Naps

After a really bad night sleep wise, and a week where I’ve barely left the house, my hubby got me up and out for a walk today.  It was lovely we went down to the nearby estuary for a wander. The sun was out, the tide was out and so were we.  There were a few others out and about too, noticed it was only the groups of all men who gave no quarter for social distancing, but that’s not a surprise.

Anyway, we walked. It was nice.

I came back and tried to do a bit of writing.  Did a bit, but bugger all, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Eventually, around half 2, I had to give in, and go to the sofa for a nap. 

The thing about day-time naps is that they don’t do me any good.  I know load of people who are advocates of the power nap, but they don’t’ do it for me. All naps do for me is mean that I wake up with a fuzzy head and can’t sleep the following night.  But I had to give in, and was pretty much out like a light and gone for an hour. 

Since then I’ve had a fuzzy head.

Hubby is on a night shift, so I’ve decamped to the bedroom, where there is no possibility of being distracted by the TV (I won’t have one in the bedroom), and I’m trying to write.  It’s working too, because in the hour and a half I’ve been up here, I’ve written nearly two thousand words.  Hope to get at least a few more hundred done before I settle down for the night.

So that’s me for the day.  Hope you had a successful day too.

Messes

Today started at 7am, I did 30mins WiiFit, and a basket full of ironing. After getting the scales working yesterday, I decided to make the eclairs I’ve been promising. 

Not unusually for me, this did not go without issues.  I made the choux pastry more easily than expected, where I usually them spoon the pastry out to make buns, this time I piped out eclairs. They cooked well, actually they cooked quicker than expected and came out darker than normal.

After they’d cool, I melted chocolate for the top in a glass banana-spilt bowl. I selected that as being best for dunking. I took the bowl out of the microwave, stirred the chocolate, it still had lumps, so I went to put the bowl back in the microwave – and dropped the whole lot on the floor!

Melted chocolate is not easy or fun to cleaned up. I was wearing my favourite comfortable Merrells, and they got covered.  Most came off, but the stains look really bad. So those shoes which I used to wear out often enough, have become for indoors only.

After that, I had to go for a walk, I needed more chocolate.  Hubby and I took our usual 3.5km route, popped into a local shop, and once home, I finished the eclairs. Woohoo! Okay, they don’t look good, but they taste fantastic.

On the walk though, something annoyed me that I’ve spotted before but not mentioned. There is an increasing amount of dog mess on the streets. It’s like (some) dog walkers have decided if there’s no one around to see they don’t clean up after their pouches, they don’t bother. It’s disgusting. If your dog made a mess, you clean it up, non-dog owners shouldn’t have to put up with that muck on the pavements.

Rant over.

Hangover

Woke up with a hangover this morning, had a bad evening yesterday and a bottle of wine.  Normally one bottle I’d be okay with, but this one must have ganged up with the one I drank last week that didn’t give me a hangover at all, and they hoodwinked me.

Unfortunately, a discussion yesterday about returning to work turned me inside out, mentally and emotionally.  It’s something that I have to get past because I need to return to work at some point, finances and all that.  I just have to learn to deal with the stress and avoid the depression it brings on.

The hangover was dealt with by multivitamins, re-hydration, a couple of paracetamol, and a 3.5 km walk.  Actually really enjoyed the walk, same walk as the other day, but my legs feel less stretched than the first one, that’s an improvement.

On the positive side, since then I have worked out the plotlines of two novels.  The last of my steampunk series of five and a standalone crime one. Guess I need to start writing them.  Just not right now.

Sleepless

Not been sleeping again.  Got about three hours last night and that was broken. 

Consequently, today hasn’t been great. I’m shattered and feeling off colour.  Had a sneezing fit this morning which was a worry until I discovered that today was a high pollen alert, especially for trees, and it is tree pollen I’m allergic to.  An antihistamine sorted the problem out.

Went out for a bit of a walk today, saw a neighbour hadn’t seen for months, spoke over her garden wall, so at least 2 meters away.  But also found out she’s having a little trouble getting food delivery slots (something I’m sure lots of people are experiencing). I took her phone number so that when I next go shopping I can pick any odd bits up for her.

Editing hasn’t gone well today, because I couldn’t concentrate. I put it aside and decided not to beat myself up about it. Had some good news from my crime publisher, they’re going to release some of my books in American in June.

Also managed to catch up with a mate of mine who I haven’t really spoken to for a while, he’s made a job change and it’s working out well. Am pleased for him, and a bit jealous.

I have been signed off for another 4 weeks, which hopefully will help me get back on track, but I feel at a bit lose at the moment, but things will improve.

Did do the paella today, and the family wolfed it down.  Daughter’s cooking tomorrow, hubby the day after. Hubby on nights, daughter and I have been watching “Alien” because she’d never seen it before (age 21).

Am very tired, so once this is posted, I’m off to bed (have taken a sleep aid, which should help).

Unclean

Reluctantly went for a walk today, only down to get milk and a few bits, but it was a walk, good to get out and exercise and all that.

Naturally we weren’t the only ones out, saw 10 other people in total while out.  The thing is, I live at the top of a hill, so by the time I was walking back, I was struggling for breath, and because I get hayfever, I was sneezing a little.

I do what I can to maintain the 2m distance, as I got to the top of the hill, I could see a dog walker and a couple out for a walk, the path there is about 1.5 meters, but there’s more grass than that towards the road.  So I went on the grass to ensure that they all had enough room.  Problem was I was wheezing and sniffing and generally looking less than well. 

The looks I got off the dog walker and the women of the couple were like I was a leaper! They might as well have pointed and scream “unclean!”

I wanted to say, “I’m not contagious – just really unfit.” Only I didn’t have the breath!

Distance

I went for a walk today, a path that’s known and used, but was light on walkers.  Everyone (except one older man) maintaining the 2m distance.  It was good to get out for a little fresh air and exercise, even saw a heron.

What I saw (I’m not a photographer, sorry)

The walk made me think about social distancing, frankly I’ve been practising social distancing for 50 years, but it does make me wonder what society will be like when we come out of this crisis.

Not shaking hands is fine with me.  Too many times I’ve had to suffer sweaty palms, or have somehow fumbled the act.  Instead a small head nod is preferable.

Not getting too close. Fine with me. There are only a handful of people I will naturally hug.  There’s a batch more that I’ve had to learn to hug because of the social side of selling books, but I’m not comfortable with it.  Hopefully that won’t come back.

Not going to pubs. Okay, it’s not something I enjoy, but history suggests that pubs will reopen, they have always been at the heart of communities.  I kind of hope pubs return for the greater good, but I also hope that ‘pub culture’ as such doesn’t. 

I realised a while ago that physical money has a limited lifespan, there are many science fiction books which have done away with cash, and you are granted credits that transfer by various means (chip under the skin, iris scan). Seeing now how many places are now taking card payments only, I also wonder if we’re seeing the death of cash rushing forward. 

I have no idea what society will be at the end of this crisis, but I am pretty sure it won’t be exactly what it was when this year started. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.