This early May bank holiday weekend in UK is the first bank holiday after Christmas and Easter. A prerequisite of all bank holiday weekends is dodgy weather. It just isn’t a long weekend without it, we probably wouldn’t know what to do unless we dodge the rain or wrap up in a big cosy coat while trying to eat alfresco. As it is, we still are under restrictions, only allowing pubs, cafes and restaurants to serve food in an outdoor setting.
We went to one of the UK’s top ten Green Flag Award Winner parks, Cassiobury Park, on the morning of the Bank Holiday Monday. What a lovely outdoor space with plenty to enjoy, whether a little rugged walk (and dodge the odd golf balls flying over your head), or discover a little local nature reserve or leisurely passing by families on the sandy paths. People of all ages came out to enjoy the great outdoors. On site cafes were busy, patrons sitting on their socially distanced benches and tables enjoying brunches, some with their four legged friends too. Only my own four legged companion decided to have a little go himself, and perched at a couple’s table, waiting expectantly for their cheese toastie! The embarrassment…..It provided a little comic relief to some (and fellow dogwalkers), not to that couple, however.
I have enjoyed visiting a few places this weekend. A local woods and a bi-monthly food market. I was telling my husband how life has taken us to a different direction. I am not known to spend lots of time in the outdoors, or dress for all weather conditions for that matter, especially not for rain and mud. How friends and colleagues from “my previous life” would comment if they saw me now because this is exactly how I spend a part of my day and I love it. Many a time I cheerfully recall the dog, even in the pouring rain and freezing wind.
Before I know it, it is evening and the forecasted gusty winds and rain have finally arrived. We are all indoors waiting for the oven timer to beep, sitting in the dusk light, watching the trees in the garden swaying and the rubbish bins outside rattling. i wonder how many bins will topple over overnight and how the foxes would gleefully scavenge themselves silly.
At last I’m going to my first vaccination appointment tomorrow. I have no idea if I would react to the vaccine, if I did, hopefully it would wear off quickly. I am well prepared though, stocked up a few tubs of soups in the fridge, sourdough in the freezer and I will make a Chinese herbal bone broth for tomorrow’s dinner. A comforting bowl to eat with rice and some simply cooked greens with ginger.
Hopefully the next Bank Holiday Weekend will be better weathered; who knows, maybe a barbecue will be on the cards?
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