Re: Diary summary week ending 5th January 2025

[Gillg]

Well, Christmas is well and truly over now - today we took down all the decorations ready to pack back into the attic.  The cards will be looked at again and recorded in my Christmas book.  Numbers are slightly down this year, maybe because of the cost of postage, maybe because some older friends are no longer with us.  One who I wrote off last year as departed has surprised us with a card this year, but I fear my last remaining cousin has gone now.  No card from her this year, so I will ring her up in the hope that she is still with us.  Last year she sent us a card but signed it with the names of her and her long dead husband,

The Christmas cake has all gone, but there are a few mince pies left, mainly because my husband had problems with his teeth and couldn't chew easily.  Somehow he managed to get through a couple of boxes of chocolates. Dentist's check-ups this week.  I am still waiting to hear from the hospital about my pacemaker procedure.  The last time I spoke to the consultant's secretary she told me that there would be a delay because one of the members of the team was ill, so I'll just keep taking the tablets.

Today's bright sunshine and icy frost has now changed to rain, though it's much warmer now.  We probably won't have snow here, though the higher ground and the moors are under threat.

Wishing you all a happy and above all healthy and peaceful New Year.

[louisa maud]

It was quite icy this morning but it disappeared  quite quickly,  o degrees in the car but had gone up to 2 on our return, Th supermarket was quite cold this morning,  we were pleased to get home and get warm.

Having  changed our heating, our gas back  boiler cannot be replaced, the chimney goes through the centre of the house and even when the  boiler was off it was a bit like a night storage heater through the house, what a difference it has made, our house even with radiators on feels so very cold now, gas back boilers aren't being replaced so we had no choice, if the fire hadn't died on us we wouldn't be in  this position,  we would have plodded on till it needed to be replaced , I don't usually feel the cold but I do now.

The decorations will be down soon,  the only chocolate left in the house adorns the tree,  once the tree is down they will soon be eaten, the last of the Christmas goodies, gone, then the cut down starts

Hope everyone is feeling better after feeling not so well lately.

LM.

[BumbleB]

Fewer and fewer Christmas cards, but I do update my list each year.

Decorations down tomorrow and put away - about 5 minutes work.  I bought a small tinsel tree back in the day when I was still at work - 30 cm for £14.99.  Fitted string lights at the time, so all gets collapsed and put away in its box until next year. 

Very sorry to hear your news lm.  I'm not absolutely sure that I have blood in my veins - possibly red ink.  Luckily our central heating is OK, if a bit noisy first thing in the morning, but at least it works.  And I have installed thermal curtains across the inside front door which helps to keep the cold out.

Oh the joys of getting older. 

[Viktoria]

My decorations are all packed away now.
Card list checked off so I don ‘t forget anyone next year—— ever the optimist!
Son not back yet so I am hoping he is not travelling today as heavy snow forecast this evening .

Just a chat( two hours ) with my sister , all the tarradiddle re my heart attack on Christmas Day ,it gets wearisome, but she means to be kind.
Also spoke with my late  husband’s sister, she is a year younger than I am and was my bridesmaid ,the other was stranded in the I.O.M.Heavy storms.

Just opened a big box of Thornton’s chocolates ———-
Very Moreish.

All stocked up from a big shop by eldest son so should be alright if the snow is a big problem.
Hope any travellers are safe .

So a quiet evening and could not get in to my new book at bedtime last night so went back as I often do to “ Cranford” .
It was either that or “ A Line in the Sand” about the dividing of theMiddle East, by France and  G.B.,and the ensuing consequences .A bit heavy for me nowadays.

Well down to earth today ,not very hungry so a modest jacket potato with cheese and baked beans for an easy tea.

Keep safe folks and thanks for all your news these last twelve months.

Viktoria.

Correction, it was not a heart attack onChristmas Day, very rapid but shallow heart beats,so very faint and unable to stand .
I thought it was but hospital corrected me.
Anyway I am still here -
Deep snow here this morning ,not a footprint in sight so dog walkers usually off to the cemetery not out and about yet.
Son not yet back so I expect a call later . Not even sure where he is or if he diverted and went across country to see the baby in Suffolk .
He was disappointed we did not go down .

Well some batch cooking for freezer to do so better crack on.
Hope  all are O.K.and not seriously affected by the weather.
Viktoria.
 

[Gillg]

No snow here in the south west, but heavy rain overnight, so some flooding and rivers threatening to burst their banks.  We have obeyed orders and stayed in, keeping warm (and dry).  The woodburner has been in use during the past few very cold days, but now the temperature is 12 degrees, so we are just relying on the central heating. Lots of home made soup are welcome warmers and I'm getting far too fond of hot chocolate. Relatives in the north have the snow, of course, and are staying safely at home, though one has to fly back to mainland Europe and another to drive to London as soon as they can. 

[radstockjeff]

Light snow here in Radstock yesterday afternoon and evening but soon changed to rain and any snow  which pitched had all but disappeared by this morning. Quite warm now, about 12 degreesC. rj

[Jebber]

No decorations to pack away, I didn’t put any up just for me. I sent my tree to a charity shop in November. I took down the cards yesterday, I received far more than expected, by the time they were spread around three sides of the room and up the staircase, there was no need for decorations.

One card expected from a cousin didn't materialise, being ten years older than me I suspect she has died and no one has bothered to let me know. Apart from her and her younger sister who died three years ago,  the rest of the family have always been hopeless at keeping in touch, even with one another. More distant relatives are the exact opposite and keep everyone up to date. It takes all sorts when it comes to families.

It's very wet here in Dorset, with all the rain we have had in recent months we will soon need to grow fins and flippers.

[louisa maud]

All decorations down now,  didn't have as many this year,  except cards, i will check them on my list when I take them down, I also discovered one death, no one let us know, plus one death I rang a relative to find out if the person who was ill in January was still with us, he wasn't but I sent a special card to his wife, didn't get a card from her but I can understand why.
Last Christmas, birthday this year and Christmas again I have sent to a friend who I have known for a long time, no acknowledgements at all, can't understand why, can't find out where she is, younger than me by 20 or so plus years so I assume she must still  be alive,  that makes me sad to be honest.
My car registered 2 degrees at 08.30  this morning but by 11am it was up to 9 degrees, a positive  heat wave  but it has been a damp day.
Our daughter visited today  with a box of fancies, we both said " that is it, no  more  chocolate  or cake" for how long though?
New week tomorrow,  who will get there first?.

LM

[Viktoria]

Son arrived today with a gift from my daughter, he had set it all up for me .
A huge clock telling the day, date, time ,whether morning afternoon or evening ,date and year and weather!
I feel very old and yet grateful ——
.As I did not get down to my daughter’s she posted it, but knew I might not be able  to get it programmed etc .
She was right!

A dark wet snow/ rain day today ,but I am warm and comfortable .

l have done a a big sort out of undies, only need 8/10 sizes now and some pretty ,bigger sizes taking  up room in the drawers ,so a phone call to charity shops to see if they accept such things .All M&S.
                       
Son not back yet so I am having a clear out .
I had a laugh though,my lovely neighbour  who sadly died last year ,must have ordered the same things twice,so gave one set to me ,whether I needed them or not! Some incontinence “ goods”.
She was being prepared should she ever need them ,sadl,as you know she died very suddenly so didn’t.
I have no need for them but will store them just in case!
In my big store cupboard with all sorts in it,material, old reel to reel tape recorder / player , haberdashery , tinned goods you know buy one get one free, spare kettle, musical instruments, scores , boxes with talks (and relevant artefacts)  I used to give , sewing patterns , soooo much.

Well ,must get on folks, hope all are well, given the extreme weather some might well be in great difficulties, so I hope you are at least safe.
Cheerio.Viktoria.