MetaChat - Weekend 3-point update

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08 August 2020

Weekend 3-point update →[More:]1. It's brutally hot in the UK at the moment. We got up to 36C yesterday (around 97F) and this is a country which has no air-conditioning. I had the patio doors open and the curtains drawn all day and it was too hot to sleep until 3.30am, when I finally closed the doors (I'm on the ground floor, so I can't have a window open at night). It's another hot one today, around 30C (86F) at the moment, with a high of 33C (92F). The fan is just moving warm air around.

2. We're having a little get together in the street later on this afternoon (when it's cooled down a little). We're taking food that's already portioned out - I've made lemon and blackberry muffins, using berries from the garden. I could have done without putting the oven on today but the muffins look lovely.

3. Since lockdown I've been ordering produce from a business which primarily supplies the restaurant trade. But that trade disappeared overnight with lockdown. They still had contracts with their suppliers, so they decided to open up to selling to the public and started a website called www.osolocal2u.com. You don't have to order restaurant-sized quantities, just normal amounts of food. The prices are competitive and the business has really taken off. I advertised it on our electronic bulletin board at work, and I had about 30 emails from colleagues thanking me because they'd been unable to get any supermarket delivery slots and this was their only access to fresh produce delivered to their homes. The business has expanded to offer much more than just fruit and veg, and are now pretty much a full service supplier of all types of fresh food and groceries, as well as pantry staples, household products and lots of really lovely more luxury items. The quality of their produce is fantastic, and everything I've ordered has been top-notch. The fresh produce seems to last much longer than the fruit and veg from the supermarket - I think because it comes direct from the farmers to the business and straight out in a day or so, rather than sitting in a supermarket warehouse for a week.

Anyway, they had a recipe competition and I submitted a recipe for Szechuan stir-fried aubergine (eggplant) - and I won! The prize is a voucher for £150, which I'm going to share with a three of the neighbours, ones who've helped me out during the past few months.

post by: Senyar at: 09:18 | 12 comments

1. I would like your recipe, Senyar.

2. I had a really rough week last week - weather about like what you are experiencing in the UK, Senyar - we are a *little* more used to it but there are limits - combined with a tropical storm and power outage, meaning our limited AC was out, no fans, and due to pandemic, nowhere else to go (like the old standbys the mall or th movies) to get cool. We were out for 3 nights 4 days but I can't complain - some of our neighbors are still out and may not have power restored until TUESDAY. Ugh.

3. TOmorrow's my birthday. I'm trying to set aside all worries and cares and enjoy it. Plan is to go kayaking and then to an outdoor bar that I like. It should provide enough distance. I'm pretty convinced we are going to have an even more strict lockdown this fall/wnter so am trying to be out and about while we can do that in relative safety.

posted by Miko 08 August | 13:49

1. It's been awful hot here, and I'm working outside with heat indexes at 105, so am absolutely wiped out. I drink one electrolyte bottle and at least 4 water refills and still don't pee until after I've gotten home and downed another deluge of liquids. I have to peel off my shirt and wring it out. Nasty sweaty.

(I use ice packs to sleep with when it's hot. Enclose them in a sock, pillowcase or whatever. It really helps)

2. I am looking at financial distress soon if my weekday work doesn't come back on full time. I'm using an ACA (Obamacare) plan and must earn at least poverty level income to qualify for the subsidy.... otherwise, I have to somehow afford the whole premium. And I will not know my income until after the year is done. It's all so broken.

3. I am tired of being my Mom's caretaker, but am sticking with it. One day at a time.

4. And I'm pissed about my brother and his wife who are trumtards. He was able to retire early this year because they are well off. He worked for the same company forever and has a great retirement plan. And they do nothing to help other than he calls once per week when they aren't busy. I just cannot talk to them because they are always on the polar opposite side of everything and have no idea how difficult thing are for us little people.

5. My kitties are a good source of 'grounding' for me. One is a sweet lapper. One is cowabunga dude and the other is a goofy scardy cat that only comes for attention immediately after I get into bed.

Whew. I am oversharing.... but know ya'll are kind.

Hang on to hope. We're going to make it through.

posted by mightshould 08 August | 15:17

Here's the recipe, Miko.

4. I'm so very sorry people are having such a rough time of it. I know I have it lucky compared with just about every other person on the planet. And in the UK at least there is free healthcare and a safety net of sorts (although social security and housing benefits have been eroded to the point where they don't provide even the most basic level of subsistence any more). I'm in a little bubble of privilege, for sure, responsible for no-one but myself. My heart hurts for my friends who are struggling.

5. We had our little get together in the street this evening. The police drone flew over, to see what we were doing, followed half an hour later by the police helicopter. We'd already checked the rules. They are VERY confusing. They say:

- only socialise outdoors in a group of up to six people from different households, or in larger groups if everyone is exclusively from one or two households

but the rules also say:

- it is against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces) or in a public outdoors space.

So, we weren't allowed to 'socialise', because there were more than six of us from more than two households. But we could hold a 'gathering' because there were fewer than 30 of us. It was lovely to catch up with people, have a chat and a laugh. I miss f2f contact with people. I miss touch. I've not touched another person since 16 March. I didn't eat any of the food as it was all left for people to dip into and I'm not comfortable with that.

6. The little cat I found last week has been adopted, by the first person who said she wanted him on our local Facebook neighbourhood group. She picked him up today, all chipped and snipped. Here he is in his new home. His name will be Archie or Basil, depending on which name he likes best.

posted by Senyar 08 August | 17:49

1. Very little going on. We have not been out since March other than going to the market or grocery or hardware store. The hardest part has been friends and family die and not having any funeral or get together.

2. Eating lots of Salsa and Pico de gallo and bruschetta as our two tomato plants are producing crazy amounts. The Amaryllis belladonna are all out and we a picking a few watermelons.

3. We had a few days break from the heat and that has been super nice.

4. Possum just came down the stairs for the first time just this moment!

Congratulations on the win Senyar! Long life to you Archie or Basil. Happy Birthday Miko! Hugs mightshould. Health care should not be so hard.

posted by arse_hat 08 August | 20:26

We got up to 36C yesterday (around 97F) and this is a country which has no air-conditioning.

OMG Jan, that's truly awful.

posted by Doohickie 09 August | 23:03

1. We have air conditioning. I almost feel bad typing that out.

2. I started watching calories and exercise a couple weeks ago and have managed to drop 7 pounds already. I guess that goes to show how dreadfully bad my diet and exercise habits have been.

3. On the exercise front, I rode 40 miles on the bicycle today, further than I've ridden in a very long time.

posted by Doohickie 09 August | 23:07

1. We have air conditioning. I almost feel bad typing that out.

I jinxed it. Our AC went out today. Fortunately was just the fan motor and my AC guy was able to fix it this afternoon. We're still not down to our normal temp inside the house though.

posted by Doohickie 10 August | 23:01

Nice going Doohickie.

posted by Miko 11 August | 00:20

Uggg. No AC when it's hot and humid is trying.

Cooling thoughts to all.

*waves fan*

posted by mightshould 11 August | 05:20

Ugh. I survived into my 30s with no AC but would not want to go back.

Frequent cold showers and then sitting in front of the fan were my survival moves.

posted by Miko 12 August | 22:22

Yay, Senyar! for finding the produce option and the winning recipe. what confusing rules.
Miko (& LT) I'm glad you are back to electricity and I hope the birthday was fun. I'm trying to get doctor visits done while Maine has low infection rates.
Mightshould, you are a very kind and loving person and I'll bet you don't hear it enough.
Arse-y, my tomatoes got blight, but I get cherry tomatoes most days and I love my little garden. Just had a yellow summer squash and more to come.
Dookickey, good on you for being handy.

I live across the street from a lake, rode and swam(mostly on purpose) the other day, and now I have swimmer's itch, a rash from the ducks. I had to take care of my tiny inflatable zodiac and did not shower fast enough and I *itch*. But rowing felt good, 1st time this summer. Have swum quite a bit, often at dusk, which is now too soon. I am in Maine, upper right corner of the US, and AC is not really critical, though now people just use it instead of opening windows. I love fresh air and have no AC at home. We have had several days of quite warm, quite humid weather. Ceiling fans, personal fan, cool drinks. Most nights it gets cool enough to sleep ok.

I am chuffed about VP choice Kamala Harris and feeling celebratory takes my mind off how unpleasant lockdown is, even though somewhat self-imposed. My asthma has decided to make itself known, not too much, just enough to remind me that it's a risk factor. I want to do campaign work, but there's only a few things I can do from home.

posted by theora55 13 August | 19:34

It's nice to see activity on MeCha; hugs to all!

posted by theora55 13 August | 19:35

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