Diary > Saturday 18th April

[trystan]

A quiet start this morning. It is Saturday after all.

We've almost run out of fresh milk, so I poured in some long-life milk into the milk container. It tastes fine in tea, and it passed the "Sarah tea test" too. She had two cups of tea and didn't remark about anything tasting odd, so that's good. Now I've told her that she's drinking long-life milk today, she's fine with it.

Had toast for breakfast to save what milk we have for supping lots of tea. Hopefully we will have more milk tomorrow (Sunday) when we pick up our "Click and Collect" from Asda.

We drove to the butchers, and even though they would allow two people in the shop at a time, I couldn't see how it would be possible to keep two meters apart, especially getting on and our of the open door. So with the lady in the spaced queue behind me (a queue where there was only the two of us), we agreed we would go in one at a time. So that was good. I stood in the doorway, and gave my order and paid contactless. Even got half a dozen eggs too. Eggscellent !

Came straight back home no dilly-dallying.

It's supposed to rain today, I really hope it does, as our plants need it. Hopefully it will keep more people from going out doing silly things too, and save lives. We can only hope.

Up to Chapter 3 of the book "The Chimp Paradox". I managed to get a copy from abebooks.co.uk second hand. It was recommended to me by a friend who's a retired armed police officer when I told him I was finding the events that we face incredibly difficult. He described the book as "an unofficial police handbook".

Here is a video, by the author describing the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buN1Mju7rjM

So armed with a good cup of tea (yes, the milk is fine), and comfy chair, good natural light from the window, and engaging book I find myself quite content this Saturday.

I hope your Saturday is going well.

[Caw1]

Awoke this morning to a dull and a little chilly. Still we need the rain as you say trystan as the garden looks  parched and new veg certainly need a little dousing!

Ah, the Chimp Paradox.... both OH and I have read it and it's quite frightening how you can identify with a great deal that it says! Interesting reading though in these current times.... hope you're enjoying it!

OH had his usual Zoom with his golf buddies and I could hear lots of laughter coming from the kitchen... so very good to hear we all need the company of others to cheer us up and a change from looking at just one other persons face.

I listened to another talk/lecture from the virtual Family Tree Live.. this one about using DNA alongside your family tree...

Decided that we would order some wine to C&C from Waitrose... it's unbelievable how long it took to do... we have Waitrose partnership account but it didn't like any of the passwords I put in and discovered that Waitrosecellar isn't the same as just Waitrose in terms of accounts....  so had to draw up a new one, once done it then took me two goes to pay... I'd almost lost the will to live and needed a glass of wine! 😤.

Lunch today was very naughty cheese on toast but we felt we deserved it!
Sadly just listened to the news and heard that sadly a further 888 lives lost today from hospital stats... it doesn't seem to be going down....

Heard today a friends mother having gone in to hospital after a fall and developing DVT and infected cellulite at the beginning of April now she's got covid19 and in intensive care, my friends not seen her for nearly 6 weeks as they were in Florida when she had the fall... it's not until you know someone's whose going through it that it really brings it home to you. Ontop of that her dad had a fall and broke his hip and is now in isolation just in case he's got it too!

Well we've got a Zoom with the family later this afternoon to look forward to seeing our grandsons smiling faces... wonderful.

The rest of the day will be ironing, reading, dinner, tv no bed!

Hope you've all had a better day.

Caroline

PS - had a lovely Zoom with the family eldest grandson was busy doing a 500 piece jigsaw that his other granny had sent him for Easter ( I was given strict instructions not to make a special trip to the post office by daughter so a) still have gifts I was sending here and b) felt terrible not sending boys anything 😤☹️) did put money in their accounts though and she got eggs from us for  them.... anyway when I go out on Tuesday to c n c going to go to PO! Then we watched youngest grandson helping dad with drilling and measuring and using level putting in raw plugs to fit new loo roll holder in the bathroom... he did very well... got a bit anxious when he was using the drill ... he was holding it with dad.... but all was well and looked chuffed when the job was done... he's only 4 but is a dab hand at taking things apart and putting them back together! Brightened us up no end to see them all...

[california dreamin]

I didn't sleep well yet again.  I was aware of birdsong quite early but must have fallen back to sleep. Bang! Bang! Bang! - the boiler, followed by the voices of my neighbour and their grocery delivery driver.  Boy, am I late getting up this morning, I must have fallen back to sleep    By the time I got up I had to hot foot it to town.  Mr CD came along today.  His first 'covid' shopping adventure!  I managed to get into the market hall before it closed at 1:00, but so late no fish.  I sent His Nibs off to M&S to get a few essentials bread/milk/chocolate..... we'd also run out of banana's very quickly.  You'd think we had a chimp in the house! Very pleased with the new M&S NHS thank you bag for life Mr CD has bought.  On return home I noticed we seem to have quite a lot of puddings which were not on my shopping list...

I spoke with my friend when I returned from the shops.  I've not spoken to her in sometime.  Her daughter is an ICU nurse so was very interested to hear the news.  It sounds like in the unit where she would normally care for 15 there are about 45.  My friend's daughter said not to worry about her as they have amazing equipment and PPE and she's not worried at all about being exposed.  She tends to work 3 x 12hr shifts and would normally pick up a 'bank'shift for extra money.  But at the moment she isn't as if you are on 'bank' you could end up anywhere in the hospital and it sounds like  the equipment is not as good as in ICU.  Anyway, I thought that all sounded very positive.

I watched a video on the Family Tree Live website about writing up your family history.  A bit of a sales promo for this persons company.  But interesting all the same.  Then back briefly to the Irish.

It's been a very 'dreich' day as my dear old Dad would say.  Having missed my morning walk I have managed a late afternoon one. Very cold.  A mixed bag of park people today. Nothing overly interesting to note.

Perhaps not best advised but I am trying a new recipe tonight.  Mac and Cheese with some flakes of smoked haddock.  I'm not a huge M&C fan but at the time I thought it sounded good.  I'll have to let you know how it tastes!

I'll leave you on this note today:  Leaving town today a shopper called out to our resident 'Big Issue' seller  'All right luv'  His reply. 'Yer gotta be these day'.  Yes, indeed you do.

Best regards to you all,
Stay safe!
CD

[Roobarb]

I'm pleased to report a better day than yesterday. I had slept well, I tend to wear myself out when I get emotional but was still feeling unsettled by yesterday's bad news. Had a good shower, gave my hair a thorough wash and decided when it was almost dry to give it a little blow dry, sick of it being so flat. Did some bathroom cleaning, put some washing in the machine but forgot to turn it on, it's still there waiting for tomorrow.

Went for my walk, quite a lot of dog walkers, among them my next door neighbours. Had a chat with them then the usual zig zag route, didn't get chance to walk through the woods, cyclists again. Yesterday I spotted one coming up behind me, there wasn't a path near enough for me to escape so stood well back among the trees. And stood and stood and stood. He was cycling at a snail's pace, I could literally have walked faster, wished I'd carried on. None of that today, younger and faster cyclists but with the same result - I had to get out of the way.

Came home and had lunch, logged into Rootschat to reply to the people who kindly sent messages in response to my meltdown last night. Phoned my bereaved friend, no reply so left a message. I didn't know if she'd had enough of talking to people or just wanted to be left alone anyway. She contacted me tonigght, had been busy on the other phone and hadn't realised I'd called, she'll phone me tomorrow.

Still felt a bit agitated, went out in the garden, the sun made it warmer than expected, the wind has been chilly but beautiful sunny days. Moved some stuff around in pots, my lettuce seeds have come through, planted some spring onion seeds in another pot. I've always found gardening very therapeutic, it was today too.

Spag bol from the freezer for tea, only one portion left now, I don't have any mince to make more at the moment. I only eat red meat about once a week or ten days so no rush.

Had a long conversation with another friend, she let me pour it all out about what a rotten week I've had. Always feels so much better to talk. Having a glass of wine and watching TV. Wall to wall sunshine forecast again tomorrow, great for the vitamin D levels as well as the other benefits.

Take care everyone.
 
 

[quest40]

Had a lovely day for my eightieth birthday, despite the lockdown! Daughter and granddaughter had managed to buy some flour at last and had baked small cakes, which they brought, complete with 80 candles (no not enough to start a fire, but an 8 and a 0!) and stood outside my window trying to light the candles. The wind kept blowing them out, but never mind!

My careers brought me flowers, chocolates and a card, my daughter got me a subscription to Who do you think you are magazine. My son bought me two books off my Amazon Kindle wish list and more chocolates, so I’m really blessed!

[Roobarb]

Happy belated birthday!    Great to hear you had a good day despite the circumstances.

[*Sandra*]

Had a lovely day for my eightieth birthday, despite the lockdown! Daughter and granddaughter had managed to buy some flour at last and had baked small cakes, which they brought, complete with 80 candles (no not enough to start a fire, but an 8 and a 0!) and stood outside my window trying to light the candles. The wind kept blowing them out, but never mind!

My careers brought me flowers, chocolates and a card, my daughter got me a subscription to Who do you think you are magazine. My son bought me two books off my Amazon Kindle wish list and more chocolates, so I’m really blessed!

Happy belated 80th Birthday. 
Stay Safe
Sandra

[Caw1]

🎉🎉🎉A very Happy Belated Birthday Quest40🎉🎉🎉🍾🥂🎂

So pleased for you that you saw your daughter and granddaughter even if from afar and some lovely pressies too!

Take care and stay safe

Caroline

PS -perhaps you should be quest80 now 😁😁

[california dreamin]

Happy Birthday ! - pleased to hear you had an enjoyable day.

CD