Things can only get better

Sun_Addict

I’ve left a message with a local bloke who does a bit of everything. DS knows him and says he’s good. I’ve asked for a quote for plastering and painting the spare room, painting the kitchen and fixing a dripping tap. 

The Christmas pot is entirely made up of rounding down various bits. Hoping for at least £600 by the end of November. 

Sun_Addict

Morning, happy sunny Thursday 😎

Not been for my walk yet, going to Aldi in a bit.

Finishing work at lunchtime today and on leave tomorrow 🎉 I've got loads of flexi time to use and loads of leave accumulated due to lack of holidays. 

I'm really missing my holidays, they are what keep me going throughout the year in normal times. Usually go April, August and October. I know we're allowed to go but it's the faff with covid tests that's putting me off. I'd be on tenterhooks all through the holiday thinking about the test 2 days before flying home and what if it was positive. Imagine having to stay in a quarantine hotel abroad for a couple of weeks. More than anything I'm missing the build up to it, buying bits and bobs and planning what to pack. Sigh 😥

Heard from the plastering etc bloke last night, he's coming to have a look but hasn't said when. I told him whenever he has time as there's someone in all day every day. Could do with him coming sooner rather than later to fix the dripping tap though, it's driving me nuts. The rest of the work isn't urgent. I could get BG out again to fix the tap but don't fancy the £60 excess on the insurance only for it to be a washer. 

Cleaning today is the bathroom, it could do with a deep clean despite me cleaning it several times a week. 

amanda_p

I feel for you regarding holidays. We have a property in Kalkan, Turkey and should be there now but as Turkey are still on the red list we are still here! We have a flight booked for mid August but who knows, plus it is the testing to come home that worries me.

I think in your circumstances with Mr.SA the holidays are something to look forward to and help you cope throughout the rest of the year. Plus as you say a lot of the feel good factor, looking forward to and preparing for the holiday has been taken away.

I felt like wiping the almost arrogant grin off Grant Shapps face when he gave the announcement!
It hasn’t helped when you watch 60,000 people in Wembley and the aftermath, the G7 summit allowing delegates to congregate from all over the globe. 

I thought this year with the vaccine rollout things would be so much better. How wrong could I be!
Getting to Shanghai to see our 18month old grandson is just another huge frustration.

Let’s hope next year sees a return of normality for International travel and we can all start looking forward to better times.

RelievedSheff

I don't think foreign travel as we knew it will come back for a very long time, if at all sadly!!

milann

I can fully relate to the hassle of testing and holidays. I won’t be bothering for a long time yet. I’ve not got any interest in the cruise we’d been planning……just feels as if it could be a tin can of germs to me…..that’s why we’ve ordered our motorhome where we can be as self contained as we want to be. 

Allikat86

Totally agree re: holidays! I used to love the build up too. It sounds like you have a lot to cope with in every day life so I can empathise with the disappointment. We aren’t going abroad this year. I don’t think I could stand the anxiety or having to disappoint the kids. 

I hope that you are able to get to Shanghai soon, Amanda.

maggiem

Totally agree re holidays, I don't mind when it is but really missing the looking forward to it!

Hope you get to see your Grandson soon Amanda, zoom etc is brilliant but not a great substitute for a cuddle. 

Sun_Addict

Bloke is coming to look at the work on the house Saturday. 

@amanda_p we stayed in Kalkan a few years ago in a privately owned villa in the mountains. The views were amazing and Kalkan was lovely. Not so the villa unfortunately, it had been very badly neglected.  I hope you get to see your grandson soon 🙏

Obviously if the test requirement carries on into next year I’ll have to bite the bullet and go. I’d hate to think I couldn’t travel abroad again. I just feel with virus cases rising there’s quite a good chance of picking it up if you’re not careful. I don’t think it’s worth the risk at the moment. It was bad enough last year having to fill in the PLF for Greece and wondering if it was going to go on the red list. We’d only just got back home when it did.

Sun_Addict

Finished work at 1pm on the dot 😆

Went to Wilko for yet more compost, can’t believe they’re winding up the summer stuff already. What with this morning’s walk to Aldi and this afternoon’s to Wilko have done just over 22,000 steps and as we took the dog, a good walk for her too. Spent a fair bit today though. 

Have somehow managed to buy some alcoholic sparkling water. Who knew it was a thing? Anyway it’s very nice 👍 However far too quaffable, I prefer my alcoholic drinks to taste of alcohol so I can sip them rather than neck them. Reminded me of when we went to Majorca with the kids to an all inclusive hotel. I got quite attached to the tropical fruit juice, was very nice indeed. Sent DS to the bar to fetch me one, he was about 13 at the time. They refused to serve him as it was an alcoholic drink. I never realised, had been drinking it in the morning. No wonder it was nice 🤣🤣

Sun_Addict

The sneaky sunflower/courgette saga continues. 

That’s a blooming courgette cashing in on the sunflower pot 😆