Easing out of Lockdown

Hello! Posting later than usual but here we are...

 I forgot to put in my previous post that on Friday the evening of the 13th March; my brother Julian sent us an invite to an online concert he was giving from his studio. It only lasted about 45 minutes and was thoroughly enjoyable. He sang the song he wrote about his arrival in the world and my mum; which always makes me cry to this day. Anyway, it was a lovely way to spend the evening although not as good as in person but it won't be long now...

Back now to the Tuesday before last at the food bank we no longer had to wear our masks in the warehouse. Everyone had had their vaccinations. If we need to go into the office we wear them or in the picking area, but in  my part of the warehouse where the doors are always wide open to let the vans in and out there is no longer the need. What a relief. I did the usual; put toiletries away; and filled the shelves with cereals and tea bags in date order. I managed to finish everything which is always a good feeling knowing you have completed a task. I hate having to leave things unfinished.

This was what I wore. Everything charity shopped except the boots bought online retail. Trousers by Dunnes Stores; my Pepperberry top and this labelless jacket. It wasn't cold in the warehouse and in fact it was quite a mild day so I didn't need a coat over all my clothes.

You don't often see me in my glasses although they're usually the first thing I put on once I'm back in the house. I've needed glasses since the age of 9 but refused to wear them. I used to throw them in the Grand Union Canal or flush them down the loo then pretend I had lost them! Then aged 26 I realised I needed glasses badly and wore them regularly, but only for close work and reading. About 10 years ago I was told I should wear my glasses all the time but I still don't wear them out and about; or for daytime driving. I see perfectly fine without them. As soon as I find I need to wear them out I will.

The house painting continued. It entailed having the front door open all the time which made the house chilly and I couldn't get warm. I made soup on Tuesday afternoon and went into town for bread. I caught up with blogs and comments and read my book. I seemed to have been reading it forever and wanted to read something different.

 My Mother's Day bouquet and the little Fittonia plant seem to blooming well; I think I may have to move the plant into the bathroom as it's too close to a radiator on the hall table...

When I looked at the weather forecast for Wednesday it seemed to better for walking in the morning so I set off soon after 10am. I wanted to try and recce a different walk; I aimed to walk from Ravensden to Wilden; following a bridleway I've often wondered where it led. Now I know! I got lost as I always do, but I had brought the OS map with me; I had to back track several times. I walked 6.7 miles in total, mostly in cloudy, drizzly weather. Towards the end of the walk the sun came out and stayed out for most of the afternoon. The weather forecast was the wrong way round! I made a South African dish; 'Cabbage Beedie' for dinner and finally finished my book. In the evening we also finished watching 'Deutschland 89'. What a terrific series it was and how very informative about that particular era in Germany. I almost began to love 1980s fashion, thanks to this series!

Thursday's outfit. Everything bought from a charity shop except the dark burgundy boots which were donated by my daughter. Trousers by Papaya; top by Anthology.  Faux polo neck - one of a set of inserts bought from eBay. I ordered these ages ago and had completely forgotten about them until they arrived on Tuesday. My pack of three contained a royal blue, black and brown. Very useful and they keep my neck warm. I wore the blue one on Wednesday under a red jumper but forgot to take photos.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Yes, I've had my hair cut. I went to my hairdresser's house and sat in the garden wearing my mask while she cut my hair, wearing a mask. It was lucky it didn't rain and lucky I don't have a hairstyle that requires blow drying! After that I went to two different farm shops and three supermarkets to do the weekly shopping. It's a good job I'm retired and have the time. When I worked I just wanted to go to one place and get the lot done in one shot. The farm shop/garden centre where I went on Saturday has loose, reasonably priced vegetables. The one in Sharnbrook where I buy coal, logs and kindling, only sells ready made up packs of vegetables and fruits and they are expensive. I bought almost all the vegetables I needed  

at Pells; plus a rhubarb plant. I love rhubarb. The potatoes I bought had earth on them as did the cabbage. When did you last see earth on vegetables in a supermarket?

Friday was a miserable cold day with a blanket of grey cloud everywhere. I decided to go for a long walk as it was just as cold indoors because of the painting and having the door open all day. I walked a new to me route; I was sensible and wore my gaiters; took my map and ruck sack and still got hopelessly lost. At one point I had to climb down into a ditch and up the other side to get onto the road. Then when I wasn't too far away from where I had parked my car; I decided to follow a path which I thought would be a shortcut - hah! It added at least 2 miles to the walk. There were curses and swear words at that point. I walked 9.2 miles in total and was extremely tired by the end. On several occasions I had to cross ploughed fields. Have you ever walked across a wet, ploughed field? It's like walking with concrete shoes on as the mud sticks to your boots and just gets bigger and bigger and heavier and heavier. Despite the mud and the boggy ground I did enjoy the walk; it was good to try new footpaths and walk a completely new route.

Everything charity shopped except the boots. Top by Indulgence; shirt underneath by Tu and red jeans by Laura Ashley,

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings; present from ex mum-in-law.

Waking up to a much warmer day on Saturday I decided to have a chill out day. I finished my book whilst eating my breakfast. After feeding the birds; I showered and dressed drove to 'Home Bargains' to pick up some bird food supplies. I saw a blackbird this morning perched on our glass recycling container. She had a piece of twig/grass/straw in her beak and was dipping it in the rainwater which collects on the recycling container. She then jumped down behind it. I  wondered was she was softening the twig/straw/grass for nest building and if so was the nest in my garden? You may remember we has a nesting blackbird before who laid two clutches but only one lot fledged. I always leave mealworms out beside the glass recycling container and a female blackbird is always the first one to appear and start eating them. I have no way of knowing whether it's the same one but I do hope so!

All items charity shopped. Jeans by Next. Top; no label, polo neck with added sparkle by Tu. Boots also charity shopped and all from Barnardo's.

Sorry about the smalls drying in the other photo; here's one without...

Earrings from eBay and other jewellery charity shopped. Two more pairs of earrings arrived from eBay on Saturday.

Have you ever heard of or tasted mangold wurzel? When I was out walking on Wednesday I walked past a mangold wurzel field. There were loads lying about so I picked one up and put it in my rucksack. Stealing, I know but would the farmer miss one mangold wurzel? I knew they were grown for animal feed but I wasn't sure if they were edible for humans. Professor Google informed me they were related to beets and they could be cooked or shredded into salads. I peeled and sliced the mangold wurzel up when I got home; tasted it raw and then boiled some with water and a bit of salt. I'd prefer it shredded in a salad but I doubt I'll ever bother again. Still one has to be open to new experiences...

When I got up on Sunday it was bright and the sun was out. The weekend had definitely warmed up from in the week and I hoped it would continue. I had to go to Iceland to pick up a couple of things; on the way back I decided to walk along the river to the marina and then home. I walked 5.4 miles; there were lots of people about. The river is a popular place for people to walk and picnic and generally hang out. I met another walking friend and we had a socially distanced catch up.

Except for the boots (Sainsbury's sale) everything I'm wearing is from a charity shop; jeans as Saturday's outfit; top by Oasis and blazer by Next which I've had for a good few years. I did put it in the charity shop pile once but rescued it and I'm glad I did.

Ring from Sainsbury's but all other jewellery and the belt was charity shopped.

It was the Spring Equinox on Sunday and I watched to see when the sun set. At 6pm it was still light but when I remembered to look again around 30 minutes later it was dark! Still it means we'll have longer days as it will get dark later and I'm all for that. We watched 'Line of Duty' on Sunday evening which will be our regular Sunday evening viewing for the next 7 weeks.

 

Monday started out bright and sunny but after I'd dropped the grandson to school, the clouds arrived and stayed all day; making it both gloomy and cold. I had plenty to do indoors but I did go into town to the bank and to the post office to post some books off to my son. I also spent a chilly half hour outside holding the ladder while the masonry in the gable was painted. Monday was also a year to the day we began our first lockdown across the UK.  I would have never thought one year on we would still be in a lockdown! Only one more week to go before things begin to ease. We watched 'Unforgotten' in the evening - the penultimate episode. I have to make a correction; I stated in a previous post the theme tune to this series was by Agnes Obel; and it was through hearing it I investigated Agnes Obel's music further. In fact, Agnes Obel's song 'Riverside' was the theme tune to a TV programme called 'Next of Kin'.

I wore this outfit to the food bank on Tuesday. Everything charity shopped except the boots from Sainsbury's. Thermal tights, skirt by Next; poloneck by John Lewis and the cardigan's label had been cut out; it is 100% wool and very warm. We observed a 2 minute silence at 12 noon to remember all those who died with Covid 19; may they all rest in peace.

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings from eBay.

Tuesday was bright with sunny spells and it was much warmer at 11.5 degrees and pleasantly warm in the sun. I wanted to go for a walk when I got back from the food bank but I was pretty tired after a full on morning and I've learned to listen to my body. I did walk into to town for a few errands. The painting of the front of the house was finally finished. I bought online a new letterbox and some new door numbers to put on the freshly painted front. Just two windows at the back left to paint and I also decided I wanted the back wall painted in the same pale grey as the masonry at the front. By the time I post this I hope it will all be finished.

I was very pleased to hear the clunk of a parcel landing on the mat on Wednesday morning. I knew it was my new letterbox plate -  but imagine my disappointment when I opened the outer packaging to find that the fleur de lys on one end of the letter box had snapped off. The letter box plate was made of cast iron and it may have snapped when the postman lobbed it through the gaping hole that was our letterbox - or it may have happened in transit. It was very carefully wrapped, but what a disappointment. 

I wore this swapping brown boots my walking boots when I went out for a 6.5 mile walk along the river to Great Denham and Biddenham. Everything charity shopped; dress by Zara; red top by Primarni and  brown boots all bought at Barnardos.

All jewellery charity shopped.

On the way back from my walk I deviated from the usual route and spied two new blue plaques on a road called Spenser Road. There must be 30 blue plaques now in and around Bedford that I'm aware of. I must re walk my blue plaque walk one day and do a recount. The Stannards were a Bedfordshire family of watercolour painters. I looked their work up online; Theresa's work I didn't like very much; being very chocolate boxy. I did, however, like the work of Henry John Stannard; especially his boat yard scenes.

As it was Thursday it was time to do the weekly food and supplies shop. I went to the Sharnbrook farm shop for coal and kindling and then to Pells; the other farm shop for fruit and veg. I had a quick look at plants while I was there but resisted temptation. The back of the house was being painted and I couldn't get to the plant pots even if I wanted to... I also went to Lidl and Aldi and popped around the corner to my Sainsbury's Local for OH's sausages and bacon. It rained on off from midday onwards so I didn't bother going for out for a walk. I'll make up for it over the next few days. The few rain free days we'd had would have dried the ground out a bit, but with Thursday's quite heavy showers I can't be sure and won't know till I venture across a field again.

Skirt by New Look; replacement present from OH who sliced the original one when chopping logs in the garden! Cashmere jumper by F&F; German label shirt underneath, both charity shopped. I wore animal print boots but you can't see them as my skirt covered them. All jewellery was charity shopped. I think I'm cursed with these skirts; this one got masonry paint on it. I washed it but the paint was still there...

I had a pottering about sort of day on Friday. It rained a lot which put me off walking but it got quite nice around 3.30pm. By that time I'd done a wash; cleaned out the fire and relaid it; put a box of finished books out on the front wall for people to take; reorganised my baking shelf and made a macaroni cheese for dinner and a boiled fruit cake. I continued reading Angus Wilson's 'Late Call'. I have several of his books on my shelves and am reading my way through them. There are quite a few gaps on my book shelves so when I return to rummaging I won't feel guilty buying more books!

I wore this for pottering about; jeans by M&Co, top by Per Una, long sleeved top underneath by Lily & Me; cardigan has no label. All charity shopped. Boots by Primarni. All jewellery charity shopped. Apart from highlighter, blusher and lipstick I didn't bother with any other make-up. Today the schools broke up for the Easter Holidays. Middle grandson had been having mock GCSE exams all week and was looking forward to some downtime.

I went walking on both Saturday and Sunday, walking 6.4 miles on Saturday and 5.5 miles on Sunday with my daughter. I wore jeans and jumpers for walking so didn't bother taking photographs.  I spotted my first cowslips on Saturday's walk.

Monday 29th March was the day when we could at last start to met others outside; sticking to the rule of 6 or two households. No longer was the message 'stay home' but 'stay local'. Outdoor sports could resume. We have had two households all the way through the lockdown; we had been in a bubble with my daughter's household, as I child mind the youngest grandson. However, Monday's changes meant I'd be able to meet up with my brothers and my cousin very soon. Yay! Plans have been made and agreed...

Also on Monday, I went back to Barnardo's but to the Kempston shop. The manager at the Great Denham branch was moving to the Kempston shop, which has to be at least four times larger; it sells furniture so that should give you an idea of the difference in size. I spent the time assembling clothes rails and filling them with clothes that were hung on hangers and tagged. I wasn't able to buy anything as the tills weren't operational - just as well; I could have brought quite a few things home with me! .

 The weather started out cool and windy but developed into warm, sunny and windy. It was interesting to see so many more people out and about; whether that was the weather (!) or the easing of the lockdown rules, I couldn't say, I wore this outfit and didn't bother with a jacket. Everything charity shopped. African print trousers; homemade, top by Next and cardigan is a Canadian label. Boots also charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Watched the final episode of 'Unforgotten' on Monday evening - tears were shed. 

Back at the foodbank on Tuesday and did the usual. The weather was glorious; it felt like summer had arrived! The new letter box plate arrived or rather I went to the sorting office to collect it, as an attempted delivery was made whilst I was at the charity shop on Monday. Unfortunately, the letter box in the door needed to be made larger to accommodate the new letter box plate and that won't happen until the weekend. I'll show you photos in my next post by which time we'll have entered yet another phase of our easing out of lockdown...

Happy birthday to me

I bought these daffodils in the food charity last week. The flowers were all closed but by the following morning several had opened and then all had opened when I took this photo. Such cheerful little beauties!

The weather in the week beginning  March 1st had definitely turned colder. On Wednesday, it was both cold and foggy and it rained in the afternoon.  I just didn't fancy a walk. I did fancy making a cake, however, and as I didn't have enough butter or ground almonds decided to go to Aldi or Lidl to buy some. Aldi didn't have any ground almonds but Lidl did. Somehow on that little trip I managed to spend almost 25.00! I bought new PJs; 2 new pairs of socks, some drawer dividers and some green wool; as well as the things I went for. The cake, a mincemeat crumble cake, took forever to cook but I finally used up the 2 remaining jars of mincemeat I've been promising to use up for months. Both jars were dated use by August 2020  and tasted absolutely fine. Use by dates are just guides and not the law. The cake was really delicious. I caught up with blogs and before I knew it, it was time to make dinner and light the fire. There is always so much to do I never seem to have time to feel bored; although I do wonder if I didn't blog and follow other people's blogs would I have lots more time on my hands?

This was Wednesday's outfit; everything charity shopped except the boots from Sainsbury's sale and the earrings from eBay.

These check trousers by Zara are years old and very warm; top by Ashley Brookes and houndstooth check cardigan by F&F.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings from eBay. I bought myself 3 new pairs to make up for losing 3 pairs last week. I've also asked for some earrings for my birthday...

Thursday was another bleak cold day. I went to the farm shop; Sainsbury's and Lidl and having unpacked the shopping and put it away I realised I had forgotten several items. I walked into town for the missing items and then went for an urban walk of 5.4 miles.

This was Thursday's outfit. Everything charity shopped except boots as before. Trousers by Next, shirt by Chicos; cardigan by Laura Ashley. I put a box of books out and my old cup and saucer as I'd treated myself to a new one. When I went out later to retrieve the box in case it rained overnight the whole lot was gone box included and my handwritten 'Free - help yourself' sign!

All jewellery charity shopped.

Friday was a brighter day but still cold. I went into town to QD for some bird food items; debated about going for a walk and decided against it. I had plenty to catch up on my laptop, books to read, washing to do; crochet squares to make etc.

Everything charity shopped except OTK boots bought online. Skirt by Per Una, M&s; top by Next and jacket by Country Casuals.

The above two photos are taken in selfie mode whereas the one below is not; a clearer picture but hard to pose for as you can't see yourself!

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings from Etsy. I spent Friday afternoon crocheting but feeling guilty I hadn't gone out for a walk. I made up for it on Saturday. I met up with my daughter and we took her neighbour's dog and ourselves on a 9 mile walk. Part of it was to recce a walk I'll be leading on 12th May for the Ramblers; but as it was a nice afternoon we decided to extend it. I think 9 miles walking is a first for my daughter! In the evening we finished watching the last episode of Deutschland 83; next we're looking forward to watching Deutschland 86.

I had ordered some new cushions online and got an email on Sunday morning to say they were ready for collection. It meant driving to Rushden to our nearest Asda; I decided to go on Monday as I wouldn't be home schooling and would have a free day. On Sunday, I walked 9.6 miles and did the usual housework and made dinner. I was a bit stiff and sore after two days of long walks and decided not to walk again on Monday and to have a rest.

It was a bit of a shock to the system getting up 6.45 am on Monday to get youngest grandson up and ready for school. I take him on Mondays in 'normal' time for an 8.30 start. The traffic was horrendous; it took me more than 5 minutes just to to exit my street. What a huge difference the schools going back make to the traffic; but of course it was the first day back at school since the Christmas break. 

I drove to Rushden to collect my new cushions - it was good to see somewhere different.  When I got back I made some butternut squash and sweet potato soup as well doing two loads of washing and catching up with blogs and blog comments. My crocheting is coming along nicely; I now have enough squares to make 2 rows of of a 12 row blanket. 12 x 12 =144 squares. I wonder how far I'll have got when I post this?

This was Monday's outfit. I stayed in walking leggings and top all weekend. Everything charity shopped except the boots bought online.

Trousers by Zara, top by Pepperberry and cardigan by Merc of London. I remember buying this cardigan in a Jewish charity shop in Golders Green on a birthday trip to London in 2018...

All jewellery charity shopped except the necklace from South Africa; a gift from my ex mum-in-law.

Back to the food bank on Tuesday even though it was my birthday... I was surprised to find that there were several March birthdays among my colleagues. I put away toiletries and cereals and then continued splitting up the tea bags; and unloading and putting away more boxes of teabags. I have jobs set up ready for next week as the warehouse manager won't be in. OH bought me some lovely new walking boots for my birthday; my brothers, son and ex mum-in law all gave me money. It was a beautiful day bright and sunny; I should have gone for a walk but by the time I had paid the mobile home fees online and completed the 2021 census form also online it was too late!

In the evening my daughter and her partner made dinner for us and we celebrated my birthday as befits a 67 year old - in style!  

Opening birthday cards; I was pretty flushed as you can see -  after one glass of champagne! I only had the one.

Dress and jacket by Next; both charity shopped. I've had this jacket for more than 10 years and get lots of wear out of it every year. It has a leather trim down the front and around the neck. OTK boots bought online.

Earrings and brooch bought in Donegal and made by local crafts people. Other jewellery charity shopped.

My daughter bought me a new FitBit which is a smart watch and I also received two pairs of earrings, chocolates, a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey and an animal print blouse; from my daughter, grandsons, and middle grandson's mum. How very spoiled I am! You can see one pair of my new earrings here:

They're fish shaped and attached to a circle which goes through the ear. They should be much harder to lose than the usual dangle type of earrings!  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. All other jewellery charity shopped.

All clothes charity shopped except tights online retail. Boots by River Island, dress, no label but it has pockets! Top by John Lewis.

It was a miserable day on Wednesday; wet, windy and cold. I had to go to  town to two banks and to order some flowers for Mother's Day bouquets from my grandson's to their mum's; I spent about an hour in total walking about in town. I was glad to get home and in the warm and any thoughts of an afternoon walk disappeared. I spent quite some time setting up the new FitBit.It became extremely windy in late afternoon and evening as if a storm was brewing. I could hear it in the chimney and the windows were rattling all through the night.

Thursday started out bright and sunny but the high winds continued. I went to the farm shop, to Sainsbury's and to Lidl for the weekly shopping. After unpacking it all I added a headscarf to my outfit in preparation for an urban walk but soon after unpacking the shopping it began to rain heavily followed by several hailstorms. No walk for me! No hanging out the towels I had just washed either...

Everything found in a charity shop except the M&S boots from a Bedford FB buy and sell group and Snag tights. Dress by Oliver Bonas, spotted shirt by Charles Tyrwhitt and headscarf; all found in my Barnardo's.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I spent Thursday afternoon doing more research on Ancestry UK before making dinner for OH and middle grandson. He's back for dinner on Thursdays now they've gone back to school. Another bit of the normal weekly routine returning. 

I have been redrawing my family tree as I made some errors on my original copies; and I was also chasing up a query from 2nd or 3rd cousin of mine in Kent as to how we're related. Through our great grandparents it turns out; they were brother and sister. Spending time on Ancestry UK is like going into a time machine; hours can pass as I pore over Parish registers written in Latin in many cases. I bought middle grandson an Ancestry DNA kit for his birthday in January and he is waiting for his results to come through. I expect his ancestry will be fascinating; covering the UK, Ireland, Africa and the Caribbean. I never expected when I did mine that it would come back as anything other than 100% Irish; but I have 13% DNA from Malta and 15% from Northern and Southern Italy! I have managed to trace relatives back to great, great, great grandparents; to the early 1800s at least and haven't found the Mediterranean connection. It must be generations back and I think it will be from my father's side; my maternal grandmother's family were from Dublin and cities tend to be more cosmopolitan than the countryside.

It's been about 20 years since I had the house painted and it was badly in need of painting. I arranged with daughter's partner to do it as he is an all round Jack of Trades. He had made a list of what I needed to buy; which meant sometime soon I needed to go to the DIY store and buy stuff. I don't like DIY stores very much and put off going there. I needed to buy masonry paint, paint for windows, the front door and gate; paint for the front gable and filler; the thought of it made me yawn with boredom.  Thursday afternoon would have been the ideal time to do this chore; instead I spent a very pleasant time spending my birthday money online. I bought music, swimming shoes, 2 cross body bags; a pair of yellow boots and a pair of clogs. The footwear and bags were from Vinted. The swimming shoes were in case I'm brave enough to go for an outdoor swim in the week beginning 29th March; as that is when outdoor sports can return. I have swimming shoes at the caravan for sea swimming but none here.

I checked the forecast on Friday morning as I was determined to go for a walk. There was less chance of rain in the afternoon so I set off for 5.5 mile walk in breezy sunny conditions. I walked along the river to Great Denham and very enjoyable it was too. I wore this outfit; just substituting walking boots and socks for the long boots with the addition of a waterproof jacket. Spring blossom was everywhere.

All jewellery from charity shops except the earring which were a present from my sister in law when she was here last year; they came from South Africa. I forgot to wear a bangle.

Everything bought from a charity shop. Snake print leggings by M&S, top by Next and red stretchy top underneath from Primarni. The long suede boots were 99p from Barnardo's in Ampthill last summer. I have worn these and a pair of OTK boots this winter but not my other pair of leather OTK boots nor my two pair of long boots. I've also not used handbags much at all in the past year. I either use a fancy shopping bag when I'm running errands; a ruck sack or a cross body bag when I go out for a walk. I can see me getting rid of all my handbags; keeping just one good one; and some for the evening in the fond hope I may actually get to go out in the evening somewhere this year! I have a storage box of handbags under my bed and it would free up space...

I walked into town on Friday morning to collect a Vinted parcel from the Hermes parcel shop and went to Iceland for a couple of things I'd forgotten when I did the shopping yesterday. Don't you hate that? I do it all the time.  I picked up a spring bouquet and a couple of cyclamen plants from the food charity on my way back from town. When I got in I potted the Cyclamen up and a couple of Hyacinths into containers for the front window. I then braved the DIY shop; going to Wickes to buy the paint. Thankfully it was relatively painless!

On Friday evening we watched the final episodes of Deutschland 86. Ready to start Deutschland 89 on Saturday. Between crocheting and watching TV I haven't got much reading done this week...

My second cross body bag from Vinted arrived on Saturday morning and after breakfast I went into town again to collect the Mother's Day bouquets from my grandsons to their mums. I delivered them both in the afternoon and the daughter and I went for another walk; taking the neighbour's dog once again. When the sun came out it was lovely but we had rain, hailstones and strong winds as well. Managed 5.5 miles in total.

This is the first wearing of my birthday blouse. I think I could have added beads but by the time I took the photos it was too late. Marilyn jeans by M&S charity shopped, kimono present from my daughter and boots bought in Sainsbury's sale.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Sunday was Mother's Day. As I have no children at home there was no breakfast in bed sadly but I did get some beautiful cards from my son, daughter and middle son's mum.

My daughter made me this beautiful hamper full of some of the things I love. Flowers, plants, wine, sweets, chocolates, peanut and date butter, home made chocolate and hazelnut squares, some shower mousse and a hair mask. Completed with a beautiful heart saying 'Grandchildren loved here' - very true! How lucky am I and how blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

I got up and made a honey cake and when OH emerged we went to visit a garden centre/farm shop we'd never been to before. We bought Delphiniums, Alliums, Dianthus, Candytuft, Tomato plants and a Narcissi. OH potted all up when we got back and I got on with the housework. I made dinner as well and there wasn't time for a walk but it was a bit of a miserable day so I didn't mind.

I spied this on the way back from the garden centre. Such a sweet little cottage but just look at mummy Duck with her ducklings on the thatched roof. I always look out for the 'Thatcher's signature' on thatched roofs and this is the first time I've seen one of these.

Monday started out wet. Not the best start for getting the outside of the house painted but with perseverance the windows got sanded down...

After dropping grandson to school I did two lots of washing and then set off for a 5.5 mile walk as I didn't walk on Sunday. Everything in the outfit is from a charity shop except the red boots as before. Underneath I wore leggings so I just removed my skirt and added walking boots and socks when I went walking.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I'm still no further with the crochet squares than I was at the beginning of the post. Hopefully by the time I post again I may have done some more!