Month: January 2021

Oooh, I was in trouble this morning. “White noise. White noise, that’s all I am to you.” John declared after I’d totally ignored him when he brought me a cup of tea in bed. Oh, dear. I was so busy concentrating on my e-scrabble game, Words with Friends, that I wasn’t aware of anything very much. It must have been half an hour later that I wondered about a cup of tea and asked him if he’d brought me one….. It’s not good is it? When you’re not even aware of what’s a-goin’ on? Must do better.

Made me smile throughout the day, though. Every so often, there’d be a little bleep and murmuring of the words ‘white noise….’ just as a little reminder, you know, that I really shouldn’t ignore the person with whom I share the house. It wasn’t intentional, which probably makes it worse…. ah, well. Tomorrow’s another day, so perhaps I’ll have got my brain in better gear by then. Let’s hope so anyway.

Neither of us got up very early though. I woke early enough, but really couldn’t face painting, so stayed in bed for a while. John, too, stayed in bed and, once again, by the time he’d done his medicals, it was lunchtime. Honestly, all the pills, eye drops, eye pads, supplements, inhalers and nebulisers take such a long time to get through first thing in the morning. Then he has to do it all again a few hours later, then another few hours later after that. Great life, if you don’t weaken.

However, once he’d got through it all, he purposefully made his way into the garage. He was about to use the new trolley jacks that he’d bought yesterday from Machine Mart – not Tool Station, as I originally said. Machine Mart/Tool Station/Screwfix…. they’re all one and the same to me. But obviously not – there is a difference, I believe.

His plan was to jack up the Lotus and have a good inspection of the underside and take some measurements. Something seems to be a bit out, and he’s not quite sure what. That was his plan but, by the time he’d chatted to two of his sons on phone, then jacked the car up, he didn’t have the energy to crawl underneath. Maybe tomorrow?

Energy? No, me neither. I did paint the last coat on the last wall, clean the skirting boards and mask everywhere up in readiness for re-painting them, but, to be honest, the light was rubbish today, so I left it at that. John suggested switching on the electric lights, but they aren’t great for making sure you haven’t left the paint patchy. So I took that as my excuse for just idling the rest of the afternoon away watching the inauguration on Capitol Hill.

I found it unexpectedly moving. I was glad to see the back of Trump, but respect to Mike Pence, who did the handover with dignity. I thought Biden’s speech was a good one, but the highlight of the event for me was the young Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman. Her poem was just fantastic. What a girl, and one to watch.

This evening we had great fun as it was Quiz Night. Nigel and Hazel were the Quiz Masters and Nigel had created three very original rounds that we really enjoyed – even if we couldn’t answer some of the questions – they were really hard. As always, we talked ourselves into answers and back out of them again, only to find that the original answer was the right one. Fabulous fun and great company as always. Lucky, lucky us to have such a very nice group of friends.

Obviously, watching the coverage on the telly of the inauguration meant that we seamlessly moved into watching the news this evening. It’s distressing to know that so many people have lost their lives to COVID today; and equally so to hear the stories of all those medics who are caring for those rising numbers of patients in intensive care. It was heartening to hear that the infection rate is going down, however, and that the lockdown seems to be working. Prayers and more prayers for all those who are sick and all those tending them.

• 38,905 people tested positive for the virus today
• 1,820 people died from the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 531 people died in hospitals from the virus on 18 & 19 January

The people dying are still mostly in the over 60s bracket but, although the numbers are relatively small by comparison, the figures in the 40 -59 bracket are now rising too, which isn’t good.

So, let’s keep ourselves to ourselves, mask up, and keep washing our hands – oh, and ventilate. Other than going to Mum’s (where I do open the window when I am there), we don’t really go anywhere where we need to do that, but I conscious of it now. And I am keeping my hopes up that we all stay safe and healthy to fight another day. After all, we’ve done 15 days of Lockdown 3 and 308 days since Lockdown 1 started, so what’s a few more?

God bless and take care.

So…. as the transfer of power is made in the USA, Trump says his movement ‘is only just beginning’. Crikey. I do hope not. The world will not be awfully safe, in my humble opinion, if he is allowed to go unchecked once he leaves office. Fingers crossed that wise words are said and taken notice of, in the years to come, for a more peaceful and compassionate world. A world that has an abundance of nature and not arms, and that we can leave to our children and grandchildren in confidence and not fear.

It was with confidence that I got up this morning, knowing that I didn’t have any paint, so I would have a clear-up instead. However, not long after getting up, I noticed an email in my junk, telling me that the pot of paint I’d ordered had been shipped and was on its way. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I was happy or not about that. I had been hoping for a rest….

Anyway, the paint duly turned up at lunchtime, so I got on and painted this afternoon. One more coat of paint on one more wall and then the emulsioning is all done. Hurrah! Just the skirting boards, door and window frames to paint, and the wallpapering to do. All by Monday? Which is when the sofas are promised for the second time. It’s doable. Wish me luck!

Other than painting, I did do other things. I had a bundle of washing to iron – some of Mum’s – and some of ours. So I popped the telly on to see what might be entertaining while I dashed away with the smoothing iron.

I plumped on ‘Staged’. I don’t if you’ve seen it but, basically, once I started watching, I was hooked. I have, therefore, watched every single episode today. I saw several episodes while I did the ironing, then a few while I was having a spot of lunch, then a few while I had a rest from painting, then a few while I ate my evening meal. Made me laugh and the series was certainly very entertaining.

I had a narrow escape though first thing this morning. I thought I might have to go over to Mum’s. The Care Agency phoned up to tell me that the carer couldn’t find Mum’s hearing aids. Well, without them, Mum (and everyone else) is scuppered. She really can’t hear a thing without them. Right then. The plan was to go over to have a good search and, if they couldn’t be found, phone the hospital to see if we can get replacements. Anyway, an hour later, the Care Agency phoned again, to say that the carer had located them under the bed…… yep, me neither!

Because I have been pre-occupied with me painting, I have left John to his own devices the last few days. He was up reasonably early this morning, and spent a good while with medical affairs and, by the time he’d finished, it was gone lunchtime. Soon after, he said he was heading out to collect some equipment that had arrived at Tool Station. “All very safe,” he reassured me, “I’ll just drive up to back door, ring the bell and they’ll pass it to me.” I had to be satisfied with that. I am a bit like a jailer and not wanting to let him out, with this new strain of the virus lurking, but he is a grown-up, so what could I say? Anyway, he came home safe and sound, and he’d masked up and sanitised his hands (I think) so hopefully all will be well.

In the meantime, we have both received a text from the surgery. ‘You have been identified as requiring COVID vaccination at home’. Who? Me? I wonder if they mean Mum, and have made a mistake because she’s already had hers. But then, on the other hand, perhaps they clustered John and me together. I don’t know. But I am very pleased that John has been notified anyway. Just got to wait for the phone call telling us when now.

And…. being a front-line worker in the NHS, Michael had his first dose of the vaccine this morning. Now that’s good news.

While John was busy with his medicals, I had a lovely surprise phone call this morning from Gloria. It is a goodly while since we spoke and so it was really lovely to have a good old natter. There was no purpose to the phone call other than to catch up with an old mate. She had been reminded by something that was said: that life is short and how about phoning someone you haven’t spoken to in ages? So she did. What an excellent example. I must do better and do that myself. Watch out world, I might be comin’ at ya!!

As I have reported previously in the last few days, the COVID infection count is going down, while the number of hospital admissions and deaths continue to rise. It makes me weep to think about all of those people who have lost their lives to the virus. There are thousands upon thousands of people in our own country and world-wide. And, I have to say, that I do question how the situation has been handled here in the UK. We always want to be ‘world-beating’. Well, we sure are – we’re world leaders in COVID deaths as a percentage of the population. What a mess.

• 33, 355 people tested positive from the virus in the last 24 hours
• 1,610 people died in the community from COVID-19
• And 454 people died in hospitals on 17 & 18 January
• It’s Day 14 of Lockdown 3; Day 307 since we began our original isolation last year

But, I live forever in hope. I hope that you all stay well. I hope that my family rides the storms of stresses and strains with ease. I hope that we will see each other face-to-face soon. I hope that love will see us all through. In his speech, ‘Loving Your Enemies’, Martin Luther King said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” So I hope that there is plenty of light and love swilling around – here and abroad, wherever it is needed.

God bless. Stay safe.

Nothing to see here. More of the same.

Were you paying attention? I have run out of paint. Oh dear. I knew that would happen – just one pot short of a finished job. Ah, well, I’ve ordered it now and it might arrive by the weekend, fingers crossed.

And, it transpires that the three piece suite won’t arrive tomorrow after all. I took a phone call at tea-time to say that one of the delivery drivers has a temperature and a sore throat. He’s been sent off for a COVID test and they’ll have a better idea in a day or two when they can deliver. The salesman was very apologetic but, as far as I am concerned, better to be safe than sorry. John wasn’t quite so charitable and thought it was a put-off job. If the delivery can wait until next week that would suit me fine – I might be able to get the painting finished….. and even do some of the wallpapering! Might crack on with the skirting boards tomorrow. (I know, I know, for the purists amongst you, I should have done those first…..)

All in all, nothing much to report. John didn’t particularly enjoy his walk – but then, he went on his own didn’t he? Didn’t have my wonderful company – tee-hee! No wonder it wasn’t as exciting as usual.

We didn’t spend a lot of time glued to the news today either, so have skimmed the figures today and know that the infections are going down but hospital admissions and deaths are going up, which accords with what we expected after Christmas. Do you think anyone will take notice now? Or, once lockdown is eased, will people go mad again? I think the latter and that we never learn…

• 37,535 people infected today
• 599 people died in the community
• 3,984 people were admitted to hospital last Thursday – no data since then
• And no data on hospital deaths today either
• Day 13 of Lockdown 3; Day 306 since the March panic to stay in

Keep smiling everyone. God Bless. But, afore ye go…. enjoy this offering, sent to me by Chris from my prayer group. Made me smile anyway.

I won’t arise and go now, and go to Innisfree
I’ll sanitise the doorknob and make a cup of tea.
I won’t go down to the sea again, I won’t go out at all,
I’ll wander lonely as a cloud from the kitchen to the hall.
There’s a green-eyed yellow monster to the north of Katmandu 
But I won’t be seeing him just yet and nor, I think, will you.
While the dawn comes up like thunder on the road to Mandalay
I’ll make my bit of supper and eat it off a tray.
I shall not speed my bonny boat across the sea to Skye
Or take the rolling English road from Birmingham to Rye.
About the woodland just right now I am not free to go
To see the Keep Out posters or the cherry hung with snow
And no, I won’t be travelling much, within the realms of gold.
Or get to Milford Haven. All that’s been put on hold.
Give me your hands, I shan’t request, albeit we are friends
Or come within a mile of you, until this shit show ends

Fortunately, friends reminded me to look after myself with all the decorating malarkey, and I saw their comments before I got out of bed this morning. So I stayed in bed instead of leaping up an’ at ’em the minute I woke up. In fact, I was still in bed when John brought me a nice cup of tea at about 11.30. And I was still in bed when Michael phoned at about mid-day. Suffice to say then, that despite the glorious sunshine this morning inviting us out for a walk, I rested my weary body before getting up an’ at ’em this afternoon.

John also rested his weary body this morning, too, and stayed in bed for half the day. He felt a bit frustrated and fed up today with the lockdown because he feels he wants to get out and about and do something. He’s not quite sure what, but something other than being stuck at home watching me doing the decorating. He offered to paint some of the ceiling, but I thought he’d maybe struggle to see where he’d painted and where he hadn’t, as his eyesight isn’t great at discerning colours these days. He must have agreed with me because he didn’t insist.

So, I laboured on and John tucked himself round the corner in the library area at his desk, honing his poker skills.

My main aim today was to paint the ceiling and the wall behind where the sofas will be situated. That way, if I don’t get the rest of the lounge done, there won’t be any fear of dripping paint on the new suite. And, I have to say, it was a successful day. The morning will tell the tale no doubt, when I take a good look in broad day light, but I am hopeful that I will only need one coat of paint on the ceiling. We’ll see. A second coat of paint on the wall will be needed, at which point, I think I may need another pot of paint.

My wishes were granted today – I did not collapse exhausted as I did yesterday. I was tired, but not so bad. Tomorrow will be another story, I expect. There’ll be more wall-washing to add to the list of things to do as well as painting……

We stopped what we were doing at about six o’clock, and I sat down with a glass of red, to start watching ‘Dancing on Ice’ before getting our food ready. But, while I recuperated, John started cooking the tea. How good was that? Second day on the trot. And it was delicious, too. Steak and chips with a side salad. Yum.

We whiled away the evening watching telly. Well, I did anyway. John inspected the back of his eyelids for an hour or so…. As I sat watching the box, I thought to myself, ‘I’ve been working hard and deserve a treat.’ So off I trundled to the freezer to liberate one of the Magnums that Ann and Nigel had sent us last year, and savoured it as I settled in to finish the programme. That was delicious, too.

So that’s us today. Not a lot to report. A little bit of a Groundhog Day. And, I know its the weekend, but the Coronavirus figures are still coming down, so some qualified relief felt here in Balsall Common.

• 38,598 people tested positive for the virus
• 671 people died of it in the community
• 364 people died of it in hospitals in the last couple of days
• And we are on Day 12 of Lockdown3, Day 305 since the first incarceration.

It’s still a lot of people affected – can’t play that down, but it’s a bit better, isn’t it? Take care everyone. God bless.

My alarm went off and I actually got up, there and then, determined to get on with the decorating. An internal crack of the whip so that I can at least get some of the painting finished before the new suite arrives on Tuesday.

First job planned? Paint the ceiling in the main part of the room with its first coat. Thwarted. As I went to get the painting tray, I remembered it still had the grey wall paint in it. Ah… that’ll be a second coat on the wall in the extended part of the lounge then first …….. and afterwards, of course, before I could even consider starting on the ceiling, I realised that a bit more prep was needed. That is, wall and ceiling washing, furniture moving and dust sheets tastefully arranged. Hmm, the ceiling had to wait until this afternoon.

The trouble with painting and decorating is that it is tiring. All that bending about and reaching out, as well as up and down stepladders – it wears you out. By the time I came to painting the ceiling I was already weary so, in the end, I just got two-thirds of it done and collapsed, exhausted, into a nice hot bath at the end of the day with an application of warming tiger balm on my very stiff neck. I plan to do more of the same tomorrow, although hoping that I don’t do the collapsing, exhausted bit.

John spent the morning in bed, summoning his energy for a bit more poker playing and generally having a day just relaxing today. He needs a day like that every so often and deserves it. He pushes himself hard most of the time, so a little TLC was in order. I was grateful that he cooked the evening meal though, and he patiently made me hundreds of cups of tea throughout the day – most of which went unfinished as I ploughed on with me roller brush.

What is amazing though, is just how big our lounge really is. We normally have so much clutter in the room that we don’t see, and have clearly forgotten, its size. However, with the furniture shifted out of the way, it’s massive! As we sat down this evening to watch telly, we sort of waved at each other from either end of the room, which seemed a long way away. Not to worry though, I’ll soon clutter it up again….

As was the case yesterday, the infection rates for COVID are still coming down but the hospital admissions and death rates are still going up. There’s hope that taking care can, and does, do the trick though. The news seems to be full of ‘shock horror’ and fear-fuelling stories however, and so I am glad I didn’t concentrate on any of it today. The USA is on the alert for armed protests with barricades in the capital, and here in the UK, a whole pile of data about criminals and DNA has been wiped from the computer in a housekeeping error. I’d like to see some good news for a change – although I suppose Joe Root’s double century in the cricket is something to celebrate.

Anyway, here we are, another day done and the hope that it’s a step nearer to being physically with our loved ones again.

• 41,346 people tested positive for the virus today
• 1,295 people died in the community from the virus in the last 24 hours
• 454 people died in hospitals from the virus in the last couple of days
• We have just done Day 11 of Lockdown 3, and Day 304 since the March shut-in started.

No more, now, please.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I decided, after a day of decorating, to try out our ensuite shower. Haven’t actually tried it since John fiddled with it earlier in the week. But, such excitement to find that By George, he’s done it!! Not a leak anywhere at all. Marvellous. No paddling to the wash-handbasin to clean me teeth; no wallowing in water to get to the loo. Dry as a bone. Sound the trumpets! Create a fanfare! We are no longer in a ‘wet’ room. Oh. My. Goodness. Can’t tell you how good that feels. The relief of not having to mop up after a shower is just wonderful. Might have a shower in there again tomorrow…..

In other news, I also decided that mornings are best. Not that I got up early, you understand, but by the time I’d had done my exercises and my ablutions, had my breakfast and nipped to Homebase for a ‘click and collect’ tin of paint, it was lunchtime. Naturally, John had not long been up and had only just had his breakfast, so a snackette and a cup of tea for my lunch was in order, while watching ‘Bargain Hunt’ and then the news on daytime television.

By now, of course, it’s half-past one. Must get on. So I got started on doing a second coat of ceiling paint. Half-way through, I thought it wasn’t always so easy to see where I’d painted and where I hadn’t, with it being white on white. I looked out of the window and thought it must be nearly four o’clock as it was so dull and overcast. No, it was half-past two. But the light was already going and I had planned on doing some of wall as well. I did do a first coat on the wall in the extended part of the lounge but it might be a bit patchy when I look at it tomorrow. So really, mornings are best for painting, aren’t they? Note to self: Get up in the morning, for goodness’ sake!

John had a good day too, tinkering about. You may recall that, at the beginning of lockdown I decorated the kitchen – gosh, there’s a theme here, isn’t there? Anyway, there are one or two snagging jobs still to do, and one of them was to fashion and shape a piece of skirting board next to the fireplace-that-was. John found a suitable piece of wood some months ago, and it’s been kicking around waiting to be whittled. Today was the day. Not only did John create a super bit of skirting board, but he glued it into place too. It was my treat for today, I believe, as he said, “There you are. I’ve glued it on. I’ll let you paint it.” Oh, whoopee-doop! How kind. More painting……

He also started to tidy up the threshold between the new utility room (as opposed to the old utility room which is actually a store room now, but still…) and the new SnuGym. I am not sure exactly what work was involved but there seemed to be some grinding. I wasn’t awfully enamoured of the smell that the grinding generated and wondered, tactfully, whether John was wearing a mask while he did this piece of work? (I think John may dispute the nature of the enquiry at this point) Anyway, that job is still ongoing and in progress.

We have done nothing much else other than watch more TV this evening and John has played a hand or two of e-poker. We haven’t ventured out for a walk – maybe tomorrow?

I was heartened a little bit by the news today – strange but true – in that the trend of COVID infections is down. Deaths are still rising, which we expect, because of the time lag between infection, serious illness and death being about three weeks, but it looks like the virus may be beginning to slow down. If we continue to behave ourselves, the vaccine does its work and no new variants are introduced, I am hopeful that by Easter we may be able to play out.

• 55,761 people tested positive for the virus today
• 1,280 people died in the community from the virus in the last 24 hours
• 469 people died in hospitals in the last couple of days from the virus
• On the plus side, over 3 million people have been vaccinated with at least one dose
• And flight routes in from South America and Portugal have been banned to try and keep a new strain of virus out – fingers crossed

Keep smiling everyone. Spring is on its way and we’re going to get the virus on the run. God bless.

I might have said this before…….I hate the prep before painting and decorating….. oh, fiddle, fiddle, fiddle!

Before you can even start your painting jobs there’s stuff to do. It may seem trivial and ‘not even prep’ to some people (not naming John, of course) but, all the hulking in of the big steps; then making sure that the brushes and paint tray are clean enough to use (because you left them in a state last time you painted); the searching for the right pot of paint; the clambering up for it because it’s on the top shelf; the seeking out of dust sheets; then the spreading out of the dust sheets; and the shifting of the furniture – all, all, of it is exhausting! Not to mention the unscrewing of light fittings, the clearing away of the drapey cobwebs and the washing of the walls and ceilings with multiple changes of water.

So I was up early enough to get on with most of the prep this morning, before I made a conscious decision to ‘keep calm and carry on’. There was an oasis of yoga to look forward to at 11.15 this morning but, above and beyond that, I sat with a book Michael had given us for Christmas about mindfulness. It’s actually a sort of workbook that takes you through a whole series of grounding activities. I had flicked through it before now, but I made a conscious decision to sit down and get seriously started on it. Half an hour of bliss. Then of course, another hour of bliss in the Zoomed yoga class in the SnuGym, which was perfect. John’s draught excluding work was marvellous and not a whisper of wind anywhere. Well, not through the doorways anyway.

As soon as the yoga session was over, it was a quick change before my first singing lesson. Yes, a singing lesson. Now, I hear you saying, who on earth has singing lessons? Well, those of us who can’t really sing – or think they can’t sing.

I had joined a choir about four years ago but my attendance was a bit hit and miss and I wasn’t always able to take part in the concerts because it was at the time when John was really poorly. In the end, I withdrew a couple of years ago, for what I thought would be about six months, but I have never got back. Our choir mistress, Melissa, advertises singing lessons, so I thought I’d have a go. No longer confident about my singing, I figured it would be great to be able to sing something other than hymns.

I had also been encouraged to have a lesson because Sue D had had one bought for her before Christmas and told us that she’d enjoyed the experience.

Melissa was wonderfully patient and encouraging, and in fact, I wasn’t really as bad as I had thought I was. Very rusty and not at all confident but, to my delight, she got me singing a whole song before the end of the session. Another one booked for next week now.

Meanwhile, John was tinkering about with poker and spreadsheets. Andrew is setting up a sideline cottage industry of making preserves – jams and pickled vegetables or fruit – and had done a business plan that John was casting his eye over. John was pretty impressed with the work done and didn’t have too much to offer in the way of any changes. It’s work in progress and at the development stage but it’s looking good so far….

After a bite to eat, and a little more prep, I got on with painting a portion of the ceiling in the extended part of the lounge. It may look swanky and quirky but it’s a little devil to paint because of all the curves and arched areas. I puffed and sighed my way through it, but I managed to achieve just what I had set out to do. One coat of paint on that bit. Yes. I kept calm and carried on.

I nipped over to Mum’s this evening to return her now-mended broken glasses which had caused panic stations today, before settling down to watch a bit of TV. Several people have said what a good series Bridgerton is on Netflix, so I thought I’d try the first episode. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will watch more – although I don’t think John is going to be a fan.

We caught up with the news too, and noted that there were no figures on the instances of infections or deaths due to COVID from the government today. A glitch in the system…. maybe tomorrow…..

Take care everyone, God bless. And feast your eyes on this little beauty…… we’re hoping it’s going to take the market by storm!

Rip Van Winkle hasn’t got anything on us. We can sleep the day away. Well, we slept the morning away anyway today. We were only winkled (!!) out of bed when Michael phoned at lunchtime to see how we were doing.

The thing was that John had a restless night. That usually means I have a restless night too. It culminated in John going off to the spare bedroom at five o’clock in the morning after he’d had a couple of goes at kicking my shins. Not sure what he was dreaming about – saving a goal in an England match, maybe? Playing footie with Freddie or William? Or kicking the cat?

So we were both undisturbed from that moment on and we both snoozed our alarms, then just kept on sleeping. I started to read my book in bed about half past ten and was still doing that when Michael phoned at about 12.30. I called John through and we sat in bed chatting to the Sutton Sleaths, duly admiring William’s newly decorated bedroom that he proudly presented to us. We grinned inanely at Thomas and made cooing noises, and he grinned delightedly back at us. It was lovely.

Of course, we thought we really ought to get up then, so we did and looked ruefully at each other as we acknowledged that half the day had gone. We had breakfast at lunchtime and then set about trying to adjust our day. John was busy mending Freddie’s toy; I was busy making phone calls – either medical related or friend related.

We had agreed we would go for a walk this afternoon but at one point I thought we weren’t going to make it. We were tinkering and the afternoon wore on. We did finally manage to get ourselves out of the door however, and quite enjoyed our stroll. Although it has to be said that I took us down a muddy alley, and we got our shoes caked in mud, which I am not too sure whether John was altogether happy about.

Once we were back, John went and had a tinker with the Lotus while I cooked our evening meal. Had a lovely roast chicken dinner today, which was delicious.

After we’d eaten, it was pretty much time for Quiz Night, so we settled down for a good night in. It was great to see Caroline joining in, recovering from her knee operation, and looking so well. Malcolm had set the quiz today and what a good one it was. We did quite well despite some difficult questions. The ones we got wrong though, were mostly repeats of ones we have got wrong in the past. Made us giggle at our failing memories – I mean, just how many time zones are there in Russia? Surely we should remember the answer to that? There are loads.

So, all in all, there’s only half a day’s tale to tell today, so that’s about it. Except that we took a phone call from the furniture shop this afternoon and lo and behold, our new three piece suite is now in! Delivery next Tuesday. Oooh….. that’s a bit tight to get the decorating done, isn’t it? The plan is to paint the ceiling at least…. wish me luck. No laying in bed all morning tomorrow then. No competing with Rip Van Winkle now.

What with one thing and another we haven’t really concentrated on much of the news today, but we’ve picked up the headlines. Trump is impeached. That’ll be interesting to see how that unfolds, won’t it? I am quite scared for America right now. It’s a gunpowder keg, liable to be lit and go off at any moment.

On our own shores, the free schools meals situation still dominates the headlines, with Matt Hancock refusing to offer any regret for voting against continuing to offer the free school meals during lockdown in the House a few weeks ago. And, of course, the COVID-19 situation. The numbers of those infected is slowing, but obviously, with the two-week time lag the numbers of deaths is increasing. There’s still a lot of shrugging of shoulders and ‘what we gonna do?’ questions being asked. It feels very exasperating.

• 47,525 people were recorded as having tested positive for the virus today
• 1,564 people were recorded as having died from the virus today in the community
• 488 people were recorded as having died from the virus in hospitals over the last couple of days.

The figures for hospital admissions hasn’t been updated on the daily summary from the government today, but we hear locally that the hospitals are admitting a lot every day now. Certainly, the QE has 368 inpatients with COVID and Heartlands has 297 as of today. Let’s hope we can keep illnesses at bay until the corona crisis is over.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Well, contrary to the way my thoughts were going yesterday, John said he feels fine today and no, there were no Monday blues. Ah, sorry if I lead anyone up the garden path. In fact, he’s been busy today and happily tackling those picky little jobs that have been hanging around for a while.

Bless him, he’s been creating a draught exclusion zone between the SnuGym and the garage, so one of the last things to do was to affix a piece of wood between two doors and paint it, which he did today. Not only that, but he’s been considering how best to send a piece of heavy equipment through the post to someone who bid for it on eBay, and doing research on that. And finally, he’s replaced a very noisy extractor fan in the shower room. Gosh, he’s done well.

I am not really sure what I have been doing today. I spent quite a bit of time fiddling about on the computer trying to re-order the supplements the nutritionist recommended for John. Unfortunately, the link she sent to us no longer works and you have to have an access code from your professional consultant now to get into the website. In the end, I ordered stuff from the USA which will take weeks to arrive.

I then paid a pile of bills and dealt with some of Mum’s monetary affairs, by which time, it was lunchtime. Heaven knows where the morning went.

After lunch we went out for a walk just in time to greet the sunshine. It had been overcast this morning but the sun was playing hide-and-seek by the time we went out, so it was really very pleasant and boosted our spirits no end. We had another walk-a-bit/stop-a-bit promenade but we really enjoyed it. Especially as we met one or two acquaintances along the way and stopped to chat, shouting at each other from a great distance. In one case, we were on opposite sides of the road and had to try to make ourselves heard over the trundle of traffic.

Once we were back home, we gratefully washed the shopping that dear Harriet had done for us and left in the porch, then put it away, before making ourselves a lovely hot chocolate to settle down with on the sofa.

The trouble is, once we sit with a mug of warming chocolate, we don’t want to get up again. So we had a bit of a repeat of yesterday afternoon, although we didn’t fall asleep this time. Well, I didn’t anyway. I think John may have snoozed a little bit…..

That’s been about it really today. An evening meal, which John cooked (thank you) and more TV this evening, catching up on programmes we’ve missed. So all good and sheltered and safe.

The only other exciting news today was from Andrew who said he heard the sonic boom of the aeroplane that was travelling across Cambridge. He said the sound shook his house and he thought someone had been shot! And I can see why when you watch the videos of people’s reactions.

The news has been harsh again with stories about apparent profiteering by large organisations at the poor’s expense – this time Chartwell, who has the contract to supply lunches for those eligible for free dinners in schools, only they have supplied meagre amounts. Another scandal waiting in the wings? Who knows? And, of course, the COVID situation, with hospitals at bursting point and the staff nearing breaking point. Lord give us strength.

• 45,533 people tested positive for the virus today
• 1,243 people died in the community today having recently tested positive for COVID
• 422 people died in hospitals in the last couple of days having tested positive for the virus
• And the latest data on hospital admissions is 5 days ago, on 7 January. There were 4,240 people admitted in one single day last week.

Numbing numbers, eh? Stay safe everyone. Look after yourselves. God bless.

Not really the Monday Blues, more like the Monday Slows. We had a bit of a restless night one way and another, so both woke up groggy and bleary-eyed. However, we got up at a reasonable hour and spent the morning pottering about with this and that. I had failed to sort out my paintbrushes properly from my decorating spree before Christmas, so thought I’d have a go at clearing them up; and John concentrated on reading the instructions for installing the dashcam he’d bought me for my birthday, for the car.

I merrily faffed about in the utility room, but started to feel a little green at the smell of the white spirit. John merrily faffed about with the dashcam and went out to the car to set it up. He came back in, however, to see if I could give him a hand – or, more precisely, a second pair of eyes. Black on black is not easy, is it? He baulked however, at the smell of the white spirit. “Blimey! What have you been doing?” he wondered – or words to that effect. Well, I’d only gone and thrown the old white spirit down the plughole, hadn’t I? And rinsed it away with a bit of hot water. “Haven’t you seen those programmes where chemicals mix and blow up in the sink?” John asked. Ah. Might have. On the other hand, the information might not have lodged in my memory bank….well, I’ll know for the next time, anyway. Sorry, sewers.

We went out to the car to see if we could winkle the black wire into the teeny, weeny little gaps in the black upholstery and make it stick. As it turned out, we did manage it successfully between us. I was rather pleased. That is, until John said, “And now we’ve got to wire in the camera for the rear window.” Darn it! I thought that was it!! Finish it tomorrow?

We came back in for a cuppa, opened all the windows and doors to let the smell out of the utility room and ensconced ourselves in the lounge to watch the lunchtime news. We wrapped ourselves up in blankets – against the imaginary cold that the open windows might let in, you know. And then we both nodded off for an hour.

When we came to, neither of us could be bothered to press a button on the remote control so we carried on viewing the channel that was on – first, Escape to the Country and then, a programme about a couple of families getting ready for a farmers market, The Farmers Country Showdown.

Chalk and cheese, that’s what John and I are. As we watched the programme about the market, I was delighted to see such an array of fresh vegetables and looked on enviously as people bought giant curly kale or Romanesco broccoli or massive leeks. “Look at all those lovely vegetables!” I exclaimed. “Don’t they look wonderful?” John curled his lip. Then he got excited as the camera panned to a cake stall and lingered on the pastries, the gingerbread men, the millionaire shortbread and the lemon drizzle cake. “Now, you’re talking!” he said, turning to me with a challenge in his eyes. We laughed. Chalk and cheese. Well, it’d be boring if we were all alike, wouldn’t it?

This evening we have had a lovely time Zooming-in with Dave and Chris, and George and Sue. Our trial run had worked with Dave & Chris and they were on and set up really well. George and Sue didn’t appear initially. I texted wondering if they had received my invitation. Nope. Oh…. I re-sent it. It transpires that the invitation had gone into George’s junk mail and so they were in blissful ignorance that the session had even started.

Anyway, we had a great chit-chat and even managed a political discussion. No surprise there really, I suppose. John was rapidly sinking a bottle of white wine and had opinions to share. George is always up for a debate and, I have to confess, I happily joined in and supported John’s arguments today. Dave and Chris watched on. Fortunately, we’ve been friends for such a long time that this is not new and they know when to keep shtum.

We grinned as John told us about a programme he’d watched about how the immune system is compromised by alcohol, and we looked pointedly at the now empty bottle next to him. We chuckled about it but I don’t think John saw the funny side.

We also chatted about the current situation. We bemoaned the ‘stay-at-home’ instruction and mourned the loss of our freedom to meet our families. We agreed that the government had been too slow to act from the very beginning, but we all thought that lockdown was probably the only way to get back on an even keel until the vaccinations are all done. Hard, isn’t it?

• 46,169 people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours
• 529 people have lost their lives in the community to COVID
• 309 people lost their lives in hospitals on 9 & 10 January with COVID mentioned on their death certificates

Day 6 of Lockdown 3 (Day 299 since the March inception of lockdown) has been a slow day, and I think John may be suffering from the blues. I’ll know tomorrow. It’s to be expected though, I suppose. It’s mid-winter, isn’t it? Must get the sun lamp out!

Stay safe everyone. Look after yourselves. God bless.