Summary week ending 6th March

[ThrelfallYorky]

It's the very few (accidentally planted - mix up in Garden centre, i suspect) purple crocuses that the birdies go for in my garden, Viktoria. Most of mine are yellow or white, and planted round a raised corkscrew Hazel, visible from the conservatory, and follow the now faded snowdrops. Hyacinths from houseplants planted out seem to thrive. Daffs just starting, further round.
TY

[Viktoria]

Well another day gone by, dull and dark for the most part.
Daughter has the cast off so just a splint and bandage.
The scar is from on the part of her hand where the thumb pad is very rounded to almost her elbow!
Can feel the plate when she moves her thumb - exercises-
she has to do.
It will sort itself out most probably.
Got an email from Age U.K.asking me to  join other people in sending a letter to
Rishi Sunak, re energy prices, but as we are boycotting Russian supplies ( many NHS Hospitals have Russian energy)  it will surely go up even more than the predicted rises.
My screen has split again, don’t know what I do!

Cleaned out my display cabinet today, housing all my treasures , Milestone Wedding Anniversary presents ,little things the children made or ibought ,
A silver ( plated ) tea set we bought my future in laws for their 25th.
MinLaw got fed up with cleaning it ,so gave it to me.
Other silver, some China with sentimental attachments ,a little pot containing a four leaf clover ,we went to Shrewsbury for the day just after we got married ,we went to a nice park,The Quarry ,sat on the grass and looked for four leaf clovers ,I did not find one but OH did.

Pretty presents bought over the years , a few trinkets etc.
A Roman brooch, and a miner’s checking in and out disc, show an interest in something and number two son will find a relevant artefact .
Well ,almost finished a fiendish crossword ,could not remember a word for “ facilities “ on boats, it has come to me—— heads, so I can sort another clue out now.
Look after yourselves folks .
Is Threlfall Yorkie’s post the last one or am I not getting them for some reason ,?
Sleep well,Viktoria.

[mare]

Somewhat subdued continuity perhaps Viktoria with large scale events in places impeding on normality! Nice to read of some everyday happenings and garden delights, your daughter's arm now free of cast …

March has followed February with the daily numbers of infection climbing steeply in NZ and especially since RATs have been introduced widely, hospital admissions and ICU and mortality rates also risen but not so much in comparison with the active case numbers and vaccination percentages are quite high too, delays in testing results for PCR or procuring the RATs have been an issue. The 'mandate' protest and encampment on Parliament grounds particularly dominated our news midweek with extra police enforcement to move them on after 3 weeks since convoy, turned into nasty riot, had become rather feral really with all sorts joining in and adding additional agenda to original 'peaceful' grievances. Borders for travellers opening up and requirements for isolation more free as well, however now residents self isolating are creating staffing issues throughout, deliveries seem to be affecting consumers, schools and workplaces etc. Most things available in my weekly shop this week, noticing an increase in some prices  here and there, bread shelves almost bare of commercial brands but assortment of instore bakery items.

Seems people are more or less making allowances though, I phoned the council earlier today as our rubbish collection was missed Wednesday morning, other side of road was done and assumed it would have already been reported as know other streets have also been affected with shortage of drivers but apparently not, logged in now though for a late pick up! Not worried about my own as very little in it, checked a few times to see it hadn't been added to by others, just very full to overflowing bins further along are very ripe in the heat and a stench to walk past!

Generally days are going by rather quickly for us, winding up the business before the end of the financial year along with usual activities and preparing for testing the market on our property, selling a few things and sorting but not much yet entering the skip!

Looking forward to catching up with family up north for a couple of days before the week is out, facetime them but haven't been together since Christmas week. Older granddaughter has just been invested in to SeaScouts as a Kea, she'll be turning 8 at the end of May and looking forward to being a big sister again early May, little sister will be 2 and a half when baby comes. Not sure daughter will be able to hold out teaching until end of term at Easter, she's been struggling with the heat and humidity of Summer with a mask in the classroom 4 days a week. She's having to take the children outside for singing as that's been too difficult inside, just generally fatigued each day understandably but otherwise pregnancy OK and she's had her regular health checks and booster.

Cheers all for the end of another week and wish all safe and well ...

[Viktoria]

Well a quiet day, sunny then overcast late afternoon ,but got a “ white wash” on the line early and all dry for mid afternoon .

Booked transport to Rochdale Hospital, for a week today.
Eye clinic.

Chat with number two son then number one,good going all in one day!

My screen has split again, not sure what causes it ,usually I can get it sorted but not this time.
Flipping nuisance,!

Shopping tomorrow, not much
needed,freezer full ,likewise fridge but some fresh veg and fruit.
Post letter to Age UK, to be forwarded with millions of others to Rishi Sunak ,re   The Government’s  response to higher fuel prices,Age U.K. sent emails asking for letters that they would forward.
Given present happenings I can’t think there is much that can be done.

Hope everyone is well ,and hopefully conditions in flood areas have eased and all are safe.
Look after yourselves ,we are in momentous times and do things now before you wish you had.
Sincere good wishes to everyone .
Viktoria.

[Top-of-the-hill]

   "This year we are trying Crimson Crush and Cherry sweet aperitif."
 Sarah- I hope you like Sweet aperitif. I grew the two years ago and found them very well flavoured. I did grow some last year, but all my tomatoes were rather a failure; weather all wrong, I think.
   Daffodils coming out, and the white ribes, which has already had the odd queen bumble bee checking it out.

[DianaCanada]

Hope everyone is well.
Only signs of spring here is some meltage around the fences and under trees.  It is supposed to go up to 16C on Sunday but then temps down again, and no doubt we will get more snow. 
So no flowers blooming, probably not until well into April.  It is lighter when I take the dog out at 6:30 a.m., and this morning a cardinal was singing.  They will sing and sing well into summer.
Spent a few days with daughters in Niagara-on-the-Lake, not a lot to do, due to weather and Covid restrictions.  Got lost on the way home, had a nice detour, ha ha.  Stopped at a Walmart where they were handing out boxes of Covid tests.  I did take one I had before I left to go on my trip - the directions were so small and confusing (even with a magnifying glass) I went on YouTube where there was a clear and understandable video. 
Some restrictions were lifted here on Tuesday - no longer have to show proof of vaccine in restaurants, etc.  Had coffee with a friend, first time since omicron hit.  Monday went to the eye doctor, will have new glasses when the come in.  Dark blue this time.  Trifocals progressives and cost a fortune. 
Heartsick about Ukraine.  Canada has the most Ukrainians after Ukraine and Russia.  They have been immigrating here for four or five generations.  My hairdresser is from there, I like her, we will talk and then have a comfortable silence, she’s not one to talk one’s ear off, which I appreciate.  Cuts my hair well, too!  Hard to watch the news and a helpless feeling.
OH is back at curling, happy to be, but seems to have pulled some muscle and hobbling around.  Hope he recovers soon.  He said the hack was wobbly on Wednesday and he didn’t come out properly.  He did go today though, so apparently not too bad!
Sad to hear about floods in Australia and convoy nonsense in NZ, hope both are done soon.

[Ruskie]

Good to hear everyone’s news. Have been doing a bit of reading about the Ukraine/Russia history to try to understand why. Various viewpoints, but none of them justification for Putin’s actions. I think many wealthy Russians are now feeling the pain. Never mind. 

The cleanup continues here. We had a storm on Thursday morning which hampered cleanup efforts for many. Mainly cloudy days with a little sun and quite humid. We made a few trips to the dump on Wednesday. Next we need to hire a ute (utility vehicle - with open tray) and make a couple more trips to the dump after removing some wood chip panelling - something we’d wanted to do for years but had never got round to it. Many boxes of children’s toys, lego, toy cars etc all needed rinsing and put out to dry. Time consuming. Am managing to get some washing done and dried.

Still a lot to be done, but taking this opportunity for a good clear out, which is quite satisfying. 

[Roobarb]

Just popping in to say hi, nothing much to report. Went to the pub the other night, that was good. Very low infection rates reported here, I know a lot of people are not testing now but I assume that situation is the same throughout the country so the comparison still stacks up well.

Sorry to hear about the situations in Canada and down under. I hadn't realised that you had such a large Ukrainian population there Diana. Hope the weather settles down for you Ruskie and you can finish your sorting and drying out.

[Viktoria]

Did my bit of shopping this morning ,had a good laugh ,just by chance spoke to someone I had not met before , he just happened to say he had met two people he used to know when he lived in Manchester,the Gorton area.
I said my friend at College lived in Hyde Road near Belle Vue Zoo and fairground .
We vied re who was born in the poorest area-I won, he did not know you could get mugged by Nuns  and  Police dogs  would only go in threes!
( actually that was another area a bit nearer M/c town centre ).
Got  chatting about the shop my friend’s parents had and some spectacular baths that have been saved ,wonderful glass abd tiles” Gorton Baths “ and
the  Belle Vue Aces ,the Speedway team .
Had laughs about the area where I / he lived ,the industry etc.
Then on the outdoor market a man was singing the Willy Nelson song” You were always on my mind” just to himself ,so I joined in ,his wife was having a good laugh .
I knew them as regular shoppers and visitors to the Church Saturday coffee mornings .
The stallholder joined in too, just a moment’s madness to counteract the  other  madness going on.
Charity boxes in Tesco for Ukraine,cash and goods - alongside the boxes for
families struggling here.

Checked on Morning Service time tomorrow,11. O’clock..

A most beautiful bright day ,just dusk now.
Off to have a shower and do my hair so no one tries to take me back to the institution !

Thinking of so many people and hoping all comes well especially for those  in Ukraine, those fleeing there and not forgetting Afghanistan .
 Look after yourselves folks.

Viktoria.