The Final Furlong

Dottles1

I have too many as well Savingholmes.  I get too excited and then find myself planting them anywhere I can find a space. 
I've been crazily busy with marking this week so haven't been on here for a while and have some catching up to do.  I am terrible at keeping my work/home life boundaries which is much worse with working from home at present so I've made a pact with myself to only work the 3 days that I am paid for.  I don't mind how long those days are but the other 2 are mine to do with what I wish.  It's my own fault, nobody asked me to do extra but sometimes it's the only way to get it all done.  Anyway if I keep on doing it they will let me so end of.
I'm expecting you all to keep me to it, feel free to tell me if I start again
I'll be back tomorrow to catch up
Dottles x

Dottles1

Today has been quite productive.  I have dried 2 loads of washing on the line, one being bedding as I changed the bed (I do like getting into fresh sheets), walked Tilly, went to the farm shop for fruit and veg, potted up lettuce seedlings and watered all the pots.   I'm going to take Tilly out for a second walk as we can now which will make her very happy and then r.  On my trip around my tiny garden I noticed that I have lost 2 courgette seedlings to the birds (I think) so it's lucky that I did buy some extra which seem to be doing well.  The forecast here is good for the week ahead  so hopefully summer is on it's way.  I received calendular seeds through the post which I'd ordered and forgotten about.  It's a bit late but I've got time if I sow them straight into the bed where I want them rather than pots.  That's on my list fr tomorrow's jobs with housework
I have also tackled my diet as I'd been steadily putting weight back on since lock down began.  I had visions of turning into Jabba the Hut on my sofa !!  Anyway 1 week later I'm 4 lbs down and my joint pain has reduced considerably as I know it does when I cut out sugar and lower carbohydrates. With that in mind I'm going to make some oat cakes as I found a recipe, granola, wheat free bread and hummus as I have all the ingredients in and home made tastes so much better than bought. 
I now have almost £60 in my Prolific account so am going to cash it in, buy a couple of books I want online, second hand of course and put the rest in my retirement fund which is growing nicely.  
Have a good evening all and stay safe
Dottles x

savingholmes

Well done on the 4lb weightloss and the survey cash out. I love your new resolution to stick to working 3 days rather than letting work takeover. I chuckled at the jabba image too.

Dottles1

Thanks Savingholmes as for Jabba....it's only a few biscuits away...:)
good morning all.
Well not much exciting been going on in our household apart from work.  I have actually booked 2 tutorials in for today but one at 9:30 and the other at 4:30 so that I have the day in between to meet up with my lovely friend P.  We are going to the local garden centre for a peruse after which we will grab a takeaway coffee and take it to the park/museum which is close by.  Planning a chat and a walk around the grounds before coming home.  It will be good to do something a bit different and to see her face to face.
Other than that I have a few jobs to do today.  The grass needs cutting again (as it does) and I want to make some more headway with the front borders as I haven't touched them for a few days.  Next week is half term so I'm hoping that we have some fair weather so I can get on with outside jobs.
I was told yesterday that I am definitely expected to be back in work each Tuesday from 2nd June.  I know that social distancing provisions are being put into place and that we will have to go back at sometime, but I do feel that they are rushing it a bit.  I just think it's that I have been very careful of sticking to the guidelines and now it's being taken out of my control.  Oh well I'll see how it goes and I'll probably feel better when I see the social distancing measures in place.
Okay well I'd better get ready for my tutorial - like brush my hair and put some make up on
Speak later
Dottles x

savingholmes

Hi Dottles - I am sure a doctor would help you out of face-to-face contact if you are worried - especially considering you are close to retirement.

beanielou

Good idea on GP.

Dottles1

I did think about using health as a reason not to Savingholmes but I struggle with it because I am actually fit and well apart from some hay fever and allergy type thingy.  Hmm maybe I will give it some more thought though.
I really enjoyed seeing friend P on Thursday, so much better than a phone call.  The garden centre visit was fun and the staff very helpful with social distancing.  A very pleasant man was on the door regulation numbers going in and out and wiping down trollies before handing them out and all the while keeping up cheery banter.    Afterwards we bought take away coffee as planned but the gardens we intended to go to were still closed and so we ended up back in the garden centre car park, parked alongside each other for a natter.  We have agreed to check out other places for next week and make this a weekly outing for now.
On Friday I had a business coaching session with my youngest daughter as she had to record a session and submit towards her qualification.  I came away with action points to complete by next Friday and much clearer about the next steps for my business.  I have only 8 weeks left before I leave (I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave) and need to move things on a bit now, which is one of the reasons I've been firmer about only working my 3 days a week.  We are going to have further sessions on a fortnightly basis for the next coupe of months to help progress things.  I have now purchased a domain for my website which includes my new email address, business cards waiting to go to print, website blurb written, DD's partner is going to design the website as he is a graphic designer and my son is going to set everything up for meas he works in IT.  I am aware how lucky I am to have this free help as it would have cost me a fortune to purchase.  My target is to have 4 clients per week booked in by 1st August and all associated paperwork ready so that is where my tasks lie.  One of those is to plan my time to make sure everything gets done without me feeling overwhelmed
Exciting times !!
I woke ridiculously early this morning at 4:30, probably because it was so warm here during the night, and couldn't get back to sleep hence my early update.  After a sunny start I think I have just heard rain on the windows but the wind has thankfully died down to a bluster rather than swirling anything not tied down around the garden.  I hope we do have some rain as the garden really needs it and it might feel a little less muggy.  Today's outside jobs include sowing the last of the marigold seeds direct into the beds if I can find suitable spaces, put some of the top soil clods onto the front border to build it up and to sort a couple of pots that have last year's plants in but haven't come back as well as I'd hoped.  Inside I have a celeriac to coo for lunch.  I can't decide whether to roast it whole and slice or to dice it braise with some lemon thyme.  I've only ever cooked it as part of a dish before (usually with cream and parmesan)  but given that I am back on a dairy free diet, I'm trying it as the main part of the dish.  I also have some butter beans in the cupboard which I love so I may add those as protein.  I'm putting aside 2 hours to do some marking to keep on top of it, time to plan my week ahead (task 1) and then for leisure, an hour with my book and a socially distanced dog walk with GD 4.  That sounds lie a good day to me.
Well the sun's showing it's face again so I may as well get up, make a coffee and get started.
Have a fabulous day whatever you are doing with it 
Dottles x
 

beanielou

Exciting times ahead. 😃

savingholmes

Glad your new business idea is progressing well. I am in the process of trying to set up a website too and so far it's a slog

Dottles1

I don't envy you Savingholmes, IT is not my forte and I'm so glad that I have family who can help out with this bit of preparation.  Good luck, let me know how you get on.
Tilly and I had a long walk with DIL and GD4 yesterday.  It was good to have someone to chat to while walking and caught up with their goings on though it was hard not being able to give a hug before we parted.  DIL brought me a gidt of a couple of mugs that she was clearing out and I'd always admired.  In the evening we had the weekly family quiz which is becoming a firm favourite with everyone.  So much so that we are talking about carrying it on after this is all over as it's a great way to get everyone together without al the planning that goes with families that live in different parts of the country.
Is anyone else waking up early I'm talking 3.30, because it's too warm?  It appears to be becoming a habit for me and then I go back to sleep around 6.30 and sleep until 830/9.00.  It's so annoying as I like to be up early and feel like I get a good start on the day.  Perhaps I need to look at my bedding and maybe remove the quilt but it seems a bit early for that and too cool for just a sheet. Well today's weather is looking good, Really sunny and warm here and as it's Bank Holiday I am planning for a day of leisure, reading in the sunshine, walking Tilly and pottering.  I may even take my meals outside today to make the most of it.
I hope you all have the kind of day you wish for
See you later
Dottles x