Not enough hours in the day

 

My library books were due back today, so I carefully looked at all the Christmas Craft offerings on display and couldn't resist these two.  Some nice ideas in there but I would need to work the night-shift to make all the ones which took my fancy! I have ordered a little bag of polystyrene balls though, to make non-sew patchwork tree decorations and fancy making a skirt for the tree - I have sufficient Christmassy material.

I've read a couple of stories from this. Written with some strange takes on history.  Not my sort of book.  Aimed at teenagers I think.

This looks very good and I can't wait to start reading it.  The book centres on 6 women born in 1918 or before and the changes they have lived through.

Today I FINALLY set to and made Jumbleberry Jam, with a few of those windfall apples cooked well beforehand and added to it, along with some big local blackberries I picked and had frozen. It made 10 jars for presents this Christmas and I have a bit more room in the freezer now.  When I can source some more jam sugar, I will make Blueberry and Apple Jam.

I am now listening to Diana Gabaldon's Drums of Autumn on Audible.  On tv I've been watching Hardy adaptations on iPlayer, several films to go and enjoy now. I really MUST try and get Christmas cards written and sent - I'm not doing many but a couple require letters.

Tam's power came on at 7 p.m. last night (not 9 p.m. tonight as threatened) and she was mightily relieved.  Jon's mum has taken some of the freezer contents to cook up into meals for them, to restock it, and Tam was going to try and save some more the same way today.  She said for me not to go over until later in the week when all the smaller roads wood have been cleared of storm detritus. Oh, and she's just given me an update and the A44 is still blocked.  Still, we have got off lightly - still people without power, and the village a few miles from where we lived, is without mains water still...

I went into town today expecting debris everywhere from the flooding, but it looked clean and tidy - the Council workers had been joined by the Mayor and a party of townsfolk who did a brilliant job.  Well done them.  I got a newspaper as I hadn't had one over the weekend.  Nothing about Storm Darragh in it though - it was all about Syria and Assad of course. I needed a couple more birthday cards, so got those in the newspaper shop and a couple of small gifts from Penelope Primrose.  I  like to shop locally.  

I am girding my loins now to write a couple of Christmas letters to people who don't know that Keith has died. That is going to be so hard but has to be done.  I look forward to doing some embroidery afterwards to take my mind off the grieving process being given a goodly stir again.