Day 52
The weather has been a bit better today after a lot of cloud and chilly temperatures yesterday. I mooched about a bit this morning, looking at different types of care for my parents, but then went out into the garden to mow the lawn.
I have left a small area of grass alone so that the wild flowers can grow - we have daisies and dandelions in the lawn - but I did dig up a couple of weeds and I'll put some grass seed down when I can get to a garden centre.
We also have a blackbird visiting the garden with his two babies - I say babies, but they are actually bigger than him and keep begging to be fed! They love standing on the side of our water bowl and having a good drink! I haven't seen that many starlings yet, certainly not in great numbers like we've had in the past, but there's still time!
Most of my time today has been put into researching various types of care on offer for my parents and I long to get it sorted out and them happy. I'm hoping that in six months or so we can look back on this period and see it as just a blip. I'm really hoping so.
Thursday, 14 May 2020
Wednesday, 13 May 2020
Financial worries
Day 51
I spent the morning with my Mum, going through all of her finances and then spending an hour on the phone with a very robotic woman who was conducting a financial assessment on my Dad. I had to go through everything which was a stressful experience. At the end she said we owed about £240 a week for my Dad's stay at the care home, for his rehabilitation, which was a huge shock to us as we'd been told his stay was free. If he hadn't fallen and fractured his wrist, he wouldn't have been in there!
After the phone call, I rang the care home and spoke to the manager who confirmed that his stay was free as it was rehabilitation. Once I returned home I emailed his social worker and received a nonsensical reply, so I was more confused than ever!
One thing I do know is that later years care is not free, unless you are absolutely destitute. My parents will have to make a contribution to their care, whether they stay at home or go into residential care and the costs of that are mind-boggling!
Later in the afternoon, when Sophie had finished work, we walked down to the village. I actually wore my coat as it was so chilly! We walked down to the bridge and then home again where I jumped into the bath to get warm! Brrr!
I spent the morning with my Mum, going through all of her finances and then spending an hour on the phone with a very robotic woman who was conducting a financial assessment on my Dad. I had to go through everything which was a stressful experience. At the end she said we owed about £240 a week for my Dad's stay at the care home, for his rehabilitation, which was a huge shock to us as we'd been told his stay was free. If he hadn't fallen and fractured his wrist, he wouldn't have been in there!
After the phone call, I rang the care home and spoke to the manager who confirmed that his stay was free as it was rehabilitation. Once I returned home I emailed his social worker and received a nonsensical reply, so I was more confused than ever!
One thing I do know is that later years care is not free, unless you are absolutely destitute. My parents will have to make a contribution to their care, whether they stay at home or go into residential care and the costs of that are mind-boggling!
Later in the afternoon, when Sophie had finished work, we walked down to the village. I actually wore my coat as it was so chilly! We walked down to the bridge and then home again where I jumped into the bath to get warm! Brrr!
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Something different!
Day 50
After getting the newspaper first thing, we didn't move from the house at all today. I knuckled down and cleaned upstairs and downstairs and even moved my bed to hoover behind it! It really needed doing!
It's been a day of sunshine and showers but has remained dry and quite chilly. The warm weather of last week is a distant memory. It was very relaxing to pootle about doing jobs and great not to have to go out at all. In the late afternoon I started transferring my blog from 2013 onto a word document. Unfortunately, there will be no more books as the website I used for 2010 and 2011 has imposed very complicated rules for publishing and I've given up. I might print off the word document and get it bound by one of the office supplies stores we have in Northampton. At least the years are saved!
After Sophie finished work we both went and coloured our hair. I used my usual shade but Sophie was going for something different - she wanted to be blonde at the front and then have streaks of the same colour running through her hair. I helped but the result was that she went a bit ginger! Apparently, she learnt from a friend, that you have to then do it again, which we will try and do at the weekend! She did like the effect though, which was good news!
After getting the newspaper first thing, we didn't move from the house at all today. I knuckled down and cleaned upstairs and downstairs and even moved my bed to hoover behind it! It really needed doing!
It's been a day of sunshine and showers but has remained dry and quite chilly. The warm weather of last week is a distant memory. It was very relaxing to pootle about doing jobs and great not to have to go out at all. In the late afternoon I started transferring my blog from 2013 onto a word document. Unfortunately, there will be no more books as the website I used for 2010 and 2011 has imposed very complicated rules for publishing and I've given up. I might print off the word document and get it bound by one of the office supplies stores we have in Northampton. At least the years are saved!
After Sophie finished work we both went and coloured our hair. I used my usual shade but Sophie was going for something different - she wanted to be blonde at the front and then have streaks of the same colour running through her hair. I helped but the result was that she went a bit ginger! Apparently, she learnt from a friend, that you have to then do it again, which we will try and do at the weekend! She did like the effect though, which was good news!
Monday, 11 May 2020
Catching up!
Day 49
Sophie had taken today as holiday so we had a bit of a lie-in this morning. The grey weather of yesterday gave way to clearer, bluer skies and sunshine, so that was a relief! I hate heavy cloud!
At 11am we collected Mum and Binty and before going to the bank we drove to dad's care home as I had to take him more of his medication. The idea had been to see him through the window but we were really short of time and I knew how long it would take for them to bring him down to the reception.
In the end we had to give up as the bank closed at 1pm today, and when we got to the Weston Favell Centre there was a fair queue of people waiting to go in. It's always busy at the best of times (how much of my life has been spent waiting in a queue for this bank!) and we stood outside at two metre intervals for twenty minutes. Luckily, the woman we saw recognised us both from the old days and we did everything that we needed to without any fuss.
Sophie had gone to post a parcel, pay a cheque into her own bank and buy some hair colour for us both, and Binty had gone to explore Tesco, so Mum and I sat and chatted about money for a few minutes. She seemed a lot better today, which I was very glad about.
We took Mum and Binty home and then Sophie and I popped to Tesco at Kettering to get some ingredients for dinner this evening and some tinned food and pasta for the Foodbank collection tomorrow.
Back home we had a delicious lunch of Caesar salad, crusty bread and turkey slices and sat in the sunny conservatory. Today has been a mix of cloud and sun but it's stayed dry all day and the forecast is for more of the same all week.
Sophie did lots of prep for dinner tonight - a lovely-sounding Orange Chicken dish that we're going to serve with sticky rice. The sauce smelled delicious! At about 4pm we went for a walk but it was very chilly indeed! The wind was bitterly cold! I felt sorry for the poor shorn sheep as they must have felt the drop in temperature from last week!
Before doing the cooking, we briefly watched Tony Robinson on the Trans Siberian Express (a journey I've always wanted to do) and then made a start on dinner. We dunked the chicken pieces in batter and then shallow fried them in the wok. Once they were all cooked, we poured the sauce into the same pan (minus the oil) and added the vegetables and cooked chicken and coated everything before simmering for a few minutes. The dish was gorgeous!
After dinner I had arranged a WhatsApp videochat with Lynda and Fiona (Andrea never made it) and it was great to sit and catch up with them both for an hour!
Sophie had taken today as holiday so we had a bit of a lie-in this morning. The grey weather of yesterday gave way to clearer, bluer skies and sunshine, so that was a relief! I hate heavy cloud!
At 11am we collected Mum and Binty and before going to the bank we drove to dad's care home as I had to take him more of his medication. The idea had been to see him through the window but we were really short of time and I knew how long it would take for them to bring him down to the reception.
In the end we had to give up as the bank closed at 1pm today, and when we got to the Weston Favell Centre there was a fair queue of people waiting to go in. It's always busy at the best of times (how much of my life has been spent waiting in a queue for this bank!) and we stood outside at two metre intervals for twenty minutes. Luckily, the woman we saw recognised us both from the old days and we did everything that we needed to without any fuss.
Sophie had gone to post a parcel, pay a cheque into her own bank and buy some hair colour for us both, and Binty had gone to explore Tesco, so Mum and I sat and chatted about money for a few minutes. She seemed a lot better today, which I was very glad about.
We took Mum and Binty home and then Sophie and I popped to Tesco at Kettering to get some ingredients for dinner this evening and some tinned food and pasta for the Foodbank collection tomorrow.
Back home we had a delicious lunch of Caesar salad, crusty bread and turkey slices and sat in the sunny conservatory. Today has been a mix of cloud and sun but it's stayed dry all day and the forecast is for more of the same all week.
Sophie did lots of prep for dinner tonight - a lovely-sounding Orange Chicken dish that we're going to serve with sticky rice. The sauce smelled delicious! At about 4pm we went for a walk but it was very chilly indeed! The wind was bitterly cold! I felt sorry for the poor shorn sheep as they must have felt the drop in temperature from last week!
Before doing the cooking, we briefly watched Tony Robinson on the Trans Siberian Express (a journey I've always wanted to do) and then made a start on dinner. We dunked the chicken pieces in batter and then shallow fried them in the wok. Once they were all cooked, we poured the sauce into the same pan (minus the oil) and added the vegetables and cooked chicken and coated everything before simmering for a few minutes. The dish was gorgeous!
After dinner I had arranged a WhatsApp videochat with Lynda and Fiona (Andrea never made it) and it was great to sit and catch up with them both for an hour!
Sunday, 10 May 2020
Lazy Sunday
Day 48
In complete contrast to the last few days, today has been cold and overcast with not a hint of sunshine at all. A perfect day for staying indoors and doing very little, which is what we did!
We didn't even venture out for a newspaper today and it was very pleasant to have no plans, nowhere to go and nothing to do. I read the papers and completed all the crosswords, Sophie made coasters out of some beautiful clay she'd ordered online and Keith watched WWII programmes on the television, so it was a very relaxed day.
Outside, we had a very cold wind coming from the north so the temperatures have plummeted to about 10c, down from 23c yesterday! I had a lovely soak in the bath in the afternoon and before Boris Johnson's address to the nation at 7pm, we played cards in the conservatory.
As we knew today was going to be chilly, we planned a lovely beef casserole for dinner, which was delicious. We learnt from our PM that lockdown will ease slightly but there will be conditions along the way. There's been no mention of bars and restaurants opening until maybe July, and certainly no talk of gyms and leisure centres re-opening. Tomorrow it will be seven weeks since I've been at work and I am missing it greatly. People who are unable to work from home have now been given the green light to go back, but obviously that doesn't include us as our centres are all still closed.
The new message is now: Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives. I'm not sure how we can control the virus when we can't even see it, but there you are!
In complete contrast to the last few days, today has been cold and overcast with not a hint of sunshine at all. A perfect day for staying indoors and doing very little, which is what we did!
We didn't even venture out for a newspaper today and it was very pleasant to have no plans, nowhere to go and nothing to do. I read the papers and completed all the crosswords, Sophie made coasters out of some beautiful clay she'd ordered online and Keith watched WWII programmes on the television, so it was a very relaxed day.
Outside, we had a very cold wind coming from the north so the temperatures have plummeted to about 10c, down from 23c yesterday! I had a lovely soak in the bath in the afternoon and before Boris Johnson's address to the nation at 7pm, we played cards in the conservatory.
As we knew today was going to be chilly, we planned a lovely beef casserole for dinner, which was delicious. We learnt from our PM that lockdown will ease slightly but there will be conditions along the way. There's been no mention of bars and restaurants opening until maybe July, and certainly no talk of gyms and leisure centres re-opening. Tomorrow it will be seven weeks since I've been at work and I am missing it greatly. People who are unable to work from home have now been given the green light to go back, but obviously that doesn't include us as our centres are all still closed.
The new message is now: Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives. I'm not sure how we can control the virus when we can't even see it, but there you are!
Saturday, 9 May 2020
Market Harborough lite...
Day 47
We awoke to another glorious morning and Sophie and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and sat in the garden eating our breakfast. Tomorrow is set to be much cooler and cloudier so we're making the most of it!
I applied another coat of paint to the small garage door and then cleaned and varnished the main garage door, as well as the step on our back door. It looked so much better when I'd finished!
At lunchtime, Sophie and I went over to Mum's and collected a shopping list. Although she and Binty had already been down to the Co-op, they still wanted quite a few bits for meals so we said we would go to Aldi in Market Harborough to get what they wanted.
We had heard that Farndon Fields farmshop was still open so we headed over and joined the very short queue of people waiting to go in. Obviously, the restaurant was closed, but we spent a very pleasant half hour wandering around and picking out some lovely foods, as well as getting something to eat for lunch. It was very sad to see the closed up restaurant but we're both hoping it won't be long before we can go and enjoy the food there again.
We ate sausage rolls in the car and then enjoyed three macarons each which were delicious - the flavours were coffee, lime and kiwi and they were lovely.
From Farndon Fields we visited Aldi and bought everything that was on Mum's list as well as some ginger and coconut milk for our dinner tonight. It wasn't busy at all but the queue for Waitrose was quite long and I was glad we were able to get everything in Aldi. It hadn't been our usual visit to Market Harborough, but it was better than nothing!
We dropped the shopping off at Mum's, stayed for a chat and then headed home. Sophie had been doing prep for our Malaysian Coconut Chicken curry since this morning and had become very frustrated with grating all the fiddly coconut bits so she'd come up with the idea of blitzing it in our little food processor. This worked beautifully and I roasted it all in a saucepan over a low heat.
We had half an hour of relaxation with a drink and then made a start on the meal. I had already measured out our basmati rice and rinsed it and everything was set to go! We fried the onions, then added a very fragrant curry paste that Sophie had prepared earlier, then the chicken, coconut milk, roasted coconut and lime juice. It smelt delicious and when I tasted the sauce, it was!
We let the curry simmer for about forty minutes and then cooked the rice which was lovely and sticky. This recipe was a success and we'll definitely be cooking it again soon!
We awoke to another glorious morning and Sophie and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and sat in the garden eating our breakfast. Tomorrow is set to be much cooler and cloudier so we're making the most of it!
I applied another coat of paint to the small garage door and then cleaned and varnished the main garage door, as well as the step on our back door. It looked so much better when I'd finished!
At lunchtime, Sophie and I went over to Mum's and collected a shopping list. Although she and Binty had already been down to the Co-op, they still wanted quite a few bits for meals so we said we would go to Aldi in Market Harborough to get what they wanted.
We had heard that Farndon Fields farmshop was still open so we headed over and joined the very short queue of people waiting to go in. Obviously, the restaurant was closed, but we spent a very pleasant half hour wandering around and picking out some lovely foods, as well as getting something to eat for lunch. It was very sad to see the closed up restaurant but we're both hoping it won't be long before we can go and enjoy the food there again.
We ate sausage rolls in the car and then enjoyed three macarons each which were delicious - the flavours were coffee, lime and kiwi and they were lovely.
From Farndon Fields we visited Aldi and bought everything that was on Mum's list as well as some ginger and coconut milk for our dinner tonight. It wasn't busy at all but the queue for Waitrose was quite long and I was glad we were able to get everything in Aldi. It hadn't been our usual visit to Market Harborough, but it was better than nothing!
We dropped the shopping off at Mum's, stayed for a chat and then headed home. Sophie had been doing prep for our Malaysian Coconut Chicken curry since this morning and had become very frustrated with grating all the fiddly coconut bits so she'd come up with the idea of blitzing it in our little food processor. This worked beautifully and I roasted it all in a saucepan over a low heat.
We had half an hour of relaxation with a drink and then made a start on the meal. I had already measured out our basmati rice and rinsed it and everything was set to go! We fried the onions, then added a very fragrant curry paste that Sophie had prepared earlier, then the chicken, coconut milk, roasted coconut and lime juice. It smelt delicious and when I tasted the sauce, it was!
We let the curry simmer for about forty minutes and then cooked the rice which was lovely and sticky. This recipe was a success and we'll definitely be cooking it again soon!
Friday, 8 May 2020
Celebrating VE Day!
Day 46
Today dawned gloriously beautiful and Sophie and I ate our breakfast in the garden. At just after 10am we saw a flypast of the Red Arrows which were returning from a display in London. It was great to see them!
Although I didn't intend to, I ended up painting the small garage door today after Keith sanded it down for me. He managed to trap his finger in the sander, though, which was a bit scary! I heard him shouting behind me and for one moment I thought he had injured it really badly... not what we need right now! I applied one coat of paint to the door and will give it another tomorrow morning.
In between painting the door and pottering about, we sat in the garden and it was gorgeous. Up above a few clouds were gathering and it was a real Florida sky. Neighbours on our estate were busy putting up bunting and decorating the front green for VE Day, so it was all very festive and it took our minds off all of our other problems.
At about 2pm we all showered and changed and had a quick sandwich and a cup of tea. At 4pm a lot of us were planning on sitting in our front gardens and having something to eat and drink. Before we set up Sophie and I walked around the estate and saw lots of neighbors setting up tables and chairs and preparing for afternoon tea. It was lovely! I'm sure if it had been a normal time we would have all gathered on the front green for a street party!
Richard and Michelle set up on the path opposite while Sharon and Paul set up a table and chairs at the entrance to their driveway. Our other neighbours, also Sharon and Paul, set up two chairs and a picnic hamper at the bottom of the red brick drive so it was all very sociable - but at a safe distance!
It was very pleasant indeed sitting in the sun, looking at the gorgeous sky and enjoying some cake and chilled beer! We all agreed that we will do it again at the next Bank Holiday, at the end of May.
Sophie and I moved on from the beer and enjoyed a Martini each, followed by a glass of Tudal Winery's Honker Blanc. On this day last year we were there and bought the wine so we decided it was fitting to drank it on the anniversary of our visit.
It was getting a bit late and none of us wanted to cook so Sophie phoned the pub in Old and ordered fish and chips for delivery. By about 7.30pm we said goodbye to Richard, Michelle, Sharon and Paul and went inside. Up above the clouds looked a bit stormy so we couldn't see the moon tonight.
Our meals arrived at about 8.15pm and the food was very good. We watched a bit of the BBC's coverage of the VE celebrations and then Sophie and I finished off the evening by watching 90 Day Fiance. A great end to a lovely, and very memorable, day!
Today dawned gloriously beautiful and Sophie and I ate our breakfast in the garden. At just after 10am we saw a flypast of the Red Arrows which were returning from a display in London. It was great to see them!
Although I didn't intend to, I ended up painting the small garage door today after Keith sanded it down for me. He managed to trap his finger in the sander, though, which was a bit scary! I heard him shouting behind me and for one moment I thought he had injured it really badly... not what we need right now! I applied one coat of paint to the door and will give it another tomorrow morning.
In between painting the door and pottering about, we sat in the garden and it was gorgeous. Up above a few clouds were gathering and it was a real Florida sky. Neighbours on our estate were busy putting up bunting and decorating the front green for VE Day, so it was all very festive and it took our minds off all of our other problems.
At about 2pm we all showered and changed and had a quick sandwich and a cup of tea. At 4pm a lot of us were planning on sitting in our front gardens and having something to eat and drink. Before we set up Sophie and I walked around the estate and saw lots of neighbors setting up tables and chairs and preparing for afternoon tea. It was lovely! I'm sure if it had been a normal time we would have all gathered on the front green for a street party!
Richard and Michelle set up on the path opposite while Sharon and Paul set up a table and chairs at the entrance to their driveway. Our other neighbours, also Sharon and Paul, set up two chairs and a picnic hamper at the bottom of the red brick drive so it was all very sociable - but at a safe distance!
It was very pleasant indeed sitting in the sun, looking at the gorgeous sky and enjoying some cake and chilled beer! We all agreed that we will do it again at the next Bank Holiday, at the end of May.
Sophie and I moved on from the beer and enjoyed a Martini each, followed by a glass of Tudal Winery's Honker Blanc. On this day last year we were there and bought the wine so we decided it was fitting to drank it on the anniversary of our visit.
It was getting a bit late and none of us wanted to cook so Sophie phoned the pub in Old and ordered fish and chips for delivery. By about 7.30pm we said goodbye to Richard, Michelle, Sharon and Paul and went inside. Up above the clouds looked a bit stormy so we couldn't see the moon tonight.
Our meals arrived at about 8.15pm and the food was very good. We watched a bit of the BBC's coverage of the VE celebrations and then Sophie and I finished off the evening by watching 90 Day Fiance. A great end to a lovely, and very memorable, day!
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