The sun appears!

Day 62

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of oven-baked pastries this morning and had a lazy start to the day. Outside the weather was cold and grey yet again, but it did brighten up in the afternoon with the sun showing its face and lovely blue skies. Looking at the forecast, we have some wild and stormy weather coming to us in the middle part of next week, though!

After having our weekly face mask and a shower, Sophie and I went for a walk into the village. It was much milder this afternoon and I didn't need to wear a coat! We walked up to the "triangle" and back again and signs of spring were everywhere - from the tight little buds on the trees to the daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops in the verges. Beautiful! As usual, now, a lot of people were also out and about enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.

Back home Sophie made me a Negroni and we played a couple of games of Scrabble in the conservatory while Keith took care of dinner this evening. He cooked a delicious roast beef joint with all the trimmings and it made a lovely change. Sophie and I are planning a Thai red curry for next week, though, so that should be interesting!

33 years ago today...

Day 61

I was hoping that today would be brighter, with some sunshine, but it has remained grey and overcast again. Sophie and I went over to Rushden Lakes at midday, to go for a walk and to pop to Boots. The car park was half empty as the majority of the shops were closed. Only Boots, M&S, Holland and Barrett, and the cafes were open.

We popped into Boots first to pick up some shopping that my Mum needed. We then walked around the lake that adjoins the shopping centre, along with lots of other people who were out getting some fresh air.

The path was dry, thank goodness, although there were trails leading off it that were muddier. It was a pleasant walk, but certainly not arduous! There are other lakes in the area, and Stanwick Lakes is just up the road and has more walks, so next time we may go there.

The cafes nearby were doing a roaring trade in takeaway hot drinks and sandwiches, and we sat and enjoyed a hot chocolate. All the benches had notices on them saying that we couldn't sit down, but everyone was ignoring them!

Why?

From Monday you will be able to meet one other person for a coffee or picnic, but it looked like a lot of people were already meeting up!

After we'd enjoyed our hot chocolate, we walked up to the far end of the retail park to see what was happening there. Some of the restaurants were open for takeaway or collection, but the cinema and other leisure centres (including 360 Play) were firmly closed. We crossed to the other side of the park and walked past all the empty shops. All had signs saying they were temporarily closed - they should be able to open on April 12.

Both of us fancied a small bite to eat so we ventured into M&S who had opened their food hall and also the clothes part of the store. I'm sure Next, River Island and Primark weren't happy about that! We picked out a salad for me and gyoza for Sophie and ate in the car where it was a bit warmer!

Before going home we called into Beckworth as I was on the lookout for some pansies or violas. However, there wasn't a huge choice so we bought some frozen pastries for breakfast tomorrow, a bottle of white wine, and headed home. It was cold walking about and our house was lovely and warm when we arrived home!

Sophie and I sat in the conservatory with a Vodka Martini (a la James Bond, shaken not stirred) and played a couple of games of Scrabble. Keith had already prepared tonight's dinner of Coq au Vin so that was simmering away nicely in the oven!

Today, Keith and I have been together for 33 years! To celebrate he'd bought a bottle of Champagne so we opened that and toasted our 33-year union! Where have the years gone?

Dinner, as always, was delicious. I added some dumplings to the casserole and they were lovely and crispy on the outside and fluffy within. The film choice tonight was our latest Bond movie, "The World is Not Enough." We just have one more Pierce Brosnan film to see, before Daniel Craig takes over!

The grey continues...

Day 60

This week continues to be grey and dreary which is a huge disappointment. It's supposed to be much colder tomorrow as well, not really what we wanted to hear!

Keith and I popped to Tesco this morning, and I bought the ingredients to make a fruit clafoutis on Sunday. It's something I've always wanted to make, so I hope it turns out to be OK!

Sophie was home by 4pm again, but she was unable to log into the quiz that's held every week, so she took the opportunity to do a workout. Keith had prepared a Chilli con Carne for dinner so we opted for a bottle of red wine this evening, and watched a film called 28 Days starring Sandra Bullock and a very youthful Dominic West! We thought the film was a romcom, but it had a very dark side to it!

Our meal was delicious and after we'd eaten we caught up with the latest episode of Masterchef. Sophie admires the food critic Grace Dent, and she had given the contestants a brief to make an old-fashioned pudding with a modern twist. All four of them did really well, so not much entertainment value there then!

Pottering about!

Day 59

Keith and I have spent another day pottering about, and not doing much. When the weather was lovely and spring-like last week, I really wanted to get out and do things, but this week, with the grey, dismal skies and chilly wind, I've just felt like staying indoors! We are barely out of winter, I suppose, so there's plenty of time!

Mike is off work now for a few days so at least Keith hasn't got to get up early, take him and then pick him up. We are psyching ourselves up for next week when the schools return, but at least it will only be for three days! 

As I said, we pottered about today doing some chores, but there really is only so much cleaning I can do (or want to do!). When Sophie came home we relaxed in front of the television for half an hour with a drink, and then we both prepared tonight's dinner of fish pie with loads of veggies. The dish is not my favourite, but it went down well with the rest of my family who gobbled it down!

Keith disappeared upstairs to watch the football after dinner and Sophie and I watched a documentary on Netflix about murders in the Mormon church back in the 1980s. It was a bit strange, to say the least!

We get through another day...

Day 58

Looking at the forecast for this week, it appears that the beginning of March is going to stay gloomy and grey. What a shame, because we had plans to go out into the garden and get stuck in!

Today has been much like a repeat of yesterday, although Keith and I did venture out to pay our newspaper delivery bill, and to get some diesel before collecting Mike from work. Exciting stuff, eh? Staying in and not going anywhere definitely seems like the norm now and something we have adapted to, so I think it will be a real novelty when we're able to go out properly for the first time! Life, as it used to be, is a distant memory!

We received a letter in the post today about the forthcoming Census, on the 21 March. We have been encouraged to complete it online, which I'm more than happy to do. It only seems a few years since we completed the 2011 Census, and as an avid family tree researcher, I am eagerly awaiting the 1921 Census, which will become available next year.

It was the Budget today and we managed to watch some on the television. For me, it just involved huge numbers and I do wonder how we're going to pay all this debt back. It's mind-boggling! There will be the inevitable detailed analysis on the news and in the papers, so I will scan that!

After dinner this evening we watched the second episode of Masterchef, but the people taking part seemed a bit boring. Sadists as we are, Sophie and I love to see a pompous entrant falling flat on their face after babbling on about being an excellent cook, but there doesn't seem to be any of that so far! 

Keith and I also watched a new drama called The Terror set in 1846 about two boats trying to find the North-West Passage through the Arctic. It promises to be very good if a little spine-tingling!

Mooching about!

Day 57

We've had another gloomy, grey day and it's been cold! Where has Spring gone? This is why I never trust those early days when we get some warmth, as our weather can turn and we can have snow in March!

Keith and I didn't get up to much today. We stayed indoors and kept warm! My husband did some ironing (he hardly does any these days as we don't go anywhere to wear nice clothes!) while I concentrated on transferring my 2014 blog onto a word document, ready to make into another book. I said to Keith yesterday that I may not make 2020 into a book. The year has too many bad memories for me, and maybe it's best to let it stay online! We'll see.

We adjusted to Mike's new hours and went to collect him at 3.30pm, but he was still late out! At least today he wasn't covered in as much mud as he was last week! Back home I jumped into the bath, as much to get warm as to get clean!

Keith had suggested a takeaway from our local Indian this evening, so we ordered at 6pm and while we waited we caught up on an old episode of Grand Designs from 2009/2010. So long ago! A couple had bought an old barn in the middle of nowhere and dug out a huge area underneath for a "passive" house. Why they put themselves through this I'll never know, but it makes for good viewing!

Our Indian meal tonight was disappointing. Keith and Sophie said their curries lacked taste, and mine just seemed very hot, rather than spicy. It cost Keith £50, cheaper than a meal out, I suppose, but when it's disappointing it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Maybe we'll wait until we can all go out for a meal properly!

The highlight of my day was watching another old television episode - this time Death in Paradise. We're watching the very first series, which we never saw when it first came out. Seeing the beautiful island, the vivid colours and the sea was a real lift to my spirits!

New hours...

Day 56

Sadly, the gorgeous weather of the weekend disappeared this morning, to be replaced with fog, grey skies and drizzle. I was hoping the fog would clear to reveal a beautiful Spring day, but it stayed horrible, chilly and damp without even a hint of sunshine. It certainly affected my mood today!

Keith and I went to Tesco this morning and did our shopping for the next few days. My Mum had asked me to get some jogging bottoms for my Dad as the trousers he was wearing kept falling down. I bought two pairs in grey and navy blue, in a size small, so I hope they'll be better for him.

We called into the care home to drop them off, and I will try and avoid going during the week again as it was busy with the nearby construction which held us up. The road going in was covered in mud again so I dread to think what my poor car looked like!

Back home we realised that it was the Food Bank collection tomorrow, and we had forgotten to get anything in Tesco, so I suggested we go to Lidl in Rushden for a change. It's been ages since we went over and I fancied a look around a different supermarket... how sad are we?!

We drove over and we were surprised to see new building developments by the A14 at the A6 junction. It looks like a new industrial estate is being built with huge warehouses going up very quickly! It didn't take us long to get to Rushden even though the traffic was heavy. Lidl was quiet and we bought some essentials for the collection tomorrow as well as a few treats, including a bottle of wine, and some iced tea for Mike, the same brand that he used to drink in the US.

The plan was to go and get Mike straight away but we were a bit too early, so we called home to put the shopping away. We left to get him, and we had barely reached the village before he called to say he was working a bit later today. This gave us the opportunity to have lunch (me) and prepare the vegetables for dinner (Keith). I enjoyed some oatcakes and celery with hummus. Delicious!

It was gone 2.30pm by the time Mike emerged from work, all muddy and dirty as usual. My poor car! We went home and I sat and watched television with a Lidl almond ice-cream, which looked amazingly like a Magnum. Perfect! Not something I normally do before about 5pm but today I didn't care! I did manage to hoover downstairs and tidy up before Sophie arrived home from work, though! It's looking very much like she will be working permanently in the office now, which is a shame as I miss her being at home and sitting in the conservatory.

I sent her some photos of Monty today. He has taken to sleeping in a wicker basket we have put next to the radiator in the living room, and loves it in there!

In the evening Mike said that his boss had texted him saying they were starting new hours tomorrow - 7am until 3.30pm. Next week, when the schools return, it will be a nightmare going to pick him up as there are two in the area and the streets are full of parked cars. Ho hum!