2021 Week 7 - One Daily Positive. Not doing much.

I'm just hanging around now in the UK, house unpacked and everything put away, can't do much outside due to the weather, but have tidied up the sheds and started a list of outdoor projects I can get onto as it warms up. I'm here till mid/end March when child 4 collects the dog, just need to sort something out with the cat. Can get house sitters but would need two and sorry but I'm reluctant to ask one stranger to hand over the keys to my house to another stranger. For some reason quite a few people think that it's a good idea until I ask them if they'd do it. Will probably put the cat in a cattery for 2-3 months.

Back hurting, probably from Osteopath visits and new exercises. Neck killing me also, but it'll be fine. 

I've been sorting out paperwork, writing letters and packing up gift boxes for birthdays through till the end of June, plus Easter gifts also. It's this type of activity, fine motor skills and sitting, that actually cause me more pain and damage. I've lacked motivation this week 

I can't wait till we're allowed to do garden visits again. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to Dubai by the end of March once I've sorted out a house/pet sitter for the cat, so if anyone is looking for a change of scenery with outdoor space in exchange for cat sitting, do get in touch.

44 Saturday Morning spent in bed other than making tea and toast and putting the roast on. I did some blogging, commented on blogs and caught up with the TV soaps. There was a visit from a friend today, she hasn't seen anyone since I was last in the UK, back in October, so technically she's remained in her bubble and as I  haven't seen anyone since I arrived back, our bubble still exists. 

Cooked myself a Sunday roast because I thought today was Sunday when I'd planned it and defrosted the meat.

45 Sunday Happy Valentines Day and Happy 11th Birthday to Bob the Dog. I didn't get him a McDonalds drive thru as I can't justify that as an essential, but I may get one next time I have to get fuel and am in the retail park. I assembled the last Ikea unit for the lounge so all the boxes downstairs are now unpacked.

46 Monday Exciting day. Osteopath, delivery and windows cleaned. Spoke to more people today than I do in a week. Did little else for the day.

47 Tuesday I spent most of the day in the attic rooms, sorting through my fathers stuff of things I still have to sell that I've been storing, most of it will be on ebay, but I do already have a box of bric a brac, items from the flat I no longer need now our kitchen stuff has arrived.

Peg Solitaire.

48 Wednesday Off to the tip then for a socially distanced walk with a friend and the dogs over the golf course.

49 Thursday I got full on dressed up for my click and collect shop, made popcorn and did very little else for the day.

50 Friday Osteopath appointment in the morning, really feeling the benefit. Walked up into town to the post office, a carefully planned trip. Parcels stamped, list written. PO in town doesn't sell food items and/or magazines. Went to WHSmith, only 4 people in store, but felt incredibly hot and claustrophobic, I'd picked up a TV guide, felt obliged to have to buy it, stood in the narrowest confined space for the queue for an age while a woman was assisted using the self service check out. Left quickly and ended up in Wilko's which was much better as I could get everything on my list and a few things I'd put off getting due to not wanting to go in the shops.

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - A weekly linky. 

My Sunday Photo - Happy 11th Birthday Bob.

Trying not to cry over spilt milk and other stuff.

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Crying over spilt milk and other stuff

I didn't spill the milk, but I did run out last night. I managed to get a click and collect delivery for today after signing into every account I now have. I struggled to get an order up to £40. I find cooking for one difficult so I've been cooking for 2-3 people then freezing the spare portions, when I checked the freezer I had 11 meals, 7 days worth of breakfast and 5 light lunches/snacks. Some meal planning and rooting through the cupboards and I only needed to order dairy, frozen fruit and veg. 

The wine, radox were added to make up the minimum basket shop and the chocolate eggs are for child 5.

I then decided to try click and collect orders for the other stores at the retail park while I'm there, but I need to collect either within the hour or place the order tomorrow or wait 2-3 days for everything to be in stock, so I cancelled that idea. I'm trying to avoid going out/near people other than daily dog walks.

I got full on dressed up to collect my shopping today, I stopped smoking end of last year and have been none stop thinking about not eating as a way to combat stopping smoking. Not thinking about cigarettes has been easy, but the 8kg weight gain now has to go.

I was home by 9am and spent the rest of the day sorting out paperwork and tidying things around. There's only me here and it's easy to get stuff out and not tidy up afterwards, although I'm not, never have been and never will be trying to create a perfect home. I like the lived in look and feel.

 At the moment I can't get a flight to Dubai booked, I've managed to sort out the dog as child 4 and his wife will be taking him in, but I can't get a house sitter to commit to more than 2 months and the cattery is coming in at around £1000 and one place has closed after a foreign traveller gave them all covid. Not one place has offered a long term stay discount, is this common for the UK? 

I'm also making sure that all birthdays, anniversaries, events etc are covered between the end of March and mid June when I hope to be back, I have to arrange, shop and post early and from now on no response that something has arrived = nothing arriving next year. Harsh but tough. I don't want gratitude. I'm trying to keep lines of communication open, which obviously aren't wanted everywhere.

I've found a parcel post box down the industrial estate which will save me a trip to the post office, but I have a few to post abroad and require proof of postage so will have to go to the post office this week, where I will be able to pick up a couple of cards, tv guide and some treats for the week. I'll do that tomorrow after seeing the Osteopath. Then I won't have to go near the shops or other people for a week or so.

This constant adapting to climate, covid regulations, travel requirements, culture, home, being alone is all really wearing me down now. I can't even get the dog food order right. I travel with a 30kg suitcase but appear to have no idea online how large 2.5kg is when it comes to buying dog food.

I've given up trying to get the contract with the shipping company fulfilled, my sofa still sits in the neighbours garage. Every box has been unpacked, rooms just need rearranging and then hopefully by this time next week I'll have finished and given the house a clean from top to bottom.

I've been putting off taking the cat and dog to the vets for their (late) annual jabs. Bob requires a sedation and my stress levels are rising just typing this.

I've no idea what day of the week it is, Friday has just arrived again.