Hi Jules, enjoyed my Sunday lunch out was nice to eat out for a change it wasn't to busy so felt quite safe .glad you enjoyed Sunday lunch with your son and not cooking for a change lol .the weather has improved here as well not much rain  it's nice to be able to take George out without worrying if we're going to get caught in a shower, I went to my dementia group Wednesday it was nice to see people again there was only five ladies with us and five volunteers as we can't have a full room at the moment because of covid ,the place where it's held is called life time and it does all sorts of activities and days out but at the moment it's scalled everything back ,but it hopes to bring everything back eventually. not sure what I'm doing at the weekend it has forecast a nice weekend my son is still doing jobs at his sister's before they fit the kitchen and he hasn't touched his garden since last week because of the weather ,he wants to do the kitchen first as his sister wants to get cooking again as she hasn't got a oven at the moment. haven't heard anything about my friendship group or my swimming aerobics yet I still think it will be a while before the baths is open there seems to be a lot of infighting between the local council about the price  of getting it put right it's a shame really become the big room was used for alsorts of different things including tennis yoga and exercise classes which have had to stop as well . in my neighbor's later for coffee but will enjoy my walk with George first have a lovely week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Well certainly a beautiful week so far with the weather though I cannot walk so far in the heat so been doing the gardening instead. Still manage the gym three times a week so that is sociable and helpful. My son and family and with his in-laws family in Minehead for the half term hols an also celebrating 5th and 90 birthdays . They are staying in an Air B&B an joining different families throughout the holiday. They really neede the break and the celebrations will be the 'icing on the cake'!

I had a quiet bank holiday weekend but kept myself occupied with photography both on my shorter walks and within the garden where the fox family are definitely entertaining.  Two robins also visiting for their waxworm.

My daughter and two grandsons plus dog now coming for the day tomorrow instead of doing an overnighter today as travelling with a dog in the hot weather and lots of traffic not a great mix (he suffers with travel sickness bless him).  They should be here by 10 a.m. so will be a lovely relaxing day for us all.

On Saturday I am joining the Keep Britain Tidy team plus local council initiative and will be doing litter picking for a couple of hours in the local green space/meadows so hope the weather stays dry.  Then really looking forwar to next Monday when I get a haircut and some highlights.  Would have been done for the holiday but as that is re-scheduled for 2022 it is just a nice treat for the Summer.

Hope that your local Baths can be repaired and re-opened as I am sure lots of people must be missing having that amenity available, Hopefully your groups can find another meeting place sooner rather than later.

Take care, enjoy walks with George and all the best for the weekend.  Jules x

Hi Jules , you sound very busy for the next few weeks enjoying time with family it is nice to be able to get together again I haven't  seen my son lately as he has been busy doing his sister's kitchen he hasn't even touched his garden much either ,he's hoping to do a bit at the weekend but it still needs a lot more to do before it's finished. I did go to the garden centre  last Sunday bought some plants my daughter bought some lettuce plants ,then we sat and had a coffee I had a cake my daughter had bacon on toast it's nice to go in the cafe again as it's been closed for 12 month .my friend who I normally go away with had her holiday cancelled last year she had booked to go down south with Alfa coaches,it's back on now she goes in July but they have got to wear masks on the coach.at least you're holiday is something to look forward to next year and maybe things will be better by then fingers crossed .my hairdresser came this week and put a colour on for me it looks a lot better now but she hasn't cut it as short as I would have liked .it's forecast a lovely  weekend here again not sure if I'm doing anything I do miss going out to places now hubby  not here we used to go out to Chester or Southport when the sun was shining and we loved going to Chester zoo I do miss it .my son is going away next week for a few days not sure where he's going he's going on his own as his mate didn't fancy it , my daughter is back in work this week as she is  teaching a new girl the job not sure if this is the beginning  of her getting back into work pementley or she will end up back working from home she said she isn't bothered about being back in work as it makes her get dressed and it's nice to get back in the office and see people face to face,not sure what I'm doing at the weekend I'm in my friends later for coffee Friday have a lovely week enjoy your litter pick  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Lovely that you were able to enjoy the garden centre and the cafe too. Our local garden centre has not re-opened their cafe  as it is only small and with the social distancing rules would not be worth their while. Luckily there is a large cafe at the nearby 'Lido' with plenty of inside and outside seating.  I am hoping to pop there on Friday as may get some tomato plants for my growbag!

Such beautiful weather at the moment so making the most of the shady spot in the garden and doing any walking early in the day.  Have a day out booked tomorrow at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes so really looking forward to that. 

Waiting to hear how my sister in law's chemo treatment went as she was due various scans afterwards to see whether surgery may now be a viable option.  Have everything crossed this will be a positive outcome for her as the treatment so far has been gruelling bless her.

Time to get myself a light lunch so hope you have a good week ahead and take good care of yourself.

Jules x

Hi Syl,

Your son chose a lovely time to take a break so hope he has enjoyed his holiday.

The local lido is, I suppose, a large lake.  If you look up Ruislip Lido online you can see one of my favourite places for walking, both by the water and through the surrounding woods.  I once had an outing here as a child (some 60 odd years ago!!) and now I live about 45mins walk away. No swimming allowed these days but I can remember it being used for water ski-ing etc back in the day.  It has a beach area and fishing decks and lots of birds.  There is a cafe on one side and a pub on the other so very handy for refreshment stop.

It seems most areas are get their fair share of the new varient and was surge testing close by here a month ago.  Hoping that by the next date in July most restrictions will be lifted and we will have to learn to 'live with it'.  The vaccination programme has been amazing and if we need boosters each year it will just be like getting the flu jab I expect.  Just feel so sorry for all those badly affected by it either through illness or their livelihood.

I had a lovely day out last week to the London Wetland Centre and then a few shorter walks. Caught up with two  ex- workmates over coffee on Monday and have managed to do plenty of gardening this week.  As they are  now forecasting thunderstorms and torrential rain  did another mowing and tied a few bits up.

I decided to do my essential food shop early this morning (at Sainsburys by 7.30 am) but unfortunately when I got home I could not get my key to work!! Had to call out a locksmith and thankfully all sorted by 8.30 (just as well I did not have any frozen food!!). The cylinder part of the lock had siezed so he fitted a new one and all I have to do now is get spare keys cut for my children.  Not the start of the day I had planned but at least the front of the house is in the shade.

27degs at the moment so staying inside in the cool and watching the tennis at Queens' Club.  Hope you are having a good week and enjoy the coming weekend whatever you manage to do.  Take good care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, sounds a lovely place to walk and do things on the lake even though thinks have come to a stop at the moment let's hope things pick up and it can be used again,my son enjoyed his few days away some lovely country side and water falls .must have been nice to catch up with your work colleagues to catch up on the gossip ,I'm assuming it's still up and running BHS in the mall in town is usually quite busy but itdoes have a post office in it as well ,went to my dementia group Wednesday we can still only have 9 in the room at the moment there was more volunteers than dementia people but it was nice to have one to one contact ,I'm not sure if we will ever get back to being a full group again as this Indian variant is going up where I live like you said we might have to live with it and have a jab every year .it's been a lovely week here again keep watering my plants I mowed my lawn this week it did forecast rain and thunderstorms but we didn't get any sunshine all day but some parts of the country did get the storms it has forecast rain Sunday which is father's Day will go to the crem to put flowers on my dad's  plot ,I'm hoping my son is going to do a dinner as we haven't booked any where to have a Sunday dinner I'm assuming every where will be booked up now.sorry you got locked out it must have been panic stations when you couldn't get it my neighbor's locked there selves out a few months ago they had to call a lock Smith out it was sorted in the end but it wasn't cheap .I haven't been into town for a couple of weeks don't see the point if I don't need anything I'm going to my friends later for coffee and tomorrow morning I'm going to M&S with my daughter to do some shopping, might have a coffee and a toasted t cake while we're there . have a lovely week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Glad your son enjoyed his short break and no doubt it was over all too soon as he returns to work!  

I had a nice day with my son and family last Saturday but unfortunately my daughter was ill with an inner ear infection an unable to travel down.  Had a video call with her GP and he prescribed medication.  A week later and she is just about back to normal and able to move around again.  She will hopefully be able to return to work next week (doc signed her off as she could not maintain her balance  .....a bit like motion sickness but on dry land!!).

I have done a few walks this week as well as my three weekly gym sessions so hoping to be a couple of pounds lighter at the next weigh in.  Slowly getting rid of lockdown gains.

Yesterday I caught the underground to another nature reserve and strolled for neary 10 miles.  Was a beautiful day here and felt really relaxing plus I finally got a photo of a kingfisher sitting over the river.  Finished the walk with a big smile as has been on my wish list for a good few  years.

Today as it has been dry I have spent the morning gardening and watching the bees on the clover in my lawn; very relaxing.  No plans made for the weekend so will see what weather is like and take it from there.

Hope all is good with you, take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, glad your daughter's ear infection is clearing up  it does effect your balance when you have trouble with your ears,I have tinnitus my hearing aids mask it but if I am anxious or worried it goes worse .glad your getting some walks in the only walking I do is when I take George out which is only about 40 minutes a day no exercise  at all sometimes I do some at home but then I forget or I remember when it's to late to do them which isn't good really lol .have been to my local community centre this week with three of my friends we had something to eat it was nice to be out and have a natter we are going to go every other week for now ,you do have to leave your phone number in case they have to contact you .must have been lovely to see the kingfisher they are a lovely bird I saw one years ago the colours on it were beautiful ,not had much rain this week had to water my plants a few times but it has forecast rain tomorrow Friday I am going into town as well has I want to go the bank and get a few bits not been for a couple of weeks if it's not full I might go into Costa for a coffee and a toasted t cake I'm looking forward to going in for my treat so I'm hoping it's not busy . don't know what is happening at the weekend  I know my son is working Saturday I have a feeling we will be seeing to our selves Sunday ,my daughter is off work next week so we are going to a place called Cheshire oaks  it's a big shopping centre will be nice to spend a few hours  with her , we will have something to eat while we're there as well . have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl

A damp and dreary morning here so catching up on paperwork/e mails, housework and a mini clear out ready for the recycling collection tomorrow.  The garden is not so inviting when soggy!! I think you may be having better weather where you are at the moment.

My Mum suffered with tinnitus and know how annoying it can be.  Thankfully the medication the doctor prescribed for my daughter appears to have done the trick and she returned to work today as she was also able to manage three hours at her allotments yesterday without adverse affects.

Must have been lovely catching up with a few friends and hopefully managing to do so every other week.  It gives you something to look forward to.  I have three gym sessions booked in for this week and weather permitting will get some walks in on the other days.  Today I am waiting for a delivery so maybe get out later.  Am due to have a day out on Friday with a friend.  She has had her elderly father staying with them since after Christmas (he had long covid and was unable to look after himself) and so our catch ups have only been the odd hour in the local park here and there.  Over the last weekend he wanted to go back to Wales so they have taken him back for a couple of weeks to see how it goes and will then return to celebrate his 94th birthday and bring him back as he has a couple of hospital appointments to attend which were arranged whilst he stayed up here.  Pictures from the weekend show him helping with tidying his own garden so fingers crossed(and with local support back in place) he will manage ok.  It has been a tough time for her managing lockdown/part time working and family issues.  She suggested we get out for a whole day whilst he was back home so we are really looking forward to this (weather at the moment looks better for the end of the week here so fingers crossed).

Hope you had a pleasant weekend and enjoy spending some quality time with your daughter this week.  Take care. Jules x