Hi Syl,

Hope you have had a good week.  I am still waiting for the quotes but not surprised as there will be several different companies involved albeit being overseen by the main guys who I have used before. The work will be to the garage which needs a new roof(specialist removal of current roof which has asbestos materials), up and over door , new window etc but also will entail the total clearance of what is dumped in there including an old car that my hubby stored there many years ago.

Have had a couple of spur of the moment meets ups in the past few days. A friend phoned Saturday to see if I was free for walk/lunch.  We had a lovely meal locally and then walked it off!! On Sunday I had a call from friends in Buckinghamshire to see if I fancied going over so I went yesterday and had alovely catch up plus an Italian meal out with four more friends in the evening.  I caught the train back after lunch today and will enjoy the garden as the weather is beautiful. Tomorrow another walk with a friend from the gym and then maybe some time to catch up in the garden.

The 50 mile challenge can be completed over 50 days so not all in one go ha ha. I am doing it as a challenge set up to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Air Tattoo which is in support of the RAF charitable trust. Because of Covid the past two year's events have been cancelled and it was the last Airshow that my husband attended in 2012 before he became too ill to be out and about. With our anniversary being this week it all seemed to tie in nicely so will donate funds for every mile I do within the 50 days so will not stop at 50!  So far have managed an extra walk most days between 3/5 miles so fingers crossed donation will be a nice sum.

I have no plants other than gym sessions in the next few days so can concentrate on enjoying the weather and my walks/photography.  The foxes are still through the garden most evenings but usually gone again after half an hour or so and then the trail cam picks them up during the night.  All very fascinating.

Have a good week and stay safe and well.  Jules x

Hi Jules sounds as if you had a busy week catching up with friends and all the walking your doing ,you must be as fit as a fiddle lol it is nice to walk especially if your in the country side or walking along a beach .I enjoyed my afternoon tea with my friends they did a lovely job dressing the tables  up we had a game of bingo and a raffle but we didn't win.went my friendship group Monday there was eight of us there this time we have decided to keep going next time we meet up we are going to play some games at least it's a Start and one of my friends what s to join so that's another one . went out Tuesday we were supposed to be going the community centre for something to eat but when we got there it was closed due to a bereavement ,so we went to a local pub it was a change from the community centre hopefully it will be open next week.glad you enjoyed your night out with friends at a Italian restaurant it is nice to eat out for a change ,I'm going to a garden centre Saturday with my daughter it's called dobbies near Liverpool air port it's only about 30minutes from where we live we are going to have some thing to eat while we're there as it has a nice cafe there as well it has forecast rain for the weekend so will be nice to do go there even if the weather isn't good.we have booked Sunday dinner out as well so a nice busy weekend glad your still watching the foxes did you see the program the other week think it was on Ch 5 about foxes it was really good I did enjoy it.was at my dementia group Wednesday there was 10 of us there this week the numbers are creeping up again which is good as it means people with dementia are coming back again .I'm hoping I can take George out later if the rain stays away then over to my friends for coffee have a lovely week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Your afternoon tea sounded lovely and so pleased for you that the friendship group is continuing and that there is a little increase in numbers. Social outings do alleviate the bored at home feelings. I am not sure that I am as fit as a fiddle but do love to walk and keeping on the move seems to help with my mild arthritis so even in bad weather try and get a stroll in at least once a day.  Not nice at all today so it was a very wet walk from start to finish but had a break along the way to fit in my 30mins at the gym.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Dobbies at the weekend.  I have been to a couple of that particular chain in the past but the nearest one now is over an hour away and not much point lugging stuff home from it.  They do have plenty of variety and very nice for a change of scene.

I did indeed watch the fox programmes both episode 1 and 2 and was totally fascinated to learn/understand some of the behaviour I witness in my own garden.  I am still getting visits every night and love seeing them play on the night camera.

Just as well I had no plans for last weekend as my son in law had to go into hospital last Thursday after an insect bite turned nasty and he had to be admitted for treatment for Sepsis via an IV drip.  No visitors allowed for the first 24hrs as he was on a A&E ward but on Saturday/Sunday my daughter could book a 45min visiting slot but could not take the children in so I went up for the weekend to provide cover/support. Thankfully he responded well to the treatment and was allowed home last night with ongoing antibiotics/pain relief.  A mild panic for them all to say the least but fingers crossed now onwards with his recovery and return to work.

No definite plans for me this coming week but will need to fit in a food shop sometime and hope to catch up with a couple of friends Friday.  Hair appointment Monday to look forward to.  Hope you have a good weekend.  Best regards. Jules x

Hi Jules ,glad you enjoyed your walk even though it was raining not been a bad week here with the weather managed to do my front lawn and do some wedding and turned the soil over plenty of worms and insects for the birds to eat.i haven't done much this week my self went to my friendship group Wednesday there was 10 of us all together we played play your cards right which was a lot of fun then we had a sing song which was more like a cat's choir than a sing song lol.im glad you enjoyed the fox programe it was really good and gave us a insight in the every day life of foxes and the dangers of living in urban areas ,I'm watching the Serengeti on TV at the moment that's a nother good series I also love coranation st which I have watched from the very beginning even hubby loved it if we were out we would tape it so we wouldn't miss it .glad you son in law is on the mend that sepsis is so dangerous and a lot of hospitals miss diagnosis it he was lucky they caught it in time.its a lovely day again so will take George out later then in my friends for coffee,my son and daughter are out tonight they had tickets last year to go to see Jimmy Carr but it was cancelled because of the pandemic so there going for something to eat tonight then off to see him I'm sure they will enjoy it.not sure what is happening at the weekend I'm hoping to go to marks Saturday think I might be doing my own dinner Sunday busy next week my friendship group Monday I am having my hair done Thursday as well just a cut and blow but at least it will look nice again once it's cut it seems to grow a lot these days lol have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl, 

Hope you have had a good week.  It is lovely that the weather continues to be good with hardly any rain at all which has enabled me to continue with very pleasant daily walks (sometimes managed two!).  The usual sessions at the gym continue but I now try and do a walk beforehand.  So lovely at around 8 a.m. so am doing circuits in the local park and trying to increase the pace at which I walk to make them more worthwhile for my health.  

On Monday I too went and had my hair done. Cut and blow dry with a few colourful highlights (purple this time) to lift the front.  Felt very good to get it nice and short again!  Today I was out reasonably early before it got too warm and walked via street and parks and a local river walk to another pretty park where I had a sit down watching the world go by.  Then had a stroll around that town before catching the bus back.  Home in time for lunch.  Will probably have a day in the garden after the gym tomorrow as will be on my feet for a good few hours on Friday when I go with a friend to the Chelsea Flower Show. So looking forward to this special September event this year.  Nothing planned for the weekend but if the weather remains good will no doubt be out and about locally.

Have a lovely weekend and take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, sounds as if you had a nice week with some lovely walks it sounds as if you live near some lovely places that you can walk to .had my hair cut today cut and blow like your self I am having my colour in November so it will be still ok for Christmas not that I'm doing anything.busy week Monday I was at my friendship group we played a game some one had cards true or false and we had to say if the question was true or false we did have a laugh as we got most of them wrong so between us were not very knowledgeable lol, Tuesday I went to the community centre one of my friends is in hospital at the moment she has bad arthritis she has been on a drip  that they use for cancer patients but it's made her feel ill not sure what the next step is .I'm going into town tomorrow Friday I want to tax my car  and get a few things will have my coffee and tea cake in Costa  as I haven't been town for a while I'm looking forward to my treat lol, Saturday I'm going out with my daughter to a place called Harley hall there's a food festival on there's all sorts there stalls , music,chefs demonstrating  how to make food  I'm looking forward to going it was cancelled last year because of the pandemic so will be nice to go this year.hope you enjoyed the flower show I have seen some of it on the telly think I'm doing my own dinner Sunday I think enjoy your week regards Syl x

Hiya Sylvia I know what your going through my husband died November 2020  and I talk to him all the time and miss him so much lv annie x

Hi Syl,

Sounds like you had a very varied week and hope  you enjoyed the food festival at Harley along with your daughter.  So nice to be getting out and about when the weather allows.

My friend and I had the most amazing day out at the Chelsea Flower Show last Friday and the weather was beautiful too so an added bonus as no coats needed and we were able to enjoy coffee and snacks outside and watch some live music too.  Of course the flowers were wonderful but also lovely scuptures/art/shops to see too.  Spent a little time watching the BBC filming along the way including in the Great Pavillion.  I bought a few bulbs and seeds which are now planted in the garden so hopefully next year there will be a memory of the visit.  We also hope to go again when it returns to its more normal time of year in May.  After 7 hrs at the Showground we left and visited the Chelsea Pensioners table next door and then wandered around Chelsea in Bloom which runs in the local area free of charge.  A long but very worthwhile day.  A day of gardening on Saturday and then on Sunday after my gym session I walked to a local park which was holding a Festival day.  Live music, Dog show, stalls and Street Food to be enjoyed before wandering back home around 4 p.m.

Weather is feeling a little more Autumnal now and my walks had been reduced to a couple of miles each day but after a night of really heavy rain I got up to brilliant sunshine this morning.  Grabbed my breakfast and was out before 9 a.m. and walked to my local Lido and did some photography before having a coffee break and then getting the bus back - very happy to have walked 7 km.  The rest of the week not looking too good weatherwise so exercise in short bursts and at the gym I expect.  Nothing planned so will take each day as it comes.

Hope you have a good week and take good care.  Jules xx

Hi Syl,

I agree, it is lovely being able to get out and meet people (whilst still being sensible) and enjoy some socialising.  Have just arranged a  couple of family visits for November but before then have a visit to my daughter in a week or so to celebrate grandson's 8th birthday.  

Weather has not been that nice for walking so far this week but managed a walk to the foodies market as planned after the gym on Sunday and ended up doing several miles.  Yesterday went to the cinema for the first time in over a year and today met a friend for a cuppa in local high street....ended up chatting for over 2hrs!!  

Foxes still keeping me entertained in the evenings and the robin is also a regular visitor near the back door.  Tomorrow hoping the rain goes away and if it does I am going to Kew Gardens for a change of scene for my walk - they have a Japanese themed walk running for a month so something different to take in along the way.  On Thursday walking with a friend inthe morning and maybe the garden centre in the afternoon as I have a 20%off voucher and need some suet pellets plus love looking round the gift area (Christmas present buying now underway!).

Have a good weekend and take care.  Jules xx