July 21

Since I last blogged I have been edging out gradually and my world is expanding a little.

I have been to the hairdresser ,Jacelyn, and had a cut and blow dry. I felt very safe the place was clean and tidy all my things were put into a plastic bag and I had to use hand sanitiser and sign in.It was fantastic to be somewhere normal again and great ti have my hair cut it felt great.

My first trip to the shops was to the wee paper shop on Smithdown  Road where I used to get John's Guardian. I bought a pint of milk and paid with contactless I was the only person in the shop and it felt good to do it.

I then went to the Tesco on the corner and bought a few things including flowers for myself. It was all good, the screens seem  safe for the staff and I wore my mask.One day when I was walking in the park I decided to go to the co-op on Lark Lane for some sesame seeds . I could not get them online of locally, they did not have them either.But it got me into another shop and that felt ok too. Today I went to Asda to get a print made from my phone and while I was there I did some shopping.I am getting braver and braver as time goes on. I am careful but taking a few more risks.

I was happy that Mersey Ferries used some pictures on our wedding pictures in their social media sights, it was lovely to see the pictures there with a little bit of our wedding day story. And it was lovely to read about another two couples who had their weddings on the ferry. too

It is good to be thinking and talking about things other than Covid 19; and Brexit which I notice is creeping back into the news.

I would have been arriving back in Liverpool after two months in Castalla on July 8th but sadly due to covid, I was not able to go at all. I was coming back earlier that usual to celebrate my son Andrew's 50th birthday with him and Lucy , but again due  to to covid, celebrations  had to be postponed.

I had another meal with Andrew and Lucy in Woolton ,this time I took all the food with me and we had another great night together. It was not until Andrew was bringing me home on the Sunday that I realised that they can come to my house if they are in my safe bubble. I really thought that it was only me that could visit them :)

I am still counselling on the phone and I can hear from clients how difficult the lockdown is for them I think mental health issues are and will continue to rise due to this very difficult time on our planet.

I have no confidence in our government or the USA government.I listen to in depth analysis programmes on Radio 4 and have realised that once I have the information I have to take responsibility for myself. That is what has given me the courage to go out more.

My cleaner is back working and it is lovely to have her back again, I love going out for a few hours and coming home to a lovely clean house. Another sign of things returning to normal.

I have been receiving lots of deliveries of the gifts that I ordered for Andrew's birthday. The last one, one I thought I could not get as it was out of stock in a few shops, became available a few days ago and it has made me very happy.
My  main gift, sadly could not be got for Andrew, due to Covid, but maybe in time it will be possible.

I am looking forward to this weekend and seeing Andrew on his 50th birthday and I will celebrate too ,being a mum for 50 years :)



"Breathe darling, this is just a chapter ,not the whole story."

July 5th 2020

So here we are in July, I find it hard to take in. When I hear someone mention the month I feel a bit startled  as it feels like February or March.

I AM MAKING A LOT OF SODA BREAD WHICH I AM REALLY ENJOYING. As are Andrew and Lucy. I am still getting Asda delivery easier and my friends continue to bring me day to day things like milk and fresh veggies.

Janet , brought me more flour and icing sugar she is a real help to me as I love baking , mostly for other people.

My highlight since I last blogged. was to visit Andrew and Lucy to see all the work that they have done in their lovely home.

it was a wonderful weekend. Andrew collected me and we sat in the garden  in the beautiful sunshine and drank some wine.


The garden looks well with the new wall to hide the bins and the beautiful whiskey barrel to collect water and the new garden furniture. The hallway had beed beautifully decorated in a very classy deep green paint below the daydo and a much lighted grey/cream above. Lots of features which reflect their taste so well.

I love the new rope handrail in the attic space, and the plants in the backyard.

We had lovely food and wine and lots of chat and a wonderful catch up, even went into the yard later to see the lights and lantern out there.

We ended the evening with a West Wing episode then we all went to bed.

In the morning, we had breakfast of veggie sausages, then as they did the crossword with Phil and Philip, I had a shower. I was able to have a nice catch up with Philip after my shower as Andrew got ready to bring me home. all in all a wonderful life enhancing experience.

I went to the doctor on Monday morning to have my bloods done and that was another new, since lockdown experience. I did not recognise my lovely Dt Kate she was dressed up like a space woman,

It was an ok experience ,if strange , something we all took for granted just  twelve weeks ago, was a bit scary. I then walked to Woolton in the afternoon to see my dentist, also a bit strange but in the end ok.  I went to Andrew and Lucy afterward, as they are in my bubble. I watched an episode of Succession then Andrew very kindly brought me home.

In one weekend my behaviour had changed and it was all good .Yet when I was home again on the Monday evening in my bubble I felt safe and wanted to stay here. I am not happy about that, I simply notice that is how it is.

I had a lovely Zoom chat with Pilar in Finland, and that was a first for us, we usually meet up in Leeds when she is home or we see each other in Castalla. I miss not being there this year.

My cleaner Carmen has started back now. That is great stuff, that little bit of help once a fortnight, gives me a lift.

I met Tony in Green bank Park and we had a flask with coffee and sat on our coats on the grass and had a good catch up.

I have loved David Olusoga 's programmes on BBC2 about Black British History; he is wonderful

I hope that the next time I blog ,that I will have had my haircut :)

All shall be well
and all shall be well
and all manner of things shall be well.