DINNER
Morrisons Best Ham and Chorizo Pizza
Salad a la Moi

Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream

Yes, that last pizza we had was so good I bought a couple more to go in the freezer. Guess what? They are so huge that they wont fit in, so will have to be eaten toot sweet.

FUTURE DINNER IN PROGRESS
Roast Chicken from yesterday is simmering in a pan on the Rayburn for future Chicken Soup.

Yesterday I pm'd to Juzzzy my year's summary. I just got to the end of December when I must have touched the in built mouse on the laptop and lost the lot!
Bugger!

On reflection though, it was quite boring, even the regular gigging with Scarabella. So, I am going to make up a fantasy year instead. Don't tell anyone though, it may be believed by those who don't visit here regularly..........
If you want to see the pack of lies I invent then tune over to Juzzzy's channel tonight when he will be publishing bloggers' accounts of the past year.

Mr A felled some hazel today for a bloke that uses it in his basketry and building. He holds workshops so needs quite a large supply of it. Tomorrow will be the main felling of trees in the woods next door.

So, tonight.........there are a few choices for us, but, hand on heart, what we both really felt like doing was.............staying at home with a bottle of bubbly and watching Jools on t.v. after watching Lord of the Rings on dvd.

If anyone happens to be on their own this year at midnight, I'll give you a toast, just to say cheers and that if you read this, then you're part of the avrilo community!

The above blogger answered to my lucky no. 24. So, here is a brief summary of a blogger I've never communicated with before, and, I've never read before.

She is musical, playing piano and enjoying classical music. She is a church goer, unlike moi.
She keeps a few unusual items in her knicker drawer, like a spare christmas pudding!
Her life has changed a lot this past year, and she is still in the process of big changes.

She is a lot more computer literate than me, in fact, it sounds like she really knows about computers and hold her own in any computer orientated conversation.

In her early 40's, she prefers to make her own bread sauce rather than buy some from the shops that just aren't as good.

SATURDAY DINNER
Bought in Pizzas. Morrisons Best Ham and Chorizo which was delicious and ordinary Morrisons, made in the store vegetable one. Nice, but not as good as the 'Best' one.
Salad a la Moi

SUNDAY LUNCH FOR 5
Got visitors today, so:
Baked Potatoes
Salad a la Moi
Honeyroast Ham
Welsh Cheese

Mince Pies and Vanilla n Chocolate Ice Cream

SUNDAY DINNER
Roast Chicken
Roast Parsnip
Roast Potatoes
Cabbage from garden
Peas from Freezer

Phew! That's a lotta menu! Our visitors today have come over for 3 reasons:
1. To be sociable
2. To help Mr A bring back a load of wood from the sawmill
3. To discuss a future geological trip to Oz

There is funding for another trip to Oz to go caving and report back on geological stuff. Mr A would love to go again with the same people he went with before. So, probably this time next year then....

I've got 15 minutes to blog before Molly Eve and Liberty descend on me, turning the house into a chattering of girls...Mr A helped me to put onto cd the recording I made of the rehersal with Paul. There are 7 songs on there, we shallsee about putting them onto Jpeg to blog. We have a bass player now, so a full rehersal next week here. It'll be loud, but with no near neighbours, just family up above on the bank, that's not a problem.

Back later to have a shufty around the site and see what friends have been up to.

DINNER
Lamb Stew made with leftover lamb from yesterday with organic veg.
Give your tastebuds a real treat and cook some organic veg sometime. You can actually taste the colour orange in carrots! Once you've tasted organic, non-organic veg tastes like cardboard (not that I eat cardboard but help me out here.)

Road tested the new sat nav today. First I chose 'Jane' and English accented lady who gave me directions so I wouldn't have to look at the screen and possibly crash....Then I tried 'Ken' an Australian bloke who sounded quite posh to me...I'm going to try 'Sean' and irish accented bloke next...

My suggestions for alternative speakers on sat nav are:
Cockney accents by 'That Bloke up the Pub' and 'Our Tracy'.

Sloaney accent of posh wannabe celebrity. A hanger on of hangers onners to Z listers called 'Tampara.'

A sexy voice. A male called 'Roger' who would call you 'babe'
A woman called Fenella who would call you 'darling'

My 3yr old grandaughter's voice. "I fink you might turn right here"

Someone will tell me that you can get these voices, or something like it probably. I think I heard that you can celebrity voices. So my choice for that would be either James Bond (Sean Connery of course), calling me 'Miss Moneypenny' or Captain Jack Sparrow calling me by my name.......("in 100 yards you will be turning into my arms")............

In other matters, Mr A is marking out the trees to be felled today. First he is erecting a fence over some houses, so nothing crashes onto the roofs. Then I will be joining him with a spray can to mark an X on the mainly sycamores that are to come down. How will I recognise a sycamore? This, I don't yet know. I know silver birches, Oaks, Beeches by their barks, but I shall have to hone up my skills with a sycamore. The leaves are easy to identify, but this time of year you can't do that. I suspect I shall be asking Mr A 'is this one?' quite a lot.

Rehersal later with Paul, the ace guitarist/singer. Mr A is coming along with a small drum kit. Hurray! We will start to sound like a band then.

DINNER
Roast Leg of Salt Marsh Lamb
Roast Potatoes
Roast Organic Parsnips
Brussel Sprouts
Mashed Organic Swede

Kronenbourg 1664

Yesterday saw us at my son's house being served traditional turkey, with all the trimmings, with Liberty wanting to play, no chance of a post feast snooze. She danced in front of the tv which was showing ballet in her Snow White Lookalight white dress with puffy sleeves.
Molly was delighted with her laptop. Mr A decided that she is at an age where she needs a computer to help her study for the exams she will be taking. Totally his idea, and he paid for it. A really good idea, and her face light up when she unwrapped it - the biggest kept secret in Wales! Eve just got books and a dvd, but her time will come for a big present when she gets older. She handled it very well, but I felt for her as all the attention was on Molly. They are lovely girls and are off to get even more presents this evening at their step dads relatives house.

Today we went to collect some more of the wood that Mr A has sawn up at t'sawmill. He has loads cut up and said some of it is for floorboards, and a new bed base. After spending most of yesterday outside it was good to be outside for a bit.
I have decided to find out about being a 'Meals on Wheels' deliverer, spending my spare time doing something worthwhile. Otherwise, I will just veg out and get more insular and lose the art of socialising all together!

I hope you all had a good xmas day and anyone on their own, in blog world, remember that you are not totally on your own. You can always touch base with a friend, even just to say hello!

Enjoyed Dr Who! Another great episode

SUNDAY LUNCH
Baked Potatoes
Smoked Salmon
Milano Salami
Avocado
Green Salad
Cheese Board
Tomato and Onion Salad
Olives and Assorted Pickles
Very Nice Red Wine

Mr A's parents came for lunch so pushed the boat out a bit with lots of tasty nibbles. I proposed a toast with the wine. I said a big thank you to them for being such good parents and doing such a good job in raising such a fine man as Mr A. They both got quite embarrased and proposed another toast for me, being a good partner to their son. Such moments clock a heavy memory in the well worth saying it stakes. If that sentence makes any sense, then well done!

Mr A showed his mother a new purchase he made in the week, it is a polesaw, fully extended it goes to almost 23ft! It will save him climbing trees to lop off branches.
We had a visit from 3yr old Liberty who behaved beautifully with our visitors, we all had a jolly nice game of marbles! She would call out 'Come On Avril!' as if I'm racing in the Grand National!

We are rabbit sitting a brown bunny for her present from her mum and dad. Mr A asked if it looked like a field rabbit and I had to say, no, it was a sleek brown furred bunny looking very well fed. As he used to take pot shots at rabbits in the field I don't think he sees rabbits as pets at all.

So, I will take a break from whittling on about my life to say.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!
Yes it's christmas eve and I've got presents to wrap, including an 11ft one. I know what I've asked Santa to get me this year...

DINNER
Spag Bog
Organic Spaghetti
Salad a la Moi

Vanilla and Chocolate Ice cream

LUNCH
Vegetable Pizza

This evening saw myself and Mr A dressed up in high vis waterproofs delivering firewood. I felt a bit like Santa's little helper, Santa being Mr A, who drives the sleigh, I mean Scoda! It's been pouring raing and we had to load up, then unload in it. Ah well, it was nice when we got indoors to dry off and eat and drink.

LIfe's a bit like that I think. Looking forward and enjoying the bits inbetween the getting cold and wet when you can dry out and get your reserves ready for the next trial!

DINNER
Black Angus Beef Medallions with Wholegrain Mustard on the side
Baked Potatoes with Lashings of Butter, ground sea salt and black pepper (sod the capital letters)
Salad a la Moi, consisting of:
Hot House Lettuce
Radishes
Cucumber
Capers
Hot Belvini Peppers
Pepperdew Spicy Red Peppers
Feta Cheese
Red Grapes
Green Olives
Tomatoes
Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar Dressing
Yup, I think that's the lot. I've just bought some pinenuts, so they'll be going into the next salad for sure..

So, I was going to go into town to get the rest of the presents, but decided to stick to local stores on the fringes of town. There are some good ones, the County Stores are great for presents, especially for Mr A, but I doubt if I'd find something amongst the animal feed and buckets for a 3yr old. I have actually got the grandaughters presents, but always wonder if it's enough. As they all get loads of presents from the extended family they won't be lacking...I've gone down the dvd route. I know, cheating a bit....
I got Mr A's present and I'm well chuffed with it! Ooo I want to give it now to see his expression! Here's a clue. It's 11ft long. Don't tell him!

Had a really good rehersal last night. Got down 10 songs! We are sharing the singing but there are harmonies on most of the songs anyway. I discovered the percussion bank in my keyboard and had a great session with Paul on drums and me on a whole drum kit on the keyboard keys! A lot of fun. We practiced for 4 and half hours solid being disiciplined on sorting out intro's, middles and ends rather than just jamming it and going on and on and on.....Mr A will be joining us with his drum kit at next rehersal so it'll start to get much louder. We may get a saxophonist as well, but they can come in much later when it's more polished. The icing on the cake.

Had Liberty down today. We played marbles for a bit, then sat in the sun chatting. She still scares away the birds when they come to the feeder. I tell her she's a 'horrible girl', this makes her laugh.

I'll be going to the sawmill with Mr A tomorrow to collect the wood he's been cutting up. The valley it is in was still frost bound - a real hoar frost as they say. This is when it never thaws out but remains a white coating over all the greeness. Will take hat, gloves and thermals!

Solstice this evening. I lit 2 candles. One prayer for all religions to want peace. The other candle prayer for no religion to kill in the name of god. Well, it's worth a shot...

Wrote a song today called 'Climate Change.' I told Mr A and he said "What, in favour of it?"
Also wrote another song, a lurve song, well, a ballad really, written for that special person who's watching tv in the next room....

Had another order for firewood. Mr A's reputation is growing, for delivering seasoned firewood that burns well and gives off great heat.
So off we set with his pick-up full of logs to make the delivery, and then I thought......

With Mr A's bright orange high-vis coat and wellies, he just needs a false beard. I could dress as an elf, put some tinsel around the pick-up, maybe some fairy lights, and we could look a right couple of berks!
Yesterday Mr A spent up at the sawmill, making planks out of the trees he had thinned out last year. Mainly sycamore. He is going to turn them into kitchen cupboards, just magically like, a wave of his magic wand, or saw as it's called in the joinery business, and Hey Presto! A fitted kitchen will emerge from the dust generated by his power tools.....

I put 2 huge poatoes into the oven before we left, as it would take about 1 and a half hours in total.
They were perfect!
DINNER
Baked Potatoes lavished lovingly with butter, ground sea salt n ground black pepper
Salad a la Moi, with Feta Cheese, Capers, Bellvini hot Peppers and the usual

Walnut Dream Ice cream

We watched the Simpsons movie that I'd bought on dvd earlier. £9 in Morrisons (when are they going to pay me for all this advertising?)
I have to admit that life is sweet at the moment.

Went to Liberty's school concert yesterday. I was surprised at just how professional the costumes were. There were animal suits, including sheep, lions, zebras, horses, donkey's and some others I've forgotten.
The kings were dressed in fine colourful silks with lots of shining jewels sown on, I don't think they were real though.
The shepherds, as per tradition, had very clean teaclothes on their heads held on with colourful bands, but their clothing looked purpose made, very authentic, very hessian, very clean.
The angels had on white dresses, all different. There were silks, satins, pearl encrusted bodices, crisp ribbons as sashes and silver and golden wings, that weren't battered and out of shape at all!
The nursery class, which Liberty is in wore their pajamas and dressing gowns.
The costumes looked as if they could have been hired from a reputable hire shop.

It was called 'Whoops a Daisy Angel.' The usual nativity story with a twist. The job of delivering the good news was given to an angel who was untidy and messy. The other angels had to tidy up after her. Actually, the only messy thing about this angel was that her halo was a bit askew, otherwise her dress, like the others, was immaculate. Anyway, after being given this prime job, she changed her ways and became a tidy angel. The songs were good, all original, except for the 'We wish you a Merry Christmas that was sung in English and Welsh.
So, well done everyone involved!

In my day (groan) the nativity play actors were dressed mainly in cut up sheets with ropes around waists, tea towels on heads with mums' scarves to hold them in place, and bits of painted cardboard for wings. Very amateurish compared to this production that could have been shown in the West End, judging by the fine quality of the costumes.

Today I'm off travelling to pick up and deliver presents about an hour's drive away. Then later going to Swansea for rehersal with the very talented Paul, singer and guitarist par excellance!

The idea for the next short story is coming together so stay tuned to this space!

Time has moved on, imagine pages being ripped off a calender (pictures of robins sitting on a snow covered branch, Christmas trees laden with tinsel and coloured balls etc.,) the pages are flying off at speed, so only a quick glimpse of the festive pictures are seen as they whirl away.
Imagine a shop window with a mannekin in the window having it's clothes changed every 2 seconds by an invisible shop assistant.
Anyway, you get the picture.

It is the office party at the premises of Tyalskye and Pacy.
Celeste and Macy have pushed the boat out, and bought a case of the very best sparkling wine plus 2 bottles of fine champagne, so everyone can tip their glasses together for a toast.

Along with Celeste, Macy, Stacy, (who was now 6 months old and being carried in a sling atop Macy's maternal breasts,) were Helen, the receptionst/filing clerk/dogsbody, Dimitri, the window cleaner who wore jeans that outlined his surname, and numerous neighbours including shopkeepers, past clients, possible future clients, a lollipop lady called Veronica and a passerby who thought it was a post office.

There were multi-coloured decorations hung from the ceiling. Dimitri had lent a hand to put them up in return for staying behind, and what a tight stayed behind he had. Indeed.

"Time for a toast everyone!" A flushed faced Celeste announced as she handed round glasses with a thimbleful of finest champagne to everyone.
"If you can all glase your rasses. I mean, raise your glasses, I would like to make a toast."
"I'll have some jam on mine", said a sotten wit from the back.
"To Tyalskye, Pacy and Stacy!" The announcement ended with a roar of "cheers!" and "yay's" and general rhubard sounding crowd noise.

"I would like to welcome Stacy as a puture fartner, I mean future partner, in this select firm of detecting. She will make a fine detective if she takes after her mother." Celeste attempted to clink her glass with the nearest person, who happened to be Stacy, and she managed to clink it on the buckle of the baby sling.
"Whoopsy daisy!" she said quickly moving it to clink with Macy's glass instead.

There was a general clinking and 'good lucking' and then quietness as the champagne was eagerly devoured.

"I'd better change this young lady's nappy," Macy announced after draining her glass.
"Bring that changing bag will you please", she asked Dimitri who was standing next to her. They went into the bathroom, that had nappy changing facilities on board. That was one of the first changes Macy had made in the office.
Dimitri followed her and several pairs of eyes lustily followed him into the little bathroom.

It was kareoke time, and someone started to warble 'You'll Never Walk Alone' amid cheers and grimaces.
There was a cry from the bathroom.
"Oh No!"
"What is it? What is it?" Asked Celeste as she hurried into the bathroom with her now empty glass in her hand.
"I've just noticed that I've lost my ring," said a choked Macy, and I can see where I had lost it. It has been on Stacy's ring!"
As they both looked at the smooth bare bottom of little Stacy, they saw an etched mark around the tiny bum hole of the baby. It was the imprint of a ring!
"It must have slipped off and fallen into a nappy" wailed Macy.
"Oh no" I know I wasn't married, but I wore it for sentiimental reasons."
"What sentimental reasons?" Asked a puzzled Celeste.
"Well, I didn't want to have to face questioning glances at my finger when I carried Stacy around, so I put my grandmother's wedding ring on. It's sentimental for her."

Imagine a light bulb being turned on. Just a light bulb, no fixtures or fittings. This bulb lit up over Macy's head.
"It won't be lost. It will still be in a used nappy!" She cried with relief.
"Oh, that's alright then. We'll er...leave you to it then, shall we?" Celeste's smile was one of hope, hope that she wouldn't be asked the next question.

"Please, you will help me won't you Celeste? After all, you are her Godmother. All the old nappies are in the bin. It must have slipped off earlier today. We just have to search through them."
Silently, Celeste pulled on a pair of bright yellow Marigolds and started the search while Macy continued to change the baby's nappy.

The ring was found in the third nappy.
There it was, a bit of gold sparkle amongst the debris that was pureed vegetables and rice.

"There we are, good as new. You owe me, big time for this." As Celeste handed over the now cleaned ring, Masy wiped a tear from her eye.
"You are a true friend, Celeste, going where no one has ever gone before, getting your hands covered in shit, for me. I won't forget this."
"Aw, go on with you, although when I want a favour, I'm just going to say, 'ring, ring!'"

DINNER
Chicken Soup made from left over chicken from the sunday roast with Carrots, Onions, Potatoes.
Home made Bread

Mr A was enjoying a mouthfull of the soup and then went into the kitchen and came back with a packet of frozen peas. He poured a handful out and put them in the bowl of soup!
There weren't any green veg in the soup, so he just added some.
Seemed to work ok.

I had my 3yr old grandaughter down for the afternoon yesterday. I am going to her school concert tomorrow (o joy). I asked her,
"What will you be singing?"
She said, "very loudly."
I read that there were near riots at a couple of school concerts recently, one because some parents couldn't get tickets, they'd been sold to numerous relatives. The other when a parent was banned from taking photographs at the concert. The head said that some parents might object to a photo being taken of their child by someone else.

Been thinking about a story, and what sort of character to write about. I think Tyalskye and Pacy can lay their detecting high heels up for now...
So, she is a journalist, she writes about dead people and she doesn't exercise.
Yes, coming to a blog near you, a fiction packed tale of criminality, solid thinking, enjoyable meals and crime solving long lunch breaks with our intrepid reporter!
Now, just got to think of a name...........

Hmmm maybe Justine??
Justine Time?
No, too corny.

I went to see a psychotherapist today, as you do.
She was recommended, and I am still fretting over work relating issues.
She was very good. She said that I need to make a Contract with myself to limit myself to maybe one hour a day when I dwell on 'stuff', then outside those hours, not think or stress about it at all. Sounds good. I'll see if it works.
The other thing to do is to write letters. Firstly ones that can be burnt, full of anger and all the horrible stuff I'm feeling about my treatment from the nhs, hurt child mode operating. Then write a letter that comes from the adult, logical and well thought out to put my points down in order, clearly. My main problem is that the anger I feel comes from not being heard, which is true. She also said that:
Fear comes from thinking about the future
Sadness from thinking about the past
Anger from not being heard
Joy wants to be shared
So, feeling better about things at the moment.

Tomorrow I will do some christmas shopping.....

DINNER
Left over Aubergine Casserole
Salad a la Moi

This is the usual Salad a la Moi:
Green Lettuce
Chopped Pepperdew Red Spicy Peppers
Chopped Green Belvini Spicy Peppers
Cucumber
Feta Cheese
Green Olives
Tomatoes
Capers
Organic Beetroot
Watercress

Dressing is Olive Oil then either Balsamic Vinegar, or Cider Vinegar drizzled over then lightly tossed.

Sometimes I add extras, like radishes, roasted nuts and seeds, celery, carrot, the list could be endless, but a colourful salad can help you to stay healthy, as it contains nutrients, vitamins and all the good things that your body likes!

There is cloud cover tonight, so no twinkling stars to gaze at tonight. Just goes to show that you have to catch natures beautiful gifts when you can.

I've just been looking at the stars, through binoculars. It is a very cold night, and the atmosphere seems to be producing a rainbow effect on a particular star.
Sirius.
Bottom left hand corner from Orion's Belt.
The brightest star in the sky.
It's a cracker tonight. Really.
Amazing!

Even if you go out in your slippers, do it. Go out and look at the stars.
You won't regret it.
The awesome magnificence of those far away light reflecting rocks takes my breath away.
A breath that comes out tangible, like smoke from the freezing night.

This is reality.

DINNER
Aubergine and Halloumi Cheese Casserole - This contains layers of aubergine, sliced potato with a spicy tomato sauce poured over and bunged in the oven. The top layer of potato turns crispy and brown.
Salad a la Moi with Feta Cheese

We only managed half the casserole, so tomorrow's sorted then.

Had a good day playing the guitar, finding a funky rhythmn to turn into a song. I thought about writing a song about Climate Change. Love songs are 10 a penny, climate change however, that's relevant, thought provoking and rhymes with rearrange.....

Xmas shopping still to come...if previous years are anything to go by then it'll be the week before that it finally comes together. I do have some presents, so I could do the rest in one fell swoop of a sunny afternoon in town.

Mr A is in his office whistling along to Johnny Cash - all's fine in the Avrilo household..

DINNER
Monkfish Tails with
Scallops, in a Tomato Sauce with a hint of Chillies
Basmati Rice with 2 Cardomon Seeds
Salad a la Moi

Very very delicious! I only got 3 Scallops because they are quite expensive, but they went a long way and complimented the monkfish well. If I had some white wine I would have added it, but there's only Mr A's homebrew on offer..

It's been a day of writing things down, making lists of points I want to make in sorting out my appeal to the Pensions Agency. They turned down my request for ill health retirement, so I need to make my case better. In a way, I could take it as quite positive, that they don't think I'm that ill and could still work. My arguement is that I couldn't work as a midwife after certain experiences I had, and it is such a stressful job. It became difficult when I started going through the menopause.
There are reasons I won't go into here that made me more stressful at work, conditions that would make anyone stressful, so it wasn't just 'had enough' sort of thing, but a genuine complaint.
I still feel bitter about the way the management treated me at work. Words I had said in meetings became twisted somehow and when I read the minutes I thought 'I didn't mean that!' I feel I've been well and truely stitched up by management who I thought were my friends, collegues I'd worked with for years who had advanced along their career path and changed to become uncaring managers.
Talking to my union rep, she said many midwives said the same 'I thought they were my friend.'

I will be rabbit-sitting shortly. I have been asked to look after a rabbit that will be a present for my 3yr old grandaughter.
"It's going outside" said Mr A in no uncertain terms.

Reading Kathy Reichs book 'Broken Bones'. A crime novel where the hero is a forensic pathologist, a bit like Patricia Cornwall if you know her work. It's ok, but I felt like something lighter to read so have changed to 'The Truth' a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel. I love the way I can just get stuck into his books if I want an easy, good read. I'll go back to the Kathy Reichs book later when my head isn't so serious......

Tomorrow I should start thinking about christmas........ what to get for whom and what to eat when and who to invite to eat with us and where we might like to be and whether I can be arsed with any of it anyway..........

DINNER
Baked Potatoes
Chorizo in Tomato Sauce with Spinach from t'garden
Salad a la Moi

Last night I met up with Scarabella and we went into the recording studio and recorded 2 of the 5 songs we are putting on our new E.P.
It went really well, and we also managed to catch some of our improvisation down, we may use some of it. On the last cd we put 2 snatches of impro between the songs, just to show how spontaneous we can be, ha!
Before meeting up I got some Sushi, I've found a favourite.
Californian Roll. Avocado, Caviar (not the real stuff), cucumber, crabstick, with Pickled Ginger n Soy Sauce.
Eel Roll. Sushi Rice with a bit of Eel on the top, wrapped like a gift with a band of Seaweed.
Miso Soup. I love Miso Soup!

SUNDAY DINNER
Onion Soup with Homegrown Shallotts, Potatoes, Organic Carrots.
Mmmm! It was really tasty! Miso added for beefy flavour. We had a vegetarian friend staying for dinner so I couldn't use real beef stock. Worked well though.

Discovered some of the leeks have gone to seed and have a hard centre. Shame, as they are lovely leeks.
Spent the day chopping wood for kindling, getting coal and wood in for the woodburner and Rayburn. Also made phone calls to 'officials'. Sorting out paper work, which isn't one of my favourite jobs...

I feel a christmas story coming on..... Gawd! I've done nowt for xmas, 'cept buy some books for the girls. At least we don't have to buy a tree, just use the same one which has been sitting outside in a pot since last year...
Decorations and tree will be up by Winter Solstice, that date means more to us in this household as it relates to the cycles of the seasonal year and part of nature.

A friend last night told me about her visit to a psychic. Her aura was read, she held a crystal, then her cards were read. It was all very accurate (not going into details) and a new career was mentioned, even the nature of it, to do with parenting skills, teaching people how to be good parents. My friend doesn't have children but is a teacher in a primary school, so could look into it. The career would also help with her own healing to do with parental issues. It all sounded spot on, so I'm gonna book me a session...though I do feel like I've got enough to be getting on with that I know about, but a peek into another future wouldn't hurt.
With me, it's not even an issue to wonder if someone is psychic, I've met a few so know that some people are gifted in this way. It's not always a breeze, it can be quite a burden, as with gifts comes responsibility, if you want to use it for others.
My friend's psychic was always that way and from a young age thought everyone was psychic.
I think everyone is psychic but most have it buried under layers of personal baggage and would be scared to open up to it. It is scary at times, to be open to messages and readings from the universe at large!

News from Mr A's Home Office
He has rearranged it. The hallway is, at present, shoulder high in thick files.....

News from the Woodburning Stove's Chimney.
It has had a nice cleaning today, a load of shite was cleared from the flue. It is now in good working order, I can open the door and it doesn't smoke. The versatile Mr A got up on the roof with the chimney brushes and gave it a good sorting.

If you've read the previous blogs about the snow blizzard adventure of the weekend then you'll know I went back to the van to dry out after falling face down in boggy moorland.
This is what I saw from the inside of the van on the windscreen.....

The previous post lists what I was wearing in the field, helping out Mr A with his work. As you can see I have 3 hats on!
God it was cold! This is north of Glasgow on saturday when it snowed, hard. Of course I had to fall face down in the boggy windswept mountain and was sent back to the van to dry out. Next photo shows the inside of the van with snow on the windscreen.

Friday saw me and Mr Avrilo drive up to Glasgow for some geophysic work for Mr A. I went to share the driving and help out.
We stayed at a hotel friday night and set out early to the worksite, a huge area of bog, swamp, treeless in the middle of nowhere. It snowed, really hard, blizzard proportions!
I wore:
A long sleeved thin jumper
A thick woollen jumper
An angora really thick cardigan
A fleece
A mac
A high visibility jacket
A peaked cap with a tracker for the satellite in it
A woolly hat
The hood of the jacket over that
Gloves
Trousers
Waterproof trousers (that didn't work when I fell down)
Woolly socks
Wellies

In the field I was the tracker to pinpoint the satellite position. I wore a cap with the tracker in it, attached to a wire that was belted round my waist, and a gizmo on the belt. I would have to stand at a spot and input the position into a handhelp computer.
The next photo shows me and Mr A in all our outside gear. You can see the peak of the cap peeking out from my woolly hat.

I fell down, mind you it was a soft landing in a boggy area and found myself freezing as it was snowing a blizzard and my gloves got wet.
So I went back to the van early to dry out. The third photo is a shot from inside the van, you can see snow on the windscreen!

Mr A and Brett, who we went up to help out, had to drag this sled, which was an antennae, which gave readings of what was below the ground. They had to drag it over stones, ditches, uneven ground, bog, everywhere!

The drive back wasn't too bad, arriving home at 2am, so having a sleep in today.....

WEDNESDAY'S DINNER
Shepherds Pie made with left over mince from last night's Spag Bog
Mashed Potato
Brocolli

Got Molly (14) and Eve (11) staying here this evening and staying over.
Big event of the night - watching 'Heroes', the last episode.

So (written next day, today), that's what happened!
A few heroes died, a few saved the day, a few got forgotten. What happened to Mohinder? He seemed to melt into the background as the little girl, Molly he was looking after changed affections to Nickie, Mica and shot husband.

The girls are writing up and colouring in adverts for firewood for sale and kitten wanted for me to put up locally. It keeps them occupied anyway.
It is nice having a noisy household for a change, the girls charging around, playing and fighting alternatively together.
Mr A is working at home, well, trying to work as the girls keep coming in to have a chat from time to time, but no complaints!

I have a job tomorrow, driving Mr A to Glasgow and returning saturday. He has a short job to do there and I can earn some money as co-driver. It's about a 10hr drive, so with Ms Sat Nav it should be a doddle....
It's a dreary day, after lots of rain in the night, I shall be bailing out my car when I go out later.
When it rains, the water gets in through the bonnet and lands on the floor behind the driver's seat. I've got a plastic half bottle that I use to bail it out. Sometime soon I'll get my neighbour, and mechanic to sort it out.....

Ok, Menu of the Day later folks! Have a good day, even mediocre days have their high points.

DINNER
Spag Bog
Organic Spaghetti
Salad a la Moi

I realised that mostly I deal with comments from others and read other bloggers posts before I actually write my own post. Today I just felt like writing first, and it feels good, like I'm taking care of myself before others. Usually I am so wrapped up in others' worries that don't put myself forward and deal with my stuff first. So. I feel empowered to put me first and deal with others later.

I babysat this afternoon with all 3 grandaughters, 3,11 and 14yr olds. I took some plasticine and we made caterpillars, witches and butterflies. A nice relaxing time. Molly kept me up to date on 'Heroes' which I've been missing for the last couple of episodes. She wants to be an actress and put on all the different voices when telling me about who's done what.

Mr A has been working at home today. I make sure he has a good lunch (baked beans, bacon and egg on toast) and a healthy dinner as he works so hard. I feel that we have different roles and should be looking after each other as partners should. I do feel priviledged at times that I can live with someone so easily.

Got the old night sweats. Ladies of a certain age get them and, believe me, they are a bugger. The temperature control seems to be up the creek.

Ooo Spooks tonight! Hurrah!

DINNER
Cauliflower Curry with Pataks Coriander and Lemon Paste
Basmati Rice with Cardomom Seeds
Naan Bread
Yoghurt with Mint n Cucumber
Salad a la Moi

Mmm I love curries, adding chillies for extra heat.
I don't know if I'm going to go out tonight. There's the monthly musical gathering of improvised music which I've greatly enjoyed when I've been before. However, with the dark evenings, the fires lit at home and good company in Mr A, I really don't know if I want to go out. It's about a 40 min drive away.
It must be a sign of getting older, the need to go out and socialise it getting less and less, as I enjoy being at home, even when Mr A is away working.

Still remembering the blogmeet in Liverpool and so glad that I went, I think Mr A enjoyed it, though could have done without the hassel with parking the van.
However, went I went to leave my car at the station car park when I went to catch the train, I was really lucky. It was full, there was already a car waiting for a space when someone left, so I thought I'd have to park elsewhere. Just as I was going along someone pulled out right in front of me so I could use their space to park.
My Car Parking Angel was with me that day!

I've been painting the skirting board and window in the front room today. The paint I used says 'no odour' on the tin, and it didn't smell. After painting it on though, it looked really streaky, but ok when it dried thank goodness. I've compromised in my choice of colour, if it were up to me I'd use a colour on the red spectrum, but Mr A wouldn't want that so we've got a fresh lemon for the wall and 2 shades of green for windows and skirting. It looks fresh and bright.

DINNER
Organic Pork Chops
Mashed Organic Potatoes
Organic Carrots
Frozen Peas.

We've had a day of delivering firewood, loading, unloading, driving, so Mr A volunteered to cook for a change. He's also going out for a band rehersal (not far) after dinner.
I'm going to catch up on X Factor results later and have a bath.
Just took a fresh baked loaf out of the bread maker. Mmmm! Smells lovely.

The woodburner is lit as well as the Rayburn, so it's nice and cosy here in the wooden house in the forest....

DINNER
Baked Potato with Butter
Tapas from M&S, consisting of:
Lightly Spiced Marinated Chicken
Paella Fritters
Chicken and Chorizo Empanadillas
Lemon Marinated Queen Green Olives

Bloody delicious!

See previous posts for pix of blogmeet...

Ah! The horses were so patient, waiting patiently with their human collegues to stop any trouble, should it occur.

I was spotted taking these photos then all of a sudden everyone around wanted to take a photo as well, the policman and woman smiled nicely for all those flashing cameras.

Looks like these police are centaurs with huge arses!
Can't quite see the twinkling fairylights though....

Second photo coming up, can't seem to get more than one to a blog.

..also he is a very nice person. Some of his fans are a bit bonkers and shout out at his gigs 'you rock Nick!' but he is very laid back about it. He gets cornered at every gig by the same guys who go to all his gigs and are a bit fanatical about him, well, he is good!
Of course I wasn't talking about me when mentioning those fans...