Where did September go? In many ways, and not least because of mild and sunny weather, it was a month that felt more like the end of summer than the beginning of autumn. Now October is upon us, however - and it seems to come with a long list of Things To Do.
It started already on Monday this week, with having to get up early and go out for a walk without even having had breakfast first - something which I can assure you is not my usual habit. It pretty much only happens when I have to go and have fasting blood tests taken - which was also the cause this time, for an "annual" doctor's "follow-up" appointment coming up in a couple of weeks. The "annual" has in later years been replaced with at least 18 months but I can't think of one word for that. The "follow-up" part is also not quite what it used to be, since nowadays it seems to be a new doctor every time. But a general check-up of chronic condtions and prescribed meds, anyway.
I've also had reminders about upcoming vaccinations (flu+covid), but I'll have to book a separate appointment for those. And I need to get a haircut, but I don't know where to fit that in until some other things are over and done with...!
On today's to-do-list was Laundry Day + putting in an online order of groceries for delivery tomorrow. Usually I choose delivery on Thursday or Friday, but this week I needed to make it Wednesday, because on Thursday or Friday - at any time during either of those days - I have been forewarned to expect a visit from plumbers to install new taps (faucets) in both kitchen and bathroom. (They'll be doing this in all the apartments in my area, all in one fell swoop - not just mine.)
I hate (ok, strong word...) fuzzy time indications like "between 7.15 on Thursday and 16.00 on Friday" (even if I suppose it must be implied that I can probably relax between 16.00 on Thursday and 7.15 on Friday!) ... They say the job as such will only take about 20 minutes in each apartment; but not knowing when those 20 minutes will be still makes it problematic to plan the day(s). Of course I'll have to be up and dressed at 7.15 (way before my usual breakfast time) "just in case", plus I'll be worrying that they'll ring on my door just as I'm in the bathroom, or preparing lunch, or whatever... And I predict that I probably won't settle down to much blogging until it's over and done with!
Autumn is happening fast now. The two photos at the top were taken on Saturday, on my walk back home from visiting the market in town. The photo here at the bottom of the post shows the same trees today - only three days later. (It should be added that these trees are among the very earliest to turn all yellow, though. I don't know what kind they are.)
the trees are gorgeous! We have none like this yet. I know JUST what you mean!! Workers will tell us...sometime during business hours. And I am always afraid I will be in the bathroom. But I guess when they have so many faucets to do all in one day, that can't predict the hour.
ReplyDeleteGinny, you are right of course. Which is why I keep my sighs about it to my blog rather than making "official" complaints... ;-)
DeleteWonderful bright yellow trees with the dark green background, so they really pop! Oh dear on plans and waiting for someone to come into your apartment. I hate that. It means rushing to be ready for them, and then finding things to do while waiting till they eventually show up.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I keep telling myself that these guys on the other hand must be used to "all sorts" as they work in other people's homes all the time...
DeleteThe weather man on our local TV news said a few days ago that autumn will come "faster than usual" this year. We've had that severe drop in temperature on the Sunday in the middle of our Mosel holiday, when we went from 25C to 10C within 24 hours, and then quite a bit of rain.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the trees and hedges I see around here are still more green than anything, but changes are definitely visible and will accelerate over the next days and weeks, no doubt.
With all the things to do lined up for you, you probably wonder how you ever found time for work! Hopefully, the faucet/tap exchange will go smoothly without you having to wait too long.
My company offers flu and COVID jabs for its employees, and I am booked for that next week Friday.
Meike, how I ever found time for work is indeed a mystery to me! (and has been for many years by now, as I retired early on disability pension...)
DeleteI sympathise with you over the inexact timings. It's impossible to settle to anything and such days seem inordinately long and tiring. I hope you're not kept waiting too long.
ReplyDeleteWe have booked our Covid and 'flu jabs, too.
Janice, I suspect that they won't be coming to me until Friday, but that remains to be seen. I can go out if I want to, as long as I put my lock in "service position" (allowing them to go in with a service key). On the other hand, I'm also not keen on them going in when I'm not home, so feeling a bit "torn" about that...
DeleteBeautiful colours, my favourite season. Ever year I get the flu jab and it really helps to cut down the amount of times I get sick over Winter.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I agree! I've been taking flu jabs every year for over 20 years now.
Deleteyou are describing our lives, but its five days a week for 8 weeks now. we have 5 to 6 visits on week days, so each day has 1 or more people with time slots, not times and sometimes 2 per day and they collide with each other, the phone rings constantly and always if idon't take the phone in the bathroom. bobs expensive infusion meds were delivered and signed for this morning and someone somewhere signed his name because they never got here, today is his birthday and it has really be A Day
ReplyDeleteSandra, your situation is truly chaotic (I just read your blog post from y-day) and it's beyond me how you're coping with it at all. Me, I'm just muttering over a few minor disruptions, not really impossible to handle...
DeleteOh, I'm feeling just the same - far too much to do and to get my head around. These days I can only really deal with one main event in a day!
ReplyDeleteJenny, that sums up pretty well how I feel, too. Plus, some things seem to have gradually advanced from having been minor to now counting as main... ;)
DeleteThose autumn trees look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFrom other comments it seems as though we all have the same problem when it comes to workmen and deliveries and it's worse for those of us who live alone. When my husband was alive (and retired) I could just go out and about on my normal daily social routines and know someone was home to answer the door! Here we usually have the choice of morning or afternoon delivery or visits - with a normal time scale between around 9:00 - 14.00 (morning) and 15.00 -??? afternoon. Quite often the "afternoon" visit can be up to 21:00 hrs - or on very rare occasions even later.
The most surprising delivery Iwe ever had was when we still lived in the UK. I had ordered a new dishwasher from a large department store about 25 kms away and the delivery man turned up at 6:30 a.m.- getting us out of bed! He not only removed the old machine but plumbed in the new one, mopped the floor and ran a short cycle before I signed for the delivery! The best, and most unexpected service we've ever had!
Carol, "mass" inspections or service jobs with such vague time frames as today are uncommon, and they also include the option of allowing service people to enter even if I'm out (by locking the door in a special service position when one goes out).
DeleteMy regular grocery deliveries have a reasonable window of 3 hours + ETA can be followed along the way. More stressful since they changed to locked entrance here 24/7 and I have to go down to let them in. But that's not the grocery chain's fault...