Parcels and new toys

Well, I think it's safe to say that winter is here.  We're in low single figures (celcius temperatures, that is) all through the day, layering the clothing, long woolly socks and yes, I am wearing my fingerless gloves to keep my mitts warm.  Fashion doesn't really come into it at all!

Lemons were on offer at Aldi yesterday, so we bought some to freeze -  we haven't tried this before.  I zested them first and froze that separately, then cut each in half and froze them on a tray.  Obviously the juice expands and creates an interesting effect.

We had a visit from a very good friend today, and she and I had a much-appreciated girlie chat about this and that.  N has spent some time starting to sort out the shed, or 'The Pavillion', as it has now been dubbed, and I suspect a run to the tip will soon be required.  I have pottered around in the sewing room, ticking two jobs off the list, and adding four or five more.  That's not how it's supposed to work at all!  I'm in need of more shelving and some is earmarked for future use but at present it is still required in the hall cupboard.  We have to wait until N is able to dismantle the wooden single bedframe, strip out said cupboard, fit it out with new shelving to free up the current arrangement which can then go into the sewing room.  Are you following this so far? ;-)  It will happen.  Sometime.

We had parcels in the post today.  Quite big parcels.  A double bed for the new room and a de-humidifier.

A bit bare at present, and very high!

First, the bed.  Having searched the internet, and the major bedding stores, we finally found exactly what we were looking for, in our budget, at a local shop in town.  It is a family run Island business, the delivery charge was far and away the lowest we have encountered, and the husband and wife team who delivered the bed not only brought it into the room, they then proceeded to fit it together and take all the packaging away.  N and I have been really impressed with the service from start to finish and are pleased to have been able to keep our custom local.  We can't always but we are glad when we can.

The de-humidifier resulted from a fair bit of research, and we feel it could be money well-spent.  We have had it running this evening and have been amazed at the amount of water collected in just a short time, and the drop in humidity in the various rooms; we've been able to measure the levels with an electronic reader we acquired a few years ago.  There is a long way to go but early signs are that this should prove to be a sensible purchase, and if it helps keep N's asthma in check then it will be very worthwhile.


Apart from all this, there are one or two other things on our mind at present.  Things that deserves time and, I hope, wisdom.  It's one of those times in life when it is so important to be careful, thoughtful and, above all, kind.  Those involved deserve nothing less.