The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Thanks Savingholmes. 
I've just finished for the daywork has been split today, 8:30 to 10:30 and then 3:00 until 7:00.  It sounds a pain but I was able to meet friend A at the park for a walk.  I took Tilly with me (2 birds, one stone) and we all got rather wet.  Strangely it was quite mild so I didn't mind too much apart from the smell of wet dog in the house later.  I've also picked up a new client and two returners so ticking along nicely.
I'm not going to do much this evening apart from a shower and something to eat as I have a full day booked in tomorrow.  However I am making a note of a few things I want to do at the weekend like sorting out my seeds and planning where I want the plants to go so will set aside some time on Friday to do that.  I know that things are not changing for a while and that nothing is guaranteed, but I feel quite buoyed by Boris' roadmap speech on Monday.  I think it is just that it's the first time in ages that there has been a possibility that things could improve.  Still, I'm not putting my shirt on it just yet but it felt as though the country heaved a sigh on Monday evening.
Well m'dears my stomach is asking where the hell it's food is so I'd better get busy in the kitchen.
Speak soon
Dottles x

remote_control

I feel the opposite about the announcement! I think I'm still hurting from Christmas being cancelled and the schools closing again. I just don't believe it.
But the vaccine roll out is really lifting my spirits and also that hopefully things will be better by the end of the year at the latest!
Looking forward to planting some seeds, I need some compost though. 

savingholmes

I think it's all weird. DH got a shielding letter today for the first time - one of 1.7m people now added to the list - and has been told to shield until end of March. This fits with what I thought he/we should be doing anyway - but doesn't sit right with DD returning to school! DH and I are getting our first vaccines a week on Friday though - so that is bringing some hope...

Glad you got to see a friend Dottles.

Dottles1

remote_control and Savingholmes, I think it is the vaccine roll out that is helping me feel a bit more positive though I do think we have a long way to go yet.  I just hope that people stick with it now and not take the announcement as a signal to forget about restrictions.  

remote_control

Hi Dotties,
Sorry I realised afterwards I sounded a bit negative on your thread so I apologise for that! I definitely feel a bit more relaxed now I know my parents have had the jab although I still havent seen them. 

Dottles1

I didn't take it as negative Remote, just an opinionwhich is always welcome.
Morning all
I've had one client and am free now until 3:30 so I thought I'd nip on and catch up with you.  I need to close February's work spreadsheet and send a couple of emails before I take Tilly out but first I'm having a coffee break.
I had a pleasant weekend with sun shining.  Saturday was walk day with friend P, we are taking photos to make a calendar as Christmas joint gifts for friends this year so that involved some fun.  This week we created a lockdown coffee morning by placing a plank through our car windows (parked side by side) and laying it with cloth, serviettes, china cups& saucers and cake.  We did get a few stares and smiles but it made us giggle - and of course we HAD to eat the cake !!  We did then do the walk as usual and have been discussing some new ones that we can do as the restrictions ease.  
DS and family came for lunch on Sunday for the first time this year, I haven't been able to prise him out of his house recently but he accepted .  I was in a productive mood and so did the weekly housework before they arrived, changed the bed and hung the sheets on the line to dry in the sunshine.  I then made a large Quorn cottage pie with spicy roast cauliflower and carrots which went down well with a couple of glasses of wine and later on we had fresh cream chocolate cake.  I had enough left over for my evening meal tonight so no need to cook today.  DS insisted on washing up and fixed one of the jets on the hob which wouldn't ignite.  I love cooking for people and having the family round so I thoroughly enjoyed myself.   While they were here Mr Jackdaw decided to pay a visit which delighted GD4 as I've been telling her about him, I think he may actually be a bit of a show off and enjoys the attention.
It's been a foggy start today but I'm hoping that the sun might make an appearance later and if so I will try to get out and do a little in the garden.  If not I need to sweep up outside the front; my door is at the side of the house opposite the garage wall which makes it into a bit of a wind tunnel for leaves and other rubbish that blows this way.  A quick 10 minutes should sort that though.  
Okay coffee break over, these emails won't send themselves.
Speak later
Dottles x

Dottles1

My second post in the day, whatever is the world coming to?  Quite a productive day, 2 more clients seen, a line of washing dried outside and now finishing off inside, I love that fresh smell throughout the house.  I also moved everything from the freezer to the one in the garage and defrosted the one in the kitchen, all wiped out and switched back on now plus another load of washing on ready for tomorrow.
The best news today was a call to say that my operation has been booked for 7th April !!  I've been waiting well over 2 years for this so I'm really excited.  I'm having a cornea transplant and so should very quickly have much improved eye sight if the results are as good as with the first one.  As a bonus, I should have had my first Covid vaccine before then so will feel much better about going in to the hospital even though it will be done on a day patient basis. 
My leftover meal is in the oven with a sweet potato and butternut squash mix that I am roasting to go with it.  No work tomorrow but I am meeting friend P for a shorter walk locally and hopefully a coffee.
One happy person here.
Speak soon
Dottles x

Dottles1

Afternoon all.
I received my letter on Tuesday to go for the Covid vaccine and then a call from my GP surgery on Wednesday to ask if I could attend in an hours time.  Well of course I said yes and toddled off and was duly jabbed.  I had some flu symptoms yesterday, tiredness, aching muscles and slight headache but I took some paracetamol and went to bed to sleep it of and woke up feeling great this morning.  That's another thing ticked off.my list.  
I'm working all day today and so took my own advice and put a one hour break in at lunchtime so I could take Tilly out for a short walk, clear my head and get some fresh air as well as a few steps in.  I have to say it did make a difference, I feel that I have more energy for the afternoon sessions. and so I need to plan that into my routine.
Friend P and I went for a short walk on Tuesday around a nearby village to explore and then had a coffee whilst sitting in our respective cars with the windows down so we could chat.  We are doing our usual long walk tomorrow which is good o get the weekly steps up.
This evening I will be doing very little, I have some left over herby new potatoes and green beans, I may roast a cauliflower to go with them with spice and cheese.  After that It will be an evening either with my book or in front of the box if there is anything interesting to watch.
I have to go as another client due 
See you soon
Dottles x

beanielou

Glad that you have had your jab.
Have a happy weekend x

Dottles1

Good afternoon
I've been busy with work this morning but I'm free now until 3:30 and so am going to have some lunch and then take Tilly out for a walk.  It's cold here and wet but a brisk walk should sort us out and get some steps in too.  I bit the bullet and weighed myself this morning and have put 3lbs on so I'm back on the healthy eating path and the steps will help with that.  It's soul destroying how easily the lbs go back on when they are sooo hard to shift, it's an unfair balance.
Friend P and I completed our walk on Saturday morning; it is getting easier and We are getting faster which is a good sign.  Altogether I managed 20,000 steps on Saturday I jus wish that I could do that in the week .
As I haven't been using all my personal spends lately for obvious reasons, I have ordered some skin care.  I have run out of moisturiser and some other bits and managed to get a deal online for what I wanted and I'm now eagerly waiting a delivery.  I also had some useful food from Olio this weekend: sprouts, greens, a packet of small wraps, carrots and a tub of fresh garden vegetable soup.  I'll use the veg up this evening and tomorrow, the wraps have gone in the freezer and I had the soup yesterday, it wasn't very tasty so I probably wouldn't ask for that gain but everything else is most welcome.  I have also given away some UHT milk that was given to me via the app but I only buy food that I will eat and manage my stocks well so don't often have food to donate.  I am however, going to add some kitchen items that I no longer use as they do non food items too.
Jobs for today are:  hoover through, walk Tilly, put a couple of washes on as tomorrow looks like being our only no rain day forecast and write a shopping list.  If I get those done I'll be a happy bunny.
Tilly has decided to get up so I think I'll go and sort out some lunch before I drag her out in the cold.
Keep warm and safe all
Dottles x