Jenny Burrell

For twenty years we have lived opposite a wood. I have watched the seasons come and go. Many wonderful varieties of birds have visited our garden, lured by my bird feeder. The dawn chorus has calmed me when I have been troubled and had wakeful nights. Despite these last awful couple of years, the wood has been my stabilising influence. Nature, in all its glory, continues unabated, never deterred by life’s many challenges, disappointments and often desperate unhappiness.

That was until the owner divided the wood into smaller plots and sold them off separately! He also took out a five year felling licence which was passed on to the individual plot holders. We have been out in the garden, in our conservatory or even in the kitchen and heard chain saws, quad bikes, small tractors and wood shredders. This has caused huge upset and disquiet in our once tranquil neighbourhood. We have watched majestic trees come crashing down, leaving gaping holes in the green and bountiful woodland!

The noise has often been almost unbearable. There are a large number of rhododendron shrubs covering the forest floor, apparently planted by a previous owner many years ago to assist with hunting. I’m not sure that I follow this logic but that is the story so far be it for me to question! Over the years we have watched hunts and heard the hounds surging through the undergrowth. Horses have galloped along the lane at the bottom of our garden, riders resplendent in their hunting jackets.

My overriding concern is the removal of trees when we have all been asked to think green and to plant more! Not cut them down! I am also worried that ‘forestry building’s are popping up under the auspices of ‘restoration and improvements to woodland’! One of these buildings is for the purpose of drying and selling logs! A forestry business is being set up in the wood that was once a sanctuary for birds, majestic oak, ash, beech, birch and many other native specimens of trees. We have seen badgers, foxes, weasels, squirrels and other small species of animals native to Cheshire.

And then there is the noise! From the middle of summer we have heard the racket! It has prevented us from enjoying our own gardens. We have double glazed windows but that is not enough to keep out the commotion! Not to be churlish but will mention this anyway! One of the plot owners is a scout master. There have been whole weekends of screaming children, all day and well into the night. Sound carries and we can hear whole conversations! I know that the wood could be a magical place for a child and would hate to prevent anyone from enjoying its splendour. But maybe some restraint and thought of others wouldn’t go amiss?

My husband and I used to look across at the wood and pretend it was ours! We always said that we’d buy it one day if we could afford it! Unfortunately we could have only afforded a plot and that defeated the object of owning a wood! Our hearts are heavy as we face the next few years trying to come to terms with the pain of losing our peaceful, beautiful view. We will just have to try and cope, as best we can, with the cacophony that will continue for years to come!

Our saving grace is that they are restricted by how many trees each plot owner can remove! But it does seems a lot! They can cut down all trees within five square metres, four times a year. There are ten plots! Even if they plant more trees to replace those desiccated, they’ll take many years to grow!

I am trying very hard to remain positive. My family are well. I’m looking forward to seeing them all at Christmas. Hopefully the ‘foresters’ will take a few days off and have families to visit! We are, together with a few neighbours, bringing this to the attention of our council and member of parliament. None of us are too hopeful for a positive result. But we’ll go down fighting……….! 👠

I’m sitting in the conservatory with the fan heater blowing lovely warm air into the room that has underfloor heating. Unfortunately it’s set at 18C and not warm enough for me! Because my husband doesn’t feel the cold we both have to compromise! During winter he wears a T-shirt inside our house. I wear two jumpers!

I’ve recently come back from a long walk on my own. My husband usually joins me but he wanted to prune some trees in preparation for the fireworks display and bonfire on Saturday. If we leave wood on our pavement members of the gardening team, who maintain the park and green spaces in our area, collect them and use them for the bonfire. A good way to get rid of garden waste!

I was not expecting to see my husband balancing on the top of a twenty foot ladder pollarding a huge ornamental cherry tree! This was after a laurel and holly tree had both been severely chopped! Proof of his pruning expertise lay all over the lawn! He had the lopper in his hands and was hacking away at some smaller branches right at the top of the tree. Once cut, he’d fling them onto the lawn, trying to avoid damaging plants in the flower bed beneath. I watched as the ladder swayed precariously then saw him stabilising himself before reaching for another branch.

After a couple of minutes I had to leave. His kamikaze actions were terrifying. I did take a photo and send it to the children! Mixed reactions followed this WhatsApp post, ranging from brave to crazy! I agreed with the latter!

I can hear fireworks going off around the neighbourhood. There are a number of farms and small holdings near us with space to build bonfires! We have a large park that is used annually under strict health and safety precautions! The forecast is wet and cold. I doubt I’ll bother to walk up but my husband is keen so can wander up to the green on his own! I’ll stay inside, warm and dry and watch ‘Strictly Come Dancing’!

We’ve had our booster COVID jabs this week with minimal side effects. We had our flu jabs last week! We’re ready for the winter! Bring it on…..👠

My daughter and her partner are moving to Scotland. It’s a three hour and twenty one minute journey, traffic permitting! We are so used to seeing them every second weekend so will miss them. My husband is not impressed and can’t understand why they want to leave England! I’m looking forward to meeting different people and seeing my daughter happy and contented in her lovely new home!

Last week we decided to do a recce of the area and booked a B&B fairly close to where they would be living. It was my birthday so any excuse to get away and have some fun with my daughter! The two men were looking forward to sampling different beers so something for everyone! There was a choice of towns for shopping, all within half an hour’s drive from their new home. They were all so different! I earned brownie points from my Fitbit as we wandered around taking in the sights and planning future outings. The weather could have been better but that was out of our control!

Just to confuse foreign travellers there were a number of pubs called the ‘Cross Keys’. Apparently ‘crossed keys’ was the symbol of St Peter who guarded the gates of heaven. This sign became the symbol of English nationalism and a popular pub name after the English Civil War in the 17th century. We were in Scotland so boundaries must have changed over the years!

The morning of my birthday was wet and cold. As usual I hadn’t packed properly so, walking around an old priory garden in Melrose, I was freezing cold! My own fault but was happy to find a tearoom that sold gluten free cakes, washed down with a cup of hot Yorkshire tea! We drove on to Selkirk after lunch. I had visited a glassworks there with the children many years ago and had bought two beautiful paperweights. Unfortunately this workshop had closed in 2006 but another one was open and encouraging visitors to its workshop.

We spent the next hour watching a master craftsman create a paperweight from start to finish. It was fascinating! We were all very impressed and left with a bag full of purchases, promising to return before Christmas. We headed back to our B&B for a game of scrabble before getting ready for our evening meal. Back to Melrose and a delicious feast washed down with a couple of glasses of Malbec for the girls and a strange sounding beer for the boys!

I do wish my daughter and her partner all the very best with their move to a new country (sic) and the start of a new and exciting life. Parents never stop worrying about their children no matter how old they are. We just want them to have the very best life has to offer!

Unfortunately none of us have a crystal ball! Decisions made as a teenager, with little life experience, don’t always go according to plan! Unfortunately we can’t put the clock back and try again! Hindsight is a marvellous thing but not readily available! Regrets ruin lives already devastated by circumstances often out of our control.

My daughter and her partner are good, caring, down to earth people. I fervently hope that this next chapter in their lives will be positive and a new beginning! Richly deserved! 👠

We have two lofts in our house. Both are relatively full. I am embarrassed to admit that they are mainly filled with ‘stuff’ belonging to me!

I inherited the hoarding gene from my mother. Try as I might, I cannot throw out clothes, shoes, bedding, curtains ……. the list is endless! I have never been into any of the lofts, until today. My husband has nagged me for years to sort out what needs to be kept and ‘do something’ with the rest. In my defence I did give a lot of my work cloths to my mother’s care home. They were going to sell them at their annual summer fair a few years ago. They were smart suits and jackets, many dating back to my years in South Africa. Most had padded shoulders and looked like they had come off the set of Dynasty!

Challenge number one was getting into the loft! My husband uses a step ladder then, with strong arms and legs, pulls himself up through the opening and sits down on the ledge before sliding back and standing up. My arms are not particularly strong. I do weight exercises but obviously not enough! I had tried before but had given up. Today I was not going to renege on my promise. I was going to get into the loft by hook or by crook!

I gingerly climbed the step ladder and stuck my head and shoulders through the gap. I turned around and put my hands onto the ledge and tried to push myself up. I looked and felt pathetic! There was no way that I could lift my body high enough to get inside. My husband found this amusing which didn’t help! I turned around carefully on the top step again and stood on the handle (not recommended)! Leaning forward I tried to push myself inside. This wasn’t going to work either! Eventually my husband grabbed me under my arms and yanked me up!

I was surprised at the size of the loft. The amount of bags, plastic tubs, suitcases and general paraphernalia long forgotten were neatly stacked on makeshift boards. A high chair used when my grandchildren were little, a travel cot, bedding, toys, all no longer required and could be moved on. And then there were the bags of clothes, jumpers, shoes and more shoes, boots swimming costumes, scarves, belts ……… I’m cringing as I write this!

I have another confession to make. This was the large loft running the length of the house, There is a smaller one above the sitting room downstairs. This has a rail filled with jackets, coats and evening gowns, all vacuum packed. It was supposed to be my seasonal storage cupboard where clothes were rotated, not stored indefinitely!

I opened a box and found warm jumpers that hadn’t been worn for a few years. There were several plastic containers marked boots and shoes. I also found boxes of small tissue packets, candle holders and matches in a bag marked ‘Father’s Funeral’! That was nine years ago. There was an unopened duvet bag, many sets of curtains and matching bedding. Sheets and towels which will come in handy at the end of the year. My son and his family are visiting from the States.

Half an our later I was ready to come down. I sat on the ledge above the stepladder. I tried to get my foot onto the handle. I could barely reach! I was petrified! There was no way that I could balance precariously on the handle without losing my balance! I’d knock over the ladder and fall down the flight of stairs! My husband was looking up at me, exasperated!

‘I showed you how to get down’, he said. ‘It’s easy! I’ll catch you if you fall!‘

There was no way that I was going to risk causing a potentially fatal accident! I could see two bodies, necks broken, lying in tangled heaps at the bottom of the stairs! It had been a long time since I felt so much panic! I genuinely could not contemplate getting down on my own and felt frozen to the ledge! I tried to curl my fingers around it’s rim but it was too wide. Once more I made an effort to ease myself down and touched the handle with my foot to check it’s stability. It moved slightly. Panic stricken I shot back on to the ledge.

‘You’ll have to come down,’ my husband stated the obvious! ‘Can’t stay up there all night! It’ll get cold!’ I could hear the frustration in his voice.

‘I’m stuck! I can’t do it!’ I was almost in tears! I felt like such an idiot but could not contemplate getting down the same way as my husband! ‘I’m really frightened,’ I added, pathetically. ‘I can’t get down!’

Eventually my husband joined me in the loft, held me tightly under my arms and I was able to reach the top step. I lurched forward, grabbing hold of the handle. Regaining my balance I climbed down, grateful that I was out of my prison and stating emphatically that I would never go up there again!

Until we can arrange a proper loft ladder, all my ‘stuff’ will remain untouched. That’s my husband’s challenge if he wants to get it emptied. I have faced up to the fact that I really don’t like heights and I am a coward! I’ll live with that! 👠

I had been desperate to get away for a few days. Waiting for children to go back to school before planning a break, my husband received sad news. A university friend had suddenly had a heart attack and died. His wife arranged a memorial service last Saturday in Bristol.

I had never met the family so wouldn’t be attending the service. However, I did have a friend who had moved to Bristol last year. This was a perfect opportunity to meet up again in ‘real life’ rather than our bi-weekly zoom calls. I jumped at the chance of adding a few days on to our Saturday and visiting Somerset. It’s been many years since we walked parts of the Cheddar Gorge or saw the caves. I had never been to Bristol but have bypassed it many times. My brother once lived in Taunton and we still have friends in Paignton.

The challenge was finding somewhere to stay. Once schools reopened the ‘grey brigade’ went on their holidays! Everything was booked up from the end of August through to November! Luckily for us there was a cancellation and we managed to spend three nights in a small hotel in a village a few miles south of Bristol. I also managed to get decent weather as part of the package so that was an added bonus!

We left home after the morning rush. After a couple of hours on the motorway we turned off and continued our journey along narrow country lanes, enjoying the beautiful warm sunshine. We headed for Weston – Super – Mare, driving along the coast road looking for somewhere to have lunch. Unfortunately the pubs were either full or didn’t offer gluten free options. However, back inland we found a quiet country inn that sold real ale and something innocuous for me!

Our hotel was situated in a medieval square with an impressive, church, built in the 13th century, standing in magnificent splendour at the top of the square. It was unlocked so we went inside. It was built of limestone, has six bells and retained some fascinating painted mediaeval panels. In the churchyard was a commonwealth war grave of a Dorsetshire Regiment soldier from the Second World War. I’m always fascinated with old grave stones and can spend hours reading them! Light was fading by the time we got outside so my husband was spared my morbid pastime!

There were a number of walks to choose from. On our first hike we spent four hours, which should have been three, to climb a hill for a spectacular view of the countryside! We managed to go off piste and had to retrace our footsteps, leaving the spectacular view of the countryside for another visit! We did see a lot of trees, cows, sheep and maize crops! We could have been at home in Cheshire! Seeing a young man with a teenager coming back along the path towards us my husband asked if he was also lost! He replied with a chuckle. He was a local out walking with his daughter. He and my husband poured over our map and redirected us back to the car.

After a light lunch we followed narrow lanes and overgrown hedges to a nature reserve. A large map at the entrance showed a few paths, all leading to a panoramic view at the top of the hill. We followed the ‘strenuous’ track which led us down into a gorge. Unfortunately the map omitted to warn us that we had to clamber up a step section of wet rocks to reach the panoramic view! I didn’t break any limbs or nails but my husband lost his glasses. We got off relatively lightly! We were able to appreciate the beautiful countryside on this occasion and found an easier track back to the car!

It was so enjoyable meeting up with my friend who took me on a scenic tour of Bristol, on foot! Fitbit was ecstatic as I managed 25,000 steps! I can now imagine my friend sitting in her bay window overlooking the quay and people watching. A pastime that I thoroughly enjoy and can keep me occupied for hours! The trip home was uneventful and my daughter had made a delicious chilli dish to welcome us.

So, back to our new normal again this week! Autumn has arrived. It’s wet, windy and much cooler. I do feel a bit more rejuvenated and am already planning another short break in October! That will leave November to fill and then it’s December. If all goes according to plan, my son and his family from the US will be here for Christmas! My daughter and I have already started planning meals!

So, ‘out damned spot, COVID’! Let’s all get our booster jabs and go back to welcoming family and friends into our homes! This virus has messed with our lives for far too long! Enough is really enough! 👠

I haven’t worked for three years yet I still get excited on a Friday! I’ve always kept weekends special and nothing has changed! I’ve done this for a reason. One of the common themes about retiring is the mantra, ‘every day will be a weekend’!

Not for me! If every day was treated as a weekend I’d drink far too many G&T’s and wine! I’d not exercise regularly and gain weight. I’d drift from one day to the next with little purpose other than planning fancy meals and seeing friends. Housework wouldn’t feature! The garden would probably survive. It’s my ‘go to’ place, weather permitting.

But, I have been known to bend the rules. Occasionally, not having to get up early, does allow for standards to drop. If we haven’t seen good friends for a while and a Thursday, for example, is their only free night, then the weekend will start a day early.

It was easier to ‘behave’ during lockdowns because the need never arose to actually go out and meet anyone! On a rare, sultry, warm evening, I have thrown caution to the wind! My husband and I have sat in our ‘Teak House’ at the bottom of the garden and shared a bottle of wine over a meal! So the weather does help to keep me on the straight and narrow!

I have always needed a routine and a purpose when I wake up every morning. This became even more relevant when I stopped working. My one dread was not knowing how I was going to fill my days. Having worked most of my adult life and hated ever feeling bored, I made the decision to keep weekends sacred a long time ago.

So far it has generally worked, although sorely tested over these last eighteen months! Seeing my daughter and her partner regularly has really helped. They come over weekends so I have kept to my strict regime during the week. These visits have given me a renewed purpose when lockdown felt interminable. I shall be forever grateful.

Sitting in the conservatory nursing a delicious glass of Sancerre I look back on the last week. I have exercised, got my daily minimum ten thousand steps and enjoyed the dance classes. My husband and I have done regular walks. I am feeling self-righteous!

So, wishing everyone a peaceful, happy and blessed weekend, I raise my glass in a toast! May next week be as good or even better that the last! 👠

Lockdown restrictions have eased. Restaurants can have their usual quota of tables. However, there are still many people wary of mixing and getting too close to strangers. COVID has not and doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon! I still wear a mask in enclosed spaces and prefer to be outdoors as much as possible.

But life must get back to a degree of normality and I must cautiously start socialising again. I have been ‘double jabbed’ so am in the best position to protect myself and others! With some trepidation, I am getting out a bit more. I have mentioned in previous blogs that we have an outdoor dance class three times a week. This has been a life saver! At least I see and speak to others outside of my immediate household and get some enjoyable exercise. The music reflects our carefree teenage years, almost forgotten, but a much needed boost to help us through this current situation! All being of a similar age, we can relate to the sixties and sing along as we unselfconsciously ‘strut our stuff’ on a neighbours driveway!

I have lived here for twenty years and in that time had hardly spoken to anyone in our street. These dance classes have opened up a whole new social circle and I have made some good friends! One of the girls told us about a scrumptious afternoon tea she had enjoyed with her daughter. When the idea of our group going out together was mooted, we all unanimously agreed!

So, all ‘frocked up’, we met at the tea room a couple of weeks later. Chatting animatedly we took our places around two round tables pushed closely together. Teas and coffees ordered, we settled down to an afternoon of frivolity and much laughter! We certainly didn’t need any alcohol! The excitement of being able to meet up with family and friends after so many months was the main topic of our conversation. Some had even had or were planning holidays!

Looking around at the other tables I watched as smiling, happy faces were the order of the day! This pandemic has made me realise how important these social gatherings are to our general health and well-being. Confined to our homes for so many months has, in some cases, had disastrous repercussions! Mental health issues have escalated dramatically.

There were audible gasps of delight when three tiered cake stands were placed before us. The largest tray at the bottom held the sandwiches, the middle tier was filled with small, beautifully decorated cup cakes and the top tier, scones, jam and cream. Suddenly quiet whispers replaced our animated conversations as we chose our sandwiches and tucked in! Complimentary comments and contented sighs would have been all the chef and his kitchen staff needed to show our appreciation!

A couple of hours later, clutching our doggie bags tightly, we made our way home. Determined to forgo supper and probably not eat anything for the next few days, we said our farewells! Great company and absolutely delicious food!

We would have taken these outings for granted, pre-pandemic! Perhaps there will be a positive legacy left by COVID? I personally will appreciate life’s little pleasures so much more! Those long, hard, stressful months of semi-confinement will stay with me forever! If everyone got vaccinated we could get back to normal a whole lot quicker! Alas, we have the freedom of choice! Some use it more wisely than others! 👠

Earlier this week we arranged to meet my daughter and her partner at a lovely old Inn in the Forest of Bowland. My husband and I have enjoyed many walks in this beautiful part of our country.

A few years ago friends met us at the same Inn to start a ten kilometre hike. We sat on the terrace overlooking a bubbling stream close to the the outer wall of the hotel. On the other side of the stream was a beautiful green pasture dotted with grazing sheep. Undulating hills stretched across the horizon, their contours stark against an almost cloudless sky. Down the side of one of these smaller knolls, patches of mauve heather, interspersed with scree, created a sharp contrast to the many different shades of green. We watched as Dippers flew just above the water level beneath us. After landing on a stone for a few seconds they’d dive down into the stream then pop back up and fly off.

When I close my eyes I can still vividly recall this picturesque scene and feel a sense of peace and tranquility wash over me. A perfect example of an idyllic English countryside! Having sat on this terrace many times since that first summer’s day, I never fail to marvel at the splendour of nature. I have watched as the different seasons cast their unique spells over this special little valley hidden deep in the heart of Lancashire!

So, earlier this week we arranged another visit to introduce my daughter and her partner to this sanctuary away from the ‘madding crowd’. We could spend a few hours forgetting life’s drudgeries and many challenges and take a walk along the winding country lanes. We would climb a hill and spread our picnic on a blanket, looking down onto little homesteads. We’d watch livestock feed on luscious pastures as we enjoyed the warm sunshine and marvelled at the beauty of our surroundings. Only the sound of a faint breeze ruffling the leaves of the fir trees in the wooded copse behind us, would break the magical silence.

That was the plan.

Well, we got quite close! We did wander along quiet country lanes and managed to scramble up the side of a hill overlooking a farm. Livestock were grazing on the pasture beneath us. However, the backdrop wasn’t one of a blue cloudless sky. This sky held many clouds of different hues, mainly greys, ominously filling the heavens. The strength of the wind forcing its way though the fir trees in the copse behind us, sounded menacing. Sitting at either end of the tablecloth to prevent it from escaping down the hill, we managed to unpack our fare. We were determined to enjoy this special outing and made a concerted effort to ignore the dampening weather!

But, it was our lucky day! There was no storm, only a small shower. For a few minutes I sat with an umbrella in one hand and a sandwich in the other! The wind surging through the fir trees gradually began to subside! The dark grey clouds rushed past us in winds far exceeding those at ground level. Gradually little cracks of blue appeared, becoming brighter as those dark clouds were speedily replaced by large white tufts of cotton wool.

That evening, as my daughter and I sat on the terrace nursing a well deserved gin and tonic, we looked down at the bubbling stream and on to the green pasture. The sun was moving slowly behind the darkening hills. A few geese waddled along the bank. I could feel the peace begin to wash over me. Suddenly I sat up with a jolt. There was something missing! And then it struck me. There were no sheep! For the scene to be picture postcard perfect it needed sheep grazing contentedly on the lush green grass!

Alas, even in this idyllic haven deep in the Lancashire heartland, perfection isn’t guaranteed! It came close! I can live with that! 👠

I’m having a problem. Not unusual for me but this problem is not going to go away anytime soon! On the 19th July, ‘freedom day’, we moved to stage four in this COVID nightmare and the country’s legal position on masks and social distancing changed. The public were given the choice on how they wanted to live their lives!

However, as with all people, there are those who care and show concern for the welfare of others and there are those selfish, single minded individuals who don’t give a damn! COVID is not going away despite the fantastic vaccination program! There are still too many who aren’t fully vaccinated. About three million adults haven’t even had their first jab! Some abstain on religious grounds, some don’t feel as if there has been adequate testing, some have listened to ridiculous ‘anti-vaxxer’ hype and a lot have just been too lazy to make the effort.

I wonder if these ‘adults’ ever take a step back and look at the wider picture? Thinking about those other than themselves would be even better! Surely some of them have older relatives and family members or friends who have to be particularly careful? The vaccination can help to prevent death and serious illness but there is still a chance someone can get very unwell! And the vaccine doesn’t work for everyone!

We’re getting work done on our fireplace and in the sitting room. I have lost count of the times plasterers and decorators have come to give quotes and stood at the door without their masks! They proudly tell me that they are ‘double jabbed’! I ask if they are aware that they can still transmit the virus and get the ‘glazed doughnut’ look! I also mention that I might not be ‘double jabbed’ so, without their protective mask, they could give me COVID and I could die! A bit dramatic, I know, but I feel really annoyed with their ignorant behaviour! Even if I am fully vaccinated ( I am) I explain, not everyone’s body creates antibodies. About twenty percent don’t! And then I insist that they fetch their mask from the car if they want to quote for the job!

So many people also don’t understand the science behind wearing a mask! It won’t necessarily prevent the wearer from getting COVID but it significantly prevents the wearer from passing the virus on. Someone told me that they don’t wear a mask to a local ‘upmarket’ supermarket because a better type of person shops there! When they go to the others in the town they definitely wear their mask!

I could not control my ‘out loud voice’. I heard the words tumbling out before I could take stock and plan what I wanted to say! I heard ‘selfish’ a few times followed by ‘thoughtless’ and ‘naive’! The ‘upmarket’ supermarket is usually full of older people, the majority wearing their masks. These are the people we should be protecting by wearing ours!

Oh well, it takes all types! For some unknown reason we have not experienced the huge surge in COVID cases as predicted. Enough of us are remaining sensible and choosing to be careful rather than pretend the pandemic has gone away! Long may this last! Let’s also hope that those who haven’t been vaccinated see the light and get their jabs. This will also prevent new variants from rearing their ugly heads and causing another nightmare lockdown.

To all of those who are double vaccinated and wear their masks in public places, I thank you. You are the majority and that gives me renewed faith in the innate goodness of human nature. 👠

Living in England I have come to realise that the topic of conversation about the weather is part of the culture! It’s important because the weather is so interchangeable! We’re living on a small island battered by wind, rain, sleet, snow and now, a severe heat wave!

This week, however, has been different. Temperatures have soared to the point where we have been given ‘heat’ weather warnings. I’ve had to scratch around the garage to find the sprinkler to water the garden. My Yorkshireman husband is having panic attacks about the cost. I remain adamant that this is necessary to save ferns from collapsing and roses, which have produced such an amazing display, to retain their glory!

It’s summertime and that usually means holidays abroad. No one can rely on the British weather for continual sunshine and long, relaxing days next to the pool or on the beach. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, booking these holidays comes with too many caveats for me to take the leap of faith!

My father used to say, being an Englishman in South Africa, that it is easier to manage the cold than the heat! I can finally agree. In South Africa there is air conditioning and swimming pools to help cool you down. Houses are built to cater for long, hot summers. Not so common here!

Something that does surprise me! A few of our neighbours keep their windows open all day! Maybe they don’t realise that closing windows and curtains or blinds when the sun is beating down, is the only way to keep homes cool? My husband and I follow the sun. In the morning we shut up the front of our house and open the back until the temperature begins to creep up. Then, and this is the down side, we close curtains and blinds and wander around like bats trying to avoid knocking into anything! Turning on lights would be too extreme! Especially if I’m ‘wasting’ money watering the garden!

I have forgotten how uncomfortable extreme heat can be! Throw in ridiculously high humidity levels and it creates the perfect intolerable storm! My morning dance classes have started earlier and are definitely less energetic! I come home and do a twenty minute exercise routine. I then have to peel off my clothes! I seldom do more than ‘glow’! Not this week! I’m properly sweating and it’s definitely a first!

Nighttime is the worst! I’ve shared my sleep issues in the past so this last week has not been great! I open all windows upstairs once the temperature has cooled. Once more I fumble around in the dark to avoid attracting man eating wildlife which have flourished in this new tropical climate! I’m like a magnet! I cover myself with copious amounts of insect repellent but unfortunately, probably with all the ‘perspiring’ the critters attack me! My restless nights are made up of itching skin, intense, almost suffocating heat and the fear of marauders climbing through the open windows! Not conducive to a good night’s sleep!

I’ve just seen the weather forecast and low pressure will be moving in tomorrow. Low pressure has become my new best friend. It’s brings rain and lower temperatures! For a few days anyway! Just to cool us down and bring some relief to the garden! I have tried not to be ungrateful! I do prefer the sunshine to cold, wet, grey winter days.

But, like with all things in life, a balance would be good! Not too hot, low humidity, plenty of sunshine and no mosquitos! Just for a few months in the summer. Also, rain at nighttime only would be ideal!

I can dream! Dreams are free! And I don’t sleep all that well anyway …..👠