The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Evening all
It's been quite a productive day.  Even though I was not working today I did answer a couple of emails and had telephone conversations with a couple of people who want to sign up with my a clients but that didn't eat into my day much/.  I started by stripping the bed and putting on a new (second hand) bed set that that looks beautiful with the throw and cushions my daughter gave me the other week, then hung 2 wash loads on the line to dry.  The weather has been very mild and a bit blowy so they dried quite well.  I've been out in the car to do a couple of jobs that I've been putting off so thought I'd group them together and get them done in one fell .Lunch was an avocado that needed using up on toast and then I took advantage of e weather and did a bit of tidying up in the garden.  I cleared the small bed under the window where I had planted wallflowers in the autumn.  Unfortunately they were hit hard by the snow and ice we had and though I hung on to see if they would revive they have clearly given up the ghost so out they went.  I'm not sure whether to use that bed for salad a  or to put flowers there.  Garden planning is my job for this coming weekend so I'll decide then.  I also swept around the front entrance and washed down the door and adjacent window sill and pulled out dead pants from the couple of planters there.  I think I've mentioned before that as the door is on the side of the house it creates a wind tunnel between there and the garage wall so I get lots of dead leaves that blow in to that area.  After all that Tilly and I went for a decent walk (she's now asleep) to get some steps in and blow the cobwebs away.  We went over the field for the first time since the snow and up the woodland path then round the village.  There are tete a tete daffodils  all along the edge of the field and lots of buds showing on the bushes, it looks like spring is on it's way.
DGD3 is not coming for or usual Tuesday tea this evening as she is preparing to go back to school tomorrow; her school is having a staggered return while they get all the pupils tested and she's been online for the first two days.
The gas engineer is due first thing in the morning to service the boiler and work out why the pressure keeps dropping,  hopefully it won't be too expensive but it has to be done.
I'm going to make a start on the evening meal now so I'll speak tomorrow
Dottles x

savingholmes

Love the picnic plank through the car windows
Well done on the new clients - glad business is going well. 
Great news on the vaccination. Things are coming together.

Dottles1

They certainly feel like they are Savingholmes.  My fingers are firmly crossed that "normality" is somewhere on the horizon. 

Dottles1

Evening all
I've just finished working for the day so thought I'd pop on and update before I log off for the evening.  The gas engineer duly arrived this morning, very personable and with excellent Covid measures in place (I'll be keeping that number).  There was a fault which was corrected but he will have to come back on Tuesday to replace some other parts.  Total damage is £285 which though not great is not as bad as it could have been as the boiler is almost years old, so I'll take that.
The weather has been awful all day, rain, cold and more rain so Tilly is not going to be best pleased when I put her coat on shortly, she really is a fair weather dog.  I'm pleased that I got a few jobs done yesterday as I've had no time today and tomorrow is even busier with appointments. 
This evening is going to consist of nothing taxing, just food, bath, telly and bed in that order.
I hope you are all keeping safe, warm and dry
Dottles x

Sun_Addict

My dog is also a fair weather dog 🤣 I’ve managed to get her out twice today when it stopped raining for a short time. Glad your boiler is sorted. 

savingholmes

Glad the bill wasn't worse and you had money to pay

Dottles1

Hello all, I'm back.  I've had a very busy couple of weeks workwise and have been feeling flat and tired.  I'm now starting to feel like myself again so hopefully on the up.  I wrote a long post this morning but then had IT problems and have lost it, I'll try to write more later or tomorrow but for now it's just good to be back.
Speak soon
Dottles x

beanielou

Good to see you.
Take care 

savingholmes

Looking after yourself is important. Hope you have a relaxing Easter and get to spend some time with family and friends.

Dottles1

Thank you both for your kind comments.  I have been doing a good bit of reflecting and have decided that I am taking on too much work.  It's a fortunate position to be in but this is not how I had envisaged my (semi) retirement and I'm finding myself too tired to do the thinks I want to but at the same time need to earn enough to cover my costs etc..  I talked things over with friend on Saturday during our walk and am working on a plan of action to get to 2 days a week allocated to clients.  I guess that after a lifetime of working hard it doesn't just switch off, it takes time to learn a new way of being.
Anyway I've only been pottering today, I had a leisurely start then got a wash load dry on the line and sorted my wardrobe out so 2 things off my list.  I also caught up with lengthy chats with DD2 and DGD1.
However I want to sow some seeds tomorrow, sort out my pots and sweep outside; my "front" door is on the side of the house and faces the garage wall which make for a wind tunnel that blows any stray leaves my way.  I have a gardener coming next week to give the front and back lawns their first cut and a feed then I will take it from there.  I'm hoping that the weather will stay dry enough to get them done.
I need to do my financial end of year for the business next week and have a report to write but have fewer clients boked in due to the Easter break so should be able to get on track and still have time for myself.
Right, I'm off to make a cuppa to have whilst watching Line of Duty. CHIS anyone??
take care
Dottles x