Tales from The Shire

savingholmes

Well done. Hope it goes smoothly - or as well as can be expected. 

Enjoy your time in the garden. Bright weather makes such a difference.

beanielou

Hope all goes well 

Fortune_Smiles

Good Morning Sunshine 🌞

We had glorious sunshine in the Shire yesterday and it looks set to be an even better day today.  What a difference it makes:

Health:

• did a couple of hours gardening cutting back last year's dead growth.  We generally wait until spring to do this so as the old growth provides good hibernation places for insects.  I found a nest of ladybirds waking up in one shrub 🐞😁
• lunch was Caldo Verde Soup made with spring greens from the veg box.  Supper was sausage, mash and peas.  There is enough of both meals to feed us today too 😁
• I have now found homes for 3 Ukranian families but I'm exhausted.  I can't imagine how it must be for them 😯  I'm going to take more of a break from it today so I can recharge some emotional batteries
• I have managed to set up a support group of hosts so we can help each other and our guests when we arrive.

Wealth:

• we had to order a new inner tube for the wheelbarrow.  The old one had split and is beyond repair - although Mr F did give it a go 😇

Happiness:

• spring is definitely springing.  There were a lot of bumble bees and other insects buzzing around yesterday and flowers are blooming
• being able to do something to help, however small.

I hope the sun is smiling on you too.

Fortune x

Suffolk_lass

With so many hawthorn and blackthorn around, we were getting through an inner-tube or three a year so invested in a couple of solid rubber wheelbarrow tyres - much better as long as the weight isn't a problem. What a revelations they were!

I really admire that you are so organised on the Ukraine homing front. I am speaking to our insurers today but DH isn't keen

Darpett

For anyone thinking of hosting a refugee there is an organisation that has been running for a while which is more flexible for potential hosts who do not have the resources to commit for 6 months although the financial support is far more limited. 
The website offers some general info about things to consider. Admin support is one that really needs to be considered as they won't know how to apply for an NI number/job/Doctor etc and it might be useful to have some plans for that. In the News section it has stories and articles which might be useful for those going through the hosting process currently.

www dot refugeesathome dot org

I haven't used them as I have family who live in a bordering country and can hear the bombing hundreds of miles away so we are keeping our options open 'just in case' it spreads. 

Fortune_Smiles

Suffolk_lass said:

With so many hawthorn and blackthorn around, we were getting through an inner-tube or three a year so invested in a couple of solid rubber wheelbarrow tyres - much better as long as the weight isn't a problem. What a revelations they were!

I really admire that you are so organised on the Ukraine homing front. I am speaking to our insurers today but DH isn't keen

I think we'll have to resort to solid rubber if it goes again SL.  Mr F thinks the problem is with the design of the tyre and tube - it means the tube rubs against the tyre in a particular place.

I'm afraid being organised isn't helping much on the Ukraine homing front.  The Government has made the whole process very difficult for refugees and potential hosts.  Fortunately Mr F in fully onboard - we'll need to work together as sharing our home when we've been used to having it to ourselves won't be easy.  We feel it's a small sacrifice to make though.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Darpett said:

For anyone thinking of hosting a refugee there is an organisation that has been running for a while which is more flexible for potential hosts who do not have the resources to commit for 6 months although the financial support is far more limited. 
The website offers some general info about things to consider. Admin support is one that really needs to be considered as they won't know how to apply for an NI number/job/Doctor etc and it might be useful to have some plans for that. In the News section it has stories and articles which might be useful for those going through the hosting process currently.

www dot refugeesathome dot org

I haven't used them as I have family who live in a bordering country and can hear the bombing hundreds of miles away so we are keeping our options open 'just in case' it spreads. 

Thank you Darpett - that's useful info.  I hope your family are going to be ok.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Summertime?

Looks like we're set for a glorious week weather wise.  It almost feels like summer here in the Shire 🌞

Health

• I spent some more time in the garden yesterday morning.  Everything is looking tidier although I've still some way to go
• lunch was Baked Gnocchi with Spinach and Pancetta using spinach from the garden.  Supper was Oven-baked Leek & Bacon Rissotto using leeks from the garden.  There is enough left of both to feed us for today too
• I got through the housework I'd planned.

Wealth

• I've paid the window cleaner who came this morning.  He would have come two weeks ago but I delayed him because of the bad weather
• Mr F bought a pump to put in a water feature he bought me for my birthday a few years ago.  However, it's not man enough for the job so will have to go back
• I booked my car in for its MOT
• booked FDawg in for his annual MOT at the Vet too 😆. I must remember to buy some chicken or turkey to bribe him with whilst he's there 😆

Happiness

• I've managed to find accommodation for a friend of our Urkrainian guests.  She is a young mother and they've been supporting her so were reluctant to be separated from her.  Someone in the town nearest to us has a flat for her
• I'm in daily contact with our guests - just keeping in touch so they know we're here and waiting from them.  I've also been posting a daily photo on FB.for them.  Pictures of our daily lives here so they know what to expect.  Yesterday's photo was of the place in the kitchen where I stand to prepare food and the makings of the Gnocchi.  It led to a discussion about the type of foods we like to cook and eat so was very useful.

I'm still feeling frustrated about the refugee situation.  I've now found 8 people in my area who have registered with the Government scheme to host but it's almost impossible to reach refugees to match them 😢  I've heard people saying they're going to give up because it's just too difficult.

Today I need to meal plan, grocery shop and clean our en-suite (it's looking pretty gruesome in there)... so, better get on.

Have a great day all.

Fortune x

themadvix

Thanks for your update Fortune, as I read it it reminded me of several things I need to do that hadn't made it onto my list yet - they are there now!

So will the refugees be living in your house with you, rather than in the Annex?

Fortune_Smiles

themadvix said:

Thanks for your update Fortune, as I read it it reminded me of several things I need to do that hadn't made it onto my list yet - they are there now!

So will the refugees be living in your house with you, rather than in the Annex?

Yes, MV.  The Annexe has one double bedroom and only has electric heating and I'd rather not have to heat two houses with fuel prices as they are at the moment.  Also, they will be having their meals with us as we are rural and there's no way currently of them popping to the shops for anything.  I think it would be quite isolating for them in there too.  We'll keep the Annexe for visiting family and friends as we can put a blow up bed in the living room in there if necessary which is ok for a short stay.

The Government's thank you is very appreciated but it's not going to go far - particularly in the early days when they'll be reliant on us for pretty much everything.  I don't think they were able to take much with them from home 😢

Fortune x