When cats prowl and pumpkins gleam...

Sunday. 

We rested after the tidying up was done and watched ghostly shows like the Cabinet of Curiosities by Guillermo del Toro on Netflix. 

Then we got ready for the next night of celebrating. I wore my glow in the dark skeleton suit and day of the dead headdress, Kev wore another of his new work shirts. 

Sue and Pete came and we had cocktails. Then a bit later Andrew and Adam came and we had some more... We had lots a good chat, made plans for the wedding next year and obviously with Sue and Pete our upcoming trip to Skegness for the big weekender Bootleg Ball at Butlins, in February. 

It was a good night and the house looked just as spooky as the night before... 

When cats prowl and pumpkins gleam...

Saturday.

So nice not to have to get up and go out to work for both of us.  Kev went to M&S to get the bits and bobs he couldn't carry yesterday. 

So we had a chill day, watching ghost stuff on Discovery plus before getting ready for our first evening of celebrating Halloween. This time with Charlotte. We had great fun, we listened to some tunes ( Kev still has his playlists on the X box) played Dracula the Cluedo version. We drank Pumpkin Spice Martinis and Procecco ... 

I wore my Bat dress and veil, in a bit of a tribute to Monty who we lost a little while ago. We spent many WGW with him fandangoing on the dance floor when Kev DJ'ed at the Buck Inn and The Resolution... 

Kev wore his new skeleton shirt... Very dapper... 

Day two tomorrow... I love Halloween...

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Friday.

We got up and went to West Bridgeford to go to M&S to get the party food for the weekend. 

It was busy in there, and once again we both got fed up with the amount of rude people who just simply push you out of the way or block you from getting round that store. We went to the till and I lost my temper with an old guy who was trying to push me out the way to put his stuff on the belt. I couldn't move out of his way because of the person in front, so eventually after he almost stepped on me I turned round and said, I know you are oblivious mate, but have you never heard of personal space? He looked at me gone out but thankfully backed off. Rude!

We got out of there as quick as possible and came home. 

After Kev found homes for all the food, we started the outside decorations. There's only the lights to connect up and Grim to put out left which we will do tomorrow... 

The Pumpkinhead Kev found online came so he is up now, and he looks great... unlike Jack and Sally he will only be up for Halloween. As he occupies a corner to himself. A lot of our decor stays out all year as you know, but we do rotate and put extra out and retire some pieces that are past their best. After all its Halloween for some of us every day. I used to try and explain why I love all this stuff at one time, now I don't bother. Some people love Christmas, doesn't make them weird, if it makes them happy so be it. When you love Halloween and all the decor that goes with it, that does make you weird apparently. I could no longer give a damn what people think of it or me to be honest. I'm happy, and if other people find my taste strange they don't have to visit... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Thursday. 

We Kev was having his Covid booster in Sherwood, where I had mine a couple of weeks ago. 

So we went up there all the buses were fine, so we went to Lidl first to get a few bits. 

He wasn't at the Pharmacy long and once he was done we went back into town and grabbed some lunch. After which we walked back to Bridlesmith Gate to see the fingers on the Bravissimo building. Along the way we spotted some art works on the buildings down there we hadn't noticed before,  stunning, and they reminded us of the lanes in Brighton.

Then we went past The Magic Garden, we've been there a few times and once at Halloween their decorations are always very good. So we took a photo of the doorway which they've made a great display of as usual. 

We walked to the new bus station and got the Cotgrave bus from there. Its empty at the moment but, if they fill the units with the right businesses it could become a little hub and a good place to go to if you in the vicinity to get the bus home. I think a good idea would be a convenience store would do well there, and maybe a coffee shop would be a good idea. 

As it is now its a bit pointless, but hopefully in time when they eventually finish that area it could be quite a nice area. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Wednesday.

A bad start, if you've read my post from yesterday you'll know I didn't get my blood test. Its now booked for the 7th November at 10 am. 

So while we were in the precinct we had a look in Heron and at le ast it wasn't raining and it did getmy steps in for the day. 

We got back and finished clearing the craft area so we can use the table at the weekend.

Later on Kev watched the football and I sat cutting the new collage sheets by Dyan out. It's quite relaxing

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Monday. 

And relax...the rain came down in stair rods,so we couldn't do the outside decorations, no point. I deep cleaned the bathroom and shower area, and started to tidy my desk area ready for the weekend they'll be no crafting this week save my dyalog pages. So, machines away and boxes tided underneath ready to set the table.

Tuesday.

We had to go into town to pick up something from Argos, it's large so it was more or less a two shop trip, Holland and Barrett being the other stop, for my herbal supplements. We did grab lunch at the new Popeyes chicken place where the old Burger King was on the corner, which was lovely South better than KFC (although I do still love my popcorn chicken) 

The buses were hopeless, according to online all running, but while we were waiting two no shows. They aren't even trying to run a service. So many people at The bus stop all saying similar. You need to start out really early for appointments just in case they don't show up. Thank God I no longer have to go to the hospital anymore. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Sunday. 

Well it poured, the heavens opened and down came the rain, it was that bad I could have not bothered showering and took my shampoo with me instead. 

I thought it wouldn't be busy, but I was wrong. Right up to the end it was busy. 

We got the buses OK and got hine and had soup. 

We had a relaxed evening, nice to think we are both off for the week, I think Kev is certainly glad of a break. I know I've only been back a month but I am ready too... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Saturday 

We got in to town and got the tram from the market place ( easier for me) and noticed they have changed the tentacles for a monster, at least they haven't taken it down altogether.

Busy day. And it goes to show that me starting at 8 am helps them just as much as it does me, as soon as my till was open it never stopped. Even when I eventually got off at four the queues hadn't gone down. 

Got home and was completely shattered. Went to bed by nine both of spark out. Only woke because I got gut ache, we only had soup for tea, so it could have been a bit of gas, it passed eventually after a indigestion tablet and I went straight back off again... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Friday.

We went into the village to do the food shop for the

 weekend. 

We got the bus back despite one going early and one going missing.

Which meant it took as long as it would to go into town and back. The hard part for me is standing, as that hurts for longer than five/ten minutes. So I was relived to sit down. 

I'd ordered a few things from Amazon, glue, metal tip for said glue and an actual book as it wasn't available on kindle. I started that in the evening after Ghosts and Friday Night Live had been on, I wish they'd bring that back permanently as I laughed so much as they had Jo Brand, Ben Elton and Julian Clary on. TV needs more of that kind of humour, but I suppose the woke generation would be too offended.

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Thursday.

Well we were going out to get the food shop for the weekend in, but we were rudely awakened by thunder and a sky that looked like was as dark as it is around midnight. The rain swooshed down making the guttering sound like a washing machine. I could hear it as I did my exercises. That put paid to any thoughts of going out. 

So we stayed put, I did lots of pages in my dyalog ( prep) instead. 

We also finished watching The Midnight Club, I was quite impressed by it, it's sort of like a gloomy version of that 80's classic movie The Breakfast Club. I loved that movie with the Brat pack in it.

Well Liz Truss has gone down in history as Prime Minister for the shortest time in history, what a shock, not! I've never voted Conservative and I never will, but who could you possibly vote for when all the candidates are from the monster raving looney party. There's no choice. They all look after themselves once in power, and who wants slimy Starmer or get Richie quickie Sunack ? I will vote as always do, but I think perhaps I'll vote for Aliens to take over... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Wednesday.

Wash day. So an earlier start to the day, if you leave it until after 8, someone will jump in and take your slot, as it was the tumble dryer was on when Kev put our first load in. 

I did my pages and then didn't feel like doing anymore crafting so I went and did my jigsaw instead. Just a quiet day at home. Kev watched the football later I stayed in the bedroom doing my jigsaw. It's coming on nicely. 

After that was over we started to watch Halloween wars, cake making contest as 6 groups have to make a Halloween display and treats in 5 hours. Some of them are breathtaking and some of them fall apart. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Tuesday. 

A beautiful day, we went into the City to meet Sue and Pete, always look forward to our meet ups. Great conversation, great company and lots of laughs. Bless them they've a rough few weeks, Sue suffered a nasty dog bite on her hand, can't blame the dog, but irresponsible owners. Then a problem with the car, and needing a new washer, and shower. They can't seem to catch a break at the moment. 

Coming back after in glorious sunshine the bus ride back was gorgeous as in the colours of the leaves, reds, russet, golds and even the vibrant greens, the berries on certain bushes. That's why I'm an autumn lover, not just Halloween, I've always loved this time of year. Our not so little village is surrounded by woodland, and in this cooler but bright light is quite stunning, I can't say enough how wonderful living here is, and how grateful we are for this little slice of paradise. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Monday. Rest day, so needed after work over the weekend. However, I did wake up early. I've got my blood test in a couple of weeks ( they like to spoil my Halloween) which due to the pandemic I haven't had taken for a while. So I'm being as pro active as I can to make sure I fall into the right range. Obviously my main weapon against diabetes is exercise as well as sensible eating. This took a fall as much as I did, and is only now being slowly reintroduced in to a daily routine. I bike now 30 mins split into 3 10 minute slots, I do my physio exercises twice daily and a few yoga stretches added to those that I can manage. Walking at the moment is hard going but I do try to push it a little further when we go out, it has good days and bad so I listen to my body and stop when I need to, we don't bounce like we used to as we age and I'm no exception. So it's bound to have made a difference, but they'll have to take all that into account and I shall make sure I say, because I'm sure they don't know about the accident even though all my paperwork is there in front of them, just that they can't be arsed to read it... Other that a nice quiet day and hopefully that will set us both up for the week ahead.

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Sunday.

A busy day at work. We didn't have a lot of people in down to sickness and holidays. So the tills that were open had queues all day I finished at four as I do now and I didn't get off until 7 minutes past. I needed pain relief by then in order to get home. 

I wasn't as tired as I was Saturday, but I was grateful for an earlier bedtime. Having said that I'm up early this morning because my body clock thinks it's work time! The beauty of it is that if I need to I can have a doze later on. 

Charlotte, Ian and Lauren went pumpkin picking yesterday and as well as picking us one up they also bought us a little Frankienstien head knocker... Very cute. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Friday.

Rest day before work tomorrow. Its been a busy week really out Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, so I needed this chill day. 

I did some pages in my dyalog and tried out some embossing folders I hadn't yet played with. In the afternoon I went and did some of my jigsaw...ĺ All relaxing stuff.

Later we watched a couple of Midnight Club. One episode affected me not because of anything spooky, but one  of the girls broke her ankle, they got the sound just right and it made me feel sick. 

Saturday. 

We went into work, but on the way there we spotted two of the Halloween surprises that the council have installed for half term. Inflatable ones, tentacles on the council house and a peeping monster on the Theatre Royal. They look great and is a bit of fun. We shall certainly try and find some more. Be warned, they do take them down if ot rains, we know from our Grim that they can deflate and become water logged if it rains, so best to switch them off if it rains hard. 

Busy day at work, with seemingly endless queues. My theory is that people don't want to go through self serve or scan and go. So queues format the few tills they have open. Which isn't many. 

Got home and showered, and was shattered. Leg hurt but I did my exercises and that helped. 

 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Thursday. 

Hair day. I was only due a trim but as I sat there Amanda said my roots needed doing so I ended up being there a lot longer than I planned. However, it was well worth it, it as it looks fabulous. She shaved a spiders web into the undercut at the back to get me through spooky season and beyond. Purple next time ready for The Cure gig in December... I love the fact that I can trust Amanda to come up with something suitable for me... 

We buses down there and walked back, getting my steps in without pushing it. It's a good fifteen minutes walk into the village so it clocks up some steps... 

We got home and Ian bought our shopping which included a pumpkin casserole dish that we had been trying everywhere to get. It's lovely, and come just at the right time as Kev is planning to do a stew this weekend for when we come home from work.

We washed the Fang gang as they were looking a little dusty compared to the new addition so they are dotted around radiators in the bungalow drying. It's not every day you see a bunch of vampires lying face down on your living room radiators... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Wednesday. 

Wash day. Kev got done early because we were going out with Charlotte. We went to Castle Marina and visited Lidl, Sainsbury's and we had lunch at The Beefeater... Which was lovely, great food, good service. It was so good we will be going back. It was a lovely day out, had a really good laugh especially when we did the McDonalds drive through to pick up this little guy... We both got one...

I got back and found my Emma Bridgewater parcel precariously balanced on the edge of the storage rack outside. Nice one DPD. Admitted there was only one mug in it and two tins but all could have got damaged had it fallen. 

I love what I've got though. The Mummy biscuit barrel doesnt keep biscuits well, so he will now hold sweeties instead, so the biscuit tin will replace him  and the storage tin will hold my bathbombs in the bathroom that we use in the foot spa. The mug, is for me, I couldn't resist as the pattern is lovely, and I love that half pint style mug, we do use a lot, and sadly some don't make it to the next Halloween. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Monday. 

Rest day. Pj's day too. Did my exercises but nothing else strenuous, journal pages, dyalog. 

Kev completed the haunted reception desk display. I think it looks amazing. He stuck the bubbles in the cauldron too that will live on the coffee table for the season... 

Tuesday.

We decided to have a change of scene and went to Arnold for the day. We got the buses and went for a mooch round. The Wilkos was better and there was some Halloween stuff... Nothing we needed, but it was nice to see. We bumped into Gill and her Mum after looking at the old market area. It was weird to think that we used to live just around the corner from there. 

We went to Ernhale for lunch, it was very busy. After that we got the bus back into town. We went straight for the bus as I'd had enough. I can tell now as soon as I'm done. Its improving week on week, but we don't go from one end of town to the other anymore. And I still need the odd sit. I got home and rested. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Sunday. 

The alarm went off at 6.45 am just as I got into a deep phase of sleep, always the way. 

Another full-on shift. Again I needed pain killers to get me home, I still don't think I'm doing bad really for saying. 

We got home and finished watching Dahmer, brilliantly acted, and a very sad insight into a sick mind that was allowed to prey on a section of society because of prejudice against both race and the gay community. 

Charlotte popped round for a coffee, and we just chilled out watching TV until another fairly early night. We did get up around half two as we were both awake so we got up had a cuppa and reset before going back to bed again. When we have a break in sleep like that we find it the best way. Rather than laying tossing and turning, get up have a drink read etc then back of to bed as soon as we start to feel sleepy again. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Saturday.

Hard day at work. Big queues at the tills, and big orders to go with it, I've noticed a big hike in the price of the bills, they've jumped up massively. An average shop now is in the region of £100-£150.

Legs holding up, but it aches and by the time it gets to four pm I need pain meds to get me home. My new boots helped, though they are a little stiff, I hope they give over the week as I shall wear them to loosen them up a bit during the week. Shows how much my feet swell these days I've been a size 6 for all my adult life, now I need a 7. 

We got home around half five and had tea. I wasn't late out of bed as I was knackered. I'm still getting back in to the swing of things. It's going to take a few weeks I think. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Friday.

Up and out to do the shopping. We went to Castle Marina as we both had vouchers and I wanted to look for the boots we hadn't got in Arnold. They are for work. Similar to Doc Martens, last week both my ankles were swollen because I wore my work trainers and there is no ankle support. With the boots it just gives me that little extra bit of help.

So we got what we needed including a mini torch, for the dark mornings and in case we do have power cuts. I can keep it in my work bag so it is always handy. 

We did find a cauldron than makes a bubbling sound for the table centrepiece. Baubles added to it will look amazing. 

Got back and had a foot spa... I did my pages and we watched Ghosts, love the new series. Early night ready for the 5.30 am alarm...

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Thursday.

A cosy day spent indoors. Kev took my parcel to the newsagent in the village. I'd sold my leather flying jacket on Vinted. He got back just before the heavens opened. 

I spent the day making Tim's new toy soldiers into tags. It took and age because there are some very small pieces. Swear jar required. 

News that there might be power cuts have made us check that we have candles on hand. In fact along with all his other crafts he has made some candles in jars from all the spare wax we have from melts and fragrance oils we have on hand. 

I do love autumn though, 🍂 winds whipping the leaves into frenzied flurries, that gentle smell of decay that the mounds of leaves give off... Even the light from the sun seems to have a filter to it not as garish as in the summer. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Wednesday.

Kev did the washing over at the laundry. It started raining so he dried it in the dryer. 

We had post to take, Halloween cards and one parcel. I'm concerned that the postal strikes will affect the people getting them in time. 

Of course the counter assistant put all of the cards through the slot to see if they were large or small. You've guessed it they were all classed as large. So 40 cards just cost me a chunk. It was a bit of deep breath moment. I felt like I'd been mugged... 

As it was pouring with rain by now and I'm talking deluge, we decided to go in the Pig and Pudding for lunch to try and wait it out a bit. It's very nice in there and the food is great, Kev had a baguette with cheese and pickle and I had a jacket with beans and Stilton  (locally produced) 

By the time we had eaten it had slowed a little so we nipped over the way to Sainsbury's local and got some bits of shopping we needed. Then we got the bus back home. 

I started my pages in my dyalog and began cutting the new Tim Holtz Harvey dies out, batch making as he suggested. I put three together but cut all the bits out bar the trims to make 16.

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Tuesday.

We were meeting Sue and Pete for lunch so we got ready and heading for the bus. When we got into town we went into The Works, Primarni and Lush. I bought some bath bombs from there to use in the foot spa we have had off Charlotte. It was nice to buy some, I haven't had any since we got the bath taken out, they smell lovely and perfect for when we have been out and about helping to relax my aching feet. 

I got home to post and one was a lovely parcel from Karen containing some stamps I wanted, a magazine and even some treats for Willow... Which she loved, there was a little hopping skull and she soon whacked that off the table and killed it! I love watching her play like a little kitten. She didn't really have a good start in life so, seeing her play is lovely for us. 

The other post was my little soldier dies from Sizzix and Tim Holtz. 

The long dark tea-time of the soul.

Monday.

Rest day. Pj's stayed on. I did my exercises but that's all. 30 minutes on the bike and ten minutes on my leg stretches ( physio)

I caught up on my pages and that included the new October dyalog. 

After lunch Kev got the Halloween stuff out of the loft including the tree and we went through it and changed some stuff up. 

Kev made the two tier cake stand out of the old Halloween plates we had left from the old dinner service. 

All that's left to do now is the outside decor in the week before Halloween.

I'm troubled by the post being on strike affecting the cards I send. It's rubbish just lately, post going missing due to the backlogs from their strike action. It puts me off posting anything. I put a lot of work into my cards and I hate the thought of them just being lost in the system and not getting to the people I want them to. I might post a few out this week just in case. Give them extra time to get to people.

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Sunday. 

Even my tired is tired. It was a better day than yesterday my confidence is getting a bit better and I wasn't so overwhelmed when it got busy. My pain meds are hanging on until 3.30/4pm then it's a case take some before I head home. 

They were just dressing in the Halloween stuff as we left... Yay!...

The bus came and it had a new twist to our journey home, it now goes back into the new Broadmarsh bus station. But only on the return journey to Cotgrave, not on the way in to Nottingham. The big question is why really. We have to sit there for five minutes with the doors open for no one to get on/off there are no shops there and god knows how you get into from the building site that is behind it. Adds to the journey time on a service that is always late anyway and sometimes does even run. It's a joke. That whole area is a shambles, and one huge white elephant. Trent Barton, the not very good bus service at all should be their motto... 

The long dark tea-time of the soul

Saturday.

8 hour shift today with a 5.30 am wake up and 6.30 am bus into town. We got the tram up the hill to the bus stop to take us onto Arnold. 

Shop was absolutely manic. End of the month shoppers and a continous stream of people coming to the tills. 

I did OK, but I was a bit overwhelmed, I've gone from being here alone to be surrounded by people. It's a big jump. I was relatively OK pain wise but by the end of my shift I needed to take more pain killers before going for the bus.

We got into town and took the tram back down to the square. The 4.40pm bus was a no show so we got the 5.05pm. We got home around 6.45pm. I was completely wiped out and watched the Tim Christmas dies release. Then we watched another episode of Dahmer. After that we had an early night as we are at work again today ( Sunday) 

The long dark tea-time of the Soul.

Friday. 

A bit of a lie in, before getting up and getting ready to go out with Charlotte. We couldn't go out last week for her birthday so we chose this week instead. 

We went to The Roebuck, Mr B kindly treated both of us, and the we went to M&S to get food for the weekend, save having to worry about picking anything up on the way home from work. It started to rain heavy and was cold so we headed for the bus. Late as usual, but these days you are just glad one shows up at all. 

Got home and snuggled down with a warm drink and Willow. 

We watched Hocus Pocus 2 later... Loved it just as much as the first... Good old cheesy humour....