Isolation Day 87

I lay in bed this morning, enjoying my book, and then when it got too much, I checked on my emails and social media. Malcolm had sent us a YouTube clip of where ‘the bunny-wunnies’ came from, and I was just watching it when the doorbell rang. It was Malcolm himself bringing some muffler for John’s roof on the Lotus. “Still in bed?” he laughed. It was 10 o’clock. “Yes – as a matter of fact I was just watching the clip about the ‘bunny-wunnies’…..” I said sheepishly. He always catches us in bed. It turns out that we are no longer early risers.

Mum is certainly not an early riser any more and it was after lunch before she finally got up today. And that was after I’d been in a few times and each time she promised she was getting out of bed. The last time I went in, I felt a bit cross. I had told her that I needed to go out to pick up a prescription for John, and would she please get up so that I could be sure she was safe and sound downstairs? I didn’t want John having to be responsible for her if she fell on the stairs or tripped over the cat or something. Yes, yes, she was getting up. I went downstairs and got all ready to go, then went back up to see whether she was ready to be escorted down. Oh, Lord, she’d only gone back to bed again!!!

John has been coughing a fair bit over the last week or so, and we had the results back from the tests they did. He’s growing three lovely bugs in his chest, so a specific antibiotic was prescribed. Collection point: Heartlands. Oh, well, it gave me a run out in the car. And I was in and out in no time at all – so much so that I didn’t even have to pay for parking. Blimey, that’s a first.

Back home, we wafted about a bit, feeling at a bit of a loose end, before I suggested another go at watching The A Word. Good idea. That’ll get us out of having to do any jobs. Mum was amenable too, even though she was in the middle of Tenable – as untenable a game show that I ever saw, to be honest, but Mum likes it. We settled down and had watched about half of it before the phone rang. It was Michael, William and Danielle. They were a bit loose end-ish too. “Do you want to come over? Sit in the garden?” Yes, they did. “But what’s the weather like at yours?” Michael asked. Well, the thermometer showed 16 degrees. Should be fine.

Brrrr…….. we hadn’t accounted for the wind chill factor, of course. But it didn’t stop us sitting out there wrapped up in blankets for over an hour and half. We were warmed up by the love and laughter – particularly the laughter. Michael carrying William on his shoulders and running around the garden; William loving every minute of the precarious ride and laughing his head off. We, in turn, were laughing at their sense of delight and those deep belly chuckles from William. Oh, so, so good.

The garden needed watering, so William obliged. “Please will you fill my watering can up again, Daddy?” Again and again. In the end, we had to find a larger watering can to accommodate William’s industrious efforts. He did a grand job.

Our house is in the centre of the village. Near the shops. Near the chip shop to be precise. Sitting in the garden, when the wind is in the right direction, you can detect that lovely fish and chip smell which sets your taste buds going. Danielle is a sucker for chips. “Oooh, can you smell chips?” she said, her big, round eyes growing rounder with excitement. “Do you want chips?” Michael wondered. “Hmmm, well, I did have a McDonalds earlier in the week, so I shouldn’t really.” Later on, after they had left, they sent a photo of the three of them in the car, eating their fish and chips, looking as pleased as punch. Well, Danielle is eight months pregnant, so if you can’t indulge your wife at that stage in life, when can you?? Looked lush.

After our evening meal, it was the eagerly anticipated ‘Zoom’ time with the college girls. Historically, our contact has been intermittent in many ways – meeting up once (sometimes twice) a year to go to Ragdale Hall; then the annual trip to Sue P’s for a long weekend away; the occasional holiday together or trip down to Linda’s; cinema trips, the theatre or art galleries; shopping sprees and lunches out. Nothing fixed. But now, seemingly, I need my weekly ‘fix’ chatting to them all. It is so peaceful. We don’t all agree, all of the time. We often have things we’re worried about. But the conversation is like a soothing hand on my brow.

Something soothing is just what you need when you’re het up about the state of the country one way or another, and so I find I can look at the virus figures with less of a jaundiced eye today. 13 deaths in hospitals yesterday according to the NHS, with the previous day’s total finally confirmed at 42. Also yesterday, there were 151 deaths in all settings, and 1,266 people infected according to the government.

It’s still going. Maybe slowing. Still on my prayer list. Love conquers all, so let’s do that – just show love.

Oh…..the ‘bunny-wunnies’? It’s from a John Smith’s advert many moons ago. Want to watch? Fast forward to 3:48 to see the bunny-wunnies bit.