Tuesday

 Morning, all.  It's not so sunny this morning (yet) but the clouds look pretty high at the moment so fingers crossed.

As Bing Crosby sang in that old, old film 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court' . . .

We're busy doin' nothin'
Workin' the whole day through
Tryin' to find lots of things not to do
We're busy goin' nowhere
Isn't it just a crime
We'd like to be unhappy, but
We never do have the time . . .

. . . and that's pretty much my life at the moment, except change 'unhappy' to 'guilty'.  No, it doesn't fit.  :0)

It's a good old life really.

Yesterday, I did my bit of shopping, enjoyed circuits with Lindsey and the group and then, later on, Dave popped round to say they had completed and the house is now theirs, would I like to go over with him and have a look round.  There was only one answer to that, wasn't there, so I spent a most enjoyable half hour or so looking round a house with bags of character and potential.  They've got a good one there, for sure.
It's an enviable position to be in - they didn't need to sell their house before buying so they can take their time moving in.
I fixed with Dave that they will probably come over again on Friday for a take away; they have to confirm this.

On Sunday, when I was round for Alex's birthday tea, I took some photos of cuteness so here's a few for you to oooh and ah over.  Little Pete really is adorable - those ears!

    <sigh>

Today is another busy doing not-a-lot day.  It starts with Groove aerobics with Lindsey in a hall not so far away, moves on to a bit of housework before I have to wash my hair before Sharon turns up to work her magic on my mop of hair.

Then it's just stuff although I have told Dave and Anna when I am free all week in case then need any help - I think they'd like help moving all their books over and right upstairs to the attic conversion where there are some built in bookshelves.
And I must start thinking about what to take with me to Southwold too.

Have a great day, everyone.  Enjoy the sunshine, if you have it, and stay safe and well.  xx

Monday

 Good morning, everyone.  The sun is shining and it promises to be a really lovely day.  Bring it on!

Yesterday was a funny old day really.  Started well, took a dip and came back up again.  Yesterday, I wrote 'the other side (of Braintree - referring to the drive up) is simple . . . '   

I really should have known better.

The bit of the journey I wasn't looking forward to, getting through Braintree) turned out to be relatively simple, with the help of the sat nav.  The rest should have been a doddle but when I got to the roundabout to get onto the A 131, there was the dreaded 'Road Closed' sign.  Oh, poo, especially as I have no knowledge of country roads around there.  There was a diversion signposted so I took that but became more and more concerned as it took me (and lots of other traffic) onto the A120 and off towards Colchester, almost in the opposite direction!  I drove along for a while, the diversion signs petered out, the sat nav was doing its nut (and mine), telling to do U turns and I ended up turning back, stopping, looking closely at the map on the sat nav, remembering there were signposts to the castle from Halstead, resetting the SatNav, setting off down the A 120 again, ignoring a few turnings that looks very 'country' and finally turning off near Coggeshall from whence I was well directed to Halstead and from there to Hedingham.
I was only an hour late!!!!!

Once there though, things looked up.  I'll post some photos below.
Hedingham castle was built around 1140 and is very 'Norman' - austere, forbidding and dominating with few external frills and fancies although there is supposed to have been an inside well and there are also inside loos.  It's basically one room on four floors with a few off rooms (like the loo and a little chapel).

I won't go on about its history - there's info here.

The bluebells were, frankly, not worth seeing.  They were pretty much over, their blue had faded and the nettles were taking over.  However, the actual walk, which was quite short, was really lovely.  Called the 'Valley' or 'Forest' walk, it goes around the keep and is what was a pretty substantial moat.  
As the properly is privately owned, there's a very posh house to the side and the walk takes one through the garden with a very pretty lake at the bottom.  A splendid view from the bedrooms.

One actually accesses the keep via a Tudor bridge which goes over what was the moat.

The drive home was much better.  I just did a series of town hops - to Halstead, then to Coggeshall which got me onto the A 120.  After that, I knew where I was and the drive back through Braintree (I am so glad I did that way) was no problem.

Over the last few months I have hit three road closures on my way somewhere and each time the diversions have been absolutely rubbish, taking me miles out of the way and poorly signalled as well.  Yes, I'm having a grumble!  The A 131, for all it looks like a B road in places, is a main road taking lots of traffic up towards Bury and beyond.  You'd think they could manage to keep it a bit open with traffic lights, wouldn't you?

Enough whinging . . .  here's some photos.

View from the car park area.

Access via the Tudor bridge 

The fireplace in the Banqueting Hall - that chevron pattern is replicated all over the Keep

Internal view from the minstrels gallery.

The floors are all modern.  There was a bad fire in 1918.  The keep had been used as a signalling station for aircraft and the soldiers manning it were careless.  An awful lot of historically important furniture and all the ancient plastering was destroyed which is very sad.

External view from the gallery - that little splash of colour on the right is picnic tables with people enjoying the sunshine.

Walking along the moat valley

Nice bedroom view - lucky owners!

A sample of the bluebells!  Two weeks ago they would have been beautiful.

Apart from the drive there, I really enjoyed myself.  It was warm and sunny, not at all crowded, not commercialised and I will be going back again, perhaps earlier in Spring.

Today's plans involve a small shop (I am out of salad stuff which would never do!) and circuits at Lindsey's.  No tuition - which feels very odd!

I found this on Facebook and I offer it to all Yr sixes, everywhere, who are taking their KS2 SATs this week.  It says what I think.

Have a great day, everyone.  xx

Sunday

 Morning, everyone. How's things this May Sunday morning?  The sun is struggling to break through here but fingers are crossed and the forecast is promising.

Here's the latest cuteness photo.  I can't wait to see him again.

Yesterday turned out to be a weary day.  They are increasingly few and far between now, which is good, so I just went with the flow, rested (and slept) quite a lot and managed to get bits and bobs done between snores, very thankful that I could.

Today, I'm off to Castle Hedingham (I've been spelling it wrong, bad me) to see the bluebells.  I have no idea how crowded or otherwise it will be but fingers crossed.  I've negotiated my route through Braintree (I know this end and the other side is really simple) although coming back will have to take its chances.  It's always easier coming home anyway, isn't it?

I'll take a picnic with me and I hope it will pass a very pleasant two or three hours.

Once home again, I will gather a few things together and then pop round to Beth's for tea.  It's Alex's birthday today - happy birthday, Al - so it should be a pleasant family time.

And that's today.  Two very nice things.  How about you - what are your nice things today?  Have a great day and stay safe and well.  xx

Saturday

 Hello, everyone, and a happy Saturday to you!  After a gorgeous day yesterday, we had rain overnight (mush needed so no complaints) and it is still cloudy and damp.  Not cold though. more like a light dressing gown start to the day.

Weigh in was disappointing - a maintain.  I was temporarily quite sad inside but at least it wasn't a gain!  Then I did a bit of a shop for things needed in the evening before coming home, sorting the house out, washing sheets, etc, and cooking for the evening.

Dave and Anna came round and we had a good old chat over supper.  They're hoping to complete on Monday morning which is very exciting and I have promised help whenever I can and whenever they need it.  They are doing a gradual transfer of stuff as their current home is not yet on the market.

Today, once a certain fragility caused by a slight over indulgence yesterday has worn off, I have ironing, meal prep, holiday planning and ironing on the list and, to get me out, a leaflet drop down my road and the avenues that go off it (weather permitting).

I also need to deal with the plant my student gave me on Monday as a thank you.  It's a small but very healthy looking camellia bush - well, a twig really but it's already sending out side shoots.  I won't give it a huge pot to start with, just one big enough for now, with a view to potting it on in due course.

Have a great day, everyone, whatever the weather is like for you.  xx

Friday

Good morning to you all.  What's the weather like your way?  Here it is looking as if it will be a lovely sunny day and, after yesterday, should be nice and warm too.

The chat with Chris was lovely.  As always, we talked about all sorts of thing, family, the world, the universe and everything . . .

The extra exercise class Lindsey laid on so she could record the session was really good.  There were three of us, one of whom goes to the Tuesday class I have just joined - it was very nice to get to know her a little bit.

Then I drove on to Longacres, the garden centre that used to be Wyvale, and came out with a plant and a little dead heading gadget that will be very useful, I am sure.

It was the leaves that caught my attention - they're interesting.

Then I went home and pottered for the rest of the day.  Sadly, I didn't get much ironing done but I did watch Sewing Bee.  There's some extremely talented sewers this year and a few duffers.  I wouldn't have chosen the one who get eliminated, I think there was someone whose creations were poorer but I expect they will go soon too.

Today starts with Slimming World, then I go to Morrisons to pick up a few things for tonight before coming home to sort things out.  This afternoon, I am cooking and prepping for this evening because Dave and Anna are round for a meal.

The clump of bluebells beside my front door reminds me that on Sunday I am off to Castle Headingham to see the bluebells and generally have a pleasant time.  Must sort out my e-ticket!

It's still early (around 6:30) but the sun is shining quite brightly now so I'm looking forward to a lovely day with, hopefully, tome to sit out and enjoy the warmth.

Do you have any special plans for today?

xx

Thursday

 Morning, everyone.  It was a funny old day yesterday - first rain, then sun, then rain again . . . all through the day.  Today looks better but time will tell!

I did my Sainsbury's shop as planned.  It was a bit ouch but that's how things are at the moment, isn't it?  I got all that sorted out, got on with housework stuff and then went off to Lindsey's for personal training.

And that was about it really.  It was Sewing Bee in the evening but I was really tired so I'll watch it today instead.

Today is Thursday so it's Chat With Chris Day.  After than, I'm changing quickly and then going back to Lindsey's.  She posted a message yesterday asking if anyone was interested in testing the new Grove aerobics playlist while she filmed it - she does a track to send to people if they have to miss a session and finds it better if she's actually leading a class rather than just performing to the camera; less of a performance and more real.  As it's just her being filmed, I jumped at the opportunity for a freebie.
Swimming can wait for another time.

Once that's done, I have plenty to do at home, including some tidying up and a stack of ironing while I watch Sewing Bee.  I won't be bored, that's a fact.

Here's the latest cuteness overload photo.

Have a lovely day and stay safe and well.  xx

Wednesday

 Morning, everyone.  We've had our rain at last, not during the day yesterday but overnight.  It doesn't appear to be actually raining at the moment but it is very dull and the clouds are low so I wouldn't be surprised to see more on the way.

It was all change yesterday morning.  I think I mentioned before that I was thinking of starting Lindsey's Tuesday morning Groove class and she offered me a try out for today that I couldn't take up because of my hair appointment.  Well, poor Sharon (hairdresser) had a fall yesterday (tripped over something) and damaged her hand so she needs to rest it.  She's rescheduled for next week so I Facebooked Lindsey and turned up at 9:15 for a session of energetic sort of dance type exercises, quite different to the circuits and the personal training.  It was fun and I've now put myself down for the next block that starts next week (fortunately).
Anyone who has known me longer term will find all this hilarious.  I am pretty amused myself - three formal exercise classes a week and belonging to a gym.  Crazy!!  I look upon it as an investment in myself, in my well being and longer term health.  After the injury last year, I'm not taking it for granted.

I drove down to one of the garden centres and came back with some twine, a lupin and four cheap, light, plastic pots.  They're just sitting outside right now - I'll deal with them later on today.

Apart from that, I had a quiet day indoors doing the usual daily/regular stuff

Today starts with a trip to Sainsbury's to get this, that and the other and ends with my personal training session with Lindsey.  It between is all the usual stuff plus starting to plan for Southwold.  Exciting!

Have a lovely day, inside or out, wet or dry, whatever your plans.  xx