Oooh…. Sunday

In the olden days, Sundays were days for lying in bed; lazy days with activities designed for recuperation after a heavy week. A day to look forward to and feel refreshed from for the week ahead. Such nostalgic memories of spreading the broadsheet newspapers out on the floor and poring over them before we ate our Sunday Roast en famille, and then a meet-up with friends in the pub.

Nowadays, of course, we lie in bed whatever day of the week it is; we no longer pore over the newspapers, being cynical about their veracity; and COVID has more or less put paid to meeting mates in the pub. However, today was a day for recuperation and ‘new beginnings’ – but differently.

We did our usual thing of ‘hurkle-durkling’ before we finally got out of bed and faced the day. “What are your plans for the day?” John wanted to know. “I’m visiting Mum this afternoon,” I reminded him, “and I’m going to tackle the ironing and also, I think I’ll go for a walk.”

It was a good job I’d told John my plans because, without him, I might not have made it out of the house for a walk. I did lots of procrastination – fiddling with this and fiddling with that before he finally pushed me out of the door.

I was glad he had – the wind was strong, but it felt good to be blowing the cobwebs away. The temperature wasn’t too bad and, among the trees in Katharine’s Wood it was positively balmy. I think the trees were pleased to see me, so I hugged one or two.

John’s plans involved garage work today. “I’m thinking I need more shelves,” he said. Well, probably. Most of the racking he had was transported to the Man Shed at the bottom of the garden for building things, while the tools for mending the project car remained alongside the house, very often strewn across the floor for want of a proper home.

I was delighted to hear that John was in the mood to be mooching in the garage. It is a Sunday, after all and that’s what Sundays are for – tinkering with projects.

Meanwhile, I managed to get the ironing done which was wonderful as it had been louring at me for over a week from the corner of the room. And then I toddled off to see Mum.

The Care Home opened its doors this week for the first time since the beginning of January, and I hadn’t been to visit since Christmas Day. She was on top form and very well. She had no memory of having been poorly, nor any concept that it had been so long since she last saw me. But she did recognise me and was delighted to see me.

We did the usual chat, including the excitement of a new box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers, before I fished out the photo album that I’d given her for Christmas. I had to hunt for it a bit and finally found it at the bottom of her wardrobe.

Mum loved looking through the photos and also did the usual of “Who’s that?” Erm… John/Paul/Michael/Andrew…… “Well!! I wouldn’t have recognise him!” on repeat. She didn’t always recognise herself either and looked wide-eyed at me before saying, “Is it me?”

But we had a laugh and enjoyed a rendition or two of ‘Que sera, sera’ and I felt cheered up by her company. Who’d have thought it, eh?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John was planning a strategy for a reducing diet. Carrying a bit of weight isn’t great for joints, and we’d still like to do a little walk together if we can without the threat of a hip or a knee giving way. Calorie-counting is what’s on the menu and a main meal at lunchtime – and I’m going to join in. Belly? What belly? It’ll soon be gone and there’ll be a new ‘us’. Fingers crossed anyway!

When I arrived home, John was still tinkering in the garage, so I unpacked the bag of veg that I’d just bought on the way home from Mum’s. John came into the kitchen: “Did Michael get hold of you?” “I’m afraid he didn’t. I was driving and then when I phoned back he didn’t answer.” Ah…. well, the upshot was that Danielle was cooking a Sunday Roast and did we want to join them for our evening meal?

I can never refuse such an invitation. So I stashed the veg away and we set off. We had a lovely, relaxed meal together and a gentle play with the children before bath and bedtime. They even let me read them a bedtime story which always goes down well with me. John was on hand to offer advice on one or two DIY projects the Kenilworth newbies have in mind so, all in all, we had a good time.

Recuperation complete today. Not like it was in the olden days, no. But paced to us as we are now, so I am hoping the January blues will soon slip away. February: a time for new beginnings. Bring it on.

Take care everyone. God bless

54,095 people tested positive for COVID-19 today, according to the government website; 75 people died; and 1,596 people were admitted to hospital.