Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

I hadn’t thought of testing the Christmas lights, @Obelix-Vendée. These days, I just assume they will all work, and they usually do.
Unlike my childhood days, when the annual testing of the lights could be as alarming and noisy as firework night! Loud bangs as fuses blew. Fizzing and explosions from the bulbs themselves, and the ever present risk of electrocution. Happy days!

 

Good afternoon all. Well my tree is 3/4 done and I am having a rest until tomorrow. Cricket has been away all day so hasn't yet seen the tree. I am in some trepidation as to how he will receive it! He should be putting in an appearance soon as it is almost his tea time. I still hate it when he is absent for so long. It was beautifully sunny this morning and I managed to get the bird feeders filled up again and sorted out some paper and cardboard rubbish for my blue bin which gets emptied tomorrow. This afternoon the sun disappeared and it started to look very stormy indeed. It hasn't actually rained though which is a plus.

 

Oh @lizzie27 final episode of Shetland tonight. Hopefully all will become clear!

 

Afternoon everyone. I hope everyone was ok with the horrible weather this week.

I’ve had all bar one of my hospital tests now and I’ve come away with a new medication. I’d like to be well enough to be back at work before Christmas but not sure if that’s a bit ambitious.

It was supposed to be dry all afternoon but it wasn’t. Let’s just say the tumble dryer is on. I’ve done a few little lights and decorations in my kitchen and my potted Christmas tree looks really healthy - it can be up-potted in Spring.

Have a good rest of the day folks.

 

Don't be in such a rush @AuntyRach. If your body needs rest and time to get used to the new meds, let it. Less likely to flake out in the NY then. Be a good patient patient!

I've had fun with the chooks - the three girls all came running with their wings flapping when I took their treats but scarpered when I started cleaning the shed floor. Floppy, who is now bare necked and tailless was huddled under the table in the polytunnel but came out for sweetcorn and sunflower seeds then went to play with the other three, shedding more feathers as she went. Jasiri scoffed her sweetcorn and then went to sleep.

We've poured a stone chipping path in the pen to get to their shed as all the rain has turned the grass into a mud bath. Slip free now and should be less mud on the shed floor now. We then tackled the clems and I have taken cuttings from Caerulea Luxurians who was making new shoots cos it's so warm here. Probably come to nothing but worth trying and I've collected loads of seeds from Maxima.

Jasiri came and helped me pick cavolo nero for tonight's dinner and has now discovered my piles of empty pots at the back - full of interesting bugs and small snails so she's having a fine time whilst t'other lot all went to bed early.

Pink skies now so some more games outside tomorrow while OH is playing golf.

Have a lovely evening everyone and enjoy Shetland, if you're watching. We are.

 

I shall enjoy watching Shetland as well @Ladybird4 and @Obelix_Vendee, it will be so interesting to see which character is the killer after all! First though, I've got to go for my CT scan which I'm not looking forward to at all. The scan's ok ish, it's having the cannula put in that's worrying me this time.

So sorry to hear you have health problems @AuntyRach, I didn't realize you were still off work but you're probably better off away from this flu bug that is going around. Hope you get better soon.

No decs or tree up yet for me - I like to wait till the week before Xmas - usually when my daughter's on her way up the M5 to stay with us! My mum never put hers up until Xmas Eve, I don't think she had any energy left before. Think I'll go more low key this year as I haven't much energy left either.

Love the daily report on your chooks @Obelix_Vendee - always makes me file.

It was a gorgeous day here, sunshine, blue sky and mild with it so enjoyed some gardening, so good to get out in the fresh air.

 

Hope the scan went well, @lizzie27, and the cannula wasn’t as bad as you were dreading. Feet up for a rest, and enjoy ‘Shetland’.
@AuntyRach, you, of all people, deserve a bit of a rest, after all those long shifts and cover for colleagues you’ve been doing. No rushing back before you are really ready, please.
I have to confess, I hated working the last few days before Christmas. So depressing when people would turn up with a problem they had tried to ignore for weeks, and arrive hoping for an impossible miracle on Christmas Eve. I much preferred to work the emergency clinic on Boxing Day morning. It was a great feeling to provide pain relief, the atmosphere seemed less desperate, and everyone treated was immensely grateful. I’d head home afterwards, looking forward to the Christmas Day leftovers, rather than feeling down about the poor souls spending Christmas Eve and Day waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.
I also love to hear about the chooks, @Obelix-Vendée! Does a diet including little snails and insects with carapaces, help towards the production of eggshells?

 

Yes, @Ergates, as do the linseeds and baked, crushed eggshells and oyster shells I put in their feed. However, as everyone is fairly bald and busy growing feathers there are no eggs at the mo. 5 hens and I have to buy eggs! Organic of course but their yolks are nowhere near as big and rich as my girls manage once they've settled.

 

I am another chook fan and am pleased to read that Jasiri is settling in so well @Obelix-Vendée. Hope the scan went well @lizzie27 and please do look after yourself @AuntyRach. Cricket still hasn't turned up and I know he has done this in the past and shows up hungry but it doesn't do much for my stress levels. I will not be able to rest until he pops through the cat flap.

 

Well Cricket has just graced me with his presence, bolted down his tea and has gone to inspect the tree. I am always mightily relieved when he shows up and is fine. Just another adventure I guess.

 

Hurray that Cricket came back for his tea @Ladybird4. I hope the tree and any adornments remain unscathed!

Thanks for the thoughtful messages folks.