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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 09:23 GMT (UK)

Title: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 09:23 GMT (UK)
Well here we are again off to a new week, although it is bank holiday today I will just carry on as usual, got muddled up one day last week, much to my embarrassment, but I suspect I wasn't the only one.

Nice clear day today but I read we could be having a turn in the weather soon but it will be more seasonable than we have been having

No new years resolutions being made here, what is  the good if no one keeps them up, could write a few for my other half but don't think  I will bother !!!!

Hope people are gradually feeling much better now

Take care

Louisa Maud
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 10:04 GMT (UK)
Thanks LM.
Another typically grey and damp day here in the South West, however, it being January I suppose it is pointless to moan.
More LFTs this morning. Mine negative, but H still has a discernable mark, indicating he is Covid positive. He continues coughing gaily in all directions, and closing up the ventilation, despite he remains contagious.
Perhaps I should make a resolution to avoid committing murder in 2022?
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Caw1 on Monday 03 January 22 11:25 GMT (UK)
Oh dear MH sorry to hear your H is still positive…. Perhaps you could shut him out on the balcony for fresh air rather than committing murder…. I’ll keep an eye out in the papers!
I’m presuming that means you are confined too or are you able to at least get out for a walk, which I know you enjoy?
It’s quite bright here, at the moment, washing in the machine and may be able to hang it out but…..
As you say it’s January and we should T complain but it’s so nice to see just a bit of sunshine even for a short while as it does lift the spirits.
Take care and keep the knives safely locked away and smile sweetly 😬😃

CAroline
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 12:52 GMT (UK)
Hi Caroline..... do I sense you are trying to spoil my plans here??  ???
As far as I can interpret the rules, because I have consistently tested -ve, I do not need to isolate, however, due to the continual contagion via coughing risk, I have remained isolated as far as socialising goes.
I have done essential shopping, masked of course, and as early in the day as I could, so that I would encounter the least number of people.
I have slipped out most days for a swift walk as dusk approaches, to get a little exercise, which I think  is probably vital for me, being in a vulnerable category. But again, I have picked my time, and route carefully, to encounter the least number of people.
Tomorrow is the first social event I am considering attending, and I will make my decision depending on how much coughing H does in the next 24 hours.... assuming another -ve test for me too. 
But at present I am veering towards not going out.
Knives safely locked away.... though it isn't very sporting of you Caroline!!!!  Hey ho!  :-\
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 14:43 GMT (UK)
Well MH, the  good  thing about committing  murder is  you  get  put away from your normal life, but  just  think, you will be  fed and watered, kept warm and  have  no responsibility, have  a  choice of menu  I  am  told, can  do  almost as  you  like except  go for  your local walks,  thinking again, best  not!!!

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 14:59 GMT (UK)
A private room with no-one coughing over me???
Sounds pretty good.
On the other hand, solitary Morris dancing doesn't seem quite so appealing.....
 :-\  Decisions, decisions!!
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 15:14 GMT (UK)
MH,   you  have  made  me  laugh out loud, if  you  were going to  committ murder you  have  lost the opportunity to have free Christmas dinner, think  you  ought to stay  on the straight and narrow and  enjoy  your relative  freedom

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 15:20 GMT (UK)
Fair comment LM.
Perhaps you are right.... but where's the fun in that?
In fairness, he is coughing much less today.... looks like I might be too late for the "extenuating circumstances" plea!!
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 15:28 GMT (UK)
Well , you  know  what  they say " in  sickness and  in health, for richer and  for  poorer" !!

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 15:32 GMT (UK)
Mmmm.... there is that too, I suppose.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: jim234j on Monday 03 January 22 15:46 GMT (UK)
Hi from Winnipeg Canada.
My son and wife and our 2 kids are feeling better.   
However on the nasal test results 2 tested positive and 2 did not.
On the second  rapid test 2 tested negative, 1 tested positive and the youngest grandchild did not have the second rapid test but he is fine physically.  None of them are showing symptoms.
The one who tested positive is the one who has to work out side the home so they are finding out what to do and it appears they can go back to work after 5 days as they are not showing symptoms and wear medical mask but the Provincial Government wont answer what they mean by a medical mask and if its what we all think it is, you could not get one here.   A gong show if you ask me.
The kids may go back to school in a week but no one knows yet.

My son however is very stressed and we did facetime with the grandkids last night but that was a fiasco.  Our granddaughter is 13 and she did not want to chat with us nor did she want us to see her.   She waved her hand so we saw that :).   I hope it is just a phase she is going through as this has happened twice and she has always been very close to us.
 
Weather is very clear and very cold so there is no way you can leave a window or door open here unless you want to freeze or have a heating bill that will bankrupt you.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 03 January 22 16:09 GMT (UK)
Don't  worry  about the 13 year  old, probably  a  phase she is  going through, perhaps  she is  suffering the atmosphere at  home  and  worrying  about the situation about covid, sometimes  teenagers  take  a  lot of fathoming out, she will  come  round

Our grandaughter  was a  bit of  a  pickle to  say the  least, we often  looked  after  her  on  a  regular basis, just recently quite out of the  blue she apologised for " being a naughty girl"   she wasn't that  bad  but  was  a  strong character but to  be  honest  I  think if will stand  her  in  good stead for the future, she will be  22 next  week and is  doing a  masters, growing into a  lovely  young lady,  strangely  enough  her  brother  also  said sorry for  being a naughty  boy,  on separate occassion to  his  sister and  not prompted.

So she will  come  round, give  her  time

Louisa  Maud
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 16:14 GMT (UK)
It is disappointing when the children don't wish to communicate, and I do find it a little depressing, but it is probably just a phase, and your grand daughter will want to be telling you something important to her soon I'm sure.
Also I trust they will be in full good health again, very soon.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: candleflame on Monday 03 January 22 16:50 GMT (UK)
Afternoon all
Sorry to hear some are still suffering either from covid or the effects of covid on others. (No murders please  :)).
I have little news , other than the house has been cleaned and dusted and the decorations and tree are all put away today. I could see other neighbours up steps outside taking their outside decorations down. We only put indoor ones up so it’s not too onerous.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: DianaCanada on Monday 03 January 22 18:00 GMT (UK)
We took down our indoor decorations this morning, but hadn’t put much up, thankfully. Really hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year, though I do enjoy gift buying.  We always give each other ideas and then sometimes I buy surprises that I know they will like (this year it was gift certificates to a live theatre festival and to a nice restaurant).

Ontario has just announced schools will go online for two weeks and many non essential services will be closed again, e.g. gyms, indoor dining, etc.  Private indoor gatherings limited to 5 and outdoor to 10.  OH told his curling postponed until further notice.

Mowsehouse, just to clarify, you are allowed to go out with your OH testing positive?  Here we are supposed to isolate if any household member is positive.

The snow came back over the weekend and did look pretty.  It was quite cold this morning, felt like
-16 c but has warmed up somewhat, feels damp out there, I long for the dry winters I grew up with.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 03 January 22 18:54 GMT (UK)
Hello Diana.
You ask: "QUOTE: Mowsehowse, just to clarify, you are allowed to go out with your OH testing positive?  Here we are supposed to isolate if any household member is positive."
The  Exemption rules from self-isolation for Covid contacts on gov.uk state:
You are not legally required to self-isolate if you are notified you have had close contact with someone with Covid-19 and any of the following apply:
you're fully vaccinated......
Which I am. (But then so is my husband!)
Despite that, as I said,
1. I have ONLY produced negative PCR and LFTs
2. I ALWAYS wear a face covering.
3. I deliberately pick my times and routes to avoid as much contact as I can.
Clearly someone has been less public spirited than I am, but I would not want to be guilty of passing it on by reckless socialising.


Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: DianaCanada on Monday 03 January 22 19:22 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the clarification, Mowsehouse! The rules, wherever we are, can be confusing.  When I had my cold just before Christmas, and before I got my test results, I read whatever I could online to make sure I understood everything - even then I felt a bit at sea.  Now they have stopped contact tracing here, and telling people, due to test shortages, that if we gave cold/flu symptoms to assume we have Covid, it’s gotten even more nerve wracking.
I haven’t been out of the house, except with the dog, since I had my test on Christmas Day, and will probably cancel my bone scan (routine baseline check) scheduled at a local hospital on Friday.  Was happy to hear today my children all have their boosters coming up within the next week. 
Even with over 80% of Ontarians with at least one jab, omicron is climbing at an alarming rate.  OH heard on a news broadcast the epidimelogists expect this to be over by Fall!! another nine months 😒😳
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: candleflame on Monday 03 January 22 21:04 GMT (UK)
Hi Diana
Your epidemiologists are differing from a Danish one reported in our uk papers saying after another couple of months, it should be much better but it won’t go away. Then you read another article saying there’s another variant that hasn’t been officially recognised yet that originated in Cameroon but there’s 12 cases in Marseille in France . You just don’t know what to think…….
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: DianaCanada on Monday 03 January 22 21:30 GMT (UK)
Hi Diana
Your epidemiologists are differing from a Danish one reported in our uk papers saying after another couple of months, it should be much better but it won’t go away. Then you read another article saying there’s another variant that hasn’t been officially recognised yet that originated in Cameroon but there’s 12 cases in Marseille in France . You just don’t know what to think…….

I am not distrustful of people in authority or of scientists, but I am beginning to have that helpless feeling of realizing that no one out there really knows where the dust will settle with Covid 19.  Like many of us here, I will continue to take precautions and try to take each day as it comes, and not to worry too much.  I feel for younger people dealing with this, many finding it so disruptive to their careers and families, and to those whose health is affected.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Monday 03 January 22 22:39 GMT (UK)
Spoke with my daughter this evening ,for some clarification re my grandson’s little family all positive .
They visited my ex son in law who ‘d had his booster shortly before.
Hefelt unwell but presumed it was from the booster ,so had not tested !
His new wife tested the next day as she has to do each day for her job and was positive so let them know immediately as they were coming to see me.
That is when they phoned me to say they were not coming and instead
tested ,they were still negative , but went home anyway without stopping and a few days later tested positive!
They had stayed at a hotel ,so told  them of course that they had been in contact with someone who a day later was positive ,showed  their negative test results and left .
I suppose my ex son in law was foolish in thinking the symptoms were from the booster ,but with visitors going he really ought to have tested.
I am not sure if people who have symptoms post booster ought to consider they would be positive anyway .
It is all so fuzzy,my mind boggles!
Phoned my daughter and she said the little family were not too bad ,with the help of  paracetamol  for the adults and Calpol for Flash Harry  if needed, but baby seems  not too bad,no high temperature but a bit snuffley .
What a mess.

At least they are all close in the length of time to isolate , so it will be over for them in about ten more days.
Sadly the “ Baby blues “ started to rear their ugly head for FH and baby’s mummy , oh how I feel for her ,as will anyone who has had those.
Years ago they were not understood and there was little or no sympathy for young Mums . Now we know they are hormonal and beyond the control of the women.
That is a little help at least.
My grandson is marvellous ,can cook, wash, clean and iron.
Is so good with FH and baby .
I could give him a good smacking for not being vaccinated  but at least he is
now doing all he can .
Nice to read your news folks ,so different in other parts of the world .

Will try for next day delivery of part of FH’s present ,some story books and
activity books which will keep him busy .
A parcel posted on Dec 20th are according to tracking numbers still at Hermes Depot!
So P.O .tomorrow.
 Cheerio and I hope all keep well and those ill  make good recoveries.
Viktoria.





.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: candleflame on Tuesday 04 January 22 10:15 GMT (UK)
Morning all
Does anyone else on here clear out their food cupboards at the start of a New Year? It's something I do , partly as a result of years and years ago visiting my aunts house and finding tins and packets years out of date.
So far I've only found two tins of Heinz tomato soup which expired in 2021, so I think we'll be having those for lunch today or tomorrow. The tins haven't blown ( I did the push test) so they should be fine. We clearly didn't fancy tomato soup in 2021!
Self Raising Flour - expired date but no weevils in it. What do others do - still use it or bin it?
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Tuesday 04 January 22 10:39 GMT (UK)
Not  so  long ago  I  opened  a small tin of tomatoes, just  about out of date,  wasn't blown, well it exploded and I  had to wash the kitchen tiles, as surprised  how  far  travelled , I  am  very strict  on use  by or  best  by  dates, my husband  not so, I  tell  him if he wants to eat it he can, I won't , so  yes  I  do  check dates  but not necessarily   new  year, very  strict on fridge  stuff as  well
When  you think  back there  wasn't a sell by or  use  by, think our parents  went  by what it  looked  or smelt  like.
Pouring  with  rain, all my plans have  gone  astray now
Not sure what  I  would  do with the  flour, knowing me I would  bin  it.

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Tuesday 04 January 22 10:44 GMT (UK)
MH, if only everyone was so sensible.  Hope your husband is feeling better soon.  How many days is that now?  I'd recommend a pulse oximiter to keep an eye on his oxygen saturations.  I  have seen lots of instances of the cough lingering, hope he tests negative soon.

Went to the opticians yesterday.  I couldn't put it off any longer, nearly 2 years overdue and my glasses no longer cutting it.  So I have now reached the point where I need varifocals.  Feeling rather anxious about the trip though, as the mask was interfering with one of the tests by steaming up the equipment so he asked that I take it off, not something I feel particularly comfortable with but I didn't feel I had much of a choice.

Tried to do some more logging of my sources on my tree but as usual got distracted and started looking for newspaper articles and googling people from my tree. I'm glad I did this time though as I found something really interesting and a bit exciting (to me anyway, probably not to proper people).  According to the article I found (yes I know it may not be true, just because everyone says I'm stupid doesn't mean I actually am) my daughter's 4xgrt uncle had been responsible for the tombstone of William Simpson.  Better known as Winsome Willie of Robert Burns fame.  His Dad (daughter's 4x grt grandfather) was allegedly one of the men who found Holy Willie's body after he drowned.  I already have one ancestor who was responsible for the first publishing of The Jolly Beggars, another who was cited in a biography of Burns as having been with him when he overturned the mouse nest,  another who was alleged locally to have been the inspiration for Tam O'Shanter.

We have a yellow weather warning today forsnow, looks not bad just now but will need to wait and see.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Tuesday 04 January 22 10:54 GMT (UK)
It would be the raising agent I think that might let you down.
O.K for pastry if not cakes.

I did a tidy up and chucked some stuff away ,some tasty home made Christmas mincemeat ,I have some left of the latest batch so will decant it into bags or plastic tubs and freeze it .
Hopefully in the not too distant future my husband’s sister and her daughter will come and we can pretend it is Christmas as we open pressies from 2020 and 2021 ,did not get each other any this year as we had so many to open
 already.
A lovely bright sunny morning ,off to the PO with stuff for the quarantined household .
I sent a parcel via Hermes on Dec 20 th.
No sign of it so complained and hey presto, guess what -it will be delivered today,between seven and nine this evening , however,it is to a remote hamlet in the Shropshire Hills .The back of beyond.
No streets ,just random cottages .
Up an unmade track with never a street lamp for miles.
Blackness that we in towns have forgotten could exist ,so that’ll be fun!

Well hope that those who were unwell feel better ,and that we all get through this.
We have tried hard and done our best .
Pharma,just read your post,I only know a very few of Burns poems but that is exciting for you.
I find the dialect difficult ,one or two have been transcribed into language more easily understood and they are lovely but just as I feel about Lancashire poetry written in broad dialect ,ie I feel they should be left alone ,yet appreciate that means they will hardly be read by people  today now the dialect has almost gone ,so with Burns.
Not that all Lancashire poets could compare with Burns .
A few,Edwin Waugh,Samuel Laycock  Ben Brierley we’re really good .
Often about distressing times but some lovely ones about the countryside and family life in the famine years -mid 1800’s .
Cheerio.
Viktoria.
P.S.as Pharma says ,Oxygen levels need watching , take note if lips are blue/ grey skin a bit grey and nail beds blue/ grey .If so Oxygen levels are getting dangerously low so seek help.V
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: BumbleB on Tuesday 04 January 22 11:03 GMT (UK)
"Sell by" or "Use by" dates - my attitude is, if it looks OK and it smells OK then use it.  OH and I did perhaps the ultimate yesterday afternoon related to this subject.  I found a pack of M & S Irish Coffee mugs in the cupboard - bought for Christmas 2020 and a use by date of 17 March 2021.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so followed the instructions and micro-waved them.  Absolutely delicious and I think the alcohol must have got stronger with the wait.  8)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Tuesday 04 January 22 11:37 GMT (UK)
"Sell by" or "Use by" dates - my attitude is, if it looks OK and it smells OK then use it.  OH and I did perhaps the ultimate yesterday afternoon related to this subject.  I found a pack of M & S Irish Coffee mugs in the cupboard - bought for Christmas 2020 and a use by date of 17 March 2021.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so followed the instructions and micro-waved them.  Absolutely delicious and I think the alcohol must have got stronger with the wait.  8)

I'm fussy about dates on meat, eggs , and some dairy products otherwise I go by how it looks.  I've had fruit and veg go off well before their dates.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Tuesday 04 January 22 12:44 GMT (UK)
I  had  a  pack  of sausages  well within the  date and the package  had  blown, they  quickly  went in the  bin,  journey  not  worth  my  while  to return them LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: BumbleB on Tuesday 04 January 22 13:04 GMT (UK)
It's "swings and roundabouts" with food, isn't it?  We've all had food go off before the "date".  And for those of us who are "older", the dreaded date didn't appear until at least 1970.  For my sins, I just see these dates as a ploy to get us to spend more money, and to encourage wastage.  :-X
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Tuesday 04 January 22 16:17 GMT (UK)
Yes ,I agree.
Fancy a use by date for salt!
Nothing to go bad is there.!

Pre fridge days we had to shop daily and often used what was bought that day.
That is not really feasible now women go out to work much more ,we can shop later true , and do have fridges but in many ways I think life is harder.
Different conditions and different stresses.
I would not be young now .

What a waste though,when half the world starves!
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: jim234j on Tuesday 04 January 22 18:01 GMT (UK)
I have spending my time today looking at a family journal I found that  my mother wrote and the time we lived in the UK for 3 months well they were preparing PMQs for Canadian military families at 2 fighter wing Grostenquin France near the German border.

We spent that  time with family friends in England.  He was the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church at Gee Cross near Hyde.
 We docked at Liverpool on the Ivernia,  December 31 1953. 
Holy Trinity also had a school and I  attended,  but the journal said they did not really know what grade to put me in and I did not adjust well to the change from my Canadian school.
  My mother got wind that every morning the school would have assembly and everyone would sing God Save the Queen and then we would go into our classes where the teacher would make me stand in front of the class and  sing Oh Canada.  The Vicar put a stop to that.  No wonder I didn't adjust.  :)
Its a wonder I didn't need therapy for years.
I could not make any sense of pounds pence and shillings so it was a good thing I was not there really long. They gave me a load of cardboard money and I was to learn it but it appears I never did.  during the time I was there.

I remember the Vicars daughter Lynn taking me to a Pantomime and I loved it and I also remember it was very smoggy there at that time and being taken for walks up the Werneth low. 

It was nice to read what my mother had to say about the area and our time there and put me in a better state of mind.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Tuesday 04 January 22 19:31 GMT (UK)
Werneth Low is lovely ,
such views.
Can you remember the spectacular Railway Viaduct that was so prominent  a featureof Stockport?
L.SLowry painted a lovely picture if it.

A wonderful system of underground work too, almost another town below ground.
Useful in the war as shelters.

Did you not go to France then?
I remember those smogs, most homes had coal fires in those days, then “The Clean
 Air Act “ came in .
Nice to read what your Mum wrote I can imagine
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: jim234j on Tuesday 04 January 22 20:02 GMT (UK)
Werneth Low is lovely ,
such views.
Can you remember the spectacular Railway Viaduct that was so prominent  a featureof Stockport?
L.SLowry painted a lovely picture if it.

A wonderful system of underground work too, almost another town below ground.
Useful in the war as shelters.

Did you not go to France then?
I remember those smogs, most homes had coal fires in those days, then “The Clean
 Air Act “ came in .
Nice to read what your Mum wrote I can imagine
Viktoria.

We did go to France and the accommodations for the first year, as the base had just opened, was a very small trailer with no indoor plumbing and so small you could not lie sideways in it. 
Can you imagine a family of five living in that and how hard it was on the mothers. 
We had not teachers for the first year so the mothers taught us until my mother wrote to the Anglican Archbishop of Rupertsland in Canada and teachers showed up from Canada.
 It became a very choice job.  We lived in France for just over 3 years and eventually ended up on apartments with a very nice school but those first months were really rough for the original families there which we were one of.

I don't remember much of my time at Gee Cross   It is more like snapshot memories.  I remember going to a classmates house for dinner and was so happy they had pork and beans and toast as the family we lived with ate a lot of lamb something I was not used to having and did not like.
I remember the Pantomime and going up the low and playing the Holy Trinity Church Cemetery beside the Manse and the box of cardboard money and someone taking my winter coat in school and being punished for it when they found out who it was. 

I looked on goggle maps for Holy Trinity Church and the Manse and school at Gee Cross and when I saw them I remembered them.  :)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: mare on Wednesday 05 January 22 04:44 GMT (UK)
Wonderful to have the journal to recall episodes of the past Jim, well done your mother keeping an account of places and activity in her jottings.

All good wishes again from me to those with family health concerns.

Not really thorough with a good turnover right on New Year myself ,CF. If you're replacing the flour next shop, my first thought was it would be suitable to make some playdough for the children so it has another use before binning it. Cooked dough keeps for a few weeks but can be frozen too in portions, daughter makes up some regularly for grandchildren and if you look up recipes think there is a non cook one that you can freeze. I used to love making it up those early years at playcentre etc, especially on those chilly days when it was nice and warm straight from the pot to play with, just flour, salt, water and oil and a splash of food colouring but there are variations, tossed out after group play but safe enough for the odd munch as well. Not much waste at our place, use the sight, smell, touch and tentative taste test with foods, freshly purchased or stored.

Mail day today, one Christmas newsletter from our friends in Nashville we'd been expecting as usual, they're in a retirement village now but keeping up to an extent on usual activities and news of their offspring, daughter is helping many hours in her spare time with vaccinations and a medical background but full time lecturer at Vanderbilt Uni.
Epiphany tomorrow, I take down all signs of decorations and cards by then, not that I put up much this year and didn't put up a big tree, just did some decorated foliage.
Also have two 4ft indoor artificial trees year round as a bit of screen, in tubs, wooden branches with silk leaves and I do get around to dusting them now and then! I had some lights on the ficus and a garland of large silk poinsettia flowers and leaves on the birch and took them off today for a quiet task of dusting.
Had a real 'pyscho' moment as suddenly thought I'd swish the garland in the shallow cool water I had in the bath … to often treat the feet in the heat  … well it was a big ooops as instantly the deep red dye of the flowers ran and as I quickly pulled them out, flicked the crimson water up the walls and splashed everywhere as I reached for a large empty plastic basin to carry outside. Put the garland on the hedge to dry and looks good as new, had that and a white one for years and very pretty and wasn't even looking dusty in the first place! Let out the red water cleaned up the 'murder' scene but had already stained and had to resort to some bleach, a bigger job which is often the case but at least I wasn't in a hurry to be anywhere.

One of the neighbourhood cats I thought was going to adopt us yesterday, the only one of many that pass through our place that does pause to 'talk' occasionally, quite little and pretty. I had opened a tin of salmon and thought I'd put the remaining liquid out for the first cat to come by and it happened to be that one, was looking for more and  decided to explore inside and make itself at home … for hours and was still trotting in and out just before midnight when I shut all the doors we had flung open. Anyway hasn't come back the very next day … yet …

Stay safe … and well ...
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Wednesday 05 January 22 09:57 GMT (UK)
Good to hear everyone's news, a welcome relief from reading about the escalating rates of the Omicron variant.

I've finally returned to doing some proper family history research after doing practically none throughout the lockdown. However, I threw it down in frustration yesterday, I was looking for information on some 3x gt grandparents and thought I might find some on the public trees on Ancestry. All of the ones I looked at had erroneous data, it seems that the tree owners have just plumped for any old Thomas and Mary with the same surname regardless of where they lived or died or where their children were born. Probably of the same ilk as those who claim they're descended from royalty.  ::)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: KGarrad on Wednesday 05 January 22 10:27 GMT (UK)
"Sell by" and Use by" dates are there for the shops, IMHO!
I still have some  Christmas puddings from 2020.
Herbs and spices?I have no idea if they are "out of date"!

Cheese was intended to mature; I still eat it after date.
Bread only gets thrown out if it's blue.
Canned food normally stays OK in the can (no air can get in to spoil it).

Anyhow, home again after Christmas visit to my daughters, grandchildren and brother.
Had to do an LFT within 12 hours of arrival - result was negative.

I'm dodgy on my feet nowadays. Getting a new walker (rollator) this afternoon. :-D
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Wednesday 05 January 22 11:38 GMT (UK)
Woke up to no snow which is good after the weather warning yesterday.

Dinner was a bit of a disaster.  Went to cook the chicken and it was so off, that it stunk the kitchen out so had to a very quick replanning so that my daughter could get to work on time. I then managed to slice my finger trying to open a can of tinned fruit.

Sat down in the evening and logged some more of my sources on the Ancestry version of my tree. Quite a labour intensive process adding them manually but want to get it completed this year.

Having selfish thoughts about the new pronouncement that NHS staff must not socialise at all or do anything in their free time that could expose them to covid.  Don't get me wrong, I have no intention of partying or going to any events and have been living close to a lockdown life since March 2020.  I can't see that changing any time soon.  However being subjected to significantly stricter rules than the rest of society feels like a kick in the teeth.  Taking my daughters to school which is a risk, not doing so isn't really an option, especially on work days.  I don't want to live on edge worrying that pausing to chat to my neighbour, socially distanced outside would be enough to get me in trouble.  It's particularly galling when there are others who won't do the bear minimum eg isolating when actively ill with covid.   
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Thursday 06 January 22 00:06 GMT (UK)
Friend and I conversed by phone today, she had been to our nearby Chemists asking for test kits but they had none .Her 16 year old grand daughter has Covid .
I decided to look online, did all the rigmarole etc ,was told my nearest two Pharmacies ,and given a collection code.
Now I know from my friend one Pharmacy has none so what difference will it make tomorrow if I go there with a  collection code?
It seems a paper exercise to me.Literally.
No testing for people at the start of journeys, what fun, the little virus can get into the plane’s air conditioning and spread it right through!
People travelling to find tests — more movement of people .
Holidays abroad advertised willy nilly!

I almost give up.
Sent a lovely photo of baby and Flash Harry to my long time friend in Wales ,she emailed back immediately to say what a likeness to my late husband.
She has known us from both couples being newly weds and so knew him  when young.That was nice to hear, I trolled through some old photos and yes there is a likeness.
Well after midnight again - I will turn into a pumpkin soon ,keeping such late hours.
Goodnight everyone , take care and keep the news coming ( it is almost like
legalised voyeurism!)
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 08:43 GMT (UK)
First day back at school here.  Pouring with rain today, made it difficult to get motivation to get out the door early.

The updated covid policies do really make it feel like the Government want us all to fall ill.  I worry about the potential for new, worse variants.

My cut finger has been stinging, slowing me down and because of where I cut it not great for typing.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 06 January 22 09:15 GMT (UK)
I needed no urging to get Christmas Cards etc down in good time - although this year because of other things I didn't even put up the little candle bridge, let alone getting a tree and putting all the precious old baubles on it! What a Christmas .... what a year.....
TY
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 06 January 22 09:19 GMT (UK)
TY
Look for a better Christmas next year and you can get your decs out, mine got put away yesterday

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 11:47 GMT (UK)
I needed no urging to get Christmas Cards etc down in good time - although this year because of other things I didn't even put up the little candle bridge, let alone getting a tree and putting all the precious old baubles on it! What a Christmas .... what a year.....
TY

I only put up decorations because of the girls, going through the motions.  They are now sitting in a box in the living room as no where to put them.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 06 January 22 15:45 GMT (UK)
Where  is  everyone  today, are  you all on 1921  census, anyone  had  any luck!.?

The 2  people I  wanted  are  nowhere to be  seen, there  are  only  about 7  members  of the same  name  listed so it shouldn't  have  been difficult, is it an unusual surname , I do wonder  if the  lad  aged  about 15  was  in some  sort  of  boys force,  I  think  he is an orphan by 1921, his  mother  died  a  few  weeks after he was  born  in 1906

LM

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 06 January 22 15:46 GMT (UK)
Because of a recent major abdominal op, the very thought in December of climbing into the loft to retrieve the 3 large boxes of mainly very light glass decorations really didn't appeal! And unusually, OH not able to climb, either. It's very rare we're both laid low at the same time.
TY
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Thursday 06 January 22 15:55 GMT (UK)
Where  is  everyone  today, are  you all on 1921  census, anyone  had  any luck!.?

LM

Very little luck, I can't find several of my gt grandparents, nor a great aunt, have got that can't be bothered feeling now.

Our local newspaper has been trying to panic us by reporting that the Met Office said 100% chance of snow. Not here they didn't.  ::) We had about a dozen flakes this morning,  although it is freezing and windy here.

PharmaT, not being funny but can't you put the decorations back where you got them from?
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Thursday 06 January 22 15:59 GMT (UK)
Hope you both are soon better,.
 I vowed nothing would go in the loft here when I moved.
We had a proper access ladder to the loft in my former home ,and had it floored partly.
It was like a furniture shop ,carpet store, bookshop with books for three degrees, ,toy shop ,odd rolls of wallpaper shop and disused curtains of the twelve foot long and double   that  in width variety.
There is nothing in this one.
However ,not much storage here so too much hanging about ,I never feel really tidy .
But a bit of a hoarder ,I must confess.
Sentimentality has a lot to answer for.
I put up fewer decorations each year.
Look after yourselves.
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 06 January 22 16:07 GMT (UK)
We  do  have  a  loft  ladder, some  years  ago alone in the  house  I swung the  ladder back after  use  it came  back and knocked  me to the  other  side of the landing , I am  loath to  get  up there again, I leave  my other  half to sort the  ladder  out but have  been known to have  a  look around while  he is there, one  day  it  will have  to be sorted

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 16:16 GMT (UK)
Where  is  everyone  today, are  you all on 1921  census, anyone  had  any luck!.?

LM

Very little luck, I can't find several of my gt grandparents, nor a great aunt, have got that can't be bothered feeling now.

Our local newspaper has been trying to panic us by reporting that the Met Office said 100% chance of snow. Not here they didn't.  ::) We had about a dozen flakes this morning,  although it is freezing and windy here.

PharmaT, not being funny but can't you put the decorations back where you got them from?

I got new ones this year and those that weren't new had just been sitting in my bedroom next to my bed all year.  I really don't have any storage space.  I have tiny wardrobe space for my clothes 2/3 of it is full of his stuff, same with the loft, and there are boxes of his stuff piled up in my room.  I have to store things that have broken and had to be replaced since he left.  He is not entitled to things I bought since he left but he can claim Illegally disposed of them so it is becoming more and more difficult to function as a working home as the months go on.  Especially as I'm under pressure to keep everything sitting perfect.  He has already reported me for 'stealing' his stuff.  He agreed in writing last January that he'd have everything picked up as soon as the border was open but he has argued that I am rushing him and putting unfair pressure on him and his rights take precedence.  I look at putting them in storage but I could not afford that as it could be years more before he agrees to collect.  Thing is nothing was new when he left, some a lot of years old eg the mattress was already 13 years old so as the months go on more and more things become unusable and need replaced so more space is taken up.

I couldn't resist and looked at the 1921.  Although most of the ones I need are Scottish and that's not out yet.  I looked at a couple of my daughter's directs one family I cannot find at all and another the Dad is living as a lodger in a cottage and his wife and children are with her sister and BIL on the other side of the village green.  THe other collateral lines I will have to resist until it is more affordable.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: DianaCanada on Thursday 06 January 22 16:19 GMT (UK)
I had a look at the FindMyPast site this morning, just accessed the index, saw my father as a 4 month old in the index in Burnley.  My mother was not born yet.  Am not sure what other people I want to look up, but will probably give in to temptation and look some up. It looks like I am being charged about 1 pound, 80 pence to see a listing, other listers are saying it is over 3 pounds.  Maybe I have got it wrong (it is there in Canadian $).
Had a nice telephone chat with a friend yesterday, we are both fed up but soldiering on.  The powers that be are no longer reporting the exact number of cases, as they just don't know.  Some jurisdictions are going for testing sewage water (ick) to determine the level.  Apparently in Nova Scotia they found Omicron as early as November.
Cold typical January weather now, -6 C, quite windy so bitter, and more snow on the ground.  I encouraged the dog to make his outside visit at 6:30 quick.  Had very weird dreams last night, not like me, dreamed the dog was out in the yard fighting with another dog.  Impossible for a dog to get into our backyard in reality.  Maybe a reminder of when he got into a fight with a groundhog.
Have gotten back to work on my online educational material.  Black History Month here in February so am making something on that topic.
Hope everyone is well.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Caw1 on Thursday 06 January 22 16:20 GMT (UK)
Just spent the whole afternoon taking down the decorations and boxing them all up…. Just the tree to do now and get it all back in the loft!

My wreath still looks as good as the day I made it in early December… it’s such a shame to dismantle it but can’t really keep it as it is!

I’ve had a quick look at the 1921 and found my Mum, grandmothers, and aunts… my Dad seems to be missing but by then he was in the army so don’t know if he’d be listed anywhere… one grandfather had died by then and the other one doesn’t seem to have been at home… not actually paid for them but it’s quite helpful when you click on image it tells people in the household.

Ah well back to decorations!

Caroline
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 06 January 22 17:25 GMT (UK)
Pharma, can't you find a nice damp lock-up for his stuff? I can't believe you are legally supposed to store every sock and tie for ever!
TY
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 06 January 22 17:35 GMT (UK)
Wonder if where  PT lives  they   might  have  different  laws to  our areas but it does  seem totally unfair in  my  opinion

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ashtone on Thursday 06 January 22 17:49 GMT (UK)
He agreed in writing last January that he'd have everything picked up as soon as the border was open but he has argued that I am rushing him and putting unfair pressure on him and his rights take precedence. 

Put his stuff in storage and start billing him for it. Or have the storage firm bill him directly. End of.
Another option: Have the court issue him with a writ that his stuff needs to be collected within 14 days, or else it gets slung.

There is no way that a court will expect you to keep hold of his stuff indefinitely. (One of my relatives was a Sheriff Officer for the court in Scotland).

Also, are you and your ex divorced or separated? Just curious if he pays child support or alimony. If he pays neither, then I would question why he might be allowed custody down the line.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: candleflame on Thursday 06 January 22 18:01 GMT (UK)
Afternoon
Have been out shopping today for ‘essentials’ ( as in certain items of clothing that needed replacing late 2019 but because of covid restrictions haven’t done any ‘ essentials’ shopping.)  The centre where we went was very quiet and I don’t think that bodes well for the shops in there. Waited till today until all the schools were back. It was nice to get out and do something different actually.

I had a quick look at the 1921 at breakfast and found a few of my lot . I haven’t bought any yet, but as with other searches I used broad terms and then narrowed down. Those who haven’t found their records, try again with just basic search terms in then narrow down. You can find out loads for free as the transcript button ( as against buying a transcript ) lets you see the names of a couple of others living at the same address. Tonight I’m going to work out who was living with who and then using the address search, narrow down the address too. Then I’ll decide if I want to buy anything and if I do, I’ll def buy the image not a transcript. Lots of reports of inaccurate transcriptions on assorted online threads, plus I like to see the handwriting.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 19:41 GMT (UK)
He agreed in writing last January that he'd have everything picked up as soon as the border was open but he has argued that I am rushing him and putting unfair pressure on him and his rights take precedence. 

Put his stuff in storage and start billing him for it. Or have the storage firm bill him directly. End of.
Another option: Have the court issue him with a writ that his stuff needs to be collected within 14 days, or else it gets slung.

There is no way that a court will expect you to keep hold of his stuff indefinitely. (One of my relatives was a Sheriff Officer for the court in Scotland).

Also, are you and your ex divorced or separated? Just curious if he pays child support or alimony. If he pays neither, then I would question why he might be allowed custody down the line.

He wouldn't pay for it all storage companies said the person taking it out and signing for it would be liable for any unpaid bills. I have been told I must keep it because he says at least once a year that he wants it so it can't be considered as abandoned.  Also they say that because he didn't leave fully of his own free will it would be unfair. He was removed by police.

We are not divorced yet for a few a few reasons.  1.  I can't afford the fees 2.  I cannot risk antagonising him too much as I have been advised that because his name is on the tenancy and he asks for residency Imust give it to him as that is his right,  this would mean the girls and I have to leave the house.  I have checked with the council and they have said that would mean we would be considered to have made ourselves deliberately homeless due to giving up a tenancy.  That would mean we would not entitled to any help to find somewhere else and due to him leaving me in a lot of debt I can't afford a deposit on a private rental.  Also if we had to leave with only what we could carry I wouldn't be able to kit out a house with essentials.  3.there is an ongoing restricting what Icouold testify to if he contested it.  4. I cannot afford to pay him money, I am stillpaying of the debts he lft so no savings so I don't want to help him bankrupt me.

He hasn't paid a single penny at any time.  That doesn't factor into custody decisions really. Well if I tried to fight for child support then it would be used against me to 'prove' I couldn't support them and to argue I was holding them to ransom.

LM the system is basically that he has rights and I have responsibilities, they say it is to balance things up as he didn't make a completely free decision to leave and I have been denying him his rights.  IF you have a look on Twitter at the thecourtsaid accounts you'll see issues are worldwide and this is pretty mild.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ashtone on Thursday 06 January 22 20:41 GMT (UK)
How long have you been continually living apart? There are DIY and quickie divorces which would cut down on court dues.
However, as he is still on your property's tenancy agreement (?) it will be very difficult to prove, to a divorce court, that both of you have been living apart. And unfortunately, that's the rub.


 
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 21:19 GMT (UK)
How long have you been continually living apart? There are DIY and quickie divorces which would cut down on court dues.
However, as he is still on your property's tenancy agreement (?) it will be very difficult to prove, to a divorce court, that both of you have been living apart. And unfortunately, that's the rub.

3 years 10mon and 14 days.  Shouldn't be that difficult to prove we've been living apart.  I have a non harassment order against him, the regular inspections should help i that sense. Although his stuff is still here I've packed it into boxes so it's not sitting about as if being used. Also approaching 20th court date where he states his address as elsewhere.  His address is registered elsewhere for his bail conditions, also would break his bail conditions to stay here.  Not that I'd let him Can't get a quickie divorce when children are involved and he is pushing for custody. 
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ashtone on Thursday 06 January 22 21:37 GMT (UK)
Nearly 4 years apart? Time for a divorce. Get Legal Aid to help with court costs. It's available.
Still can't fathom how someone currently on bail can pursue custody of children.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Thursday 06 January 22 21:48 GMT (UK)
Nearly 4 years apart? Time for a divorce. Get Legal Aid to help with court costs. It's available.
Still can't fathom how someone currently on bail can pursue custody of children.

Because apparently they cannot consider that as that would potentially bias them against him.  Also said because the whole process is taking so long it is unfair and I should have more compassion for him.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Friday 07 January 22 09:01 GMT (UK)
Woke up this morning to it snowing heavily which makes me feel a bit bah humbug.

The book I decided to treat myself to arrived yesterday.  In my research I had found that my daughter's 4x grt uncle had written a book of poetry.  I looked on Amazon and found a reprint.  So it turns out this copy was created by effectively photocopying an original copy and they have copied the original dedication that he had written in himself.  So now I know what is handwriting is like and the dedication was to Andrew Carnegie, so perhaps a library copy.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Mowsehowse on Friday 07 January 22 09:42 GMT (UK)
Nice for you and your girls Pharma.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Friday 07 January 22 10:35 GMT (UK)
That is something to treasure Pharma, well done you.
My son sent me a book last Christmas ,as yours a photocopy by “Forgotten Books”.
In the fly leaf it has stamped ” Harvard College Library 1916” Subscription Fund.
A book of Lancashire poetry from the Famine Years ,by Joseph Ramsbottom.
The famine years being the mid 1860’s during The American Civil  War, when the Southern ports would be blockaded but in any event Lancashire cotton workers refused to work with slave produced cotton, causing themselves dreadful hardship and indeed true famine.
After the war Abraham Lincoln sent a letter to the people of Manchester in particular but Lancashire as a whole for their part in shortening the war.
That is the only reason I can think of why this little book would have a place in the library at Harvard.

In very strong dialect I wonder who could have translated it.
Almost unintelligible nowadays it is fascinating to me.

You have a very strong personal link to your book though so I can imagine the great pleasure it gives .
To have the dedication to Carnegie as well ,a real treasure ,let us see some of the poetry — I promise none from my book unless by popular demand as it truly is almost another language !
Viktoria.


Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: mare on Friday 07 January 22 11:08 GMT (UK)
Well the cat came back the very next day … for a couple of hours anyway in the evening again, very friendly and excessive rubbing around us … cupboard love, just had a morsal of soft fat as I was wiping out the grill pan after dinner, not that I was encouraging it but anyway not too bothered that it was content to sit with us purring away, though also I thought a bit of a worry that it may trip one of us up trotting around under our feet while we were up and about. What I didn't expect was that it would suddenly turn and bite me quite aggressively for no apparent reason on my right hand as it was just sitting to the left of me on the floor as I reached forward from my seat and sunk quite a nasty tooth puncture wound at base of my thumb. Needless to say the cat is no longer welcome and my yelp had husband rushing from upstairs to see if I was OK as I shooed it away. It's been back a couple of times again attempting to come through the house as well but getting discouraged now. One of those who gets and inch and wants a yard and bites the hand that feeds it too! I'd given myself some basic treatment at the time on Wednesday night, quite painful and area  became swollen and red overnight so phoned our doctors in the morning, they were fully booked with having just reopened the day before but sent me to a walk in clinic and prescribed a week of antibiotics. Cost me that performance though, only about an hour being seen by nurse and doctor and getting script but a subsidised fee that could have bought us a whole salmon with my grocery shop! So sympathy on the can injured finger, Pharma, finding out how much I have to avoid thumb as well but is improving slightly after two days of the course and yours starting to heal too I expect. Shame same can't be said for the relationship as it should, sounds like an emotional and financial trap by all accounts but good to hear you're still finding some pleasure and a few gems with family history and a treasure of a poetry book.

I had a reconnect with a researcher in the US over the past couple of weeks, we hadn't been in touch for a few years and I did have his contact details but hadn't put them in my list on my current computer, he's updated his tree and we each had a little more to share on our Irish connection. Just happened to notice back a while that he was researching two names that fitted with my maternal grandad's parents and from same town, he had no knowledge then of existence of my grandad and his brother coming to NZ but with help from parish records has pieced the family together, also a  photo I shared of grandad's sister and family names in the US confirmed the pieces fitted in the puzzle.

Keeping up with some of news here and abroad, with increasing detections of virus again at our border lately chances are we'll have more in community too, quite good uptake of booster shots since more eligible it seems over the past week.

Have had a nice day out today, Friday has just come to an end now, we had some work related papers to drop off to colleague on his farm and had a chatty morning over a cuppa with them, on to a popular blueberry farm, a bit hot to be out picking but we bought some berries and then into Thames for a late lunch of lovely gurnard and chips on the wharf.
Thames was a bustling goldmining town in its heyday, hasn't grown hugely but a stopping point for holiday makers enroute to the beaches of Coromandel Peninsula, my dad was born there in 1909 so quite like that bit of history of the surroundings and visiting.


Have a good weekend  all, stay safe and well ...

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Friday 07 January 22 20:00 GMT (UK)
Yesterday morning, I wondered if I might have a bit of a temperature and was hallucinating .. I looked at the newspaper headlines I saw reportings that Boris has said Britain might be back to normal in three weeks.  I was quite astounded to read such a thing.  I still haven't quite got over the New Year surprise of there not being any further restrictions.  We had had a good Christmas and so I had been quite prepared to take it on the chin , whatever Boris had to say.  I just hadn't expected to hear no change.
I messaged SiL about the headlines and she messaged back along the lines of 'the newspapers say a lot of things'. I sort of anticipated this would be her response.

This morning I went to the hairdresser.  I had been a bit anxious on Tuesday morning when I couldn't get through to make an appointment.  I wondered if the business might have gone to the wall like a lot of other places.   I didn't fancy the idea of looking for a new hairdresser.  I have been going there for years and I don't want a new one.  Anyway, I needn't have worried as it turned out that it was just shut on Tuesday as part of the Christmas closure.
There was a notice on the outside window saying that due to omicron masks must be worn on the premises. When I got in I was pleasantly surprised to see the place full.  Last time I went I was the only client. I take it that this means that the business must be doing well and will probably not go bust.
The hairdresser said something on the subject of omicron so I announced to the whole lot of them what I had seen written in the papers.  The hairdresser said "Oh good! Let's all go to bed and wake up in 3 weeks!"
 Another woman gave me a withering look and said "So Boris said THAT, did he?".  She also said something else but I didn't quite catch it.  She looks at me scornfully like she thinks I am two sandwiches short of a picnic.   Yes, I say, he did say that .. at least according to the newspapers.
I get the sense that people might feel that they daren't get their hopes up too much anymore.  It does sound somewhat fantastical to think we could go back to normal in 3 weeks.  Perhaps we might - because the huge booster uptake .. perhaps we might be heading for herd immunity?  I would really like to think we might be heading to normal at last.  I suppose we shall have to just wait and see.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: KGarrad on Friday 07 January 22 20:07 GMT (UK)
There are lies, damned lies, and newspaper reports!
One of the reasons I never buy a newspaper ;D
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Friday 07 January 22 20:18 GMT (UK)
RTL, presumably it was the usual attention grabbing headlines of The Sun, although not an accurate reflection of what was actually said:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/17236149/britain-could-be-back-to-normal/

Lots of "hope" and "could" in the report. Well who knows, I "could " be the next Prime Minister.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Friday 07 January 22 23:28 GMT (UK)
I am truly amazed, people who have tested positive have to do tests for some time after the official period , but where can they get tests from?

I went online and did all the rigmarole ,was given a collection code and the names of our two local chemists where I could get tests so I can test every few days as I now do a bit of shopping etc.
Neither have any and no idea when they will have.
I could have made two unnecessary journeys in a blizzard ( well some snow)
had I not spent hours on the phone .
My friend’s grand daughter has it and will need to test before returning to school —- ?

Well on a positive note, a tiny little shoot has appeared in the plant pot where
I planted just one hyacinth for indoors ,the rest are for outside in pots and are in my little greenhouse.They will be sunk in the garden in Spring .

Laughed so much this evening , Last of the Summer Wine.
Compo says of an old school friend who has got on in life , that he owns his own home and has a deposit in a Eunuch ‘s Truss!
“ I think you mean Unit Trust “ says Foggy.
And little Wally ,Norah’s husband ,not wanting a new suit ——- ;D ;D ;D

Well,need to go into Ramsbottom tomorrow ,but as yet no gritting done so
will see how things are in the morning ,milder weather is forecast but rain with it.
Hope all are well,sore thumb getting better ,etc.
Look after yourselves .
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 08 January 22 06:14 GMT (UK)
I hope everyone’s loved ones who are unwell, recover quickly.

Covid is spreading nicely here. No Lateral flow (Rapid Antigen) tests available in the shops. The odd one or two online with postage costs pushing the already high price up, and likely delays to delivery due to lots of people in the supply chain ill or isolating. This is also affecting supermarkets with empty shelves, and purchase limits on some foods. Bit of a mess all round.

General talk here too about omicron seeing the end of covid in a few weeks. Doubt it.

Despite omicron allegedly being “mild” covid covid hospitalisations are increasing, some elective surgery cancelled, and some restrictions brought in in NSW. Too little too late? I feel sorry for the medical staff who shoulder the burden of this.

OH had his booster this week. Mine not due till the end of February. Time before booster is currently four months, but apparently from Jan 31 it will be reduced to three months. Think I will try to book in earlier, as am not feeling too comfortable with omicron running rampant.

Dog had her teeth cleaned before Christmas - a very traumatic experience for her. And for us ($$$$!!!) Ear infection discovered so disgusting oily drops have had to be administered - took two weeks, but finally got the all clear.

A bit humid but temperatures very mild for this time of year. Some grey skies and patchy rain over the past few days. Quite pleasant.  :)







Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Saturday 08 January 22 09:02 GMT (UK)
KGarrad  ;D. I still hope it is not all 'damned lies' and that there might be a bit of truth in those reports somewhere.  I really do hope Boris is hopeful.  I feel like I haven't got a clue what is going on.  One minute it sounds bad and the next things sound good. ???  I cannot resist keep looking at the headlines though.

'No, Roobarb it was written about in a couple of other newspapers .. can't remember now which ones.  You are right though, the reports definitely didn't imply it would be set in stone.
It would be nice to think that we might get out of the worst of this, this year.  Perhaps it might be around forever, but it would be something if the impact could be reduced to that of the common flu.
Those headlines did spark a bit of optimism about it all in me.  But I suppose it really is a matter of just take one day at a time and wait and see. 
I am sure you would make a very good Prime Minister and perhaps Boris might be thoroughly sick of it all by now and would be happy to hand over the reins to you.  ;) What a time to be a Prime Minister!
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 08 January 22 10:12 GMT (UK)
Just downstairs with a beaker of hot all milk instant coffee.
Check in with RootsChat to see what I am missing etc.

I am due at the Dentist on Tuesday, not the good expensive one,the unsatisfactory one so dear anyway.!
I kept the appt in case the good one would not have me back ,but he did .
I will cancel today if they are open.
I can’t get any tests so not fair to them either ,but can’t have two Dentists.

I feel quite confused about it all.
To set up a service online to aid in obtaining tests then for none of the outlets to have tests is barmy.It means people are visiting venues unnecessarily ,that can’t be sensible when we should be limiting movement .
Noy everyone can go online ,once again people are being ignored as they are not computer owners ,ie mainly the older folk.

It is chaos at our Pharmacy - All staff changed and Lloyd’s couldn’t give a toss!
Hitherto very efficient and friendly helpful local staff but now!
They do not order repeats anymore but did not inform customers so people are without essential drugs that must not be stopped !
So dangerous, I had a replacement which had difficult side effects and was in part why at the last moment I did not see family at Christmas.

Are some outlets charging for test kits?
That will cause hardship for some which means there are those who won’t test because of the cost .
Masks in Tesco are £5 for I think 7.

I just wonder if it has been decided to let this compatively milder strain run its course in the hope it gives immunity to other more virulent strains.
But flu is not like that hence a new vaccine every year.
A couple of years ago I had ,despite having the vaccination ,the most awful flu,nine weeks of hacking cough ,fever,cold and exhaustion.
It was blamed on a bad batch of vaccine ,but many feel it was a form of Covid
I can remember so well, I ‘d had to have my little dog put to sleep ,her condition worsened suddenly ,pancreatic cancer , …
and I thought how I would not have been able to walk her in the state I was in had she still been alive.
Many feel they had Covid 19 before we ever knew of it.

I hope all keep well and good recoveries for those not in full health.
So many operations cancelled ,there will be a back log of those to deal with.
If ever there was a case for health and care  workers to be seen as very
special and being treated accordingly it is now, the figures are staggering.
Eight hour waits for ambulances to hand over urgent patients ,that “ Golden Hour” after strokes and  heart attacks when recovery is good ,lost .

We can only do our best , but it galls when football matches etc are seen as important ,holidays are advertised , etc etc.
I just hope our young families get some normality back in their lives safely .
I want to cuddle Flash Harry and Baby Dumpling . I wish I knew how to send photographs to RC.
Cheerio,I will brave the weather and get a bit of shopping ,try again with my collection code for some tests and then come home and be warm .
Viktoria.

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Saturday 08 January 22 10:21 GMT (UK)
Ruskie & Viktoria, your mention of cancellations and medical staff has got me thinking on things.
I think a lot of things are probably being cancelled in order to cope with things and I dread to think what the outcome of this might be further down the line.
I was due for my 3 yearly routine breast scan  last year but an invitation hasn't been forthcoming.  Last time I went in 2018, I was recalled and had to have a biopsy but thankfully everything turned out best case scenario at that time.
I remember my DiL (who is a nurse) saying before Christmas that she feels like 'crying before every shift'.  This does concern me to hear something like that.  She said that some people have had enough over the past two years and are leaving.  I see this is being written about in newspapers too.  I have no doubt this must be having a huge impact on the mental health of NHS staff and that this should be addressed.
About a week ago, I got a new book out the library called 'Intensive Care' written by a GP in Scotland about his experience of working front line during first year of covid.  I read this at breakneck speed as it was such a fascinating read, in a sort of macabre way.  Although, I work as a keyworker in the care field, I couldn't help thinking I am very glad I am not at the very front line and don't have to face or know as much as medics do.  When I was reading the book, I remember thinking 'this might give me nightmares' and sure enough it did.  I didn't regret having read it though, it wasn't written in a horrific way, just matter of fact, and it was such a extremely fascinating read but sounded almost like science fiction. I have felt from the start this whole time feels like science fiction although it is true.
I don't envy the medics, even just from the aspect of having to be at the forefront of knowing as much as they do.  I feel I just have to know the basics and I remember in the first months limiting what I took in via the media at times when it all felt like too much.

Grey miserable weather here today, very cold and lots of rain.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Saturday 08 January 22 10:42 GMT (UK)
I am just hoping and praying my very good friend of over 50 years will get her op in about 2 weeks time, she has had the first round of chemo, it has done the job and now she is due to have an operation which will clear everything,  the consultant said in 3 weeks,

I feel for anyone awaiting operations, we might be very important to our families but we are really only a number when it comes to the NHS

A friend of mine seems to be getting a whole load of positives, over a week now, she is wondering if they are false positives, she feels fine but while she is like this she can't visit her mum wow 100 in a care home and her poor mum is getting fretful as she doesn't really understand it

Take care everyone, I am sure it will all be ok in the end

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 08 January 22 11:37 GMT (UK)
Your mention of the book you read about front line workers RTL made me think of this film which I watched last year. Harrowing but very good:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13649036/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Saturday 08 January 22 12:02 GMT (UK)
Omicron is milder than delta in a relative sense.  It tends to be less likely to affect deep down in the lungs so fewer people need ventilated.  Also as a percentage of cases fewer people do need hospitalised and fewer people need extended hospital stays.  The issue is that omicron is spreading so much faster and wider than delta that the number of cases is so much more than before that any beneift in terms of lower mortality and hospitalisation rates have been wiped out. eg using round numbers for illustration purposes if there are 2 versions, one with a 10% hospitalisation rate and another 5% but 10 and 100 people infected respectively then 1 and 5 people are hospitalised respectively.

I think the media have grasped onto the mild bit and run with it, ignoring the big picture and giving the wrong idea.

I tend to cry before work RTL, I've even contemplated driving off the road so that I don't have to go to work, it feels so desperate. Recently it has been the death threats and abuse from the covid deniers coupled with media such as the Daily Mail complain about how lazy we are and blaming us for everything.  THat is what is finally pushing me over the edge, dealing with bad day then home to that.

I'm not a big fan of Lloyds Pharmacy Viktoria.  I'm lucky our two local pharmacies are both still part of small chains.

Raining now so snow washed  away but black ice issue instead. Was up early this morning to take my daughter to an athletics competition.  Awkward logistics wise as I'm not allowed in due to their covid rules.  Think she complimented my cooking this week.  Made an Indian style wraps for dinner, with a mango chutney glaze.  She said the kitchen smelled like work and she has been working in an Indian.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 08 January 22 12:16 GMT (UK)
Pharma, what you say about Omicron confirms what I’ve heard elsewhere.

I hope there will be some relief soon and a light at the end of the tunnel for people such as yourself. I can’t imagine how you cope with it all, and the abuse must be unbearable.

Always good to get a compliment, lifts your spirits - especially after going to the effort to do something nice.  :)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: IgorStrav on Saturday 08 January 22 14:41 GMT (UK)
Thank you, Pharma, and everyone in Health Services whatever you do.

And many thanks to those who go to work every day and have to deal with the possibility of catching Covid, whether it's 'mild' or not, it depends on your definition of 'mild' and your vulnerability, and the chance of Long Covid.

Just thank you.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Saturday 08 January 22 14:50 GMT (UK)
What  a  nice  daughter  you have  Pharma, that  must  have  made  you feel  good with the  effort you  had  put into it.
I am  finding recipes  that  are   different  on  Utube  or whatever  it is called,
 look easy  but  not got the ingredients  in at the  time, then  if  goes out of my mind,  should  write it down and  have  my list ready when  I  go shopping

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 08 January 22 15:02 GMT (UK)
Thanks Pharma for that intelligent breakdown of statistics , I had not looked at it in that  way at all.

We think our civilisation is invinceible,and can overcome pretty well everything ,in our arrogance we forget there are others,( I don’t mean creatures from outer space ,although we can’t completely rule that out!) with insane ambitions ,we have been here before, wars etc,this time a more insidious way.
Do we hear of numbers in China?
Were we fooled by it starting there?
A million people is nothing to that Nation,Mao walked that many to death ,it was good for a very overpopulated country .
The policy of only  one child has started to have a serious effect,
have repercussions ,parents abandoning baby girls to have a chance of a son.
Which has upset the balance which is now seriously  awry ,not enough women.
Why should we trust anything from there ?
The Covid tests we use come from there ,could they show false negatives so people who think they have evidence they are clear are not.
Thus spreading it?
I ask not to spread fear but because some sensible person on RootsChat will
have informed answers ,and put my mind at rest and many others too I am sure.
I don’t take a newspaper because they all have vested interests of one sort or another.They are expensive too and I have no interest in finance,sport, job vacancies ,travel or house buying .So many supplements that get thrown away immediately.

Having said all the above I am still optimistic , it might take a very long time
and my funeral might be basic instead of the Broadway production I have planned , but it will save the kids some money won’t it!
Cheerio. Look after yourselves and don’t mind me .
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Saturday 08 January 22 15:41 GMT (UK)
Ruskie, that certainly does sound like an interesting drama - probably something else likely to induce nightmares.

Pharma, I am deeply sorry to read about all you are experiencing and having to go through.  This is so unfair and heinous.  Try to pay no attention to the covid deniers.  I have mixed feelings about them .. one part of me thinks they are beyond foolish but then another part of me wonders if some of them might actually be so scared in the extreme that the only way to cope with it is to go into complete denial and tell themselves that it doesn't exist. 
I can imagine when feeling very stressed, thoughts about driving off the road might enter your head.  But you must chase these thoughts away; I am sure you know there is always, ALWAYS, a way out - go on the sick if you have to as a last resort if things get too bad. 
I hope something might be done to safeguard the mental health of NHS workers.  I must say, I was a bit taken aback when my DiL said she felt like crying before every shift.  I have always considered her to be a strong type and a 'tough nut' and this sounded so out of character.   I felt somehow inhibited in asking more about why things might be feeling so bad/why specifically things have changed and I suspect she would not divulge much more about the situation anyway.  I feel so much in the dark about so many aspects of this covid situation.  Sometimes I think to myself that the only thing to do is to  just go with the flow and  like Viktoria I still feel a sense of optimism  that lots will be being done throughout the world and we will come through eventually. 
That is lovely that you got this compliment about your cooking.  I get the impression on here that you are a good cook and have a natural flair for this.  (Something else you have in common with my DiL). :)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Saturday 08 January 22 19:00 GMT (UK)
I love cooking RTL, I like trying out new recipes.  I made Thai style vegetable curry tonight. 

LM I have a chalk board in the kitchen and plan out what meals I'm making between what I have and then what I put on the shopping list to get a balance.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: louisa maud on Saturday 08 January 22 19:29 GMT (UK)
You are organised, only  recently I  thought  I  would  do  menus for each week, I  need to more organised

LM
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 08 January 22 20:55 GMT (UK)
It does help and means you can use leftovers well, I hate throwing food away and given how much everything has escalated in price it is really sensible .

There is a real upsurge in vegetarian cooking and much more choice nowadays.
I quite like it , and have really gone  off meat. but still like fish.
When you have time Pharma,no pressure ,but I’d like to try your Thai curry recipe .If it is a “ Chuck it all in recipe “ all the better.

A neighbour ,tiny slender lady,very nervous called this afternoon, I did not let her in ,she had no mask and I am trying to be very careful ,but she wanted to talk ,her son who was her main help was suddenly tskrn ill, admitted to hospital but died from advanced bowel cancer .
He too was terribly nervous and anxious , the lady comes across regularly to ask me what people are doing when for example there is a van parked in front of their house, well I have no idea what people are doing or having done.
But she is so stoical ,can hardly see and is alone.
I said I would accompany her on her daily circuit of the cemetery ,she did it every day with her late son ,I will try a couple of times a week to see how I get on.
What a shame ,late 80’s ,partially sighted ,two daughters not at all far away but she has never mentioned them before, they have not been in evidence at all.
I mustn’t meddle but she needs assessing for aids etc to help with everyday living .
Shopping etc son ,did that.

Little dog I applied for is being visited on Sunday in the sanctuary , so he will be adopted I am sure.
Welll time for a cuppa, and blow dry my hair ,I think the Hedgehog look is back in!
Cheerio folks.
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Saturday 08 January 22 21:51 GMT (UK)
Viktoria:

Ingredients:

Red onion
courgette
bell pepper
Green beans
1lime
2tbs of thai yellow curry paste
1tsp of ginger paste
75ml water
veg stock (i used a stock paste but could use a cube)
half tin of coconut milk
handfulpeanuts
soy sauce

instructions

thinly slice onion,courgettes in half moons, and dice pepper

Fry onion until translusecent then add the curry paste and ginger, give a stir.

Add rest of the veg and allow to cook for 3-4min to soften

Add the coconut milk, water and stock and allow to simmer until reduced down.

Add a splash of soy sauce and squeeze of lime juice and some zest sprinkle with peanuts to serve.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 08 January 22 21:58 GMT (UK)
I've done a similar curry, with pumpkin ;)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 08 January 22 22:04 GMT (UK)
Oh that sounds yummy and I expect it will freeze in portions .
Many thanks.
Viktoria.



Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 08 January 22 23:22 GMT (UK)
Just noticed the case of the young Cheshire girl Louise Woodward, who went as Nanny to The US.is on T.V tomorrow night.
She was accused of shaking the baby she was looking after.I distinctly remember at the time being puzzled that a baby of the age that one was, was not yet sitting up.
Louise was ,as far as I remember not NNEB ( National Nursery Education Board,) the qualification  the posh Norland Nannies have and we in the North  have Princess Christian College with the same qualification.
It was “ floppy “ ,a sign something was wrong ,muscle tone etc.
She would not know the milestones and would probably not realise  that  baby was very slow in that part of development .
It is a while back -25 years
The film footage as far as I remember puzzled Nannies here .

I felt very sorry for her and also felt the baby’s parents were hiding things.
Will be interested to watch it
She came from Eaton in Cheshire ,a village we passed through on our way to Shropshire.
There were banners hung up in support of her .

Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Sunday 09 January 22 14:56 GMT (UK)
I knew it!  PharmaT, I guessed from your posts that you are someone who loves cooking so it good to to hear you confirm it.  :)
Thanks, for posting that recipe .. it sounds really good.  I will write it down in my recipe book and try it out soon.  :)

Viktoria, you say you hate food waste but have you ever made potato peel soup?  Now there is a recipe to separate the men from the boys, (or the women from the girls) when it comes to zero wasters in the kitchen!
I must confess, I am still a 'girl' in this respect, not having ever made potato peel soup myself. 
I think I might do it sometime though, these posts on the topic of cooking, have reminded me of the time during the first year of covid when a newspaper published a series of articles by Hugh Fearley Whittonstall on zero waste cooking.  I remember how dizzy with motivation and excitement I followed his advice and made some broccoli and cheese soup using the stalk as well as the florets!!  Quite radical, don't you think?!    However, I have never got around to following his advice to making soup out of peelings.  I might do it this year and if I do, I'll post a photo.  Don't expect this anytime soon though.  You cannot just walk into a kitchen and make a recipe like that .. I think it would take a fair bit of psyching up first ..

Dipping into the newspapers today, I have read that covid seems to be going from a pandemic to an endemic, which sounds good.  There seems to be a suggestion that we might be moving into another 'new normal' of just living with it.  Apparently, Boris is going to speak about it this week.  I am eager to hear what he might have to say; it would good to hear things from the horse's mouth.

Church has a notice up in the entrance about omicron and asking people to wear masks.  Most people were wearing masks, a handful wearing visors.  Some with nothing on their faces, but perhaps they are exempt.  Church very full as usual.

Weather continues horribly cold here and the sky is a cheerless grey.

P. S I'm going to go off now, to make a broccoli quiche.  I have just bought a bag of florets, to spare myself having to pysch up to do anything with the stalk.  ;)
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Sunday 09 January 22 15:39 GMT (UK)
RTL Nadiya HUssain has a 'scraps soup' recipe.  Not just potato peels but  other veg offcuts broccoli stalks,carrots etc.  You keep a bag in the freezer and keep filling it until you have enough for a batch of soup.  I'll lookout the recipe.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 09 January 22 16:09 GMT (UK)
Found a recipe a few years ago for Roast Potato soup.
But there's never enough (or any) left over roasties! :D
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 09 January 22 16:28 GMT (UK)
Just as we should not waste unmentionable parts of animals ,so all of vegetables should be eaten EXCEPT the shoots on potatoes !
They are truly toxic!

I am rapidly going off meat, got several veggie alternatives this week and more coming in myTesco delivery .
I used to like the skins on jacket potatoes ,crisp and tasty.
Pea pods make a nice soup but there are strings which are better removed.
Only very tender ones really.

I have salmon for tea, runner beans  and  thought I might do sliced potatoes in an enamel dish ,overlapped ,and the tops brushed with butter ,so a bit crispy.
If root vegetables are well washed I don’t see any reason not to use them,at the very least for stock.
Don’t do puds these days ,sugar!

Such a dark day and my boiler has let me down ,someone should be here tomorrow.
I might have said that in an earlier post ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hope all are well, if not a god recovery.

A mammoth sized helping of Morse today ,mmmmm, the resemblance to my OH is quite strong ,except my OH was  not so grumpy .

Must try again re Covid tests ,tomorrow.
Both Chemists and Health Centre closed on Saturdays ,that is not good.

Cheerio.Viktoria.

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Sunday 09 January 22 17:18 GMT (UK)
Viktoria, have you tried ordering the tests for postal delivery? After my futile attempt at collecting some at the pharmacy I tried for a delivery order again and was successful. If the website says none available, give it a try again later in the day, I've had success like that. Would save you traipsing around to collect them in the cold.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 09 January 22 18:00 GMT (UK)
Thanks, I thought going online with a collection code would be easier, but yesterday the one chemists I could not get through to on the phone on Friday were closed ,the other does no answer the phone at all.
I will try tomorrow ,but must wait in for a call as my boiler is being naughty and I have a service contract ,so don’t want to miss that.
I am assuming the address to obtain them from is :-

UK Responsible Person .
Medimap Ltd.
2, The Drift ,
Thurston .
Suffolk .
IP31 3RT.
U.K.

I will try that address.
Many thanks for your help, I did not know they were available that way.
Viktoria.


Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Sunday 09 January 22 19:43 GMT (UK)
No, don't use that Viktoria, use this link to the government website:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

You can use it at any time of the day or night, if you don't have any success at first just try again at another time. They arrive quite quickly and the postie will put them through your letterbox. Good luck. 🙂
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 09 January 22 19:52 GMT (UK)
Many thanks Roobarb.
My son just on the phone said part of the shortage of tests is due to the staff at the distribution centre getting five days holiday over Christmas.!
Also where they are in Berkshire ,been warned 40 days delay with post ! Due to staff illness etc.
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Roobarb on Sunday 09 January 22 20:08 GMT (UK)
I think it is as he says, a distribution problem rather than a shortage of tests. They're tracked through the Royal Mail so I suppose it also depends how many they can take on. I hope you manage to get some before 40 days!
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 09 January 22 22:38 GMT (UK)
RTL, your mention of potato peel recipes reminded me of this film:  :)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289403/

Recommended.

Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Rena on Sunday 09 January 22 23:58 GMT (UK)
Just noticed the case of the young Cheshire girl Louise Woodward, who went as Nanny to The US.is on T.V tomorrow night.
She was accused of shaking the baby she was looking after.I distinctly remember at the time being puzzled that a baby of the age that one was, was not yet sitting up.
Louise was ,as far as I remember not NNEB ( National Nursery Education Board,) the qualification  the posh Norland Nannies have and we in the North  have Princess Christian College with the same qualification.
It was “ floppy “ ,a sign something was wrong ,muscle tone etc.
She would not know the milestones and would probably not realise  that  baby was very slow in that part of development .
It is a while back -25 years
The film footage as far as I remember puzzled Nannies here .

I felt very sorry for her and also felt the baby’s parents were hiding things.
Will be interested to watch it
She came from Eaton in Cheshire ,a village we passed through on our way to Shropshire.
There were banners hung up in support of her .

Viktoria.

I did not watch this latest TV production but did follow the progress of the case as it happened several years ago.

After the nanny came back to Britain, there was a TV programme where a group of experienced British medical professionals examined all the evidence that was produced in the American Court.

Their verdict was that the nanny was not guilty of anything.

What was suspicious was that the parents had the child cremated as soon as the coroner released his body.

It's noticeable in some court cases that even though the defence team produces several experts in their fields,  the jury often only believe the prosecution who only produce one professional.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: pharmaT on Monday 10 January 22 08:27 GMT (UK)
Part of the issue is the defence can put up anyone as an expert withness.  In the UK at least there are no rules re minimum qualifications to go to court as an expert  witness.  For example, one of the current court issues I am dealing with is that my ex is trying to get the court to declare on my daughter's medical capacity.  His 'expert' witness testify that she has no capacity does not have to be a registered psychologist or psychiatrist.  They don't even have to meet her to do an assessment.  They are making their 'assessment' based on one line in 7 year old medical notes. Technically any one of us could set ourselves up as expert witnesses and it wouldn't be illegal, maybe we wouldn't be good at it mind you.
Title: Re: Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022
Post by: Viktoria on Monday 10 January 22 11:05 GMT (UK)
Just wondering if perhaps something had been done ,even accidentally  ,not by the nanny ,and the parents did not report it ,so the relatively light shake
she admitted to was a very  handy thing to have happened when the baby ‘s condition deteriorated and needed immediate attention.
There was a clot ,not sure how long that would take to form.
Well we will see.
I wonder about the older child.
Whatever happened it was a real tragedy .
Viktoria.