Sunday 28 February:

A short local walk with Moira (Dame Emily Park circuit)… good news was that Moira’s knee was recovering and her sciatica was bearable today.
Usual combination of Sunday paper and streamed church.
Pretty gentle day all in all… did another sketchbook scribble (more lockdown words – relating to the government’s handling of the pandemic).
Read a little bit more of my ‘Running’ book (not my cup of tea).
Roast pork supper!
Late afternoon/evening telly: Sheila Hancock programme on watercolour painting (just an excuse for her to visit Venice and India!) and ‘Throw Down’
Image: Yesterday’s snow moon had turned a bit red by early evening today!

Saturday 27 February:

Another no-walk Saturday (apart from fetching the newspaper)…
Morning coffee over the paper.
Spent a little time scribbling out a collection of ‘positive buzz words’ relating to lockdown in my sketchbook.
Definitely a day full of sport! Watched Italy v Ireland on the telly (predictable Irish victory), followed by Wales v England (which was incredibly frustrating to watch). Wales won… but a very disappointing display by England and a shambolic performance by the referee!
Drinking a couple of bottles of Guinness helped to dull the pain!
Fortunately, there was some sporting consolation – Bears beat Leicester and Villa beat Leeds.
Evening telly: re-watched ‘Art Club’ (Moira hadn’t seen it due to yesterday evening’s bookgroup).
Image: Walk in the woods (from my Friday walk). 

Friday 26 February:

I’d seen from the weather forecast that we were due to have a pretty sunny day, so set out at about 7.15am and walked along the Avon, under the suspension bridge, up though Leigh Woods to the ‘top’ road (North Road) which led to the suspension bridge (at road level)… and then meandered down through Leigh Woods and back home through Greville Smyth Park. Back home by 9.30am. A very lovely start to the day.
The only downside of my walk was a gradual sense (as I walked along North Road, for instance) of so much privilege and prosperity (houses gushing quality and expense, each with three expensive cars parked in their driveways!). Probably desperately unfair… but that’s how I felt!
Before taking off my coat when I got home, I collected the shopping bags and immediately went down to Hugo’s to buy some fruit+veg provisions for the weekend.
I was determined to finish my Bryson book by the end of the weekend and so spent much of the afternoon reading… and in fact managed to finish it (very enjoyable… made me laugh!).
Moira had her bookgroup in the evening.
Evening telly: “Grayson’s Art Club” made a welcome return.
Image: Definite Signs of Spring.

Thursday 25 February:

Another grey dawn… and I took my usual early morning walk around the harbour (this time via Metrobus Bridge/Marina/Gaol Ferry Bridge).
On my way home, I passed Andy Day (from CBeebies “Andy’s Dinosaur’s Adventures”!), the brilliant Pete Judge (from “Three Cane Whale”)… and was then almost run over by an absolute idiot on an e-scooter travelling well in excess of 20mph along Coronation Road (6mph is the legal limit on cycle lanes) while I and several other people were waited for the lights to change at the Gaol Ferry Bridge crossing!
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee update session… and then I spent the rest of the morning contacting Virgin Media about our missing Catch-Up facility! In the end (after ‘hanging on’ and then talking though my problems with two ‘operatives’ (actually they were both very helpful), after 75minutes, the problem was finally resolved (amazing/slightly frightening that they can manipulate data/devices online remotely etc!).
Sadly, 75 minutes was about how long England’s second innings lasted (all out 81!)… and they ended up losing to India by 10 wickets just after tea/dinner (it was a day/night game) on the SECOND day of the Test Match. What on earth has happened to the game of cricket I used to know?!
I spent a little time sketching a boat (sadly, only from a photograph) from Cumberland Basin immediately after lunch… followed by watching (via catch-up!) ‘Blitz Spirit With Lucy Worsley’ (90 minute documentary focussing on the lives of six people who lived through the blitz in Britain) – which was really very impressive (and quite illuminating).
Evening telly: ‘Landscape Artist’.
Image: Swans carrying out pre-flight safety checks?

Wednesday 24 February:

Bloke’s Prayer – so no early morning walk (pretty drab, gloomy day). All present, including Johnny (I always like his contributions).
Robin put forward his suggestion of discussing ‘Death’ in one or two separate evening sessions… and everyone readily agreed. He’s going to email everyone with a suggested format.
Usual morning coffee+chat routine with Moira – general catch-up and comparing each other’s day ahead.
Spent part of the morning preparing/altering various pages on my Blurb book (still some gaps) and read a couple of chapters/articles of my Carlo Rovelli book.
In the afternoon, we were going to watch ‘Blitz Spirit With Lucy Worsley’ (90 minute documentary focussing on the lives of six people who lived through the blitz in Britain)… BUT our ‘Catch-Up’ wasn’t working (the usual ‘try again in a few minutes’ failed to work)(and still not working by the end of the day… grrr!). Very frustrating! Watched some Channel4 cricket instead (day/night match)… but it proved desperately depressing (England won the toss and we bowled out for 112!).
Read a little bit more of my Bryson book (but spent far too long checking to see if catch-up was back up and running!). Pretty depressing day!
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: yet another sketch of ‘Bee’ next to the M-Shed. 

Tuesday 23 February:

A lovely pre-dawn (dramatic pink sky) – but I failed to take a decent photograph from the bathroom window (all very slightly blurred!)… hey ho. Enjoyed my usual dawn harbourside walk – although, by the time I’d completed it, it was just a normal bright day… no dramatic skies!
Spent the morning putting together some urban sketching ‘Event’ blurb (Norwich on 7 March) and then scribbling some ‘final’ thoughts on my Blurb book file.
Sketched a little in the afternoon and also, fleetingly, saw Ruth and Rosa as they popped to the house to collect a book (it was very lovely to see them!).
Also read some more Bryson.
Had another zoom session with Alan and David in the evening… good to chat (but feel for David after Sally’s death – and still not really sure how he spends his time or about his friends etc etc). Talking about getting Keith involved next time.
Image: Pre-dawn sky at the corner of Greville Road. 

Monday 22 February:

Harbourside dawn walk via Metrobus Bridge, Marina and Gaol Ferry Steps. Rained all the way! Got back home to the sight of workmen putting up scaffolding next door.
Spent most of the morning and the first part of the afternoon putting together some images in connection with the prospective application to “Grayson’s Art Club”. Think I’ve done as much as I can for the time being.
Had intended to watch a 1941 Cary Grant film (directed by Hitchcock), but gave up after 5 minutes – couldn’t stand the macho male representation!
Read more of my Bryson travel book for the rest of the afternoon instead.
Mr Johnson duly made his Covid roadmap statement to MPs - setting out what’s been described as a “cautious approach to ensure this is the last lockdown”. First stage of his four-part plan (thank goodness they haven’t gone for ‘tiers’ again!):
1. From 8 March: All schools will open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Recreation in a public space - such as a park - will be allowed between two people, meaning they would be allowed to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic.
2. From 29 March: Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. It is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts will reopen and organised adult and children's sport will also return.
3. No earlier than 18 May: Most restrictions outdoors will be lifted, subject to a limit of 30 people. This is the point where people will be allowed to see their friends and family indoors subject to the meeting of two households. Pubs and restaurants, plus cinemas, theatres, sports stadiums and some other venues will re-open.
4. No earlier than 21 June: Easing of restrictions will happen, when all legal limits on social contact including weddings will be removed. Government hopes to lift restrictions on large events and performances "potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection".
Evening telly: same old ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Image: Marina collage (96 photographs taken over the course of the past year from the same spot!).

Sunday 21 February:

Fetched the newspaper and, later, Moira and I went for a very brief walk (her knee is still playing up).
Streamed church and then an early lunch for me in advance of Urban Sketching (in Bergen, Norway). Sketching was good fun as usual… and Sara agreed to try to help with the video submission in connection with out “Grayson’s Art Club” application (which is a great relief, bless her).
Roast beef supper (excellent)!!
Afternoon and evening telly: Lucy Worsley’s ‘Palace Secrets’ and ‘Throw Down’.
Bristol Bears drew 34-34 with London Irish (after leading 31-13 at half-time!); Villa lost to Leicester 1-2… and Grealish is out injured for a month!
Image: one of my Bergen sketches. 

Saturday 20 February:

Another no-walk Saturday… just went out to fetch the newspaper.
Grey, drizzly morning… and it remained grey for the rest of the day.
Morning coffee over the newspaper.

I watched 'The 39 Steps' (again) on telly immediately after lunch.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, I’m afraid… I was determined to make progress on my ‘Fun Age’ book and, in fact, ended up being able to finish it (and write a brief blog review). In the end, not as bad as I’d feared, but not a contender for one of my books of the year!
Evening telly: ‘Poirot’ and ‘Raiders of the Lost Past’.
Image: Old, old tulips. 

Friday 19 February:

Went for my regular harbourside walk, but set out a little earlier than usual (I was back home by 7.40am). Actually, it all felt somewhat bleak and dreary – one of those days when you don’t expect the colour of the sky to change over the course of the following 10 hours or so (and, in reality, it didn’t!).
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee and chat. I explained that I’d thought about buying M a dress for her birthday (and had started looking online – but felt that it made sense for her to have some say in my prospective choice/s). Anyway, we’ve started the process!
I chatted to both Iris and Rosa (separately) by phone in the morning… lovely to hear their voices (but I SO miss seeing them properly- especially in half-term). They both seemed in good form.
I sketched our very messy “Butler’s Pantry” (not as if any butler would be able to gain entry!) before lunch.
Read some more of my ‘Fun Age’ book in the afternoon and then watched another ‘episode’ from the ‘Retreat’ programme.
In the early evening I listened to a podcast interview with Ruth about her ‘Ritual and Making’ work… and found it absolutely wonderful (she’s very good at describing her work).
Evening telly: ‘Kate Humble’s Coastal Walks’.
Image: pre-dawn harbour lights. 

Thursday 18 February:

Normal harbourside dawn walk in pretty heavy rain (but still happy to walk as long I’m suitably kitted out). Actually, I felt strangely 'jelly-legged' on the walk - not very nice!
Moira had a new laptop delivered during our morning coffee session (after various computer issues, she decided it was time to replace the old machine… the decision to opt for a comparatively simple computer coincides with her giving up doing Stu’s accounts).
After all the rain this morning, it turned into a blue sky and sunshine day… of course - apart from when Moira ventured out on a short walk to test her leg… when it started raining again (briefly). Sadly, she ended up curtailing her walk – the leg was still painful.
I spent part of the morning sketching some old fish net huts at Hastings Old Town (via streetview!).
In the afternoon, I watched on the ‘Retreat’ programmes (about life in a monastery) and also read a bit more of my ‘Such A Fun Age’ book (still not my favourite type of book).
Evening telly; ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Landscape Artist’.
Image: Old Hastings Town… yet another lockdown sketch! 

Wednesday 17 February:

Usual Bloke’s Prayer/non-walking day. Everyone there except Jeff (who was preparing Ash Wednesday prayers).
Our Drawing Group fortnightly theme is ‘the human body’ (with the suggestion that we use one of those ‘life drawing videos’ – which provide timed poses)(I scribbled a few one- and two-minute poses – but not to great effect!).
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee (and our two replacement cafetieres were duly delivered at the end of the morning!).
I sketched our latest bunch of tulips (well over a week old)… so they were well and truly shrivelled!
In the afternoon, I watched another film (‘Edie’) – a story about an 80 year-old woman who climbs a mountain (starring Sheila Hancock). Entertaining, without being anything special.
I tuned into the first part of the streamed Ash Wednesday service at 6.30pm (organised by Christian Climate Action Bristol)… before having another zoom session with Alan and Barry (which was very nice… and not limited to 45 minutes!).
Image: yet another photograph from Sunday’s misty morning. 

Tuesday 16 February:

I was up pretty early and watched a little cricket (England well on the way to defeat by lunchtime in India) before making myself a bacon bagel breakfast.
Morning coffee with Moira and reflecting on what we would normally be doing at half-term (felt quite sad that today was just going to be another ‘same old’ day!).
Checked out a couple of Norway locations and quickly set up a couple of draft images.
After lunch, I watched ‘The Deer Hunter’ from 1978 (not seen it before – 3 hours long! – very impressed!).
Shrove Tuesday = pancakes!
Early evening telly: another 'Staged'.
Evening: Resonate zoom (subject: ‘Environment and Creativity’): It didn’t really do it for me, I’m afraid (I thought it focussed far too much on Hazlenut Church).
Despite the fact that it was raining quite hard, I donned all my waterproofs and went for my usual harbourside walk (albeit in the dark – at around 6.45am).
Image: Another photo from the misty Sunday morning (Wapping Wharf).

Monday 15 February:

The usual dawn harbourside walk… very misty initially, but much warmer than last week (and the sun came out too!).
Watched some cricket on the telly… England heading for defeat!
Usual morning coffee with Moira (she had another fall in the night – returning from the bathroom – which has shaken her somewhat).
I spent much of the morning continuing with my Blurb book (adding and subtracting images and adjusting the text etc).
Also spent some time in the morning responding to an email from Lee (also sent to Frances, Richard, Jeanette, Dave, Robin and Tom) about St Mary’s church in Totnes using crowd-funding to raise £20K to make improvements to allow more community use (or something along those lines). I essentially felt that crowd-funding for Saint Stephen’s might be able to raise perhaps £50K – but nowhere near enough to approach the £1.5million overall re-ordering figure (I also questioned if there was the desire within the parish to pursue such things and also if, in the light of one of the Resonate discussions, people felt we could justify two church buildings).
Emailed Helen Hatcher (responding to her birthday greetings).
Tried to check out various potential locations in Norway for this Sunday’s urban sketching… and also (with far greater difficulty) something related to the ‘Human Body’ for the next fortnight’s Drawing Group theme.
Evening telly: inevitably ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Images: this morning at the marina.

Sunday 14 February:

Moira wasn’t feeling up for a walk (after her recent accident), so I went for an early harbourside walk (and called into the newsagent for the Sunday paper). A very drab, slightly-drizzly day… a fair number of people (runners and walkers) about in group numbers that exceeded the ‘two people maximum exercise guidelines’ (which I found somewhat annoying)!
Read The Observer and watched the cricket on the telly (not good news for England!).
Tuned into streamed church (led by Frances, with talk from Alex)... I'm afraid I'm finding 'church' pretty tough to take at present, so didn't get much out of it (maximum 22 attending online).
Started reading our latest bookgroup book: ‘Such A Fun Age’ (first impressions not altogether positive).
In the afternoon, I watched Ireland v France (France narrowly won) on the telly.
Evening telly: ‘Throwdown’.
Image: yet another Marina photograph (from this morning)… I’m putting together a 96-photo image for my Blurb book (sadly the last few have all been pretty grey and drab!).

Saturday 13 February:

Another sporting Saturday on the telly, I’m afraid!
Fetched the newspaper and spent some time poring over it over morning coffee.
Watched some of the first day’s cricket of the second India v England test match.
Did another sketch of our ageing tulips (and made up colours!)… followed by bacon bagels for lunch.
Afternoon was spent watching the rugby (England beat Italy easily enough, but not particularly impressively) and then Wales narrowly beating Scotland (after Scotland had had a man sent off in the second half – the second consecutive week that Wales’s opponents were reduced to 14 men… and ended up winning both games!).
Watched the last ‘Marple’ episode of our box set… whatever will we watch now?
Image: yellow tulips scribbled today (while watching the cricket!).

Friday 12 February:

Went for my usual dawn harbourside walk… ended up feeling slightly disappointed that the sky wasn’t more impressive (that sounds ridiculous… but, when I looked out of the bathroom window just before setting out, there was just a hint of a red glow… but it just disappeared!). Very cold again, so walking was pretty brisk!
Moira decided to go out for a walk before our morning coffee – and ended up having a car reversing into her at a junction off Coronation Road (and knocked her over)! Moira reckons she wasn’t really concentrating but, nevertheless, any driver reversing without special regard to nearby pedestrians must be in the wrong. The driver ended up driving her home (both duly face-masked) and Moira has emerged with a badly bruised knee. Not a nice start to the day.
I then followed that up by breaking the cafetiere! Hey ho!
Spent a ridiculously long time putting together a ‘framework’ of marina photographs on Publisher (96 images taken from the same viewpoint during the past 11 months). Not exactly sure what I’m going to do with it when complete – possibly include it in my Blurb book?
Popped down the road to collect my Bloke’s Book book from Storysmith and also bought some ‘early’ Valentine flowers from Hugo’s.
Did some general vacuuming in the afternoon… soon be time for a Spring clean!
Evening telly: ‘Staged' and ‘Britain’s Lost Masterpieces’.
Image: marina boats (accompanied by a new arrival, just behind?). 

Thursday 11 February:

Completed an entire circuit of the harbour on this morning’s dawn walk. Another beautiful, incredibly cold morning (apparently it was the coldest day since 1995 in Scotland last night: -23 degreesC!).
Morning coffee with Moira before she took her laptop down to Compuwave (and they managed to sort out some problems on the spot – which was good).
Posted the Norway event on the Urban Sketchers page.
Also ordered our next Bloke’s Books book from Storysmith.
Did some more work on my Blurb book – probably now more a case of editing, rather than adding stuff?
I watched another ‘Life of a Mountain’ episode and also an ‘Imagine’ programme on the effects of the pandemic on UK Arts (sobering).
Evening telly: ‘Marple’ (only one episode left!).
Image: Dawn opposite SS Great Britain.

Wednesday 10 February:

No morning walk due to Bloke’s Prayer (which was a shame because it was another beautiful, bright, sunny morning – albeit very cold!). Everyone there except Nick and Johnny.
Usual catch-up morning coffee with Moira.
Spent much of the morning drafting out an Event post for our next Urban Sketching session to Bergen, Norway in 10 days’ time.
Did another tulip sketch (ageing tulips!) in the afternoon (rapid line drawing and then rather lengthy colouring-in process afterwards!)… I watched another of the ‘Life of a Mountain’ series while sketching.
Evening saw another Bloke’s Books session… and it was a REALLY good discussion. Very worthwhile. Good book for consideration (‘The Crossway’).
Image: Blue tulips!

Tuesday 9 February:

Anti-clockwise dawn harbourside walk today… bright morning, but very cold.
Watched cricket highlights when I returned home – by the time I’d set out, England had taken 6 wickets and, by the time I returned, they’d taken the remaining 4!
Discovered that I’d scored 99 points on this week’s Fantasy Footie (which made a change!).
Morning coffee with Moira (before she went off for a walk to Greville Smythe Park).
Spent part of the rest of the morning scribbling some draft text for my blurb book… which I’m finding somewhat difficult.
I washed my hair (and bathed) after lunch, which made a change!
Moira collected my bookgroup book from Storysmith (along with a few other books of hers).
Read more of my ‘Shed’ book and then watched one of the ‘Life of a Mountain’ series documentaries (rather nice).
Evening saw another zoom get-together with Alan and David - which was good (and we've agreed to set up another session in a fortnight's time).
Evening telly: Watched a bot of 'Midsomer Murders' (I know!).
Image: yet another pic from my Marina view/reflection point (from this morning).

Monday 8 February:

Usual harbourside dawn walk (pleased that dawn. is getting earlier – currently 7.35am) on a bright, but very cold, day.
Usual morning coffee with Moira… talked about my forthcoming ‘death’ discussion with Robin!
Watched some cricket (4^th day of an interesting match).
Emailed Ian Adams after reading his article ‘Persistent Presence’ about an ‘empty pool’ in Cambridge, which he’s been returned to regularly over the past 2 years (felt similar to my own thoughts about Bristol Marina).
In the afternoon, had an interesting ‘death’ chat with Robin!
Read and sketched in the rest of the afternoon.
Evening telly: the usual ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’ (but I also watched a Julia Bradbury ‘South West Coastal Path’ episode on ITV – but no sub-titles).
Image: Impressive morning sky over Wapping Wharf.

Sunday 7 February:

Quite a full on day…
Fetched newspaper first thing, then Moira and I walked to Bathurst Basin (very cold and quite windy) before streamed church.
Read the Observer and watched some cricket on the telly, before an early lunch… and then another lovely urban sketching trip (this time to Lake Orta in Italy!).
After sketching, somewhat guiltily, I immediately sat myself in front of the telly to watch the Wales v Ireland rugby (Wales won narrowly – but Ireland had a player red-carded after 20 minutes!).
Age had emailed the ‘boys’ and so I responded… along with the others.
Roast chicken supper!
Evening telly: ‘Pottery Throw Down’.
Image: urban sketchers screenshot of 14 lovelies!

Saturday 6 February:

It was going to be a bit of a sporty weekend on the telly (Moira’s not hugely impressed)…
Fetched the newspaper first thing (no walking on Saturdays), followed by morning coffee etc.
England v India ‘live’ cricket followed by two Six Nations internationals. Sadly, the England v Scotland game was dreadful as far as England were concerned – Scotland deserved victors.
So, I seemed to spend an awful lot of the time shouting at the telly! Very frustrating.
Oh, and the Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 (although Bears lost to Sale last night 13-20).
Tried to draft out a brief 600 character document for Urban Sketchers possible application to Grayson’s Art Club… but found it incredibly difficult/impossible to contain things within 600 characters!.
Another ‘Marple’ episode in the evening
Image: flying cormorant from the harbour.

Friday 5 February:

With my painful back, I decided that going for a decent dawn walk and ‘walking tall’ would probably be a good strategy… so I set out pre-dawn and walked to Ashton Court. A lovely morning and some dramatic skies. Last night, during our zoom chat with Jennie, we laughed as she recounted her ‘falling in a puddle experience’… well, I did something very similar today! Making my way between railings at Ashton Court (going downhill), I completely lost my footing on the thick mud and ‘not-so-gracefully’ ended up sprawling in the mud (as did my camera!)… with mud ALL over my jeans. I think it must have looked pretty dramatic because a car kindly stopped to check I was ok. I was fine – just a bit winded, plus a bit of jarring to my right elbow and left shoulder.
Anyway, it was a lovely walk and I made my way home via the harbourside and Gaol Ferry Steps.
Received a reminder (I hadn’t actually realised) from Ian about there being ‘live’ coverage of the India v England cricket… so I ended up watching a couple of hours (which was rather nice!).
Read my ‘Shed’ book after lunch and then my birthday DVD (from Maggs+Jez) ‘Summerland’.
Had another zoom chat with BABEs – in celebration of Gail’s 60^th birthday (tomorrow) – which was good fun.
Image: dawn spooky tree (from this morning’s walk).

Thursday 4 February:

I went for an ‘early dawn’ harbour walk this morning (still very dark and just the hint of dawn on the horizon)… but actually enjoyed the change.
The reason for needing to take an earlier-than-usual walk was because I was being phoned at 8.40am by our doctor’s surgery in lieu of my ‘Annual Heart Check’ (which they’re unable to carry out in these lockdown days). The doctor was apologetic, but hoped to see me at some stage during 2021… general queries about general health/fitness, alcohol consumption, weight etc. It was all generally reassuring (or as much as it could be).
My back is still hurting (and sitting over a laptop doesn’t really help!).
Moira and I had our normal morning coffee exchange.
Spent part of the morning roughing out a possible second Italian location in advance of Sunday’s Urban Sketching ‘trip’.
I also sent a facebook message to Jules+Jane about the possibility of us submitting something (along with tens of thousands of others, no doubt!) for “Grayon’s Art Club” (along the ‘Travel’ theme – using our bizarre use of Google maps/streetview and zoom etc etc). I had an immediate positive response from Jane but, so far, nothing yet from Jules.
Spent a little time in the afternoon trying put together a few random thoughts on the subject of ‘Death’ (following an interesting telephone conversation with Robin the other day)… we’re going to talk again soon on the subject, so thought I scribble some brief notes.
Asda delivery (very welcome!)… the only negative note was that, yet again, the beef roasting joint wasn’t included (and there wasn’t a substitute!).
Had another nice zoom chat with Jennie in the evening.
Image: Yesterday’s ‘dusk over Southville’. 

Wednesday 3 February:

My first birthday in lockdown!
Slightly strange start to the day: I opened presents and cards in bed with Moira (cheese, jumper, books and DVD!), but then had to abandon things to ‘attend’ Bloke’s Prayer.
Moira and I were able to enjoy a gentle coffee in the living room later (after her ‘Slimming World’ zoom session!) and contemplate the day.
Chatted to both Alice and Hannah by phone, which was lovely.
Wrote some quick ‘thank you’ FB messages to various people.
Enjoyed some of my cheese (from Gail+Ian) at lunchtime, followed by Dundee ‘birthday’ cake (made by Moira, of course)!
Had a lovely zoom chat with Iris, Rosa+Ru in the afternoon (over cake, of course)… Ru had previously delivered some flowers, cake and some of her wonderful embroidered words.
Also received a birthday phone call from Alan+Gareth… and later had a fascinating conversation with Robin about ‘death’ (and the possibility of us setting up some mini-online discussion group – for those in our age group!).
Storysmith book group later… and, remarkably, out the 11 attending, three of us (Rachel, Jenna and me) were celebrating birthdays TODAY! Good discussion about ‘Snow Country’… the majority didn’t really enjoy it.
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’.

On a negative note: Villa failed to win on my birthday (lost 1-3 at home to West Ham!).
Image: Ru’s embroidered word 'Pocket Talisman'..

Tuesday 2 February:

Having wondered, last night (when I wasn’t feeling particularly well), whether or not I’d feel like going walking this morning… in fact, I was feeling fine (apart from my back) and so went dawn walking to the Avon Lock (actually the adjacent  flyover). I set out when the sky was pretty bleak but, happily, the sun came out by the time I arrived at the lock. Then walked back along the harbour to the Marina/Gaol Ferry Steps and then home. Glad I’d made the effort and felt duly rewarded.
When the internet was down last week, I resorted to checking out music on my laptop’s ‘Windows Media Player’ and was very pleasantly surprised by songs I hadn’t listened to for several years.
Ever since I discovered that my facebook a/c had been hacked (a fortnight or so ago?), I’d been trying to get facebook to sort things out… and, annoyingly, it proved to be VERY frustrating and unsuccessful task. I’d received SEVEN absolutely useless facebook responses (essentially involving a ‘going-round-in-circles’ exercise), but today I received an email from them that seemed more helpful saying this (and starting ‘Dear Steve’!): We’ve reviewed the profile that your friend reported and found that it isn't pretending to be you and doesn't go against our Community Standards. If you think we should take another look, please reply to  this message and let us know’. Well, at least this gave me the opportunity to ‘make my case’ in response. I look forward to receiving their reply!
I ended up deciding to colour in yesterday’s quick line sketch of tulips – it felt like playing with a colouring book (but strangely satisfying!).
Read a little more of my Clive James’ poetry book in the afternoon.
Started watching ‘Look Back In Anger’ (1959), but didn’t find quite suitable in lockdown, so gave up!
Had a worrying FB message from my friend Nikki in France (she’s got a dissection of the aorta – and they also found a large aneurism - and was rushed to hospital last Wednesday. It will almost certainly involve open heart surgery). Worrying.
Evening telly: another ‘Marple’ episode.
Image: Flyover Furniture from this morning’s walk.

Monday 1 February:

Something of a strange day…
I went for my usual dawn walk around the harbour first thing (I’d originally a rather longer walk down the Avon, but the grey early morning murk was uninspiring!).
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee together – but not until almost 10.30am (Moira’s been ‘sleeping in’ of late!).
I’ve concluded that facebook aren’t going to reinstate my old account and so, very reluctantly, I’ve decided to press on with my ‘new’ version… which obviously involved adding more ‘friends’. Time consuming and irritating… and thereby the morning and some of the afternoon duly disappeared! The whole process is SO frustrating – I just wish there was a way I could actually talk to ‘proper’ person at FB!!
Did a very quick line sketch of our tulips in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Went to bed feeling sorry for myself (bad back, slightly twisted ankle, slight toothache, feeling shivery)!!
Image: Tulips line sketch.