Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

The last day off work for a while... I'm back in for the sleep in tonight then on the late tomorrow. I keep checking my email hoping we'll close but we are a way down the decisions list so we carry on. Tomorrow is supposed to be my appraisal but managers have been given another week and mine has a tendency to forget, so I'm not sure. I've emailed him about social distancing but he says he can do it online.

Last night's sore throat was gone today. I don't know if it was tiredness, stress or hay fever but at least it's gone.

I have spent some time gardening and some time cleaning in DS2's room - keeps me busy and I have something to show for it. You do have to do a lot in the garden to make a small amount of difference: last year's cleared patch between the currant bushes was completely full of weeds and now has visible soil but isn't clear. The wheelie bin is already full of garden waste again (as is the compost bin) and I don't know if the tip is still open... however I have contacted a tree surgeon and have a quotation to reduce the level of some trees that were worrying me in the high winds, and it came in just under half what I expected! Apparently he does a good job and he's also agreed to cut the bigger bits to log size for us to dry. He can't start till the health emergency is over, obviously.

Late this morning (when I reckoned rightly that people would still be working) I went for a glorious run: I'm definitely getting faster and this was my first-ever proper off-road one. Much easier than I thought as the field margins are very dry and not too pitted. I'm only on week 3 of C25K so don't go imagining anything spectacular please! Clear blue sky and a lark singing, and only had to divert once for a dog walker.

Our little line of terraces is now a line of home offices as most have people working from laptops and mobiles. DH was commendable and stayed at his laptop all day apart from a lunch break, but followed the sun around the house.  

Tea tonight was a curry: a bit of an invention comprised of leftover chicken (more in the freezer), lots of vegetable bits and pieces and some tikka powder. It worked though we hadn't any yogurt or cream.

All the social distancing is definitely paying off in terms of people round here being more sociable! Those of us lucky enough to have gardens have been out in them and while I avoided our front garden all morning as my neighbour was sawing wood on the path parallel to ours, later in the day when he was elsewhere in the garden we had a chat. Then while I was working in the back garden later my other neighbour came out so I backed away from the fence and talked to her. They and we are all well at present but a former neighbour and a friend both have corona-type symptoms. I have also been texting so many people... but I'm staying clear of all but one news programme a day, and limiting Faceb00k.

So, it's been yet another NSD. DH is thinking about going to the shops tomorrow unless I can find a way to stretch to another day. There are photos on social media of out local Mr T with well-spaced-out queues outside (standing on white 'X'es that have sprung up in the car park) and warning tape on the floor inside to keep people apart. Those poor shop workers - more exposure than some of us in care work, I imagine.

I'm thankful for our beautiful weather, Dh being at home just when DS2 isn't so I don't get bogged down in the silence, keeping our health so far and signs of recovery among people I know who have self-isolated with symptoms, having outdoor space I can use and for lots of laughter last night with my friends.

VelvetFreak

I hope your sore and swollen glands don't amount to anything
Well done to your DS on the move

Cherryfudge

The sore throat comes and goes, Velvet, but is worst at night and not present when I wake which makes me think it may be hay fever. Something to do with where the pollen is in the atmosphere. I'm hesitating to take hay fever tablets as they make me sleepy.

It's Friday and it's felt like Saturday all day as DH is working from home. I went to work this afternoon to find we are down to two clients (only one tomorrow) and the three of us on shift had very little to do. I didn't hear a thing from my manager about the appraisal so I'm guessing he will have a look at it next week. We have had some further clarification to say we will be open as an essential service, but with a hint that someone somewhere is reconsidering who we are open for. We have also heard that a colleague who was working in the unit on Tuesday is now down with suspicious symptoms. It's been impossible to practice social distancing but that was always going to be the case, I'm just doing it as much as I can.

Nothing spent today but my neighbour has asked if we want to add anything to their delivery this weekend. They are very upmarket compared to us but I so want to avoid having to go out or sending DH. Mind you he got a week's worth of fruit and veg this morning before I even got in from the sleep in, so I can't protect him entirely. Anyway we have a list of a few things and I'll contact her tomorrow to see what we can add to their order. People are being very thoughtful and rediscovering (or perhaps having an excuse to practice) old fashioned neighbourliness.

Nothing to report by way of finances or decluttering.

Tonight I'm thankful for a quiet shift, a little more clarification and my kind neighbour.

Seasidegal58

Hoping too that you have some respite from the sore throat Cherry.  A big positive from this whole awful affair is how people are rediscovering neighbourliness. I do hope when things get back to normal that it continues.  I read on other posts how people are talking over garden fences to neighbours that they only used to say hello too before. It reminds me of my childhood!

Cherryfudge

Thanks Seasidegal.   The throat is only very minorly sore this morning - exactly as every day apart from the days when it's 100% fine. I've probably had it a couple of weeks but it's hard to keep track of time when everything is changing so fast - anyway I'm sure it's not corona. From September to December I had a throat infection that finally disappeared when the doctor gave me antibiotics so I suspect it's the same. This doesn't seem a good time to be bothering the doctor with it though!

I have sent my neighbour a shopping list totalling £33.95 but don't know what it will actually come to. DH is still planning to go through the Mr T queue at some point but I think I've persuaded him it will be all right later on when it's quieter. An unexpected benefit is that we are trying different breads when our usual ones are out of stock.

Well, our glorious weather has turned cold with occasional mistings of rain but we are still planning to run before lunch. I hope not too many people choose the same time.

I'm not too worried about work this afternoon with only one client (barring unforeseen admissions) and one other member of staff. Not even any medication to give! I have even plotted how to occupy our time - file audits need updating and it doesn't really matter at this point whose we do - it all saves someone some admin and familiarises us with files. That's something we couldn't really get on with over the winter when we were so stretched.

Good news (of a sort) - DS2 texted to say he is back on the equivalent of his old ward, though being 'sent all over the place'. This means he may come into contact with Covid-19 but not have to nurse people with it. Most of his former colleagues have been put to work on the dedicated ward but as he has asthma, he hasn't. His asthma has never been officially diagnosed but he uses inhalers so they will take that into account. Being him, he would rather be 'where the action is': I think he thinks he's immortal.  

I have just remembered I need to reclaim for two trips to Mum's old house, from the estate, and next week I need to send off a letter to the Council there explaining that the house is furnished but not occupied - they have hiked up the Council Tax massively as it's been empty so long but part of their reasoning seems to be that it's unfurnished - which it never has been. Uninhabitable, yes. Unfurnished, no. I took photos the other day as evidence. Still hoping to market it this summer - somehow. I must also transfer the equivalent to the Executors account for the cash we found in the house and which we will spend as cash.

Onebrokelady

What lovely neighbours you have 😊 the trouble with the younger generation is they do think they are invincible don't they,it sounds like his trust is looking after their staff though 

Cherryfudge

I haven't managed any of my financial jobs. DH and I had a more challenging but not impossible run out in the fields at the edge of town: a chilly headwind and up a hill so we are rather pleased with ourselves! It sounds grim but oddly it's very satisfying and I'm making the most of it in case there are any more restrictions to come. I've also put the freebie 'Premium' of F!tbit on my phone - there's an offer to have it free for 90 days then slide unwittingly into a paid subscription. That's not exactly what it says on the packet but it's quite possible it will happen. I've written on the calendar when to cancel or else pay £7.99 a month.

When we got back from running I found my post on this thread was still unposted so I put that right...

My neighbour texted to say Mr W is restricting the amount of tins and packets so I had to reduce my order by about £10 worth of stuff. It was interesting to find what they sell and don't sell: I couldn't buy brown rice for example. In the meantime DH had to go to the local supermarket this afternoon for the things we wanted and couldn't get. I've tried to look ahead to avoid another trip for a few days. He got most of the things... still no brown rice. I think we have enough left for the near future and there are always potatoes.

Getting into work I found someone would need to go out for shopping but my colleague did a heroic effort and compiled a list for the next few days, shopped and brought it all back on foot. Alarmingly I discovered we are almost out of disinfectant and he managed to get two bottles. I don't know when the official supply will get through but we are supposed to disinfect all handles, switches, keyboards, phones, kitchen and laundry appliances etc twice a day so I went out on a limb and asked him to get whatever he could that said it would kill 99% of germs. We aren't allowed bleach or I'd be asking him to get that. It's a bit alarming as we have industrial supplies and have been trusting those are the 'right' disinfectant; really I don't know what is best to get. Sadly, I discovered a big bottle of our usual disinfectant locked in a cupboard, only to find it's a year out of date so can't be used. At least I remembered to print out a COSHH sheet for the domestic disinfectant so I think I'm covered if anyone is unhappy with my decision.

Work was otherwise very quiet, with my phone pinging from time to time as colleagues carried on an online conversation about the risks of us being open, though we're assessed as an essential service. We have also all been given ID letters to show to Police along with our work badges in case we are challenged while going to work. I haven't actually seen any Police checking up on people but that doesn't mean to say they won't. And yes, I got most of a file audit done as hoped.  

I forgot to record my MS meal yesterday: sausages, bacon, mash, onion rings and a fry-up of yellow peppers and tomatoes. Quite nice and tasty. Then I froze the rest of the bacon as it's been open long enough, and put the mushrooms in my mushroom bag hoping they will dry not go slimy. (It's a light-proof cloth bag that's accidentally given me dried mushrooms before). Today's meal was also MS as we didn't go to the chippy. Instead we had fish and peas from the freezer and baked potatoes with cheese. Yummy. I've taken a cottage pie out of the freezer for lunch tomorrow, used up a banana with porridge for a work meal today and added a bottle of milk from work (donated to work a few days ago by Cost@ when they shut, and now about to go out of date so can't be used at work). I've finished up the yogurt and DH didn't get any from the shop... maybe there was none left. I'm hoping the live yogurt I ordered earlier will come through and I can make some of the milk into yogurt with it.

I can see how food bills are both initially suppressed (we use what we have in) but inevitably rise (we can't necessarily get basic lines and have to buy some things at higher prices). I wonder how long that will go on and how things will change in the long term. I'm still avoiding most of the news.

Tonight I'm thankful for a super run and DH to run with, and the prospect of a hot bath before bed.

Seasidegal58

What a debacle over the disinfectant Cherry!

I agree with you on the increased food/household bills over the coming weeks. I've already well surpassed my normal budget owing to not being able to get what I want basic brand wise.  However I'm saving money on the beauty budget - no nails/pedicure, hair appointments - plus no coffees and eating out for the foreseeable future@!

Cherryfudge

That was the last working day till Friday, and very quiet. Three staff on duty and only one client, so I did paperwork, finished an online course and submitted my timesheet.

More importantly, we had a family video call which was mostly fun and it was good to see DS2 in particular as he's been gone nearly a week and, it turns out, is already on a two-week social isolation because his housemate, also a nurse, has Covid-type symptoms. At the moment I don't think she's too poorly and for DS2 it's precautionary isolation. He's bored which is a good excuse for me to try to keep in touch with him without being the nagging mum!

Finance-wise, my neighbour delivered our share of the groceries - couldn't get flour but we do have cheese, pastry, yogurt, fishcakes, bread, a tin of pears, cereal, sugar, oatcakes... I've paid her and also sorted out a couple of things with my credit card: it's now paid up to date and the link to the account where DH's wages go is removed. He's due one more pay packet unless his bosses step in to say they want him to work from home to manage some of the crisis. It's a possibility as he's said he's willing, but perhaps unlikely as they will need to justify his wages.

I've had my head too full of corona worries and the fast-changing nature of things to make any end-of-year financial decisions, or even to keep up to date on the two courses I'm still enrolled in. I hope at least to do some course work over the next few days and if the weather warms up again, to do some gardening.

I realised I've not opened my purse in about two weeks - there's a first! I am donating a £2 coin and 51p that I found there to the savings collection. I counted up and it's grown to £281.11 - if I can get the info together tomorrow I think I'm going to ring up and see if I can add it to my pension as an AVC. Not in cash, obviously. The cash would form our housekeeping money and the actual AVC would come out of my next pay packet, before tax. It would equate to our housekeeping allowance from tomorrow to 25th April but I am not sure we will actually be able to use it due to restrictions on cash payments. Still, it's doing no good sitting here. I think it's taken about 1.75 years to amass it in odds and ends, but I couldn't have got that in interest on savings - and now I certainly couldn't.

Actually the present crisis is highlighting what's really important: as long as there's enough to live on and people are well, I don't need extra, however nice luxuries are. Admittedly the AVC idea is to improve my very sparse pension prospects but I'm used to living on less than I have now.

Spending
Housekeeping £21.50
MS
Paid my CC so I won't get charged interest (somehow I let that slip last month and was charged £1.49 ).

Tonight I'm grateful for time with family via video and for church online this morning - and a quiet shift.

Cherryfudge

Seasidegal58 said:

What a debacle over the disinfectant Cherry!

I agree with you on the increased food/household bills over the coming weeks. I've already well surpassed my normal budget owing to not being able to get what I want basic brand wise.  However I'm saving money on the beauty budget - no nails/pedicure, hair appointments - plus no coffees and eating out for the foreseeable future@!

Oops, cross posted with you!

I'm hoping the new queuing systems at supermarkets will help even out the demand on goods: a lot of people are understandably put off by the prospect of inching their way round the car park for half an hour or so, especially if it's cold or the person next to them seems unwell. A few people are now saying they've shopped later in the afternoon and found quite a good supply in the shops as staff can restock during the day. When I say a good supply, I don't mean by normal standards - no one's seen much pasta for weeks have they?! - but bread and so forth has been available.
 

And I forgot to note that for the first day of British Summer Time, we did quite well: three Celsius and a dusting of snow .