More Scurryfunging

Today's lists of tasks:

dry laundry

wash towels

put away woollens

dust guest room

re-arrange crafting materials in guest room

lay out towels in the guest room

lay out laundry basket in guest room

dust the guest room

take presents to bedroom

clean tops of fridge and freezer

dust sitting room

dust hall

tidy side board

tidy back vestibule

tidy kitchen

Christmas Scurryfunging

scurryfunge: a hasty tidying of the house in anticipation of guests

So far today we have:
walk the dog
dry laundry
wash woollens
wash dishes
sweep kitchen floor
wash kitchen floor
sweep hall floor
wash hall floor
make bed in guest room
tidy guest room
vacuum sitting room
vacuum hall
vacuum bathroom
vacuum guest room
dry woollens
wash laundry

Tuesday's To Do/Ta Da

Let's start the To Do with yesterday's unfinished business.

Dry laundry

Put on another load of laundry

Italian lesson

Finish one Christmas present

Start tidying dining room

Give Ava tummy rubs

Dry

Monday's To Do/Ta Da!

To Do

8. dry laundry

9. put on another load

Ta Da

1. work

2. work on a Chrsitmas present

3. shop for dinner

4. make dinner

5. make meringues

6. make Christmas cards

10. put money in wallet for Italian lessons

7. wash socks and smalls

----

Ah well, at least I have something to do tomorrow!

Get On Your Bike

The plan had been to cycle 4 minutes every day in December, and then increase it by 4 minutes a day each month until I was cycling for 16 minutes each day. This was to be training for the next IronMay. 16 minutes of cycling is the equivalent of 4 miles.

In April, I would start on the swimming portion. The first Friday would start at 16 lengths, then 32, 48, and 64 in subsequent weeks. 64 lengths is a miles.

The walking section is not a problem as I am no longer in a sedentary job.

This gradually building schedule was to take me to the point where I was doing an IronMay without even thinking about it.

However a little virus last week knocked me off my plan. No cycling was done last week, and so I'm now playing catch up.

We've Just 'Captur'-ed A New Car

Behold the Renault Captur.

I'm not a fan of the colour, but it is a comfortable ride, has lower fuel consumption than our previous car. I really enjoy the comfort of Renault seats. They fit my body. It's also easy for me to get in and out of. One car we looked at really needed a little folding step for me to climb into the car! If I have difficultly getting into a car on a good day, then it would have been almost impossible on a day when my joints were acting up. 

A Pair Of Tomtar Have Arrived

 

A Tomte is a Swedish gnome, or brownie. They are said to live in and around the houses and sheds on farms and remote houses. If you are wise you will show the Tomte “due respect”. If you respect him he will protect your household from accidents and disasters. But watch out! He might play tricks on you if you annoy him. 

In the past at Christmas time, it was a custom to leave a bowl of porridge outside your house under the front door stairs. If the bowl was empty the next morning all was well for another year.

A pair of Tomtar have arrives, Inge and Sven. They have taken up position on the mantlepiece.

Ooops, Where's the Advent Calendar?

It's the first of December, and it's time to open the first drawer of the Advent calendar. Where is it? It's still tucked away with the Christmas decorations.  And, we have no treats to put inside. This will obviously have to be remedied.

Today's plan is three-fold: 1. buy some chocolates for the calendar, 2. make a little forest of Christmas trees, 3. make an Advent wreath, 4. decorate the sitting roo… ooops, this is not a three-fold plan. This is a multi-fold plan! Let's 'To Do' and 'Ta Da!'

To Do

make an Advent wreath

make a little forest of Christmas trees

Ta Da!

clean sitting room

re-arrange sitting room to include space for a Christmas tree

buy Advent chocolates

decorate sitting room

Ah well, the Advent wreath, nor the forest was created. Not to worry, we had a lovely time.

December Goals

1. finish Christmas presents

2. don't get stressed about Christmas presents

3. finish the Duck quilt

4. make healthier food choices

5. cycle for 4 minutes each day

6. change the dining room from a craft/Christmas Tree storage room back into a dining room

November Goals - Review

I have managed to have a thankful and grateful month. There are so many good things in my life, and I am very grateful.

The Christmas Tree for Refugees is up, and is looking very tree-y. It is not my idea of a beautifully decorated tree, but it has a fantastic story/motivation.

With regards to making healthier food choices, yes and no. There have been good times, and bad times. I think it was due to the stress of getting the Christmas Tree ready. 

Work has certainly progressed on the Duck quilt. It isn't finished, but I'm okay with that. There's been a lot going on. My plan is to do a little on it each day in December.

Buy Local

In response to 'Black Friday', let's go out an 'Buy Local'. Buy gifts from small, local shops, from small local farms, small local crafters. Money spent in the local economy circulates around 8 times, making the local economy wealthier. Money given to corporations and multi nationals makes wealthy individuals even richer.

Black Friday

And all that money used to be time!

Black Friday makes some sort of sense in America, but not over here. It's just a pre-Christmas sale. Instead of taking part in the worship of consumerism, how about not bothering and just having a lovely "No Spend" day.

Best Night's Sleep in Weeks!

I was so elated, relieved and excited last night when the Christmas Tree for Refugees was completed. So many emotions! And last night, I had my best night's sleep in weeks. 

There have been multiple times when I've been sleeping, and have suddenly sat bolt upright saying things like "Oh bugger!" I was fearful I had forgotten things I had promised to do, and everything was weighing me down, causing some panic.

My stress levels were climbing and climbing. But when the green squares were attached on Tuesday evening things calmed right down. And then last night when the last winter woolly was placed on the tree. my heart sang. My heart sang, my heart whooped, my heart giggled and squealed.

On the way back from the airport, we stopped off to buy ice cream. It was a reward for a task done well. 

By 11am, I was in bed, and I slept the sleep of the just right through to 6.45. It was glorious.

We have a TREE!

It is 7' tall, and we would have needed at least another three trees to display all of green squares and winter woolies! 

There's a white space at the front, and that's where some information about the project will go. It will be added this afternoon. 

Many, many people across the Island have contributed to this project. A little yarn and a little fabric can bring a big bit of love to refugees who have nothing.

Add A Bit OF Foliage

The tree has been decked in green. And there's two large plastic crates, and two bags full of green squares left over! We have enough for at least 4 trees.

Christmas Tree 'Skeleton'

We've just collected the 'skeleton' for the Christmas Tree!  My stomach is now full of butterflies. This is really, really, REALLY real!

Today's task is to make a sleeve/cover for the tree. The knitted and crocheted squares will be sewn on to the sleeve, as will the decorations. 

Frosted Autumn Colours

Central heating is utterly wonderful! We hadn't realised how cold it had been during the night. When we were packing the car to return home, we noticed the car's thermometer was reading -8C. That's rather chilly!

We said goodbye to the Birthday Boy, and set off on our journey southwards. And what a glorious journey it was! The sky was bight blue, with a few white fluffy clouds. Some trees were bare, but many were decked in their autumnal colours, and the whole lot was dusted with diamonds! Mile after mile was a sight of unfolding beauty.

By the time we arrived at Heysham, the temperature had climbed to 7C. That's probably the biggest outdoor temperature change I have experienced over the course of four hours!

This Way, That Way, Forwards and Back

This way, that way, forwards and back, over the Irish Sea.
A bottle of rum to fill my tum.
That's the life for me!

Well, not a bottle of rum, more like a 'nice cup of hot chocolate, and a bit of knitting', and that's the life for me. I sat, I knitted, I sipped, and listened to my audiobook. It was a rather pleasant way to spend a morning.

When I found myself rocking backwards and forwards a bit too much, I laid down on the bed in our cabin and had a little nap. This is such a civilised way to sail.

Today's To Do List

Time for a To Do/Ta Da! list. There's a lot to be done before we go off-island for our long weekend, and I want it done in good order.

To Do  Ta Done!

Ta Da!

• dry wet washing
• put dry washing away
• take down birthday cards
• dust sitting room
• sweep kitchen floor
• bleach dog's bowls
• organise items for the Christmas Tree for Refugees, separating out the items that need to be paired, or have ends woven in
• pack items in need of completion
• pack Mam's Christmas present and a gift bag for Dad
• pack googly eyes for Mam
• tidy sitting room
• empty sitting room bin
• vacuum sitting room
• wash dishes
• add postcodes to Kindle
• change bedding
• wash bedding
• dry clothes
• clean work tops
• clean hob
• clean out fridge
• dry bedding
• put away bedding
• water plants
• pack Ava's items
• wash another load of laundry
• take Ava to kennels
• update satnav
• put away clothes
• check tyre pressure
• fuel car
• lay out clothes for holiday
• dry clothes
• pack
• empty bins

World Kindness Day

"Throw kindness around like confetti!"

I had no idea World Kindness Day was a thing, but I love it. Be kind. Be gentle. Be loving. If in any doubt about how to react to a situation, be kind.

A post from my Facebook memories came up. It was from two years ago today, and it seems rather apt. "On coming out of the GP's surgery I asked for Celeste's arm to steady me. (I have a migraine.) We called a taxi and whilst waiting for it a fellow patient said she had overheard me saying I was dizzy, and could she drive me home. It was such a kind thoughtful gesture, so touching. I thanked her and explained a taxi was on its way. Here to all the people who are kind! You are wonderful."

That one little act of kindness made me feel a little better. We never know how our kindness can help others.