Poor you Lena
hope you feel better soon, and your eye clears up soon

missed Lucan, i was meaning to tune in,

Yes a few rants from John not just with the cricket also a moan about the world cup draw
oh and i think he was a bit upset he missed a tweet from Dave the monk saying he was in Melbourne and hoping to meet up

Oh, me too, Georgy

We'll be doing stuffed eggs, smoked salmon blinis and that kind of thing, though Will have to resist eating them before she gets them to the party!

Awful show on TV at the moment .....comedy awards (for once this smiley seems appropriate). Still, at least it will encourage me to get on with Xmas jobs

Just finished yet more online ordering....will have to be careful I don't lose track of what I'm doing!

Great little website with some slightly more original gifts: notonthehighstreet.com

Maybe you'll be on there one day, Augusta!

Night all xx

Morning all.

So sorry to hear about you eye Lena - is there anything you need to do? See a DR?


Great day shopping yesterday - however, I have been feeling bloated all evening and this morning.

Off to osteopath shortly. Then it is a weekend of baking and cooking for me. So glad cards are finished!

Need to clear up - really, house is a mess, but I can't get motivated. Must do it!!

Well, see you all tomorrow - not allowed to use the computer for the rest of the day. Have a lovely day - and DON'T stress!!!!

BIB Seconded! So much easier said than done, though.....

Think this weekend is almost worse than next....by next weekend the actual celebrations will be kicking off

So my plan is to order everything I can online .....even potatoes etc, so I don't have to carry them. We aren't having huge numbers round to us, but it's kind of spread over several days, and includes several vegetarians and some people intolerant of seafood.....so...Christmas Day: turkey etc for six, Boxing Day: beef etc for six. 29th: party (sit down meal) for fifteen, New Years Eve: party (sit down meal) for eight

Then from 1st January I plan to collapse in a heap.....

wow that is an awful lot of cooking. I like family meals, but Im not that confident a cook, so go for the simplest options...And as a vegetarian, I don't really mind if others eat meat, but as I cant sample it as I go along, I can do a basic roast and simple things like steak and chips, but I really don't know that much about how to cook it properly.


I have a dilemma, its our work Christmas meal tonight, but its a long drive away, and im not sure if I really feel like going....We also just had another ski lesson this afternoon and the backs of my calves are really painful, so I can barely walk.

Do I make myself go....even though Im not really in the mood, or is that just me being totally antisocial?

I have been tuning in to the sky portrait artist programme, the standard is incredibly high, I have the last one taped, but haven't yet seen it, which one is Nick Lord? is he the youngest one with the most distinctive style?

Whats hard to watch is how on earth can they pick between all these fantastic portraits? To some extent I think they have missed a trick, making it almost more about one particular winner, rather than just as a celebration of absolutely fantastic portraiture.

I'm sorry I missed the portrait artist programme, it sounds great. Will try to catch it if they have another one

I'm not a great cook either . I can do casseroles, pasta, canapés, salads etc quite well, but I'm not creative at all really. And as far as presentation goes, OH is much better than me......he can put lemon and herbs on things, arrange them on a special plate, or whatever, and it all looks fabulous. So, we tend to work as a team.......I do the basics, and he pimps it all up

Wonder whether you went to your work do, Augusta. I guess you'd enjoy it once you got there....but I wouldn't blame you for not going

Have a good evening all

I can't seem to find anything to read on DS forums any more

When I go for a mooch around ( having checked in with the lovely JJAT ) - well, there is just so little I want to follow. Help!!! I used to be able to while away hours in the broadcasting, or sport, or tech, or chatter threads. I remember once I even contributed to the CTAM thread! Now, I just find myself thinking 'I've read all this before'

Is it me, do you think, or does anyone else here find the same?

PS This does not of course apply to this thread

Hi All

I am finding the same although I find the techy threads very useful and I did find it interesting that although the tabloids said Artem and Kara are splitting up (from Strictly Come Dancing), it appears they aren't!!! Thank goodness!

I have just wasted an entire morning making cheese biscuits which have now found themselves in the bin!!! For some reason they taste floury although there is very little flour in them. Oh well, best get some pate and cheese just in case.

Anyone watching Byzantium on BBC4? Excellent.

I am now off to watch the gymnastics and then Harry Potter. My poor back just won't be able to stand soon.

Have a lovely afternoon.

Interesting article. Never seen the publication before, looks potentially good also.

https://theconversation.com/segregat...he-rules-20803

Just got in from a big dinner at OH's club btw.

Exhausted.......

Night all, sleep well xx

Morning Lindy and everyone

It is interesting about shoes - evidently some B&Bs now require no shoes. I have been instructed to wear my shoes all the time around the house - and I hate it!!!! Wonder if a medical condition requires shoes all the time would be a good excuse.

Quiet day. Paper shop forgot to give us both papers so we are waiting - and waiting - for other paper to arrive - my guess about 10 am when I don't want it.

Back to bed for me.

Have a good day everyone

morning all. I did go to my work's do and although I am glad I went, it wasn't that much fun. If you have too many people at a sit down meal and you don't know the people you are with that well, it can be a bit ......strange.

I end up feeling totally anti social, don't get me wrong, there are some social events I love, but I think I prefer smaller more personal gatherings, where I can actually sit and talk to my friends. I've never really enjoyed just going out to get drunk/let your hair down etc, as I find I can do that better in other ways. And its so odd to see a totally different side to people to the one you thought you knew. I prefer people to be more or less the same in different places!!!

I saw the portrait painting final yesterday....and WOW what an amazing painting of Johnson Beharry. I can really see why Nick Lord won. Although the portrait of the ballerina was stunning as well.
If you get a chance to see the series on catch up , or to see the paintings at the National Portrait gallery, you should as they are stunning.

im still looking into the strictly threads on DS, and some of the general discussion ones are interesting. And it might pick up on the BB threads when the next CBB comes on.....

I have to agree with you about parties. We have small ones - no more than 20 people - and buffet too. I hate events where you sit at large tables. First, you can't always hear what people say and second, you usually just talk to the people next to you.

My old life drawing tutor is giving some small classes at the Ashmolean in the New Year. Needless to say I have signed up. Just hope it isn't cancelled - or I get another cold.

As for strictly, I am hoping Sophie or Abby win. Actually, anyone but Natalie. I really dislike contestants who have proper dance training or appear in West End musicals.

Well.....have managed to drag myself out of bed and get the tree from the loft. Going to see mum in a bit and hoping to be back in time to watch the football.

Glad you got to your works do Augusta but know what you mean about that sort of occasion. Shall I just say there were 135 of us at last night's dinner, with OH as president and me as his lady. Need I say more? Totally pooped today, as nyannie would say...

Must dash......

Great Liverpool win 5 - 0 away to Spurs

Come on you red men

Morning all.

What on earth has happened to the England Cricket Team? Very disappointing! Wonder what John has to say about it.

So sad to read of the deaths of Joan Fontaine and Peter O'Toole - may they rest in peace.

I am having a day off from cooking today. Need to clean the house, it is disgusting!!!!!

I am back to bed in a minute - to read the papers and then do some ironing and clean the loos!!! Wonderful, housework

I too love housework,!!! (not) we cleaned the house from top to bottom for our gathering though, so it should be more straightforward for Christmas.

what does everyone think of the Strictly result then?

And come on John we need an xmas message from you!!!

I am just a bit less unwilling to do housework since I bit the bullet and bought a rechargeable Hoover (Dyson, actually) it is my new friend, it's so light and easy to use ....and it encourages me to do a little light dusting and tidying too! Not much more than that, mind!

The loos, bathroom and kitchen are my priorities really...

Night owl calling in, it's been a mad few days.

We finished supermarket shopping at 10.20pm on Friday and were eating fish and chips an hour later!!

O/h spent most of Saturday putting in a new light in the hall and now it's up we discover it lights the ceiling and little else.

Sunday was spent writing last of cards and tidying up and Monday saw a trip down to the PO to post last of Christmas cards, a couple of parcels and birthday cards for the three family members that have birthdays over Christmas.

We have got to move, that hill is doing for me. By the time I got back up here I resembled an asthmatic tortoise, I am so unfit.

It was o/h birthday yesterday (Monday) so cooked him one of his favourites, lamb.

Georgy did say the other day that John had been having a little rant about the cricket.

Well as I type John is having a monumental rant and arguing with someone about all things sport, covering everything from cricket, tennis, the Olympics, Rugby League. Apparently the guy is a 'muppet'.

The John we all know and love is alive and kicking.

Morning all.

You really have been busy Lena - get some rest!!!! How is your eye?

I have been baking for our party - and tidying up! Have to wash the glasses, water plants and wash floors - at least everything is gradual!

I am back to the Dr today - throat still not right and dentist said my glands were still swollen.

Would love to know what John is actually doing - we never hear anything.

Well, best get going. Hubby up now. See you all later.

Good morning everyone, hope your Christmas preparations are going well.
Wish the skies would brighten up, I loathe these heavy grey days.

I don't know about me getting some rest, it sounds as if you are all beavering away.

Eye is a lot better nyannie, although it gets sore after I've been concentrating for a while so I have to take little breaks and close my eyes for a few minutes. The red has gone down considerably thank goodness, at least I no longer resemble Dracula's daughter.

Sorry to hear your throat is still not good, mine is ok once I've had a warm drink. I seem to get terribly dry. I don't think this damp helps any of us. Hope the doctor can prescribe something to clear it quickly for you. We want you fitting fit for the holidays.

I'm in the midst of a dilemna.

My sister recommended the Kindle Paperweight because of the amount of books I buy. She said it saves on storage and I could just buy the ones I really want to keep, ie hardbacks or collections of my favourite author. Also I could read in bed without disturbing o/h (I curl up on the sofa when he's gone to bed if I want to read) and also it would be easier to read in the garden as they claim it's readable even in sunlight.

So I started to investigate and discovered for an extra £50-£80 (depending on size) I could have a Kindle Fire HD tablet thingy (this is me getting technical rofl) .....but do I NEED a tablet thingy? My sister (who loves a gadget) says I absolutely do

The more I read about what it can do the more it sounds like a good idea, but really I'm just plain confused now.

I need a cuppa to have another think and rest my eye for a bit.

Have a good day everyone whatever you're doing.

Oh, such dilemmas Lena!

My experience of the Kindle Paperwhite is that I love it, and for the reasons your sister gives. Also my eyesight is not great and I love being able to adjust the font size and brightness according to how tired I am - which of course you can't do in a traditional book

I haven't looked at the Kindle Fire much as it came out after I got the Paperwhite. However, what I can say is that I adore my iPad! Don't know how I ever lived without it.....so if you can use the Kindle Fire to search the Internet, and maybe do email.....again I am in agreement with your sister

Don't blame me when you find yourself spending hours online, though!