I should also have mentioned ice packs for the arm, to take down the swelling a bit. It started to itch today, and I found that an ice pack helped with that too.

lol. They don’t mention the icky bits of country living, like cow patties, and power outages, and ants.

Be prepared for a lot of ups and downs over the next few months; feeling relief that it’s over, and then feeling guilty, laughing at something funny, and feeling guilty, coming up short when you think; “I’ll have to tell Dad ...”. And be prepared for the healing of the first year to take a nosedive around the…

When I was a teenager, I would stay up until the wee hours painting and drawing. Then came university, and then a career and home improvements, and there just wasn’t a lot of time or energy left over for more creative things, and eventually the creativity atrophied.

Do it! And then remember to do the followup, otherwise you’ll have to go through it three times instead of twice.

Oh dear. Did you try vinegar? It’s said to be effective against skunking, but the chemistry may be different.

I’m comfort binging Escape to the Country, a BBC series involving adorable cottages! Stunning barn conversions! And; you too can live in a flat carved out of a corner of a castle!

Sadly, the only thing that has interested me over the last few months is a research project that I invented for work. It may turn out to be an important resource, but it’s work related. Did taking up watercolours engage me as much as this? Nope. This doesn’t bode well for retirement, which isn’t so much on the…

Well crap! That’s terrible! I hope you are getting all the support you need, both physically and mentally and emotionally.

So, it sounds like a lot of why Wynn looks so tatty is that he has skin issues.

HEALTH ALERT;Everyone; if you are over 50, or know someone who is (parents, friends, aunts, uncles), spread the word to GET YOUR SHINGLES VACCINE. It’s a pain in the arse (well, arm, actually), but it’s a helluva lot better than getting shingles.

Congratulations! I love beginnings, and although I’m often sad to leave one home, the newness of the next home is always exciting, particularly if it’s a desired move. I always feel like I’m living in someone else’s home for about the first three months, like; I walk into a stranger’s house and think “Why is all my…

Money can’t buy taste or class.

There seems to be a food stain on it too.

Someone needs to tell him to calm down.

Amazing! I mastered cables and Fair Isle knitting, but lace always eluded me.

I love seeing how some of the properties, like barns and castles have been converted into houses and flats. They’re all beautiful, and as much as I like a soaring space, I also like the cosy cottages with low, beamed ceilings and wonky roof lines.

And as an aside; the commenting system is particularly fucked up this week.

This virus has had so many unexpected bad side effects like this; people not being able to see loved ones for what turns out to be the last time.

I’m so sorry about your gran; even when it’s expected, it’s still a shock.