Changing times as rules relaxed

With so many people returning to their workplaces and schools open for some pupils and the freedom to meet up to six people in outside settings or gardens.

I was so pleased the weather was set fair and I was at long last able to invite my Mam, Uncle Graham and my cousin Janet and Kev to tea in our garden. Everyone brought their own crockery, cutlery and drinks. We managed the social distancing.

With so many people returning to work it will have some impact upon how much support can be offered. The group I help with has a plan. Although the making and delivering of meals is scheduled only to continue until June 14, we do have a bank of frozen meals in reserve.

The idea is that we can sell these at a pound each to the people that have been on our list should they want them and this will help us to continue to fund the project on a small scale and will hopefully ease the recipients back into the ever-changing lockdown situation.

My last official bake for the food run this week was a steamed sponge pudding. I must have planned that on a cool day weeks ago but the day it went out was a scorcher so not quite the right choice. It was accompanied by a good dollop of thick custard!

On Saturday June 6 I am hosting a virtual tea party at Wakefield Hospice. This is part of National Volunteers week, an opportunity to recognise the work that volunteers do across all sections of society. Our Hospice in Wakefield has over 400 volunteers, and we are having a Zoom party to celebrate their work.

Now we can carefully go outdoors it is an opportunity to pack up a picnic. I think picnics should not just be about a few sandwiches and a bag of crisps. We can get inventive with what we put together. How about threading some cherry tomatoes, cucumber cubes, feta cheese on a skewer, like a Greek salad on a stick or mini mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes.