Monday

Hi,

So - not posted for a few days again - and I haven't kept up to date with the coronavirus figures.  I think I have been trying to avoid it all because I'm fed up of hearing about it - and the people dying all the time!  However today is a special day with only 15 people dying int he UK - obviously still 15 people too many, but the reduction is amazing...

The lock-down is easing too - more shops have opened, and there are further plans to ease up....not long until pubs and restaurants can open again - with strict rules however....

so last week I was in work everyday working in the DIT team - interviewing everyday - it was tiring!  It was also good being busy and being reminded of what I used to do.  Was glad when it was over however!  

The weekend was very lazy - and also fathers day!  Adam didn't send anything at all and nothing arrived from Connor either - although he reckons he sent something that was going to be late - it didn't turn up today (Monday) so I reckon he must have sorted something online on Sunday! lol.  Lissa was a star as usual - something turned up for Andy about a week ago - and he got a card too.  All I could think about was my dad however....and I did get upset a few times throughout the day.  I miss him.  I still can't get over how unfair it all was....I still focus sometimes on him being mostly alone and the realisation he must have had at some point that he was not going to survive...and lots of other negative things like that.

So - today I was supposed to have a day working from home - but when we had our Skype meeting my boss asked me to come in to help on a case.  So I got ready and went in and worked all day on a production order.  I quite enjoyed it actually - didn't mind being in the office at all.  Tomorrow I am wfh - then I am in on Wednesday....then I have Thursday/Friday off - but am working at the weekend!

So - a week today me and Andy will be grandparents to 3 grandchildren!!  Erika is going in for a planned c-section!  I'm nervous that everything will be okay - but I'm sure it'll all be good!  Can't imagine Adam being a dad to twins!  

Connor and Emily should be next - hopefully they won't leave it too long!  I'm sure they will all make great parents - as they have obviously had good role models!!

Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tues

Saturday

Hi - so diet weigh in day - week 2.  Gain of 2lb! sucks ass!  We did order Chinese last night lol....however,  I didn't eat loads I have been good all week and exercising too...obviously not good enough.

I did a bit of research and I really need to do some weight training - which I hate, so I did a youTube weight training video today and then felt really sick!  I had something to eat and then went and got in the bath - had a little nap while in there!  

Sunday

I got up today and went into our gym and had a tidy up - we have power tools int here and mess!  So now it is all in a good order, and I have no excuse not to use it!  I did 35 minutes on BOXVR...

As I have such a serious lack of progress on my diet I have decided to cut out all alcohol other than red wine every now and again.  Red wine - because apparently that doesn't have the same effect as other alcohol which can.....actually - this is what I have read.....

almost all alcoholic beverages lead to weight gain. Red wine seems to have a somewhat protective role against weight gain

So - that's enough for me!  

I haven't got anything else to talk about atm - or more accurate - I can't be bothered....

Monday

Today I spent a lot of time working out a fitness plan with a lot of help from Lissa!  She did a little video clip for weight workouts for arms, and one for legs, and one for abs and back....it was cool because it was nice to see her lovely smiley face - and she sent a little clip of Antony with Ada - so it really was very helpful and totally lovely!!

So - I went into the gym and did the arms workout - which I really enjoyed! Followed by 30 minutes on the Peleton which nearly killed me!! God it was hard - I ended up rated about 8,500 out of 10,000 people that had done the same workout! ha! that is something to aim for!

I then had to go and have a look at the bath in the annex - our guests sent me a video of water running out on the floor! So I went in - and could not see anything obvious so i took the side of the bath off - and broke the tiles!! Plus the wood at the bottom has been soaking up water - it was a disaster really especially when I realised that the leak was actually coming from gaps that have formed in the sealant along the top of the bath - so I didn't even need to take the side of the bath off!!  So - I have had to leave the side of the bath off, and I had to dig out all of the sealant so that I could replace it.  Then I had to let our guests know that they couldn't use it for a while as it all needs to dry out - so I had to go and make sure our bathroom was nice and clean and invite them into our side to use the shower!  I don't mind them using it at all - I am more worried about the inconvenience to them!  I could not replace the silicone straight away either as I had to let it all dry out - so they will have to use our shower for a few days!

Anyway I felt like the day had been a bit more productive than usual!  and although it is stressful having problems in the annex - it was nice to be doing some DIY.  

Tuesday

Today I had to go into work - and have to do so for the rest of the week as I am doing a 4 day training thingy with the DIT team - used to be PIU at Surrey Police - but basically it is dealing with arrested people in custody, so involves interviewing and then dealing with the prisoner afterwards.  I expected on my frst day I wouldn't be thrown in at the deep end - but noooo.....ended up interviewing somebody for the first time in over 4 years!  I was a bit nervous - and the person I interviewed did a 'no response' interview - so didn't even say 'no comment' it is very off putting and makes it a lot more difficult because you ask a question - get silence back, ask another question - get silence - and you just end up firing loads of questions - talking to yourself basically!  So glad i got my first interview out of the way - and looking forward to doing it again and not making as many mistakes - like forgetting to state the time and the date, forgetting to write notes during the interview or write start time and end time down....luckily the guy training me is there to pick up and correct mistakes....

It felt great being back in custody again - brought back so many good memories! lol.  I did stand there and think - I can't believe I'm back doing this again!  I did think at one point I'd never be doing this again, and I did enjoy it!

Anyway - I got home - and got changed and went and did the silicone in the annex bathroom - going to have to sort out the whole bath panel at the weekend....that is going to involve buying new tiles, making a new panel, cutting tiles etc.......a lot of work!!  Sort of not thinking about it too much because I'm am rather worried about doing it in case it all goes wrong.....

I should be doing some exercise right now...although I don't have to do it everyday.....

hmmmmmm

Tuesday.

Hi,

So today I got up thinking - so I have today off and then I'm working for 3 days.  I don't mind the job at all and the people are all really nice but I have had 3 years of not working and not being accountable to anybody else and I resent that a little bit.  I am not too happy about having to work - especially now I know that Andy's job is not secure.

I am not getting on with any work on the house - its almost like, now I am working I feel like I don't have the time to do any work on the house - but really I could be getting on things!  I need to change my mindset and just do a small job a day - or there will be no progress.

What I did do today was cut the grass in the garden - that is not a 2 minute job but I also knew I would earn calories from it! lol.

Just after I finished, the gardeners turned up - I was glad I had cut the grass because it meant that they could spend their time doing other things that need doing.  I had a quick chat with Chloe - I really like her and wish we were in a position to become closer friends - but I have tried before and....I don't know she just didn't seem too enthusiastic, I think maybe her husband is a little controlling but what do I know....

So - I then did the Oculus boxing for a while (more calories) and got a shower....

Since then I have been chilling - watching TV and playing Runescape (I know - I'm a saddo).

I haven't looked up much about the coronavirus lately so I'm going to have a look now at all the figures.  I do know that yesterday the deaths only increased by 55 - much lower than it has been, but still not zero which is what we need to see.  I also saw something earlier which said non-essential shops are to open on Monday.  I am not confident that this is the right thing to do.  Pubs and restaurants cannot re-open until 4th July.  It would be awesome to start getting back to normal but I don't believe it is safe to do so yet.

I keep thinking about my dad.  I still find it hard to believe that he is no longer with us, and it is just....so sad, so tragic and so unfair.  I try and take some comfort from the fact that he might have had a much worse time of it if he had died another way....but then I come back to the fact that we could have so much more time with him if it hadn't been for the virus.  

Anyway - lets see if I have all the figures for the last week....

Tuesday 2 June 

Total world cases: 6,419,064-------------------108,149  increase

Total fatalities: 381,535------------------------4,457  increase

UK total: 277,985------------------------------- 1,653 increase 

UK Fatalities: 39,369---------------------------323 increase

Wednesday 3 June 

Total world cases: 6,503,961-------------------84,897 increase

Total fatalities: 386,185-----------------------4,650 increase

UK total: 279,856-------------------------------1,871 increase 

UK Fatalities: 39,728---------------------------359 increase

Thursday 4 June

Total world cases: 6,630,616-------------------126,655 increase

Total fatalities: 391,891-----------------------5,706 increase

UK total: 281,661-------------------------------1,805 increase 

UK Fatalities: 39,904---------------------------176 increase

Friday 5 June (missed)

Total world cases: -------------------increase

Total fatalities: -----------------------increase

UK total: ------------------------------- increase 

UK Fatalities: ---------------------------increase

Saturday 6 June (2 days)

Total world cases: 6,924,368-------------------293,752 increase

Total fatalities: 402,041-----------------------10,150 increase

UK total: 284,863-------------------------------3,202 increase 

UK Fatalities: 40,465---------------------------561 increase

Sunday 7 June

Total world cases: 7,071,776-------------------147,408 increase

Total fatalities: 405,979-----------------------3,938 increase

UK total: 286,194-------------------------------1,331 increase 

UK Fatalities: 40,542---------------------------77 increase

Monday 8 June

Total world cases: 7,138,470-------------------66,694 increase

Total fatalities: 408,139-----------------------2,160 increase

UK total: 287,399-------------------------------1,205 increase 

UK Fatalities: 40,597---------------------------55 increase

Tuesday 9 June

Total world cases: 7,208,064 -------------------69, 594 increase

Total fatalities: 410,732-----------------------2,593 increase

UK total: 289,140 -------------------------------1,741 increase 

UK Fatalities: 40,883---------------------------286 increase

Stress and Theft!

Hi,

So today is errr.....Monday, although it is my day off - and tomorrow! Yay!

So on Saturday Helen and Paul (H&P) were meeting the buyers of their caravan - they sold it on Ebay and they had paid via Paypal - so they were going up to Bristol to meet with them and hand it over.  Apparently they had spent AGES cleaning it - and fixing up bits and bobs, they got it into great condition for the buyers.  So off they went to Bristol - but they didn't get too far and their car broke down!!  Talk about stress!  They called Green Flag - but while they were waiting two fire engines and police turned up and the lane had to be cordoned off because it was a hazard!  So - Green Flag arrived and asked if the buyers would agree to meet them in Exeter service station...Paul called and they said yes.  So one recovery truck took the caravan to meet the buyers in Exeter and the other took H&P home.  

They received a call from the recovery guy to say he had met with the buyers and handed over the keys, and the guy had gone inside and then hitched the caravan up to his car.  So, H&P got home - thinking - thank god that is over with! Then they received a call from the buyer (wife who was still at home) and she said that the caravan was in a mess and it was unacceptable!  They tried to reassure her that it must have had a rough journey on the back of the tow truck, but that it would be okay...the buyer sent a photo from inside the van showing the gas fire front hanging off (apparently it clicks back on)...they said that they were going to leave it - she also said that they were from the travelling community and threatened to send their son to their address!!!  The woman also said that she had requested a refund from Paypal!! Despite sending a picture from inside the van they then tried to claim that they had never received the van or the keys at all!!  AArrgghhhh.....

So...H&P got into their other car and rushed back to Exeter services, and the caravan was not there!!  So they called the police and reported it as a crime - they checked Paypal and the money was gone!

So how bad is that!!!  They then came to us from Exeter - and understandably they were very upset (as were we!!)  The police said that the buyers had used false number plates on their car so we suspect they were always going to try and steal it!! Luckily Paypal confirmed that they had a hold on the money and had not paid it back to the buyers - so there is still a chance that they will get their money back....

So - Saturday we had a bit of a blow out - we played pool and darts and danced and drank - and tried not to think about the scum that had done this to them!  Helen was so upset because they have had the caravan for years and cherished it - went on all their family holidays in it - and she would rather have it back than the money, she doesn't want these ppl to have it now!  However, the caravan is long gone!

We ordered Chinese food so my diet was out of the window already!  I didn't go to bed until 3am - then only got 4 hours sleep so was knackered on Sunday.  Me and Helen were up first and I called the police to get the name of the officer dealing with the case - and that officer called Helen back and seemed really enthusiastic about sorting it out for her.  We looked up about when ownership was transferred and other bits n bobs.  When they left I wrote a letter for them to send to Paypal - and we are really hoping Paypal will release the money to them - but I have no idea yet what is going to happen because no doubt they are going to say that they left it there and then it was stolen, even though it is obvious they are trying to scam H&P.

So - Sunday I was just knackered and did nothing all day! I went for a sleep in the afternoon and continued to do nothing.

So today - I have continued to do nothing!  I am being so lazy.  I need to do some exercise - and I might go and cut the grass too....but getting myself off the couch to go and do it.....

Back on the diet - Saturday night was a blip and I am going to continue to try and lose weigh and get fit....

Wednesday, rain and training course

Monday 1 June 

Total world cases: 6,310,915-------------------102,231  increase

Total fatalities: 377,078------------------------3,467  increase

UK total: 276,332------------------------------- 1,570 increase 

UK Fatalities: 39,046---------------------------557 increase

Tuesday 2 June 

Total world cases: 6,419,064-------------------108,149  increase

Total fatalities: 381,535------------------------4,457  increase

UK total: 277,985------------------------------- 1,653 increase 

UK Fatalities: 39,369---------------------------323 increase

So - the UK is almost at twice the amount the government speculated about initially - they said we'd be lucky to have less than 20,000 deaths - and we were all shocked.  The coronavirus is almost like old news now.  We're all just bored of it.  Apart from people losing relatives or suffering from it!  Schools are re-opening - only certain classes, and the lock down is being lifted - slightly.  In England, you can now meet outside in groups of up to six people from different households - for example in parks or private gardens - as long as you follow the guidance and remain 2m apart.  However, scientists are advising the government against it.  Public confidence is being lost in the government (apparently). 

The death of George Floyd has dominated the news lately - a black guy killed by police in america - there was a video of it - the officer was kneeling on his neck and he was begging him to get off.  The officer - adn now 3 others have been charged with murder and there are protests going on n loads of places including the UK - and they are breaking all the social distancing rules.

So - I started dieting again on - errr...I think it was Saturday so the fact that I am still dieting is a good sign lol.  I have got pretty much annoyed with myself and I think I am in the right frame of mind to do this now....might be repeating myself - can't remember if I have already said this!  Anyway to help myself along I have started doing some exercise in the form of boxing via the oculus - it is so much fun - and burns calories too!  At the moment I am in so much pain with my arms shoulders and shoulder blades - my inner thighs too!  So it must be doing me some good!

So - Saturday I weighed 176lb - which, I believe is 12 stone 8lb!!!!  That would be fine if i was 7 foot tall but unfortunately I an 5 foot 3lb!  So I'll do a weigh-in each Saturday.  (I think so far I have lost 2.5lb) so it will be cool if it is more than that by Saturday!

We have cooked decent food since Saturday too - curries and other home made food...cant even remember what I've had....errr.....last night was chicken dopiazi and cumin mini-roast potatoes, the night before campfire stew (both from the Pinch of Nom book), we have had chicken with a hint of Thai, and errr other stuff.  So it has been good to eat healthily - but I have been hungry lol.

I hope I can stick to this because I'd really really love to lose weight and feel better about myself and fit in my clothes etc.  

So - Wednesday - did a training course via Skype to get designated powers at work - it was good actually - much prefer being at home for these things!  I now have all the same powers as police other than arrest and stop and search.  So I can apply for warrants, and search people and premises, use reasonable force (hopefully I'll never have to).  It was supposed to be a day off too - so I can claim back a day - so I am going to claim it back on Sunday!

Loving being on a app with Lissa and about 30 other people - I get to see regular pics of baby Ada is really is so gorgeous!  I feel a bit conscious commenting though because her Dad and Karen are on the app too and other ppl that might take me too seriously! But I can chat to lissa separately and still admire the baby pics!