Friday Frugalling :)

I have just returned from my first Christmas shopping expedition - just 2 shops but I'm exhausted - lol!

First stop was the Marks and Spencer's penny bazaar - a vintagey notebook, card game, man's hanky, man's socks in a bag, a tie - all for 1p each!





We also gave a charity contribution - on Wed it was for the British Legion and today was for "Sudden unexpected death due to Epilepsy" - one of the shop assistant's sisters died aged just 18 due to this so our jolly queue became very sombre when we reached the desk and found out what our shop's chosen charity was and met the young lady's Mom and sister. And everyone was so generous - so they should collect loads of money by this evening :)

We also had a discount voucher - unlike some stores there was no minimum spend so I got two lovely tops for our Moms for £6 each and their favourite smellies for just £3 so I have come in well under budget on these presents.

In Christmas mood I ordered my turkey and went onto Morrisons where tins of chocolates - Quality Street, Roses, Heroes and Celebrations are just £3.99 until this Sunday.

I tend to give family gift baskets to some of my friends which I line with a layer of sweets and
then fill with homemade stuff and bargain stuff I have picked up over the year - So I do feel a little way ahead in my Santa's helper's to do list.

Morrisons also had Amaryllis bulbs for £3! So a birthday gift sorted.

As I totted up my handicraft gifts I think I may have most of my gifts sorted apart from my sons. Steve and I tend not to buy a gift for each other these days but between Christmas and New Year when we are no longer entertaining house guests we tend to buy ourselves a few treats then.

Thankfully I bought charity cards, paper, advent candle, crackers, etc in the Jan sales so that's all ready. And saved Sainsbury's vouchers should cover the rest of the food shopping.

Can't wait for Dec 1st and the tree to go up - lol!!

I am home now for the rest of the day and plan to gently potter - laundry, changing bed linen, de-frosting the fridge and vacuuming - with lots of tea breaks in between :)

Happy Friday :)

Crazy conversations

Last night my bedside "reading" was the Cath Kidston catalogue - I know, I am sad and shallow, but you knew that all along!



Anyways, at lights out, as I settled to sleep - I played my favourite "going to sleep" game - (I hope you are not smirking here - lol!!) I imagine I have £20 to spend in a CK shop and I spend a deliciously dozy five minutes before sleep comes imagining what I would buy.



Last night I said to Steve - "If you had £20 to spend in a Cath Kidston shop, what would you spend it on?"

His reply?

"A taxi home".

I have tittered and giggled about this ever since :) As I said I'm shallow and sad - LOL!!

Crazy conversations.......

Working with children is great - they say such funny things....

M, aged 5, said to me: Mrs Clere, guess what?
Me: What?
M: Today my grand-daughter is coming to fetch me after school.
Me: Do you mean your childminder?
M: Oh yes, silly me, that's what I mean.
Me: Aren't some of our words long and complicated. No wonder we get muddled up.
M sighs heavily: I know ...........

They crack me up every time!
The same child.........

M: Mrs Clere, are you my friend?
Me: Of course I am. I'm always your friend.
M: What? Even when you tell me off like just then when I hit S.
Me: Yes, I have to tell you off for hitting but I'm still you're friend.
M: Good, OK.
Me: Are you my friend even when I have to tell you off?
M beaming : Yes, of course!!

Cute :) Still glad I'm not in school tomorrow though - lol!!

Happy Wednesday.

L.x.

This Christmas cactus flowers blousily every November and usually offers a second flush of flowers in the new year. I thought I had nearly lost it several years ago until I found out that the secret of these plants is to put them outdoors in the Summer months. The variation between Summer max and min temperatures forces the flower into bloom when it is returned indoors in the Autumn.

This plant is very special to me. My Dad's neighbour bought it for my Dad when he was in hospital 15 years ago. My Dad was in a coma. I spent all day every day with him and my Mom and brother spent all night with him. It is a long day when your companion is unconscious and yet you have to try to think of things to say in the hope you will bring them out of their coma. So I used to water the plant, shine it's leaves, dead head it etc whilst chatting to Dad about his garden and what we'd grow next season.

Dad died soon after. Mom was going to leave the plant to be thrown away so I asked if I could have it instead and it has bloomed and cheered me every year since :)

So I have put it in it's November spot in the living room - bitter / sweet but then so is life sometimes.

I have done another morning supply. I finish my supply teaching tomorrow. However, the LEA have asked me to do some consultancy work for them - weird or what? I shall work five days over 2 months - non teaching advisory work. I have to confirm this tomorrow if I wish to do the work.

Life is extraordinary, isn't it?

This afternoon I am catching up with church accounts and I shall be ironing - again - lol - whilst watching more Darling Buds of May on TV. And tomorrow I shall have my teacher head on again.

It is dark and Novembery outdoors so I have the heating, lamps and fairy lights aglow.

I saw & thanked the pharmacist today who had referred me to the hospital last month - he was very kind and I have been a bit tardy thanking him - but it is done now :)

Supper is lamb chops, mushrooms, tomatoes, sauteed potatoes. The evening will be spent with mugs of tea and knitting :)

Happy Tuesday, friends.

L.x.

Monday muchness

Good afternoon, my lovelies and how are you?



Today was another morning of supply. We had a mini inspection today by the Local Education Authority - two rather smiley ladies who asked lots of questions and listened to my answers and enjoyed chatting with "my" children. I am sure we did ok - no doubt the Headteacher will tell me tomorrow - especially if we didn't do ok - lol!



Then into town to collect my new glasses. I had a little walk around the chairity shops but found nothing that made my heart sing so my purse remains healthy looking - now that does make my heart sing!



And I finally got my knitting needles out and actually managed to knit four rows - ye ha - Houston we have lift off & I am ready to fly - lol!



I don't feel so whacked after work today and have done some cleaning and laundry. I spent an hour ironing whilst watching Darling Buds of May - how I oohed and aahed over Ma's kitchen - oh and her pretty bedroom and floral wallpaper - scrummy and all quite breathtaking for a vintage fan :)

Tonight is art class night. So I have to go to make an early supper this evening - oh and try and tidy the hall which is bursting with unopened post, shoes and coats. The housework soon goes to pieces when I work outside the home :(

A glimpse of my new mini journal.........

........polka dot prettiness and felt tips - what more could a girl want :)

L.x.

Hellloooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Another day, another lot of stuff to love :)

I still can't read much, so last night my lovely man read me some of my Bible. Gosh I have so missed reading my Bible - I think I'll have to listen to one of those online Bibles but the ones I've tried so far have such strange tone and intonation. However, come to think of it, I do have a tape of David Suchet reading John's gospel. Anyhows it was jolly nice to go to sleep listening to Steve reading part of Corinthians :)

Today we went to the Remembrance service. Our sermon was given by a local vicar who is also a forces chaplain. Amington Brass Band were there - how lovely to sing "God Save Our Queen" gustily to the accompaniement of a brass band :)

After lunch we went walking in Polesworth along the canal - I forgot to take my camera but this is where we went........

Our walks along the canal fill me with such joy - I am like a big kid - on one side are the barges and running parallel is the railway - trains and boats together!!!!!!! Love it.

Today the bells were ringing from Polesworth Abbey which seemed very fitting as we wandered along.

For the past 4 weeks I have been unable to knit as I just can not co-ordinate two needles - crochet I am fine but knitting no. Similarly using a sewing machine is difficult too. Anyhows tonight I am going to sit quietly and have another go at knitting. Wish me luck, as I have an order due out on Thursday - gulp! This is the first time in 40 years that knitting has been beyond me - weird!

Tomorrow I am supply teaching in the morning - I have just chosen what I shall wear - a bright, I mean BRIGHT PINK stripey top - so I shall look "in the pink" and I hope you are too!!

One step forward, two steps........?

Well friends it's been a pick 'n' mix kinda few days.

I slept for much of Friday morning - exhausted by just 3 half days of supply teaching :(

I saw my dr later in the afternoon for a routine check. He said that he can not say this was not a mini stroke :( My optician says it sounds very much like a mini stroke :( But both say that no permanent damage has been done :) My doctor said yesterday that he feels it is a neurological problem and he is arranging more tests and a consultant appointment.

So I left the dr's feeling - well I don't know how I felt really. So I went to buy a new top for a party we were going to last night. I chose a bright fuschia T type top and some black trousers which I can dress down for day wear and dress up for parties. I wore my kitten heel shoes, organza stole and a satin purse. My chum was at the party so we had a great time and Steve and I danced loads :) The theme of the party was Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing With The Stars?? in the US) - Steve & I have decided to take lessons!

Today I went to help with the washing up and stuff on the church Alpha course. Lots of good food, good friends and great prayer time.

Tonight is crochet/TV/ Magazine time.

Happy Weekend - and thanks for all your lovely comments :)