Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

"A day of treats.... I felt I deserved it."
You most certainly do Wendy.
I shall be chasing an engine in the shed.
It looks as though it has stopped raining Sue but instead we have a north wind! I shall wrap up and have walks!

[Cathy]

A great way to build up your spirit Wendy and good news about Colin.

[Sue]

Morning

Well yesterday certainly lived up to its forecast and rained heavily all day with just the occasional respite. Today sounds similar but a little drier with a stunning temperature of 8 degrees. Thank goodness I had activities yesterday morning and in the afternoon I completed the next chapter and assessment of my embroidery course. Our new garden furniture arrived which Bob built in the conservatory and we carried it out together in one of the dry windows. Its made of recycled plastic, is heavy and should last years

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This morning is Bacup market, and at 11.00 i have my telephone consultation about my hand. What I do after that depends if the GP wants to see it, which I presume he will. The 7 day surgeries are held in three places in the borough , I shall opt for Heywood, being my nearest. I understand the surgeries are run by the Rochdale borough GPs so it may or may not be someone from my own GP practice.

I have no other plans, have a good day everyone. Stay dry

[Big Kev]

I like the garden furniture Sue.

[Stanley]

Just needed to observe that despite the forecast assuring us it would be dry it's raining....

[Stanley]

Once again Sue I love the structure of your day. I think you and Bob enjoy routine just as much as I do. I often wonder about families and individuals who seem to me to be living in a permanent state of chaos!



I've had a nice 90 minutes in the shed and am half way to having a clevis on the end o0f the valve rod.....

[Gloria]

There is light at the end of the tunnel Wendy, it just seems a long way off at times, but you will eventually get there.

[Wendyf]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, must admit that my protective coating is starting to wear a bit thin in places!

[Big Kev]

Stay strong Wendy. Try to have a few more excursions with friends.

[Stanley]

I have a feeling she might survive..... Tough little bugger!
Back in my own world, I shall be in the shed with the engine but as some point today will have to attend to my feet as Nurse Susan is hors de combat at the moment. We'll see later how that pans out but I'll guess late morning.

[Wendyf]

Me and my pal.

[Stanley]

Lovely relationship Wendy.... you don't get many like that in a lifetime and when you do, they are to be treasured.
Today's schedule has gone for a Burton already..... I decided there was too much cooking and foot maintenance to leave until later this morning because then it would interfere with essential exercise. So I have soaked my feet in Epsom Salts and cut my nails and put a prime rib steak to cook in a casserole with tomatoes and onions. (I did wash my hands thoroughly!)
The engine will still be there tomorrow.

[Sue]

Morning

Well yesterday turned out to be a really nice day after a very cold dull start. I planted out my beetroot and my pot bound runner beans and put some more seeds in to soak to plant in pots today. I lost so many runner bean seeds by lack of germination I need to make up a few on my cane wigwam. After a really good watering all the plants look very perky this morning from what I can see from my bedroom window. The greenhouse is beginning to look empty. I managed to get a good established tomato plant at the market to replace the one that died and that had recovered from its planting by the time I closed the greenhouse last night. Today I intend planting some flower seeds, aubretia, forget me nots and a couple of others. I don’t want to sprinkle them on the soil because I think the birds will have them .

I had my GP consultation by phone and went along to the surgery in Heywood. I have a nodule on the palm of my hand and a tightening tendon which tge Doctor says is the start of trigger finger. The conditions is usually associated with heavy work so I assume it is my gardening being my right trowel hand. There is no treatment at this stage but it may require some later. The appointment was lunchtime so we had a late lunch that I was very ready for. Whilst pottering in the garden I did a bit of multi tasking and made the lightweight denim cropped trousers, one more pair to go which I hope to do today whilst Bob is down at the park . I shall also chat to Eve later on whats app, but may not get chance to speak to B and do our weekly art as the family are all going to the cinema. I think they are all ready for and in need of a family treat. I am sure they will enjoy it.

So a Tesco delivery this morning, followed by our Sunday cooked breakfast, then the ironing. Let the day commence . Yes Stanley we like a bit of a structured day. In my case it is habit after nearly 30 years of living to a teaching timetable when each minute of the day had to be planned for. I always closed my day with writing a two paged list in a book . One page was what I was teaching the next day and what I needed to have ready and to hand quickly, the other page was a list of what I had to prepare for the following weeks teaching. Those were the days. At least now my structure is of my own choice

Have a good day everyone. I am not sure of the forecast, its dry now.

[Wendyf]

My hands are a mess with nodules and tightening tendons Sue. My brother had the op a few years ago and it has been successful so far.
Stanley I think the main reason I'm a bit weepy and sorry for myself at the moment is because I'm grieving for Dennis now the requirement for staying tough has lessened slightly.

[Stanley]

"I have a nodule on the palm of my hand and a tightening tendon which the Doctor says is the start of trigger finger."
Thanks for the free diagnosis Sue, I have exactly the same thing but it's the third finger on my left hand. First thing in the morning my finger is crooked but soon loosens up as I go forward into the day. I can live with it.
Good luck with the rest of the day.... No summer I'm afraid and we are promised rain from noon on so I shall try to get a walk in before it starts. That's the main reason I did my feet and cooking now. I don't want to miss what bit of fine weather we have.
Just seen your post Wendy and I would say that's very likely. We have to grieve but if there is a more urgent demand on us we unconsciously postpone it. It's happened to me in the past. Give yourself the freedom to grieve. it's not a sign of weakness but shows you understand the way your head works. It makes me weepy and he wasn't my horse!

[Sue]

Just seeing the photo makes me a bit weepy too. Pets are more than just animals they are members of the family. So far so good with the weather . Two showers forecast but not happened yet and I hope to get my last load of washing for the week, dry enough for me to iron.

I had done a bit of self diagnosis with my hand using t’internet, but I wanted to be sure. As you say Stanley I can live with that, its not knowing that is the worry, the Dr suggests I try and use my left hand more for gardening, which shouldn’t be too difficult as I use my left hand for lifting pans and carrying heavy bags.

Ah well back to the ironing

[Stanley]

Have you tried ironing with the left hand? Mine mustn't be too bad because I just ignore it.
Today I'm aiming for the shed but there are some cupboard doors in the kitchen that need cleaning and I could do with Vacuuming..... Decisions decisions! (And I need a head shave as well!)

[Sue]

Morning

No , Stanley, I can’t iron with my left hand, I can just about use the trowel. I tried yesterday. I had to once years ago when I got tendinitis in my right wrist and could not use my right hand for weeks. I could lift, and carry with my left but not much else. When I was a teenager I used to volunteer at the Occupational Therapy unit at my local hospital to get some medical work experience in preparation for my application to medical school. The OT showed me all the various tests they did to assess people and she identified that I had a week left hand. She gave me exercises to do and advised me to use my left hand more. Thus I developed the habit of lifting and carrying with my left. Over the time that I helped there the strength in my left improved but was never as good as my right, I think it is still the same

Yesterday was chilly, windy and dry till about 6.00 and then rained heavily all evening. I think today is the same. The forecast on Countryfile said there was another few days of this warming up towards the end of the week. My veggies that I planted out are holding their own, and my new tomato plant in the greenhouse is looking strong and growing well. I planted some flower seeds, aubretia , forget me nots, and Chinese lanterns. Today I want to pop down to B&M to get some nasturtium seeds. I think the birds have eaten the ones that are in the soil from last years flowers. In the afternoon I finally made my last pair of cotton trousers for the summer and shortened my last T shirt so all my current sewing projects are completed. I shall be looking round for things to do.

This morning is pilates, so my trip to B&M will be later. If it stays dry I may walk down, its near Rochdale in what used to be a B&Q store. I was hoping my glasses would come but no sign of them yet. The scratch ln the lens of my old glasses is beginning to annoy me now. Perhaps they will arrive today and I can make my walk doubly worthwhile. I also have a T-shirt to return to M&S

Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Once again a well planned day.... My planning hasn't extended to cupboard doors or cutting my hair yet. I shall take a view when I have had my second sleep, from the sound of the forecast it could be a bit wet!



This morning was 90 minutes of quiet cautious cutting and a good result. That'll do me!

[Stanley]

Hair cut and sun dance first thing, something has to change this weather! Cook sausages. Shed work on con rod and eccentric rod. Then exercise whenever possible, not walking in the rain if I can avoid it!

[Sue]

Morning

Another unexpected half decent day yesterday despite the forecast. It was not particularly warm but did not rain until 11. 00 pm . After my mornings pilates and yoga we did decide to walk in to Rochdale in the afternoon, armed with cagoules but we did not need them . We managed all our jobs, bank, B&M and M&S and did a longer circuit back, just over 5 miles. We are feeling a little more confident about entering shops now but still only do so when they are nearly empty. Later I planted the few flower seeds that I bought and will now wait impatiently for them all to germinate.

Being Tuesday pilates and yoga are around tea time. I have no main plans for the day but have decided to tidy out a shelf in my wardrobe, it is full of oddments of makeup and toiletries. Much of the former I now never use, the colours are out dated and I hardly wear makeup now. I wore it daily when I worked. Its time for it all to go in the bin. I am not sure of the forecast but I could also do with tidying up dead crocus and daffodil leaves in the garden as new growth is being hidden by a tangle of them. Otherwise I have no plans. Perhaps I should tackle this months art project. I haven’t done the last two months as inspiration has escaped me.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

"We are feeling a little more confident about entering shops now but still only do so when they are nearly empty. "
Exactly my feelings Sue. The virus is still out there. I was walking along the footpath across the Green yesterday and saw two schoolgirls walking towards me so I stepped off the path to windward and gave them space. They noticed and it quite obviously amused them. They have no concept of the danger they can pose to the older end.
I did what I promised this morning and cut my hair. Tell Bob that if he pops over I'll do his free....



Then I went in the shed and did useful things to my connecting rod. See shed matters for the reasons why I am not doing it the way the drawings say it should be.



That was closing time, useful progress and I've enjoyed myself. Now for the rest of the day I hope there is less rain than in the forecast so I can have an enjoyable walk.

[Sue]

Ee Stanley I liked your head of hair! Bob meanwhile uses our friend Kath, retired hairdresser. It gives her some extra pocket money.

I know what you say about school children not understanding. It is however not all of them thank goodness. The analysis of the rise of numbers in Bolton is that much of it at the moment it is the results of testing in secondary schools, uncovering cases that would otherwise not have been known about. Although obviously there are other issues as it is not as bad in other places. Rochdale numbers remain almost static, twice the national average but only fluctuating daily with one or two cases. There was a massive push on drive in vaccinations at the football ground at the weekend and streets in Rochdale became gridlocked because of the queues. That can only be good news

[plaques]

Surprising how the world changes over 12 months. A ride out to Shuttleworth Mead business park on the other side of Padiham. Basically to buy some more fancy decorative glass for the kitchen walls. Padiham Glass is now part of Acorn Trade Windows & Doors with their trade outlet next door to where they used to be. Before leaving the trading estate we dropped in at the Bistro for tea and a butty. Mid morning so the place was empty. Spotlessly clean with tables all spread out and maximum+ virus controls. Staff really pleasant and helpful, can recommend the place if you're in that neck of the woods.

[Stanley]

"Shuttleworth Mead"
Something tells me a developer named that!
I shall be aiming for the shed and the 10H as usual but trying to fit in some light domestic work without interfering with the walks. I am starting the day with a load of washing.
Sue, I hate having hair on my head, it itches so I always know when a haircut is indicated. The clippers are the best £40 I ever invested.