Back to normality!?!

This week has felt a little more normal. We've had beautiful blue skies but a chill wind, okay if you can find a sheltered spot to sit out. I've ventured out more this week, a trip to Shepton to get my hair coloured, two trips to Wells and this morning, Sophie and I ventured over to Yeovil. I've done my yoga and Di our hairdresser, FINALLY cut our hair! I think with any of these things, get there early before it gets too busy and leave just as it starts.

I've been patiently waiting to go to the Bishop's Palace in Wells. I was going to buy myself a membership back in November, as a birthday treat but we then went into Lockdown. Good job I waited but then, the other day on Facebook, I saw the most beautiful picture of.....

a tulip display in the Quiet garden.

It was stunning, beautiful, simply breathtaking 

as you turned the corner and entered that part of the garden.

The rest of the gardens were lovely too and for just £15 I can come and go and visit as often as I like over the course of the year. I used to go when we lived in Wells and the children were small but it will be lovely to go, once a month at the very least, similar to The Newt.

Then on Friday Sam and I ventured over to Wells again, on a mission of mine to find a Bluebell Wood. Sam knew of a place from walks with friends, so we parked up and went hunting.

It did not disappoint.

Photo's don't do the scene justice, a beautiful carpet of blue across the wood floor.

But the big thing this week has been sorting out my mop!!

I got it coloured on Wednesday, then last night (Friday) Di came over and cut our hair. I honestly don't think it's been this long. Four months is a long time when you normally get it cut every four weeks, even with Jeff's two under shave cuts!!

So much better. 
I can finally be seen out in public again!

I hope we don't have to go into lockdown again, not sure I could face my hair again!!

Time to open things up!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, Monday marked a big stage in reopening shops, hairdressers, gyms, swimming pools, outside eating, meeting other people ......

.... so after three months plus, I got to meet up with my sister.

I took her for a walk along the Polden Way, saw our first bluebells.....

.... all the way out to Hurcot Hill, a good 7 miles of walk and talk!!!

Jeff and I then did our first yoga in a year and boy did I know I'd done it the next morning!!

I then got to spend my morning with Sam on Friday, heading over to our beloved Stockhill Woods. Was nice to spend some time with him, he's good company.

And it was lovely to be back in the stillness and feel calm wash over you x

And then this morning I met up with Jo and Ella over at the Newt, making the most of her time off before the school term restarts. What a beautiful day.

It's a stunning place, mid way point and a good place to amble.....

.....made a new friend!!

So it's back to work tomorrow for me, my Sunday, Monday, Tuesday stint.....

......then my hair colour on Wednesday. 

I seriously can not wait to get my mop sorted. I don't think it has EVER been this long and it's driving me nuts! Jeff has done his best, giving it an under shave twice but it now needs a proper good cut on Friday and my colour on Wednesday to get rid of the grey!! Roll on next week xx

 

Venturing out of lockdown

As we venture out of lockdown and are now allowed to see other people, I guess some attention needs to be paid on the extra pounds gained in lockdown!! I jumped straight on board after the Easter Excess and have been trying to get myself back in to the fasting, high protein/high fat//low/no carbs and sugar regime. I need to be super strict to get myself back in the zone. It's been hard when you've had nothing to look forward to but we might be going to Greece this summer, who knows if it will go ahead but if it does I need to be ready!!

We were contacted by the owner of the place we'd booked in Kassiopi, saying our dates were no longer available for the whole week but he'd find us alternative accommodation. This gave us the prompt to actually make out trip a 3 stop holiday, staying in Corfu Town first, then stopping over in Kalami, before going on up to Kassiopi. Something to look forward to, even if it doesn't happen.

Sophie and I ventured out for the first time on Thursday. She's had this week off, as have Jeff and Sam but the weather has been something and nothing. I still worked the Monday and Wednesday so we've not really done much and Jeff has happily returned to his refereeing!!  Anyway we went over to The Newt, just 30mins up the road but it was a change of scenery.

We got there early, so it was nice and quiet....

....and we got to see the deer.

It was blumin cold though, and as everything has to be outside until the 17th of May, it wasn't worth hanging around. So as we were leaving and it was getting busy, we got my coffee and brought it home.

Jeff, Sophie and Sam all return to work next week, we should have been in Seville!!! Millfield broke up a week early and so are back in a week earlier than the state schools. Shops are allowed to reopen on Monday, as is eating outside. I'm hoping to see my sister for a walk and a catch up mid week. Get to have a patch test for my hair colour on Friday, inching closer to getting my hair sorted. Yoga opens back up and there's a spare place for me, so slowly and safely we venture back into the world!!

Have a good week xx

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Always such a happy occasion.......

....how can it not be, when you get to eat the most delicious chocolate cake x

And get to enjoy chocolate eggs....

....and hot cross buns!!

I'll be honest, I've indulged a little too much. Have reached my crunch point, keep going as I am and see all my hard work evaporate or knuckle down, change a few habits and get things back on track!! Have recently read/am hoping to finish today 'Downsizing' by Tom Watson, the former Deputy Leader of the Labour party. He lost 8 stone and might just be the nudge I need, to motivate me to start on my mini journey ahead. If I do something now, then I'll be giving myself an easier task ahead.

Lots of positives in the garden. 

We planted a lot more bulbs this year and everywhere is looking lovely.

These were £1.50 a pot from work, how lovely do they look?

So this week, we've said farewell to March.....

...and said hello to April.

We've been treated to some wonderful blue skies and sunshine but too chill of a wind 

to be able to sit out and enjoy it.

Jeff's been busy out the front, trying to bring my idea to life!

Basically I wanted a large planter across the front of the house. A couple of years ago, he ordered these two planters from Ebay (top half of pic), not what I wanted at all. They get lost and just looked untidy. 

What I wanted, was this!!!

A chunky, meant to be there, planter!!

I'm hoping to fill it with Sunflowers at the back, geraniums and lobelia spilling over the front and then a mid height 'something' to give a bit of medium height. The plan then is to fill it with bulbs in the Autumn, ready for a fab display in Spring and then replant ready for Summer.

Saw this fabulous spring display up in the grounds of Jeff's school

In fact our whole walk was beautiful.

Perfect colour combo!!

So here's wishing you all a wonderful, sun filled Easter.

I hope you get to spend time with family if you can or just get to enjoy a little time to relax! Jeff is out refereeing a football game, Sophie came down to say good morning and has retreated to her room, Sam has yet to make an appearance!! I'm about to make myself a coffee and hot cross bun and see if it's warm enough yet to sit outside......

.......it was (just) xx