The Distancing Diairies - 7th & 8th January, 2021

Thursday morning was frosty with freezing fog. The lads weren't out for long and were already tucked up back in bed by the time I'd finished my Wii Fit workout. 

Jon was up early as he needed to take Stephen to the vets for this thyroid check-up (all good) and, because we'd forgotten to taken the blueberries out of the freezer, we had porridge with bananas and honey for breakfast. 

While Jon & Stephen were out I did a load of washing then took the plants down from the kitchen shelf and left them to soak in the sink. I wrapped more ebay parcels, ironed some stock and spent the rest of the morning taking photos.

Jon nipped down to the Post Office and was back in minutes. I thought he'd abandoned his mission but it turned out he was the only person there and was in and out in no time. We had noodles for lunch, I uploaded my listings to eBay and then we went for a walk around the block.

The temperature stayed at minus something all day and the ice was lethal. We had to walk in the middle of the road on our jaunt around the block, not that there's any traffic to endanger us. Over the top of my thermal bodysuit and leggings I'm wearing a vintage block printed kaftan bought from mates, Olds Cool Traders, a charity shopped cable knit hat and a maxi length crochet cardi Mum made in the 1970s from unraveled jumpers she'd bought from jumble sales.

I've been using PicMonkey to edit my photos for years but they'd updated their operating system and not only was the programme really slow but it was making the PC sound like a spaceship taking off so Jon spent the afternoon deleting files while I made myself scarce by cleaning the bathroom.

Tea was a Sri Lankan roasted cauliflower curry with yellow rice, using one of the SPICE SULTAN spice kits Tony had bought us for Xmas. (A fantastic idea for a gift).

INGREDIENTS (serves 2) 

• Small Cauliflower cut into florets 
• Thinly sliced red pepper
• I medium onion, roughly chopped
• Thumb size piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 can chopped tomatoes
• Tin of coconut milk
• 100 ml veg stock
• Juice of a lime 
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Spice mix: coriander, turmeric, cumin powder, fennel seeds, cardamon pods, chili powder, fenugreek, black peppercorns, cloves, black mustard seeds (2 tbsp)

METHOD:

1. Combine 1 tbsp oil, cauliflower & pepper on a roasting tray and cook in a 180°C oven for 40 minutes, turning halfway through
2. Blitz ginger, onion and spice mix with veg stock in blender. 
3. Fry mix in 1 tbsp oil in a heavy based pan for 5 mins, add tomatoes, coconut milk, sugar, lime juice and stir thoroughly. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
4. Add roasted vegetables, stir through and serve with rice.

We shared a bottle of Kingfisher and watched the latest government announcement while we waited for it to cook. We loved The Serpent, watching three episodes back-to-back the previous evening. After tea we watched a couple more. Superb acting, great costumes, stunning locations and an edge-of-the-seat plot. Highly recommended.

It had snowed through the night and when I opened the door on Friday morning the garden was white. After my Wii Fit workout I put away yesterday's laundry and replaced the plants I'd left soaking in the sink. After our fruit and yogurt breakfast I put the rest of the houseplants in the bath and gave them a thorough misting. Jon drove to the council tip to dispose of the cardboard from the wood delivery. 

Regardless of whether anyone other than Jon and the lads see me, I wear makeup every day. I switch the radio on, sit on the rug in the spare bedroom and apply my slap. Wearing it means I'm ready to face the day. I always use Barry M's Feature Length mascara, eyebrow powder & extra waterproof black eyeliner and Sleek creme blusher in Crimson. I alternate between Maybelline's Superstay Matt Lip Ink in either Heroine, Romantic or Ruler, which I discovered back in 2018 and have worn constantly ever since (I buy mine from eBay as they're usually at least half the retail price). I've got two eye shadow palettes, Shipwrecked by Barry M is my current favourite (I usually use the earthy brown, khaki green, inky blue, brick red or dusky lilac). 

I've never worn foundation. I've used Superdrug's Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream for over twenty years, I love the subtle gold shimmer, that it's cruelty free and costs less than a fiver...oh, yes and I also love that it doesn't smell of anything. I hate perfumed face creams. Nail paint by Barry M, as always (this is Salt Lake).

I swept the landing and dusted the bookshelf, the crafting cupboard and poodle parlour before joining Jon for noodles.

It had been snowing for most of the day although it hadn't stuck.We went for a walk, passing the doctor's surgery where a steady stream of the town's elderly were receiving their Covid vaccines. It seemed colder than ever and I was glad to get back inside after I'd posed for a photo in the garden when we got back.

FRIDAY: Vintage dress (present from friends, G'n'T), Doc Martens & 1960s leather backed gloves (both charity shopped), 1970s sheepskin trimmed jacket (Ebay), pompom hat (made by me)

I'm wearing a 1970s Collier Campbell for Liberty printed wool maxi. There's a matching marabou trimmed capelet that goes with the dress but I've packed it away as it seemed a bit over-top for walking around the block, even for me! 

It was Jon's turn to go outside and break up the ice in the bird bath, we're doing this twice a day at the moment! Meanwhile I spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out my Ebay packaging supplies, answering questions, responding to offers and wrapping the latest sales. I did intend to touch up my roots but there's always tomorrow (and hats!) 

 Tea was a sweet potato, spinach and chick pea curry (recipe for the basic curry paste HERE) with some vegetable rice. It's Friday which means rum, cola, a wedge of lime and the final three episodes of The Serpent. I didn't realise until I did some online research that the series was written by the chap behind the wonderful Ripper Street, no wonder we love it.

Stay safe and see you soon!

 I would wish you a happy weekend but do we even have them any more?