What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[gennepher]

Mrs MC called off visit to MILs bungalow thank goodness so another watercolour sketch today. Yesterday late Mountain Bike Ride as the sun was dropping over the Shropshire Countryside. This view is from the West side of Cannock Chase. The sun was a haze and the land melted into the sky. A4 sketch painted from memory, 20 minutes. Will do a proper painting from this sketch but not today.

View attachment 43738

Beautiful soothing evening painting @Muddy Cyclist

 

[gennepher]

@gennepher Hope your day was full of Flutterbyes. Your art today is nice digital creation of these fragile yet tough creatures.

Thank you @Muddy Cyclist
Red Admirals. And some Whites.
It is amazing they survive.

 

[gennepher]

Good morning everyone from a slowly wakening morning in the dark and dangerous north

The wonder wheel of home made burgers with eggs and pickles came in at 5.1 this am

The twins have been up since 5am - cereals already consumed and toast, well, toasted and a few strawberries on the table.
They and their sister are going home this afternoon so a trip down the motorway to the half way child catcher exchange point will take place. Always good to have them but they are exhausting being on the go from the minute they wake until they go to bed. I think that they want to go down to the beach this morning, If it rains, it may be coats and wellies jumping in puddles.

Hope everyone has a good day, I need (well, want) some koffy.

View attachment 43731

Interesting tree. I can see all kinds of figures and scenes within that tree branches and leaves @dunelm

 

[UserABC2021]

@gennepher I have been watching this chap for ideas. Video does have English subtitles although it was set to French by default

 

[gennepher]

I collected my new glasses this morning.

The town was as busy as if it had been market day. It is always a market day on a Friday, but there was none today (or since lockdown), although it was very busy for parking. I suppose old habits die hard. I managed to get a space. And got a bit shopping done, before I got the opticians. What shocked me though was absolutely no one wore a face mask, not even in the shops. I was the only silly one wearing a face mask...

The pavements were packed solid. People greeting each other, hugging each other. No social distancing. None in the shops either. Cash tills back to opening up next to each other, so you are a foot away from the person queuing at the till next to you.

I am looked upon with suspicion again. I preferred it when at least a few people wear masks.

I have been wanting fish from the fish and chip shop for a few months. It is fresh fish caught that morning. Anyway I noticed the kids pouring out of the high school at midday. So they were back. I thought the fish and chip shop at last would be open. I would get there before the school kids did. And I did. It was open now. No complicated system like some of the others have that I cannot use because I need to telephone beforehand.

So I came home with my prize!

But guess what, although it tasted good, I didn't enjoy it. I don't eat that much food in one go any more. Cat got a helping, then looked at me...I can't eat all this his face said.

So I do not hanker for battered fish any more....

 

[UserABC2021]

I am looked upon with suspicion again. I preferred it when at least a few people wear masks.

Don't let them get to you, so many have gone back to their 'normal' lives because no-one they knew has died or been seriously ill. Let them be who they will and just do what you believe to be right. The worst that can happen is that those of us continuing to follow the rules just stay alive in our 'foolishness'

 

[gennepher]

@gennepher I have been watching this chap for ideas. Video does have English subtitles although it was set to French by default

Thanks for the link @Alien Aspie
Just watched it. Got the English subtitles. Informative.

 

[gennepher]

Don't let them get to you, so many have gone back to their 'normal' lives because no-one they knew has died or been seriously ill. Let them be who they will and just do what you believe to be right. The worst that can happen is that those of us continuing to follow the rules just stay alive in our 'foolishness'

I do understand @Alien Aspie

Thank you for saying this.

And I was aware of my thoughts today among them that.. 'I was being stupid wearing a mask'...'I don't need to wear a mask'...'It is safe to resume normal life because Covid doesn't exist'...and more such thoughts, just because of what I was seeing around me.

Those are dangerous thoughts I know for my health and safety.

Normally, I am not among so many people. I normally shop early at 8 am when almost no one is around. This optician's appointment was 11:30 am, so it was not my choice to be out and about at this time.

I will say one thing about wearing a mask all the time (even in February and March) when I have been out since even before lockdown began, is that I haven't caught any bugs or viruses at all. I do have a compromised immune system, and I normally have caught a few bugs and viruses in this time that have laid me very low. Masks do work.

Thank you.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Beautiful soothing evening painting @Muddy Cyclist

Thank you. Hugs for your day out dilemma and stress, also for the not liking battered fish anymore, snap here, although that batter would shoot my BG up, however I can still feel the pull of the fish and chip shop when I pass, so tempting and yet I know I would hate it if I succumbed.

I was talking to a relative yesterday who's take is the whole worlds got Covid WRONG and it's all a nonsense, they love popping over to Wales because they don't have to wear masks, I despair, they are retired medical people.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Flu jab booked. Can't get to see a doctor, can't get my annual T2 Diabetic checkup, can't get HbA1c blood test, but Flu Jab no problem, no waiting, money involved perhaps? One worry. Health centre says no face to face contact to protect the staff, so who is giving me the Jab, should I be concerned?

 

[geefull]

good evening all

4.2 yesterday and 4.2 this morning

voluteering day yesterday so we were quite tired when we got home, then discovered we had a tap that wouldn't turn off at least it was one of the cold taps
mr gee and I spent most of the evening trying to stem the flow. mr gee had to go searching in his shed for bits and pieces of tap to try to fix it. This is a bit like the equivalent of a trek through the jungle by the look of it I got to be gofer and brew coffee and tea and make dinner.

Over to mum's today, mr gee shampooed the living room carpet and I cleaned out the fridge and titivated the downstairs shower room

Hope your day is treating you well

@Krystyna23040 - yay for the recovery

@jjraak - bon voyage

@Muddy Cyclist - you are correct, I didn't post yesterday, two for the price of one today then
You amaze me every day with your art, beautiful and well observed sketches both of those, I learn something from you every day

@gennepher - I like the sketch of Popeye, particularly his sly side eye at the little furry creature your bird is very fluid and effective and the plum blossom you've given your butterfly is lovely.

@JohnEGreen - I enjoyed the photos and I send hugs to your mrs. burns are not fun.

@dunelm - interesting quick sketch of the crags and the tree is strong, you always manage to place them in space well

@Alien Aspie - glad breathing is easier for you. I like the flame art very much and that snack, how well you know us

art bit -
brushes and sketch books have arrived this morning at mr gee's suggestion I have also bought a 1 inch pointed oval brush, the idea is to try being a bit freer and less of a fiddler (which I'm very inclined to be). I'm going to have a few goes at the zen brush style I think
I admire all of you for the 'quick' sketches you achieve, it takes me ages to get anything down on paper usually.

no 1 is a bit of a sketch done in mum's garden, there is a pot of aquillegias and primroses which are dying down now, perhaps at some stage I'll use it as the basis of a pen and wash drawing, the colours in the leaves are currently interesting. Took me about 15-20 mins with breaks for tea drinking



no 2 is, once again, done from a photo I saw on the net.

 

[gennepher]

Thank you. Hugs for your day out dilemma and stress, also for the not liking battered fish anymore, snap here, although that batter would shoot my BG up, however I can still feel the pull of the fish and chip shop when I pass, so tempting and yet I know I would hate it if I succumbed.

I was talking to a relative yesterday who's take is the whole worlds got Covid WRONG and it's all a nonsense, they love popping over to Wales because they don't have to wear masks, I despair, they are retired medical people.

I have no desire for battered fish ever again @Muddy Cyclist I just feel bleugh now.

Apologies for saying this but your medical relatives should know better. I live on the border of England and Wales. We are called the Gateway to Wales. And I live right next to beautiful ancient woodlands, a Country Park, where we have streams, waterfalls, and a beautiful ruined castle.

When lockdown was eased in England, but not in Wales, the English came into Wales, and although the park was closed to us, there were locked gates and taped up entrances with hazard tape. These visitors parked all over the local roads causing traffic jams and several accidents (the car park was locked inside the park), and the hazard tape was torn off the side gates, and they just entered it. They didn't care that we were still in lockdown. They caused the same bother and mess and littering that the beaches are getting.

Although the park is officially open now, we are still getting far too many visitors, and careless people parking where they like, still causing road accidents, and littering is horrendously bad.

 

[gennepher]

Flu jab booked. Can't get to see a doctor, can't get my annual T2 Diabetic checkup, can't get HbA1c blood test, but Flu Jab no problem, no waiting, money involved perhaps? One worry. Health centre says no face to face contact to protect the staff, so who is giving me the Jab, should I be concerned?

Maybe it will be a robot @Muddy Cyclist

Edit: I have a better idea...You know the toilet you go to in the surgery to do a sample? Well you post your sample through the hatch. Perhaps instead, you sit on the toilet, but post your arm through that hatch for that injection...

I had better stop here, because my mind is working out other ideas...

 

[gennepher]

art bit -
brushes and sketch books have arrived this morning at mr gee's suggestion I have also bought a 1 inch pointed oval brush, the idea is to try being a bit freer and less of a fiddler (which I'm very inclined to be). I'm going to have a few goes at the zen brush style I think
I admire all of you for the 'quick' sketches you achieve, it takes me ages to get anything down on paper usually.

no 1 is a bit of a sketch done in mum's garden, there is a pot of aquillegias and primroses which are dying down now, perhaps at some stage I'll use it as the basis of a pen and wash drawing, the colours in the leaves are currently interesting. Took me about 15-20 mins with breaks for tea drinking

no 2 is, once again, done from a photo I saw on the net.

Thank you @geefull for the compliments.

A wonderful delicate pencil sketch.
And...
A beautiful painting of lofty mountains, and the calm expanse of water. Perspective, depth, everything in here.

 

[dunelm]

Quick form, learning to do fire so here's my first attempt which took 25 mins. I used soft brush in the airbrush section and gaussian blur. Referenced from a photo

View attachment 43736

Excellent and thank’s for identifying the brush selection

 

[dunelm]

Wow, what strange apparel you have up north, I'm glad my wellies and coats do not behave in such away.

Nice bush you have captured there, you are becoming the master of digital trees.

Thank you - luckily it was carving pictures on the beach using sea shells so the marionette clothing stayed at home

 

[dunelm]

View attachment 43739
Skiddaw from the North, a few miles from home a couple of days ago.
Some of the climbers will be able recognise the distant peaks in the Western fells as your eye takes you over the 'shoulder' of Ullock Pike into the distance.

One of our favourite walks and of course Bassenthwaite nearby - the only true lake in the lake district

 

[dunelm]

Interesting tree. I can see all kinds of figures and scenes within that tree branches and leaves @dunelm

Thank you, I decided to use shading using an imported Sumi-e brush to depict leaves

 

[dunelm]

I collected my new glasses this morning.

The town was as busy as if it had been market day. It is always a market day on a Friday, but there was none today (or since lockdown), although it was very busy for parking. I suppose old habits die hard. I managed to get a space. And got a bit shopping done, before I got the opticians. What shocked me though was absolutely no one wore a face mask, not even in the shops. I was the only silly one wearing a face mask...

The pavements were packed solid. People greeting each other, hugging each other. No social distancing. None in the shops either. Cash tills back to opening up next to each other, so you are a foot away from the person queuing at the till next to you.

I am looked upon with suspicion again. I preferred it when at least a few people wear masks.

I have been wanting fish from the fish and chip shop for a few months. It is fresh fish caught that morning. Anyway I noticed the kids pouring out of the high school at midday. So they were back. I thought the fish and chip shop at last would be open. I would get there before the school kids did. And I did. It was open now. No complicated system like some of the others have that I cannot use because I need to telephone beforehand.

So I came home with my prize!

But guess what, although it tasted good, I didn't enjoy it. I don't eat that much food in one go any more. Cat got a helping, then looked at me...I can't eat all this his face said.

So I do not hanker for battered fish any more....

Stick with the mask - don’t get phased - this thing will not be going away any time soon and reading the article posted by AA it looks likely that it gets in through your nose, cries havoc - and releases the dogs of war

 

[UserABC2021]

Apologies for saying this but your medical relatives should know better.

I have long understood that intelligence is not measured by the perceived importance of someone's livelihood, nor is it related to the level of one's education. You only have to look at how the country is run for that to be apparent