Hi Jules glad you've had your first vaccine,ive got to wait till they contact me for my second one I'm assuming t will be sometime in march or April ,it seems to be going well for now . I'm like you not doing much at the moment the weather has been cold here as well every morning this week we have had a hard frost but we have had some sunshine in the afternoon which is nice and allows me to take George out and gives me a chance to have a walk and gives us both some exercise. I did enjoy my trip toM&S it was nice to do something normal for a change but it was quite packed but every one did have masks on but there wasn't much social distancing . like you I'm feeding the birds especially with the weather being so cold most of my birds are starlings I get a couple of doves and pigeons also magpies but I chase them off as in spring the kill the young birds.not sure what is happening at the weekend regarding dinner I might walk to my local bakery Saturday for a couple of scones they are nice full of jam and cream I know I shouldn't  but they are nice I can't resist lol , think I might be going my son's Tuesday as he has said he might do some pancakes as it's pancake Day it depends how busy he is with work fingers crossed he can do them it will be a nice change to go his for a change.as I'm e mailing you the sun is out so will take George out in a bit  have a nice week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

I too will be awaiting the call for the second jab but it is good to know things are moving forward.

I did some good walks in that cold spell (far better than the rain).  Only had a dusting of snow but lots of ice around and even the local lido was frozen 'beach-side' which gave some different photos views.  The woods surrounding the area was  really busy with lots of different birds and at one point spotted 8 nuthatches  but too quick for my camera abilities ha ha.  I did spot and photograph a bank vole which was a first for me.  Since it turned so much milder this week the garden has been a little less busy but the regulars still come down  and the vixen is 'collecting' an egg from the back step most evenings now and would not be at all surprised if she is expecting come the Spring.

My sister in law on the Isle of Man is receiving her chemotherapy treatment for her breast cancer and bless her it is having gruelling side effects but after a minor lockdown of three weeks all is back to normal over there at the moment  which helps a little. She is hoping they can adjust some of her tablets to help when she next sees her consultant. She has also got the voucher to go and get her wig fitted.  I think they are trying to reduce the growth to make the masectomy an option for her going forward.

My son and two little ones have just gone home after their morning visit and we had some fun water play (where they decided to do the washing up for me) before they left.  I am going to them this weekend as will be my son's birthday and they actually celebrated their wedding anniversary today so think the plan is to have a takeaway together as they cannot go out.

Will hopefully find out a bit more about the slow 'coming out of lockdown' plans when the announcements are made next week but think it will be closer to Summer before too much changes. Will be pleased when I can spend longer in the garden again.  Have dug over a couple of the beds in the last couple of days and it is lovely seeing the Spring bulbs beginning to flower.

Hope you managed a trip to your sons for pancakes as you mentioned. I used to make them for hubby but have not had them myself since then.

Was my daughter's birthday on Valentines Day but, co fourse. I could not visit her so we chatted via WhatsApp and I sent her present and arranged a Flowercard which she loved.  First time in many years where we have not spent that day together and we will have a day out as soon as allowed.

Hope you are enjoying walks with George and have a safe and good weekend,  Take care Jules

Hi Jules sounds as if you're having a lovely time with all the animals and birds that surrounds your  home  I'm surmising you live near woods or country side it does sound nice, clad you had a visit from your son and grandchildren it is nice when you see them in person rarther than phone or zoom. what a lovely day for your daughter to be born you can't get any more romantic than that ,glad your sister in law is getting her treatment I know a lot of people have had their treatment postponed because of the pandemic must be awful waiting for your treatment to start again.i enjoyed my pancakes at my son's my hubby also enjoyed them ,we had alsorts of fillings fattening but nice.the weather hasn't been to bad this week have managed to take him out most of the week the back garden isn't has set not sure if the grass will recover though it still looks a bit sodden will have to wait and see.had a few words with my sister this week she has decided not to have the vaccine so stupid even though her partner has had it she hasn't even got a excuse think she likes being awkward think she will regret it eventually ,my son doing dinner this week not sure if I'm going his or having it at mine,I'm going the crem Tuesday to put some flowers in a vase and look at the verse we put in the memory book for my hubby has he has been dead five years can't believe it's been that long and yet sometimes it feels like yesterday .don't know wether you watched that program last week with Esther rantzen  living with grief it was good her husband has been dead 20 years she still thinks about him every day and has still not sorted his things out even though her children have told her it's time to do it .on that happy note lol . have a lovely week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi  Syl,

I actually live in a built up area but have a good few small parks locally plus about a 2 mile walk to wooded area and the local lido.  I do feel very fortunate to be able to get out locally for regular walks  and to have wild visitors through the garden as and when they feel like it.  Feeding the birds has been part of my life ever since I was a child and we would feed the local birds/squirrels on the Heath (I never had a garden during my childhood as we lived in a first floor flat.

Saw my son and family over the weekend as my son turned 36 so a mini family birthday party (just the five of us) and then he drove me home in the evening.  My son and two kiddies will be popping in for our mid week couple of hours tomorrow.  With the announcement yesterday that schools will be re-opening soon my grandaughter will be able to return  and our weekly get-togethers will be less but it has been nice having them pop round.  Fingers crossed after Easter I will get to meet up with my daughter and family for the first time since Christmas.  Lots to look forward to eventually including the re-opening of the gym in mind April.

Has been a lovely day today so went out after sunrise and managed nearly 10 miles some of which was on the local running track (many of us there walk!!) so hope to reverse the weight gain trend as the weather turns milder/dryer.  Even got my washing dry outside for the first time this year and have begun doing a little gardening too.

Hope you are having a good week and enjoy the weekend ahead.  Take care and stay safe.  Jules x

Hi Jules, glad you're ok and still doing your walking the weather has been ok this week not had much rain we've even had sunshine this week which has been very nice,it's nice to get out and take George for his walk ,I went the crem Tuesday to put flowers in a vase for my hubby even though he isn't there it makes me feel better, I looked in the memory book at the verse we put in for him,I took a bag of birdfood with me and fed the birds,ducks and squirrels while I was there,I'm there again on Monday as it's my mum's birthday 1march can believe we're going into march already,it's also my daughter s niece's brother-in-law s and my friends birthdays  as well plus it would have been my wedding anaversry as well luckily I have bought all the cards weeks ago so don't need to go out looking for them.still not sure when my aerobics class will open or my friendship group will start up again I've heard the baths is having a refurbish it's hopeing to open on the 21june fingers crossed it does open then let's hope everything keeps going well with the vaccine roll out.im going to M&S tonight Friday  with my daughter will be nice to get out of the house for a change even though it's only to do a bit of shopping and it's forecast a nice weekend as well (things must be looking up ) lol  nothing planned  though I'm assuming the kids might go for a walk as my daughter and her partner live near a park ,my son might go on a bike ride with his mate he hasn't seen his partner now for weeks I'm assuming it's over between them now will have to see what happens in the next few weeks .have a lovely week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Very grateful to have the nice Spring days and do try and make the most of outside.  The birds are now very busy nest building in the honeysuckle (sparrows) and I have a pair of robins who are lovely regulars.  

This morning I had my son and the two grandchildren for a couple of hours visit and it really helps break the week up.  It is now raining so very pleased I managed to mow the lawn earlier in the week. Have everything I need to start sowing flower seeds and a few veggies I am going to try for something different and lugged three bags of compost from the front door through to the back but with colder weather due to return may have to wait for a couple of weeks before starting outside.  Something to look forward to as well as lighter evenings and hopefully walking with friends as things begin to follow the Road Map.

As I missed the live gym session via social media this morning I am now going to catch up this afternoon.  Take care and have a good week.  Jules x

Fingers crossed the three eldest grandchildren will be returning to school on Monday which will help those working from home and bring some normality back for them too.

Hi Syl,

Back when we had work on the house done our lawn was reduced to mud (it was winter time when we have a loft conversion done!!) When the grass growing season got under way in the Spring it took about 3 months to return to 'our normal - weeds and all).  Fingers crossed yours will do the same. I call mine a 'lived in' lawn as have never worried about wear and tear  and it does its own thing.  I mow when it needs it and that's about it ha ha.

Sitting here watching the rain come down but has been a productive week and the last couple of sunny days a real bonus.  I have planted some veggies and sowed some seeds in previously unused areas and was just lovely being out in the sunshine without a coat.  Short lived but looking forward to more good weather.

Went to the opticians yesterday and should have my new glasses in a couple of weeks. Hopefully that will see an end to the odd eye strain headache and they also diagnosed 'dry eyes' and have a treatment plan for that too so all good.

Hope you are keeping okay and enjoyed whatever you had for your Sunday meal.  I did Roast chicken as usual and also visited the local farmers market but my usual cheese farm trader was absent so came away empty handed  ha ha.

My son and grandson visited this morning and I now need to catch up on the editing of more of my photos which will break up the rest of the day.

No clubs open round here yet either but the provisional 'road map' date for the gym in 12 April so will see how things go.  Just easier to cope day to day and make the most of them I feel.

  Take care of yourself  Jules x  

Hi julesl glad everything ok with you  not been a bad week here weather wise apart from Monday when it rained all day ,I keep looking at my lawn and willing it to grow lol not sure what will happen in spring.hope your new glasses help with your headaches I have dry eye as well  I usually bathe them with warm water,or I get drops from spec savers where I get my glasses from. I went to my daughter s this morning Thursday with flowers and a cake as it was her birthday she had just got out of the shower as she has got a couple of days off work her partner was at work so she was having a relaxing day by herself.not sure what's happening Sunday as it's mother's Day ,I will go the crem again Sunday I might take a flask of coffee again but it has forecast rain . I'm not sure when my clubs will open again hopefully it will be sometime in may or June ,I have booked a appointment to have my hair cut 17 April fingers crossed  nothing changes .I can go over to my friends for coffee tomorrow Friday as long as we sit outside ,but it has forecast rain again so I'm not sure if it's going to happen.enjoy your week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

A quick reply as not sure I will have a normal week ahead.  The family received distressing news on Wednesday night with a phone call from the Isle of Man (my inlaws live there).  My hubby's eldest sister had suffered a serious fall, hit her head and then suffered a cardiac arrest.  Sadly despite the amazing efforts by the paramedics she passed away on the way to hospital. Such a terrible shock and so very sad,  With lockdown and their borders closed we will be unable to pay our respects in person once the funeral takes place.  

The family is in constant contact to keep an eye on each other and helping with phone calls etc to the best of our ability to assist her brother and sister in law's in notifying everyone (they all shared a house) both here and there plus her friends in various parts of Europe.

At my son's for lunch on Mothers Day and my daughter has sent a gift (not yet opened of course) through the post. It will be a quiet, reflective time.

Take care and have a good weekend.  Hope the weather improves so you can carry out your planned visits.  Jules x