Monday 31 May:

Despite the Bank Holiday, I went for my dawn walk as usual – Prince Street Bridge/The Grove/The Ostrich and home. Somewhat surprised and irritated to see that they were preparing to do some filming on Prince Street Bridge – token flower stall being erected; cars blocking cycle tracks; and with the bridge clearly being closed at various stages of the day (for how long, who knows?). Ridiculous that they should decided to do on May Bank Holiday Monday (of all days!!)?
We actually both enjoyed a rather lazy Bank Holiday (reading and, in Moira’s case, sewing… and me sketching flowers).
Re-watched the excellent documentary on Nan Shepherd via iPlayer.
The sun shone and we enjoyed a glass of wine in the garden before supper.
Good times.
Evening telly: ‘Between The Covers’… followed by early night to finish my Atkinson book.
Image: Prince Street Bridge closure due to filming! 

Sunday 30 May:

Sunny Bank Holiday Sunday! Fetched newspaper first thing.
Sort of ‘end of term’ church today (to say goodbye to Ben and Alex) in the garden at Saint Stephen’s! It proved to be quite a nice occasion… and good to be able to chat to a few people.
Ate lunch outside in the garden at home – and I even poured myself a glass of white wine!
Read more of my Atkinson book (over 500 pages!)… part in the garden and part in the living room.
Lazy Sunday.
Roast pork for supper… accompanied by the usual Sunday rubbish on telly (I ended up watching ‘Countryfile’ and ‘Antiques’ as usual, but went to bed to read without watching a double helping of ‘Midwife’!!
Image: Church in the garden at Saint Stephen’s (and foot!).

Saturday 29 May:

Fetched the newspaper first thing… only to discover 3 drunk or drugged blokes (in their late 20s?) rolling around on the road in North Street (at the junction with South Street)… and shouting aggressively and then marching off in the Tobacco Factory direction. I managed to get past them and made my way into Tesco… but then saw one of them enter the shop too, head straight for the beer shelves, grab a pack of beer (or two) and waltz out of the shop (obviously without paying). One of the shop assistants (fortunately the old guy was on duty) immediate locked the front doors after the bloke had left to prevent the others enter (in case they tried). I’m not sure if Tesco’s phoned the police but, either way, I found the whole episode very depressing (police dogs were probably the only solution!).
Later in the morning, I walked to Arnos Vale for a real live sketch meet-up, with real live friends! The sun even shone… which was a bonus. My sketch wasn’t very good, but lovely to see lot of familiar faces again.
On my way home from sketching, I was very nearly knocked over by an e-scooter (it’s not the first time!)… it was travelling towards me at a speed of some 20mph (it might even have been more)… ON THE PAVEMENT (the legal speed limit is 15.5mph on ROADS and 4mph on PAVEMENTS). I’m getting sick and tired of such individuals… who seem to believe they’re totally untouchable. Hey ho!
Read a little more of my Atkinson book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: documentaries on the Celts and ‘Saved by Strangers’.
Image: Arnos Vale café.

Friday 28 May:

Despite Ursa staying overnight for a sleepover, I still went for my dawn walk along the harbour (back home by 6.15am). Really overcast and drab (which came as a bit of a surprise)… and within minutes of returning home, it started to rain!
Ursa got up just after 7am and so we chatted, breakfasted (and she drew in her notebook).
I also managed to get down to Hugo’s briefly to re-stock on vegetables.
She and I played with her Lego for well over an hour… before H+F came to collect her mid-morning. In fact, we enjoyed a double coffee break and catch-up chats for a couple of hours – which was lovely.
I felt really zonked after lunch (I’d had another pretty rubbish ‘sleep’ night!), so simply read and sketched in the afternoon.
Nothing more as far as house survey etc was concerned (Laurence assures us that he’ll endeavour to make contact with our prospective purchase next Wednesday, after the Bank Holiday).
Evening telly: ‘What Are We Feeding Our Kids?’ and Mary Beard’s ‘Inside Culture’.
Image: Take it a Day at a Time (repeat after me…!). 

Thursday 27 May:

A significant day (but for the moment, we don't know if it's good or bad!)… our prospective buyer’s building surveyor came round to do his survey. He spent 2 hours thoroughly inspecting/testing/checking our house and, no doubt, he’ll end up producing a catalogue of defects. He reckons he’ll be able to send his survey to our buyer tomorrow. I’ve forewarned Laurence of this on the assumption/in the hope that he’ll be in close contact with our buyer and be able to ‘talk him through things’ etc. In the meantime, we’re just left holding our breath. We’ve not tried to hide any of the building issues and would be prepared to drop the asking price to some extent (my gut feeling is that we have a potential contingency of £45K? I can’t imagine Moira being prepared to accept any price reduction of over £10K!). Stressful times!
I managed to make a doctor’s appointment to review my various medications and also wrote a letter to Alan (I know!).
Iris+Rosa were coming round to early supper after school today (the first time in 14 months!) and they were being joined by Ursa (who was also staying for a sleepover – H+F were going to the Old Vic)… so, somewhat predictably, I cooked macaroni cheese! Lovely to see them… lots of chat and laughter. Good times.
Earlyish to bed and read more of my Atkinson book.
Image: harbourside seagull parking deterrent. 

Wednesday 26 May:

A somewhat ‘full’ day (after sleeping terribly!).
I walked into town first thing for 8am BP at the Society Café… the sun was actually shining and Lee’s presence made it all the better.
I’d arranged to meet up with Charlotte, Alice and Ana at 10.30am… again at the Society Café… so I ended up walking around town (Castle Park, Castle Bridge etc) whiling away time until 10.30am. SO lovely to see them again – and we agreed to give each other what we described as ‘half hugs’ (much better than none). Ana got quite emotional and tears ran down her face. We chatted about the future of Drawing Group – and C+A essentially decided that it needed to ‘cease’… and perhaps take on a different, occasional form (with them stepping back from much of the organising). Sounded sensible – although quite a difficult decision for them both.
Spent the first part of the afternoon clearing the rest of Ru’s studio space in preparation for the surveyor’s visit tomorrow morning. It all ended up looking slightly less messy than it was last night (but pretty sad to see it).
Spent the rest of the afternoon reading my Max Porter book (‘The Death of Francis Bacon’) – a short, strange imagining of his final, bedridden, silent days. All a little over my head, I’m afraid.
Attended another zoom ‘Local Learning’ session with Adrian early evening.
Evening telly: ‘Canal Diaries’ and ‘Sewing Bee’.
Image: Interim studio clear-out. 

Tuesday 25 May:

I walked to the harbour (as usual) at dawn – this time via Bathurst Basin, The Ostrich, Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, M-Shed cranes. Despite seeming a little reluctant at first, even the sun came out!
Morning coffee with Moira and Ru (felt so sorry for Ru – SO much to do and so little time to do everything). She spent most of her time clearing bits of her studio (and taking some stuff to BV Studios on foot – despite all her aches and pains!).
Popped into Storysmith and bought a couple of books (‘The Leopard’ and Max Porter’s ‘The Death of Francis Bacon’).
I spent most of the morning cleaning the kitchen and bathroom and vacuuming the stairs etc. (in preparation for the building surveyor’s visit on Thursday – I know the house doesn’t need to be prestine for him, but I do want it all to look ‘ok’).
Very pleased to watch highlights of the Villa under18s win in the FA Youth Cup Final from last night (they beat Liverpool 2-1).
Spent the afternoon finishing my ‘January Man’ book – in the end I really rather enjoyed it!
Yet more rain in the afternoon and evening… when will it ever stop! It’s may for goodness sake!
Ru+Stu came to take away yet more studio stuff at the end of the day… feel really awful for them and huge problems we’ve made for Ru/them (and there’s still an awful lot of mess left in the studio). All very depressing.
Evening telly: Canal documentary plus more ‘Canal Diaries’ (second series).
Image: Dawn Down The Docks (from this morning). 

Monday 24 May:

My usual dawn walk around the harbour… started and ended in sunshine, but rain in between (and I hadn’t taken my waterproofs!).
Morning coffee with Moira (inside)… although the sun was out for much of the day.
I spent the morning scribbling some prospective queries for solicitor (regarding Deanery Road management group/service charges etc and then worked on a fairly quick boat sketch.
Most of the afternoon spent reading ‘JanuaryMan’ (not my favourite book of the year – lots of nature/birds/trees descriptions and perfectly pleasant to read, but I yearn for rough maps of the walks and a few more observations about him, his father etc.
Very pleased (and relieved) to have received the Building Regulation Consent notice via email from the Council.
Evening telly: Last of series 1 ‘Canal Diaries’ and ‘Between The Covers’.  
Image: This morning’s marina dawn in the rain.

Sunday 23 May:

Live service at Saint Stephen’s this morning (led by Lee, with talk by Adrian).
We managed to get to church and back in the dry… just.
From then on, it was a pretty miserable day weather-wise.
Somerset reduced Gloucestershire to 27-6 in their first innings (of a hugely rain-restricted game) before more rain meant the game was abandoned as a draw.
Villa ended the season by beating Chelsea 2-1 at Villa Park (with spectators in attendance for the first time this season).
I spent most of the day (after reading the Observer) finishing my Kate Atkinson book (excellent).
Ru+Stu collected more stuff from the studio… despite the heavy rain. Miserable.
Went to bed early straight after 'Countryfile' and 'Antiques' (Moira was watching ‘Midwife’ and ‘Pursuit of Love’) to read.
Image: Hermon Cawthra sculptures on Corn Street façade.

Saturday 22 May:

The usual Saturday newspaper trip to the local Tesco…
Then a typical lazy morning catching up with news and comment.
I also did a rather strange sketch of one of our treacle tins (with pens etc).
Bacon bagels for lunch… which was very nice.
The lazy day continued into the afternoon – read more of my ‘Jackson Brodie’ book.
Ru and Stu came round at the end of the afternoon to start clearing our stuff from Ru’s studio (some to be taken to BV Studio… other stuff to Temple Street basement?). Quite poignant… end of an era.
Evening telly: ‘Canal Diaries’ and ‘Saved By A Stranger’.
Image: Imagining sunshine and shadows (somewhat ironic as the sun came out by the end of the morning).

Friday 21 May:

I went for my dawn walk around the harbour in the rain… very deserted and quite bleak (and yet I quite enjoy walking in the rain if I’m appropriately dressed).
Home by 6.15am… poached eggs on toast plus espresso breakfast.
Morning coffee with Ru and Moira (Ru en route to the framers).
I sketched one of our cushion covers (felt a bit like a doodling exercise!) before lunch and then watched a shocking documentary “Subnormal: A British Scandal” after lunch.
Moira had a hospital appointment at Southmead Hospital (‘Motion Clinic’). She and I were both quite anxious about it all, but it turned out to be really quite reassuring (her chin wobbles are very unlikely to be the first signs of Parkinson’s, for example). Moira certainly felt very pleased by the thoroughness of her examination and the explanations/attitude of the doctor. So, very good news.
Earlier in the week, I’d considered the possibility of going to watch the cricket in Bristol, but the weather forecast proved absolutely accurate: Somerset managed just 45-1 yesterday and no play at all today. 
Read more of my 'January Man' book... but have decided to pause (for a little while) at the end of June.
Evening telly: more ‘Canal Diaries’… and an early night.
Image: cushion doodle.

Thursday 20 May:

I decided not to go walking first thing this morning (my back was giving me some trouble and it was pretty bleak weatherwise).
I’d originally hoped to go and watch some cricket in Bristol (Glocs v Somerset), but the forecast was for light rain for much of the day… so I didn’t. In the event, Somerset batted first and reached 45-1 during the course of a very disrupted day's play - so I was justified in not going).
Usual indoor morning coffee with Moira… talked about her hospital appointment at Southmead tomorrow (she’s obviously quite anxious about it) and also about the possibility of us training down down to Bradford-on-Avon for a walk through the town/along the canal?
I emailed Jonny to see if he would be able to make next Wednesday’s BP via zoom (answer: he’s on a course, but perhaps could do the evening?).
Sketched indoors before lunch (dining chairs… not exactly exciting!).
Ian sent me a link to a documentary he thought I might like (Harry Birrell presents films of Love and War)… and how right he was. This is from the iPlayer’s accompanying blurb: “In 1928 and at the age of eleven, Harry Birrell was given his first cine camera. ‘The greatest toy a child could ever receive,’ he would say. His obsession with making movies would span the rest of his life, despite the onset of blindness. In love, war and other adventures, Harry recorded everything with a wonderfully cinematic eye on thousands of feet of high-quality 16mm film. From commanding a battalion of Gurkhas in the Indian army at the start of WWII to dangerous sorties deep behind enemy lines in Burma at its end, and from the ballroom dances of his youth in the 30s to teaching his children how to dance the twist in the 60s, Harry’s entertaining and errant adventures are filmed with the intimacy of home movies but on the scale of Lawrence of Arabia.Today, his granddaughter Carina uncovers a lifetime of memories all spliced together in over 400 films, personal diaries (narrated by Richard Madden) and countless photographs that have previously lain unseen”. Excellent.
In the evening, we had a zoom call with Maggs+Jeremy – which was very nice… good to catch up (frustrating for Moira that she wasn’t able to hear initially and had to use a separate device in the living room!).
Evening telly: ‘Canal Diairies’ on catch-up.
Image: Dining Chairs.

Wednesday 19 May:

I had an optician’s appointment in town so decided that it was an appropriate opportunity to re-join the Bloke’s Prayer blokes first thing (they were meeting up at the Society Café again today for the first time since the Autumn).
We sat outside (Ed, Robin, Jeff, Dry, Dave, new Dave and me) and it was good to get together again – even if Jeff was his annoying self!
Had some time to fill between BP and eye check (at 10.50am), so wandered around… which felt a little strange after such a long time ‘away’. The appointment was fine (no new prescription needed) – even though there seemed to be an awful lot of customers+staff about (and frequently pushed into small, unventilated(?) rooms). But, hey, Specsavers DID replace the missing screw on one of my pairs of specs!
Read a little more of my ‘January Man’ book in the afternoon.
Iris popped round on the way home from school to print out some DoE forms – so lovely to HUG and see her. Almost like old times!
Evening telly: ‘Canals’, ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Sewing Bee’.

Villa beat Spurs 2-1 away.

Image: Holey (Holy?) Water (River Avon/Feeder Canal)… 

Tuesday 18 May:

Went for my harbour walk just after dawn (Vauxhall Bridge/marina/Greville Smyth park)… and the sun came out as I got to the marina. It poured with rain within a couple of hours, so I was very lucky. Ru came round to work in the studio (and it was lovely to hug her again after such a long, long time!).
I booked a SpecSaver appointment for tomorrow (and ended up receiving a call from them asking me to complete a questionnaire!). Also had a call from a woman from Avon+Wiltshire Mental Health asking if I had a contact for Zabiullah at City of Bristol College (regarding his lack of language skills and having no access to internet). I gave her what I had.
I sketched some boats in the marina (from one of my photographs).
I read some of my ‘January Man’ book… about walking around Britain. Good but a bit plodding (at least that’s how I feel after a couple of chapters).
I decided not to ‘go’ to Resonate tonight – on the subject of youth work (not a subject particularly close to my heart these days… and I also didn’t want to get sucked into volunteering!).
Evening telly: more ‘Canal Diaries’ and ‘Jewellery’ challenge.
Image: Marina+masts at sunrise this morning.

Monday 17 May:

Went for my usual harbour walk just after dawn… very still, somewhat overcast and hardly anyone about.
Back home for simple toast+marmalade+coffee breakfast.
Received a text from Hannah first thing… asking if they could come round for coffee (before their vaccinations at Ashton Gate). So Moira and I enjoyed greeting (and HUGGING!) H+F and sitting in the garden in bright sunshine – which was very lovely.
Finished my quick sketch started during the course of watching the John Lennon documentary from yesterday.
Sent Lee an email (following my brief text replies of yesterday).
Finished my ‘Pilgrim’ book (Bloke’s Books)… and scribbled a review.
Evening telly: ‘Canal Boat Diaries’ and ‘Between The Covers’ (and I also watched 'Colette' - an Oscar-winning short documentary about a former French resistance woman visiting the concentration camp where her brother was killed. 
Image: Fee’s photograph of our first daughter hug for 14 months (I look somewhat gormless!)! 

Sunday 16 May:

Alan+Lesley’s Ruby Wedding Anniversary!
Radio 4 were broadcasting the morning service from Lichfield Cathedral this morning (at 8.10am), so Moira and I both decided to ‘listen in’. To me, it felt a bit like being in a service at St Mary Redcliffe (with all the choral stuff)… except that I found the bishop’s talk a little too condescending and perhaps over-sincere (not as thought-provoking or learned as the SMR sermons – but perhaps that was all down to things being limited to a 40 minute service?). But I’m probably being very unkind.
Went for our usual Sunday harbourside walk. We were going to take a flask of coffee, but it was spotting with rain just before we left home… so we didn’t.
Morning coffee and newspaper when we returned home.
Villa lost 2-3 away to Crystal Palace at lunchtime and Somerset’s washed-out game against Surrey was drawn.
Finished my ‘Fun Home’ graphic novel (and scribbled a brief review).
Felt a bit low all day… probably the anxiety of waiting for the house move to happen… or not.
Afternoon/evening telly; Attenborough documentary on ‘Lions’ and 'John Lennon: A Life In Ten Pictures'.
Image:’My Tree’ update. 

Saturday 15 May:

Back to our Saturday routine (after our lovely I+R interlude)… fetched the newspaper first thing and trawled through the depressing stories (especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
Morning coffee over the papers.
Wrote a couple of ‘Reflections’ in my blog.
In the afternoon, I sketched a view of rooftops from the Tate St Ives café (from a photo that appeared on the Tate St Ives FB page)… and then compared it to a very similar one I’d drawn in 2013(?) from the café itself.
Ru and Rosa popped in on their way home from town with some ‘thank you’ flowers and stopped for quick refreshments. X
Watched the FA Cup Final (still can’t get used to 5.15pm kick-off instead of the old 3pm!). Pretty rubbish game but a wonderful result (Leicester won the Cup for the first time in their history).
Went to bed early to read more of ‘Fun Home’
Image: Leicester won the Cup! 

Friday 14 May:

Another overnight stay at Temple Street while Ru+Stu set up Ru’s exhibition at the Devon Guild. Once again, the girls were very organised and sorted out stuff without any panics or last minute changes of plans.
Moira and I returned home and immediately had opur morning coffee and a chill… (I think we were both pretty tired – especially Moira who felt in need of a lie down).
I sorted out various catch-up FB stuff and also wrote my usual book review (having completed ‘Big Sky’ – and also realised, thanks to Moira, that we have four other ‘Jackson Brodie’ crime novels on our shelves!).
In the afternoon, I scribbled in my sketchbook while watching a fascinating documentary on Muhammed Ali.
Ru rang in the middle of the afternoon to ask if I could call in at Temple Street again after school to keep I+R ‘company’ – it sounded as if Ru+Stu would be need to pretty late in order to complete the exhibition set up.
Enjoyed pizza with I+R (so lovely chatting to them again over a meal!)… Ru and Stu arrived home just after 7pm (which was pretty impressive – no traffic). Exhausted but also elated and proud. Happy homecoming!
Image: Rapid dining table and chairs, Temple Street.

Thursday 13 May:

So, starting the day after an overnight stay at Temple Street was just a little different to our regular routines over the past 14 months or so!
I woke early and read for a while… and the girls duly emerged from 6.45am onwards (they have their morning routines – preparing for their respective school days, lunch preparations, breakfast etc etc – and seemed very well organised.
Moira and I returned to MPT briefly before walking into town to deliver a package of documents to the solicitors in Queen Square (note: all staff were working ‘remotely’ but, fortunately, there was someone around to hand over the package).
M+I had morning coffee at the Social Café (sitting outside), which made a pleasant change.
Gave roughsleeper Phil some money (he was sitting on Pero’s Bridge)… he told me he originated in Essex; left home at 15; has been sleeping rough since the 80s (I think?); he’s now 55… and very definitely doesn’t want to take the advice of his care worker (who wants him to get to a hostel) because he values his independence (and avoidance of trouble-makers and the like).
Finished my ‘Big Sky’ book (excellent) and started the Storysmith bookgroup’s next book (graphic novel): ‘Fun Home’.
Iris cooked supper for us (spaghetti bolognese), which was excellent and lovely. Nice chats and plenty of laughter.
Villa drew 0-0 at home to Everton.
Evening telly: watched ‘Task Master’ for the first time ever (at I+R’s suggestion!).
Image: Temple Street wall from our new temporary surroundings (random pic taken by Rosa, experimenting).

Wednesday 12 May:

We were going to have a pretty busy day, so I gave my early morning walk a miss.
Instead, I concentrated on scanning a whole of completed forms from our solicitor (time consuming!).
Ru+Stu called round to collect Ru’s exhibition stuff from the studio (they were installed the exhibition at the Devon Guild over the next three days).
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee (as a break between yet more forms).
Managed to complete going through forms by lunchtime.
Collected our next bookgroup book from Storysmith (graphic novel).
Then scanned a second batch of documents in readiness for delivering to the solicitors office tomorrow morning.
M+I were quite excited by the prospect over being with Iris+Rosa ‘after school’ over the next three days…
Walked over to Temple Street at about 4pm (girls already home) and enjoyed catching up.
I’d cooked a macaroni supper for the four of us – as a silly celebration of getting together again (but it was lovely and appreciated by everyone). Lots of amusing banter and even Ink seemed pleased to see us.
I read more of my ‘Big Sky’ book in the evening.
Evening telly: we all watched ‘Sewing Bee’.
Image: one old man+cat… (taken by Rosa). 

Tuesday 11 May:

Well, a MUCH better day today!!
Nick, from the estate agents, phoned me before 10am to say that our offer had been accepted… a huge relief. Just the thought of trying to find an alternative place felt pretty onerous.
I went for a dawn walk (my usual route) on a rather lovely start to the day (very still, quite dramatic sunrise).
Spent much of the rest of the day, completing forms and liaising with solicitors and estate agents… some queries quite challenging and not necessarily resolved satisfactorily… but hey!
Slightly tiresome, very time-consuming task of having to scan completed forms and documents and then emailing back to the solicitors (not accepting stuff by hand due to Covid etc).
Felt pretty tired and jaded by the end of the day… and still much work ahead of us, BUT at least our Deanery Road offer has been accepted(!)… the first hurdle has been jumped!
Image: trains+boats+cranes (this morning’s dawn). 

Monday 10 May:

A very frustrating day. I decided not to bother with my morning walk… mind too pre-occupied about potential flat purchase.
Morning coffee with Ru (who was working in her studio today) and Moira - M had to depart for her x-ray at the BRI…
Sketched during the course of the morning.
Drafted a note to Laurence in anticipation of Nick getting back to us with confirmation that our offer had been accepted etc.
Eventually (just before 2pm), Nick range to say there had been two OTHER offers(!)(strange that it’s been on the market for a little time and, then, suddenly…)… first time buyer and also someone who wanted it for letting. Looks as if we’re second favourites (but who knows?). M+I chatted and decided to increase our offer to the asking price (£375K)… Nick promised a decision by 12noon tomorrow. Hey ho… the frustrations of house purchase!! So, obviously didn’t send my email to Laurence.
Read more of my Atkinson book in the afternoon (although somewhat distracted!).
Evening: another zoom chat with Alan and David… which was good (and, once again, lasted 2.5 hours!!).
Image: “Sometimes you just need to sit and chill” (pretty appropriate words for today!).

Sunday 9 May:

We actually went to ‘real’ church at Saint Stephen’s today (the third time at church for me in 14 months and the fourth time for Moira). Lovely to see ‘everyone’ (albeit in a rather unreal way). Dru took the service - in his rather bumbling (and slightly annoying) way – and Lee gave the talk (he’s VERY good!).
Afterwards Moira and I had coffee with Phil (Trinity ordinand) and his wife Abbey (from my Storysmith bookgroup) at St Nick’s market – which was very lovely.
Lots of people in town enjoying the sunshine.
Frittered away much of the rest of the day reading the newspaper and trying to keep abreast of the emerging local election results. Once again, Southville returned two Green councilors (excellent news) but, rather brilliantly, Labour and GREENS now SHARE control of the City Council (24 seats each) – with the Tories (14 seats) pushed into third place and LibDems on 8! This represents a HUGE turnaround from the 2016 results: Labour 37; Tories 14; Greens 11; LibDems 8. Marvin Rees (Lab) was re-elected Mayor – which is fine by me as I think he’s been good at representing the city over the past 5 years.
Villa lost at home to ManU 1-3, but Somerset beat Hampshire easily.
Evening telly: usual boring ‘Countryfile’ and ‘Antiques’!
Went to bed early and read more of my Kate Atkinson book.
Image: It’s that wisteria time of year (from a house on Kingston Road)!

Saturday 8 May:

A significant day perhaps?
Fetched the newspaper and then went to Hugo’s for fruit+veg first thing.
Read the paper then went in town for another apartment viewing (I know!).
This was a third-floor property in Deanery Road in the city centre (right next to the library and cathedral) – Robin+Sue live in the same complex.
We decided to book to view the place on the basis of its accommodation, size and location… and I think, prior to the visit, that we both felt there was a chance it might suit us.
In the event, I think we were both quite impressed with what was on offer – and, compared to the place we viewed at Redcliffe Parade West, it was much bigger (main living/dining area had a kitchen recess; the bedrooms were slightly larger; and the hallway and wall space for books etc much better)… and, crucially, there was no chain either!
So, when we got home, we decided to put in an offer for £365K (the asking price had been £375K)… and, although the woman wanted to check with her partner, the estate agent was confident our offer would be accepted – which is very good news. But we’ll probably have to wait until Monday before things are confirmed.
Didn’t really know what to do with ourselves for the remainder of the afternoon! I read some of my Kate Atkinson detective book.
Bristol beat Bath away from home 20-40! Gloucs won their cricket match after 3 days.
Late afternoon/evening telly: impressive Ian Wright documentary and old ‘Fake+Fortune’.
Image: A rather poor pic of the living/dining area at Deanery Road (but it gives a flavour!).

Friday 7 May:

A somewhat lazy start to the date (still pondering on house-related stuff)…
Morning coffee with Moira+Ru (briefly) and then M+I went for a walk via Frayne Road/harbour/Vauxhall Bridge… everything in green leaf.
Sketched a chair to try and grow my ‘library’ of images (which is currently pretty low).
Also wrote a ‘reflection’ blog post.
‘Energy Man’ came just after 12noon to undertake survey (going through the motions?)…
Hannah popped in during the course of the afternoon and we sat in the garden… which was very lovely. She’d just successfully completed the installation of her artwork at the chemo hospital (and it sounded as though it had been straightforward and very well-received).
Moira and I (and Hannah) had been chatting about various potential apartment viewings… and so we ended up booking a visit to an apartment in Deanery Road (the same block that Robin+Sue live in) tomorrow at 11.15am (£375K asking price). Who knows (but seems much bigger than yesterday’s viewing)?
Late afternoon/evening telly: ‘River Walks’ (the River Dart and then the River Lea) and Portillo’s railway journeys.
Image: 'My' tree coming into leaf again.

Thursday 6 May:

A strange and (hopefully) significant day.
I went for my usual dawn harbourside walk (just after sunrise) – cloudy, but incredibly still and hardly anyone about.
Scribbled a long email to David+Alan (in response to Alan’s) and then Moira and I had morning coffee (slightly later than usual because wanted to book a blood test appointment – and telephone bookings always take forever!).
I was feeling a little behind in my ‘drawing library’ and so decided to sketch something in connection with Drawing Group’s current theme (sci-fi)… I chose Darth Vader – mainly because I could do a quick mask without too much difficulty.
But at lunchtime, we received an email/letter from Laurence informing us that George Burton wanted to buy our house for the asking price (£495,000)… and that their buying position was: “Nothing to sell - £175K deposit, remainder in mortgage. Keen to move but no immediate desperate urgency, so happy to wait for you to find”. Obviously wonderful news!!
Slight complication was that there was a couple with an apartment in Redcliffe West Street also possibly interested in our house and wanting to sell their (possibly house swap?). In the end, we decided to investigate and inspected the property just after 5pm – lovely place but perhaps just a little too small? So after chatting on our way home, I phoned Laurence and said we’d like to accept George’s offer. Phew! Obviously, a long, long way to go – but a very positive step forward (hopefully).
Evening was Saint Stephen’s APCM (via zoom) – which only last some 50 minutes and was fine.
Late evening telly: ‘Saved By A Stranger’ documentary.
Image: Yet another ‘marina at dawn’ pic! 

Wednesday 5 May:

No dawn walking today because Laurence had lined some more viewings for the morning (how many, we weren’t sure… 2? 3?), so it was a case of leaving the house by 9.30am. Afterwards, he texted that he’d send us an update over the next couple of days (doesn’t exactly sound as if buyers are queuing at his door!).
As we had to ‘get out of the house’, we’d booked a CarClub car and a slot at Tyntesfield NT… and we ended up having a very lovely morning/early afternoon there… in bright sunny weather (but a chill wind in the exposed areas). We’d taken coffee and sandwiches for lunch. I had some difficulty with the car (stalling in awkward places/difficulty getting it started etc)… which all felt a bit depressing.
Returned home about 2pm and just chilled for the rest of the afternoon (reading and catching up with FB etc).
Evening bookgroup via zoom (fantasy novel)… another session of really enjoyable conversation and insights. The book was something of a 50:50 split (so I was pleased not to have been the only person who didn't enjoy it!).
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Sewing Bee’.
Image: Moira’s photo of us taken over coffee (“obligatory ‘escaped from the city’ selfie”).

Tuesday 4 May:

Went for my usual dawn harbourside walk (just a little after sunrise)… bright, clear morning after a wild and wet night. Water pretty choppy and seagulls playing with the air currents.
Somewhat depressing (but not surprising) to see damp over the basement floor around WC area.
Sent Alan a catch-up email… after his fairly lengthy FB message.
Had morning coffee with Moira… and Ru also joined (one of her studio days). She’s clearly concerned about I+R (Iris in particular) and feeling that she’s not coping well as a mother (M+I tried to re-assure her etc).
Spent part of the morning tidying, dusting and vacuuming upstairs/stairs (in advance of another two viewings tomorrow)… and then some more ditto on the groundfloor/basement stairs at the end of the afternoon (plus kitchen floor!).
Ru had an opportunity to look at a possible studio space at BV Studios during the course of the afternoon… and it looks like she’s been successful. The space is pretty small (it’s part of shared studio), but at least it’s a toe-in-the-door… which I think is very positive.
Chatted to Lee on the phone and texted Tom about a possible meet up.
Watched ‘Sully’ film (Hudson air ‘crash) in the afternoon… good film.
Also chatted to Iris and Rosa by phone… which was lovely (albeit brief).
Evening telly: Jewellery challenge programme.
Image: Marina, from this morning’s walk.

Monday 3 May:

Bank Holiday Monday! No walking (to avoid the holiday crowds!)… reasonably bright morning, but followed by the forecast rain after lunch.
I managed to finish my ‘fantasy’ bookgroup book last night and so spent a fair of time trying to scribble my normal book ‘review’, plus putting together a more in-depth ‘analysis’ later (for bookgroup purposes). It will genuinely be very interesting to see what others made of it all (I suspect mine could be a minority view).
There had also been a couple emails about Bloke’s Prayer from Ed and Jonny (Dave had invited another ‘bloke’ along for Wednesday’s zoom session - which I actually won’t be attending)… so I added my own thoughts and circulated everyone. Again, I suspect mine might be a minority view.
Put a coat white emulsion on some pieces of wood for Ru (as part of her exhibition) in the afternoon… and also watched the film ‘Bill’ on catch-up (a Horrible History’s version of the life Shakespeare – quite entertaining).
Watched a little of the snooker final (always somewhat mesmerising!).
Evening telly: Only early evening stuff worth watching… ‘Portillo’ and the excellent Yorkshire ‘River Walks’.
Image: one of my Amsterdam sketches from yesterday. 

Sunday 2 May:

Moira and I had morning coffee with Ru – who had come round early to work in the studio – then M+I went on our ‘usual’ harbour walk (and fetched the newspaper).
After reading the paper, we both independently tried to connect to the streamed service at HTH… but there was a technical problem and so church had to be abandoned for the day!
Moira had her hair cut at 1.30pm and I had another (excellent) urban sketching ‘trip’ from 2pm onwards (to Amsterdam)… which effectively put paid to the rest of the afternoon.
Roast lamb for supper.
Evening telly: ‘Countryfile’ and ‘Antiques’… and then bed for me (to finish my book, hopefully!).
Image: tulip after rain… (isn’t nature wonderful!). 

Saturday 1 May:

May Day! Memories of May Morning in Oxford…
Fetched the newspaper first thing… and then ensured that everything in the house was ‘neat+tidy’.
This was always going to be something of a ‘weird’ day – we’ve been asked by Laurence, our Estate Agent, to vacate the house between 10am-1pm to allow him to ‘host’ three viewings of our house. Originally, we’d been asked to stay away until 3.30pm, but it seems that ‘interest’ in our house is not as enthusiastic as he anticipated! Hey ho! Very easy to be discouraged very quickly… it’s going to be something of a crazy time.
Anyway, Moira booked us in to an exhibition at the RWA (and H+F+U have also decided to join us – which was lovely)… and so we endeavoured to make the most of being turned out of our own house! We all had an outdoor pizza afterwards (and Ursa was enchanted by a robin which ate food out of her hand).
Walked home and saw Phil on the bridge (hadn’t seen him for ages… and was able to give him some cash – which it sounded as if he sorely needed). It was good to see him.
Having settled down back at home, I suddenly discovered that I was about to run out of my medications… so I legged it down to the pharmacy and, thankfully, was able to pick up all my supplies.
Evening telly: watched a bit of a documentary about women film-makers (but I just felt too tired to concentrate)… so in bed not long after 8pm(!) and tried to read for a while.
Image: Ursa and artwork in monochrome at the RWA.