Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 13 December 2020

PAT moaning on here is some of the stuff that we do, it's all part of it. I'm sorry that your carol singing was rained off. I am listening to Classic fm - some lovely Christmas music. I heard Angels from the realms of glory earlier. It took me back to carol singing around the streets in Plymouth when I was young, with the Methodist church choir. It remains one of my favourites...

Sorry you've had lots of unfortunate news, Pat - come on here and moan away! It's disappointing but perhaps it will all give us something to talk about in a year (or two!).

We received an email which we've been expecting, yesterday -- Our cruise around Norway which we booked in September 2019, to sail in May 2021, has now been cancelled. :-( I was pretty gutted about it as had fingers crossed, but also feel sorry for sis in law Sue, who was so excited. It said we will be getting a letter with an offer of refund or alternatives, later. Don't know what we will do until we see the offers.

Annette, Its not the abstract which I had admired, nor the flower meadow which I very nearly bought two weeks ago. If you Google Lowry, you'll find he was a northern artist famous for his 'stick men' figures and pictures of mills and football crowds. But he did do a few coastal paintings, and a couple of them are of yachts. Sadly, he only became really famous after he had died.

Heather, I've had Classic FM on more often lately, as I tired of some of the pop music, although I do have my Christmas favourites. Lovely to hear a good choir.

My friends OH came around with some presents so he stood in our porch and I stayed in the hallway. He is looking forward to staying with his daughter for the festivities.

I spoke to our neighbour next door and she is seeing her son and family, knowing it's a risk but not happy to miss the chance to spend time with her grandsons.

Everyone is having to make choices - it's up to each of us to do what we feel is best.

Lynette, sorry to hear about your brother.

Can smell the mince pies cooking. It always takes me straight back to our childhood home when my mother baked away every Christmas, although we children preferred some of the other goodies. I just bought some trifle sponges and have promised my OH that this is the year we will have peach trifle (made with luscious tinned peaches)

LINDY Sorry to hear your cruise has been cancelled. We are due to go on our Douro cruise on 11th April and doubt it will happen. This is the one we rescheduled from August this year. Oh well, at least we are prepared to be disappointed.

Heather Sorry to hear about more awkward family decisions to be made.

We spent an enjoyable 1 hr 15 mins zooming with our cruise friends from Bournemouth and San Francisco. Good to share time with them all again.

KATE – I have used strips of streaky bacon in the pinwheels but I find “bits” easier to spread. I guess I could have snipped the streaky into smaller pieces.

PAT – Can you get a χmas service & carols online? Not the same I know, but I find it helps me while stuck at home.

LINDA – Difficult to know when cruises will be safe. Luckily my bus trips were all refunded except $100 voucher valid for 3 years (one gone, two to go).

I heard my first χmas carol yester eve on radio. Silent Night. I don’t count those modern “songs” they keep playing in shops.

Just a thought

Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens. (Louise L Hay)

AQ - I have depended on online services and other resources since March, and wow, what an amazing variety! My main go-to is Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, which runs a weekly Sunday morning service (attended by people from all around the world, including Melbourne!) which is also available on YouTube. I have also dipped into other churches, and have already 'attended' three carol concerts/services. More to come, I'm sure! It's amazing how creative people have become during lockdown. I can't see churches being the same in future - exciting and scary in equal measure!

Good Morning. Dry here after a dark cloudy start to the day. I'm hoping to get our (very wet) real Christmas tree inside this afternoon, ready to decorate over the weekend.

AQ - Hope you're continuing to improve, and can now look forward to a cosy, quiet festive week.

OG - Sounds as if lots still going on, there. Surprised you got a call for a mammogram, but perhaps it's different in Scotland - we have to request one after 69 yrs old.

Pat - Hope you can find services online to make up for missing your normal church visits. Of course, it's not the same, like a lot of things. Take care of yourself.