The Distancing Diaries - 22nd & 23rd March, 2021

It was just 1°C when I got up on Monday morning but I optimistically pegged a pair of jeans I'd washed the previous evening on the line on my way to the stockroom to collect the garments that had sold overnight. After my Wii Fit workout, I swept the lounge rug as it was covered in crumbs from Sunday evening's lazy tea and then wrapped my parcels ready for the post office run.

A friend alerted me to a local Facebook group who'd been photographing and discussing my craftivism banners (I've gone viral!)  I'd started stitching one the previous evening and, while Jon was out shopping, settled down and made another.

After our noodles, we whizzed up to the garden centre as I wanted to sow along with Monty Don next Friday and needed some dahlia seeds. I absolutely loved our nasturtiums which bloomed for months last year and couldn't resist some Black Velvet seeds either.

Back at home, as they weren't particularly fruitful last year we moved the red & blackcurrant bushes from the chimney pots on the patio to where the bamboo used to live. I planted my ginger and swept the gravel and patio whilst Jon sewed nasturtium seeds in the chimney pots and a variety of lettuce seeds in one of the old Ikea lampshades.

We went for a walk around the block and did a bit more sign-bombing. 

Wear:Sleep: Repeat continued with the rewearing of my Hmong dress, this time over my thermal polo neck and Afghan waistcoat (both eBay) and topped with a plum fedora.

A flash of my 80 denier Suffragette Snag tights (a birthday present from Liz & Adrian)

I'd finished The Machine (superb!) the previous evening so needed to find a book for my bedtime reading. This was bought from the charity shop before lockdown, we stockpiled books, not pasta and bog roll! I've got the feeling this will be a tremendously harrowing read but it comes recommended by Arundhati Roy, a writer - and human being -  I adore. 

Tea was sag aloo sausages, jacket wedges and mushy peas. Later I did a bit more stitching, watched the final episode of Amsterdam Vice and Unforgotten before retiring to bed with my book.

On Tuesday morning I did my Wii Fit workout before catching up with blog comments. After breakfast, I finished my sewing at the kitchen table.

On our walk yesterday I'd peered over the fence near the gate and noticed to my horror that it had become another dumping ground for every passing scutter in the area so my first job of the day was the pick the litter lurking in the bushes.

That done I attached the sign I'd finished over breakfast.

Jon needed to reinstall the rope lights Storm Ellen had brought down last Summer so his mission was to get the area ready, starting by removing the spiky bastard threatening to engulf the garden wall. 

Next up was to trim the tree that overhangs the pond, fortunately, one of the few without a preservation order slapped on it. He sawed and lopped whilst I dodged falling branches and cleared up in his wake.

After a break for noodles the garage called to say that Gilbert had passed his MOT. The mechanic had fitted some new shock absorbers prior to his test and needed payment in cash when Jon collected him tomorrow so he drove down to the nearest ATM a bit perplexed, he'd not used one for over a year!

 I decided to have a bash at clearing more of the bamboo. I didn't expect to get much done but two hours later and hands blistered to buggery I'd managed to shift a lot more than I'd expected to.

The root pile is now taller than I am! I think Jon might be taking a trip to the council tip in the next few days.

Cash withdrawn, gave the laurel bush next to the pond a severe haircut before we called it a day and retired to the shelter for an al fresco posh coffee.

Wear:Sleep: Repeat meant another outing for my Afghan waistcoat, this time worn with a vintage India Imports of Rhode Island maxi skirt, a me-made pom-pom hat & my 1970s Janet Wood for Monsoon Afghan blouse.

The details: Clarks Orinoco Club Chelsea boots & vintage leather belt (both charity shopped), Indian chandelier earrings (gift from a friend) and some tribal bangles.

72 days into my challenge, what will I wear tomorrow? (Something bamboo-proof, I expect!)

Tea was pizza with salad. Jon's making music, I'm catching up with blogland and we'll reunite at 8pm for the final of Interior Design Challenge. If you haven't already seen it Nick Broomfield: My Father and Me (on the BBC i-Player) is utterly mesmerising.

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Stay safe and well and see you soon!