Beautiful sunshine and a delightful day weather-wise today. An absolutely gorgeous sunrise, with the sun peeping through the trees and the sky all colours. It is likely to be true, though, isn’t it – the saying about red sky in the morning, shepherds warning? We enjoyed the gentle weather today, but we’re bracing ourselves for the grotty weather to come tomorrow and over the weekend, of course. Storm Alex is on it’s way…..
We were up early again this morning to let the District Nurse in, with the alarm going off at half-past six. I chivvied John out of bed just after seven o’clock, only for the nurse to arrive a bit later than expected just before eight. Never mind, it gave us chance to do a few jobs before breakfast to get the day started.
I still have a long list of jobs to do and thought I’d try and tackle some of them at least. One or two of them were computer-related so I ensconced myself in the computer room to unravel the mysteries of the internet this morning.
One of the jobs was to try and access the building society on-line. I had had a go at getting on line with it nearly a year ago, but found myself tied up in red tape then, so left it. Thought I’d have another go today – which actually worked out alright in the end, but crikey, I wouldn’t have managed without someone from the building society talking me through it. Four passwords and then a ‘one-time only’ password and I am finally in…..
I sometimes wonder, like everyone else who is retired, how I managed to do a day’s work. My time management ain’t what it used to be. I was shocked to see that it was already noon by the time I’d sorted out me bits and pieces on the computer. Where’d the time go?
We had an unexpected visitor this afternoon, for a few minutes, just after lunch. The doorbell rang and, as I made my way to the door, expecting it to be the nurse, I called to John, “That’ll be for you!” It wasn’t, it was Caroline. She was just passing through the village and thought she’d just knock on the front door to see how we are. We had a lovely doorstep chat and it was so lovely to see her in the flesh. Lifted my spirits and I hope it lifted hers too. She’s still standing after the ‘big move’, I am pleased to say.
After lunch and my doorstep chat with Caroline I watched a bit of tennis again, but this time I made myself useful at the same time by doing the ironing. Much of what we own generally doesn’t get ironed, but there are one or two things like shirts or certain tops that just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
In the spirit of being useful while watching TV, I did a ridiculous thing this afternoon. I decided to watch the Harold Shipman story that had been recently aired (that wasn’t the ridiculous bit), and whilst doing so, I folded my carrier bags into one bag ready for Ocado to take them away next time they come. That seemed a bit crazy, folding and ramming plastic bags together but they are plastic so re-cycling is needed. I have been hanging on to them all lockdown ready to re-cycle, so I’m definitely doing it now that Ocado is offering to take them back.
John was busy trying to fit a cupboard door in front of the boiler for much of the day today. To be clear, we used to have a door there before, but it was very unwieldy and had to be removed entirely when the boiler broke down and the plumber couldn’t get at it with the door on. The door has been sat for a while waiting to be re-instated. The thing is, John has had to fashion new hinges/a new way of hanging the door so that it’s neither unwieldy nor impossible to get past. Not as easy as it sounds, and so it’s not finished yet. Maybe tomorrow?
A bit later on, we took a video call from the Sutton Sleaths as they were finishing their tea. Not to make us jealous or anything, but they were eating bread and butter pudding with ice cream. William was a-smacking his lips, clearly enjoying it and thrilled at sharing his experience with us. Thomas was also alert to the luxuries of such a dessert and looked like he’d like to have joined in too. Seeing them all was another little uplift to the day.
Because I had been folding my plastic bags – I’ve got hundreds of them – we ate a belated evening meal. In fact, it was so belated that John went to prepare it in the end. We finished eating very late – another case of, “Where’d the time go?” and it was then that I realised it was Zoom time with the girls from college. I joined in fifteen minutes late. Making a habit of that this week…..
The evening natter was good. Enjoyed seeing everyone who could make it, but sorry that Linda and Sue didn’t, due to illness and a bereavement.
We had a little debate as to whether we wanted to continue chatting for two forty minute sessions, or whether we should just go for one session in future. After tonight’s experience, I think the consensus was that we should stick with two sessions. What chatterboxes we are!! And how thankful I am to have such good friends.
The virus is still enjoying its journey among the population, by the way, and it infiltrated 6,914 people today, killing off 59 in the community and 28 in hospitals on the last two days of September.
Faith, not fear. God bless.