Flying solo

missrlr

Hey Robin so very lovely to finally get back on here and find some enthusiastic and upbeat posts from you. Exactly what my doctor would have ordered if they have psychic powers!

Glad CD is doing ok as well as you and El Divos

Thanks for the uplifting posts and much needed boost for me!

Sun_Addict

Echoing what missrlr has said - so glad you're sounding more like the Robin we all know and love

*Robin*

Dear Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Can't seem to settle down to anything, so let's try update Draft #4 in between small tasks.
1. Chop veg, put on soup o' the day.

The season has turned; beautiful bright days filled with flowers and birdsong - most precious time of year, which makes the freezing winter nights and blasted heat of summer worth the effort of being here.
Apiarist brought more new hives - CD and I have had a constant steam of buzzy visitors investigating the Nest all morning. They're very well behaved when shown the window, but I had to change my top - they were too interested in the colourful stripes of m' first choice, lol.

A less welcome visitor turned up too. Luckily I'd wandered outside before CD, so found him in her favourite drinking puddle before she met the danger. Definitely a shy character, he hurriedly waddled to the back of the pond and squeezed into a tiny gap behind the pots.
Too much to cope with first thing, having only supped on [hopefully] cholesterol-busting salty, lemony water, so shut CD inside the house while I showered, trying to remember where the toad-catching kit had ended up?
Another look convinced me to abandon the method used in previous encounters with Bufo Spinosa - this fella is just too big!

Fortuitously, DS3 arrived while Muggins was still wondering whether the hoover could be used as a safe - both to toad and self - restraint device during transfer to a suitable box?
A quick glance revealed that NGF is highly Bufonophobic - she retreated to the other end of the house with an abrupt scream, poor lass.
But Divo Three was up to the task, in fact he couldn't wait.. Adorned in a fetching pair of marigolds, he carefully lifted the beast out of it's refuge without prompting panic or poison-squirts. The box I'd prepared was only just big enough - which tells me Bufo's body is 20cms long (that's 8" - pretty enormous!).
NGF reluctantly agreed her car could be used as transport (after checking there's no way the box-clasps might accidentally unlock!). ..By now Bufo will be enjoying his new life in the river-bed, from whence I sincerely hope he does not return!
2. Put on a load of washing.

Funny thing about the washing machine: Honestly, all I did was to look to see nothing mechanical was jamming it, wave a multimeter vaguely over the circuit board, then check all the little connector-thingummies were shoved hard together.
Amazingly, the machine appears to be working properly now.
3. Bring in last load o' dry washing. Decide none of it needs ironing, put away.

This is working. All items in blue done [so far]. Soup isn't bad; creamed chestnut and broad-bean.

Divo Three is coming to take us out, because the commercial world is about to shut down for Easter. Says he needs to keep the van because he's collecting / sorting out the rental visitors tomorrow. <sigh>
On the plus side, he's offered to cook Easter lunch (which is why shopping was suggested; am pretty short of all veg except broad-beans, artichokes or onions from the garden, lol). A quick inventory of the freezer produced a leg o' lamb which will do nicely, and there are enough chestnuts left for a nut loaf (I'll bake that ).
4. Hang out wet washing. - Fail.

Today:
Well, that's as far as I got yesterday before DS3 arrived. He'd caught the sun while helping out a mate whose worker had let him down. No longer used to physical labour, short of sleep and food, nevertheless DS completed an expected two days' work in one go. Fair play, [ :T ] but he was staggering!
I drove. Something has gone wrong with van's seat mechanism, so yours truly felt like a hobbit peering over the steering wheel; not pleasant moan moan. One of the tyres looks soft too moan moan. Poor DS3, he has many talents, but mechanical ability isn't one of 'em.

In the euphemistically named village supermarket, Divo Three was suddenly surrounded by excited, chattering women. Mystified, I joined a queue and watched as they raced around the three short aisles, resembling nothing so much as a proud flock of hens devoted to their handsome cockerel! :rotfl:
Luckily the fuss died down before I had too much time to think about that(!). DS rejoined me and then pointed to a couple of gaps on the dry packet shelf.
"Look there. They've bought the lot!"
White flour, wholemeal ditto and dried yeast were all missing..?
"Tomorrow I've promised to show them how to make their own bread," Divo Three said. "We're doing a workshop in the Mayor's Room" (=community hall).
Since Village Baker retired, anyone who misses the mobile chappie's somewhat unpredictable visit has no alternative but the aptly named "Bimbo" - mass-produced, preservative stuffed, plastic-wrapped, white sliced cotton-wool. Folk used to 'real food' are not impressed - hence the interest in Divo Three's bread-making skills, lol.
1. Hang out the ruddy washing - it's going wrinkly in the basket!
2. Give CD her pills and ham. Take mine (without ham).

Am much better at ensuring CD gets her supplements than taking my own - really need to pay more attention to this but tend to forget until migraines or black dog take over. Stupid woman.

Missrlr thank you for posting again! Been thinking about you a lot, trying to send supportive vibes across the ether.. Very much hope your troublesome ankle is mending at last, it must be sooo frustrating for you!

Still haven't sorted out an ISA. Maybe putting it in blue will help:
3. Banking!

Another money dilemma has raised it's head again (well, several actually). Largest two are money out - my nemisis; a reprise of T2's desire for new windows. Much more alarming, the possibility of money in - T1 is really keen to buy DH's flat. A quick look on R!ghtm0ve sent me into the garden, where weeds felt the brunt of my unease and thankfully, meditation calmed the crazy thoughts for a while, at least.

Choices, choices. Facts:
A. Am living quite comfortably on the rent.
B. Flat would be worth double if updated / prepared properly for sale (T1 prefers as is, private sale no competition).
C. Could invest proceeds in another property - student let for DS4 and two or three others?
D. Terrified would go wild, wasting too much £££ on fripperies - that's my pension!

Sun.A thanks for your post too, which put a smile on m' face..
You've got a similar dilemma in whether to do up your place or move, haven't you?
Must say, I love living in a bungalow at homehome - there's no way I could have looked after DH in a two storey house, and hopefully it will also be a final refuge for m' own dotage.

4. Loyal Companion would like lunch, please!

Late lunch, we haven't caught up with the clock change yet.
Better post this before taking her out - or another day will go by. We're going to collect the rest of Late Neighbour's oranges, because the trees are already flowering - scent drifting in the breeze is divine! - it's better for the trees to have the fruit gone by now, and nobody else wants it.

Nearly forgot:
Spends - £30 groceries, £15 'phone creds, £20 DS3 shortfall at checkout.

Still haven't done today's 3.

Knit_Witch

Wow *Robin*! err I am shattered on your behalf (and I hope Divo 3's bread making class goes well!)

grannyx2

I love your posts, always so descriptive I feel like I'm right there with you x

Happy Easter from sunny Oz x

Bubblesmum

Happy Easter :easter:

Can smell the bread baking.... I hope you had some

Last few posts really uplifting... Hope you have a lovely family day today

*Robin*

Belated Happy Easter to all MSEers, :icotbaske

Knit_Witch wrote: »

I hope Divo 3's bread making class goes well!

Hello Knit Witch, yes Divo Three's workshop was a roaring success. :T
CD and I walked along the ridge where there's a view down to the Mayor's Room; it looked like a full scale party was going on with folk milling around, they'd even had to borrow extra tables to put outside the hall! :rotfl:
At the moment the village is bursting at the seams with extended family who moved away for work; as many as possible return 'home' for Easter, so lots of the visitors joined in too - not just women and children, but also a fair number of men who didn't have anything better to do (watching and drinking beer, :rotfl:).
Apparently everyone's bread was delicious - not a single bun was left over (so no, Bubbles, I missed out but don't mind - taught DS so know well how good his bread tastes ).

One of the things that is really attractive about campo Spain is the community spirit. It's actually not unusual for impromptu events like this to spring up for the enjoyment of all - the day after bread-making there was communal tree-planting, then at dusk on Good Friday the local drum band accompanied Jesus' statue on it's circumnavigation of the village (accompanied by masked penitents and a large candle-carrying audience). That is an annual event of course; haunting to watch, surprisingly moving..
On Easter Day itself someone organised a giant Easter Egg hunt in the orchards around the village - altogether a very refreshing DIY attitude. :EasterBun

Muggins almost missed her Easter feast - woke up with blinding, puking migraine which took all day to shift. Eventually a second batch of meds achieved verticality and clothing, but with an unwanted side effect - I was high as a flamin' kite!
CD wanted her walk so we set off, and by the time we got to the gate I decided driving was possible.. It's not far, no-one else was on the road so we made it to the Old House in time to claim a portion (couldn't eat last night, but have just enjoyed it for breakfast! ).

Divo Three and NGF did a magnificent job on the grub. As it turned out all the guests were omnivores so m' chestnut loaf wasn't missed, thank goodness. The rental visitors were there; fascinating, intelligent people - am so glad I made the effort to meet 'em, and hope they'll become regulars (as many do ).

Granny! :hello: Your happiness at being with DD shines through your posts - wonderful, so lovely to see.

Money stuff: Sorted out '14 - '15 ISA in time, and helpful FD lady suggested it would be a good idea to put in the new year's allocation now - then the balance will be high enough to earn a smidgeon more interest - so sort out ISA is back on the To Do list.

But not right now, because a local Lad is at the Nest today moving soil around, and starting to prepare the newly rotavated parts of the garden for planting. Don't want to breathe down his neck, but feel I ought to show m' face and clear a space for more rocks - where I'd like to find 'em - ready for the next section of wall building.

joeyjimbles

I just had to post and say thank you for your wonderful diary which I have read in its entirety all the while marvelling at your wisdom, humour and grace to get on with it all - not matter what 'it all' might be.

Like many of your regular contributors, I too hope one day that you will write that book, and many more, as you would have another confirmed reader in me.

missrlr

Happy Easter m'dear.
We had a quiet one here but lots of memories.
Ankle is slowly improving under the watchful eye of my Physio but it is taking (as predicted) a long time. I would rather spend extra time now and have years of use without further issues so that is the plan.
Am spending quite some time massaging the scar, which is more problematic than the bone thing in terms of pain.
Am trying not to spend money on anything at the moment. However best laid plans and all that.
Very pleased you managed to get the various tasks done. Re the ISA you should be able to just pay into the one you have set up already for this year? Do bank transfer tomorrow and bingo?
The community spirit you describe sounds very refreshing and certainly something that is wickedly absent for what feels like most of the UK. glad your weather is improving we are suffering with strong cold winds but it's nice behind glass!

Brightspark87

Robin, I love hearing about your adventures, especially the bread baking super star son! Sounds lovely. Glad you and CD are well x