February 20th, Photo An Hour day.

7am. This cat had been fed, don’t fall for his bullshit. Do cats ever get full up? They always seem to want more food (even when they have food in their bowl - that they eat when I'm not looking).

8am. After cleaning the kitchen, loading the dishwasher and enjoying my first cuppa of the day, I snuck back into bed for a while. This is what happens when you’ve been awake since 4am...

11am. I fell asleep. Two hours kip, thank you muchly. Tinker slept too and we felt the same way about waking up.

12pm. Husband was home for lunch, I had no idea what to have. In the end it was the lunch of champions - beans on toast.

1pm. I’d just finished watching the weekend repeat of Celebrity Best Home Cook, Tinker was more interested in sunning herself, she was almost too hot to touch (so I shoved my face into her tummy fur obviously).

3pm. Feet up, book in hand.

4pm. He thought it was teatime. It wasn't.

5pm. Sorting out my sewing basket so I could repair the lining, I turned my back for one second...

I stopped taking photos after this, the sewing basket didn't get mended. I couldn't be bothered, I'd had enough of the day, enough of lockdown, and enough of waking at 4am. I wouldn't say I was grumpy but I was definitely without enthusiasm.

We had supper and watched a few episodes of The West Wing before I sloped off to bed early to read a bit more of my Ruth Galloway mystery.

I woke up the next day, after a much better night's sleep, feeling rather chipper.

Thanks to Louisa for hosting.
xx

7am
Up at 7am, I was lured downstairs by the smell of toast. I fed the cats, put some laundry in the machine, made myself a cuppa, and stole my husband's breakfast.

8am
I would've really liked to get up and make myself another cuppa but I was pinned to the sofa by The Girl Cat. Andy and I were watching the news which isn't the most cheerful way to start the day. Not long after I freed myself from the sofa and made myself a bowl of porridge. I tidied up a bit and contemplated the day ahead.

9am
Half an hour of yoga, with a jasmine green tea accompaniment. 

10am
Quietness descending. The snow didn't get much heavier than this. A few hours later the snow turned to intermittent rain and the snow began to disappear. I changed the sheets, had a shower, washed and dried my hair, sorted a Morrison’s delivery (the driver got stuck turning around and Andy had to tow him), had a cuppa, hung some washing on the airer, and put some more washing in the machine.

11am
The Girl Cat found herself a comfy spot and I was contemplating another cuppa. And lunch. As it was too early to eat I tackled the ironing pile.

12pm
Lunchtime!! I was so hungry, I'd been thinking about scrambled eggs since breakfast. 

1pm
Husband just made my day by appearing with this chocolate. He received it in a hamper for Christmas and I'd mistakenly thought it was hot chocolate powder. It wasn't. It was delicious!

2pm
I gave this tiny puzzle to my Mum for Christmas, knowing that she likes a challenge. When she finished it she gave it to me saying “I thought you might like to have a go”. Now I know this was payback, it’s a sod to do. I sat there for 40 minutes and put in just 3 pieces. I was ready to throw it away. Or burn it.

3pm
Contemplated a fifth load of washing. Gotta make the most of the central heating being on eh? With another load in, I set about making progress on a needle felt fox kit I was given for Christmas. Below is the before photo. I spent half an hour making two front legs. I'd hoped to finish it but wasn't really in the mood to continue.

4pm
Sitting on the sofa with some snacks and a book.

5pm
Snacks eaten, The Girl Cat had taken up her usual position.  

 

6pm
Reading paused for now. Supper (pasta bake) needed to be cooked. I used up all the old veg - cabbage, leeks, and a sad looking red pepper.

 

7pm
The Girl Cat was back. The evening's TV viewing looked pretty poor, we'd watched Celebrity Mastermind (which I enjoy because the general knowledge questions are much easier than usual) but then we shunned Celebrity Catchpoint, Pointless Celebrities, and later Michael McIntyre's The Wheel (which I believe also features celebrities) in favour of watching a firm favourite of ours on DVD - The West Wing.

8pm
Other than to make a cuppa and to have a loo break not much had changed in the last hour.

9:30pm
Bed. Fresh sheets. Bliss.  

The next day I got up and read for a while before heading out for a bracing circular walk with Andy. After lunch I sorted another food delivery, because somehow I managed to book two in two days (don't worry, not many perishables so nothing will go to waste), then I set about mending a top. I worked on it all afternoon, and I still didn't finish it!

Later Andy heated us up a pizza and we settled in for another night of The West Wing.

I hope you had a lovely weekend. I enjoyed mine, it's always nice to have Andy about a bit more, although he does pop out here and there. I have to admit I'm feeling fed up of being in lockdown again. We've still got another month to go and I keep thinking about all the things I'm going to do when it's safe to do so - all of which I'd love to be doing right now. Patience.

Thanks to Louisafor hosting. 

I've fallen into a blogging lull. I guess life all seems very samey at the moment, and now that we're in lockdown for a second time, the sameness will undoubtedly continue.

I'd intended to take part in Photo An Hour on 31st October, but it was such an uninteresting day that I didn't bother in the end. I caught up on some well overdue blog reading (I've now fallen behind again), I did a little work and spent the afternoon reading on the sofa, it was pleasant enough but doesn't make for very interesting photos.

Work has been keeping me occupied. I've had some of my busiest months since I started working for myself seven years ago, who knew a global pandemic would be good for business? I'm grateful for the work and the distraction, but I'm mindful that it won't last forever.

I've been reading a lot. It's been my escape first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and during the night when I wake up at 3am. I've been making an effort to make nice meals, go for a daily walk (weather permitting), and noticing all the lovely little parts of my day (which usually involve cats).

In all honesty I wasn't expecting a second lockdown, we had a low R rate in this area and whilst cases had risen a little, they hadn't risen by much. It was inevitable that the number of cases would rise when the first lockdown was over and we started mingling again. I remember feeling at the time that restrictions were being lifted too soon, with not enough time between one set of restrictions being lifted before the next, and now here we are again.

Some people seemed to revert back to their pre-lockdown lives within minutes of it ending, something which I will never understand, the virus hadn't gone anywhere.

The news of vaccines is encouraging but these won't really make a difference until well into 2021, with the logistics of getting an entire nation vaccinated being the biggest hindrance. It's good news never-the-less, next year will undoubtedly be better.

I think the loss of summer and the uncertainty of the current situation has caused me to feel drained by it all. I'm certainly lacking enthusiasm, hence my trying to focus on the little things - Tinker snuggling up in the early hours of the morning and purring loudly at me, Socks trying to steal my marmalade on toast, the sun coming out on my daily walk, long baths, good books, reading good books in the bath, nice meals shared with Andy, discussions on who should leave the Strictly Ballroom each week.

Life certainly has a slower pace, and it's something I've enjoyed this year. The pandemic will change life, and in some ways it'll be for the better.