Out and About as Covid Restrictions Ease: And Link Up

I had a few days off last week and finally went "Out Out."  Here in the UK we are now allowed to travel, and to go to pubs/restaurants/hair salons and so on. Social distancing and lots of sanitizers are still the order of the day.

I went by car to see my mum in Plymouth, a 250 mile drive.  The car was quite surprised at this sudden activity, after weeks of only going to the supermarket, and promptly told me it wanted a service.

I took my mum to her favourite electrical shop to get a new gas oven (she is suspicious of online shopping) and then we went to our usual haunt, the garden centre.  The restaurant is quite big so lends itself well to the distancing required. There were sanitizers everywhere and you can't sit on a table unless it has a sign saying that it has been cleaned. The menu as always is on the wall.

While I was in Plymouth I did a couple of walks. Mum isn't up to that now - she's very active for 88 but can't walk too far.  I sought out some of my childhood haunts in Plympton.

Top left is "Black Arch" which we would walk under every day on the way to and from primary school.  On one memorable occasion it flooded, and the local dads  (and a neighbour who was a fireman) turned out to carry us all through the water. Top right is my old school, known then as Plympton Grammar.  It still looks the same, with a tennis court in front of the main building, except that a row of "temporary" classrooms where we did English have disappeared and been replaced by a car park.

Bottom right is the parish church of St Mary's where we walked in a crocodile for the annual Founders' Day Service and the Christmas concert of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Bottom left is the village church where I went to Sunday school and "guild," a Tuesday evening social event where we played biblical cards, made baskets and had chips on the way home.  It's sad to see the church in its derelict state.  It has been sold, presumably for some sort of housing development.  I had some happy times at the church, with picnics on the moor and competing in a pro-church challenge .

Below is a photo marking the centenary.  I am the stern looking child in the front row wearing wellington boots. Odd, you may think, seeing as we're all in short sleeves.  Apparently there had been a heavy shower that day and I was prone to jumping in puddles so was made to wear the boots.  My mum was unaware they were taking a photo that day, and livid when she saw the photo later. My elder brother Andrew is shown holding the letter "R".  He sadly died in 2014. Gone but never forgotten.

Before I went to Plymouth I had a 45 minute drive to see Jodie, who's been my hairdresser for nearly 10 years except for the last 18 months when she sold her business and had a baby.  Now she is up and running with a home salon.  It was great to see her.  The top picture and below are my "afters."

This weekend I'm planning to go into London - how I've missed it! - to visit the National Gallery and the Titian exhibition.  This opened for about two weeks before the restrictions hit, and I was afraid it would be going elsewhere once lockdown was over.  Thankfully the exhibition has been reinstated.

I got back from Plymouth at the weekend and returned to work on Monday so I haven't had much time to create the usual sort of post.  I'm putting together a Friday Favourites with some new TV shows and podcasts, and hope to see you then.

Outfit details:  jeans - Marks and Spencer Magic jeans;  shirt - Esprit (old); bag - Pure Collection (old);  loafers - Vionic (last year)

Nothing was gifted and no affiliate links were used.  Sharing this post with Stylish Monday at Fashion Trends and Friends,  Monday Runway at A Pocketful of Polka Dots,Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #LinkupOnTheEdge  at Shelbee on the Edge, Anna at Muttonstyle, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Anna at the GlamAdventure, Style Six at Coast to Coast, TFF at Doused in Pink, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, Beauty by Miss L Link Up 

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, the link up where everyone gains. Readers can find new blogs to enjoy and bloggers can find new readers!

Last week's most clicked posts were from (1) Alison from Midlife and Beyond, with her post "Midi Dress – “Chuck On” Staple. And, Easing Out Of Lockdown." This floaty dress looks both stylish and comfortable.

The other favourite was Frugal Fashion Shopper with "Maintenance at Home," a post about Penny's  beauty and fitness routine and what she will change post lockdown. Penny, below,  is lucky to live by the seaside - perfect for fitness walks.

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