Post Comment Love 27-29 November

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love.

It does amaze me how quickly we adapt and change our routines, and we’re still doing that. It’s something like week 36 of working from home, which is crazy and while we’re not following the same routine each day, there is still routine. We still base ourselves at the kitchen table each day, though MOH has changed seats now he no longer has the dual screen set up now he’s no longer working. He has naturally assumed the role of making lunch, as well as breakfast, for which I’m grateful for and then later on I’ll cook tea. He’ll head out on his bike or spend his afternoons away from the screen and then will remind me about 7pm what the time is.

I’m sure there’ll be further changes needed as the seasons go on. January and February are the greyest months of the year and we’re thinking about how we can add some colour to our patio, with bulbs, as it’s very likely that we’ll be spending our time gazing over that.

This week - yes, it’s another old photo, though a more recent one - it’s one from our trip to Norfolk before the most recent changes and introduction of the tiers. The flowers and table and chairs were in the small garden outside the front door (which was at the back of the cottage - obviously) and a cheery welcome every time we got back to the cottage. In the summer I’m sure it’d be a great spot.

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Books and bed...

So now we know our post-lockdown tiers. For London it’s tier 2, which is what I expected really, and hoped that it wouldn’t be tier 3, I do feel for those that have unexpectedly found themselves there. I think it was probably close for London, and to be honest with the amount of people out and about on ‘essential’ trips, it could quite easily escalate.

And so, books and bed is quite apt. That feels like a very sensible option. So I thought it was a good time to share the bedroom in the holiday cottage we stayed in last month, ahead of all these tiers. It was a small, but perfectly formed space.

So small that it was mostly the king size bed. The ‘room’ itself had two ‘doors’ or rather curtains across each entrance. There was no walking around the bed, and the bed was high. So high, that there were small stools to help you climb in. But it was a fab space.

The alcove above the pillows held plenty of stylish looking books. Carefully arranged, but books that were clearly well used. As books should be.

The colours drew me in. And then the books did too.

The childhood memories from these Observer’s books came flooding back. I’m sure we had a similar series of books, if not these.

Definitely a world of information at your fingertips.

I told you the room was small didn’t I? But one stuffed full of character.

And despite the decorative approach to the wardrobe there was plenty of inbuilt storage space. Under the bed. That’s why it was so high. The pull out drawers were large enough to hold our travel bag. That alone was worth climbing into bed for.

I hope you’re coping with the latest announcements and the restrictions they bring. I’ve a busy few weeks at work ahead, but the thought - and promise to myself - of books and bed will get me through it.

Let’s talk: York - City walls, tea rooms and plenty more to see

This post is in collaboration with hotels.com, but all views are my own.

Since we’ve been in lockdown again I’ve found myself thinking about travel, and I’m sure I’m not alone.  My mind’s been buzzing with the plans we had that have been postponed until next year,  looking back at the replacement plans we managed to take (just) and well it’s been quite a year for not really going anywhere much, hasn’t it?  It seems though that my travel feet are getting itchy it seems - and realistically, for us, for the time being our travel plans will be in the UK.  But really that’s no hardship as there’s plenty of beautiful places to explore and it’s not that unusual for us to take a UK break either. The real pondering though is do we go somewhere new-to-us, or go back to somewhere we’ve been before as a couple, or revisit places from our childhood holidays.  

One of the places that I’ve visited a few times, both as a child and more recently with MOH, is York.  It’s one of those places, that for me has a bit of magic, and even though our most recent visit is now ten years ago (no, I’m not sure how that’s happened either) but it’d be great to go back as there’s so much to see.  And so, I was curious to see how many of the things on the “best things” list I could tick off  - six easily, which is great, but that also makes we want to head back again.

But that trip, which I’m struggling to believe was 10 years ago, but was also easy to date - you’ll see why -  was also memorable as it coincided with the volcano in Iceland erupting and disrupting travel. I was so glad I’d reserved our seats on the train, and that our train was one that still ran.  Phew.

When we’re away we explore as much of where we are as we can on foot, and I’m certain we clocked up a healthy number of steps walking the City Walls, exploring York Minster, wandering up and down and around The Shambles, climbing up Cliffords Tower for some spectacular views, before heading to Betty’s for refreshments and then later full of cake people watching in the gardens and dragging ourselves out again in the evening.  I know enjoying yourself is hard work.

And you know what? I’d do all of those again, but I’d also be keen to take a look around the National Railway Museum too - MOH is convinced I’m a secret travel nerd, but I dispute that - there’s nothing secret about it! Remember that time we spent a whole day at BMW World in Munich? Yes, exactly.

Photo by Sarah on Unsplash

With its mix of history, shops to explore and cakes, as well as my new discovery, it’s probably just as well we’re still currently in lockdown.  None of us can be sure what the tiers system will bring until it’s confirmed later in the week, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to plan where we can, check the current restrictions and do what’s sensible.  But most of all, to make sure we take the opportunities that come our way, safely.