No longer leukaemia….but isolation, Day 28

It’s been a funny old day. Not much excitement after the thrill of yesterday’s egg-rolling event – rather an everyday story of village folk today, so here goes.

Just as you get used to wafting outside into the sunshine to take your breakfast on the patio because it’s so warm, you find the wind has changed and you’re scuttling back indoors to keep warm. It was a chilly 7 degrees this morning, so I certainly wasn’t going to be wandering outside in my PJs. Instead, I spent three hours on the phone talking to my very dear friend, George, as he remotely walked me through the intricacies of WordPress, the site on which I publish my blog. Been using the site for a few years now, but being a bit of a technophobe, hadn’t really got to grips with it at all. Grateful beyond words for his help. What a gift friendship is.

Mum wandered into the computer room as we were chatting, puzzled as to what was keeping me away. Within a very short space of time, Mum has started to feel lonely if one or other of us isn’t around. She’d spend hours on her own in her flat, counting the bricks on the wall opposite, or the leaves blowing into her doorway, or just staring into space, but here she’s quickly got very used to our company. Not at all surprising, of course.

After lunch, I pottered in the garden – eesh, it were bitterly cold, so I didn’t stay long. John is still sorting his ‘man shed’ and brought plumbing bits up to the house to tidy and log what he’s got. Then he had to labour to take them back down to the bottom of the garden. His lungs have taken a pounding since the omission of the inhalers a couple of weeks or so ago and he’s developed a horrible cough. Now I’m nagging, ‘Do you think you should call the doctor? Get some tablets?’ Oh, dear! Poor John. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.

This afternoon, I sat down to listen a video clip, that one of my friends had sent me from church, of Nicky Gumbel talking about choosing faith not fear. Unfortunately, within five minutes I had nodded off. I’m not sure how long for, but when I woke up, the others were very gleeful in pointing out that I’d been asleep!! As I say, it’s been a funny old day – I rarely fall asleep during the day, but then, these are odd times, aren’t they?? But the Nicky Gumbel talk was very good when I watched it later.

The ol’ man cooked our evening meal, despite feeling a bit rough – he’s an absolute trooper – but after a nap on the sofa this evening in front of a blazing open fire (aha! who’s falling asleep now, eh?), he took himself off to bed early to try and deal with whatever’s going on in his chest.

And so, now to bed, after a day’s journey highlighted by fabulous friendships and family chats. Other than the delightful chat to George this morning, Louise sent us great video of her new home; Sue D played scrabble with me on-line; my prayer group checked in first thing this morning, and throughout the day, on WhatsApp; and Lizzie Ish, Tim, Linda and Dawn all checked in on email; Graham and Gail sent us lovely e-cards for Easter; Michael WhatsApped with William on video showing giggling fun with tummy tickles; Harriet sent us a pic of Freddie and his new, huge floor jigsaw puzzle; and I spoke to Andrew on the phone. Delightful.

I repeat, it’s been a funny old day. I am warmed by the loving and thoughtful contact of family and friends, but this is juxtaposed by continuing to be appalled by the news of how hard some of our society are having to work, and repeatedly be exposed to the danger of the virus. On the day when we heard that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had recovered sufficiently to be released from hospital, others have not been so lucky. 717 deaths, thus taking the total deaths to over 11,000 people; and 4,342 people are reported as infected as of 12 April 2020, taking the total so far to 88,621. The numbers are numbing. But I am aiming for faith, not fear, just now.

2 thoughts on “No longer leukaemia….but isolation, Day 28”

  1. I am really not a “bot”.
    If you get this, you and George have fixed it. Well at least for now!
    It’s been good to hear all the news. Sorry to hear John’s in trouble without his inhaler. I thought he was doing well sorting out “big-stuff”. Well, let’s see if this works.
    RiCH xxx

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