Chicken casserole.

Yesterday's lamb was very nice and went down well. Even Steve was forced to admit I cooked a good roast that was better than his attempts.

Today I'm making chicken casserole in my slow cooker, like most of my meals it will be heavy on veg and light on meat. I also added some pre - soaked soup mix, split peas and pearl barley etc.

I've not added potatoes as I'm making mash as a side dish along with cabbage.

Steve's gone into town to meet his brother and hopefully to get his phone sorted. He only upgraded because a neighbour has upgraded his phone. Steve will eat at a pub but I have made a few sausage rolls for him to pick at when he gets home.

I've applied to the local food pantry and been accepted, I can go next week. They are only open from 4 - 5:30 so I'll wander along one day in daylight to check where I'm going.

Stormy weather

I cleared the path of twigs and branches when Beano went out first thing.

I cleared it again when we went out for his second walk.

I'm still clearing it three times a day to make it easier for my neighbours to negotiate.

Steve is watching the the Grand Prix and shouting, I'm watching the Star Wars trilogy with subtitles and in silence!

I have a piece of lamb cooking, I'll do the potatoes and other veg later. The lamb is a boned breast and will take three hours to cook, according to the instructions on the label. I'll do carrots and cabbage with it

I've told Steve it will be ready at 5 o'clock, that way he won't keep asking me every ten minutes "it it ready yet?"

 if Steve complains again today I shan't cook again!

Steve's bought a new phone

This is a crisis!

Steve's bought a new phone!

So far Steve's managed to lock us out of Amazon and Tesco because he couldn't remember the passwords and so he changed them and then forgot what he changed them to!

As he doesn't access either website from his phone I have no idea what he was trying to do.

I went to the summer house as soon as he started fiddling with his new phone. His friend Bob came home with him to try and help but he eventually gave up and went home. 

I have a standard response to any tech question Steve might ask me. It's " I don't know"!

I used to be quite good at managing phones and computers but that was when I could still see.I

Steve will ask me questions and tell me I'm wrong even when I'm correct.

Another Christmas treat.

I ordered and received a box of violet creams, yummy. Another treat to add to my Christmas stash. I've also ordered a cheese selection and some crackers.

I then met my son and had breakfast at a local cafe and he's arranged to see me again in a couple of weeks. 

 The following day  I was out with Betty, shopping at Asda. I bought mainly vegetables as I'm not keen on buying them online. I prefer to choose what I'm getting.

Today Steve is going out and meeting Bob so I will watch a seasonal film on tv, there is a Grand Prix on again this weekend so Steve will watch that.

I'll take my hearing aids out for the duration of the qually's and the race as I find the noise of the cars going round the track irritating. It also means I don't have to listen to Steve shouting and swearing with excitement.

Wax melts.

I ordered some wax melts, by mistake I had them sent to my daughter's address. I warned her what I'd done and suggested she keep them.

I then ordered a second set, to my correct address, they arrived this morning. They are very nice but I've also received someone else's order along with mine.

I contacted the company and offered to pay for what I'd received, I can't send them back as I can't get to a Post Office or similar. They said I can keep them!

I shall give some of them to both my daughter's as there is far too much for me to use. I'm hoping my daughter's can use them as gifts for teachers or friends.

Amongst other things there was some stuff to sprinkle on the carpets, this can't be used by me or my daughter's as we all have pets that walk on our carpets. I've sent it over to the summer house to see if there is a resident that can use it. I hate waste.I

There is a craft sale in the summer house, I was going to go over but Steve wanted to go and sit with his current crush, so I stayed home!

Morning walk.

I'm out of cash and there is a craft sale in the summer house today.

So instead of one of Beano's usual walks, we walked to the petrol station on the A4.

I had asked Steve if I could leave Beano with him but he refused, I was only concerned that if the cash machine wasn't working I'd have to walk to Lidl and get cash back. Beano isn't allowed in Lidl and I won't leave him outside.

Fortunately the cash machine was working so I can pay Steve £30 towards the food shop and I have money for the craft fair. I usually buy lavender bags,  if there are none I will just make a donation.

Beano was a bit discombobulated by the change in routine but he was happy with all the new smells. The walk to the petrol station means I'm already over half way to my usual step count.

Steve is up already and in the shower, he's off into town to buy Christmas cards and eat breakfast in McDonald's and to visit the pub for his second breakfast!

My Christmas treats.

The Christmas treats that I've ordered for myself have started to arrive.

Yesterday there was a small box delivered, it contained a very small Panettone, a bar of pistachio chocolate and a small box of Ameretti biscuits. Steve won't eat any of these so I shall pig out on them.

I've also ordered some wax melts, I'm hoping they will drown out the constant smell of BBQ sauce flavoured everything that Steve eats.

We've put up a very small tree that has its own lights and we've strung some lights around and the window. I have some more decorations that I will hang today. I don't think I'll be able to get any mistletoe which is a shame, I like to hang it on my window.

Also arrived y'day the very first Christmas card it's from one of the residents. I now need to dig ours out ready to give out.