Friday

Quiet was the morning...the landscape covered in natures' ice blanket. The sun shone gloriously for a few precious hours. It was beautiful. Later though cloud filled the sky and a chill permeated the air. The fire now lit has gradually eased the cold in the living room. Housework has consisted of hoovering downstairs. A big achievement when legs are filled with what feels like jelly. Many tests have been done for my work, but I remain negative for covid. Having had the flu jab I suspect another varient has found my body a glorious host. Whether this all began with the drying effects of the alcohol gel I used to keep my glasses and visor mist free, possibly irritating internal tubes and then letting any airbourne germs get an avenue of attack. First came the soreness and headache,  then tummy troubles, next vertigo, then headache again, a sore throat, fever and chills. It has been such a week of fun. Friday...is it really Friday. Not sure I could say I achieved an awful lot this week. Sleep...I suppose I have caught up on sleep, though it has been fitful at times.

Still it is good to be alive...and as we mourn the loss of Meatloaf...what  a powerful singing voice that man had. One of hubbys' favourites, memories of our courting days with his voice playing on cassette in the car. Yes we must be grateful for any week, even one when our body has been fighting an unknown attacker.

I did manage a short walk with eldest on Wednesday morning along the Tarka Trail. Thinking it would do me good to get out...maybe it did, but I was glad to hold onto the pushchair as I realised just how wobbily my legs were. It was after tea on Wednesday when the fever really struck.

And for my afternoon trick...well, logs need moving from the passage to the fireplace. A couple of suppliers need paying, and that really could be my lot. I may summon the energy for a couple more rows of knitting to the snood. Maybe a snooze will happen...who knows until it does. This poor body as had quite a lot to contend with in the past year so I really need to listen to it a little.

Blessings, J. x

Vertigo...You are not Welcome 'Ear

So what else is going to come annoyingly my way...well no sooner did I start to knit my snood than vertigo reared it's ugly self. Admittedly I have felt dizzy a couple times in the last couple of weeks...thinking it was something to do with wearing a visor I pushed the inconvenience aside...excuse the pun...I stumbled to the right quite dramatically whilst at work. But Saturday evening there was no doubting it's presence. Glad when I was finally in bed and the spinning had stopped I woke yesterday to a decidedly not normal feeling in my left ear. Things are not too bad if I keep my head still...and I can walk and even look around as long as my whole body matches the movement of my head. Terribly fun.

Monday morning should see me up before the shiny one in the sky and heading off to work to earn some pennies...not so today...I am home alone, and feeling somewhat lost. There is plenty to do...but reluctance to set the whole thing off again I really can't be bending, twisting or shaking a duster in the corners. Putting decorations up in the attic is also off the adgenda. So now I am officially bored...never thought I'd miss going to work, but I kind of do.

It is quite literally freezing outside...-4.5 is the reading on our home weather station. I do plan to have a wander up the garden though...I haven't been up there for a few weeks so I should see the difference in things hopefully popping up in readiness for Spring.

As it's full moon this evening, the first after plough Monday I am hopeful we will wassail our apple, and other fruit trees this evening. Lets face it a glass of cider shouldn't do any more damage than the vertigo is at the moment.

Maybe a few more rows of the snood will appear later on today...but for now the only way forward is a list...nothing too difficult...but moping about the place isn't going to make things better.

Blessings, J. x

A Touch of Januaryitis

Well it had to happen sooner or later I suppose. We have slowed down a little, having a bit of a breather from finishing the house inside, though a wall and fence between the two patios is going up as I type. I only worked on Monday, having the boys on Tuesday and then trying to catch up on our business bits the rest of the week. My place of work contacted me every day trying to get me to work which really messed with my head. Yes the extra money would be useful, however I needed to get out bills with a far greater monetary value than what I would have been gaining. Plus I'm absoultely knackered, so I'm afraid on all occasions it was a no from me. Now Saturday has arrived and I can really tell it is January. Despite a trip to the beach which was glorious yesterday afternoon. I could have spent much longer there, however we hadn't checked the tide times and youngests' dog doesn't like getting her little Beagle paws wet.

One wave that arrived rather took me by surprise, and I was lucky to stay upright as the sand slipped away from beneath my boots. Youngest ended up with a wellie full of sea water. It was sunny,  and reasonably warm feeling despite the actual temperature, whereas today has up until now been as dull as ditch water and feels much colder despite the thermometer saying it is warmer. I say up until now as the sun has just shyly put in an appearance.

So what is a girl to do...feeling a bit meh and with no place to go. Well I have been making a lardy cake. It is currently in the Aga...and I cannot wait to tuck in to it's squidgy loveliness later this afternoon.

Two small boys have paid me a visit this afternoon...first the youngest followed by his Mother, then the eldest...then I felt sorry for the men and took them out some tea and cake...so all that remains is this!

I fear it is hello indigestion for me though!

Right...yarn and needles are at the ready...I'm knitting myself a snood...for shopping trips where I need to mask on off on off kind of thing! 

Blessings, J. x

A Shocker

Sunday...

Having just read our electricity meter...last read 36 days ago I have had rather a nasty shock...we have used 1351 units...that has been a lot for us, indeed a lot for anybody. I know we use a reasonable amount as the Aga is all electric...I have been using the tumble dryer...we have an additional fridge and freezer in the kitchen now...but even so...a shock to the system for sure. And a real ouchy for the bank balance. 

This afternoon I plan to screw some hooks above the Aga to hang washing from...I guess the Aga may also be using more electricity as it is in a much larger room...and I have been neglecting to use the hotplate cover pads...I suppose every little helps.  Could I blame the outside festive lights? They were all LED so should not in theory have used too much, but every little adds up doesn't it. I was also washing a lot more than usual, as I was freshening up clothes that had gone fusty in storage. But still...ouch. Another thing that has been on the go constantly is our dust filter...maybe now that will get turned off. The new television can only be left on standby, unless you reach in behind and switch of the rather unaccessable plug. Grrr. What a lot of wasted electricity. Then there was the powertool fest as we put the house back together...drills, saws, cement mixer...battery charging of mult-tool etc. Head in hands at this point!

Having had a good think back though, I cannot remember submitting a reading at the beginning of December and wonder if the reading then was an estimate so it is throwing off my calculation if they underestimated our useage then. I can but hope! 

I should have been at work this morning, however have an unfortunate turn of events in that my eyes, nose and sinuses have been really sore. I'm presuming this has something to do with my acting on someones suggestion to use the hand gel on my glasses to prevent them steaming up whilst wearing a mask and a visor...Possibly the alcohol has dried me up good and proper. It isn't as bad as yesterday, but still feels rather uncomfortable. Tomorrow though I need to be fighting fit. Can't cry off every shift unfortunately!

Monday evening...

Well another day dawned...I got rained on and the sun has set once again...not that we saw it at all today...or yesterday for that matter...oh for some lovely frosty mornings...hopefully later in the week we shall be more fortunate. Opening a bottle of gifted to me wine seemed such a good idea...but tired and now tipsy maybe it wasn't such a wise move after all...however the fire is lit...and it is hubbys' skittles evening...tea is still cooking so wine on an emptyish stomach...well sometimes a girls just gotta do it!

Kitty and Wilbur have taken full ownership of the sofa...with it's lovely furry blanket...can't say I blame them one bit. Now the tree has gone we've reorganised the room, as the large desk has been moved upstairs into the office space...hopefully before next Winter we will have funds to purchase a two seater additional sofa for the growing extended family.

So this evening...it looks a bit like this...minus the stockings hanging by the fire...

Not sure what the dancing dots were...maybe some faeries...or not...

 

The above uninspiring mess was actually a really delicious afters for us last Friday. Having made too much batter for our fish and chips on Thursday hubby requested a repeat meal on the Friday, however there was still spare batter. I just use plain flour, a pinch of salt and lemonade. I'd literally let spoonfalls fall slowly into the hot oil then sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. All were eaten. 

So now all I really want is to go to sleep. Hubby was paranoid that the boiler kept coming on in the night, whereas it was the dishwasher making the noise. He was paranoid because he moved it to it's new spot and wanted to check it was working correctly. However getting up everytime he heard a noise to check it rather interrupted my nights sleep. As I said earlier...Grrr!

So for now, night night...

Blessings J. x

Much Too Much

Monday 3rd.

Well 2022 has begun in the same elk as 2021 ended. A covid outbreak at my place of work making for a busy and stressful time...hey ho...we will conquer and come out the other side smiling...soon would be nice please.

Our festive decor is still in place...and will remain for a few more days yet...I don't really feel as if I've had a quiet afternoon to admire the twinkling lights and decorations with a nice cup of tea and something to nibble on...just enjoying the peace and tranquility of this 'quiet time of year'. I wonder if tomorrow will be my lucky day. At least I won't need to get up with the lark.

One thing I've noticed going to work early each morning has been the birds singing. Not so before Christmas...but now it's as if they have been reborn! Spring may not be just yet, but already nature is showing us the way forward.

Hubby brought me in some leeks and beetroot from the garden yesterday. The idea was that after work today I would start to prepare the leeks for freezing and boil the beetroot, however I needed to try and get some bills out to our customers and that has made my head hurt like crazy so no vegetable preperation just yet. The last week or so before Christmas was full on decorate and clean up. No time for accounting at all so now it's a game of catchup. Cancel the tranquil afternoon gazing at the twinkling lights then...I'll be head down on the laptop tap tapping away!

From my perch up to the kitchen table I can hear that hubby has lit the woodburner. It is getting colder here now after a very mild spell at New Year. 

At this time of year I like to think I can use up what we have in store and shop as little as possible. This is a real need this year as due to having several months off with Long Covid last year plus building expenses things are going to be really tight when the tax man comes a knocking at the end of January. Comfort food can be really cheap...I'm talking potatoes which we buy by the sackfull. Tonight we are having leftover beef and some home cooked chips, which are cooking as I type. Mum used to cut chips the shape I'd put in a teddy pasty and call them heel-taps. We still have them sometimes, however tonight it's bog standard chips!

So...now it's Thurdday 6th.

Where did those few days go. Thankfully I now have two blissful days off...when I will not need to set an alarm. Not that I usually need the alarm, but keep waking and checking the time not wanting to oversleep should the alarm fail to go off! 

Tonight it's homemade fish and chips for tea...and then I'm all for doing a bit of hunkering down. Think sofa...fluffy blanket...eyes possibly shut...yes I am completely spent!

 

 Comfort food...cheap...nourishing...leeks from the garden, leftover ham...lovely...

Until it wouldn't come out the basin!

Blessings, J. x