In Between Days

Friday.

You may have noticed I haven't posted a blog for over a week. This is due to a phone update that severed the conection to my Blogger account. It's taken this long for me to get through and get my Blogger account linked and up and running again. It happens from time to time, annoying and frustrating for me as you can imagine. 

Anyhow, it's been a busy week one way or another. The storm on Tuesday kept us in, as it wasn't a good day to venture out. Wednesday was better, but we had a workman from Metropolitan coming to mend the loo, it's been leaking for ages, but has got worse since Christmas. Having had enough of mopping it daily and listening to it gurgle, I reported it. So he came ( at the last minute as they seem to like trapping us in all day!) But to be fair he wasn't here long and it appears to be fixed. Hallelujah! 

So Thursday we went to town to meet up with Sue and Pete eventually. I had a blood test at the doctors to attend first, so it was later on in the afternoon. We went to O'Neil's for lunch and had a lovely meal and catch up. Getting shopping beforehand for a recipe we are trying in the new crock pot for the weekend. It's a sweet and sour chicken. We will see out it turns out. 

Kev, in a rush to make the bus, dropped his hat in the pub, and even though we went back in the next day, it hadn't been handed in. There is always something...

Friday.

As I mentioned we were back in the city, this time to have lunch with Margaret and Vicky who I used to work with. Vicky retired a few months before me, and apart from her leaving do I've not seen her since. It was a lovely afternoon. We went to the cafe at M&S upstairs, first time for both Kev and I, and I must admit I was impressed. I had a jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise and salad, Kev had a vegetable wrap. It will definitely be another place we would consider for lunch if we are in the city anytime. Plus, both Vicky and Margaret have asked us to go again the next time they meet up. 

With leaving just before Christmas I didn't arrange a leaving "do" and now I doubt anyone would be interested. But it's nice to be included in something after all that time at the branch. 

Anyway, we got the bus straight back home afterwards and as it was quite late in the afternoon ( first us at any rate) we waited until Charlotte came to have supper. Kev did a mac and cheese, and old slimming world favourite of ours, that we haven't had for ages. 

We all enjoyed it and I think it will be back on our home menu in rotation. Let's hope this new recipe at the weekend is just as acceptable... 

In Between Days

Friday.

Traitors final day!

You should know by now I'm a Traitors fan. I will watch any iteration of it going. So the UK final is a big deal. 

We went into Bridgeford to get the snacks etc for tonight. We had coffee in Costa and then came home. Buses were as usual horrendous. Two travelling together. Its almost like the drivers are scared of Cotgrave so they have to go in pairs! 

When we got back I cleared and cleaned the table,in order to put out the snacks. 

Charlotte managed to come round and we sat and watched Patience first, that was the last one of season two, hopefully they'll be more. 

Then Traitors started. It was as edge of the seat nervy as you watched, holding your breath, seeing who was going to throw who under the bus. I was amazed that Rachel didn't try and get rid of Stephen,as I was convinced she would. But to be fair The Faithful didn't deserve to win, they were on the whole very poor. With the exception of Harriet and Jessie, they couldn't catch a cold. 

Throughly enjoyed it and our watch party. Nothing better than a bottle of fizz and some snacks from M&S to get us through the banishments and backstabbing! The end challenge was a bit tough though, I'd love to do the round table bit, but wouldn't be able to do the physical challenges. Great show though. I bet the BBC can't believe they've got such a winner of a programme on their hands. 

Of course it was even nicer tonight because Kev isn't at work in the morning... Yay! X

In Between Days

Thursday.

Rudely awakened by the doorbell ringing at 7am, it was thr power coming back on after a cut. We know now, the first time it happened we thought someone was playing silly boggers, ringing the bell and running off. The doorbell just resets after being off and rings to do so. It got us up so we got our day started.

Another sorting day, we got rid of the old air con unit yesterday after putting it on the Cotgrave Noticeboard, it was only on about half an hour before someone fetched it. 

So that's another thing out of our hair. We have a new bladeless fan so, we didnt need that one anymore. 

Kev painted the bathroom with that mold resist paint in the hopes that it retards the mold growth in there a little longer than cleaning alone does. They guy that came last week for the survey said that's all the repair team from Metropolitan would do of we called them out, easier and quicker to do it ourselves while we are still able. 

So while he did that I did a couple of projects at the desk. I also cleaned out my undies drawer and for rid of about half a bin bag, including tights that I no longer need since Charlotte's generous gift of those heat holder leg warmers for under my trousers. I always had tights for under them when its cold, but these are perfect. I bought myself another pair I was that impressed with how well they kept my legs warm during that cold snap. I have to be careful in both hot and cold weather, my left leg scar can split in both extremes of temperatures, so, these definitely work for the cold. 

The new bedding came and we put that on. The pole came but that can't go up until the curtains come in a couple of weeks. Operation cosy and somewhat cleared out home is in full swing. 

Traitors finishes tomorrow night, and we noticed quite a few places doing watch parties, there's none round here, so we decided to do our own with Kev being off Saturday we can stay up a bit later, and if Charlotte gets chance to come and join us She can. She's had a tough time of it lately her and Ian both. Hopefully it'll cheer her up a bit. Nothing amazing, just a few nibbles and some fizzy Nosecco as we watch what will probably be a win for the Traitors ( the Faithful this time have been as thick as pig dung!, the odd bright spark, but they were quickly banished or murdered) 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

No washing as Kev did it late Tuesday. He waits until around 3pm. He finds it easier then as no one bothers him and he can do do extra like bedding or towels without thinking he won't have time. How it will work when the weather is better and he wants to hang it outside. We'll see. 

We didnt go out, because Candleby Lane is still shut due to a burst water main it isn't worth it, as the buses are all over the place. Hopefully it'll be fixed by Friday. 

One thing I've noticed since finishing work is I sleep better and longer than I have in my last six months there. Even though I still sort of wake up when the alarm goes off for Kev, I generally snuggle back down and go back to sleep. But, during the week when we don't have alarms set, I am staying asleep until 8.30am and 9am, which is very unusual for me. If we do get up in the night, the pressure has gone from thinking Ive got to be up at 5.30am or 6.45am at weekends, so we get up reset,  and can drift off again easily. I am staying up slightly later too, 10/10.30pm was the norm before, now you're looking at least an hour later. I sit and read mostly, which does help me relax. However, I am struggling with that book Blood Orange. As I said, it is beautifully written, but I thought it would move on from the protagonists personal struggles to cover the murder case, but as it hasn't by chapter 10, I'm beginning to think it won't. 

It just isn't what I bought the book for if you get my drift. I read for escapism, enjoyment and not a reminder of my own struggles with the bottle, not that I was as bad as her depiction in this novel, but I did have a long period before we got the pub when I didn't know how much it ruled my life, at how much I relied on it as a social prop. Now I can have a drink if I want, but I can stop without getting to the point of being totally wasted. 

I think that's mostly down to being happy. I don't mix in the same social circles that made me anxious and self conscious as before, I trust the people around me somewhat, and one of the biggest changes is not working at Burton. I went from hating having to go, to loving going, at least up until the last six months. I never realised that why drinking was such a big part of my life was because I was unhappy. Now, I don't even care if I have one or not. Sure, if I fancy one I'll have one, but it's not the main reason to go out. 

But, back to the book, if it stays the same in the next couple of chapters I'll give up on it and move on to something else. Life is too short to read a book you don't enjoy. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

A bit better this morning weather wise, still cold, but sunny and dry. So we decided to go to Victoria Retail Park at Colwick for a change. We needed to get Willow some munchies and lic e lix, and the best place is B&M. Rather than have to walk down the canal we chose there as it's easy to get there by bus. 

We were just coming out of B&M when we ran into Sue and Pete briefly. 

We went into TKMAXX  but the lift wasn't working so we couldn't go upstairs, neither of us can manage that many stairs any more. So instead we went into M&S before going to Subway for lunch. I had a jacket potato as usual in there and Kev had a chicken sub. 

We then nipped into Morrisons to get basics and got the bus back. 

We got home around 3pm, and Kev took the washing over so that we don't have to get up early in the morning. 

We got tile adhesive so Kev can do the top of the Nosferatu cupboard tomorrow, then once that's done he can start the wallpaper in the bedroom now its all come. 

In Between Days

Sunday. 

It was so nice not to have to wake up this morning, we did briefly but, we both looked at the time and decided to roll over and go back to sleep. Willow was not impressed, and at 8.45 am she walked up to my face and woke me up by purring really loudly like, it's time for my breakfast, hooman! I got up and showered while Kev stayed in bed a little longer. 

I got ready as we were going for Sunday lunch down to Streza. And very nice it was too. Not bad price wise, and made a nice change for us. We don't get chance to do it very often. 

We might go again next Sunday as Kev is off all next weekend too! It makes sense to stay in the village as we don't have to worry about buses, let's face it, why have a week off together and then have to worry about buses. That's the last thing Kev wants as he has to face that every week. 

We came back changed into comfortable gear and watched a documentary on Fred and Rose West. I remember that whole thing unfolding on the news back in the 90s. Evil gits,  the pair of them. The documentary claims that there is at least 20 more victims hidden on farmland near Gloucester, that the police know about, but they aren't interested in finding them. I think personally that they should locate the remains of all the victims of any serial killer let alone this pair. It gets families the closure they deserve and it also proves the extent of the murder spree they were capable of. 

In Between Days

Friday.

I wake up quite early and Willow jumps on the bed and# quickly settles down on my legs and because I hate to disturb her, we both drift back off to sleep and wake up a lot later, this time both of us get up and Willow reluctantly moves off the bed and trots into the living room. 

I do my yoga stretches for my back and ten minutes on the treadmill, we all have breakfast, and we have a couple of deliveries, waterdrop tablets and the new memory foam seat pad for my side of the sofa that Kev had ordered. He puts it in the cover and immediately you can tell its better than the old one. 

Then another parcel comes, this time from Evri and contains my new oodie Kev's bought me from Disney. Jack Skellington. Its very cosy, and will keep me warm when I need it. 

I make a card, and then tidy up, Kev was busy making the soup for the weekend, the sugar free banana and oat cake, and the chia pudding for me over the weekend. 

Thankfully Kev is only at work Saturday, and he is on holiday next weekend too. That'll be nice for both of us. 

We finished watching The Agatha Christie on Netflix as we had lunch "The Seven Dials" 

The door went and it was a bloke from Metropolitan to do a building survey. He wasn't here long. All done for another year. 

I've had another request for another blood test from the Doctors. Following up from the ones I had when we came back from Florida. I'll ring them on Monday to book an appointment. At least they are being thorough. 

Saturday.

The alarm went off at 5.30 and Kev got up, I got comfy and Willow came and lay on my legs, both of us staying in bed until 8am. Then when I got up I did my usual routines, a walk round Hollywood Studios today... 

Then I cleaned up and washed the pots before settling down at my desk to make a couple of cards.

Those done I settled down with Willow and started that new book by one of the women on the Traitors, Harriet Tyce. Its very well written, and she paints a harrowing account of a female barrister dealing with misogyny, alcoholism and her own disintegration because of a quite obvious menopausal affair with a colleague. We haven't even got to the details of the murder yet. Hopefully it will continue in the same vein.

In Between Days

Thursday.

Woke up to a grey overcast day. We needed food so, Kev nipped down to Sainsbury's in the Village and got what we needed. While he was out I did a card for Anne as Kev was picking up flowers for her. 

My Coconut oil capsules came from Amazon, so much cheaper than Holland and Barrett. I tried having a spoon of the solid oil, but it made me wretch. So capsules it is, all part of my candida cleanse programme. It is improving, I'm having less incidents of it. 

I did ten minutes on the treadmill, before Kev rearranged the bottom of the wardrobe, pulling out the pictures ready to be dismantled, and putting the cases back now that Sue doesn't need one for her holiday. It's created a lot more room and is easier for me to get past at the bottom of the bed. So, a little more removed and waiting disposal. Slowly reducing even more. Kev also opened up one of those bed pillows and took some of the stuffing out ( turns out its just shredded memory foam and filled a couple of cushion covers we have instead. This is the hopes that his pillow isn't as high under his neck. I shall continue to use my neck pillow as the improvement in my sleeping and headaches and stiff neck has been amazing. It is my own fault, I'm a side sleeper, and it doesn't matter how I try, I always end up getting into that position during the night. But its nice to know we can still make use of the pillows as they were quite expensive, and I hate wasting money like that. 

Traitors is really good at the moment, but the Faithful really dont deserve to win this time as they are hopeless. No matter what clues and how many Faithful they sacrifice as the round table they won't believe that Rachel and Stephen are Traitors. Clueless. However it does make it very watchable. And some of the games they devised for this season have been brilliant. The one tonight ( the cabin in the woods) was creepy and very clever. I loved how hands shot out of the graves with the cash bags! The whole set up was like old school horror movies, you know, the ones that made you jump rather than being just gore fests. Fantastic. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

One of the best pieces of advice I received from a friend that I didn't take notice of until much later is stop explaining yourself. People don't want to understand you. They ask stupid questions, because they want you to squim,  feel uncomfortable, change what you think, so you fit into their little box. That's how they see the world, and they can't see you're point of view. 

I've come across this in life many times. And each time stupidly on my part I've tried to explain myself to others. Now I don't. Oh, they think I do, I give them an answer, but I don't go further than that, no point really, they've already made up their minds about you. Let them. If someone doesn't understand you, it isn't your problem it's theirs. Just carry on doing/saying/believing what you want. Don't wait until you are my age to implement this. Just answer their stupid questions with something vague and leave it at that. Or, as I have done recently, change the subject and not answered at all. 

Anyhow, back to the day, Kev did the washing yesterday when we got back from the city. So we didn't need to be up so early, we eventually got up around 9am. We had some plans to reorder the wardrobe and drawers, clearing out any clutter and excess clothing as we did so. We ended up with two black bin bags of clothing. I then got ready and we went to the recycling bins with the bags of clothes. Those dropped off we had lunch out at Streza, then we did some food shopping at Heron. We walked home as the buses were as usual all over the place. It was quicker to walk back than to wait for one. It certainly got my steps in for today. 

Kev got some more tile adhesive as he put some tiles on the shelving that hold my Living Dead Dolls and the chest of drawers in the bedroom.

A little bit more done on the home improvement front, and a little bit more excess removed. Like Kev said, we don't clear out great amounts at a time, but slowly we are getting rid of the accumulated clutter a little at a time. If we can do this on a weekly basis by the end of the year it will be very noticeable. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Finally, we got chance to have lunch with my Sister and Brother in Law at O'Neil's today. We should've met them last week, but because of the weather, we pulled out. Today it was just wet, heavy rain swept over the city as we got chance to go and buy what we needed. We went in TKMAXX and Kev found and bought me a little love struck robot. Naturally Ive named him Marvin. How could I not? He is adorable and will stay out beyond Valentine's day. At the moment he is residing near to the air purifier in the unliving room. Sadie is quite enamoured with him and wants to fiddle with his circuits ( ooer!) 

I also found some white cheddar popcorn in there and bought the two bags they had. I love white cheddar popcorn and bought some in Florida. You struggle to find it here, and if you do, it will cost you. This was fairly reasonable, so I took my chance. 

We saw Anne today who lives at no.5. Her husband Joe passed away on Friday and she wanted to let us know. He's been in a nursing home a couple of months due to Dementia. Sad, but at least he went in his sleep peacefully. I think he was 85, and had got to the stage where he didn't recognise Anne. So although awful for her, a blessing for him. Bloody awful disease. 

In Between Days

Monday.

Up and straight on to my yoga stretches for my back. I can no longer get on the floor to do them, ( I can, but I can't get back up!) So I do them on the bed, still effective, still ease my back. Job done. Then 10 minutes on the treadmill to keep me moving. 

It was then a reorganise thing sort of day, I did more to my tier tray, as I've had a couple new bits, like the bead garland and Love Potion bottle that I made myself from a heart shaped bottle with plastic hearts inside and a label I designed and Kev printed off for me. Kev juggled stuff round in the kitchen again, making room for the new plastic containers he's just bought, throwing our old ones away ( we'd had some since we lived at Grafton Road in Burton, we left there in 2007!) More trips to the bin, but we are getting there, bit by bit we are editing our "stuff". Replacing and removing things that we no longer want, need or serve us. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

The brushed cotton sheet is indeed cosy and takes away that icy edge to the duvet cover. We were able to remove the extra blankets from the bed, so winner! 

I got up when Kev did, and once he had gone I did a few yoga stretches for my back, then a walk round Epcot on the treadmill. I got cosy with Willow on the sofa and we snuggled, while I read. I finished The Last Devil to Die. My review is on Amazon and Goodreads. 

I bought book 4 of Maya's Blogs, Flat White Flag. The continuing story of an otherworldly barista, who writes a blog and has more issues than Vogue. Its funny, charming and because its written blog style is easy to dip in and out of when you feel like it. Its like a bit of fluff in between serious novels. They make me laugh and are I suppose the nearest I'll come to reading chick-lit. 

Someone reviewing them said they were A.I written, but the actual author replied and said no, she writes them, its just the blog style chapters that have confused them. She wrote them for neurodivergent people like her, who find long drawn out chapters hard to digest. I don't care either way, I've read far worse, and obviously far better, but I enjoy them and I'm sure others do too. Why do critics always feel the need to destroy other people's enjoyment? I find it the same with movies. And I never rely on reviews of movies either. If I like something, I do simple as that. I seen some movies critics have raved about and turned them off after ten minutes just to save my sanity. Bridget Jones for instance. I nearly chewed my left leg off to stave off boredom... Never let anyone belittle you choice of books or movies... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Frosty when Kev went out to the bins before he travelled to work. You could see it on the community centre roof and the grass at the back of the bungalow. I didn't get up until nine, both me and Willow were content to snuggle under the covers. 

I'd ordered a brushed cotton sheet to try and take some of the chill off the bed. It was supposed to come Friday, but was delayed due to the weather. It finally came about 4pm. Along with the smaller crock pot Kev had ordered. The one we had was massive and anything you cooked in it would go off before you got to the bottom of the bowl. So he got rid of that one and bought a smaller one. Much better for just us two. He made a veg soup for the weekend and there will be plenty for tomorrow too. It means he can leave it on low while he is at work and it will be perfect for when he comes in. He will also use it for Chilli and Curry and even Bolognasie ( without the pasta so it stays the right texture) but, that's easy enough to pop on separate, once he let's me know he is on the Cotgrave. He also ordered some lights for under the kitchen cupboards which switch on when you walk past, Quite useful, especially when you get up in the night for a drink. Even if it reminds me of the Michael Jackson video for Billy Jean ( lol) 

He had a right to do at work over his holidays. He submitted what he had left twice now and they've rejected them. So he lost his temper. I don't blame him, as there was no reason to reject them, and he has got to have them before March. Bloody stupid. Anyway, he sat down with the one doing the schedules and sorted it. The only reason she didnt want to give them is she hasn't got anyone to cover. Well, sorry love that's not his problem and that is also what you get for cutting the staff back to the bloody bone. The place gets worse from what I have been told. I miss some of my workmates, but not the hassle. 

In Between Days.

Friday. 

Cold and wet, no snow. Pleased about that for many reasons, but mainly because it makes it easier for Kev travelling to and from work. Not an easy task when the weather behaves but a bloody nightmare when it doesn't.

My caykes and sticks colouring mediums arrived from Art from the Heart  along with blank tags and backchat stickers ready for any tag swaps I take part in. The Caykes and Sticks I had my eye on for a while, so during one of AFTH sales I took the plunge, they are better than I thought. Very bright vibrant colours that you can tone down depending on the effect you want to achieve. I also completed that decopatch box project and it now holds all my junk journal ephemera nicely. 

Ive had a couple of ideas fir cards that I want to try over the weekend. I love how I can take my time now, instead of rushing though the process I can take all day if I want. I do try to be tided away before Kev gets in, but you know that there will be the odd time when he walks in and my table looks like Beruit after an explosion in a paint factory! So after my morning cuddles and rituals I'll dig out my dies etc and see if I can pull off my plans...

In Between Days

Thursday. 

Looks like this storm has for the most part passed us by. We've got away with wet and windy and cold. Thankfully no snow... 

We set ourselves up so that if the worst case scenario happened we have stuff in to get by with. Veg for stews, bread and milk and food for Willow. Luckily the corner shop isn't far and if we were really desperate we could go there. 

But it hasn't come to that so we are fine. Being home cosy and warm not having to go out if we don't want/need to. 

We both have projects on the go. So it's not a case of sitting in front of the TV all day. And I can always go for a walk on my treadmill. As can Kev. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Again Kev had done the washing late Tuesday afternoon, so we didnt have to it this morning. 

Which meant he could come down with me when I went to the salon to have my hair done. He went shopping then back home. Once I was done we met at Streza and had lunch. 

Amanda had done a fabulous job on my hair as always and it was nice to chat to both her and Laura. 

We walked back, thankfully the snow has gone for now. Although the weather warnings for the next storm are out there. I hope it goes as quickly as this lot of snow did. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

We normally see my Sister for lunch every other Tuesday. But we messaged back and forth and we postponed it until next week. Walking in all that yesterday made me anxious about falling, and I jarred my back trying not to fall. So we stayed in.

I had a very crafty morning, Ive started decoupaging a wooden box to hold my junk journal supplies. I also did four pages in said journal. This one is one for me, a Halloween one, gathering images, sticking them in collage style. I really enjoy it It makes a change from my art journal but has a similar effect in that its a calming process, and is purely for me, I don't care who likes it apart from me, and I flick through when I feel like it. Everyone has a different approach to junk journals and I think you should, as Tim would say, do you. Its your journal if you want to use receipts, junk mail or bought ephemera go for it. If I show pictures of mine its not for approval, just because I need pictures for my blogs. 

Later we had an Amazon delivery, we had bought tile adhesive so Kev could tile the top of the radiator cover. Last year some council workmen damaged it and although Kev repaired it the top was spoilt. So, after a while hiding the damage with decor, we decided to use what we had as in the spare floor tiles he had used on my work table. Ive put a picture below to show how it looks now. If you want a before, just check out decor pictures I put up a couple of days previous. 

I had also bought some anti fungal paint in magnolia for the bathroom window and ceiling. Kev will do that next week, if it dries up a bit. But we have it now, so when it can get done we are ready. 

The other thing that we bought was a bladeless fan. Ridiculous I know when we have snow storms pending, but it was on offer ( expensive still!) But, less than it will be when we actually need it. Its to replace the air con unit in the bedroom as that takes up too much space and as you know, that is at a premium here. We are fine with the one in the living room, but we might not need that either as this is easy to move. We will see. This bungalow in the summer is like an oven, and you need air conditioning. Unlike the States in doesnt come as standard in our homes, and it should. Hopefully this will be the solution, at a little under

half the price now that it will be come summer. So if anyone wants a portable air con unit and can fetch it you are welcome to it. If not we will stick it on the Cotgrave Noticeboard.

In Between Days

Monday. 

Last night it snowed, not thick but enough to cause havoc and be treacherous underfoot. We had no option but to go out as Kev had an appointment at the health centre near the Savoy cinema.  As he had to have eye drops in similar to the ones I had for my eye scan, he needed someone with him as it takes about an hour to clear. 

We got the 9.30 am bus (which was late) it got to the school only to pull up as the driver could smell petrol and the atmosphere on the bus was becoming cloudy. We all had to get off and wait for the next bus. The bus was left at the stop to be towed away later. Better safe than sorry. They've had a bus on fire before now. 

So we were a bit late getting into town, but as we had come out early to be able to find the health centre. We found the right bus to catch and found it fairly easily. He had his eye scan and we left the centre.

We got the bus back into the city after a pretty scary walk to the bus stop. We stopped for lunch at Wendy's on Upper Parliament Street, then we picked our way back on foot to the Cotgrave bus. I must admit by the time I got home I was exhausted, as I tense up trying not to fall. 

Once home and we had thawed out a bit we took the baubles off the tree. That's it all done now. 

I did my tier tray, as my stuff had come from TKMAXX so I was able to dress it properly now. 

I hope the snow goes away quite quickly, as I hate going out in it. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

It was officially bitter this morning. I was awake, but refused to get up until the heating kicked on around nine. Had breakfast, looked after Willow, went for a "walk" around Hollywood Studios on my treadmill. 

Half an hour done, I showered and changed, and then started my box project, all that it needs now is sealing with pva glue or mod podge.

I did a page in my gothic/alternative journal. 

Then me and Willow got cosy and I read, watched a bit of YouTube and had a bit of a nap because we both got snuggly and comfortable. Plus I do find reading makes me drowsy. 

Before you knew it Kev was texting to say he was on his way 

In Between Days.

Saturday.

I got up around 8am. I would have been up sooner but Willow was on my legs and didn't want to disturb her. I got changed and had breakfast after I'd fed Willow. 

Then I started stripping the Christmas decor off the teir tray then I cleaned the tray and the area around it. I haven't got a lot of Valentine's day stuff yet, but I have an order coming on Monday to be picked up on Monday... for now Ive gone with what I have already. I'm heading towards spooky Valentine's or Valaween... 

I started a new project, I am decoupaging a box that Kev had like a chocolate hamper in it, I found some decopatch papers in my stash so I'm using those... I'm going to use it afterwards as either a work box on my desk or to sit Sadie in until I find her a new bed. Her other one we broke apart as it was quite frankly past its best, so this will do until I find just the perfect thing. She had the sleigh over Christmas and has nicked Nemily's rocking chair for now, but its a bit of a tight squeeze as she is a bit of a chunky monkey! 

In Between Days.

Friday.

We decided it was time to take down as much of Christmas as we could manage. Poor Kev did most of the humping and lumping, emptying the loft so we could see what we had and find exactly what we could get rid of. While I was removing all the Christmas stuff and cleaning the now empty spaces. I rearranged quite a bit and Kev went through the boxes. We put the delicate stuff in the window in the bedroom. The wooden houses had to go to the back of the wardrobe, everything else went in the loft. 

By the time I had put everything back where I wanted them, and Kev had finished in the loft the only things left to put away are the baubles. Which we can get done Monday once Kev has been for his eye scan. 

I will do my tier tray tomorrow. One of my gifts was a crow candlestick. I already have a set of two, so this one has gone into the hall, as the other two are in the  (un)living room, flanking the crow bath and body works candle holder. Along with Dave and Patrica. We have left the faux fireplace out as it is still winter and switching that on and seeing the flames makes it feel cosy, along with the orange berry lights that Trish bought me a few years back that warm the wall at the back of those display cases. It all helps make it comfy and how we like it. Candle warmer on, decent scent coming from it ( no cheap candles are worth it, if you are going to have a candle on make it a good one) TKMAXX do some good ones, but Yankee and Bath and Body Works do the best in my opinion. Worth every penny. 

And that's it for my first Christmas/Festive period at home, I can actually say I enjoyed it, and it was perhaps the most relaxed I've been. The real test of me being retired comes now its turned cold. Not having to worry about falling in icy conditions will be a game changer for me. And it'll put my treadmill to work, keeping me active. The Christmas treats are all gone now, so its back to being sensible. I always resort back to Ian Marbers 10 principles and the 80/20 rule. So long as you eat well 80% of the time you can have your 20% of off plan food. 

To be honest we didn't but that much crap ( years ago there would have been chocolate tubs everywhere, mountains of beige food ( party foods) and loads of booze. Now you're lucky if there's much drink, Fireball perhaps, always good for medicinal perposes in the colder months, and what's left of the Bailey's. We haven't even got a bottle of wine left, actually there might be the Frankenstein label 19 Crimes red in the holder, as we only bought the couple we bought to take to Sue's. Compared to the many years we had an actual drinks cabinet with every spirit imaginable. How time changes everything. We got "hungover " from drinking Zero%  Prosecco on NYE which says a lot about our alcohol tolerance these days!

In Between Days

Wednesday.

New Year's Eve.

A relaxed end to the year. Kev did the washing the day before, which meant not having to get up so early. He did us a full roast lamb dinner again and we had a bottle of Zerosecco. 

In the afternoon we watched Now you see me 2. Quite an old movie now, but one we hadn't seen, having seen the first, and this one passed us by. Not a bad movie. Wouldn't rave about it but wouldn't slag it off either. 

We then settled down to a "picky" tea, and I read, while Kev played games on his phone and Xbox. This gave us chance for a nap too, so that we stood more chance to stay up to see the New Year in. Which we did. Last year the fireworks woke us up, so we thought if you can't beat them, join them. So we sat with Zerosecco and juice in our glasses to toast the start of 2026. We eventually went to bed at 12.30...

Thursday.

New Year's Day.

We had been invited to Ian's Mum's Dorothy, for the day. So Ian picked us up at 11 am and we went for the day to Bingham. 

We had lunch, a beautifully cooked Roast, and in the afternoon we played "Sorry" and I'd taken a snowman pass the parcel along which was a good laugh, if a little basic. However I am considering making my own version to take to Sue's, and another if we get invited to Dorothy's again, if she'll have us. It was really nice to do something on New Year's Day for a change. Back to the pass the parcel thing,  more fun than crackers, and I could put in decent gifts ( so long as we add a bull dog clip in for Lauren  ( lol, long story, but whenever she gets a cracker pull she ends up with a bull dog clip!) 

We had a lovely "picky" tea again, and still being full from lunch, I really couldn't do it justice, but I did try. 

Ian bought us home, dropping Charlotte off with us, so that she could watch the start of the new Traitors series. Looking good so far, with the added twist this time of a secret Traitor, that even the public don't know who it is, so we get the chance to identify who that is! 

The new series of The Night Manager started as well, but we are going to wait to watch it all after its been on. 

So that's all for this festive season, I must admit it's been fun not having to go to work in the run up or the in-between weekend, but I can see how you can lose track of the days, as they call it "Twixmas"

Happy 2026 everyone...