Double Blessing

On Saturday we should have been cruising on a canal boat with an assortment of family members,
quiet and not so quiet,
celebrating my daughters forthcoming birthday.
Sometimes life doesn't quite pan out the way we anticipate - understatement of the year!
Instead we are sailing slowly through this time of uncertainty and anxiety,
waiting to see what the next 'lock', or day, might bring.

Meanwhile, the Corona virus now has the more sinister name, Covid-19.
Like carbonmonoxide its presence is invisible,
unlike Carbonmonoxide it cannot yet be detected
as it wreaks its covert havoc.
Out of sight, within the body.
No-one knows it is there.
At a time like this a mini project helps to focus the mind.

Anyone unfortunate enough to follow my blog
may have noticed that I am partial to a certain soup.
My small store is soon going to be exausted
and, under the current understandable restrictions,
and panic purchasing,
I am unlikely to be able to replenish my small stash.
"Maybe I need to get a soup maker...?" I pondered.
We did some research.
I am a great fan of slow cooking, not fast food,
so having looked into the way soup makers work,
I realised that I did not actually want one.
"I want something more like a slow cooker."
"You HAVE a slow cooker!"
"Yes, but it is rather big. Tipping soup out of it would be a bit weird."
More research followed.

Then I had a eureka moment.
"They do twin slow cookers"
"What is a twin slow cooker?"
"You have two pots, 
so you could use one for your gluten/dairy/lemon/tomato/egg/carotene free dishes 
and the KHT and I could have the other. 
That way we get to use the oven less than we do at the moment.
I could also make soup in one."
"Can you use just one?"
"Yes."
"Looks like a good plan.
What will you do with the old one?"
"Well I am not sure you can fit a joint in one of these pots. They are only 1.7 litres each."
"How big is the old one?"
"Dunno, three or four litres..?

And so an order was placed.
Click and collect at Lakeland.
The plan was I would sneak in and collect the order,
whilst practicing safe social spacing,
leaving DH and the KHT explored the gardens.
"Could you check the deli section for gluten-free bread flour...? 
and a beech wooden spoon from Lakeland..
and we could do with a another pop up garden bin 
to replace the one that is about to disintegrate"


We arrived at Webbs and as it was a beautiful day
we had a brief wander round the furthest part of the gardens,
then I left DH and the KHT to continue exploring
whilst I went on a brief foray into the world of Webbs.
The first thing I encountered was a hand sanitiser.
Then I took a tortuous route to the deli section,
steering my trolley through a convoluted route
through the pet section
in an attempt to keep a clear six feet
between myself and other shoppers.
It was like taking part in a giant puzzle.
Younger shoppers seemed oblivious
to any need for social spacing,
as they examined patio sets and garden lights.

At one point I realised a shop assistant
was about to move into the next space I had earmarked.
I stopped in my tracks
and was very impressed when he instantly recognised
the cause of my hesitation
and quickly manoevered round the other side of the display,
encouraging me to take the route I had intended.

In the Deli there was no sign of any flour of any description,
let alone the limited edition gluten-free white bread flour my husband sought,
I moved on to the garden tool section and located a replacement pop up storage container.
I had no idea if that was a good price or not.
I just wanted to escape. ASAP!

Next stop was Lakeland and the twin tubs... (Slow cooker)
I was about to leave the store when I remembered the request for a wooden spoon.
Having located them I grabbed three,
as I know at least two of the ones we are currently using are looking rather sad,
mainly on account of being put in the dishwasher!
"They come with a three year guarantee!" announced the assistant brightly.
"I think we will have lost them long before then..." I replied.
Nevertheless I tucked the receipt safely in my bag.

Twin tub

Back home, items on the worktop in the utility
were rearranged to make room for our new toy.
"Some people roast their veggies in a slow cooker."
I was advised.
"Well we have one pot each so that isn't going to happen, 
and I didn't want a triple slow cooker."
"They do triple ones?" asked DH incredulously.
"Yes, but the dishes were smaller 
and it would have taken up more room."

The wooden spoons were admired
and then DH noticed that one was chipped.
"Well, that can go back, sometime." I declared.
"You are going to take it back?" asked DH incredulously
"Not immediately, but next time I am in at Webbs. 
They have a three  year guarantee, though I never imagined that I would require it!"
Another of life's surprises...

How long, How long, O Lord will this virus last?
Protect us and save us from all perils and dangers of this night, 
and the days and nights ahead.
Amen