Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

Yes!
Power to the shopping trolley!
We did tell you it will change your life...

[Stanley]

Right, that's that done. All the essential shopping in one go. I don't need to go out for a week at least. That counts as my second walk as well! I think I deserve my breakfast......

[Sue]

Morning

The snow last night was minimal as I suspect the whit stuff will be today. We will assess the walking weather later. We didn’t walk yesterday as it remained treacherous under foot all day. The pavement on our side of the road never thawed. At the moment our outdoor exercise is only limited by the weather, lets hope it stays like that. Otherwise the new lockdown will have little effect on us. Our online orders are booked till the end of January as we always book ahead, but it looks like the queues for slots has already started. I shall not dwell on the lockdown but let my thoughts move on to the activities to keep me occupied.

I started sewing my quilted runner yesterday and got as far as I can until my applique backing fabric comes, so today I think I will delve into my box of UFOs (unfinished objects) I was making some twiddle blankets for distribution by the U3A craft group. These are for people with dementia to cuddle, pick at, pull at instead of pulling at themselves. I had started a batch of 9 last February and still have 4 to finish. I can’t do anything with them until after lockdown but they wii be finished. Then there is my hand done patchwork table mats! I finished my first ‘Celt’ assessment yesterday, so have that to carry on with. I must have loads of unfinished things around without having to resort to yet another Spring clean and round of cupboard tidying. We have jigsaws, we have a couple from Christmas, and have started the white one, yes all white. Thank you Claire. I will get back to you on that.

So it looks like I am back to my old mantra

Think positive, keep busy, stay safe and have as good a day as you can, though these days they all seem to roll into one with much tea, coffee and Christmas cake being consumed!

[Marilyn]

We count ourselves lucky to have had a long walk under sunny skies today...
I also count myself lucky that the Sciatica is not bothering me, unless I step the wrong way or twist the wrong way...so it is receding. I did have one moment when hubby was following me down the stairs, so I tried to hurry a bit so as not to impede him. In future he can simply go ahead. Months of making my way down stairs have proved I must not rush! Slow and sure wins the race.

[Marilyn]

Watching “Our Yorkshire Farm” again tonight ( with a glass of red). What a beautiful family...and what a lovely place.

[plaques]

Mrs P managed to burn out the blender making buckets of soup. Another one now ordered so today's excitement will be taking the old one apart. Not expecting any miracles it has that burnt out motor smell that you get when you use things on an industrial scale. Some people do jigsaws or even write on OG. I like to spend my lockdown time wasting my time.

[Marilyn]

I would say you need to get out more, Plaquey, but I guess that is a bad thing to quote at the moment...

[PanBiker]

We are allowed walking for exercise. Not much chance of catching anything in the fields and around the lanes.

[Sue]

Off for a walk now, keeping to rough paths, less chance of smooth ice. 0 degrees feels like -4 it says for Healey !

We have a soup maker, Morphy Richards I think . Best £45 ever, it does two litres plus in one batch. Throw veg in and water etc, switch on, done in 21 minutes . As its stainless steel, it just rinses out

[Wendyf]

An interesting morning so far. Col had a 9am appointment at Airedale to get his line flushed, so I got the ponies fed then out early and the car defrosted ready for an 8.30 start. When I got back in the house Col announced that we were going to Aldi in Colne afterwards, he had made a list of stuff I had to get. This was news to me and meant that I had to get changed into 'fit to go out' clothes, I made a bit of a fuss and stomped around getting ready but decided I might as well go with the flow.
What should have been a ten minute appointment turned into something longer as there is a worry his line is coming out and he needed an x-ray, no idea how long he would be. I'll just point out that Col remains a control freak despite his illness and won't let me pay for parking in the car parks at Airedale, I am expected to drive around or park out on the road. The instruction now was to go to Aldi in Silsden with his list, which I did and it was unpleasantly busy there and by the time I got out I was needing a pee badly....
Text to Col, still no idea how long he would be so I decide to make a run for home. I had reached Lothersdale before the phone rang and for some reason the Bluetooth connection didn't work so by the time I pulled up he had hung up. I was desperate and anxious by the time i reached home and contacted him, but instead of being upset and accusing Col was walking happily back to Crosshills, thoroughly pleased with himself and enjoying a bit of independence. Met him in the Co-op car park just as he got the news that his line was still OK. Phew.
Just had a coffee and he wants me to take him to Colne! I have now insisted that he gets a parking permit for Airedale.....

[PanBiker]

When I had to take Sally to A&E during the lockdown the car parking was all free at Airedale the barriers were permanently open unless they have changed them back now, not been since that episode before Christmas. Good on Col making his own escape and that his line is still in good order.

I was just thinking, do they not have a toilet at the Silsden Aldi been in but never noticed. I'm fairly sure there is one at the Barlick store in the loading area after the checkouts.

[Stanley]

That Col is a law unto himself isn't he Wendy. I can see you in my mind's eye doing the exercise Michael Palin did in that film, holding his left wrist with his right arm and repeating the word 'calm'.....
Ken, there is no finer occupation for a man and a toolbox than taking things to bits. Well done and more power to your elbow! Remember it qualifies as light exercise.

[Wendyf]

They probably do have one in Aldi Ian but it was so busy that I just wanted to get out! The barriers in car park 3 are open all the time but there are no signs saying it's ok to park without paying. The staff on the mobile unit this morning didn't know what was happening.

[PanBiker]

I see they reintroduced car park charges in October. You can certainly get a concessionary pass for your visits:

From Airedale's website:

"Concessionary Permits

Reduced parking charges are available for:

Patients attending the cancer services (Richardson Suite or HODU) on a regular basis"

[Wendyf]

I saw that Ian, just need to convince the man in charge.....

[Sue]

They probably do have one in Aldi Ian but it was so busy that I just wanted to get out! The barriers in car park 3 are open all the time but there are no signs saying it's ok to park without paying. The staff on the mobile unit this morning didn't know what was happening.

Phew what a performance, Wendy but so glad Col felt up to a walk. Really nice walking weather today . There is no toilet in any of our Aldis or Lidl. Are they open in other supermarkets. Not been in a supermarket since Super U in France in March .

[Wendyf]

It was all worthwhile Sue just to cheer him up! Think I might go for a walk now to clear my mind, but hang on, I haven't cleared away the breakfast dishes yet!!

[PanBiker]

I saw that Ian, just need to convince the man in charge.....

Drop him off and then park and pay the full price a few times, that will convince him.

[Stanley]

I think he believes all this keeps you alert and flexible Wendy....

[Wendyf]

I've studied the concessions and decided they arent suitable for the use we would give them at the moment. You can park free for 20 minutes and he is usually only 10 minutes getting flushed or the having the pump removed and on chemo days I just drop him at the main entrance and collect him again. Next chemo venue changed from Boundary Mill car park to Morrison's in Skipton.....i expect a shopping list is being prepared already.
The concession is £9 a month....

[Stanley]

This cooking gets serious. I have just sat down after spending half an hour deboning and removing fat and gristle from a good bunch of cheap mutton cuts. The gravy is in the fridge separating from the fat and the meat is back in the slow cooker with the flavouring bits and a kilo of mixed veggies and peas. As soon as the fat sets the gravy can go back in and then we are ready for the next stage of cooking tomorrow.
Within reason, the older the sheep and the cheaper the cut, the better the meat tastes!

[Marilyn]

Have you been told about “Chemo Brain”, Wendy?
It is very real...maybe Col the beginnings of it. Patience will be required

[Wendyf]

Have you been told about “Chemo Brain”, Wendy?
It is very real...maybe Col the beginnings of it. Patience will be required

Patience has been required for 45 years....

[Marilyn]

My husband is a control freak, has some memory issues and selective hearing. The other day he said he wanted to show me a wall unit, in a furniture shop, that he thought I might like. He took me to look at the same wall unit that we looked at six months ago, but he had completely forgotten doing it. The shop assistant looked at us oddly whilst she answered all the same questions again. I felt like pulling her aside and whispering in her ear.
We still didn’t buy it, second time round! (Too expensive).

[Stanley]

I don't need to do cooking of veggies until tomorrow so I shall do a couple of hours on Margaret's engine and attend to the gas man when he cometh this afternoon to give the CH boiler its annual service.
Normal walk expected, no new snow.