Monday

 Morning, everyone.  The start of another new week with various excitements looming in a few days.  I can't wait - but I will have to!  It's still jolly chilly, is expected to warm up briefly and then gat colder again.  I guess it's what one should expect in winter.

The Contemporary Dance class yesterday was really good.  If you've ever watched the yearly World Ballet classes, you will know what I mean when I say it was a few much simplified barre exercises and a very little bit of simple floor work.
It made me realise that, although very much improved, my calves and ankles aren't back to full strength and has given me some ideas for daily work on them.  Walking on my toes was virtually impossible!
Definitely one to do next week (assuming it is on again).

Since I lost such shedloads of weight, I'm feeling the cold much more than before and there's a limit to how much one can turn the heating up.
So I have splashed out and bought a heated fleece made by the same company as my electric blanket which I am very pleased with.
I only ordered it on Saturday and it arrived yesterday which seems remarkable speedy.  Given it's so cold, I tried it out straight away and it is brilliant.  Heats up quickly and is very soft and comfortable.  I look upon it as an early Christmas present to myself!

A correction or two:  Beth's tum is fine, she has a very sore throat but she is definitely covid negative and the new variant is not here, it's further south in Brentwood.  Still too close for comfort but not just round the corner.

On to today and I should be going to Lindsey's for circuit training.  However, her poor husband is covid positive which has really put the cat among the pigeons for her.  Lindsey herself has tested negative but is delivering as many classes as possible - large group, small group and one to one, online for a few days.  Poor love, she really could have done without this.  R isn't actually poorly as such just, as Lindsey puts it, 'very snotty'!  So circuits is online today and I've said I am happy for Personal Training to be online this week too.

Later on, it's tuition as usual.  That should be fun.

To finish, Beth posted this on Facebook yesterday.  I think it's brilliant and a reminder that we do not this lovely world.  Take care, stay safe and be positive.

"The moment when, after many years

of hard work and a long voyage,

you stand in the centre of your room,

house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,

knowing at last how you got there,

and say, I own this,

Is the same moment the trees unloose

their soft arms from around you,

the birds take back their language,

the cliffs fissure and collapse,

the air moves back from you like a wave

and you can’t breathe.

No, they whisper. You own nothing.

You were a visitor, time after time

Climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.

We never belonged to you.

You never found us.

It was always the other way round."

~ Margaret Atwood