More news from Lockdown Redditch

A brief pause on one of our bike rides (Yes, she has a gold bike!)

The ‘roadmap’ for coming out of lockdown (stupid term, like so many) was published suggesting that from April 12th people would be able to go away in a self contained fashion. With that Trusted House Sitters has gone mad, but it is a bit like a full time job as if I don’t see a sit come on and apply within the first 4 to 7 people it’s probably not worth applying. This can be within an hour of a listing appearing on the website. There are obviously a lot of people out there, like us, who are keen to Housesit! We have got some lovely sits to look forward to, hopefully, all being well, but this has taken many messages and Skype chats. So far we have no bookings before June, I’m just not quick enough off the mark!

She moans I make her go on long walks, but who wouldn't want to be here with this view and this sky?

And with a reward at the end of it!

The medical malarkey has continued, B the dentist, I’ve tried hanging about outside vaccination centres trying to get a jab, (unsuccessfully) and mum to have her eyes looked at in Kidderminster and to have a scan in Worcester, along with telephone consultations this has all taken a bit of time. The outcome of which is she had a TIA or ‘mini stroke’ in itself nothing to worry about, the T stands for transient, but it may be a warning. So with slightly high blood pressure there are now pills to be taken which is all a bit new!

We’ve done lots of walking and lots of cycling though I stupidly did our little circuit at top speed the other day so now he just wants to go further and faster! We’ve supported Redditch, with deliveries, and continued cooking.

I find all the best routes. It did say this bridge was closed, but hey, its easy enough to balance over that plank of wood to access the bridge. What could possibly go wrong? This bridge is actually at the point where three brooks meet. The brooks are called 'Swans Brook', 'Thickwithey Brook' and 'Wixon Brook'. Don't beieve me (my sister didn't)? Take a look at the section of the OS map below

Monday Club has continued online and we’ve done an online murder mystery with Phil, Sue, Helen, Ian and Bev and Iain Which was good fun, though I did have to apologise to Carol downstairs as it went on till midnight! She says she’s a night owl and we weren’t awful, but she was aware we were there! Can you believe, Brian a murderer? Neither of us like the whole video chat thing so to realise we’ve done 5 in 4 days what with Housesitters, we’ve been very brave!

You can see the footbridge (FB) marked, next to Fox Covert. We looked for the fox but couldn't see it - it was covert (ha ha!) 

So although it doesn’t sound like we’ve done much, we are still only on our second jigsaw, so it can’t be all bad!

Here we are in the middle of our online murder mystery evening. At the top (LtoR) is Helen (Karisma - Lady William Worthalot-Worthy), Ian (Reverend Des Honestly), Sue (Miss Claire Voyantte), Phil (Fred, the local farmer). Bottom row (LtoR): Bev (Miss Scarlet Mopper), Iain (Rt Hon. Thomas Trustme), Jackie (Lady Beatrice) and Brian (Sam Noopy Junior, Private Detective)

Jackie in her Lady Beatrice clothes, complete with make-up - wow, how unusual!

Everyone was dressed up except for Brian who was supposed to be in scruffs as a private investigator (sort of in the mold of Columbo - if you remember the TV series)

Seen on one of our walks. Jackie did get a stroke but I just missed it

This is St Laurence Church in our home village of Alvechurch. I've lived in Alvechurch since 2002 and never actually made it to the church. Made a detour on the way back from the village newspaper shop whilst at Pauline's the other day. It's not a big village so never far away (when we lived there), so why have I never been there? No idea!

I've had a bit of grief over this. The pigeon is standing on a basket that Pauline puts tidbits in for the wild birds and, opposite is a water tray for them. Previously they were higher up the pole and the pigeon could stand on both and scoff himself with all the bird seed. It's not that we don't want him to have any, its just that he gorges so much and prevents the smaller wild birds for having any. So I went out and moved them down the pole so he couldn't reach them. This was taken just after I'd done it. He landed as usual but couldn't understand why he could no longer reach. He stretched his neck up high, went up on tip claws but to no avail...

Then he went on the top but it still didn't work. Pauline and Jackie are now feeling guilty and blaming me on their WhatsApp chats. He'll still be able to get some seed, dropped onto the table by the other birds, just not as much as before. It'll make him be more active (something we all need to do) and go and find some elsewhere I say!