Easter seems such a long time ago! Had a lovely Easter table and roast rib of beef. The kids and their partners came for lunch and we played games afterwards.
April 2
Public holiday. Went for a 7.5 mile walk in gloomy weather. Very muddy!
April 3
Back at work.
April 4
Worked from home, no walk - although John did go for a walk with his sister who's joining us on the 200 mile Coast to Coast walk in May.
April 5
Beautiful spring day. Back at work and squeezed in a walk at lunchtime.
April 6
Worked from home. Did a Power Plate class - very tough, haven't been for more than a week.
April 7
Overcast. Did a 7.5 mile walk with J and he cleaned my car.
Did Power Plate and the usual Sunday roast (chicken). No guests this week.
April 9
Drizzly. Rejoined a gym where I was a member a couple of years ago - more classes and a swimming pool. Won't take effect for a couple of weeks.
April 10
Had my hair done (regrowth) ready for business trip to Miami next week.
April 11
In the office - bought a few groceries at lunchtime on my walk.
April 12
Dreadful weather - raining and foggy. Fortunately was distracted from the grim weather by a very good podcast, a BBC Radio 4 drama in four parts called The Unforgiven.
April 13
Did an early morning 8.5 mile walk with J with extra hills (!). All this walking is preparation for our holiday in May.
April 14
Sunny at last. Did some serious gardening for the first time this year. Sent J up to the attic to get a large suitcase.
April 15
Cloudy. Did Power Plate, shopping and packing. J went out with the marathon newbies he's been training - their last training session before the big day on April 22. They gave him a signed running shirt to thank him.
Early start, up at 5.30am. Drove to Heathrow airport. Flight to Miami was long (over nine hours) but watched four films back-to-back: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (not as good as the hype suggested); Goodbye Christopher Robin (ditto); I, Tonya (very good) and The Battle of the Sexes (passed the time). Went to bed at 10pm local time after a pleasant dinner outside with the team.
Our sales conference started with keynotes from 8.30. Agony to see the blue sky outside and not able to enjoy it! Dinner was in the hotel and the after-dinner speaker, a tech comedian called Ed McMillan was very funny.
April 18
The evening entertainment was a trip on the huge yacht Seafair, just a few metres from the hotel. Unfortunately it didn't set sail - we only moved about 15 metres! Stuck in the mud.
One of the keynote speakers was an Admiral who's a former US Navy SEAL. Very charismatic speaker. Conference ended and the afternoon was spent with the marketing team. We had various breakouts, including a brainstorm out in the sun. Had dinner with a smaller subset of the team at a seafood restaurant and then some Mojitos at the hotel.
April 20
Long day waiting for a 6.20pm flight. I went for a walk and sat in the sun reading, (this was my view) feeling guilty I hadn't gone out with my colleagues who went to South Beach. But after a full-on week, this friendly introvert needed some time alone.
Landed ahead of schedule at 7.30am. Sunny! Home by 10.15. Had two hours sleep and sat in the garden.
April 22
Great nine hour sleep. First time in about 12 years that J hasn't run in the London Marathon - he was injured this year. Went to Power Plate and did some gardening. J went to see "his" runners in the Marathon and was back by 2.30 for lunch.
April 23
Early morning short walk, went to a bluebell wood in Epping Forest. It's in a fairly secret place so hasn't been ruined by kids and people walking all over the flowers. Beautiful. See my post here.
April 24
In office. Rained most of day. Fortunately the tulips and wallflowers are brightening the garden. I experiment with different colours each year. Orange and purple this year.
April 25
Had health MOT at gym, last done in 2015. Am in top 10% of age group! Very pleased. Cholesterol needs to come down - too much cheese.
April 26
Saw ad for a pop festival featuring Mott the Hoople. Thought they were all dead, except for Ian Hunter. Apparently not. Mr Mutton not remotely interested in going.
April 27
Out with Anna from Mutton Style. "Les Deux Moutons." It was raining and we had time to kill before our reservation at Quaglino's, so we found a hotel in the streets of Mayfair. The cheapest cocktail was £18! There was no escape so we had a cocktail each - but avoided the one priced at £5,500. Had such a fun evening.April 28
A little jaded this morning after all the wine and cocktails! Managed to go shopping and then packed the new giant rucksack in a a dry run for the hiking adventure.
April 29
Bitterly cold still. Walked to the gym. Saw a beautiful lilac tree. Even with a slight cold, I could smell the gorgeous fragrance.
Been incubating a cold. The weather was atrocious. Worked from home.
April 29
A triple whammy today of eye test at optician's, followed by a filling, the first for about 15 years, at the dentist, and rounded off with a smear test. Such fun!
April 30
Mostly rained today. Spring, where have you gone? Went for short walk and alarmingly one of my knees became very painful and clicky. Have taped it and will rest.
In my May post I'll be covering the 200 mile hiking adventure with photos - do pop by on June 7!
