What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

Today's poem In Memoriam XXVIII by Alfred Lord Tennison. The pain of a first Christmas without a loved one will be felt throughout this land and indeed the whole world by far too many this year. The last quatrain contains something less bleak - redemptive?- in the harking back to childhood. Both types of memories are carried and surface for many of us at this time of year as we age if I'm not way off the mark. What I will miss this year is the Christmas tree in an old abandoned churchyard on the route of the dog walk I used most in The Old Country. Each year it was decorated - lights and all- but cards and a pen were left in a box for anyone to write a message for their loved ones who rejoiced on another shore in a greater light. I loved walking the dogs there just as darkness fell (best of all when mist snaked along the ditches and hovered over the fields) then siting quietly by the warmth and heat of just the log burner.

good evening all

was 4.5 this morning

late posting today

Just a quiet day mostly though we went out for a walk around Dornoch and treated ourselves to coffee mr gee has been wrangling christmas lights and putting together some ornaments and lights to take over and put up for mum tomorrow when we go.

Hope your day is treating you kindly

@gennepher - I love your finished painting, especially the water effects the battery drain thing with ZB3 sounds like a real pain.

@dunelm - very handsome seascape, I especially like the way the light is playing along the crest of the hills, a happy memory recaptured

@Muddy Cyclist - Very enjoyable, a lovely full sound and it's worked out very well that's not a carol I know well but now you've set me off and I'm currently listening to Maddy Prior singing the Sans Day carol which was a favourite of my mum's and now of mine

@lindisfel - hugs, hope you sleep well and wake refreshed and pain free

art bit -

ink and watercolour wash inspired by an image seen on the net.

geefull said:

good evening all

was 4.5 this morning

late posting today

Just a quiet day mostly though we went out for a walk around Dornoch and treated ourselves to coffee mr gee has been wrangling christmas lights and putting together some ornaments and lights to take over and put up for mum tomorrow when we go.

Hope your day is treating you kindly

@gennepher - I love your finished painting, especially the water effects the battery drain thing with ZB3 sounds like a real pain.

@dunelm - very handsome seascape, I especially like the way the light is playing along the crest of the hills, a happy memory recaptured

@Muddy Cyclist - Very enjoyable, a lovely full sound and it's worked out very well that's not a carol I know well but now you've set me off and I'm currently listening to Maddy Prior singing the Sans Day carol which was a favourite of my mum's and now of mine

@lindisfel - hugs, hope you sleep well and wake refreshed and pain free

art bit -

ink and watercolour wash inspired by an image seen on the net.
View attachment 46210

Click to expand...

Your painting and drawing is going from strength to strength that is a superbly drawn and painted piece of art.

As for music, food for the soul.

ianpspurs said:

Today's poem In Memoriam XXVIII by Alfred Lord Tennison. The pain of a first Christmas without a loved one will be felt throughout this land and indeed the whole world by far too many this year. The last quatrain contains something less bleak - redemptive?- in the harking back to childhood. Both types of memories are carried and surface for many of us at this time of year as we age if I'm not way off the mark. What I will miss this year is the Christmas tree in an old abandoned churchyard on the route of the dog walk I used most in The Old Country. Each year it was decorated - lights and all- but cards and a pen were left in a box for anyone to write a message for their loved ones who rejoiced on anther shore in a greater light. I loved walking the dogs there just as darkness fell (best of all when mist snaked along the ditches and hovered over the fields) then siting quietly by the warmth and heat of just the log burner.

Click to expand...

A wonderful poem which I enjoyed very much.
Tonight I read more Thomas Hardy Wessex Tales. One of them 'A tradition of Eighteen Hundred and Four' a short tale starting 'the widely discussed possibility of an invasion of England through a Channel tunnel....' which made me smile.

lindisfel said:

Started with a migraine at 1700, third one in 4 weeks, so I shall be out of action for c.24hours.
Worked too hard on inside job today that was a struggle.
This getting old and easily knacked is no good.
One just wants to sleep with migraine.
Hope you all well.
Atb
D.

Click to expand...

Take care @lindisfel
Getting older is a pain in the wotsit when we cannot push ourselves to complete a job without severe consequences...
A flipping nuisance.

ianpspurs said:

Today's poem In Memoriam XXVIII by Alfred Lord Tennison. The pain of a first Christmas without a loved one will be felt throughout this land and indeed the whole world by far too many this year. The last quatrain contains something less bleak - redemptive?- in the harking back to childhood. Both types of memories are carried and surface for many of us at this time of year as we age if I'm not way off the mark. What I will miss this year is the Christmas tree in an old abandoned churchyard on the route of the dog walk I used most in The Old Country. Each year it was decorated - lights and all- but cards and a pen were left in a box for anyone to write a message for their loved ones who rejoiced on anther shore in a greater light. I loved walking the dogs there just as darkness fell (best of all when mist snaked along the ditches and hovered over the fields) then siting quietly by the warmth and heat of just the log burner.

Click to expand...

Sounds idyllic @ ianpspurs.

geefull said:

@gennepher - I love your finished painting, especially the water effects the battery drain thing with ZB3 sounds like a real pain.


art bit -

ink and watercolour wash inspired by an image seen on the net.
View attachment 46210

Click to expand...

Thank you @geefull it is a pain.

This is stunning. Your work is subtly changing and evolving. I like this very much.

Having done everything possible for so long to avoid Covid entering, it has arrived in mum's nursing home with a vengeance and my 91 year old mum has tested positive. I am so worried and feel so frustrated that I can do nothing about it.

dogslife said:

Having done everything possible for so long to avoid Covid entering, it has arrived in mum's nursing home with a vengeance and my 91 year old mum has tested positive. I am so worried and feel so frustrated that I can do nothing about it.

Click to expand...

A very worrying time for you all, I truly hope your mom and other residents only have mild symptoms, our thoughts are with you.

Good Morning and 5.3 for me today.

Off to hospital with MRs MC who needs another small lump on her scalp removed, last on resulted in 7 stitches. Of course I am not allowed in with her and we have to sit in car park until they phone us before Kath can go in.

Time scurries on, scramble along its path as best you can. Keep safe.

Looks like we in Cannock Chase are are about to be subjected to a program of Mass Covid Testing, what a lovely Christmas Present from Boris and Handcock, a tonsils and sinus massage.

dogslife said:

Having done everything possible for so long to avoid Covid entering, it has arrived in mum's nursing home with a vengeance and my 91 year old mum has tested positive. I am so worried and feel so frustrated that I can do nothing about it.

Click to expand...

Hugs for you all @dogslife

Muddy Cyclist said:

Good Morning and 5.3 for me today.

Off to hospital with MRs MC who needs another small lump on her scalp removed, last on resulted in 7 stitches. Of course I am not allowed in with her and we have to sit in car park until they phone us before Kath can go in.

Time scurries on, scramble along its path as best you can. Keep safe.

Click to expand...

Good wishes for today @Muddy Cyclist

Bad luck on the Cannock Chase mass Covid testing Xmas present.

I hope everything works out.

Fbg 6.7

A quick sketch of Popeye on a grunge paper...


Take care.
I now have tidying to do...

5.3 for me enjoy whats left of the weekend everyone

gennepher said:

Fbg 6.7

A quick sketch of Popeye on a grunge paper...

View attachment 46222
Take care.
I now have tidying to do...

Click to expand...

Very Modigliani, a lovely flowing sketch.

Muddy Cyclist said:

Very Modigliani, a lovely flowing sketch.

Click to expand...

Thank you @Muddy Cyclist
What a lovely compliment

Felicitations, exultations, commiserations, generous libations and negotiations to one and all. New Swipey not yet house trained so even more nolens volens than the norm. Lovely fellow Little Norm, lives in a sewing thimble and only drinks dandelion juice.
@dogslife hug for the worry over mum's nursing home. Those walks were even more idyllic. We always crossed the Meridian line (marked by an Oak my uncle, as chair of the Parish Council, planted for Millennium); the churchyard is in sight of my great grandparents house (he was Church warden when the Church collapsed); @Muddy Cyclist delicate hug for Kath - manly one for you; @lindisfel I hope your migraine isn’t too bad today and I'm certain The Duchess will look after you and also she (and daughter) will gently remind/ chide you by proffering the advice that you're not as young as you were. Great fbg and you too enjoy your remaining weekend @karen8967 - maybe hunt down some dirty Goose/Geese Which Johnny Cash cover version wins out? I won't back down or I hurt myself today? Such jolly japes. Laters, dudes.

Good morning everyone from a rather blank canvas of a start in the dark and dangerous north

The wonder wheel of a beetroot risotto (cauliflower rice) with goats cheese and pancetta came in at 4.8 this am

Slept in this morning - was it that Teeling tipple blarney?

@Muddy Cyclist - thanks for the info about Laureena and well done Mrs MC with the Christmas Ribbons - all the best to her today with the hospital visit.
@lindisfel - hope you feel a little better today - feet up - a bit of pampering works wonders.
@ianpspurs - some good words sir, it is certainly not the so called “essentials” that come to mind when we contemplate loss at this time of year.
@geefull - Great cliffs from you. The seemingly simple calm, well drawn and painted.
@dogslife - sorry to read about your mum and can only hope that she and other residents come through with only mild symptoms - difficult times.
@gennepher - smashing sketch of his lordship - great flow in those lines.

Dug out my santa hat for our zoom call with the grandchildren last night - it says North Yorkshire Moors Railway 2015 on it, in gold stitching - Mrs Miggins used to do the Santa Special when she was a station foreman at Grosmont. Question from one - “grandad, you have your santa hat on, is it magic?”
“Of course, but if I tell you what it does then the magic is lost.”
“Oh! OK. Look what we are having for dinner.” - how quickly things change when you are but 6 years old.

Painting today - another photo - Pillar Rock in the Lake District - the foreground is entirely made up. Have a calm and peaceful day. Koffy is already in the pot.

5.9 this morning. Really lazy as we got up 2 hours later than usual and probably the higher reading is DP.

I think it might be a a lazy day altogether, although I probably need to get on with Christmas cards today.