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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteMrsP Ambridge - January 8, 2021 at 11:41 PM
Thank you Soz for your kind and understanding words.
Yes, strong and brave are the two words usually used to describe me.
But strangely I am also able to sit back, endure and simply live within a miserable situation. I've been doing this here for six years. Previously in London I did so for twenty years. I have a considerable capacity for acceptance. None of the other viewings have come near to being positive so I don't expect this one to do so either. I wanted, and still do want to be very close to the centre of a small ( ish) town or defined area of a city, where I can be happy alone, yet knowing and seeing the rest of the world around me, when I want to. This house, cottage has a number of problems for me, but in addition has been hemmed in successively four times in the few years I have been here. And that added to its original problems has been extremely debilitating.
It's probably one of the oldest buildings in what was once the posh hamlet up the hill from the town. It's on a road junction, which can be very busy but can also be quiet. And where the world goes by. It has an old farm track up one side and the house on the other side of that track had an upper storey built soon after I moved in which blocked my lovely view from my side windows. On the other side the door leads onto a path with a five foot wall and my neighbour on the other side of the wall decided to erect a fence. Her garden is four foot higher than my threshold so when I open my door I am confronted by 8 foot high dark barrier. She won't allow me to paint my side a lighter colour. My immediate neighbour has erected moveable barriers to prevent her dog coming to the front gate. She has created a very pretty garden which is immediately past her cottage, but I have to trail up the path past her cottage and garden to my garden. And it's a steep uphill path. She has also erected a tall fence togive privacy to her garden, which she is entitled to do of course, but again gives the impression of walking up a dark and enclosed tunnel. Now to crown it all the neighbouring garden to mine has erected a garden office. He didn't believe it would affect me and I didn't contest the planning application, but because his garden is again four feet higher than mine, it is like a wall at the side of my patch which was previously very open. All that is on the outside. The inside simply does not inspire me. And because it is unfinished and I have no more money to finish it I have come to almost hate it all. And in six years I have only gained one friendship in the last year. I do 'know ' people because I'm friendly and speak to all and everybody, but I haven't met a single person that I feel congruent with beyond a five minute chat.
Like LJ I am counting down the months to my 80 th B'day.
I must change my circumstances, however daunting that might be.
And it certainly is !
Sorry everybody....it's a miserable dirge.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteJanice - January 9, 2021 at 12:05 AM
Keep positive Mrs P. I do remember you saying some time back that you would like to move. I remember as well that you took your granddaughter to Bradford on Avon (?) for afternoon tea so you obviously have a good relationship with her. Could you find somewhere to live near her?
CowGirl - January 9, 2021 at 8:05 AM
Sorry Miriam, we had about 4 inches of snow yesterday with a hard frost last night. I shouldn't think our road is open, single track and never gets de iced, that went along with losing broadband x2 and loss of electric from 4-about 8, so I lit my paraffin lamps and enjoyed the nostalgic smell. I couldn't cook the tea Id prepared but quickly concocted something else and kept the fire going in the garden room as there is not so much room for cooking on the sitting room log burner.
I am now sitting looking out of the window at the glorious rising of the sun through the trees, my spirits are lifted, I wish I could say the same for my hens who are on Avian flu lock-down, they are extremely miserable and have almost given up laying eggs, I've got to the point where I will have to buy some. Kettles are on the boil on the fire ready to unfreeze the hens water and Emeralds as she doesn't drink enough if its too cold, yes I know she's a cow, but she is 17 and deserves to be pampered, but that didn't stop her standing in the snow all afternoon enjoying it, the only problem being it then melted all over her bedding which this morning i have had to replace.
Oh well another day of inactivity and no trike riding, I cleaned the house yesterday, so it looks like a boring lazy day, still I have some good books to read. Musn't grumble, I have my health...
KPnuts - January 9, 2021 at 9:20 AM
CowGirl, your idea of inactivity is different to mine, it sounds like you’ve already done a fair amount of animal husbandry, I’m still in bed with a cup of coffee ☕️ there are plenty of chores I could do, but beyond cooking and cleaning out and relaying the log burner they will probably remain on the to-do list.
I feel for you Mrs P. I really do. I hope that you get out of there as fast as is humanly possible - it must be playing hell with your mental health. I'm assuming that we have ALL known people (or indeed BEEN the people) who have lived in a house or a situation that is making them deeply unhappy. I know I have.
ReplyDeleteThe cottage above is ALMOST my ideal fantasy house. Don't get me wrong, I love where I live - but at heart I'm a country boy. And with everything that's been going on, my thoughts are increasingly turning away from the city and even other people. We no longer shop, go to cafes or pubs or art exhibitions or meet up with friends or go to the cinema or jump on a bus or train for a day out. These are supposed to be the advantages of living in large groups of humans!
Tomorrow will see our first ever supermarket shop being delivered - we have taken the plunge and decided to do it online at last. The supermarket was the only place we have visited (apart from walks) over the past few months, but we have decided to cut even that small pleasure out of our lives in order to help hasten the end of lock down. (Which, don't forget, we in the West of Scotland have been in for a lot longer than most in the UK...)
P.S. - just re-read what I have written above. I'm NOT bragging about being in lock down longer than anyone else! It's just that me and MrGG were talking last night about when was the last time we actually went anywhere other than the supermarket or seen friends and we literally couldn't remember! But perfectly aware we could have it a whole lot worse...
DeleteOh dear I tell a lie, the gritter has been up our road, the first time in 4 years. Must be because as residents we made such a fuss about the Estates planning application and the condition of the road.
ReplyDelete👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤗
DeleteWe lived in Cornwall for 12 years in a beautiful new build detached house. We had put in an offer for a barn conversion opposite but the builder then hiked the price and cut the proposed garden in half. We withdrew the offer but like you Mrs P were desperate for a house as my husband had started a new job managing the property at HMS Raleigh. We settled for the house but I was never happy there in spite of the outward beauty of the place. When Mike retired we decided to move upcountry and sure enough the house took time to sell. In the event it did and the person who bought it sold it 6 years on for twice the price we had received! I don’t know to this day why I didn’t like the place. Certainly since then I have loved our house in Ledbury and now this more modest bungalow on the island. They both had a happy atmosphere that the Cornish house never had. I always had a bit of a dark unexplained feeling about Cornwall though and in spite of its beauty I was never completely happy there. I think it could have been that it was far away from everywhere. Even here on the island a short trip across the Solent takes us to good transport links with the rest of the mainland. I always felt at home here too!
ReplyDeleteGary, I am looking forward to times when we can resume our previous lives mixing freely with others! It will come but in the meantime all we can do is just get through and hopefully enjoy each day as it comes. Keep safe everyone!
Gary, I empathise with every word that you have written about lockdown.
ReplyDeleteI am now finding that, due to it being so long (almost a year) since we have gone out anywhere, met anyone socially, indulged in a pub lunch or meal out, I am now feeling quite claustrophobic about going out at all.
We have gone back to home deliveries since Christmas as I am wary of picking up the virus in Sainsburys where other shoppers don’t seem to know what distancing means, haven’t even been down to the little village shop, have no contact with neighbours as they are isolating too.
Mr A keeps saying we’ll be fine once we get our vaccinations, but will we? The very thought of going into a town centre or to a pub/restaurant really frightens me and I just want to stay safe indoors, even if it is dark and cramped. The sight on TV of people crowding into towns, ignoring restrictions is also frightening and infuriating.
This claustrophobia seems to have become my legacy from a year of isolation.
I (and others I know) echo your sentiments Archerphile. As I posted on the previous blog Mr R will be getting his 1st jab next Wednesday which is a drive to Basingstoke and then he must enter the Hotel etc etc. Thrilled as he is and it is a good thing it will seem quite a big deal after all this time!
DeleteWe now have 6am-6pm curfew, I hope it works, needless to say it doesn't affect me.
ReplyDeleteThe snow does. Yesterday I went out with a hiking pole for the first time, because when it melts the streets are slippery and dangerous, I can't afford a fall.
And I recognise everything said in the various posts above.
ReplyDeleteLady joined my life in February 2019, and that is when my lockdown started.
No Tai Chi no cinema, no weekly walking group because I wasn't able to leave her.
In the first ( official) lockdown last spring I did manage to do the training required to get her to be left alone. That has meant that later in the year I was able to go to the supermarket and get my own shopping.
But this extended period without any form of socialising other than a nod to other dog walkers and short conversations at a distance with neighbours, has resulted in me being as GG describes. I've changed. I don't want people and I've become devoted to my IPad.
I'm not happy about this because I feel that it is not socially or mentally healthy.
I hope it will change if and when some form of reality returns, but if so many feel as some of us have described, I do wonder how changed generally society will be.
Just got a news flash through : the Queen and Prince Philip have received their Covid jabs.
Well done CowGirl, your hard work with ' The Authorities ' has paid off in some respects.
ReplyDeleteSomeone made a note to send the gritter down when the weather became bad.
You must hope for further improvements.
Thank you again for comments and encouragement re moving.
ReplyDeleteEv - your words of experience have helped. I know I'm not alone.
Janice - yes am looking at all the towns in Wiltshire.
The first property I ' missed' was in B O A. I'm sure I could find something in Trowbridge, but I cannot stomach that town.
Lockdown is so hard, and it might even be getting harder, very soon.
ReplyDeleteAt least, on a slightly positive note, if there actually is one, - that the nights seem to be starting to draw out, at long last.
I woke up, this morning, to thick freezing fog. This stayed around until midday, and the frost in the back garden beeinf in-situ all day long. It is now freezing up, yet again.
Where is Lanjan?
ReplyDeleteI do hope that LJ non appearance lies with tech problems and not with Mr LJ or herself.
DeleteLast postings I can find are this blog 4/1 @ 5.58pm and TA blog same day 4/1 @ 7.57pm.
Someone here from a meet up will have a mobile number (?) if necessary?
Mrs P. I did not know you lived in Stroud (just read thison the previous page). I know it quite well, as I had family living, at one time, in Wotten-Under-Edge, which is not that far away.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, you start off by saying on a slightly positive note and then cancel it out. come on be positive the days are nearly 3/4 longer, a great deal in my book. Soon the snowdrops will be appearing the start of spring and you will be able to get out there and enjoy your garden.
ReplyDeleteI am just reading " The Well Gardened Mind " all about the healing powers of the garden, Once you can get out there I am sure you will feel better, together with all the other gardeners amoungst us.
Everyday write down one positive thing, as it gets easier you can write 2 etc
Best Whishes
My snowdrops are starting to appear now, and are growing very quickly. I just love it, when these start to
Deletebloom. It is always gives a massive feel good factor.
My positive thing tonight, is simply my evening meal. It is a lamb leg steak, with a red wine/rosemary/redcurrant gravy, served with Roast Pots. + veg.
Well done Miriam !
DeleteMine are
The glorious sunrise this morning and I weighed Misty this morning and after a lot of hard work she is nearly down to her target weight.
Cowgirl I do so agree with you.
DeleteI have not had time recently to do all I would like to do but decided that any day when there was any sun at all I would go into the garden .
I did so this morning and power washed the patio.
Plan A was to continue with the pathways but I realise it is not a good idea when there is so much to do that is of greater importance -not least keeping Mr LJ company inside the house.
(He is watching football on the TV at the moment)
I am so looking forward to doing some gardening again though .
On the subject of lockdown Mr CC said to my daughter on a video call that we are turning into hermits.
ReplyDeleteI'm missing getting into the garden which was a godsend in the first lockdown, I did a few jobs this afternoon but my hands were frozen after an hour. I wish it would be made clear just what local is when travelling to open spaces to exercise, we have some lovely places around here a short drive away where there is lots of room to socially distance but I'm not sure if we can go especially after what happened with those two women in Derbyshire.
I so understand that thought. What is classed as local, and how far can one travel - it is just not clearly defined.
DeleteI am also now a "hermit", against my wishes, but it is the safest way to be. How sad this is.
My now "official" retirement is far from what I expected it to be.
Feel the same CC, and when emailing a friend this morning, made the cheeky note that in meeting up with a friend for a combined dog walk yesterday, six miles from home, we were not challenged, but that was probably because we didn't have flasks of hot drinks with us.
ReplyDeleteAnd the same discussed through the kitchen window with a neighbour in the last hour.
Mr CC is correct, this is turning us all into hermits.
Miriam - pre the dog and lockdown I used to go to the cinema in Wotton U Edge.
It is a town I like and wish that I had bought a property there rather than Stroud.
We used to go there from time to time when we lived in Malmesbury in the seventies.
And you keep up the positive thoughts Miriam. I for one admire your ability to cook good nutritious food for yourself daily. I manage to do so about twice weekly if I'm lucky.
I had a laugh, a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat came through my letter box was, a massive package of at least 3 Saga Holiday brochures!.
I cannot even think about opening these, getting tempted and even booking one.
It is far too soon, to even contemplate a holiday in 2021, when I cannot even see family + friends, who live close by.
Cut the pictures out of the brochures and stick them on your wall. (Even better if you can scan and enlarge them.) Poor yourself a drink of choice, in a fancy glass. Stick on your sunglasses and enjoy a virtual holiday at home : ) You could even run yourself a bath and pretend it's the pool / beach.
DeleteNot quite the same as the real thing but at least no bother with passports, masks, quarantine, etc, etc.
I've emailed LJ and told her she is being missed.
ReplyDeleteI hope not a crisis either Lady R.
If she doesn't appear here or reply to me this evening I will call her.
PtbY ?
Thank you MrsP, let's hope she gets in touch soon.
DeleteYes thank you Mrs P 👍
DeleteThank you kind bloggers.
ReplyDeleteI am still having problems with getting onto the blog but I explained the main reason I think after Cowgirl's 5:28 pm (mine was 7:58 pm) which when I started to reply was the last comment !
Eventually I managed by copying and pasting.
Wow, as soon as I posted you appeared Lanjan!
Delete(6:58 pm not 7:58pm ) was when I posted the comment
DeleteI have been reading the comments posted on the previous blog .
ReplyDeleteMrs P,I wish you all the best with the selling of your house and with the purchase of a new home.
We don't agree about bungalows but I know a lot of folk are not keen on them
I love ours
If you decide to buy a ground floor flat, I am told that in some modern blocks it is possible to hear the noise of people walking about on the floor above.
I haven't experienced it myself though.
If you decide to move to Northumberland you will find the people extremely friendly.
Since we are all in lockdown you will be able to research various areas you might fancy, online
Bloggers will no doubt be there as well to make suggestions.
I would think that where you live would be a lovely area for a young couple to move to but I understand that it will be better for you to live where there are more services.
An extra 30minutes is being played in the football match so I can continue briefly.
ReplyDeleteMrs P mentioned counting the days until one is 80 years old.
Well I wouldn't go that far but there are two things I would say.
1) It is ever so useful when playing the "Old Lady " card
2)It sure beats the alternative!
Too true LJ 🤣 pleased and relived to hear from you and to know that all is well (with you both!)
DeleteThe advantage of having services close by has been been brought home to me during this pandemic never more so than when I had acute appendicitis at the beginning of July last year. Our local hospital is a 7 minute drive from where we live.
ReplyDeleteI am now definitely a real "Saddo". Why?
ReplyDeleteI am just loving the Masked Singer.
It is such light-hearted fun, entertaining, and really very silly.
It appeals to my sense of fun and it makes me laugh - which is what is needed, at the moment.
Reading all the comments I realize that I'm somewhat of a recluse now which is what this pandemic has made me. Sometimes I don't even miss doing my usual activities any more. I trust that, once this crisis is over, I can resume 'normal' life but it is hard to imagine now. Does anyone else have lockdown hair? Mine is so long now and I don't care and have become used to it.
DeleteYes, mine is now shoulder length! Even before lockdown I just didn’t think it was worth risking it by going to the hairdresser. I quite like it too!
DeleteOur hairdresser had been booked for this coming Monday. Don't know when she'll be allowed to come now. Doesn't bother me but the younger shoe-dwellers are starting to fret! OMiaS has twice trusted me with the clippers - both times very much needed! He was happy with the results but this is more of an indication of his lack of interest in barbering than of my skill. I keep finding little tufts I've missed!
DeleteYoungest shoe-dweller now has two-tone hair - pinky red was too boring so currently the left-hand half is black and the right-hand half is orange! And the clippers are safely out of the way before we get any more extreme ideas ...
Mrs P......I’m still here. Thank you for enquiring. Just not got much to say.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment we are going to our bubble friends house mid morning and watching 2 episodes of the French police drama Spiral. It is excellent. We are on series 7 now. Then by the time we’ve walked the dogs and got home most of the day has gone. So I can’t moan about lockdown at the moment.
Good luck with the viewing. Are you having a good look on rightmove for a new house? I love looking at that. I’ve decided that it’s best we stay where we are because I’m not able to start DIYing whilst having only the one working eye.
Mrs P: I can't help wondering about the need you seem to have to keep moving on. It almost guarantees a form of social isolation, especially as you get older. Of course, it's none of my business, but I can't help feeling some concern. Have you ever asked yourself why it is so?
ReplyDeleteYes Sarnia, I have thought about ' why '.
DeleteI do a great deal of reflective thinking, and have reached an understanding of my situation.
Of course if a person stays married, or within one relationship for a lifetime it might seem natural to stay in one place for the duration of that time.
But if one person decides that they no longer want the responsibilities that come with that marriage or liaison then a 'home' becomes broken, and, as is often the case the single parent, unsupported and without financial security, has to do the best that they can. The best that I could do was to take on a property that needed work, do that work and cash in by moving on. And I've done that fairly successfully a number of times.
Incidentally in fifty odd years I've lived at one address twenty years, another for ten years, and two for over five.
And I've had a rather interesting life.
It is only in very recent years that my life has become somewhat insular.
Just heard on the news that thousands of over 80s are being invited to attend one of 7 big centres to get their Covid vaccinations, they should all be within a 45 minute drive from home.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder, how many over 80s still have a car, can drive or would want to take an hour and a half round journey (+ time at the centre) - or risk public transport to get there?
If we were over 80 our nearest centre would be at Epsom Racecourse or Bristol. I certainly shouldn’t want to drive that far in the present foggy, icy conditions to get to either place. Surely they could be seen at their GP surgeries or somewhere in a more local town?
3rd attempt 😱 Mr R next Wednesday Hampshire Court Hotel Basingstoke why wouldn’t you and Mr A be local I wonder?
DeleteI've been a recluse from childhood, so it's my natural state of being. I no longer get on with people. When I moved here 13 years ago I said it would be my last place because there are two poplar trees outside, just like where I first lived. Besides it's new, very light and so well insulated, I don't need any heating during the day and I am someone who feels the cold. My sister is amazed, I told her I can't imagine moving to a better place, still, what do I know. As for the hair, every six weeks or so, when I can catch enough I cut off an inch or so, a very satisfying crunch, it's kept at a jaw length. I compost it as it feels too nice to throw in with other rubbish. Once, when it used to be longer it was given to the birds for nesting and they used it. I can find a better use for the 20€, it equals 10kg of potatoes for example.
ReplyDeleteBasia, I would not have called you a recluse as you use social media, I would have used the term Isolet, but however you chose to think of yourself is fine by me.
DeleteI have moved constantly all my life , as an adult it has usually been a cut and run situation whereby my personal relationships have got out of control .
When I lived in Hebden Bridge I did get rather worried about myself as if I saw anybody in the vicinity of my house I would scuttle into the house until they had passed very much as a recluse would do. My house was in the middle of the moor only accessible on foot or serious 4x4.
My last move was a pragmatic one as again I lived in the middle of a common, 1/2 mile from the nearest dwelling and only accessible by 4x4 and if the river was up on foot.I did intend to move to a more populated environment, but have ended up on a single track road in the country with a good uphill walk of 1/2 mile to possibly catch a bus. I do have 2 immediate neighbours. Many would consider it isolated, I dont, had I chosen to live in a village I am sure by now I would be on the move. I intend to stay here for the rest of my life, we shall see.
Did anyone listen to the drama yesterday? The first of George Smiley series by John le Carré. I thought it was excellent and sat glued to the computer, there was one bit I didn't understand which makes it even better. I haven't read the book and would probably find it dull by comparison.
ReplyDeleteI heard a little and might listen on sounds Basia.
DeleteI needed to be busy with other things yesterday.
Mrs P I'm glad that you feel you've had an interesting life- I wish I could say the same. However, as I never belonged in my family in the first place and have never felt I belonged where I am now, this would probably be the case wherever I went so I reckon I might as well stay put and continue not belonging in a place I've got used to. Someone suggested last summer that the garden has become my own personal island, an idea which rather appeals to me. Several people have said it feels as if it should be surrounded by ocean.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly belong in here Sarnia
DeleteOh please, EVERY life is interesting, including 'the most boring ones', we didn't ask to be here and manage/cope to the best of ability, not everyone can be a high achiever. If there were no 'stupid' people how would we know who was 'clever'?
ReplyDeleteWhat a very generous outlook, Basia.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone was a high acheiver how would we manage ? High achievers depend on the so called "stupid "" people to run their everyday lives. Sorry to be so repetetive, but they deserve our respect.
DeleteOh, I'm not exactly stupid or a particularly low achiever - just haven't led a very interesting life!
ReplyDeleteSarnia, even in the middle of your garden you don't find it interesting?
ReplyDeleteHow is it defined anyway, by things done, places seen, people met?
There was an item on WH about house moves. I had once asked my landlord where he lived as a child, he said here. How lucky is that, to be provided security by hard working parents. He had the basement and ground floor and I rented a bedsit at the top of the house with amazing views over Hampstead Heath, I could never match in later life. Looking back those were the best days of my life. I'd venture that no one here still lives in the house from birth. I've counted 20+ addresses.
You have started me thinking. I suppose I have lived in 4 different places, my childhood home, a hall of residence 3 years, 1 year working in Scotland, nearly 10 years in Cardiff, and now 35 years back here in a house that belonged to a great aunt and uncle. My brother lives in the farmhouse that was our childhood home. Our father's family has been farming in this area for 900 years and probably before that. My father moved from his father's farmhouse to his grandfather's farmhouse which was all of one mile distant! When I am buried it will be amongst family in a piece of land that we farmed for centuries, before it was given to be a cemetery about a 100 years back. I find a sense of peace in that.
DeleteSarnia was talking about belonging, and I suppose even when not living in Cornwall I have always felt strongly this is where I belong and the pull back, the hiraeth, was always there.
DeleteThat's wonderful Janice, to live in the land of your ancestors and to feel a strong connection with your roots.
DeleteNever thought you were Sarnia, but who can define what a boring or interesting life is life is there are so many riches to be found in our everyday life if we only open our eyes.
ReplyDeleteThe gardener Christopher Lloyd lived in the same house all his life. I think he did realise how lucky he had been particularly for the garden. If you have never been to Great Dixter in East Sussex, when we are free to travel again make the journey there; it is beautiful. The house too is interesting. He knew what he liked and wasn’t interested in fashionable trends so there is a mix of styles but it feels lived in and comfortable. As for the garden - it’s gorgeous. Fergus Garrett, who was his gardener for many years, is in charge now and has kept the spirit of Christo’s often unconventional planting alive.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, would you ever go back to live in Guernsey?
Never been, read lots and always wanted to.
DeleteIf we ever come out of this present situation perhaps the gardeners amongst us can have a jolly day out there as one of our meet ups.
Sarnia, what is “belonging”? I have always felt that although others come into our life some fleetingly and some forever like my husband and my daughter and yes, my family from birth with all their faults, in the event we are each on our own. We come into the world alone and leave it in the same way. In between it really is up to us how we relate to others. I believe that you receive in equal measure what you give to others. I know about feeling that you don’t belong as our family moved to Crewe after I was born in Glasgow. Dad was a Glaswegian and Mum was from the Black Country. All around us were people who came from generations who had lived in Crewe and had grannies, uncles and aunts round the corner! Since then I have felt at home in various places and situations and not in others. The main thing has been to be as happy and content as possible. I have lost count of the places I have called home but just now am happy where I am! Hope you are too especially with your lovely garden!😊
ReplyDeleteWell said Ev !
DeleteI can identify with that childhood feeling.
Both my parents ' removed' themselves from their birth families to a considerable extent, although not completely.
My father before marrying my mother, and my mother at his insistence.
My mother had lost both parents when young and had been bullied and emotionally damaged by some of her siblings.
I yearned to have grandparents and was deeply envious of school friends who visited or saw grandparents at weekends, and the memory of those feelings played into my adult decision to make sure that my children had very close relationships with their grandparents.
As for belonging, the only place I have ever felt that I did belong was when I was a resident of a psychotherapeutic community, and latterly when I had a close friendship with two other women each of us with a MH history and we were all supporting each other on a daily basis. Two of us still do so at a distance.
Sarnia - I think you are teasing us.
ReplyDeleteYou write, and have self published poetry.
You are an organist and I seem to remember that you taught music ?
You were, you tell us, dragged around as a child, your parents having to move away from the C Islands. You left, went to college or university, married and raised a family.
Since your husband died you have been able to take charge of your own life and you have made many changes. And you've done that at an advanced age.
I've had the opposite to you. Me being the one to always be made to make the decisions having married the most indecisive man, and then have been making them for myself for the next forty five years, so I've been used to it and I'm worn out with it.
Making those decisions has invigorated you.
I suggest you re evaluate.
Just a pop in.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say:-
The drama "The Night Manager", is being re-shown tonight on BBC4. There are 2 episodes tonight, and continues tomorrow. I have set a recorder to series record, to be able to watch it again.
I am not sure if this is of any interest to others, but I thought to post this, just in case.
Take Care All, Keep safe and just do what suits you 🤗😀
Have just re read some of the posts above and caught up with the ' high achiever' comments again.
ReplyDeleteJust want to say, if Sarnia, or anyone else has the idea that I might be a high achiever, I have to tell you that I most definitely am not.
Done a lot of things.
Moved around a bit. And lived in some nice places yes
Had so many different jobs I can't count them.
By dint of being a London girl at the prime time of late fifties and early sixties, met a number of people who became famous later.
But as for achievements, very few.
The one I'm proud of most was raising two sane well adjusted daughters on my own,
Although much praise must go to my husbands second wife who turned herself into a perfect step mother and I believe has had a considerable influence on my girls.
I've successfully done up houses and managed to keep a roof over my head and I do see that as an achievement, but there is little else, and much that I'm rubbish at.
I still don't know my ten times tables.
I don't speak another language, of which I'm ashamed.
I didn't go to university, and although I could have done any number of degrees through the OU, I haven't done even one.
I did go back into education and was satisfied with doing exams with flying colours but then didn't go on to university itself.
I'm quite proud of the several chairs I've re built and my cabinet making, but I still feel like a low achiever overall in life.
Playing the organ and writing poetry is a level I could never even aspire to Sarnia.
We are all High Achievers, in our own very special ways. It comes down to how we view our lives and what we are still doing, and what we have done, with them.
DeleteAs long as we are content, satisfied and can cope with the life, as it is now- then we are all achievers in many different ways.
We are all who we are, and it is just so nice, to keep in touch, in such a lovely + friendly, way.
It helps me.
What have I achieved today?
ReplyDeleteI changed my bed with the new bedding now on, did a big wash (now on an airer in a spare bedroom), Also I listened to the latest Charles Paris mystery, The Cinderella Killer, which I loved.
I am now achieving something else - my evening meal. I have a portion of braised beef. This wiill be served with pots, and loads of veg. all to be steamed and then enjoyed.
I am achieving something - even if it is in a small way. 😀
DeleteTalking of belonging, The Pennines have been a backdrop to my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in east Lancashire and have lived in east Cheshire for nearly all my married life. Even when I was at university in Manchester they were never far away and I used to visit them at the weekends. Whenever I go away as soon as I see those hills I know I'm back where I feel I belong although I do miss the girls and their families as they live so far away now. Which reminds me I would like to thank whoever recommended the Stephen Booth 'Cooper and Fry' books, I am really enjoying reading them as the Peak District is an area I know so well.
ReplyDeleteIt was Archerphile - of that I am 100% sure.
DeleteI have read many also, and have enjoyed.
Good to see you blogging,PtbY.
ReplyDeleteFootball FA Cup.
Hope you were not too annoyed that a Yorkshire Premiership team was soundly beaten by a team from the south today.
Unfortunately ,Marine from Crosby on the Lancashire coast are losing to Spurs by 4goals to nil.
May I make a suggestion?
Please can we have a bit of lightheartedness on the blog?
Can we have some good positive posts looking forward rather than backwards?
We cannot change the past.
However bad life is at the moment there is hope that in a short time we will all be able to be immunised against Covid.
Come on bloggers try to mention something however small that has pleased you today?
Sometimes it is hard to find something but it will be there.
I have just done this...We must have had similar thoughts, and our posts overlapped.
DeleteWhat pleased me today, was changing my bed and also trying to keep my Puss Cat away. She was just pouncing on it as fun!
I have an ornamental shovel in my fireplace which makes a loud clang if toppled. Buddy was playing with one of his toys and it brushed against the shovel. Instead of grabbing toy as he usually does he carefully pulled it towards him with his paw before doing the grab to avoid the clang! These little shows of doggy intelligence give so much pleasure!! 🐶🐾
ReplyDeleteMy achievement today was defrosting the kitchen freezer which had groaned under the weight of Christmas food! It is opened often so was iced up and has been living on a promise for a few weeks! I should have done it before Christmas!🤔😊😁
I need to start looking soon, at replacing my freezer. It is old, not at all efficient, but still does what I need
DeleteOne of my many post Lockdown projects. This list is getting longer..I will achieve these, eventually 😀
I’m having a night watching “The Durrells” wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI’m on series 3.
I had fun singing Baby Shark with my 2yr old granddaughter on a video call this morning!
ReplyDeleteWhat else did I achieve today?
ReplyDeleteI did 2 inches of my knitting, which had to then be un-done! I did the cable stitches in the wrong direction, so I didn't achieve much, though the intention was good 🤣
I did achieve something.This is that all the stitches are still on the needles, in the right order. I will start again tomorrow.
DeleteMy best thing today was reading, above, that CC had read the Stephen Booth ‘Cooper and Fry’ books I had recommended and enjoyed them. It’s always lovely when someone else enjoys the same thing as you and it’s very satisfying to have introduced another reader to a series you love.
ReplyDeleteOh, and also realising that it would have been my brothers 100th birthday today and he would have got a card from the Queen, had he not died 9 years ago!
As it is, I am very thankful he did not have to experience the pandemic as ha would not have coped at all well, so that is a blessing.
I'm really not bothered about the past, LanJan. There are very few bits of it I would want to repeat, but it's brought me to today, which in many ways is the most surprising the present has ever been, with a promising immediate future. I'm in the middle of organising a further small tweak to the facilities in my new front guest room and I have my eye on some gorgeous cornus shrubs with bright orange stems.
ReplyDeleteCan't top that, AP. My eldest brother would have been 98 next month, but he died in 1976 and I only ever met him three times. The younger one, the last surviving member of the main family was 90 last month.
Mrs P, although I have done the odd bit of chair-recovering I could never aspire to making a cabinet.
ReplyDeleteA positive for Lanjan : before lockdown we found a Golden Weeping Willow at a nursery reduced to £10 , an absolute bargain , and the day before yesterday we went down to one of the fields that has a little stream at the bottom and planted it in the damp ground .
ReplyDeleteTo be honest my daughter did the digging while I did the easy bit teasing out the pot bound roots. It could eventually make 60 plus feet. I think it will look lovely, and my daughter who is into foraging and all things herbal likes the idea of it containing salicyclic acid (aspirin).
I've been woken this morning by a call from my surgery.
ReplyDeleteCan I be there for 9for my Covid vaccination.
Will report back.
That’s great Mrs P. Hope it goes well.
DeleteDoes that make you the first member of our group to receive the vaccine, I wonder? - if so, congratulations and I hope the rest of us are not far behind.
Oh, and I had a lovely message from our daughter this morning. We had been discussing these 7 regional vaccination hubs yesterday and how difficult it might be for the over 80s to get to one of them.
She has just said “ don’t worry Mum, if you get an invitation to go to Bristol or Epsom, either Dave (s.i.l.) or I will drive you there. Don’t turn down the chance of getting the vaccine just because it’s not local” I was very touched as she is still having to go to school, testing pupils and supervising the KWV children, has her own 3 children stuck at home and doesn’t need anything else to cope with.
It’s lovely when our children surprise us.
That great AP and Mrs P will beat Mr R by 2 days! Friday evening he had a text which I switched to my phone and made his appointment but then yesterday SUNDAY he received a call from his surgery to offer vaccination but that may have been because his phone did not make the online booking. Either way he will be on his way Wednesday 🥰
DeleteLJ and Mr LJ should be this week I’d have thought...
All went well.
ReplyDeleteI had the final dose that was available.
1680 done this weekend I was told.
But.... friends in Oxfordshire Northampton border who were called in at an hours notice over the weekend had told me that their surgery had told them that they were able to have it, at 77 and 78, because many patients over 80 had refused to have the vaccine offered.
My surgery confirmed this morning, that they were finding that yes many of the over 80s were refusing the offer.
I find this astonishing, particularly since a minister was saying yesterday that it was vital to get all these poor frightened over eighties who hadn't been able to go out or meet their families for months, vaccinated as quickly as possible.
I’m 72 and looking forward to my invitation. We are expecting a delivery this morning by DPD. This driver is very careless about getting close and I will be wearing a mask! Like you Mrs P am amazed some over 80’s are refusing the jab. I have heard some are waiting to be offered the Oxford jab as they favour that over the Pfizer one. However the more vaccinations there are the better it will be for us all!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Mrs P! And I hope the viewing goes well today...
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of houses - from the age of 20 - 40 I lived in about 30 different flats. I used to love having the freedom to move whenever I wanted to. Rents were a heck of a lot cheaper in Glasgow back in the 90s and 00s. I used to be able to move house in a taxi due to having very few possessions - part of me must admit to missing those days! Deep down, I think I partly thrive on chaos...
Cheshire Cheese - thanks to you I have had "Baby Bloody Shark" bouncing about my brain since yesterday. (For those of you who don't know it, I wouldn't advise Googling it. Unless you actively WANT the world's most annoying song stuck in your head that is!)
My day will be spent assembling my 3D jigsaw of the Sistine Chapel that I finally put together yesterday! It took me 8 hours to fit the pieces together, but at the moment I am completely stuck as how they all join up to become a whole. Each piece was double-sided and it was the fiddliest thing I have ever done in my life. Wish me luck....
Sorry Gary.
DeleteWe have to do it every time we speak to them, and woe betide if we get any of it wrong!
Gary - Jon and I 'play' (it's quite serious really!') 'Command and Colors' (sic) Napoleonic Battles board game. One of the action cards is 'Flank Attack' and ALWAYS Jon starts singing Baby Shark which then gets stuck in the head for the rest of the battle!
DeletePity my good friend (who used to be my HOD when I was teaching) who now works as a writer, journalist and theatre reviewer. In the winter of 2018 we met up locally, had a chat and early supper then went on to a pantomime she was reviewing for The Stage. When
*that* song started she said ,'This is the 16th pantomime I have done so far and *every one* has had this song!'
Scouts have had this song for some years as a camp fire song sung to The Muppet theme tune and with appropriate actions and being Scouts some unusual verses such as 'body parts - do do do doodo' or 'CPR - do do do doodo' !
Sorry for the wasted space! No idea how I did that!
DeleteMy goodness Gary, that puzzle sounds a real challenge.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with finishing it.
Good luck with that puzzle Gary. I would never have the patience.
DeleteI feel sorry for anyone who has Baby Shark on their brain!!
Thank goodness I have never heard it Gary and will take your advice not to do so!
DeleteDo you remember “The crazy frog” (?) Similar effect not that it had words I think but the sound!!
Your 3-d puzzle sounds a huge challenge, Gary, but lovely to see details of the Sistine Chapel closely. I found helping to complete a puzzle of The Tower of Babel by Breugel fascinating, being forced to see each square inch at close range.
ReplyDeleteHappy things today: the sound of children playing in the warm sunshine outside a kindergarten this morning and the sight of Monte Rosa brilliant white against the cloudless blue sky this afternoon on my walk in the park.
Hilary, that puzzle of The Tower of Babel by Breugel completely defeated us back in November - the only jigsaw we have ever been unable to complete. It was quite old with very small pieces and very dark at the bottom, but even so, I was really furious we couldn’t do it!
DeleteRe vaccines
ReplyDeleteWhen we had the visit from our ONS Covid tester last week, he had a lot of different questions than we have been asked before. All about our heath records and any long term conditions we might have.
Apparently these were because they are trying to see whether the different vaccines are more suitable for those with various health problems e.g. which vaccine works best for a diabetic or on a thyroid patient etc.
It might decide which vaccine you are given eventually. I shall be interested to hear the results.
Interesting.
DeleteWe're due our second tests tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you know if we get any different questions.
Mind you, they might decide I'm a hopeless case and unsuitable for any vaccines : (
Well Done all those, who are getting vaccine appointments.
ReplyDeleteJust get there, no matter how difficult + costly, it might be. The 1st jab will definitely give a partial immunity, even though it will not give a total one. It must be nice to be in the vaccination programme, at this early stage. Good Luck All.
Such a warmer day today, well in comparison. I had the CH off and the windows well open, to have lovely fresh air, blowing through after such a cold spell.
To add Puss-cat didn't like this. She snuggled down underneath my bedcover, but on top of the duvet. Me, I just put an extra chunky cardi and thick socks, on.
DeleteI love GG's post about his 3D Sistine Chapel jigsaw.
ReplyDeletePerhaps he can share this, once finished, so we can see it.
I have a 1000 piece jigsaw, not attempted yet. This is by B.Gozzoli and is The Procession of The Magi. It looks tricky.
I have seen the actual fresco of this in Florence, which was just amazing. Sadly it was a timed 15 minute visit only, which had to be booked, well in advance. I was 1st in the queue for my timed visit, so I was first in and last out!
OMiaS bought me a 1500 piece puzzle of St Peter's Basilica, complete with gold foiling.
DeleteUnfortunately, not only is it too big for our standard sized Jigboard, it's too big for the extra large one designed for 1500 piece puzzles.
It would fit on our felt jigroll but that was last seen in a cupboard in the corner of the untidiest room in the shoe (a hotly contested title!). Dining room table and coffee table are both in use. At some stage I shall have to find a large board for us to work on.
Until then, I do puzzles on the computer - not half as much fun but rather more convenient.
I've been cold and tearful today.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it has anything to do with this mornings injection.
I had taken a sleeping pill last night and had an alarm call for 7.45.
I was then called at 7.55 to be at the surgery for nine o'clock.
I had woken in the middle of a dream sequence and so was only half awake, dragged myself up, kettle on cat out, dog for a wee, cat in and fed, tea made and drunk, dog fed bathroom and off to the car still half asleep.
By 12. 30 I was still feeling cold and wobbly and very sleepy.
I contacted the agents and they were able to postpone the viewing and I spent the afternoon in bed.
I'm still feeling cold.
But one huge achievement today by getting my vaccination.
What an achievement for you with the vaccinstion.. If your viewers are really interested, then they will happily book another viewing.
DeleteTake Care and Keep Warm + Cosy.
Snuggle down with a HWB and some tasty food. Eating a good and hot meal, so helps, be it just a hearty bowl of soup, egg + chips, bacon + eggs, or one of my favourites, a fish finger buttie (a northern thing).
A hot meal is so important and it is worth the effort. 🤗🤗
MrsP, sorry to hear you’re feeling under the weather, it’s horrible being woken at the wrong time of your sleep cycle. Hopefully tomorrow you’ll be feeling better. Glad to hear you have had your vaccine, as a “front line health worker “ I should be offered to vaccine with the over 80’s , but reading on professional forums it is still a bit hit & miss, some of my colleagues have been jabbed already, some GP’s not interested.
DeleteI’m just pleased to be home with a full fridge and an empty laundry basket, my definition of domestic happiness.
Not forgetting - beans on toast, always a good standby, and one I often have for lunch.
DeleteI have just tried watching Richard Osmans House of Games again, but sadly it just does not inspire me, nor entertain me.
ReplyDeleteI am, though, looking forward to The Pembrokeshire Murders later. 🔍🔍
I don't particularly like Richard Osman.
ReplyDeleteI am unable to work out why he thinks the four contestants are famous
This evening I had only heard of one and rarely does the figure reach two.
Never more.
Who are these people?
However, I do think some of the questions are very clever .
Others are interesting and educational.
The trouble for me is that there are far too many questions about entertainment - pop music ,TV and films and "celebrities"
What is the definition of the word "celebrity" ?
Someone who once was quite well known or has yet to make the big time?
I watched House of Games on the say so of some commentators here and now enjoy it. Not yet an avid viewer but getting there. I think some of the 'rounds' are clever but sadly I'm not so quick in thinking as I used to be and am usually shouting the answer a milli-second after the contestants.
DeleteLike you Lanjan I only knew of David Baddiel but as the others are Sky or Channel 4 I haven't come across them before. I avoid if at all possible nowadays 'stand up comedians' as they all seem to only shout and rail against anything that isn't socialist!
Celebrity is a very much overused word. Why couldn't they be known by their professions i.e journalist etc. But I dare say people who watch more TV than I do will know these people.
Just had a lovely hour long Zoom meeting with some of my Cubs. They are so good online. Eldest son told me yesterday, in our weekly online games session, that 9 year old granddaughter is now going into school each day because the children are so naughty on the Zoom lessons that the teacher has given up! GD2 doesn't go to a State school but an International School where there are mostly ex-pats of different nationalities with just a couple of German children.
Jon is conducting his online Explorer Scout (14-18 yrs) meeting until 9 and will then we'll both watch our favourite TV quiz Only Connect.
MrsP - I do hope you are feeling better. So glad you're partially vaccinated. I feel awful when tired and cold so get a hottie out, wear socks and cuddle up! Spicy.
Archerphile 9:30am ,I seem to keep saying this ........
ReplyDeleteI know it is none of my business but......
I apologise if I have got this wrong.
Surely with the new restrictions due to Covid, your daughter would be breaking the law to drive you anywhere.
In any case since she is a school teacher would it be wise to take up her kind and well meaning offer?
Since everyone has been promised that they will be given the vaccine soon especially if one is over a certain age and more Centres are opening up ,would it not be wiser to wait what hopefully would be a very short time in order to go somewhere nearer to home .
Apologies for mentioning this but I felt I needed to point it out.
LanJan - with no transport I have this problem all the time. Someone has to break the law or I would never get anywhere without monumental taxi fares for ridiculously short distances. I believe there's something about relaxing the rule for caring duties. Too bad if there isn't!
ReplyDelete...and all the news clips show newly-jabbed pensioners being escorted away, presumably by the people who brought them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Archerfile is in a bubble with daughter? My daughter is a teacher and lives with me although presently she is working from home but before lockdown it was a bit risky. I am now trying not to interact with other people. I took Gypsy for a short walk today and always have a mask with me which goes on as soon as I see someone coming towards me. Hope you are feeling better, Mrs P and grand advice to wrap up and eat some comfort food. It is tough on your own and thinking of you 🥰
ReplyDeleteMrs. P. Hope you feel much better tomorrow. An eldery man I know had the vaccination recently and said he felt 'wobbly' for a short while after, so possibly it contributed.
ReplyDeleteI had an off day today, felt anxious and tearful too. I usually just get on with 'things' but feeling more fragile now. I still work, and three days ago another staff member tested positive with covid. This very nice (but stupid) woman came into work a few days ago with a 'bad' cold, no-one had the sense to send her home. She has disagreed with the result from a proper send-away test, not a lateral flow quick one, and insists it is wrong, but thankfully has been told to isolate. I must add here that although PPE is plentiful and company policy tells staff to use it, I am the only person who does so, which is really unbeleivable. I'm constantly telling the manager that any pretence of using it goes out of the window as she leaves by the door. I'm going to suggest that if I contract it, shall I assume the company that employs me is liable ?(for compensation). That will probably sharpen her wits. I am nine months off getting my state pension, (channeling Miriam here), and am seriously on the verge of packing it in and applying for benefits to protect my health. What a bloody stupid situation. I like going to work as it is the only contact I have with humans, apart from Sainsburys.
Whilst I completely agree that keeping warm, eating well and having treats are all excellent things to do, my reality today is 'why bother'. I can't concentrate to read any of the many books I got for Christmas, don't want to sew or do crafty things, and my dog is very unwell, so no long walks either. Bloody hell, roll on spring, it's so much nicer doing nothing when it's warm.
Mistral (Esscee) I am fortunate to enjoy the winter days but really feel for those of you that are affected by them and a year of Covid a double dose! Don’t feel alone having a down day I’m sure we all have them but so glad you have been able to come onto our blog and share those feelings I hope it has helped you a little. Sending 🥰 💐
DeleteI have started a jigsaw puzzle that I got for Christmas, a beautiful painting of two otters in water. It makes me very weary, I fell asleep over it the other day. (The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris).
ReplyDeleteMrs P hope you feel better soon. I feel muzzy headed and unsettled if I am woken up suddenly in the middle of a dream, but feel better if I go back to bed and have another sleep.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask if you know which vaccine you were given?
Mistral people like the woman at your work just beggar belief. If you are still feeling upset how about making a list of all the nice things you would like to do when retired.
Mrs P: I don't respond well to alarm calls either, and after being woken in the middle of a dream I'm not surprised you felt unwell. That often leaves me depressed and even weepy for the rest of the day. Eventually Mr S was persuaded to invest in a clock radio and for some years we had one that also switched on a light and made tea. Then the manufacturers lost the knack so that we finished up with separate clock radio and tea machine with a light he had to switch on himself.
ReplyDeleteI've just bought a new one that does everything as before except make the tea, but as I now drink coffee in the morning I don't feel especially deprived. I surface in a much better frame of mind when roused by light and the sound of voices.
As others have suggested, cosset yourself a bit. Tomorrow is another day.
Have you ever had a "Magic Moment"?
ReplyDeleteI don't mean when you first saw your better half or (for the parents amongst you ) when you saw your first baby for the first time.
Nothing about relationships.
Let me explain.
In 2000 I went to S Africa on a Cricket Watching Tour .
In between Test Matches we all went to Victoria Falls where we stayed in a Safari Lodge.
When we arrived at Victoria Falls it was raining.
There was no sun .
It was miserable .
We went to look at the Falls which in truth was a dangerous place to be because there were no safety barriers.
Three of us trudged back to the "main " road to see if we could get a taxi back to the Lodge.
As we walked through the undergrowth suddenly in the distance appeared a wonderful sight.
There was a beautiful Colonial style hotel with lovely gardens .
It was like a mirage .
We looked like tramps ,walked up to the door and were treated like Royalty .
We would not go inside but the rain had had stopped and we sat outside and had a superb afternoon tea (cost about£4 )
We sat and looked at the Falls in the distance.
My magic moment was seeing The Victoria Falls Hotel.
Lanjan - for you it the result was a magical relationship...
DeleteJust catching up on last evenings posts, so here are a few replies (I don’t tend to keep checking in here throughout the day like many of you, usually just in the mornings).
ReplyDeleteSpicy - so glad you are able to keep up with your cubs & scouts, even if just online. I’ve just been
sent a photo of youngest English grandson Griff, standing outside a tent in the garden, surrounded by snow & frost having completed his Scout challenge - camping out overnight in minus degrees C. Apparently it was -8C but he survived and enjoyed it!
Lanjan- re daughter driving us to Covid Test. Although we were very touched by her offer we won’t be taking it up, for the very reasons you stated. I am hopeful that we will be able to go to the local GP centre being set up in a hotel in Basingstoke, when called.
Mrs P and Mistral - I’m so sorry to hear you have had miserable days. It’s hardly surprising that anyone has a down day at the moment with the news, weather, and personal circumstances we are all experiencing. Do keep in touch with us all here and we’ll all help each other to survive!
Mistral - I most certainly wouldn’t put up with what is going on at your place if work. It is totally inacceptable and possibly illegal for you employer not to enforce proper Covid precautions for its staff
Ev - no we are not in a bubble with our daughter and, as I said, she has her work cut out supervising FWV children at her school and is on the voluntary testing team, testing pupils and all teachers twice a week. I certainly wouldn’t want to burden her with an extra duty.
And finally, a thought of my own regarding wearing of face masks in supermarkets.
Some people say they are not wearing one ‘ for medical reasons’. I take this to mean they may have asthma or something similar and cannot breath properly wearing a nose/mouth covering mask, or they feel claustrophobic wearing one.
So, could they not wear one of those transparent plastic face shields as were used in hairdressers when lockdown was eased? I have seen elderly shoppers in Sainsburys using these and at least they would protect other shoppers from being breathed on.
When I was still shopping instore there were constant announcements about maintaining distance and not harassing shoppers without masks as they might be ‘medically exempt’ from wearing one. I think face shields could be the answer - not that I shall be shopping in person again until I have been vaccinated!
Thank you for your comment Archerphile and well done to Griff for sleeping 'under canvas' (albeit nylon nowadays) Jon's first camp where he was in charge was when the Gilwell Winter Camp was cancelled because of heavy snowfall which blocked roads to Essex. A quick 'permission to Camp' form was sent to the District Commissioner and the Scouts camped on the ground outside the Scout Hut. They dug through about 8 inches of snow and pitched tents. Jon learned a valuable lesson though. At 01.00 he was awakened by the gates of the Hut 'compound' rattling. One new scout Rachel was cold so had rung her Dad to come and get her! Lesson - Confiscate all phones before bed-time!
DeleteI just couldn't get on with masks. I have 3 all different shapes. They just kept steaming up my glasses so I was literally blinded. I have asthma and can only walk about 25 yards before being out of breath since pneumonia last March as well. I invested in a shield for when I need to go out for consultant or blood tests - much better. I think it cost about £9 including postage.
I have a Zeiss AntiFOG Kit from Boots Opticians. Basically a cloth and a hydrophobic liquid you spray on your glasses. Expensive but the effect is supposed to last a few days before needing a new application, so it should last a while.
DeleteIt certainly seemed to work the first time I tried it. I haven't been out in a mask since then so it hasn't had a repeat test. Must remember to check before I get around to going to the Post Office.
I'm exempt from mask-wearing, AP and I was given a flimsy visor by my chiropractor. However, although I can cope with it for short periods such as the taxi=ride home from the supermarket, I only wear it in the store if I have to as it's not long before I become breathless and overheated.
ReplyDeleteAt 8. 30am on a Wednesday there are rarely more than 20 or so shoppers about.
Archerphile,the last time I went to Outpatients at my local hospital in November,a woman sitting a couple of metres from me was not wearing a mask.
ReplyDeleteI went to the counter and was told that the woman may have a medical reason for not wearing one.
I said quietly that there was also a possiblity that she didn't
A short time later the nurse went to the woman and spoke to her.
She put on a mask.
Am I being very hard here?
Surely masks or shields must be mandatory and as Archerphile says the sheilds worn my hairdressers should be fine for those suffering claustrophobia.
If they were, LanJan, I couldn't leave the house at all, and with SAD and in lockdown since 7 months after my husband's death I'd be another statistic by now.
DeleteSorry to hear that Sarnia.
DeleteI am really pleased for you that your garden is going to be such a joy to you when the weather gets better.
I am waiting for a nice sunny day so that I can prune the roses.
I get into the garden each day because Sasha cat from 3doors away comes to see me whatever the weather and expects her bonding session come wind or rain.
We put the world to rights and then she allows me to go back into the house.
Even Poppy cat who used to chase her away let's her into the garden now.
Esscee - I have just read your posting about click and collect. My youngest son who works for JS was a butcher there until they all closed the fresh food-stuffs' counters. He was re-assigned (with his agreement) to Click and Collect. This was last March of course. He spent the whole summer in the cab of a refrigerated van in the car park handing out groceries to customers, even in high 20s temperature! Occasionally a member of staff brought out a bottle of cold water to him!
ReplyDeleteCome Christmas one of his regulars congratulated him and handed him an envelope and said 'Thank you for always being helpful and cheerful, ready to joke etc. Have a drink.' He put it in the cab and dealt with next customer. A little while later the store manager came out and said a customer had approached him and praised him to the skies. The manager had authorised a £10 'gift' added to some sort of card that staff have as rewards for earning customers' praise.
Chuffed, Rob returned to the cab,to wait for next 'collect' and he opened the card. It had a £20 note in and was signed with thanks.
I am so proud of my boys especially 'my baby.' He has a degree, but stayed with his 'Saturday job' since he was 16 years old, and gradually increased his hours to almost full time regular and plenty of overtime when permitted by budget. He is happy in what he does and he does feel he has some security, needed because they plan to start a family in a couple of years time.
So to everyone if you get good service from a member of staff please let the management know. They do have to put up with a lot of rudeness and bad temper so it's nice to know someone appreciates you.
Thank you on behalf of shop staff who actually have worked all their shifts throughout 3 lockdowns. Daughter is the same in Australia working in a furniture store.
DeleteI totally agree Spicy it is such a lift for the person receiving thanks instead of taking stick.
DeleteIt gives both the giver and the recipient pleasure. So pleased for your son and others who are looking after us in these times. When thanked / bonus most look stunned!
Katy was telling me this morning that she has had thank yous from her students just for being there at the computer in these times. In the normal course of events they are usually unappreciative so she has been especially touched by this. If nothing else it has taught us all to be thankful even for the smallest things!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Ev
DeleteHow lovely!
DeleteIt is indeed, LanJan. Nigel Neighbour came yesterday and I organised the clearing of the area beside the summerhouse. For the last two or three years I've seen two dainty little plants there, one white, one pale blue which, courtesy of Monty I now know to be Tulbhagia, or society garlic. Hopefully they will now spread, or perhaps I can order more. Looking at it this morning I now realise that what I had always perceived as two different spaces separated by the summerhouse is in fact one long sloping area with the summerhouse in the middle. This gives me a much clearer idea of what it could become and leaves me wondering if the mini-pond set up last summer in an old zinc bath is in the right place.
ReplyDeleteLovely to read all of the nice wishes for a better day.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Essie and mistral and others.
I did go back to bed for a couple of hours then took a pizza from the freezer,cooked and ate the whole thing.
I took another sleeping pill and didn't wake until 11.30 this morning and definitely feel a lot better today. And it's helpful to know that the elderly gent felt wobbly too. Thank you.
My immediate neighbour is on the check out at S'sbry and is appalled by some of the customers behaviour. When I go I always thank the check out person for being there.
Earlier in the year I was using one of the delis in town a great deal and they were wonderful to me. After I returned from Cornwall for various reasons I didn't return to them and have now discovered that they sold on the business before C'mas.
I know they traveled in from near Ledbury each day and I need to find their address because I want to thank them for being so kind helpful and willing towards me.
They worked fantastically hard throughout the year to keep everyone supplied with what they needed, latterly mum and dad one day and brother and sister alternately.
Sarnia - that garden keeps on giving for you. Another surprise. Well done !
Mistral, if you feel that way about leaving work before your official time and there is some way of doing so, then do.
ReplyDeleteIn my last months running up to retirement I was in a difficult period of poor health and I took the opportunity to take that retirement a little earlier.
Within a year, I had recovered my strength and took on a PT job with a local family, collecting the youngest child from school and feeding the others and taking them to after school activities. As the children grew my job changed in various ways and latterly I was doing the ironing once a week. I stayed with that family for ten years.
Opportunities in life present themselves from all quarters if your antennae is active.
Take your opportunity now, have a few months rest while this Covid situation is with us, and something may come up for you on a PT basis next year.
A couple of years ago I met a woman locally who was in your position and encouraged her through negotiating early release from a very stressful job.
When she finally made it she flourished and is now a very happy person, helped by her allotment.
Good luck !
And I hope your dog gets well soon.
So very many different posts today.
ReplyDeleteAll I am posting, is that I have just watched, on Ch4+1, A Place in the Sun.
This was based around Lucca in Italy, a town I know well and love. It is small, but full of wonderful art + architecture.
I had friends, who re-located permanantely to Barga, and visited a few times (sadly no longer in contact) but know the area. It was lovely to see an area, I know.
The dreams of a holiday in Italy, are just that, but dreams can come true.
To keep my Italian feel ongoing, it is an authentic Ragu and pasta, for my evening meal tonight. In other words:- Spag. Bol 😀
Oooh.... Lucca Duomo. The tomb of illaria del Carretto, with the little dog at her feet. The round piazza built on the Roman amphitheatre and then the medieval houses.....These memories keep us going until we can go back again...
DeleteI must say that I have been very impressed with the improvement in Sainsburys customer service since the early weeks of lockdown last year
ReplyDeleteBack then it was very difficult to get a delivery or click/collect slot, orders had lots of things missing or substituted , it was virtually impossible to speak to anyone on the phone about problems or refunds. Of course the vast and sudden increase in online shopping was a huge operation for them to organise.
But organise they have, and now give an excellent and reliable service. Since just before Christmas I have always got a delivery on the day and time I wanted, I have had no substitutions in my orders and the drivers have been kind, careful about distancing, helpful and polite. I always put a big thankyou note in the bottom of the laundry basket I put out for them to load the order into.
And having read Spicys account of her son above, I shall write a thankyou letter to the Manager of our local branch.
It will make a lovely change from having to complain about something and I shall ask him to put my letter on the staff notice board.
I did my normal Sainsbury's shop this morning.
DeleteIt was well stocked so I could choose + buy what I need for another 7 days changing my ideas on seeing what was the most fresh. I got a wonderful pack of "greens" not the veg I planned. As per usual, the staff I know were still all there, and I had a good view chats.
My only complaint, is:-
(Sorry Archerphile + others) the number of staff, whizzing around with huge trolleys picking the on-line, plus the click+collect orders. They block the ailses, just grab what they need to, not really caring where personal shoppers are.
Just a small gripe, but it was absolutely fine.
I do a dance now - The Supermarket Shuffle, along with my lovely partner, the Trolley.
All I can say is, If any-one is thinking to leave work early, and can support yourself - then do it!
ReplyDeleteIt is worth it for well-being, and the sudden loss of stress-levels.
Seconded. 👍Took retirement here at the earliest age, 62, imposed on me by shoulder op, but never regretted.
DeleteGood for you. 👍
DeleteWe had our second round of ONS tests today. Doing the swab was slightly less unpleasant this time. Unlike Archerphile, we didn't have a whole load of extra questions - probably a good thing as it was all done on the doorstep and it was *cold*.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would love is an antibody test. This sounds strange, but I would like to know if I have been infected, with minor symptoms, and not that obvious.
DeleteMe too, mr minty and I both had a really weird and virulent virus in feb 2020 and were very poorly indeed, do wonder it was early covid.
DeleteA potential Scam.
ReplyDeleteI had a text message today from HSBC. This was that they were holding my tranfer of £466.78 and if this was not done by me, click on this link to sort it out..
I have just ignored this.
I do not bank with HSBC, how have they got my mobile no., my own bank only contacts me by e-mail or occasionaly my land-line. At no time do I get any bank messages, purely by a text message or via my mobile.
It looked very genuine, and I will report it to Fraud Alert.
Just thought I would alert others, not that you need it.
Well done for not being had, Miriam. They probably won't have 'got' your number, just generated a whole load of potential mobile numbers and sent the same test to the lot. Some, like yours, will have got through. And some of those will have been received by HSBC customers. Most of those will, hopefully, have spotted the scam and deleted it. Some won't. The scammers only need a tiny handful to respond to make it worth their while. In fact, I once hear that 10% of phishing messages are believed and acted upon - worryingly high.
DeleteOn the other hand, I have reported several 'BT' emails as potential scam, only to discover they are genuine. They have an annoying habit of sending messages about my account to 'Dear customer' rather than addressing me by name. As this is often the mark of an untargetted scam, the message tends to get deleted. You'd think BT would know better!
I am so glad that the police and authorities have *finally* decided that enough is enough and people will be fined if flouting, breaking, bending, or whatever you like to call it, the rules. This will apply to everyone I hope , Ministers, all politicians and all those people you think 'I'll just do this. It won't hurt anyone.' Grrr.
ReplyDeleteI have booked an antibody test for next week as both my GP and I believe I may have had Covid last March when my illness was described as pneumonia.
Firstly it will give me a little peace of mind, when there are so many idiots out and about thinking they know better than anyone else, (or are in complete denial and think it's all a hoax or Government plot) that I may already have some protection.
Secondly if I alreaady have antibodies will a vaccination harm me by 'overloading?' This happened to me some years ago with Tetanus jab and caused a painful and unpleasant reaction.
Anyway I have my GP's blessing in getting the test done and as a bonus I had a lovely long chat this afternoon, while booking the test,with a young lady originally from the Isle of Sheppey and who was a keen Bernard Cornwell fan!
Jon back from evening run so must start dinner now!
I hoped he stayed "local".
DeleteOWIAS - I have always felt very sorry for the Covid testers. We do not have a porch to our front door and several
ReplyDeleteTimes the poor tester has had to stand out in the pouring rain or freezing cold whilst going through the questions and logging answers into their mobiles. We have asked them to step into the Hall out of the rain but they always insist they are not allowed to enter the house or accept a mug of coffee.
Last time it was pouring when the chap was due, we put the large garden parasol up just outside the front door so he could at least keep relatively dry. He was very grateful!
I have lent an umbrella to the poor sainsbury's delivery man who has to stand in pouring icy rain 2m away while I unload the groceries into my own containers. They don't seem to offer the option of groceries packed in bags as waitrose do. I know we are all trying fo reduce plastic, but I do re-use the plastic shopping bags as bin liners...
DeleteYes Minty, it does make the delivery difficult. I have a large laundry basket on legs and a couple of big cardboard boxes that I put outside the front door when the Sainsbury man is due - but, as mentioned above, we don’t have a porch , so if it is raining they get full of water!
DeleteFor our last delivery, the driver piled up the blue boxes of groceries on the mat just inside our front door and retreated to his van whilst we unpacked them. Then came back to collect the empty crates which we had put outside. It seemed to work well.
Thank you for your responses.
ReplyDeleteI work with vulnerable adults in a 'supported living' house.
Thanks to the very silly woman at work, five staff members today tested positive and are now isolating. (25% of the staff team).
Two tenants (out of seven) so far have tested positive, one who has cancer is now hospitalised, on end of life care.
Some, but not all, staff were using PPE today.
The manager has no power to enforce usage, although occasionally reminds people of the policy.
The place is a shambles, and I am increasingly anxious.
I will very seriously consider my options - health is more important than money.
Sainsburys...
ReplyDeleteI shop there about once a week. Last week I greeted an assistant as usual, asked if she had a nice Christmas. She replied very honestly that she had not, giving several reasons.
I have had some very bad news regarding a loved one's health, (cancer), and very quietly wept, listening to this woman, who was oblivious. I walked away and tried to finish my shopping, and then went to the till. The woman and another staff member were waiting for me with three bunches of flowers and an apology.
The person on the till was more than patient, and interestingly told me that lots of people cry there, mostly older/vulnerable shoppers.
I was very touched and grateful.
I will not ask people about their Christmasses in future either.
My dog has pancreatitis, controlled with an expensive prescription diet, supplemented with chicken or white fish, rice or boiled potatoes. Despite this, she sometimes has flare-ups, terrible vomiting etc. Each time they seem more severe, and now after five days, she is tolerating a bit of food. I thought she was a goner at one point. She is eleven now, and I am so glad she is still here, but it's hard watching an animal in pain.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I will think about some magic moments, which will make more cheerful reading.
Mistral, I am so sorry to read of the situation regarding your workplace. I can only imagine the fear and anger that you are experiencing. Is there no-one above your manager that you can report your very serious concerns to? A head office perhaps? The local council? It sounds like a truly appalling situation. And you are, of course, being perfectly reasonable in considering your position - how dare those selfish people put you and the residents at risk.
ReplyDeleteAnd to have the bad news about your loved one's health on top of all this is just so sad, not to mention having to care and worry for your poor dog.
I just wish you better days ahead and a resolution for all these heart breaking things that you are having to deal with. Xx
Mistral - your work situation and other problems with your lived one and your dog me feel ashamed for having grumbled about anything recently. You are coping with far more than some of us and I’m sure we all send our love and virtual support.
ReplyDeleteAs Gary said, you shouldn’t have to put up with such a dangerous (to your own health) situation at work. Try to think about yourself and if you can afford to retire early, it could be the best thing for you to do. Put yourself first.
I’m so glad the Sainsbury staff were kind and considerate. They are having to put up with a lot of difficulties too at present, so it is lovely to hear that they were caring and empathetic too.
Sending good wishes and love.
Mistral 💕💕
ReplyDeleteMistral, surely the manager can enforce use of PPE? Is he or she ducking responsibility? If a person refuses to comply they should be sent home. It is a health and safety issue so maybe worth going down that road. If you are in a Union perhaps they could pursue it. It is a disgrace that people are being infected by the lack of care here. Thoughts are with you!
ReplyDeleteThe use of PPE should be mandatory in your situation Mistral. It's disgraceful that you have been put in that situation, if the woman who came to work with symptoms has Covid then everyone who's has been in contact with her should be self isolating.
ReplyDeleteManagers “Duty of care” surely to clients and staff!!!
DeleteMistral ,I hope you can find a magic moment to share with us .
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing about it .
I can understand how you are feeling about not wanting your lovely dog to be in pain.
He knows you are doing your best for him.
Animals are. Very clever that way.
Please think of retirement.
I took early retirement at 55years of age because our school had falling rolls and they wanted to make staff redundant.
I jumped at the chance as I knew I could do some Supply Teaching .
I taught at a Grammar School and Convent after retiring and it was great.
Loved it..
Two nice things happened to me yesterday.
I had to take Mr LJ to the Drs and was able to park outside the front of the Surgery
and
When I went outside in the morning to see if the car would start an elderly gentleman was walking down the road.
I have seen him before and I spoke to him.
He told me he'd had a Stroke and heart attack on the same day and walked "round the block" every day.
I asked him if he minded telling me this age and was amazed when he said 63.
He looked years older.
He asked my age and said he couldn't believe I was that old.!
Ah vanity.
It made me feel good!
🤗 how lovely LJ
DeleteI am waiting in the car for Mr R who is in the hotel right now receiving
his 💉
Mistral, unless I have confused you with someone else you have a new grandchild? Please tell us about him? Forgive me if I got it wrong but I hope not?
ReplyDeleteDear Mistral - having read up a bit I send you my thoughts and hopes for happier times/news. Some people can be incredibly selfish in these difficult times. There are always others who are thoughtful and kind though.
ReplyDeleteMistral - I'm weeping for you, and I see that you wrote those three posts in the middle of the night, which suggests that you are finding sleeping difficult too.
ReplyDeleteYou have three major difficulties in your life at the moment, your dog, your relative and your work. You can and are looking after your dog, I hope she continues to bring you comfort. There may be very little you can do about your relatives health except care for and love that person.
Your work you can do something about.
Could you make a doctors appointment, probably by phone, and ask to be given sickness leave on stress/ MH grounds.
Try not to feel guilty about pushing extra work onto your co workers. They do not deserve to be considered.
As far as your manager is concerned it is my experience that particularly in the caring profession some are given the position of manager without the personal capacity to manage, and are often undermined by strong willed members of staff.
The lady that I was caring for, has now been in a nursing home for months, and the manager there clearly is not managing and is very obviously managed herself by a senior nurse with a very strong and pronounced personality.
If you can be on sick leave for three weeks it will give you space and time to examine your options about retirement. You can spend valuable at home time with your dog, and perhaps give more time and attention to your sick relative.
You have plenty of very stressful elements in your life at the moment to present to your GP.
Please do consider my suggestion.
I have been where you are now, and I send my empathetic thoughts.
And don't worry about opening up your feelings on this forum. You will get plenty of support.
Poor Mistral - and all this to bear on top of the lack of light. Yes, Mrs P, my experience also. In one school years ago a newly appointed, rather young, headmistress was completely dominated by an older, acid-tongued queen bee of a deputy and consequently unable to assert herself or make decisions.
ReplyDeleteMistral.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine what you are going through. My thoughts are with you, and your family + pooch.
It is easy to give your thoughts here, so don't hesistate, as sometimes it is just helpful to get things off the chest.
I so understand.
I have said things here, which could not share with family or friends. It helped so much 😀
All I want to say today, is that I have sorted my Winter Fuel allowance. I was "on hold" for nearly an hour. It will be authorised tomorrow, and payment within 7 days. It was worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteI thanked the person I spoke to (who was so helpful) saying how much I had appreciated her help. She sounded surprised.
I always acknowledge, a good + efficient service. I know what a difference that this can make to someone.
Oh Miriam well done..... so it had not come through automatically after all ?
ReplyDeleteDid you get an explanation for why it had not been authorised ?
My date of birth apparantley! Who knows. At least it has now been approved, and I will get, what I am entitled to. 😁 🔥
DeleteA mistake was made with mine this year, they decided I was living with another claimant so reduced it by half ! not sure where they got that information from, but easily sorted by a very pleasant gentleman as you found Miriam.
DeleteLANJAn - I had a nice and very unexpected thing happen today. I’ll try to be brief - but you know me!
ReplyDeleteI suddenly got a message on FB messenger from somebody I did not know. It said ‘Are you M....H..... who used to be M...L....went to HHS School and lived in Iver at The Spinney”. Well yes, I am, but was very uncertain about answering an unsolicited message. So I cautiously replied and to cut a long story short it was from someone who knew me, my parents, had visited our house, said my Dad was her Godfather (not true, but we sorted that one out) and with whom I had several mutual friends - 70 odd years ago!,
So I we have spent quite some time today sharing memories, updating each other on family news and have agreed to meet for coffee when Covid restrictions are over. It turns out she lives in a converted Railway Station near Waddesdon Manor so will be able to meet up in the tea shop at one of my favourite NT properties.
I think that fulfils your criteria! 😃
That's very positive Archerphile and I'm pleased for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on FB but often think of friends from my youth.
For the last six months my thoughts have been very frequently transfixed on one specific friend who's address I have never forgotten and even dream about.
I was for two years part of a group of friends all from around the very south east edge of London, into Kent. The two happiest years of my life. I was a cadet nurse.
I have recently looked at Friends reunited but none of the schools seemed to be included.
It seems very important to me to be reunited with this person, don't think I ever will be, and so I am so pleased for you.
Archerphile, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a nice thing to hear.
It is exactly the sort of thing I meant when I mentioned "Magic Moments"
Mrs P ,many years ago some friends and I from school decided that on the 40th Anniversary of the start of our life there we would try to arrange a get together of the girls who had been in our class when we started.
Three of us undertook the task-pre Internet of course- .
I contacted Judith Chalmers who had a programme on Radio 2 and I was interviewed on that.
Somebody I didn't know got in touch to say that she knew one of the "girls",Claire I was looking for.
Unfortunately Claire was unable to come but there were only four girls we were unable to contact and we had a get together in a hotel in the town .
People travelled from all over the Country and our form teacher came too.
Are there perhaps "Where are they now?" type programmes on the radio but if there are ,Mrs P ,you could try that approach perhaps.
Ah !
DeleteL J, that group of us, at sixteen, did the same.
We broke a plate into five pieces and stuck a note on the back with all our names, and that we would all meet up in ? ? ? number of years if we lost contact.
We were to put an advert on the front page of The Times, where of course all manner of idiosyncratic messages were to be found.
Anyone remember the date that changed ?
I suppose the best place would be the Saturday morning programme where the Rev Richard Coles resides. Used to be the beloved John Peel.
Perhaps I should write to the programme.
I am new not so sure that being contacted by the woman that used to know my family in the 1950’s was such a good thing after all!
ReplyDeleteI can barely remember her, I think our mothers were friends, but she obviously remembers a lot about me, my family, where I lived, what our house and garden were like and where I went to school etc.
Since replying I have now had no fewer than 27 long messages from her in less than 24 Hours! It seems every few minutes my iPhone is pinging with yet another message, memory or question.
She is recalling things from when she was 4 yrs old and I was 8. Some of the things she says are just not true or are ancient gossip but I don’t like to keep correcting her!
Does anyone have any advice about how I can tactfully withdraw from this forced ‘online friendship’ and stop the constant flow of messages? She is beginning to be a a bit pest and I’m already regretting having replied to her.
I don’t want to be rude but I have other things to do!
Play the old lady card and tell her your memory's going ; )
DeleteChange your number.
Ask her to send nudes! (Well, it worked for Lizzy Pargeter)
Just tell her that Archerphile, that at your age you're busy with your family, house and garden and not today but leave it for a day or two. If she asks why you're not replying say you'll answer tomorrow. It was nice to share memories but you're staying firmly in the present.
DeleteBasia, with good advice as usual.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very down to earth woman there.
I would add, don't answer her texts.
Then when she texts again, reply that you had forgotten about answering and apologise.
Do that every time she sends a message. She will soon get the message that you have withdrawn. Or she will think you to be rude. But will that matter ?
I went on Friends reunited before it closed down and had two replies from former school friends. I did reply but heard no more so obviously their lives were busy. This lady sounds as if she is lonely but as you say constant messages are a bit of a pest. As BAsia says, best just don’t reply, certainly not immediately! Probably as she is so needy you may need to completely withdraw.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she's just excited to be back in contact with someone from her childhood and memories keep popping into her head.
DeletePerhaps she's spent lockdown alone and Archerphile is the first human contact she's had in weeks.
Tell her you love hearing from her, but that your memory's not what is was so it's no good asking questions about your schooldays. Tell her you're very busy during the day but you'll send her a text in the evening.
If none of that works, tell her to contact Susan - they can share gossip - sorry, interesting reminiscences - to their hearts' content.