Tuesday 19th December

Sorry Trevor...I'll report back on the taste after breakfast tomorrow.  I think the sausages are bacon and maple syrup for a change in the morning...with rel bacon and eggs.  How's your tongue now????

Six thirty start so I'm getting there...looks like I might be be back to normal before it's time to head back.  Mrs D of S has sent me a photo of the snow in her village and one of her little one being sat in in and she didn't look too pleased about ti.  So much for teaching her about snow angels...she needs a demonstration not a lecture.  Coffee and crumpets with lashing of butter for breakfast this morning and it was wrap present time until we were ready to leave for a lunch with good friends of ours.  We were at the restaurant for two electing to hopefully go when the lunchtimers had left but fortunately we managed to squeeze in between a work's department do for eighteen people so we weren't held up by much.  We had shared starters of whitebait and scampi and settled for steak and ale pies, fish and chips and fish pie for mains.  Mine was the steak and ale with an assortment of vegetables and chips, chips and more chips.  Sticky toffee pudding for my dessert with custard and ice-cream and various pies for the rest.  We were all stuffed.

Heading out of the restaurant the sky was amazing and stayed that way back to their home.  My host then set to to repair the computer,,,A couldn't get on the internet and now can.  It was also a day of calamities, the washing machine wouldn't finish it's cycle and kept coming up with an error message so I wrestled the sheet out of the machine when I managed to get the door to open and peg it out on the line.  It wasn't the weather for it but it was better that it dripped outside.  So lots of pictures of skies again but they were well worth capturing. More shopping if the weather holds tomorrow and probably down the village.  LN...I need to see the sea.....LN

Wednesday 20th December

Seven twenty start so I'm getting there.  There was very little movement in any other part of the house so I headed down at eight, made coffee and took it back to bed and played Candy Crush managing to spread the jam, get the bears above the string and find thirty of them in the next level.  By nine the bugs were biting so I headed down to the kitchen and made a sandwich, more coffee and a long last there was other movement.  I got washed and dressed and was determined to set off for my walk down to the sea, filling my lungs with the fresh stuff and getting some exercise.  I'm not used to doing nothing.  By ten I headed up the long path that takes me up to the Downs.  The photograph doesn't do it justice...it's one heck of a climb and I have to stop a couple of times to get my breath and it doesn't half push the heart rate up.  So back on the flat and I started my meander along the pathways and the only people up there seem to have dogs apart from one man who was carrying a ball thrower but appeared to have no dog.  I made mention of this to him and he replied that he didn't have his dog with him but that he carried it so that people would talk to  him which seemed a little strange to me but there again....I had.  He seemed a little sad and said that he spends an hour every day playing on his grand piano and has just started a ceramics studio so he appears to have a lot going for him....

I carried on to the sea front and walked along to Saltdean.  Again it was lots of dog walkers and I was amazed to see a repair centre with all sorts of spanners attached so that any cyclist could get underway again.  At one time you weren't allowed to cycle along the undercliff but now the rules have relaxed...time to get my bike out again....not. I think my cycling days are over.  Back towards the village centre and into the charity shop and found a few things that I could never live without.  Three for somebody else who shall remain nameless at this point but they fit in my suitcase and a crazed glass candle holder which was blue inside until I washed it and now it's clear glass.  Back via the Co-op and bought my first mince pies of the year and managed to save them until I got home, found an old treasure box out and spent the afternoon going through it and there's another couple to go.

Five thirty my time and in for the night.  I was going to church this evening but the mood seems to have dissipated so it will soon be time to settle in to tele and get out the Kindle for an early night.  The weather picked up a little this afternoon, it wasn't so damp but it's been muggy all day where I prefer to it to be frosty...ah well...can't have everything in life.  LN....Time to think about supper....LN

Thursday 21st December

Five twenty start so the long lie in yesterday wasn't to be the norm.  I've started a new book called Geisha...it's slow but at least it's moving.  I got my head down again but nothing doing so down for coffee at seven thirty...I didn't want to wake the household but there was little danger of that.  I toasted the last of the crumpets and had it lashed with butter but it was a slow start for my host who appears to have now developed man flu.  It was a cooked breakfast to feed a cold and then hot lemon with cinnamon and honey which meant that he was able to chauffeur me....I was almost ready to take the bus.

By eleven we were on our way to Lewes.  I really like the shopping there it's a mixture of old, new and craft outlets and my favourite jewellery shop is there.  I am now the proud owner of a pair of tourmaline earrings....square princess cut to match the diamond ones that I already sport.  Lucky old me.  One more Christmas present done and dusted and then it was walkabout via the castle, we tackled Aldi which I promise never to go into again and then on to Newhaven to Lidl and the Original Warehouse Shop.  A little more money spent.  We were home for three thirty and my host promptly fell asleep while I munched on ham sandwiches, finished off the rest of the seedless grapes and then went on an unsuccessful  hunt for chocolate.  I couldn't even use any presents that I'd bought so I need to go shopping tomorrow.  The Quality Street got donated to a good cause earlier in the week....

So after my blow out this afternoon I'm giving supper a miss.  I didn't manage an afternoon siesta so I'm hoping for a better night tonight and so far there is nothing on the agenda except getting some chocolate in and that might incorporate a walk over the Downs.  LN....Exercise, fresh sea air....LN

Friday 22nd December

Back to normal...three in the morning and nothing stirred...except me.  Settled in to my Kindle for an hour or so and then roused round about six twenty but eventually got my act together around seven thirty.  Down for coffee and nothing else moving, washed, dressed and breakfast and ready for the bus in to town at ten.  I didn't really have a lot to to into Brighton for but my host was down with man flu and I certainly didn't want to hang around all day absorbing the germs.  I went to all my usual haunts for example Poundland, Primark and Debenhams and picked up the last of my presents and tonight I have a concerted effort at wrapping them up,  I went into the Lanes and looked at the fantastic array of jewellery....so many diamonds but the prices are so varied.  My four sit in my jewellery box....since my fingers have swollen with the arthritis there is no way that they fit Cinderella.  I was going to take them in to get them fixed but it's not that I wear a lot of 'stuff' these days.  So home on the bus and there was still no movement from my guest.  I did stick my head in the bedroom and heard breathing so knew that I didn't have to take any drastic measures....there was still life but not as we know it.

I sat down for a while in the lounge and decided to walk down the Village for some mince pies from Tesco and another box of Quality Street.  The last one was wrapped as a present and delivered on Tuesday and last night I needed chocolate and not a chocolate drop in sight.  Now I have a whole tin to myself...I'm going to hide them...   

He has risen....but decided that he will not be able to make the family get together tomorrow.  I'm pretty pleased about it....germs should be contained not spread.  My son and family are off on holiday for the new year and the last thing I want to be responsible for is the kiddiwinkles coming down with anything.  So tomorrow my daughter will come to collect me....I'm not on car insurance here.  There will be eight of us for lunch at her house and my son and family will be arriving around eleven thirty.  It will be good to see the grandchildren all together.  

No photographs today....it was damp and murky this morning but by the time I meandered down the High Street it had cleared up somewhat.  Let's hope it's a reasonable day tomorrow...we could have a walk along the sea-front.  LN....A family day....LN

Saturday 23rd December

Silly early morning library half hour and then back off again until seven thirty.  I wasn't sure of the timings of anything today so I settled for an early bath and hair wash and the day would take care of itself.  I phoned my daughter at nine to say that my host was still incapacitated and that I would need picking up and meanwhile my son phoned to say that they would pick me up on the way through.  So I phoned my daughter back and spoke to my grandson who said that she had already left and about five minutes later she was there at the door but unfortunately my grandson had to work...the beauty of retail.

So we arrived at my daughters, lunch was in the slow cooker and I ended up spreading brioche with butter and chocolate spread to make a bread and butter sort of pudding thanks to a Nigella recipe.  We tried to speak to my son to tell him that the eagle had landed at the destination but his phone went to answer phone so we settled in t wait the arrival.  Another phone call and he said that he'd stopped and walked the children...we didn't understand why but they arrived at one and lunch followed on quite quickly.  Beef casserole, mashed potatoes and broccoli, the wine came out but not for me or the drivers and we had a lovely afternoon.  Me catching up with grandchildren showing me how good they were at playing guitars and they settled in to watching a film while I watched my daughter taking off her nail varnish and applying a new coat, baking it as she went.  It's all a bit too technical for me.

My son was ready to leave by four so I asked him to give me a lift home....my presents to them were handed over and off they went heading for London.  No pictures again....I'd forgotten my camera this time but I do need to capture the house decorations at my daughter's house.  Apparently the police pulled up as my grandson was returning from work and asked if he lived at this address.  He replied that he did and then they asked him to move away from the door....he was panicking at this point wondering what was wrong but all they wanted was to take photos of the Christmas lights on the outside of the house.  Makes me wonder what he's been up to.  

So two more sleeps....a day for the final gift wrapping.  I've got the bracelet that I said I would fund and it will need to be cleaned and wrapped, I need to still buy a bottle for my son in law and put driving licence money into a package for my grandson along with two small toy cars.  Thank goodness it comes only once a year....

Sunday 24th December

Silly night again...three thirty I was reading my Kindle and my Geisha story seems to be livening up....eventually managed to get back off and awake by seven thirty, coffee and back to bed, washed a dressed by nine and ready to face the day.  I meandered around for a while, fell foul of the washing machine which has so many knobs, bells and whistles that when I tried to switch it off to open the door, the programme started to run again so it was back to the drawing board mother.  Eventually I managed to retrieve it to hang out without it dripping everywhere....technology egh....

At eleven I was out for my constitutional....up over the Downs to the sea and fortunately I'd wrapped up warm in lots of layers.  It was really cold walking over the top but not so bad when I hit sea level and Tesco's was even warmer.  I got what I wanted carried on along the High Street, into the Co-op and walked back home.  Altogether I suppose I was out for an hour and a half and I certainly felt much better than doing nothing and I've decided to look out for one of those sports watches that count the paces and give you a run down....top of my birthday list or next year's Christmas list.  This afternoon I managed to get my head down after demolishing quite a few chocolates out of the Quality Street but I'm amazed how small the tins have become....I could almost have worked my way through it....

So after my siesta I finished wrapping the rest of my presents....I'm off to stay with Princess tomorrow....my guest is still flu laden with germs so will be staying here with the promise of roasties and turkey for his Boxing day.  I'd come back but I really don't want to ruin my daughter's family's Christmas with having to stay off the booze to get me back Christmas night.....as I said...I'm not on an insurance policy over here...not like Bulgaria where the vehicle in insured...not the person.  Now it's time to bring Christmas on...I'm ready, all the bases have been covered and may I just wish you all a Merry Christmas or whatever you call it.  Have a peaceful time if that's what suits or a hell of a knees up if you are of the other persuasion.  LN...Merry Christmas.....LN

25th, 26th December

So by ten yesterday I was all packed in a handbag to go to stay with my daughter and family.  My host was too ill to go but I waved the flag for the home team.  Presents, presents and more presents and while my SIL slaved over a hot oven basting the turkey for all it was worth, I gravitated around the kitchen doing absolutely nothing.  My grandson was doing what grandsons do best...eating chocolate and exercising on the sofa and eventually we sat down for lunch at around one thirty thinking that we'd be ready for the Queen's speech which somehow we missed.  We'd had one onslaught of opening presents but I saved mine until after lunch but the trifle didn't even get a look in ...we were all so stuffed.  We gravitated to the sofas again and I ended up with my grandson's six foot two frame stretched over to the other end of the sofa while his legs were over the top of mine.  He doesn't half dwarf me now.  While I used to nestle his head against my chest, I have to go in now for the under approach and get my arms around his waist.  Where did the years go?

We had a moment of hilarity last night.  My daughter has been given a face mask which is supposed to have two sorts of lights that emanate from it that rejuvenate.  We all reckoned that she could have auditioned for Darth Vader and fortunately it was on a timer...it's a bit like Asda...when it's gone it's gone and you have to wait for the next day for the next session.  I nearly stayed for today's performance but I had a invalid to check up on.  Eventually we headed to bed at around ten thirty and I had a really good night's sleep considering I was in a strange bed.  I woke up six thirty but didn't go downstairs until eight thirty, made a coffee and waited for the house to come to.  My grandson was working today so there was movement in the camp.  I was pleased to see that the horrendous winds from yesterday had subsided but they're back again tonight with lashing rain.  Breakfast with my daughter....the jelly from the turkey on toast....it's our tradition where the others just won't touch it and after that we packed up a plate of yesterday's left overs for the invalid and bowls of the trifle that didn't get attacked yesterday.  The Christmas cake was also sliced and I brought a good chunk of it home with me.  So back home for around eleven, as I said my grandson was working so they were giving him a lift since the buses are a bit sporadic....and as for this afternoon...I've done very little apart from eat chocolate and watch rubbish on television but I did catch the end of Mary Poppins....a classic.  I've had a really lovely Christmas.  It has been good to be with my daughter and her family, being able to relax and stay there and enjoy the boxing day breakfast.  The good news is that they are coming out this year at some point....it's rounded off my Christmas nicely.

Happy Boxing day everyone....I used to tell my children when they were small that all the toys had to go back in their boxes on Boxing day and if they were good they kept them...if they weren't...they had to go back.  I enjoyed motherhood....LN...It's supposed to snow tomorrow...we'll see how it pans out....LN

Wednesday 27th December

Lovely late start again, well by my standards.  There was snow in the rain as I looked out of the window which soon petered out leaving it just damp, cold and miserable.  I had crumpets for breakfast again and sat at the dining room table looking out at the weather and realised that I appear to be doing a lot of that in my life.  I look at nature, whatever it's throwing at me and it made me realise how I've changed.  The busy bee syndrome is gone and I do what I have to not what I think I should be doing to keep busy.  A quick phone call to Princess to check the size of the Fitbit that I'm ordering and she said that it would be good in that we could set each other challenges.  I've worked out the first for her....to get in two loads of logs and chop up kindling...so I'm ordering the logs in before I return to BG.   I also phone my good friend to check we are doing at the weekend....and I think a curry is in order but that all depends on the weather now.....the UK is in the grip of winter and a little snow and it all stops.  Please don't close the airport around the 5th...I need to get back to sanity.

I ordered my Fitbit and downloaded a copy of a book that I'd received for Christmas.  No way can I carry it back in the paper format and then went on to Amazon and downloaded it to all my devices.  I think it's pretty clever how you can read it on one and it tracks the progress and updates to the current location.  Technology egh.  Sleep this afternoon and woke up during the Chase and pleased with myself for answering a lot of the questions.  I know it's swings and roundabouts but there were more swings today.  I got supper underway....pie and roasties and settled in to watch the second part of The Minimalist.  Quite a dark drama but I enjoyed it...the BBC do do some things well.  Ten thirty and time for bed said Zebedee.  There will be photos tomorrow if we have snow....and I make it over the Downs.  I need more exercise after all I have to be up by seven to receive the delivery of my Fitbit so I could spend the day playing with it.  LN...Heart rate and blood pressure to follow.....LN

Thursday 28th December

Six thirty start this morning and I was aware that my Fitbit was being delivered between seven and ten.  I went down for coffee, finished the last of the crumpets which found it's way into the bin.  I hate anything that has even a mild taste of mould on it, I hadn't checked the sell by date so it was my fault.  I didn't see anything but into the bin it went.  More coffee and back to bed with my new ipad with detachable keyboard to download the Fitbit App.  The Kindle didn't like it but my new one did and I'd set up the dashboard before I'd even received it.  On the dot of nine the lady arrived clutching my package, I had to sign for it on a device and I was up to the bedroom to pair it with the ipad.  I entered weight and height and got them both talking and worked my way through the rest of the set-up.  

By eleven I was ready for my constitutional.  I put the device on and managed fifty steps around the house but thought it was time for a workout.  I set off up the slope to the top of the Downs, down to the sea and sat on a bench watching the waves and the hoards of people out for their constitutional.  The all seemed to be sporting children, dogs or on bicycles and enjoying the long Christmas / New Year holiday.  It appears that most are in for the long haul.  I went back to the High Street and at last managed to find Fisherman's Friends at the chemist in the village for my host for his cough.  I went along to the greengrocers and I was shocked to pay seven pounds for a few veg for roast veg for tonight's supper.  I'm not used to such high prices.   So I carried on home and went onto my ipod to see the result of my walk on the dashboard.  I'd managed to achieve almost six thousand steps, move into the fat burner mode with my heart rate and climbed up several flights of steps.  I didn't find the way to enter that I'd sat for half an hour stuffing Christmas cake made by my daughter's fair hand.

My turn to cook supper and we had roasted carrots, parsnips, swede, sprouts, onions, potatoes and sweet corn with pork chops followed by thoroughly thawed out salt caramel thingies which I shall never have again.  Horrible texture and taste and are Lidl specials.  The dishwasher is going....I'm not used to these luxuries....and I'm now about to sink a pint of water to take away the taste of the dessert.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow but I might try to knock off another six thousand just for the sheer hell of it...it means that I can replace the thirteen hundred calories that I've burnt off with....chocolate.  No space to pack it when I go home....I shall just have to eat it all before next Friday.  LN....After Eights or Truffles?.....LN

Friday 29th December

Silly night last night...the wind was howling all night, the rain was lashing down and the wind kept lighting up the PIR in the garden.  Bliss sheer bliss.  I put the light on at five thirty, went down and made coffee, got my washing in the machine, sorted out the dishwasher from having problems last night and getting it into rinse mode instead of wash...doh.  The machine is so old that the settings have been rubbed away and are now hard to read.  I went back to bed with my new ipad and checkout out my Fitbit.  It reported my sleep pattern as erratic and not erotic and the fact that I've just got my head down again probably means that tonight will be just as bad.  

So eventually down to the kitchen again at and emptied said dishwasher and washing machine and hung the clothes up in the kitchen to dry...not a snowball in hell's chance of pegging it out.  I made toast for breakfast...no sign of life from the other parts of the house...and lashed it with marmalade, more coffee and found a different sweater to wear from my supplies in the UK and eventually by twelve I was ready to head out to take my Fitbit for a walk.  This time I remembered to take my camera but the other reason for going was to get a lottery ticket for tonight and another for tomorrow.  There weren't so many dog walkers out today but it really did look like it was going to throw it down but didn't, I love the walk over there but it was really cold up the top and I'm pleased that I wore my old duffel coat and had hat and gloves as well.  It made taking photos a little difficult but I managed.    I went into Tesco to buy the tickets and had to have help...the lottery company has brought out so many variations on a theme that it was much easier to ask one of the assistants who tutored me as he would any old lady in the store.  He wished me good luck as he probably does to any of the ones that go into Tesco...such a nice young man for a change.  Another visit to the chemist to buy Fisherman's Friends, my host had asked for lemons from the greengrocer but he wanted sixty pence for a single lemon and they didn't look that good so I carried on up the High Street without.  Into the Co-op and bought a pack of Cadbury chocolate buttons and munched my way home taking photos as I went.  A quick trip through Kipling Gardens which is a tranquil space surrounded by very busy roads, noticed that a fridge had joined the washing machine in the garden of a house that is being renovated and watched the horses in a field adjacent to the main road.  All in all a very leisurely walk and more to the point....I knocked off another six thousand or so steps, into the fat burn section so don't feel guilty at all about the chocolate buttons or the mince pie that I've just brought upstairs with me.  

Time to think about supper....not sure what's on the menu but last night's roasted vegetables were delicious and it might event be the same tonight.  My Fitbit has just reminded me that it's time to move.  LN...Kitchen decisions to be made....LN