Easing back into the routine — An Elegant Sufficiency

Being away from home for six weeks, however lovely, requires some patience in the process of recombobulation.

Appreciating a different kind of “fine dining” where a cardboard box in the fresh air replaces the Versace china in a stylish restaurant. The food, of course, tastes just as delicious!

The early morning swims have become easier. After such a long break, it took a while to get back into the groove, but it was lovely to catch up with the Waterbabies again.

Just a few days after our return, m-i-l Bettine had a big birthday to celebrate.

She received quite a few cards from friends, family and the King and Queen.

The sweetest birthday greetings came from the youngest member of the family of course.

Whilst he was here, Arthur enjoyed rearranging the contents of a kitchen cupboard or two as well. What a delight he is.

With much needed visits to the hairdresser, check ups at the dentist and other similar routine appointments, there wasn’t much free time and we were thinking we needed another holiday to get over it all.

So how lovely was it to drive up to friends in Lancashire for a long weekend, to relax in their company and enjoy the glorious Spring weather.

The traffic on the motorway made for an easy journey too.

I loved this fabulously decorated tree at a pub where we met Linda for lunch on the way. The way those ribbons moved in the breeze was lovely!

Though we’ve been visiting our friends in Lytham St Annes for thirty or forty years, we always enjoy coming across something new - this time, the Lifeboat monument on the Promenade. I took my photograph carefully to avoid the less than picturesque backdrop of the public loos beside it! What careless planning resulted in that?!

We celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary whilst there with a visit to Rufford Old Hall and a fine Sunday Lunch at Moor Hall Barn. I loved the National Trust’s styling at Rufford (above) where the rooms had been arranged as if someone had just stepped out, bringing the historic building to life.

We always leave a weekend with Tony and Olga with shared reading suggestions, film and TV lists and music. This time, the Lytham St Annes Choral Society - with whom Olga sings - performed an interesting and unusual programme including Bob Chilcott’s Nidaros Jazz Mass and a performance from a Jazz trio.

My book group met last week to discuss Lisa Jewell’s The Making of Us, which everyone enjoyed. It prompted an interesting discussion of “nature vs nurture” over tea and Helen’s delicious Easter biscuits.