In Between Days

Thursday. 

We went to Castle Marina to shop as we had vouchers to spend before the 2nd, so we took a slow paced walk down by the canal. It seemed fairly quiet and the shop itself was OK not as busy as we'd imagined. 

We got what we needed and headed back the way we came. We timed the bus perfectly and got home and unpacked. We watched a movie ( an old one) Peter Ustinov as Poirot ( that old) I started sneezing non stop. Feeling congested. I smothered myself in Vics and took paras and hot juice and ibuprofen and Kev gave a shot of his fireball. 

Earlish night. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Up early so Kev could get the washing in, and done. I got up and did my usual stuff, then settled down to my first play with the new things Kev and Karen have bought me ( craft items, yay) Kev found room for his mixer I bought him. 

Life starts to move back to normal with a light lunch of beans on toast after all the big meals since Sunday. 

As its a time of reflection, approaching the new year, I have much to think on. Not my best year by far, with the accident and subsequent period of recovery. Finding stuff out I wished I'd known years ago, which would have helped me a lot, and would perhaps have given me an idea of why I have always been so different. Not that I'd change anything really. It certainly wouldn't have stopped me choosing the path I did, it may have made me less hard on myself... 

Going back to the fall, the one thing I learned from all of that is how lucky I am to have Kev. He was and is the only person who was really there for me when the chips were down. Yes, We had help from various sources and I'm not dismissing that at all, but, ultimately, Kev got me home, and he looked after me. 24/7 especially for the first six weeks. He had some awful jobs to do and did it all with good grace only losing his temper when I lost mine. Both of us, close to the edge, but we made it. 

Once again we held hands and got through that storm together. Like all the storms before, we can always rely on each other. 

And now that storm is passing and I improve weekly mobility wise, the major lesson is that you never know what is round the corner for any of us. All I can hope is that the next 12 months are kinder to us, and those we love and care about. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

A relaxed day. We set about working on our usual stuff, my exercises, my pages which I have not done since Christmas eve. 

I got a new jump-start journal from Kev for Christmas so I'm itching to do a page in that.

So everything done, we started watching stuff we had recorded like Pottery throw down and The Traitors. Charlotte nipped round and we sat and chatted about our Christmases respectively. Sounds like both of us had a really good time. 

In Between Days

Monday. Boxing Day.

We woke up around 8ish after a comfortable night's sleep in Sue's spare room.

We went down to breakfast and sat chatting going over the events the day before. 

We set off back, Willow had been on her own for 24 hours and being concerned pet parents, we don't like leaving her longer. Christmas Day is only time we haven't got Charlotte to cat sit as she is away. So, we always come back and check she is OK and fuss her lots. She's a good girl, she doesn't leave us messes to clean up and we leave her food out, and check her water fountain. Lights on in both rooms so she knows we aren't abandoning her. Because I read once that lights off is read by a cat that she/he has been left behind. She had enough trauma as a kitten, so we always make sure she feels loved and looked after. It's the same when we go to work. 

We got home and unpacked. finding homes for gifts and tidying up. Kev made dinner a lamb roast with all the trimmings and we watched the rest of Interview. It was amazing. I have no words to explain how refreshing to see this take on the story. They incorporated all the lines that you'd expect, with different plot twists at every turn. I loved it. 



In Between Days

Sunday. Christmas Day. 

I woke relatively early, well my body was in work mode from the day before. 

I got up, bought all the presents in the living room as if Santa had been. Showered and changed while Kev took the gateau out of the freezer and put the pork in the oven to roast. We opened our presents oohing and ahhing over what we'd bought each other, and what other people had bought us. 

We drank bucks fizz and snacked on bread sticks. 

It wasn't long until Pete came to fetch us, and bring our beautiful gift of another large Easter island statue. This one is larger than the other two. We've named him Mud mud. You'll only know if you know, the movie. Anyhow Kev placed him in the garden. We will arrange them properly later... He looks perfect...

We got to Sue's and swapped gifts ( the small ones as we had bought large gifts between us) Sue and Pete a bigger air fryer and us Mud Mud.  

We received gifts from Karen ( my niece) that we weren't expecting and believe me that girl knows how to find the perfect gifts for us. A gorgeous glass pumpkin and a haunted swing ready to go outside for next Halloween.

The dinner was delicious, and we had laughs galore with the crackers and selfie props. Later on we watched Del Torro's Pinochio. A very good but dark version of the story. He could easily be the next Tim Burton the way he comes up with his stunning take on classic tales with chilling animation and sets. Justin my nephew came over during this and it was lovely to see him too. 

We'd taken a board game with us and we played that with hilarious results. It was like the blind leading the blind figuring out how to play it. But great fun. And one we will play again next time, if we are blessed with another Christmas together.

We throughly enjoyed every minute and as always it makes us appreciate the fact that we have family members that are friends too... 



In Between Days

Saturday. Christmas Eve.

Up at 5.30am and on the bus by 6.30 am. No frost, so the walk to the bus stop was easy, no worries of slipping, big sigh of relief here.

Got to work, it was busy, but not as bad as I've seen it previously at Christmas. By the time we left at 4pm it was getting quieter. I think most people got themselves organised earlier, and that's why the shop has been heaving since the end of November. There will always be those that leave it late. Its just a fact of life. There will always be the selfish who don't care if the person serving them gets home to their family to enjoy their own Christmas in time to really enjoy it. Because the emphasis is on serving. Because people like that power over someone else, that you'll do what I say because I pay your wages. Its the sort of control they don't have anywhere else in their lives. 

Anyway, we got the bus and got home without any major incident, not thanks to the bus driver who thought he'd rival Max Verstaapen now that Lewis Hamilton has all but retired. Both of us glad to get off the bus in one piece. We got changed into pj's had tea, and chilled out watching TV. Both of us nodding off after an early start, and bed called. 

I've seem the times we would have partied until the early hours on Christmas eve, those were the days, one glass of baileys now and I'm done. But to be truly honest I wouldn't enjoy it now at all. Its nice to go out, but not every week, and certainly not until the early hours of the morning. Yes. We are both old and boring, but you know what? That suits me fine. Better that than trying unsuccessfully to recapture my youth and looking like a sad old lush, which is in my opinion worse. And unlike some I did have my wild days. Luckily they were before the advent of social media and the pressure to look perfect, and pretending to have fun. 



In Between Days

Friday. 

Had a pamper session ready for work tomorrow. Deforestation, the works, lip scrub and moisturise, this cold weather has played havoc with my now ageing thinning lips.

So all that done and stuff put in my work bag in advance makes me all ready to go when the clock strikes 5.30 am and we have to get up. 

Later we watched Interview another two episodes just as enthralling as the first two, Claudia is now introduced and she is a right spoiled Brat funny by turn but also very obnoxious. But then I don't have a lot of time for kids anyway. So perhaps I'm being harsh and she is just a regular kid. 

I also watched the Dandelion class from Dyan later. I won't have time to do those pages until after Christmas now, but I will have a go at them at some point after. I've prepped my dyalog so that will get done, and before you know it I'll be starting my 2023 one! 

In Between Days

Thursday.

We got up and went out into town there was a few last things we needed. We got what we needed and got back out of town ASAP. It was hell. 

We got back home to find Charlotte cat sitting and having coffee. Willow was very happy. We love that she has someone who loves her as much as we do. 

Later on my Christmas was made because Kev discovered we could watch Interview with the Vampire ( series) on Amazon Prime. Yes you have to buy it per episode but, like I care? I've been obsessed trying to find it somewhere to stream it since it was on in September in the US. 

Kev has been looking too and voila he found it for me... I've watched two episodes so far and will limit it to just two at a time like we did Wednesday on Netflix. It is stunning. Sam Reid who plays Lestat may as well be him. He is spot on. They've moved the story on to the 1910's, and it made the story flow. It didn't shy away from the gay relationship between Lestat and Louis like the movie did, it celebrated it in fact. The story the director and production put together is lush and rich and beautiful. It made me fall in love with Lestat more than before ( if that is at all possible) And Louis wasn't as whining... 

I might just have to dig the books out. The actual physical books that is. They'll no doubt be people who don't like the changes, the purists who like to tear everything down because it isn't faithful to Anne's vision blah blah blah. She however did give her blessing to the show, which she never did the movie. She's gone now bless her, but she would have no qualms about this version of the Brat Prince. I'm always about sticking to books, but this time moving it forward in time and making Louis Creole works and actually makes more sense. 

I can't enthuse enough about this take on one of my most loved stories and I don't really care that others will pick holes in it. I am too busy being enthralled by the tale being told and Mr Reid's Lestat to mind what anyone else thinks. 

Just know that me being able to watch this has made my Christmas. Its the best possible present for me. Because I thought I'd never get to watch it. 

So thank you Kev for hunting it down for me. 

Added to which the same company who have made this are also going to be doing another of Anne's series of books that I love The Mayfair Witches. Which intertwine with the Vampire Chronicles so much. Yay... 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day. Kev tried to get everything done so that we have plenty to carry us through the festive period. 

That done and put away, we moved everything back as it was on my desk. 

Then it was hunt the charger for the air ram time, I'd put it up safe as you do and couldn't remember where. Kev eventually found it in the filing cabinet. 

I did my pages prep for the next few days. Then downloaded a new book on my kindle to read over the break from work. 

I had a lovely phone call from Trish, its always lovely to hear from her at any time of year but especially at Christmas. 



In Between Days

Tuesday. 

We went to get the party food for the Christmas "fuddle" in the afternoon/evening with Lauren and Charlotte. 

We went to Marks and Spencer so I could use my voucher. £20 isn't to be sniffed at. It was busy as we expected and as always in M&S in Bridgeford the customers are so rude, barging past you. We were looking at the party food down one section and this posh woman said excuse me I want to park my trolley there so I can look. So Kev said fine, but after we've finished looking! No bloody patience. Then an older couple were behind us as the self checkout and were moaning to the assistant in our ear shot because we were taking so long to scan and pack ( we had a lot) the bloody assistant was agreeing with them ffs! Something you shouldn't do when the customers in question can hear you. I loudly said rude, a few times, and Kev went even slower, honestly. People. 

Once back home we set the table ready and Kev cooked the food to order once we were ready to eat. We played games and had a couple of drinks. Our start to the Christmas week... 

In Between Days

Monday.

Thank God the rain has washed all the slippy stuff away, not that we ventured out, well, I didn't, Kev had to pick up parcels from the Post Office that couldn't be delivered Saturday, and he had to get my prescription from the Chemist too. Now here's one for you, I ordered it on the 16th, yet he still had to wait half an hour while they made it up. So, does that mean they don't make them up until you collect it then? Many years ago when I briefly worked in the pharmacy, they were made up when they came in, unless it was a perishable item or needed to fridged. The thing is I'd like to fetch my paper prescription and get it from another pharmacy but they don't give the option. That chemist is rubbish in Cotgrave and I would like to use the Lloyd's at work. I'm going to have to have a word with the nurse when she next rings

Do

In Between Days

The day started with a dark slippy walk to the bus stop. Thankfully we made it in one piece and even better that, although cold in the city, it was damp rather than icy. 

It was pretty busy, fairly big orders too. Most people were friendly, and the day went past quickly. 

By the time we left work it was raining and cold. Not as bitter as it has been but still cold enough to male my fingers feel like they were frost bitten. 

It cleared the frost though and made walking home easier. That was after a bit of travel drama ( what's new?) There was a crash on Colston Gate which closed the road. The bus needed to detour and the driver had no idea which way to go, so Kev went up to the front and told her which way to go, without missing too many stops. I think we only missed two in total which isn't bad. There's always some drama on our work journey's. 

In Between Days.

Friday. 

Treacherous underfoot so we caught the bus into the village to get to the pharmacy and hairdressers. I got to Blu and Amanda had a dilemma. The lady who was after me had turned up. She has dementia so had her times muddled. As she was already confused enough I let her take my slot so I sat and waited. It was as always worth the wait as Amanda did a great job as always. 

Saturday.

Icy underfoot again which gave me plenty to be anxious about walking to the bus stop. I'll be glad when this icy snap has gone.

Day was steady, it wasn't as packed as I thought it would be. You didn't stop, mind, there wasn't gaps between customers, a mix of grumpyal and pleasant which just goes to show that like everything Christmas brings out the good and bad in everyone. 

Coming home it was raining. So the majority of the ice was gone. Trouble is it will freeze for the morning. Wonderful Not... 

In Between Days

Thursday. 

Kevs Birthday. 65 years young!

Mind you, look at him and you would think early 50s. 

We went to Beefeater with Sue Pete and Charlotte. We had the festive menu and it was very nice. I had the vegan one. It was lovely. 

We had lots of laughs, and Kev and Pete started banging on about football, us ladies just ignored them. As Sue always says husbands ears never work and bless her she's right

 They get on a subject and everything else has no chance. 

But it was lovely company and a great way to spend an afternoon.

After we parted company with Sue and Pete. Charlotte took us over the car park to Sainsbury's so we could get the last of the Christmas food bar the fresh which Hev will get back end of the week. So all done now bar the shouting we got a bargains too, a light up sprig of mistletoe for Pumpkinhead to hold... Kiss you under the mistletoe? I wouldn't kiss you under anaesthetic, one of my favourite Dyan sayings... Charlotte found a lovely gravy boat. It wasn't too busy and we used our Nectar vouchers off it which meant we barely paid at all which is great. Worth saving them up. 

In Between Days.

Monday. 

Still bitterly cold, we had no intention of going out. Warm pj's on and fluffy socks it was a craft day. Kev continued with the Christmas train, ready for Sadie and crew to ride to the North Pole and plead with Sante Claws for gifts even though they really don't deserve them. 

I did my dyalog. Prepping a load of pages ready for the coming week. 

All in all a quiet day. Just what we needed after work at the weekend. 

Tuesday.

Another night of an upset tum down to this medication.The pharmacy rang, and I told them that I'd lost two nights sleep because of it. They said it will pass in a couple of days and to stick with it. I'm giving it until Thursday if it's still happening then I'll do battle with the doctors reception dragons and report it to them.

We braved the city to go to M&S to use the vouchers we had. We got a few bits and bobs. It didn't seem as 

bad, less people about than last week, but when we came to have lunch the pubs were heaving. We gave up and got the bus into Bridgeford. Called at the Trent Bridge Inn and eat there. Food was good, but the place was cold, almost like they had no heating on. I guess they'll be told not to put it on. We eat quick and put our coats back on before heading to the bus stop. The temperature had fallen again by this time and we were glad when the bus came. Even more glad to get in. Kev ran a foot spa which we both enjoyed. I'm so glad we have that. Chucking in a bathbomb makes all the difference too... 

It took us a hot drink and a change of clothes to thaw out, 

In Between Days

Sunday. 

Well the path was still as slippy as the night before if not worse. I made my way gingerly with Kev's help to the bus stop. 

It was a busy day, started off a bit slow then by lunchtime it was heaving and that continued up until closing. I dread to think what the next two weeks will be like. Oh well, retail at its best. 

By the time we got back into Cotgrave the path was finally clear so there must have been a bit of a thaw during the day. I was very grateful for that. 

Charlotte came round later for a coffee and a chin wag. She's in countdown now, ready for her Christmas break. We have only three more shifts as this year I'm not doing extra. I have always done a bit, but not this time. One, because of my reduced mobility and two, because of the bus situation. I can't guarantee to get home after a shift at the moment. And I am not prepared to wait in town in the cold for hours or pay for a taxi home. Not at the price they charge, if they'll take you at all. So I have next weekend and Christmas eve to do and that'll be it. I can see us having to have a taxi next Sunday as I doubt very much we will make the 5.20pm bus due to getting out late from work, as you know that there will always be those that leave it until Mary's waters break to realise its Christmas and they haven't got enough food in to feed the wise men let alone the donkey. 

In Between Days.

Friday.

Kev had gone into work extra silly boy. I spent the morning sorting stuff out. Washing make up brushes. Emptied the toiletries bag that we take away with us. Chucking stale make up kits and filling empty bottles and jars that have been used this time. Before I knew it Kev was back home. Its amazing how quickly time passes when you are busy.

Now a little observation, we all have two sorts of friends. The sort that are happy for us, when we post pictures of us looking nice they comment or like them, if we are doing something enjoyable or to us exciting they love it, happy to read about it etc. Then there are the others. Who ignore posts about things they aren't involved in. Or showing you happy, they only like pictures of you when you look dodgy or even worse they only share pictures of you at your worst. They only want to talk about what they've doing even at the risk of repeating themselves. What you've been up to is of no concern of theirs. Strange isn't it that despite that we still consider them friends. Beware the enemy that hugs you my friends. Because they are the ones with the knives pointing at your back when it's turned. 

Saturday.

Frosty and very cold. Slippy underfoot. Its stressful for me as I'm scared of falling my balance isn't what it should be at the best of times and now it's even worse. I'm terrified of falling, understandable when you've just been through a traumatic fall recently. But some people don't get it, and get impatient with me, and can't seem to grasp why I'm so scared. They have no idea how much I want to just get on with it myself to not be cautious but there's this fear in my head that like every fear has no foundation in fact, but can control you unconsciously. Let's hope those impatient with me never have to deal with it themselves, eh? 



In Between Days

Thursday.

We got up showered and changed at the hotel then packed and checked out we had until 11am anyway but we wanted breakfast so we left about 10.15 am. I wasn't paying hotel prices for breakfast when there's a Spoons next door. The Figure of 8 is a good one too. It pulls in most of the hotel passing trade. A savvy guest knows to head there for free refill coffee and hot breakfast. 

We got the tram ( wasn't there last time we stayed, they were just laying the tracks) to Grand Central Station, New Street to you and me. 

From there we walked through the German Christmas Market and popped into the mahoosive Lush ( on two floors, including a spa!) I got a wax melt snow fairy and a couple of bathbombs. We use them in the foot spa now we have no bath. Lively treat when we have walked. 

Then we set off to the bus station ( no fancy names there) We noticed that they were laying tracks there so eventually the tram will go there too. That'll be a big help if we go again. 

We had a bit of a wait for the coach but we had coffee and watched the world go by. We got home about 4.30, and from the sounds of it just in time ss there was an accident near the Broadmarsh bus station not long after we left. The pointless bus stop is no longer pointless as we realised how handy it is if you are using national express, which we do a lot. 

It was lovely to have a small break but also lovely to come home too. I miss Willow and although she is well looked after by Charlotte I know she misses us. 

In Between Days...

Wednesday.

A letter to Robert Smith...

I first heard you sing around the age of 16. Your voice made the hair on the nape of my neck stand up... I bought everything you released and played them until they wore out, which in those days on vinyl they did... Your brand of happy/sad music and melancholic words resonated with everything I was feeling at the time and then some.

I saw you first at the age of 18 in London, with some idiot I was seeing at the time. You blew me away, there were three bands who I worshipped at the time, Teardrop Explodes, Japan and your band The Cure. The other two disappeared, you hung in there, at the beginning it was part your vocals, and part the way you looked, as time went on, it was all about the sound. 

I saw you again in 2004 (I was 41) at the war child gig in Barfly in Camden. Only 200 hundred people went to that gig as you had to bid for tickets. I went with Kev, and we were right at the front, I was full goth and you asked me when I saw you last, when I said when I was 18, you asked them to send me a drink over. 

And tonight nearly 19 years after that we've just seen you again, and it was still just as perfect as that first gig... yes, We are both older, fatter, and in my case less agile, but I loved every minute. Thank you for being the soundtrack to my adult life... And to quote one of your own songs I will always love you... That weird old lady with bats on her dress and on her walking stick...





Pillow Thoughts

Tuesday. 

We braved the city, it wasn't to bad, but then we stuck to a plan of where we needed to go. Of course it was busy but not as hectic as the weekend. 

We got everything we needed, had a spot of lunch and came home. Kev got back and did the washing, not our day, but he did wait until everyone was done. As we are away Wednesday someone can make use of the fact we are not here and take the slot. While Kev did that he got the small case out and I packed. Once that was done and I changed handbags learning from previous experience I now carry stuff with me that wouldn't have occurred to me previously. Like making sure I have basic toiletries in my actual bag. Lense stuff and glasses and of course a long lead charger for my phone. All these things I didn't have with me when I went to hospital. I'm not planning on going again, but it's a case of just in case if you follow my drift. This will be the first time in a hotel since my accident. Better safe than sorry. 

Pillow Thoughts

Sunday. 

Another busy day. A cold start and I was dreading that it would be frosty and icy underfoot. I'm terrified of falling.

It does make it easier for us to get the buses now I finish early. We have time to get the tram down to the square, which helps me no end. 

We got home and Charlotte nipped round for a coffee while the football was on, once England had won, we played a couple of games and by then both Kev and I were nodding off. We had an early night.

Monday.

We had a lie in for us until 8.30am, and then we set to and put the festive bedding on, and Kev put the vintage lights on the bed head... 

I did my pages catching up from the weekend, and then I cut some figures for the Christmas display. 

Later on we watched more of Wednesday. Limiting them so we don't binge watch them. It is probably the best thing this year on Netflix besides Sandman. 

Pillow Thoughts

Friday.

Ian bought the heavy shopping for us, which as always is kind of him. Kev set to on the parcel packing and took them to the post along with my cards. I'm sending them early because of the postal strikes. Kev also did the food shopping for the weekend, I stayed here because I was expecting a parcel and after the last one went missing I wanted to be here just in case. Lucky as it came, I was talking to our regular postie who said they'd found the culprit for all the mistakes made at the weekend and he has been removed from this route. 

Kev bought the game of life 2 on the Xbox so we have another game to play all together. It's very funny and there are plenty of giggles along the way. 

Saturday.

Busy from the off, it feels like the week before Christmas not the first week in December. 

I didn't stop which is good, as the day whizzed by. A lot of people are really grumpy, no good will to all men at the moment. I just smiled through, no point doing any other. The lovely people who chat are worth their weight in gold.

It was busy right through. I got off just in time and made the 58 just in time. We'd missed the tram so we walked slowly down the hill and then waited for the bus. Early night for us both so we can do it all again Sunday. Joy...



Pillow Thoughts







Thursday



Early start as I had a fasting blood test at the doctors. Pretty impressed as my appointment was for 9.10 and they did it as soon as I got there at 10 to 9. Apparently they had a note on my file to do it ASAP because my blood sugar would be all over the place. 

I came out and had a oat breakfast bar. 

We got back and got ready for Charlotte picking us up to go to Cherry Lane Garden Centre at Bradmore. 

We had a lovely day there. Bought a few things including batteries for everything that needs them. 

We had lunch in Wellingtons the restaurant there. I had the smaller portion fish and chips, which I wish all eateries offered. Full size meals daunt me and I rarely finish them. Even at home, Kev knows not to give a large plateful. 

It surely must be better for them too, not to throw away food, so I don't know why it's not standard everywhere. 

When we got home Kev got some more of the decorating done and made a start on a project. Which will be posted when it's done. Below are the pictures of other the decorations in the hall that he did today... 

Pillow Thoughts

Wednesday. 

Wash day. As usual Kev got in there OK but by the time he'd put the second lot in he was being hassled to get done because Mr Busy wanted the laundry. We never hassle anyone else, but it seems like the other residents are self absorbed and only they matter. This is why Kev does the washing and I don't because I'd lose my temper. I can't keep my mouth shut... 

Anyway Kev got the decorations down from the attic and we started juggling our stuff around to put Christmas decorations up. Kev got stuck in and I wrote my cards. After that I helped put the lights on the tree

after taking the Halloween baubles off first. It takes awhile. 

Pillow Thoughts

Tuesday.

We went out with Sue and Pete for lunch at The Goose at Gamston. We avoid the city at this time of year because its chaos. 

While we don't mind a walk round on our own, going for lunch is a nightmare. So we try to find different places to go. The Goose is a little more pricey for a regular meet up, but, the food is good, and the actual pub is lovely. So in the end you get what you pay for.

It was lovely to see them both as it always is, and we laughed until our sides ached. 

They dropped us off back home afterwards, we had to negotiate the workmen etc as they seem to be doing something to the path and the area surrounding the car park. Looks like they are lowering the curbs for better wheelchair/ mobility scooter access. Which as we know from our own recent experience is needed. Most of us that live at Thurlbeck have some sort of mobility issue, Kev being the exception, so it will help everyone. There's been a couple of falls even by one of the posties, so perhaps that's prompted them to come and sort it out. I finally got to play with the 21st Birthday stamp set and stencils later on in the afternoon,while Kev watched the football. They should be very useful 



Pillow Thoughts.

Monday.

Rest day. Even then I woke early. I got up and sat quiet for a bit, then I did my exercises and set too at my desk. 

So happy our Cure tickets have come... Looking forward to that gig is what got me through all that time healing with my leg... I've loved Robert Smith since I was a teen, and this will only be my third time seeing them.

Kev has booked the coach, I booked the hotel back in January so all is good. Its the first time we have been away since the accident. We've had days out, but not stopping somewhere in a another city. I'm a bit nervous naturally but the Lord God Robert Smith...

I will shower at home where I have confidence and all my aids to make me feel safe. It will save time in any case giving me time to goth up fully for a change.

Pillow Thoughts

Sunday.

Well what a day, smart shop went down so all the customers who use that had to come through the tills. Not a good start. 

I don't know what was up with people either. You'd say hello etc as you do, half of which either totally ignored you or said hello back begrudgingly. Christmas spirt too early? I never understand,if you don't like shopping do it online. It costs nothing to be pleasant and don't get me started on the ones on their bloody phones all the while they shop. Drives me nuts. Its beyond rude. You don't know whether to just point to the screen when the total comes up or what. I get as I just wait, one young woman who was on her phone throughout the transaction, said "how much?" When I just stopped and waited, and I just smiled and said, your conversation was obviously important, so I didn't want to interrupt. She sheepishly paid and said, softly "Sorry that was rude of me" to which I replied "Yes very". The guy behind nearly spat the sandwich out he was eating before he'd paid for it. After he composed himself and paid for said sandwich he said "Good for you"... 

I'm so glad I only work two days now. My patience is not what it was...

Pillow Thoughts

Saturday.

Busy day at work. Slightly more pain in my leg, not sure if that's the new tablets, the cold or a bit of both. Its quite easy to blame everything on these pills so I'm also trying to look objectively at other causes. 

In other news the weight I gained during my sojourn in bed and not moving much is gradually coming off. So the nurse who got my back up by saying that they weren't expecting me to go as low as I did in 2019 can go boil her head, I'm not that much heavier than I was then. They obviously don't know me when motivated, sanctimonious bitch. I wouldn't mind if she was stick thin herself. Practice what you preach love.  

Other than that, not much else to report. 



Pillow Thoughts

Friday. 

We went into town because we needed food for the weekend. We usually shop Thursday but as Kev was at work it made sense to do it today rather than when we finish work tomorrow. 

The city was busy, you can tell that everyone is trying to get the presents done, and of course is Black Friday so people are trying to grab bargains. I've got one or two online at afth and Amazon, nothing amazing just craft supplies that I'll need when my other stuff has run out, so it will save me in the long run.

Pillow Thoughts

Thursday.

Kev went to work on overtime and I got up not long after 8 I exercised, had breakfast and got changed. Did a bit of prep for my Christmas dyalog along with my pages for this week. 

Charlotte came round and we had coffee and a natter, she bought her own lunch so we sat and eat together. Kev got back home around 2.45pm. The trouble is you can do a 5 hour shift but with three hours to get there and back added on it makes it an 8 hour day. 

My earrings came, just little solid silver sunflower studs that I can leave in. I had worn some little wooden bats but the posts weren't silver and my ears went funny. After a few weeks of not wearing any while I cleaned the lobes with TCP daily and let them sort themselves out I put these straight in. They should be OK now. 

Pillow Thoughts

Tuesday. 

We had a lovely day. The weather was a bit iffy, so we dressed up like Nanook of the North, and headed to the city. We didn't need anything, but we did need to get out the house. 

We went to Victoria Centre and had a look round John Lewis at the baubles, very beautiful, but very expensive. But it certainly puts you in the Christmas mood. 

We looked in The Works, and Tiger, and even that Japanese shop across from it. We came out of the centre and went to TKMaxx, where we found another couple of astronauts to add to our window display, something we started last year with the cat astronaut ornaments. We have a spaceship with cat in it bauble, a couple of planets and a earth bauble... the lights are moon and star shapes that stay up all year round. 

After we got those we had lunch, and then made our way to the Winter Wonderland for a look round. It was nice to wander through, though the inside was dominated by the bar, and there are more stalls on the outside than in. But we very often don't bother looking at all. Today seemed like a good day to nose round. 

We got home and we had a footspa with a cinnamon swirl bubble bar ( well part of one) smelled lovely. My feet feel great. 

Kev booked the bus tickets for the Cure gig next month and the hotel has been booked since I got the tickets, I'm so looking forward to that. 





Pillow Thoughts

Monday.

Productive day. We finished a few projects like the snowman canvas, the wooden tree and the atc coins. As it was a miserable wet day it was nice to be cosy and warm doing our separate crafts. 

I love days like these. Simple pleasures. What we are about these days a more relaxed way of life. We had our days of hectic non stop work, both in the supermarkets and our pub days too... Even holidays at Whitby were full on. Now we are content with slower paced adventures. A couple of days out here and there, but lovely to come home and do what we please. I couldn't do that when we were at the pub, You were always 'on' you couldn't even have a row with each other without the whole pub being involved. As much fun as it was, we couldn't do it now, our energy levels aren't half what they were. I sometimes even then wondered how we did it. 

Pillow Thoughts

Sunday. 

Nice to stay home, sounds daft after six months off, but they weren't really relaxing. Even now my day is based around moving my legs and exercises to keep them moving. 

Once that was done I started working at my desk. I started prepping my next dyalog. 

I have no more cards t9 make and no more tags. So I can concentrate on doing my own stuff now like my Dyalog. 

Pillow Thoughts

Saturday.

Kev went to work and Willow and I snuggled back down and slept until 9.30 am. It was like when I was home recovering, she did pad gently at my leg to see if it was covered in plaster bless her, then lay with her head on my knee and snored gently. I got up and showered, cleaned the bathroom, and set to at my desk. I finished my cards finally, and did the pages in my dyalog... I should be done now hopefully, baring any random requests. 

I can now make other stuff like Kevs Birthday card, a welcome baby card and start those disks for the atc holder. 

Kev got home eventually at six thirty pm after two buses went awol... its a bugger that he finished at four and walked in here two and a half hours later. Trent Barton are a bloody joke. I think NCT should take over the Cotgrave route as while they are No Charm Transport, who cares how ignorant the drivers are if the buses run. I wouldn't mind but they charge the highest fares for here and Calverton which is just as bad off for service as we are... I hope he gets on better today, Sunday service is bad enough without any going missing... 

Pillow Thoughts

Friday. 

After getting soaked we decided to stay in. We set to and did more wrapping of gifts. We still have a few more to wait for coming, but I'm thinking we are done. 

Projects on the go, all tags are now done and I will make cards tomorrow being as I'm home alone with Willow. Both of us seem to have a bit of a chill, so soup it is. If you saw my reel you will have noticed we have replaced the bats with angels on the mobile hanger... Very pretty and a good price, at the moment. The rest of the decorations will remain as the are until the first week in December... 

Pillow Thoughts

Thursday.

Wet, wet, wet... We couldn't put going into town off any longer, I needed pain meds, and we needed food. So we wrapped up in asmuch waterproof stuff as we could and I donned a hat in order to stay as dry as we could. It was all to no avail by the time we got home we both had to change. Bearing in we did most of it in Vic Centre to be out of it. 

Travelling on the buses was like riding on the log flume or the rapids at Alton Towers... The lying water on the road jetted up the sides of the bus sides as we drove through the puddles.

Thankfully that means we won't have to go far tomorrow so if the weather is poor it won't matter. Charlotte got me some sushi from Lidl for the weekend. Ian got the heavy stuff or stuff we struggle to find at a reasonable price. So we are all set. 

Pillow Thoughts

Wednesday.

Dark dull day, we were planning to go out after Kev finished the washing, but we decided against it. 

I set too and made the last of the tags I've made 50 in total that's two sets of 20 for orders and then mine. I cheat a bit with mine as Kevs tags I keep and reuse until they fall apart and Kev does the same with the ones I made him. Everyone else gets new each time so will probably need more but we shall see... I still have cards to make... I'll get them done over the weekend.

Pillow Thoughts...

Tuesday.

It absolutely poured with rain, so much so that we decided not to meet Sue and Pete in town for lunch. However, instead of having to miss out on our catch up they picked us up and we went to the Goose at Gamston. 

We've been there with Andrew and Adam a couple of times and the food has always been good. Today was no exception. Throughly enjoyed it and it wasn't heaving like town pubs would be, so we could have a relaxed meal and decent chat. 

Sue and Pete bought us home and we had a few deliveries come. Presents in the main. One of which I didn't choose the right item but its just too much hassle to return. I felt a bit deflated as I went for what I thought was the best option. Oh well, you live and learn. Maybe next time I just buy a voucher so they can choose their own. 

Watched the Bake off final, the winner wasn't a surprise if I'm honest. Very predicable which is a shame. I think like a few others in this genre of programmes it might be time to stop now.