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Showing posts from November, 2013

Friday 29 November

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Got up at 7 so showered and breakfast produced by 8.  A bit disappointed at lack of progress on the weight loss but it is all relative and will continue along same lines until after Christmas and maybe get a bit more obsessive about it in the new year. Started to get organised for doing Christmas cards.  Went through cards received the last two years and put them in recycling.  Updated address list.  Tried to produce labels in OpenOffice but too fiddly to rush so did them on laptop.  Lee came round and did three more hours on garden.  Looks great.   Went ringing at Barnes in the evening, but separately from Mike so I could go a bit later and make a start on my Christmas newsletter.  Put voltarol on my wrists and wore  wrist bandages and rang all night.  Went straight home without going to the pub and finished off the red wine with some pasta in chargrilled aubergine pesto.  Had nice early night.

Thursday 28 November

Got up early again and got dropped off at chiswick house by mike on his way to work. Had a nice walk for an hour round the grounds and half an hour back home. Had breakfast and a shower when I got back. Then did cross stitch all day watching tv. Finished another block.  Only 5 more to go. Had veg soup for lunch and veg pasta for supper. Glass of wine in the evening and went to bed early with hot drink and scotch. 

Wednesday 27 November

Got up and had shower, breakfast, washing up etc.  Lauren texted at 9.15 that no pushing today so took Suki out to Acton park and spent an hour wandering around.  Met up with Lee and Emma for a while, and walked back via the back of Park Club and Virgin sports club for a change.  Then did ironing and caught up with Last Tango in Halifax on iPlayer. Soup and pizza for lunch. Did some cross stitch in the afternoon and took suki for a walk. Huge number of parakeets still making a lot of noise in southfields. Very quick getting to BH house in the evening. Arrived before 6. Avoided the putting out of chairs this time. Had another good sing. Got salad wrap on the way home and had it with a glass of wine watching Jonathan Creek.

Tuesday 26 November

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Walked Suki in the morning then did some cross stitch.  Finished another block and got another one started.  Suki had to virtually lie on Mike's head to get the sunshine! After walking her in the afternoon spent a couple of hours working on the music for the concert.  Had steak and veg stir fry on pasta for supper.  Good rehearsal in the evening and had nice time in the pub as sat next to Camilla who was quite chatty.

Monday 25 November

Got up just after 7 and had shower and made breakfast.  Gave Suki short walk round Wendell Park and then went off to Shepherd's Bush to meet Anne for coffee.  Went to Bush Theatre cafe which was nice and warm, not too busy, reasonably inexpensive and did nice coffee.  Also free wi fi.  Anne was in queue for Monty Python tickets the whole time - which worked well as we could still chat.  She was finally successful in getting them just as I left at 11.30 (as she had a meeting then with Bob and Phil).  Got back in time to chat to Svetla.  Scanned in paperwork for shredding - thus keeping up to date.  Made potatoes and cabbage with gravy for lunch - Mike had the same with left over pheasant!  Had chat with Lorraine on the phone.  Went ringing in the evening and had to ring as made them up to 6.  Wrists did not like it at all.  Had spinach and riccota in pub but it had creamy sauce on it so put it in my pot for Mike's lunch tomorrow and just ate the garlic bread and a few chips.

Sunday 24 November

Mike was up in the night retching - so fetched him some water which seemed to help.  I was tempted to stay in bed but eventually got up and went to church.  Mike played the organ at the convent.  Went to Sainsbury's after ringing and got a few bits, including at last the veg gravy granules.  Also got Beryl's Christmas present and a couple of bits for Jayne.  Got home and cleared the front garden of leaves and rubbish - then discovered more fox pooh (well more like fox diarrhoea) on the front path so washed that away - which took some doing.  Washed all the dog blankets and towels from the car and reinstated the cage.  Also managed to attach the cup holder to the cage to hold a water bowl.  Cleaned all the smears from the inside of the rear window.  Tried to change the headlamp bulb but was stymied by my inability to find the screws which hold the headlamp on so decided to take it in to a garage sometime.  Cleared stuff from the table in the hall and found a home for much of it.

Saturday 23 November

Mike (and Hugo) went off ringing QPs and I took Suki to Middle Assendon and did last week's walk again on my own.  Mike had bought me the other Chiltern Hills 1:25000 maps so I had the map as well as the instructions - but hardly needed either as the route was so easy to follow.  It was another cold but bright day - clouding over for a while but getting sunny again towards lunchtime.  It took me two and a half hours.  The final hill was a bit of a killer but it was well worth it for the lovely ridge walk back down to Middle Assendon.  Came home and had soup again for lunch.  Then went to bed for two hours.  Got up and had a shower - then Mike came home.  Emma collected Suki at 5.30 and Mike and I went to the UL dinner at Browns in Old Jewry.  We had a taxi there and back.  Traffic was horrendous on the way there, but we arrived at 6.30 in time for the champagne!  Adrian, Helen and Robert were very late - arriving as we were having our main course.  They soon caught up.  We had a go

Friday 22 November

Bit disappointed to see 11.2 again on the scales after a couple of days of 10.12.  After walking Suki went up to top of road to get fringe cut and buy birthday card for Amanda, then went to Tesco for a few things.  Shredded all the paperwork I had finally scanned in. Cleared lawn.  Cleaned secateurs - in the process managed to spray WD40 into my face (nozzle facing the wrong way!) and cut my finger quite deeply.  Had soup for lunch! Did personal admin on computer in the afternoon, plus Chiswick Choir minutes.  Paid some bills etc.  Didn't go ringing - and apparently didn't miss much as QP was dire and practice not much better.  Stayed in the warm with another bowl of soup and later a glass of wine.  Patched up my finger with mefix and swab so as to be able to do cross stitch (sticking plaster too sticky) - worked quite well except occasionally passed the needle through the mefix.  Another nice early night.

Thursday 21 November

Got dropped off at Sutton Court Road again by Mike on his way to work, and had an hour's walk in Chiswick House grounds plus a walk home. Made 5 pints of dahl and vegetable soup.   Did cross stitch for much of the day watching TV - at this rate I shall run out of recorded programmes. Had an early night.

Wednesday 20 November

Diane's birthday. Remembered to send her a text. No pushing today. Took suki for an hour's walk via St M & AA to post cheque round to Turnham green, down the orchard and back via southfields. Did cross stitch most of the day. Lorraine came home early from college because no lessons. All had veg pasta for lunch. Suki frightened by bad weather again. Went to goldsmiths in the evening for another messiah rehearsal. Friend gave me black paper for my music. Came home by tube again and got salad wrap (and kebab for mike) on the way home. Watched tv with glass of red wine. Scotch and hit drink in bed to finish. 

Tuesday 19 November

John's birthday.  Did lots of paperwork Nd personal admin on computer. Finally got round to taking bags of garden stuff to the dump. Lunch consisted of cabbage, squash and potatoes with gravy tub use up old veg.  Supper consisted of stir fry veg with pasta. Definitely had our 5 portions today. Went to chiswick choir. Went in separate cars as I had committee meeting afterwards. I got home at 10.20 and watched last tango in Halifax in bed on the iPad. Mike came in one hour later. 

Monday 18 November

Lorraine came with me to walk suki this morning - nice to have company. Raymond's funeral today. Arrived in Barnes about 10.50and spent ages looking for a parking slot. Rang beforehand. I got phone call from neighbours in Devon saying alarm going off. I gave them instructions on getting key and code to turn it off. He thinks possibly caused by work he is having done putting railings up. He was able to ring and say he had turned it off just before funeral started. Very positive funeral and very touching. Hymn just as I am brought tears to my eyes reminding me of dad. Went round to kitson hall afterwards for tea and sandwich. Got home and finished scanning paperwork, walked suki etc. went ringing in evening. Only Monica and Frances there for most of e evening so they rang minor on handbells. Then Francis turned up and they rang bob minimus for a bit. Then went to pub. Had the fish pie which was very good except for the bits of boiled egg white in it which were a bit rubbery. 

Sunday 17 November

Slept well! Had nice breakfast in hotel then went ringing at holybourne - very easy going ground floor ring. Rang nice touch of stedman. Went with others to cafe where they had breakfast - we just had a cup of tea. Mike went to ring at st Lawrence and I waited in car. Got home about 12. Suki came home just after! Did some cross stitch in the afternoon. Mike went to ring qp,at street ham - finally scored one of stedman this weekend. Handbell practice at 7. Ali failed to turn up. Rest of us ran through the repertoire successfully. Had muesli and yoghurt afterwards for supper. Mike and Lorraine had tortellini. Went to bed early.

Saturday 16 November

Leanne's  birthday.  Saw the magic number 10 on the scales this morning - which was a real lift after eating out so much lately.  Of course it may swing upwards again but the trend is downwards which is good - thanks to my little app! Mike out for the morning ringing QPs of Stedman to mark 300 years since Stedman was buried. I went for a walk with Maryanne.  The morning was very cold and frosty but the sun was shining and the sky was blue and the colours of the trees were amazing.  We had the best of the weather as it had just started to drizzle as we left the pub after lunch.  We met at Middle Assendon - but a lot of the paths were familiar from walks with Malc, especially those starting at the Warburg Nature Reserve, and I realised the pub we parked at and went for lunch at was the one on the road by the turning up to the Nature Reserve and Bix Bottom.  We walked for nearly three hours (just over 6 miles) and got to the pub about 12.30.  We had a nice lunch although my stilton an

Friday 15 November

Lorraine not very well this morning - was at the "leaving do" of her friend yesterday and had reaction to eating and drinking at the wake.  I made her some dry toast.  Got Suki walked, had breakfast and washed up and was in good time for getting to Twickenham for 10 am start.  Arrived just after Hamish and Margaret.  Had some coffee but resisted the croissant!  Peal went for about an hour and a bit before stopping after long period of flailing about.  Then went for a QP with Hamish on 5-6 and we got that.  I joined them for lunch and had a delicious bowl of penne arrabiata.  Got back and made everyone a cup of tea then took Suki out for a walk.  Then went ringing - I had to replace Hugo in the QP.  We attempted Stedman with quite a good band but it suddenly went just after the third part - as Stedman does.  My wrists were hurting quite a lot so didn't ring much for the rest of the evening.  It was a very cold evening and I never really got warm.  When we got to the pub th

Thursday 14 November

Got Mike off to work and took Suki out early to Acton park.  Lorraine went out of the house later without saying a word all morning.  Posted Jayne's parcel, and wrote a letter to Mary and posted it.  Practised a lot on Abel. Had shower in the late afternoon and went up to London Bridge to have supper with Caroline and Pru.  Went to TAS as usual and had really nice meal and a bottle of house red.   As usual I seemed to eat and drink more than they did!  Home by 9 pm and went straight to bed.  Mike came in around 11.30 and Lorraine about midnight.  Had real difficulty getting off to sleep - but eventually slept ok.

Wednesday 13 November

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Did the ironing catching up with last episode of downton abbey. Wrote to Jayne and prepared a small parcel for her. Had pizza for lunch.  Wonderful sunset in the afternoon with the sky going all sorts of shades of red and orange. Photo with phone doesn't do it justice. Walked through southfields to drop off keys for David. Screech of parakeets was very noisy. Walked on to Acton park where the light went very pink for a while. First rehearsal of messiah. Good to have a good sing again. Came back by tube which was very quick compared to bus. Lorraine had made pumpkin soup so had a bowl of that then a beer and watched last episode of poirot.

Tuesday 12 November

Did a lot of practice on Abel and also of concert music. Went to Tesco for a few bits. Made veg jalfrezi for lunch and veg Chinese curry for supper with older veg. Jan took chiswick choir rehearsal as Alistair away. Had reasonable time in the pub for a change.

Monday 11 November

Had a really good night's sleep and woke up at 8.25 am!  Made some tea and sat in bed drinking it and watching tv news.  Then had shower and got ready for the 10 am meet.  As we were leaving the room I couldn't find the remote control.  Eventually after turning the place upside down, Lorraine found it in Mike's rucksack.  I presume I must have packed it and thought this was one more example of going doohlally - but when I thought about it later I think it must have fallen into the rucksack as I remember hearing something fall and not being able to see what it was and then dismissing it.  We met at 10 and went to the pub for breakfast - which was excellent and very cheap.  Then at 11 we got the tram back to the station.  We sat in the first class lounge until it was time to go and board the train - again with free drinks, newspaper, nibbles and wi fi.  Got Mike upgraded to first class for the difference in ticket price, and luckily the seat opposite the wheelchair space was

Sunday 10 November

Got up nice and early and had shower.  Took Suki out for short walk.  Went to 8 am and then round to Fat Boys for breakfast as it is Remembrance Sunday so ringing at Barnes clashes with Chiswick.  Had nice toast and marmalade.  We managed to ring 8 half muffled as Robert P and Andy joined us (Nick, Shona, Monica, Frances and Ali). Got text from Emma just before ringing that they were going round to pick up Suki - luckily I had put the money and the lead out before I left.  So Suki not there when I got back.  Packed a rucksack each and washed up etc.  Taxi turned up 15 mins early - just as Mike getting home from playing the organ.  Quickly changed chairs and set off for Euston.  Got there at 12 ish - the others were already there having drinks in Eds.  They wouldn't let us in "for health and safety reasons" because it was crowded so we went and got a pasty and a cup of tea at a stall.  The others walked out too!  The others were delighted by the surprise of going First Cla

Saturday 9 November

Mije went to Surrey training day.  I thought Lorraine was coming to Burnham beeches with me this morning but she was still in her dressing gown at 9am which was planned leaving time so went on my own.  Had lovely walk for nearly two hours.  It rained heavily from second hour onwards but I was prepared in full waterproofs so it was enjoyable.  Colours are lovely at the moment with the trees beginning to turn.  Got home and finished off the pate with toast and made veg pasta sauce for later.  Then cross stitched all afternoon and evening watching things I had recorded on tv.  Did another block from start to finish.

Friday 8 November

The new computer arrived today.  It's beautiful and has 8 usb ports which is two more than I thought it had.  I left it until after lunch to set it up. It was very easy.  Everything worked-even Abel and WinRk. Loaded dreamwwaver 4 which is probably sufficient for my needs.  Office wouldn't load so have downloaded OpenOffice for the time being.  Music sounded wonderful through it using the speakers I got from John. Really pleased with it.  Stayed in in the evening because of fireworks at Park Club - suki actually frightened by the torrential rain before the fireworks even got going.  Tried to watch downton abbey on itv player on tv but kept buffering so watched it on laptop with ethernet cable which is now set up in front room. 

Thursday 7 November

Got up at 6 and had shower. Breakfast and washed up in time to get a lift with mike to Sutton court road. Walked suki for an hour round chiswick house and then walked home. Nice day. Went to st Stephens at 10 to train Tom on database etc. Bob was there - it was great to see him again. Tom very quick to pick things up but we didn't do any hands on practice. There seems to be a new web site in existence which is incomplete but possible more up to date! Got back at 12 and practiced on Abel. Lee and Emma came at 1 and spent 4 hours clearing the garden. Large number of bags now at the front of the house waiting to go to the dump. Had muesli and yoghurt for late lunch and cycled to Acton central to get train to Highbury. Rang peal of Cambridge on 3-4.  Had some dodgy moments and I was not very good but we got to the end and Robert said some of it was good! Had a beer and came home. Had some toast and pate and went to bed around 11.15.

Wednesday 6 November

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Birthday and wedding anniversary. Lie in till 7.30. Awake for an hour between 2 and 3 and muggy headed when woke up. Had shower and made breakfast and opened cards. Walked suki in Acton park and then up to Emma's to drop off email printout with dates for having suki in November. Rained the whole time but I was well wrapped up wih boots waterproof trousers and goretex jacket so enjoyed it. Svetla back today - lovely to see her again and to see her well again. Practiced some Abel and did personal admin in the afternoon. Carolyn Leanne and Ollie came round about 5 and mike came down and we opened our presents. Lots of lovely alcoholic drinks including the full range of marks and spencer fruit liquers. All went off to Westfield on the bus and met up with Monica. Went to Bill's. Had lovely meal. They brought Eton mess with candles out and sang happy birthday! Home by 10 absolutely stuffed and very tired.  Straight to bed. 

Tuesday 5 November

Late getting up again!  Went to PC World determined to buy a laptop - miserable experience.  Uninterested and unknowledgeable staff, little stock.  Spent an hour looking at what little they had - nearly all were touch screen and all were Windows 8.  Also looked at All in One PCs and decided that was a better option for what I wanted.  Finally picked one which was for clearance - then "girl" told me that old software would probably not work and loading it would invalidate the manufacturer's warranty as it would "downgrade" the computer.  Decided not to give PC World my custom!  Also to do more research on this problem on-line.  Tried to buy the wi fi extenders but again no-one interested in helping me and couldn't see them on the shelf so decided to go home and order them on-line.  Very unsatisfactory all round - except that had a chance to look at All in Once PCs and see what they consisted of.  Quickly cooked some tortellini when I got in.  Spent all aftern

Monday 4 November

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Got up late after another poor night's sleep.  10 by the time I took suki out.  Nice day - sunny and bright. Found I had won the "guess the number of sweets in a jar" competition when I found the said jar in the back of the car.   Sorted out emails etc and practiced on Abel.  Lorraine sad today as friend died. We all had roasted vegetable soup and garlic cheese wraps for lunch.  A bit late taking suki out in the afternoon.  Cycled to ringing at Chiswick.  Tony came again.  I went straight home without going to pub which was nice.  Had muesli and yoghurt for supper. 

Sunday 3 November

Had a good nights sleep thank goodness. Mike had made tea by the time I got back from walking suki which was nice. Did the usual circuit of chiswick and Barnes. Heard Raymond is slipping away - at home and sleeping most of the time. Took suki to Burnham beeches - lovely day if a bit blustery. Had a lovely walk for an hour. Had muesli and yoghurt when I got back then did cross stitch watching silent witness and finished another block. Monica picked me up at 6.15 and we went to Hampton hill playhouse for cantanti concert. Quite good but ver small audience and very dry acoustics. Mike wanted me to go to the pub for half an hour afterwards - rather than go home with Monica - so I did and of course it was more like an hour! Torrential rain and lots of flooding on the road. When I eventually got yo bed couldn't get to sleep. Ho hum! 

Saturday 2 November

Got up 7 ish having slept better. Had shower and made breakfast. When I went back to do washing up found I had put sugar in cutlery drawer. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come! Took Suki to Acton park - saw 3 water rats playing in the sunshine on a branch in the "pond" right next to a Moorhen which was unperturbed.  Mike went to Barnes in the morning. I made Dahl and veg soup. Lorraine and I set out walking to the convent for the Christmas sale at 11.30 but at Turnham Green got a phone call from mike to say sale started at 2 not 12 so we walked home again. Good exercise. I fiddled around with personal admin and had some soup for lunch. We set off again in the afternoon but this time in the car - which was just as well as it rained heavily and we had lots of things to bring home! We had a happy couple of hours at the sale buying things and having lots go goes on the tombola. Meanwhile mike went to the district ringing meeting at Sunbury. We stayed in for the evening a

Friday 1 November

Got up late at 7.40. So much for extra hour kick starting me into getting up by 7! I slept very well though. Suki was holding her paw up again so I put anti-inflammatory medicine on her food. Had shower and made breakfast and caught up with blog. Did the washing. Took suki out at 10 - she seemed fine on her leg and was jumping around with some of the dogs she met without any sign of any problem. Made tuna and sweet corn pasta bake for lunch and also carrot and swede mash with ginger for the freezer. Window cleaners came and did a great job of getting paint and sticky stuff off windows so I gave them £20 extra. Lorraine and I went to Tesco expecting to get pumpkins for 40p but they were two for £3!. Still bought some and also bought stuff to use up vouchers. Ended up with very heavy bags as bought boxes of bottled cider!  Took suki to Wendell and then to southfields - aiming to get more walking in for me and thus more exercise. Took lettuce and watercress sandwiches to ringing. Decided

Thursday 31 October

Woke up with a start thinking it was 7.58 - realised a bit later that my bed side clock had not been put back! Got mike off to work with a lot of noise from suki. Trying to be quiet because Lorraine had done outreach shift till 2 am. Some hope! Sorted out all my emails - reducing them from 268 to 14 and dealing with all those which needed action. Had hygienist appointment at 10. Used the bike for the first time in ages to get there. Went to Tesco with Lorraine and had fun doing some shopping including three packs of sweets for trick or treaters.was late taking suki out in the afternoon. I walked her up to parish office of St M&AA to post booking forms for concert. The streets were teeming with trick or treaters and many of the houses were decorated with spiders webs, bats hanging in the porch and lots of them had pumpkins with candles inside.  Really quite festive. Went back through southfields park. Had huge number of trick or treaters come to the door - nearly ran out of sweets!

Wednesday 30 October

Got up early and put first lot of washing on. Had shower and did some tidying and cleaning and changed bedding.  Put second lot of washing on and had breakfast. Washed up and put the Hoover round. Put final load of washing on and took suki to plantation for walk. Usual start then down the track and back round the bottom perimeter. Very wet. Hung washing up when I got back, packed car and set off home. Got home about 2.45. Unpacked and pottered for a bit then took suki for quick walk in Wendell. Mike and I went off to guys at 4.45 and got there about 6. Long wait for 266. Up ridge road closed due to burst water main so my usual route would have been even longer. Rang for about an hour an fair half. Useful practice but didn't achieve a peal or qp. Went to cafe rouge and had steak frites and red wine preceded by olives. Caroline on diet aided by app called myfitnessplan. I downloaded it! 

Tuesday 29 October

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Got up, had shower and breakfast then caught up with several days' blog. How's got up and had breakfast then we all went to Teignmouth. Lovely and sunny although blustery with a chill wind. We walked along the beach -the water was very close and at times we needed to wade. I took suki up to the prom a couple of times as I was worried about her being swept away. Suki had a great time chasing a ball and avoiding the waves. We walked along the pier hoping to get a coffee but it was just an amusement arcade so we went back and had lunch with leftovers. Mini sausages in Yorkshire puddings, stir fry, beef and roast potatoes. There was enough beef and potatoes left for my supper, with a glass of wine left in the bottle too. After lunch Hows packed the car and we took both cars to Parke.  Gill wanted to do woodland walk and back by the river even though that would be tight for the cafe at the end. Martin thought the woods were boring. Mike got tired half way round. Got back just after