In Between Days

Thursday.

We waited in for Scottish Power to come to pit in smart meter ( we didn't want one but, we have no choice) if it's anything like the heating app Wiser home, it'll make things worse! 

Anyway they tang at 3.30 to say they couldn't make it and could they come in December. Kev said no, we are busy, and can't afford to waste anymore days waiting in for nothing. So they are now coming the end of January. Fine with us, as I said we didn't want one anyway.

So I finished the cards I started yesterday, and made tags. Then my little ghost came from Matlock Ghost

Emporium. Her name is Ann Marie and is is adorable. She looks perfect on my tier tray and now we've adopted her she is living her best unlife... 

In Between Days

Tuesday. 

We went on the bus to the station and walked down by the canal to look in Homesense and B&M. I wanted stuff to put on the tier tray Kev has bought me for Christmas. I've been thinking about one for a while and I like the idea of decorating it for Halloween and Christmas. Not sure I'd do it for each season but it would be nice for both those. 

We didn't find much in either, and to be honest Homesense was a nightmare. They've put in loads more shelving and you can hardly get round. So in the end we gave up and went for a coffee at Costa. Then we went in B&M where I found some of the baubles I was after and a couple of things for the tray, but not anything amazing, it was just one of those days I guess. 

We then went to Sainsbury's,  and I got a new pair of pj's ( too big, so they've got to go back!) But we did get the soap dispenser I wanted and a gift off my list. 

We had an uber home.

The good news was something went right today as Liz from work found us some lightweight filler at B&Q so we can make some more mug toppers... So that at least saves us having to try and get to Wickes or Screwfix now! Very kind of her... 

In Between Days

Wednesday. 

Against all odds the tumble dryer over at the centre was fixed. Which was a blessing, so we didn't have to drag ourselves back to that launderette this time. I was surprised it was fixed if I'm honest, must've been an easy fix. 

I cracked on and started batch making the bulk of my Christmas cards. I'm cutting down how many I send. It's getting more pricey each year. Not that I send to receive, but a lot of people are stopping cards, I get so many replies that they are going to donate rather than send cards that I'll make it easier by not making them feel guilty by sending one in the first place. 

So, I chose a theme and started the process, I enjoy it, but you have to have a plan, I'd cut backgrounds earlier in the month when I had time, so I had an idea which route to go down. I'll get them finished and my tags done tomorrow... 

In Between Days

Friday.

Most of the day revolved around my hair appointment. I was nervous about going out in the lingering snow, but luckily our car park and the street where the bus stop is was the worst area to navigate.

I went to Blu at 11.40, and left at 2.30pm. It was the works, bleach, dye toner and cut. It looks great, and the new colour is red... 

So when I got home I was hungry and tired. I'm still fatigued, and I get out of breath when walking. 

But I'm better than this time last week. 

Saturday 

Back to work, I was relieved to see the rain and the slippy patches dissolve. As much as the rain is miserable, it clears snow, ice and slush away quickly. Trouble is, once it starts it doesn't know when to stop. 

Work went OK really, I was very tired by the end of my shift, and it was busy. The Christmas madness has begun! In fact I did say to one customer do you think they've announced its Christmas eve and not told us? You can tell with stuff going through, like booze, toys and clothing. There's a couple of stunts on 25% off both clothes and wine, so if you are buying gifts of either now is the time to get them... 

Sunday.

More rain, but thankfully a little warmer. And no more snow! 

Again very busy, but pleasant enough day. Shattered again by the time I got home, so a relaxing day planned for tomorrow... 

In Between Days

We were going to go out, but as Charlotte let us know how slippy it was underfoot, we decided against it. 

Instead, I cracked on with the Christmas cards, and wrapped my first Christmas gifts. Kev did another couple of mug toppers.

Yesterday we broke out the duvet and winter bedding. It's got to the point that the bedspread and blanket are no longer sufficient in keeping us warm overnight. So, time to dig out the warmer stuff. And time to start putting the electric blanket on too. 

So we'd had a warmer night and slept better because of it. 

I had my box to send my old phone back to Sky, and my new phone case came. I'm basically up to scratch on changing everything I needed to on the phone, all my work stuff is updated. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Not a good start. Kev put the washing on and then discovered the dryer isn't working. Surprised, not really, when you've got random people being allowed to use it, like Mr Busy's cleaner ( right scrutty madam!) Which you can guess wouldn't be bothered how to treat it. So how the bloody hell do get the washing dry?

We don't know anyone with a tumble dryer locally, so Kev and I got our thinking caps on, and I searched for Launderettes on Google. Kev found one in West Bridgeford. So off he went with a bag full of wet washing on the bus. Thank God for his bus pass! 

He got there and said a nice lady showed him how to use the dryer. I'd given him what coins I had, luckily it cost £4. You can't use cards. 

Anyhow, an hour or so later he was on his way back home with nice dry washing. 

So, even though he reported the dryer, we know it's going to be a couple of weeks before it's fixed, so at least we have a way round it, I will have to make sure we have cash on hand ready for next week. Hopefully the snow will have gone, so we can go down together... 

Bloody nuisance though... 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

I had a brainwave the night before and booked an appointment for the doctors online. So much freaking easier! Better than battling with the dragons on the reception desk. So after my new phone arrived from Sky, (at 7.55 am!) We walked down to the hub in the village to the surgery. It wasn't an easy walk down as it had snowed quite heavily the night before. As you know I'm terrified of falling since my accident, so Kev held onto me as I squealed whenever my feet hit an icy patch, I'm such a wimp!

Anyway the Doctor was lovely, one I hadn't seen before. She listened to me, gave me a not fit/fit note, and told me to go carefully as Covid symptoms can hang around for three weeks afterwards. You might be clear, but you can have fatigue and etc. 

We got on the bus and headed into town, my first outing in a fortnight. And boy could I tell, I was knackered by the time we got home. 

We met Sue and Pete for lunch at the Slug and Lettuce as usual,  it was great to see them both. 

Their buses were re-routed their end because of the snow, so we by comparison got away lightly this time. 

I got home and continued to set up my new phone, it's not a lot different, just a bit faster. Trouble is it has a new number, if you need it, just dm me... 

In Between Days

Monday.

So I contacted the doctors about my not fit/fit note. Seems the Doctor wants me to make an appointment to see them before they'll do me one. I've got to ring in the morning to try and get an appointment. Ah well, I guess they want to make sure I'm fully better, who knows. 

So I let work know. 

I've also ordered a new phone, they waved a good deal at me so I took it up, cheaper than I'm on now and less of a contract period. It should come fairly quickly. I don't need an all singing all dancing phone, I had the latest one last time, and it has quite frankly a pain in the butt. So a mid priced phone that does what I need it to will be fine. 

I also bought the next book in the Thursday Murder Club series, The Bullet that Missed. I finished The last one last night and although I have a stack of books waiting on Kindle, I enjoyed it so much I fancied reading the next one. There is snow threatened tonight, but all we've had is sleet so more and rain before that. Time will tell if they have it right.

In Between Days

Saturday.

I'm starting to get my sense of smell back finally, which hopefully brings my appetite back with it. 

Ask me how I know and it's because I ordered a Bath and Body works candle Candy Apple Cauldron, I lit it last night, couldn't smell a thing, but when I got up this morning, the room smelled of tart green apples with a hint of sweetness. 

I do love their candles. They are relatively hard to come by in the UK, and have nowhere like the range in the US. Yankee candles are OK, but BABW ones burn to the edge of the jar if you let them burn correctly the first burn, and the scents linger. I have a jar I've had for five years, empty washed out so no wax remains and even now I remove the lid and you can still smell it. I keep my paper clips in it. The jars and lids are so pretty, I try and find stuff to keep in them. Obviously not food items but, Tim's ideology trinkets, or other crafty trinkets, like bows, gems and the like. I naturally go for the Halloween scents, but the Christmas ones are just as stunning. I just wish they had a store in Nottingham. Mind you, everyone would be getting their stuff for Christmas then because I would be a regular visitor! The Yankee Candle Shop in Victoria Centre is a waste of space, they are quite rude and never carry the Halloween ones. I've asked a few times, to be met with, no call for us to stock them, try online. No wonder physical shops are on the decline. The answer should never be order them online. 

So if you are looking for a beautiful looking and smelling candle I can recommend you do order online from one of groups on Facebook that import BABW products... 

In Between Days

Friday.

I decided to contact the surgery as I still don't feel well enough to return to work , I'm much better than I was and testing clear, but I still have some of the symptoms including fatigue. I haven't left the house for over a week, and I'm still sneezing and coughing. So, I think another week will be better than struggling at work still feeling rubbish. Hopefully my not fit note will arrive by Monday... You know the Doctors though, they take their time and they won't issue one until the exact day you need it, I think the word I'm looking for is pedantic. 

In Between Days

Wednesday 

Kev did the washing. I actually got dressed. But that took some effort, even though it was only trousers and a top. I'm still falling asleep as and when, small stuff is knackering me up. 

And I'm very phlegmy. My ears itch, and my throat is still sore, but a big improvement on last week. It's like someone has syphoned off all my energy.

In Between Days

Tuesday.

After another good night's sleep, and all the meds I can see a vast improvement from Friday/Saturday, the thing that seems to be clinging on is the lethargy and the tiredness. I had a shower, thank goodness I can sit in it, and washed my hair that made me feel better. But I was shattered afterwards like I'd run a marathon... On the brighter side I eat better as my sense of taste is better, and I can smell certain strong scents. 

We watched Truly Madly Deeply in the afternoon, one of my favourite movies, it's sad, and as Kev said its Ghost with a better storyline and better actors. 

I like Ghost, don't get me wrong, but Alan Rickman vs Patrick Swaze is like comparing Kenneth Brannah with Bruce Willis. Hamlet vs Moonlighting... As pretty as Demi Moore is, she can't ugly cry like Juliet Stephenson. I think that was the movie that made me love Alan Rickman, that and Dogma of course. 

That guy could turn up in a Texas video and give it class... 

Really enjoying the second Thursday Murder Club novel so far. I wonder who will play Elizabeth in the Netflix series? I sort of picture her as Helen Mirrian and Joyce as Celia Imrie, they are probably too old now to be considered by the casting team, but they'd suit the roles. 

In Between Days

Monday.

Feeling a little better. Still falling asleep a lot, and seem to have no energy, I did manage to sit at my desk and do my pages in my dyalog, but felt like I'd done a day's work after though. I'm reading the second Thursday Morning Club novel on Kindle. I finished The Pumpkin Spice Cafe the other night when I couldn't sleep, and needed something a little less fluffy. I like to mix up my reading, a bit of horror, a murder mystery, a bit of fluffy ( but not too romantic, not a chic lit fan) Vampire fiction again not the romantic kind, something with a bit of bite if you'll pardon the pun, and history especially Egyptian or true crime related. Tudor is a good time period for me, Wolf Hall was a favourite. I don't really do biography or auto biography much, I did manage the Daddy one ( Christopher Lee, Tall Dark and Grusome) And Vincent Price by Victoria Price his Daughter.

In Between Days

Sunday. 

I had a little better night's sleep. Not fantastic, but better than the night before. I feel like someone has sealed my nose up so I can't breathe through it. I can't taste anything. My throat feels like grater has been rubbed up and down it and swallowing glass shards to boot. 

Another day of watching TV ( mainly YouTube tutorials) dropping to sleep, cuddling Willow, who is being a little angel and when I open my eyes she is on my knee looking at me all concerned bless her. Doing all the meds I can, along with my hedge witch remedies, onion juice for my throat, lavender and nettle balm for my headache, yep your ghoul here would've been burnt at the stake in days of yore. 

Liz kindly bought Kev home from work, she messaged me to see how I was, found out he was in and got Carl to pick him up which again was very kind. 

In Between Days.

Saturday. 

I had an awful night, couldn't sleep because everywhere hurt. I felt like the guy in Beetlejuice hit by a truck. I had a couple of nosebleeds ( probably because I was trying to breathe through my nose. So I rang in work and told them I wasn't going to be in. That took me an hour, everytime I got through it cut me off! I was about to give up when someone finally answered. Not their fault, but by then all I wanted to do was sleep. I did get up though, to make a drink of lemon tea with honey and a flu powder, and did a covid test "just in case" positive... eek. Finding it easier to sleep sitting up I contacted the surgery to let them know I tested positive ( being type 2 diabetic, you have to inform them, in case symptoms escalate) and also the nurse was able to advise me what to take and what to be aware of symptom wise. I dread to think how ill I'd be if I didn't have the vaccine, as I feel dreadful as it is. 

I spent the day dozing with Willow carefully checking on me often. I haven't the energy to do anything but make a drink. I can't taste anything but forced myself to eat crackers or breadsticks in order to take my meds. 

I let the important people know, Sue, Charlotte. I told one person from work knowing that they will tell everyone else. 

And that was my day. Sorry that it was a but moany, but that's how feel. 

In Between Days

Friday.

They actually fixed the kitchen light, so Kev can cook again and next week we can see to strip the area back like we wanted to now Halloween has gone.

A bloke came this afternoon.

I am feeling like I'm coming down with a cold, so, I've already started having meds to fight back, hopefully it will keep it at bay for the couple of days I have to go to work.

Ian bought me a lovely little gift along with the shopping a set of three Wednesday nesting boxes, I was thinking of taking them into work with my lunch in, but then they might "disappear" like my lid for my thermos mug. 

So maybe not. 

Temu order came with the decor for next year and a couple of "extras" to go in Christmas gifts this year, yes I've made a start... Not really got much to buy except gift cards for main presents. So I am looking at little bits and bobs for people to unwrap. 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

I paid for the night before, the standing I did do, really gave me a lot of pain. Even Kev suffered, we can't do small gigs anymore, if we go to a gig now it needs to be a sit down one I'm afraid. 

I really enjoyed it though, but I've got to accept that I have a limit to my mobility that has got a lot worse since my accident.

So, a day of rest followed. 

Thursday.

We met up with Charlotte and went down by the canal to have lunch and do a little shopping. We looked at Christmas stuff, buying a few bits we needed. 

We had an uber home.

Still no word on when the light will be fixed. 

In Between Days

Tuesday.

Busy day. We met Sue and Pete for lunch at The Slug and Lettuce.As always it was lovely to spend some time with them and have a catch up. After a brief visit to a couple of shops. Then we came home to have a chill out before heading back into the city for a gig. 

It was weird going out in the evening, but I'm glad we did Voltaire was great, as was Hurtsfall the first band on, the second were OK but not my style, Lesbian Bed Death, more punk and noisy, even Kev wasn't keen, but they got the crowd going well enough and by the time Voltaire came on the crowd were well up for it. It was only a typical goth venue, upstairs ( ugh!) dark and small. But luckily they had seats round the edge and I was soon ensconced in one and sat there until Voltaire played. I managed to stand up for a couple of numbers, but had to sit down during his lengthy chats, and the later songs. 

Highlight of the gig for me was chatting to him as we waited while he soundchecked and set up his merch stall with Myumi his long time girlfriend. Nice chap and offered me a seat. He was impressed with my bat walking stick and my skeleton dance pattern trousers. Bless him. 

We obviously had a taxi home after the gig, and the city was fairly busy as there was something on at the arena. Most of the pubs were closing as it was past 11pm. Dirty stop outs! I felt like a naughty kid out late on a school night, almost creeping back into our bungalow complex. 

In Between Days

Friday through to Monday, the first four days of November.

As always, I found myself feeling down because spooky season is over. Then I checked myself, it's always spooky season in my heart. All the Christmas crap can't dull my orange glow, and don't get me wrong Christmas is good, I like it, especially as we go to my Sister Sue's and spend the day, a far cry from the days we were on our own, or when the Mum's were alive and having to tear arse between the two. That destroyed any shred of joy in Christmas alongside working in retail which will drain any good will to all men ( women and all the other pronouns you can point at me and try to get me to get me to get my head round!) And that said is my problem, because I'm old and easily confused.

So that said I moved on to planning the decor for next year in the garden, as much the same way they do in Halloween town in The Nightmare before Christmas! I think I'm the mayor, rallying Jack and the other residents to the clarion call of it's only 360 days to the next one ( this is at the time of writing this blog) 

Back to work went OK apart from an uncomfortable seat on a till on Saturday which made my back kill by the time I finished. Then Sunday, having to keep my knee pressed to the telemate to make it work, which left me with a bruise the size of a tennis ball on my knee cap. Thank God for ibuprofen gel and resting up today. Sunday Liz gave us a lift home from work and we were home for 5pm,  which is unheard of, so thanks to Liz and Carl for that! 

Kev went in work extra today, So I kept busy until Charlotte came round, I scrubbed the sink with bicarb, and citric acid, in the kitchen, scrubbed the loo with the same combo, and the shower head and sink in the bathroom. Logged the light in the kitchen with alertacall, as its not working,  and we can't really do a repair on it as safely.Did my pages, deep conditioned my hair. So productive day, all in all.