Hooray!! The brace is off! I went to the hospital yesterday and was told I can now walk normally without a brace or crutches. After 3 and a half months 'normally' isn't quite how I would describe it, but I am now hobbling around the house without aid. I will probably stick to crutches or a walking stick when out and about for the first few weeks, but it won't be long before I'm back to normal. I have even had my first shower standing up, which was bliss I can tell you!
So, I hope you all had a very happy Easter and the Easter bunny visited. He doesn't usually bother with me as he knows I will eat most of the girls' eggs while they aren't looking, but this year I must have looked like I needed feeding up as he (well, Andy), gave me this gorgeous one. This picture was taken today - aren't I being good?! I must confess I have eaten the orange choc buttons, but am saving the egg for a moment of great need. That, and the fact that I am still eating some of the girls ones!!
We had a really restful and happy week at my parents' house in Leicestershire last week. Leicestershire isn't widely thought of as a beautiful place, but it is in the heart of the National Forest and is the place that I love more than anywhere. The countryside is just astounding, and there are some really lovely places to visit, including this one called Staunton Harold.
I have been going here since I was tiny and I try to go every time I'm visiting my parents. The house used to be a hospice, but is now a private house. There are walks around the lake, and in the old stable block there is an arts centre with all the different parts housing a different craft. They always make such an effort with the pots and I have taken several photos for inspiration. There is a garden centre and aquatics place here too, and I can heartily recommend the ice cream in the cafe!
Aside from Staunton Harold there are many other treasures to be found in Leicestershire, including this one,
Bradgate Park (photo from National Forest.org),
and a gorgeous plant nursery called Ulverscroft, which started off as a few bedding plants grown on the windowsill by the daughter of the farm owners, and is now a really well stocked (and reasonably priced) place and I always try to get my plants there. This is some of my stash from this weekend in the foreground - I'm just waiting for a few nice days to get them potted up. The view is from my dining room window. Despite being neglected for some time due to my leg, the garden isn't looking too bad with the clematis and the lilac out together, and I have several plans afoot to make it even better....watch this space!
Well, I'll leave it there for now. If anyone from the Leicestershire Tourist Board is reading then please contact me - I have heaps more things I can plug!! I'm now off to hobble into the kitchen to make lunch before there is mutiny.
Cathy XX
