12th May

I was quite sad this morning when I found a dead gecko in one of the cats' drinking bowls.  I didn't know how long it had been there so I lifted it out and placed it where it could get a bit of sunlight but sadly it didn't come round so I had to hide it in the garden out of the way of the cats.



Our task for today was to empty the old pump house box which we had filled with wood and move it out into the carport so we could get our dining area back.  This was not without some difficulty as I had helpers in the form of Boris when it was full and Charlie when it was empty.  I half expected to find all sorts of wildlife lurking in the depths but there was nothing thank goodness.

We have all sorts of 'stuff' lurking around that John doesn't like to get rid of.  These three concrete blocks have been in the carport for some time and when I asked what he planned to do with them he said he was going to plant them up so as I had some compost loafing around and we have a glut of a succulent that you can just snap off and dig in that is exactly what it did - I think the plant is called Aptenia or the Iceplant.

We also got round to moving the box that we have had on Gregoris's drive for ages and which housed our beach stuff and we tidied up that area for them.  Their front garden is like a wilderness so if it is a bit cooler next week I shall give that a haircut - certainly it wont be before then as we have been promised a mini-heatwave.

We stopped this afternoon to wish Great Uncle Stanley a happy birthday as he and Jackie are locked down like John's Mum.  He was in good spirits although he said the weather with him was brassic and he and Jacky are still hopeful that they may still get out here with Janet later in the year - we hope so too if it is safe for them to do so.

I had to make a modification to our masks today - they are reusable and washable but the washing has turned the surface of the fabric into something akin to cotton wool and it gets in my eyes and mouth and up my nose and is very unpleasant so John had the brilliant idea of lining them with a handkerchief which he was more than happy to give up to the cause.  I cannot tell you what a difference that made and so I was able to wear it without feeling like I was being smothered.  He has subsequently made a further modification by threading some fine wire through the seam at the top so I can mould it around my face and it doesn't sit on the bridge of my nose.

All in all it was a productive day and we were pleased to be able to tick another job off the To-Do list.

The Ration Book says
In Sheffield looters operated on a wholesale scale and a judge in Leeds spoke of 'two men who had abandoned well-paid positions, one of them earning £7 to £9 a week, and work of public importance, and who abandoned it to take up the obviously  more remunerative occupation of looting'.