Good Morning

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This morning looks exactly like yesterday morning, so another pleasant day in my neck of the woods. I am really stressed for time this morning. The cleaning lady was here, I cleaned all my widows as I noticed during the Winter months a yellow layer had collected on them whieh was not so noticeable, espeially the kitchen from cooking and otherwise. They are now spotlessly clean at last. I just do not like dirty windows. Afterwarrds my online shopping arrived. This time it was a young lady chauffeur for a change and she told me she only started this week. She was very nice and did her job well.

I fully loaded the battery of my wheelchair during the night, so yesterday I was up and away to the local farm. It has been a long while and I was wondering if I would find any animals.

Of course I did and it seems the goose population as increased considerably. They had made themselves comfortable and greeted me with a chorus of goose noises. I discovered they are very loud creatures but some of them still managed to sleep.

I suppose if you have enough feathers to bury your head into, you do not hear the noise so much, although this one was still keeping an eye on things.

It was wonderful to get out into the fresh air again, although is some parts it did not smell so fresh. I do not know what type of muck the farmer was spreading, but it had quite a strong smell.

The alps were not showing themselves this time, so I just got the view of our village and in the background the hills of Kanton Bern.

And now I must go, dinner is cooking, I am a little late and have a few things to deal with. Even Mr. Swiss had to step in and help in the kitchen this morning. I had a few things to vacuum for the freezer and go down in the cellar. Have a good day everyone. Am not sure if I will be back, I should go into town this afternoon as I have a few things to get, and want to make the most of the good weather. Have a good day.

Good Morning

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We got a sunrise this morning. It looks like the cold freezing snowy days of Winter are on tbeir way out, although never be too sure. They can return now and again as a warning, but I feel a lot better. Yesterday was a sunny warmer afternoon (12° C) and that is an invitation to shake off the cobwebs of Winter and escape, go out and sniff the fresh air and absorb nature (naturally with a distance to other humans). In the big wide open spaces a mask is not so important.

I saddled my wheelchair and decided to take it for a wheelie. I was a little apprehensive as I had not used it since before Christmas. It was not on top upload, but I had decided to do a practice run in the nearer parts of the village and no great distance. I managed to get away from the appartment and was on my way, passing the path down to the river. It looked very inviting, my first view of something a little different.

When I saw the row of trees on the near horizon I was really happy. It was like a new life and I was on my own. Sunday afternoon is probably not the chosen time for walks in our neighbourhood, but it did not bother me. Seeing the sights and breathing the fresh air again after being cooped up at home was reward enough, I did not need other humans, the trees were enough company. Yesterday there was a TV pogramme showing an area where it was ideal to hug trees (although hugging a tree is a bit solitary, they do not hug back). The people hugging the trees were taking it in turns on the same trees, even giving them a kiss now and again and naturally leaving their germs behind to be spread to the next hugger. Sometimes we should really be a little more thoughtful. Trees do not get covid, but the next tree hugger might. Just one of my quirky ideas. We golden oldies have strange thought patterns.

And then I saw this. I was still in the village, but on the high rise going towards the river and the alps were there in their full glory, from left to right Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. I had not seen them is such clarity for many months and now I realised my isolated life was getting less isolated. The days of outdoor life are reutrning, but with a little difference. My days of trips to the store for groceries are now over, also during the warmer months of the year. I have learned the advantages of online deliveries and no longer need to waste time with exhausting journeys choosing my food, I can now do it from my chair on the computer and have more time to really enjoy my journeys with the camera.

I even saw the moon and this was 4.00 p.m. reflecting the light of the sun. I was so surprised. My little excursion was so rewarding and I am now re-organising my life a little. When I returned home after my short but rewarding excursion I made myself comfortable in a sunny warm place on the porch with a book. I had regenerated my Kindle which was quite dead and again began the book I started half a year ago. I had already read about 100 pages, but had lost the thread, and so decided to become a reader again. It was wonderful in the open air surrounded by the sounds of nature. Oh the joys of the warmer days again. Athough I enjoy my Good Mornings here, I will probably not be around so much during the day, unless the weather is not so good. Wheeling around in the rain is not so good, which will be my opportunity to write more, otherwise my routine is changing a little. I want to enjoy my new found freedom as long as I can.

I also had a visit from these two in the afternoon. also enjoying their freedome of movement. They were probably also surprised to see me outside.

I am not sure what I will be doing today, I am not making plans, that is boring. I prefer to be spontaneous. Have a good day everyone and enjoy.

Good Morning

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It was a misty morning, but then I saw the magpie singing his little/big heart out at the top of the tree and decided the sun was most probably on its way.

And a few minutes later it had fought its way through the clouds. Here I am now with my breakfast, the computer and some lovely classical music in the background. What more could one wish for. Even Mr. Swiss has already stopped hugging the bed. Spring really must be arriving slowly but surely. I have no great plans today, although pehaps I might venture into the wide world, although I should charge up the battery on my wheelchair. It must be at least 2-3 months since I last used it. I was using my scooter more, although not so often. I discovered that Winter is no season for going anywhere. When I gave up my car I thought I could nmanage through the Winter months to the store which is only one bus stop away, However the theory did not work and I gradually got into the routine of online food delivery. Although the snow is a disturbance, I did not realise how cold it can get. Anyhow I have survived and now to get ready for the outside life again.

I will also have to adapt my bread baking life. I usuall make the pastry in the morning and let it rise, to bake it mid afterrnoon which does nicely for the evening meal. However, when I want to resume my outdoor life again when the weather improves, I will not have the time. I have now discovered that you can make the pastry in the evening and put it in the fridge all night, which it will rise slowly and should be ready in the morning when I stop hugging the bed to bake, meaning that I will have frresh bread already in the morning. At least that is the theory that many web sites on the computer are telling me, and now I have to put it into practice.

This is my yesterday’s half white bread I baked to eat with our chilli. There was enough for my breakfast this morning. Does anyone have experience with bread pastry raising overnight in the fridge. I think it will work and it would really save me a lot of time.

My robin is still around, but likes to keep the distance. I notice that the birds are slowly adapting to the better weather and probably when Spring arrives they will no longer be visiting so much.

The blue tit still arrives to have a peck at the seed supply embedded in the coconut shell.

I had another TV evening yesterday beginning with a quiz programme on the BBC TV. Mr. Swiss got interested, but I found it rather stupid and wonder how it could really be classed as entertainment. I quite like the quizes when the questions are interesting and interlligence, but yesterday it was a matter of a framework full of coloured balls that would eventually fall when I silly question was answered and land in a place where you either win thousands (the green balls) or lose thousands (the red balls) and the people were clapping and cheering or moaning – if it was genuine and not play back. Eventually Mr. Swiss disappeared to the bed and I was left with the TV for myself. I was left with an Italian detective series with inspector Montalbano taking place in a fictitious town in Sicily. It was completely in Italian (with a little bit of Sicilian) with english subtitles. I found it really good, especially as it was a chance to freshen up my Italian (with a glance at the subtitles in between). Such is the life of an Angloswiss in isolation watching British TV in Switzerland.

And that was my daily excitement yesterday. I now have today’s chores to deal with, lunch to cook (no big deal – a veal stew) and perhaps a cake baking session this afternoon. So enjoy your Sunday with all the trimmings and may the Covid stay away.

RDP Saturday: Movement

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Mr. Swiss has a hobby, since he was a young teenager he has played the drums. You do not only hit them with a stick, but also gently move over them with wire brushes, and this all has to be practiced. Just a sturdy piece of carboard does the trick when you do not have a drum or cymbal. He even taught me how to do it, but it needs a lot more to play the drums.

RDP Saturday: Movement

Good Morning

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What a misty morning this was when I looked out of the window. Nevertheless I ventured outside for a photo. It is no longer so cold, although I did have my padded long coat on. Standing outside in my nightdress is not exactly the thing to do, you never know who might be looking, although I did have my radio playing. My favourite classical piece was accompanying me, the Karelia Suite by Sibelius, and when you have that as loud as it gets it can wake up the neighbours.

So now that you are also awake I will continue. My next step was to the kitchen when I realised with dismay that there was only a pathetic piece of bread left, hard and dry (the end piece), but I am prepared for everything.

I always have frozen toast bread in the freezer which thaws in a minute, so whilst I was making my tea I prepared the toaster and was soon sitting comfortably at the computer with a breakfast, after smothering the toast with some butter and jam.

In the meanwhile I noticed the sun had arrived, so another excursion to the outside world hoping for an astounding sunrise. Even here the clouds were interrupting, but it was at least a little brighter. And this was all happening in my first half hour in the awakening world.

My robin also appeared. Sorry a little blurry on the photo, but I was using my mobile phone and he was a little far away and I had to down size the photo. I have not seen him (or her) for some time and thought I had been deserted. However, the coast was clear and he did not have to share the food with the greedy well fed sparrows, although the robin is also getting a spare tyre around the breast.

I decided to make a chilli con carne this evening, meaning that I will be baking a bread to go with it. We prefer to eat it with bread, although many choose rice as an accompaniment which is not our idea of a good chilli.

The blackbird was also on a visit yesterday. This is a male as they have the better colourful beaks and the black feathers. It will soon be time to find a partner and the nesting season will begin.

I am now planning next week’s food, although I should use some of my meat reserves in the deepfreezer.

I found this lamb rack in the freezer which will do nicely for lunch. I usually cut it into fair sized pieces. Afterwards I can fry them with some herbs and a nice portion of garlic which will do nicely with some french fries from my air fryer and as a veg I thought some chicory would complete the meal. Such are the pleasures of a golden oldie in exile. Mr. Swiss gave a nod of approval. The good thing is it is not a lot of work and no long cooking time. In 30-40 minutes everything will be ready, and in between a bread dough will be rising for the evening meal: all a matter of logistic and planning.

Now to the active part of the day with some housewife chores to keep my limbs working. Stay safe everyone, and enjoy the week-end, just make the most of it. I saw this finch again watching from his tree.

At least I think it is a finch.

FOWC with Fandango: Superior

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Let’s be honest, there is a new wave of feeling better than the others, even a little superior.

“I had my Covid jab today. Didn’t hurt at all, and no ill effects afterwards.

“My arm hurt, and I felt a little drowsy, but after a day it all disappeared. Have you had your second jab?”

“Not yet, but I have an appointment for in three weeks. What about you?

“Same here, and you?

“Not yet, but I am on the list.”

And so the person on the list was really feeling a little inferior to the other two who already had their protection from the virus.

Is it becoming a status symbol. Are the jabbed few superior to those that have not yet been jabbed? Of course not, it is a luck of the draw and having enough underlying complaints, or being one of the chosen golden oldies.

I feel very inferior, unimportant. The Swiss have forgotten me and all those that I know. On the other unjabbed arm I supposed I can be glad that I do not have the hairy pea infection. Perhaps I am imune. No good feeling superior about it, you go when you have to go (I mean the jab of course, what were you thinking).

FOWC with Fandango: Superior