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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: Roobarb on Sunday 11 October 20 22:35 BST (UK)
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Been feeling quite fed up today. Last night I was reading in bed, in my book there's an Italian boy called Luca, it reminded me of when I visited the lovely town of Lucca in Tuscany four years ago. Then I was kept awake by thoughts of that lovely holiday and wondering when we'll be able to have such times again.
It seems very likely that where I live is going to be included in Tier 2 restrictions, in fact the whole area is likely to be. The nearest large town and the one across the river are already in local lockdown. That would mean that my recently found freedoms would be up the Swanee.
Couldn't be bothered doing much this morning, just spent a lot of time reading, eventually got in the shower and washed my hair. My walk would have to wait till after lunch.
It was about 1.30 when I went out, was cool and quite cloudy. Usual walk, did bits of it in a different order for a change. Felt slightly better for the walk but still couldn't be bothered with anything much. Messed about on the computer then went into the garden, trimmed some plants, tried to find more places for bulbs, I'd think I'd found somewhere then find that there were bulbs there already. Should look great in the spring, that seems such a long time away.
My friend A phoned, asked how I was, unfortunately I got a bit tearful. We talked about the current situation, we would have made plans to meet for lunch but I don't think that will happen for a while. I was cheered by having a chat anyway.
Did some peri peri chicken for tea with roasted peppers and cherry tomatoes, jacket potato, cucumber and grated carrot. And a large glass of wine. And another later.
Watched the last episode of Us, have found it very entertaining. This week they walked through a square in Barcelona where I've been to a restaurant. Happy memories. The ending wasn't what I hoped for but I suppose that's a reflection of real life.
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Sorry you’ve had a down day today.... it’s coming to us all in one way or another the stark realisation that we’re going to be restricted again in the near future...I’m living in tenter hooks at the moment wondering if my daughter and family will be able to come and stay overnight next Saturday so we can celebrate OH’s birthday... am I going to have to cancel the meal I’ve organised that’s being cooked and delivered... it’s all so up in the air..
We just have to keep going with our diaries to cheer one another up!
My day
As it’s Sunday we read the papers.... not much of interest in them though...OH was playing in a golf competition starting mid morning so he was busy getting himself organised...
After he left I was just about to jump in the shower when my son in Oz Callled me on FaceTime... a lovely surprise but sorry OH wasn’t hear to chat to him too...well nearly two hours later we said goodbye... it was lovely to have him all to myself and we had a good chat... they’re both still busy with working and because DiL isn’t jetting off all over the country they’ve saved a great deal of money...the cat.. Squeaky, was sitting on his desk after walking up and down in front of the screen until she settled down purring away... he was tickling her under the chin and when he stopped she put her paw on his hand to carry on... so sweet... heavens knows what they’ll do when she goes... had her for 16 yrs now...
Ended up having a late shower and hair wash... nipped out to deliver village lottery money to same person as last week... then popped into our local coop for some milk...
Had quite a late lunch... a read for awhile in the conservatory.. then did some sewing...
OH home about 4.30 carried on sewing..
Dinner was roast chicken, pot, stuffing carrots broccoli and cauliflower...
Friend from up the lane popped round to take OH’s phone ( was daughters old one) to put a new battery in for him... only cost £20 and took him about 5 minutes to do... be interesting to see how it works as current one needed constantly charging as kept running out... he’s put more powerful one in....
Watched some tv...
another day bites the dust...such interesting lives were leading at the moment!
Caroline
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Watched a couple of episodes of The Great British Bake-off which was good as usual.
Watched the last couple of episodes of series 3 of “The a word” - an engaging series but went off the boil ever so slightly I think - odd pointless relationship breakdowns for a lot of the couples - lovely scenery in The Lake District.
Took dog for a walk. She was a good girl and didn’t bark at anyone.
Took washing off line which had been out a couple of days. (“don’t judge me”, as my daughter would say) ;D
The fridge was bare, remembered a cauliflower I bought a couple of weeks ago - oops. Still in good condition so just made cauliflower cheese. Not my finest work. :(
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A much brighter day today after the gloomy/wet days of last week. Lots of jobs I could have got on with but knitting took precedence (again). Left home at 4.45pm to meet my sister at The Mermaid at 5pm. We arrived at the same time. We both decided on a carvery meal - meat of choice turkey. Very nice it was too. Glass of white wine for me, small cider for her, and then for dessert I chose Banoffee Pie only to be told they'd run out so had apple pie/custard instead. My sister had a chocolate brownie thing. She told me that she was paying as it had been her suggestion so that was a nice surprise. She lives closer to the Mermaid than I do so afterwards we returned to hers and had a coffee. Got home around 7.30 I guess.
Brother in law doing well after knee op on Friday - I'd just assumed that my sister was able to visit him since they'd been in isolation together the week beforehand but no visitors allowed at all. His leg is still numb but he's up and about (with help) and all being well will be coming home tomorrow.
Just knitting and tv this evening interspersed with a foray on the pc for Rootschat and Facebook.
So a pleasant day for me but feeling quite tired now so hopefully a good nights sleep zzzzzzzzzz
Annette
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More of the same for most of us, and a good idea to get a meal with your sister Annette, as I suspect that might be the last hurrah for a while.
Sorry you are feeling down Roobarb. Can't say I blame you as, personally, I feel that I have NO control over my life at all anymore. Spoke to Number Two Son in Oz who is really fed up with the situation, and spoke to Number One Son in the evening who was also fairly hacked off, but thankfully everyone is well and they both still have work and can pay their bills.
On Sunday we made an exciting foray to the Willows shopping estate outside of Torquay to study the M&S men's slippers department. H chose a new pair as his old ones were disintegrating. While we were there I bought a jumper and diary for next year, though it did occur to me it will only be used to record virus figures probably.
After lunch we walked along to Preston, but the beach front was packed end to end, where the heck had all those people appeared from, and what did they bring with them? We had to go along the greens instead. 3 cruise ships still close in the Bay, and a couple of pairs of oyster catchers picking around the rocks amongst the gulls. Perhaps a pair will return to the harbour soon. I never feel I have had a wasted day if I can stand and watch oyster catchers for a while.
Thai dressed salmon for tea was delicious.
Good progress with the 3rd tree decoration for Oz.
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Mowsehowse
The Willows, when I was in Teignmouth I wanted to go there, no M &S where we are now, nearest about 12 miles away, but because I was with my brother we had no time at all on our own, I do miss our M&S even just to wander around .
Ruskie
You made me chuckle about your washing out for so long, I have a friend who is very particular and a proper fuss pot, in fact very Victorian, if pegs are left on the line or the whirly stays up I am "slovenly" "that's me " I said, the following week she left her washing out all night, it got drenched, I almost said "slovenly" but held my tongue, but to be honest what do these things really matter, it is up to the individual
I do understand that as winter is approaching, bad enough normally but this year winter isn't welcome, prefer some really bright days, lets hope we have some but we all have to stay upbeat as much as we can, can't do much else really can we?, but we can keep in contact wit each other and keep the diary going which I have really enjoyed reading
Take care folks
Louisa Maud
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LM, if I want it to rain I leave my washing on the line .... sadly it doesn’t always work, but I keep trying anyway. ;D
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Hello All
Sorry Roobarb, I think most careful individuals are in the same boat regarding missed special holidays and social occasions.
When the Hotels reopened, we took a risk and booked 8 nights in Derbyshire without cancellation insurance.
We took our own breakfast cereals/bowls and had all our midday meals out with a light tea in our room early evening and had already decided we would wear a mask in all public areas inside, entrance reception, stairs, lift and corridors of the Hotel at all times. Wearing a mask became a requirement by the Hotel.
There would be no service entering our room, so we put our bagged rubbish out daily and towel we wanted changing in the corridor, as agreed, which seemed to be collected really promptly and clean towel left bagged before we went out.
We had the last full week of sunny warm weather and went out each day ;D ;D
Never heard from a Contact Tracer once :)
I seem to be fortunate with weather, except when I'm doing my washing, like Ruskie.
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Who Do You Think You Are starts Monday evening.
I'm waiting for 2 more Yorkshire Will Bundle scans (now on extended delivery).
Take care, Mark
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We stayed three nights in Christchurch recently , won't mention the chain y except to say there was no housekeeping at all, I did ask for clean towels every day, I also asked for an extra pillow which we did get, left on the floor outside our door not in a plastic wrapper, will never stay there again, then went on to a nice B & B in Teignmouth where we had housekeeping everyday and a double room with breakfast cost us less than the room only in Christchurch, 2 night reasonable but the last night was nearly £100 room only
Louisa Maud
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Louisa, we had to ask for an extra pillow each too :)
We lost our very busy, profit making old established M & S. First M & S sold the premises to help an ailing new out of town M & S, then Leased our building back for a while, but still in profit at closure.
Do we go or drive 10 miles to the newish M & S - NO!
Mark
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The nearest "new Town" has been thriving since the 1950's, but over the years we have lost Littlewoods, M &S , Homestores and Sainsbury's to name just a few, all now placed out of town if they are still in business , it is really frustrating, it means our town established all those years ago is really struggling, even made worse by Covid
LM
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Our Debenhams looks empty, especially since Covid.
Towns and the local personal and social interaction :) :) :) ... was already disappearing.
Mark
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Thanks for good wishes everyone, it does help to read the diary entries and I'm reminding myself to count my blessings.
Got my M&S tshirts and undies delivered but sadly they don't deliver groceries in my area. :( What I wouldn't give for an M&S chicken kiev, or a cheese scone, or ooh! some of those bramley apple hot cross buns! I could go on forever ...............
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Oooh!, the calories!
Louisa Maud
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We have a new shopping complex thats been around for about two years now and an absolute godsend with an M&S and lots of other lovely shops, built around lakes with a board walk just wonderful in the summer to sit out having a coffee after doing one of the many walks ...
I’ve not visited it since January but have heard that some shops already had to shut... Hobbs, Jigsaw and now of course Cineworld .... such a shame as our area had been crying out for this sort of place for the 40+ yrs we’ve lived here...
Caroline
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Thanks for good wishes everyone, it does help to read the diary entries and I'm reminding myself to count my blessings.
Got my M&S tshirts and undies delivered but sadly they don't deliver groceries in my area. :( What I wouldn't give for an M&S chicken kiev, or a cheese scone, or ooh! some of those bramley apple hot cross buns! I could go on forever ...............
Hello All
A few goodies won't hurt some people as a very occasional treat, as long as we continue to keep active safely. Although my Doctor said my 6 biscuits with afternoon tea was too many, so I have reduced biscuits etc and reduced cholesterol with exercise.
Yes most of us are fortunate, most of us have water in the tap, somewhere to live and sleep, heating, food, fruits and vegetables and able to contact by 'phone or internet, despite current restrictions.
Spare a thought for the lady farmer with one acre to feed her family (featured on a documentary this Summer), but the family were out waving branches all day in the heat trying to stop a plague of locusts landing on her crop (her food/income). Their government were spraying the plagues from aircraft (they have to go inside as the spray is bad for health) but spraying was halted with Covid-19 stopping deliveries of spray.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_locust_infestation
It doesn't get a word on our news, but these locust plagues are huge and devour fields very quickly and off to the next farm!
keep safe, Mark
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Crikey.... it might do us good in the UK to hear more about this, and less about the US president.
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I feel for those who are getting rather despondent.
A lot depends on our make up, by that I mean our personal make up.
We are what we are ,we can modify if lucky but it begs the question - do those who had a secure ,safe childhood cope better than those who were not so fortunate.?
Or do those rather used to adversity and a general lack of security cope better?
Either way some need coping strategies ,and so far,- and excuse me if it has all passed me by - I have not really seen any such help on sayTV.
The weeks and months seem to fly by, not much achieved except our heads are still above water ,we worry about those whose incomes are now and shortly will suffer.
Those on pensions are lucky in that matter ,our pensions are fixed, ——?
Well we hope they are.
Sad to think we oldies will not see much if anything of our families.
Not as we imagined is it ,but we have had our time .
If someone promised that the use of mobile phones in public places ,public transport ,cafes ,would be banned if I would volunteer to trial a drug or two-
you would not see my heels for dust .!
The main thing I see in posts is how busy people are keeping ,that is such a good thing ,so positive.
Don’t be too hard on yourselves , a self administered pat on the back is so good , not arrogant ,just what is deserved.
Plod on plodding on !
Cheerio, off to freeze a batch of curry sauce ,
Chicken and mushroom pie for tea .
Tesco delivery tomorrow.
Laser treatment to eyes a week today.
Daughter phones for a couple of hours this evening ,so more news of Flash Harry.
Put some credit on my mobile but it keeps telling me I do not have enough credit to make calls .
Set about the procedure to contact them ,but have to press numbers they ask for( this on houseline ) so when mobile number is asked for those numbers stay on the screen ,so my mobile number is not recognised .
Another job for my son,I knew he would come in handy one day -when I had him .
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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Viktoria, you always talk a lot of sense and I agree, there are so many who are worse off. I had a very safe and secure childhood but had my share of adversity in adult life which definitely had a long lasting effect on me. However, in more sensible moments I remind myself of what I always think - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Chicken and mushroom pie, mmm! M&S chicken pie - Mmmmmmmmm! I'll have to put these things out of my head.
I agree, the news does tend to be taken over by things that shouldn't be given such importance.
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Hello, she says hesitantly. I did pop in a week or so ago just to see what's happening.
I wanted to thank you all again for allowing me to read your diaries (was that a spelling from schooldays?).
OH and I did our 30 min walk this morning very early on and the weather was beautiful but a bit parky. Someone suggested that to change your walk can be beneficial and it was. In the porch of an old Georgian house nearby someone had created an Autumn/Halloween basket complete with pumpkin, leaves and dried flowers. I thought it would be a nice thing to do.
We do tend to read a lot and spend too much time on tablets, tv, etc but I can't seem to get motivated these days. I used to belong to an art group/class but there again, I haven't picked up a pencil or paint brush since before March.
My OH is also waiting to have laser treatment on his eyes too and he is not at all patient. He was told in August it would be Christmas at the earliest.
Both sons telephoned which was a pleasant surprise but it's strange that our d-i-l's never phone to chat. Maybe they just think it's their husband's family so it's up to them.
I currently find the TV programmes are not interesting enough, however, through my local library I am able to access FindMyPast and Ancestry through their free library membership service.
I made a Victoria sponge in my new oven but I haven't quite grasped its slightly different symbols. The cooking temperature was obviously too high so it cooked too fast so came out slightly undercooked, if that makes sense?
Mowsehowse, when I was a child, aged about 6, together with my grannie, my aunt and my mum we stayed at The Redcliffe Hotel which I believe is on the edge of Preston Sands. I understand it is now for sale? The end of an era!
Good evening folks. It's lovely "talking" to you.
Judy
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Hello Ankerdine.....
Yes, even doing a circular walk in the opposite direction will offer a new perspective.....
Lovely you heard from your sons, probably their wives have their hands full phoning their parents?
Well done for testing out your new oven, even if it takes a little time to get the hang of. You could eat the cake with custard....
I remember moving into a new build, and several months later I went to roast a dinner and discovered the oven didn't work at all.... :-[ which was a bit of a disaster, over a holiday weekend!!
Yes, the Redcliffe is up for sale, in all its antiquated glory. It will be interesting to see what is planned by the future owners.
We walked from Roundham Head, passing the pier and the Redcliffe, along to the other end of Preston Sands (almost where the gas tanks used to be,) and then back again of course.
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Well first and foremost I feel pretty inadequate when I read others’ diaries.
No one sets out to boast or make others feel inadequate ,it is I ,me ,myself
who is self judgemental ,I know I could do better, the Manana mentality I have cultivated makes me think “it can wait”.
Partly to not get frustrated by things I can’t do, like go and buy several items I need .Well is it really want!
It is all in my own mind.
I was born feeling guilty ;D ;D ;D ;D
Many times I was on the verge of owning up to something I had not done, that awful silence when the teacher was waiting for the culprit to own up!
So keep it coming ,how interesting it would be to read the daily minutiae of
Tudor life , and Restoration London during the plague ,the poor people’s lives.Not that we are poor really but we are not Landed Gentry.
So the diaries are a safety valve, a collective account during one of the strangest times in our history.
I look forward to them.So thanks one and all.
Viktoria.
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Judy, good to "talk" to you too. I always thought 'a bit parky' was a northern expression but perhaps not! Glad to hear you had an enjoyable walk.
Viktoria, there's absolutely nothing inadequate about you! I wonder if people will be reading our diaries in 400 years' time. I'll have to try and put a few shockers in to keep them entertained, not much opportunity to do that at the moment. :D
By the way, I don't think you need any credit on your phone to be able to ring your network. Give it a go and you'll find out whether I'm right!
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QUOTE from Viktoria: "Well first and foremost I feel pretty inadequate when I read others’ diaries" :-\
.... says the Lady who just finished painting her bathroom a lovely sunny shade of yellow! Plus you always make me smile which is priceless.
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I agree with you Mowsehowse, she certainly is a character, she keeps me laughing along with other Rootschatters diaries and we can all do with a laugh
Louisa Maud
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The diaries are important in so many different ways....
A collection of daily lives being lived in extraordinary times....
A sense of community within helping one another to not feel isolated in thoughts and a sounding board with virtual friends...
We are all very different in our approaches to life and that can be seen reading the entries here....
It’s so important to keep upbeat and Viktoria is one of those rare people who just seems to get right to the heart and say it how it is... I’ve great admiration for her and look forward to having a smile, sometimes a giggle or laugh at her sense of humour... long may it last.
Caroline
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Trumpet fanfare !
I have sorted my phone out with T-mobile !
I fiddled around and found the star button would sort of isolate the numbers that interfered with putting my mobile number in.
It also says on my card that my contract ends 1/21.
Sooooo! In I waded , said it was disgraceful they had accepted £25 credit on Thursday 8th October!
Sorted in two minutes ,guess what amount of credit I have, ::) ::) ::)
£92 ——-
I put thousands on when I went to Spain last October,but used very little .
So I will use it more,I could not see me getting used to a new one ready for my laser treatment on Tuesday to ask my son to pick me up.
He will take me but leave as it could be some time ,so I will need to be able to call him.
Not sure now however how this is affected by the new rules re Covid 19 ,
but the appointment is urgent as pressure still sky high .
He goes nowhere ,his wife does the shopping ,but I must be certain.
I think as I need “ A responsible adult “ to take me home there will be another letter if that is not feasible .
Cheerio, thanks for your comments, you know, your interesting post do add considerably to my well being,allowing me to be daft or funny depending on your viewpoint . ;D
Viktoria.
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Very happy you have sorted your mobile out Viktoria.
Many congratulations. :D
You are a bit of an all round star.
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I always wanted to be Queen Victoria when we were allowed to play with the dressing-up box at primary school, aged 5, I think! :o I am sure I've mentioned it before somewhere on RC and I adore Victoria Sponge just with jam. Happy now? xx.
Judy
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Pleased to hear Viktoria that you’ve sorted your phone out and have a good sum of money on it to make numerous calls if need be...
Hope your laser treatment goes ahead ok and that your son will be able to chauffeur you to and from the hospital..
Friends mum had cataract op this morning and now safely back home...
You can carry on being daft and funny for as long as you like as it keeps us all in good spirits...
Caroline
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Ooooh yes, I like daft and funny, my nephews I am sure think I'm daft as they always humour me, but I don't mind, I enjoy the banter
Keep it up Victoria and fellow RC's
LM
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I always wanted to be Queen Victoria when we were allowed to play with the dressing-up box at primary school, aged 5, I think! :o I am sure I've mentioned it before somewhere on RC and I adore Victoria Sponge just with jam. Happy now? xx.
Judy
Victoria Spong, married 1911.
Oh cake
Well this is a Family History site :)