The Homeland

 

here i find myself once again in my Island my madeira. ithas been a long time since my last visit due to the this horrible virus we kept away, but now that we are here am wondering why was I so worried? It feels safe here, I feel safe. we arrived on Friday to glorious sunshine then on Sunday the weather changed somewhat! Due to the Tonga volcano were going through the tail end of that eruption with rough seas but its easing.

So far I have done two walks one down to the promenade to see the sunrise so beautiful. and another walk more inland with my camera always dangling at the end of my arm, clicking left right and center. the hibiscus with so many bright colors that gladdens ones eye and sea views the waves crushing against the rocks..... Oh!  how I had missed my Madeira!

    

Same old same old

 

Here we are two years have gone by and Covid still here and it has no intention of moving on! we are still living through it like a film  in slow motion. Christmas was spent with my girls and to be honest it all felt a little flat not much joy to be had, we had dinner and even had a little drink but there was no laughter even Hubby was not in his best form usually his the one who makes the most noise.

 

We are thinking of going to the Homeland it has been quite a while since my last visit hopefully we'll make it this year. Was hopping that 2022 was going to bring good news but this Virus that keeps changing just doesn't want to move on, so we just keep going hopping that we and our family keep safe.

 

Living in a small village does help we have no crowds and the countryside is very close by, most mornings I walk down the road and follow one of the many footpaths that we are lucky to have close by.... I can walk for miles and not see anyone I find myself relaxing, and for a little while one can almost forget that our world is being devastated by a silent enemy.

     

Covid and my husband

 Covid and my husband is a bad combination! this virus is making my life a misery my old boy gets so angry when he hears the news about all this testing that one has to do if you need to go travelling. We both have had our two jabs and he was hopping to go to the Island to visit his brother his only living relative but this testing that you are expected to do not once but three times and it costs a fortune its driving him crazy! Lol his becoming an angry old man. :-( 

How can one afford to go visiting family? At this rate looks like that we won't be able to ever visit my family at the Island of my birth! Don't get me wrong I love my life here and going to Madeira was lovely to visit my family and the lovely friends that I've made along the way..... I must say I had decided that this year I was not going to go to the Island but hubby wants to go visit his only brother but having to pay for the said tests is driving him crazy and in turn making my life a misery. 

Unlike him I have most of my family here in the UK so staying here on this beautiful Island that I call home is not much of a hardship. Living in a little corner of Essex and not watching too much news one can pretend that all is well, and the countryside is a good place to forget the worries of our very sick world. Love going for long walks in the mornings best time of the day everything looks shiny with the morning dew there, in the middle of the countryside the worries of this terrible disease can for a few hours be forgotten well almost!

  

Morning walk

 With all the rain that we been having am forced once again to walk on the road. Yesterday arrived home with very wet, so today I've opted for the road. But we are do a few good days with lovely sunshine, The morning started well at 5am I could see the sun in the horizon but now it has clouded over so will see what the day will bring!

Am not going for my usual walk this morning decided that I better rest my poor feet it has been a little overworked of late. Walking is one of the things that I can do and feel safe, what with this terrible 21 first century plague our world is in a sorry state so walking the footpaths keeps me sane, while am out walking at least for a few hours it almost feels like that its all a terrible dream. 

  

Dandelion

 Walking through the countryside at this time of the year you sure to find the much hated sun-like flower  the dandelion. Gardner's hate the so called weed but at this time of the year when not much is growing this double headed flower brightens the countryside like a beacon of sunlight.

Remember as a child picking the seed heads and blowing to the wind and watching the parachute like, little seeds being carried by the wind so helping the plant to disperse its seeds.

Wild flowers are just as beautiful as the plants that one plants in the garden and they have benefits too! Like the leaves when young can be eaten in salads they have a high content in vitamin A and C. Also in the old days dandelion drinks and broths were recommended for a variety of ailments, from jaundice to consumption, also have read that wine can be made from the florets, and the roots when dried and ground could be used as a coffee substitute.

A weed!  yes.... but so much more and its does not damage your loan  just feeds it

Just one more walk

 

Today am taking a break, so not walking through the fields and the footpaths my favorite place to be. The countryside is awakening the primroses dog violets are growing in profusion through the countryside.

On Wednesday did a walk to Cressing all Saints Church the daffs and primrose looked so beautiful around the Church. 

The civil parish of Cressing has within it the villages of Cressing and Tye Green plus the Hamlet of Hawbush Green. Cressing Parish contains a number of presumed Villa sites along the west and east sides of the Brain valley.

In the village of Cressing archaeological investigations in the medieval All Saints Church and Churchyard have been identified evidence of a late Iron Age settlement and Roman remains. The Church was built upon the site of earlier structures, likely to be from Late Saxon to Saxo-Norman

Following the Norman Conquest in 1066 lands in Cressing Parish were in the hands of a variety of individuals including the King and Count Eustace. The place names dates from at least 1136 and is thought to derive from the presence of ditches and brooks noted for the presence of watercress.

Parts of Cressing became the centre of an estate belonging to the order of the knights Templar (The Templars) which was granted to them by Queen Matildain 1137. The Witham church estates which probably included parts of Cressing were granted by King Stephen 1135-54 to the Canons of ST Martins London.

Just love living here surrounded by so much history. Surprising how much one can learn.

     

 Walking the Essex way in lockdown.

Still in lockdown and things still don't look very good! I hate listening to the news it all sounds so dreadful all this people dying! 

When are we going to hear some good news? While am walking at least for a couple of hours, I feel relaxed the sound of the countryside is so soothing the bird song, even the traffic that at one time disturbed the peaceful countryside but now it feels normal like life is happening, but then you come home and the television is on and hubby is watching the breakfast news and it all comes crushing down on you that we are living a nightmare.

 Walking the Essex Way

We all have been living under this cloud of uncertainty, our lives being put on hold I wonder how much i can cope with this nightmare. This time of the year we find ourselves in Madeira, but now we are stuck in lockdown not able to see family and friends I miss my girls and my little darling miss the hugs.

Thank goodness for the countryside! My walks in the morning keeps me going, I used to walk with my friend Paula but now I find myself roaming the countryside on my own! At least for a couple of hours I don't think or worry how sick our world is.

Hubby has had the vaccine on Tuesday now he'll have to wait for the second jab. I'll have to wait for mine I wonder when that will be! 

Looks very cold was my intension to go on one of my walks but this morning I just could not motivate myself .....

I have been feeling a little low this week tierd of this inactivity of this 21st century plague and the dos and don'ts!
Am worried about my family's health miss hugging them😥 missed my walks this week! Walking keeps me sane.
I just cannot stop myself wondering how much one can cope, with all this uncertainty!
Every day when I wake up I am grateful for another day and am glad that I, and my family have been safe until now, thanks to those hard working nurses and doctors that are fighting an invisible enemy.
I know that i and my family have been safe and am not living on my own and I should be grateful but I cannot help thinking how long for?

I have come across this little poem quite apt for the times that we are going through.

When you are in need of treatment or of special care
You're thankful for the doctors and the nurses who are there-to help you and to heal you, but when once the end's in view-how quickly you forget the debt and
What's been done for you.
You're glad, of course, to leave them-to be well and free again-but don't forget they-re left behind to fight disease and pain
Thank God there are those who choose this thankless work to do.
Remember and be grateful for their services to you.

We are living in uncertain times.

Not everyday is a good day
But we have to live anyway.

Not everyone tells the truth
Thrust anyway

Not everyone will love you back
So love anyway.

Not every game will be fair
But one must play anyway.

One must believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

Walking the Essex way during lockdown

We have been in lockdown since our arrival in our little corner of Essex from the Homeland in early March. Perhaps we should've stayed there in my Island in the middle of the Atlantic!! Madeira has had a few infections but no one has died so perhaps we made a mistake coming back home to Essex, but then I would've been to far away from my girls so we made the best decision for us.
 It has been a struggle I miss my girls and my little darling, although now we are able to get together as long we keep two meters apart I feel that am missing on cuddles and to feel my arms around my girls that is what am missing the most the closeness.

My eldest daughter is finding it very hard to be stuck at home and having to school her daughter, she misses visiting us and seing her friends like everyone else I know! My  granddaughter she's such a live wire, full of life and her favorite past time is playing outside she loves kicking a ball around. being stuck indoors is a nightmare for them both. Lucky for them her husband went back to work three weeks into the lockdown it probably saved their marriage.
I am worried what all of this is doing to their mental health.

Then my other daughter has been in lockedown with her boyfriend to start with they were ok! But it goes to show that to watch to much news can harm your train of thought! Reality becomes unfocused  in the end one dosn't know whom or what you believe....I can see that my daughter is under stress because her boyfriend has been reading about this conspiracy,
 that the goverment is trying to kill us all with this vaccine that has not yet been made! He does not believe in vaccines and its making my daughter depressed having to hear him going on about all of that crap

Being a mother is not easy even though my girls are grown women I still worry about how they are. When I phone them I can hear by the tone of their voices how they are feeling and my heart sinks! Leaving me spent with frustration knowing that I cannot solve their problems.
I remember my mother telling us that no mater how old you are that a mother always will worry about their children grown or otherwise, and boy was she right.

What is keeping me sane is to be able to walk through the countryside.
Keep safe.

Walking the Essex way

Hubby and I have been in lockdown since we arrived back from the Homeland on the 6th of March and it has been ok really!
Although the only thing that is missing and making me sad is that we are not able to see my girls really miss the hugs and it has been so long since I gave a hug to my cheeky little darling she's growing so fast.
Hubby has been keeping himself busy decorating the house over the years I'd been asking him to decorate and he kept putting it off so now that we have been stuck indoors he has at least found something to keep busy. So now I have nice clean shining house
Well you might ask about me? what I have been doing! After my walk in the morning through the countryside best time of the day no one about everything looks shiny like a new canvas! If am lucky I might get a glimpse of a deer or even manage to snap my camera in time before it takes off, and the hare's running around, the bird song..... that one nearly forgets for a few moments all the troubles that are happening around the world.
But then reality hits and am afraid that we still need to be on lockdown for a few more weeks or so it seems! At least we have had some splendid weather so I was able to sort the garden did a lot of clearing...Hubby loves his BQ so for the best part of this last week we have been cooking and eating out! That is in the garden Hahah
But now the weather is on the turn I believe that cold and wet weather is on the way but one cannot complain really, we have had the best weather so far.
So my family and friends hope that we'll be together soon very soon.
Stay safe
Much love.

Walking the Essex way

As we all know we are going through a very difficult time!
Family's being kept apart and not able to see friends up close! Today am afraid that am feeling a little sorry for myself!
I woke up with this heavy load on my shoulders! Love the outdoors but today could not motivate myself to go on one of my walks I feel like we are on a dark tunnel looking for that elusive light!

The news that are on at all times is so depressing and even though Hubby and I have isolated ourselves I still don't feel safe, I fear for my girls are they safe? My little darling I have not seen her for such a long time and it hurts so much.

Sunday I had a walk to bradwell to the woods, hoping to see the blue bells and what a sight awaited me, that made my day I came home energized and feeling quite positive!
And yesterday! I walked all the way to the All Saint's Church at Cressing the yellow of the rape felt like a ray of hope that all is going to be well....

But today things don't look so good at least not for me! Am hoping that as the day goes on that i'll feel a bit more like my old self.

Take care
stay safe
stay at home
A virtual hug to you all.

Blue bells

Blue bell wood

Walking the Essex way

Am running out of ideas I do my walks, cook breakfast for hubby clean the house cook dinner and do a little gardening, potting up or trying to since I have run out of flower pots lol.
I have plants that need bigger pots, but garden centers are closed so no can do!

I did ask my next door neighbour if he had any empty flower pots that he did not need in desperation! But bless him he only had a couple I have been emptying the flower pots that did not look so good, but I cannot bring myself to discard them until am sure that they are dead! If they have a bit of green they still have a chance to pull through.

Today its going to be something on the same lines same old same old!!! minus the walk.
I have been up since 4am I can feel that its going to be a long day the only good thing about it is going to be nice and warm.
It's Easter weekend but it feels strange not having family round! No laughter no hugs no set dinner table with all the finery!!!

Feeling sorry for myself? You bet! I want my life back I want to be surrounded by my family and friends I miss my little darling my daughters miss you all so much I need hugs........:-(

Happy Easter to you all and lets hope that soon we will be reunited with our loved ones but in the mean time..
Stay safe and stay at home.
Hugs from us here at Essex way

Walking the Essex way

Hope you not too bored! I know this is a nightmare that we are going through,but keep faith that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

On a day like this with beautiful sunshine! it is hard to believe that our world is so sick that a lot of people are losing their lives!!!! Family's not able to say a proper goodbye to their loved ones my heart goes to them!
Our NHS are doing a brilliant job, and I for one feel that myself and my family are very grateful for the work that the brave nurses and Doctor's are doing! This terrible virus that is ahead of us all!!! We all have a job to do! Stay home!

A big thank you to all the nurses, doctors and everyone that is out there making sure that we are all safe.

And for the rest of us it is our duty to stay home to make sure that this awful virus gets outed.
Do take care
Stay safe

Walking the Essex way.

Our planet is sick very sick! We must listen to the experts and stay away from crowds stay home, but they also advise that we must keep healthy and do the necessary excersie to keep body and soul together at this difficult times!

The hardest thing for me is not seeing my family and friends! My girls and my little darling! I miss you all so much my heart aches for you!

Being at home is not a hardship for me! Hubby and I do keep ourselves busy in the garden.
And of course there is the open countryside where I always have felt happy exploring with my friend Paula, unfortunately at the moment we are not walking together.

This morning I had my regular walk I am very lucky to have all of this by my doorstep no need for a car! Just walk down the road and there it is!
the countryside is looking wonderful spring at it's best.
Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday!
Stay safe

Walking the Essex way

Have been listening to the news! Something that I never used to bother with.
But now I feel the need to know what is happening around the globe.

It is so scary this 21 century plague (((man made to be sure))) that is threatening to destroy humanity. Forget the wars that has been happening in the name of religion! This curse is much much worse, it's a silent war against our health our family's and friends.

So please do take heed and stay home to save the lives of us all, and the lives of the selfless worker The brave nurses and doctors!
That are out there fitting this terrible so that we and our family's are safe.
They are putting their lives at risk too!

Do take care do you hear!
And stay home help to save all of our lives....

 

Walking the Essex way

Have been listening to the news! Something that I never used to bother with! But now I feel inclined to watch and hear what is happening around the globe.

It is so scary this 21 century plague (((((man made of course)))) that is threatening to destroy humanity, Forget the wars that has been happening in the name of religion! This is much much worse it is a silent war against our health our family's....

So please do take heed and stay home to save the lives of us all, and of the selfless worker that is out there fighting the terrible disease so that we, and our family's are safe! They are putting their lives at risk too!
Do take care do you hear!!!
And stay home.

Walking the Essex way

Good morning my very sick world!
Now I am very very worried this terrible virus is really going rampant! Paula and I decided to keep our distance but walking on ones own is not much fun!

Missing you my dear friend our chats the laughter, walking with you is! was, always an adventure.
Now all I have been doing is just walk making sure I get the exercise done!

Even though the countryside is waking up the trees with their new buds, the hedges looking like a brides new gown, catching a glimpse of a skipping hare or the Roe deer always made me feel so happy to be there in the middle of our amazing countryside, having nature there for us all to enjoy! I always found great joy to be out walking feeling at one with nature!!!!

 But now I arrive back home with a heavy heart .
Do take care. 

Robin

Hawthorn flower

Follow the path

Walking the Essex way

It has been two weeks now! That hubby and I decided to stay home and isolate ourselves.
I have been out to get bits of food but not lingering, just getting the food shopping and straight home.
Now even the walking has to be on my own!
 My friend Paula and I decided that it was best to distance ourselves just in case!
Am missing my girls and my little darling so much, we do talk on the phone or messenger but am missing the hugs and the closeness..... One good thing though, the sun is shining and it makes it more bearable to be cooped up.
Hubby and I have been keeping ourselves busy working in the garden getting it ready for the summer.
I did go for my usual walk this morning albeit on my own, a little on the frosty side but with lovely blue skies.
Do take care out there.