Diary > Summary - Week ending 8th August

[Viktoria]

Enjoy your little break RTL , I don’t think I could do what you do, the travel and difficult hours.

This is a bit ,well, critical,perhaps but times do change and we would not have bought expensive toys then struggled  to buy good  quality properly fitting shoes.
Essentials came first , and toys were in one toy box, bricks, small cars, art materials ,books,  soft  toys ,board games and not much else except imagination.
In the living room ,none in the icy cold bedroom ,play was in front of the fire guard on the hearth rug .
Children have so many these days .
I suppose in all fairness  quickly grown out of shoes do seem a big expense
when cheaper versions are available,I only had three children ,but when there are more it must be difficult.

Son has been told Pericarditis is a possibility , but quite often there has been a heart attack for that to develop, as far as we know he has not had one .
His teenage spinal curvature is also being considered despite ,- it appears to us - it has not come back.
Just wait and see time but it has been a long time already.

Grand daughter was going on a camping/ cycling holiday in The New Forest .but her bike has been stolen and her friend’s .
She has had a tough time with Ovarian cysts etc  so I sent her money for a new one ,the stolen one was almost new and not insured !
 She is a super girl, and very like her Mum, unselfish and thoughtful .

What a lot of medals in the Olympics , ! Really good .

Thr sour / bitter stuff in my mouth was part of the process of doing a filling ,but flat on my back and this awful stuff which made me heave flooding into the back of my throat I just had to spit out .
Then something had to be done again!
I am not impressed I must say with this Dental,practice .
I had to point out two more fillings than were deemed necessary .
My long term Dentist was in the Maxillo/Facial team at Fairfield Hospital prior to starting his own practice .
So a lot to live up to.

Rain this evening .

The chicken from Aldi was a good flavour and tender, I think I lost a long post sent earlier today where I mentioned the chicken .

Hope you pick up Roobarb, and everyone else not fully well .
I too feel tired but nothing serious ,side effects of eye drops ,but I nod off as soon as I sit down !
I watch Morse sometimes ,on until two in the morning ,so what do  I expect  keeping those hours !
So like my OH. 
However he was not so “ cutting” , or ascerbic

Well this was started yesterday and it  disappeared ,so seeing as it has come back  I will send it.
Viktoria

[BushInn1746]

Hello All

Thank you Louisa, RTL and all.

Hope you are well Louisa.

I hope RTL you quickly get into your sleep pattern, working 12 hour shifts and at night, I bet you have some sleep catching up, to do.

Mousehowse, my Wife tells me some of those Cruise ships in the bay near you are doing cruises around the British Isles 

Caroline, been thinking of your husband and continue to wish him well, we have just been looking out of the window over a Golf Course and there they are, pulling their golf bags round on trolleys in the pouring rain.

Roobarb, I hope you will further improve soon, just been on the news about those suffering with exhaustion and other after symptoms and I thought of you.

Viktoria, I hope your Son's health improves soon too. At least he is being looked at now. Very neighbourly, you checking on your neighbour, perhaps it would not have been so favourable if she had been left there all night.

Mare, my Stepdaughter lives in NZ and not sure when my Mrs P will be allowed in without restrictions. Getting Special permission we hear is needed now by some? Plus Two weeks in Quarantine and fee would take up much of the visit time and make the flight cost 3 times more expensive. I don't blame your PM for trying something to keep infections low.

Best wishes, Mark

[mare]

Yes Mark, very tricky for anyone entering, either residents making their way back in or eligible in other ways. As you say, a costly trip and stressful with the challenges of getting flights and isolation facilities booked together and many miss out on spaces as they come up in the accommodation available as they disappear very quickly and a bit of a lottery!

Start of another new month beginning rotation of usual work schedule for husband, very little in way of engagements on my own calendar for the week and with just a flicker of some seasonal fever I planned some bites of a very big elephant on the home front … still need to Spring into action task wise but a few nibbles taken 
Contact/chat for the family birthdays this week, 2/3/4 August, great nephew, sister-in-law and #1 niece all living a distance from us and g-nephew in Australia but have seen the others earlier in the year.
Sympathy with your bereavements CF as mentioned, others too perhaps not mentioned, understand as we had news of  another 2 passing this last weekend having made most however they were able to on borrowed time. #1 niece as above is at funeral of her father-in-law today, I could have gone with sister and b-i-l but a lot of travel involved getting to them in next county before heading much further afield, will remember him and his wife just as we last saw them for a happy occasion in April.
We attended the service for our friend on Wednesday morning, left early for the traffic as across city some distance from south to north and slow but made good time, enough to get a parking space for car and a seat in the church for us as they were quickly filling and the last of the bereavement sheets as well. Shared the song sheet between us and will scan the other service one with photos for my sister, deceased a previous neighbour of theirs for some years and we knew her from another group.
Husband had already decided not to work Wednesday and I had said I wouldn't be at club. We had accepted an invitation to a long awaited reunion lunch across city to the west and managed to just squeeze in both, missed quite a bit but not the lunch ;-) and were last to leave, catching up with most we hadn't seen since pre Christmas 2019. Another get-together planned for later in year,  usually have around 3 a year so that most of the big group can make at least one of the dates, mostly a good turnout and really social. Sadly the list of those no longer around to attend is growing though, a change in appearances with some noticed too with the longer gap, unfortunately the collection of bereavement sheets is rather too numerous!
Did another few essentials while out, including picking up some groceries at a different branch of supermarket. I usually look out for anyone I might know when we occasionally do that, sure enough I saw a chap who worked the floor above me 50 years ago and was often in my office doing technical stuff.  Thought about it for another 2 aisles before I approached him, definitely him and he knew who I was but said he thought I was taller and I looked a bit different … hello, half a century , lol … he was the same and obviously older, is a tall man and about 15 years my senior, quite deaf now but wanted to share his life story and a bit about others we both knew. One who worked with him became a good friend of ours and regularly in touch, he expressed surprise that he's still around …  as will friend in return I guess when I tell him!  At least we weren't blocking any flow of shoppers but I managed to push on reasonably and politely soon after.

All the best to everyone for your weeks.

[mare]

Clarks shoes are still available in NZ, stocked by good shoe stores.
Agree feet need to be looked after, they have to hold you up for a long time, however as a child I was frequently barefoot unless I was going to school or church and then being the 4th of 5 children had hand me downs. For my own purchasing I was always on the lookout for best budget would allow, back to school specials etc. Still same and comfort first. Mostly imports around now, some of quality others not, the few local manufacturers having gone off shore and just boutique/smaller specialist ones not so readily available. Roman sandals an option in many schools for summer, a long time local manufacturer still competing with the imports last I knew and hopefully their quality is keeping them going. Girls would happily wear them year round, boys mostly preferring shoes and socks all year, or so it seemed to me in our area.
Know the struggle of cost with providing uniform requirements, gear with logo etc, having spent my last few years employment dealing in same on the retail side for a local manufacturer, selling point was locally well made but that shifted as they grew to buying in bulk overseas and only making special orders etc. Caroline will understand that side of the rag trade no doubt. I was able to make most uniforms/costumes etc for the family, just as mum did, even then the materials can be quite an expense as well. I didn't mind dealing with the public as manager, if I had what they wanted, at the price they wanted or reluctantly prepared to pay but also saw and heard the whole range of course.  For school wear gave many quotes for family welfare benefits, others quietly drip feeding payments on basics, a few buying everything plus spares but most purchasing as needed to start and add to later ...  now and then got those that buy way too large to grow in to, a little is sensible huge isn't so much ...

[Viktoria]

Aldi advertised a complete uniform for £4-99.
Skirt or trousers,Polo shirt and cardigan or jumper.
No idea of the quality ,but very inexpensive and the fact that they were on sale from before children broke up for Summer meant cost could be spread over weeks.

Well a visit from Flash Harry this morning, with Mummy ,they had been to her mother’s for a day or so ,her sister’s quiet wedding .

Gosh he has grown ,was writing on his whiteboard, nicely formed letters “ all the way round,up ,down ,flick “ and a perfect a ready for cursive writing later in school.
Remembered the fish,so fed those , sorted himself out in the bathroom and came to show he had washed his hands.
Grand daughter was up to her ears in a small but with very detailed requests, wedding .
She has done the cake, a Pina Colada with pineapple cream  !
So not traditional you will gather .
At last moment was asked to hand write the place cards .
She is left handed like her grandad and also like him has beautiful handwriting.
So as yet has not had chance to look at replacing the stolen bikes and holiday starts tomorrow!

Flash Harry has grown , I got not so much a knee strangle as a hip hug!
We did not kiss ,only me on the top of his head.

Well raining here ,just got back from the market ,only needed a few things as I shopped yesterday,but town was so quiet ,Ramsbottom that is,did not go to
Bury.
Bought a new bolt for the back garden side gate ,the slip latch is not holding for some reason.
Henry the huge cat must jump on the gate there ,his paw prints are always on the top rail, he must weigh a stone , so a sturdy bolt will do the job nicely.

Well , things to do ,freezer needs a tidy up and a set of drawers where plastic
storage boxes for freezer fridge etc are stored.
Hope everyone is well , look after yourselves folks and enjoy the rest of the weekend .
Cheerio.
Viktoria.

[Annette7]

Lovely to read how each of you are slowly moving on.

2 excursions for me this week.  Tuesday afternoon met with my sister and 2 friends to celebrate friends 60th birthday (a day late).  Had a meal together and then prezzie time.  So nice to all be together again.

The next day it was oldest great nieces 14th birthday.  Amelia had decided she wanted a family BBQ so that's what we did.  Was a lovely afternoon/evening.  Lots of photos taken and have a lovely one of me with Amelia whilst I'm holding twin Macy (Darcy was asleep).  Macy full of beans, smiles for everyone and lots of cuddles.   Bet she slept well that night.

It's currently coming down in stair-rods!  What a racket on the roof.   At 3pm my b-in-law is going to watch football for the first time in over a year.   I'm going over to be with my sister who's slowly recovering from hip op.

August always a busy month with birthdays in the family but a bit more special this year as it is my nephews 40th on the 12th and his dad's 70th on the 15th.   We are having a joint family celebration at a local hostelry on the 15th. so have that to look forward to.  All booked with 2 high chairs!

Let's continue as we have been and take care of ourselves.

Annette

[Roobarb]

Thanks for thinking of me Mark, the post Covid symptoms are difficult to deal with, the exhaustion is so random. I had a bad day yesterday, didn't even go for a walk, just sat around reading all day. A little better today, I just wish that having taken a step forward I could progress from that point instead of taking a step back again. Ah well, I keep reminding myself it could have been worse, I dread to think of what it would have been like if I hadn’t been vaccinated.

Mare, good to hear all your news, you do seem to have a busy life.

Viktoria, how lovely for you to have had a visit from Flash Harry, I know how much you've missed him. And for Annette to get together with family and the little ones.

Good news that Caroline's OH is doing well.
Best wishes to everyone.

[Viktoria]

Roobarb, I have Osteoporosis, on calcium tablets etc and VitaminD .
If I miss a Vitamin tablet I  know  about it.
When I take it ,it is like a pick me up !
Vitamin C is a good tonic too, no harm in trying a Multivitamin .
I think you might feel a little better quite soon but the benefit grows.
It is worth a try.
You need to be in better health generally ,don’t mean to be a pessimist but Winter is only two and a half months away.
You need to be feeling much better by then .

Cheerio ,and take things easy ,no good in overtaxing yourself .
Best wishes.

Yes F,H ,has grown, very confident and as if it was
only yesterday that he came every weekend .
Got his toys out and did a jigsaw comprised of small blocks but did it vertically - not flat.
Looked at some of his books and had a laugh at the funny ones .
Still got his little speech impediment just the same as his maternal Grandad.

Watching 24 Hours in A& E !
Honestly ,the attitudes and language of the younger people!
Then lAshes to Ashes,Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt, , quite funny with his unorthodox attitude!

Cheerio folks ,a nice cup of tea and snuggle down
Feel smug as I did a lot of general sorting out and tidying up kitchen drawers .Then a big cupboard underneath where the boiler is.
Huge pans etc I don’t use now it is just me,a box full of catering
 things like trifle dishes  from when I did a couple of dozen for Spring,,Autumn and Christmas fairs at church.

Put everything back but could hear a funny ticking .
Had I knocked something to do with the boiler,everything out,all seemed well .stuff back and it dawned ,a little tiny oven I used to use for reheating things then I got a better one that is a proper oven I can bake and roast in ,grill etc
I had knocked the timer of the little one  and set it off .
Well goodnight everyone hope you have a nice day tomorrow.
Viktoria.

[Roobarb]

Viktoria, I do take vitamin D tablets, I get a lot of vitamin C in my diet although I can't taste it at the moment!
Well done on sorting out all the drawers and cupboards, you're an inspiration. Not just yet though.