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Cleaning

I’ve been on a bit of a cleaning campaign of late. It begun with me purchasing some citric acid to give the washing machine a good clean, and get rid of the flakes that used to settle on the washing when the cycle had finished (it worked a charm, the inside of the machine is now gleaming and washing is coming out flake free) I then begun descaling the kettle and my iron, and have moved on to using citric acid wherever I think it may help – which is a surprisingly lot of places!

Yesterday I had a crack at cleaning the render on our bedroom window, and the side of the house. This time not using citric acid, but Sodium Hypochlorite. Around our window it did look particularly bad:

So I mixed up a batch – probably about 7 to 1 ratio – and using my Karcher whilst up the ladder I was able to apply the cleaner. Not perfect, but much, much better than it was. And I’ve learnt a lot in the process. I mixed up far to much mixture, and I probably didn’t include enough suficant (washing up liquid) to keep it fixed on the render. I’ll probably give it another go when we return from Greece, but for that, as I’ll be working on a much smaller area, I’ll probably get a pump sprayer which will be easier to manage and to direct on to those few areas that need doing.

In other news, the Monstera is currently sitting proud in the sitting room.

The weather’s not been too good. On Monday Becky and I got out for an after tea walk, but then for much of the middle of the week the weather was poor – cold and wet – before improving steadily since Friday evening and today has been a lovely sunny day*

Yesterday Sophie and Becky went to see Harry Styles at Wembley.

*I think the good weather today has led to a plague of flies (not house flies or fungus gnats, something in between size, perhaps 3 mm long). We think they have flown in as we’ve had the back door open. They then flock to the glass windows and doors; the best way to deal with them is to hoover them up. We first had them 3 weeks ago, a worrying new trend?

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Carpets, phones and and a blow to the head

At last, half term has arrived, but not before I was the victim of an industrial accident! On Thursday, I was in the staff room, chatting away, when I felt a heavy blow to the back of y head. Someone had accidently knocked over one of the vertical speakers, which swung down and hit me. It was a surprise, and it hurt! I wasn’t sure if I was concussed – I didn’t think I was, but wasn’t sure. Anyway, I had myself checked out and certainly by the next day I didn’t feel any the worse for wear, just waiting for the half term to finally end…

Yesterday I pulled up the carpet on the hall staircase. 90% of the job was easy, but its always that 10% …Where the carpet was furled up under the top and bottom step it was an absolute pain removing all the little hooks that had been used to secure it. But I’ve done it.

(Annoyingly, on returning from B&Q to buy some paint, I spotted a screw in the rear left tyre of my Micra. Have bought a £10 kit of Amazon to repair it – I’ll give that a go tomorrow.)

On Friday I ordered a new phone – a Motorola G34 – which arrived on Saturday evening. Unfortunately, on Saturday afternoon my Lebara sim stopped giving me data which was annoying and that, coupled with not having time today due to having to take up more carpet, meant the excitement and fun of getting and setting up a new phone has been lost, becoming more of a chore to fit in around everything else. Anyway, other than not being able to get mobile data, the new phone looks nice and appears to be a definite upgrade on my old phone, but I haven’t really had the chance to explore it properly yet.

This morning I went for a run – was only ever planning a slow 4 or 5k-er – but about 1K in I felt my calf “go” again (not as bad as before, but a definite moment) so I looped round and came home, which is a shame as I was enjoying pounding the streets again.

The weather has not been good so far this half term – yesterday was wet and miserable, today has been cold, v cold with a biting wind, not what I’d hoped for for this week.

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Dancing queens, butter, and bikes

Pic of the week 4/6/23

Yesterday, Becky and I travelled to London to see Abba Voyage. It was brilliant! I’m not really sure how they do it – its as if the four members of the band were there performing live for us, but they weren’t, but it was so realistic. Anyway, the music was brilliant and the dancing fun as they belted out all their classics. It really was a fantastic show.

We had originally planned to travel to London by train, but a train strike put paid to that plan, so we drove up instead, parking in the (pre-booked) NCP Richmond car park (circa £25) A really easy and direct route, although we were then slightly stymied when I discovered the district line between Richmond and Earls Court was closed that day for engineering works. So we got an overland train to Waterloo and then entered the tube system from there.  On our way back, we travelled directly from Strafford (the site of the London Olympics) all the way to Richmond on the London over ground.

In addition to the show, we also spent an hour or two exploring Camden which was fun.

Half-term is often a time for self care and I had both a dental hygienist appointment (my check up was cancelled as they no longer have any NHS dentists)  and also my over 50s medical check up at the doctors surgery. All was going well until the final results from my blood test came in and told me that my cholesterol is too high.  My total cholesterol level is 6.74 mmol/L – needs to be below 5 – my serum HDL cholesterol level (good cholesterol) is 0.98 mmol/L – needs to be above 1.0 – and my ratio TC/HDL is 6.9 and needs to be less than 4.5. So I have an appointment to discuss this with the doctor in 4 weeks time, but in the meantime I’ve started cutting out stuff high in polyunsaturated, so that means no butter, milk, cheese, chocolate, red meat … Looking on the positive side, I am seeing it as an opportunity to try new foods and expand my palette, rather than thinking of what I can’t have.

On Tuesday and Thursday I went spinning at Strode leisure centre, and really enjoyed it, so have signed up again, with the view that I cancel at the end of the summer holidays. Having tweaked a calf muscle whilst running today, it may be that I need to move my exercise away from high impact running to lower impact spinning and swimming. We’ll see ….

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It’s all gone quiet …

Pic of the week 18/9/22

All of a sudden the house is quiet and feels empty.

On Tuesday Sophie moved up to Cardiff, and on Thursday Sam returned to Cardiff to (re) start his first year at uni.  Their return does see to really mark the end of summer – whilst we still have dry days (although Tuesday, when Sophie moved pretty much rained all day, although fortunately not until she had got all packed up) and brightness and sunshine, it is now noticeably colder, almost surprisingly so. After such a long hot summer it doesn’t feel right to be cold!

Anyway, both Bambinos seem happy to be in Cardiff, embarking on the next stages of their life.  I think they were enjoying the comforts of living in “Hotel Home”, but now they are both moved in I think they are looking forward to the coming months.

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Summertime?

Pic of the week 8/5/22

With warm sunshine and clear blue skies, it does feel as though summer may have arrived, and I have had a very busy day today, making the most of the weather.

First up I ran, the first time without gloves, and also no under armour, was just a T-shirt day today for running, it seems a long time since I did that.  My running feels like it is OK, but the times are not quick, only just managing to sneak under 50 mins for the 10K.

I then spent a happy hour or so changing the coolant on the Corsa.  When I returned from taking Sam back to Cardiff the level dis seem low, so I drained the system, removed and (attempted to) cleaned the expansion tank (I couldn’t get all the gunk out) and refilled it with fresh coolant.  I will keep an eye on it to see if it is using an excessive amount.

And then I spent much of the rest of the day gardening. I planted up a number of pots with geranium and lobelia, and in the big trug on the lower deck I planted some geraniums and lobelia and also some sunflower seeds, some  “Evening sun” multi-headed, multi coloured sunflowers, and some “Little Dorrit” dwarf sunflowers, always exciting to see if they pop up.

And I have also planted x6 pumpkin seeds in small pots on the windowsill of my room, the plan is to plant them out when germinated and strong enough to face the demands of my poor soil.

Oh, and on Monday, I replaced the hot tap cartridge valve in the kitchen tap to stop it dripping.

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Weight

Pic of the week 20/3/22

So its probably taken me a few weeks longer than I might have hoped, but I am now regularly seeing my weight as sub 13 stones. It fluctuates on a daily basis, with Monday seeing me at my heaviest, but for the last three weeks I have had several days each week in the sub 13 stone category, and I am pleased about that.  It would have been very easy to have accepted 13 and half as the new norm, but then a t some point, that would have crept up again and so on.  I’m sure come the hols, and Naples, the pounds will pile back on, but piling back on from a lower base must be a good thing.

Today’s pic shows the downstairs loo, with our new tiles and the bright blue woodwork, a colour I am really coming to enjoy.

The sun has shone for the last couple of days, and the week ahead promises to be glorious – I’m looking forward to blue skies and a bit of warmth.

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Fun with power tools

Pic of the week

It has been a tough week at work.  Can’t really write why, here, but it was both busy and difficult.

So I was looking forward to today – going for a run, and then firing up my new circular saw. We’ve had the hall floor tiled (looks ace), but that of course means the floor level is higher and so doors need the bottom slicing off them.  I decided to invest in a circular saw, a couple of saw horses to support my work, and some clamps to keep everything in place. Over the years, I’ve learned the value of having the right tools – it makes everything so much easier.

Its been dry (so I could work outside) but cold, and a bit blustery, and I enjoyed immersing myself in my jobs.  Still a lot to do – just having one day off a week really does mean you try and cram everything into the one day, and its never enough time.  I had fun, am pleased with what I achieved, but am tired now. Early to bed tonight …

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Hall

Pic of the week 13/2/22

We’ve decided to have the hall re-tiled.  Becky has found the tiles she (we!) like, and a man to come and lay them. On Friday he announced that he was ready to come and do them – perhaps a little sooner than we had anticipated.

Anyway, I spent much of the weekend lifting the carpet, underlay,  gripper rods and lino from the utility room and taking it to the tip, and then giving the floor a good clean,  Today we ordered the tiles (circa £600) – will probably come later this week – and then hopefully get them laid the week after, so exciting times.

Relapse.

Having said how I’d got over my cold in last week’s blog post, it came back with a vengeance. Perhaps swimming on Monday evening was not such a good idea, on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday I felt pretty grotty; by Friday I seemed to be over the worst and that does seem to have persisted into the weekend – not having to work (am now on half term) has probably helped.

First daffodil.

Got home earlyish from work on Friday (Half term began at 3pm) and spotted a single, yellow daffodil flower in a trug at the bottom of the garden.  The first of the year! Just as one swallow doesn’t make a summer, one daffodil doesn’t mean Spring has arrived, but with its appearance, along with a number of others showing promise and lighter evenings (’til, say, 5.30pm?) one does begin to hope that the worst is over, and better days will come (although it looks like halve term is going to be grey, damp & windy, rather than filled with blue sky and sunshine, which is a shame.)

 

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Feliz cumpleanos

Pic of the week 29/3/20

Yesterday was my birthday, I turned 51. I had a lovely day – a 9K run in the morning and the presents and toast for breakfast. I got a lot of chocolate and soap (ideal for surviving lockdown), a Spanish book & map, yoga mat, compression socks (and “normal” socks), just what I wanted.  A lovely day at home with Becky, Sophie & Sam (and I even snuck in a delicious snooze in the afternoon.)  The pic shows my chocolate brownie cake which was (is – there’s still some left) yummy.

So a fairly normal birthday in abnormal times.

We are now in lock-down.

Having begun the week teaching remotely, but from my classroom, on Monday, from Tuesday we’ve been in lock-down with only essential travel allowed, and one outdoor exercise slot a day allowed. So I continued teaching from home for the rest of the week – it went well, but I was glad to reach the holiday that begun at the end of the week. I don’t think we’ll be back at school before September, so for next term, at least, this will be the new normal.

Its all very strange, but I’m beginning to come to terms with it. As a key-worker, Becky is still working (like a trojan) at Sainsbury’s. I think that society is finally coming to realise the importance and impact of Covid 19, but there are still those that are not following the rules and guidance. This is frustrating as so many are having their lives massively impacted and the rules are so draconian because not everyone follows them (and will become more draconian if people continue to flaunt them.)

Anyway, some things remain the same – after a week or so of lovely weather, the holiday’s arrive and its gone blummin’ cold, with a particularly biting wind. There is a lot I want to do outside (yet within the curtilage of our house, so within “the rules”, but I will wait for the weather to warm a little.)

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Running Backwards

Pic of the week 14/7/19

Yesterday afternoon, sat in the back garden whilst taking a rest from hall decorating (see below) I heard a deep, rumbling roar and looked up to see a Lancaster flying by. It flew round the back of the Tor before doing another circuit and then heading off to (presumably) Yeovilton Air Show. A magnificent sight.

Today I ran my 10K backwards. Not literally, of course, that would have been foolish, but in the reverse direction. On the whole, I ran it faster – was an interesting experiment that I must repeat some day.

Having decorated the upstairs hall & stairwell, my attention turned to the downstairs hall.  Still to be finished, but looks a whole lot better than before.

On Friday, Sophie, Becky and I went to see Scouting for Girls at Frome Cheese and Grain.

It was chuffing hot, but it was, not surprisingly, brilliant.

We ended up about three back from the front, a jumping, thumping, pumping set of their favourites. A great night.

And Sam applied for his Provisional Driving Licence – not long now …