Lockdown is a lifting

It's pretty strange how lockdown has become the new normal over the last year, and it's become alien to think of going out and enjoying things again. I very much proceeded with caution on the excitement front; the roadmap news breezed straight over my head and I figured I'd believe it when I saw it. And I finally saw it! Everything that was supposed to open on April the 12th did and you can bet I enjoyed the first weekend of semi-normality to the max! For our first post-lockdown trip to a restaurant, me and Ollie took it back to our first date spot; The Bulls Head Repton. Obviously the current outside-only rules make outfit planning a little tricky, but this coat did me well in Iceland and the Baltics and so it was perfectly equipped to deal with a little Derbyshire chill. It was an absolute steal from primark (on sale?!) and is super warm, plus it goes with everything. I threw it on over black jeans, black heeled boots and orange mesh sleeve top (from ASOS). It was so nice to be out again (finally) and we had the loveliest time with cocktails, beers, truffle fries, honey glazed halloumi, ginormous pizzas and more fairy lights than you could shake a stick at. And each other, I suppose ;)

On Friday it was time for the much-anticipated return of girls night and in line with Fizz Friday no less! Again, I put the onus of my warmth on my coat, this time opting for my leopard print fur one which always gives me high-class hooker vibes (totally what I'm going for). I layered it over black bandage top (missguided), slogan mom jeans (shein) and black stiletto boots (also shein). They've done the pub garden at the commercial really well, with various gazebos and heaters to ward off the elements, plus fairy lights for the ~aesthetic~. We had the best time; like we'd never even been away.

I was making the most of alllll the social plans this weekend and getting the reunions all lined up. On Saturday, it was mine and Sophia's turn as we headed for lunch at the Sherwin. They've essentially turned their whole car park into a beer garden and most of it is even in the sun! Unfortunately, our table wasn't so I was very glad of yet another fur coat (this one was from M&S). I also wore my new ecru jeans (ASOS) with graphic black tee (new look) and black and white trainers (shein). We'd both been missing pub food so really enjoyed our lunch and it was so good to have a massive catch up, having not seen each other since a snowy walk in January!

One particular sector they kept mentioning in the roadmap along with beauty, hospitality and retail, was zoos. Putting aside the fact that it's a little weird that it got such a starring role, I felt like we had to make the most of all the opportunities and go to one. Now, I don't normally agree with zoos, as I think they're cruel. But having had no money for the animals over lockdown, I figured it was more cruel to not go to one than to go to one right now. So we went! Finally dressing for a daytime activity, I could leave the fur coat collection at home and go with a cream cropped denim jacket instead (nasty gal), which I wore over nude bodysuit (miss selfridge) and animal printed wrap skirt (boohoo). Well, it'd be rude to go to the zoo in anything other than animal print right? In hindsight, going at the weekend wasn't the best idea, as there were more screaming, snotty kids to see than animals, but we had a lovely time anyway and the weather was beautiful. And what better way to end a Sunday when we got back than with a big roast dinner? Here's to hoping that the only way is up from here.