What Are You Doing Now?

[Boatbuilder]

Meanwhile, this morning, with quite some regret, I finished my cheese Advent calendar, which I mentioned earlier

Was there any of this cheese in it, Courtenay?

[Yak]

My brother and sister in law sent us a huge box of mixed cheeses which were delivered today so I've been gorging

That's what you call Cheddar gorge.

LOL

Courtney, where do you get a cheese advent calendar? That sounds great!

[Boatbuilder]

Courtney, where do you get a cheese advent calendar? That sounds great!

I think you'll find it was discussed earlier in the topic from about Page 815, although now a little late for this year.

[Courtenay]

Courtney, where do you get a cheese advent calendar? That sounds great!

Got mine from Booths, but it seems to have been available at a number of UK supermarkets. It was made by the Ilchester Cheese Company. As John (Boatbuilder) said, there was a discussion about it a few pages back.

Was there any of this cheese in it, Courtenay?

Er, no.

[Yak]

Sorry - I have been away from the forum for a bit and didn't catch up on everything

[IceMaiden]

Thanks for the suggestions for Classic FM. Unfortunately I've only just read it so had to resort to YouTube after lunch today to finally get some proper carols but I will bear it in mind for next year. I really do think the lack of Christmas carols on the radio is shockingly distasteful and shows a blatant disregard for what Christmas is really about. I want to hear Silent Night, Once In Royal David's City, O Little Town and We Three Ships on Christmas morning NOT Santa Baby and Step Into Christmas and I don't expect to have to go on YouTube to hear CHRISTMAS carols on CHRISTMAS Day. I'm particularly disappointed in Boom radio, fully expect it off the BBC but I really thought Boom would be different but no. Not a carol all morning and a tribute to Paul O'Grady at lunchtime. I liked Paul O'Grady as much as anyone but they could do a tribute to him anytime (and did back at Easter), it shouldn't have been done today. Christmas Day is not about him or anyone else and it appears many have forgotten this. Seems all they want to do is cash in on the commercialisation of Christmas.

[Chrissie777]

What are we doing now?
Trying to recover from 2023.
It was such a terrible year!

We lost our dog after just having found out two months prior that my husband has Parkinson's. Cody was only 8 years old and had cancer which the vet didn't realize.

In November my uncle from Germany died of cancer.
In December we lost André's mom on 18th (Alzheimer's) and his father this morning. His parents were 89 years old. They were happily married for 70 years.

Right now I really would love to enter a time machine and get out on the 25th of April 2024 when we'll (hopefully!) fly to France on vacation which we had to post-pone 4 times since 2020 due to COVID-19 and finally due to Cody's expensive cancer tests.
There's no way that 2024 could be even worse than 2023 has been...

[Barnard]

I agree with ice Maiden about the lack of Carols in the media.
I listen to Carols on YouTube my favourite being In The Bleak Midwinter.
And I went to the Carol Service at my local church.

[Jack400]

Well let's hope 2024 is indeed better than 2023, Chrissie. So sorry for the negatives , let's hope it is plain sailing, positive, for the new year.
I know 4 people who have fallen down the stairs this December alone - can it get worse?

[Chrissie777]

Thank you, Jack. My mother-in-law fell down 5 times in November and 3 times in December while on her way to the bathroom. Fortunately only bruises, no fractures.

[Bertie]

Very sorry to hear all that, Chrissie.
Really hope you have a much happier 2024, and that you finally get your vacation in France at some point.

[IceMaiden]

I agree with ice Maiden about the lack of Carols in the media.
I listen to Carols on YouTube my favourite being In The Bleak Midwinter.
And I went to the Carol Service at my local church.

Thank you Barnard. My favourite carol is In The Bleak Midwinter too. I realise looking back at my post it comes across as a bit ranty, it really isn't meant to be. I'm just dissapointed and yes annoyed at the fact that the media don't play carols. It really does smack of being only interested in the money Christmas brings and if there was none be made they wouldn't even mention Christmas. It's no different to those selling Enid Blyton books for vast profit (or making badly butcherised TV series of her work), they're not interested in her or her books, only the money to be made on her name.

Chrissie - words fail me, what an awful awful time you've had. No wonder you'll be glad to see the back of this year. 70 years is a wonderful achievement, they were obviously destined to stay together. I'm sorry you've lost Cody too, I enjoyed reading your posts about him on here. 8 is a good age for a German Shepherd. I hope you have a much happier and far more positive 2024.

[Courtenay]

Dear Chrissie, I'm so sorry too, hearing of all you and Andre have been through this past year. I do hope 2024 will be better for you both and you enjoy your time in France.

[Aussie Sue]

Chrissie, a big hug for you and Andre, what a nasty time you've had. And losing Cody who was such a big part of your lives. How you must be looking forward to your trip to France, you both deserve a break.

cheers
Aussie Sue

[timv]

Really sorry to hear about your recent losses, Chrissie - it's awful when these things come one after the other and you end up wondering when things will improve. (It doesn't help when the news and the bad weather are equally relentless, which has been the case recently.) Best wishes for a happier 2024, and I hope you get your much-deserved holiday break soon.