Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 4

But why is it other people from afar are oh so good at pitying or commiserating, but not so good at praising when deserved? There is something about the bumbling British stiff upper lip and humour that others don't understand, and if that is how we have to deal with things it is better than a few alternatives I could think of. I wish our government had acted sooner but we are where we are and don't need things pointed out by those (smug friends) living abroad.
I have actually given up on watching the UK news and watch France 24 for self indulgent reasons. Their psyche and reporting are so different, but their situation is comparable with ours. It helps my little brain.

ooh no, we are not comparing like with like eg deaths per million of population, we are half that of Belgium. Personally I think our government are doing a wonderful job

Craftyone, your sister in Oz. is actually correct. She is right to be concerned.
UK are likely to have worst mortality rates in Europe (whether you count it in actual numbers or percentage of population), by the time this is over.
Why? probably because of total mishandling right from the start - first of all, 'herd protection', then complete change, too little - too late. Added to this was three missed opportunities to obtain PPE from Europe, etc.
Then, clapping for front line workers asking care workers to pay £1.20 for a badge - when all of these people should being given immediate (and backdated) pay rises.
You may feel annoyed, a criticism of our country - and people as they probably would with a criticism of their own family - but sometimes the people not here receive more accurate information than we do at home.
Sorry about that......

Good point about the UK media. The papers do like to stir things up and dramatise. As good as they are at building up Captain Tom, they are just as bad at bringing others down, especially the government. Every country is different and doing what works for them.

Craftyone, don't get your hackles up too much. I suspect your sister's perspective is media driven hype. People and media get bogged down in the number of cases and deaths but they do not consider the overall number of the population. She is probably comparing it to our numbers and on simply those it does look as though the UK is not doing well but look at the difference in population. We hear that UK has, what to us is, an amazing number of both cases and deaths which do not seem to be lessening.

I think anyone can be critical of any government in this crisis and everyone will have an opinion on what should have been done and what should be done now and in the future however, overall I think most governments are dealing with the situation and that of governing their country pretty well. I know I would not like to be in their shoes. The work of governments does not stop while we deal with coronavirus but day to day matters have to be dealt with as per normal. Easy to be an expert when you are not making the decisions.

I was surprised though to read that some 15,000 people are flying into the UK daily with no checking taking place. Don't know if this is true or not but I think our situation and that of NZ's is largely due to our borders being closed and remaining closed. I cannot understand why UK didn't do this too. It is unlikely that our borders will be opened as we know it before next year and we are being told to look at domestic places for holidays over Christmas & New Year.

Good morning. I'm up early for once. We have a private shopping appointment at a local farm shop for 15 minutes. A shop all to myself to do a supermarket swoop!
Our DD and SiL have found a house which ticks all the boxes. It's the show home on a site so all fitted out nicely with landscaped garden and lots of extras. That would make for an easy move as they are 200 miles away. The trouble is they will need to sell their own very swiftly to be able to proceed and it isn't properly on the market yet. I'm bracing myself for disappointment before we start.
How do we deal with people abroad who tell us the UK is in a mess, too little too late? I have friends in France who seem to think the UK is doomed and it upsets me. It makes my hackles rise too. As for Australia and NZ, might they not get into trouble in the coming winter months?

We are delicate creatures really, we feel strong then all of a sudden we are laid flat. About the loo, I am also pretty restricted, I always need to know where there is a loo when I go out. To do with having babies and too much tearing but hey, you learn to cope with a lot of stuff in life

I am very glad that it rained yesterday. My lovely Polish yodel delivery man came yesterday he is about 30, he was the one who gave me some advice last year when I was planting roses at the front. I think he has qualifications from a uni over there. He is a lovely man, always asks if I am ok and gave me advice about a parcel with possible contamination 2 weeks ago.

My goodness, it is going to be a very dull day today, we are all going to need a bit of uplift, even if it means lighting a candle. I really do want to do some knitting, it is very fine wool and I have a string of projects that I want to start after this, which is a short very boxy jumper with masses of ease. Thin stripes and very many stitches. It is a layering top. So today will be an indoor day and my meals are sorted, I do have books to read and will try not to sit too long at a time

I have an e mail to reply to, a sister in aus who says that the uk is not doing very well, this does make my hackles rise, I will be gentle but I think that the uk is doing amazingly well

Craftyone I get that. It's yet another having Jaundice left me with. Had pains in my chest then palpitations. The my then doctor said the reflux caused the palpitations or the palpitations caused the reflux. I take 15mg tablet of Lansoprazole every morning hour before breakfast. Have to stop eating certain things that set it off. Been on it 2.5 years how can I put this politely. Before if I needed the loo I needed it NOW . At least now I don't have to to know the quickest route to any loo.

gerd or gord is reflux, when nasty acid rises up past the valve that is supposed to keep it down. It is very strong acid, as strong as concentrated sulphuric acid, so it can do a lot of damage if it gets to the wrong place. It can give that horrible pain when lying down or bending forward. You can get silent gerd when the only symptoms are eg a nightime cough

A good way to stop the acid is by having a slope when sleeping or by having a brick under the pillowend legs. Triggers are key and I know mine off by heart, I remember my first episode when I was about 40 and driving, such pain. Chocolate can relax that valve so any chocolate I eat is done by 1pm, coffee by 12, no very spicy foods, no chilli and definitely no garlic. Main meal at lunchtime and no fizzy drinks apart from the odd small GnT. If I wake in the early hours, I take a small drink of water and eat a small oatcake, which is enought to keep the acid occupied.

I know my own workings and can actually feel water travelling into my stomach, my first port of call if I feel the start on that familiar acid rising. That is most often enough to wash it down. Oh yes wheat is another trigger and I would never eat pasty after 1pm. Spelt is fine as is sourdough

Well, great minds, craftyone....I am also preparing to make quiche tomorrow. Always like to prepare pastry the night before and leave wrapped up in fridge. So , will be doing that soon. Tonight I will have salmon and salad.
I do enjoy quiche, but normally only make one, now, when I am having someone for lunch, but thought I needed to treat myself. Mine are usually quite plain just cream, eggs, cheese and some pieces of ham or bacon and onion.
My fired off complaints have started to get attention had someone from Booking.com phone me with regard to my complaint. They say it was not them,but the hotel that took the payment. Hotel say its not them but booking.com. I don't care who it was, they just need to cancel that attempt.
Rain has stopped, so will trundle along to the postbox to send letter to Barclaycard as soon as Escape to the Country is finished.

I was wondering too crafty
You are a human dynamo.
I have been chopping back my willow but what looks easy from the ground is a huge job on closer inspection.
Also talking to teary DD.
She feels very lonely and hasn't yet found a GP. When she phones there is a recorded message saying they are closed but to call 111 if you have a medical problem. Apart from a migraine she just wants and needs to register. What should she do? I suggested she phones 111.

craftyone, I have to ask, what is gerd?

whiff you are like a dynamo!! At least I wasn`t the only one to take my jam pan, it is hanging on a hook in my garage, next to my apple store with lots of shallow slatted shelves. All my kilner jars and my apple slicer and jelly maker. You just cannot take the old ways out of us . I use frozen berries for my jam, I have excess blackcurrants and am adding sugar to my store, ready for jam making

I have been whizzzing this morning and very thankful for the rain. I woke up at 1am too hot so finally changed my winter wool duvet to my summer wool duvet. I put 2 cotton waffle bedspreads into the ottoman at the foot of my bed, no doubt some nights will still be cool

One thing lead to another and I did the airing cupboard, at last. Bedding is now in sets, each in a pillowcase, I found somewhere else, hidden, for my just in case gerd bed slope which was taking up a lot of room. I may never need it again since I gave up garlic

Upstairs is ready to vacuum and I need to vacuum the air out of my duvet vac storage bag, which also protects from moths. Yay I found some huge strong mattress protectors bought for moving, very strong clear polythene, they will go into the garage for `just in case`

I made a quiche for today and tomorrow, I needed to use chard and caramelised onion before the new veg box arrived, very nice too. All new veg and fruit put away and I might just have a doze this afternoon, I haven`t stopped

We had a good teak bench grammaretto, lasted for years and I sent it to my dd before I moved. Then later I decided that I could do with a bench on each side on my right angled patio, now I have 2 acacia benches. I brought one with me and preserved it last summer, then bought the new one which I had to assemble and preserve. Looking back, all of it was very hard work, no wonder my shoulders are complaining

Still sorting out with barclaycard and booking.com the cancelled hotel booking for one night on Easter Sunday. Having just printed off and completed, together with copies of emails, the form for Bcard, ready to be posted when the rain stops, Now have received an email from Booking.com saying they see I had made a complaint and asking details. So, one way or the other , no way will I make this payment.
I am having problems getting the planters that I want. The company's on-line where I have seen the ones I want, are not doing any deliveries of these at present.
Could get much more expensive ones -but not going down that way - even if I am unable to put in any plants for this summer, as long as I am able to put in spring bulbs for next year, I will be happy - could not believe how much I missed seeing those this year.
I always used to make, virtually, all our jam and marmalade,but then I had a household to feed of between 8-10 people. None of it lasted very long, Now, I find it much easier just to purchase what I need, Often like to get home-made stuff. Normally, this coming Saturday should have been Eat Weston Festival, where I would have purchased such things. Obviously, not taking place at present.

Made 10lb of jam. Managed to cut down the other hydrangea and lavender which was well past its sell by date and got a rose bush out. Colder out today even in the sun. Having play date on line with my daughter later. My son in law has a Which subscription that's how I choose all my kitchen appliances. Very happy with every one of them.

Well done jam making Whiff. I still have frozen marmalade oranges but the faff of getting all the other bits puts me off.

Someone has donated tomato plants and other seedlings to our community shop which is lovely.

We bought our garden bench from John Lewis about 40 years ago and it has been trouble free. It is teak and they are not cheap.

I have signed up to Which for a month's trial so if any of you want me to look at their reviews, let me know.
I've been eyeing up cordless mowers. I know I said I would let the grass grow but I am losing my nerve. The big petrol mower is too heavy for us now and when we had electric flymos, I used to spend the first half hour fetching the extension lead and get a bit done and then it would start to rain or I would mow over the flex.
I miss our young Helpx in more ways than one!
Now I'm off to tackle my willow bower which is in serious need of a haircut.

Morning all, I want some toast with jam now! I haven't had jam for years, and would never make it myself, you are clever.

I've just popped in to say I let the removal company know I'd forgotten a mattress and two cupboards - they've added another £100, total £720. They are not allowed to do removals until lockdown is lifted, but have offered to go to the empty house, dismantle it all and stack it in the lounge ready for collection. I don't know where it is going Grammaretto - I guess it will be entered into our local auction, it is good furniture. The company is well respected locally, definitely won't be fly tipped.

I've written to my solicitor to convey this to the buyer's solicitor to see if is acceptable. If he says no it could be stacked on the drive lawn. I said as an alternative I'd be happy to leave the furniture if the buyer would like to have it. Hope the buyer says yes and saves me the money.

I've checked the police guidelines and am driving down to the village to push my dog up to the beach in future, driving a short distance for exercise is allowed. Five minute drive, then it's another 30 minutes walk to the beach. The cemetery is on the beach road, I've been in to see my husband a lot during this crisis.

Taking me so long to get going this week, I am still in my dressing gown. I am feeling a lot better today, I think I was over tired yesterday.

I'm going up to do the bed linen today, I've bought the huge underbed boxes ready. I'll be rehoming my superking wool duvet and all the linen, no point struggling with it, the king will do for the future.

Have a good day whatever you are doing

Thanks Craftyone will look there. Four berry jam. Raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant and blackberry. I just use 2kg for frozen berries. Defrost over night in jam pan . No need for any water just add 2,kg of jam sugar bottle of lemon juice. Perfect everything. When British berries are abundant then I buy loads freeze them for when I want them. Always freeze first that way you never need to add extra water. Saves cooking twice as juices already flowing and fruit soft. Better tasting jam.

wayfair have a good few at less than £100. I like wayfair and in fact there are some lovely benches

Fingers crossed for some rain today, I had to dig out 2 hellebores from the front last night, they were really suffering in the sun and yes, I found a lot of rocks beneath them. I have cleared the rocks and put 2 sapare lavender there instead and moved the hellebores to better soil in a shadier place

What jam are you making whiff?

Shandy57 hope you are feeling better today. Glad you excepted that quote. That's another load off your mind. Things are things after all. I was so glad I got rid of a lot of things. I held on to things for sentimental reasons which was stupid. Must admit I like living with fewer things. Which has ment I was able to buy something I always wanted but didn't have room. It's silly I know but it's a large IKEA footstool a rectangular one with a lift off lid loads of storage . Like I said you are doing brilliantly. But don't forget to rest and have healthy meals . Have you been looking at where you would like to live?

My garden is being to take shape. I would like a wooden garden bench. All wood. Didn't realise there where so many different woods to choose from. Has anyone any recommendations? Under £100.

Only ordered my tablets from GP on Wednesday they were delivered yesterday. The lovely delivery man. Put them on the step and waited further down the drive just to make sure I was ok. There are 2 drivers they are both lovely. Definitely picked the right GP practice and pharmacy.

Making jam this morning then back in the front garden.

Stay safe everyone.

good tip, thanks Franbern

craftyone - try using garlic leaves instead of the bulbs. Give just as good flavour, and may not effect you like the bulbs. Easy to grow in your garden .

Garlic affects my digestion something terrible, I never realised until 9 months ago and stopped eating all garlic. I tried garlic 2 weeks ago and got bad gerd again. At least I know. I am surprised it was fish for you grammaretto. Oily fish perhaps?

OOh no craftyone imagine if you came across your own furniture dumped in the countryside!
Maybe it's my upbringing but I hate waste and always think of reusing, repairing or doing without. Our kitchen was installed, such as it is in 1980 when we moved here. We have the bed we bought when we married (It has had a new mattress)

I have a taker for the willow.

I have discovered I get indigestion when I eat fish, Never noticed it before . I thought it was the wine but I have done a test and it was the fish not the wine. Phew! It could be hard to give up wine.

I have to disagree with you grammaretto once that furniture has gone then it is gone, it has to be out of mind as well as out of sight. Shandy needs that clean line across

Does anyone else still half cater for more than one? I am talking veg from seed, I have just faced actual facts ie where on earth would I put the big drumhead red cabbages? Notes will be made with all sorts of highlights for next year ie 2 dense red cabbages are enough!! so why did I transplant 6 into bigger pots? I don`t think straight when it comes to plants, I am still in allotment mentality

You did well Franbern