#SoCS - 17/10/26 - Pitch

Linda provides the prompts for this and today's link up is here.

Your prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pitch.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it way you’d like. Have fun!

Back in September our community held a "Picnic in the Park".  This is an annual event and will include a variety of attractions plus various local organisations, charities etc will have a space to pitch their stall in our local park.

The food bank that I volunteer at has a stall each year.  I volunteered to help transport tables, gazebo, goods etc to the pitch in the morning and help set up and then to do the packing up at the end of the day.  Consequently I was there for most of the day.  

I did take a break around lunch time to go home, have something to eat and a sit down before heading back.

However, at just after 3 pm Transport for London seemed to think I had taken my car through one of the tunnels under the river Thames.  I haven't yet mastered the ability to be in two places at once, a skill that would be very useful at times.

Anyway, I have an account set up with them to automatically pay the fee should I use either tunnel and as the fee is quite small, and I rarely use the tunnels, I don't always check the monthly statement I get.  This month I did check it and realised their error.  Naturally I emailed them to advise them of this.

A week later I got a reply saying that "having reviewed the evidence" they agreed it was a mistake and I would be refunded.  Of course the sensible thing to do would be to refund my account.  But apparently they can't do that.  Oh no.  They said they would send me a cheque!

Who uses cheques these days? I certainly don't.  Can't remember the last time I wrote one.  Anyway the cheque duly arrived in the grand sum of £1.50.  I'd love to know how much it actually cost to carry out this procedure, not to mention the postage.  A costly error on their part and they didn't answer my question of whether they had misread another car's registration plate or if my registration plate was actually on a different car, i.e. it had been cloned.  Hopefully not but I will be checking these statements more carefully in future just in case.

Thankfully I can pay the cheque into my bank via the banking app which I've already done.  It's a bit fiddly but I don't even know where my nearest bank branch is anymore to deposit it in person.  So many of them have been closed.  I know I could probably also do it at an ATM machine but that would require remembering my PIN.  

Does anyone else have trouble remembering PIN numbers now that we make so many payments using contactless?  On my credit card app I can view my pin if I need to but not the banking app.  Maybe I'll pitch that as an idea for them to develop.  The staff no longer working in branches need something to do!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend all.

#SoCS - 10/10/26

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “familiar.” 

Linda provides the prompts for these posts and the link up is here.

I'm sure we're all familiar with the idea of familiars if you've read the Philip Pullman books or anything similar.  Linda talked about naming a spider in her kitchen Mildred.  I followed that up with naming a spider in my spare bedroom Elsie.  

Well I'm not sure that Elsie actually exists.  I haven't seen her.  My son claims to have seen her while he was staying here but she's proved elusive to me.  To be fair I don't spend a lot of time in the spare bedroom so it's not surprising I haven't seen her.  She probably a bit lonely in there all on her own.  Unless she's brought some friends in to keep her company.  I do hope not!

#SoCS - 3/10/26 - Breeze

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “breeze.” Use it way you’d like. Have fun!

These prompts are provided by Linda who blogs here.  Pop over and see who else is taking part.

Well looking out of my window there is not much of a breeze going on which is annoying as I have a whole load of washing out and I don't think it's going to be much drier now than when I put it out.  Although actually Hubby put some of it out for me earlier.  Pretty obvious from the way it's pegged!

image courtesy of Magnific

There must be some sort of breeze going on because the clouds have gathered and it looks like we will probably get some promised  rain soon.  I should probably get the washing in and put it on the indoor airer.  Wish I'd done that in the first place.  

Don't you hate it when you end up doing something twice?  Doing the washing is definitely not a breeze on days like today.

SoCS - 1/8/26- Draw

I had to draw in a deep breath the other day, so that I didn't say something I might have regretted to my Hubby.

We both have iPhones and we both have the wallet style cases for them.  

(I'll insert an example later.)

I've mentioned before how both of us having black cases, and our kitchen worktops being black has caused confusion and issues.  Hubby is often misplacing his phone in one of the various pockets of the clothing he's wearing too.  He does love clothing with pockets!  He has also more recently started using his own version of a Manbag that he also misplaces.  It's an ongoing saga.

Anyway the case for his phone had got really tatty so he saw a case in a charity shop (have I mentioned that he loves browsing charity shops? A lot!) so he thought he would get it.  Of course he didn't check in the shop if it was the right case for his phone.  In fact he didn't even pay for the case.  He just walked out with it.  Not deliberately you understand just his usual absent minded self.  He probably picked up the case and then spent ages looking at other stuff before walking out forgetting he still had the phone case!

Well of course I was not impressed at a) him now being a thief and b) the case not even fitting his phone.  Well the phone fitted in the case but the opening for the camera wasn't in the right place, rendering it impossible for him to take photos!

This week I decided enough was enough.  So I ordered 2 new cases.  One for me in bright red, and one for him in blue.  They duly arrived but Hubby was struggling to fit his phone into the new case.  I struggled initially too until I realised what the problem was.  Only my Hubby could pull the holding frame from the old case off with the phone still inside and then try and fit both of them into the new holding frame!

And then he wonders why I'm often drawing deep breaths!

This is a similar case.  The holding frame is the place where your phone sits inside the case.  It is not removeable.  It is not meant to be removed!  I have told him that he needs to return the case to the charity shop.  Hopefully he won't come back with something equally useless.

SoCS is hosted by Linda who blogs here where you can see all the rules and see who else is taking part.

Today's prompt was "draw"

#SoCS - 30/5/26 - Impress

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “impress” Use it as a verb, use it as a noun, use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Well one thing that does impress me is the people who blog regularly, some even every day, and come up with prompts for challenges like Linda who blogs here and comes up with our #SoCS prompt every week.  She also does a One Liner Wednesday and is behind the Just Jot it January challenge which is a huge undertaking.

I also take part in the Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce here and I try not to miss Friday's Fave Fives which Susanne hosts here.

Of course there are lots of blog hops that it's quite easy to find one for every day of the week but I do like to be a little bit original if I can.  One of the reasons I love the A-Z challenge that takes place in April is that it makes me blog every day but also allows me to come up with my own posts.  The team behind that challenge, which has been running since 2010 are very impressive.

Blogging every day is sometimes a challenge too far for me though.  I have done better this year, trying to have a blog hop or a theme running for every day of the week.  I had a think about what sort of posts I wanted to do and how the week would look and came up with the following:

Sunday would be looking back on the photos I'd taken in the previous week.

Monday would just be me waffling on like I usually do, probably with a weekend recap or something that I hoped readers might find worth reading.

Tuesday is the News day - trying to pick out interesting pieces of news locally, internationally, items relating to sports and entertainment and then either a feel good story or something quirky.

Wednesday is Hodgepodge Day

Thursday is something book related

Friday is the Fave Five of the week and then

Saturday is of course #SoCS.

Yep, something for every day.  Sounds impressive.  The reality is somewhat less.  For starters I am rubbish at taking photos.  Not when I actually take them - I usually try to get a decent photo.  No the problem is remembering to take them.  Things happen and I think I should have taken a photo of that but then the moment is gone.  Of course I could just take a picture of my dinner every day like a lot of Instagrammers seem to do but as my only input to that would be the eating of said meal (Hubby does the cooking here) that didn't seem right.  I do try and think of a good pic now and again but I definitely haven't made that habit stick, yet!

As for the news, well that has been quite depressing for such a long time really so some weeks it's been hard to find stories that are a bit more uplifting.

The other days have been a bit easier but I don't always do well on the #SoCS front.  The problem I find with #SoCS is that there are a lot of authors and poets who take part and they write impressive posts and I look at mine and think that's a bit trite so I don't always link them to Linda's page.  

And then of course throw in a visit from my son and his family, down from Nottingham for a few days, which then involves my daughter and her family coming here too and blogging gets put on the back burner.  I was AWOL for a whole week!

Still I'm here today and I will link to Linda's site as I think I've used the prompt word a few times at least.

Happy weekend all.

#SoCS - 9/5/26 - Contrast

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “contrast.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

These weekly prompts are provided by Linda and the link up is here. Thanks Linda.

Well the idea of these posts is that we don't really think about them too much - just get writing and see what flows.  I'm having a hard time thinking what to write about this word.  I know what it means but what to write about it?

In contrast, when I know what I'm going to write I can waffle on for ages.  I've just recently finished the A-Z challenge during April and had a lovely time waffling on about authors and the books that I've read.  Reading is another thing I could talk about for ages.  I love reading and proper books mainly although I will read e-books too.  In fact I've just downloaded one from the library to read.  

I'm trying to work through my TBR pile but failing miserably.  That's what happens when you join two reading groups and you're also doing a challenge based on 52 prompts for the year.  Thankfully the reading group choices have worked for prompts on the list so I'm keeping the number of books I need to read over the year manageable.  I can usually get through a book a week without too much trouble.  Depending on the book of course.  Some of the reading groups choices have taken a while!  Not because they're particularly long but because they weren't as enjoyable.  The discussions on some of the books have been interesting.

Oh and there has been contrast there with people either loving or hating a book!

Phew got that in eventually. 

#SoCS - 2/5/26 - Neat

Linda hosts SoCS and today's offerings can be found here.  Thank you Linda.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “neat.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

I spent some time yesterday helping a young relative sort out clothing.  They have had a rough time over the last few years and lost both parents in 2025.  Persuading them to tackle the mountain of clothes in the house has not been easy.  We all grieve in different ways and we need to be ready for each task before it can be done.

Recently though progress has been made and when it became clear that they were ready to at least make a start on sorting out the clothing, a couple of family members were happy to step in and help.  Including me.

It was a bit like doing a Marie Kondo clear out - holding up an item of clothing except instead of "does it spark joy?" or "do you love it?", we had keep, charity shop or rubbish.  The keep and charity shop also being sub divided into wash or clean.  Decisions were made quickly and no time was allowed for a change of mind.

I came home with a lot of bags for the charity shops.  I didn't actually count them yet (they're in my garage) but there's at least 10.  Now I could well do without this task but I knew that if we left those bags there they would probably still be there in weeks to come and they really don't have the space.  Anyway I was just so glad that this task is finally being tackled and I have the time and energy to move the bags on, either by taking them to a charity shop or by putting them out for the regular street collections that get done by charities around here.

I think it will be some time before the rooms we were liberating can be classed as neat and tidy but it was a huge step forward that we can hopefully build on soon.

#SoCS - 28/3/26 - Portrait

Linda provides the prompts for #SoCS and the link up is here.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “portrait.” Use it way you’d like. Have fun!

Why is it that when you take a selfie which is just another word for portrait, the result never looks the same as what I see in the mirror?!

Short and sweet.  I was at the Foodbank all morning dealing with deliveries so I'm off for a sit down and possibly a nap.  Hope no one takes a portrait of that.

#SoCS - 21/3/26 - Easy/Hard

Linda provides the prompts for #SoCS and the link up is here.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “easy/hard.” Use one, use both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if you get both words into your post. Enjoy!

Well I'm going to use both by asking is it easy/hard to listen to an audio book?

I have never really settled to listening to audio books.  Some years ago my daughter gifted me a six month subscription to audible but I was still working at the time so the only time I really had for reading was when I went to bed.

Well I'm sure you can guess what happened.  I would often fall asleep listening to the book so I consequently found myself having to backtrack, trying to work out at what point I was up to when I fell asleep and often reading the same chapter over and over.

Needless to say I did not renew the subscription when the gift period expired.

Fast forward to now and I read a lot.  I'm retired so I can really read as much as I want and when I want.  I do love a physical book but I also like the convenience of reading on my Kindle App, especially when on holiday.  But I've kept away from audio books.

Until today.  I mistakenly ordered an audio version of a book from the library rather than the physical copy.  I decided to give it a go.

Straight off I had to speed it up.  The narrator's voice was boring and slow.  I worked out how to speed it up and I actually managed to listen to the whole book during the course of this afternoon and evening.

It was Wednesday's Child by Peter Robinson which is a DCI Banks story. (Actually #6 in the series.)  This is a very English crime series that has been televised.  I enjoyed the TV series and the books have been ok so far. (I'm trying to read them in order.)  They're not 5 star material but they're quite gritty at times.  This one was a bit more graphic than some and the crime centred around a child abduction.

My main problems with the audio version were that:

1)  I found the narrator annoying - and it was the same one for all the characters, men and women; and

2)  I noticed how much detail there was in all the descriptions.  Of everything.

Perhaps when I've been reading the books I've skimmed over that or maybe this book was just more descriptive than previous ones.

Anyway I finished it. 

But it hasn't persuaded me that audio books are my thing.  I was knitting while listening so it was productive in that way but I'm not sure I would necessarily keep all the plot details in my head if I was doing something that required a bit more concentration.  Chick lit might work I suppose but I'm not convinced.

I'll definitely be more careful when ordering books from the library in future though!

Are you an audio book fan? 

#SoCS - 13/3/26 - Review

The Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompts are provided by Linda.  To find out more or to take part go here.  Thanks Linda.

Your prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “review.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

I seem to be writing a lot of books reviews lately.  I'm definitely doing a lot of reading and I try to review all the books I read even if it's only a few lines.

Being a member of two in person book clubs that were set up through my local library means getting through at least 2 books per month but taking part in the 52 Book Club challenge means I actually trying to get through a book a week.  Which is doable.  Just.  Although some of the books I've earmarked to read for the 52 Book Club Challenge are long.  

Wherever possible I'm trying to find prompts for the book club reads and so far I've managed to do that this year.  Not sure where I might fit "The trouble with goats and sheep" by Joanna Cannon into but hopefully it will work for something.  I haven't started it yet but it's a re read for me so I'm sure it won't take me too long to get through it.

I quite enjoy doing those sort of reviews - helps me to remember the book having written about it.

The reviews I hate doing, and actually don't do very often are the ones from companies after you've bought a product.  Or the delivery companies wanting to know how the delivery was.  Including how the person delivery the item did.  Well how should I know?  Most times you don't even see them.  They leave the parcel in my porch.  If I'm lucky they might ring the doorbell or use the knocker but most times they don't.  But of course there will be an e-mail telling me they've delivered the parcel.  Which will probably be about the 5th or 6th email about that item.  You know how it goes:

Thank you for your order.

We're processing your order.

We've despatched your order.

The courier has your order.

We'll let you know when your order is out for delivery.

Your order is out for delivery.

Your order was delivered.

How was your delivery?

How was your order?

Actually that amounts to at least 9 emails about ink cartridges I ordered.  And of course if something goes wrong there are even more e-mails!

And then you want me to leave a review?  Sorry, not happening.  Unless I have something to complain about, then you'll hear from me.

I have better things to do.  Happy weekend.

#SoCS - 7/3/26 - Distance

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “distance.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

The prompts for #SoCS are provided by Linda who blogs here.  Pop over to her site to find out more and see who is joining in.

I am really trying to go the distance here with my blog.  Apart from a couple of late night posts which just slipped over the midnight mark I think I've managed to post something everyday this year.

Of course the Just Jot it January challenge helped.  (Also hosted by Linda - Thanks!) and now I've got into a bit of routine with the various types of posts I'm doing on regular days.  #SoCS is of course the regular Saturday post but it's probably one of the easier ones because the prompts are random and the very nature of the posts suits my waffling tendency.

But some days are easier than others.  Especially when you have other things to be done too.  A reading challenge for example.  Which requires 52 books over the year.  Again I'm doing ok so far, even slightly ahead of myself but some books are easier than others to read.  And there are the two IRL reading groups I'm in through my local library.  I really enjoy those because I've met new people through them and as we moved to an area where I knew no one that's a definite bonus for me.

I also joined a knitting group for the same reason - to meet people, but of course that means I have to do some knitting.  Oh and attend the group meetings.  At least this group only meets fortnightly and the book groups are monthly.

Then there is the keep fit group that meets weekly which is vital - I need to keep in shape!  Although the shifting of crates of food at the foodbank is probably as good a workout as going to a gym.

Don't have time for a gym!

Throw in babysitting and keeping the house clean and tidy and the weeks go by in a blink of the eye.  Especially when I'm also keeping an eye on the steps/distance I walk.  Distance today: 2.06 miles.

I'm so glad I'm retired.

#SoCS - 28/2/26 - Smooth

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “smooth.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Our host for #SoCS is Linda who blogs here.

Why is it that building works never seem to keep to plan and run smoothly?  Many of you will know that I volunteer at our local Foodbank which is actually held in a Church.  We run sessions on a Tuesday and Thursday, with a community cafe operating on Wednesdays but after the session on Thursday we have to clear all the food from the Church into a storage room.  

Well that was the start of the post I was in the process of doing when our landline rang.  It hardly ever rings and it's usually some sort of spam or scam but it was actually my eldest brother as I discovered when he started to leave a message on the answer machine.

Fortunately I intercepted his call before he hung up.  Unfortunately he was ringing to tell me that my SIL passed away peacefully this morning.  Not something I was expecting.  Life definitely isn't always smooth.

#SoCS - 21/2/26 - Pre.......

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with ‘pre’.” Find a word that starts with “pre” and use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

The prompts are supplied each week by Linda who  blogs here.  Pop over to see who else is taking part.

Previously when doing a SoCS post I've often had some thought about it before I've started.  It's hard not to I find when we get the prompt the day preceding the day we're supposed to be posting.

Of course I could do the post on a Friday and schedule it to post on Saturday but I don't usually do that.  To me that would almost feel premature.  So now it's quite late on Saturday evening and I'm definitely winging it by trying to think of as many words starting with pre and fitting them into this post.  The presentation will probably suffer as I've also been watching the Men's Curling final on the TV and although the presenters did a good job, it's hard to stay upbeat when your team was playing well but then in the closing stages the advantage swings to the other team and Team GB ended up with the silver medal again.  It was hard to watch.  But so much of the Winter Olympics is for Team GB - we don't really have the conditions here in the UK and I know that many of the athletes end up training abroad.  Curling is probably one of the few sports that are done here in the UK although predominantly in Scotland.  

And now I'm stuck.  My mind is going blank.  Presumably it's trying to tell me I need some sleep.  I had an early start at the Foodbank this morning - I go to accept deliveries from another church on a Saturday and this morning the drivers bringing the deliveries were really early.  Fortunately I had pre-empted any disaster by being up and ready to go but I only just arrived in time and didn't keep them waiting.

Now it's time for bed.  My predetermined alarm has been reminding me for the previous half an hour that it's time.  The present needs to become the past.  Goodnight!

#SoCS - 14/2/26 - Love

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “love.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun, and happy Valentine’s Day!  To join in the fun go here.

Well of course Love is an appropriate word for today being St. Valentines Day.  

We don't make a big thing of it in our house.  I did get a card from Hubby - well he tried to sign it anonymously but it was a bit of a give away that it was left on the bed for me to find.  I don't need big displays of affection or expensive bouquets of flowers to know that he loves me.

I know that he does in the way that he supports me especially when things are difficult.  He's always there for me when I need him to be, holding my hand when the children arrived.  Helping me through loss when my Mum passed away.  Ready to listen when I need to talk but not pushing too hard.

Stepping up when he needs to.  (Although he might need a little reminder here or there lol)

He has never let me down.  And of course I love him for all of that and so much more.

He's great with the grandkids too! 😂

#SoCS - 7/2/26 - Chapter

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chapter.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

To find out more about the Stream of Consciousness Saturday which is hosted by Linda go here.

I'm sure when I was young I would be pleading to read just one more chapter when it was time for bed.  

I've always been a reader.  I worked my way through a lot of Enid Blyton's books, then things like Little Women, What Katy Did, Black Beauty and so on.

As an adult I've read a lot of crime thrillers, including Agatha Christie, some classics, and a few fantasy and science fiction books.  (The Lord of the Rings, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.)  I like to challenge myself so I'm doing the 52 book Club challenge again this year which involves reading 52 books over the year relating to a set of prompts.  Some prompts are simple - e.g. book title beginning with the letter O, some require more research e.g. Author's bio mentions their dog.

This is the third year of doing the challenge and it has pushed me to read books I wouldn't normally look at.  I've also been in 2 in person book clubs since last year and that has also widened my reading.  

I'm currently reading this:

which starts of with Cora going with her 9 year old daughter Maia to register the birth of her new born son.  What follows is the story told from 3 POVs depending on whether the baby becomes Bear, Julian or Gordon.  The book seems to be moving on in 7 year gaps but each new year has a chapter about each of the 3 individuals.  So of course you can't just read one more chapter when the time moves forward, you have to read three!

Good job I'm now an adult and can do as I please, and retired so I can have a lie in if I've read late into the night.

#SoCS / JJJ - 31/1/26 - Scratch an Itch

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 31st and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “scratch an itch.” Use it any way you’d like. To join in the fun click HERE.

I was thinking about taking this prompt literally and wondering out loud how I would cope with scratching an itch if Hubby wasn't around.  You know the one, that point on your back that you just can't quite reach no matter how much you contort yourself. 

But of course scratching an itch is also about satisfying a craving.  I've been good this week and not given in to the temptation of chocolate that's in the house.  Mainly because I've started taking a collagen supplement that is chocolate flavoured and I'm mixing it with warm milk.  It actually tastes really nice but I'm just a bit wary of having a migraine induced chocolate overload so I haven't scratched that itch.

I also went to the library to return a book, one that I hadn't even read, and came away with no new books despite browsing the "New In" book shelf where several books caught my eye.  But I have enough books on my TBR pile to probably last me a year so I really don't need to scratch that itch either.

So now, is it just me, or does writing about this topic create an itch in that impossible to reach place?  Thankfully Hubby is in the house so I will get my itch scratched!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend all.

#SoCS & JJJ - 24/1/26 - Take another look!

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 24th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “take another look.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!  (Go HERE for all the details.)

Right have you got yourself a cup of tea or coffee?  Then settle in to a comfy chair because I know I can waffle on about this prompt for a while.

I am good at finding things.  I am methodical in my searching.  (Must be my logical brain.)  And I'm persistent.  If I'm looking for something that I know HAS to be in my house I will keep looking until I find it.  Missing socks? Paperwork?  Keys?  I'm your person.

Hubby is not so great.  He will say he's looked when of course he hasn't really looked.

Case in point, on Thursday he was getting ready to go out for the evening and couldn't find his house keys.  He claimed to have looked everywhere to which my response was "You can't have looked everywhere because if you had you would have found them."

He muttered something about hoping he hadn't left them in the cafe he'd been to earlier but I was quick to point out that he'd let himself in when he got back so he must have had the keys then.  Had he checked he hadn't left them in the door?  Yes that has happened on more than one occasion but not this time.

I began to search but by this time he was getting into a panic.  He was going to miss his bus.  We live right opposite the bus stop and the wonderful TFL app lets us know when a bus will turn up.  Or not.  It sometimes has a blip but generally it's pretty good.  Now bearing in mind that we live in London and the bus service is fairly regular there would be another bus.  It wasn't going to be the last bus of the day like in country places where they only come once an hour and stop as soon as it gets dark!

Daughter who was here managed to convince him to take the spare key so he could leave.

I stopped searching.  I knew they'd turn up somewhere.  Probably in one of his pockets.  He does like clothes that have lots of pockets - great for losing your phone!  The other day he was searching for his phone and he had on a cycling top that had a pocket on the back.  Perfect size for a phone.  Even when I was ringing his phone he didn't realise where it was at first.  He blamed that on not have his hearing aids in at the time.

Yes that's another thing I have to contend with.   If I'm not telling him to take another look I'm telling him to "put your ears in".   I wrote earlier in the week about having more patience since I've got older but dealing with Hubby sometimes requires the patience of a saint.

Of course I love him to bits and I did find his keys eventually - on our bed.  He'd napped earlier in the day and obviously put his keys down at some point and then covered them with the top sheet.  But of course he'd looked there.  Good thing I took another look!

The missing article.  Not that small a thing!

#SoCS & JJJ - 17/1/26 - Favourite Saying

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 17th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “favourite saying.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Soooo SoCS posts are supposed to be done without planning or forward thinking.  It's almost 10.30 pm as I'm starting this and I'm not sure my brain is even capable of thinking right now.  I've made myself a cup of tea which I may live to regret later (although it is decaf) and I'm trying to think of a favourite phrase.

Hmmmmm not coming up with much.  It's been a busy day, well a busy week right now and I think I'm all talked out.  Today I helped out at a yarn sale organised by the knitting group I attend.  We made about £600 which is being split between two good causes, one of which is the foodbank I volunteer at so that was good.

After that I had a brief bit of time at home when I managed to finish one of my book clubs read "Five Quarters of the Orange" by Joanne Harris.  (She of Chocolat fame.)  Pondering over how to review that one.

But then we were off to a get together with most of Hubby's siblings to raise a glass to his Mum who died 10 years ago at the end of the month.  That was a nice event.  It also coincided with one of his sister's birthdays (on Monday) so we had something nice to celebrate too.

But still not coming up with a favourite saying.  Although I do seem to remember that "time for bed" was a favourite when the kids were young and I was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing after a day of parenting.  And now it's "time for bed" for me.  

#SoCS and Just Jot it January are hosted by Linda HERE.

Check out her blog for all the details etc.

#SoCS & JJJ - 10/1/26 - Don't get me started....

Thanks as always to Linda for hosting this - find her blog, all the rules and other participants here.

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 10th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “don’t get me started.” Use the phrase in your post or just write about the first thing it conjures in your mind. Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Well I was going to say actually you DO need to get me started because I feel like I've been quite lazy this week.  It's been quite a social week and so I've slipped behind with chores at home and I haven't felt particularly motivated on that front.

But actually I'm going to rant about our water company.  In the centre of our little area of London there is a train station which is very convenient for us.  But this means the trains run straight through our town and there is a level crossing right in the middle of town.  We live on one side of it, Tesco our big supermarket is on the other.

This doesn't usually cause major problems, unless the barriers get stuck which is actually only a problem for cars as there is a subway pedestrians can still use.  It can be annoying if you arrive in your car at the crossing just as the barriers are going down but they're not usually down for long and then you're on your way.

Or not as it was today because....just the other side of the barrier there is a burst water pipe and so the road that leads to the supermarket is closed.  We can drive across the crossing but then we have to go left and there is no way back to the supermarket.  (There is a much longer route there via the next crossing under the railway but it seems part of that road may be blocked - by another burst water pipe.)

These burst pipes are popping up all over the place.  The very cold snap of weather we had last week has not helped.

But the bigger problem is the underinvestment in the infrastructure. And that's because Thames Water (the provider of our water services) is a Private Limited Company!  It was privatised by a Conservative Government in 1989.  As such it needs to make profits for its owners.

It's hardly rocket science to see that this is not going to benefit the consumer.  When the company was privatised it was debt free and has since run up debts running into BILLIONS.

The infrastructure was in need of major upgrades and they are working on that, slowly but in the meantime leaks keep appearing everywhere and our bills keep going up.

I really cannot understand why utilities are not owned by the Government.  They are essential services and require investment.  They should not be lining the pockets of investors, many of which are overseas!

Unfortunately when I sent Hubby off in the car armed with a shopping list today I had forgotten about the road closure.  He was not happy when he got back.  He had to park in a nearby side street and take a long detour to get home again.  Fortunately he wasn't doing a huge shop so he was able to carry it back to the car ok.  He was not happy though!

Right rant over.  It's time for bed here in London.

Don't get me started on anything else.