If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that the rest of the week was cancelled apart from Yoga. On Monday, I thought I was finally due to start in the charity shop but it didn’t happen – cancelled. Tuesday, after Yoga, as the day progressed, my throat felt gravelly, and my ‘get up and go, ‘got up and went’… meh. My glands were swollen, and my body ached. The bug I’d valiantly fought off for weeks as friends and Mr. Piglet were felled one by one had finally caught up with me, so I cancelled everything in my diary for the rest of the week and cosied up in front of the fire. Its dancing flames almost hypnotic.

I try to keep my germs to myself when I’m ill, so I don’t socialize. I even put my diet on hold, embracing the old adage: Feed a cold and ‘so say’ starve a fever. That said, I’ve not gone hog wild; I knew I would only regret stuffing my face when I felt better.
Although I had ‘man flu’ (piglet humour~), I am not a moper. I have more than enough jobs and interests to keep me occupied, such as further decluttering, gardening, cooking, blogging, and even vegging out watching TV more than usual when my body said ‘enough’. Bored is not a word that features in my vocabulary. On a positive note, taking time out at home allowed me to reflect on my ongoing decluttering project and mindfulness.
Declutter Reflections
As I sorted through various items we had not used for years and stored them just in case, the process gave me pause for reflection. The family did not want this clutter; they had enough. Wedding presents we’d never used in fifty years were still stored in boxes—goodness, they were virtually antiques like me. Decision made: I would hold a garage sale once the weather improved. Maybe I’d raise enough to pay for a weekend away.
Seeds of Hope and Dilemma

During COVID-19, I thought the end of the world was nigh, so I bought dozens of packets of seeds. Don’t ask. I have no idea why. Maybe survival instincts kicked in? However, if we were going to rely on harvests from our little Horta after the bugs had had their fill, blight, or whatever else destroyed the rest of the crop, it would have offered slim pickings.
Back to seeds. Most packets are a couple of years out of date and I have many different seeds saved in tissue. Will they still grow, or should I just cut my losses and throw them in the trash and start anew? Decisions… decisions
Gardening
Dodging the showers, I managed to work in the garden for short bursts of activity. Being close to nature also feeds the soul and helps to calm anxiety in these uncertain times. The cloud formations over the last week or so have been quite spectacular.
Pancakes anyone?
In the News
I try not to watch, but living where we do on the edge of nowhere, WWIII could break out, and I wouldn’t be any the wiser, so I need to keep half an eye open. Although my concerns are still with Ukraine, I’ve now added Canada. I’m sending thoughts and virtual hugs to my Canadian friends. I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through right now.

That’s it for this week. Now I’m off to check out more Weekend Coffee Shares at Natalie the Explorer’s Blog.
Featured image picture by Stephanie Ghesquier from Pixabay

Hope you’re feeling better….there is some nasty stuff going around.
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Hopy you´re feeling better. Dont throw any seeds away, use some pots and just see if there is life in them. Then transplant them to a better place 🙂
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Hope you are feeling better soon.
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I hope you’re feeling better. Thank you for your weekend coffee share and for thinking of us in Canada. I’ve been doing what I can to support local Canadian businesses. We’ve got our “elbows up”.
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Decluttering is a great idea! I plan to do some of that in a few weeks. I hope you’ll soon be feeling better! – Pam
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Thanks so much for adding Canadians to your thoughts, Carole. I truly hope that whatever bug is plaguing you, leaves you soon. Take good care, rest, and drink lots of fluids and eat chicken noodle soup.
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You guys never leave my thoughts, Terry. I so admire the way you are fighting back.
Today, dare I say, I feel better so its back on the social tredmill. I hope you are making a good recovery. Are you running again yet? Was the guy prosecuted?
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I never was a runner, Carole. I was an avid power walker and I likely won’t be back at that until we’re back home in Canada. It takes at least 6 weeks for an average injury to heal and I’m just half way there as of yesterday. Overall I’m 100% with the exception of swollen left ankle, but I’m working on resolving that as well. I can’t comment on the legal situation right now, as we’re still working on it.
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Sorry, Terry. I am confusing you with someone else on the exercise front. You are both superfit. Fingers crossed the swelling subsides soon.
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Sorry to hear about your cold! Hope you are feeling better.
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Yep, it turned today. So normal service resumes tomorrow 🙂
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Sounds like you’re already on the mend. Keep it up!
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Yep, thank goodness. Just need the rain to subside for more than 15mins so I can get a walk in 🙂
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Saw some footage and it does look horrendous over your way. Can’t last forever, and whoopee-doop for the reservoirs xx
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Yep, the resevoirs most definitely need it. I believe we have the lowest reserve in the Algarve. There is flooding in Aljezur so I’m happy we are on higher ground.
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Hi, Carole – i am sorry to hear you’ve been so ill and hope you are better soon. Thank you for your kind thoughts to Canada. Most of us are made as hell at the unjust attacks from a long term friend and Ally. But we are banning together as Canadians and are prepared to endure short term pain for long term gain. I have not purchased a US Product or walked into a US owned business for over 6 weeks. I have canceled any accounts that I had that are US owned. Many Canadians have joined in on this vigilance and most are doing whatever they can to stand strong and united as a country which will never be the 51st anything!
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Hi Donna, that’s the spirit! I have been glued to the Canadian News on YouTube. I just hope your elections go well and you get the right guy. IT made me smile that cafe’s have renamed Americana. coffee. We have the same here in Portugal and I am sure in the UK. Madybe we should also rename it in support of Canada.
I am feeling so much better today that normal life will return tomorrow. Thanks for your well wishes.
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Sorry to hear you haven’t been well. The nice thing is additional time at home to de seed…LOL. couldn’t resist. Try planting them.
Thanks for thinking of us in Canada. We’ve got our “elbows up”. I do feel for those in the USA who didn’t vote for him and fear their way ahead is going to be quite awful for them.
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🙂 de seed. Nice one. If I planted them all I could probably supply Canada 🙂 Yeah, I feel for those who didn’t vote for him. I think some are uprooting. We have several Americans in the process of moving here.
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So sorry you aren’t well. Sounds as though you are making the best of it.
If you have any prayers left over, send a few to those in the United States who are resisting Trump. The news might not focus on us, but we are here, and it feels as though we are swimming against a torrent of sewerage.
Canada, Ukraine, Europe, Greenland, Panama, the list of those he has offended just keeps growing.
Sigh.
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Hi Laurie, yes, ~I have tried to make the best of the time at home and kept busy. I feel better today, thank goodness. I am not a natural hermit.
You are most definitely in my prayers and thoughts, Laurie. You are swimming against a torrent of sewage. The guy is unbelieable. So much so that when I read an article I have to make sure it is not fake news by checking reputable sources. Hang in there. Be strong. I hope this will pass. He doesn’t seem to care who he offends. I am just so sorry the King exteneded a State visit so quickly.
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Many, many thanks! We need all the prayers we can get.
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