Well, another long silence! There's rather little to say. We are keeping busy. The loft is cleaner and more sorted and piles await the opening of the 'dump' and their final destination! We will also be bombarding the charity shop when it opens. I wonder if they have contingencies in place to cope with the overwhelming amount of stuff that is surely coming their way.
We have had a modicum of what passes for social life. This week friends who live at the end of the alley came and sat in the garden with us for an hour. They brought their own tea in flasks. They are both vulnerable health wise, Parkinson's and cancer, and have not stirred from their house and garden, so they enjoyed the change of scene. We also celebrated a friend's birthday in another friend's garden. There were 9 of us well spaced out on the lawn in the sun.
We did two other things to lighten our existence. We bought a table tennis set for the dining table. On only our second game Peter lunged enthusiastically to reach one of my better shots and overbalanced, hitting the knob on the cellar door before crashing to the floor! The cellar door knob was distinctly wobbly after the incident but is now repaired. Peter's grazed arm is mending!
Our other extravagance (!) was a smart TV. We have been trying to find out how it works. We have been watching opera from the Royal Opera House but barely scratching the surface of what's on offer. Abe and Saul were delighted with the news but were mortified to hear that our TV is bigger than their's!
We now have the second highest death toll from the virus in the world. Second only to the USA. Nothing to be proud of there. A terrible case of hubris and mismanagement and I hope the government get their comeuppance. Although lockdown may be lifted to some extent from next week, we shall be maintaining our isolation in case the next phase is managed badly as the first.
Thursday 7 May 2020
Wednesday 22 April 2020
22nd April 2020: Coronavirus Day 38
Still the lockdown continues. The media is full of bad news about deaths, especially of minorities, and government incompetence. Today the UN warned of famine of 'biblical proportions' for people in the third world. We wake daily to sunshine and our little sheltered existence. It is quite unreal. Apart from giving money, we are unable to do very much. I add neighbours' shopping to my online list, but it's a infinitesimal contribution.
A highlight of the last week was a brief visit from Rupert, Laura and Etty. Etty has developed so much! The three of them stood outside the house and we talked to them from the front door. It was hard not to give them a hug. They had come to collect some antibacterial wipes which Laura is finding hard to get. I've added some to my online shopping order for them, so we shall get another distanced visit soon. We also passed over a bag of Rupert's stuff we have liberated from the loft!
We also liberated a mobile - a large wooden seagull. Peter went to great lengths to fix up a fishing line from one corner of the study to another in order to hang the bird. Pull the string and it 'flies'. That's the sort of thing you get up to when you're hunting for something to do! I've finished a sweater for Pearl for next winter, and have returned to the large sloppy sweater I'm knitting for myself, which is taking ages! I must persist with it.
Two large plastic troughs have arrived for growing more stuff in the garden. Now to decide what to put in them! Flowers or vegetables! Definitely some basil.
We have two films to watch before a cinema club meeting by Zoom on Friday. We have seen one, The Last Metro, and did not enjoy it. We are hoping for a better experience from the second film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which we'll watch tonight.
Looking through my diary is an interesting experience at the moment. It's full of things that aren't happening. This week Rupert and Laura should have been in Spain and Peter should have been in China. I should have been going to an art lecture at the university and Peter should have returned from China and gone to watch the football at Norwich City. We were supposed to be having friends for Sunday lunch. Instead I have three Zoom meetings (one with the Walking Group, one with Etty and Pearl for a story, and the cinema club discussion) and an online shopping delivery!
A highlight of the last week was a brief visit from Rupert, Laura and Etty. Etty has developed so much! The three of them stood outside the house and we talked to them from the front door. It was hard not to give them a hug. They had come to collect some antibacterial wipes which Laura is finding hard to get. I've added some to my online shopping order for them, so we shall get another distanced visit soon. We also passed over a bag of Rupert's stuff we have liberated from the loft!
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| Seagull in the study! |
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| For Pearl |
We have two films to watch before a cinema club meeting by Zoom on Friday. We have seen one, The Last Metro, and did not enjoy it. We are hoping for a better experience from the second film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which we'll watch tonight.
Looking through my diary is an interesting experience at the moment. It's full of things that aren't happening. This week Rupert and Laura should have been in Spain and Peter should have been in China. I should have been going to an art lecture at the university and Peter should have returned from China and gone to watch the football at Norwich City. We were supposed to be having friends for Sunday lunch. Instead I have three Zoom meetings (one with the Walking Group, one with Etty and Pearl for a story, and the cinema club discussion) and an online shopping delivery!
Wednesday 15 April 2020
15th April 2020: A digression
Peter just reminded me that we began this blog in 2012 just before we were due to go to College Station, Texas for several months. I was wondering what I'd find to do to keep me busy and so I made myself a speculative list. Here is it:
- Visit all the museums and art galleries in Bryan/College Station
Well, I certainly did that.
- Locate a craft shop, buy some yarn and do some knitting
I did plenty of knitting and even went along to a knitting circle where they had someone each week to give a talk about some form of textile craft. I didn't go very often as I didn't find the ladies particularly friendly!
- Hire a bike and get some exercise
Failed on this one!
- Go for walks (if I can find pavements!)
Surprisingly we found a number of walking tracks in small parks and green spaces dotted around College Station which were very enjoyable, even if you had to drive to reach them. Our best walking was done at weekends when we would drive for a couple of hours to reach a state park. We often had the forests to ourselves.
- Do slow shopping (i.e. shop little and frequently, European style)
Nah! The supermarkets are huge and fascinating so once there I was mega shopping. There was nowhere to walk to buy a few groceries anyway. It was drive and get a trolley full or nothing. I loved HEB in College Station, all the huge vegetables and fruit glistening in the misted spray.
- Investigate the public library
I don't recall using the public library. I found a lot to browse through in Barnes and Noble, the book shop. There were plenty of chairs and tables so browsing was encouraged.
- Read
- Join a book club
I was lucky enough to be invited to join a book group almost as soon as we arrived. We read some interesting books and I enjoyed the meetings even though we met in a strange room in a golf club. We ordered lunch from the menu brought round by a waitress and ate while we talked. The food was horrible! Nobody liked it much but the golf club didn't charge for the room. I made a good friend at book group - Lynn McCarl - and saw her on a recent brief visit to College Station.
- Write this travel blog
Yes, and it's still going!
- Research and plan weekends away
I paid a visit to my cousin David in Florida. We visited lots of small towns around College Station. Some had old high streets with verandas others had interesting historic trails. We had some good walks around Lake Somerville. We visited Houston, Dallas, Bastrop to see Bob and Mary, Galveston and
- Make friends and visitI
We got to know lots of interesting people. Chief among them Carol Parzen who took me under her wing and came and collected me every Wednesday morning. We'd drive somewhere for 'an adventure' which always involved lunch! Most visiting was done in restaurants and cafes. I was introduced to Patricia Cleer who I met for coffee many times and who took us to a 'Victorian' tea party in a town outside College Station. The Needlemans, the Saslows and many more...
- Take a class (art? language?)
Who would have thought that I'd be going to aquafit every morning! It was in a heated outdoor pool. I'd get into my swimming costume at 8.30 am and drive to the pool in my dressing gown. Swim, exercise, chat and then get back in the car (wet) and drive home for a shower. No one bats an eye at people driving around in the dressing gowns!
- Volunteer
I volunteered at the Carnegie History Library in Bryan. I transcribed audio tapes into word documents. The ladies were very kind to me. I found the aural history of the black and Latino residents of Bryan fascinating. At lunch time I went across the road to a cafe called 'It Must be Heaven' and had a sandwich and fruit lunch.
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| Carnegie History Library, Bryan, Texas |
Well, that was a happy time and great to bring back memories!
15th April 2020: Corornavirus Day 31
There's been a significant slow down in commitment to recording our current, very limited life. Somehow it's difficult to summon up the energy. It's 9.15 in the morning and I'm sitting at my laptop, which is now permanently on the kitchen table. Early on there was a decision to move my 'work station' out of the study that Peter and I share. I didn't rationalise it to myself at the time, but it's been a good move. It means we are not on top of each other all day.
There's a constant stream of messages coming in on the Pottery What'sApp group which is a combination of the Wednesday and the Friday classes and the tutor is putting up pottery YouTube clips for us to watch and a newsletter. It's a very brave attempt to keep people interested, but mine is waning. I had thoughts of going back to pottery in the autumn term after taking the summer term off, but the newspaper is suggesting that social isolation for over 70s may go on for a long while. Not a message to cheer us up.
Nothing in the news is cheering at the moment. A terrible death toll in care homes, not counted in the official figures, though heaven knows why. The cartoon in the Guardian today is entitled: 'At last, a plan for social care' and shows a giant roll of government branded black bin bags. We have a blustering government treating the pandemic as a 'war' and constantly trotting out inappropriate metaphors. Their inefficiency is highlighted daily. There's a myth going round that G5 causes the virus and arsonists are destroying G5 phone masts. We laugh at 'simple' folk in other countries and their misguided beliefs and it's reminded me that we have plenty of nutters of our own. And in the US Trump is threatening to withdraw funding from the World Health Organisation and generally behaving like a deranged despot.
We did some good in the past few days. On our almost daily trip round Gill's garden we helped her by working out how to assemble her new garden table. And yesterday we worked out why her television wasn't working, much to her delight. All managed at a distance. I have also added a long list of groceries to my Waitrose order for Caroline, some items for Ros and a few things for Gill. The bill this week will be over £200! We have a colour coded list so that when we unpack we can sort the groceries into new bags for collection at the back gate!
The garden gets greener by the day and I've planted lots of seeds in pots and seed trays. Apparently growing things is of benefit to well being! Let's hope so.
9.40am. Time to get dressed!
There's a constant stream of messages coming in on the Pottery What'sApp group which is a combination of the Wednesday and the Friday classes and the tutor is putting up pottery YouTube clips for us to watch and a newsletter. It's a very brave attempt to keep people interested, but mine is waning. I had thoughts of going back to pottery in the autumn term after taking the summer term off, but the newspaper is suggesting that social isolation for over 70s may go on for a long while. Not a message to cheer us up.
Nothing in the news is cheering at the moment. A terrible death toll in care homes, not counted in the official figures, though heaven knows why. The cartoon in the Guardian today is entitled: 'At last, a plan for social care' and shows a giant roll of government branded black bin bags. We have a blustering government treating the pandemic as a 'war' and constantly trotting out inappropriate metaphors. Their inefficiency is highlighted daily. There's a myth going round that G5 causes the virus and arsonists are destroying G5 phone masts. We laugh at 'simple' folk in other countries and their misguided beliefs and it's reminded me that we have plenty of nutters of our own. And in the US Trump is threatening to withdraw funding from the World Health Organisation and generally behaving like a deranged despot.
We did some good in the past few days. On our almost daily trip round Gill's garden we helped her by working out how to assemble her new garden table. And yesterday we worked out why her television wasn't working, much to her delight. All managed at a distance. I have also added a long list of groceries to my Waitrose order for Caroline, some items for Ros and a few things for Gill. The bill this week will be over £200! We have a colour coded list so that when we unpack we can sort the groceries into new bags for collection at the back gate!
The garden gets greener by the day and I've planted lots of seeds in pots and seed trays. Apparently growing things is of benefit to well being! Let's hope so.
9.40am. Time to get dressed!
Saturday 11 April 2020
11th April 2020: Coronavirus Day 27
Friday 10 April 2020
10th April 2020: Coronavirus Day 26
Passover and Abe's 10th birthday. A double celebration and a family first...a Zoom seder. It was certainly experimental. We didn't quite realise that synchronised singing would be so difficult, but we managed and it was really lovely to see everyone join in. Etty and Pearl were rather non-plussed but at least Pearl knew who everyone was, even if she wasn't sure what was going on. Abe and Saul did a sterling job of reading and playing their instruments to accompany our ragged singing. Here we all are in a screen shot. Eliot is concentrating on taking the shot and Laura and Rupert are discussing technical problems. The rest of us look on in anticipation!
Next year in person we hope!
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| Seder 2020 |
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| The cover of our Haggadah |
Wednesday 8 April 2020
8th April 2020: Coronavirus Day 24
Been busy Zooming. Yesterday was Brian's birthday so we joined a few friends on a birthday Zoom for him.
Today it was Walking Group meeting online. Thank goodness for the internet!
It's a beautiful day with warm sun and blue skies. The washing is on the line and I'm making good progress with my book, though every now and again I come into the house to cool off!
And other thing - today was the first time this year I've worn sandals. It feels marvellous.
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| Brian's birthday Zoom |
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| Walking group Zoom |
It's a beautiful day with warm sun and blue skies. The washing is on the line and I'm making good progress with my book, though every now and again I come into the house to cool off!
And other thing - today was the first time this year I've worn sandals. It feels marvellous.
Monday 6 April 2020
April 6th 2020: Coronavirus Day 22
So, we have started our third week in isolation. Not going out, except to walk round Gill's garden in the next street, and online shopping only.
I've not written anything for the last 5 days as there hasn't been much to report really. We get up fairly late, we have breakfast, we take our time getting dressed and can usually manage to fit in a bit of emailing, WhatsApping, laundry, tidying up before coffee time. Peter has a steady trickle of work, I have Plantation Garden stuff to respond to and gardening to do and we sit in the garden when the sun shines and read and potter.
The Knit and Natter group had a Zoom meeting last Wednesday. It isn't particularly satisfying as we are a rather loose group and many people don't know each other that well. Conversation is rather low key. Story time with Etty and Pearl is at 4.0pm on Thursdays. It's lovely to see them. Etty looks at the screen and if she makes too much noise, Laura thoughtfully mutes her mike. Pearl is a serious listener to the stories and songs, but some cartoons are noisy and upset her. I'm trying to find the right mix.
On Friday we had our first Zoom book club and it went really well. We were disciplined and took turns to talk about the book before we had a general conversation. No one was that keen on the book, but we had a thoughtful discussion.
A little more work has been done in the loft. Notably by Peter who erected a shelving unit that he remembered he had in the cellar.
On Saturday we had a Sainbury's delivery! What excitement! Delivery slots are like gold dust and I'm very conscious that I'm one of the few people round here who has priority and can usually find a slot either from Sainsbury's or from Waitrose. I'm reaping the benefit of not being coy about giving my age when I sign up to things, an asset now that they are prioritising 70+ existing customers. Unfortunately, some friends who need slots are finding it very difficult to register that they are in the vulnerable category. The system can't cope. At present I'm working on a Waitrose order for next Friday and have included some things that Ros needs.
More signs of spring in the garden. Narcissus coming out and also my favourite, hostas.
Made two lovely looking loaves of bread today.
On the national front, the Prime Minister is in intensive care with Covid-19 and Brockwell Park is closed which cuts off an exercising space for the Brixton crew.
I've not written anything for the last 5 days as there hasn't been much to report really. We get up fairly late, we have breakfast, we take our time getting dressed and can usually manage to fit in a bit of emailing, WhatsApping, laundry, tidying up before coffee time. Peter has a steady trickle of work, I have Plantation Garden stuff to respond to and gardening to do and we sit in the garden when the sun shines and read and potter.
The Knit and Natter group had a Zoom meeting last Wednesday. It isn't particularly satisfying as we are a rather loose group and many people don't know each other that well. Conversation is rather low key. Story time with Etty and Pearl is at 4.0pm on Thursdays. It's lovely to see them. Etty looks at the screen and if she makes too much noise, Laura thoughtfully mutes her mike. Pearl is a serious listener to the stories and songs, but some cartoons are noisy and upset her. I'm trying to find the right mix.
On Friday we had our first Zoom book club and it went really well. We were disciplined and took turns to talk about the book before we had a general conversation. No one was that keen on the book, but we had a thoughtful discussion.
A little more work has been done in the loft. Notably by Peter who erected a shelving unit that he remembered he had in the cellar.
On Saturday we had a Sainbury's delivery! What excitement! Delivery slots are like gold dust and I'm very conscious that I'm one of the few people round here who has priority and can usually find a slot either from Sainsbury's or from Waitrose. I'm reaping the benefit of not being coy about giving my age when I sign up to things, an asset now that they are prioritising 70+ existing customers. Unfortunately, some friends who need slots are finding it very difficult to register that they are in the vulnerable category. The system can't cope. At present I'm working on a Waitrose order for next Friday and have included some things that Ros needs.
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| Bread! |
More signs of spring in the garden. Narcissus coming out and also my favourite, hostas.
Made two lovely looking loaves of bread today.
On the national front, the Prime Minister is in intensive care with Covid-19 and Brockwell Park is closed which cuts off an exercising space for the Brixton crew.
Tuesday 31 March 2020
March 31st 2020: Coronavirus Day 16
A slow and lazy morning with nothing much done, lunch in the garden - one of Peter's growing range of speciality dishes!
And then a trip to the loft to have a tidy up. This is a long awaited event, much talked of and put off continually. When the boys are here we can never get them to go upstairs and sanction getting rid of their stuff, mainly school books and long forgotten interests. So we made a tentative start in one corner (mostly our stuff) and identified three piles: charity shop, dump, keep
It's a slow job because we have to consult with each other (and argue) and pause to read and reminisce.
After a restoring cup of tea and a piece of fruit cake (more likely to ruin than restore!) we watched the afternoon briefing from No. 10 from which we learned nothing new. We had a quick walk round Gill's garden and chatted to her from a safe distance as we passed her working in her vegetable plot.
We met two couples on our way to Gill's and they were very careful about space.
Vegetable tagine for supper with lashings of harissa!
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| Cheese on toast with a twist |
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| Stuff |
After a restoring cup of tea and a piece of fruit cake (more likely to ruin than restore!) we watched the afternoon briefing from No. 10 from which we learned nothing new. We had a quick walk round Gill's garden and chatted to her from a safe distance as we passed her working in her vegetable plot.
We met two couples on our way to Gill's and they were very careful about space.
Vegetable tagine for supper with lashings of harissa!
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Monday 30 March 2020
30th March 2020: Coronavirus Day 15
Very inventive birthday 'card' from Abe and Saul. What a treat! And they made it themselves.
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| Abe and Saul at work |
This tailor made card from Keith and Nicky
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| Southwold, of course! |
After the initial excitement of opening presents, Peter and I sobered up and cleaned the windows downstairs at the front of the house. They are now sparkling! We had calls from all the boys and then a zoom call with friends!
After which Peter cooked supper: Starter of pear, chicory, walnut and blue cheese salad. Main course of veal escalopes, sauté potatoes and sauerkraut!
Sunday 29 March 2020
March 28th 2020: Coronavirus Day 14
So it's actually Sunday 29th as I write and such is the smallness and narrowness of our private world that I can't remember what we did on the 28th. A collective brain scouring is required to bring back to mind the trivial pursuits of the incarcerated!
Ah yes! We cleaned three rooms upstairs. I did the moving and dusting and spraying and wiping and washing and Peter wielded the vacuum cleaner. The upholstered blanket box at the end of our bed came up a different colour! The rungs on the bedroom chairs were stripped of their grey fur coating! There's nothing like cleaning your own home to get a good job done. I know I should have tumbled to this years ago, but there never seemed the time or the incentive to do it myself. "We must seriously think about doing our own cleaning" I said to Peter. His look was doubtful.
We had a Skype call from Abe and Saul in the morning and they told us jokes. They seemed quite cheerful. We also had a video call with Simon, Tania and Pearl. Simon is getting to grips with his problems and doing what he can to salvage the business and people's jobs. I sent Pearl a story book that I had narrated for her. It was quite an elaborate undertaking. First I photographed all the pages of the book, then I made a power point presentation with the pictures and finally recorded myself reading it on Zoom with screen sharing so that I could go through the slides at the right pace. Apparently it went down really well and more have been requested! That'll keep me busy! I must streamline the process.
Laura watched a funeral of a distant relative on YouTube! The strangest things are happening.
In the evening we watched the first episode of a BBC version of Nancy Mitford's book, Love in a Cold Climate. Peter walked out after a short while and found something better to do!
For the record, Peter is re-reading 'Love in a time of Cholera' and I've just started 'The Western Wind' by Samantha Harvey.
Ah yes! We cleaned three rooms upstairs. I did the moving and dusting and spraying and wiping and washing and Peter wielded the vacuum cleaner. The upholstered blanket box at the end of our bed came up a different colour! The rungs on the bedroom chairs were stripped of their grey fur coating! There's nothing like cleaning your own home to get a good job done. I know I should have tumbled to this years ago, but there never seemed the time or the incentive to do it myself. "We must seriously think about doing our own cleaning" I said to Peter. His look was doubtful.
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| A Squash and a Squeeze |
Laura watched a funeral of a distant relative on YouTube! The strangest things are happening.
In the evening we watched the first episode of a BBC version of Nancy Mitford's book, Love in a Cold Climate. Peter walked out after a short while and found something better to do!
For the record, Peter is re-reading 'Love in a time of Cholera' and I've just started 'The Western Wind' by Samantha Harvey.
Friday 27 March 2020
March 26th 2020: Coronavirus Day 12
Another lovely fresh day with sunshine and a piercing blue sky. And another day with nothing much to report!
We cleaned the sitting room and the study, so that completes our leisurely tour of downstairs. We had lunch in the garden again soaking up the sun and topping up our vitamin D. We talked to Eliot. They are getting into a routine with a morning run/cycle and a home schooling session. Nancy is on standby to go into school to look after key workers' children, but hasn't been called yet. Instead on the days she is supposed to work she is putting maths puzzles online for the children at home.
In the afternoon I had a zoom session with Tania and Pearl and Laura and Etty which we have called Story Time. I read them a story and did some really bad singing! Etty waved her spoon and Pearl looked thoughtful. There were a few technical hitches, but we'll get better at it. It was lovely to see them both. Pearl asked where Grandpa was, which delighted him, and he hurried to the kitchen to put in an appearance! Tania did a screen shot for us!
We walked round Gill's garden again at about 5.00. Three laps and one jogging lap! In the evening I watched a couple of episodes on Netflix of a show called 'Unorthodox' about a girl who escapes from an orthodox family in New York and goes to Berlin. Not sure if I liked it.
At last I've finished the book I'm reading, 'The Sparsholt Affair' by Alan Hollingsworth. It's the book club book and I'm rather sorry I recommended it. I don't expect there'll be a very positive reaction. Apart from the subject matter (rather promiscuous gay, male relationships and the artistic scene of the 30s onwards) which some people may not enjoy, the story line is rather disappointing and doesn't really get anywhere. Rather too many characters and not much happening!
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| Screen shot of our Zoom session |
We walked round Gill's garden again at about 5.00. Three laps and one jogging lap! In the evening I watched a couple of episodes on Netflix of a show called 'Unorthodox' about a girl who escapes from an orthodox family in New York and goes to Berlin. Not sure if I liked it.
At last I've finished the book I'm reading, 'The Sparsholt Affair' by Alan Hollingsworth. It's the book club book and I'm rather sorry I recommended it. I don't expect there'll be a very positive reaction. Apart from the subject matter (rather promiscuous gay, male relationships and the artistic scene of the 30s onwards) which some people may not enjoy, the story line is rather disappointing and doesn't really get anywhere. Rather too many characters and not much happening!
Thursday 26 March 2020
March 25th 2020: Coronavirus Day 11
A lovely sunny day. Very fresh in the morning but warming up by lunch time.
So what did we do today?
The rules about driving out into the countryside to go for a walk are unclear, so we think we may use Gill's garden as a circuit track! She was in the greenhouse working and we waved at her as we went past.
Waitrose delivery coming tonight. I've already had an email showing about 10 items not available for which they are offering substitutes (some of the not suitable) and about 5 items not available at all - including plain flour. I put a notice on the door for the delivery man with the items I didn't want marked.
As it was such a struggle to get a delivery slot with Waitrose, I'm switching to Sainsbury's where I get priority booking as I'm over 70! What a perk.
So what did we do today?
- A couple of calls/conferences calls for Peter
- A load of washing for me
- A bit of gardening
- Exercises in the garden with my laptop perched on a chair and two cans of beans for weights!
- Talking to Sally
- Looking at a lot of emails - ditto for Peter
- Lunch in the garden - a sort of omelette using up stuff from the fridge
- Knit and natter on Zoom (not entirely satisfactory - too many people talking at once)
- Reading
- Walking round Gill's garden several times - one circuit jogged!
The rules about driving out into the countryside to go for a walk are unclear, so we think we may use Gill's garden as a circuit track! She was in the greenhouse working and we waved at her as we went past.
Waitrose delivery coming tonight. I've already had an email showing about 10 items not available for which they are offering substitutes (some of the not suitable) and about 5 items not available at all - including plain flour. I put a notice on the door for the delivery man with the items I didn't want marked.
As it was such a struggle to get a delivery slot with Waitrose, I'm switching to Sainsbury's where I get priority booking as I'm over 70! What a perk.
Tuesday 24 March 2020
March 24th 2020: Coronavirus Day 10
Last night the UK went into 'lockdown'. We can only leave the house to buy essential food and medicines, or to attend to a vulnerable person or to exercise once a day but only with someone from your household and 2m away from anyone else. The police will be fining those that don't comply. We've been doing this anyway so there's no change as far as we are concerned. What we need to check is that we can go by car to a place to walk outside Norwich.
Confirmed UK cases: 6,650 New cases: 0067 UK deaths 335
Peter spent most of the morning on a conference call while I spent over an hour talking to Miriam on Skype, did some washing and got it dry on the line and ironed it all . I did a few laps of the garden, but that didn't generate many steps. I stood under the pergola in the corner of the garden where I thought the neighbours couldn't see me and did some exercises. The rest of the morning was spent footling around on line and after lunch we went for a walk in the Plantation Garden. Just one circuit to give us some exercise but with the ulterior motive of seeing if people were keeping their distance from each other. If they don't, we may have to close the garden. This would be very hard as it's a wonderful space for some air and tranquility. When we got back we had tea and cake on the bench in the front garden in the warm sun and then we returned to our laptops. A flurry of emails went round the cinema club group and we have decided to set up a zoom virtual cinema night - all watching the same film and then discussing it online.
I set up a subscription to the British Film Institute and we may watch a film tonight. PS We started watching 'Sorry We Missed You' by Ken Loach about the gig economy and zero hours working and, in the current circumstances with so many unable to work, it was too depressing and we switched it off. I think we need some comedy!
Confirmed UK cases: 6,650 New cases: 0067 UK deaths 335
Peter spent most of the morning on a conference call while I spent over an hour talking to Miriam on Skype, did some washing and got it dry on the line and ironed it all . I did a few laps of the garden, but that didn't generate many steps. I stood under the pergola in the corner of the garden where I thought the neighbours couldn't see me and did some exercises. The rest of the morning was spent footling around on line and after lunch we went for a walk in the Plantation Garden. Just one circuit to give us some exercise but with the ulterior motive of seeing if people were keeping their distance from each other. If they don't, we may have to close the garden. This would be very hard as it's a wonderful space for some air and tranquility. When we got back we had tea and cake on the bench in the front garden in the warm sun and then we returned to our laptops. A flurry of emails went round the cinema club group and we have decided to set up a zoom virtual cinema night - all watching the same film and then discussing it online.
I set up a subscription to the British Film Institute and we may watch a film tonight. PS We started watching 'Sorry We Missed You' by Ken Loach about the gig economy and zero hours working and, in the current circumstances with so many unable to work, it was too depressing and we switched it off. I think we need some comedy!
Monday 23 March 2020
March 23rd 2020: Coronavirus Day 9
Peter went out early for a blood test at the surgery and while he was out I threw together a batch of soup which absorbed some of the left overs in the fridge. After breakfast I dusted the hall and the lobby and Peter vacuumed. Another two rooms done!
I started on the study, pulling stuff of shelves, some to go for recycling and some to go up to the loft. I emailed Chris and Sue about cancelling our lunch date in April. Ros rang and we had a catch up. Sue replied by email but Chris rang and we had a good chat. She was talking about her poetry group and I suggested they use Zoom. Chris was keen and we had a telephone tutorial while she installed it and then we 'zoomed' each other and she was delighted. Penny also rang.
After lunch we went on an excellent walk around Salhouse. About 4 miles on good paths and just one stretch of road. The weather was perfect and the people we met (about 5) all respected the 2m distance except one old lady who went rather close to Peter. On one of the tracks we came across an amazing old oak tree with a very contorted trunk.
Back home for tea and fruit cake and the prime minister's daily briefing only to find he was chairing an emergency meeting - which probably means draconian measures to be announced later.
Apparently the library has been putting out story time online. Etty has been listening!
Long talk with Lucila this evening. Things in Santiago, Chile not good. Her neighbourhood is a hotspot and she is staying at home but expecting her brother to come and live with her - and he's been in contact with the virus.
I started on the study, pulling stuff of shelves, some to go for recycling and some to go up to the loft. I emailed Chris and Sue about cancelling our lunch date in April. Ros rang and we had a catch up. Sue replied by email but Chris rang and we had a good chat. She was talking about her poetry group and I suggested they use Zoom. Chris was keen and we had a telephone tutorial while she installed it and then we 'zoomed' each other and she was delighted. Penny also rang.
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| Oak tree near Salhouse |
After lunch we went on an excellent walk around Salhouse. About 4 miles on good paths and just one stretch of road. The weather was perfect and the people we met (about 5) all respected the 2m distance except one old lady who went rather close to Peter. On one of the tracks we came across an amazing old oak tree with a very contorted trunk.
Back home for tea and fruit cake and the prime minister's daily briefing only to find he was chairing an emergency meeting - which probably means draconian measures to be announced later.
Apparently the library has been putting out story time online. Etty has been listening!
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| Etty |
March 22nd 2020: Coronavirus Day 8
Sitting down to write this the day after, we're finding it difficult to remember what we did. Days are already sliding into each other and there's no distinction between weekday and weekend. I wonder how long we'll keep this blog up with nothing happening.
Our list of trivial pursuits was as follows:
Our list of trivial pursuits was as follows:
- Peter snuck into the office to collect his Chinese visa so that he could photocopy it in order to claim a refund from his Chinese colleagues. He also collected the details of his hotel in Vienna, no longer needed, so that he can cancel the reservation.
- I planted some courgette seeds, planted some helibore plants I'd grown from Gill's seedlings, did a bit of weeding and planted some coriander seeds from Nigel.
- We sat in the sun for a while on the bench in the back garden.
- Peter made Welsh rarebit for lunch and we ate in the garden. Sunny and just warm enough
- I started knitting a jacket for Pearl for next winter
- We read our books and finished the crossword.
- We talked to Eliot and Rupert
- I talked to Caroline and emailed various friends
- Read and sometimes responded to What'sApp groups (Liss,Adler,Watkins/LissFamilyBusiness/Knitandnatter/Pottery
We watched the prime minister's press conference at 5.0pm. People are not keeping their distance from each other out of doors. I think we can expect some very stringent measures soon.
Saturday 21 March 2020
March 21st 2020: Coronavirus Day 7
It's been a week since we started self-isolating or social distancing. We feel OK at the moment. We've kept busy. Today Peter cleaned his walking boots, cleaned the lime scale from a tap nozzle, put up a hook for my apron in the scullery, put up a picture in the TV room and took the garden furniture out of the shed and put the tables up. Together we cleaned the downstairs loo and the TV room. I did a pile of ironing and made phone calls to Kate and Gill and Jo and sent a text to my aunt. I made stracciatella a la Romana for lunch from a recipe in the Guardian Feast section. Chicken broth, parmesan, eggs, lemon rind and polenta. It was very good. I did some gardening - as much as I could manage having pulled a muscle in my back in the morning with over-enthusiastic dusting! In the evening we had Jamaican vegetable curry which turned out well. And I started knitting a jacket for Pearl for next winter. So small accomplishments.
We got WhatsApp messages from Rupert and Laura in Southwold, with pictures of Etty, and had a long conversation with Eliot. We are worried about the children and grandchildren and they are worried about us.
The news tonight laid great emphasis on the need for people to stop hoarding food and to stay at home. It's hard for those with children cooped up in in London, but 'escaping' to the coast and tourist spots is not going to help stop the spread of the virus. We may see compulsion before too long if people don't stop 'going out'. We are supposed to be two or three weeks behind Italy in terms of the virus and today they announced that people must stop exercising out of doors. It's very challenging. These are exceptional times.
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| Etty 'cooking' |
The news tonight laid great emphasis on the need for people to stop hoarding food and to stay at home. It's hard for those with children cooped up in in London, but 'escaping' to the coast and tourist spots is not going to help stop the spread of the virus. We may see compulsion before too long if people don't stop 'going out'. We are supposed to be two or three weeks behind Italy in terms of the virus and today they announced that people must stop exercising out of doors. It's very challenging. These are exceptional times.
Friday 20 March 2020
March 20th 2020: Coronavirus Day 6
There's a change of theme and background for the blog to reflect our more 'at home' life. The seascape background was reminding me too much of Southwold!
Another day of busy doing nothing. The days are getting shorter, not longer! By the time we got down to breakfast it was almost 10.00am. I, of course, had been up since 6.30 reading the news on line, messing about with the appearance of the blog and setting up various Zoom conversations.
I had a trial run of the walking group Zoom meeting with Penny and Gill and it worked really well, apart from the fact that two invitees didn't see their email.
Peter and I went out for a short circular walk through Chapelfield Park and on the way back, Peter went into the bakers for a baguette. The people in the queue were keeping well apart. I got three birthday cards from the frame shop and managed without touching anything suspect.
After lunch I went and sat in Kate's garden for a while and had a cup of tea. Roll on warmer weather! We were both a little chilled by the end, but it's always good to see Kate and to chat.
Peter and I turned out one of the upper cupboards in the kitchen and that concludes the kitchen spring clean! Next the TV room and the downstairs loo. And there's also a large pile of ironing waiting. Mañana!
At 5.00pm we watched the Prime Ministers briefing. Many new measures to give financial support to workers and businesses and the closing of restaurants, bars etc. All good but the Conservatives are recasting themselves as the party of compassion!
Abe and Saul have been busy in the kitchen today. Looks like guacamole Saul! Abe is in PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) but we're assured that's onion related not coronavirus!
Etty is blissfully unaware and enjoying her new balls and Pearl has been out and about as usual.
Another day of busy doing nothing. The days are getting shorter, not longer! By the time we got down to breakfast it was almost 10.00am. I, of course, had been up since 6.30 reading the news on line, messing about with the appearance of the blog and setting up various Zoom conversations.
I had a trial run of the walking group Zoom meeting with Penny and Gill and it worked really well, apart from the fact that two invitees didn't see their email.
Peter and I went out for a short circular walk through Chapelfield Park and on the way back, Peter went into the bakers for a baguette. The people in the queue were keeping well apart. I got three birthday cards from the frame shop and managed without touching anything suspect.
After lunch I went and sat in Kate's garden for a while and had a cup of tea. Roll on warmer weather! We were both a little chilled by the end, but it's always good to see Kate and to chat.
Peter and I turned out one of the upper cupboards in the kitchen and that concludes the kitchen spring clean! Next the TV room and the downstairs loo. And there's also a large pile of ironing waiting. Mañana!
At 5.00pm we watched the Prime Ministers briefing. Many new measures to give financial support to workers and businesses and the closing of restaurants, bars etc. All good but the Conservatives are recasting themselves as the party of compassion!
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| First day off school - busy cooking! |
Abe and Saul have been busy in the kitchen today. Looks like guacamole Saul! Abe is in PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) but we're assured that's onion related not coronavirus!
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| Etty |
Etty is blissfully unaware and enjoying her new balls and Pearl has been out and about as usual.
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| Pearl snacking |
March 19th 2020: Coronavirus day 5
Day 5? Mm. Seems like a lot longer!
After Peter's first conference call of the day we went to Southwold intending to start work in the boys' bedroom by lifting and removing the old carpet. However, once we were there we decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to travel back and forth between Norwich and Southwold and that we would be better off isolating ourselves in Norwich. So, I did a little gardening, we packed the house plants into the car and talked by phone to Nigel who puts out our bins for us. We left what we owed him with the lady in the charity shop next door, had a cup of coffee and drove back to Norwich. The idea is that we won't return to Southwold until the situation changes and we are no longer required to stay put. According to the news today, that's going to be at least three months and probably longer. We're very sad about it and will miss Southwold.
Back at home Peter made delicious Welsh rarebit for lunch and then had his second conference call of the day! We talked to Rupert as he and Laura were driving back from the supermarket where the shelves were empty. They wondered what they were going to cook with three random ingredients! There was a clip on the news tonight of a distraught care worker on her way home who couldn't find any fruit or vegetables to buy. She was in tears, begging people not to hoard food and panic buy. The queues outside supermarkets are ridiculous.
Gill went shopping today to the market and kindly brought us some fish. I met her at the back gate and we swapped. I took the fish and she took a packet of radish seeds I had. She'll plant them in our shared veg plot. I talked to Mary V. via Zoom and we were pleased to have made it work! I talked to Phyl in Italy who's got permission to go out tomorrow to collect a new computer and do some shopping. Lots of WhatsApp messages with family and the knit and natter group and our pottery tutor has also set up a WhatsApp group for her classes. So much communication on my phone that my battery only lasted me half a day!
Peter made spaghetti Bolognese for supper. That's twice today he's cooked! I made the humous and raw veg as a starter. I think that both being at home for lunch every day is resulting in eating too much. This, combined with lack of exercise, could become a problem.
We keep having to remind ourselves what day of the week it is and to check our diaries. There's so little in the diaries that it's easy to forget to look. We seem to be filling the days with odd jobs.
The prime minister Boris gave another press conference this afternoon. Not very convincing at all. He comes across as lukewarm and unlikely to inspire people. We expect that measures will be taken quite soon to make people stay in. Too many people still going to the pub!
Dropping off to sleep I thought "What shall I wear tomorrow?" and then I realised...IT DOESN'T MATTER! No one's going to see me, I can wear the same thing day after day (hygiene permitting!). To every cloud there is a silver lining and we're going to have to keep looking to find them! I do worry though about what I'll look like after no visit to the hairdresser for months!
After Peter's first conference call of the day we went to Southwold intending to start work in the boys' bedroom by lifting and removing the old carpet. However, once we were there we decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to travel back and forth between Norwich and Southwold and that we would be better off isolating ourselves in Norwich. So, I did a little gardening, we packed the house plants into the car and talked by phone to Nigel who puts out our bins for us. We left what we owed him with the lady in the charity shop next door, had a cup of coffee and drove back to Norwich. The idea is that we won't return to Southwold until the situation changes and we are no longer required to stay put. According to the news today, that's going to be at least three months and probably longer. We're very sad about it and will miss Southwold.
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| Sainsbury's |
Gill went shopping today to the market and kindly brought us some fish. I met her at the back gate and we swapped. I took the fish and she took a packet of radish seeds I had. She'll plant them in our shared veg plot. I talked to Mary V. via Zoom and we were pleased to have made it work! I talked to Phyl in Italy who's got permission to go out tomorrow to collect a new computer and do some shopping. Lots of WhatsApp messages with family and the knit and natter group and our pottery tutor has also set up a WhatsApp group for her classes. So much communication on my phone that my battery only lasted me half a day!
Peter made spaghetti Bolognese for supper. That's twice today he's cooked! I made the humous and raw veg as a starter. I think that both being at home for lunch every day is resulting in eating too much. This, combined with lack of exercise, could become a problem.
We keep having to remind ourselves what day of the week it is and to check our diaries. There's so little in the diaries that it's easy to forget to look. We seem to be filling the days with odd jobs.
The prime minister Boris gave another press conference this afternoon. Not very convincing at all. He comes across as lukewarm and unlikely to inspire people. We expect that measures will be taken quite soon to make people stay in. Too many people still going to the pub!
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Wednesday 18 March 2020
March 18th 2020: Coronavirus Day 4
Another late start to the day, but not before I had written to 2 friends in the USA , read the news online and answered many emails. Working from home? I'm working from bed!
Long call from Eliot with his take on solutions to the economic situation. The boys are still at school but that can't last long. Nancy also still teaching, but pupil numbers are low and staff are off sick. She's been taking a long walk to school to avoid the bus.
Rupert and Laura are going to Southwold this weekend. Laura needs to get out of the house! I think we shall all be using Southwold as a bolt hole. We are lucky to have it.
Finished cleaning the kitchen before lunch and Peter is now vacuuming the floor before I wash it. Long time since I did such a thorough job. Our nice cleaner, Agata, is stuck in Poland with no way of getting out. We messaged each other today and we paid her a week's wages with a little extra. We won't be seeing her for a long while.
Kate came round this afternoon. I made her a cup of tea in her own cup and we sat in the garden under the clematis, well wrapped up and 2 metres apart. We chatted for over half an hour before it got a little cold and damp! That's going to be our mode of social interaction for a while.
Peter drove to the chemist this afternoon to collect his prescription and to buy some eggs. Earlier I had contacted our Chester Place What'sApp group to ask if anyone was going shopping. I immediately got an offer of help and then Peter reminded me he was going out anyway. I'm totally confused about what we should be doing. Kate went shopping to the market today. Ros as gone to Pilates and is going to the hairdresser tomorrow. I wish the Government would tell us what to do and take the guess work out of the situation. I'm not as good as Peter at grey areas. I like things in black and white!
This afternoon several members of the Wednesday knit and natter group attempted a Zoom conference call. It took us all a while to get it right so we could all hear and see each other and then we all talked over each other and one person kept moving her ipad and swinging in and out of shot until I felt quite sea sick. Kate and I got the giggles. It was a scream! However, it will work if we can engender some discipline!
We talked to Pearl on WhatsApp today and even got an email from Abe. He was celebrating the fact that school is shutting down from Friday. We don't know yet if Nancy will be needed to teach pupils for whom schools will be staying open - children of key workers.
Long call from Eliot with his take on solutions to the economic situation. The boys are still at school but that can't last long. Nancy also still teaching, but pupil numbers are low and staff are off sick. She's been taking a long walk to school to avoid the bus.
Rupert and Laura are going to Southwold this weekend. Laura needs to get out of the house! I think we shall all be using Southwold as a bolt hole. We are lucky to have it.
Finished cleaning the kitchen before lunch and Peter is now vacuuming the floor before I wash it. Long time since I did such a thorough job. Our nice cleaner, Agata, is stuck in Poland with no way of getting out. We messaged each other today and we paid her a week's wages with a little extra. We won't be seeing her for a long while.
Kate came round this afternoon. I made her a cup of tea in her own cup and we sat in the garden under the clematis, well wrapped up and 2 metres apart. We chatted for over half an hour before it got a little cold and damp! That's going to be our mode of social interaction for a while.
Peter drove to the chemist this afternoon to collect his prescription and to buy some eggs. Earlier I had contacted our Chester Place What'sApp group to ask if anyone was going shopping. I immediately got an offer of help and then Peter reminded me he was going out anyway. I'm totally confused about what we should be doing. Kate went shopping to the market today. Ros as gone to Pilates and is going to the hairdresser tomorrow. I wish the Government would tell us what to do and take the guess work out of the situation. I'm not as good as Peter at grey areas. I like things in black and white!
This afternoon several members of the Wednesday knit and natter group attempted a Zoom conference call. It took us all a while to get it right so we could all hear and see each other and then we all talked over each other and one person kept moving her ipad and swinging in and out of shot until I felt quite sea sick. Kate and I got the giggles. It was a scream! However, it will work if we can engender some discipline!
We talked to Pearl on WhatsApp today and even got an email from Abe. He was celebrating the fact that school is shutting down from Friday. We don't know yet if Nancy will be needed to teach pupils for whom schools will be staying open - children of key workers.
Tuesday 17 March 2020
March 17th 2020: Coronavirus Day 3
Just a point of clarification...it isn't actually day 3 of the pandemic...just day 3 of us biting the bullet and self isolating. Of course, that's been overtaken by national events and now everyone is socially distancing. Some silly man on TV news last night, downing his pint at the pub, said he was still going to go out! I wonder how long it will be before police are on the streets sending people home as they have been doing in Italy?
Here are the headlines today.
Our day started with a bang! Literally! I was lying in bed, slowly coming to the surface when there was an enormous crash from downstairs. Cautiously we crept down, expecting to find a burglar with a broken neck or a tree through the window. No, it was a picture cord that had given up the ghost. It lay face down on the carpet, amazingly with glass intact. We retired back to bed with a restorative cup of tea and wondered..,was that a metaphor?
It's only 8.47 and already I've been exchanging lots of emails with friends in the walking group. We've realised that we can't walk as a group but they are a lovely bunch and so I'm encouraging everyone to get on Skype so that we can meet virtually on our usual walking morning. Am also trying to set up a book club Skype group so we can talk about the book on book club day. Sadly, we won't be able to eat cake together!
Laura is sending us lots of pictures of Etty who has just started on solids! They are making us very happy!
What is not making me happy is that the online grocery sites have crashed! I just managed to get a slot for a Waitrose delivery and was about to start filling my 'trolley' when it disappeared. No doubt when it comes back on the slot with have gone! (It had!)
It's 10.25 am and I still haven't had any breakfast. Too much tapping on the laptop!
It's good to see that Pearl is still getting out to the park. We had a WhatsApp video call with her today and she did some fancy dancing for us!
Our neighbours, both doctors (and now working from home) and younger than most in the street, have started a What'sApp group and offered to help with shopping and essential errands. It's a great idea. With two doctors, a nurse, a health visitor and a virologist on the street we should be OK! We all signed up to the WhatsApp group and I gave the doctors some of the addresses they had missed.
So, my day got off to a slow start but I managed to begin cleaning the kitchen. Two shelves and a dresser have now been cleared, dusted and re-organised. I decided to clear out a couple of cookery books I don't use and some of my less successful pots from the pottery class. I put them in a box and left the box at the bottom of the road with a sign 'Help yourself'. I shall be curious to see if any have been taken.
After lunch we drove to Saxlingham Nethergate, not far outside Norwich and took a walk which lasted 2 hours. It was a beautiful day, warmish and the countryside was empty apart from about 3 dog walkers to whom we gave a wide berth. The planned walk was longer than I thought so we cut back along a lane to rejoin this lovely sandy path before re-entering the churchyard for a sit-down!
Back home we treated ourselves to tea and orange cake and had a surprise Skype call with Abe and Saul.
Had a telephone conversation this evening with Ros with whom I share a cleaner. We decided between us that it wouldn't be right for her to continue to clean for us as the advice is not to let people in to your house. We watched the news tonight. Rather gloomy both at home and abroad and continued to be amazed at the number of people who don't seem to be taking this seriously.
So far have managed to get three of the book club signed up to Skype!
Here are the headlines today.
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| Guardian online 17th March 2020 |
It's only 8.47 and already I've been exchanging lots of emails with friends in the walking group. We've realised that we can't walk as a group but they are a lovely bunch and so I'm encouraging everyone to get on Skype so that we can meet virtually on our usual walking morning. Am also trying to set up a book club Skype group so we can talk about the book on book club day. Sadly, we won't be able to eat cake together!
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| Etty and banana! |
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| Pearl in the park |
Laura is sending us lots of pictures of Etty who has just started on solids! They are making us very happy!
What is not making me happy is that the online grocery sites have crashed! I just managed to get a slot for a Waitrose delivery and was about to start filling my 'trolley' when it disappeared. No doubt when it comes back on the slot with have gone! (It had!)
It's 10.25 am and I still haven't had any breakfast. Too much tapping on the laptop!
It's good to see that Pearl is still getting out to the park. We had a WhatsApp video call with her today and she did some fancy dancing for us!
Our neighbours, both doctors (and now working from home) and younger than most in the street, have started a What'sApp group and offered to help with shopping and essential errands. It's a great idea. With two doctors, a nurse, a health visitor and a virologist on the street we should be OK! We all signed up to the WhatsApp group and I gave the doctors some of the addresses they had missed.
So, my day got off to a slow start but I managed to begin cleaning the kitchen. Two shelves and a dresser have now been cleared, dusted and re-organised. I decided to clear out a couple of cookery books I don't use and some of my less successful pots from the pottery class. I put them in a box and left the box at the bottom of the road with a sign 'Help yourself'. I shall be curious to see if any have been taken.
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| Saxlingham Nethergate |
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| Graveyard |
Back home we treated ourselves to tea and orange cake and had a surprise Skype call with Abe and Saul.
Had a telephone conversation this evening with Ros with whom I share a cleaner. We decided between us that it wouldn't be right for her to continue to clean for us as the advice is not to let people in to your house. We watched the news tonight. Rather gloomy both at home and abroad and continued to be amazed at the number of people who don't seem to be taking this seriously.
So far have managed to get three of the book club signed up to Skype!
March 16th 2020: Coronavirus Day 2
Day two of our social isolation.
We got up late. I wonder if that will become a feature of our closed in life? After the usual chores and admin., we deep cleaned the utility room! It was really satisfying to take everything off the shelves, the surfaces and the floor and give it a good going over! Our very nice cleaner has gone off to visit her family in Poland. Poland has now closed its borders and we're not clear if she will be able to get back to the UK. Our plan is to do one room each day!
Had a long telephone call with a neighbour, Kate, with much discussion about what we should and should not be doing. We decided that when the weather permits we should get together (at a distance) in each other's gardens.
Lunch was a healthy salad with butter beans, red onion, tomato, cucumber, red pepper, lettuce, tuna and garlic with a balsamic dressing.
After much deliberation I decided to accept an invitation to tea with a friend in the next street. We sat a safe distance apart and the virus was a hot topic, but not the only one. We also talked about our shared veg. plot and the seeds to be planted for this year. When I got back I dug out some courgette seeds and will start them off tomorrow.
Quite some time today was taken up with a debate about walking in a group. It was suggested by one of our regular walking group and there was considerable enthusiasm. That is until the news this evening. The prime minister, for once with a straight face and no gags, announced new measures to control the spread of the virus.
"Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. This is known as social distancing."
We got a video clip of granddaughter Etty trying out cucumber today and a sad string of messages from her mum Laura who is not looking forward to life at home with a baby and no clubs, outings etc. We are all going to have to work hard at adjusting. I've started by cancelling my meeting with a friend, Miriam, for coffee and replacing it with a Skype call. Tomorrow I'll try and set up book club on Skype.
Lovely sunny day today. Soon we'll get out the garden chairs and tables so that we can sit in the garden and enjoy the sun and fresh air as much as possible.
Also, made an orange cake!
We got up late. I wonder if that will become a feature of our closed in life? After the usual chores and admin., we deep cleaned the utility room! It was really satisfying to take everything off the shelves, the surfaces and the floor and give it a good going over! Our very nice cleaner has gone off to visit her family in Poland. Poland has now closed its borders and we're not clear if she will be able to get back to the UK. Our plan is to do one room each day!
Had a long telephone call with a neighbour, Kate, with much discussion about what we should and should not be doing. We decided that when the weather permits we should get together (at a distance) in each other's gardens.
Lunch was a healthy salad with butter beans, red onion, tomato, cucumber, red pepper, lettuce, tuna and garlic with a balsamic dressing.
After much deliberation I decided to accept an invitation to tea with a friend in the next street. We sat a safe distance apart and the virus was a hot topic, but not the only one. We also talked about our shared veg. plot and the seeds to be planted for this year. When I got back I dug out some courgette seeds and will start them off tomorrow.
Quite some time today was taken up with a debate about walking in a group. It was suggested by one of our regular walking group and there was considerable enthusiasm. That is until the news this evening. The prime minister, for once with a straight face and no gags, announced new measures to control the spread of the virus.
"Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. This is known as social distancing."
We got a video clip of granddaughter Etty trying out cucumber today and a sad string of messages from her mum Laura who is not looking forward to life at home with a baby and no clubs, outings etc. We are all going to have to work hard at adjusting. I've started by cancelling my meeting with a friend, Miriam, for coffee and replacing it with a Skype call. Tomorrow I'll try and set up book club on Skype.
Lovely sunny day today. Soon we'll get out the garden chairs and tables so that we can sit in the garden and enjoy the sun and fresh air as much as possible.
Also, made an orange cake!
Sunday 15 March 2020
15th March 2020: A new chapter: Coronavirus Day 1
It's been a while since we went to Cadiz and put anything on this blog. Christmas has come and gone and we were looking forward to Spring, holidays and family gatherings when the Coronavirus pandemic made life suddenly rather serious and depressing.
I'm not writing here about the virus as it's in every newspaper, online, on TV and radio worldwide. The news at lunch time was sobering. Over 70s (that's us!!) may be asked to stay at home for 4 months. It's difficult to imagine the impact on the very old and the lonely, or indeed how Peter and I will shape our lives if this happens and over such a long period.
We went to the cinema last Friday and had dinner with our cinema club friends. It may be the last such outing for a while. We were prompted to start thinking about protecting ourselves and so have opted for 'social distancing' - basically keeping away from other people. It started yesterday. So far the virus has affected us in the following ways:
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| BBC news 15.3.20 |
We went to the cinema last Friday and had dinner with our cinema club friends. It may be the last such outing for a while. We were prompted to start thinking about protecting ourselves and so have opted for 'social distancing' - basically keeping away from other people. It started yesterday. So far the virus has affected us in the following ways:
- Peter has had meetings cancelled and his 2 trips to China are off for the foreseeable future. More 'phone calls and conference calls are planned.
- Son no. 1 and partner cancelled their trip away and we are not now going to London to look after our granddaughter Pearl. His business is in jeopardy as so many of this clients are in the restaurant and entertainment industry.
- Our son who's in the advertising industry may find looking for work more difficult.
- Our trip to Nantes for my birthday will be cancelled as the French museums and restaurants are now closed and what's a holiday in France without those?
- My birthday lunch with friends may be cancelled as the restaurant, a new French bistro in Norwich, is tiny and we wouldn't be able to keep our distance sufficiently.
- I've done an online shop and bought a few extras, but have followed the advice and not stockpiled. We are assured that there is enough food if people shop normally. Anyway I have cupboards full of stuff and it will be a good thing to go through them and use them up even if the best before dates are alarming!
- This morning the delivery man put the groceries on the door step, as requested, and stood a good metre away.
- I've already got chapped hands from washing them so frequently - which reminds me!
For the future:
- The family gathering at Easter/Passover may have to be cancelled.
- We may turn down the invitation to supper at a friend's. We haven't really got our heads round not seeing people!
- We're worried about not seeing our youngest grandchild who is only 20 minutes away. Should they come round?
- We'll make more WhatsApp, telephone and Skype calls as it will be important to actually talk to people rather than text (which is a very poor form of interaction in my view and leads to all sorts of misunderstandings!).
- I've ordered more bread flour!
- We may read more
- We'll have time to clear the loft and do some decorating at the Southwold house
- I'll be on top of the gardening
- I may talk to friends every day!
So, today we got up late. Ate homemade bread for breakfast. Took in the online grocery order, did a load of washing. Went for a walk at the university. Talked to a friend who lives round the corner. . Tried to talk to friend in Italy. Rang brother in law. Exchanged chat on WhatsApp with my cousins and second cousins one of whom lives in Hong Kong. Had lunch. Went down to The Plantation Garden (here's a link if you don't know it) to put some money from the sale of guide books at my talk last week into the box for the treasurer. Made chicken soup. Wrote the blog and then did a pile of ironing. Watched the news - twice!
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