Ah, the days are getting longer...

and we are getting closer to Spring.  Yes, yes, I know that we could have snow, ice and all the other horrors of winter weather but just at the moment I am enjoying the mixed warmer weather.  Sorry that people are suffering from flooding but it has been fairly entertaining here to take Hattie the Smellie out on to the field in my wellies and attempt to clear the path of sodden leaves and generally have a fun time throwing and retrieving sticks, balls and plastic bottles which Hattie loves to chew - source of the pong, perhaps?  Me throwing and Hattie retrieving, obviously. 

She is a great little character but I have been a bit out of charity with her over the last few days as she is such a scavenger, she sucks up all her food so that she can clear the cats' dishes (two of our own and two ferals), hence the fishy breath and the occasional projectile vomiting.  Have rearranged her feeding schedule to several small meals a day and shutting out of the kitchen during kitty feeding frenzy.  Thus far, all good.  DD points out that she needs some fun time to keep her occupied and goodness knows, those worried little eyes peering up at me as she tries to frantically decipher what I want of her fill me full of guilt.  (So saying, she has just been madly barking at something in the back garden which caused BH to trip out there with her, stepping in a puddle and swearing worse than on Baby Jesus's Birthday - no burglar in sight but dripping slippers - oh dear, Hattie).

Indoor cat number 1 is squashed up on the seat behind me as I type, whereas Indoor cat number 2 likes to sit behind me on the chair in the kitchen as I eat.  Hattie just likes to sit on me or around me on any chair, sofa, floor or car-seat.  Feral cats 1 and 2 just like to fire in and out of the house in a bid to coax more food out of us, and they like to sit on the garden chairs.  Should possibly rename the house  The Cathouse...Kitty Towers....perhaps not. Probably fairer to rename it The Ponderosa on account of all the cowboys BH has had working here.  Unkind?  Perhaps.

Yesterday, DD and I took BH to change his present at TKMaxx and must say their customer service was excellent, no problems whatsoever, very helpful. 

 I  first had to visit the Eye Hospital emergency unit though as left eye, which had been most uncomfortable for past few days, was swollen, sticky and very sore.  Absolutely cracking service - a wonderful nurse practitioner had a good look and detected a splinter stuck in there which was causing trouble.  She whisked it out in a nano-second, cleaned it and sent me happily on my way with antibiotics and artificial tears as she said my eyes were in desperate need of moisturising.  Could that have anything to do with the tropical heat generated by BH?

And yes, the wood stove appears to be getting better and better so many thanks to Gary of the wood stove company for his wise advice and help.  Also his recommendation of the organic firelighters which are very good indeed.

Will this trend continue through 2013?  I do hope so. 

DD and I called to M&S to exchange something and on trolling back through Selfridges to the car park, discov ered they had installed a bijou Primarni - very well set out and the staff were a joy.  DD bought some promising out fits and I bought two blouses, one of which fits perfectly and t'other which feels like a couple of sizes too small so that will have to be returned along with one or two other things purchased in the pre-Christmas madness.  Primarni, too, have a first class customer service in place.

Made an absolutely gorgeous chicken casserole today followed by some very tart and tasty apricots mmmm as Andi would say, and all the cats were going frantic as I cut up the chicken thighs - so much more flavoursome than breast.

DD gave me some splendid nail polish for Christmas - one turquoise, one gold metallic which combined to make a striking effect, and one magnetic one which she tried out and which looks good, though not quite up to the turquoise/gold combo.  Need desperately to get hair cut and coloured soon.  Am beginning to resemble some flat-headed grey-haired old bint, albeit with red streaks still intact.  One asks oneself if one shouldn't tone down the hair colouring now that one is approaching such a great age, and one replies: Sod that for a game of soldiers.

A quiet and lovely Christmas

Quite a frantic Christmas Eve despite having done the shopping, as I thought.   All presents bought and mostly wrapped, food in, apart from what DD was bringing across on Sunday (a rather yummy organic chicken from Abel and Cole together with organic mince pies for DD and BH).  Woken up on Christmas Eve morning by a frantic picture framer suffering from streaming cold and begging me to collect my paintings which he had managed to frame and bring money so he could get his wife's Christmas present!  Aaagh.  Had to leg it to Boots to get BH's prescription which was wrong but which was subsequently found to be my fault (ooops).  Then man from Macclesfield stove installers rang (at 11.40am) to say magic powder for chimney flue had arrived  and if we got a wiggle on and arrived at said establishment before 1pm when he was going to close for Christmas, we could pick it up and start administering it to our ailing chimney flue.  Tore across as best we could being mightily hampered by the abortion that is the Poynton Stay Safe for All Conservation Area which restricts traffic in every direction bar vertically.  Bah!  Might as well be Conversation Area as one can only converse to pedestrians, cyclists and surrounding vehicles and people whilst watching wistfully as motorists break free of this distrastrous arrangement and speed away to freedom....yes, Poynton, the arsehole of Cheshire. 

And so arrived at Macclesfield, sweating and swearing, at 12.55pm where kindly old stove installer Gary awaited us with magic powder, magic words of advice, magic logs to light sulky stove and magic firelighters which smell beautifully of pine and not at all of paraffin.  Aaah.  And a partridge in a pear tree.  ~Would always go back to this man as he understands what customer service REALLY means - and it's not just some catch-all phrase to fool the punters.

On return journey, decided to visit framer although realised - too late! that neither BH nor I had any ready cash on us.  Not even a chequebook (which some people despise but I like - like it better when it is in my handbag but we can't all be perfect), so had to promise to return over Christmas with the moolah.  And he has made a super super job of my huge painting even though he has cut it in two.  The framing is wonderful and I have quite fallen in love with my own painting.  A major first. 

~Arriving back home, we disccovered DD ensconced in kitchen, her rescue cats in situ in her bedroom, and tea steaming gently in cups - woooonderful.  She was then enlisted into whole regime of applying magic powder, firelighters, logs etc etc and the fire sulked the whole night long.  Our gas bill will be horrendous this winter.  Generally mellowed out over the evening even though the television programmes were CRAP CRAP CRAP. 

Christmas Day dawned to the sound of swearing from BH as he attempted to extricate himself from his drey.  Told him not to swear at Christmas or, as DD put it: "that's so bad on baby Jesus's birthday" and so it went on throughout the day as we  swore as we burned ourselves, stabbed ourselves etc in the ritual cooking, tripped over the dog...you get the picture.

BH not up to much on his arrival downstairs so DD and I had breakfast and took Hattie the Smellie Dog on a three mile walk which did wonders for us.  Nice to stroll along and wish passers-by a merry Christmas in a civilised manner without being pushed out of the way with a snarled comment and sour face.  Would that it was so throughout the rest of the year. 

Eventually opened presents around tea time and a lovely set of gifts they were too.  Many laughs involved, some gorgeous things and some things to be exchanged (see today's portion).

Had yummy chicken meal, no pud - couldn't face it, champagne cocktails with rather slightly over the hill Veuve Clicquot which someone must have given me many moons ago.  Think I may still have a bottle of port hidden away that I received about ten years ago.  Will it still be drinkable?

Entertaining day and today; had a bit of a moment trying to find the framer's house from a different angle.  We must have approached from five different roads and still it took us about an hour to get there.  Pushed money through letterbox and ran.  Tried to exchange BH's present from BS and BBIL but no receipt so thwarted.  Exchange DD's earphones and shall do same with sable brushes etc during next day or so.

DD now gone off to retrieve her partner from Wales so shall not see her till tomorrow some time and in the meantime have been left in charge of errant rescue cats who have, to be fair, been exceptionally well behaved.  And that, I think, brings us up to date.  Except that the fire is still sulking despite the application of the magic powder which burns with an eerie green glow.....one feels like suspending a cauldron over the whole caboodle but it would take three years to boil toe of frog or eye of newt at the moment....BUT BH produced some powdery ash and lumps of bitumen from the back of the stove this morning so something must be working....and it ain't me.

Another exciting day in down-town Longsight..

had a bit of a frantic day trotting to Macclesfield yesterday to visit wood stove shop to discover what ailment our wood stove is suffering from and magically, the man told us we need to throw on some teabaggy things which clear bitumen off chimney walls which no amount of rodding will do.  But they are out of stock and we await a phone call to tell us when to pick some up.  Bought some other necessities - half a ton of kindling etc - and returned home. 

Visited dentist on Monday to replace wobbly filling - unnerving but not painful.  Wonder why it has to be such a very long syring and needle to get into gum.  Seems like waiting for Christmas before it actually ends.  Still, very quick.  Have to return on 3 January though for rest of 'heavily restored' peggies to be inspected and buffed up or removed as the occasion warrants.

Got some excellent books from library - latest Mma Ramotswe book and latest Bill Slider book which I was devouring until I heard Hattie the Incontinent barking her little head off at 3.10 am.  Peered out of window to spy two police cars parked outside and officers strolling up back street.  Despite my best meerkat imitation (and BH's, too), we could not fathom what was going on so went back to book and to sleep.  This morning, neighbour tells me we have had some itinerant man and his dog sleeping in his van outside our gates.  Visions of Alan Bennett's old lady in a van parked in his drive floated through my brain.  May try to catch a glimpse tonight but do not see myself sallying out with tea and crumpets for him - or his dog.  Bad enough I have about 37 feral cats to feed in addition to my own menagerie.

Drove to sister's best friend's house last night with DD to collect presents sent down from Scotland on the Santa Express.  They have two completely bonkers springer spaniels who are nutty but sweet and quite exhausting.  Realised I had forgotten to add other bits and pieces, but shall see her in January and will pass them on then.  She is coming down for my birthday which, she tells me, is a Big One.  Sod that - I am only 17 in the brain so I refuse to admit being any older.

Today went to request Christmas presription for BH, found another fireplace shop which will order the teabaggy things for our stove if I pay them £30 in ready cash (they charge £3 to use a card!), went to buy last minute gifts for DD, was covered in fake snow by some company filming nearby and returned home, knackered and wet.

But after nice meal, watched Last Tango In Halifax, a heartwarming TV series with Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid and Sarah Lancashire - apparently based on a real life experience.  Anne Reid is such a versatile actress - she can go villainesses or warm mumsy ladies with the greatest of ease.  Lovely.  Hope there will be another series.  And on that note, shall retire to bed with book after checking if our back street lodger is in residence.

Rain, rain, rain - wood stove, wood stove, wood stove

Yes, I am truly fed up of the wood stove saga even though I have today received an email from t'council which seems promising.  The stove and chimney have been swept, rodded, cleaned and riddled in every direction so that one thinks the inside of the chimney ought by now to be totally pristine yet still the stove sulks and still BH throws on ever increasing numbers of fire lighters - something which is strictly verboten but try telling him that.

So off to Macclesfield tomorrow to interview supplier to see if he can tell us what might be wrong.  Feel like ripping the damned thing out and putting back a grate for an open fire.  How much that would cost is worrying but I am absolutely fraught with the whole thing.  in addition, if I have to live with the central heating on constantly and four hot water bottles in bed every night, I may shrivel up into a dried old plum.  I may do that anyway.

And so to dentist today to replace waggly old filling. And once again he remarked that my teeth are heavily restored - have heard this so many times, I begin to feel like an antique French bed..  Probably look like one too.He is very forgiving and keeps trying to keep the old peggies going as long as possible before we revert to the dreaded denture.  And so I probably ought not to be crunching brazil nuts...but I do enjoy them so and they are full of something good for me, I'm sure.  Possibly not so the chocolate, but what the hey - that's how we roll.

Exchanged defective kettle from Sainsburys - no fuss at all.  They are so good at customer service.  Gold star from me.

The drive (hahahah, the patch of mud in front of the house) is awash with huge puddles which I have to splash through on my way to and from the car, often loaded up.  The patio bricks outside the house have sunk with the weight of water - and, to be fair, to years of pounding while we split the logs there - and that is awash too.  So today have changed shoes twice, coat twice and hat three times as dripping wet.  Dog dripping wet every time she goes out - she, like me, has a belly which is quite low slung and thus gets wet even in a light morning dew.  Dog towelled dry about 10 times so far today.  May hae to get a separate washer and dryer for dog stuff....

Exciting call about summer exhibition for art group.  Arranged to view venue and talk turkey in January.  I may even talk mince pies if the lady is so inclined....

Enough, the Christmas spirit is taking hold.

Good day at Art Gallery

with some more of my art class friends, about 5 of them.  Wandered around gallery looking for something to sketch.  Impressed with the way in which the City Art Gallery has been revamped under the leadership of the new Director, although not so impressed with all the video installation and teeny tiny photographs taking over a whole room.  But the new displays and the way in which items from other galleries (Costume, for example) have been mixed with old favourites is very good indeed.

And the current exhibition, The First Cut, is simply stunning,  shall try to get there again before it closes in January.  Ended up sketching art students at work in the gallery as it was just too bloody cold to do anything else.  Absolutely freezing.  The poor assistants manning the desk in the entrance hall must have been half dead with cold.  some better solution is surely available.  Had a laugh, chat and a glutenfree chocolate slice before departing for home, clutching my faux leopardskin print coat tightly around me.  My God, my chest and ears were cold.  It may be time for a thermal bonnet - how lowering.  And sadly, for the first time ever, I didn't find anything in the shop to tempt me to buy.

Have still not spoken to Carphonewarehouse about my missing phone, nor TalkTalk.  So that must be done tomorrow, together with ringing Didsbury Parsonage about August exhibition, Inspire at Levy about printing workshop, the man about the multi-fuel conversion kit for the wood stove, and the bloody framer who has still not done my painting!!  Aarrrgh!  Also still not found my missing bank card so I suppose I'll have to apply for a replacement, also my credit card.  I know I have simply mislaid them but I'm jiggered if I can find them.

Went to Emmaus last Saturday (or E-Mouse as DD calls it) in Mossley to find a desk for her and amazingly they had a great selection and we picked one that I think might be a G-plan piece of furniture.  At all events, it is wood, not MDF, and has a functioning lock.  But it was too big for her car so we must return this weekend in our car to pick it up.  How delightful it will be.

BH is busy making his famous corned beef hash.  Had some at the weekend and it was so delicious that I have asked him to make it again.  It will go down a treat on this particularly freezing night.  Hope to goodness this is not a foretaste of the rest of the winter.  On the positive side, after next week, the days will start to lengthen again and it will soon be time to see the lovely spring flowers arrive.  Before then, Christmas!

Stuffed like a Strasbourg Goose

Oh what a glorious meal at Jamie's today with seven of my former workmates.  A wonderful catch-up session on all the gossip, who's been made redundant, who's being naughty and with whom - great.

The meal was simply splendid, as was the gorgeous Jamie's prosecco which accompanied the starters.  Ate so much, I feel I could burst.  Lovely waitress - all the staff are simply splendid - who seemed to actually like our company.  Discussed family matters, which books to read (sad that books have superseded sex in our discussions...).  We left in a suitably happy Christmassy mood, big hugs all round and the determination to meet up again in March at some suitable venue - preferably not quite as expensive but we'll see.

And had been at Jamie's on the Monday evening for our Christmas session of the reading group.  Again super food.  Shameful discussion of the book - only two people had actually read it, but I have rectified that since - but a masterly organisation of us by another member and we have a book list for 2013 somewhere on our blog which might at least mean that we get to read some books, if not all.  Another companionable and entertaining evening.

Still experiencing problems with wood stove though BH and I (and BH and minion previously) rodded the chimney, got the rods stuck, swore (a  lot), messed about and eventually freed the recalcitrant rod.  But still the bloody fire is sulky.  Wonder if Santa Claus got stuck in the chimney on a pre-Christmas trial run?  He won't have liked the rods up his sack....

And so tomorrow must go to DD's home to check up on her two rescue cats as she is in Dublin on a weekend jolly leaving said cats with food in timer containers and enough cat-litter for the elephant house.  BH and I to go and pet them tomorrow and check all is well before DD returns to Manchester.

In between, MBF rang to suggest a trip to Didsbury Art Gallery as we both need to view it as a possible venue for a summer exhibition for our art group.  So cats will not have more than half an hour of my time.  Perhaps could go later?  Will see how things pan out.  May take MBF back with me to soothe kitties.

Dear friend in hospital as a result of a reaction to chemo - bit worrying and quite shaming to read his blog and see how brave he is.  Hope he is soon back at home and feeling more himself.  Thankfully he is surrounded by a large army of friends and well-wishers and his family are coming up to see him soon.

BS rang while I was out for a chat.  Must ring her back tomorrow to see what the scoop is.  Probably aboout presents and so on.

Must ring Carphonewarehouse, too, about my smart phone which is so bloody smart it has spent over a month in the Poorly Phone Hospital with no word to me on its problems, its rehabilitation or its return.  i shall NOT  be paying for a month's data which I have missed, Mr TalkTalk.