Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Sue's having a lie in, I don't blame her! I have had almost two hours in the shed and made progress.



The eccentric is now free and ready for fitting after a couple of small matters are attended to.
I shall have a walk now and then breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

Sue had no water during the night so deferred getting up for the loo for as long as possible in case we still hadn’t any, but it is back on now

On that note I am now in writing mode. I had a message this morning from my Swedish pen-pal , Marianne. We have written to each other since we were 11, these days by email or messenger. She has a lovely remote home in the countryside outside Stockholm. Sadly , she tells me, her husband died in September so she will probably now have to sell as it is too big to manage by herself. Like us she is unable to see anyone including children and grandchildren and has had a lonely, isolated snowy Christmas. There are inheritance issues too, same rules as France. Her husband had two children from a previous marriage who now inherit 50 %. Luckily she has a will that says they can only have 25 % now and the rest when she dies. She has a flat in a local town and will move there. I am busy writing to her as I write to you.

Yesterday was a sewing and decorating day. Great progress was made on my jacket, I just have to hem it and give it a final steam press. The study too is looking very good indeed. No doubt these will be todays jobs too . I also have rather a lot of ironing to do . I will fill the rest of the day writing up the genealogy report I did recently for my sisters friend.

Have a good day everyone. Luckily the weather warning has changed to less severe

[Sue]

You remember Eve bakes on a Friday evening when I whats app her. Well for my Christmas present from her, she has sent me a kit of ingredients so we can bake some cookies together this afternoon. Lovely idea. I am impressed. All weighed out in a jar, I just have to provide egg and butter that would not travel in the post

This worked brilliantly. Needless to say Eves were better than mine. That is why I don’t bake. I love cooking but am rubbish at baking and desserts . We have promised to do it again

More fantastic photos Maz. What a lovely place

[Wendyf]

Just about to wrap up well and put the ponies out. They have had breakfast and are waiting....

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[Stanley]

I'm glad you got your water back Sue. Are they having a problem?
Two sets of ears pricked there Wendy. They're lucky we seem to be having a respite before the nasties hit us later. They might be glad to see their stalls then. I hope they have a good morning and you as well Wendy. Give Col my best please, I'm thinking about him.

[Wendyf]

Are you sure the nasties are coming Stanley? It looks like sunshine and a risk of occasional snow showers through daylight hours. I'm positive . I'm hoping there isn't too much snow overnight as we have 3 days of Airedale visits from tomorrow. Col is feeling good, getting some walks in and eating well.

[Sue]

Are you sure the nasties are coming Stanley? It looks like sunshine and a risk of occasional snow showers through daylight hours. I'm positive . I'm hoping there isn't too much snow overnight as we have 3 days of Airedale visits from tomorrow. Col is feeling good, getting some walks in and eating well.

You are right, the nasties are staying south and around the channel and Brittany. Our yellow warning has been removed.

Yes, Stanley, we had no problem yesterday but they did at the bottom of the road. There was work going on all day. Perhaps they switched ours off during the night to fix the problem

[Marilyn]

I would be so honoured to greet those two in the mornings, Wendy. Special boys.

[Wendyf]

I would be so honoured to greet those two in the mornings, Wendy. Special boys.

I love to see their faces over the stable door when I go out in a morning Maz, there is always an anxious moment, a fear that they won't be there one day. Now I have the camera in the barn I can check on them if I hear a noise in the night, or just because it's good to watch them.

[Marilyn]

One must acknowledge the work...the pee and the poo...but they are so lovely. I can understand why you love them.

[Wendyf]

Are you sure the nasties are coming Stanley? It looks like sunshine and a risk of occasional snow showers through daylight hours. I'm positive . I'm hoping there isn't too much snow overnight as we have 3 days of Airedale visits from tomorrow. Col is feeling good, getting some walks in and eating well.

Stanley could have been right! Its pretty horrible out there now!

[plaques]

Got a good hour and half in the garden while it was fine but draw the line about using electrical power tools when its raining. Too many of these volts and amps knocking about for my liking. May play in the garage for a hour instead.

[Wendyf]

Icy, stinging sleet up here, I rescued the ponies just as the second batch was arriving. We performed a synchronised 'shoulder in' movement up the track with our backsides to the weather.

[Sue]

Icy, stinging sleet up here, I rescued the ponies just as the second batch was arriving. We performed a synchronised 'shoulder in' movement up the track with our backsides to the weather.

Nothing here

[Cathy]

I went walking around one of the posh area’s today. Lots of 2 storey homes with wrought iron fences and well kept gardens, cottages with white picket fences and lots of flowers . Spots with benches to sit and have a rest, with a lovely view.
I find it all ‘very English’. Ahh...

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[Stanley]

We had a sleet shower at about the same time as you Wendy but overall no problem and none in the forecast either for Col and the Airedale run, very similar to today for the next five days. The Met Office is always pessimistic, they have a yellow warning for snow on us today.
I shall be in the shed as usual with Margaret's engine.... Exercise and reading in the afternoon. No cooking needed, everything's cooked and in the fridge.
Later.... scrub the shed. I took a fancy to a day off from engine building. No problem, just a fancy and seeing as how I can please myself....

[Wendyf]

Not sure we can even get out Stanley! It snowed continuously from 4pm till about 8pm, we have 5 or 6 inches of snow. I can't see out just now as there is thick mist.

[Stanley]

Bugger! I doubt if there will be more as we are forecast a few days with no precipitation. As soon as you can get downhill a bit you'll lose the snow and mist. I hope that's so.....

[Marilyn]

The weather was one of my major worries with Col’s treatment. I worried about you battling foul weather, Wendy.
( Col will be ok. It is YOU I worry about)

[Wendyf]

My big worry too Maz, I thought we were going to get away with It!

[Sue]

Morning

I hope you can get out Wendy. Take care. Hopefully as Stanley says it will be better if you can get down the hill a bit. It was forecast to snow here overnight but we have nothing, the ground isn’t even damp, yet the local news is saying heavy snow has hit parts of Greater Manchester. Its forecast dry here, even sun.

The decorating is going a treat but now we have to try and move the big wardrobe. Its not the moving of the wardrobe so much as where to put the stuff when we empty it, as the contents of the study are all over the house. Not that it matters, we are hardly expecting visitors.

I finished my jacket yesterday but despite a good press the edges are sticking out. I have put it on my dressmakers mannequin and tacked it on, then steamed it in situ. I am hoping that as it cools it will take the right shape . It is wool which is fairly malleable. I then spent the rest of the day putting the info for Libby , my sisters friend, into the family tree program . I printed off a chart and report and sent it to her. I got back to the early 1700 s and may have proved the family story that her grandparents were distant cousins but we need to send for the marriage certificate to prove that for certain as it will give the name of the brides father .

I have no plans for the day other than I have pilates at 10.00. Taira is running one or two classes per day all week. Bob needs a new face mask as one of his is looking rather sad after many washes. I now have a pattern sent to me free, with something I ordered so I will give that a go. I shall take the rest of the day as it comes

Have a good day and I hope the weather hasn’t been too disruptive and that you do manage to get out Wendy. Thinking of you , on those roads

[Stanley]

I've been thinking about you as well Wendy. All I can do is tell you what I would do and I'll bet a pound you have already done them.
First I'd find out of the main road is clear then I'd persuade a neighbour with a tractor and a good rope to sit at the top of the lane and watch you as you come out. If you get stopped they can pop down and give you a tow out.
Sorry for stating the obvious Wendy, I'm sure you've already done this. Whatever you do, good luck.
PS. You're a far better driver than Col thinks! Get out there and attack it. Once you get used to it it's good fun.

[Marilyn]

Apart from the weather and the driving, the lass has a lot on her plate.

[Wendyf]

I've walked up to the road and it has been cleared and gritted in both directions, a four wheel drive must have come down the track to Brown Hill after the snow stopped last night leaving good tracks to follow, there is just the first bit from the house to negotiate, it's about 6ins deep but no drifting so i should be fine in the 4 wheel drive. I used to enjoy driving in the snow when we lived in Scotland and I was 30 years younger!
The lass is coping fine so far, thanks Maz, always thrived on a challenge.

[Wendyf]

Security camera view... next job is to get into my car!

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