Advent Photos 2021. December 12th and Trees In The Church

 Stowmarket Church have had a Christmas Tree Festival every year (except last year) for many years now.  When they first started I'd not heard of tree festivals before, now they pop up in lots of places.

I went to have a look last week, with camera of course. Just a few photos to fill today's post. All decorated by individuals and organisations in the town.

 

 

 I was so disappointed that they weren't doing coffee and cakes this year as I'd not had breakfast specially! - had to go to Greggs instead.

Back Tomorrow

Sue

Advent Photos 2021. 11th December + My Week

Here's another photo of an old Christmas card, this one is in a book called Christmas Fare which I think I picked up in a charity shop last Christmas.

 

 My week began making another batch of ricotta cheese  and then using it to make some ricotta and spinach lasagna - 9 portions in total and 8 went in the freezer. I'm right out of storage boxes now but have enough pizza topping and lasagnas to last me weeks!

 

I started reading Richard Osman's second book this week, whilst reading I kept thinking "blimey, this is rubbish" - the first one was pretty unbelievable but ' The Man Who Died Twice' is just bad. I may give up. ............ STOP PRESS.....I did give up!  and read the most recent Donna Leon instead - 100% better writing and much more readable and believable. (Sorry Mr Osman but your celebrity status doesn't make you a great writer!)  The library van is around next Thursday with several books for me but a worrying shortage of crime fiction for Christmas reading.

 

Wednesday morning I had a minor panic as the oil-fired boiler stopped working. After leaving a message on Ian's phone - the man who has looked after the boilers since we moved back to Mid Suffolk - he phoned me back and talked me through resetting the darn thing and Phew - thank goodness it worked. The boiler here is a combi-boiler whereas the one at Clay Cottage wasn't, so it's a bit different. (I'm a Learner when it comes to boilers anyway as we never had one anywhere until 2016)  At least I now know something to try if it goes off again.

On Wednesday afternoon I went to my first village Over 60's Club meeting - I might have been the youngest there by 10 years but - hey ho. Before Covid they had a membership of 75 people now less than 30 turn up - the others haven't all died I'm sure. The speaker did a presentation about all the Christmas legends that I've been writing about through December. There were a couple of things he mentioned that I'd not read about but by the time we'd had coffee, mince pie and the raffle (didn't win - never do!) I'd forgotten what they were!

 

 Friday and a coffee morning and raffle (again didn't win - never do) with Christmas Carols 🎵 , all in aid of the United Reformed Church.

Today I'm off to another coffee morning with my sister in the church in the village where she lives- hope they have carols playing 🎵. On the way back I will drop off a Christmas card to Col's Auntie and Uncle who will be at the village hall at another regular coffee/breakfast thing in their village.

I seem to be attending an awful lot of coffee and cake things!........ making the most of all the local events to attend - just in case THEY  lock us down in January, although after this weeks "party-gate" and "obvious lie" revelations who's going to obey anything!

 

 

Back Tomorrow

Sue

 

 

 

 

Advent Photos 2021. 10th December and the Double Issue

 My Double Issue came through the letter box yesterday - all the TV and Radio programmes for umpteen channels from the 18th until the the last day of the year.

Whenever I've mentioned this in previous years - and I have EVERY year! some people have commented that's it's a waste of money and everything is online or in a newspaper, but I don't have a newspaper and don't want to keep looking online all the time and this is the only magazine I get. 

The Christmas RT Double Issue has been a tradition in my home forever and having it on subscription has been my best ever downsizing treat. I started after moving here and the first 12 issues were £1 (not a pound each - £1 for all 12) Then is a half yearly payment which takes the cover price down to £2 a week and free delivery. There's a lot more to the RT than just programme times too and it no longer has staples in the double issue so won't fall to pieces like it did in the past! 

 (Heavens knows why I feel the need to justify my purchase! ) and another thing .....when you find yourself living alone the TV and radio can be very Good Companions. 

Having said all that - the people who used to comment on things in a way that made me feel I had to justify everything don't comment anymore! Wonder where they went?

I shall enjoy a good read.

Back Tomorrow

Sue