Friday 1st January....2010

Happy New Year.  It's a beautiful day and yes, I managed to stay awake to watch the fireworks in the village and on the TV to welcome it in.  My phone buzzed with messages that managed to get through the network and Princess phoned at 00.17 to confirm that they had not been in the hot tub yet and were thinking that it was probably a tad too cold.....and it was down to close on frost point.

Today I have Angela and John coming for a late lunch so the hoover should be whizzing it's way around but I have asked for a volunteer to push it so it is down to the shortlist of one, me.  This is going to be a short message and so off to work.  The saying is 'Better the day, better the deed' so let's start the year off with some gentle exercist...hoovering and dusting...catch you later

Saturday 2nd January

Well the late lunch was very successful even if I did manage to fall asleep when the TV went on to catch the last of Dr Who...and miss out on the pate, cheese, biscuits and grapes assembled for light supper.  I have just phoned Angela and apologised but apparently I was the star attraction answering questions with a 'yes' or a 'no' while fast as a rock.  I put it down to some early morning starts and too much of the red stuff.  This morning though I feel absolutely fine having well and truely slept off any effects of the alcohol

Just phoned my sister and she said she's not even bothered to get dressed yet and I admitted that I am still slouching round in pyjamas as all good people should.  My journey north has been delayed by the weather and apparently they woke this morning to a covering of snow.  Here in the south it is a beautiful day and from my study window I can see people walking on the Downs.  Think it's time to wrap up warm and take to the hills myself but no danger of me doing the 'Sound of Music'.  It will be a gentle stroll down to the sea with my camera and trying to stay out of the locals with their roaring fires....Now there's a challenge to set yourself on such a cold day...

Walked for a couple of hours and managed to avoid the local ale houses.  Beautiful day, lots of pickies down by the sea and fun to see families out with children on their bicycles and roller skaters on the undercliff walk.

Monday 4th January

Another cold one....looks like my visit up to the Midlands is again delayed....I don't want to get stuck in the snow.  Today sees the return to school and work for most people that's if they manage to get through.  There was an interesting story about a few people only managing to finish their New Year party when they managed to dig themselves out of the pub....what an excuse.

I think this fitness bug is staying with me.  Another walk's in order when the Downs and the streets have aired, just another few pounds to get down to my target weight.  My rowing machine is off to pastures new and it's hoped it will kick start AM's weight loss.  The secret is...throw away the scales and use the machine instead.

Just a few pickies from the other day...my house is in there somewhere!!  

Wednesday 6th January

Now what a change!!  Those Downs are covered in snow, schools are closed down and Princess and co. are enjoying an extended weekend.  It's still snowing and there doesn't seem a lot of movement on the roads and pretty as it is, perhaps we just take advantage of it.

I go back to when I was working in Sweden.....nothing stopped.  Trains, boats and buses all ran... and on time.  Cars had to have winter tyres and snow chains were a must.....why don't we learn and perhaps follow their example.  It's the same every year.  We always seem to get caught out.  Now that's my rant out of the way.

Well I've just managed to find three more Peter James' books but this time bargain basement in Asda and each priced at  one pound.  That's my snow time sorted.  One down...two to go....

Thursday 7th January

Still snowing ever so slightly....still icy and still in doors.  Was going for a walk today but the darts tournament stopped me and kept me in.  I do love sport of any kind and the more you watch things like darts they become ever so slightly compulsive viewing.  We are at the quarter finals now and I've got my favourites though I wouldn't put money on it.  Second session later this evening but if I fall asleep through lack of fresh air and exercise then I can always catch it tomorrow afternoon

Ordered a book today from Smiths and the order went through closely followed by 'this book is temporarily out of stock and the publisher is thinking of reprinting'.  Why is it advertised for sale?  The particular author was on the deck one morning on one of my cruises  just as the sun was rising and decided to do a sketch of me which he called ' The Prophesy' probably after the book I was reading.  He wrote the details of his book on the back of the sketch and so I decided to buy the book now that CJ has taken up drawing.  Just my luck....probably go for a second hand one from Amazon or the likes.  Interesting guy and about 80 years of age then so must be ticking on now.  'Watercolours for Absolute Beginners' by Bill Whitsett.  Anybody got a copy?

Anyway....tomorrow is out and about on foot to get some fresh air unless it snows hard and then it's back to the darts...

Friday 8th January

Nine o'clock and all's well....that ends well today hopefully.  English tax is so complex.  They appear to milk the ones that they know about and leave the rest.....ggrrrrrr,  Nobody seems to stand up for the pensioners who have lost money in this recession.  In the last one, interest rates on morthages shot up through the roof.  Not so this time....interest rates slashed on hard earned money saved for old age.  The secret...spend it along the way and go cap in hand to Social Services for whatever you can get to see you through till the end......another ggrrrr.  Works for some....

And more snow cometh....   so my trip to the Midlands seems to be yet again delayed....

Monday 11th January

Lovely evening on Saturday and ended up making snow angels on the way back from the pub.  Fortunately kitted out in ski bottoms, snow boots and down jacket so didn't feel a thing.  The roads were so quiet and I suppose most sensible people were tucked up in their beds or in front of roaring fires...that sums me up really.

The weather still seems to be much the same with more snow forecast for tomorrow and I'm taking bets that this follows me to Bulgaria at the end of the month.  It's apparently mild over there at the moment during the day but cold at night but without snow.  Let's wait and see

You'd make a better snow devil

Morning Mummy, guess what...... Another snow day so King Jeremy of Kyleland is on the telly and Me and Baby Frog are still in our PJs.
We did make it in to school yesterday but as I was NOT prerared to walk from here (as per Haydn's e mail), I have not gone in today.
I'll call you l8r,

Moon and back,

Princess xxxxxxxxxxxx

Wednesday 13th January

That's enough from you TC.  The phrase goes 'judge not lest ye be judged'.  Get back to your home made Starbucks and iced buns and as for you Princess, I think your boss has the right idea.  A five mile hike to work fits into some people's agenda quite well but remember, we are of one flesh so lets stick with JK.  Love to you and the frogs...

I woke up to yet more snow today so I had a real thing about feeding the birds so they had a mixture of sunflower seeds, sultanas and last years cracker biscuits.  My resident pigeons ate most of it, the blackbirds though it was a trap and the cheeky robin took one look and then went on the hunt for insects under the bench.  The sport was watching the cars try to get out of the road but since we are on a slight hill but by 11.00 most were managing it.  I did have the urge to walk down the village but it soon wore off and I settled in to The Real Deal and Countdown and then concocted a chilli for supper with garlic bread.  It went down well.

Enough for this time...not much to report really the weather has put a stop to most activities....