Month: March 2022

“Grandma…. What are you doing here again?” William said this morning, when he saw me. “Ah…. I’m still helping Mummy with the decorating.” I said, “But I will be going home when I’ve done the papering.” Poor William – we would normally be playing when I see him – but not for the last few days and I think he’s getting confused.

Anyway, I did a reasonable job of the wallpapering in Michael and Danielle’s room, and it looks quite good. Then I came home to write a couple of rounds for the Quiz this evening.

John, meanwhile, was busy tidying and cleaning the house, much to my delight. The only trouble, of course, was that the vacuuming exhausted him, so today’s walk went out of the window. Ah, well, maybe tomorrow?

Quiz night was a great giggle – we all did a round each instead of one person being Quiz Master – and honestly, there were some crazy rounds with much laughter involved. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it topped off what had been a busy day.

Yesterday was busy too. I popped to see Mum in the morning which was very enjoyable as we had a good laugh. We looked at photos of the family again, and I was keen to show her the recent half-marathon event that Michael had been involved in.

She duly admired him with his medal and then admired him still more as she saw him in full running mode – only to say: “Why, he looks really…. you know ……..really….antique!” I burst out laughing. She knew she’d got the wrong word and searched some more in her memory for the right one. “Do you mean athletic, Mum?” She did. “Yes!!” she said, relieved. We giggled for a while together over her mistake. Eeeeh, but it was funny.

I had another full-on belly laugh a bit later on, too. “Do you want a bit of my chocolate?” Mum asked as she offered me some of the Flake I’d taken for her. “No, thank you, Mum. I’m on a diet.” Mum looked surprised. “What ever do you want to diet for? You don’t need to go on a diet. You look alright.” How kind.

Not more than a minute later, as I sat next to Mum and once again refused a bit of chocolate, she looked me over critically and said, “Do you know, I think you’ve put on a bit of weight….” Well, I could hardly contain myself….. Laugh? I should say so!

It’s such fun visiting Mum now, because you never, ever know what she is going to say next. She’s on top form and looking so very well. Blessings, eh?

In the afternoon, I did a spot of shopping – I actually went to a supermarket. Not a bad experience though, because in the Kenilworth Waitrose you can rely on many people to wear a mask and keep their distance.

We were relieved to take another phone call from Graham and Gail in the early evening yesterday. It was good to know that they continue to be safe after the floods, but they tell us that getting supplies is a bit of an issue. The electricity was out for a while of course, which has meant that all the contents of their freezer have gone and now they need to buy food each day.

The town of Lismore has been completely washed away and it’s in a dreadful mess, with stock in the shops damaged and decimated; the streets mud-filled with sludge; businesses gone under; and homes broken and swept away. Fortunately Graham and Gail’s home is OK and the local shop has been able to get some things in, so they’re relying on that, but there’s not a great deal of choice and I think it’s been minced beef three days in a row now. Better than nothing, of course.

I am very thankful for all the blessings of all the days and am busy trying to count them just now, as we see the horrors of war on our screens every few hours. The sun was shining today so that lifted my spirits a little and it made me hope that it will shine on everyone who is suffering, and its warmth translate into people’s greetings to support them wherever they are.

Take care everyone. God bless.

COVID figures are up (what a surprise!) and 346,059 people were reported as having tested positive for the virus over the last 7 days (up 46.4%); deaths reported were 778 in the last 7 days (up 19.5%); and hospital admissions were listed at 8,950 for the last 7 days (up 12.2%).

Well, I am anyway! A roll of wallpaper, of course!

I was up early-ish to go over to the Kenilworth Newbies to get the wallpapering done. Most of the painting is in hand, so I thought regardless of spattering paint, I’d get started on the paper. It always makes you feel better doesn’t it, when the paper goes up?

I managed to do the wall in Thomas’s room and made a start on Michael and Danielle’s. Quite pleased with how it’s turning out, even if I say so myself!

I left John back at the ranch because he was keen to get a bit done on the car. This morning, however, he spent some of his time trying on new clothes that had arrived through the post. All that getting in and out of shirts, trousers and jumpers exhausted him, so he didn’t start on the car until this afternoon. He got a bit done, but is now puzzling over how best to fit the instrument console. More research required, I believe.

At tea-time, I went for a yoga class and left John to cook our evening meal – which he did very well, but we were neither of us overly keen on some of the ingredients I’d given him to work with. The chicken didn’t have that wonderful flavour we hoped for. I blame the coriander.

We continue to be distressed by the war in Ukraine and wonder how it will all end. World War 3, anyone? Thoughts and prayers are with all who are suffering at the hands of a madman.

In COVID news – not in italics as an afterthought today – the most junior Kenilworth Sleath and his Dad have both tested positive for the virus today. Freddie has a cough and a temperature. Not sure whether Paul has symptoms….. he’s not admitting to any yet.

Harriet contacted work to let them know she’d be off because of the situation, but they were not sympathetic. They told her she had to go in and keep the appointments with the people she had scheduled. Ha! You can imagine the reaction of those she had planned to visit? Erm… really? You want to visit us when there’s two lots of COVID in your household? Yes, yes, we understand that your lateral flow test is negative…. but seriously? No, thank you.

It’s bonkers, isn’t it? ‘Living with COVID’ means spreading it around/pretending it’s not infectious or serious/carrying on regardless of others, from what I hear and can see.

COVID is still a risk – even the government admits this – but I do hope the risk isn’t high for anyone I know and love.

The latest government figures show an increase of positive cases of the virus by just over 28% in the last 7 days, with 300,017 people infected. Deaths, however, have decreased by 5.5% and 711 people died in the last 7 days. Hospital admission have slightly increased – up 1.6% – in the same period and the figures show 8,143.

Do take care everyone.

Well, one way and another we’ve put some mileage in this weekend. John was at his finest yesterday – walking two miles instead of one for his ’30 Miles in March’. Then he walked another mile with me today. Packing them in, he is.

I had gone over to the Kenilworth Newbies yesterday to do a bit more decorating, so I left John to his own devices for the day. Not only did he do a long walk, but he went to the shops to stock up on washing liquid and Comfort so that we could do the washing that we’d got piled up in the utility room. Then, he came home and got on with the final window sill – measuring it, carrying it into the garage, cutting it to size and carrying it back again ad infinitum until he was satisfied. Great work.

I had planned to do wallpapering yesterday but, in the end, the paint arrived on the front doorstep before I got started and I decided it was more sensible to paint the walls first, so that the paint didn’t splatter down on the very nice wallpaper that Danielle has chosen. So that’s what I did all day. Fiddled about with a paintbrush and a roller. And William helped once again, too…..

Today, John and I got involved in spectating the Warwick Half-Marathon. We had a vested interest – Michael was running it, so we had a lovely drive round, stopping off in Beausale to catch up with him. I wanted to let him know that Danielle and the children were on their way to see him, too. “I’m not stopping, Mum,” he grinned, as I started to tell him the tale. “No, I know,” I said, “I’ll run with you.” I replied. So that’s how I joined in the half-marathon for a hundred yards, too. Ooh, it was exhilarating.

As it turned out, he was running faster than we could keep up with him in the cars and Danielle just missed him in Beausale but saw him in Budbrooke; while our second planned stop had to be aborted as he’d run past it before we got there. Fortunately, Danielle and the children were there, so he had friendly faces to see on the way.

Here he is at the finish, very proud of his achievement – and his time. I may be wrong, but I think it’s the first time he’s dipped under the two hours for a half-marathon, so very well done, in my opinion. Mind you, I am biased….

John and I were exhausted after our spectating efforts so we crashed out for the rest of the day and ordered in an Indian Take-Away this evening. Lush, eh?

So there we are – Le Weekend est passé. But, generally, it was a good one – for which we are grateful.

Take care everyone. God bless.

…..does you good – and what we fancied today was a trip over to the Kenilworth Newbies to help with their decorating.

Originally, of course, I had allocated a couple of days for this. Hahahaha…… I have no idea why I thought two days would be enough. We’ll still be on it next week!!

I had yoga this morning so was up early in readiness for that. John was also up early because I was relying on him to source the sander in readiness for Danielle (possibly) calling round for equipment, so she could get started this morning.

I toddled off to yoga and had a really good session, but I am expecting to be stiff tomorrow. It’s a while since I’ve done energetic and strong yoga poses. But I was quite pleased with myself because I was able (mostly) to keep up with the class.

Home again and I saw that the equipment we’d fished out for Danielle was still sitting on the doorstep. Ah… she’d not been able to get away from work and call to pick them up. Not to worry, we were on it, and we took them with us this afternoon.

John was on hand for advice and I got started on some of the work. I checked with the customer (Danielle) if she was happy with the fillering and sanding I’d done – knowing that she’d say it needed a bit more of a go. Indeed she did, but she set to and did that bit herself. Whoo-hoo!! And, having brought home some paint for the panelling, she got on with that too. I think it’s going to look fairly spectacular once it’s finished. But there’s still a lot to do……. so we’re back again tomorrow.

When Danielle went to collect the children I carried on painting the panelling she’d started. William came upstairs: “Oooh, what are you doing Grandma?” I told him I was helping Mummy with her decorating. “Well, that’s my roller and tray you’re using,” he said. Ah…….. I had a vague recollection of seeing a photo of him helping Daddy paint the walls in the lounge a week or two back. “Erm…. yes, I think it is,” I said, “Do you want to help?” Daft question. Of course he wanted to help. So William painted the last panel. And a great job he made of it, too. “I’m a painter,” he stated, “I like painting.” Probably takes after his Mum….. I’ve noticed she’s not a bad painter either.

While we were otherwise engaged, John went off and did his mile walk today. I am very pleased with his progress and I think he is, too. He’s done four miles in four days and still has a few miles in the bank in case there are days he’s not able to walk. Ha! Not such an ‘ol man after all, eh?

We stayed at the Kenilworth Newbies for tea and came home about 8 o’clock. “I think I might have a relaxing bath,” I said to John. Yep, good idea he thought. Well, I was in the bath for nearly an hour, soaking myself and reading a book. Hehe. Really enjoyed it. That’s another something I haven’t done for a long time. Oh, yes, a bit of what fancy does you good!

Take care everyone. Hope it’s a good weekend. God bless.

255,864 people tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, the government reported today, and 710 people died. 7,961 people were admitted to hospital in the last week. The official figures are continuing to fall but I am not convinced. There are so many people I know who say they, or a family member, have contracted COVID. Far more than previously. Harrumph…….

How quickly the days and weeks pass. Here we are once again with the emptying of the bins to look forward to – surely it was only a day or two ago that we had bin day? Ah… no… it’s a whole seven days, but I must have blinked and missed it.

It’s been a day of two sorts. John managed his mile (and a half!!) today but not much else, feeling weary after his walk; and I managed a day at the Kenilworth Newbies’ house to do some decorating.

With Danielle expecting and the due date not far ahead, the Kenilworth Newbies are keen to get their and Thomas’s bedrooms decorated before the new arrival. We had agreed that we’d work together last week, but that didn’t work out, so I suggested I pop over and see what I could do today.

It didn’t seem that I did much – I primed the panelling that Michael has installed in both bedrooms – and that was it. I am going back again tomorrow to see what more I can do. I suppose, even if it’s not much, it’s something, which all helps.

This evening, it was a girlie chat among the college crew, which went down a treat. We especially enjoyed seeing Janet’s grandson, Elliott, popping his head into view every so often. Hearing us chatting, with Grandma sleeping over at his house, he was far too excited to sleep!!

There’s still horrible news emerging from Ukraine and there is distress among all those who endure it or see it from afar. Dear Lord, give us strength.

Take care everyone. God bless.

The Covid numbers are still falling: 243,057 people tested positive in the last seven days and 720 people died. 7,7779 people were admitted to hospital over the last week, too. Can anyone do the maths for the daily totals? I dare not, for fear of getting me numbers wrong…..

This morning we were up with the lark and on our way to Heartlands for John’s regular three-weekly immunoglobulin treatment. We arrived a bit late because there are blooming road works all the way along the A452 and then on the A45 into Birmingham. We know that it’s the HS2 shenanigans near us, but quite what they are doing in Sheldon and Yardley we are not quite sure. All we know is that there are plenty of men standing around in yellow jackets looking at holes……

I dropped John off and then drove home. My plan was to do some admin as there are lots of outstanding tasks still, with regards to Mum’s affairs. However, I thought I’d just gather together some decorating items ready for a little fun at the Kenilworth Newbies tomorrow.

Ha! That took some time. I found all the the equipment (bar one item which turns out to be at Michael’s all along!) in record time. But the pasting table had been stored just inside the garage door and I discovered that it was spattered with an awful lot of mud. Probably from when John had jet-washed the drive. The table required a bit of a clean-up which ate significantly into my admin time…..always the way, isn’t it? Ah, well….

I did manage to make my way to the computer and get on with writing a letter, which I was in the middle of when John texted to say he was ready to come home. Ah…. ‘I’ll be there in a bit’, I said… ‘if I can find my way past all the road works!’

This afternoon we took our time over lunch and rested for a while. John rested some more – he is always tired after treatment. The mind is willing, but the body is not. I sorted out a few bits of admin but not enough. More certified copies of the Power of Attorney needed……. a photocopy is never, ever enough… grrr.

This evening it was Quiz Night and I think a good time was had by all. I never know when I am Quiz Master whether I have got the balance of questions right, but we enjoyed the debates and John enjoyed my little trick of squeezing his knee when the team were on the right lines to the correct answer.

Mid-Quiz, Gail phoned. What a relief to know that they are safe. I know it’s not a war zone in Australia but it is a flood zone where they are, and their local town, Lismore, has gone under and given

Hundreds of residents were rescued on Monday as flood waters peaked at 14.4 metres, two metres higher than the previous record. Gail reported that they had had 1,000 ml of rain in the last 48 hours……. unimaginable. Fortunately, Graham and Gail are on high ground so have escaped the serious flooding, but they are experiencing electricity blackouts now. The promise is that it’ll be restored tomorrow. Let’s hope so for their sakes.

I feel overwhelmed. Hardship and difficulties on all sides, with thoughts flying across continents to everyone in need. Let us pray that goodness prevails; that intellect overcomes ignorance; and that wisdom and kindness guide us all in the pursuance of our lives. Let us not have more of the same. No more war. No more natural disasters. No more self-servance.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Covid data was published today on the government website: 236,334 people were reported as having tested positive with the virus in the last seven days. But I wonder how many people are not reporting? There are many who do not report that they have contracted the virus. 651 people are reported as having died with the virus in the last seven days.

Pancake Day!! Gosh, when I was a young ‘un, I used to get very excited when it was time for pancakes. What a treat they were. And still a treat today – except I wasn’t quite so excited. They were still delicious though.

We were not up very early today, given that there was nothing planned for the day. John brought me a cuppa in bed, for which I am always grateful, and I lazed on until about ten o’clock.

We went for a walk this morning, round Lavender Hall Park, taking the long way back. John was keen to do as much mileage as he could, being the first day of his ’30 miles in March’ walk, to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. His idea being, that if he wasn’t able to do sufficient mileage tomorrow at least he’s got some extra in the bank. I have offered to act as walking proxy, if necessary. Fingers crossed he stays fit for the whole of the month, although I have noticed he’s coughing well this evening…..

Once home, we grabbed a bite to eat and John set on with more jobs – mending the runner in the chest of drawers in our bedroom, for one thing. The darned thing had worn loose and finally dropped out last week. Anyway, amazingly, considering it’s such a fiddly job, he managed it. Marvellous.

Meanwhile, I sat on my backside and had a gentle afternoon sourcing quiz questions ready for tomorrow evening. I have gone from preparing the quiz in trepidation in case it’s rubbish, to quite enjoying doing the research. It’s only taken me a year……

This evening, John stayed home and watched some TV while I toddled off to my Bible Study group. I had a very good time among an excellent group of people and came home with lots of food for thought.

And for the next 40 days? Am I going to be giving anything up for Lent? I don’t think so. Currently, anything extra feels a touch too much – but I might manage a few random acts of kindness. Hope so, anyway.

Take care everyone. God bless.

The latest government data regarding the COVID situation is as follows: 231,973 people have tested positive in the last 7 days for the virus; 741 people have died in the last 7 days; and 7,709 people have been admitted to hospital. All the figures are showing a downward trend, so I am keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way despite the lifting of the restrictions.

In the meantime, however, I offer my ‘get well’ wishes and love to all those of my acquaintance who have been recently and unexpectedly diagnosed with COVID. Hope the infection isn’t too horrible and doesn’t last too long.