APRIL 2021

Thursday 1 April 2021

My friend, D, came round this afternoon and we sat on the sun terrace and drank champagne. It's so nice to be able to meet up with friends again.

Friday 2 April 2021

Best afternoon ever. Six of us at a BBQ. It was almost like life was back to normal. I've not been able to meet up with more than one person in Scotland since September.

Sunday 4 April 2021

Absolutely fabulous weather for Easter Sunday. Spent most of it sunbathing and doing outdoor jobs.

Tuesday 6 April 2021

The G7 summit is going to be held in St Ives/Carbis Bay in June and already there's security measures being put in place. Seven world leaders, plus all their security and media will be descending on our teeny, weeny, little town to do whatever they do at these summits. I can't help wondering why they can't do it via Zoom like everybody else has to. We're not even out of lock down yet. Surely inviting all these people into such a small town is going to put everyone at risk of getting Covid, but ho hum, what do I know?

Fortunately I won't be here then as my house is rented out but the security issues sound like a logistical nightmare.

Popped down to see H early evening and we shared a bottle of Prosecco.

Thursday 8 April 2021

Lovely afternoon with friends hanging around in their garden drinking wine. Life is pretty much like normal here in Cornwall. It's almost like Covid doesn't exist.

Friday 9 April 2021

Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died today aged 99 years old. RIP. Can't see there being a massive state funeral considering we are still pretty much in lock down. Don't actually know what the rules for funerals are these days.

Saturday 10 April 2021

M&C came round for a couple of drinks this afternoon. We sat on the sun terrace. It was beautiful. One of the things that makes lock down more bearable in Cornwall is the fact that the weather is so much better here. It felt cold on the morning dog walk but because my sun terrace is south facing and sheltered it was mega hot on it for most of the day, so spending time outside is so much easier here. I can't see any of my friends in Edinburgh wanting to pop round to my flat there to sit on the balcony in April. And tbh, there's only room for two people on the balcony anyway so it's not exactly like I can have a party outside is it?

Sunday 11 April 2021

St Ives is such a beautiful place but I'm guessing we're not going to see the beaches this quiet for much longer.

Went to Ds house for dinner with M. Exactly what we'd be doing in normal times.

Monday 12 April 2021

Lock down restrictions lifted. Yay! ...............Unless you're in Scotland and then you have to wait another two weeks. You have no idea how happy I am about this. I've been back in Cornwall for almost two weeks (to prepare my house for summer lettings – officially that's allowed) and to be honest, I've been doing what I would normally do in Cornwall at this time of the year. Sit in the sunshine, see friends outdoors, repaint the sun terrace walls and decking, etc.

The town seemed very busy on the morning dog walk. All the town car parks were pretty much full by 8.30am. I'm thinking a lot of holiday makers must have travelled down overnight but the weather has been absolutely fabulous today so everyone is very smiley and happy.

It was lovely to see all the outdoor restaurants/cafes full of people sitting in the sunshine and spending money in the town again.

I think it's fabulous that, finally, after more than a year, life is showing signs of going back to normal.

Tuesday 13 April 2021

I am absolutely loving life in Cornwall. It's just like I'm living a normal life.

Met T at Porthcothan and had a lovely walk on the beach.

Wednesday 14 April 2021

What a beautiful day. M&Y came round this evening and we drank Prosecco on the sun terrace and then had a Chinese takeaway.

I'm happier than I've been in ages.

Friday 16 April 2021

Went for a long walk with C.

Saturday 17 April 2021

In all of the time that I lived in Cornwall I have never walked around Bossow Reservoir. Thanks D for introducing me to a new walk.

It was Prince Philips funeral today and if anything brought it home to people about how Covid has impacted on our normal life......................... it must have been seeing the Queen sitting completely alone. Not even a 'Lady in Waiting' sitting next to her. Such a sad, sad, scene. And it's a scene that will be replicated all over the country with families not being able to say a proper goodbye to their loved ones.

Sunday 18 April 2021

Got up at 7am because the sun was shining brightly and it looked like a lovely day. Went trekking around all the beaches and it was amazing how many other people were also up at that time of day. Such a difference from last Sunday.

Met A for a walk around Tehidy Woods in the afternoon.

Monday 19 April 2021

Had the bestest afternoon ever with friends at the Porthmeor Beach Cafe. Thank goodness life is getting back to normal.

Wednesday 21 April 2021

Another lovely lunch with friends in my most favourite restaurant in the world. Porthmeor Beach Cafe.

Thursday 22 April 2021

Had a lovely afternoon, drinking wine, down on the beach with about eight friends. Is meeting that number of people allowed in England? Haven't a clue what the rules are any more, but needless to say we all had a great time.

Friday 23 April 2021

Coffee in the garden with M&C this morning.

Saturday 24 April 2021

Lovely early evening drinkies down on the beach with 7 friends.

Sunday 25 April 2021

Big long walk around Loe Bar with A. Usually if we do a big long walk on a Sunday we go for a roast dinner afterwards. Couldn't do that today because obviously indoor restaurants aren't opening up again until 17^th May. It didn't really matter that much. The weather is so good at the moment that I'm happy just being outside with friends.

Only three more days left in paradise. I've had a lovely time in my second home/other home, whatever you want to call it home. After not being allowed to visit since last October, I've had the bestest month ever. I only hope that when I go back to Edinburgh my social life won't be back to zero again. It would be nice to stay for a bit longer, but unfortunately I think I should be sensible and get it rented out again so that I get a bit of money coming in.

Monday 26 April 2021

Got up at 5.50am to go looking for the sunrise. I found it. I'm really going to miss these views.

Late afternoon I met H to drink more wine on the beach.

#Lovemylife

Tuesday 27 April 2021

My friend D, built a pizza oven in this garden during lock down so I've just been round to his house for a pizza party. Fabulous evening with friends.

Wednesday 28 April 2021

Last day in St Ives until June and I've had the most amazing month ever. The weather has been fantastic and I've been outside pretty much all the time. It's like Covid doesn't exist in England.

After not being able to meet with more than one household outside in Scotland since September (ie, one person if you're single and only have single friends) and only being able to see your support bubble inside; it's been marvellous to meet with lots of real live people every single day since I've been here.

Popped into Boots to pick up a free Covid testing kit. Not sure if the tests are widely available in Scotland yet, but down here everyone is being encouraged to test themselves twice a week.

So tomorrow I'm saying goodbye to my Cornish home and heading back to Scotland. I'd love to stay but lock down has meant that I have lost eight months of income so I guess I'd better get renting my house out and make a bit of money.

Thursday 29 April 2021

Popped down to 'Porthmeor West' for breakfast before the long journey north. It's been so nice to have all these little outdoor cafes open. Goodness only knows what life is going to be like when I get back to Scotland.

Friday 30 April 2021

After having the most amazing month in St Ives, I'm back to reality.

Stayed overnight at my sisters and a journey that should have taken 6 hours, took 8 hours and one hour of that was on the Edinburgh by-pass?!! It's absolutely freezing in Edinburgh. I've got the fire on. I had a week long booking in my St Ives house starting on Monday. They've just cancelled because of Covid. I had three 'meet & greet' jobs booked in for next week. Two of them have cancelled. Oh and my wifi wasn't working when I got back to Edinburgh so I've just had to spend half an hour on the phone to my wifi provider. As if things weren't hard enough already.

#Thingscanonlygetbetter