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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: Roobarb on Saturday 09 January 21 23:32 GMT (UK)
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Been feeling pretty fed up today. Was reading in bed until late last night despite feeling tired. When I woke this morning I felt like I'd been unconscious, really had to drag myself out of it.
A lovely sunny day but bitterly cold, there had been a hard frost and it hung around all day. Unusually for me I didn't feel like going for a walk, I was bothered about the icy pavements and also felt lethargic. When I went out to get something from the garage the cold air nearly cut me in two. That definitely decided me, when I had been for a walk the other day when it was freezing cold I was breathless for a while when I got home, it's not very good for me so I decided to stay where it was warm.
Had a sandwich for lunch, emptied the dishwasher then put the bedding that I wanted to dye in the washing machine with the dye, also the cushion covers. I've been putting it off for ages.
My printer is a three in one but I've never set it up to scan so I decided to have a go. Found some info on the Internet and soon had it done. Not really sure why I bothered, have had it all these years and never used that function. Satisfying to sort it out though.
Printed my reference photo for the next art project, it's a photo I took in Valencia a few years ago. Also printed a photo to use for the homework, subject is sunlight through the trees. I'm using one of the numerous photos I've taken in the woods on my walks. Sketched out the homework, that's as far as I got.
I feel quite ashamed of myself for feeling miserable today when others have so much more to deal with, have been thinking of RTL and her long shifts and bus journeys in this icy weather. I hope she's okay. Will have to give my head a shake tomorrow.
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But you keep very busy Roobarb, and it is not just you, the latest news and shocking statistics have knocked everyone for six,so your mood etc seems an entirely normal reaction.
Try not to worry as it won’t help as other than what we conscientious ones have done all along ,obey the rules/ guidlines there is nothing more we can do.We have played our part.
Spring will come, lots of bulbs peeping up , and for some strange reason the weeks fly by, so I must make the most of bad weather for indoor work so I can be in the garden as much as possible with a clear conscience when the weather improves.
Your idea of a diary is so important to many , contact and friendship and off loading of anxiety , really therapeutic .
Hope you feel better soon , we can’t do more than we are doing so at least we have clear consciences , more than can be said,sadly iof many .
I am not smug ,not the time for anything like that, but I truly can’t do more .and nor can you or other RootsChatters.
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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Well said Viktoria- it’s hard on everyone at the moment... who would have thought that we’d be back to square one and worse....
The weather doesn’t help much but as you say spring is coming and the days are getting longer with darkness receding...
I too can’t believe how the weeks seem to be flying by when there’s not much going on it seems incredible this is so...
Roobarb - you have been stoic in your determination to stick with it and I know it’s not easy... you’ve found so much to do even in less brighter times...
It is very frustrating when you hear of people driving from places like Leicester into Wales to go walking... or those in London who are protesting about the lockdown... you just want to bang their heads together to get them to see sense and reasons as to why we’re all doing this!
The numbers are truly depressing at the moment and don’t look like getting better for a while.... the result of Christmas I fear..
But keep your resolve and as you say there are always people like RTL, PharmaT, griff who have difficult lives ....we are at least all still here and RC is a great place to find friends who understand...
Caroline
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Today’s diary...
This morning was Misty, cold and dank.... in fact it remained the same all day with the temperature not going above 1C...
I was up later than usual busy reading Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend the book choice for our book group.... not one I’d normally read... cant decide whether it’s funny, a load of drivel but compelling to read.....
After breakfast sorted out more of the shopping that’s isolating in the garage... no need to put it in the fridge as it’s that cold sitting on the bench anyway!
Late lunch...
Ventured outside but definitely too cold to walk anywhere... as the bottom of the village is not safe at the moment (dogs!) and only other circular walk is six miles unless we go over the fields .... hopefully tomorrow will be better..
Did some more reading...
Played scrabble lost so back to all square...
Dinner was cooked by OH lovely piece of steak with usual vegs...
Watched tv...not sure what but still
Depressing to hear numbers are still very high and appears it’ll get worse before it gets better...
Came to bed to read...
We all need to keep positive... not easy I know... testing times everywhere... just thankful I don’t live in the US as they seem to be in great turmoil...
Tomorrow will be a better day...
Caroline
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Thank you both for your kind and comforting words, I don't know why things have got me down so much today, I just kept thinking about how much time I've spent alone in the past year but I suppose if I can put up with it for the biggest part of ten months I can carry on a bit longer. I know that Viktoria has spent all of that time alone too, I very much appreciate the friends I have made on Rootschat, you've kept me going.
Viktoria, I can't take the credit for thinking of the diary thread, it was Trystan, but I'm very grateful that he set it up.
Caroline, a quiet day for you, what a shame that your walks are currently dictated by the dog owners. Sounds like your weather was much the same as here, the forecast is a bit milder tomorrow, let's hope it's right.
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Oh ,sorry Trystan, it seems such a long time ago but many thanks ,it is something to look forward to .
I go off topic I know but if it makes someone smile——
Viktoria.
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Thank you for these kind words in recent posts. My life doesn't really feel difficult, it just feels like 'normal'. Although, I do regularly feel like no, I do not want to go .. I'm too tired/too cold/it's too early, etc. However, once I get out the front door I gradually pick up more motivation for the day's work ahead. I do feel very lucky though that as a keyworker I still have a job and retain a bit of the 'old normal' through this and know where I stand with a regular income. I really feel for those who have lost their jobs or whose jobs have been put on hold and whose incomes have been slashed. Plus I enjoy my bus journeys, these feel like a small treat to be able to legally 'gad about' albeit just on the route to and from work. I don't have the worry either that I felt at the start of the first lockdown about the bus services either. The services are running well which is giving me much peace of mind. Bravo to the bus companies and the bus drivers! :D So I have much to be thankful for.
I greatly admire all of you who have kept busy and motivated at home throughout all this time. The accounts of walks and daily creativity etc are inspiring in showing that life still goes on no matter what happens. I am grateful for the diary thread too. Although we might all have very different lives and circumstances we are there for each other with support and laughter .. even book recommendations and food ideas. What a versatile thread! ;)
Don't feel ashamed Roobarb, of course you will have not so good days when you might feel more lethargic. I think this will be quite normal under the current circumstances. However, I am full of admiration at how busy you have kept throughout and how you just keep going. I think you are invincible really and you are an inspiration. I think it is good that you and Caroline have led this diary thread mainly even when some of us have flagged. It is always great to read your posts and you always have a kind word for everyone. So keep up this good work.
Your plum recipe had me almost drooling the other day, Caroline, it sounded so good. Shame I have no brandy in the house. As a coincidence, I made a plum and ginger crumble the other day .. just basic but it was such nice comfort food and I think I will make it again. Anyway, I have digressed so much .. here is my diary for Saturday:
A bit frosty but no snow on the ground as I set off to work. However, snow still about in Newcastle, although not bad near the bus station as grit has been put down. There was no sign of the new rough sleeper I had seen the day before at the bus station.
A young bus driver made me laugh on my second bus. I had absent mindedly announced the stop I was going to on the second bus as I was about to board. No need really as I have a travel pass which covers the area. The driver said very theatrically "Well, I don't usually go there .. but for you Madam, I will make an exception! Just don't tell anyone!". Of course, there was no 'exception', his bus does go via my stop but I did like his sense of humour.
After work, I found that the pavements were really bad with thick ice as I made my way to the bus stop. The ice was uneven too as the imprint of people's footsteps had hardened in. I was slip sliding about all over the place trying not to fall over and not getting anywhere fast. I didn't want to miss my first bus home so I decided to walk on the road instead. It was alright as there were no cars about and I thought I could quickly step back on the pavement if I did hear a car coming.
When I got to the bus station, I looked for the new rough sleeper. Hurrah! He wasn't there! Perhaps the police were able to persuade him to go to some safe and warm place last night. I hope so. I know some people might give up on themselves for a variety of reasons but I don't think society should.
The bus station was very quiet and quite deserted. Although, two other women appeared at my stop before my second bus came.
I felt too tired to post last night. Too tired to do anything apart from look out of the window and enjoy the journey. Quick cup of tea when I got in then straight to bed. Fell asleep straightaway.
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It seems that global uncertainty does have an effect on my personal mood, and though I have been advised not to watch the news, I do feel I am being somewhat irresponsible to ignore it all, despite there nothing I can do to change matters.
However, I do agree with Viktoria's wise words. Each of us must do what we can to improve the quality of our daily life whatever that is, and having empathy for people with worse difficulties than our own, doesn't mean we aren't allowed to be fed up some of the time.
Yesterday H and I managed to get some quality interaction with his older son and fiance. The visas are valid despite the wedding was postponed, and they have paid for private covid testing which has proved negative, so they are holding everything crossed that they are able to fly from Heathrow next week to take up the new job in Australia. Emigration has been delayed for months already, but nothing is certain until the flight leaves..... perhaps not even then!
My own life seems to have taken a strange turn lately; I'm astonished I sat through two films on TV yesterday evening, though in normal times I rarely 2 films per year.
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RTL, you are fabulous, though I fully understand how you feel about job, (and bus,) certainty.
The plum crumble sounds good and it made me think perhaps you could leave rice pudding in the slow cooker for when you have to be up way too early, or stumble in exhausted at night? :-*
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I read or watch the news once every day to keep informed but I find too much just makes me anxious. I used to have radio 4 on most of the time but at the start of the first lockdown I stopped and just listen to chosen programmes through iplayer as I couldn’t stand hearing the news over and over again every hour. It just made me very frightened and anxious.
I gather the information, I implement it in my life and I just try to get on with it. Life is a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment so we just have to hang on tight and ride it out.
I have tried to keep up with friends in various ways but I have to be in the right mood, some days you just don’t feel like talking as it makes you realise what you’re missing.
I remember writing on Rootschat about two months into the first lockdown that it feels like when at school the whole class was punished for something a few had done ! Still does !
Anyway I’ve given myself a good shake and I’m taking a leaf out of Victoria’s book ;)
I wish you would bottle and sell what you’re on Victoria :)
I have so much to be thankful for and I truly count my blessings every day.
I leave you with a saying from my childhood growing up on in the West near Glasgow
‘Jist put yer heed soon n batter into it’ ;D :D
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RTL, you're such a positive person and it's good to hear that you enjoy your bus journeys rather than enduring them. A friendly and funny driver like your recent one must make the experience a happier one too, it's amazing how much a kind a friendly word can help. Thank you for your words of encouragement, it does help. Your walk to the bus stop home sounds precarious, hopefully it will have thawed today. I too hope that the rough sleeper had been found somewhere warm.
MH, as far as the news is concerned, I think the only time that the only time there would be any element of being irresponsible is if it was about the lockdown and you didn't heed what we were being advised in terms of keeping ourselves and others safe. As we know, you are highly unlikely to even contemplate that. I don't think it's a case of being irresponsible if you ignore the other news, more a case of damage limitation to yourself.
I hope things work out for your OH's son, these are such trying times for everyone in different ways.
OFG, I know what you mean about being in the right mood sometimes to talk to friends, when I feel as I did yesterday I avoid ringing people as I don't want to inflict my misery on them. Then when I do talk to them when I'm feeling better, if I mention that I was on a downer they tell me off for not ringing them! I think many of us are the same in that way, and if I'm at the other end of that I tell my friends off for not ringing me and talking through it! What strange creatures we human beings are!
I love your old saying. My heed is now doon ready for battering into it! :D
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Hi Mowsehowse,
I think you are fabulous too. :-*
I haven't got a slow cooker though and if I wanted a rice pudding I could easily heat up some from a tin in a couple of minutes.
Oh dear! I hope I am not coming across as too contrary about your ideas. 8) Firstly, I vetoed the idea of sips of water on the bus .. then recently I couldn't bring myself to excuse Henry VIIIs behaviour on this thread. In his time, not literally on this thread. I don't want to confuse people into thinking that I think he is a diarist on here. I'll admit I would gladly head up an army myself to overthrow him, if he was still around and I with the body of but a weak and feeble woman and all that jazz, and now I am saying I can have rice pudding another way .. please forgive me Mowsehowse.. :P
Please remember though, I did enthuse on your grated red cabbage salad idea. In fact, I have been eating a lot of this salad with everything lately. I have had quite a bit of red cabbage and carrots to use up from Christmas, you see. Think I might make a carrot and orange soup soon. Ooh! I think I also remember you said "pass" to my delicious brussel sprout soup! (What a cheek!) :o I think that just about makes us even.
Roobarb I am on a day off today and I am sitting at home eating a plum and ginger crumble. No snow where I live but cold weather not very enticing to go for a walk. I am glad to hear you feel encouraged as you encourage others too .. albeit I think you were another who said "pass" to my delicious brussels sprouts soup :o .. I'll overlook all this, I know these are crazy times we are living through and all that and you and Mowsehowse probably aren't quite able to think straight on what's good for you at the moment. ;)
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I decided right at the start of all this that it'd not be good for me to watch any late evening news, so although I usually catch the 6.00 one, I head out of the room and up for bed at 10.00, and I'm sure that was a good decision.
Many of you living on your own are, I know gaining a great deal of real companionship and support via the community / individuals on here. We are all interdependent, not independent, in the final analysis. I have great respect for people slogging through all this on their own, and value forums such as this for the help and companionship they can bring. There are some fantastic people on here, wonderful friends you've just not always met in the flesh, and they know and value you.
I'm fortunate, have OH, pets, house with decent sized garden. And I do know I am. I'm amazed at how well others cope, more isolated, worried about distant family, finance, security and health. I admire your guts and stoicism. Well done. We'll get there in the end ... wherever "there" is!
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Another freezing day which seems set to continue for quite some time. Have always hated this kind of cold at the best of times and somehow seems worse when you are 'confined to barracks'. My 'outing' yesterday was a walk to the rear of our car park to deposit bag of rubbish in black bin. My downstairs neighbour was working on his car so we chatted for a while until the cold had me scurrying back indoors.
Being one of the clinically vulnerable wondering when I'll get my covid jab - guessing probably mid February but time will tell. Had a photo from my niece of baby Macy (the one who's home now) wearing one of the preemie jackets I'd knitted. Says it fits her perfectly. I'd better get on knitting some more I think. Stopped knitting for a while since Christmas.
Find that sometimes days aren't registering with me - didn't realise it was Saturday and consequently missed a tv programme I usually watch. No matter, I'll watch it on catch-up.
Whatsapp link up with sister and friends on Sunday and will have our 'cousins' quiz on Wednesday.
Usual kind of day for me - still plodding on with current difficult jigsaw but won't let if defeat me. Plus I must pick up my knitting needles again.
Take care everyone.
Annette
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Old sayings are a treasure trove of wisdom, and at the time I did not always appreciate my mother’s wisdom, “ Stop thinking about it and it will go away “
Not very helpful when your leg is hanging off!
Said for cuts and bruises to more serious stuff.
The alternative was THE MEDICINE CHEST!
Oh No ,not The Medicine Chest.!
It’s contents knew nothing about sell or use by dates,consequently there was Iodine of a vintage that had it been champagne would have sold for a fortune.
Olive oil likewise.
Permanganate of Potash, bright purple when in water - Dad’s Trench feet .
Germolene that should have been in the British Museum.
Sloan’s liniment .
And Wintergreen —— put that in sunburn and ##&&%#££&£ .
It could have been used to extract information from spies, “ Tell us what you know or it is The Wintergreen!!”
The medicine chest must have had magical properties ,given the instant cures just mention of its name effected!
I have it still, in the shed with tools in it.
Hope everyone is well, and keeping cheerful.
There is still a lot to be thankful for.
Momentous times!
Cheerio ,we need another “ daft “ topic, side splitting etc.
Viktoria.
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I remember Wintergreen! I could put on a good turn of speed when I saw my Mum approach with it in her hand!
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Wintergreen, great for relief of chilblains, it's still readily available.
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Wintergreen, I can still smell it
LM
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" .. its amazing how much a kind or friendly word can help." ...
Roobarb, these words of your have sent me ruminating back on the early days of covid. In the beginning a part of me would sometimes dread having to come back into Newcastle from work. At work and being around people I could almost convince myself this situation wasn't happening. Then I would come into Newcastle, say after a nightshift and the place was dead, even though it might be a week day. I found this quite unnerving at times. I would think where are all the people, this can't be happening .. . it made me feel low. (So I am not quite positive all the time but then again who is?) Then I would sometimes call at M&S in the bus station and there would be someone on the door. There was always a big smile and a cheery greeting. Such a little thing it would seem but I do remember how much of a 'pick me up' this was in what felt like those dark and scary early days. It almost makes me feel like tearing up to think back on it. So I totally agree that something as simple as a few kind words or a smile can go a long way. Just a memory but I thought I would comment on it. :)
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RTL, those people with their friendly greetings probably don't even realise what a positive effect it has on people. When my grocery delivery arrives it's really good to get a driver who calls out a hello and smiles on their way up the drive. Of course I realise that everyone may have things going on in their own life that affect their behaviour and I appreciate the job they're doing but I do so appreciate the cheery ones.
Re the sprout soup, you've given me such a laugh! ;D ;D In my defence, the idea of it made me think of that cabbage we used to get at school that we used to call seaweed. It did look a lot like the stuff that heaps up on our beaches when there's been a storm. :( But I love sprouts with a dinner and am doing my best to put them high in the veg popularity charts. :)
TY, I agree that the Rootschatters are a tremendous support. The first thing I read in the morning is not the news, it's the diary thread, it sets me up to deal with whatever bad news is waiting for me to read it.
Annette, would you be able to wrap up warmly and take a walk out (not to the bin!)? I can definitely recommend it, it doesn't have to be a long walk and I like the fact that I can at least say hello to people, albeit ones I don't know.
Viktoria, your medicine chest sounds like a box of torture! Can't have done you any harm I guess. :D
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R .T.L.we need all we can get.!
I should not like to travel as you do, in darkness and it fills me with admiration that you do.
Many moons ago I came off shift at Mancheret’s Crumpsall Hospital as it was then North Manchester General now .It was Christmas Eve - of course!
I had to walk down the drive to Delauney’s Road, to get my bus.
Before the porter’s lodge was deep shrubbery ,a strange sound was coming from there .
We had on the Prem baby ward a tiny baby whose mother was syphilitic - ,babies of such women are often born with a copper coloured rash and a very high pitched cry .
It was a bit foggy,but I plucked up courage to investigate .
The noise became a bit louder, plus a sort of low growling . Taking a chance I clapped my hands and shouted “HEY !”
Spitting and growling two #£&&£@ big Tom cats flew out of the bushes ,they must have been in an eye balling set to.
But the fog did distorted the sound and I could imagine a poor little soul lying there ,and on Christmas Eve too!
Viktoria.
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Your heart was in the right place Viktoria!
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Yes, in my boots!
There were all sorts of possibilities!
;D ;D
Viktoria.