Good morning Wednesday

[Ally]

Good morning.

Sunny and forecast 17 degrees.
It looks like Spain's weather is split in two.... cold and snowy or lovely and warm. I'm glad I'm in the latter. I have become a Southern Spanish softie.

Off for a walk.

Today is my dear dad's 83rd birthday. Sis and I left him cards and gifts in his hat drawer and as he hasn't been out anywhere he won't have found them.

Don and I are going out for lunch to Gambrinus. A beer and people watch in the sun.

I didn't come in here yesterday as I had some rubbishy news on Monday night ...I'll post later on another board. X

Have a good day.

[JanB]

Morning Ally, morning everyone

Happy Birthday to your dad

Blasted cold this morning really hard frost, although the sun is out now and hopefully, will warm up soon. One more -2C night, then up to a very blamy 4C

Think we might have lost some plants, because of the cold, will just have to wait and see.

Off to Ourique later. Need to post Oliver's birthday card - give it plenty of time, we're still getting Christmas cards, posted in November - the joy that is Pingo and also to get Grumpy a phone. A pay as you go one, as the one he has means he has to make one phone call a month, to keep it going and we both forget

Back to cook more meals for the freezer, then head off about 4.00ish. We noticed road works on our way back, so need to factor in the hold-up for that. Back quite late, but hopefully, will have more news then.

Have a good day everyone, whatever you're doing xx

[JoM]

Good morning all, it’s raining here so no walk yet.

Joe’s home today for online college so is all set up in his room for that and John’s gone on a site visit. When you think though that he’s been as far as India for those before, this one’s actually just 3 miles away The Tesco delivery is coming between 11 and 12.

Happy Birthday to your Dad, Al

Have a good trip out Jan

Take care all xx

[saundra]

Morning all it's a beautiful day sunshine and not cold
Waiting for a Iceland delivery
Hope all go well for you Jan and it's good news for B
Happy birthday to you dad ally hi to jo
By for now

[JoM]

Hiya Saundra xx

[meriad]

Merry morning you lot - morning all

Happy birthday to your dad Ally and ((hugs)) for you for yesterday; rubbishy news is never good
Jan, can't believe that you're so cold there - and that without central heating; eeeeeeek!!!!! Bet the fires are both roaring at full steam.
Jo, very wet here again as well, it's meant to drizzle the whole day and the forecast for the next few days doesn't look much better sadly.
Saundra, enjoy that sunshine for us please

Usual work day for me - have a conference call from 12.30 - 3pm that I need to be a bystander for. It's a locked meeting so people can only enter the actual meeting if I let them in (I have the power!!! ) but it does mean I need to be at the computer all the time and listen to a boring board meeting.

Have a lovely day all x

[Osc]

Morning all, it’s dull and dreary out there but definitely not as cold as last week. No plan for the day, will go with the flow. We might take Michael and Kellie for a walk this afternoon to give Miss Osc and SIL a break. They probably won’t get the keys to the new house till next week (it’s exciting to type that!) so they have another weekend now to pack.

[meriad]

Oh and was meant to update re the family in South Africa.

Youngest niece there, Carissa - originally due to fly back to Germany on 31st December but couldn't because of a positive C19 result.
She redid her covid test and it came back negative on 9th January and she flew back on the 10th. She needed the negative result for check-in but at no other point was she asked for it and apparently because she has that negative result she doesn't have to self isolate in Germany; not sure why but hey ho.

Eldest niece Bianca and her husband and son - originally due to emigrate from SA to The Netherlands on 27th December. Bianca and baby tested positive, husband was negative
They delayed their flight by 10 days and had another test done and this time all three came back positive; so they had to delay yet again. They went for a third test yesterday and today received the news that they are now negative and are clear to fly; so they're leaving tomorrow to start their new lives in Europe. They however do have to self-isolate for 10 days which I think does make a bit more sense and Duncan starts work the day he comes out of self-isolation

But all in all we are just very grateful that everyone in the family that had the virus had fairly mild symptoms and that they're all now fully recovered and able to move on. It's been an incredibly stressful (and dare I say costly) time what with the uncertainty of it all. But it has been very interesting how different the impact of the virus has been. My brother has not had any symptoms at all and has had two tests, both come back negative, despite being in a household of C19 positive people. Bianca by far had the worst time, and even then she got off really lightly and mainly struggled with exhaustion and short of breath; but then everything probably made worse by trying to pack up a household ready for emigration and then live with parents and all this with a super active 18 month old toddler - it's a lot in one go.

But as said; just super grateful for everyone to have come out of this healthy and well x

[cromwell]

Reading all that Ria there has to be a question mark about how accurate the test is. Anyway, I hope they all get where they need to be, swiftly and safely.
Happy birthday to your dad Ally and fingers crossed for good news Jan.
Morning all. Grey and dull here. In a while we are going to drop some bits off for MrsC's dad at the care home, and drop some shopping off for her uncle Jim.
We are a bit worried about our neighbour Sergio. He's been depressed about this whole covid thing and has had a bad cough, like he did last year. We have given him a ring this morning but no answer. So we'll check again later. His ex-wife (they are on good terms) has been around a lot over the last few days, so he's not been short of company.
And that's about it. Fish pie for tea tonight.
Have a good day all.

[jenniren]

Morning all

Wet and miserable here

Happy Birthday to your dad Ally.
Good luck today Jan xx
Glad to hear your family are all well and healthy Ria.

I have an appointment at our local hospital for a diabetic blood test at 1pm. Our numbers are so high here I did think of cancelling, after all I haven't had a blood test for a year now so reason says a few more weeks wouldn't hurt. I'm not sure how they are managing the social distancing, the test area is in the old building, there's a very narrow corridor to get there and the reception and waiting area isn't much bigger than a cupboard. I will go, but if I'm not happy with the way things are set up, I'll just turn round and come home.

Hope you all have a good day, stay safe and warm xx