Our week that was: Gooseberries, a group visit, germs and a gilet

OK, enough already with the alliteration. We promise, we won’t do it again!

Before you read on, one of the other little things we did this week – along with what seems like half the world’s population – was to join Threads. We’ve not got our heads round the app yet, and we’re not sure how much use we’ll make of it… but go give us a follow if you’ve joined too.

Home-grown fruit

I’ve been trying to work out my optimum gooseberry-harvesting timing – don’t pick them before they’re ripe, but don’t allow the birds to get there before me. One of our bushes was completely devoured by sawfly larvae and it produced no fruit. But another was heavily weighed down with an abundance of large, bright green gooseberries.

I held off for as long as I dared before picking just under 500 grams, about half of the crop. Justin doesn’t like them, so I had to find things to do with it where it wouldn’t go to waste. I made jam and pickle last year, and still have jars of both left in the pantry. I decided to use the majority to make (almost) a large jar of compote and the remainder in a fruit sponge. The compote will be swirled into my morning yoghurt and the sponge – with a pouring of thick cream – made two portions of delicious dessert for me!

The Catholic Church at Henllan

Last weekend, I went on a coach trip with my local WI group to visit the prisoner-of-war camp at Henllan. After a quick stop for coffee and scone at the nearby Teifi Valley Railway, we made our way to the prisoner-of-war camp, specifically to see the fascinating Church of the Sacred Heart located there.

Created by the Italian WWII prisoners who were housed there, the church is testament to what can be achieved with a lot of determination and very little else. The men were given permission to use one of the accommodation huts as a place of worship.

What’s amazing is the way in which the space was decorated to make it look and feel less like a pre-fab box and more like a chapel. The ‘stone’ columns and scroll-work capitals pictured above were made using thin bits of metal (used corned beef tins), painted to look like marble.

All the murals and frescos were created using paints made from tea leaves, coffee grounds and vegetable peelings mixed with crushed fish bones… and they remain vibrant and intact over 75 years later.

After the war, many of the ex-prisoners made pilgrimages back to Henllan, often bringing items to leave in the church. The framed watercolours above are fine examples of these. They are two of 14 Stations of the Cross painted by Mario Ferlito – the original muralist – that now hang on the walls around the chapel.

A trip to the dentist

We’ve lived in Mid-Wales for 4 years now and still haven’t been able to see a dentist in the area. We’re on a waiting list – at least we think we are – so, in the meantime, we have to travel back to Yorkshire for our 6-monthly check-ups or any other dental work that needs to be done. That’s an 8-hour round trip and an overnight stay with family… for about 10 minutes in the dentist’s chair!

We have a regular stop off point where we stretch our legs and give the dog (and ourselves) a comfort break. We’ve not long discovered a cracking charity shop nearby where we’ve always found something to buy. This trip, I bought this cream Berghaus gilet – that will come in useful as the autumn approaches.

Fever

During our aforementioned car journeys, we listened to Fever: The Hunt for Covid’s Origin, a BBC Radio 4 podcast series. The programmes are presented by John Sudworth, the BBC’s Beijing Correspondent at the time of the Coronavirus outbreak. The series investigated the possible origins of Covid-19 via interviews with scientists and Sudworth’s own courageous investigations from within China with its highly authoritarian, one party state system.

Tips for staying safe and healthy when moving

Moving can put your body under a lot of stress. With tasks like packing, lifting and unpacking, the entire process can be pretty exhausting. If not done in moderation and under the right conditions, these tasks could result in health issues. Besides that, there is still the risk of being exposed to the Coronavirus. Although the virus has been managed since its outbreak, it’s essential to take extra precautions to ensure a safe and healthy move. So, how can you ensure you stay safe and healthy while you move to a new place? Here are some helpful tips.

Assess movers’ COVID-19 protocols

Ask your expert moving company what steps they’re taking to ensure a COVID-19-safe when moving during lockdown. The safety of you and your things is paramount throughout any move, and most reliable movers recognise this. When it comes to your safety and health, though, it’s critical that the moving company you use shows they care.

Sleep well enough before move day

While sleep deprivation may result from your decision to move, it should not become a habit since it might impair a person’s ability to focus on the duties at hand. So, if you want your relocation duties to be finished on time and without a hitch, schedule time to sleep regularly. This may provide your body with the energy it requires for tomorrow’s physical activities.

Choose a reliable moving service

While it may appear irrelevant to staying safe and healthy during a move in 2021, choosing a reputable moving company can go a long way toward safeguarding your health. Because relocating during a pandemic might be more dangerous, you’ll need professionals to assist you to stay safe and healthy during the shift. As a result, look for a moving company that follows specific safety recommendations during the relocation. With them by your side, you may rest easy knowing that they’ve taken precautions to safeguard you from COVID-19 infection.

Keep clean and sanitise

As moving may expose you to COVID-19 and other viruses, following the general safety precautions is one method to stay safe and healthy. As a result, if you’re moving, the following guidelines should include wearing a face mask and gloves, avoiding physical touch and keeping a safe distance from other individuals, always keeping your hands sanitised. Avoid touching anything, including surfaces, as these may be covered with viruses as well.

Ensure COVID-19 protocols

Enquire about your moving company’s sanitary policies. Make sure they’re cleaning and disinfecting vehicles, moving supplies and other equipment; and while you’re at it, make sure you’re keeping yourself clean as well. Buying new moving boxes rather than reusing old ones will assist in reducing the spread of the virus.

Unpack and sanitise

When it comes time to unpack, use the same caution you used when packing. Before unpacking, thoroughly sanitise your home and disinfect items as you remove them from boxes and put them in place in your new home. As an added precaution, gloves can be worn.

[disclosure*]

Win a Smart Screen antibacterial cleaning cloth to wipe away 2020!

This month, we were kindly send a Smart Screen®️ antibacterial cleaning cloth to review. I’ve been using it multiple times per day ever since it arrived – it’s indispensable!

The Smart Screen is the world’s first antibacterial microfibre cloth dedicated to cleaning your smartphone. During the weave process, the microfibre fabric has a Silver Ion antibacterial agent injected into it. The antibacterial properties will last for up to fifteen 30°C washing cycles (Don’t use stain removers such as Vanish in the wash. Washing at higher temperatures may result in colour loss).

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, we’ve been much more conscious of cross-contamination, especially when we have to go out & about. At the moment, we only really go out to the post office and the supermarket. It’s while we’re at the latter that I’ve begun to notice how often I take my reading glasses off & on when I pick up items to read labels and see prices. I do the same when I get to the checkout and use the payment machine.

Now that I have my Smart Screen cloth, I wipe my glasses frequently and my debit card each time I use it. Not to mention my mobile phone, the keypad on my laptop and screen on the iPad. Each cloth comes with its own handy little pouch – available in yellow, brown, grey, light blue and dark blue.

We have 5 to give away to our readers; for your chance to win one of them, simply tell us for what you’d use the Smart Screen®️ antibacterial cleaning cloth.

A Smart Screen®️ antibacterial cleaning cloth

7 health items you should have at home and in the workplace

The current COVID-19 pandemic can affect any of us. The World Health Organization and UK government have proposed several safety guidelines that you should follow. Here are some of the health items you should have at home and in your workplace to stay safe during the crisis.

1. Disinfectant and antiseptics

When cleaning, you need a high-quality disinfectant such as CaviCide. The floors and other surfaces in your home or workplace should be disinfected regularly. Things such as desktops, keyboards, telephones, light switches and door handles. It’s believed that the Covid-19 virus can survive for days on certain hard surfaces. In addition to the virus, disinfectant is useful for removing bacteria, mould and other germs that can lead to illness. As well as routinely washing your hands, you should keep hand sanitiser close by and use it when soap & water aren’t available.

2. Face masks

Wearing a face mask is beneficial. It helps to keep the wearer safe from airborne particles and, if they are infected, it helps prevent the spread of the virus to other people with whom they come into contact. A reusable face mask is preferable because it’s cost effective and is more eco-friendly than single-use, disposable varieties. A well-made and fitted mask with additional filter layers will offer a high level of protection to you, family members and work colleagues.

3. Eye protection

Eyes have a mucus membrane that can get contaminated, leading to the spread of germs. You can wear goggles to keep the eyes protected from possible cases of infection. Make a habit of wearing a face mask and goggles each time you plan to go to areas where there are many people. For instance, into a busy town to visit a supermarket or on public transport. There are high chances that you’ll be around a lot of people in these places. An eye shield will reduce the chances of germs from people coughing & sneezing from landing on your face.

4. Disposable gloves

It’s a good practice to wear nitrile or latex gloves to protect your hands. Ensure you clean and store the gloves effectively to avoid possible cases of contamination. Using gloves will protect your hands from coming into physical contact with germs. You can be exposed to the virus when touching objects and surfaces. As previously mentioned, metallic and other hard surfaces can harbour the virus for several days. You can unknowingly touch the virus and end up contracting the disease or spreading infection. The application of gloves can reduce these risks.

5. First aid kit

During a crisis, you, your family or work colleagues may be faced with an emergency. It will be useful to be able to offer first aid at home or in the workplace and manage some of the health issues there. It will reduce the need to visit crowded hospitals where infected people could be spreading the virus. An emergency first aid kit will play a significant role in enabling you to offer treatment and keeping you safe. Ensure the first aid kit is accessible, portable and that all your family members or work colleagues are trained on how to use it.

6. Over-the-counter medication

There are common medications that people use to manage a wide range of health complications. Having pain killers, fever reducers, anti-diarrhoea medicine, cough suppressants and other over the counter medication is recommended to manage minor cases of illness at home and make the patient more comfortable. Hospitals and doctor surgeries are likely to be overstretched during an emergency so it makes sense to isolate at home and treat from there where possible.

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7. Probiotic supplements

Develop healthy habits to improve your immunity. People with strong immunity are less likely to fall sick. They can better withstand the symptoms of the virus too. There are several changes you can make to your routine to enjoy a healthy life. Check on your diet and fit exercise into your daily routine. Healthy eating involves a balanced diet from different food groups including vegetables & fruit, high fibre, starchy foods, and proteins from meat, fish, eggs, beans or pulses. The addition of vitamin & mineral supplements and probiotics to introduce healthy gut bacteria can also be considered.