Saturday…. a day we have been looking forward to as one in which we didn’t have anything pressing to do. And it proved to be so. Mind you, we have been busy, one way and another, but busy with all good things.
Up early to take Mr Chester for a walk. Me following, him trotting along as happy as a sand boy, snifferty-sniffing his way along the paths, showing me his heels, a waggy tail, and offering me a very fuzzy photo.
I came back refreshed enough to tackle the kitchen, which had become a dumping ground for some of Mum’s things and which was in want of a bit of a clean down. I was very happy having a sort out, and even John was pleased to see a tidy kitchen for a change.
It was qualifying for the Grand Prix today, so whilst I beavered away in the kitchen, John sat happily watching the cars whizz by. For once, it was a contented household, without lots of pressure.
“Shall we pop out and buy a new barbecue, this afternoon?” I suggested. John thought he’d look on the internet instead, and found one that will be delivered in a few weeks time. Just in time for the better weather we hope. Instead of nipping to the garden centre, we opted to go over to Hatton World instead, to discuss new work surfaces for the kitchen. Oooh…. that’ll be exciting won’t it? Nearly a finished kitchen. It’s only been a year…..
When we got back from Hampton, I was peckish, so I prepped our evening meal early and then took Chester for his evening walk – early because we were Skyping Pete and Dawn this evening. I don’t think Chester minded the early walk, though! A walk is a walk, after all.
Not long after I got back, the front door bell rang and Margaret and Chris were there on the doorstep. “We thought we’d just have a little look at the Lotus,” they said. Well, that was welcome news. We have been wondering whether to share the agony with someone else who might have some good suggestions as to what to do with it – other than hit it with a sledgehammer, of course. Chris was able to offer some good advice and John felt better after they’d left. We’ll see how it goes – another ‘watch this space, folks!’.
We had a lovely evening’s chat with Pete and Dawn, putting the world to rights, of course, and bemoaning our ailments and age. Each of us fed up with not seeing each other face-to-face and waiting impatiently for the day when we can go into each other’s homes again. Or at least, some decent weather so that sitting out in the garden is a pleasure rather than a shivery experience.
The news is filled with the situation in India and stories about the actor Noel Clarke and the alleged sex offences, but the positive news today is that nearly 15m million people have now had the vaccination. We know that there is no panacea, but there is some protection in having had ‘the jab’ and it looks like it’s reasonably effective. That’s encouraging, isn’t it?
So today’s figures are as follows:
People with positive tests – 1,907; people who died in the community – 7; people who died in hospitals on 29 & 30 April – 9. It’s 404 days since the beginning of Lockdown One (410 days for John and me) and 20 days since the government said we could meet outdoors following Lockdown Three.
Take care everyone. For the UK, hope is on the horizon if we can but behave. God bless.