Month: February 2022

It’s one of those times of the year when there seem to be birthdays galore! First, it’s Graham’s (last Friday), then dear George (on Saturday) and now Paul’s today.

We celebrated Graham’s remotely when we Skyped on Saturday morning; we sent greetings to George and will see him at Fran’s birthday celebrations later on in March; and, of course, we celebrated Paul’s yesterday face-to-face with a Sunday lunch. The lunch and celebrations were so lush that I had too much pop and went to bed early without blogging.

The family were all there except Andrew, who wasn’t feeling well and had a zillion things to do to prepare for a flat move today/tomorrow. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves; everyone was on their best behaviour (including the kids!) and we toasted the Birthday Boy in style. Champagne anyone?

I may have been a little hung-over this morning, which put a delay to my planned visit to Dawn’s by about a quarter of an hour. It was a wedding-outfit-fitting morning and, once I realised the time, I hot-footed it round to her house as fast as I could.

All was well however, and the fitting was going very smoothly as I arrived. Just a tuck here, and a nip there, and it’ll all be perfect. We had been angst-ing over appropriate material for a blouse and I had found a few samples for Dawn to look at. None of them were quite right however, but Jacqui, the dressmaker, came up trumps and we were all in agreement: “That’s the one!” as she flourished a beautiful piece material before our eyes. Hurrah! Job done. Dawn is going to look gorgeous.

John had spent the morning resting while I was out but, as I came through the front door, I could see him labouring away in the kitchen digging out the dish-washer from yesterday’s marathon food-athon. I joined in and put things away before grabbing a bite to eat.

Once I sat down though, it was fatal. We were just watching a bit of the news when the Sandman came calling…. all afternoon. You know the sort of sleep? The one where you are sort of conscious of things going on around you but there’s no way you can join in….until I was sufficiently awake to be irritated by the dialogue of an American programme that John was watching. “What is this rubbish?” I blurted out. Only one of John’s favourite programmes – ‘Billions’. Oh. He was mildly offended, switched the TV off and went to work on the computer. I went back to sleep, having put in my two pennorth.

At tea-time, Harriet phoned to say could we return their car, please? The Kenilworth Sleaths had also had too much pop yesterday and chose to get an Uber home, leaving the car on our drive. So we hopped in their, and our, car and nipped over to take Paul’s birthday gift and drop the car off. We spent a lovely hour or so together with a cuppa and a parcel un-wrapping ceremony much to Freddie’s excitement. Forgot to take a photo though…..

The latest news from Ukraine isn’t great with loads of Russian troops heading for Kyiv and thousands of refugees fleeing. Talks are being held, but really, in my view that’s just a tactic for Russia to up the ante: ‘we tried to to talk but they wouldn’t listen…’ and blame the Ukrainians for a further escalation of war. John says I’m all doom and gloom….. but I mean, Putin’s got his finger on the nuclear button, hasn’t he?

Susie’s Word of the Day is ‘pertolerate’ (17th century): to endure steadfastly to the end.

Anyway, enough catastrophising for now…. Take care everyone. God bless you, yours, your friends and friends of friends everywhere.

The government data has now changed to being published weekly. This means maths is involved, in which I am not greatly skilled and would be likely to embarrass myself in front of all you scientists if I tried. I have yet to sort out what’s what on the ONS data too, which is also weekly. For the time being therefore, here is the weekly government data. 22 February – 28 February: 234,103 positive cases of the virus; 752 people died; 7,873 people were admitted to hospital….. Get the picture? It still seems a helluva lot to me…..

Dinner was late this evening. This fact reminded me of the story told by Gail about her friend Mary. They’d gone to stay with them and Mary was preparing the evening meal. Early evening, Mary disappeared into the kitchen, only for dinner to emerge at about 9.30 in the evening. What had she been doing all that time? No-one really knew and they didn’t dare go in to find out.

Our dinner wasn’t quite the late – it emerged at about 7.15. But what had I been doing all that time? I don’t really know. All I know is, that I’d been prepping some desserts for tomorrow’s lunch. This took me all afternoon. Not got a lot to show for it, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the dessert turns out OK tomorrow, won’t it? I know for a fact that that bloomin’ jelly won’t set….. it never does. Eeeh, but I hate prep…..

However, one good thing….. I made decent pastry today. Now, there’s a first….. eat your heart out Gloria, Queen of Pastry.

We were up early this morning, excited, because we were Skyping Graham and Gail. Oh, bliss. How lovely to see them and chat about nothing in particular. Wonderful to see them sounding chipper and looking good. An 8.30 start and a-nearly-eleven-o’clock finish. Marvellous. It was relaxed and very enjoyable thank you very much.

After our delightful get-together with G&G we had our breakfast. Not being early-birds, neither of us had managed to get anything other than a cuppa before the 8.30 start.

John then set on to do more of the window sills for our bedroom. What a star. He’s managed them both. I am absolutely delighted. Just need to paint them now, of course. What colour shall we choose?

There was rugby this afternoon. John watched a bit, worked on the sills a bit, watched a bit and so on. The Scotland-France match was disappointing, but the England-Wales match was extremely thrilling – went right to the last minute before we were sure of the result. The right team won of course…….hehehe.

And there we are. Saturday. A day of prep. Preparing for a Sunday which is a day of rest. Please…….?

No rest for those in Ukraine, though. What a nightmare for those people. Wives not knowing when they will see their husbands again as they leave them to fight; children saying goodbye to Daddy; and men waving their loved ones out of the country to (hopefully) safety. Heartbreaking scenes on the news today.

My friend, Kaye, sent us this prayer today:

In these days of uncertainty and fear,
We pray that each of us 
Might again turn to the Lord
And receive God's gift of peace,
Work for God's justice, 
Know God's reconciliation and love
And choose paths, not of hatred or destruction,
Of violence or retribution,
But God's way of justice, mercy and peace.
Amen

Even if you don’t believe in God, the sentiment has to be right, I think.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I don’t see any new data on the government website regarding COVID figures today. Perhaps Covid has given us the weekend off? Maybe. Maybe not. In the meantime, all those who are still infected with the darned virus (including those I know) I say: Get Well Soon!!

We have both worked hard today – labouring at our individual tasks.

John ordered some wood to make window sills for our bedroom (long overdue) which arrived today, so he was galvanised to get on with it. The only trouble was that the space for the window sill wasn’t square and he had to keep going up and downstairs with a very heavy piece of wood to re-shape it and get it to fit. He has finally managed it and now it’s on to the next one…….. I am sure that all that exercise is good for him.

I finally braved the Christmas decorations which were still strewn about in (what was) Andrew’s sitting room. There was a bit of untangling to do, some boxing of items, the removal of objects from one box to another to establish some kind of order – and then the removal of some items out of one of the boxes to carry it upstairs without its contents because it was just too darned heavy!! There was the re-arranging of the loft in addition, of course, into which I was planning to slot it all. I toiled up and downstairs too, but at last the decorations are all back in their home for another nine months before we get them all out again.

Neither of us is getting any younger, and our bodies are telling us so. Today’s activities reminded John that his hip and his knee were a bit iffy and to watch out lest one or the other should give way just at the crucial moment. In my case, it was a spot of arthritis and some ligament strain. As I found out the other day when trying to fold myself into the Harry Potter cupboard, folding myself into the loft and lugging heavy boxes aint as easy as it used to be!!

Other than that, it’s been a glorious day weather-wise. John took advantage and went for a walk this morning while I waited in for the shopping to arrive. My contribution to enjoying the weather was just to look out of the window and note that the bird-feeder is empty. Ah well, I’ll have to fill it up. Maybe tomorrow?

I also noted that the situation in Ukraine is dire and am praying that those poor people find the strength to cope with it all. We watched the news at lunchtime but, after nearly half an hour of Clive Imrie describing the relentless encroachment of the Russian army I really couldn’t watch any more. It is so very distressing.

Take care everyone. Hope your weekend is good for you and those you love.

31,933 people were reported to have been infected with the virus today. 120 people died. 1,169 were admitted to hospital.

Some days
we laughed until we cried, 
other days 
we cried until we laughed, 
either way 
every day
was perfect.

perry poetry

Teeny, tiny hailstones blew hard across the front of the house and peppered us as we loaded the car up with some rubbish this afternoon. We hurried to get the items in, shutting the boot as fast as we could and scuttled back into the house. Oh, now then, would you look at that! The hailstorm had passed. Would you believe it?

“Ready to go?” said John. “Let’s wait a few minutes,” I replied, “the advice is to arrive on time at the Tip – or, at least, not more than ten minutes early or we’ll be turned away.”

We waited a while and set off. Arrived on time and parked up. Guess what? Those teeny, tiny hailstones and the gusting wind began their fun again just as we got out of the car – and kept up their little game the whole time we were out in the elements. By heck, it was bitterly cold and a nice little battle against the wind to drop the items over the ledges into the skips below. Back in the car. Well, what do you know? The hailstorm stopped. Typical, isn’t it? Typical!!

It was invigorating though, I have to say. And we both felt better for having off-loaded some rubbish, expending some energy in the process.

Not only did we have the excitement of going to the Tip today but, of course, it’s bin day to boot. Another bit of excitement…… Heavens, has it really come to this? The highlight of our week? Getting rid of rubbish? Clearly, it has.

At least it’s better than listening to the harrowing news of Russia invading Ukraine, which has been the top story all day. People seem surprised, caught unawares. Should have been prepared, I think, but it’s too late now. Ukraine is a very desirable country to have control of, isn’t it? Our thoughts are with those poor citizens who are now sitting ducks.

Word of the day* is ‘flagitious’ (14th century): unspeakably wicked; guilty of heinous crimes. And empathic sorrow twisting in your gut? That’s to fellowfeel. Anyone else strongly fellowfeeling?

Don’t know what else to say.

Take care everyone. God bless. Hug your loved ones tight.

38,933 people were reported as having succumbed to the virus today. 125 people died. 1,084 people were admitted to hospital.

*Susie Dent’s Word of the Day

We were in and out today, one way and another.

This morning, I had the pleasure of joining a gathering of girls for breakfast at Oakes’ Farm Shop. We laughed about the fact that we call ourselves ‘girls’ because we’re all in our sixties and seventies, but it makes us feel good. The ‘girls’ are all from church and there is a lovely fellowship whenever we meet up, so it was lovely to breakfast together and have a natter. Everyone sent their love to John and hopes for him to feel consistently well.

On my return from filling my face with bacon and eggs, I gathered John up just before mid-day and we trundled across to Heartlands. Today was a radio-active day. ‘Let us inject some radioactive substance into you, John, and then please come back a few hours later and we’ll do some imaging of your body. PS. Avoid children and pregnant women ……’ That puts us out of meeting up with the Kenilworth crowd for a day or two then.

It was a 40-minute journey there; a half-hour session for the injection; then a 30-minute ride home. An hour or so later, we were off again on a 30-minute journey there; a forty minute session for the imaging and a 40-minute ride home. Fun, fun, fun, eh?

Once home, John wondered what we might do, given that it had been pretty much a none-day so far for him. My suggestion of sitting and catching up with TV programmes found favour, so we both sat, droopy-eyed, savouring quiet moments before our evening Zoom gathering for the Quiz.

Quiz Night was very enjoyable and we actually knew some answers to the questions. We were thrilled. We had a good old giggle and chat, and came away from the evening feeling quite uplifted. We were, however, sorry to have Linda and Brendan missing. They are dealing with family illness and its consequences, which is absolutely exhausting – sympathy for them sent across, of course. It’s tough.

The gatherings today followed on from a gathering I had yesterday with some of the college crew. We went across to Kingsbury Water Park, keeping our fingers crossed that the weather would hold. We were in luck – it did. We had a lovely walk around the lakes before sauntering back into the café for a jacket potato lunch. I really enjoyed seeing some of the girls in the flesh and was grateful for their support in boosting my mood. With the sun shining too, I felt blessed.

Strangely, though, as I drove home, I suddenly went very tired and John thought I looked peeved when I got home. No, not peeved. Just tired. We sat and rested for a while and then Michael texted to say he’d pop in with the children for half an hour or so. Lovely – just what we needed. Another little uplift, thank you very much. Mind you, I was reminded that yoga practice is much needed. I had a bit of a struggle to fold myself into the Harry Potter cupboard with both William and Thomas this week…….

Take care everyone. God bless us all as the ‘great mask-less’ movement descends…..

39,656 people tested positive for the virus today; 164 people died; 970 people were admitted to hospital. The ONS reports that the incidence of infection is now 1 in 25. That feels a bit better! Long may the downward trend continue.

Here’s to another week. Farewell to the storms and a warm greeting to the milder and less blustery weather. Although, having said that, it was still pretty windy here today. I was blown to the Post Office and had to hold onto my hat on the way back. But look what I found as I arrived in the village. A pair of grinning postboxes wearing their new berets. Someone’s been busy yarn-bombing!!

With it being Monday, we were both keen to get on. We dismissed the idea of going out for the day and chose, instead, to potter on our little projects. John spent time in the garage – still sorting out his shelving – and having a look at the Lotus to see what might be needed next. I spent time moving items from one place to another…..

One item to be moved was the sofa bed. I had the idea I’d pop it into the dining room temporarily, so I cleared some space in there. All good until the point of getting the sofa out of the lounge. Couldn’t get it through the doorway on my own. I had to ask John to help. At the moment, though, it’s still sitting bewildered in the lounge following its freshen-up….. its move may be tomorrow?

As Spring might be around the corner, my fatigue is waning a bit and I am considering more decorating. What first? The dining room was Andrew’s suggestion as it’s a communal room, and then do the family bathroom, but now we’re thinking about our bedroom. As the sun streams in, we realise the room is getting a little faded and the carpet a touch downtrodden. Plan: re-locate ourselves to our old bedroom, clear the decks in our new one and get decorators in. But can I bring myself to ask a decorator to do what I know I can do myself, eh? We’ll see.

In the meantime, I am still plotting the refurb of the dining room. I have several boxes ready in which to stash my beloved ornaments, Toby Jugs, glasses, tableware and cutlery. Not quite sure where I am going to put the filled boxes though. I mean, the loft is full. As is the garage, the Man-Shed and the front bedroom………

We had a pleasant surprise just before tea-time, which gave us a welcome sit-down. The doorbell rang and it was our neighbour, Jane, just calling round to let us know that their hedge-trimming man is going to come tomorrow to do their hedges and could we open the side gate to let him through, please? No worries. We’ll do that.

Rather than making her stand out in the chill wind, I suggested Jane come in. So she came in and sat for a while in the lounge, having reassured me that she’d done a test for COVID. I opened windows anyway….. But what was surprising was that we chatted and chatted for just over an hour. And I didn’t even offer her a cup of tea! I’d had no idea that we’d be talking for so long. It was a very pleasant interlude, I must say.

A good start to the week for a change. I do hope it continues.

Wishing you all a good week ahead and the going is good. God bless.

38,409 people tested positive for the virus today. 15 people died. 1,294 people were admitted to hospital. And enforced restrictions are at an end on Thursday. Hey-ho.

Thought for the day?

Given the weather, we followed the advice offered by ‘That woman in the dictionary corner’ and ‘snoodged’ (19th century) today – i.e. we nestled snugly and hunkered down for the day.

I had got up at a reasonable time, however, intent on making it to the 11 o’clock service at church this morning, so there was no ‘snoodging’ this morning for me. Fellow churchgoers were very pleased to see me and even the vicar showed his delight in a very broad smile. Everyone asked after John of course, and he featured in the prayers for those who may be struggling – for which I was grateful. Nice to know that others are thinking of him.

John lazed in bed but was up when I got back. He was watching ‘Dragons Den’ on TV but it was nearly finished, so I contented myself with those Sunday treats of ‘pains aux raisins’ and watched the Women’s Curling and victory for GB instead. Hurrah! A gold medal at last.

Paul phoned to tell us that he was on his way with a desk that we’d said we’d have from Harriet’s father’s house. Paul and his mate, Cookie, arrived and duly plumped the desk in place. We now have a spare desk and a spare sofa bed from that space to dispose of. Not sure what we’re going to do with those – advertise them, I expect.

I spent the afternoon fighting with the seam on my coat, which had come apart. I am not a good sewer and it was a fiddle to mend. I was watching trash on TV at the same time though, so it’s no wonder it took such a long time. John spent the afternoon inspecting the back of his eyelids.

The ol’ man did wake up sufficiently to install the new light fitting in the ‘library’, however, and I think it looks OK…… We’ll have to live with it for a while to see.

So – ta-dah! That was us today. Snoodging experts while the rain bucketed down and threw itself against our windows outside.

Hope the week ahead brings an uplift. We could both do with one.

Take care everyone. God bless.

25,696 people are recorded on the government website as having the virus today. 74 people died. 1,280 people were admitted to hospital.

After yesterday’s ‘not doing a great deal’, we had another day of ‘not doing a great deal’. John had a bit of a lie-in and prolonged ablutions, but I got up and pottered about this morning with a bit of tidying round before we finally met up again about lunchtime.

By then, I had sat down and was watching some of the Winter Olympics. John wondered if we should perhaps go out. A National Trust property perhaps? I gave him the book to choose where we might go. “How about this place near Droitwich?” John suggested. A possibility. About a three-quarters of an hour’s drive. We’d get there about 1.30 or 2 o’clock? The place closed at four.

We shrugged our shoulders at each other. Neither of us ‘could be bovvered’. I was still enjoying the Olympics. John fell asleep in the chair. Ah well, may be next week?

In between a bit of shut-eye, John has been battling with putting a new light fitting up in the ‘library’. Contrary to his wishes, I have gone exotic and chosen a fancy lampshade. John was all for matching the lights to the ones in the lounge, but I decided they were old hat.

Of course, nothing is easy, is it? Once we’d take down the old light fitting, we realised that the thing was looped. There were a lot of complicated wires – or so it seemed to me anyway. John tried to explain it to me. Oh heck. Could I do it another time? Not sure I’ll remember…… but at least I know which switch to throw on the circuit breaker!

Anyway, humdrum – that’s how it has felt today. A bit humdrum. So, naturally, John was still itching to do something other than look at our four walls. “Did you get in touch with Pete and Dawn to see if they’re free tonight?” he asked. I hadn’t, so I texted. Wonder of wonders, they were free and not too tired to meet up.

We spent the evening chez nous – Pete and Dawn were anxious that their thermostat might play up, so didn’t want us sitting at their house in case it went cold. Pete brought mulled wine, which was a very clever idea, because it was a chilly night – and it was delicious.

We had a really good time, having a good old natter covering those old conversation chestnuts: politics, the weather, politics, the family, politics….. and how to solve the problem of inequality. No answers – just brushed the cobwebs off old arguments, really.

I am really not sure to what Susie Dent is referring in her Word of the Day, but she always has good reason for putting one out there. Today it’s: ‘supercilian‘ (17th century): a contemptuous or supercilious individual who considers most people to be beneath them. From the Latin for ‘raised eyebrow’. Maybe it will resonate with you if you’ve been watching the news?

Take care everyone. God bless. Hold your loved ones close.

34,377 people tested positive for the virus today, which isn’t the 1 in 20 that ONS still suggest. 128 deaths. 1,280 people admitted to hospital. I am really hoping that the trend is downwards – I might be able to get back to playing badminton again!

So we’re expecting gale force winds overnight and we have a first-world dilemma. Do we put the bins out? Or not? On balance, we have opted to trundle them up the path and hope for the best, but it’s going to be interesting to see if they and their contents have made it into the bin lorry tomorrow morning, isn’t it?

Despite the wrath of Thor impending, we have had quite a productive day today. I finally managed to dig down to the very depths of the kitchen and put everything away that we’d got out at the weekend from the family visit.

John pottered about in his Man Shed and the garage, tinkering with the shelving, and once again, I think it’s gone well, but he tells me it’s slow progress. Once the shelving is done, it’s back on with the Lotus, which has been sadly neglected for the last few months.

We had planned to go over to the Kenilworth Newbies to help with wall-papering, but an early-morning text message prevented it. ‘I’ve got a cough, Mum. Don’t come’ said Michael. Ah…… OK. Fingers crossed it’s just a cold. There’s a lot of it about.

One thing that’s been on my mind for months has been sorting out Mum’s things. I still haven’t finished the job. It’s one of those things that no longer seems imperative, although if I sold one or two things the money might come in handy to pay her pocket money at the care home.

Anyway, I didn’t get that far, but I did sort out a box of papers and put them into piles with labels on: ‘To check’; ‘To file’; ‘For the Family History’ and so on. Now I’ve actually got to check, file and archive the things…..the job’s only half done, after all. Step in the right direction though. Might re-find my Grandfather’s birth certificate if I’m lucky and get it sent to Catherine, at last. Fingers crossed.

What I did find though, was the long-lost voucher John had bought me at Christmas 2020 for star-gazing in Wales. One way or another we hadn’t managed to settle on a date to go last year. And then Christmas was looming and the voucher was about to run out – oh, heck.

I emailed the organisation and explained our situation with the frequent uncertainty of things, to which he responded with an extension on the voucher until April this year. But could I just give him the voucher number? Erm…… couldn’t find the ruddy thing then, could I? Anyway, voucher number now sent and we are hoping to go in March. Keeping everything crossed.

At tea-time, John took himself across to Solihull Hospital for a scan. We are hoping it’s a follow-up from his hospital stay last week and there’ll be something new to tell us soon. We could do with some good news, if anyone’s listening?

This evening was Zoom night with the college crew. All very lovely and delightful to see everyone. There was exciting news – Sue D has booked her flights to Oz; and disappointing news – Sue P didn’t have the much-anticipated weekend with the family she’d hoped for, as COVID hit just beforehand and they weren’t able to come. Everyone has something one way or another don’t they? Sometimes good, sometimes not so. How fickle is life, eh?

Let’s see what Thor offers us overnight…….

Take care everyone. God bless.

51,899 people were recorded as having test positive for the virus today; 183 people died; 1,137 people were admitted to hospital. Not as bad as this time last year.

Today was a quiet day. Another ‘let’s not get out of bed’ day, despite the sunshine beckoning us out for a walk. John was up before me and brought me a cuppa, but I really couldn’t winkle myself from under those warm bedclothes. I finally made it downstairs just after mid-day. On the one hand, I think that it’s a good use of time – to rest and recuperate – but, on the other, I think it’s a waste of time when I could be doing something useful. Life’s too short to be wasting it…..

We thought we’d have another go at the hot cross buns for lunch, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and then John offered to take me to Kenilworth to the hairdressers, which I thought was really kind of him. I was only half an hour, so he didn’t have to wait long.

Once we were back home, John had thought he’d do a bit on the new shelving in the garage but beforehand, he’d have a rest. I also thought I’d continue my rest day and filled the afternoon with watching films and the Winter Olympics. By the time we’d both had our rests, it was tea-time. Doesn’t time fly?

John did go into the garage for about an hour and got on quite well with the shelves. His aim was at least to create space to put the children’s car seats into storage and he’s managed that. I’m delighted. I hope he is, too.

We had the Quiz this evening, which was very enjoyable. Some great debates about the answers – I mean, what would your answer be for how many bones there are on a skull and crossbones flag? We spent ages debating that one, and then got it wrong!

A very quiet day. No doubt the week’ll hot up, but for now I’m grateful for a warm home and a place to relax as the storms gather pace around us.

In other news, Susie Dent offers us our ‘regular reminder that a ‘mumpsimus‘ (16th century) is someone who insists that they are right despite clear evidence that they are not’.

Take care everyone. God bless.

54,218 people tested positive for the virus today according to the government’s summary page; 199 people died with the virus; 1,096 people were admitted to hospital. Soon, of course, we understand that the government plans to stop producing the data for us all to see, so we won’t have any idea of the rise and fall of the virus shortly. And we’ll have to buy the testing kits in due course. Well, that’s one way of keeping the numbers down isn’t it?