Monday 14th March
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| 73/365: the first daffodil to open |
I'm starting the week in a positive frame of mind, mainly because my sister is now testing negative and feeling much better, though very tired. BiL is a day or two behind her but again, is on the mend though was still testing positive yesterday.
I had a very quiet weekend where I didn't do much physically, and instead channelled my efforts into addressing some of the items on my 2022 goal list. I've arranged for a local computer bod to come and sort out my laptop and printing issues, ordered a posh wall rack for the piano music I'm currently using (there are speakers in the top of the piano so I can't keep piles of music there now!), and have written a short shopping list for things to buy locally. Today's task is to go out and buy everything on that list - some more light bulbs, a new toaster, two toilet seats, and glass jars for spices - and then a trip to the recycling yard to dispose of the old. While I'm out I'll also pick up some more ingredients for the final lot of batch cooking. I've also found a local window cleaner, but I won't contact him until after the work on the patio is completed, as well as a local cleaning firm who I will contact next month for quotes.
I spoke with neighbour S yesterday and following that conversation, my 'homework' is to decide on what I want in the way of the garage storage he is planning to sort out for me. That's another thing for today so, if he's not working away, I may speak to my nephew about it as well as he had some good ideas last time it was mentioned. The old hanging basket brackets are past their best so I will order some more and S will fit them for me as soon as they arrive, and the same with the support wires for the climbers. The aim is to get the brackets and support wires in place before M returns in April. I'd like to sort out the arches too, but they may have to wait for a while.
March has been a heavy month financially but moving forward I'll be able to save more towards getting the rest of the things on the 2022 goals list sorted and out of the way. With the rising prices I need to check my budget again but am hopeful that I'll also be able to fit in a few short breaks in the UK during the warmer months, so planning has started on those as well ... more at the daydreaming stage at the moment, but I am thinking seriously about doing a few of the day trips organised by the coach company I used a lot pre-pandemic.
Good to know your sister and brother-in-law are getting better. It's best to get things you need now not only because of rising prices but availability may become an issue too. Day trips and short breaks sounds good as a change of scenery is always beneficial.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eileen, it's definitely a relief to know they are both feeling better.
DeleteI hadn't thought of availability issues but I think you're right so will have another look at the finances and see what I can do.
I especially like day trips where I don't have to do the driving!
Daydreaming is often a good antidote to the troubles of the news, especially of the garden & travel kind. I've been making a list of items to stock up on (not hoard) as availability might be less than ideal. I'm looking at products that use wheat or other grains. Canada is a major world producer of grain products as is the Ukraine & with the war on, we will be shipping a lot of our grain products overseas, so things like flour & pasta may become harder/expensive to get.
ReplyDeleteI think it's probably time for me to review how much is a sensible amount to keep in stock considering the ongoing issues with supplies. I don't even want to think about the price increases! I think I'll stick to daydreaming! 😂
DeleteLovely daffodil - takes me right back to those that grew along the side of my childhood home. Planning projects and trips sounds like the perfect spring activities. Glad your sis and her hubby are on the mend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susanne and yes, it's good news that sister and BiL are on the mend. Planning is something that always cheers me up, even those times when the plans have to be abandoned (thinking lockdowns here!) ... dreaming big!
DeleteIt sounds like you are setting things up to make life easy with the storage and thinking things over. Good news about your sister.
ReplyDeleteThere's very little in the way of storage in the garage at the moment so S's offer to build something bespoke will make it so much easier to keep the garage tidy and organised. It's so kind of him.
DeleteIt's great news about my sister, isn't it? xx
Hope you managed to get everything you needed to buy off your 2022 goals list. I have set a date for the end of May to get my list done, some things have already been ticked off and like you I need to research and buy other things to get them done. Glad to hear you family are on the mend, my hubby had to test last week for Covid, but thankfully he only had a chest infection, with antibiotics getting him back to "normal". Helen S.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that your sister and her husband are feeling better and your sister is now testing negative!
ReplyDeleteI was also happy to read that you are starting the week in a positive frame of mind as that is so important, isn't it? Love reading about your plans and daydreams and how you are addressing those 2022 goals! It is inspiring me, too, to get off my backside and take some positive action, instead of wallowing in a "can't do" frame of mind! The daffodil is very pretty, too, and cheerful. :)
Beautiful daffodil. It's such a bright and colourful photo.
ReplyDeleteGlad your family are starting to feel better. Even though we seem to forget about Covid it's still around and people can feel quite poorly.