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Evening, another quiet day at work, but yet again, got slightly tricky things. Apparently next week when my buddy is back, I'll get shown how to deal with other parts of the job. Dry today, so got a wash load done and pegged out, then went for a walk after work, not much wildlife, but got to stroke two dogs, a whippet who'd been attacked by a cat on his walk last week, and a husky/german shepherd cross pup, who was stunning! Today is day 100 of consecutively hitting my step count, I've now set myself a new target of 120, even though that likely means I'll keep getting wet! Fingers crossed they can find something to help Alicia.
Thanks - it's not as if they don't have enough cases to study; but research takes time EVEN if people are miserable/dying while waiting for the results.The deniers - among the population at large AND the medical professionals (it either doesn't exist or is a big plot) depress me. And when they control the funding, even more.
Your walks are cheering - a hundred days is a huge achievement. I'm sure there were days you would have rather read a book, but persevered.
I suppose they have to be thorough rather than rush and it not be right. Yes, the days where I got soaking wet, I did wonder how crazy I was! It has been very good mentally though, and while it might have been better for my physically to do more power walking, I wanted to be able to enjoy the lovely nature, last time I went on a power walking mission, I realised I was missing things.
Evening, had a rubbish night sleep. feeling rather headachy now. Was grateful for a quiet day at work, even if yet again, I got unusual things! Dry today, so did a quick walk round the park at lunch, then after work went and used my Lidl vouchers. Was my injection day today, despite mentally going through how to use it, I still injected my thumb! More annoyed because I was doing well at reducing my meds, and my next one will be delayed by 2 days because I'll be in Jersey, so better not try going to the next step of reducing meds!
All those things in flux - a lot to deal with.I understand about the sleep - haven't slept more than 3 hours at a stretch (and that only twice) in over a year. It gets wearisome.
Evening, another happy Friday. Got paid more than I expected, and can't work out the holiday pay, my first 4 day week I accrued 3.33 days, this week, after 9 working days I have 8.01! Won't complain, will get more for my week off than I expected. Had a couple of interesting chats with my line manager, this morning she told me that she'd been talking to the two managers above her at the event yesterday and they were all impressed that I'd picked it up enough to be left alone, and she was actually expecting me to contact her more than the once I did (I did deliberately leave the one I knew was tricky till today, so made up for it today!). Then this afternoon she told me I was doing amazingly well, and that yesterday they had asked if she wanted to keep me, she said she would, but she knows the library is my dream job, so the bonus is I can stay as long as it takes. She also said that if I get an interview, I will be able to do it in works time and get paid, as it's a council job, their priority is getting people in the right job, not just having a job. She also said they aren't used to such good people through the agency. Went to the coffee shop at lunch for a treat, and had a lovely chat about books/libraries with her and the new woman. Went for a walk after work, went through the nature reserve, on the way back bumped into a couple, one had binoculars and the other a camera, so asked if they'd seen much, turns out they are also people who post on the local wildlife group and I was only admiring her niece's picture earlier, so had a lovely chat, then ended up walking back to the ice cream shop with them.
Nice to be appreciated and to be able to contribute right away, and they have a lovely attitude if you can interview during work hours, and stay as long as you like. I don't remember hearing of something that flexible before.
Evening, another miserable day, I decided to go for a walk to the bird hide anyway, got part way there and my tracker said it had a low battery, so I was debating, then my headphones said they had a low battery (headphones died quicker than the tracker), so decided that was a sign to just do a quick nature reserve circuit, which wasn't enough to hit my step count, but have done since. I bumped into two people on the way there, neither had dogs, so had the 'we must be bonkers coming out in this' chat, and actually bumped into a pair of dog walkers on the way back and commented they were the first I'd seen! We've actually had so much rain that bits that were bone dry when I went after work last night were wet today and I actually had to walk a different way home, as the usual path was slightly flooded, and the bit of my walking boots where the laces are aren't waterproof I found out today! Not much wildlife, although did see a young deer in a field I've never seen deer, sadly it wasn't sure about me, so did turn and run when it realised I'd seen it. Got home and showered, as I was going out for tea with C, decided to do a few chores and chill, one of the neighbours text me as she's away but saw a notification that a parcel had been left, I went up and discovered it in the plastic bin, so she asked me to take it in, and told me I'm the best neighbour in the world, doing very well this week for compliments! Had a nice tea, then did a quick trip to B & M and Morrisons, pretty much just got treat things.Sorry Alicia, forgot to respond about your sleep comment, that must be hard, at least mine does seem to be getting better, even with stopping my supplement. It was a nice confidence boost. I can only interview during work hours as it's the same employer, just a different department, if I get an interview for a university library, it would be unpaid.
Glad to hear you getting your step count - how long's the streak now?Hope you get the permanent job you want, but this one still sounds very nice.
Sleep and other little details work nicely to make the fiction realistic - I don't make a big deal of any of it, but it's there, in the background - readers pick it up along with the more important plot bits.
It's been seriously wet these last few days Desley, glad you're still getting the walks in :-)
Isn't strange for a relatively small country how varied the weather can be? We haven't had any proper rain for weeks now. Still not very warm though
That's one of the things about Desley's walks: you get the variability of the weather, the times the water was so low in a lake you could see things that rarely showed, the sense of weather out of pattern this year compared to last... And the temperature and rainfall not being itself.
Alicia wrote: "That's one of the things about Desley's walks: you get the variability of the weather, the times the water was so low in a lake you could see things that rarely showed, the sense of weather out of ..."I'll post more later, but I've just done a little stretch of the canal that was low on Friday, and is now on the verge of overflowing! That shows how much rain we've had in less than 48 hours!!
Evening, had a bad night sleep, so that combined with the wet weather made it hard to find the inclination to leave, but fortunately between having to go to G's to open and shut her curtains, and the fact there was a summer fair I wanted to go to, I found some. At least the rain wasn't as heavy as yesterday, and not as windy, although it did start getting worse around 6pm. Had a nice chat with G's neighbour, then went to the fair, which apart from a few stalls was all inside fortunately, bumped into another friend and had a chat, and did buy a few things, I was glad the jam stall was there again, tried something new this time, and came home with cake. Then still needed to do 3k steps, so did a short stretch of the canal, then nipped in Co-op. Started off being pleasantly surprised that a bit of the canal that was low on Fri is higher than normal, then got a bit further and the overflow was gushing out, and there are a couple of bits that look on the verge of overflowing, although luckily checking online, it's fallen since I saw it, although still just above what it should be. Had a bit of a chill afternoon, got round to cropping pics, so will post those, there are a few! And one of the local wildlife photographers, who I think has a badger cam, shared a pic of a badger and a fox that look very close to each other, which has surprised me. Glad to see badger pics though, not seen any for ages. Oh, today is day 104 Alicia. Thanks Jim, it's been hard! It certainly is R, think the weirdest weather situation I've had was going to a different branch of the vet on Sat morning, it's a 14 mile round trip, left in rain, it turned to snow as I got up the hill, then got a bit of a white out, as I went down the other side of the hill it was blue skies and no sign they'd had any rain!
Blurry kingfisher, trying to zoom in! https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...Chunky fish in the canal https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
table at craft stall https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Deer family https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Heron in stream through nature reserve https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Llama in field! https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Moorhen chick https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Toadling https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Wouldn't have known a moorhen was waterfowl if you hadn't posted the picture - 'hen' means something like a chicken or a peacock to me, and neither of them float.Learn something new every day.
Nice picture of Lucy, even if she's not happy with you. The toadling was harder. Llamas have been taken many places around the world, but they've never escaped and gone feral that I know - I look at them and think how poorly I'd do if I were outside all day, woolly coat or not.
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Isn't strange for a relatively small country how varied the weather can be? We haven't had any proper rain for weeks now. Still not very warm though"Yes talking to my daughter who is perhaps twenty miles from you, she had wet days when we had fine ones, and even then her wet days weren't what she, as a Cumbrian, would call wet :-)
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Oh, today is day 104 Alicia. Thanks Jim, it's been hard! It certainly is R, think the weirdest weather situation I've had was going to a different branch of the vet on Sat morning, it's a 14 mile round trip, left in rain, it turned to snow as I got up the hill, then got a bit of a white out, as I went down the other side of the hill it was blue skies and no sign they'd had any rain!.."
People who haven't lived here don't realise how variable British weather can be. :-)
We haven't had snow, but we did have hail on Friday
You're right - I never realized there was that much - has it always been that way, or is it better/worse with global climate change now?
Evening, was shocked when I got up this morning and it was dry, and actually needed sunglasses walking down to work, it was that bright! Tomorrow only has a 56% chance of rain. All the team was in today, I got shown a couple of new things that are a lot quicker and more straightforward than what I've been doing. Did two colour diagonal nails last night, someone complimented me on them in the lift, I said that I need to use guides next time as they aren't straight, she was shocked when she realised I did them myself, she said they looked like they'd been done by a professional! Met ex friend M for a coffee at lunch, was nice to have a catch up with her. Had to go and get cat litter after work, was nice going to my favourite retail park, as I rarely go now I have a bigger B and M across from where I park. Neighbour came round for her parcel, and brought me some chocs as a thank you, she was really concerned in case she'd picked something I didn't like, and actually got my favourites - she did seem unsure, like I was just being polite, but I convinced her! Then I thought Lucy was sat in an odd position, asked her if she was OK and she winked at me!! Glad you liked the pics Alicia, never thought of the oddness of the name Moorhen, I always find cygnets a strange term, especially when you think of what we call other baby birds! No, the llama's aren't feral, they are kind of in a farm, not quite sure how they get so far over on the hill though. I never walk that far up, but there are also alpaca's going towards the Yorkshire border, I just find it so random, and given how wet it is round here, can't imagine it is pleasant for them most of the time with those thick coats. Hail is impressive in July!! I would say worse Alicia, but think Jim would be the best placed to answer that.
I always remember that The Ugly Duckling is a cygnet.They are a little awkward as babies.
Cygnets certainly are awkward, they can't walk very well as babies, they stumble a bit and flop, but then I have seen the parents also get fed up of walking and just flop down!
Alicia wrote: "You're right - I never realized there was that much - has it always been that way, or is it better/worse with global climate change now?"No it's geography that causes it. We are an Atlantic coast, so we get an Atlantic weather pattern not a continental pattern. But the continental stuff can creep in to us occasionally, (so we can get Saharan sand on cars in Cumbria which I remember from being a child)
Then we have the mountain backbone, the Pennines. Which everybody sneers at but actually if you follow the lines of Longitude they're the only mountains between the American coast and the Urals
So they have quite an impact on the weather
Then we have other geography which impacts on stuff, so the Mountains of Wales, Scotland, the Lake District. All do things to the wind which is predominantly westerly
And then you have major cities like London, because it gives off so much heat, it causes air to rise, and from a metrological viewpoint it's virtually a mountain in that the air rises as it goes over it and it has a rain shadow etc
I'm overwhelmed by California weather, including drought and atmospheric rivers leading to intense flooding this spring. You have detailed YOUR weather nicely.I don't have the bandwidth!
But I knew that your island and North Atlantic location gave you unique patterns - from geography in school in the 1960s in Mexico.
Plus everything is getting worse from all of us humans.
As I told the husband the other day, I did not plan to be part of the last generation of humans! Hope not - I have kids.
Meanwhile, I do the little things, like turn the water off when brushing my teeth...
Yes the central mountains make a big difference in Scotland too, when all the weather arrives over the Atlantic and hits the west coast first - Glen Etive gets 3300mm rainfall annually and my corner on the east coast about 700mm. Which lies not far out of the semi-arid definition!
Evening all, another day without getting wet! Supposed to rain tomorrow, which is a shame as I have a few washloads to do this week! Got one on now in the hope I can get it pegged out around the rain. Boss said this afternoon that I'll carry on doing what I've been doing for the rest of the week, then after my hol I'll get shown the final procedure. One of the local wildlife photographers, who I think is the one with a badger cam, has posted some really cute badger pics, I doubt I'll manage to see one in the flesh, so grateful he share's them. Seems the cormorant has been around again today, not seen one for a while. That's really interesting Jim, especially being so close to the Pennines, I just know how much they affect radio signals in my house/village!
I remember learning all the mountain chains in Europe as part of geography (5th grade?) - and the Pennines. Your island is NOT flat.
No, it certainly isn't flat Alicia! I don't think there is a walk in my village I can do that doesn't involve some kind of slope
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Yes the central mountains make a big difference in Scotland too, when all the weather arrives over the Atlantic and hits the west coast first - Glen Etive gets 3300mm rainfall annually and my corner on the east coast about 700mm. Which lies not far out of the semi-arid definition!..."
Yes there are areas of the SE of England that in some years get less rain than Jerusalem :-)
The East side generally is drier but some is an awful lot drier
Yew
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "That's really interesting Jim, especially being so close to the Pennines, I just know how much they affect radio signals in my house/village!..."Yes it's one reason why we have so many places with no signal for mobiles etc. And as you say, there are problems with radio signals, some people struggle to get broadcast TV etc
Alicia wrote: "I remember learning all the mountain chains in Europe as part of geography (5th grade?) - and the Pennines. Your island is NOT flat."Yes it has to be said that there are no vast areas of plain. You get some parts of the east where there is more 'level' ground, but they are remembered as the exceptions. Cambridgeshire is the flattest county and they always talk about 'the big skies'
But funnily enough, living on the edge of Morecambe Bay we also get big skies even through the land isn't all that flat :-)
They are going to fix long covid, and it will help the ME people, and I am going to get a chance to hike all these lovely places, or else!
Evening, it stayed dry till 4pm today, so at least I got a washload pegged out and dry. Got more unusual things to deal with at work, certainly getting a variety and learning stuff that other people didn't have to deal with for months! Checked one thing with a colleague, and she was all 'oh, bet you wish that happened when we were all in the office', so I said 'no, just glad it was something new to learn', so she said if I could deal with that calmly, nothing would faze me! Most of it is just common sense or similar to I'm used to. Someone has posted some amazing pics of a red deer stag, he has amazing antlers, they were very pale in some of the pics. Did a quick walk in the rain after work, did the same stretch of canal that I did on Sun, and amazed at how well it's gone down after just two and a half dry days. There were some new llamas in the field, they looked younger than the others, their coat wasn't as thick and they were a bit frolicky. Ah, we live on the wrong side of the country Jim!! Maybe R is on the right side of the country. I do hope they do Alicia.
Evening, a bit drizzly during the day, but stayed dry for my after work walk. Nipped to the library at lunch to print off my boarding pass, I was able to log in the public wi-fi and just send it straight to the printer, seemed quite straight forward. Bit quieter at work, did still have some questions I'd not been asked before, I really am finding all the awkward ones from the beginning! Someone posted pics of short eared owls today that are fairly local, I knew we had owls, but didn't realise there was at least two different kinds. Walked the long way to Lidl along the canal, they are really motoring with the site, and it looks even worse to me. Did get me thinking that I haven't seen the two pairs of geese that are normally along there, they were normally found before where the site clearance is, so not sure that's affected them, but did see the heron again, don't remember seeing the heron on that stretch before the site clearance, it is a shame the deer have lost their field though. Also got to fuss two cute chihuahua puppies.
Amazing how many different animals you can see on your walks.
I don't see anywhere near the amount the photographers do, the bloke who mainly shares deer pics apparently spends hours out, so understandable! Also just realised I haven't seen any kingfisher pics this week. I did see a couple of the tiny fish in the canal, when I say tiny fish, they aren't even as long as the fins on the chunky fish pic I shared.
Evening, mainly dry today, so got another washload dry, let's just hope I can get tomorrow's dried outside. Had more new things today, one finally hurt my brain! Decided to treat myself to drink and toastie from coffee shop at lunch. Just did a walk partway through the nature reserve after work, no real nature, but there was a lot of trees down and damaged fences, not sure what has gone on there. Did forget to say yesterday that ratty neighbour got 3 new rats at the weekend, she brought one round for me to meet yesterday, he's very friendly to say he's come from a hoarder situation.
Evening, pretty much a warm dry day, apart from a random 10 mins when I went to the vet - it's only 3 miles, but it does involve crossing the Yorkshire border and just as I did that, it started raining! Luckily there was a queue in the vet (poor German couple on holiday ended up with a trip to the vets with their dog!), so by the time I left, it was dry again. Bit of shopping while I was out, then went up to the bird hide - it was 18 and warm in the car, so I got home and swapped to my walking sandals to go up there, part way through I realised how bad that path had been last week, but luckily it was pretty much bone dry again. Lake was the highest I've seen it for months, no idea where the deer are going to live, where they have been is now back under water, must be confusing for the fawns. When I got to the bird hide, I realised why there had been a lack of photos, the island the birds like to sit on is completely submerged, and the water is closer to the bird hide than it has been. Was just about to give up when the swans came from a direction I've never seen them (probably because there hasn't been water there before!), so fed them, but they seemed really hungry, one of the parents got uncomfortably close! I'm not as wary of swans as I am geese, but a few people have told me they can be just as nasty. At least this time the cygnet got food. The ducks also seemed hungry, they weren't bothered by the swans, which is unusual. Managed to get my last washload done, which is some clothes I need to pack, so got a nice pile on the sofa, I feel like I've forgotten something off my list of things I need to pack.
There was an article on King Charles' swans in the New York Times a couple of days ago - their numbers are way down. Always interesting to add the the store of information about traditions.
Evening, that was a long day! We had another craft fair today, it was on 10-4, but we obviously had to get there early to set up, so had to leave the house at 8, I got partway there when I realised I'd forgotten something, so had to go back home! The fair was a summer fair for a local cat rescue, so happily spent some money. Also came home with carrot cake. We had a better day, took £28.50, which covered the cost of the table and some profit. She gave me some irish cream wax melts free, they are rather nice. Got back just before 5, fed the cats, then had to go and hit my step count, it started raining after I'd been out 5 mins, so I just did a quick canal walk and got home with 300 steps left to do, glad I did as it's been getting heavier since!
What did you make for the craft fair? What a lovely purpose - there is always a need.
It's my friend A who makes wax melts, I just go to keep her company. The only downside is going to them is costing me money, and I won't be able to resist coming home with wax melts when she changes from the summer scents to the autumn scents, I'll need some of the summer ones, and some of the autumn ones!
Evening, another wet and miserable day. Started the day sorting out litter trays and hoovering/sweeping/mopping floors ready for going away tomorrow, then had to force myself to go out for my walk, although it was windier than I had realised, so I couldn't force myself to go all the way to the bird hide, just a shorter circuit round the nature reserve, and still had to peel my wet clothes off. If August is as wet as July has been, I'll struggle through to day 120 (on day 112), and then give up. All packed, just need to finish my nails and then have an early night, need to get up at 5. Did have a bit of shock this pm, hadn't heard from G, left it till 3 then rang her, she'd forgotten I was away tomorrow and said 'what do you need me to do?' - she's catsitting, so was a bit concerned, so she had to pop round to go through the instructions I'd left, and she said she'd missed me while she was away, which I was touched about.
Glad you got the catsitting sorted out - a worry off the list.
Morning, yesterday was a long day, had to get up at 5am. Realised I'd booked the taxi to take me to the wrong terminal, but luckily it wasnt an issue. Did have a minor panic when i couldn't see my flight on the list, but by the time i got through security it was on the list. Had a nightmare at the gate, there was a problem with the biometrics, so we should have taken off at 8 and landed at 9.20, we flew at 9.30 and landed at 10.40! There is a tortoise trail, so we went to find a few of those, then went to my favourite garden centre for lunch and a mooch, before going to the zoo. I dont actually like zoos, but this is the Durrell conservation, so i can cope with one that has breeding programmes to prevent species becoming extinct. Also seemed quite fitting with all the wildlife I've seen this year. I actually found watching fruit bats and butterflies eating really fascinating. We had a bit of a storm last night, and weather forecast is rubbish today, so we are going food shopping, then a game afternoon.I wouldn't mind Alicia, but I knew G had put it on her calendar, and when she said she was having an extra couple of days away, I said at least we had Mon to go through the stuff! I did tell her I'd feed them before I left, she messaged me yesterday to say Lucy had left most of her supper, so she put her more down with meds in, I'd fed them and put meds in it, luckily she can have more than I give her!
After me banging on about how dry it is here, it's hardly stopped raining for the past week! Windy today too so that's me not going out to my beach hut for yet another day. Sales are well down on last year due to the number of missed days, although up until now that has mostly been down to high winds rather than rain. Frankly if it wasn't all still so leafy out there you'd think it was November. I've got some drawing to get on with so at least I won't be forced into doing some housework!Never been to Jersey Desley, although I have been to Guernsey. Got stuck for an extra day due to fog!
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "After me banging on about how dry it is here, it's hardly stopped raining for the past week! Windy today too so that's me not going out to my beach hut for yet another day. Sales are well down on l..."Talking to my daughter she has commented that this last week has been bad. Hopefully when the weather improves you get more people coming through
Glad you aren't forced to do housework, Rosemary! Too bad about the missed days - hope you can make some of it up.I'd love to see bats eating, too, Desley - am enjoying the wildlife photos very much. Some talented photographers there.
I keep seeing posts about things getting worse, Jim - it's scary.
Morning, we took advantage of dry weather yesterday and went to a local reservoir, at one point we saw 2 different kinds of cormorant, one was a pied cormorant, not seen one of those before, then we saw an egret. On the other part, we saw greylag geese, which are prettier than our Canadian geese, the ducks were slightly different to our mallards, then we saw a heron. Went to one of the museums, then just did food shopping and the local garden centre. So far, today's wildlife has consisted of a dead bird one of the cats brought in! Just about to have lunch, then going doing some shopping in town, and going out for tea. Sorry that the weather has stopped your sales R, though glad you haven't had to resort to housework. I've not made it to Guernsey yet. The bats ate upside down Alicia, and they were quite big, some of them had colouring and facial markings that reminded me of bears. One of the local wildlife photographers has had some recognition for a deer photo, he's only put it on his own page, he's called Andrew Lupton.
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And as far as the stairs, a step is a step for your count. Great idea.
I can't do those right now - when I get to the bottom I need my walker or Airwheel S8 - which I would have to drag down with me - but I'm still hoping all those researchers working on long covid will find something I can use to get better, and I'm only 73, and might be able to get something back once I can heal faster. I'm the OPTIMIST type.