Isolation Day 99

I didn’t rush to get up early this morning, but deliberately lay in bed until 9 o’clock just to savour the luxury of our lovely bedroom, the sunshine streaming in through the window and the thought of Pete and Dawn coming to visit. This felt like a good day in the making.

And it really was, from beginning to end. John got up and brought me a cup of tea in bed; I managed to get Mum up and out of bed before I went downstairs; I ate my rather delicious breakfast on the patio in the sun; the parcel sitting in the porch due for collection was duly collected, and the parcel due to arrive duly arrived; the colouring book Carol sent to my Mum arrived on the doormat; and the cushions for the outside chairs were all put in place before Pete and Dawn made their way down the side of the house and into the garden about eleven o’clock. Marvellous.

We spent a good hour and half chatting and sunning ourselves – well, Dawn didn’t sun herself, she followed the shade wherever it went, of course. But oh, it was so lovely to see them. To be able to chat naturally and not shout at each other via a phone/tablet/computer/TV screen was just blissful. With the lock down rules easing next month, it might just be possible that we can go their and other friends’ houses soon to return the compliment, which will be very exciting.

After Pete and Dawn left, with their socially distanced hugs still being felt in our hearts and bodies, we all sat outside and ate our lunch, even Mum, to make the most of the weather while we can. Then I settled Mum in front of the TV and we got on with a few more gardening projects. John’s plan was to cut down the other conifer on the patio, and mine was to tackle the field bindweed that is choking the hydrangea to death, before planting up another species of cultivated bindweed called ‘Morning Glory’ nearby. Neither job was as simple as it sounds, but we both stuck to our tasks and felt we had had a successful afternoon, despite the heat. We are both as brown as berries now – well, nearly. John did get his legs out and wore his shorts today, but his legs refuse to respond to sunshine, so they remain as white as a lily – as always.

The doctor phoned this afternoon to talk through the results of Mum’s blood test. I was expecting additional tablets, but no. Mum is absolutely fine. Oh. The doctor said she thought it’s just Mum’s age that makes her dopey……. oh, darn it! Had hoped for an improvement but I guess that’s not going to be. We’ll just have to put up with Dopey, then. She’s gone through some of the other fairy stories in recent weeks so it’s about time we had a new one, I suppose!!

After I’d done my little job with the bindweed, I had intended to lounge about on the swinging chair and read my book this afternoon. However, Michael and Danielle were dropping William off overnight at Paul and Harriet’s in readiness for tomorrow’s ‘birth’ day, so they said they’d call in on the way home. I am always excited when I hear such news, so was prompted to start cooking our evening meal a bit earlier than normal. That way, Mum was at least fed before they arrived. The chilling on the swinging chair didn’t happen after all…….maybe tomorrow.

Michael and Danielle arrived at about quarter past six, and we were all so thrilled to see each other again. Before we settled ourselves in the back garden though, John had suggested that we have a ‘lock down’ photo in front of the house, so Michael took photos of us, from all angles, grinning away like idiots. The climbing rose above the porch is such a picture this year, all thanks to my friend, Livia, who came and pruned the rose for me before lock down and taught me how to prune the other rose bushes, which are also looking wonderful, too.

As we sat in the back garden, the latest ‘William News Flash’ pinged into our WhatsApp inboxes. Paul sent through photos of William and Freddie happily bouncing on the trampoline, playing cars on a road map and having a bath together. Both playing very nicely until there was a tussle over a bath toy and then it was tears……. had to smile, that’s cousins for you!!

We said a very reluctant goodbye to Michael and Danielle and, with the anticipation of meeting our latest grandson after a Caesarean delivery, there was lots of ‘All the best for tomorrow, Danielle’ and ‘Hope it goes OK’ and ‘Hope you’re in early and don’t have to wait all day’ and, if we could have, we’d have been hugging the pair of them very, very hard. Instead it was blown kisses and air hugs.

After the goodbyes, it was ‘tidy up time’, bringing all the cushions in from the garden furniture, shifting the debris from the conifer cutting and then watering the plants. I felt very happy, but tired. It’s been a busy, full, emotional and fabulous day. I sat awhile, counting my blessings before choosing to watch ‘Talking Heads’ at nine o’clock. I love Alan Bennett’s work – such dry humour and such an observant author and playwright. A great conclusion to a great day.

I spared a thought for others outside the family though again today, and said prayers for all those who are sick and dying, whether it is from COVID-19 or not, as well as their families.

For the record there were 6 deaths in hospitals up until five o’clock yesterday (22 June 2020) with 17 deaths confirmed for the day before. The government reports 171 deaths in all settings and 874 people having been tested as positive for the infection as of nine o’clock this morning.

The lock down restrictions may be easing, but the virus is still floating about so take care everyone. Sanitise and keep your distance. God bless.