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DECEMBER 2022 This thread currently has 2,963 views. |
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Elsa Peters |
December 15, 2022, 9:19pm |
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Thursday 15th December
So another cold fristy-frosty day and tonight is down to minus three according to the internet. I woke up at six thirty, didn't managed to get back off again, coffee and back to bed and played around on my little Kindle. Not quite sure what had happened to my sudoku, it looks like an update has occurred, I lost all my records of the times taken and the screen options had all gone and it took me a while to get it back to as it was. All my record times have disappeared and now I have to start all over again....stress and more stress. I've just realised that I didn't take my blood pressure tablet this morning but after the desert I've just managed to shove down, it I get a sugar rush I thoroughly deserve it.
Before my host appeared I managed to clean the lounge, the glass doors between the rooms and now I'm quite prepared to let anyone in to sit down. We had breakfast and then I checked the progress of the flowers that I'd sent to my last two hostesses on the journey down, ordered a model Mitsubishi Pajero as a gift for a special friend and my host was still trying to sort my log on when I heard the door knocker. I went down and opened the door and there was a lady there who obviously didn't expect that the door would be opened by another lady and she looked quite shocked. I invited her in when she asked for mine host, I explained who I was and then she sort of relaxed, she'd come to see how he was getting on with a repair he was doing to a small table. He came down the stairs, we got to talking about charity shops and the taking in of books and she mentioned that there was one in the village and we have loads to get rid of. Off she went, I parcelled the books up and around one we popped them into the car and he waited in the car while I gave them in to the ladies in the charity shop. So another job out of the way, there must have been about forty or so, all in good condition and all to be sold at the Brighton racecourse for charity.
So this afternoon I've managed to set myself up on the new computer, I have my own log-in, password protected and an added layer of security. It's just a matter of remembering all the extras. I've added Messenger which I really get on with, might add more later but at least I can see where and how to login now. A little bit of tv this afternoon and I'd made my mind up that it was going to be fish, chips and mushy peas for supper at the local hotel and we set off at seven thirty for the village. We parked up easily enough, ordered at the bar and found a table and when it came it was a huge piece of fish...everything perfect. I finished off with a strawberry Eton Mess.....and feel full to the gills. I've had confirmation that one bouquet has arrived in Stafford and hope the other has arrived in Manchester. Only one thing left to do now, I have to download the program that I use to reduce the pixels on the photos that I post and that's a job for tomorrow, not that I've taken any but I must get round to it. LN.....Soon everything will be back to normal...promise.....LN |
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Elsa Peters |
December 16, 2022, 6:52pm |
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Friday 16th December
Funny old night and very early start. I woke up at five thirty, tried to go back to sleep again and nothing doing so played silly games and it was soon seven. I tried once more to go off to sleep and what I should really have done was to go in the bath and get my head down in there but instead went down and made coffee and did a little ancestry on my nephew's fiancé and established and confirmed a few dates. I now ned to start making a better example of a family chart, in a rough formulation I'm back to middle eighteen hundreds. I also need to set up a printer on this machine to substantiate my findings.
I settled for toast for breakfast with marmalade, toyed with going in to town to see what the offers were for an upgrade on my phone and went out to catch the twelve o'clock bus from the bottom of the street. Unfortunately my host had got the times wrong and it was more like a quarter past the hour when it arrived but I'll know for next time. The buses are so smart these days, free WIFI and you can plug into USB sockets, four in one set of backwards and one forwards....luxury and all the world and his friends have phones. Mine stayed in my bag....I just enjoyed the journey looking at the scenery and noticing how much traffic there was on the roads. I made my way to the phone shop, was invited to take a seat and the young lady soon came to see what I needed. I said that I was there in response to an email inviting me to upgrade and that's when it all went wrong. I told her how much I was paying monthly, she wanted to know what was my comfortable threshold for a new phone and I told her I was happy with the old one, the only problem was that the keyboard is very difficult to use and I wanted something different. She started off at twenty, said I could go SIM only but that I might lose my 'roaming' so I told her to leave it as it was. I can use it for just calls and only use the keyboard in an emergency, she wasn't pleased but I was.
I did a little shopping, the shops were rammed with people, Churchill Square in Brighton was heaving so I didn't stay long. I managed to get my renovating brown polish for my boots, Deep Heat patches for my knee and some cream to rub in the other one. From the 'Pound Shop' I managed to get some slow cooking inserts that had been recommended and I bought a couple of presents from Clarks the shoe shop. I did a walk round Boots and again, just too many people and mayhem so I went back to the bus-stop and I was on the three 'clock and heading for home. The seats were heated on the bus and thankfully I managed to stay awake and got off at the correct stop but at one point I thought it was touch and go....early morning... no siesta....I'm over it now but won't be too late tonight. Pizza for supper and it was so spicy that I had to have a bottle of water on standby and my host had cooked it in the microwave and the base had gone very leaden and I left most of it, teeth have to be preserved. Lord help the birds if it's thrown out for them tomorrow. LN.....Heat patch going on my knee tonight and cream going on the other. LN....I'm putting it down to the cold not old age.....and photo program will be sorted tomorrow, hopefully.......LN |
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Elsa Peters |
December 17, 2022, 11:16pm |
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Saturday 17th December
Not such an early start this morning but last night I slept with a heat parch on my knee and it somehow disturbed me. It didn't stay long though this morning, as I stood up out of bed it fell off....and stayed off....useless things. I had toast for breakfast and then settled in to carry on with my ancestry investigations for my nephew's fiancé, managing to get back quite a way. I decided to record it within my program, starting from scratch but at last it's looking a lot like a proper chart.
Another cold day and frosty day and the only time I ventured out was to get some mince pies and crumpets...things I can't get in BG. I did also invest in a lottery ticket and I suppose I ought to check whether or not my luck is in...but I doubt it. So home from the village and two crumpets were put in the toaster and lashed with butter followed by a mince pie and they've been a temptation on the worktop ever since....but I controlled myself. Unfortunately the Dairy Milk didn't fare so well...half gone already. I fell upon a Freddie Mercury concert this afternoon which kept me out of mischief, Strictly was on this evening and I was surprised at the winner even though I think he was the bookies choice and then watched Freddie's' program as to how his 'dueting' with the Spanish soprano came into being and their relationship. It was really quite sweet and I guess by then he knew he was dying.
Just after eleven my time, church tomorrow morning and then lunch at my daughter's home and I'm really looking forward to both. Not much chance of going to church in BG.....there is a Christian church there but they only have a priest on high days and holidays, the rest of the time old ladies gather round the fire, light candles and gossip. Now it's time for bed, bath and hair wash in the morning and present myself to the world clean and tidy. Just noticed flashing blue lights near the house over the road and it's a fire engine. There was another one near to the main road but that has gone leaving just the one. Looks like it might have been a kitchen fire, the upstairs windows are open and one of the firemen was looking at the bargeboard and feeling the temperature of the walls. LN....Fingers crossed they will be able to sleep peacefully in their beds...too near Christmas for problems.....LN |
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Elsa Peters |
December 19, 2022, 12:02am |
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Sunday 18th December
Woke at seven, bath called and hair wash and managed to get to church on time. It was good to see that I was remembered, I did what I wanted to do and have found out the rest of the programme until I go back to BG. It was good doing familiar things again. Lidl called on the way home, this shop has so many more things than we have in BG, so much more variety that you wouldn't believe it's the same company. A trolley was half filled by my host and it should keep us going for a while.
We arrived at my daughter's house at just after one and it was hugs all round, I haven't seen her since the summer and I haven't seen my grandson for a year now and it's all been too long in the making. It was back to old times, the school she works at has finished for the year so we can plan out shopping trips...it just has to be done. She'd cooked a huge shepherd's pie followed by a bread and butter pudding ...my baby knows how to cook. The dishes were cleared and I happened to mention that my Fitbit strap was not attaching itself to the watch properly, the connecting lug was not working properly so she confidently got on to the site and set the wheels in motion. I should be receiving a new once since it's still under guarantee all before I go back home.
The predicted snow didn't fall but lots of rain did and still falling now. If it goes colder, it might be but the temperature is up to five degrees already so it might still be rain in the morning. Nothing to do tomorrow so far, there is a church service at three and I might decided to go there if the mood takes me otherwise I should be thinking about writing my family cards, the rest are already despatched and hopefully winging their way unless the post strike follows the railway strike. Tonight's post is late I know, we came home around seven, unpacked the Lidl shopping, I lay on the sofa and yes you've guessed, fell asleep and woke up watching 'A Star is Born' and got sucked in to it until I realised what the time was and gave up on the ending. LN....Time to sleep now in the proper place....hopefully to wake up to a snowy wonderland but guessing that it will be a wet soggy mess everywhere.....LN |
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Elsa Peters |
December 19, 2022, 7:47pm |
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Posts: 6,130
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Monday 19th December
Another very successful night, woke up at seven thirty and felt pretty good. Coffee and ancestry for an hour or so, my host and myself cooked breakfast, we'd bought a French stick yesterday which was filled with bacon, egg, sausage and brown sauce and it was hard going to finish it...but finish it I did. The dishwasher was topped up and set into motion and then it was back to the computer and a few more records complete. I also decided to purchase the 1921 Census option so now I have lots of hints that I can follow up.
I had a few more emails to contend with from Fitbit who seem not to believe that the Fitbit that has problems is associated with the account that it's held against complaining that address do not match. So now it entails going back onto the helpline....the will to live is evaporating. I think I might be ditching Fitbit for another make. So this afternoon I caught the bus and went to another service at my church. I got there a little late, I'd underestimated the time it would take or overestimated the speed of the bus....either way as I said...I was late. There were only about seven people there, it was a clairvoyant afternoon and it was a little different than I'd been to before. This man wanted to know who he could link you with so I said my father and left it to him to sort out. We left the hall at four fifteen and I walked to the bus stop, waited only ten minutes and back on my bus heading for home. Home made soup warmed me up, the temperature has dropped again, it's only raining a little and this might turn to snow...I wish. Mince pies followed the soup and now I'm suffering from indigestion but will suffer in silence. I've just tried to download the photo reduction program and was doing well until I forgot the settings that I use at home for the photo size, the next phase will be experimental so bear with me.
We have a lunch date for tomorrow so will need to post pictures of that so I should get my backside into gear and work out the proportions. LN.....Head down and backside in the air......LN
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Elsa Peters |
December 19, 2022, 7:54pm |
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Elsa Peters |
December 20, 2022, 7:47pm |
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Tuesday 20th December
Slept well last night but still felt tired, I think it was lingering in a long bath this morning. Two buttered crumpets for breakfast and then settled in to solve one or two mysteries in the new family chart that I'm working on for a friend. I eventually dressed into going out gear, we were off to lunch with an old friend that I haven't seen since last year, we keep in touch with phone calls but it's not quite the same.
I wrapped her present, we set off around twelve fifteen, the arrangement was that we would be at her house after twelve and we were on time since no firm time was fixed. She has mobility issues and uses a walker so we let ourselves in, outdoor shoes off and we settled ourselves down to chat until it was time to leave for the restaurant. We had a lovely catch-up regarding children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren are a similar age to my grandchildren and CJ and L used to really enjoy our visits to Shoreham by Sea annual air show and how things move on. It was a regular event in our calendar. I also had a conducted tour of the new bungalow, she's had the conservatory completed since the last time I was there and what a brilliant job the builders have made of it. It's a very light and airy room, perfect for days when it's just too cold to sit out but with the sun coming through and underfloor heating.
She manages really well with her walker, it was me who was the novice. As she says she needs three points of contact, two good foot positions and a good hand hold and then she can maintain her balance, the walker fills in the gaps with hand holds. I helped her into the car and put the walker in the boot, helped her out into the restaurant and then we got down to the business of ordering food. I settled for spicy chicken wings and cheesy chips for a hint of BG but when then came, the wings were very spicy and they'd doubled up on the chips for some reason so I ended up with a gift wrapped pack to carry out and now I'm wondering what to do with them. I only asked for the starter to be doubled up on for me as a main ...nobody mentioned the chips. The others settled for steak and kidney puddings and their only complaint was that there was very little kidney in the dish but the meat was very tender. Pudding time and I went for the stodge, ginger toffee pudding with custard while the others went for sorbet and ice cream with vodka and coffee topping. We were more or less the last to leave the restaurant, steps back to the car negotiated and well steered into the bungalow and she was settled. We didn't stay, the light was failing and lots of traffic on the road hitting home time for lots of people. I didn't see most of it, I nodded off and woke up when we reached home. Decent clothes off and into my p.j's and new felt slippers, I was in for the night especially since the temperature seems to be dropping again.
Lovely day, my daughter seems to have sorted out the replacement Fitbit and it appears that I have a Fitbit 5 winging its way to me so therefore an upgrade. I'm hoping it's got a strap with it and not just the watch otherwise I'll have to get one on order to arrive before I leave for BG. Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow....a day to sort out Christmas gifts and get them wrapped up. LN.....Countdown to the 25th seems to be happening fast......LN
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Elsa Peters |
December 21, 2022, 4:23pm |
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Wednesday 21st December
Seven start this morning and we had that lovely pink sky but unfortunately it didn't last too long. The wind got up from the west and brought with it rain and lots of grey clouds. I got stuck into my book and I'm waiting to get to the end of it. You probably know how it is, you start to read something, stick at it, don't find it riveting yet you can't leave it alone. Roll on the end and there are three more in the series but I'm not sure I shall be going there. It's in the historic period that I like but just doesn't flow the same and I keep hoping it's going to get better.
I made poached egg for breakfast and had it on toast with ham and it went down well. Washing in and no way was it going outside so went in the old boiler cupboard and should be cooked anytime now. It was one of those days where the morning just scoots away from you and after a bit of this and that I realised it was just after two so I settled down to wrap presents and write the family cards. I also wrote my final 'To Do' list and surprisingly there's not much on it, just four more presents and only two of them that I need to think about....the others are bottles. I've just grazed the kitchen and the mince pies have taken a hammering, I could really get down and make them but I've not had the urge come over me. I also went on the internet and found out the value of a nineteen fourteen half sovereign that I found in a little purse in a leather handbag in an auction lot of household items in Market Harborough years ago. According to the internet it's now worth about thirty times what the lot cost me so I'm 'quids' in. I've also discovered my grandfathers' and grandmothers pocket watches on the internet but they are probably beyond economical repair but will have a silver value so if I have to tighten my belt....I've found some assets.
Shopping tomorrow with Princess and it's going to be an early start so that we can get things over and done with. If the weather follows the forecast, we shan't be long at all and will probably spend longer over lunch than shopping. We're going into Lewes where we have our favourite jeweller's shop so it might be an expensive run but there again.....it's Christmas and she's worth it. LN....Time to think about supper....maybe a steak and onion pie and chippies......LN
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Elsa Peters |
December 22, 2022, 7:29pm |
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Posts: 6,130
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Thursday 22nd December
Bit of a sleepless night.....disturbed by I know not what but I was awake at two thirty, five thirty, played Sudoku for half an hour or so, went back to sleep again and was up and at it at seven thirty. I didn't bother with breakfast, washed, dressed and was ready but the time Princess phoned to say she was just slapping on her make-up and I replied that I'd just slapped on mine. She said that she would be with me shortly so just before nine I went out to meet her outside and she eventually arrived at nine fifteen. I'd walked out to the pavement, it was a grey old morning but I had to retreat to the porch, I'd not bothered with keys and my host was still getting a few zzz's in and is usually un-wakeable. She pulled up so I went to join her and she was busy fiddling with her fully 'intelligent' car, somehow she had taken off the speed clock and had replaced it with something else and the speed was only showing in a numerical block. She fiddled around with it for a while and suddenly by accident the dashboard appeared normal and as we drove on it reverted to how it was and she suddenly realised that there were two more electronic 'slide controls' on either side of the steering wheel...so now we know.
We parked up in Lewes, did the jewellery shops and nothing caught out eye, did the charity shops but again we left with nothing except for a metal Christmas tray and a mug for 'Mummy' and that was for me and now sits at their house. We just managed to stay clear of the traffic wardens that were freely roaming, drove home and my new Fitbit had arrived at their house but we'll register it later. I think I'm going to order a new strap for it, I don't really like it as much as the one that I'm using now. We had lunch and enjoyed ham French stick with beetroot and orange pickle that Princess had made and finished with cheese and ham quiche. We settled in after lunch and put the world to rights, found and ordered some buttons to attach to the back of a mobile so they're easier to hold and some might arrive before Christmas...Amazon takes some beating.
She drove me home about five and the traffic along the coast road was horrendous . Unfortunately she was having to turn round and join the queues going the other way to go home. Tomorrow we have a family lunch at a carvery which I'm looking forward to, we're meeting at twelve and should be done by two, one day and then it's Christmas. LN.....As a note the day temperature in BG today was 8 degrees but over next week it goes up to fifteen degrees and wall to wall sunshine....doh....LN |
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Elsa Peters |
December 23, 2022, 7:49pm |
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Diary Admin
Posts: 6,130
Gender: Female
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Location: Mobile!
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Friday 23rd December
I woke at five thirty, some strange happenings with my ancestry program batting round my head. For some reason, maybe because I'm using Windows 12 it's been subject to lock-up with messages to refresh the screen and 'this page is not responding'. I managed to solve one attachment but it's almost like a phantom person with a dotted line running to it and not attaching the husband/wife/spouse link successfully....and I've not met it before and as for the help desk....not sure they would be able to help so not bothered. I had to detach quite a few of the links and start again so tonight I have another frustrating evening ahead should I choose to accept the challenge or settle for an evening of British television.
Quick bath and hair wash, presents and cards sorted and bagged ready for today's lunch with the family. We arrived a little early at the venue and swapped a table so that we would be able to talk better with each other, we'd been allocated two and it didn't work last year so I nipped it in the bud. It was good to catch up with my son, wife and grandchildren, I haven't seen them since the summer when they came out to Bulgaria and of course Princess and her husband and my CJ. We were all seated by twelve thirty, we managed to get drinks ordered and delivered and then we were supposed to use an app to order the food but tracked down one of the 'operatives' who did it for us. Most of us settled for the carvery, the chef controlled the meat delivery then you topped up with any veg that you wanted and I dished myself two sprouts, one to match each of the socks I was wearing. When the children were small I've been known to hide them under the turkey bones but this year, I did the right thing and ate them...but still don't like them...too ingrained. The humour was very lively round the table with my son deciding that the two Yorkshire puddings were quite novel as glasses and he managed it without a great deal of gravy going everywhere. Kids...who'd have them. We settled on no puddings, had a present swap and we were back on the car-park for hugs and promises for the next year and went out separate ways. My son and family were off to stay in a hotel in Brighton, my grandson has his birthday on the twenty fourth so they want to make something of the day for him and then off to the outlaws for Christmas. We are going to Princess' home for Christmas day and will come home on the night-time and spend the rest of the holiday here.
Home for four thirty stopping off at the little supermarket in the village for a pork pie to satisfy one of my 'must haves' when back in the UK, marshmallows and another block of Cadbury Milk chocolate. The marshmallows have gone and then head down for a couple of hours or so on the sofa in the lounge and feel much better for it and it won't be long before bed-time. Nothing planned for tomorrow but I have a vague inclination to go into Brighton and pick up a few more silly pressies for Princess and co. LN....I'll see how the mood takes me in the morning when I do a weather check.....LN
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My Diary by Elsa Peters (only location)
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