on this second day of May

... I am just enjoying myself. Richard and I cleaned the house earlier and now it is time to just enjoy the afternoon. The boys and I went for a walk around lunchtime. They suggested we go down to the river along a narrow and very steep path and walk along the river until we get to Jack's favourite beach. What can go wrong I thought and squeezed through the broken fence to follow the nimble boys and dog down the river bank. Can we walk along the river all the way I asked and I was reassured that yes, we can. They failed to mention that it involved climbing over piles of washed up wood, scrambling up and down the bank and balancing over a wobbly fallen tree to cross a deep muddy pit in which I am certain something big and hungry lurked. Alas, I made it to the beach, sweaty and a bit shaky on my feet. Jack swam most of it, chasing sticks down the river. It was the most exciting thing that happened in my life for weeks.

With the exercise out of the way, I spent some time waiting for someone to make me a coffee. Meanwhile, James and Alistair were constructing pistols and crossbows out of Knex and rubber bands.

Richard went to a funeral yesterday, to form a guard of honour for a cycling club friend who had died of Covid-19. He was in his mid-eighties and had been a club member since the 1960s. I hope it gave some comfort for his children, seeing club members lined up along the road with their bikes and club colours and paying their respect. They could not join the service but they could at least be there.

Jack has lost some weight. I think it is the regular swimming in the Kelvin to rescue countless sticks. The river is quite fast in places and with legs only about 15 cm long it must be really hard to swim against the current. I am thinking of giving it a go, my jeans are feeling just a tad tight at the moment. I blame Richard and his sourdough starter. He bakes the bread for breakfast and it is so so tasty. Flour is of course a rare sight in shops but I ordered a 16 kg bag of strong bread flour online and we should be ok for weeks. There weren't any smaller bags in case you are wondering.

I hope there is some plain flour for my birthday cake next week.... I have hinted that carrot cake with cream cheese icing might be top of my wish list. I am going to be fifty. When I was Alistair's age, I couldn't imagine being twenty and now look where I am! I am feeling some pressure to decide who I want to have a birthday Zoom with. I have a long work Zoom on that day and I am sure I will be all zoomed out come the evening. I think I am going to leave the decision making to Richard.

Alistair has been struggling a bit this week, there have been some tears. I suspect he is a bit fed up with the same old faces that greet him every morning. Aren't we all? I can't bring myself to tell him he might not go back to primary school ever. I wonder how the school is going to mark the transition? I can't imagine an online end of primary school assembly being much fun, nor the leavers disco.

James on the other hand has been ok, as has Annie. She is meant to be sitting exams just now and hang out with her friends on the weekends. Instead she gets to homeschool her wee brothers.

I made my own coffee in the end and spent some time in my sewing room (which was littered with Knex pieces). I nearly finished the Kelly anorak. The sleeves are in, all that is left to do is finish the seams with bias tape to make it look neat. Weather permitting, I might do a photo shoot next week to show you it.

The weather is back to glorious once more, after a couple of rainy days. We had a barbecue for dinner, always a favourite. Now I am sitting in the bay window with the sun warming my face.

Thanks for visiting today. Take care xx