Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I didn't get round to writing yesterday: we had church in the morning and a walk in the afternoon. Walking was quite tiring due to the lumpy ice and remnants of snow, but we came across various people we knew, even though it seemed to be a quiet time of day.

I was at work overnight and had a sudden bout of worrying about all the things I still want to collect from Mum's old house (and for which I don't have room) and couldn't sleep. I got three and a half hours in the end so it's as well this morning's was an easy shift.

In the afternoon I went to the shops which took over an hour, though that did include a short walk for exercise. I've tried to get absolutely everything on the list (apart from what DH bought at the greengrocer's earlier) and spent £66.86 on groceries and £13 on makeup. There were some small discounts in there (£3.39's worth) and it should last us at least a week, hopefully more though we will probably need milk by then.

We've had bad news from H and A: they spent most of the day at the hospital after a new twist in the tale. The doctors have given H antibiotics so we're praying hard: that's about all we can do I think.

Today I'm thankful that there are antibiotics to be had (a hundred years ago there would have been nothing), for meeting a former colleague while out and hearing that things are looking better in his life, and for days off to come tomorrow and Wednesday.

Cherryfudge

Our trees have finally been trimmed! There was a big patch of blue sky that we've never seen before, and the neighbourhood phone wires are no longer looped over ever-heightening branches. It took most of the day and will cost about what I get paid in two weeks, but it looks good and we no longer have to worry about the neighbouring houses in a high wind.

The machinery has chewed up the back lane, which is just a track, but they have put down the chippings so it's now delightfully soft to walk on and smells of pine... we also have a load of logs drying - not as many as the big load we got when we bought the wood burner but enough to keep us going a few weeks once they've dried.

No better news on H yet though a very strange thing happened to DH which gives me a bit of hope: he opened a Bible and his eye fell on a paragraph in a less-familiar section which mentioned a key word to do with her. I've done some research and this word only occurs 3 times in the Bible, and this is the only instance where it has a positive connotation. There are 66 books in the Bible (if you don't count the Apocrypha, which wasn't in this translation). The 3 mentions of this word are in different books, so a one in 22 chance of opening to the right book let alone the right page. There are 727,969 words in the whole Bible, but this was a 'Study' Bible so it's also heavily annotated, running to over  two and a half thousand pages in all. There were three sub-sections plus footnotes on the page he opened to. So the chances of randomly seeing this have to be quite slight. By the way I'm not normally an advocate of opening at random and taking what I read as my instructions for the day, but this was a bit hair raising

DH has been working today and it was my day off but I was worrying about H and found it a bit difficult to settle to anything. I did manage to write up some notes for the call with my friends this evening and I was pleased with how that went, and apart from that and checking progress with the trees, I've been sorting through some of my clothes looking for repairs, forgotten items etc. I found an app recently that helps me curate my wardrobe, as I want to keep things out of landfill and I have more than enough by quite a long way. Sorting through clothes is fairly mindless but it keeps me busy! I also went hunting for a particular book which is probably in the loft as I can't find it elsewhere - but a small amount of sorting other stuff has happened in consequence.

So today I'm thankful for some notes of hope at the end of the day, for a fall in the number of positive Covid tests, for a sunny day and the satisfaction of the tree work being completed.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s great that you can see blue sky and not have the worry of the trees falling in windy weather.

Love it when words “ jump out “ at you...it never fails to amaze me that some verses can be read time  and time again but some days, you can notice something completely new. Hope that the antibiotics help H.

Sun_Addict

Sorry to hear the news about H. I do hope the Bible paragraph is a good omen and there’s some good news soon.

Cherryfudge

Thanks HSL and SA . I hope so too though it may be for the future, rather than now, as today's news wasn't good. Still it gave us a lift last night and helps have a better perspective on things. Perspective is everything especially in hard times). The antibiotics do seem to be reducing the pain which is good.

And what a day for news in general! The Covid rates are so sad. I've just seen they've impeached a certain president, which I know wasn't expected just a few days ago, and probably won't decrease the potential for unrest. And it's cold and rainy - but that's not so bad because it help people to stay indoors. I just wish everyone enough indoor warmth and light and something nice to be engaged with.

Day off today though I went in to work for my weekly Covid test, then on to stock up at the eco shop. Even the lovely lady who runs it seems a bit down: she's not getting the footfall although I'd be prepared to vote it the safest shop in town as she runs it with great care and brains.  I did spend £15.62 which won't make a huge difference to her finances but might help a little and means I can cook some favourites again.

Tonight I'm thankful for DS2 having had his Covid vaccination this morning and the news that all of us at work are now on a vaccination list. I'm also thankful for being able to talk things over with DH, because that is a steadying thing to do. And for the knowledge that if we wait three days, situations have usually changed.

Cherryfudge

Snow again this morning, then rain which hasn't yet washed it all away. What an incredibly grey day! DH has been WFH, then my work texted to say clients have pulled out due to snow so I took the option of taking the afternoon as annual leave, which solves their problem of what to do with surplus staff, and some of mine of having leave outstanding despite chunks booked in coming weeks.

Dh and I went for our dutiful walk - boots, brollies, puffer jackets, woolly socks, gloves, scarf... like two Micheline men. It's good to get out of the house though.

I made a thick soup for tea and this evening I've been typing up notes and trying to find a couple of patterns for knitting projects. When I delved into the cupboard where I store patterns, the door fell off... so there's a project for this weekend. I haven't found patterns that I really like yet either, and I'm determined to use at least some stashed yarns.

I'm thankful for a pretty white landscape first thing this morning, boots with a grip, a log burner and hot soup this evening and quiet streets to walk in. There are some advantages to a lockdown and atrocious weather!

Cherryfudge

Sorry for the few days away: we had a horrendous weekend to be honest, with H going into hospital but she's home now and back on her feet. Difficulties do seem to emphasise that we can't get together and support each other as we'd naturally try to do so we are trying to be imaginative about it. DD had a Uni exam and DS2 is working his socks off as he's a nurse, so it would be good to help them as well as A and H. At least we can all talk to each other and offer support that way.

We also had a scare at work when someone tested positive. They went home before I got in and I've had a negative test since but tests aren't effective till there's enough virus present to register, so it's still a bit of a waiting game. I did clean everything I could think of and we wear PPE so between that and plenty of open windows I'm hoping we cleared the building.

I've also had my vaccination date through - it's tomorrow! 

Other than that, DH and I had our first run in two weeks yesterday: I felt a lot better for it and surprisingly did my second-fastest two miles, a real lifter of spirits. I was then desk-bound half today with a course for work, so I did a 10K walk after to keep my fitness up. It's nice not having to slip around on lumpy old ice though we have a bit of snow still in odd corners.

We stayed away from the shops till this morning but the milk had gone off so DH popped to Mr S which is generally fairly quiet and got some basics. We're planning for me to do the big shop in a day or so.

Tonight I'm thankful for H being a lot better and the fact we have antibiotics and all the other things she's needed. I'm also thankful for hearing from my children and for the weather being good for running yesterday, and for two more days off, plus my vaccine coming up.

Seasidegal58

Glad to hear that H is back on her feet Cherry after what sounded like a very worrying time for you all. 

Good luck with your vaccination tomorrow. 

Honeysucklelou2

Glad that H is home now and hope she is improving day by day.

Hope all goes well with the vaccination.

Sun_Addict

Sounding very positive, good news for H and the vaccine for you 👍