Baking and visit

This morning I made a batch of pastry ready to make some mince pies. The pastry was quite crumbly so I made them a little thicker than usual.

I did do some other baking but that stays under wraps for now!

After lunch Tina drove me up to Mere View care home to visit my friend. I had been going tomorrow but thought I would go today. Proved to be a good decision as she was quite upset about a phone call she had received so was able to be a sounding block. I also washed her hair as it hadn’t been washed for a couple of weeks. I was with her over two hours and then walked home, I was gasping for a drink by the time I got here. She has a great outlook from her room.

I did a little bit to the jigsaw and have done a sketch.

I bought it at the Charles Hanson auction I went to with Darren, a birthday treat.

Have chatted to a friends husband this evening, she is not at all well and he wanted to explain why I haven’t had any contact for quite a while.

Pottery day tomorrow and my tree tea light is fired, looking forward to seeing it.

Strike is on tonight, hope it doesn’t give mr nightmares!

A bit more variety

We did drive up to the boot sale field but it wasn’t on today. It is closed during January so no bargain hunting for a while. We decided not to go out for breakfast so I said some washing and changed the bedding. I needed some more ingredients for baking tomorrow so I got three trolley out and walked to Tesco. I only had about ten items and the card machine said £141 ! The lady in front of me thought she had paid but it didn’t go through. So they had to take my items off and the swipe them all again, while the queue to be served was getting longer! I had forgotten one thing and they had sold out of another, so I dropped the shopping off and went to the Co-op.

I decided it was time to do something about the tool cupboard as it has become a mess with me putting things on the floor, my vague excuse being that it has two quite steep steps into it!

I can get in without tripping over something now.

After lunch I walked to the front hoping to find something to sketch. In one direction it was bright and dark clouds loomed in the other. In the third picture the white specs are seagulls!

I did do a sketch and of course it spotted with rain the moment I started.

It was really cold out so I had a bath when I got in then got dinner for myself abbé Darren as Tina was eating out itch her teaching friends.

A new detective in Death in Paradise this evening.

Trip into Hull

I did the usual Saturday morning shop locally and then got ready to catch the bus into Hull. I needed a couple of things that I couldn’t get locally. I spent just over an hour in the city and over two hours on the buses, but the shops weren’t to busy so I got what I went for and had time for a coffee!

I pottered indoors for a while, got the steps to find my myriad of gift bags, really must take some to a charity shop!

I had been going out to find something to sketch but the delivery of veggies arrived and I got on with getting them put away. It was a bit drizzly so ended up doing an indoor sketch!

No photos and not much else to report, have done another sketch not in the little book.

Lots of Strictly related programs tonight and then Casualty is back, so good tv night. Hopefully will have something a bit more interesting to write about tomorrow.

Visits and pottery get together

This morning I went to see Bel as usual, she said she is struggling a bit getting around, but was cheerful and a lady called while I there to see what adaptions in the house might be helpful. Back home I had lunch with Tina and walked to the front via the post office as Tina had a package to be sent. The wind was bitter today and the sea pretty uninviting.

Then I went to see Jean and had the usual chat and cuppa. As I hadn’t done a sketch I did one while we chatted.

Terry gave me a lift home so I had an hour or so to get ready to go the the pottery staff get together. Tina gave me a lift to the pottery and collected her pieces that she painted last week. My coaster that T practiced wring with a tool rather than a brush was ready as well.

Caroline said we could paint any piece with a value up to £30. I chose a tree tea light holder that I had had my eye on.

We had take away when we had a break from the painting. Music and a few laughs, very enjoyable. Caroline said that the public toilets would be left open. When I went along they were indeed open but the electric was turned off! So no light and no hand drier working, luckily I had a flashing light necklace on! That story gave the others a giggle when I got back.

I took one photo, Caroline took a couple so will post them another day when she remembers to send them.

I finished my tree and Caroline hopes to get it glazed and fired by Tuesday.

Caroline gave me a lift home. Now  finishing the evening with my furry friend.

Fair bit of walking

Tina drove me up to Mere Hall care home this morning so that I could visit Lesley. I spent a couple of hours with her and then walked home, it is about a mile and a half but downhill. The wind was really chilly but it was a beautiful bright, crisp day. Took a photo on the way.

I packed the advent jigsaw black into the boxes while Tina finished her Christmas wrapping then we went and had lunch at the recently opened Greek Taverna.  I started sorting out the edge pieces of the new jigsaw and then went for a walk to the front to try and be inspired into a sketch. It was cold and I wasn’t inspired so went and had a drink in the hub cafe and sketched what I could see out of the window.

I got on with getting the edge of the jigsaw done, I still managed to miss a few even though I thought I had been really thorough!

Feeling quite weary and lazy this evening!

Pottery day

I walked up to Freeport, it was very windy but not too cold. Only one booking in the pottery today and no other particular jobs, so I just worked for two hours nd then did some experimenting with the clay. I had thought about making a coiled pot, but not as easy as I remembered. So not very big and not completely convinced it will hole together. When Caroline arrived she thought it would be okay.

She did ask of o was thinking about workshops, would need a bit more practice but it could be a plan.

I got my ‘uniform’ today, a t shirt and a hoodie.

I said I was going to look at the shoes in Pavers so Caroline gave me their discount card, if you work in one of the units you can get 10% off in the other stores. That was a bonus and I did get a pair of shoes. Then I walked home and called in to see Sher, she wasn’t busy so we had a chat and a cuppa. She advised me on the care of the plant I was given on Monday.

I was home in time to get the usual Wednesday dinner. I missed Strike on Monday so will try to watch it on catch up this evening.

Yesterday evening I hung up Christmas cards across the the fireplace. Using the mini pegs you can actually see all of the cards.

I have done a sketch so will close with that.

Chores and an indoor day.

This morning I did some more tidying and making sure all cupboards etc were accessible as a man was coming to check the house thoroughly and note any repairs or replacements that may be necessary. He arrived at lunch time and was here two and a half hours. Tina had appointments today so ai changed my pottery day so that I could be here to show him round and answer any questions. I finished the advent calendar jigsaw but did do a section at a time. Haven’t decided if I am gong to try and get it back into the twenty four boxes yet!

I went into the garden and picked picked a few poppy beds to sketch.

The kokedama hyacinth has really opened beautifully and smells gorgeous.

Yesterday evening I started wrapping gifts and have finished today, more organised than usual. I will get the steps and find some gift bags soon.

Feeling weary this evening and I haven’t really done a lot. Looking forward to catching up with Caroline tomorrow and telling her about the clay workshop

Friends and dentist!

On Saturday, whilst eating tomatoes and cheese I thought something was wrong with one of my back teeth as it was sharp! It wasn’t painful, except to my tongue, but I phoned the new dentist at 8.45am and got an emergency appointment for midday! I walked down to the leisure hub where I was meeting Linda, Angela’s sister to give her a Christmas cake. I took a photo while I was waiting for her.

Talking of photos I did take a couple earlier on. Sky pics, the second one has the moon in the trees, finding it will test your eyesight!

Linda bought me a lovely lantern, she really didn’t need to do that.

I carried the plant home, had a drink with Tina and then sent off to the dentist. He said a bit of enamel has gone and left the edge sharp, he smoothed it off and all is well. Just a £20 charge which is pretty good for an emergency appointment.

Came home for lunch and then visited Sarah and David. They are going to Spain for Christmas.

I went into the garden for todays sketch.

Yesterday I got a surprise parcel containing a jigsaw. It was it was part of a subscription. I eventually found it was a gift from the American family and a six month subscription.there was an extra small puzzle in the box with no picture to follow. Such a great present.

I have weakened and has a piece of Christmas cake this evening.

I have tidying to do this evening, house inspection tomorrow. There are times I wish I wasn’t such a clutterbug! 

Fairly quiet day

We didn’t go to the boot sale this morning so we went along to a local cafe for breakfast instead. I did a couple of chores and chatted with Anya and then went for a walk to the mere and did a sketch there.

Darren went to an archery shoot so I came back and cooked dinner for Tina and myself. I had a short walk this afternoon and posted a letter.

I was relaxing and noticed the sky when I went to take in a delivery. I took a couple out of the window, then the front garden. Darren had arrived home and said he would drive me to the front. I had no shoes on and was hopping about on the gravel a bit!

A good sunset in Peterborough too, curtesy of Mike.

Will finish with a cute pic of Pandora taken by Tina.