The Sunday consisted of glossing the woodwork in the bedroom, which I really dislike doing. I find it so boring. Three windows, a door and an open built-in wardrobe make it a laborious task. But, now it's done, it does look lovely.
Later in the day I went field walking with Andy. We checked on several fields of oil seed rape, Andy talked me through the complexities of what to spray and when, the benefits, the disadvantages. The pests and what to look out for. The weather, the changing seasons. There's a lot to consider.
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The following Saturday saw me finally finish decorating our bedroom, namely glossing the radiators and staining the threshold step. We're still in a state of chaos though as the carpet has yet to be fitted, so our stuff is still strewn over the landing, spare room, and office. I can not wait for it to be finished and for normality to return!
On the Sunday Andy had very uncharacteristically asked if I wanted to go shopping with him to Bury St Edmunds. We had a good wander around and found some great gifts for family members. This year we're doing a Secret Santa on my side of the family, but the buying continues on Andy's side. I try to buy things that can be used e.g. craft stuff for the kids, or eaten e.g. homemade (not by me) jam for his Dad, in the hope of reducing 'stuff'. I love the festive period but the waste rattles my conscience.
We had a really lovely time, and I was allowed to run free in Waterstones to add to my book collection. I have to wait until Christmas Day before I can actually add them to my ever growing book pile though.
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The next Saturday was Photo An Hour.
On the Sunday I had a quiet morning, and then Andy and I went into the wood in the afternoon to chop wood for the woodpile. Andy does the hard work, I load the truck. We both really enjoy it. It's hard to get cold when you're chopping or loading wood, the wood is a lovely place to be and it's nice to be outside in the fresh air.
On this trip I was a bit accident prone. I trapped a finger between two bits of wood I'd picked up and promptly dropped one on my foot, then I stepped on a branch that flicked up and kneecapped me. That particular piece was snapped in half, brought home and immediately burned! Who says revenge isn't sweet?
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The final weekend of the month was dedicated to knitting and sale prep. On the following Thursday Mum, my friend and I were having a cake and crafts sale at our local hospital to raise money for the Radiotherapy dept. I needed to get several knitting projects finished. By lunchtime I'd stuffed and sewn together two rabbits, with a puppy following later in the afternoon. To round out the day I sat in front of the fire and finished my November book, The November Girl, before settling in for some Strictly Come Dancing.
The next day was all about baking for Christmas and gathering more wood. We made cheese straws and sausage rolls. And obviously sampled a few of each. We used some of the cheese straw pastry for the sausage rolls, which I can highly recommend.
We filled the truck with a load of wood in record time so had a little wander through the wood to a nearby field. The light was stunning, the air fresh and the temperature mild. I felt so lucky to live where we do, to be there in that moment.
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It was my wish at the beginning of the year to avoid that Sunday night feeling of a weekend wasted. My goal was to have a plan in place for the coming weekend by each Friday evening. The month of November was lovely. Twenty years ago a whole month without going out to a pub or a club would've seemed entirely wasted. I'm still a party animal, as long as the party involves tea, wool and I can be at home and in bed by 9pm.
:)
