As lockdown measures have been easing, I've embraced the opportunity to venture a little further afield and to spend time with friends once again. At the end of June (I still have no idea where July went!?), myself and Sam had a proper 'day out', and it was then that I realised that 'out-out' had a new meaning. This wasn't just a visit to the local park, or a walk around the block, or to and from work, oh no. This was a visit to Chelsea Physic Garden, and the toilets were open (gosh, the excitement)!.. and the café and shop, but that was somehow less momentous.
I decided I still wasn't ready to brave public transport at this point, so I made the most of a walk along the Thames Path, and we met in my favourite part of Battersea Park, the Old English Garden. As I sat on a bench under the shelter of a tree (it was one of those days when the weather was rather dramatic, and although there was sunshine and some blue sky, there was also the occasional torrential downpour which would come as rather a surprise), I felt calm. I felt happy. I felt like I could take deep breaths and not be afraid to do so. As much as I like walking, I also like stopping. And being able to stop somewhere peaceful in the middle of what is otherwise a fairly busy park is definitely satisfying. There were a few other people meandering along the colourful beds busy with bees, and a few others dotted on other benches, but I definitely felt removed for a moment, and it was lovely.
Fortunately the rain stayed away long enough for us to enjoy lunch sitting by the lily pond, and as we enjoyed our tuna sandwiches (great minds), we were able to people watch and felt almost.. 'normal'?
From Battersea Park, Chelsea Physic Garden is only a short walk across Albert Bridge and along Cheyne Walk. I'd visited only once before - several years ago, and in February - so it was nice to be visiting again. We had a time slot, and there was sort of a one-way system in place, but it was so beautifully quiet that keeping a physical distance was easy enough, and we had a lovely afternoon weaving in and out of showers and sprinklers, under low-hanging branches and around exuberant foliage. The café was open for takeaway, so towards the end of our visit we ordered a tea and opted for a bench in the sun to enjoy it. It's in these moments that you realise it's the little things you don't even realise you've missed. Drinking a peppermint tea that was a brand other than Sainsbury's own was truly a treat!
Rain having finally given up for the day, I walked back the way I'd come, and arrived home feeling as though I'd been on some kind of grand adventure.
Since then, I've had friends over for lunch, and have been back to one of my favourite spots in South West London; Fulham Palace Gardens. A mid-morning walk around the walled garden there followed by lunchtime treats from the Farmer's Market in Bishop's Park was again, the most 'normal' feeling Sunday I'd had in a while and it was glorious.
Only this week, I've had my first experience of travelling on public transport, and therefore of wearing a mask. It's funny how adaptable I am, really. I was full of anxiety the first day I was due to travel on the Tube, and yes, a mask is a 'steamy' experience (mmm, that upper lip sweat), but it's quickly become second nature to pop it on and whip it off again between shops / transport(s).
Very aware that everything could take a turn again, but that's why I'm all the more keen to live in the moment, and to make the most of the time we do have to do the things we love. Summer holidays are here, and I was full of fear that they'd be just a repeat of May half term, and the Easter holidays before that. But actually I'm hopeful that I may find adventure in the coming weeks, and a perhaps even a little more 'normality' along the way.
