The Way Forward

So finally I have done it

I sent an email of resignation to my assessing boss last evening

I just can't do it all

Relief...the relief has been enormous

I was hanging on out of supposed obligation

Rather than wanting to do the job

Endless travelling

And no show learners

Take some sticking

So now I will just be doing my shifts at the care home

3 1/2 per week

Plus I am taking on providing some of the mandatory training

I will be busy enough

And a small boy has rather caught my eye of late

Henry time is definitely going to be on the agenda!

Play my cards right and I shall have 2 days off in the week

Though I still have our paperwork to contend with

But even so

No racing to get somewhere

I have purchased some glass tubs with lids

So I can freeze ahead meals

When youngest and her caveman

Move back to their house

Hubby is going to have to sort out the tea

At least three nights per week

Shock horror

So I figured the best thing to do

Would be cook ahead and freeze

Thaw out on the day required

Let hubby pop into Aga

And voila

He's cooked tea for us!!
~
Another day has passed
I am currently at work
Lunchtime
There is snow lying and more forecast
All the school buses are stopping at 1pm
I am hoping to get home when I leave here at 7pm
Take care out there
Blessings J. x

Long Johns At The Ready

Apparently it’s coming

The colder air 

I hope we’re ready for it

Here in Devon it isn’t always the temperature 

But the wind chill that seeps into our bones

My Mother used to always make sure

That vests were tucked into pants 

To keep body and soul together!

I guess she was right 

~

Last evening a small group of us

Carefully stepped up the garden path

And came to a halt by the largest apple tree

We made a very fine din indeed!

Toast soaked in cider was placed in the trees’ branches 

And some poured around it’s base

We sang and made merry for a short while

Before heading back inside

~

So today...goodness it’s going to be packed

Firstly a hasty visit to the hairdresser 

Then some training 

Then what remains of my working shift

Returning home to a wonderfully cooked tea by hubby

Actually he’s just popped back to our bedroom 

To ask what I am going to prepare for tea

So that he has the arduous task

Of placing it in the Aga!

~

Last week I managed to tumble out of hubby’s van

When he was using the car for a couple of days

I think my foot caught in the battery cover

And I made a very undignified trip to the ground

Landing on one knee

With my elbows nearly in a flower pot

I hobbled into work

And slowly it feels as though every bone and muscle

Was jarred

Seriously 

When did I get this old?!

~

It is my Saturday to work this weekend

But I intend for Sunday to be peaceful and restful 

I can live in hope

There is a jigsaw puzzle calling to me

I should really like to begin knitting something

But my fingers still feel sore and jarred

I hope the feeling improves soon

~

I feel as though Heidi is due some extra special woody walks

Ones I can find beautiful things to photograph 

And share with you

I’m not overly keen to share photos of Henry on here

He’s not mine to share!

And there’s only so many woodburner 

And fireplace photos you wish to see

Actually I could look at fireplace photos

Like forever!

~

These are old photos 

The first from RHS Rosemoor’s Glow event

The other I believe last Winters’ decor!

~

Blessings J. x

I Knew It Was A Mistake

Have you ever hesitated to get rid of something 

But then one day just gone and done it

I have

Almost without exception 

I have come to regret my action

The picture below is a copy of one I have had

For nearly 30 years

It was faded

The frame had broken 

I couldn’t think of where to hang it

So the other day it went in the woodburner 

Gone

As soon as it left my hand

I knew I had done wrong

But it was too late

So I searched online

And found a copy of the picture 

I intend to get a smaller copy

Which I can find room for

So hopefully all will be well again

~

I have this morning set up our new broadband

Not sure how much quicker it will be yet

Only time will tell

We had a weekend of jollity 

Friends came round for a meal on Saturday evening

I am still very tired

Henry is teething bless him

And we all know how cranky that can make babies 

Even our beautiful Henry!

~

As our weather is looking like it will be turning colder

I am attempting to bring in plenty of logs

Before trundling off to work this afternoon 

The wind picked up yesterday afternoon

And made some curious sounds through the cottage 

~

A welcome to Pam who left a comment on my last post 

The words on the banner are indeed my own!

I am glad that you like them

I hope they describe my home accurately 

People who visit say it is a very cosy place

~

Well as logs do not have legs

And bills do not pay themselves 

I need to finish up here for today

And continue with my allotted tasks

~

Blessings J. x

Inability

To comment once more

Had another update to do

And wallop

No more commenting from me

So

Sue...sorry to hear you haven’t been too well

Hope you’re back up standing very soon

The apple trees need your blessings!

Sheila...roast pork...yes yummy

Candlelight is kinder to us getting a little older!

Jules...more beautiful photos

Please keep sharing them with us

And to anyone else who inadvertently I have missed

Elaine, Aril, Janice, KJ, and Mrs. Tiggywinkle.

And that my friends is one issue with technology 

It often fails us.

Blessings J. x

A Love Hate Relationship

Not with you dear reader

But with technology 

Computers 

The internet 

Household appliances 

Cars

Electricity

I love to be home

On a Winter’s night

With a storm raging outside

And to have a power cut

Candles cast their romantic glow

Around our old cottage 

We talk to each other

Instead of staring at screens

The fire exudes warmth

And light

We delight in it’s flames and crackles

It’s comfort

A car means we travel further to find work

Are expected to work after dark

Need to work more to pay for it’s running 

And eventual replacement 

Computers

Invade our personal space

Drain our time

Are much more expensive 

Than pens and paper 

However 

I love being able to FaceTime Sonshine

And other family

Love reading your blogs

And being able to shop from my fireside 

It’s lovely having the electric Aga

A kettle boils quickly thanks to electricity

Travelling to work is a breeze in a car

And I stay reasonably warm and dry

Maybe we just need to know when to switch off

Blogger has helped me somewhat 

Very often lately my comments won’t publish

Thanks to some update or other

Our internet is very often less than .1 of a mb

Work continues a pace though

And I am finding getting tired commonplace 

I need to learn to say no

Slowly it should improve

My boss now knows that by September 

I shall be cutting back my numbers 

I took out our festive tree yesterday 

And a Father Christmas 

But Winter remains 

A roast is sizzling in the oven

The men and dog are dozing 

And so until next time 

Blessings J. x

On The Embers Of 2018

So the very last day of 2018
Came and went
As we surely knew it would 

I am reflecting upon the year past

It held good, bad, and the everyday 

Our Christmas has and continues to be

For let’s not forget there are 12 days to celebrate 

A happy family time

Full of chatting, baking, eating

And some minor bickering 

Just to keep things real!

The cottage has fairly bulged at the corners

With bodies snuggling under blankets 

And sitting telling stories

By the light of the tree

Henry has been mainly full of smiles

And practicing finding his voice

I have made next years puddings

Whilst everyone was home

So that we could all stir them

And make a wish

Henry stirred first

They will now mature in the freezer

Thus linking one year to the next

Much work has been done on youngest’s and Caveman 2’s house 

Many loaves of bread have been cut into sandwiches

Logs have been logged 

Quizzes puzzled over

Mince pies dolloped with cream

Meringues left in too hot an oven

So they tasted like sugar puffs

Choux buns baked and eaten

With cream and generous lashings of chocolate 

Birds have been fed in the garden

And thoughts occasionally have drifted towards 

What the garden will look like come Springtime

I hope your festive season 

Has brought you peace and joy

With copious amounts of love
 Our limited internet is making it nigh on impossible 
To upload photos
So for now I send you blessings J. x