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As some of you will recall, I took a month and a couple of weeks off from social media in February in order to tidy up the house. It wasn't a total success, as I came down with what I later figured out was the flu (despite being vaccinated) and had little or no energy. So, I decided to do it again. I've logged out of Facebook and Twitter for two months, June and July.
My progress is a bit better. Our spare room has been infested with storage boxes and old shirts and trousers which I can no longer wear. So two bags have been or are being dispatched to the church's Good as New stall. Some kitchen equipment that never returned downstairs after our kitchen renovation has either returned to its proper place, or gone to follow the bags of clothing to help out the church finances.
Next I shall have to bite the bullet and donate books in large amounts to the church so that I can start to tidy up the study. Books in piles in front of the bookcase will be shelved, bags of material will be put away in storage boxes, and I shall buy a filing cabinet for my Masonic material and, incidentally on which I may rest my printer.
I have found that I can accomplish one sizable task a day. I have oodles of ancient computer stuff to bag up and give away.
I am presuming that Facebook and Twitter are humming away without me. I have been tempted to look but have so far resisted the prodding from the little imp's trident. I trust that everyone is also humming away and I will keep everyone updated on progress as it happens.
Other odds-and-sods: HWMBO and I were invited to a barbecue in Welwyn Garden City. Our friends P and D lived in a studio flat at Lancaster Gate in a very desirable part of London. A year ago they upped sticks and moved to Welwyn (pronounced "WELL-in") Garden City in Herefordshire. Their new home is impressive and absolutely wonderful. P is a pianist and teacher, and there is a room devoted to his piano and students. Another room is devoted to being a lounge for D, as he is on sabbatical from his work at the moment. A third room is a TV lounge, and a fourth is the dining room, a conservatory really, with windowed walls looking out onto their massive back garden/backyard. There are two kitchens, a utility room, three bedrooms, and 2-1/2 bathrooms.
Why am I telling you this? When P and D sold their studio flat in London, it was sold for much more than this very large home in Herefordshire cost! Real estate prices in London are inSANE (chanelling Crazy Eddie for a moment).
I was installed as Worshipful Commander of my Royal Ark Mariners Lodge here in London a few weeks ago. It is a very interesting Masonic side order. Now that I do not have heavy ritual demands from my Craft Lodge, I can memorise ritual from these side orders. My Craft Lodge has, sadly had to exclude three members for not keeping up with their dues and being unreachable, and another has resigned for personal reasons. We have a candidate for initiation in October, though (I will be doing the ceremony) and I am hopeful that we will bounce back.
On the culinary front, HWMBO bought two eggplants, and I tried (but failed) to make them into proper Eggplant Parmesan. I won't try that again, and asked him to eschew the aubergines for the moment. I made Coq au Riesling, the white wine version of Coq au Vin, and it was very nice, if I do say so myself. I plan to make Jackson Pollock's Borscht this week early, and perhaps Broccoli and Stilton Soup at the end of it.
So, au revoir for the moment. If anything interesting or noteworthy happens, I'll be in touch.
My progress is a bit better. Our spare room has been infested with storage boxes and old shirts and trousers which I can no longer wear. So two bags have been or are being dispatched to the church's Good as New stall. Some kitchen equipment that never returned downstairs after our kitchen renovation has either returned to its proper place, or gone to follow the bags of clothing to help out the church finances.
Next I shall have to bite the bullet and donate books in large amounts to the church so that I can start to tidy up the study. Books in piles in front of the bookcase will be shelved, bags of material will be put away in storage boxes, and I shall buy a filing cabinet for my Masonic material and, incidentally on which I may rest my printer.
I have found that I can accomplish one sizable task a day. I have oodles of ancient computer stuff to bag up and give away.
I am presuming that Facebook and Twitter are humming away without me. I have been tempted to look but have so far resisted the prodding from the little imp's trident. I trust that everyone is also humming away and I will keep everyone updated on progress as it happens.
Other odds-and-sods: HWMBO and I were invited to a barbecue in Welwyn Garden City. Our friends P and D lived in a studio flat at Lancaster Gate in a very desirable part of London. A year ago they upped sticks and moved to Welwyn (pronounced "WELL-in") Garden City in Herefordshire. Their new home is impressive and absolutely wonderful. P is a pianist and teacher, and there is a room devoted to his piano and students. Another room is devoted to being a lounge for D, as he is on sabbatical from his work at the moment. A third room is a TV lounge, and a fourth is the dining room, a conservatory really, with windowed walls looking out onto their massive back garden/backyard. There are two kitchens, a utility room, three bedrooms, and 2-1/2 bathrooms.
Why am I telling you this? When P and D sold their studio flat in London, it was sold for much more than this very large home in Herefordshire cost! Real estate prices in London are inSANE (chanelling Crazy Eddie for a moment).
I was installed as Worshipful Commander of my Royal Ark Mariners Lodge here in London a few weeks ago. It is a very interesting Masonic side order. Now that I do not have heavy ritual demands from my Craft Lodge, I can memorise ritual from these side orders. My Craft Lodge has, sadly had to exclude three members for not keeping up with their dues and being unreachable, and another has resigned for personal reasons. We have a candidate for initiation in October, though (I will be doing the ceremony) and I am hopeful that we will bounce back.
On the culinary front, HWMBO bought two eggplants, and I tried (but failed) to make them into proper Eggplant Parmesan. I won't try that again, and asked him to eschew the aubergines for the moment. I made Coq au Riesling, the white wine version of Coq au Vin, and it was very nice, if I do say so myself. I plan to make Jackson Pollock's Borscht this week early, and perhaps Broccoli and Stilton Soup at the end of it.
So, au revoir for the moment. If anything interesting or noteworthy happens, I'll be in touch.
