Saturday

 Good morning, everyone.  We're back to cold and frosty mornings here but the sun is shining brightly so that's great.  When I looked out in the middle of the night, it was raining so it's a distinct improvement on that!

Yesterday was a lovely day.   We had sun and it wasn't too cold.  It started off with SW as you know, and I maintained - better than a gain as several of you mentioned but a bit of a let down.,  Oh, well, it is what it is!

Then I had a leisurely breakfast before getting into the car, setting the sat nav and heading off for Perrywood Nurseries.   I think the sat nav was having a wobble because it took me a very long winded way, through narrow country lanes, once I had left the A12 but I got there and the way back was definitely the way I should have gone and easily remembered so that's good.  Another good thing is that the Five Lakes spa resort is not too far away and I will be going there at the beginning of June so now I know the route pretty much.
It was a pleasant drive both going and coming back so that's good.

Perrywoods is lovely.  Very large with a good sized car park - which was pretty full so when I go again I will get there much earlier.  Not the place to visit on a bank holiday, that's for sure!

Where to start - there was so much to look at.  Inside is all the usual garden centre stuff, both garden based and home based but unusual, a bit quirky maybe, with some different stuff.
There was a big section with really nice garden room type furniture of the kind I will be wanting for my garden room so I had a good nosey round and took a few photos.

This is the sort of think although I'd want chintzy cushions although I could get more cushions and leave the pads neutral.

I did like this.  In the same range, an add on foot rest and very comfortable.

Anyway, I am in no position to buy anything yet but it gives me some ideas.

While looking around, I decided Beth needed a bit of chirking up so I got a little gift bag and bought a few bits and bobs for here - a 'slice' of hand made soap (they are so pretty, aren't they), a tea towel with cats on, some fudge and a little wooden heart with flowers on.
For me I got a couple of nice containers for the garden to replace some old ones that are giving up, a lavender plant because the one I have isn't looking particularly healthy, a slice of soap like Beth's and a nice little retro looking mini sundae dish to pretty up my evening yogurt!

So, you can see I was tempted and fell!

On the way back, I stopped off a a chemist and picked up Beth's prescription and they also had one for Alex so I got that too.

It was nice to have a good old chat with Beth.  She's definitely very much better and isn't fussed about the slight positive that's still showing.  She's well over the time she would have had to isolate under old rules and she's not planning to be out and about anyway apart from to me tomorrow for lunch.

She's had a word with her boss and he suggested she come back (online) for a shorter time on Monday and then they can chat about how it went for her.
So, you can see things are much improved.

Today I have a walk with some of the SW group.  We meet in the car park, walk to Central Park, have coffee and walk back to the cars again.  I'm looking forward to it.

Then the day's my own so I will start some planning for my few days in Bury St Edmunds next week.  Exciting!

I hope you have a pleasant day planned too.  xx

Friday

 Good morning, everyone.  I'm sorry this is so late - I slept in this morning and had to rush to get to SW.  I managed my other blog but not this one.

The day started off a bit dull but the sun is struggling through as I type.  It feels a bit cold too.

Yesterday passed . . . nothing terribly exciting but it was pleasant.  The tuition session was fine, I didn't go ou5 shopping as the weather was rather uncertain and Dave came round with a few cardboard boxes which are now in the spare room.  It was one of those days where I just can't remember any details of anything.  Just normal.

Today I'm back from Slimming World (a maintain which was a bit disappointing but not to worry) and I've had breakfast.  The house is ready for my cleaner so I think I am going to drive to a garden centre that has been recommended to me as a good place to visit, a place called Perrywood.  It's supposed to be a bit different.

Then I will be picking up a prescription for Beth and taking it round.  Poor Beth, she is still very slightly positive and is most disgruntled about it.  

That's more or less it really.  It should be a pleasant enough day.  Have a lovely one yourself too.  xx

Thursday

 Good morning, everyone.  After a typically April day yesterday of heavy showers and sunshine - not at the same time, the sun is shining this morning and it's a lovely start to the day.  I feel happy!

After what I said yesterday, poor Beth tested and there was still the slightest faint red line showing.  Not that it means much because there's no legal requirement to stay in, etc, but it matters to Alex.  However, she's definitely on the up again although it will take a while for her to feel 100% again, I think.  I've invited her over for lunch on Sunday but we will see how she feels nearer the time.

Personal training went really well.  Things are definitely up to where they were again after half a year of considerable ups and down what with the calf injuries and Covid and so on.  Lindsey works in five week blocks and we discussed how to move things on when the new block starts next week.  Exciting.
Must remember to pay later on today.

The evening was spent in swapping emails.  Dave and Anna are probably going up to Dad's to have a final go through things before a final clear out at some point in the next month or so and they have decided they'd rather like the dining table and chairs (G Plan, great condition and really rather nice, albeit quite old) but they don't have anywhere to store it until them move so I've offered my living room.  I can live with mess for a month and I'm so pleased they are taking it.

Today starts with that extra tuition session and after that I'm not entirely sure.  I might do a bit of window shopping and I certainly must do some housework.  I'm expecting Dave and Anna round with some cardboard boxes at some point too - they are going in the front bedroom!!

Well, the sun is still shining so fingers crossed . . . have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Wednesday

 Good morning, everyone!  It's just getting light and it's cloudy but the ground is dry so fingers crossed. 

Yesterday was very pleasant.  I drove over to the spa after breakfast and it was much busier than when we went a fortnight (I think it was a fortnight) ago.  Then I remembered it was the Easter break and wondered how many were teachers (or school staff generally), enjoying an Easter treat.  You can tell the hotel stayers and the spa day people because they are given robes and slippers.  I 'just' get a towel - a nice big one, mind, so no complaints.

I managed to get a chair although all the loungers were in use.  That was OK, I prefer reading sitting up anyway.  There may have been a lot of people there but there was plenty of space in the pool and I had two lovely swims with a bubble in between and what with that and a nice long reading session, it was early afternoon by the time I left.  What a nice way to spend a Tuesday morning!

The rest of the day was pottering sort of stuff but everything's a bit of a mess so that's top of the list today.  Next on the list is prepping tuition as I'm doing an extra session tomorrow morning.  Then ironing!

Personal training is later than usual today (and next week).  I'm not looking forward to driving through the rush hour so will need to leave extra time, I guess.

And that's it really.  Very routine and normal and not terribly interesting but that is Real Life, isn't it?  Have a great day yourself and stay safe and well.  xx

Tuesday

 Good morning, one and all.  Welcome to terrific Tuesday!  Yes, it's still raining but we did have some sunshine yesterday between rainy times, the clouds are quite high this morning and it is so much milder.  All good.

The best news (for me) is that Beth's lateral flow test showed only the very faintest red line yesterday so she will probably be proper negative today.  She's still feeling rough but at least she can share the house with Alex again.  She's restricted herself to her bedroom and the bathroom only so it's all been very boring for her.
Fingers crossed for both a negative today and that she starts picking up physically and mentally again.

I did my bit of shopping yesterday, managing to get everything on my list.  Given the witterings about oil (is it just corn oil?), I was a bit naughty and bought an un-needed bottle of vegetable oil (what I always use normally) for the store cupboard.  I use so little oil, I'm now well supplied for the rest of the decade, I suspect!
Maybe that was silly, I don't know.

Circuits was great.  For the fist time in a month, I felt back to full strength and managed everything all the way through.  Balance is back again, not that it is ever amazing but it was better, and so was stamina!  Cheers.

Then I went to tuition where we worked areas of triangles and parallelograms and fascinating stuff like that, followed by some algebra and some comprehension.
And yes, we had a good time!

Today is my typically nothing-in-the-diary day so I'm probably going to have a swim this morning and get on with housework this afternoon.  Nice.
Is it raining your way too?  What plans do you have for today?  Have a happy one and stay safe.  xx

Monday

Morning, everyone.  It's much milder here this morning and wet too.  Oh, well, good for the garden, I am sure.

Yesterday passed pretty much as planned really.  I didn't do all that much really and it was jolly cold outside.

I was sad to see that the frosts have nipped at the new growth on my little fig, even though it's supposed to be pretty hardy and was by the house.  All the new little leaves are shrivelled and wrinkled and they were so fresh and strong the other day.  I just hope it will fight back and send up new growth to replace them. 
I've just taken this photo and, to be fair, it looks a lot better than it did yesterday so fingers crossed!

 Nothing else seems to have suffered all that much really!  (fingers crossed)

I had a short chat with Beth in the afternoon.  Not long because she started feeling a bit giddy and tired but it was nice to see her.  Generally, she's getting better but she is still positive and won't be back at work this week.  Alex remains negative, thank goodness.  Maybe he will escape this.

When I woke today, I felt the frisson of excitement I always get at the start of a school holiday.  It's six and a half years down the retirement track now and still I get that sense of excitement and freedom on the first day of a holiday.  It's such a nice feeling, I hope it never dies!

I start with tuition - in the holidays I see my student at eight thirty instead of after school.  It works for all of us and frees the rest of the day up for holiday jollification (for them) and the usual stuff (for me)!  Only four more sessions, I think, now - or is it five?  Not many anyway.

Then I plan to do a small shop.  There's not much I need, just a few bits and bobs including fresh stuff, so it shouldn't take too long or be too costly.

Later on there's the usual Monday circuits with Lindsey.  I'm looking forward to that very much.  After that, there's some ironing, just a little bit, and some other housework before I chill with my Kindle and get started on my next cross stitch.
Time to stop and get ready for the day ahead.  Do you have warmer weather and rain this morning?  Stay well and have a super day.  xx

Sunday

 Morning, everyone.  This will be a short one as there really isn't much to write about.  We have another hard frost this morning but the sun is shining brightly and it all looks lovely!

I didn't do much yesterday except potter in the house.  It was a bit too cold for sitting out but Beeb indicates that the temperatures will be picking up again very soon so that's great.

Beth and I have planned an online chat this afternoon but that depends on whether she is awake and weather her cough allows her to talk much or not.  She's definitely over the worst, I hope, but remains poorly.  She's going to test today but I can't see it being negative yet.  Alex, thankfully, remains negative.
Thank you all very much for your concern for her and kind wishes.  They are much appreciated.

Well - I have a dishwasher to empty and some ironing to put away, not to mention the day's meals to prepare and various Facebook duties to perform so I will close this now.  Have a super Sunday, stay warm and enjoy the sunshine (I'm hoping you have sunshine).