Today was the day we took risks. Not that I am proud of the fact, because taking a risk in such a dangerous, virus-laden environment would be stupid. But these risks were calculated, planned and prepared for.
With the boiler down, the Worcester Boiler people sent a man in. Well, for a start, may I say that the young man who came was marvellous. Not only did he initially refuse to enter our home, but then phoned to kindly let us know that because we had so carefully put a sign on our door saying we are self-isolating, he wouldn’t be able to come in. Of course, he was thinking we might have the virus. We were thinking he might have the virus. Anyway, the confusion was dispelled, and then John fired a warning, “My wife thinks you should wear a mask and gloves when you come in. Ha! Ha! Ha!” The young man said, “Don’t worry, sir. I intend to come in wearing a mask and gloves.” No Ha! Ha! Ha! about it. In fact, we all wore masks and gloves and I washed down every single surface I thought the young man might have touched with soap and water after he left. Take that, you pesky virus!!
But, sadly, despite the fact that the young man was very nice and very conscientious, he wasn’t able to fix the boiler. He suggested that the fault was not the boiler, in fact. Might be the pump. Might be air in the system. Might be an electrical interruption….. who knows what the heck it might be? We are hoping our own heating engineer will come tomorrow and sort it out for us. I’ll keep you posted. (I’m sure you can’t wait….)
So, having ‘a man in’ was Risk Number One.
Eldest son is taking a two-week holiday from work. Obviously, he and the family can’t go away to Disney Land, Paris, as planned and paid for, because that’s not allowed. But he is actually taking a break, so he phoned to say he’d do a bit of shopping for us if we needed anything. Thinks…… hmmm….. yes, thank you, actually we do need one or two bits of fresh veg, including cauliflower, and how about you buy the kids Easter Eggs, please?? The ones I was going to give? Sorry, I can’t get them over to your house!!
Plans in place, one of the ones I love so very much arrived on our drive, mid-afternoon, with the shopping. He plopped the shopping in the porch and then stood back, at the end of the path. We stood back, just in front of the doorway. I could have wept. Here was my beautiful and dearest first-born, physically there, in front of us, and we couldn’t hug, hold tight, or express our love in any other way than through words hanging on the breeze, or through remote gestures.
And so, after all the goodbyes and ‘send our love to everyone at your house’, on to the washing of all the goods making their way into our house, and another ‘take that, you pesky virus!’
So, visit by Son Number One was Risk Number Two.
Just now, I don’t regret either of the risks but hope that neither of them literally puts them (or us) at risk of illness or death. Sadly, as of yesterday, the 55,242 people who were at risk are now infected with COVID-19, including the Prime Minister still in ICU, and 6,159 people have died from the effects of the virus.
In my view, love is everything. With grateful thanks to Son Number One and the Worcester Boiler man, I suggest that if we do anything and everything with love – and that means hand-washing, social-distancing and staying at home – then we will overcome those things that challenge us – even COVID-19.