In Between Days

Thursday. All Hallows Eve.

Up and got ready to go into Bridgeford to have coffee and shop. 

We got snacks for the evening. And sweets for the trick or treaters. 

We got back and watched Fright Night ( the original 80s movie) cheesy as all hell, but brilliant in any case. 

The new battery came for the air ram and it seemed to work, so that's that problem solved, fingers crossed. 

Later on we had 8 trick or treaters over the night, not bad, as we don't usually get any... 

We snacked, watched The Radleys ( new Vampire movie, not bad actually) had the bottle of wine that Kelly bought us. Then we watched The Cure gig on the BBC I player, our Lord God Robert Smith wandering around like someone's daft nana, singing just as great as he always has. Still makes the hair on the back of my hair stand up when he sings. Our copy of the album is on its way to us... Love The Cure, always have. The soundtrack to my life. And that's it for another Halloween and another October. Sad as it is, I have already started plans for next year! Just like Jack and the residents of Halloweentown... 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day.

Chores too, except the air ram stopped working. It won't hold its charge, which I presume means the battery is dying. So I ordered a replacement from GTech which should come tomorrow... 

My parcel came from Temu with  diabetic socks ( the ones that don't cause your circulation to be impeded by restrictive cuffs) and a couple of other bits and bobs, one of which was a wall sconce I've been trying to get for a while. 

Kev painted the bottle that I bought in the sale at TKMAXX. He made a great job of it, and did a few other projects,while I did my pages and made a tag for the swap which I'll post in the morning... 

Later on Kev watched the football while I sat and watched some more episodes of Dark Shadows and had a Dracula's Blood cocktail ( leftover ingredients from the party) all in all a lovely cosy evening. 

In Between Days

Monday/Tuesday 

Monday we got out the few bits we have left for outside ( we had a cull last year) and we didn't replace it as we couldn't find what we wanted. We have now, but it's too late to do anything like ordering so it will be where we concentrate on next year. Grim will go out of course. But next time I'm planning a witchy theme. So we put out what we've got. Lights for fun have a sale on and I've ordered a couple of lanterns they won't be here for this one, just be ready for next year...

Tuesday morning we went into town with Charlotte for a mooch round. We are looking for a skeleton but that might be a project for next year... 

I did get a funerary urn style bottle from TKMAXX in the sale. It was a weird colour but Kev is currently painting black, and will dry brush it with silver when it's completely dry. I'll post pictures up when it's done.

We had lunch at S&L Kev joined the app  last time we were there and got a couple of free drinks. 

It's never a dull journey on the buses as we know and this was no exception, on the way there a lady sat on the side seats and missed the seat as it folded back up. Kev and another chap helped her back up, but it looked like she was shook up, which let's face it you would be. 

Then the buses were well late on the journey home and two turned up at the bus stop. The second bus wasn't picking up, until Kev pointed out to the driver that the first one was full. He relented, and the driver he swapped with wasn't happy. He wouldn't pick up at any other stops and drove like a maniac... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

We got up and got ready to go to the centre and out up the decor for the party. We hung webs spooky cloth and a potion bar sign. 

Charlotte came over and helped. We then made the bases of the cocktails before having a break. Then Kev started the food. We helped by doing the cheese and pineapple and the coctail sausages onto sticks. 

Then we came back to the bungalow to get ready. 

Kelly arrived first then Louise, and then Sue and Pete with Karen and Steve. It was great to see everyone and in the most part in costume. Charlotte looked fab as Mortisha, Sue as a Witch and Karen as a colorful clown, Steve as a pirate... Kelly was a plague doctor, then you had me as the Evil Queen and Kev as a day of the dead mariachi. Great fun, we played games, drank and eat lots and did the quiz. Our bungalow is too small to have people over, so hiring the community centre is a great way to have family and a few friends over ideal. I really enjoyed myself and was crying with laughter at some of the answers to the quiz. The cocktails went down well, and the food was good. We prefer M&S Halloween food, but the West Bridgeford branch is shut at the moment for a refit, so we had to go elsewhere. But it was OK. 

All in all a good night, And it was almost midnight by the time the last trip to the centre to remove and bring back the decor was done. So what with losing the hour with daylight savings time we had a lie in...

In Between Days

Friday.

We went to Food Warehouse to get the party food for tomorrow because the M&S is shut in West Bridgeford. 

We got we could the selection isn't as good as M&S. I think we have most of what we need. 

We had lunch at Burger King and had an uber home. Tomorrow will be a busy day of prep, but enjoyable non the less. Looking forward to a good laugh with family and a few friends... 

In Between Days

Wednesday/Thursday 

A couple of days where we got projects finished for the Halloween party, usual round of chores, including the washing. And watching spooky movies in the afternoons. We are getting through our watch list for the month nicely. Today we watched The Addams Family. Angelica Huston, and Rhoul Julia, in my opinion the best version of Gomez and Mortica. Couple goals. We had our Sainsbury's delivery of the booze for Saturday. Save us carrying it.

In Between Days.

Tuesday.

Busy shopping day in town. Various bits and bobs for the party. Bits for the costumes, some snacks etc. 

We met Sue and Pete for lunch at the Slug and Lettuce, our go to lunch place. The foods great as is the service and there's no loud music so we can chat easily and have a catch up and a laugh which we do in copious amounts. 

Sue and I have a wine ( red!) But it's Jam Shed Shiraz and is so lovely... 

We were discussing several topics and it made me realise how little I mean to some people really. It's all about them and what they need, it's always been the same, I'm useful to them until I either set boundaries, or expect something from them for a change. Then they disappear into the ether. But, no matter, so long as I know that and don't expect any different then I'm good, but, having said that my new motto should be "stop crossing oceans for people who won't cross a puddle for me"... And if you think I need you, I don't... I've got by with a lot less people by my side. You might think you've "got one up on me" but all you're doing is losing a person who would've been in your corner when most wouldn't. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness...

In Between Days

Friday. 

We needed to get food for the weekend at work so we went into Bridgeford with Charlotte and went to Cafe Nero for coffee first. 

Marks and Spencers was having a refit, so we couldn't get anything from there except sandwiches so, off to Iceland we trotted. Got everything for the weekend and we went back home. I started to feel crap so I had an early night. I don't know if it was the jabs I had on Tuesday, but I felt rotten.

Saturday. 

Work. I had a semi decent night and felt a little better enough to go to work. Busy day but enjoyable. The early morning downpour gave way to a sunny but chilly afternoon. 

We made the 33 for once and it made a huge difference. Got home and chilled out. Again started to feel a bit crap by bedtime, so again went to bed. 

Sunday.

Not as much as a wet start, but chilly. The wet kept the early shoppers down, but that meant when it dried up later on the world and his wife turned up. 

Thought we weren't going to get out. It was to the line and I only managed to take Kev's handset back. 

That's us done for a week now. Ready to party next weekend. 

In Between Days.

Wednesday.

Wash day. So up early after a bit of a crap night, my arms hurt where the jabs went in, and I kept forgetting and lying on my sides, so we got up early and I got a few projects done. 

Had an Amazon delivery to make some extras for the party, not all good, some of the components weren't right ( my fault, I often buy without checking sizes) but Kev to the rescue as ever and worked round it. I drive myself crazy sometimes... 

Christmas stamps came from SSS the Stamptember set, after next week I can crack on with those. 

Willow is good, back to her usual self, toys scattered on the floor, eating well and

having lots of naps! Nice after the worry of last week.

I posted all my Halloween cards, I have culled the list slightly, as in some cases I don't even get a thank you. I don't do it to get in return, but an acknowledgement is nice. 

I'm bound to have forgotten someone,  but we still have a couple of weeks. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Flu jab and covid jab day. We had to be at the doctors early, so we went and joined the long queue with what felt like the rest of Cotgrave residents we finally got done about 9.45 am. We met up with Charlotte and headed to The Manvers for Brunch, and a wander round the farmers market after. The food was lovely I had the light breakfast as did Charlotte. Kev had a full English. We had coffee, and I had hot chocolate. I also had an orange juice afterwards. 

We were impressed with the fruit and veg at the market, and although we didn't buy anything I think we would in future. 

We nipped in Sainsbury's, and then got the bus back home. 

My turntable arrived later in the day to showcase my Skeletons lantern which is now on the middle of the table. I absolutely love it, and both Willow and I sit watch it and the shadows it casts dance across the table. 

Add to that haul from Temu that came yesterday ( charcuterie board,  coffin candle stand, and spooky twig branch picks) I think we are done here... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Work.

A cold dark start. Even the bus driver left the inside lights off on the drive in. We into work alright this week. Getting home was another matter. Talk about gridlock! Missed the 33 by a mile and only made the Cotgrave by the skin of our teeth ( and that was late by 10 mins ) We have never seen it so busy. So, it was a bit later when we got home. 

Willow update, she is now back to her old self, the drops in her food worked and she can now go to the loo properly. Bless her, plus we have some drops left so if she suffers again, we'll have it in. It has a two year life kept in the right conditions so that'll be OK. 

Sunday.

Enjoyable day at work. Travel wise it was much better. Such a relief to just get home. Willow greeted us and was very cute and playful. I'm just pleased she is back to her normal self. When she isn't well I worry so much, as does Kev. She is our family. 

Earlish night as we were both knackered. Work takes it out of both. 

In Between Days

Friday.

Not a good night for sleep. Willow has a bit of a poorly tum and bum, as in not being able to go, so I was worried about her, I'd ordered something to help but, it wasn't coming until this morning, poor little baby was up and down all night, so I got up with her a few times to give her some love. 

It did come early and so far she's had two doses, and she seems a little better. We've taken her dried food off her for now, and lix e lix for the win at the moment.

I was at the hairdressers for a good chunk of the day, the full works, cut, bleached and dyed black in layers, the other colour for this month and maybe next is copper. 

When I got home I had a couple of parcels, one being my fabulous spooky scary skeletons lantern, which I absolutely love. It's part of the Silly Symphonies collection. So there's that, plus a parcel and card from a friend ( I had one yesterday too from another friend) both of them know how important Halloween is for both of us. Very kind. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

We walked down to Lady Bay. I took it steady in my new lightweight trainers. Plenty of rest stops. Including a coffee stop at Burger King when we got there (Greg's was busy with no seats available) so we had that then went to the Range. Kev wanted a folding step, but they didn't have any ( or if they did, even the staff didn't know where!) 

So we went into One Below and found one in there. 

We wanted a few bits from Food Warehouse and Hobbycraft. Once the shopping was done we went back to Burger King for lunch. I've found if I have a junior plant based whopper I can manage to eat it all. A regular burger is too much now. 

After lunch we walked back to the bus stop and got home around two thirty ish. 

Still picking up stuff for the party, and we got one metal piece towards Christmas while they still had one. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Busy and productive day. Got up and Kev did the washing. Some joker had put a wash on and just left it sitting in the washer. Kev took it out put it in a basket and started ours. He finished ours around noon, and those bloody clothes were sitting there! Reckon it's Mariola. 

While Kev did that I bottomed the bathroom. Kev had to help me as there are a couple of areas I can't reach.

The Tim Holtz alcohol ink in orange came so Kev was able to change the plain tealight holders to orange. It looks lovely. 

I also found one of my in search of items. I'd given up, but on one of the selling sites, and they weren't ripping you off, selling it for the rrp. It's a metal lantern. You can't imagine how happy I am at this moment. I've gone from thinking I'd never get one, to knowing one is on its way to me. I've even had tracking information on it... Whoop whoop... 

I got another win I tried out a white ink in my black dyalog and it worked. I've tried others, even used white paint, but this came out even better! So I sat after the chores were finished and stamped a lot of Spooky images in there as backgrounds and borders. 

Kev did the kitchen floor, and then took the air ram to bits to deep clean it. If you don't know the air ram is our cordless hoover. So a busy day for both of us. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Went into town to meet Sue and Pete for lunch at the Slug and Lettuce in the Market Square. We nipped in TKMAXX for a last look round the Halloween section, as it is now turning rapidly into Christmas. It's always a little sad, when this happens,for us, not that we don't like Christmas, just that we both love Halloween so much. Anyway, I bought a pumpkin stack on a pedestal with glittery bats on it... Balances out the nosferatu chest of drawers in the bedroom as we have another pumpkin stack on a pedestal that Kev made from Pounland pumpkins a few years back... 

Lovely to see Sue and Pete, talk about their holiday to Harrogate, Abigail's 18th, and the fact that her Mum got her a dog, strangely called Leonard ( which was our Dad's name!) And our plans for Christmas, which included a good laugh at last year's debacle with the board games, they were too complex and so this year I've bought a simple card game that I think even in a food coma we can manage. 

After we left Sue and Pete we headed for Sherwood and Lidl. They have the Deady Bears that Kev bought me last year ( naturally in was Vambear, the dead Vampire bear) so because these were actually half the price of that one we got Bundle the Mummy this time. We also got a few treats for the party, some fruit, and a lantern ( metal and glass) that casts a spooky wood effect onto the wall when it's lit. That was also a bargain, as it was from the middle isle. Happy with our purchases we caught the buses back home, narrowly missing a bad cloudburst. After filling the Mummy sweetie jar, placing the other things in their respective places we lit the lights  and candles making our little home the cosy spooky little haven that we love. As the nights get longer and darker I can't think of a better place to be. 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Work. A busy but enjoyable enough day. Buses were busy and a little unpredictable because of Goose fair. We missed the 33, but at least the Cotgrave was on time.

Got home and watched the first half of Tim's Halloween Hoopla. You learn so much during these. Charlotte came round as she'd bought me a squishmellow bat (which we've called Peggy as it has one tooth) so the bed crew grows larger! It takes us a few minutes to take them all off the bed before we go to bed, lol... 

Sunday.

Again very busy after a slow start. Saw all my regulars, Val whose husband comes with her was on her own as he had his covid and flu jabs and they had made him poorly. We have ours next week, and last time it made Kev ill. It's always a gamble. 

Again right from the 7.30 am bus they were late, and we actually got the 4.15pm one that was running 15 minutes late.  At least the Cotgrave was on time... 

Watched the second part of the Halloween Hoopla and again we learned a valuable tip to colour glass using alcohol inks, which solves an existing niggle with the wire spooky tree. When we first bought it, it had orange glass tealight holders, the moves over the years saw them break. So we bought clear ones to replace them never being able to find the coloured ones that were the right size and shape to fit. Now we have seen Tim change plain glass with his inks we know that we can do the same to those. The beauty is that once dry they'll be water safe so they can be cleaned! So I've ordered a big bottle of orange alcohol ink so we can do them. Thanks Tim

In Between Days

Friday.

Got up around 8 am as we were expecting workmen/ surveyor from Metropolitan, as well as Ian with the weekly Aldi shop. He still very kindly gets us the heavier stuff and stuff we can't find elsewhere. 

I dare not shower because one of the things they were checking is the pull cord alarm in the bathroom and the main panel alarm in the passage, so I waited until the evening to do that. 

Instead I cleaned and cleared my craft area ready for our return to work tomorrow. Being off last week was lovely and it gave us chance to catch up on some outstanding projects ready for Halloween. It occurred to us both that it might be getting near time to pack in work. We will look at in more detail after the Florida holiday and see if we can afford to manage. Having gone through what we have in the past has made us realise how little you can live on, not that we want to go back to that exactly, but we know where to cut back if needs be. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Charlotte, Kev and I went on a little adventure today, because the weather was slightly better than yesterday. We got the bus to the Cricket ground then walked round the corner to get the no.10. We got on that and went to the huge Asda there. Of course this was for party supplies, paper plates, napkins and cutlery. Thankfully they had some that were classy rather than childish, I found some bowls ( we didn't have enough last time) so I got some and a lovely candle called The Library Room. It smells of leather, old books and wood. Gorgeous.

After shopping we went to a nearby pub The Wolds for lunch. It was very nice food and quite reasonably priced. 

When we got home there was a parcel waiting. The trainers I'd ordered had arrived. Once Kev had opened the package ( it was very well wrapped) and I tried them on, I'm pleased to say they fit well and are comfortable and support my ankles. I'm always looking for footwear that makes walking easier. 

In Between Days

Tuesday. The start of Spooky Season... 

We were going to go on a bus adventure but, the weather was atrocious, so we skipped that idea and stayed in. It was windy and rainy all day, so I think we made the right call. 

It didn't get brighter, so we put on all the ambient Halloween lighting we have and got cosy.

I love the bungalow at this time of year, lit with the tree and other lights, candles smelling of bonfires and spooky woodlands. The additions this year like the trio of prints metal silhouettes, and busts of Poe and Dave make me happy to look at them. I think like tonight, sitting with a port and lemon, watching Halloween home makeovers and d.i y or reading spooky books on my kindle are my favourite nights.