I should have stayed in bed this morning. It would have been better. Just a few minutes more, but the problems would have remained. Yesterday evening I took meat out of the freezer to thaw out overnight, the steaks for lunch. However, I took the wrong meat and now have a portion of minced beef which I cannot use today. Now I have the choice, cook it or throw it. I decided a frozen spaghetti sauce can always be used, so that is one of the unexpected chores that I now have. The steaks? That is no problem they are now nicely thawing and by lunch time will be OK.

The next problem is not really a problem – for me. I decided to make one of my Swiss apple tarts today. I buy the ready rolled pastry in the store, just have to fill it with the apples and the egg and cream sauce I cook with it. Then Mr. Swiss says I should make the pastry thinner. I was annoyed. I buy the same ready rolled out pastry for the past 10 years and never a word. Nearly all housewives use this ready rolled pastry to save time, and suddenly it is too thick (for Mr. Swiss). Yes I was annoyed. I will cook my Swiss apple tart with the thick pastry today, and I am certain that No. 1 son and I will eat it, because it is thin enough for us. And all this happened in the first quarter of an hour of my day – enough excitement.

And now to calm down and spend the rest of the morning in my usual routine – I hope. I went to town yesterday afternoon. I had to replenish the stock of cigarettes for Mr. Swiss. I now even get points for buying them in the other store I visit since I joined, although it will be some time to reap the benefit. They sell the coffin nails (cigarettes) in the kiosk section, so whilst i was there I had a look around for anything else I might need in the other part of the store. That is the strange thing. I found nothing I needed, I already have it all at home. Since i realised that I am no longer as mobile as I was, and covid is creating a new life style, I have stocked up on a lot of stuff in case of an emergency. The cellar is full, my pantry is full and I am fully equipped with all necessities and there was really nothing I needed. I think I am getting too good at this job.

I drifted around town with my scooter and there were a few people having a look around. No-one really buys a lot today, and it seemed to be more people that just wanted a change of scenery. Life’s routine has certainly changed today. Everyone keeps their distance and many are masked. I wear my mask more now, but am one of the people that have problems with it. I can managed OK in the stores more or less, but my glasses steam up and visibility is not so good in general. If I keep it on when on the scooter, I cannot see far enough ahead.

I also notice in town that there are many more dogs. Everyone that has one takes it with them. Probably because people are just there to take a walk and not visit the stores. Some have one dog, many have two and sometimes seem to have groups of dogs with them. Perhaps some are dog walkers. This dog was very small, but I made him bigger with a close-up.

This lady was taking he three dogs for exercises in our town wall gardens. They could be alone and had room for a few doggy actions.

On my way home I saw that the farmer was now cutting down the remains of the sunflower field. The crows were having a great time gathering up the dropped seeds from the exercise. This is the one of the last agricultural actions for this year. Now Winter will arrive and peace will settle over the fields, as well as the snowfalls.

I had a good evening watching TV yesterday. Since Mr. Swiss goes to bed earlier I have my own choice of programmes. We tend to have different tastes in entertainment, although as the years go past he reads more than watch the TV. It all began with watching “Independence Day” when earth was being invaded by extra terrestrials who were determined to destroy our world and take all its resources. It had the usual heroes that saved the day. When that was finished I switched channels and saw the last part of Jurassic World, which I had actually watched the week before, although only in bits and pieces. The grand final was “The Shining” which I stumbled upon when it was half way through. I saw the film many years ago and even read the original book in the meanwhile (which was better than the film in my opinion). Eventually I went to bed as I was not interested in watching until after midnight, so i missed the end where Jack Nicholson froze to death. I am sure that nearly all of you have seen that film.

And now I have a few additional chores in the kitchen, so will make my way. Have fun, enjoy Sunday and take it easy.