A Corona Christmas - testing positive for Covid

This Christmas was certainly not an ordinary one. Bear and I tested positive for Covid -19 and have been self isolating the last 10 days. 

 

Kids have thankfully showed no symptoms (pretty much me neither for that matter), but Bear is still certainly not 100%, two weeks after he fist started feeling unwell. He has mainly had a cough, fatigue and pain in his limbs. 

Im so grateful we found out just in time before we had plans to have my vulnerable Mum over, and instead we had a Zoom Christmas where we connected for hours on end with her and the rest of the family, and I think it's better to see this scenario as an unexpected positiv. Now we're just waiting for her to get the vaccine so we can all relax and exhale. It's been a tough year for her not seeing her grandkids etc!

Today NHS' Track and Trace service called and said we're allowed out now whoop! Starbucks is first on the list, then a long brisk walk around Regents Park.  

 

My brother Erik who is a respiratory doctor and works on the Covid ward has had his first jab of the vaccine and is waiting for the second and last one which follows 21 days later, so watch this space. 

 

Happy Halloween

 

Saturday's Halloween in London Town. Unfortunately there was no trick or treat because of the ongoing Corona crises, but we still had fun strolling around and stopped at a pub were we had some sweets, treats and drinks! 

We went back to the Treehouse!

Half term holiday -
We went back to one of our favourite places in England, the Tree House at Port Lympne and it's wild safari park.
What we really love as city people living in central London is the glass fronted "house' that  reflects such stunning natural surrounding and miles of beautiful views.

We explored the reserved for nearly three days with our own golf buggy and came up close with so many animals which in it self is mind blowing. The gorillas was the highlight!
In the early evenings we came back to the treehouse (or the designated clubhouse) to relax and unwind on our private balcony terrace and listened to the lions or the howler monkeys - It's so hard to comprehend you're in Kent!

 One night we had dinner and drinks in the newly open restaurant which didn't disappoint with it's fine dining and super cosy interior. 

We are so grateful we managed to do this trip just in time before the UK lockdown will take full effect this week and all hotels, restaurants and hospitality venues will shut for a whole month - an unforgettable experience yet again!  

Food for thought

On the train to Mum on Monday for my weekly visit which always include fresh flowers. And on that note I wanted to share a quote by Anne Frank that really resonated with me and is a very good reminder to be present in our daily actions.  

"Dead people receive more flowers than dead ones because regret is stronger than gratitude"

 

Couples questions challenge vid

 

Our own version of the old TV show "Mr & Mrs" Oh, and for the record, Bear initiated first kiss AND I am most certainly the best cook lol! 

 

Sunday roast at the Grazing Goat

Yesterday I headed out for lunch with my girl..

..and my boy too of course..

.. for a delicious roast with all the trimmings - Our first day back in the capital and it graced us with beautiful sunshine 💛 

And that's a wrap! 4 more wks in Kingsdown has come to an end..

After nearly 4 weeks in London (as both kids' schools re-opend for the Summer Term), and with our annual Turkey trip cancelled, we returned to Kingsdown and the beach cottage for another month's holiday. 

Unless it was raining I went down to the beach every morning for a coffee and started to read Val Kilmer's new biography which I love - very little Hollywood and mainly about his fascinating spiritual journey. 

Gorgeous, not your usual roses (they had thorns) in our garden

And other gorgeous wildlife and people's private backyards. 

Arts and crafts with Scarlett Grace. I created "My Happy Book" to encourage her to write things she's grateful in. 

 

Here for the beer! Pubs n restaurants were forced to close their doors in March because of Covid but re-opened on 13 July and Bear was eager to have a pint and braved the weather. 

my new and much used puff sleeve denim jacket 

Erik and John John came down for the day and cycled, barbecued and enjoyed the lovely weather - first sense of normality in a long time! 

The sky was on fire one evening- what a sunset!

Our bedroom doors leading out to a rather wonderful first floor terrace where we sunbathed many of the days when we didn't go to the beach

Andrea and her family drove down and stayed one night in a hotel in Deal and again we cycled, ate and drank plenty, kids swam in the sea and the next morning we all had brunch at Wellingtons  - a great bistro restaurant we discovered. 

I took Munchkin for a long walk on the England Coast Path where we picked flowers and filmed a dance by the breathtakingly beautiful White Cliffs Of Dover

Alan fresco lunch at The Zetland Arms 

We rented bikes for our duration of the stay so we could cycle along the beach during the gorge Summer evenings that Kent provided. 

 Anyone for Pimms? 

True happiness its sunshine on my nose and pebbles between my toes! 

As Boris Johnson eased the lockdown we invited Gerry to come and stay with us for a couple of nights 

Stumbled upon a local medieval churchyard with the most stunning sea views 

Last day in Kingsdown on Friday - We maximised our time on the beach that day, and just like that, another 3.5 weeks (previously we stayed there 10 weeks) had passed - An amazing family holiday to say the least, and we felt that maybe after all it wasn't so bad that our other trips abroad were cancelled- this way we got to enjoy England's coastal life a little longer. A blessing in disguise if you ask me!