Back Under House Arrest day 228

Work was ok, I had to do an hour in petrol, and managed to not cause chaos. My leg was playing up with the damp, also I've knocked off my pain meds as they were causing me gut problems. I think I'm going to have to just take them on work days. I had a couple of covidiots in this afternoon. Thinking it was funny to say that they had tested positive but ignoring it. I didn't rise to the bait. Once they'd gone I sanitised my hands and the whole area, just in case, I doubt they were but better safe than sorry. I think I handled it quite well, but it upset the ladies behind them, but I reassured them and gave them some hand sanitizer after they had put their shopping through. Honestly some people... People like that are part of the problem not the solution. I would rather do what it takes to try and end this pandemic ( like taking the tests we do, having a vaccine when available) I think some people need to get over themselves. 

Apart from that, I watched my online art class with Dyan when I got home. I have card orders to do tomorrow but will practice what I've learned Tuesday. 

Back Under House Arrest, days 226/227

Friday we walked into the village. We needed food for the weekend so rather than dragging it back with us from Arnold we shopped locally. It was a clear but crisp day for a walk and it certainly got my steps in. 

Other than that it was a quiet day. Kev needed a chill after work the day before, and I booked another online class with Dyan for Sunday night. I'm hoping we are at least on our way home when it starts. 

Saturday Kev was on his new job and in ahead of me at 8 am. So he had to get the bus at 6.30 am to get there on time. It did mean he was able to travel home with me, and we missed one Cotgrave, so we had a coffee from Starbucks to waste some time until the next bus came. You obviously can't sit in, but being able to grab a take out is better than the first lockdown when you couldn't get anything. The next bus arrived a bit early and it was one of the decent drivers who let us sit on the bus even while he went to grab a coffee himself. He was saying that he had only taken £14 on his rounds that shift, which is worrying, as that might mean they'll cull some buses on our route again... Oh joy!... 

I watched the Tim live class on the bus and finished watching it on the tv when we got home. He has certainly given me some ideas for cards in the future. 

Back Under House Arrest 224/225

Busy day on Wednesday. Bloke came to do the electricity check in the bungalow. Cheryl dropped off some cardstock for me, knowing how much I get through it is more than welcome. Sue and Pete came over for a socially distanced visit and before anyone starts screaming they are our bubble. We don't have anyone else we see during lockdown. It was lovely to see them, I miss our get-togethers, and I'm looking forward to Christmas. I never forget the many Christmases we spent on our own, it's lovely to have family to share that with once more.

Moving on to Thursday. Kev was at work until lunchtime. So I got up, exercised, and set to making tags and started the gift wrapping. I like to get in done when I'm in the mood, not when it's a chore. Tag making is always fun and I have to stop myself from making too many. 

The new curtain lights came last night and after much cursing because they were tangled Kev put them up. As it was dull and grey I put them on and sat happily working my way through my gift pile. Kev took over when he got home, doing the larger or awkward ones. We even watched Kirsty Allsop's Quick Christmas Crafts, I love her shows especially when they aren't just repeats of her older one's. This one was brand new. 

My new credit card came today, and I had a financial health check, so I've moved to a free account ( which saves me some money, and it's a rewards one so they pay me rather than me pay them. So sorted for whatever 2021 wants to throw at us... 

Back Under House Arrest days 232/233

Monday was a chill-out day after work. We had a lie in until 8.30am, and I did my yoga stretches ( I miss doing them when I'm at work) followed by the bike. I set to and caught up my pages in the dyalog. I made another couple of cards and wrapped a gift ready to go into the post ( it's one of my far flung ones so I wanted to make sure it went in plenty of time!)

In the afternoon I had a message on my banking app. Someone had registered a new device linking my credit card. I hadn't done this, so I rang immediately to sort it out. The good news is I keep my cards locked when not in use, so that's why the bank knew there was something amiss. They had requested a £120 withdrawal from my card which was refused so no money had been taken. It did mean however that my credit card details had been compromised, so they cancelled that card and are sending me another. That means both me and Kev have been targeted in the last month. My advice is keep tabs on your account and pay online with PayPal where possible. The last thing I paid for on my card was to Create and Craft, and the fraud guy on the phone said it would more than likely be the last transaction that would be where someone had gained the information... I tell you, it makes you paranoid. 

Today, Tuesday we walked into the village to pick up a

stamp set I'd ordered came, but I had to pick it up from the post office as there was duty to pay on it. Then we popped into town to do a shop. We weren't gone long. When we got back we started sorting out some of the decorations. Taking a few of the Halloween ones down and replacing them with Christmas ones. We still have a lot more to sort, but will do it gradually, over the next week.  Tonight we watched the Bake Off final, I think the winner was about the best of a mediocre bunch if I'm being honest. Then I'm a Celebrity was on which I'm really enjoying. 

Back Under House Arrest day 230/231

Another Saturday, another day at work, which was ok, I had to do an hour in petrol which wasn't bad as the one that doesn't like me wasn't in until it was time to go ( always a bonus)...

I have now finished my Christmas shopping officially, as I picked up the last thing I needed. All I need to do now is wrap and make tags, and my special cards... 

I was knackered and by ten pm I went to bed. I went out like a light and only woke when the alarm went off this morning. 

I was in petrol for the first hour and finally, I was given a proper high viz coat, I've ordered one on and off for 12 months, each time I went in to find it has been "acquired" by someone else...

Today, Louise gave me a new one! I shall wear it on my way to and from work too while it's dark.

A lovely thing happened while I was on the checkouts, one of my regular customers came to my till and we had the usual chat, she wanted to pay for her flowers separately, and when she had, she handed me them with the receipt and the flowers saying they were me because I was always so patient and nice to her. Tears came to my eyes as I thanked her, how lovely to be appreciated like that. It makes up all the horrible " covidiots" customers and those that think you are beneath them. I was touched. Bless her. I always make time for my older customers as I know that especially now cashiers and other shop floor workers are probably the only people they see or talk to all day, perhaps all week. But to be thanked for it like that is humbling. I just hope that if I'm still here at that age, someone is like that for me, but I doubt it, the next generation won't have time or respect for anyone, they don't have now so by that time they'll have spawned a lot more selfish, entitled, over-indulged kids. 

Back Under House Arrest day 229

Isn't the brain amazing? I never cease to be amazed how it stores and uses the information it's fed over time. Even after all this time, the events of 9-10 years ago get replayed and sorted via my dreams. It was probably one of the most unhappy periods of my life. Not the hardest, that came a year or so later. But, I was at my loneliest, lowest ebb, with no one to turn to, and no friends to speak of. Even now my mind sorts and stores and heals it all by giving me some closure in dreams. The thing is, now is the most peaceful and happy periods I've known. Despite the pandemic and lockdown crap. I have a few good friends, family and a couple of friends that feel like family. I saw a couple of quotes this week that resonated with me. One was by Kurt Cobain... It is better to be hated for who you are, than loved for who you are not. The other was just a quote... The people who bad mouth you for what you did to them, you did good things for at one point, but they won't mention that... 

Back Under House Arrest days 227/228

I've decided on our quieter days to combine my blogs to cover a couple of days unless something major happens. Yesterday we did the washing and I cleaned throughout. Once the chores were done I started to organise and sort my handmade cards for Christmas. I still need to make some. But I've done the ones for other people, so now I can do other things, like crackers and tags, and my special cards.

Apart from that, we haven't been up to much, just the usual day to day stuff in lockdown. 

We've only been watching I'm a celebrity and bake off this week ( on that note, who else was shocked that Hermine went and bloody Laura stayed? I've never seen anyone else make such a mess and get away with it! ) 

Back Under House Arrest days 225/226

Catching up with my blog from yesterday and today. We had a chill-out day yesterday and didn't get up until 9.30, but I was up at about 4 am for about an hour. 

So we got some craft-related chores done and my new Tim Holtz oxide colour came with my new stencils from Art from the heart. 

I'm enjoying the new I'm a Celebrity in Wales, I think it is better actually than it is in Australia, but I guess the contestants don't. It's in a castle in Wales, which looks well spooky! 

Today as obviously we can't meet Sue and Pete we went into town to get some shopping we needed. It was, go into three shops get what we were missing and come home, job done. And while I'm on the subject, there is nothing locked down about this lockdown there was still just as many people about, just all the shops, bars and restaurants closed. It's a strange one alright. Oh well, I'm sure they know what they are doing. 

Back Under House Arrest day 224.

Work was ok, busy because of the double up stunt running ( it finishes on the 17th, so they only have a small window to use their vouchers) that's why we did ours on Thursday. But apart from the few covidiots ( those who won't wear a mask, or wear it slung round their necks, or under their nose, or won't stand two metres from anyone), the majority of people were pleasant. 

I managed to sort out my hours for Christmas and that pesky training that I was struggling with. 

As usual on a Sunday we got home shattered. I was watching the Tim Holtz live and I could feel me shutting my eyes, which is always a double-edged sword as that means that I go to bed early and then I get up early or like now at stupid o'clock... Oh well, lazy crafting day on Monday methinks... 

Back Under House Arrest day 223

Another same old, same old day here. Quiet lockdown day spent making cards, cuddling Willow, and doing work-related training online. 

I woke this morning because I could hear the rain pelting the roof and hitting the drainpipe. 

At least that's one week of the four completed. 

It doesn't feel like the last lockdown, although people aren't moving far round here, it is hardly a bustling metropolis here in any case. The buses are quiet, but not as bad as they were last time. Town isn't as desolate as it was, although the time we go though it can be eerily empty. 

Back Under House Arrest day 221

Yesterday we took the two bus trip to Arnold to use our double- up vouchers. So that's all our wine got for Christmas, a couple of gifts ( I think I'm done now) I've just got wrap, make tags, finish cards and make crackers and money wallets. Should keep me busy for a couple of weeks. 

I was grateful to Julie Hunt at work who helped us suss out the scan and go ( it's only the second time we have used it and using vouchers for the first time can be a bit daunting to say the least) but we got there in the end. 

When we got back I had a message to say my DPD delivery had come, they'd taken a picture of it outside the door, trouble was it wasn't our door. As we had this issue with Amazon and DPD before I recognized the door, they taken it to no.2 Eastmoor. So I had to leg it down there and retrieve it. I got back and tried to ring them and they put the phone down on me. As you can imagine it won't end there, I have sent a strongly worded email in their direction. They probably won't even answer that... But it made me feel better... Good job I knew the door... Especially as it was one of Kev's gifts. I don't know, don't they have bloody GPS in those vans? 

Back Under House Arrest day 220.

Another quiet day here. Kev got the washing done, the new dryer takes an age compared to the old one. I would love to slap the person who broke the old one... You can have as many LED lights, bells and whistles as you want, but you can't call this an improvement on the bog-standard twist the knob and leave it be. I will give it six months before this one breaks. 

We watched the remembrance service on the Beeb ( you can't beat the BBC for that sort of thing!) Is it even a Royal Wedding if you don't watch it on the Beeb. Quite moving and eerie with their only being a few there. It was 100 years since they interred the unknown soldier. Shows you how poor our history lessons were on that period, I always thought that tomb was empty.

Back Under House Arrest day 219

Today has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. Kev's new Xbox series X wasn't coming, then it was. It did come early afternoon. I had my flu jab, and actually had a really nice nurse for once. 

Then this afternoon Kev got an email saying "thank you for logging on to online banking" which he hadn't, so he got in touch asap to the bank who locked down his account, so no money was taken. Cancelled his card and are sending a new one. Really strange, as the only shopping he had done was at the Co-op, and he hadn't bought anything online, really odd when you think about it. It happened to me once when we were in town, I'd paid for food in Squares and when I got home there was £50 pending on my phone for 02. As neither of us uses 02, I was immediately suspicious... I got my account locked down and they refused the £50... So be careful peeps, keep checking your accounts and lock your card ( if you can) I do it whenever I'm not using it, it might mean you can't use contactless on your first purchase but the peace of mind is worth it. 

 

Heading Back Under House Arrest days 184/5

Sunday 
Sunday 

Back Under House Arrest day 202

I was coming home from work tonight just as it was turning dusk, it had a bleak look that reminded me that as we are approaching Halloween, the time when the veil between the natural and supernatural gets thinner and 

Back Under House Arrest day 218

We had our usual Monday chill out day, but that doesn't mean we didn't do anything, I got cracking on making some Christmas cards, they were quite involved ones and took some time to assemble. I did my dyalog to bring it up to date, Kev was busy framing something for a friend. 

I also did my yoga ( I'm finding that I'm am slowly getting a little more flexible so have increased the amount of time I do them slightly, holding positions for longer etc) 

Perhaps because I had ten hours sleep last night, I'm struggling to sleep tonight, or it could be the antibiotics disturbing my natural rhythms. On that note, they've done the trick and the pain has now gone from my side. As much as I would rather cure myself there are times when only modern medicine will cure me and I'm glad I gave in and rang the doctors.

Back Under House Arrest 216/217

The antibiotics are kicking in and the pain is subsiding. I managed work ok, the odd twinge now and then, had an okay day really no major dramas, bad attitudes aside.

The fog never really lifted all day and it was miserable. I was glad when we got home and were able to cosy up. We had an early night, there was bugger all we wanted to watch and we are always tired on a Sunday because it is an early start for us ( we don't start early, just the buses means a 6.30 am get up in order to get into town. The life of a bus wanker... 

Back Under House Arrest days 214/215

Catching up on my blog for Friday and Saturday. Friday I gave in and called the doctor (at 8.30 am) I finally got a call back at 1.30pm. He prescribed antibiotics and have me a list of things to watch out for which could indicate things going awry.

He told me that he would pop the prescription next door to the pharmacy and to after 3pm as it was important to start the course asap. 

We walked into the village and to the hub where the doctors and pharmacy are. 

There was of course a queue, and when my time came I gave  my name and explained why I was there. ( I'd waited 20 mins at this point) Surprisingly there was no such prescription for me, the pharmacist rang the doctor and lo and behold he was able to pass on the script over the phone. I love it when a plan comes together. After a further 15 minutes wait I then had to pay £18.90 for a grand total of 10 tablets 5 of Metronidazole and 5 of Trimethoprim! Great! 

I started taking them straight away and although I still have some pain/ discomfort, I can feel it less. It's a weird pain, very much like stitch when you've run too hard, but this is constant and sharp when you breathe.

Today was back to work after our week off. It was quite busy. You know how it goes ten minutes back and it feels like you haven't had a holiday. 

Back Under House Arrest day 213

First day of the second lockdown. So we were good girls and boys and stayed in. Kev nipped to Sainsburys but that was it. I did my yoga and my biking.

I have had a twinge of diverticulitis pain in my left side, mainly because I forgot to check that burger on Wednesday for tomato! 

Anyway, if it doesn't ease I will ring the quacks and ask for some antibiotics to knock the infection on the head. I hate having to do it, as I do my hedge witch remedies first peppermint tea, liquorice, sage.. 

I gave the bathroom and bedrooms good bottoming and had a mini clear out.

Later on after I had done my page and other crafts, we watched The Invisible Man. I remember the David McCullum one, this one was way darker and quite harrowing really. If you've dismissed it, give it a go. It reminded me of Sleeping with the Enemy. 

Back Under House Arrest day 212

We did the washing yesterday and then went into town to get what we needed no essential wise. This was for me craft supplies ( although to me it is essential for my mental health) and other little things like cleaning materials so we can keep our little bungalow clean and tidy. 

And yes, we were part of the problem, but town was heaving, it looked like a Saturday before Christmas! We got what we needed from three shops. Then went home after a quick bite to eat in Burger King. This was where I witnessed the worst abuse I've seen by customers to a service assistant. A group of people came in and asked like us if they could eat in. The young lad ( who was on his own on the front end) told them they could provided they scan the nhs app. The loud woman at the head of the group exploded in rage and refused. He said if you don't scan it I can't let you sit in. She then proceeded to call him all sorts and said he wasn't serving them because they were black. I told the young lad to call the police. Suddenly, gobshite woman turned to me and gave me the evil eye. But, they walked out... If I thought the young lad was indeed being racist, I would have stood up for her, but he wasn't he was just asking her to do what we had and checked in  he even offered to do it for her. Poor lad. Please don't take out your lockdown rage on the people still working. 

 

Back Under House Arrest day 211

We met Sue and Pete for lunch today, it will be the last time until this next lot of lockdown is over. So we made the most of it... I really felt for the young girls who served us as they seemed really glum, they were friendly enough, but you could tell that they were concerned about what was going to happen. At the moment it looks like Golf clubs are shutting along with gyms, which seems daft when they want you to keep the weight down and for you to keep active... 

We were talking to Sue and Pete at lunch and a lot of this is just not making any sense, a lot of what they are telling us to do this time isn't making sense. How come it's worse this time but they aren't asking the vulnerable to shield? Wouldn't it make more sense to pour more money into the NHS and its staff instead of ruining business and lives by another lockdown. The only reason the NHS isn't coping is because it was seriously underfunded in the first place...

 

Back Under House Arrest day 210

We got up and Kev took the rest of the outdoor Halloween decorations down that we aren't leaving out. Some like the glow in the dark hand we are, and the bucket/planters are staying in the garden. 

Later my new stamps came from Art From the Heart.  Two sets, one based on the pandemic one on quilts ( hexagonal shapes with images within) so, I stamped them all out, colouring them in and cutting them out. So relaxing. Later we watched the original Witches ( Angelica Huston) 

Back Under House Arrest day 209

Yesterday was a chill out day, a rest up after a few drinks the night before, when I think back to how we used to be up to all hours partying right up until my late 40's I definitely can't do it now, and I don't force myself to either. When I've had enough, that's it, I'm done. I used to stick at it regardless of how I felt for other people's sake. Or more importantly because I was worried about what they'd think of me, now I don't. It's strange how you get older and start doing what you should have done all along, which is do what makes you happy. And by that I don't mean have a total disregard for others, just learn your limits, and learn when to walk away without guilt, because that's not what you want.

I spent a long time people pleasing ( and yes there are times when I catch myself doing it even now) and it got me nowhere. You cannot change what someone thinks of you, but you can change how you let influence your actions. 

As we head into Lockdown two, I'm going to use this time to do do more stuff for me, my mental health needs a recharge, and my emo post yesterday was the warning sign that I am dwelling a little too much on the stuff I can't control. Again. 

Time to stop watching the news so much and maybe a time out of social media, ( by the way I write on a blogger app, which gets posted on to Facebroke automatically) Doesn't mean I'm on SM constantly so if I'm not responding to your posts it could be I'm not reading them, and if I do respond it means I've popped on to see what's happening on my creative groups... 

Back Under House Arrest day 208.

All Hallows Eve came and went with the news that we are in another Lockdown from Thursday, for at least a month... We could guess it was coming, leaks abounded ( which I believe are leaked on purpose) but it all seems so bloody scary, I am beginning to think we will always be doing this from now on, lockdown, slightly free, lockdown. Do I want to carry on living like this? Or those people who have died had the lucky escape? I do think like when they announced Sean Conery was dead, lucky bugger, at least he hasn't got to put up with this bloody lunacy... 

I'm not at work until next Saturday but I'm already dreading it, the nastiness of a certain portion of the population, and the despair from the others... 

The only bright spot is the news that my new stuff from Dyan's release should be here tomorrow, so at least I can lose myself in my crafting... Sorry for the gloomy emo post, but I'm not really feeling anything other that sad old goth at the moment, perhaps is post Halloween depression... PHD...