WottaScorcher

 

Quite a bit has happened since I last posted.

We didn't win the Scarecrow competition, but we got 'Most Futuristic Scarecrow'. Quite funny actually as going around the village all scarecrows are reasonably conventional - until you come to my road where everybody has done a completely unconventional scarecrow. We have Most Futuristic, Most Colourful and Most Ecological in my road. 

We were going to go around the village to do the Scarecrow 'map', but it's sooo hot (I'll come back to that).

I didn't post for 2 reasons last week. Firstly I'm studying for a new qualification and so I was heads down on that. It's going ok, but I've still got a long way to go. 

The second reason was that I thought on Friday I was going to get some news about my job - whether or not I'd be going back. I thought I'd wait until then before posting. But I still don't have any greater clarity. I'm really desperate to get back into things and so this is a major blow. I really love my job and the travel industry is a real family - it's hard to explain unless you've been part of it. Also normally if you do move you move to another area of the travel industry and right now the whole industry is in a total mess.

If I'm not going to have a job to go back to I'd like to know so I can plan for the future - planning for the future requires knowledge of whether I'll get redundancy or not. As I've been on furlough for so long I have literally no nest egg left. So this clarity does matter. As you know I've also mentioned that with an uncertain future you end up preparing for every potential and that's utterly exhausting. Quite a few people at work have heard their fate - it's difficult being one of the last ones.

I know people are jealous of those of us on furlough. I'm massively grateful that the scheme was put in place, but if you're working trust me the grass is not greener on the other side. Although it's 80% of 'a' salary it is capped, unfortunately the salary it's capped at is what I was earning in 1998. Yes I appreciate I'm lucky with this - but my bills are in line with the salary I was earning pre-furlough.

The long break has enabled me to do lots of things that I wouldn't have been able to do. Including doing some really meaty training that will be very useful whatever my future holds and for that I'm really grateful. It also makes childcare during summer holidays easier - although childcare has been quite intensive this year - I'm sure you'll all agree!!

I'm trying to get my son ready for his new senior school in September. A lot of his uniform can be reused from his junior school which is lucky - although he's had a massive growth spurt since he was last in. I've got him a new blazer (I'd normally go second hand, but that's complex at the moment) and a new jumper and tie. It's shoes that are proving difficult. He appears to have gone from a size 4 to a size 6 in the space of 5 months. Although I can't be sure. The shoe shops don't seem to be measuring feet right now. 

Yesterday we tried to get him sports shoes, but the shops haven't been having their normal deliveries and nothing would fit his feet. A little frustrating as the guy in the sports shop refused to measure his feet - saying that measuring feet didn't mean anything. Then insisted in guessing the size, then saying there was nothing in his size. I managed not to scream too loudly. Then we went to get him his proper school shoes - only to find that all the shoe shops appear to have shut down completely during the pandemic.

So we came back home and I've ordered a shoe sizer online. Once we have that I can measure his feet then we'll just have to order something online and keep our fingers crossed. Everything is just so chuffing complicated right now!

Weather has gone mental - it is sooooo hot out there. Has been for three days now. I have a thyroid problem, this means that my body finds it difficult to regulate heat. If I get cold I get REALLY cold and I can't move from that point. If I get hot I get REALLY hot and I can't move from that point. The cold one is reasonably easy as I can throw on some extra clothes and cuddle a hot water bottle and slowly my body regulates. Hot is a different thing though. 

Just to help you understand quite how hot it's been. On Friday morning I did a wash and put this out to dry. I then had an hours call from work (the one I mentioned). By the end of that call the clothes were bone dry and ready to come in. I've been watering the garden at 7.00 in the morning - coming in from that minor activity dripping with sweat (a lovely picture I know). Then doing the same again at about 9.00 at night. 

Last night we all had a cold bath (not at the same time I hasten to add) - it was so lovely and I managed to keep that coolness for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately my temperature started to go up just before bed. I have to say that being by the sea heat is never quite as bad as it is inland and often you do have a breeze. I have this secret spot that I know of down by Brighton marina - not going to tell you where. But you can walk to it - it's quite a bit out at sea and it's in shade. I haven't visited it yet during this mini heatwave, maybe I will today if I can get through enough of the training I'm doing.

One of my friends owns the cafe and pitch and putt near the Marina. They've re-opened and are doing food outside. I had meant to walk there for lunch yesterday, but it was just too hot and the prospect of sitting outside in the sunshine didn't appeal. I hope to go later this week. If you know the cafe and haven't tried it I can wholeheartedly recommend it. The food is amazing and really good value. Plus.... drum-roll........ it has free parking - yup you heard right you can actually park there. Quite a novelty in Brighton.

I could really do with winning the lottery this week. I desperately want an electric bike - after the lady Mary Poppins'd me in Barnstable. Where I live is really hilly - yes if I get to the seafront I could do a stunning cycle for miles, it's just the getting to and from the seafront bit - that requires energy I do not have. I was looking at them yesterday in the sports shop. They are considerably cheaper than they were a year ago, but you're still looking at about £600. I also really want an inflatable kayak - again this is going to be about £350 and on top of that I need life jackets and other bits and bobs. 

It's frustrating that when I have time to be doing things like going out on a bike and going out on a kayak, what I fail to have is enough disposable income to actually purchase said items. Although I do have to remind myself that even if I was working full time it's unlikely I'd have been in a position to afford the items either. This is where the lottery comes in.

The trees at the end of my garden are turning for winter - it's not unusual - happens this time every year. The leaves get scorched by the sun and the sea wind and so autumn starts for them in mid-July. It does feel strange to me though - as if 2020 has gone by in a blur and at the same time been endless hours of weirdness. 

So I think we've pretty much caught up again - I'll try not to leave it so long this time - although as soon as I post this I'm going back to my training. So if it is a long stint it just means my concentration levels are working well.

Oh and just to mention that mum's doing ok. Her heart hasn't caused her any problems since the operation. She's still struggling with the pain from the knee operation - but she's doing it without anything except paracetamol as she doesn't like the way the painkillers make her feel (yup my mother is definitely a strong and brave individual). Fingers crossed soon she'll be back to her gym and being a zumba queen.