Author: anniesleath@hotmail.co.uk

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?

I was at a funeral this morning, saying goodbye to a former OCR colleague, Amy. No longer being ‘on the circuit’ so to speak, I hadn’t known she’d been poorly so that when she died, it was very unexpected. It turned out that it was unexpected for others too, although they had known that she had been having check-ups to try and bottom out exactly what was the matter with her.

But funerals are funny events, aren’t they? People are sad; some heartbroken; some celebrating the life of the loved one; and some, like me today, just trying make sense of it all and put it all in some order. The funny thing is that it’s an occasion to re-connect with those people you haven’t seen in ages, but of whom you are very fond. And, odd though it may sound, I am very grateful to Amy for the gathering of those people today.

I loved seeing some of my old friends from work. It was delightful to catch up with their lives and to hear how their families are doing. Many of them are now retired (catching up with me) but some are still working – same old, same old – and had tales to tell of how it is now. Oooh, I am glad to have retired.

I came home to both John and Andrew just getting up out of bed. They’d both had a long lie-in and, much to his dismay for having realised too late, John missed a doctor’s appointment this morning for a routine procedure. Maybe tomorrow?

We tucked into hot cross buns for a bite to each across lunchtime and then, not more than a couple of hours since he got up, John had an afternoon nap. Andrew and I pottered about with one thing and another and sat chatting for an hour before deciding it was time for a walk. “Are you coming with us, John?” I asked. Yes, he was – another practice walk for his 30-day stint in March.

With the weather being unpredictable, we set off in the rain. Half an hour previously, the sun had been peeping through the clouds. But the rain soon stopped and we finished the walk under clouds, but dry.

Great excitement as we came along the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ though. As we sat on a bench for a breather, we’d chatted to a dog-walker with two Cavachon dogs, before she walked on ahead of us. Not two or three minutes later however, her dogs were running back towards us, being chased by a much larger dog – perhaps a labradoodle. Tearing behind them and shouting ‘Bentley! Bentley!’, we recognised the dog-walker. Cue: immediate images in our minds of Fenton* in Richmond Park – hehehe!

At first, we thought the dogs would circle back round behind us, but no, they tanked on towards the entrance to the park, the littlest Cavachon yapping frantically. The dog-walker was wild-eyed and panicking as she came running towards us…. “Do you need a hand?” I asked. “Yes! It’s not my dog!” she cried, desperately. I was about to run, but Andrew beat me to it. He thrust the walking stick/seat he was carrying to me and pelted after the dogs.

John and I carried on walking to the next bench. The chasing dog came trotting back to its owner, who seemed not at all nonplussed at what had just happened. It took a while, but eventually, Andrew and the dog-walker came back. The dogs had stopped at the entrance to the park fortunately, so the visions of them running in the road were not realised. But the thrill of it all perked our walk up no end, I can tell you.

I was also very perked up by a parcel that arrived today…. you gotta love that man, haven’t you? Look what he had delivered!

Apropos of yesterday and the fact that I said I hadn’t taken any photos ‘cos I was too busy……. I actually did take one or two. All of the same event, and one of which I share with you here. Chocolate chops, courtesy of Nutella on toast…… I think it’s cute, but you may beg to differ.

Take care everyone. May you all be Covid-free. Get well soon and may your illness be mild, to all those who have recently texted me to say they have succumbed…… God bless.

41,648 people tested positive for the virus today; 35 people died with it; 1,413 people were admitted to hospital. Hospital admissions aren’t going down yet, are they?

*Fenton: if you don’t know it, or want to have another laugh, copy and past this YouTube page into your browser to watch the Fenton clip entitled ‘Jesus Christ in Richmond Park’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRSbr0EYYU

We had an amazing day today. John had suggested earlier in the week that we invite the family round for lunch, so I was game. Then he said, “Let’s invite them for brunch about 10.30-ish for bacon butties and do lunch mid-afternoon.” So I put the proposal to the gang and they were all up for it – including Andrew who drove over from Cambridge, much to my delight.

What a cracking day we had. Everyone arrived about 11.30 in the end, and snapped up the bacon and egg rolls we’d got on offer. “Any seconds?” they wanted to know. Of course, there were seconds – and thirds if you wanted it. Harriet made a big pot of tea to go with them; Paul was my ‘wing man’ taking over the cooking of eggs so that I could eat mine; and we all chattered happily in the kitchen milling around eating our brunch. It was marvellous. Wonderful. Brilliant.

For ‘lunch’ – which was planned for about 4 o’clock – we had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. “I can make the Yorkshire pudding,” Lily piped up, as I started thinking about making the batter. “She makes the best Yorkshire puddings ever,” said Paul. And he was right. Gosh they were good. Not only was she involved with those, but also the cauliflower cheese. She knew how to make a béchamel sauce, Andrew helped, and the final dish was delicious. Another good cook in the family – what a blessing.

I had such a good day today that I didn’t have time to get the camera out. We were so busy cooking and chatting that I don’t have any photos to show for it, but I have had a very nice top-up of happy stuff today: listening to Harriet and Danielle chatting together; hearing Paul, Michael and Andrew reminiscing and planning ahead for some time together; watching the children playing and giggling, making potions, helping to make the pudding, ‘washing up’ and so on. Yep, all good.

John enjoyed himself too, but was interrupted in the enjoyment just as it was about to start. On the doorstep, arriving at the same time as the family, was the Community Nurse. The dogs greeted her very loudly, and John ushered her into the dining room for a chat, so disappointingly, he missed the excitement of the early arrivals.

John was the main man with preparing the breakfast until the Nurse arrived, and after that he was increasingly tired. No afternoon nap for him today with the family around. He managed to watch the first half of the rugby while we cooked the meal, and then the second half after the meal, so he was happy on that count because England won. Hurrah! Mind you, it was against Italy, so we were expected to win, but the team defended well and kept a clean sheet.

It wasn’t long after everyone left that John thought he’d take himself off to bed. He was worn out – he’d played with the children, he’d expended energy on watching the rugby and prepped food, so was exhausted. I was tired too, but I decided to catch up Dancing on Ice and watch a bit of telly.

What a day. It was so delightful to have the family here, after all the distancing. I do hope we can do it again and again. This is how Sundays are meant to be, aren’t they? Family time.

Take care everyone. God bless.

41,270 people tested positive for the virus today; 52 were recorded as having died; and 1,395 people were admitted to hospital.

…….our time away today. Once again we spent ages in bed this morning. There was sunshine, but it didn’t draw us out. Our focus was on the rugby this afternoon – no plans for anything else, at all.

Nevertheless, we got a few bits and pieces done in between times which whiled away the hours. And I mention a few of them, because this is what it’s come to – the thrill of doing ‘every day’ activities. Crikey, who’d have thought taking a delivery of shopping would have been exciting? Or mending a cushion whose seams were busy undoing? Or drying the washing on a clothes horse rather than in the tumble dryer? Or fitting LED bulbs in place of standard ones in the light fittings? Eeeh, but we’ve had such an exciting day!

And, to be truthful, the receipt of the shopping was exciting, because John had done the order and he can never quite remember what’s going to arrive. So, when I found ten, yes, ten bars of fruit and nut chocolate for me, I was very well pleased, as you can imagine.

We enjoyed the rugby, of course – well, mostly – John had his eyes firmly closed for a section of the Wales v Scotland game and I popped to the shops for one or two bits during that match. But the Ireland v France game firmly had our attention, going almost to the last minute of not knowing which side might pull off the win.

On the plus side, I do think John is feeling a bit better. He may not yet agree, of course, but I think his pallor is improved and he has found a little bit of strength, if not lots of stamina yet. For example, the washing machine decided to start walking across the utility room floor again, despite having had its innards sorted out a few weeks ago. It transpires that it was the very same lug falling out that we’d had to coax back into place once before. John was able to pull the machine out, turn it on its side and slot the offending article back into place, before you could say ‘Bob’s your Uncle’. I was well impressed.

Fingers crossed that our days of footling and faffing about, and frittering our time away may soon be over as the Spring rolls into view and John’s strength and stamina improves. Walking a mile a day in March should help with that, don’t you think?

I read somewhere that: ‘happiness is not all about getting what you want, it is about enjoying all you have.’ It would be helpful to me to remember that, when I’m grumbling about my lot and generally feeling the blues, wouldn’t it? Now that I’ve written it down, perhaps it’ll sink in.

Take care everyone. Sunday tomorrow – a day of rest. I’m sure we’ll be taking it easy…… God bless.

46,025 people tested positive for the virus today; 167 people died with it; 1,395 people were admitted to hospital. Better numbers? Yes, of course – fingers crossed they stay that way and reduce even further. After all, who wants to be in the ‘death’ column?

So, here he is, the ‘ol man – all set for March and walking a mile a day to support the Anthony Nolan Trust, T-shirt at the ready. So far, however, he’s exhausted himself just getting the T-shirt out of the box this evening!!

Mind you, we did have a proper walk this morning – another ‘practice walk’ in readiness for the challenge ahead. He’s banking these walks, just in case…. We did a mile round the park, enjoying the seating that every single bench had to offer on the way. Here’s a little example….

It was a beautiful day for a walk today, too, with the sun shining and the air crisp and cool but not cold. We enjoyed ourselves but it took a little longer than we anticipated. I spent a few minutes acting my shoe size and not my age in the children’s park, where they have installed new equipment. Great fun.

We were both supposed to be popping round to meet Harriet at her parents’ bungalow to have a look at a disability scooter this afternoon. I looked at John, settling into his chair, “Are you going to come with me?” Yes, yes he was. I started to get ready; he went to the loo. When I came back into the lounge he was back in the chair, “I’m not coming,” he said. Poor boy – he was too worn out to move. I left him to have a snooze.

Poor Harriet, too. It’s distressing to go back into your parents’ home and they not be there, isn’t it? We had a little weep. But we weren’t there long. We just did what we needed to and came away.

I came home thinking I might do a little sort out of the Christmas stuff which has never actually got up into the loft yet, but by the time I’d sat down and had a cup of tea and a bit of cake and watched a bit of telly, I was grateful that that horrible sensation of ‘doing something’ had worn off and I didn’t tackle it after all. Maybe tomorrow.

I rather liked Susie Dent’s Word of the Day today. It describes my situation exactly. She offers us: ‘arsle’ (verb, 19th century): to find yourself going backwards in a task rather than making any progress at all.

Maybe we’ll have better luck tomorrow. Take care everyone. God bless.

58,899 people tested positive for the virus today, which is good news as the figures are coming down; 193 people died with it; 1,395 people were admitted to hospital.