More cold weather...

Hello again!

This another of the dresses I bought from Vinted. I love the sleeves. Worn with my OTK boots which were online retail and leggings underneath.

I went for a 5.5 mile walk along the river on Wednesday. It was a mild day with a bit of a cool breeze. The river had flooded its banks in places and footpaths were closed. I had to cross at least three bridges to follow my usual route whereas I normally need to cross only one.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Both the left and the bottom right photo show an area by the river that's normally a grassy path; now swans and other waterfowl had taken it over! The top right photo is of the Suspension Bridge over the river; one of three the I had to cross to avoid closed, flooded footpaths. This bridge was built in 1888.

(Source: Bedford Borough Council artist impression) A second bridge; the Butterfly bridge was built in 1998; as the Suspension Bridge was difficult to access for people with disabilities and for those with pushchairs.

(Source; Bedford Borough Council) In 2019 a third bridge was opened and linked a new leisure complex; 'Riverside;' making it accessible to all on both sides of the river. This is usually the only bridge I need to cross on my walk. I don't think it has a name and if it has I don't know what it is!  Looking straight ahead you can see the spire of St. Paul's Church; to the right part of the court buildings. We only have a county court left; both the juvenile and the magistrates courts were moved to Luton. To left and just peeking over the roofs you can see the tower of St. Peter de Merton Church. Both churches date back to the 13th century with St. Peter's having a door dating back to the 11th century. We also have two road bridges that cross the river taking vehicles into and out of Bedford.

I finally made a start on my next crochet project on Wednesday evening. It's going to be very colourful...

Thursdays outfit. Everything charity shopped except the purple velvet cardigan bought from TK Maxx about 7 years ago. 

On Thursday it was grey and gloomy. We had heavy rain in the afternoon and it got steadily colder. Whatever the weather the shopping doesn't do itself so I set off at usual to the farm shop at Sharnbrook;  then onto Aldi, Sainsbury's and Lidl. When that was done I had to go into town to the bank; they shut early these days. After I'd put the shopping away I spent some time reading before making dinner. I'm reading this: a Victorian Gothic fantasy very steam punkish. And a stonker at 750 pages. I'm not a huge fan of the fantasy genre but this is pretty gripping and I'm enjoying it. I also loved 'The Rivers of London' series (by Ben Aaronovitch) and introduced my brother to it. Highly recommended.

All jewellery charity shopped. The necklace is by Laura Ashley. I  didn't even know they did jewellery! They've been gone for several years now; we used to have one in town but it closed down and now it's a Marie Curie charity shop. I noticed, too, when I was at the food bank on Tuesday the business opposite the food bank was gone. It was an engraving company and had been there for 38 years. They did the engravings on trophies for all the schools in Bedfordshire; also for lots of local and national sport organisations including the Premier League. Covid had brought all that to a halt and they couldn't carry on. 15 employees out of work. Just think they are one of probably tens of thousands of small to medium businesses gone.

On Friday it was bright and sunny at times. I took advantage of the weather and went for a 6 mile walk. On the way back to extend the walk a little I walked along a road called 'De Parys Avenue' and it boasts 3 blue plaques:

Dora Carrington went to school in Bedford and one painting

of hers is called 'Bedford Market'. I have a copy on my bedroom wall.

I wasn't too surprised by this one. We're only about 14 or 15 miles from Bletchley.

I've never heard of this performer although I may well have heard hm on the BBC 'Light Programme' when I was growing up.

Everything is charity shopped. Trousers by Laura Ashley; top by Primarni; jacket/kimono no label. Boots by River Island.

Ring and earrings retail.

On Saturday after getting up at my leisure and getting ready OH and I set out for a drive to Kettering where we dropped off my brothers Christmas presents. We had a brief doorstep chat; we stayed in the car and then off home we went. It was lovely to see them; what was also a bonus was due to a road diversion on the way there we found a lovely riverside village called Ringstead with a lock and a fabulous looking pub. It looks like the perfect place for a meal or a drink and a wander on a warm summer's evening. With Storm D'Arcy on the way I needed to hold onto images of warm summer evenings!

On Sunday I got up; cleaned the kitchen, had breakfast and went for a 5 mile walk. It was very cold and I was glad to get back indoors. The usual housework was done and I made a roast chicken dinner. OH and I finished watching 'Bullets' another Finnish crime series; it made for very tense watching in parts . 

Everything charity shopped except the boots by M&S. Local buy and sell FB group. Green jeans by New Look; green striped top by Primarni and the green tunic has no label.

All jewellery charity shopped.

We woke up to snow on Monday and it was bitterly cold. I didn't warm up until the evening when the fire was lit! Homeschooling with the youngest grandson; I was a bit flummoxed by the algebra. I'm quite sure I didn't do algebra until I got to grammar school aged 11; and it baffled me then. Grandson is not 11 until June. I was very good at maths at primary school but at grammar school I was awful at maths and hated it. I had planned to take the grandson into town and show him how to pay money into the hole in wall (ATM); he knows how to withdraw money but it was so cold neither of us wanted to do it. I made chicken soup with the leftover chicken from Sunday. OH got an a message from our doctor's practice to book his covid vaccination. He booked for Saturday. I hoped my invite would be following on shortly...

I treated myself to 3 pairs of Snag tights as so many people in Blogland have recommended them. I realised as I sorted my tights out recently that a lot of my coloured tights are fine so I have got rid of those and only keep the warmer 60/80 denier plus coloured tights. I'm wearing bottle green Snag tights here but also bought a red pair; and an orange pair which I'll have to wait until March to be delivered. The tights were a great fit; nice and warm for the food bank although it was so cold there I put the heater on for the first time ever. It didn't make much difference as the doors are always open. My boots are by River Island and charity shopped in my Barnardo's; skirt by Red Herring and top by Lulu H both charity shopped. I usually wear my navy blue coatigan, a scarf and gloves as well when I'm in the warehouse.

 

All jewellery charity shopped.

In the afternoon I had errands to run in town. All my hand towels, which are white, have gone that yucky greyish colour. Nothing brings the whiteness back; I've tried boiling and bleaching to no avail. I used to have white bath towels too (all charity shopped)  but replaced them with coloured ones eventually for the same reason. I usually buy bath towels at Sainsbury's when on sale as their towels are very good quality. I've also  quite recently bought wonderful bath towels from Cancer Research; part of their own merchandise. I went to QD in town and bought five new hand towels; more bird food and a new shopping list pad. I also succumbed to some balls of green and blue wool as my stash of these colours was almost non-existent; my previous crochet project used up most of it. Aldi does very good wool; usually in packs of 4 x 100 grammes for 3.99. 4 of one colour is not always what I need although the Aldi wool is definitely the best value. When I got home I suddenly thought I could have bought some fabric dye and dyed the old hand towels. I will do that as well - you can never have too many hand towels! UPDATED. My goodness have you seen the price of fabric dye? I'd need possibly three to dye all the towels and at that rate it would cost as much as I paid for my new hand towels! They're off to the ragbag unless my neighbour wants them for her animal sitting business...

On my way back from town I stopped at the food charity and bought some flowers

The house was

 filled with the scent of hyacinths.

Wednesday was another freezing cold day. I decided to brave a field walk as I thought the ground would be frozen over. It was and so much easier to walk on than wet, slippery mud. I broke lots of iced over puddles; sinking up to my ankles in water on several occasions. Luckily, my boots are waterproof and the water didn't get in over the top. I walked from  Milton Ernest to Clapham, 6 miles; I wished I had a balaclava to keep my cheeks warm. It was a very bright day which made up for the cold; and the air was full of birdsong. I heard my first skylarks of 2021!

Thursday was yet another day with temperatures below freezing. I wore thermal leggings under this M& Co skirt. I found it in my wardrobe and have no memory of when or where I bought it. All I know is that I've never worn it before. I wore it with a polo neck by Tu and this cardigan by John Rocha. All charity shopped; boots bought online.

All jewellery charity shopped.

As it was Thursday that meant food shopping. I went to all the usual places; farm shop in Sharnbrook (no queue for a change) Sainsbury's, Aldi and Lidl. After it was all put away I had to go out again to collect my prescription. I also went to our biggest international supermarket which stocks food from all over the world and has a halal butcher in it too. I buy all my seasonings and spices here and I also bought some oxtail to make a stew for next week. I haven't tried out the pressure cooker yet in my pressure cooker/rice cooker/slow cooker/steamer thingummy. I received a text in the late afternoon inviting me for a Covid vaccination; I booked an appointment for Saturday at the Gurdwara!

Another freezing day on Friday with an icy wind. I forced  myself to go out for a walk and I walked to Queen's Park along the river to Great Denham on to Biddenham and along the by pass back to Bedford 6.7 miles. There were many huge iced over puddles like this one:

Saturday was V Day. Vaccination day for OH and I! My appointment was at 4.20 pm and everything was organised extremely well; just a small scratch and that was it. Back in 12 weeks for the second dose. We have been so lucky to have the vaccine but also enough vaccine to allow the Borough Council to start vaccinating the fifth section of priority groups the 65 - 69 year olds. I was both pleased and grateful to receive mine. I had planned to walk to the Gurdwara for the vaccination but it was so bitterly cold I drove!  

                                                                   

This was Saturday's outfit worn with leggings underneath. Everything charity shopped.

Skirt by Rapp. All jewellery charity shopped.

Jacket by Fenn Wright and Manson.     

Sunday was a warmer day but it was bleak; cold, grey and breezy. Both OH and I had woken up feeling achy and my arm was sore where the vaccination was given.   I took some paracetamol and immediately felt better. Feeling guilty about not walking yesterday I set off for a field walk and walked 6.5 miles. I saw a flock of Fieldfares; they were stripping a bush of its berries. When I came back from my walk I  did the housework and then made a roast dinner. Then it was time to chill out. No home schooling on Monday: both youngest grandson and I could have a lie in if we wanted. OH and I watched the final 3 episodes  of 'The Grey Zone' a really tense Danish/Swedish thriller from Walter Presents. Have to find something else to watch now but we are spoilt for choice so that won't be difficult.

Monday was a huge contrast to the past weeks weather. It was warm and sunny with a bit of a breeze. Taking advantage of the change in the weather I took the grandsons to Stanwick Lakes where we had a walk; it's an archaeological site with human settlement there dating back to Neolithic times. We stopped for an Oreo McFlurry on the way back. I think the grandson appreciated out being in the open after being stuck indoors all last week. In normal half term weeks I always try and do something with the grandsons; trips to London or the seaside or to a place of interest. The lockdown has put paid to those trips. We have a week to wait to see what our government's plan is to ease us out lockdown. I, for one, can't wait!

Everything charity shop except the tights and boots. Skirt by M&S; striped top by Matalan and cardigan by B-Me.

All jewellery charity shopped. I lost one of these earrings on the walk. I'm off to clean out the fuel burner and light the fire; the temperature's dropped again.

See you in two weeks!