soapdragon

They will huddle together and keep warm. If you are desperatley worried you could throw an old blanket over the top of the coop for your own peace of mind but they will be fine without!

Apparently Boris is announcing tomorrow that masks are to be mandatory in all retail settings......about bl**dy time!!! IMHO should never have stopped being mandatory! I have now got to the stage where, although my glasses mist up if I've forgotten to use the anti fog spray and I find it quite claustrophobic after more than 20 mins, I wouldn't feel happy leaving the house without a mask or two tucked into a pocket and/or bag.

For those struggling with Christmas present ideas Oxfam have chicken gift cards where you can 'buy' and 'donate' a chicken to a family! ATM they are on sale at £9 until Sunday.

Had my booster today and ES had his 2nd jab. With OH having had his 2 + booster that's good news. Not so good news is that YS is currently self isolating after a positive PCR on Monday and not allowed out until Wednesday 1st. His secondary school has had 50 positives for the period Saturday to Monday so, even with his mask, it's not surprising. All keeping our fingers crossed now that we don't get it but we are in seperate bathrooms (YS even wears a mask to exit his room, and cross the landing to 'his' bathroom!) Apparently around 5 days is the incubation period so we are all now testing x2 per day! I do wish that masks were still compulsory! Hope everyone else is staying safe and Covid free!

Love, love, love Nativity! The very first one is brilliant and so is the second but they went downhill a bit after that! Now I'm working in a primary school it will be even funnier this year - I'm sure I'll see some characters that I recognise 😉!

Page 17 of today's Daily Mail. Found a copy in the staff room and spent my lunch half hour reading and digesting! You can probably access online.

Posting date for Oz and NZ is 6th December - I'm stuck for what to send to NZ as their rules are so strict.

TBH I wouldn't risk it. Congratulations though....wishing you and 'bump' well!

I've used The Forum boiled recipe for ages.......have just put cherries on the Tesco order for next week so that I can make it again for Christmas. Normally I just make with standard dried fruit mix or one of the packets from Lidl (mix of pear, fig, apricot and prune) and bake in a tray so that it cuts to shape for boy's snack boxes! Instead of plain water I make up the same amount of water with Earl Grey tea. For Christmas though it gets jazzed up with nuts and cherries and force fed brandy until ready to marzipan and ice!!!! Thank you Chickencam!

OH and I (57) are struggling to get our flu jabs locally and also accessing booster Covid jabs. The initial roll out was quick and efficient but, this time round, it all seems chaotic. I'm so fed up with the constant exhortation in the press to 'get the flu jab' when it's just not available locally!

I hate to be negative but you'll probably find that, like children, your chooks will end up where they want to be, whatever other lovely alternative you provide - a bit like giving a toddler an huge, expensive present then said youngster preferring to play with the box! However, rather than the aubiose itself might they be after any other 'goodies' hidden in the aubiose (any bits of 'edibles' trodden in etc?) - just a thought! Good luck, anyway 😎.

I haven't actually seen any yet but discussion in the staff room at lunchtime yesterday was that this year's offerings are disappointing all round! Not that any of them would sway me! I have just realised that we break up 5 weeks on Friday!!!! That's scary!

Really sorry to hear this, CT. This is the hardest part of owning a pet but she has obviously had a wonderful life with you - sending virtual hugs.

Soapy here, just ahead of the weekend and about to head to Taunton for half term! I had hoped to start Christmas crafting as I have an idea of something to do...wanted to make a few to give as presents....but I haven't had time to get going yet (there are several stages!) so don't want to commit and then either pull out or be under pressure to get it right! Is 1st November the deadline? I may be able to do some stuff the weekend we are back and then see if I can work out how long it will take!

I have had a Tesco payg for years....use about £20 pa. Coverage is pretty good but my boys laugh at me as my 'phone is an ancient Nokia rather than a smartphone but does what I need it to do (ie; act as an emergency contact!)