Ash Wednesday

It’s the beginning of Lent and Ash Wednesday today, which represents an opportunity to think of all the things we do and say that we are most sorry for. An opportunity to think about improving our habits. Traditionally, it’s the beginning of the 40 days when we give something up. In recent times, people are choosing not to give up, but to give more during this time.

I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted and not sure I can give anything up. I might be able to give something more though. It’s a bit twee, but perhaps a random act of kindness, even if it’s not every day? And hey, note to self: how about a random act of kindness from me to me, too? Now there’s a good place to start.

Anyway, onto today in which we were up betimes this morning. It was a hospital trip today for John’s regular, three-weekly slot of an appointment at nine o’clock, for an infusion of immunoglobulin. Apparently, he’s allowed to self-administer this treatment at home but, instead of sitting for a morning being waited on, reading a book and snoozing, he’d have to fiddle about, injecting himself every day. We’ve decided that a day out every three weeks is a better option just now.

What is particularly pleasant at the moment is that there really isn’t an awful lot of traffic. So the trip, for which we used to allow an hour, can be done now in just over twenty minutes. So we were up, washed, dressed, breakfasted, medicated and nebulised (John, that is) and on our way by 8.30. And I had dropped John off and was back home by 9.20. Can’t be bad, eh?

Whilst John was being infused, I listened to my little ‘note to self’ and spent the morning taking it slowly, starting with a little pamper session, then some general odd-jobs, before I got distracted with having found a brass object that needed polishing. Spent a happy hour doing that, before John texted me to say he’d nearly finished his treatment and would I toddle back to collect him, please?

The infusion session had gone well – much better than the previous one – but, as always, John has felt tired all day since. Mind you, he’s been bright enough to have had a bit more of a go at the wine cabinet he’s making, and to play poker this afternoon – so not too bad.

The wine cabinet is looking very good, and I am very pleased with it so far. There’s a little bit more twiddling to do before it’s finished, and I am hoping John won’t ask me his usual question of, ‘do you want to be able to use it, or do you want it finished?’ Of course, I’d like it finished…..

This afternoon, while John was busy with the cupboard and his poker, I spent a while on the computer doing the shopping, tinkered about in the kitchen making some lemon curd and then sat in our bedroom to practice my singing, which I am so enjoying. I might get the hang of it yet. We’ll see.

I also spent some time trying out several pairs of binoculars this afternoon, in an attempt to see if I could watch any birds in the garden. Binoculars are always a bit of a problem for me, however. Being squint-eyed, of course, the lenses don’t quite line up right. Not only that, when you wear glasses, you can’t get the eye-sights close to your eyes. And the binoculars are heavy. All in all, it’s a bit of a fight to see anything.

Also, standing by the window, the little devils know you’re looking at them the minute you lift the binoculars to your eyes, so they fly away, don’t they? And then you’re left staring at a barren bush, or thinking you’ve missed the actual spot and spend five minutes searching, only to lower the binoculars and find out that you were right in the first place. The little buggers have disappeared – tittering to themselves probably.

So the day passed fairly uneventfully and then it was time to eat our evening meal. Michael phoned just as we were sitting to eat, with a minor disaster unfolding at his house. The pipes under the taps in the kitchen were leaking. Of course, who would he ask to help him sort it out? His dad, of course. John had some sound advice, but we are not sure if it’s cured yet. Fingers crossed they don’t come down to a flooded kitchen tomorrow…..

After we’d eaten, we sat for a while before Quiz Night, and I caught up with Harriet. She’d had a busy day settling Ellie into her new flat, which looks lovely. A lounge, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom – it looks ideal for a single girl. I do hope she’ll be happy there. Harriet is obviously worried about her dad, but it sounded like he’s beginning to recover, but all good vibes are still needed please!

Quiz Night. The highlight of our week. It is such good fun and it is so very nice to see everyone and hear their news. With two of the couples house-hunting, there’s lots of stories to tell. Then the quiz itself is always challenging and we are often surprised at what we do know – but clearly, also what we don’t know. I really don’t anything about music. It’s a good job that no-one listens to my lame answers in this category – well, not normally anyway. Tried one answer today and we stayed with it only to find it was the other answer we’d thought of and discarded. Oh, well.

While we’ve been keeping ourselves healthy with pills and other tricks to keep us going, such as Pfizer or AstraZeneca jabs, there are still those who are sick with COVID in hospitals. But the trend is still down, so hope flickers once more.

• 12,718 people tested positive for the virus today
• 738 people died in the community with COVID in the last 24 hours
• 246 people died with the virus in hospitals on 15 & 16 February
• Today is Day 43 of Lockdown 3; Day 330 since the official lockdown day last March; and Day 338 since John and I began our hibernation

And the little, big things: Arthur is still doing OK – he is now sleeping in a cot, wearing lots of layers to help him maintain his body temperature; the weather is warmer so we might sit outside for a bit at the weekend; and the grandchildren are adorable and fill my heart every time I talk to them on a video call. Counting my blessings.

Take care everyone. God bless.