Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Did you get on top of the Red Mite?
I'll be thinking about friends who are in a far worse position than I am, two in particular.
I'll also be giving a bit of thought to Mr and Mrs Tiz who are under attack from the floods in Somerset. I spoke to Janet yesterday and so far they are OK. Largely because their house is old and the builders had enough sense to build on rising ground. Everything is flooded around them. I hope they are OK.
Today is the last F1 Grand Prix in Brazil and the world championship is still up for grabs. It will be an exciting race. Guess what I will be doing this afternoon!

[Wendyf]

Yes we did Stanley, a full frontal attack with mite killing spray followed by power washing and then a hearty application of creosote....seems to have done the trick. I'm going to bake my Xmas cake today, then if all outside tasks are done in time I can settle down to watch Formula One.

[EileenDavid]

Wendy you amaze me with your energy. Today I will be trying once again to piece some family history together. Can't work as long as I did as I have to rest my eyes more. Eileen

[Wendyf]

Eileen, I must be creating a false impression because I am a natural born couch potato who likes to approach life at a snails pace.

[Tizer]

I'll also be giving a bit of thought to Mr and Mrs Tiz who are under attack from the floods in Somerset. I spoke to Janet yesterday and so far they are OK. Largely because their house is old and the builders had enough sense to build on rising ground. Everything is flooded around them. I hope they are OK.

Thanks for your concern Stanley. We are fortunate, our lives have been disrupted and travel has been curtailed, but water has not flooded into our house. As I look out of my upstairs window it is about 95% water across the 2 miles of moor to the next high ground. Here in the Somerset Levels we live on what the locals have always called `islands' because they effectively became that during the winter months and before the monks of Glastonbury set up drainage channels 800 years ago they were islands in the marshes (King Alfred hid from the Danes on the `island' of Athelney a few miles away). As the climate changes and we get more heavy rainfalls it's turning back to the winter island scenario and one day it will probably become islands in the marshes again and eventually an archipelago (you can see I'm a bit pessimistic about the chances of the nations of the world cooperating to stop climate change!).

On Friday we risked the 50 mile journey to Exeter hospital to see my Dad who is recovering from the operation to remove his swollen armpit lymph gland. I took him for admission on Tuesday and the op was done on Wednesday but we hadn't been able to travel until Friday. What a start to the journey - a few miles from our village we had to drive through a river running across the road but we got in low gear, followed a safe distance behind the car in front and followed the highest point of the road. On the way home we took a long detour to avoid that problem - and it seems the road was closed anyway. Places like Taunton and Langport are having the real trouble, with houses and roads flooded.

My Dad had the lymph gland (size of a satsuma orange) removed under general anaesthetic and the doctors and nurses were surprised how quickly he healed and was up and about, but they were worried because he seemed very confused. Our visit confirmed it - he knew who we were but was talking nonsense some of the time and and his mind was wandering even when he was more `with it'....but when I've since phoned to ask about him they gave him the phone and we had a meaningful conversation, so we're keeping fingers crossed that he's still recovering from the anaesthesia.

[Stanley]

Glad your feet are dry! Good to hear your dad is recovering well. It sounds as though you had more rain last night.
Ringing Jack the sparks. The lamp in the kitchen healed itself but has now gone again. Action this day!

[EileenDavid]

I can't believe you Wendy, in fact all of the mainstays of this site always seem to have one project or another. Looking at the weather today I will be doing nothing. Eileen

[Wendyf]

It feels very cold outside, I shall aim to stay indoors as much as possible. Our way of life keeps me going Eileen, no choice but to look after the animals! Water seeping up through the floorboards in our bedroom this morning...turns out that there is a leaking pipe spraying water upwards in the utility room ceiling. Hey Ho!

[Sue]

Its the usual Monday, aquafit this morning, French this afternoon, art tonight.

[Moh]

We shall be going to get a halogen heater for our kitchen. When the previous owner had a new kitchen fitted she did not have a radiator in there, and there is nowhere to put one without doing away with a cupboard.

[Stanley]

I shall be fitting a new high frequency ballast in the bum light in the kitchen. If that doesn't cure it I shall try new tubes next.

[Wendyf]

Doing a bit of clearing up after yesterday's plumbing emergency, then the vet is coming sometime this afternoon to check the ponies teeth and administer tetanus jabs. I need to tidy them up before he comes, they look very unkempt at the moment!

[Sue]

Pedicure this morning, flu jab this afternoon. Also I am going to dust my Toby jugs and tidy the cupboards containing them. Believe me that is a big task. I think I may sell some .
I am also going to the Range to try and get a couple of frames and mounts for recent pictures. No dance exercise tonight as it is line dancing and I don't like that. I may do my Christmas card list and sort present lists

[EileenDavid]

Sorry to hear about the leak Wendy they are nasty. If the weather keeps dry we are out to try my new bus pass. Something to be said for retirement. Eileen

[Tizer]

Waiting for a builder who is trying to find a route through the floods from the east and a plumber who is having to take a long detour on the motorway from the south-west even though he lives only a few miles away. When he arrives our central heating will have to be shut down for pipes and rads to be removed in the back rooms ready for wall insulation. But the wall insulation hasn't been delivered yet (floods again) so it's a gamble shutting off the heating. Time to get the log burner going, and bring out the emergency convector and fan heater. Should be an exciting day!

[Moh]

How many toby jugs do you have Sue?

[Sue]

I've lost count possibly 300+. Some are very cheap and are now in the loft. We were given two when we got engaged, then used to buy one whenever we went on holiday when the girls were small. Then people started buying them for presents. In later years we started the rounds of antique and collectors fairs, and more recently eBay, collecting old rather than modern Tobies. I have a couple of Clarice Cliff, and some rather old and some unusual ones. I have also two big collections, one of Burlington, and one of Unicorn Wedgwood. Not expensive or notable but the fun is in the finding of ones I haven't already got.
A lot were Victorian fair prizes. Many are rather gaudy!
Today I have cleaned 5 display cupboards and 6 shelves. I keep thinking I ought to get rid of them , but having handled them today, I LIKE THEM!

[Stanley]

Decided it was daft climbing step ladders. My mate Jack the Sparks is coming to sort the lamp.

[Wendyf]

One pony needed a bit of rasping to file points off his teeth but is doing well for his 29 years and the other little chap didn't need any work doing, but then his teeth are almost worn away completely.
Colne library this morning, then a trip to the Manorlands Hospice to visit my uncle, who was admitted on Friday. Good to know he will be well looked after for his last few days.

[Marilyn]

Today I have mainly been...trying to stay sane.
As if this heat is not enough to send a person doolally, my neighbour has been using an electric brick cutter just the other side of our fence. He has been at it for fourteen solid hours.
( I have been wishing he would drop dead for the last six hours).

[Sue]

We went walking at Hurstwood today, it was a beautiful walk as it is such a beautiful day. Then we checked on Dad's house, had lunch out , and went to the cemetery to plant some lily of the valley on mum and dads grave. That makes about 150 bulbs we have planted of mixed type. They should look nice and should naturalise. Tonight is yoga.

[Stanley]

Reviewing the kitchen lamp situation. My sparks is AWOL. Do I put the new ballast in myself or call for Doc! I could do it myself but that's how silly Old Farts end up in hospital!

[Wendyf]

Doing my monthly bookkeeping job for a shop in Skipton.

[Sue]

Art this morning, then Christmas shopping in Bury this afternoon.

[Stanley]

Looking at the lamp and plotting! I hate it when something doesn't work! Perhaps Jack will respond today.....