Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

Well you’ve had a busy few days 😁 Lots of steps too. I think the rules are folks have to bring their own drinks to BBQs and only one person to do the cooking so you’re on the right track there. I’m looking forward to be able to see my GKs again, my friends and to go on holiday. Oh and to be able to walk into a shop normally again and not worry about other shoppers being too close - but I guess this is a long way off.

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

Well you’ve had a busy few days 😁 Lots of steps too. I think the rules are folks have to bring their own drinks to BBQs and only one person to do the cooking so you’re on the right track there. I’m looking forward to be able to see my GKs again, my friends and to go on holiday. Oh and to be able to walk into a shop normally again and not worry about other shoppers being too close - but I guess this is a long way off.

Perhaps we will just get more used to distancing, and not think about it so much... but I think we will still get times when someone gets too close for comfort.

The BBQ went really well: it was easier to distance than I expected, partly because their garden had shrunk in my head (:D) and there was much more space than I'd thought, and party because they had it well planned. Seats were set out so each household had an area but we were in a circle around the barbecue and A did the cooking. The food and paper plates were set on a table with wipes and hand gel, H had opened the packets of bread buns but disinfected the outsides and we took it in turns to help ourselves off the grill, disinfecting the tongs after each use. We brought our own drinks. A nice surprise was that DS2 turned up as well: it was his day off. We even managed to be exactly six people. It was a relaxed catch up and we admired A's handiwork - a series of planters and a raised garden bed he's built over recent weeks. I also got quite a lot of steps in with a lovely evening walk with DH to get there.

H had a good idea for when we can get together normally again - everyone bring a sample of what we've learned to cook in lockdown. Hers would be some beautiful cocktails she did the other day, mine might well be sourdough crumpets.

DS2 had a quick word with us as he was leaving: numbers are down on his ward and he's had an antibody test. The results won't be in till next week but I asked him if he thinks he's had covid and he said yes, as he lost his sense of taste and smell for a while, but at that time it wasn't counted as a notifiable symptom so although he told people, he was expected to go on working. I shall be glad if he has had it - he says lots of his colleagues have - but it's a further proof that the government hasn't been stringent enough. There are still many symptoms which England doesn't count as identifying people sick with covid, meaning that many infectious people are out there infecting others. No wonder the R number stays as high as it does.

Other than that I've done some number crunching on May's spending but haven't managed to finish. I think the food bill wasn't as bad as I'd expected. I've paid the lady who looks after Mum's old house, washed my uniform, filled the bird feeders and ordered my prescription. DH has replaced a bathroom tap and the new one looks really good. So all in all a good day.

And tonight... I'm thankful for the time with family, being rested and refreshed, having a delightful evening walk (clear sky and warm), and bathroom taps that no longer drip or shoot bits of metal at unsuspecting teeth-brushers.

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent today.

I got the laundry done first and had a go at phoning up about the mortgage for Mum's house, only to find there's a dead end in the phone options. Eventually, at the point where you would normally speak to a person, there's a message to say they are too busy and to try again another day, then it cuts off. I tried to find a 'contact us' but options were limited so I filled in the form on the website giving brief details so they can contact me for an appointment. However, despite both DH and I trying, we couldn't get it to 'click through' so I don't think that's working either but we'll give it a couple for days as they have my contact details. Banks aren't entirely closed: surely there must be some way to arrange a phone consultation? Anyway at least I've made a start.

I then emailed management at work asking for a proper induction and a couple more items, thought about it carefully and re-wrote with a different slant so I don't sound quite so officious. So that's now sent. What else? I planted 13 potatoes! These have sprouted beyond use so I thought I might as well try them as plants. That makes 22 potato plants, I'd better stop there as we don't eat them all that often. I've also watered all the pots and veg beds.

L and J were using our back garden today but we didn't see much of them. DH has had a phone call about helping with the food bank so he has an appointment tomorrow. I'll be at work and he has grocery shopping to do.

This evening I had a video chat /study with a couple of friends, the other two seem to have largely dropped out of the group. We did have a good discussion, though.

I've rather guiltily thrown out most of the sourdough starter and kept just a little to feed. I'd underfed it and not got round to cooking it so it was past its best. J had sent me a Jamie Oliver video about making it into wholemeal crackers so I might try that tomorrow if the fresh feed puts the sourness of the dough right. It's definitely still alive.

I need to be up in the morning (and am taking spare socks as it could be a soggy walk) so I'd better go for now.

Tonight I'm thankful for time with my friends, making that phone call (despite its being unsuccessful) and a fresh start for the sour dough. And the fact it's trying to rain. I think it's lost the knack but at least it's trying.

Sun_Addict

Glad the BBQ went well.  Your talk of potatoes reminded me of the time Jamie Oliver said you can grow potatoes from ones you have that have started sprouting, just put them in a growbag, that's all there is to it.  So I tried this with 4 sprouting potatoes, leaves started growing etc.  Weeks later I was all excited to find some potatoes in the soil until I realised they were the same 4 that I originally planted 🤣 Needless to say I haven't tried it since.

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

Glad the BBQ went well.  Your talk of potatoes reminded me of the time Jamie Oliver said you can grow potatoes from ones you have that have started sprouting, just put them in a growbag, that's all there is to it.  So I tried this with 4 sprouting potatoes, leaves started growing etc.  Weeks later I was all excited to find some potatoes in the soil until I realised they were the same 4 that I originally planted 🤣 Needless to say I haven't tried it since.

That's so funny! I must hide it from DH, he always worries in case he gets to eat potatoes that went in the compost bin. Explaining to him that they become the food source for the new plant hasn't changed his mind. My experience of them has been that they're actually quite persistent when planted and there's usually one left behind that will start a new plant next year.

So Wednesday has been a good ten degrees or more colder than recently, and rainy. DH gave me a lift to work but it was dry by the afternoon so I walked home.

My email to work has produced instant results! I was shown the handover file and three of us were given fire training. Other than that work has been quiet. I did try to join in the Skype update from my usual team but the sound wasn't good so I'll have to read the minutes.

DH had an appointment about helping at a charity, and he's done the food shopping. I don't know what it came to yet but we had salmon for dinner so I feel well nourished and indulged. (Yesterday was chicken and chorizo pasta which is a favourite too). This evening I dozed off (I couldn't keep this up long term!) but also managed to do more of my course and cooked some sourdough crackers with rosemary and sea salt. They're a bit chewy but not bad for a first go.

Tonight's thankful list: rain, training and finding five year old photos of J and her bestie from Uni days. That was a different world but they still meet up.

Cherryfudge

A change of plans for today as we discovered a nest with a resident pigeon sitting very still and trying to be invisible, so the tree surgeon has had to be postponed. It's still cool for the time of year but I think I can get some work done in the garden.

Dh has done sterling work by managing to speak to the mortgage company and it turns out the mortgage on Mum's old house has three months to run. They also gave us a contact number so we can discuss extending it if the house hasn't sold by then. This depends quite a lot on it actually being put on the market, which is difficult as we haven't been able to go over to work on it while the lockdown is on. I'm hoping things ease enough to enable that to happen.

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent today - and I once again forgot to ask DH for yesterday's receipt.

I've spent a while trying to sort out my hours for May, which were all over the place due to being sent home early on certain days and working at other venues. However I understand that if we are sent home then we can claim for the whole shift, and I've also read my emails and attended meetings from home so I think my hours are about right, with one sleep in to claim for.

It's raining this evening, quite hard I think, but the forecast is okay so I think I'll be walking to work in the morning.

The big news today is that DS2's antibody test came back positive, so he's definitely had Covid. He thought he had as he lost his senses of smell and taste but that was before those were 'allowable' symptoms so although he mentioned them at work, he had to go on working. Of course there can be other reasons for losing those senses, but there can be other reasons for a fever or a cough, too. I suppose, working on a Covid ward, at least he's not infected his patients. I'm glad I didn't know at the time, but I'm also glad he has some antibodies.

I've tidied up the file of papers for Mum's estate and done some weeding and wood chopping in the garden. We now have a box of kindling for the log burner. DH has been for a walk and started mending the roof of my chicken coop, which need new plywood and roofing felt, or an alternative. Given that the plywood was rotting under the felting, we're thinking of corrugated plastic next time. Having chickens is still part of the plan, an DS2 found a local place where I may be able to buy some, though I'd quite like to get rescued ones.

Tonight I'm thankful for DH's work on Mum's mortgage, for yet another NSD (we ate from the freezer: tuna pasta), for the rain and for the amazing birdsong and super-bold robin in the garden.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s exciting news that the roof of the chicken coop can be mended.  I loved having chickens...hoping to get more. My last batch in the incubator failed as the temperature ( it’s automatic) in the incubator wasn’t right, so I need to get an extra thermometer to check it before I can use it again.

charlies_tribe

Glad DS has already had covid without to many symptoms. At least you can rest a little knowing he hopefully shouldn't get it again.
DH would love to have chickens but I know it would be something extra for me to look after.
Have a lovely day x

Sun_Addict

My DIL’s paramedic brother tested already had Covid but he can’t remember ever being ill. Makes you wonder how many of us have had it unknowingly.