First update to today's to-do list

• Use blood pressure machine
• Put details onto spreadsheet
• Put BP machine away
• Drink glass of water
• Take morning pills
• Run monthly virus scan
• Come up with a tag line for my memoir - I've potentially come up with one at last
• Study at least one course
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to playlists
• Turn on air purifier
• Read and review a book
• Add more books to my TBR pile
• Ask Alexa to play Baroque music/the radio
• Check forum
• Announce birthdays if necessary
• Get washed and dressed
• Make breakfast of toast and juice/water (day 4 of the bread)
• Take photo of breakfast
• Put photo of breakfast on here and Instagram
• Wash up
• Refill squash bottle
• Put bags in front of the door
• Put in new grocery order
• Bring groceries in
• Put groceries away
• Have caffeinated coffee
• Do first load of laundry
• Hang up first load of laundry
• Take first load of laundry upstairs
• Do second load of laundry
• Hang up second load of laundry
• Take second load of laundry upstairs
• Wash and dry towels
• Air towels
• Put towels away
• Keep an eye on emails about the digital switchover
• Request quotes for plug fix on Check A Trade - a plumber has asked for photo's so I've asked if they want the video instead - I sent him the video this morning - he's away for a week but is gonna let me know when he's back then he'll come and do it for me - today's the day! - he was ill so we are gonna reschedule it when he's feeling better
• Find out about most secure locks from insurers - I've emailed so just waiting for their reply now - they don't advise apparently so I've just gotta do my own research - it's gonna be a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock
• Request quotes for 2 new outside doors on Check A Trade (front door MUST be wood and have a letter box with a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock)
• Keep checking to see if anyone wants the carrots - the listing expired so I asked a horse-lover that I know instead
• Ask M to bring box of stuff to Freegle downstairs so that I can...
• Take photos of unwanted things in the spare room
• Advertise spare room things on Freegle
• Do morning laps
• Do 75 morning sit-ups
• Do 35 morning crunches
• Housework - Monday - change bedding & bring in rubbish/recycling
• Housework - Tuesday - tidy living room & groceries
• Housework - Wednesday - clean bathroom
• Housework - Thursday - sweep carpets/meet up with C
• Housework - Friday - tidy bedrooms
• Housework - Saturday - clean kitchen
• Housework - Sunday - rubbish and recycling/refill dosette box
• Put menu up on blog every weekend
• Send reviewers my book if they agree
• Keep my fingers crossed they enjoy and positively review my memoir
• Keep an eye on Freegle to see if anyone wants anything
• Keep an eye on Olio to see if anyone wants the radiator or seat cushion 
• Make lunch of butternut squash, mushrooms, mixed veg & sweet potato/fresh mushrooms
• Take photo of lunch
• Put photo of lunch on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Take lunchtime pill
• Refill dosette box every Sunday
• Do afternoon laps
• Do sit-ups in hall
• Do crunches in hall
• Wait for service certificate for ASHP
• Email service certificate to home insurers
• Go through apps on my spam phone
• Make tea of soup
• Take photo of tea
• Bring tea through to the living room
• Log tea into FitBit app
• Put photo of tea on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Clear browser cache's ready for tomorrow's weekly virus scan
• There's chocolate multipacks in the fridge
• As well as choccie raisins too
• And treat-sized choccie on the side
• And loads of soft drinks
• And dried fruit and nuts in the tubs
• Study my courses (starting at the bottom of the page)
• Post about something I'm grateful for today
• Download, resize and save BP machine photos
• Put 6 days' worth of BP photos onto my health site
• Put blood pressure spreadsheet onto health site on the last day of each month
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Today's (28th April 2026) breakfast photo

My monthly virus scan has just finished, so I can put my breakfast photo up at last.

Today was my usual two slices of wholemeal 'Toastie' toast with approximately 20g of 'Buttery' spread but the liquid today was a 500ml glass of water because I finished the juice off yesterday morning.  I've got, I think, 3 days worth of bread left, then it'll hopefully be choccie Weetabix and soya milk with blueberries (assuming it's all in stock of course) after that.

Here's today's breakfast photo:

Today's (28th April 2026) to-do list

• Use blood pressure machine
• Put details onto spreadsheet
• Put BP machine away
• Drink glass of water
• Take morning pills
• Run monthly virus scan
• Come up with a tag line for my memoir - I've potentially come up with one at last
• Study at least one course
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to playlists
• Turn on air purifier
• Read and review a book
• Add more books to my TBR pile
• Ask Alexa to play Baroque music/the radio
• Check forum
• Announce birthdays if necessary
• Get washed and dressed
• Make breakfast of toast and juice/water (day 4 of the bread)
• Take photo of breakfast
• Put photo of breakfast on here and Instagram
• Wash up
• Refill squash bottle
• Put bags in front of the door
• Put in new grocery order
• Bring groceries in
• Put groceries away
• Have banana
• Have caffeinated coffee
• Do first load of laundry
• Hang up first load of laundry
• Take first load of laundry upstairs
• Do second load of laundry
• Hang up second load of laundry
• Take second load of laundry upstairs
• Wash and dry towels
• Air towels
• Put towels away
• Keep an eye on emails about the digital switchover
• Request quotes for plug fix on Check A Trade - a plumber has asked for photo's so I've asked if they want the video instead - I sent him the video this morning - he's away for a week but is gonna let me know when he's back then he'll come and do it for me - today's the day! - he was ill so we are gonna reschedule it when he's feeling better
• Find out about most secure locks from insurers - I've emailed so just waiting for their reply now - they don't advise apparently so I've just gotta do my own research - it's gonna be a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock
• Request quotes for 2 new outside doors on Check A Trade (front door MUST be wood and have a letter box with a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock)
• Keep checking to see if anyone wants the carrots - the listing expired so I asked a horse-lover that I know instead
• Ask M to bring box of stuff to Freegle downstairs so that I can...
• Take photos of unwanted things in the spare room
• Advertise spare room things on Freegle
• Do morning laps
• Do 75 morning sit-ups
• Do 35 morning crunches
• Housework - Monday - change bedding & bring in rubbish/recycling
• Housework - Tuesday - tidy living room & groceries
• Housework - Wednesday - clean bathroom
• Housework - Thursday - sweep carpets/meet up with C
• Housework - Friday - tidy bedrooms
• Housework - Saturday - clean kitchen
• Housework - Sunday - rubbish and recycling/refill dosette box
• Put menu up on blog every weekend
• Send reviewers my book if they agree
• Keep my fingers crossed they enjoy and positively review my memoir
• Keep an eye on Freegle to see if anyone wants anything
• Keep an eye on Olio to see if anyone wants the radiator or seat cushion 
• Make lunch of butternut squash, mushrooms, mixed veg & sweet potato/fresh mushrooms
• Take photo of lunch
• Put photo of lunch on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Take lunchtime pill
• Refill dosette box every Sunday
• Do afternoon laps
• Do sit-ups in hall
• Do crunches in hall
• Wait for service certificate for ASHP
• Email service certificate to home insurers
• Go through apps on my spam phone
• Make tea of soup
• Take photo of tea
• Bring tea through to the living room
• Log tea into FitBit app
• Put photo of tea on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• There's chocolate multipacks in the fridge
• As well as choccie raisins too
• And treat-sized choccie on the side
• And loads of soft drinks
• And dried fruit and nuts in the tubs
• Study my courses (starting at the bottom of the page)
• Post about something I'm grateful for today
• Download, resize and save BP machine photos
• Put 6 days' worth of BP photos onto my health site
• Put blood pressure spreadsheet onto health site on the last day of each month
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Gooooood mornin' all

I've woken up in a positive mood this morning and decided to do the laundry today and get washed and changed on Thursday morning 'cos that's when I'm seeing my best friend.

My blood pressure was at the high end of my normal blood pressure range and 9 points lower than yesterday, so that's a relief.  My morning pills went down fine and I had water with my breakfast because I finished off the juice yesterday so I'm hoping more will be delivered with my groceries this morning.

I've refilled my squash bottle and put the bags in front of the door as well as setting off my monthly virus scan, so I can relax now.

This first blog post of the day is getting a bit long, so I'm gonna publish it and put today's to-do list together, but can't put the breakfast photo up until the virus scan has finished.

BBS

Nite nite orl

Well, I managed to get through a wonderful book in about 12 hours that was supposed to take 4 hours to read lol

I had a very disturbed night last night and I'm absolutely shattered now so I'm gonna head on up to beddy-byes.

I'll see you all in the morning for the monthly virus scan and my groceries, but no laps or exercises 'cos I'm trying every other day rather than every day now that my weight is lower than where I want it to be.

Nite nite orl

Third and final update to today's to-do list

• Use blood pressure machine
• Put details onto spreadsheet
• Put BP machine away
• Drink glass of water
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan - all clear
• Come up with a tag line for my memoir - I've potentially come up with one at last
• Study at least one course
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to playlists
• Turn on air purifier
• Read and review a book - up to chapter 7 so far - chapter 16 now and I've barely looked up since lunchtime!! - just finished reading an incredible book
• Add more books to my TBR pile
• Ask Alexa to play Baroque music/the radio
• Check forum
• Announce birthdays if necessary
• Get washed and dressed
• Weigh myself
• Log weight into FitBit app
• Make breakfast of toast and juice/water (day 3 of the bread)
• Take photo of breakfast
• Put photo of breakfast on here and Instagram
• Recycle juice bottle
• Wash up
• Have banana
• Have caffeinated coffee
• Bring in rubbish sack
• Put rubbish sack away
• Bring in recycling box
• Put recycling box away
• Bring in blue sack
• Put blue sack away
• Bring in waste food caddy
• Put waste food caddy away
• Keep an eye on emails about the digital switchover
• Request quotes for plug fix on Check A Trade - a plumber has asked for photo's so I've asked if they want the video instead - I sent him the video this morning - he's away for a week but is gonna let me know when he's back then he'll come and do it for me - today's the day! - he was ill so we are gonna reschedule it when he's feeling better
• Find out about most secure locks from insurers - I've emailed so just waiting for their reply now - they don't advise apparently so I've just gotta do my own research - it's gonna be a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock
• Request quotes for 2 new outside doors on Check A Trade (front door MUST be wood and have a letter box with a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock)
• Keep checking to see if anyone wants the carrots - the listing expired so I asked a horse-lover that I know instead
• Ask M to bring box of stuff to Freegle downstairs so that I can...
• Take photos of unwanted things in the spare room
• Advertise spare room things on Freegle
• Do morning laps
• Do 75 morning sit-ups
• Do 35 morning crunches
• Housework - Monday - change bedding & bring in rubbish/recycling
• Housework - Tuesday - tidy living room & groceries
• Housework - Wednesday - clean bathroom
• Housework - Thursday - sweep carpets/meet up with C
• Housework - Friday - tidy bedrooms
• Housework - Saturday - clean kitchen
• Housework - Sunday - rubbish and recycling/refill dosette box
• Put menu up on blog every weekend
• Send reviewers my book if they agree
• Keep my fingers crossed they enjoy and positively review my memoir
• Keep an eye on Freegle to see if anyone wants anything
• Keep an eye on Olio to see if anyone wants the radiator or seat cushion 
• Make lunch of butternut squash, mushrooms, mixed veg & sweet potato/leftovers
• Take photo of lunch
• Put photo of lunch on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Take lunchtime pill
• Refill dosette box every Sunday
• Do afternoon laps
• Do sit-ups in hall
• Do crunches in hall
• Wait for service certificate for ASHP
• Email service certificate to home insurers
• Go through apps on my spam phone
• Make tea of soup
• Take photo of tea
• Bring tea through to the living room
• Log tea into FitBit app
• Put photo of tea on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Clear browser caches ready for tomorrow's monthly virus scan
• There's chocolate multipacks in the fridge
• As well as choccie raisins too
• And treat-sized choccie on the side
• And loads of soft drinks
• And dried fruit and nuts in the tubs
• Study my courses (starting at the bottom of the page)
• Post about something I'm grateful for today
• Download, resize and save BP machine photos
• Put 6 days' worth of BP photos onto my health site
• Put blood pressure spreadsheet onto health site on the last day of each month
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Book Review: "Magic Uncorked" by Annabel Chase

Kindle Unlimited Audiobook Paperback
⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews from the last few years, you'll already know how I always start all of my book reviews: by saying that each book I read and review starts off with the full membership of 5 stars and I'm always hopeful that they will all still be firmly in place by the time I close the back cover.  You'll also know that I'm not shy about removing stars if I deem it necessary, but I always give my reason(s) within the review - they don't just disappear.

I loved the description of this book and I'm really hoping it'll give me a warm, fuzzy hug as I devour each page, so let's get going shall we?

Just finished the first chapter and really enjoyed it... could this be a 5 star book in the making already??

Oh dear.  A well-known video website has just been mentioned, so in fairness to other books that I've read and reviewed, the first star is unfortunately starting to wobble slightly.

And now there's a famous alcohol mentioned too, so one more mention of a Trademarked or even copyrighted item and the first star plops off unfortunately.

The end of chapter 2 came out of nowhere!  No spoilers, but is this maybe the kinda time to reach for the tissues already??

I was wrong, I'm sorry, the four female main characters has turned the potential for tears into respectful humour.  There have been mentions of the same trademarked items, but the star is already wobbly because of them, so it's not coming off for the repeated use.

At page 69, the first star is coming off for the use of a trademarked shopping channel on the television, so this is now, unfortunately, a 4 star book.

I'm up to chapter 9 on page 100 and the last chapter was a great one!  I'm not so sure that illegal drugs (at least they're illegal in the UK, I haven't got the faint foggiest clue about the rest of the world) should be included and the author has used some stereotypical language about what she *thinks* witches are like, rather than doing some basic research into real witches and Wiccans, but I guess the author is using the childhood image of a witch rather than a realistic Wiccan.

Chapter 12 is up next and this is a truly great book - the author is really in their stride now and I'm loving every word!

What a way to finish the book... I've barely looked away from the pages since lunchtime and my belly and throat are wondering what's going on lol  It's just about readable in one day... as long as you do pretty much nothing else lol

Second update to today's to-do list

• Use blood pressure machine
• Put details onto spreadsheet
• Put BP machine away
• Drink glass of water
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan - all clear
• Come up with a tag line for my memoir - I've potentially come up with one at last
• Study at least one course
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to playlists
• Turn on air purifier
• Read and review a book - up to chapter 7 so far - chapter 16 now and I've barely looked up since lunchtime!!
• Add more books to my TBR pile
• Ask Alexa to play Baroque music/the radio
• Check forum
• Announce birthdays if necessary
• Get washed and dressed
• Weigh myself
• Log weight into FitBit app
• Make breakfast of toast and juice/water (day 3 of the bread)
• Take photo of breakfast
• Put photo of breakfast on here and Instagram
• Recycle juice bottle
• Wash up
• Have banana
• Have caffeinated coffee
• Bring in rubbish sack
• Put rubbish sack away
• Bring in recycling box
• Put recycling box away
• Bring in blue sack
• Put blue sack away
• Bring in waste food caddy
• Put waste food caddy away
• Keep an eye on emails about the digital switchover
• Request quotes for plug fix on Check A Trade - a plumber has asked for photo's so I've asked if they want the video instead - I sent him the video this morning - he's away for a week but is gonna let me know when he's back then he'll come and do it for me - today's the day! - he was ill so we are gonna reschedule it when he's feeling better
• Find out about most secure locks from insurers - I've emailed so just waiting for their reply now - they don't advise apparently so I've just gotta do my own research - it's gonna be a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock
• Request quotes for 2 new outside doors on Check A Trade (front door MUST be wood and have a letter box with a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock)
• Keep checking to see if anyone wants the carrots - the listing expired so I asked a horse-lover that I know instead
• Ask M to bring box of stuff to Freegle downstairs so that I can...
• Take photos of unwanted things in the spare room
• Advertise spare room things on Freegle
• Do morning laps
• Do 75 morning sit-ups
• Do 35 morning crunches
• Housework - Monday - change bedding & bring in rubbish/recycling
• Housework - Tuesday - tidy living room & groceries
• Housework - Wednesday - clean bathroom
• Housework - Thursday - sweep carpets/meet up with C
• Housework - Friday - tidy bedrooms
• Housework - Saturday - clean kitchen
• Housework - Sunday - rubbish and recycling/refill dosette box
• Put menu up on blog every weekend
• Send reviewers my book if they agree
• Keep my fingers crossed they enjoy and positively review my memoir
• Keep an eye on Freegle to see if anyone wants anything
• Keep an eye on Olio to see if anyone wants the radiator or seat cushion 
• Make lunch of butternut squash, mushrooms, mixed veg & sweet potato/leftovers
• Take photo of lunch
• Put photo of lunch on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Take lunchtime pill
• Refill dosette box every Sunday
• Do afternoon laps
• Do sit-ups in hall
• Do crunches in hall
• Wait for service certificate for ASHP
• Email service certificate to home insurers
• Go through apps on my spam phone
• Make tea of soup
• Take photo of tea
• Bring tea through to the living room
• Log tea into FitBit app
• Put photo of tea on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Clear browser caches ready for tomorrow's monthly virus scan
• There's chocolate multipacks in the fridge
• As well as choccie raisins too
• And treat-sized choccie on the side
• And loads of soft drinks
• And dried fruit and nuts in the tubs
• Study my courses (starting at the bottom of the page)
• Post about something I'm grateful for today
• Download, resize and save BP machine photos
• Put 6 days' worth of BP photos onto my health site
• Put blood pressure spreadsheet onto health site on the last day of each month
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

First update to today's to-do list

• Use blood pressure machine
• Put details onto spreadsheet
• Put BP machine away
• Drink glass of water
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan - all clear
• Come up with a tag line for my memoir - I've potentially come up with one at last
• Study at least one course
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to playlists
• Turn on air purifier
• Read and review a book - up to chapter 7 so far
• Add more books to my TBR pile
• Ask Alexa to play Baroque music/the radio
• Check forum
• Announce birthdays if necessary
• Get washed and dressed
• Weigh myself
• Log weight into FitBit app
• Make breakfast of toast and juice/water (day 3 of the bread)
• Take photo of breakfast
• Put photo of breakfast on here and Instagram
• Recycle juice bottle
• Wash up
• Have banana
• Have caffeinated coffee
• Bring in rubbish sack
• Put rubbish sack away
• Bring in recycling box
• Put recycling box away
• Bring in blue sack
• Put blue sack away
• Bring in waste food caddy
• Put waste food caddy away
• Keep an eye on emails about the digital switchover
• Request quotes for plug fix on Check A Trade - a plumber has asked for photo's so I've asked if they want the video instead - I sent him the video this morning - he's away for a week but is gonna let me know when he's back then he'll come and do it for me - today's the day! - he was ill so we are gonna reschedule it when he's feeling better
• Find out about most secure locks from insurers - I've emailed so just waiting for their reply now - they don't advise apparently so I've just gotta do my own research - it's gonna be a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock
• Request quotes for 2 new outside doors on Check A Trade (front door MUST be wood and have a letter box with a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock)
• Keep checking to see if anyone wants the carrots - the listing expired so I asked a horse-lover that I know instead
• Ask M to bring box of stuff to Freegle downstairs so that I can...
• Take photos of unwanted things in the spare room
• Advertise spare room things on Freegle
• Do morning laps
• Do 75 morning sit-ups
• Do 35 morning crunches
• Housework - Monday - change bedding & bring in rubbish/recycling
• Housework - Tuesday - tidy living room & groceries
• Housework - Wednesday - clean bathroom
• Housework - Thursday - sweep carpets/meet up with C
• Housework - Friday - tidy bedrooms
• Housework - Saturday - clean kitchen
• Housework - Sunday - rubbish and recycling/refill dosette box
• Put menu up on blog every weekend
• Send reviewers my book if they agree
• Keep my fingers crossed they enjoy and positively review my memoir
• Keep an eye on Freegle to see if anyone wants anything
• Keep an eye on Olio to see if anyone wants the radiator or seat cushion 
• Make lunch of butternut squash, mushrooms, mixed veg & sweet potato/leftovers
• Take photo of lunch
• Put photo of lunch on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Take lunchtime pill
• Refill dosette box every Sunday
• Do afternoon laps
• Do sit-ups in hall
• Do crunches in hall
• Wait for service certificate for ASHP
• Email service certificate to home insurers
• Go through apps on my spam phone
• Make tea of soup
• Take photo of tea
• Bring tea through to the living room
• Log tea into FitBit app
• Put photo of tea on here and Instagram
• Do washing up
• Clear browser caches ready for tomorrow's monthly virus scan
• There's chocolate multipacks in the fridge
• As well as choccie raisins too
• And treat-sized choccie on the side
• And loads of soft drinks
• And dried fruit and nuts in the tubs
• Study my courses (starting at the bottom of the page)
• Post about something I'm grateful for today
• Download, resize and save BP machine photos
• Put 6 days' worth of BP photos onto my health site
• Put blood pressure spreadsheet onto health site on the last day of each month
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

I've decided against...

...changing my bedding today 'cos the recycling wasn't emptied until half way through my lunch and I don't fancy throwing up while I'm getting stressed out about it, so it's two weeks between changes, but I'll hopefully do it next week instead.

I'll still do my laps and exercises this afternoon after my lunch has settled a bit, just not the bedding again is all.