Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Wow, that's an impressive distance redo! 

I did another little 20 min trot this morning 😊 But an otherwise frustrating day 🙄 Still, all packed and ready for tomorrow, and I don't need to leave til 8.45 so not a super early one.

EssexHebridean

Lots of impressive swimming distances being talked about here - my "standard" is 30- lengths per visit when I go - when I was going regularly I had that down to being able to do that in 20 minutes if I wanted to - but going less often definitely makes it take longer. I swim similarly to Cheery - head-up breast-stroke - but am moderately fast at it, not quick enough for the "fast lane" and I'm not that confident, which means my comfort zone is the slow lane but I'm far too fast for that so frequently end up stuck out in the middle which I hate! 

I love the idea of "Iron May" though - I'm trying to build up cycling stamina again at the moment and was entirely delighted to realise yesterday that I'd done over 100km this moth so far - for a change there is a Strava challenge for that distance, usually they start at 200km. Having said that, perhaps 200km isn't as unachievable as I felt that it was...

And I was very sad to read about poor Sunshine, hopefully Mr C (and indeed you too) will be able to take at least some consolation in the fact that it does sound as though it was probably very quick indeed. I think it takes a while to begin to see that as a blessing though - the shock needs to subside first. 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks EH. Yes, I agree quick is good, but Mr Cheery's not in a place where he can see that yet (if he ever will). Especially not as he ended up taking Budgie to the vets yesterday too 🙄 They think she's got some kind of respiratory infection - an unrelated coincidence, but they want to put antibiotics in the water for the rest just in case. 

Sadly they've given her tablets, and Mr Cheery can't do that by himself, so Budgie has stayed overnight with the vet (for an extra £100 🙄) so they can do the first few doses. He'll collect her later, and I'll be home tonight. And we still have an appointment for tomorrow if needed - need to decide whether I'll take Bessie or not. 

DEFINITELY not having any more after this lot. Yes, it's a choice to take them to the vets and not everyone does, but...

Anyway, I am currently away for work, and quite tired. Hotel the other night was clean but poky and unglamorous, but I am currently ensconced somewhere considerably more upmarket. Wishing I had another night here to actually relax but I'm off home today - probably a good thing given the circumstances! 

Also good - I won £220 on the Happy Wheel last night, taking April's total to £290. Hoping it stays up there or gets higher - this is the first month in positive numbers this year and we could do with offsetting some vets bills!

Karmacat

Cheery_Daff said:

DEFINITELY not having any more after this lot. Yes, it's a choice to take them to the vets and not everyone does, but...

I can understand that constellation of decisions - you want to look after them, but the financial, social and emotional costs start to weigh after a while.  Especially as health issues impinge on your (plural) own lives.  I made the same decision about cats, even though I adore cats.

Anyway, glad you're currently somewhere more pleasant to be in - and that you're heading home today!

EssexHebridean

My parents made the same decision about dogs when we had to have our lovely Labrador put to sleep years ago...there have however been three further dogs since then...!  

Cheery_Daff

I suppose time will tell... but I'm pretty determined right now! 

Gosh this has been a long week. Left home on Tuesday morning, and should get back about 9.30 tonight. Had a conference, two sociable dinners, a meeting about a potential future project, and an all day meeting today. Then 3 of us had late trains so we went and sat by a river and had an ice cream for a while 😂

On the train now, but goodness me I'm tired 🙄 Walked about 16,000 steps both yesterday and the day before, and another 8000 today - far more than I'm used to these days in slightly posher shoes than I'm used to, and I have all kinds of blisters. 

Also have a nasty bout of thrush.l, I suspect brought on by both stress and eating too much rubbish 🙄 I've done the appropriate medication and it's passing, but currently rather uncomfortable 🙄

Still, I am on the train, which should get into my station in less than an hour and a half, and I should be home about another 40 mins after that, so all good. 

Mr Cheery has gone to pick up Budgie Chicken - hopefully they'll be home soon too. And I'm off work tomorrow with no particular plans, which I am extremely pleased about. Very tempted to spend the entire day in bed!

beanielou

What a week 

rtandon27

Awww Cheery - sending a hug - bed sounds like a good plan!

themadvix

Hope you’re feeling better soon Cheery!

Cheery_Daff

Thanks all. I had a reasonably early night and slept very soundly, and I do feel rather better this morning! 

Budgie Chicken happily ate her medication concealed in grapes this morning, so that meant we didn't have to catch and give her a tablet, FAR better for all concerned. Got to give her some (liquid) anti inflammatories later but that can go in a bit of raw egg, and then more grape-concealed tablets later. What a palaver.

Mr Cheery dropped me at the local cafe while he went to the docs and I made two new local pals 😁 There was a bit of a queue and they ended up sharing my table - they said they'd leave me alone (I was writing in a notebook) but I ended up asking if they were on holiday etc. Turns out they live just up the road, we had an interesting chat, and we swapped numbers, because sometimes if you don't take a chance like that then it passes. 

Anyway, a nice start to the day, but it's rainy and windy and grim now so I'm curled up with a hot water bottle. I'd like to let the chickens out for a wander around today, but in this weather they'll just stand in our porch so they can stay in the run til it stops raining. 

Things to do today:

* text cousin for her new address, then write birthday card and I'll have to nip back out to post it
* pay the plumber (£210 so cheaper than a new boiler)
* make something wholesome for lunch and tea
* reply to two friends about meeting up
* decide about going to an event tomorrow morning
* check banks

I was planning a run, but (a) the weather is rotten and (b) I have blisters from traisping round London all week, so I think that can wait, probably til Sunday. If the weather was nice I'd be tempted to get my bike out and check it over, but I think a day of indoor stuff is required...