Peter, Val (and Bob)

We had a bit of excitement on Friday as we'd heard that B&Q was open. Once I finished work at lunch time, we drove to Hall Road to check it out . There was a long queue but it was a sunny day so we didn't mind and after 20 minutes we were in the shop. It felt safer than the supermarkets. Social distancing was observed, there was disinfectant for the trollies and there was a one way system. We headed straight for the garden centre. We were like kids in a candy store. We bought a battery mower, compost, raised beds, a watering can and numbers for our expected brown bin. We headed home and put everything where it belonged in the garden. We realised that we would need more compost, raised beds and plants We were up early  on Saturday and joined a longer queue and filled the car. The weather was fantastic over the weekend so Peter worked very hard digging out new flower beds, moving compost and planting. He also managed to sell the old mower. He finished off the tasks on...

We had a bit of excitement on Friday as we’d heard that B&Q was open. Once I finished work at lunch time, we drove to Hall Road to check it out. There was a long queue but it was a sunny day so we didn’t mind and after 20 minutes we were in the shop. It felt safer than the supermarkets. Social distancing was observed, there was disinfectant for the trollies and there was a one way system. We headed straight for the garden centre. We were like kids in a candy store. We bought a battery mower, compost, raised beds, a watering can and numbers for our expected brown bin. We headed home and put everything where it belonged in the garden. We realised that we would need more compost, raised beds and plants We were up early  on Saturday and joined a longer queue and filled the car. The weather was fantastic over the weekend so Peter worked very hard digging out new flower beds, moving compost and planting. He also managed to sell the old mower. He finished off the tasks on Mon...

I had ordered masks for Val and me recently and lo and behold they turned up in the post at around 11.00. I had just messaged Phil (who makes them) to say there was no sign of them as as always seems to happen they plopped through the letterbox. Val had gone for the dragons (being of Welsh extraction) and so inevitably I had gone for the Union "Jack" design. I think the two of us make a rather good pair........ Don't you? I had a fiddle around after this with a new bike saddle I had bought and then on a spur of the moment I decided to go for a walk.  When I walk by myself I tend to do it with my AfterShokz Titanium headphones on. Currently I'm listening to book two in the George R R Martin "Game of Thrones" series, "A storm of swords". Its a very long book at around 40 hours. Anyway, having sorted out my headphones, got my backpack and other stuff I set off having no idea in which direction I'd go. The weather was better than forecast ...

So, a few more days have flown by. I’d forgoten another good film that I had been watching on the cross trainer: Fractured. An excellent part for Anthony Hopkins, ‘playing’ the lawyer…. Alice and Chris paid us a social distancing visit to pick up a couple of things & seemed in good spirits. Friday was work a.m. then Peter and I went for an enjoyable circular walk to Queens Hill. Saturday was a very wet day so a good opportunity for some housework and tidying. An early visit to Sainsburys was fruitful; no queue and yielded 2 bags of flour! I made a victoria sandwich cake. Sunday was much brighter and sunnier. We re-walked the circular Queens Hill walk & made it 5 miles this time. The house, and particularly the garden have been increasingly delightful. We have particularly enjoyed the sunshine on the back of the house in the afternoon and the seamlees transition from lounge to patio. This reached new heights yesterday when I was able to sunbathe in the lounge! The...

Val and I had a hearty breakfast and decided to stretch our legs while the weather looked good. You'd have thought we were both from different countries. Val set off with about four layers and a coat on while I had shorts and a T shirt. We did the same walk we had done earlier in the week.

This morning started with a mild temperature and a light drizzle. Not much more can be said about it really. I did pop out and took a couple of pictures in the garden

Today promised to be a cool day according to the BBC weather app but by midday Val and I made a decision to walk after she finished work and Alice and Chris dropped by. I'd spent the morning as I had three last few days fiddling around in the garden. Once the kids had been we set off to do a circular walk.

  The holiday finished on Monday (Easter Monday) and Val went back upstairs to her work. She is very fastidious about putting in the time. I’m sure I never was. She has been feeling insecure about what she is doing but yesterday she received an email telling her what a wonderful piece of work she had produced and asking if they might use it as an example and template for anyone struggling……………..    I felt so pleased and proud for her. RECOGNITION!!! Its what she needed. (in my opinion) Yesterday was a glorious day in our garden. I spent much of the day sun bathing, fiddling about with plants and moving pots. Picture Link Later in the afternoon I cycled into the city for my exercise. It was a good ride of around 10 miles Picture Link

Four days have flown by since my first post. Easter Sunday was perfect. We enjoyed our roast lamb lunch on the patio at 4 p.m. Then a big black cloud came over, the temperature dropped and big drops of rain fell. Monday was much cooler. We’d heard that there is a farm shop in Honingham, just 5 miles away so we checked it out. We added to our provisions, some vegetables and goat’s cheese. A little pricey but a good find. Then we went to Ringland for a circular walk of just under 3 miles. It was an interesting and varied walk, across tracks and farm land. We even saw some animals. It should be a lovely walk on a warmer day. Supper was shepherd’s pie made with the left over lamb. There was some left over shepherd’s pie! On Tuesday I was back to working from home. We received several deliveries. Peter had ordered a videocam for the back garden and a bike bag for his new electric bike, We had a surprise delivery of wensleydale cheese, an Easter gift from the Butterworths. Then so...

  This morning I lost my rag a little as an unknown car pulled up outside a house opposite to us. I woman got out and went to one of the houses and as she approached to the house I called….. “They’re not in. Do you live there? No!! Don’t you know the social distancing rule” To which she replied “My son lives here” OMG….. Will people ever learn? Next door lives two NHS ICU nurses. How would they feel knowing people aren’t respecting the Rule while they risk their lives.

  What a glorious day it has been….. so far. Val and I missed our walk yesterday for various reasons and so we were determined to get out and stretch our legs. Val had found a circular walk on a local website but it was a bit vague and so I used Viewranger to plot it on Ordnance survey which said it was just 5.5 miles. The problem with dropping pins on a map is that you tend to cut corners, straighten curves and before you know it this walk turned into 6.3 miles. We were a bit concerned at the amount of bikes on the walk but we weren’t in a rush as we were looking at the flora and taking pictures. Here is a link you can click on to see my pictures

The last couple of days I've been a bit down. The state of the world, the nation is just scary. Val picked up on this yesterday and despite having to do her job she gave me a cuddle and tried to cheer me up. This morning we had breakfast together. I made Scottish pancakes with excess sourdough starter, a kipper, poached eggs, bacon and tomato along with fresh sourdough... A veritable feast. This afternoon we set off for a walk and found somewhere we'd never been before. It was around 5 miles and we popped into Sainsbury on the way home