Moving on

Cherryfudge

Muffin-free day today, but we won't mention I thoughtfully defrosted some spicy dip and mixed some into pasta for lunch and it was so spicy my temperature went up after one spoonful so I abandoned it and bought packet soups (had one) and a pack of two custard slices, of which I had both. But I had a muffin-free day, so I didn't do too badly, right?

Last night I was woken at 20 past 3 by DH, telling me I was breathing loudly. I checked I wasn't snoring, but was so focussed on getting into a position where my breathing was as good as could be considering the inside of my nose is inflamed, that I eventually felt hungry and went downstairs for some biscuits, a drink and anti-inflammatories. Two hours later I got back to sleep, and didn't wake till DH texted me about what time to meet him and the grand daughters. As it's half term, the toddler club wasn't meeting so they went to the library where I met them.

We had a nice time with the girls though I was in a thick fug till after lunch, because having a cold and being tired is doing that to me. The older grand daughter decided she wanted to go in the (very old) church where the toddler club usually meets so DH and I took her there. There are all sorts of interesting things for people to explore but DGD found her own. DH played the piano, giving me the opportunity of filming them both getting a few notes out of it together. I so hope the girls have inherited his musicality! It was lovely, though mostly as a picture of generations together. Then DGD1 decided the choir stalls were a bus and we had to travel in them, so we cut the visit a bit short after that.

My friend texted me to say she could host our Tuesday meeting and this week it was I who had to back out as another of the group is trying to shield her husband from chest infections. I've also sent apologies for the Wednesday job tomorrow despite having clients booked. There will only be one person available to give advice and one 'hosting' person to welcome people, but I really need a day or so off and judging by how I felt this morning, it would be a big strain to attempt the work. It may be that by taking it easier tomorrow, I can fulfil the things that are supposed to happen on Thursday, but I can't judge that yet.

So tonight we are in separate rooms in the hope of both of us getting a good night's sleep! I'm learning the feeling of having too much on my plate is perhaps a sign that I actually do have too much on my plate and shouldn't just try to power through.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £17.55 approx
Medication £1.40 approx
Library fine £2.10

One of my banking apps has just introduced a new feature where we can see spending split into categories. It won't be true to exactly what's spent as a supermarket bill might include medication or a gift, not just food, but it will be interesting to explore it.

Cherryfudge

The cold progresses: it took hours to get to sleep last night as I was so congested. In the end, menthol sweet, paracetamol, open window, finishing my book and adding an extra pillow did the trick. I don't feel as fuzzy-headed as yesterday so I expect I got more oxygen overnight.

I've cancelled everything for today and I'm going to cancel the mentoring session for tomorrow. I would still prefer to get to my friend's funeral though so I might prioritise that. I doubt I'll be infectious, but how do I tell?

There are all sorts of things I could peck away at today without having to go out, but hydration and taking it easy are priorities. Dinner will be from stores: last night DH got fishcakes which are a quick and easy option but those freezer contents just have to be tackled and I really don't fancy chicken (but might defrost some for DH to have tomorrow).

rtandon27

Uggh sounds like a rough night - get better soon @Cherryfudge - rest is often the best thing for when you are feeling below par

Cherryfudge

Thanks @rtandon27, I actually spent the afternoon asleep and feel better now! Not completely better but headed in the right direction.

I haven't got a lot done today and have stayed in the house apart from taking the bin out. Perhaps I should have stayed out longer, partly to get the sunlight and partly to celebrate the end of the cold spell? The heating's been on all day but I still didn't always feel warm enough, so that's when I caught up on sleep. Aside from that, I've chucked various bits out of the fridge, washed my hair, done a few articles of ironing and emptied bins, and I think that's it. As always I don't like wasting food but some had gone off, or had been there a bit too long for me to be confident of it if my sense of smell isn't 100%. I also threw out the sauce I'd defrosted yesterday and which turned out to have a lot of mustard in! Neither of us will eat it. One lesson learned is to allow more time when doing a whole chicken in the Instant Pot: three hours doesn't get right to the middle, which is why I made stock that then didn't get used.

DH had quite a good day at work, I think, and brought home salmon for tea so I know spending has happened. We had it with pasta, peas and sauce from stores.

I cancelled everything tomorrow, even work but as the evening has gone on, I've been feeling better so perhaps I'll go into work on Friday. I thought I'd better avoid the funeral just in case this is Covid (the tiredness and shortness of breath remind me of the first time I had it) as I don't want to pass it on to anyone. I will see what the morning brings.

Cherryfudge

So I woke up after a good night's sleep feeling good (sorry about the focus on the cold, it's been ruling the roost this week) and decided I could get to the funeral - then as soon as I sat up I started with a cough and basically, I'm not suddenly clear of everything. Itchy skin has arrived too, which I thought went with going down with something, but I've not been anywhere to catch anything new. I'm finding the aqueous cream is helping with that, so thank you to whoever it was suggested it (and sorry I can't think who).

DH says it's already much milder out of doors, so I will get myself dressed and stick my head out. It's been raining overnight and is forecast to start again but that should give me a better idea of how 'better' I am.

Cooking smells from next door! I have no idea why I can smell it today but haven't done before. We do hear their voices and little bits of sound but it's not a problem. I hope they are as entertained by us as we are by them! DH and I often exchange a grin when we hear sneezes or singing, and our piano must be louder than those.

Cherryfudge

I've decided against the funeral. Still too many symptoms.  It's not often one wants to go to a funeral but I would have liked to have celebrated this lady's life and I'm sure she's in a better place now... 

Back at the ranch (my parents used to say that as a meme from the cowboy movies of their day), I've stuck my head out of doors and it's lovely and mild, though I still got the shivers when I came in. The bird table is replenished anyhow. I've thrown out some of the food as the birds won't touch it but are making inroads into a different variety. Will teach me not to buy the cheapest! I also had a message announcing the arrival of my friend's first grandchild on her birthday! How lovely is that?!

And now it's not nearly lunchtime and I'm hungry. I'm worried that I seem to be eating far too much rubbish. However, I've made myself a fruit tea that's supposed to help immunity. I used it when I had Covid the first time and while I can't prove it worked, I think it might have done.

Cherryfudge

I don't feel I've done much today, though I've let work know I'll be back tomorrow.

I've actually been out twice - once to take the bin to the end of the road for collection and once to start cutting back brambles. Rain stopped play on that but it was very gentle exercise and the garden is slightly tidier. And wasn't the rain torrential! I got tired again (the 2.30 slump) and dozed for a while and when I looked out of the window again, the sun was blazing.

I've avoided the shops: there was chicken in the freezer which I baked with the remains of the sauce from yesterday (tomato and basil) on cherry tomatoes and shallots (the latter left over for Christmas). It worked very well, and we had tomato and garlic cous cous with it. I did another batch of banana muffins, so that's the frozen bananas used up.

DH has the cold now: he's more coughing and wheezing than I was so I'm glad he has the day off tomorrow and the weather is going to be similar to today, around 14C. After all these weeks of cold, it's balmy! DH will doubtless decide to go for a walk so at least he won't get too cold.

I made a very gentle start on tidying: 4 'paper decisions' have gone in the recycling, and a few sheets of clean-on-one-side paper are clipped together for scrap. The admin for the Sunday morning group has been done. We are losing a couple of helpers, but I am not entirely surprised as they have other things they're involved it. It's reminded me I need to look at the next couple of moths of the rota, though. That scrap paper is going to get used.

KeepOnKnitting

I hope you start feeling better soon. Take it easy. 

Cherryfudge

KeepOnKnitting said:

I hope you start feeling better soon. Take it easy. 

Thank you! I do feel a lot better today, though DH is coughing and wheezing and says it reminds him of when he first had Covid... so perhaps that's what it is, as both of us are reminded of it? I've had a Covid jab back in the autumn but it could be wearing a bit thin now, or have been based on a variety that's gone out of fashion. Anyway, I do feel I'm on the mend thanks.

It's been grey, gusty and gentle temperatures today, but the wind dropped this afternoon. Some showers have been torrential, or maybe it's more noticeable as it seems the gutter over the back door is blocked again so we had a waterfall.

DH has been looking after his pet car again and is very happy with how it's going. We had our main meal at lunch time and finished up the salmon while watching The Repair Shop then - perfect timing as Steve the clock repairer was on - our clock repairer appeared with our restored clock mechanism. He's taken months over it, though I know some of that will have been waiting till it got to the top of his list. The grandfather clock is now steadied with a baton that keeps it against the wall (no structural changes as DH fixed it through a hole that was old long before I was born, so perhaps someone long ago had the same issue). The clock man really surprised us as we'd taken him to be coming up to retirement age, but he was working back in the sixties. He's taken lots of trouble and won't let us pay the bill till we're happy that the clock problems are cured, but so far, so good. He's also temporarily silenced the chime which is beautiful but far too loud for our house. In my parents' house the volume was lost in high ceilings and bigger rooms with lots of books and soft furnishings which doubtless absorbed sound.

I asked the clock mender's permission and got a photo of him with the clock, which will go with the receipt in the provenance. I've also said I'll send him a copy. I did wonder if it was acceptable to ask him, but I think he was quite pleased with the result and he's part of the clock's history now. He's also set it to show the right date, which, as he said, comes from the days before calendars.

All this doesn't come cheap but I know DH has his eye on getting a couple of his family clocks repaired now and I've set aside some of the money I inherited as it would have made my parents very happy that it's working after some forty years of problems.

Once the clock mender had finished, we went out for our Friday coffees, which was nicely money saving. DH had a voucher to use up for a favourite local coffee place, and I remembered that we always lose track of our loyalty cards so we rounded them up and there was another free drinks worth (and now one card instead of four). It cost us £2.50 in the end as DH got a luscious cinnamon pastry (I taste tested it).

One the way home I popped to L1dl as I remembered I'd one of their free spin bakery prizes. When I checked, it was any bakery item for free, so I got one of their multi-grain loaves, worth £1.89. I did buy other stuff too, so the 'freebie' effectively cost about £10... but those are things we will eat, even if some of them were the more expensive jam. DH has also bought fruit and tinned foods.

Having decided I was fit for work, I got a double dose. For some reason there weren't many people working today and I was asked to do two areas. That means just doing the basics, but I got it all done and have proved to myself I am well again.  

I have my eye on some of the Kindle book offers so I'll check whether the library has them before buying. I also have a birthday coming up but really no good ideas what I want so it will probably be the recurrent list of vouchers for things.

Cherryfudge

I completely forgot: DH went looking through the local charity shops and found himself a S*perdry coat for £17.10. No idea why the odd 10p, perhaps he stuck some change in a collection tin or bought a carrier bag? The coat is really nice and should be easier to use than either of his 'smart' coats (constantly battling with those not being as good quality as they could be) or his quilted coat, where the zip has failed.

I'm still working on the button holes of one of the the 'smart' coats - peeling faux leather and saggy buttons bely the aspirational description - the other 'smart' coat goes to bobbles in no time and the failed zip is straightforward enough if you happen to know what you're doing, which I don't. I've done the thing where the slider is gently eased a fraction more shut (I think it was that way around) and it lasted a few weeks but really, the zip is probably in need of replacement, and the needlework teacher back in 1974 said zips were difficult, so that's obviously still true and an insurmountable barrier.

Anyway, what it boils down to is a bargain new coat.