Dino and friend

Happiness is a warm dinosaur

mixed Xmas news

Sparkling bright but freezing St Stephen's Day. [Apparently Boxing Day is the first week/working day after Xmas.]
Have horrible bullet hole in my left shoulder blade, well that is what it feels like. I guess it is some arthritis type thing and seems to zing excruciatingly between shoulders lately. A hot water bottle is the only relief known to woman.
Xmas Day went well, if you like the peaceful kind. Wrinklies all turned up and ate and sported themselves in front of the roaring fire, with Aggers the cat. The fire didn't actually roar but it did send out atomic heat from the primeval age when the trees first hit the swamp.
No TV, as Retired Person's retired father is deaf and can't/won't hear without the hearing "loop" installed. RP's retired mother took the opportunity to do a long Hattie walk with No 1 son while I sat and knitted RP's jumper. My ma regaled RP's father with chat, most of which he was blissfully unaware of.
There is now far too much turkey, chocolates and biscuits in the house.
I did discover the joys of a whisky mac, which made everything seem even cosier. Also have invented a Guiness/lemonade shandy which pleases. [I stay away from wine because of headaches]
All the offspring phoned/Skyped and warm words were exchanged. GG was seen pursuing an electronic dinosaur round the house. It was almost as big as him.
I remember [dire phrase] being presented with a giant plastic clothed elf doll when I was smaller than it and screaming the house down in fear. GG is made of sterner stuff.
He also has a giant bag of giant lego which may prove constructive once he stops tossing it at the dinosaur.
No 1 son had finally got off his bum and rented a holiday house near San Francisco with 7 other stick insects [messengers in lycra] and was actually sounding happy, which was encouraging.
RP's son lives in Bristol but not near where the poor young woman got deaded, I presume she was murdered, either that or the golf was particularly boring. The sight of her anguished parents appealing for her return was unbearable.

Ah ha sold Autumn.

But not the Daisies; in-laws gave me the frame. Maybe I should give it back, filled.

They are threatening not to come for Xmas in case they get snowed in with me. Can't blame them really. But who is going to eat all this turkey?

I have also finished my 2200 word short story and am ready to free it into the ether.

Hard to push that button in case I get a better idea. The number of words is more significant than the plot sadly, as counting them has taken up far more of my energy.

I do not like short stories, I don't usually read them and when I do I chuck them aside at the end twist with an exasperated Pah! So have no great hopes that I have broken the barrier with this little tale.

Amazon finally coughed up with my book and a recipe book for no.1 son. It is published in America too, but they have run out so I had to spend more on the postage than to buy it, but I was determined.

Did the food shoppery today, a large over flowing trolley full for maybe 3 bored peeps plus dog and cat.

RP had to buy new wellies today as his have sprung a leak. Bog standard Green.

When I was young [younger?] there were only black ones, they seem to be no more, unless you go very posh and polo style.

I should have taken the opportunity to replace mine and thus add to the collection of strays in the shed, but I am distracted by all the flowery ones that abound so am hanging on to see if I can find some.

Not that I am going out again until after Xmas, I am going to light the fire and read my book[s]

Bette

Hattie took me for a walk this morning.

And we met this fine cat.

The RP was not with us as he had to go to Bette's funeral. All I knew about "Betty" [as she was in my prosaic mind] was that she a rather anxious old lady who had once sold us her 4 oak dining room chairs when she downsized to the next village.

Now I find she had a rather rebellious youth, wore a green pill box hat even tho her father disapproved, migrated to Canada, came back when her kids had grown up and wished she hadn't.
Shame we don't swop our stories until the funeral.
Maybe she was called Bette because she looked like Bette Davis, her given name was Alicia. Can't ask her now.
As Hatters and I returned we found Bette's last resting place outside the church door as they sung hymns inside.

Fortunately they had dug the grave before the -7 temperatures of last night, so now she is secure under a blanket of flowers.

Perhaps I should look out a nice photo of my rebellious youth and leave it accessably, plus a list of songs. White Stripes, REM................
Bette went out of the church with Elvis and Peace in the Valley. Good taste in hats and music.

snow white

Last night Auntie Nature did this.

I understand she was even busier in Scotland and possibly the West country?

Fortunately the bread machine made this, so we should survive.

I am enjoying the change of scene which requires no travel [except Hattie hike] but is a bit cold.

sign in here

This is my experience of Beccles, a home to our latest exhibition until 21st December.
However Mr Wickedleaks will probably have a different view. He has to sign on with Mr Plod at the Plod Station in Beccles every day, to prove he is still here under Mansion House arrest, with or without condoms.
It was amusing that the big important judge set such store by the strict rules by which Mr S can be set free in our vicinity..................he must go to the police station every day, wear a tag etc.
Sadly the city courts perhaps don't realise what happens at their cosy retreats.
The the nearest police station to young Julian in Bungay only opens 3 morning a a week.
Thus he has to make the journey to Beccles, as Mr Plod will be there every week day afternoon for at least two hours each the afternoon, if he isn't out patrolling.
At weekends there are no police apparently in either town except the ones who will have to drive over from somewhere else to his country cottage and check him out for themselves.
Of course snow is forecast.....................and most of the grit and sand has been used up.......
.

expedition north

These are pics of some of the work at our latest exhibition. There are 12 in the group I think and we each put two items in. We trundled up today on a beautiful sunny day [but so cold] to see what it looked like.

The Gallery makes good use of a defunct building once owed by one of the evil banks. So an imposing portico, but then many steps and stairs as the rooms are honey combed thru 3 floors, maybe Bob Crachitt worked there once, some of them are so small Tiny Tim would have filled one.

Our room was just the right size for the works, white walls and bright sun thru the window. Couldn't ask for better, oh yes i could, someone to buy something.

The Gallery is run by artists from whom we rent wall space at low rent, and is partly staffed by volunteers, a good idea all round.

I would have liked to wonder the streets and potter in and out of a few old shoppes but the Retired Person had lunch and a pint on his mind so we had to skedaddle. It is good he comes, and drives, so I have to let him have his fun too but sometimes it is easier to go out with the ladies - as long as they don't talk endlessly about their operations [cataracts are becoming popular] and their grand /children
except mine of course.

We stocked up at the posh supermarket on the way back as snow is forecast later in the week,

Having bought a Xmas pudding I guess I must accept that Xmas has started.

winter timetable

The Retired Person has started his winter hobby, Now it is usually minus degrees outside only the parsnips are benefiting from the cold.

Fortunately the oil man cometh today so we are at least warm as we bend over our respective cutting boards.

Keep in mind it is an "N" gauge railway line, so these buildings are very teeny tiny, requiring a scalpel for the operation.

no decorations yet

Daughter has started the tradition of making a separate birthday cake for GG.

Here he is eating it with the aid of a small dinosaur.

I have just had a bowl of veggie soup for lunch made from the last Butternut Squash from the garden and some parsnips. I am allowed the latter now the freeze has frozen, repeatedly. Apparently they taste better after a frost.

It in no way improves my mood however. The hoar frost down to the river looks gorgeous but I chose to hoover in the warm rather than opt for the walking Hattie option.

She is still enjoying her walks and food but is increasingly blind deaf and possibly daft, being 13 & 3quarters. Last night she did a whoopsie this side of the back door, so the house now smells of disinfectant and short temper.

Xmas cards have begun limping in. Have posted mine with difficulty as the Post Office decided unilaterally to close between 1 and 3, I arrived at 2.30.

Tried to use up some time at the village fair in the village hall but it was more of a inside car boot sale, I already have too much tat.

The local MP answered Him Indoor's missive about the dire state of closure of public houses which wasn't very useful on either side.

However I could use his official address to encourage the MP to vote to support the Early Day Motion 1171 trying to help the poor beleaguered people of the Congo tomorrow. Their village halls are not so cosy and their post office is never open.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Really enjoyed this tho it makes me cry too, thanks Annie.

the ladies

Glad to see Aphrodite is being returned home to Sicily, wish I could go with her, it is cold and grey here, and so am I.

Nice to see that Susan Philipsz won the Turner prize for singing under bridges.

Just finished reading Mo Hayder's latest crime extravaganza "Gone", very tense making.

So far, the Ladies have it.