Category: Uncategorized

Lazy morning. Neither of us wanted to get up today. I sat reading my book until almost mid-day, and John, who had opted to sleep in the spare room as he couldn’t sleep during the night, slept on this morning until about eleven.

My philosophy was to just let the day unfold. Not to go at it hammer and tongs like I usually do, but to allow the day’s vibes to wash over and take me wherever it led. That’s why I was still in bed!

We finally got ourselves up and were pulled into those activities that were on our minds. Having cleared the area off the lounge to create a library, we found all sorts of bits and pieces that needed some attention. Last Christmas we had had Sky Q fitted. The engineer didn’t take the old stuff away with him, so it’s just been lying around on the floor. Anyway, it transpires that we can send it back and we could have made the engineer take it all away with him at the time. Ah well. So John spent ages researching that, and then parcelling the things up to take to the Post Office. Not that we got to the Post Office today, mind you. But the parcel is ready.

I chose to run a few errands and ….shhh….. don’t tell John….. think about what to do on Saturday. I certainly don’t want it to be an ‘ordinary’ day for him, so I am thinking hard. But there’s the Grand Prix Qualifying and the Autumn Nations Cup on TV especially for him on his birthday and to keep him happy, even if there’s nothing else….

Last time he had a ‘big’ birthday i.e. when he was 65, he was ensconced in hospital, which wasn’t ideal. Michael suggested that he is avoiding the big occasions. Some of you may remember we had a 25th Wedding Anniversary celebration without him, too…… and now, it seems, he’s orchestrated a national lockdown to avoid having a party. Honestly, the extremes some people will go to…..

Once I’d finished doing my thinking, I decided I’d have a go at sanding down my father’s old bookcase ready for painting the same colour as the recently donated one. It’s a beautiful, oak bookcase that my father made when he and Mum were first married – tenon and groove joints and everything. It was also varnished and a bit treacly-looking. I wasn’t keen on man-handling the thing into the garage to do the job, so thought I might do it outside on the patio. Only to be thwarted by rain. Had to do the man-handling after all.

And, would you believe it? I thoroughly enjoyed the work. Firstly, of course, I was using one of my favourite tools – John’s flat electric sander; and secondly, it was my Dad’s carpentry that I was fondly and closely working with. It felt good – and, wait for it – almost as if I had his approval. Had a lovely half-hour or so in the garage – just me, my Dad’s bookcase and what felt like my Dad’s spirit.

I might have mentioned that I am bit messy. As well as a bit forgetful. I might have mentioned that I got more paint on me than the things I was painting yesterday. I didn’t mention that I hadn’t put the lids on the paint pots properly – or at all, it transpires…..

As I walked through the kitchen, there seemed to be a bit of chuntering. On rounding the corner, John was there, in the utility room grovelling on the floor. Oh. Paint everywhere. He had, apparently picked a pot up that had been on top of another pot, and the lids were insecure (or non-existent) and, in the movement of lifting, paint had poured out all onto the floor. I wasn’t in his good books, so I scarpered and ran. A bit cowardly, eh?

Other than that, the wheels are in motion for a birthday cake – you can’t secretly make a paleo birthday cake, can you, really? So I had to admit what I was doing this morning, as I weighed out all the fruit to soak in alcohol for a rich fruit cake. Marvels of marvels we actually had (nearly) all the required ingredients. Normally when I am prepping something like that I have to shoot to the shops two or three times for an essential something or other.

There was one ingredient missing though, and that was an orange. The recipe calls for the zest and the juice. So, rather than make a trip to the shops (weighing it up – essential trip out? Or non-essential?) I rummaged in the cupboard and found some candied peel which, finely chopped, I thought would make a good substitution for the zest. We did have orange juice, but far more importantly we had some Cointreau – that’s a good substitution for OJ isn’t it? The concoction is sitting soaking up its alcohol as we speak. It’s going to be yummy!

A good day, all in all, on a local level, but still the figures for the viral infections make sober reading. 21,350 people are confirmed as infected, with some of that number being people we know. It’s awfully close to home when your friends’ loved ones fall ill, isn’t it? And they really don’t know where they have picked the infection up from, having followed all the rules. Our prayers, thoughts and all good wishes are being sent across the miles to them over the next few days in the hope that they recover well and quickly.

In terms of deaths with COVID as a contributory factor, there have been 194 people who have died in the last twenty-four hours in the community, and 133 in hospitals on 7 & 8 November.

Take care everyone. Enjoy the week as it unfolds. God bless.

Remembrance Sunday. A day when we would normally stand, with many others, to be grateful for the ultimate sacrifice our forbears made for a free society. I did stand, and I did remember them – but not with others, of course. I was on my own in the lounge.

And, to be honest, it felt more poignant today than ever. Perhaps it’s because we are more aware of how the world lives, in our own country and abroad, with newscasters streaming scenes from far-off places in ‘live’ newsfeeds on our TV screens. Perhaps it’s because we are aware of the acute differences in society and the tribalism that leads to war. Those uber-egos, coupled with perceived rights, which forget the cohesiveness of humanity and strength in togetherness. Kindness. Humility. Sharing. Qualities that many have, but seemingly not enough among those in leadership roles, just now.

But today is another day and a new dawn, so we can hold on to the hope that there will be peace, and not strife, for our future generations. Conflict? No thanks. Give me harmony any day.

In terms of harmony, I bring your attention to my current project. More painting today, harmonising the ceiling, the wall and the skirting board to the bookcase I finished the other day. And, I have to say, I think it looks okay. I am quite pleased with it so far. Next step: paint another bookcase the same colour to match. Then perhaps paint the chest of drawers. I have a lot to do.

I did find time to pop round to Mum’s today though – the first time in about ten days. Strictly speaking, I suppose, we have formed a bubble with Mum this time around since we’re not allowed to meet the kids and their families, and I do need to call on her to drop shopping or washing in. But equally, I am a reluctant visitor because she has carers in three times a day who could be bringing anything in with them. I am still paranoid that I’ll take the bug back to John……

She was well, however, if very forgetful. I was only there about an hour and a half, and she must have said at least half a dozen times, “Oooh, it’s getting dark early today, isn’t it?” I nodded in agreement every time. Bless her.

I was able to share with her all the photos that have been sent through of the family in the last couple of weeks and she absolutely loved that. “What a good-looking boy, isn’t he? Freddie?” Yes, Mum. “Ahhh, look isn’t he a good-looking boy? William?” Yes, Mum. “Oh, look, isn’t he a handsome chappie? What’s his name?” This one is Thomas. Oh, yes. “And this one? “That’s Alexander” Ah. I think the babies were interchangeable in her mind. But she was thrilled to see all the family, including a fabulous photo of Graham and Gail in Oz. And she laughed out loud at the picture of us all on the one WhatsApp screen, when we chatted altogether the other night.

John, in the meantime, spent time in the garage. Mostly, I think, still tidying up and trying to sort it so that tools are to hand, so to speak. We are so very messy. I think I have managed to paint more of myself and surrounding areas than the items I was actually supposed to be painting today. And John manages to put tools down and then be unable to find them. “But I put it down just there” is a frequent cry as we search and search for stuff. Well, to be honest, that’s the same for me too…… now, where did I put that dratted screwdriver?

In terms of the virus, it’s a weekend, so one never knows the accuracy of the figures, but they were down – 20,572 people having been confirmed as infected today; 156 having died in the community and 98 in hospitals on 6 & 7 November.

Hoping you all have a very good week ahead, whatever you are doing. Peace be with you and all those you love. Pass it on.

It’s been a painting sort of day today. And John has been on the computer researching special equipment to help me make a nice, neat edge between the wall and the ceiling. In the end, crazy ideas and crazy prices later, I said, “I’ll just borrow Pete’s Peter Painter, again.” He has a lovely little device, with little wheels that run along the wall/ceiling, that I borrowed before when I was doing the kitchen. Let’s not spend any money on a new-fangled thing, eh?

So, the wall-to-ceiling bookcase is finished. The ceiling above the bookcase has had one coat of paint which may be enough. The skirting board and the wall behind the bookcase have had one coat of paint and will need coat number two tomorrow, when I should get on quicker. I won’t be stopping every five minutes to watch the news.

I was like a cat on hot bricks. What’s the latest in the USA election? The figures stayed the same for a long time: 253 to Biden; 214 to Trump. Pennsylvania, what you doin’? Who you votin’ for? As it turned out, I missed the moment of excitement as I was in the middle of a very tricky bit of the painting exercise, so it was John who said that the result was being announced. I was a bit disbelieving, because the vote count hadn’t/hasn’t finished. But everyone’s celebrating anyway. Well, 50% of the American population is celebrating, the other half is litigating.

It’ll be interesting to see what unfolds. The Democrats are not so much our friends it seems, so the ‘special relationship’ that we need so badly now that we’re out of Europe may not be so ‘special’ after all. Difficult times ahead for the UK? We’ll see.

In between the excitement of the election over the pond, John was tackling a broken cistern in the bathroom. The thing had decided to give up the ghost the other day, so John rummaged for spare parts in the garage (or was it the man-shed?) where he found a brand new replacement piece. Yay! That’s good news. Something is going right for once.

He dismantled the cistern, I cleaned it all up and then the moment of truth: would it all go back together and work? Ah…. no. That brand new replacement piece wouldn’t seal. Oh dear. So, I know it’s lockdown but John had to shoot out for a ‘click and collect’ piece of plumbing from Screwfix. This time, the brand new replacement piece did seal and it looks like it’s fixed. See? It went right in the end – and the ol’ man is useful after all!!

Later on, we had a lovely time this evening chatting to Pete and Dawn on Skype – during which Pete said ‘yes’ to me borrowing the Peter Painter piece of equipment. Thanks, Pete. Walls and ceilings – watch out! Here I come!

The Skype session got off to a bit of a stuttering start though. Like last time, we were late to the party as John’s laptop really didn’t want to play. We spent a good while looking for the mouse, to start with. That had gone walk about. Once it was found, John logged on (although it’s still a bit slow) and attempted to find the Skype app. Ahhh….. the menu wouldn’t load up. No Skype app to be located. Nope. No matter how he tried nothing doing. Frustrated, we ended up in the computer room upstairs instead, and…(drum roll) I managed to log into Skype all by myself. (Does a little dance).

And, other than that, there is really nothing much else to report. The family have been in touch – Micael sent us a video of William in his birthday suit which he was refusing to change and made us all laugh – ‘a rare sighting of the lesser-clothed toddler’; Paul sent us gorgeous photo of Freddie, who was a picture of concentration, and Andrew said all was OK in Cambridge (phew!). Christiana joined in too – she’s loving the baubles that Danielle is making and is planning to order one. Hmm…. I think I should, too!! They are very good. This one’s a cutie, don’t you think?

And so to the reason why we’re all cooped up (in theory anyway – we seem to have been out through one cause or another……. ) – today’s figures: 29, 957 people have been confirmed as infected today. That’s almost 30 thousand people!!! And 413 people have died with the virus having been mentioned on the death certificate. 170 people have died in hospitals on 5 & 6 November. Numbing numbers…..

Take care everyone, God bless.

We had to go over to Solihull hospital today and it didn’t seem very much of a ‘lockdown’ to me. Lots of cars on the road. Although, it has to be said, we weren’t in an area where there’d be lots of people so I don’t know if it was busy with footfall anywhere.

The visit to the hospital was for a CT scan – John was in and out in no time at all. They have got these things down to a fine art these days, for which I am ever grateful. The appointment was at seven o’clock at night – which I am amazed at – so thank the Lord for those people who don’t mind working late. In the ‘olden days’ you couldn’t get an appointment much after about four o’clock. It’s a positive change for us, the ‘punters’, but not so good for the staff, I suppose.

I had forgotten that John wasn’t allowed to have anything to eat two hours beforehand, so we ended up eating late this evening at about half past eight. Guess what we had? Pumpkin!! And it were luvverley!!

Earlier in the day, I had got up at a reasonable hour to get on with my painting and, I am pleased to report that the bookcase is finished! I think it looks OK too, so I am pleased with it. Took me all day, mind. As I hadn’t quite finished the first coat on a couple of shelves yesterday, I had to do those first this morning, before starting the second coat on the other shelves. Then I had to wait a little while to allow the first coat to dry on the ones I did earlier on before applying the finishing touches. (You get the gist….) But it’s done. Yay!

I started emulsioning the ceiling too, but we’ve got some weird staining that’s broken through the plaster, and no amount of paint is going to cover it. Not sure what to do about that – although John says he’s got some ‘special stuff’ that might do the job. I’ll try that tomorrow.

John, in the meantime, browsed the internet for a variety of goods today, some of which he ordered and some of which he didn’t. Then he spent some time on the sofa having a little snooze. He really wasn’t in the mood to do anything much, although he did say on a couple of occasions, “I really must get on.” but I am not sure what he had in mind, although it was clear that motivation took a back seat today.

We have been mesmerised by the election in the USA – transfixed by the news which we have had on, wall-to-wall and all day – and stunned by the statements coming out of Trump’s mouth. We all have our own opinions about what is happening and what the truth might be, but really, even his own aides and fellow Republicans are showing signs of exasperation now. It’s a fascinating study in self-belief, owner’s rights and lunacy, as far as I am concerned.

The election has taken over as the main news on every channel it seems, with the COVID situation taking second place. However, there are still concerns about the incidence of infection, not surprisingly, with 23,287 people having been confirmed as infected today and 355 people having died from it. Tragically, three people from the same family in Wales have died within a week from the virus, which is so very, very heart-breaking. 153 people have also died in hospitals over the previous two days. and, of course, more to come.

Our own coughs have abated so fingers crossed we aren’t sickening for anything. I’d be devastated if we caught anything now after all the care and attention we have paid to keeping scrupulously away from others, with mask-wearing and lots of hand-washing. Still, I am not thinking of that. I am thinking of all the decorating I am going to be doing and how thrilled I will be when it all looks lovely, just in time to receive our new three-piece suite. Oh, hang on, Thomas Hearn has just written to say, sorry, furniture might be delayed…….ha! well, there’s a surprise.

Enjoy your ‘stay at home’ time over the next few weeks everyone – I’d be interested to know how you all spend it, if you have a moment to spare to drop us a line.

And in my moments spare, I am trying to think up exciting things to do in lockdown to celebrate John’s ‘big birthday’ next week since we can’t have a party. Suggestions anyone? Oh, and thank you for the pumpkin recipes…..

Take care and God bless.

It’s Day 235 since we shuffled to the back of our cave in March. Came out of hiding a little bit in the summer months but we’re back to it again today, with the first day of lockdown number two, in response to the second wave of COVID-19 infections.

In the absence of a shopping delivery, however, we were forced to go into Solihull this morning to ‘click and collect’ from Waitrose. As it turned out, it wasn’t too bad at all, parking in a space for the disabled, whereupon John produced his badge to authorise our stay, and in we went. A minute or two to wait while the customer service assistant sorted out a chap in front of us and then it was our trun. Off she toddled and brought back a trolley full of trays, the contents of which we offloaded into the car and that was it. Easy-Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

I know it’s the beginning of lockdown, but we made a detour on the way home via Sutton to drop off packets of nappies that we’d got in with our shopping. The Sutton Sleaths were running low on supplies, there being no deliveries and them not wanting to venture to Asda if they could help it, so we added nappies to our list. Danielle slipped out of the house with Thomas in her arms, opened the boot, grabbed the nappies and there we were. All hunky-dory and no harm done.

Home and a bite to eat, before it was decorating and DIY time. John nipped upstairs to fit a new blind to the computer room, much to my delight. We had had a roller blind at the window there but the sun streams in, and so we have to keep the blind almost permanently pulled down, making the room a bit dark. I was so delighted with the venetian blind we bought for the kitchen that I suggested we buy the same for upstairs. And it is fabulous IMHO (in my humble opinion, for the uninitiated among you…).

And the last trip out was a drive over to Paul’s to grab a roll of wallpaper that was surplus to requirements chez eux so that I now have all the essential things I need for the decorating marathon I am planning over the next week or two. Well, maybe month or three……

And then I started painting the top coat on the book shelves. Another coat to go and then they’ll be ready to use. However, it’s one of those…. we will have to unscrew the book case from the wall again, so that I can paint the wall behind it. Oh, and while I’m at it, I’ll need to do the skirting board. And, of course, there’s the ceiling to paint. Crikey, there’s such a lot to do! Where to start, eh?

John offered to cook the evening meal for which I was grateful. I was nearly at the finishing line with the painting, but I could feel myself getting slapdash, so I abandoned it in favour of eating. Always a good move, I find.

Naturally, having sat down on the sofa, we weren’t so keen on getting off it again then. But we had a fabulous interlude, face-timing the Kenilworth Sleaths so that we could join in with their firework party. It was lovely.

We ended up watching a programme about an unsolved murder and then, because we couldn’t fancy much else on TV I had a look at the films and, to my surprise and delight, we were able to tune into ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood’ starring Tom Hanks. I had been keen to see the film at the cinema, but with one thing and another we hadn’t got there before they stopped showing it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but John was a little bored and gave up half-way through. He’s in one of those funny moods – neither here nor there really and a bit pissed off with feeling breathless – and so indulged himself in all those lovely ‘no-noes’ – wine, chocolate, cake and, did I spy the empty peanut butter jar in the washing up bowl? He enjoyed the treats anyway, so that’s something.

In other news, we have relieved the Sutton Sleaths of one of their pumpkins which they had no time to carve at Halloween. It is huge and bigger than my head! Mind you, that’s not difficult….It is sitting on our table and we are busy researching a thousand and one recipes now to use it up. Any suggestions anyone?

Even more exciting news, is that the goldfish bowl that I let the Sutton Sleaths have, now has an occupant! Allow me to introduce…….drum roll….. not a goldfish but a firefighter fish. And his name? Marshall, of course!! (Paw Patrol…… for those wot don’t know.)

Well, that’s better than COVID news, isn’t it? John and I have both been coughing a bit today and hoping we’re not going to be a statistic – the likes of which are: 24,141 people confirmed as infected today and 378 deaths in the community; 143 deaths in hospitals on 3 & 4 November. Let’s look at the fish instead, shall we?

Look after yourselves everyone. God bless.

It’s Day 234 since we went into hiding in March. People have been to rescue us on many occasions and will do so again, but will the world ever be the same? Watching the scenes and listening to the rhetoric over ‘the pond’ in the USA, I am beginning to doubt it. The world is shifting…..

Today has been peppered with newsflashes of who might or might not be winning the two-horse race over in the USA to elect a new President. Predictably, Trump is crying foul because he is not yet in the lead, claiming that the voting was fraudulent. It’s a little bit scary how he wangles things to his own advantage and I am not convinced he won’t yet to do it. I’m watching with bated breath. And, whoever wins, I think there are likely to be riots.

In the meantime, we are continuing with our humdrum lives here, anticipating lockdown at 00.01hrs tonight, Thursday 5 November, not having had our firework party. In the end, I transported the finger rolls and sausages for the hot dogs, the toffee apples and the Bonfire cakes to both the Sleaths in Sutton and Kenilworth so that they could have their own jamboree in their own back gardens at their leisure.

John wasn’t feeling so good this morning, made miserable, I think, by the re-visiting of the ‘stay home’ order and the constant attention by the medics. He took yet another phone call today from the radiologist at Solihull very kindly inviting him to attend another something or other – x-ray, CT scan, MRI, who knows? We have no idea what it’s in aid of, but needless to say, he’ll be there at the appointed time of 18.55, and we’ll look forward to finding out the results in due course.

John decided he’d come with me on the trip to Sutton because he’d got a desk to deliver over there. Danielle is making lovely trinkets and needs a good wide working area – we have a desk spare, so off it goes to its new home. The only trouble was, we couldn’t really get it in the car, despite it being in three pieces. “You’ll have to put the roof down,” John declared. So I obliged, and we slotted the pieces in onto the back seat. We turned the seat-heating on to full, switched the blower from AirCon to Heat Up and donned warm clothing before we set off, roof down, on what seemed like a little adventure.

Thankfully, we arrived all in one piece and much to Michael’s surprise. He hadn’t known we were going over, as I’d made the arrangement with Danielle. Hearing the dog barking like mad, he came up from his office at the bottom of the garden to investigate. “It’s only us!” Crikey, I feel like we’re in a bit of sitcom. We’ll be ‘yoo-hooing’ next!!

Desk safely delivered, baby Thomas cooed over and a quick cuppa later and we were back on our way home. John was a bit more cheerful. It’s all about purpose isn’t it? We had had a purpose and achieved it. We had a delightful chat (yes, honestly!) to Thomas who continues to ‘talk’ to us and grin and chuckle at us, which filled our souls with love. We had an equally delightful chat with Michael and Danielle which satisfied our intellectual needs. And I’d had the double bonus of already having been to Paul’s and been filled up with all that love and brain stimulation there as well.

So we went home cheered up. Once we were back, John busied himself preparing the evening quiz. I busied myself inspecting the back of my eyelids again. I had been watching the election unfold but I’d clearly got bored and my eyes drooped and there I was, asleep.

Had a lovely time with everyone as we did the quiz this evening. John was Quiz Master and he set us some questions we’d had before, some we really couldn’t answer and some that were controversial. All of which made for an enjoyable and varied evening. The question on our lips, as a result, was: Are masks effective in preventing infection transmission? What do you think, folks? Are they? Or not?

Whatever the answer, I’m still wearing mine. I don’t want to be a new statistic nor infect anyone I love. And the statistics, today, are that 25,177 people have been confirmed as COVID-19 positive and 492 people have died. Sorry, I’ll just say that again….. Four Hundred and Ninety-Two people. As someone said – that’s a jumbo jetful of people who’ve died from the virus in the last 24 hours, not to mention the additional 156 who died in hospitals on 2 & 3 November.

So, apart from having to ‘click and collect’ my shopping tomorrow as there were no delivery slots, we are not going out. I have bought enough paint and wallpaper and wallpaper paste to keep me going for months, and we have a list as long as your arm of the jobs that need to be done here on the Forth Bridge – oh, sorry, I mean, here at home.

God bless. Look after yourselves – don’t become a statistic if you can help it. Please.

This is Planet Earth. The Sleath household currently occupying a little plot of land in the United Kingdom and Day 233 of our battle, as a nation, to oust the dreaded lurgy by staying at home, washing our hands, wearing masks and keeping our distance to keep safe. Two days before the next ‘stay at home’ session.

I was keen this morning. Got out of bed relatively early and got myself up to the church hall for a yoga class. Thoroughly enjoyed it – even found a few core muscles which I’d mislaid during lockdown. As before, I wore my mask throughout and stationed myself by the open doors, to keep any stray bugs at bay. Nobody laughed at me.

This was the first yoga session of the new half-term. Sadly, it’s also probably the last. Sports activities are denied in the next ‘keep yourselves safe’ month, so no more physical, face-to-face classes. We are going to have a go at Zooming the classes instead, which will be fun. I am expecting to be able to motivate myself to do those. Couldn’t self-motivate at all when they were on YouTube, even though the ones I did download were very good.

While I was out, John took himself down to the local surgery for a blood test. He walked down because I had the car. I took pity on him though and, after my class had finished, I drove down to the surgery to meet him. He didn’t know I was going and he was very relieved to see me. He was just weighing his options up as to which route to take – the hill-climb, or the round-the-Wrekin route; he wasn’t sure which would be the easier, but neither seemed tempting.

I am not really sure what either of us did this afternoon. I know I did a lot of faffing about. In my head, I was going to tackle all sorts of things, but I felt tired and couldn’t get going. John did some sorting in the garage, some computer work and some tidying of ‘stuff’. Having disposed of the spare desk in the soon-to-be library area just off the lounge, there is an excess of all sorts.

Just before lunch, Danielle called in to collect some bubble wrap that I’ve been hoarding for years. She has designed some lovely gifts for Christmas and is selling them on her newly set up Etsy shop. She has had quite a few orders and is starting to parcel items up to send off. Thank God for a hoarder, is all I can say…… plenty of packaging material here, folks.

For all my faffing about I did do one or two things: I made the final touches to the front door – the paint, having dried, wasn’t going to be spoiled if I cleaned the windows. So I got on and did that and then re-hung the curtain. I prepped lunch and our evening meal – which goes without saying, I suppose, but takes time and effort and thought. I also sifted through a very fat folder that I had brought home from Mum’s to see if there was anything in there that she needed, or whether I could chuck it all out. It was, of course, the latter, so that’s all ready to go in the recycling bin (which is currently full, so I shall hopefully sneak it all into the neighbour’s bin when it’s been put out onto the pavement on Thursday night! Tee-hee!! Did a bit of pot-washing and pot-putting away too, as well as washing clothes. So, although I say I faffed, most of it was useful faffing.

We had thought we might have a pre-lockdown family get-together tomorrow with fireworks, since Bonfire Night is now cancelled on Thursday. So I sped round to the shops to buy sausages and finger rolls and toffee apples in readiness. However, it transpires that one of Paul’s colleagues has been in contact with a positive case of COVID, so we thought it best not to risk it in the end. I am bitterly, bitterly disappointed, but know it’s the right thing to do. The food has now been shoved into the freezer awaiting a defrosting of the restrictions in a month’s time, and hopefully we can do it then.

It was Bake-Off this evening, and I was so disappointed to see Lottie go. She was my favourite and I was hoping she might even win. Ah, well, got to pick another winner now! Afterwards, John decided he’d have an early night, but I stayed up a bit to watch some of the USA election discussions. With the results even more unpredictable than the UK ones, I decided to give up not long into it. What a lot of hot air there is about it all. Whatever happens though, Trump will be the headline, I have no doubt.

Talking of hot air, there’s a lot of it in relation to whether or not the COVID infection rates really are going up or whether it’s all lies. With 20,018 people infected today, 397 dead in the community and 139 dead in hospitals in the last couple of days, I suspect the rate really is continuing to rise and the decision to keep us all close to our homes is probably the right one.

So, take care everyone – it feels like the lurgy is lapping at our feet. God bless.

It’s Day 232 since we first locked down in March and shielded. Now, we are just being very careful before lockdown number 2, starting this Thursday.

Having managed to do my blog early yesterday I was in bed and tucked up before midnight. I had switched the light off and might even have been asleep before the bewitching hour, for a change! Certainly, I slept well (although John didn’t) and I woke up quite refreshed for once this morning.

First job was to nip over to Coventry to Mum’s house to do the annual inspection. Mask on, two metres apart and windows open. All good and it took all of ten minutes. Fingers crossed that the tenants want to stay there for the foreseeable.

Just as I was on my way there though, the phone rang, which I couldn’t answer as I was driving. However, when I checked later, I saw that it was Harriet, letting us know that Freddie was hankering after a picnic in our back garden this afternoon. It was an INSET day and he was at a loose end. Well, I wasn’t going to say ‘no’ was I?

Once I was home, I cleaned up the windows in the front door after my little painting job yesterday and then we had lunch before the Kenilworth Sleaths arrived. I had thought I might phone them to say “It’s raining, here in Balsall Common,” but in the end, decided not to. And I am glad that I didn’t because the sun came out and it was absolutely wonderful out there.

To be fair, it was drizzling a little when they arrived, so the picnic was taken in the porch with the door open. Bless him, Freddie nipped to the loo and ended up with his jumper and jacket adrift from his trousers. With his back to the door and the draught seeping in, he said, “Brr… I’m cold!” No wonder. Trousers were pulled up to meet the top half of his clothes, which warmed him up and no harm done.

With the picnic eaten and drinks drunk we were pleased to see that the clouds had galloped away and the sun had come out, so we hot-footed it into the back garden. There, we wandered about as we do, admiring the fishpond, fishing out the duckweed and the seemingly millions of leaves that had drifted into it, checked on the stones that had been previously gathered and so on. We ended up half-way down the path and were just stood chatting exclaiming at the mounds of leaves on the ground, when I decided to grab the leaf rake and the ‘big hands’ and we started to gather them up. Freddie was in his element. He absolutely loved it. He was beside himself with excitement at finding all sorts of bugs and worms and things under the leaves, and was very busy using the ‘big hands’, then a specially-devised tub to gather the leaves and put them in the compost heap. We really did have fun.

We ended up near what Freddie calls his ‘tree-house’ and found a fair few dry twigs lying about, so we gathered them up too, and decided to light up the chimenea. That took a fair bit of doing and Grandpa had to come to the rescue as the twigs were clearly not quite right for kindling. But, you know, it was so beautiful to watch Freddie helping to light the fire and get it all set up. Reminded me of when the boys were little and did the same thing.

The adults were chatting by now and Freddie was getting bored so started being a bit daft, so we played a game of ‘chase’ round the garden. That was great fun too. And it struck me, as we were giggling our heads off at each other, that all I had heard all afternoon was Freddie chuckling or being positively excited at the afternoon’s activities. A game of Freddie roaring at me, and me pretending to be frightened, had him chuckling so hard and with such a belly laugh that it made me chuckle too. Oh, such bliss.

Just after four o’clock though, I thought we should call it a day. I wanted to shoot over to the paint shop to pick up my order which had come in. I also decided I needed to get the paint and wallpaper for the lounge in before lockdown as you never know whether it’ll be easy after ‘D’ day, do you?

We didn’t do much this evening although John has been busy sorting out the ‘office’ area in the lounge, where we had two desks and now we only have one. He dismantled one of them the other day in order to streamline to area so that I can have my library. Ooooh, I am so excited! It’s been a dream of mine for ever and I am hoping that the dream may now come true. We’re working on it any way.

On the COVID front 18,950 people have been confirmed as infected with the virus today and 136 people died from its effects in the community. 109 people died in hospitals on 31 October and 1 November.

Stay safe everyone. The nasties are out there to get us if we’re not careful! God bless.

It’s Day 231 since we first locked down and shielded in March 2020, and it’s four days before we go into ‘lockdown number 2’ on Bonfire Night.…..cue The Archers music……

I didn’t get up awfully early today, still feeling grumpy from yesterday’s news, but once I was up I didn’t feel too bad after all. I was too late for church, although I had hoped to go, as services are ended for a month after today. However, my bed called me and it was too cosy to get out of. That, despite the fact that, at six-thirty this morning, I was awake and had opened the curtains to enjoy the sunshine streaming in. Unfortunately, I fell back to sleep and the sunshine went away, leaving me to wake up again at nine o’clock. A bit late to scramble myself out of bed and get ready to go out.

The plan was to do some painting today – two lots if I could manage it: the front door and finish undercoating the bookcase.

It turned out that I couldn’t manage it. Just did the front door. Not too bad at all, but…. you know how new stuff contrasts with old stuff? Weeell, the door looks sparklingly white, but the architrave looks exceedingly scruffy now. Might have to tackle that next. Eeeh, it’s like the Forth Bridge here!

That is my only achievement today, other than popping to the shops for something for tea, cooking food and tidying round a little bit. I had thought I might go to Mum’s but I decided today wasn’t the day. Might go tomorrow. We’ll see.

After I’d finished the painting I had a bite to eat and shot round to the shops. Then I did that fatal thing of sitting on the settee for a while. I nodded off. John thought it was funny that I seemed to still be watching the wartime film, ‘Reach for Skies’ but in truth, I was inspecting the back of my eyelids.

John did some clearing up too and had another go at finishing sewing the cover for the patio table. It looks like its done now so it’ll go on the table tomorrow, in the daylight. Our eyes are so dim these days that night-time encroaches on any visibility, and we are stumped.

This evening we watched Strictly and Top Gear, and bemoaned the howling wind wrapping itself around the house and whistling down the chimney and slipping in between the gaps in the doorways, rattling the doors and their handles, and whispering through the rafters. The house is better than it was though, since we had new windows last year, so we don’t feel the draughts quite so badly now. But under the circumstances, bed is calling early tonight. Hibernation beckons with my ‘head in the sand’ mode now that ‘freedom’ has been snatched away again for a little while. Especially as it sounds exceedingly stormy outside. We have resisted the temptation to light a fire though – saving that treat for another day.

In other news, Andrew reports that his COVIID test came back negative, so that’s a relief, but that he is likely to be made redundant under the lockdown situation. That’s naff, isn’t it? I am waiting to hear exactly what his work will do……. but no work equals no pay, I think, so he may have to come home again until things ease off.

And talking of COVID – 23,254 people have been confirmed as infected today. 162 people have died in the community and 107 in hospitals on 30 & 31 October.

In the meantime, take care everyone. God bless – and I leave you with a poem that I thought says it all just now, from the Yorkshire Poet, Ian McMillan:

TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND LISTEN
Behind closed doors
A closed tear falls.

Behind closed walls
A closed smile paused.

Behind closed mouths
A closed song fades.

Behind closed eyes
A closed hope dies.

Day 230 since we locked down in March 2020.

Yes, yes, I know it’s not the actual situation or circumstance that makes you feel like this. Of course I realise it’s how you respond to a situation or circumstance that dictates your mood. I do understand that the external state of affairs can’t be changed. And I honestly recognise that how I perceive conditions in current society is personal, and not necessarily real. But it’s not making me any the less angry. Or upset. Or irritated.

Slam. The door, that was only an inch open anyway, is now shut. And if you talked to me this evening, I gave you short shrift. Sorry about that. But there we are. With apologies, but hope you can take it on the chin. As I should also take the latest announcement – on the chin and be gracious about it. But – for a nanosecond I wasn’t, and couldn’t be.

I opened a bottle of Prosecco, but funnily enough, all that alcohol didn’t help. Just made me more and more maudlin. The thing is, I think the fact that Boris kept everyone waiting and the plans were announced by Robert Peston on Twitter, hours before, is what got my goat. As if we are but nothing. And I know I have said this before but it is so redolent of Animal Farm. Nothing to see here, folks. I said what? No, no, you are imagining it…… these are the rules. They were what yesterday? No, no, you got that wrong. These are the rules. Do as we say, not as we do. Next!!

Anyway, rant over. Up until this evening it was a very good day.

The rain was being hurled against our windows early on and I dreaded the worst on the overflowing gutterings. However, it didn’t really last that long, and the very severe wind, having blown the rain hard, eventually blew the clouds away, revealing the most glorious sunshine and cracking colours. The trees, and the leaves that had been buffeted from them onto the ground below, swirling from the maelstrom into cosy corners, were aglow wherever you looked. Just stunning, absolutely stunning.

I made the trip into Kenilworth early on this morning to collect a coffee table I’d ordered, putting me in a great mood for the rest of the day. I even managed to buy one of the grandchildren’s Christmas presents while I was out, too. Once home, John helped me pop the table into the lounge and then it was ‘settle down’ time for the Grand Prix qualifying, then the rugby. Wales vs Scotland (we wanted Scotland to win), England vs Italy (we wanted Engerland to win), and Ireland vs France (we wanted France to win, but by not too big a margin). Our prayers were answered and lo, and behold! England won the 6 Nations Trophy. Great whooping and hollering in our household.

Before we actually settled down though, we had a glorious half hour with Freddie and Paul, unexpectedly – on the premise that it might the last chance for a while. I had just arrived back on the drive from my little shopping trip and who should pull up on the drive too, but them? How very, very lovely. Just calling in after swimming. We went out into the back garden and had a bit of a mess about there and a cup of tea but, more importantly, we sorted out some sweets for socially-distanced ‘trick or treating’. “Come on, Freddie, let’s tie the packets of sweets to the back of the chair.” Freddie was a great help. Although it was weird. A couple of packets seemed to need opening for trial purposes to make sure they were OK and up to the task of the ‘trick or treat’ evening ahead. Funny that. Fortunately, both the Maltesers and the Haribo were deemed quite satisfactory.

Having said farewell to them, we scooted back into the house. John to watch the sport and me to prep lunch before I started painting. Plan: paint the front door. Yes, I know I am half-way through painting the bookcase, but this needs doing too….and I’d like to get my curtain back up, thank you. So, I got all my bits and bobs out and then opened the tin of paint. “D’you know what, John? I don’t think I’ll have enough paint.” How much had I got left in the tin? About half an inch. Best go and buy some more then. Which I did, of course, but which meant that I was rather late doing the painting…. it’ll be interesting to see how it turns out in the morning, won’t it?

Having completed the painting for the day (it needs a second coat tomorrow) I got our evening meal ready and John suggested I might like to watch Strictly. Well, yes I would, but I am happy to watch the rugby too. He insisted, so I didn’t argue although, of course, we had to wait until Boris had finished his little spiel. We sat comfortably for a while until I thought that really John would prefer the rugby, so let’s watch that. So we mixed and matched our evening viewing interspersed with me getting ever more grumpy as the evening wore one. Ah well, tomorrow’s another day, so perhaps I’ll view it all in a different light then. Fingers crossed. I enjoyed both the rugby and Strictly though, so that was something.

21,915 people were confirmed as having contracted the virus today; 326 people died from it in the community and 150 people died in hospitals on 29 & 30 October. And Andrew’s COVID test was inconclusive so he’s got to do it all over again. Watch this space.

There is nothing to say that hasn’t already been said about the stats, is there? So I won’t, having had a good rant earlier.

In the meantime, take care everyone. God bless. Thinking of you all, such very precious people.