Hi Syl,

Thanks for your kind words.  It turns out that the fall was not the cause of death, nor the cardiac arrest.  The PM showed that my sister in law had suffered a massive pulmonary embolism and thankfully she would have not suffered; a small comfort.  

A lovely day today so apart from doing my fortnightly essential shop I have spent much of the day gardening and getting the washing dry outside.  Feels great to have the patio doors open and no heating required.  I have started off some seeds indoors which are beginning to shoot so hopefully will be potted on and then moved outside when all risk of frosts are gone (we had a slight frost this morning and apparently a cold spell due end of the week).  Birds are busy nest building and the robins are coming in the kitchen to feed when the door is open (just like last year).

Hope George's visit to the vet has a good outcome and that whatever they find they can deal with.  Unable to meet up with friends inside yet but still have my son's family as a support bubble for another week or so before I isolate from them and switch to my daughter.  Fingers crossed will catch up with them after Easter by myself (late hubby's birthday on Good Friday so will go to crem with flowers) . 

I have the opticians on Thursday so hope my  new glassed are ready.  Afterwards will take a walk along the nearby canal for a nice change.  If my friend can get away from her care duties we may grab a coffee and have a catch up.  My hairdresser rang this morning and I have an appointment for mid April so hopefully the road map continues with the planned re-opening.  Next appointments to be made will be back at the gym which will feel good.  I am still doing three classes a week via online and also YouTube but the weight gain still needs 'addressing' ha ha. Would like to have the willpower to give up on the comfort eating but needs must!

Hope you and the family are doing okay. I am now going to prepare my meals for tonight/tomorrow and do some batch cooking for the freezer.  Will still do  my roast for Sunday though.  Take care of yourself and hope you got your visit to the garden centre.  I love going and always come home with something.  Jules x

Hi Jules, it's 8 30 Friday. morning just cleaned up and looking out of the window at the rain pouring down ,it did forecast it so am not surprised it has said it will rain all day so don't think George will be having his walk today.he hasn't had his results back yet from the vets but when he was cleaning his teeth lol he found a abscess so he thinks that's what it is fingers crossed .glad your keeping up with your exercises I haven't done any for ages I keep thinking about it then do nothing which isn't good I'm still eating cakes and chocolate it's boredom and having nothing to do that makes it worse . hope you opticians appointment goes well and your glasses are ok not sure when my next trip is for my eye check think some thinks are on hold for now.it sounds as if your surrounded by wild life especially in your garden must be lovely having robins dropping by to be fed  in your kitchen,I don't seem to have many coming in my garden at the moment, there was a bird of prey in this week I Disturbed it I think it had a starling in it mouth it flew off dropping the bird luckily the bird flew into a bush so it didn't get it's dinner after all .I enjoyed the trip out with my daughter to the garden centre there wasn't many in ,I never bought anything but my daughter bought  something to put her plants and seeds in ,it was sad seeing the cafe all in darkness as we usually have coffee and cake hopefully it want be long before it's open again. I can't wait to get my hair done either it's looking a real mess will soon be able to put it in a ponytail doing my own dinner this Sunday my son is going to do a dinner next Sunday as it's Easter Sunday have a nice week stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

All okay here. Had the funeral for my sister in law via video link this morning. Amazing how technology can let you be part of something when you cannot attend.  

Spending tomorrow with my son and family and with such beautiful weather we are planning plenty of outside play.

It has been lovely getting washing dry outside and more time spent in the garden before the next cold spell that is forecast returns. This afternoon am outside sitting in the sun and just enjoying being relaxed and listening to the birds singing in the hawthorn.  Plenty of lovely Spring flowers and just the lawn left to mow before coming back inside.

Finally bought myself a hairband to  keep my fringe out of my eyes but have a cut and blow dry booked for mid April fingers crossed as at the moment they are being advised that 12 April will be able to re-open so hope that does not change.  Also have my new glasses which certainly make things clearer. The opticians have always been open and I should not have put it off so long!!

Have Easter on my own and will raise a toast to my late hubby who would have been 70 on Good Friday so a trip to the garden of remembrance planned.  The Just Giving page I set up in memory of my sister in law has already raised over £100 for Cancer Research  and I have also adopted an owl in her memory as she was very fond of them.

Take care and have an enjoyable Easter.  Jules x

Hi Jules, lovely to be able to attend the funeral even if it was a different to normal how this pandemic has changed so many things ,glad you can spend time with your son and family it's been nice here now for a few days cut my back lawn it it growing back but think there will be a few bald patches, also had 2birds of prey in my garden this week one had a bird in its mouth when I went out it flew off and dropped the bird luckily it flew off into a tree,I'm afraid it was to late to save the other one as it was already eating it one was a sparrow hawk but I didn't know what the other one was.im like you can't wait to get my hair cut it's looking scruffy waste of time combing it think the hairdresser will do a roaring trade when they open,glad your glasses are ok I use them for reading so much better when reading and useing my tablet.my son is coming to me good Friday for hot x buns will be nice to have company for a change will be nice to think of your hubby on his special birthday I always think what would we have done it's sad to think what would have been.i still haven't heard George's results yet I'm hoping his family will know something this week.it has forecast a few nice days here then it's going cold again I'm at my son's on Sunday for dinner with my daughter and her partner will be nice for us all to be together have bought Easter eggs and cakes for us no diet again this week lol have a lovely Easter stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Lovely to have good weather over the Easter and  managed walks every day.  I have also mowed the lawn and then in the lovely sunshine yesterday spent a couple of hours reading outside.  Back to reality today with a jumper on and a few snow flurries this morning ha ha.  Once my walk was done I spent a couple of hours re-potting my sunflowers and they will be staying inside till the frosts have passed.

Next weekend due to be spent with my daughter and family so really looking forward to a catch up as have not seen them since Christmas.

No other plans other than the usual routine.  Take care. Jules x

Hi Jules,glad you enjoyed the sunshine we had some nice weather as well, back to rain and high winds now lol typical  back to normal now had a lovely dinner at my son's Easter Sunday my daughter made a chocolate cake for afters stayed most of the day on the Monday he came round  and hedged my lawn and scarified  it as well as it is full of moss it looks a lot better now he will do it again in a few weeks time.i had a txt this week from my dementia group they are going to start up again at the beginning of may still social distancing and wearing masks but am looking forward to going seems ages since I went now ,I haven't heard from my friendship group or swimming aerobics yet , I have had my second jab now went on Wednesday with the shops opening again I could catch a bus and go into town but I think I will leave it for a few weeks to see how things go I think towns all over the country will be packed so I will play safe for a while .my neibours got the all clear for George all it was was fatty tissue so happy it was nothing serious have had him out today lovely sunshine and it's forecast a nice weekend  not sure what's happening Sunday regarding dinner will wait and see what happens enjoy your week and time with your daughter regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Glad you had a nice Easter and got some work done on your lawn too.  I am sure it will continue to recover over the coming weeks.  I have mowed mine again and with very little rain here at least it is not growing too fast at the moment.  I also leave part of it to grow long to encourage the bugs and it is where I have planted bulbs under it too.  Daffodils are nearly finished now but have a lovely display of multi-coloured tulips and the wallflowers are  in full bloom.  Though a little chilly first thing in the mornings over the past few days which included  some snow flurries on Monday and frost, I have potted up my newly received clematis but currently bringing it in at night. Hope to train it over the arch eventually!

How lovely that you have at last heard from your Dementia Group and not long now till you will be able to meet up again.  Even if masks have to be worn and social distancing observed I think it will be nice just to have somewhere to go again.  

I am still waiting to hear about my second jab but think it will be done by early May.  Have continued with my walks and it is lovely watching the scenery change from Winter into Spring colour.  I am still having the foxes visiting the garden and now also have the first brood of baby robins visiting.  Just love this time of year.

I am off to the hairdressers tomorrow and will be glad to get some style back in it.  Also return to the gym on Friday so a little bit of normal routine slowly returning.  Whilst the non essential shops are now open I, like you, plan on avoiding them for now as really do not need anything and am still getting home deliveries for garden stuff and bird feed.

I have a lovely long weekend with my daughter and family.  They came and collected me on Thursday and I came home by train/bus on Sunday.  Just a couple of showers during my time there but we managed three really good walks in local woods and also a beautiful country park. It was so good to catch up in person after a three month wait.  Not sure when the next get-together will be now that they grandchildren are back at school but fingers crossed it wont be as long this time.

Very pleased to read that all is well with George and you can continue your walks with him.  I am sure the family and you are very relieved.

Take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, glad everything went well with your visit to your daughter and you enjoyed the time you spent with them sounds as if you had some lovely walks in the country side,my hair dresser came to mind Tuesday to be honest I'm not happy with the way she has cut it it's not as short as I would have liked it but I didn't realize till she had left. had George out this morning a lovely day again it's been nice here all week and the weekend is supposed to be nice as well nothing planned as far as I know ,I might go to the garden centre Monday and get some plants as my front garden is looking really bare at the moment would like to get plants for bees and butterflies will have to see what they have in stock. I have a appointment this afternoon with a dermatologist I found a dark blemish on my left arm a couple of week ago went to the doctor , in 2012 I had a wart taken off my right arm it turned out it was a melonoma they took it off and luckily everything was ok , so this is why there sending me just to be on the safe side have just looked at it now and it seems to be fading so hopefully its not anything suspicious.not sure what I'm doing at week end nothing planned  ,I'm not going into town yet even though I would like to,my friend went on the bus town was packed people queuing to get in the shops don't fancy that will leave it for now take care have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope the visit to the dermatologist went okay and there is nothing for you to worry about. Far better to get things checked out. 

Did you get to the garden centre and find anything nice?  I have not been for a while as have been ordering all my non essentials online (easier than lugging it home ha ha).  

The weather continues to be very good and in the last two days I have done two 10+ mile walks and have now begun to venture a little further afield by underground.  Amazing how quiet the transport is so far so think a lot of people still working from home.  Today I walked three lakes at a nature reserve area in Hertfordshire (takes about an hour on the tube with only one change).  Last weekend I managed a gym visit and a walk around the local farmers' market though I did not buy anything there.  The rest of the time I have spent in the garden and it is lovely to be sitting out in short sleeves. Make the most of the good weather and will do housework when it's a dodgy day.  Did some batch cooking so quick meals for a few days next week.

Tomorrow I am at the gym followed by a coffee morning in a friend's garden and then on Thursday have my second covid jab.  No plans as yet for the coming weekend.  Take care of yourself. Jules x