Diary > Thursday 15th October

[Roobarb]

A sunny morning but it had obviously rained heavily while I was still in the land of nod. Read all the depressing news, watched a bit of This Morning where they were all going on about the probable lockdown in London. No-one on the  programme seemed to have shown much interest when it was confined to the North (in England) but now they all think they're hard done by. How do they think people in Lancashire and County Durham have managed all these weeks?

Got myself out for a walk after that, there were muddy patches on the field and the path into the woods. Nice fine day, a bit chilly.

After lunch I rang my car insurance company to tell them I wasn't going ahead with my current policy. Of course they offered to look at figures for me but I told them I'd already gone ahead elsewhere. Then I rang the company whose website I couldn't sign in with last week. After a lengthy conversation and promises from them it's still not resolved and I'll have to phone them again tomorrow. It's driving me berserk.

Did some things around the house before going to meet my friend J for our walk, we were meeting fifteen minutes later due to her work. We took one of our usual routes down to the coast road, along and back through some woods, the path there is very narrow and was very muddy, people had obviously been through on bikes. Round by the allotments and through the streets, it was completely dark when I got home.

Heated the chicken dish I'd taken out of the freezer earlier, glad I made extra last time. Watched the Tonight programme about possible lockdowns, wish I hadn't bothered, it just annoyed me further. Had a message from my friend L to tell me that Portrait Artist 2020 started on Sky Arts last night, will look forward to catching up with it over the weekend.

[Caw1]

Good you were able to get out for two walks today....

Woke early this morning and read for a while....
OH playing golf this morning ...it was quite chilly first thing so turned the heating on for an hour...
Had a few messages with daughter ....
at 9.15 I’ve a nice dress on ( over my jumper and trousers) , necklace make up and a glass of wine...
no don’t worry I’ve not turned into an alcoholic...yet!
Filming a short video to be uploaded onto the site daughters doing for OH’s b’day as a surprise... hopefully all our friends and family will do the same... tipped the wine back into the bottle after toasting him... not a drop passed my lips..
Daughter wants me to scan photos... old ones... her words not mine...
I’m not very good at doing this as I never know where they’ve gone once I’ve done it...
Oh no just heard on the news looks like London is  going to tier 2 from Saturday...yes but when on Saturday...
Daughter faced timed me to show me where to put uploaded photos...
She confirmed them coming up here on Saturday to stay now out of the equation...
So meal going to have to be cancelled... she’s gutted...me too.. and youngest grandson will be too as he was really looking forward to trying his steak & kidney pudding... he’s a real foodie, tries anything for an under 5yr old...
Plan B... we book time slot at NT place for Saturday and Sunday and decide when we see weather forecast nearer the time...
They’re going to take a picnic... good luck with that... we’ll go into the cafe! She’s baking a birthday cake ...
Busy scanning pics...
Show her video I did... too long and serious could I do another one 😤😤 ok!
We have three more FaceTime in between her meetings..
I dress up again pour another glass of wine... I tell you I’m sorely tempted to drink this one... but I pour it back into the bottle...
By now it’s 2pm... I’ve done nothing... not even emptied the dishwasher or made the beds! Worse still my house cleaning and using my new vacuum is just an idea...
Finally had enough...
Phoned and swapped meal for Monday night our friends and neighbours are going to enjoy it with us instead so not all lost and didn’t want to cancel as it’s much needed revenue for people doing it... one friend said she’d make a dessert so just cancelled that bit!
By the time I had lunch it was almost 2.45!
Just about to get the vacuum out to try it when OH got home... thought you were cleaning the house..
Don’t ask... I’ve spent all morning sorting something out for our darling daughter...
Well he’s managed to guess I was getting a meal in.. as I’d not bought anything in...
I can report that the vacuum works a treat even on lowest power level it got all the thread up in my work room and all those black bits that come off black socks! Only complaint is you have to keep your finger on the on switch all the time....
Good to hear from daughter that lots of messages coming in for video...
Decided I needed to make OH a b’day card despite him saying oh just give him one I’ve Given before and stick 70 on it.... not on your nelly it’ll be a new one!
At 7pm he calls up to say were we having dinner tonight...opps so engrossed forgotten...
I made breaded pork chops cooked in the oven over herbed pots, mushrooms and tomatoes.... ( still with every meal!) last of our runner brand and stem broccoli...
My friend who works at Gatwick called... she’s on tenterhooks as more redundancies coming next week... total of 38,000 work there now down to 12,000... she’s going to find it difficult if she goes as she’s my age and been lucky to have stayed on for so long...
Watched tv.. The Savoy and Portrait Artist... I do enjoy it very much... no Joan Bakewell this time... can’t say I’m sorry find her very patronising....
It’s been a roller coaster of a day...
Sorry we can’t make OH’s birthday a bit special... at least we’ll get to see them though...
think I and daughter more upset than OH!
This situation in the country is just insane... other European countries don’t seem much better either..what a world...
On that note I will end and hope others days have been better!
Caroline

[Mowsehowse]

Isn't it annoying when a day gets so far out of control one appears to have achieved nothing!!
But just the picture of you wearing a nice dress over your jumper and trousers has me smiling Caroline, so I think your efforts were not in vain.
Roobarb, the North/South divide is something I find fascinating. As a Londoner born, (who hasn't lived there for 50 years,) while I totally agree that in the UK everything is somewhat "London centric", I have to say that I have not heard a BBC news bulletin in 2 weeks which has not been screaming about how unfair the virus situation is being to Liverpool, Manchester and Cumbria.
When I looked at the map carefully I discovered Barrow in Furnace is such a long way from Carlisle they probably have a North/South divide too!!
The really BIG question is why stricter measures are always delayed for several days? Why is it never midnight tonight, rather than midnight some days hence?
I enjoyed the portrait painter competition I saw last year, but we don't have Sky....
Yesterday I walked to town to have an outdoor coffee with a friend who is praying for completion next week, on the sale of her house, and stressed out of her skull through the torment of it all.
After lunch walked around the lakes. H caught a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher, and we watched two wrens apparently having an altercation near a puddle.  Keen photographers were excited that water rail has been seen in the vicinity. Lots of huge dragonflies flitting around.
H went out for 2 tutoring sessions so I did some cleaning and had a practise on my alto recorder. First in a long time, and I couldn't get the low notes, so it looks like I must begin all over again.

[Roobarb]

Caroline, I'm so sorry to hear that your plans have been scuppered but am very impressed that you have come up with a plan B so quickly. It's great that you'll be able to enjoy the planned meal with your friends. Don't forget to take the jumper and trousers off before you put the dress on in real time!

Mowsehowse, it wasn't the TV people in general I was getting at, it's just some of these so called 'personalities ' who think the world circulates around them. I don't even know who some of them are, or rather what they are! The effect on other Rootschatters wherever they live brings it home to me much more than they do. My apologies if my rant seemed anti London, I know that the lives of so many ordinary people will be affected by the changes.
The content of the Tonight programme annoyed me because of the excuses some people apparently have for flouting the regulations, why on earth can't they see that their behavior affects all of us.
I think the delay in imposing new restrictions is possibly so that such things as catering companies get some notice that planned events are cancelled before going ahead with preparations.

[Pheno]

Caroline, as I understand it the Tier 2 rules for London only apply when you are actually in the Tier 2 area, not if you leave the area, as you can do to go on holiday etc. Can find nothing on any website to contradict this.

Pheno

[louisa maud]

A text from my daughter yesterday, "Boris has spoilt your birthday plans", my reply was  " that is Ok by me as long as everyone is safe" my granddaughter was coming home from University to see us, don't think she will be allowed and in some ways, as much as I would like to se her, I would prefer she didn't, just to be on the safe side

No one, in my opinion knew what we were all in for, it is no good people going on about what should have been done, or as I call it shoulda woulda coulda !  could any other party do as well as Boris?, I don't know and neither does anyone else, so I am just going to sit it out and abide by the rules laid down to keep my family safe

Louisa Maud

[radstockjeff]

Beginning to pick up the threads; we try and do something each day, nothing too strenuous or taxing but enough to occupy the mind. It was quite a nice start to the morning, sunshine (although not what we call our Australian Sky-wall to wall sunshine!). So off to the Garden Centre and pick up some bedding plants. Then cleared the greenhouse and put the staging back into place. Then cleared some pots and a couple of beds; cut back the paeonies and then put the garden furniture away.

Spent a quiet hour on some music prep for our church service on Sunday week, whilst OH was having her daily dose of "Tenable"and "Tipping Point".  I have a "cut down" version of Sibelius, a quite sophisiticated music arranging programme and am able to lose myself in its intricacies from time to time.

Finally I spent some time on the phone to BT. Our last telephone bill was astronomic! and I had written to them asking why; but it did not dawn on me that we had spent a fair bit of time talking to Andrew in Oz about Nick. Nick looked after our telephone and other accounts but unfortunately he was not too good on keeping paper records and so the lady at BT took me through and we resolved most of the issues relating to our BT account.
I must say that she was extremely helpful and sympathetic and I feel a lot more confident now about tackling the other "high tec" issues. I will have to try and get more acquainted with Whatsapp and Facetime- I have it on my mobile phone but have never really got around to using it to its full potential.

Poached salmon for tea/supper with baby potatoes and butter. We like the baby or salad potatoes but yesterday when I went to the local Co-op to get another bag I was told that they don't do those anymore! Had to make do with a pre-prepared lot, but not to my taste, so we need to find  somewhere which does do baby potatoes!

[ankerdine]

Oh for something that can lift the black sock bits off the bedroom carpet! Caroline your machine does sound just what I want. Thank you for the tip about rose prunings to deter squirrels I think that's a good idea. It's my job to prune the roses so I'll make sure they don't get put in the green bin!

Now what day is it yesterday?
OH made porridge for breakfast which he enjoys doing and it was just right. (Says Goldilocks!). Mum would have put salt on because of her Scots ancestry but I have it natural and he has sugar, or honey, or whatever we have at the time.

Looked at the shower again from a distance - will have to get one of those sprays - are they any good?

Walked the long way round to meet my friend at the local craft shop/coffee shop where we sit European-style outside on the pavement but well spaced out. This morning however we were unfortunately smoked out by a family group seated next to us (close). It's a pity to see young women smoking with babies in pushchairs.  I remember giving up smoking when I became pregnant but did have the odd one now and again occasionally. Maybe next week we will meet at a different place or go on a different day. My friend told me she'd made soup so off I went home and did the same! We inspire each other I think which is a laugh really. I bought some craft pumpkins from the shop to decorate for my Autumn/Halloween themed basket.

Soup bubbling whilst OH repaired kitchen wastebin which I had knocked off the back of undersink cupboard door. 

Mushroom omelette, Tuscan potatoes and salad for tea followed by stewed apples and custard.

Son who lives in Swansea posted family pics on FB for us to see. Grandchildren playing on a beach and video of the tide coming in over the sand. What a lovely sound it was.

Neighbour called later with sunflower cards made by her two little boys for me. How sweet! They went off happily with the pumpkins which I hadn't yet painted so now they have another project to do.

OH watched the Trump documentary which he said was the best thing he'd watched on TV for ages. Finalised my last-minute Tesco order in time.

[Roobarb]

Caroline, as I understand it the Tier 2 rules for London only apply when you are actually in the Tier 2 area, not if you leave the area, as you can do to go on holiday etc. Can find nothing on any website to contradict this.

Pheno

Pheno, people who live in a Tier 2 area are not allowed to visit people in their own homes or to socialise indoors with anyone outside their household. So unfortunately for Caroline that means the travel regulations for her daughter and family are not relevant in this instance.

LM, I agree, whoever had to deal with this dreadful situation would be criticised whatever they did, I can't say I envy them the job.

Jeff, glad to hear you've been doing therapeutic things like gardening and preparing for your church service. And it's great that you got someone so helpful and sympathetic to deal with at BT. I get baby potatoes in my Tesco order, they're tasty but I must say some of them can be more like toddlers!

Ankerdine, lovely to be able to sit outside at a cafe, what a shame the smokers rather spoilt the experience.