Under House Arrest 304/303

Yesterday I had another email from Brother to say they were sending out two new mats. There is a known fault on the SDX 1200 with the mats that came with the machine... Really? Nice of you to wait until I have a problem to tell me. How about a nice little email telling me this. My machine is always registered online when I have bought one. You must have a list somewhere of who has what machine, it enables you to send adverts out, flogging new products, upgrades and the like... I'm sceptical that this will cure the problem but I'm willing to give it a go... We will see. 

Last night after we watched a very emotional episode of Ru Paul UK, I went into the bedroom while Kev watched the football. I watched The Originals on Netflix, I've got to season 6 of The Vampire Diaries, and am bored now... I like them but if the storyline starts getting the same thing over again ( which that does) I vote with my remote. As much as I love Buffy the last two seasons got a bit go hum... So, off I transported myself to New Orleans and got stuck into that. 

Today I ventured out, I haven't been out since I came home from work Saturday. We walked down to the village and back. It was nice to get some fresh air... You can see why there is localised flooding the fields are very wet and there are large expanses of water round by the precinct, I should imagine the back roads into Tollerton are a nightmare. 

Under House Arrest day 302

So the snow has finally gone replace by buckets of rain. We were going to venture into town today to do some shopping, I haven't set foot outside since Saturday. But I'm not going in this, no pleasure in getting soaked to the skin for the sake of it. 

Anyhow the day went into it's usual pattern and I made a couple of cards for Trish's Etsy store. 

Some thing struck me as I watched the doom

and gloom news on the TV, you know how the latest scare tactic is to show you film of people in covid wards, and saying at the end sadly that the person they were talking to didn't make it? Well, if I was that individuals family I would want to know why it isn't possible for us to visit and say goodbye to our loved one, but it is possible for a film crew to wander round, stick a microphone in someone's face and record it? So complete strangers not medically involved can go but we can't? Something smells... 

Under House Arrest day 301

And still, the snow clings on,  Kev took the rubbish to the bins and said it was treacherous underfoot. Again we made do with what we have in apart from milk, water, etc which he fetched from around the corner. The guy that runs the shop has cleared and gritted the path through which is one, very thoughtful, and two, very clever. When you've got a whole crop of bungalows and elderly/ infirm as your main shoppers making it easier for them to shop with you rather than having to trek to the main village is a guarantee they'll shop with you.

I had an email finally from Brother about my Scan and Cut. It's been playing up a while now so I sent them a message a few weeks ago ( there isn't a support or repair place in the UK anymore it has to go to the EU hub in Germany. Anyhow, I had to send details of the problem and photos of the mats and machine so that they can decide what action to take from here... At the end of the day if they can repair it fine, but I'm telling you now that I won't be buying another. This is my third machine and I am convinced that they are not what they are cracked up to be. Unreliable, and prone to computer malfunctions. When you are paying £700 for a machine I want something I can be sure will work. Give me a good old big shot any day. So yes, I'll let them repair it and use it when they send it back, but I'll make this the last one I buy. 

So with that said we got the box out and got it ready to go back once they say so. It's made a huge difference to my work desk. There is a lot more room there now. 

Under House Arrest day 298

The snow is still lying thick here in Cotgrave, yes the trees and hedge are dripping melted snow, so there is a gentle thaw happening. But here the crunchy compact stuff is still covering the vast areas at the front and back of our bungalow. We certainly didn't go anywhere. Kev nipped to the corner shop, but that was it. I won't be venturing out until I have to or it's all gone. I'm so scared of falling. Kev obviously isn't enamoured with it after last nights adventure and tumble. So we did what we usually do, I made my first "Harrison" the Lion die, it's a colourise one from Tim Holtz and is similar to the Arthur Owl one. It looks amazing and worth the work to put together. I also did my usual stuff, fitness routine, dyalog, and in the afternoon we watched "It's a Sin" the new series written by the same people who did Queer as Folk. It's very good. I resisted watching more than one episode and will watch another tomorrow. As I said we won't be going anywhere, so a perfect time to watch something good. Our days in lockdown have sort of got into a pattern, as boring as that sounds it's perhaps for the best, I'd drive myself crazy thinking about the stuff I'd like to be doing. And to be honest with this weather even pre covid, we would be staying in. 

Under House Arrest days 299/300

I was back at work Saturday. I had to my return to work with being off poorly. With that done it was business as usual and I was on tills. It started snowing around 11 am and was coming down quite quickly and I was worried at one point. Luckily it stopped and thawed quickly. We got home and watched Ru Paul ( US version) 

Sunday I was on my final day holiday from work I had 9 hrs left. Looks like I chose the right day. The snow came down thick and fast and by lunchtime, the village was cut off. They stopped the buses at four pm which meant Kev was stuck getting home, as was Charlotte. They met at the bus stop and walked to the station. Ian booked a taxi and they eventually got home three hours late at 7.30 pm. Kev had fallen too, I was worried he was concussed, but he insisted he was ok. There is always something to worry about. I dare say the government are pleased. You don't have people trying to break lock down in thick snow! 

Under House Arrest day 297

Woken once again by the gardeners chopping back any visible green left on the hedges, I got up at 8.30, Kev was already up. I did my yoga and biking after making the bed. I then showered to save me having to run around like a mad woman in the morning. Plus Kev goes in before me, and after that fall a couple of years ago in the bath, I'm wary of having one with no one else here to help me, although we have the walk in shower, you never know. I have always been able to trip over a match stick! Once all the jobs were done I started work on stamping and painting images onto canvas to transfer on the dyalog cover we are painting. Then I doodled the cover as it was dry enough to do, It's coming on nicely and will be perfect for my insert books as we go through the year. I'm so happy that I found those day by day videos on YouTube of Dyan doing hers. It is the best way I've found to keep a diary of any kind. Yeah I do my blog, but the dyalog is a creative process that I have managed to do daily since I started in May last year. I had a lot of her stamps anyway as her quirky style captured my imagination. Long before I knew about her day by Dy's as she calls them. They are great to flip through and the covers being canvas will soften and wear with time. I have no idea who I will leave them too once I'm dead and gone, or if anyone would want them, but we are as She says making history and my account of this unusual period of time might be of some interest to someone, you never know. But even if not, I've enjoyed every minute of putting them together, learning new techniques and carrying them forward into my art journals, even my card making, which I still do by the way, just not as prolifically as before. I like doing journals as they are a record of my art and techniques which you can see by flipping through from the start until now. When you make a card, the majority of them end up in the recycling bin, no matter how long they took to make. And if I forget to take a picture, that idea, or technique is lost. I will always make my cards for others, and for Trish to sell on Etsy for me, but my methods have altered since I started. A lot now are intricate colourise die cuts ( Tim Holtz) or stamped images. 

I like the freedom you get with a journal or dyalog, the only limit is your imagination, and you don't have to constantly reign in your creativity to fit a brief. When you make a card it has to "suit" the audience you are making it for. When you do a page in a journal or dyalog it doesn't matter. I think that's where the mindfulness comes in you can get lost in the process without worrying that anyone else likes it. Kev often looks at my pages and shakes his head, "bonkers" is his usual response. But it doesn't matter, because it's for me by me... It doesn't have to make sense. 

Anyhow the cover is done now, awaiting insert books packing it out once they are done. 

I also watched Discovery of Witches this afternoon ( Kev downloads it at 2am, when it first appears) I could watch all of it now as the episodes are all available, but I want to watch it weekly. I'm sure I've told the tale of being forced to binge watch something when we lived with other people and I did so out of politeness, but it totally ruined that series for me. All the episodes blurred into one, and I lost interest. I don't want that to happen with this, as it's been done far too well to be rushed. 

Under House Arrest day 296

A good delivery day two more of the new Tim Holtz cheaper one dies came. Cafe Colourise and Harrison the Lion... I set too and made up the cafe one. That kept me busy for a couple of hours...

The bloody gardeners were back again this morning at 8am! The nosey gits were out telling them to cut this and that. If I ever get like that please have me shot. 

I decamped to the bedroom while Kev watched the football and I've paired my ear buds to the tv so I can watch something and not have to worry about the sound leaking through to disturb Kev. Plus it has the added advantage I can't hear the banal commentary of the pundits, or groans and cheers from Mr B accordingly to them scoring or not. I love having the tv in the bedroom. I always thought it would be a waste, but I use it more than I thought I would. In fact I have a right little haven in this room, My wax melt burner, my skull bedside light, my fairy lights on the bed head. Willow usually joins me and we snuggle down to watch whatever I fancy. I get half time refreshments, and of course I never have the heating on in the bedroom I get too warm overnight, so I often snuggle under the duvet... How the other half live eh? 

Under House Arrest day 294/295

Kev had to go down to the post office for me in the morning. I made another couple of cards using Tim's new dies, I gave my table a good scrub down and sorted my trolley out. 

Not a busy day by any means and the weather is awful. Storm Christoph is making its way down through the village with flooding on Hollygate Lane and Cotgrave Lane. We watched Bloodshot a Vin Diesel action one. Very good if you like that sort of thing, which we do, give me those over Chick flick any day! 

Wednesday Kev got the washing done early without any interference. You aren't going to believe this, but during " lockdown"  and a bloody storm they came to cut the hedge! WTF? My guess is number four have been doing the usual complaining to get them to come do it. 

It blocks their view into other peoples bungalows, nosy gits... 

Under House Arrest day 293

Monday I woke up feeling a lot better, a slight "hangover" if you will from my migraine. I've ordered some more headache balm from Herbs on the Hill and that will help. You can't get an appointment at the doctors in person but I had a phone one. Nothing to worry about just probably letting myself get stressed ( all that hassle with my debit card being cloned, all this covid crap, and possibly the recent loss of a couple of friends). 

I did my exercises and had a shower, caught up on my pages in my dyalog and made a few cards I watched the Tim new release from Saturday, which means a couple will breaking their way into my stash... 

Another peaceful day in lockdown, we watched Blithe Spirit, the remake one with Judy Dench, it got a panning from the critics but I thought it was ok really, but we never judge a film by reviews of critics,  if we did we wouldn't have seen the wonderful oddball stuff we love... I do remember the original with Rex Harrison in black and white with Margaret Rutherford as Madame Acarti, as the old black and whites used to be on Saturday's as a kid on TV. But if you look it's had quite a few remakes. 

In other news, the vaccine rollout has moved on to people in theirs 70's so only another 3 million to go before us then lol... Mind you, they'll have ironed out the two heads side effect by then ( hopefully! Hahaha) 

Under House Arrest days 274/5

Saturday was a complete loss, I woke up with the start of a migraine. Flashing zigzag's and unbelievable pain in my head. I knew better than to move as I would be sick. I rang in work and didn't emerge from our lovely dark bedroom ( thank God for blackout lined curtains!) Until late afternoon. When I got up Kev wasn't far from being home. Later I managed some of the soup he'd made. We had a fairly early night, and I stayed home today as well. Loud noise or strong smells are still affecting me, thankfully it's been a grey old day so the light has been just the side lamps, and I've kept the curtains closed. I haven't had one for ages. Today there was just a cotton wool feeling in my head, and a sort of remote throb at my temples, I can't concentrate for long, so I and Willow have had a quiet day. I tried to do a bit at the craft desk, but nothing went well so I gave up. It'll take me a couple of days before I feel fully myself again. And the first person who says it's just a headache will get one of my withering looks! If you don't get them fine, lucky you, but if you do you'll know exactly how debilitating and painful they can be. Ah, and also this isn't a pity me entry either, just telling it as it happened. 

Under House Arrest days 272/3

Thursday saw a fall of snow that because it was wet previously we both thought it wouldn't settle, we were wrong. It came down thick and fast. Swirling around past the window and drawing the birds from the trees to forage for food in the common ground in front of the window. It kept Willow entertained for hours, bless her. If we had no plans to leave home they were compounded by the weather. 

My order arrived from Art From the Heart and a clothing order from Tu, both packages soaked, but the contents undamaged, thankfully. 

Today Kev ventured out to Sainsburys in the village to get the makings for a chicken broth in the slow cooker for the coming weekend at work. 

This afternoon we watched one of Dyan's online classes which was on painting a dyalog cover. I've just had one delivered so, it will be most useful. 

Sadly we have learned of the passing of one of my favourite writers Storm Constantine. I met her socially a couple of times and she was a lovely lady. Very gregarious and charming, with a hint of devilment about her. I have her trilogy of books The Wreathru Chronicles. She kindly signed them for me, She was a dear friend to one of my friends Freda Warrington. Who no doubt will be bereft. They worked together closely on a few collaborations of fiction, and alongside another writer that I loved Tanith Lee, again sadly no longer with us. All three writers hold a spot on my bookshelves and my kindle. Such sad news. 

Under House Arrest day 271

A quiet day with crappy weather. Kev got the washing done ( you have to go over singly and masked, to the laundry) Thankfully no one else had muscled in before he was done. I started my card making list, as well as my dyalog pages. 

In the afternoon we watched the Netflix series about the Night Stalker. It was as good as the one on the Yorkshire Ripper. Nothing better than a good real life serial killer documentary to brighten a grey day. 

Under House Arrest day 270

Tuesday I did some sorting out, reorganizing my boxes of card stock and art journals. It was a mainly quiet day and quite a cold one. I know that because Kev went out to the ins and to the corner shop, I myself didn't venture anywhere. 

In the evening we watched a movie call The Midnight Sky. It was a good movie, but very bleak and depressing. I only ever felt that down after a movie when I watched A.I or The Fog. Both have very bleak endings. 

Under House Arrest day 269

After my rant on Sunday about people who are shielding in place showing disregard to the "rules" and going out anyway ( even though they are quite happy to take the money) today I'm trying to be more positive. If you are struggling with staying in then think like this, you are not stuck at home you are safe at home. Give yourself something to do rather than sit watching the tv mindlessly (and let's be honest daytime tv is at it's best dire) find something you love, you don't have to be crafty like me, and make something, but you could learn to be if it catches your fancy. Read, do jigsaws, exercise, self-care, do a routine of grooming, but make it fun, put on some music and don't rush it. Even clean or reorganise your living space. Just take your time and enjoy whatever you find to do. Give yourself something to look forward to, a tv show you love ( even a rewatch ) face time with a loved one. Even a favourite meal, you can plan or make at your own pace instead of the rush we usually have in life. 

I read yesterday that a lot of shops are saying now that they are going to stop letting people in without masks. Now before the anti mask brigade start shouting at me, this is my opinion( which as I've said before you don't have to agree with and if it upsets you don't read my blog, but I do have a right to my views, so do you, so write your own blog and express them) If you can't wear a mask for genuine medical reasons, wear a visor, if you can't wear one of those, maybe consider you might be too vulnerable to be out? Also consider whether you are actually just being a dick and saying you can't because you don't like being told what to do, and believe me there are some out there. You might also consider, you might not be protecting yourself by wearing a mask, but, you will be protecting others. You are wearing a mask while you are shopping the time you wear it is relative to how long you shop for. I and others wear one for 8 hours plus 3 hours travel time. So stop bloody moaning it's a bit of cloth, for fucks sake... There, thats me ranting again... Sorry, not sorry... 

Under House Arrest day 268

Sunday was very frosty and sloppy underfoot. I don't mind admitting that scares me, my leg is not the best in good walking conditions in slippy, it makes it harder as it won't do what I want it to. Luckily, Kev is good at shoring me up and getting me to the bus stops without any major Torvill and Dean moments. 

I was worried that I would be over the car park at petrol, as that area can be a skating rink. Luckily again I wasn't. It was decent enough day not to busy until the usual rush at the end. People seemed happy enough. 

I had a little blood sugar wobble as I was a little late going for break ( I have breakfast at around 7am on a Sunday morning and at around 1.40 pm I was still waiting for my break. In the end, I started to go a bit shaky so I shut my check out as soon as I could and went and eat. I made sure I had my jelly babies to boost my sugar levels back up and I was ok. I know now what signs to look for and can combat it. 

We got home and was able to chill out and watch The Pottery Throwdown which looks like being a close contest this time. 

Under House Arrest day 267

I was at work yesterday, and had quite a nice day. Yes there were still some covidiots, but not as many, maybe they've made resolutions to be less stupid?! Lol...

However, one thing that did get my goat was serving a colleague in the shop who is off sheilding. Obviously they don't know the meaning of the word, but they are quite happy to take the governments money to stay at home. While we put ourselves out there... If you are sheilding you are meant to stay put. Not shop in a busy supermarket. Or shop in one out of the way so you aren't spotted. You aren't stuck at home, you are safe at home. Or your should be. It makes me so cross. If you need out go outside, even go to a park, but putting yourself in a supermarket isn't a good place to be. We wouldn't be there by choice. Sorry if that upsets anyone but these are my thoughts on the subject. The fact that you are classed as vulnerable means quite rightly that you will be getting your jabs soon. Hang in there and wait until it is safe for you to mingle again. No excuses. 

Under House Arrest day 266

All my usual chores done I did another journal page. Trying to focus on the things I love during this lockdown. My crafts and I've started an audible book while Kev watched the football. 

I watched Discovery of Witches that Kev downloaded for me at 2 am this morning. I was worried it wouldn't be as good as the book (movies, and series never are) but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the book so much, set in Elizabethan England, the descriptions of the times and life are compelling. They've done a good job of recreating it. 

I'm hoping it continues to enthral.

These are little things that keep me happy, a couple of good series on the tv, Discovery of Witches, Ru Paul, and Pottery Throw Down all coming back to give me something to look forward to. My journals, dyalog and online classes. 

My ear buds are invaluable for nights when I exile myself in the bedroom to watch, listen to audible, or music. I'm always surprised when Kev comes into tell me that the match has ended. 

My highlight today was watching Kev fit a new loo seat! I've never seen him get that angry at an inanimate object before, lockdown must be getting to him. 

Under House Arrest day 265

I was feeling a bit more positive yesterday so to add to my daily yoga, biking etc I did a page in my big square journal.

The day itself was icy cold with a widespread frost that didn't dissipate until way past lunch. 

Kev was fiddling about with the heating and tank as we seem to have a problem with the overflow. I remember when we first moved in there was a constant drip outside. It's stopped for now, but if it continues or gets worse we will ring maintenance to come and check it. It's nothing major but with a hard frost on the path outside it could cause someone to fall ( namely me, lets be honest I can go down over a matchstick) Sometime my leg "locks" and I have to really push it to move which can unbalance me. 

We've been sleeping really well at the moment, I put mine down to that app, I do it religiously before bed. Kev usually gets up around three half three, but has been sleeping through and getting up later. His is perhaps down to the more physical job he is doing now as he walks a few miles per shift and constant lifting will help. He's lost a few pounds already. All good. 

Under House Arrest day 264

Kev did the washing. For once he was able to get it done without someone else trying to do theirs at the same time, miracles do happen. The times he's gone over put ours in to wash and then gone in to find someone else has put stuff in the dryer, there's no consideration with some. We only use it once a week! You have to go masked up and write down when you've used it, and there's only a couple including, Kev that does it. People as we know can't follow rules that's evident with this covid crap.

So that done and the decorations down, we had a bit of a sort out. They'll be some stuff that needs to go to the charity shops when they reopen. We've moved Jack he is now behind the tv... We are waiting on a new lamp for behind the tv because the old one fell apart ( mind you, that one was bought from a charity shop in Burton when we were living at the Star and Garter) I think it cost us a fiver so when you think that was back in 2012, 8 years isn't so bad for a fiver... 

Watching the news, we think we have a shit government ( and we do!) But the US have a nutter in charge with Trump! What an absolute loony... Inciting all those people to riot, and only half-heartedly got them to back down... Jeez... I don't think the old guy they are putting in place will be much better. Thing is at his age he should be shielding and sitting watching the sun go down on a porch somewhere, not in charge of a superpower country. They should pick someone a bit younger and give them a psychological test before letting them take charge. Mind you, if they did that to Doris ( Boris) they wouldn't find anything in there but fluff... 

Under House Arrest day 263

9 months on and here we are back in full lockdown... None of us are happy about it, none of us want to be where we are. I don't want to just work and be stuck home not seeing family and friends. But, that's what we have to do. If some people would come in to shops and stay two metres apart, wear masks and wear them over their mouth and nose. If they'd get on a bus and sit apart, again wearing masks and properly. If they'd wash their hands ( like they claim they do!) And stop having house parties, or meeting like the ones we saw in Bridgeford on NYE that had to be broken up by the police, or the covidiots who gathered in their hundreds at the Christmas Market in the square ( and the covidiots who bloody organised it! Yes, you Nottingham Council) If these people stop and think we could deal with it. But, why should just some of us keep doing what we should to stand by and watch others do what they like. And that folks is my rant for today. 

Under House Arrest day 262

Boris has announced another lockdown, because of the new strain... Great it looks like Kev was right this is going to go on until April, and then who knows, it could go on much longer... 

I'm like most people now fed up to the back teeth with being part of a major historical event, and only being allowed out to bloody work. There are so many bloody things wrong with all of this. How come we are still struggling with Covid when the place it all started ( China) appear to have no problems now and their economic growth is booming... Kev may be right in his musings that it was a deliberate germ warfare plot... 

I'm beginning to imagine being stuck inside these walls for the rest of my days... Thank God for my journalling and other hobbies as I truly believe that without them I would lose any sense of who I am. And it isn't because we went very far, but, it's the social aspect I miss. A Tuesday in town, meeting Sue and Pete, food drinks and a mooch around the shops. Coffee and breakfast on a Sunday with Kev and sometimes Charlotte. All little things that don't seem much, but now mean so much. The hassle to get to and from work, because you know damn well they'll cut the buses again. Walking through a city centre that resembles 28 Days Later or I Am Legend... 

Under House Arrest day 261

Work wasn't bad. I started early because Debs asked me too as I was sat in the canteen. I can't wait until I can sit in Maccys and avoid that. I ended up being in petrol 3 hours in total. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad, just not my favourite place to work. 

After that I was over at the shop and it was busy, very busy. We served well past 4pm as the buggers wouldn't leave. You know I don't mind so much, what I do mind is the ones who come through late full of fake apologies and saying I bet you just want to go home eh? One you don't really give a damn, otherwise you wouldn't do it, and two I finish at 4.30 and believe me I'm going then even if you're not... If they keep their gobs shut and just get on with it I'm good, I just don't like fake. I've dealt with enough of them in my life. Now they just make my blood like ice. 

Under House Arrest day 260

My day at work was a busy one it is already evident that people are once again treating food shopping as an outing as nothing else is open. Whole families coming in, instead of the one person that should be. I had an hour over in petrol. I was late over which caused a bit of an atmosphere. I don't know what that woman's problem is with me, but I also know it's not mine so she can feck off... 

Other than it was ok, it snowed pretty hard and settled, and was still clinging to areas of Arnold this morning as we went through on the bus. Luckily there was none in Cotgrave it was just very wet. 

Last night Ru Paul season 13 started, a few good twists, and I haven't seen anyone yet that stands out. They all seem copies of what has gone before.

Under House Arrest day 259.

There's a U2 song that starts with everything's quiet on New Year Day. That's how it was here. After the fireworks had stopped you could hear a pin drop. We got up at around 8.30 and did our usual stuff, me yoga and biking then my dyalog pages, Kev his Xbox stuff and the cooking etc. Nothing exceptional. We are back to work on Saturday and Sunday so we tried to chill out a little. 

I found a sleep app on my phone which helps you unwind and so far it seems to be working. Sometimes I struggle to get off to sleep and often wake up half way through the night. I will never go down the route of popping pills. Remember Lydia Deeks in Beetlejuice when she said that her Mum was sleeping with Prince Valium? Lol...

So I try my witchy remedies herbal concoctions and sleep sounds, apps and the like. This one called Loona has a lot of the stuff all in one place sleep scapes they call it, I will try anything once. 

Under House Arrest day 258 New Year's Edition.

So I was at work yesterday, which wasn't as bad as I'd imagined it got busy like last week later on. There was only one old chap I guess he was in in 80's who stood where the screen starts (belt side) who took exception when I asked him to step back while the lady came to little hole to pay. He wanted my till number and name which I gave him. I don't know if he reported me or not, but the lady I was serving thanked me as she said he was too close. 

The other one was a woman my age or perhaps a tad older who paid in cash and lifted her mask to lick her fingers in order to count it out to me! WTAF? I picked it up using my cloth, to be told by her I was being over the top! Maybe I was. But obviously like her I don't care. 

Apart from that everyone else seemed subdued but friendly. 

We got home around 6 and watched some tv including Sewing Bee which had The Vivienne on it. She was funny as always but didn't win. But I don't think she was bothered. 

We went to bed around 10.30 as we had been up since 5.30 am and I didn't feel great. Went to sleep almost straight away and was woken by the fireworks. Happy New Year!