Hi Syl,

Hope you managing okay and that you and George are still enjoying the exercise slots we are allowed.  I did not go out over the weekend but exercised indoors with various on line tutorials which have now become a regular feature of my daily routine as well as the live links I have three times a week with the gym I normally go to.

Thank goodness we have had reasonable Spring weather (though it is wet here today) and I can get into the garden.  Feel very sorry for those who do not have outside space just now.  Over the weekend I had face time with both children/grandchildren at the same time so that was lovely and they are juggling work from  home/childcare for my son and daughter in law.  My daughter is still doing her shifts at the school for the key workers (lunch breaks and deep cleaning) though my son in law is now at home as the place he works closed after they could not get the s upplies they needed to continue to repair cars (he works in the assessment/quotes office).  

With the rain here I have just got back from a quick walk around the  block so that I could post a couple of birthday cards and now going to have a cuppa before joining in with the gym class and probable group chat afterwards.  Certainly helps to be able to chat with friends/family to get through each day as best we can.  I had never really gone on You Tube before but now they are streaming plays/musicals and ballet  and am noting down times so can plan watching at various points during the week.  It is an added bonus that this is free to view so decided to make a note of what I would save if I had actually gone in person to see such shows.  There will be a bit treat awaiting once we are through the other side of this.  

Stay safe and take care and what a godsend that you have family who can run errands for you.  I am on our road's volunteer telephone list should our vulnerable/elderly residents need anything; I can pick it up for them whilst using my exercise slot.  Best regards.  Jules x

Happy Easter Syl,  will chat again soon.  Jules xx

Hi Syl,

Well a very strange Easter Bank Holiday weekend which came and went pretty much like any other day to be honest.  Very grateful for the weather and being able to take my exercise each day (trying different routes locally to rings the changes haha. Have been logging my walks on my phone camera and then post on my social media page so others not quite so lucky amongst my friends and family get a change of view from their four walls. Spent a good deal of time in the garden and feel so lucky to have one and that the weather has so far been very kind to us.  Had offers from neighbours and my daughter in law to leave shopping outside for me but so far have been able to go myself as allowed to do essential shopping. If I need to top up it is only a 10min walk to the local shop so I fit that in at the end of my walk.

I think I have now got a routine going for this new normal and usually do my walk after breakfast as am always up early and it is very quiet so social distancing no problem.  Looks as though it will go on for a while longer yet but hopefully it is helping the NHS to cope.  So sad reading of all those who have passed prematurely due to Covid19.

Stay safe and hope your hospital appointment gets to go ahead as planned.  Take care.  Jules

Hi Jules, a lovely Friday morning here tried to e mail yesterday but couldn't get on the web site, not much happening here at the moment with not going out I did sneak out this morning just to take. the car for a run as I don't want the battery going flat ,while I was out I went to the hole in the wall to draw some money out .glad you can still go out even if its limited,at least you can go out to do a shop,I would love to go the the supermarket,or jump on a bus and go to M&S or go in Costa for a cappuccino simple things that we all take for granted, my hospital appointment was cancelled to a phone one which I had yesterday ,everything ok with my blood tests so everything good for now lol,I am doing my lawn later and taking George out as it has forecast rain late afternoon and tomorrow,it is awful listening to the news all the people dying not just here but all over the world,not being able to say goodbye and just close family at the funeral must be so sad for them that have to grieve on there own. let's hope things get better as the weeks go on stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl,

Glad you were able to give the car a little run out.  I don't drive and have not been on public transport since I was last in work (19 March) and with the lockdown continuing suspect it will be a while longer yet.  It is strange watching the buses go by with only one or two people on board.  I feel very lucky to be able to go for a walk every day(it varies between 2 and 7 miles depending on what route I decide on) and the weather has been amazingly kind.  Did a fortnightly shop this morning as my daily exercise  but am still doing online gym classes spread throughout the day/week which helps pass the time when not outside in the garden.  Have certainly been lucky with the weather and enjoy reading outside when the wind drops.  Have re-done three flower beds and put up an archway towards the garage at the end of the garden to make a bit of a feature once I can get to a garden centre to buy plants.

Am spending a lot of time watching the birds which I find very relaxing and have just had delivered a new ground level water feature so am hoping to see who uses it ha ha.  

Had a lovely surprise yesterday when received a text from my son saying he had a special delivery.  I asked him what it was and he told me to open the front door!  He was parked up opposite and had left me some home made cookies made by my grand-daughter with the help of her Mum and a lock of hair from my little grandson's first( home) haircut. We had a social distancing chat and it was so nice to have a bit of a catch up rather than just texting.

I  have now had the BT sort out my internet/phone line which kept dropping out.  They have replaced all the cabling outside and re-set everything so fingers crossed all will be much better and I can get back to having uninterrupted face time with the family.

I must admit I did not think I would be spending the build up to retirement  on unpaid leave for two months.  Still hope to stay healthy and safe and then get out and about a bit more once things start to improve again.

Hope you and the children are keeping ok.  Take good care and stay safe.  Jules

Hi Jules, I to think it strange when I'm taking George out the roads are quite empty and hardly any body on the buses that pass buy, nothing has changed much from last week, the weather is still lovely I to have been in the garden,I had a lovely surprise last week I received a food parcel from the local parish council, there was all sorts in it even a reading book and a puzzle book ,I'm not sure where they got my name from ,but they delivered to quite a few  people where I live.it is nice to chat to family even if it is from a distance,must be awful not having family and friends  especially if your on your own and can't even go out,it doesn't sound as if we're going to come out of lock down for a while,I get fed up not being able to go out I'm sure it's worse for some at least we have a garden and family to talk to, glad your internet ok now ,my tablet was playing up the other day but it went ok after a few goes of fiddling with it one of my friends from my friendship group  rang me with the sad news one of our members had passed away with the virus,both her and her husband were in hospital he survived and out of hospital now so sad none of us could go the funeral either she was a lovely lady don't know how we will feel when we all meet up again.another nice weekend weather wise but no where to go stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Well half way through another lockdown week and apart from one day have managed my daily exercise slot so still keeping relatively fit.  Whilst the weather was warm and sunny made the most of the garden too and have been enjoying watching the birds feed both from nature and the feeders.  The robin is popping into the kitchen most days now (a little bowl set up in the dry ha ha) and so the patio door always open when I am home and think it is getting used to being photographed.  The flowers are beginning to bloom nicely in both front and back gardens and have a really good display of lily of the valley this year.

Have had a week with lots of phone calls instead of messaging and so nice to hear everyone's voices for a change.  My daughter and family have used their exercise slot over the weekend to do a lot of work at the allotments and my son and daughter in law still working from home and enjoying time with the little ones whilst doing a bit of 'nursery' work with my grand-daughter. 

I officially retire at the end of next week and  now have a good routine going day to day which has been a great help.  With the rain returning yesterday (my goodness the garden welcomed it) and showery again today I have still gone out but the walks mainly along streets rather than the woods/parks.  Managed a short 3 mile street stroll this morning in the sunshine and then uploaded the route as usual onto my social network page.  My friends who are isolating completely at home appear to be enjoying my views (only taken on my phone as does not feel right to take my big camera at the moment).   Hope you and your family are staying safe and well.  Hopefully have attached a picture of my little visitor below.  Take good care.  Jules

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Lovely photo of the little robin Jules I have 2 that come in the garden but there not as friendly as yours ,had George out this afternoon took him out a little earlier as it forecast rain it did rain but not for long now the sun is out.it is supposed to be nice tomorrow so will spend a bit of time in the garden its awful not going out I miss going shopping and jumping on the bus to go into town,but if it means we can get out of lockdown sooner then it has to be done,even though some people are still going out when they shouldn't .are you looking forward to retirement ?must be funny retiring when most people are in lockdown and we are restricted to what we can do, have you booked any holidays for this year? I wasn't going any where this year,didn't feel like it but my friend has booked a coach trip for July not sure if she will go now if the company cancel at least she will get her money back . my daughter is doing a Sunday dinner for me and my son she will drop mine off then go round to drop my son's off it will be nice to have a Sunday dinner as I haven't had one for a while ,stay safe  regards syl x

Hi Syl,

Have definitely been grateful for decent weather on the whole.  Even if I do not get out for a walk I can enjoy the garden.  Beautiful again here today and have managed to do my now fortnightly supermarket shop. Still seems strange not using public transport and seeing them pass by with only one or two on board.  

I had a holiday booked with my daughter and family for Easter but obviously not taken.  We were hoping to enjoy a little self catering break during the school holidays in Lincolnshire.  They are currently in the process of trying to get money back.  I have  not seen them since my last visit to them in mid February but keeping in touch via WhatsApp and the occasional Zoom face time. Son and daughter in law still working from home and looking after two under fives.  My grand-daughter's 4th birthday at the end of the month so will just have to wait to see if it is via Face-time or we can actually be out and about a bit more by then. 

My main holiday booked last November is next month but very much doubt it will go ahead. When and if cancelled then another refund to sort out (I had a week to Lake Como arranged).  Still if the lockdown works and we are ok when it is eased/ended then I shall be grateful to catch up with family and friends.

I cook myself a roast most Sundays and then have several other meals out of the leftovers during the week.  Managed my longest walk ever on Saturday (10 miles) and then yesterday did some soup making and generally relaxed.

Today it was was back to the online gym sessions which are Mon to Fri at 11 a.m. and I am also doing a walk at home exercise programme via YouTube in the afternoons.  I am finding it helpful to have that to focus on and think this will be my new 'retirement' routine.  Nothing heard from my company but this Friday should theoretically be my last day (though I have been unpaid for 6 weeks anyway) so hopefully the necessary paperwork will come through the post.  When lockdown lifted I will go in and say my goodbyes properly but am really looking forward to being able to please myself on what I can do and when I can do it.  For now I am using my camera to record my walking memories and how the garden is changing and have joined a few on line groups as well as reading more than I had been doing.

Hope you enjoyed your Sunday dinner.  Take care and stay safe.  Jules x