Bored Saturday

Bored! 
Cold and gray, and so is the weather, so I sat in waiting for the postman bringing a book.  This book is for another but would be too big for the letterbox, so I waited.  Checking later I found a card telling me he had left it at another flat!  I was in!  Why not knock loud?  Bah!!!  This is a good postman, I wonder what the bad would do?  Tsk!
Having stored the book I checked the football.  Manchester United squad players against failing Reading, this will be good eh?  No it was not, as expected Man Utd won easily.  Now I watch Blackpool, with a detested chairman who's fans refuse to enter the ground.  Therefore their poor team is against Arsenals squad players who ought to win easily with their fans outnumbering the home crowd.  The rich maniac who owns the club sits above watching while the club falls apart.  Why do the authorities allow such situations to develop?  As expected the game is a s dull as my day.

However while printing a leaflet I discovered I had no black ink left.  The ink world is a con!  Having bought on the cheap several twinned packs off Black ink and coloured ink I now find I have three coloured inks lying awaiting a place and no black!  This led to venturing out into the chill wind.  
As I passed the Congregational Church I noticed the door slightly ajar.  This was interesting!  Rare to see the door ajar at any time so I took a look around the outside to check if someone was working there, none to be seen, just as I was debating entering the ministers wife, who I know, came out.  This saved me from entering seeking burglars and instead finding and chatting to for a while the leaders of this now small congregation.
Having worked there for over 20 years the man has built up a decent congregation, sadly of aged people, most of these have now dropped off and only a handful remain.  This is sad as the church grew out of the 1600's puritan revival and started in a barn a hundred yards up the road despite opposition from Charles the first who demanded people attend the parish church.  Many were threatened with jail, many fled to the new world, others remained until Charles II allowed them some degree of freedom.  A building has stood here for around three hundred years even allowing for half the congregation to leave and begin anew Baptist church over the road.  This large building, dim with n lights on when I was in there, is an ideal church building.  Pews sit at a circular angle facing the front and having always been well kept it appears old but (apart from heating) is ideal for proper church services.  It would be a great shame if such a church were to die after so long a witness.  However almost all churches in the town are decent ones, the younger element do not like the style of service, and the minister and his wife at 77 years of age will not be changing that any time soon.  All this means appropriate persons have other churches to join and this one suffers now. This rubbish football is more interesting but the result is clear...

My Fat & me...

Early this morning before the sun decided to break through the dullness I stood on the weighing machine and found four pounds had gone from me.  My fat belly rejoiced, even though it made it difficult for me to actually see the reading on the far off machine at my feet.  Moving off the machine amidst much creaking, my bones not the weighing machine, I rejoiced and swiftly breakfasted on two hunks of bread.  Something did not appear right here.  Once again I must pretend I am eating better, once again I must choose more fruit and veg and less of the Christmas leftovers (see above) and once again I suspect this will last for a few days only until bad habits once more reappear.  
er, actually having looked in the fridge it appears bad habits will be feeding me again tonight!  The only things to eat are about to go off, reduced price specials, and I must stuff them down now before they go that awful green colour again...
My downstairs neighbour has been hiding away since new year with his girlfriend, clearly the reason he no longer lives with his children's mother, and has I suspect enjoyed himself a great deal.  This does mean however that I cannot exercise as I would like, the shaking floor unfair on those below, and so what exercise I did today was slow and not sufficient to encourage more fat to go away.  Nevertheless I will persist, I will be out for a short while on the bike, cold weather permitting, also next week he will have to work once more and I will fill the morning with grunting and grumbling.
I may well reward myself with a piece of cake!
Cake reminds me of the book I am reading, one of the Christmas gifts, this concerns an officer in the Cameronian's, a regiment who like all Scots regiments were famous for their cakes.  In his letters home (the book is based on his letters) he constantly refers to the cakes, fish, fruit socks and various other items his wife sends out.  Visiting officers rejoiced in visiting such men at the front.  
Having just finished rather rapidly the 'Black Bun' that arrived it might become a requirement of my sister to send me cakes more often, as a treat after exercise I mean.  I doubt she would comply outside of Christmas!  

Thursday Baloney

A nothing day again, too chilly to wander about, once Tesco had been attended to ("Here it comes again," I heard the checkout girl say to her mate.  She not being my favourite) and buying yet more seed for the greedy Starlings!  I need to feed myself also as I just failed to remember the name 'Starlings.' I could name many birds but this one would not come, the mind blocked it.  This happens all too often nowadays.  It is part of my mind and it runs through the family this inability to remember names but when tired or sick it shows up and nothing comes that is relevant when looking for something.  I hope its just age.

A nice email from one of the museum girls today, that worried me also as it meant she wanted something.  Indeed she did and my nothing day was at the end filled with searching for a man I canny find.  He is there, I found him 5 years before I want him, but otherwise he has run away. He did reappear and die rich and happy in 1950, but it is his earlier experience I seek!  Bah!

Now I retire exhausted, strained and forgetting what I was going to do....

The World Returns to Normal

With cars flashing past full of folks seeking Sainsburys and Tesco, the sun occasionally peeping out from the light gray clouds that cover the earth, the washing now drying over the heaters and mums everywhere desperate for tomorrow and the last of the kids are forced back to school, life returns to a normal state of chaos.  Worrying about Brexit is the national obsession while worrying about schools, shops, football, other peoples private lives, TV soaps, and losing weight are the obsessions of the man in the street, well the women mostly.  Christmas has gone, many presents broken or now on e-bay and while Scotland watches the whisky sales continue in pubs and clubs England has the usual after-break hangover, depressed people in work making mistakes and wishing they were back home.  I have just sat here writing or thinking about writing emails while the laundry rumbled in the background and my stomach rumbled in front of me.  Too much 'Black Bun' I think.  Over the road I note Spring is getting impatient and already the Daffodils are beginning to sprout, earlier than last year I think.  Just in time for the frost and bleak cold chill from the east these flowers begin to show.  Could this be global warming or is this normal for Daffs?  We might soon see yellow blossoms in spite of the weather.   

Jan 1st 2019

Careful consideration was given to getting on the bike and riding up the old railway this morning.  However my body, lacking a full sleep period, decided otherwise therefore just after 9:30 I wandered out seeking fresh air and sunshine hoping not to be greeted by too many cheerful types wishing "Happy New Year" to one and all.  These English are funny folks, on Sunday many wished me a 'Happy new year' whereupon I informed them it was not 'New Year' until midnight on hogmany, this they failed to comprehend.  Today, the 1st of January 2019, as I crossed the park I passed many a person not one of whom looked capable of wishing anything but the Black Death upon those who crossed their path.  One man almost but not quite nodded in my direction and I gave no greeting to any, one cannot be too careful I might have woken some of them up! 

As ten of the clock approached some shops were opening, 'Argos,' 'The Works,' and one or two others were on the point of opening while 'Iceland' and W. H. Smiths were already serving customers desperate for urgent supplies, there has been no shops open since er, last year.
Miserable people sauntered around in the chill, little sign of revels anywhere though I suspect the pubs will be full again by lunchtime.  Surprisingly few windows broken, indeed none that I saw from last night, the extra police patrols on duty must have had an effect.  Not that these patrols mattered to me as I sat in my bed from early on seeking interesting things to do on the laptop.  This it turned out was as interesting as what was on TV, nothing could be found and all other things were boring me, so I read one of my Christmas books, re WW1 would you believe?, as outside fireworks exploded to add background to my reading.  I think they shot their bolt as by midnight few fireworks lasted long, they appeared to have used them all up earlier. 

 
Now I sit here and cogitate after my lunch, followed by 'Black Bun,' while I attempt to get life back into this bulk.  I fear I have failed and now will have to go against my dearest wish and return to my bed and sleep off the weariness caused by eating.  I may be some time... 

Indeed I was but the cloud covered sky of earlier has been replaced by a dark night instead.  This forced me to eat once again (Why does meat have no flavour? What does 'slaughtered in UK mean? Is the beef foreign?) and now full of whatever that was I search for football to finish the night.  All I can get is a National League game (England's 5th division) to entertain me while I doze away the beginning of a new year.  
How has it gone for you so far?
No disasters yet as far as I know, I have failed to upset anyone, though I could have tried that this morning, and silence all around can be heard.  I say that and vehicles appear from nowhere!  A quiet day but surely tomorrow will be back to normal?  Many schools return on the 3rd so teachers can return tomorrow and discover how many are missing, shops will be back to their usual hours, traffic will be lighter but the world returns to face the new year with a miserable expression and fear of Brexit everywhere.  The announcement that the Dept of Transport has given millions to a firm to provide ferries, a firm that has no and has never operated ferries, comes as no surprise as the firm is owned by a man who is a major Tory donor, corruption is rife in this government.

OK folks the break is over, get down to the gym!

Happy New Year to all my Friends

Hogmany

Sixk of the endless small chicken that since Christmas day has never ceased to appear on my plate I sought sanctuary in Sainsburys overpriced 'reduced' section this morning.  Here I found ludicrous prices on meat that has only a short shelf life yet lack of nourishment forced a sale.  
The word 'Sale' remained in my mind wandering about the empty town early this morning where almost every shop had windows dressed in lying 'Sale' posters.  I say 'lying' because that is what they do.  This one filled the windows in an attempt to bring in customers but once inside I was disappointed with what was on offer on the 'sale' rack, even Sainsburys offered more.  Large signs and few offers appeared to be the thing.  Maybe the lassies found more but I doubt it.

Last year this shop, selling short lived footwear made in Romania or Bangladesh or somewhere cheap, had a similar full window advert claiming massive reductions.  There was one display among the men's stuff for reduced prices, all rubbish, they might still be there today.  I doubt the women got much more.  The thing about this shop is the way you never see the same girl working there.  Each Monday they appear to open with different staff, a sure sign that high wages are not on offer at this place.  I wonder if the staff will ever get a pension from here? 

Unusual to see such signs outside this shop as it always has 'sale' signs there.  Like those furniture and carpet shops that we see everywhere this shops has had a sale on since 1969 as far as I can tell.  This does not mean the stuff is poor, I wear some myself, but the prices are high, far too high, and sale time among the sales is required before I wish to purchase.  It never appears to shut either, the staff change round, less often than the shoe shop but reasonably frequently and the place is open every day, I suspect it would open on Christmas Day also if it could.

Being Hogmany many folks reconsider their lives.  Many go back over the year crying woe regarding their failures or smiling sweetly at the successes they have seen.  I don't do this as I forget what happened yesterday let alone over the year.  My brother died quite suddenly in March, which surprised us and no doubt him, the heat was on during the summer, and winter has not really settled in yet now, that strikes me as about all that comes to mind, I suppose there is more.  The Heart of Midlothian have discovered how to play football, until half the team go missing for months through injury.  St Paul's sees the vicar develop very well which is just as well as the curate leaves soon, though I still wonder what I am doing in an Anglican church, a denomination full of strange ideas, people and godless creature.  New neighbours abound in the house, most I have still to fall out with, so that is something to look forward to from tomorrow and next week back at the museum I will find my place there even less important to the mighty ones now the nation has forgotten their war 'heroes.'  Then there is Brexit to come, or not as the case many be.  I must return to stocking up on bully beef and soldiers biscuits as I have put that aside for Xmas.  By the end of the month the opposition might have awoken and dumped Corbyn and found a leader but I doubt that really.  Many could be worried about the future but most are ignoring that and instead concentrating on the 'Bread & Circuses' on offer which avoid the need to think or take responsible action.  This is understandable but foolish.  Trump in the US, China on the rise, Putin and his gangsters running the Leave Campaign among other rich nameless right wing types, many EU states looking to their granddads for guidance rather foolishly, migrants equally foolish in believing they will be allowed in.  
For me the peace comes in knowing Jesus is still in control though it looks a mess.  Whether I am truly following him is the only worry there.

Until Midnight, if I am awake...

Rushed Saturday

Foolishly I went on the free bus to the outlet centre joining the pig ignorant throng.  Pushing, walking into people, talking loudly on phones and shops not stocking anything worth buying.  Coming back I ventured into Tesco where ten thousand Buffalo were wandering around desperate for more of the stuff they have over abused already this week.  I got my milk and bread, chatted to the young checkout assistant, and ran home for the football.
Today being a derby day I threw £7:99 on a SKY Day Pass so I could watch the Glasgow and Edinburgh ones.  How sad that Rangers looked like a football team in the first one, I rather hoped they would lose heavily, sell their better players in the January Transfer window, and go bust!  They might survive now.
I rush this as I await the Edinburgh derby, a game featuring two sides missing good players and therefore impossible to predict.  I suspect however that the Heart of Midlothian will win again, we usually do... 

Bleak

Bleak, gray, dull, yucky day.  Disappointing after yesterdays sun.  Town filled with children rushing about, no parents controlling them, no police, no shotguns sadly.  Rotten day, dreich everywhere, no news, nothing happening, time to go back to bed I think...

Up on the Roof.

The need for fresh air and sunshine forced me out today.  This was good as the light was bright and the townsfolks were meandering about, some showing off their new bikes, scooters and clothes, others seeking shiny things in the shops now open.  

I soon found myself on the top floor of the large car park from where I thought I may get a picture or two of the town.  Here I noticed windows dirtier than mine existed though to be fair it is difficult cleaning windows through those bars.  

    
Old cottages in the distance once used by weavers they say.  Narrow houses now but large windows for the time.  The attic, now divided, once ran all along the roof space allowing for long bales of cloth to be laid out.  A good example of the craft that once flourished in this area for hundreds of years.

I was much taken with the sign saying "Pedestrians: Way Out" and pointing to either direction.  There are no stairs and this means the only way out is through the 'window' on either side.  I went on further myself...

 
The low lying sun leaving a kind of blue haze in the distance caught my attention.  Such a sun is wonderful, bright, cheery and blinding at times.  So bright that my sister a few days ago left a shop, was blinded by such sun and walked into the closed door!   This left her flat on her back being attended to by the staff who it must be said treated her well, this was in Livingstone.  They fussed while she just wanted to go home.  At home everyone laughed, I laughed, and at the doctors he laughed, she just suffered a bruise or two and hurt pride, but she is used to that.  

In among the Victorian and mock Victorian chimney pieces on show we can see the benefits of being a country town, the masses of trees in the distance.  These lie among the farmland that developers are desperate to turn into concrete and mass money in offshore accounts.  Most of the populace are not so keen.  The town has grown from 30,000 to 40,000 in the 20 years I have been here and lost some of its innocence with the introduction of 'London overspill' and the like.  A type of less friendly person is appearing and this affects us all.  People are less likely to speak in passing as they used to do though many still do and 'old folks' constantly complain about the changes, as they do.

 
The mist does create colour changes which I love.  Darker nearby and lightening with each item in view as it heads off into the distance.  Some were complaining tonight that driving was difficult with the mist, I suspect it will be worse first thing in the morning.  Not too much traffic just now mind.  Next Wednesday I suspect before life as normal returns.

While standing there on this near deserted open top floor of the car park I noticed the pigeons suddenly take flight as if aware of a predator of some sort.  Two flocks took off in different directions, joined immediately by all other hangers on, yet remarkably quickly settled down once again.  I could see no obvious enemy so it may have been a false alarm.  It does show however that being a bird is not an easy life.  The weather, lack of food and predators mean you are forever looking around for danger.  We are much safer that we realise, a bird is constantly afraid.  

 
Pointing a camera at a bright sun offers a dark picture.  I could have fiddled with it but could not be bothered decided this was a decent enough image.  I found it strange having come from Edinburgh and having lived 20 or so years in London finding the town so flat.  This was one of the few high places from which to see the town, the Town Hall roof is another and one day I will get up there, but being able to look south and see a few roofs fading off gently into the distance was strange to me.  It still is to some extent. 

Bleak Boxing Day

The bleak weather did not stop kids crashing about the skatepark on new equipment nor did it hinder the dog walkers, nothing does that!  However as I did not get up till 8:30ish and remain slow at feeding myself in the morning I was not aware of life until around midday.  
By then it was time to eat, my imitation broth, with too much cayenne pepper and too little flavour, was followed by fruit to make up for what was not eaten yesterday.  
A quick wander around town followed.  The usual shops were open, you know the type that never appear shut no matter what the holiday, and while some bigger ones were open the crowds were thin indeed.  Bargains I expect were much thinner.  One shop 'Peacocks' filled its windows full with a 'Sale' advert but only one or two racks of ageing junk was to be seen reduced, the usual empty ploy. Nothing was happening anywhere bar people meandering about without much of an aim.  The usual after Christmas 'feel' and I suspect by tomorrow Christmas trees and other bumf will appear dumped on pavements everywhere.  Many more will be out tomorrow as some will have to return to work and the shops will be busier once auntie and granddad have gone back home having left their gifts behind.  The season of 'goodwill' is over.

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas!

Almost Christmas...

Twice yesterday I shuffled down to St Paul's in the rain.  Being a 'Messy Church' service for Christmas it was crowded.  Kids from everywhere were cutting things, fiddling with oranges, candles and bits and bobs, mums helping, they said, and general confusion everywhere while I sat among friends (I say they are even if they don't know my name) and attempted the quiz that was thrust in my hands. I walked as I had some small gifts for kids and large sweet bags for adults although the amount of foodstuffs suitable for Christmas 'do's' was excessive already.
The service proceeded eventually with carols, a nativity play with a large number of participants and then a wonderful version of 'Bethlehemian Rhapsody' from the 'Big Young Kids.'  I was not possible to take photos which was a shame as I don't think it was filmed but they managed with puppets and a black screen to do an excellent version of this:-

An excellent though slightly dodgy theological morning.  I doubt the strict Presbyterian's in the Isles will have appreciated the joy all around.  I thought it great.  I was less enamoured of noticing the amount of washing up that had to be done and guilt forced me into the sink for while to pretend I cared.  Then I had to trudge home again in the rain...
By six I had traipsed once more, in the rain, back to St P's for the Carol concert.  I had to be there as I was reading the first lesson, Genesis 3:8 - 15 & 17 -19, as you would expect.  Naturally I was running late even allowing for the word 'running' to be somewhat out of place here and arrived just in time.  Shortly afterwards, as I gasped my way into a seat past a gentleman wearing a 'Crystal Palace' jacket in honour of their win over table topping Manchester City and slumped thereupon the first Carol was under way swiftly followed by my reading.  Here I stumbled up to the mike and puffed my way through Genesis attempting to breathe and talk at the same time.  For the rest of the evening I set myself just to enjoy the two year old who cavorted in front of me all night.  She ended the evening happily as the curate finishing the service saw her looking into the manger and the baby Jesus then placed Jesus into her care and made her day.  Then after 'one or two' chocolates that were forced upon me I trekked home once again in the rain, happy, content, badly fed and wet!  But as you know I am not one to complain...

Being clever, up to a point, I sauntered into Sainsburys before nine this morning and joined ten thousand time ten thousand rushing, fighting, desperately searching people each one like me terrified they might starve to death as all the shops are closed for 24 hours tomorrow (not counting Muslim, Hindu or Jewish ones that remain open obviously).  I fought my way past uncontrolled trolleys, wayward baskets and the odd child collected what I needed bar what I forgot and headed home avoiding the man carrying the whole salmon which clearly was his Christmas dinner.   Then I headed out once more to meet Peggy my work friend, we meet in the cafe to gossip about the folks in the museum and share cheap Christmas presents.  As we did so what looked like a football team of men, dressed as shepherds, angels and all passed us as they entered the 'Nags Head.'  It was the one with the donkey strapped across his waist I felt sorry for.  Apparently they chose each costume by lot!   However I am getting suspicious that the bottle of malt whisky that has arrived these past few years might be sent from her online account, the one she uses to keep her man in order.  I wonder...  Anyway the crowds being what they are I avoided popping into Tesco for what I had forgot and may go back later when the hordes have departed.

Having been well informed of the 30 foot queues in Tesco I waited until later and found an empty checkout after having picked up those not really important but needed things.  Ice cream lollies are actually quite important you know.  The woman said the desk was empty for the first time that day!
Why do people leave the shopping till last?  Some things can be left till last, bread, milk, turkey but really most ought to be ready days ahead even if you work and have kids I say.  Nothing is perfect but planning and not fussing makes things easier.  Some folks appear to think they can shop midday Christmas eve and not have to join the myriads already there.  These are the same people that insist on travelling on Bank holidays and grumble about queues.   I bet they voted for Brexit!  
My freezer is full, the chicken roosts in the fridge, the whisky keeps moving in front of me, the soup gurgles away on the back hob, and I wish to lie down.  Outside cars fly by as people rush to accomplish the forgotten things, presents, aunts, foodstuffs, petrol etc and others are shop staff and other workers forced to work until they drop before heading home some to families, some to loneliness, some to the pubs and others to get away from everyone else.  

  
I hope you are ready and looking forward to the day.  I hope your freezer does not break down, the internet stays alive and that the next few days are full of joy and friendship, love even and not the soppy kind. 

    

Flying Saturday

As I scribble high above me, at around 17000 feet a large aircraft heads towards China.  The many passengers have avoided delays by eco warriors (it now appears), passed through security checks, customs, many uniformed rude staff and now settle down gladly for the long trip across the world to the cheery despot now playing Emperor in Peking, sorry Beijing.  Another at similar height heads gracefully, I hope, towards Poland.  This reflects the air traffic above us as aircraft head for or leave Stansted airport or Luton just a wee bit down the road.  Those leaving Heathrow after mush airport stress pass over also.  At 35,000 feet we can occasionally note travellers from China, Canada, or further away above us as they seek a landing somewhere in Europe, Paris or Berlin perhaps.  This explains why our skies are filled with vapour trails daily, bright and clear against the blue above but unhealthy to eco warriors of various types. 

 
I wonder how many MP's are up there heading of to exotic (paid for) holidays?  I wonder also who is paying for them and what questions will they ask during the next parliament, if we have another one in this Tory rich kid dictatorship.  Hmmm... maybe going to China would not be so bad after all?  
Possibly Michael Gove and that Raab fellow will be aboard the plane looking for ideas?  
The 'Daily Mail' which can be trusted (note the sarcasm) has named two people as responsible for the drone attack without actually blaming them.  There is something about 'guilty until proved innocent' that does not appear to matter to the hacks, I wonder why?  Of course if this couple are indeed the people who have delayed 140,000 souls from flying off they deserve ten years no matter the cause.  Better that than being dragged into the airport concourse and greeted by those you have delayed I suspect.

   
Another Saturday, another pre Christmas show in the town.  Here an all male choir (are these allowed by screaming feminists?) entertained, although when I suggested to the security guard that he joined in he refused steadily.  Possibly he did not know the words of 'Little Donkey?'
I did not join in either having fruit and veg to collect...

Friday Fussing

The idea that the drone flying above Gatwick was a government sponsored scam to take peoples minds of the House closing down for Christmas while the Brexit disaster looms above keeps coming to mind.  The 'eco-warrior' the police claim they are looking for may well be a member of her majesties forces following orders, or is it just me?  I am tempted to think that if this drone was a nuisance it would be easy enough to bring in an army 'Apache' helicopter, many of them pass over us here, and I am convinced these guys would quickly and efficiently dispose of the bad by, this was not done you will note.  If it is ISIS or one of their followers you would expect it to drop bombs and they to make a claim of some sort by now, they have not done this.  It could indeed be a middle class 'eco-warrior' playing games and thinking himself clever no matter how distraught those who lose vast sums of money or miss out on Christmas trips abroad suffer.  Protest that causes such problems is not to aid the people it is merely to make a name for the drone pilot.  I wonder if hanging him upside down from lampposts is legal...?

  
It looks a lot like sausages for Xmas dinner this year.  I went to the proper butcher in town and obtain £15 worth and am about to put some in the freezer.  The idea is that these expensive sausages will contain meat, taste hopefully added to them also.  On Monday I will visit the shops again for the last bits.  I mean we have one day where all shops close and if I don't stock up I will starve like so many other people appear to be afraid of doing at the moment.  Maybe I ought to buy yet another dozen bottles of beer just in case I have a visitor...

While looking at this tree through tired eyes I could see a face in there, can you?
I am wondering whether to send it to the 'Daily Mail' and see if the new editor will print this?  He has been trying to take his readers minds of his support for remain' by filling the paper with royal or celeb clickbait, the girls and Beckham appearing to be among his favourites, or he thinks his readerships favourites.  It seems to be working.  The fascist fraternity are gnashing their teeth at him while threatening all and sundry, the royal followers are revealing their dark hearts and in many a sad longing for a dead princess which calls them to hate people whom they do not know of whom some are jealous and others just inadequate.  It's all very depressing really. 

The shortest day is upon us.  Spring will be around the corner from tomorrow, weather permitting.  The nights will get shorter, the sun be seen more often and life will be brighter for us all, hopefully.

Thursday Fun.....

Judging by the absence of slow moving traffic tonight many have already hopped it for their Christmas holidays.  I notice the House of Commons has departed for 17 days off (99 days to Brexit!) and the schools are out as many dear sweet children are filling the shops to their parents delight.  
I had the pleasure of an early morning trip to Sainsburys, then filling the washing machine for the last wash before Xmas and forgetting to switch it on, having a lunch date cancelled as the other was sick (before Xmas!) and then going to B&M for bird seed (again) and then switching on the machine while ironing the last few shirts, with another now hanging up drying slowly.  Does it ever stop I ask?

 

On top of this I realise the mouse had returned so I was there again shifting furniture and poking steel wool into holes (which he had pushed aside) and hoping to stop his reappearance.  I will know tomorrow if I have succeeded or not.  It is at times like this you realise how much stuff there is in the house.  At least I managed to get the postman and other deliveries when they arrived, unusual for me, and yet another bottle of whisky has been granted me, 'Highland Park,' same as last years.  The previous bottle is not yet finished so I am attempting to do so now, this may not be wise, and I am sufficed with a warm glow at the moment in spite of the open window.  I believe all my goods have arrived, no more goodies of any worth to come and my wallet is showing signs of wear and tear.  Hopefully I need only by things that matter now, meat, milk, bread....