Month: May 2021

The Sutton Sleaths made their way back from Jersey today, so it was one last walk with Chester over the fields this morning. I made the most of it and walked each field for a farewell. Chester was appreciative. He was also appreciative of the treats I offered to prevent him from chasing any of the other dogs we encountered on the way. All in all, it was a good walk.

I hurried back, thinking that the junior Sleaths might be arriving to collect Chester at any moment, but all was well as they were a bit delayed, and I had plenty of time. There was a great flurry of excitement from everyone when they did arrive on the doorstep. Mostly from Chester and William and me, to be fair. Chester barked his head off, William bounced up and down just like Tigger, and I grinned from ear to ear for a very long time.

One advantage of the lockdown has been the family ‘togetherness’ and close bonding with Thomas, born in the middle of lockdown. The flipside of that, of course, has been very little socialisation of baby Thomas. This has meant that, in Jersey, it has been a struggle for Danielle to be out of his sight for more than a nano-second. Not much better here, either, really, but we were keen to let Michael and Danielle have a little rest before they set off home with a woofing dog, so we said we’d look after the kids while they had a rest on the bed for half an hour.

Thomas was good for about ten minutes…. then he started to cry. Danielle came to see what was what. “We’ll take the kids to the park,” we said, “Please don’t worry, go and lie down!” We strapped Thomas into the pram, and William, bless him, curled up in the shopping basket part of the pram for a ride rather than a walk. Not a peep from Thomas. He sat as good as gold for a little while until he dropped off to sleep. William had a whale of a time watching the world from a different angle and John had a great time pushing the pram. I walked alongside William for safety’s sake.

We had a cracking time. We even managed to play on a couple of pieces of equipment at the park, having wiped the wet away with a tiny tissue. We made our way back on the promise of stopping at the café for a hot chocolate. Hmm…. great idea in theory, but there was a thunderous and very large rain cloud on the horizon. I was still waiting for the goodies to be served in the café when it started to rain. John put his head round the door, “I’ll start back,” he said. I nodded – a good idea. No point in us all getting wet….

Hahahaha…….rain? It was a deluge. And thunder, too. I ran as fast as I could to get home, catching up with John just opposite the house. We hurried across the road, as Michael came out with an umbrella. “I was just coming to pick you up,” he said, grinning. Too late, we are wet through. Oh, but those lovely hot chocolates, hot Cornish pasties, hot sausage rolls and a Rocky Road soon put us right.

William didn’t want to go home – he was keen to stay and play but it was soon time to go. We packed our car with some of the items emptied from Michael and Danielle’s car so that they could get Chester in, and we promised we’d be on our way to deliver them ‘as soon as Grandpa has caught his breath….’ We closed the front door and sat down, surveying the damage….. reminded me of the ‘Wrinklies’ greetings card:

To be fair, it wasn’t that much of a mess. I exaggerate. Michael had cleared the pots away and we had already put away the Duplo, so there really wasn’t anything to do. It just felt like that. After so many months of a quiet life, it was wonderful to be busy with the children for a short while, even if it was a shock to the system……

We are gearing up for the easing of lockdown and we really can’t wait. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the easing doesn’t bring more, exponential infection in its wake, of course, being a person of great anxiety in these matters.

People with positive COVID tests today were up slightly (2,474) as were the number of people who died in the community (20). Those who died in hospitals numbered 7 on 8 & 9 May – difficult to evaluate what is happening there.

Take care everyone. God bless.

We were up early again today – it was a trip to the Dudley Road Eye Hospital for a check-up. Poor Chester had a short-ish walk and I could certainly tell that he was puzzled as we turned round to come back home having set the time for a half-hour walk. The fields were beckoning but we stayed in the park and did a U-turn halfway round. He gave me a hard stare but obediently trotted along beside me. I think the treats I kept feeding him all the way home did the trick.

Our trip into Birmingham was a smooth one – the traffic was flowing quite freely – even though some of it slow-moving on the motorway – and we arrived fifteen minutes before we needed to. No worries though, reception was a smooth operation and we were allowed to sit indoors until it was time to go up to the clinic. I even managed to find a parking space nearby. *Does a little dance*

The doctor who saw John was a very nice man and he explained everything very well. “Oh, you’re not using the preparations we suggested last December?” Er… no… hadn’t realised which items were long term and which were short-term, so had treated everything as to be finished after a few weeks. Ah-ha!! Well, here you go, here’s the letter in which it’s all detailed. Please use this, this and this long-term. “It will improve your eyes – they won’t be so sore and you will see better.” Well, that’ll be a bonus.

On the way home, I had an idea that we might stop off at Sainsburys and buy a nice cake to eat with a nice cup of tea when we got home. “You can,” said John, “But I won’t. I’m starting my diet.” Oh…. I gave it a second thought and decided against it – quite a good idea to start a diet, I concluded. However, I found myself eating a bit of malt loaf this evening……… what diet? Maybe tomorrow?

On a very different topic, we are expecting to take delivery of new worksurfaces sometime in June. However, a chappie is coming next week to do a template. He has asked if we can remove everything from the top of the counters. Yes, no problem. Oh, hang on! We’ve got a dirty great big dresser on top of one of them, full of crockery. I know it’s a week away, but we thought we ought to start the clear-out/break down now. It might take us days to sort it out, given our current decrepitude. Watch this space…… how many days will it take us, I wonder?

On the family front, Paul texted us today to let us know he’d had the first of his COVID vaccinations. I am delighted that the vaccination programme has reached his age group. I do hope he doesn’t have a horrible reaction though – fingers crossed he takes after John and the symptoms are all mild.

Michael and Danielle phoned this evening, as they sat port-side waiting to board the overnight ferry from Jersey. They will be home tomorrow morning and we will be saying ‘hello’ to them, but ‘goodbye’ to Chester. We have enjoyed Chester’s company and he’s been very well-behaved. Apart from the woofing, of course, which I am sure you can hear across the whole village, it’s so loud.

ON the COVID front, there is good news, isn’t there? We are going to be allowed to hug. Charlie Mackesey prophesied it in this poignant drawing months ago…….. I really can’t wait. Will I remember how to do it, I wonder?

The news on the COVID numbers continues to be positive. However, the scientists are still alarmed at how quickly the Indian variant spreads, so they continue to urge caution.

People with positive tests today were 2,357; the people who died in the community numbered 4; and the data for those who died in hospitals is not up-to-date and a bit sketchy.

Take care everyone. It’s still not over, even though we’re relaxing the rules. Enjoy looking forward to the hugs next week. I’m going to!!

We were up early today and it was a warm-ish day. 13 degrees first thing this morning and a pleasant walk with Chester. He spent most of his time furkling in the undergrowth and dragging me along a woodland path that went nowhere and required a re-tracing of our steps. It was interesting though.

Back home and breakfast before a morning full of play. We made dens, we played board games – three different chess sets were brought out and tried – we played dominoes, word games and then entered into the world of Lego. We played out in the garden, checking out the insect world, re-filling the bird feeders and watching squirrels high up in the trees.

Back indoors we found an ideal place for a den. Up in the ‘Blue Room’ is a ‘Harry Potter’ cupboard. Out came all of the spare duvets and pillows, in went cushions, torches and a picnic – and a bit of Lego and then there were hours of enjoyment. Marvellous.

This afternoon I attended a writing course. A great activity to unwind to. John wondered what I’d learned, but it’s not that sort of writing course. I am not crafting a skill. I am simply ‘Writing for Wellbeing’ and plopping ideas down into a notebook. It doesn’t matter about the spelling or the grammar. All that matters is that you write down what you feel. And it’s good. I always feel better for it.

John, meanwhile, watched the Grand Prix which, by all accounts, was quite exciting at the end. A little bit of poker also whiled away the afternoon and the ol’ man was contented. I even caught him having a go on the cycling machine this afternoon…. things must be looking up.

This evening I joined in on a Twitter feed – a sort of book club all about Georgette Heyer. When I was a teenager and even into my twenties, I was hooked on her books. Mostly slushy romance, but what was interesting to me was the historical settings, so it was with interest I joined in today. The group were also interested in the historical settings, but also the language Heyer used, which I’d forgotten about. Another bit of escapism – don’t mind if I do.

The reality of the recent political landscape is beginning to emerge and I have been watching the unwrapping of the scenery very keenly. The human psyche is fascinating, isn’t it? I really have no idea what has made people vote as they have – the forest and the axe story spring to mind……..

Anyway, the coronavirus figures are still stable, although there are pockets of infections flaring up, I believe, of the Indian variant, in London and the North-West, so we need to be careful.

People with positive tests today just 1,770; the people who died in the community just 2; and there is no new data for those who died in hospitals.

Wishing you all a good week ahead. Take care everyone. God bless.

Crikey! It was fair chucking it down this morning, wasn’t it? I listened to the rain and hunkered down a bit more in bed. I didn’t fancy an early morning walk in that. Clearly, neither did Chester because he didn’t woof at all.

When I finally came downstairs, I decided the rain was still too heavy to venture out into, so I opened the door to let Chester pootle round the garden instead. Not before he’d had chance to start hoovering up some of the biscuits that were left over from the cats’ supper last night, though. I am not sure if it was those that upset his tummy, but he was looking very hang-dog and not at all himself so, after I’d let him back in, I had to let him back out again – whereupon he decorated my lawn with regurgitated grass. Lovely.

I left John in bed. He was tired and needed more sleep. I ate my breakfast and took him a coffee. The rain eased a bit. Chester sat looking at me with pleading eyes. Oh, alright then! We’ll take a tour round the yellow brick road and Lavender Hall Park.

It was a splishy, splashy walk. A bit muddy, too, on the bit of field we braved. And an hilarious one if you were the driver of the car speeding through a large puddle just as we were passing by. You should have seen the delight on his face as he scored high points for emptying the whole of the puddle over an unsuspecting pedestrian.

Once home, I heard the buzz of the shower pump and knew that John was getting up. Bless him, it was hard work, but he looked very smart afterwards. He’d chosen to put some decent clothes on instead of work -clothes, so he looked quite dapper.

“I’m going to have some poached egg on toast for lunch,” I said, “Would you like some for your breakfast?” He smiled. “Gosh, is that the time?” Yep – lunchtime.

My phoned pinged. It was Harriet. Could I look after Freddie for a couple of hours while she went to hockey? I thought about it for all of a nano-second and decided that in the risk versus need/pleasure contest it was a no-brainer, so I said yes. And that’s how Freddie came to stay…. what an unexpected treat. Haven’t had quite such fun in a while. He is a delight – and, of course, as he gets older, more and more interesting.

Paul was out with friends celebrating two fortieth birthdays, hence the baby-sitting requirement. Naturally, it’s the year for fortieth birthdays, all being mates from the same academic year. But it’s a bit of a whammy. Peacock and Sanjay? Crumbs. Who next? We’re in amongst the grown-ups, aren’t we?

I am not sure what other, outside news there may be today – we haven’t kept up to date with it, being busy. I do, however, have the virus figures for you – just because……

People with positive tests today just 2,047; the people who died in the community just 5; and the people who died in hospitals number 5 on 6 & 7 May.

Enjo the rest of your weekend everyone – despite the rain. God bless.

I started this blog to capture the essence of our response to the pandemic and lockdown when it all began just over a year ago. We felt panic then, when the virus was out of control, and when we didn’t really know how best to handle it. A year on and, because we’re a rich country, we have vaccinated a good proportion of the population and the virus is no longer spreading out of control. Generally speaking, we know how to control the spread of the virus and the population is abiding by the rules.

This means that it’s good news with the number of people with positive tests today just 2,490; the people who died in the community just 15; and the people who died in hospitals are – take your pick: yesterday it was 8 on 4 & 5 May but today it’s 7 on those very same days.

As the year has rolled on, we have begun to feel much less panicky, although many are experiencing an underlying ‘blue’ mood, because we are all still looking over our shoulders, still fettered by fear and muffled by masks.

Now, I continue the blog to capture the long-suffering sense that we are not yet in control of our destiny. Not only is it affecting John and me, but many people we know, too. So what better way than to exercise some control than at the polling stations, then, eh?

Hmmm…. I don’t know about you, but we feel even less in control of our futures now. We clearly all said: ‘Let’s vote for more of the same, shall we?’ Let’s paint the country blue – unless you live in Scotland, where it was, and will be, yellow; or Wales, where it was, and will be, red. ‘Better the devil you know….’ has been the voters’ motto it seems to me – no?

Anyway, I’ll not dwell on politics. We don’t have the energy for a fight, so we plod on with our daily doin’s, pray for better weather and throw shoes at the telly.

After the dog-walk this morning, we nipped over to Mum’s care home to drop some money off. I am still getting to grips with how things work over there, and so found, unexpectedly, that a little stash of money is required to pay for things like a chiropodist or a hairdresser. The money is kept by the staff rather than the residents, which is a good thing. Mum no longer has any real concept of money, so I am glad she hasn’t got to start rummaging in her purse for cash.

On our return, we did a spot of tidying up and pottering about before we sat and had a sandwich. I glanced at the clock, planning my afternoon…..then, all of a sudden remembered I had intended to go to my little prayer group this afternoon. So off I toddled, setting off at the last minute. I really enjoyed the session and was delighted to see others face-to-face, sharing ideas and anecdotes with them. We talked about prayer itself today, which was fascinating, ‘cos I think I’ve never been very good at it.

When I got back, I found that John had been wrestling with the new barbecue. These things arrive flat-packed, of course, and require clear eyes and nimble fingers to assemble them. But I was delighted to see that John was well on the way to completing it. We only lost one little widget…..

John had also spent some time today composing an email to the company that makes the chassis for the Lotus. Fingers crossed he gets a positive reply. The hope is that he’ll whizz the car across to them for them to re-jig the chassis to make it all square again. I’m wondering whether this is worthy of prayer? I do know it’s worthy of a fervent wish, if nothing else.

We had hoped for a good day on the medical front today, but the best laid plans are often thwarted and there we were, thwarted. John’s drugs for the nebuliser had arrived yesterday afternoon and we were all set up for him to settle into a comfy seat and breath in their goodness this morning. However, before John nestled in, we had a little disagreement about how the drugs were to be dispensed. We thought, therefore, that it be best to contact the respiratory team at Heartlands for verification….

Hold your horses!! Do nothing. The drugs that have been dispensed are different to those John has had before. A compatibility test may be needed. “I’ll check with the pharmacist,” said Pam, the respiratory nurse. We waited a while and then she phoned us back. “Can you wait until next week? The pharmacist isn’t sure and wants to ask her boss. Her boss isn’t in until Monday or maybe Tuesday of next week….” If I had had my wits about me, I’d have suggested they phone the pharmacy at the QE, but I didn’t, so we’re waiting. Grrr…..

It’s the weekend. Take care everyone – enjoy yourselves and God bless. In the meantime, try this prayer for size.

St Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer

 Christ with me,
 Christ before me,
 Christ behind me,
 Christ in me,
 Christ beneath me,
 Christ above me,
 Christ on my right,
 Christ on my left,
 Christ when I lie down,
 Christ when I sit down,
 Christ when I arise,
 Christ in the heart of 
every man who thinks of me,
 Christ in the mouth of
everyone who speaks of me,
 Christ in every eye that sees me,
 Christ in every ear that hears me.

We haven’t done a great deal today at all. It might be classed as a lazy day, I think. Just a spot of TV watching; poker playing, dog-walking, yoga, reading, and that’s about it.

There was all of that thinking of course, that leads you down the path of whether you should do this, or that, particular activity. But all the thinking paths led to a dead-end and we neither of us did anything. I had a long list, but……. well, maybe tomorrow.

I was up early to walk Mr Chester and was rather pleased to have avoided the rain. As I lay in bed contemplating easing myself out of it, I could hear the rain bucketing down. I wondered whether to get up or not. Then Chester woofed, so I did. However, by the time we were striding over the fields, the rain had gone and the blue skies were in full force. It was lovely.

On my return, I thought I’d leave John to sleep on for a while and took him a coffee just as I went to get changed ready for yoga. Yoga was a good stretch out and I enjoyed the class. It was nice to be back, not having attended for a couple of weeks as I’d been sorting Mum’s flat out.

So, this afternoon was our oyster. We could do what we liked. I scanned my list and turned my nose up. John opted for a bit of poker, sorting out a few admin things and a chat to George P on the phone. I opted on catching up with a few programmes and reading my book. Oh, and then I thought I might have a glass of prosecco or two…. No way was anything meaningful going to get done after that.

We took delivery of John’s nebuliser drug this afternoon, so that’s something to look forward to – if John can gear himself up to take it, from tomorrow onwards. We know it’s a good thing, but it is twice a day and it does tie him down.

John also took a phone call from one of the respiratory nurses at the QE who asked him lots of questions about his breathing – all with a view to proposing he has some portable oxygen bottles if necessary. Next step is the ambulatory test. Watch this space folks.

It’s been the day for voting today and we have watched with a mild curiosity as to what will happen at the polls. It all get curiouser and curiouser, doen’t it? We find it difficult to fathom how people are thinking these days. And, trouble in Jersey? Crikey!! That was unexpected.

As far as the virus is concerned, the figures remain stable but the scientists are definitely flagging up that we need to be careful as there are more and more cases of the variant from India on our shores. To be expected, I suppose. After all, it did take us five days before we shut our borders to people travelling from India even though we knew what the situation was over there. We are numpties, aren’t we?

People with positive tests, then – 2,613; people who died in the community – 13; people who died in hospitals – 8 on 4 & 5 May.

Take care everyone, now that we know the virus is on the prowl again. God bless.

Well, that was an interesting day! It transpires that John does have some lung capacity left, after all. Just got to find it somehow.

We toddled over to the QE this morning, mindful that in a few weeks’ time we will have to start paying a clean air charge or find a new route into Birmingham. Or buy a new car? Now there’s an idea.

The appointment process proved exceedingly smooth. There was no charge for car parking as John has a blue badge – the first time we have experienced such a thing. We parked, walked up to the reception area, did the self-check-in thing and sat and waited for perhaps ten to fifteen minutes (we were early) before they called John through. They then took all his vital observations and, very soon afterwards, we saw the consultant.

Regrettably, the consultant spoke very quickly and had a slight accent, making it difficult for John to pick out exactly what she was saying. That meant that the experience for John wasn’t as good as it could have been and he came away with a less than good impression.

Being contrary, I thought the consultation had gone well. The consultant told John that there is lung capacity – it just needs to be treated with the nebulised antibiotic to get rid of the bug, pseudomonas, which true to form, is proving awkward.

The consultant wanted to know if John had been given any physiotherapy. Ah……no? I think the implication was that he should have been. She said she will set it up. We mentioned about John’s difficulty in walking very far and she said she’d set up an ambulatory test and then, if necessary, she can prescribe portable oxygen. I thought that was a positive, but I am not sure that John did.

The prescription for the antibiotic to shift the pseudomonas bug wasn’t in stock, so we are on a promise that it will be delivered to us here at home in a couple of days. So there we are – depending on who you talk to in our household depends on whether it was a good visit or not.

I do hope, though, that there are better days ahead. I am a bit fed up (as is John, of course) of constantly feeling dragged down by illness lurking all around in one form or another. Thank you for your kind thoughts those of you who sent them – keep ’em coming!

The weather has been variable here and the clouds were gathering as we drove home – as black as black as black – and shortly after we arrived home hailstones thundered down. This, in contrast to the glorious sunshine at eight o’clock this morning when I walked Chester.

Once we were home, we treated ourselves to some hot chocolate and cake – after which we both promptly fell asleep. If it was a competition, I’d win. I slept for another four hours. John was triumphant that he’d woken up well before me and had let the dog out into the garden for a run. I did feel a bit guilty. I’m blaming a ruined night’s sleep for my tiredness.

After we’d eaten our evening meal, it was a quick scamper over the fields for a last dog-walk before Quiz Night. The sun was absolutely stunning again this evening and the walk wonderful. Quiz Night, too, was wonderful. On what was our 52nd week of quizzing, it was great fun and great company as usual. We even knew some of the answers today. Happy days. More, please?

On the coronavirus front there are still grounds to be hopeful, but I’m keeping my beady eye on the figures just in case they should decide to misbehave. I am hoping that a hard stare might do the trick if they start wriggling out of line – what do you think?

People with positive tests – 2,144; people who died in the community – 27; people who died in hospitals – 9 on 2 & 3 May.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Another day, really, of just catching our breath. Another day when I thought we might get on with a few jobs, but one in which we sat in front of the TV again. I think we must need our rest.

John certainly needs rest – and probably something else, but we’re not sure what. He’s really not feeling great. His breathing continues to be laboured and he is struggling to get about as he’s pulled a muscle in his back. Heaven knows how he’s done that. I was accusing him of straining it as he crawled under the Lotus on Sunday, but he denies that and says it came on, 24-hours after his COVID injection, on Friday. Anyway, suffice to say, he’s enjoying his bed and his armchair at the moment.

We are going to the QE tomorrow to see a respiratory specialist so I shall be very interested to hear what they have to say and hope they can un-labour John’s breath for him. If you should think of it, please spare a thought or a prayer for the ol’ man – thank you.

In other news, we were both up and about by ten o’clock as we were waiting in for a ‘man’ to call. We’re having new worksurfaces in the kitchen and he came to measure up and offer us a quote. He was a great young man, very knowledgeable and offered some good information, so we’ve gone for it. We had made the decision on Monday really, but we were happy with the quote. Exciting times. Something new – that’ll be a first for a long time. And the worksurfaces might make last year’s re-decorated kitchen look a bit more sophisticated and finished.

And that’s the exciting news for the day, folks! I tell you, we’re setting the world alight right now! The rest of our day was….. yawn…. more of one foot in front of the other….yawn….bottoms on sofas…..yawn…..

After the worktop chappie left, I spent a short while trying out some metal polish that had come from Mum’s. Would it be any good on copper kettles? I didn’t know, so I thought I’d find out. I mean, that’s almost as good as watching paint dry, right?

Anyway, because I am sure you’re interested, I selected the tiniest copper kettle I could find – one of the beauties we inherited from Nanan that the children have played and played and played with over the years – and this is the result. Shinier than it was before anyway, and I’m rather pleased with it…… And here’s a little competition: anyone guess the dimensions of this rather pleasing kettle?

Other than that, we haven’t done a great deal. If I’d been up at six o’clock this morning, instead of half past seven, I could have walked the dog in the beautiful sunshine that was shining in through our bedroom window but, as it was, we set out about quarter past eight into a head wind of a Force Ten gale. There was a spattering of rain, but that wasn’t too bad first thing. It was the wind that we had to fight. I was very grateful for my cosy coat that I bought a couple of years ago – it did the trick. What made me laugh though, were Chester’s ears all a-flappin’ like nobody’s business!! Regrettably, I didn’t get a photo of it…

Then, this evening we took our walk into through Katherine’s Wood – my favourite place, but one where we haven’t walked before because there normally so many dog-walkers there. As it was, with the weather being inclement, there were only two others in the park and we gave them a wide berth. All good and thoroughly enjoyable.

COVID is still keeping a low profile for which I am rather grateful, so here are the figures: People with positive tests – 1,946; people who died in the community – 4; people who died in hospitals – still no updated figures today.

So that’s it. I’d like to say we’d had an interesting day, but I’m afraid it’s been a very ordinary day, today. God bless.

No sweat, no bother when I visited Mum this afternoon, having been allowed inside. I had a boot full of her lovely bits and pieces, but thought I’d hang back on taking them in until I’d got the lay of the land. In the event, I really don’t think she wants anything much at all. She was happy with her new surroundings and has settled in well. “It’s a nice flat, isn’t it?” she said to me as we sat chatting. I agreed.

I tidied all her drawers and wardrobe and can see that a few more clothes won’t go amiss. But her nick-knacks? There is no space for them really, and she clearly isn’t missing anything in that line. I took her a new box of chocolates, expecting her to have polished off the last lot, but no. All chocolate was sitting in her bottom drawer, untouched.

We had a lovely hour and she was very pleased to see me. She looked a lot better and very relaxed, so I continue to be hopeful that it’ll all turn out well.

Other than the visit to Mum, all I have done today is brave the weather on a couple of occasions to walk Chester. This morning, it was incredibly quiet on the walk. Perhaps one or two sheep bleating, unlike the dozens as usual, and just a few birds twittering. The calm before the storm. We were lucky – the rain only began as we made our way back home, as the wind was whipping up.

Afterwards, when I was back, John took himself off to the lounge to watch a crime programme. I thought I’d join him and sit with my cuppa before I got on with jobs – but it transpired differently for both of us. John fell asleep and missed the programme(s), while I watched first one episode, then another, then another, until it the story was concluded. Crikey! The morning was gone and no jobs done.

All day it has been windy and squally weather. The rain has been beating down our window panes and I have been glad to be closeted indoors for the most part. Chester didn’t seem to mind being out in it this evening though….

And that’s been our Bank Holiday Monday, with an early night in the offing. Hardly exciting….. but I can’t complain. Life has been very exciting one way or another over the last week or two.

The coronavirus figure are staying low – making me feel ever more hopeful. Emotional, in fact. Fingers crossed we’re out of the woods.

People with positive tests – 1,649; people who died in the community – 1; people who died in hospitals – no more updated figures today.

Take care everyone – hope you’ve all had a good Bank Holiday Monday despite the weather.

Well, that was nice. Another day of goodness, thank goodness. After the flurry of activity in the last few weeks it has been rather good to feel less pressure and more freedom, allowing a day to unfold and then enjoy it.

The morning was beautiful. A sparkling blue sky and very little breeze meant that my morning walk with Chester was glorious. We strode out across the fields – he enjoying all the smells of the hedgerows; me enjoying all the flowers in the hedgerows. I had the added bonus of listening to birdsong, and Chester had the bonus of saying ‘hello’ to every dog we met on the way. And he was a good boy, too. Happily wagging his tail, but with a bark that told all comers who was top-dog.

Once I was home, I nipped to the shop to buy some bread rolls. We had originally planned a picnic today as Dave and Chris were arriving for lunch and an afternoon of natter. In the end, though, I thought a cold picnic on a cold day wasn’t the best plan and opted for burgers and hotdogs instead. Chris brought a cake.

After I’d prepped all I could in the kitchen, I went outside to arrange tables and chairs and put the sides onto the gazebo. John had got up, had a cup of coffee and then said he was going back to bed, so I wanted to be sure that he was going to have all the warmth available to him when he sat outside later on.

The sun was shining so wonderfully though, that actually it was lovely and warm as I sat waiting for Dave and Chris to arrive.

We had a great day. Natter? You bet! John came downstairs once he knew that our guests had arrived and wrapped himself up in a blanket, so that he was on a par with the rest of us in the warmth stakes. And that was it. Putting the world to rights, catching up on what’s happening in our families, sharing our woes, our triumphs, and hoped-for plans. Brilliant.

Chester made friends with Dave and Chris once he’d got over his barking and realised that they were friends and not foe. And, like us, he spent the day outside in the fresh air. It always makes you feel tired doesn’t it? The fresh air? Well, John certainly closed his eyes early this evening, and I was tempted, but Chester succumbed…

I say the day was ‘brilliant’ because it was. However, John wasn’t feeling great today, so wrapped up warm in his heated blanket and settled under the patio heater, he listened to the conversation in ‘sleep’ mode. Half-awake, he’d sometimes join in the conversation; then at other times he’d drop off for a little doze. Any exertion and the ol’ lungs are objecting to functioning. I shall keep my beady eye on him…..

We waved goodbye to Dave and Chris and were just going to make a cuppa when Chester came hurtling through the hall, barking his head off. Ah….there was someone at the door. How very lovely, it was Paul and Freddie. “Come round the back!” I shouted, and hurried down the side to open the gate. I do love such surprises. Fills my heart.

Anyway, it transpires that Freddie had suggested they call in after their swimming session. “Let’s go and see what Grandma has got for us,” he’d said. Well, Grandma had got cake. At lunchtime, none of us had wanted to start on the cake as we were all rather full from our burgers and hotdogs. Freddie loves cake. “Have you got any sprinkles, Grandma?” he wondered. I had. Hundreds and thousands, chocolate sprinkles and letters and numbers – would that do? Yes, thank you – and he decorated his two pieces of lemon drizzle cake with them. Delicious. Thank you, Chris.

John meanwhile, was still feeling tired and was nestled in his armchair. Paul chatted to him through the patio door while Freddie and I played in the garden. *Does a little dance* I do love to play…..

An evening walk with the dog and then a bit of telly this evening before I realised that the fresh air has made me tired too. An early night if I can, I think.

We haven’t watched the news today, but I have looked at today’s coronavirus figures, just for the record. People with positive tests – 1,671; people who died in the community – 14; people who died in hospitals on 30 April & 1 May – 3.

These figures continue to be encouragingly low, so I am hopeful that we will be able to follow the roadmap that’s been planned. We really can’t wait to be able to say to friends and family: “Come in, take a seat, kick your shoes off and have a drink. Stay over if you’d like….”

Hope you’ve all had a good weekend, too. Brace yourselves for the rain tomorrow! God bless.