Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

lucielle

Very jealous of your panels. 

L

Suffolk_lass

I don't think our nine solar panels generated all the electricity we used for the 90 degree wash but they certainly contributed, along with the meagre leftovers of the battery power that was stored (cheap rate) overnight. Most of our battery store and generated power goes to the electric aga (which is like going out and forgetting you left your iron and a convector heater plugged in and switched on for four months!). I got up this morning about 06.00 so I could set another wash going and run the tumble dryer for long enough for the wet clothes I washed overnight (at 30c) to drop out their creases. They are all over the aga now, drying, as the other load is on its' last few minutes (I waited for the TD to stop before starting the load).

We know how to chat here, don't we!

What else? Oh I just read about twenty-twenty-thrive (2025) from @2Scratters over on foxgloves thread - I like that a lot. It sort of sums up what we are aiming for this year - to thrive, in health, enjoyment and maybe a bit of prosperity.

Shopping is still being avoided here. Although I might order one of those long lighter wands for my Mum. She used a match on her gas hob that is temperamental about lighting and the head (flaming) snapped off, spat back and landed on the front of the lovely purple sweater she was wearing, burning a hole before she could react. If I visit in March I'm inclined to organise a hob clean. I'm sure the gas jets are partly blocked. I might take my little steam cleaner and have a go. Our ideas about clean are a bit different.

Not much else to report. I will miss the Village social event today because of my asthma and the need to avoid others (either to share or catch something else). I feel rather exhausted with the reduction of oxygen exchange that asthma brings, but I do think it might be improving. I hope so. I am due to visit a beekeeping friend to treat their bees tomorrow with Mr Sl. He's never met her. It will be outdoors, but I'm sure sitting in the warm would be better for me. As he is something of an angel I know he will agree to go without me if needed.

Right, time to sort that next lot of washing and get the beef in the slow oven for lunch

foxgloves

I do hope your asthma improves very soon. I like '2020thrive' too. The best we can all hope for.
F

Suffolk_lass

Well, almost a week on and the asthma definitely got worse before it got better. I am now feeling a bit more normal after two nights of proper, non-coughing sleep. Sadly Mr Sl is not ok. He was up at 04.00 this morning as he could not sleep and he definitely won't last the day. He had a shower to try and clear his tubes in the steam (and because he said he felt stinky as his temperature is all over the place. He's not really systematic about taking medicines or anything to help, feeling he needs to let it run its course. Silly really. Sleep is the best medicine. Anyway, enough of our health ills. He needs to be able to take the 45 large sausage rolls he made to the party we have ducked out of. We don't want anyone else to catch anything from us!

Other than that, we have done very little, nurturing ourselves and staying clear of others.

My little oil filled radiator from the bathroom was finally returned last night by the neighbours who borrowed it (the people's air source heat pump installation by a rogue trader has meant their first winter in the village was without heating). When I loaned it, I expected it to be a week or two but they have had it since the first cold snap in November, along with all three of the convector heaters that the Village Hall has for use in case of emergencies. They had to wait for a grown-up ASHP engineer to come and sort out the mess and that took until Thursday this week! I hate being cold.

I felt well enough yesterday to actually go and shop. I had to. We were down to make/provide sausage rolls for the party we are not going to. So off I went, with my list, and bought everything on it, plus, a small pork shoulder that we will have tomorrow as a simple roast. And, nothing else! So my spend to date this year is £122.60 and I filled got the car filled up at the local garage. It was worth a few extra pence per litre to me to not have to queue on the major dual carriageway to get the cheapest fuel, or retrieve the nitrile gloves to protect my hands, when it is an assistant service. A tiny relaxation of the purse strings for the convenience and a nice chat with the man there. Almost a treat! I envisage spending no more unless we need a milk top up (there will be the weekly milkman bills of course, which I pay extra for, but I have no doubt that I make savings by not going to the shops). Right. I need to pay the carpenter!

Have a good weekend all.

KajiKita

You are having a rotten time of it, heathwise. I really hope things improve for both of you soon. 

An assistant service for fuelling the car?! I didn’t know such things existed any more 😊

Enjoy having a warm bathroom again 😊❤️

KK

Suffolk_lass

I think I am definitely on the road back to normal health. An early night and I have had over 7 hours sleep with no coughing. Up just after 06.00 this morning and pottering around.

I have nothing specific planned for today so it might be the day to tidy and organise my study, which is a bit of a mess. We do have loads of beekeeping kit activity to undertake but my contribution needs Mr Sl to get some of his complete first.

I do plan to slow cook a piece of pork shoulder but that is the work of a minute, just the skin to score and smear a bit of salt on, before a long slow cook in the simmer oven

KajiKita

Really pleased to hear about your good night. That makes such a difference 😊

Enjoy the office clearing up.

KK

trix-a-belle

I'm glad you're feeling better, hopefully Mr SL is also on the mend and not sinking.
A friend recommended Sambucol to me as a cupboard staple to stave off the beginnings of any lurgy & I have to say i'm a convert, it doesn't taste medicinal imo, maybe see if its something Mr SL will take if he has anything contemplating starting? I did try to have echinacea for a similar sort of purpose but that is tablet form & doesn't taste great.

Suffolk_lass

Thanks for that. I bought him some disgusting cough linctus (we can't have the sugar free one) that the pharmacist recommended, so he resorted to my plan B and took paracetamol and codeine after honey, lemon and glycerin and slept most of yesterday without coughing so he (and I) are feeling very much on the mend today. I hope so, we have a friend arriving the day after tomorrow! I need to think what we are going to do with her. She was always very active and I have not been, with my knee problem going on and on.

As well as the pharmacist I had to get more lemons so £2 spent there. I was not a little impressed that I went in, collected two bags of lemons, paid and left. No looking, no temptations! We do have plenty of food in and I plan to cook from stores this week, as much as I can. DH did manage to get up for a roast pork dinner yesterday, and we have the rest of the pork to incorporate today and maybe tomorrow. 

Right, plenty to do to clear up and recover from several days of slothful inactivity (albeit, much needed!)

foxgloves

Glad to hear you are both on the mend. So many horrid lergies circulating atm.
F