November News

 

I'd better write a post before the month is out otherwise it won't be November's news!   I was thinking I'd write on the 1st of the month to keep my blog up-to-date but the good thing is I've been busy.

Since the beginning of November I've been invigilating exams at the local school  - a few A level re-sits followed by over 2 weeks of GCSE mocks.  I'm in charge of the main hall so that's 240 students with more space for us.   Everything was going fine until last Monday when a girl tested positive for Covid so we lost 50 students overnight who were put in isolation.   We also lost a few more who probably told their parents they had to isolate to get out of doing the rest of their exams.   Sadly this wasn't the case as all their exams papers were parcelled up and hand delivered by staff.    I was amazed we got most of the exams done as I thought everything would go downhill!!

The area where we live is reasonably clear - a lot of people are still working from home and not travelling to London.  Also Gatwick Airport is very quiet so lots of people have been made redundant.  Not really good economically but it keeps interactions down.   

So roll on Christmas....we've decided not to rush to the shops and buy Christmas presents this year.  We're already looking forward to Easter, maybe buy presents then and visit friends and relatives. 

Take care everyone.

Elaine xx

October's Thoughts

Another month has gone by and at least I have something to write about.  We actually went on holiday - well 5 days away with the caravan at Bognor Regis - but it's the getting away from home rather than where we actually went.  The caravan site was between a dual carriageway and a new retail park under construction - admitted not idyllic but the site had loads of mature trees and we could still hear the birds twittering.    We had a saunter round Chichester, visited Selsey Bill (heard of it, nothing to see) and a couple of afternoons on the beach and at Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve.  Luckily we picked the one hot week so all was good.

My daughter who has been working from home since March had a week off so Saturday we went to Wakehurst Place which is the country garden owned by Kew Gardens in London.  It was busy at the top but we wandered down the hill to the lake and back up through the woods where it was much quieter.  I think we did 5miles - it was freezing in the wind, but dry!

Thursday we went to Sheffield Park Gardens - it's renowned for it's Autumn colour.  It was a bit early for the best colour but it was a lovely sunny day so we went.  Another 4miles through the gardens and out into the woods where again I think we saw 2 couples.   Oh and we had an ice cream aswell - probably the last one of the season going by this weekend's wet and windy weather.

Next week I'm hoping things will get back to normal - I have exams to do.   When I say normal I mean as best we can.  I'm in a small room with just 2 students - it's usually baking but apparently we have to have the windows open so today is searching out the winter jumpers.

So that's my September.  Hope you are all well and coping with life.  If you can't do the major things, then enjoy the small things!

Elaine xx

Where does the time go?

I can't believe its September already - where does the time go?   I kept thinking I should write a blog post but then what should I write about.   I've tried to pick a theme but to no avail.  So today is the day to waffle about nothing.

Seriously life does seem to be getting back to normal but with less spontaneity - you go can go places or eat out but only if you remember to book in advance etc.  I did get out to meet a few friends that I haven't seen since March and we had a visit to school on exam results day as our Exam Officer retired.  I've been invigilating for 14yrs so will now be on my 4th Exam Officer - we'll soon have the new one trained to our way of doing things, assuming they ever do exams again.  Who knows what will happen!!

Other than that we've been gardening and walking although that was curtailed by a week of 34 degrees heat followed by the week of rainy stormy weather.  It seems to have settled down again.  Our touring caravan sprang a leak over the winter so it was a little damp in one corner.  We've had that fixed now so can go on holiday but where do/can we go and will the weather hold.  Who knows - watch this space.

Other than that I've been working on my family history and writing my life story.  I have no idea if anyone will be interested to read it but I don't care - I'm doing it for me.  I started out 17yrs ago as my Dad wanted to know if we were descended from Hugeunots - I'm still not sure........but will keep looking.  I've definitely got back to a marriage in 1718 but am temporarily lost.

Anyway thats my September post...maybe I'll be back before October!!

Take care everyone

Elaine xx

Another week, another post

I'm not sure why I'm writing this post but I am purely to try and keep my blog going.  Nothing has happened in the last couple of weeks but maybe in the future something will happen that is worth writing about.

I might be typically English and discuss the weather - a mixed bag really, some hot, some windy and some rain which the garden definitely needs.   I bought some snapdragons earlier in the spring but one by one they are just going limp and I don't know why - too wet, too dry who knows - but on a swift visit to Homebase I bought a big fuchsia which has filled 3 holes and so far, so good.

This week is wear a mask in the shops week - after hours of searching online I bought a pretty mask but its far too small.  We ran out of bread so I had to go to Sainsburys on Saturday.  What with it chucking it down with rain outside, wearing a mask, steaming up my glasses inside and out, it wasn't a pleasant experience.   So this week is spend more hours searching folksy, etsy etc for another mask that hopefully fits.

Not sure I have much else to do.  I've arranged to meet a friend for lunch in 2 weeks time- we haven't had a good long gossip since February so that's something to look forward to.  In the meantime I shall watch the baby blackbird having flying lessons.  The parents have been going into the honeysuckle bush regularly with mouths full of grubs and last week I could hear the chirping.  This morning the baby was out being chased from washing line to bench to bird feeder by mum - get those wings going!!    I shall try and get a photo.

Anyway I'll stop rambling now.  Stay safe everyone.

Elaine xx

Show must go on!

Another week, another blog post - I've decided to stop numbering the weeks as I think this thing is going to go on forever.  Life is getting back to normal just with a little extra space and hopefully extra consideration for others.

Whilst we've been in lockdown we've been watching the musicals that Andrew Lloyd Webber etc has put on youtube free every week so that has occupied us every Saturday afternoon.  This week is the last one - Joseph and his Amazing Technocolour Dreamcoat.  I think this was the first one shown, but we missed it, so at least we get chance to watch it again.

In Spring this was the Berberis Darwinii at the bottom of the garden - it is now covered in juicy purple berries and is being feasted upon by my blackbird and starling families.  That's fine except birds poo purple which occasionally gets on my washing and yesterday we had to bleach the front door to get rid of the stain!!

Oh well that's my life this week.  Thanks for reading and stay safe!!

Elaine xx

Week 15 - the new normal

Week 15 but who's counting.  Life is getting back to normal or the new normal - queue for everything and give everybody a wide birth.

At least I have been out a bit more - one walk into town, a trip to the jewellers to get some engraving done and a lovely wet walk to Nymans Gardens.  The weather forecast kept changing - I thought we might get away with a bit of drizzle, but no, it rained all the time we were there!   Anyway here are a few photos starting with a misty photo of the house which is part ruin.

And then some architectural plants including this strange tree - a thorn of some kind.

Well that's another week over - stay safe and healthy everyone!

Elaine xx

Week 14

Week 14 I think and still blogging - not sure how I've managed it and how much longer I will do my weekly round-up.  The last 2 days have been blooming hot - over 30 degrees both days and the overnight rain and thunderstorms lasted about half an hour I think.  Not really enough to clear the air and dissipate the heat.   I've been out for a walk this morning - only a gentle stroll across the local park but it's uphill and hot and sticky and I'm now stuck to the settee!

Only news this week is that I've actually been into town shopping - that must be 15 weeks since I last went.   I only went as Shoezone are shutting down and I wanted some new sandals to slob around the house in and some new exam shoes should we ever do any exams.  Some nice comfy shoes to stand in for 6hrs and with nice soft soles to not make a noise and disturb the students. Also useful for sneaking up on the misbehaving ones and catching them in the act!!

Next week my daughter has taken the week off work so I've booked for us to go to Nymans NT gardens - another local property.  I was trying to get tickets for Sheffield Park but the only slots available had only 1 ticket - not much use for 4 of us.  Sheffield Park is renowned for it's autumn colour so we tend to visit in October and sometimes in the Spring but have never visited in the Summer - they've had a waterlily festival the last couple of years but not seen them so that would have been nice. Never mind a walk will be good no matter where.

So next week I'll have photos to cheer this up - until then, stay safe and well.

Elaine xx

Week 13 - Still counting

Good morning one and all.   Yet again I've not done much exciting so I'm going to be a true Brit and talk about the weather.   Whilst it's been quite warm, we've had some short spells of thunder and torrential downpours.   The white rose on the front has been battered and to be honest, it looks like snow outside with all the white petals on the ground.

Other local news - we live about 10m from Gatwick Airport so are used to seeing planes skirting round town on their way to land.  However planes have virtually stopped - we've seen the Spitfire on VE Day and the odd light aircraft.  Lately it seems the RAF have been practicing their circuits and bumps at Gatwick so the highlight of people's days are the big freight airbuses going overhead.

Last Thursday we booked to go to Standen, our local NT property and whilst the forecast was for rain, it stayed dry and sunny.  There was a one way system so we sauntered and really didn't see many people. I did bump into a friend who was sat with 2 others - they all work in the house, but have no idea when it will open again.  Also they were saying a lot of the house stewards are well over 70 so can't go out either.  Hopefully everything will sort itself out shortly and we can all go out without worrying too much.   Having said that it has made most people more polite in the shops and park so that's a good thing.   Anyway I will leave you with more photos......

Stay safe everyone

Elaine xx

Week 12 - Staying in

Well this is going to be a very short post - I've stayed in and done nothing much exciting.

I'm at the pottering stage, in the garden, round the house tidying bits, across the park and painting down the Rifle Club.  The majority of the painting has been done - it was bright yellow with blue panelling below.  Whoever painted it previously made it look like a kid's playschool.  It's now magnolia at the top and a pale green below to match the dark green carpet tiles.  These colours were chosen about 4 years ago (nobody did any painting) and were to match the curtains which have now been replaced with blinds.  However it is nearly done, all the rammel has been thrown out, windows cleaned etc ready for re-opening who knows when.

After crossing all our events off the calendar, tomorrow I have booked to go to Standen which is our nearest National Trust property so we will go for a walk, in the rain.  My daughter who has been working from home hasn't been outside for nearly 13 weeks - hope she remembers where she left her shoes!!

Well that's it.  No photos.  Nothing exciting.  Just staying in, keeping safe!!

Elaine xx

Week 11 Lockdown (sort of)

Another week has gone by and nothing much changes - the TV pictures and news gets worse by the minute and today Boris has said he is taking direct control of the crisis.   It does make you wonder who has been in charge over the last 11 weeks.

Rant over.  The weather has been glorious but is set to change.  As I said to the lady in front of me in the supermarket queue (only 6 of us so not bad) look at the positives, we haven't had to stand out here in the rain at all.   We are now starting to get drought warnings here in the south-east - blamed on all those people who never washed their hands before!

Yesterday we actually drove out of town - one mile, to the local nursery to get some bedding plants.  So I spent a couple of hours digging out my tulips and daffs and planted all my pots up again - it was blooming hot !!  My garden news for this week - I put some old grapes on the bird table and a jackdaw had them all.  Never seen one in my garden before and he was too quick to get a photo.  I stood very still on the patio with my camera, he was watching me, as soon as I looked away, he nabbed them!

Today's photo is the Kiftsgate Rose on front of the house.  It usually flowers for my daughter's birthday next week.  When she was born, the midwife refused to come in the house as she was admiring the rose.  We hadn't noticed in our chaos and that was the first time it flowered so we always remember.  This year it started coming out about 2 weeks ago, it smells gorgeous and is humming with bees.

Anyway, that's my ramblings for the week.  Stay safe everyone.

Elaine xx

Week 10

This is week 10 of staying in (daughter is on week 11 of working from home) and what is there to say.   All the weeks have been the same really - go food shopping and a gentle wander round the local park.

We belong the local Rifle Club so whilst it's closed one member has been painting inside, another has been sorting the outside range and my OH has been trimming the hedges and tidying the car park etc.  Yesterday we went cleaning all the windows, window sills, front door and the flag pole - well the bottom 10ft of it as that's all we could reach.  Maybe we will get to shoot again although all the finals, shoots and summer leagues have been cancelled.   I'm hoping it will improve my shooting - it did when I was pregnant with both daughters and was forced to give up for a year.  When the men start moaning how badly they are shooting, I tell them my solution, get pregnant, have a year off :)

Not much else to write about so here's some pretty photos - honeysuckle and fuchsia in the garden.

Elaine xx

Week 9 - Still at Home

Week 9 already - doesn't the time go quickly.   Last week was reasonable - 2 trips to the supermarket and 4 walks across the park so not too bad.  It's just I've done nothing interesting so what do I write about?

Our only problem last week was glasses.  Both my OH and I had loose arms on our glasses so we superglued them back together.  Mine are fine and will do until I can get my eyes tested but OH's were still a bit floppy.  Luckily our independent opticians in town was open - he's been open Monday and Friday for 2hrs for emergency.  So last Monday he went to order a new pair, this Monday he's collected them.  Can't complain about the service!!

Not sure what else to say, the weather is lovely so I've been gardening, sat outside reading a book in the sun - it sounds idyllic but endless!!

Anyway I hope you are all keeping safe and well.  Maybe something exciting will happen before next week!!

Elaine xx

Week 8 - Locked Down Still

Well here we are again - blogging day in lockdown.  I guess we are still in lockdown, who can say?  I for one will be staying in as much as possible for as long as possible.   I should have started 7 weeks of invigilating in the local school today - all the GCSEs, GCEs, yr 10 mocks and yr 12 mocks but that has all gone and who knows what will happen.

Anyway the weekend was lovely again - I sat in the garden listening to the birds.  VE Day on Friday was good.   The Spitfire was scheduled over the local hospital at 1pm and you could hear the sound of the engines from a distance - luckily he did 4 circuits of the town, a barrel roll over the hospital and came over our house several times.  We stood in the street trying to take photos - I have several of a tiny dot in a vast blue sky but this one was taken by my daughter.   The sound was wonderful!

I think people seem to be so much more observant - out photographing nature and the sky etc.  Last week it was the supermoon, Venus being very bright and the starlink satellites going over every night - beautiful clear skies due to the lack of pollution.  Lets just hope it all continues.

Stay safe everyone.

Elaine xx

Week 7 - Staying inside

Another week and not much news to report.  I've been to the supermarket twice and been for 2 short walks across the local park.   There do seem to be more and more people out but everyone is very well spread out and taking avoiding action.   It's going to be really strange getting back to normal and actually passing people on the same pavement!

The death figures today seem much lower - I just hope that the numbers keep going down and it all doesn't come back again.   Friends of ours have a mother in the care home in town - she is fine, but the care home has lost 20 residents, out of 60, in last 2 weeks.  It must be horrendous to be in there, work there or have relatives there.

On a brighter note, my garden is doing well.  The tulips are just about over and my oak tree is just coming into leaf  We went to Wakehurst Place about 15 years ago when my children were small, picked up some acorns and planted them when we got home.  This is one that we've kept in a pot on the patio to keep it small - it blows over occasionally, it loses a branch or two but you can't beat a good old English Oak.

Below is a picture of my seeds from last week.  I'm not sure what I am growing - to be honest it looks like grass but there are some tiny seedlings that may be snowflakes.  I will persevere and probably find I'm growing grass after all.

This week we have my daughter's birthday on Thursday then Friday VE Day a Spitfire is coming over the local hospital on it's way to Captain Tom's house.  The hospital is home to the Guinea Pig Club where all the burnt and disfigured airmen were treated in WW2 so hopefully next week I'll have some photos of that.

Stay safe everyone.

Elaine xx

Week 6 of Lockdown

Another week has gone by and I can honestly say it seems to have flown passed.  I'm not sure what I've done other than pottered in the garden and been once to the supermarket.

Shopping this week it reminded me of Supermarket Sweep which is basically what I do.  Walk as fast as possible, avoiding people of course, buying as much as possible in one go and hoping that when I get home some of the things I've grabbed do actually go together and make a sensible meal.

The weather has been lovely again - today it has been raining but I think that is the first rain we have had for a month.  The garden does need it and it makes all the shades of green so much brighter.  I decided on Sunday to put some Snowflake seeds in some compost and see  if they would grow.  They are tiny and all was going well till I dropped the tray in my husband's toolbox - he emptied the tools out, hoovered up the soil and put that back in my seed tray.   I watered it, put it on a sunny windowsill and blow me down, this morning I can see one pair of seed leaves and 3 other shoots.  I never expected them to grow at all.    I'll take a photo for next week's post!

We were supposed to have been going on holiday this week before I started 7 weeks of summer exams but that all got cancelled.  Instead I've been sat on the gravel drive pretending I'm at the seaside - I nearly got a bucket of water out for my feet so I could go for a paddle!!

Maybe I've been locked in for too long but I can wait it out.  The longer we stay in now, the better it will be ….I hope.   Stay safe everyone.

Elaine



 

Week 5 of Lockdown

Here again so soon - for all the boredom and procrastinating I did think last week went a little faster.  Maybe it was because we had a bank holiday and my daughter's working week was only 4 days or we are all getting used to it.

Nature is still taking over - more and more people are actually appreciating what is around them and going out taking photos etc.  I don't remember buying these tulips but they are really pretty - a deep maroon colour.  We live very close to Ashdown Forest which is the home of Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood etc.  A A Milne lived on the forest and so his books were set there.  Other fun facts - I went to school in Nottinghamshire and my friend's father went to University with the real Christopher Robin!  I'm rambling - what I was going to say was that the deer are taking over the roads on the forest already.

I'm not sure what I've been doing this week other than my one trip out to the Supermarket.  We did watch Phantom of the Opera on Saturday afternoon which was brilliant.  Andrew Lloyd Webber is putting his musicals on youtube on Friday nights for just the weekend so we're now sat waiting to see which one it will be this weekend.

We also watched the TV programme on the West Highland steam railway - 2 hours of chugging along with very little commentary.  I found it really interesting as when I was little we always went up to the west coast of Scotland for holidays staying at Arisaig, swimming in the sea, days out to Skye and fishing off Mallaig Pier.  We also took the train to Fort William for fish and chips on night.  Happy days when life was simple or I didn't have to worry about it!!

Oh well, that's another week done.  At least the number of deaths do seem to be going down so hopefully we might be allowed out of the house come June.

Elaine xx

Week 4

Well Easter was gorgeous wasn't it?  It was 25 degrees here in the south so lovely to get some gardening done and sit in the sun for a bit.  I also took my camera and went for a walk around the local Botanical Gardens - well my garden!

Wallflowers

Tulips

More Tulips

Rowan tree bursting into life

Nature does seem to be taking over.  I've seen pictures of the goats coming down off The Great Orme  feasting on the gardens in Llandudno.  There was a herd of deer sitting on the green space outside gardens in outer London.  Also we spotted some sheep that had taken over a children's play park somewhere and were perfectly happy playing on the roundabout.

Let's hope when we get out of the other side of this then people will step back from their previously  hectic lives and use their time less selfishly and more wisely.

Elaine xx

Week 3

Another short post - I've been staying home, trying not to watch too much news, and been to Sainsburys twice.   Most people have been sensible except for those that think it is ok to barge into that 2m of space I was keeping.

I've been out in the garden - it's been ages since it rained and everywhere is so dry.  It's going to be one of those funny years.  It was so wet with torrential rain at the start of the year and everywhere was flooded.  Now the weather has improved, lovely and sunny, and we are stuck at home.  As soon as we are allowed out, the rains will come back and then there'll be deep snow to finish the year off.  All doom, gloom and despondency!!

On a brighter note my husband has been out a few times.  He belongs Sussex 4x4 Response which were mainly set up to help the emergency services in inclement weather - driving doctors through the snow etc.   Currently they are distributing PPE for the NHS - the Army are delivering it by the pallet loads and Mike and his colleagues are taking to hospitals and care homes etc.  Yesterday he went to Sussex University to get all their PPE and take to a hospital.   Every little helps.

Elaine xx

Distancing week 2

I know its April Fool's Day but this is not a joke.   It's week 2 of being asked to stay in and other than a couple of trips to the supermarket I've been nowhere.   This in fact could be a really short post!!

I have got loads of things I could be doing but as we are going to be in this for the long haul, why rush to hoover all the cobwebs this week when I might be really really bored next week or the end of April.....or the end of May …. who knows?    I was thinking we could make a start on the loft and clear out some junk but the dump has now shut and I have a nasty feeling council's will soon forget about recycling and be concentrating on just general rubbish collections.

My daughter is working from home so I intend to make weekends different, get everyone off their screens and play cards, do jigsaws, read proper paper books.  The weather next week is looking so much better - 17 degrees here in the south - so it will be back in the garden tidying up.  Then when it's time to plant out summer plants we can hopefully get a delivery from the local nursery to support them.

That's it folks - stay inside and stay safe!

Elaine

Life in 2020

So where did all that time go.  I can't believe it is nearly 2 yrs since I blogged but obviously now I have plenty of time!

Like everyone else in the country I have stayed in for the last week except for a walk across the road to offer our services to the elderly couple opposite - they're computer savvy and order food online but have only managed to get one more delivery so they have our telephone number if they need anything.  I've been to the supermarket once and got most of what we needed - my OH is pleased there hasn't been a run on Easter Eggs yet - and I went for a walk in the local park.  That was fun - hardly anyone out although I did meet a lady I worked with 27yrs ago so we had a bit of a catch up from a distance.

Is it not sensible to stay in?  It makes sense to me - hopefully I might not catch it and might not give it others.   I can't believe how many people went to the coast - yes it was a sunny day but places were heaving.   School's out so loads of teenagers in groups.  I guess it will take one local death before everyone takes it seriously.

Anyway I guess I have lots of stuff to keep me occupied - a year's supply of card and crafting stuff, loads of beads, family history research and that's before all the mundane jobs of clearing the house of rammel.   I think it's just a case of taking one day at a time, keeping in touch with friends and getting through this.   Hopefully I'll get to blog weekly too.

Stay safe everyone.

Elaine x