Monday 8 March 2021

Back into Routine


The house has been unusually quiet. The dining table is no longer hidden beneath books and learning resources, and I was able to enjoy some time all to myself before heading out to work this morning. I'm sure it will take some time to adjust to our new routine but I am relieved to be edging closer to some semblance of normality. Despite Lily's initial reluctance to return to school this morning she was very happy to see her friends again and it is so lovely to see the playground full of children.

I woke early, thanks in part to my 'Mog' alarm clock and also in anticipation of the day ahead. Downstairs, I was greeted by the sweet smell of hyacinths. The bulbs I bought last week have flowered and although they can be a little overpowering I  love how the fresh scent fills the whole house. 

Outside the day has been dark and wet. It's been quite a contrast to the bright sunny days we've enjoyed this last week but it has made the return to school seem slightly easier. I'm pretty sure a warm spring-like day would have resulted in a much greater protest, not from Lily, but from me!





During the week, having finally exhausted our immediate local walks, we went to explore an area, still close by, but which I haven't visited in many years. At the end of a lane and up a steep hill lies an old reservoir, which isn't all that widely known about, even by locals. There is a track which leads right around the water's edge but we were able to extended our walk to include a fell on the far side of the reservoir, which affords views of the hills to the north and east, and also out towards the sea.






The reservoir is surrounded by trees and gorse bushes but the track, still very muddy in parts, was easy to follow and had clearly seen more footfall in more recent years. After passing through a small area of woodland we were soon out on the open fell, able to enjoy the views from the summit before retracing our steps back down towards the water once more.

I am definitely going to miss our afternoon walks now that Lily has returned to school. Somehow any feeling of being overwhelmed by home learning would seemingly fade with every step we took and helped to restore a sense of calm. I have begun to plan for when we are able to travel farther afield again but I'm determined not to overlook the wonderful walks we have close by.


Work has begun in the garden. The paving has been cleaned, and what a difference it has made. It looks so bright now! The bird feeder has been scrubbed, I've weeded the beds and some top soil has been added in anticipation of sowing seeds in the coming weeks. The large planter which I usually use to grow tomatoes has been emptied, ready to be washed and re-painted once the weather improves. It's already a huge improvement and I'm really looking forward to spending lots of time out there again this year.  

J. X

54 comments:

  1. You surely do live in a most beautiful place you lucky thing! x

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    1. I never appreciated it quite so much as during the last twelve months. X

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  2. It was quiet here today as well - on Friday I packed away all our learning resources and I must admit it was nice this morning not to be the teacher! Its been sunny here for the last few days, although cold, so we have been doing a bit of tidying in the garden. I'm looking forward to giving the house a good clean as well after all these weeks of it being full of people.

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    1. Yes, my house needs a thorough clean and tidy as well. I just need to build myself to doing that :)

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  3. Lovely photos and yes a return to routine! The lighter nights mean more time for after school walks for me and B and maybe you and L x

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    1. It feels good to be settling back into a proper routine again and I really hope this time it will be for good. X

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  4. Two of our grandchildren were back to school today (Monday) they couldn't wait to be back with their friends:)
    The other three have a staggered start, but by Thursday will be back full time, and they too are looking forward to being back.
    Home schooling has been very well organised but I don't think you can beat the real thing!

    Lovely photographs on your post, what a nice walk ... and I'm sure I can smell the hyacinth, such a beautiful scent.

    Take care, my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I think there will be lots of happy children and very relieved parents this week. X

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  5. Hope Lily enjoyed her school Jules - it must be a relief to have someone else take over the teaching process. I am sure she will settle back in well.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. Despite her initial reservations, Lily has settled in brilliantly. X

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  6. Lovely photos of the scenery around you! I'm glad you were able to enjoy a good walk. Sounds like school has begun for Lily! I hope she enjoys it and you have a good week. Nice to see all the bird feeders in the garden, too. :)

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    1. Thank you, Bless. I'm pleased that the bird feeder is seeing plenty of visitors this year. X

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  7. Those skies are just gorgeous! Doesn't it lift the spirits to see soem sunshine?
    Here's hoping the schools reopening means it really will be a gradually return to normality. x

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    1. I do hope so, Vix. I can't help but feel more positive now that we are approaching longer days. X

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  8. The hyacinths are lovely, such a nice colour. It must be a huge relief to be back in a routine. Your walk looks really nice, it's good to revisit places you haven't been to for a long time.

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    1. I hadn't expected the hyacinths to be blue, so it was a lovely surprise. X

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  9. You have so many wonderful walks to choose from on your doorstep with such beautiful scenery, no wonder you've enjoyed your afternoon walks whilst home schooling. I hope that Lily's first day went well, I expect there's a sense of normality back again now, it doesn't take long to fall back into a routine.

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    1. I feel very blessed, Jo, but I'm still looking forward to being able to travel father afield. X

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  10. I love the scent of hyacinths and yours is such a pretty colour. Great photos of your lovely sunny walk, it would be hard to pick a favourite out of these. Has Lily had a growth spurt, she looks about 6ft tall in that pic :)

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    1. Hyacinths have a very distinctive scent which I love, but I can understand why it might be overpowering to some people. It has filled the house this last week but is just starting to fade now.
      Yes, Lily is getting very tall, although not quite 6ft yet :)

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  11. You are so lucky to have such beautiful scenery so close by, I love the smell of hyacinths and they look so pretty. I'm sure that Lily is overjoyed to be back at school with her friends again.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. I love how the scent of hyacinths fills the whole house. X

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  12. School ... the first step to some sort of normality how wonderful. Those Hyacinths are gorgeous!!

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    1. Lets hope so, Sue. It's been a long time coming. X

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  13. What a super little secret spot you have there - do not tell too many people!!

    Good luck with the garden makeover, some of our paving has had attention from the pressure washer too - what a difference :-)

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    1. The paving looks so clean, and better still it's no longer slippery. Although you are playing fast and loose with the word 'makeover'! :)

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  14. I do love the scent of hyacinths, they seem to drift around the room a with rather heady waft! Lovely walk - you will miss those afternoon walks with Lily but it is good that they are getting back to school. And like you - getting the garden ready for spring - is such a positive step towards warmer weather

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    1. I'm looking forward to the longer days, Kate. I bet you can't wait to get stuck into implementing your garden plans. X

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  15. I hope Lily settled back into school well and that you too have got back into the rhythm of a school day. You took us on another beautiful walk, you are truly blessed living in such a stunning area.

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    1. Thank you, Lorraine. I think the children were more than ready to get back to the routine of a school day and it's going very well so far. X

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  16. She is getting so tall...!

    -smile-

    💮 💮 🎀 💮 💮

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  17. You are lucky to have so many lovely places, to walk, near your home. Again, I say, it must be a beautiful area, in which you live.

    Do keep walking in your area. Everything will be changing so fast, that any walk, will be different, from day to day... Now that we are heading into Spring.

    💮 💮 🎀 💮 💮

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    1. I do appreciate how fortunate I am living here. And this week there is the added joy of seeing lambs appearing in the fields. X

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  18. Oh those blue skies! Here, the rain is lashing against the windows and I can hear the wind howl down the chimney. New routines are always a bit tricky to get used to but I am sure next week it will feel like normal. Have a lovely week x

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    1. The wind is howling here now, and the rain is lashing so that Mog is refusing to go outdoors - of course she is glaring at me like it is all my fault. X

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  19. Hello!
    Such lovely photos!
    Hoping your girl adjusts to school, and am thankful things are inching toward normal. Hugs!

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    1. It's all going well so far, thank you Billie Jo. X

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  20. That's wonderful news. I am excited to start gardening again, too. The rhubarb is pushing its way through the soil. Can't wait!

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    1. It's lovely to see the gardens come to life again at this time of year. X

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  21. Hyacinths must surely be one of the most wonderful scents on the planet. And I especially love the soft purply-blue shade.
    My grandchildren were like Lily, reluctant to go back to school (and a bit nervous I think) but loved seeing their friends. They really do need to be there for more than just learning lessons.

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    1. The colour was not what I expected but still lovely. They remind me a little of Spanish Bluebells.
      School is so much more than lessons. Lily has missed the social interaction, so it's wonderful to see the children all together again. X

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  22. Hyacinths, my favorite, just looking at the picture brings the scent to my mind, they are so lovely. Your pictures are beautiful, I think my favorite is of the tree canopy...lovely scenery.

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    1. Thank you, Faith. I love how the scent of the hyacinths fills the whole house. X

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  23. I sure hope Lily had a great first day back in school. My daughter and I are taking short, afternoon walks between her classes and sure does make difference. The hyacinths is so pretty. What a lovely shade of lavender!

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    1. It's good to get outdoors, as it really helps calm and restore. Now that school has started again we will be making the most of our weekends. X

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  24. Beautiful photos

    Julie xxxxxxx

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  25. I love your secret spot of water. Looks a very serene place. And the hyacinths are very pretty. My mum planted hers in her garden after they flowered and they came back up as Spanish bluebells apparently. X

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    1. It is lovely by the water, especially as it is so peaceful.
      My hyacinth bulbs will be planted in the garden once they have finished flowering. I might get a surprise when they come up again next year :)

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  26. those pictures...several favorites, I especially like ones of the tree tops from below, and I am partial to the pines. The second picture has two trees in the center facing each other, looks like they are kissing bears. Hyacinths my favorite. The picture with the mountains is really pretty, they look velvet. You live near beauty.

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    1. I scrolled back to take a look and I can see what you mean about those trees. X

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  27. It's all so beautifully blue! You have lifted my spirits, thank you. I hope Lily's first week back at school has gone well, for both of you. x

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