Gingerbread Life - März 2020

As the year began the rumblings from China about a virus that was causing respiratory problems and death were getting louder.  We carried with life, made plans, visited friends and family, we even attended a wedding (ahem).  Then the stories of it reaching mainland Europe began, Italy became over run followed by Spain, France and Germany.  A tourist on a skiing holiday brought it to the UK and within weeks the country was placed into lockdown.  We were confined to our houses, only able to leave for exercise and food but the shops were virtually empty as everyone had panic bought and stockpiled in the days beforehand.  People began downloading Zoom and Houseparty to stay in touch, working in pyjamas became the norm.  We all “met up” on a Thursday to clap for the NHS and other Essential Workers.  Lockdown 2020 had begun.  Our Lockdown Adventures can be found here.  As it is such a strange time, I decided to give Lockdown 2020 it’s very own page, which can be found at the link below.

http://gingerbreadmurray.blogspot.com/p/lockdown-life-2020.html?m=1

Gingerbread Familia - März 2020

Whoops!

So we have a confession to make, as we stood looking at the seating plan an uneasy feeling washed over me.  Your name was there but mine wasn’t.  It was then we realised that we had gate crashed the wedding.  On closer inspection of the online invitation, it became apparent that we hadn’t been invited to the whole day, only the evening.  Rather than make a fuss you graciously made room for us, GO found it amusing.  I was mortified, so took it upon myself to make sure you wouldn’t regret letting us stay.  It was a lovely day and the hotel was amazing.  Your family and friends were extremely welcoming and my enduring memory of your day will be GO and your mum dressing up at the photo booth.

Gingerbread Haus - März 2020

We had been invited to a wedding, a whole day invite not just the evening, which meant one thing we needed to buy GO a new outfit.  In the past we’ve purchased his suits from specialised tailors and had them altered.  He is a weird shape that means he has short arms and broad shoulders.  We have always left it to the professionals, they know what they’re doing surely?  It’s never really worked out.

The black one was smart enough but it pinched his arms and was a bit tight around his middle.

He looked very smart in his morning suit but it appeared to drown him slightly.

The grey suit was way too big and loose.  No one seemed to be able to fit him with a suit.  Then we realised he was like me; I can’t really but a whole outfit in one go, I’m much better when I buy separates and mix and match.

So we headed for Blackpool (with a pit stop at Guy’s Hamlet) to buy him a jacket and a pair of trousers with a fitted style in mind.  It was like Goldilocks  some were too big, some were too tight, some we too long or short.  Eventually we found a jacket and trousers that were just right.  

I think that after all of these years looking for a suit, we finally found one that is perfect.  I think we can all agree that he looks gorgeous.

Gingerbread Travel - März 2020

On the way to the garden centre, we found by chance last year, GO took a road too soon.  Before turning around he pulled into a car park and we found the weirdest place.  It’s called Guy’s Thatched Hamlet and it’s a complex of shops, restaurants, cafes and a hotel by the canal. We couldn’t stay as we had other plans but we took a quick look around.  It was a little bit like a film set and while it looked tired and dated (that may have been what it looked like the day it opened) it was packed. As we left there were still cars streaming in.