What can I do for a Christmas Fayre at work to represent the Book Club which I helped to set up. Actually, it turned out to be a library and nobody fills in the electronic list to say which book they have so the numbers are dwindling and the books aren't being returned!!
Anyway, I have to publicise the book club at this event at work and all I have so far is a selection of the books to put out and some lists showing the available books. But it's CHRISMAS so I need to link it all together and I'm having trouble, all I can find are recommended reading lists, but that's no good because it's just another sheet of paper. I want something eyecatching and Christmassy.
CMJ has been ill this week and off work, she has felt really awful and keeps saying she feels as if she's been poisoned. Last night she spoke to a friend who had exactly the same thing last week so now isn't feeling so bad because she can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My oldest sister and her husband have gone to spend the winter in Portugal - it's all right for some isn't it! My other sister doesn't keep in touch much but CMJ and I have been thinking about inviting them all for a day over the earlier December time. Then we can all see each other (oldest sister is coming back for a week or two) and exchange gifts for the children. We did it last year and it was lovely. Will call Oldest sister MW and her husband KW and then my other sister will be LE.
My Dad died in 1998 and Mum is in a residential home in Scotland because she suffers with Altzheimers, she is very lucky because it's a fabulous place, MW and I spent a lot of time going up and searching for the right place and it was well worth it. She wanted to be in Scotland and made that clear when she was still in the early stages and although we live in the south of England we wanted to do what she had asked. The real clincher though was that we looked around in the areas we live in and the best of the English homes didn't match up to the worst of the Scottish places we went to see. That was it really because she was already pretty bad by the time she was unable to stay at home any longer, I live in the same place so looked after her day to day and MW had her for breaks (for me really) and that kept her at home for an extra six years, so we knew by then that she'd been right about going back to Scotland because she was forgetting anything about her life in England and feels much more at home with the Scots voices and scenery around her. Also she thinks it's her house and is very chuffed with it!!!
So we won't be seeing her at Christmas as it's too confusing for her but I'll be going up in the New Year when things are back to their normal selves!!
As for the New Year, CMJ is off to stay with a friend so I will be alone. Can't complain about that because we don't do much anyway. CMM will be with her Dad. No further comment.
I have the day off today and think I will visit Debenhams sale. Hurrah! Or maybe Toys r Us.
Well, it's hard to concentrate with my tummy rumbling like this, so I'm off to make breakfast.

The Pomeranian and the Cat

Morning. Well here's a picture of Archie the pomeranian and Billie the cat - getting on very nicely thank you and keeping each other cosy during the cold spell we've had.

CMM has been sent into a sulk because her mum's pen, which she had borrowed and was clicking and tapping and driving her mum nuts with, has been taken back. For goodness' sake - you'd think there was more to life than that. Didn't take too long for things to start returning to normal!!

The ghost hunt didn't happen! The heavens opened and we decided that we'd not be able to get out of the car and take photos and the rain would obliterate our view from inside - so we decided to go another night. Which was OK because I was home for the arrival of CMM and CMJ which was lovely. They had a great time and CMJ was fine on the plane and loves flying!!

I had presents!!!! CMM the little darling had bought me an eiffel tower keyring and CMJ bought me a leather purse tooled with scenes of Paris, some to die for chocolates!! and one of those square things for picking up hot pots and stuff which had Paris scenes on it. I loved all my presents because it means they were thinking of me when they were away!!

This morning we have had a lovely chat around the kitchen table (although in this house it's not in the kitchen but in the lounge, it serves the purpose though). The chat was mostly about how we can incorporate the best of French living with our lives here, which it seems will not be difficult. Also about getting healthy (although this is a regular) which we are all going to do. Also about their holiday which they enjoyed and they did so much that it will be one of those ongoing things, "Oh did I tell you about................" Lovely.

Work tomorrow. Tsk. Won't think about that until then.

See you later!

Well for heaven's sake, it's over two years since I last visited. So much has happened. The kitchen is finally in the bathroom is done all the walls are plastered and now it's up for sale!! So I am staying with CMJ and life is on its head. Last time I was here the kitten was new, she's called Billie and is absolutely lovely and is now 2 and a half years old, now there's a dog as well! He's a nightmare at the moment but he's only been here for a month and was a rescue dog so he's allowed to be a nightmare for a while. He's tiny - a pomeranian - and we can't imagine what his last owners were all about because he has gorgeous accessories but one of them had trodden on his leg and broken it and they didn't take him to the vet so it mended but didn't fuse properly. The vet said that he is now considered deformed!! Poor baby. Still he is very settled and happy here and he can be trained properly because he's only a year old. CMJ and CMM have been staying in France with friends for a week so it's just been me and the pets, we've had a lovely time but am missing the girls. Tonight I'm going with a friend on a ghost hunt. We've been before to this medieval church which is supposed to be haunted, but tonight at midnight we go into all souls' day and she wants to see the souls going up to their rest. We'll see. Anyway, this means the family return while I'm out so am leaving a chilli for them, they'll settle in, eat and go to bed. I would really have liked to be here when they get back but look forward to tomorrow when I can give them a hug.
Living together is fine and if we had a larger place we could do it permanently, but this 2 bedroomed house isn't big enough so it's just temporary, they love that I do all the cooking and I love that I don't have to do the housework but also love being with them for a while.
Well, I have to go and make a chilli and some scones - it's so very cold I hope they have an ok journey back to the south coast from Bristol airport which is where they'll touch down later in the day. I'll be back to check in again soon.