Our New Life in Devon

 Finally got around to making Banana cake yesterday which went very well. Tried last week but Lidl had completely sold out of flour! We did have some in the cupboard but as it was 6 months out of the best before date I'd binned it. Actually, I have no idea atm what is in the freezer or store cupboard. I do know where all my baking things are, ie the ingredients and cake tins, mixer, basins etc. I sorted that cupboard last week. Time to sort the kitchen out I think.               Banana Cake   Went to the local pub with OH and Mark (our son) this evening for a few hours as they have a raffle on Sunday, and tonight had a guitarist 🎸 singing. Got chatting to a nice lady who was on her own so she joined us at our table. She was knitting a blanket for Moldova. Note to self I need to restart the blanket I'm making as haven't touched it for weeks. They have a large garden with apple trees at the end. Several cooking apples were on the grass so I asked the landlord if I could have

 Well we travelled to daughter's for her birthday which went very well. She had a barbecue despite the rain as son's  friend loaned a nice large gazebo. Think there were about 35 there altogether including the 3 babies and various children. Mark stayed the night on an air bed. Went for a carvery Sunday lunch and visited my sisters and brother-in-law. Also called in to see our other son and the grandchildren which was nice. Stayed at daughter's home for 4 nights as she's off to Disney for  a week so we were the airport taxi lolol.  Apparently, its £50 for a uber, so we didn't mind dropping her and granddaughter there as its on our way home. Also managed to fit in a nice curry at our old favourite restaurant before we came back. Sadly they were very quiet (probably due to the cost of living atm) as the food was fantastic as usual. I think people are economising midweek and not going out as much. We arrived back on Wednesday late afternoon and our son, Mark, followed u

 Very up and down for the last week,  and awake half the night coughing. I sadly decided to take the rescue pack of antibiotics and steroids, the GP  gave me incase it got worse. This virus seems to hang on for a long time. Hate taking steroids as in 5 or 6 weeks my hair will start falling out again. It's a known side effect sadly. Decided to do some cooking partly due to OHs meals lol. He can cook but it's often not great and you need to keep an eye on timing lol. Half an hour isn't long enough to boil a gammon joint. I should have sorted out the cupboards first before shopping as I now have 2 identical cake tins. Found the food processor which is 3 yrs old and has never been used, only kept at the back of the cupboard. So I've made an apple sponge, strawberry cheesecake and slow cooker beef curry this week. All turned out perfect which surprised me as I haven't made a cake or sponge for many years. Busy week this week as it's daughter's birthday so we'

 Negative test 2 days ago so I'm finally over it. OH did a test too but he's still coming up positive. I'm still coughing quite a lot but my energy is starting to return. Trying to catch up on the housework each day and went for a dog walk with OH. First time I've been out for 2 weeks as just haven't had the energy. Caught up on the washing (as it was overflowing lol) and most of the ironing is now done. OH has been driving to a field and just throwing balls for the dogs, so not near any other people. Says he feels very tired all the time, same as me, and he's also got brain fog. It comes and goes now so not constant anymore.  Have missed a relatives birthday meal with the family due to covid which was a shame. Would love to visit my friend too but won't go until we're both negative as I don't want to give her this virus.  Can't believe what's on the news with a 15yr old stabbing a teacher! One of my adult children is a teacher so it really b

 Following on from my last post I contacted the GP who rang me back in an hour and prescribed steroids and a new inhaler (lost mine on the holiday) Checked I had a rescue pack of antibiotics incase i get a secondary bacterial infection. Told me to ring again if I get worse and check the O2 level twice a day. I have COPD so they are very good here in Devon. OH tested positive 3 days after me. He had a fourth vaccine but is much worse than me. He's had bad headaches, temperatures and brain fog for a few days now as well as a constant sore throat. Quite angry at times too which is totally out of character for him. He's normally the most laid back placid person I've ever met. It does make me wonder if the vaccines actually do any good. I'm trying to keep up with the housework by doing something every day, but find I'm totally exhausted after minimal effort. Today's effort was washing the floors downstairs, and I feel like I've done a full day's manual labour