Feeling better

Day 55

I woke up feeling a lot better and with my tummy ache gone, probably because I hadn't eaten anything last night! I did find a box of IBS tablets in the back of the bathroom cabinet, and I'd taken two before I went to bed, so they may have helped as well. I think I'm going to have to cut down on wheat (I do eat a lot of bread and wheat products!) to see if that helps!

It was great to feel better and Sophie said I didn't have a "dark cloud" over me anymore! I made a baked nutty porridge for breakfast which was delicious and probably much better for me than cheese on toast! The weather today has been gorgeous again and temperatures have risen to about 14-15c. Not quite warm enough to sit in the garden, but perfect in the conservatory!

Sophie and I enjoyed our usual Sunday face-pack - today it was tomato and I could feel it tightening up my skin! In the afternoon I suggested to Sophie we go to Boots to get some more IBS tablets, and on the way, we decided to pop to the Daily Bread to see if they had a gluten-free loaf that I could have with dinner rather than the normal garlic bread we eat.

Disappointingly, Daily Bread was closed - perhaps it's just Sunday? - so we headed to a very busy Riverside where I bought some more Senocalm tablets. Afterwards, we went to Costa and I bought a bar of chocolate nuts to have as a makeshift lunch with a coffee. It's unbelievable how much food has wheat in it, so I hope that I haven't developed an intolerance to wheat? Perhaps I just eat too much of it!

Before going home we called in at Smith's Farm Shop and I bought some gluten-free crackers to have for lunch tomorrow, as well as some other goodies, including hot cross buns for Keith who doesn't have a problem with wheat!

Back home Sophie and I discussed dinner, which was the lasagne we should have had last night. I had prepared all the vegetables this morning (pepper, carrot, celery and onion) so we just had to do the actual cooking. Sophie cooked the veggies while I seared the mince in a hot frying pan. We then mixed everything together in our casserole dish, added a good glug of red wine and two cans of tomatoes and left it to simmer for an hour. This gave us the ideal chance to have another cocktail each (a Negroni and a Moscow Mule), play Scrabble, and munch on some delicious lentil crisps with salsa. Well, we hadn't had much lunch!

After the meat sauce had simmered for an hour, we assembled the lasagne with the pasta sheets, mozzarella and ricotta. We used the Hairy Bikers' recipe which didn't call for a Bechamel sauce. We popped the dish in the oven for fifty minutes and Sophie made garlic bread, which I was not going to eat!

The meal went down very well and there was enough leftover for Sophie's and Mike's lunch tomorrow. I took two Senocalm tablets as a precaution (I tried not to eat much pasta) and Keith and I watched Tomorrow Never Dies. We don't have many Bond films to go now and will definitely have watched them all by the time the new one is released!

Tummy troubles

Day 54

We awoke to a gorgeous day - beautifully Spring-like, with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Our morning was fairly lazy and Sophie and I enjoyed cheese on toast whilst watching Saturday Kitchen Live. Just the way a weekend should begin!

Towards lunchtime, we motivated ourselves and went over to Tesco at Kettering. Sophie wanted to make Negronis later in the day so we bought a bottle of Campari, red Vermouth, Gin, Angostura Bitters and some crisps to enjoy with a game of Scrabble later. I needed to get some things for Mum and Dad as well but shopping on a Saturday is not a pleasant experience, and I said to Sophie that this is the last time we're going to go at the weekend as it's too busy.

We dropped off the things at the care home and spoke to Mum who was having lunch. My Dad is still not right but was better than the other day so that's a relief. I just wish he was able to come out and do some physiotherapy for his legs. I can't believe it's been a year since he broke his leg... and what a year it's been.

I wasn't feeling particularly well today, either, so we headed home and relaxed for a while. When it was acceptable to do so, Sophie made us both a Negroni and it was delicious! I love Campari anyway (it reminds me of Pollensa) and it was bliss to sit and play Scrabble while sipping on our cocktails.

Unfortunately, Sophie had some very hard letters to make a word with! We had a good game but I said to Sophie I really didn't feel like cooking lasgne tonight or eating it either. I had my horrible tummy ache back, and I do suspect I have IBS as I had cramps, which made me feel yukky. Keith was quite happy to forego dinner so Sophie and I went upstairs and watched A Place in the Sun lying on the bed. She found a curry in the freezer to have for her dinner, and Keith made himself an egg sandwich. I felt so guilty but there was no way I could have faced cooking lasagne from scratch this evening!

After my poor family had eaten their meagre dinner, we watched the first Mission Impossible film. Sophie spoke to Zain who has booked for them to go away in July, so that cheered my daughter up no end! Hopefully, by then, life can resume as normal!

Just pottering...

Day 53

Keith and I had a very lazy start to the day, but towards lunchtime we motivated ourselves, and while my husband ventured out into the garden to clear up the leaves and branches from Wednesday, I cleaned the house.

It's been beautiful weather today with sunshine, blue skies and mild temperatures. We both pottered about and did some jobs that needed doing, before going to get Mike from work. He was as muddy as ever but at least it's Friday and he has the weekend off!

Sophie came home at the earlier time of 4pm to take part in her weekly quiz, and I went and had a lovely soak in the bath. I still find it strange that Keith doesn't head off to the pub on a Friday evening! Dinner tonight was minestrone soup with garlic bread, and I had prepared all the vegetables earlier in the day. It was a lovely, healthy soup and contained nine vegetables! Sophie helped me sweat all the veggies down, before we added stock and let it simmer for about forty minutes. We then relaxed with a glass of wine before heating up the soup and adding pasta.

The pasta had soaked up a lot of the liquid so it was more like a thick broth, and with the crispy garlic bread, it was delicious. That's another one added to the list!

A little catch up.

 Day 52

It's been a beautiful day today, with plenty of sunshine and blue skies. Has Spring really sprung? 

Of course, this has drawn people out and when we got home from collecting Mike, I had a lovely chat with my friend Michelle who was on her way to posting a letter. I can't remember the last time we had time to talk so it was great to catch up for a little while in the sunshine. It was a bit cold, though, so maybe no casting off of clouts yet!

As expected, the conversation was mostly about the pandemic and I was pleased to hear that her husband is getting his jab on Saturday. I am very proud of the way the UK has conducted this mass vaccination programme!

Keith cooked dinner tonight and Iw as glad he did as my Mum phoned to say that my Dad wasn't very well, and had somehow lost the use of his left arm. We were both alarmed by this, and the possibility that he may have had a stroke? Mum said he hadn't really eaten all day so it could have been down to low blood sugar. I told her to keep me informed later on in the evening and she said that the carers were looking after him.

Just when I thought that our worries are nearly over, another pops its head up!

Garden plans!

Day 51

Keith and I had to pop to Tesco today to get some bits for my Mum and Dad. The weather was gorgeous and the car temperature was registering 19c! Probably not accurate, but it was great to see, and it's still only February!

We dropped the bag off, waved to my Mum from the car and then dropped into Costa on the way home as I fancied a coffee and something for breakfast. I am mightily fed up with toast! I chose a Flat White and a chocolate and almond croissant, which was delicious, and something I wouldn't normally go for. Keith and I sat in the car while I enjoyed my late breakfast, enjoying the sunshine and the warm breeze.

Back home I suggested to Keith that we cut down the trees in the back garden as they had grown enormously since last year. My poor husband had to balance on a ladder with heavy-duty pruning shears, a saw, and an electric saw to get rid of the tall branches. While he lopped them I gathered up all the wood and either cut it down or stored it behind the garage. Last year I made a little pile of branches for wildlife to shelter in, and I might do the same again this year.

It was lovely working in the sun, although it did cloud over a bit towards lunchtime. The robin was around a lot and was singing away in the trees, so that was lovely to hear. He's a bit more skittish than the other robins we've had over the years but he likes to be about if we're digging or clearing away weeds! Keith also cut back some bushes to give the grass a chance to grow and when it gets a bit warmer I'm planning on putting some grass seed down to cover the bare patches in the lawn.

We filled our own garden bin completely and then ventured down into the gravel garden to see what was happening down there. I wish we hadn't! Our Virginia Creeper was in a real sorry state and I think it's half-dead from where Keith cut it down a couple of years ago. He made a start on pulling it down and it didn't take long!

We agreed that as I will probably be off for the whole of March, we would sort this area out and tidy it up. If our plans for the kitchen go ahead, we will need to take down the trellis-work anyway (to make way for the new window), and I think the clematis has also had it. The Virginia Creeper and the Honeysuckle entwined within it have gone mad, and have taken over the end part of the garden so I think it's time for a change, and maybe a new seat so we can sit out here and enjoy the sunshine. The seat is rotten so that will definitely have to go!

I would like to get it cut down a bit, and maybe put some more gravel down to make it look better. It's wild down there!

The sky clouded over in the afternoon, and Sophie came home at lunchtime, which was a bonus. She arrived just before we went to get Mike, and he was covered in mud again. He seemed very fed up with the work they're having to do which isn't greenskeeping at all, but more like hard manual labour.

In the afternoon I was delighted to receive my 2013 blog book from the publisher. This time it was perfect!

Mud, mud, glorious mud!

Day 50

It's been a very quiet and uneventful day today with not much to report at all! Keith and I both pottered about the house first thing and then, as it was such a lovely day, I went out and cleaned the inside of my car. 

The back footwell and seat, where Mike normally sits on the way home from work, were like a muddy field, so I spent a fair amount of time hoovering the carpets and shampooing the seats. There was a lovely breeze blowing, and it was very enjoyable to be outside in the mild air. Keith came out and helped - I don't think he could believe how dirty the back of the car was!

The time was getting on, so I left the mats to be hoovered later, and we went to get Mike from work. I took my Dad's car as the back seats were still damp from the cleaning and I don't think Mike would have appreciated getting a wet bottom! When he emerged from work, his trousers and boots were caked in mud again!

On my return, I finished everything and the inside of the car smelt lovely and clean. It won't last long but at least I tackled it!

Sophie came home a bit early today so that was a bonus! She went and did a workout in her bedroom, and then we caught up with the events of the day before she very kindly made dinner for us. Keith and I had prepared the chicken and the vegetables for our curry earlier in the day so she did the final cooking. The meal was delicious!

A "roadmap" out of lockdown - the beginning of the end?

Day 49

The weather this morning has been atrocious - really grey, cloudy skies and rain. It was mild, though, at about 10c, so that wasn't too bad! Keith and I went shopping and called into both Aldi and Tesco. As we were a little later today, the supermarkets were busy but it didn't take us long to get what we needed for the next few days.

We went to get Mike at 2pm and he was over half an hour late. He told us that his boss wanted him to stay a bit later, but didn't tell him until we were well on our way to pick him up, so that was annoying! We passed the time by watching the birds (especially a robin who was singing his heart out) and playing i-spy!

Back home I hoovered and tidied up downstairs, and noticed on my WhatsApp group that my manager had left a message about gyms re-opening... I had forgotten to watch the news! I tuned into Sky News and saw pictures being beamed from the Houses of Parliament.

Now, I hate the word "roadmap"... What's wrong with plan or timescale or schedule? As I watched there was a constant streaming of the news at the bottom of the screen and I was able to learn the following:

From 8 March schools will re-open and we can meet another person outside for a coffee or picnic. Care Home residents will be able to have a visit from one nominated person who will have undergone a test.

From 29 March we will be able to meet up to six people outdoors (or two households), which includes private gardens. Outdoor sports facilities, such as golf and tennis, will re-open.

From 12 April non-essential shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, gyms and libraries can re-open. Outdoor attractions such as zoos and theme parks can open. Hospitality venues can re-open but they can only serve people outdoors, for example, in pub gardens.

From 17 May most outdoor rules will be lifted, although gatherings of over 30 people will still be illegal. Indoor hospitality will re-open, such as indoor soft play and cinemas. Organised larger performances and sporting events taking place in indoor venues will be allowed (up to 1000 people) and outdoor venues (up to 4000 people). Up to 10000 people can attend very large venues. 17 May is the earliest date we can plan international travel.

And then the date we have all been waiting for - 21 June (the summer solstice). All social restrictions will be lifted and hopefully, life will return to some sort of normality. All the above applies to England only, which I always find a bit strange! I really do wonder if we're seeing the end of the United Kingdom?

Of course, all of this is dependent on the vaccines working, and no increase in infections or the NHS being overwhelmed as we saw back in January. I hate to say it, but we saw all this last year when we enjoyed some freedom in July, August and September. The difference this time, though, is the use of vaccines, and I'm hoping I will get mine before I go back to work.

Because of the travel rule, we contacted the owner of our Airbnb, and we've postponed our French break until the 2 April 2022, two years after we initially planned to go. He was more than happy for us to postpone and we thought it was the best idea - we really didn't want to book for September and be disappointed again!

A lockdown kind of day...

Day 48

Today has been another very lazy Sunday with not much going on! Sophie just wanted to relax and I was happy to comply! I made banana porridge for breakfast, but this time the fruit was much riper so it was lovely and sweet! I have learned my lesson!

We had our face mask at lunchtime - this week it was a charcoal one so we both looked like we were in combat as the colour was like a greeny khaki! As usual, we caught an episode of A Place in the Sun - how lovely it would be to be somewhere sunny and warm at the moment!

Sophie and I went to see Mum in the afternoon and parked outside her window so we could wave and have a conversation on the phone. She looked very smart, and her hair was a beautiful brown colour, so that was reassuring for me.

We took the scenic route home, and Mill Lane was like the M25! Numerous cyclists, joggers and walkers were out enjoying the late afternoon air. It's been a bit of a dreary day today with not much sunshine, but I'm hoping this will improve next week.

Back home we played Scrabble and had a sneaky early Martini! Sophie said that the weekend had been a typical lockdown one - mooching about the house, talking to friends on Facetime, early drinking and playing board games!

Keith cooked dinner tonight - a delicious roast chicken with all the trimmings. We enjoyed the chicken but honestly couldn't taste much difference between the Beckworth one and a bird we usually buy in Tesco for slightly less money!

Eye matters

Day 47

Sophie went to meet Zain this morning at Pitsford reservoir, and I was chuffed that he'd driven all the way from Essex to see her! Ahhh!

I mooched about at home, not looking forward to an eye test I had booked this afternoon. I'd already been contacted by someone from the branch to check I wasn't displaying any Covid symptoms, and I was reassured by the website, which said they were taking lots of precautions.

Sophie arrived back home at about 1.30pm and wanted to come to the Weston Favell Centre with me. We drove over at 2.30pm and quickly discovered that all the benches had been removed from the shopping centre so my poor daughter had to go back to the car and sit there while I had my eye test.

It went very well, and my eyes are lovely and healthy, which is always a relief. I had a battery of tests, including photographs, a test where I had to spot little white dots on a screen, as well as the normal sight tests, dye placed in my eyes, and also my contact lens check, which she squeezed in at the end. It was all very well controlled, with lots of cleaning, and the staff wore visors, masks and disposable aprons. I dread to think how much plastic they are getting through, though.

I was in there for about an hour and felt mightily pleased that that was over for another year (or two). I returned to the car and we drove home in the late afternoon sunshine. It has been very mild today with a warm breeze that brought the promise of Spring with it. I could smell it in the air and it was delicious. Sophie was planning on having a chat with Laura and Daisy at 5pm as their BA flights to Italy were cancelled by Tui today, but we managed to enjoy a cocktail and a game of Scrabble until then!

While Sophie was chatting I caught up with an old episode of Grand Designs, and then we resumed our game with a glass of red wine, while Keith cooked dinner, which tonight was beef steaks in a delicious gravy served with home-made chips, onion rings, mushrooms, carrots and sweetcorn (we ran out of peas).

Our after-dinner viewing was the fifth Jason Bourne film so we are going to have to think up a new series of films to watch on a Saturday night!

A disappointment in the post...

Day 46

Sophie was back at work today but was coming home early to take part in the weekly quiz that is held by her office on a Friday at 4pm. I think this is a lovely idea, and she gets to know her new colleagues this way!

The weather has been utterly miserable today, with heavy grey skies, a stiff wind and rain in the afternoon. When the postman called with our mail, my 2013 blog book had arrived from The Netherlands. I was delighted until I had a good look through the pages and noticed that several hadn't printed properly... if it had only been a couple I would have left it, but there were about 12 pages affected where the print on the top left-hand side of the page was missing. It looked like the pages had been creased. I was extremely disappointed and emailed the company to ask if they could do a re-print at no extra charge. I received an email straight back to say they would, so hopefully, I'll get another copy soon.

 Keith and I went to Smith's Farm shop this morning to buy a quiche for Sophie's picnic tomorrow and to have a mooch about. Keith wasn't that impressed with the foods on offer and thought it was an expensive place to shop, which I agreed with. The first quiche we picked out for Sophie was £4.99!

Having bought a few treats, we left to go home but took a long scenic route, passing through Chapel Brampton, Spratton and Creaton. On impulse, I turned off towards the small village of Cottesbrooke rather than go straight to Brixworth, somewhere I hadn't been for years. The last time was when I used to volunteer as a teenager for the Riding for the Disabled organisation, and I stayed in the village with some children from a special needs school for a weekend of activities. We saw a signpost for Brixworth but the route was marked as a "gated road" which alarmed Keith slightly who had visions of having to get out of the car multiple times to open gates! He needn't have worried, though, as the road, although single-track, was free of obstacles! 

Back home, while it was dry, I attempted to put some more washing out, but just before we left to get Mike it started raining again! I think I'll give up! The weekend is set to be slightly better with temperatures reaching a balmy 16c!

After getting Mike from work, I made a batch of banana flapjacks, and Sophie returned to take part in her quiz. Our film choice this evening was "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. I had seen it before but I was more than happy to enjoy it again! It was hilarious!

A hint of Spring?

Day 45

Sophie worked from home today, confusing poor Monty even more! Keith went and did the shopping straight from taking Mike to work as he is now starting at 7am again. Initially, it was to avoid the rainfall we were due to get today, but I think these are his permanent hours from now on. 

It's been another sunny and breezy day, despite the rain first thing. Is Spring on the way at last? I prepared our evening meal which today was chicken and parmesan soup with pappardelle. I poached some chicken breasts in a pan of water and chopped up carrots and celery. I also pulverised a carton of baby plum tomatoes in our mini food processor. Once all the preparations were done, Sophie and I popped to Beckworth again, in her lunch hour, so she could buy some picnic foods for Saturday when she's meeting Zain at Pitsford.

Back home I had a quick lunch and then did some more preparations for the soup. I cooked the vegetables and added garlic, tomato puree and bay leaves, and then let it all mingle together.

My new phone case arrived today and trying to get it onto my phone was no easy task! I do wish proper instructions are included in the packaging! I don't consider myself stupid, but in the end, I had to carefully look at the photos of the phone case on Amazon to work it out!

After relaxing with Sophie for a while, and watching a funny episode of The Good Life, we finished the soup and made garlic bread. I blended all the ingredients and then added the cooked chicken and a bag of pappardelle nests to the soup. It didn't take long and before long we were tucking in! The soup was delicious and I enjoyed it far more this time as I hadn't added any thyme!

Annoying weather!

Day 44

Keith applied the draught excluder strips to Sophie's window first thing this morning, and when he'd finished I cleaned her windowsill which was covered in make-up! Let's hope that it works and cuts down on the draughts as well as the noises from outside, namely horses clip-clopping past!

We popped to Beckworth in the late morning and bought a chicken for our Sunday roast. We also asked one of the butchers whether they would be having the turkeys in for Easter, as we'd enjoyed ours so much at Christmas. He was not very communicative and blamed his lack of knowledge on Boris! Even if we remain in lockdown until Easter and beyond, surely we can still have a turkey?

Before going home we popped to the garage at Moulton so I could take my car through the carwash. It's filthy at the moment, covered in mud and salt, and I sorely needed to see it clean again! There were another two cars in the queue in front of us, all taking advantage of the mild, breezy, and sunny weather.

Once it was washed we drove home and I actually hung some pillowcases out on the line to dry rather than tumble dry them. I love the smell of air-dried bedding and feel bad that during the winter we rely on the tumble dryer so much. However, the minute, the literal minute I went back into the house, the sky clouded over and it started raining! Argghh! We went to get Mike so the car became dirty again, but thankfully not as bad as it had been! Typical!

New purchases!

Day 43

Both Mike and I have ordered new phones and, predictably, they both arrived at about 10am this morning. Sophie promised to help me set mine up when she got home from work, so I left it well alone!

Having the phones delivered early meant that Keith and I could go out and do the things we wanted to do yesterday. We went to Smith's Farm Shop first to take back the Prosecco that I thought was corked. I spoke to a lady on the till who asked me to repeat what I said when I mentioned the fault. I explained that the wine smelt musty, like an old damp cellar, so she disappeared behind a door, presumably to check with someone more senior! I was all ready to explain that I'd worked in wine, but when she came out she was more than happy to exchange the faulty wine for a fresh bottle. Success!

Keith and I then drove to Jones's as we needed cooker hood bulbs, and I wanted to get some more bird food. I ended up buying a new frying pan, as the ones we have are useless. This time I will take charge of cleaning it so the non-stick surface stays intact! Along with some treats for the children and new reading glasses for Keith, I spent just under £50, more than I had wanted, but everything I bought (except maybe the chocolates!) was essential. Jones's had a large display for Easter and Mother's Day, and I did wonder what kind of situation we'd be in by then in terms of lockdown?

Our last stop today was B&Q to get some draught excluder tape. We hadn't been successful with the bulbs in Jones's and they didn't have any in B&Q either, so we wandered around aimlessly, up and down aisles filled with boring cable ties, screws and drill bits, looking for the tape. In the end, we had to ask someone and we found it in a completely different area of B&Q that was devoted to building supplies! Not an area we normally hang out in!

After a long wait for the checkouts, I called Sophie to ask if she wanted a coffee because it was almost her lunch hour. She was delighted, so we called into the Costa outlet on Brackmills, where I queued for ages again! We drove to her office, had a quick chat and then finally headed home.

We decided to put off applying the draught excluder tape until tomorrow as it was almost time to pick up Mike from work. Just before we left we had a torrential downpour of rain and the sky went very dark. We picked up our son who couldn't wait to get his mitts on his new phone! His old phone, which he's had for nearly three years, was really battered and bruised!

Sophie arrived home in another torrential downpour, and the first thing she did was go and see Monty, who promptly ignored her! I think he was punishing her for leaving him all day, and he resolutely refused to have anything to do with her, the funny thing!

Sophie and I cracked open the bottle of Prosecco, and I was disappointed to find that it still tasted musty. To make it more palatable, I added a shot of my Blood Orange Gin, and that made it a lot better!

Before dinner, Sophie helped me with my phone and added all the apps I'd deleted before. I was very pleased, and she was so impressed she's going to order one for herself as her contract ends in March. This will mean that Mike, Sophie and I will all have the same phone!

All change!

Day 42

It's been all change today with Sophie going back to work this morning, something she hasn't done since late October. She had no clue as to what time to leave - normally she would have left early, gone to the gym and then into work, but that's not possible at the moment! She left at 8.15am, but became stuck in roadworks near to her office. They held her up for ages, but she made it on time, thank goodness!

Keith took Mike to work and carried on to Tesco where he bought shopping for the next few days. We had planned on going to B&Q today, to get some draught excluder tape for our windows upstairs (exciting stuff, eh?) but our son had ordered a new phone and it was due to be delivered today, so we were under strict instructions to be at home in case it arrived. 

And talking of phones, I have ordered a new one for myself. I've only had mine since October 2019 but it's in a bad way, and after long discussions with both Apple and Tesco, and trying to get it repaired, I've decided to upgrade to a new one. Very annoying, to be honest, but I don't trust it any more and living out in the countryside as we do, a reliable phone is essential.

I spent the morning pottering about and was delighted when the sun came out and it turned lovely and mild. What a difference to yesterday and last week! I went into the garden and sorted out my poor summer bedding plants, which haven't survived this winter. All the geraniums have perished and the soil in all the pots was still frozen! It just shows how cold it's been!

Keith came out as well, and we tried to get the rear windscreen washer going on my car. My poor Audi has now done over 160,000 miles and is starting to go downhill a bit. It was making a funny knocking noise when the engine was running and there are various problems with it that I need to get sorted out when Spring arrives. It could do with an in-depth valet and having Mike in the back of the car with his dirty boots doesn't help! When you consider how many miles it's done and it has never really let me down, it's not bad.

I went to get Mike this afternoon - my only outing of the day! Back home I hoovered downstairs and tidied up, and before I knew it Sophie had returned home. She'd been busy, but had missed us and especially Monty! We enjoyed a glass of red and settled down to watch A New Life in the Sun. Back in the routine!

Another lazy Sunday!

Day 41

It was supposed to be milder today, but it still felt very cold! The weather has unfortunately been grey and damp, but the wind has not been as ferocious or bitter, which was a relief!

Sophie and I enjoyed veggie sausage sandwiches for breakfast and we've spent the day relaxing - perfect for a Sunday, if not a little boring! Of course, we applied a face mask at around lunchtime, and today's choice was lettuce!

Sophie and I did venture out though - don't get too excited - we went to get petrol, because next week my daughter is abandoning me and going into work every day, due to a colleague being off sick. I am going to miss her sitting in the conservatory, but I'm glad she'll have a change of scene, and it'll be great for her to see her workmates for a while. After next week she might be going in for two days a week.

Her car needed a run, and also needed some fuel, so we went and did that, and on her return, she face-timed her friends Laura and Daisy for an hour. I caught up with a recorded programme upstairs, and also managed to see the news which mentioned next Monday the 22 February as the date that Boris is supposed to be letting us know when this current lockdown will end. It's looking likely that if all over 50s are vaccinated by May then an easing of the lockdown rules may be allowed.

After Sophie said goodbye to her friends, we played another game of Scrabble in the conservatory with a G&T. We also enjoyed a game of cards with Keith, and then made a start on tonight's dinner, a Delia Smith recipe for beef stir-fry. Sophie had prepped everything earlier so all we needed to do was cook, and it took just half an hour from the start to putting the meal on the table. The food was delicious and a recipe we'll cook again, without a doubt!

After we'd eaten, Keith and I resumed our viewing of the James Bond films, The ones I'd recorded had all gone when our Sky box was replaced, but ITV very kindly put on Goldeneye on Saturday night, and it was the next one we had to watch. It was Pierce Brosnan's first outing as Bond and he was gorgeous in it!

Valentine's goodies!

Day 40

I made banana porridge for breakfast again today, but the fruit was just a bit too raw for my liking! The other day the bananas had ripened a lot and were lovely and sweet, but today they were a bit harder, so next time I'll wait! The dish was lovely, though, but I am very funny with bananas - I can eat them cooked or turned into yoghurt or - delicious! - Angel Delight or milkshakes, but I can't eat them straight out of their skins!

It's been another raw day with the wind cold enough to cut you into two! We pottered about in the morning and then Sophie and I went to Boots for some essential supplies, followed by a visit to Smith's Farm Shop. We bought some goodies, including a bottle of Prosecco for tonight, as well as some bread flour for me to make another loaf next week.

Before we left, we enjoyed a hot chocolate from the coffee stall in the car park and watched the comings and goings of the customers. It's a busy place and lovely to stock up on a whole variety of food and drinks.

Back home, we had toasties for lunch sitting in the conservatory. The previously sunny weather had given way to thick cloud, and with the low temperatures, I thought we could have seen some snow. In fact, the weather forecast said we might get a heavy downfall later in the day, but we never saw any at all.

Towards the evening, we popped over to the Care Home to take a bottle of whisky for my Dad. I had ordered some Valentine's flowers for my Mum from Dad, to cheer her up a bit, and they had been delivered earlier in the day, and I had also bought some whisky as a gift from Mum. Sophie had been the ecstatic recipient of her own beautiful bouquet, chocolates and a balloon this morning!

We stopped outside their window and called them in vain. I think the phone was being charged so in the end, we had to drive home, taking the scenic route for a change. There was no marvellous sunset tonight, just thick cloud, which was a shame.

Our usual Saturday evening followed: Martinis, Scrabble and a Youtube video on the television showing snowy scenes. If we couldn't have them for real, we could pretend!

We ordered a takeaway from the Chinese in Broughton again tonight, but ordered it very early, just in case! The food arrived at 6.30pm, so we put the tubs into the oven to keep warm while we finished our game. Unfortunately, when we opened the Prosecco to enjoy with our meal, I suspected it was corked. It smelt a bit musty (like an old cellar) so I put a stopper in the bottle and said I would return it for another. At £10 I couldn't just pour it down the sink, and it was definitely not right!

Our evening viewing was the fourth Jason Bourne film, even though he wasn't actually in it! Keith and I enjoyed The Bourne Legacy, but Sophie went upstairs to watch Love Island instead. Each to their own!

An Arctic blast!

Day 39

I woke up at almost 9am, after having some bizarre dreams involving tsunamis, and shopping for pork joints in an empty Tesco... strange!

Keith had taken Mike to work and returned, so I had a coffee (kindly made by Sophie) and eased myself into Friday. It's been another bitterly cold day, with a ferocious east wind that has made it feel like stepping out into the Arctic every time we've ventured out!

I spent the morning transferring the first few months of my 2014 blog onto a word document. Looking back we suffered some illnesses in February and March, and fingers crossed, we have been OK so far this year with no colds (or worse!). Let's pray it stays that way!

Sophie suggested a walk at lunchtime but it was so cold I begged a day off. Our driveway is always breezy, but stepping out to go to the garage in just a tee-shirt is not the best idea at the moment!

In the evening Sophie and I opened a bottle of wine and watched Houseboat on Amazon Prime. It cost £3.49 (goodness knows why when it came out in 1958) but it was well worth it. Cary Grant was as gorgeous as ever, matched by the completely alluring Sophia Loren. Dazzling!

Iced up!

Day 38

Mike is now starting at 8.30am in the morning, so Keith went to do the shopping at his usual time, and I took Mike to work. I used Sophie's car which had been sat on the driveway for a good two weeks, and although not frozen on the outside, the freezing cold temperatures had definitely affected the windscreen washer reservoir on the inside!

Stupidly, I didn't give it a chance to warm up a bit and just jumped in to drive to Kettering. This meant that the windscreen was covered in a thin layer of salt that I just couldn't shift... As the sun was shining, at times I couldn't see! Slapped wrists for me!

It was hovering between -3 and -4 on the way in, so colder than we had really seen before this winter. At the golf club, Mike sloshed some warm water over the windscreen which cleared the smears of salt!

Back home I awaited Keith's return from shopping and helped put it all away. This morning I resumed my cleaning and tackled the downstairs of the house, but having the heating on at the same time made me sweat a bit! 

The rest of the day has been spent mooching about and I am getting a little concerned that I am going to find it very hard to go back to work when the time comes. During the first lockdown, I couldn't wait to get back to work, but I feel differently now, for some reason. Maybe because it now feels like the norm? I am in regular contact with my work colleagues through WhatsApp, and we receive emails from our new head honcho letting us know what's happening, but it feels very unreal at the moment! I am not bored at all, and I'm enjoying transferring my blog onto a word document so I can make them into a family book.

Our evening's viewing was a programme on the world's most amazing hotels, this time The Jade Mountain hotel in St Lucia. It was pure escapism to see the stunning scenery and marvel at how luxurious the hotel was. How wonderful to be there at the moment, without a care in the world!

A cold, cold day!

Day 37

Keith took Mike to work this morning and then called into Tesco to get some shopping. Just after he went it started snowing heavily! I wasn't expecting that this morning!

I spent the morning giving the upstairs of the house a good clean, including the bathroom which was in dire need of a scrub! At lunchtime, Sophie and I walked down to the bridge with our litter picker. The snow had stopped but it was still bitterly cold, and the wind was especially biting as it blew across the open fields.

After Keith and I had collected Mike from work, I had a soak in the bath. This cold weather is set to end on Sunday which is a relief as Sophie is planning to go back to work two days a week, on a Tuesday and a Thursday. I'm so glad she didn't have to drive in the icy cold temperatures and snow we've had lately!

Dinner this evening was a hearty beef stew with dumplings and after we'd eaten, Keith and I settled down to watch the film Under Suspicion starring Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. I fell asleep halfway through but woke up at the end and felt very confused!

A morning of cooking!

Day 36

The cold weather continues with snow forecast for today and tomorrow. This year we have certainly had what I would call a "proper" winter and as a result, all the geraniums I kept from the summer have perished. They did well, though, lasting last summer, last winter, and the summer before that. Last winter was wet and mild and I don't think we had any snowfall at all.

I spent the morning marinating chicken breasts in a spicy Jerk paste. Keith suggested we have one of our favourite meals, and he would use up some frozen bits for his dinner. He refuses to eat Jerk chicken and says he hates the taste of it!

After marinating the chicken I chopped up two onions, celery, spring onions, leeks, and potatoes to make soup. When that was done I brought the radio into the kitchen and listened to Ken Bruce, while I made a loaf of seeded bread.

Once it was kneaded and resting in our airing cupboard, I made the soup by softening all the vegetables and adding stock. I let it simmer on the hob, checked on the bread which hadn't risen much, and relaxed for a while.

The bread did rise a bit, and we ate it for lunch with the blended soup. I added some sprigs of coriander just before serving and it was delicious. Making soup and bread is hard work though! I now know why people just bung a couple of cans into their trolley! However, it's great to know exactly what ingredients have gone into the soup and it's lovely when my family appreciate my cooking!

Keith and I went to get Mike from work and it started snowing again. As we waited I watched as the little snowflakes hit the windscreen and immediately thawed. It's wonderful when you think that a decent covering is made up of these tiny little flakes!

Dinner this evening was lovely, as always, but very spicy! Sophie said she thought the sauce needed an extra spoonful of the jerk paste, and it sent it over the top! Phew!

Having a smashing time!

Day 35

I had a sense of deja vu this morning when we awoke to a light covering of snow, and had to take Mike to work before going to Tesco. I had offered to go with Keith and we set off at 8am, but today the roads were much better than they were two weeks ago. The main roads were clear, although a little icy going out towards Mawsley, so I took it carefully.

We dropped Mike off and headed to Aldi, and when we arrived, Keith realised that he had forgotten his wallet and his glasses, so it was a good job that I was with him! Aldi was very quiet, thank goodness, and we did our shopping with ease. There was one problem, though... as I reached to get a bottle of red from the shelf, I somehow dislodged another and it went crashing to the floor, smashing into several pieces, with red wine everywhere... I felt so embarrassed! The staff were very good, though, and told me not to worry, but I scuttled off in shame! I still don't know how it happened!

From Aldi, we went to an equally quiet Tesco and bought the remainder of our shopping. Back home I spent almost an hour in the kitchen descaling my coffee machine so I could give a desperate Sophie her morning shot of caffeine. I was desperate for one as well!

We have had snow flurries all day, and it's been bitterly cold again. Sophie and I walked around to get the newspaper, and the wind coming off the fields was freezing. This wind is coming directly from Russia, so that's why it's so cold! Brrr!

In the afternoon I sorted out the kitchen cupboards as every time we put something in them, the rest of the contents threaten to fall out. I emptied them, threw away anything that was out of date and arranged them all neatly. They won't stay like that for long, but at least I was pleased with the result!

The highlight of my day now is going to get Mike from work. He got into the car and stank of lighter fluid/petrol and woodsmoke. They had all been cutting down trees on the golf course, and then they'd had a huge bonfire. He casually told us he nearly caught fire himself, as he was carrying the can of petrol when the wind blew the flames in his direction. Great... just what I needed to know!

A lazy day...

Day 34

It's been another day of staying in, keeping warm, and relaxing! I made a special porridge for breakfast - a Gordon Ramsay recipe which included hazelnuts, almonds, sultanas, a pear and cream. It was delicious and very easy to make. 

It has been bitterly cold today, with a biting north-easterly wind that made it feel about -6. It was lovely to stay indoors in the warm, and Sophie and I had our weekly face-mask (honey today) and watched A Place in the Sun.

In the afternoon she had an online chat with her friends, and they discussed their upcoming holiday to Italy in May. Sophie wants to cancel as she is wary about what will be happening then and very worried that they may have to quarantine on the way home for two weeks. I said that it would be best to cancel altogether and re-book next year when things have settled down. I still don't think anyone will be able to travel this year if Europe hasn't had as many people vaccinated as us Brits.

I had a nap in the evening and slept for far longer than I wanted to! It was about 6.45pm when I woke up! Keith cooked a lovely roast beef for dinner and it was great to have a break from cooking. Mike is definitely back at work tomorrow, but they have forecast more snow for tomorrow and freezing temperatures. Good luck!

 

Out and about

Day 33

We awoke to very thick fog today, so thick we could barely make out the houses opposite! 

Sophie and I went to Tesco later in the morning to get some bits and bobs that my parents needed, but she also wanted to get some cards for Valentine's Day. It was busier than we would have liked (well, it was Saturday!) and we had to queue to get in, but the wait wasn't long.

We bought the things as quickly as possible and headed to the Care Home where we dropped the bag off. I had bought some little treats for my parents to cheer them up a bit, and we waved to my Mum as she stood at the window. I am just hoping this isolation won't last much longer, as it's starting to affect her now. I am just glad she has my Dad for company because some of the residents are isolating completely on their own.

As a treat, we called into the new Costa by the A14 and enjoyed a Flat White each, sitting in the car. Today the weather has been beautiful with sun, blue skies and little fluffy white clouds. The temperature was about 6c, but tomorrow it's set to get much colder, and we're due a "Baltic blast!

Sophie wanted to buy Zain some sweets and goodies from Beckworth so we drove there and luckily, it was quiet. They had fenced off all but the food area, and they're working behind the scenes to make changes. Both of us are so looking forward to being able to go for lunch there again!

I bought some bread flour, yeast and cheesy nibbles for an accompaniment to drinks, and we headed home. Sophie put the leftover soup and pasta into the oven with some cheese to bake while she prepared the paste for tonight's Thai Green Curry, a la Hairy Bikers.

The soup tasted just as good as yesterday, and it had blended into a kind of pasta bake. We finished it off, did more preparations for tonight's dinner, and then went out for a walk. We walked into the village and along the single track road that heads out to Mawsley. It was blissfully quiet with only birdsong to be heard. We kept hearing a weird bird in the distance, and we had no idea what it was. It sounded like it was crying!

It was cold on the walk, and we could see ominous clouds on the horizon. We walked a short way along the road and then turned back as I had a feeling it was going to start raining. Back home, it was time for cocktails and Scrabble, and then a game of cards. Perfect!

Sophie and I cooked dinner, and after all the preparations we'd made it was simple. I cooked the onions, pepper and chicken, added the curry paste, and then a tin of coconut milk. Sophie made Jasmine rice and we popped a naan bread into the oven.

The meal was lovely, but Keith said he would have liked it hotter, but that's not really a Thai Green curry! Next time we promised we'd make him a Thai Red curry!

Our evening's viewing was the third Bourne film, The Bourne Ultimatum. Just before we headed to bed it started to snow heavily, big fat flakes that settled on the roads, paths and bushes. Will we awake to a covering in the morning I wonder?

Cabin fever sets in...

Days 31 & 32

Most of us haven't moved out of the house over Thursday and Friday, so we're all starting to get a bit of cabin fever!

Keith did go shopping as usual on Thursday so at least he ventured out! On Friday, I finished transferring my 2013 blog to a word document, and I've uploaded it to the book publishing company I used before. This time I included a lot more photos, as it was the year we went to Florida and Berlin. Hopefully, it won't be long before it's delivered!

In the afternoon, I prepared a tomato and pasta soup, that included chopping three onions and cooking them slowly until they turned golden brown. I then set aside two-thirds of them to cool with some olive oil and added cherry tomatoes and a chopped up red pepper to the remaining onions in the pan. Along with garlic, tomato puree, basil and chilli flakes, the concoction simmered away before I added some vegetable stock. The smells were delicious and I particularly love basil - it reminds me of pizza restaurants!

While the soup cooled I had a soak in the bath, and when Sophie finished work we cracked open a bottle of our favourite New Zealand Pinot Gris and watched A New Life in the Sun. Just watching the Brits try and run businesses makes me feel exhausted, especially those running B&Bs! It brings back memories of when we ran our own business, and the demands made by customers!

The rest of the dinner preparations was easy. I blitzed the soup until it was smooth with my blender, Sophie prepared garlic bread, and we cooked a saucepan of pasta to add to the soup. We also pan-fried the onions until they were crispy and these went on top of the soup when it was served. With a trickle of cream, I have to say it was truly delicious, very warming and perfect for a cold February night!

A spot of gardening!

Day 30

I half-heartedly cleaned the conservatory this morning, but I was anxious not to disturb Sophie, so I didn't do as much as I could have done. I yearn for dry and sunny weather, but all we're getting is more rain. The room could do with all the windows opening and airing because the sealant that Keith applied last year has started to discolour again, much to our disappointment.

As well as cleaning the conservatory I hoovered downstairs again so that should be it for a few days! With all four of us in the house, it does get a bit dirty!

After a delicious lunch of leftover fried rice, I ventured out into the front garden. The weather today has been sunny and I felt like tidying up the verge and cutting back a geranium that was looking straggly. I swept up loads of leaves and turned over the soil that was sodden with all the rain we've had recently. I was pleased with how it looked after I'd finished, though.

The conifers we cut down in December haven't sprouted again and I pushed a pile of leaves into the corner for shelter if any little creatures want to use the heap. Our pile of logs were also rotting down nicely and I hope they're home to some bugs!

As always, it was quite social being outside, and I spoke to a few people walking past and a mum with a horde of young children on bikes. I can't imagine how it must be to be cooped up with young children at the moment!

I had become cold working outside so I had a soak in the bath and afterwards caught up with the second episode of The Drowning that's on for four days this week. I was hooked! It was so good to be able to watch the programme upstairs - this is a real bonus if Keith is watching sport downstairs!

We caught some of the Coronavirus updates this evening and the experts think we are now over the peak, which was good news. By now over 10 million people have been vaccinated, which is wonderful!

Chop, chop, chopping!

Day 29, continued...

After getting back with Keith from the vaccination centre, I busied myself with housework and doing little jobs that had irritated me!

Sophie and I went for a walk at lunchtime, up to the village, and we were delighted to see the sun come out. It's forecast to get cold again towards the end of the week and the north saw snow this morning. We're all hoping that Spring is not too far off now!

I had planned on cleaning the conservatory this afternoon, but after I'd spent over an hour preparing the ingredients for dinner, I had run out of energy! We were cooking chicken in a black bean sauce with fried rice, so I decided to prepare everything and then all we needed to do was cook the meal. I chopped up green beans, a carrot, an onion, broccoli and a red pepper to go into the rice dish, as well as baby sweetcorn, mushrooms and mange tout to go with the chicken. I cooked a pan of rice as well, so everything would be easier later on.

The meal turned out to be delicious, and the fried rice was sticky and absorbed the sauce from the chicken dish beautifully. Keith watched Newcastle play in the evening while Sophie and I went upstairs and binge-watched several episodes of A New Life in the Sun!

Keith is vaccinated!

Day 29

Yesterday I was up at 5.30am, but this morning it was a much more reasonable 7.30am when I opened my eyes!

Keith had a very important appointment today - his Covid jab! He was due at 9.50am so I drove him there and waited in the car.

I actually felt very emotional watching everybody go into the building to get their vaccine. Obviously, most of the people were older, and probably over 70 years of age, and it just felt great to see them going to be protected against this horrible virus. At the same time, though, I did feel like we were in some kind of nightmarish world where huge vaccination centres have been set up to protect the population. A year ago we would never have believed what would happen.

Keith emerged barely ten minutes after his allotted time and said the whole process had been great - very smooth, efficient and professional. He received a leaflet and will have to return in 12 weeks for his second dose. He has been given the Astra Zeneca vaccine:

We returned home to have breakfast and coffee in the conservatory with Sophie, who was delighted that her Dad had received the vaccine. Let's just hope the remaining three of us will have ours soon!

Musings on lockdown...

Day 28

Keith went shopping very early this morning and stocked up our fridge and cupboards until he goes again on Thursday. I made sausage sandwiches for breakfast - not my ideal choice but we had to use them by today, and I was determined not to throw them out. We are trying not to dispose of leftovers at the moment, especially when we contribute to the local food bank every two weeks!

The sausage sandwich sat heavily in my stomach and I decided that I really do prefer the veggie ones we buy instead! I felt queasy all morning and in the end, added a spoonful of ground ginger to a cup of boiling water in an effort to feel better. It worked!

I have to confess I haven't done much today, which makes me feel a bit guilty. This lockdown seems so much harder than the two previous ones, and it could be down to the weather and not being able to spend a lot of time outdoors. It seems that the less I do, the less I want to do and tomorrow I'm going to try and motivate myself to give the conservatory a good clean! All I seem to do these days is drift between the computer in the study and the dining table in the conservatory, and endlessly fill and empty the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer! When I do resume work again, I feel it's going to be very difficult, especially if we're called in every day!

The news this evening was full of the South African variant that has been found in certain parts of the UK. Residents in these areas have been told they must stay at home, and also get a test, even if they have no symptoms. It raises the worrying question about whether the variant will be resistant to the vaccine?

In the evening we had leftovers from the weekend meals for dinner, so that made me feel better! Mike has been furloughed for another week, which pleased him greatly!