What are you doing today?

[Ruby Slippers]

Love the new avatar Grandad!

[Grandad]

I wondered if anyone would spot it RS

[LovelyLadyLux]

@Grandad - Did Mrs Grandad APPROVE the avatar? Cute picture too

[Grandad]

@Grandad - Did Mrs Grandad APPROVE the avatar? Cute picture too

@LovelyLadyLux No she wouldn't approove if she knew LLL. But as it is seriously reduced in size there is not much detail. Just for a laugh

[Mad Dilys]

I love it Grandad.

I'm lollygagging around today - daughter and grandson are visiting friends for a couple of days so can indulge myself with rests and an early night tonight!

We've asked youngest daughter to stay over Christmas and she's avoided answering even when asked directly "What are you doing for Christmas," which is very odd.

[Grandad]

As I sit here (2.30 pm) I am listening to the velvet tones of Gregory Porter being played to me by my new friend Alexa. She is really lovely and like a secretary reminds me of any appointments, playing games, waking me in the morning and much much more. I think I'm in love.


We had a few last minute tasks in town and went in on the bus.


After two lovely bright days, today is grey and drizzly A shame really because we have a large Christmas market in the city centre and I am sure they need the last few days to make it worthwhile. I estimate there are between 60 and 80 stalls and this picture is just a few of them. We don't shop at these stalls but I believe many younger people do. They look their best after dark with all the lights on but I shall not be venturing back later to get a few snaps.

[Horus]

Grandad, have you yet tried asking Alexa to marry you? her reply is interesting and try saying "Alexa goodnight"

[Grandad]

Grandad, have you yet tried asking Alexa to marry you? her reply is interesting and try saying "Alexa goodnight"

Well, of course I had to divorce my last digital wife, Amanda or was it Amelia, in the sat nav. But I am already in love with my new digital girlfriend. Just wait until I get those light bulbs that come with the Hive starter kit. She will be giving me a flash.

Right now she's serenading me with Ed Sheeran......very clever guy with his music.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Today, since it pelted down snow all day yesterday, I'm heading out to my Dr app't (another deep acupuncture jab in the hip) this afternoon and then this evening will head to the twins Christmas concert at their school. Yesterday the hydro went off at the school and at 17,000 other homes northward up the coast, phones went down too and parents were actually requested to come early to pick up their children (those who made it to the school). Cold with snow on the ground today but the sun is shining!

[Grandad]

@ Horus How did you get on at the hospital mate? Well I hope.

[Horus]

@ Horus How did you get on at the hospital mate? Well I hope.

OK thanks Grandad, excellent service I was in and out in about 15 minutes and that included a peripheral vision test, eye examination and fluid pressure test and retinal scans. I was a bit down on the left eye (the one with Glaucoma) but as far as he can tell nothing to be overly concerned about although I do have to wait for the written report from the hospital to be certain.

[Grandad]

Wow that was quick H. When we have the full works it can take up to two hours. But we have to wait 20 minutes for pupils to fully dilate for retinal and macular scans. Sounds as if your situation is under control.

Miserable grey day today.

The postie has just delivered another 'toy', the Hive starter kit with light bulbs. That will keep me amused while Mrs G does the weekly shopping.

[Horus]

So soon we will be hearing Grandad calling out "Alexa! turn on living room light" "Alexa! turn off bedroom light"
A question for you Grandad, has Alexa just piped up at random yet saying something like " I'm sorry I cannot help you with that" or some other unintelligible babble? If not then you have treat in store. I have been sitting on my own with just Annie for company and engrossed in a film in the dark with just the TV on when suddenly she bursts out with some random response to something she thinks she has heard, I nearly leaped out of my skin.

[Grandad]

The Hive starter kit comes with two 'Smart' light bulbs. It took a little while to get the Hive Hub to get online. I think I had it too close to my modem because when I moved it further away, it hooked up.
I soon got the lamps paired but have not yet got Alexa in on the act.
I am already liking what I see and have control on my mobile, Fire, and computer. Next thing will be to upgrade my central heating controls.
I have not had any odd messages from 'er on my desk, but she rejected my offer of marriage with, no doubt, the same reply that you got......fussy, isn't she.

[LovelyLadyLux]

If I was closer I'd be over to actually what & how you fellas are doing with Alexa. Sounds like something I'd love to have but no idea how to install and link it to all the various do-dads here etc. but still interesting. One day will have to get the son-in-law on it.

Today I'm down to the pottery studio to pick up the last of my stuff now that it has (Hopefully) been fired and then meet up for lunch with all the other pottery ladies at the Golf Course. I was there, at this Golf Course once before and it was really quite nice. It is open to the public but I'd rather forgotten about it being there. The only problem with it is that it is alongside the highway and you have to drive way 'round to get into it as the road goes in one direction there but easy enough to get out.

After what I thought would be a quick trip into the grocery store yesterday to pick up some fruit I'm avoiding ALL stores as everybody else in all of Nanaimo are IN them.

[Ruby Slippers]

Hopefully, nearly the last day of shopping tomorrow for DH, apart from picking up a couple of items first thing on Sunday morning. For me, Sunday will see the start of a heck of a lot of cooking which will continue until Tuesday evening when all the family will have wended their way either homeward or further visiting. By then, I will be cream-crackered and fully intend to do absolutely NOTHING for the next few days! Aaaah! Roll on Wednesday!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Lunch with the pottery ladies (5 of us plus instructor) was excellent. Salmon sandwich with an excellent salad with crumbles of pumpkin seed, cranberries, goat cheese and greens (maple honey dressing ) Their soup of the day was cream of salmon but I resisted.

Lovely view of the greens, listened to the different banter about the place of guys querying how long it would take to do 18 holes in the snow and if they should or shouldn't (am absolutely positive some of them were heading out). Interestingly too there was a huge patio area where they were running the overhead propane heaters so people could sit outside over a drink or eat their lunch. We were inside however there were quite a few couples dining outside under these heaters.........course WE get kinda silly like that in Canada (impervious to the freezing cold)

[Horus]

We are a bit like that weather wise in the UK, my favourite pub in Betws-y-Coed in Wales has a more modern version of electrical Halogen heaters fitted under some really large umbrellas so you can eat outside in any weather all year round.

Today I am playing taxi service and taking my son to a court appearance where he is a witness, so the majority of my day from lunch time on will be taken up. He lives some distance away so it means going to his home to collect him, then to another town to the court, hang about for the proceedings (which will hopefully be short) and take him back home again afterwards. The real downside will be that I will hit the Friday holiday traffic rush from the town where he lives which is a gridlocked place at the best of times when people finish work because it is a through route from Manchester so gets very busy and all the intersections and traffic lights get snarled up, slipping your clutch for miles. If the case ends quickly we are planning to have a late afternoon lunch somewhere on the way home, but that part is still fluid. Then to add to my taxi trip my daughter said that as I was visiting her brother could I also call around her house and collect and deliver some presents for my sons children as this will save her some time because she will be busy today!

[Ruby Slippers]

The present exchange is the sort of thing that goes on in my house too, Horus! Talk about a public convenience! Drives DH up the wall. I'm being driven up the wall by my gas cooker! It's definitely on the blink, but then again, it is 25 years old so I suppose it's entitled. I'm just keeping everything crossed that it doesn't give up the ghost completely until after next Tuesday because if it does, I'll be up the proverbial creek without a paddle!

[Horus]

Well RS, if the merde does hit the fan with your cooker just put everything in a bag and phone the nearest Christmas guest and tell them that THEY are cooking the dinner.