Posts that Didn't Happen: June 2025

And so to June - unfortunately the first half of the month was not so great in the end - I had some back pain for a few days (to the point where I invested in a heated gilet thing), then I got a cold, and then Martin caught it too.

We eventually concluded that I'd probably picked up Covid from somewhere, as we were both completely wiped out - kept having to go back to bed we were so tired - and it certainly lingered for a good few weeks after. 

On a positive note, we had some lovely weather, and inbetween naps managed a bit of garden pruning, and some slow walks on the prom.

And - drum roll please - the water lily in our garden pond, finally decided to flower, after nearly four years of leaves.

By the middle of the month we just about had enough energy for a trip to Aberaeron / Llanerchaeron - had a wander in the sun, a spot of lunch, and checked on progress with the sea defences (still not finished!).

There was another 'birthday' celebration and catch up with old colleagues - this time a 60th for the Department of Information Studies at the University.  

Then towards the end of the month, we took the Van across country again to see family - helping out with shopping and appointments etc., although we wilted a bit in the English heat.

Did enjoy a very pleasant visit to the Elgood's Brewery Gardens, where Martin found enough energy to steer Mum's wheelchair at speed round the maze, before we had a cooling drink in their rather swish on-site bar.

With all this going on not that much of any note happened with the Van, Martin tinkered with the electrics, I made some cloth covers for one set of overhead cabinets, and we pondered next steps . . .

Posts that Didn't Happen - January 2022

 So here's my January retrospective . . . and can't say it started well:

After being super-careful not to take Covid to family for the 'Christmas' visit - it turned out they already had it, and I brought it home with me.

At least I escaped with a relatively mild experience - just felt like I was getting a cold for a couple of days, then it went away.  No real cough or aches and pains - I've had much worse from a common cold!

Took a while to test negative, but Martin never caught it - neither did my sister (the brother-in-law was patient 0 and felt pretty bad), or Mum (Dad tested positive but didn't have any symptoms).

So hopefully that's our brush with Covid done with!

On a more positive note . . . 

Phil is still around and about the place, enjoying his peanuts.

And Martin entered his half century - marked by a Chinese takeaway with family (post self-isolation!).  We'll have to plan for his proper celebration trip when the whole Covid thing allows. 

The Folly also now has decorated walls, electricity, lighting and internet, a fully fitted vinyl plank floor, and skirting boards.  In fact the builders and electricians are all done and dusted.

Which just leaves the wood burning stove, which is proving to be a bit more problematic.

Can't say we've been impressed by the fitter. 

The builders had been done for a couple of weeks before he finally turned up to lay the hearth - then he couldn't get the flue to attach to the outside wall and had to come back twice to get some struts in place to attach it to.

As it stands there is still a hole through the wall and no flue - but at least the stove is out of its box, and in the Folly awaiting further developments. 

Jab No. 2

Back to Thomas Parry Library for my second Covid jab this afternoon.  Took the opportunity for a wander round the old campus - some areas are looking a little neglected - and there is now a small forest where my old halls (long gone) were located!

The interior of the Library also feels both strangely familiar and very different - here I'm sitting in an area where I used to browse through library publications, while waiting out my 15 minutes post-jab . . .

Anyway, job done - fully vaccinated - here's hoping it all leads to some sort of  return to normality before too much longer!

Jab No. 1

While most of the family (including Martin) have now been fully vaccinated (due to their age group, or because of their work), I headed off today for my first jab.

Our local Covid vaccination centre is housed in the old Thomas Parry Library on Llanbadarn campus, which made it a bit of a trip down memory lane too - although strange to see it so empty.

Anyway, job done - one dose of Moderna vaccine down, and one to go.

My arm hurts . . .

Home Working - One Year On

And so here we are, one year later, still at home, and not going anywhere just yet . . .

It's been the strangest of years - hopefully the vaccination roll-out will see life return to something like normality (or a 'new normal' at least).  

For now though working at home remains the status quo.

Have Yourself a Merry 'Little' Christmas

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
We must do what we know is right
It might take a while
But these troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Keep the spirit of the Day
Even if . . .
Your loved ones are still far away
 
Remember how it was in pre-Covid days
Happy golden days of yore
Soon they’ll return to be here with us
Family near to us once more
 

In future years we all will be together
When the fates allow
At least this year there won't be any family row!
So have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now

Back to Lockdown

 'Nuff said . . .

Virtually 'There'

Work this year has been all about the online meeting - and with my family staying at home in Cambridgeshire for Christmas - was looking for a not-too-technical solution to transfer that experience into the personal sphere.

Decided that an option that utilised the tv as the display was probably easiest - and that inevitably led us to the much-advertised Facebook Portal TV.

Actually very pleased with the result - it does indeed 'follow you round the room' - and while (inevitably) we had to wait for it to update, the set-up was pretty simple on the whole.  

No sooner had we set it all up than the latest government Covid briefing made it clear that England will be emerging from its lockdown into further tiered restrictions - and Cambridgeshire will be firmly in Tier 2.

Which means that with 'no household mixing indoors' any plans I had to visit in person before Christmas are out of the window.  

At least now we can meet up 'virtually'  . . .

Christmas is Coming . . .

 To continue a theme, time for some festive baking  . . .

Had been soaking the fruit for this year's cake(s) for a few days, so time to get it mixed up and into the rayburn - although, technically, 'Stir-up Sunday' isn't for another week yet.

After some debate - and recognising that it will be a smaller Christmas this year (with uncertainties over the virus) - decided on two smaller cakes.  One for this year, and one for the freezer . . .

Look out for the traditional 'decorated' cake post in due course!

Home Working #3

Somewhat belated update on the home working situation . . .  six months on from establishing my home 'office'.  Still working from home - no change there - but now with the desired monitor (how did I ever manage without two screens?), and an ergonomic chair (retrieved from the office proper):

Sorted!

A Reasonable Excuse?

Away from home for a few days after a family emergency - hoping that travelling away from the place where I live is allowed under The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 regulation 8(d):

I suppose 'providing care or assistance' to family, after a fall and hospital stay, might count . . .

At least they are on the mend.