I have been a bit lax and didn’t write my blog last Friday. It is amazing how you can fill your time doing absolutely nothing. I am still angry with the Government. Just tell us what the plan is. We don’t need an actual date! My frustration comes because I like to be in control and plan things for the future. With no control and no idea what the future will look like you can imagine I am not in the best of moods. Last Wednesday was a really low point and for whatever reason this Wednesday isn’t much better. Maybe I should just stay in bed on Wednesdays.

Last week we went for walks in the evening as the weather was sunny and very warm. The horse chestnut tree is looking very lush.

There are still a few trees covered in blossom but it is turning into confetti now. What is wonderful is the smell of lilac and wisteria.

On Saturday we went for a much longer walk and discovered a number of ruins and follies along the way. These included the church of St John’s at Boughton Green which is meant to be haunted.

The gatehouse of Holly Lodge is also quite impressive and was once owned by a member of the Jeyes Fluid family.

Further along the lane is another folly known as The Spectacle.

This walk gave me an opportunity to see and hear lambs in the field which was a bit of a boost. The bluebells in the wood here were more impressive than the ones I saw the previous week.

There are a multitude of butterflies around including orange tips, woodland brown, brimstone, peacock and this beautiful holly blue.

I should have been at the hairdressers last week for my usual cut and colour. It will be interesting to see what I look like in the coming weeks. I have been blonde since my teens apart from a brief spell when Sophie and Jack were little when time and money were in short supply. I have a feeling there will be a lot of grey coming through and an uncontrollable fringe to deal with. I may set a new trend in wonky fringes if I grab the scissors in frustration.

Today was my weekly shopping trip to Waitrose and I am pleased to see that there is now more food on the shelves. Social distancing was well observed which meant I didn’t get too stressed. I went to the local farm shop, Smiths,  who sell tasty pies and cakes and joy of joy there was a coffee cart outside. How I have longed for a latte over the past few weeks. I bought one and came back via Pitsford Water and pulled into the layby and savoured the coffee looking out over the water with the window down listening to the birds.

The weather has changed and it is a lot cooler and we have had rain. I have spent time reading and this week’s delights were:

Tim Winton’s The Shepherd’s Hut based in Western Australia and which focuses on the relationship between a wayward teenager and an older man who lives in a hut in the desert. Skillful story telling by Winton. Also,

Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls which tells the story of Briseus, a noble woman who becomes Achilles’ battle prize and covers the final months of the Trojan Wars. I would recommend them both.

As always, stay safe and well.