Hi Jules ,it's very confusing all these lock downs but it's for the safety of us all my daughter has been off on holiday this week but she hasn't been any wherever partner has been furloughed for to week has he had a message on his phone to isolate he must have been in contact with someone who has the virus, luckily he his ok with no symptoms up to now,it sounds as if things are very complicated at your end with grandchildren staying home going to nursery your kids working from home no wonder people get confused with all the rules .it's quite bad where I live at the moment so only going to my local coop at the moment the kids don't want me to go out at all but I don't want to stay in and not do my own shopping.a few of my neibours have had the vaccine but they are in there eighties think it will be a while yet before I get my jab there's a third vaccine now but it's not out till spring,you will never guess where I was Tuesday teatime in A&E at my local hospital having a tetanus jab it's a long story but I was bitten by one of my neighbors dogsi thought to myself this is a good start to the new year it actually bit me threw my coat and jumper but it drew blood even though my coat wasn't ripped , even the doctor couldn't understand it I'm on antibiotics but it seems ok now ,don't know what's wrong with me at the moment I seem very accident prone I'm waiting for the next thing to go wrong and I'm very wary of what I'm doing .any way enough negative  for now (but that's me all over the kids are always on at me for being negative) the sun is out bit foggy this morning lol negative again so I'm taking George out for his walk have a lovely week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Looks as though we will have many more weeks of lockdown to see the NHS through the winter months and maybe beyond.  I am now in a good routine of breakfast, walk, lunch, online exercise sometime in the afternoon interspersed with tv, books and online games.  Hopefully will see my son and family sometime this week as part of the support bubble.  Other than that purely doing occasional essential shop but the local parade of shops was almost deserted this morning.  Very grateful to have my photography as a hobby to record my day to day sightings and the night camera is quite entertaining too.

Really shocked to read about the dog bite.  Not nice at all I would imagine and hopefully the tetanus and antibiotics will keep you safe.  Obviously a dog to be avoided or perhaps it should be muzzled. Assume it was reported.

A cold few days but apart from some frosty starts, no snow here.  Today still feels chilly though it is a few degrees warmer; there is however a blustery wind so time out in the garden has been limited to clearing some dead leaves/stalks.  Looking forward to Spring and already have a couple of buds forming on my daffs.

Spent this afternoon cooking some meals for the freezer and making soup which I really enjoy as a change for lunches/  Just a chicken to roast and then some ironing to do.

Fingers crossed this will be a better week for you.  Take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules ,glad your keeping busy with your walking and doing your on line games and exercises. not had George out much this week the weather has been awful plenty of rain and frost managed to take him out this morning even though it has been frosty it was nice to get out in the fresh air and do a bit of walking the dog bite is ok now it's got a scab on it now so should be ok now.i didn't report it as I think the dog thought I was going for it's owner,I have seen her going out with the dog since even though she has been told not to take him out her grandchildren have tried to get her some help but she has refused.i am only going to my local shops went to my local coop yesterday , hopefully will go to Asda tomorrow Saturday as I won't to get some flowers to take to the crem on Monday as it's my dad's birthday was going to go with my sister but we can't now as we are not in each others. bubble. one of the ladies from my friendship group rang this week to let me know one of the ladies had died she had breast Cancer shame she was a lovely lady will be sad when we meet up again as to of the group will be missing.my son made a lovely Sunday dinner last week not sure what is happening this Sunday have got a feeling I might be doing my own this week. my back garden isn't looking very good at the moment we have had that much rain just latley it's quite muddy I'm not sure if it will survive there doesn't seem to be much grass left will have to see what happens when it dries up.have a good week take care regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Well since my last reply I have spent a week indoors.  Went down with a mild cold and did not want to take any risks.  Thankfully all cleared up nicely but the weather continues to be miserable and not much fun for casual walking.  My only outing was to do  my 3mile walk round trip to do my essential shop for the next fortnight.  Definitely gave me some exercise ha ha.

Glad your bite wound is healing okay; a very nasty experience and only hope your neighbour does listen eventually to her grandchildren as it sounds as though help is needed, if not for her then definitely in regard to her dog's actions.

Definitely sad when we learn of the loss of people we know and we cannot  necessarily give the usual condolences personally.

Like you have not managed to do much out in the back garden  other than usual  quick tidy of bird feeders and topping up water baths.  The two foxes continue to visit nightly and am enjoying sharing the night camera footage via social media wildlife clubs which have become a bit of a lifeline during these strange times.

All being well my son and the two little ones will be visiting for a couple of hours tomorrow and will look forward to that.  Hope all went well with your Asda shop.  I had no problem yesterday  but then was at the supermarket before 8 a.m. so staff out-numbered shoppers.  Monday has become my day of choice as never busy and feels a lot safer.

Well not much other news but best managing day to day.  Take care and have a good week.  Jules xx

Hi Syl,

Quite a week so far weather-wise with a couple of inches of snow and lots of fun out on my walks watching kids/parents building snowmen and large snowballs to roll. Still managed to get out albeit I had to rely on a good pair of snow boots. With the freezing temperatures at night had to de-ice the birdbaths several times a day and top up the feeders as well as offering extra treats to the visiting foxes so have definitely been kept busy.

Did an essential shop locally today and will see my son and grandchildren for a couple of hours tomorrow so looking forward to that.

Hope your daughter's home managed to stay dry.  Such terrible scenes from the flooding on the news.

Hope that your new TV is bringing lots of pleasure.  I only have a 32inch which I have had about four years now after the previous one 'died' of old age ha ha. Dont watch too much tv these days as news is depressing and not much of interest though I do switch it on for wildlife programmes and usually the drama channel in the evenings.  Use it more for the radio programmes if doing housework as seems easier to music!

I had roast chicken on Sunday but only with jacket potato as cannot be bothered doing all the trimmings for one.  I went to the local butchers today so will have a session of making casseroles/meals for the freezer which will re-stock what I have used up recently.

Hoping for dry weather this weekend for the Big Garden Birdwatch but other than that and my walks no other plans.  Thankful for the phone and computer to keep in touch with family and friends and doing all I can to keep myself safe so definitely limiting my contacts and time outside.  Stay safe and warm. Take care. Jules x

Hi Jules just had George out nice day for a change had some rain again in the week my back garden is really sodden I'm not sure if the grass will grow back will have to see what happens in the spring.we did get some snow my neighbors were out on the green Making a snow man with the kids, even George was out playing in the snow it's all gone now but the snowman is still there with his hard hat on lol. it has forecast a dry weekend so I'm hoping that's true I do like my telly I put it on as soon as I get up it's mostly for back ground noise I watch certain things during the day but I'm like you I only watch the news at tea time as I find it very depressing at the moment especially when there reporting in hospitals and there all wearing masks .I have been for my first jab today Friday  they will let me no when I have my second one it was very organised  and every one was lovely we were cueing to get in but it didn't take long  for everyone to get in. I am also doing the bird Watch not sure wether to do it Saturday or Sunday yet not sure if I'm doing my own dinner this Sunday . have had a few phone calls this week which is nice when I took George out the other day was talking to a friend I met we were chatting for about 20minutes it's nice to talk to someone face to face for a change . have a nice week enjoy your birdwatching stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

I am sure your lawn will bounce back once all the rain soaks through.  I have had surface water on my lawn this week with lots of heavy rain.  Roll on Spring and some sunshine!!  April showers in January today but managed to have a bit of fun moving my bird table further down the garden and installing a new feeder pole station plus a window feeder so hope it helps with the armchair viewing/photography.

Not too many long walks but if nothing else I go round the block (a few socially distanced chats with the neighbours enroute) and then do the walking exercises indoors when I can be bothered!  Have spoken with all the family this week and my daughter now having to do homeschooling with the youngest as his school bubble had a case reported and so he has to isolate until Saturday when hopefully will see no evidence of virus and he will be able to go back on Monday.  My daughter who works within another school is now getting tested twice a week which bring some piece of mind. as it will be quite a while before the vaccine reach them (or me for that matter).  My son popping in again tomorrow with the two children so will be nice to have a catch up and give them lunch before they head back home.

I did the Garden Birdwatch  and lots of chat via Self Isolating Bird Club on FB which was lovely too. Numbers submitted for another year and of course more birds returned to the garden as soon as I stopped ha ha.

Take care of yourself and hope it was a good weekend just gone and to come.  Jules x

Hi Jules glad your still seeing family and they can see you as there in your bubble had dinner with my son last Sunday my daughter did a beef stew ,I picked it up from my daughter then  went my son's to eat it it made a nice change from the normal roast. we are still having  problems with the rain seems as if most of the country is,have managed to take. George out most days I usually take him on the park but it's so muddy I just take him round it instead,I to did the bird Watch in the hour I hardly saw any birds no black birds only 2 sparrows and a few others but you have to write what you see  ,to be honest the bird food I'm putting out doesn't seem to be going as quick as it normally does and I've not changed it .not done much again this week still keeping in touch with a few people from my friendship group and my aerobics group but it's not the same as face to face can't wait to start all my group s up again not sure if it will be this year now.with all the new strains that are emerging . at least the nights are coming lighter now and even the mornings  are lighter as well which is good , I think you will probably have the vaccine in a couple of weeks I'm expecting my friend to have it soon as well.my sister and her partner have said there not having it as they have seen stuff on the internet , instead of listening to the experts there watching scare mongers so stupid.my daughter is finishing work at three even though she is working from home so we are going to M&S it will be a nice change to get out of the house for a hour and go to a different shop  not sure what is happening at the weekend concerning Sunday dinner will just play it by ear lol have a nice week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Few walks so far this week as has been a bitterly cold wind and snow flurries.  A little snow settled yesterday but all gone by this morning so did go and do a small essential shop locally.  About mid-day we had a sudden snow/hail downpour and once again a light covering.  Most has now melted so will wait and see what happens overnight as to whether my son and grandchildren visit tomorrow morning.  Will definitely understand if they want to stay put!!

Foxes even visited in daylight yesterday but did not seem to bothered with food that was out so assume not hungry  and the magpies/crows came down and scoffed the lot.  Today it has been mostly starlings and sparrows but did get a blackbird and my regular robin earlier.   Feeders and water constantly being topped up/changed but have done more ground feeding whilst it has been so cold.

Had my Covid injection last Friday(having been surprised with invite on the Wednesday afternoon) and now just have to wait for invite to the second one.  No hesitation on my part to walk to the local Hub and such a smooth operation.  Roll out seems to be going very well and hope it helps get some normality back by middle of the year. 

Hope you enjoyed your trip to M&S with your daughter.  I have not been into the town where ours is since before Christmas but will be lovely to browse there again one day.  When I was working it was just across the road and I often popped in on the way home!

No other plans other than walks when the weather allows.  Take care of yourself. Am just going to get the foxes egg put out and then pop a chicken casserole in the oven for my dinner.  Best regards Jules x