Isolation Day 75

Another glorious day, weather-wise, wasn’t it? A clear blue sky, bright sunshine and a balmy breeze. We sat out once again to drink it all in, savouring it, embedding it in our bones, ready for when the weather changes and we have to look back and search for it in our memory banks. For once, Mum didn’t join us. She was happy to stay indoors and watch the four walls. Michael called in just after lunch and we all sat, socially distanced and conscious of the rules, just longing to hold each other in that mother/son, father/son family embrace; to physically link and wordlessly tell each other ‘it’s alright’.

No physical embraces, so instead I plied Michael with practical stuff – a skipping rope, to keep him fit; a couple of plant pots and compost, for potting on their house plants, and a chamois leather to polish the car. All gifts offered with that unspoken love, that says ‘we’re here for you’. What else can we do?

And Michael’s trip, from his house to ours, that says ‘we’re here for you, too’ without William ‘just in case’ and being mindful of the shielding still needed. The trip that tells us they are thinking of us, concerned for us and are willing John to get better.

He is a bit better today, I think, but he’s still working hard to catch his breath – especially when he’s upright and busy. His busyness took him into the realms of reversing the Lotus out of the garage this afternoon, in order to install a bench on which to restore the car doors. This involved clearing and sweeping the garage floor, lifting and shifting the old desk from his former office into one corner and then screwing it all together again. ‘Determination’ is John’s middle name, with ‘Never Give Up’ coming in a close second.

Prepping the garage was Round One – and he clearly hadn’t finished for the day, being willing to step up for Round Two. I was whiny. I couldn’t be bothered to cook just yet. The steak was defrosting for us, the fish fingers were ready and waiting for Mum in the freezer, but I was entranced by ‘Frozen’ on the telly. John said he’d cook. Oh, thank you – just stick a jacket potato in the microwave, I suggested, and a carrot or two in a pan, and griddle the steak and fish fingers. John likes to be creative though, so we had honey-glazed carrots and parsnips as well. Very delicious, but just a bit more work…..and that was Round Two.

After the evening meal, he did have a short rest upstairs in the bedroom, watching some TV, but he soon came down for Round Three. He saw that I was still failing in my duties, not having put the pots to wash, so he set to and got on with all of that, hand washing some of the crockery and pans then stacking the dishwasher with the rest.

Not content with having prepped the evening meal and cleared up after it, the ol’ man was keen to sort out some desserts for himself for the next day or two, as he’s not eating ‘standard’ stuff now. So, onto Round Four and the creation of some little chocolate pots, all made from organic, non-processed and natural ingredients.

There was no Round Five, fortunately. He went to bed exhausted, clearly pacing himself ready for tomorrow.

In contrast and mesmerised by John’s activity, I really have little idea of what I have done all day. Oh, I know…..not a lot.

I got up in readiness to receive the shopping from Malcolm first thing, and obviously thoroughly enjoyed myself doing ‘shopping washing’ for the umpteenth time. I did a bit of business on the computer and then I ‘went’ to the beauty parlour and spa, to colour my hair and bathe in an Epsom salt bath, pretending I was at Ragdale Hall. I also gave myself a bit of a pedicure and dressed in nice, fresh, summer clothes to greet the day.

Outside, I watered the plants, dead-headed a few and potted on the Aloe Vera that Paul and Harriet brought back from Tenerife last year – or was that the year before? I watched trashy TV – including yesterday’s ‘Have I Got News For you?’ which ticked all of the boxes and made me laugh; and I read some of my book. I did help John in the garage this afternoon though, but he said I wasn’t a very good assistant. I don’t think I was following orders very well…… I wonder if he’ll have me again?

So, moving on, I didn’t watch any news today. I really wasn’t in the right frame of mind to hear more tragic stories like the George Floyd death in America, be angered by the mealy-mouthed politicians or shocked by the goings-on everywhere. I stayed in our home bubble and felt grateful for the small mercies, for my dear friends who really are there for us and for the beautiful family I love and miss every day.

Sending love and peace to you all.

And for the record, of course: as of 5 p.m yesterday, there were 2,445 COVID-19 infectees, 178 dead in hospitals, and 215 dead in all settings. 20 deaths in hospitals according to the NHS figures, with 87 having been confirmed for the day before.