Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I still feel refreshed from mine, SA, though it was over 12 hours ago! Not so refreshed I won't sleep tonight, but there is a distinct improvement from non-running days. Apparently running speeds up the metabolism for something like 18 hours!

Jobs all got done apart from the online course, so I'm pleased. DH went to the supermarket again (£18.69) then had to go back for ink for the printer as we have some forms to fill in. I don't know how much they were.

DS2 went cycling with L after quite a long chat in the garden with me. Nice to have time to catch up, and I may get a walk with him tomorrow as he's still on days off though he's back at his place now.

My manager rang to offer me three weeks in a different care home so I'm going to say I'll take it. DS2 worked there and DFiL stayed there for a few weeks and I know they're always short of staff. Me going there should be useful to both them and me and also to my colleagues who are worried about having to go into new settings. I'm wondering if, once the three weeks are up, I might even end up staying a bit longer rather than move people round again, but I can't make a judgment about that before I've even tried it.

Tonight I'm thankful for good news from a friend and time spent talking to DS2.

Cherryfudge

I've woken up grumpy today, after such a nice day yesterday. There's a Skype meeting for work at 11, which isn't a problem: I'd rather know what's going on though I suspect I was filled in on the phone call yesterday. I've said I'll work at the other home, which is definitely a cause for grump: so many clients and a client group I don't know, to boot. My main issue is that when it's reviewed in three weeks time, as far as I can see it would be best for me to remain there rather than swap with one of the two colleagues who are on comparable contracts and who are at present lined up behind me. So I'm not looking forward to the increased risk, to not really knowing what I'm doing and to being away from 'home' for an unspecified amount of time.
So far today I've watered the veg and DH has mown the grass but the blade came off the lawn mower which has never happened before. DH got it back but says it doesn't seem to be working any more. We aren't sure if this will mean a new lawn mower: ours is long past but it's an expense. Then I found that a carrier bag with a plant I'd saved from Mum's old house has gone missing and DH hasn't seen it. Did it blow away in the storm or has someone binned it?

On the plus side, I did a few more pages of my course last night and am looking forward to doing more today. I might get a walk with DS2 if all goes to plan, and if I keep ploughing on I will get through these niggles. I also have sourdough to cook and today the plan is a wholemeal loaf - but I can't do it just yet as DH has stolen the big mixing bowl for wall paper paste!

Cherryfudge

I haven't dared look for the plant in the carrier bag yet but otherwise I've had a productive day.

The sourdough turned into a saga. As I said, DH had borrowed the big mixing bowl for wallpaper paste so I decided to finish the paste up by repairing one of those areas that we have got so used to that we don't see it any more, where the wallpaper needed to be reinstated around a socket that had been added. When I sat down to look closely, I realised I had to sand it down then consult with DH as I've not done this job before. That done, I switched the sockets off at the mains and took the cover off so I could paper the area. Then some plaster fell out from around the socket! DH had just used up a bag of filler so I thought I was stuck unless I went to the shops. Then I remembered I'd bought filler to do some repairs on my dolls' house, and hidden it in the dolls' house garage so it would be safe and dry when wanted. I was quite pleased with how the resulting plastering went, but of course had to leave it to dry.

A colleague accidentally phoned me but that worked out well as (long story short) I popped into work to collect some bits and pieces. It could be the last time I go in for a while and this colleague has been seconded to a different service but needed to collect something I'd left for her... that really is the shortened version! I've also checked work records so I can send my timesheet in, and discovered that two colleagues who I thought were being based at our usual place are doing lunchtimes at the same place as me, and reassured me that their first day had been fine ('But look out for room X, she looks dead but she isn't!'!!) (I consider myself warned. )

DS2 turned up again but had booked a walk with his brother so I spent time in the garden talking to him before they set off, and took the secateurs to an overgrown plant while chatting. Much to my surprise DS2 accepted my offer of some sourdough starter so I packed that up for him and off they went. 

The plaster had dried so I pasted on some paper and later that dried too so I painted it and put the socket back. I would love to say you can't tell anything had been wrong but the paint came from a pot we had had mixed to match the original and which is a bit too dark, and there's a bubble in the paper... but both of those are better than a permanent ripped area exposing bare wall. I then went on to sand the plaster in the dolls' house and hoover up the mess. All this was supposed to help me free up the mixing bowl, but I suddenly remember I had some plastic tubs I could use for the extra paste so I've moved it over and cleaned the bowl, which I could have done five hours earlier if I'd only thought of the tubs.

We had pizza for tea then DH was having an online quiz with friends so I made a batch of crumpets and some bread buns. The sourdough tastes odd in the crumpets, not at all as it did the other day, so I'm not sure whether the bread will be edible.

A bit more of my course has been done and I have my bag packed for an 8am start tomorrow: I'm intending to walk there and back on the first day which might be too tiring to sustain but it's worth a try. I used to do almost the same route pushing a double buggy and I remember more about it taking a long time than being exhausting.

This evening I'm thankful for time with DS2 again, his apparent interest in sourdough and a niggling job being done and dusted. I'm also thankful I have work to go to and that I will sometimes see my current colleagues there.

Honeysucklelou2

Hope your first day at the new work place goes well.  

Cherryfudge

Thanks HSL, it did.

I walked there and back, a total of about four and a half miles but no real gradient and not in the heat of the day so I enjoyed it and didn't get too worn out. Sixteen and a half thousand steps today, which I hope will help me lose weight. I was shadowing a really nice member of staff, which makes a big difference. It's a lot larger than my usual place of work so I'm only starting to get the hang of the layout but I'll get there. Workwise, I at last feel I'm starting to get my eye in with what to look for in older people: the things that ail them aren't the sort of things I encounter with my usual clients. There are also some very elderly people recovering from Covid and they are so, so tired. It's a brute of a disease for those it really hits.

I got back home just before the news that groups of up to six people will be allowed to meet out of doors from Monday. A promptly invited us for a family barbecue. I don't think DS2 will be able to go and I know L is working but the rest of us are excited. There will be plenty of space for two couples plus J in that garden. I can see though that it makes it doubly hard for those who are still shielding.

Talking of shielding, we went down to the junction with the main road for the last clap for the NHS. Lots of people there, including my colleague, who caught sight of a lady we usually support and who is shielding but came to the front of her house with her Dad. My colleague nipped across to talk from the end of their drive and I waved but apparently the lady doesn't recognise me with my hair down so that didn't get far. My colleague had been asked to sound them out about going back when our service resumes, as longer term planning will depend on uptake. Like many, they aren't ready to commit yet, and I can't blame them.

It's been an NSD for me, and DH bought a lawnmower for £35. It's a decent one too: the former owners have a lot of lawn so are going for a petrol mower instead. Dh has made us a Victoria sponge too. My baking late last night (brown sourdough bread buns) turned out nicely so my breakfasts and work lunches are sorted for a few days. I has been mulling over buying a handbag sized hand cream for work (not supplied there, though it is at my usual place, and boy you need it when you're always washing your hands) but I don't like to pay the premium for tiny bottles. I had an inspiration and repurposed a hair serum bottle that had just run out. It took a few goes with washing up liquid and very hot water, then paper towel on a skewer, but I cleaned it out and refilled it with heavy duty (but not very smelly) hand cream. Problem solved, and item kept out of landfill.   (I already have a repurposed serum bottle for moisturiser: it saves trouble to dispense a squirt of it which is the right amount to do my face and neck).

So tonight I'm thankful for a good day at work, a cheap lawn mower (and cut grass) lots of good exercise and the prospect of family time next week.   I really hope they get to the point where those who are isolating can also safely meet up with others, sooner rather than later.

Cherryfudge

All the new walking is catching up on me: I hope I adapt soon! Tonight will be an early night anyway.

I haven't spent any actual money today but a cookery book I wanted was 99p on the Kindle so I got it using some of a birthday gift token. I don't think recipe books are very browsable electronically but I just don't have room for more on the shelves, and 99p is very tempting when the 'real' version is £25.

Work was okay but too quiet really. There's a real lull after lunches. I did have a bit of a tizz this morning when someone messaged me to say they had a resident staying at work and I was going to be recalled, but it all came to nothing. I suspect someone had taken annual leave rather than be redeployed and had agreed to go back for a few days, but that's just conjecture based on a glance at the rota the other day.

I put my uniform through the wash when I got in from work and have had to tumble dry it but I'll iron it in a minute and then be set up till I next have days off. It seem silly to waste electricity on drying when it's been in the twenties all day, but I've not found a better way to work around my new hours yet. I also think it will be next week before I run again but walking four and a half miles a day has to help me get fitter. That's the commute: my tracker says 11 Km (16,000 steps). I will be treating myself to new shoes sooner rather than later!

What am I thankful for this evening? Lovely weather, the ability to exercise, a surprise sighting of DD (she called to pick up some post) and the wherewithal to get clothes washed and dried with minimal effort.

Night all.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s lovely to have a family BBQ to look forward to🙂.  Glad your first couple of days have gone well. 

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

That’s lovely to have a family BBQ to look forward to🙂.  Glad your first couple of days have gone well. 

Thanks.

Not much to report for Saturday: I was going to pop into one of the smaller supermarkets on my way home from work then realised I'm potentially contaminated so I'd better not. I don't know how others are managing this.

We are having a bit of a rethink on the BBQ and bringing our own drinks to avoid cross contamination. As long as the food is only handled by the eater and we disinfect any cooking utensil handles and observe social distancing, I think we should be all right, but there are so many things to think of. I understand food isn't likely to carry covid and we can enter by the garden gate and not have to go in the house at all.

Work was okay again: the walk was more tiring yesterday than today so I'm hoping my body has got the message and stepped up to expectations. I still fell asleep during the evening though, and haven't noticed any sudden decrease in my weight! 

DH has bought bread flour and fruit, in addition to doing the big shop on Friday, but I don't know what he spent. I realised I haven't recorded our lockdown dinners recently: pizza, leftovers (I had chickpea curry and DH had a Bolognese ready meal), fish and chips (not from the chippy). So fairly MS eating recently.

Before I nod off for the night, I'm thankful for yet another cloudless sky (all day) and for chats with older folk at work.

Cherryfudge

I'm so tired, though the walk to and from work hasn't wiped me out as if did a couple of days ago. I'm struggling to keep awake, but I've not dozed off yet.
Nothing spent. No gardening done (though I have found I can water the plants at the new place of work).
Tonight I'm thankful for a chat with J and L, DH making a super curry and two days off.

Cherryfudge

The glories of a couple of days off! I fell asleep just after nine last night and woke at about 7.15, so I must have needed some rest. Either I continue to get used to these hours/walking or I give in and either ask DH for a lift or get a taxi (which work would pay for). I'm just stubborn - I want the independence and the exercise.

I've been on a Skype meeting this morning and emailed my manager about a few problems at the new setting (like no induction). I'm not sure if anything will come of it but I copied in assistant managers as I think they need to be wary of seconding staff there. There are a lot of positives about the place but concerns as well.

I'm trying to square my finances but the there seems to be a problem with Internet banking so I'll try again later. Lots of people here are saying how their food spending has gone up and I think that's been the case with us too. I also need to ring the mortgage company for Mum's old house as we think payments are due from August. Eek. Then there's a cheque to go to the lady who looks after the house: she has concentrated her hours recently but she's well socially distanced when there so I'm very grateful to her for keeping going. Much of me doesn't want to sell it but it's bringing more stress than it's worth as we can't afford to keep it up.

Meanwhile DH has come up with the idea of fetching spare biros from his late Dad's flat (potential buyer isn't looking as enthusiastic so that's also on our hands a little longer) - a very small saving in money but our black biros disappear all too easily!

I wonder what others are looking forward to once things are reasonably back to normal? I'm not too bothered about holidays but a trip to Primarni for work shoes (which I don't actually need yet) would be fun. I know they're opening soon but there's no way I'd go as they'll be super-crowded. I also want plain socks for work - what an exciting life I lead! My two shopping trips since lockdown need to stay as isolated as possible.

We are invited to A and H's for a distanced BBQ tonight and it will be great having some of the family together but I'm a little wary. I think, of the people who are going, I'm the most dangerous as I've been doing shifts somewhere that had an outbreak. As far as I know there are no current cases there and I've done my best to keep to PPE and handwashing instructions but these things need 100% compliance to be 100% reliable.

Off to have another try at internet banking.