Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Mrs_Money_Penny said:

Hi Fortune How is your dog? I am currently dog sitting in lovely Wales for my Sister in Law whilst she visits her sons family in Saudi. Their dog is a 5 month old miniature Schnauzer. It is  many years since I had a dog as a child. So much work hard to get anything done without her getting into mischief. However great fun taking her on long walks to tire her out. We have to drag her out most of the time as she’s reluctant to go anywhere. She does have a good time when we’re out. I thought of you and your stories of when your dog was a pup.Sadly we return home tomorrow. Xx

Hello there Mrs MP    FDawg is well thank you.  We've found a way to get him through the night without barking.  We put him to bed in his crate as usual but leave the door ajar.  That way, when he wakes up before the alarm goes off, he can wander around the house or look out of the window and keep himself occupied for just that bit longer.  It seems to be working so far.

They are hard work aren't they.  It's like having a toddler in the house sometimes.  I've really enjoyed the last few walks with FDawg... because it's been dry!  All the wildlife is appearing now.  I heard a woodpecker drumming for the first time yesterday and we've seen curlews flying over and calling this week.  Can't wait for the spring to arrive properly.

Take care

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Pottering

Another pottery day yesterday.  Mr F took some stuff to the tip.  We still have a big pile of wood behind the barn leftover from the refurb.  Now he has the trailer he can get rid of it bit by bit.  He also fixed my side of the bed (screw loose  ) and had a look at our mobile signal booster (looks fine).  I did a few chores and edited some writing.

The boiler seems to be holding pressure.  Boiler man had suggested bleeding the radiators after a few days as air would still be working its way around the system.  So I did and there was a little air in a couple of them.  I've now reset the pressure so will keep an eye on it and... keep my fingers crossed.

I went out to pick some daffodils from the field in the afternoon.  Mr F was out there playing with FDawg.  Mr F threw a frisby and the wind took it and blew it in my direction.  FDawg went galloping after it, eyes firmly fixed on it rather than where he was going, and took my legs out from under me.  I got a shock of course and landed a little bit awkwardly but am fine.  I've pulled some tendons I think but nothing too serious.  I've been teasing Mr F since that he's after the insurance money  He's creative, I'll give him that 

For breakfast we had Leek & Tomato Eggy Bread Bake.  Lunch was Beetroot, Halloumi & Cashew Curry and, for supper, I made a pie from ready-made flaky pastry and the filling from a recipe for Sweet Potato & Pea Puffs.  I just rolled the pastry around the filling like a giant sausage roll and we had it with roasted new potatoes and sweetcorn.  It was delicious and I found I could limit the amount of pastry in my portion by cooking it this way (the diet continues).

Today I have to get up and get on as we have Annex guests arriving on Wednesday.  So, on that note...

Have a great day all

Fortune x

PurpleFairy26

Hope you're not too sore after your tumble. Maybe Mr F and F dawg are in cohoots! 

Perhaps a good soak in the bath today might help as preventative as sometimes it's the day after the day after iyswim that pain strikes. 

Glad the boiler is holding out. 

Fortune_Smiles

PurpleFairy26 said:

Hope you're not too sore after your tumble. Maybe Mr F and F dawg are in cohoots! 

Perhaps a good soak in the bath today might help as preventative as sometimes it's the day after the day after iyswim that pain strikes. 

Glad the boiler is holding out. 

Thanks Purp.  My leg was a little sore for a couple of days but, thankfully, no serious damage done.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Premature?

We have decided to self-isolate as far as possible.  Neither of us is ill but I have underlying health conditions which will put me at risk if I contract the virus.  Mr F's face to face meetings are gradually being cancelled in favour of teleconferencing so we are currently in a position where we can stay at home.

We have guests in the Annex at the moment but, after checking them in, I've left them to their own devices.  My cousin had booked the Annex for nine days from next weekend but we have agreed to postpone her visit (she works in a doctors' surgery).  This means that Mr F's niece, who was due to visit at the same time and stay in the house, can now stay in the Annex and we can avoid contact (she's attending a work placement n a vets practice).  It's not ideal of course and we'll lose the (small amount) of money that my cousin was paying but best in the circumstances I think.  We currently have two other sets of guests booked in for the first week in April and over Easter so I'll just wait and see with those.  I suspect they may cancel but, if not, I'll let them check themselves in and out.  I've blocked out the remaining dates in April.

We have oil in the tank, food in the cupboards - my little Brexit stash, which I was a little embarrassed about at the time, has turned out to be a sensible precaution.  We don't have a huge stockpile but enough to see us through if we become unwell.

Premature?  Paranoid?  Perhaps.  However, I think it's only a matter of time before the Government suggests further social distancing so maybe we're just a bit ahead of the game.

I'm going to order a little more dog food today but, other than that, just carry on as normally as possible.

Yesterday, FDawg barked and woke us up in the early hours of the morning.  Mr F got up to him, settled him down and came back to bed.  He got up again at 5 am and realised that the en-suite floor was flooded!  FDawg was trying to tell us that water was dripping through the kitchen ceiling.  So up I got and started mopping while Mr F got his tools out and fixed the problem.  It turns out the toilet cistern had developed a leak.  It looked worse that it was and we've only got a little damage to the utility cupboard ceiling and a little stain on the kitchen ceiling.  We just need to dry out but, oh, really, what next     I'm quite relaxed about it actually - bigger things to worry about at the moment aren't there.

As a result of all the mopping, I was nearly late getting the car to the garage.  It had it's service (quite a big one this time) and MOT (passed with flying colours) and they had a good look at the deflating tyre.  The wheel is round and sound (good news) but there is a small leak at the rim.  In the same place as the original leak they found     They've repaired it (again) but used a different sealant this time.  Let's hope it holds as the next step is to replace the tyre, which will be expensive and I doubt whether the garage will pay for it.  Overall, it is good news as at least I know there's not a problem with the wheel itself and the costs for the service and MOT came in a little under budget.

I'm still monitoring the boiler - I'm not sure it's completely fixed but only time and experimentation will tell.  The minimum pressure it reaches seems to be dropping but the maximum seems to be maintaining which might suggest there's a problem with the expansion vessel.  It's keeping the house warm at the moment so that's the main thing.

Lunch yesterday was Autumn Vegetable Soup and supper was Creamy Salmon, Leek & Potato Traybake.  The salmon was on the meal plan last week and, as we enjoyed it and I had the ingredients, I made it again.

Anyone else taking precautions?  Is it just me?

Stay safe and well everyone.

Fortune x

rtandon27

No Fortune, it is not just you - we have most of our staff working from home with the exception of a few essentials in the office.

Fortune_Smiles

rtandon27 said:

No Fortune, it is not just you - we have most of our staff working from home with the exception of a few essentials in the office.

Thanks RT - I didn't want to over-react but I am in an at risk group.  I have extremely vulnerable neighbours too so need to help safeguard them.

Fortune x

Jessy103

Not at all, fortune. I always buy a few extra tins when shopping anyway so there's always a small stockpile, I'll be doing an extra shop this week to get some more food, toiletries and dog food so we have plenty in. I will also be staying away from my mum, who has MS and my grandparents, who are both in their 80s, as we're all still at work at our place and there are sales members and fitters that go down to London on a regular basis. 

Take care x 

Fortune_Smiles

Jessy103 said:

Not at all, fortune. I always buy a few extra tins when shopping anyway so there's always a small stockpile, I'll be doing an extra shop this week to get some more food, toiletries and dog food so we have plenty in. I will also be staying away from my mum, who has MS and my grandparents, who are both in their 80s, as we're all still at work at our place and there are sales members and fitters that go down to London on a regular basis. 

Take care x 

Thanks Jessy.  Most people here are just going about their normal business but I think that will change as the numbers rise.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Surreal

Mr F has just gone out into the world for the last time until the crisis passes.  How weird it seems to be saying that.  I feel as though I am watching a film rather than living my own life.

He picked up my prescription plus flea and worming treatments for FDawg, filled my car with fuel and got some cash out.  The builder may come to do the storm repairs so I wanted to have the cash for him.  He won't need to come into the house so there didn't seem any reason to postpone.  Besides, we've had enough leaks recently.

I've contacted family and friends to say we won't be out and about for a while.  Several have replied to say they're taking the same precautions.

Our Annex guests left this morning.  They were here visiting elderly relatives and were delighted to have found somewhere close by to stay.  I had to tell them we would probably be closing for the forseeable future but, hopefully, only temporarilly.  I will have to go in and turn off the heating, etc soon.  Fortunately we have some anti-viral hand foam in the house, purchased before there was a run on hand sanitiser, so I'll use that before and after I go in.

Our plans for the year will definately not continue as envisaged but we are still aiming to achieve something positive and productive.  I've ordered some paint tester pots for the dining room and utility cupboard so the decorating may go ahead.  The windows will have to be done but the remaining patio repairs, orchard planting and chicken keeping will go on hold until next year.  Everyone is going to be taking a financial hit one way or another.  I'm very, very grateful that it's going to be inconvenient for us rather than incapacitating.

Stay safe and well all.

Fortune x