Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

I didn't manage to warm up until about 9pm last night, I stood under the shower for ages and put the heating back on. I went into the garden but it seemed too cold for a walk so I didn't leave the house yesterday.  I am going to try and make up for that today.

savingholmes

Glad you put the heating on it sounds like you needed it. Be kind to yourself today. We don't have to be productive every day - rest is good for you. I've had a couple of more restful days where I only took short walks rather than gardening. How is your knitting coming along?

ajmoney

I am finding today really hard. I had an hour zoom chat with my parkrun buddies then came off wondering what to do so picked my flute up but today is the weekend so put it back down after a short time. Followed this by an hour chat with my sister but I feel so alone and lonely today and keep crying. I am feeling cold again but the sun is coming round the front so hopefully the living room will warm up soon, I have a headache too but I think that is from not really going outside, silly but I am sick of being alone and don't want to go for a walk or run on my own. 
I finished my blanket squares but haven't sewn them together yet. I am now knitting squares with the balls of wool I bought when I took it up a few years ago as I plan to make them into a patchwork bag, line it and use it as a knitting bag.

savingholmes

Can you walk or drive locally to a friend's house and have a socially distanced chat in person? What about Mr AJM? Weren't you meeting up at one point given that you both live alone anyway? Could you go for a walk together?  Could you talk to a neighbour over the fence or across a front lawn? Sorry I can't be of more help.  

ajmoney

Unfortunately no one lives close other than Mr AJM, he already had plans to chat virtually with his son this afternoon.  I went out for a walk, it was tough getting out but I am glad I went.  I followed some paths I have never been on before and have seen some others to try at some point.  I have warmed up and am hoping to stay that way now.

A_Frayed_Knot

savingholmes said:

Can you walk or drive locally to a friend's house and have a socially distanced chat in person? What about Mr AJM? Weren't you meeting up at one point given that you both live alone anyway? Could you go for a walk together?  Could you talk to a neighbour over the fence or across a front lawn? Sorry I can't be of more help.  

This is a good idea SH - I took a brisk walk round the area and when nearer home found a lot out in their gardens,

tiding up, cutting grass and just pottering about, it's ok to give a compliment saying they are doing a good job, and what a difference they have made to their garden, keeping your distance, of course.

Not sure your comment about not going anywhere soon, we have the armed forces now milling around, so they have presence in our workplace and I'm sure we will see a lot more in the coming days and weeks.  They have also just

built a make-shift place of rest just about 5 mins walk away from my house !!!

CathT

Am hoping for a sunny day myself ajm as I really feel the cold. Currently wearing a vest top, jumper and hoody! I've got garden jobs to do but it needs to warm up at least a few degrees first. It did feel cold enough to warrant putting the heating on last night but I powered through.

Hope you can get our for a local walk, it's amazing what you can find on your doorstep. 

ajmoney

AFK - It did look like we had been on the brink of doing something, or at least that is what the message sent to everyone said.  Within the management group it sounded like that was being told to keep everyone going!  I have a friend on another base who keeps me up to date with what he knows so I can gauge where support may be required.  I feel quite powerless doing nothing when I have the skills to be able to help somewhere.  There hasn't been anyone in their gardens hence not being able to chat, I do go into the back if I see either of my next door neighbours out.  In the Mr AJM popped around last night, it was nice to have the comapny albeit for a short time.

CathT - I bought some plants in the supermarket the other day which need to go into the garden and provide a bit of interest now the garden is bare from the tidy up.  The weather forecast had originally said warm and sunny for today but that hasn't happened yet.  I am going to go for a run soon to get the blood pumping around and make sure I stay warm and then I will see about going outside.  I normally do the run or walk later in the day to break up the day but I need to go to the shops to get a couple of medical bits so will walk there mid afternoon, twice away from the house but still within the guidelines...I might walk the long way round to the shop.

I got a decent sleep last night which helped.  I know everything is all about perspective and it can be easy to switch this to see the positives but the last couple of days have been tough for this.  I am hoping that has cleared for a bit now.

Suffolk_lass

Not sure if you are on a community FB page locally but there are several people local to us who are offering to collect prescriptions or shopping for anyone who needs something while they are out and about. - I was wondering if this might give you a few more local contacts to be in contact with (if anyone says yes, you can exchange telephone numbers to check if they want anything next time you go?) - I had a call out of the blue from a neighbour asking if I had someone's number because she wanted some plants the other person was growing. Next thing she rang me for a chat last week - it's as though that first contact has given her the confidence to call me, and I am growing her a few seedlings in my greenhouse with spare seed I have. It is rather nice and would not have happened but for these circumstances.

savingholmes

Glad you saw Mr AJM and got out of the house for a bit. It's weird times for everyone but for those of us who welcome structure it can be particularly hard.