All glitz

Our new washing-machine was arriving this morning. I was still in my dressing-gown when I saw a truck pull into our road.

"This could be our machine," I shouted. "We should have blocked the other end of the road in case he sees the steps and drives away!" Saying that I looked out of the window again and the truck was gone.

He came back. But his mate hadn't turned up for work so he was on his own. Fearing Husband would do something stupid, like help him, I kept running up and down stairs and peering out of windows to see what was going on.

The delivery man had the sort of build that says, 'Heart Attack Waiting'. I imagined them both dropping down in the back yard and me becoming known as 'The woman who killed two men just because she wanted a washing machine'.

As anticipated Husband did help but they're both alive to tell the tale. Husband has even installed the machine, nearly, so all is well. 

And I went to Daughter's to pick up the washing she had done for me and came back with a glitter tattoo, courtesy of GrandDaughter2.

Fanning into flame

Our new washing machine arrives tomorrow. Husband just went out to the shed to tidy it a bit before the exchange happens, he pressed the start button and it started!

Too little, too late, washing machine!

* * * * *

Inspired by words from Paul's letter to Timothy to fan into flame the gifts we are given, I suggested to the church leaders that a writing group might be good. They were very enthusiastic and I was given the chance to do a sales pitch on Sunday morning. 

Nine people signed up! Whoopee!

That was the easy bit. Now I'm trying to find a day and time to meet that will suit everyone - or as many as possible anyway. This is the hard bit.

Also been asked for a sofa and double bed for an asylum seeker. Put out an appeal on facebook earlier today and have been given a sofa already. Now just have to arrange transport.

* * * * *

On 29th November parliament debates the Assisted Dying Bill. very little time is being allowed for the debate, which I've seen loads of doctors disagreeing with. Better to first invest in good palliative care they suggest. 

I have written to my MP to give my view. (Opposed.)

It's a tricky subject, not a simple one at all. And I do understand why some people want it.

* * * * *

On that cheery note, I'm also leading Zac's tonight. Chapter 3 of Hosea. A short little chapter, just five verses, and quite positive in the midst of a rather grim book.

Really need a jolly picture now to brighten this up.

A tray of date flapjacks to go with me tonight.

* * * * *

Just had to go out and shout at Husband for moving the washing machine on his own. Honestly, I can't leave him a minute.

And I almost forgot: it seems most of the country had snow last night. Some schools in Wales have closed. We had heavy pouring rain.

Fairies and films

I wrote 4,600 words over the course of eleven days but then I thought, "Why? Why am I adding extra stress to my life?" So I've stopped doing MyNoWriMo for now. I'd thought we might be shielding now so it would have worked but as it is, who knows when we'll have to retreat from the world to prepare Husband for his big op. But that's okay. I'm happy to have written just those few thousand.

Other things. I was supposed to be in prison yesterday but given the dubious hygiene habits of some of the inmates I thought it better to cancel. Sitting in amongst the men, watching them stick their hands down the front of their trousers knowing you're going to be shaking that hand in a bit . . .

I went to church instead and wore my other new dress, my fairy dress.

FIDDLE! You know my nose isn't very good at smelling but it was picking up a strange odour. I ignored it for a while - to my cost. My steamer pan hadn't just boiled dry; it had burned dry. 

Back later.

My fairy dress.

I think I prefer the style of the other one but they're both comfy to wear.

And I finished my Christmas tree. It doesn't look as good as it did in my head.

Oh yes and I wrapped all the Christmas presents I have bought so far while watching an old Julie Andrews film. The name escapes me but it was based on a Noel Coward play, about a Lord who wants to marry a film star, who turns out to be the long-lost sister of the girl employed as his mother's lady's maid. Easy to watch while wrapping even though I need my seeing glasses for wrapping and my long distance glasses for television.

As for rugby, I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind. Suffice to say Wales went down to a record defeat against Australia. Again, it was that very brief window of hope that caught me out.

It's only lasted 18 years

After months of occasional non-starting our washing machine has finally given up and refused to start altogether. I phoned an appliance repair man and asked if they could get spare parts for an 18-year-old machine. He said he'd check and call me back in 20 minutes.

He didn't call back so I guess they can't. So we're looking at new machines. That's the royal 'we'; it's actually Husband who's consulting Which Best Buys and comparing prices and machines. 

Elder Son came round on Wednesday evening to move the tumble dryer that normally sits on top of the washer. He'd got it out of the shed* and was standing there holding it asking me where it was going to go. "Um, I don't know. Hang on."

I tried to help but probably was more of a hindrance. He's in his early forties but it's still a shock that he's a fully-grown, strong man who can do these things by himself. As Husband could before Heart. 

* * * * *

Rugby's Autumn International Series has started. Last week Wales played Fiji. Wales is in the process of rebuilding and struggling so I wasn't expecting a win but then they began well and took the lead. It looked as if they could surprise us.

Then Fiji won. Deservedly.

As I've said before, that's the trouble with being a Welsh supporter: it's the hope that finishes you off.

* * * * *

Driving to meet Vivien on Thursday I was behind a car with the number plate A15 PEE. It made me chuckle.

But not take a photo!

* We keep the washing machine and tumble dryer in the outhouse next to the back door.

Painting trees

The church I've been going to - Monty's church* - has a display of trees in its garden over Christmas. Little wooden trees that needed sprucing up. I offered to do one.

Me going to the shop for paint expecting to pay about £6 for a small tin. 
"How much?!"
£18!!!

This afternoon, rather than sit around limply wondering what to do, I decided I'd paint the tree. First of all I pulled off the tinsel and removed the staples. The bottom branch was a bit wobbly so I went to the shed, got a nail, and hammered it in.

Well, this is easy I thought. Then I noticed the nail had gone skewiff. I couldn't get it out and it was doing the job required anyway so I just painted over it.

Now if Husband had been there he would have insisted on rubbing the tree down first, then finding a headless nail, and then making sure it went in neatly. Fortunately he was cooking dinner.

The paint isn't quite the colour I was intending - I'd planned a darker tree - but it will do. I am adding a snowy layer and sparkly bits so no-one will notice the colour or the nail, will they?

*I suppose I've been going there long enough to call it church without the 'Monty's'.

And we're still getting tasty figs from our tree in the garden.

Royals and rugby

Today is the birthday of King Charles. I remember that because it's two days after mine and it was also the birthday of Donna, my best friend in infant school. Even if I hadn't known I would have been reminded by the many posts on social media.

To celebrate his birthday today King Charles is opening two new food hubs. Food hubs attempt to bridge the gap between food waste and food hunger. For a donation you can take away a bag of fresh food that would otherwise be thrown away. It's not a food bank and its aim is good so, unlike the Tory politicians who viewed the opening of a food bank as a great photo op, the King's outing today isn't all bad. 

That said the fact remains that there are 14,000,000 living in poverty in the UK. And a recent investigation by a television programme and the Sunday Times revealed that both the King and Prince William are receiving huge amounts of rent from charities, schools, and hospitals. For example, because their lifeboat has to be launched and brought in across a beach in Cornwall the RNLI has to pay rent to the Duke of Cornwall (William).

Still on the royal theme you may or may not have heard that a report on abuse in the Church of England published recently was very critical of those in authority who were aware of it and did nothing. As a result the Archbishop of Canterbury was forced to resign. Now, according to the rag, the Daily Mail, it's all because the Archbishop was friends with Harry and Meghan and that clouded his judgement. No, I don't follow that logic either.

On a lighter note, the autumn rugby internationals have started. The rights have been sold to a network so most games aren't viewable unless you subscribe. You used to be able to get a day ticket but now you have to pay lots of money for two years or something silly, so we're not watching the England games. the Welsh games however are being shown on S4C, the landline Welsh channel, but all the commentary was in Welsh. However when there were penalties it was written (in little letters) at the top of the screen what it was for. 

I was thrilled when I could tell Husband that the penalty was given for, "Dim yn gyrru'n syth," Meaning not driving straight. Of course I don't know what that means exactly in rugby speak but I think it was to do with the scrum or a maul or a big huddle on the floor.

* * * * *

Second birthday ice cream today, this time at Verdi's courtesy of my friend, Vivien.

Magnets and marinas

As Husband can't go to the gym at the moment we're trying to take daily short flat walks. Today's took us along the Swansea foreshore and marina development. It was so sunny and warm, and quite justified my shorts-wearing.

Just before we went Husband took a phone call from his consultant. It seems he needs a by-pass as well as a valve replacement. Still feeling a bit shaken by that. Doctor said he would try to get him in as soon as possible, whatever that means.

We're sort of shielding now, well, not really. But because various members of the family were or have been ill they didn't come round yesterday for my birthday. At the moment I'm hoping we can get together at the weekend but, once again, everything is up in the air.

Husband always like to surprise me with his presents. The unusual one this year is a game with magnetic stones.

The stones are divided between players and you take it in turns to put one down within the circle. If your stone attracts another you have to pick them both up. The winner is the first one to get rid of all his stones. As you can see we have the circle at its biggest. It's still quite challenging. I am pretty sure I know which grandchild will be first to work out which way the stones pull or push. Me, I have no idea, but anything with magnets is good fun.