It's official

It's official. The cold has arrived. Having not slept most of the night, I got up at 3 in the morning to find some tissues. My hanky was sodden, my nose blocked up. Fortunately today the Fox is cooking - a beef & sweetcorn stir fry, which could become just plain grilled rump steak if necessary. So far this morning I've had a go at copying a couple of recipes into a book. Slow work when I have to keep stopping to blow my nose. The looking down has sent my head into a spin. My head feels full of gunge. Even writing these few lines I've had to stop for a blow! Now I'm just hoping I can get passed the worst of it in time for Christmas Day. I'm determined to get out for my celebratory meal come what may, even if I have to rush back to bed afterwards.

The blackbirds seem to have really enjoyed our festive fare. These days the gulls seem to get the fat & skin I put out for the birds. They even have the audacity to call for it if I'm late out with it. The turkey & goose have produced such vast quantities of skin & fat even the robins & blackbirds have been able to have a feast. The blackbirds also enjoyed the leftover apple sauce. They seem to have a sweet tooth!

Unwanted Xmas present?

I'm beginning to suspect it's going to happen. For most of the month, various friends seem to have been coughing & spluttering. Last night we went to the carol service. I found in the evening my throat seemed a bit dry, rather sore in fact. I put it down to all that singing. Nonetheless, every time I woke in the night, I was struck by the soreness of my throat. Maybe I just needed something to drink. When I got up this morning, I went to take my morning pill. I was hard pushed to swallow it. I progressed to my liquid medication. Again difficult to swallow. As the morning has gone on, my nose has started to run & my throat is still sore. I'm telling myself it's just that I've been peeling 6 rather strong shallots for the casserole which is now plopping in the oven. But I can't help having a niggling feeling that it's a cold on its way - a Christmas present I could do without. People who know me well, know I do colds in a big way. It would certainly be a blot on the festivities.

It's nearly here

The Fox is having problems with his blog. He keeps writing it. He publishes it yet it doesn't appear on his blog, at least as we can read it. We're trying to take some consolation from the fact that people seem to be able to react & comment on his latest entries which would suggest some people can read it, even if we can't. My blog is also having problems, though so far it has hit my efforts at leaving spaces between paragraphs. Sometimes it's taken a day or two between my writing the blog & it actually appearing published. We'll just have to write on regardless & hope you can read it. We're in the midst of changing ISP & going wireless. If things aren't resolved when that's completed, we'll ask the installer if he has an idea what's happening, or maybe even change blog site once again. Whatever happens we'll let you know.

Meanwhile onto the blog of today. Things are finally looking festive in our home. The Christmas tree is up, twinkling with all the shining baubles and the fairy lights when they're on. We've had the goose (which we enjoyed though I wouldn't keep the particular recipe I tried). Food from now on will be more everyday fare. This evening we're hoping to get to the carol service at our local church. It should be good. This year we've had an influx of new young talent to our choir. While we're there we'll deliver a few cards. That just leaves a few more cards to deliver, mainly up & down the street & that's it.

I'm always happier at this stage. All the chores are done, or so prepared as to be easy to complete. Now I feel is the time to settle down to the real meaning of Christmas - a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, & a chance to show your appreciation of all those around you who make life so very special for you, family, friends & neighbours. The soul can be begin to fill with joyous song, & the heart with love.

On with the Xmas preparations

I've just been getting the goose prepared. I've never handled a goose before. I'm surprised to discover how fatty even the skin feels. I can well believe there's a lot to come out, even more than a duck. Still the apple sauce is made with our very own apples. The stuffing is all but ready to go in the bird. I just want to add a bit of apple first. The potatoes are par-boiled. The sprouts peeled & crossed. I'm all set for the big cook this afternoon.

While the goose is in the oven we're intending to get our Christmas tree - artificial of course - out & put up the decorations. Everything will be festive-looking then. In my childhood this was always a Xmas Eve activity, but these days everyone gets started so early we begin to feel like laggards after a while. Mind we do keep them up until the twelfth day of Christmas, unlike many of our neighbours who seem to take them down as soon as the new year has arrived.

Holiday plans

A lion outside the Raffles Hotel Singapore

I've finally come to some conclusions about our long haul holiday. I think I've at least decided on destinations. I'm thinking a week in or around Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB as it's usually called), the capital of Brunei, a week in or around Kuching in Sarawak, another part of Borneo, & a week in Singapore. I've discarded Penang for this trip. Much as I would love to go, my priority this time is to get a feel of Borneo, of Brunei to be specific. After all that is where I was born, & featured so often in the tales my parents told. If we can manage another trip to this part of the world, maybe then we'll see Penang & possibly combine it with some of mainland Malaya or Thailand even. Now I need to decide on hotels, dates & raise the money. But first I want to finish reading about Singapore.

We've been to Singapore before, but only as a stopover on the way to Australia. The first time we stayed on Sentosa Island which is a bit out of the main city centre. We did get in and explore some of the more colonial parts. We loved Raffles Hotel and had a couple of fabulous buffet lunches there. The second time we stayed in the city centre. We only stayed a couple of nights that time so never ventured out of the hotel as we were just so exhausted after the flight. There seems much of excitement for us yet to explore so this will be our opportunity to see Chinatown, Little India, the waterfront, the botanic gardens, the zoo etc. Maybe have another meal at Raffles.....

Getting ready

It seems strange not having food to prepare. Earlier this week I was just so exhausted from cooking the turkey, we've decided I've just got to have a few days off. I had thought with the Fox cooking on Sunday & then our meal out on Monday, I would be fully recovered, but no. I soon realised otherwise when I cooked on Tuesday. So it is that the Fox tackled a lamb rogan josh last night, & tonight he's tackling a beef & sweetcorn stir fry. I'm getting my strength & energy back for the goose on Saturday. The goose is now out of the freezer. It's sitting in the garage out of the way for a slow thaw. We'll probably move it into the warmth of the house later today.

It's the first time we've ever tried cooking a goose. Last New Year's Eve we were invited out to a meal with a goose stuffed with various other birds as the centrepiece. This experience taught us we like eating goose. We were much encouraged to buy one when we saw one recently for less than £20, rather than the usual £40 they sell for around here. We're certainly confident that the goose fat will be welcome. There's nothing quite as satisfying as goose fat for roasting potatoes in.

And finally it's dawning on me that Christmas is just one more week away. We're intending to get our Christmas tree up at the weekend. Then, on Sunday, we're hoping to go along together to the carol service at our local church. By then, with a bit of luck, we'll be in festive mood.

The roof

The roof man has just been round. He reckons the water on the ceiling of the laundry room is condensation, not a leak. We're to let time know if it gets any worse.

I'm somewhat surprised. We've lived here for 8 years & this is the first time we've been troubled with condensation. Yes there's always been condensation on the windows, but not the ceiling. He reckons that this is probably the first time we have had a properly sealed roof on this part of the building. Previously there has always been some cracks, which, even though they didn't let the rain in, did let the warm damp air out - warm from the central heating boiler, damp from the drying washing.

I'm not entirely convinced, but certainly at the moment it's not too bad. And it is reassuring that he came round so promptly to check on the situation. If it starts gushing then I'll be straight on the phone once more.

Turkey mad

We're off for our final big shop before Christmas. I'm somewhat surprised to say I'm thinking of buying a second turkey. I've still not recovered from cooking the first on Saturday. This Saturday it's the goose's turn in the oven.

I think I'm still recovering from turkey deprivation last year. Yes we did have turkey on Christmas Day in St Lucia but inevitably there were none of the leftovers & we love - the quiches, curries, rarebits, rissoles, nuggets etc made with the leftover meat. By the time we got back last year, the price of turkey had soared - over £30 for a very small one. I'm determined to do better this year.

We do our shopping usually at Morrisons & they have been doing a promotion which has resulted in us getting a £20 voucher to be used before Xmas. That should nicely pay for a second turkey. The cooking will wait till the new year when I've had chance to recover from the first turkey & the goose.

It's come as a shock as to just how exhausted I'm feeling after the apparently simple task of roasting a turkey. All said and done, most of the time the oven does the work while the turkey & potatoes get a tan. I will admit I did all the trimmings on Saturday - homemade cranberry sauce, bread sauce, special stuffing, gravy, sprouts etc. I've decided this Saturday I will just concentrate on the goose, plus roast potatoes & one veg, probably sprouts. Yes I will do a little apple sauce & gravy, & the goose will be stuffed, but that's it.

Ups & downs of life, & even a bit in between

The Fox has already written about our night out. A good time was had by one & all. It was particularly pleasing in that it was Den's birthday & it brought him some cheer after a trying day, or rather 10 days. It was also a good turnout. Only one absentee & she was off watching her grand-daughter perform in some panto.

Once home again, it was rather sobering when I ventured to the laundry room to get some fish out of the freezer for today's meal. Dangling from the ceiling I once more spotted great drops of water. The new flat roof we had put on last month didn't last long! It's back to complaining again. I repeat I HATE FLAT ROOFS. They always seem to cause problems. Never last well. Still the contractor has a good repute locally & his son is a friend, so hopefully something will get done soon. With that thought we opened a fabulous bottle of viognier & continued our little celebration of life.

So it is that today I'm busy making some fish balls ready to fry up this evening. I've added a bit of chilli to the mix so the balls should have a bit of bite. I'm just waiting for the mash for the balls to cool down before I turn the fishy mixture into small balls & breadcrumb them.

A quiet day at last

I was just settling down to some paperwork, having finished breakfast, when I hear a noise outside. A great honking. I look into the sky. A long wave of geese, stretching for miles across the sky, followed by a smaller one, passes overhead. They're headed north. I wonder where they're off to. It's early for a spring migration & late for the autumn. Maybe they're just off to the coast for a feed.

At last I've a quiet day. This last week has been exhausting. Yesterday was spent doing the ironing that didn't get done on Saturday because of roasting the turkey, followed by the changing of the sheets & sorting the washing in the afternoon. I collapsed into bed before 8pm. I was just so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Today we're onto our second Xmas dinner with members of the Geriatrics' Corner. This is the smaller group that usually dines out on the last Monday of the month. We're going to a hotel near MK & Helen in the hope that they will be able to make it too. It's also where MK, Helen & us are dining on Xmas Day itself. All this means there's no food to prepare today, no chores to be done. Instead a quiet morning with my jigsaw - "The Young Girl" by Renoir. I might pop over to see how Jeff is doing, now he is safely home from hospital - I gather he gets bored at home on his own & Michelle has to work.

Catch up time

This is just a quick blog just to let you know we're still alive & kicking. The last few days have been so chaotic is been difficult knowing whether we're coming or going. Most of our Christmas cards are written & in the post. Wednesday saw us in Lancaster at the Farmers' Market. I wanted some smoked duck which is going into today's duck pizza. We also did some Xmas shopping. Yesterday brought Dave C to replace a window unit. The seal had gone so it regularly steamed up inside the double panes. We also got to the Pub for a rare visit from PD. This friend has been off alcohol since his emergency hospital visit earlier this year. Our neighbour Jeff is home after 4 stents in his heart. He's still weak but at least he's home - quite a relief for his wife.

Meanwhile yesterday, I found myself shocked by the suggestion that postmen should average 4 mph as they walk their rounds. It strikes me that's quite a speed especially when you consider they have to stop at practically every house to rummage in their bags, then reach up/down to actually get to the box. I suppose I'm particularly aware how wonderful our postman is. He may not get here very early. It's often after lunchtime, but he is such a caring soul.

Opposite us there is an elderly lady who is virtually housebound. If the postman has any letters for her, he always goes inside, makes sure she's okay, makes a cup of tea for her, before he goes on. He's the first to raise the alarm if anyone is ill or needs help. I appreciate he may not be the most commercially viable employee, but he's certainly a gem to have come round & does wonders for the image of postal delivery services.

Night journeys

I've not been sleeping so well of late with the result I've been listening to a fair amount of BBC World Service Radio. So it is that Saturday night I was whisked off to Saint Lucia with Derek Walcott in "World Bookclub". I found myself remembering this beautiful island & the Christmas we spent there last year - a darn sight warmer than any we're likely to have here this year, though it will be good to spend the day with good friends. At the moment it's looking like a white Christmas might be coming, if only white with frost!

Last night took me to another island, Jamaica as I listened to the end of "Charlie Gillett's World of Music" and some rai music - rather too lively to conduce to sleep! The news following did a far better job of that!

After thinking of all that warmth & bright sunshine, this morning seems particularly dark. It's not particularly cold, but it is certainly grey & wet. Still, maybe that's not such a bad thing. We're intending to go over to see MK & Helen this afternoon. MK is nervous about going out after some recent falls, some when he was transferring from his wheelchair to his car seat. As a result he's barely been out of the house for weeks. When I spoke to him on Saturday he agreed to consider going out to a pub if the Fox would give him some assistance with the transfers and it wasn't too slippery underfoot. We'll see what happens this afternoon. But whether we get to the pub or not, I'm confident it will be a very enjoyable afternoon.

Getting going

Another sub-zero day - a mere -10C this time. I abandon the idea of going to church. Just too much ice even to get to the garage for the Mean Machine. When you have osteoporosis you become very aware of the risks of falls, especially when you have a tendency to not walk well at the best of times. Ice is definitely to be avoided if possible.

Yesterday I finally got myself started on the Xmas cards. I must be half-way through by now. At least most of the ones for posting are done. Admittedly I've still got a letter to write, but I'll have a go at that when I have a quiet morning to myself. One of those days when we're eating out so there's no food preparation to do. I'm slowly cranking myself up to the festive season.

Anticlimax & sour spirits

As readers of the Fox's blog will already know, Tuesday turned into a great anticlimax. I spent the morning making a thick crab soup, a cherry cheesecake & getting the potatoes par-boiled ready for sauteing later. I finally sat down just before noon to relax a bit when the phone goes. Ellie. Their road is still frozen solid & the forecast is for colder weather to come. Since they live at the top of a very steep hill, they didn't feel they dare make the trip over. I can't entirely blame them. It was treacherous & I would sooner have them unharmed & well.

So, on Wednesday I flake out. So exhausted from the previous day's effort, I couldn't face doing anything - no Pub, no cooking, just flop. I suspect if my efforts had been rewarded with a more satisfying night I would have kept going, but the damp squib it turned into did nothing for my spirits.

Thursday turned into another anticlimax. I hoped to see a thick layer of snow outside. That's what the forecast suggested. Instead we had a damp grey day once more.

Let's hope this evening's event turns out more successfully. It's the Geriatrics' Corner's Christmas dinner. The numbers have increased to 15. I'm now trying to get myself into festive spirit to write some cards so we can deliver them while we're there. But I will admit it does seem a bit early for Xmas cards, especially local cards. I'm more inclined to turn my attention to those off overseas, or those that need accompanying letters. For that matter to those that need posting full stop. Our friends at Geriatrics' Corner we will no doubt see on numerous occasions between now & Xmas.

Maybe I just need the festive meal first to put me more in festive spirit to get going on the whole process. At the moment I'm just being aware that all the shops are heaving & all the aisles are full of extra stands making it very difficult to get around in a wheelchair. And the 25th stills seems a long way off....

Even whiter

And it keeps getting whiter. The first thing that struck me is the world seems even whiter this morning. I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised since the frost never totally thawed out yesterday. It was -10C even when it turned dark. I venture around to the laundry room. The thermometer on the shed says -12C & yet it feels surprisingly mild - an ominous sign. By the time I'm back in the kitchen, the snowflakes begin to gently float down. We don't often get snow here. We're too low, being almost at sea level, & we're also surrounded by higher ground with the Lakeland Fells to the north, the Penines to the east & the Welsh Mountains to the south.

We were planning to go shopping this afternoon. Ellie & Ged, our friends from the village we used to live in, are coming for dinner tomorrow & there's a few extras we need for their visit. Whether we get to the shops, or they get to us, will depend on the snow. I daresay we will be able to rustle something up even if we don't get out today. Just won't be the meal we've planned.