Serendipity today! Moira phoned to see if there was anything we needed. The answer is not really, we are managing just now but, if she knew of anyone among her group of volunteers who might be going to one of the big supermarkets (but not making a special journey), we could do with one or two specialist items that they don’t offer in the local shops. Moira’s suggestion that we order on-line made me hoot, as John has been unable to access any single one of the supermarkets on-line so far despite being in the shielded group.
A short while later, Julie, one of Moira’s ‘army’, phoned to say she still goes shopping in Waitrose and would pick up said specialist items if and when we needed them, and she’d also drop into Oakes’ farm shop for meat if we wanted it. Brilliant! We’re very grateful that we have another lifeline – it feels awful always relying on one person all the time. It feels awful relying on anybody to be honest – especially if they are going out of their way for us.
So, the day went on with standard things like food and drinks prep, touching up areas of painting in the ongoing refurbishment of the kitchen, faffing about with hanging pictures, rubbing down pieces of wood and so on. Mum took to the knitting really well and did several rows. John dug out the lawnmower, got it going – it must be at least five years since the motor turned over – and mowed the lawn. He also did more things in the shed at the bottom of the garden – it’ll be perfect in there soon!!
Then the ol’ man came in for a cuppa, pretty much exhausted, and went to the computer to see if there was any movement on any of the on-line shops. Oh my! His exhaustion forgotten, he came running into the kitchen to tell me that there were delivery slots!! And not only that, there seems to be a promise of regular delivery slots!! Honestly, you’d think we’d won the lottery!! Excitedly, we looked for the items we can’t get locally and managed to order a few. Not only that, the order will arrive on Sunday!! We had been expecting to get a slot towards the end of April. We were like kids in a sweet shop!! Serendipity indeed! What a happy-chance that we had two offers of help today!! It feels so much better to be able to spread the shopping load. But honestly, who’da thought it? That the highlight of the day, nay the week, would be a shopping delivery slot?? And we’re only a couple of weeks in…..
But, boy, we’re so thankful for all the help we’re getting; it seems that the good people outweigh the bad in times of trouble, with outpourings of support in so many different ways. What else can we do but applaud those professionals caring for the 33,718 people infected with the virus, and supporting the 2,921 families of those who have died? As well as those who are caring for the vulnerable (us) and all those in the retail and distribution industries. Well, I suppose we can urge the government to jolly well hurry up with all the right protective gear, proper resources and a decent wage for them? Now then, where’s that petition……..?