LD3/WK4

* Sigh* Week four of Lockdown life and it's starting to get a bit samey!!

The weather hasn't helped.

I worked my normal Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, it rained on Wednesday but I did get out between the showers on Thursday. Using the footpathmap website, I completed a route around the back of Walton hill, down onto the Levels, down a drove and along a rhyne - 8kms in total.

I saw starlings, swans, snowdrops, deer, more swans, daffodils in flower, reeds, colourful fungi and a robin, there's always a robin. I was surprised to see the deer and loads of swans, about 20 just in a field.

I was completely out in the middle of nowhere, following this rhyne but using the footpathmap website. You can see all the pubic paths, although as I walked through the middle of a farm yard, I did wonder whether I was in the right place!

Yesterday I parked up at the Hood Monument and headed for roads. The mud really is not much fun right now. I ended up walking down into Compton Dundon, on a circular route back up to the monument. You can access the Polden Way from the bottom, which I might do one day, when everywhere dries out a little.

I saw snowdrops.....

....and daffodils in bud.

My birthday Amaryllis is out in flower now, looking lovely.

This weekend is the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch. I did my count yesterday thank goodness.

 It's grey, wet, blustery and generally miserable here today, not bird weather.

I'll leave you with this shot of a new visitor - a Starling.

They're not my favourite up close, much prefer to see them together in a murmaration.

Anyway here's to getting through another week, have Tuesday off, as I've holiday to use up before the new financial year starts in early March. A random day here and there is actually quite nice at the moment, even if there is nowhere to go. I keep refreshing the weather app, not that it changes anything but hope for some dry days to get out walking. Have a good week xx

LD3/WK3

I worked the Sunday Monday, Tuesday, it rained all day Wednesday!

Lockdown life continues, the start of week 3.....

.......and I baked!

I've devoted some of my time trying to capture my feathered friends. In all honesty, I could waste hours poised with my camera, ready and waiting for 'the' shot!!

And when it's not been raining, I've been out with my camera, walking.

Spotted my first wild snowdrops too.

Friday's walk was mainly on road, I've had enough of the mud now!

Stunning views from around and on top of Walton Hill.

And I spotted some fabulous fungi to photograph too. 

And then this morning, I got up and out in time to capture the mist down in the valleys. 

There was a frost, good firm ground to walk on for once. 

There is an abundance of catkins, new buds and shoots if you look for them.

And the house, as always at this time of year, is full of daffodils. These are the ones Mum and Dad posted last week. They've been fantastic and I'm only now having to replace them.

We moved the pots of daffodils round to the back door too. 

It's always good to catch that little glimpse of promise, out of the corner of your eye x

Oh! and the first haircut of this lockdown just took place. It's 10 weeks until Easter, so if we're in lockdown until then, it's best to just bite the bullet and get on with it!!

 

LD3/WK2 begins

I worked Sunday and Monday, had a days holiday booked for the Tuesday.

It rained ALL day!!

And then just like that, we enter week 2 of Lockdown 3!

The diary is empty!

My New Year hyacinths are filling the house with colour and scent.

And I buy a weekly bunch of tulips or daffs to add to the mix.

A burst of colour on a grey, miserable day, cheers things up no end.

I'm lucky, I have my lovely kitchen to hide out in when it's raining. Jeff is teaching from his study, Sophie is up in the box room, which links into our bedroom, so puts both rooms out of action really and Sam is up in his bedroom. I always feel guilty for some reason, sitting in the sitting room in daytime hours, so I spend all my time in the kitchen.

When possible, very much weather dependent at the moment, I am still trying to get outside and walk, even if it ends up being just once around the block.

I've been trying to plan a route before I go, on foot, from home, 

which is all well and good on paper but the reality these past few walks has been.....

.....MUD, MUD and more MUD!

Honestly, yesterday I nearly had a little cry, as I stood in a waterlogged field wandering whether to try and keep going or turn around and go back and once I did get to the end point, I was just faced with more mud and a gate that seemed too much of a challenge to get to. I did make it but I then rerouted myself on to roads to get home. Hard Work!!

At home I'm continually trying to improve on my bird photography.

I've signed up to the Big Garden Birdwatch, 

I might as well count the birds I try and capture!

Have been trying to improve my photography skills whilst out on my walks too....

....and am forever trying to capture the first signs of Spring.

Some good news for this one! 7pm on Tuesday evening (odd time) he received his first couple of Uni offers. One for Surrey (Brighton) and one for his first choice Cardiff. They're both Conditional on getting ABB which after his Oct resit, is what he's got, so he could accept the offer right now. Not sure if UCAS has updated his new grade, although they assure us it's on the system! I think he's interested to know whether Bristol would offer. They certainly wouldn't on BBC his summer grades but may on ABB if they can see his updated Physics grade. Anyway, one less thing to worry about, he has an offer for his top choice, although has already said if things haven't improved by September, he'll defer for another year! Could end up with them both in Cardiff if Sophie works for the ONS after her degree!

Came home to a lovely surprise from my Mum and Dad yesterday. A box of beautiful Cornish Blooms. Can not recommend more highly this family business, if you wish to send someone flowers. I filled 4 vases and they've always been of the best quality. They'll get me through another week of miserable winter weather.

 

LOCKDOWN 3!!

And so it begins.....

....lockdown three!!

As with lockdowns one and two, I survived them both by getting out and walking. That's my plan for lockdown three, to walk, when I can! The weather isn't going to be great but I can always find excuses.

Tuesday and a walk up to the Hood Monument.

Wednesday, a burst up Wearyall Hill.

Thursday, a fantastic frosty walk down along the River Brue.

Friday, a quick whizz along the top of the Poldens.

And today Saturday, an explore around Street and some local pathways.

I've also managed to capture a few robin pics on my walks.

Wrong side of the branch!!

Today's willing poser!

Same robin but in a different spot.

First sighting of purple catkins - never knew they were even a thing.

I have upgraded my phone, still a OnePlus but an 8 rather than a 5. I'm spoilt now with my new camera but am still interested to see what this can do. The picture below is taken with my new phone.

 

I've just taken down the New Year garland, hedging all my bets on spring flowers dotted around the house, to see me through Winter. Am working Sunday and Monday, got a day off on Tuesday, so it won't be too bad. Would love to afford to do just a two day week, would love to not have to work at all, could easily fill my time and am super jealous of those, where money isn't an issue, being furloughed!! Sam is currently being furloughed, being paid to do bugger all!! He's become nocturnal, staying up until the early hours gaming with friends, making an appearance in the afternoon...... Jeff is teaching virtually from home, Sophie is back up in the spare 'office' room working from home and I'm still going in, facing disgruntled customers who don't like to be told what to do!! It's so frustrating, we've been doing this now for 9 months plus now, so being asked to take a step back when queuing should not be a big deal. I go in to every shift now with trepidation, worried about what confrontations I may be faced to deal with. Don't get me started on the anti mask wearers!!  Fine with legitimate exemption but the rest????? Hence I'd happily not work at all at the moment. 

Anyway just two days in and five days off, have a good week x