10. Alone at last. December 31st. 2010

I just had to write 2010 for the last time. It's New Years Eve and Dave and I are spending it quietly at home with our favourite Indian Takeaway.
Christmas was very 'social' but it's good to be on our own, not concerned about who is designated driver and oops, foot in mouth again situations. I'm a slow learner in the area of sensitive comments.
I'm thinking it may be a tricky year ahead but at least we won't be bored or boring- I hope. You'll all have to keep me informed on that front.
Hope you have a great New Years Eve and all you can dream of in 2011.

Happy New Year! Embrace change. Jill x

9. December 24th 2010 - nuff said!!

Well Christmas has arrived. As it says on the front page of eBay 1DAY! I think we are ready. Today we got up rather late - 8am. It was hearty porridge for breakfast but as the box was nearly empty it inspired a run to Morrison's. I wasn't sure if I would be met with madness but it was wonderful. Not at all busy, a happy mood for the staff (nearly done for their hols), treats at half-price and a really good browse. However, I bought the aforementioned Porridge Oats and £37 more of other groceries. Included amongst them were a packet of Walkers Cheese & Onion flavoured crisps and a tin of beans. The two items I have been craving ever since we started our diet on June 1st.
They are to be my Boxing Day treat.
Happy Christmas everyone. Love to all xx

7. Following.......

I have spent some time today trying to work on this thing called 'following'.
Having come recently to this idea of blogging I am finding it really fascinating in many ways.
In some ways it is a comfort to know other folk are out there with similar experiences and expectations. This is a unique experience for me since I stopped being a student. Ever since I left that homogenous band of Matlock Training College Students (all with high ideals and great expectations) in 1974 I have somehow felt like that fish trying to swim up stream. Now I find like minds out in blogland.
So, back to following, why is it so difficult! I guess it's that privacy thing but I have got there in the end - I hope.
Message to my readers (such a cool phrase). If there are bloggers out there who want to be followed just call on me.

Rockside - Matlock College.

6. Is it Christmas? Am I ready?

The ice was thick and very slippery this morning. A quick car dash into Hunters Bar to drop something off with a friend then over to Foxwood to collect some lovely, once read novels from another friend Jayne for the charity book sale Tuesday.
Meanwhile, back to my starting point, folks are making last minute plans for Christmas and I'm about to START!
I'm one of those people who always do things last minute. It has been know to cause stress for others who have a part to play in any project I take part in but those who know me well just get used to it. I develop a kind of frenzy which can be both creative and productive. My general aproach is to take on a project (small or large), spend a short time planning the result and then forget about it, put it off and finally make a dash to the finish line with a modicum of success.
So, to translate that to Christmas I buy the cards early and send most of them and that's about it until next Monday. You see it is the Federation Poultry Show at Stafford County Showground on Sunday and I cannot begin to complete Christmas until after that.
Many years ago when I was teaching full time and preparing up to six birds to be shown I had no time to think of anything else and the tradition has stuck. For anyone wondering about bird preparation the birds were given a bubblebath, dried off with a hair dryer, a pedicure, facial and aired off inside over night.
This year I have breeding but not showing stock but some of my birds I sold this time last year will be appearing - and winning.

This is one of my Gold Wybar Rarebreed Hens.
So, I think I'll go finish the Christmas Cards.

5. Feeling a bit crazy

Is it the time of year when all things get a bit whacky?
It could be the aftermath of the deepest snow I've known in November since childhood but life seems to be a bit of a muddle at the moment. Something like walking through treacle. Anyway, not to dwell on the muddle lets look for some clarity.
Well, the cake is only half done but the tree is looking wonderful. The dog is doing a great job at fetching all the tinsle off!
The snow finally cleared today and the ice is melting so I managed to get the Lexus out and I feel like my freedom is back. I can drive the others well enough but I don't enjoy the manual gear changing as much as the automatic. I love my Lexus.
All the cards have been posted and now I can concentrate on the presents. A list I think! Chances of that are slim - the heart is willing but.......
A nice glass of wine is going down well. I'm rather fond of the Australian Chardonays - is that spelt correctly? Ten years ago I wouldn't have ever drunk anything but a red but a friend converted me to the whites. I hated the first few glasses but accepted them gracefully and now I'm a convert.
Tomorrow is already packed. We shall have a nice long walk with the dog, a swim at the health club and then over to Chatsworth for lunch.
Meanwhile, I'm on a new mission to learn how to cope with binoculars because I want to see better when birdwatching.

4. Christmas Trees and Christmas Cakes

We finally got round to soaking the fruit for the Christmas Cake last night. Lack of brandy had been holding us up - metaphorically! I am trying Delia's all in one Creole Christmas Cake recipe this year as it gets hard to do more detailed prep with the husband constantly underfoot. I spent the day doing a 'spring clean' on the dining room as that's where we plan to put the Christmas Tree this year. Dust is a very hardy material! Almost done - just need to remove all the pottery from the Welsh Dresser and give it a wash and brush up. I only move it once a year as it is antique, belonged to my Gran and is probably only replacable at a steep cost. Needless to say we never use it.
Happily, in the late afternoon we were disturbed by 'intruders' Paul & Nikki who were keen to force money in to my hand (not really, the remainder of the Christmas Party money I am collecting).
Today, I decided I liked the look of just one certain Tree outside Morrison's at Retford (yes, I was there again taking mum for her annual checkup at the doctors. A1 Pass) and decided whatever the cost I would call on my way home and buy it. Well, you've guessed, someone was just paying for it as I got there! So, tomorrow is officially designated the Tree buying/don't come home without one day.
The Sun was so bright and low on the horizon coming home across Oldcoates and past Firbeck the snowy fields looked pink.
Dog walked, hens put to bed, tea consumed another blog blogged for today. Off to the health club for a swim and sauna now.

3. Cross Country!

Today Dave and I took the Landrover on a cros country journey to Retford where my mum lives.
After calling at Morrison's and stocking her fridge we then put up her Christmas Tree and some decorations.
A trip into the small town of Retford for some Insulated Socks (pink & blue) from Edinburgh Wool, a coffee from Costa and some chocies from Thorntons reminded me how different life is in the country. Everyone was chatting and friendly and not zooming in to try and sell us stuff.
A treacherous journey home over roads still snow bound and covered in thick ice revealled the stupidity and ignorance of some drivers. Time for all new drivers to have a compulsory course on a skid-pan.

2. At last!

Well finally I have remembered the settings to regain access to my blog - der!
Our small village has been covered in snow for several days now. It is very beautiful to see but I am sure it makes life difficult for so many.
I know that it will be cleansing the ground and ridding it of many bugs and paracites but in the short term it can seem so cruel.
I am, however, doing my bit to feed the wild birds and make sure they can get to water.

We walked the dog down the fields behind our house today - we usually take him further afield - but we didn't get far before the snow was over his back. He is, as you can see from the profile picture, quite a large dog.
I hope the horse and cattle usually in the field are safelly tucked away somewhere.

1. Welcome to my blog

This is the first post of my personal journal/blog.
I started using it to learn more about blogging so that I can produce an effective business blog but I am starting to enjoy the process and hope you don't find it too boring.
As it is my personal blog I am leaving the security settings very low so please let me know if I get hacked or have inappropriate postings.
Please join in with your comments. Jill