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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8579
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 20 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The main thing at home gregotyn is to set a routine, a timetable if you like..life needs a base pattern wherever you are.
All the best xx

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sun Mar 22, 20 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hope you are able to carry on at the library Gregotyn. They may want to keep them open so children can use the computers and books in particular with the schools closing.

I am sure you will find plenty to do; the vegetable garden you have been thinking about, more firewood etc.

Keep yourself safe and observe social distancing.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Mon Mar 23, 20 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Had a chat with Cassandra on FB Messenger yesterday. She particularly asked after you Gregotyn, so I was able to tell her that all being well you will be able to use the library computer. She is still busy with her driving people to Hobart, and had been taking part in a virtual knitting session with people from Norway. Such is the good side of the internet.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8579
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Mon Mar 23, 20 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good to hear that she is well.. I'd love to see the knitting results

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 20 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hope she will post on here again some time soon. She seems to be keeping herself well occupied at present with her transport volunteering, the local hall and other projects.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 20 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Haha, yes I am a bit busy. Glad to hear you will be able to continue access to the Library Gregotyn. I had heard Wales went into Lockdown so was a bit worried about how we would be able to keep tabs on you. Do you still have the nice helpful over the road neighbours that moved in?

I was told our driving would be winding down as it is to be limited to essential treatments only (so no dentist, optometrist, chiropodist etc)but that doesn't seem to be the case as I have three trips next week.

The Hall sort of sorted itself out as Council has closed all its Halls and Community Centres. So I used that as the basis of an email to the President but her daughter took it upon herself to arbitrarily cancel the meetings via a post on Facebook. Fortunately I caught that before too many saw it and reframed it into a more professional and informational post. I find the use of the letter u as a substitute for you deeply offensive!! haha Grammar Nazi.

Tasmania closed its borders allegedly but apparently we have lots of people still arriving. And while they assure us there's no community transmission that seems to be more an artefact of their failure to test the community.

I am conscientiously self-isolating to the extent that is practical, but this still seems to entail at least one trip out a day. Today it was to the Tip. Everyone else was clustered gossiping with the staff, so I happily shed my load, collected newspapers for fire-lighting and set off without coming within 40 yards of anyone.

The house and I are coming to an arrangement about how much time we can stand being in each others' company, and it seems that shedding a lot of clutter is going to be essential for us to remain friends. So I am currently purging a lot of surplus stuff that should have gone to the tip a long time ago but has been kept in case.

In the absence of seeds (the mice ate them) I am planting carrot tops, beetroot tops, cabbage stems and celery stems with a view to hopefully starting some veges off until I get my 'economic stimulus' payment so I can buy some on line (seeds that is).

And the same stimulus means I get to buy firewood after all, so it will be a cosy winter after all.

Craftwise the Norwegian knitting class is on hold as it is mainly teaching myself to do continental knitting, different types of cast on and so forth, and I am busily joining in the Arne and Carlos Quarantine Knitalong, using up scraps of 8 ply (DK).

Meanwhile I am getting a fair bit of extra sleep which is nice.

Oh and excavating the lid of the freezer so I can start eating my way through that to avoid the ramifications of a power failure

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 20 8:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think that the libraries may be shut in Wales now; they certainly are in England. Luckily, I think Gregotyn has several neighbours who will keep an eye on him. I do have his address, so I will write to him some time soon, and hope to get a reply. When I do, I will send best wishes from you.

We are supposed to be in partial lockdown, which means we are only to go out for food, work if it can't be done from home, and one period of exercise a day. Sadly, and as usual, the directions are not clear, so although the government is saying you can drive then walk or cycle, the police are saying only walk locally or you could be stopped and sent home. There also seems to be some difference of opinion about whether this means all work or only 'essential' work. At all times we are supposed to keep at least 6' away from anyone other than our own household.

I agree about grammar. We were taught to write proper English at school, and I find it very hard not to do so. Good you caught that e-mail before too many people thought the Hall Committee were all illiterate, which may not have done your chances of future grants etc. much good.

We are making another raised bed at the moment, so if we can find enough soil and compost to fill it, it should be in use for sowing soon.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 20 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

glad to see your post, being an early adopter of cautions when the infection rate is relatively low is wise as a 1 in a million chance of meeting a carrier becomes 1 in 500000 in a few days and 1 in 250000 a few days later etc until folk are either in lockdown to reduce R or it has infected and immunized* enough folk for R to drop

* only a few months into a new viral disease it still unknown if immunity lasts for a significant time and it is unwise to base a strategy on the assumption that it does.

get it early or very late seems safest in terms of having full icu support if you need it as services are overwhelmed as the infection rate climbs, how soon in any place depends on early measures and how much extra capacity they have over normal demand.

community transmission will be happening and until the border is shut or all incomers quarantined for a couple of weeks incomers will start new infection chains and all the potential cases in the community need to be tested, contact traced and isolated.
it is unlikely to stop it but it might reduce the steepness of the infection curve enough to allow for obtaining the extra medical facilities required

our gov did the opposite, and we are about to get a lot messier than the messy place we are now.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 20 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Cassandra, I agree with you about using "u" instead of 'you'. If you need anyone to help at the barricades, let me know!

I almost came to blows with my mother-in-law about the subject.

Henry

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 20 7:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Haha Buzzy - I too am an admin on the page so such issues only sneak past me if they occur after my bedtime. And since I get up ridiculously early they don't survive to see dawn.

Dpack our government has only locked the borders effectively today - before that it was assumed that those coming by ferry would be smart enough to self-isolate - a flawed assumption at best. In addition we have had a warm weekend this weekend and every man and is dog went to the beach. Not this little black duck.

I've been having a lovely day today - finding the surfaces of my kitchen counters, rediscovering various cooking utensils, filling the freezer with borscht and eating a cabbage dish I cooked yesterday which is much tastier than it sounds (basically you sautee bacon, onion and butter, sweat the shredded cabbage, add some pork sausages and even more butter on top and bake). I used Kransky as the nearest approximation to an italian sausage, but it still turned out delicious. There are two more servings in the freezer along with eleven mugs of borscht.

I will be working steadily through the remainder of the older freezer food and converting it into meals as I go. There's a pork belly and a rolled pork roast to be dealt with too, as well as one pork chop, one rump steak ... you get the picture.

Once it's all turned into meals, and assuming we are still under threat, I will start to work my way through it in case the electricity goes down. I have a large gas bottle for heating food if there's no electricity but that is going to be small consolation if the freezer contents have melted, haha.

Spending time at home without commitments is a great way of finally getting my feet back under me domestically as my life is usually rather more scattered than this.

The President has left it all in my hands re raffle, meeting cancellations and other such matters, so I will see what response I get to my email (yet to be drafted).

Take care all and play at home as much as you can

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 20 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I received a PM from Gregotyn yesterday trying out his new phone, so at least he has contact with the outside world. Apart from some usual typos when trying out something new like texting, he did very well, and was using it as a test message. He is also well, and has neighbours near for help if needed.

Cassandra, I need to go through my freezer as I have a few things that need converting. In particular I have some smoked haddock that needs making into kedgeree, so as I have all the ingredients at the moment I might try that. I want to freeze some, but am always rather wary about rice, so think I need to cook all the rice together in the fish stock, then fast cool all but what we need for that meal, and work it from there. Going to be a bit of a nuisance, but seems the safest way.

I also have a fleece to sort. I have just been pulling bits off from the bag, but I really need to lay it out in the garden. The grass should be dry enough now, but it is rather windy, so I am hoping I can do it without it blowing away. Rather matted, so I am trying to get as much off it as I can, and the rest will just have to go on the compost heap.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 20 4:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Glad to hear he is coming to grips with a new piece of technology. Wish him my best.

Our shutdown has expanded and we are now only allowed to congregate in groups of two people (unless you are a family group) and only allowed out for essential activities. This has made drawing our raffle this Friday a a bit of a drama as I have had to organise a venue (the Council Car Park), and Independent Witness (a council Officer) and filming so as to ensure everything is hunky dory. Then sorting out prize distribution will also require some thought, but I am assuming it will all be classed as essential as the raffle was advertised to be drawn on Friday and that, too, is a legal requirement.

I have managed to acquire some seeds for various root veges, chives etc as well as two varieties of cabbages, and it remains a relatively mild Autumn (though it will be a bit chilly at the end of this week).

My economic stimulus payment has not yet arrived (they are arriving between 31 March and 17 April, long after all the small businesses have failed unfortunately) and so I am unable to obtain my firewood just yet, but I have cleaned the flue and laid a fire for a time when warmer clothes don't work.

There has been an outbreak of petty theft in the district, so I have locked all the gardening tools in the shed, and will do the same with my blockbuster to keep it safe.

Hope all remain well over there, keep safe, and be grateful we are all a lot more resilient than a large part of the population, simply because of our random skills.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 20 6:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We are in the same position as you with lockdown Cassandra. You seem to have things sorted for the raffle. Either people will have to wait for their prizes, or else each day on your 'permitted exercise' you could leave some at the various houses, if your rules are the same as ours. Those living too far out will have to have a letter or better still phone call or e-mail telling them they have won a prize.

I didn't realise how resilient I was until husbands neice posted she hadn't anything to do. I have plenty, but at least I have most of the garden prepared for sowing and planting, and several other odd jobs done. I am still waiting for husband to get the urge to finish another raised bed. It is in 6 sections waiting to be put together, but it is too heavy and awkward for me to do on my own. He has been excavating sons bedroom, as after nearly 11 years of being married and away from our house, son now has some room to take some of his things. He comes over and changes in his old room when he comes home for work, but somehow everything just got left in a heap. I now have a desk for painting and other odd jobs, and we can see a fair bit of the floor.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 20 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My $750 economic stimulus payment arrived today. Didn't last long. $550 is allocated for the wood man and he has been messaged to arrange delivery, then I got on line and ordered a sewing machine to replace my dead one - that should be delivered by mail some time in the next 10 days, and bought $100 of groceries at the local shop - I even have 24 toilet paper rolls! That should keep me happy for a month or so.

Adjusting to not going out on a whim requires concentration. I had the desire to rush out and get food, but had to wait till I went in to clean the bank. I was planning some gardening but him over the road is letting his chooks roam freely so that was not an option, and after doing some knitting, responding to messages from various parts and so forth, I did some knitting and contemplating sewing projects like mask making, sewing toilet paper squares etc. I will also be making up kitchen paper strips of seeds to plant once the rain arrives tonight.

I will be going a little potty as I have no driving this week due to cancellations, but I expect I will survive. How anyone can get bored is beyond me - so many things to be getting on with. Perhaps the niece can sort out her wardrobe, repair buttons and hems, re-hang and fold in seasonal or colour coordinated piles and so forth. There's a great mending book just come on the market, I will look up the details if she is interested. Order it on line and teach herself some new skills.

It comes of years of spoon feeding and being entertained rather than making up their own fun. I rather feel sorry for them if the truth be told.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 20 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's been an astonishing day! My sewing machine has already arrived. Now all I need to do is find a flat surface to set it up and work out how to operate it. I suspect that may wait till the weekend.

I have also met with the real Treasurer today and I have the raffle stubs and she has the money, so I will be able to relax now about my financial responsibilities at least. The issue of raffle tickets remains unclear however as i have had no communication from Madam, so I have emailed her (with a copy to her mother) asking her to let me know what if anything she has. If she's got them at St Mary's she will have to just transcribe names and numbers so I can write them into a new book. Trust her to be difficult.

I have not yet lit the fire but it's been a bit of a debate with myself about just when it will happen. My phone has been out of order for two days, and no response from the telecommunications company, so I am unable to order in new firewood. Fortunately I have some on hand thanks to my usual wood man (who let me have a barrow load), and I have found that once it has been burning for a bit I can let it die back and the house remains cosy, as it's not so much cold as WET! It's been raining all day.

I suppose I will just go and unwrap my new machine now and clear a spot to set it up temporarily at least.

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