Month: July 2020

It’s early. 5.45 a.m. I watch the life stirring in the garden as the sun tries to ease itself through the clouds. I gaze out of the window for a good while and then consider what to do. Get dressed and go for an early stroll? Or sit in bed and read my book? Or snooze on? In the end, I decided against the walk. I picked up the book I was reading but my eyes turn heavy and it isn’t long before I fall back to sleep, dreaming delicious dreams that whisper away as I wake up, five hours later.

The front doorbell is jangling in amongst my dreams, and I spring up out of bed and leg it downstairs, pulling on my jeans as I go, to find Hobbo outside. “John phoned me yesterday. He’s got a few plumbing bits for me.” Ah, OK. John is also still a-snoozing in bed. I’ll go and see.

John hoofed it downstairs, and I hoofed it back. In the short time since awakening, I decided I’d get back to my book. I was surprised at myself really because, for the whole of lock down, I have been struggling with one of my first loves, that of reading. However, I joined a small book club, and this book, ‘The Girl with the Louding Voice’, was the next one to read. My friend, Penny, said she couldn’t put it down once she’d started it. Same. Spent all day reading it, in fact.

I was so engrossed in the book that sustenance was forgotten until John brought me a feast to breakfast on in bed, about twelve noon. I read on and finally unrolled myself from my bed about two o’clock in the afternoon. Bliss.

“What are you doing today?” John asked. I thought I might start cleaning the walls in the ‘office/gym/snug’ but on the second thoughts, perhaps I’ll do nothing but read my book, I told him. He, on the other hand was busy in the garage with his beloved Lotus, gluing more carpet into the boot. Although, in the end, he thought he hadn’t actually done a great deal today and has felt a bit ‘loose end-ish’.

I think Mum has been ‘loose end-ish’ too, today. Of course, getting up late myself I thought nothing about food for her. Surely, on rising, she’d had her breakfast, and by two o’clock, some lunch? About half past three, she started to say she was hungry. I suggested she go and find herself some cake. You’d have thought I was suggesting some torture. “Ohhhhh……well, I suppose so.” she said. “But I’ll have to have something to eat.” And, martyr-like, she tottered into the kitchen. As she ate her cake, I asked her what she’d had for her breakfast – nothing. And lunch? Nothing. Oh. Then I queried it. “Why didn’t you have any breakfast, Mum?” She just shrugged. She didn’t know, and she couldn’t tell me.

I sat reading my book in the lounge this afternoon whilst John was a-tinkering. I put on a bit of Wimbledon for Mum to watch and as background listening for me, but as it was last year’s men’s final, it was fresh in my memory and Mum wasn’t too fussed either. “Would you like Tipping Point, Mum?” She looked at me pityingly, “Well, yes, anything will be better than this.” she said. But, an hour later and the beginnings of The Chase, she said she was fed up of ‘this rubbish’ and wasn’t there anything else to watch? I put TV Gold on which was showing ‘Only Fools and Horses’. She liked it and she was laughing. What she didn’t like was that I wasn’t watching it and laughing. “You should be watching this,” she said, “it’s funny.” I told her I didn’t want to, as I was reading my book. She gave me a hard stare. That was enough to drive me from the room. I mean, I do like to do what I like in my own house…….

Conscious that Mum hadn’t eaten well today, I made a good evening meal for everyone and made sure she had plenty. She polished the lot off, so I know she’s not starving. After our evening meal, Mum went back to ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and John and I had a very merry evening on Zoom with George and Sue.

We had a good old natter and put the world to rights in every direction. We chinked our glasses of wine virtually and threw hugs and blew kisses at the end of the evening, everyone agreeing it had been a lovely time, but virtual reality is not the same a real reality. We planned to see each other in the flesh, in our garden, in the near future. Yes, please.

Corona Virus was one topic of conversation, of course, and what are we doing about relaxing our own rules to going out? I am still in the ‘anxious’ category and John is still in the ‘let’s take a risk’ category. However, as the numbers continue to ease a little, maybe our two minds might meet somewhere along the line soon.

The latest on COVID-19 is relatively reassuring as today at 9 a.m., the government tells us that 48 people died in all settings, and 512 people were confirmed as infected, and these are steady figures. The NHS tells us that there were 6 people who died in hospitals yesterday and 8 were confirmed for the day before.

We are never going to get to zero. That is not our government’s strategy by all accounts, but if we can keep lowering the numbers of infectees and those who die, then I will feel happier about the risks of being out and about.

Handwashing and keeping our distance are still the secrets to keeping this virus at bay. Let’s keep at it, folks. And may peace be with you all.

Deliveries! We have had a few of those today, and don’t you just love ’em? And we never know when a delivery driver is going to call, as it can be any time of the day these days, can’t it? Nor are we ever quite sure what we’ve ordered until it comes, but that’s the thrill of it. Ah, yes….. lock down syndrome has addled our brains. We excitedly order an item and then two minutes later forget all about it, only to remember it once we’ve opened the mystery parcel or recognise the box.

This morning a large-ish parcel arrived. What was it? I wondered. Ah-ha! said John, I think that will be one of the sides we’ve ordered for the gazebo. He clearly has a better memory than me. I opened it. Yes, it is, I said. It’s a side with a door in, the same as the one that arrived yesterday. No, no, protested John. The one that came yesterday has a window in it, hasn’t it? Ermmm….. I don’t think so. Nope, it’s exactly the same as the other one. Oh, OK we’ve got two now then. No actual gazebo yet, but two sides with doors. Lovely.

This afternoon, the doorbell rang and another delivery driver with a large-ish parcel stood on the doorstep, with his little tablet, taking a photo of it there, safely delivered. Now, I knew what that was, because it had the word KitchenAid emblazoned across the box. We had sent Andrew’s poorly mixer away to be repaired and here it was, back again. Another lovely.

Just before our evening meal, another delivery. I hadn’t a clue as to what it was, but John was busy chatting to the delivery chap as if they were old friends. Then I recognised the box. All the way from Liverpool, John’s eye serum had been delivered by courier, and the couriers are such nice, friendly people that we always stop and have a chat to them. Mystery solved.

I think that was it for today. But it breaks the day up and it seems to feel a bit like Christmas when we have delivery days. However, on the day when the retail sector has announced job losses and closure of some John Lewis’ and Boots’ shops, I feel guilty that we no longer do all our shopping on the high street. Retail sector representatives talk about everyone changing their shopping habits as a result of the lock down and it’s a bit of a shocker really. I suspect there will be more to come, and I regret that we are contributors to those job losses, but just now, there is little alternative.

In between deliveries we had a ‘faffing about’ day. And, surprise, surprise, Mum came downstairs, dressed and raring to go just after ten-thirty, even before the ol’ man was up!! “You beat me to it.” he said, gob-smacked, as he came into the kitchen to find her there already.

John fitted a couple of pieces of carpet into the side panels of the boot in the Lotus this afternoon, and it looks like he’s done a great job so far. It’s gone in nicely. He also cooked both lunch and the evening meal today, which was a bonus as far as I am concerned. In fact, he’s been on a roll with cooking and baking, having made some paleo ‘sandwich rolls’ the day before yesterday, and which are absolutely yummy.

He makes me laugh though. I was weary of cooking and did that *sigh* …… I suppose I’d better get food…… *sigh* thing that you do when you really don’t want to do something. He was kind. No worries, I’ll cook, he said. What shall we have? I’d got pork chops out of the freezer but hadn’t decided what to do with them. He looked up a recipe from tinternet. Irish coddled pork with cider. Sounds nice. Got any cider? Yes. Phew. Cabbage? No. Bacon? Yes. Swede? No. He did it anyway, with replacement veg for the stuff we hadn’t got – and it was very, very tasty. Even Mum enjoyed it. He’s just invented ‘Sleath Towers coddled pork with cider’, I think.

My day started beautifully. A little video from William, eating his breakfast, “Good morning, Grandma.” I sent one back, saying good morning, William, and ‘have a nice day’ to which he sent me another one telling me to have a nice day too. Heart full, I walked on cloud nine for a good few hours after that.

I managed to finish the ironing today, as well as having a little potter in the garden sorting out the poor roses that had been bashed to bits in the rain, in between the showers. I also finally cleared everything I wanted to clear from the utility room so that I can put my mind to preparing the walls in the ‘office-cum-gym-cum-snug’. Update on the room’s name: John isn’t keen on naming it a ‘snug’, so back to the drawing board.

This evening was a delight, spending time on Zoom with the college crew. It was soft and gentle and just good. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers for dear Susie P though, as she attends the funeral of one of her best friends tomorrow. Not COVID related, but shocking nonetheless as it was a brief and unexpected illness.

COVID related deaths, however, were reported today with 85 people having succumbed by nine o’clock this morning, in all settings. 642 people were confirmed as having been infected too. The NHS figures don’t seem to tally with previous information, but for the record, today’s report shows four people having died in hospitals by four o’clock yesterday, and 8 having been confirmed for the day before.

Let us savour every moment we have, folks. Life is precious. Take care and God bless you all.

I woke up early. Then listened. Was it raining? No, it didn’t sound like it. I lay for a while and then peeked out under the bedroom blind to confirm the state of the weather. It was overcast but dry. I decided to go for a stroll before the dog-walkers were about.

I didn’t see anyone, but I did see a bus coming towards me. I slowed to avoid a repeat of yesterday whereby I am walking on the pavement, the bus is travelling on the road, the bus ploughs through a deep, dastardly puddle and I, not suspecting a thing, get soaked. Ha! Missed me today!!

The walk did me good and I felt refreshed, ready for the day. Not that I’d got plans as such, but the house tidy-up is now required after a few days of ignoring the bits and bobs laying about. Especially with John labouring away at the ‘office-cum-gym’, I feel an imperative to complement his work. So, today it was a clear-out of the utility room which was still strewn with tools, paintbrushes, plant pots and spare drugs that had yet to be installed in their rightful box.

All tidied and mostly cleaned – apart from the floor – it’ll be the shower room next and then onto the painting of the newly floored room, I hope. The more I think about the room, the less I like the new name, ‘the gym’. Admittedly, it does have the cross-trainer in it, but I’m leaning more towards a little ‘snug’. I’ll let that sit with us for a while and see what we think.

We had a generally relaxed sort of day. Snoozing on and off in between chores and jobs, picking up TV viewing for a little while – there was the 1993 Women’s Final from Wimbledon and a Test Match to look forward to. Well, Wimbledon, at least, wasn’t rained off……

John pottered in the garage with his Lotus for a bit, tinkering with the final pieces of sound-deadening in the boot area and tidying it up, before he had a lie-down in bed to inspect the back of his eyelids. I prepped the evening meal, popped it in the oven, before sitting in the lounge and inspecting the back of my eyelids. Not sure if Mum did her own eyelid inspection this afternoon, but I doubt it, as she didn’t get up until one o’clock.

I was relieved though today, not to hear those oft-said words, “Anne, are you asleep?” just as I’m dropping off. I thought maybe she hadn’t noticed my somnolence, but as soon as I woke up it was, “You’ve been asleep, haven’t you?” And is it just me, but is there an accusation in there somewhere? Surely not.

Just before our evening meal, the doorbell rang, and it was one of the managers from Mum’s sheltered accommodation delivering a handful of her post. I persuaded Mum to come to the front door. “It’s Mandy, come to say hello.” I said. Mum shook her head – she had absolutely no idea who I was talking about but, dutifully, she did haul herself from her chair and away from watching ‘The Chase’ to see who it was. “Hello, Mandy,” she said, as she neared the door – clearly, she did recognise her after all.

After we’d eaten this evening, it was quiz time. John was Quiz Master for our Centre Stage friends and we had a cracking evening. The questions were hard, but enjoyable, and there was no dispute over the answers until just before the end. Ah-ha! said Nigel. I know the answer to this one. I know because I compiled a quiz on the exact same question. We demurred a bit and suggested an alternative answer. No. Absolutely 100% sure it’s Greece. We acquiesced. The answer came. It wasn’t Greece. It wasn’t our other proposed answer either. We all laughed. Nigel was still sure it was Greece.

We spent the next fifteen minutes giggling our heads off, cheeks aching, sides splitting, as Nigel justified his answer and why John’s answer wasn’t right. Maps were consulted, Google was brought into play, more maps pored over, degrees latitude were considered, and no matter how it was presented, Nigel was adamant. Oh, but it was just soooo funny. And Nigel is such a great sport. He took all our laughter on the chin and joined in himself. “I’m a bit competitive.” he said sheepishly, as we drew the quiz to a close. We don’t mind – in fact, we quite like it.

So, what’s new in the COVID-19 picture? Very little. It’s still there, people are still catching the darned virus, and still dying from it. The government report that 126 people died in all settings up until five o’clock yesterday. The report also tells us that 630 people were confirmed as infected. Deaths in hospitals, according to the NHS report, were 4 people yesterday and 11 confirmed for the day before.

Better news, though, is that the government have some plans to support people in getting back on their feet. The proof will be in the pudding as the packages announced today roll out, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will ease a bit for all those suffering the most – although there is bound to be the devil in the detail……..

Take care. God bless.

It’s July for goodness’ sake!! The seventh month of the year already, when we’d normally being thinking of us ‘olidays and relaxing on the patio with a little alcoholic drinky-poo at sundown. But it’s tipping it down with rain; the temperature is cool and, when I walked to Kaye’s for a socially-distanced meet-up under her gazebo this afternoon, I matched my steps to the ‘hot chocolate, drinking chocolate’ advert of 1964, and drank just that, wrapped in a warm woolly and my waterproof mac. A bit of a contrast to yesterday, eh what?

I really do need to get a grip though now. The once-sparkly life we used to lead is long gone and, despite the few occasions when I am uplifted by family visits, we are definitely in the doldrums. Others are beginning to be out and about visiting the hairdressers, the dentist or the pub, and ‘bubbling’ with loved ones, hugging and kissing. Not that I am jealous, you understand. I am delighted for all those who can (seriously), but wondering whenever we will be released from the straitjacket we’re in. And it’s leaving me a bit purposeless. John keeps saying “Smile?” but it’s a bit of an effort.

I mean, it’s been quite a good day today, one way or another, so I can’t really complain, but find that I’d like to, thank you very much. How ungrateful is that? We are warm and dry; we have delicious food and the means to cook it; we have ample clothes to wear (even if I do need a new pair of jeans); we have entertainment in pretty much every form, including the means to exercise; we have the most wonderful space for flowers and plants, with trees for shade and garden games to play if we want them. We have everything we need – so I can’t really complain…… but I’d like to, please!!!

Anyhoo…. as you were, and as I say, it’s been a good day. We have all been well and generally pottering about doing our own little bits and pieces. John has been beavering away sorting out the ‘office-cum-gym’ and it’s now ready for a jolly good clean up and a lick of paint. I am undecided exactly what colour to put in there but may end up just using the leftovers from the business to start with – white or magnolia – and install a feature wall.

I am equally undecided as to how we will dress the room. There are two or three ‘givens’. One is the cross-trainer, which is already in situ, as are an IKEA bookcase and some shelving. But do we put a bed in there so that we can use it as a spare room at Christmas? More to the point, will we ever have anyone to stay over ever again at Christmas? Or do we put a futon in there and a telly so that it can be a ‘bolt-hole’? Decisions, decisions. Answers on the back of a postage stamp please….

I had the thrill of a spot of ironing and then the anticipation of putting it all away – lucky me – before I trotted round to Kaye’s. The original arrangement, to meet on ‘the green’, was made last week but, for a variety of reasons, only three of us could make it. Of course, I was in the doubtful category. Should I go? Was it safe? My friends assured me it would be safe. Take your own chair and your own drink and sit two metres apart. It’ll be fine.

Well, as before, when we went to Sandra’s, it was raining. Ah-ha! A get-out clause, I thought. But no, they are a determined bunch. Instead of meeting on the green, we met under the shelter of Kaye’s gazebo in her back garden. The mantra was repeated; bring your own chair, bring your own drink, sit two metres apart – it’ll be fine. It was fine, of course, and I had a lovely time.

Mum also had the excitement of putting away her clothes. I had left them in a pile next to her on the settee, where they sat for a while before I broke the news to her that she was going to take them upstairs herself. She shrugged, helplessly, and said she couldn’t possibly as there was such a big pile. I had an answer for that. Take them up bit by bit. She looked crestfallen. She could tell I was serious. Not long afterwards she picked up half a dozen handkerchiefs and took them up to her room. I smiled to myself. She was definitely going to take her ironing up, but it may take a while…..

While Mum was making her way up the stairs, John and I had an exciting half hour. The other day, we decided we’d buy a gazebo. “Shall we have a look and see what there is?” John suggested. “Ooh, yes, let’s” I replied, and we settled down in front of the computer to select an appropriate one. This is what our lives have come to, folks, and that’s as exciting as it gets.

Not only that, a gazebo purchase is a bit more difficult than you think. We wanted a sun defender, as well as also a waterproof gazebo, given that we may be sat out in the garden for some time to come. Most, don’t you know, say they are water-resistant. That’s not quite what we’re after. And then, you see one you quite like – only to find its five hundred quid or something. Anyway, we did find one, but we had the devil of a job to order it. Amazon kept taking us round and round a loop telling us that the choice of delivery wasn’t an option and getting stuck there before the payment window. We ordered it from somewhere else in the end. Wonder how long it’ll take before it arrives?

After we’d eaten, we took delivery of another Ocado ‘specialist’ shop, so I whiled away half an hour on ‘shopping washing’, while John did ‘pot washing’, and Mum did ‘place mat washing’ before we all sat down to enjoy a bit of TV. And thus passed another day. Tick, tock.

So, what do you think to today’s figures on COVID-19? The weekend catch-up? 155 people have died in an all settings according to the government as at nine o’clock this morning; and 581 people are confirmed as infected. The NHS report 7 deaths in hospitals as at four o’clock yesterday, and 9 were confirmed for the day before.

God bless you and yours, everyone. Take care.

Did alright, didn’t he? The ol’ man doing yesterday’s blog? Who’da thought it, eh?? Marvellous.

So, after a good night’s sleep, I woke up quite a bit more cheerful today, and shook off yesterday’s melancholia. None of us got up especially early – well, you might know Mum wouldn’t – even though we were all awake with the lark. I was particularly brightened by the thought of the Sutton Sleaths calling in. An early morning text to let me know that a picnic in the back garden was on, if that was OK and we hadn’t got any plans? Had to laugh. Plans?? None whatsoever – the only plans we have, generally speaking, are hospital trips and there were none of those today.

The weather had looked good early this morning, but by mid-morning the wind was up, and it was a bit cooler than I’d hoped. Let’s get the chiminea ready, I thought. At least we can huddle round the warmth of the flames if necessary. In the end, although the heat of the fire was very welcome, by the time the family arrived, the wind had slowed, and it was quite mild.

The car drew up on the drive and we excitedly went outside to greet them. William was asleep. Thomas was asleep. Well, thank goodness for small mercies – snoozing children on the ride over is always a bonus. We opened the back gate in readiness and invited them round into the garden. I shot upstairs to tell Mum they were here and get her up, but to my surprise, she was actually dressed and already grinning because she’d seen them arrive from out of her window.

Picnic blanket spread out on the lawn; picnic hamper opened and contents disgorged; sleeping baby; and one very happy William tucking into egg or cheese ‘n pickle sandwiches followed by fresh fruit and a brownie. Bliss. Even Grandma Hazel got in on the act once she’d had her breakfast, eagerly stepping out of the patio doors to see the new baby.

We had no idea how long the Sutton Sleaths would stay. I think they thought maybe a couple of hours; see how Thomas behaved, see how William was, see what the weather was like, and so on. We had no agenda. We had nowhere to go and nothing particular to do. The weather warmed up and the wind abated. Thomas fed and slept. And slept. William was as happy as a sand-boy rediscovering the garden – feeding the fish, playing on the swing and digging in the sandpit.

Despite the weather improving, Grandma Hazel went back indoors as she was getting chilly. She was disappointed though, not to be joining in. I moved the wing-backed chair into the patio door recess, so that she could watch in the warm. We all noted it was even more like Bates’ Motel, as she stayed there all afternoon, but she thoroughly enjoyed watching the to-ings and fro-ings of the family, smiling and waving at us all intermittently.

The sun came out and Michael and Danielle stretched out. One on the picnic blanket, one in the lounging chair. John chatted to them and I plucked at a few weeds and William joined in. We put the weeds into the ‘YumYum Bin’ (aka the green wheelie bin) which gobbled them up with its big mouth, ready to rot them down to make new soil. I know this because William told me so each time that we made the trip there and back.

We exhausted one flower bed and moved onto the next. We found little stones and started to collect those. William trotted back and forth with a handful of stones to place in the gravel bed at the top of the garden. Wagging his finger at me, he said, “You stay there Grandma, and you do some more weeding.” I stayed where I was told. Trotting back to me, he called out to John, each and every time, “Hers waiting for me!” and I would reply as, his eyes shining, he arrived back at his station near to me, “Yes, I’m here, waiting for you.” Then he’d say, “You’re my friend.” And I’d reply, “You’re my friend, too.” And thus, we spent a very happy hour, or even two, just searching flowerbeds for weeds and stones, marvelling at the different shapes and sizes of the stones; and discovering white, floaty, chick feathers which William placed safe in a bowl, and then in a teapot(!).

Meanwhile, Michael and Danielle rested. John rested. Thomas was asleep. William was playing with me. It was a lovely afternoon and my tears of yesterday, broken-hearted at not seeing Freddie so often and missing the Kenilworth Sleaths so acutely, was put into perspective. The time will come when I can companionably play with Freddie again, I am sure. He’ll have moved on from stones and feathers and weeds, but I shall look forward to whatever it is and wherever it is that his imagination takes him, and I’ll follow.

Finally, it was six o’clock. William was feeling hungry. Each of us feeling reluctant but we thought it must be time to go. We offered to make egg and chips, but it really was time to go. Chips in the making in Sutton, so no worries. A ‘Red Cross Food Parcel’, including a belated Easter Egg, was thrust upon them as they got into the car and then, with a smile and a wave, they were on the way.

Such an unexpected treat today. We had no idea when the day started that we would be enjoying ourselves so much. Felt like we were on holiday. And we felt very, very blessed to have been close to all three sons, as well as their wives and the grandchildren in the last few days. Lucky, lucky us to know love like this.

Meanwhile, people have still been infected with COVID-19 and died from it. The government reports 16 deaths in all settings up until five o’clock yesterday, and 352 people confirmed as infected. The NHS reports 3 deaths in hospitals for the same time period, and 10 deaths confirmed for the day before. My thoughts are with the families of all those people.

Love is all. Stay safe everyone. Keep on keeping on with all the precautions, lest the lurgy strike unexpectedly.

It must have been in 1961, just after Christmas, when the vicar came to call. We had been playing with my new WHOOPEE cushion, which were all the rage at the time. As kids do, we were hiding it under various cushions on assorted chairs, and waiting till some poor unsuspecting person, i.e. a parent, sat on it. Well, we had never had a visit from the vicar before. Come to think of it, we had never had a visit from ANY Vicar before. However, this one, Anthony Rowland Smith, (honestly) was trying to get all his parishioners to sign up to regular “giving” for St Christopher’s Church. I had answered the door and, in a state of some shock, had directed him to the “front” room. As I went to call my Mum, I heard a distinct PHUUUT. Now, those of you familiar with whoopee cushions will know that they have two different responses to being sat on. The preferred option is when a light person sits down on it and you get a long satisfying raspberry sound (for want of a better word). However, when the cushion is subject to sudden heavy weight, the air is expelled very quickly, and produces the aforementioned PHUUT. Anthony Rowland Smith was a large man. As my mother went in to talk to him, I decided to remain in the kitchen, and tried to explain the situation to my father.

When I say today has been rather a PHUUT of a day, I hope you will understand what I mean. Those of you who are connoisseurs of English prose, may also have noticed a totally different style of writing. This is because the writing of today’s blog, has been taken over by your usual scribe’s spouse, your usual scribe having succumbed to a PHUUT of a day.

So, today has been a strange day, which actually began last night. Although every day is the same, somehow, Sundays still manage to feel different. After Anne had posted her Blog last night, she came to bed about 1 a.m. I had been having a restless sleep, and shortly after getting into bed, Anne asked, “Do you think taking a couple of paracetamol might help??” This is code for “either lie still or go to the spare room”.

The spare room was cooler than the master bedroom, and very dark, thanks to blackout blinds. I woke sometime in the morning, expecting to hear Anne singing along with her church service. As there was no clock in the spare room, nor any light, I assumed it was not yet 9 a.m. I eventually got up, and discovered it was 10:30 and Anne was not “going to church”. She was going to join the group for “morning coffee” at 11.

About 10 past 11 Anne came into the kitchen having left the coffee morning. “Just not in the mood”.

We decided to try and do an Ocado order, so I went and booked a delivery slot, whilst Anne did the fruit for breakfast.We ate breakfast then did the online shop. How does one make that sound interesting????

Because it was a PHUUT of a day, there was a certain reluctance to keep going upstairs to winkle Granny out of bed. Consequently, it was about 1:40 p.m. before she got downstairs. Anne had made her a lunch of an egg sandwich, and we had some discussion as to whether or not to take it through to the lounge, or get Granny to come into the kitchen. Granny normally can manage to get her own breakfast of Apricot Wheats, and then eat her lunch about 30 mins later. Anne left the sandwich at Granny’s place on the kitchen table, and she eventually came through and ate the sandwich for breakfast.

By now, it was time for the Austrian Grand Prix on TV. I sat down to watch it, Anne got the ironing out, and Hazel came through and sat in her usual telly watching spot. Now here is one of those little conundrums that play out in the back of your mind. I COULD have recorded the Grand Prix and watched it later. Granny clearly was not happy at having to surrender the choice of TV programme to someone else and miss watching Tenable, Tipping Point, The Chase. Again, I COULD go and get on with tidying the “office-cum-gym” and let her watch her programmes…….. but the Grand Prix was very exciting, with a large number of cars retiring due to mechanical failure; signs of a long layoff it seems.

After the GP, Anne and I went to Paul’s, to deliver some goodies we had ordered for Freddie and Lily. We spent a heart-warming half hour socially distanced in their garden. Funny how missing a hug with the ones you love can seem so weird. So near yet so FAR!!!!

On our return home, Anne made the Spaghetti Bolognaise whilst I finally finished the office-cum-gym. Hazel normally spends most of her dinner time forensically dissecting her meal, looking for anything that might be regarded as “tough”. We managed to convince her that the mushrooms did not fall into the “tough” category, and about 7:30, we managed to retire to the lounge to watch TV. We watched The Durrells again, and then Maigret. At about 9:30 we remembered we were supposed to be joining in the Kenilworth Sleaths Zoom Quiz. Oops. Was it because today was Sunday? Was it because today was a PHUUT day?? Or was it because of copious amounts of wine? Who knows.

Remembering the Covid-19 figures, the figures are clearly “Sunday” figures, because there were 2 deaths in hospitals, the government stated 22 deaths in all settings and there were 516 newly reported cases.

So, it’s been an odd day, definitely felt like a Sunday, yet nothing happened to make today any different to every other day. Driving to Paul’s today, we saw lots of people out walking, entering pubs, but we didn’t see any face masks. And, surprise surprise, the papers report on last night’s lack of social distancing as the pubs open, after 12 weeks, on a Saturday night!!!! If it didn’t have the potential for being so tragic, it would be laughable.

Well folks, please do what you can to keep yourselves safe, hopefully normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Stay safe, and alert.

John

When you wake up at half past five in the morning, what is your inclination? Groan, turn over and snuggle back to sleep? Get up and go to the loo – then go back to bed? Sit up and read? Or get up, get up? That was my dilemma this morning. In fact, it’s been my dilemma for the last couple of mornings. Not sure what is so magic about that time of the day, but something is waking me up. Dawn chorus maybe, or the sun rising, perhaps.

I was actually tempted to get up, get up. For about ten minutes I thought I might wander downstairs and start on the ever-lasting jobs list or go for an early morning walk. However, I resisted temptation, rolled over and went back to sleep until eight o’clock. Then I started on the ever-lasting jobs list.

One of the things I wanted to do was to put all of the lockdown blog into the leather-bound Family Album. I had started it a few weeks ago but made a mess of backing some of the pages when printing it out. Today, it was tidy-up time. I am sure there are going to be oodles and oodles of writings about the pandemic and the lockdown situation from different people, but this is my personal account for the friends and family – and anyone who’s interested really.

Because the putting-together of the album is for the family, I am kicking myself now for not including more photos, so I intend to rectify that by choosing some apt ones to accompany the words where I can. However, the album is now full, and I can hardly squeeze any more pages in. I thought I’d start a second volume, so researched the company that made the original book, only to find that it’s a Polish company and it looks like they may not make that particular product any more. So, here’s another little project – hunt down a similar family book to complement the one I’ve got. Yay!! Another project……. photos and a new album.

John, as you know, has plenty of projects on the go and today’s tasks were to a) watch qualifying for tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix, and b) fit the edging round the ‘office-cum-gym’ on the laminate flooring. In between times, he offered to cook our late lunch.

We do a mean poached egg and vegetable ‘stack’, so we thought we’d have that. I made the mistake of suggesting that, instead of simply frying sliced sweet potato, we could have rösti. Great idea, and John was up for the challenge. The only thing is, that in doing the ‘stack’ you have to get the timings right. Bless him, he got exceedingly hot and bothered fulfilling the brief and was, in fact, exhausted by the time it came to eating it! The only saving grace was that whilst he was cooking he was able to watch the Grand Prix qualifying at the same time!

Despite being exhausted, John did tackle the edging in the ‘office-cum-gym’ and it’s looking good. I did hear a fair bit of swearing along the way, but I can’t see what there was to be swearing at. He’s doing a grand job and I think he’s feeling quite satisfied with it and himself.

Mum, on the other hand, was feeling very weary-willy today. The heating had kicked in due to the drafts circulating in the house, and I think it had made her room too warm. She wasn’t keen to get up and showed me a very woe-begone face. I decided not to take notice of it but just to be matter of fact in the hope that she’d soon get over it. And, indeed, she did.

But she was funny. I’d suggested that she stay in her dressing gown until she’d had her bath. Unfortunately, because she’d got up so late and I was so busy with my Family Album that it was mid-afternoon before it was on the cards. It’s the first time I have actually heard her ask, “When am I having my bath?” Had to laugh.

And the laughter continued into the evening. Being a people-watcher, I enjoy a bit of Gogglebox – whether it’s standard folk or celebrities – and so, wanting a little light relief at the end of the day, I put it on. Well, Mum and I had a real giggle, then John came and sat with us and he laughed along too. We fell into the highlights of the Michael McIntyre show afterwards and, unusually, found ourselves laughing at that too. Sometimes, it’s good to be entertained by something other than an earnest piece of drama, isn’t it?

With our social interaction also being soft and gentle today, we’ve generally had a decent day. Malcolm called with the shopping this morning, with whom I enjoyed a ‘path chat’. Excitingly, he brought cherries – not just any old cherries in a punnet, but a great big tray of them. I have lots of favourite foods, and cherries is one of them. Honestly, I am as happy as a pig in clover!

All our boys have been in touch one way or another today, too. Andrew called us on his way to viewing a flat, with the news that the car wouldn’t start. It transpired that he’d left the lights on and the battery was flat. All sorted now, but it’s one of those little things to remember, with it being an older car. We have got so used to modern cars thinking for themselves, haven’t we? Michael called us on a video chat. Well, to be precise, it was William at bath-time, who spent a good twenty minutes telling us all about his SuperWings and how they’d got put out the fire. Plenty of actions to accompany the words as well. Made my heart sing, I can tell you. Paul and Harriet went across to West Midlands Safari Park today and Harriet sent us photos of them having a great time there. Looked fabulous fun and I wished I’d been with them. One day……

One day…. when there’s zero deaths from COVID-19 perhaps, but not yet. Today’s figures from the government, as at five o’clock yesterday, show 67 deaths from the virus in all settings and 624 people infected. The NHS figures show 2 people died up until four o’clock yesterday with 19 deaths confirmed for the day before.

The pubs were open today. Let’s look at the figures in a couple of weeks time……In the meantime, take care and God bless.

It’s been a blustery old day today, hasn’t it? So much so, that the wind has whistled through every nook and cranny of our hundred-year-old house. This morning, I wondered why it felt particularly cool downstairs, then I remembered. The door to the ‘office-that-we-now-call-the-gym’ is off its hinges, leaning up against the wall, as part of the floor-laying process. Equally, one of the doors through to the garage is off its hinges too, as part of the same process. The wind is enjoying playing round and round, and then scudding into the kitchen, lounge and half-way up the stairs.

This morning it didn’t matter too much. I busied myself mending the cupboard in the ‘office-cum-gym’ and putting more washing into the washing machine, before it was time to have a run out in the car over to Heartlands Hospital, for John’s regular clinic appointment with the haematologist.

Mum made it downstairs before we left, so I was sure she was safe and sound, and she’d managed to have her breakfast. I made her a cup of tea and a sandwich, which I left on the kitchen table, in readiness for her lunch, along with a little tub of jelly and a few sliced strawberries, before we set off. I shut the door between the kitchen and the utility room to stay the wind as best it could, put the TV on for Mum and then we were away.

We had a good run into Birmingham, marvelling at the length of the traffic queue to get into the recycling plant, and the volume of traffic on the way. We also noted, with some irritation, that the tyre pressure warning light pinged on as we were half way to our destination. We chose to ignore it just then, promising ourselves that we’d deal with it on the way back. We didn’t. I needed the loo on the way back, so that’s a job for another day.

The report from Paneesha, John’s haematologist, was mostly all good. Blood counts all behaving themselves, so Paneesha was delighted, and the results of the recent lung function test and CT scan was in. The scan showed that John’s bronchiectasis is about the same, and the lung function test confirmed similar results to the test he did a couple of years ago. Just got to get rid of the stubborn infection lurking there, and manage the bronchiectasis condition going forward. All in all, not too bad. And Paneesha was thrilled to see John looking so much better and upbeat.

Home again to put the kettle on for a cuppa, to find that Mum hadn’t touched her lunch or the cup of tea I’d made her earlier. “Didn’t you fancy your lunch, Mum?” I asked. She looked startled, the cogs whirring in her head. “Oh……. yes, yes. I just haven’t had it yet.” she replied. Made me smile. Good for her that she had the wit to think – she had forgotten about it but didn’t want to upset me by saying so. A few minutes later, she got up to get her lunch and, to my surprise, she ate the jelly and the strawberries…….. there’s really no accounting for it – one day she doesn’t like them but the next she does. Made me smile again, but in a resigned sort of way this time.

After lunch, John was tired, so he made his way upstairs for a rest. Five minutes later, there was a tap at the front door. There was our darling Andrew. He’s moving out of his flat shortly, so he’d brought some more pieces of furniture for us to store. John made his way downstairs again – not so tired now, eh?

As I said, it’s been a blustery old day and neither John nor I fancied sitting outside with Andrew today. Not even to sit in front of the chiminea. So, Andrew sat in the porch, and we sat, marooned, in the middle of the hall like we did once before. It worked really well.

There are really no words to describe the feeling you get when you see your children, are there? It was just so lovely. Like a warm blanket wrapped around us. Comfortable, easily chatting, chuckling, planning, considering the future, debating our situation, reminiscing, righting wrongs – all sorts of stuff, and just blooming marvellous!

As always in these situations, it was over all too soon and he had to go. I thrust what we laughingly call a ‘Red Cross Food Parcel’ at him. “Ooooh… loo rolls and chocolate, Mum? Spot on!” he laughed, as he peered into the contents of the bag.

After Andrew had left, John went upstairs for his rest and I had a little sit down on the sofa and maybe I nodded off for half an hour. I knew it was the wrong thing to do though, because in my half-conscious state I knew I should have been bustling about getting our evening meal ready. And I knew that because just as I was dropping off, Mum said, “Anne? Are you asleep?” I said yes, kept my eyes firmly closed and ignored the fact that I should have been getting on. A short while later, I could hear Mum on her perambulations with a little bit of tutting and sighing going on and standing very close to me. I opened one eye and saw her watching me, disapprovingly. The TV was on. She’d recently been to the loo. So, it could only be that she was hungry. I ignored the eyes boring into me for another ten minutes or so before I gave in and scuttled into the kitchen. Honestly, you’d think I was ten years old!

Having been in and out of the back door earlier in the afternoon we had forgotten to close the door between the kitchen and the utility room and once again the downstairs was feeling a bit chilly. So, John lit a fire. Oooh, it was so cosy. Loved it. It’s July and we lit a fire!! The seasons are a bit topsy-turvy, I think.

The topsy-turvy world still includes a fair few deaths in the community from COVID-19, which is disappointing. The government report today indicates that there were 137 deaths in all settings up until five o’clock yesterday, and 544 people who were infected. The NHS report counts 6 deaths in hospitals up until four o’clock yesterday with 8 deaths having been confirmed for the day before.

That’s it, folks. Another day of doin’ nothin’ much but appreciating what we’ve got – a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, the capacity for warmth when it’s cold and, above all, our love for each other. God bless.

Some time ago, you may recall that I wrote about the lamp outside the backdoor that needed re-wiring. John did the work, successfully, he thought at the time, using that tried and tested ‘Sleath’ approach. This week, however, it’s been on the blink again. So he thought maybe he’d done a less-than-perfect job. He’s puzzled over it for a few days, every so often having to flick the trip-switch to restore lighting to the garage, our bedroom and Mum’s room.

Ah-ha! Maybe it’s the actual switch, he thought. He unhitched the wiring from the switch. Any good? For a little while, yes. Must be that then, he thought, with a sense of satisfaction. Then…. POP! Off it goes again – the circuit has tripped. More puzzling, and a furrowed brow, to try and think what the heck is the matter with the darned thing – and, had he wired it up correctly? He was sure he had.

Up in the bedroom yesterday, just as I was getting up, I could hear a peculiar clicking sound. I looked out of the window. Nothing to see. Still in me undies, I ran downstairs to see if I work out what it was. Oooooh, it was the lamp. The lamp that wasn’t connected to the switch. The lamp that shouldn’t be doing anything. “John!” He came and saw (not sure he heard) and reckoned there was problem higher up in the roof. Ah….. a job for tomorrow; for yesterday, of course, he was laying laminate flooring.

For safety, he left the trip-switch tripped last night, much to Mum’s annoyance. I put the lamp on in her bedroom (the plugs are working) so that she had some light to see her to bed. She was funny, she kept switching the main light on and off. “Mum,” I called, “the light isn’t working, remember? You’ve got the lamp though, OK?” She pulled a face. “Well, it’s not very convenient, is it?” she said. I explained why the light wasn’t working. “But I want the light on.” she insisted. I sighed. Clearly, she wasn’t going to grasp the reason for being lit up just by a bedside lamp. “John is going to have a look at it tomorrow, Mum, so tonight we’ll manage as best we can, alright?” I gave her a hug to sweeten the pill. “I suppose so.” she huffed.

This morning, John had his ladders out, the tiles off the roof and inspected the wiring in the roof space. There it is!!! The little b****r! That’s the bit of wire that’s the culprit. Something had chewed through it, so it was intermittently shorting out. See? John had done the perfect job after all. Wouldn’t expect anything less. Pretty sure it will have been pesky squirrels feasting on the wire. Or maybe mice? We do have one or two of those occasionally, despite the cats prowling around.

I know I’ve said it before, but John is an amazing man. He can turn his hand to pretty much anything and resolve the problems that are presented to him and, once again, he’s proved it. Feeling stronger in himself, he is enjoying tackling the work. Admittedly, he’d rather things were more plain sailing and we didn’t have rodents gnawing their way through wires, so that he could get on with the Lotus, but he’s solved the problem and there is a sense of fulfilment in that.

One of the pictures we took down from the office wall yesterday, says it all…..

Meanwhile, I have been simply ploughing through chores, today. Digging out the kitchen (again), mopping floors, washing, cooking, washing up and so on. Nothing to see here folks, it’s just more of the same.

However, I have been doing some reading and I did watch the seventeen-year-old Boris Becker winning Wimbledon. What an amazing final that turned out to be. And horror of horrors, it transpires that it was thirty-five years ago. I remember it like it was but yesterday……

You might remember a few weeks ago, I started the book by Lemn Sissay, called ‘My Name is Why’, but found it heart-breaking within the first few chapters, so thought I’d wait until I felt emotionally stronger before tackling it again. I have read a few more chapters today and find it just as heart-breaking, but I am enjoying reading it, so will carry on with it now. I bought the hard-back version, but the paperback version has just come out, so if anyone fancies reading about the experiences of a little boy growing up without his birth mother, fostered then shunted from care home to care home, it’s worth buying.

Mum has helped with the chores today, too. There are one or two things she is good at – folding clothes is one of them. Every time I disgorged the tumble dryer, I dumped a pile of jumbled clothes onto the sofa, and Mum folded them up. She was anxious though, after a while. “Anne, the basket is full. What shall I do with the rest?” she asked, gesturing to the overrun sofa. “Pile ’em high!” I responded. Tee-hee – we didn’t half have a stack of clothes in the ironing basket!!!

She was actually on good form today. Gone were the woes of last night and she was chirpy. How nice for us all. Must’ve been the hug I gave her just before she went to bed.

Finally, I was determined to finish the chores I’d started today, so didn’t get out in the garden until after our evening meal. I managed to dodge the showers and spent a happy hour out there, marvelling at God’s creation. The sky was spectacular again this evening; bright sunshine challenging the darkest black cloud you ever did see. The black cloud skulked away leaving sparkling white clouds behind, reflecting the sun in all its glory. It was just breath-taking.

I chose not to follow the news today. Decided not to disturb my peace. However, I have looked at the stats re COVID-19 this evening, and can report that the NHS figures, which had gone AWOL, are back. The toll of deaths up until four o’clock yesterday was two; with seventeen having been confirmed for the day before. By nine o’clock this morning, there were 89 deaths in all settings and 576 people infected according to the government records.

Prayers for everyone suffering today, through whatever cause, and grateful thanks for a wonderful family and friends. Time to stop and smell the roses again, I think. Take care everyone.

We can definitely class today as a good day. The weather may have been otherwise engaged, but our activities have buoyed us up and we have had some success along the way.

First up, I considered the invitation I’d had to join my friends from church in having coffee at the vicarage. Last week, I balked and didn’t make it. This week, I still shilly-shallied and when Linda asked me if I was going to go, I replied with a cautious ‘I’m planning to….’ but I was still undecided. Linda thought I probably wouldn’t go.

I did that thing you always do when you’re undecided. I prevaricated. I snoozed the alarm. I surfed social media for a bit before I got up. I texted Linda: ‘Erm…. it’s raining. Are you planning to go even in the rain?’ The answer was yes, as there was an events shelter in the garden. I took a long time over my shower. I fiddle-faddled about with my breakfast. But in the end, I couldn’t think of an excuse not to go, other than admit to cowardice. After all, I knew we were going to be outside, sheltered if it was raining, but still in the open air. I knew my friends would stay apart by the two metres. I knew I was taking my own drink. I was going to be wearing a mask. It was going to be okay.

I bid John farewell and he firmly told me to enjoy myself. And I did. I walked there and back, two paces behind Linda and Kaye, and it was lovely to sit and chat to everyone. The weather behaved itself, staying fairly warm and holding back on the rain. Very refreshing and uplifting; and wise words were offered and gratefully received. I am glad I went.

I had, of course, done my duty prior to leaving the house and looked in on Mum to get her out of bed. Yes, yes, she would get up. The thing is, Mum, I won’t be here to keep reminding you, as I’m going out. Oh, that’s OK, I’ll get up…… I smiled. I bet I’ll still find you in bed when I get back, I chuckled. She laughed. No, no, I’ll get up.

When I got back, John was beavering away at laying the laminate flooring in the ‘office-which-we-are-now-calling-the-gym’. He said, “Your Mum has just beaten you.” She’d made it downstairs then, before I got back – just. She’d only just had breakfast, but it was lunchtime, so I made her a sandwich.

I am not sure what I did for the next couple of hours – a fabulous chat to Simon for a little while, catching up on his news; dishwasher emptying and filling; parcel and letter washing; a bit of historic Wimbledon; and letter-writing to look into Mum’s future care – before I could feel my eyes growing heavy again. An afternoon nap beckoned. John was still working solidly on the flooring. I went upstairs and thought I’d just have a little lie down before getting on with those very urgent jobs on my list.

Ha! Two hours later…… I was semi-conscious and could hear an awful lot of banging but I couldn’t work out what it was. Never mind. I snoozed on. The banging stopped. Then I could hear John getting a shower. I snoozed a bit more. Finally, I started back to full consciousness. John was tiptoeing round the bedroom trying not to wake me. I giggled. “You OK?” I asked. “Oh, I thought you were asleep.” he said. Well, it was kind of him to try not to wake me, but he hadn’t accounted for the fact that the hammering downstairs to finalise the flooring had been very loud, and the pump on the shower sounds like an aeroplane taking off. Aaah……… oh……… We had a bit of a chortle about it.

By the time I eased myself out of bed for the second time today at half past six, I could hear Mum wandering about upstairs. The only reasons Mum wanders, are: a) if the TV has automatically shut off and she has nothing to watch b) she’s hungry c) she needs the loo. I suspected it to be a case of a) and b) and, not being able to find either of us, she’d come upstairs to her room for a lie down. I left her for the time being and went down to cook our evening meal.

I had half-expected a martyred look when I went to fetch Mum for her meal, but she was happy enough and came straight down to set the table. Unfortunately, the ‘happy enough’ phase didn’t last long when she realised that we were going to be doing Quiz Night with our Centre Stage friends. She was going to be on her own again. Join in, Mum? Maybe, she thought. But, of course, the lure of the TV in the lounge was too great and she stayed there for the evening despite thinking she’d be lonely.

However, at bedtime she was feeling miserable. Fingers crossed it doesn’t translate into a bout of illness tomorrow.

We had a great evening on the quiz. It was a challenging one but such fun to do, and John was on great form this evening with lots of witticisms throughout the evening. We all enjoyed ourselves so much that we stayed on talking until well past eleven o’clock. Great time; great friends.

On an entirely different note – I have ignored it all day, but just after mid-day a whacking great big parcel arrived on the doorstep. Almost too heavy for the delivery driver to lift, and he kindly said that if we hadn’t been isolating, he’d have carried it to wherever I wanted. The parcel is definitely too heavy to carry, so it’ll be a wheelbarrow job tomorrow, weather permitting. It is the bark that we ordered months ago from the online garden centre. Funnily enough – guess what? I don’t need it now as I’ve used some shreddings from the conifers John cut down, instead. Oh well, I suppose I’ll find a use for it somewhere………

I still don’t fully understand the figures currently being offered to us by the NHS and the government in relation to COVID-19 deaths and infections, but I have to confess that I haven’t drilled down into them to inform myself further today.

However, here they are as published, for the record: the NHS reports 2 deaths up until 4 o’clock yesterday and confirmed 12, for the day before; the government reports 176 deaths in all settings and 829 people infected up until five o’clock yesterday. Leicester City is in lock down with more cases of the virus than they’d like, 135 cases per 100,000 people, and several other cities are monitoring their levels very closely.

It ain’t over yet, is it? Take care everyone.