The forecast has been revised since I took the screenshot above, but there are only a few small changes. Apparently it should be full sunshine now, but I only see some slightly hazy sunny spells. 10am is now shown as having sunny spells. The saddest change is that the predicted 15° C is now only shown as 14° C. With no sunshine this afternoon we need every degree possible. At least it should be dry. Tomorrow will probably feature some light rain, and it may only reach 11° C. I guess that still isn't that bad when compared to a week or so ago.

  There was no way I could resist yesterday's warm sunshine (even when the wind made it feel a bit cool). The lure of the sun overcame two reason that could have held me back. The first was the rather hackneyed "dodgy bottom". I had to go to the toilet several times before I dared chance going out, and I was still feeling very unsure for at least the first 30 minutes of the walk.

  The other reason was a new one. My right ankle was feeling stiff and a bit sore. I say it was a new reason, or maybe a new symptom, but I do recall having something like it ages ago. I can't remember when it was, or even how long it lasted, but I have a feeling it just started one morning, and faded away the next day (or maybe the day after). It didn't hold me back too much yesterday, and I was able to complete a fair walk.

  Originally I had a masochistic idea that I might head towards Lee Green, and then walk along a lot of Lee High Road before turning off before I reached Lewisham. By the time I had reached Mountsfield Park I gave up on that idea, but it's replacement idea would mean walking enough to lose a bit of time so I was in Lewisham Park at a convenient time, and I would still do an almost 3.5 mile walk.

  I don't seem to visit Rushey Green, the "high street" very often lately, and so it was a sort of pleasant surprise to see a new shop about to open. I'm not sure if it is the sort of place I would ever use, but until it opens, and I've had a peek through the window, it is hard to say for definite.
  I think I have shown this row of shops from the other direction a few weeks ago. I note that the Argos sign above the fascia has now gone, and so I assume it is permanently closed down. Boots, the shop with the one blue shutter, and two dark grey shutters, closed down as early as last summer (or spring). I can't recall the name of the shop between Boots and Peacocks, but that looks very definitely closed. Peacocks may only be closed during lockdown, and perhaps it will re-open when restrictions are lifted - or maybe not. It was pretty crappy compared to when it was owned by it's previous owners.
  The sky, and indeed the whole air seemed very hazy when I took this picture from the top of Mountsfield Park. Several pictures seemed rather lacklustre. I ought to check my camera settings ! I seemed to lack energy when walking towards Mountsfield Park, and my right ankle was gently complaining. The strange thing was that despite that, I seemed to walk to the top with little efforts. A year ago it seemed hard work getting to the top, and I usually needed an occasion stop for 10 to 15 seconds to get my breath back. It seems all my training last year is still paying off, and I still had plenty of breath at the top after going up non stop.
  Some of these building, the ones in the background, are down by the River Thames in Docklands, but the closer ones, and the ones still being built, are all part of the "Croydonisation" of Lewisham. Our cute little town is now becoming a suburb of The Bronx in New York (or something).
  Some might think this Pillar Box, with it's knitted Tam O'Shanter bonnet, on the corner of Beacon Road and Hither Green Lane, is cute. I shall keep my mouth shut !
  My reason for not taking the shortest route home when my ankle started to get a bit uncomfortable was because I was hoping I might see Angela sitting in the sun during her lunch break. As you can see, I did see her, but only from the other end of the park, and using full zoom on my camera (and I had to crop the picture to make is seem even more zoomed). It is my theory that she saw me approaching, and ran away while I was behind some shrubs as I made my way towards her. It was definitely Angela - I found a freshly smoked Silk Cut Purple cigarette end by the seat when I got there, and she didn't deny it when I sent her this picture (she didn't mention her quick exit).
  This was good news. This is a brand new pub sign, and it must indicate that the pub is getting ready to re-open once restrictions are lifted (maybe fully lifted in June). I had fears that the pub may never open. During my lunchtime sessions with Angela it was often almost empty, but I think it was fairly well used some evenings.
  I had to refer back to a picture taken almost exactly 3 years ago (during snowfall !) to confirm to myself that the pub was called The Jolly Farmers - plural ! It now has a new fascia showing there is now just one Farmer, and that the paint scheme has changed to blue and grey from green and cream. It make me wonder how it might have changed inside since these changes have taken place. I hope it hasn't been too modernised, and I hope the old bar staff will still be serving in it when it finally re-opens.
  I was generally disappointed by the daffodils so far this year. I expected to seem masses of them along certain bits of riverbank in Ladywell Fields, but this was the best I could find yesterday.

  My total walk was 4.3 miles - pretty close to 3 and half miles - also close enough to my usual 3 and a bit miles when walking in the River Pool Linear Park, and so not that tiring. Of course it was still a bit tiring. It was sufficient to feel satisfied, and indeed more so considering it featured walking up several hills. I didn't feel the need to rest too much when I got home, and it wasn't long before I started "developing" a selection of the picture I took.

  I did treat myself to some lunch, but I just had a couple of fairly lean, when judged from the amount of grease that came out during cooking, burgers. Actually they weren't that lean because they had cheddar cheese in them. They also had something else, but I can't remember what it was unless it was just onion. They seemed like a good idea when I bought them, but I didn't find them that good. I think they were probably made with a poor cut of beef.

  Later on I had a very simple dinner. Once again it was a novelty thing - allegedly "tikka" flavoured pork chops (aka pork chops sold with a sprinkle of curry powder on them - or something like that). To be honest they were not very good. They would have been more tasty if they were based on a really fatty cut of pork. They were quite lean, and that made them seem dry. I should have had them with some green vegetables (also true of my earlier burgers), but they were my entire meal.

  I watched a little more TV than usual last night. As well as two Star Trek episodes (Deep Space Nine, and Enterprise), I also watched the first ever episode of Yes Minister. It was being shown on BBC2, and that was the first time I have watched a BBC channel in ages. I think it was being shown as part of a comedy season. I hope they will show the rest of the series (including Yes Prime Minister), and make it plain is is not comedy, but a documentary on the real workings of government.

  I should have got to sleep easily last night, but it seemed to take a while. I was still asleep well before 10pm, at least I think I was, and I seemed to basically sleep OK until 3am this morning. I then seemed to stay awake for a whole hour before getting back to sleep. I finally got up at about 6.20am. I am unsure if I felt better than usual, or just better than I thought I ought to feel after yesterday's walk.

  I was relieved to see that my blood glucose had come back down, and wasn't that bad, but it was still some way from good. If I hadn't eaten the bit of fruit I ate yesterday, and the bag of giant Hoola Hoops, I might have got it a bit lower. I have absolutely no evidence beyond a feeling that my trousers may be very slightly less tight, but it is possible that I have started to lose some of the winter fat I put on. Hopefully the weather will continue to improve, despite a few upcoming set backs, and I can start to try and diet properly. Getting rid of some belly fat will help reduce my blood glucose more than being very careful (when I am) about what I eat.

  Today has started with a success. My second visit to the pharmacy this week saw my repeat prescription made up, and ready to take home. One interesting thing was that the pharmacist, possibly trying to drum up a cash sale, mentioned how he was already starting to suffer from hay fever. I must admit that I should have bought a packet of Loretadine tablets to help calm down some hay fever like symptoms that I am suffering from.

  I have several little projects for today. One is already started. It is to wash a hand towel that I have been using on top of the pillows on my bed. It soaks up any sweat, and keeps the pillow cases (and pillows) fresher. After a winter of use it is going to take two washed to get that grease out. I am also going to change my bed linen today. It too has been on my bed all winter, and while I can't smell it, it must be pretty whiffy by now (not that anyone is ever going to smell it).

  Two other little jobs are of the waiting game type. I am expecting two parcel deliveries today - both far earlier than expected. Both are of booze, and I only ordered them on Monday. One is being fulfilled by Amazon, and should arrive "before 9pm". I hope it will be a lot earlier than that if the lazy driver ever manages to leave the depot before midday. The other is coming via DHL, and should be here between approx 12:16 and 13:16. It is the one I am most looking forward to getting - a bottle of Absinthe. I don't know if I will like it. It could be horrible, but it has to be tried once in this lifetime.