Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 4 - The Aftermath

lindens

I have just had my first veg box delivered. It's time to support local businesses. I have also just messaged the milkman - i got his number off the lady opposite as i noticed her milk bottles outside. She had to leave his card on her doorstep and went back inside. I took a photo of it and posted it back through her door lol.

foxgloves

Sounding positive CCL. It really won't do kids any harm whatsoever to learn that everything they want is not always 'on tap'. I can remember all the power cuts back in the 70s, as well as one or two shortages, but of course being in my mid-50s, my parents remembered rationing & my grandparents had lived through two world wars. So stories of shortages, rationing & privations were probably shared within families of people of my vintage, more than in families of younger people.
I'm sure your DS will get used to it. He may turn into a chicken goujon-making expert! I've never made them, but I bet they'd be way better quality than shop bought.
F xx

crazy_cat_lady

Hello  
Well we have survived the day and are home and tucked up for the night. We were actually booted out of school straight after the meeting so I'm pleased that the Head is taking things seriously when so many people are not... There is a rota in place - each member of staff that is available to work has been allocated one half day in school a week - the rest of the work to be done at home. My day is Friday so that's it for me for the next few days, but obviously things are changing on a minute by minute basis so I'm checking in regularly (I need to anyway for adults to chat to albeit virtually). I'm virtual teacher available online Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, and the rest of the time it's kids and house stuff.
Sat down and looked at the financial situation for the moment. It's not great. I'd made so many plans for the year and this has put them all on the back burner. The short term is about survival - much like when I was going through the court thing. I'll do what I need to in order to get by. I am still a bit panicked about lack of exam work ahead though - I normally get the kids school uniform with that. Ah well - we just need to get through this.
I noticed on the way home just how many cars are still on the road. I think there's an inevitability about lockdown and if it doesn't happen tonight then it's going to happen tomorrow. Supermarket car parks were still really full (I drive past 3 on the way home) so people are just not listening and thinking that the rules are either there to be broken or that they aren't important. DD said she felt as though people thought it was an extended 6 weeks holiday. That was the impression I got too.
We got home just after 1 and have stayed in - back door was open for the cats to come and go and some fresh air in the house. I did an hour of school work then watched a bit of telly, dd has worked and of course ds is on his Xbox. We had the leftover broth for dinner and are just relaxing a bit. I was going to make a start on treating the mould in the bathroom but haven't gotten round to it today - so it's on the home list for tomorrow.
Stay safe people.  

crazy_cat_lady

So - day 1 of lockdown begins. I have a bit of a determination to stick to a bit of a routine or I'm worried I might go mad. Got up this morning, pottered round the house for a bit and then went off for a walk - dragged ds with me. Still far too many cars out on the road which is a pain in the backside - I daren't think what will happen next. And apparently people are still out panic buying everything in sight and there's no hope of social distancing in the supermarkets. I'm beyond dismayed at how many rubbish excuses that people are coming up with for being out. Some folk have absolutely no idea... I saw a gang of young lads out on bikes round the street. DD had said to me last night that there were no police here that were going to enforce it and she is blimming right.
After that, came back and did 3 hours of school work - decent solid hours of school work - then decided to make a start on tackling the mould in the bathroom. I'm using this time to try and turn my bathroom into something nicer than it is at the moment. Truth is that it needs completely replacing, with a new floor after my disaster of a leaky bath a couple of years ago but there's simply no way that I can afford it. So I'm going to try and make it nice in the short term with a good clean, coat of paint and lino. Hopefully that will do for now - decorating is right up there with gardening and cooking on the list of things I'd rather pay someone else to do, but I'm going to have a go. There's certainly a bit of time to kill.

f0xh0les

If you are doing your grout, a mix of bicarb and bleach, into a paste, put on with an old toothbrush in the morning after you have all brushed your teeth,  ignore for as long as you like, or until bedtime when you are about to brush your teeth - wash/ hose off. Sparkly grout! No fuss no bother no effort really.  It has worked much better than anything else I have bought.

Plus sticking as many mirrors on the wall as possible.

Good luck with your project.  Sounds like a great use of your time, and it  will make a huge difference.

crazy_cat_lady

Well loads of the bath sealant came off with the mould. I found another bottle in the cupboard, googled how to fit it in the applicator machine and now have the whitest but messiest sealed bath you have ever seen in your life. It's hilarious - however I only care that it's waterproof. I can't get anyone to look at it now for obvious reasons so it will have to do short term. I just have nightmares about the bathroom floor collapsing again because I'm a long way from being an expert for sure.

f0xh0les

The first time is the worst, honestly, once you get the hang of the 2 rows of tape, dipping the finger in washing up liquid, and getting a long smooth swipe of the finger and a smooth removal of tape, then it is totally easy peasy.  Then you can do showers, kitchen worktops, draughty window seals, the lot.  The first time always looks like a dog's breakfast.  It gets loads easier.

foxgloves

CCL - I am good with my hands.... reasonably competent pianist, crafter, can handle the tiniest seedlings, decorate cakes, knit complex patterns..... but give me some sealant & a bath & I will 100% produce the worst mess ever. Am convinced this is normal. Have also tried the stuff on a roll. Think I did it wrong as it looked OK for about a week then started buckling & coming off. I have never figured out why this job is so difficult!
F x

crazy_cat_lady

Just checking in quickly... 
Slept ok - the novelty of being home all of the time has very rapidly worn off. Ah well - I feel like some sort of domestic goddess at the moment getting washing done and hanging it outside, making meals from scratch, emptying the bins every day, finding the time to go for a walk. I am supposed to have washed the bathroom paintwork ready for repainting but decided that I couldn't be bothered with that, and I've spent much of the day between school work and crochet. I am still determined that I'm going to pick up and read a book very soon. It's weird not being able to just pop out when you need something. I don't mind it yet, but can't see how it will work in the long term - suppose we just have to make it work as there isn't another choice at the moment.
Nothing much to report but I did say I'd check in regularly. Hope you're all hanging in there...

Tescodealqueen

Yes even though we are retired we are certainly getting more chores done. Sorted out all the planters and strawberry plants, tidied the garden and had coffee in the garden in the sun all before 11am today. Very pleasant it was too