Friday

 Good morning, everyone.  Yet again, the day starts with a frost and promise of plenty of sunshine to come.  I've been so enjoying relaxing out in the garden.  Long may it continue.

Sue C, the new banner photo is that daffodil bank I mentioned in my comment yesterday and here's another.  It's a real picture at the moment.

Yesterday, after a lovely chat with Chris, I set off for Val's and from there we drove the extra ten minutes to Cressing Temple Barns.  It says on the web site that it is a 'unique piece of history' and it really is with its 13th century Knights Templar barns, restored Elizabethan walled garden and other old buildings, its Well House with a deep, deep well that is 25ft to a wooden planform and another 25ft to the water level and plenty of space to walk and to just breathe.
Here's a link to the web site and I will drop a few photos in below the link

https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/cressing-temple-barns

They were going great guns building their nests and shouting to each other through the branches!

In the walled garden, just one clump among so many.  Everything was waking up!

The centre of the walled garden from the viewing platform . . .

And just to the right of the feature above, one half of a knot garden area.

One of the old, medieval barns - sadly, they were both closed for their spring clean but should be open again soon.

The well house . . .

. . . and the well, well protected.

Just a general view from one side.

There's also a Tiptree Tea Rooms there so Val and I had lunch - I had a very nice brie and bacon toastie and I also found a nice little selection of Tiptree jams in a box to give to a friend whose birthday it was yesterday and who I will be seeing at Slimming World this morning.

Today starts with Slimming World.  I'm rather dreading it after four weeks not weighing, including a holiday and then comfort eating for England and beyond.  I am perfectly capable of gaining up to a stone in that time and I expect that's what I have done.  Oh, well, I know what to do!

After that, I did um and ah about going to Greenwoods but I decided not to.  I have been feeling very, very tired come the evenings this week, unsurprisingly, and this evening Beth and I are going to Prezzo for a girly cocktail, meal and chat.  If I want to stay awake, I need to be sensible so I will stay in, get the home ready for the lovely cleaners and then, I hope, snooze a few hours away. Beth is staying for the night and we are taxi-ing there and back, so it's a proper evening out and I am looking forward to it.

Just before Covid and Lockdown struck, two years ago, we had decided that an evening out once a month would be a Very Good Thing to do.  We had a couple and it was lovely but then, of course, it all ground to a halt.  It feels very good to be able to start it up again.

Have a fantastic day.  Mary, I do hope you aren't feeling too unwell and that healing comes quickly.  

Stay safe and be happy, everyone.  xx