Day 352

Half Term.

Originally, I had planned to catch up with friends (outside) and enjoy the turning of the Spring leaves and warm(ish) sun.

But with Lockdown 3.0 still in effect, it put paid to any socialising.  SO…what was I to do with my week off?  As the time grew closer, and after a really manic few weeks (actually, months) I was really looking forward to doing nothing.

And maybe some baking.

 

Monday

Rain.  Of course it rained on my first day off.

I did some chores around the house, in the hope that the clouds would float away and offer me a lunchtime walk window…but that was not to be.

I really didn’t have the energy to exercise, but wanted to start my week as I meant to go on, so I pulled on my wellies and jacket and made my way out the door.  After about half an hour I was done in.  Sweaty, damp from the rain and exhausted, but I was determined to persevere, so I took “the long way home”

Turns out it wasn’t the best decision I ever made.

I trekked along the seemingly never-ending track, a downhill momentum helping me to keep going and set an even pace.  Two muddy kids cycled past and I held my breath and nodded a tight-lipped but polite hello, then it was back to solitude.  I relished the peace and stillness, the beauty of the green fields and the smell of damp grass.

Triumph lay ahead.  Only two final fields to cross, then I was on the home straight!  I took a moment to pause and closed my eyes, breathing deeply and feeling calm and grateful.  Then I looked at the rolling hills…and the river, which was a lot higher than usual.  I squelched through the mud, avoiding the slippery-looking patches and made my way to the wooden bridge.

Everything looked fine, but as I got closer, I realise the end of the bridge was submerged.  If I was an athletic person, I probably could have jumped it.  But I am both clumsy and lethargic (hence deciding it was too far to go back the way I came) and I just had to try and make it work.

I climbed, jumped, clamoured (and slid on my arse) but I made it on to the bridge.  My heart sank, because the other side was even worse.

Let’s just say I am glad there was nobody around to witness my shenanigans across the sunken bridge of Atlantis:

I whacked the hot water on as soon as I got home and an hour later was soaking (this time in a good way) in the bath, with an inordinate amount of bubbles and a glass of vino.

It was almost 5pm, don’t judge me.

My God it was bliss.  I watched Netflix on my iPad, covered my face in a sticky honey face mask and leaned back and relaxed.

I learnt 2 things that evening:

1. I can use my empty wine glass to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, thus relinquishing the need to stand up and shower
2. Don’t use a hard skin remover whilst under the influence.

 

Wednesday

Breakfast was lush: a bowl of warming porridge, sliced banana and tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter.  A good set up for the day….which was yet another soggy event.

Kingston Lacey was grey and drizzly.

I managed to spot some crisp, white snowdrops, but the rest of the foliage was either on its way out or just a tiny green shoot in the otherwise bland grass.   Not the colourful and vibrant scene I remembered from previous visits.

However, I did my 10,000 steps, munched on quorn nuggets and chatted to a friend on my way round, so it wasn’t all bad.

The kicker was, despite our cunning plan, I did not manage to get in to the park for free.  It was all going well until they checked the database and noted that my friend’s partner was a “Mr” (schoolgirl error).  Plus there was the fact that we turned up in two separate cars and were stood 2 metres apart.

Bloody Poirot.

I was a “good” tired when I arrived home and managed to warm up and cosy on down.  I watched four episodes of the new Will & Grace and lay on the sofa under a blanket, hardly blinking.  An hour in, I needed a sweet fix.  I checked out my snack tin and found one remaining After Eight Mint.

SCORE!

And it was a G&T flavour too!  I almost had a meltdown when it slid out of its smooth, slippery black envelope and fell directly into the bin.

FFS.

 

Friday

I managed to have a little bit of a lie in and then took to the trailway for a walk.  After a stomp through a large puddle, I discovered my wellies had a weak spot.  My left heel was soaked and I had yet to make the return journey home.  Oh the joy of a British Spring.

Back at the homestead it was time for lunch, followed by baking.  Hot, gooey cookies and a scoop of my new fave Ben & Jerrys – vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate shapes, brownie, salted caramel swirl and topped with a chocolate hazelnut “lid”.  My goodness…it was fresh-baked deliciousness, straight from the oven and into my gob.

Note to self:  always check my reflection after baking.  The postman may think you are sniffing your cocaine.

I paired my evening wind-down with a cool glass of Amaretto, lime juice and cranberry.  This was followed by a hot shower and face mask, some reading and manicuring.  I felt completely relaxed and chilled and couldn’t believe it was already the end of the week.

Darren came home and I cooked a Chinese feast (from Gousto, so not entirely from scratch) and then managed to throw a hot, glass casserole dish lid across the floor.  I would like to say I was tipsy, but basically I am just clumsy and sometimes a bit dim.

Spoiler:  the lid didn’t make it