Apart from it being lovely spring day there were other signs that things are about to change. The Blue Tin Farm coffee shop reopens on Wenesday (take away only to start with). The cafe/shop in Stoke Row has a marquee outside in preparation for reopening and the New Inn at Kidmore will have the garden open all day from 12th April. We've also booked a 2hr slot in the Castle Tap on the evening of Thursday 15th. Tuesday, 23rd is a year since the first lockdown began. There was a minutes silence at midday and a doorstep vigil at 8pm but we didn't do either. Its not like clapping for the NHS a year ago. That was  positive thing that everybody got behind. Prepped and undercoared the touching up required on the outside of the windows. Worked on my animation. Did outside gloss touching up on Wednesday. I may have finished decorating for a while. Did a bit more on the animated. M cooked a really tasty fish cobbler for tea. Had a goolie zoom in the evening. Greg is away on a virtual buddist retreat. Megan's family have tested positive for covid. Only mild flu like symptoms. Went for a ride with Andy on Thursday out Henley way. He's got a dodgy hip and planning a replacement so we took it steady but still did about 26 miles. Henley was incredibly busy as there was a market going on. It was all food and drink but not sure it was in the spirit of the current lockdown rules. It was a bit weird to see that many people. Saw a very tame sparrow hawk in a hedge.Got within about 3 meters and was reaching for my phone to take another snap when it flew off. Also saw a mandarin duck on the Thames.Reading is on the tube map now because of cross rail so someone obviously thinks Sonning Eye is a tube station.Spotted some banksyesque stencelling near Sonning Bridge. Not sure what its about or if it has anything to do with Theresa May. I think she sometimes attends the church there. Popped into Lodden Brewery on the way back for some supplies. They seemed very excited about the prospect of reopening the tap room area on a couple of weeks. Had a first Thursday zoom in the evening. We're planning for the next one to be in May so it can be 'live'. Meanwhile M travelled up to Manchester to record the first round of University Challenge. They played Strathclyde. I can't mention the result but I can say M got the first starter for 10. They travelled up by train including the reserve. It was the first time they had met but they weren't allowed to sit together. They had to get separate taxis at the other end. There was no makeup because of covid and no refreshments. They even had to take their yown water. They had been having zoom rehearsals twice a week and M had but quite a lot of effort into revising stuff like UK monachs and prime ministers. We'd also watched quite a few episodes. On Friday I walked out to Shinfield to pick up my mountain bike from Rotec. I may have seen a great white egret in Green Park. They don't wear masks in Rotec but I always do. A birthday treat on Saturday morning as I was invited to join the Kelly Talk WhatsApp group, a good start to the day. Popped to BnQ for some paint for the refurbished bench. A bit of a queue outside but moved pretty quickly. Had a great birthday curry zoom in the evening with T, S, J and A. On the present front I got some headphones from M, a flask from TnS and JnA have arranged a beer and cheese tasting for Easter Sunday. Had a bit of a lie in on Sunday which also coincided with the clocks going forward. Put the bench together which wasn't straight forword and a couple of the slats needed sanding down a bit at one end. Did Ottolenghi lamb dish for tea and M made those turkish flatbreads.

 

A chap came to look ate the oven on Wednesday. They had sent an email with very detailed covid safety instructions. As it was when the guy turned up he asked if he could take off his visor as it would be uncomfortable working in the oven also paid by card even though over the limit. On the Berks Birds website it mentioned sightings of peregrines on the gasometer so went for a look late afternoon. No sign so wandered round Newtown looking for more street art. Found 4 or 5 but they're not as good as the others. Some look quite old and some very recent. Took a picture of the last gasometer anyway as its due for demolition.Had a goolie Zoom in the evening. John is planning to go out for a McDonalds tomorrow as its William's birthday. On Thursday went for a ride down to Fobney meadows. Just the usual suspects birdwise but you can now get though to Coley. Headed off down the Kennet and a lot of work is being at the Jolly Anglers for the reopening of pubs.Spotted this in the housing estate at the other side of the river.When I got back spotted a stock dove in the garden,  never knowingly seen one before. Had a zoom down the Hop Leaf in the evening. Went for a ride to Bracknell on Friday. Out by my old work route a back by a route we often took for our evening rides. Russ has told me Northgate have moved to smaller offices as post pandemic there will be a lot more home working so went to check them out. Watched URZ play Forest on Saturday. A good game we went 1 0 put pulled it back to 1 1. Normally when we go down we capitulate so it was good to see. 3 strickers on at one point. Made pizzas in the evening. I dont think the replacement element is up to scratch. James phoned M on Sunday morning as its Mother's Day. I've been doing these posts for almost a year now as the first one I did mentioned Mother's day. Its also just over a year since we went to see Tommy Tiernan at the town hall (13th March). The last time we went out to anything. Who would have thought it.