Zoom…..

I am still counting….. it’s Day 229 since we went into Lockdown Number One. If the headlines in tomorrow’s papers are to be believed, it won’t be long before we are in Lockdown Number Two. Apparently, the rate of infection will soon turn into hospital cases and overload the NHS. Andrew reports that Midsummer House, the restaurant he works in, has closed for a week as a couple of his colleagues have tested positive for COVID. He’s self-isolating in Cambridge where historically COVID cases have been fairly light. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’s clear.

So, we were just gently passing the evening watching TV when the phone rang. I thought it was a mistake. A phone call on WhatsApp to all the members of the Sleath Tribe. No. No mistake. Michael phoned us all for a chat. How nice is that? So that’s what you do when Lockdown Looms…. Zoom!! Great fun and grateful for family.

The Zoom chat was the icing on the cake of a day that wasn’t too bad. We had planned to meet up with Paul, Harriet and Freddie this morning at Hatton Country World, but in the end, for one cause or another, we didn’t join them until later on this afternoon. Instead of an early outing, we both tackled jobs on our very long lists of ‘things to do’.

I started undercoating the bookshelves, but stopped at ten o’clock for a shower anticipating our trip out. When the trip didn’t transpire just then, I thought I’d re-hang the front door curtain that I’d taken down and washed. Horror of horrors though…. I realised that the door had never been painted since we installed it about three years ago. It had its primer on and John had put filler into gaps once it had been glazed but, nothing more. I decided to rectify the omission and started rubbing the door down to slap on a coat of paint. Oh… but I do hate prep!!

Meanwhile, John was up and flailing lots of waterproof material about. He had decided, at last, to make the cover for the patio table. “Where’s the sewing machine?” he asked. I had put it away. It had sat for weeks on the dining room table waiting for John to start this particular job, but with illness and weeks away and other distractions the job was put on one side. John hauled machine out. Next task: thread the bobbin. Ahh….. if only we could see. Between us, we got the machine working and John started sewing. I am not sure how far he has got and whether it’s actually finished, but the cover is on the table. Pat on the back, I reckon.

After our exertions (although I confess the front door still needs painting but the prep is done) we sat and had a cup of tea and a bite to eat before setting off to meet the Kenilworth Sleaths. And, do you know what? When we got there and met them in the café, we all sat down to a cream tea. Oh, yes. Nothing nicer than a cream tea and the company of family.

Freddie was a little monkey though – adorable, but a tinker. He was clearly over-excited, having been pumpkin-picking, haunted house visiting and hurling himself down the helter-skelter. And, of course, seeing us – I mean, who wouldn’t be excited at seeing us, eh? Anyway, he just couldn’t sit still at the table. He guzzled his way through a huge cup of hot chocolate and a couple of iced cakes, promptly said he was full and then started to fiddle with anything within range. Bless him. Thank goodness for mobile phones and children’s programmes streaming on them. That kept him entertained until it was time to leave. I think, for once, Paul and Harriet were probably pleased when it was time for bedtime…..

Take extra care everyone, and get ready for another ‘sesh’ at home to avoid adding to the statistics, which are: 24,405 people confirmed as infected with COVID-19 today; 274 people dead in the community; 113 people dead in hospitals.

And, here’s an oxymoron: Happy Halloween!!

God bless.