A Busy Day In Beetley

~ beetleypete

I am not used to being busy. My life is usually unhurried, with a certain familiar routine that comforts me in my retirement. But when a holiday is on the horizon, there are things that need to be done.

So there was much activity chez beetleypete this morning, including a rare trip into the heart of Dereham. (Sounds impressive, but it’s a very small town)

Up early, in the bath, dressed and ready by the time I am usually contemplating my second cup of coffee. I left a glum-looking Ollie wondering why I was going out without him, and drove through the gloom and light drizzle. In town, I was very lucky to find a nice big free parking spot right opposite the bank, my first destination.

As I do not yet cooperate with ‘Internet Banking’, occasional trips into the branch are necessary. This time I had to transfer funds from a savings account into a current account to ensure there was enough to pay the bill on Saturday week. Then there was a standing order to increase, and a transfer payment into our joint account. Second stop was across the road, to ‘Abigail’s’. This is a privately-owned gift shop that also sells a range of greetings cards.

When we are on holiday, it is our wedding anniversary on the Friday, so I had to make sure I had a card to take.

Back in the car, and less than a mile to the nearest supermarket. It has a petrol station attached, and I wanted to fill my car to the brim with diesel, ready for the longer than usual drive coming up. After waiting behind two cars, I was frustrated to discover that the diesel pump in that lane was ‘Out of Service’. Not wanting to drive around again to a different lane of pumps, I drove just over a mile to a much bigger supermarket where I was able to fill up immediately with no issues.

(*Worth noting here that the fuel prices have increased dramatically. The cost to fill my car has gone up from £55 to £63 today, in a matter of weeks)

Time to go back home. A very early lunch, followed by Ollie’s dog walk. (In light drizzly rain of course) After that, I had to fill the garden waste bin with hedge cuttings, so it can be left out for collection while we are away. I also sorted the regular waste bins while I was at it.

The time was now fast-approaching 4pm, and my next task was to iron the clothes I am taking on holiday. With chilly weather and occasional showers forecast for next week, it was an easy decision to take thicker shirts, and warm tops. I also washed a warm coat and thick fleecy cardigan, as I presume both will be needed.

It is now 5:15pm, and I am getting hungry. I think that is partly because of the early start, but also because it is decidedly cold for August, at barely 15C. Too early for starting dinner just yet, so I came in here to check blog posts and emails. (I also had been doing that between jobs, and when the iron was heating up)

For those of you with genuinely busy lives, my day might well seem like a holiday, I get that.

But I predict an early night for me!

86 thoughts on “A Busy Day In Beetley”

  1. Well, my father is retired and what you said seems super busy to me from his point of view. His day begins at day break with occasional naps sprinkled over the day. He does the laundry and helps my mom with cooking. But he has too much time to kill, so he writes books on Taxation, takes half hour walks, exercises daily and runs errands for my mom. And still he has enough time to watch several hours of TV. So what you said seems super busy to me!

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  8. You did have a busy day. I do not like errands that require banking or any sort of business. I love to get up early . . so I can drink a bit of coffee-that ought not to be interrupted. Waiting for gas, that you didn’t get . . .well lets’ hope you have a wonderful anniversary and that those sort of errand days are few and far between.

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    1. Thanks very much, dear Michele. Some better news is that the weather forecast for next week is changing. We may see some sunshine on our holidays at long last. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  10. ‘Cause he gets up in the morning,
    And he goes straight away to the bath that’s waiting,
    and then the shirts all need ironing for holiday so that’s the next thing to do,
    Then he pats the head of his devoted dog and scampers out the back door

    And he’s oh, so good,
    And he’s oh, so fine,
    And he’s oh, so healthy,
    In his body and his mind.
    He’s a well-respected man about town,
    Doing the best things so conservatively. . .

    Pops into the bank as has been his habit for quite a long time,
    And he’s got a special day ahead so in he goes to find a perfect anniversary card,
    Then the Petrol hose is not cooperating so off to Tesco he goes.

    And he’s oh, so good,
    And he’s oh, so fine,
    And he’s oh, so healthy,
    In his body and his mind.
    He’s a well-respected man about town,
    Doing the best things so conservatively. . .

    Then he comes back home at five-fifteen,
    Where he gets a familiar twinge of hunger after every rainy solo drive.
    ‘Cause his world is built ’round punctuality,
    It never fails. But being up early his stomach has the growls,
    then to bed early so he can do it all again. . .

    And he’s oh, so good,
    And he’s oh, so fine,
    And he’s oh, so healthy,
    In his body and his mind.
    And he so looking forward to holiday in spite of the drive.

    He’s a well-respected man about town,
    Doing the best things so conservatively. . . 😉

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  16. Pete, I got tired just reading it! One of the interesting aspects of a post-quarantine life is that I have gotten used to NOT going out much – doing everything from home…luckily we can do that, so when I ran out shopping today for some things I decided NOT to have Amazon leave on my doorstep at 5a, it was a bit of a culture shock. Literally in the last 18 months, I have been to grocery stores perhaps a dozen times!

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  19. Very busy indeed! At least it comes with the promise of vacation, which makes it all good! My summer was too busy and I’m glad things have finally slowed down. At least enough to be planning for our next vacation, we love travelling in September! 🙂

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  28. What a busy boy you’ve been! I was up at 05:30, went to work, came home and took the bike out for half an hour, cooked dinner, and now am catching up with social media. Time just flies by when you’re enjoying yourself, lol.

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  29. It sounds like you coped very well with all your pre-holiday preparations, Pete, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the holiday all the more, knowing nothing’s been left to chance! [I know I would] Have a great time anyway, and I hope you get some decent weather 😀 Cheers, Jon.

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  30. Have a good holiday with great weather and if a day like that tires you out you are older than I thought. Don’t do too much on your vacation mate or at least take a couple of naps during the day . . .

    xx

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  31. It’s always crazy when preparing for a holiday! I’m doing much the same today, food shopping, laundry, and packing as we leave tomorrow for the long Labor Day Weekend at the lake with some friends. The excitement of the impending holiday gets me through the plethora of tasks required to take our leave. Sounds like you’ve accomplished all your tasks Pete and now it’s time for a nice meal and glass of wine. Cheers and safe travel, warmly, C

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  32. I was “busy” yesterday writing lyrics for a new melody (our 108th songwriting collaboration). Today, I was supposed to go hiking in the mountains, but we got a bit of rainfall last night, so the trails are likely rather wet. The hike has been rescheduled for Thursday. As for today, since the hike has been postponed, I’ll be listening to a new melody in order to come up with ideas for the subject.

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  34. Sounds much like a few of my days. I would trade you my weather for yours, any day. Granbury Texas today, high 98 blistering degrees with a 10 percent chance of showers, low tonight 80. I dread my electric bill.

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    1. I wouldn’t like that heat at all, Phil. But we have had no summer to speak of. No really bright days since early July, and complete dull cloud cover for all 31 days of August. It makes you depressed after a while, when you know winter is coming all too soon.
      (I looked up Granbury. You have a beach park! The population is about the same as my nearest town here)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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