We were very pleased that Harriett had wanted to visit us for a few days. We stopped off in Warrington at Steve and Karen’s house before we drove to Manchester Airport. Harriett and her boyfriend, Zak, flew from Amsterdam, where they are both students at the University, Zak was a nice lad.

We took them to Appleby as Zak offered to do some cooking. It is such a pleasant place, and a typical Cumbrian town. Zak was particularly surprised by what he experienced. That afternoon we went on one of our favourite walks out of the village, along the river and down to the Red Rocks which are more like cliffs than rocks. Zak seems to be a confident and friendly young man. On Easter Saturday we took Harriett and Zak for a meal in our pub and Tom’s family joined us.

Easter egg hunt by Annabel

We went to Tom and Tara’s to do the Easter egg hunt because Zac, Harriett’s boyfriend, wanted to see all the animals. Tom hid eggs, I hid our eggs and I gave Harriett’s eggs to Mic to hide. My first mistake! We were limited to an area in the field and the garden. I noticed Mic heading across the field into the long grass. He hid 2 and I did the rest. So, the hunt began. We all found our eggs except Mic. Harriett looked at all the eggs and said the 2 missing were for Mic. Unfortunately, Mic couldn’t remember where he’d hidden them. The search began. We quickly realised Mic is very good at hiding eggs!! We all searched in the long grass and eventually found them hidden under buckets and pots. Lesson learnt don’t give Mic eggs to hide. We all had a good laugh including Mic, of course.

On  Easter Sunday I woke up not feeling very well, so I stayed at home in bed while Annabel took Harriett and Zak to Ullswater. They climbed up Hallen Fell, which gives a beautiful view of Ullswater.

On Easter Monday we drove Harriett and Zak back to Manchester. We were very pleased that Harriett wanted to visit us, and we enjoyed their company. Back home, we were quite exhausted, but in a nice way. We sat in the porch which is now double glazed and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. We hope to see them again before too long.

We were very pleased that Colum, Heather and Rachel came to see us. Despite not seeing them for some time, we immediately sat down and had a good, long chat. Rachel, their daughter, is a delightful girl – down to earth, bright and full of potential.

We tried to clear stuff out of the lounge/living room, ready for the flooring to go down. Greg and Anne dropped in and we talked about both our families.

I went to Orton for a walk with the Penrith Ramblers. I met Sue at the Rugby club and gained a lift. The walk was interesting but with only twelve people – a good number. The weather was OK and we managed to miss the forecast showers.

I enjoyed a walk with the U3A moderate walking group. I was expecting a lift from Angela, but I had a lift from Phil and Deborah, friends from Penrith instead. It was good to catch up with them.

Every other week we usually attend the coffee morning. I managed to sit down on a table which included someone who was very much aligned to the views of Genghis Kahn.

One Friday evening we went to the pub curry night with Karen our neighbour

One evening we went to the wine tasting (and nibbles) evening. Annabel was talking to Andrew about the wine society. She said, “I don’t drink that much”. Sue and John (friends) heard her and laughed out loud and so did everyone else there. I might have smiled discretely. I think Annabel was quite pleased for her notoriety.

Now that the kitchen has been completed, I’ve started baking bread again. Spring is definitely at work and we’re spending more time sitting in our now double-glazed porch. Some of the newish radiator thermostats are not working very well and causing Annabel some grief. I’ve also enjoyed “playing” my piano again.

Phil, the fellow who refurbished the kitchen, is back. He worked on a new job: laying the new floorboards. Phil and David finished the floor – and it looks so much better than the previous carpet. Phil was with us all day making a new cupboard in the kitchen.

Spring has arrived quite early; we’ve enjoyed a lot of April sunshine and very little rain.

We ate our meals in the kitchen, while Phil did the floor, except for our fortnightly fish and chips, which were devoured in the lounge.

We discussed my wishes for the future in a ‘living will’ – nothing hugely binding but getting it down in writing to present to the doctor.

We stayed in the porch most of the day enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. I mowed the grass in the green lane at the side of our house, as Annabel wanted to plant a whole lot of wild flowers.

At the start of the month, I was getting rather fed-up with my ankle – it was swollen and somewhat painful. I’m wondering why, especially as I hadn’t walked much earlier. (It would help if he remembered to put his leg up – Annabel) Later in the month, I was able to walk faster without much discomfort. I noticed that I was getting by without having swollen cheeks and tongue – a huge improvement, thank goodness.

At Stephenson’s fruit and veg shop, Anna was back at work but one of the other shop assistants, Darcy, was leaving the shop. Annabel caught Anna and I having a ‘pavement picnic’ of apricots. We always enjoy shopping there: their company, and a good craic.

We were also looking out for a new rug on the floor in our much-improved living room. We had wanted an oval rug, but couldn’t find one anywhere, so we now have a very nice rectangular one.

We had a very pleasant day out walking at Allonby and Crosscanonby on the Cumbrian coast. Annabel collected Theo, Tom and Tara’s dog.

We had lunch in a weird café in Allonby and a walk along the beach

April and Cooper came back from their school trip from Normandy which they both seem to have enjoyed enormously.

We enjoyed yet another warm and sunny day at home, sitting in the garden. I found myself in trouble as I had forgotten to bring the dried washing in, which stayed out all night. The weather has been most pleasant for quite a long time.

Good news at the Appleby gym. I’ve now joined the gym and found that I’m now paying lower entrance fees. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

We loved the area and we loved its name. Not sure that I’d want to live there.

And, finally….

Quote of the month: Annabel went out with the supper club for lunch.