Sundaze 292: April sunshine, getting back on track and big trip planning

Happy Sundaze, my loves!

Well, I was on a roll there briefly with getting back to regular posts here on Daisybutter, and then flu-turned-COVID wiped me out for a whole fortnight. I’m usually two or three weeks ahead with essays on Substack, so things looked normal over there, but I’m sorry for my unexplained absence here. This week has been one of two halves: wracked with sickness, then frantically trying to get back on track. Like, how is it already mid-April?!

I’ve been beset with a strange sort of melancholy for missing any part of our previous seasons for a while, I think. The long British winter really did a number on me, and I’d been so looking forward to the freshness of spring that I genuinely do feel desperately sad for having missed what looked like two entire weeks of beaming sunshine in my corner of Hertfordshire! Even so, I feel really grateful that I managed to get out on two glorious dog walks today – I’m writing this week’s post on a Friday night! – and I know that there’s plenty more of spring to enjoy.

Getting back on track

Eddie has also been struck down with COVID, so our house has been a complete tangle of germs. It’s been quite nice to get a big deep-clean in, and light some new seasonal candles. I’m definitely one of those people that feels more ‘together’ when their house is put-together! Plus, we’ve had Milo here for much of the week, which is always a good incentive to keep the house a little more clean. I’m back into my reading – after being so ill that reading made me nauseous! – and back on top of the ‘good’ grocery shops. Then, last night, I went to my first Reformer Pilates class in a fortnight and had such a great workout. I was a little worried while driving over to the barn/studio that I’d have lost a lot of strength, but I’m pleased with how far I managed to stretch my levels of difficulty. It’s so true that Reformer Pilates builds a deeper sort of strength beyond my weightlifting! My core and overall postural alignment has never felt stronger!

What I’m reading and watching

Two weeks of indoors time has meant a LOT of time spent with indoors entertainment. I usually love being out in nature but, since that hasn’t been possible, I’ve made full use of our Disney+ subscription, and my lovely home library. First, I binged ALL of 8 Simple Rules for the first time. I’m not sure how I missed this show in the first place, but it was so heartwarming and funny, and interesting to see how they dealt with a leading actor sadly passing away during filming. Next, I’ve been loving High Potential, which has serious Sherlock Holmes vibes. In the bookish world, I read International Booker Prize shortlisted Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, which was a thought-provoking read, and I’m currently really enjoying Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. I’m always down for an eco-thriller, and this one has hints of The Overstory about it!

Big trip planning

I can hardly believe that there’s only a month until our big trip of the year! Eddie and I have been busy planning in our activities and making a loose itinerary, and we’ve finally finished booking all our travel and hotels. Now, my focus can return to researching vegan-friendly food spots (proving a challenge, to be honest!), and on deciding which souvenir books I’ll be bringing home from each destination. Work has been really stressful recently, and I’m so looking forward to a break.