Merry Christmas

 So it is now very late on Christmas Eve, and I am trying to unwind from work with a second cup of tea...

It was icy on the way home and I am glad of the woodburner being lit for our boiler packed up a couple of days ago...

Actually I realised this as I was washing the dishes from out of a less than a week old dishwasher that has gone wrong...

It surely must be Christmas folks...

My rum balls are not balls yet...but the mixture does contain rum!

The kittens have been very playful...read climbing the curtains and biting our toes...

But whatever...Christmas Day will surely dawn tomorrow...

Yes you see correctly...

A kitten right up with Arthur...

Merry Christmas one and all...

Blessings J. x

When Blood Runs Cold

 Life has been nothing if not fraught with sadness and angst for various people we know in the past few weeks...

Work has not been easy either...

An incident on Thursday evening has left me reeling and having flashbacks of some things that happened where I worked with adults with learning disabilities a few years ago. I did not personally witness the Thursay incident...just got caught up in the aftermath and I'm afraid to say I was like a rabbit caught in headlights...

The power of memories is very strong...and sometimes unwelcome...

I could not think straight...I have been shaking...

My pulse is normally around 62...it is currently 83...

I am trying to keep myself busy...

And dragged my sorry self down to the woods a short time ago...

I stood in the fast flowing stream...

Willing my horrid memories to flow away with the water...

This stream...

Wearing these wellies...

In these woods...

I feel slightly calmer...hopefully this won't last too long...

Hope you all have peace in your hearts and souls...

Blessings J. x

Check

 Fire lit...check

Stairs hoovered...check

Mold wiped off bathroom ceiling...yuck...check

Rock cakes baked...yummy...check

Work bag ready...groan...check

Tea left for hubby...check

Logs brought in...check

Attempt cutting out christmas card toppers...failed...check (need new big shot plates)

Load of washing put on...check

Kittens...well the little monkeys!...check 

Blog hopping...just about to!

Blessings J. x

 

 

A New Day

 A new day has dawned once more...

I can hardly believe Wednesday has clicked around in the weekly run...

Yesterday saw me taking my last dose of steroids...

Sleep has been an elusive beast and I am shattered...

The half-life of the tablets is only a few hours, but they have done a remarkable job of keeping me up until at least 2am all week...

Currently waiting for a Morrisons delivery before heading off to get my hair cut...

I'm considering a choppy bob...

Something a little different...

Quite frankly I'm fed up of just clipping my hair into a messy bun...

Hair has to be up for work and I end up with a tangly mess...

Whether I shall be brave enough...or awake enough to request such a change remains to be seen!

Oops...Mr. Morrison has arrived!

Blesszings, J. x

Cold

So glad to be sat with a small sherry beside a beautifully warm fire.

I was supposed to be working this evening, but ended up doing the early shift instead...

I shall be glad to be away to my bed on time this evening.

Out little hamlet is beginning to sparkle with it's annual display of festive lights...

It really is getting quite the look!

Tomorrow it seems hubby has a hankering after looking for a Christmas tree...

Hopefully if the weather stays dry we can enjoy an hour or two outside of these four walls doing something other than work.

Hope you are all safe and well...

Blessings, J. x

Grey November in December

This morning has been as grey as any day could possibly be. I have been grateful for the Aga's warmth along with a couple mugs of delicious milky coffee.

However...

The VAT has been completed and all paid up for the last quarter...

Happy sigh...

This afternoon I will be doing my first late shift since being poorly...

I am currently taking a course of steroids...lets knock this whole sorry episode right out of my body...

I have recently lit the woodburner...it is chilly in the living room and hubby will be home later after a day out in the cold...

See...good wife!

Anyway chin up and best foot forwards everyone...

Blessings J. x

Earlier

 Earlier today I feel sure I thought of a witty title for todays post...

But if I did its clean gone now...

Maybe I left the thought somewhere on this afternoon's walk...

Before returning to the duty of attending to hubby's VAT...

I sure do know how to live life to the full!

Blessings, J. x

Oh My!

 So on this first day of December...

                                     I have had the privilege of looking after my two grandsons...

                                                           They had more energy than me,

                                                                             Way more...

                                                               And so I bid you goodnight!

                                                                           Blessings J. x

Where Was I?

 So...the fall...concussion...soreness...enough yet...no...chuck in the head cold from hell...enough now...still no...let’s add a positive Covid test...whoa...yep...I had my regular for work test last Friday and late Saturday evening received the unwelcome diagnosis...

I am locked in until 24th and everyone else until the 27th. ...

I still have my it keeps on giving head cold so have no desire to venture anywhere anyway...thank goodness we were able to source a home delivery from Tesco...

Christmas...quite honestly right now I couldn’t give a fig about it...but I know it is looming...and I just happened upon our bottle of Sherry the other afternoon...and partook of a little splash so I did! Medicinal you understand...

Post our personal lockdown we are changing a few things...in order to protect hubby from being locked down again...self employed one man band is not good when you can’t go to work...I will continue to have contact with daughter and the children but by then we hope all their white goods will be over their side rather than ours so son in law won’t need to come over and hubby won’t mix with them. We are still in transition with their move as not everything has been useable next door. I have to look after the children so that won’t change...with both of the young adults working in schools the chances of them being struck down or traced is quite high. We’ve also picked up food delivery slots each week except Christmas week so far...

It beggars belief where I caught the virus..,I’d been off work for 3 weeks what with a weeks holiday and the fall...and I haven’t exactly been roaming the streets with concussion either...but it is what it is as they say...symptom wise the only Covid like thing I noticed is that normally with a head cold tea and coffee are off the menu...pickled onions being great for sore throats...however I have happily downed tea and coffee each day but the smell of vinegar is disgusting to my senses...

So I hope all you lovely folks are keeping safe and warm...I have ventured downstairs early this morning...I needed a cup of tea and a hot water bottle and it’s been lovely just sitting listening to the howling wind with just the lights on our fireplace beam on. The kittens have been playing in the semi darkness and despite the wretchedness that is Covid life is still good.

Blessings J. x

Next Stop A Digger

 So...just as I get my pantry cupboard relatively sorted a new conundrum comes along to vex me...

We have begun to remove the badly damaged hedge between us and daughter’s cottage...

It’s beyond anything really...full of brambles and has been undermined by the previous owner of next door...think pushing the boundaries!

We are going to put in a staggered double fence type number so we can both grow fruit trees against it...

However in order to fully remove all the old stumps and roots we need a mini digger...one which should just about fit trough our side porch...

I apparently have nothing to worry about...hubby has made wooden ramps for the steps and everything...oh yes...the same ramps the men used last weekend wheelbarrowing through loads of concrete for the pig house floor. Should I have mega cleaned up behind them...full well knowing the fate still to come?

Well I didn’t...

Truth be told this head cold that attached itself to my being last Friday along with the last of the soreness from the fall have utterly done for me...

What is different though is that various cupboards will have to move in order for the little beast to gain entry...

Was that a stifled groan I heard escaping from somewhere deep in my chest...

Ah well...

It will be OK...I know it will really...

Just sometimes I’d like the cottage to stay clean and tidy...just for a short while you understand...

And go take a wee ramble to see beautiful sights such as these...

Blessings, J. x

What Happened Was...

 So I had a fall down the stairs carrying hubbys' stinky workclothes a week ago Friday. Yes it hurt and I was a bit dazed initially...however I really didn't think I would still be feeling spaced out nearly a week later. Hand eye co-ordination became less than brilliant and I just felt in a fog constantly with headaches that just wouldn't go. Then Thursday evening I suddenly felt something...I can't quite explain what...I suddenly felt different...the dazed feeling was leaving thankfully...however this was soon replaced with the ability to feel the aches in my back and ribs where I had fallen. Until then it didn't really hurt. So I am having another week off work to get over it and then hopefully I shall be fully fit and raring to go. I do hope so...though now I have come out with a lovely head cold...an old tea-towel is keeping me company and is far more use than the flimsy kitchen roll I was sneezing into.

~

Enough of feeling sorry for myself though...I have treated us to a fruit press...Son-in Law has a small one...but I am finding using it really fiddly and it doesn't screw down as hard as I should like it to. Que a bigger beast with a crossbeam mechanisim. I am one super excited woman I can tell you! Pickling and preserving has been rather prevalent in these here parts this year...the last lot of apples have been chopped and frozen ready to juice later.

~

We have been treated to a few rather lovely dry days after what seemed like weeks of rain. The wind is blowing in a goodly manner though it is much warmer than the last few days. Our fire is lit and this afternoon I am taking it a little easier than the usual constant bake-a-thon.

~

Despite the latest lock-down life continues here at Little Winter. Today the old pig shed floor is being concreted next door so the washing machine and freezer can move over from ours.

~

I also managed a lovely walk on one very chilly afternoon. Well worth it to see this though...

Well I think so anyway...

Blessings, J. x

!?Grrrrrrrr

 Yesterday was supposed to be moving day...they eventually received the keys to the cottage at 9:35 last night...completion had taken place at 9:30am! Very poorly planned move to have either women or people needing a stent fitted plus an ex husband helping. The place she was going to just the couple were doing it all themselves meaning their small rent a van load number one didn't get unloaded until nearly 4pm.    However in the 4 houurs they waited they got nothing ready to move such as all her plants and pots and garden things..Hubby got shouted at by a very viscious daughter at 5pm when he offered to help. Apparently they had until midnight to clear out. So he pointed out that actually that would have been midday and they were technically trespassing. We kept a curtain open in order to watch them struggle. I believe that they only dismantled a large polytunnel last evening in the dark. So nothing ended up moving yesterday from our place apart from their cars which they parked there late last night. They only really wanted to move in things from the horsebox that hubby and son-in -law had fetched from the in-laws the night before and which had to be moved out of a shed as the bull needed bringing into the shed due to beaters being around today! 

One thing moved a little too fast yesterday lunchtime though...me down the stairs carrying armfuls of washing...today I will not be lifting much of anything and have a hot water bottle attached to my back.

In hindsight we should have known that moving would be just as traumatic as purchasing really!

Blessings J. x

One More Sleep!

 Hopefully tomorrow daughter and her little family will finally complete on the purchase of the cottage next to us. It has certainly been a long time coming...so much time with many ups and downs so when the news arrived last Thursday that the searches were back none of us became excited...well they managed to exchange contracts the very next day and fingers and toes are crossed there are no last minute hiccups tomorrow.

I had already booked the week off...thinking I would be out in the garden tilling the vast quantity of bulbs I’d purchased...of course the weather has had other ideas so I’ve stayed close to the Aga preserving apples, pears and chutney daily..

This morning I think I am beginning to feel a slight fizz of something that could be considered excitement...maybe after a delicious coffee I will be able to gage my feelings further...

The irony of it is that all these months daughter has been on maternity leave...and she starts back at school on Monday...such good timing!

Best wishes go to Weaver of The Grass for a speedy recovery...I read on Sue’s blog she has suffered a fall.

I’ll update soon...the thought of my carpet being free of toys for some of the time is really appealing right now!

Blessings J. x

Grabbing Five Minutes...

 Of peace that would be...

The 'lodgers' have left for a trip out as Son in Law has the day off from school today...

I have been making the most of the quiet time but now am indulging in a little me time...

Arthur the budgie has been cleaned out and is chirping along to some music...

However I have just realised that one of the kittens has discovered his cage which I had left on the table to serve as a change of scenery for him...oops...sorry Arthur!

Speaking of the kittens let me introduce you to the little darlings...

Meet Kitty...

and Wilbur...

These two scamps are finding their way into my broken heart and are getting away with some pretty mischevious antics...should the front door curtain provide endless hours of enjoyment??

It is just as well our leather suite has served us well for over ten years...it is ageing rather quickly at the moment though I have to admit they are two cute time wasters.

The photo of Kitty is older than the one of Wilbur I believe, anyway they are both much larger than this now...

Neither is aftaid of the big black dog...Bea (Grand-dog)...

 Hubby and I were able to take a trip up North last week to stay with our Son and his partner...

Hubby helped him with some electrics and plumbing...

I took up some paperwork and managed to get a reasonable amount done without little people trying to help...

The local searches are due back a week from today...

I hope...really hope there will be no further delays with the move...

We all need to move on and have our own space...

I know that when Bea goes the loss of Heidi may well become more apparent than ever...

I will deal with this in my own way...

Making myself get out for a non-dog walk is proving difficult...but I am determined that when the family have vacated I shall begin to lose my excess weight again...this time hopefully keeping it off too...

To think that years ago I was such a skinny ninny and couldn't put any weight on...really!

I must thank all of you that wrote kind messages with regard to our news of losing Heidi...she was indeed one of those very special dogs who makes a place in our hearts and will never be forgotten. I miss her resting her white whiskered tooth missing chin on my lap at mealtimes and not having her greet me everytime I return home...but she is sill in my heart and her spirit is with me when I go walking in the woods. She is free of pain and I owed her enough not to make her linger when life became too much...

Blessings J. x

The End of an Era

Not sure how many will have noticed my recent absence from all things blogging.

Well today I return with an explanation...

My beloved dog Heidi failed in the last few weeks and on more than one occasion I nearly made ‘the call’

Sadly on Tuesday morning I had no choice but to do so and then waited until 5:50 when the surgery would be empty to take her in.

The end was beautiful if any end can be. She looked so relaxed and peaceful.

But then I had to leave her. Well her body. I hope her spirit will some day find its way back home to us and can freely roam the lanes and woodland she loved. For Heidi there is no more pain. My heart however feels as though a massive chunk is missing. I am going to work later today and am not sure whether it will be a blessed distraction or not. I shall have to walk one of the residents dogs as I usually do. 

Do we ever really know if our decisions are too soon...we realise if they are too late, but timing such things is painfully tricky. Several nights  I lay awake with tears streaming not knowing quite what to do for the best.

I’m not sure how the gap Heidi has left will or can ever be filled. We do now have two adorable little kittens who came to live with us a week ago. I nearly cancelled them as Heidi was going downhill. However they belonged to a niece who really wanted them to stay in the family. I mustn’t push them aside in my grief for they have done nothing wrong. I’m not yet ready to introduce them to you though.  For now it’s about the memories...the happy times...

Rest in peace my beloved Heidi.

J. x

Snap Out Of It!

 Well...after visiting the Council offices in person yesterday...

And wonder of wonders getting to see a real person...

It became evident that trying to get a personal search as opposed to a regular search would take just as long...

So we wait...

27 working days so it seems...

I can only hope that they are working 5 days a week...

The timescale quoted via the estate agent today was a good week over what I had worked out...

But enough...

If this is our only problem then we are indeed fortunate...

I know a mother who is most likely shortly going to be losing her daughter...

Leaving a husband and two young daughters behind...

I have no reason to be complaining...

 

Just look at these beautiful hawthorn berries...

This was taken after I had picked some...

The evening sunshine was so beautiful and showed the berries at their absolute best...

Hopefully the ones I have picked will soon be turned into delicious hawberry jelly...

And if I have enough some may well get mixed together with rose hips and become cordial...

When the sun is shining I don't think you can beat an Autumn day...

Today however has been overcast from the break of dawn...

It looks as if it will be that way until after dusk... 

Blessings J. x

Would Screaming Help?

 Goodness me...

I feel fit to scream...or at least have a tantrum...

Daughter and her family are still ensconsed at ours...

Moving day was going to be this Friday...

WAS

However last Friday they had a call from their newly unfurloughed solicitor...

Because things have taken so long their searches were about to run out...

Before this Friday...

So she called the bank to ask if they could be covered by an indemnity insurance...

The bank would get back within five working days...

They apparently have this morning, and have requested new searches to be done...

The local council are at the moment taking 27 working days to complete searches...

Next doors searches for her new property were delayed twice...

Causing this whole sorry mess...

We were really hoping they would be in in time for Henry to celebrate his second birthday...

But no...

I just want my life back and for them to start the rest of theirs...

Eight weeks and counting have clocked up so far!

I am trying to tell myself there are far worse problems to have...

And I know there are...

But still...

It has been an awfully long time...

And breathe...

~

I have been finding the odd moment to slip away from our chaotic life and pick some blackberries.

How come the juciest ones hang beautifully just out of reach...

If only I were a little taller, a little wiser, a little richer!

Recently I have purchased some WECK canning jars and have been bottling and water bath canning apple sauce, pears in syrup, chutney, and stewed apple chunks.

The men and little men of the house seem to have constant hunger pangs...

There is always somethoing bubbling on top of the Aga or baking in it...

~

Work continues to dominate my life...

I have picked up a few extra shifts and can feel my back begining to say enough is enough!

However I have treated myself in a big way, and am doing a couple extra shifts for a few months in order to pay for my lovely coffee machine.

Normally I do not drink coffee...

I don't care for the aftertaste of instant...

And when out do not appreciate the strength of the regular brews on offer...

However I do love coffee...

Especially a late macchiato with ten mini marshmallows floating in it's frothy milk topping...

One per day is the usual treat...

Yum indeed!

We are shortly going on another berry hunt...

So Blessings, J. x

I Have Lived

As I walk along the country lanes I have soaked up the sights and smells...

Of blackberries...ripe and bursting with juicy goodness...

The sweet nectar eminating from the honeysuckle which rambles through the hedges...

Swallows...swooping and soaring...

Just beginning to gather upon the wires...

Hedges being cut...the fresh green smell of sap...

Heavenly...

Not forgetting the call of the wood pidgeon...

Serenading me as I head for home...

To our home which is full to the brim as eldest and her family are still with us...

We are hoping for some positive news any day now...

Early wake up calls are alright in moderation...

Bless their little souls...

I can't help longing for a little peace and quiet though...

They have been here nearly six weeks now...

Summer seems to have almost left us...

The colours of the trees are changing...

That old wheel is definitely turning...

Autumn will be here before we know it...

The nights are drawing in...

And cooler nights will be a blessing...

Speaking of which...

Blessings J. x

 

Early Mornings

So the latest here at Little Winter...

We have been joined by eldest daughter, son in law,

Small Boy and Pipkin...

Also grand dog, and pussykins...

It is a bit of a squeeze however we are just about coping...

Why do small children get up so early...

As in five am?

There is a reason nature doesn't give older women children I realise...

Yawn!

~

Their house sale went through and they are waiting for the lady next door to finalise her purchase...

It is progressing but slowly...

In the meantime Son in law is building a chicken coup and run...

We do not have a lot of patio space left...

I'm unsure how they intend to get it next door...

Maybe over the hedge?

The next chicken sale at the market is August 1st...

September doesn't have one so they are buying early for Small Boys Birthday...

~

My shoulders have turned to semi-rock...

There was a real panic here on Tuesday when we realised that the Sale Agreed sign had gone from next door...

It had also vanished off the internet...

Completely...

Que lots of phoning and an agonising wait...

However it appears that as she knows they're here she doesn't want any more marketing...

We kind of guessed this but it was a bit scary...

~

Everyone in this household has a healthy appetitie...

I have been baking a sponge every other day...

Also a batch of rolls...

 It's not all work though...

I have found time to enjoy a quiet cup of tea and slice of cake under our new pergola...

 I have purchased some fresh paint for this table and chairs...

Just need some time and energy to get it done...

When I'm not making cakes such as this!

Blessings J. x

With Bated Breath

Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day...

Eldest and her family are moving into our cottage with us until the house next door becomes available...

All being well next Friday their sale will complete...

We are getting things out of theirs so that a final clean can be performed...

And with good weather at the moment we have decided they may as well move in a few days early...

So...

A Mummy, a Daddy, two little boys, a dog and a cat are scheduled to descend on us tomorrow...

Hubby will be very busy indeed...

I am suffering in the shoulder department at the moment and am feeling slightly useless...

But I can look after one small boy...

And make food for everyone...

And worry...

Don't forget the worry!!

~

It has taken ten months to get this far...

There have been tears, frustration...

And hopefully soon we shall have joy...

I think it would be best if I get a good nights sleep tonight...

Much needs to be achieved tomorrow...

An adventure awaits!

~

Blessings J. x

Happy Birthday Heidi

There has been many a time that I really didn't think that Heidi would make this day...

But thankfully she has...

I really hope she's up for a woodland walk later on...

 

Here she is just the other day sporting some greenery she had 'picked up' along the way!

Keep taking those tablets Heidi :)

~

So for the rest of the day...

The dreaded shopping...sigh...

Hopefully it won't be as arduous as last week...

Well not exactly arduous as much as tedious...

I am hopeful of getting laundry dry on the line today...

Lovely crisp towels anyone?!!

And I'm such a good planner that I don't yet even know what I'm getting us for tea...

How's that for mega disorganised...

I'm blaming it on the impending move of daughter and her family that is keeping me on high alert...

And so tired...

Sleep in the Summer is not what it is in the Winter for sure...

Now next week I have another weeks holiday...

Don't tell the weather but I am really hoping to get handy in the garden...

Thoughts of a wild flower bed have in reality got out of hand...

Too much grass there also...

So I am slowly covering the area in cardboard and intend to mulch with bark later...

The large shrubs will stay...

But any flimsy bits need to move...

It's true that a garden is never finished...

~

 I have put my name down for a few extra shifts on our work rota to cover the next couple of months...

We could do with a little extra coming in for things we kind of want/need...

Primarily I'm thinking polytunnel fund...

Whether we make one or buy one...

The materials aren't going to come out of thin air...

I have no real idea of the cost...well I do but have no idea if we make it ourselves how low a price we can do it for...

All things steel have gone up in price we've noticed through the business...

I fear this is only the tip of the iceberg and that come Winter our purses are going to be prized open a little further for anything and everything we purchase...

This pandemic and Brexit is really going to bite...lets hope Winter doesn't choose to do so also...

~

Blessings J. x

Shopping

Apperently as a woman I am supposed to love to shop...

Well I really don't...

Get it from my list to trolley to conveyer belt to trolley to car to house to cupboards...

Yea right I'm supposed to love that?!

Tuesday is my current day of choice to shop...

Today...well especially this morning it was wet...

Shopping and getting wet...such fun...

Having to go to more than one shop to get the things on my list...

Just about made my day I can tell you!

So it was with much gratitude that when youngest needed to use our printer and she brought Bella with her we headed off down to the woods for an amble...

Heidi loves to 'run' around with Bella...though she tires very quickly now...

These two really are the best of friends...

~

Yet another sponge with jam and buttercream cooked and popped into the tin...

Does my hubby know just how lucky he is? Nah...

It's my duty as his wife of course!

This duty is not extending to much house cleaning today though...

The dreary weather is making me very tired...

And how come when I am so tired I cannot sleep well at night...

Crazy I tell you, absolutely crazy...

~

Anyway...it'll soon be time to start tea preparations...

My life knows no limit on exciting...

Talk about exciting...did I mention the other week when our oil tank sprang a leak...

Our recently filled with 2500 litres of oil, oil tank...

I only went to check on the washing before going out...and it was lucky I noticed...a leak...

Also a great split was forming down the front of the tank...

Hubby luckily came home quickly...armed with oil drums and a pump...

He demanded a bar of soap...and it worked on the leak but wouldn't have stopped the tank blowing...

Our neighbour is now 1000 litres of oil better off...though hopefully eldest and family will be getting it when they move...so a new tank is on its way... 

Life is never dull for long around these parts...

~

Blessings, J. x

Home

Lately being home has taken on rather a new meaning...being home can conjure up feelings of comfort...lazy Summer days...reading a book in the shade...listening to the turning of the water wheel...alfresco dining...carefree days...

This year though being home for some has become more of a sentence...I love my home...I am very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the World...access to private woodland just down the lane...but for those who couldn't or daren't leave home to do regular chores it must have been a nightmare...

I had to venture forth from the very beginning...to work and feed my family...I am rather glad I needed to as I wonder how my mindset would be feeling if I had spent weeks locked in behind the front boundary of our property...

But anyway...time has marched on in its usual way...the nights are now officially drawing in though I hope it is a few weeks before we really notice a difference...

Tonight I am ensconsed on our sofa with a hot water bottle because it is just a little on the chilly side of comfortable...I love hot water bottles...a comfort thing I suppose...memories from childhood...oh the wonderful smell of slightly perished rubber!

Ok so now I am on the 'strange woman' list...actually I have probably always hovered around any such list and quite frankly do not care...what is a life if you cannot have your idiosyncrasies!

~

So what's been happening around here then...well what seems to me like a ton of baking...all of which miracuously disappears with alarming regularity...

The move of the century has not yet taken place...I still await with baited breath...

Heidi is currently holding her own...thanks to some new tablets...she is eating into my budget in a big way at the moment...can I begrudge this money being spent...have you looked into those big brown eyes?!

Summer appears to have come in April and left again in May...the exception being last Thursday...painfully hot and stuffy...and yes I had to work in a mask...Friday saw me moping around with one incredibly thumping headache...no wine required...

The temptation to hop on up to the pub on Saturday has been removed by a well timed work shift...actually I don't think we would have ventured up there on re-opening night...far too many folks coming out of the woodwork and all that... 

Plans are being scribbled into books...numbers being totted up and shock and horror being expressed at just how expensive a largely self build extension might cost should we do it...I pretend that I don't hanker after a dishwasher with two drawers, and a separate larder fridge and freezer...our current fridge is just too darn small...or even a cast iron roll-top bath...ridiculous to want one of those...except I do want one...I really do...then add the comfort height toilet...great for occurrences of the dreaded 'bad back'. Ok so this may take some time...planning, foundations, walls, a roof and openings will come first...and even that cost is making my eyes water...

~

Has it just been me or has anyone else been a little 'off' blogging lately...I haven't even been religiously reading the blogs I usually do...I suppose like in everything else interest and time wax and wane...to force a post would be futile...If I were more organised I would have a plethera of photos of frothy June blooms in the garden...a cute photo of Heidi...and a plateful of fresh fairy cakes on a beautiful plate...only I spent all day at work, then came home and cooked tea and washed dishes...in truth I am knackered and can't wait for bed-time to come...guilt and an annoyance with myself are pushing me to get writing again...

Why won't the words come when I demand them to...it's not as if nothing has happened...the truth is that until the move is signed and sealed I am keeping a lot of my emotions tight to my chest...fear of getting carried away and too joyous could somehow jinx things and I so want it to happen...

And so my dears for now I bid you adieu...

Blessings J. x

 

Back to Square One...or Two?

You really couldn’t make the house saga up...
Last week daughter phoned me as I was getting ready to go shopping...
Is the neighbour in...apparently she hasn’t sent in her completion form...
Could you find out if there is a problem...as survey had been done a good couple of weeks before...
Yes there was a problem...she is no longer buying the property she was going to.
BOTHER...
However she was still selling, turning into a lucrative cash buyer and either moving in with a daughter or renting...
Stress...but manageable...however she had been told that there was a problem at the bottom of the chain...
WHAT...daughter had been told it was all good to go...
Apparently very bottom of chain had moved into first house before lockdown....
They had moved to goodness knows where and were putting the financial thumbscrews on the couple buying daughters house...only we didn’t find out these details until last Friday when they were told that their sale was off.
BIG STRESS...NOT MANAGEABLE...
Would daughter wait a couple of weeks...err no as that house had only received one offer in a year on the market...
Our neighbour agreed to not put hers on the market and keep it for them...
They agreed to give her some time and move in with us for a while to let her get sorted...
Cue Grandma looking after young Henry as mummy, and daddy when he returned from work tidied and cleaned like crazy...couldn’t help about the boxes everywhere...
They had a viewing on Saturday morning...
They had an offer Saturday afternoon...
The couple are renting...
Can I breathe?...
How long will our neighbour take to find a property?
Realistically if nothing by July she may be better off renting...
Oh and to finally turn my hair white they need to exchange by mid July as their mortgage offer expires...
Don’t want to take any chances being on maternity leave and with the uncertain future of the economy...
By rights I should have lost weight...
Err no...a little COMFORT EATING has obviously been taking place and I see another chin developing at a rapid rate.
Oh dear.

Blessings J. x

Still We Wait

It has nearly been nine months since eldest daughter came home from having a pre-natal scan and learned that the cottage next to us was on the market. From then on a flurry of putting their house up for sale and finding a buyer...to the chain falling through late in the day...to next door finding new buyers...to heartbreak at losing the property...to suggesting they install a woodburner in their current property...to next doors buyers pulling out just as hubby had drilled a massive flue sized hole in their wall...to going back on the market...to the original chain apart from the one at the very top coming good again...to getting to the point of exchange and completion...to Corona Virus putting a stop to everything...to the vendors of who next door to us is buying allowing friends to isolate in the should have been empty property so that the home buyer survey could not be completed...to it actually being done (last week) to the government giving moves the all clear...to...well...wait some more. I know not what the latest is...eldest says if there is no news by this afternoon Monday will be a day of chasing and expecting explanations. Me...I'd start chasing today...

~

I'm afraid I have rather lost the ability to believe either our government or it's advisors have an ounce of common sense between them. Nobody wants to say anything that could offend anyone, nobody wants to be responsible, everybody wants to be liked/loved. But life isn't like that. Some of the rules, or guidelines now I fear are doing so much more harm than good. We have had anguish in our family as the effect on young Henry has become apparent. As a little lad who in his life has hardly had a speck of nappy rash unfortunately he is practically covered in eczma...his trunk to his thighs was red raw...it travelled all the way up to his neck. His face and forehead all have been affected. The culprit...stress leading to cortisone leading to eczma. He is currently taking antibiotics, having a cortisone cream and a parafin based multi use cream applied. At first I was shocked...truly shocked...then I broke my heart...now I am angry. Angry with the virus...angry that we didn't let them move in with us...considering they will be partly living with us after the move as different rooms are demolished and a lot of their belongings are already here. When I finally ordered daughter to bring him over I felt like a criminal...then when daughter said 'go see Grandma' he uttered the most heartbreaking response ever...'nooo' whilst shaking his head. In his mind Grandma no longer loved him...how could she...no Grandma roasts...no Grandma hugs...no Grandma playtime...just hello and goodbye via FaceTime. How much damage are we unwittingly doing to our children and grandchildren. I am so angry...if someone wants to land me with a fine for breaking the rules I will not accept it...I will let them take me to any court in the land...on the condition Professor Ferguson also attends... Daughter and Son In Law found him wedged under his bed in the middle of the night sobbing. We are not stupid...if any one of us gets sick we will all go for a test, and are all classed as critical workers so are able to be tested speedily. It's going to take me a lot longer to recover from this than when I think I had the actual virus. Common sense people...that's all it takes.

~

And breathe...just breathe...

But it's hard at the moment. A good walk would help, however Heidi much prefers to hug the Aga if at all possible. She loves to amble around the woods, but can rarely be bothered to walk down the lane to get there. Borrowed time my lovely...

~

I really hope you all are surviving through this horrid time...

It is reminding me of the Foot and Mouth outbreak

We were a farming family and made to isolate then...

Husband wasn't even allowed home with us the night all the cows were culled...

He then suffered burns to his face through the Manatou glass as he tended the pyre...

~

I think I need to get up and get a move on...

Washing...ironing...food prep...that sort of thing...

Maybe some good music would help...

I fear I am a little like Wilfred from Brambley Hedge when it comes to waiting...

I DON'T LIKE IT!

~

Blessings J. x

And So On...

So here we still are...firmly in lockdown...

My heart is growing cold for all the Covid19 talk and restrictions...

Work has to continue...

Shopping can continue...

But family life....sadly not so.

It hasn't helped that our internet has been very poor...

I am currently awaiting an engineer to phone me back...

Without the power of wi fi calling I am not hopeful of him getting through...

I am a much more spiritual person than religious...

However I am silently praying that Boris will begin to relax the lockdown so that we can see small numbers of our family soon...

I am really worried about what effect this is having on young Henry...

He has been found by his parents in the middle of the night wedged under his bed...

He used to sleep soundly throughout the night.

He also has developed eczma...I've not known him to suffer previously.

Oscar I am less concerned about...

But Henry...

~

Our weather has turned...as was inevitable...

I cannot recall such a lovely April...

Or maybe I can...and it was then followed by a non Summer!

We are going to need some Summer this year for sure.

Housework has almost become my salvation.

A routine of sorts...

Washing...and more washing...

But familiarity non the less.

I have managed to obtain some bread flour...

Not my usual but lovely all the same...

Yesterday I almost burnt a sponge...

Good thing hubby likes things 'well done'...

~

My creativity is about set to zero at the moment...

I have no drive or enthusiasm for anything...

I know I must go to work later...and when I get there I know it will be alright...

But I can feel my spark leaving me...

Little by little each day...

Flames need oxygen to continue burning...

And my heart needs family time...

~

Walks with Heidi have been short this week...

She literally wants to cross the road...pee on the grass, then head for home again.

My walks have thus been reduced also.

Rain doesn't necessarily stop me, but we have had a biting wind.

I love the look of a stormy sky at this time of year...

But prefer to gaze at it through a window!

The woodburner has come into its own again these past few days...

I find it a great source of comfort.

~

Don't get me wrong...

I know we're all in this together...

But it is hard...

And I am finding it hard having to be physically close to so many people...

Just none of my family.

 ~

Soon I keep telling myself...

Soon we shall reunite...

I may even wish to retreat for some alone time...

But right now all I want is a sticky fingered...possibly snotty cuddle from a toddler...

How many things will no longer be important I wonder when all this is over...

How many shops will stay shut forever... 

How many people will have become conditioned to live like hermits...

Will I appreciate our local beaches more...

Will I order as many takeaways as before...

Questions questions which only time will tell...

~

Go on...make a wish...

I have just wished that the internet will allow me to upload this post!

Blessings, J. x

Life....But Not As We Knew It

Well where to begin after this lengthy absence. Life has been anything but normal for us or the entire World of late has it. How one tiny organism could ever know it had caused so much disruption, mayhem and misery to so many people. Yes our days come and go...the sun still rises in the morning and sets in the evening, the moon comes out at night...but what lies between is no longer the harmonious life we once knew. If only we had known how free our lives were and how blessed we were before lockdown became more, so much more than a mere threat. If only we had treasured each interaction with our friends and family instead of being guilty of sometimes looking ahead at what needed to be done, what needed to be got ready for the next day...how I wish we had had the ability to just live in the moment a little more. I hope I never forget this feeling and treasure my nearest and dearest that little bit more when all this is over. 

~

For my husband and myself both in jobs that need to continue through this awful time the first week of lockdown passed in a strange blur...with my working in the care sector we made a few changes at home. The washing machine was relocated indoors near the back door, so that as soon as I return from work in go my things...likewise with husbands' things. It's a case of strip and run through the cottage! A couple of people in the home I work for became sick, no tests were done, though we had to treat them as positive cases regardless...One sadly passed and then was tested as negative, we believe that at the moment the home residents and all our home care clients are not carrying the virus but realise that that could and is likely to change. We have strict...and I mean strict protocols for hand washing and getting changed at work, the use of PPE...how we enter and leave the premesis...yes it is a one way system. Despite all these measures, on the Friday evening of the first week of lockdown I managed to fall sound asleep before I had even prepared our pudding, let alone eaten it...when I woke up I had a strange rather dry cough. At first I dismissed it...after all it couldn't be IT...however the next morning I woke with the same dry cough, feeling rather poorly, hot and cold, and with a strange tightness across my chest. Hubby was clearly not impressed at the prospect of having to stay home for up to two weeks because of me...and at first tried telling me that I couldn't have it as I could still smell and taste things. Sometimes hubbys can be rather silly...mine included. By the Saturday evening however he to had started to cough and feel shivery and was saying that his chest also felt tight. It was at this moment he told me that actually he'd had a bit of a dry throat for a couple of days but had put it down to me having changed our tea bag brand...bless his cottons...he had topped up the tea tin in the week. I quickly challanged this theory as I had in fact changed brands of tea around Christmas time. So we were in it together. Coughing...running hot and cold and me mostly struggling with breathing mainly when I tried to talk. Hubby recovered reasonably quickly and was more than ready to go back to work on the Monday following his seven day isolation. I however was having one good day where I didn't need paracetamol followed by one where I felt weak and rubbish, so ended up having two weeks off work. I think it's fair to say that day ten was the last one on which I needed paracetamol. By the Wednesday I allowed myself to go on short dog walks down the deserted lane. At first I didn't have the energy to venture into the woods and when I did I didn't go too far. It has taken a good while to get my strength back, and I still go to bed early but I'm definitely getting there. 

This past Monday I went back to work. At first apprehensive but glad to be back and wanting to do my bit for these poor helpless souls who are no longer allowed vistis from their nearest and dearest.

~

Daughter and son in law and our two grandsons were at the point of their entire chain being able to exchange contracts with everyone except we're not sure about our neighbour as she says they haven't been able to do the buyers survey on the property she is buying, though we are hoping as it's virtually next door to her daughter that she will move in with her for a while if necessary. If they get an opportunity I really don't think the rest of the chain will want to miss it or be hanging about. Oh how I really wish their move could happen soon...just to hear little Henry playing in the garden would lift my spirits no end. It is so hard at the moment. 

~

So with the lovely weather we have slightly heavy hearts...hubby really took a dive at the weekend and ended up suffering a reasonably severe bout of indigestion. He felt tight in his chest and panicked that it was not indigestion...nor a heart attack....but the virus returning. I made him sit up and although he belched quite a bit I made him stay in bed the whole of yesterday as he told me that he had been sweating in the night too! Don't ask. He's had enough indigestion to know what it is but the fear factor and probably the fact that I had returned to work had something to do with it. I'll put it down to him having watched the Indianna Jones movies over the weekend. Far to much imagination and gore to be good for him. Anyway we now have a bottle of heartburn and indigestion relief medication thanks to my rattle around the local Tesco store this morning.

~

Heidi is still with us...she loves being in the woods, though sometimes takes some persuading to get there. She is however becoming even more incontinent. I keep wishing her better but cannot unsee her losing the use of her back legs at times.

~
What a long post this is turning into...long and boring...you really just want pictures don't you?!
Well here are a few from times recent...




 Afternoon tea for one on the patio...

Collecting lightings in the local wood...

 

The ageing mutt...glad she's looking happy...

Beautiful English bluebell...

Where I come most days...

Breathing in the beauty...

The lovely primrose...

Proving to everyone, myself included, that life although different at the moment can still be good.
Stay safe everyone.
Blessings J. x

My Girl

Sadness has entered my heart these past weeks for I have noticed a marked change in Heidi's health. She had a round of antibiotics for a UTI, but appears to be intermittently wetting herself...this is not really the main problem. What alerted me to a possible more serious issue was  a sudden limp from her right back leg...which at first I though could be down to a prickle, however she has started to cave in suddenly if she tries to trundle along with one of her doggie friends. That and if alone she would really rather not go for a walk. Just across the road for a wee and quick sniff around then stop and look at me as if to say 'not today Mum'. One thing that has not diminished is her appetite...so if she's not suffering hopefully she will be here for a while yet, albeit staying closer to the warmth of the Aga. I cannot be upset too much, for she is nearly 10, and in Newfie terms 8 to 10 years is the life expetency. Well I can be upset, but know that there is not much apart from love and care that I can or wish to give her. Life does have to have a certain quality about it to be worth it. I would not put her through any surgery at her stage of life, though she posesses quite a chunk of my heart.

Treats are unlimited though, as are kind words and cuddles. I hope she knows just how much she is loved.

~

Spring has really been rather an elusive beast around these parts...though I have spied all the signs such as primroses.

Daily we are watching the news as of course we all are. I can foresee many difficult times ahead, as a care worker I know I shall be in the front line caring for some very vulnerable people. Today is being spent at home, doing a little housework and a jigsaw...much needed downtime.

~

Blessings J. x

Pleasing Oneself

Fresh back from a brisk walk down the lane with Heidi, I am currently perched on our sofa, hot water bottle nestling in the small of my back, with the woodburner going...though having just glanced at it, it is in obvious need of attention...

Today, though really dreary weatherwise, hasn't been such a bad old day after all.

I managed to off-load a pile of boxes into eldest's place ready for packing. The car is good for a few miles after filling with diesel...Heidi has more of her anti-itch tablets...and a visit to Lidl saw me stock up the items we had run either dry on , or very nearly exhausted...well those I could find. No yeast to be had...as there hasn't been for the past month or more...toilet rolls were very sparse, and as we have our last pack of six still untouched I left them on the shelf for someone more desperate than we currently are.

What I have stocked up well on is bread flour...in my job quite likely I will come into contact with infectious people if the Corvid19 virus spreads as anticipated. I need to be sensible and prepare a little and not expose myself to too many risks which I would then be taking to vulnerable people. In my eyes a pantry that ideally could keep me from needing supplies for two weeks at least is a necessity not so much to protect me but those I care for.

What I really do not need is six months supply of toilet rolls though!

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but whilst glancing at the array of fruit and vegetables in Lidl I had a sudden yearning for salad...crisp fresh salad...and so tonight that is on our menu...along with belly pork which hubby is less than happy about. However I'm fussy about what sausages we have and didn't fancy any I saw today so belly pork it shall be...with lashings of mashed potato.

After lunch I went for a massage...now don't think relaxation here...think pain...my back is still in a pretty bad way...but right now my weekly massage is keeping me upright and earning a wage.

Upon returning home I've lit the fire, spoken to youngest, and well, just idled away the afternoon, and quite frankly I really don't care.

Soon I shall prepare the tea and am hopeful for an evening with at least a few games of cards with hubby. After all we now are the owners of a very fine card table..ok so the baize needs renewing...so what...it's a lovely feeling to bring out the table, open it up and have a proper dedicated playing surface!

I am sure many of you have read that Sheila from www.LifesTooShortToIronTeatowels has suffered from a stroke and like me were really shocked to hear the news. I wish you a full and speedy recovery lovely lady.

Blessings J. x

Friday

Well through total lack of inspiration...Friday it is for a title!

Not that life has been boring or anything...far from it in fact.

Hectic maybe should have been up there in the bright lights.

Poor old Heidi has been suffering from what we hope is just a UTI...

Cue visit to the vets...and smoke eminating from my purse...

She has almost completed her ten days of treatment.

However her recovery does not appear complete...

She is perfectly able to romp with her younger friends in the woods,

Albeit not for as long...

Her appetite has not diminished...however she is still passing very strong smelling wee,

And does not always have control of this function.

She was whimpering the other afternoon whilst just lying on the floor...

She had wet herself.

Poor Heidi...she is having a dose of anti-inflamatory every day.

Her treat tin has magically filled...guilt...compassion...hope...call it what you will...

I hope it is not time to say goodbye just yet...not when she is so able to enjoy such fun with friends.

~

Other news is that young Oscar is doing well.

Daddy has a few more days of paternity leave, so as far as they are able they have been self sufficient.

That's not to say they haven't visited, or I them...just not as much as I usually see my daughter when she is home.

Their move seems to be progressing...we are guessing the end of March potentially.

I have been collecting some of the empty pad boxes from work. for their packing..any carer will understand the value of an empty pad box!

I have returned to work...but am only doing my regular shifts which basically amount to two days one week, and three the next. This is just about copeable for my back which is still in recovery.

Currently a hot water bottle is bringing some relief...for everything else I am having a weekly massage.

The weather can at best only be described as dull...uninspiring...and downright miserable...

I have a house to clean...my own!

Sonshine and his girl are arriving this evening for the weekend...

They will not wish to sleep under the Christmas decorations currently adorning the spare bed...

Rolls and cakes need baking...and washing needs...well washing...I've tackled the bathroom...

The kitchen is half done...well a small half...however yesterday I bleached all the cups and teaspoons...I mean a really thorough clean after six weeks of inactivity.

That's what I miss about not having a dishwasher...tea stains are a real pain!

Unfortunately todays walk looks like it will be a quick well wrapped up soggy nip down the lane, rather than a happy amble through the woods, however yesterday was beautiful...

I shall leave you with some happy photos of yesterday...

 

Blessings, J. x