Snow!!

First snow of the year! just a light dusting really, not much on the fround and it is melting on the road, but the gritters have been out overnight. We get the gritter because it is on a bus route, only a small local bus but i suppose they have to be careful.  Vin reckons he is staying in mostly today, he did go out for the paper earlier and bought an extra one, is he preparing for a long lock i9n or being snowbound.? Doesn't happen here, very rarely anyway, I can only remember being snowed in about once when we couldn't get to school and the road out of our village was blocked. 

We are well stocked up anyway, Vin went to Tesco on Wednesday so we have good provisions, and Jessie won't go short ! Vin has just come up and said he was in the garden getting the firewood and Jack was in the garden, and sat down in the snowy bit. i said he will be getting piles! Do cats get piles i wonder, nasty thought!!

Jessie doesn't go out in the snow or anything else for that matter, she is a rare sight in the garden but will go out in the summer if Vin is out there. She is a housey cat and likes her creature comforts!Head cook and bottle washer, and a darned good job he made of it too!

The lovely Jessie in her "garden"

 

All Over Bar The...

Nothing really, no shouting this year. We had a lovely Christmas with our jane smuggled in the house, it was so lovely to see her after all this time.  I think it is about Feb/March since we saw her last. A long long time anyway. We had a great Christmas dinner, Jane and I had a sort of meat loaf type dish with all of the trimmings and Vin got a veggie stack with goats cheese in the centre and also all of the trimmings. He cooked it all on his own and did a terrific job. Boxing day we had a buffet that is sort of our tradition and this year our Jane was awake for it too which was nice because she missed it last year as she wouldn't waake up! She had been on a lot of night shifts though and was clearly very tired.  Chocolate brownies for our pudding which went down a treat too.

Vin has gone off to Tesco this morning as has Jane too in Manchester, hope it isn't too busy he has gone with a new mask today he says. The dreaded Covid numbers are rising still with over 78,000 dead now which is terrible. There is to be another announcement about the tiers fairly soon too no doubt putting some of the regions into deeper ones. We seem to be ok here in liverpool and are in tier 2 whereas in manchester they are tier 3.

Jane rung up a short while ago to say she was out shopping, and had been to Home and Bargains to get some things and spotted a large pan of the type she wanted, it is a Hairy Bikers range one and is guaranteed for ten years,  which is brilliant. It was only 9.99 which is half the price of the ones she was looking at in Argos. Smashing, I like a bargain. Gave her a bit of money to go back with as I usually do, so hope that would help. 

Jessie is doing her normal things, don't think she missed us yesterday when  we were taking her backi she was asleep on her blanket when we got back.  She was very affectionate towards Vin last night though rubbing his hand and nuzzling him.  Aaah!!

 Jessie's new toy! plus the "garden" that Jane bought for her as a present!

Plus, Vin and Jessie have a visitor. Little Jack from next door ho seems to like our house!

It's Christmas!

Christmas Day here at home and all is very well here. Not a bad day, not a white Christmas but not rainy either. 

 Vin is downstairs getting the things ready for our meal bless him, and Iam on here having a look to see what is going on. Answer not a lot really, most people seem to be having a quiet christmas, mainly because of the Covid which is causing trouble all over the country. Somebody not a millionmiles away from meis eating a bag of fruit pastilles and saying they are her five a day! She has just given me a black one and I had completely forgotten just how tasty they are. Lovely. 

I got a bag of Christmas tree shortbreads and the most beautifulpicture of the Manchester Bee in a gorgeous black frame with LOVE at the bottom. Love it, just so lovely. Vin got a cat calendar and a small bottle of wine and a box of mints which he likes from next doors. 

Our neighbours on one side were turned back from their time share in Scotland because their rules stated that all leisure complexes had to close, so they came back on Tuesday. The ones the other side were going to Scotland but that had to be cancelled so they had to stop at home. First time in a long time we have had everyone at home for Christmas along the road. Not that you would know, nobody comes out much at all. 

Jessie was on the bed earlier just before Christmas, she got a great toy from her Daddy  with a bouncy mouse on it and a ball which rolls round a sort of polo mint. She likes the paper wrapping too!

Best seat in the house!

Covid...Covid!!!

The virus is rampaging in the South west, London and the East of the country. News broke on Saturday that the london area were going into tier 4 which is the highest tier. Apparently there is  new varient of the covid 19 which is spreading more rapidly and causing more trouble. There were pictures in the papers of people in London crowding out the shopping areas around regent Street . You could hardly get an inch between them and many without masks on so it really isn't any wonder.  Some people will never learn!

Christmas is going to be very different for so many this year. There are many countries that are now closing borders  the French will not let our lorries in there and a lot of flights have been cancelled to other countries. Can't blame them really.

Here in our house things are as normal thankfully, our next door neighbours on one side have gone to Scotland just missing the deadline, but it doesn't look like the ones the other side are going up there as they usually do. We are going nowhere exept to pick up our Jane hopefully on Wednesday. She hasn't been home since March so it will be a treat for us to get a visit. I think she is mostly coming home to see our Jessie though if truth were told!

No signs of a white christmas this year though, mostly overcast and rainy. So far it has been a very wet winter no frost to speak of just one or two mornings really.  Jessie is staying inside though but the little cats from next door are in the garden and Jack the boy one is waiting by the back door, he does come in occasionally when Jessie is upstairs, not when she is down or she would be frightened. He is a gorgeous fluffy ginger and white cat, with the most enormous tail you have ever seen! Love him, he is such a personality.

 This was a present last year, Vin has just wrpped her one for this year but won't tell me what it is!

White Christmas? NON!

More like a wet Christmas. Rainy and overcast today here, no sign of the wintry weather that you tend to expect at this time of the year. All due to global warming i suppose. 

Not a lot about Brexit at the moment, more about Covid on the news at the present, each area is in its pwn zone we are in tier two whereas manchester is in tier three still. London is again in tier three and there are differences in Wales Scotland and also Northern Ireland. It is all very confusing not a lot of people seem to know what is going on. We are just having the normal quietish one with our little family. Will probably see our Jane on Wednesday maybe which will be lovely. Put a face to the voice on the end of a phone. 

At the moment in our village there are 130 Gurkas based  at the camp. Apparently they are here for training and have been seen here in the village in groups, seems they have been here in our country since January so away from their families since then. Hope they are comfortable.

Jessie is again having a nice comfy time on her blanket. Staying close to her daddy. He took a card down to her one time owners, with a little description of what she is doing. Better watch out there will be a jane about soon!

 Waiting for my Christmas dinner!

Wednesday So It's...

Tesco day in our house. Vin has taken himself off to Tesco to get the weekend shopping and what we need for the rest of the week. he shops very well  and manages to get enough stock for the week. 

Quite cold and dark today, rapidly getting towards the shortest day on the 21st, and sunset today is at ten to four according to the forecast yesterday, so once lunchtime is over that is the best of the day really.  Jessie is definitely in Wintry mood, she will find a nice warm spot and plonk herself down on the blanket or in front of the heater in the middle room. Vin was asked by our next door neighbour to keep an eye on her two cats Jack and Millie. they are a lovely pair of cats and he enjoys playing with jack who often comes into our garden to see what he is doing. 

Yesterday we  sprnt the afternoon doing the christmas cards for this year.  A lot of ones that i used to do have gone now, used to send some to relatives in Manchester but ssadly most of them have passed on now, they were mainly ones my mum used to send to but they have gone, also people who have moved or  we have lost touch with. Still sent a fair number,  and there were the neighbours ones also.  We seem to be getting our normal ones this year but the price of stamps is putting some off.  Stamps are going up again the cost of a first class one up by nine pence which is a bit steep.  Won't be sending any of those!

Jessie is waking her daddy up nice and early  for feeding. She has her own little routine and it seems to follow the same pattern.  Up early then go to sleep again somewhere!

 Do Not disturb!!

It's Beginning To look a Lot like...

Mark the podiatrist has just been, went at 11.o'clock, and said he would see us again in two weeks. this is the day after boxing Day!, when it comes round it comes round very quickly. Next time he comes it will all be over.  All the preparation for one day in the year.

Of course as soon as the doorbell went the cat disappeared fled upstairs like lightning but he did see her go past him this time, for a change, he usually only the rear end of her at the top of the stairs!
Today started out horribly, very dark and wet and the  skies lookinmg like they would be like that all day. However it has cleared up now and is looking much brighter, not exactly the normal wintry weather that you expect at this time of the year though.

Still no sign of a Brexit deal on the cards just yet but the deadline is getting much closer for that now. not that it will affect us very much really but i can see how the farmers and the fishermen are worried. The other news of the day is the roll-out of the vaccine. It is being done in designated areas, some care homes, and apparently some doctor's surgeries but I assume they would be the larger group ones. 

Jessie hasn't come out yet, I assume she is settled under Jane's bed.

 I'm off to my isolation .

Another Weekend Looming!

Two weeks today it will be Christmas Day! Unbelievable it has come round so quickly really despite the fact that the year has in total been so isolating and boring!

Vin went off to Tesco yesterday to get the weekly shopping because wednesday we were waiting on deliveries, one of coal which came mid morning and the other with the post from M&S something I had ordered. Both came as expected so that was good. He came back with a lovely wreath for the front door, we always have one on the tiop half which has little windows so didn't want one too big. trouble finding one that wasn't too expensive, some of the garden centres ones are very dear, but Tesco to the rescue theirs was £6  very reasonable and it looks good too.

Today is another quiet day . Just had to stop to listen to the radio playing "Driving home for Christmas" by Chris Rea, I love that record, it is the embodiment of christmas for me. Lovely!

Jessie is doing normal jessie things, Vin has his usual little conversations with her. She talks with him answering in loud miaows.

 

Vaccine!

Yesterday saw the first vaccinations carried out, the first one on a ninety year old grandmother who wanted to know what all the fuss is about. Trouble is there are limited stocks and so many people to give it to, so no easing of regulations yet and not for a whiloe yet anyway. Can't see it getting round to us any time soon. Seems they are starting with the elderly in care homes and the workers there, and frontline workers meaning nurses and doctors i suppose, and the normal general public coming quite low on the list. Just have to be patient.

Rained pretty much all day yesterday, today it is clearer but quite cold as you would expect for December. Not been a bad winter so far, some places have had snow, the high grounds and hills, and also some areas like Norfolk.  We do not get much snow here, it has to be quite bad for us to get snow here on the coast. The gritter lorry has been out a few nights though when frost was expected but not too bad yet. 

Vin is waiting in this morning for a delivery of coal from the coal lorry. Not coal exactly but super therm which he says is good and hot. We are using some of our heating allowance from the government to pay for that. Also waiting for some christmas cards coming from M&S via the post office. I had put an order to them last week for two items the other arrived yesterday via DPD and half due from the post office. No idea why they did that but no matter. 

Vin has just come up to say he is pottering around as he does, been playing with the cat as he does. Sleeping a lot as cats do, and keeping nice and warm by the heaters. 

Laid back Jessie!

 

Christmassy!

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas, all of our decorations are up and most of the neighbours have theirs up too so the road is looking nice now.  Loads of Christmas music on the radio and also a lot of supplements in the papers showing what delights we can look forward too for the viewing period over the holiday. Answer not a lot really. because of the virus situation there is not a lot of original viewing to be had really.  One or two highlights but on the whole a lot of repeats rehashed! maybe next year will be better.

Vin went off to crosby yesterday and got some things in for christmas, and our Jane had a shopping spree. She used some of our Argos vouchers from the shopping scanning that Vin does when he comes back from his shopping. she bought a new kettle, toaster and microwave from russel Hobbs, in a lovely red colour.  She is planning to store them at her friends house who has a bit of room for her. 

this morning Vin has spent ages doing a paarcel to send to Ann in Australia. Recently found that she has moved to a new place which is closer to town for her apparently.  Vin did the google earth view and it looks quite nice where she has gone so hope the parcel arrives there in good time. 

Vin thinks jessie is showing signs of kidney related to age problems. he is keeping an eye on her.  She seems ok to me and actually spent ages up here with vin while he was wrapping Ann's gifts. Being nosey!

Colder Today!

At least i think it is,but there again I'm always cold anyway. :) Vin doesn't he is presently out in the back garden putting up some lovely little red berries on the fence for Christmas. Brave soul he is. Yesterday he went off to Formby to get his M.O.T. done and it passed with flying coloursso he was pleased about that. Jane had hers done last week too and hers did when she had replaced a rear light then it was redone and it passed too so she was pleased as well. 

Poor girl has done four nights this week so not expecting to hear from her until at least tomorrow. She will indeed be very tired I should think. 

Shopping done on wednesday as usual and he bought some things for Christmas. It all helps to ease the load, the last thing you want is to to have to get everything at the last minute. The more you can get beforehand the better. 

Jessie was funny yesterday. When Vin went off to get his m.o.t. done she jumped down from the sofa where she usually sits next to him and sat on the carpet in front of the middle room door, and there she stayed till he came back an hour later! There's loyalty for you indeed.

 

"T'Is The Season To Be Jolly"

It is in our house at the moment. All the decorations have been doneThe three trees done, one in the front room in the bay window, one in the middle room where we sit mostly and the third in the extension where our dining table is.Then we have assorted Christmas things around the different rooms and Vin puts lovely lights up everywhere at the windows. Nothing too overdone, just nice and festive.  That was done on Monday and Tuesday and Vin said according to his diary that we have done them four days earlier than last year so we will get a bit longer from them this year. 

Jessie wasn't bothered with what was going on, some of our other cats would have been chasing things round the floor but not this one, she just carries on as normal. My podiatry man came yesterdaqy because he was off on Monday, and she scampered upstairs as soon as the doorbell went, the only bit of her he has seen in months has been her tail disappearing up the stairs.  I had an appointment at the harmotology clinic next Monday his usual day so he said the toe would be fine for two weeks. However, about an hour or so after he went the phone went  and it was Aintree cancelling the appointment and deferring it till later.! Typical that is, they don't ring just before he came but after!

Some good news in the offing this morning, apparently they are about to introduce a vaccine against the Covid in the next few days, which is brilliant news really after all these months of Lockdown. A bit too late for the High Street though, news yesterday of Debenhams closing down lus a number of associated stores that are in the same group, like Topshop, Burtons etc. Oh dear, the main shopping areas have really been hit badly, and of course all of the resulting jobs. 

More good news yesterday for our jane was that she heard that her mortgage has been approved so it is all going ahead with her house sale. It is a lovely house, three bedrooms and just opposite the one that she had seen last December, same little close which is nice because she wants a cat or maybe two.  Hope she wn't turn into a cat lady!!

Thus a lot going on at the moment.Not that any of that affects our Jessie! She has enjoyed the fires that her daddy makes so she can recline in front of them!

Waiting for Christmas presents!