Monday, April 12, 2021

Queueing for the shops and other things

A few years ago having seen hellebores on another blogger's site I decided to plant some and, unusually for anything I plant, they flourished. But they're very shy, keeping their heads down as if afraid to meet your eye.


So, again inspired by the same blogger, Rosalie, but on Facebook, I picked some and displayed them thus, in a shallow bowl of water.
Don't they look pretty? I am very pleased with them. Flower arranging is not my forte but something as simple as plonking flower heads in a bowl even I can do.

* * * * * *

Last time I did our online grocery order I grumbled afterwards. 'I'm so fed up of this! Thinking, choosing the same stuff, planning (of sorts), buying, cooking, just bored, bored, bored.'
So Husband said he'd do it next time. 

That time is now. He placed the order yesterday, food arrived today, and he is cooking all meals this week. Including, 'Something you've never had before,' he said.

I am so excited.

* * * * * *

A few posts ago I wrote about the difficulties I was encountering learning Welsh. Now I see a Beginners' course run by the university is being advertised on FaceBook.

It's an intensive week-long course with online tutor-led sessions as well as one-to-ones and homework. I am considering it.

It is ridiculously cheap - £15 but with 40% off for pensioners. It's a time commitment but I could easily work my one weekly must-do (picking up food for Zac's) in to it. But could I cope with the stress?

Doing an online course at my own pace with no-one watching or checking up on me is fine but, as I wrote, I am struggling a bit. An intensive course might be more successful at getting things stuck in my brain. But would I be putting myself under unnecessary pressure? Do I need that really?

I'm think I'm coming down on the 'No' side.

* * * * * * 

It wasn't too windy so we walked George on the beach this morning, and what joy! Far less crowded than it's been for a while.

Children have gone back to school today and non-essential shops are open for the first time since lockdown began in December I think, so more people are back in work I guess.

Apparently there were queues outside M&S and other shops in town, waiting for them to open this morning.

It is beyond me: what is it you need so desperately that you're queueing that early in the morning? One woman interviewed said, 'I can't wait to go shopping!'

I love bookshops but still I won't be visiting any for some time yet. On the rare occasions I've had to go to shops over the last weeks I've run in and out like a frightened rabbit, avoiding people, and scowling at those who aren't leaving what I consider to be enough space. And I can't say I've missed anything. 

* * * * * *

I have my second vaccination tomorrow. As Husband was unwell with flu-like symptoms after his, and I've heard of a number of people who've reacted the same way to the second, I am preparing to be poorly i.e. I have my reading and watching planned. 

That said, Husband had the Pfizer one and I had the Oxford/AstraZeneca, so who knows?



7 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Your flower arrangement is lovely and what a perfect flower bowl that is! I hope you don't have any side effects with shot #2 of AstraZeneca.

Polly said...

Ditto Debra re the flowers. I watched a garden programme with Charlie Dimmock and they were growing helebores in raised beds so that you could see the inside of them. I went into town today, late morning to Matalan to return a jacket bought online, the post office to return some shoes, quick look in Debenhams closing down sale but it was mostly "special purchase rubbish" and the priority - Blacks for walking boots, they didn't have my size! I wasn't going to queue, but didn't have to, everywhere was very quiet, I thought it would be heaving. Aldi was almost empty but the assisstant said that people had flooded into town for opening time!

Ole Phat Stu said...

It us GOOD that husband reacted fluly to that first jab, it shows that the body is doing its job, the jab is working and he will bewcome immune after the second jab :-)
After my first jab, I got a bump on the arm, cold shakes that evening and extreme fatigue the next day. These are ALL good symptoms that everything is going accorcing to plan and the Jab working :-)

Liz Hinds said...

Thanks, Debra.

I'd forgotten about Debenhams closing down, Polly. There will be very little left in Swansea city centre apart from phone, pound, and charity shops.

That was Husband's second jab, Stu. First time around he was absolutely fine. I shall of course report back in great detail on any affects I suffer.

PipeTobacco said...

The flowers are beautiful!

Just remember..... feeling poorly for a day or two after shot #2 is not a bad thing.... it is a sure sign that your immune system’s responses are rallying and are going to be good sentinels against any of the damnable COVID pathogens that may cross your path.

Marie Smith said...

Yay for the second vaccine. We haven’t had the first yet.

I’m with you about the shopping. It’s a risk I hate taking!

Janie Junebug said...

Your flowers are beautiful in the bowl. As for the Welsh class, you might enjoy it. I suspect everyone would struggle along with you. I can't even imagine being able to learn Welsh. I had my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and had no side effects--not even a sore arm. A friend got Johnson & Johnson and had the same experience. I wish you the best.

Love,
Janie