Where is the restart button............

If I say that this week so far has included medical issues, a funeral, bill paying, wild weather, failure to remember to switch on crockpots, cancelling aquazumba and a dash to town to acquire thermal vests, you will come to the very apt conclusion that it could be better.

You would be right.

It is only Tuesday, for heaven's sake. Can we start over?

And the vests are not for me.

Although I did see some very nice bright blue ones. Once I win the lotto, I may invest in one. 

I am very weary today. I am also hungry. It is 1pm and I have not eaten a thing. I forgot. I do not want to know that the head of Barclays Bank is in line for a million £ bonus. Am I the only one who really does not understand how the banks can destroy our economies, and we have to pay the price, and they somehow keep rolling in wealth? They lost me somewhere along the line. (Mother has just informed me of that little nugget of info. She loves watching the news.)

Oy, I sound like a grumpy old woman. Maybe I should go and unearth a ball of wool and make another a blanket. The word for the year here is JOY, remember.

Joy is discovering that your cousin is granny to two little ones, born to two of her daughters around the same time. 

Joy is hot coffee and cheese on toast for lunch.

Joy is getting no new bills in the post.

Joy is having a pile of books waiting to be read. 

Joy is smelling the crockpot doing its thing, seeing that I actually switched it on today.

Joy is knowing that Jean is going to drop by with a fresh loaf of bread later.

Joy is warmth, and a soft bed, and words..............

David spent yesterday at a simulated plane crash in absolutely wild weather, being a real life CSI complete with white suits and masks. Looking for bodies and evidence. He had a ball, and got absolutely drenched. All of a sudden, his studies are taking on the real life aspect, and it is so exciting to hear him talk about it all. Bodies, flames, mud, quadrants, notes.

This is the baby boy who was sliding down the stairs on his stomach just a few weeks ago. Or so it seems. Now there he is climbing through plane wreckages, with real police and firemen watching. His feet are so enormous that they didn't have any blue booties to cover his shoes. Well, they will have to order some for next time. How did time fly past so fast?

Joy is watching your son following his dreams.......

No more snow.......

Hello. I have not vanished. I just seem to have developed narcolepsy. And I sit here, gaze off into the distance thinking and then next minute, I am asleep on the keyboard. Anyone would think I never slept. Twice this afternoon, I have fallen asleep. Thank heavens Sunday dinner is cottage pie from last night, complete with vegetables. I am not required to use the brain much. 

We were supposed to get masses of snow on Friday night, but it didn't materialise. Instead, we woke yesterday to stunning blue skies and sun. It was fantastic. So I made my way down the middle of the road with the camera, and the photos you are looking at now are the result. The sun was so bright. And everyone was talking to each other out there in the street. But oh, the ice had become lethal. Everywhere. 

Anyway, last night heavy rain came, and the thaw happened. By this morning, there was not a scrap of snow to be seen anywhere. It just disappeared. I took one look at the garden and nearly lost heart, because, you see, the weeds seem to love the snow and ice, and have been growing and spreading under the cover of the snow and it all needs hours of work. Oh well. It can go on the list. In never-ending list. 

So when we went to church this morning, we were not sure if the river we cross in the valley would be in flood. It is running very high at the moment - just under the bridge. Inches from the road. And the fields are all under water too. In fact the nation is water-logged. I have tulips and daffodils all shooting up in the garden too. Among the weeds. 

And now for something completely different.....

This article appeared on the front page of one of the Sunday newspapers today. Patients should be cared for by their families when in hospital. Now this is all very well if one doesn't have to go and work, because the government insists that the retirement age has to rise to 66. For now. It will be higher very soon. So how on earth will families be able to do this? 

The irony is that this fits in so clearly with the subject I have been writing reams about recently. I have yet to start posting what I am writing, but the subject, people is CARING. What it means, how we have moved away from community, what effect it has on families, how we re-create those strings that bind us, where mothering goes in the 21st Century, how caring is becoming something we pay for, How we manage working and caring, and so it goes on. So many strands to think about. 

You know, when I got married, someone, and I have NO idea who it could have been, gave us the book Hidden Art, by Edith Schaeffer. I remember opening it and thinking how old fashioned and out of date it was and tossing it to the side. And then one day, when Andrew was little, I opened it, and read it. And it all made sense to me. But I had to have moved on to the stage where my primary role was very definitely caring for my child to be able to appreciate it. It is still there on the bookshelf, right behind me. Have you read it?

And then, last night, I finished reading Andi Ashworth's book, Real Love for Real Life: the Art and Work of Caring. It has taken me a while, and I have no idea who recommended this book, or where I saw it - if it was one of you please wave so I can remember! And that also complicated the thinking. You know when your mind is getting new information all the time and you are trying to process it a eliminate as much of the emotion as possible? Yeah. That. Peter, Glynis's husband popped round on Friday and we somehow got onto the subject of caring, and he had some immensely valid points to sway my thinking as well, so it is all a big jumble and believe me, it will all emerge one day soon. Because I have a bee in my bonnet, as they say. I just want to talk about it. 

So, think of my brain as a jumble of wool, and I am looking for the end so I can make a neat ball. And in the meantime, look at the little girl zooming along on her scooter today. I grabbed this photo from my daughter-in-law because, of course, they are there and I am here. And now we are about to watch Dancing on Ice.

An afternoon at the movies.......

Today, we decided to make our annual trip to the movies. (This is the royal "we" speaking!) Yes, you read that right. I seem to average one movie a year. The Artist last year, and The King's Speech the year before. It is sad, isn't it. I need to gear up the going to movies idea somewhat, I know. It was a spur of the moment decision. A reward for all 3 of us  being present and correct at aquazumba this morning, and for surviving the class. Mum was the exception. She does not do aquazumba, although she would probably be better at it than I am.

Anyway, we all wanted to see Les Miserables, so Mum, Jean, Glynis and I set off over hill and dale to a nearby town to see it. You can tell how out of practice we all are, because we didn't know that the doors only open 10 minutes before the show, so we had to hang around outside for a while in the snow/ice. Yes, it is still here. And if I said there were 20 people in the theatre, it would be an exaggeration. Interestingly, the movie theatre we went to is just around the corner from Boughton House, where part of Les Mis was filmed. Here is a report about that. I didn't know.

I have seen the stage show in London, and it was one of the best productions I have ever seen. I loved it. I cried. I still rate it up there at the top of the list of shows I have seen. So I was a little wary of what to expect in the movie, and I have read some mixed reviews, but Oh. My. Word. It is sensational. The music, the acting, the tears, the beauty. And by the end, just as I thought I was doing OK, the tears were flowing like a river.

Every one of us left, drained, and overwhelmed, and if a movie can do that to me, it has to be outstanding. So, if you haven't seen it yet, go now. If you don't know the story, it may help to read a synopsis first, and it won't spoil the experience at all.

I also saw the trailer for Lincoln. It looks good. That opens this weekend, I think. You see, I make a list of movies I think of seeing, and then I tend to wait to buy the DVD, because it is a hassle to organise an outing, and I haven't thought much about going alone. Mind you, there is no reason at all why I couldn't go alone, of course. Memo to self: You are all grown up. So go.

The fields between there and here are still completely white. There is supposed to be a thaw this weekend, so with some luck, the ice will vacate the premises. It is treacherous out. Thank heavens for sticks with the rubber casing removed, to have stability in the snow and ice. A bonus is that walking at night is easy - the white snow makes visibility great. Jenny and I were making our way across the Rec tonight after house group and we had absolutely no problem seeing where we were going, which is unusual. In an effort to save money, the council has switched off every second street light. That may be a perfectly reasonable idea in summer but in the depths of winter it is insanity. So the snow has a useful spin off!

Right, people - I need to sleep. Go and book tickets to see Les Mis if you haven't yet. You won't be sorry.

Wherein I make some candles........

I have avoided the editing today. Cabin fever struck and I had to get out of the house, so we went to town, and the snow started falling again as we got back home. Coffee out does wonders for the mood, believe me. Coffee and a fruit scone does even more wonders.

Anyway, once we got home, I decided to make some candles. I have been keeping all the wax left in my wonderful scented candle cups, scraping it into a big plant pot. I found an old cooking pot which had passed its sell by date, and today was the day.

Into it went all the old wax, on a very low heat, to melt together.

And in the old candle holders, I popped a wick, which I held straight by clamping it with a clothes peg. We are all hi-tech around here. I found these on sale in Switzerland ages ago, and it is just as well I tidied the craft/sewing room, because they were exactly where I last left them. A miracle. 

High tech pegs.They do the job well. 

 And once the wax was all melted, I poured it into the candle cups and they are setting as I speak

.

 Well, actually, I also spilled a lot on the paper I had placed for that VERY eventuality! Things do not always go exactly according to plan.

And now I am grinning and patting myself on the back. I have no idea how long they will take to set, but job done. I hate throwing things away. The wonderful scented candles I love having in the house stop burning long before the wax is gone, and it seemed such a shame to throw any out. By the way, I didn't know that the wax shrank or contracted quite a bit when it set. Interesting. 

LOOK!!! My new candle! It is still setting, but I am so pleased with them all. I will peel off the spillage bits when they are completely set tomorrow, but I love them. And the house still smells wonderful. 

Aquazumba in the morning come rain, hail or snow. I need to work off the bread and butter pudding, which was superb. Using the panettone was a stroke of genius from Jean. It was fabulous. Mother and I ate the lot. Groan. But. I will be doubly energetic in the pool in the morning. 

I promise. 

At home days........

I have spent the better part of the day writing here. Unfortunately, the writing ran away with itself, and unless you want to sit and read for hours, losing the will to live in the process, it needs - no, is going through - a serious surgical procedure. I do believe it is called editing.

Groan.

Oy, when the words start cascading, it is like a rupture in the dam wall, isn't it.

The mega literary endeavour began after I decided to cancel my place in the aquazumba class this morning. That happened after I spent ages trying to scrape my car. And my hands took forever thawing. Bright red is their new look. And the scraping of the car happened after the freezing fog descended and has not departed all day, so I have stayed in.

So you see, it was all the fog's fault.

It seems I have a great deal to say. My friends and family may pick themselves up off the floor right now and stop howling with laughter.

On the domestic front, we are having bread and butter pudding for dessert. No, we never have desserts. Yes, we are having one, because I have made it. That would be because I have a panettone here, and no-one likes it, so I offered it to Jean, who suggested the bread and butter pudding, which I have never made before. My mother has forgotten if she has ever made it, but I seem to remember something vague from my childhood - or maybe that was one of the grandmothers. Anyway, it will be popped in the oven and we will see what happens. And the oven will warm the kitchen.

It is bitterly cold here, and the snow has not disappeared at all. Not with temps way below 0C. Ice is the name of the game, and I am sick of ice already. I even found some ancient Ice Melt (salt) and tossed it around near the doors. Ah well. Nothing more to add until the edit is over, my friends. Stay warm.

Yet more snow..........

Hello there. I had plenty of good intentions of writing something interesting, but that was before I fell asleep in the rocking chair. 

I was waiting for the pictures to load, and they took forever, hence the snooze. Mum had an appointment at the doctor's this afternoon to check her medication, and after inching our way out of the road here, which has never seen any form of snow and ice treatment EVER, we stopped on the hill to watch the kids tobogganing. Apparently over the weekend, you could hardly see the snow, there were so many people. Most schools are closed today, so the children had a great Snow Day. The farmer lets everyone use his hill whenever it snows. Nice man. 

So we stopped at Jean's because I happened to know she was making fresh scones. Coffee or tea and jam scones? Yes please. Her icicles were rather impressive. 

While we were there, I popped over to the Rec (recreation ground) to take some different snow pictures. You can see the church tower here, and the Mound - down to what must have been a moat or something. This is the steep tobogganing run around here, and that green grass is pure ice so the speeds were very fast for the daredevils.

The church looks very different in the snow. The tower is over 1000 years old, but I have told you that before, I am sure. 

The church is on the Square, on the high hill part, and there is the Square with its treacherous iced car park, through that entrance. 

So you get to see a different part of the "patch" today because I am about to fall asleep again. Maybe tomorrow I will be more lively. One lives in hope!

Winter. Snow. Cold.........

One can safely say that Winter has arrived in these parts. The snow has been falling since dawn, and shows no sign of stopping yet. Smallish flakes, but trillions of them. And it is covering everything. So, in the spirit of bloggers all over the place, my stick, camera and I ventured out. I wanted to take some interesting photos, but to be quite frank, I nearly froze to death so Mill Lane again was as good as it got. I had umpteen layers on and gloves and hat and all the rest, but I was walking into the wind therefore the snow, and it chilled the bones, I tell you. 

It also made me into the close relative of the abominable snowman. I was covered in the white stuff. And just as I was thinking I had lost the plot, the cold crept down to my leg, and it started going numb. I tend to think of that only in Switzerland. It doesn't usually happen here, because I don't usually go walking in snow here. Numbness means that for as long as I stay out, the pain is deadened, and that is a very good reason to stay out in the snow a long time. 

However, in the interest of keeping my fingers attached to my body, I didn't stay out very long. And now I am trying to ignore the thawing process. There is always, ALWAYS a price to be paid, people.

So down Mill Lane I went. I just went to beyond those trees on the right. Not down to the bottom. I would never have got up the hill again! Walking on snow in snowboots is a doddle for me. I feel secure and stable when my feet sink into snow. Ice is not good, but snow is perfect.

It was so kind of the young girl to wear a bright anorak! There were many people out walking - some as families and some with dogs, and some too, with sleds. This is what the snow does - it gets families out together, and all the young ones seem to put aside their technological gizmos and whatsits, and head out into the snow, with sleds, to have snowball fights, to take photos, to build snowmen. Fun, fun, fun!

I don't think the horses were having much fun though. They were huddled next to the fence, close together, most with their rear ends towards the snow - the prevailing wind. One didn't seem to get the concept, and looked at me instead. Poor cold things.

And here is another poor cold thing. Please note the snow. 

I need more coffee. 

PS: Mum and I are conducting an experiment to see whether tealight candles all over the place keep us warm enough. I have cupboards of candles. The flames give off heat. Therefore, there must be a perfect number to have burning to provide adequate heat, and in the mean time, the house looks very cosy and pretty with all the candles!

Snowy countryside.......

I live near the edge of the village, so this morning, my camera, stick and I went along the road to take a few photos of the countryside. The white countryside. The annual snowy Mill Lane photos.

The horses seemed quite happy out there in the field - they spent most of the time I was watching them grouped around the hay bales!

The snow deadens the sound, and there were not many cars around early. Right now, however, most of the village appears to be congregating on the hill on the other side of the village for tobogganing. My kids used to love that. It would have been even better had the sun been shining, but there is no sign of it, and more snow is expected. At least this will be a weekend outdoors for all the children!

By some standards, like my sister's, this will be a minute amount of snow. For us, though, it is so exciting. I love walking on snow. Not ice. Snow. Crunchy snow. I have given Jean one of my sticks to use when she is out. She walked over to visit late this morning, and stayed for lunch. It was a carbo-loading kind of meal - open toasted cheese and pear cake to follow. But it was all hot and it is that kind of day and we needed to warm our innards. Of course. I will now eat a clementine to balance it out,. Don't forget the pear in the cake.

I think I want to go and start something. No idea what. Something. I may pick up the crochet hook, if there is any wool left in the stash. Did I mention that Granny is finishing a beautiful blanket every week? We are taking them to the shelter for the homeless nearby, and they are so very grateful for them all. They are stunning. But I need to grab some wool before her blankets eat it all up.

Keep warm, everyone, and have a lovely weekend!

It is going to be a white weekend......

It is snowing. This is England, so you will no doubt be hearing a lot about snow because the country grinds to a halt, much to the amusement of our neighbours on the other side of the Channel. We usually run out of grit and salt, very few people have winter tyres on cars, there are nowhere near enough snowploughs, the trains stop because it is the wrong kind of snow and school and universities shut immediately, for fear of little darlings falling and denting themselves (therefore triggering legal whatsits and all the rest. Health and Safety.) Oh, and if farmers offer to help clear roads, they are turned down. Health and Safety again. Insurance.

So, like all sensible people, I have been at home most of the day. The crockpot is bubbling away, and I have just baked this Pear Brunch Cake thanks to my friend Kelli, who sent me the link. She clearly thinks my hips can continue to expand. She is sadly mistaken.  It is such an easy recipe and it smells divine - it is just out of the oven so I have yet to taste it, of course. Restraint and all that.

I keep looking at the snow which keeps falling. You can tell I live in the UK can't you?? I am waiting for it to stop so I can go and take some photos. I am also amusing myself as I say that, because in Switzerland, I wouldn't DREAM of waiting for the snow to stop - I would be out there in it. Hmmm. I may have to put on the layers and venture out with the stick and camera.

Anyway, seriously, though, the absence of any salt or grit on our roads, no 4-wheel drive and no winter tyres  makes driving in snow and on ice treacherous, especially around hills. I just watched my neighbour attempt to reverse into his drive and there is no traction at all, so he is parked right across the pavement (sidewalk) (aren't you glad I translate here at RCR???) although you can't distinguish between the road and the pavement when they are under loads of snow.

Please be impressed at the lengths I go to to take a photo or two. And please note the pink fluffy socks. They are now wet. My snowboots have a gaping hole in the bottom. I do believe they need to be tossed out, but, when they are dry, they are so warm. And comfortable. 

I ate the slice of cake - delicious. I think it will be even more delicious with some hot custard poured over it. Hot custard would also help to thaw the feet. 

The snow continues to fall.............

I am back......

And I am ready for a long rest/sleep/zonked out time. I cannot tell you how cold it has been today. It was -5C this morning, so the classy outfit got ditched, and my snowboots and thick fleece coat were worn instead. Too bad. I needed to stay upright on the ice and also warm enough to be able to function.

It was a close call, believe me. London was freezing. Icy. My rear end may never thaw, after sitting in a cold station waiting for my train for an hour and a half.

I was too tired to walk about, and had already had 2 lengthy coffee stops. There is a limit to how long one can sit in a coffee shop with a black coffee. I reached that limit twice this afternoon.

The meeting went well, and it ended sooner than I expected it to, so I had a few hours to explore London. Well. Sort of. After a visit to Covent Garden, where I listened to a string ensemble playing most beautifully, and managing to completely ruin some performing street artist's joke - he raced up to me where I was plodding along on the other side of the road to where he was performing for a crowd, grabbed my stick, and under his breath, said - please play along - it is just a joke, and I said "ABSOLUTELY NOT" without ANY humour at all, and plodded on. Sorry, performer man, but no-one grabs my stick away from me, especially when I am weary.

I told you I was a Grumpy Old Woman at times.

Sigh. I was simply not in the mood.

And then, to get warm, I happened to pop into the enormous Apple Store in Covent Garden. And I played with the iPad mini, and fell in love with it. What a fabulous little thing. And I left, an unbecoming shade of green, with another thing on the dream list. So I took the tube back to St Pancras, and wandered around the shops there in between coffee stops and sitting in the freezing cold. Seriously, people, I just wanted to get home and flop. So I am doing just that. I have also cancelled aqua for tomorrow. And I am still wearing my coat and snowboots.

 I may thaw before morning.