2025 Diary - Page 56

25 March

Woke up early so pounded away on the treadmill and got a lot of steps done and calories burnt.

Main job for today was a meeting with Alex Bessent to discuss my pensions and our finances in general. That didn't take too long because I knew what I wanted before we met up. It's over to Alex to sort out the paperwork now.

We went to Obica for lunch then wandered back to Charing Cross and came home.

Jonathon went to collect some bits and pieces from Tim while I sorted out the paperwork for Dad's care costs / NYC.

TV watching in the evening.

26 March

Gym to start the morning - I spent quite a while there because I didn't have anything in my diary until 11 a.m.

I hosted a Knoll Chit Chat Gathering at BR6. There were 12 of us altogether so a good number. The service was a bit chaotic but we all got what we ordered in the end.

I delivered the latest batch of knitted hearts to Francis Chappell - they were delighted because they'd almost run out.

I tried to book a table at the GPO for the April quiz but they were closed. I also tried to book a table at Primo Caffe for the next Chit Chat meeting but they don't take bookings so that wasn't very successful.

I'd ordered some strawberry plants - they arrived today so I planted those. As it was a "3 packs for 2" offer, I had some spare so I put the spares onto our local Sharing group and they were snapped up within minutes.

27 March

Joined the early circuits class that was led by Simona rather than Ela today so a bit different but equally tough.

I was really pleased to see that some of the crocuses that Stephanie and team had given me as a leaving present were starting to peep through the grass. I thought they'd been planted too late but they are very resilient flowers.

I went for a walk after circuits - it was far too nice a morning to be inside for long.

I cleaned the greenhouse up and put the new grow bags in place ready for this year's tomatoes. While I was on my knees in that area I did some weeding on the patio so that looks tidier now as well.

I spoke to EE Head Office but they weren't able to help re Nicola's phone so we've suggested she think about handing the SIM back to us and start with a new one.

We went to a "Greener, Cleaner" presentation at The Cricketers in the evening. We didn't learn much but it was quite interesting.

28 March

Yoga was cancelled so I did my own thing in the gym and burnt some calories. I have three more days this month and I need to burn 909 active calories on each of those days to meet this momnth's stretch target (a 16 day holiday makes targets tricky!)

Although rain was forecast, hardly any arrived but there was plenty of sunshine. The quince shrub is looking spectacular and the spring border in our back garden is lovely this year. I'm very happy with self-seeded plants.

30 March

The clocks went forward last night and it seemed really early when I woke up to go to the gym this morning.

The service at Church was led by Sohail. The daffodil posies were duly handed out so the greenery I provided was well used.

I took the Knoll group on a sunny walk through Goddington Park and Lilly's Wood.

I caught up with Christine with our usual weekly phone call.

31 March

I hit my stretch target for the month - hurrah!

Went to Ela's early circuits class then decided to take advantage of the lovely weather and create the next Charity Clue walk. I had a fair idea of where I thought we should go this time in my head and it seemed to work fine so I've told the walkers that's what the walk will be on Saturday.

It was lovely to see the tulips starting to open.

I tidied up the front garden a bit - basically cutting back the Cornus and pulling out a few bits left over from the alstromaerias and lillies.

I repotted the tomatoes I got from Jo and I cut back the Sedum, an ornamental holly and a couple of fir trees (shrub size) in the back garden so it all looks a bit tidier.

Jonathon waited for EDF to arrive and fit a replacement meter (their request rather than ours) but they didn't show - very frustrating.

Alma came and cleaned the house and Carole sent me a copy of Dad's Care Support Plan with our coments on that she's sent to NYCC.

Quite a few things crossed off the "to do" list today.

1 April

I put a request in to my GP surgery for a FeNO test so let's see what happens.

I got a space on Matt's circuits class so did that - good fun. Jo was also there and she mentioned that she has Summer asthma as a result of hay fever - hopefully that's all that's wrong with me because that's manageable, as is asthma

Our main activity for today was a visit to RHS Hyde Hall in Essex. It was a new garden for us and well worth a visit.

Jonathon spent most of his time in the bird hide. It overlooks the reservoir but there wasn't much bird activity. I wandered round the garden - lots of variety and plenty to see. The cafe isn't Betty's but our jacket potatoes on the way in were very nice, as was the cake on the way out!

There was an Easter Egg trail - this one was my favourite. There were also a lot of sculptures around the garden, most of which had an Aesop's fable with them - very interesting.

I cleaned the bird seed holders and the bird baths when we got home and did some watering, especially the newly planted strawberries.

2 April

Having enjoyed someone else's garden yesterday, today I appreciated ours! There are loads of Spring flowers out and plenty of colour from both flowers and foliage. It was a bit too windy and chilly to do much work in the garden but it was good to wander round.

Before that, I went to the gym and did some supermarket shopping.

I checked the route and clues for the Charity Walk on Saturday. A couple of tweaks were needed so a good job I checked it.

We spent quite a bit of time late afternoon trying to catch a very large mouse that Oli kindly brought in for us. Not only was it the biggest mouse I've seen him bring in but it was also extremely fast and agile. We caught it twice but it escaped both times. We are hoping that it ran out of the open door after the chase because we couldn't find it any more. Oli came back in and didn't give any indication that it was still inside but he was very interested in the leaves behind the plant pots outside the door. The humane traps are down and baited just in case.

3 April

It was almost worth getting up before dawn to see the amazing sunrise this morning. Did Ela's circuits class - it involved a lot of running this morning which isnn't my favourite thing.

I took Mia, Nellie and Tisha for their Thureday walk. Carol had been given some coffee and walnut cake which was too much for her so she sent some of it home with me for Jonathon.

We went into Bromley to get some new trainers and had lunch at Etna. The food was lovely but the service was really slow so it took longer than I expected.

Mum messaged to say her Humax was kaput so a new one is ordered to take up with us at the end of the month.

4 April

Did a bit of exercise in the gym then joined June's walk. We went to Kelsey Park in Beckenham and I showed them Harvington Woods and rec. while we were in that area. Anne had asked about it last time we were at Kelsey so it was a good opportunity to go there.

We worked on the smoke alarms for a while and proved that the unit that was in the garage is faulty so Jonathon's ordered a new one.

I did some gardening in the afternoon and, unfortunately, took a tumble so my wrist is poorly again now. Nothing broken but quite stiff and sore.

5 April

My wrist isn't as bad this morning but I didn't risk circuits and went on the recumbent bike instead.

Jonathon went to photograph UK Soul Choirs near Canterbury after dinner - I didn't join him this week having seen the concert last weekend.

I cut the grass then led the Knoll Active group on a Charity Clue walk. There was quite a good turnout and we raised £54. The charity picked out of the hat was the Bike Project at St. Barnabus so I'll send the money to them when they provide me with their bank details.

6 April

I decided to test and measure the VE80 walk using the info we have to date before going to the gym. Jonathon was going to Devon so I came home after the walk and decided I didn't need to go to the gym anyway - I'd hit my fitness targets without!

I popped to Tesco to try and find something I fancied for lunch and then decided I'd have tuna salad rather than anything more complicated or cooked.

Jonathon disappeared and had the journey from hell - took him ages to get to Teignmouth because of closed motorways and traffic etc.

I caught up with Mum on the phone. She wasn't feeling too good today but had her Covid jab yesterday so it could be related to that perhaps. I also caught up with Christine. We spoke for almost 2 hours but I still don't know what we talked about - general chatter rather than anything meaningful.

7 April

I didn't go to circuits this morning but I'm hoping my wrist will be OK for tomorrow's class. I did some treadmill pounding instead.

Gilda came over and we went to Brockwell Park and home via West Dulwich then Ephesus for lunch. The swans are still sitting on their eggs (the male was having a bit of peace and quiet away from the nest when we saw him).

Alma was here when I got home so the house is nice and clean again.

I took some wool round to Jane - she also knits hearts for Francis Chappell - then met Carol and Richard to discuss the VE80 walk at Second Home. I think we made quite good progress but there's still a lot of work to be done.

Oli seems to be missing Jonathon. He spent most of today on his bed.

It's so dry that I'm having to water more than normal at this time of year and the pond is evaporating. There's no rain in the immediate forecast so I'll watering the plants that need it for a while.

8 April

I got a space on Matt's class at the gym this morning so did that. My wrist ached a bit afterwards (should have stuck to lighter weights perhaps) but I did OK.

Having "survived" eating chocolate in Costa Rica I decided to try some from Tesco. The one from Madagascar is really tasty, the one from Uganda less so and I definitely can't have a bit of each because it made my head spin!

I had confirmation from M&S that Jonathon's new mattress cover was ready for collection so I went to pick it up. I delivered a load of old newspapers to Orpington Cat Rescue because it was (almost) on the way.

I wanted a goats cheese and avocado salad for lunch but it seems M&S in Orpington don't sell that so I had cauliflower cheese instead.

I walked back home alongside the River Cray. The pollen looks beautiful but it's playing havoc with my hayfever! I had confirmation from the NHS that I'm on the list to see the Lung / Breathing clinic so I'm waiting to see if it is hayfever or something else.

I tidied up my plants in pots in the afternoon and was surprised to see one of the Clematis with lots of buds - seems very early but the weather has been unseasonably warm and dry. Hopefully, any frost that arrives won't kill them off.

9 April

Went to the gym then delivered the latest batch of knitted hearts to Francis Chappell before doing a bit of shopping.

I met Mark at Grove Park station mid afternoon and we walked through Chinbrook Meadows to Elmstead Woods then caught the train home.

It's always good to see the carved totem poles in the woods.

We joined the rest of the team at the GPO for this month's quiz. We didn't do very well - 10th out of 16 teams. We were rubbish in the music round - far too modern for us!

10 April

I did a Tabata class this morning - just as I remembered - like a frantic circuits class.

I took the dogs out. Tisha had two walks today because she went with Mia on the first walk as well as with Nellie on the second. She definitely likes to get out and about. When I got back to Carol's after the second walk, I had trouble shutting the front door. A bit of trim seemed to have come loose so, once we'd established what the problem was, we sorted it out and I left her safe. Her lodger will repair it in a more lasting way.

I measured the shorter route for the VE80 walk and Carol is now happy that most people will be able to manage it (3.4 km). With the info chats along the way it will still take an age but should be interesting for the participants.

My treat for today was The English National Ballet at Sadlers Wells. I wasn't keen on the first piece, albeit that the principal dancer was amazing, but the show just got better and better. The final section was amazing and we all came away from the theatre with big grins on our faces! Brilliant!

11 April

Jonathon came home from Devon today. Having studiously ignored him for an hour or so, Oli decided they were best friends after all so all back to normal.

I didn't fancy the gym today so went for a walk instead. Someone had mentioned that the usually muddy area in Covet Wood had been dealt with so I went to check on that for Monday's walk with Gilda - very well hard-cored so should now be walkable most of the year.

I joined Peitra, Jacqui and Gary at a quiz to raise funds for Greenwich Wildlife Network. Amazingly, we won even if we didn't understand the scoring system - thankfully it was all electronic.

12 April

I did a couple of loads of washing and pegged it on the line to make the most of the unseasonably lovely weather then went to the gym.

I'd been asked to do a weekend walk to Crystal Palace. Unfortunately, the person who asked for the walk wasn't able to come but we still went to see the dinosaurs.

Part way round, we split into two groups so the dogs could have a longer run around and the coffee drinkers could go to the cafe while the rest of us went back to the station to come home.

14 April

I got up early and went to Ela's circuits class with Irene. My wrist seemed to cope quite well.

While I was waiting for Gilda to arrive for our Monday walk I noticed a pair of Great Tits checking out the bird box on the side of our garage. I hope they decide to nest there.

We walked through Covet Wood and National Trust Petts Wood before heading back to Nigent Shopping Centre to go to Hobbycraft so Gilda could get some A4 card using my £5 birthday voucher (I didn't need anything from there and I didn't want it to be wasted).

We tried a new restaurant today - Joy Kitchen. It was OK and nice for a change.

The blossom is pretty spectacular this year - it obviously approves of the weather we've had so far (after a mild winter).

Alma came early and whizzed around today because she's getting ready to go on holiday.

Carol and I went to see Lesley to have a sneaky preview of the VE80 exhibition that's going to be held at All Saints' church. I left Carol and Lesley comparing notes as they are far more interested in the history than I am but it was good to see the boards she's put together.

Jonathon and I went to Cadogan Hall in the evening to see Police Dog Hogan. It was frustrating because we couldn't hear the lyrics. I think it was partly the mumbling and partly the fact his mic wasn't high enough. Jonathon had a chat with the sound engineer on our way out so, hopefully, the sound would have been better for the second half but we didn't stay to find out.

15 April

It was wet when I got up and went to the gym. I managed to get a space in Matt's class and did some treadmill as well. I called into Jo's after the gym to water her tomatoes and check all was OK.

I moved our tomatoes into the greenhouse, still in their pots to make sure they're hardened off a bit before I plant them in the grow bags. I turned the potatoes round - they are growing towards the light as usual. They should be OK to go outside from Thursday with protection on.

Jonathon and I both had our eyes tested at JC Setton in West Wickham. As there is no easy way to get there using public transport, I drove us as far as Dobbies (to get some compost) just to prove I can still drive. All was OK and no new glasses needed.

We had a Girls' Night Out at The Real Greek near Tower Bridge. Not a restaurant I'd go to again but it was good to see the others.

16 April

No gym today because I was playing tennis at 10 a.m. with Ravi. It was quite chilly so I dressed for the weather - think I looked like an overgrown wasp but at least I didn't feel cold. I lost 5:3 but there were a few games that went to deuce so I don't think I disgraced myself.

I cut the grass cross before meeting Michael and a few others at Priory Gardens. The Egyptian Geese youngsters are now as big as their parents and are getting their adult plumage.

The ducklings (there are 11 in total) are doing well but I feel sorry for their mum trying to control such unruly kids.

Chris and Liz (Greenwich Wildlife were there to try and rescue an Egyptian goose that was catapulted last night.

I collected a clothes airer that someone was giving away - it was quite light but tricky to carry so I was glad when I got it home.

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