Monday 18 February 2019

Spring on Saturday

For a few days in a row now, we have had wall-to-wall sunshine and, after frosty nights and mornings, very mild days with temperatures reaching 15-16 Celsius (around 59 F). Such warm days are not completely unusual for February; we've had them before, but mostly such years have then seen another cold spell, even with snow, in late March or even April. Well, we shall see what happens this year. In the meantime, we made the most of it and spent as much time outdoors as we could.



On Saturday, that meant going up to OK's parents' allotment and getting it ready for an afternoon with the family. We swept the patio, opened the shed, pulled out the home-made wooden benches and table and brushed off the cobwebs. Then, while OK and his dad started the fire, I got my first cautious sunbathing of the year! It was really nice and warm directly in the sun, but I was glad for my padded coat as a blanket.



Once the rest of the family arrived, we started with coffee and cake in the sun and even had a bottle of mulled wine (a last reminiscence of the Christmas season). Later on, we put strips of bacon on the grill and had them in crispy rolls - wonderful! So, everything in a day from sunbathing to mulled wine.

We packed up as the sun was setting, providing us with a beautiful backdrop. I could have taken pictures every few seconds, as the sky was just so heartstring-tuggingly beautiful. As soon as the sun disappeared, it was very noticeably February again, and we were glad to get home and spend the rest of the evening in the warm house. Should I let you know that OK and I each had a large bowl of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, topped with Bailey's, and watched silly stuff on TV? Well, I just have done.


The above two pictures were taken within half an hour of each other: First, the last of the golden sunshine lighting up the trees, and just before six pm, it all had a rosy glow from the setting sun. My photos can not do the real thing justice, but maybe they can convey an idea of how beautiful it was.


This stag's head is made of metal and was put on a pole in a vineyard next to the allotment. I quite liked the sight of its silhouette against the evening sky.

Sunday saw us out in the sun again, this time for a run. Actually, on my part, it was less of a run and more of a series of short jogs with walking in between. This was only my second "run" since late November, and my condition is nowhere near I'd like it to be. But we were out in this great weather, and that was good.
In the afternoon, we met up with a group of friends at a café in a very picturesque village/small town nearby. It being such a lovely day and a Sunday, of course the place was packed, but one of our friends had booked a table and so we enjoyed our coffees, cakes and catching up.

The train ride home worked out alright, but I had to start half an hour earlier than intended, as the first one of the two trains I normally take on a Sunday night was held up with no reliable information when it would arrive. So as not to lose my connection, I took an earlier train, and arrived home around a quarter to 11 at night, as usual.

Since I last wrote about my Dad, he has improved even more, and been out several times on his own; to the shops, to the hairdresser's and even to my sister's, which was the longest walk he has done in many months. I honestly would not have thought it possible, but he showed us all that he can still do quite a lot if he wants! He even brought my Mum flowers - something he used to do regularly when he was still driving, but of course could not do since September. Unfortunately, both my parents are now down with colds, but that is only temporary. 

Less than five weeks now before my sister and I will travel to Yorkshire! Life is very good for me at the moment, but I am not forgetting those of my friends who are less lucky.

20 comments:

  1. Lovely photographs and I love the soune of that ice cream!
    Don't forget =- if you feel like a coffee in Yorkshire just let me know!

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    1. The ice cream was as nice as it sounds, Pat!
      I'll definitely be in touch about coffee.

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  2. What a wonderful, cheerful post! I'm glad everything is good in your corner of the globe these days! 😊 I envy you your sunshine. We've had very little of it this winter.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! Not everything - but I have decided to focus on the good, especially when there is little or nothing I can do about the bad :-)
      The sun will come back to your neck of the woods, I am sure!

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  3. I am sooooo pleased for you and for your Dad and Mum too. I hope that this year sees many more enjoyable weekends and much more.

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  4. Gorgeous days, friendly faces, lovely scenery and a large tub of ice-cream, what more could anyone want. It must have been a wonderful weekend.
    Take care, don’t do what I did and start exercising at the old speed from the off. start slowly. I am still on a stick!
    Best of luck for your Dad.

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    1. Indeed, what more could anyone want!
      You are right - I have the tendency to overdo things a little to start with, only to have to admit later on that I am not Superwoman after all.
      Thank you, Friko!

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  5. What a wonderful day! So warm and beautiful for February. It has been snowing here every day, though not a huge amount, and temperatures have been highs of 23F and a low of 12F. I am glad you enjoyed the whole day in such good company, all the way to sunset! And I am so happy for the news of your Dad.

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    1. It's plenty to be happy about, isn't it, Kristi!

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  6. This sounds like a really idyllic day- and sunbathing in February really can't be beat! (and nor can a tub of icecream). I'm so very glad that your dad is making such improvements - that's wonderful! Glad too that you are getting back into running again.

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    1. Thank you, Jenny! I know I will think back to that beautiful day when the cold returns, as it most likely will.
      No matter the weather, we are all glad about my Dad's ongoing progress. As for running... well, it is up to me, and I really want to get in better shape again.

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  7. Lovely description of an wonderful day. You are quite right to make the most of it while the weather is good.
    Good health is so important to quality of life, so I'm glad to hear that your father is feeling better.
    I hope that the weather will be warm and dry for you when you visit Yorkshire.







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    1. Thank you, Linda!
      Yes, we're cooped up in our respective work places all week, so we are happy when the weather allows for time outdoors on the weekends.
      When we're in Yorkshire, I think the daffodils will be out. We won't mind a bit of rain, as long as it is not pouring every day. Our lovely cottage is cosy so that relaxing inside is not really that bad :-)

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  8. I love your expression - "hearstring-tuggingly beautiful". I have never come across it before but it works! I am glad to hear that your Dad's health graph remains on an upward trajectory.

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    1. Oops, I just amended my typo; I meant of course "heartstring", not hearstring... But I am glad the expression still worked for you!
      Yes, it's great that my Dad keeps improving. He was thrown back somewhat due to a heavy cough that held my entire family except for myself in its grip for days and is not completely gone yet.

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  9. Looks (and sounds) like a lovely Early Spring weekend. We had a couple of days quite nice for walking as well (temperature-wise), but not very inspiring for the camera. In Swedish we have a word "vårvinter" = "spring-winter" ... more defined by the weather than by the calendar time of year!

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    1. The calendar seems to be out of sync with what we experience rather often, doesn't it! Take last September, for instance, when OK and I were hiking in the Bavarian Forest and had packed mostly long-sleeved things - only to find temperatures up to 25 Celsius during the day.

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  10. Ice cream with Bailey's sounds good on a sunny winter day! How lovely you could sit outside in the sunshine - certainly sounded like you all had a spectacular weekend.
    Did you have your hair cut shorter Meike, or do you have it tied back?
    Glad to know your dad is continuing to improve - fresh air and exercise will help him along - hope their colds are soon just a memory.

    Hope this week is going well as you dream about your soon to happen trip back to England - I'll be heading that way in springtime!

    Hugs- Mary

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    1. Yes, Mary, you spotted it - my hair is very short now, and I like it.
      My parents seem to be over the worst of their colds now, but recovering takes time.
      The daffodils should be out when my sister and I arrive in Yorkshire. We hope for some good walking weather!

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