Monday 13 April 2020

The vagiaries of English weather.

Two absolutely lovely April days - sun, light breeze and warm enough to sit out.   Then this morning- cloud, a sharp breeze from the North and get that top coat out again!   Typical April weather as we British know only too well.   Except, as we also know, this is by no means a 'typical April' - it is an April like no other.   I find it surreal and I suppose that many people feel the same.   I have a long mental list of things I could do - cleaning jobs, the teddy which needs stitching up and finishing, odd weeding jobs on bits of the garden I can reach safely, exercises which should be done every day (I have done them today and I ache as a result).  But what ever is on our mental list all we really want to do is wait for it all to go away.   Or wait until we can all join the queue for a jab in our arms which will/might miraculously give us some kind of protection.

A friend J, who a few days ago left me a cottage pie, has just left me a tin with four scones on the front doorstep - 2 cheese, 2 fruit.   I immersed the tin in warm soapy water and left it to dry on the draining board - the still-hot scones inside.   We are all trying to be super-careful.

We are all wondering about John's health and hoping it is a false alarm and that he is on the road to recovery.   Presumably we should know by the end of the week.

How's this for a bit of nostalgia.   1948 while on holiday at the YMCA Holiday Camp in Skegness (I probably took the snap) and sorry it is a bit blurred.    Six friends who went there for years in the Lincoln 'Trip Week' (last week in July) - my Mum and Dad are second and third from the left - father with his collar and tie on and his Daily Herald in his hand! and Mrs Applewhite (I never knew her first name) in her best hat.   Those were the days!


23 comments:

Ruth said...

Are you finding yourself reminiscing more and more these strange days? My mind keeps going back to memories I'd almost forgotten. I do believe we lived in the best of times, even with the war years. It's hard to look forward, so much pleasanter to look back to better days. Our weather here today is the same, cold and raining. Stay safe and well!!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I love seeing that old photo- a time when people "dressed up" to go some place. -Jenn

Gwil W said...

Your vagaries on the way here and arrive tomorrow say weathermen. But only for one day. Then it's back to fine weather again. The govt are talking of allowing more shops and gardens to open. I hope it's not too soon.

Rachel Phillips said...

Very cold here. My brother was saying yesterday how typical of April, he could be frozen on his tractor one day and warm the next. At least it is still dry so the land is still being worked and we had a little rain and thunder storm last night. I like the old photo. Even photos were special in those days, now they are just two a penny.

VC said...

Lovely here today, sunny, warm and a gently breeze. The sheets are blowing on the line. A sight that pleases me greatly (I'm sad I know). Yesterday was a bit strange and there was a little bit of rain in the evening though it didn't last long. It's great to be able to sit in the garden with a coffee after I get home from another busy busy shift.
It's nice your neighbour is leaving little treats for you. I'm shopping for my mum who is in her 80s and am very glad of the special NHS times to do her and our shop each week.
You seem to be managing very well and keeping your chin up. Take care and stay safe!

JayCee said...

That's a very 'happy' photo. A lovely memory to keep hold of.
Today started off very cool here but has warmed up considerably this afternoon so we are enjoying a cup of tea out in the garden now.

Terra said...

Fresh hot scones from a friend, I like that. I recall days like the ones in your photo. My mother made our Easter dresses then, and we wore cute little hats and gloves and carried a purse. This Easter I attended church from a live feed online, quite a dramatic change. Be well friend.

Bovey Belle said...

I love the photo - everyone looks so relaxed and happy. My late m-in-law never called her neighbours (they had a shared double porchway) anything other than Mr & Mrs Speechly. Ladies always wore hats or they weren't dressed. A different era. As Terra said, children got dressed up for Easter with hats and gloves and frilly socks and patent leather shoes (we couldn't afford the latter, I remember wanting some so much and my mum got out of it by saying they would reflect my knickers so I couldn't have any!!!) Such different times.

This wind is from due North - I know as I had to jam a piece of card in the sash window in our bedroom last night to stop it rattling. It was blowing a hooley all night, and I know that too because I was up sewing my quilt for 2 1/2 hours (steroids kept me awake). We have lovely sunshine here today and I SO WISH I could go outside. One pollen site shows the weekend to have lower levels, so fingers x'd.

Sounds like you have made the cake tin clean of germs now and I bet those scones will taste good.

the veg artist said...

I'm well used to being at home all the time, but even so, I've had periods of feeling that I can't concentrate on anything. Very strange times.

Derek Faulkner said...

I was watching Antiques Roadshow last night and the sight of all the people milling about and gathering in groups around an expert explaining the value of something, and it was suddenly like watching another lifetime and it became kind of scary, wondering if we will get back to that way of life again.

Midmarsh John said...

It certainly wasn't a day for enjoying a walk. Maximum recorded temperatures here: Saturday 25.1C, Sunday 18.9C Today 8.5C

Mary said...

I loved when we dressed up for Easter in England. Then when my children were young I dressed them here too.
Now, this Easter with all that's happening, I dressed just myself yesterday to walk outside in the garden looking a little more elegant than most days of the past 3 weeks!

. . . . . . . then I came back in, got into my comfy casual garb to bake pistachio muffins and grill salmon.


Heather said...

I was glad to wear a scarf and coat on my walk today - though the sun was shining there was a very chill wind.
How kind of your neighbour to leave you the scones. I bet they are delicious.
I love your family photo and have many similar ones handed down to me from my parents and grandparents.

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Bonnie said...

That is a wonderful picture Weaver! Thank you for sharing it. I love the photos from the old days so much. What a fine couple your parents were!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. What would they all think to today's world I wonder?

Tom Stephenson said...

Doing the Lambeth Walk?

Joanne Noragon said...

That is a wonderful picture.
The weather is back to blowing cold here, too. No walk for me today.

Cro Magnon said...

Days when men wore a three piece suit, and a trilby, on the beach!

Librarian said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures! Those were the days, indeed.
It's gone down from a summery 24-25 Celsius to a frosty zero (freezing point) last night/this morning. It happens here almost every spring sooner or later, and every time I feel sorry for the baby birds and other small animals, hoping that most of them will survive.

Derek Faulkner said...

Librarian makes a valid point about the birds. Here in Kent with ground conditions now bone dry and cracking up, birds such as thrushes and Blackbirds are finding it very difficult to get any food such as worms out of the ground for their chicks.

Mary said...

April in Mid-Atlantic US is just as variable as many parts of UK. 22c yesterday with a big storm and high winds and only a high of 10c today. Tree pollen is now showing up in yellow droves so allergy miseries added for many folks. Enjoyed your photo. Reminds me of my family photos--my mother had many with her friends at the Isle of Wight back in the 30s. A capture of time.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gosh Tom, I had completely forgotten The Lambeth Walk. (strick Methodists all, not sure they would approve).