Alnwick gardens

It was horridly murky all day so I caught up with my family year book for Blurb before we had an early tea in order to get over to Alnwick Gardens where we met the family.

We are all meeting outdoors till Christmas in the hope that we can be together indoors for a family day. The boys were very excited and rushed from one thing to the next whereas Ella is now a bit too grown up for such behaviour.

As we went round the garden we felt a bit disappointed comparing it with last year. There were more fast food stands at every turn and it was a bit naff as we followed the directed path round from one area to the next. However the finale was at the cascade and the light show with music that accompanied the dancing fountains was dramatic.

The children got some marshmallows to toast then we all went out separate ways, hoping all would be well for our family Christmas.

Not so good for friend Carol who thought she’d had a bad reaction to the vaccination she had a week ago. She tested negative on LF during the week so went to the surgery to have blood tests, as she felt so bad. On Friday she did a postal PCR and got a positive result today, a week after first symptoms. She went to town to have lunch with friends in a bar and then did shopping 3 days before her symptoms of a cold and bad headache with loss of appetite and exhaustion. She is planning to have a family Christmas as her symptoms started a week ago.

Katy’s son was due to fly from Germany to Edinburgh where he’d be staying in a hotel till his PCR result came in. His dad, Katy’s ex, would drive him to the border where Colin would pick him up. He is a German resident so I hope that means he can return.

Friend Wilma in Glasgow says her daughter has changed her plans and won’t be coming from her home in Germany so that’s another Christmas cancelled.

Linda’s son and wife arrived from Denmark where they work some days ago, announcing they were to be parents in June, but now are isolating as they were pinged.

Some of Europe is locking down but it won’t happen here - not after the shenanigans in Downing Street last Christmas, plus the fact that so many Tories are against any “restrictions” (precautions).