WEEKLY CHAT (NON-OSPREY) SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2020

Hallo all.  Re dishwashers, we just fill it up and run it whenever that happens.   Re gifts, my OH was fretting again that my hedge trimmer wasn't much of a 'gift' even though I wanted it.  I got it organized today, charged the battery and it's all ready to go.  Meanwhile, he's thrilled with the four-slice toaster, which seems to the job in record time. 

AQ: Re a previous 'thought,' what bothers me is that I eat light and healthy between New Year and Christmas but then undo it all just between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Went for a walk this morning and all kinds of bits were jiggling along behind.  

Heather:  I'm sure your gift from daughter wasn't mere wrinkle cream but a very exotic and expensive moisturizer. :-)    Maybe buy her a book on how to stay in shape as you age?  Just kidding.  

Lindybird:  A too-small hat and ice-defrosting spray for the car?  And no flowers either.  :-(    By the way, what made you decide on that lovely painting of the sailboats rather than one of the two you'd previously mentioned?  I love the winter-time photos.  I always liked walking in winter when I lived there - it's quiet and sort of contemplative time of year.

Diane:  Is it your computer or just online access?  We've been repeatedly bumped offline at certain times each day recently; the techy folks said it was simply that too many people were zooming, etc.  Do hope it's a comparatively easy fix.

OG:  Oh geez. No flowers for you either - and no houseplant - what does it take I ask!   Personalized signs on the motorways, as in  "Don't forget the flowers for your wife"?  That raspberry pavlova must've been wonderful - and chocolate cake too.  I've put on weight just reading about it.

A lovely sunset here tonight, with a storm working its way down the coast.   Grandson and partner are coming down tomorrow for lunch. I told him we had leftovers, etc., but he insists on bringing everything and will do all the work, 'so you don't have to do anything and can relax with a glass of wine."   What a sweetie he's turned into.  I'm very lucky.

Have a good Sunday all. 

  • Morning all: Brilliant bright sunshine here and everything still very wet. Garden looks alert - as usual after the first heavy rain of the season. This was supposed to be a small rainmaker in our area.
    Was looking ahead and see we have more rain forecast for next week. Just the usual chores today....
  • Dibnlib: No, she rings everyone! My OH, his two sisters, and a couple of our cousins!! Everyone compares notes later, and says "What did she say to you?"
  • Lynette: We had a dark red blind on our kitchen window - originally matching some tiles and accessories. We threw that out recently and replaced it with a white blind with a tiny pattern on it, and the whole room looks much brighter.

    I've been looking at blinds only today, as we need new ones in our bedroom. Hoping to get some online, and my OH will put them up.


    Our snow from yesterday is still with us, as is the snowman my OH made. It began to melt this afternoon in the sun, but then froze again as evening approached.

  • HEATHER & OG – My tomatoes do have some flowers. I hope the New Year’s expected hot weather will encourage them to produce fruit and maybe even ripen.

    Our state’s Chief Medical Officer has suggested if we insist on kissing strangers on NYE that we get their name & address to assist her team with contact tracing. She is a great character.

    This morn I had my “measure & quote” for radiation. My beauty is enhanced by some henna dots, which they assure me are non-permanent. Not a problem, I’m not expecting going topless. Further delay - I don’t start treatment until 12 Jan, but being positive, I am planning next week to make casserole & pasties for freezer, stock up on library books and, if it should be cool, to escort my camera on an outing.

  • Stop honking. I’m texting your wife. (bumper sticker)

    Cars will soon have the Internet on the dashboard. I worry that this will distract me from my texting. (Andy Borowitz)

    Stop texting me in the middle of texting you. . . now I have to change my text.

  • LOL! AQ!!

    Good Morning. My OH said he never thought he'd ever have a tattoo, when he got his dots put on. Now, he's quite disappointed that they faded so fast. As you say, a silver lining, as you now have more time to prepare.

    Snow still on the ground here, frozen hard now after a cold night. We are venturing forth to get more supplies, although as I said to someone we still seem to have a houseful of chocs and cake! I just decided that today I will have a choc free day, as yesterday I could not face another one by evening..... there really can be too much of a good thing.
  • Frosty here and light snow falling.
    I have cabin fever after a week in the house. I feel ashamed saying that when I think of OG who has probably been out three times since March.
    Anyway, I will stay at home. Quite apart from Covid reasons, if I slipped and broke something, it would just add to my family's worry and workload. The strange thing is that I seem to be thinking about food more often than usual !
  • The feeling hungry thing creeps up on you, Heather!!

    Sensible to stay at home.  But can be boring.  Yesterday, my OH was bored, so he gathered up all the veg in the house, and made a huge pan of vegetable soup!! Must say, it was yummy, and there's more for today.

  • Still very cold here, and only some of the snow has melted. Went out this morning (carefully) but sad to say, this poor old creature fell asleep after lunch for half a hour. I always want to hibernate when its winter weather like this!
  • Sunny and frosty start today, freezing fog this afternoon. Heavy snow forecast for teatime, but it may not happen here – seldom does. OH went down to the Post Office and to collect the meat we had ordered from the butcher – good to see him back safe. He is now about to clean the second bathroom.

    ANNETTE – good to think of your garden springing into new life after the spring rain – maybe that is why we call it Spring?

    AQ – glad you have the promise of some Tomatoes coming. So like you to fill the wait with cooking and baking. I do hope you will get a couple of camera outings too.

    LINDA – I tried to follow your choc free day, but failed seriously after lunch – well, they just sit there and look at me so appealingly! Don’t fight the hibernation, it’s a natural thing to do – with only rushlights and candles and no home entertainments, our ancestors slept much more in winter.

    HEATHER – don’t feel guilty about me staying at home – I don’t go out by choice anyway! We have to think more about food and find a new way to organise our meals with J home. He wants more choice and to do more cooking – but I don’t like the dishes he would make. Will call a meeting during the weekend to discuss!

    Plenty I could be doing, but I prefer not to think about it! I watched First Minister's statement on Covid this afternoon - no changes announced but she is hinting at changing ideas for schools - I think it wll be necessary soon to declare at least a half term delay opening them, and I would support that for the sake of the staff. Meanwhile we wait and just keep telling each other "This too will pass"!