Get a grip !

Skint_yet_Again

So, the country is now in lockdown. Let’s hope that will shock people into staying in!

Not much has changed for me. I can still go out once a day to walk the dog. I am still waiting for my work equipment so it will be Spring clean Day 2

kitchen 

Clean kitchen window & patio doors

Wipe down skirtings 
Hoover dog carpet & kitchen tiles

*Weed dog patio 

Wash living room throws & cushion covers. 

*There are a few dandelions growing out of the tiniest cracks in the patio & the dog keeps chewing them! I don’t like using spray weedkiller on the ones she chews so I will pour boiling water on them while she is out for a walk with Ds& gf later

ginnyknit

Sounds very organised, remember to have some 'me' time though. We have to be good to ourselves.

Skint_yet_Again

I walked the dog earlier. Saw 2 other dog walkers on the other side of the field & one person sat on a park bench in the sun. All kept our distance. Apart from that the kids play park & streets were empty. 

DS’s gf went to aldi for food & we had almost run out of milk. She said the shelves were full so she got me some fruit & veg, ham, cheese, rice & noodles plus peach juice & hot chocolate. I still have some baking potatoes left from last week, so I should have enough food now. Also got some bleach & washing up liquid. Total cost £17.60. 

The living room throws & cushions have dried outside. Spent a bit of time cleaning and I’ve poured boiling water on the weeds. The rest of the day I have been relaxing watching rubbish on tv 😆 DS gf is walking puppy dog now as her form of “exercise” for the day. 

Skint_yet_Again

DS’s gf said the play park was empty but families were sitting on the field at the back of the park & kids were playing football.

She walked the dog at a safe distance. There were also kids on the outdoor gym equipment 😕

The weather is meant to turn cold by Friday & there is snow forecast so maybe everyone will stay home then!  

DS’s gf got me a replacement lightbulb in Aldi earlier so now we have light at the top of the stairs 💡 

Skint_yet_Again

Feeling a bit low today. I am still in bed. Now more than ever I need to keep active. I am going to have some porridge for breakfast then walk the dog. 

Spring clean day 3 
The bay window in DS room is a bit mildewy. 

-Scrub mould off wall with bleach & water

-Bleach & clean UPVC window

-Treat wall with anti-mould 3 in 1 to stop regrowth. 

Skint_yet_Again

It’s another lovely sunny day. I felt my spirits lift when I walked the dog this morning in the sunshine ☀️ 

We were out for about an hour and I felt better after. It was starting to get busy on the common, a family of 5 out walking, joggers & bike riders and a couple of dog walkers so we headed home. I had to take my coat off it was so warm 😊

I have done my cleaning jobs & washed a load of jumpers which have line dried. 

If the weather is nice again tomorrow I am going to do the gardening jobs. I’ve made a spring clean list for each “room” including the garden. So far I have done 
- outside front of house 
- kitchen 
- DS bedroom 

Food has been ok today 
breakfast - porridge & banana 
snack after dog walk - hot chocolate & biscuit
lunch - stew, apple
snack - 2 crackers sprinkling of grated cheese
Dinner - not sure yet 

Ds’s gf is going to walk the dog soon. I am going to have a nice shower, wash my hair & moisturise my hands as they are getting dry & cracked with all the hand washing. 

[Deleted User]

You're doing so well with your spring cleaning, SYA. 

savingwannabe

Hello Skinty, I haven't been on as we've been transferring to working online and it has been madness!!! Hopefully it will calm down. When I have free time (not much at all really) I am posting on the local coronavirus page to help out where I can. My hands are dry. Steve's are bleeding. I have hardly done anything except work. 
How are you feeling after your fall? Try not to keep the news on all day as it is v sad. Well done on tidying up. Miss you all, swx

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks bln. SW we miss you. Take care of yourself xx My left ankle is still not right & painful to walk on. I am doing some foot stretching exercises I found online on NHS website and trying to keep active. If I sit for too long it seizes up and becomes very painful. I still can’t get my walking shoes on and my wellies are impossible! Thankfully it’s been dry & warm so I am walking (hobbling) in my summer walking sandals which are easy to get on & not so painful to walk in. 

It looks like a nice day again today. Plans today to get in the garden

- weed the patio.
Most of the dandelions have died after I poured boiling water on them. Just 2 larger ones remain so I will pour more boiling water on them today. Saves money on weedkiller and works just as well.
This will only take about 5 minutes including boiling the kettle. 

- cut the lawn. Can’t believe how quickly it is growing, must be all the sun we’ve been having. I have a very light hover mower & any clippings stay on the lawn. This will take about 20 minutes. 

- chop back the bushes with hand shears. I have an old quilt cover I will put down to catch the clippings then they are easy to pick up & put into the green waste recycling bin. Less bending for me & my back. This will take about 20 minutes. 

- prune the roses. I have 2 roses, one is a tall “standard” and one is a rambler which climbs up a frame. This will only take about 5 minutes. 

Most of these jobs will not take long & I spread them out over the day to lessen the impact on my back. When I move I am going to look for a courtyard garden with less maintenance 😆

Skint_yet_Again

I walked the dog yesterday morning for my bit of “exercise” and did all my gardening jobs in the afternoon sun. Also got towels washed & line dried. In between I rested and read my book. I’m almost half way through it now 😁

I’ve just been downstairs for a cup of tea and fed the dog who is now snoozing. DS & gf are on later shifts today so they are walking her this morning and I will do teatime walk.

I can no longer drive with the dog to the common due to restrictions on car travel. Guidance now says we can no longer drive our dogs to parks etc to walk them & must walk from our doors. 

I have been driving to the common which is at the end of our long road as my ankle is too painful to walk there & back again as well. DS & gf will now do the longer walks. We are lucky we have green spaces & the common but although many are in walking distance they will be out of reach for me. I will walk her to the pond & back. I suppose if people have no green space nearby they have to walk the streets with their dog. 

Almost 2 weeks & still no sign of my work equipment. I am on leave / “holiday” after today for 2 weeks. I will try to stay active. 

Jobs for today 
-clean bathroom window which is a bit mildewy. 

-clean bathroom roller blind. Last time I did this I rolled it down into the sink & cleaned it with a scrubbing brush, warm water & bleach. 

-mop bathroom floor 
- spray grouting with bleach & scrub with an old toothbrush to whiten it. 

- scrub shower screen with descaler. 

I am beginning to see bleach is my go-to cleaner of choice 😆 I wear rubber gloves if I am putting my hands in it & I will open the bathroom window for ventilation. 

Had a long chat on the phone last night with a friend. Went outside at 8pm for clap the NHS 👏 and was surprised how many others were out clapping and cheering & there was someone with maracas & a drum and fireworks.