Hi Jules, glad you enjoyed time with your daughter and granchildren and some of your exercises are coming back,don't know when any of mine will be back think it will be a while yet.the pain in my leg has eased but now I have got a ache in the back of my knee and my foot keeps going numb sometimes I feel  like throwing my self under a bus ,it seems like one thing after another since my hubby died,I am putting cream on my knee and taking paracetamol,Ian not ringing the Dr till we can go in the surgery as all they give you s pain killers over the phone. weather not to bad this week we have had some rain it's it's been a bit dull though with not much sun ,at least I have had George out .my daughter should have gone to Poland Saturday but the airline cancelled her flight ,so she is going to Wales for a few days.i believe all those that are shielding can come out on the 1 August not sure if I have to wear a mask or not it's very confusing some say those with underlyig health problems don't have to wear them some say you do.i will only go to my local  supermarket but I would love to go to town and have a Costa not sure when that will be sounds nice to go to a artisan market , there is nothing like that open here at the moment, it's supposed to rain Saturday then nice for a few days think my son doing dinner Sunday have a nice week stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl,

Really sorry to hear you have more pain to deal with.  Being stuck inside for the most part must in the last few months makes it difficult to get moving properly and the muscles/joints do seem to suffer somewhat.  I am lucky to have online classes to keep me 'amused' but it will be good to meet back in the gym albeit a very different experience with social distancing and other necessary guidelines in place.  They begin taking phone appointments tomorrow so will see if I can start back sometime next week.  A few of the members went on Saturday and met up outside to do a short promo video for them to put out on social media.  It was nice to see the ladies after such a long time.  I decided to walk back the 'long way home' to get in some extra exercise so went through the park.  It was not that busy for such a lovely day but probably just as well as I took a tumble. Thankfully my hands stopped my face hitting the tarmac but did have to mop them up when I got home and have been a bit achy the last couple of days. Hey ho!!

I think the weather down here has been better though we did have a couple of dull days and a few light showers. Lovely here yesterday so spent most of the day out in the garden and had a nice chat with my neighbours over the fence.  I had been given some tomato plants and was delighted to find some flowers on them so hope to succeed at growing my own!!  It helps a lot when you are able to see a few people and am sure you will feel better once you are able to get out and about again.   I have my supply of masks/face coverings ready for the mandatory 'shop wearing' but will still keep shopping to essentials as hate wearing them. They steam up my glasses and am sure I breathe heavier when I have one on.  Will do a mini shop locally today as have my son and the two children coming over on Thursday for lunch so need a few extra bits. I may also be shopping for a friend nearby.  Her husband has just been discharged from hospital after major surgery and unfortunately has received a cancer diagnosis following the biopsy results.  Today they see the oncologist to discuss chemo options so do not think she will want to do the basic shopping as well.  As we know it will be a lot to take in.

Hope the painkillers help.  I do find they manage to control my arthritic pain in the short term but try not to take them too often.  Have found keeping moving (I can be seen through the window regularly walking round) helps as the more I sit the more it aches!  Not always easy to motivate yourself though. Hoping to be okay for Friday which is my youngest grandson's 2nd birthday.  Being part of their 'bubble' I will spend the day with them and hopefully be on the receiving end of a good few cuddles.  He has got a mini trampoline from his parents which will match his sisters so no more argueing ha ha. Should be a fun day in the garden weather permitting.

Take care of yourself.  Jules x

Hi Jules, clad you didn't hurt your self when you fell it's easily done ,I had another phone call off the doctor more pain killers he is going to send me for a x-ray on my knee just got to wait for a letter to come threw the post. not sure when I will be doing my aerobics again don't think the baths is open yet ,it must be hard for gyms and swimming pools to open at the moment with social distancing being put in place it's bad news for your friends husband's especially with this virus as a lot of the cancer treatment has stopped at the moment.i agree the more you keep moving the better it is for your body,it makes me wonder if all my ailments are being made worse because my activities have stopped ,all I'm doing at the moment is taking George out then I'm sat about all day plus I'm eating cakes and chocolate which I don't normally do.weather  not bad this week have taken George out most days not to good at the weekend or next week ,my daughter cancelled her holiday to Poland she has got some money back but not all of it. she went to Wales for a few days in a hotel  everyone was good at wearing masks and social distancing they enjoyed it even though it was only for a few days.enjoy your day with your grandson I'm sure you will have cuddles and kisses regards syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope the extra painkillers help and that you do not have to wait too long for the x-ray.  Best to find out if they can what is causing the problem and maybe offer other treatment if necessary.  I am recovered from the tumble (just feel so silly when it happens haha).  Thankfully I have learnt to live with the aches and pains that come and go in my hip which are age/arthritis related so continuing with exercises and walking keeps the muscles working (she says hopefully).  

I spent Thurs, Fri and Saturday at my sons and had a lovely time enjoying my grandson's second birthday and taking walks as a family.  The added bonus of having meals cooked for me a real treat.

My son bought me home early Saturday evening and I will go again this coming Thursday - Friday to help out with the kiddies (these are non nursery days so an extra pair of hands is useful whilst my son and daughter in law carry on working at home).  Loooks as though this will continue at least until September when the University Campus (where they both work in different areas) is hoping to re-open fully.  Unfortunately the lockdown situation has had an adverse affect on my daughter in law's Mum and she no longer feels able to help out with childcare at the moment.  I am hoping she seeks some help from her GP to get over the anxiety issues.

On Sunday morning our gym had an open morning so those who wished to see the new layout/safety precautions could have a look around.  I popped along and am so happy with how everything has been organised including the fact that everyone has to have their temperature taken before entering the building and to start with only 5 members will be in at any one time.  As the circuit only takes 30mins I am sure we will all get the hang of the new routine.  My first session is tomorrow at 9.30 and I am booked in for 3 this week so back to a more normal life again.

Heavy showers here at the moment so have been and done some shopping and will crack on with the housework after lunch as it does not look as though I will get into the garden.  Still nice that I do not need to worry about watering the pots!

My son is popping in for around an hour today as his pet requires antibiotic injections following surgery and I am happy to hold him (my daughter in law not so keen!) whilst the jab is done.

I too have been eating more of the not so healthy food in the last 3/4 weeks so today began the 'get back on track' plan so that if I am able to go away in September I will feel better in my clothes.  In an ideal world I would like to drop half a stone but I am not going to get stressed over it!!  

Do take care of yourself and hope you have a pleasant week ahead.  Best regards.  Jules x

Hi Jules. glad everything went well at your son's must be nice to help out  where needed must be a great help to both families especially when there working from home.i have been to the. hospital this morning for my x ray I was only in 10 minutes then they shouted my name out , there was a few people about all wearing masks ,I had one on but I was glad to take it off once I got out side.have got to ring my doctor in about 7 days,must be nice to get ready for your gym to open again even though it will be different now,bill who runs the dementia group text me the other day they are going to the centre on the 12 August just the helpers for now just to see if everyone can return ,I'm a bit apprehensive about going at the moment so will let him know nearer he time if am going in the kids don't want me to go back just yetthe weather not bad at the moment had George out  then my neighbor came round for coffee we sat outside it was really warm ,it was nice to have a chat with another human being instead of talking on the phone or sending texts.dont think the weather is good tomorrow or Sunday glad I mowed my lawn today a lot of the north has gone into lock down again luckily my town is ok for now I might start going to my local co op  and  the small Tesco for now even though I would like to go further afield think I will shop near to me for now.not sure who is doing dinner this weekend I have got stuff in my freezer if no one fancies cooking take care have a nice weekend regards syl x

Hi Syl

Glad your hospital visit ran smoothly and not too long to await results from the GP.  I can fully understand your apprehension about venturing too far at the moment for shopping and you can return to your other activities as and when you feel able to once they re-start.  I feel it must be very strange for those who have shielded for so long to be out and about again trying to get some sort of normality back.

As I did not have to shield it has made it a bit easier for me but I do not like wearing the mask at all but know it is for everyone's benefit.  Luckily I have several large supermarkets within 2 mile walk so no need to use public transport very often and my local parade for all essentials needs is just 10mins away so consider myself fortunate.

Last week I did three sessions at the gym so a bit more like my usual routine.  Temperature taken before going in and numbers limited to half what it used to be for now.  You could tell the everyone there was so pleased to be back and it is half an hour of seeing others which is certainly a  bonus.

I did another sleepover at my sons Thurs/Fri and we took the grandchildren to their local playground for around half an hour (no one else in sight!!) before the temperature was too hot.  We then kept them entertained indoors.  For us all it is helpful to be able to have social contact and they expect to continue to work from home at least until mid September when the University Campus is hoping to be fully open and accepting students/workers again.  I will also help that my grand-daughter will start full time school and little Ethan (now 2) is going to nursery three times a week.  The coming week will be quieter as not going to them at all though my son and the kiddies will pop over on Thursday for some play time.  I am catching up with friends on Thursday and Friday for a change.  Probably meeting for a walk and then a coffee outside somewhere local.

I have been out for a couple of hours walking this morning and it is warming up nicely so will probably go out again after lunch.  Looking forward to a place of cold chicken after doing myself a roast yesterday.

I have been busy in the garden taking cuttings and dead-heading the rose and buddlieas - plenty of bees and butterflies and have a vixen and her cub visiting most nights - beautiful but they are just passing through and causing no bother.  Have been getting night videos of them from my new trail camera and it is lovely watching the footage next morning and sharing with my family/friends.

Well, a coffee break is called for so  hope is all well with yourself and the family and it looks like a good week for the weather here again.

Take care and stay safe.  Jules x 

Hi Jules glad your activities are opening up again ,have just rung the doctor for my x-ray results but the phone keeps going dead ,it's a good job it's not a emergency ,I can't understand why the doctor s arnt opening  up as everyone else is .  did you hear the news about WHa Smith axing 15 hundred jobs , another retailer in trouble makes you wonder what the country will be like when the virus is gone if it ever goes away,I don't think we will be free till we get a vaccine,bill who runs the dementia group text me the other day there having a meeting  on the 12 of this month at the centre ,just the volunteer's but I've decided not to go as I would have to go on the bus it's only a small room as well so wouldn't feel safe at the moment,will text him nearer the time to let him know. The weather is lovely today had George out and mowed my back lawn, should have gone over my neibours for coffee but she cancelled as she was taking her grandson out , hopefully I Will be going tomorrow instead how lovely to have all the wild life in your garden especially the Foxes me and hubby used to go to a place near where we live to watch them and we used to take chicken pieces and feed them a lovely experience that I have never for got.think Ian going out for a meal Monday with my son and daughter as it's his birthday,it will just be a local pub where we can sit out side ,it's forecast a nice day so should be ok ( fingers crossed) must be nice to get back to the gym again,don't know when I will be back swimming areobics again or my friend ship group I do miss them I talk to some of them on the phone but it's not the same as talking face to face . have a nice weekend stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Jules how lovely to have all your family together for a few days must be nice to have them all in the same place for chat and a get together.my results have come back order line arthritis in my knee he hasn't said he wants to see me ,but I am still taking the pain killers  he gave me so will see what happens when I have finished them .the weather here has been lovely as well it's been quite humid at times which makes it difficult to sleep at night,I don't sleep well anyway so it's been difficult trying to get some sleep at all .it sounds lovely where you live and so close to the Thames and the nature reserve ,I went for a meal Monday with the kids as it was my son's birthday the meal was lovely it should have cost £73pound but we only paid £43 because of the meal deal that is going on Monday to wednesday.went my friends for coffee Wednesday afternoon  and the garden centre Thursday with my daughter we had a walk round then we had a coffee and cake sat out side which was very nice,I have ventured out a bit more but I still don't fancy getting on a bus just yet we have had a few people admitted to hospital with the virus in the last week so it's a bit of a worry hope we don't end up in lock down like some parts of the country glad the vixen is still visiting your garden ,I have a couple of hedgehogs that I feed everynight it's lovely watching them pottering about not sure what I'm doing at the weekend hope you enjoy time with the family stay safe and well regards Syl  x

Hi Syl,

Fingers crossed that with the results of the xray now known any pain management treatment can ultimately keep things under control and no doubt your GP with monitor how you get on once the current course of painkillers runs out.

Lovely to be able to get out a little more and  I am sure having your children for company at meals out is a bonus.

Spent Friday to Monday at my daughters and then my son and family popped up for a few hours on the Sunday (helping me to celebrate my birthday) .  My daughter, the boys and dog brought me home Monday evening and are staying now till Friday so some quality family time. My eldest grandson (11) cooked us all dinner tonight so feeling pretty spoilt.

So far we have managed to dodge the storms/showers to be able to get out walking every day and another few miles covered today and planned for tomorrow.

Hope you are having a good week and stay safe whatever you managed to do.  Take care.  Jules