Tiers….. and tears

So, how’s everyone doing? We’re all in Tier 3 here in the Midlands. Oh, whoopee-doop! Lockdown ends next week, and howzat? Bowled with the first ball – back into isolationing. Anyone depressed?

I don’t actually feel depressed, but I do feel a bit weary. I mean, it’s jolly hard work, living on your nerves all the time and trying to think about what you can and can’t do. I’m feeling quite exhausted and a bit teary.

However, life goes on and we do what we can. And today, I could do yoga in my own lounge. It was great. Streaming Jaime into the room with the sun also streaming in was bliss. She is an incredible teacher, and she reminded us today that it’s not all about tightening your glutes or firming your abs. It’s about your heart and mind too – opening them up and letting the light in. Yep. A very good session, thank you very much.

I am also grateful for yoga because it does seem to help with flexibility. This is just what I need when I am crawling about the place, reaching under radiators to paint skirting boards, or reaching high to paint ceilings. I was in child’s pose as I crouched to paint today, then did a lunge, then a side bend and even, a dancer’s pose. Oh, yes, it was all going on as I worked up a sweat.

While waiting for the paint to dry in the former-office-cum-snug-cum-gym, I opted to tidy up a few snagging jobs in the library area of the lounge, and was really rather chuffed that I got them done. Having cleaned down the window frames to remove any paint residue, I thought, ‘Ah-ha! Why don’t I get my new toy out to play with and clean the windows with the Karcher equipment?’ Well, I did just that, and now I have another favourite toy to add to my list. Honestly, it worked a treat and hardly took any energy at all. Marvellous. Thank you, John.

John has spent the day mooching about, wishing he felt a bit better. He watched TV this morning and medicated with the millions of things he has, then pushed himself to shift the bags of coal that had been delivered and dumped on the front drive. Unfortunately, his breathlessness is still very much in evidence and doing these sorts of jobs really makes him out of puff. I really don’t know what the answer is. I can’t make up my mind as to whether the new nebulised drug is helping or hindering just now. I suppose we have to give it a bit longer….but there’s a very audible wheeze going on just now. Bit like a concertina – most entertaining.

Yesterday, when we drew up on the drive, I happened to glance up and noticed a lawn growing out of the guttering above the garage. So John thought he’d clear it today, after he’d shifted the coal. Well, that was the thing that jiggered him. Going up and down the ladder was energy-sapping and breath-taking. He was out for the count on the sofa then, for an hour or so.

However, he has been productive today what with the coal-shifting, the gutter lawn-mowing and making up the new patio heater that he had for his birthday. I can’t wait to try it out. Although I don’t think tomorrow is going to be conducive – they reckon it’s going to be foggy tomorrow, don’t they? And a bit chilly at 4°C. Although, at that temperature, we could put it through its paces, I suppose.

After we’d eaten our evening meal, we settled down to watch a touch more TV, but then I left John to it. He’s still watching The Undoing and also Tin Star, so he’s really cracking on with these great programmes. Leaving me behind….. ah, well, I might catch up eventually.

I was zooming in on the College Crew this evening and it was lovely. So nice to see everyone and to chew the cud. There’s always some amusing story, something to ooh and aah over or something to debate. Today, the debate was about charity-giving. So many people needing support now, we are inundated with requests and bombarded with news items about someone doing some good works somewhere. Makes us all feel a bit guilty.

Pretty much everyone was feeling the pinch of being in Tier 3, although Sue P and Linda look like they are sitting a bit prettier than the rest of us being in Tier 2, so probably feeling slightly less cabin-fevered than the rest of us, I think.

It’s all in a good cause though, isn’t it? But the thought of what we can/should/ought/want to do at Christmas is doing my head in, and will probably give me a meltdown before long. And what to do about mother? We’ll see, I suppose, all will be revealed in good time.

We understand that the numbers of infections are not going down fast enough. But they are going down, which is good news. 17,555 people were confirmed as infected today. 498 people died in the community and 217 people died in hospitals on 24 & 25 November. So we might see some more progress as the Tiers are applied next week. Hope so, anyway.

Take care everyone. God bless.