Today I shall be Mainly...

[Cathy]

And vise-versa !!

[Stanley]

Main thing is not to worry about death.... I once heard it called the last great adventure, that sounds about right to me....
We are getting near my annual Messiah fest when I listen to it all the way through. Lovely memories of going to oratorios with my mother at local chapels and my Uncle Tom Challenger who sang with the Huddersfield Choral for many years until he reneged and joined the Gilbert and Sullivan....
I washed my bedding yesterday and had a lovely sleep last night. If I was very rich I would have clean Christie plain white heavy cotton duvet covers every day!
In the shed today making interesting things.....

[Cathy]

If I were rich I would sleep between 1000 count Egyptian cotton sheets.

[Stanley]

Ahhhh, you know your pick counts Cathy! Well done. The best cotton cloth we ever wove at Bancroft was super-combed long staple Egyptian warp and weft. Very heavy cloth. Funnily enough it never saw the inside of a house, it went for making industrial high speed polishing mop wheels which had to be the very best quality, if not they simply disintegrated.

[Sue]

Ian that happened exactly the same for me, but grandpa was sat on my bed and said not to worry he was alright now. He had been very ill in hospital

[Moh]

I too remember my grandson aged 3 telling his mum that 'grandad had been and sat on his bed.'

[Stanley]

"There are more things in heaven and earth ....", Shakespeare had it right. I don't have any fear or belief in ghosts but I am no better informed than anyone else so I always give credence to what they say. Have a look at 'brane theory' and you will find a partial possible explanation.....
I shall be in the shed as soon as possible but expect to be interrupted (welcome!) by John who is coming round to brainstorm....

[Sue]

Ouch bad back, can't move!

[Wendyf]

[Moh]

Hope it improves for Christmas Sue.

[Stanley]

Isn't it amazing how unwelcome events like a bad back get their timing just right! Keep it warm and get Bob to rub it with expensive oils..... (Clarins products are good.....)
Compared to yesterday's brainstorm with John it will be a quiet day. Some last minute milk, fruit and veggie shopping and a spell in the shed. Lovely.....

[Sue]

Rest, painkillers and anti inflammatory seemed to do the trick. I was OK by bedtime. It set again overnight but I got up and took some more painkillers. I think I must have done something when I put the new bedding and valance on the bed, or possibly from sitting in one position sewing. My jacket is progressing nicely. It may be finished for New Years Eve.

[Stanley]

Sue, after more years than I care to think about dealing with back pain, one thing I have learned is that it's a good idea to audit your sitting position in any circumstance where you spend quite a lot of time. A goo tip I saw the other day was to raise your monitor screen 6" so you are looking up at it and not down.... Haven't done anything about it yet but I like the general principle.
I shall be enjoying myself feeling smug because I am ready for Xmas and putting the finishing touches to a thing of beauty in the shed....

[Sue]

Exactly Stanley, that is why I have bought a purpose built sewing table and a new chair at the right height. I think the biggest criminal in my recent back flare up was changing the valance on the bed. Also changing a king size duvet cover is a nightmare. In France I shake them over the stair balcony. Here there is no such luxury living in a bungalow.
All good now.

Off to Christmas brunch and story telling at the museum in Rawtenstall.

[Stanley]

Good luck with it Sue..... Get a man in to change beds.....
My Xmas preparations are complete, Carl has just delivered my wrap up which as usual is full of surprises. Different goodies, many of which I wouldn't buy. For tea I am on meat paste butties and a nibble on a cooked chicken. The rest will freeze. Grand daughter Laura is on the plane to Nepal as I write, she's volunteering for 14 days in a children's hospital. She will be so excited.... Question is, is Nepal ready for her!

[Stanley]

Doing the same as usual but enjoying a visit from Susan later this morning. I like the structure of my days.....

[Moh]

Off to Spain for a couple of weeks.

[Stanley]

Ah! That's why you are up so early! Have a lovely time Moh and don't forget the sun block! I hope you have good weather.....

[Julie in Norfolk]

Julie, I have done a White Goods Dance and shaved my head to protect all of us.

Stanley you failed, as did the dishwasher. Not the end of the world though.............

[Stanley]

Sorry about that Julie, at least I tried! Did you pick up that Maz's washing machine has been officially declared dead and she will eventually get a new one under warranty? Perhaps the dance worked there....
Today will be a quiet day.... No visitors expected so I can have a normal day, doing exactly what I want to do and none of it will be too taxing! (I wonder whether I have put up a hostage to fortune.....)

[Stanley]

Having another quiet day in the shed......
I might write an article.... I'm well in front of myself this morning.

[Stanley]

I wrote an article about the flooding and then went in the shed. Could do the same this morning.....

[Stanley]

You know where I'll be.... I get so much pleasure from pottering about in the shed making my bits and pieces. I realise that this will be a mystery to many but once machining sinks its fangs into you, you are hooked for life!

[Stanley]

Spot the progress....

[Sue]

Nursing the after effects of the winter vomiting bug. Bob had it on the day after Boxing Day.it looks like it went through all of my daughters partners family and my sister before Christmas. Our daughter Julia made a hasty retreat back to Coventry with the girls last night when it looked like I was about to succomb.