Lockdown, anyone?

I’d like to say, “No, thanks,” to a lockdown, but I reckon it’s coming. Perhaps I shouldn’t believe everything I read or hear in the news, or read on social media, but the scientists and medics are shouting very, very loudly for a lockdown; teachers are calling for schools to be closed, at least for the first couple of weeks; and there is still confusion about the vaccination programme. Not only that, but someone in England has won the £39 million lottery, and it wasn’t us.

Against this background, I am not sure how to behave. I am the Queen of Procrastination, and find myself putting off things I could do today, until tomorrow. And I have no idea why. Rabbit in the headlights, perhaps? Waiting for the inevitable? Waiting for something anyway…….if only I knew what it was.

However, despite the limbo we find ourselves in again (did we ever really get out of it?) we have had pleasant day. A slow start, but the sun was shining so beautifully that it encouraged us to get out and go for a walk. We missed the best of the sun and the clouds came over, dropping speckles of snow on us as we walked, but it was still good, because it didn’t feel too cold. I was pleased, as well, because I could tell that John was feeling reasonably well – he walked and talked. Normally he can do one or the other, but not both at the same time. On the way back, we stopped outside Pete and Dawn’s and waved at them through their front window to say hello and wish them a Happy New Year. Lovely to see them, but agonising not to be able to go indoors and sit on their sofa for a natter.

This afternoon was nothing to write home about. A few household chores undertaken – clearing away a pile of cardboard to recycle; washing the shopping and putting it away; cleaning a bathroom; tidying the kitchen and so on.

Our pleasure came in two guises, however: John potted on a whole load of acorns that he’d set in some sand and which had sprouted. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the seedlings flourish because he’s on a mission to plant trees. For me, I kept dipping into the jigsaw and was thrilled when I found a section I’d put together separately joined onto the main part. Probably a third of the way there now, with the most difficult bits to come.

We had a couple of lovely punctuations to the day, too, when we chatted to the kids. In the absence of that face-to-face, warm get-together, it is so brilliant to be able to be part of their lives through the video apps, isn’t it? Michael and Danielle were dismantling a day bed which they had sold, in readiness for creating a ‘Dinosaur Room’ for William. It’s going to be lovely – he’s already got the curtains, the lampshade and the bean bag – just needs his bed in there now with his dinosaur quilt and he’s all set.

A bit later on, John phoned Paul to ask his advice on the various options on Broadband – we’re looking for a deal. And I thought, as they were chatting, how wonderful it is now that we can phone our kids for their advice – adult to adult. Feels very good. Thank the Lord for our sons.

In the meantime, we are aiming to stay away from people until the virus is seemingly more under control. The news today is rather depressing with so many people affected by it.

• 57,725 people tested positive today for the virus
• 445 people died within 28 days of a COVID positive test
• 189 people died in hospitals within the same period of a COVID positive test
• We are on Day 3 of Tier 4 here in the Solihull region
• And it’s Day 290 since we first went into this twilight world last March.

Take care everyone. God bless.