In Between Days

Monday.

After the day at work the day before, we both slept in until 8.30 am. I caught up with my pages in my dyalog. 

Then after they were upto speed, I started on my cross-stitch project. I'm not rushing it and after a while my arm starts to ache so, I pick it up as and when. 

In the afternoon we watched the rest of Zootopia and Brother Bear on Disney Plus. 

Tuesday.

We went out with Charlotte to Arnold to shop. Just by way of a change. We wanted to go to Boyes and see the new B&M in the old Wilkos shop. So after a mosey round those shops we went to Starbucks in Sainsbury's and had lunch. Then we shopped there afterwards, before catching the bus back into town. 

We'd got what we needed and came home. It was a different day out and it shows how much has changed in Arnold since we left 8years ago.

In Between Days

Sunday.

Frosty start to the day. Got to Arnold and they have the surface up on the road leading past work. Bus stop taped off so we weren't sure if it was being used or not. 

Busy from the get go and didn't stop at all. We had a bit of excitement if you like, a car caught fire in the car park. It did damage to two parked next to it either side. The driver had left it there and gone to shop in the town centre. So obviously be a shock when they came back. Lucky there was no explosion. The wall behind them is black from all the smoke. Scary. 

When we left we headed to the further bus stop near the park just in case the other one was out of action. Busses were on time ish, and we missed the tram down, so we walked down the hill, hurts a bit, but the next tram was about 10 minutes wait. 

Got home, settled down for Pottery Throw Down and sad that Jan went home. Don't think anyone stands a chance against Donna. Again hers won Potter of the week. Dave was lucky not to go. Don't get me wrong, I like Donna's pots, but, it's a bit like Rhaoul on Bake Off that time, Oh, I've not done that before... Ta-da perfect... It a bit yawn... 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Kev was in work, I was not. So, he got up at 5.30 am and got ready for work while I languished in bed until 8.30ish. I got up showered and had breakfast with Willow. Then I did some chores and settled down to some cross stitch. No TV on just Willow snoring and the water fountain gurgling and ambient sounds of the cul-de- sac. Anne nipped round and fetched the money for the green bin. £5 for the year. The post came, with the letter telling us the rent was going up £130 this year. Lovely. Not. Oh well, at least we have a roof over heads and we can afford it, just about. Guessing the poll tax will be next... 

I had lunch just before Charlotte came over, she'd been out with Ian to drive the new car a little, she still has to be careful because her knee strength is limited, she said it was easier to drive than the old one, but she will only be able to manage short journeys. Bless her, she has really struggled this last few days and I fully understand and sympathise. 

Anyway, glad she was able to keep me company until Kev came home. 

Poor bugger was knackered, it takes its toll on him work, you forget he is 66, because of his young outlook on life. But it is enough doing two days, for both of us really. 

I do honestly think that people forget that we are in our 60s now and haven't the stamina we once had. We rarely go out after work if we can help it for that reason. I know that annoys some people, but we will see what they can do when they are our age shall we? 

In Between Days

Friday. 

We got up around 8. Kev wanted to nip into town while I waited for the boiler check person to come. 

Luckily Kev was back before they came, and apart from clearing some ivy from around the vent outside all was good. 

The DVD we had ordered of The Last Voyage of The Demeter arrived. It never made it to the UK, and we badly wanted to see it. They never released it on region 2, but we still have a region one player that works, so Kev bought a copy from Amazon US and we could see it finally. All I can say is I'm glad as it's brilliant. The vampire was very well conceived and didn't look all CGI and no knickers, it was ugly and vicious, no dapper gent in a tux with fangs. One of the best versions of a monster vampire I've seen, apart from the bat version in Bram Stoker's Dracula. I am so glad we got chance to watch it, and because that old faithful DVD still works watch it again when we want. Kev always said keeping it would pay off and it has... Shame though that it never got released over here, I think it would have done well. 

in Between Days

Thursday.

My Brother in law Pete Birthday! I hope he had a good one as he deserves it... 

Charlotte came over around 10.30 am ish and we had a Disney kinda day, we finished watching Zootopia, and then we watched Brother Bear. We had lunch and then played Monopoly, I won for a change. My frame came for my cross stitch and Kev set it up for me. I've started it, but I'm only doing a bit at a time so I can really enjoy it. 

I've come out in a cold sore, a hangover from the stomach virus the other week and a spot, which shows you how run down I'd got. Dug out my derma wand and zapped it. Hopefully that'll kill it. Tea tree gel on the cold sore so again hopefully that will kill that quick.

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day so up early. I did chores while Kev did that,  then later on my cross-stitch kit came, what? I hear you cry another craft to go at? Yes, I used to cross-stitch  many years ago, but I can't do counted cross-stitch. Stamped cross-stitch kits disappeared from the craft shops, leaving only the counted kits easily available. So I turned my attention to other crafts. Recently, there has been a resurgence in Stamped kits available on line in the sort of images I want to stitch. So I ordered one. I also ordered a new frame that doesn't add to the creasing of the picture at the end. Although I still have all my other stuff to do, but this would be something to sit down at night with in front of the TV. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Quite a nice start to the day. We got ready for Sue and Pete picking us up to go to the Goose at Gamston for lunch. Despite a dodgy meal last week it's good to report that the food this week was much better. I'm convinced it was down to the server and that our food had sat waiting ready longer than it should. But, I'm glad it was better as it's Petes birthday on Thursday and we wanted to treat him. 

We had a right laugh at Morrisons as they took us there  after so we could get a few bits of shopping to do.

It's always good to see them both and the belly laughs were genuine... 

In Between Days

Sunday.

A busy day at work. Great not to have to worry about asking if it was OK for me to use my bus pass as the new one worked fine. 

Lovely that so many of my regular customers came up and said they'd missed me and was I better. Including Stephen, who moaning as always was telling me how I'm the only one he trusts to top up his mobile. Bless, but he just doesn't understand that his way is becoming more and more obsolete. 

We were very lucky on the way home, Ian offered to pick us up as he was fetching Charlotte in his new car. 

It is stunning, not electric, but as quiet as one. Higher up so easier for Charlotte to get in and out of. It was so kind of them both. As they both are to us both many times, going out of their way to help us out in lots of ways. Good friends find you when you don't know you're lost. 

In Between Days

Friday.

Nice chilled day. We got up around 8 am. Ian bought the shopping round, then Kev nipped into Bridgeford to get the food for the weekend. I had to stay in because my Artfromtheheart parcel was due. My new stencils and paints from Dyan... Some gorgeous colours... 

Later on I had a play with them and I can see me having a lot of fun with them. 

Saturday.

Back to work, it went OK. I only had to pay on the 58. Not worth asking no charm transport ( NCT) to let me travel with a non scanning pass. They can't even say good morning let alone have a conversation with you. Both Trent Barton buses were fine with me not scanning my card. And the 33 driver is always lovely, so no problem there. Anyway, we got home and my new pass had come, Hurrah! 

We had a night of throwaway TV and an early night. 

In Between Days

Thursday.

We didn't wake up until 9am. I hadn't had a brilliant night's sleep. It was a bit fitful. A few things going off in my head. Nothing much, just me overthinking again. 

I rearranged my desk and trolley a bit making room for the tin, which now contains my heat gun and embossing powder.

I did my pages, and made another card. A quite involved one, which took a bit of time. But I'm happy how it came out... 

In Between Days

Tuesday. 

A wet miserable day. That only got worse. 

We went into town, the first time I'd been out the house since Thursday. I needed some fresh air, and boy, did I get it. Still being careful with my food I carried on eating light. We got what we needed and were back home by 1pm. 

My bus pass has stopped scanning on both buses and trams, somehow the chip in it has stopped working. So one of the first jobs I did when we got home was ring up the council. After an hour of being told you need to ring Nottingham council, ringing them, then told no, it needs to be Rushcliffe to them saying it needs to be City, I rang the number on the back of the bus. The guy on the end of the phone was great, helpful and very efficient.  One is being sent to me. Might take up to 10 days but at least ones coming. In the meantime I'll just have to pay. 

Wednesday.

Valentine's day  and wash day of course. 

That done, Charlotte myself and Kev went to The Goose at Gamston for lunch out. We haven't been out together for ages and it made a nice change. 

I had a lovely surprise, a friend in the USA found a Gideons bakehouse tin at a yard sale and sent ot to me. She knew I was looking for one, but hadn't found one over here. It is lovely and will take pride of place on my desk. You know, I have some very thoughtful and kind friends. 

In Between Days

Monday.

First day I felt decent enough to climb out of my pjs, shower and eat something that wasn't toast. The stamp set that have sat there since Saturday not being touched, I felt like having a play with. 

We watched the Super Bowl last night, I made it to the first quarter before having to give in and go to bed, bit Kev watched until the half time show. We watched the rest in the morning. I like American Football, its a damn sight more entertaining than Soccer... We went to see the Miami Dolphins play the Cincinatti Bengals once and I loved the atmosphere. 

It must have been gutting for the 49ers to get so close to winning, but well done to the Chiefs for winning yet again. 

They bought us our home alert tablet from Metropolitan today, it took ten minutes to install and to talk us through it. Piece of cake. I bet some of the older residents here won't grasp what it's for, but I do think it's a good call for reporting problems and for them being able to check on you daily. We have to actually press the daily "I'm OK" prompt on screen each morning before midday, so they know that we don't need any assistance. Clever really. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

I've had a few days off from blogging as I've not been well. I didn't want to bore you with the details, but I'm feeling a bit better now. At first I thought it was my diverticulitis playing up, but I contacted the NHS helpline and gave them my symptoms. They said it sounded like a virus, and to stay put, drink water and because I'm diabetic not to take my meds until I had stopped running to the loo. If it hadn't stopped in 48 hours to go straight to a walk in centre or my own doctors. Luckily for me it stopped overnight. I just feel a bit drained, and my stomach is sore. But, at least I had a bit of food today. So it's more or less business as usual. So now you know why I wasn't posting... 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day, so an early start. Exercises done, I'd had an idea for a couple of cards. So I got cracking and did those. The way I make cards two cards can take a good couple of hours or more, so by the time I'd finished it was lunchtime and Charlotte had nipped round. 

Finally, the last of my make up refresh had arrived so that's me sorted for the next 12 months. 

We finished that Domino Day on Iplayer there was only six episodes, but it was very good. I'm hoping the way it ended meant there was more to come. 

As Kev had never seen it and I had only watched the first series, we found Prime were streaming Supernatural, so we watched a couple of them. 

Kev also found me a new book series ( murder mystery) it's a little fluffy, light reading, but sometimes that's enough. 

In Between Days.

Monday.

A day of deliveries and sorting out. After Kev had helped me sort my stamp collection out last week, he then helped me rearrange my die storage. All the Christmas and Halloween dies went to the backorder the filing cabinet and all my everyday dies came forward. The majority of them are as you might rightly guess are Tim Holtz sizzix dies, I like the way his look, even though the colorize dies are a faff they do look fabulous once done. That's mainly why I do them well in advance, so I'm not against a deadline. That way I can enjoy making them ( with a smattering of swearing while I'm at it). So that all done I can now get down to crafting in a bit more tidy surroundings.

Tuesday.

Overslept a bit, we were both dead to the world, so we had to pull our fingers out to get the bus, and wouldn't you know it, the bus was late. Great, we just managed to get our shopping done before meeting Sue and Pete at the Roebuck. A little late, but they were OK with it. It was lovely to see them both as always, and it always goes by so quick. 

Got home and started decorating my new Dyalog cover using a sheet of canvas and stamping the tea and cake sets of stamps, and then colouring them. It looks great I think. 

In Between Days

Saturday.

Resting day. I massaged my ankle exercised it and put a support on it. So planned a day making cards, doing pages in my dyalog.

We had the streams on YouTube from Disney on the TV in the background. Nice to look at and listen to. Lovely relaxed day and evening. Its the start of Mardi Gras in Universal Studios and we watched a couple of them going there and saw the parade, eating po'boys and beignets, catching beads and drinking cocktails. All good fun. A lot safer than actually going to New Orleans, and as much as I've always wanted to go, I'm afraid I wouldn't do the trip justice now. 

Sunday. 

So lovely to turn over and go back to sleep until gone 8! Willow came and curled up on me, as snug as a bug in a rug. 

When we did get up we got ready for lunch out at the Manvers in the village. Full works Sunday Roast, and very nice it was too... 

Then once we got home Kev went to watch the football and I watched the Park Streams until Pottery Throw Down came on and Charlotte got here. Nice to see another Potter win Potter of the week, its not that I don't like Donna's work, I do, but it's so obvious she will win the show its nice to see it get shared around the group as they all have some amazing skills. 

In Between Days

Friday.

We went for a walk down by the canal. Kev stood on and broke Willows treat dispenser (by accident) so we went to B&M to fund a new one. Unfortunately non to be found. So we went in Home Sense and Kev found a new astronaut, this one holds the remote controls. 

We went into Sainsbury's as I had a gift card to spend. I finished my make up refresh, as they have the same make up set up that they do at Arnold, so a good range to choose from. 

I did the walk there and back with a sit down for coffee when we got there, and one on the canal wall on the way back which is good for me. However, I did suffer later on, my left ankle swelled up and was very stiff, so I will work on it tomorrow. 

When we got back, I reorganised my stamps because I'd bought some sleeves for them and with Kevs help I got them all done and now they should be easier to flip through without losing the odd stamp.

In Between Days

Thursday.

We got up and went out to West Bridgeford. We headed for coffee at 200° on the edge of the park. It was busy as always and we struggled for a seat, but that speaks volumes on how good it is. Kev loves the coffee, I love their hot chocolate. We both ordered cinnamon buns, I had a little of mine, but I can't manage much these days of anything sweet. So lucky for me Kev has a sweet tooth and helps me out by finishing what I can't manage. But it's nice to have a treat when you are on holiday from work. Not quite Coffee and Beignets in Port Orleans Florida, but it's enough until we go hopefully next year. 

We got the food shop including some blood oranges from M&S before coming home. Nice to do things at our own pace, have quality time at home with Willow, without constantly thinking about having to plan for work this weekend. 

We had a note pushed through the door when we were home telling us that Rhiannon the Supervisor over at the centre is leaving, she already told Kev yesterday that she's moving to head office, so it's no shock. We thought something was on the cards as they are bringing out a new system that is a digital tablet type affair that you can log repairs, request help and raise issues with Metropolitan if you need to. Thus making having someone in the office over at the centre obsolete. I bet she won't be replaced, they'll just have the woman that runs Spring Meadow do both centres, until the digital system makes her obsolete too. 

Not so daunting for us, as Kev and I are fairly tech savvy, but some of the older residents will struggle. I can't count how many Supervisors we've had in the 8 years we have been here. At least 5. Some only lasting about six months. Mind you, can you blame them with some of this lot. Kev and I rarely if ever need to bother them, even when I was in the wheelchair/bedbound we coped. We are lucky I know we have each other and are fairly capable of looking out for each other, others here aren't. It will be an interesting time I think. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day so despite being on holiday an early start. I did my end of the chores, cleaning the bathroom is so much easier now I have that microfiber mop. 

Then we settled down to doing our own stuff, I made another couple of cards. I like to take my time and enjoy the process, rather than leave it until its got to be done asap  as that takes the enjoyment out of it. My sister is the same with her sewing, she likes to do projects at her own pace. We were talking about it last week. Neither of us have ever wanted to make a business out of our hobbies, as we both want to stay enthusiastic about them rather than make money from it.

It's harder for her, being a sewist, people always expect you to alter stuff for them ( for little to no money) and yes, she has for me in the past, including cutting down my oodie from last year, but I never expect her to, and she knows if she ever needs a card doing I would do one whenever. But we are family and that's different. But, I would never expect her to do stuff for free, or anything complex. But people will always push the envelope...