Sunday, the last day of February.

I got up at 7 oclock, H was already up so he poured me a cup of tea. I stripped the bed and washed the bed linen. when it was done I couldnt hang it out because it was really foggy! We had a coffee and I sat and read my book till Son came down then I emptied the dishwasher and made a bowl of porridge for my breakfast. The men then went to B and Q to see if they could get a new toilet. Well the answer is no! When they got there it was packed, they said it was heaving and so they came home again. We had another coffee and then son and I got ready to go out on our bikes. We had a nice ride, we rode on the track as far as Whitwell and it was very busy so we did the rest on the road. We did 21 miles so now I have done over 400 miles in Febuary and its my best Feb ever. As soon as we got home again I put the meat in the oven ( lamb) H and I had a G & T and son had Raspberry vodka over ice, he said it was nice. I had a bath and then we had dinner. With our meat we had potato, carrots, broccoli, sprouts and green beans. As soon as I had eaten mine I went up to watch dancing on ice while the men watched some gangster film.

Sunny Saturday 🌞

I got up at 7.30 and put on a load of washing. I had a cup of tea and cream crackers with butter and marmite for breakfast. I hung the washing out when it was done and we had another coffee. As the sun warmed up we all went outside to do a bit of work in the garden. Son prunef the bay tree, H spread some soil for me and forked a bit of garden over, while I did a bit of weeding. We all had a go on the lawn rake, raking out the moss. I went in and preapared lunch at 12.30. H had a bacon butty, son had a salad with cheese and bacon, and I had cheese and tomato. Last evening they put some silicone filler on the inside of the toilet cistern and this morning they put it back together and its not leaking, but tomorrow afternoon they are going to B&Q to buy a new toilet! We went back outside till it was time for the rugby, I made a pot of tea and when it was over we had a bath and I cooked dinner. Son and I had gammon steaks while H had a chicken breast as he doesnt like gammon. We all had mushrooms, peas, roast carrots, cauliflower, potato wedges and eggs.

Friday celebration 🥳

ITS 18 45 and our internet is back thanks to our son who has sorted it all out. It went off wednesday morning. The next thing to go wrong was out downstairs loo. When I was cleaning it on Thursday afternoon I noticed a crack in the cisten. It starts at the top roughly in the middle and I thought it was one of my hairs stuck on it but when I flicked it with my nail i could feel the crack. Its goes almost down to the bottom! We have had to drain it because it could break open at any time! Now there are 3 of us in the house with only one toilet. I know thats normal for millions of people but I find it hard, we all seem to want it at the same time and also have to anounce that you are going for a shower or bath etc because its in the bathroom. The third thing to break is my gold chain that has my cross on it so I cant wear it. I thought I had another chain but I cant find it. We had a nice bike ride this morning 23 and a bit miles along the track. It was flooded in places but the exersize was good. We had steaks for dinner with peas, cauliflower and mushrooms. The men are now going to watch a film while watch my soaps.

Tuesday.

I got up at 6.50, put on a load of washing and made tea and porridge for breakfast. When H came down he had his breakfast, prunes and then toast. We had a coffee and when the washing was done I hung it out. I also hung the towels again that I washed yesterday because they were still damp. Next I cleaned my teeth and dressed so we could go to the butchers. No 2 son is coming home this weekend o we needed lots of steaks and a nice shoulder of lamb for the Sunday roast. On the way home we went to the garden centre for a garden arch which is my birthday present from H for last December. Its the second time we have tried to get one. Anyway they still arent in and now they say it will probably be in around the end of March. When we got home we had another coffee and later cheese and biscuits for lunch. I read a couple of chapters of my book and then got ready to have an hour of exersize upstairs. I did 20.6 miles so thats 40 miles this week so far. But tomorrow I have to work so I wont be able to ride my bike. we watched tipping point, had a bath and then dinner. Fish chips and mushy peas.

Monday

I got up at 7.10, put on a load of washing and had fried eggs and bell pepper for breakfast with a big mug of tea. H got our mountain bikes out of the garage and wiped and oiled the chains.We had a coffee and after I had hung out the washing I got ready to go out on my bike. We had a lovely ride, we werent expecting to be able to ride along the track as we thought it would be too muddy. But we were wrong, it was in pretty good condition. We went to Reepham station where we had a takeaway coffee and cycled home again. ( 19.5 ) miles. When we got home we had a pot noodle for lunch and I went into the back garden to do a bit more clearing up. I was working out there for an hour and eleven minuites and it began to rain so I got the washing in and gave up on the garden for today. We had a cup of tea and watched tipping point, had our baths and i cooked dinner. We had sausages, bacon, chorizo,eggs peas and french fries. Its the first time I have been outside on my bike since the second of January. So only twice this year so far.

Sunny Sunday.

I got up at 7.40, H was already up had made the tea, eaten his breakfast and emptied the dishwasher! I hadnt heard a thing! Its great being hard of hearing now that I have hearing aids and am able to hear when I want too. By the time I had filled and started the washing machine H had poured me a cup of tea. Next he made the coffee because he was getting ready to do his usual Sunday morning ride upstairs. When the washing was done I hung it out and stayed out in the garden to do more weeding, I was still working out there when H knocked on the kitchen window, he had finished his ride. I went in and we had a coffee and a slice of toasted malt loaf. After I had eaten mine I got ready for a training session on the bike. When I finished yesterday I roughly added up my miles for Febuary and thought if I did 23 miles it would make it up to 300 miles. So I did 24 miles just to be on the safe side and when I added it up properly I had only done 298 miles! But I couldnt be bothered to go back and do another 2 miles. We had a cup of tea and a biscuit and we watehed a Monk. I put the meat in the oven and had a bath. Dinner was nice, duck legs with roast potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and gravy. I went up after dinner to watch dancing on ice but it wasnt on it was 'the greatest show on ice' instead, all repeats. I will have to check the tv magazine.

Saturday.

I got up at 7.55, late for me! I had a cup of tea and eggs for breakfast. At 8.30 H made us a coffee before he went up to ride in the pain cave. I sat in the conservatory with my coffee and a new book. I did all the ironing up to date and took some liver out of the freezer for dinner tonight. I went up to check on H and he was doing well, when I went in he was 16th out of over 200 riders. I got on with a bit of housework and when H finished I made us an instant coffee and we had a biscuit. For lunch we had a slice of malt loaf toasted and buttered and a cuppa soup. After lunch I read 2 chapters of my book before getting ready for my ride. I did 21.5 miles and my average speed was 19.6mph. While I was riding H made us both a bowl of popcorn. It was very nice. I made a pot of tea. We watched a 'monk', had our baths and I cooked dinner, liver casserole. It was very tasty and good for us too.

Friday.

I got up at 6.45, put on a load of washing and had tea and porridge for breakfast. H got up at 7.50 and had tea and toast. I dressed while he made us a coffee and when I had drunk mine I went outside and cleaned the conservatory and kitcken windows and doors. I hung the washing out and then I pruned all the roses. I cut the lavender bushes into shape and the fuchias. I dug up loads of rubbish and when H finished his ride on the rollers he called me in for a coffee and a slice of toasted malt loaf. After lunch I had intended to have a ride on the turbo but I decided as it was a dry day I would carry on gardening. I have filled my garden rubbish bin and you can hardly see where I have been. I cleanded the inside of the conservatory and we sat in there for our lunch and while I was in there I wrote a few emails. When I came in we had a cup of tea, I had a bath and washed my hairbefore cooking dinner. We had steak pies, cabbage, carrot and potatoes. I expect I will have to have a ride tomorrow.

Thursday.

I got up at 5.45, put on a load of washing and had eggs and peppers for breakfast. I packed a piece of cucumber, a slice of cheese and a bottle of water. I washed and dressed etc and then relaxed till it was time for me to go to work. The 3 of us all had to trim leeks first. the boss said we had to have 10 boxes. Andrew had to dig every one up with a spade because the boss still hasnt been able to lift any yet. It took us till 10 15. We had our break and then washed the leeks before going back into the field for 10 boxes of loose carrots, 3 boxes of beetroot and 65 pieces of celeriac. We took everything back to the yard and it was 12.35 so the men went to have their lunch and I packed up leeks till hometime. When I got home H made me a coffee. This morning he made a malt loaf and when it had cooled a bit he cut off the crust, buttered it and gave it to me, it was delicous. We watched tipping point had our baths and I cooked dinner. We had quiche with potato wedges and cheesy tomatoes. The good news is I dont have to work again till Wednesday.

Wednesday work.

I got up at 5.20 and had eggs and peppers for breakfast. I packed celery, cheese, a banana and a bottle of water for my break and then watched tv till it was time for me to get dressed and ready for work. When I arrived Andrew was there, he had tested negative for covid and was feeling better. I thought, oh good now I wont have to work tomorrow but I was wrong, I still have to go. All 3 of us went together to leeks first, it was hard work as usual. The boss cant lift them because its too wet on the land so they all had to be dug up with a spade by hand, it all takes ages. We went down a t 10 for our break and afterwards we washed and packed the leeks before going back to the field. Next we trimmed 3 boxes of swedes, 1 box of celeriac, 5 boxes of beetroot and then loose carrots for the rest of the morning. 50% of the carrots have been nibbled by hares! I dont know how many there are but considering the damage that has been done since I was there last there must be hundreds of them! We saw 1 this morning but thats all. When I left off I went to our daughters for our groceries. She gave me 2 slices of cake she had made so after i had unpacked and put it all away, I read my magazine and then H made me a coffee and we had cake, my goodness it was yummy. I was so tired after working that when I was trying to write in my diary what I had done I kept falling asleep mid word! The page looks as if a spider has crawled over it where I kept droppong the pen. We watched a Monk , had our baths and dinner. We had chicken with peas, sweet corn and noodles. It was nice. I have to work again tomorrow.

Tuesday.

I got up just before 7, put on a load of washing and yesterdays in the tumble drier. I made a pot of tea, made a bowl of porridge and had my breakfast. H had toast and then made us a coffee. I sat and knitted for a bit and then H said we should take the car out for a bit of a spin to charge the battery up a bit so it doesnt let me down tomorrow when I have to go to work. So I went up and dressed so we could go. We saw a few patches of snow laying about but its almost all gone. It was pouring the whole while we were out so that should help melt it. When we got back we had a coffee, then cheese and biscuits. I also had a banana. After that I got ready for a ride on Zwift. I did 20. 4 miles. Iwont be able to ride tomorrow or Thursday because I have to work. This afternoon we watched a 'Monk' then tipping point, had a bath and then dinner. we had baked potatoes with a mince and leek sauce poured over the top. It was yummy.

Monday

I didnt get up till 8.30! I put on a load of washing and H poured me a cup of tea. He made me a coffee next and then I made and ate a bowl of porridge. I forgot to say yesterday that our bread machine broke. H put on a loaf of bread and when the 4 hours were up we turned it out and it was just like a small brick. I said he must hav left something out, either the yeast or half the liquid, he said he hadnt so he put on another with me keeping an eye on him put the machine didnt work at all so after an hourI tipped it all i to a bowl and made it by hand and H ordered anotherbread maker from John Lewis. L ast year this last weekend we had problems too. First the downstairs toilet light wouldnt work and then I pulled the light cord in the bathroom and it came away in my hand leaving the light on and no way to turn it off! So I wonder what electrical problems we will have this weekend next year. We had another coffee and H did an hour on his rollers. I had a banana and 2crackers with butter and marmite for lunch and then I went up for a ride. I did 22.1 miles and my average was 20.2 mph. We watched tipping point and then my boss rang. I thought, Oh good hes going to tell me not to go on Wednesday, like he did last week. But no, he rang to say Andrew is away sick so please could I work on Wednesday and Thursday. H will let me konw about Friday nearer the time! We had a bath and dinner, sausages, bacon, grilled tomatoes, potato wedges and eggs. I will have to make the most of my day off tomorrow now.

Sunday.

I got up at7 oclock and had eggs and a cup of tea for breakfast. H made us a coffee and soon after he had drunk it he went up to get ready for the pain cave. While he was upstairs I washed the kitchen and toilet floors and then wrapped our granddaughters birthday present. Its her 18th birthday on Thursday. I think its an extra special birthday because she will be 18 on the 18th. My birthday is the 3rd of the month so i was too young to know much about it. I bought her a card about a year ago when we were at the coast and I am so glad I did because it has saved me going to a shop in lockdown. H had tomato soup for lunch and I had 2 cream crackers with butter and marmite. Oh and a banana. I did a few rows of my knitting and then went up for a ride on the turbo trainer. I couldnt understand it! It was so hard I could hardly push the pedals round. I wondered what ever was wrong with me!After 8 miles i stopped, went down to the lounge and told H I couldnt do any more it was just too hard. He came up to check it out and found he had accidently put my wrong weight in. He had made me over 200 lbs heavier than i really am. When I finished I had a shower, made a pot of tea and cooked dinner. We had fish and chips. I went up to watch D O I . It has begun to rain here so our snow may go finally.

Saturday

I got up at6.40 and put on a load of washing. I made a pot of tea, a bowl of porridge and had my breakfast. I emptied the dish washer and put everything away. I dressed and hung out the washing, it was freezing out there! Our snow is not melting at all yet. When H got up we had a coffee. He got ready for a ride in the pain cave and I did a few rows of my knitting before sweeping the stairs and dusting all downstairs. When H finished we had a coffee and a toasted hot cross bun. I took a steak pie out of the freezer for dinner tonight and did the oroning up to date. For lunch we had soup and a banana. This afternoon we sat down to watch a film and no 1 son came round. He is looking well and is enjoying his new job. His poor dog had to have part of his tail removed in the week because of a nasty cyst that kept becoming infected. We had coffee and cakes and when he left we finished watching the film, had a bath and then dinner, steak pie, cabbage, potato and gravy. My back is so much better today,I am pleased to say.

Frosty Friday

I got up at 6.30, put on a load of washing and had eggs and mushrooms for breakfast with a cup of tea. H came down at 7.15 and we had a coffee. When the washing was done I went up and dressed so I could hang the washing out. It was freezing out there but the sun came out and it was very windy. H vacumed downstairs for me while I made some date scones then I vacumed upstairs. We had an instant coffee and a hot cross bun. All of a sudden it went quite dark, I looked outside and it was snowing! I went out and got my washing in and was suprised to find that it was dry. It was so cold out there I think it must have freeze dried! For lunch we had cheese and biscuits with a cup a soup. I went up to the pain cave for a bike ride and did 21.1 miles in an hour and a minuite. I was pleased with that as it was over 20 miles an hour. We had a cup of tea and a date scone, watched tipping point, I had a bath and then cooked dinner. We had salmon with jacket potatoes and baked beans.

Thursday

We got up at 7.20 and had our breakfast. I put on a load of washing too. I had porridge and H had toast with peanut butter and honey. We had a coffee and I did a bit of cleaning in the kitchen. I emptied the dishwasher and when the washing was done I tumbled it dry. We had another coffee and both got ready to to do a bit of exersize. H used his best bike on his rollers and I rode on zwift. We both rode for 2 hours and both did 40 miles. H did forty plus because he is faster than me. When we finished we had a pot noodle. I sat and read my book for most of the afternoon because my back is still not right but its improving.We watched tipping point with a toasted hot cross bun and a cup of tea. We had our baths and then dinner which was quiche with mushrooms and potato wedges. When we got up this morning we had a bit more snow and our car was white again. Its been cold all day.

Wednesday.

I got up at 7.30 and put on a load of washing. H had made the tea so I had a cup. We had a coffee too. I didnt have any breakfast again. My back was really psinfullbut through the day it improved. Now today is the day we have to collect our groceries but our close was hard packed snow and very slippery so we were worried. A few years ago it was just like this, we had left home in the morning to take our car for an mot. It was snowing. Anyway while the car was being done we wandered round the City, had lunch etc and walked back to the garage in a blizzard. It tooks us over two and a half hours to drive home, (it normally takes 20 mins.) When we got to our close which is on a slope we just couldnt get up it. We crept forward and then slid back again many times making it even more slippery. With our last try we went up and then just floated backwards all the way down the road to the end of the close and neatly into some one elses drive. It was so embarasing! Thank goodness there car wasnt there at the time because we would have hit it. We had to leave it till morning and then neighbours helped us push it up the hill to our drive. Luckily we had our son at home today so he went out and cleared the whole close, he enjoyed doing it, it was a good workout. I helped a bit. We collected our shopping and when we got back or son was getting ready to go home. Its been nice having him even though he beat at every game of crib except one! We watched tipping point, had our baths and then dinner, pizzas with a salad.

Tuesday . Still very snowy.

I got up at 7and made a pot of tea.My back is very painfull but I had quite a good sleep. I didnt have any breakfast because I didnt fancy anything. We had a coffee and I went up and dressed. I swept the snow off the bins so I could put the rubbish in and it was so cold out there. For lunch I reheated the leftover stew and we all had a coffee. Son and I played 2 games of crib and he won them both. He then got ready and went for a walk, I couldnt go because my back is too sore, I havent had a bike ride either! When he came back he looked like a snowman. For dinner tonight I made a cottage pie, I topped a third of it with mashed squash and cauliflower, because son doesnt eat too much potato but H and I had potato on ours. we had it with cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. When I had eaten mine I came up to relax on the bed and rest my back.

Snowy Monday.

I got up at 7,put on a load of washing, made a bowl of porridge and a pot of tea and had my breakfast. H got up at 9 and had tea and toast and Son got up at 9.15. When he came down I tumbled yesterdays washing, I couldnt do it before because I use those plastic balls rather than smelly paper sheets as softeners and they rattle about and make such a racket. We all had a coffee and son and I got ready to go for a walk. It was lovely, it snowed all the way round the wind was bitter and very strong but we were nice and warm. WE did 3.4 miles, there were children on sledges all over the place all having great fun. When we got home it was lunch time. We had egg and cold pork salad. This afternoon I went up for a turbo and did 16.8 miles. Not much but its a start to my week. When I finished I had a bath, made a pot of tea and made a beef stew for dinner. It was very tasty and an ideal meal in this cold weather. My boss rang a short while ago and said everything is frozen in the ground and by Wednesday we would need pick axes to get the veg out of the ground so there will be no work this week. The 2 men went in today but he told them to have the rest of the week off.

Sunday

I got up all excited this morning, opened my curtains and pulled up the blind to see how deep the snow was that the forecasters have been talking about all week, and found NOTHING! the car wasnt even frozen up. I had eggs and mushrooms for breakfast because I had porridge yesterday. I sat and read my book and drank my coffee while for our son to get up. At 10 oclock I went up for a ride on the turbo while I listened to the Archers omnibus. I did 20.1 miles in 56 minuites. Yesterday I did 24.5 miles but my average was lower. I have done over 100 miles this week. I had a showerand then Son and I had salad fot lunch but H had a tin of tomato soup. After lunch son and I went for a walk, it was bitterly cold with the wind chill. After we had done a mile and a bit we turned round and came back. we all had a bottle of beer ( the last of the christmas beer).Son went up for a turbo, the second one he has ever done but he is so strong and did really well. I cooked dinner, we had roast pork, roast potatoes, squash,and cauliflower, steamed carrots, broccoli and cabbage and masked potato wihh gravy. My crackling turned out well, really crispy. Yesterday we had steak for dinner it was delicous, ribeye from my butcher and so tender.We had mushrooms and wedges with it. Now i am watching dancing on ice and waiting to see if we get any snow overnight.

Friday.

I got up around 6.20, put on a load of washing and had eggs for breakfast. H was up first so he had made the tea. After breakfast we had a coffee and I went out to hang out the washing but it was drizzling so I didnt bother.After I was dressed we went to the butchers. It was good because I was the only one in the shop and I was served really quickly. I treated us to a little coffee cream tart to go with our coffee, we had half each and although it was nice we couldnt taste any coffee flavour. After that I got on with some housework, cleaning downstairs. For lunch we had sausage rolls, H had ketchup with his but i had brown sauce. I worked half an hour in the garden when the sun came out. There was no wind and in the sun it was really nice but the second the sun went in it was freezing! When I went in I poured our wine and we watched a Monk. I had a bath and washed my hair, made a pot of tea and cooked dinner. We had lasagne, mushrooms and potato wedges.

Thursday.

I had a great sleep and got up at 7 oclock. I put on a load of washing and made porridge and a pot of tea for breakfast. When the washing was done I dressed so i could it and yesterdays out in the sun. I emptied the dishwasher and put everything awayand when H came down we had a coffee. I put all the rubbish out and did a few rows of my knitting. H decided to have a session on his rollers so I just sat and read my book. When he finished we had pot noodles for lunch with a coffee and I went up for a ride. I did 20.4 miles av 18.9 mph. I found it was far too hot for me today with the sun full in the bedroom window, so I am looking forward to the snow they are promising us next week. When I finished we had wine and it went straight to my head. For dinner we had chicken curry. All day I thought it was Friday!

Wednesdays (work)

I got up at 5.30, put on a load of washing, made a pot of tea and had eggs for breakfast. I packed a chunk of cucumber and a chunk of cheese, a bottle of water and a banana.I put yesterdays washing in the tumble drier and then just sat and read till it was time to dress and go to work. There was just Andrew and me there to start with because Andy was at the docs having a blood test. Andrew and I went to the leeks and we had to trim them till coffee break. Andy turned up at 10 past 9.We had our break and then I had to walk back to the leeks and trim them for the rest of the morning. It was unbelevebly hard work! Every step I took my feet got stuck, it took longer to keep pulling my feet out than it did to trim the leeks. I was glad to leave off. I drove straight to our daughters to collect our groceries. She still looks well thank goodness. When I got home H made me a coffee while I put the shopping away. I sat and read my magazine, made a pot of tea and we watched tipping point. we had our baths and then dinner. I forgot to get anything out of the freezer this morning so we had quiche with potato wedges and roast cauliflower.

Tuesday

I got up at 7.30 and had eggs for breakfast. I put on a load of washing which I will tumble dry tomorrow morning on cheap electricity in the morning. I had tea with my breakfast and then we had a coffee. Because I am working tomorrow and wont be able to sleep tonight I have had a really lazy day.We had another coffee and I sat and read a book. For lunch we had soup and a bun and we both decided we had better do something so we got changed and did a bit of training. H used his rollers and I used the smart trainer. He did 21 miles in an hour and I did 23.5miles but took 1hour and 17 minuites because I wanted a steady ride, my average was 18.2 mph. when we finished we had a bath and I cooked dinner. We had melt in the middle fish cakes with mushy peas and jacket potatoes. It was nice. As we had lots more rain I thought my boss might ring and say its too wet and muddy for me to work but he hasnt so I will have to go.

February 1st ( Monday)

I got up at 7.55 so a nice lay in. I made a pot of tea and a bowl of porridge and had my breakfast. H came down at 8.30 and had toast. We had a coffee and I finished and sew up the head band I was knitting. Next I did a bit of a spring in the kitchen, I washed all the cupboard doors, the wall tiles, ovens, hob and the work tops. I swept the floor and we had another coffee. Next I made some chocolate buns with white choc chips, they turned out well. For lunch we had beans on toast and a bun. When we were done I finished the glove I was knitting and we both got ready to do a bit of exersize. I went on the turbo trainer while H used his rollers. I did 23 and a bit miles and my average speed was 20.1 mph. H did the same but faster than me. when we finished H had a shower and I had a bath. WE had a glass of wine and I cooked dinner. We had chicken with potatoes, cabbage, carrots and gravy.