New Year

Not so new me, I am feeling a bit jaded after all the festive hoo ha.  Today we opened the blinds to snow and minus 5 degrees.  MrFF was up and out early as he had yet another doctor’s appointment where they arranged further blood tests for tomorrow. 

Last Monday before we headed out for lunch with friends he received a text from the surgery saying his recent tests showed him to be pre diabetic, an explanatory leaflet was attached.  Both abrupt and surprising, he’d been out that morning to stock up on beers that were on offer for new year, I didn’t ask if he’d kept the receipt.

Saturday we were back to York for a surprise 40th birthday party for our niece.  It was especially nice as it started at 5 pm so all the grand nieces, the youngest is 3, could attend, they were still going strong when we left around 10.  

Apart from the potential diabetic situation MrFF is back to normal.  He managed a 15 mile group walk on New Year’s Eve with no ill effects, looks better, he is eating well and mostly healthily.  We have not started the Christmas cake yet

This morning I managed to motivate myself to take down the Christmas decorations and while MrFF was returning them to the loft I got him to bring down the boxes of my old Rowan knitting magazines that I packed away years ago. I love these gorgeous magazines and bought them regularly, I have I think 32.  I actually knew someone who bought them even though she couldn’t knit and just looked at the pictures. 

I plan to sell them once I’ve checked if any are of great value, I have do this one but I am not sure I believe the price. Could it be an extra happy new year for me I wonder. 

New Year

I am glad that 2022 is over and we start a new and hopefully improved year.  We stayed up to watch the midnight fireworks standing in the rain on our balcony.  They were spectacular,  all private displays to equal anything we see in Italy, it felt joyful to see them and quite exciting as some exploded immediately above us.

Of course the aftermath of last year continues, it’s almost 6 weeks since we forked out the money for a new water supply in Italy.  Nothing has happened, at the 4th time of asking we still don’t have the documents to connect to the planned new meters though neighbours have.  Some things do not change.

The soul destroying despair at the Italian bureaucracy and life in general have been wearing, I have felt more than usual the passing of years. Physically I feel I suddenly look old and somehow smaller, diminished by the stress.  I shall be 75 in November, I’m determined not to be defeated by the setbacks and currently I am sleeping really well though maybe 10 hours is rather excessive.

Last year we lost several friends, additionally a dear friend has gone into a care home and another is battling cancer, as he said learning live with it rather than die with it.  On a brighter note we heard from a friend we haven’t seen for 19 years.  He was diagnosed with cancer and given 2 years to live 10 years ago, he is reasonably healthy, surviving. 

So I won’t complain as the lines on my face etch deeper and I won’t worry too much about the few pounds I’ve added over the festive period, my clothes still fit though I might have been a bit hasty donating some of the larger ones to charity.  I’ll take what this year brings, no doubt there will be much ranting and a lot of frustration but I’ll keep on keeping on, there is no alternative. 

I wish you and yours all good things for 2023, that the world can become a better place and that we remember to be kind.

2022

So here we are in 2022 wondering what day it is and how to shed those extra pounds while the shops keep reducing mince pies and I keep buying them.  

Our lovely presents have been packed away.  I can hardly remember what I put in MrFF’s £5 stocking but apparently there was a pair of socks knitted from gifted yarn £0, a lovely pure alpaca scarf that I found for £2 and might ask him to share, some reduced garden twine 99p, an organic cotton t shirt that was part of a bundle I bought as gifts so I am counting as almost free and a garden sign in the form of rusty metal map of the UK which was £3.  I did slightly overspend but if we share the scarf it’s about right.  

New year was our usual night in with beautiful fireworks which we viewed from the balcony at midnight.  It was so mild we stood outside for almost half an hour, in fact we haven’t had our central heating on for a week now as our penthouse is a constant 20 degrees.   We benefit from heating on the lower floors, our double glazing and extra loft insulation.  Smug, yes I am.

From Italy we’ve had good and bad news, don’t worry the cats are fine.  On New Year’s Day we had this photo from Mario, there they are both together, Enrico patiently waiting for his turn to eat which Grigio tucks in.

Bad news was that before Christmas we wanted to transfer some money but found our Italian bank account had been blocked because of fraudulent activity.  It isn’t the first time this has happened, they simply stop the account without letting us know and because we are back in the UK it’s been difficult to resolve.  We tried the automated telephone push button procedure which eventually and regularly said our access code was correct, then said it was wrong and cut us off.  We contacted our branch several times, they ignored us, we contacted customer services, they said go through button pushing exercise which we said didn’t work, they said contact the branch, we said they weren’t responding.  We made several attempts with customer services but always got the same answer, do the things that don’t work.  

Finally MrFF made an official complaint, someone phoned from Milan and said he’d have to transfer the call to someone else, so why did he bother to ring.  After an hour and a quarter waiting to be transferred the call disconnected.   It’s infuriating, not only have they blocked our account and refused to sort it, they continue to charge us 14 euro a month not to be able to access our money.  We have been with Unicredit for 20 years and they have always been hopeless, it’s time to find another euro bank.

Normality is returning though I have yet to take down the decorations which this year I want to keep as long as possible.  Despite all the problems, our own little niggles, the pandemic etc I have loved this Christmas time, I continue to be delighted and grateful to be here, to hope for better times and look forward to seeing the kitties again.

Another one over

I think its safe now to think about taking the decorations down, such as they were.  Despite the inspirational stately home visits, in the penthouse it was mainly greenery and candles with of course cards everywhere.  
Before you ask, yes the £5 stocking rule still applies though this year Mr FF failed miserably and ended up buying me a couple of magazines which even as an offer exceeded the budget.  I of course did brilliantly, knitted him a hat with a couple of balls of pure Falklands wool I'd found for less than £1, a book about Pompeii £1, a British made leather belt that he liked very much from the charity shop £1.99 and stuck for something to spend the last pound on I gave him a big bag of savoury snacks, normally food and drink are not allowed, snacks were this time.  Job done.
We had a calm quiet time with the nicest walks ,Mr FF out with his groups, or just he and I wandering round the town and over the river,  gazing at the really  expensive houses or sometimes up onto the moor.  New Years day there was the traditional plunge into the baths at White Wells, we walked up to see people taking part and shivering a lot.  There is a little video here from the Yorkshire Post taken this year, you get the idea of how horrible it is, by mid day when we arrived the water was filthy and 4 degrees, but Yorkshire folk, you know.
In a few days we are heading back to Scotland, sadly for the funeral of one of Mr FF's walking friends who had been ill for some time.   Afterwards we are staying a couple of days with Pam and Andrew in the village where we lived.  It will be the first time I have been back since we moved to the penthouse.  
I hope you had a wonderful time, that normality is returning and that 2020 is everything you want it to be.  Happy New Year.

Onwards

So 2018, its a rather worrying year at the penthouse as Mr FF and I will be 70 in August and November respectively.    I don't feel that old but I am, I've no idea how it happened and what the coming years will bring, there's nothing I can do but get on with it. 
We continue as usual.  We've just moved ourselves into the spare bedroom and cluttered the beautiful new bathroom with our lotions and potion because tomorrow Jim is back to start stripping out the second en suite bathroom.

Today it looks like this with everything moved out, the layout will basically be the same as we've decided that having the sanitary ware built into cupboard arrangement works well, I have a lot of toiletries and I love a place to put things down.  We hope to have a walk in shower and have sourced some interesting tiles but talking to Jim I got the impression he was a bit disappointed we weren't installing another all singing all dancing bathroom.  Maybe we are starting to act our age, we'll be putting in grab rails next.

I'll keep you updated as things get worse before they get better, meantime happy new year to everyone.

2017

I don't know what the year will bring anymore than you do but as Liz at Love those Cupcakes said in my comments recently, there is plenty going on in the world to keep us awake at night.  Whilst I do worry about the world I also spend a lot of time thinking about what's in store for me.  I am 68 and mostly I don't feel my age.  Of course I've slowed down, the girl who ran marathons and long distance hill races is someone in my distant past, but I'm not overweight, I still walk quite a bit, keep myself flexible when I remember to bend and stretch. I cleanse and moisturise twice a day, rub more cream into my arms and legs than is necessary, I wear perfume every day and try not to go out without earrings.   Last year I read 50 books and knit enough socks to last me and Mr FF many years.   
Yet I do feel that I am slowing down, not just the walking into a room and wondering why I'm there confusion but generally feeling lethargic and without enthusiasm.  You will by now if you've read my recent Christmas bah humbug posts be shouting at the screen that I never have much enthusiasm anyway. Probably true and it may just be the time of year but I think at the back of my mind there must be some recognition of every day bringing me closer to senility. When you are in your 30s and 40s life still stretches before you, I've already outlived both my parents and some days the inevitability of old age seems too close for comfort.  Not that old age is necessarily something to dread, we have folk in this building who are in their 80s and bright as buttons, ladies and gents beautifully turned out living life to the full.  Mr FF regularly steps out on a Friday evening for a drink with John from the ground floor who is late 70s, there is a lady in her mid 80s who eats out every day of the week, taking a taxi to and from town early evening often dressed in Gucci.    
I'm fortunate and grateful that I have no great regrets about my life so far (we could have returned to Yorkshire sooner) I've always had good health and I live comfortably in a beautiful home in a town I love with all this 5 minutes walk from my front door.

As I say it may be the January blues caused by everyone being oh so positive about the new year, how they will get fit, eat less, live Danishly etc, or perhaps too many mince pies have made me sluggish.  I need to shake off this feeling and get some winter sunshine into my eyes, that always works wonder for me. I will once I've finished the mince pies,  for now feel free to give me a good talking to but please don't tell me about your new year's resolutions.

2015

Obviously this isn't going to be some deep post full of reflections, resolutions and thoughts for the future but our first Christmas and New Year in our apartment have been quite special.  Who'd have thought a year ago that in 12 months we would part with our dream house, our lovely garden and approximately half of our worldly possessions.  It certainly felt good out on our balcony at the end of 2014 watching the fireworks going off around the town and on the moors.  I'm feeling positive that we have made the right decision to come here.  
Every time we go out and come home to this beautiful old building I get a thrill and now that we seem to have met all the other residents I am delighted to live amongst such pleasant people.  Maybe I do need to up my game a bit, the ladies here are all so glamorous while I hardly remember to wear my earrings let alone apply make up before I venture out.  In fact on occasions I have felt the need to change my clothes before I could go down to collect our post from the hall in case I met anyone.  Must try harder, but not today.  We are chilling, Mr FF is recovering from his man flu and up to watching a bit of recorded tv, candles are lit, the fire if glowing, we are cosy.  I'm not normally an optimist, but let's just see what 2015 brings.

The Tour comes to Ilkley

The only thing making me cross today which I must mention is the fact that Gary Verity, the Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive responsible for bringing the Tour de France to Yorkshire last year, received absolutely no recognition in the New Year's honours list.  Disgraceful, after our move the Tour was the most significant event in our year, it did nothing but good for the region including our little town.   Don't blame me if Yorkshire starts seeking independence after this, we already have our own flag and our own tea and practically our own language.
Happy New Year to you all from lovely if slightly snubbed Yorkshire.

Out with the old

Someone asked me the other day for my mobile number so they could text me and was shocked to hear I don't have a mobile.  On further questioning I did agree I have a mobile, that I only switch on if I am out on my own in case of emergency, a text might not be read for weeks. Call me old fashioned, I hate to see people constantly checking their mobiles, texting people in the same room, cryptically updating the world that they can't believe what just happened even though it obviously did just happen. It's probably because I'm old enough to remember when we used call boxes if we had the right change and managed perfectly well without letting everyone know where we were all the time.  

So you won't be surprised to hear that I still use and love a paper diary or two.  I carry my small pink leather Filofax in my handbag replacing the diary pages each year and keep a larger prettier diary on my desk.  For 2013 I enjoyed A French Country Diary that inspired me with beautiful photographs and had me wondering if they did an Italian equivalent, I have yet to find one.  

I loved turning the pages every week to have something new and gorgeous to admire.

So I was delighted when I received a recent small sales purchase from Boden, I spent less than £30, to find a gift in the parcel,  a diary entitled Creating Order from Chaos in 2014.   Its very sweet, with pretty pictures appropriate to each month, obviously I love the summer ones.  

It also has sections for information etc - a secret password list that includes the website, a very cryptic clue to the password and a less cryptic clue to help me remember the password.  The Christmas present list has columns for name, what they want, what they need, what they'll get.  The shopping list pages are already started with wine, chocolate and flowers and other lists include Songs that Make me feel Fantastic, Books that Changed my Mind and Dreams and Schemes.   I don't imagine I will become organised enough to complete all the sections, I'm not a great list writer, but this little diary has made me very happy and positive for the New Year.  I hope 2014 is everything you want it to be and more, I'm looking forward to it and not least to taking pen to paper and writing in my diary.

My year so far

We got home yesterday afternoon, back to the snow and slush though fortunately the house with its leaky boiler had been fine. The only damage happened when the coal man had delivered unexpectedly, slid down the drive into one of the gate pillars and completely demolished it, he kindly left a note asking us to contact him.

So the trip to Italy far exceeded my expectations, I didn't imagine the weather would be quite so good, bright sunny days with hardly any rain. The stove worked brilliantly, we lit it when we arrived, even though it was around 10.30 pm, and kept it going the whole time we were there. We bought a large rug to place in front of the stove and reduce the expanse of chilly ceramic tiles, how cosy we were.

We didn't really do any work at the house apart from the relaxing kind, Mr FF chopping wood and me pottering in the garden. We had several trips out that I will tell you about later, visited and were visited by friends, received many gifts of food and drink and saw in the New Year in the village. A table of 14 in the local restaurant, we enjoyed a huge dinner with live music and dancing as did other Italian families including of course small (and completely well behaved)children. Champagne was served at midnight as the whole valley erupted with fireworks, we have never seen anything like it. Around 1 am we ate cotechino, a type of sausage accompanied by lentils, a traditional New Years dish that will bring us good fortune. We left around 2.30 am despite pleas from the kitchen staff that we stay as they would soon be serving croissants, local biscuits, chocolate and other treats. 2011 so far has been full of good times and kindness. Not a lot of knitting though, I only produced one pair of socks in Italy, my buon anno socks that I hope will return to Italy with me before too long.