In Between Days

Monday. 

As per usual it was our chill out day. I did my exercises, biked, and put a hair mask on as it really needs a deep condition. 

I got stuck into my project and it took a few hours, finally finished it and very happy with it... I hope the recipient thinks so too... I'll share pictures later once it's been given. 

Tuesday.

We went out to the city to shop. There were a few bits I needed, sadly it was another case of not being able to get what I needed, and having to get them online! I guess shopping physically is going to become a thing of the past. 

However, we did manage to get a new lix e lix bowl for Willow in the shape of a heart, because she has our hearts. We love her so much, she is such a good cat, so loving, so well behaved and so easy to look after her. It's like every day she thanks us for giving her a forever home, where she is loved, cared for and safe. 

In Between Days

Saturday.

It was so lovely not to be at work on a Saturday, we woke up around 5.30 am, only to be able to roll over and go back to sleep until gone 8 am. Heaven. Willow really loved having us home, as soon as she realised I was in casual stuff she settled down to have fuss and lots of snoozes. I started a new project, a special card for a family member. 

We had a lovely day, chilling out and watching stuff we normally don't get chance to because of work.

Sunday.

Back to work albeit just for the day. Heating is back up and it really made it a pleasant day, most people were friendly, of course you always get the odd Sunday Zombies, but the regulars make up for it.

Liz and her partner gave us a lift home which made a huge difference in what time we got in. So a nice start to our week off. Pottery Throw Down was good, raku week, and the results were amazing, nice to see someone else get Potter of the week, other than Donna. 

A nice relaxed evening spent with Kev and Charlotte ( and Willow!) I love our peaceful life here, no dramas, just time spent with good friends and family a world away from our lives before, but I wouldn't change it for anything. 

In Between Days.

A sad day, Kev has gone into deep mourning because Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool as manager at the end of this season. I must admit even I feel a bit sad, as I like the guy. He comes across as a really nice guy. I can understand why though, it's a tough job and it must take over your life completely. 

Anyway, we went to Lady Bay to shop, I wanted some Posca pens, and we needed some stuff from Food Warehouse, and a look round The Range. 

We always start off with a coffee at Greg's so that I get a sit down after the walk down. My knee has been playing up a bit lately despite my regular exercise programme to keep it flexible. So by the time I get home from the round trip there and back I'm done in, even though I take sit down breaks at regular intervals.

Traitors was intense, Harry won, and to be fair, he deserved to he played the best game and totally conned the others into believing he was a faithful. Shame that Mollie was so gullible, but she let the fact that she fancied Harry blind her. But the Faithful didn't deserve to win this time, they only eliminated Traitors that were fed to them by either Paul or Harry, they had only a few that called out Traitors but they were banished because no one believed them. Great programme and kudos to whoever dreamed it up originally... 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash and chore day. Then when we had that sorted I had a card making session using the Switch machine. My rosette dies by Tim came from Sizzix, Fed Ex no less, overnight... Amazing service from them. 

My makeup annual subscription is due and I qualify for a free gift of a brush set this time. I don't wear as much as I used to, you don't as you get older you know, but I do buy it on annual subscription so I get the best stuff I can afford. I had to make do with cheap make up for a long time, and believe me it isn't worth it. I'd sooner buy basics from a good brand rather than weekly cheaper brands. It's more cost effective in the end. I perhaps wear it two times a week now rather than daily, but then I'm not on constant show behind a bar with hyper critical clientele now thank goodness. So the brands I stick to now are Laura Gellar and Il Makiage. Both do subscription packs and I chose to have an annual delivery of the basics. Great way to budget and means I can throw old palettes away so there is no risk of infection from old make up. 

Thursday.

Rudely awakened by the postman bringing my parcel from Doc Martens sale. I've got rid of a lot of footwear lately on Vinted, leaving room for some that I can wear. It gets harder to find shoes, boots and sandals I can wear Docs seem to be the best and on Kevs recommendation I'm giving the Pearson sandals a try. At the moment they seem OK I won't know fully until I wear them outside, but I kept them on all day and so far so good. I can add my insoles to them which should help. I am thinking forward because I'll need some for walking round Disney, even if I've got a wheelchair. If I can break them in now, or see if they'll be comfy enough It's better than buying them a couple of weeks before we travel, get over there with no suitable footwear. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Wet and wild out there, we still went out and met Sue and Pete for lunch at Lloyd's in Hockley. Very nice it was too, lovely to see them both as always, it's great to have a chinwag and catch up. 

We had done our shopping previously, so it was a just a case of going back to the bus stop and home. 

The wind picked up again and sometimes the sound of it roaring around the bungalow was scary. 

I had a bit of a card making session once home, getting a few done and trying out my new dimensional cutting pad. Very pleased with the results, and I shall be trying more out in the coming weeks!

In Between Days

Monday.

Rest day. Still exercised obviously, but Kev did put my Scan and Cut away to make room for the Sizzix Switch. I watched Tim demo the machine on YouTube so I'm more familiar with it, and I learned quite a bit, including using embossing diffusers, and crease pads. I had heard of both, but had no idea what they actually did. 

So obviously I had a play and created a couple of cards. 

Charlotte came over as it was her day off, so we sat and watched Ear to Ear streaming on YouTube before playing a very quick game of Monopoly. Which she thrashed us both at in under an hour. 

I tried out my new thermos mug with mulled cider tea in it and was impressed how long it kept hot for. It will be useful to take to work, now we no longer have plates, cups bowls and cutlery in the canteen, because of lazy gits not washing up after themselves, I have to leave anything I need in my locker. So I have a set of plastic cutlery, and now I'll have my thermos mug so if I want a hot drink, soup or even noodles I have something to put it in. The things we have to do! 

In Between Days

Sunday.

Bitterly cold in the shop again today, but today I was prepared, I had so many layers on I could hardly move. I had thermals on, tights socks, polo shirt under my jumper, jacket and fingerless gloves. I also bought a thermos mug so I could take a warm drink onto the checkout with me. Which had lemon tea in it. I was comfortable compared to the day before, so work was OK. A lot of folks were in later and despite being a few of us missing we got everyone through.

The wind has picked up and the storm they predicted has landed, squalls of rain are battering the windows and roofs are creaking with the force of the wind gusts. Glad to be home in the warm snuggled down with Willow, just as much glad she is happy that we are, for her to come and snuggle up with. 

In Between Days

Friday.

My jogging bottoms came and they maybe one shade darker than the top, but as they just for wearing round the house it's no big deal.

I had a shower and used the the new mop thingy to clean the shower floor, walks and screen. It makes it so much easier. Win win. 

Saturday. 

Oh my God the heating was off at work due to it being broken. I've never been so cold at work ever. They gave me a blanket, and some thermal leggings. I was worried about my leg. You guys know how painful it gets and the left one splits round the scar if the blood stops circulating. I had gloves on and I was still shivering. I'm going to take a warm drink and have soup for lunch tomorrow and layer up so I'm not so cold on the checkouts. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

Despite a heavy frost we wrapped up and went out, we needed food for the weekend and, its made more sense to go out and stock up on a day when if we got stuck with missing buses it's better on a day when we don't have to go to work the next day. 

We just went into the city. I got some thermal socks and a Marie from Aristocats sweatshirt. 

We went to German Donor Kebabs for lunch, we've been saying we wanted to try it for ages, so we gave it a go. I really enjoyed it. I went for the chicken Kcal one, which was lovely. Loads of vegetables and a spicy sauce on a multiseed and sesame pitta. We will definitely go again. Kev had the classic chicken one and spicy chips. He really liked that one. 

We got our food from the Tesco in Vic Centre and then headed home. 

It was nice to get home, Kev turned up the heating, and gave it a boost to take the chill out of the bungalow, it doesn't take much to get it cosy. 

In Between Days

Tuesday. 

We were cold when we woke up, we decided we really didn't want to go shopping or go out to eat, and we were content to hibernate at home. We love to go out, but, when there's no real need, it seems a but pointless. 

We got on with projects, I showered then cleaned the bathroom. 

Later on I read while Kev played on the Xbox and we had some of the Disney streamers on for our daily dose of the parks. 

Wednesday.

Wash day, so up early. Kev got done as there wasn't tons. I've ordered a fleece lined lounge like outfit for days like this which should come hopefully tomorrow as well as a new microfiber mop for the bathroom, I'm not as flexible as I was and I'm struggling to balance while I clean the shower screen. So hopefully this will help. The joys of getting old! Lol.

We watched Paging Mr Morrow on YouTube one of our favourite Florida Vloggers, who has just a joyful childlike quality to his presentation. Really get the impression that he has had some hard times in his life and the fact that its all come good for him has made him all the more thankful for what he has now. Lovely guy. 

Of course, the waiting was over for the start of this weeks trio of Traitors episodes. 

In Between Days

Monday.

We took delivery of a larger rug for the living room today, that Kev ordered and bought. It needed freshening up without having to go to all the hassle of replacing the main carpet. We are very pleased with it, we went with the same industrial look that the smaller rug had, the smaller one is now in the bedroom.

We just need to replace the strip of carpet in the hall, that took the most punishment while I was in the wheelchair and gets a lot of traffic. So we are planning to go into the village and check out the carpet place next to the garage and see of they can come out and looked it for us. I don't think it's lasted bad as we have been here 8 years in March. We will see what they say... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Well, the insoles seem to be helping a little, at least they are alleviating the pain some. I have decided however, that, no matter what I will mention it at my next appointment with the nurse at least...

Work was OK, Tracey said I had some training to do, so I did it when I got home, I can never get on to the website straight away at work or even at home, it's always hassle. The password constantly wants updating, it's a pain in the backside. I'd go on and check things out if it was easier to access. 

Anyway, that done we relaxed and had a reasonably early night. 

Sunday.

Very cold start, cold enough for earmuffs. Work went well enough, the usual mix of regulars, Sunday zombies (the customers who don't answer you when you greet them) and The occasional rude one. One of my last customers through was rude, I let it go over my head. I'm convinced that behind a checkout you become a non person, they don't actually see you as a human being, and these are the sort of people I'm surprised don't want to use self checkouts. If you don't want to interact with another human, that's fine, we have automated services so you don't have to. But , I get the impression that they don't want to do it themselves, but they don't want to be pleasant either. Oh, well they'll come a time when they have to serve themselves I guess. 

The 58 was late, so much so that we barely made the Cotgrave which bar a couple of minutes was on time for once. 

Nice to get home and see Willow, get snuggled down, and watch Throw Down... Again, some amazing pots created this week was guggle jugs! Very talented potters. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

I had orders coming and cards to finish, as well as dyalog pages to create and catch up on... 

The weather wasn't the best so apart from Kev nipping down to Heron we had a nice relaxed day at home. 

Friday.

The new insoles came, and I immediately put them in my boots, and wore them, they seem to be the correct height for my instep, but only time will tell if they help. 

The sheets came for the bed and we replaced and got rid of the shallow fitting ones. That way I won't keep getting the wrong ones out of the linen cupboard when we make the bed. 

I did my calendar page for February. I'm really enjoying doing the images month by month. The photo is of the one for February.

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Up fairly early as its washday. While Kev did that I set too and scrubbed the bathroom. 

Kev nipped to Heron, and I set too on some cards. I need to do my dyalog too, and next months calendar page, so I've got to pull my finger out. 

I was worried about a couple of people today, my sister Sue who was going to the hospital to see a specialist, and a work friend who has been in a considerable amount of pain with her back recently. 

Both seem to be making some progress in finding what's wrong with them, but for both, it won't be an easy fix with some unpleasant procedures to undergo. 

And me? I did some more digging into my condition today, as I noticed that my left foot is turning more inward

when I walk any distance. I think I'm going to have to have a chat at the surgery the next time I'm there for my diabetes checks see if I can at least get one of the doctors to take a look. From what I can gather, the operation they did on me as a child doesn't last and eventually the replaced muscles eventually regress making it harder and more painful for me to walk. These days they can do more without surgery, and I need to ask if that can be something I can perhaps be considered for. I've not done bad if you look at it, the corrective surgery was back when I was 7, with a few tweaks here and there over the years so it's lasted 53 years. If they can do something to halt the regression of the muscles by non invasive methods, surely its worth a shot. Something to talk to them about at least. I do wear orthotic insoles but sometimes that's not enough. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

We went into town to do some shopping, the first time we've been in since before Christmas. The Market Square still looks like a construction site, as they remove the Winter Wonderland. In fact it felt like winter today, with icy winds that were too lazy to round you, they just went through you. We got what bits we needed and went for lunch with Sue and Pete. 

We headed back home afterwards, I was struggling with my walking today, putting it down to this cold weather, but I still managed 6,000 steps which isn't bad.

We changed the bedding from the Christmas one and I realised we need a couple more of the deep fitted sheets. So after ordering a couple, we need to go through the airing cupboard and and get rid of the shallow fitted ones. There's always something that needs renewing/ replacing. Not that I'm complaining, we like to be comfortable, and having been in a position of not having a home to be comfortable in, we never take it for granted. 

Kev bought me a set of Tim's new release dies ( he wanted to get me one of his embossing folders for Christmas, but couldn't find the one I wanted) so he treated me now instead, bless him. They had arrived by the time we got home. I shall have a play with those tomorrow, after I clean up. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

A slow start with the usual regular customers. It picked up later and was very busy at the end. We cleared everyone out and we made the 58, it was a little late, but that didn't matter as the Cotgrave was 15 minutes late because of the traffic from the Forest game. It could have been worse. 

Got home in time for Kev to watch the rest of the Liverpool match which they won.

Charlotte came round just in time to see the start of the new series of Pottery Throw Down... They have some really great contestants this time, the standard is very high. So that's two of my favourite shows on now, Traitors and this, so I'm happy. 

Monday.

Pj's day. A nice relaxed day. I watched the live from Saturday from Tim Holtz and learned how to make both the stars and rosettes I've had for ages and not even tried to put together before. I then sat and batch made stars and rosettes. 

Kev had found and ordered another astronaut figure, and that came. The faux fireplace wasn't working even with new batteries, so Kev did his usual repair shop and sorted it out. I'm glad he did as I love that fire. It doesn't throw any heat out obviously, but it makes it look cozier... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Well, if you were expecting me to say it was quiet, you'd be wrong, quieter than last week for sure, but not quiet for saying the amount of food that was purchased last weekend... 

The day went quick enough though, Christmas cheer seems to have disappeared along with the decorations and there seemed to be a lot of miserable people. Oh well, they probably had a crap Christmas... Life goes on as before, and the wheel turns again. 

Early night as we were both knackered and we both have a fun filled day ahead tomorrow... 

In Between Days

Friday.

We decided, having not gone out all week since we got home on Sunday that we would venture out into the village, now that the flood water has gone almost so, we went for lunch at The Manvers. 

We had the fish and chips deal, and then we went to the Sainsbury's local over the road, just to get a few bits and bobs in... We managed to pick up a few rolls of reduced wrapping paper as we ran out this year, after about four years! So that stocked up should last us another four! Lol... 

We got home and continued to suss out where to change things around the bungalow and Kev found Myrtle we had put her in the loft in one of the boxes, and had mislaid which one... She is quite happy to be back in her place in the  Hall. 

In Between Days

Thursday 

So Kev cracked on and finished packing away the Christmas decorations. The bauble saver box came and that made it easier to keep them safe. There's only snag with the twig tree, it means Jack and Sally will now have to become seasonal as the twig  tree is wider. The Halloween/Christmas half  tree will accommodate them completely but that will only come out in October. So, bless them they are folded up in a box all safe and snug together. We made sure that they are comfy. The astronaut nebula projector I'm very happy with, it is very pretty and relaxing to look at. 

I had the job of rearranging the items we have on display so its all change some older Halloween came out, some newer went in boxes. I like to change it up. Some stuff is to delicate to pack away, and Sadie and crew get cleaned, but put back where they live. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Busy day, most of the decorations are down apart from the odd thing like the tree, the outside stuff. We can't put the tree down until the bauble case comes tomorrow. Not as bad as we thought if we are honest. Removing hats from the girls, putting the more precious items like to ceramic cars away safe and bringing back the everyday is Halloween vibe that is our lives.

More deliveries, the half Christmas tree from the sale we'd bought, The twig tree that Kev has bought to replace the uplighter lamp in the corner, and the astronaut nebula projection unit we went halves on to replace the crap projector we bought cheap that doesn't quite work. So plenty to keep us busy. I love how our home evolves, adding these things helps to take the bare walls away, and gives us ambient lighting for relaxing nights. I'll shoot a reel when everything is set up so you can see...

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Rain and more rain, we weren't even bothering to go out as we had deliveries coming, both for me, one was the tree I found on market place that looks a bit like the grinch style, but is white and sparkling... The other the alarm clock I'd ordered. 

Good job we didn't go out, as later on the village got cut off, no buses were running and we were worried as it seemed to be edging closer as neighbouring streets were asking for sand bags and one very close to Charlotte was affected. We are on a slight incline and have always thought we would be safe, but you forget that at the back of us, the woods loom and water cascades down from there. Luckily the rain slowed down and sand bags delivered to those houses and streets at the back of us. 

Kev kept watch on the local news sites and although the buses are being diverted they are running, slightly behind schedule, and less frequent, but they are running. 

In Between Days

Monday. New Year's Day...

A lovely chilled day. We got up around 8am. I was having trouble with my phone, and as you may have read on my page, I've had to order a new sim. It took an hour or so to faff about following the self diagnostic twaddle they make you jump through before they actually give you a contact number to speak to someone, who then goes through the same twaddle before deciding if you need a new phone or a new sim. 

So that sorted I set to and did my pages. Then I started my sort out. Ready to make way for the new stuff I've had bought me, or we've bought ourselves. Other than a visit from Charlotte later in the afternoon when she'd got back from her mother in laws, we watched some streams,  played some games. A nice relaxing New Year's Day...