I am trying to draw my wits together after such a busy and social day. Danette and Little Lin - lovely to chat to you both and put the world to rights. Lin - now have BBC Sounds app downloaded on my phone. This afternoon my new neighbour Ed spotted me up in the sewing room and came over to have a natter.
Leftovers. The other half of last night's Chicken Stir Fry. Very tasty and filling it was too.
So, how did the day pan out? It was busy. I had asked Gabby about jabs for Jordan last week and she told me yesterday it was suggested that we had Hep. A, and Diptheria/Polio/Tetanus boosters. So I had to go down to the surgery and fill in a form, which the Nurse will get tomorrow and make me an appointment. Of course, I have the Fair next weekend so am praying if I have the jabs on Monday, I won't have nasty side effects as I have to do that Fair come hell or high water. A sore arm I can cope with - being prostrate on the sofa with a fever is just not an option.
Then I went down into town to post a letter I'd just written to my friend G in Dorset, along with returning some of her books. I popped into the Red Cross charity shop, and came out with a pair of new and unused leather loafers (£3) and two pieces of Midwinter china which Tam collects (a Teapot and an oval platter). She's not sure if she has room so I may take them on to the Fair. Oh, and I popped across the road to Penelope Primrose and found myself a scarf to drape over my hair on holiday (to keep the sand out).
This pattern, in case you are wondering (Alfie as backdrop).
Then it was home, and I looked for the brown official envelope from HMCR which told me how much I had been taxed on Keith's pension, but could I find it? It was NOT where I thought I had put it (with all the other official paperwork in the blue boxfile). It will have to be stratagraphic searches next . . .
I researched cheap swimwear (it will only be worn the once to float in the Dead Sea as I do not like swimming.) Also warm pyjamas for our night in the desert, and I may get a silk sleeping bag liner as well, as I don't have room to take the sleeping bag they advise - though sheets and blankets are provided, but it gets cold in the desert at night. I also need to get some new casual soft shoes to take (done, bought the same ones as I had last year from Cotton Traders). I ordered water purification tablets from Amazon, which we need for Jordan and a pretty fungi-covered metal drinks bottle from Ebay. So, progress . . .
I didn't have time to cancel my tv licence, since I cannot get live tv without a roof aerial and can live without iPlayer. That will be a saving. I DID force myself to go up and do my best to repair that Victorian quilt but by gum, each little diamond takes an hour and it's as much carpentry as sewing as the cardboard templates are tough and I have to use snipe-nose pliers to get the needle through and try and make an invisible stitch on the (printed canvas!) backing material or go back in the same hole and move the needle along. I have just come to a mangled one, so removed it and hope that I can insert the replacement with less angst.
Off to do some more of Peter Rabbit (all in browns one DMC number apart so needs concentration). I have finished Santa and his Sheep helper but need to make it up and stuff it before I show a photo.
Sounds like the Jordan plans are going well and sensible. Just right. x
ReplyDeleteIt still feels like I am about to step off a precipice, but hopefully I will be ok once we are there. So many wonderful sights to see. You were so brave to go travelling to Russia on your own Rachel. I take my hat off to you.
DeleteI do hope they told you to give your shoes a good shake after sleeping in the desert. Scorpions seem to have a habit of crawling in them. Kurt got to sleep in the desert when he was in Morocco. Have fun getting everything together for your wonderful bucket list trip.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Oh I knew about that already, as Keith had been in the desert with the Army. I've just bought some Avon Skin So Soft which they now sell as Insect repellent. My friend used to use it on her horses and it works a treat.
DeleteI can't wait to hear about your trip. It always amazes me the variety of tasks you set your hand to over the course of a day.
ReplyDeleteI don't allow boredom to step over the threshold. I have a dozen different interests I could turn to in any one day. I enjoyed the Family History yesterday.
DeleteSounds like you are all over your virus and back to good busy days that I know you like. i must have missed the post--why are you going to Jordan? [of all places]? Just a random adventure or a long awaited place to go to? Why not...Provence? Italy? etc. Rem if you need water tablets then you need that water to brush your teeth, you'll need to wipe hands w antiseptic wipes not tap water; No fresh fruits or salads that were washed in the unsafe water.
ReplyDeleteCan we see the velvet quilt and close up of what you're doing? Does it annoy you to be interrupted when working/ swing, a male visitor just drops in?
Good luck w the vaccines .
Long awaited place to go - Keith and I were always fascinated by Petra, and now I finally get to see it, and other places like a Crusader Castle, the Dead Sea and various archaeological sites. Just my cup of tea. Thanks for the heads up about teef cleaning water and wet wipes.
DeleteI was glad of a break when Ed called, tbh!
On the subject of Jordan, please check that your TB jab is up to date as I had to have one done at the hospital (live vaccine) before we went, also bottled water is readily available everywhere in Jordan and safe to drink. If sleeping in the desert why not take some lightweight thermals, easier to pack than a sleeping bag. Am so looking forward to hearing about your trip so lots of info please. Jan D
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan. Ordered thermals yesterday after you suggested them. Hadn't had a TB jab since my 20s, so will ask.
DeleteJ from Wiltshire here! I bought the same Midwinter tea pot last year from a charity shop because it reminded me of my mum. I was on the verge of giving it back to a cs but looking at your photo has changed my mind and I have decided to keep it. It's a lovely design.
ReplyDeleteGlad you decided to keep yours. I think it's a lovely design. I am up to the gills with china here, but they are Old Friends and I'm not quite ready to start the Swedish Death Clean yet!
DeleteYou are a Busy Bee BB! Hope you have survived Storm Eowyn. S tells me he it was a rough night atop our hill and he was awake half the night, but luckily I slept through. I was out again last night so very tired when I came home at 9pm to put S to bed and eventually I fell into bed after my bath to read before settling down. I never take devices into the bedroom or look at any screens at bedtime which I’m sure helps me sleep. I’m excited because I’m going to Crete for another yoga retreat (plus walking the gorges at springtime and ancient history exploration) at the end of April. I booked my flights with the polite and helpful EasyJet Robot and as I’m a cheapskate and always travel light everything I take will go in a backpack that can squidge under the seat. S is staying home with an old friend staying to look after him. If you don’t like swimming and haven’t got a swimming costume I would not buy one to bob on the surface of the Dead Sea which is incredibly salty and actually not that pleasant even when I did it in 1980 and I adore sea swimming. Also if you’re camping anywhere near the Dead Sea do have a mosquito net. We camped on top of Mount Masada, it was around late March and not cold, although I had my down-filled sleeping bag, but the mosquitoes were a plague and everyone suffered. I was there on a kibbutz adventure in 1980. Diamond quilt sounds a nightmare. Could you rescue the undamaged bits for use in other projects (perhaps use them in a cushion or to cover the lid of a keepsake box or make an evening bag or applique a velvet evening jacket) and ditch the rest. How rare is it do you think? My grandma used to do velvet patchwork and I believe it was a popular pastime in the 20th century. The velvet she used was silk velvet and therefore slippery but malleable. I cross-stitched Hunca Munca and her babies in the wicker cradle on 28 count linen. It was a Permin kit which my mum persuaded me to buy when K was a tiny baby 28 years ago! She said, do it now because your eyes won’t be up to it later. I finished it and had it framed in time for K’s third birthday and it used to hang above her bed. It’s wrapped up in tissue paper now and stored safely in a box with other treasured bits I sewed for the children. Even with new reading glasses I now know my cross stitch days are behind me. But I’m really enjoying spinning again and am currently spinning Devon Zwarbtles which is gorgeously springy and lofty and will be knitted into a chocolate brown jumper for me I think. A lovely soothing activity which will take as long as it takes. Good luck with everything on your plate BB. It seems from the outside that you are being spread very thin at the moment. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI had my bath at bedtime last night to warm up feet and lower legs before bed. I have been a bit parsimonious with the heating (even had it off for a while yesterday) as waiting for a delivery and as long as I am moving around I don't get too cold. Make sure it's on higher (e.g. above 17) in the evening though, but still go to bed cool from the knees down.
ReplyDeleteThe last night camping is out in the desert. I've just ordered Avon Skin So Soft which is a brilliant mosquito repellent - I think even the Army use it now (and must all smell like a tart's armpit as it's got a strong "perfume"). Just slightly what the??? when the photo on Ebay listed "paint stripper" as one of its attributes!
I will sell the quilt as is, one big square, and let someone else display it as they will. The worst shredding of the silks is where it has been folded for so many years.
I can only do x-stitch with my craft light and the magnifying part of THAT is in use. I gave up on the "blardy browns" last night as my head was tired from FH. What is the Devon Zwarbtles like to spin with? I really MUST give my Ashford some tlc and get back to spinning.
Am a wee bit thin at the moment - anxiety over the Fair and weather that weekend as it's 55 miles away and I have to travel backwards and forwards.