The Post People were very busy last week. Three letters from Catherine, and three essays on the back of the envelopes. The first envelope arrived with a quiz in it but with no explanation. Silly me, I forgot to look on the back of the envelope for the explanation “Word Quiz enclosed, forgot to tell you. You have the same time to complete it as us (2 hours at the Club). This one is so easy, you could stand on your heads and do it. We managed (Mary and me) 56 words and I’m sure you will do better”. I am glad Catherine has confidence in Liz and me. We managed 67 words over breakfast.

The following day, another envelope arrived, with a quiz and no explanation. Back of the envelope again. “Isabella, you could do this puzzle sitting on your haunches. You have 10 to 15 minutes to do it in. If you can’t hold a pen, you will have to ask Liz or Barbara to help you. Happy hunting!” Isabella, of course, is the cat!!

The third letter arrived yesterday. A proper letter, on lined paper, with neat hand-writing. On the back of the envelope it says (and I did wonder if there was actually anything in the letter since there was so much on the envelope): “I can read my letter, several times sometimes, before it makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. I’m sure you will sort me out, Barbara. After all, it’s not everyone who has a ‘storm’ named after them. On the news, it says that the Royal Mail are collecting parcels from the house. Do you think, one day, they might collect letters as well. Thank you to the Postal Workers for collecting and delivering my letter. I’ve run out of space now. Well, nothing left to say. I do have something else to say. The dustmen (unusual word) have taken my empty bin right to the front door. Thank you.”

Update: Isabella is rubbish at doing quizzes!

19 October 2020

“First, I am going back to 12 October. It was a year since my husband Bruce, and Amanda’s Dad, passed away. I wasn’t sure what I would be doing that day but Amanda phoned and said she and Wade were on their way to pick me up and take me out. Our destination was Finchingfield. Bruce and I used to visit there. It has a village green, tea shop, antique shop and ducks. We had our lunch out, that was lovely, then we went to the pond. Amanda had duck pelletts. I loved feeding the ducks, loads everywhere. The ducks were skimming across the pond, mouths open as if to say ‘we’re coming, save some for us’. I said ‘come on then!’. I enjoyed my day with Amanda and Wade. It was a lovely surprise. Thank you.

I’m a bit into sport, watched the French Open a couple of weeks ago. I watched the highlights of the golf at Wentworth, must have been boring as I sank into a deep sleep. As I woke up I saw an apparition of Amanda, dressed in black with a white strip round her waist. Her hair was on top of her head in a bun. I looked for Wade, couldn’t see him, then I wondered how she got in the house. Then Amanda was gone (No, I hadn’t been drinking). It felt very weird. (It sounds very weird).

The following day, I couldn’t remember how to use the tin opener. The ring-pull on Tilly’s cat food tin had come off. It took me four hours to realise you put the opener on top of the tin and not the side to open it! Going down hill slowly!!

Saturday, decided to have Toad in the Hole, made the batter, put it in the oven then realised I hadn’t put an egg in the batter mix. I quickly beat an egg up, took the dish out of the oven and vigorously swirled the egg in, dish back in the oven and it turned out delicious!

Sunday, Amanda and I ‘zoomed’ into Barbara and Liz’s living room. Liz turned the computer round so we could see their lovely plates, jugs, mugs and dresser. It’s homely and we saw Isabella curled up in her chair. Amanda and I both said ‘Aaaah’. I know Barbara doesn’t like to talk about herself in my Diary but, both of us enjoying talking and laughing with Barbara and Liz. It’s like having a dose of medicine to cheer us up, also we put the world to rights. At Amanda’s I had a chicken roast dinner, and, shock horror, on my plate were two and a half b—–y Brussel Sprouts, which I ate first to get rid of them! I also texted Christopher asking him how he was, and blow me down with a feather duster, he phoned me. He said he would phone for a change. Anyway, I found out that he had pulled a ligament in his leg, and I’m sure, Barbara, that you are waiting in anticipation to know. Well, he was bouncing over-zealously (his words not mine) on his trampoline. Another month it will be much better. Christopher, I suggest you give up trampoline. It’s not doing you any good. Not on the phone long as it was Zoom Time with his grandchildren.

I’ve had a good week and weekend. Monday I return to normality. It was Club Day. I walked both ways. Instead of a metre apart, we sat two metres apart which meant one person per table. Had to raise my voice to be heard! There was eight of us but with this extra spacing we can only have 12 at the most. I’m sending Isabella the quiz. I’m sure you will both help her. It’s easy again, only 10-15 minutes.

Off to bed now; it’s gone 12am. My last words to the cats, Amanda and Christine and anyone else who’s listening are “Night night. God Bless. See you in the morning, the Lord be willing”

Late getting up for the bins, forgot to write the time to get up on my forehead. It’s foolproof if you haven’t got an alarm clock. I haven’t got round to buying one yet. See you anon”.

Catherine has chosen the tea towel to be associated with this Diary entry: one of Finchingfield, because, of course, I have one of Finchingfield. I believe Essex is in Tier 2 now. Keep safe! And Liz and I really enjoyed meeting up with Catherine and Amanda on Zoom, a little normality in an abnormal world, although I would have liked the Chicken Roast Dinner, including sprouts!

Nothing on the back of the envelope, what will the Postal People think? What do I think? But still using the larger writing paper with, lines on both sides and very neat hand-writing. Text: “Apparently, we (Essex) are moving to Tier 2 at the weekend”. I expect there will be more about this in the next Diary.

“Re: the back of my last envelope, I have decided that I will eat spinach. I did two lumps with cabbage, carrots and a stock cube, really nice with the chicken and roast potatoes. I counted the ‘lumps’, I have 18 left. I divided them into two bags, hoping they didn’t look too many. Ha Ha, who was I kidding?

When people go shopping, do they look where their food comes from? Most of our chicken comes from Poland. Do we not have English chickens? You can’t beat our strawberries and asparagus, and Scottish raspberries. I like fruit from South Africa and Italian tomatoes. I could go on, but best not.

At long last, I have an appointment for eye laser treatment on 15 October, fingers crossed. In Epping I bought a fat ball feeder so the birds are set up for winter now (forgot to tell you that in my last Diary). Watching the news, in Italy Police go on the buses and check people are wearing a face mask, if not they are fined. People here don’t always wear a mask on the buses or in the shopping centre, large signs telling you which way to walk but they are mostly ignored. Last ‘feeds’ done. Must pick up the saucers as I have discovered Tinker finishes Tilly’s food up and Tilly leaves bits on her saucer.

Bed early as I have to be up early. Flu injection day. I asked Amanda to give me a ‘wake up’ call. Booked taxi for 8.45am, can’t rely on the buses that time of the morning, also have to wear a face mask in the vehicle now. Arrived at Boots early, filled in the form. I was asked if I was allergic to chicken or eggs (which I’m not), injection done, given a four-page leaflet about the vaccine and the side effects, five minute sit down to check I’m ok. After meeting Wendy for coffee, went home and as expected my arm became really painful, especially in the night. It woke me up!

Saturday, Amanda and Wade came round bringing a bag of litter, two more big boxes of cat food, it’s taking over my living room!! Amanda liked the socks and would like another pair. Re our text message: I actually brought ‘Mr Sheen’ halfway down the stairs and polished my ‘Whatnots’ shelves and Bruces Clay Pigeon medals, shock to the system. His brother (Mr Sheen’s brother) is still in my bedroom, waiting in anticipation to be used. Would also like to say that I have three WD40s. Bruce was a great believer in the stuff. In the shed are two bottles of Meths. No idea what he wanted that for!!

Shock, horror, when Lindy came for a cup of tea yesterday, she was greeted with a really flattened mouse on top of my wheelie bin and a dead bird in the front garden. Though squeamish herself, she volunteered to dispose of them for me. So it was spade and dustpan requested. Never seen such a flat mouse and it was greyish. Are they that colour as well? Also yesterday I had two doves in the garden, eating out of the same bowl, along with Robins. I think of them as my mystical birds. For the last three days I have had a Robin singing outside my windows. I believe Bruce is close by. It is a year today that Bruce passed away and it doesn’t feel real.

I had a second letter, within two days, from the eye unit. Still have an appointment on the same day but the time has changed from 3pm to 1.30pm. Seems a waste of postage. Why not ring up?

Stay safe”

Today’s choice of a tea towel is the Robin since Catherine has referred to the Robin as her mystical bird, around for the anniversary of Bruce’s death. Catherine, I hope you like this tea towel, designed by Clare Baird.

It seems like a long time since I received the last ‘Catherine’s Diary’. It’s funny how you get a weird sense of time during this Coronavirus Pandemic; time passes slowly, times passes very quickly, you have no idea how long it is to Christmas. Catherine has had a bit of a difficult time recently but today it arrived, with the message on the back of the envelope:

“I was thinking I don’t need to do a ‘Round Robin’ letter this year, as I’m already doing one but look forward to your one, Barbara.  Also spinach going the same way as Brussels.  Don’t like frozen spinach, can’t waste it, got to try and eat it.  Thinking I will have some today, but knowing full well I won’t.  Thank you Postal People for collecting my letter and sending it to Nottingham.”  (These messages seem to get longer, soon they will be longer than the Diary.  I do think that Catherine is right, she’s done her bit for keeping in touch with family).  I am delighted that Catherine has got some new writing paper; new paper has inspired very neat hand-writing.  But no dates today!  So to the story:

“This is the third draft, can’t seem to get into writing but after texting Barbara this morning, have a bit more oomph!

I got up at the unearthly time of 6.30am, dustbin day, had to get the bins to the front of the path, then fed breakfast to my three ‘priorities’.  I didn’t want to stay up as it makes the day extra long, so went back to bed and as I laid there I thought of P.E. at school.  I’ve got a vivid imagination (it’s got me through life) and I thought I could never be a World Champion Gymnast.  Like Barbara I didn’t like our P.E. teacher, or P.E., especially as she made me go first, doing handstands and somersaults.  I hate being upside down!  I think this all came about because I am watching so much tennis, and the players are so athletic.  I don’t normally watch so much tennis but it’s been excellent and I cam always say that ‘I’m watching it for Christine’ who is in hospital again.  She loves her tennis and has been known to watch it to the wee small hours of the day.  I’ve kept your pronouncing of the French equivalent of the tennis scores as I hear a tinge of Beatrice’s voice in your voice, Barbara.  (Strangers reading this will have no idea what Catherine meant by this reference to the French Open.  Catherine texted me and asked what the French for 15, 30, 40 and deuce was.  I replied.  A couple of days later she texts me and asks me to ring her and leave a voicemail.  She promised not to answer the phone.  She wanted me to say 15, 30, 40 and deuce in French.  I am the last person to ask this of because I have a terrible French, and any other foreign, accent and I hate speaking in foreign languages because I am so self-conscious.  Anyway, for my Aunt, I did this.  It felt really weird.  Little did I know I would sound like my mother, Beatrice.  Hope that explains things).  The male umpires are much clearer than the female ones.

It is a bright sunny day here today, and dry!  The dark evenings are drawing in fast.  I’ve still loads of ‘snipping’ to do.  I want to keep mowing the grass, got to keep my garden bin full.  Blackie and I are in training, as I want him to have his last meal indoors.  I still don’t like going to the greenhouse and also it should stop the foxes popping by for food, and the fireworks will be around soon.

Last week was ‘Vet Day’ for Tilly and Tinker.  Amanda was taking me there.  What a trial getting them in the carriers.  I blocked the room off but they were packed tightly in the cat stand.  It was a waiting game to see who moved first.  Tilly started to move first, I went to get her but she escaped my clutches and hid behind the settee so I pulled it out.  Then she wedged herself between the wall and the cabinet, my chance was here, got hold of her stomach and managed to to pick her up, shoved her in the cat basket.  Relief.  One to go, rest for 5 minutes.  Tinker was a bit easier but her nails were stuck in the carpet, got my hands on her bulge and somehow managed to dislodge her nails, up in the air, legs out wide, got her in the carrier.  Silence reigned.

Arrived at the vets.  My favourite vet, Mrs Parrish, is on duty.  She says that Tilly has a wonky tooth.  It should fall out when she eats her food.  Tinker, on the other hand, who has been on a ‘no biscuit and less food’ regime has put on 70gms so the vet said to put her down to one and a half sachets.  It’s going to be hard.  This cat adores her food, she even eats old dried bits of food, if she can find them!  Amanda said start the new diet from November, do it gradual, won’t be such a shock to her system.  Overall check was fine, their nails cut, flea capsule on their necks, plus yearly injections, all ship-shape.  Home, out of the cages and they escaped upstairs, didn’t see them all day!

Monday was out to Epping with Wendy, a ride on the bus, not many people on them now.  Amanda wanted some warm socks.  There is a shop called ‘Fatface’ (Never heard of it before).  I bought a couple of pairs.  If they are ok I can get some more.  Popped into ‘Marks’ (M&S); it only does a small amount of clothes, the rest is food.  I bought salad items and ham, just fancied something light for a change.

At 3pm, tea and Victoria Sponge at Vivienne and Michael’s, passed a couple of hours.  When I leave, they always say if I need them, day or night, please ring, which I find comforting.  Tuesday afternoon is ‘Club Day’.  I actually walked again, 25 minutes it took.  The only thing I don’t like is that I have to go through an underpass which is quite dark, even in day light.  This may sound silly but I took my purse and keys out of my handbag and put them in my pockets and clipped the pockets shut.  I remember years ago, Bruce’s Mum had the straps of her handbag cut with scissors while she walked home, and they got away with her bag.  Arrived at the Club.  We are now down to six.  It was 12, two weeks ago.  We had refreshments and did a ‘Cake Quiz’.  I only got 15 questions right but it was fun.  I have sent Liz the quiz, the world’s greatest cake maker.  Managed to walk home again but did have an afternoon nap.  I was tired from all that walking.  Amanda texted ‘Excellent’ when I told her!  Off now to post this letter.  Thank you Barbara for our Text Talk this morning, you got me motivated to write again.  Cheerio for now!”

Another challenge.  Which tea towel to choose for this Diary entry?  I thought to myself “which is my newest tea towel?” And then remembered that Amanda, my cousin and Catherine’s daughter, had recently sent me a present, a new tea towel from the National Gallery which hadn’t had an outing yet.  Catherine probably hasn’t seen it so this is the one that I will use.  Thank you Amanda!

The combination of the World of Tea Towels and the World of Social Media can introduce you to some interesting, and fascinating, people across the world. I love it. Beth often reads my Tea Towel Blogs. She read Rocky the Robin on 28 September 2020 and told me about her Puffin Tea Towel. I don’t know how I have the cheek but I asked Beth to send me a photo because I hadn’t seen that one. She sent me one, then another because she thought it was a better photo. This is a great tea towel and I asked Beth if she would like to be a Guest Tea Towel. She accepted the challenge and then sent a third photo. This is her story:

“Tea towels aren’t terribly common in the US. That’s not to say that you can’t find them here, but not as easily as you can in the UK. We seem to gravitate toward the more utilitarian dish towel. Not very pretty, but certainly functional. Some years back, I discovered Scotland-themed tea towels for sale on Etsy.com [my love of all things Scottish is legendary amongst my friends] and decided they would make great throw pillows. What a super way to display these wonderful pictures! I didn’t really think that plan through though. I managed to make six or eight pillows before I realized that they were overrunning my home. As much as I loved my vintage piper-turned-pillow-tea-towel, or my map of Scotland made entirely of town and village names [also now a pillow], I just didn’t have any more room for them. Sigh. So, I began buying them with a view toward actually using them every day in my kitchen. Now I certainly don’t have even a fraction of the number of towels in the Virtual Tea Towel Museum, but I can’t seem to pass up a striking or pretty towel of a Scottish nature.

I love Scotland so much, I save my vacation time for two years at a stretch, and use that time for a month-long vacation there. That may sound extravagant, but it doesn’t make much sense to take a shorter vacation there when you are traveling from California. My older body is no longer tolerant of long stretches on an airplane, and it takes me longer each trip to recover. My most recent trip there was scheduled for this past May. I normally like to vacation there in September, but it has been a long-time dream of mine to see puffins. After doing a bit of research, I found that puffins have left their nesting grounds each year by sometime in August, so I was never able to see them during past visits. This year’s vacation was planned especially to see the puffins. And then life proved that all my plans meant nothing in the grand scheme of things when COVID-19 came along.

I think I was Googling puffins when I came across the picture of Clare Baird’s colorful puffin. I fell in love immediately, not only with the puffin artwork, but Clare’s work in general. Her style is at once both realistic and whimsical. It wasn’t a difficult decision at all to add this beautiful towel to my expanding collection. Every time I look at it, I am reminded that with any luck, I will be able to see a puffin in real life, hopefully in May of 2021. Until then, the towel will have to suffice.”

What a great story. I have found that there are many places I would like to revisit but don’t have the time or energy to do so and a tea towel suffices. Thank you Beth for sharing the story and I do hope you get there in time for the puffins. Try Isle of May, Lunga, Orkney or if you go just south of the border to the Farne Islands. I’m off to see if the Puffin is on Clare’s website!!