taurean

0 degrees C here too right now.

And when you do go out, the smell of wood-burning stoves (very fashionable around the well-to-do here) can be overpowering

Yes I agree our neighbour has a wood burning stove.

The official met office view on possible return of the "Beast from the East" is non-committal. 

But there is lots of scaremongering, and plenty of rumours.  

Sounds lovely Roy  it’s a tradition for us to have cold turkey and ham served with chips pickled onions and pickled red cabbage  

Sounds lovely Roy!  

And on the fifth day she has come up with mini pork steaks served in parsley and a sweet sauce, with brown organic rice and cabbage. Followed by a small portion of a passion sweet from Iceland. 

It was gorgeous. We both know the chef and she didn't disappoint - the food was stunning. 

And we had our toasties tonight watching a recording of The Repair Shop on the Virgin system. What a great day. 

Day off (from celebrations) tomorrow then a party in the local cafe on Christmas Eve. We had wanted to go to the carol service at the church tomorrow, but it's carols by candlelight, and sadly the flickering candles would set off Julie's migraine

sounds like you're having a lovely Christmas Roy!  

Yes it's making up for a dreadful time last year when we were under threat that our property sale and purchase would fall through. 

We are so glad our lawyer estate agent myself and our buyer worked together to rescue the deal. We absolutely love it here  - we both feel we have been here forever (yet it's only 10 months). 

And we had an XMAS card from our buyer saying he and his OH are settled in our old home

I don’t think I could ever join your crossword club, not saying I’m not clever enough 

You could join. Individually we struggle, but collectively we are strong.

Just like on the forums

Bless you Roy, your so sweet 

Totally agree, one for all and all for one, we could rule the world  

Loft room now closed for the night, and I am downstairs where we are both in our own dens listening to our radios

Sounds nice Roy.

We don't watch much TV at the moment. We both get enormous pleasure from radio , me music, she the intellectual stimulus of radio 4.

She wanted to drive to Tesco then go for lunch in our friend's cafe. 

We have done the supermarket, now resting up before walking to the cafe

That's great, cafe sounds nice

In our friends' tea-rooms and cafe J had home-made chilli con carne with white rice, I had home-made shepherd's pie and gravy. 

Served with tea for two and a big smile ☺ 

I think you should feel proud Roy, I know a lot on these boards (me included) appreciate the time and effort you put into posts. I also admire they way you spread the word in your community with regards to OCD. 

I discovered many years ago, from a book on overcoming worry, that steering focus away from our own troubles - and helping others with theirs - is a great psychological tool to change our perception and mood.

I mentored people throughout my career at work. I have been a role model - especially to my own nephews and nieces - and just helping others every which way has given me so so much joy over the years

Various locals have suggested I use my people and negotiation skills on a local committee or good works organisation. 

I have been too busy on domestic and family health matters since our relocation to Northampton to do this. 

But there is always the ability, at my behest, to find time to write on the forum, in the knowledge that I have personal experience that will help others. 

So, for the time being, this is my voluntary work

Membership renewed, and also made a small donation towards the tremendous work done by our charity

I renewed mine recently too, I think its money well spent for a charity that does great work to help those with OCD and fight the prejudice and mis-conceptions around OCD. 

I agree this charity is amazing in fighting our corner. Ashley and Co should be very proud. 

That’s the nicest part of Christmas, not what you get under the Christmas tree but who you share it with 

Thank you both for the good wishes.

She is much better today but still coughing phlegm. 

We both hope to get a good night's sleep. 

That's the second time in the last few years that I have gone away for 2-3 days, then come back and found her in bed with a nasty virus

Sorry to hear this Roy. it does sound like a very nasty bug indeed.  hope she is feeling a bit better today? 

Better again today everyone and declaring that she will have the (free over 65s)  flu jab next year  

Oh that sounds fun! Hope you have a good day

Hope you had a good day Roy and it was just as you remembered 

It's been a fab day folks, and been out for a lovely meal with my sister's family in Croydon, where I am staying overnight

After the science museum, I dropped into the V& A museum to check out the famous Raphael cartoons (colour sketches for tapestries in the Vatican) and the exhibits for Elizabeth I st's reign and the restoration of the monarchy with Charles I I

I also saw a very nice triple portrait of Charles 1st. 

All in all s fabulous day. 

Tomorrow I am off to London Bridge, and then on up to Spitalfields market maybe before lunch with my former workmates. 

Will post a selfie of me in the science museum onto the chatroom thread. 

And it was fab-u-lous and I am now the proud possessor of a NASA keyring, luggage label and lapel pin badge  

So true Roy, it’s usually a term of endearment I use too especially to close associates