{"id":316,"date":"2020-08-07T14:38:49","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T14:38:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/the-new-normal\/"},"modified":"2020-08-07T14:38:49","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T14:38:49","slug":"the-new-normal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/home\/the-new-normal\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Normal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, I think you could say we're all living rather different lives to last year or any other time, come to that. The new normal is definitely more enjoyable than lockdown living, in that above all it involves more social, face to face chats and feeling people-y than March to June did.<\/p>\n

So, counting blessings indeed – however temporary they may be! <\/p>\n

And making the most of 'safe' outings – as much as you can ever tell where might be safe or not from the invisible beast. We have notched up a few more pub lunches – one out this week with Mr H to the Inn on the Pond near Redhill (which involved an indecently long post lunch walk due to husbandly mismanagement of wifely energy levels, and that fact that the many ponds aren't actually accessible for dogs – annoying!)<\/p>\n

And also to an Epsom boozer with Claire White for a long overdue girly catch up, both of us trying to dodge the sun under the outdoor brolly, while avoiding the slightly naggy pub landlady..<\/p>\n

Spent last weekend making the most of time at the cottage in glorious weather too – love this pic of several sets of toes up in the reclining position – those loungers are unbelievably comfy and very good for a nap under the shade of Ross's runner beans..<\/p>\n

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And like the shot Mr H making the most of playing in the grass with Scrumpy – who goes in for her second major hip op next Wednesday, so – much as she doesn't yet know it – she's on borrowed time until she wakes up with a sore hip, half her bone removed, in a crate and with the cone of shame on, for weeks on end She is not going to be a happy spanny..<\/p>\n

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And we won't be making it down to the coot for a while post her op, so we too made the most if it. Mr H even triumphing with a pineapple cocktail or two – the pina coladas went down very well, here being beautifully modelled by Janine..<\/p>\n

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And this is life now I guess. Nice dog walks (for one more week only, boo) with chums, popping round to houses for a cuppa – nice to see Jill Thibault this week, for a wander with her dog Molly too – and pub lunches. H & I managed a very nice pint outside the Hand in Hand this week too – what a joy – very organised ordering, plenty of space between the makeshift small tables, deckchairs and people also bringing their own fold down chairs – so British and actually, so nice to see and be part of. <\/p>\n

So – it's pretty good for now. One big unknown remains around our two September trips, which were booked a long time pre Covid. Back in 2019 in fact – ah, remember how good that year was? Oh well..<\/p>\n

So, we are still hoping to maybe get to France for an early week in Sept, driving across and with a really nice looking rented house awaiting us. But Quarantine may put paid to that, probably right at the last minute when we could be starting to believe we might actually be going..<\/p>\n

And then there is\/was Portugal. At the start of this week we were still thinking it might be possible, but between us and David & Mandy we've decided its too much of a risk\/trek for now, so we have re-booked a place in Devon for that week instead. And if some local London lockdown buggers that as well, then we really are doomed this year! Obviously, much bigger issues at play than a couple of weeks away, but it is such on odd feeling, not knowing if you are going or not, and if plans need to be made for Mojo etc.<\/p>\n

In all honesty, this is what has happened to rather too many of my holidays, given the health situation when it's been a tad touch and go in the past (and I've wanted to go, rather than kick it into touch!) So, I should be used to it by now. But still, funny times and a long way to go for all of us – just hope we might possibly get to enjoy a cheeky plate of fruits de mer in Sept, whether it be in France, Devon or sunny Dora Road if all else fails x <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, I think you could say we're all living rather different lives to last year or any other time, come to that. The new normal is definitely more enjoyable than lockdown living, in that above all it involves more social, face to face chats and feeling people-y than March to June did. So, counting blessings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe New Normal - Welcome to Scottys Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/home\/the-new-normal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The New Normal - Welcome to Scottys Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Well, I think you could say we're all living rather different lives to last year or any other time, come to that. 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