Reflecting on my week #137

This past week has felt the most normal for a while, with normal things happening including having family over, going out, twice, and a house move in the family - we’ve yet to visit, but have an open invite so hope to pop up soon. Work has been as busy as usual, but that’s the reality right now. It felt normal to have family over, for them to stay overnight, but was less normal is the amount of cleaning we needed to do beforehand. Being in the house pretty much full time since the middle of March has seemed to attract more dust and insects than it normally would. Don’t get me wrong, we have cleaned in all that time, but when you have people staying, family or otherwise, you find time to give everything a bit more of going over.

This week though that time was straight after a night out. Not a big night out, but a soft opening for one of the local bars. Of course after a week of nice weather and threatened storms, the rain arrived to coincide with our booking for an outdoor table. We left home almost dressed for winter, though the new waterproof I bought during lockdown came in handy. By the time we got even part-way there we were wetter than we wanted to be, so waited for a bus. Another first.

Actually some habits don’t change, we only waited as the board said it was only 2 minutes away. When it did arrive, with masks on, we got on tentatively. There was plenty of space, and with a capacity of 11 people for a single decker bus, it’s hard to see how this will work when more people are back at work. Luckily our outdoor reservation was moved inside, and we really tested the system, by arriving later than we should have done.

After a gin and tonic or several it was time for food, so as it’s been a while we headed over to Franco Manca. The virtual queue was also the track and trace requirement and worked really smoothly, there were less tables in the restaurant and we sat in a completely different part of the restaurant than before. In fact I’d never even noticed the tiles before, and now that I have, i can’t imagine why ever not.

We’ve had another visit from the dragonfly, though this time it came no further than the conservatory. MOH spent time on and off trying to shoo it out, which was most entertaining for me, less so for the dragonfly. Both it and MOH needed to rest at times, due to the heat I’m sure. While it was nice to have lunch, breakfast and dinner outside, it has been a tad on the warm side, so the cooler temperatures and rain were are almost welcome, just for a bit.

Then on Sunday it was nice to pick up my crochet again, it’s been a while. And of course, now I’m out of the mini skeins, so I’m waiting for the next delivery, which should arrive soon.

The colours this month have been blues and lilacs, which are colours I wouldn’t naturally go for, but they’ve grown on me. Yet again I’m curious to find out where the colour-way is taking me next.

I’m also wondering if I’ve been over-brave in going for a multi-coloured wearable… Only time will tell.

Reflecting on my week #136

Wednesday again, and I’m only just getting my thoughts together for this post, it seems that time is still something eaten by this pandemic. But the past week has seen even more what used to be normal activities take place, including a weekend visit to Norfolk to see my parents, a day out of the house and getting into the habit of baking bread again.

The latter never seems to hang around for long though!

We had a random midweek day off, and managed to time it to coincide with some lovely blue skies, and feeling the need to do something, we headed out for a walk along the Thames Path. We used to cycle that way pretty regularly and I was interested to see how it had changed, especially the section closest to the Thames Barrier.

As we were on foot, that’s where we planned to start so took a more direct route there. MOH still cycles this way occasionally and shared information about a new walkway, which is where some of the pictures of the pigeon cruise were taken from.

But to get there we walked through an old industrial area, which looked stunning in the sun. I’m under no illusion that it would have looked a lot less ‘Cuba-esque’ on a more dreary day.

It’s about to be redeveloped, and has the real potential to become a thriving community, adding to the arts centres and local businesses located close by. I hope it doesn’t lose all of its character, though the greenery sprouting from the building probably won’t survive.

We forget don’t we, what we have on our doorsteps - It was good to remind myself of views like this as we walked towards Greenwich. I have plenty more photos, so expect a couple more posts yet.

We stopped for lunch in the pub, our first visit since they reopened here. Sitting outside, enjoying the view and a pint it was almost believable that life was normal. Though there were new ways of operating - everything ordered through an app, not going to the bar etc. - which weren’t immediately clear or obvious, but we got there. By the time we arrived home, we’d clocked up over 22,000 steps and was a little pinker from the sun than we’d have liked. Neither of us were up for much active gardening, and so spent the late afternoon with our feet up and enjoying the weather.

We headed to Norfolk at the weekend to see my parents, our first trip since the middle of March. It was good to see them in person (obviously) and good to have a wander along the front, although it was way busier than anywhere I’d been for a while, which was a little disconcerting. The black clouds were looming though, and I think most people were heading home to stay dry. Not quite so for us, but luckily, as the rain started we were close to a small and pretty much empty cafe, so stopped for an ice cream and sheltering under their cover.

Mum and dad have been on a bit of a clear out mission it seems, going through their loft and finding some absolute treasures, like the masterpiece above. I’ve no recollection of it, but it was assumed to be mine, as my brother commented that he didn’t think he could draw that well now, let alone then. I think we do lose our drawing skills, or maybe it’s our confidence to draw, that we lose?

We left with more than we arrived with, including our first runner bean of the season, which were promptly eaten with pasta the very next evening. I don’t think mine will be far behind either, so that’s good too. They are one vegetable we rarely, if ever, buy and I’m mildly amused to see them in the shops too. They are somewhat of a family tradition, and it won’t be that long before our freezers fill up with sliced beans, just so there’s enough to ‘see us through’ and for Christmas lunch too.

There was more excitement in the greenhouse too when I checked it early on Monday morning - my tomato plants finally have a flower. We might have tomatoes after all…

Reflecting on my week #135

Well this weekend was definitely a weekend of two days weather-wise here. Sunny and sun lounger weather on Saturday, much less so on Sunday. Both though have been relatively easy days for us. I’ve realised that I’m not really switching off from work, or being online at the moment, and so something needed to be done. I thought perhaps some crafting would help, and I’m sure it would have, but I was in a dither about what and where to start, so another plan was needed.

I realised that I’d not read a book since before lockdown. I also know how good they are for taking some time. So this weekend that’s what I did. I could have read an e-book on my iPad, but I opted to go old school and picked up one of the actual books mum had shared with me. It wasn’t particularly high-brow, and the plot turned out to be pretty predictable, but you know what. It’s just what I needed. And the sun lounger setting wasn’t so bad either.

I finished it today, and was pleased to have done so. But also pleased as it held my attention more than an e-book might have done. I am an obsessive book reader, so losing myself in this was good for me, this weekend. I know I’ve another busy week ahead and so it was good preparation, and an enjoyable book!

This weekend I also realised just how much I’d missed eating out. We headed to a local restaurant, Copper & Ink, which I’ve mentioned here before. Even with its Covid-secure arrangements it’s still as good as ever, and we’ll be heading back, both for an in-restaurant experience and to take advantage of their takeaway options too. As ever I only thought about photos once my plate was clean…

As ever we went for the easy choice and very tasty option of the tasting menu. What I especially love about this restaurant is how willing and prepared they are to swap out dishes for people with allergens. So instead of the crab cakes and crab bisque, for me it was a fantastic chicory citrus salad. We also opted for the wine pairings and a couple of cocktails. And I’ve got my eye on the octopus salad for takeout - and yes, i’m ok with octopus, semi-ok with crab - but it’s not something I want to put to the test, just in case and less ok with some other seafood. Yes, my body is weird, but it’s how it is.

It has been a funny week here, starting with some potential redundancy news for MOH. During the week that confirmed itself, and what will be will be, and in truth he’s been waiting for it to make itself known. We won’t know more until the end of the summer, but I’m sure he won’t be the only one facing this kind of wait, and for some, it will be a lot more anxious.

We woke on Sunday to rain. Complete contrast to the previous day, and the snails were making the most of it, sliming all over my agapanthus and some of our beans, which seem to have tripled in size overnight.

One thing about working from home - and last week as week 17, that’s over four months - is that we can pop out to the garden to pick our salad leaves for lunch. That’s pretty special, and they are way tastier than those bags of salad. I think we’ve a few more weeks working from home ahead of us, and hopefully plenty more salad pickings too. Though I probably should sow some more, just to make sure.