Where is Spring?

 Well, the weather is back to the default - wet and cold. Nothing can be done in the garden as it's too cold to go out and too sodden for planting. There's no point in doing laundry either, as I've a load of bedlinen to be washed and it needs to be hung out. The electricity has become too expensive for throwing large items into the dryer, which I only use sparingly anyway.

I need to pull out the bread machine and make some bread for tea next. It's too late for a yeast loaf, so it will have to be soda today, which takes just mixing by hand and baking.

First thing tomorrow I need to do a home thyroid blood test - one you send away to be analysed, not the cheapo ones that take smaller samples and only test for TSH and only let you know whether you are over or under a TSH of 5. I need to have more detail so that I know whether I'm on the right track with diet/ supplements and meds combined. My goal is to keep the medication as low as possible by supporting it with lifestyle approaches etc. Let's see. Health is so individual. That's my lot for today.

Ger in Ireland

Back to Blogging

 I decided to get back to writing a few words here every now and then, for my own amusement only, and to get into the habit of writing something on a regular basis. If I don't write for a few months and then get a letter from someone, I find that I put off replying until it's urgent, simply because I'm out of the habit and it just won't come naturally to me.

It has been dry, cool and breezy today, but the sun has appeared and I was able to wash a few of the winter jackets and fleeces and dry them on the clothesline.

It has been nearly 5 months since I fell and fractured three ribs. The recovery has been patchy, with some good days and a lot of painful days. I can only sleep comfortably on my right side as putting weight on the left side causes the lowest 'floating' rib to slip and that hurts enough to wake me.

 In March, on a rare shopping trip, I managed to pick up the good old norovirus which is still spreading around the hospitals. Having a vomiting bug combined with tender ribs is not something I'd like to repeat in a hurry!

My goal this week is to get in 4000 steps a day. For months now I've struggled to get 2,000, or even as low as 1000 steps, depending on the discomfort. I'm improving little by little, but don't want to overdo   things either.

I owe several letters and goal no. 2 is to write at least one this week and get it posted off to the recipient who probably thinks I'm 'ghosting' her at this stage!

Bye for now,

Ger in Ireland

Raking Leaves

 I spent an hour raking leaves into heaps and then transporting them to borders, tubs and shrubs for mulch. A tedious job but I wouldn't be without our trees. I love them so much - the evergreens too.

I did my weekly shop early this morning when the supermarket opened at 8am. I've always shopped at this time as my head is clear and I have no distractions.

 Now that we live in strange times, I like it even more. Apart from the face covering, I can feel as near to normal as possible and not contend with too many other people and their fear and judgements of how well or badly I comply with the rules . 

No matter how well the face covering fits, my glasses periodically fog up, and for some reason when I wear it, my nose runs like a tap behind it with no possibility of pulling out a tissue for fear of sparking outrage. I suffer from year round allergic rhinitis and the anti histamines are useless. But blowing your nose in public is not a good look now.

Enough moaning. Tomorrow we will see new baby grandchild again and that lifts my spirits and makes me forget everything else.

SEASONAL JOBS

We had the chimney cleaned today and are all set for winter. The boiler was serviced last week and so we have peace of mind with both of those seasonal jobs done. We use smokeless fuel and only light the fire after 6pm when we watch tv in the evenings. The central heating is on for an hour a day unless we have a cold snap and that provides us with all the heat and hot water that we need.

The Lake at Templemore Park

A lovely walk at Templemore Park before most people were up and about (as it's a bank holiday Monday) - only a few pleasant dog walkers and ourselves. Calm, peaceful, invigorating. Nearly 5,000 steps in before the day starts.
 

Getting My Steps

 Over the past few months my fitness tracker has shown my step count decreasing from what I would like it to be. My target is 50,000 steps a week, but I have frequently struggled to make 40,000. I don't know what happened. Maybe I just got lazy. Maybe the present situation dampened my spirits. Whatever it was, it has to change. I find that if I can make 5,000 steps by lunchtime, it is easier to make at least 7,000 by the end of the day. I think I will post my step count here in order to keep myself accountable. Maybe there's a widget I can use in the sidebar .Let's see.

Nana Love

 Visited beautiful daughter, son - in - law and beautiful baby E. today. Ten days old and already making eye contact and following parents movements by turning her head to follow them. Happy times. Loving being parents - and now grandparents to two lovely girls. Grandchild number three expected just before Christmas.  My work in progress (WIP) is a crocheted  baby blanket in grey/yellow/white for next baby . Then hopefully a few cardigans for same. Will post a picture when further along.