Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Keith and I had earmarked today to clean our filthy conservatory roof, and I was not looking forward to it one bit!

First of all, we popped over to Tesco to get a few bits of shopping, and then we visited B&M to see if they had any window cleaning kits. I found something suitable, as well as a huge orange mitt to clean the windows with!

Before going home we popped to the surgery and I picked up my cream, but strangely, this morning, the rash seemed a lot better. Because I'm off work, maybe?

I had to have a cup of coffee before we started, and Keith disappeared out into the garden to make the pole we'd bought even longer! He started at the worst bit, under the canopy of trees, where the birds sit and do their business straight onto our roof!

I made a start on the double doors leading out onto the gravel garden, which were covered in cobwebs and bits of leaves, as well as tenacious ivy suckers. It had been trying to come indoors! Once Keith had cleaned each glass panel, I followed him and cleaned the guttering, the windows and the windowsills. Once we moved around to the front of the conservatory it became hot!

Amazingly, we had finished by 3pm and it looked enormously better, especially the glass panel nearest the house which was covered in nasty black bits. It was lovely to look up and see them so clean, but we promised ourselves that next time we'd get a professional in to do them. The very topmost points are difficult to get to and I think we need someone who knows what they're doing, or who has the equipment!

We went to get Mike from work and noticed that the temperature was registering 26c. I didn't realise it was so warm! He had given in his notice this morning and will finish on the 13th of August. He'll take a couple of weeks off, but he's looking for a job in Southampton where he's moving with Abbie. Another end of an era coming up!

Back home I planted out some summer bedding flowers I'd bought in Tesco this morning. The poor things were as dry as a bone, but once in their new homes, they looked a lot happier!

Unwelcome news...

Jo and I were working on our own again today, as Denise was on holiday. I received a shock when a customer called to book a swimming session next Wednesday, the first day of the school holidays. There was a long list of sessions for the day, but we had been led to believe that we would no longer be booking swimming sessions - it was the one thing we were all looking forward to.

Imagine our shock, then, when we were told that it was carrying on and that the number of people for each session had increased substantially... Jo and I were furious and made our feelings very clear to poor Sheila who bore the brunt of our extreme annoyance. It's not just the endless repetition of the bookings, it's the fact that many people choose to re-book or ask for a refund if they can't make it for whatever reason. Moving multiple people from booking to booking is time-consuming and tedious.

I, for one, have had enough of work at the moment. I'm expected to do the cinema work of poor Stella who passed away last February (without a pay increase, I hasten to add) as well as the admin for the huge number of orders and invoices we have to process, the crash courses, holiday activities, playscheme places and classes, along with answering the phone. Some of the calls we get can be complicated and lengthy, and a lot of the time, English is not the first language of the person calling, so it can be frustrating and stressful trying to work out what they want so we can help them.

And we still have some staff, who are more than capable of helping, still on furlough! Grrr!

After work, Jo and I had a chat and we both feel fed up. I know the others will feel the same way. We were hoping so much that people could just go along and swim without booking so it felt like a blow to the stomach.

At home, I waited for the doctor to call me, as I had phoned at 8am this morning and secured an appointment. She was brilliant and prescribed some steroid cream, which should clear up the rash. Let's hope so!

The rash goes on...

Mike came home some time late last night, but had forgotten to tell us, so Keith had a shock this morning when he was woken up at 5am!

I went to work and had a busy shift, as per usual for a Monday. Sheila had put on the first few weeks of the crash courses, but there are still quite a few to put on, and I have no idea how I'm going to do them. I just about managed to complete the box office returns from the weekend!

After work, I went over to the bank and spoke to someone about the fraudulent payment on the account. It appears it was taken from my Dad's card which is safely in his wallet in our documents drawer at home... I cancelled the card anyway, so at least it can't be used again.

I went upstairs to Boots from the bank and asked the pharmacist about my rash, which is not getting any better. In fact, it flares up when I'm feeling stressed, which, at work, is a lot of the time! He was a bit useless, and told me to contact my GP, which I will do as soon as I get home! I've had enough of it now!

Sophie was home today after her weekend away and had put the hoover around for me, which was lovely. We sat and caught up with what we'd both been doing, and I tried the new Gin I'd ordered from the Drop Store (after a three-week delivery), called Ginetic, which has been distilled in France. Unfortunately, the long wait wasn't worth it, as I didn't like it one bit! I think I'll stay with my Orange Gin from either Aldi or Lidl!

I called the surgery but was advised to call again tomorrow at 8am when I could try and get a telephone appointment. With all of the haring around after work and catching up with Sophie, we missed Boris's announcement, but it was on the news anyway and was as we had predicted - all restrictions will be removed next Monday. However, infections are rising alarmingly - about 30,000 a day, but deaths are still low. Who knows if it's the right decision? Only time will tell!

It's not coming home...

We had a lazy morning today and didn't do as much as yesterday, but I was pleased with the progress we'd made already! I did a Covid test in readiness for taking Mum out this afternoon, and after a lot of thought as to where we could go, I decided to just come home and sit in the conservatory with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

The weather has been warm and muggy with a lot of clouds about. The whole of England is getting ready for the Euros final tonight when we face Italy. There is so much hype, the pressure on the players must be immense!

I missed the Mens' Final at Wimbledon, where Djokovic and Berrettini were playing, as I went to get Mum, but I did record the match, just in case! We sat in the conservatory and chatted but Mum seemed a bit down this afternoon. When she asked to see the bank statements I had a shock when I noticed another unknown transaction for about £70!

After dropping Mum back, I came home and contacted the company the payment was made to and had an online chat with a very helpful man. Although he looked into it, he was unable to find out where the payment came from, so I'll need to call the bank tomorrow. Another thing I really don't need at the moment!

Keith and I had a barbecue this evening and the sky clouded over even more, but it didn't rain thank goodness! It was then time for the football, but I didn't dare watch it in case I jinxed it! I needn't have worried... the game went to extra time, and then penalties, and England lost. Oh well, there's always the World Cup next year!

A clear out!

Keith and I were going to clean the conservatory roof today but we took a look at the weather forecast and changed our minds! Also, I wasn't keen on immersing my hands in soapy water all day!

As it turned out, we didn't get any rain, but we still managed to get a lot done in the house. I wrapped up some china and we managed to store the box in the eaves of the garage, and I also cleared out the cupboards in the kitchen, taking out anything we don't use regularly and storing it away. When I'd finished the kitchen looked a lot more streamlined and less cluttered! It would be nice if it stayed that way!

We had some things we no longer wanted and before I took them to the charity shop I advertised them for free on our residents' Facebook page. I had quite a few takers, so that was great!

The weather today has been cloudy with sunny spells, and warm. I missed watching the Womens' Singles Final at Wimbledon, but I didn't really know the two women playing. Gone are the days when the Williams sisters dominated!

In the evening Keith and I went to The Royal Oak for dinner. We had debated going somewhere different, but we wanted to support our local, and the food is always good. Tonight, we enjoyed pate and battered king prawns to start, followed by pork belly with crackling, which was delicious and very filling! We didn't stay for dessert and returned home to collapse on the sofa and cuddle Monty who was missing everyone. He was delighted when we sat with him and enjoyed a nightcap!

Making decisions!

Highfields were due at 8.30am this morning, and Anthony arrived with the electrician to decide which electrical points we needed, and where. It's all getting very exciting now, and we also made an appointment for next Thursday to look at the flooring.

We decided to have an electrical point on the island in case someone is using a laptop or charging up a phone, and we also opted for lights underneath the cupboards, something that we have now but they have never worked from the day we moved in. We must get a move on with choosing the pendant lights otherwise Highfields will choose for us, something that I don't mind as I just can't come to a decision!

After they'd gone, Keith managed to extract the hard drives from the two computer towers we have in the garage, and will now be taking the dismantled machines to the tip along with the old plates from yesterday, and some more rubbish we need to get rid of. It's all been very cathartic and at times I feel like we're moving house!

Sophie went to the gym this morning, but later than normal as she is off to Canterbury for a weekend away with Zain. I said a fond farewell to her - I will miss my wine buddy this evening!

Work was busy again and I had no time to do anything except the box office returns. Sheila has had to put on the crash courses and holiday activities as they will be bookable from next week! The children break up for the long summer holidays on the 20 July, so bookings can be taken from the 13th! Where has the time gone?!

Most of the calls today were about swimming, in some form or another, and we are desperately hoping that from the 19th we won't need to take calls booking sessions. We've been doing it for just under a year now, and it's got to us all.

I sped home at 4pm and relaxed. No children this weekend, so it will feel pretty weird! I took Keith to the pub and came home to catch up with writing this blog! I also had the tennis on and saw Djokovic beat the player who beat Andy Murray.

After a very ordinary dinner (chicken escalopes) Keith and I watched Death in Paradise with Monty curled up between us. He had calmed down from this morning when we'd had multiple owl faces and anxiety, just because Anthony and the electrician were in the house (who were really lovely and friendly, by the way!). I dread to think what he'll be like when the wall comes down, and I'm seriously considering getting him some sedatives from the vet while the building work's in progress!

A busy day!

Mike was off to London this morning, so Keith and I took him down to the station and waved him off. As we drove out we heard on the radio that some of the trains down to London had been delayed or cancelled, and Mike's 9.20am journey had been affected.

Before doing the weekly shop we called into Starbucks so I could have a much-needed cup of coffee. I would have preferred Costa, but beggars can't be choosers!! We both had a Flat White (I had a blueberry muffin as well) and then decided to pop to Lidl to do our shopping for a change. We have noticed the prices creeping up in Aldi so we thought we'd compare.

Keith took a tiny trolley which we soon filled up! We managed to get everything we needed (and some stuff we didn't need!) and the bill came to £92. However, there are only two of us this weekend, and we're going out for a meal on Saturday night, so not quite a bargain! We did buy a bottle of orange and passionfruit Gin for me, beer, and two bottles of wine, though, so not bad!

After putting all the shopping away we went out to the garage and put down some old flooring we'd been keeping, to make the floor a bit cleaner for when we store our kitchen stuff. We have streamlined the space in readiness for the cabinet that will need to be stored there, and boxes full of kitchen stuff, The internal wall is coming down in three weeks and all the cupboards that line this wall will have to be emptied. We also need space to store our old fridge freezer while the works are in progress as well as the new one!

We had been keeping the splashback from our shower in the ensuite (why?) and various offcuts of flooring so we took these to the tip, as well as some other rubbish that we didn't need. When we arrived there was no queue, but as we drove out, the line of cars stretched all the way to the entrance!

Back home, I sorted out the cabinet and decided to get rid of our horrible old dinner plates and use the second-best ones that we keep for nice occasions (not our best ones that we use for dinner parties!). The rest of the day was spent sorting things out, but as it neared 5pm, all I seemed to have created was a mess! I did decide to relinquish the bottles we've been keeping on top of the bookshelf though... two of them we brought home from Napa but I took photos of them:

The first wine we tried at Tudal

From the gorgeous Hans Fahden winery - happy memories!

Sophie came home and was a bit bemused by the stuff everywhere, but conceded that we had made a difference in the garage!