Library

Our local library is apparently run by volunteers. For two weeks or so I have been trecking round there in attempts to gain information on local clubs and events to widen our current social circle, but the strange opening times have caught me out each time, until today. However, I now have all the information we could need to go gallivanting every evening or weekend. While in the library I noticed they had a book sale of well thumbed paperbacks from a wide range of subjects and authors, a few of which I randomly purchased and slung into a carrier bag with my information pamphlets to be read at my leisure. Talking of leisure,any spare time today was filled with more kitchen skirting board and cupboard painting. Having completed it all a quick inspection by Lynne revealed I had used the wrong paint ( bought by me but approved by Lynne ). I have asked her to purchase the correct paint and I'll start again I suppose. I suppressed /hid my anger/frustration by pruning a large bamboo in the garden !  Just to rub salt in the wounds Spurs beat Arsenal.

New look cupboards

Today was spent sanding and painting the doors on our large larder cupboards in the kitchen, leaving only the 2 kitchen entry doors to receive the same treatment, maybe tomorrow. I'll admit I am no Picasso with a paintbrush in my hand and I do not enjoy the challenge of decorating, far from it. Since my treatment I find painting physically challenging and the concentration levels hard to maintain , so by teatime I was knackered, but the result of my efforts looked impressive, confirmed by Lynne. 

The new cupboard handles were easy to fit and look far superior to the old ones.

Road test result.

My JCB's passed the test with flying colours. In fact they were so efficient I threw them off sometime during the night and arose with glowing tootsies.

Bed socks

Today started very early for me, following yet-another patchy sleep pattern during the night. ( note the sleep pattern has absolutely no connection to the Native American Apache Tribe ). There was a strange mixture of tiny snowflakes and drizzly rain first thing, quickly changing to heavy rain for the remainder of the day, most of which we spent in B and Q and Sainsbury's, having lunch in the latter, cheap and cheerful. 

It has been a painfull hip day for some unexplained reason, perhaps due to long hours in the car in the recent past ?

I was looking for a night time cold feet remedy in Sainsbury's but discovered they do not sell bed socks, so I settled for some colourful and surprisingly cosy JCB branded boot socks, as a reasonable compromise between nerd and butch. Full road test report later.

Closures

Yesterday's plans inevitably unscrambled before our eyes as our journey home from London ended in Hertfordshire as the matrix signs on the M25 alternately warned of an M1 closure between junctions 12 and 13, or severe congestion at the same location. In the end we opted to avoid the problem by dropping in to see Margaret and Bob via smaller roads and onwards, joining the M1 north of "the incident",which turned out to be a serious lorry crash, blocking the motorway in both direction and requiring air ambulance assistance , causing further delays. The driver survived once delivered to hospital and we made it home 2 hours late, but non the worse for the experience. Lynne had surpassed herself by navigating unknown country roads at night, in freezing conditions and with only a vague idea of where to go. A job brilliantly done.

This morning is sunny, bright and cold.

Lunch at the Red Lion was our only claim to excitement today and an early night scheduled for tonight, merely to catch up on some missed sleep over recent nights, you understand.

Christmas wonderland

   On the day of our return journey ( the plans haven't changed ) we awoke to the Christmas scene above, and very pretty it was too, although by mid- morning most of the snow had gone.

An accident on our giant car park, also known as the M25 London orbital motorway, caused massive traffic disruption on other roads, including severe delays on Lynne's journey to work ( a change of plan? ).Hopefully all will be back to normal before I set off by bus later to meet Lynne for the trip home to Leicester.

Plans, but subject to (frequent) change.

We are still staying with our youngest daughter and her partner, although I thought we were due to move to our "middle son's" today, not that I am unhappy here but just reporting "our" plans as I understood them. We are now due to return home from Lynne's workplace tomorrow, a day earlier than originally "planned". Are you keeping up ? 

Lynne has always been unpredictable ( one of the things that first attracted me ), but in those early days over 25 years ago I had a complete brain and could keep track of my life with minimum confusion. Not so with half a brain, but I hang on with traditional British grit. We get there in the end, but not necessarily by the route or timescale originally envisaged, negating  possible boredom I suppose. We old'uns get our excitement in unconventional ways, talking of which Lynne got medical clearance to give me a full-on visit to Alton Towers whenever we want. Nemesis here we come !