LIGHTS IN THE SKY 2013

[Marilyn]

When I say I am sick of catering for Christmas Dinner, I should add that I have dealt with a couple of generations of guests who are suddenly “ vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, salt free, won’t eat anything “green”, on low carb, can’t eat anything with a face, low sugar, diabetic, no alcohol, macro, organic only - you name it - I am sick of bending over backwards.
I say “ bring your own food” and lets get together!
Funny...they don’t like that. They like being fussed over and catered for.
( ain’t gonna happen any more!)

[Stanley]

Susan told us yesterday about a woman who spent years as kitchen slave to a large family. Last year, she and her husband booked a cruise and broke the news to the family two months before Xmas. No news of how the family managed but the couple were in Honolulu yesterday!

[Marilyn]

I expect her sentiments may mirror my own, Stanley.
( it is getting too hard to please the people)

The fact is, that society has come a long way from folk starving to death on Nettle Soup.

[Wendyf]

Colin bought me the brush, but it's exactly what I wanted!!

[Tizer]

Maz, Did you listen to the Xmas edition of the `Three Vicars'? LINK

[Marilyn]

I have desperately been trying to find the time Tizer. (Hubby has had me scrubbing floor tiles he wants to re-coat today. I have been head down and bum up!)
Luckily I am pain free, so I have been happy to do it ( I can’t believe my luck actually). But as soon as I get my rest time, I shall investigate. I keep thinking about it.

[plaques]

I hate these Boxing days sales. Massive discounts on virtually everything you could wish to buy. Anything from 25% to 75% off normal listed prices. This means since I never buy anything my savings have dropped by up to 50% on the things I wouldn't buy. If they start giving things away my savings will hit rock bottom.

[Marilyn]

[Tizer]

Maz, you can catch up with the vicars later when Febby sets you free. I'm glad to hear you're pain free!

Plaques, I recognise that problem and it affects me too. chin up!

[Marilyn]

(A bit stiff this morning...but no pain )
Returning to the bum up position to mask up tiles today, with plenty of padding under the knees. We have a rectangle of floor tiles in our entry that we wanted to give a bit more life to. I wanted a black border with a black diamond in the middle. The furniture strewn about is to remind us not to walk on them, as the stuff doesn’t properly harden for a week.
Then, upstairs, we are repainting tiles in our guest bathroom. ( again Black...as I hate the maroon feature tiles presently in there). Once this tile paint is mixed with the hardener we have 10 days to complete our task, as the mixture is useless after 10 days. So no visitors just now PLEASE!

[Marilyn]

Upside down but rotates when pressed.
We also have random tiles to paint throughout the lower floor...( furniture everywhere to prevent us stepping on them) now that one came out right way up!

[Stanley]

God it looks cleeeeeeen.
P, Only answer to the savings conundrum I have found is to give it to the kids and let them worry about it!

[Marilyn]

We are both “clean freaks”. But we never feel clean when we have a project going! We feel we are living in a mess.
Everything has had a first coat, some bits have had a second coat. We have downed tools and are resting this afternoon, as it has got a bit warm (36C). But we are very happy with how the whole project is coming along.

[Stanley]

When you've finished pop round here, I can find you a bit of decorating to do.....

[Marilyn]

Oh Stanley, it’s been soooo long since I was entirely pain free that doing the kind of stuff we used to do is exhilarating.
I’m told there is another disc waiting to pop in my spine, but until it does, I intend to enjoy the honeymoon.

[Stanley]

That's the spirit!

[Tizer]

Wendy, I'm glad the broom was what you wanted. When a present was a bit dodgy Mrs Tiz's mother always resorted to: `What lovely wrapping paper!'

[Marilyn]

I used to have an old in-law like Mrs. Tiz’s Mum. She would fold the wrapping carefully and put in her “paper and string” drawer. The present always got re-gifted.... often in the same paper!

When she was in her 90s, about all you could buy her were chocolates or flowers or take her out for a meal if she was well enough. The chocolates always got re-gifted..
(The woman had been a miser all her life...)

[Marilyn]

More painting today. We will work until early afternoon, as it will be another very warm day.
It is all looking pretty good!

[Stanley]

God, not more paint? This is as bad as mentioning politics!

[Marilyn]

Well he is painting tiles, and I have amused myself painting bathroom accessories...
Not quite dry yet, but have put the last coat of gloss on after the paint effect.

[Tizer]

They look swish, Mash, well done!

Gifts - it was often easy to give people chocolates, a tin of fancy biscuits, or a bottle of something alcoholic. Now we often realise the proposed recipient is diabetic and that makes the choice of present less easy.

[Marilyn]

Our “old dear” wasn’t diabetic...even in her 90s.

[Stanley]

Safest Xmas present of all is a good photograph you took yourself. Guaranteed unique and everyone likes a good pic.
Looks like good paint for engine beds......

[Stanley]

I suppose we are approaching the time when the emitters are switched off and we are left in peace for another year. When is Twelfth Night? I get two answers when I enquire, both the 5th and 6th of January.