Last week I had a birthday. A big one! I am now the grand old age of forty! 😛 And although I can no longer describe myself as a ‘young’ lady, and will now have to tick the middle age box on official forms… I am beyond elated to be entering my fifth decade. It’s … More Reaching 40
The bees were buzzing, the sun was beaming, and the drinks were chilled. Lottie was sniffing for stray chips, the ‘Aunt Sally’ team were throwing balls at a dummy, and Phil was critiquing his pint. It was a normal August evening in our village pub garden… except it wasn’t quite! 😉 The benches were spread … More Navigating The New World
It was the day after shielding had been paused. It was our first adventure, our first holiday, our first trip in five long months; and we were full of joy. As the sun beamed down on us, we sat in a deserted camping field, drinking tea, admiring the hills in the distance, and excitedly making … More Rejoining The World
It’s Thursday. In life before lockdown, it was just another evening. Maybe a game, maybe some cleaning, maybe catching up with the box. But for the past seventeen weeks, ever since the coronavirus forced us all to stay in to safe safe, Thursday has become ‘Theatre Night’! Drinks and snacks and rushing to get seated … More Life In Lockdown
For the past five months, an app on my mobile has been counting down the days until Phil’s birthday. Each morning, before I check Whatsapp and skim the BBC news, I quickly glance the number. And although I’d like to claim it’s because I’m a wonderful wife, preparing an elaborate celebration (I’m not; I might … More Counting Down The Days
For the past five months, a handmade poster has been blue-tacked to my front door. Throughout March and April and May and June and July, it has stood like a sentry on the threshold of my castle. Greeting visitors, thanking visitors, advising visitors we won’t be answering the door. We. Are. Shielding. The colours are … More The End Of Shielding
It was the last place on earth I wanted to be during a pandemic. The last place. After four months of shielding, of staying home, of seeing no one. After 16 weeks of washing my shopping, quarantining my mail, not answering the door. After 113 days of doing everything I could do to keep myself … More Going Into The Lion’s Den
I was in bed last night when my sister sent me a text. A rather exciting one. The basket limit for Tesco home deliveries, the maximum number of items purchasable per trip… had been increased to 95! Wahoo! With a delivery due on Wednesday, I went to bed dreaming about the extra tins I could … More The 80 Item Basket Limit
I’ve not seen my Mum since Christmas. Since December the 27th to be exact. The last time we were together; we were stuffed full of turkey, wearing Santa jumpers, playing one last game of ‘Catan’. But last week, after 187 long long long days apart… we finally met up again. 🙂 And although it was … More I Saw My Mum!
The side gate was left open so she wouldn’t need to touch anything. A chair had been strategically placed mid-lawn, which would be immediately quarantined afterwards. The washing machine and shower were ready for their upcoming decontamination duties. And the welcoming committee (Lottie 😉 ) had been locked inside, for fear of over-enthusiastic sniffing. Hair … More A Lockdown Confession
