Life is a minestrone as the song says - my new diary

beanielou

The wee cutie pie 

Karmacat

What a great photo!  So absorbed!

teapot2

Why is it that 'sorting out' is never simple?  I went through a big pile of assorted letters and papers that had been sitting on the stairs and recycled the envelopes etc but now have several piles of bank statements, other important bits of paper I will need for my tax return and some flyers that might be useful rather than the one original pile!

Was my birthday this week, worked for part of it then walked round to family for my tea and to meet their new puppy who is very cute   So am now State Pension age but as its paid in arrears will probably be the end of this month before it arrives - doesn't quite seem real yet.  

Had around £70 left in my budget from last month so will put that towards my 'pay it off in full' CC.  Also paid £200 towards my 0% CC which I'm paying down gradually.  Transferred money into current account to cover DDs for this month and will hopefully have some 'spare' money once all my work invoices are paid to put into PBs.  Still not won anything since I bought the first ones a few months ago....

On the survey front I've got up to around £10 again on 1poll and £20 on Prolific.  Also had another  PC survey which has been paid already.  Also had 2, yes 2 Ugov ones this week so inching verrrry slowly to payout.  Did an ONS survey for the first time and will get a £10 voucher for that one.

The forecast today was for heavy, frequent rain but we didn't have any during the morning so I decided to risk cutting the grass quickly.  I haven't done the edges yet but managed the main part and have left a couple of patches of clover for the bees this time.  Still no rain here though the haar did come in this evening but in the city which is about 40 miles away there was flooding as they had most of a month's worth of rain in half an hour.  

No work tomorrow so will venture out as I have an online sale to post and might have a wee wander down by the harbour.  I'm really not liking what feels like this rush to stop wearing masks next month and an end to social distancing.  Feels like lots of people have stopped being careful already.

greent

Belated birthday wishes! 🎂🥳

Totally with you about not bring ready to give all precautions up - cases are on the rise as it is - I'm currently self isolating due to working it someone last week who tested positive (my lat flows have all been fine so I'm taking it as an opportunity to catch up on some things!) I certainly shan't be getting close to many people for the foreseeable future! 

Karmacat

Happy Birthday for this week just gone!  Playing with a new puppy seems just fine to me  

I'm totally with you and greent on carrying on being cautious - it's utterly essential to be careful, in my view.  I'm trying to work out the precautions on how I can accept a friend's invite to see her - she's offered to come to my town, but she lives in central London and will have to travel by train to get here.  I *really* don't want her to be in my house, but if it's raining on the day, what else could we do?  So tricky.

badmemory

I'm also totally with you about the rush to end precautions.  I'll continue wearing a mask, but am worried about being jostled again in the supermarket.  How can they ask people to accept personal responsibility when they themselves don't seem able to?  They don't seem capable of understanding human nature at all.

beanielou

Belated happy birthday 

teapot2

Thanks all for the birthday wishes

@greent, @Karmacat and @badmemory agree with you all, having watched BJ's announcement it feels like all precautions are to be swept away.  Apparently Scotland has the highest Covid rate in Europe currently so I suspect Nicola will not be easing the restrictions as quickly but waiting to see.

I had been considering possibly going back to working in the City in a few months.  No choice but to use public transport though.  I was talking with a friend who lives on the same bus route as me but 10 miles further along the route.  She caught a bus back from the City recently and it got busier and busier until it was completely full with people standing as well.  No attempt to socially distance and strangers sitting next to each other  - nightmare.  

In other news yet another Ugov survey to do today - thats 3 in a few days, at this rate I'll be able to cash out in 18 months instead of 2 years 🤣🤣.  I had another online sale so ventured out to post both this afternoon.  It was really showery this morning and I was hoping to dodge the rain and all went well at first, went to the PO then to the community veg shop for a few bits and some toothpaste, a book in the charity shops and finally got some more fat balls at the pet shop.  By then it was starting to spot rain and by the time I was half way home it was torrential.  I was soaked through - even had to change my underwear [maybe TMI - sorry]. Quiet evening after that

taka

Belated birthday wishes! 🍰🎉

If it helps any the buses within the city are not too bad. Noticably busier than a few months ago but just to the point there is someone in each double seat. No strangers sitting next to you or standing. Major bus routes have a decent timetable but some of the quieter routes that were half hourly pre pandemic are running only once an hour or part route only.

teapot2

Thanks for the info Taka, thats good to know.  Sounds much more manageable though I wonder what the City buses will be like in August with the various festivals even though they are taking place in person a limited way that will surely increase passenger numbers?  Nowhere like the usual numbers of course when sharpened elbows are required to navigate the city centre

Think its getting to and from home into the city on a bus that might be the more unpredictable bit of the journey and that takes over an hour so nearly 3 hours a day on that bus route.