Sunday Musings At The End Of November

~ beetleypete

Another very quiet week. It’s that time of year. Colder weather, dark before 4pm. People are counting down the days until Christmas Day. I went to the restaurant to pay the deposit for our Christmas Dinner on the 25th. Like everything this year it has increased in price, but they always serve a very nice meal, with good portions.

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Ollie was shaking his head a lot yesterday, and we feared he was going to get another ear infection just in time for Christmas. But he stopped after a while, and hasn’t done it since. Fingers crossed he just had something in his ear that he managed to dislodge.

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Julie has finished buying the gifts for family and friends. I have also bought her gifts, and I am awaiting delivery of one that is supposed to arrive in December. With the postal workers striking on various days, parcels and mail are going to be delayed. But I support their cause, so will not be upset if things don’t arrive on time.

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I tried reading a book in bed this week, but only managed two pages. I have not been able to complete a book for so long now, I don’t even remember the last one I read all the way through. Something happened to me during the pandemic period, and I just stopped being able to concentrate on books. I have tried on a few occasions during the last two years, with no success.

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My Shingles vaccination is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Julie will be on reception duty at the doctor’s, so will probably be the one who books me in when I arrive.

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Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a happy Sunday.

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82 thoughts on “Sunday Musings At The End Of November”

  3. You aren’t alone with the difficulty reading. I experienced the same at first, although, thankfully, it got better, but I find it difficult to watch movies these days. Old classics, yes, but I don’t have much patience for series or some movies. Perhaps a novella or a collection of short stories might be the way to try. Fingers crossed Ollie remains well and the gifts get there on time. And you’re right about the weather and the prices. It is much colder here as well, and the days feel very short. All the best, Pete.

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  4. I always got high marks from my teachers on my book reports. I had a secret. I would read the first and last pages of a book and the flyleaf and wing the rest. Always got high marks and rarely ever read an entire book at all.

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  5. I am glad that dear Ollie is feeling better now. You might look into audio books. With all the noise and confusion surrounding shopping, we are giving gift certificates and money this year …for my really close family, I am giving natural uncut diamonds …they are relatively cheap — They look like polished pebbles ….kind of nice to realize that they are diamonds though …It is kind of a psychological present to give …shows the recipients that you care in a special way ….I was about to buy a food processor until I discovered that it will not play records …It sounds like your Christmas is shaping up well … Does Ollie understand about Christmas and does he participate in some of the festivities?

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    1. My wife wraps presents for Ollie, usually three soft toys. He gets very excited when he realises they are for him, and watches as she tears the wrapping open. Then he runs around shaking them furiously until he wears himself out. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. My sweet little angel, a Border Collie, used to tear open her own presents very gently, just like she saw us doing, and then she would do the same thing with her gifts that dear Ollie does with his.

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  6. (1) Bad citation: “They always serve a very nice meal, with good portions. Specifically, they have increased the amount of salt and pepper in their shakers. That alone will make the meal truly memorable!’
    (2) House fly, from inside Ollie’s ear: “Nah! It’s not worth bugging this rascally dog. He keeps shaking his head! I’ll just have to find some other poor creature to annoy…”
    (3) Hardware stores also offer their support to postal strikes. They profit when postal workers come in to buy up lots of hammers with which to strike the parcels!
    (4) Have you tried reading a three-page book that focuses on readers who struggle to get past page two? The remedies are on page three.
    (5) Steve McGarrett wold actually prefer that Danny Williams book you. “Book ‘im, Danno!”
    (6) I hiked around Cheyenne Mountain on Sunday (a little over four miles). Short-sleeve temperatures under a sunny sky!

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  7. Try reading better books🤣 Sometimes what we’re used to, or think we ought to be reading is a rubbish idea. I go to the library sale, all the books you can put in a large bag, $10. That allows me the luxury of buying covers. Some win, some lose. NO loss because they all get sold back to Half Price Books for more cheapies. I’ve tripped over many a decent well-written thriller or a (rare) decent memoir. What you’re experiencing is life’s too short to read shitty books.

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  9. I hope Ollie continues to be ok we always worry when our pets start to shake heads etc…we are struggling to find fresh turkey everything on sale here is butterball ready-cooked turkeys and I’m not too fond of ready-cooked turkeys…x

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  10. Oh I do hope Ollie continues to stay well. As far as reading, I have a lot of friends who listen to books on an app call audible (https://www.audible.com/mk/2book?source_code=MSNGB12302102290G8&device=d&cvosrc=ppc.google.audible&cvo_campaign=419121928&cvo_crid=&Matchtype=e&gclid=d6ee57e1ac31136060b6346277684eb1&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=d6ee57e1ac31136060b6346277684eb1). Not sure the link will work where you live? Anyway, there is a 30 day free trial so you can see if you like it? I can’t believe it is almost Christmas! Time continues to elude me! And by the way, take a pain pill before you go in for your shingles shot. That one was so painful for days after. Hugs, C

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  12. No matter how much I try, I fail to find a restaurant open here on Christmas day, not that I look too hard I still struggle with the barbie on the beach concept, just something about cold nights and a nice fire to sit by nibbling on twiglets watching a re-run of a re-run on the TV.
    Had the shingles jab week or so ago (had to hold off due to more surgery) no ill effects, not even a sore arm. Keep well and wrap up from the cold Pete.

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    1. I agree about barbies on the beach. Nothing worse than sand on the ham & ending up the same colour as Santa! I buy a variety of cold sliced meats & fish, salad and of course the kiwi pavlova, washed down with Central Otago wine. Will raise one for ya 25th.

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    2. Cheers, Bobby. There are about 10 places to choose from for a Christmas dinner local to us. But almost all of them want you seated at 12:30pm. That’s more like breakfast for me! Where we go, we can go at 3:30-4pm. Still early, but more our style.
      Best wishes, pete.

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  13. I can’t imagine not being able to read, I must get through at least 2-3 books a week, more when I’m having time off. Glad Ollie is OK, I’m a little envious of going out for Christmas dinner, as I’ll be cooking ours!

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  14. I wish Ollie stay healthy.
    This year “my English people” are coming to Germany for the holidays. The time until then will pass very quickly with all the preparations.
    I hope that you survive the shingles vaccination well.

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  17. Hope Ollie stays good. When one of the cats does anything slightly out of character we jump straight to worry-mode. Why would we expect animals not to have “off days” just like us.? But it’s a sign of how important to us our pets are. Only just over three weeks and the days will start getting longer again!

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        1. We both pay for Amazon Prime membership. Over the course of the year, the free next day delivery pays for itself twice over. That also includes many free books, and the TV/Film Channel of Amazon.
          Best wishes, Pete.

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  29. Buy yourself an Alexa and listen to books on Audible, you might find it sends you to sleep though. You can choose your voice, you can have Lech Wałęsa, Tony Benn, Mao Zedong, Angela Rayner, Neymar Jnr even John Smith . . ! Love and good wishes, Ro xx

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