It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Crabby

Is it National Trust woodland? It sounds very much like where our friend's parents used to live, we visited once, a beautiful part of the country.
We've been walking along our stretch of the coast for our exercise, the Sand Martin's arrived the other week always a sign that spring is here. Also have noticed that the beach and paths have been getting steadily busier.  People are polite and keep their distance, but I think they are starting to tire of lockdown.

bluenose1

Crabby said:

Is it National Trust woodland? It sounds very much like where our friend's parents used to live, we visited once, a beautiful part of the country.
We've been walking along our stretch of the coast for our exercise, the Sand Martin's arrived the other week always a sign that spring is here. Also have noticed that the beach and paths have been getting steadily busier.  People are polite and keep their distance, but I think they are starting to tire of lockdown.

It’s a couple of miles from National Trust Woodland in Formby, but the part we walk through is managed by Natural England. Did a similar walk to the Beach today, we just try a different track every time we go. Go through so many different terrains, Pine Woods, grassy areas, pond areas, sand dunes and then finally a beautiful pretty much deserted beach. We only moved here 2 months ago and feel like we are on our holidays.  Just had to google what a Sand Martin was, never noticed them before living in a city.

I agree everywhere is starting to get busier. My dad is in poor health in his late 70s and when I visit him I have noticed an increase in traffic and people out and about in general.

drummersdale

I deduced by your name (bluenose1) and the description of sand dunes it had to be Formby/Crosby/Ainsdale way...my sister is very fortunate to live about a 10-15 minute walk from Crosby beach so when we were able to (prior to lockdown) we always took the opportunity to walk along and see the Iron Men - it’s a lovely part of Merseyside to live 

bluenose1

Ha drummersdale correct, definitely an Evertonian for my sins. I normally run or volunteer at Crosby Park Run every week so very familiar with Crosby and the Iron Men.  We lived a couple of miles from there until 2 months ago between the docks and the motorway network and the increase in traffic over the years, particularly trucks was terrible. We now live in a very quiet residential area, a few minute walk from the Pine Woods in Ainsdale, and the beach here stretches for miles. I think the main part of the beach will be busy in summer, but not the part we get on at. Great setting for  country walks and only a 10 minute walk to the Village which has a good selection of shops, coffee bars and restaurants as well as the  Train Station. Now all I need to do is retire to save the commute into Liverpool each day.  Hopefully that won’t be too long now. 

Anonymous101

waveydavey48 said:

On the subject of language learning has anyone else tried "languagetransfer.org"? It's similar to Michel Thomas audio only method but totally free. I've done the German one and it's very good. 

I just want to say that I spent half an hour mooching around the language transfer website last night and decided that I am going to give the Spanish course a go. I listened to the first 2 podcasts a 6 minute intro and a 7 minute "lesson" and have to say i'm amazed at this. Having only ever learnt language in a formal classroom style previously I find the style utterly engaging and very enjoyable. I'm really excited to continue the rest of the course and would recommend anyone who hasn't yet tried it to give it 10 minutes of your time and see if its something that grabs you as it has me.
Thanks very much Waveydavey!

Sea_Shell

Morning all.

Not much to report here...except I've tweaked my back/hip.  Silly really, was only reaching for my coffee off the table while slouched on the sofa, but obviously it didn't like that angle!!  So no run for me yesterday.   Will do my stretching routine to hopefully get all back into working order.   I miss swimming!!  

Finances are ticking along, nothing major to report, but they seem to have recovered a bit from the initial drops.   Spends in April were only £585.    I have, however, just put in an Amazon order for various odd & sods for house and health, which came to £95.

Feeling a bit meh about it all now...I want to see the sea, and walk on the sand too!!  (well jell), but hard when you're about as far from the coast as you can get!! 

All the overt "positivity" on FB as well, is a bit cringeworthy too, IMO  (I don't post, but a do skim).    It's like no one wants to admit that they're not feeling positive and they are in denial about the whole situation.  (which I still think is worse to come - second wave etc.)   I have to keep my thoughts to myself, as it's not on "message" it would seem.   It's not the done thing to be a pessimist these days!!

Anyway, i'm just being an "Eeyore" at the moment.    Maybe we'll get some better news over the next few weeks...

crv1963

Morning Sea_Shell, sorry to hear of your injury, I don't think there's a lot to report anywhere! Our spending is also down, retired Thursday, back employed today so on my one day retirement I sorted my greenhouse ready for my Toms and Chilli plants. Spoke to my youngest, he's furloughed but his employer is hoping to get production started again- they are having to re-configure the factory, son has been told he'll mostly be working from home as office staff can work remotely. He hasn't got a date yet to return.

Mrs CRV hasn't noticed much change to her routine, simply kept her routine minus any supermarket shop- I go weekly now with my list! I think like you, the false sense of jingo on FB is a bit wearing! As we are still working I get to enjoy a decent drive but I too have observed there is a lot more traffic about - the first week I counted no cars on the ring road I use and about 60 on the A road I use to get home over a 90 mile journey, this week same time of day and day of the week- 8 am on a Monday I lost count on the ring road.

Our builder and a few tradesmen are back to work- they simply cannot as self employed wait until June for an income. Luckily we can social distance in the house- he's in the loft and I'm in the garden, Mrs CRV keeps out of the way.  

cfw1994

It’s okay to feel hope, and it’s okay to feel fear and a bit down....I know what you mean, although my FB has people on both sides.   

Mostly I like to laugh about things: I have friends working on the front line and try to keep them cheerful with some messages, I know it is tough for them.

Our spending is broadly down...our son was furloughed from his pub job, and has a pal who is doing veggie boxes, so his room and board comes at the price of the veggies he buys us!   I did make a few charity donations the past week or two....I still have my job (for now), so trying to help a few who don’t.
Crack on with the stretching!

andy001

cfw1994 said:

It’s okay to feel hope, and it’s okay to feel fear and a bit down....I know what you mean, although my FB has people on both sides.   

Mostly I like to laugh about things: I have friends working on the front line and try to keep them cheerful with some messages, I know it is tough for them.

Our spending is broadly down...our son was furloughed from his pub job, and has a pal who is doing veggie boxes, so his room and board comes at the price of the veggies he buys us!   I did make a few charity donations the past week or two....I still have my job (for now), so trying to help a few who don’t.
Crack on with the stretching!

cfw 1994- so you're having your 5 a day greens  . Great of you to continue to support charities, as they are struggling. 
Three cheers to all front line workers and those who are staying at home and keeping 'R' number below 1.

Stubod

...seeing as how I am stuck indoors these days I have spent some time "shuffling money" around due to the recent crop of rate reductions. I have now closed 4 Santanders and a Coventry (which we have had for years), and gone with Club Lloyds + both of their regular monthly savers. Feels very much like fighting over scraps these days but needs must. We stopped our monthly S&S ISA drawdowns until the market (hopefully) shows some signs of recovery, we have decided to live of savings for a while instead so every little helps. It would be nice to have just one account that paid a "reasonable" rate of interest but I guess there are more important things to worry about at the moment!

2 years into retirement we had planned on starting to do a bit more traveling this year including a cruise, but this is not going to happen for the foreseeable future!

Does make me wonder what people will do regarding holidays for the next year or two? Can't see cruising or flying regaining their popularity until a vaccine is in place and not sure if there will be many/any cruise ships or airlines left by then! I think there will be a boom in holidaying in the UK either in self catering or motor homes / caravans. Although to counter this there may be a corresponding drop in overseas visitors?