Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Goodness knows, but in can't imagine it's going to go down 🙄

Yes, we are also forecast snow, and everywhere is saturated. I too am sick of it! 

What is the antique map for? Is this some kind of entry in a village show?! Is yours an actual map, or made up?

Hi Cheery 😊  It's for our WI's entry into our local country show.  All the county's WI's enter.  It's a made up map and will be part of the display for our items.

VintageHistorian said:

I certainly can't see oil prices going down in the next few months so I'd say top it up.

Thank you VH.  It's already so expensive.

Fortune x

Suffolk_lass

I am holding off for the moment. I checked the price two days this week, Mon and Wed and it dropped by 0.03ppl but that is 4ppl more than when the Village syndicate bought a tanker load in January. I hope it will still do a seasonal drop in March/April, even if it is from a higher point than normal. I will need a 1000l then. This is just my view. @trix-a-belle bought some where she is (not far north of us) for slightly more than I price-checked at, last week.

In our case, having changed the tank for a much smaller one, I can't really hedge my bets by getting a bit now and a bit later as it is only 1200l and I will need 1000 in March April. A 500l would only be if we are running out in the meantime. I do hope the seasonal dip still happens!

savingholmes

Map sounds fun. Good luck with the tank - and refill prices...

Fortune_Smiles

Blue Skies

The weather was so much better in the Shire today.  Mr F and I walked FDawg this morning and it was really pleasant.  No wind, no rain, roads that were pretty much mud free, birds singing - what a difference it makes.

Today's efforts:

Health

• walked FDawg
• did an hour's Tai Chi
• made Leek & Tomato Eggy Bread Bake for breakfast
• Chestnut, Bacon & Parsnip Soup for lunch
• and Creamy Beetroot Risotto for supper
• completed today's planned chores: two washes done, hall cleaned, ironing basket cleared.

Wealth

• completed some CP surveys which will take me up to £20 in book tokens tomorrow
• checked that the balance on the credit card had been cleared as this month's deadline is approaching

Happiness

• nicer weather - it really lifted my spirits today
• Mr F back home safely.

I received an email from the WI today - one of the ladies that attended the afternoon tea has tested positive for Covid.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I haven't picked it up.  Although it's inevitable I suppose that I'll get it sooner or later now I'm back out in the world - unless I've had it already which I might have done of course.

Trying not to worry too much about the news although I really feel for the poor people caught up in it all.  The implications are enormous and I fear I'll turn into a nervous wreck if I think too hard about it.  Going to take one day at a time and hope that humanity prevails.

Take care all

Fortune x

Suffolk_lass

We are becoming braver too. We have got into the habit of doing a LFT before meeting others in a social environment. Which reminds me, we must both do one today as we have my cousin and his partner coming for supper tonight. Much bathroom cleaning (me) and vacuuming and dusting (DH) to be undertaken ahead of that but the casserole is in the aga already. That way I won't forget it 

savingholmes

Tai chi sounds interesting.

Hope you avoid covid

Fortune_Smiles

Suffolk_lass said:

We are becoming braver too. We have got into the habit of doing a LFT before meeting others in a social environment. Which reminds me, we must both do one today as we have my cousin and his partner coming for supper tonight. Much bathroom cleaning (me) and vacuuming and dusting (DH) to be undertaken ahead of that but the casserole is in the aga already. That way I won't forget it 

It does take a little courage doesn't it but I suppose we manage risk every day in life and Covid has become just another thing to consider.

savingholmes said:

Tai chi sounds interesting.

Hope you avoid covid

I'm finding it quite hard to learn SH.  It's taking me three practices before I feel I understand each form.  Very satisfying when it comes together though.  No symptoms yet so I'm hoping I've escaped Covid.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

🎶🎶Let's get physical, physical...🎶🎶

It was quite a physical day for me yesterday - more so than in a long while:

Health

• walked FDawg
• spent an hour and a half gardening pruning the raspberries, redcurrants and pinkcurrants
• ran the vacuum round downstairs
• did an hour's sciatica and bursitis exercises.  I've had a bit of sciatica ever since I hurt my back but it's getting steadily worse.  The bursistis came on during the first lockdown after I knelt on the hard, tiled floor to clean the oven and it's flared up again recently.  I found a lady called Dr J0 on Y0uTub£ who has some easy to follow exercises for lots of conditions so thought I'd give those a go.  The sciatica ones certainly seemed to have helped.  The bursistis ones were hard to do because of the sciatica so I think I'll concentrate on resolving the sciatica first
• the fact that I've put on weight during the pandemic hasn't helped but I'm back to counting calories and have lost 3lbs this week.  Most of that is going to be water weight but I'm on the right track.  I'm finding that sticking to three meals a day, avoiding snacking and alcohol and upping my exercise is doing the trick
• I've had one glass of red wine this year which gave me heartburn and a mild hangover the next day so I'm quite happy to continue avoiding alcohol.  Not that I drink a great deal anyway but it's empty calories isn't it
• we had leftover chestnut, bacon and parsnip soup with a buttered roll for lunch and leftover beetroot risotto for supper.

Wealth

• not much to report here.  We didn't spend anything so that's something.

Happiness

• I had a long, hot, bubble bath whilst watching Th£ D0g H0u$£.  It's my new favourite programme - so joyful
• gave myself a manicure - lilac with silver glitter on top this time.  I love a little sparkle.

Mr F is participating in our town's 10k run this morning then we're out for a Sunday lunch later.  I thought I'd introduce Mr F to the pub I went to with the girls this week.  If there's time, we might go on to a big antiques hall for a mooch as it's in a village a bit further along.  We've got a call booked with the Younger Fortunates later.  Looking forward to a catch up with them.

Hope you're having a great weekend too.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Re-write

I've just drafted a long, wingey post about all the things that have gone wrong in the last few days and the poor customer service we've received.  Then I got over myself.

People have far worse things to worry about at the moment.  My niggles are small ones and unimportant in the big scheme of things.  So... I'm just going to focus on some positives:

• the books balance and money has been shuffled to its intended homes 🙂
• we have all the essentials covered 🙂
• Mr F and I reviewed our finances and future plans - we have options 🙂
• the cupboards are full of good, nutricious food 🙂
• I've spent a cheerful morning preparing for Book Club 🙂
• we won £20 on the lottery 🙂
• the grocery shop came in £30ish under budget 🙂
• it's a dry day and we had a pleasant walk with FDawg this morning
• the first curlews started arriving this week and we've spotted two pairs already 🙂

I'll have the house to myself for the rest of the week now which is quite a novelty.  I'll miss Mr F of course but it will be nice to work to my own agenda for a change.

Hope your week is going well.

Fortune x

savingholmes

Well done on the progress with and tackling your health goals. 

Lovely gratitude list. I think world events have a way of shocking us back into appreciating the basics.