So grateful to have had my second COVID jab yesterday. Feeling perky this morning unlike last time where I fell asleep at the drop of a hat for two or three days. Felt like Alice in Wonderland's dormouse! I'm also relieved to have been offered the jab for the added protection and not least a step nearer towards normality. Shout out to our health service for being so efficient, capable and plain getting on with what they do best with a minimal of fuss.

Talking of normality, can't wait to see my bestie in about 10 days time for a weekend catch up in Canterbury. As we live in different areas of the country, and what with all the different rules, lockdowns and so on, it will be 18 months since we've seen each other. 18 months! We usually meet every three months so it's been a very long time, so much to catch up on. We have chatted on the phone once a week for the past year and messaged each other, but  it's not the same is it? It's going to be emotional meeting up face to face. So excited.

Normal life does seem to be returning slowly but surely. This last week has seen an increase in DIY-ers and building work going on locally. I have builders on one side of where I live and builders on the other side of the street. Both homes are undertaking loft conversations ~ to be fair, one has nearly completed. They are considerate builders by all accounts as they try to keep the disruption to a minimum, but there's definitely an increase in background noise that's hard to ignore. What is a writer to do? When I'm planning, making notes or just plain people watching, I can sit in my favourite cafe and watch the world go by. Cake anyone? Oh how I've missed being able to do this! When it comes down to the nitty gritty of writing, getting the drafts and edits done, there's only one place to do it and that's home without distractions. I'm currently sitting tapping this out wearing a set of headphones playing earth sounds ~ rain and thunder storms. It's sooo relaxing and helps me concentrate, but I can't sit in headphones all day can I? I'll probably revert to my old habit of writing in the evening when it is more peaceful.  I am a night owl after all.