Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Feeling a lot better today - haven't needed any paracetamol at all and ventured briefly into the garden when there was no one else around - what a gorgeous afternoon.

Lots to be thankful for in addition to having got off lightly so far: the wind blew my window open so I got a clear view of white cherry blossom, and I've been watching a blue tit high in the birch tree getting its lunch. 

Cherryfudge

Another couple of days of continuing to feel better. Not only did I not need a nap today, but I had two half hours of light gardening, then this evening I went for a twilight walk. DH had a walk first and told me there was no one around so I took the path round the fields nearby. A vivid red sun setting behind me, the hillside to myself but such a lot of birdsong... The blossom on the blackthorn hedges is at its best, and I noticed someone had made a way through the hedge down to a stream. On closer inspection I found a lot of what I think are badger prints - three toes with long claws.

I've been listening to classical music and some podcasts, reading, playing Wordle, catching up with colleagues (though that's gone off the boil and I think it's only fair to let them have their weekend off!) and knitting so there has been a spend via DH of 65p on a little ball of craft yarn.

DH has decided not to go to the family get together tomorrow just in case he's infectious. Some of the people there are elderly. Obviously I can't go, and neither can J or L who are both still testing positive. A and H are taking Easter eggs and cards from us.  It saves the cost of fuel and the meal: I'm not sure what that would have come to but it's nearly three hours' drive and we have a diesel car. So that's two meals out that J and I have missed in 8 days, but we will see most people at her wedding this summer.

Things to be thankful for: being able to get out and do things! I know I can't interact with people yet but living where we do that walk was safe as well as wonderful. Also I'm rejoicing in all the things of spring: the colours, warmer days, birdsong, being able to be back in the garden. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to garden for a couple of hours a week and today is the closest I've come to it so far!

Cherryfudge

I went for another walk this morning, thinking to go further but actually slowed down part way through what I did yesterday, came home and went to sleep! So I think the lesson to be learned is not to push through even though I feel I'm improved. I had a positive test today so it's obviously not left me... perhaps tomorrow? In the meantime I have a metallic taste which I remember DS2 had way back two years ago when he had Covid. It lasted months... but at least if it does I only have to put up with it a day at a time!

I found out on social media this afternoon that a former neighbour has died. We're shocked: he was a similar age to us and seemed fit and healthy as well as being a nice guy. I think it was a short illness, so sad.

The family get together has happened and we've been sent photos. Four generations of very varied people! It was nice to see DH's aunt, who lives at the other end of the country and has health issues, making friends with her tiny great-niece.

About another hour's gardening has happened: things are slightly clearer but I definitely need those two-plus hours a week. I stopped myself before I got too tired so hopefully can return to it tomorrow. DH got me the gardening magazine with the free seeds and two-for-one gardens entry so I feel I need to get a move on because I've got a lot of bought plants waiting and seeds wanting to be planted.

Things I'm thankful for tonight: being able to sleep when I need to; DH bringing me things (!); a funny video from J of when the puppy walked into a newly painted area (white pawprints!); people being able to meet up after, in some cases, two years apart; a patch of brilliant colour in the garden with scarlet and orange tulips, white blossom, yellow dandelions, magenta honesty flowers and the green of the grass.

Cherryfudge

Happy Easter! No walk this morning and church was online due to me still testing positive. I was actually unexpectedly tired so wouldn't have been for a walk anyway. This afternoon was much better: I've done about an hour and half n the garden and DH has boxed up the non-compostables for the tip. I don't know why Easter Day is so often perfect weather, but today's, after being slightly chilly to begin with, has been gorgeous.

I've now cleared a lot of the straggly branches of the fruit bushes in a corner of the garden and lots of unwanted brambles too. I'm keeping the best brambles though, the fruit is great. I've not done much weeding today.

DH found out that our former neighbour had leukaemia. It's so sad. I keep thinking about them. In better news, we've been sent all sorts of lovely photos from yesterday's family do, and my Covid knitting project is coming along nicely. DH is searching everywhere for his step counter and in doing so found a knitting project I started around 1992! If I only knew where I'd put the pattern...!

Tonight I'm thankful for Easter, for progress in the garden and the energy to do it and for the satisfaction of finding I can do the new skills required in this piece of knitting - not completely new skills but enough fairly new-to-me techniques for it to be satisfying to have managed them.

Sun_Addict

Happy Easter! You’ve done really well in the garden. I love your resolution to spend 2 hours a week in it, spread out over the week it’s not a lot of time but enough time to keep on top of it. 

Cherryfudge

I managed an hour and ten minutes in the garden yesterday so I'm quite pleased with what I've done, mostly hauling out dead wood from old fruit bushes. However it took its toll and I had to go back to bed later!

Today I had my first negative test! I've been too tired to do anything apart from sit in the garden for a while. Some colleagues went back to work today (a bunch of us were off at the same time) but one lady had to go to hospital with possible Covid-related symptoms last night. I haven't heard whether she's home yet. Someone else is more wiped out than I am but she had another illness a few weeks ago so she may not be over that. I've decided to take some sick leave as it doesn't make sense to push myself when I feel like this.

On the plus side, my little knitting project is fun and I got a lot done yesterday. The weather is beautiful and I'm enjoying the cherry tree outside my window very much.

Sun_Addict

Great news about the negative test. Hope you soon regain your energy and get back to normal.

Cherryfudge

It's nice to be free of isolation! I've called in sick and a colleague has dropped round some more tests for me, and most of the day I didn't get much done apart from laundry and moving my stuff out of the spare room. This afternoon I went to the nearest supermarket and carried the shopping home and that went okay. I was careful not to walk fast or carry a lot so I think that counts as reasonable exercise. This evening we were invited to A and H's and had a lovely time seeing the family. L and J are newly out of isolation too and L seems to be more affected by tiredness than I am. J has more energy and her taste is starting to return.

I haven't had any recreational walks or done any gardening today.

I think that was probably enough for the day but I discovered the poor goldfish has suffered in my near-absence so I've bought him a remedy and changed the water in the tank. He looks more lively already. I knew I should have changed the water before but I wasn't up to it and asked DH to top it up instead. So anyway I've been doing that this evening instead of resting, and I will shortly head off for a bath and bed.

Spending:
Housekeeping £13.53
Medical  £7.78
Pets £8

Tonight I'm thankful for time with family, chocolate cake, being able to pick up supplies to help the fish and just generally getting out and about again.

Cherryfudge

It's been a bit of an exhausting day, though it turned out better than expected. I'm still off sick but had a routine blood test so walked down to the surgery this morning. It's been in the news about surgeries no longer having to have social distancing in waiting rooms, but ours was still spaced out.

I'd been worrying about the poor goldfish and had had various conversations about him, finally deciding his time was up. I took him down to the vet who had a good look at him and told me that apart from the tumour, the fish is in good general condition and we can keep him a bit longer! So I carried him and his bucket back home and went back to sleep till tea time.

This evening I've given his tank a further clean and reinstalled him. The vet's instructions are to keep him clean, use one water treatment at a time and bring him in if he loses weight. I'm glad we still have him but I'd got myself geared up to losing him - and for those who are wondering, he's a very large and beautiful fish who's been with us for years.

Spending
Pets £10
e-book 99p

Tonight I'm thankful we still have the fish (hope I've done the right thing there), that I've been able to get out and about and also that I took the time off work rather than trying to push through.

Cherryfudge

Well I ought to go out and get some sunshine, maybe do a bit of gardening... all sorts of things I could be doing and am not getting round to any of them. At least I've got myself washed and dressed, which is a good start.

Fish is looking okay today... the water treatment hasn't cleared the infection yet but I need to give it more time. The room is filled with containers of water for him (I wasn't thinking clearly, evidently, as they won't be needed). I won't be changing the water till the treatment has had seven days, so I'll just have to give the filter a check and keep food levels down a bit. I therefore have no excuse for not tidying up my living space! Just don't want to get round to it.

First port of call ought to be listening to my app which sets me up for the day.

There's a relatively small amount to go with my isolation knitting project and I'm putting that off too.

I also had this idea about cleaning out kitchen cupboards which are all dusty from recent decorating.

Lastly, I need to email work and let them know how I'm doing but that will wait till I can consult with DH, who knows how the system works.

I will be back eventually to update.