She lives!!!!!

Wowsa!!!! Over a year since I left word on here! How on earth did that happen??

In a nutshell – Kelly got busy – and happily neglected this wee piece of her life for a bit…. for a year!! I thought about giving it all up. But I quite like having a place to leave some thoughts. I haven’t done much creating and that was the original reason for sharing…. and I guess that’s the main reason why blogging has gone down the old To Do list! Plus facebook has become a replacement for many of the forums and scrapbooking groups that used to be a big part of my day while I was at home with the boys… more than two years ago since those days changed!! Wow!!

I’m not even sure who will be out there reading what I share. I think this will become more of an place for me to pop some thoughts and ramblings as and when I feel like it. So, if anyone is still out there checking up on the goings on in the Nelson household, I say hi!

Work:

I’m still at VSA, although I have a new CEO. The incumbent felt it was her time to move on to fresh pastures after 8 years with the organisation and in July our new CEO started. It’s one thing to walk into a job and learn everything on the fly…. it’s another to adjust to a new person’s style as they learn what there new role is to be! My hours of work generally are well above the *official* 20 hours… but that is proving to be a good thing. I get to *bank* time in lieu – and that means I get to schedule time off around the school holidays. Loving that flexibility…. it meant I could take a week and a bit off over these most recent ones…. so family holiday to Ohope… woohooooo!!

Family:

Mr11 is in year 6 at the primary and we got a place into a school that starts at intermediate and goes through secondary. I’m thrilled because it’s a good school and it’s NOT the private school that we would have taken another mortgage to get both boys through. In our Mr’s case, I personally think he will really benefit from going to a single sex school… a school specifically catering to teaching boys. Not because he is behind in any way, but more because he loves to be involved in virtually everything going on – and allows himself to be distracted. I know that there are many good co-ed schools out there (I went to one of them!!), but I truly believe that teachers that know how to teach boys will be a good thing. (I really like how girls “can do anything” these days, but it’s been something I’ve been concerned about in general in terms of boys falling behind in overall achievement…. and now we are parents to boys… well, we have to do what we think is best for them…)

Mr8 on the other hand will do well wherever he goes – he’s that kind of kid that just gets on with the task. One of the great things this year has been his involvement in extra activities at school. He was so pleased to come first in the school cross-country at the beginning of the year, and then followed that up with a fourth at the Western zones. Sadly, inter-zones were cancelled after several attempts to re-schedule due to dodgy weather. Even now, he tells me how frustrated he was… and how he plans on finishing 1st and 4th again next year to repeat his selection!

Mr8 did however complete successfully in the BP challenge – a challenge where teams from different schools had to create a project in advance and show their planning and prototypes. This year, the teams in Year 3-4 had to create bird feeders according to various criteria. Mr8′s team were awarded second – woohooo! On the day of the challenge, they had to do another challenge which involved them creating a sling or sled that would carry 5 kg across a certain distance and over and around various obstacles. Both challenges were completed using nothing more than newspaper, string, tape and a few pieces of cardboard or plastic. He loved taking part.

Rugby:

Both Mr’s had great rugby seasons for Petone – different teams to the ones they played in last year due to a change in how junior teams are created. Mr11′s team only had three losses – a couple of which were *character forming* (much of his team was not used to winning and their reaction to the first lost was…… interesting….!) Mr11 had so many losses last year, he was surprised at the general reactions and pointed out that they had played well so they should still be pleased with themselves. This raised a few eyebrows among his coaches, but they backed him and encouraged the other boys to pull themselves together. I have to say, I was a bit stunned at the first reactions from a lot of these other boys, and I was actually quite pleased they had a couple more losses…. In my mind, playing at this level is about doing your absolute best to get that win, but learning how to be both decent winners and gracious losers.

Mr8′s team on the other hand played better and better each week – and got through their season unbeaten. Might have to check their head sizes next season at weigh in!!

Moving…..??

For a large chunk of the early part of the year, Hubby and I looked at various sections and new homes. We were investigating building – and we were very excited as we looked through plans and developed a layout in particular. However, in going through the process, we came very quickly to the decision that the sections in the new development or the one around the corner from there were well over-prices and we pulled the plug. We still want to move: our house no longer *fits* the way our family works…. but we’re going to take our time and get it right. The good thing is that when we do move, the intention is to get into a certain set of suburbs where both Hubby and I have wanted to be for a number of years… and that will provide Mr11 with a choice of moving to the boys school out that way, or staying at the one he’ll be starting at next year and taking the train to and from. Wellington’s public transport rocks!!

My weight watchers journey:

I started Weight Watchers almost a year ago exactly. In the first 3 months, I lost 10kg pretty easily. Then it took another 4-5 months to lose another 5. Since then I’ve been going up and down a couple of kilos…. and finding it hard to keep on track. I have another 10 to go in order to make it into my healthy range and become a life-time member. I’m frustrated at the sabotaging I do (I find myself making *those* choices easily)… but the one thing I have been proud of myself and it shows me that this is a life-style change is that I don’t beat up on myself – I make a point of making the next meal a good one… and knowing that my not so great choices aren’t the end of the line for me. Instead they push the goal out. So, the up shot? I’m still determined to make the changes I’ve started with a very permanent part of a healthier way of living for me… and the fact that I’ve only been moving around that 2 kg mark speaks volumes to me… I just need to really knuckle down to keep moving down for another 10kg and make that end target!

Creating:

As this blog was started originally with the purpose of sharing scrapbook projects and pages with my online friends, I feel I should at least mention what I’ve been working on in terms of creativity this year!! I’m still a Stampin’ Up! demo… although making it fit into my busy-busy kind of schedule means I’m choosing to do workshops as and when I’m asked – so that is becoming a more relaxed model for me and working well.

I’ve been doing Project Life for the first time – and enjoying capturing our life as a family. The routine of printing photos and putting into the album still needs work… but there is quite a bit captured. The whole family enjoys seeing this album come together… and at week 42, there might be a few weeks to be worked on still… but it’s coming together well. I’m also preparing my December Daily album for this year. I’m really excited about this project – I love Christmas and the focus on traditions and family and what it means to us. And as we’re not travelling this year in the lead-up, I’m really looking forward to capturing this part of the year!!

We also have Halloween coming up – and while I know a lot of friends don’t participate in this *festival* for any number of reasons, our friend that was in our street but moved during the year further up our hill, has well and truly got me into the fun of it. I putting together Adventure Time costumes for the boys… Jake the Human and Finn the Dog costumes for the Mr’s. I’m also going to put together something for myself… A pumpkin costume – I intend to crank this out on an annual basis in the manner of Mrs Zielske and her Bee costume!!

Another American style holiday that I love (and wish that more of us would adopt… in principle at least!) is Thanksgiving. A couple of years ago, we got together with extended family and celebrated thanksgiving in lieu of Christmas seeing so many of us were going to be out and away around the country. Not sure if we’ll be doing that again this year (hoping so!!) but I love the vibe of being grateful and thankful – so I might just put together some ideas in a project of that nature. Now, many of you (if you’re still reading these days!!) will now I’m seriously good at making plans. Seriously good! But not so good at delivering. Shhhh… we know how bad I can be at that… Queen of procrastination and all!! Soooo…. in theory I’ve put the thought out there publicly. So I can be held accountable – and do this…. yeeeessssss!! So help me be accountable and check that I’ve put the thinking into reality!!

Anyway, that’s all she wrote.

OMG – this cat is a hunter!

I opened the front door after work a couple days ago and something strange was in the hallway… lots of little things. Feathers!!

Sasha has proven her worth as a mouser … there is a really freaky mouse experience from a few months ago that I’m not going to share here because having shared it at work, it really did freak someone out and I felt bad.  Suffice to say, it left me with a feeling I didn’t enjoy for several days after!

 

Anyway, I assumed that being a good mouser wasn’t necessarily leading to a bird hunter.  We have lovely natives around our section quite a lot which I just love.  So when I saw the dark feathers through the hall I was pretty devastated.  I couldn’t work out what had happened to the bird though and assumed it was a little sparrow that had been eaten.  Our last cat, Sam, did that in his peak.

And then I walked into the laundry.

More feathers.

And behind the door………..

OMG!!  The body.  It wasn’t a native – thank goodness… but man!! It was quite a large bird. And it was in my laundry. And it was dead. 

I have no idea how Sasha got the bird into the laundry through the cat door – and clearly the poor thing put up a fight.  I cleaned up the mess, said a few things and popped the bird away.

WHAT am I going to do to stop our little cat from murdering the natives???

 

On a Saturday night

Tonight I’m sitting watching “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” on Sky with the Mr’s.  It’s goes a little later than their bedtimes but it’s quite nice to be able to chill with them after what’s been a typical Saturday with rugby, laundry and typical Saturday goings on.

We had a second day of fog hanging around the hill today… finally burned off around 4-ish while the big Mr and I were out shopping.  It’s amazing how clothes that have been slightly big, looking good and don’t appear to be in the drawers for that terribly long suddenly look short on the arms or need to be invited to join the shoe!!  Thankfully both Mr’s are trackies and t-shirt boys… and there were still some sales on.  Makes it really easy to shop

This weekend I’m also prepping for a trip away next week.  A trip out of the country even.  On my own!!  Woo-hooo!  I’m off to Melbourne for the Stampin’ Up! convention and to say I’m looking forward to it is a fairly large understatement!  I am trying to get through the laundry, plan where the Mr’s go aftershool and how they get to rugby practice — and what might be eaten while I’m away.  This is on top of working out how little I can pack (so I have room to bring STUFF home!!), getting some swaps done (I’ve finally decided to stick to a plan!).  I do the domestic planning in order that things go relatively smoothly while I’m away – with the primary motive being that I will then be able to go away again!!  The other prep is the procrastination side coming through well and truly.  You didn’t think that I’d give up that title did you???

Speaking of procrastination, I have several cards I need to get to the post office tomorrow… there’s a few sitting here waiting for their trip out the right person!  Sigh. I never get better at that part of the process!!  There is always hope though.  Hopefully the recipients will at least appreciate I was thinking of them at a certain point… and forgive my usual lack of timing!! ops!:

I haven’t taken a photo of the card for mother’s day that Mr 7 did at school during the week.  I knew something was coming because he was really excited about it and kept telling me about some things that he had been working on.  As always, I LOVE it… but he got a real buzz at being able to give it to me as he received a certificate for the “character writing” that he did to go inside it.

“Mum.

blue eyes.

brown wavey hair.

fancy rosey red cheeks

Pretty.

works.

likes books.

gets take aways.

cooks all our food.

Awesome.”

And then… “Dear mum I hope you have a very happy mothers day.  love from —–”

Totally love how these things give you an insight into what kids think

And that’s probably enough Saturday night stream of conciousness for you.

Another update out of the blue!

Ok, so when I said I was back last time, I didn’t mean to be away for quite so long again!! I have to admit, not having the computer to check in on daily has broken the habit of blogging and reading blogs almost every single day. And I’d have to add to that – before the habit was broken, there was a lot more reading than writing going on anyway

Now the computer is back up and running again, I still have to do things like re-add some programs. Download some pics from the camera…. that sort of thing. Plus there’s been a fair bit of activity as we wound down the school year, got ready for Christmas as all that seasonal good stuff.

With any luck, I WILL resume the habit of updating more regularly.

One thing I haven’t been doing nearly as much as what i intended is scrapping and generally creating for myself through the year. Earlier in the year I decided to get the Project Life kit to see how that would jazz things up – get the momentum of actually doing SOMEthing back. I got that in the middle of the year, but just couldn’t bring myself to start it then. In my mind, things like that need to start 1 January!!

Well, last week, a few days before Christmas, I broke it out of its box and had a good hunt around the web to check out how other people had set it up. I have to say, I got quite excited at the fact I had the basic set up ready to go – for the ENTIRE year! – in under an hour. Going with the concept of doing it your-own-way, I then decided what the hey… I’m going to have a bit of a “prequel” to my album by including stuff in that last week to 10 days over Christmas. And so I started taking a few pics here and there. And noting some journalling! Yay – sooo simple!! I already realised that I don’t want to have the pressure of a photo a day and I am expecting my version of the project to be a lot more a case of documenting parts of the week or even the month – but that sometimes I’ll want more space than just the given format. So I’ve already ordered different kinds of page inserts and am totally OK with documenting 2011 in however it comes. The key for me is knowing that this will get the photos out of the camera or the hard drive and have little stories put with it – without the hassle of carting all my creative stuff out of the batcave to the dining table and back again. And just because this makes it so easy, I know that sometimes, I’m going to WANT to do that carting my stuff up and down stairs! So I’m really looking forward to getting some of the stories documented and the creative urge coming back to join me.

Not that it left entirely – I’ve been knitting for my niece, plus a couple of babies that have made an appearance in recent weeks. And I’ve been enjoying the slower pace of that…. but I have got itchy fingers that want to get in amongst the pretty paper and the glue again!

Another little (huh!!!) project that I have planned for over the summer is to get organised. Our family is one that loves to keep things – “just in case”. Our house is one that has quite a lot of storage space. One would think that these things go hand in hand. Truth is…. a lot of storage space not well used = a LOT of disorganised clutter. It’s way over time this project was taken in hand … and this summer is the time to do it. Having the outside re-roofed and re-painted has freshened up the exterior brilliantly…. now it’s time to get the inside stuff done too. It’s a biggie, but another one I’m looking forward to getting stuck into.

And just because I hate having a post with no pictures, I have found some in the folder that I downloaded just before we had our computer sorted out. They’re from our trip to Whanganui back in October – and they made me think of Janine: it’s the teapot tree outside the cafe near the lovely Whangaui park.

Enjoy the last few days of 2010

 

I’m back…again :)

After three weeks of having no computer here at home, I’m back again. It’s good to be re-connected.

Especially now as our ever-helpful techy friend (hi B!) was able to assist us back with a faster, smarter setup. Who knew a PC could actually work this fast?? Turns out the hard-drive was about as cooked as a cooked thing and I’m picking we were lucky not to have had a really, really bad loss of stuff. Mainly the photos… that would have been very bad. We were backing up like crazy… especially when I downloaded every single picture off my camera!!

 

Anyway, this is just to let everyone know that once again, I’ll be stalking your blogs, posting randomly and generally re-joining the on-line world. Yippee!

 

See ya.

How I’ll miss my Nana

Well, to be honest, i couldn’t think of what kind of title I should put there – but there you go. Don’t be expecting a list because it’s not that kind of post.

I’d been meaning to update a couple of times since the last post. Last weekend was the most recent time I planned to sit and pop something up here. However, news I received early last Saturday morning kind of meant that I really didn’t feel like it.

Last the week before, mum had called to let me know the Dr’s felt it wasn’t going to be a long time before Nana passed on. She’s been in and out of hospital quite a bit over the past year. Mostly for tests to confirm what was going on. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything long and lingering. Some of the results had me believing that nothing really was going to change in a hurry. It turns out that Nana had a mass inside her heart – it was quite large and floated : not attached to any particular part of the heart. That, it seems, was the cause of her more recent “turns” that had been coming about more and more often recently. On first hearing this, i didn’t really go into a panic about what it might mean: Nana has been having her “funny turns” off and on for years. The fact it was happening more and more frequently did set some bells ringing, but the reality is, Nana has been around all my life – there wasn’t any real reason that should change now.

So in the week leading up to last weekend, when Mum called to let me know the Dr had given advice that Nana was in heart failure and could go “tomorrow, the day after, next week or next month”, my mind was instantly calmed at the thought it would be more likely to be next month. There was no real rush to have things change!

Turns out Nana’s time was a lot sooner. Despite the warnings, depsite the knowledge it was imminent, the news arriving early last Saturday morning was still a shock.

In amongst the numbness I felt at the news, there was also an overwhelming sense of gratitude. At 39, I feel so very lucky I still had a Nana and a Grandad. I still do have a Grandad. One with lots of stories to share. At 39, I’ve been lucky to have had a great relationship with my Nana that saw her pass on many gifts when I was younger – my love of knitting and cross-stitch is definitely something she gave to me. It was her that had the patience to sit with me and explain, yet again!, how to make that stitch work or to show me why the embroidery hadn’t quite worked the way it should and help me re-do it. It was in Nana’s house I remember the smells of preserving – jams and fruit. (I also remember the smell of cabbage that had gone on at 10am for a 12 noon lunch… we won’t dwell on it!) It was Nana and Grandad that got to take me on my first overseas trip. It was Nana that I persuaded all that time ago to make Apple Dumplings for me – even though she didn’t like doing it and has never done it since! It was Nana that washed my mouth out with soap when I told her that “Dad had buggered it up” – even though I protested that all I did was repeat what my dad had told me! It was Nana that made my friends dropping in with me on the way to Dunedin one uni trip feel as much part of the family as I did.

So, I’m going to miss Nana. A lot.

But I still feel lucky. She was, afterall, a very good Nana.

Eunice Winifred Thompson, Sept 1929 - August 2010

It’s all good news!

Well those of you that see me on Facebook will have heard the loud squeal of excitement, and possibly even have felt some wind as I let go that huge breath I’d been holding for a month.

Yesterday was D-Day -> Decision Day. When I got into the office, there was already a message on my phone requesting I attend a meeting at 11.30. I was told that it was fine to bring a support person. Considering I know I stop hearing what is being said to me when I focus in on the main message, I thought this was a good suggestion and promptly asked one of my colleagues along. Usually it would have been my manager with me, but she was on annual leave so I really didn’t want to go in alone.

I have to confess, I already knew I had “a” job to go to – it was still with the agency, but was less challenging and at a lower pay rate. The suggestion had been put to me just before my manager went away, and I was grateful for the offer – and had every intention of taking the job should the worst case scenario occur. I’m not too proud, and I really, really enjoy working at the agency.

It wasn’t something that I wanted everyone to know in advance however, so it was a little hard to keep that one under wraps and ensure that processes were followed to the letter. I was also expecting a change from the original proposal after a meeting about 10 days ago where signals started getting muddied a little. In retrospect, my manager read the situation correctly – I was a little more cynical and thought the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that we had been given every chance to “consult” and to understand we had received offers of assistance. I’m sticking the my “…preparing for the worst, hoping for the best” mantra!

Anyway, at 11.32 the small talk had finished and the transition manager started to tell me what the decision was. In a nutshell: the feedback received from the proposed structure led the decision makers to re-think the part relating to removing a fourth region and to not dis-establish it. Result? My manager’s role and therefore mine is safe! For now. It’s likely to be looked at again as the agency is moved into the ministry, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge until that happens and at least 12 months.

I was floored by the news – and very grateful that my colleague was there to hear the information. My brain literally stopped at the point of “we’re not dis-establishing your role”! Right at the end of the meeting, I’m sure I was grinning like a loon and did a bit of a happy-toe-dance while acknowledging that it might not have been the most appropriate thing to do. But then, this man did have to go on and give some not so great news to other staff on this day, and he might as well know that he made someone’s day.

I have to say, this is the first time I’ve ever been directly involved in such a job related drama. I am so lucky to be in a situation where I’m working because I want to. It made me realise once again there are so many people less fortunate than me. I really, truly appreciate all the support given to me through the period, and I’m sincerely hopeful that the others that received less good news yesterday find their silver lining.

Sunshine words

Mr 5 has always been my little sunshine boy. When you are around him, you know he’s just a piece of sunshine – his nature truly is sunny, and when you get one of his smiles, it sure lights up your day.

So last night I was tucking him into bed. For a change it was me, and there was no Mr 8 to interupt as he was at cubs. And we had this wee conversation as I was kissing him goodnight:

Mr 5: Muuummm……
Me: Yes..?
Mr5: I wish I was still at kindy.
Me – a little puzzled, as he just LOVES school: Why is that?
Mr 5: Because then I could spend more time with you and just me.

He’ll always be my Sunshine.

And so it’s Tuesday

Tuesday is my Hump Day. My insanely busy day – after school at least. Two swimming times, travel time, 60 minutes to get home, eat and get back out to pick up Mr 8′s mate and drop off to cubs. It is the one day that I would never usually add something into the mix.

So why on earth did I put something in there for today? Cos I’m mad is the only reason I can think of right now.

Last week I had to take our family car for its WOF. And having pointed out it needed a new bulb for a rear light, the only thing I thought might have been an issue were possibly the tyres.

Now, I have had to go to a place other than my usual mechanic because six months ago, I discovered that W&A had gone bust and they refused to tell me were Barry had gone. That annoyed me becuase he’s a great mechanic, and one that I have trusted over the years to be straight with me.

So I head to another big name place where I know I’m paying more for labour costs but expect a good job. Big mistake.

At this WOF check, not only did they fail to call me as requested should any work other than the known blown bulb need doing, when I did turn up, they had failed the car on about $800 worth of work. Excluding labour. Going through the list, my heart sank…. I was expecting maybe tyres but not all these jobs…. and the list seemed endless. And then they said “seatbelts not retracting.”

Woah!

Back up!! Did you just say that the seatbelts don’t retract? Yes, he did. Alarm bells start jangling. You mean, these seatbelts here, I questioned as a demonstrated perfectly functioning seatbelts retracting in the front. Well, yeah, those were the ones down here. Well, why don’t they work – when clearly they do…? I questioned. Let me go check, I’m told.

He comes back…… oh, it was the centre belt.

Ok, so you have marked down here that the front seatbelts have failed because they don’t work, but as they do work you really meant it was the centre back belt. The one that we haven’t used at all since the last time you passed it six months ago? What exactly is the issue with it? Um….. it doesn’t work. What doesn’t work? I almost hiss through clenched teeth – all the alarm bells ringing for me. Ummmm…. it doesn’t work. You mean this one that is working very well now? I ask. Yeah – that one – it’s a bit dirty.

By now I’ve had enough. I’ve been pulled up on perfectly working seatbelts plus a whole lot of other expensive jobs that supposedly need doing.

I tell him that I think there is a lot of BS coming from his team and that if any work needs doing, it will not be them receiving payment. And then I drive off to VTNZ. Which I probably should have done in the first place, except I like one-stop shopping.

I discovered that there is a natinal computer system – they knew I’d just failed elsewhere. he wanted to have a chat with me after his check….. He couldn’t find issues and wanted to find out why I had failed 30 minutes prior. He looked at me like I’d grown another head as I told him my perfectly functioning seatbelts and nearly new wiper blades were among some of the failures earlier.

I was still failed. For two nails in a left hand tyre that wasn’t picked up by the last lot, and a funny bulb pattern in my headlight. That was the only thing the two places agreed on. So today I went to a garage to get these things done. It cost me around $50 – including labour – to have them sorted out.

A saving of over $800.

I will never, ever use that first place again. What makes me wild is that if they hadn’t harped on about the seatbelts, I would have trusted them on the rest of the work – I knew no differently.

And my very busy, crazy Tuesday got a little crazier as I had to catch a bus in order to get to and from the new mechanic. But it has been so very worthwhile! I haven’t found Barry yet, but I think this new place is almost as good. Thank goodness for decent human beings!!

Baby, it’s cold!

I quite agree with that quote wherever I’ve undoubtably misquoted it from! We seem to have dried out a little from the rain over the last couple of weeks and after a day or two of calm, settled but grey days, it looks like the hats and gloves are going to be needed for the long weekend. Yikes!

As usual, we’ve been busy busy. Cross country was finally held yesterday having been postponed from last Friday. It was Mr 8′s third time running and he is over the moon at beating his placing from last year by 11 places. He came in fifth. Mr 5 ran his first cross country and came a respectable 11th – about midway in the 5 year old boys race.

Both are very, very happy with their results.

I’ve succombed to a cold-like-thing where I’ve had a cough since the beginning of the month, thought I was shaking it off, it developing into a proper cold-thing, shaking that off and now the cough is back. Annoying! I actually feel fine, but my trusty neighbour up the road says I look flushed and she was almost on the phone to the Dr’s. I grabbed the phone and said I’d wait and see – it really doesn’t feel bad. Although I have no voice as of today – which the Mr’s think is highly amusing!

I’ve also been impatiently awaiting the arrival of my Stampin Up starter box…. I have 3 workshops already booked with another possible two lurking out there. So exciting!! And until the box of goodies actually gets here, I get to troll the web for ideas and read TONNES of information to keep me all inspired. Funnily enough, that’s all keeping me busy and out of harm’s way.

I just heard another courier van pull up – but not outside my door. I have a neighbour that is / was pregnant and due very soon. I’m beginning to suspect with the couple of flowers drop offs and the comings and goings of other cars that she might have had baby. I say *I Suspect* because this young couple are nice enough but do keep to themselves and I rarely actually see them in person. I can just imagine me bowling over with a plate of freshly baked muffins and saying “Congratulations” only to find the baby isn’t here yet and it was just a birthday of one of them or something equally ordinary!! So here is Secret Confession #226: I’m a some-time curtain twitcher!!!! I’ll keep you all informed as to the appearance or not of said bubs!! LOL

In the meantime, it’s jolly cold up here in the study, so I’m going to take off for the warmer living room. Swap the keyboard for folding duties. Not nearly as much fun but perhaps a little more needed.

Keep warm!!