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A bit of the tropics on your sill. How nice!
Evening, that was a long day. Got the bid in with 13 mins to spare, and I wasn't 100% happy with it, but didn't have time to do anything else. Then I had something else that needed doing by lunch - it was 12.20, so before my lunch break! Then had to deal with all the stuff that had been ignored in the morning, before doing some photocopying just to have a break from my desk! At least I got a walk at lunch. Went to the tip after work, and decided I might as well go to Aldi as i was driving past it. When I got home, Lucy was really clingy, so I fed the cats, went for a 10 min walk just to hit my step count, then went and read for Lucy to have cuddles and she ignored me! At least I finished my book.
Sorry you didn't get your cuddles back. At least not visibly. Sweet of you to read.
The date palms sound very cool Kath. Desley, like Alicia, I’m sorry to hear that Lucy was not in the mood for cuddles. Things are looking up a bit on the mortgage front. Might have found a way to do it cheaper. Went to see son’s CCF event day yesterday. It comprised a lot of standing around but it was a lovely day for it. He enjoyed himself immensely as well. Working on my book, slowly. It’s in the soggy middle. I had a character in it who was a bit of a pain so I changed it so she was captured, now I’m not sure it works without her because I need to get the MC from A to B and he won’t go to B unless he needs help. I’ll have to have a think. It was getting too complicated though. I’m thinking of doing a Kickstarter to see if I can raise the $500 for editing on this one. We’ll see how it goes …
Evening, that was a long day. Woke up early enough to spend some time with the girls (which ended up being twice as long, as Coco sat in front of the door 5 mins before my time to leave, and as long as I have time, I let her) and a walk before picking my sis and the kids up to go out for the afternoon. It wasn't as enjoyable as usual, it was so busy, and with having a pram as well as a 9 year old, we had to miss some shops, and skipped lunch, decided as it was so busy that we'd get a sandwich and eat it outside, but a lot of people had that idea too, so we just had a wander, then came back and went to the candle shop for ice cream - me and sis decided to try a sundae, wouldn't get one again, it was too much, even with us not having eaten much. The stall I wanted to get wax melts from wasn't there today, but I did treat myself to a necklace, will post a pic when I get chance. My sis had given me some votives though, so at least I got some new scents. Then came back and chilled on the bed reading Jim's latest book. Shared the pic of my necklace with a few friends, and said I was jealous of seeing people just eating and drinking in the sun, walking friend said we'll go soon, it's the first time she's suggested meeting up since she was mad at me in Oct! She is out drinking, so hopefully she'll remember that.
On your terms - hope it's better now.
Morning. Date seedlings are getting exciting. I'm watching them more closely than my tomatoes, and they include some home-bred varieties so I usually hang over those!Still reading. Writing is ticking over at the moment. Looking forward to getting out a bit more this summer. I often take inspiration from places we've visited.
Sister coming for tea tonight. She's had a recent cataract op and is expecting to have another in a few months. She wears her old glasses but with the lens on the corrected eye just pushed out. They're 'reactolite' lenses so in the sun, one Iens goes dark and the one with no lens, of course, doesn't. It looks quite comical!
Evening, that was a much nicer day than expected. Woke up late, wondering which time was correct, as the alarm clock seemingly needs manually altering. Was annoyed at first, but then I realised it was cooler and cloudier than yesterday, so got the first load washed and on the line and the second one in the machine before going for my walk, bumped into my friend as I was part way to the canal, she was going to one of the local reservoirs with the kids, so I jumped in the car and went with them, showed them my favourite bench, she said she could sit for hours there, it's such a lovely view. Then we went to candle shop, the kids had ice cream, we had a mocha, as it wasn't warm enough for us to have ice cream. Then had to come home, finish the chores, and then finished my book. Jim, one of the things in your book mentioned about using honey on scratches, would you suggest set or runny honey?
Speaking of laundry - Public Service Announcement: if you use a dryer, every once in a while do a deep cleaning of the lint trap.Our washer/dryer stacked pair came from someone else before we owned it, and was installed by Facilities when we moved in.
Yesterday I asked the husband to look into the slot (the dryer is stacked on top) where the lint trap goes, because I thought there might be lint I couldn't reach. Well, apparently there was a path for lint to get elsewhere at some time in the past (probably before we got it), Facilities hadn't thought to clean the inaccessible interior out before installing it, and the amount of lint where it shouldn't be was impressive - and distinctly a fire hazard.
We used to use dryer lint to start campfires in the Guides, so it is quite flammable - you don't want that stuff near a source of heat (ie, dryer)!
Morning!Also much of modern lint contains micro plastic particles - so don't breathe it in, either.
Just been to sign on with a new dentist and to cancel the direct debit to the old Bupa dentist. They've been sending what I consider threatening emails lately. Asking you to score their performance after every session and the last straw, emailing a 20 page form for personal details (which they already have) which has to be signed and returned before my next visit (which would have been Thursday or my appointment may be delayed. You don't talk to me like that!
New place seems much more human, and about a mile away, as against 5 for the old one.
All seeds up now except goji berris, which went in later than the rest.
Don't blame you for switching dentists - even though you don't really have to fill in all that paperwork, it is annoying. And even more when you read what they have on you and there are key bits wrong, and you have to ask the dentist to do the editing...
Evening, another nice day, so I took advantage and had a potter round the fishing lodge behind work - came across a frog that was quite a way up the hill, hope it figured out how to get back to the water! Then tried the reservoir on the way home, took me 40 mins and was 4621 steps, so on a day I can only do one walk (like Thur, when I'm only going to get a 30 min lunch, as I had to book another meeting - 6 this week!), I could just about hit my step target walking round the office (need to start using downstairs toilets again) and house. Unfortunately I left my lunch at home, so had to have crisps and dried fruit for breakfast, and porridge for lunch. I don't blame you for swapping dentists either - I must ring mine and see if they can get me in for a check up yet, it was due in Nov, they cancelled by text and when I rang to rearrange, got told to ring back in the new year!
Morning! What a change in the weather. Cooler and damp. My hair curls when it's damp. I look like I've had a bad perm!Fortunately you can read and write indoors so I'll stick to that.
M.T. wrote: "I’m thinking of doing a Kickstarter to see if I can raise the $500 for editing on this one. We’ll see how it goes …..."Be fascinating to watch,
I suspect my best hope would be pay to go away
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Jim, one of the things in your book mentioned about using honey on scratches, would you suggest set or runny honey? ..."I use either, depending which jar is open :-)
And I don't use expensive honey either, just bog standard, but not the watered down stuff they use to squirt out of plastic bottles
Evening, today's meeting was only half an hour, luckily I'd looked at the documents as the colleague whose job that was hadn't! One of those days where it is really quiet most of the day, then the last half an hour went crazy! Tomorrow is going to be interesting - a potentially 2 hour meeting in the morning and a webinar in the afternoon. Nipped to Lidl at lunch, then went for a walk with friend and her foster dog after work, we did a path I only discovered during lockdown and if you'd shown me the steps before then, I'd have told you I wasn't capable of walking up it, but I not only did it, but carried on walking without having to stop to recover! Discovered earlier that W is now a free to air channel, for some reason I can't get more than 50 channels anymore, but luckily the app on the TV pulls up box sets, so loads more Masterchef to watch - Australia, America and Canada. So the set honey in the cupboard would be fine then?
Evening, miserable day, so not really got out, but not a bad thing. Went to do my meter readings at lunch, after dragging off 8x 20l bags of cat litter, table top freezer, hoover, ironing board and mops, I lifted the trapdoor to hear the hinge go! It could sit against the wall, so went and took pics of the meters, but then couldn't get it to sit flush in the hole, luckily one of the neighbours was just on his way to the shop, so he fixed it for me. Then couldn't submit meter readings, and Octopus were busy, so ended up ringing the mortgage company and sorting that out. When I eventually got through to Octopus, I finally agreed to a smart meter, downside is the cellar won't get looked at twice a year, but I won't need to worry about getting the trapdoor fixed. Rain turned to snow about 5pm, but between the fact it's wet, and the wind is blowing the snow up in the air, it won't stick. Popped to see my friend just to get out of the house after work. Shame my streak is at an end, but 15 consecutive days is impressive, and the first time ever! This month is also the first time my average steps has been higher than my target.
Ridiculous weather! I was out in short sleeves and sandals all weekend, snow this morning...
We had sleet overnight that was still on the ground first thing. Now the sun's shining and the sky is mainly blue, with fluffy clouds, but that wind is evil!I seem to have a mini-backlog of advance reader copies to get through so I'm mainly reading. Everyone's book is ready at once, it seems!
Having arrived in Spain at the weekend from seven months in Central America/Mexico, it feels like the UK when I left it last August - chilly and rainy! Off to The Azores tomorrow for the final leg of of our journey, in the hope of witnessing the migration of the Blue Whale!
Blimey Stuart! That sounds fab. Trust me, you aren't missing anything. It's snowing here at the moment. We are just about to go skiing for a bit and have a road trip through France. It's always lovely, although I think our room may lack a balcony this time so I will probably end up using my iPad and sitting in a cafe in the sun to write. Such hard work!
Desley, we're still holding out on the smart meter, one of Mum's carers' husbands installs them for a living and says to hold off for as long as possible! Sometimes, though, it's just best to get these things sorted, isn't it?
I've just realised it's much later than I thought. Time to go hop in the shower before supper.
Evening, I jinxed things by saying the snow couldn't stick, woke up to find it had, luckily it was lightweight snow, so easy to scrape off the car, and the roads were clear, it snowed till about 10.45, then a bit at 3, a bit at 4 (just after I'd decided to go round the reservoir!), and then again at 6.30! I was a bit late leaving work, a client decided to e-mail us a form at 4.12 that they wanted signing before 1st April, so had to ring and point out that was impossible! Luckily, despite it being a bit like a blizzard as I drove home, by the time I got home and fed the cats, it was blue sky, so I got out while I could, but only did enough to get my 6k steps, as it had changed in an instant twice in the afternoon.Sounds wonderful Stuart, hope you see some Blue Whale. Sounds nice MT. I think I have held off as long as possible MT, the meters are over 20 years old and given they've said they need replacing, if something happened, I think it would void my insurance.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "So the set honey in the cupboard would be fine then?..."
In my experience it'll be perfectly fine.
I think some of the effect is the fact that honey is so sugary that it kills bacteria by osmosis. Then there are probably other effects from other stuff in the honey :-)
Evening, woke up and the car looked like it had a sprinkling of icing sugar, so must have had a bit more snow overnight. Had 2 meetings today, but the weather was good so got out for a walk at lunch and after work. After work I decided to go along the canal and feed the geese with some organic duck and goose food I'd got from the candle shop (looks a lot like hamster food to me!), the first pair were in the water, I put the food on the bank and they just looked at me expectantly, so I spent a few mins throwing individual pieces of food in the water for them, when I got to the second pair, only one was about, it heard the rustle and started racing towards me, so I hurriedly threw a handful down, but it seemed really starving, so I gave it a second handful. Then came home and finished my book ready to start my April selection tomorrow.
Glad you don't throw them bread - that is very responsible of you.
Morning. I always understood that honey had slight antibiotic properties but I'm happy to be disabused of that notion. Main thing is, it works.Had some old work friends over for lunch yesterday. Much nattering ensued!
Bit burned out … that’s why you haven’t seen much of me, but the mortgage is coming along, I’m beginning to get a handle on how the draw down equity ones work, at least. If Mum lasts five years we will have to sell the house because there won’t be any other way to fund her care. The rest of the time, I’m disappearing into my writing. It’s not going well because I can’t hold a plot but I need to escape so I just write about the characters doing stuff and hope it will come together eventually.
Do you have reverse mortgages in the UK? In the US, it's a way to pull equity out of a house which lasts as long as the owner(s) do - and then the house is sold, and there might even be some equity left for the heirs.It helps take some of the uncertainty out, but do learn the details carefully if you have them. A friend had nothing left after her (much older) husband died, but she did not end up in debt. She retrained as a nurse, and is doing very well.
Evening, that ended up being a nicer day than planned, I decided to go to local market town to see if I can get everything from their B & M and Morrisons, friend ended up coming with me, so went later than planned and didn't get one of the things I wanted as the market was packing up by the time we got there, but I wasn't too bothered as we had lunch instead, I was attracted to a place offering alcoholic hot choc, ended up having one made with Kendal Mint Cake liqueur, so it tasted like an aero, it was lovely. Their Aldi is fairly quiet on a Sat pm, so even though I didn't get everything, I'm still going to go at least once a month. We have had hailstone though. Sorry to hear you are still struggling with things MT, and hope the writing comes together at some point.
Kath wrote: "Morning. I always understood that honey had slight antibiotic properties but I'm happy to be disabused of that notion. Main thing is, it works.Had some old work friends over for lunch yesterday. M..."
I think from my own use it does have. But I'm not entirely sure what they are. After all concentrated sugar will kill bacteria
But it doesn't have to be expensive honey, from my experience :-)
Evening, another nice day - I pegged my washing out at 10 as the sun was coming out, had to bring it back in at 11 as it started raining, it did dry up, but couldn't be bothered to peg it all back out again, so just did the three things I needed. Nipped to candle shop to get some goose food for the ones on the fishing lodge behind work, he said it had been that popular, they'd sold 20kg and had to buy more! Then went for a walk with my friend, and still had time to make a curry, so got 3 lunches for work.
The ancient Egyptians certainly used honey as a wound dressing and it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties - there is a lot of research going on at the moment. Probably as a fallback for antibiotic resistance? It's certainly one of those really old remedies that has found favour with modern medicine again, along with other things like using maggots on infected wounds. That's something that I will not be trying at home though.Hoping that your writing gives you a respite from your constant care issues Mary. You've certainly had it fairly unrelentless for the last few years. We pay a high price for love and family, sometimes.
Yes, hope things get better for you before long M.T.
Hello strangers (my fault, not yours!)You can get honey bandages in hospital! I have a copy of the wound care formulary somewhere I'll see if I can find it and if it says anything about honey.
I've turned on my laptop to get some assignment done but researching the medicinal properties of honey would be much more interesting.
Nothing in the formulary but I did a quick journal search and found this. Firstly, its anti-bacterial activity due to the production of
hydrogen peroxide by the enzymatic activity on the wound
exudates, secondly, providing less ‘free’ water for
the growth of microbes. The high sugar content of the
honey also causes bacterial death due to osmosis. The
third effect of honey can be explained by its acidic nature
(ranging between 3.2 and 4.5) which for bacterial growth
is not ideal
Manuka honey has generated interest in
the scientific world because of its unique antibacterial
property which is independent of peroxide activity.
Evening, we've had fine drizzle and a driving wind all day, so not got out for my walk, and certainly felt stiffer at 4pm, even though I'd been up and down the stairs at work more than normal. Have been set a task to make a list of tower blocks we've worked on, I've gone through a list that goes back to about 1994, it's been interesting remembering some of the older jobs. Thanks Jud, that's interesting.
Hi, Jud and Pam.Sister came to us on Friday evening for a short visit, as always. She was due on Sunday for dinner but rang in the morning. She's tested positive. She works in a school (with much staff absence from the virus) and tests herself twice a week. Only symptom a runny nose, which is good, and all praise to the vaccine.
This means I need to test myself on Thursday, before the cake club's return after several months off. I have no symptoms but I think I'll get someone ready to stand in if necessary and see how it goes.
First white tulip has now opened. It's their first season so I'm really excited.
Eek! Hope your sister is okay. We're anticipating another wave in the US, with the omicron variant already well established, but no increases in cases yet.
I fear not so much the covid for fully vaccinated and boosted people, but the long covid which is so similar to the ME/CFS I already fight every day. The estimates are going to bowl the world over - and they're barely getting started with real research.
Jud wrote: "Manuka honey has generated interest inthe scientific world because of its unique antibacterial
property which is independent of peroxide activity...."
Thanks Jud
It's probably not worth buying Manuka honey in the shops, as it was discovered that the UK alone imported more Manuka honey than New Zealand produced! The suspicion was that people were 'cutting' it with ordinary honey, and some of it may not even have originated in New Zealand
But New Zealand has done work on the genuine stuff and the results do look interesting
Evening, another wet and windy day, it did clear about 6.30 so I forced myself out, that's the second time I've only been able to walk after work and my calves have been painful, I was 1000 steps short when it started raining, but I forced myself to finish. Ratty neighbour rang this afternoon, she'd had her boiler serviced at lunch and they said that a part needed fixing and it wasn't safe to use, so she asked if she could have a bath at mine - thought I better not say no, I'm having my bathroom replaced when I find someone to do it, you never know if you might need the favour returning!Hope your sister doesn't develop any more symptoms Kath, and fingers crossed you don't get it.
Evening, bit of a frustrating day at work, we have a deadline on Fri and looks like I'll be getting things at the last minute again - colleague who's on maternity leave didn't seem to have these problems! Wet and windy again today, but I went to the candle shop and coffee shop at lunch, candle shop had some new scents, turned out when I got there they were making some that hadn't been advertised, so I went for one bag and came back with 7, then went back after work for the ones that were being made, but only 2 were ready, so going back on Sat for the rest! Coffee shop have been closed for 2 weeks, so they were mad busy and sold out of the bake I wanted, so have to go back there on Sat too! Yesterday I'd said to ratty neighbour that it was a shame her plumber is really busy, as I need a new kitchen tap, she mentioned it to him and he agreed to come and look, quoted me £85 including fitting, last quote was £150. He also looked at my bathroom, gave me options to have it done quicker, by panelling over the tiles, which is also cheaper and he didn't think it would cost anywhere near the first quote I had, so glad I agreed to help her yesterday, it's hopefully really worked in my favour! She came to bring the heater I'd lent her back, we ended up chatting then going for a walk round the park as I hadn't hit my step count.
Hope it turns into some good luck with the plumbing - it's always best to have those jobs over before something else goes.
Evening, that was a long day, and didn't get through enough work, so will have to start early tomorrow. Finished late, and as I was walking through the car park, realised I hadn't sent an e-mail, so came home and logged back on to send it. Another wet and windy day, by the time it dried up after 6, I didn't have the energy to walk. Nipped to ratty neighbours to swap some wax melt liners for some wax melts (showed her my new ones, and she ended up going to the candle shop today and buying some!), and got chatting, then friend rang, she's had a reaction to some dental treatment, and has to go in hospital for an IV antibiotic drip, so needed the spare key, so at least I got some exercise. Have offered to do some errands if she needs me too.
Morning!Sister's symptoms didn't worsen and today she tested negative. Still needs another negative tomorrow before she'll go out. We tested and both negative so that's good, and it was great to see friends again at the cake club, to which I took a batch of jam tarts, with home made raspberry jam (home grown rasps too).
A bit more gardening today, as the weather's a little improved. I'm a fair-weather gardener these days.
yes, I allowed a hail storm to drive me in to catch up on paperwork today
Evening, what a day. Set the wrong alarm, so didn't get to work quite as early as planned, and had to scrape the car as well, plus stop on the lane for a deer to decide to move! Got the last of the info I needed at 10.20 this morning, so got the deadline submitted at 11.35. Luckily as it was a sunny day, I got to walk round the fishing lodge, took my goose food, they were swimming, but after shaking the bag for a bit, they decided to come and investigate! Downside was I decided to leave my coat in the car as it was sunny, and it started hailstone at 3! Luckily I needed to do some extra work, so waited till it stopped, went to Morrisons to find the petrol station was closed as they had no petrol or diesel, by the time I got to the retail park, it was hailstone again! Picked up my new bedding, but not as impressed with the quality. Glad it is the weekend now and two short weeksGlad your sister wasn't too poorly Kath and that you have tested negative. Glad you had a good time at cake club
Hope you weren't really low on petrol - that could be a problem.
Morning. gosh, petrol shortages. Like the old days. Sister tested negative for a second time so she's coming to tea on Sunday. She should be back at work (a school) on Monday but it's the Easter Hols now. She hates the holidays, which I put down to her having no hobbies - at all. I don't have time to cram all mine in! She's been in front of daytime television all week. Not good. I fear for her when she's forced to retire. She's already 70 so it can't go on.
Take care, everyone.
Evening, had a few things to do today, went to coffee shop and got my carrot cake blondie, decided to go to Food Fayre, it was very boring, only came home with fudge. I did nip in a couple of shops while I was in town though, still struggling to find walking sandals, as I want to try them first. When I came home I had to drop something off at my friends, and get some milk (and more wax melts), and got caught in 2 mins of hailstone, it's been a lovely day otherwise. Luckily Alicia, I like to fill up when I get down to a 1/4 of a tank, I'll try again after work on Mon, if not, I'll have to go to the more expensive petrol station. I used to hate holidays Kath (in fact I struggle to take mine, as I don't like more than a day unless I'm actually going somewhere, so might not be to do with lack of hobbies, I was like that even when doing full on volunteering).
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Been out for another bag of compost. Pleased to say the palms are starting to show some pleating in the shoot, so I can see what the first leaf will look like, I know, because I've googled them but it's nice to see them evolving on my windowsill.