What a week! Time seems a surreal blur at the moment and we slide into our self isolating lifestyle. Not just us, much of the world. For us, it’s a bit mixed so far but generally we have a positive outlook.
This week is almost one of those 9/11 moments when the world just stopped and something we will never forget. Having an afternoon walk at Ivinghoe on Monday, even with social distancing, seems an age away. That was our wedding anniversary and later in the day we clocked the lockdown instructions from the Prime Minister.
Since then we have got to grips with Zoom, the app which allows us to have a video conference call. We had our first experience on Tuesday with our church home group. Since then, as a bit of fun, I have sent the above pie chart to the group leaders. Corrine thought it was funny and sent back lots of laughing emojis. Jos, the group leader, hasn’t replied at all which probably means I’m seriously out of favour, even more so than usual.
Everyday we drive over to see Rachel’s mum; she’s almost 94. She is totally dependent on us and we make sure she’s okay. We cook her lunch, prepare her tea and breakfast, put the rubbish out and she has a grumble. Although she listens to the radio, we aren’t sure if she has a complete grip on what is happening, Coronavirus wise.
As I drove there this morning, the roads were almost empty, like nothing we’ve seen before. For a while I was behind a Police car and half expecting it’s blue lights to come on to stop me. Feeling furtive, I was rehearsing in my mind what I would say “Hi Officier, I’m driving to see my mother-in-law, I’m her carer you see…..”. Nothing happened but I was still on edge.
I have managed to get out and have a few runs, I try to do this every other day. Although the weather is on the cool side, I did decide on wearing shorts for the first time this year – I might have looked a bit pale but it was symbolic; the summer is coming! You can see that from the above photo, I need to tone up and get some miles in. I’m going to make an effort to stay trim and fit, easier said than done!
We are pretty positive about our lockdown period, at least it’s easy to say while we are in the first week. It now sounds like we will have 3 months of this. We have all these ideas about turning the house inside out, getting rid of things and having a good spring clean.
Rachel has got off to a good start, she has even put some of our frogspawn up for grabs on Orleo. So it turns out there are some local families (presumably with young kids) who are looking to collect a jam jarcontaining some frogspawn. Rachel is not convinced they know what they are letting themselves in for! He he he.
I tend to be more ruthless than Rachel as far as clutter is concerned. Mind you, I have been proved wrong many a time – I have declared something to be rubbish and Rachel has, retrieved it from the wheelie bin and gone on to sell it.
Hannah is home now from college. She’s finding it tough going and, to be honest, I don’t blame her. Like so many others, she must be feeling very claustrophobic.
So there we are. It’s the start of a really weird but necessary lockdown. I was struck listening to the radio earlier today, the Government’s tone is getting undeniably stern. Where will all this lead…..?