Splits

My car was goin g in for a service and MOT,  and it was full of stuff to go to the charity shop.   Yesterday was my last chance to do it.  I needed to get into the town where my chosen charity shop is so that I could park out in the brief early morning period when the road isn't pedestrianised.

All went well.  Apart from one of the charity shop bvolunteers being a bit.......snooty?  Snooty isn't the right word,  but I can't put my finger on a better one.     I dislike donating to charity shops because some of them are personned by by people, women usually,  who look donators up and down when they donate, as if to assess the likely quality of donations.    I hate it.

 There was a second lady in the shop who was very welcoming, and seemed genuinely happy  for the stuff I handed over.  She also told me how I could park round the back of the shop in future.   I don't know if I could go back there. though.

Anyway, I digress.

I was settig off for my journey.  Walking out of the kitchen towards the hall, I decided to pick up the hall table and put it back in place. I turned, picked it up, turned back and stepped forward...... and my left foot & all my weight trod on a plastic thing and skated away from me.

In slow motion, I saw what was about to happen.  I was going to do the splits. 

 I couldn't stop myself.     I had a table in my hands, my left leg was already extended forward and my right leg extended backward beyond the point where I could try and get off the plastic thing. 

I remember thinking "this is going to hurt. I hope I don't break anything".

Luckily, my left foot hit a cupboard and so it couldn't go all the way down.  The stop made me drop the table and I fell to the side over it  My right leg jerked backwards, and I felt the Glutes scream.

 

The table broke.  And it broke my fall. 

It could have been so  much worse.

Bad planning

Some years ago my brother introduced me to the comfort of Riser Recliner chairs.  He's bought one, and was evangalising about it.    I was suprised at how comfortable it was.  My DH tried it and felt the same.  Before long, we'd bought a chair each and got rid of our recliner sofas.

Some time later, I saw a two seater sofa with one of the seats being a riser recliner, and I bought that.  It was - is - lovely.  Fits in eaily, loads of space around.

DH wanted to try something different, so we bought a pair of (new to us) Stressless chairs, in a funky colour.  They are lovely, but too low for me.  So we ended up with an eclectic mix of furniture.

I love my sofa.  The one thing I did miss is that DH and I used to sit snuggled up on a sofa (long ago).  I kept my eye on Ebay and Gumtree, in case a 3 seater sofa (from a specific brand that does a high leg lift) with a riser recliner at one or both ends should come along.   I've seen a couple over the intervening years.  One not in great condition.  Another one in good condition, and a pretty blue - but it would clash with the Stressless chairs.

And then one popped up.

I bought it.  

It comes with 2 riser recliner chairs, which I'll need to sell.

The Man with the Van who is collecting it for me had another job to do and suggeste doing it on the same day.   I checked with the seller, and we agreed.

DH was away.  DB was away.  I hadn't really though this through.

I pushed all the existing furnuture together.  I emptied the hall.  All that was fine.    But it wasn't a one man job to unload the items when they came.     

In the end, I messaged the nephew of my closest friend, both of whom live in the village.  He kindly agreed to come and help unload, and I'm glad he did.      I helped MwtV unload the chairs, but I knew I wouldn't be abe to get them into the house,  and I knew I wouldn't be able to lift the sofa with the mechanisms in. 

It was all over quickly, and they are in fab condition.  

I can't do much until I can offload the chairs and my old sofa.

The cats were very ecited at the new toys I'd got for them.

Old

DB did pop the lights out for me, one of them needs filling and he was going to come back and do it but life got in the way.

And, I did paint the coving on Monday night.   And I did put up all the poly sheeting, which is just as well as I'm not used to using normal emulsion (I usually use Once which  is, it turns out, thicker).  I haven't painted for a long time, and I overloaded the brush, it was a pain.    

I went to bed early, had a bad night (which included me knocking a glass of sqaush over and spending an hour at 3am cleaning it up).

This morning, I set about rollering.

It was awful.

I used my trusty Paintstick.  It was awful.  Not the Paintsticks fault, mine.

It was such hard work.  I stank (I still do, I'm taking a break while what I've done so far dries).    Even the straightforward bits were tough going,  the awkward bits were horrendous.  I swore like a trooper.

It took me forever.  

 I had to have breaks for a drink, and to take the plastic hat off to let my head cool down.   I had to keep spraying and cleaning the floor (if I ever did this again, which I won't, I will get the sticky stuff to put on the floor to protect it.

My arms ached, my shoulders hurt, my back, already a problem, is killing me.   My legs don't fold like they used to, so kneeling on the worktops is excruciatingly painful. 

It was pathetic. 

I've never enjoyed painting, but I always like the end result and - up to now - I've felt the end justifies the pain of dong it.  

Not any more.

I was getting fed up with myself and my whingeing, almost as much as I was fed up with the painting (well, the pain I was in).

I had an Ocado delivery part way through.  

Later,  the postman came to collect a parcel.

I stopped at one point to put a plaster on my finger as I nnow have a raw blister under my glove.

The kitchen ceiling is 2 heights, and I was doing the taller one.  I was trying to work out if I could get away with not doing the other one at all.   Then I made a bargain with myself: just one coat.

I wanted to give up.  

I never used to give up.I used to just grit my teeth and get on with the job in hand.   The whingey side of me was adamant that she couldn't do anymore, she had to stop, she didn't care how crap it looked.  The usual side of me tried being stern,  tried cajoling, and ended up bargaining. "Just do this bit and you can stop for a drink" "Finidh this dsection and you can have a 5 minute break"  "If you really don't want to do it, we can stop and start again tomorrow,  the kitchen will just be a mess for longer".  

My brother is due to pop over and do the light.  I wante to finish befire he came because (a) I've got an apron over my tee shirt and knickers because it is too hot, and I don't want to have to get dressed,  and (b) he will encourage me to do a second coat and I just want to get it finished.  Or he'll offer to finish for me,  which is an amazing thing to offer,, but I want to do this myself (Yes, I'd rather do it badly, myself than give in and have someone do it).

After a break, I set about painting the lower ceiling. I was so slow, that I wil have to do a second coat because the first one was drying to quickly.  I did some touching up of the first area,  and I'm waiting to see what it looks like.

I swore that I would dispose of all my painting stuff, including my paintstick.  I'm never doing it again.

After a long break, I realised that it's (probably) ceilings that I'll never do again.  I might be able to do walls.  Whhich is a little annoying as it measn I'll have to clean the equipment when I'm done.

I have been lying on the floor in the living room, feeling much older than I am.   I had to get up as I had another delivery.  I shouted to let the driver know I was getting there.  When I opneed the door I apologised for the delay and said I'd been painting a ceiling.

He looked at me and unsuccessfully stifled a laugh as he said "I know!"

I'm covered in white paint.

I want to clear the kitchen up and bin all the ktchen towel and newspaper.  I want to have a shower and wash my hair.  I want to have my breakfast (it's half past lunchtime, I've been up since 7.30 aand I haven't eaten because everything is behind dustsheets). 

I feel calmer, and cooler, but still stinky, 
now I've had a bit of a break.  

 I'm still never painting another ceiling.

 

A step closer

I made myself wash the ceiling yesterday.  It took two hours.  TWO HOURS!

I had expected it to take about 30 minutes, it was just trickier than I anticipated.  It looks lovely,  almost good enough to not bother painting.  But I have got this far.

The undersink storage arrived, so I did that too,  and I ended up clearing some other bits at the same time.    It was slow progress.  I cleared a fair bit away ready, but I got to a point where I'd had enough.

 I tried to get the enthusiasm to go into the loft, but I just couldn't do it.

I asked my brother if he'd come tomorrow (today) to pop the downlighters out for me, and he kindly said he would.

I wanted to get to a point where, when the painting was done,  everything else was sparkling already/.  I spent a few hours this morning clearing and cleaning the worktops, and the top of the fridge,  and then packing things against the wall so the dustsheets would cover them.   Some items were moved to the dining room table.     I cupboarded 2 shelves of books while I was at it.

The "I don't know what to do with this" piles gradually reduced to two piles.  and the I got it all on to one table.

I popped out to buy the paint and some dustcovers.  y brother came and popped out the lights and dsted round them for me.  I cleared the flooor.  A couple of the holes need repairing, so he's going to pop back with some polyfilla to do that. (I cupboarded 2 shelves in the utility room looking for Polyfilla, I'm on a roll).

Eventually, eveyrthing was clear.  Really clear.

I was desperate to just stop and start again tomorrow,  but I went int the loft to get out the paint bits.  I've sorted through them, and they are npw ready. I think. 

I need to stick up the dust sheets so that, if nothing else,  I can get started painting straight away tomorrow.  I'm thinking that I c/should paint the coving today and do my cutting in,  and then I'll really be ready to roll (ha ha) tomorrow. 

We'll see.      

Waste of Time

Sunday. Fay, our fayoumi, shrieked at about 5.30am

It woke me up.  There was no other noise.  She did it again, and I leapt up, fumbling for my specs.   I looked out o fthe window, couldn't see anything,  grabbed my dressing gown and hobbled downstairs.    She did it again.  I rhurriedly unlocked the door,  hobbled across the garden, stood in front of the walk in run, and she was just sitting there, on the arm of a garden chair inside the run.

Viole(n)t started chuntering.   I looked around, couldn't see any evidence of a predator.  I swore a little, went back into the house and sat on the side of the bed wondering whether to get up or go back to sleep. 

It had already been a disturbed night.  My back and neck ached, presumably from the Physio.  I'd been woken up a couple of times when my oxygen level fell to 86% and 81%..  

I decided to go back to sleep.  There were another couple of oxygen alarms.  The radio came on at 6.45, and the hens kicked off a bit at some point.     And then the radio went off, and it was 9.45 and I was just too knackered and too much in pain to get up.  I did get up anyway, as I had to feed the cats.  I took some paracetomol.

I had a shower, targetting my back with the jet.   I came downstairs and was relieved that I'd mostly cleared up yesterday.  If it had been a mess, I'd probably have gone back to bed. 

I did the morning jobs, like emptying the dishwasher and refilling it,  changing the Girls' water, opening up the windows etc.  I couldn't face breakfast.  I made myself a delicious coffee,  and checked mail and messages.  I did some searching for a couple of things I want to buy.    I sorted out the paper, and did some of the general knowledge crossword. 

And now it's 1.30, and I haven't done anything towards painting the ceiling. 

I'm still not hungry.  My back hurts.  I'm tired (how can I be this tired?!). 

   

Home alone

The few days with the girls went okay. They are 14, so it's hard to tell.

We did some things together - like Crazy Golf,  GoApe (DH did the course, I stayed n the ground as I knew I'd struggle).

They played tennis. We had to get the second hand racquet rebound as the seller had coloured it in. What sort of person does that?!?!   It came off all over DGDs hand. 

They also played Swingball a lot.  Or Crazyball as Miss Teen calls it. Or Whackaball as DGD calls it.  Or Gerald /Geralina /Geraldine.

We let them go out for dinner together, followed by the cinema. Without us. I sent money to DGD, so she had enough in her account to pay via her debit card.   It was the first time they had been to a restaurant without adults.  

We hid, unbeknown to them, in a restaurant around the corner until they finished dinner and went to the cinema.  A way of letting them be grown up, but being close enough to be on hand if things went awry.

They didn't really want to do anything much, which was disappointing.  However, I think they were OK.

They went to their respective homes yesterday afternoon.

.....

Today, DH went off to do the build up week for a festival. He left very early, and I got up as soon as he had gone.  The chap who helps with the garden comes at 9. 

I've been doing stuff all day.   I cupboarded  under the sink, which was easier than I expected.  I'm waiting for some stuff to arrive to help me organise it when I refill it.  It should be here tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have had to pick everything up from the floor because the cats are curious,  and undersink stuff is probably not good for cats.

I also cupboarded the Preserving Jar cupboard.  I soaked all the jars that had old labels on and rewashed them.  I labelled the 11 jars of passage that  DH made last night.

I sorted out the dumping area that is the utility room floor.  That took longer than expected. 

It was the perfect drying day, so I stripped the beds and did 11 lots of presoaking and washing.  Mattress protectors, sheets, duvet cover,   towels, towels, towels, cleaning cloths, clothes,  some cushion covers, some random 30 degree bits. All done.  9 of the 11 loads were dry,  the remaining 2 are now inside on an airer

I washed and sterilised all our fizzy water bottles, and then filled the fridge with carbonated water

I'm part way through an order with another company.  I need some more of those sheet clips. It won't be dispatched until.Monday, so im waiting until tomorrow to check out.

I decided that, amongst other things,  i'm going to paint the kitchen ceiling,  so I continued clearing in readiness.  I went out and collected yet another set of 2 steps.  These, unlike the other goodness knows how many sets I have around the house,   have  bar at the top.  I think that will  help when I'm washing the ceiling.

When I git them home, I realised that i probably want a set with a taller  bar.  I've found some options,  but I'll see how I get on with this set first.

I had a Physio appointment at 5, which was en route to the steps.  I had to get changed as I was very sweaty.  I decided to try using the foot spa to clean my feet, which were filthy as I haven't been wearing shoes or slippers. 

I put a dash of body wash in, which was a mistake. 

the bubbles were up to my knees.  It was like a horror movie. 

I was running late so I turned it off and left it, thinking i'd sort it out when I got back.  However, all traces off bubbles had disappeared by the time I got home.  

It had done a fab job of cleaning and softening my feet, so I might try again tomorrow.  Its a bit noisy, and therefore antisocial, to do when DH is here.

 I was out for a couple of hours in total.  As soon as I returned, I gave the Girls their sunflower seeds, put food down for the cats, and got the washing in. 

I was carrying the basket upstairs.  Shelby was lying on one of the steps, which wasn't unusual.  However, she refused to remove, which was.

She did move in the end,  but itvwas all very awkward.  When I put the washing down on the landing, I  turned ro look at her, and she was still lying there.  I called her name, she looked at me, and she got up to go downstairs. She looked like she had broken something.   

I gallumped after her, and folded on the floor in fronr of her so I could assess her.

Then I saw it.

She had her arm through her collar!   I undid her collar, gave her a massive cuddle in relief, and she toddled off happily.

I skipped breakfast and lunch.  I finally ate at about 8pm, a  pressure cooker risotto from Catherine Phipps most recent book.  It was lovely.    Obviously it didn't have the depth of  step by step risotto,  but it was really good, and really quick.   I think this will be my new go to method.

I'm currently aiming to do the painting on Monday,  so that gives me tomorrow to clean up, wash the ceiling,  get the paint,  cover everything... and remove the downlighters (which looked very easy when I watched  YouTube video)

We shall  see.

Teens

Miss Teen and DGD(#4) are staying for a few days.   

We've set up the Summerhouse (which has air conditioning) into their den. This gives them their own space, away from us, to do Teen stuff.      There is a Sky box thing out there, and a projector screen, so it feels a bit special (although we don't have any premium channels, so it's not that exxciting).

Yesterday I dtopped them at a major supermarket with quite a clot of cash. They had instructions oto buy stuff for their lunches (as DH and I don't have lunch),   plus snacks, drinks and treats.  They could havw whatever they wanted, no judgement.

They were shocked at how much the spent, so that was quite a good learning.   

On the way home, I asked if they'd got the banans and strawberries they had wanted to have with their choc spread Crimputs.  They had forgotten (although DGD had bought carrot sticks as a snack, do kudos to her and her mum!).  They had also forgottne the apple juice they wanted. And the marshmallows.  But they told me they were happy to pop to the CoOp later.

They wnt off to the park to play tennis and stuff.  And later, they played themselveds silly with Swingball (or CrzyBall as Miss Teen calls it,  Whackaball as DGD calls it).

We had home made pasta (the first version of which was a disaster, my fault) for dinner. More Gerald/Geralina/Geraldine (temporary name for Swingball).   And then they were in their den watching films.

We're off to do Mini Golf today.

Decupboarding continues

It's been 32 days now since I started this cupboard a day malarkey.     Today was the larder cupboard and the dried goods cupboard,  and yesterday was the fridge.

I've done 30 cupboards and drawers in my kitchen, 7 in my bedroom,  1 cubby hole in the sewing room (I'm getting rid of all my sewing disaaaasters)  and  bits in two other rooms which it's hard to classify as a cupboard or a drawer.

I've sold loads via FB marketplace,  and quite a bit on Ebay thanks to a fee reduction offer.   I've given lots away.  I have been relentless and remorseless. 

The downstairs is a tip because I've got stuff and packaging everywhere.   There is a stack of parcels on the hall, which will be collected by the postman tomorrow.    My dining room table is covered in cocktail glasses, 24 of various sorts, which should have been collected today but weren't.    There are donations on the doorstep which should have been collected today but weren't.   The car boot is full,  and I really MUST do a charity shop run tomorrow.

I'm not sure I am going to complete the kitchen.  I'm running out of enthusiasm, and I've done most of the ones that are likely to offer up stuff for decluttering.      Maybe I'll feel more like it when all the current stuff has gone and thinkgs are bag under control.   I am feelng the pull from needing to do more in the guest bedroom/sewing room.

 I definitely would like to get under the sink done, but that's a job for when DH is out for a couple of days. That may have to wait a couple of weeks. 

 

kiss kiss bye bye Katie

10 year old Katie (Catherine of Aragon) died today.

She was an Allotments,  from the same hatch as Poppy and Gloria.   That was the year that we kept 8 hatched girls: Poppy, Glori, and then Catherine, Anne, Jane, Kathryn, Ann of Cleves and Kathryn Parr.

She came ro live in the garden at the beginning of the first lockdown. E girls were stolen, and we has ro evacuate the remaining girls to our home.

She was a lovely girl, and I am so lucky that lockdown enabled me ro get to know her so much better.  She was,  after a while,  happy to be stroked and taksbtrsats. She didn't like being picked up, ans so I sidnt pick her up unless necessary.

She has  slowed down a few months ago,but continued ro be active and interested.  She was obviously on her way out recently,m but she was still interested in eating.   I bought her mealworm,  which she relished.  She walked herself into the fruit cage when she saw me come out with the container, and I blocked the entrance so she could eat in peace.  We had a routine for the last few days.

She died this evening

Second thoughts

The trouble with trying to sell things is that, by the time I've written the advert, I often no longer want to let the item go!

Yesterday, I wobbled over at least one of my Instant Pot accessories.    Today, I was going to list a ceramic baker, brand new unused.  I googled it to see what its value might be, and now I've read the description, I've remembered why I bought it and I don't want to sell it!

I'm hoping that Ebay will do a "reduced fees" offer soon.

I'm going to tackle my next probem cupboard today.  It's a tall wall corner cupboard, very difficult to get into, which is why it's got so much piled in it.   I've got at leat one electrucal item (and it's accessories) in there, and I'm going to sell that.   As long as I don't look at the description and have second thoughts.

Other wins and fails

Did I mention that as part of my extended Decupboarding, I cleared enough space in the Guest BedroomSewing room to move the embroidery machine so I could get to it a little easier?

Its taken me ages to actually work up the enthusiasm to switch the embroisdery machine on and try it.   It was the birthday of my lovely cousin's amazing wife that finally made me do it.

I managed to adapt a design,  I had to do a bit of re-learning of the software.  Then it took forever to get it to the machine because the dedicated laptop had to do many updates before it would even let me do anything.  I had to RTFM to find out how to get the design to thte machine.

I didn't have the right colour threads loaded, so I rethreaded the machine. This was easier than before because (a) I'd put tubing on forever ago, to try and stop the threads being attracted to each other - what a difference" -   and (b) I could reach each side of the machine now. Npo more standing o steps to rethread from the front. Hopefully.

And I did the stitch out!  I was very happy!!

We've been in close contact with someone who came down with Covid (for the second time, despite being jabbed), so we stayed in for several days, and tested frequently.   The latest iteration is so easily transmissable. 

End result: I missed the birthday.  I should have just posted the card, but I didn't. I might pop round with it today.

In other sewing news,  I attempted to make myself some plain tops.  I started with soft pink tee shirt fabric,  and it was a disaaaaaaaster.    I'm using a pattern template that I have used, successfully, manytimes before - although never with fabric quite this thin and stretchy.  I had a second go, and the top is better made, but it looks atrocious on.     I can't work out yet whether it's because the fabric is superstretchy (compared to the fabrics I've used my template for, before),  whether I've put on weight (likely),  and/or whether my bust point has moved now that I'm wearing Optiform bras. 

I had to get my original Surefit Blueprint shirt off my DressForm to see.  It fits OK.  The bust point may have moved a little, but not enough (I don't think) to make  such a disaster.     I'm going to have to try an Apostrophe Pattern tee shirt, where I put in my measurements and the fabric stretch, and it comes up with a pattern template.   It may help me see where my disaaaaaaaster pattern has gone wrong.     However, that requires me to use my projector,  and the table is covered in cupboard contents.  Not today.

On the plus side,  in order to retrieve my Surefit Blueprint garment from my dress form, I had to take all the unfinished items off the top, they were slung on her shoulders..... and I found a skirt I'd made a year (or two?) ago, and hadn't hemmed.  It's a lightweight cotton jersey type skirt,  so I hemmed it and put it on.  Much more airy than the Scuba I'd been wearing, and much lighter.

The waistband is far too loose, so I'm having to fold it over to get it to stay up.  I might put a smaller waistband on at some point - but not today. 

A few weeks ago, a member on one of the sewing groups I'm in was complaining about people taking pictures in a mirror, as the phone often obliterates part of what is being snapped.    There was a lot of discussion about alternative ways of setting up a phone.

Around the same time, I saw a video of a chap who used a selfie stick, attached a cat toy to it, and then ran around his garden filming as he was chased by his cats.  The end video was really good and I fancied trying it with our cats.   We've got DGD4 and Miss Teen coming to stay soon,  so I thought they might like to have a go (weather permitting).

With both those things in mind I bought a clever telescopic selfie stick.  It's quite sweet, and more useful than I expected.  It's working well.

Right, I need to try and get smome order back into the kitchen.  Time to get back to the cupboards!

 

Roundabout

I'd like to finish the CupboardADay (for the Kitchen, at least) by the end of the month.  It's doable, it would be even easier if I stopped myself Cupboarding in other rooms.

Today I decided to tackle my second corner cupboard.  I started to think about this one a few days ago. This one is where all the pans live, and as soon as I opened it and studied it, I realised that reorganising it would mean doing another corner cupboard at the same time.

Today is the day. 

I took "before" photos of the two cupboards (in case it all went wrong and I had to put it back).    

I pulled everything out of one cupboard and worked out what I needed to put back in, what needed to be relocated, and what I didn't need to keep.

I did the same with the second cupboard.

The cats thought it was a grand game, and inspected the cupboards as I progressed. 

 

I cleaned them both, and then started reorganising.  Part way through, the scope widened to include the two deep drawers under the oven,  and later one of the drawers I'd already done got sucked in too. 

It helped that I was in "clearing" mode.  I built up a pile of equipment that I had considered removing before, but always kept thinking "mm. It wasn't cheap. And I might regret it".    I had the same thoughts today, but I still piled the stuff up.

I've now done the "easy" bits.   I've identified a purpose for each cupboard / drawer to help me decide what should go where.   I've got (quite) a few bits scattered around the kitchen, waiting to be assigned a home.   It's not helped by the fact that I had a couple of deliveries and I have boxes and packaging everywhere (which hopefully I might need!).

Perito's law in practice.  I did 80% of the stuff in 20% of the time.  The last bits are not easy.

I'm going ot have a break and then attack with (hopefully) renewed vigour.  Or some vigour, anyway.

Sideways

Sometimes  a sideswipe occurs.  Yesterday was a write off.   All my plans of making some tops went out of the window.

Much, much later,  when I was thinking about going to bed, I had a  surge of interest in some items I was selling. 

I usually buy my postage online, print it, and then take the item to the Post Office to get a receipt.  Last night one of my larger items sold, and the service I used required it to be taken to either a delivery office (not a post office) or I could get it collected (and in this instance, collection was free). 

When a second item sold, I thought I might as well have them collect that too.     And then there were 3.  By the fifth item,  I couldn't see the point of going to the Post Office now that I had a despatch depot in my hallway.

Just after they were collected this morning, a sixth item sold.   I went to the Post Office to find it was closed for lunch.   I didn't even realise our  When I got back,   I had an enquiry about another item,  on a different platform,   so I parcelled that up and went to the post office.

On the plus side, I've got rid of many of the boxes from the summerhouse,  and I've recycled some sheeps wool insulation.

I also managed to take some varied (poultry and gardening) magazines to the local care home.  I've still got a boot full of charity shop donations to do,  I'll try and motivate myself to actually take them somewhere next week.

I'm regrouping now, trying to clear up yet again) the packing materials,  and marshalling the bits that didn't sell to decide whether to save them and try them again later or what.    When I've finished this blog, I'm going to take a deep breath,  and put all the selling stuff away. Properly away. 

My "To sell" drawer is nearly empty.  Maybe tomorrow I'll resume cupboarding. 

Meanwhile, DH has been busy processing tomatoes.  Two callers (on separate days) have commented on how wonderful it smells.   I passed the compliments on.    DH appeared not to be bothered, but I suspect he's secretly quite chuffed.

Backwards and Forwards

Another drawer yesterday. Still loads to do. 

I made myself cut out and sew two maxi skirts!  Same old Pattern Emporium Heartlight pattern, I love it.  I have a cardboard template for it,  so it's all fairly quick as long as the fabric isn't too challenging.    Yesterday's chooices were moderately annoying fabrics,   a sort of stretchy cottony stuff which curled terribly.    I perservered because I need some lighter, breathable,  skirts in this weather.

I need to hem them,   but I thought I'd wait until today as I planned ot make some plain tops to go with my various skirts.  That didn't happen, so I'll try gain tomorrow.

I've sold a few things on Ebay - at least, they have bids on - so I've been sorting out packaging and stuff.  I've left a trail of chaos everywhere, and I've promised myself it will all be gone at the weekend.  In the meantime, I've got bits all over the cutting table again.

DH is busy processing tomatoes, so the kitchen has had a double whammy.

I'm going to put some stuff away as soon as I've finished this post.  If I can keep the table clear, I've got more chance of actually doing some cutting out tomorrow. 

I don't think that I mentioned that I lost my Atkiia blood pressure bracelet.  I took it off the morning after my (at home) sleep study, and I can't find it.    I went to the hospital to see if I had stuffed it in the envelope along with all the sleep equipment,  but I hadn't.

It was searching for this that made me extend my 'cupboard a day' to other rooms in the house.    I couldn't find it,despite changing the sheets, vacuuming under the bed, and other such things, so I tried to buy a replacement.    

It's not possible to just buy the bracelet, I had to buy the whole kit again,  but the customer services chap gave me a discount code.    The new one arrived a couple of days ago, and I finally charged it up and paired it today.

I continued using my original calibration cuff, no point using the new one just for the sake of it.   I was happily surprsed to find that it needed me to redo the measurement as my baseline bp had gone down and it needed to verify it.  That's the second time this has happened, so my body might be trying to fix itself.   Or it might be a side effect of some of the strange things I am doing to try and boost my thyroid.

 

More (less) clutter

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've been really getting in to my "cupboard a day" thing. 

I've had a couple of days when I haven't had the inclination (or energy) to tackle something,  but i've had lots of days where I have done multile cupboards.      Some of those days have been non-kitchen, and have usually been inspired by me needing to find something,  or wanting to sort something. 

Ebay sent me a reduced fees offer for this weekend, so I've upped my game and am tackling cupboards which have saleable stuff in.

I've done several cupboards (or a number of drawers with the equivalence of a cupboard).  I've got a fair bit to take to a charity shop, I've found new homes for some things,  and I've got a few things to sell.  I've been ruthless. I'm even selling some of my chicken things. 

Up to now I've mostly been doing cupboards/drawers which are fairly self contained, so doing one (or not) doesn't really afect any of the others.     Today I decided to tackle the occasional-use-utensil drawer.  This required me to also tackle the cutlery drawer and the 'in limbo' shelf.    

The cutlery drawer gradually acquires utensils, either because we "go through a phase" of using something,  or it gets used and put back in the wrong place.     The "limbo shelf" is at the bottom of a cupboard,  and where I put those kitchen things that I  think I  no longer need or want, but I'm not sure enough to actually get rid.   They go there to live and, if I don't think of them again,  they go next time I declutter.   Like now.

The kitchen table,  which is also my cutting table,  has been piled up with stuff, including boxes and packaging which might be needed if some of the items sell.     Today it reached peak fullness,  and I had to clear it all.    My car boot is now full of stuff to go to the charity shop.  The hall has large boxes packed with stuff that I am offering for sale,  and piles of donations for different people.   

The final bit of clearing was to remove the jigroll and two jigsaws, which are sitting wating to be done. 

At least the table is clear, and I might be able to do some cutting out during the week.

Clutter

The cupboarding and drawering in the kitchen continues.  It's as dull as it sounds though, so I won't dwell on it here.  Although I would like to record fr my own satisfaction that I am ahead of target, despite havingone day "off".  And I still haven't found that expensive thermometer thing.

Over the past few weeks I've been thinking about my embroidery machine.   I've been swinging between "I don't use it, I'll sell it" and "I want more needles". 

I really would like more needles.  In the Autumn before Covid, I had decided to buy another, bigger/better,  machine, I was just unsure what to get.  I'd done a shortlist.   I'd started to save seriously towards it. 

I wanted to be able to see the non-Brother ones in the flesh so that I could assess whether they would be better than the Brother 10 needle (which is a good machine, but a bit overpriced new and rarely available second hand).    Most of the manufacurers  are "up North", so I'd been thinking about how to do that.  I had decided to maybe go for a few days the following spring to have a look.

Then Covid came, and for two years I didn't go anywhere.

And now we still have Covid,  and I'm even less inclined to travel than I was back then.

I'm now wondering about getting a Brother machine (they've released an improved model in the meantime) , but they are a lot of money and I don't want to get one if it ends up being as frustrating (for me) as the machine I already have.

I wondered if I'd use the machine any more than I do now, or would I end up buying something that just sat unused.     I spent some time thinking about why I don't do embroidery very much now.  I thought about the space I'd have if I sold my machine and all its paraphernalia.  

After considering the eleventy ten reasons,  I decided that most of them were "..and another thing..." reasons, rather than the real, underlying, reason. 

I concluded that I think (I'm not sure) that access to the machine is (one of) the fundamental reason(s).

It's kept on its trolley at the end of my sewing bench,  just in front of the sliding door for the built in wardrobe in the corner of the room.   It fits perfectly,  in fact the bench was cut to size based on how much space the embroidery machine needed. However, it's a bit inaccessible.  

I can get to the front of the machine, but I can't get to it from the sides.  This means threading and rethreading is even more tedious than it should be (It's not the best design in the first place).   It also means the wardrobe is difficult to get in to.

And, of course, when I stack my overspill (and "come in handy") supplies - all neatly bagged and boxed - in front of the door of the wardrobe, it means that the front access space is further encroached upon and it's just too much hassle to keep moving everything.

Relocating the machine it is difficult.  I had thought about takig it off its trolley and putting it on the plan table in the boxroom.  However, that would make it even harder to get to,  and that room is east facing with a window that flood s the room with daylight,  so the machine would get damaged by the strong sunlight        

I thought about bringing it downstairs, but  it will just get covered in fluff, dust and detritis (we have a stove, so dust is a fact of life),  and the threads will be a kitty magnet.  

It has to stay in the guest bedroom.

The guest bedroom has limited options, mainly due to the guest bed.   Apart from the machine's end-of-bench current location,   I had identified  2 other places it might be able to go.  Neither were ideal,  in fact both were worse from a guest bedroom perspective.  I considered that I might be able to move the machine to one of those 2 locations for most of the time, and just move it back to the bench end when we had guests. The machine table has wheels, how hard can it be?

That was all a few days ago.  It's been too hot,   or I've been otherwise occupied, and I hadn't done anything about it.   I had looked at a couple of gently used machines online.    I'd enquired, unsuccessfully, about using mine in PX on a demo machine.

This morning I knew that today was the day I was going to try moving things around so I could access my machine more easily.   Whether that was to prepare if for sale,  or to evaluate if I'll actually use it,  I don't yet know.

I had to start by clearing the enormous pile of boxes and bits from the floor in front of the wardrobe.  Part of me wishes I'd taken a picture so you could see the mountain I was attempting to climb.     The other part of me is glad I didn't.

I picked up each box and bag,  checked what it was, and then dumped  placed it carefully  the bed.  This enabled me to slide the machine forward and out of its corner.      I then went back and picked up all the bits that fell off the rolley during this short journey.  I swept the floor (oh that's i where the needle threader went!).

I was tempted to quit while I was ahead, and come back another day.  But I wouldn't be able to relax with eth room n such an awful mess, so I decided to plough on. 

The first possible  (and my preferred) relocation site was already occupied by a chest of drawers with a stash of fabric on top.   I had to move that first, adding to the stuff on the bed,  and then I swept the floor area ("oh that's where my tweezers went"). 

I wheeled the trolley over, which was a bit trickier than I expected.  I checked several ties to see if I had one of the wheel brakes on, but I didn't.  It's just a heavy piece of equipment,  even without all the other items that call the table their home.   A few things jumped ship while I was moving,  I just picked them up and put them on the bed along with everything else.

I ased the stand into it's proposed new home.  I could see at once that it wasn't going to work.  It was too much too wide.  I knew it was going to be too wide, I didn't realise just how much too wide it was going to be in practice.  It was going to get bashed every time I came into the room, and it was going to hinder access ot my other machines. 

I looked at my fabric storage on he same wall as the machine was standing.  I have floor to ceiling  Ikea Kallax units, stacked on top of each other,  and some well organised and labelled storage boxes on top.  I thought long and hard about getting rid of some of the fabric and reducing the number of units I had, slipping them over, so I could move the machine table along.  

Even then, I wouldn't be able to get the machine any further along though, because the bed would be in the way.   That in itself  was quite a helpful revelation, and I was spurred on oo test the onl other location.

While the machine was out of the way and I could access the wardrobe, I had a quick review of the contents.    

I found some bits and pieces that my craft-loving niece would probably like.
I moved some stuff around, including underneath the sewing bench.
I managed to stash some of the "project boxes" in the wardrobe in the space I'd created.

I'd had enough of it all  at this point (the days of me being able to continuie non stop until something was done seem to be long gone!).    I came away and spent time listing some stuff for sale, binning some stuff, and adding some to the charity shop pile.      I spent time on other activities, unrelated to the task in hand.

Later, I went back and moved the machine into the spot in front of the wardrobe door.  Effectively this was swapping the original "piles of boxes" with the origil location of "the machine",  but as the machine was now turned round 90 degrees it would have the advantage that I should be able to get to the sides of the machine.   The downside is that I'd  have practically no access to the wardrobe, unless I moved the machine each time.  

The machine is on a wheeled stand. It's heavy, but it's doable, as I'd proved in my moving it around today. I reasoned that it's probably no worse than when I had the pile of boxes there.

While I considered whether this was acceptable, I started to clear the bed.  I put some fabric away properly, which  required me using my steps to access the boxes to put each piece in the correct box. I took some of the overspill boxes from the bed, and stacked them where the machine used to be.         I did a bit of this and that.    And then I looked at the rest of the Stuff on the bed.   My attention threshold had again been reached at this point, so I didn't even try to tackle it.  

I just walked away for a while to clear my head.

The break was helpful because some of the stuff is just stuff that it seems a shame to dispose of. It's all stuff that will come in handy at some point, it's just very bulky.  Things like used (but clean) cushion pads;  an old duvet which I use for making pet beds etc;  stuff which just takes up so much space.   

I've tried vacuum packing it before, but even quality bags just don't seem to keep their seal properly.     I guess these are perfect examples of  the things that I need to dispose of and just accept that I'll rebuy if and when I need them.   

I just need to let it all go. Bin it. Donate it. Sell it.   It doesn't matter which of those  I do,  I just need to do it.    The emotional cost of holding on to the stuff is much higher than the cost of replacing it.

I'm going to go back and try and get it all squared away today so that I can look at the arrangement with a fresh pair of eyes tomorrow and see how it looks.

 

Hotter

Today was even hotter than yesterday. 40.2 degrees at Heathrow,   pipped by Coningsby at 40.3.

The Girls were struggling today.    Phyllis , who is 3rd oldest at about 8, was really finding it tough.

I brought her into the kitchen,  tried to give her some electrolytes,  but she wasn't having it.  I have her some Nutridrops and thought I'd let her stay inside.  She had other ideas,  quite strongly so, so I pit her back outside.

Lots of water for them today. More cucumbers from FHs plants,  the rest if yesterday's watermelon,  some lettuce., peas in water...  

We had two fans out.  Some of the girls weren't interested,  but some Girls sat themselves directly in the path of the fan.  Both fans had Hens.

Shelby spent most of the day in the summerhouse.  Dh and I spent some time there too.  Lewis hid under the log store.

Much later there was a short shower, with thunder.

I stayed in the garden, collapsing the umbrellaa so the garden could get water,  and picking up debris.    

I also spent a lot of time watching the Girl, who weren't at all impressed.or relieved by the rain.

Its stopped now, and I'm back inside having a bowl of cereals for dinner.

Fantastic

My sister in law highly recommended a neck fan, so I got one ready for yesterday.  It works quite well.

We've been trying to help the Girls.  They had frozen peas in water twice today, plus half a  water melon,  plus cucumbers,  plus several lettuces.   Just trying to help them take in water.

We also put a BIG fan outside for them,  I've 

been gradually moving it as the sun traverses.

One girl has been by it most of the day

  The others have been coming and going.  The wet towel helps cool the Or that blows on them.

  I put big waterers in the shade so they don't have ro go back to the run for water.  I also put  a couple of small dishes out near the older girls.

It was 35 here.  We put the Aircon on in the summerhouse, which the cats appreciated.   They are long haired and aren't enjoying the heat.

It's going to be hotter tomorrow,  so we are going ro have to let the Girls in to the newly grassed bit right at the back of the garden.

They will wreck the grass (again)  but the  exceptional weather circumstances mean its the right thing to do. 

I might have to repair to the summerhouse myself tomorrow. 

Spice it Up and Tea off

Today's exciting foray into cupboarding, was the spice cupboard.  Actually it was 2 cupboards.  One has the spices (and foil and cling film) in,  the other has the spare spices,  empty spice jars, and sausage making stuff in.

I started iwith the spares.  I threw away a lot of opened (but vacuum sealed) stuff.  I keot any whole spices, even if they were past their best before date. Whole spices are dried, so it doesn't matter too much,  it's usually the ground stuff which loses its potency.    I threw out jars which I'm not going to use.  I cleaned the cupboard floor and sides.

Then the main cupboard.  This is divided into herbs and spices we use all the time (the top drawer),  herbs and spices we use all the time but are too tall to fit in the top (middle drawer), and stuff we use ocassionally.

I sorted them by drawer and then alphabetically.    This identified some duplicates (some of which were unopened and so went into the spares cupboard),  some that were just too old,   and some that needed re-canting into better jars.

The top drawer was, and still is, just a mish mash of every day stuff.  The duplicates have been removed though, some of the stuff has been re-canted into better jars, and I've printed a couple of labels for jars that didn't have anything.   I don't have the energy or inclincation to replace perfunctional labels.
  

 The bottom drawer is alphabetical (which it always has been, it just gets lost after a while) and I've now sectioned it into 3 to help maintain discipline.     I've also put some of the generic seasonings together.

 

No change to the middle drawer. 

I also went ahead with my plan to try all the tea samples (not all at once, of course).    I decided to go fror what might be the most challenging one,  a bag of Russian Caravan tea (BBE 2019).  Russian Caravan Tea is a smoked tea.

This wasn't actually a sample,   I'd bought a pack with a tea order probably 5 years ago.   I can't remember why I thought i'd like it.  Maybe it was when we were going through a phase of smoking lots of food?  Maybe the description on the website was just too interesting to resist.  I can't remember now.

Despite being 3 years past the BBE date,  the tea was in great condition.  This was as expected, as the pack was unopened and was a vacuum pack bag.

When I tore open the seal,  I got a nostril full of smoke. Not acrid smoke.  Not even as smokey as DH's smoked haddock.  But very smokey nonetheless.

I googled how much tea to use (1 level teaspoon per 6 fl oz), and whether to fully boil the water (yes),how long to steep (3 mins), whether I could add milk (yes,.maybe/depends)  and made some.

It smelt like I'd left a cup of tea by a bonfire.

It tasted like I'd left a cup of tea by the bonfire. 

 But it wasn't horrible at all.    I can't say that I'd be buying this instead of assam,  but it actually was OK.  

I'm a bit surprised about this, but
I may even put some in an airtight cannister and keep it.  It might work as a marinade flavouring as well, to being a little smokiness without harshness.

(And probably throw it out next time I go round this loop).

  

 

Goodby Raymondo, Hello Roberto

It's time to say goodbye to Raymondo Jr.

Raymondo Jr was our second Roomba, a 560,  and we've had him since 2008.  We had an earlier version of Raymondo (Raymondo Senior) for many years before that.

Raymondo Jr has been very unwell for sometime, and now needs yet another new battery.   We've replaced the NiCad battery on him several times over the last 14 years, and given him upgraded brushes,  new rolling eye, an upgraded bin and filters  and various other bits... but it's now got to the point where we might as well get a newer model.  One with a lithium battery and a whole host of other helpful features.

I've been saving for a while,  and decided that I would bite the bullet this Amazon Prime Day. IRobot changed their prices to match the Amazon price, it was a good discount.    Both the models I looked at were on offer.    Neither was exactly what I wanted, I imagine that the next release will be a perfect combination... but I don't want to wait another year.    

I watched a few review videos,  and the most helpful was one from a calm chap who had had his S9+ for 18 months.     

His review helped me decide to go down a model to the J7+.  I'd be giving up on some of the features I really liked (the slow spinning brush, and the shape which makes it easier for the machine to get into corners) but I'd be having a model which is newer, has some better features, and was a fair bit cheaper.    It means that I'd feel comfortable upgrading sooner than if I spent out on the S0+

Roberto (I couldn't use Raymondo's name again,  he's been such a fab robot) arrived today,  and we set him up.    We set up a home for him, in the hallway and wile he charged up I downloaded the app, and    moved everything out of the way (the garden was full of stuff, and the jkitchen worktops had things all everywhere) ready for him to do his mapping run.  We set him off, and watched with interest, and then left him to it. 

He fell out of the kitchen on to the patio,   which was a bit unfortunate.  In the split second before we heard the crash,  I had 3 alerts on my phone, which was the equivalent to the poor chap shouting for help.
"15.07 Roberto requires your attention. Roberto is Stuck" "
"15.07 Roberto requires your attention. Roberto is Stuck"
"15.07 Roberto requires your attention. Roberto is stuck near a cliff". 
Raymondo used to fall out of the door as well, I had thought that the newer models would have sorted this out. 

We picked him up and set him on his way.  hen he was done, we looked at the map he'd created,  tweaked the zones,  created some favourite routines, and then set him off to clean the three kitchen areas.    I could see we had an issue with the mapping  (our fault for not clearing the chairs out for the mapping run) so we got him to map again.  I had to re-setup the favourtie cleaning jobs. and set him off again.     He's done a reasonable job,  and he's been back to base to empty himself.  

The app has the ability for me to mark no-go areas on the map, and I'll do that when I've seen him clean a few times.

I'm reorganising the downstairs a little bit  - in line with my attempt at getting rid of stuff I don't really use.  I've taken one of the fold up stools and folded the up and put them under the stairs.  I had to clear some stuff out of the way (and into the bin) to create space for this.  

I need to create some space in parts of the living room, because there are areas where the gap just isn't wide enough for Roberto to get into. I don't quite know how I'm going to do it.

We haven't tested the obstacle avoidance skills of Roberto, which was one of the main reasons for going for this model.  

I need to get poor Raymondo out of the house soon, as I feel guilty every time I look at him.