The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Ooh magiem....6 wees take a lot of effort you know that made me smile though.  Yes Beanie, she loves a warm spot and doesn't care how she gets it..
Well  I didn't get as much done today as I had planned mostly due to feeling a bit achy, tired and chilly.  I'm not sure if I have the beginnings of a cold or just a bit out of sorts or whether it is down to the weather.  I picked up the car this afternoon but had to take it back immediately due to an engine light being on.  It turns out that it has a faulty valve in the engine so will have to go back in once they have the part.  It won't cost me any more but I am disappointed that they didn't notice it.  The quote for a new service plan has more than doubled from the previous cost so it's just as well that I had already decided not to renew it.  
I received more free apples from the man up the road last night so have made 2 apple pies one for tea this evening and one for the freezer and gave some to DIL as she gave me a lift to the garage.  I also sliced and chopped cooked beetroot (again free) and put into the freezer and then made some pickle from fridge left overs of a carrot, a chunk of cucumber, vinegar and some mint sauce which I had with dhal left from Monday for lunch.  Definitely yummy.
The latest Covid news is quite depressing, even though it was always clear that there would be a second wave, it's still scary.  I worry about the amount of people who are getting angry about or disregarding the restrictions but I suppose that each of us can only do what we can.  I for one will be following wearing my mask, keeping my distance and washing my hands frequently, we just need to get our heads down and get on with it.  It's going to be a long winter.

I had a couple more requests for private work today, it looks like I will be busy over the winter months but I know it will ease off again around May time when the students finish their first academic year so will balance out over the year.   I am aiming to work no more than 3 days per week though as that was the idea of semi retirement.  
well that's me for today.  I'm going to make a cup of tea and read my book for a bit before bed.
Night all
Dottles x

savingholmes

LOL at Tilly and wees

Dottles1

Oh my I a't believe it's been 4 days since I posted, where does the time go?  Tilly has been poorly though seems better now.  She was shivering so much last night that I put her fleecy coat on her in the house.  She was so lethargic, even when there was food around and winced if I tried to pick her up.  I am so aware that she is getting on (14) and it crosses my mind every time she isn't well.  Still, it doesn't look like her time is here yet thank goodness.
I have spent the afternoon in the garage painting table legs today, ready to bring it inside.  I think another coat might be needed and so will check tomorrow as I can't be @%$ed to do any more today.  I'm staying away from DS's house as he has been for a Covid test yesterday.  I think he only has cold but better safe than sorry I suppose.  Our local town is now on the governments watch list for the virus and though local businesses seem to be taking the restrictions seriously I still see people in shops without masks and getting too close either in shops or out on the street.  It's a worry.
Friend P's husband is coming round on Thursday morning to help me sort out the garage and then she is going to join us for lunch later.  I can't believe how much junk is in there again so I plan to be ruthless.  
I'm having a trip out to a local market town on Tuesday and I've been invited for tea at friend D's on Tuesday evening with   client work all day Monday and Wednesday that's another week spoken for.  However, I feel as though my house is gradually getting closer to how I want it so it's not wasted time.  I was asked if I would weekends by a prospective client this week but I'm not going there, I like to catch up with family at the weekends.
Right I'm off to put some coffee on and then half an hour with my book.
Keep safe all, speak tomorrow.
Dottles x

beanielou

Glad that Tilly is on the mend 

savingholmes

Glad Tilly is on the mend. Hope DS is okay.

Dottles1

Good evening
Well it's been a very busy week with work being hectic and jobs around the house getting done.  I had a day out with friend A on Tuesday at a local market town.  I haven't been there for a long time and found quite a few changes.  I particularly wanted to visit La~%$L@*! as I want to get some new cooking items but there was nothing that appealed to me.  The "don't buy unless you need it" rule is definitely firmly in place now   However, I did find an eco shop, you know the sort of place where you take your own containers, so I bought some vegan muesli to try and friend A bought some glycerine soap.  I'll definitely be going back again with my glass jars.
On Thursday I picked up friend P's husband and we spent a few hours clearing and organising the garage.  I now have a couple of boxes to sort through, a couple of chairs to get rid of and a lawn mower to take down to DGS's house.  The table is now painted and was brought into the house leaving 2 chairs to do and bring in.  It's surprising how much stuff I accumulated over the last year but I can now get to everything and have room to move about in there.  P joined us later and we went out for a late lunch at a pub in the village.  I have to say it was quite quiet in there but very well organised with regards to social distancing and sanitising.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday were taken up with work and end of the month budgeting.  For some reason HMRC have changed my tax code which messed up my budget by taking too much tax from my pension.  After a lengthy wait on the phone it turned out to be a computer glitch which has now been remedied however, I must say that the person I spoke to was extremely helpful and efficient.  
Last evening I went to DS's house to await their grocery delivery and stayed for a tea of cheesy pasta with veg, lovely.  I also got to send a couple of hours with GD4.  DS's Covid test came back negative, which I expected and he is feeling much better now thankfully  GD1 (in America) has now had one due to her job meaning she has close contact with students and they have 3 buildings in quarantine at present, she hasn't had any symptoms so I'm not too worried though I know that's not always the case.
So today has been a bit of a lazy day.  Given the weather up here there was no way outdoor jobs were going to get done and I haven't been for grocery shopping yet so no cooking projects done either.  I answered a few emails and booked a couple of phone calls and helped GD1 with her resume and covering letter for a job she was applying for in New York but other than that not much which was quite nice for once.  Tomorrow will be different though as I have a few things I want to get on top of.
Well, that's me up to date, not very exciting but there it is.  Tilly is not impressed with the weather so hoping for it to be a bit dryer tomorrow so we can have a longer walk.
goodnight all
Dottles x

savingholmes

Good to hear you are getting out and about and visiting family and friends. Glad to hear your tax glitch is now resolved. 

Dottles1

Thanks Savingholmes, I'm still adjusting to not having the security of a monthly wage so it was abit of a concern.  Good to know it wasn't my error though. 
Today has been much more productive.  I didn't wake until 9 o'clock which is unheard of for me.  The sun was shining so after some coffee and toast, Tilly and I went for a walk over the field and along the woodland path though it was too wet under foot to go down into the wood.  When we came back I mowed the front lawn while it was dry enough but it became overcast so I didn't get the back done.  At this time of year you can never tell when it will be the last cut so I try to get out there when I can.  I must think of potting up the pelargoniums ready to bring them in when it gets colder.  
In an effort to get a bit more organised, yesterday I bought a pack of highlighters and look some time out to colour code my appointments for next week.  Such a simple thing but it really does help to see at a glance where there is time to fit in admin etc. so that it doesn't eat into my personal time.  The plan is to keep 2 days a week completely free though they may not be the same days each week.  Work is coming in at a surprising rate at the moment but I know that it will quieten down around April/May next year so it works out well for me.  I'll be busy during the colder months but work less over the summer allowing me to go away for a while if possible by then.  I had planned to save up to go over to Ohio to see GD1 graduate in May but it will now be online so I might go over to help her move into her new place if she is successful in getting a job by then. That of course depends on what is happening with Covid.
My lovely grandson is paying for a new blind in the office as a gift.  He put the old one back up for me after I had the room decorated and says he had decided then as he wanted to do something to help out, I am so touched. 
I also cleaned the kitchen cupboards out while my dinner was cooking so I feel like I've achieved a fair bit today followed by curling up on the sofa watching some tv.  Has anyone else been watching Britain's Biggest Dig ?  I'm fascinated by the history of ordinary people and how they lived and am currently reading the book London by Edward Rutherford.  Though it's a novel, it includes such a lot of detail and information about how places came to be named.
Tomorrow will be a bust work day but the difference is that I can take time out to have home made lunch and take Tilly for a quick walk.  I do love having more flexibility.
I've rambled on again so I'm going to go and make a drink before bed.
See you all tomorrow
Dorothy x

 

beanielou

Have a good week.
How lovely about the blind   

savingholmes

What a lovely GD. Glad you are making space in your diary for you and not just taking every job that comes.