Hi Jules ,just come in after taking George. out for his walk didn't take him yesterday raining on and off most of the day, there has been a change in the weather this week not been to good since June came in and I don't think it's that good next week as well.my daughter is having something done to her back garden Saturday but it has forecast heavy rain so not sure if it will get done,(typical)  after all the nice weather we have had.it's a good age 90 glad you were able to celebrate with her even if it was only phone calls I'm sure it made her day with flowers and cards,I'm sure when we get back to normal your colleagues will take you out for a nice meal, I haven't been out anyway because of my COPD I'm beginning to forget what the inside of a supermarket looks like as well as a bus,there's no sign of vulnerable people being let out any time soon.I'm glad you can get out and about and I'm assuming you can see some of your family but not all of them,it's very confusing seeing the news a lot of people don't know what they can and can't do. I hope we don't have a nother rise in the virus with all the protest that are going on at the moment ,the tablets that I'm on at the moment seem to be working I just hope the pain doesn't come back once I have finished the course ,I am missing going to Costa on a Friday when I go into town so will have to make do with a ordinary coffee for now lol enjoy your week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Sounds like your weather has been worse than where I am.  Only a short thunderstorm on Saturday so the garden could sure do with the rain.  More showers promised  this week but nothing yet.  Beautiful yesterday and walked 7miles with a friend, chatting whilst socially distanced.

The best news last week as far as the guidelines for me was that as a single household I could become part of one other household's support bubble with no social distancing required.  So was asked to join my son's  'bubble' which means we can now visit each other and even sleep over.  As their children are only 4 and 23months they have seen no one during lockdown as you cannot expect the children to socially distance.  They are both still working from home (they do 5hr shifts each). I was with them last weekend which was wonderful for all of us and had lots of cuddles.  My son and the little ones are coming to me on Thursday whilst my daughter in law has a long work conference call and then I will go back with them for an overnight stay.  The extra pair of hands during the  working week is very useful for them.  Unfortunately will still only be able to see my daughter and family if they manage to come down and have a socially distant chat in the front garden, so keeping an eye on the weather forecast for a weekend at some point.  They are both working full time with their children now back at school.  This will all be worthwhile if we stay well.

Glad the tablets were doing their job and hope the improvement continues a I am sure you are fed up enough at having to self isolate let alone dealing with extra pain.

Our Costa has not yet re-opened locally.  Some of our cafes are offering take away service and I am surprised to see how many people are enjoying those.  With more shops now allowed to open (I am not visiting them!!)  lets hope we can continue to maintain a downward trend of cases.  I am still doing a fortnightly supermarket shop for essentials with the odd online shop for my wild bird food needs.  Nothing else seems essential just now.

Take care and have a good week.  Jules x

Hi Jules ,must be lovely to see your grandchildren and stay over as well and you can help with looking after them while they get on with there jobs ,the weather here has been awful not had George out  for two days  because of the rain,  the weather hasn't been good since June came in but the weather for next week  is a bit better so hopefully  will get out in the garden and take George out again. the kids are still doing my shopping I still have no idea when people who are shielding can go out all it says on the TV is there will be more information shortly , I will be going the crematorium on Sunday as it it fathers day will go at 9 so  probably be on my own not sure what's happening about dinner the kids are thinking about getting a take away meal from one of the restaurant that are open I said I will go with what ever they decide.if the weather is ok tomorrow one of my friends is going to come mine for a. coffee we will sit outside if the weather is ok according  to the weather forecast it is going to be sunny and cloudy Saturday ( fingers crossed ) have rung the doctors again this week he has give me pain killers for the third time, he said I might have physio if it doesn't clear up , I haven't took the pain killers yet as my daughter only dropped them off this morning ,but the funny think is I haven't had any pain for a few days so might not take them just to see how it goes, I did look on my tablet for exercises for sciatica so have been doing a few of them maybe it's been doing  it good I Hope So will keep you posted  have a lovely week seeing family and friends  stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope you enjoyed the weekend.  Weather here has not been too bad, just the occassional thunderstorm and now looks set to be hot and sunny this week.  Was at my sons Thursday/Friday and went on three walks, one morning, one afternoon and then a late evening photography walk with just my son. Very relaxing and lovely to see the wildlife as the sun sets.  Got home about 10.30.  Fingers crossed will be doing the same this week and they told me to pack a swimsuit as the paddling pool will be out!!

The weekend consisted mainly of gardening and cooked a few meals for the freezer  so this week will be more of the same exercise wise.  I am sure doing the exercises for sciatica (I know how painful that can be) will be of help and hope things continue to improve.  I am having a bit of hip pain but managing it with other the counter medication as and when necessary at the moment.  No doubt all my extra walking/exercise classes  will help stop me stiffening up too much ha ha.

Was catching up with a friend today but she has woken up with swollen glands so cancelled at the last minute.  Instead sat in the garden reading (how lazy am I) until 10.30 when I did my ironing before joining my on line exercise session.  Now thinking about my lunch so have prepared the veg and will go out walking late afternoon to avoid heat of the day.

Have my fingers crossed that the weather holds till this coming Sunday as my daughter and family hoping to come down for a social distancing visit again.  Seems ages since they were last here but with the boys back at school and them both working full time  the weekends are precious and as currently can only meet in front garden the weather needs to be ok.    More announcements due regarding the lockdown guidelines and my hairdresser has been in touch to book a provisional appointment for 2nd week in July so hope that can indeed go ahead.

Stay safe and hope the weather is better so that you can get George out walking.  Take care and stay safe.  Jules x

Hi Jules ,  glad you enjoyed your time with your son walking and listening to the wildlife it is nice to hear the birds singing ,as I'm e mailing you it is throwing it down here so don't think George will be going out for his walk,glad your still enjoying your exercises and hope it does your hip good, I am still doing the exercises for sciatica it isn't as bad I haven't finished the tablets the doctor gave me yet so will see how I get on once there finished, sorry you didn't get to see your friend but it can't be helped if she wasn't well ,2 of my friends came down last Saturday for coffee we sat outside as the weather was lovely,it was nice to have a catch up  with them ,hope your daughter came to yours and had a nice day with you ,there is a lot of places opening up on the 4 July not sure if it's a good idea not rung my hair dresser yet as she comes to the house not sure how its going to work will ring her when July comes in.watching the TV news  a lot of people aren't social distancing any more which is totally wrong when a lot of people are abiding by the rules it would be awful if we had a second surge because of the selfish people not observing the rules, my daughter is supposed to be going to Poland next month boris Johnson is going g to announce further rules regarding holidays on Monday I don't want her to go really but if it's ok to go I'm sure she will go . I think I am allowed out from the 1st of August but I will be a bit apprehensive  Will probably  just stay local for a while ,I won't go into town on a bus as you have to wear a mask think it will be  a long time before I venture on a bus just going to make myself a cup of tea have a nice weekend stay safe  regards syl  x 

Hi Jules, sorry to hear about your friends husband it must be a worry for them especially with everything that is going on at the moment, glad you are still going on holiday in September,( where are you going ) my friend had a holiday booked for July but she has cancelled it till next year , listening to the news a lot of people can't wait to fly off on holiday to get some sun I think Poland will be on the list the government is going to announce  to day where you don't have to quarantine when you come back to the UK ,my daughter is supposed to fly on the 16th July. the weather hasn't been all that good this week again only had George out a few times this week,not much better at the weekend either , makes you feel miserable especially when you can't go out, I might sneak out tomorrow morning to the coop as I need 3 birthday cards for July if I go early there might not be many in.all the pubs and restaurants open this weekend I Hope everyone behaves  and there's no trouble otherwise I can see them closing again ,not sure what is happening at weekend think we are all doing our own dinners this Sunday as my son is doing some DIY at home and my daughter is decorating. as well enjoy your week stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl

At last some rain has arrived here to help the garden grow so it was a wet walk for me today!  We have been pretty lucky on the whole so not complaining.  Met a friend for a socially distanced walk on Monday and she kindly gave me four tomato plants so they will appreciate the watering.  I had to dig my wet weather gear out for today's walk as cannot be bothered with a brolly.  Was back by 10.30 in time for my online exercise class.

My September holiday if it goes ahead is to Lake Como, Italy. Just a case of fingers crossed I think.  Local hospital has just been closed as they have had a spike of Covid19 cases amongst their staff. My friend's husband is still an inpatient following two operations and of course she is unable to visit. I saw her for a short walk yesterday to our local park and she is not used to being on her own so finding everything quite stressful.  She has my number and can call anytime and her family are doing her shopping for her.  It's a case of hoping for the best that the treatment he is receiving will be completed and his recovery can then be continued at home.

My daughter and grandsons are coming down on Friday to pick me up and then I will spend the weekend with them before they bring me back again.  I would have gone by train but they would rather collect me.  Thankfully the weather looks set to improve on Friday so expect we will be doing plenty of walks local to them which will be a nice change of scene for me.

My son and family are having a lovely week away in Somerset and catching up with my daughter in law's extended family.  

Hope the painkillers have done their job and you are feeling better though I expect the going out and about will be a slow process for many as we try to get some sort of normal back.  Take care. Jules x

Hi   Jules, I'm doing this email on a new tablet my other one broke last week my son thought he had fixed it but it didn't work so he sent off for a new one , glad you're ok and spending time with family must be nice to stay over spend time  with them and it's a change of scenery for you as well,the weather has been awful again this week rain wind and it's been quite cold as well ,have managed to take George out in between the showers it's supposed to change at the weekend think we are having sunshine hope so as my front lawn is really long can't wait to get it cut . my hair is also in need of a cut I haven't rung my hair dresser up yet will ring her this week.im sure you will be able to take your holiday in September,but nothing is certain at the moment.my daughter should have gone Poland next week but easyJet have cancelled the flight coming back so she is waiting to see what happens with the flight going if that's cancelled she will get her money back if she cancell s she won't.glad your keeping up with your exercises I'm afraid all I'm doing is eating chocolate  and putting weight on at the moment think swimming pools can open in a couple of weeks but don't know if we can go aerobics  yet would be a bit difficult staying apart  when there is about 16 of us in the pool  ,my leg seems to be a lot better now no tablets left so fingers crossed have a nice weekend stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl

Glad you now have a new tablet and can stop worrying about the old one.  We really rely on our technology for staying in touch especially now.

I had a good weekend at my daughters; lots of dog walking and time spent catching up whilst enjoying the sunshine in their garden.  They brought me home on Sunday afternoon so as to have the evening getting ready for their working/school week.  Unbelievable that the boys break up for the summer this coming Friday.  My eldest grandson goes to Secondary school in September ...not sure where that time went.

Glad your leg is so much better and that will make it easier for moving around.  I am on the occasional painkiller for my hip but the regular exercise certainly helps.  Our gym re-opens on the 27th so really looking forward to getting back and socialising albeit with fewer members allowed in at any one time.  Appointments will  now be 'fixed' so no more just dropping in when convenient but it is ok for me.  I am not a swimming fan but when our local pool re-opens they are limiting general and class numbers so that it is safer.  Have a feeling this will be the new normal for some time to come.  

Went to the garden centre yesterday and also cut my lawn.  Just as well as it is drizzling here now and rather annoying as have a friend coming round for coffee.  Would be nice to have sat outside. Never mind will be good to have a catch up.  Seeing another friend on Friday as it is her birthday so can give her the gift I have for her.  We normally do a social distanced walk but again hoping for afternoon tea in the garden.

No plans for this weekend other than probably going to the Farmers'/Artisans' Market on Sunday.  Will go walking as the weather looks as though it is improving from Friday.  Stay safe and have a good weekend.  Jules x