Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
New Mature Runners Thread
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
The dvd/tv combo is also now on the wall above the treadmill <polishes halo>
Aquarius, I am growing a little concerned. How are you doing?
WtnMel, Your runner's group was clever with it's virtual Thursday event club. It's fun to see all the ways people are manage to keep going.
Excellent job by your garage on getting your car fixed and up to passing the MOT. I would be annoying to have it there for the duration.
Also, excellent job by you on tuning up your treadmill. The dvd/TV combo should help pass the time. I find that I need to keep the treadmill on a .5% to 1% incline for all running, except intervals, for the results to transfer to outdoor running. I'll be interested to see how the treadmills work out for others. I find that they do double duty as strength training and mental toughness.
Excellent picture!! But what the heck is AREk4?
HS, were you able to get out again this morning? If so, was your run any more enjoyable?
Damien Nagle, how are your 3x/week runs progressing?
My hip is mostly resolved. Yay! I did 4 miler on the treadmill today. I wasn't feeling great. For some reason, I'm really tired today. I'm having very active dreams, probably due to stress, and I think that they are robbing me of some of the benefits of sleep.
Hang in there everyone. By fall this will all seem like a terrible nightmare. And, we will be outside running again!
Molly - as I wouldn't be able to hear the tv over the noise of the treadmill I picked a dvd that didn't need any commentary. The one I picked (and I can see why you thought it said AREK4 from looking at the photo myself) was actually a dvd of a performance by Cirque De Soleil called Varekai (or vAREKAi as it looks in the photo). I ran my treadmill run with it set to 1% but for a couple of 5-minute periods, upped it to 2%. My treadmill goes up to 10% btw and has programmes like rolling hills for instance where it automatically changes the incline from time to time. Good to hear your hip is doing okay. I had a very weird dream last night - lots of complicated initiative tests and puzzles to do - no wonder I felt worn out when I woke up this morning. I see the orange man-baby has pronounced he hopes the USA will be clear of Covid-19 by Easter - good luck with that one Mr Trump! (I think he's just desperate to keep the economy performing well so he gets re-elected).
Margaret has ventured out for some vegetables - I've given her one of my spare buffs to cover her nose and mouth while she's out.
Currently listening out for the door as we're expecting the exercise bike to be delivered today. I'm hoping to make time later this morning to start on re-painting the garage door frame.
Molly, thanks. It is such a shame that there are so many ignorant, irresponsible people around, who only think of themselves. My little Monday group will reform as soon as possible, but in the meantime we will continue to run solo as long as we are virus free, and are permitted by the Government to continue running.
I'm impressed that you at one time trained by running up and down the stairs. I'm in a bungalow so don't have that option.
Good to hear that your hip is feeling better and that you managed to run 4 miles on the treadmill.
Yes, I did get out for a run yesterday and did an easy pace 5 miles with an unexpected twist. I was running with a much more positive state of mind, feeling relaxed. As the run proceeded, I was feeling good, and without any apparent increase in effort, my final mile was a average pace of 9.17 minute miling. My speed sessions with Sarah are obviously paying dividends for us both. A few months ago, that pace would have been a hard sprint, only maintainable for short distances.
WtnMel, yes it's good that we are allowed to run, or exercise once a day, with no limit as to the distance run. We are all running solo now, and keeping in touch by social media etc.
Sorry to hear that your car failed its MoT, but glad that the problem was able to be fixed, so that they were able "to pass it." You probably got the test just in time, because there is a lot of confusion now as to whether drivers would be able to continue driving, if garages were unable to do MoT tests.
It seems like you and Margaret will have no problems keeping fit if you are unable to exercise outside, with the treadmill and exercise bike. You are a very resourceful couple! I like the picture and the set up, looks very professional. I hope the exercise bike arrives today, as expected.
Damien, good that you are keeping up with your running and also cross training with the kettle bell.
I'm not running today as I did some early morning shopping. The supermarket in the village has reserved the opening hour, 7.30 to 8.30 for the elderly, which includes me. There was a short queue when I arrived at 7.20, with everyone correctly spaced out. They have 3 security staff on the door, allowing only a few in at a time, ensuring that there is no overcrowding. Also making sure that younger shoppers don't try to gate crash the hour. They have lines on the floor for shoppers to stand behind at the check outs, to minimise the risk to the operatives.
The Marina, which is popular with runners and walkers has now been closed to the public, to prevent too many people from using it. The footpath is fairly narrow, so I suppose that is the reason to prevent people being in close proximity. I've never known it to have any problems with numbers of users, and yesterday, when I ran round it, it was deserted. I suppose the powers that be, are doing their best to minimise the risks.
I will try to log onto fetcheveryone again, as earlier it was unavailable.
Damien Nagle, I have a kettleball, but I haven't used it for quite a while. I really need to get back to my basic strength training. Thank you for the reminder.
WtnMel, It sounds as though we have similar treadmills. I think mine is a Nordic Trak. I've never really tried the automatic rolling hills, or other pre-programmed runs. After owning the darn thing for a number of years, I should probably try them. Let me know if you find one that you really like.
At this point, our president is saying something completely different from week to week. Now he's back to saying that the coronavirus is the same thing as the regular flu. He is not helpful.
Stress dreams are definitely an issue. I'm glad that I'm not the only one having them.
HS, what a nice treat to find that your easy pace is now a faster pace
Posting security guards at the shopping center doors is very sensible. I wish that our stores had thought of that. We're still having some issues at our local store.
I hope that you have another good run tomorrow! My fingers are crossed that you will continue to be able to run outside.
Aquarius, I am very glad to hear that you and Steve are doing well, with the exception of seasonal allergies. I struggle with those, as well.
What an exciting list of projects you have lined up! I think the idea of ordering a children's primer in Latin is very smart. I wish I had time to pick up an old subject, but for me, work goes on. In some ways, my life hasn't changed very much. Or, at least, my schedule hasn't. Though I am finishing up a project this week, which is always nice, and should free up some time this weekend.
I've enjoyed seeing Stephen Fry in a number of shows over the years. I can imagine that he would be an interesting interview.
Good job on getting out for your morning run. This is definitely a time that makes it a little more difficult to enjoy runs. I've noticed that more people seem to be out and about now, as well. I think it's because more people are home during the day, and are going a little stir crazy. It makes it occasionally difficult to navigate the sidewalks while maintaining an appropriate distance.
Today is supposed to be a cross training day, but for some reason my legs (quads) are feeling really tight and tired. I'll probably keep the day's cross training limited to dog walks, in hopes that my legs recover for an interval workout tomorrow.
I am scheduled to start my training for the October marathon in a little less than four weeks. It does seem a little strange in the current environment, but I am going to follow the schedule and have faith that the race will go on.
It's good that you will have some free time this weekend, try make the most of it and unwind a little.
Damien Nagle, Excellent job on getting your 10K done.
Apparently, people are still congregating on our beaches as well. Which is completely nuts if you consider that we woke up to snow just a few days ago. Normally, at this time of year, the beaches are pretty empty. The only reason that people are going there now is to be obnoxiously obvious about flouting social distancing.
Aquarius, Yikes! Be careful of your knee! Taking a rest day sounds like a good idea. I'm taking one as well
I had to chuckle at your concern for breaking the rules compared to some of the unconscionable shenanigans that are happening in the US. If only our president had your care and conscience, we might not be quickly overtaking China as the country with the highest infection rate.
Hi WtnMel.
Hi HS.
I woke up this morning and realized that I am completely exhausted. I am one day out from finishing a huge project, and I am worn out from the stress of the current situation. So, I am taking today to lay on the couch under my furry electric blanket, with my knitting and headphones, and I am watching old re-runs of stupid sitcoms on my laptop. It's heaven! I'll finish the project tomorrow, and run tomorrow. But, today is a wonderful and much needed true rest day!
Stay self and healthy
Aquarius, thanks! We are all gutted having to run solo, but are a closely knit bunch and are keeping in regular touch with each other on various social media including Strava, where we can see where we have all been running, with all the stats.
It is a worry that the lovely little cafe's/tea rooms may not reopen, and also some of the pubs, one of which an Uncle of mine used to frequent during the Second World War, when he was stationed at the nearby Barracks.
Well done for getting out for a run yesterday. That must be annoying, your Garmin playing up again. I wait for the signal before starting mine, it only takes a few seconds to lock on. I don't see many people about now, probably more runners than pedestrians, as I run early. I'm still not running in the forest, as I don't want to have to open the gates, risking picking up the virus on my hands.
I'm with BT and haven't noticed the internet being any slower than usual.
It is correct that it is not permissible to drive to where you want to run. They have to be from home, but at present there is no limit to time and distance. Only one a day. The confusion came from a TV interview with Matt Hancock who said he didn't think there was any objection to driving to the destination. This was proven to be incorrect when a driver was stopped and asked where he was going, and was shown the regulations by the police.
Sorry to hear that you have hurt your knee, so it was a good idea to rest it today, and run tomorrow if it feels ok.
The problem with running in pairs is that if they are "a couple," then I don't think that they need to run 2 metres apart. It would though, be prudent to run one behind the other , at the regulation distance. Our club runners have all agreed that they wouldn't even run like that, hence running solo. We don't want to be banned from running by our club.
Molly, I think your President should be self isolated permanently!
Thanks, it is always rewarding to find training is paying off, even when there are no races to train for in the near future. I did run today, details below.
I hope your legs have recovered so that you were able to do your interval session today.
Good luck with your training for the October marathon, which I hope will be injury free. I do hope though that you won't be prohibited from running during your build up. The same possibility hangs over us too.
Damien, well done getting out for your 10k run yesterday. I'm afraid if people don't obey the 2 metre rule, they will prohibit running and walking for exercise completely. Presumably that won't apply to running or walking to the shops for food and back.
I did a 5 mile fartlek session solo this morning. It would usually have been with Sarah F, but we had agreed to run different routes from each other. Amazingly, just after my first mile, who should be running towards me but Sarah! We waved and gave each other "a wide berth." We have decided on Saturday to both do the 5k run, but at different times. I will start at 8.30 and Sarah at 9.00. I should be just finishing as she is starting. It will be interesting to compare our times on Strava afterwards. I said that I thought my time would be slower running alone, and she said that she thought hers would be too.
Stay safe everyone xx
No running today as I've been shopping, taking advantage of the OAP's hour. The supermarket very well organised with civilised queuing, security on the door only allowing one person at a time to enter. I got all I needed, and they even had toilet rolls. I didn't need any, so didn't join the hoarder morons.
Stood outside at 8pm last night clapping the NHS. It was good to hear clapping all around, and the cruise ships were using their hooters. Amazing support all over the country; together we can beat this virus if we follow WHO instructions.🤞
No running yet for me as my knee is still quite painful when I try to kneel or squat. It doesn't bother me when I walk, but I'm reluctant to try to run until it's better.
HS, we have a lot of restaurants that have permanently gone out of business quite suddenly from the financial strain of having to stay shuttered during the pandemic. It's very sad, and hard to see how our area is going to recover.
I completely agree that my president should be permanently self-isolated and probably restrained, as well. However, I stopped looking at the news 2 days ago, as it was becoming too upsetting. Until the election in November, we are helpless to do anything about the current mess.
Excellent job on your Fartlek run. I really like your solution for running Sarah's 5k challenge separately. It will be interesting to see if your times change much.
It is nice to hear how unified your country is in support of NHS. I don't think that our country has been that unified for a couple of decades.
WtnMel, How active you are. I suspect that if your current shelter in place restrictions last long enough, you may end up up redoing your house from the ground up.
Excellent job on putting together the exercise bike. I am sure that you'll figure out the knocking in no time
Ha! your virtual run is inspiring. 5 miles is quite a long time to visualize. It sounds like you are turning it into a form of meditation, as well. I plan on trying out my treadmill's rolling hills option during Tuesday's run.
Aquarius, I completely understand the quandary of how to manage food. Our stores are pretty much a nightmare at this point. My mother tells me that she is actually washing her fruits and vegetables with soap and then rinsing them really well.
Our son is fretting that we might have to go to the store, but I think I've solved that problem for us. I've signed up for a farm delivery service that allows you to choose what you want online. During the pandemic, they are delivering to people's houses. They seem to have quite a wide range of items, and today is the first delivery so we'll see how that goes.
Thanks! The rest day definitely helped and I am beginning to feel more like myself. It also helped to stop looking my news feeds and seeing the absolute chaos and madness that is going on over here.
I'm so sorry that your knee is still bothering you. But, it sounds like you are being smart about not pushing it! At least you are still getting out for walks.
After my day on the couch, I was feeling much better, but not quite ready for an intensive run. So, yesterday morning, I settled for 3.5 super easy miles on the treadmill. Today, I am going to sit on the bike for an hour, and tomorrow see how an easy 6 miles feels. If I still feel okay, I'll try some intervals during the week.
The good news is that I finished the bulk of my project on schedule, and just have some odds and ends to attend to. That is a huge amount of stress off of my plate. At least, until the next project that runs up to a deadline.
The scary news is that an ambulance showed up at my next door neighbor's house this morning. Apparently, Fred (the husband/father) developed 'flu like symptoms' in the last 24 hours that were so severe he passed out on the stairs and was completely disoriented. I've been texting with his wife offering what support we can. It's even more worrisome because Fred has an underlying health condition. The really frustrating thing is that Fred is a Trump supporter and had been adhering to the whole, 'it's not that serious' and 'its just like the regular flu' propaganda line. Until yesterday, he was going into his office regularly and carrying on like normal. What a mess.
Please be careful and safe!
All the runners I encountered this morning were running solo.
Well done with your painting and 5 mile treadmill run. I don't know where you get the energy or enthusiasm for all the jobs that you do.
Aquarius, the 5k running arrangement with Sarah F worked out well, as I had finished before she started. I was about 8 seconds slower than last week, but she was nearly 30 seconds quicker, I must have been slowing her down😓
The one hour slot in the first hour of opening for OAP's works out really well for me. The queue and door are controlled, and once they have let the first 3 or 4 in, it's one in, one out. This means no crowding in the store, and everyone is able to peruse the shelves in comfort. My lovely friends have offered to get me any shopping that I need, but as long as I am virus free, prefer to get my own.
I'm sorry to hear that your knee is still painful, but you are wise not to run until it is feeling better. I hope it doesn't take too long to recover.
Molly, it is very sad, the number of small and larger businesses even, closing down with little hope of reopening in the future.
I agree with you about watching the news. It is so depressing, and with most of the population being self isolated, makes it worse. One man ran a marathon in his back garden. About 337 circuits I think, must have been so boring.
The 5k arrangement worked out well, with me finishing before Sarah started. I was about 8 seconds slower than last week, but Sarah was about 30 seconds quicker. As I mentioned in my post to Aquarius, I must have been slowing her down.
Your delivery service sounds far superior to ours. The PM is urging us to have our shopping delivered, but the earliest slots seem to be in 3 weeks or longer. Even the priority customers are having to wait, and there are a large number of shoppers who have been on the delivery schedules for years, that are not considered to be priority.
I'm glad that you are feeling better now and just did an easy run on the treadmill. Hope the hour on the bike today goes well, and that tomorrows easy 6 miler goes without a hitch.
Good to hear that your project has been more or less completed on schedule. that definitely must be a load off your mind.
That's very bad news about your neighbour, especially as he was one of the many believing the Presidents lies. He is a danger to your country. I hope your neighbour hasn't passed on the virus to you and your family and also his work colleagues. No wonder the virus is spreading worse even than in China, where it all started.
Take care everyone and stay safe and indoors, expect where permitted to go out.
Molly - your president is a f*****g moron, claiming he doesn't believe the science and he has a 'hunch' the whole thing will be over by Easter. He'll have blood on his hands as a result of his inaction. Worryingly though, a majority of Republicans think he's doing a great job so it's feasible he'll still get re-elected. Hopefully some of his supporters will change their minds as the numbers dying continue to escalate. The problem about doing lots of house maintenance is I don't have an adequate supply of paint, materials etc. and I'm not sure going to our local diy store is classed as 'essential'. I managed to stop the knocking sound by taking the chain guard off (though it's a belt rather than a chain) and putting it back on (reminded me of switching the computer off/on to fix problems). Margaret said the treadmill stopped after an hour yesterday but she had almost finished anyway. I must read the manual to see if there's a setting I need to change or whether that auto-stop is a 'feature'. Glad to hear you've finished the bulk of your project. Sorry to hear about your neighbour Fred - the result of believing the lies of your president by the sound of it!
Damien, I think that you are probably correct by not over exerting your self in the present climate. This could weaken your resistance to the virus. I agree with with Aquarius that one shouldn't ignore harder sessions now and again, but just maintain a certain level of fitness until the pandemic is over. Most of our club members are finding it hard to motivate themselves running solo.
WtnMel, there is a good chance that Trump the chump could be kicked out of office over his bungling of the coronavirus crisis. We can only hope!
Church services didn't seem the same after the mass was conducted in English instead of Latin.
I think shopping on line is a no brainer these days with such a long waiting list, and no guarantee that everything on the order would be available.
I deleted Skype from my laptop ages ago, as I only used it to keep in contact with a friend working in Germany, so on his return, it was no longer any use.
You definitely need an extra layer for working in the garden. We have been informed by the Council that they will not be emptying the green bags for garden waste until further notice. This will encourage dumping, the same as with household goods which are dumped in the forest.
With all hairdressers being closed, men with hair, not baldies like me will be growing mullets again like in the 70's.😁
Aquarius, yes I have my central heating on and it is likely to stay on.
I always check the use by dates and note that those near expiry are always at the front. I look further back and can usually find better dates.
I suppose I was about 14 years old when I was an altar boy, and at first carried a little book with the priests and servers words and responses. You are right that after a time I knew all the responses by heart. The Sunday services had several altar boys, but on the first Fridays of each month, I was on my own. This was a big responsibility and my parents were very proud. It was quite amazing that when I did certain transactions, the congregation would stand and sit etc. I remember pouring the wine and water for the priest at the side of the altar, and swinging the incense etc. Happy and innocent days indeed.
I was reasonably pleased with my 5k time, but even more pleased for Sarah improving her time. We now have a virtual 5k page on facebook messenger, for our club members to record their individual 5k runs, which are entered onto a grid, so that we can compare our times and WAVAS.
I only had to queue for 15 minutes on Friday which wasn't too bad as I was wearing a coat and thermal hat. I think most supermarkets now have a policy of one in one out.
We now have the ridiculous scenario of letters to be sent to all UK households, at a cost of over £5 million pounds. We are already in overkill with constant radio and TV broadcasts and pop ups on social media. Additionally, there is the risk of the virus entering all our homes on the envelopes. Didn't the Government think of that, and the additional work load on the posties who are already under staffed due to sickness. The world has gone mad.
I hope you are able to secure a slot for home deliveries.
Hope your knee soon gets better so that you can run again.
The wind this morning was icy and I was really cold, despite wearing three upper layers, a thermal hat and gloves. I'm still wearing shorts though, as my legs don't seem to feel the cold. I only ran 3.75 miles because of the wind, and also because it was a recovery run after yesterdays hard run. There were hardly any cars on the roads and the village was deserted, like a ghost town, very creepy. There would be shoppers later queuing up before opening time at 10am, but that's about all. I didn't need to shop over the weekend, but will be queuing up bright and early in the morning for the 7.30 OAP hour.
Damien Nagle, There is some formula that predicts how much a person's pace will slow down for every 10 degrees above or below 50 F. I'm not sure how that translates to celsius as the degrees between celsius and Fahrenheit are not in direct relationship. But, the main point is that until your body adapts, what you're feeling with the warmer temperature is normal. For the warmer temperatures it has to do with the extra work your body has to do to cool down (sweat), and for the cooler temperatures it has to do with warming body. Very lean people have less of a problem in the warmer temperatures because the body doesn't have to work as hard to cool them off. Or at least, that is how the weather stuff has been explained to me.
Great job on your strength training/running regime. I bet you find that it pays real dividends when we're on the other side of this nightmare.
WtnMel, I have enjoyed listening to the audiobook of 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami during longer steady runs on the treadmill.
Can you order the DIY stuff online to be delivered? Or is it just too unwieldy? At this point, the only thing in our country that seems to be functioning in a remotely normal fashion is Amazon.
For what it's worth, my treadmill always stops at 7.5 miles, and I've never figured out why. But, to be honest, I haven't looked too hard. I just start it up again and keep going. However, if you figure out why it's happening, I'll be very interested.
I am so jealous that you are able to get out and garden at this time of year. I am itching to get my beds dug out.
Aquarius, your weather seems to march with ours. While it's begun to warm up some during the days, it is still around freezing at night. And, there are some hints of possible snow in the prediction for later in the week. Still, at least it feels reasonable to walk the dogs outside now, with a warm coat, and that is a huge improvement. There are buds popping up here and there on bushes and trees, which is very uplifting to see.
I am really glad that you managed to get Steve registered as an elderly person. My fingers are crossed that you get deliveries soon. Yes, I worry about the heart issues, as well. And, Brian is still getting some swelling in his ankles when he sits too long, and some occasional irregular heart beats when he goes up the stairs.
My neighbor seems to be feeling better today. He went to his doctor and they are basically watching and waiting. I'm mostly concerned that Fred will pass it on to his family. However, we (the surrounding houses) have told them that, if they all get sick, we'll take turns cooking for them, and leaving meals inside their fence. But, it is scary. When the EMTs tell you that the hospital is to be avoided unless you are really desperately ill, it really makes it apparent how on your own you are here, if you get the virus.
I hope that your knee improves soon. It sounds like you really gave it a good tweak! You are being very smart in giving it the time that it needs to heal.
HS, Excellent job on the coordinated 5k challenge. Sarah's time was probably faster because the run wasn't as pleasant without your company and she wanted to get it over with.
Your 'recovery runs' always make me chuckle; one person's recovery is another person's work
Ha! As of now, I draw the line at running a marathon in my back yard, or on porches, or on treadmills. However, if the October marathon date comes and we're still sheltering in place, I may change my mind...or possibly lose it.
My farm delivery service is not a government organized service. It's a group of farms that have joined forces to market their goods online because there are no longer any farmers markets to sell at. I got my first delivery today, and it looks great. Though, I have a humongous amount of mushrooms. I seem to have entered the amount I requested incorrectly, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of them.
I don't think we will catch the virus from our neighbor. Our yards are fairly large and there is always quite a distance between us, even when we're chatting over the fence. We're friendly, but not close neighbors.
Weirdly, and depressingly, Trump's poll numbers are currently at the highest that they've been, since he's been in office. My husband is seriously considering moving us out of the country, if Trump is elected for another four years. But, I suspect that moving to another country at our age would be a very difficult transition.
Today was an easy 6 miles on the treadmill. My legs are feeling pretty good and I'm feeling a lot more rested again. My plan for this week is to try an automated 'rolling hill workout', an interval session, and an easy 6 mile run, with a couple of cross training days thrown in. I'm hoping that my recovery time will be back to normal and I won't get overtired again. Especially, as my training load is going to start increasing again in the near future.
Stay safe everyone!
Molly, Brian must be a great worry to you, especially in the current self isolating climate. Hospitals here in the NHS are nearly at breaking point, and I'm sure that it must be the same in the States. I hope he doesn't need hospital treatment.
Good news that your neighbour appears to be feeling better now, but its likely that he will pass it on to the rest of his family. It is very kind of you and your neighbours to promise to do the cooking etc if the virus does spread to his family.
Sarah probably was in a hurry to get home, but so was I! I can't envisage running a marathon in my back garden.
Your farm deliveries sound really good, saves going out and queuing at the shops.
Fingers crossed that you won't catch the virus from your neighbour, but from what you say, it seems unlikely.
I can't understand either why Trump is so popular. It's the same with Johnson who is in the same mould, yet got elected by hoards of lifelong labour supporters voting for him. The reason seems to be that Corbyn was so unpopular and too left wing, to be considered a suitable PM.
Well done for your easy 6 miles on the treadmill yesterday. On the subject of treadmills, one of our club runners said that she wished that those in the Leisure Centre (which is closed until further notice) would stop automatically after a certain time, so that others could use them.
Your proposed training programme for this week sounds good, and hopefully your recovery time will get back to normal.
No running for me today. I've been to the supermarket in the hourly OAP slot this morning and got all I needed. The control of the queue and entry into the store is first class. They are only allowing a handful of shoppers to be inside at any one time, so that they don't come into close proximity with each other. There are lines for the shoppers to stand behind at the checkouts, to minimise the risk to the staff, who don't have any protective clothing.
I meant to say that Sarah H knocked on my front window yesterday during her run to see if I was ok, or needed any shopping. This crisis is making the majority of people kinder and more considerate, but unfortunately there are some ignorant xxxxx who are spitting at the police, social workers, etc saying that they have the virus. One spitter has been arrested, and should be locked away for life, in my opinion.
Stay safe everyone and take care.
I may have mentioned I moved the nest box back in January from the trellis where it was, to the tree at one side of the garden. I can't tell you how pleased I was to see a blue tit popping in and out of it again this morning. Let's hope the bird in question decides it's a des-res and assuming it was a male I was watching, persuades one of the 'laydee' blue tits to join him. I have a friend who regularly has blue tits nesting in her garden - every Summer she keeps an eye out for the fledglings and takes great delight in letting everyone know when her tits are out
Postscript:
After coffee we finally got our heads together to write down a list of what jobs need doing. We agreed the most important jobs right now are probably to wash the windows and in the bathroom & kitchen, get rid of the mould that is slowly building up due to the moisture in the air. There's plenty of other jobs on the list so I figure we'll get our heads together on a regular basis and agree what we ought to be doing (rather than what we would like to do!).
A more amusing (well, for me anyway) job on the “to do" list is to cut Steve’s hair. It makes me laugh uncontrollably just to think about it. I can’t even draw a straight line, let along cut along one. Steve is so particular about things and so painstaking over details, whereas I have little patience with fiddly jobs at the best of times, added to which I’m overdue an eye examination and I’m struggling to manage with my current glasses. So something tells me, in the words of that famous song “there may be trouble ahead……”
Good news about your neighbour, and well done for rallying round to help out with meals.
WtnMel: I love that picture, how on earth did he work out the route so accurately? I think he may have started a trend, it'll be interesting to see if anyone else can come up with something even more elaborate.
Lucky for you that the noisy freezer was due to nothing worse than a packet rubbing on the fan. I hope you charged Margaret with the appropriate call out fee
As regards hair cuts, strangely enough Steve seems to be in no hurry now to have me cut his hair, which is probably just as well as the only scissors that have any degree of sharpness to them are a pair of nail scissors and the kitchen scissors we use to cut herbs with. The kitchen scissors are obviously off limits, so that just leaves the nail scissors
Enjoy your gardening, if you still have the energy for it after your treadmill session.