April Adventures

 

Dear friends. I'm back with my monthly diary and TV/podcast recommendations.  April featured a stunning Flowers exhibition, a colourful meetup in Tonbridge and lots of cycling as our Scottish bike holiday beckons.

Tuesday April 1

Sunny, cold start. Did a bike ride to the Olympic Park (20 miles), below.  My kick stand was about to fall off, so J removed it and then reattached it when we got home. 

Did some dead heading and weeding.

Haven't much planned this month which I need to remedy.

Watched Last One Laughing on Prime. I thought it was ok but J wasn't keen.

Weds April 2

Sunny but cold wind. We went to the recycling centre with the old shoe cupboard and 2 duvets, plus 3 large books for the re-use shop. Unfortunately they don't take duvets. Then went to B&Q to get match pots for the kitchen makeover. I managed to sneak some compost and a few plants into the trolley. I put them in and did some weeding. After lunch we did a forest walk, sheltered by the trees from the wind. 

Thurs April 3

Sunny, not quite so windy. Did bike ride, LV via Epping, 30 miles. Did a lot in auto, wasn't feeling very strong, maybe the gardening. Watched Pulse (Netflix). Very lame. 

Took delivery of an bar of "Dubai Chocolate", which is all the rage. I thought it was ok, but I wouldn't crave another. 

Fri April 4

Sunny. Went to gym. Did weights, skipped Pilates.

Watched film The Life List,  Netflix. 6 out of 10. 

Sat April 5

Sunny. Short ride to Lee Valley.  Able to sit outside. The siren went and I saw the white water being released. It soon became busy with kayakers and a few rafts. J did some repairs to my bike. I carried on purging my wardrobe. More bags for the charity shop. Did ironing.

Sunday April 6

Sunny with cold breeze in exposed areas. We went to Yates Meadow to try the new drone. It's tiny. Had an early lunch, roast lamb, then went to Rosie's 6th birthday party. We were able to sit outside in the garden. Started watching film Demeter but terrible. 

Monday April 7

Weather similar to yesterday. Did 35 mile cycle ride to Ongar via Chigwell, Stapleford Tawney, Fyfield, Moreton, Epping. The wind was not favourable on the 1st leg. V hard cycle. Was extremely busy in Epping too. Whenever there's problems on the M25 the traffic diverts to Epping. 

Tues April 8

Sunny, cold wind. Wore yellow and pink to Saatchi Gallery to see exhibition called Flowers. Several floors feature flowers in all their guises: paintings,  sculpture, fabrics, contribution to music, films and literature. Loved it. Had coffee in Peter Jones. Went to Bishopsgate and chose a new pair of prescription sunglasses. These have photochromic lenses which I need for cycling.

Weds April 9

Overcast and v cold all morning. Bike ride Lee Valley. Quiet there. Just 1 raft going out.

Started looking into seeing Hockney in Paris. 

Thursday April 10

Overcast morning, sun in afternoon. Went to gym, weights, Pilates.

Fri April 11

Sunny and at last the cold wind has gone. Cycled to Lee Valley the long way via Epping. Was v busy at LV but no white water. Afternoon a bit wasted. Sorted out clothes for tomorrow's outing.

Sat April 12

Lovely day. Early start to get to Tonbridge in Kent for Kettlewell meet up. Met several at the train station in Tonbridge.  Coffee first, then charity shop trawl followed by lunch. Didn't succumb in the shops except for a 3 pack of new socks for £3.  

Watched film G20. Pretty lame, 6 out of 10.

Sunday April 13

Forecast predicted rain but only a few isolated spots. We did forest walk. Gammon (roast ham) for lunch. Bahrain GP. I've been living in hope of a resurgence for Lewis at Ferrari,  but isn't likely this season. 

Monday April 14

Still quite pleasant. Did short ride to Olympic Park. Came back via the Walthamstow Wetlands and took pictures at the reservoir.  Reservoirs are one of my big interests.

Did some weeding of the lane.  Is This Mutton was #3 in blogs for the over 50s, according to Feedspot.  Yay! 

Tuesday April 15

Finally the promised rain. Did home workout. Then started sorting kitchen cupboards.  We're getting a new kitchen soon so trying to declutter. 

Booked holiday in Feb in Iceland to hopefully see the Northern Lights. J didn't want to come. 

New research shows tech helps with the cognitive skills of people over 50. I firmly agree with that. 

Weds April 16

Blustery but mostly sunny. Short bike ride to Lee Valley which was quiet. 

Research today says those who walk fast are nearly 50% less likely to develop common heart rhythm problems.

High Court ruling about biological sex. I'm glad that biological females should not have to compete with trans women in sporting events. As we saw in the Olympics recently,  women were actually put in danger in the boxing category. 

J's brother in law Don often sends pictures to the BBC to include in the weather forecast and he was lucky again today. 

Thurs April 17

Lovely sunny day. We went to the recycling centre. I was going to go to gym and Pilates but wasn't feeling 100%. Posted on beauty buys.

Approached a site that buys and sells vintage magazines to see if they'd be interested in buying mine. I have a couple of last ever editions (She, Easy Living) and some 70s magazines.  Sadly they said No. How rude! I could sell via eBay but posting magazines, without them getting bent, is a pain. 

Friday April 18

Sunny. We did forest walk, 5.5 miles. Used drone in Yates Meadow and in a bluebell glade (top pic).  We were a bit late for the best of the bluebells.

Published April Books post. Started The Glass Dome (Netflix). 

Saturday April 19

Did lovely ride to Lee Valley. Sunny intervals, 14 degrees. Lots of rafts and kayaks out.

Went to M&S to get a few niceties for Easter. 

Sunday April 20

Sunny am. Cleaned out some kitchen cupboards. Walked to Larkshall for family Easter lunch. Face painting afterwards.

Monday April 21

Pope Francis died. I mentioned him in this post. Went for forest walk, 5.5 miles. J took drone. Still learning its different modes.

Tues April 22

Sunny, 16. Did bike ride to Lee Valley the long way. Felt quite tired. Watched film Conclave. Very topical (Prime). 8 out of 10. 

Weds April 23

St George's Day. No roses out yet in the garden. CurrentBody LED devices came. Took pics for "before" (a lot of room for improvement!) and used for 1st time. Cleaned fridge, did weeding in back garden. 

Thurs April 24

Went to kitchen showroom to agree final steps and order sink and taps. In there a long time. Literally had to run to get on bus to gym. Didn't have much time to do weights before Pilates and gym was v busy. Walked back. Made room in fridge for 2 trays of crispy cakes for Olive's birthday party on Sun. Watched 1st episode of new series of Race Across the World (BBC).

Fri April 25

Mostly sunny, 14. Cycled to Bishopsgate to collect prescription sunglasses. Wasn't thrilled at idea of central London but my confidence has grown and it wasn't too bad. Below: in central London, wearing the new sunglasses. 

Sat April 26

Pope's funeral. Watched start. Got train into London. Bought 2 pairs barrel leg jeans. Spent afternoon weeding. Had roast chicken for dinner. Unusual,  but I'd forgotten J was going to the London Marathon tomorrow. 

Started Your Friends and Neighbours (Apple). Started using mystery face serum from Good Housekeeping. Am one of the testers.

Sunday April 27

Sunny. Up early. J left at 7 to cycle to London Marathon where he helps out on one of the elite runners' drinks stations. I had a bath and went to gym. J was back at 1. 

After lunch we went to Olive's 3rd birthday party, held in a private spot at Lloyd Park. Lots of families out in the sun. Wore new barrel jeans. No one commented! I think it's a Marmite type style. 

Monday April 28

Sunny. We did a forest walk. Bizarrely,  a chair has appeared at the top of Yates Meadow. Started watching Penelope, Now TV, which looks promising. 

I weeded the lane - huge brambles and nettles - to make sure the brown bin was full for its collection today. 

That was my April. Not too much rain ("April Showers") - in fact the garden is already as dry as a bone. 

WHAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING: THE LIKES

The Glass Dome, Netflix

A Swedish noir, very enjoyable with a gripping ending.  A woman who was abducted as a child, and escaped, believes the same perpetrator is to blame when another young girl goes missing. 

The Stolen Girl, Disney

This began to chime as I remembered I'd read the book. Fortunately I don't remember what happened.  It's a wee bit slow but the characters and acting are good, except for Fred who's a complete ham. 

Race Across the World,  BBC iPlayer 

The route this year is an exciting one, starting in China and ending in India. The couples are varied, including a divorced pair and two brothers in their 60s. I love the transformations that often happen, and predict that the young man participating with his mother, will grow in confidence and resume planning their itinerary. 

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker (Channel 4)

Our amuse bouche, a delightful programme where people compete to become tenants for 15 years of a farm in the spectacular Eryri National Park in Wales. 

Your Friends and Neighbours (Apple)

A successful businessman (Jon Hamm) turns to crime after losing his job and trying to sustain a luxury lifestyle.  

WHAT I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO 

Mag Hags (Acast)

Thrilled to discover this. Two women in their 20s dissect magazines,  among them Honey, Company, Cosmopolitan and New Woman, all magazines I read. It's a shame they don't have an older woman's point of view because they often wonder about 70s trends as they review the magazines,  and I could easily update them. 

Voices of British Ballet (Acast)

There aren't many podcasts about ballet so this is a treat, particularly when the voices are celebrated former dancers like Antoinette Sibley. 

Titanic, Ship of Dreams (Noiser)

Paul McGann explores life and death on the ill fated liner, with stories from survivors. He also examines his own family story. His uncle Jimmy McGann was a trimmer in Titanic's engine room.

Any views on the progs and podcasts above? Do share in the comments.  

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