Tuesday was another Post Office day. The weather was hideous, ferry cancelled, wind howling, rain lashing and river burst it’s banks. I was in full on orange waterproofs and stupidly, foolishly decided to carry home all the shopping – a box of wine, 4 pints of milk, 10 cans of beer, 2 bottles of tonic water, 2 x 2ltr bottles of lemonade, cheese, butter plus a load of post from the day before. I struggled to lift the bag out of the shop so quite why I imagined I would get it home I don’t know. I managed it but had hurt my shoulder in the process and was really cross with myself.
Not sure what we did with the rest of the day, it would have been indoors based though!
Wednesday was dry but very cold and a bleak day. We planned to kill the final pig for this year but Ady missed the shot. The pig was unhurt but frightened and we could not get near it despite spending about 4 hours standing, watching and trying. It was really stressful (for us, the pigs were all fine) and just felt like a stupidly challenging day. We didn’t really eat lunch, my already stiff shoulder was even stiffer from stress and standing around in a bitter cold wind. I had arranged to go to Fliss’ for crafternoon and despite not wanting to leave Ady he insisted I go. We were both pretty subdued and feeling a bit hopeless. This time of year can do that to you – one bad day is enough to tip you over.
Thursday got worse 🙁 I was working at post office but the plan was to have another try at the pig before I went to work. Ady went over first and I was hurrying to catch up and slipped and fell down the caravan steps. I thought I had not done any damage but obviously was already a bit sore and tense. I got over to the pigs and while feeding them managed to slip in the mud and twist myself. I was then covered in mud, cold, hurt and very pissed off. I cried 🙁 We agreed to stop trying with the pig for now and I went to work. Back home for lunch and then Ady and I went back out to meet the amended timetable ferry. We were hoping for an animal feed delivery which didn’t arrive. To justify the car trip we collected a load of firewood we’d asked Mr Rhys to cut for us although I was rapidly getting less mobile and more hurty so I didn’t help load the wood up. We also collected the veg and then brought a wheelbarrow each home laden with firewood, veg and post. I spent the afternoon, evening and night in pain 🙁
Friday I declared a nothing strenuous day for me. Instead Scarlett and I did baking with her doing the lifting, kneading and bending and stretching. We made cranberry sauce, birthday brownies, mince pies, apple pies and pizza dough. I did some sewing of a duck soft toy for Scarlett and we listened to a lot of Christmas music.
Saturday – work for me and Ady. We had planned to stagger our shifts as the weather was supposed to be really bad but it was not that bad up at the croft despite the village having a bashing from wind overnight and a few trees down. Scarlett and Davies came down to the shop for 1230 and everyone also on the island gathered to sing Happy Birthday to Scarlett and eat birthday brownies. She had several nice gifts and was really chuffed at everyone coming down. Ady still had a little left to do at the hostel so we went along and waited for him. Back at home I wrapped Scarlett’s birthday presents up while she made cinnamon roll dough for the following days breakfast and helped make tiffin for her birthday cake. I managed to get a shout out for Scarlett on the Liza Tarbuck show which she was thrilled about 🙂
Sunday – we had agreed on 7am to get up but in the end everyone slept in til 9am! Hurrah for teens! 🙂 Scarlett had some fab presents and really enjoyed her day playing with playmobile and eating all her favourite food and drink. Â My shoulder and neck was slowly improving but very slowly. A phonecall to my parents which was a tough one and an email exchange with Frazer which was also tough 🙁 Determined not to let it over shadow Scarlett’s day though.
Monday – back to post office duty for me, no boat so a quiet one and much relief that Peter Who Wants to Save Rum was planning to come across and couldn’t. Just 2 weeks left until I step down, I can’t wait. Home for lunch and a bit of a pep talk from Ady which helped a lot. Felt a lot more positive after that. We went out to find and chop down our Christmas tree after lunch.
Today – yay, caught up! The boat came and I was at Post Office. Ady met the boat – no animal feed still 🙁 He picked me up after work and we came home for lunch and got the tree in and decorated. My neck / shoulder is still a bit twingey but massively improved. Days when a soak in a hot bath would be very welcome… Tree looks lovely and its all starting to feel festive thanks to the Christmas films and music too. Did a bit more online shopping for various photo gifts for people. Just a tiny bit still to get for the kids and a couple of secret santas still to make but almost done really.