Wendysday 31/10/18

Well it's sort of been Wendysday today.

I managed to:

• Meet up with a friend for a chat.
• Visit with Rory and his Mummy
• Collect a prescription that I needed &
• Cook myself a nice dinner

So all good things.  I've also been getting a lot of laundry done which doesn't sound typically the thing to do on Wendysday but it's my good deed of the day.  Poor Rory's Mummy is struggling a bit with her back - he is really heavy!  She uses cloth nappies for him so between them all they generate a lot of laundry!  And with no tumble dryer getting everything washed and dried when you're in a flat is a non stop chore.  

When I visited today I could see they'd fallen a bit behind so I packed a lot of it up and brought it back here to do - we're having dinner with them tomorrow evening so I had the chance to get it washed and dried and back to them tomorrow.   Except I'm with Nathan all day tomorrow so I've had to get it done this evening.  It was only 2 loads, the second of which is now in the dryer so I'll have it all ready for them tomorrow.  

I don't manage to get to see them as much as I'd like, especially considering they are the nearest to us, weeks just seem to fly by sometimes.  Much as I enjoy seeing Rory I'm also conscious of Liz having no family here in the UK so I'm happy to help out as much as I can.  

On my way home I'm made a special stop at a supermarket to pick up some sweets (candy) for any trick or treaters that might come calling for Halloween.  What I didn't realise was that it seems here in the UK we're now following the rule that you have to be displaying a pumpkin to get callers.  Halloween was never a big thing when I was growing up but over more recent years it has gradually got bigger.  Anyway I hadn't put a pumpkin out so no callers here for treats.  I now have quite a few treat sized bags of haribo to pass on.  (I'm keeping the chocolate!)

The other good news today is that Canada have agreed to let my hubby in!  (See here for what that's all about.)  We got his Police Check back yesterday - with No Trace of any criminal record - and I uploaded it to the Canadian Government site last night.  We quickly had an e-mail confirmation that he had been approved for entry.  Phew!  Now I'll be able to put the lovely warm coat I bought on Monday to good use.

I mentioned cooking myself a nice dinner.  I had a discount voucher for a meal delivery scheme (Hello Fresh) - you get everything you need to prepare the meal plus the recipe. The discount was a substantial saving on the first two delivery boxes so it seemed worth a try, especially for the days I've been at Nathan's.  Much easier to come home to a package ready to cook rather than trying to organise a meal from scratch.  

So far this week I've made Beef Kofta with Sag Aloo and a Goan Chicken curry both of which I enjoyed.  The beef took about 45 minutes to prepare but the chicken curry took only 20 minutes.  Typical of me, I remembered to take a picture of the beef (spot the glass of wine!) but the chicken pic is taken from the recipe card - mine probably wasn't as well presented and was half gone before I remembered a pic!

Beef Kofta

Goan Chicken curry

Not sure if it's something we'll do long term but it seemed worth a try.

Wednesday Medley on Wendysday 17/10/18

Thanks to Terri for hosting. Her site is here.  Check out the comments on her post for other participants.  It's not a blog hop as such but there are a few regulars.

1. The Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Festival starts today. All things pumpkin are everywhere. What is your one very favorite pumpkin flavored food or drink? Do you wish it was available all year or do you only want it in the Fall?
In the fall? I'm afraid I don't want it at all! Sorry to be a pumpkin pooper but just not my thing. Although we are going pumpkin picking at the weekend for the first time ever. Going with the Grandkids so guaranteed to be fun. 

2. What product would you seriously stockpile if you found out they weren't going to sell it anymore?
Chocolate! (Especially Lindor by Lindt.)

3. What is the most interesting thing you have seen online this week?
Umm nothing is jumping out at me.

4. Is it better to be a "big fish in a small pond" or a "small fish in a big pond"?
I like being a small fish but I'd like my pond small too please.

5. My Joe has become obsessed with playing chess on the computer. Do you play chess? Are you good at it?
I know how to play chess but haven't played in a long time. I was never very good at it.

6. Tell us something random about your week.
I'm really not a lover of Halloween but as I mentioned in #1 we're going pumpkin picking at the weekend so when I saw these today I couldn't resist.

 Well it hasn't been much of a Wendysday today - I was busy with laundry, shopping and preparing dinner.  I was a bit behind with things due to all the visitors but it's lovely having Noah and his parents here.  I will miss them when they go home.
 

The Wednesday Medley on Wendysday.

Today is definitely going to have some Wendysday time. We had a busy weekend including a lot of walking and yesterday we looked after Nathan as usual. Coupled with some broken nights and I am feeling really tired!

Today I will be doing the bare essentials at home and taking time for me. Why? Because I can lol. (Apologies to anyone who had an early alarm set for a working day!)

First off I'm joining in with:

Thanks to Terri for hosting. Her site is here.

1. This week is County Fair Week in my old stomping grounds. The Fairfield County (Ohio) Fair holds fond memories for me, especially of the marching band show on the race track, in front of the grandstand, and of 4-H sewing projects. Do you have a memory to share of a county or state fair!!
We face a large open space that hosts a fair regularly and occasionally a circus. I remember coming here as a child when we lived nearby and the most vivid memory is of winning a goldfish on one of the stalls and dropping it on the bus home. If my memories are correct we managed to rescue it and it survived!
 
2. If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?
Probably monkeys as they're pretty intelligent and would probably be quite sarcastic. 

3. What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?
I'm not sure that any of them would when things like dragons spring to mind. All that fire breathing would be quite dangerous.

4. What is something that everyone looks stupid doing?
Trying the latest dance craze when they can't dance?

5. Is intelligence or wisdom more useful?
I think wisdom. Sometimes very intelligent people seem to lack common sense.
6. Tell us something random about the rest of your week!
Grandson Noah is coming to stay! (With his parents of course. Arriving Friday for a week!) 

Now I'm off to think about my post for the 31 days challenge. Be back soon!

Wendysday Recharge

Well I was planning a really lazy day today - yesterday was tiring with Nathan and then Hubby and I went out for dinner which entailed even more walking so I was definitely ready for bed last night.  Unfortunately my brain and legs had other ideas.  My legs were aching and my brain wouldn't stop whizzing so I didn't sleep at all well.  According to my Fitbit I only managed 4 1/2 hours of sleep. NOT ENOUGH!

A lie in was definitely on the cards when I remembered I had a 12.00 appointment scheduled so I would need to be up and presentable, especially as yesterday when it was confirmed there seemed to be a bit of confusion between 10 and 12.  I didn't want to get caught out in my pjs.

Fortunately it's allowed me to catch up with blogging and I don't feel too guilty as the washing machine is currently working away nicely and has been most of the morning.

It was a spur of the moment decision to go out last night - it was either that or do some shopping for dinner on the way home.  Eating out won the day.  We went to our local Pizza Express - we had a 2 for 1 deal on mains but I made sure I had room for dessert:

Sticky toffee sponge pudding topped with salted caramel icecream.  Yummy and I remembered to take a photo! (Not great quality I admit - the lighting was rubbish.)

Anyway I thought I'd join in with Terri's Wednesday Medley this week - it's a nice way of filling the Hodgepodge void.  Click on the image for Terri's page to see who else is playing.

1.  October 3rd is National Boyfriend Day.  Ladies, who was your first boyfriend?
Oh my goodness that is stretching the memory cells.  I remember my first night out with a boy - it went so well he left me on the bus to make my own way home!

2. Who was your first celebrity crush? 
Donny Osmond.  Puppy Love was the first single I bought.  (Who remembers 45s and LPs these days! lol)
3. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Well I've tried frogs legs but drew the line at snails.  I don't think I've ever eaten anything particularly strange.
4. What famous artist, dead or alive, would you want to paint your portrait?
I'm not an expert on artists so I'd just be glad if it was someone who could paint me reasonably accurately or better than I am!
5. What Are You Most Likely To Stay Up All Night Talking About? 
I think I'm past the time when I could stay up all night talking.  Reading maybe but not talking. 
6. The new Fall season has begun on TV.  Which show are you most looking forward to seeing?
I'm already enjoying Strictly Come Dancing!

I'm off to meet up with old friends later.  Maybe I'll have another desert pic to take!

Wendysday 26/9/18

 This is usually me on a Wednesday morning after a day looking after Nathan.

Today's prompt from RDP is inspire. (Click on the image to visit the site.)

Back in the day when I first blogged on Yahoo and then Multiply before ending up here on Blogger I used to do a "Wendysday" post on Wednesdays which started off being mostly (well ok all) about me.  I worked my way through lists of various favourites and all sorts of things.

Looking back the last Wendysday posts were in 2012!  Blogging took a bit of a break after that.  During 2013 -14 blogs were few and far between.  Life wasn't good.  Things have picked up since then but Wendysday didn't.  Then I discovered the Wednesday Hodgepodge that Joyce hosted over at From This side of the Pond 

Sadly Joyce has recently retired the Hodgepodge - life moves on.  We've both gained Grandchildren in the last year or so.  Priorities change.

Today feels like it's going to be a Wendysday though.  It's often known as Hump Day but I've never been good with that term.  To me, things that give me the hump are things that annoy or upset me.  So to call Wednesday Hump Day makes it sound bad.  Of course I understand why people call it Hump Day but when you no longer work it doesn't quite have the same significance.

Anyway back to Wendysday.  It's the breathing day for me between the two days I look after my Grandson Nathan.  I love him to bits and he is so good usually.  I really enjoy looking after him but I need a breather inbetween.  Especially at the moment with a very dodgy knee.  It's improving but slowly.  I want to run but walking is a challenge and stairs are still proving painful.  Wednesday is also the first working day of the week for Nick so I'm home alone.  

It feels like it should be a Wendysday - a day for me to do what I want and not feel guilty about it.  I still find it hard not to feel guilty about pleasing myself and not ticking off the never ending to do list but I'm getting there.

Today I'm enjoying a lazy morning in blogland.  I have some TV shows recorded that I'll probably watch and it's lovely and sunny so I'm definitely (well maybe) going out for a walk.  I've also been INSPIRED to start thinking ahead to next year's A-Z challenge.  What?  Yes!  Why?  I've been selected to write a guest post for the A-Z site.

I've never been asked to do a guest post before so I'm both excited and apprehensive.  After all I'm a blogger who blogs not a writer who blogs or a blogger who writes.  But just putting pen to paper (or composing a blog) makes me a writer and thinking about doing the guest post gave me a few ideas and it also prompted me to think ahead to the next A-Z challenge.  Who knows, if I start now I might not end up flying by the seat of my pants come April!  Deadlines were never my thing.

Wednesday 15th August 2012

Well it is Wednesday, and I am preparing a blog, so I guess it must be a Wendysday!

Familiar friends will understand, but for anyone new here, and of course that includes me, Wendysday blogs were something that I started in a former life (Multiply and before that Yahoo 360).  It started off as a means of telling visitors about myself, eg my favourite foods, books etc.  Things I’d done, e.g jobs and so on.

When I ran out of inspiration along those lines it became more of  “Was it Wendysday or not” depending on how the day had gone.

Well today is definitely a Wendysday so far.  Hubby brought me a cup of tea in bed before he left for work.  I’ve had breakfast in bed (although I did go down and prepare it myself) and I’ve been relaxing and blogging ever since.

For newcomers, I’m not usually this lazy, well not often, but I work full time in a school so I’m on holiday at the moment.  Of course that doesn’t mean there is nothing to be done but I had a really productive day yesterday – did lots of chores, shopping etc and the cleaner came so the house is clean and tidy.  I’m on top of the washing so I can spare some relaxation time.

I have a few things on my to do list that are earmarked for today so I will move myself – soon – just not yet.  I have an episode of “Borgen” on my laptop I need to watch before it expires.  I’ve really got into these Scandinavian programmes lately.  I was glued to “The Killing” and then heard about Borgen which is a drama about the political set up in Denmark. 

So I’m going to post this blog, then watch Borgen and then…… hmm maybe I should get up next.  Catch you later.