[Three words to sum up your day]

Too much ironing

[How's your day?]

True but also better safe than sorry.

[How's your day?]

Up early again this morning, on the park with Jj by quarter past 6, seemed a little bit cooler this morning. One of the regulars was just coming off park with his 2 dogs so looked like we would have it to ourselves. I let Jj off lead and then noticed there was a male sitting on the bench at the other end of the park, I presumed it was another dog walker but then realised he didn’t have a dog with him. I must say he made me feel a bit uneasy (if I had been with one of my boys it wouldnt have bothered me so much but a puppy cockapoo isn’t really much of a deterrent). Decided to keep distance from him but then another regular turned up with his dog which made me feel a bit more comfortable so we continued Jj’s off lead time. Seems awful really it could just have been someone out for an early morning walk I suppose, but it did unsettle me a bit. 
We are now in for the rest of the day, too hot to take Jj out again, waiting for deliveries. Amazon anytime today, UKmeds between 9.19am to 1.19pm (very precise) and Apple 8am to 8pm (good job I don’t want to go out really) and the dog groomer for Jj’s second grooming session (first puppy pampering went fairly well) anytime today. Will be glad to get him cut he has been suffering from the heat a bit (lots of ice cubes, ice lollies and damp towels which he tends to fight with rather than lie on) as his coat is fairly long at the moment and being black doesn’t help. 
So I have done my chores for the day, cleaning and put Jj’s beds through the washer much to his horror although not as bad as his toys I did yesterday, that seemed quite traumatic especially when he could see them hanging on the line by their ears. I am going to settle on the settee and listen to podcasts whilst playing with various toys that are presented to me, knitting whilst he naps and doing 10 minute training sessions our homework from puppy classes last week. Anything more strenuous (weeding etc) will have to wait until the weather cools a bit. At least that is my excuse.

By the way I have another spider In my conservatory, about medium sized at the moment, he lives under the door frame. Pops out occasionally when I go in there to get dog biscuits to say hello. Watches me and then shoots back under the frame. I am ignoring him at the moment but negotiations may need to be started with appropriate tenancy agreement in due course. 

 

[England - Football]

NonnaB I wasn’t blaming the Italian football team for the trouble at the match or after that is solely the responsibility of the idiots that caused it. Neither am I disputing the fact that Italy became euro champions. What I was pointing out was the derogatory headlines in some newspapers abroad belittling our national team and, in some respects, the majority of the English fans who are law abiding and just wanted their team to win. 
As a I said I am not a particular football fan so if England didn’t win it made no difference to me who won at all. I would think most England fans will rejoice in the resurgence of our young team who, hopefully, will only get better as they mature and we can do without the snide headlines from some (European) newspapers. Yes we get behind the team and dream of success but don’t all football fans, there is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps we do go a bit “over the top” sometimes but who does it hurt? No doubt it will be the same next year when the World Cup begins, it has become part of being English almost.  I am proud to be English and do not apologise for that. I do wonder if England had won if Italy’s football team would have got the same kind of headlines? Once again it was the headlines I was dismayed at not any other team or country. 
As to hatred, I don’t waste my time on that have too much to do and enjoy to bother with that. Unfortunately there are always the few who ruin it for everyone else in all countries not just England. 
 I hope you took my last line of the post as the tongue in cheek, but I do think the three English lions are awake and long may they be so.
 

[England - Football]

I must admit that a I am not particularly a football fan, although I did go to forest matches, in the Trent End of course, many moons ago. I have sat through some dire and lacklustre England matches in the past so was not particularly swept up in the euros fever and the “Its coming home” mantra. 
I have seen some of the headlines in the European papers ridiculing our teams performance, not sure what match they were watching but we held Italy to a 1-1 draw. They didn’t win the actual football match or the extra time for that matter they won on penalties. I know I am not a football officiado(?spelling), no I don’t need the offside rule explained thank you, and am perhaps biased but that is how I see it from the outside. All cudos to our goalkeeper he was magnificent and I must admit I haven’t seen an England team play like that for such a looong time. Yes I will say the memories of 1966 came flooding back.

 My heart went out to the young man (sorry don’t know his name the only one in the team I can put a name to is Harry Kane) who took the last penalty, such a big responsibility for one so young. The idiots (I could use stronger language) who are abusing the players that didn’t score need standing up against a wall and shooting. Them and the other idiots who rushed security at Wembley could have cost us the chance of securing our World Cup bid with Ireland before it has got off the ground. Hope they are very proud of themselves. 
Anyway it would seem that the three lions have woken from their slumber, stretched and flexed their claws for the first time in a while. Hopefully next year in the World Cup we will hear them roar as well. To the rest of the footballing world, especially those in Europe who have poured scorn on our national team, enjoy your moment but, be afraid, be very afraid
 

 

[Dogs and other family pets]

I sometimes wonder if pet insurance has something to do with the seemingly extortionate vet bills. When a I had my 2 boys the bills were eyewatering large especially as anti-biotics are done by weight in animals (wonder why this isn’t done in the human species). Even the Advocate for Jj was £11 for one which seems a bit much. Plus our vet pushes their own “wellness” thing where you pay by direct debit every month to get 2 consultations free plus worming/flea treatment. When a Jj is full grown I won’t be getting wormer/flea treatment from them will go back to the place I got it for the boys, Drontal tablets and a generic flea treatment which is on a par with Advocate both being much cheaper than the vet.
My vet has also now altered the appointment system, I have had to download an app. If you ring up there are never any appointments even when you ring at the appointed times, twice a day, they just refer you to the app to make an appointment for a video consultation and then if needed they make an appointment to actually see a vet. I must say I am not very happy about this at all. When I first registered with this practice they had appointments and walk in clinics (these stopped at the first lockdown). I have begrudgingly downloaded the app (after they sent me the wrong link and I had to find it on the internet myself) but will have to see how I get on with it. I don’t see how a video consultation can determine what is wrong with an animal, how do they go on if you know that your pet just isn’t himself but doesn’t have any defining symptoms? 
This vet is only 5 to 10 minutes walk from me and the other nearest one is a lot longer walk so I would prefer not to change if possible but am a bit concerned about it.

[Coronavirus]

That is the dilemma of isolating. Having no symptoms doesn’t mean you haven’t got it unfortunately, the same with having two jabs and you could still spread it. Having a test after a week say, then resuming work if it is negative and keep having a test every day until the end if the isolation period would seem better. The only problem with that is the accuracy of the Lateral flow tests it would have to be a “proper” test. This is why people are, apparently, uninstalling the covoid app.

I must admit I agree with nonnaB about the opening up. It seems like madness to drop everything in one go especially as the cases are now rising so fast again. The figures of 50,000 - 100,000 cases a day are frightening, it seems we are back at herd immunity again although I am not sure if that works when the virus mutates so quickly, perhaps someone with more knowledge can put me right on that. The worrying thing is that a mutation will circumvent the vaccine and we are back to square one again as it seems the virus is ramping up rather than becoming more benign (spelling?). Plus if deaths are now 1 in a 1000, that is 50 to 100 deaths a day.

I know things have to open up as businesses are suffering badly but still think face masks should be mandatory in shops etc. it is only a small thing after all. Then it’s your own choice if you go to the pub etc. or not. 
As to schools, it would seem they are being thrown to the wolves somewhat. I am invigilating at the moment, last 2 exams next week. The school has cases but are taking all precautions as mandated and most of the kids wear masks, at least the ones we have been involved with, so why end it? After all prevention is better than cure especially with this virus. 

  

[Coronavirus]

We received a txt message from the place we go to on Sunday for lunch to cancel our reservation yesterday as they had a positive test on one of their staff. It means some of the other workers are now self isolating so they are only doing takeaways for a while. We haven’t been contacted by track and trace (is this still going haven’t heard much about it recently) so presume we didn’t come into contact with the staff member thankfully. 
The thing that annoys me is when covoid is compared with flu. It isn’t flu (yes I do know there are deaths from flu every year). For one thing flu is seasonal, covoid isn’t, flu mutates very slowly covoid mutates quickly and seems to be getting more virulent not less. I have seen a report of a strain from Peru (and yes there are cases here) which is once again making the vaccination a lot less effective. It seems inevitable that there will eventually be a strain that will get round the vaccine. 
It does seem like we are (unwillingly) in an experiment to see what happens after July 19th with the government reneging on their responsibility to, at least, try to keep the population safe. Headlines in the papers say we are a “Petri dish” with the rest of the world waiting to see what happens when we “open up”. Would anyone like to hazard a guess? I really hope that it all goes well but I will still be wearing my mask and keeping my distance.

 

[How's your day?]

Feeling a bit down and under the weather with my hay fever this morning so decided to have Alexa play some 60’s music to cheer me up. First three songs were

Unchained Melody .. Righteous Brothers

Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any more ... Walker Brothers

and then Never Walk Alone Gerry & The Pacemakers. 
Seems like Alexa feels like me this morning!

[Coronavirus]

I am starting invigilating at the local school from Friday, not sure whether it will be one on one or in the big room with more pupils. It was quite difficult to decide what to do especially as Nottingham cases are rising again and I do know some schools have had outbreaks of Delta although I don’t know  about the school I am going to, it hadn’t had any cases for a while when I was in there in April/May. 
So I will be wearing my mask, using my taffix spray, making sure windows are open and placing my (hopefully not misguided) trust in my Pfizer vaccine to protect me if not from catching it but making it less severe.
As to July 19th I can understand why they want to relax some restrictions. The ones that do worry me somewhat are the relaxing of social distancing and wearing of masks especially as the Delta is so transmissible. I will still be wearing my mask in supermarkets etc. for the time being and keeping my distance from others as much as possible. I know some won’t agree with this but it is what I am comfortable with for the time being. 

[Dogs and other family pets]

My heart goes out to you. I have had to make that decision twice in the last 18 months and there are a lot of others on here who will know how you are feeling, it rips your heart to bits each time. 

[Garden birds]

I very often see pied wagtails at the outside part of the cafe I go to. Think they nest in the church grounds next to it.

I get wood pigeons in my garden, they are a complete pest. It is a constant battle to make sure they can’t get to any of the food on my bird station as they just wipe it out if they can. They also make a real mess on the slabs as well. Jj has started chasing them if he is out in the garden when they arrive, hopefully this will deter them a bit.

I get sparrows, dunnocks, blue tits and the local robins who nest in next doors garden. Also starlings who nest across the road in the school grounds, although I tend to chase them off when they arrive in mass. They make so much noise and will empty everything. I have a pair of blackbirds that come as well, but can’t put anything on the ground for them because of the pesky wood pigeons which is a bit frustrating as a I do like them. 
When my mum used to feed the birds she had a male blackbird that got very tame. My dad put a shelf outside the kitchen window and he would come and take raisins and I think cheese (?). If mum was a bit late putting it out he used to tap on the window to let her know he was there. He once came into the kitchen and she went in and found him sitting on the back of a kitchen table chair. They were both devastated when one of the local cats got to him and they couldn’t catch him to see if they could help him, he eventually died of the injuries. 
I also have a pair of grey squirrels that will take what they can although my bird feeders are now squirrel proof, I do put peanuts out for them in winter which I have seen them bury in my neighbours lawn and I have found them in my potted plant pots.
 

[Electric Cars & Scooters]

Don’t mind them as long as they are ridden properly, there are always some idiots that don’t have a clue. My problem is when they are left to be picked up and block pavements. 

What do you call a load of them waiting collection? Gaggle, herd, murder, meeting or gathering? Perhaps they are plotting to take over the world!

[Dogs and other family pets]

So today was Jj’s first puppy training/socialising class. I was hoping there would be other pups that he could socialise and play with. When we got there there were other people there with dogs but they were mostly adult and the 2 pups that were there were about 6 to 8 months old which was a bit of a disappointment really.
We were told to keep Jj to one side whilst the other dogs were doing walking on lead and just let him watch. The trainer told one of the owners that if her pup pulled to jerk on the lead to get him back to heel, I must admit I don’t like that we have been using treats for a Jj.

After a while she had the 2 younger dogs and us stand in the middle of the circle while the dogs came closer to us. Jj was interested in one of the dogs, Mia, and they greeted each other. The other dog was a husky, which to be honest was somewhat out of control, was also showing interest but suddenly came forward and nipped Jj so he went behind me, it then proceeded to nip my companion. By this time an Akita had joined the class which the owner was having trouble controlling and was just shouting at the dog to no effect. There was also what looked like a Rottweiler cross and the owner was asking advice on how to stop it attacking her other dog.
We were then told to go with the other “pups” with another trainer to practice walking with the jerk method after which the “pups” could be let off lead to socialise. At this point my companion and I had a discussion and decided to call it a day as we felt it would undo the progress we had made with Jj. He walks better on the lead than a lot of the adult dogs there. There was definitely no chance of him being there whilst the husky was off lead. I told the trainer what had happened and that we were not continuing as a I didn’t want Jj frightened or having another bad experience with a bigger dog. She said she understood and it would probably be better if we bought him back when he was bigger. Think that about sums it up

 

[Help needed - roofing]

No it isn’t an insurance job, it is a case of whoever did it did not finish the roof off properly (no guttering etc.) hence the damp wall. Par for the course in this house unfortunately. 
Will have to ask around and see if anybody knows of someone who can do the work for me.

[Help needed - roofing]

Can anyone recommend someone to sort out the roof on my side room. It is Perspex (I think) sheets and hasn’t been finished off properly ( what a surprise in this house) and I have to keep knocking the “rods” between the sheets that hold them in place back in as they continually slip out so it needs something to hold them in place. It needs guttering as well as the back wall gets damp from the water coming off the roof making the whole room damp. Also I think the seal between the house and the roof needs some attention. 

[Dogs and other family pets]

Jj is hopefully, dependant on the weather, going to his first puppy training/socialisation class on Sunday morning. He has already mastered sit and stay, doesn’t seem to see the point in drop and will sometimes leave if bribed with a treat. He is getting better walking properly on lead, again with treats, although he still gets a bit distracted by other people but he is improving. He comes back to whistle (and a bit of cocktail sausage) with great gusto. He is still jumping up though, he can walk on his back legs like a performing poodle, so hopefully we will be able to stop him doing that. 
I walked into the front room this morning and found him lounging on the settee. Sat next to him and had a long talk with him making it clear that is by invitation only, when his blanket is on it, not when he wants. Got lots of “puppy eyes” and at times he wouldn’t look at me but eventually he moved from the settee to my knee and I was showered with puppy kisses, puppy spit in my hair again, and a very waggy tail. He did eventually get down and I think it ended up as a draw. 
He is growing so quickly and now weighs just under 8kg, not sure how big he will be (but smaller than my two boys). It was hard at first not comparing him to them but I am now used to his “quirks” (he can’t resist a paper tissue and has learnt to take them out of my pockets), he has a big personality with a bit of attitude. 
I wasn’t sure about getting him at first and wondered if I would be able to cope with a young pup but I am glad I did now. It is just so good to see him whizzing around on the park with such a joy of life and treats! We are going into teething now with his adult teeth so once again he just wants to chew everything including your fingers, furniture, shoes etc. so the treat cupboards is filled with various chewing things and rawhide sticks besides his other treats. 
He is now the new man in my life and, although he will never replace my two beautiful boys, he definitely has a place in my heart. 
 

[How's your day?]

I am pleased to say my ciggie craving has abated today finally. It has been a tough couple of days fighting the inclination “if I buy a pack and just have one ...“ rather like when I first went onto the vapey thingy. I was cutting the strength of the liquid down so perhaps this triggered it, have gone back to mixing 2 strengths together again and will take it from there a bit slower until I hopefully quit altogether. 
I was thinking about when I first started smoking in the 60’s, everyone seemed to smoke then or at least it seemed like it. I can remember Keith Richards on stage with the Stones smoking, it just seemed so “cool” at the time and a bit rebellious. Dread to think how much money I spent on them over the years but I did enjoy it. Just wish stopping was as easy as starting.

[G'day Mite]

I must admit marmite is the last thing I would miss, everyone to their own I suppose. 

[It’s A Scam]

Seems like a I am going to need a file cake as well, had the same message on my phone this morning. So annoying it was a recorded message would have enjoyed stringing the scammer along as I have done before.

[How's your day?]

Today, for some reason I have got a mega craving for a ciggie. Haven’t had a proper one for months and haven’t had a craving for a long while. My vape just isn’t hitting the spot at all today. Good job you can’t buy them singly (I can remember getting them from Jacks on staverton, they were Park Drive he used to split the packs of 5) or I might have been tempted. 
I did enjoy smoking (not very politically correct I know but then I never am) and the problem with vaping, for me, is that the vape pipe doesn’t feel like a cigarette at all. Yes I get the nicotine hit to feed my habit but it just isn’t the same somehow. Oh well will keep busy and probably raid the fridge as well, could be a chocolate day I think. Hopefully it will have passed by tomorrow.

[Dogs and other family pets]

Today is the second day Jj can go for a walk. Yesterday we took him in the car (we have been taking him for a ride every day for the past couple of weeks so he is an old hand at it now) and went to local dog park. Wasn’t sure how he would react, bit like throwing him in at the deep end although it was early evening so it wasn’t as packed as it can get. I had been walking him round the garden on his lead to try and get him used to it, he wasn’t really impressed!
We got him out the car and he was a bit hesitant but we managed to get him out the car park and onto the grass. He gradually got more confident and had a good time sniffing round, trying to eat dandelions and picking up pieces of wood, “drop” is a work in progress depending on what he has picked up and how much he thinks it is “his”. Came back home and he had his dinner and flaked out for a good nap.
This morning I got a lie in, 7 instead of 6, which was nice. Got up had a quick drink and then took him round the block. Managed to keep him on one side of me instead of him meandering all over the place, not easy as he is quite determined. We had to stop and watch cars and buses go past, he’s not so sure about big lorries yet. Bit of a wobble when a big dog was barking as we went past (quite quickly), but he is only 12 weeks old after all. 
We came back, he had his breakfast and we got cleaned up, he will now stay in the same room as the hoover, kept away from the steam cleaner and attacked the mop. Took him upstairs for the first time and he found the full length mirror and was horrified there was another dog in his house. Then we went outside and played with his ball, he had some of his dinner and is now crashed out having a nap. 
It isn’t easy being a puppy you know.

 

[How's your day?]

I was a teenager during the 60’s. Couldn’t have been a better time to be a teenager, the music, the fashion, the mods and rockers (although I was a “mod” I had boyfriends who were mods and rockers), going to Skeggy and watching the scuffles between the two with my friend (our boyfriends made sure we were out of the way). Going to London and going to Carnaby Street (which I must admit we thought was actually a bit “naff”) although we did buy stuff from there. Going into Biba and buying a very expensive skirt, blouse and long line top combo. Having my hair cut so that it was shorter on one side than the other, my mum nearly had a fit when she saw it.

Following the Stones on their tours (bit basic by today’s standards but we were mesmerised by them) when they were round and about Nottingham. Going to London to see the NME yearly concert with a group of friends. 
The best of times, wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

 

[Coronavirus]

The area I live in has now lost its “virus supressed status” as we now have 5 confirmed cases, not sure if they are the Indian variant or not. Hopefully this little outbreak will be contained and not spread. 

[Farrands, Marsdens, Maypole, Dewhurst, VG, Vernons, etc]

In Doncaster where I lived before there was a Costcutter supermarket in our mining village. They put the names of shoplifters up on the entrance door with “Banned from here” in big letters above the list. It was up for a while then one of them complained and they were made to take it down. 
I worked in a small convenience store in the village. The stores there had a system that when one of the local shoplifters was out again (they sometimes got a few weeks in prison or were tagged) the first shop they went in called all the others to let them know he/she was out and about again. We had pictures of them taken from our cctv which were kept in the office and the relevant picture would be put on office notice board so we could keep an eye out for them. Although most were “regulars” who we knew anyway.