Monday

 Good morning, everyone.  It's early, it's dark, but I feel so much better.  I had two long naps yesterday, one in the morning and one in the evening, went to bed at eight, slept through the night and woke just after four so I think I'm catching up with things a bit.  Just two more days of meds and the stitches come out on Wednesday and we will be on the last lap!

Yesterday was lovely.  Beth came round for lunch and we had a really good catch up.  It's been three or more weeks since we last met, what with her job hunting, my holiday and various other happenings so there was plenty to talk about.  We sorted out Christmas (!), talked about presents, etc, and how it will all pan out.  As she said, we will celebrate somehow, it just depends on external circumstances exactly what we do.  

Alex seems to be doing fine.  There are outbreaks of Covid-19 at UEA but the uni authorities seem to be responding to the situation extremely well, as are the students, and it doesn't seem to be spiking.  He was going to come home next weekend for Beth's birthday but won't now, leaving it until Christmas when he will have to come home.  It's a month's break so he will be able to isolate at home for a fortnight before the Christmas stuff starts so that should work fine.

Beth's coming round here again for her birthday (next Monday) and I am making us a really nice meal.  Neither of us want to go out and she can't meet up with friends at the moment but we will have a pleasant time anyway.  I might get the Scrabble box down - talk about living the high life!!!

Today, the shelving I have been going on about for ages is due to arrive.  I've cleared space in the living room (I have quite a large space, luckily) for the packs and there they will sit until Saturday when Beth is coming over to help me put it all together.  They sent a link to a youtube video showing how to put it all together and I have to say it looks very straightforward, just easier with two pairs of hands.  Once it is all together and in the garage, I can judge if there's room for more.  My thinking is that if there is space for one or more units, I may as well get them while I can - I am sure they will come in useful  This has all been in the planning for a very long time now and it will be lovely to have it all finished and completed.

I have to stay in until the delivery is made.  They don't give a time, nor do they contact me before delivery is made, so I need to be within earshot.  Any excuse for an easy day, that's what I reckon.  There are no other plans.  No tuition, of course, and no need to go out for any reason, even if I could.  I'll do some washing, etc, and my herb and spice cupboard is long overdue for a sort out so maybe I'll do that.  

The other thing I'm hoping to do is get out all my bits and bobs of dried fruit and put it all in soak (in cointreau, yum, much nicer than brandy) for the Christmas cake.  I like to soak it all for about a fortnight before mixing and baking the actual thing.  The house smells wonderful, as you can imagine.  I use the Delia recipe which hasn't let me down yet!

Today will be a bit bitter-sweet as it was Mum's birthday.  This is the second year without her and I do miss her a lot.  Dad does too, of course, and I hope he will be OK today.  I expect we will be emailing each other and I will be doing plenty of remembering with love and thankfulness.
Have a good day, everyone.  xx