My Least Favourite C-Word

Evening, 

The lapping ocean shores and lazy days of Cornwall were long gone and now after a rocky few weeks of uncertainty and unease, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Entering our Twentieth week of lockdown in the UK the 100-day mark has well and truly been surpassed and seems like only a distant memory now. However, with shops now all reopened, pubs and restaurants flinging open their doors and schools gearing up to go back in September, figures from the BBC released today confirm that while the number of new cases of coronavirus is rising, government-announced deaths have continued to fall since a peak in mid-April. 

As explained before, the disease COVID-19 (CO = Corona + VI  = Virus + D19 = December 2019 = the month and year which was it was discovered), was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January 2020, however, the number of daily confirmed cases and related deaths only began to soar significantly by the second half of March and after lockdown restrictions came into force at the end of that month, numbers came to a peak mid-April, falling steadily ever since. Though the downward trend has slowed recently today  (Monday 03 August 2020) only nine deaths were reported in the last 24 hour period, however, reported figures on Sundays and Mondays are often lower than the those for rest of the week as there is a delay in deaths being reported over the weekends. 

the BBC details that the "UK currently has a number of local 'hotspots' of cases, many in the north of England, and specific restrictions have been imposed on these areas. Millions of people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire are banned from meeting separate households in private homes or gardens." In a statement released recently, Public Health England is now producing a "coronavirus watchlist of areas, based on an assessment of incidence rates, and other indicators such as trends in testing, local responses and plans, healthcare activity and mortality." Bedford, Luton, Northampton and Peterborough (near where Momma Warehouse lives with her boyfriend) are all classed at the moment as 'areas of concern' and should be monitored closely to make sure there are no spikes in cases or deaths and with places such as Leicestershire and Manchester being areas of grave concern, UK Government has introduced strict conditions and a local lockdown to control the virus. 

Now whilst deaths may be falling allowing people to frolic off on summer holidays and off out on most of their pre-COVID activities, the confirmed cases continue to rise as more and more people are being tested and with this comes concerns around a second wave. The likelihood of this happening and a second lockdown in the space of a year happening isn't impossible but with Boris' new announcement released at the beginning of July which finally included some information on weddings and that small wedding reception starting to take place from 1st August, we are barely three-days in and it has been revoked due to the climate, something I feel better about knowing I don't have to worry about my imminent Autumn wedding. 

For us, the decision to postpone was not an easy one. Crunching the numbers and having to contend with no singing in the church, no father walking his daughter down the awkward aisle of about twenty odd chairs sat socially distanced and no choir (namely in our circumstances due to age and health issues which would consider them in a COVID-vulnerable category, not to mention being unable to learn 2 new songs by the time our day rolled around). And it was on that sunny Sunday in our local pub beer garden that we took the decision to postpone our bid day to Saturday 12th June 2021! 

I think I am certainly more relaxed about it now all the re-invites have gone out and I can start to chill out since I have another additional ten-months to plan more stuff. And by god am I having more STUFF! Back a few months Mr Warehouse and I spoke about a photobooth or some entertainment for guests that was different and to be talked about for years to come. Unique and quirky - Just like us. But the answer was always the same; "If we have a spare couple of hundred quid then yeah we'll book it but not until closer to the time". But now we have time and time earns money so fingers crossed with another few months and maybe a good Christmas bonus coming we can book book book. Besides all this extra free time, I hope to be booking in a holiday or two - Coronavirus can suck it!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Mini-Moon for the new Bride & Groom!

Heyy, 

With the last few months of Christmas, New Years and the last few bits of Wedding planning one of the last few big things we needed to book and research was our first few nights as a married couple. Some newlyweds now have nicknamed this the Mini-Moon, a short break or weekend away following getting hitched. 

Now whilst I spoke of last week's blog the beautiful Cornish setting and surroundings of the Retallack Resort & Spa with its bars, free WiFi and beautiful beaches nearby it would have been perfect if not for the four-odd hour journey. And so with this in mind, we took a look closer to home and in particular the Wyboston Lakes Spa and Golf Resort Complex. We are staying at one of three hotels on the 350-acre resort called The Waterfront Hotel Spa & Golf. Located just off the A1 and just a twenty-minute journey by car from our venue at Stagsden, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi, good food, an 18-hole golf course and driving range as well as plentiful leisure facilities, an incredible spa and ample free parking. 

I am sure that with its delightful lakeside setting and modern but spacious bedrooms we are sure to relax in style. All rooms feature as standard en suite bathrooms and a flat-screen TV's with good food prepared by expert chefs available at a tap of a finger using the in-room iPad and full use of a gym and small indoor swimming pool. The room itself we have chosen to upgrade because you know why not - It's our wedding night / Mini-Moon. Junior Suites at The Waterfront are not just luxurious hotel rooms with super king-size beds but host lavish Hungarian down-topped mattresses and choice of accompanying pillows. These rooms are larger than both Superior and Deluxe Rooms the hotel offers but appointed in the same pastel colours and styling with the addition of some extra storage. Sitting rooms/areas and work stations are included as well as a comfortable armchair, footstool, coffee table and sofa which can fold out into an extra double bed. Now that really is the kind of place I want to wake up on my first morning as a Mrs.

The Y Spa is really why I wanted to book though as after being there a couple of times to visit I have never had the opportunity of indulging in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam rooms, mist showers, ice rooms, relaxing areas and water beds. The website states that "Y Spa has created a fabulous space which will stimulate all of the senses. Expansive areas filled with natural light and a warm ambient atmosphere. The area incorporates large picture windows to the terrace, bringing the outside in, whatever the weather. This little bit of luxury allows you to use hot and cold experiences as therapy, the benefits of which are far-reaching and include: improved respiration and circulation, relief of rheumatic aches, pains and stiff joints as well as improvements to skin texture with benefits to those suffering from eczema or skin conditions. Combining heat followed by cold boosts the body's natural defences, shifting your entire metabolism up a gear."

The Steam Room. A 42-degrees and with 100% humidity, the combination of high humidity and radiant heat gently invigorates the skin, respiratory and circulation system, all within a magical cavern, shrouded in iridescent mosaics and colour changing mood lighting to purify and relax both body and mind. Or maybe a Sauna would be more your cup of tea? With the slightly more warming, 55-degrees and humid the "soft" sauna has a lower temperature than Y Spa's traditional outdoor sauna. The humidity provides a gentler heat and softer experience to the traditional sauna allowing to relax and to recharge your batteries as well as a skin detox. Improving circulation and allowing muscles to relax, providing a peaceful space away from everyday life. 

Not hot enough? Cranking it up a gear to the 85-degrees (or hotter) and low humidity the beautiful Kelo wood sauna, made with one-hundred-year-old logs gives the hottest of the  Y Spa experiences. Not for the faint-hearted, its location outdoors in the Spa Garden can be accessed via the Hydrotherapy pool or the Garden terrace and is the perfect route to pure relaxation post-exercise or for weight loss and detoxification.

Hydrotherapy has been around for thousands of years and in its simplest form can be described as therapy through water - Obviously. However, being much warmer than a swimming pool, Y Spa's Hydrotherapy Pool is a place to relax and let the bubbling waters still your body. Used to treat common ailments such as muscle cramps, circulatory diseases, arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain, balance, and stress-related disorders; hydrotherapy is a great way to spend some time, relaxing on the bubble bed or massage tension away using the body jets and revel in the wonders of nature enjoying the outdoor Hydrotherapy Pool all year round in the snow or the rain too.

On top of all of those, Y Spa's experience showers are used as a breather between treatment rooms. "The Chill Zone" allows guests to cool off either with a gentle blowing mist or invigorating tropical showers, raining from above like a monsoon. If you're brave enough maybe a visit to the ice wall in order to constrict blood vessels, increase oxygen flow and stimulating circulation. The Hotel's Spa also boasts the "Time Out Area" is perfect for unwinding, lounging and sitting back to read a good book, or two, all in the comfort of waterbeds, warmed perfectly to your body temperature. The Relaxation rooms with ergonomic loungers and cosy fireplaces it's the perfect place to curl up or unwind for a schnooze. 

With eight months to the day as I write to you now, I cannot wait to stay at this beautiful resort and with the added benefit that my Husband will be right there alongside me!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx