28/12/2009 by Aileen.

Wed 23rd

Snow everywhere. Bought a chicken at the butcher’s in case we couldn’t get away. Fiona had checkup at hospital. The OU had theirsecond pantomime on Second Life, and it was really good. I was supposed to be in it, but there was a mix-up and didn’t have a part.

Thurs 24th

Fiona didn’t hear from the hospital, so all is well. We decided to drive to Scotland. No holdups, and worst bit was on Pennines towards Manchester. (Decided to go the long way and stick to motorways) Hotel wasn’t expecting us, but there was room anyway (unlike Mary and Joseph) Had a great time at Ali’s all evening. Lorraine and Claire came, and we had a wonderful selection of homemade food.I had terrrible acid all night with my throat burning me. Had to sleep sitting up. Took an extra tablet.

Fri25th

Woke at 9.20 after hardly sleeping a wink, so rang Ali and said I couldn’t go to Mass - which started at 9.30. She said it was 10 so I rushed, but when we got to the church there was no one in sight (carpark is round the back, but there was no visible activity, so she drove to St Mirin’s Cathedral and we got there as the first hymn started. We also left as the last hymn started! Ali was annoyed as it was meant to be a children’s mass and they sang Adeste Fideles (yes, the Latin version) I think she was wrong about it’s being a children’s mass. It wasn’t a Sunday, and they probably had different arrangments for Christmas, probably with a children’s Vigil Mass.

Anyway, back to the house where we opened the pressies,  ate, drank and were merry. Eric did the cooking and it was super.White Christmas! Good job John brought his cycle attachment, as the roads were icy. We left the car at the hotel each day, and just pushed over the road and round the corner to and from Ali’s.

Sat 26th

Got up late, pushed round to Ali’s, had fun again. After lunch Ali’s phone rang and I answered. It was Martin, ringing to say he was in Edinburgh and was on his way, but keep it a surprise. (He and Fiona had spent Christmas Day with her parents)

Poor Martin arrived much later. Plane was lating taking off from Heathrow, and missed it’s slot. Then it couldn’t land at Glasgow as bad weather had shut it, and was diverted to Edinbough, then Glasgow was reopened, so he eventually arrived. He said it would have been quicker to drive. Anyway, everyone was so pleased and surprised. We chatted, watched telly and played games.

Sunday 27th

John and I set off for home at 11am. Not as icy as before, and we were home in about 6 hours. (Stopped for Burger) So lovely to be home.

Monday 28th.

Here I am, back to my familiar routine. Only house doesn’t need cleaning as I did it before we left. I was a disgusting 11st 4 this morning, so I’m going to start exercising in earnest. For starters I’m going to walk to the doctors for my tablets today. It’s about 2 miles away. I don’t intend dieting - just going to eat less fattening things. Partly, it’s cos I want to cook more. Ali just throws things together and makes wonderful concoctions (doesn’t get it from me!) but I’ve decided I would like to have more varied food, so will make an effort. So. It’s exercise, exercise, exercise.

John and I got a Wii between us for Christmas, so this will be a start. Only nuisance is - John got it, and it’s Wii Sports, and I think it should have been Wii Fit. He says we can add Wii Fit to the basic kit. In the meantime - it’s walking and arerobic DVDs.

Anyway, have a good week, everyone. Here are a few photos from Christmas Day.

Ali through the hatch

Liam

Kieran

Brothers

Ali’s homemade cup!

Aftermath!

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19/12/2009 by Aileen.

No baby in the crib as it isn’t Christmas yet. No leaves on the trees as it isn’t summer yet.

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19/12/2009 by Aileen.

Poor Fiona, 32 weeks pregnant, was admitted to hospital on Thursday with obstetric cholestasis - a liver complaint that clears up after pregnancy but can affect the baby. She might have to have the little fella early. She was in the John Radcliffe which has an excellent reputation, so she’s in good hands. John and I were out on Thursday listening to the Scunthorpe Male Voice Choir, but the enjoyment was marred by worrying about Fiona. And thinking of Martin worrying on his own.Anyway, she was allowed home on Friday, and sounded very perky on the phone.Today, I should have been going on a walk with my OU friends, but the roads were probably too bad up on the Wolds, so we just met for coffee and lunch instead. Nice time.Just getting warm now. Chicken breasts cooking in mushroom soup with a little curry powder are in the oven, and I think we will have a little wine with it. I really pity anyone without shelter today. Our poor cats don’t want to go out but nature calls and they have to. I suppose I could have used the cat litter tray if we still have it, but it’s too late now.I meant to go out snapping this afternoon, but got involved making hair in Second Life, and the sun went. I am a silly billy. It was such a lovely sunny day today. I took some photos from the house this morning, so will upload them soon.

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11/12/2009 by Aileen.

REGULAR READERS of RAMBLINGS will know that I spend Mondays wearing myself out with moppin, dusting and vacuuming. Well this Monday I made the Christmas cake, which was such a major production for me I didn’t do any housework. At Viewfinders we did close-ups with a Christmas theme, but I forgot my tripod so the photos are rubbish.

On Tuesday I went to Donna Nook for the day.

Wednesday - we had the excitement of the ‘break-in’ through our garden into Colin’s. I also made twenty Christmas cards and wrote a Pantomime scene for Creative Writing.

Thursday - by coincidence we had our annual security check first thing, and then a police officer called about the break-in. I managed to do a little housework.

Today, we should have fun at Creative Writing. We each have to write a scene for Cinderella, and will put it together this morning. We then have our Christmas lunch, so John is coming along. It’s usually good pub grub at The Nag’s Head in Preston. (Village near Hedon!!!)

Bye all. Off to shower.

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09/12/2009 by Aileen.

Ooer. I looked out into the garden this morning (to check the birds) and saw a toolkit on the path near the feeders. Also, a clamp sort of contraption. Over a year ago I saw a motorcycle helmet down the bottom - I had left one of the side gates open. That same time there was some human sh   excrement in the grass smelling the place out.

I checked next door, and the toolbox belonged to Colin. The other bit was an attachment for his saw, which had gone missing. On investigating, the lock on the other side gate was forced. I wouldn’t mind, but Martin had noticed our previous lock wasn’t very strong, and had bought us a new one recently.

So someone has forced their way into our garden, stolen Colin’s saw, and made off back through our garden dropping the toolbox on the way. Weird. The similarities with the previous break-in is that our gates were used as the entry point, and on both occasions something was left.

The Crime Prevention Officer is coming round on Thursday to check our property. I think our house is very secure.

Anyway.  On to more pleasant things. I had a super day at Donna Nook yesterday with Michael and other birders. I took over 300 photos! I have deleted over half, not cos they’re rubbish, but cos they are too similar to the ones I’ve kept.

From Donna Nook we went to a nature reserve and saw a flock of shore larks.

Here are some photies.

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08/12/2009 by Aileen.

Just finished my first Terry Pratchett - Hogswatch (or The Hogfather or something). Not that impressed. It jumped too quickly from scene to scene, and although it was quite funny it’s not really my kind of humour. Characters are just caricatures too. No depth. When mum and dad first took me to a circus I kept saying, ‘Why are people laughing?’ when the clowns came on. He’s nor exactly slapstick, and I could appreciate his cleverness, but I don’t think I’ll be reading any more. Well, maybe one more in case this was a duff one.

Off  to Donna Nook today, to see the seals. Grrrreat.

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04/12/2009 by Aileen.

Everyone who knows me is tittering now. But I have had a good night’s sleep, off to Creative Writing now, library and food shop on the way home, off to Hull at 4pm for his Counselling Christmas bash, then home. And I feel alive and good. All’s well with the world.

Well, let’s not go down that route. Lots of people suffering. Today there will probably be the verdict on the young Leeds students who have been accused of murdering their friend. I just hope justice is done.

Oh, now I’m depressing myself. Bye. See y’all later.

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