[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What a month it’s been. Glorious weather and sun to make us feel good. Yes, it has been too hot but better than too cold. Even I haven’t had my electric blanket on.

Just to complete June, on the 27th I was at the Queen Elizabeth hospital at the feedback event for the Physical Activity and Healthy Ageing study. It was really fascinating although much of it was very technical. This was in connection with the Birmingham 1,000 Elders research programme being run by Birmingham University and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and I have been involved with that for over two years. Links with Move It or Lose It were through Trish, my partner in crime involved with the DVD’s and through that we have become friends – and what a bonus that is! I was also pleased to meet and have a chat with Gill Trueman who is a member of Julie’s class at Mere Green – another lovely lady fighting back. Good for her.

28th June saw me at the local primary school summer fair – all the usual activities from raffles to welly wanging. I just love these events – they take me back to the days when my children and grandchildren were at this stage of their lives. It also serves as the missing piece of jigsaw in my own life. One of my main school memories is of running for the shelter when the siren warned us of an impending bombing raid.

I decided not to choose International Kissing Day – 6th July; doesn’t bear thinking about: but Love Parks Week – 25th July to 3 August. I can’t imagine life without some kind of park or open space. Considering what a small island this is, although there is so much that is unfair for ordinary people, the chance to walk through an area that is available to all shouldn’t be under-estimated, especially for those who don’t have a garden. The flowers in the cultivated parks are lovely (and there’s the extra bonus that some-one else has done all the hard work!) Also, it’s a very attractive way to exercise, probably without even realising it.

Then there was the problem with the electricity. A fuse blew and took out all the power. No panic – I knew how to check the fuse box – flip that switch up, that one down etc. but with no success. Now’s the time to panic. A visit by a helpful neighbour didn’t provide the answer but a telephone call to the electricity support service provided the solution; all to do with the up and down switches actually, but the lovely man talked me through it and there I was again, powered up and ready to go. What a relief. I don’t think I over-reacted because we rely on electricity so much (what about the contents of the fridge and freezer and so on) but then I thought about my lovely neighbour who is fighting cancer so I’ve resolved to try and keep things in perspective which isn’t always easy is it? Unfortunately the jinx hadn’t gone away because the door bell then broke and my computer failed shortly after the electricity problem. A new doorbell is now in place but the battle to get the computer to run properly goes on. The engineer is coming this week so fingers crossed on that one.

I am helping to plan a reunion at the moment. In September it will be forty years since many of us started work at the brand new sport shall which was part of a complex where the running track and swimming baths were already in action. I was one of six receptionists at a time when my children were small so it was convenient for me to work evenings and weekends when my husband was at home. We will be a mix of reception, sports managers and supervisory staff at the dinner. I had a great deal of support from colleagues when my husband died while I was working there. Some of us still meet every six weeks or so for coffee and a chat but September is going to be a much larger affair. One of our number is coming from Jersey for the occasion. Just wondering how many people we will recognise; after all – forty years is half a lifetime.

On the 25th I went to a cancer support centre with my friend Jean Burns. She is a user of the centre and a member of their choir. They were presenting a concert and afternoon tea for the volunteers who are such an important part of this wonderful place. The weather was glorious and we sat in the shaded gardens listening to the music while having the delicious spread. Again, many links came together. I sat at a table with Anne Findlay, not presently exercising with Julie at Mere Green but she will be going back when her present problems are resolved. Jean too is a member of Julie’s class but Jean and I have other links. She taught my girls (she was their favourite teacher) and they still can’t bring themselves to call her Jean – it’s still Mrs Burns – and they are forty-three now!! Jean and I also sang barbershop together with Second City Sound.

It was my last tap dancing class of the year on the 24th July. No chance of remembering the complicated fast routine we are learning at the moment by the time we return on 11th September so it will be a question of starting all over again. It was just so hot on Thursday night but our teacher is without mercy and kept us going so we all had a free sauna but we can’t complain really.

The 27th saw me helping at my good friend’s house where she was holding the annual garden party to raise funds for Cats Protection. What a day that was! I spent it in the kitchen as part of the catering team. We passed the time very pleasantly although we were very busy. Lots of mouth-watering food – especially cake! It was a long but happy day in the company of lovely people – much laughing as well as work and again is was very nice to catch up with people I don’t see that often and hear their news.

Well, it’s school holidays now with changes for so many folk. Holidays, breaks for parents and family, time to catch up with chores and friends and perhaps, who knows – even time to do absolutely nothing except enjoy life in your own way. I hope you do just that.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_padding_divider size=”40″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_icon_box title=”Read more of Ann’s Monthly Natter” text_size=”16″ font_weight=”inherit” read_more_url=”https://www.moveitorloseit.co.uk/anns-blog-archive/” icon=”moon-book” style=”simple_minimal” icon_size=”small” rounded_circle=”false” icon_location=”left” circled=”false” icon_color=”#005cb9″ icon_circle_color=”#005cb9″ box_blur=”false” margin=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row]