Monthly Archives: November 2020

We Will Remember.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

“In Flanders Fields” By John McCrae

Susie xx

Start of a New Week.

We had a super busy weekend.  DH and the Boys spent the weekend sorting out the garage so Eldest’s new “project” car could go in the garage!  It took them all day Saturday and some of Sunday to finish and a few trips to the local tip!!  It is now very tidy and both Boys can work on their projects without any problems. 

We also had a visitor on Saturday and he stayed overnight.  This is Ralphy, Girlfriend’s dog (he is a Pug).  We weren’t too sure how Treacle would react to him visiting and staying but we were careful with the introductions which we did in the garden and then came inside.  We fed them separately and watched how things went and they got along famously!  I was amazed as Treacle is getting on in years and did not think she would tolerate Ralphy but she was fine.  He will be visiting again soon.

Ralphy with Eldest.

Saturday we also let our Fireworks off for Bonfire Night.  Both of the dogs are not bothered by fireworks and we had only bought quiet ones.  It was good fun and the weather co-operated, it was cold but very misty.

A few pictures of the fireworks.

This was a huge firework which lasted for a while, but as you can see it was very, very red!  There was an old record which begins “I am the God of Hell Fire and I Bring You Fire!” by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and this picture reminded me of that!!!!

I spent yesterday tidying things up and getting all the washing done.  There are five of us now at home during this Lockdown so it soon mounts up.  I am determined to keep on top of it so I don’t get a backlog!  I did start to sort out my quilting but did not get too far with it as I then had to get dinner!  I am going to sneak a day this week and do more when there is no one else here, except Treacle of course.

I hope you lovely lot had a great weekend and a good week to come.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

Yeah It’s Friday!

It was a typical November morning when I got up at 6.00am with thick fog blanketing us.  DH had the day off with Eldest doing car things and sorting out our garage as he has bought another car as a “project” just as Youngest had got rid of his “project” car. However Youngest has kept the engine so that he and his brother can rebuild it, which will also help Youngest with his college work.  The garage will be tidy at least.

I have had one of those days where I started work after I had made lunch for everyone and they had left for work and I got wrapped up doing tasks and next time I looked up it was lunch time!!!  I did not get all the things done that I wanted to but I am getting there!  The weekend is supposed to be okay weather wise even if it is foggy so we can get those jobs done in the garden as well as some at home.  We are going to let our fireworks off tomorrow night and have hot dogs for dinner like we did when the Boys were small!

Photograph: BBC

Geoffrey Palmer 1927 – 2020

Sad news today of the passing of Geoffrey Palmer who stared with Dame Judy Dench in the BBC comedy show “As Time Goes By” about two people who knew each other in their early twenties who then meet again in their early sixties and begin a relationship.  It was a great show and Geoffrey Palmer was great with Judy Dench.  If you can get to watch it do, you will love it. 

Sunday I am planning on sorting out my quilting and get things organised to get it done and also sort out the final bits for Eldest’s Memory Books.  I can then get Youngest’s sorted and hopefully get them finished before Christmas.  One benefit of another Lockdown I have time to do all this so in that it is a good thing!!!!!

I will get some pictures of the garden over the weekend and Treacle will have to get used to local walks again instead of longer ones at the weekend.  We usually take her up to Chatsworth for a walk around the park or the gardens but obviously can’t at the moment.  Hopefully soon or over Christmas but who knows.

I also want to do some planning for Christmas too and get some more of my endless lists made!!  We also need to get all the Winter clothes out and put away the summer ones, especially as it is getting cooler now.

Whatever you are up to this weekend I hope you have a lovely time.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

Gunpowder, Treason & Plot!

No not the American election although according to the headlines it just might be!

Yes it is Bonfire Night here in the UK.  In fact for some little B…..d at 2.00am it was Bonfire Night then and woke me up letting several fireworks off!!!  Especially as I had to be up at 4.00am with DH!

Today is also the first day of the new Lockdown so I suspect there will be a lot of fireworks going off.  We haven’t over the last few years done anything but decided as it is another lockdown we will get a few garden fireworks and let them off on Saturday night.  Fortunately Treacle is not bothered by them at all and in fact just barks at the noisy ones!!!

The Boys at the moment are still going to be working unless the work drops right off then they will both be furloughed again but DH and I will be working through again as our work is important for other things which need to be completed.  Of course we are hoping it will only be for the month but who knows yet.  I do know that when we are all released again the shops will be manic with everyone getting ready for Christmas!!!!!

I am still trying to sort our home and me out since I stepped down as the Covid Officer for swimming.  It has been quite a relief and I think I have had a bit of a reaction to it as I have been so tired since making the decision and quite lethargic in some ways, although I am very busy with work and everything else!!!!  I just need to spend some time and write some more of my lists and get things done!!!!  I also need to catch up on all the Blogs I read as they have been neglected over the last few months too!  As well as catching up with friends via email of course and our family too!  Which reminds me I will need to start writing our Christmas cards soon!!!!

As it is #TBT I would show you this picture of the Boys on Bonfire night.  I am sure you ahve seen it before as Eldest is pretending to be Harry Potter and Youngest is looking at him scared stiff!!!! It was November 5th 2007 and Eldest was twelve and Youngest was eight.

I hope you are having a Thrilling Thursday, Friday tomorrow yeah!!!

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

The Wednesday Wag.

This morning when I went out first thing it was very, very cold on my paws!  We had the first frost of the Autumn/Winter! Daddy and the Boys were scraping their windows this morning.

Last night Daddy and the Boys were out and about until late dealing with car things so Mom and I snuggled up in bed as it was so cold and we were watching TV.

Mom and I were watching spooky films which have been on because it was Hallowe’en last week!  I do have to shut my eyes at some of the scenes though!!!!!!

It is going to be cool during the rest of the week but no rain, after last week when it rained almost every day!

Apparently we are in for another Lockdown from tomorrow but that just means hopefully that Daddy and the Boys will be around more but I still have Mom at home anyway, I suppose she will do!!!!!

I hope you are having a Wonderful Wednesday.

Woof, Treacle xx

Plans!

So from yesterday we are going into another month’s Lockdown and now they are saying we may not be!!!  Oh good grief Charlie Brown!  In fact I think Charlie Brown or Snoopy could do a better job at the moment rather than our currect Parliamentary incumbents!

I think DH and the Boys are dreading another lockdown as last night I was getting my recipe books out to look for new meals to try on them!!!  I also got my Christmas recipe books out as well to start the Christmas baking. 

Last year’s baking!

Getting fed up with all the news of Lockdowns and Covid and elections (and it is not even our election!) so I am just going to plan and think about Christmas, something happy, something nice!

Nottingham Council House and Tree last year. Snow in our garden from my kitchen window.

DH & I at Chatsworth two years ago.  Won’t be going this year!

A foggy day in our garden.

We are due for some fog this week, which would be a typical November, but I don’t mind as it is cool and as it is supposed to be at this time of year.  The weekend is looking okay at the moment for garden jobs!!!!

I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

Here We Go Again!

Well here we go again into a National Lockdown!  Supposedly only for a month from November 5th (now that’s a good day to start here in the UK as it is Bonfire Night!!!) until December 2nd, Youngest’s Birthday!!!!!

The panic buying has already begun in the supermarkets (!) and people are now busy cancelling things!!!  Oh my goodness!  Again!  DH will probably still be working though as we do make essential parts but the Boys are not so sure if they will be able to continue or be furlouged again!  I, of course, will still be working from home as normal for me!!

We had, as always, a busy weekend doing jobs and the Boys were busy with car things and then Saturday night we had a Hallowe’en dinner but no Trick or Treaters this year.  The week was going to be steady but not now the Lockdown is happening on Thursday!  Swimming will not be on either which is just typical, having just said I would finish!!!  Hey ho.

The idea of the lockdown is to try and get the infections under control again so that everyone can spend Christmas with their families and loved ones without restrictions, not sure it is going to happen but who knows.  We will be at home at Christmas as normal so hopefully whatever happens it won’t affect us.  I am, however, planning even more now just in case!!!!

It has been wild and stormy weather over the weekend so no jobs done outside!!!  and the week looks to be more of the same.  It is supposed to get better later in the week and hopefully the weekend too so we can get those last jobs done in the garden. I don’t think we will get many more weekends of good weather which will make this new Lockdown harder as we will all be inside!!!  I think I need to go and get some paint and get everyone helping me with decoarating some rooms before Christmas!!!!!!

I hope you lovely lot had a great weekend and a good week.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx