Back for 2026

And I'm back in the virtual world!

My new computer arrived a couple of days ago and Husband has been setting it up for me. It's almost where it needs to be, just a few bits still need doing. I have no idea how I would manage without Husband when it comes to technology. 

So, I hope everyone had a good Christmas - I will be reading blogs soon - and I wish you all a hopeful and healthy year to come.

Where to start? I made a few notes on things I would have blogged about had I been able to blog, so I'll check that list. See if anything on it is still of interest. No, actually, first I'll tell you it's a good job I haven't been blogging for the last week as I've been poorly, and, as regular readers may remember, I am a dreadful patient. Not ill very often so when I am I make the most horrendous hoo-ha about it. It's only the nasty cold/cough virus that's going around but it's made me feel rotten. The good thing was it happened at the start of a week of no commitments so I didn't have to let anyone down; the bad thing was it happened over a week of no commitments so I couldn't make the most of my free time!

And whoever first said, "It's ONLY a cold," really didn't know what they were talking about. Grumble over.

Okay, have looked at list. Realise I should have written longer notes not just two words like 'lady language' Took me a while to work that out.

Before Christmas I was serving breakfast in Zac's. There was a woman in there with friends. Another man came in, quite loud, probably drunk or drugged, and he began talking to her. It was amiable enough but his language was quite ripe. At one point the woman said, "Language! There's a lady here," pointing at me.

He apologised and caried on as before. But that wasn't the point, which didn't hit me until later. The woman wanted him to respect me - but didn't count herself worthy to be respected. Yes, she could probably have competed with him in the bad language stakes if she'd chosen, but it was the lack of self-worth that got me. She didn't expect better from him because, well, she was nothing. 

I haven't seen her since but next time I do I want to pluck up my courage and remind her how precious she is.

Next note on list: mistletoe. Hm, oh yes, I have never been spontaneously kissed under the mistletoe by a stranger. For which I am truly grateful, even though when it happens in books, the kisser is always good-looking and charming.

Working down the list: drill. I asked  Husband to teach me how to drill a hole in the wall so I could hang up a gift given me by Younger Son and family last time we were in Italy. (It's been sitting around waiting to be hung.) He showed me and I did it all by myself!

Tree & puncture. On our way back from choosing a Christmas tree, we went over a large pothole that led to a flat tyre. We got home and Husband tried various remedies but we ended up not being able to use the car for two days until he could crawl-drive it to the repair garage.

Aladdin and Michael Sheen. A highlight. At the last minute, and on Elder Son's recommendation, I booked tickets for Daughter, GrandDaughter2, and I to go to the panto. Oh yes, I did! And it was fab! Very high-tech and brightly-coloured. Loads of sparkles but no, "He's behind you!" or the dame's striptease, or custard pie in the face. Today's children are obviously more sophisticated. The big surprise though was the genie. Michael Sheen! He wasn't really there; it was an illusion, but very clever.

Then I found myself trawling charity shops for a teapot as Husband managed to break two in three days.

I'll have to skip the next item on the list as I have no idea what it means.

(bosoms followed by two arrows pointing towards each other)

Next: nagging to go quicker. You'd think Husband would know by now that nagging me to get ready quicker doesn't make me get ready quicker.

Final item: ICU. Irrational Urge Syndrome. Does anyone else look at their mattress protector three days before Christmas and think, "I HAVE to wash it NOW because it's nearly Christmas!" Obviously not just mattress protectors but other unnecessary tasks that suddenly take on an urgency that bears no relation to reality. (I didn't, by the way.)

More to follow tomorrow because you're probably bored now.