Author: gosforthcentralwi

Whether its Wimbledon or the Euros, Strawberries or New potatoes, Independence Day on the 4th or World Emoji Day on the17th (!) – July has a lot to celebrate.

And I’m not even including the 19 July which may be the end of more England restrictions (some mixed feelings about that, I have to say!). I wonder if someone will invent a “freedom” emoji?

Whatever your thoughts may be, try to focus on the positive, be in the now and enjoy (and yes, I’ve been know to read the odd – very odd – self help book)!

Watching the Andy Murray v Basilashvili match on Monday night really made me respect not only the athleticism of the players ( a new hip for heaven’s sake!) but the mental stamina too.

Now, I know you may not be a tennis fan so I won’t bang on about it too much. But, basically, Basilvashvili came from a “I’m beaten / it’s nearly over / sure lose position” to winning the next set and making it look then like Murray could lose. That positive voice in Basilvashvili’s head must have been very powerful – as must Murray’s too when he had then to turn it around again.

I wish I had an ounce of that positive thinking – the world would be my oyster (or lobster if you’re a “Minder” fan.

I have a new July resolution…..

xx

The weather is beautiful, the garden is growing, the vaccination centres are busy…

What can possibly go wrong?? Let’s not even go there – let’s be positive and enjoy what we’ve got right now. Let’s enjoy the simple things – the lovely photos below, the coffee with friends, the walks with the dog….whatever it is that “floats your boat”!

Or maybe you think I’ve been in the sun too long??

You could be right – but the photos are still beautiful!! xx

….And I do hope you’re finding plenty of things to smile, maybe even laugh, about as we creep – hopefully – towards the end of this difficult year.

I know it has been much more than difficult for some, particularly those who have experienced real and personal loss, and my heart goes out to you.

For the rest of us who may “only” have felt isolation, loneliness, boredom, it would be great to hear what’s kept you going? Or perhaps some of us have actually enjoyed the quieter life? Why not share your stories – maybe we have a WI “self help” book in us (….”Mother of God” as Hastings would say!)

Yes, for those Line of Duty fans out there – that’s one of the things that kept me going (how shallow am I?). I went from never having seen a single episode to watching all 6 series – that’s over 35 hours of my life gone to a TV programme that I often didn’t follow. Weird but it worked 🙂

As we look forward to further restrictions being lifted on May 17th (and an announcement on “hugs” this afternoon – I cant even believe that’s a “thing”!), we can resurrect our “catch up & chat” sessions at Cafe Beam on Gosforth High Street.

Which takes me nicely into a plug for this month’s meeting on Thursday 13th, when we’ll hear from a spokesperson from Smile for Life / Cafe Beam about the wonderful work they do. Check out and share our Facebook Page for more info

https://www.facebook.com/WIGosforthCentral

Finally, I hope these images will bring a smile to your face – they did mine 🙂 –

Well, where else would we be at the moment? Unlike Robert Browning we have no option to be in northern Italy or anywhere else “abroad”!

But I certainly get where he was coming from – the sheer joy of beautiful spring colours against gorgeous greens and beautiful blue skies. Reasons to be cheerful indeed…

And, whilst, the temperature may have dropped over 10 degrees in the last week, the upshot is that at least you can now find a park bench to sit on!

I hope you’ve been able to get out and meet some of your friends and family, within the guidelines of course? I haven’t been able to do the family thing as mine all live too far away but, oh, the pleasure of having a coffee and cheese scone in a friend’s garden…:)

I wonder if we’ll hang on to this sense of simple pleasures when things eventually return to normal. I hope so! Of course, like most people I want to get back to choice and freedom but wouldn’t it be great if there was a lasting realisation that we don’t need so much “stuff” to be happy?

Food for thought..

…which is a good thing to remember on this wet Wednesday and, did you know that, according to Ducksters.com, today is the “International Day of Awesomeness” (link below).

Daffodils are nearly out, days are getting longer and the first date of the “roadmap” has passed.

I’m happy with all that and I’m daring to dream…

However, it’s certainly been a strange few weeks. Just about every one I talk to has struggled more with this Lockdown (including me). And, whilst I know there are reasons to be positive, I’ve had to dig deep to remind myself of those. Are you the same?? What techniques have you come up with and can you share them – PLEASE 🙂

One of the things I’ve been doing – and I know a number of you are doing the same – is to volunteer at a Vaccination Centre. I just love seeing people being vaccinated (I know how weird that sounds!) but, for me, each person is a step nearer normality. If I could, I’d give them all a hug – well, maybe not those (thankfully, very few) who complain about the process or how long it’s taking. Honestly, people do usually get seen so quickly and, frankly, what else would they be doing!! Ok – rant over 🙂 How was your “vaccination experience” – did it feel like a day out?? Are you volunteering and, if so, at what?

Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow night, we’ll be hearing from Cafe Beam who, undoubtedly, have found the last year difficult, like all Charities and all Cafe/ Restaurants. It’ll be really interesting to hear how they are weathering the storm and what we can do to help.

See you then. Stay well – Be Awesome!

Liz

https://www.ducksters.com/history/marchinhistory.php