Afternoon Crackers!

Thank you BM and I'm so sorry to hear that you too are under the weather and just as your birthday is approaching, not on! I hope you get better soon.

I think I mentioned I did send PB a text but I never heard anything back so I too hope her parents are okay.

Well I now have to supervise my husband!! Imagine he can't wait for me to leave for the UK on Friday! Fortunately I had already prepared the graves for All Saints next week, but they still need a layer of black soil and the main decoration to be placed on each, which I can't carry but I can't trust the husband to do in my absence especially as his family will be checking my handiwork....

Be good Crackers!

This is a quick continuation of the previous. I wanted to check back a page to see if I had already commented on something and fortunately remembered that if I did not post I would lose it when I went back a page. In any case, I did get through my extraction ok; the specialist was very good and I did not even feel him take the tooth and was surprised when he said he was about to put in a stitch and then he was finished. After I returned home, however, it was really quite painful and I have a large bruise on my chin but it is improving daily. I was very disappointed though that the day of the appointment just happened to be the same day a meeting of my Writers Group was scheduled in the afternoon and my Book Club met in the evening. The next book to read is "The Light Between Two Oceans." Has anyone read it or does anyone have a plan to see the movie? My sister-in-law has the book and is lending it to me; she says it is a good story.
I have recently been on my horse again after such a long layoff because of the extended heat. I've felt really out of riding shape and it was made worse when I recently saw a profile on the CBC National news of the granddame of riding here, a remarkable woman who is still riding at age 96! The horse she was riding was anything but a plodder- very lively in fact. I believe I have mentioned her before as I am acquainted with her and it was at her farm that the horse show where I was the announcer was held this past summer. She is a remarkable woman with many achievements in riding and I feel fortunate to have had some contact with her. One of her memories is of attending the 1936 Olympics in Germany and recognizing the importance of Jessie Owens (hope I have name correct) the Black runner from the US and his achievement.
MITM, I hope you have a good time in England and that your injury is on the mend. BM, I'm thinking of you and hope you are also recovering. As you said in one of your posts, PB and LMV are in our thoughts. PB, I miss your horsey chat particularly. Nellie is doing well but I brought her in from the yard earlier today because of the low temps.
Past Sunday, my sister (she of the garden and garage help) went for a nice drive around some of the outlying country roads where the trees were in glorious colour (not sure why the ones in my village are behind). There may not be imposing mountains in Ontario but the size and variety of trees is to me a great redeeming feature. We saw three deer gleening a corn field and two large hawks- exactly where I like to see them, in the country not around my birdfeeder! CBC also reported this week that Lonely Planet traveller guide has named Canada as the number one travel destination for 2017, which is also the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation so there will probably be even more tourists next year.
Off again. Regards.

Evening Crackers!

So pleased to see you 'back' with us PB and enjoying/dealing with life. Lovely to hear your news. Sadly I can't write more I'm flying tomorrow and leaving very early and I've still got a basket of work ironing to complete 'one handed'! The husband has done everything else and will be driving for 6 hours tomorrow so I can't leave his ironing not done! Will keep in touch whilst in the UK if only to let you know I'm being good!

Be good Crackers!

HI BM - lovely to read your post - it sounds like your health is still a worry though - I'm so sorry to hear that. How long before you will be able to come to the house in Somerset? Are you hoping to retire there? How long is it till you go to Bali? Is that a holiday or work for your OH?

I have promised myself I will try to swim at least twice a week now - although I've only managed once again this week - the difficulty is that my days are already very long so by the time I get away from work, the thought of swimming followed by the hour plus drive home are quite hard to take. The good news is that there is a cafe serving good healthy food where I can take a little supper if I want but this makes it even later when I get home and I find myself feeling unreasonably tired because I haven't been home and relaxed before bed. Its all in my head and I just need to stop fretting about it and do it but I'm not quite there yet.

MITM I'm so sorry to hear about your arm - poor you! I can speak from experience now that I understand how frustrating you will be finding every day activities at the moment- i hope it won't be for too much longer. Enjoy your trip in the UK.

Well I need to make cake and do some housework (not least hanging out my washing as its a lovely day) so I will close now. Speak soon.

take care Crackers!

PB XX

Hi BM your cat sounds a lot like one I had called Frodo. He was big and had attitude but only one eye which made him look quite scary but in fact he was a big softie and quite a local character. It was hard to lose him but I had him for about 13 years so he did quite well. I missed him a lot. I'm sure the sores aren't as bad as you think. Hope you are ok for Bali though. It sounds wonderful

My busy time caught up with me today and I conked out at about 3pm so no choir for me tonight. I've lit the fire for the first time this winter and its good to be indoors and cosy. Yesterday I had church 3times. The first one was my usual Sunday morning service. Then in the afternoon I went to Yoxford where I was confirmed and then in the evening we had a benefice service in which I was singing but oh dear my voice cracked quite badly so I need to stop singing for a bit.

I have a moggy on my knee at the moment and my legs are going numb. He hasn't been interested all summer. Now he's clinging....


Take care all
Love PB xxx

Hello Crackers. It's a busy time of the year but I see Crackers have logged in and lost weight - well done.
Here there is a dramatic change in the weather. On Friday I was again raking leaves, especially trying to keep them out of my pond. Today, after yesterday's snow storm, the ground is covered with several inches of snow and it is 1C; Friday, it was 18C! Today, there is still one tree in my back yard with almost half its leaves, although the rest are now bare.It looks very odd against the snow.
I did not venture out at all yesterday except to let Nellie out briefly for her business. I have not felt very Christmasy yet but decided since I would be indoors for the day to get some decorations out. After, I was finished the house felt quite cheery and I was glad I had made the effort. So my small porcelain village is set up with its attendant characters and a wreath is on the door. I think the village is my favourite Christmas decor. I like the warm light that shines through the windows of the buildings and the miniature characters are very realistic looking. Some pieces were Christmas gifts (the church from a sister, a piece with a dog, two children and a father pulling a sled with a Christmas tree was a gift from my brother and his wife who passed away a year ago). I have accumulated far more decorations than I use now, but the ones I really like have associations with other people mainly. I put out my Spode Christmas tree teapot- I always liked that old pattern and I really like that I found my Spode in a consignment store as it is quite old (mostly from the fifties) but more importantly all made in England, before it was made offshore. (I think you can tell the difference)
Last Thursday, my book club and my writing group both met. They make an interesting contrast; at the afternoon writer's group, there is always a lot of food, particularly contributed by one member who is Italian and admits that she loves to cook and eat. The conversation often strays off topic although somehow we get through reading our pieces we have brought in and discuss technical issues or write short pieces from prompts. I had brought in a story in the horror genre, not something I regularly read and had not tried before so I was really pleased at how well it went off. The book club is quite different. It is very serious and every meeting is presided over by a presenter (two retired professors who are paid) who spends the first half hour lecturing on the book before turning to discussion. No distracting food there!
This time it was Ian McEwan's The Children Act, a very strong novel about a female judge who presides over family court trying to bring rational solutions to difficult cases while outside the court her long term marriage is imploding. I am really enjoying both groups and glad that they are so different.
Must off now. Regards.

Good Morning Crackers!

Firstly my apologies Crackers for my long absence... during my 3 weeks in the UK - I couldn't access my account for whatever reason from my mobile or my Father's tablet. It wouldn't recognize my user name most frustrating?! Especially since the daughter could get me in on her laptop but that proved to be inconvenient to her as I have one, very, busy, studious, young, daughter! So I gave up logging in. And then on my return to Austria, I kept getting redirected to the German site and then I couldn't get to our group! However I've now got around that problem and I'm back.

Good news my plaster came off last week hurrah! As it went the length of my elbow to my fingers I had been able to do next to nothing. Although just using just my fingertips I was able to continue making schlipfkrapfen fortunately before I left for the UK. Now I have a support bandage until my next appointment but what a pleasure in regaining the use of my wrist. It's obviously (as it's only been 5 weeks) not back to full strength and I'm being very sensible and following the doctor's orders so no carrying potatoes or cooking them or pressing them but I can at least peel them. I can write again which I've missed so much, I can hold and turn a hairbrush so I can dry my uncontrollable hair both sides once more. I've looked such a fright for 4 weeks!! Put on lipstick again without going over the edges and not looking like a child did it! Do my bra up at the back... oh I am so appreciative of the small things in life - eating with a knife AND fork!!

Surprisingly my weight was not an issue. I had no problems maintaining whilst in the UK. My lovely Father who was away whilst I was house-sitting and looking after the daughter, had prepared and frozen meals for me in normal sized portions - so no over eating! I just added frozen vegetables if the daughter wasn't around to peel. I walked lots. I did over indulge the few times I met up with friends but it all balanced out. I had a mini reunion with my first group of 'dieting friends' who I lived in a hotel with when I was 19 and the diet consisted of baked potatoes and cottage cheese! Maybe this is why I can no longer face jacket potatoes! It was the custom when you came on duty (we were hotel receptionists) to bring your 2 litre bottle of diet coke with you for the shift, to sit on the hotel safe! We drank gallons of the stuff! The 4 of us altogether haven't met up since my daughter was born so it was great catching up. One friend was staying the weekend with me. We took our tea at a hippy styled cafe and I had an Ella recipe coconut brownie - if I'm going to eat a brownie, I'd rather eat one of my own on the odd occasion, than this 'healthy' version! Out of the 4 of us, I'm the only one who is winning the battle of the bulge - 2 of my friends have long, long, since given up beating their middle-aged spread and the other has sessions of winning. However I did read 61% of the UK population is now overweight.

It did make me think is it vanity that keeps me at target?! When I was young and following stupid dieting fads I would say yes, but now I eat a healthy, balanced diet if I stray for too long and start eating 'rubbish' I feel so dreadful, I just want to return to my basic way of eating and fast. But that saying nothing tastes as good as being slim works for me too and vanity steps in if for example I'm offered a sweet or chocolate, saying no is not a hardship for me, if it keeps me at target. I'll eat chocolates at Christmas and Easter and special occasions but not as an every day occurrence or as one of my friends did, delves into her handbag and pops into her mouth a sweet! BM you're right I am unhappy (like when I had my minor blip) if I'm not in total control, panic sets in. I hate wearing clothes that are too tight or feeling I can pinch an inch hanging over my waist band. But as Beck says 'it's all the daily little things, that lead up to BIG weight loss.'

On my return I met up with my English friends here and as it was a bright sunny day, I wore my new navy, suede, tassled loafers, with my 3/4 length bright cerise coat, over my winter, navy woolen 3/4 length cigarette trousers and the thrill I got as I slipped the trousers on! In my head I'm always thinking I need to be 9.10 to safely wear these slim fitting trousers and for some time now I've been 9.7 but I still haven't got my head around this new number, so it surprises me when something fits perfectly! In defense of me still wearing theses trousers which I've probably had nearly as long as I've known the Crackers but are in immaculate condition, as they only get wore a couple of times a year up my mountain - a quote from Laura Hutton 'fashion is what you're offered 4 times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.' I like that one!

How is your garden Bracken? The first thing I did without my plaster, I raked up all the leaves! I used my good wrist to drag but I could now guide the rake with my healing wrist. We had snow here whilst I was away (long since melted) so the final leaves dropped. I've been able to clear and tidy the garden. I hate leaving the leaves scattered over the field outside our house, from our trees in case the fence goes up for the sheep before I've removed them but I can rest easy, I've done my bit ready for Spring. When I return to the hospital in a weeks time, they will assess if I need physio - I'm hopeful as I'm not in any pain and I've been exercising my wrist whilst making schlipfkfrapen (and of course we're making lots) and with my spot of gardening I'm getting all the movement I need to help strengthen it. But we will see.

BM - did you get to Bali and I hope you are now fully recovered again?
PB - have you worn the new ballgown yet?
Bracken - I treated myself after walking around John Lewis, to some green Spode Thyme tea plates and mugs (which safely arrived in one piece) to sit and take tea in my sitting room once I get motivated to start decorating, I need the husband to bring down the Christmas boxes and I need to bake some mince pies!

Be good Crackers!

P.S. Oh and I can type again - bliss!

Oh LMV you've certainly had an Annus horribilis. It's so sad and so exhausting for you. My wish is for you to have a much better 2017! I won't be sorry to see the back of this year either but my troubles are minimal and my ankle is mended so I will count my blessings. My fairy goddaughter has come to stay with her granny and auntie so I have a house full and can hear her running around asking granny questions. It's delightful! She's fascinated by the stairs and is counting her way up and down them.

Christmas is coming along and I even posted some cards yesterday! My tree is up and there are lots of parcels under the tree one or two are even for me. I wrapped a few on Thursday night after singing carols at the pub (glass of wine in hand). It's fun wrapping when you are squiffy but it's probably not the best time to do it!!!

I've lost a few pounds in the last month but I think that has more to do with being a bit stress at work and forgetting to eat. Can't imagine it will continue over the holiday. Giving blood on Boxing Day and then 1 more day and it's back to work

Oh well that's all for now. Talk soon Crackers.
PB xxxx

(the continuation)One member is Italian by birth and loves to cook- she made a lasagna and meatballs, complete with her homemade tomato sauce she cans herself. Absolutely delicious.
There were also mini quiches, Italian bread, salad and a couple of desserts and chocolates. I knew there would be far more food than we really needed so instead of bringing something for the luncheon, I made everyone a pot of black currant jam from the berries I picked and froze in the summer. Members seemed pleased to get that. We also had a small gift exchange.
Gifts had to have a writing theme; I received a mug with the greatest first lines of literature including David Copperfield, The Catcher in the Rye, Huckleberry Finn, Pride and Prejudice etc. I knew nearly all of them so will enjoy reading them as I sip a cup of tea. We did get down to the purpose of our group- the writing too. We had decided to bring a piece that reflected a Christmas theme. I wrote a personal essay, which was essentially true with perhaps a few coloured details about a Christmas concert our school put on when I was in grade 2. These were a feature of elementary schools then. My school was a one room rural school with grades
1-8, all in the same classroom. I was fortunate to have the same excellent teacher for grades 1-6. The school was very close to the nearby Church and the concert was presented at the church and featured singing, recitations, a Christmas pageant, one year a 20 minute version of A Christmas Carol, piano selections from students etc. Another member wrote a hilarious account of the presentation of the Christ story at her school concert which had us all laughing
as the Mary character (revealed as based on the behaviour of the member who wrote it) turned into a total diva who demanded she wear a garish necklace,told the three wisemen to speak up and ended up in a physical altercation with Joseph when he forgot his lines. My piece was reflective in tone, about the times and people at those concerts in our community. Today here, not many schools have a concert and there is so much emphasis on political correctness that specific reference to Christmas is often banished, replaced by "Holiday Concert." Of course, this just reflect the larger society where the term "The Holidays" largely replaces Christmas. I understand that Canada is a diverse country, but ironically there is often specific reference throughout the year to Eid, Dwali, and other religious holidays.
I have completely several stints 'manning' the Christmas kettles to raise funds for the Salvation Army and still have a few to do. With this change in weather, I am glad I got some done as I would cancel if the driving is bad. I've got most of my Christmas shopping done and have only the local cards to do.
Must off for now. Regards.

Good morning, Crackers. Another cold day here and already a lot of snow and significant snowbanks created by the snow plows cleaning the streets.Yet only two weeks ago I was setting out the last of the raked leaves; I had over 50 bags this year and many were quite heavy and compacted. I went out to clear the snow off my vehicle and start it up- it told me it was -15C.
I too have finished my cards finally and my shopping but no wrapping done yet. perhaps later today as I don't think I'll venture out or perhaps rather briefly as I need to buy a dessert (being lazy- that chocolate truffle torte sounds delicious) for the early Christmas we will have at one of my brother's. I will bake and prepare butternut squash to take and have already bought wine.
I did another shift at the kettles yesterday so no more this week but have three scheduled for next week. Yesterday went well. I always do knitting while doing the kettles and had a couple of people stop for a nice chat because of the knitting. There was young girl and her brother who each came with a 20 dollar bill. I thanked them and, as is my habit with any young person I try to thank the parents for teaching their children to give back. I could not see the parents but later it became clear, they were with their grandmother and the they had also bought a toy each to contribute to a toy collection. I heard the grandmother talking about making the donation as they passed by the door and thought what a lovely thing she had done. I wish I saw this more often as I think it needs to be taught; it doesn't just happen. And a coin is just as acceptable.
LMV, you are making an excellent start with your exercise program and before the new year. Well done! I have been having difficulty with exercise because it is really too cold for me to walk outdoors at the moment. I have also had some recent flareup with my hiatal herna despite very moderate eating. Quite frustrating. However, I need to try the treadmill which I have been using because I could until recently still walk outdoors. Another option I'll try after Christmas seems possible at a local, large hardware store which actually has a sign saying well-behaved dogs are welcome. That would be great if I can take Nellie and chalk up some steps that way. I'll look forward to your response to the Light... novel. I enjoyed it.I am unfamiliar with the Anne Cheeves books but will check them out.
Hope all are well. Regards.

Just a quick check in before I go to church. Lovely to see all the posts! Typically, I've gone down with a bug and can bearly speak never mind sing.... all is well otherwise though. Only one more week and then a lovely long weekend. I have, for the first time in years finished cards and presents. Now just need energy to tidy up and give the house a good clean (although mums coming to stay so I'm tempted to leave it as she will clean everywhere whether I've cleaned or not). Hope the 18th was a success MITM! Let's hope master chipmunk reappears too Bracken. It's good to have the Crackers back together and I hope that we will all have a much better 2017. PB

Hello all and may I add my own Merry Christmas to you all. Since my last post I went down with a throat infection which took away my voice. I'm now battling a chesty cough so sadly absolutely no singing this Christmas. Hope to be up to singing on 8th Jan when we are joining with a local brass band so not a total washout. But very disappointed that I wasn't well enough even to attend my church Carol service.
The wildlife sounds lovely Bracken. I have bird feeders so often see little finches and robins and sparrows. I hear an owl at night too but haven't seen one around during the day.
The night was beautiful and clear when I came home this evening, very crisp and the sky was filled with stars. One more days y at t work then, at last some proper rest.
Take care Crackers PB xxxx

So sorry to hear your Daughter is unwell MITM hope she will soon be much better and can enjoy her celebrations at a later date. PB hope you are also completely over your bout of ill health too before the 8th. I've been in a bit of a pickle health wise but that's par for the course! I'm back up now and looking forward to today especially Skyping all the Grandchildren at home although that is very bittersweet.

I'm sorry I haven't read the mails properly just skimmed through, I will enjoy them later with a cup of tea once the phone calls are done.

I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year. Let's hope 2017 is a good one for us all.

Love to all and Nadolig Llawen from Singapore! Xx

77Bailey77 wrote: »

Wishing all us lovely Crackers a Peaceful and Happy New Year. Let's hope 2017 is a good one for all.

I'll second that - Happy New Year Crackers! MITM