It’s a jolly good job that we’ve got lockdown, isn’t it? Otherwise all the jobs I am trying to get on with would never get done, would they? This pearl of wisdom was offered today, by Eileen, my guru from church and, I have to say, it stopped me in my tracks. It is so easy to just moan (which I do) and think lockdown is the worst thing ever, but there have been benefits for us. I have thoroughly enjoyed the garden this year, and walking out in it with my Mum, which I wouldn’t otherwise have done, but for the lockdown situation. And then I have set to on some long overdue decorating – again, which I may not have done, but which I am enjoying. So I am thankful.
So, we’re on Day 9 – and is it nineteen to go? Doesn’t seem so bad….we can get through it.
And, what have we done today? Well, we have beetled about busying ourselves with this and that, and generally had a good day. John got his big drill out to create a hole in the wall, which was needed to feed a wire through for the new drinks/wine cooler. It is now set up and cheerfully accommodating four bottles of white wine – and one bottle of champagne ready for John’s big birthday tomorrow. It has capacity for 34 bottles, but we haven’t quite run to that…..not yet anyway. All donations gratefully received.
I did a little bit more painting, but really, it’s a bit of a struggle. We have a desk, a chest of drawers, an organ, chairs, computers and so on, all in the way. Whichever bit of wall or ceiling or skirting board I am painting it requires a lot of furniture shifting. And ladder shifting. I mean, I know I love the large ladder but it’s so bloomin’ heavy! I shall have muscles on me muscles before long at this rate.
Not only have I painted, but I have tidied up, too. My desire has been to make it nice for John’s birthday. I know no-one is coming round because no-one can, but I thought he’d appreciate a bit of clean and tidy space for relaxing in for the day. When you’re in the middle of decorating, tidying up isn’t such an easy thing to do though, is it? The lounge is tidy but the utility room is still a mess….. ah, well, I tried.
John had a good afternoon watching the rugby, although I am not sure that it was a very good match from what I could gather. I think it was Ireland all the way which didn’t make for a great contest, and ended up with Ireland: ‘quite a few‘ and Wales: ‘not enough‘. Hope the matches tomorrow will be better.
We had our evening meal once it was all over and then, after we’d eaten, I shut myself away to decorate the cake I’ve made for John’s birthday. Now this is a big deal. As you know, I’m not into cakes particularly, and dislike baking them, so this act shows just how much I love the ol’ man to make such an effort. He made me laugh though. I was tentatively preparing the marzipan and icing to go on the cake when he came into the kitchen. The cake is no secret, so it didn’t matter, but he could see I was wrestling with it, so he said, “Do you want me to give you a hand?” Noooo….I squealed. I mean, you can’t make your own birthday cake, can you?!! I shooed him out of the kitchen and got on with it. It may be simple, it may not be glamourous, but I’ve done it and I think it’ll taste nice, so I was quite pleased with myself.
John shuffled off to bed about ten-ish. I was still in the throes of cake decorating – thought I’d be there for ever – but soon it was done and then it was on to present wrapping and laying them out ready for the ‘big reveal’ tomorrow. I had fun doing all that.
In between times, in among the work we’ve been doing today, we have listened to the news and find nothing surprises us any more. There are shenanigans in Downing Street with Cummings finally going; and the election in the USA is still causing comment with Trump not packing his trunk and saying goodbye to the circus. ‘Keep your eye on the ball’ is what I want to say to these people. It’s people’s lives you’re messing with. Really, it is.
27,301 people have been confirmed as infected with the dreaded lurgy today, and 376 people have died. 169 people have died in hospitals over the last couple of days too.
It’s in our hands how much the virus spreads, so please take care everyone. Had a sobering conversation with a friend from church today who had recovered from the virus. She knows she caught it from her granddaughter who was down from Uni. She thought it would be OK to meet up at her daughter’s house, but clearly it wasn’t. She said it was no joke but, thankfully, feels better now. Can happen to anyone, I suppose.
God bless. Stay safe.