Odd sort of a day

This morning I could’t work out what to blog. I try to keep the blog pretty upbeat, and to be honest I am generally enjoying the stay at home so it isn’t hard. This morning I just wasn’t feeling it. The reason was I had been trying to finalise my last Waitrose order. I can deal with the shortages, and the per item rationing, but their group rationing has driven me crazy, especially when they only tell me at checkout there is a problem. The last straw, and yes this is a silly first world issue, was chilled coffee counting against my milk eggs butter ration. I wasn’t that upset to not have them, they would have been a treat, but considering them in the same group as those basics baffles me. Sure long life milk and fresh milk are clearly the same group I get that, but cold coffee?! They alert me to this by taking the eggs off my order at checkout. Seriously, this is the best way you could come up with to handle this? Other stores, and indeed other items at Waitrose, have a pop up to say no this is not allowed, that is so much less frustrating and easier to fix. I said above, last order, well other than the fact I haven’t seen a delivery or collection slot in over 3 weeks, I am not sure it is in my best interests to order from them again while they are making it so difficult. I really feel for any families trying to do shopping for a week or more from Waitrose. I don’t think it would be possible to get that many meals given their current rationing. So I think from now on I will be sticking with the independant stores and hope that I might be able to get some of the cupboard basics from Tesco occasionally. Tesco have a bizzare substitution / deletion system, but were so mcuh easier to deal with. Either store you do have to accept you are putting in a wish list, not a shopping order. You are telling them what in your dream world they would bring and each item they manage is to be celebrated.

That brings me on to the real message of this blog post. A friend said to me we are surfing, we are riding a wave that we can’t change. We might as well make the most of the ride. That really made sense to me. Big potentially dangerous but also scope to be a beautiful and fun time. We just have to ride this out and really most of us are doing pretty well. You are reading this, I assume this indicates you have a means to do so. At the moment most people are still in their homes still able to choose what to do there. Is it what we had planned, not even faintly, is it really that terrible to stay and home and entertain ourselves, not really.

This afternoon I got an email to say the mylar templates I ordered have shipped, I am really hoping they arrive quickly and I can get on with my Monday mystery solo robin. If not I can’t decide if I go with plan B or if I play catch up again, there are benefits to both. For tomorrow I will work on the quilt I was planning for Sandown. I say was because I am not sure I want to go to an event like that so soon after the 12 weeks of isolation, it feels pretty risky. The quilt will keep and can go next year. It was for this years theme but I don’t think that is make or break for it. I have 3 more weeks to decide so I will see how things look then and for now work on the next section. I am pleased to say I finally came up with a way to do it that I am happy with. No seams in odd places or really horrible matching.

Finally, I would like to thank my local greengrocers, The Worlds Best Greengrocers. They have been doing delivery and getting a lot of flak for taking a few days to deliver. I can plan ahead it’t not a problem, they are working their socks off. I loved how easy their web site was after Waitrose. Quick easy and I have high hopes I will get a good percentage of the wish list I gave them. Even better their produce is fantastic quality. Sometime in the few days a box of fruit and veg will arrive to surprise me. I also like that they tell me what number I am. I know from local lists they have over 300 people to deliver to before me and I think I can check each day what numbers they think they will get to in the day. It gives me a feel for where they are at and I really appreciate it.

If you are working on the Monday quilt please please tell us how it’s going and share some photos, I know I am curious and I bet I am not the only one.