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Loosening A Bit

The lockdown has started to loosen. There are more people about, but nowhere near normal amounts. I think the buses will start getting back to normal soon. Front door opening will return, after drivers’ cabs have been sealed more firmly. Nothing can be made 100% of course.

There’s a debate now going on at work about air-conditioning. Some buses have an airflow that goes around the passenger area and the drivers cab. Some of these buses can be modified, but some can’t. Those that can’t will be turned off. This is causing complaints about overheating in the warm weather. It’s not an easy situation.

Most of the staff that were off work have now returned although we do have staff furloughed and some still off sick, but nowhere near the amount we had just a few weeks ago.

It’s been a lovely day here today. Sunny and warm with afternoon temperatures reaching 82°F (27°C). It’s a warm dry evening too.

Getting some web work done this evening before turning in for the night.

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That Was Tuesday

I had a few issues to deal with as soon as I got to work today. Got everything sorted though. Waded through some emails, answering some, and finding out more information about others.

I had some random drug tests to witness around lunchtime, and then I eventually got to sit down and have a sandwich and a coffee or two. As there’s nowhere open at work to get coffee, I take a flask in with me each day.

I got home just after 5pm, and had leftovers from yesterday for dinner; sliced roasted pork and bean salad which was tasty.

I then did some web site work, before settling down for the night.

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Sunny Sunday

Got up a bit late, so breakfast was really brunch. Simply done, it was chipolatas, fried eggs, tomatoes and toast. With coffee of course.

Watched a few more music shows on the TV, and then in the late afternoon, I cooked some chicken in the sunshine.

Chicken

In the evening, we started watching a new series. James May in Japan, on Amazon Prime. Very interesting and with James’ dry sense of humour, quite entertaining too.

Headed off to bed around ten.

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Simply Saturday

Awake at 6.15am. Early of course, because I didn’t;’t need to get up for work today! That’s just typical. I made a pot of coffee and took it back to bed and spent a half hour or so reading the news on my iPhone.

Morning Coffee

I get dressed and wandered down to the kitchen and cooked bacon eggs, tomatoes and crumpets for breakfast. More coffee to wash it down.

I cleaned the patio windows. No fancy cleaners, just white vinegar and kitchen paper towel does a good job.

Then I spent some time on the Mac, one of the tasks being to write this!

I had a surprise for Kathy in the afternoon. I found a new place in Feltham that has just opened and is doing Creole and Cajun Food. We ordered a seafood boil and it was delicious. I can’t post a picture of it, because it was so good we got stuck right in and ate half of it before I thought about a photo!

In the garden, our rose bushes, which are really quite a humble affair, are producing some nice blooms. The ones we have we chose for the fragrance, but nonetheless they are quite beautiful to look at too.

Beautiful Blooms

In the evening, I enjoyed a few beers while we watched some old soul shows from YouTube on TV. Didn’t go to bed until around 11.30pm, which is quite late for me these days.

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A Late Start

This morning I didn’t have any interviews to do at work until 11.30am so I had a lie-in. I got up and made a cooked breakfast of sausages, mushrooms, eggs and crumpets.

I also made a pot of coffee to put in the thermos flask for work.

I got into work and got the interview out of the way by 2pm. Then I got some emails sorted and some queries answered. I stayed into the early evening as I wanted to to speak the the cleaning supervisor and make sure that everything was being done correctly with respect to the bus cleaning and viral treatment.

SP94

I got home just after seven and, after taking a shower, ate dinner, which was quiche and salad.

I spent some time on the computer upstairs and then went off to bed around 9.30pm. I didn’t get to sleep that early though.

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No Rubies This Tuesday

Awake and up and about before seven as I had to be at the office by eight for a meeting. In fact there were a series of meetings going on all morning.

Eventually, I got to walk around and deal with a few issues. We’ve got masks but we need to split them into workable amounts before we can issue them. It’s all in hand though.

I didn’t stop until the afternoon when I finally got around to eating my lunch. I finally got away from work just after four and arrived home around five.

Kathy made a delicious dinner of boneless pork belly with potatoes and carrots. I was too hungry to take a photo of it!

A stroll in the garden revealed some roses blooming on two of the three buses we have. Here’s one of them.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale

A beer was in order with a little mouth watering cooking with Nigel Slater on the TV. I noticed though that I really do need a haircut…

Wild Hair!

Headed off to bed around 9.30pm. I don’t remember ten…

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Another Monday In May

Yes, it’s Monday. It’s a Monday in May. It could be a Wednesday in July or a Friday in February though. All the days are so similar. I’m still going to work, so it must be even worse for those who are not and are at home every single day.

Me, Myself.
In the office.

I was half expecting a lot more people out and about after Boris’ announcement yesterday evening, but really, thinking about it, I think the trickle of extra people will turn into more of a flood by the end of the week and into next week.

Pate sandwiches and a couple of hard-boiled eggs were the order of the day for lunch washed down with a flask of coffee. Such gourmet eating!

I got some email and some walking about and checking done around the garage during the shift. I went home around 4pm.

Kathy made a nice dinner, which was a stir fry with spinach and onions and chickpeas to accompany a rainbow trout fillet.

Rainbow Trout with chickpea and spinach stir-fry.

After dinner we ate up some ripe mango, before it got TOO ripe, and then had some cheese and crackers and salami. This was part of the box we got last week, which was delivered by Cheddar Deli in West Ealing. Very tasty indeed.

Watched a couple more episodes of ‘Trying’ and then I retired upstairs to finish a little computer work and then to listen to some more of the Audiobook ‘The Philosopher’s Toolkit’.

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Sunny Saturday

Rather nice to be able to take my time this morning. I didn’t wake up a lot later than normal; about 7.20am. I got up and made a pot of coffee and then bought a mug back to bed and one for Kathy too.

After reading the morning news, we got up and made some breakfast.

Breakfast cooking in the pan.

Breakfast done, we watched James Martin on the TV for a while. Then we made some green tea, and relaxed on the patio with that, whilst catching up with my parents via FaceTime.

Beer O’Clock on a Saturday afternoon.

After a whole pot of tea, a change was in order, so I cracked open a bottle of Fuller’s ESB, which is always a firm favourite of mine.
Worked through some computer stuff for a couple of hours and then got ready to cook something for dinner.

Cookout

Cooked some seasoned chicken, asparagus and potatoes. Washed down with a cool beer. It was tasty.

Stayed on the patio until it got dark around 9pm and then moved to the living room for an hour before going to bed.

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VE 75

Today is the 75th anniversary of VE day; when Europe was finally at peace. The war in the Far East was to drag on for several more months though.

VE 75
75th Anniversary of VE Day

There were many celebrations planned around the country. It’s a warm dry day today too. However, with the Covid-19 lockdown we have to stage virtual, socially distanced parties. Still I’m sure many folks will still find a way to enjoy the occasion. It’s also a time for reflection of those that didn’t make it through the war.

Myself I’m at work today. Still checking up on what’s happening around the workplace and making sure all the protections and precautions are still in place.

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Still on Lockdown

Several weeks have passed and we’re still on lockdown. Essential workers only to travel. That’s not really happening as too many people are travelling on buses that don’t need to be now that it’s free.

The back door thing means that passengers are separated from drivers, but that doesn’t stop the passengers from standing or sitting far too close together. That, in itself, is going to have a detrimental effect on the spread of Covid-19 and means we could keep spreading it around longer and suffer the trials and tribulations of lockdown for longer.

I’m busy reporting and recording anything I find that contravenes health and safety and Government guidelines around the workplace.

Coffee Break
Taking time out for a coffee.

It’s time again to go and make some safety checks around the garage, once I’ve sunk this coffee.