Good Morning

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Although we just have sprinkling of snow here is the lower land, up on the local Jura mountains they have they usual Winter dress. This is the view from my front garden.

Otherwise I am alone at home and gradually getting to grips with the situation. My No. 1 son went to the hospital yesterday to bring Mr. Swiss some clothing and other bits and pieces, but it has become something like a state prison. At the entrance there was a guard from a security company. My son had to show his Covid vaccination certificate and identity card but was not allowed to see my husband in his room. They took the items and will give them to my husband. No-one is allowed in the ward. My husband has a broken hip and the remains of pneumonia and not Covid, thank goodness. I do not know how the situation will develop further. My second son is coming today, so he might find out more. All I can do is sit and wait at home. I cannot even call my husband. His phone is not working and when I called over the hospital reception this morning I got the message I could not disturb him, so I just do not know what is going on. In the meanwhile I will just continue with my normal day (if you can call it normal) and hope.

My birdy colleagues are still visiting, which is obvious when I am always feeding them, but it helps with ther antics to distract me. This jay has really moved in and is a regular customer. He appears as one of the first in the morning. They are really lovely birds with their blue feather tips on the wings.

Of course the tits are always hanging around. They prefer to peck from hanging objects or just sit on the bird table.

I decided on a TV evening yesterday but had the choice from a football match or the British snooker championships. Snooker is something like pool, but with a lot more colourful balls and a bigger table with more pockets. My dad was quite a good player and he taught me a lot. I can play it and know all the rules, but am no expert. I watched the game yesterday eventually and got quite interested being able to follow all the moves and knowing the tricks of getting someone snookered by blocking their path to a good shot.

I was looking for a good film, but they were only repeats and the CBS true crime gets a little boring when you watch often. I was glad when I had emptied the washing machine hung up the damp items and went to bed.

And that is all I have to say this morning. I now have a few telephone calls to make and deal with a few odds and ends. Stay safe and well

Good Morning

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I am here again. At the moment things are more settled on my side. I had two weeks of stress and I now have to settle down. Mr. Swiss came home from the hospital and I became a full time carer. I will not go to details. He is my husband, so I did all I could for him. I had support from our Swiss assistance group and they were wonderful. They would come in the morning to get him on his feet but naturally were not here all the time. Caring for sick person is not so easy and then the problems began. He fell three times and I could not get him back on his feet. I had the ambulance each time to help and the third time they took him back to hospital. He had terrific pain in his leg. He had broken his hip bone and they discovered there is still a remainder of the pneumonia. First of all they will have to clear up the pneumonia problem and then afterwards they will operate the leg. This is not an easy time for all of us and my husband is 82 years old. He realises what is happening. His problems are physical and not mental. After the treatment and operation he will go to a holiday home for about a month to recover. I can no longer do this at home. I had a week of nights where I could no longer sleep through the night looking after his needs, changing bed linen etc. etc. He could no longer stand on his feet and I have my MS problems with mobility. So enough of my problems. I now need to rest and try to lead a normal life again. I also have my autistic son at home to care for, although he was a great help. My other son, who lives in another part of Switzerland, also helps where he can. We naturally now have the extra problems in Switzerland with Covid and my son no longer works in his office near where I live, but now only does his work in his home office. He will be coming next Monday to visit Mr. Swiss and see what he can do.

I have naturally not been so busy with the camera but now and again take a photo of local sights. The neighbour has again mounted his Christmas lights in his garden and they make a wonderful show.

Our other Christmas decoration is this crane which was assembled last week for the building site of a new block of flats. I watched how they pieced it together and now it stands in our back yard probably for a year until the building is completed. I have absolutely been nowhere since Mr. Swiss came home. I could not leave him alone. I had all my groceries delivered, although I must venture out again.

There were so many problems to solve. We always split our responsilibities and discussed them but now I had to deal with it all, especially the financial matters, but practice makes perfect. I could not ask him so much. I have even had to relearn blogging as it is almost two weeks since I touched the computer. I must get to grips with my life again. My private life was non existent and I need my little hobbies. Thank goodness my orchids manage without my constant help, they just grow and flower.

And now I have bored you long enough with my personal problems. Today my No. 1 son will visit Mr. Swiss in the hospital and bring him a few things he will need.

Keep safe and well and have a good week-end.

Good Morning

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I just began to write my morning greeting but this will be all for the time being. My husband comes home from the hospital today and I have to get some things ready for him as I do not know when he will be arriving. The hospital just called me to say they are making preparations. I hope to be back later.

Good Morning

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I was just about to give up on a morning photo when the sky did begin to brighten a little. I am not sure if the sun will eventually appear, but I can hope. This is the view towards South.

On the Northern side it looks a little better and even the Jura mountain outline is showing itself.

Otherwise I got a message on my phone from Mr. Swiss this morning early and he really seems to be returning to the normal world. It was not possible for me to visit him in hospital so we have not seen each other for a week. On Monday he will be back home.

The birds were quite active this morning outside and I caught these two tits having a feed. I have noticed that they all seem to be increasing in weight. I wonder if I am feeding them too muchj,

They seem to be everywhere at the moment and during the afternoon the food supply is empty. It is then that they move to the other available food.

Otherwise I was again alone at home yesterday evening. Even No. 1 son deserted me for a concert in the one of the local halls. I did not mind and made myself comfortable with a fried egg on toast and tomatoes. It must be an eternity since I just had to look after myself in the evening.

Afterwards I move onto the TV and BBC showed an hours film of various performances from the Queen pop group. I always liked them and this time it was complete with bits and pieces of information. They were also very good at harmonising when singing.

Bohemian Rhapsody was always my favourite piece from them. Out of all the various groups of the time, they were the most talented as I am concerned.

I also had another visitor this morning. Roschti is always somewhere near, and still arrives for his daily treats at the window.

The sparrows are well organised, and after feeding at the bird house they tidy up on the ground of the seeds that have fallen from the table.

And now time to move on, not that I have a strict timetable. I am now trying to relax more during the day. When something unexpected happens you tend to rethink your life and just take it easy. At the moment my main concern will be Mr. Swiss when he is back home, the rest can wait. Now to survive the day ahead.

Stay safe everyone and enjoy your Sunday, just take it easy (I know, easier said than done). I am now off to make my bed, visit the shower and afterwards I will see,.

Good Morning

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Unbelievable, but after almost two weeks of dull days covered in one single large cloud, the sun is winning the battle and forcing the clouds to move along. I saw the sun this morning. At first the cloud was there so I took a few dull photos. I have now removed those photos and took those where the sun arrived. I do not want to be too optimistic as you can never be certain, but at least some blue sky has appeared.

In the meanwhile another day alone at home (sounds like a good film title), but the good news is that Mr. Swiss will be coming home on Monday. His pneumonia has cleared after the antibiotic treatment and he is no longer on the drip at the hospita or extra oxygenl, but now has tablets. Of course everything is long not perfect and it will need time and care to get back on his feet again which is where my contribution will be necessary. Yesterday I got a surprise call from the doctor treating him in the hospital. My son had given me his number, so I had programmed it on my mobile phone and when he called I saw his name on the phone. Actually he was just calling to tell me that he would be released on Monday but gave me the opportunity to ask a few questions. I also spoke to Mr.Swiss afterwards to sort a few things. I had already ordered a few items I will be needing and everything is now ready to go. This morning I organised his wheelchair which we have at home.He had never used it very much and it is not electric, but ideal to use in the apartment. Although he can walk, he is now weak and he and I do not want to risk any accidents. It will be a new way of life for us both. Actually I have no great problems. I have now realised that a golden oldie like myself does not have to have a time table. It makes no difference when and what I do. I just have to aim for a midday meal as I also have my autistic son to care for.

Bird life is getting quite active outside and the robin arrived again yesterday. He is not a regular visitor, but suddenly I see the flash of red feathers. As usual he is a loner and makes sure that he has his own space outside.

He stayed a while and did a few poses for my camera.

This blue tit gave a flght demonstration whilst a sparrow and greenfinch were looking on beetween bites of bird food.

Of course this guy also arrived. the jay now comes and goes most of the time.

And so what shall we do today? It will just be myself and son No. 1 although he will be at a concert this evening in one of the town cafés. It has been a long time since I have been alone at home in the evening. One little advantage is that I can just look after my own meal: perhaps just a fried egg with some trimmings, I do not need more.

Our covid cases in Switzerland are also increasing. In our area they remain OK, but precautions are being taken and it really does not look like that the rules will be relaxed. We do not go out very much and are all vaccinated in my family. We live in part of Switzerland where it is mainly villages and a few market towns. Perhaps that is an advantage as our local population is on the smaller side.

I have no wish to go anywhere at the moment as the weather is quite cold and unfriendly. I am well covered for food and can always order from the local stores online. Since the covid crisis I have also changed my life style and Mr. Swiss always admired how I have everything under control. I always have my son who loves going into town and gets anything I might need that I have fogotten.

I wish you all a good week-end and stay safe.

RDP Friday: Furnace

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Looks like the days of this old furnace are now long gone but it still has its place outside for all to see.

I grew up with a furnace of sorts. Our house had no central heating it was all done with coal. We had a fire place and in Winter my mum would clean out the coals from the day before. She would then take newspaper and screw it up together and put it at the bottom of the fire place. Then there would be a layer of wood and afterwards the coal. If it was good quality coal it would burn niceley, but the cheaper sort would tend to spit out of the fire and you had to be careful you did not get any sparks on your clothes. After about a hour the coal would glow and give out its heat. Now and again you had to add pieces of coal to keep it going. Yes they were the days. Now and again we had to have the chimney sweep to clean out the soot, otherwise it would begin to burn in the chimney, get very smokey and smell.

RDP Friday: Furnace