Category: home
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In and out in December…
It’s no secret that I tend to find the low-light days of winter something of a challenge, which is why I’m delighted to say that so far this year, I’m managing to stay pretty buoyant. Maybe it’s the generally mild weather we’ve been having or just a determined effort to stay relaxed. Whichever, all I…
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Concentrating…
It’s lovely to see that people are still coming over to visit Mostly Motley, but having tried various combinations, I’ve now decided to concentrate my blogging over at Dreaming in Stitches for everything that’s not history related and Mists of Time for fellow history junkies out there. Please do come over and visit either – or both…
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Out of spirits…
We’ve had an anxious few days – Delinquent Dog has been poorly. Our quiet domestic routine has been disrupted and there haven’t been any woodland walks for a couple of days – funny how quickly that puts me out of balance. The days have felt much longer than they usually do, and by evening I’ve…
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Merrily, Merrily, Merrily…
Oh Phil… I have a bone to pick with Phil Rickman’s publishers. What do they think they’re doing publishing the latest Merrily Watkins novel at such a busy time of year? Now my poor family are going to have to fend for themselves and the tapestry is going to be neglected, while I immerse myself…
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Last week we…
Is it me, or do these school holidays seem to come around faster and faster? Last week was a bit of a whirlwind. Number Two daughter was in Paris on a school trip until Friday, so Number One daughter and I went around and about. We managed a trip to London – culture and shopping…
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Melancholy and excitement…
Strange sensations today. The girls have gone back to school after the long holiday. For the first time in ages, we had a real sunny summer and what a difference it has made to us all. Number One Daughter who faces the heavy toil of Year 11 really doesn’t want to go back – and…
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A churchy day out in York…
Warning: this post contains gratuitous references to bell-ringing. Anyone with allergies to bells should stop reading now. York is one of my favourite cities in the UK, and I was delighted to be able to spend the day there last Saturday. Now of course there’s more than enough to keep you happy and occupied in…
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Squirrel Attack…
My advice is this – if you go down to the woods today – wear a hard hat. I’m used to trying to squirrel-spot before the Delinquent Dog does, because experience has taught me that if I don’t, I risk having my arm detached from the shoulder as he races towards them on the end…
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The Chef lives…
In the 1970s, my mum became the proud owner of a Kenwood Chef. She was an enthusiastic cake maker (and eater for that matter, although unlike me she had hollow legs, but that’s another story…). She must have used it practically every week for the next thirty plus years. When she died and we cleared…
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Farewell thou good and faithful servant…
It’s a sad morning for us, as today we say goodbye to one of the oldest members of our household – the dishwasher. At seventeen, I don’t think we can complain that it was a life cut short, rather we should celebrate all those years of devoted, trouble-free service (and as we live in an…
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A quick thought on diaries…
It’s about this time of year that the shops start to fill up with diaries and calendars. When I left Corporateland and decided I didn’t need to tote a huge A4 diary with me everywhere I went, I started looking around for an alternative. After a few inevitable false starts, I found my way to…
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Ready For The Off…
So, today is the official opening of the Olympics, and therefore, as the next couple of weeks will undoubtedly be wall to wall crass radio and TV coverage, we’re off as far away from London as we can get without leaving Britain. Our camping expeditions take a bit of organising, so we probably won’t actually…
Mostly Motley 