All Together in Isolation (part two)......

Well I had a brief release from isolation when I went into hospital, in Friday and out Saturday and all very hygiene vigilant of course and very limited visitor numbers, however, it's still movement of people so a cause of concern. Which is why I'm not allowing anyone near me for at least a week.... except Hubby of course as he's been with me all the time anyway so if I've got anything he'll already have it too.

It's mother's day and will be a different day for all mothers this year I should think.

Daughter has managed to secure a supermarket delivery slot for Monday evening so asked me what I wanted to add to save us going out to shop.

Son just turned up this morning (Sunday), with a mother's day card, two kitkat and a loo roll (as that's what was in his house already) he went straight round the back into the garden and he brought his own tea in a travel cup. We sat in the sun (very chilly) miles apart and shouted to each other for a little while and then he left. So lovely but so very odd hahaha

And look, my cactus that can never decide if it should be a Christmas cactus or an Easter cactus has decided to flower now. It must know we all need cheerful things.

Having finished the blue jacket, I'm knitting another. Sorted the wool I have and chose two double knit to use together. I love these colours but I'm really hoping I'll not run out of the grey one before it's finished.

Yes we're all making sacrifices, but really, having to cancel having my nails done is a bit drastic hahaha only joking ;)  So to help disguise the regrowth lumps and gaps I gave myself a mad psychedelic manicure. Not bad eh? Shame nobody is going to see them.

Tuesday morning and Daughter arrived with our shopping which she left by the front door then went round into the garden to give the dog a run around. We joined her once the dog was back on her lead and sat miles apart and shouted to each other for a while then she was gone. It's odd but so much better than video calls which are a lot better than whatsapp text......we're all adapting gradually.

Today (Wednesday) Hubby and I both started using the treadmill again. A mile each as a steady walk will hopefully keep us from seizing up altogether. Hubby is naturally a restless person and is out gardening or finding mending/fetching jobs etc but my crafting and all the social Internet contact has me always sitting so I've got to be tougher with myself and "move it or lose it" as they say.

Wednesday night of course is our usual group of friends meet up for a meal and chat, so 7:30pm tonight I started a group chat on messenger with the ladies even though I'd chatted to each of them individually over the last few days. Wonder how many weeks this will be repeated?

Thursday and Daughter's car is booked for a service and MOT. We needed a social distancing plan and as the mechanic actually lives in our street it worked out quite well. 6:30am Daughter brought the car to our drive then walked the dog home after she'd had a good run round our garden (She's been walking her that early every day anyway to avoid people). This gave Hubby plenty of time to change her brake light. Also gave her the opportunity to put her excess black bags in our wheely bin. Her keys are in the car so 8am mechanic walks up and takes her car to work and brings it back at the end of the day putting keys through our letter box. I cleared three machine loads of laundry, how could we have dirtied so many clothes when we haven't been anywhere?

Thursday night at 8pm, as promoted all over facebook and TV programmes even the BBC News, we were all asked to be outside and applaud as a thank you to all key workers especially NHS staff for all the extra hard work and sacrificing needed during this pandemic. Hubby and I hung out of the bedroom window. FriendA came out from next door and we thought we may be the only ones, then we heard it starting in the roads around us, and others came out in our close, clapping, bell ringing, saucepan banging and in the distance fireworks. No words needed.

Today had been quite industrious, too bright and sunny to be sitting around. So after breakfast and we'd both done our treadmill walk (Hubby now partly runs too - show off), we washed the kingsize duvet that had been waiting since December to go to the launderette, of course that won't happen in a lockdown. It won't fit in my machine so it got the bath treatment. A soak, a good pounding then a double rinse. Hubby did most of that but I did help with the wringing out and finding a way of getting it from upstairs bathroom to garden washing line without causing puddles.

FriendA popped round with his own mug of coffee so we sat in the sunshine miles apart and shouted to each other for a while.
I put away all the clean and now dried laundry from yesterday and looked out of the window to see Hubby washing Daughter's car. He'd cleaned out all the inside too.

 And for afternoon tea I'd made a Victoria sponge because we are running out of biscuits.

Hubby keeps searching the supermarkets online and finally found a Sainsbury click and collect slot for early Monday morning. So that's booked in and Daughter has added to it too.

Saturday tomorrow and I'd have been home from the hospital for a whole week showing no symptoms so I'll consider myself clear of virus germs! Phew! We'll not relax being isolated and vigilant but it does mean I'm happy to have Daughter and grandchildren coming here again as they've mixed with no others and neither have we, but still no physical contact. :(

"This is life Jim but not as we know it"
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All Together in Isolation (part one)......

When you're retired not going out sometimes is quite normal, but suddenly being officially told you shouldn't go out is quite different. Up till now (19th March) it's not enforced isolation.

I didn't want to write about the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, there's so much being written/spoken/reported/speculated on that subject already! However everyone's lives  are moving to a totally different rhythm now so I'm just keeping a note of what's happening in my little world.

Positive
Sofa sitting guilt free meant I easily finished the jacket I was knitting.

Negative
My health issues put me in the most vulnerable group, so although Daughter and grandchildren come round they are keeping their distance and no hugs 🙁

Positive
I said "All together in isolation" as Internet with private messaging and social media means a lifeline to the world, sharing the common problem we are all sharing.

Positive
However tragic a situation people will always find humour to lighten the load

Positive and Negative
I get to leave the house tomorrow yaay!
To the hospital for an operation!

The next thrilling instalment will follow when I'm home again.
Stay home people and stay safe xx
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Theatre: Quality Street........

Phoebe Throssel lives on Quality Street, the bustling hub of a quaint northern town where she runs a school for unruly children.
Ten years since a tearful goodbye, an old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets a more mature, less glamorous Phoebe, spurs our determined heroine to action. She becomes the wild and sparkling Miss Livvy, a younger alter-ego who soon entraps the clueless Captain.

As their romance is rekindled, can she juggle both personas? Or will her deception scandalise the town and wreck any future with the man she loves? J.M. Barrie’s delicious farce, written years before his now much-loved Peter Pan, was so well known in its day that it gave its name to the UK’s most popular chocolates, made in Halifax since 1936.

In Laurie Sansom’s directorial debut for Northern Broadsides, this rare revival also features a commentary from the Quality Street™ factory workers, whose own stories of hapless romance and growing old disgracefully give the show a playful Yorkshire twist.

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Well it's quite difficult to know what to say about this. This is a good story with a clever amusing script but I would never have described it as farce as it was far too slow and wordy. Daughter said "That ball seemed to go on forever". 

The introduction of the factory workers was confusing. Audience that were caught up in the play wasn't funny just annoying. And their having to keep explaining what was obviously going on was totally patronising. 

Mixing the old and new also spilled onto the set design with period furniture covered in crochet and walls of industrial metal poles. To make the connection between the Quality Street drama and the chocolates for the second half they decorated the metal poles with huge shiny flower shapes and dressed all those at the ball in shiny sweet wrappers. 

I also dislike the constant use of the dry smoke and as we were in the pit in row B our heads were level with the stage and breathing it in. 

And the final line by one of the factory workers was "So now you know why the chocolates were called Quality Street", and really they hadn't said why at all. 

Remember when the tin was this big? 

Oh dear that makes the whole thing sound a dreadful evening, but it wasn't. Overall it was a pleasant evening at the theatre and gave the three of us plenty to talk about all the way home.

On another plus note, we sat in the pit of the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and it's a beautiful old Regency theatre with the circle and upper circle as all individual boxes.

And that was over a week ago and the last out-of-the-house social event I'll go to until we get the coronavirus all clear. Stay safe everyone!
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Crowns and Gowns at Ely......

Myself and three friends had a lovely ladies day out. One came here so Hubby took the two of us to the station. Three of us travelled to Ely by train (a novel experience these days) and we met the fourth there. Her partner drove us the short distance into the town centre.

First stop was for tea and a good chat of course. Main topic was definitely the Coronavirus threat. We were all armed with hand sanitiser and washed our hands at every opportunity. I'm not so good on stairs to manage without the handrails so I wore gloves when travelling. Thankfully being a weekday nowhere was crowded.

Next onto Ely Cathedral to see the exhibition that was the reason for choosing this date as it's not there for much longer.

       A piece of Hollywood will come to Ely Cathedral when costumes, jewels and props from award-winning Hollywood movies and TV dramas filmed on site will go on display.

     The Crowns & Gowns exhibition will showcase stunning items that have been a part of Netfllix production The Crown and films such as The King's Speech. 

     These productions bought global award winning actors to the Cathedral including Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth and Matt Smith.

     The unmissable exhibition will feature a fabulous collection of costumes, jewels, props, behind the scenes images and memorabilia from the dramas filmed on location at the cathedral.

     The magnificent 14th century Lady Chapel provides the perfect setting to showcase some of the most iconic gowns and outfits from The Other Boleyn Girl, Macbeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

     In 2015 the landmark stood in for Westminster Abbey in the first episode of the £100million drama The Crown chronicling the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

     Scenes from the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth, featuring Clare Foy, and Prince Philip, Doctor Who's Matt Smith, were filmed at the cathedral in August 2015.

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The cathedral itself is beautiful of course, so we took plenty of time to wander and admire. 

We were all more than ready for a late lunch and then just enough time to visit a few charity shops on our way through the high street to finally catch a bus to the station, quite exciting for me as I've had my bus pass for two years five months and this was the first time I'd used it hahaha. Our train home was on time and Hubby was there to meet us. A lovely day with lovely friends. 

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Theatre: Absurd Person Singular....

Three married couples. Three kitchens. Three Christmas parties.

Sidney Hopcroft, a small-time tradesman, persuades wife Jane to throw a party hoping to find favour with a bank manager and local architect. As celebrations begin, class differences and naked ambition combine to hilarious effect as, one by one, the characters seek refuge in Jane’s kitchen.

Over the next two years, the Jacksons and Brewster-Wrights take turns to host festivities. But Sidney’s star has begun to rise and roles are increasingly reversed as the cracks in the other couples’ marriages begin to show.

Alan Ayckbourn’s comic masterpiece of social climbing in 1970s suburbia fuses a potent mix of farce and black comedy.

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This was laugh-out-loud funny.
I enjoyed each character and they were all so different.
Clever set changes
Hilarious script
Great timing
Good observations of believable relationship issues
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Theatre: The World Turned Upside Down.......

Ipswich 1644. From Mistley to Manningtree. Voices in the Shadows. Accusation of Witchcraft.

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is a new historical play about the Suffolk Witch Trials and the rise and fall of the self-proclaimed ‘Witch Finder General’, Matthew Hopkins.

A group of young people growing up in Puritan Ipswich begin to question what is happening and challenge the persecution which is turning the world upside down.

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This performance was amazing, and yes I'm saying it because my very talented granddaughter R was in it, however I'm also saying amazing because these amateur teenage youth theatre actors put on a play better than some professionals could have.

So much dialogue all delivered without hesitation, with perfect timing and with so much passion.

There was a musical dance which helped to break the heaviness of the subject but didn't make light of the seriousness. Also a very well rehearsed and wonderfully choreographed whole cast fight scene.

Needless to say they received wonderful local reviews, and R was mentioned by name on a couple of them.
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2020 Feb - Florida holiday......

This is a bit of a brief "jot it down quick" diary of our wonderful holiday, not so many photographs but hopefully enough, and I've added links when I can, so if you need to know more then you'll have to do it yourself 😉

Tuesday 4th
Alarm at 4:30am and driving away at 5am. Gatwick to Orlando was uneventful (inflight movie Aladdin helped pass some time) and car pickup was easy too. Arrived at friendsL&K about 5.30pm to a very warm welcome and a lovely dinner. The evening was non stop catchup chat 😆

Wednesday 5th
Lazy leisurely start for us although friendK had to do a little driving for a friend to see their doctor urgently. Then it was a wander round Brownwood Paddock town square and in and out of a few shops then to Scooples Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant for lunch. The evening was in Spanish Springs town square to see the band Hooligans and meet up with lots of friends and have a dance. Then eight of us to Thai Ruby Restaurant for dinner.

Thursday 6th
Today was a late breakfast and friendA joined us. He left to join his Pilates class.
The four of us then drove out to Winter Park.

Cafe first for drinks and a very light lunch. Really nice looking restaurant and quite expensive menu. First disappointment was the dirty toilet. Second was the very very slow service and even slower delivery of the food even though none of us had dishes that needed cooking! FriendK had a little confusion with getting change from his bill, after we'd left he noticed he'd been given too much and even though she chased after us down the street to correct her mistake and K willingly gave her back what she asked for, she still left him with more than it should have been......so he considered it compensation. We are all still laughing about it.

Down to the lake and took the Scenic Boat Tour of three of the lakes. We were totally windswept but loved it.

Too much me and not enough him, 

I'll never get the hang of selfies 😂

Evening meal was in McAlisters Deli, travelling there and back with all the sides zipped down on the golf buggy as it was so windy. Later back home around 11pm onwards was a massive storm. Hubby slept through it hahaha.

Friday 7th
Lazy day with the men going to the hardware store then coming back and getting all their little repair jobs done. The evening was in Brownwood Square to hear a band as their friend Cathy was singing with them and she was just returning to the stage having been ill for quite a while. Such a shame it was a really cold evening so we gave up sitting outside shivering after their first set. Dinner for five of us at TooJays

Saturday 8th
Supermarket shopping this morning and a late lunch at Evans Prairie Country Club. A more substantial lunch as tonight will be mostly nibbles.
This evening was at home with friends and Mexican Train a domino type game. We played with nine of us, food, drink and a lot of laughter!

They may look like they are concentrating, don't be fooled, the blurred photos are because I was laughing and I was being shouted at to take my turn!

Sunday 9th
This afternoon was a good mooch around the Arts and Crafts market at Spanish Springs

Meeting friends in World of Beer

Listening to American Martian at Spanish Springs

Dinner tonight was for seven of us at Outback Steakhouse. An Australian themed steak house. Yummy!

Monday 10th
L&K wanted to check out the newly built Village of Fenney and the even newer building work in progress, which is the furthest point of the villages away from them, so much easier done in our hire car than their golf cart. Testament to the successful way of life here that the whole city keeps growing so rapidly.

On our way back they wanted to show us Baker House but it wasn't open so we are planning to do that Wednesday.

On to Lake Sumter as friendL needed to have her necklace repaired in the jeweler she bought it from, however the cost quoted seemed very high, so we left and joined our men in Panera for coffee and cake. Hubby had already bought me a Bear claw and it would have been ungrateful not to eat and enjoy every last mouthful mmmmm.

We managed to walk off a few of the zillion calories along the boardwalk around the lake. It's so beautiful there.

From there we came back to Brownwood for L to check out what the jewelers there would charge, but unfortunately they couldn't do the repair at all.

Next onto The Sunny Pint a new tap room business. So many beers to choose from (I had water).

Back again to Brownwood to dance to Second Slice and we met a few more of L&K's friends

Then to Square 1 Burgers. I didn't think I was hungry but it was so good I ate it all.
And finally home. A very busy day and as we were all yawning we all retired quite early.

Tuesday 11th
First stop I-Hop for breakfast.
Then about an hour drive to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. All the wildlife are here for their good not just our interest. They are rescued or recovering from injuries or just couldn't have survived in the wild. And all the rangers appear to be volunteers.

There were turtles

Birds of all sizes and colours

Underwater for us to watch fish 

 and fish to watch us

There were manatees but I didn't get a photo. 

And lots of alligators 

From there we headed to Monkey Island but we didn't actually find the island itself and were happy to stop at  The Shed Tiki Bar for some food and drink. Seems to be a popular place for Harley bikers.
Another busy day so all content to have a relaxing evening at home.

Wednesday 12th
Up and out early for Pilates, them not us! We lazed around, well we are on holiday 😂
We all headed out in plenty of time for a Wednesday only Baker House  guided tour.

We waited on the porch as instructed and was soon greeted by a couple of women who were very chatty and welcoming.
Next we were passed to our tour guides, an elderly married couple who were volunteers, not only volunteering as guides but undertook so much of the restoration and repairs the house has constant need for.
We started with the wife and when the husband was free he took over, insisting she go rest and have refreshments. They were both so knowledgeable and so so proud of the house they felt custodians of.

Apart from what you can read on their website they told us of all the furniture and accessories that has kindly been donated. In the dining room they had set the table with what they thought was English china of a suitable era. We told them that Minton is high quality and Hubby looked up the design and told them the age and current value which pleased them.
We were there for about two very enjoyable hours.

We needed refreshments ourselves so into the nearest Panera, but AARRGGHH no bear claws!!! L went for soup but three of us went for vanilla cinnamon roll, oh it was sooooo sweet, men were ok but I'll not have it again.

Home for a very quick change and onto friendsM&G. We had been invited along with friendA for a scrabble evening. But first they had made us a lovely dinner of pizzas and salads with all the trimmings followed by apple pie and ice cream. Then this.....

Thursday 13th
Another leisurely day doing not a lot. While relaxing in their lanai this pretty cardinal bird came to visit. Not the clearest photo as the lanai is mesh covered.

We headed out late afternoon. For Hubby and K it was shopping for K to buy a new iPad. L and I had a wander round different shops and they found us afterwards. Next stop was Cracker Barrel for their gift shop and dinner in their restaurant. There I tried what they call biscuits which look just like our scones but are much fluffier and are somewhere between a sweet/salty bread and a cake. I also had what they call gravy for the first time, because it was already on top of my fried chicken. Definitely not gravy as we know it, L was right with a nearest description as similar to English bread sauce.

Friday 14th
Today is Valentine's ❤ and Hubby's birthday 🎂
L&K went off for their early morning pilates, we were still in bed but I don't feel guilty at all hahaha.

I'd been warned in advance that this 

was tonight's entertainment. 

So we came prepared, and this 

is how the four of us left the house. 

The square was highly decorated and 

many people there were dressed up too. 

 The band were throwing out 

glow sticks and flashing rings etc. 

Everyone was in a great party mood and I had so many compliments on my wig it was well worth the itchy head hahaha.

L had managed to book our table for nine people at Cody's  for dinner, not easy on valentine's night to get a table anywhere, well done L. Dinner was great and the laughter never stopped.

Lots of hugging and kissing goodbyes then the four of us managed to catch the end of the party on the square and headed home still giggling about a great night.
A birthday Hubby won't forget.

Saturday 15th
All up, breakfasted and out by about 10:30ish and about 90 minute drive to the pretty city of Mount Dora for mooching round shops, light lunch and walks by the lake where we met this fella

Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille for dinner. Beautiful sunset.

Sunday 16th
All up but relaxing in pajamas then L and I had to rush and get clothes on when friendA called to say he was popping in to see us before we left. He stayed for a very long chat which was lovely. K and Hubby excused themselves to watch English match of the day on tv. Later when we were getting ready to go out neighbours and friendsJ&F came to wish us a safe journey home. L&K's friends are so warm and caring.

Then heading out for our last evening here, and last ride in the back of the golf cart hahaha.  To Sumter square and we had only just started to watch the band when it started raining again, so headed to the restaurant a little earlier than our booking so had drinks at the bar first. Dinner tonight was at Chop House Dining and it was yummy. Table cloths and sparkling chandeliers and our treat to say thank you to our perfect hosts.

Monday 17th
Out for breakfast to Darrell's Diner and there we bumped into friendsM&G so we got to say our goodbyes in person to them too. Filled the car with fuel (so cheap here) then a last relax in the lanai before loading the car and big hugs and away around 1pm to Orlando airport.

The usual long hanging around but no problems giving the hire car back, or check in or security etc and the flight took off on time. My choices of films were The Greatest Showman and the new Lion King.

Tuesday 18th
It was an overnight flight and we landed a little early at 6:45am GMT. Outside was cold but dry which was a pleasant surprise after hearing about all the dreadful UK weather they've had while we were away.
Home about 10:30am with lots of lovely memories and photos of a great holiday with our special friends......and two suitcases of dirty washing of course!
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