Monday dawns, I’m up jogging under the grey blanket skies, making me question if I’ve ventured from my bed. However, the weather is cool and refreshing, joined with my new jogging attire, I’m like the Flash and ready to face the challenges work undoubtedly has waiting for me. Unphased by my overflowing inbox and tasks to be completed, its soon sign off time and I’m happy to report, my inbox is back under control, with some tasks even marked off the list. I guess it goes to show, how a break can really set you up for the week ahead.

Yet on my midweek morning’s jog I jump out of my skin. I had just set my music and 5k goal when –

“Hi there – “

“Ahhh!”

Then –

 “I am sorry to have scared you, I’ve just seen you a few times jogging this way and wondered if you’d like to join me. I’m not a murderer or anything and well you don’t look like a murderer either.”

I really had been in my own world this morning. But am glad to hear that even with bed hair I don’t look like a murderer. So, I say yes, and we jog socially distanced. My new jogging partner explaining her route as we both chat away. We talk like we are old friends catching up after time apart, which in current circumstances would not be hard to believe. Before I know it, I have jogged 5k and head home, but not before exchanging numbers. What a terrifying enjoyable surprise this morning has been. Next time we meet, we can miss out the jumpy start, as I’ll be expecting her arrival. Who knew jogging with someone would make time fly.

We also see our ‘lockdown acquaintances’ this week, the name given to the friendships developed during the national lockdown. While out with the dog I walk past one of the elderly ladies who we speak to regularly. Her daughter is busy in the garden while she sits in her wheelchair getting some fresh air. We pause to talk and after our usual catch up about the dog’s name, where we are going etc (dementia is a terrible thing) she shares snippets of her past dogs and outings to the cemetery. Everything seems simpler through the lady’s eyes. We depart with wide smiles to continue our walk, looking back I see a melting of time in the smiling back at me.