What are you all up to
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Cloudier day today, some sun breaking through but a bit chilly outside. That's fine though as we are both having a day off after all the hard work of previous days.
Today is admin day, sorting out the bank accounts and general paper work stuff.
I made a start on the kitchen cupboards, like almost all on CT I had out of date tins and packets hidden at the back. Now cleared out and going in the bin, OH says they are alright if the tin hasn't blown (they haven't) but my thoughts are if we haven't used by now we obviously don't want to.
The village have opened up a community larder, so have sorted out some stuff to donate to that (no not out of date stuff)
I'm pretty sure I have some games, books and jigsaws that I could give as well. Quick question for those who have Premium Bonds, is it best to take out just the one high value bond or to take out small amounts and spread the chance of winning
not sure how it works.EDIT It smells lovely M
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Tammy - I don't think it matters - you invest whatever amount you want (up to whatever the maximum is - we're well short of that!
) and you get that number of bonds - it used to be one bond per £1, not sure if that's still the case. Good luck! 
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TG, we seem to do quite well with the return on PBs but I saved into them gradually when working and I often wonder what the odds are, a block of bonds or lots of small ones. When winners are announced the odds are pretty mixed, I've seen a very small amount winning a lot and vice versa. As you have to wait a month before the bonds are entered I'd get cracking now...
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Another lovely day here, very sunny, blue skies. We were awakened by a big hoo ha in the garden. We couldn't work out what was going on, had the dreaded Sparrowhawk appeared and caused a ruction? We later discovered that some very well fed Mistle Thrush fledglings had launched themselves into various leafy spots and were demanding their breakfast in a very noisy fashion. 🐥🐥🐥
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Thanks brue and moulesy, OH looking into it
we've changed ISA providers, set up new monthly savers, the Loyalty savings I have with Nationwide are only bringing in 1.10% at the moment and that could change at any time, so thinking of taking some out of that and trying PB's might get OH to do it in his name as he seems to have more luck than me at winning things Suns out again and its quite nice so might go for our walk a bit earlier just in case.
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Another glorious day here without the cloud forecast to burn off, it was clear from very early today. Unlike yesterdaybwhere it started off really grey and cold but about lunchtime it cleared and was wonderful! So much so I had to water the whole garden not just the sunflowers I've transplanted. Our water butts, which are for indoor plants and outdoor tubs are at critical levels so the outdoor tubs are getting tap water.
Need to sort our savings but not in the right frame of mind. Did have a call from Metro Bank last week as I have a fixed term ending 3 May, if you get your paperwork in they will honour rate at that time rather than maturity date, so sent that back pronto. 1.3% for 3 years, 1.2% for 1 year, almost went with the 1 year but as its savings for grandkids decided to do for 3 as who knows next year? Was going to hang on until the regular saver with Santander matures but that's not til 23 May and combine so will sort that later. It's all quite a game isn't it? I have some premium bonds I bought when my dad died - not a sniff in 18.5 years so don't think I'll bother.
As this is forecast to be the last of the hotter days, I've got a chair out in the sun and selected a book from my bookshelf, I always hang on to ones I think I'd like to re-read. I want to hold a book not my tablet which is awkward and causes cramps and isn't easy to see in the sun!
I potted up some hellebores for my brother this morning, then swept the front and back patios, hardly any breeze so wasn't to difficult but it would have been earlier in the lockdown. Could do with a wash but can't be bothered 😉. It's me time until I prepare our roast pork dinner!
Edit friend/neighbour gave me a whole envelope of sunflower seeds last year, planted some in pots, all 15 came up. Gave some to local kids at beginning of lockdown and still had a screwtop lid full. Threw them to the birds earlier in last week. Phone call from friends this morning, we are sharing a Tesco delivery tomorrow, their family challenge set by one of their daughter sunflower growing competition 😀. They sent seeds to youngest granddaughter at beginning of lockdown as the 4 year old was desparate for post as her much older brothers had had some. Now their more local son wants some did I have some left? They had fed surplus to the birds 2 days before 😂😂. I sorted some from my mixed bird seed and popped them through their door were not going to tell him that bit in case they dont germinate. They'll use their walk to deliver onward tomorrow. They are not telling the family, they've already got theirs transplanted in the garden 😉😉
Ps Goldie are you hiring out your pitch? 😉. Looks blissful hope you dodnt upset the neighbours!
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Groundhog Day strikes again.
Painting doors, walking, cooking.
Day was enlightened by young neighbour, well a lot younger than me anyway, going running in a bright Pink Tutu. Apparently he was due to run in a charity event like the Marathon but obviously they've all been cacnelled so he went for a few miles around the lanes. Apparently he wouldn't get paid if he didn't perform in public! Gave us all a welcome bit of light relief.
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OH said to me at lunch time, eating our way through the farm shop veg and some chicken, "this is like Sunday dinner" so I said "but it is Sunday dinner!" Maybe I should fox him somehow.
Goldie, per-lease spare a thought for those who can't get away just now, for those of us listening to a neighbour sanding their wooden gate two days running and the neighbour who's laying slabs...and the one with the late night bonfires.
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The past few days I've been weeding and scrubbing the block pave driveway. Just a quick squirt over with the pressure washer tomorrow to get rid of the loosened grime. This lockdown lark is quite exhausting.
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If you’ve had clear sky’s I guess the stars are stunning from where you are Goldie.
Another beautiful day here so went for a morning walk. Lots of folk riding bikes only one didn't understand social distancing by nearly knocking Mrs One over. Had a lazy afternoon sitting in the garden reading
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B2 we have Sunflower plants growing all over our garden at the moment, some that have been distributed by Rooks from the bird feeder and others that OH has planted out from those that we grew last year from seeds that we got from flower heads when we were at The Old Orchard two years ago. We've just posted a few through to our daughter for her to try in her garden.
OH is reading Strange Magic by Syd Moore which is about witches and mentions St Osyth, the Cage and St Cleres Hall, which I guess you'll know.
Goldie it certainly looks as if you picked the perfect weekend to be away in your van, so pleased for you. Me jealous?...of course!!
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Nelliethehooker I suspect we are going to have lots of sunflowers in our garden this year. 😃.
St Oysth lot of witch folklore there! Not sure about The Cage? Is St Clere Hall Danbury? If it isn't I'd be interested in its location. Of course Matthew Hopkins witchfinder general was an Essex lad Manningtree. You'll need another visit to our fabulous country when we're allowed out again! Don't know the authour or the book so will investigate.
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It’s back to normal now. Car and and caravan unloaded and alarm set fir 5:00.
I don’t know when we’ll be able to do it again. We only get one weekend off a month, and in four weeks we’ll probably be silaging. So it could be two months ..........
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The Cage was the lockup in the village, and is now a private house. There are a couple of YouTube videos about it. St Cleres Hall is at the south end of the village towards the estuary.
There are 4 books in the Essex Witch Museum Mysteries series all at 99p each on Kindle at the moment. It was in the first one that OH came across St Osyth. Looks like we will have to be paying the place a visit when we're allowed out.
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It's been much cooler here today and no sunshine to speak of, and we we've had a haar this morning. The Lakeland Fells have had their cloud cap on all day too.
I was able to finish off waxing the car, so that's another job crossed off the list. We had a pleasant walk this morning back to Mill Wood and not many folks about either, although two couples obviously couldn't read as they were coming back along the outward trail round the wood! 😬
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A lovely day here until I got the Cadac out, thinking we might have tea outside. The black cloud and a few spots of rain later and everything was back in the shed. It brightened up a bit later, and in practice, we only had a few spots. However, we'd packed up, so decided to eat inside.. 😟
David
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What a wonderful weekend of weather! We were very naughty on Saturday and had an unscheduled trip out
. It was our daughter's birthday so instead of asking SIL to come and fetch her present we drove over there - they live in a village about 3 miles away - and put her present and some flowers from our garden on the doorstep and then wished her a socially distanced happy birthday from the very front of her front garden. Grand-daughter and great grandson also turned up so we all stood about 3 metres apart on their front lawn and had a chat. So lovely to see them all but I felt very down when we left. Daughter rang later to say how much she enjoyed it but felt the as me as me. It was so difficult to say goodbye especially without any hugs and kisses. I decided I needed to do something to distract me so cleared out the under stairs cupboard. Lots of 'treasurers' in there. I had a good look through my Mum's old sewing box - so many memories. I even found some cards of that mending silk in various shades of brown used to mend stockings! Yesterday we cleared our patio and emptied some of the pots as SIL has promised he will try and hunt out some bedding plants from various supermarkets. In the afternoon we just sat in the garden and read. Totally different today - grey and no sun. I hope it stays dry as I have washed our bedding.So glad you had such a good weekend away Goldie. It looked idyllic. I am so very envious.
I have sympathy with your OH brue. I was a day ahead of myself for most of last week. There is nothing to pin the days to. Is it Monday today?
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People's circumstances just now are so different Millie. The only person we see from our family is our daughter's partner dropping off our veg box once a week. I'll see them both today as they drop off the dog and head north for two days. It's hard seeing people and then not seeing them so to speak. My sister has lots of "distant" contact with her family as they are all dropping off things for her and my BIL who is totally confined at home just now. She was surprised we didn't see anyone but that's the way it's worked out living in a rural spot. Never mind I have a selection of neighbours for distance chatting.
Hope you weren't too upset seeing the family, at least the cupboard got a good clear out, it will come to an end at some point, soldier on everyone! 🐌
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It does seem to be a funny old life at the moment with no obvious end in sight! We only see our sons now when they are delivering stuff to us. Paul collects our medication from the chemist for us and Simon often adds a few bits to his Tesco order for things we can't get from Waitrose. He even delivered some compost to us on his way to work the other day, we didn't see him on that occasion as he starts work far too early!!! He discovered a garden centre near him that delivered but not as far us. Just need the plants to arrive from Parkers. I am not a particularly demonstrative person but I do miss the usual human contact we had before the lockdown. It is also interesting to note the lack of comings and goings on the estate. People opposite us always had a big Sunday gathering, now nothing, our neighbours would have their son and daughter, and grandchild visit but not since the lockdown and that seems to be the pattern everywhere. I often joke to Margaret when I get up and look out the window that it's groundhog day again as every car parked in the street is in the same place as it was yesterday and the day before that etc, etc!!! When the binmen coming causes a bit of excitement you know the world is in a strange place!!!
David
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I am beginning to realise why our dog, Beth used to get so excited every time someone came to the door or walked past and especially when the bin men came
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Things slightly different here DK, our neighbour next door still working everyday, he works for SSE on the windmills.
The chap opposite us is a transport manager so working every day as is his wife who works for a food hamper company, she is really busy, she says its like Christmas everyday just now.
The elderly lady opposite has a career 4 times a day, so we are seeing lots of comings and goings.
As we live in a village we are in the countryside so we have lots of walks and cycle rides to get out on.
I think its only the very vulnerable that are not going out here, most folk seem to have already adapted to our 'new normal' that the papers and politicians are going on about.
We have had a lot of village 'swaps' going on, photos of items posted on our group FB page. Items are put outside the houses and folk come and collect. So far its covered things from kids toys, books, games, unwanted household items, and garden plants. I hope this carries on once the lockdown is over as its brought the village together like never before.
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I bumped into (metaphorically) a former colleague whilst out walking the dogs this morning. He has to go into school tomorrow, his turn on the rota. The school has 1800 on roll and, of course, is only open for children of key workers. He told me that they had 12 in on Friday - and had to send two of them home for misbehaving!
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Our bin men came early this morning, I had to curb the urge to run out and chat to them, we do chat to the postman as we've known him such a long time and we put the world to rights.
TG looks like your village has made a big effort to keep in contact with people, ours has been good too but it's always easier when folks have internet contact, quite a few here still don't.
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There's been no one in at our daughter's school recently but because quite a few of the staff are working with decrepit computers they are going in to try and get fixes from the IT dept. She said they can normally manage but can't cope with conference calls and the distance leaning programmes they need to set up. At present our daughter now has two old school pcs, one that can cope with emails only and another slightly more advanced one for on line lessons. They have to use school pcs for security reasons etc. She panicked about all this at first but is learning to adapt to these antiquated methods. Apart from the fact that rounding up sixth formers on line is much harder than doing it in a classroom!
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Bit of a rant first, since the lock down I noticed, on my walks, an increasing number dog walkers not picking up after their pet.
Whilst on my walk this morning I came across a seagull with a badly broken wing, it was being harried by a rook, I called the RSPCA, you know the outfit that keeps telling us that it needs more money to look after sick and interested animals, and after struggling to get through I got a voice message with no further contact details. I suddenly realised why I don’t contribute to their already overflowing coffers. I did briefly think of putting it out of its misery but thought th3 RSPCA would have me up before the beak so In the end I just had to walk away and leave the poor thing
Sunny and warm here but wind has veered to the North. Met a pal from our breakfast club at the harbours mouth, had @ good chat whilst observing the social distancing rules
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Ros and I have just 'been' to a virtual funeral (BiL). I have to say that it's one thing that just doesn't work in that way - it was weird. I think Ros felt it most - seeing her sister there and not being able to give her a hug. What mad times we are living in.
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Defra has recently imposed limits on animal rehoming etc but they have just started to lift this ban (covid19) related. A lot of our pets have come from the RSPCA, we also have their wildlife rescue centre near us. If you see it again OP, maybe there is a bird or wildlife sanctuary near you?
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Not so sunny here today, but at least still dry. Still have one bit of gutter to clean out, have been putting it off.
Made another pot of leek and potato soup this morning as we still had potatoes to use up, but that will be the last for a while.
OH has been emptying cupboards and sorting stuff, so I have had the cupboards to clean out for her. Only 2 or 3 at a time, so cannot complain too much.
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Milliehull what a lovely thing to do, cant see it was breaking any rules - someone was going to have to drive 6 mile round trip, homegrown flowers too! Good timing to see grandaughter and great grandson too but I know exactly what you mean about feeling worse afterwards as it isn't the normal meeting. I get it after video call with daughter and family but it seems far worse at the moment.
Goldie I'm glad you had a lovely break, fingers crossed you can squeeze another in. Seems to be to be just as nice even if you could venture further afield. Fuel savings and no encountering others who could pass on something you don't want!
Tammygirl your village sounds very much like our little village within the city. Lots of bits out for others from toys, they go well as a lady told me the other day as her young son selected bats and balls from our box. She said the forage walk has become they highlight of their day. Our community bench, which has items of food for the less fortunate and in these times books, DVDs games etc, was stripped bare twice this week by the same vehicle, apparently a fairly new BMW 😤. Guy who organised it outside his house keeps a good eye on things, and last night had a wander round locally, located the vehicle and told the driver that it wasn't acceptable. He's still here to tell the tale 😉. Some folks will abuse anything!
Oneputt had sad to have to leave the bird, very distressing. I don't give to the large charity's these days and prefer to do more local ones for exactly the reasons you give. My dismay started when I learned what a high salary one of their local fund raiser's was earning just out of uni.
DSB good to hear from you, sorry eating outside was thwarted, especially as no decent rain arrived.
Still warm but no sun, odd spots of rain, but my washing has dried. That's stopped now!
We had a new bench delivered last week and it doesn't stand level. Emailed the suppliers, loosen bolts and retighten. Did that made no difference - couldn't see how it would! Bit the bullet and telephoned today and after a wait spoke to a sensible woman who said right well pass it in the the makers/designer and get back to you.
It came in 5 pieces 2 sides which are marginally different heights, I took it all apart again today before phoning, a back, seat and front piece. Even I can sort that. Old bench stands level wherever it's placed, shame some of the joints have gone. I entertained myself by placing the new bench on exactly the same ground after standing old bench there in several different places just to be sure!
Awaiting a Tesco delivery, yes I've checked it is delivery 😉 later. As I had had a click and collect last week where nothing was not omitted I'm sharing with friend/neighbour further up the road who hadn't managed a slot for weeks either. I had cause to telephone Tesco after last delivery, lovely lady, and joked about securing slots. She asked if vunerable, explained OH was but not on government list - yet. She put the info in the notes her end and said check in a few days we should get priority slots, 8 hour window but insert mobile phone number and usually get text with approx ETA. Duly checked yesterday as I finalised the order good job they as they would remove my bag of carrots saying they no longer stocked this item no substitute 😤. Yes if I look at delivery I get 2 tabs, one being priority. Apparently these are still limited and 1st come 1st served. So 6 of 1 and 1/2 dozen of the other. Still nothing up to and including 17 May. Still it'll only be fresh stuff for a bit so either friend or neighbour or fruit/veg delivery. Might be worth a chat if you qualify, but it guarantees nothing 🤣.
Stay safe
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