After the excitement yesterday of the arrival of young Thomas Michael, weighing in at 8lbs 5ozs, we have both felt a bit flat today. Our normal reaction to such an event would be to visit and, of course, we’re not yet able to do that just yet. If the weather holds, we will go for a ‘garden visit’ as soon as everyone is up to it. Can’t wait for that.
Not only have we felt flat, but we have felt exceedingly hot and a bit bothered. It’s been far too hot, at 31 degrees, to even think about working in the garden. Except I did a little bit. Some weeks ago, we ordered plants from Gardening Express. They didn’t arrive and they didn’t arrive, so we cancelled them – only to be told they were on their way and, sure enough, they arrived yesterday. But, oh, dear, what sad little specimens they are. I have planted and watered them though, out of sympathy. They might survive – we’ll see.
After I’d rescued the plants, I thought I’d scuttle indoors out of heat of the sun but even in the house it was a bit oppressive and the idea of re-upholstering another chair definitely didn’t appeal today. Instead, I thought I’d spend the day reading my book. After all, I was ‘zoooming’ this evening with the other book club members to talk about it, so it would be helpful to have read it.
Well, that plan didn’t work. I settled myself in a deckchair under two parasols to keep the sun off and started to read. Phew! It was hot. I got up for a glass of water. Settled myself back in the chair. Read a few pages, but the sun had moved a bit, so had re-arrange the parasols. Settled again, read a few more pages but found the reflections on the Samsung tablet were confusing the issue and I couldn’t concentrate. I retreated indoors again. Only to find that the reason I couldn’t concentrate was because I was tired. Found myself nodding off, didn’t I?
John, too, nodded off this afternoon alongside me. And I think Mum was probably asleep as well. It’s the heat, you see……..
However, despite the heat, John got his tools out and tackled the cupboard above the fridge/freezer. Because we had got ourselves a new fridge/freezer, we’d had to dismantle the original cupboard to accommodate its size. A new cupboard has been languishing for a little while now, but we thought we’d sort it out when we decorated the kitchen. So John has been looking at it, planning it and fiddling with it in fits and starts for a few months now. Today, it was hinges. The cupboard now has hinges. The door is made – just needs to be fitted together now. He has made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Honestly, he’s brilliant.
We had a ridiculous evening meal today. If only I were better at planning, we’d be alright…… I don’t recall why, but John thought he might like some braised steak at some point, so I got some with the shopping at the weekend. Instead of popping it in the freezer for serving on a miserable day, I left it in the fridge. Oh dear, the ‘eat by’ date appeared and, in the absence of anything else easily available, I thought I’d prep it. So we had a hot stew this evening. We are crazy. It’s the heat, y’know…..
After we’d eaten, I told Mum that I was ‘going to Book Club’ and then chat to the college crew on Zoom. She pulled a face. I knew what that meant. I said brightly, “Let’s have a look and see what’s on TV, shall we?” That was clearly the wrong thing to have said. “That’s all I’m good for now, isn’t it?” she retorted. “Just watching TV.” For a minute, I didn’t know what to say. All attempts at entertaining are short-lived, so I thought it was a bit unfair. However, I remembered that we’d got the colouring book Carol had sent, and Mum hadn’t had a go at that yet. So I suggested it. “Well, I can……” I knew what she was going to say: ‘I can but not at the moment’, which is her stock phrase. Before she had chance to qualify it, I whipped the book and crayons out and switched the TV off. She sat down, unsure whether she wanted to join in this game or not. But she did, and she made a good start on one of the pictures and she was very pleased with herself.
Book club was great. The people who are in it are thoughtful and insightful and it’s a pleasure to share the experience of reading a book with them. I had to admit to not having finished the book, of course, for the second time in a row, but I had read enough to be able to join in.
By the time it was the college crew hello, I was feeling very tired. It was all bitty, too, as one of our number planned to join in later, another was out drinking with friends so not joining in, and another two had been drinking with friends so were late to the party, and one of those found she couldn’t connect the audio, so she couldn’t hear us and we couldn’t hear her. In the end, we abandoned our lovely chat early, with the cry, ‘same time next week?’
Now it’s cooler, I might get to bed and back to my book……
By five o’clock yesterday, the counting of those who’ve died or have been infected with COVID-19 were 149 in all settings, and 1,118 respectively, according to the government report today. In hospitals it was 6 deaths, with 29 confirmed for the day before.
Given the scenes on the beaches today I am supposing we’ll see a rise in figures shortly. Professor Chris Witty says, ‘COVID-19 has gone down due to the efforts of everyone but is still in general circulation. If we don’t follow social distancing guidance then cases will rise again.’
Stay safe everyone and keep your distance. Two metres – not one, but two…..