Hi Jules ,glad your daughter is feeling better now and has gone back to work sounds as if you had a busy week with friends and going to the gym not sure when the baths will be open for my aerobics have heard they are doing the pool up  and it will be next year when it opens .but they have opened up the big room so people can use it for other activities and the room my friendship group use has opened as well so I rang Terry who organised things with his wife who unfortunately died with covid but there was no answer will try again over the weekend to see if he wants us all to get back together again . hope you had your day out with your friend must be awful juggling a parent who isn't well especially when they don't live nearby ,my daughter has been off this week and next week she has been doing things in her garden and  her kitchen even though it's still not finished not much more to do now unfortunately she has finished with her partner so she is on her own nowas well as my son  I always think I will never see them happy before I pop off lol but it does worry me as there not getting any younger my son does have a single friend he goes for a pint with but all my daughter s friends are married or have partners. lovely day here again not had much rain at all this week we took George out Monday to a place called spike island it's along the banks of the River Mersey nice walk with a cafe and you can see the new Runcorn bridge which has only been open for about 2 years. it has forecast rain over the weekend so don't think I will be doing anything outside done my lawn and watered my plants so at least that's done.i am out Sunday with the kids for Sunday lunch it's only round the corner so we don't have to drive it used to be a labour club years ago me and hubby used to go on a Saturday night sometimes they had acts  on we would go with a few friends and sometimes we would have a dance depending on how many drinks we had lol ,it's a restaurant now(how times change ) happy days I very often think of the times we had there and the laughs we had .I didn't go to my dementia group this week as a few of the group weren't going so I wasn't needed I'm assuming I will be there Wednesday if not I might persuade my daughter to go out somewhere while she is still off work . have a lovely week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope you had a pleasant weekend and enjoyed your meal out with your children.

Had a lovely day out to Kew Gardens with my friend last Friday.  You have to pre book so we were not due entry until 11am which gave us time to get there and have a wander around the local area shops and grab a cuppa outside to watch the world go by. So lucky with beautiful weather, dry, sunny and warm so no coats needed. A real pick-me-up for us both.  Overall we strolled over 9 miles during our day and enjoyed our lunch on one of the many benches taking in the views and scents of the glorious roses and other plants.  I am sure it.   will not be long before I return as find it so peaceful there and just an hour from home by public transport makes it an easy trip.

The weather has certainly deteriorated since then so any walks have been 'rain-dodging' but did manage to mow the lawn before the rain settled in so pleased about that.  I had ordered some plants and they arrived yesterday so now hoping to get them in before the weekend which I am spending at my daughter's.  We are finally going out to celebrate her February birthday on Sunday with a meal at Prezzo and a wander round the local villages.  It will be just the two of us whilst my son in law and my two grandsons go to their remote control racing club. We are  both looking forward to a proper catch up.  I go up on Saturday and will look after the boys in the evening so my daughter and son in law can go out to celebrate their wedding anniversary which is actually today (14yrs and not sure where that time has gone!!).

Sorry to read that your daughter's relationship has broken down.  Always hard being a Mum and just wanting to see your kids happy and content.  You are fortunate to have them close by still and able to see them regularly. No doubt whilst you wonder about their future they are busy getting on with their lives which is just as it should be.  We become background support just like our own parents did in years gone by.

Dry here at the moment so will finish my 'catch up' e mails and then go walking though looks like I will need to carry a rain jacket.

Hope you managed to contact Terry about the friendship group as would be good to know how things stand going forward.  Must be so hard for him having lost his wife to the pandemic and not having anything routine to set his mind to.  

Take care and enjoy the upcoming weekend.  I was planning a trip into London tomorrow but will watch the weather forecast and see if it will be worthwhile.  Regards Jules x

Hi Jules ,sound as if you had a lovely time with your friend at Kew  and enjoyed the lovely plants and flowers and had something to eat on a park bench you can't beat it ,I enjoyed my dinner with the kids last Sunday as it was local no one had to drive the kids shared a bottle of wine I just stuck to orange juice have been to the community centre today Thursday with my friends we had something to eat and a chat nice to get out  for a change, I'm there again Tuesday to meet a couple of people from my swimming aerobics class one of the ladies rang me last week so have arranged to meet up next week haven't seen them since last year will be nice to have a catch up,glad your going out with your daughter for some thing to eat and a catch up I'm sure they will enjoy going out for there annaversary while you look after the little ones ,I did catch up with Terry he has put the wheels in motion so we can meet up with our friendship group we have just got to wait now till we hear off him . weather not to bad at the moment managed to take George out most days don't even need to mow my lawn yet even though we have had quite a bit of rain not sure what the weather is for the coming week my friend goes away Saturday on a coach trip  she has got to wear a mask on the coach and in the hotel when she isn't in the restaurant it's what she booked last year but it was cancelled I usually go with her but I didn't feel like going for some reason I hope you manage your trip to London not sure what I'm doing at the weekend enjoy your week regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Yes, was a great day out at Kew and better still being able to have a whole day to catch up with my friend.  Apparently yesterday the site was hit by torrential rain and had localised flooding!  Not so bad where I am, just a quick passing heavy shower and then a bit of a wet evening going by the foxes coats!

Hope your catch up today went well and you and  your friends were able to make up a little for the time lost  recently.  It does feel good to  be getting out and about a bit more as things open up.  I am still being careful and plan to continue this following the new guidance starting next week.  Will still wear a mask on transport and at the gym to safeguard others when social distancing finishes.

I had a lovely weekend at my daughters.  She picked me up from the station and we went shopping locally during the afternoon, grabbing lunch in Costa too.  I looked after the grandchildren for a couple of hours so she and my son in law could go out for a meal to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary. 

On Sunday the boys went with my son in law to their regular remote controlled racing car club and my daughter and I walked the dog before going belated birthday (last Feb) present shopping  for her gift followed by a lovely lunch.  Soon it was time for me to get back to the station and make my way home.  This coming weekend I will be at my son's which I am looking forward to as well. First on Friday I am visiting a friend and ex workmate who turns 65 and hope to buy her a glass of wine in town whilst handing over her gift.  It has all got nicely busy recently so fitting the gym/walks in as and when I can.

I did manage my visit up to London last Thursday and covered almost 10 miles  visiting three different parks and  enjoying lunch by the Serpentine.  Was good to be back there again. I used to lunch in the parks when I worked in London before I had the children and as I grew up in N.W. London it often feels like I am 'going home'.  I am sure I will go back again soon as never tire of walking different areas.

Hope you are keeping well and can enjoy a bit more from next week as more opens up.  Take care

Jules x 

Hi Jules sounds as if you had a lovely time with your daughter and you enjoyed a meal even if it was a delated birthday  it's nice to have a nice meal with family and friends hope you enjoy going out with your friend for a nice glass of wine to celebrate her birthday as well,I did enjoy going the community centre to see my friends from swimming aerobics no sign of the baths opening yet I'm afraid ,I think it will be next year now as there is a lot of in fighting going on about the cost at the moment .the weather is lovely at the moment managed to mow my lawn this morning before I took George out for his walk had my dinner then went over to my friends for coffee.sound as if you have some lovely walks round where you live I'm afraid I'm not familiar with London think I've only ever been about 3 times and 2 of them was when the kids were young,I have been on the London eye when it first opened we went with my brother in law and sister in law it was a very enjoyable day . have booked Sunday dinner with my daughter in a local pub as my son is working so it's just the two of us she is still not back with her partner she hasn't heard off him think this might be the end now she has been a bit sad this week will have to try and cheer her up when we go out Sunday , have a lovely week hope the sun keeps shining regards Syl x

Hi Syl

What a beautiful weekend weatherwise and spent a lot of time outside.  Hope you enjoyed your Sunday meal with your daughter and were able to cheer her up a little.  Must be difficult for her at the moment with a relationship ending.

On Friday I met my friend Margaret and we did a walk along the Grand Union Canal  in Middlesex before stopping and having a cuppa and cakes at a tea room that sits beside Denham Deep Lock.  So peaceful and lots of butterflies/ birds and dragonflies to watch as well as celebrating her 65th.  We walked back via the shade of the trees and she opened her gift when we were at her house before I got the tube home.

On Saturday my Son picked me up in the morning and we went to a garden centre with the two grandchildren and had lunch in the cafe.  I then spent the weekend at there's and on Sunday my daughter, son in law and my other two grandsons popped down in the afternoon.  A lovely get together for us all after nearly 8 months.  BBQ  in the garden and the two family dogs meeting for the first time plus lots of fun with water play for the kiddies.

Today I went early to the gym andby the time I got back it was really hot already so I am keeping cool indoors.  Visiting a friend this evening for a couple of hours and then visiting other friends Tues/Wed.  A good socialising week and then a quiet weekend.  My son and family are going to the Cotswolds with friends for a week's holiday before they start juggling their work shifts (still home based) for the rest of the school holidays.  Almost normal with some commonsense decisions seems to be the best way now.

Hope you have a good week though I suspect it is too hot to take the dog walking.  My childrens' vets both advised no do walking once the temperature above 21degs  so they are having to make do with night time wanders!!

Take care, stay safe.  Jules x

Hi Jules, just come in had George out early because of the heat he has been cut so he seems a lot cooler today ,it has been hot all week here the last 2 night s I have slept downstairs as it's cooler I don't sleep good any way so the heat makes sleeping worse.glad you enjoyed time with your friend on her 65 birthday sounds as if you had a lovely time enjoying tea and cake and the watching the wild life it is nice just watching  nature and the world go by .glad you enjoyed the garden centre with the family the cafés in the garden centres are really nice ,I know when we go we always have a drink and something to eat even if it's only a snack its always really nice.i bet your son will enjoy the Cotswolds it is a lovely place have been with hubby but it's a long time ago now ,I enjoyed my meal with my daughter we even had pudding very yummy lol ,we got a take away for my son as well and took it round to him as he was working at least he didn't have to make a dinner for himself .went the community centre Tuesday with my friends we had booked a curry but when we got there the lady who took the order the week before forgot to give it to the chef we were so glad as to was sweltering so we had something off the menu my friend Terry who ran our friendship group with his wife who sadly died rang me this week we are meeting up Monday to see if we want to carry on with the group in September as numbers have dropped offi do hope we carry on it will be sad meeting up I'm sure there will be a few tiers as it's well over 12 month since we have seen one another not sure what's happening Sunday Saturday my daughter is going to take me to dreams as I could do with a new mattress mine is old now so it's Time to get a new one have a lovely week stay cool regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

At little cooler now for those dog walks.  Sunshine and showers here so more like April and end of July!

Still, I have managed gym visits and a few shorter walks this past week. I never sleep well but resorted to putting the fan on in my room when the temperatures were very hot.  It helped a bit but most mornings was up by 5.a.m so just got on with the day.

My son and family's trip to the Cotswolds delayed by 24hrs as my grand-daughter not well.  Luckily she soon bounced back and PCR test showed as negative so they went away on Sunday. By all accounts and from a couple of WhatsAPP pics they are having a lovely time with lots of fun.  They are based on a waterpark so lots of water based activities to enjoy.

My daughter and the boys are now broken up for the summer from school and I will see them in a week or so for our usual summer week together. Really looking forward to that.  In the meantime the foxes are keeping me entertained for around four hours each evening as they have begun to come into the garden earlier in the evening. Nature watch from the armchair; nothing better.

A few busy days ahead as getting quotes for some work (hopefully) at the end of the garden/garage. Also meeting up with a friend on Sunday for a stroll at the local Farmers' Market and probably have lunch somewhere too.

Hope you have a good week/weekend and fingers crossed that your chat with Terry re the future of the Friendship Group was hopeful.  Take care.

Jules x

Hi Syl,

Not a bad week here with some good walks and a few sessions at the gym. I get out walking every day and reckon its in the genes ha ha.  Neither of my parents drove and neither do I and with photography as a hobby I love being out with the camera locally.  I even managed to dodge the few showers this week.

Today have done a food shop in anticipation of my daughter and two grandsons (plus the dog) coming to stay for a few days next week after I have been up to them this weekend.  Also next week we will meet up with my son and family for a meal at local restaurant (a slightly early celebration for my  birthday the following week).  

Lawn mowed and garden as I like it (left to it's own devices for the most part).  The foxes are still visiting nightly though not so many of them the last couple of nights so perhaps venturing to new terroritories now that they are no reliant on the parents.

Hope you have a good week. Take care.  Jules x