Jonno

Enduring and Moving North to WGC

Welwyn Garden City

Dramatic title huh? Well perhaps it is a little over the top but like everyone else we are surviving the current worldwide situation and just trying to get on with life. With various health issues cropping up and travel restrictions it is still as challenging as ever but we’re striving to make the most of things and remain positive.

Leaving St Leonards

After a month on the Sussex coast in St Leonards on Sea we sadly packed our bags yet again and headed back to our old home town of Maidstone for a few days in our go-to hotel the Premier Inn. We stay so often that we should really have our own room now, the staff seem to recognise us but it’s tough to know with mask-wearing these days.

St Leonards on Sea

So with doctors and dentist appointments and lots of time spent with our youngest son Ryan we filled the days over Easter with lots of walks and sociable dinners. Lovely and relaxing until another twist of fate crept up and viciously assaulted us!

Sitting at Ryan’s enjoying some time on his PlayStation playing my new favourite game ‘Planet Coaster‘ (it’s less about building coasters for me and more about plating flowers and trees) I was rudely disturbed by the doorbell. Getting to my feet slowly I managed to stub the little toe of my right foot fairly gently on Ryan’s stylish coffee table.

What was not so gentle was the immediate pain! How did it hurt so much after such a little stub? Within minutes the little piggy was swollen and red and I was struggling to walk. Over the next few days the neighbouring toes bruised up and it became obvious at least one, if not two, toes were broken. Brilliant.

With a new Airbnb booked up in Hertfordshire in the garden city of Welwyn it was soon time to pack those backpacks and be on out way. Not quite that simple unfortunately. Jo was travelling alone as I had a hospital appointment down in Canterbury and was staying at Ryans for two extra days.

Welwyn Garden City

Welwyn Garden City

Back in 1920 there was a national drive for civic improvement after World War One and part of the plan was to create new healthy-living towns outside of the Victorian industrial cities of England. Created by Sir Ebenezer Howard in 1920, Welwyn Garden City was the second of these garden cities after Letchworth.

“a town designed for healthy living and industry of a size that makes possible a full measure of social life but not larger, surrounded by a rural belt; the whole of the land being in public ownership, or held in trust for the community.”

Welwyn Garden City

Louis de Soissons, an architect from Montreal, was commissioned to design and plan the city in a neo-Georgian style and the first residents moved in at Christmas 1920. The town was designed with scenic parkland and wide tree-lined avenues and the view down Parkway was once bizarrely described as one of the worlds finest urban vistas! Seems a little over the top to me.

Welwyn Garden City

The strangest idea from my point of view was the original planners wanted all of the residents to shop in just one shop and the imposing Welwyn Stores initially had a complete monopoly before commercial pressures allowed other shops to move in. It is now John Lewis.

In 1948 Welwyn was designated a ‘New Town‘ and described by The Times as;

“a world-famous, modern new town developed as an experiment in community planning”

And do you know who is from Welwyn Garden City? I didn’t until I did some research but how about these guys?

  • Alesha Dixon
  • Lisa Snowden
  • Una Stubbs
  • Nick Faldo
  • David James

Know who they all are?

Welwyn Garden City

Colourful Little Apartment

So here we are in our colourful, quirky little apartment on the outskirts of WGC, we’re here for a couple of months until June so it’ll be good to be able to relax for a while as the national lockdown really eases off. Comfy bed, decent shower, nice kitchen and smart TV. Everything we could possibly need plus a little bit of outside space if the weather improves.

Welwyn Garden City Apartment
Welwyn Garden City Apartment

The arty, stylish decor is a little over the top but really cheerful and homely. Lots of ideas for potential decorating whenever we end up getting our own place again. Particularly interesting is the enormous dolls house in the corner of the living room that was made for the owner by her grandfather when she was a teenager. Fascinating but we’re not touching just in case ………….

Welwyn Garden City Apartment
Welwyn Garden City Apartment
Welwyn Garden City Apartment

Under the Knife

Well not really as there won’t be a knife but you know what I mean. My kidney stone operation has now been scheduled for next Monday, April 19th. After loads of phone calls and a lot of semi-begging I managed to get it booked in earlier than expected so I really can’t wait at all for that. Be great not to be visiting the toilet 25 times a day!

Hopefully once the op is done next week we can get back to some serious JWalking and explore the parks, nature reserves and countryside of Hertfordshire.

06/04 – 13/04/2021

Moving North to Welwyn Garden City Herts

35 comments

  1. Well it’s great to catch up with you two again. What a lovely area and the apartment looks like a great place to stay for a couple of months. Ouch re the cracked toes and the painful kidney stones! Sending best wishes for your full recovery ASAP.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Apartment is a cool little place to stay for a few weeks, just need these health issues sorted now. Operation on Monday and toes are slowly improving so not so tragic. Hope you’re ok?

      Like

      Reply

  2. Good to learn that you are settling in to your cosy apartment, it looks nice. I’m sure your kidney stone op will go well next week. Did you need to seek medical attention for your toes? Hope you’re not hobbling any more, you have really been in the wars!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Nothing I could do about the toes apart from just rest and take painkillers. Trying to get out on short walks but still painful and the stent hurts so just waiting for next week. Can’t wait. Lots of resting and sitting with my feet up so not too bad.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • These things always seem to come in groups don’t they? I didn’t even mention the root canal treatment I have booked in for May did I? Too depressing to worry about. All be over soon though.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Well, there is a lot of news in this post. Good to know you’re all settled in a comfortable new home and that the kidney stone will soon be a thing of the past. Not so good about the damage to your toes. Hopefully it will heal quickly and you’ll be on your way again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Just want the kidney stone sorted then well be able to start thinking about enjoying our new place. The toes will get better I’m sure, just time and rest. Need to get out there walking again soon.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Oh dear you are in a bad way. Toe stubbing is so painful, took your mind of your kidney stones I bet. Well hope op goes well and you recover quickly. Your new places looks very quirky!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Plonker! Hope all goes well next week mate. Perhaps you can get a 2 for 1 and get the toe(s) sorted out at the same time! Looking forward to the return of serious bloggin’ when you’re back up and running.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Please leave us a comment, it always makes our day.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.