Second week in February.

 Fairly ordinary week. I usually go to the library on a Monday. They are only open in the morning as it  is usually  a quiet day, but recently they now have a Mums and toddler group. I'm not grumbling but the car park is always full so I have to carry my book (last time I had 6) and juglling books, stick and bag is tricky.  This week iIcracked it I was up late and by the time I got there it was 11.15 and guess what carpark was nearly empty. so my cunnung plan is to go after 11 am!! Thursday was tipping it down with rain and it was so nice to see my stepson R. who was home from his work on the rigs off Norway. my daughter joined us to a lovely allday breakfast at the local waterpark which as always was packed out. Friday was a meday and I went to Matalan, 30% off womens clothes that day so a few goodies fell into my basket. Went to Glasswells for lunch which as always is very nice and so pleased to find they had pop up special cards and as I have a special wedding later in the year and one of my daughters is 60 this year (shush don't tell anyone) I found the perfect card for her **  Today has been mild and I spent a lovely morning in my back garden  having a good tidy up. Coffee in the garden, the first of the year, After lunch I planted som primulas in the 2 blue tubs under my front window and that ws a good end to the week.  I must fimish  now as Poppy is patting my arm to tell me it is her teatime so I must obey her!!!

Thank Goodness it's February.

 I'm glad January is over and I am feeling more with it! I'vemanaged to get out most days actually every day and my youngest grandson was 18 this week. I love going to my daughters every Tuesday when they make an evening meal with all the local family eating together after work when we catch up on news laugh and talk together. My daughter has 3 cats and I am their favourite person as when I walk in the door they come running for a few dreamies each. I have changed my library books, spent time at Zumba, filled the car up with diesel(5p voucher off every litre), had a happy couple of hours at our local coffee shop with my lunch club friends and on Friday had my hair cut and blowed by Laura. I love going to the salon and enjoying the atmosphere and friendship., and come out feeling and looking good! last night my daughter her 4 aunts and uncle spent the evening at Martlesham village club at a quiz evening to help raise funds. it was a good evening out and no we did'nt win and it was amazing how much we did and did'nt know between the 6 of us. I'm having a quiet day today so take care and Happy Sunday.Val and a snoozing Poppy

Disaster Saturday

 Yesterday was a disaster, well it was to me, as ITFC were wiped out of the cup by lowly Maidstone and it was live on BBC TV. Now I know that is really not a disaster but it in my small corner of the world it was ! Day started off well as I went to the church coffee morning, bought small homade cakes and savourys to have a picnic whilst wartching the match and won a prize in the draw. Did not pick up the chocs and came home with a pair of small plastic storage boxes. during the match a friend????? texted 2 twice to say how well Maidstone was doing and what a great job the goalkeeper was doing. I never replied as anyone who knows me knows not to contact me during a match. (well if my daughters did I would expect it to be an emergancy.)  Well thats got that off my chest. Its been quite a quiet week with only Zumba to go to. I haden't been  since before Chhristmas due to illness and I really enjoyed it and the coffee and chat afterwards. I'm hoping to get out for a walk later if it's not too cold so will get into the shower and put my slow cooker on with a chicken casserole.x

Getting back on track.

 It's taken a while to get back on track. Walking has gone out of the window as this last week has been freezing cold with sharp winds and I just don't want to get colder by walking for pleasure. Some nights Iv'e worn an extra cardigan in bed and Poppy and I have snuggled down in bed with the electric blanket on.I have started to go to my monthly groups and this week it was the Gathering at St Marys church. All us oldies were feeling chilly so the lady who came to do simple chair exercises did a good job eventually getting us out of the chair and trying to stand on one leg!! much  laughter amd giggling went on ,and a good time was had by all. I chose a jigsaw from the draw and took it to our family meal as my daughter and son in law always have one on the go. Ginny one of their cats loves patting the pieces into place. As Eric Morcambe said it's the right piece but not neccesairly in the right place!!  Next day I went to my normal Seated Zumba class. but was so under the weather I didn't get out of my car and had to go home instead until I warmed up with a hot water bottle.When T my neighbour is bored he pops round and does little jobs for me and this time he moved a shelf in a kitchen cupboard for me .I am getting shorter and shorter! put a picture I had for Christmas up and tightened up my uplighter. I have read  Richard Osmans book so reterned it to the library where I had another book waiting.This has lots of reserves on it so I had to spend a happy weekend reading and have finished it. I'm all read out so am now catching up on The Archers on my Ipad whilst relaxing in a chair with a throw over me to snuggle under. Storm Isea arrived last night a very windy up to 80 miles an hour gusts so  my happy ending is that apart from one plastic garden chair blowing over I had no problems. Hugs from Poppy and Val x 

Back to Normal

 I am back to normal(well nearly), I haven't been out much as it's taken all week to get over Covid and I'm still tired. On Monday my neighbour loaded up his van and took all my accumalated rubbish to the tip thank goodness. I hadn't been to the tip since before Lockdown so didn't realise that you have to book now, luckily they had a spot free and it is still free!! I've still got a list of things to do but still can'be bothered.I did get to the Library and picked up my 6 books and took 4 back I'm reading Richard Osmans book first The Last Devil to Die, as it still has a long list of reserves on it. hopefully I can renew some of the others. Lounge looks a bit sorry for itself with the decorations down but my daughter sent me some lovely flowers by post to cheer me up. Too cold for me to go to football on Saturday night so I took a bottle of mulled wine and my last Florentines along the road to my other daughter and watched Ipswich beat Sunderland 2-1. her cats were delighted to get an extra Dreami when we scored and we ate all the Florentines.  I am going to start going out for a walk today but not yet as it is-1% at the moment so perhaps I will get the bed changed instead, think about the walk whilst I drink my coffee in my new bone china breakfast Monet cup and saucer, a treat for me, by me, on ebay which I couldn't resist. Have a happy week and take care of yourselves. Love from Poppy and Val

Covid

 Little did I think that my next post would be about Covid. I escaped it for the last 2 years and still being fairly careful I have now sucumbed. Google tell me I have most of the usual symptons and I felt so awful I didn't bother to drag out my test kit because I just hadn't the energy to bother. My duvet day has stretched out to a duvet week. and except for yesterday when I walked round my back garden The furthest I have been is to put my recycling bin out at the bottom of the drive.  My daughter has insisted that I have the heating on all day so I dread to think how much that will cost. She bought me some much needed top up supplies yesterday especialy Coffee*** I only drink coffee and water so the sight of only enough for 3 cups made me call for help! I missed my monthly birthday coffee club get together in our village coffee shop and am running out of Florentines I had for Christmas, probably won't find any more till next Christmas in the supermarkets, if I ever get there again.!!  today I am feeling a bit better so with a bit of luck I might get out next week. I need to as 5 books are waiting for me on the reserved shelf at my local library.  Poppy is patting my arm which means she wants some thing so  I better go and see to whatever it is.

New Year 20 24

 Happy New Year to anyone who reads this blog. I seem to have missed 2023 as several things  took over the Year, mainly my 80th birtday and my grandsons wonderful wedding at Hintlesham Hall Suffolk, where I was able to stay overnight, something I never thought I would ever do, and the bed was the best one I have ever slept in !!

This year I have already got  several exciting things to do which if I keep up with this blog I will share with you. I am hoping to walk  most days and today I did walk for 15 minutes without using my stick, although I did  carry it with me just in case. This afternoon I am going to watch on my computer IpswichTown Football Club playing Stoke City. I do love my football and have watched ITFC since I was 15 years old ! so I will sign off now as kick off is in 40 mins and I must set up this computer and make a coffee  and enjoy my first match in 2024. Poppy sends her love and is already curled up on the sofa for a long sleep until tea time.