Monday 28 February 2011
Monday 21 February 2011
Monday 14 February 2011
Lazy retirement?
Do you wonder what retired people do all day with all that free time? When people ask me, my mind goes blank. But there seems to be plenty going on. Here's a week's diary.
Monday
Did the bins, then some garden tidying in wind & drizzle. Did emails. Went to 'Ladies who Coffee' an informal weekly get-together at our refurbished local hotel. The mega-costly coffees supplemented this week by free Danish pastries. Things are looking up. Went to school for identification of archaeological finds as part of their Roman week. Took photos as HoF too poorly. Did some sewing, started to read play for tomorrow. Community choir in evening, a new Georgian song & one for Valentine's Day.
Tuesday
Had an experience today where I spent a lot of money online & didn't have to feel guilty, because it was Big Sis's money! Booked barge holiday for four in April. Now need good weather to go with it. Seemed to spend plenty of time online - trains to Malvern, (for spa visit with Miss P next week)restaurant research, present for Caleb, replying to friend who's having work problems. HoF up and dressed after days feeling ill. We walked The Loop. In evening to play reading of 'Rebecca.' I was Beatrice & HoF was Col Julyan. We acquitted ourselves reasonably.
Wednesday
Saw a brambling in garden & lots of birds on feeders. I am trialling bird seed for gardening Which. Spent ages on computer researching Swiss part of Big Sis's visit. HoF went to take photos of school's Roman outing to local homes built within vallum. Made myself do gardening - cleaned 'stream' & ran it, collected dead leaves. Dug some leeks & parsnips, but broccoli is a goner with freezing winter. Prayer meeting with small group at 5pm (probably the most important point in our week), then evening Bible study when we looked at Dali's 'Crucifixion' and compared it to scripture. Finished book 'Right Attitude to Rain' in bed.
Thursday
Caught bus to town, chatting to friend about local matters, including mud patch where twenty new houses are to be built. Bought train ticket for Malvern, and tickets to see 'King's Speech' on Sunday, fruit & bacon at farmers' market. Afternoon did a volunteer driver run to another local town and shopped at supermarket. Went to Stitching Group in evening, an excuse to chat to other women and spend time on the enormous cross-stitch which Miss P abandoned. Sleepless night; at least it's a way to get through the library books.
Friday
Changed both big beds. HoF went to do more school photography and I followed down to bridge to watch the small Roman soldiers marching along banging their swords on shields. Did another volunteer drive & sat reading outside surgery. In the evening I went to another village to watch film 'Round Island with a Fridge', light & amusing. Back in my own (our) bed after a week in study to avoid germs and coughing. Slept like a log.
Saturday
Preparing for meeting & visitors. Neighbour visited and also elderly cousin who enjoyed a chat and seeing our garden. Finally gave up booking Swiss train trip as too pricey - back to drawing board.Old friends arrived, P&C from Bristol. Walked them down to bridge & back before meal: cold ham, salad & patatas bravas (idea from our holiday). P spoke at our monthly meeting held in our house; twenty of us this time and a good atmosphere, with some staying to chat quite late.
Sunday
To an evangelical church in a nearby town where P spoke at the morning meeting and was well received. (The common folk heard him gladly). We saw them off and came home with other friends. Quick lunch then out to see 'King's Speech', very well cast and acted. Glad to sit by our real fire when we came home whilst the rain poured outside. Started another book and had an early night.
Monday
Did the bins, then some garden tidying in wind & drizzle. Did emails. Went to 'Ladies who Coffee' an informal weekly get-together at our refurbished local hotel. The mega-costly coffees supplemented this week by free Danish pastries. Things are looking up. Went to school for identification of archaeological finds as part of their Roman week. Took photos as HoF too poorly. Did some sewing, started to read play for tomorrow. Community choir in evening, a new Georgian song & one for Valentine's Day.
Tuesday
Had an experience today where I spent a lot of money online & didn't have to feel guilty, because it was Big Sis's money! Booked barge holiday for four in April. Now need good weather to go with it. Seemed to spend plenty of time online - trains to Malvern, (for spa visit with Miss P next week)restaurant research, present for Caleb, replying to friend who's having work problems. HoF up and dressed after days feeling ill. We walked The Loop. In evening to play reading of 'Rebecca.' I was Beatrice & HoF was Col Julyan. We acquitted ourselves reasonably.
Wednesday
Saw a brambling in garden & lots of birds on feeders. I am trialling bird seed for gardening Which. Spent ages on computer researching Swiss part of Big Sis's visit. HoF went to take photos of school's Roman outing to local homes built within vallum. Made myself do gardening - cleaned 'stream' & ran it, collected dead leaves. Dug some leeks & parsnips, but broccoli is a goner with freezing winter. Prayer meeting with small group at 5pm (probably the most important point in our week), then evening Bible study when we looked at Dali's 'Crucifixion' and compared it to scripture. Finished book 'Right Attitude to Rain' in bed.
Thursday
Caught bus to town, chatting to friend about local matters, including mud patch where twenty new houses are to be built. Bought train ticket for Malvern, and tickets to see 'King's Speech' on Sunday, fruit & bacon at farmers' market. Afternoon did a volunteer driver run to another local town and shopped at supermarket. Went to Stitching Group in evening, an excuse to chat to other women and spend time on the enormous cross-stitch which Miss P abandoned. Sleepless night; at least it's a way to get through the library books.
Friday
Changed both big beds. HoF went to do more school photography and I followed down to bridge to watch the small Roman soldiers marching along banging their swords on shields. Did another volunteer drive & sat reading outside surgery. In the evening I went to another village to watch film 'Round Island with a Fridge', light & amusing. Back in my own (our) bed after a week in study to avoid germs and coughing. Slept like a log.
Saturday
Preparing for meeting & visitors. Neighbour visited and also elderly cousin who enjoyed a chat and seeing our garden. Finally gave up booking Swiss train trip as too pricey - back to drawing board.Old friends arrived, P&C from Bristol. Walked them down to bridge & back before meal: cold ham, salad & patatas bravas (idea from our holiday). P spoke at our monthly meeting held in our house; twenty of us this time and a good atmosphere, with some staying to chat quite late.
Sunday
To an evangelical church in a nearby town where P spoke at the morning meeting and was well received. (The common folk heard him gladly). We saw them off and came home with other friends. Quick lunch then out to see 'King's Speech', very well cast and acted. Glad to sit by our real fire when we came home whilst the rain poured outside. Started another book and had an early night.
Saturday 5 February 2011
Lanzarote
The weather wasn't all we might have wished but we did see some blue sky most days. We had one of those hire car deals where you are obliged to pay for a full tank of fuel, so we made the most of not being able to just laze by the pool to go up to the north of the island to visit places we hadn't been before. Our best 'find' was a beachside cafe in Arrieta, recommended by an expat, where we had the best tapas ever. Other than that it was a reading opportunity, as ever, and HoF even won a table tennis session. Since we've been home he's been tucked in bed with the cold he hatched out there. His new phone came in handy for keeping up with texts and emails and suchlike techy fixes.
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