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iguana
In May I had my first covid-19 vaccination, at the large King's Meadow Campus centre, which felt a little like going through airport security, except with a nurse and needle instead of the x-ray machines. I had Pfizer in my left arm, all done while still standing up! The rest of the month was a mixed bag of arts, crafts, gardening, and entertainment.Vaccination
The site, when I booked, offered me a choice between a local pharmacy a couple of miles away, or the larger test centre in ITV Midlands' old studio, now owned by Nottingham University. The latter had cycle parking, so I chose that, and the route to get there was quite similar to my cycle to the laser clinic, a pleasant ride along the canal for a good stretch.
The centre was well-organised. I got there a couple of minutes after my appointment time, and so just flashed my phone to jump the queue of people who were waiting for their appointment ten minutes later. Like everyone else, I had to change my own face mask for one of the centre's disposable ones (mine fitted better…) and then there was a fairly fast moving queue into the centre, which really did look like airport security, with several lines, to the nearest of which I was directed. A member of staff took my details, asked several questions to check I was eligible and the vaccine was safe for me, and then directed me a few steps further to where I was greeted by the person who'd be administering my jab. I was asked left shoulder or right. She also confirmed some of my details. After the jab, which was one of the least uncomfortable ones I've ever had, I was directed to the far side of the ex-TV studio hall, to where a lot of socially distanced chairs were set up. After self-timing 15 minutes, I left through a separate exit, with a quick check-out with a worker at the door.
Then a nice cycle back home!
The vaccine itself rather knocked me out for the next week. I thought I was doing okay until the day after, a Monday, when I took a half-hour walk to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, which left me feeling quite tired out. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was dead on my feet by lunchtime, with a low key headache that developed on Wednesday and stuck around until the end of Friday. Friday was a sofa day. I felt better on Saturday, but a 40-minute round trip to the local woods left me wobbly. On Sunday I managed a 60 minute walk but then developed a migraine that stuck around for several days!
Still, I'm happy to have had it. I'm finding myself less panicked while I'm outside, even though I'm not at full (or even half) immunity at this point. I'm not changing my behaviour yet but it's nice that my subconsciousness seems to have taken the cue for less anxiety.
The site, when I booked, offered me a choice between a local pharmacy a couple of miles away, or the larger test centre in ITV Midlands' old studio, now owned by Nottingham University. The latter had cycle parking, so I chose that, and the route to get there was quite similar to my cycle to the laser clinic, a pleasant ride along the canal for a good stretch.
The centre was well-organised. I got there a couple of minutes after my appointment time, and so just flashed my phone to jump the queue of people who were waiting for their appointment ten minutes later. Like everyone else, I had to change my own face mask for one of the centre's disposable ones (mine fitted better…) and then there was a fairly fast moving queue into the centre, which really did look like airport security, with several lines, to the nearest of which I was directed. A member of staff took my details, asked several questions to check I was eligible and the vaccine was safe for me, and then directed me a few steps further to where I was greeted by the person who'd be administering my jab. I was asked left shoulder or right. She also confirmed some of my details. After the jab, which was one of the least uncomfortable ones I've ever had, I was directed to the far side of the ex-TV studio hall, to where a lot of socially distanced chairs were set up. After self-timing 15 minutes, I left through a separate exit, with a quick check-out with a worker at the door.
Then a nice cycle back home!
The vaccine itself rather knocked me out for the next week. I thought I was doing okay until the day after, a Monday, when I took a half-hour walk to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, which left me feeling quite tired out. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was dead on my feet by lunchtime, with a low key headache that developed on Wednesday and stuck around until the end of Friday. Friday was a sofa day. I felt better on Saturday, but a 40-minute round trip to the local woods left me wobbly. On Sunday I managed a 60 minute walk but then developed a migraine that stuck around for several days!
Still, I'm happy to have had it. I'm finding myself less panicked while I'm outside, even though I'm not at full (or even half) immunity at this point. I'm not changing my behaviour yet but it's nice that my subconsciousness seems to have taken the cue for less anxiety.
Eurovision
Emily, Tim, Margaret, Matt, and I watched Eurovision on simulcast, which was good fun. It was a very strong year, though I was very disappointed that Australia got eliminated in the first semi-final. My favourites songs of the finalists were Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Greece, and my least favourite was Portugal.
I'd been rather hoping to go to the Dutch final in person, until the pandemic put paid to those plans! Perhaps sometime again soon it'll be somewhere I want to visit.
Emily, Tim, Margaret, Matt, and I watched Eurovision on simulcast, which was good fun. It was a very strong year, though I was very disappointed that Australia got eliminated in the first semi-final. My favourites songs of the finalists were Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Greece, and my least favourite was Portugal.
I'd been rather hoping to go to the Dutch final in person, until the pandemic put paid to those plans! Perhaps sometime again soon it'll be somewhere I want to visit.
Star Wars Day
In the weekend before 4th May I realised Star Wars day was coming up, and so had a good excuse to both use the Star Wars fabric Emily had bought me for Christmas/birthday, and to make a skirt which I'd been wanting to do for a while.
With Emily's help I modified a dirndl skirt pattern with a zip into one with an elasticated waistband, which seemed far preferable to me. Here's the result, I'm pretty pleased with it!
In the weekend before 4th May I realised Star Wars day was coming up, and so had a good excuse to both use the Star Wars fabric Emily had bought me for Christmas/birthday, and to make a skirt which I'd been wanting to do for a while.
With Emily's help I modified a dirndl skirt pattern with a zip into one with an elasticated waistband, which seemed far preferable to me. Here's the result, I'm pretty pleased with it!
SO COLD
The weather only made it above 20°C for the third time in the year on the last day of the month. I am very glad the weather has broken now, because unlike last year where I was taking photos of myself in a dress outdoors in April, I've been cuddled up under a blanket for most of this May.
The weather only made it above 20°C for the third time in the year on the last day of the month. I am very glad the weather has broken now, because unlike last year where I was taking photos of myself in a dress outdoors in April, I've been cuddled up under a blanket for most of this May.
Art
I made a couple of pieces that I'm really rather happy with, even though they didn't turn out exactly as I'd hoped. I was going for a galaxy look using an "open cup" pour, and though I don't think it looks like a galaxy, and a slightly off-level canvas meant the paint fell off the side a little, I think it's a rather strong look.
I also made attempt at making a lava field, using some orange and some silicon oil mixed into the black. It was a bit of a disaster, but never mind! I have learned some things and will have another go soon!
I made a couple of pieces that I'm really rather happy with, even though they didn't turn out exactly as I'd hoped. I was going for a galaxy look using an "open cup" pour, and though I don't think it looks like a galaxy, and a slightly off-level canvas meant the paint fell off the side a little, I think it's a rather strong look.
I also made attempt at making a lava field, using some orange and some silicon oil mixed into the black. It was a bit of a disaster, but never mind! I have learned some things and will have another go soon!
Garden, Dragonfruit, and AMPDG
The dragon fruit seems to be thriving at the moment.
I did finally re-water the pot at the end of the month, as it also sprouted some roots from the face that doesn't face the sun, which I've taken as a sign it needed a bit more water. The dragon fruit is a climbing succulent, so it's natural, but in this case undesirable! I brushed off the roots and they have scabbed over somewhat:
My outside garden hasn't enjoyed the cold weather either, with the two gourds I'd planted out really starting to look anaemic by the time the weather turned. Inside, another courgette plant germinated, and that has now joined the others outside. The cauliflowers are hanging on; I weeded around them in the last weekend of the month and they look a bit happier now the sun's back. No sign of the second (or first) batch of carrots yet; it's just empty soil in that bed. No more sweetcorn has germinated, so it's just the three main crop plants and the single mini-sweetcorn variety that's been planted out. The latter is also not very happy; I think I planted it out too early but we'll see.
The broad beans seem particularly happy; the "Express" variety I picked this year seem to have worked very well, and haven't become too tall to support themselves.
For AMPDG I chose "future orchards: plant something (a tree, a garden, a sunflower, some indoor herbs or sprouts)" which probably would've been cheating if I'd just gone with what I was already growing, so, taking AMPDG's suggestion, I got hold of some sunflower seeds too. About half of them germinated and survived, so I have four sunflowers growing outside now too, where the sweetcorn ought to have been!
The dragon fruit seems to be thriving at the moment.
I did finally re-water the pot at the end of the month, as it also sprouted some roots from the face that doesn't face the sun, which I've taken as a sign it needed a bit more water. The dragon fruit is a climbing succulent, so it's natural, but in this case undesirable! I brushed off the roots and they have scabbed over somewhat:
My outside garden hasn't enjoyed the cold weather either, with the two gourds I'd planted out really starting to look anaemic by the time the weather turned. Inside, another courgette plant germinated, and that has now joined the others outside. The cauliflowers are hanging on; I weeded around them in the last weekend of the month and they look a bit happier now the sun's back. No sign of the second (or first) batch of carrots yet; it's just empty soil in that bed. No more sweetcorn has germinated, so it's just the three main crop plants and the single mini-sweetcorn variety that's been planted out. The latter is also not very happy; I think I planted it out too early but we'll see.
The broad beans seem particularly happy; the "Express" variety I picked this year seem to have worked very well, and haven't become too tall to support themselves.
For AMPDG I chose "future orchards: plant something (a tree, a garden, a sunflower, some indoor herbs or sprouts)" which probably would've been cheating if I'd just gone with what I was already growing, so, taking AMPDG's suggestion, I got hold of some sunflower seeds too. About half of them germinated and survived, so I have four sunflowers growing outside now too, where the sweetcorn ought to have been!
