Good Morning to you all as we swing deeper into 2025.
I am looking after two kids and a dog so my jobs are largely housebound. Did make a trip to Bunnings with one of them this morning to buy a case, they only had one left and it had a bit missing. Very disappointing, will have to try a different Bunnings
Morning all – temperatures dropped to below freezing overnight and not expected to get much above freezing all day. There has been a cold weather health warning issued – basically telling people to keep warm (!)
Snap Eliza, the cough and cold I have had is the first one in years and I also have no idea where I picked it up! The cough is particularly obstinate and won’t move on so I am off to the pharmacy later to see what they have that may shift it
Went in to feed the beast this morning, fortunately the neighbours have their heating set to switch on when the temperature drops to a certain temperature so she was warm. I didn’t think she would want to go out into the icy garden but thought I would open the door for her anyway – only to find it was frozen shut! Took several tugs to open it and I was right – she didn’t want to venture out
Took down the Christmas decorations yesterday – took longer than I anticipated and made me feel a bit sad – still on the positive side cleaning is now easier!
Plans today are to do some grocery shopping – expect the shops to be crowded as the news media are telling people to stock up on food and medication because of the impending snow! I also have a pile of ironing which has been calling my name for a couple of days so will be tackling that!
That makes three of us…
Started sneezing a lot while away in Harrogate but on New Years day it came to a head…My head anyway. Felt alright physically, but sleeping at night was uncomfortable with nose blowing equipment within reach.
Not the best New Years Eve do we’ve had over the years, Mrs Fox was not feeling too well and couldn’t keep warm, and she fell asleep in the bar. We were all tucked up in bed by 12:30am, separately of course, it might have been more memorable if we had all been in one bed… Because the menu for the masked ball was very limited and most of our party didn’t like it, we weren’t allowed to attend the dance, so we ate out at a restaurant. Fortunately, our friends were all from Harrogate and knew this restaurant…The meal was exceptional but cost a kings ransom…My steak was cooked to perfection…
Due to the extortionate cost, that’s probably going to be my last meal until February…
With all due respect, the hotel was beautiful, the rooms were nice and warm, breakfast was substantial, and the staff very friendly unfortunately, the restaurant was closed on New Years day so we had to wander around the streets of Harrogate to find something to eat. The heavy rain had stopped and the last few hours of New Years day actually came out sunny but excruciatingly cold.
The Old Swan Hotel…
They used to serve chips in a basket at the club a while back (though a much bigger basket). I complained as did others, the chips got cold too quickly, fortunately a trend thing long since abandoned. The steak looks nice though - rare or medium rare I hope.
You scrub up well since your days as a homeless postman
Very dapper Foxy, very dapper!
I usualy feel that this time of year is a bit glum, all a bit of an anticlimax so to speak.
Life goes on, Chilli jnr and I ventured to the mill pond this morning to cut some dogwood for our vase…
Good afternoon - Cold overnight and today, as is the case all over the land at present. It took ages to defrost the car windows this morning.
Went to the doctor’s to pick up the prescriptions and from there into town to post a lot of documents to the solicitor relevant to winding up my brother’s (R.I.P.) affairs. Also a quick dash around the supermarket to get a few items.
Home and had lunch now (3 crumpets with butter, cheese spread and Marmite on).
After that, went out and gave the car windscreen a good clean on the inside. The low wintertime sun shining on it let me know how much I’ve been neglecting the job. Topped the AdBlue tank up while I was at it. Chatted to a neighbour too. That’s nearly always the case when doing jobs at the front of the house.
I am really sorry to read that Sheila, Eliza, and Mrs. OGF are not up to snuff. I hope that resolves quickly.
I fell through a dock a few years ago due to rotted boards. I went all the way down , in the witness of several friends (thanks to my diabolical guardian angel ). It was terribly embarrassing and funny at the same time. Glad you fared better!
The weather conditions here look exactly like yours, but I failed to wear the camouflage and boots for the morning run . How long will the dogwood keep, Chilli?
@Bruce, that is a very creative case - or use for it! Are those containers food-grade? I envy you a house with both kids and dogs. It’s always worth the mess and chaos.
Your accommodations look cozy and inviting @OldGreyFox and it seems that you and your friends made the best of the twists and turns of the evening.
I can’t argue with that ! Looking very spiffy and British in the three-piece and three-button suit. I more men wore three-buttons here!
Back to the repair business. Stay warm and enjoy the day!
Well, it goes in water in a vase on the floor. In a few weeks green buds appear as do roots at the bottom of the stems, it’s pretty tough stuff is cornus. If I had a garden I’d find a little spot for some of it Surfermom
And as for falling through those rotten boards it sounds rather nightmarish
We had Dogwood in the garden and very attractive it was too. In the end, it got too large and I made the mistake of chopping it back in the summer while in full leaf. I was right in amongst it.
It would most likely have been OK in winter or autumn when the leaves have dropped off. Anyway, the result was a body rash that lasted for some weeks. I guess it wouldn’t affect everyone but just a bit of caution maybe.
Fibers on tulip and daffodil bulbs can cause injury, as can nearly invisible “hairs” on dogwood leaves. Sometimes, the puncture itself is the only injury. In other cases, histamine is released; the victim has a puncture wound plus local itching.
That surprises me mart. It has a reputation for being non toxic and traditionally has been used for making skewers for food/cooking.
I suppose we’re all allergic to different things.
It is very attractive at this time of year with it’s red lustre.
One way to get there is to click on your avatar on your message. then double click on the avatar in the popup and select “preferences” (far right) followed by “profile”
Don’t forget to click on “save”
There is probably a much easier way but it is something I haven’t done for years
Probably not, it is a technicians case so for holding electrical bits etc but I think that is not something I need worry about, I might mention it to my daughter, I am sure replacement containers could be found though but I won’t bother.
Thanks Bruce, anything in a basket or dish (Shepherds Pie etc) gets scooped out onto the plate. I’m afraid the steak was well done but very tender. I prefer something that isn’t likely to get up and disappear off my plate…
Seems to be a common factor @SheilaP, @Eliza, @OldGreyFox and Mrs Fox, this persistent, recurring coughing we all seem to be suffering from, since Covid came along. I hadn’t had any type of virus for years and years , ever since my kids were toddlers! Now it seems like our immune system has been weakened in some way, I don’t know if you will all agree with me, but I’m sure we’re going through the “aftermath” effects of Covid/covid vaccines.
I think you could be right Rose, but have we become more aware since covid. Just like the weather, we are kept informed of all the bad weather events all over the world, but we didn’t notice them as much as we do now, but they still happened.
Oh yes, our awareness levels have definitely gone up considerably, but I’ve also recently been noticing a rise in respiratory infections amongst us over 50s, many people experiencing the same phenomenon of “I haven’t been this ill for years ” .
There has been a cold weather health warning issued – basically telling people to keep warm (!)
Because the menu for the masked ball was very limited and most of our party didn’t like it, we weren’t allowed to attend the dance, so we ate out at a restaurant. Fortunately, our friends were all from Harrogate and knew this restaurant…The meal was exceptional but cost a kings ransom…My steak was cooked to perfection…
, in the witness of several friends (thanks to my diabolical guardian angel 
). It was terribly embarrassing and funny at the same time. Glad you fared better!
. How long will the dogwood keep, Chilli?
.