much 'bird' for one person

Green beans cooked with butter, garlic and Provencal herbs,  and sautéed potatoes. I may add some sprouts with chestnuts, and although not traditionally French I love them.

There will be a rich red wine jus to accompany.

Dessert

I was not going to go with the Provencal tradition of having 13 desserts ( which represents Jesus and the 12 apostles), this is not as huge as it sounds, it is usually 13 different types of candied fruits, sweets and nuts. According to tradition everyone should taste all desserts in order to have good luck for the upcoming year.

All of them!!!!......

Well that's a clincher, 13 desserts it is!

I am also making a cheese board which will cover , tea/dinner.

There will be a 'Buche de Noel' similar to a swiss roll but made to look like a log by covering with chocolate and chestnut icing.

And of course there will be Champagne...............well it wouldn't be Christmas without Champagne. ( it wouldn't be a day at The Wickets without champagne.)

There are so many regional variations that I could have opted for but to be honest I have gone for the one that will be the easiest for me, why make it hard?

I will be having my early morning Martini  which is now a tradition in my house, I will be using Noilly Prat  to maintain the French theme.

I am trying to make this Christmas as special as possible because we have all had the most trying year and its time to just spoil yourself.. Life has been very difficult for us all and sometimes it is important to look after you, and enjoy simple things ( ok maybe cavier isn't a simple thing).

Today I am hoping to have the latest bit of decorating done and everything put back to normal ( I have actually 'decorated' one of the built in wardrobes and will tackle the other 2 as and when I have the energy).

\with Christmas  over 3 weeks away now, so I had better get my skates on and get busy.

And here is a wonderful word for today.

Infandous, 

this is now an obsolete adjective of nefarious

Have a great Thursday 

Another week begins

 

So here we are on the last day of November and about to enter the last few weeks of 2020.

Its been some year!

I have decided that I am going to go all out this Christmas, ( putting the tree up is all out in this house).

I'm also planning on celebrating French style this year ( and might even write  blog on that).

Life is short and its time to take the bull by the horns and lockdown/Tier 3 or not, its time to try to get back to having fun.

This weekend I have been busy painting in the sitting room, yes good old one coat paint that always needs two coats!, there is still some things to finish off before the room is put back to normal. 

I also painted the airing cupboard ready for the shelving which I am still waiting for., the difference that a coat of paint makes is amazing, I will be laying some carpet in there tonight.

I've also been busy making candles, I got a couple of kits in lockdown 1 so I decided to make them ready for Christmas.

There is a lot that I want to do in the next few weeks,  so best pull myself up by my bootstraps and get on with it.

I saw last week out by finally deciding on and getting the new blinds fitted, not really what I wanted but I also didn't want to remortgage 'The Wickets' to have plantation shutters on the rather large windows, I opted for something cheaper.

Having had one quote for the bathroom and nearly fainting at the cost, any savings at the moment are good ones.

Last week there was a lot of discussion about the abolishing of cricket teas.

This made me very sad as I worked very hard for 4 seasons doing teas at 2 ( sometimes 3) cricket clubs. I had noticed how clubs were veering towards burger and chips for tea but  I stuck to my guns and produced a proper tea.

I will be sad to see this finish. I might start a campaign against stopping the teas.

Well when I have finished the decorating, baking, brewing and chutney making.................

Cricket over the weekend saw, England win the T20 series against South Africa with a game in hand. 

It helped to ease the monotony  of painting 

Good to see Maxi getting a century for Australia too end of last week.

Well time to head off to the office, I am contemplating taking a day off this week to help me push on with the work, and use up some hols.

Have a great day.

Thought for the day

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

Gary

 

It was with huge sadness that this morning a lot of us became aware of the sudden passing of Gary.

A huge Yorkshire CCC fan, with the biggest smile you have ever seen.

He was a man who had many friends at Headingley and other grounds.

I was very lucky to have known him since I first started going to Headingley on my own, we would chat about many things and surprisingly we  both shared a love of the United Services Ground at Portsmouth, him due to being in the services and myself through visiting many times to watch Hampshire.

We would share a cup of coffee from my 'bottomless' flask and one of his birthdays we spent a couple of days celebrating with fizz ( alcoholic and non alcoholic) and cake.

I went to AGM's and would often sit with him, we would discuss Yorkshire in great detail. 

He talked to me a lot when I sponsored Ben and Tom, telling me that many years ago he sponsored a player ( he never said who) and that the player still took the time to speak when he saw Gary. He emphasised that support is everything.

Gary loved to tease Sophie and I when we were together at cricket and never failed to come and chat to us both ( even though Sophie is Notts ). 

We had a couple of great cocktail evenings at The Headingley Lodge prior to Yorks V Notts T20, Gary was always great company.

My favourite memory was him being asked by Ollie Rayner to take a photo of all of the Middlesex team on the rattler from Scarborough. Gary always thought it was funny

There are lots of other memories, but like a lot of you reading this I am in total shock.

I consider myself very lucky to have met this wonderful man.

My heart goes out to Dianne and Saskia who were his life.

I am sure that those of you reading this and whose life was touched by Gary will know the sadness that I feel.

Rest in peace Gary

Headingley has lost a great supporter.

Another day

 Ah the joy of being back in the office..................yep by  7.55am ( before actual start time) I was ready for home.

Not a great start.

However I did at lunchtime manage to complete some shopping for Christmas. Its amazing what you can buy on line! I never knew I needed a stuffed unicorn head!

All talk is about getting the country back to normal by April next year, which sounds great for us cricket fans, lets see if that happens.

Personally I just want to get back to having a bit of freedom of movement ( which ironically we lose totally on 31st December in certain areas).

It has been a tough year for us all in many ways, I personally know that I have struggled with stress from the first day I was working from the office in the first lockdown. I remember vividly on the first weekend wishing that I didn't have to go out back out of the door and just stay safely at home.

I know that many of us have faced similar stress and also in other areas.I empathise with you and know that better days are coming.

I'm not a huge Christmas fan, I struggle to put up the tree and although I try to get to a Christmas service to appreciate the true meaning of the day, I am usually glad when it is over ( its the commercial side of it that I really struggle with).

Yesterday we were talking about this and jokingly Mickey Dripping said, 'imagine what the Wise Men might have brought if they'd had 'Black Friday'. 

Yes just imagine!  An echo dot,  vegan cookbook and a couple of stuffed unicorn heads maybe?????

As you can tell cricket news is low on the ground and looking at the seriously lack lustre BBC Cricket website, I won't be  putting anything here.

So off I toddle down the road, it is only 4 weeks and a bit and then I get a few days more days off.

Have a great Tuesday.