John Simpson - All Books Great and Small........ and Tea part 7

Please pop along and leave a message and see how the Chunksters are coming along.

Hello everyone, this is my Seventh year being part of this wonderful group. I am John, 57years old and married to Karen for 36 years and counting. We have two lovely children, Rob and Amy. Rob lives with his Fiancee Louise, daughter Hannah who will be 9 in February. Amy married Andy in 2015 and they now have a cat called Combie.

Please come along and leave a message and let's see what fun we have.

I love books and currently have just over 2,500 books on my shelves and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 400 books. While reading I do enjoy the odd pot or two of tea.

CURRENTLY READING

I just love Big Books, these are my 1000+page reads so far with more to add.

1.Shogun by James Clavell, 1243 pgs
2.Gai-Jin by James Clavell, 1578 pgs
3.Noble House by James Clavell, 1435 pgs
4.War & Remembrance by Herman Wouk, 1171 pgs
5.Whirlwind by James Clavell, 1343 pgs
6.Centennial by James A. Michener 1100 pgs
7.The Covenant by James A. Michener, 1080 pgs
8.Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd, 1344 pgs
9.Homeland by John Jakes, 1138 pgs
10.Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, 1007 pgs
11.A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, 1474 pgs
12.Love and War by John Jakes, 1019 pgs
13.Texas by James A. Michener, 1508 pgs
14.My Life by Bill Clinton, 1000 pgs
15.Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine, 1086 pgs
16.Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, 1059 pgs
17.The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, 1219 pgs
18.Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton, 1144 pgs
19.Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton, 1235 pgs
20.Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, 1185 pgs
21.Wicked by Jilly Cooper, 1007 pgs
22.The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 1412 pgs
23.London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1299 pgs
24.The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1076 pgs
25.A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, 1391 pgs
26.World Without End by Ken Follett, 1111 pgs
27.Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, 1,015 pgs
28.The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, 1,056 pgs
29.An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, 1,065 pgs
30.New York by Edward Rutherfurd, 1017 pgs
31.Hawaii by James A.Michener, 1130 pgs
32.The Company by Robert Littell, 1281 pgs
33.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F.Hamilton, 1225 pgs
34.Spangle by Gary Jennings, 1276 pgs
35.Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1024 pgs
36.Alaska by James A. Michener, 1073 pgs.
37.Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, 1180 pgs.
38.Chesapeake by James A. Michener, 1132 pgs
39. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, 1070 pgs.
40. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, 1156 pgs.
41. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, 1259 pgs.
42. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, 1244 pgs.
43. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1104 pgs.
44. The Source by James A. Michener, 1032 pgs.
45. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, 1220 pgs.
46. The Stand by Stephen King, 1325 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JANUARY

1. Chesapeake by James A. Michener, PB - 1132 pgs.
2. Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer, PB - 588 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY

3. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, PB - 1070 pgs.
4. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith, PB - 771 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN MARCH

5. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, PB - 864 pgs.
6. The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley, PB - 543 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL

7. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, PB - 1,156 pgs.
8. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, PB - 668 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN MAY

9. The Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones, PB - 886 pgs.
10. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, PB - 1259 pgs.
11. Campaigners by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB - 580 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JUNE

12. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, PB - 1244 pgs.
13. Dominion by C. J. Sansom, PB - 690 pgs.
14. The Dragon Riders by Christie Dickason, PB - 724 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JULY

15. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, HB - 1104 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

16. An Outrageous Affair by Penny Vincenzi, PB - 870 pgs.
17. The Enemy by Lee Child, PB - 559 pgs.
18. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk, PB - 734 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER

19. The Source by James A. Michener, PB - 1032 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER

20. Honeycote by Veronica Henry, PB - 535 pgs.
21. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, PB - 1220 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER

22. The Stand by Stephen King, PB - 1325 pgs.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN JANUARY

1. Twas the Nightshift before Christmas by Adam Kay.
2. Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn.
3. The Road to Grantchester by James Runcie.
4. The School at the Top of the Dale by Gervase Phinn.
5. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY

6. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan.
7. The Language of Kindness by Christie Watson.
8. One Million Lovely Letters by Jodi Ann Bickley.
9. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.
10. Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham.
11. One More Day by Mitch Albom.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN MARCH

12. The Quiet Side of Passion by Alexander McCall Smith.
13. Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer by M. C. Beaton.
14. A Family Recipe by Veronica Henry.
15. George, Wham and Me by Andrew Ridgeley.
16. Agatha Raisin, Beating about the Bush by M. C. Beaton
17. Till the Cows come Home by Sara Cox.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN APRIL

18. 59 Memory Lane by Celia Anderson
19. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.
20. The Strange Disappearance of the Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan.
21. The Department of Sensitive Crimes (Inspector Varg) by Alexander McCall Smith.
22. Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb.
23. The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn.
24. The House at the end of Hope Street by Menna Van Praag.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN MAY

25. The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester.
26. An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope.
27. Long Arm of the Law by Various authors.
28. The Telephone Box Library by Racheal Lucas.
29. The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliette Lawson.
30. Murder at the Manor by Various Authors.
31. An Act of Villainy by Ashley Weaver.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN JUNE

32. The Time Keepers by Mitch Albom.
33. Pagan Spring by G. M. Malliet.
34. Out of Practice by Penny Parkes.
35. Demon Winter by G. M. Malliet.
36. A Quarter Past Dead by T. P. Fielden.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN JULY

37. The Next People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
38. The Trials and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris.
39. Christmas at Nettleford by Malcolm Saville.
40. Bookworm: A Childhood Memoir of Reading by Lucy Mangan.
41. Wildflower Bay by Rachael Lucas.
42. A Scene to Die For by H. Y. Hanna.
43. Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

44. Finding my Voice by Nadya Hussain.
45. Where There's a Will by Beth Corby.
46. Changing Times by Jack Sheffield.
47. The Knife's Edge by Professor Stephen Westaby.
48. The Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde.
49. The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna Van Praag.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER

50. The Marvelous Mrs Mayhew by Milly Johnson.
51. Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson.
52. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint.
53. The Helpline by Katherine Collette.
54. The Beech Hut by Veronica Henry.
55. The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greene.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER

56. The Two of Us, My Life with John Thaw by Sheila Hancock.
57. Bombs Fell on Aunt Dainty by Judith Kerr.
58. Small Person Far Away by Judith Kerr.
59. Rules by Jenny Colgan.
60. The Unpredictable Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell.
61. The Way to Minack by Derek Tangye.

KAREN'S BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JANUARY

1. Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1958 by Norman Preston, PB.
2. Mrs Jeffries Pinches the Post by Emily Brightwell, PB.
3. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano, PB.
4. One Million Lovely Letters by Jodi Ann Bickley, HB.
5. Fifty-Fifty by James Patterson, PB.
6. The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear, PB.
7. The Burning Room by Michael Connelly, PB.
8. War Storm by Victoria Aveyard, PB.
9. Death in Fancy Dress by Anthony Gilbert, PB.
10. Murder by Matchlight by E. C. R. Lorac, PB.
11. Yorkshire County Cricket Yearbook 2019, HB.
12. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint, PB.
13. An Island Christmas by Jenny Colgan, PB.
14. Crime at Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin, PB.
15. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan, HB.
16. Jack Hobbs by Ronald Mason, HB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY

17. The Helpline by Katharine Collette, PB.
18. Nay Umpire by Jim Appleby, PB.
19. A Cotswold Casebook by Rebecca Tope, PB.
20. The Company of the Dead by David J. Kowalski, PB.
21. The Newcomer by Fern Britton, PB.
22. The Holocaust by Martin Gilbert, PB.
23. Kingdom by Robyn Young, PB.
24. A Family Recipe by Veronica Henry, PB.
25. Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman, PB.
26. The Troutbeck Testimony by Rebecca Tope, PB.
27. The Bowness Bequest by Rebecca Tope, PB.
28. The Good Doctor of Warsaw by Elisabeth Gifford, PB.
29. The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna Van Praag, PB.
30. The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna Van Praag, PB.
31. Essex Poison by Ian Sansom, PB.
32. The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman, PB.
33. True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop by Annie Darling, PB.
34. The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, PB.
35. A Dirty Death by Rebecca Tope, PB.
36. Death of a Friend by Rebecca Tope, PB.
37. Bridge of Souls by Fiona McIntosh, PB.
38. The Telephone Box Library by Racheal Lucas, PB.
39. A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde, PB.
40. Snowed in at The Practice by Penny Parkes, PB.
41. Where there's a Will by Beth Corby, PB.
42. The Body on the Train by Frances Brody, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MARCH

43. Dead Ringer by M. C. Beaton, PB.
44. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, PB.
45. A Nice Cup of Tea by Celia Imrie, PB.
46. The Lost Art of Letter Writing by Menna Van Praag, PB.
47. Out of Practice by Penny Parkes, PB.
48. Practice Makes Perfect by Penny Parkes, PB.
49. Best Practice by Penny Parkes, PB.
50. Wham! George & Me by Andrew Ridgeley, HB.
51. Died and Gone to Devon by TP Fielden, PB.
52. Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani, PB.
53. Asking for the Moon by Reginald Hill, PB.
54. The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams, PB.
55. Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel, PB.
56. Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman, PB.
57. The Knife's Edge by Professor Stephen Westaby, PB.
58. Till the Cows Come Home by Sara Cox, PB.
59. Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly, PB. Freebie from neighbour
60. Espedair Street by Iain Banks, PB. Freebie from neighbour.
61. Hold Tight by Harlen Coben, HB. Freebie from neighbour.
62. Promise Me by Harlen Coben, HB. Freebie from neighbour.
63. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, PB. From Karen's book club.
64. Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb, PB. From Karen's book club.
65. The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
66. The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN APRIL

67. Changing Times by Jack Sheffield, PB.
68. Bad Day at the Vulture Club by Vaseem Khan, PB.
69. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2020, Ed by Lawrence Booth, HB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MAY

70. A Dangerous Engagement by Ashley Weaver, PB.
71. Date With Danger by Julia Chapman, PB.
72. Revenge by James Patterson, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JUNE

73. Playfair Cricket Annual 2020 Ed by Ian Marshall, PB.
74. Bookworm by Lucy Mangan, PB.
75. Death of an Honest Man by M. C. Beaton, PB.
76. The Second Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith, HB.
77. Wildflower Bay by Rachael Lucas, PB.
78. The High Flyer by Susan Howatch, PB.
79. No Mercy by Martina Cole, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JULY

80. Reckless by Andrew Gross, PB.
81. Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, PB.
82. The Enemy by Lee Child, PB.
83. The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew by Milly Johnson, PB. A gift to Karen from one of her bookclub members.
84. My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
85. Tony's Wife by Adriana Trigiani, PB.
86. The Walking Dead by Gerald Seymour, PB.
87. Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yearbook 1937 Ed by J. H. Nash, HB.
88. A Quiet Year by Derek Tangye, PB.
89. Cottage on a Cliff by Derek Tangye, PB.
90. The Way to Minack by Derek Tangye, PB.
91. The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani, PB.
92. Crisis in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB.
93. Waterland by Graham Swift, PB.
94. Successor's Promise by Trudi Canavan, PB.
95. Coming up Roses by Racheal Lucas, PB.
96. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, PB.
97. Letter's from Lighthouse Cottage by Ali McNamara, PB.
98. Finding my Voice by Nadia Hussain, PB.
99. Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson, PB.
100. Bump in the Night by Colin Watson, PB.
101. Hopjoy was Here by Colin Watson, PB.
102. Night Frost by R. D. Wingfield, PB.
103. Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult, PB.
104. No One Listened by Isobel and Alex Kerr, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN AUGUST

105. Fly Away by Kristin Hannah, PB.
106. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo, PB.
107. Black Roses by Jane Thynne, PB.
108. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, PB.
109. Anyone for Cricket? A Diary of an Australian Tour by Bob Taylor and David Gower, HB.
110. Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER

111. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul by Shamini Flint, PB.
112. Inspector Singh Investigates: The Singapore School of Villainy by Shamini Flint, PB.
113. Island on the Edge of the World by Deborah Rodriguez, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN OCTOBER

114. 19th Christmas by James Patterson, PB.
115. The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton, PB.
116. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, PB.
117. The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich, PB.
118. Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB.
119. Secrets in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB.
120. Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville, PB.
121. Texas Ranger by James Patterson, PB.
122. Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER

123. Tales Out of School by Gervase Phinn, PB.
124. Silent Night by Danielle Steel, PB.
125. Blessing in Disguise by Danielle Steel, PB.
126. Turning Point by Danielle Steel,PB.
127. The Girl from Barefoot House by Maureen Lee, PB.
128. I've Got My Eyes On You by Mary Higgins Clark, PB.
129. A Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley, PB.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-9-2020 - 2661
Books added in September - 3
Books read in September - 1

Revised book total - 2663

Pages to read at 1-9-2020 - 1,103,094
Pages added in September - 888
Pages read in September - 1,032

Revised total pages to read - 1,102,950

SEPTEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read...................... 1

No of Authors.................... 1

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 1

Female Authors.................. 0

Pages Read....................... 1,032

Daily Avg........................... 34.4

Book Length avg................. 1032

Next one is yours.

Looking forward to lots of posts on this thread.

Happy new thread!

>29 quondame:, Thanks Susan my dear, i think you are first again dear friend.

Happy new thread, John! I like that you are including Karen's books as well. You do seem to have different reading taste?

>31 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, I started this last year as Karen wanted to see how much she actually reads, she reads quite a bit to say that most of her reading is done when we got to bed. I would say that Karen reads about 40% of what i read whereas i probably read 95% of the books Karen reads.

Wow, John, bet you are the oldest person in the group!

Happy new one!

No dear, you just feel 567 years old. Must have been a tough day in the garden.

Hi John! Happy new thread.

From your previous thread, I did not realize you were reading The Source. I first read it when I was in high school in about 1970 and it made a huge impression on me. It’s one of my few 5* reads, stingy as I am with stars, and I picked it up two days ago to re-read for probably the 3rd time in my life. I’m on page 53 of 909 in my lovely 1965 hardcover edition. It’s such a wonderful book. Did you have a favorite artifact story? Mine’s Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird, with The Voice of Gomer coming in a close second.

I take it you haven’t heard back about possible carpal tunnel surgery yet, or did I somehow miss that?

Sending much love to and Karen, along with kitty skritches for Felix.

Happy new thread!

>33 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, ?

>34 figsfromthistle:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>35 clue:, Hi Luanne my dear,? am i missing something here.

>36 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, I just love Michener's books and this paperback copy of 1,000+ pages fitted the bill to read, i loved it all but like you i loved the same two artifacts. I knew the Jewish population had always suffered but this book brought to my attention the amount of massacre's they have suffered.

When we go into York we park near to Clifford's Tower, this was the scene of a massacre of about 150 Jews in 1190, 40 years ago Daffodils were planted all around the hill on which the Tower is built and every March it is a blaze of colour, the Daffodil's six petals represent the Star of David.

I have a few more Michener's to read and i think a couple more are serious Chunksters, i am reading a mere 535 page book at the moment but the next biggie will be Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon at a little over 1200 pages.

I rang the Doctors this morning as i had received a message about booking a Flu Jab in the next slot, i booked my Flu Jab and then asked if word had come from the hospital regarding my nerve conduction test but they had not come through yet, i'm not sure if the increase in Covid things since i had the test done has slowed things down.

Sending love and hugs to you all and Kitty Skritches dear friend.

>37 drneutron:, Thanks Jim, mate.

You are doing well on your chunkster challenge. I've read a few 500+ page books this year but not nearly as many as you have. I think my next library book is a little short of the chunkster moniker, but it will come close.

>43 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, i should be further on but both July and September were poor reading months book wise with only one each month but i have read Seven 1,000+ page books so far this year and hope to read three more by year end. After a slow month mainly due to gardening activities i thought i would have a nice read that still came under the Chunkster category so Honeycote at 535 pages is ideal and i am nearly at the halfway point.

Last time i did my Chunkster challenge i managed 47 books, i will be doing well if i get to 27 books this time.

>38 johnsimpson:

"I am John, 567 years old..."

Happy new thread, mate.

>45 m.belljackson: Having met him, Marianne, I have to say that he is very well preserved for such a long long life!

Happy new thread, John!

>45 m.belljackson: That typo also made me chuckle :-)

>40 johnsimpson: Yes, in your intro you claim to be 567 yearss old!

>45 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, now i get it. I thought i had deleted the 6 and replaced with the 7, obviously i didn't and to be honest there are days when i feel 567. I am glad that i was able to give you all a chuckle, lol.

>46 PaulCranswick:, Thanks Paul mate, i'm not bad for 567, it must be from reading The Source, all that talk about Moses etc, lol.

>47 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, it made me chuckle when i found out what i had done, i am glad that i was able to provide some amusement, lol.

>48 clue:, Hi Luanne, it's not a bad claim is it although there are some days when i feel 567, lol.

Hello again, John, back a few threads ago to your mention of mosses: the book I was trying to remember with such vivid moss portrayals is THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Though it is a novel, mosses take center stage!

>53 m.belljackson:, Thanks for the book title Marianne my dear, i will try and source it.

Happy New Thread, John.

I can't remember whether you like J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith's Comoran and Robin mystery series, but the latest one, Troubled Blood, clocks in at 900+ pages. So I thought its chunkster-ness might appeal to you as well as its good story.

>55 jnwelch:, Hi Joe, thanks for stopping by mate. I am a fan of Cormoran and Robin and am looking forward to it coming out in paperback format it might top 1,000 pages, the UK hardback clocks in at 944 pages.

As you state, it covers both of my ideals, it is a Chunkster and a good story, i wonder how many episodes it will be when it is filmed by the BBC, as soon as i know when it is to air i will let you know.

Love to you and Debbi mate from both of us.

Finished book 20 this afternoon, Honeycote by Veronica Henry, this is the first in the Honeycote trilogy.

Mickey Liddiard adores his wife, Lucy. So why is he cheating on her with Kay? He knows it's wrong but he can't help himself. Meanwhile James, Mickey's brother, has been in love with Lucy since the day he met her. He can't betray his brother but he's not going to stop the truth of Mickey's affair coming out. And as for Kay, she only married Lawrence Oakley for his money - and he knows it. But does Mickey hold the key to her happiness?

For each of Mickey's misdemeanors, somewhere in the seemingly peaceful village of Honeycote there is a knife being sharpened. Ambition, greed and good old-fashioned revenge all conspire to bring about his downfall... but will true love save the day?

I am simply stopping by to say hello! Congratulations on reading 20 books thus far this year.

Yesterday Will's cousin and her partner visited. I was their first visit since March! I love these two very much. Will and I went on many vacations with them. We got along very well considering our Yellowstone National Park trip was two weeks long, and there wasn't a day when we didn't laugh.

Yesterday, we sat outside in the cool sun and watched the show the squirrels put on. They were chasing, then fighting with each other. Then eating, dancing and running around. One in particular was doing some fast acrobatic moves while leaping in the air from one tree branch to another, all the while swaying in the breeze.

We laughed and laughed. I told my company that they were "cheeky bastards!" A few weeks ago, a baby squirrel ran from the back garden and came right on my sandals. Perched on my feet, he stayed for awhile. I bent down and pet him. Taking my finger and following down his nose, he stayed right there. His baby body was probably all of five inches and his tail was three times that. I had to leave, later I wondered how long he would have stayed. It was the highlight of my week.

happy new thread, John

>58 Whisper1:, Hi Linda my dear, thanks for stopping by, it is lovely to see you here. I wish we had Squirrels that put on a show like the one you have described, they are fascinating little beggars. I love that you told your cousin and partner that they were "cheeky bastards", it is something i would probably have said, lol.

I would imagine that if you had been able to stay longer, the little baby would have continued to perch on your foot as he must have felt safe with you.

I do hope that you are taking things nice and steady while sorting things out in the basement, i am managing to write with the wrist brace on which i am pleased about and have filled two new pens that i got cheaply with some nice Robert Oster inks from the samples i got in my inkvent calendar. As you are well aware, i do love my fountain pens and combine this with writing up book notes, heaven.

Sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

>59 paulstalder:, Thanks Paul.

The last few days have been pretty good although the weather has been mixed, one day it is raining all day and the next it is dry and the sun is out. My reading has picked up over the last few days which has pleased me.

Today we were up at 7am and once washed and dressed we came downstairs to sort Felix out and then while Karen set a load of washing going i got our meds and vitamins out. I made us a pot of tea while Karen got breakfast sorted, we watched a bit of the news while we had our tea and breakfast and then it was time to go to the Asda for my Eye test at the Opticians.

While i went for my appointment Karen went around the store to pick up a few little bits, i wasn't able to have my eye test as if i had had it i wouldn't have been able to get my NHS Voucher as today is more than 30 days before my test was due. I have re-booked for the 26th October and then i will have the hard job of picking new frames.

I met up with Karen at the checkout and once she was done we made our way home. Once home i made us a pot of tea before going into the garage to sort a few things out. I came back in to finish my tea and then Debbie the nail technician arrived to do Karen's nails, i made us all a pot of tea.

While Karen had her nails done i finished off in the garage and then came back in and read. When Debbie had gone Karen got on with mixing the ingredients for the Christmas cakes she is making this year. Unlike past years she decided that it was too much work to do so many cakes, she told all those who have had cakes before that this year she was too busy and would not be making cakes other than one for us.

Karen has made three large cakes with the mixture, one for us, one for Andy's mum and one for Tina's partner who has had a rough year, there was also enough for a small taster cake and it is lovely.

Once the Christmas cakes were in the oven she began to make three Yorkshire Parkin cakes, one for work and two for us. While these were being made i went to collect Hannah form school.

I got back with Hannah and after she had had some Cheese and got Karen's tablet, she went upstairs to chill out, we watched a bit of TV until it was time to make Hannah something to eat for tea. Once Hannah had eaten we watched The Repair Shop and then we had Beans and Sausage on Toast. Once we had finished and had a drink of tea, Karen took Hannah for a bath and after she had had some Milk i took her home.

It sounds like you have been busy, John. I hope you hear the results of your nerve test soon and that your pleasing reading continues on.

>62 johnsimpson: The nail technician?! Sounds for industrial for a manicure!

>63 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, things are nice and steady with us although sometimes it does sound as though i have been busy, the reading is going OK but i must admit that Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon is a little strange but i am only 20% through so far.

I got a phone call on Thursday from Dr Amin regarding my Nerve Conductor test, she had the results and i have a problem with the fingers and wrist and the Ulna is not as urgent but basically she will combine the two for surgery, she will write to the Consultant and then i just have to wait for a date for surgery.

Hope all is well with you dear friend and i will stop by your thread.

>64 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, it does sound a bit industrial but nowadays everyone has fancy titles for their job, even the binmen are now recycling technicians, you don't get more money but it looks good on a CV, lol.

I must say that i am not sure what my moniker would be, i am not retired YET but neither am i unemployed, i am classed as not working due to ill health and that is a mouthful to explain sometimes. I am definitely not a lazy bugger as someone once called me, lol.

Hope all is well at Chez Cranswick mate, love and hugs to you all.

Not a bad few days since i last reported what i am up to.

On Thursday morning we had a pot of tea before setting off to the Aldi at Featherstone to do our usual shopping, i stayed in the car and read while Karen whizzed round and got what we needed. Once done we made our way home and unpacked and put it all away and then we had some breakfast.

After having breakfast we pottered about before i took Karen into Wakefield to meet her friend Tina, after dropping her off i made my way home and read until she gave me a call to pick her back up. Just prior to setting off to Wakefield i got a phone call from Dr Amin after ignoring a call a little earlier in the car as i did not recognize the number. Dr Amin told me that my Nerve Conductor test results had come back and that i had damage to my fingers and wrist that requires surgery and that there is a problem with my Ulna that is not as bad but may as well be sorted out at the same time. She is going to write to the Consultant to get me a surgery appointment so all i have to do now is wait for a letter telling me how long i will have to wait for surgery.

I picked Karen up at about 4pm and once home we had a nice relaxing evening.

On Friday we were up, washed and dressed and then after sorting Felix out, we were fed and watered and had our meds before i took Karen to work. After dropping her off i then re parked nearer to the store entrance and went in to get the few bits we always get. After about 30 minutes i was done and in the car heading for home, i dropped the shopping off and put the frozen bits in the freezer before setting off to go into Wakefield to do the banking. Once done in Wakefield, i made my way home via the post office in Crofton, i had a book parcel to post for Karen. Once the posting was done i made my way home and unpacked and put the small bit of shopping away. Once all this was done i made myself a pot of tea and picked up my book.

I had another couple of pots of tea before doing the downstairs housework. Just as i was about to get the vacuum cleaner and duster out there was a knock at the door, i went to answer and found it was Dannielle, Amy's Chief bridesmaid and best friend, she gave me an envelope with a card in and asked who was in, i told her only me and she showed me Baby Samuel who was ten weeks old today. Samuel is a cutie and she got him to smile for me, she had been visiting her mum and was just visiting some friends and relatives to drop off cards while she had the chance. We had a chat and she managed to rock him off to sleep before she set off to her next stop. As she left she told me not to gloat to Karen that i had seen Samuel before she has, i told her that i would make the most of it, lol.

After Dannielle had left i got my cleaning tools and was about to start when i got a message from Karen, she had fallen down at work, she was fine to carry on but felt bruised all over, i told her to take care and then she messaged to say she was finishing at 4.30pm not 5pm. I got on with the housework and once finished had a pot of tea and read until it was time to make her a drink of tea in the travel mug and go and collect her.

Once home with Karen she had another drink and then had a nice relaxing shower and then showed me the bruises, they were already starting to come out. I made our tea as Karen felt a bit shaky and then after we had eaten we had some cake and a pot of tea and had a nice steady evening.

On Saturday morning we had a pot of tea in bed with Felix for company before getting up, washed and dressed and then coming downstairs to sort Felix out and then ourselves. After breakfast we watched Saturday Morning with Chef James Martin before Karen prepped her ingredients for the Christmas pudding she was making, the only thing missing was dried Apricots. Karen told me to come a little earlier for her and to pick up dried Chopped Apricots if possible, some Asda cat food and some batteries.

Once the ingredients were prepped they were left to marinate in some Orange juice and Brandy and then we had some lunch and a pot of tea before it was time to take Karen to work. Once back home i made a pot of tea and read for a bit before finding Live Giro d'Italia on S4C on the BBC iplayer. It was interesting to watch the cycling while the commentary was in Welsh although cyclists names and team names were in English. I only caught the last 29km but it was exciting with Englishman Alex Dowcett going on a solo break with 17km to go from his two companions. He managed to get a lead of one minute and the stage victory was his.

After the cycling had finished i had another drink of tea and read for a while before watching the news and then again going onto the iplayer to try and find an old Doctor Who episode. I watched two episodes with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor fighting the dreaded Cybermen. By the time these had finished i had time for a pot of tea and then making one for Karen in the travel mug and going to Asda to get the three bits she told me to get earlier and then read until she came out of work.

Today has been a nice day, we had a pot of tea in bed, Felix decided he wanted to go out while i was making the tea, this was after he briefly visited Karen just to say hello. Once we had finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed and came down to sort breakfast and Felix out. We had our breakfast while listening to Steve Wright and then Michael Ball on Radio Two.

Karen put the Christmas pudding mixture into a bowl and then covered it up and fastened the foil on with and elastic band and put it into the steamer for the next eight hours. The recipe is one of the now Dame Mary Berry's from her Christmas Collections cookery book.

I went outside to potter about for half an hour and then came back in and made us a pot of coffee and then we both read for a while. After this Karen got the vegetables ready for Sunday lunch and a little later she put the Lamb in the oven and then put the veg on, we had a lovely Sunday lunch. Karen missed a call while we were eating and then rang the number after we had finished, it was Louise asking if we were busy as they were on there way back from Doncaster and wanted to call in, they arrived about 20 minutes later.

Hannah walked in and said the other two were dawdling about and would be in shortly, she makes us laugh bless her. Rob and Louise came in just after and we had a nice hour or so chatting before they left as Louise felt tired. After they had gone we had some pudding and custard before Karen rang Amy back as she had phoned while they were here.

After eight hours steaming the Christmas pudding was done, after getting it out and taking the foil and greaseproof paper off, we had a little taste and it is glorious. I asked Karen who has Christmas pudding and she said just us as the rest are not keen, oh goody, more for us.

It sounds like you and Karen had a rather full weekend! I hope the fall doesn't cause her too much discomfort.

I hope Karen will be okay. Sounds like you had a nice visit, and some good eating!

Hi John!

Except for Karen's fall, it sounds like things have been going pretty well. I do hope she's fully recovered.

I haven't been baking much in recent months because there's no one to give it to and with just Bill and me here it's just too many sweets. I'm not sure that we'll be able to host Thanksgiving this year, what with Covid and all, but I'll probably end up making Thanksgiving dinner for us and perhaps Jenna if we all feel safe enough for her to come. It's sad.

I hope that you get news about the carpal tunnel syndrome soon.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen, and many kitty skritches to Felix.

>69 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, the weekend was rather full but enjoyable, after today things might not be as good with more Covid restrictions coming into force from Wednesday. Karen is not too bad, the bruises are coming out nicely but her elbow is rather tender and causing a few issues.

Hope you had a good weekend dear friend.

>70 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, Karen is fine apart from her elbow causing a few issues and the bruising is coming out nicely. The visit was rather nice and the eating was rather good.

Hope you had a good weekend dear friend.

>71 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, things have been pretty good apart from Karen's fall, she is recovering well and the bruising is coming out nicely, the only issue she has is her elbow that is causing some distress, it is just tender.

The recent baking has mainly been for Christmas although we do have plenty in the freezer to go at and so baking will take a back seat for a couple of weeks i think as she wants to finish some knitting.

It is such a shame that the usual Thanksgiving festivities will have to be curtailed due to Covid-19, although i do hope that it will be safe enough for Jenna to join you so you can have a family Thanksgiving my dear.

I had a nice phone call today regarding my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, last week my GP rang to say the results of the nerve conduction test had come and that i have a major problem with my fingers and wrist and also a problem with my Ulna, both need surgery and so she said she would write to the Consultant to sort out a surgery appointment. Today the Musculo-skeletal clinic rang to say my GP had written and i will be getting a letter with a surgical date shortly, it may be possible that surgery could be done before Christmas.

Hope that you had a good weekend my dear and send love and hugs and Kitty Skrtiches dear friend.

Oh, I'm sorry that Karen had a fall! I'm glad, though, that it's not more than a few bruises, although those can be annoying, too.

Hugs to you both.

Good to hear that Karen is recovery nicely, John. Fingers crossed that your surgery will be scheduled before Christmas and you'll be well on your way to recovery when the Christmas celebrations happen.

>74 johnsimpson: Hello, John! Sorry to hear about Karen's fall-- hope the bruising and soreness subside quickly. And I hope you get your surgical appointment sooner than later! Sounds like you really need it. Hugs to you both--you need them!! : )

>75 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, Karen is feeling a lot better and the bruises are colouring nicely. Hugs to you all dear friend.

>76 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, hopefully the surgery will be before Christmas, there is a good possibility as the lady who called me mentioned Nova Healthcare, i have looked and they are based at St James' Hospital which is NHS but some surgery is outsourced to the private sector at no cost to me. My Shoulder surgery was done at a private hospital with no cost to me.

Karen's bruises are colouring nicely now.

>77 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, Karen's bruises are colouring nicely now and the tenderness has just about gone. Hopefully i may get the surgery done before Christmas, as Amy said earlier when she phoned us, they will class it as more of a priority as i am right handed and the longer it is left the more inconvenienced i will be and it would cause numerous problems.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>67 johnsimpson: John, I so hope you can have the surgery before Christmas.Good Luck my friend.

Yep, me too! The sooner, the better!

>81 Whisper1:, Hi Linda my dear, things seem to be progressing, after the phone call on Monday i got a letter today from the Wakefield Musculo-Skeletal clinic. The letter said to ring the number given at a clinic in Normanton, which is near to me, and organise an appointment. I rang them up and i have a telephone appointment on the 2nd of November to discuss the types of surgery available, i am hoping then to find out how long i will have to wait for surgery. Things do seem to be moving apace and maybe Amy is correct in what she said to me about pushing things along as it is my dominant hand that requires surgery.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>82 drneutron:, Hi Jim, mate. I too hope it is sooner rather than later although if i am unable to drive which is likely, i would prefer after Christmas as Karen doesn't drive and Christmas at work for her.

love and hugs to you and Danita from both of us.

More good news today, Amy had her first baby scan as she is 12 weeks pregnant, the photo was quite clear for this stage, they told her that her due date is the 29th April and not the 28th as she thought but obviously this is dependent on the baby playing ball and wanting to come out on time. Andy hopes it hangs on until the 4th May as he is a big Star Wars fan, lol.

We are both over the moon for both of them, i became a Grandad at 47 and i will be 57 when this one is born, Hannah is so excited and now she wants to see Auntie Amy to see her bump.

We have had a nice steady day, we began with a pot of tea in bed before getting up and stripping the bedding off to be washed. After stripping the bed we got washed and dressed and came downstairs, Karen set a dark load of washing going while i got our meds and vitamins out and then Karen sorted Felix's dishes out before we set off to the Aldi in Featherstone.

Once we got parked up we went into the B&M store to pick up some hairspray for Karen and a new electric kitchen mop, once we had paid i took them back to the car and Karen went into the Aldi and i sat in the car and read.

Once Karen was done and everything was in the car we made our way home and unpacked and put it all away. I made us a pot of coffee and Karen got the cereal ready for both of us. After we had eaten Karen put the dark washing on the airers and put the bedding in the washer and set it off.

While Karen did this the post came and i had a letter from the Wakefield Musculo-skeletal clinic to inform me that i needed to ring the Nova clinic in Normanton to book an appointment. I rang the clinic and i have a telephone appointment booked for the 2nd November to discuss surgery options. After i made the call i made us both a pot of tea and while we were enjoying our brew, Amy rang to say she had had her first baby scan and sent a picture of the scan photo via Whatsapp for us. After the call with Amy was done, Karen set to making some Brownies for the lady that won the Brownie prize organised by Henry's Haven Cat Rescue. She made Salted Caramel Brownies as that is what the lady wanted and they were being picked this evening.

By the time they were ready i was getting ready to go and pick Hannah up from school, i collected Hannah and we made our way home. Once home Hannah got some milk and Cheese and then Karen showed her the scan photo, she was amazed and now she wants to see Auntie Amy and her bump.

Later we all had something to eat and then Hannah had a bath and then some more milk and biscuits before i took her home. Once i had dropped Hannah at home i made my way home and by then the Brownies had been picked up.

Tomorrow we are going out for a drive and heading for Thirsk in North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire is not in any type of lockdown so we are safe to go off and visit, this will be our first trip out for at least a month and we are looking forward to it. Whilst in Thirsk we will visit The White Rose Bookshop and Cafe, we do love this place and no doubt will make a purchase.

Congrats to you and Karen on your renewed grandparent status! How exciting!

I'm glad to hear that you've gotten a surgery-consult date. Knowing what it is and how to get it fixed are good, although the surgery itself will just have to be got through. You'll end up much, much better on the other side of it.

Yay for the baby bump and due date for Amy.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen. Kitty skritches for Felix, too, of course.

>87 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, thank you for your lovely comment dear friend.

>88 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, i am getting closer to a surgery date and therefore closer to being pain free.

It is nice to see Amy progress with her bump and a due date if the baby agrees with this, lol. Grandchild number two will arrive ten years and two months? after Grandchild number one, Hannah, and Hannah is so excited to see Amy's bump.

>66 johnsimpson: You are definitely not lazy, John. Nobody making so many pots of tea could ever be accused of being lazy!

Have a great Sunday and give our love to Karen.

>91 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, thanks for stopping by mate, i cannot claim that making a pot of tea is a lot of work for me as you know my love of a good brew.

I will pass on love to Karen mate from you all.

It looks like everything is progressing well, John, between the surgery and Amy's baby bump.

>93 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, at the moment things are going along nicely on the home front but like other parts of Northern England we are waiting to see if we end up in tier three on the new scale of Covid lockdowns. To this end we are all going over to see Amy and Andy on Sunday, Rob, Louise and Hannah are coming to us and then following us to Amy's as they haven't been over before.

Last Thursday we had a drive out to Thirsk and after a good wander around we drove the short distance to Northallerton. By the time we got to Thirsk the weather had changed and as we got out of the car after parking up we had light rain. First stop was a visit to White Rose Bookshop and Cafe, after perusing the books we went into the cafe and had a coffee and we shared a Bakewell slice.

After we had our coffee and pastry we left the bookshop/cafe and had a wander around Thirsk, the rain was still light but annoying. We had to pop into a couple of shops as we needed certain items, after getting these we popped into WH Smiths and i picked up my Cricket magazine and then we ended up in the British Heart Foundation charity shop. We left the charity shop with five books.

After this we left Thirsk and drove the short distance to Northallerton, after parking up we had a wander around the long high street, occasionally popping into a few shops for a look around. Karen picked up a couple of essential items but we didn't find any books we wanted and before long we made our way back to the car and made our way home. It could have been a better day but at least we had a day out for a change.

Since our day out in North Yorkshire things have been steady away for both of us and not much has happened.

Had to visit Google to find out what a Bakewell slice is... Wow, that sounded good!

>97 drneutron:, Hi Jim, they are very nice mate.

We began the day with a pot of tea in bed and it was nice to see that the sun was out even at 8am on what looked a chilly morning. Once we had finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed before coming downstairs to sort breakfast out. Karen set a half load of light washing going before sorting Felix out.

Once Felix was sorted i got our meds and vitamins out and made us a coffee while Karen got breakfast ready. We watched the news programme while having our breakfast and coffee to find out the latest on Covid tier changes. It is now clear that South Yorkshire is going into tier three, the highest level from midnight on Friday and West Yorkshire seems safe until next week at the earliest.

Due to possible Covid changes we are all going over to see Amy and Andy on Sunday for lunch, Rob, Louise and Hannah are coming over with us, they will be following me as they have not been over to see them in Selby before.

Once we had done with breakfast we pottered about, i read for a short while and Karen put the washing on the airers once it was washed. We had some lunch and then Karen sorted out all the recipes she has collected out of magazines and then started to put them into a folder with one hundred clear pockets to display them, she has that many recipes that she has a second folder to file in as well. After a pot of tea it was time for me to take her to the hairdressers.

After dropping Karen off, i made my way home and made a pot of Earl Grey tea and read with the latest government news special on in the background. Two hours later i went to collect Karen from the hairdressers but she wasn't finished so i sat in the car and read until she came out 30 minutes later.

Once Karen was in the car we made our way home and then made ourselves something to eat before having a pot of tea and some cakes while i watched the Vuelta highlights on TV.

We all had a lovely few hours over at Amy and Andy's on Sunday, both Rob and Louise loved their house even though there is a lot of work to do but it will be lovely when it is finished and back as it should be. Hannah was so pleased to see Auntie Amy's bump and now wants to know whether it is going to be a boy or a girl, she really wants them to have a girl.

We had homemade Lasagna that Karen made and pizza and garlic bread and this was followed by Amy's homemade Chocolate cake, the cake was divine. We all left at around 4.30pm as Amy was starting to look a bit tired, she said it was ok for us to stay but we could see she needed a nap.

The rest of this week has been quite steady, on Monday i had my eye test and there was a slight deterioration and so i made a booking for a time slot to choose my new glasses when Karen could be with me ( i am not grown up enough to pick my own frames, lol). I booked the slot for when Karen finished at 6pm and when i was looking at the frames i liked four but narrowed it down to two that were just right. When i get my new glasses i will take a photo to show you all.

Tuesday and Wednesday have been quite steady with mixed weather conditions, we are still on tier two Covid level at the moment but could move to the highest level next week but the council leaders are still in negotiations about this.

What a horrible, miserable day it has been weather wise. We awoke with the alarm and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix went to visit Karen but not for long and soon joined me and wanted to go out.

After we had finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort Felix out and then ourselves. I made us a pot of coffee and got our meds and vitamins out while Karen got breakfast ready. Once we had eaten and had our drinks it was time for me to take Karen to Sandal and Agbrigg station to get her train into Leeds to meet up with Amy.

After seeing Karen off i went to the pharmacy to collect our meds and then made my way home. Once home i made myself a pot of tea and then put dishwasher salt in the dishwasher and then set it off, this sounds very simplistic but it is not how it went. I put the first lot of salt in the compartment and then Felix arrived wanting some more food. I put some food down for him and started to weigh out the next lot of salt, sadly i had not put the container on the scales properly and it tipped over, dishwasher salt all over the worktop, on the dishwasher door and the floor. After quickly cleaning up the floor so that Felix did not trample it all over i reset the container and did the next two weighings of salt and then set the dishwasher off.

Once the dishwasher was set off i cleaned up the salt from the worktop and enjoyed my pot of tea. After finishing my drink i got some of the stored gravel and washed it through in the wash bowl, i did this three more times before having a coffee.

After my coffee i sorted out our meds and took some to our bedroom and then got on with the upstairs housework. Once the housework was finished i made myself a drink and settled down to read until i got a message from Karen to say that she was on her way back to Sandal and Agbrigg station.

I got a call from Karen at 3.20pm to say she was on the train and it was about to set off, once the call ended i got in the car and made my way to the station to pick her up. Karen said that they had had a good time, they hadn't bought much but had a good wander around and had some lunch and just basically enjoyed each others company for a few hours.

As it has turned out it was a good job we all went over on Sunday and that Karen and Amy met up today as West Yorkshire goes into tier three lockdown from a minute past midnight on Monday morning. We can no longer meet anyone outside our household either indoors or outside and the government are warning that families joining together for Christmas may not happen and that the Police may visit households to check that they are abiding with the constraints imposed and households could be fined if breaking constraints, apparently Scotland has said that students may not be allowed to go home over Christmas. I think there could be a lot of trouble over this as the government has messed about with prevention measures after the eat out to help out campaign when infections began to rise and more so when students started to go back to university.

The weather here was also very wet the last days, John, I hope next week will be better.
Glad you were able to visit Amy and Andy in time. I am glad the restrictions here are not so tight, but I won't visit my dad until the numbers of COVID-19 infections are down again.

Hi, John!

>101 johnsimpson: >102 FAMeulstee: It's been rainy and miserable here for the past week, too. Makes it feel like mid-November already!

Hello John,

Just wanted to chime in and say that at our university we are sending the students home on November 20 and they won't come back until January 13, 2021. We are letting the parents and the authorities handle them if they get ill.

The university has also decided that it is time for all UA employees to be back at work. Starting November 9 everybody has to work on campus 3 days a week. The only exceptions are for child care issues, or health problems. On starting December 7 all employees are to be back at work for 4 days a week. Then on January 8 all employees are to be at work full time. The only exceptions allowed are for health reasons and you have to have a doctors certification on file in HR to fall into that category.

Hurricane Zeta came through Tuscaloosa. We had rain all day Wednesday and part of Thursday. It was not too bad. I had one pot of plants blown over and broken, but it was not really much of a loss. However, Birmingham that was farther north (by 50 miles) had really bad winds. It was so bad there that most of the city lost electricity and many of the schools were closed on Thursday because of no electricity. It is now cold here. Our transition to fall weather is usually slow and gradual. This was an abrupt change. There was no frost upon the pumpkins this morning, but it was close.

On the reading front - I have been reading some big books lately. Nothing in your category of heavy weights, but I just finished a 585 page mystery novel and am now reading an 800 page gothic novel by the Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafon. This one is the last of his Barcelona quartet, titled Labyrinth of the Spirits. I am almost 200 pages into it and really enjoying this very atmospheric mystery. I am also looking forward to a weekend of reading because I don't have to work on my journal article. We finished that and submitted it on Thursday. Now we will see if it is accepted as is, or accepted with revisions necessary.

Hi John!

I'm sorry for the tier three lockdown but glad that you got to visit with your family before it starts. Good luck!

>101 johnsimpson: Oh, I'm so sorry about the restrictions in your area. That's a pretty severe lockdown this late in the game. I suspect we need a similar lockdown around here, but I'm hoping I'll be able to visit family at Christmas. It would be pretty lonely with just me and the fur boys on such a family-oriented holiday.

>104 benitastrnad: We've been back full time all semester at a private university in Tennessee. We've all been concerned about not staggering schedules as other colleges and universities in the area have done. We feared it could take out the entire staff. We're mostly staying in our own offices and only going outside our offices when we need to stretch or help a student in person. One librarian is quarantined because her father who lives in the same house has COVID. She tested negative so we breathed a sigh of relief because if she had been positive, our director and the other main reference librarian would have been quarantined. That would have left me, the archivist, and 3 support staff members.

>101 johnsimpson: Whoa! That is some lockdown. Dang. Although where I am we could certainly use a lot more restrictions, like wearing a mask for instance! Duh. I hope you continue to stay well and good thing Karen is coming with you to pick out your new eyeglass frames. Hopefully you will still be able to do that....Hugs to you both.

At UA we have been under a quasi lockdown since September 1. The university opened on August 20 and the first two weeks were a disaster with the students partying like it was 1999. In order to curb that behavior the university went to a strict policy. Only movement to and from classrooms or to go off campus was allowed. No cafeteria eat-in service, only take-out to rooms. Curfews of midnight in the dorms. Dorm rooms could only have 4 people in them at a time. After September 1, this policy was extended to the immediate housing areas around campus, which is where I live. The campus police and the city police cooperated on "educating" and "informing" residents about the policies regarding numbers inside houses at one time. Masks are required indoors and out on campus. No exceptions. The libraries on campus have locked doors. We are only open to faculty, staff, and students by appointment. We have been encouraged to do our consultations by Zoom. (which I am sick and tired of). We also have mask patrols to make sure that students are wearing masks at all times.

I think this is fairly strict and certainly is not what most of the students expected when they started in August. It has been successful in curbing our numbers, to the extent that last week (October 25 - was the latest posted numbers) we only had 68 new cases out of roughly 40,000 faculty, staff, and students. I haven't seen the numbers for this last week yet. The university has been so successful that we will be opening in January with ALL classes face-to-face, but the restrictions will continue to be enforced in the dorms and residences.

It has been a long haul and I am very tired of it. I can only imagine what the students think. I do feel for them, as it clearly is not what they expected. They, and their parents, have pushed back, and the return to 100% face-to-face classes is partly in response to this demand from students and parents. I guess we will see how that works in January. The up side to it is that last I heard, and this isn't official, only 14 cases of Covid-19 during the fall semester, up to October 25, could be traced to classroom contact.

It appears that the Germans are correct when they said that school is not a super-spreader site.

Hi, John.

Lots going on at your house! We haven't made Christmas pudding, but we did make applesauce from 40 pounds of apples. (That make a lot of applesauce). It's an annual tradition. We just add cinnamon and it tastes great.

Debbi sends her best to you and Karen, as do I. I hope she's feeling recovered from the bruising.

>102 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, the weather with us is very mixed at the moment and the temperatures are quite high for this time of year. It was fortuitous to visit Amy and Andy and for Karen to meet up with Amy in Leeds to have a girly shop together. We should have gone into Tier three level of lockdown today but that has been cancelled and we remain in Tier Two until Thursday when we join the rest of the country in a month long full lockdown until the 2nd December. This is not a certainty as Michael Gove suggested yesterday that if things have not improved as much as they want then the lockdown will be continued.

>103 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, with the awful, miserable weather and the clocks going back, it does seem like mid to late November.

>104 benitastrnad:, >108 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, at the moment Schools, Colleges and Universities are to be kept open during the new lockdown starting on Thursday until the 2nd December but a government minister said yesterday that if Covid numbers are not down substantially by 2nd December then the lockdown could be extended. To be honest the Country doesn't know what to do and really this should have been imposed at the end of September as the Scientific experts and the Labour leader told the government.

>105 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, Tier three has not come into use as the Country is going into full lockdown from Thursday this week until the 2nd December although a government minister has said it could be extended, for how long is anybodys guess.

>106 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, the Tier Three lockdown has not come into force as the Country is going into full lockdown from Thursday until the 2nd December and it has been said it could be extended but for how long, nobody knows.

>107 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, the Tier Three lockdown is not in force because we are going into a Countrywide full lockdown from Thursday until the 2nd December and yesterday a government minister said that the lockdown could be extended but until when has not been mentioned, Christmas could be cancelled.

>109 jnwelch:, Hi Joe, mate, things have been busy round here lately but will slow down now that we are going into full lockdown from Thursday until the 2nd December and it could be extended.

Karen is a lot better and the bruising has disappeared now. Sending love and hugs to you and Debbi mate.

Finished book 21 on Saturday afternoon.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-10-2020 - 2663
Books added in October - 9
Books read in October - 2

Revised book total - 2670

Pages to read at 1-10-2020 - 1,102,950
Pages added in October - 3,074
Pages read in October - 1,755

Revised total pages to read - 1,104,269

OCTOBER'S READING STATS

Books Read...................... 2

No of Authors.................... 2

New Authors...................... 1

Male Authors..................... 1

Female Authors.................. 1

Pages Read....................... 1,755

Daily Avg........................... 56.61

Book Length avg................. 877.5

>112 johnsimpson:

Hi John - Schools and Colleges ARE closing in Madison, Wisconsin, and surrounding towns because they HAVE turned out to be the Super Spreaders which brought our state into the unfortunate top COVID numbers. Sweden and Germany might wake up.

>120 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, it said on the news this evening that 150,000 teachers have said that Schools should be closed down during this month long lockdown but i don't think that the government will agree to this.

>121 johnsimpson:

Why take a chance on the kids?!?

Hi, John! I saw this and immediately thought of you and your soon-to-be new grandchild:

https://bookriot.com/bookish-baby-clothes?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=ema...

>122 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne, i am not sure what their thinking is, the government and some head teachers want the kids in school after they missed six months of school in the first lockdown but then again there are views that Covid is in high schools and they might close down. The problem with Boris is that he defies scientific advice and then as in the lockdown from tomorrow he decides to do what they said but six weeks later, who knows what will happen next my dear.

>123 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, thanks for the link, it is wonderful.

The last three days have been pretty good, on Monday i took Karen to work and then popped into Wakefield to check our bank accounts before making my way home. As we were finishing our drink before we set off the Doctor from the Novus clinic was supposed to ring me at 10.45am but rang at 9am, i had a chat with him about my right hand and he said it was pretty bad and the left was also in need of sorting out. I opted for surgery rather than an injection that may not work, he told me that the clinic would be in touch to sort me a date for surgery.

Once home from town i made a pot of tea and sorted some gravel out before doing some reading. Later in the day Karen rang me to say that she would be finishing at 5pm instead of 6pm.

Tuesday was a busy day but in a good way, i took Karen to work for 9am and then made my way home for a short while before going into Wakefield. I sorted our bank accounts out and then made my way home. Once home i made a pot of tea and cleaned some gravel up while the towels dried in the tumble dryer.

After this i had a coffee and read for 30 minutes before going to the bathroom to trim my beard and then shave off the stubble around the trimmed beard. Once the trimmer was put away i went into our bedroom to get undressed to have a shower when Felix decided to join me and he tucked himself into my thigh and wanted to go to sleep, i obliged him for 15 minutes by pretending to go to sleep myself before i persuaded him to go to the next door bedroom and have a sleep. I had my shower and then had another pot of tea and read before paying this month's credit card bill, there's always something to spoil a day, lol. Once this was done it was time to do a bit more reading before i got on with the upstairs housework. When the housework was done i made a pot of tea and then did some more gravel cleaning before a final pot of tea before making one for Karen in the travel mug and then went to pick her up from work at 5pm.

Today has been quite a lazy day but some good news later in the day. We had a pot of tea in bed before getting up, washed and dressed and then coming downstairs to sort Felix out and then get our meds and vitamins out and Karen got breakfast ready. I made us a pot of coffee and then we went into the living room to watch the news, sadly the first thing i saw was Drumf spouting how the postal votes were rigged and counting should be stopped. I saw that Biden was in the lead but narrowly and then turned the TV off as it was getting on my nerves.

We had breakfast and then i pottered about until Debbie the nail technician came to do Karen's nails. I made us all a pot of tea and then i read while Karen had her nails done, later Debbie waxed my back. When Debbie had gone we had a pot of tea and were going to go out when Karen got a call from best friend Linda to say she was nearby and could she call in, Karen said yes and Linda said that she wouldn't stay long as she had Dexter the dog with her and was it alright if he came in. Karen said it was fine as Felix was out somewhere.

Linda arrived and we had a coffee and a chat, after about 45 minutes Linda left and we headed out to the B&M store at Featherstone, next door to the Aldi. I stayed in the car while Karen went to get the few things she wanted, sadly a couple of items were not as she imagined them. While i was sat in the car i got a call from Jess at Novus clinic, she said the next available date for my surgery was the 20th of November at 10am, she also said i needed a Covid test on the Wednesday before at Pontefract and i would have to do a swab test as soon as i received all the details through the post. I said everything was ok and so my right hand will be done first and probably the left done in the New Year.

Once Karen had done in the store she got back in the car and we made our way home, once home we had a pot of tea and watched a bit of TV before Amy arrived. Amy called in for a couple of hours before going to her hair appointment at 7pm. We had a chat and then we had something to eat and then a pot of tea before i got a call from the opticians at the Asda store to say my glasses were ready for collection. I made an appointment to try them on and any adjustments to be done at 10am on Friday morning, this is ideal as i drop Karen off at work at about 8.50am and then go into store to do the little bit of shopping before i get my glasses.

Amy left us at 6.30pm to go to the hairdressers and we had another pot of tea and some Parkin before watching TV.

Good to see that your surgery, or at least one part of it, is scheduled soon, John. It sounds like things are fairly normal there right now. Will Karen be able to work once you are on lockdown?

Congratulations, John, to you and Karen on the baby! May he/she b healthy and happy.

Good to know that Karen is getting over her fall—they’re so unsettling, aren’t they?—and that you have your surgery at least potentially scheduled.

How did you get on with the Pynchon? Did you like it? I’ve not been pleased with him as an author, and would be happy to know what you think.

May you have a wonderful day. Love to you and Karen, and special love to Felix.

I'm glad to hear that your right hand surgery is scheduled, John.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen, and kitty skritches to Felix.

>127 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, Karen is able to work as she works in a supermarket, the only blot is the idiots that think they need to stockpile especially toilet roll, again.

>128 Matke:, Hi Gail my dear, thanks for the message about the forthcoming baby. Karen is fine now that all the bruising has gone although she does have the odd ache but some of that is due to arthritis.

I must admit that the Pynchon was a wacky, slightly odd read and took me some time to get through it as there was a lot of text per page despite it being 1220 pages long. I am glad that i have read it but it may be a while before i read another, i have Mason & Dixon and Gravity's Rainbow on the shelves.

Love and hugs to you my dear.

>129 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, thanks for the message dear friend.

What a horrible weekend weather wise, it was dank, dreary and foggy, as if it doesn't get dark enough earlier and earlier, it was dark all day long. I must say that it made Saturday a very long day once i had taken Karen to work for 2pm.

Sunday was much better as Karen was home all day, after we had had breakfast we listened to the Michael Ball show on radio two and while i did a bit of reading, Karen did the bit of ironing before starting to wrap some Christmas presents. I say start to wrap presents, this was after she had said she had lost a present, we both started to look until she told me to stop as it was a present for me. After a frantic search she still had not found it so i said she should forget about it and it would come to her, a minute or so later she suddenly said i have found it, it had dropped into the wrapping paper bag.

After a pot of tea or two i peeled the vegetables for our Sunday lunch and not long after Karen put the Chicken breasts in the oven and then halfway through cooking she put the veg on. Once everything was cooked we had a nice mid afternoon lunch and then went into the living room to listen to the Johnnie Walker show on radio two before having Apple sponge pudding and custard.

The rest of Sunday was spent relaxing and watching Strictly Come Dancing on the iplayer and then the results show on BBC One.

We awoke with the alarm at 7am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, once finished we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort Felix out and then get our breakfast and a pot of coffee done and i got all our meds and vitamins out.

The weather was again dank, dreary and foggy when we got up and was the same as i took Karen to work. After dropping Karen off i made my way home and had a pot of tea and read, while reading i looked up and saw it was brightening up outside but it only lasted for about 45 minutes before it went back to the way the morning started.

I spent the morning reading and looking at my phone along with having a pot of tea or two before watching the lunchtime news both national and local. Once the news programmes had finished i got on with cleaning the leather three piece suite. This is the first of the jobs i need to get done for Christmas, the big jobs of which there are only three will be done before i have surgery on my hand. By the time i had finished the suite my right hand was quite tender but the suite looked good.

Once i had put everything back in its place and the cleaning equipment away i had a pot of tea or two and got on with my book until it was time to make Karen a drink and go and collect her from work.

Hi, John!

You're already wrapping Christmas presents?! This is not helping my I'm-So-Behind-on-My-Holiday-Projects stress...

>134 johnsimpson: I don't think I've purchased anything yet for Christmas. I need to get ready ordering stuff.

>135 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, Karen is always on the ball especially the last fifteen years when she has been working in retail at the supermarket. To be honest if she doesn't get the vast majority done by the beginning of December then her stress levels hit the roof.

Karen makes a point of listening to things throughout the year and when we are out if she sees things that would be ideal she gets them and stores them away. In the January sales she picks up Christmas cards and wrapping paper and that is stored away. This year with the Covid lockdowns a lot of it has been done online, the only awkward customer is me as i have no idea what i would like and Karen gives me a decent list to choose her gifts from, so although she has an idea of what she would like, until she opens her parcels she has no idea what i have chosen.

>136 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear. Karen is always on the ball from January, she has lists for most things and i christened her the girl of a hundred lists from the Go-Go's song of the same name.

At long last we awoke to a morning fog, dank and dreary free. We were up with the alarm and once washed and dressed we came downstairs to get breakfast sorted out. I did our meds and vitamins while Karen made a pot of tea and got breakfast out, it was only as we were leaving the house that she realised that she hadn't sorted Felix out, i had to do this when i got back from taking Karen to work.

After dropping Karen at work i made my way home and cleaned Felix's dishes and then put his wet food in one and biscuits in the other. Once this was done i got in the car and made my way into Wakefield as i needed to go to the bank to check out a message Karen received on her phone yesterday. I believed the message was a scam and the bank confirmed this. Once done at the bank i made my way back to the car and headed home via the post office as i had a book parcel to post and three Christmas cards to Australia.

Once the posting was done i made my way home and made myself a pot of tea and then read for an hour or so. A couple more pots of tea later and some more reading i then decided to get on with the upstairs housework before a drink of coffee or two and some more reading before making a pot of tea for Karen and then going to collect her from work.

I see that Drumf is going ahead with litigation and McConnell says that it should be done, do they both not understand that as i have been made aware, that the presidential and House and Senate choices were all on the same voting slip, therefore everyone must be re-counted or do they both think that the house and senate votes are ok but not the presidential candidates votes, they are all idiots as far as i can see.

Drumf is a spoilt child and the sooner he realises that he has lost the better and then lets hope that one of the potential lawsuits awaiting him after the 20th January nails him and his children once and for all.

It is not often that you get to page 502 and still have 823 pages left to read in a book, oh well time to carry on and read. Anyway, only 51 more days before i get back to standard length books again and i am already starting to get books ready to read from Jan First.

It has been a mixed day weather wise, it started bright but gradually from 11.30am to get dark and dull.

We awoke with the alarm and i went to make us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix joined us upstairs and we both thought he would stay with us especially as he decided to lay down on my legs. After a few yawns he got up and went to the landing waiting for me to follow, i got out of bed and went next door and let him out of the bedroom window onto the extension, from there he could get onto the garage roof and from there down onto the garden.

We finished our tea and then got up, washed and dressed and went downstairs to sort Felix's food out. I got our meds and vitamins out and then made a coffee while Karen set a load of washing going before getting breakfast ready.

Once we had finished breakfast i put the pots and bowls in the dishwasher and set it off and we got our tackle together and got in the car and set off to the Aldi in Featherstone. Once there i stayed in the car and read while Karen did the shopping, once done she put the shopping bags in the car and then went into the B&M store next door to pick up half a dozen items for Christmas.

Once Karen had done in the B&M store she got in the car and we made our way home to unpack and put the shopping away. By the time we got home i realised that i had forgotten to pay this months council tax so i left the shopping to be put away by Karen while i got in the car and went to the next village to pay the council tax at the post office.

When i got back Karen was just getting the Gladioli out of the paper and found that they were rotting away, she was very annoyed and i said i would take them back when i had finished my pot of tea. Having a pot of tea was very fortuitous as the postman delivered the post and my package from the Novus clinic had arrived. I opened the envelope and took the swabs out to do my nasal and groin swabs, i did them and put them in the clear bag and sealed it up. I finished my tea and took the swabs and flowers to the car and set off to the Doctors to drop the swabs off to be sent for testing and then went to the Aldi near where i am having my operation. I spoke to a store assistant and she was appalled that they had been put out and told me to select another bunch, i found some more red ones and left the store and made my way home.

Once i was back home we had a pot of tea before Karen got the washing out of the machine and put it on the airers and then she got on with wrapping the rest of the presents we currently have. I had a couple of jobs to do, first to empty the dishwasher and then to put batteries in a couple of Karen's watches. When Karen had finished wrapping the remaining presents we had a pot of tea before having some lunch and then watching a bit of TV before i read for a bit.

We are having a relaxing evening now watching the Repair Shop.

Hi John!

Karen's approach to Christmas reminds me of my late MiL's - buy stuff all year long as there are sales and things pop out at you. I'm proud of the fact that I've already bought Christmas cards and stamps and 3 presents - all for Jenna so far. This is unheard of for me.

Sending love and hugs to you both, and special kitty skritches for Felix.

Passing through with love and hugs.

xxoo

The weather here has been affected by Hurricane Eta. It has been cloudy and rainy for the last two days. Not heavy rain, just a mist, but cloudy and gloomy. Just like November in Alabama should be. The only thing odd is that it has been so warm and humid. Not normal for November. Hope that changes in the next few days.

>142 johnsimpson: Karen already wrapping Christmas presents?

Well prepared indeed.

Wishing both of you a great Sunday.

John - hope all is moving smoothly in the direction of your surgery.

>143 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, three presents for Jenna and Cards and stamps bought is pretty good my dear, Karen likes to get things done and all those lists come in handy apart from the list of jobs i get. I no sooner get one job done and two more are added, one of these days i will have nothing on my to do list, lol.

Hope all is well with you all and we send love and hugs to you all and kitty skritches for your fur babies dear friend.

>144 Matke:, Hi Gail my dear, thanks for stopping by dear friend. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>145 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, it seems as if you have been having similar weather to us apart from the temperature. At the moment we are having a mix of short dry spells and wet and windy weather and this has to continue for the rest of this week.

Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>146 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, Karen likes to be organised especially working in the supermarket as it tends to be mayhem from the beginning of December.

Hope you had a good weekend mate and wishing you and the Cranswick clan a good week ahead mate, sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

>147 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, i sent my swabs back on the 11th and this Wednesday i have to go for a Covid test and then surgery is at 10am on Friday the 20th. I have to be there 15 minutes before scheduled op time and i am wondering if this is to numb my right arm ready for surgery. The Op is down for 20 to 30 minutes and i will have to stay there for an hour after the Op, once i have the all clear to leave i will contact my neighbour to pick me up.

Hope all is well with you dear friend and send love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

The last few days have been pretty good, last Thursday was baking day for Karen and she produced a number of different biscuits which apart from a taster biscuit, have gone into the freezer for Christmas.

On Friday after dropping Karen at work i then did the little bit of shopping required before making my way home. After a pot of tea i did some more of the gravel before getting on with the downstairs housework.

Saturday was a steady day, we had a relaxing morning after i had been for my Flu jab. I took Karen to work and then did some more gravel sifting before settling down with my book for an hour or so. I had something to eat before reading again for an hour before listening to the Johnnie Walker rock show on radio two. The rock show had an interview with Angus Young from AC/DC about the new album and the influence that his late brother Malcolm still had on it.

Sunday was a very steady day for me but for Karen she had a bit of a bad moment making the Christmas morning muffins. Once they were in the oven she thought she had added too much baking powder and after checking she realised that she had. They were not as they should have been when they came out and once a taste had been taken it was noticeable but they were edible and i have had a few. The Christmas muffins will be remade.

I got the veg prepped and we had a lovely late Sunday lunch of Lamb, mashed potatoes, Carrots and Broccoli. After a suitable gap we had some Apple Crumble and Custard.

Monday was a good day but a busy one. I dropped Karen at work and then went into the store to do the shopping as it is Staff double discount week. Apart from a couple of items i managed to get everything on my list and added a couple of things to make up for those i couldn't get.

Once the shopping was done and paid for i made my way home and put it all away before having a pot of tea and doing some reading. I read for a good hour before setting the DVD recorder up and then finished off the gravel sifting finally. Once all this was done i made myself some lunch and a pot of Earl Grey tea and when finished i went and tidied the garage up and moved things around to make better use of the space.

Today has been another busy but profitable day for me. After taking Karen to work i went to the retail park to look at some outside lights lights for Christmas, once this was done i made my way home and had a pot of tea. I had a shower and then got on with oiling the dining table and chairs. Once everything was oiled i had a coffee while it dried off a bit and then buffed all the chairs and the table.

Once the oiling was finished i put everything away and cleaned myself up before going to do the upstairs cleaning. When the upstairs was done i had a pot of tea before making myself some lunch and a pot of Earl Grey tea.

>153 johnsimpson: This American wonders if Christmas morning muffins are similar to what we would call fruitcake since they are being made this early in the season.

>155 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, i am not sure if they are similar or not and they have only been made this early as Karen wants to get all the baking done before December when work becomes manic although with a second lockdown that could be extended it is manic enough already with the idiots that come into the store.

Yesterday was a pretty good day for both of us. The day began with a pot of tea in bed before we got up, washed and dressed and then came downstairs to sort Felix out and then get our meds and vitamins out, breakfast out and a pot of coffee made.

Once breakfast was done with, the mugs and dishes were put in the dishwasher and that was set off. After a bit of pottering about i set off to Pontefract for my Covid test and Karen began a bit of a baking fest.

I arrived at the test centre and was a bit early but they quickly did my test and told me that if hadn't heard anything by 5pm to just go for my procedure. On the way back home i called into a couple of garden centres to look at outdoor Christmas lights, sadly they didn't have what i wanted and what they did have was a bit pricey. I set off for home from the last garden centre and called at Thorntree Farm to collect some eggs from Max's free range egg box, Tanya did this as it is for her son Max, he is a mini farmer already and he is only two and bit years old, bless him.

Once home with a dozen eggs i made us both a pot of tea and while Karen continued with the baking, i read for a while before going upstairs to clean the bathroom. Once the work biscuits had been made we had a pot of tea and watched a bit of TV while the biscuits cooled down in the freezer before being boxed up. A further pot of tea later and we then had something to eat.

This morning was quite a busy one but it began with a pot of tea in bed before we got up, washed and dressed. Once downstairs we sorted Felix out and then i got our meds and vitamins out while Karen got breakfast ready and then set off a load of washing.

As we were going out shopping once breakfast was done with, we decided to forgo a drink of coffee with breakfast. We set off to the Aldi at Snowhill first, once there Karen went and did the bit of shopping while i stayed in the car and read. Once Karen was done and the bags were in the car we headed to the Sainsbury supermarket to pick up a few bits that we know Asda doesn't have.

Once Karen had got the bits in Sainsbury's we made our way along the retail park to the B&M store so Karen could get an 1100 bag of tea bags as i put the last lot from the previous bag in the caddy.

Once the Tea bags were in the car we made our way to the Asda so Karen could drop off a parcel at the click and collect desk and i went and got the few bits we needed. When i got back to the car Karen was waiting for me and then she said that the Aldi didn't have any Cat food so we called into the Aldi next door to the Asda, again they were out of Cat food. We made our way home as we were both ready for a drink.

Once home i realised that i had not put any fuel in the car, after we put all the shopping away Karen noticed that she had received a text from Asda to say that her George click and collect order was ready to pick up. We decided to go and pick it up later in the afternoon along with me getting some Cat food.

Once the shopping was put away i made us a drink of tea and then got the washing out of the machine and Karen quickly hung it on the airers and then sorted the flowers out before we had our tea.

After we had our tea we went upstairs to put the dry underwear and socks away and then i went into the loft to get the Christmas decorations down. While i pulled the boxes out, Karen was waiting below to take them off me, they are in the third bedroom/box room until December dawns and Karen will decide when they go up. Once this was done we had a pot of tea and watched a bit of TV before we set off to the Asda to collect the parcel and we got some Cat food.

Once back home we had something to eat and had a pot of tea before Karen decided to finish the wrapping of the presents that we currently have, i read while Karen did this and once she had finished we put the TV on and we are watching a bit of TV for an hour or so.

Tomorrow i have my Carpal tunnel surgery, no writing for at least two weeks, what will my Fountain Pens do in the meantime, lol.

Good luck tomorrow, John.
I hope you will be able to let us know how the surgery went.
Sending hugs and good vibes to you and Karen.

John - you will do fine - you are well prepared and ready for a quick smooth time!

Pain meds should give a pleasant evening and recovery.

Best of luck tomorrow, John!

Thinking about you, John, and hoping that the surgery has gone well and that you are home and comfortably resting.

I keep losing track of time and forgetting what day it is, so hope that your surgery goes well. Just think - instead of using your fountain pens, you will be reading one of your books!

Fall has arrived. I brought my most delicate plants to the library yesterday and will bring a few more in a few days. The days are still warm but the nights are getting cold. Being on an easy schedule for the last 8 months makes me think it will be difficult to be back on a regular 8-5 schedule when the spring semester commences. Word has come down from our University Chancellor that we will be back to work full time in January. The only exception will be for a state-wide quarantine order from the Governor. That is not likely to happen here.

Good luck! May the surgery go well and may the healing be quick!

>159 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, the surgery went well, i hardly noticed what what going on. The only painful bit was the two injections in the palm of my hand and then i was chatting with the nurses and before i knew what was going on they were strapping my hand up. After another blood pressure check and a chat about the aftercare and given my documentation and spare dressings, i was free to go 55 minutes after i entered the building.

Sending love and hugs to you and Frank from both of us dear friend.

I am glad your surgery went well, John. Hugs to you and Karen.

>160 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, the surgery went well and i was back out of the building 55 minutes after i entered. The pain meds i am already on will cover any pain i might have.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>161 jessibud2:, Thanks Shelley my dear, everything went well and i was back out 55 minutes after entering the building.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>162 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, the surgery went well, the only pain i had was from the two injections in the palm of my hand. I left the building 55 minutes after entering and was home a good 45 minutes earlier than i thought i would be.

Yesterday the hand was a bit tender but it is easing and i am being careful and i have got some good reading done.

Karen loved the message you sent her, thank you, sending love and hugs to you, Bill, Jenna and the kitty's, from both of us dear friend.

>163 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, the surgery went well and i have got some good reading done over the last couple of days.

It has dropped quite cold over the last few nights but the Hedgehogs are still coming for food but as it is to get colder over the next few days i think they will stop coming. I will continue to put food down until i am sure they are no longer coming to feast.

Sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

>164 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, the surgery went well and i was back out 55 minutes after entering the building. I have to keep the strapping on until Wednesday and only to change the dressing if it is unsightly but not to clean the wound. I will have the stitches out on the 4th December and should be able to drive from then. I have exercises to do for the next four weeks and not to stress the hand, all will be well for Christmas.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>166 DianaNL:, Hi Diana my dear, everything went well and i am not in too much discomfort so i am pleased with that.

Sending love and hugs to you and your family from both of us dear friend.

Finished book 22 yesterday evening, The Stand by Stephen King.

I had my surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my right hand on Friday morning, i dropped Karen at work and then made my way home and at 9.30am my neighbour Steve took me down to the Clinic for my operation. I entered the building at 9.55am and after a blood pressure test and all paperwork read and signed, i went into the mini operating theatre at 10.15am. After two painful injections in the palm of my hand, the operation was done and before i knew where i was they were dressing my hand.

I had to have another blood pressure test and then go through the process for taking the strapping off after four days, only change the dressing on the wound if it is disgusting but don't clean the wound and then on the 4th of December i have the stitches out and as long as i have no pain i can drive again.

I left the clinic at 10.55am and Steve took me home, once home it was time for a nice pot of tea. About an hour after i got home Karen rang to see how i was and once she was assured that i was OK and could make a drink she left me to myself. The rest of the day until Karen came home from work was spent drinking tea, having the sandwiches that Karen had left for me and reading.

Yesterday was a good reading day for me, so much so that i managed to finish my latest Chunkster.

We awoke with the alarm and Karen went to make the tea, she used the teapot to bring it up and after it had mashed she poured it into our pots. After enjoying our tea we got up, washed and dressed, Karen helped me to wash and then helped me to dress. We came downstairs to sort Felix out and then make a pot of coffee and while i got our meds and vitamins out, Karen got breakfast ready.

I went up to our general store to pick up mine and Margaret's newspaper and i delivered Margaret's before having my coffee. We had a steady morning, Karen had set a load of washing going and when finished she hung it on the airers.

We had another pot of tea or two before Karen got changed for work and not long after, Dave the taxi came to pick her up. Once Karen had gone to work i began to read, i had a few pots of tea whilst reading and i had the soup that Karen had left for me.

I decided to have my curry for tea but had a little smoke of my Saturday cigar, whilst outside i spotted Felix and his lady friend on the extension roof. I put my cigar down and coaxed Felix down but his lady friend stayed where she was. Felix went back to try and persuade her to come down, i decided to go up to the spare room and open the bedroom window to coax them both in, Felix came in and wandered around the room before going back out to try and persuade her to follow. His lady friend declined so Felix decided to jump on top of the open window, sadly i had opened it wider than normal and Felix decided that he could jump from the top of the window onto the house roof.

I was open mouthed, no amount of calling or shaking treats could persuade him to come down. I shut the window and went and had my curry. After i had eaten i went back outside to see what he was up to and to try and get him down. He wandered along the roof, went over to the other side and then climbed the chimney pot, he walked around the pot but would not come down. Felix's lady friend decided she had had enough of this poser and left, i went inside and read. A short time later i went into the kitchen to make a pot of tea and heard a thud on the extension roof and then a thud on the dustbin and Felix was down.

I put the kettle on to make Karen a drink of tea at just gone 10pm and a short time later she arrived home courtesy of Rob. Rob said he would pick his mum up on Saturday nights and last night he could also pick up his birthday presents and cards from us and his sister.

I'm so glad that your surgery went well and that you are up and about with some limitations. Wow, it sounds like Felix sure had an adventurous day, but landed on his feet, at least metaphorically.

Great news about the surgery!

Wishing you a good and speedy recovery John.

Oh, that Felix. Glad he found a way to get down from the roof. He did give you a bit of a fright I guess.

John - so great you're keeping Good News rolling along & glad that both you and Felix
are healthy and strong!

>176 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, yes the surgery has gone well but the size of the strapping is causing some limitations and being right-handed as well makes the majority of things difficult. I am hoping that when the strapping comes off i will be able to write and use the fountain pens that are looking forlornly at me, lol.

It is a good job that Karen was at work when Felix decided to show off to his lady friend as she would have had a dicky fit. He is so naughty yet so lovable the little devil and seems to fear nothing, apparently he sits on top of Clare's conifers now they have been trimmed down and are level, i think he is looking for her cat, Lily.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>177 drneutron:, Thanks Jim. Sending love and hugs to you and Danica, mate.

>178 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, thanks for the kind words, things are going well with the hand and hopefully will get easier when the strapping comes off on Wednesday morning. I have booked an appointment with the practice nurse to take the stitches out on the 4th December.

Felix will be the death of us with his antics, he thinks he is fearless the little devil but he is so lovable and me and him have a bromance, lol.

Sending love and hugs to you and Marc from both of us dear friend.

>179 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, the good news is keeping going at the moment and hopefully stays that way for a very long time. The hand is going along nicely and Felix is fine, he thinks he is fearless and thinks things are a challenge for him, lol.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day for both of us, the day began with both of us going downstairs to make the pot of tea to enjoy in bed, me to make it and Karen to bring the pots up after she had set a load of washing going.

After we finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed before coming downstairs to sort Felix out, get our meds and vitamins out and make a pot of coffee. After we had our drink we had some breakfast while listening to Steve Wright and then Michael Ball on Radio Two.

After breakfast Karen went into the kitchen to colour the mince before making a nice mince dish, while this was cooking she then did the little bit of ironing before i vacuumed the living room dining room and kitchen left handed. After this we had a pot of tea before she prepared the vegetables and put the Chicken breasts in the oven. Whilst the Sunday lunch was cooking we had another pot of tea and once the lunch was ready we had a nice late lunch and then listened to Johnnie Walkers 70's show on Radio Two. After about 40 minutes we had some sponge pudding and custard. The rest of the afternoon was spent listening to the Radio and when the 70's show was over we watched Saturday nights Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC iplayer so that we could then watch the results show later in the evening.

Hi, John.

Sorry you've had to become a lefty for now, but I'm very glad the surgery went well. I hope the relaxing times continue.

>185 jnwelch:, Thanks Joe, i'm no good as a lefty so i will just relax a bit more and read.

Hi John!

So glad things are going well after your surgery.

Naughty Felix, eh?

Sending love and hugs to you both, and of course, kitty skritches for naughty boy.

>187 karenmarie:, Thanks Karen my dear, hope all is well with you, Bill and Jenna dear friend.

It has been a cool week so far and much the same for the rest of the week.

Monday wasn't too bad a day for me but Karen wasn't too well first thing, she thought she might have a tummy bug but went to work when Dave the taxi arrived. After Karen had gone to work i decided to go for a walk and drop off our repeat prescriptions at the Doctors. It was a nice pleasant walk and took me about 50 minutes and once done i set off back for home.

By the time i got home my feet were a bit tender, the ball of my right foot flared up again last week although at first it was just a watery blister but within a couple of days it was sore and looked as though i might have an infection again as i had in late Feb/early March. The area seemed to heal a bit but being on my feet did not help it and the walk was a distance too far. After a pot of tea i filled a bowl with fairly hot/warm water and sprinkled a fair amount of salt in it and then soaked both feet separately.

As i finished soaking my feet i noticed that the window cleaner had appeared and so once my feet were dry i got the money out to pay him and went to the back door as he was doing the back windows. I had just paid Gary when Karen appeared, she didn't look too good. She had got a lift home with Sue, a colleague on the George department who lives about 50 yards from us.

I made us a pot of tea and then Karen went up to bed, she felt cold all over and a bit dizzy, she had booked the rest of her shift off as holiday and also took Tuesday as holiday. It appeared that her Labyrinthitis had flared up again.

I spent the rest of Monday nursing Karen and kept her supplied with drinks.

Tuesday morning started with a pot of tea in bed courtesy of me, Felix wanted to go out so whilst waiting for the tea to mash, i let him out.

Once we had finished our tea we got up and stripped the bedding off and then Karen got dressed, she got a plastic bag and an elastic band and covered my right hand up and took me into the shower where she gave me a good wash all over. I managed to dry most of myself and Karen did my feet and back before helping me to dress.

Once done in the shower, Karen went downstairs to sort Felix out whilst i cleaned my teeth. After the teeth were cleaned i joined Karen downstairs and i got our meds and vitamins out while Karen made us a pot of coffee and then got breakfast sorted out.

After having our coffee, meds and vitamins we had our breakfast and then Karen took the washing out of the washing machine and put it on the airers before going into the kitchen to do a bit of baking. I made us a pot of tea after the baking was put in the oven and after it was done Karen went upstairs to clean the bathroom and then put fresh bedding on our bed. When all this was done it was left to me to dust and Vacuum upstairs left handed.

When all the baking and housework was done we had some lunch and then watched some afternoon TV. We had a pot of tea or two whilst watching TV and then had something to eat while watching the news and Strictly Takes Two and then got ready for The Great British Bake Off Final.

Today has been a pretty good day, we began the day with the usual pot of tea in bed and Felix wanted to go out. I let Felix out whilst making the pot of tea and then joined Karen to enjoy our tea.

Once the tea was finished i took off the strapping around my right hand and revealed two large bruises on the palm of my hand which i presume are from the two injections i was given and then the small dressing was also loose and so i took that off and saw the wound and the stitches. The wound is about two inches long with six large stitches, it looks quite neat. I got one of the dressing patches i was given and covered the wound up and then got dressed before going to get washed and do my teeth.

I joined Karen downstairs where she had set a small load of washing going and was sorting Felix's dishes out. I got on with getting our meds and vitamins out and made our pot of coffee while Karen got breakfast out for us after finishing off sorting Felix out. After we had had our breakfast Karen had a good look through her recipe books before getting on with a little bit of baking while i read for a bit.

We watched a bit of Daily Politics and then Prime Minister's question in Parliament before we got bored with them. We had a pot of tea and some pastries before Karen went to wash her hair and she suggested i go for a walk. I had a nice steady walk around the village and got back just as Karen had finished her hair. I made us a pot of tea and we settled down to watch Escape to the Country and then Money for Nothing before i went out to feed the Hedgehogs. The plate of food i put in the Hedgehog House last night had not been touched, i left it alone and i will check tomorrow again. I will do this for the next few days until i am sure that they have gone into hibernation.

The hand has been pretty good all day but i am being careful with it, i tried a bit of writing this morning with a couple of my Fountain pens. Even though it is only six days since i last used them, it did feel strange and the hand was a bit tender and sore so i stopped and will have another little try tomorrow.

This afternoon i was on my phone perusing my groups messages when i spotted a chap who was selling two pen cases, they both hold 48 pens and he has only had them a month but has realised that he has far too many pens and getting more and more that he requires bigger cases. They cost him £34 but he was selling them for £25 including postage for the pair of them, i quickly messaged him and now they will be winging their way to me via Amy on Christmas morning, this solves her problem as to what to get me, lol.

Karen is much better after two days off and will be back at work on Friday, Amy and Andy are coming over tomorrow for a couple of hours, it will be nice to see them.

An hour ago Karen found out that she had won a winter scarf in a competition run by Wrendale designs, we love their products and have a couple of mugs and some stationery from them. They are an award winning design company run by Hannah Dale who is an award winning artist, the designs on the products make you smile and we have bought a couple of things for Amy and for Karen's best friend, Tina.

I'm so glad Karen is feeling better and how lovely that she won the scarf. And the pen cases sound like a great find.

It has been a rainy fall day typically gloomy for this time of year. At 5:00 p.m. today I will have a long weekend coming up. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am going to have a meal with 2 other single lady friends. I will be making baked apples for us and will also take an appetizer. Then on Friday I will be starting on my Christmas baking. I will start with a gingerbread bundt cake and will also make a chocolate chip banana bread. I am not sure what my fancy baking will be, but will figure that out about Sunday.

I also plan on doing lots of reading this weekend. I took Monday and Tuesday off from work, and so will have a couple of short weeks before I leave for Kansas for the Christmas break. I will have 6 days of baking ahead.

>192 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, Karen is good back to baking and continuing with her knitting for the coming Grandchild. The winning of the Scarf was a lovely surprise for her and the pen cases is just what i need and solves Amy's present problem for me, win win all round here.

Hope you are having a good week my dear and send love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

>193 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, your Thanksgiving meal with two single lady friends sounds lovely. The baking marathon is good to me and what you are planning on making also sounds gorgeous and making my mouth water already.

Hope all goes well with your plans before you head to Kansas for the Christmas break. Sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

Hi John - so great that the hand healing continues so smoothly.

It would be fun to see photos of both the Winning Scarf and your newest Pen Cases,
as well as the favorite breakfast pot you use for tea.

Thanksgiving has been perfect with many birds at the feeders, the neighbor's visiting hens and rooster, and - best of all - the long awaited return of our Two Fawns,
now grown to White Tailed Deer.

Hope you and Karen are staying healthy and happy

Glad to see that your operation has gone well John. And cats don’t have a lot of sense do they? When we first got our first cat we lived on the third floor of a block of flats. I was horrified one day to find him sitting outside on the windowsill, happy as anything! We had to coax him back in very gently.

You may have seen this on Twitter...

Stopping by to say hello and dropping off a picture of my holiday tree for some inspiration on this dreary Monday morning. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

>196 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, the hand is slowly improving, there are still certain things i can't yet do but the stitches will be out in four days. Once this is done i have eight weeks recovery before the left hand is done on the 15th of January.

Photos need to be taken of the winning scarf and pen cases, hopefully tomorrow.

>197 ChelleBearss:, Hi Chelle my dear, we are both fine, i am recovering after Carpal Tunnel surgery on my right hand, i have the stitches out this Friday and then have some exercises to do on the hand. I am having my left hand done on the 15th of January.

>198 SandDune:, Hi Rhian my dear, the hand operation went well and i have the stitches out this Friday and then have to do exercises on my hand. There are still some things that i can't do and some that are a bit painful but i am getting there.

Felix just loves to climb and explore and on this occasion i think he was showing off to his lady friend. Felix has also discovered windowsills but not at three storeys.

>199 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, i just love the tree of books and it cheered me up on this dreary Monday.

It was lovely to see Amy and Andy last Thursday, once they arrived we had a quick drink before Amy to Karen to the Aldi to do the little bit of shopping and then they both went into the B&M store for a look around and then called at Victoria Garden Centre to look at their Christmas decorations and displays.

While they were out me and Andy had a good chat and i pottered about for a bit, the girls were out longer than we expected. Once the girls got back they unpacked and put the shopping away and i made us all a drink before we had some lunch.

After lunch i went with Amy to the DIY store to help her look for a couple of items, sadly they didn't have what either of us wanted and so we had a wasted journey. We chatted once we got back and then had pizza's for tea followed by some baking and a pot of tea before Amy and Andy made a their way home.

Since Thursday we have had a steady few days but the weather here has been dreary and miserable. Not much has been done although i have got some decent reading done and am starting to get back to normal housework tasks but i am being careful with my hand.

As the new month has begun today, i think it is time for a final thread of 2020. I will get on with it and it should be up and running within about 20 minutes, please come along and join me there.