Monday

 Good morning, everyone.  Pinch and punch for the first of the month and white rabbits!!  :-)

Thank you all very much for your kind and sympathetic comments yesterday.   It's still sore but improving and I will be careful today.

It's a bit early as I woke at stupid o'clock which was a nuisance.  I thought I'd sleep really well after a poorish sleep over Saturday night but no!  These things, I find, go in cycles.  I have a spell of sleeping really well and then a spell of waking ridiculously early.  I mutter and then just go with the flow, not that I have much choice!!

It's a bit early to see what the weather is going to be like but Beeb says 'light cloud and a gentle breeze, max 8C.  Not amazing but could be worse, in fact!

I had a very pleasant lunch with Beth and Alex and Beth took most of the leftovers, just leaving enough for a sandwich at tea time.  That was good.  After they had gone, I rested up and watched some telly!  It was a quiet day.

Today there are a couple of events.

First of all, Jeff is coming round to pressure clean the back which is all paved over.  I mean to clear the area a bit but didn't because of heavy lighting/bad back/etc.  He will understand, I know, and it will look so nice when he's finished..

Then, early afternoon, Matt the Plumber is due round to give the boiler a service and look as some things that don't seem to be right with it.  That is likely to be expensive so thank goodness it's the start of the month so the account will stand the shock!

In between, I might go down to the allotment but, before anyone shouts at me, it is nothing heavy.  I just want to get the broad beans sown which is a nice, gentle activity.  The ground is still damp so I won't even need to water - not that I can yet as the taps are all off until April anyway.
If I'm the least bit unsure, I won't go.

Several months ago, I bought an updated version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020, for the then new laptop really.  However, I only got round to installing it yesterday and I now have to start learning how it works.  It is very different to the version, the very old version, I have on my PC which is version 6.  Thankfully, I bought a 'for dummies' book at the same time so I have a project, don't I?
I'm going to replace the old version on the desktop (which is now not functioning all that well) as well - when I feel brave enough!  I do use it quite a lot in a very simple and limited way, to edit my photos although I only just scratch the surface really.  Maybe this is an opportunity to explore more.

I remembered to take a photo of the knitted blanket.  I snuggled under it yesterday afternoon and it is really cosy.  This is not one to give away!  The only thing I would say about the pattern is that the edging could be better and I think a crocheted border would maybe have been nicer.

I'm using some of the textured stitches to make some more, bigger squares for another one as I really would like to use up more of the yarn.  I have some other colours too so I should have more than enough.

Time to go and make myself another coffee, I think.  I'm going to need plenty of caffeine to stay awake today if I want to sleep tonight.
Have a great first day of the new month.  Some count March 1st as the start of spring.  I tend to go with the astronomical date rather than the meteorological one but it makes no difference really.  The days are longer, warmer, brighter and the clocks go forward at the end of March!

I'm rambling.  Better stop and get on with stuff.  Take care, be happy and stay safe, everyone, and thank you for reading.  xx