All change

We had a funny old day. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lovely day but I ended up doing all my jobs backwards.

My original intention – yes, yes, we all know about good intentions and paths to hell – was to shoot over to Michael’s to drop his thesis in that I’d printed out the other day. However, the phone rang and it was William. They had taken a morning trip to RAF Cosford and were just having a picnic in the car before returning home. Ah…. “We’ll come this afternoon then, shall we?” Danielle nodded – yes, that would work. “Although I’ve got to nip out this afternoon to collect a chair I’ve bought for Michael,” she said. No worries. We’ll look after the kids while you run the errand.

Thwarted in our plan to go to Sutton, I thought I’d plump for Morning Option Two, which was to dig out a few of the stored pieces from the various rooms I am keeping them in, in an attempt to at least have one room tidy. However, I sauntered out into the garden for a breather and to take in the how my garden grows, and I ended up staying there all morning. Thoroughly enjoyed myself, but it wasn’t Option Two, was it?

I then spent a very happy hour cleaning, oiling and sharpening all the secateurs that we possess. When Livia had come to help with the roses, she rejected several pairs as not being sharp enough. Well, they all are now!

As a result of this little task, I found out that I am not the only one in this household to dislike change. Many years ago, Sue and Chris P bought us a little cupboard for keeping the trowels and secateurs in, but over the years it was commandeered for keys when John was running the business. I decided I’d like to change it back to a gardening cupboard, but it hasn’t gone down awfully well…… “Don’t go losing the keys,” said John “I mean, I know where they are in that cupboard. I can just lay my hands on them.” Well, I’ll just hang them in the key cupboard and hopefully they won’t get lost. But I have got the collywobbles now in case one of the keys goes missing…..

We went over to Sutton this afternoon and had a very enjoyable few hours. Michael was working so we had the children to ourselves. Well, I say to ourselves but really, it was to myself. John’s job for the afternoon was to try and get the Ford Focus going. It’s been sitting on the drive for nearly a year, I think, and it’s time to get rid. I knew he’d been successful in starting the car because we could hear the throaty roar of the engine as we played in the back garden.

Danielle came home triumphantly carrying the armchair that she’d been to collect. I must say, it’s a lovely chair and it looks very good in the Michael’s half of the Man-Shed. You may notice that I say ‘Michael’s half’. Danielle has the other half for her Pebble Pictures by JerseyBean Art. Overrun with pebbles they are – but thank. good. ness. for the Man Shed. Honestly, it’s been a godsend.

After we’d eaten our evening meal, I decided I’d make a start on what was Morning Option Two and carry on tidying the loft and and attic room. I have spent all evening doing it, but I am quite pleased with my efforts. At least you can see the floor up there now. But there’s still a lot of throwing out to do and I am stacking up all the ‘things for sale’ which I hope to feature in the Etsy shop when I set it up.

The poor cats, however, don’t know what’s hit them. The attic room is their domain. They have a whole double bed to themselves all day every day whenever they want it (which is most of the time). They eyed me suspiciously as I heaved the vacuum cleaner up the stairs. Rio, being a brave cat, blinked and yawned and settled back down on the bed. Shadow, being a scaredy cat, upped sticks and stood at the top of the stairs ready for a quick getaway. As soon the I switched the vacuum cleaner on, he was off. So, too, was Rio. Perhaps he’s not such a brave cat after all.

Infections of COVID continue to rise. 8,125 people tested positve for the virus today, 17 people died in the community and, as far as I can see, 5 people died in hospitals on 9 & 10 June.

We’ve got to really work hard at keeping safe from being infected with the virus now. Lateral flow tests are being recommended twice a week; ventilation is essential as is keeping our distance and wearing masks. I think we’ve got the message on the last two – not so sure about the first two.

So…. take care everyone. It’s in our own hands to keep ourselves safe isn’t it? God bless.

.