Planning Ahead?

Do you know what day it is? I'm finding that every day feels exactly the same as the one before and I'm losing the plot! I write all appointments and events down on the calendar so that nothing is forgotten. It will soon be June 1st and what exciting events do we have?

Oh... Well what about July then?....

Zilch, nada, nothing. Blimey our twilight years are sailing by on a sea of boredom. I must get my ass into gear and make PLANS. I don't know what plans yet but they might include puncturing a certain outdoor jacuzzi 😂😁🎶  There were more visitors there yesterday: 3 women and later on a man came to pick them up. It finally went quiet somewhere between 8 - 8.30pm.  Thankfully the music was on quietly, it was voices we could hear and squeals from water play.  I never thought I would pray for a wet Summer..... until now.  It's sunny again today...…..

As I'm feeling all cooked out and totally bored with menu planning on limited supplies, I have taken to ordering two ready meals each time I get lucky with a food delivery slot. This is what I got this time: a meaty meal for G and a veggie one for me. Ping cuisine at its best 👍 so no cooking today!

Oh, and a lemon meringue pie to have afterwards with a good dollop of vanilla ice cream. I'm not going to worry about calories because I have lost 8lbs in weight over the last month due to my IBS anyway.

My blood tests BTW came back clear. Kidneys, liver, thyroid and full blood count all normal so I need to battle on and sort myself out. I have cut down my consumption of dairy quite a bit, cut out sugary things (in the main) and I drink very little alcohol, coffee nor eat much spicy food. The main problem is in trying to control my stress response which is easier said than done when I can't even sit outside and read quietly.

There is no way we will be planning a holiday this year so I need to get my thinking cap on regarding planning pleasant things to do in the near future.

Do you have things planned?  Will you be risking a holiday?

Gratitudes

For 'ping cuisine' today, so no actual cooking required

For feeling marginally better so that I actually *want* to plan ahead

For the majority of caring, unselfish people who stick to the rules no matter what

Stay safe, wherever in the world you happen to be x

Rules? What Rules?

The lockdown restrictions in the UK are to start being lifted on Monday with more people being allowed to meet in a public place while still keeping 2 metres apart. This worries me.  I know that the rules will be flouted because they already are.  Our next door neighbours have been having house guests for weeks.  The day before yesterday was the third small party this month.  Each time, their patio doors are open wide, music is played at full blast whilst they sit in the jacuzzi, then they all go indoors to eat, rinse and repeat until around 7.30pm.  As our house is small with a tiny garden we find that the music is as loud in our garden as it is in theirs and so we can't open our own patio doors until the guests have gone home.  On the previous occasion, the 76 yr old grandma collected the baby girl in the morning and took her off in the car until the evening.  The young woman living next door then collected a friend who spent the afternoon there and then drove her home again.  Social distancing?

When I heard the Jacuzzi pump again yesterday and saw a car load of food shopping going in to the house, my heart sank.  Then a woman and 2 little girls arrived.  I saw the boyfriend preparing to drive off (which he usually does because he hates these parties) I nabbed him and asked if his girlfriend intended to have music again because if so could she please keep it down.  He was very apologetic and went back in to make my feelings known.  There was music... but on a more tolerable level from around 2pm until 6.30pm 'ish.  I know this post makes it sound as if I'm a curtain twitcher but my kitchen is at the front of the house so I see lots of things going on without trying!  It's warm and sunny again today.....heaven help us....

A certain Mr Cummings hasn't helped matters...

Are you seeing people disregarding the lockdown rules?  Are you worried about a second spike in infection?

Changing the subject completely, G has treated me to new tablet computer as my old one is on it's last legs.  It's lovely apart from the fact I can't seem to upload any photos from it :/   I'm a complete technophobe so the solution is probably staring me in the face. Anyway, that's the reason my posts have been completely devoid of photos of late.  I'll have to upload some from my phone instead.

I'll be back soon.  Stay safe everyone wherever in the world you happen to be x

Mental Health Awareness Week....Kindness

Who would have guessed that one simple word ' Help' on my last blog post would have brought out so many kind people to offer suggestions, tried and trusted remedies and just plain sympathy for my situation.  Heartfelt thanks go to all of you who responded with alacrity ((HUGS)) to you all.

Today is the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week and the byword is KINDNESS.
We all need it, especially now with the current situation.  We need it and we need to pass it on to others. Bloggy friends share it in bucket loads, thanks so much!  I found it again on Friday when I couldn't bear feeling so ill any longer and yet again rang the GP's surgery.  This time a wonderful kind, caring and competent lady GP took me seriously.  She listened carefully and decided to get some extensive blood tests done as well as another poo test (yuk!) in order to rule out anything 'nasty' (her words, not mine) as well as prescribing some hydro cortisone ointment containing a little anaesthetic to put on the sore bits. After just a few days I feel somewhat more comfortable at last and can at least sit on a pillow! My blood test is booked for tomorrow morning.  Only one local hospital is doing it to try to limit the risk of Covid and I have an exact time to go to limit exposure.

To try to calm down my IBS I refuse to watch / read about the virus during the day, limiting my interest to the 5pm DOOM bulletin.  I dare not turn on the radio either so am listening to music on U-toob on my tablet.  On there I found Stjepan Hauser who plays cello so beautifully and with such feeling it takes my breath away.  Do try to find him....

This morning I can hear that the builders are back on site and the banging and hammering are such welcome sounds after 2 months of silence.

Are there signs of things returning to normal where you are?

Gratitudes

For the sounds of normality at last to break the alien silence we have endured

For being able to sit at the computer long enough to catch up blog reading and emails

For ALL the kind people in the world.  God bless you all x

Stay safe everyone wherever in the world you happen to be x

Growing Food!

As yesterday was such a mild sunny day with rain forecast for later in the week, I went with G to the allotment for an hour of fresh air and exercise after lunch.  I was amazed at how things are putting on growth spurts.

The strawberries have flowers on them ....

The potatoes are showing.....

The broad beans and cabbages have also had a growth spurt......

The 'test' carrots are showing and the leeks are planted in the raised bed...….

G has erected a trellis and a wigwam of canes which will be used to grow beans and peas.  3 bean plants have been put in already as a trial.  As this is a new (to us)  plot everything is trial and error.  I am a complete novice and G far from expert in the matters of fruit and veg growing.  We will have to make copious notes regarding successes or otherwise so that we know what to grow next year....

One mistake we have already made is with my grape vine.  We are not sure where to site it so have left it in it's pot for now.  G put some manure on the surface then read that manure should not be used ...ooops....we'll see what happens.....

I must admit that just a short time spent earthing up the spuds and watering made me feel much better and a bit more relaxed.  I did, however, still feel guilty leaving the house.

We woke up this morning to gentle rain falling and it's still raining now.  It will do the garden and allotment a power of good.

Gratitudes

For the bin men collecting the refuse this morning but waiting until I was awake before clattering their way down the street ;)

For being able to video call DD and family last night and seeing for myself that they are all still well, happy and bouncy :)

For Boris being well enough to get back to work and show us that it is possible to survive this awful virus

What are you grateful for today?

Stay safe wherever in the world you happen to be x

A Thank You, The NHS & The Allotment

Happy St George's Day!

Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my last post with tips and remedies to help with my cystitis episode.  It's always so much more helpful to hear of other peoples' experiences.  I know one thing:  it has made me a little scared to become ill at the moment.  To know that I had to rely on the 'Chinese Whispers' passed on by the medical receptionist and not to speak directly to either GP or nurse has worried me. I was born in 1949 and have known the comfort of the NHS all my life.  They coped with my childhood illnesses (of which there were many) my tonsil removal, my adult fevers, pregnancies, childbirth in hospital, my own children's ailments and those of my grandchildren with such care and smiling good grace so that now I feel sidelined at 70 and quite set adrift.

I remember my childhood GP 'dropping in' at home to see if I was recovering from yet another ear infection.  He would pick up the doorstep milk and bring it indoors for my mother, sit me on his knee and examine my ears gently.  He once held me when my baby brother and I both had Whooping Cough and we began coughing and retching at the same time.  Does anyone else have similar memories of home visits?

Anyway, thanks to my blogging friends I now have some Cystitis sachets in the house and some cranberry tablets on their way in the post.  I'm making sure I drink plenty of water too.  I dread another episode....

Now that we are unable to go out to buy gardening stuff like plants and compost let alone gravel for borders or stone for paths, we are concentrating on growing what we can to eat at home as well as at the allotment.  Just before lockdown we had ordered a mini greenhouse which was delivered a few weeks ago.  We decided to use it to grow some tomatoes......

If we are prevented from visiting the allotment at any stage, then we will have a small amount of home grown crops to eat.  As you can see G is starting off other seeds in there as well....

We brought our strawberry trough with us from our last home and the plants are doing really well.  The trough has a clear plastic lid to cover them up at night and keep in the warmth too.....

The Allotment

This shot shows the length of the plot rather well and how G has tidied it all up in a very short time ready to plant......

 We brought the old mini greenhouse from our last home to use to protect some seedlings now and G's beloved Canna plant over winter......

We have broad beans and cabbage under netting and some carrots, spinach and leeks in another bed....

At the very end of our plot I was delighted to find some strawberry plants!  I gave them some tlc and lots of water.  I have no idea of the variety, only time will tell...

G has tootled off to the allotment this afternoon for his daily exercise leaving me to blog and have a peaceful reading session.  I'll go with him in a day or two and take some more photos.  I'm sure we will see a big difference in the plants since these photos were taken two or three weeks ago.

Are you spending more time in your garden now?

Stay safe wherever in the world you happen to be x

A Good Result & A Trauma

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post regarding the M & S food box delivery.  Your comments gave me the courage to do something about it.  After jumping through a good many hoops, including doing online 'chat' with an adviser, I obtained the customer service email address and sent off a (polite) complaint including a photograph of the damaged goods.  To give M & S their due, within 24 hours I had received a sincere apology as well as a £10 e-gift card to be used against a future purchase.  They have also promised to refund the £3.99 delivery charge.

Yesterday, I fished out the tin of corned beef to make G some sandwiches and found that the 'button' at the base of the tin can be depressed quite easily so the tin isn't sealed properly.  I dare not use it.....so another email has been sent because if it's a manufacturing problem they need to be aware of it.  It could be dangerous to eat it surely?

In the end we ate the M & S baked beans with chips for lunch, then I got out the bread maker and baked a small loaf to have with soup at teatime.  I ate the first (beautifully crusty) slice with a tin of Weight Watchers tomato soup and G had some bread with a tin of Country Veg Soup. Delicious, although I can't imagine that my WW soup has made much difference to the weight gained during lockdown....lol...

I had a bit of a trauma at the end of last week.  For the first time in my life I developed what I imagined to be cystitis ie going for a pee every half an hour and with accompanying stinging and irritation. I put up with it for 3 days then couldn't cope any longer.  I got through to the GP's surgery easily enough and, after explaining my concerns to the receptionist, was told to come to their surgery door, ring the bell and wait.  This I duly did and was given a small plastic container and instructed to provide a sample the next morning and post it through their letterbox.  I noticed on the accompanying letter that some of the symptoms had not been written down so I added them myself and popped the sample through the letterbox as instructed at 8.30am.  I waited and waited (in excruciating discomfort and extreme irritability...ask G!) then gave up and phoned for the result just before noon.  No...it hadn't been examined by the nurse yet.  I rang at 2pm.....not yet....but they will ring to discuss the result.  By 4.30pm I was afraid that the pharmacy would be closed and I would be suffering/ worrying for yet another day.  I rang again and was told that blah...blah...blah...(didn't understand a word) protein in my sample and tablets were at the pharmacy.  I made a quick dash to the village to get them.  It was really weird driving even that short distance.  I felt really guilty and kept expecting someone to stop me and ask why I was even out of the house.   Anyway, the pharmacist was really kind and explained that the tablets were antibiotics, just 3 days supply.  I assume I had cystitis and I know that GP's are so very busy at the moment but it would have been comforting to have someone explain what was wrong with me.  The tablets appear to have worked although they did upset my tummy a bit and I was dashing to the loo for another reason :/

 Anyway, does anyone have any tips to help prevent cystitis please?  I put it down to forgetting to drink during these weird days.

Gratitudes

For antibiotics when needed

For the recycling being collected again this morning (even though I had to chase my green bag down the deserted street before it disappeared entirely from sight...lol...)

For the refuse collectors who I can hear bashing their way down the street emptying the bins right now!

Stay safe wherever in the world you happen to be x

M & S Food Box Review

Last week I ordered an M & S food box online for delivery today.  Shortly after 9am there was a knock on the door and my box was on the mat.  The DPD delivery driver, Simon, was at a safe distance back at the van and after a cheery " alright Bab? " drove off to his next delivery.

The box looked exciting....

This is what I received......

Instead of the veg curry I was hoping for I got chicken pie filling, the tinned ham turned out to be corned beef and the veg soup was chicken and noodle.  So not much for me to eat there. There is, however, tinned salmon which I can eat, some peanuts for protein, and lots of sweet treats ;)

The tinned tomato soup was badly dented (we can have that for lunch today) but I was disappointed to find that almost every tin has a dent somewhere, luckily not the salmon though, so they will have to be used up sooner rather than later for safety reasons.  It's not what I would expect from M & S food.....

I'm thinking:

Pasta bake 

Quorn bolognese

Steak & Kidney with potatoes & veg (half the tin) for G

Steak & Kidney on a jacket potato (half the tin) for G

Chicken pie (if I can get ready made pastry at some point)

Salmon with parsley sauce, mash & veg

Lunches:

Beans on toast

Corned beef sandwiches

Tomato soup

The box cost £38.99 including delivery so not really very good value.  Having said that, we did get tea, coffee and the rare toilet rolls!  In comparison to my Morrisons box it can't compete for value especially in view of the dented tins though.  I won't be ordering again.

Have you tried one of these boxes? How did yours compare with mine?

Gratitudes

For being able to get food of any kind delivered to the door

For the whole street coming out to clap at 8pm yet again last night

For feeling a bit more cheerful this morning despite the announcement of a further 3 weeks lockdown  :)

Stay safe everyone wherever in the world you happen to be x