Cherry takes the reins

Honeysucklelou2

Are the rapid tests the lateral flow ones?

Cherryfudge

Yes, that's the ones. I find the abbreviations very confusing but the government website says

There are 2 main types of virus test:

• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests check for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus in the sample. You send the sample for processing at a lab
• lateral Flow antigen tests (LFDs) detect proteins called ‘antigens’ produced by the virus. They give rapid results in less than 2 hours

Cherryfudge

83 paper decisions made while sorting through some old papers of my parents, today - and 7 magazines of mine into the recycling too. I found an envelope of old photos of Dad's, including his Mum aged 18 in 1914. When I sent it round the family a couple of people immediately noticed what I hadn't - my daughter has a look of her. I was told years ago (by Grandma's cousin) that I resemble her but I'm not sure whether the resemblances focus on the same things. I also found an old necklace: just costume jewellery that I'd owned and forgotten years ago but I've taken a liking to it and decided it's coming back into service. I've no idea what's fashionable in jewellery at the moment but I think it suits me.

Those were two nice finds.

I went to the supermarket at the other end of town so I managed a mile of walking though DH gave me a lift home. I spent £44 on housekeeping and £3.20 on some darning wool which has to come by post as our nearest wool shop no longer sells it.

We were supposed to have heavy snow all day but, after some settling in the morning, it gave up and is now raining. I was also going to buy Gerald Durrell's Corfu trilogy which was on Kindle for £1.99 but when I clicked on it the price had already changed, though the lower price was still on the Daily Deals page. That's a  shame as I really enjoyed those books.

We're off to the old house tomorrow: DH wants to clear a drain and find some electrical cables and I want to sneak a few more items home. I might be able to get rid of more unwanted papers, too.

Tonight I'm thankful for finding old family photos and a notebook of poems that my Mum had saved. Also for really tasty Southern fried Chicken for tea!

IzzyBee

I nearly bought the Corfu trilogy as well same happened to me I loved the little boy who played Gerry in the programme never mind trying to cut back on book spends

Cherryfudge

Arrived back this afternoon from our trip to the old house: it's very odd driving anywhere now, but there was actually quite a lot of traffic at some points. We managed to avoid nearly everyone while we were there but had a garden-to-garden conversation with the neighbour who came out on our arrival to say his wife broke two bones yesterday and is in hospital.

Reports from the lady who minds the house with us have been verified and lots of photos taken: it looks as though the architect commissioned by the erstwhile buyer has done a fair amount of 'investigating', and not cleared up the damage. There are two places where holes are bored into walls (possibly looking for damp?), an area of lino that's been ripped up and laid back down, a loft hatch left unsecured and, unbelievably, a damp-damaged ceiling that's been partly pulled down and the debris left in situ! They didn't have permission to do any of this and the estate agent didn't let us know. As I don't know which company(companies?) were involved and I don't have contact details for the woman who wanted to buy, I'm going to have to try to take it up with the estate agent who I feel have been negligent and breached our trust. The difficulty is that that ceiling would have had to have been replaced and I can't see that the lino would have been kept by a subsequent owner either so I don't know if we have any claim for damages, unless it's against the estate agent's fees - but I've long since signed the contract to say we will pay them should they find us a successful buyer.

Other than this I've gone through more papers (over 300 pieces have gone to recycling, including some magazines), cleared up the rubble left by the ceiling coming down, and thrown out some too-battered pans. DH nobly checked some obsolete wiring that used to go to a shed and has removed it, then went on to try to clear a land drain and fix a side gate that was jamming. The drain wouldn't quite clear but is an effective soak away even with last night's torrential rain. I know it was torrential as I was up investigating the sound of it and saw what looks to be a blocked gutter over an area where there's a new strong smell of damp.

Anyway it's done for now - we will go back in a few weeks if we can both get time off together. DH's new job seems to have very different annual leave arrangements for either his previous one or mine.

Spending
Phone data top up £2.50

Things I'm thankful for: getting the trip over with! And progress made on the house. And being home again.

VelvetFreak

Sorry to hear about the damage at the house! that just sucks. Such a rubbish feeling when something like that happens. 

Sun_Addict

No wonder you’re angry about the damage. That’s really bad and needs to be reported. No doubt they took liberties knowing the house is vacant. Very annoying 🤬

Cherryfudge

Thanks Velvet and SA. The difficulty is knowing who to report it to! However the estate agent will get the photos and a detailed written complaint.

Cherryfudge

The complaint is on hold till we hear from the knotweed company: the report was supposed to be here already and someone texted DH yesterday to say it would be here last night... still waiting. However it's the weekend now so I'm not going to get het up about it.

I made bread this morning and bourbon biscuits this afternoon, and DH and I went over to drop them off and have a chat with H. A was still on a work call but texted us later to say thanks for the biscuits. I tried on some mittens I'd been given for Christmas: they are very pretty but unfortunately the wool is itchy and they are a bit narrow which makes the itch worse so they are going in the donate pile. A shame as the style and colour are right for me but maybe someone else will find them perfect.

I've also put away a few bits I commandeered from the old house: two of those things you mash pastry with, I've no idea what they're called; three pasta bowls and a small mixing bowl. Oddly I can't remember Mum making pastry but she must have as the original red paint had been coming off the handle and someone had repainted it orange - they loved orange and as a pre-teen I couldn't imagine a more embarrassing colour for my parents to choose for their decor!

Nothing spent. I went to put away some odd knitting needles I found in a cupboard and have been able to match them up but have also discovered I must have over 40 pairs of needles, not counting sets of DPNs inherited from the days when more people made socks. I would love to be brave enough to try but the thought of a needle sliding out and ruining my work is standing in the way.

Tonight I'm thankful for progress on my language app, seeing H and finding homes for the sundries I brought back yesterday.

Sun_Addict

Are you doing the Duo Lingo app? I’m using this to learn Spanish.